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Mark MacGann, the former high-ranking Uber executive who served as the company’s public face in Europe during a tumultuous period of expansion, revealed himself Monday as the whistleblower behind blockbuster revelations into the ride-hailing company’s inner workings.
A longtime European lobbyist, MacGann interacted with top global business and government leaders during his tenure with the company between 2014 and 2016 but also came face-to-face with the violent protests over Uber's disruptive practices.
He said he left the company having concluded that Uber's culture left him powerless to question or change its ways, and fearing that the rancorous backlash against the company put his family's safety at risk.
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MacGann leaked more than 124,000 company documents to the Guardian, which shared the materials with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which helped lead the project, and dozens of other news organizations, including The Washington Post. The Uber Files, which date to between 2013 and 2017, reveal the ride-hailing company's aggressive entrance into cities around the world - while frequently challenging the reach of existing laws and regulations.
MacGann, 52, came forward in a video interview with the Guardian published Monday. As the chief lobbyist charged with pushing Uber's European expansion, MacGann said he bears some responsibility for company actions he now condemns - including the way it wooed governments and the public with rosy visions of upward mobility and economic freedom for low-income drivers.
Pulling back the curtain on the company's operations during those years - even exposing communications that show his role in some of Uber's more controversial practices - is his attempt to make amends, he said.
"I was the one talking to governments, I was the one pushing this with the media, I was the one telling people that they should change the rules because drivers were going to benefit and people were going to get so much economic opportunity," he said. "When that turned out not to be the case - we had actually sold people a lie - how can you have a clear conscience if you don't stand up and own your contribution to how people are being treated today?"
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But MacGann ultimately faulted the company for what he said was its willingness "to break all the rules and use its money and its power, to impact, to destroy."
Uber spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said "mistakes" made earlier in Uber's history led five years ago to "one of the most infamous reckonings in the history of corporate America," which involved lawsuits, investigations and several departures from the ranks of executive leadership.
"We have not and will not make excuses for past behavior that is clearly not in line with our present values," she said. "Instead, we ask the public to judge us by what we've done over the last five years and what we will do in the years to come."
MacGann is the latest whistleblower who has gone public about a decision to leak confidential documents that have illuminated how some of the world's most powerful and consequential players operate, including tech giants and governmental agencies.
In 2013, former government contractor Edward Snowden revealed himself as the confidential source who provided documents to the Guardian and The Post, which exposed the National Security Agency's vast global surveillance programs. In 2018, former Cambridge Analytica research director Christopher Wylie shared materials with journalists that showed how the data firm improperly harvested data from millions of Facebook users to target voters on behalf of the Donald Trump campaign. And in 2021, former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen shared confidential company documents with the Wall Street Journal, and later the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, that showed the company failing to thwart the spread of false and incendiary content. The Facebook Papers, like the Uber Files, were reviewed by a consortium of news organizations, including The Post.
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Whistleblowing can lead to major investigations, prosecutions and new laws. Although their motivations may be complex, corporate or government leakers often express a belief that public disclosure of confidential activities is the only way to guarantee the change they hope to see.
When MacGann was asked whether he leaked the documents out of vengeance against his former employer, he acknowledged that "certainly, I have had my grievances with Uber in the past." But, he added, "people need to look at the facts that I'm helping to expose."
MacGann is an Irishman who speaks fluent French and spent more than two decades as a tech, telecommunications and financial services lobbyist throughout Europe before joining Uber. He began working for the company as a consultant in summer 2014.
Months later, he was brought onto the staff as a chief lobbyist with a tall order: courting governments in more than 40 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It was a role that placed him at the nexus of power at a whirlwind moment for the company. A business world still in thrall to the rise of tech companies like Google and Facebook perceived Uber as a next big thing; investors vied to get in on the ground floor, and top talent signed on for executive roles with the hope of stock options that could turn into mini-fortunes.
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Uber was "the hottest ticket in town, and to a certain extent, both on the investor side and also on the political side, people were almost falling over themselves in order to meet with Uber and to hear what we had to offer," said MacGann, who suddenly found he had personal access to world leaders and their advisers. It was an "intoxicating" experience, he said.
But the company was facing resistance in several countries, primarily from taxi drivers who couldn't compete with the low fares offered by Uber, whose drivers in new cities were heavily subsidized, at first, with millions of dollars in investor capital. Protests erupted in Berlin, London and Paris. Local courts in Germany had restricted some of Uber's services. MacGann was put in charge of a team tasked with lobbying governments to allow Uber to make inroads, sometimes in the face of legal or regulatory hurdles.
In media interviews and speaking engagements throughout his tenure, MacGann declared that Uber was not "anti-regulation" but simply a "tech company" using data to match supply with demand - and that's why, he argued, it shouldn't have to abide by the old regulatory models for the taxi industry.
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Now, MacGann summarizes Uber's strategy as one of simply barging into new markets and expanding as best it could, despite awareness that it may well be violating local laws.
"The mantra that people repeated from one office to another was the mantra from the top," MacGann said. "Don't ask for permission. Just launch, hustle, enlist drivers, go out, do the marketing, and quickly people will wake up and see what a great thing Uber is."
Devon Spurgeon, a spokeswoman for Uber founder and then-chief executive Travis Kalanick, said in a statement that Uber's "expansion activities were led by over a hundred leaders in dozens of countries around the world and at all times under the direct oversight and with the full approval of Uber's robust legal policy, and compliance groups." Kalanick helped pioneer a business model that "required a change of the status quo, as Uber became a serious competitor in an industry where competition had been historically outlawed," she added.
The Uber Files also implicate MacGann, though, along with his former colleagues, in some of Uber's more hard-charging business practices. They show him personally appealing to Emmanuel Macron, then the economy minister for France, after a local official in the city of Marseille banned an Uber service in 2015, and participating in an aggressive lobbying and influence campaign to try to solidify a foothold in Russia.
And MacGann played a role in the conversations around protests against Uber that had erupted in some European cities - sometimes involving physical attacks against Uber drivers - according to the internal communications the lobbyist leaked.
In a text message exchange from January 2016, Kalanick urged his top lieutenants to organize a counterprotest in Paris, and appeared to downplay concerns "about taxi violence" against Uber drivers. "I think it's worth it," Kalanick wrote. "Violence guarantee success."
Spurgeon said the former executive "never suggested that Uber should take advantage of violence at the expense of driver safety. Any accusation that Mr. Kalanick directed, engaged in, or was involved in any of these activities is completely false." Hazelbaker, the Uber spokeswoman, acknowledged past mistakes in how drivers were treated, especially in the years that Kalanick ran the company, but said that no one, including Kalanick, wanted to see violence against Uber drivers.
In his interview with the Guardian, MacGann said he thinks Kalanick "meant that the only way to get governments to change the rules, and legalize Uber and allow Uber to grow, as Uber wished, would be to keep the fight, to keep the controversy burning. And if that meant Uber drivers going on strike, Uber drivers doing a demo in the streets, Uber drivers blocking Barcelona, blocking Berlin, blocking Paris, then that was the way to go."
MacGann added: "Of course it's dangerous. It's also, in a way, very selfish. Because he was not the guy on the street who is being threatened, who is being attacked, who is being beaten up and, in some cases, shot."
MacGann had been part of that text exchange, as one of the voices raising concerns about safety. But emails from several months earlier show MacGann praising a 2015 corporate strategy to encourage media coverage of violence against Uber drivers in the Netherlands.
"There is no excuse for how the company played with people's lives," MacGann said in a statement. "I am disgusted and ashamed that I was a party to the trivialisation of such violence."
Angry taxi drivers who felt their livelihoods were threatened by Uber saw MacGann as the face of Uber and, at times, aimed their ire at him. He said he received death threats on Twitter and harassment at airports and train stations, and that taxi drivers followed him, recorded where he lived and posted photos online of him with his children. "They needed someone to shout at. They needed somebody to intimidate, somebody to threaten," MacGann said. "I became that person."
In one incident, he said, a group of taxi protesters in Rome blocked a car carrying him and a colleague away from a meeting with an adviser to the Italian prime minister. The harassment persisted even after he cut ties with Uber; in 2017, police were called after he said taxi drivers surrounded his Uber ride outside a train station in Brussels.
MacGann said he does not blame those who lashed out at him and shares their frustration with Uber's business practices. He was dismayed that the company's only reaction to the threats against him was to assign him bodyguards. "There was no change in behavior," MacGann said. "No change in tactics. No change in tone. It was, keep the fight, keep the fire burning."
MacGann said he didn't see how to promote fundamental change from the inside. In November 2015, he announced his resignation, around the same time several other top executives also left.
"This was not a culture where you could actually stand up and question the company's decisions or the company's strategy," he said. "I realized that I was having no impact, that I was wasting my time with the company, and that feeling, at that point in my career, combined with the fact that I was worried not just for my own safety, but the safety of my family and my friends."
MacGann later received a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis, which a March 2019 medical report said was linked in part to the stress he experienced during his time at Uber.
MacGann did not share those concerns publicly at the time. He told the Financial Times that his 18 months thus far at Uber was "like five years anywhere else … it's all consuming, but it feels like a privilege." He told the Wall Street Journal that he was confident the company had "turned a corner" in Europe and that "it's hard to leave what is unquestionably the most exciting enterprise of our generation."
Rachel Whetstone, then Uber's communications and public policy chief, called MacGann "a wonderful leader" who helped the company recognize "the need for modern regulations that promote safety while also increasing choice." David Plouffe, then Uber's head of global policy, called him "a terrific advocate for Uber on three continents." Both have since left the company.
MacGann stayed at Uber as a consultant until August 2016. He later joined a telecommunications firm and started his own company.
But his time with Uber remained with him long after his stint ended.
"I own what I did, but if it turns out that what I was trying to persuade governments, ministers, prime ministers, presidents and drivers, turned out to be horribly, horribly wrong and untrue, then it's incumbent upon me to go back and say, 'I think we made a mistake,' " MacGann told the Guardian. "To the extent that people want me to help, I want to play a role in trying to correct that mistake."
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Aaron C. Davis and Alice Crites contributed to this report. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/11/business/mark-macgann-former-top-executive-comes-forward-uber-files-leaker/ | 2022-07-11 17:48:11 | 1 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/11/business/mark-macgann-former-top-executive-comes-forward-uber-files-leaker/ |
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The environmental law attorneys at Manning Law, APC proudly announce a settlement on behalf of Calsafe Research Center, Inc., a California non-profit corporation dedicated to keeping Californians safe from exposure to products that are alleged to contain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm in violation of Proposition 65.
Proposition 65, "The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986" is a "right to know" law intended to protect Californians. Through its required warnings, Proposition 65 alerts consumers in the State of California to the risk of potential exposures to substances causing cancer or reproductive harm and provides them with the ability to make an informed decision regarding whether to purchase, consume or use such products. Calsafe Research Center, Inc. acts in the public interest as a private enforcer of Proposition 65 through civil law enforcement actions initiated by its counsel, Manning Law, APC.
Material details of settlement:
"Since California residents overwhelmingly voted to enact Proposition 65 in 1986 the act has generated substantial reductions in the content of toxic chemicals in consumer touching products. Where products inherently include a Proposition 65 listed chemical that cannot be removed, warning labels have empowered Californians to make an informed decision about being exposed to the product," said Manning Law, APC co-founder Michael J. Manning.
Babak (Bobby) Hashemi, who also represents Calsafe Research Center, Inc. in advancing the public's interest through environmental litigation, said "I am proud to represent an organization dedicated to protecting the health and autonomy of California residents."
Manning Law, APC is known for its civil rights, consumer, and environmental protection litigation including its precedent setting litigation under the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and the Unruh Civil Rights Act ("UCRA"). In particular, the firm is known for its role as plaintiff's counsel in the first federal appellate case to recognize the application of the ADA and UCRA to websites and mobile applications, see Robles v. Domino's Pizza, LLC, No. 17-55504 (9th Cir. 2019). Manning Law, APC has also been recognized by the Office of the Secretary of Defense of the United States as a "Patriotic Employer" for its support of employee participation in the National Guard and Reserve Force.
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SOURCE Manning Law APC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/10/environmental-law-attorneys-manning-law-apc-continue-streak-settlements-prevent-public-exposure-lead/ | 2022-09-10 00:45:56 | 0 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/10/environmental-law-attorneys-manning-law-apc-continue-streak-settlements-prevent-public-exposure-lead/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A 24-year-old woman was able to fight off an attacker who chased her around a gym at an apartment complex in Tampa last month, authorities said.
“As soon as he was approaching me,” recalled Nashali Alma. “I pushed him. I said, ‘Bro, what the f are you doing?'”
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on Jan. 22 at a gym in the Inwood Park Apartment Complex and was caught on a security camera.
Alma told deputies she was exercising alone when a man identified as Xavier Thomas-Jones arrived at the gym. She said she felt comfortable letting him into the facility because she had seen him there before.
In surveillance video released Wednesday, the man can be seen approaching Alma and grabbing at her waist.
“Next thing you know,” said Alma, “I get up from doing my workout and I grab my phone and he just approaches me and not a single word was exchanged.”
Alma told him to go away and tried to leave the gym, but he started chasing her around the facility and was able to grab her and pin her to the floor. Alma was eventually able to fight off her attacker, run out of the gym and call 911.
“When it was happening, I actually had no fear,” said Alma. “I am a bodybuilder, and I’m actually pretty strong, so in my mind, he was kind of equal to me.”
Deputies said the man fled, but investigators were able to track him down and arrested him 24 hours later. He faces charges of sexual battery, false imprisonment, and kidnapping, authorities said.
“I would tell every woman always to keep fighting, never give up,” Alma said in a statement provided by the sheriff’s office. “As long as you fight back and show him that you’re strong and you’re not giving up, I believe it’s possible to escape. It’s better to reach out to law enforcement sooner than later. The sooner they have the information, the sooner they can catch that person.”
“I was overwhelmed with emotion at how proud I was that this victim wasn’t going to allow herself to be raped,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “And how hard she fought and the strength she had.” | https://www.kark.com/news/national-news/watch-woman-fights-off-attacker-in-florida-gym/ | 2023-02-16 15:55:10 | 1 | https://www.kark.com/news/national-news/watch-woman-fights-off-attacker-in-florida-gym/ |
ATLANTA, Nov. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Home Depot®, the world's largest home improvement retailer, today reported sales of $38.9 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2022, an increase of $2.1 billion, or 5.6 percent from the third quarter of fiscal 2021. Comparable sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2022 increased 4.3 percent, and comparable sales in the U.S. increased 4.5 percent.
Net earnings for the third quarter of fiscal 2022 were $4.3 billion, or $4.24 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $4.1 billion, or $3.92 per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2021, representing an 8.2 percent increase in diluted earnings per share.
"We delivered another solid performance in the third quarter, driven by strength in project-related categories across the business," said Ted Decker, chair, president and CEO. "Our team has done a fantastic job serving our customers while continuing to navigate a challenging and dynamic environment. I would like to thank them and our many partners for their hard work and dedication to our customers."
Fiscal 2022 Guidance
The Company reaffirmed fiscal 2022 guidance of:
- Comparable sales growth of approximately 3.0 percent
- Operating margin of approximately 15.4 percent
- Net interest expense of approximately $1.6 billion
- Tax rate of approximately 24.6 percent
- Diluted earnings-per-share-percent-growth to be mid-single digits
The Home Depot will conduct a conference call today at 9 a.m. ET to discuss information included in this news release and related matters. The conference call will be available in its entirety through a webcast and replay at ir.homedepot.com/events-and-presentations.
At the end of the third quarter, the Company operated a total of 2,319 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. The Company employs approximately 500,000 associates. The Home Depot's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index.
Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related recovery on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition (which, among other things, may affect many of the items listed below); the demand for our products and services; net sales growth; comparable sales; the effects of competition; our brand and reputation; implementation of store, interconnected retail, supply chain and technology initiatives; inventory and in-stock positions; the state of the economy; the state of the housing and home improvement markets; the state of the credit markets, including mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit; impact of tariffs; issues related to the payment methods we accept; demand for credit offerings; management of relationships with our associates, potential associates, suppliers and service providers; cost and availability of labor; costs of fuel and other energy sources; international trade disputes, natural disasters, climate change, public health issues (including pandemics and quarantines, related shut-downs and other governmental orders, and similar restrictions, as well as subsequent re-openings), cybersecurity events, military conflicts or acts of war, and other business interruptions that could disrupt operation of our stores, distribution centers and other facilities, our ability to operate or access communications, financial or banking systems, or supply or delivery of, or demand for, the Company's products or services; our ability to meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals; continuation or suspension of share repurchases; net earnings performance; earnings per share; dividend targets; capital allocation and expenditures; liquidity; return on invested capital; expense leverage; commodity or other price inflation and deflation; our ability to issue debt on terms and at rates acceptable to us; the impact and expected outcome of investigations, inquiries, claims and litigation, including compliance with related settlements; the effect of accounting charges; the effect of adopting certain accounting standards; the impact of regulatory changes, including changes to tax laws and regulations; store openings and closures; guidance for fiscal 2022 and beyond; financial outlook; and the impact of acquired companies on our organization and the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of those acquisitions.
Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to future events, risks and uncertainties – many of which are beyond our control, dependent on the actions of third parties, or are currently unknown to us – as well as potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our expectations and projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended January 30, 2022 and also may be described from time to time in future reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). There also may be other factors that we cannot anticipate or that are not described herein, generally because we do not currently perceive them to be material. Such factors could cause results to differ materially from our expectations.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these statements other than as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our filings with the SEC and in our other public statements.
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SOURCE The Home Depot | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/11/15/home-depot-announces-third-quarter-results-reaffirms-fiscal-2022-guidance/ | 2022-11-15 12:20:47 | 0 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/11/15/home-depot-announces-third-quarter-results-reaffirms-fiscal-2022-guidance/ |
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Vote-tallying in Kenya’s close presidential election isn’t moving fast enough, the electoral commission chair said Friday, while parallel counting by local media stopped or dramatically slowed amid public concerns about censorship or meddling.
Differing tallies by media outlets fed anxiety as longtime opposition leader Raila Odinga, backed by former rival and outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta in his fifth attempt at the presidency, was in a race with Deputy President William Ruto, who fell out with the president years ago.
Three days after Tuesday’s vote, Kenyans wondered whether the presidential election would go to a runoff for the first time.
The head of the government-created Media Council of Kenya told The Associated Press that “no one has asked anyone to stop” their tallies, but added that “we want to align the numbers with each other” and “I think let’s peer review our numbers.” David Omwoyo was going into a meeting with media leaders as he spoke.
With no clear winner emerging and perhaps days more to wait, social media hummed with unverified claims by both candidates’ supporters, which rights groups called dangerous in a country with a history of political violence.
Even the official count was sluggish, adding to impatience. “We’re not moving as fast as we should,” electoral commission chair Wafula Chebukati said.
That surprised a senior electoral expert who has observed the election and told the AP that “looking at things right now, they should have no problem finishing by the constitutional limit” of seven days after the vote. The expert spoke on condition of anonymity without authorization to speak publicly.
“You want to move as fast as the speed of trust,” the expert said, adding that “this is going much smoother than we anticipated, and that’s a good thing.” They suggested posting a spreadsheet to make it easier to see the numbers from the more than 46,000 results forms posted from around the country.
The public posting of the forms was meant to be a groundbreaking exercise in transparency for the electoral commission, which is under pressure after the high court cited irregularities and overturned the results of the previous presidential election in 2017, a first in Africa. Kenyatta won the new vote after Odinga boycotted it.
The commission chair even appeared to tease local media houses a day after the election, saying they were “behind” in tallying.
But transparency “is also a double-edged sword if caution and responsibility is not exercised,” the Kenya Human Rights Commission said Friday, saying the various media tallies without explanation have caused “anxiety, fear, unrest and in extreme cases, violence.” Meanwhile, social media is “awash with false information,” it said.
The media council on Wednesday noted “growing concerns” about the varying tallies and said it was consulting with media owners and editors “to find an urgent solution to this to ensure Kenyans receive synchronized results.”
But their slowdown brought criticism. “For media to be silent and opaque on their own counts and why they’ve stopped is yet another betrayal of their duty to Kenyans,” cartoonist and commentator Patrick Gathara tweeted Friday.
The editor of the Nation media group, Mutuma Mathiu, published a commentary saying the slow count has given rise “to a whole raft of conspiracy theories and complaints” and adding that “media occupy different positions in relation to political interests.” He cited the need to remain independent and do accurate work.
Ochieng Rapuro, the editorial director at the Standard group that includes the Kenya Television Network, told the AP that stopping “is our own decision. We have finished tallying, but given the murky fights around the outcomes of our elections, we have decided to stand on the side of caution.”
The editorial director with the Citizen media group did not respond.
To win outright, a candidate needs more than half of all votes and at least 25% of the votes in more than half of Kenya’s 47 counties. No outright winner means a runoff election within 30 days.
Seeking answers, some Kenyans have turned to counting a far smaller set of results forms, also published by the electoral commission, for 291 constituencies. Almost 80% of them were posted as of Friday night.
Turnout dipped sharply in this election, to 65%, as some Kenyans expressed weariness with seeing long-familiar political leaders on the ballot and frustration with economic issues including widespread corruption and rising prices.
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Follow all of AP’s coverage of Kenya at https://apnews.com/hub/kenya | https://phl17.com/news/international/ap-international/kenya-media-council-no-one-asked-to-stop-election-tallies/ | 2022-08-12 18:57:30 | 1 | https://phl17.com/news/international/ap-international/kenya-media-council-no-one-asked-to-stop-election-tallies/ |
Environmentalists, tuna fisheries clash over Indian Ocean temporary ban on driftnets
Controversial fisheries devices are used to catch more than 90% of tuna sold in EU
An ongoing row between the European Union and coastal Indian Ocean nations over sustainable tuna fishing continues to simmer after a resolution in early February temporarily banned the use of destructive driftnets despite opposition from the European bloc.
Civil society organizations sent a petition Wednesday to the EU's oceans and environment commissioner, Virginijus Sinkevičius, accusing fisheries lobbies of exerting undue pressure on Brussels to object to the ban which applies to fisheries devices used by some corporations in the bloc.
The much-criticized driftnets are "at the heart of the European fleets" in the Indian Ocean, said Claire Nouvian who heads the scientific non-governmental organization Bloom and is one of the signatories of the petition.
The EU is a major consumer of tuna, and its powerful fishing fleets trawl distant oceans to meet the continental demand.
Over 90% of tuna sold in the EU comes from the Indian Ocean and is caught through controversial fisheries aggregating devices, according to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission.
BUILDING COLLAPSE IN KENYA KILLS 3
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The EU said it had sent a "comprehensive proposal" on the driftnets that addressed concerns on usage, plastic pollution and marking gear. It added that it is "supportive of the adoption of a strong management measure for yellowfin tuna and other tropical species."
Susan Jackson, the president of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, urged regional fisheries management organizations to "cooperate, communicate and collaborate" and to turn to the science to cool down tensions between negotiating blocs.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Jackson said science could help "depoliticize" decision-making which would in turn improve "the sustainability of global tuna fisheries and the ecosystems that support them."
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://www.foxnews.com/world/environmentalists-tuna-fisheries-clash-over-indian-ocean-temporary-ban-driftnets | 2023-03-01 23:40:51 | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/world/environmentalists-tuna-fisheries-clash-over-indian-ocean-temporary-ban-driftnets |
Appalachian Art Alliance plans for a fun-filled summer
HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - A Hazard organization is focused on keeping kids creative this summer.
From theater camps, to art nights, to live music, The Appalachian Arts Alliance is known for keeping creativity in Hazard.
Starting tomorrow the Arts Alliance is hosting another community art night at the center. Families in the community are invited to come create some summer-themed artwork and learn how to make new crafts.
The event will begin July 6th, from 5-6 pm.
Later this month, the Arts Alliance in collaboration with a Central Kentucky community theater program called Shooting Stars Youtheater is holding auditions for two new plays at the center.
The week 1 play is Charlie and the Chocolate factory. Open auditions for children 6 years and older begin July 11th-16th. The week 2 play for adults and teenagers is called Appalachian Echoes. Open auditions begin the following week, July 18th-23rd.
‘They learn about the theater world, they learn about building sets, they learn how to act, how to read a script, how to work with other children, and it’s always a really great week and the kids get so excited for it,” said Lindsey Branson, director of education at the Appalachian Art Alliance.
The Alliance is also in collaboration with The Hyman Settlement School planning a Square Dance Night.
The Square Dance Night will be held at the center on July 27th. Kids and their families can learn a different type of dancing this summer and listen to live Appalachian music.
“Kids are welcome to come out, it’s free, you get to learn how to square dance to some Appalachian music. Adults can come out, we’ll have food and all the fun things,” said Branson.
All events are free to the community. Employees hope that making art more accessible will help bring the community together more.
Copyright 2022 WYMT. All rights reserved. | https://www.wymt.com/2022/07/05/appalachian-art-alliance-plans-fun-filled-summer/ | 2022-07-05 21:28:25 | 0 | https://www.wymt.com/2022/07/05/appalachian-art-alliance-plans-fun-filled-summer/ |
SHANGHAI, March 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "Thank you all. It was heartwarming. (We will) keep going," said a message left by a parent of an autistic child in an online group chat party.
In China, children with autism are also known as "children of the stars", due to the different way in which they communicate and perceive the world, like a star shining in another world alone. The 2019 Report on the Development of the Autism Education and Treatment Industry noted that there were more than 10 million individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in China that year, including over 2 million children under 12. Behind these matter-of-fact numbers is the reality of parents and children "trapped" in autism, who are in urgent need of attention and support from across society.
To increase public understanding and awareness of ASD, Soul App threw an online philanthropic music party called "Stars Meet Songs" in collaboration with the WABC Charity Foundation, bringing together Soulers (SOUL users) to give these children of the stars encouragement and support through the medium of music. All the proceeds from ticket sales on the social platform of SOUL would go to the WABC, a non-profit organization dedicated to art-based special education, to be used for the treatment of autistic children.
Dispelling loneliness with love
Among the Stars Meet Songs campaign participants, an individual with the alias "Feather" is the mother of an autistic child, and she has shared in her child's lonely journey for a long time.
At first, Feather could not bring herself to reconcile the reality of her child's diagnosis and lingered on the verge of mental breakdown. Strained and weary, she was trying to look for some breathing space, when she found SOUL. Here Feather could voice feelings that she would have often held back, heartened by the healing power of the friendly atmosphere, heartfelt story sharing, and uplifting encouragement.
When she learned of SOUL's Stars Meet Songs, Feather signed up without a moment's hesitation, and during the activity wrote the thank-you message that appears at the beginning of the article.
Along with Feather's words of gratitude, Soulers sent their good wishes for children of the stars, which might best exemplify the purpose of "Stars Meet Songs" – promoting public understanding and acceptance of autistic children and the difficulties facing them as well as mobilizing support to light up the "starry skies", even if they were in a different world.
Showing kindness with action
Ever more encouraging stories have been unfolding on SOUL. Since it came online in 2016 with an ideal of upholding kindness, equality and friendship, the app has gathered compassionate and upbeat young people in huge numbers, who do good to show their selfless support.
The Stars Meet Songs event host is an active Souler @Night, who has been with SOUL for over 1,600 days. It is the inspiring engagement on the platform that gave him the idea of helping others. "SOUL is a warm platform that works together with us to do charitable acts and foster benevolent love," said @Night. He strives to move more and more people to action through his own altruistic efforts, epitomizing a large group of social-minded Soulers.
@YzH is also one of them. He cares about underprivileged children in mountainous areas and, along with other volunteers from charities, has done a lot to help: provide essentials, organize intriguing activities, divert water, and repair classrooms for schools there.
Sharing the same philanthropic enthusiasm, @zhiling has devoted herself to volunteer teaching. She does a lot more than teach art and craft or play fun games with children in rural areas; she also introduces them to life in the outside world and provides an education in moral values. In addition to material support, @zhiling has also given essential care and company. As a volunteer teacher, she has traveled far and wide, from the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan to Liantang Village in Guangzhou and Xiaolingtou in Zhejiang.
Many more young people are telling their amazing, unique volunteer stories on SOUL, which is dedicated to creating an atmosphere full of love and warmth and continues to deliver on its corporate social responsibility. In enriching the forms of charity, the platform provides opportunities for younger generations to bring out their best qualities and at the same time contribute to communities.
As part of its charitable efforts, SOUL joined hands with the WABC to launch the "Different Socks Day", raising public awareness about prejudice towards the disadvantaged groups. Together, they held an art-for-charity exhibition titled "Special Doesn't Mean Lonely", and an activity named "SOUL's Happy Star Home" for those shining alone at the end of 2022, to draw more attention to, as well as share joy and strength with, children with ASD.
As a social platform sought-after among younger generations, SOUL has become an ideal place for them to share their volunteer experiences and participate in charity events. Playing to its strengths, it will continue to grow without losing sight of its social responsibilities, while pooling the wisdom and power of the younger generations to bring an added warmth to socializing.
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SOURCE Soul App | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2023/03/10/safeguard-children-stars-soul-apps-new-campaign-inspires-young-users/ | 2023-03-10 04:18:11 | 0 | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2023/03/10/safeguard-children-stars-soul-apps-new-campaign-inspires-young-users/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Inflation isn’t only costing small businesses money. It’s costing them customers as well.
At the Bushwick Grind Cafe in Brooklyn, New York, Kymme Williams-Davis has raised prices and switched to different types of goods to keep up with the rising costs of milk, coffee, paper goods and plastic, as well as shortages of items such as paper cups and plastic lids. She hasn’t experienced anything like this since opening in 2015.
Williams-Davis says she has lost nearly half of her regular customers. Some have traded down and are buying coffee for $1 at the McDonald’s or bodega on either side of the café instead of paying the $3 she charges.
“If (customers) can get it for a dollar for not that notable of a difference, they’re going next door.”
One customer who had been coming in for years stopped in to tell Williams-Davis he bought himself a coffeemaker.
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“He said I’m going to start making coffee at home, I need to budget, so I won’t be coming in here every day,” she said. “I feel like I’ve been on a goodbye campaign.”
Inflation has been rising at nearly the fastest pace in 40 years, driven up by strong consumer spending and higher costs for food, rent, medical care, and other necessities.
On Tuesday, the government is expected to report that price increases slowed in August compared with a year ago, largely because of a steady drop in the cost of gas. Prices for other items, particularly food, are likely to keep rising quickly. Overall, economists forecast consumer prices rose 8.1% in August, compared with a year ago, down from 8.5% in July, according to data provider FactSet.
For much of the pandemic, small business customers were largely tolerant of price increases and kept on spending. But now owners say they’re seeing some pushback.
Ninety-seven percent of small business owners say inflationary pressure is the same or worse than it was three months ago, according to a survey of more than 1,500 small businesses by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. Sixty-five percent have raised prices to offset higher costs. And 38% say they’ve seen a decline in customer demand due to price increases.
Nicole Miskelley, who manages PMR, an auto and diesel repair shop in Marion, Illinois, said she has seen customers delay repairs that aren’t urgent such as scheduled maintenance or getting new tires.
At the beginning of the year, Miskelley’s labor costs rose 12% and the cost of towing cars to the shop went up due to higher gas prices. Parts are more expensive too. Last year, an air conditioner processor would cost her $200, but this year she can’t find one for under $400. So, she’s had to raise her average price for a repair by 30% to 40%.
Her customers have noticed.
“Typically, I am able to joke about how drastically different things are now and most agree with me,” she said. “On occasion, I deal with push back,” including the rare bout of yelling or cursing by a customer.
“Among a lot of my older customers, who are on restricted income like Social Security, they say they have to cut back,” she said. “They say, ‘I know I need these tires, but I need to make a couple more rounds (of Social Security) to save up.’”
She says she’s a little worried but hopes people can adjust to inflation.
“Right now , it kind of sucks because costs increased faster than I could catch up with. In time, I hope people budget better and their incomes change to reflect the economy.”
The pullback is more dramatic among consumers with less discretionary income. Walmart says its customers, who tend to have lower incomes, are spending more on food and less on other items. Small business owners are seeing much of the same.
Kim Shanahan operates the online store Gifts Fulfilled in Berlin, Maryland, which sells gift baskets and care packages and employs people with disabilities.
“Last year has been challenging to say the least,” she said. “All prices across the board have gone up.” Everything from cardboard, containers and the food that she includes in the baskets have become more expensive.
She implemented a 5% increase to cover some costs. After she raised the price of her most popular get-well gift basket called “One Tough Cookie,” from $27.50 to $28.95, sales went down, she said.
Less expensive baskets, such as those with gifts and candy that sell for $25 and under, have been the most affected, with unit sales down about 50% in 2022 compared with last year. “The whole segment of the market is gone for us,” she said.
“We are a ‘want to-’ not ‘have to-’ have item in our primary categories,” Shanahan said. “What we sort of see is people maybe buying a $50 gift dropping down to $35. And the whole lower tier aren’t even buying at all, they don’t have the discretionary funds.”
Schuyler Northstrom of Uinta Mattress, a mattress maker in Salt Lake City, Utah, says he’s raised his prices by 15% since 2020. A mattress that used to sell for $289 wholesale is now $330.
The increase doesn’t fully cover Uinta’s higher costs. Raw materials such as springs and foam have increased by 40%. But Northstrom fears that raising prices any higher could cause his customers to drop him.
“The pushback from retailers is pretty strong there,” he said. His retail partners include John Paras mattress stores and 2Brothers Mattress, both in Utah. “Sometimes we’re displaced by some of the larger guys with a lower cost product because of their volume.”
To adapt, Northstrom is redesigning the mattress to cut down on costs, and taking less profit, which isn’t sustainable in the long term, he said. He’s also focusing more on the higher end, mattresses that cost up to $1,200, which hasn’t been hit as hard.
“We’re feeling it, we’re not a necessary purchase, people buy food and gas,” he said.
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AP Business Writer Christopher Rugaber in Washington contributed to this report. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/as-small-businesses-raise-prices-some-customers-push-back/article_e8948a6b-0a8a-53cc-a7df-fc775d6abfef.html | 2022-09-11 15:34:21 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/as-small-businesses-raise-prices-some-customers-push-back/article_e8948a6b-0a8a-53cc-a7df-fc775d6abfef.html |
- Introduces Prime Treasury, a tailored treasury management service integrated with Rho's automated finance platform.
- The new treasury offering invests excess cash in government and investment-grade corporate bonds to strengthen purchasing power.
- Prime Treasury makes it easy for growth-stage companies to efficiently manage liquidity while optimizing day-to-day cash and spending as interest rates climb.
NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Rho announced Prime Treasury, a tailored treasury management offering built into Rho's automated finance platform. Prime Treasury, a new, registered investment advisor subsidiary of Rho, will help growth-stage, US-based businesses protect their capital against inflation through strategic investment in government and corporate securities offerings.
"CFOs are under immense pressure to address historic inflation and the toll it is taking on corporate cash reserves," said Everett Cook, CEO & co-founder of Rho. "We launched Prime Treasury to help them tackle this problem in an automated, seamless fashion."
With Prime Treasury, Rho customers partner with Rho's SEC-registered investment advisor and support team to select a custom investment policy tailored to their business's unique liquidity and security needs. These policies target high-grade assets, including US Treasuries, investment-grade corporate bonds, and bank CDs. Rho actively adjusts customers' portfolios to earn market rates, monitoring operating account balances and automatically transferring money based on liquidity needs, and clients gain access to Rho's experienced investment team, should they need additional guidance.
Unlike other providers who recommend pooled investments such as ETFs or money-market Funds, Prime Treasury securities are held directly in the customer's name in their Rho account. As a result, Prime Treasury customers aren't subject to the management fees typically charged by third-party fund providers, only the asset management fee charged by the investment advisor.
Osmind Inc., a Series B public benefit corporation committed to accelerating technology and research to ensure access to mental healthcare for patients of all backgrounds, is an early adopter of Prime Treasury. "Prime Treasury is helping Osmind optimize our treasury management strategy, giving us the confidence that our capital is working as hard as our team," said Matt Kannan, head of finance & strategy at Osmind.
Designed to support companies with more than $5 million in investable assets, Prime Treasury is the second treasury management service offered by Rho. The other option, Rho Treasury Accounts, is built on a network of over 300 FDIC-Insured banks, providing up to $75M in FDIC insurance per institution.
Rho is an automated finance platform built around the needs of growth-stage and mid-market companies. Founded in 2018 by Everett Cook and Alex Wheldon, Rho's mission is to make finance frictionless for organizations. With corporate cards, AP automation, banking, treasury & more built-in, Rho combines all the tools needed for finance leaders to control all spend, maximize return on cash, and end finance system inefficiency.
Investment management and advisory services provided by RBB Treasury LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. RBB Treasury LLC facilitates investments in securities: investments are not deposits and are not FDIC Insured • Investments are not guaranteed, and may lose value. Investment products involve risk and past performance does not guarantee future results.
Banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC, and Webster Bank N.A., Member FDIC. Cards issued by Webster Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. All Rights reserved. ©2019-2022 Under Technologies, Inc. DBA Rho Technologies. Rho is a trademark of Under Technologies, Inc. Rho is not a bank. Rho partners with FDIC-insured banks to offer banking products and services.
By using Rho services, you agree to and are bound by the Rho Terms of Service. https://www.rho.co/terms-of-service
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SOURCE Rho | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/09/28/rho-expands-access-tailored-treasury-management-with-prime-treasury/ | 2022-09-28 17:18:46 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/09/28/rho-expands-access-tailored-treasury-management-with-prime-treasury/ |
HONG KONG, April 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
XT.COM and Infinity Labs organized the Texas Hold'em Yacht Party, a Crypto Night Extravaganza, in collaboration with TraderX, Crust, 7 O'Clock Capital, and Blocklike, all of whom are leading players in the crypto industry. The event took place on April 13th from 19:00 to 00:30 (UTC+8) at an oriented invitation-only address. The Texas Hold'em Yacht Party was the hottest ticket in town during the Hong Kong Web3 Festival with an exclusive guest list including top industry players, investors, and influencers.
The event provides an excellent opportunity for blockchain and crypto enthusiasts to connect with like-minded individuals and explore the latest trends in the industry. As part of the festival's commitment to the Web3 spirit of openness and cooperation, partners have been invited to plan and organize some of the activities together for mutual development, which is why XT.COM has decided to organize the yacht party. "We are incredibly excited to be part of the Web3 Festival in Hong Kong, working with our partners to provide an unforgettable experience," said Albin Warin, CEO of XT.COM. XT.COM also held a signing ceremony for @Traderxiaoxia, a well-known cryptocurrency trader on Twitter with a solid following. The signing ceremony solidified the partnership between @Traderxiaoxia and XT.COM, showcasing the platform's commitment to providing competent traders with top-notch tools and resources.
Hong Kong Web3 Festivities
Hong Kong is hosting the inaugural Web3 Festival, organized by W3ME and co-hosted by Wanxiang Blockchain Labs and HashKey Group from April 12 to 15 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). This four-day event, spread across an area of about 9,000㎡, has over 10,000 attendees, 300 industry leaders, about 100 Web3 projects, community partners, and media partners around the world gather to network, share, and learn through high-level content and panel discussions.
This year, the Web3 Festival is bringing together the world's brightest minds, top Web3 projects, and leading venture capitalists presenting content-rich discussions and topics centered around Web3. Hong Kong regulatory representatives are also diving into and interpreting the latest digital asset regulation policies. The festival features five center stages where attendees can engage with industry thought leaders and learn about the latest trends in Web3.
Bringing Industry-Leading Value to Hong Kong
As the co-host of the Texas Hold'em Yacht Party, XT.COM brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the event so that attendees will have an unforgettable experience. Being a leading platform in the cryptocurrency space with high visibility and strength abroad with the majority of staff being foreign workers and Chinese investors, XT.COM boasts a team of professionals with diverse backgrounds and experiences, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Hong Kong web3 industry. With five years of zero risk in its operation as a cryptocurrency exchange, XT.COM has established itself as a safe and reliable platform for investors looking to engage in the world of cryptocurrency.
The partnership with Infinity Labs is a significant milestone for XT.COM. Infinity Labs is a private equity fund that specializes in blockchain investments and incubation of start-up projects. The firm was established in December 2020 and is backed by Crust Network, a decentralized storage project. Infinity Labs is committed to building web3 infrastructure and advancing the development of decentralized storage. The partnership with Infinity Labs will provide XT.COM with an edge in blockchain technology and enable the platform to offer its users cutting-edge products and services.
In addition to the partnership with Infinity Labs, attendees were able to enjoy premium food and drinks throughout the night. There was also a raffle event for XT.COM event participants. The event offered attractive rewards to winners, including 100XT tokens for the first prize, 3 Ballet hardware wallets for the second prize, and five third prize awards of 50$ CRU. The event was an opportunity for XT.COM to express its appreciation to its loyal users participating in the event and encourage them to engage further with the platform.
TraderX is another proud sponsor of the Texas Hold'em Yacht Party. As a leading provider of white label crypto exchange solutions, TraderX enables individuals and businesses to easily start and customize their own crypto trading platform. With their user-friendly interface, advanced trading features, and robust security measures, traderX has helped numerous clients around the world launch successful crypto exchanges.
As part of XT.COM's marketing strategy, the company sees Hong Kong as a crucial hub for web3 businesses due to its openness and inclusivity. XT.COM is committed to providing quality services and products, embracing opportunities and changes, and constantly developing global markets. Hong Kong plays an essential role in XT.COM's vision to expand and lead the development of the global blockchain industry. Be sure to follow XT.COM on social media to learn more about our vision for a web3-friendly future.
About XT.COM
Founded in 2018, XT.COM serves more than 6 million registered users, over 1,000,000+ monthly active users, 40+ million users in the ecosystem, and 800+ trading pairs. Since then, XT.COM crypto exchange has expanded its offerings by covering a rich variety of trading categories to provide a secure, trusted, and intuitive trading experience for its large user base. One such addition is Crypto Futures Trading which includes USDT-M Futures and coin-M futures perpetual contracts, as well as prediction markets where users can conduct transactions by predicting the results of future events. Additionally, the Futures Grid allows users to automate the buying and selling of futures contracts to make profits.
Website: XT.COM
Twitter: Twitter.com/XTexchange
Telegram: t.me/XTsupport_EN
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SOURCE XT.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2023/04/15/xtcom-infinity-labs-hosted-texas-holdem-yacht-party-crypto-night-extravaganza-hong-kong-web3-festival/ | 2023-04-15 16:37:15 | 1 | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2023/04/15/xtcom-infinity-labs-hosted-texas-holdem-yacht-party-crypto-night-extravaganza-hong-kong-web3-festival/ |
CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) — Carmel police are searching for a group of people who they believe vandalized a park with spray paint.
Officers say a group of people were seen on surveillance cameras at Carey Grove Park at the same time several park structures were defaced with spray paint.
The Carmel Police Department is asking anyone who may have information on the identities of the people seen in the cameras to contact Officer Mason Hoke at the Carmel Police Department at 317-571-2500. | https://www.wishtv.com/news/crime-watch-8/carmel-police-search-for-group-who-defaced-park-property/ | 2022-08-01 20:02:25 | 0 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/crime-watch-8/carmel-police-search-for-group-who-defaced-park-property/ |
BOSTON (AP) — A JetBlue pilot had to take “evasive action” while landing at Boston’s Logan International Airport when another aircraft crossed an intersecting runway, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The close call occurred at about 7 p.m. Monday when the pilot of a Learjet 60 took off without clearance as a JetBlue flight was preparing to land on an intersecting runway, according to the FAA’s preliminary review.
The FAA is investigating just how close the two aircraft came, but flight data tracking service Flightradar24 said Tuesday that a preliminary analysis put the aircraft approximately 530 feet (160 meters) apart.
An air traffic controller instructed the pilot of the Learjet to line up and wait on one runway while the JetBlue flight landed on another, the FAA said in a statement.
“The Learjet pilot read back the instructions clearly but began a takeoff roll instead,” the FAA said. “The pilot of the JetBlue aircraft took evasive action and initiated a climb-out as the Learjet crossed the intersection.”
The FAA did not disclose any additional information.
The close call at Logan is the latest near miss involving commercial aircraft in the past few months. There was one at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York in January, a second in Austin, Texas, in February, and a third off the coast of Hawaii in December.
That prompted FAA Administrator Billy Nolen to say earlier this month that he was putting together a team of experts to review airline safety.
JetBlue Airways said it is cooperating with investigators in the Logan near miss.
“On Monday, February 27, JetBlue flight 206 landed safely in Boston after our pilots were instructed to perform a go-around by air traffic controllers,” the airline said in a statement. “Safety is JetBlue’s first priority and our crews are trained to react to situations like this.”
A Logan spokesperson deferred questions to the FAA. | https://www.wdtn.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-jetblue-pilot-landing-in-boston-averts-potential-collision/ | 2023-03-01 08:07:23 | 0 | https://www.wdtn.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-jetblue-pilot-landing-in-boston-averts-potential-collision/ |
Jaeden Zackery scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half and Boston College rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat Notre Dame, 70-63, on Tuesday night.
Boston College took its first lead of the game, 62-61, with 1:43 remaining as it closed on a 17-4 run. Prince Aligbe scored 6 points and Zackery 5 during the stretch.
Aligbe finished with 15 points and Makai Ashton-Langford had 12 for Boston College (8-7, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), which shot 52 percent from the floor. Quinten Post, who made his season debut at Syracuse on Dec. 31 after sitting out with a foot injury, scored all 10 of his points in the first half.
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J.J. Starling and Dane Goodwin had 16 points apiece for Notre Dame (9-6, 0-4), which shot 31 percent and were outrebounded, 26-15, in the second half. Cormac Ryan added 11 points.
Notre Dame built a 44-34 lead with 17:53 remaining before BC tied it at 52-all with 5:49 left. The Irish then scored the next 6 points, but BC answered with 4 points from Aligbe and Zackery’s 3-point play before Mason Madsen’s jumper gave the Eagles the lead for good.
On Saturday, Boston College hosts No. 16 Duke and Notre Dame plays at North Carolina. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/03/sports/late-rally-lifts-boston-college-mens-basketball-over-notre-dame/ | 2023-01-04 05:25:16 | 0 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/03/sports/late-rally-lifts-boston-college-mens-basketball-over-notre-dame/ |
The plaintiff, New 42 employee Kevin Ray, alleges that New 42 actively and deliberately promoted racial stereotyping and discrimination through misguided DEI initiatives
Mr. Ray is supported by the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism
NEW YORK, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism ("FAIR"), the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civil rights and liberties, announced today that Kevin Ray, a theater director supported by FAIR, has filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against his employer, New York theater company The New 42nd Street ("New 42"), alleging racial discrimination and a pervasively hostile work environment.
Since 2015, Mr. Ray has been a Teaching Artist at New 42, where he promotes arts education through theatrical presentations to students in schools throughout New York City. As an employee at New 42, Mr. Ray has suffered from an ongoing hostile work environment resulting from the organization's promotion of segregation, stereotypes based on skin color, and disparaging insults.
The lawsuit alleges nine causes of action, including hostile work environment and discrimination under Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibit discrimination against anyone, regardless of skin color. Mr. Ray claims New 42 violated those and other laws by segregating employees based on skin color for workplace trainings and repeatedly disparaging employees based on their skin color, including through more than seventy racially-charged emails. According to the complaint, that conduct included the following:
- Claiming "placing White folks in interracial dialogue is like placing pre-algebra students in a calculus class" and "White people need something akin to a remedial course."
- Distributing materials filled with demeaning stereotypes, including that "white" behavior is characterized by "not listening," "denial," "defensiveness," "lack of inquiry," "either/or binary thinking," and "not owning one's white group identity."
- Stereotyping "black" people as incapable of or uninterested in objectivity, perfectionism, and individualism.
- Accusing the "white group" of "replicat[ing] the worst facets of dominant culture."
- Claiming that "whiteness…divides each and all of us from the earth, the sun, the wind, the water, the stars, [and] the animals that roam the earth."
- Berating "white" people for "demanding to be seen as an individual and not as a part of the white group."
- Beginning meetings with employees stating their home address and acknowledging that they live on land stolen from Native American, First Nations and Indigenous peoples.
- On yet another occasion, Mr. Ray received an email demanding that he and other "white" employees make reparation payments to a "black colleague" solely on the basis of their skin color.
Mr. Ray alleges that, despite raising serious concerns with New 42 about its hostile work environment, the organization made no changes and instead, retaliated against him by no longer giving him work as a Teaching Artist. Although Mr. Ray is still employed by New 42, he has been given no meaningful work opportunities since he voiced his concerns.
Bion Bartning, Founder and Executive Director of FAIR, said, "We are deeply troubled by New 42's actions, which not only violate anti-discrimination laws but also are contrary to the ideals of compassionate and pro-human opposition to racism. No matter our skin color, we share 99.9% of our DNA with every human on this planet. As such, we believe that respect for our common humanity is essential to eradicating racism. The positive goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion can and should be furthered through unifying efforts, rather than by shaming or stereotyping based on skin color. Intentional discrimination is the opposite of antiracism. We are proud to support Mr. Ray in standing up for civil rights, and a pro-human approach that centers on our shared humanity."
To learn more, please visit our website to view a short film about Kevin Ray and his experience with New 42.
The Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civil rights and liberties and promoting fairness, understanding, and humanity. FAIR has nearly one hundred chapters and tens of thousands of members nationwide. For more information, see www.fairforall.org.
MEDIA INQUIRIES
Steve Ginsburg / Matt Harrison
323.892.5559
FAIR@augustco.com
GENERAL INQUIRIES
Leigh Ann O'Neill
leigh-ann.oneill@fairforall.org
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SOURCE Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/theater-director-files-federal-lawsuit-against-new-york-city-theater-company-new-42-racial-discrimination-hostile-work-environment-harassment/ | 2022-06-09 21:12:11 | 0 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/theater-director-files-federal-lawsuit-against-new-york-city-theater-company-new-42-racial-discrimination-hostile-work-environment-harassment/ |
ROANOKE, Va. – Wednesday was the hottest day in nearly two years in the Roanoke Valley, while storms continued to bubble up in the heat of the day.
Thursday will be quite hot as well, though probably not as brutal as what we saw Wednesday. Even still, the heat index approaches triple digits outside of the mountains.
Storms Thursday will be fewer than what we’ve seen in recent days.
That said, they’ll become strong-to-severe where they do develop. That chance is slightly higher east of the Blue Ridge Parkway during the afternoon and evening.
Scattered storms remain in the forecast both Friday and Saturday.
Humidity levels finally drop Sunday and Monday. It won’t feel like fall out there, but it will at least provide some relief from the soupiness we’ve felt recently.
Heat, humidity and some storms return by the middle of next week.
To keep up to date with the storms in the area, make sure you download our app for alerts and radar. | https://www.wsls.com/weather/2022/07/07/heat-scattered-storms-continue-through-end-of-the-week/ | 2022-07-07 08:34:37 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/weather/2022/07/07/heat-scattered-storms-continue-through-end-of-the-week/ |
Shakira's new single is a full-on diss track, aimed at her ex. It also went straight to the top of the Spotify Top 50 Global chart and hit 100 million views on YouTube in under 3 days.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Shakira's new single is a full-on diss track, aimed at her ex. It also went straight to the top of the Spotify Top 50 Global chart and hit 100 million views on YouTube in under 3 days.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.kasu.org/arts-culture/2023-01-17/a-rolex-for-a-casio-why-shakiras-new-song-is-breaking-records | 2023-01-17 21:40:14 | 0 | https://www.kasu.org/arts-culture/2023-01-17/a-rolex-for-a-casio-why-shakiras-new-song-is-breaking-records |
Gilbert election: Where candidates stand on transportation, housing and political infighting
Gilbert voters will elect at least two new faces to the Gilbert Town Council as two council members are not running for re-election.
Nine candidates on the ballot and one write-in candidate are running for four at-large seats. Incumbent Councilmembers Yung Koprowski, an engineer, and Scott September, a regional manager for Crown Castle International, were both appointed to their seats and are seeking their first election.
The other candidates are:
- Chuck Bongiovanni, CEO and co-founder of a senior residential home franchise and on the board of directors for the Arizona Assisted Living Homes Association.
- Bobbi Buchli, a real estate broker.
- Michael Clark, who owns his own sales company.
- Mario Chicas, a former Drug Enforcement Agency agent.
- Bus Obayomi, a business and management consultant.
- Bill Spence, a former Town Council member and retired Naval lieutenant commander and nuclear engineering officer.
- Jim Torgeson, who owns a custom sign shop and has filed to run for Town Council in the past.
- Write-in candidate Garrett Glover.
The election is Aug. 2. Early ballots will be sent starting July 6 to people who are registered to vote by mail.
Early voters should return their ballot in the mail by July 26 or place it in a ballot drop-off location or voting location by 7 p.m. Aug. 2.
The Arizona Republic asked candidates where they stand on the biggest issues facing Gilbert. Here's how they answered.
2022 elections:Here’s who wants to be your next city council member in metro Phoenix
Gilbert's biggest issues
What are the biggest issues facing Gilbert and what are your solutions?
Bongiovanni: "I believe the most significant issue facing Gilbert is the balance between the town's identity of its' past, present, and future. The last phase of Gilbert's build-out will most likely be solidified over the next election cycle or so. Staying consistent with the Town's Plan and Capital Improvement Plan is essential. We need to use the plan not as a guide but as an instruction book, not bending to large developers' wants and remembering that the plan was written and approved as a plan, not a suggestion. Asking the question of how this particular change in code or zoning benefits the town and its people. If it doesn't directly and holistically benefit the town, it shouldn't be considered no matter how much tax revenue will be raised or who is in charge of the project."
Buchli: "Gilbert will be built out within the next 10 years or less and no one is talking about this. Gilbert has a little less than 5,000 acres of land to build on. … Planning and studies should be a number one priority for the remaining land.
"Another big issue is the possibility of commuter rail coming right through the heart of Gilbert. This issue is a hot topic right now and residents are banding together for discussion and how to stop this and I will be attending these meetings.
"Overspending and lack of transparency are two other big issues. Balance the budget, stop overspending and be transparent with residents, inform residents first-not last, about what the council and town are doing and planning.
"To many high density/high rise apartments. Gilbert has enough now! … Let’s build smaller homes, smaller lots and give our residents and first time home buyers a chance for home ownership."
Clark: "Our Capital improvement projects and maintenance are experiencing higher material costs and extended lead times for materials and parts. Lead times for finished goods like squad cars are taking twice the time at a substantial cost increase.
"Part of the solution as presented at the June 28th council meeting will involve procurement to buy earlier and increase inventory on items we use or can barter … Town Council will need to be aware funds for early procurement may need to be increased. This could save the town money. Procurement is experiencing double digit price increases. Networking with other municipalities is going on now. It is like our procurement department is a concierge at a Ritz Carlton, trading tickets to the ballgame for theatre tickets.
"The … council will really need to determine if projects are a need or … can be delayed until market conditions settle down a bit."
Chicas: "Responsible growth. I met with Town Manager Patrick Banger (and) he was very confident that the town would grow to 330,000 residents. I understand why people move to Gilbert, it’s for the same reasons I moved to Gilbert to raise a family and live in a safe town. The town has given the council access to $515 million — I want to see this money spent responsibly. Spent where Gilbert residents will see a return on their investment.
"Limit the tax burden on Gilbert residents. The council and staff continue to ask for and approve more and more taxes. The economy is not in a good position with record inflation, price of gas and groceries, no more burden on the taxpayer.
"Protect the civil liberties of Gilbert residents. No shutting down private businesses. No masking children or adults and allowing full bodily autonomy. No mandating of vaccines."
Koprowski: "With growth, transportation congestion and safety is a concern that the town will mitigate through capital improvement projects. I will accelerate promises made for enhancements to pedestrian and bicycle networks with a focus on increased safety.
"Twenty-nine percent of Gilbert’s water supply comes from the Colorado River and we will likely hit Tier 2A and 2B shortages within 18 months. Gilbert has always been an advocate of using water wisely and has been banking groundwater credits through recharge basins. Additional well sites may be needed to serve our community. I would not support new high water use developments, such as data centers and high-rise apartments, in order to protect this precious resource.
"Gilbert has outstanding public safety rankings, but with growth comes challenges. I will continue to back our police and fire departments so they have the tools, training, and resources needed to protect and serve our community."
Obayomi: "My priorities … are protecting property rights, maintaining high home values, and supporting our schools and public safety … ensuring that the police and fire departments receive the necessary support they need …
"Arizona is one of the fastest-growing states in the country. Our population has grown by more than 2 million in the past 20 years. We must continue investing in our infrastructure to avoid future gridlocks confronting cities like Scottsdale. Infrastructure includes having gold standard parks and recreations and various centers in our town to continue to support families.
"The major challenge is the growing traffic. … Safe and well-maintained roads will prevent collisions and ensure that our loved ones can safely get to school, work, church, or other places.
"We also need to advocate for those in the community who might feel ostracized. … I am committed to ensuring that nobody is disenfranchised in our community."
September: "Managing crime, keeping taxes low and balancing growth. We need to maintain a well-equipped police and fire department to keep our town and neighborhoods safe. We need to keep taxes and service fees low while maintaining the highest level of services that Gilbert deserves. We must promote responsible growth and prioritize commercial development as we near build out and to ensure we have balance in our community and robust economic drivers that support our infrastructure long term."
Spence: "There are several very important issues affecting Gilbert that include strict fiscal management in an inflationary environment, workforce recruitment and retention, economic recovery and growth for business, water management/conservation, responsible management of housing and land zoning, maintenance of infrastructure and roads, traffic congestion mitigation efforts, and support for public safety. Everyone one of these issues can be the “biggest issues” depending on who you ask.
"Our current water crisis is a major statewide problem that must be addressed. Additionally, we must aggressively manage our spending as we counter the adverse effects of inflation. In every instance, the solution must involve collaborative communication with regional stakeholders to identify innovative ways to solve problems at the lowest cost to the taxpayer."
Torgeson: "Gilbert’s biggest issue includes a buildout occurring so quickly that we cannot keep up with the ramifications. The rapid increase in density, apartments, traffic and resources must be handled in a manner more accommodating to current residents and simultaneously being aware (of) long term effects of rapid urbanization.
"Many residents feel pushed out of the town they love and into an urbanized city. It is diminishing the community feel most came here for. A slower approach will help acclimation with a more natural build out while accommodating multifamily housing.
"Even with the water we have planned, it will strain that resource to continue intensifying density. If we continue laying asphalt and concrete, we contribute to the heat sink and the town promotes planting more trees to counteract the heat sink, but that requires more water.
"We need to take our time and my push will be to take that time."
Glover: "Unaffordable housing. Use the Minneapolis 2040 Plan as a base guideline and revise it to fit the needs of Gilbert. By increasing the supply of housing in Gilbert to match the growing demand, we can lower housing costs for everyone."
The $515 million transportation bond
Gilbert voters narrowly approved a $515 million transportation bond. What projects should be given priority?
Bongiovanni: "I believe we owe the voters diligence in responsibly spending the bond funds. However, with inflation and current higher costs, we must first reassess what projects go forward financially on a needs-only basis. For example, I would support slowing down the pace or scaling down the Ocotillo Bridge project until the economy stabilizes to avoid the current higher-cost environment. Instead, I would focus on road repair and building out interactions that will enhance traffic flows now and near future. Basically, due to the economy, I would rank each project based on "wanting it" to "needing it."
Buchli: "I am of the hope that this transportation bond will be used for the purpose it was intended — transportation … There are a number of items that should be given priority.
- Interior streets that are in need of maintenance …
- Major arterial streets must also be maintained and widened ahead of additional growth to keep the traffic flow moving and congestion to a minimum. There must be transparency to residents at the beginning of this process. Continuing to expand our freeway sections to keep up with growth is a must …
- Additional bus service schedules and additional buses purchased as we finish build out to assist those that need additional transportation modes. Adding bike lanes could be helpful to many but certainly not the masses.
"I am not in favor of commuter rail in Gilbert … Gilbert is a town where people and families drive where they want to go."
Clark: "This bond is not designed to be spent on infrastructure projects all at one time.
"I agree we need a bridge connecting Higley and Greenfield. However, I do not agree to spend $67.2 million. ... The primary goal is to build a bridge … (that) will improve service time for fire and police. The bridge will save lives. … The extra amenities would be nice, but not exactly needed at this time.
"The project to improve Guadalupe with old and failing pipes were given five options to consider. They missed a sixth … “subway” pipe that would be installed once! All maintenance and repair would be made underground much like the utilities that run from a physical plant. Further digging would be minimized and have no impact on residents and their property. …
"We need to step back and take a deep breath before forging ahead … market conditions have changed."
Chicas: "The public is desperate for decongestion of our streets. We should be prioritizing the projects that will most improve traffic flow for vehicles. The majority of our residents rely upon their cars to get to work, drop kids off at school, and do their errands. Though many residents enjoy being able to comfortably walk and cycle around our community for fun, taxpayers expect the money they approved for transportation to be used to make it easier and faster to drive their cars and get from point A to point B. I would prioritize the signal optimization and street projects that will increase capacity and efficiency of moving cars."
Koprowski: "Gilbert has identified needs related to safety & congestion, transportation technology, reconstruction, redevelopment plan implementation, and multi-modal investments. Knowing that the funding will be available through the recent bond election allows the town to plan and sequence these projects in a manner that provides optimum value.
"As a civil engineer, I will apply my background in the transportation industry to provide oversight and ensure smart choices and wise investments. I will prioritize critical projects such as the Ocotillo Road Bridge and Vaughn Ventilator. I will accelerate promises made for enhancements to pedestrian and bicycle networks with a focus on increased safety. The safety of people crossing Gilbert Road in the Heritage District is an issue that we will have better solutions for once the Vaughn Ventilator is constructed."
Obayomi: "The $515 million is intended to fund a list of 57 capital improvement projects. These project categories include safety and congestion, transportation technologies, road reconstruction, redevelopment plan implementation, and multimodal investments. I am a … proponent of providing safety and reducing congestion. We also have a significant traffic issue which $106 million is already planned for road reconstruction to address growth and the traffic system’s decay, such as in the Val Vista Lakes’ public roads.
"Federal and state grants are necessary to help businesses struggling to stay afloat. … These grants help finance a broad range of services …
"It is essential to eliminate wasteful spending. That comes with ensuring that the funding supports sustainable infrastructure as we manage the growth in our great town. … The major challenge is the growing traffic we experience daily … We must prioritize these issues to ensure that the traffic is controlled in our community."
September: "Gilbert has over 900 miles of roads that cover about 70 square miles of town with 95% of us using a car as our primary transportation method. Today, the average commute is 28 minutes, and we are still growing. By 2050 our population is projected to grow by 20%. We need to focus on efficient and safe ways to move vehicles throughout our town and improve the quality of roadways. We need to complete our road widening projects, add more right turn lanes to improve traffic flow and with the help of technology and innovation we can meet our growing transportation needs."
Spence: "The priority of projects has been outlined by the town. I think that we must continually evaluate the effect of inflation, supply chain issues, and availability of resources to determine if the priorities are still valid. We must ensure that we are ready to start AND COMPLETE priority projects on time and on budget. We should be able to look forward and determine if project timing makes sense and not be afraid to temporarily delay a project that proves to be too costly or constrained by resources. Maintenance of our existing infrastructure and roads should always be a priority since delays in performing preventative maintenance may result in more costly corrective maintenance."
Torgeson: "The repair of our streets and sewer systems are the highest priority. The basic infrastructure that will keep us afloat.
"I know that commuter rails is a money-losing project for this town and we should avoid it at all costs. It is 19th century technology in a 21st century world. The costs outweigh the benefits over 10 to 1! It will be at least $10 billion to retrofit the rails and $45 million to operate a year. This is a horrible idea.
"I do enjoy our parks, but the idea of borrowing another $269 million to make them even nicer is ill-advised at this point."
Glover: "Safety improvements should be the top priority."
Infighting, ethics complaints
Infighting and ethics complaints have been a common scene in recent Town Council meetings. What would you bring to the town's leadership?
Bongiovanni: "I have been a franchisor for over 13 years. I have learned from dealing with hundreds of franchise business partners with hundreds of personalities that transparency and accountability are crucial in any relationship. With that said, I believe in getting everyone's thoughts, opinions, and motives on the table immediately to deter any infighting. I don't back away from confrontation because confrontation dealt with respectfully breeds better communication and relationships. Ethical complaints fester in environments where transparency and respect are lacking. I have had the pleasure of serving on many boards and found the most productive ones have been with people who respected each other even if they didn't get along."
Buchli: "I would bring a long history of corporate banking and business ownership experience, business ethics, knowledge and the professionalism to conduct myself properly in a business setting. I have always had the ability to get along with others and to discuss differences with facts, numbers, research and data to back up presentations … to ensure a smoother meeting.
"The infighting must stop. It is an embarrassment to the town much less those involved. I would not be opposed to having a consultant come in and review how the issues of the town and council are being handled … Whatever the solution, the town needs to get to the bottom of why this is happening.
"I am all for finding solutions … and the town getting back to the business of serving the residents … There also appears to be a lack of transparency among them and this should be discussed … and remedied."
Clark: "What does your vote deserve and expect? Your voice is asking for full transparency of leadership. Over the past 25 years I have lived in Gilbert we predominately had open public meetings, committee meetings and study groups. It is time to restore confidence and trust to the public with full transparency.
"Gilbert Town Council leadership does not need to agree but needs to respect the office of council. A little friction is healthy as long as we know when to rein it in. The best I can offer is to lead by example. Running two national companies with a regard to ethics, respect, discernment, and integrity allows me to sleep well at night."
Chicas: "Yes, it’s unfortunate that the mayor has had so many ethics violations filed against her in the first year and half in office. We have to hold elected officials accountable and they would do well to remember that they work for the people. I would do my part to bring transparency, communication and fairness to the council."
Koprowski: "The attitude of leaders impacts those around them. Negativity and divisiveness make progress slow and less efficient, which means we aren’t getting the important work done. It is my duty as a council member to lead by example, listen, and be professional in my actions. Two of my top five strengths from a recent personality assessment are responsibility and focus, which enables me to be a forward-thinking and innovative leader amongst daily distractions.
"I believe that I am the best candidate for Gilbert Town Council because of my education, experience, and leadership. I’ve been recognized by national and regional organizations for making a difference both in business as well as in the greater community. My knowledge and background lend a unique and valuable perspective on Town Council, where approximately 45% of budget expenditures go towards capital improvement infrastructure projects."
Obayomi: "As a man of the law, it is essential to follow it thoroughly and always protect our integrity. I do consider myself a bridge builder and a man of integrity. I am a listener and honestly believe in working closely with everyone in the council for the common good of our constituents.
"As project lead, I am constantly in a situation where I work closely with clients and team members that disagree with me. I evaluate all sides and points of view before making decisions … I have been recognized for my diplomatic approach and always work closely with those I work with. That will not be different once elected to the council.
"At the bottom of my decision-making is prioritizing what will best serve our constituents (rather) than personal interest. We need a council member who will listen to our members and ensure we provide the necessary solution."
September: "I have always had the heart and desire to serve. I have served my family, my neighbors and my church, as well as my community since 2019 as a planning commissioner and since 2020 as a councilmember. I would like to continue to serve the citizens of this great town and will bring my experience as a councilmember over the past two years and my management style of collaboration, accountability, team building, problem solving and conflict resolution that I have learned over three decades in the growing wireless industry. Further, I will always try to listen, understand and build durable relationships along the way."
Spence: "I have several decades of leadership and team building experience. A common trait of high performing team is an emphasis on effective communication. I think that there is opportunity to enhance communication between all parties including communications with residents. I never got to choose who I worked with when I was in the military, but I had to assemble and empower a team to work seamlessly in the most stressful and uncertain environments. I will bring these proven practices to our council and aggressively work to ensure that our residents have a meaningful and effective mechanism to receive important information and provide input to the issues that matter most to them."
Torgeson: "I reject the notion that our council are leaders. They should be representing the residents.
"While I too am disgruntled by the fact our mayor said she would not talk to members of the Morrison Ranch community, I see a value in making missteps like that an issue.
"Without taking responsibility for mistakes, ethical or not, you cannot learn from them. The mayor was actually provided an opportunity to embrace the entirety of the town at that point.
"On the dais, I can promise that I would not use come of the colorful metaphors that have been used against her. As a citizen, sometimes you have to yell to be heard. As a sitting official, your voice can be heard in a more pleasant way."
Glover: "I’m young. I grew up in Gilbert and have lived here my entire life. I bring a fresh new perspective on the issues Gilbert faces. My small campaign is entirely funded by myself so I have no donors wishes to listen to, only the people of Gilbert."
Affordable housing
What should Gilbert do to help solve the problem of increasingly unaffordable housing?
Bongiovanni: "Solving the attainable housing problem isn't easy on a town level per se. The housing market has seen the perfect storm due to lower interest rates over the past few years, construction and supply delays, and higher prices. With that said, it doesn't mean we are powerless.
"I would support actively seeking out-of-the-box solutions by innovative new developers. I have seen some attainable housing communities based on smaller home models and community-based programs in other states. I believe when there is adversity, there are those who see opportunity."
Buchli: "Gilbert has been successful in the building and approval of plenty of 'affordable' multi-family high density apartments, with several new complexes in the process and many already approved and not yet even started. With the town being built out in the next 10 years or less, it appears Gilbert has planned well with apartments and now has enough multi-foamily high density apartment developments to more than serve the 'residents and future residents' of Gilbert.
"Should more be needed in the future, I would be in favor of a limited number based on need, of additional lower level/lower density apartments or town houses. However, I would like to see, as the best solution, home builders building smaller homes on smaller lots to give our residents, especially first time home buyers, a chance to be able to purchase a home and enjoy the pride of ownership."
Clark: "This is a subject that is a little out of our control. The value of housing has two sides. One, if people start to see the value of their house drop, Town Council will be crawled all over asking “what are you going to do about this." Two, housing values are like they are … virtually everywhere else in the country. … I have a daughter attending Vanderbilt in Nashville … and her one-bedroom apartment is over $1200 a month …
"I have a housing idea for our city, police, and fire employees. Establish an endowment account where the deposit can be provided to (these) employees (who) can afford a mortgage but cannot provide the down payment ... When the house is sold or transferred … the deposit money comes back to the endowment account for others to use.
"Apartments are not the answer. … My daughter’s rent is what many pay on their mortgage."
Chicas: "Several factors ... are playing into the housing shortage and housing affordability. The cost of supplies to build are extremely expensive due to factors outside of Gilbert government control. The homes are being built as fast as possible and I expect that a market correction is coming and that will help settle some of this craziness.
"I don’t buy what staff and council are trying to convince the public that more apartments are needed to help young adults/professionals. Thousands of dollars in rent is affordable? To who? Increasing apartments density is not how we as a town combat that. Keeping taxes, utilities low is how you help keep more money in the pockets of the residents."
Koprowski: "The town has been intimately involved in regional programs surrounding the topic of affordable housing. Through partnerships with AZCEND and Save the Family, Gilbert residents can receive emergency rental and utility assistance. More than 1,000 households have been served to date.
"Many other residents and incoming workforce have good, high-paying jobs but they need a stepping stone to attain homeownership. Instead of housing products built for rent, I’d like to see a shift to for-sale multifamily products, such as low-height townhomes, on property already zoned for multifamily. I’d support continued regional collaboration surrounding programs that would help people attain homeownership.
"In areas the town can control, such as utilities (water, sewer, trash), we will keep best-in-class services and the lowest rates in the region. The Community Engagement Task Force will also be exploring the topic of low income/homelessness in its efforts to identify gaps and solutions."
Obayomi: "Gilbert is known to have a highly educated and prosperous workforce. It is imperative to continue to make sure there are opportunities and investments in the town for people to make a good source of income. This also means educating the workforce on what opportunities are available and how they can also upskill. As a Councilman, I will work closely with the federal, state, and nonprofit organizations to explore ways we can solve increasingly unaffordable housing."
September: "The marketplace is going to determine how much and what kind of housing is needed in Gilbert and how that housing will be priced. Council needs to be sensitive to meet the needs of the market and our businesses, to the extent it is within the guidelines of the general plan. Gilbert voters have approved the general plan that provides guidance for growth and guardrails for decisions to appropriately balance land use."
Spence: "I had the opportunity to discuss attainable housing with organizations that represent thousands of realtors throughout the region. Data shows that solution is to NOT build more high-density rental apartments, but rather assess the social-economic needs of specific areas and build accordingly. And I agree. I have never voted in favor of building high-density apartments. While some may think it helps to solve the current housing shortage problem, the data suggests that the long-term problems may outweigh the short-term benefits.
"There is a new intergovernmental network being created that brings all the stakeholders in the region together to identify the “arch” of housing requirements custom tailored to each individual community. I am excited to participate in this initiative. We all know that blindly building more apartments will not solve our housing problems. We need to be smarter and build what best serves the needs of our town and our residents."
Torgeson: "Without huge government overreach, we cannot change housing costs. I do not feel Gilbert should find any way to interfere with home values. The very concept is unethical.
"I also reject the notion that Section 8 housing is a benefit to the town and I do not feel the town should buy more housing to provide Section 8.
"We do need to examine hiring packages if we are trying to relocate new employees to Gilbert, but that is an entirely separate discussion."
Glover: "Use the Minneapolis 2040 Plan as a base guideline and revise it to fit the needs of Gilbert. By increasing the supply of housing in Gilbert to match the growing demand we can lower housing costs for everyone."
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Model Anna Nicole Smith: The tragic life of the America's Playmate
Anna Nicole Smith, mother of Dannielynn Birkhead and deceased Daniel Wayne Smith, was a glamorous Hollywood bombshell
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Dozens in 16 states charged with health care fraud schemes, including $1.9B in bogus claims
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has charged dozens of people in several health care fraud and prescription drug schemes, including one totaling $1.9 billion and a doctor accused of ordering fake ankle braces for a patient whose leg had been amputated, officials said Wednesday.
The scheme involving the submission of nearly $2 billion in bogus claims is one of the largest health care fraud cases ever brought by the Justice Department, the agency said. It’s one of several announced as part of a crackdown in states around the country.
In total, 78 people in 16 states were charged in a series of separate cases, which also included an alleged scheme to buy back HIV medication from patients and then resell the pills.
The defendants targeted vulnerable people and used the money they made to buy exotic cars, jewelry and yachts, federal investigators said. The federal government seized millions of dollars in cash, automobiles and real estate as part of the crackdown.
“The Justice Department will find and bring to justice criminals who seek to defraud Americans and steal from taxpayer-funded programs,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
In one case filed in the Southern District of Florida, investigators said they found nearly $2 billion in fraudulent telemedicine claims submitted to government-funded coverage programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which mainly cover people age 65 and over and those with low incomes, respectively. No attorneys were listed Wednesday for the three men charged in connection with the online platform DMERx, and a message left with a parent company was not immediately returned.
Those cases involved templates for fake doctor orders for braces and pain creams that were used in exchange for kickbacks and bribes, investigators said.
In another telemedicine fraud case, prosecutors say a Washington state doctor, David Antonio Becerril, signed more than 2,800 fraudulent orders, including ankle braces for a patient whose leg had been amputated years before. He’s accused of taking less than 40 seconds to review and sign each order. One of his attorneys, William Portanova, declined to comment.
In some cases, computer software produced fake doctor’s orders and patients were never examined or had only a brief conversation with the physician, said Omar Perez Aybar, special agent in charge of the Miami regional office for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector general.
“There were providers and patients all across the country,” he said.
In another case, a Brooklyn man is accused of working with other people to buy more than $150 million in prescription drugs, including HIV medications from suppliers who bought back medication from patients. Steven Diamantstein is accused of re-labeling the drugs for sale. His defense attorney, Zach Intrater, said Diamantstein has pleaded not guilty to the charges and “looks forward to contesting them in court.”
The investigation involved coordination among several agencies, including the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and state Medicaid fraud units, Perez Aybar said.
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Massachusetts' highest court has ruled that a woman claiming to be the descendant of enslaved people can proceed with some of the claims in her lawsuit against Harvard University.
The June 23 ruling from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court allows Tamara Lanier to seek damages from Harvard for mistreating her when using photographs of her ancestors -- images known as daguerreotypes.
Lanier alleges that a Harvard professor commissioned the photographs of her ancestors without their consent and without compensating them, and then attempted to use the photos to allege the "biological inferiority" of Black people, according to her complaint.
The court's decision allows Harvard to retain possession of the images, but also allows Lanier to pursue claims for infliction of emotional distress against the university in state courts.
The images of Lanier's ancestors, Renty and his daughter Delia, were taken in South Carolina when they were enslaved in the 1800's, according to Lanier's complaint. Before the photos were taken, Lanier's complaint states, one of her enslaved ancestors was forced to disrobe and another was stripped naked to the waist.
The court concluded that the university owed the woman a duty to take reasonable care in responding to her after she claimed the daguerreotypes depicted her ancestors and provided documentation, in part because of "Harvard's complicity in the horrific actions surrounding the creation of the daguerreotypes."
The ruling allows Lanier to proceed with her case alleging that the university breached that duty by mistreating her when it "cavalierly dismissed her ancestral claims" to the depicted slaves publicly, failed to contact her when it used the images, and rebuffed her attempts to share her ancestor's story.
Lanier said while she is pleased with the ruling that will allow her to pursue damages against Harvard, she feels the ruling didn't go far enough. "I want the daguerreotypes," Lanier told CNN, adding that she feels Harvard should not be "allowed to profit" from the use of the daguerreotypes.
One of the images, which are believed to be some of the earliest known pictures of enslaved people, was used by the Harvard University Press as a cover photo for the book "From Site to Sight: Anthropology, Photography and the Power of Imagery" in 2017.
CNN has reached out to Harvard for their reaction to the court's decision but has not heard back. But university spokesperson Rachael Dane told NBC News the school is reviewing the decision.
"Harvard has and will continue to grapple with its historic connection to slavery and views this inquiry as part of its core academic mission," and that the university "... strives to be an ethical steward of the millions of historical objects from around the globe within its museum and library collections," Dane told NBC.
The images were commissioned by controversial Harvard Professor Louis Agassiz in the 1850s for use in his research, according to Lanier's complaint. Lanier filed suit in 2019 asking the university to turn over the images of her ancestors and to pay unspecified damages. Last year, a Massachusetts Superior Court ruled Lanier did not have a property interest in the images and that ruling was appealed to the state supreme court.
Attorneys for Lanier are pleased with the state supreme court's decision, they said. "It was a win for her and her family, but more importantly, it was a win for Black people in America because I believe this opinion will be used in cases, reparations cases, all over America," Lanier's attorney and civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump said.
But Crump added that as long as Harvard possesses the daguerreotypes, they are inflicting emotional distress on Tamara Lanier and her family. Josh Krostoff, another Lanier attorney, told CNN he hopes the case between his client and Harvard can be resolved quickly, but understands it still could be a long road ahead in the courts.
"Until those daguerreotypes are returned to the family by these criminal possessors of the daguerreotypes, there will be no justice for the Lanier family," Krostoff said.
The-CNN-Wire
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"Packed with corn chip crunch," Whataburger has added a new chili cheeseburger to its menu for a limited time.
The newest menu item at the San Antonio-based chain is basically chili and corn chips on top of two beef patties, two slices of American cheese, mustard and onions.
Pricing and availability vary by market, Whataburger wrote in a news release. The chili cheeseburger is also available in a "junior size" and is available now.
On ExpressNews.com: Bill Miller Bar-B-Q is bringing back its vegetable beef soup
"We know our customers enjoy trying exciting new tastes, which is why Whataburger likes to experiment with flavor profiles and combinations," said Ana Flores, a spokesperson for Whataburger.
The announcement of the new burger comes a week after Whataburger announced additional limited-time offerings — a white chocolate raspberry shake and two breakfast bowls.
The new burger takes the place of the limited-time Bacon Blue Cheese Burger, which is no longer available. Flores said Whataburger changes its menu regularly to "keep things fresh."
shepard.price@express-news.net | @shepardgprice | https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/Whataburger-corn-chip-chili-cheeseburger-17504037.php | 2022-10-12 18:51:57 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/Whataburger-corn-chip-chili-cheeseburger-17504037.php |
The Board of Education has unanimously approved a health care provider for employees of Carroll County Public Schools and revisions to policies concerning violent incidents and student health.
At its monthly meeting Wednesday night, the board approved the renewal of employee health care through Aetna. As the provider of Medicaid, prescription drugs, stop loss insurance and Medicare Advantage plans, Aetna coverage costs just under $19 million. Superintendent Cynthia McCabe said a price reduction from the provider will result in around $4 million in savings in 2024.
A bundle of medical plan benefits and stop loss insurance will cost around $2.4 million, the Medicare Advantage plan will cost over $3.3 million, and the prescription drug plan will cost nearly $13 million in 2024.
Benefits are an important tool for employee retention, Board of Education President Marsha Herbert said, and most employees like having Aetna as a provider.
“We don’t have the biggest raises,” Herbert said, “but they love our health insurance. That’s a biggie. If we can provide that, that is that’s a win for us.”
Herbert said she received good health care from Aetna when she was an educator, and that staff prefer continuity in a health care provider so that they can continue to see the same doctor.
“Employee satisfaction generally has been has been very comfortable and happy with the current provider,” Assistant Superintendent of Operations Jonathan O’Neal said
Three revised policies were submitted by the school system’s Director of Student Services, Karl Streaker, and each update was approved individually by unanimous vote.
The updated Threats, Violent Acts, and Weapons Prohibited policy — which adds definitions for terms such as “assault,” “look-alike firearm,” “targeted violence” and “leakage” — was approved without revision.
A “look-alike firearm/other gun” is defined in the policy revisions as, “any gun other than a firearm, loaded or unloaded, operable or inoperable … such as a BB gun, starter pistol, or pellet gun, which resembles a firearm.”
The proposed language defining look-alike firearms comes after the Manchester Police Department issued a statement in May warning of the dangers of a high school senior tradition game played outside of school using realistic-looking water guns. The policy notes that with the written approval of a principal, look-alike weapons may be used in school-sponsored events, such as drama productions or marching band performances and JROTC activities.
Also in the revisions, “leakage” is defined as when “an individual intentionally or unintentionally reveals clues to feelings, thoughts, fantasies, attitudes, or intentions that may signal an impending violent act.” The policy now states that all members of the school community should immediately report any leakage or information related to leakage in order to avoid threats of violence to schools.
The school system’s policy on in-school threats and violence, firearms and weapons is based on Maryland’s Model Policy for Behavioral Threat Assessment, which was developed as a result of the Safe to Learn Act of 2018, according to the agenda item. Suggested updates would align the county’s policy with the Maryland Center for School Safety’s Behavioral Threat Assessment Implementation Guide, a supplement to the state threat assessment policy.
The policy was first implemented in December 1995 and has been updated multiple times, with the most recent revisions being approved Aug. 12, 2020.
Revisions to the health and wellness policy, last visited in March 2020, update the scope of the policy to include employees as well as students, and alter the roles of several staff positions.
While a school nurse was always responsible for contributing to classroom instruction in hand-washing and related topics, the revisions add CPR and overdose response training to the responsibilities of the position.
School psychologists now work with postsecondary students and would now offer psychological assessment services.
The position of licensed mental health professional was added, to counsel students, provide professional development training for staff and “regularly intervene in crises and take preventive actions.”
“I would like to see some sort of language that mandates that parents be notified of any kind of treatment that is prescribed or done by a staff member, that parents … concur with any kind of counseling efforts or treatment efforts,” said board member Steve Whisler.
Streaker said school psychologists are limited to observing a student before collaborating with parents.
“Families are very informed,” Streaker said, “and there’s lots of progress monitoring that goes with that.”
An additional update changes descriptions of counseling, psychological and social services to include “program initiatives that support student learning in … self-regulation, relationship skills, conflict resolution, executive functioning skills and problem-solving. Services are provided in a collaborative manner with the student’s families and community.”
The word “student’s” was changed from “school’s” by an amendment proposed by board member Donna Sivigny. The school board unanimously approved the amendment and the revised policy, as amended.
“The families don’t belong to the schools,” Sivigny said, “the families belong to the students, so it was a little bit vague on what we actually mean there.”
A “student dignity” section was added to the Student Searches and Seizures Policy to clarify that searches should not humiliate students or disrupt instruction more than necessary. Whenever a student is searched, a third party is required to be present under the current policy. The third-party observer and student being searched must be of the same gender, and it is preferable for the searcher to be of the same gender as the student as well. Streaker said the new policy endeavors to clarify this requirement by changing the rule’s wording.
Policy revisions also expand the circumstances under which a student can be searched. While a student can currently be searched for suspected possession of unlawful items, the updated language expands this rule to any item that violates a school policy.
In the case of a drug investigation occurring when students would be released from classes, students will be held in class until the search is completed, under the new policy. The previous policy would end the search in the event that students are released into the halls.
Carroll County Daily Headlines
The policy was unanimously approved, and a revision of the regulation on police searches also was suggested.
The policy on police searches indicates that staff are to cooperate with police, but may not perform a search unless a police officer has a search warrant. School board member Patricia Dorsey said the language could be improved.
“It’s a little conflicting,” Dorsey said. “It’s saying that we are going to cooperate, but then it’s letting us know that we cannot conduct the searches.”
“If a search warrant has been issued, why would we do the search? The officer can do the search,” legal counsel Edmund O’Meally said.
The language, “[a] school official may not conduct the search of a student at the request of a police officer unless a warrant has been issued,” will be changed to something that conveys that, “school officials shall not conduct searches as directed by police officers. School officials should cooperate with police officers if they need to initiate a search,” Streaker said.
Streaker said he will ensure the policy is communicated clearly to school principals by Chief of School Security Curtis Pierce and Coordinator of School Security Brandon Elliot.
School board meetings are open to the public and livestreamed on the Carroll County Public Schools YouTube channel and viewable on the right side of the Board of Education’s website at carrollk12.org/board-of-education/meeting-information, under CETV Livestream. Meetings are also broadcast live throughout the month on Carroll Educational Television, Ch. 21. | https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/education/cc-school-board-gun-policy-health-care-provider-aetna-20230717-zx42q6j52jaqxddx753w36jfse-story.html | 2023-07-17 10:02:40 | 1 | https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/education/cc-school-board-gun-policy-health-care-provider-aetna-20230717-zx42q6j52jaqxddx753w36jfse-story.html |
For months now, the Mets have been sniffing around Alexis Diaz, the Cincinnati Reds closer and the brother of injured closer Edwin Diaz, but they’re likely cringing at the price tag for a guy who is 14-for-14 in save opportunities.
The Reds’ sudden resurgence could complicate any deal. They are four games out of first place in the NL Central and might not unload talent if they believe they have a shot at the postseason.
While there have been no formal trade talks, it’s likely the Mets would have to give up several pitching prospects, Jon Heyman of the N.Y. Post said, and the Mets traditionally have coveted young arms.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has reported that the Mets inquired about Alexis Diaz, 26, after his older brother suffered a season-ending knee injury playing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, but the Reds had firm demands that the Mets were unwilling to meet at the time:
The New York Mets asked about Cincinnati Reds closer Alexis Diaz last season, and again this month after the season-ending injury to his brother, Edwin Diaz, but the answer remains the same.
Unless the Mets are willing to trade their top prospects in return, the answer is NO.
The Reds have Diaz under team control for five more years so they aren’t even thinking about moving him unless completely blown away in an offer.
Edwin Diaz, 28, signed a five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets this offseason, making him the highest-paid closer in league history. The 2022 All-Star selection put up a 1.31 ERA for the Mets last year in 32 game appearances.
While celebrating Puerto Rico’s 5-2 win over the Dominican Republic, Edwin Diaz injured his knee and was carried off of the field. He needed surgery, which ended his season.
MORE MLB:
- Yankees’ Aaron Judge best-case return? Doctor weighs in with recommendation
- What’s wrong with ex-Mets ace Noah Syndergaard? ‘It’s hard to stop the bleeding right now’
- How Yankees’ Carlos Rodón was feeling after ‘big step’ in rehab
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. | https://www.nj.com/sports/2023/06/mets-are-sniffing-around-this-mlb-top-closer-and-youve-heard-the-name-before.html | 2023-06-09 10:28:03 | 0 | https://www.nj.com/sports/2023/06/mets-are-sniffing-around-this-mlb-top-closer-and-youve-heard-the-name-before.html |
Which Miraculous Ladybug toys are best?
If you’re looking for a holiday or birthday gift for a fan of the series “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir,” you can’t go wrong with Miraculous Ladybug toys. The titular superhero has become increasingly popular with kids of all ages. There are a variety of toys available, including yo-yos, action figures and toy phones. For children who enjoy playing with dolls, the Miraculous Ladybug Fashion Doll is an excellent choice.
What to know before you buy a Miraculous Ladybug toy
Backstory
Miraculous Ladybug toys are based on an internationally acclaimed animated series “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir.” Normal teenagers, Marinette (Ladybug) and Adrien (Cat Noir), use magical jewels to transform into superheroes destined to fight against evil.
With magic, adventure and romance, this series has it all. It’s not only great for young kids, but it also appeals to pre-teens and some young teenagers.
Reasons to get a Miraculous Ladybug toy
Besides appealing to fans of the show, there are plenty of other reasons why Miraculous Ladybug toys are a great gift idea. For younger fans, these toys can teach things like fine motor skills, creative thinking and fundamental social skills. For older fans, they can teach them more advanced skills, including some math and storytelling.
Some Miraculous Ladybug toys, like the action figures, dolls and yo-yos, are great for interactive play. At the same time, there are enough options for fans who prefer to play alone.
Safety concerns
Miraculous Ladybug toys are no more dangerous than any other toy. That said, there are a few ways to make sure any toy you choose for a child is safe.
Some toys come with small parts or accessories like doll shoes or batteries that could be harmful if swallowed. Yo-yos, while fun, may become a safety hazard if the cord gets wrapped around a child’s neck or if the yo-yo itself hits the child while they’re playing with it.
To prevent these potential issues, choose age-appropriate toys. Also, if necessary, provide adult supervision to any child while they’re playing.
What to look for in quality Miraculous Ladybug toys
Types of toys
Here are the most popular types of Miraculous Ladybug toys:
- Action figures and dolls.
- Miraculous Ladybug yo-yo toys.
- Miraculous Ladybug toy phones.
- Miraculous Ladybug plushies.
There are also costumes, outfits and different types of clothing available to superfans of the series. When picking out a toy, consider how active the child is, their age and their interests.
Age range
The series’ intended audience is children ages 6-14 years old, so most of the themed toys are most suitable for kids in this age range.
Operation and effects
Some Miraculous Ladybug toys are electronic. These toys usually have sound effects or lights that are triggered with the push of a button. Some of these electronic toys can even replay sounds, which makes them more interesting to play with. Keep in mind that electronic toys typically require batteries that may need to be purchased separately.
If you’re looking for something with unique effects, consider getting a Miraculous Ladybug toy phone. Some of these toy phones have extra features that make them more interactive. For example, the Miraculous Compact Caller toy phone lets kids “talk” to characters from the show.
Materials
Many Miraculous Ladybug toys consist primarily of hard plastic, though some use wood. Some of these toys, like the action figures, are bendable or poseable, which lets kids move them around in a lifelike manner.
How much you can expect to spend on a Miraculous Ladybug toy
Most Miraculous Ladybug action figures cost between $20-$30. Sets may go for more than that. More advanced toys, like some Miraculous Ladybug toy phones, cost up to $100.
Miraculous Ladybug toy FAQ
Which action figures should I get if I already have Cat Noir and Ladybug?
A. There are several other cool action figures or dolls you can get to go along with the protagonists. For instance, Queen Bee and Rena Rouge are also fun, popular characters.
What are some other toys or accessories I should consider getting?
A. Several of the action figures and dolls are compatible with different clothes and outfits. This may require a separate purchase though. There are also other neat accessories and gift ideas like costume jewelry, mouse pads and plushies.
What are the best Miraculous Ladybug toys to buy?
Top Miraculous Ladybug toy
Miraculous Ladybug Fashion Doll
What you need to know: Standing at 10 inches tall, this Ladybug action figure is perfect for young collectors and kids who enjoy role-playing.
What you’ll love: This action figure comes with her sidekick Kwami. It also comes with certain accessories, such as a removable outfit and boots, so there’s a lot of potential for customization. The toy is also fully poseable with 13 points of articulation.
What you should consider: The color of the paint is a little bit different from the character’s appearance in the show.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Miraculous Ladybug toy for the money
Heni Ladybug Yo-Yo Classic Toy
What you need to know: Based on Ladybug’s weapon, this classic Miraculous Ladybug yo-yo toy is a great option for more active kids who love to play with friends.
What you’ll love: This yo-yo is made of durable wood and fits in a child’s hand. It comes with a soft, red bag that makes for a great gift. It’s also designed to be safe for younger kids.
What you should consider: It’s a good toy, but the price is a little high in comparison to traditional wooden yo-yos.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: The Miraculous Ladybug toy phone looks like the device Ladybug uses in the series as she fights against evil.
What you’ll love: This compact caller lets you “call” nine main characters from the series, each with its own distinct dialing combination. It comes with batteries included so kids can play with it immediately.
What you should consider: There isn’t a place to store the call cards that come with the toy.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wowktv.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/action-figures-playsets-br/best-miraculous-ladybug-toy/ | 2022-06-14 16:21:49 | 1 | https://www.wowktv.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/action-figures-playsets-br/best-miraculous-ladybug-toy/ |
McKee fills commerce secretary job with Department of Business Regulation head
Stefan Pryor resigned amid Pawtucket stadium troubles
PROVIDENCE — Gov. Dan McKee named the head of the state's Department of Business Regulation to fill the role of commerce secretary vacated last week by Stefan Pryor, who is running for state treasurer.
Elizabeth Tanner will immediately start work as the new commerce secretary, McKee announced on Monday morning.
"When faced with challenges, Liz has always come out on top," McKee said in a statement. "She advocates for policy that is efficient and outside-the-box and I know she will get the job done to continue Rhode Island’s growing momentum."
Tanner was appointed to run the Department of Business Regulation by former Gov. Gina Raimondo in November 2017, and oversaw the regulation and enforcement of financial services, the State Fire Marshal's Office, the State Building Office, the Office of Cannabis Regulation and a variety of professional licenses, including the boxing commission, according to her biography for the Department of Business Regulation. Starting in 2015, Tanner worked at the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation in client services.
June 17, 2022:Amid Pawtucket stadium trouble, Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor to step down Tuesday
In a statement, Tanner said she shares a commitment with McKee to address business issues and help small businesses in the state grow.
Beth Dwyer will serve as interim director of the Department of Business Regulation. She had been the department's superintendent of banking and insurance.
Mark Patinkin:Seeing soccer stadium site up close with Pawtucket mayor, who worries state won't step up
Pawtucket stadium:Future of Pawtucket soccer stadium development still in doubt after Commerce Board meets
Pryor said on May 24, after announcing his campaign for treasurer, that he would leave the commerce post in "two weeks," but stayed on at McKee's request to craft a rescue plan for the Pawtucket soccer stadium project, beset by soaring construction costs.
May 24, 2022:RI Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor to run for state treasurer
The plan for the stadium project came under scrutiny from the Commerce Corporation Board of Directors, which would direct money into the project.
Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Providence Journal subscription. Here's our latest offer.
Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2022/06/27/mckee-names-elizabeth-tanner-ri-commerce-secretary-after-stefan-pryor-leaves/7747240001/ | 2022-06-27 20:02:13 | 0 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2022/06/27/mckee-names-elizabeth-tanner-ri-commerce-secretary-after-stefan-pryor-leaves/7747240001/ |
LeBron James, Anthony Davis lead Lakers past Bulls 121-110
By JAY COHEN
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) — LeBron James wants to build up his stamina, and there are a couple more little things he is working on.
“I think by the end of the road trip I should be pretty good,” he said.
He certainly looked pretty good Wednesday night.
James scored 25 points in his return to the starting lineup, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 121-110 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
James also had seven rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes in his second game back after he was sidelined for a month because of a torn tendon in his right foot. The four-time MVP scored 19 points in Sunday’s 118-108 loss to Chicago in just his second appearance as a reserve in his 20-year NBA career.
“I’m just trusting the work that I’ve been putting in,” James said. “I know I put in a lot of work. I know my body.”
Fighting for playoff positioning in the Western Conference, Los Angeles (38-38) kicked off a five-game trip with its fourth win in five games overall. Anthony Davis had 38 points and 10 rebounds in his hometown, and D’Angelo Russell scored 17 points.
“I always look forward to coming back home,” Davis said. “Kind of one of the first games I look at when the schedule drops. … It’s always a great feeling coming back, especially getting a win.”
Nikola Vucevic had 29 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for Chicago in its second straight loss. DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points, and reserve Coby White had 17 points and nine assists.
The Bulls (36-40) are 10th in the Eastern Conference, clinging to the last spot for the play-in tournament.
“Obviously we didn’t close the (first) half very well. … And in the third quarter, LeBron made some tough shots and then our inability to score with them hurt us,” coach Billy Donovan said.
LaVine’s dunk got Chicago within seven with 56.7 seconds left in the third. But Los Angeles quickly pulled away in the final period.
Dennis Schröder’s three-point play made it 97-79 with 8:22 left, capping a 12-3 Lakers run. Davis connected on his only 3-point attempt with 6:07 to go, lifting Los Angeles to a 105-87 lead.
Austin Reaves added 19 points for the Lakers, who shot 52% (45 for 86) from the field.
“Just wanted to try to put them in some uncomfortable positions with their defense,” Los Angeles coach Darvin Ham said, “and sort of spread the ball around a little bit, not overdose on any one or two actions, but just try to slowly sift through the offense and see what was bringing us the most returns.”
After leading by as many as 17 in the first quarter, Los Angeles closed the first half with a 10-0 run for a 59-51 lead at the break. James made four foul shots and a driving layup during the spurt.
FAIR PLAY
Reaves had a little fun with former teammate Patrick Beverley in the fourth quarter.
After driving into the lane and making a floater over Beverley with 2:50 remaining, Reaves lowered his right hand to make the dismissive “too small” gesture sometimes used by NBA players to taunt their opponents.
Beverley did the same thing against James on Sunday.
“It wasn’t something I thought about doing all game,” Reaves said. “But I felt like right time, right situation. Me and Pat (have) a good relationship. I respect him. It’s just me competing.”
TIP-INS
Lakers: Russell (right hip soreness) started after he was sidelined for the previous two games. He went 7 for 12 from the field. … Led by Davis, Los Angeles had a 45-32 rebounding advantage.
Bulls: C Andre Drummond missed the game because of personal reasons. Drummond posted on Twitter on Tuesday that he was deleting his social media apps to focus on his mental health. … G Alex Caruso (left foot soreness) returned to the starting lineup after missing Monday night’s 124-112 loss to the Clippers. … Vucevic scored Chicago’s first 13 points of the game.
UP NEXT
Lakers: At Minnesota on Friday night. The Lakers are 0-2 against the Timberwolves this season.
Bulls: At Charlotte on Friday night. The Bulls are 7-3 in their last 10 games against the Hornets.
___
Follow Jay Cohen at https://twitter.com/jcohenap
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://kion546.com/news/ap-california/2023/03/29/lebron-james-anthony-davis-lead-lakers-past-bulls-121-110/ | 2023-03-31 02:45:30 | 1 | https://kion546.com/news/ap-california/2023/03/29/lebron-james-anthony-davis-lead-lakers-past-bulls-121-110/ |
Moderna says updated COVID shot boosts omicron protection
(AP) - Moderna’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine that combines its original shot with protection against the omicron variant appears to work, the company announced Wednesday.
COVID-19 vaccine makers are studying updated boosters that might be offered in the fall to better protect people against future coronavirus surges.
Moderna’s preliminary study results show people given the combination shot experienced an eight-fold increase in virus-fighting antibodies capable of targeting the omicron mutant, the company announced.
Today’s COVID-19 vaccines all are based on the original version of the coronavirus. They’re still providing strong protection against severe disease, hospitalization and death even after the appearance of the super-contagious omicron variant -- especially if people have had a booster dose.
But the virus continues to mutate rapidly in ways that let it evade some of the vaccines’ protections and cause milder infections.
So U.S. regulators, and the World Health Organization, are considering whether to order a change in the vaccine recipe for a new round of booster shots in the fall -- when cold weather and kids returning to school are expected to drive yet another surge.
Key questions: How to make that change without losing the continued strong protection against COVID-19′s worst outcomes? And what’s the right variant to target? After the huge winter omicron surge, that mutant’s genetically distinct siblings now are the main threats, including one that’s fueling the current U.S. wave of infections.
The Food and Drug Administration has set a meeting in late June for its scientific advisers to debate those questions and evaluate data from vaccine makers’ tests of potential new formulas. Pfizer also is studying a combination shot, what scientists call a bivalent vaccine.
Moderna said its new study found that a month after the combo shot, recipients harbored higher omicron-fighting antibody levels -- and cross-protection against other prior variants — than the original vaccine triggers. However, antibodies naturally wane so it’s not clear how long the protection against infection will last.
The study was performed in 437 people, and safety was similar to today’s boosters, Moderna said. The results were announced in a press release and haven’t undergone scientific review.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/06/08/moderna-says-updated-covid-shot-boosts-omicron-protection/ | 2022-06-08 11:43:56 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/06/08/moderna-says-updated-covid-shot-boosts-omicron-protection/ |
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Fantasy 5" game were:
08-14-16-35-39
(eight, fourteen, sixteen, thirty-five, thirty-nine)
Estimated jackpot: $267,000
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Fantasy 5" game were:
08-14-16-35-39
(eight, fourteen, sixteen, thirty-five, thirty-nine)
Estimated jackpot: $267,000 | https://www.expressnews.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Fantasy-5-game-17356860.php | 2022-08-07 12:27:01 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Fantasy-5-game-17356860.php |
With the Great Resignation in the rearview mirror, the Great Apprehension brings to light a widespread sense of job insecurity
ATLANTA, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With many economists warning of an impending recession, paired with inflation at a 40-year high, it's no surprise that three out of four American workers are fearful they will lose their jobs, according to a new survey from Insight Global, a national staffing services company. The survey, which was conducted in June 2022 among more than 1,000 American workers, reveals growing concern among full-time employees at all levels about job security, financial preparedness and communication transparency from company leaders.
With the first half of 2022 laser-focused on The Great Resignation, the latter half introduces The Great Apprehension where many American workers are hoping for the best but planning for the worst. Survey results revealed the following:
- 78% of employees expressed worry about losing their job if there is a recession, with almost a quarter (23%) of American workers indicating they are extremely worried about losing their jobs.
- Managers (49%) more often than non-management employees (34%) indicated higher levels of anxiety regarding losing their job if there is a recession.
- 56% of American workers say they don't feel financially prepared for a recession or say they don't know how they would prepare for a recession, with women feeling the most unprepared at 64%.
For those adults, especially older Millennials who were working during the Great Recession of the mid-to-late aughts, the thought of another recession triggers professional fears.
- Among American workers who were employed when the Great Recession began, more than half (53%) say they still feel anxious about job security or say the fear of being laid off is often in the back of their minds. These fears are even more common among Millennials (60%), many who were in the early stages of their careers during the Great Recession.
- A quarter of American workers employed during the Great Recession (25%) say they have several backup plans prepared should they be laid off.
The survey's findings signal that the ball may be landing in employers' courts, with nearly nine out of 10 managers in the U.S. stating they would be likely to lay off employees should there be a recession. And employees' growing concerns for their jobs are making them more willing to take a pay cut to avoid a potential layoff.
- 87% of managers say they would be likely to lay off employees should there be a recession.
- More than half (54%) of American workers would be willing to take a pay cut to avoid being laid off if there were a recession.
- More working men (63%) than women (46%) in the U.S. would be willing to take a pay cut to avoid being laid off.
- Over half (52%) of American workers do not feel their job is recession-proof or say they are unsure if their job is recession-proof.
"It's unfortunate we're already seeing some companies turn to mass layoffs because I believe layoffs should be the absolute last resort," said Bert Bean, CEO of Insight Global. "Instead, I encourage leaders to consider other solutions, such as building a plan that avoids layoffs and helps you grow through a recession. Get your employee base executing on that, because when you bounce back from a recession, you'll need your people more than ever."
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020 and it took its toll on the global economy, Insight Global committed to a "no layoff" policy, which Bean says it will continue in the event of another recession.
"I realize not all leaders have the will to do this, but if you do, you will be shocked and amazed by the performance of your people when they feel this kind of safety and loyalty," said Bean.
Workers are confident in their leadership's ability to lead them through a recession; however, trust in communication is lacking.
- Nearly half of employees (47%) do not trust that their employer would adequately communicate its plans should there be a recession, and 66% of managers do not trust that their senior leadership would adequately communicate its plans should there be a recession.
- Two-thirds of managers are confident (67%) that the leadership at their organization could lead their organization through a recession, and 58% of employees in non-managerial positions indicate the same levels of confidence in leadership.
"As we're seeing in the headlines, even major companies that have experienced astronomical growth over the last several years are not immune to financial challenges," added Bean. "If a recession strikes, I'd hate to see that result in more layoffs. If your company hasn't established a recession plan yet, do it now, communicate it with your employees, and start acting on it."
Learn more about the survey results at www.insightglobal.com/blog/recession-anxieties.
Insight Global commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 1,004 working adults in the United States, including 503 full-time workers in management positions and 501 full-time workers who are not in management positions. Survey participants worked in professions within primarily white-collar industries1
The margin of error fell within +/- 3 percentage points with a confidence interval of 95 percent. The fieldwork for the online survey took place between June 10 and June 13 of 2022. Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency.
Insight Global is a national staffing and services company dedicated to empowering people. We relentlessly pursue opportunities for others, because when we all work together, anything is possible. We specialize in sourcing information technology, accounting, finance, and engineering professionals, and delivering service-based solutions to Fortune 1000 clients. Our team spans across more than 64 regional offices throughout North America and has pledged to place more than 80,000 people in jobs in 2022. Insight Global's services extend far beyond just filling roles. In addition to staffing services, we provide culture consulting, diversity, equity and inclusion guidance, specialized health care staffing and resources, and an array of managed services designed to meet company's individual needs. To learn more about Insight Global, visit insightglobal.com.
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SOURCE Insight Global | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/nearly-80-percent-americans-fear-their-jobs-amid-potential-looming-recession-according-new-national-survey/ | 2022-06-30 18:49:48 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/nearly-80-percent-americans-fear-their-jobs-amid-potential-looming-recession-according-new-national-survey/ |
Wichita State upset by Alcorn State
WICHITA, Kan. (Release) - Poor perimeter shooting proved costly for Wichita State in a 66-57 loss to Alcorn State on Saturday afternoon.
The Shockers (1-1) made three-point field goals on each of their first two possessions but hit just two more the rest of the day en route to a rare November setback on their home floor. They’re 50-3 in the 20 seasons since Charles Koch Arena’s renovation.
WSU converted 18 of its 30 shots inside the arc but just 4-of-24 from beyond it to finish at 40 percent for the day.
Kenny Pohto (13 points) and Jaykwon Walton (12) paced the Shockers offensively, while Craig Porter Jr. finished just shy of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
Alcorn (1-1), the defending SWAC champions, pushed Ole Miss for the better part of 30 minutes earlier this week before fading. Saturday they put a full 40 minutes together, shooting 54 percent in the second half.
Former Shocker Trevin Wade scored a game-high 14 points, and Dominic Brewton and Keondre Montgomery added 13 and 11 respectively.
The Braves put the Shockers on their heels early, sinking four of their first five three-point tries for a 16-6 lead near the 12:00-mark of the first half.
WSU clamped down defensively and rode the scoring tandem of Walton and Pohto during a 14-0 run that allowed them to regain the lead just before halftime.
Helped by Pohto’s nine points, the Shockers enjoyed a 31-28 advantage at the intermission.
WSU committed just five second-half turnovers, but four of them came during a disastrous stretch that turned the game in Alcorn’s favor.
Pohto sank a pair of free throws for a 46-41 lead with 11:34 to play, but the Shockers came up empty on each of their next eight possessions, during which they went 0-for-4 with four giveaways.
The Braves capitalized with an 11-0 run. Montgomery banked in a deep three and Jeremiah Kendall converted a fastbreak layup for a 52-46 Alcorn advantage with 6:05 to play.
Walton’s layup with 4:58 to go stopped a six-and-a-half minute scoring drought, but the Braves kept the Shockers at arm’s length the rest of the way.
###
Notable:
- Alcorn’s victory continued a positive week for the SWAC. Arkansas-Pine Bluff came within a point of upsetting No. 14 TCU on opening night. Friday evening, Grambling stunned Colorado, 83-74.
- WSU had been 18-0 collectively against the 12 current members of the SWAC.
- Alcorn joins UMKC (2008) and Louisiana Tech (2018) as the only teams that have beaten Wichita State in a November home game since Charles Koch Arena’s 2003 renovation. Notably, both the 2008-09 and 2018-19 WSU teams went on to play in the postseason.
Up Next:
The Shockers hit the road for Richmond next Thursday (6 p.m. CT, ESPN+) then travel to Kansas City for the Hall of Fame Classic, Monday-Tuesday, Nov. 21-22.
Copyright 2022 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/13/wichita-state-upset-by-alcorn-state/ | 2022-11-13 04:07:36 | 0 | https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/13/wichita-state-upset-by-alcorn-state/ |
Records were shattered and new track legacies were forged at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Ore., where elite athletes faced off in front of thousands of fans. The U.S. team finished with 33 medals, including 13 gold, in its best performance ever at the event.
It was the first time the world championships were ever held in the U.S., and the atmosphere made it the most vibrant international track event in years, coming after fans were barred from last summer's Tokyo Olympics. Even before the pandemic struck, the 2019 championships in Doha drew notably small crowds.
Many athletes fed off the fans' excitement, turning in record-breaking performances at Hayward Field, the track mecca in Eugene.
Here's a sampling of moments that stood out across 10 days of championships:
Sydney McLaughlin obliterates (another) world record
McLaughlin, 22, broke her own world record — again — dazzling with her speed and technical perfection in the 400-meter hurdles. She won in 50.68 seconds on Friday, lowering her record by 0.73 seconds.
"The time is absolutely amazing, and the sport is getting faster and faster," McLaughlin said.
"It was absolutely unreal to have my family in the stands," she said. "I have never had them together in one place. So this was for me so big. After Tokyo, not having anybody, this was like a redemption."
McLaughlin crossed the finish line well ahead of the second-place finisher, Femke Bol of the Netherlands. In third was defending world champion Dalilah Muhammad, the U.S. silver medalist at the Tokyo Games and a previous world record holder in this event.
Noah Lyles breaks Michael Johnson's U.S. record
Lyles, 25, won his highly anticipated showdown with 18-year-old phenom Erriyon Knighton in the 200 meters, but his real opponent was in the commentary box: Michael Johnson, who set the U.S. record of 19.32 in 1996.
Lyles finished so far ahead of the pack in the final that after crossing the finish line, he turned to stare at the clock — which initially said he had tied Johnson. When the official time of 19.31 was posted, Lyles, his family and the stadium celebrated deliriously.
I’m framing this One!
— Noah Lyles, OLY (@LylesNoah) July 22, 2022
2 fastest Americans ever! pic.twitter.com/sK8dNTz3ov
A special moment then followed, when Johnson — on hand as part of the BBC's coverage — came down to personally congratulate Lyles. The record was set in the summer before Lyles was born.
Jake Wightman wins world gold, with his father as race announcer
British middle-distance runner Jake Wightman pulled off a huge upset in the men's 1500 meters — a victory that was narrated by Wightman's father, who happened to be the stadium announcer for the event.
Jake Wightman has become the World 1500m champion. Geoff calling his son becoming a World Champion is priceless. Helene, part of our team, filmed Dad. I sat with Mum Susan..then could not wait to give my mate a hug. Beyond proud. ❤️@JakeSWightman @WightmanGeoff @SusanWightman6 pic.twitter.com/8I8IT6ntwb
— Katharine Merry (@KatharineMerry) July 20, 2022
Wightman, intent on improving upon his 10th-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, bided his time before moving past the reigning Olympic and world champions on the final lap, driving the crowd into a frenzy as he crossed the line ahead of Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
"That's my son," said Geoff Wightman, who also coaches Jake, "and he's the world champion!"
Allyson Felix ends her worlds career with a record 20 medals
Felix, 36, was already the most decorated U.S. track and field athlete when she announced she would retire after the 2022 season. She's also won more world championships medals, and more gold, than any other athlete.
Her 19th medal, a bronze, came in the mixed 4x400-meter team relay. And that seemed to be all for Felix, who left Eugene. But she later flew back, after her coaches called Felix (who was by then enjoying hot wings and a root beer float) to ask if she could help the women's 4x400 team get to the final.
Hot wings and a root beer float. Then the call came. pic.twitter.com/Vzr3GmfeIE
— Sarah Lorge Butler (@slorgebutler) July 24, 2022
She turned in a strong run in the preliminary round, putting the team into Sunday's final — which a different lineup then dominated, earning Felix her 14th gold and 20th medal overall.
Felix, who has also won 11 Olympic medals, has made it her mission to support female athletes who need help paying for child care so they can continue their sporting careers.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-07-25/here-are-4-special-moments-from-the-world-athletics-championships-in-oregon | 2022-07-25 12:35:58 | 1 | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-07-25/here-are-4-special-moments-from-the-world-athletics-championships-in-oregon |
To promote mental wellness in honor of January's Mental Wellness Month, and spread Uncommon Goodness, Noodles & Company and BetterHelp have come together to launch the platform's first-ever restaurant partnership to offer free online therapy to Noodles & Company guests.
BROOMFIELD, Colo., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Noodles & Company (NASDAQ: NDLS), the national fast-casual chain known for spreading Uncommon Goodness with its globally inspired noodle bowls, best-in-class service and values-centric culture, today announced a partnership with BetterHelp, the world's largest therapy platform, to offer guests a total of up to $1 million in free BetterHelp online therapy, to guests who have not signed up for BetterHelp before. Guests can claim a free one-month trial of BetterHelp online therapy services by visiting any of Noodles & Company's 450-plus locations or website from January 4-31, 2023.
"With a culture focused on Uncommon Goodness, we believe that mental wellness starts from the inside out, which is why we're so excited to offer these services at a time when so many people are evaluating their goals for the year," said Stacey Pool, chief marketing officer at Noodles & Company. "I believe that the best thing anyone can do for themselves is to invest in their mental health, and therapy can be an impactful part of that journey."
"We're excited to partner with a brand like Noodles & Company that is as passionate as we are about reducing the stigma around mental health and spreading awareness of equitable and accessible therapy resources," says Alon Matas, president and founder of BetterHelp. "As we begin the New Year, we want to remind people to take care of themselves, and we're providing them with the resources to get started."
Noodles & Company is dedicated to nourishing and inspiring every team member, guest and community it serves by cultivating an environment where everybody can be their most authentic selves. This partnership with BetterHelp delivers on that promise and is a way for Noodles to celebrate and honor the importance of Mental Wellness Month by providing access to quality therapy to its guests and team members. BetterHelp provides professional online therapy via phone, chat and video call and matches members with therapists based on their unique needs and preferences.
This guest-centric offering is an extension of the longstanding significant mental health benefits that Noodles & Company provides its more than 8,000 team members year-round. Noodles & Company also offers its team members wellness, counseling and other support at no cost to them through LifeWorks. Through this benefit, team members can access 24/7 mental wellness and counseling support; legal support; financial counseling; and much more. Noodles & Company team members are also eligible to claim the free month of BetterHelp services.
Noodles promotes mental wellness inside of work and out. With an understanding that work-life balance is essential to team wellbeing, team members are also afforded on-demand mental health learning opportunities, flexible work schedules, paid sick days, floating holidays and Noodles Resource Groups for LGBTQIA+ and team members of color. Qualified team members can also take advantage of the Balance Bucks program, which grants an annual reimbursement of up to $625 for expenses to help support mental health, such as gym memberships, pet adoption, fitness gear and much more.
"Beyond the extensive benefits we offer our team, we believe in fostering a caring and loving culture where we support each other," said Pool. "One of the many ways we facilitate that care is through the Noodles & Company Foundation, which was created to help improve the wellbeing of team members by being there in times of sudden crisis and providing team members and their families with education opportunities. In 2022 alone, the Noodles & Company Foundation has raised $196,000 for team members in need."
Noodles is making it easy for guests to sign up and take advantage of this offer. Throughout the month, guests can claim their free trial for therapy with BetterHelp by checking their physical receipt or confirmation email for redemption details. After the free trial is complete, guests can choose to either continue their BetterHelp membership on a paid subscription basis or cancel their membership. For more details, visit Noodles.com/betterhelp.
Want to score more from Noodles? Guests can sign up for the Noodles Rewards Program and receive a free entree after their first purchase using their Noodles Rewards account. Not to mention that there are so many convenient ways to get your Noodles fix via quick pickup, delivery or by visiting a nearby Noodles location. It's delicious, easy and so rewarding.
Since 1995, Noodles & Company has been serving guests Uncommon Goodness and noodles your way, with noodles and flavors you know and love as well as new ones you're about to discover. From indulgent Wisconsin Mac & Cheese to better-for-you Zoodles and Other Noodles, the company serves a world of flavor in every bowl. Made up of more than 450 restaurants and thousands of passionate team members and named one of America's Favorite Restaurants by Newsweek, and one of the Top 500 Franchises by Franchise Times, Noodles is well-known for its delicious noodles and industry-leading team member benefits. Noodles has been recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best Employers for Diversity in 2021 and 2022 and one of America's Best Employers for Women in 2021. Additionally, QSR recently named Noodles one of 2022's Best Brands to Work For, and the Denver Business Journal has called Noodles one of the Best Places to Work for its unique culture focused on Uncommon Goodness and built on the value of "Loving Life," which begins by nourishing and inspiring its communities and every team member and guest who walks through the door. The company has also earned the Women in the Lead Certification for its investment in women-empowering initiatives for its female team members and has proudly partnered with the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance to build cultural intelligence within its teams. To learn more and to find the location nearest you, visit www.noodles.com.
BetterHelp is the world's largest therapy platform, with over 26,000 therapists, facilitating over 5 million video sessions, voice calls, chats and messages every month. We set out on a mission to make sure everyone has easy, affordable, safe and discreet access to high-quality therapy. Since 2013, our licensed and accredited therapists have helped more than 3 million people face life's challenges and improve their mental health.
Contact: Danielle Moore, Press@Noodles.com
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SOURCE Noodles & Company | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/01/04/noodles-amp-company-joins-forces-with-betterhelp-promote-mental-health-provide-up-1-million-free-online-therapy/ | 2023-01-04 14:53:20 | 1 | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/01/04/noodles-amp-company-joins-forces-with-betterhelp-promote-mental-health-provide-up-1-million-free-online-therapy/ |
Updated July 5, 2022 at 11:23 PM ET
President Joe Biden has received the handwritten letter from WNBA Brittney Griner asking for his help while she is detained in Russia according to the White House.
Griner has been in Russian custody on drug charges since shortly before Russia waged its war on Ukraine. Griner's family have been appealing to U.S. officials to help her get home. After multiple delays, her trial in Russia began on Friday.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she was there when Biden read the letter, however, declined to say whether the president would respond to it or if he planned to contact Griner's family.
"It is a deeply personal letter," Jean-Pierre said. "The president is going to do everything that he can in his power to bring her home, along with other U.S. nationals who are being ... wrongfully detained abroad," Jean-Pierre said.
Parts of the letter were made public through Griner's representatives according to The Associated Press. Griner wrote:
... As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I'm terrified I might be here forever.
On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran. It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.
Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke with Griner's wife Cherelle Griner on Saturday, Jean-Pierre said, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also spoken with Cherelle Griner recently.
Jean-Pierre also responded to comments from Griner's WNBA coach saying if she were Lebron, she would be home.
"Our commitment to seeing every single American who is held hostage, wrongfully detained, unjustly detained, that commitment is the same when it comes to our engagement with the families," Jean-Pierre said.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-07-04/president-biden-receives-brittney-griners-letter-from-prison-in-russia | 2022-07-06 04:22:22 | 0 | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-07-04/president-biden-receives-brittney-griners-letter-from-prison-in-russia |
Tucson man charged in connection to murder and concealment of remains
The Tucson Police Department made an arrest Thursday in an ongoing homicide investigation, which began as a suspicious death last year on Tucson’s southside.
On Sept. 2, Tucson police responded to an apartment complex located at 314 E. Benson Highway for a woman who was in distress. Tucson police declined to provide additional details on what the woman was calling for or why she was in distress.
Upon arrival, officers located the apartment and contacted the woman who called police. The woman identified herself as a visitor. Once officers entered the apartment, they located human remains, police said. It was noted that efforts had been made to conceal the remains, according to police. It is unclear how officers were able to enter the apartment.
Detectives say they were able to speak with the resident of the apartment over the phone; however, he did not return to the apartment and remained at large. The resident was identified as 57-year-old Victor Lawrence Farber.
Several days later, Tucson officers located and detained Farber. Detectives charged him and 45-year-old Kristina Barker, the female visitor, with concealment of a dead body.
In October, the Office of the Medical Examiner identified the human remains as those of 21-year-old Alexis Ochotorena. Investigators determined that the victim had sustained substantial trauma and was concealed for a significant amount of time, according to police.
In January, homicide detectives developed new information after searching for new leads, and probable cause for the homicide was established. Tucson police declined to provide additional information on how probable cause for homicide was established, citing the ongoing investigation.
On Jan. 26, detectives responded to the Pima County Jail, where Farber was still in custody, and charged him with first degree murder in connection to Ochotorena’s death. He is currently being held on a $1,005,000 bond. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-breaking/2023/01/28/tucson-police-charged-man-of-alleged-murder-and-concealment-of-remains/69850048007/ | 2023-01-28 19:31:14 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-breaking/2023/01/28/tucson-police-charged-man-of-alleged-murder-and-concealment-of-remains/69850048007/ |
Kisqali plus endocrine therapy (ET) significantly reduced the risk of disease recurrence compared to standard ET alone in the adjuvant setting1
NATALEE is the first and only positive Phase III study of a CDK4/6 inhibitor demonstrating consistent benefit in a broad population of patients with stage II and III HR+/HER2- early breast cancer (EBC) at risk of recurrence, including those with no nodal involvement
Approximately 30-60% of people with HR+/HER2- stage II and III EBC treated with ET only remain at risk of breast cancer recurrence2
NATALEE results will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and submitted to regulatory authorities worldwide
EAST HANOVER, N.J., March 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis today announced positive topline results from an interim analysis of NATALEE, a Phase III trial evaluating Kisqali® (ribociclib) plus endocrine therapy (ET) in a broad population of patients with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) early breast cancer (EBC) at risk of recurrence1. The Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended stopping the trial early as the primary endpoint of invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) has been met. Kisqali plus ET significantly reduced the risk of disease recurrence, compared to standard adjuvant ET alone, with consistent benefit in patients with stage II and stage III EBC regardless of nodal involvement1.
"While most patients are diagnosed and treated early with the aim to cure breast cancer, the risk of cancer returning, often as metastatic disease, peaks within three years after diagnosis, but never goes away completely," said Dennis J. Slamon, MD, Director of Clinical/Translational Research, University of California, Los Angeles Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and Chairman and Executive Director of Translational Research In Oncology (TRIO) and NATALEE trial lead investigator. "There is a critical need for new, well-tolerated options that keep patients cancer-free without disrupting quality of life. The NATALEE trial, where ribociclib was given for three years plus ET, was designed with these unmet needs in mind, and it is extremely encouraging that this study met its primary endpoint."
Per the NATALEE study protocol, patient follow-up will continue to evaluate long-term outcomes, including overall survival1.
"The positive topline results from NATALEE represent a major milestone in our ambition to expand the benefits of Kisqali to patients with earlier stages of breast cancer, building on the heritage of this effective treatment in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer," said Shreeram Aradhye, M.D., President, Global Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis. "These data have the potential to be paradigm-shifting for patients at risk of recurrence, including those with no nodal involvement, who have limited well-tolerated options to prevent recurrence. Our teams are working on submissions to health authorities around the world with the hope to bring Kisqali to many more patients diagnosed with breast cancer."
These findings build on the legacy of Kisqali in metastatic breast cancer (MBC), where it has consistently demonstrated overall survival benefit while preserving or improving quality of life across three Phase III trials3-14. Updates to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for breast cancer, released in January 2023, recommend ribociclib (Kisqali) as the only Category 1 preferred CDK4/6 inhibitor for first-line treatment of patients with HR+/HER2- MBC when combined with an aromatase inhibitor (AI)15.
About NATALEE
NATALEE is a global Phase III multi-center, randomized, open-label trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Kisqali with ET as adjuvant treatment versus ET alone in patients with HR+/HER2- EBC, being conducted in collaboration with Translational Research In Oncology (TRIO)1. The primary endpoint of NATALEE is iDFS as defined by the Standardized Definitions for Efficacy End Points (STEEP) criteria; secondary endpoints include safety, quality of life, and overall survival, among others. iDFS is a composite endpoint in EBC adjuvant trials, which incorporates locoregional relapse, ipsilateral and contralateral invasive breast cancer, distant recurrence, and types of new cancer events or death from any cause. Approximately 5,100 adult patients with HR+/HER2- EBC across 20 countries were randomized in the trial, including patients with tumor stages IIA (select patients), IIB or III, regardless of nodal involvement. NATALEE explored a lower starting dose (400 mg) of Kisqali than the dose approved for treatment in MBC (600 mg) with the goal to minimize disruptions to patient quality of life without compromising efficacy1.
About Early Breast Cancer
More than 90% of patients diagnosed with breast cancer have EBC2,16. Approximately 30-60% of people with HR+/HER2- stage II and III EBC treated with ET only remain at risk of breast cancer recurrence2. The risk of recurrence peaks within the first three years after initial diagnosis and continues over decades2. For many of these patients, there are currently no targeted therapeutic options outside of the standard chemotherapy and ET17.
About Kisqali® (ribociclib)
Kisqali has consistently demonstrated overall survival benefit while preserving or improving quality of life across three Phase III trials3-14. Updates to the NCCN Guidelines® for breast cancer, released in January 2023, recommend ribociclib (Kisqali) as the only Category 1 preferred CDK4/6 inhibitor for first-line treatment of patients with HR+/HER2- MBC when combined with an AI15. Additionally, Kisqali has the highest rating of any CDK4/6 inhibitor on the ESMO Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale, achieving a score of five out of five for first-line premenopausal patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer18. Further, Kisqali in combination with either letrozole or fulvestrant has uniquely, among other CDK4/6 inhibitors, received a score of four out of five for postmenopausal patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer treated in the first line19.
Kisqali has been approved in 99 countries worldwide, including by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission. In the U.S., Kisqali is approved for the treatment of adult patients with HR+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with an AI as initial ET or fulvestrant as initial ET or following disease progression on ET in postmenopausal women or in men. In the EU, Kisqali is approved for the treatment of women with HR+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with either an AI or fulvestrant as initial ET or following disease progression. In pre- or perimenopausal women, the ET should be combined with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist14.
Novartis is committed to continuing to study Kisqali in breast cancer. Novartis is collaborating with SOLTI, which is leading the HARMONIA study to test whether Kisqali changes tumor biology to enable a better response to ET compared to Ibrance®* (palbociclib) for patients with metastatic HR+/HER2-, HER2-enriched subtype20, and with the Akershus University Hospital in Norway on the NEOLETRIB trial, a neoadjuvant Phase II trial studying the effects of Kisqali in HR+/HER2- EBC to discover the potentially unique underlying mechanism of action21. Novartis also plans to build on the findings from NATALEE with ADJUVANT WIDER, an open-label Phase IIIb trial evaluating Kisqali plus ET in a population of HR+/HER2- patients with stage II and III EBC that is closer to a real-world population.
Kisqali was developed by the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) under a research collaboration with Astex Pharmaceuticals.
Please see full Prescribing Information for Kisqali, available at www.Kisqali.com.
Indications
KISQALI® (ribociclib) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2−) breast cancer that has gotten worse or has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), in combination with:
- an aromatase inhibitor as the first endocrine-based therapy; or
- fulvestrant as the first endocrine-based therapy or following disease progression on endocrine therapy in postmenopausal women or in men.
It is not known if KISQALI is safe and effective in children.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about KISQALI?
KISQALI may cause serious side effects, including:
Lung problems. KISQALI may cause severe or life-threatening inflammation of the lungs during treatment that may lead to death. Tell your health care provider right away if you have any new or worsening symptoms, including:
- trouble breathing or shortness of breath
- cough with or without mucus
- chest pain
Severe skin reactions. Tell your health care provider or get medical help right away if you get severe rash or rash that keeps getting worse; reddened skin; flu-like symptoms; skin pain/burning; blistering of the lips, eyes, or mouth; or blisters on the skin or skin peeling, with or without fever.
Heart rhythm problems (QT prolongation). KISQALI can cause a heart problem known as QT prolongation. This condition can cause an abnormal heartbeat and may lead to death. Your health care provider should check your heart and do blood tests before and during treatment with KISQALI. Tell your health care provider right away if you have a change in your heartbeat (a fast or irregular heartbeat), or if you feel dizzy or faint.
Liver problems (hepatobiliary toxicity). KISQALI can cause serious liver problems. Your health care provider should do blood tests to check your liver before and during treatment with KISQALI. Tell your health care provider right away if you get any of the following signs and symptoms of liver problems:
- yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
- dark or brown (tea-colored) urine
- feeling very tired
- loss of appetite
- pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen)
- bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
Low white blood cell counts (neutropenia). Low white blood cell counts are very common during treatment with KISQALI and may result in infections that may be severe. Your health care provider should check your white blood cell counts before and during treatment with KISQALI. Tell your health care provider right away if you have signs and symptoms of low white blood cell counts or infections such as fever and chills.
Your health care provider may tell you to decrease your dose, temporarily stop, or completely stop taking KISQALI if you develop certain serious side effects during treatment with KISQALI.
What should I tell my health care provider before taking KISQALI?
Before you take KISQALI, tell your health care provider if you:
- have any heart problems, including heart failure, irregular heartbeats, and QT prolongation
- have ever had a heart attack
- have a slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
- have problems with the amount of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, or magnesium in your blood
- have fever, chills, or any other signs or symptoms of infection
- have liver problems
- have any other medical conditions
- are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. KISQALI can harm your unborn baby
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if KISQALI passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with KISQALI and for at least 3 weeks after the last dose of KISQALI
Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. KISQALI and other medicines may affect each other, causing side effects. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your health care provider or pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
What should I avoid while taking KISQALI?
Avoid eating grapefruit and avoid drinking grapefruit juice during treatment with KISQALI since these may increase the amount of KISQALI in your blood.
The most common side effects of KISQALI include:
- decreased white blood cell counts
- decreased red blood cell counts
- abnormal liver function tests
- infections
- nausea
- increased kidney function test
- tiredness
- decreased platelet counts
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- headache
- constipation
- hair loss
- cough
- rash
- back pain
- low blood sugar level
KISQALI may cause fertility problems if you are male and take KISQALI. This may affect your ability to father a child. Talk to your health care provider if this is a concern for you.
Tell your health care provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of KISQALI. For more information, ask your health care provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information including Patient Information.
Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "plan," "may," "could," "would," "expect," "anticipate," "look forward," "believe," "committed," "investigational," "pipeline," "launch," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-19; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Novartis
Located in East Hanover, NJ Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation – an affiliate of Novartis – is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. We deliver high-value medicines that alleviate society's greatest disease burdens through technology leadership in R&D and novel access approaches. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world's top companies investing in research and development. Novartis employs nearly 14,500 people in the United States. For more information, please visit https://www.novartis.us
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References
- Novartis Data on File. Novartis Pharmaceuticals: 2022.
- Pan, H, Gray, R, Braybrooke, J, et al. 20-year risks of breast-cancer recurrence after stopping endocrine therapy at 5 years. N Engl J Med. Nov 2017;377(19):1836-1846. 10.1056/NEJMoa1701830
- Iqbal J, Ginsburg O, Rochon PA, Sun P, Narod SA. Differences in breast cancer stage at diagnosis and cancer-specific survival by race and ethnicity in the United States [published correction appears in JAMA. 2015 Jun 9;313(22):2287]. JAMA. 2015;313(2):165-173. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.17322
- Yardley DA, Yap YS, et al. Pooled exploratory analysis of survival in patients (pts) with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer (ABC) and visceral metastases (mets) treated with ribociclib (RIB) + endocrine therapy (ET) in the MONALEESA (ML) trials. Poster presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology Congress. September 9-13, 2022. Paris, France.
- Neven P, Fasching PA, et al. Updated overall survival (OS) results from the first-line (1L) population in the Phase III MONALEESA-3 trial of postmenopausal patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer (ABC) treated with ribociclib (RIB) + fulvestrant (FUL). Mini oral presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Breast Cancer Congress. May 4, 2022. Patis, France.
- Hortobagyi GN, Stemmer SM, Burris HA, et al. Overall Survival with Ribociclib plus Letrozole in Advanced Breast Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine. 2022;386(10):942-950. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2114663
- Hortobagyi, et al. Overall survival (OS) results from the phase III MONALEESA (ML)-2 trial of postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HR+/HER2−) advanced breast cancer (ABC) treated with endocrine therapy (ET) ± ribociclib. Proffered paper presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology Congress, September 16-21, 2021. Lugano, Switzerland.
- Im S-A, Lu Y-S, Bardia A, et al. Overall survival with ribociclib plus endocrine therapy in breast cancer. New England Journal of Medicine. 2019;381(4):307-316. doi:10.1056/nejmoa1903765
- Slamon DJ, Neven P, Chia S, et al. Overall Survival with Ribociclib plus Fulvestrant in Advanced Breast Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine. 2020;382(6):514-524. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1911149
- Slamon, DJ, Neven P, Chia S, et al. Overall survival (OS) results of the Phase III MONALEESA-3 trial of postmenopausal patients (pts) with hormone receptor–positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor 2–negative (HER2−) advanced breast cancer (ABC) treated with fulvestrant (FUL) ± ribociclib (RIB). Presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology Congress, September 29, 2019, Barcelona, Spain.
- Slamon D, Neven P, Chia S, et al. Updated overall survival (OS) results from the Phase III MONALEESA-3 trial of postmenopausal patients (pts) with HR+/HER2− advanced breast cancer (ABC) treated with fulvestrant (FUL) ± ribociclib (RIB. Presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, June 5, 2021. Chicago, USA.
- Tripathy D, Im S-A, Colleoni M, et al. Updated overall survival (OS) results from the phase III MONALEESA-7 trial of pre- or perimenopausal patients with HR+/HER2− advanced breast cancer (ABC) treated with endocrine therapy (ET) ± ribociclib. Presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 9, 2020. Texas, USA.
- Yardley, D, Nusch A, Yap YS, et al. Overall survival (OS) in patients (pts) with advanced breast cancer (ABC) with visceral metastases (mets), including those with liver mets, treated with ribociclib (RIB) plus endocrine therapy (ET) in the MONALEESA (ML) -3 and -7 trials. Presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. June 2020. Chicago, USA.
- O'Shaughnessy J, Stemmer SM, Burris HA, et al. Overall survival subgroup analysis by metastatic site from the Phase III MONALEESA-2 study of first-line ribociclib + letrozole in postmenopausal patients with HR+/HER2− advanced breast cancer. Presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 7-10, 2021. Texas, USA.
- Kisqali (ribociclib) Prescribing Information.
- NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) - Breast Cancer. NCCN Guidelines. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/breast.pdf. Published March 2023. Accessed March 7, 2023.
- American Cancer Society. Treatment of breast cancer stages I-III. Revised April 12, 2022. Accessed on September 15, 2022.https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/treatment-of-breast-cancer-by-stage/treatment-of-breast-cancer-stages-i-iii.html
- European Society for Medical Oncology – Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale Scorecard. https://www.esmo.org/guidelines/esmo-mcbs/esmo-mcbs-scorecards/scorecard-158-1. Published April 20, 2020. Updated August 21, 2020. Accessed September 9, 2020.
- European Society for Medical Oncology – Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale Scorecard. https://www.esmo.org/guidelines/esmo-mcbs/esmo-mcbs-scorecards/scorecard-9-1. Published March 29, 2022. Accessed April 1, 2022.
- Ribociclib vs. palbociclib in patients with advanced breast cancer within the HER2-enriched intrinsic subtype (HARMONIA). Identifier NCT05207709. Revised April 4, 2022. Accessed on February 6, 2022. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05207709
- Novartis and Vestre Viken Hospital Trust (2022, April 1 – 2024, December 1). Neoadjuvant Treatment of Locally-advanced Breast Cancer Patients With Ribociclib and Letrozole (NEOLETRIB). Identifier NCT05163106. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05163106
*Ibrance® is a registered trademark of Pfizer, Inc.
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SOURCE Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/03/27/novartis-kisqali-phase-iii-natalee-trial-meets-primary-endpoint-interim-analysis-demonstrating-clinically-meaningful-benefit-broad-population-patients-with-early-breast-cancer/ | 2023-03-27 08:01:02 | 1 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/03/27/novartis-kisqali-phase-iii-natalee-trial-meets-primary-endpoint-interim-analysis-demonstrating-clinically-meaningful-benefit-broad-population-patients-with-early-breast-cancer/ |
Opening date set for Brown County’s new East Branch library
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - The Brown County Library’s long-awaited new East Branch will open its doors in mid-September.
The current library next door will close on Monday, August 14, to prepare for the “big move” to 2253 Main St. in Green Bay.
A grand opening celebration is planned for Saturday, September 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting, tours, games, a visiting children’s author, recording artist SugarBush Boys, and balloon artists.
The library will officially open on Monday, September 18.
The new library branch was literally years in the planning, including consideration of an offer to move to the nearby East Town Mall. In July 2021, a Brown County committee and the Brown County Library Board of Trustees agreed to buy the former Titletown Fitness building next door for $975,000. The site has 16,300 square feet of floor space compared to the current branch’s 6,000 square feet. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in April. The fitness center closed in 2020.
When the current East branch closes, the book drop will be available to return books and other checked-out items. Patrons who reserve books should choose another library for picking up hold items. Book donations won’t be accepted until the new building opens.
The new library will have areas for all ages, high-speed Wi-Fi, a fireplace, a calming room, and meeting rooms. It will also have checkout stations, computers and a business center. Outside, the library is adding a drive-up window, a garden, and more parking for visitors.
Storytime at the East Branch library will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 19, the day after the official opening.
Copyright 2023 WBAY. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbay.com/2023/07/31/opening-date-set-brown-countys-new-east-branch-library/ | 2023-07-31 15:32:49 | 1 | https://www.wbay.com/2023/07/31/opening-date-set-brown-countys-new-east-branch-library/ |
House Republicans began their tenure in the majority Monday by passing a bill that would rescind nearly $71 billion that Congress had provided the IRS, fulfilling a campaign promise even though the legislation is unlikely to advance further.
Democrats had beefed up the IRS over the next decade to help offset the cost of top health and environmental priorities they passed last year and to replenish an agency struggling to provide basic services to taxpayers and ensure fairness in tax compliance.
The money is on top of what Congress provides the IRS annually through the appropriations process and immediately became a magnet for GOP campaign ads in the fall, claiming that the boost would lead to an army of IRS agents harassing hard-working Americans.
The bill to rescind the money passed the House on a party-line vote of 221-210. The Democratic-controlled Senate has vowed to ignore it.
Shortly before the vote, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected that rescinding the extra IRS funding would increase deficits over the coming decade by more than $114 billion. That created an awkward moment for Republicans, who have been saying that addressing deficits would be one of their top concerns in the majority. It offered an early example of how the GOP's bold promises on the campaign trail could get tangled in the messy reality of governing.
Still, the CBO's projection didn't appear to dampen Republican support. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., said the extra IRS funding Democrats provided last year was for one purpose.
“To go after small businesses, hard-working Americans to try to raise money for reckless spending, reckless spending that has caused $31 trillion in debt in this nation," Duncan said.
Duncan and other GOP lawmakers routinely say the extra funding will be used to hire 87,000 new agents to target Americans, but that's misleading. The number is based on a Treasury Department plan saying that many IRS employees would be hired over the next decade if it got the money. But those employees will not all be hired at the same time, they will not all be auditors and many will be replacing some 50,000 employees who are expected to quit or retire in coming years.
“This debate about IRS lends itself to be the most dishonest, demagogic rhetoric that I have seen in the Congress at any point in time," said Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
Charles Rettig, the former commissioner of the IRS, said in a final message to the agency in November that the additional money would help in many areas, not just beefing up tax enforcement. He said the investments would make it “even less likely for honest taxpayers to hear from the IRS or receive an audit letter.”
Additional funding for the agency has been politically controversial since 2013, when the IRS under the Obama administration was found to have used inappropriate criteria to review tea party groups and other organizations applying for tax-exempt status.
In the ensuing years, the IRS was mostly on the losing end of congressional funding fights, even as a subsequent 2017 report found that both conservative and liberal groups were chosen for scrutiny.
In April, Rettig told lawmakers the agency’s budget has decreased by more than 15% over the past decade when accounting for inflation and said the number of full-time employees — 79,000 in the last fiscal year — was close to 1974 levels.
But Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., and other Republicans weren't buying the argument that the funding would be focused on auditing the wealthy.
“This is meant to nickel-and-dime, audit and harass America's small businesses and families, who they know cannot afford the legal fees to fight this army," Malliotakis said.
Sen. Ron Wyden, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said a decade of Republican-led budget cuts gutted the IRS.
“The only way that House Republicans could make it any more obvious that they’re doing a favor for wealthy tax cheats is by coming out and saying it in exactly those words," Wyden said. “This bill is going nowhere in the Senate.”
And the White House said President Joe Biden would veto the bill if it gets to his desk, saying that the wealthiest 1% of Americans hide about 20% of their income so they don't have to pay taxes on it, shifting more of the tax burden to the middle class.
"With their first economic legislation of the new Congress, House Republicans are making clear that their top economic priority is to allow the rich and multibillion-dollar corporations to skip out on their taxes, while making life harder for ordinary, middle-class families that pay the taxes they owe," the White House said. | https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/house-gop-kicks-off-majority-with-vote-to-slash-irs-funding | 2023-01-10 13:22:01 | 0 | https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/house-gop-kicks-off-majority-with-vote-to-slash-irs-funding |
REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden fell when he tried to get off his bike at the end of a ride Saturday at Cape Henlopen State Park near his beach home in Delaware, but wasn’t hurt in the tumble.
“I’m good,” he told reporters after U.S. Secret Service agents quickly helped him up. “I got my foot caught” in the toe cages.
Biden, 79, and first lady Jill Biden were wrapping up a morning ride when the president decided to pedal over to a crowd of well-wishers standing by the bike trail. Biden, who was wearing a helmet, took the spill when he tried to dismount, apparently falling on his right side and rolling on to his back before being helped up.
The president quickly collected himself and spent several minutes chatting with people who had gathered to watch him bike. Biden did not need medical attention and is “fine,” according to a White House statement.
Biden attended Mass at St. Edmond Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach in the late afternoon. When he appeared after services, bystanders cheered and reporters shouted questions about how he felt. The president smiled and took three hops while making a motion with his hands like jumping rope.
The Bidens were spending a long weekend at their Rehoboth Beach home. They marked their 45th wedding anniversary on Friday. | https://www.wivb.com/news/political-news/ap-politics/biden-takes-spill-while-getting-off-bike-after-beach-ride/ | 2022-06-19 06:17:02 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/political-news/ap-politics/biden-takes-spill-while-getting-off-bike-after-beach-ride/ |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Horse racing’s oversight authority and Churchill Downs have each announced additional safety and health measures in the wake of 12 recent deaths since late April at the home of the Kentucky Derby.
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) will conduct additional post-entry screening of horses to identify those at increased risk for injury. It will also direct its Integrity and Welfare Unit to collect blood and hair samples for all fatalities for use while investigating a cause.
Earlier Thursday, Churchill Downs announced it would immediately limit horses to four starts during a rolling eight-week period and impose ineligibility standards for poor performers.
HISA’s second independent analysis of Churchill Downs’ training and racing surfaces, conducted by track superintendent Dennis Moore, continues with results to be made public upon completion.
The federally-created oversight authority can recommend pausing competition if needed, CEO Lisa Lazarus said Wednesday. A release Thursday afternoon stated that “all options remain on the table” as it monitors events at the track.
Louisville-born trainer Brad Cox said he felt comfortable training at Churchill Downs and added, “I feel it’s a safe surface.”
The dual announcements came just before Churchill Downs’ spring meet resumed after several days of meetings during an emergency summit convened by HISA to examine the troubling spate of deaths. All but two deaths have been attributed to racing or training leg injuries. The other two are from unknown causes, but all are being investigated by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and HISA.
The summit included the KHRC, HISA and Churchill Downs.
HISA called the dialogue productive in its release and added that conclusions from the summit have been shared directly with key stakeholders to inform next steps.
“While no obvious or specific pattern emerged, HISA welcomes Churchill Downs’ efforts announced earlier today to minimize risk of equine fatalities,” the release added.
Additionally, HISA said equine forensics specialist Alina Vale will conduct thorough review of all necropsies performed on covered horses. Vale performed postmortem reviews as an official veterinarian for the California Horse Racing Board following a spate of fatalities at Santa Anita in 2019.
Churchill Downs’ other initiatives include pausing incentives, such as trainer start bonuses and purse payouts to every race finisher, with payouts limited to the top five finishers. Churchill Downs officials say they’ll continue talks with horsemen to determine how to allocate funds.
A release from Churchill Downs stated that California-based equine surgeon Ryan Carpenter presented trainers and veterinarians with information and tools about advanced interventions for certain injuries. Churchill Downs’ equine medical director, Will Farmer, said there was “a duty” to offer information from someone who experienced similar challenges recently in California.
He said in the release that decisions regarding the long-term well being of horses must be first and foremost. “It is imperative that all available, educated and informed options can be efficiently, confidently and thoroughly relayed to the owners.”
Cox said he did “a lot of listening” at the meeting and left it at that.
“I think Churchill is trying to dot every I and cross every T,” the trainer said during a NTRA teleconference. “It’s been a lot of stuff happening since the meet began and hopefully we’re kind of coming to the end of this.”
Churchill Downs’ ineligibility measure impacts horses losing by more than 12 lengths in five consecutive starts. They cannot race at Churchill Downs until approved by Farmer to return.
Seven horses died in the days leading up to the 149th Kentucky Derby on May 6, including two on the undercard. Five horses have died since then, including two 7-year-olds last weekend from similar leg injuries.
HISA veterinary teams reviewed information and analysis on Tuesday. Moore began a second independent analysis of Churchill Downs’ training and racing surfaces on Wednesday.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/churchill-downs-implements-safety-performance-standards-to-address-recent-spate-of-horse-deaths/ | 2023-06-01 23:33:13 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/churchill-downs-implements-safety-performance-standards-to-address-recent-spate-of-horse-deaths/ |
NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of Molecular Partners AG (NASDAQ: MOLN).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/molecular-partners-ag-loss-submission-form/?id=31456&from=4
This lawsuit is on behalf of a class consisting of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired: (a) Molecular Partners American Depositary Shares pursuant and/or traceable to certain documents issued in connection with the Company's initial public offering conducted on or about June 16, 2021; and/or (b) Molecular Partners securities between June 16, 2021, and April 26, 2022.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until September 12, 2022 to petition the court. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
According to a filed complaint, Molecular Partners AG issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company's product, ensovibep, was less effective at treating COVID-19 than defendants had led investors to believe; that (ii) accordingly, the the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") was reasonably likely to require an additional Phase 3 study of ensovibep before granting the drug Emergency Use Authorization ("EUA"); (iii) waning global rates of COVID-19 significantly reduced the Company's chances of securing EUA for ensovibep; (iv) another of the Company's product candidates, MP0310, was less attractive to Molecular Partners' collaborator, Amgen, than defendants had led investors to believe; (v) accordingly, there was a significant likelihood that Amgen would return to global rights of MP0310 to Molecular Partners; (vi) as a result of all the foregoing, the clinical and commercial prospects of ensovibep and MP0310 were overstated; and (vii) as a result, documents issues in connection with the Company's initial public offer and defendants' public statements throughout the class period were materially false and/or misleading and failed to state information required to be stated therein.
Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
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SOURCE Jakubowitz Law | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/moln-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-molecular-partners-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-12-2022/ | 2022-09-09 11:01:00 | 0 | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/moln-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-molecular-partners-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-12-2022/ |
ASMA KHALID, HOST:
We turn now to Egypt, where an economic crisis has made it difficult for people to afford food. Much of the country's grain comes from the Black Sea region now in turmoil with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Then there's Egypt's own currency crash and high inflation. NPR's Aya Batrawy reports that charities are straining to help fill the gaps.
AYA BATRAWY, BYLINE: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi arrives by motorcade to Cairo's main open-air stadium. He's here for a state orchestrated ceremony broadcast on TV to honor the many local charities helping stave off hunger across Egypt.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Non-English language spoken).
BATRAWY: Tens of thousands of volunteers from these charities have packed the stands. Patriotic songs are playing as the volunteers cheer and wave Egypt's red, white and black flag. The government uses the moment to roll out a new initiative called el-kitf fil-kitf (ph) or Shoulder to Shoulder.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: (Singing in non-English language).
BATRAWY: The slogan has an upbeat song the crowd is swaying to. At its core, though, this initiative is a call for help. Egypt's currency has lost half its value compared to the dollar in just the past year. That's made it harder for the government to import affordable wheat from Russia and Ukraine, where the war has also driven up prices. Bread from that wheat forms the backbone of Egyptian diets. The country's been pushed deep into debt. Critics blame years of poor planning in Egypt and overspending on superfluous projects that benefited military-owned businesses. The president tells volunteers global economics are to blame.
PRESIDENT ABDEL FATTAH EL-SISSI: (Through interpreter) Everyone is playing an incredible role at this difficult time. I had to come and thank you for all you do and all you will do in helping to make this major crisis faced by the world and by Egypt a little easier.
BATRAWY: The government is increasing food subsidies by more than 40% this year, but Sissi's message is clear. Egypt's challenges are not for the government alone to shoulder. Everyone is responsible. His government is under pressure as food prices in Egypt climb by more than 60%. Young couples in Cairo are delaying marriage because they can't afford a wedding or home. Middle-class families struggle to buy eggs and chicken.
FATMA HASSAN: (Non-English language spoken).
BATRAWY: Tens of millions of families stay afloat with help from charities, like this one in the poor Cairo suburb of Kattameya. It's where I meet Fatma Hassan.
HASSAN: (Non-English language spoken).
BATRAWY: She says her grandkids want chicken and meat, but it's too expensive.
HASSAN: (Laughter, non-English language spoken).
BATRAWY: Hassan laughs as she tells me how she and her daughter often end up cooking a dish of stuffed vegetables with rice called mahshi.
HASSAN: (Non-English language spoken).
BATRAWY: She can't afford lentils these days, either, and tells me, who needs that anyway? And what are we going to do? We aren't going to steal.
The government gives her some cash aid every month, and donors help her buy the medicine she needs. Every little bit helps. Hassan comes to this charity office twice a year for a box of food that lasts her household a little over a week. Inside are what's become little luxuries that help create a balanced diet - dates, rice, cooking oil, lentils, pasta, tomato sauce, sugar and tea. The food was packed by the Egyptian food bank, one of the largest nongovernmental charities in the country helping tackle food insecurity. At their headquarters in Cairo, conveyor belts sealed bags of fava beans grown locally, as well as imported products like macaroni.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: And then the workers, they fill the other boxes.
BATRAWY: It's supported mostly by private donations and a network of 5,000 community-based organizations across the country. They have a massive database of families in need, but even its operations have been strained. Egypt Food Bank CEO Mohsen Sarhan says donations are up by 20%. Still, it's not enough to keep up with inflation.
MOHSEN SARHAN: The future is very hard to predict, and whatever scenarios you put, it tends to break down the next day. We're playing it by the ear somehow. We're operating on a very flexible budget, and we adjust it, sometimes weekly.
BATRAWY: It's up to charities in Egypt to try and plug gaps in the government's stretched safety net. But Sarhan says they can't eradicate hunger.
SARHAN: I think it was three years ago that we realized that this is never going to happen.
BATRAWY: What they can do, he says, is to try and make people's lives a little better. And the government is now signaling that everyone is going to have to shoulder more of that work. Aya Batrawy, NPR News, Cairo. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.kasu.org/2023-05-13/people-struggle-with-higher-food-prices-in-egypts-economic-crisis | 2023-05-14 16:54:34 | 1 | https://www.kasu.org/2023-05-13/people-struggle-with-higher-food-prices-in-egypts-economic-crisis |
Joey Gallo Player Prop Bets: Twins vs. Royals - April 28
Published: Apr. 28, 2023 at 9:23 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
After hitting .241 with two doubles, four home runs, six walks and seven RBI in his past 10 games, Joey Gallo and the Minnesota Twins face the Kansas City Royals (who will start Jordan Lyles) at 4:10 PM ET on Friday.
He had a one-hit performance in his last game (1-for-4) against the Royals.
Joey Gallo Game Info & Props vs. the Royals
- Game Day: Friday, April 28, 2023
- Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
- Stadium: Target Field
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
- Royals Starter: Jordan Lyles
- TV Channel: MLB Network
- Hits Prop: Over/under 0.5 hits (Over odds: -115)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 home runs (Over odds: +280)
- RBI Prop: Over/under 0.5 RBI (Over odds: +170)
- Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 runs (Over odds: +115)
Looking to place a prop bet on Joey Gallo? Check out what's available at BetMGM and sign up with this link!
Joey Gallo At The Plate
- Gallo has three doubles, seven home runs and seven walks while hitting .239.
- Gallo will look to extend his four-game hitting streak. He's batting .267 with two homers in his last games.
- In eight of 16 games this season (50.0%), Gallo has reached base safely via hit, and that includes multiple hits twice.
- He has hit a long ball in 37.5% of his games in 2023 (six of 16), and 13.2% of his trips to the dish.
- In 37.5% of his games this year, Gallo has had at least one RBI. He's picked up more than one in 25.0% and driven in three or more of his team's runs in three contests.
- He has scored at least once eight times this season (50.0%), including one multi-run game.
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Joey Gallo Home/Away Batting Splits
Royals Pitching Rankings
- The Royals pitching staff is 19th in MLB with a collective 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
- The Royals have the 28th-ranked team ERA among all league pitching staffs (5.35).
- Royals pitchers combine to allow the fifth-most home runs in baseball (36 total, 1.4 per game).
- The Royals will send Lyles (0-4) out for his sixth start of the season. He is 0-4 with a 4.60 ERA and 23 strikeouts through 31 1/3 innings pitched.
- In his last appearance on Sunday, the right-hander threw six innings against the Los Angeles Angels, giving up four earned runs while surrendering four hits.
- This season, the 32-year-old ranks 59th in ERA (4.60), 29th in WHIP (1.149), and 70th in K/9 (6.6) among qualifying pitchers.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/sports/betting/2023/04/28/joey-gallo-mlb-player-prop-bets/ | 2023-04-28 15:32:13 | 0 | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/sports/betting/2023/04/28/joey-gallo-mlb-player-prop-bets/ |
DAVIE, Fla., Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BHG VC, the corporate venture capital arm of BHG Financial, is pleased to announce its investment in Effectiv, an industry leading fraud prevention and financial crime management company.
BHG VC's investment in the company comes after a successful partnership was established between Effectiv and BHG Financial. By implementing Effectiv's solutions, BHG Financial experienced cost savings in excess of $2 million and saw significant efficiency gains of 70%.
Effectiv is a fraud prevention and financial crime management platform that provides financial institutions with the technology and support they need to securely onboard customers and safeguard their assets in a digital and post-pandemic age. Created by experts in the fields of compliance, fraud, and technology, Effectiv's solutions are uniquely designed with a deep understanding of the global financial landscape. Powered by a combination of human-centered technology and AI, Effectiv's solutions quickly detect patterns and anomalies to protect account holders and facilitate a frictionless onboarding process.
Recognizing the increasing importance of staying ahead of evolving financial crime, BHG VC's investment demonstrates its ethos of supporting promising companies with more than just capital. "We're proud to partner with Effectiv and to further support financial institutions across the country," said Misha Polovneff, VP of Corporate Development. "Our parent company, BHG Financial, has been serving banks since 2001. We understand their needs and find that Effectiv provides a comprehensive platform for financial institutions to navigate fraud and minimize cost."
Built by a team who helped enterprises like USBank, Chime, Google, PayPal, and Walmart manage fraud and risk, Effectiv's solutions utilize hundreds of industry-leading data sources and enable financial institutions of all sizes to establish customized solutions based on their unique needs. With built-in machine learning capabilities and ML-model connectors, it makes it simple for financial institutions to leverage the power of ML in achieving their automation goals.
"Our relationship with BHG VC has been extremely positive," said Ravi Sandepudi, CEO of Effectiv. "The guidance of their leadership team and their expertise in the financial sector have been invaluable in helping us scale our operations. We're excited to continue working together to provide financial institutions with the support they need to manage fraud and risk in this constantly shifting environment."
Effectiv joins BHG VC's fintech-focused portfolio companies that operate in subsectors ranging from specialized loan origination and fraud prevention to digital banking and more. Through these partnerships, BHG VC aims to strengthen financial institutions and fintechs while empowering leaders across financial services.
About Effectiv
At Effectiv, we aim to empower financial institutions' genuine needs for effective fraud prevention and compliance management that are adaptable for the future and use human-centered technology with the perfect combination of AI. Backed by industry-leading investors, advisors, and experts, we're helping financial institutions stay ahead of fraud and compliant in today's dynamic and digital-first world. For more information about Effectiv, click here.
About BHG VC
BHG VC is unleashing rapid growth in the fintech space by investing capital and contributing strategic resources to exceptional entrepreneurs with revolutionary ideas. Powered by BHG Financial's superior data and experience, BHG VC utilizes a unique partnership investment methodology to elevate tomorrow's fintech leaders, today.
For more information about BHG VC, click here. Find out more about the company's financial solutions on https://bhgfinancial.com. Follow BHG on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Media Contact:
Jasmine Heard
Jheard@bhg-inc.com
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SOURCE BHG Financial; BHG VC | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/bhg-vc-announces-investment-fraud-prevention-financial-crime-management-company-effectiv/ | 2022-08-09 13:25:08 | 1 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/bhg-vc-announces-investment-fraud-prevention-financial-crime-management-company-effectiv/ |
Louisiana man, woman arrested in connection with 30-year-old cold case involving infant's death
A Louisiana woman and man have been arrested and accused of first-degree murder in connection with a 30-year-old cold case involving the death of an infant.
Inga Carriere was arrested on Feb. 28 and booked as a fugitive out of Picayune, Mississippi. Andrew Carriere was arrested on March 9 in Galliano, Louisiana.
The Louisiana State Police are working with detectives in Mississippi on the investigation.
According to State Police, on April 17, 1992, an infant girl was found inside of a garbage bag. The baby's cause of death was due to smothering, and the case was classified as a homicide.
Through re-tested evidence, along with DNA and fingerprints, the infant's parents were able to be identified as Andrew and Inga Carriere.
"It's quite unusual," said Paul Fleming, a longtime Jefferson Parish public defender. "This is only the second or third case I have had in my 30-year career where someone has been arrested for a case that happened 30 years ago."
Fleming is representing Inga Carriere in the case.
"There is evidence to show that my client believed the child was stillborn, which would not be newborn or baby or infant, and would not be a crime either," said Fleming.
Fleming said that his office is in the initial stage of its own investigation, but he does not believe his client committed a crime.
"What we have determined so far would tend to exonerate our client," said Fleming. "We don't think she had any guilty knowledge of this incident that happened more than 30 years ago."
Bail was not set for Inga Carriere for her first-degree murder charge.
"This is difficult for everybody, for both sides to handle because the evidence is old, witnesses are gone," said Fleming. "In this case, some witnesses have died, and it's going to make it difficult to prosecute and difficult to defend."
State Police said that the investigation is ongoing and more arrests could be made. | https://www.wbaltv.com/article/louisiana-parents-arrested-infant-death-cold-case/43269719 | 2023-03-10 11:27:52 | 1 | https://www.wbaltv.com/article/louisiana-parents-arrested-infant-death-cold-case/43269719 |
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Some 1.2 million people are expected to pour into Qatar during the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup that begins this month.
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With fans coming from all over the world, reaching Qatar on the Arabian Peninsula, as well as getting around once there, remains a concern. Estimates suggest that as many as half a million people may be in the country each day during the height of the competition.
However, fans have a variety of transportation options to choose from ahead of the tournament.
Here's a look at how to get there, where to go and how to move around.
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FLYING TO QATAR
Qatar has become a hub for East-West travel, thanks to its long-haul carrier Qatar Airways. Already, the airline is offering tailored flight, hotel and ticket options for its customers. Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is gearing up to have its low-cost carrier FlyDubai run as many as 30 trips a day into Doha to allow spectators to watch a match and then shuttle back to hotels in the emirate. Those flying in will land at Doha's Hamad International Airport, a massive airport that Qatar built for $15 billion and opened in 2014. The airport has plans to expand further in 2022 to handle 58 million passengers a year. Passengers will clear immigration and customs checks before heading out into the city. Note that during the tournament, Qatar won't be issuing normal visas and those coming for the matches must have a Qatari-issued Hayya Card. The card verifies you have housing for the time you're in the country or will travel in just for the match you're watching. The Hayya Card also is required for entry into stadiums. Also keep in mind that Qatar has only one land border, with Saudi Arabia, if you're thinking about driving.
CORONAVIRUS CONSIDERATIONS
Qatar has had strict rules regarding travel and the coronavirus since the pandemic began, but they were loosened as of Nov. 1. Qatar has dropped a requirement for PCR testing prior to your trip to the country, and said it's no longer required to download its Ehteraz contact-tracing app.
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HOW TO GET AROUND QATAR
As you walk out of the airport, you have several options on how to get around. Qatar's state-owned Mowasalat transportation company offers taxi cabs at curbside. Major ride-hailing apps like Uber also work in Qatar. Mowasalat runs a bus service at the airport, too. Doha also has a recently built metro service, which will take you from the airport to most areas in the capital. The metro also connects to a tram now running in Lusail. You can rent a car at the airport, though officials are urging those coming to the tournament to take mass transit. On match day, public transport will be free to those holding tickets. Keep in mind that Qatar's riyal currency trades at $1 to 3.64 riyals. There are 100 dirhams in each riyal.
WHAT TO SEE WHILE IN QATAR
Outside of the tournament, Doha has several cultural sites to visit. Qatar's Museum of Islamic Art offers both interesting views inside its galleries and a view outside of the city's skyline. Nearby is Doha's Souq Waqif, which has traditional storefronts and gifts for sale — including even a falcon section. The National Museum of Qatar, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, is a take on the desert rose. Qatar's National Library also is renowned for its design. Doha's Mall of Qatar has some 500,000 square meters (5.3 million square feet) for shopping. There are also beachfront resorts and tour companies offer trips into Qatar's desert expanses as well.
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___
Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/EXPLAINER-Traveling-to-around-Qatar-during-FIFA-17554526.php | 2022-11-03 08:11:50 | 0 | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/EXPLAINER-Traveling-to-around-Qatar-during-FIFA-17554526.php |
It was cold and wet in Central Arkansas on Sunday, but that didn't deter the few hundred people who marched on the state Capitol.
Like similar events held across the country this week, including in Washington, D.C., Sunday saw the annual March for Life.
Unlike in previous years, those marching were doing so in celebration.
This year's marches were the first since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Little Rock's march came on the exact 50th anniversary of the case ruling that made abortion legal.
The crowd was filled with anti-abortion signs.
"Make Abortion unthinkable."
"Love life, choose life."
One sign, bearing a picture of a fetus, said "Image of god, not spare parts."
At 2 p.m. the marchers, complete with a four-car -- and one truck -- police escort, made their way from State Street down Capitol Avenue. As they marched, a man played songs on a bagpipe. In the distance, a PA system at the Capitol played "Amazing Grace."
Among those in the crowd was Susanne Lewis of Little Rock.
She held a banner for Deeper Still, a nationwide program with a goal "to bring healing and lasting freedom to abortion wounded hearts through weekend retreats and education."
Lewis said she attended the march to "promote life for the baby and the mother."
As for March for Life, Lewis said she has "tried to come every year for about 25 years."
She's committed to march "because God values life and so do I and I also want to make sure that women that have made the choice to have an abortion that there's forgiveness for that, and healing and restoration."
Also present was Marvin Fisher, of Sherwood, who was dressed up as "Uncle Sam" and carried a large American flag.
Fisher was out "supporting legislation that's happened and we finally got Roe vs. Wade turned over."
The march ended at the steps of the Capitol, where marchers listened to multiple speeches.
"For the first time in 50 years we can say, Roe is no more," declared Andy Mayberry, president of Arkansas Right to Life.
Later, to cheers and hollering, Mayberry said, "Arkansas is abortion-free."
"It's a great day to celebrate this victory of life over death while we gather today on what would have been the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. That decision that unleashed a torrent of death on the unborn children in America. Thank you for standing for life on this day with us. The heart of Arkansas beats for life. We must remain vigilant as our work to protect babies moves to a new frontier. Each and every one of us must make a decision to choose life over death."
Mayberry then turned over the microphone to Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Sanders noted her parents brought her to a March for Life for the first time roughly 30 years ago.
"I can't think of a lesson that I'm more grateful that they taught me at such an early age that every life matters," Sanders said.
"Every life has value. And we should do everything we can to fight to protect it at every single stage."
Sanders said, "I can assure you, I have a very deep understanding of what life in the womb is and what it means. And as long as I'm Governor over the next eight years, I will make sure that Arkansas continues to be the most pro-life state in the country."
The celebratory mood in Little Rock contrasted with the one held by Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which covers Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.
"A year ago, we marked this anniversary in celebration of a person's right to make their own health care decisions without government interference. Today, our reality is very different," Wales said in a statement.
"We instead join many across our region who are feeling the overwhelming loss of Roe and its impact on patients who cannot access care at home or, too often, cannot get an appointment from providers in our region who are overwhelmed by out-of-state need. Yet, we press on, with a commitment to expanding care and helping as many people as we can in Kansas, and to laying the groundwork to restore rights in our other states."
Wales went on to invoke hopeful words once popularized by Martin Luther King Jr.
"We may assume the long arc of history bends towards justice, but we have a duty to grab hold of it and pull it in that direction," Wales said.
"We have worked to do that at Planned Parenthood Great Plains for the past year, by serving as many patients as possible seeking abortion care, fighting intensely to protect access in Kansas, and working to reassure and support all patients in our four states that we are here, and our doors remain open." | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jan/23/march-for-life-crowd-braves-cold-wet-in/ | 2023-01-23 12:16:21 | 1 | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jan/23/march-for-life-crowd-braves-cold-wet-in/ |
ARE, Sweden (AP) — Moments after winning her record-tying 86th World Cup race, Mikaela Shiffrin was asked by a Swedish broadcaster to directly address Ingemar Stenmark, the skiing standout who had promised to watch at home on television.
From one great to another, the 27-year-old American spoke to the 66-year-old Swede of her respect for him and the historic mark he set in 1989 that was long thought to be beyond reach.
“No matter what I do, it doesn’t ever compare to what you achieved,” Shiffrin said into the TV6 camera from the lakeside resort. “Maybe I get the 87th victory, maybe not. But for me the biggest dream is to be mentioned in the same sentence as you.”
Shiffrin matched the Swede’s mark by winning a giant slalom on Friday. She can break the record on Saturday in a slalom race. Those are her specialties, just as they were for Stenmark in the 1970s and 80s.
The reverence between the two goes both ways. Stenmark told The Associated Press in an interview last month that Shiffrin is “much better than I was.”
She was certainly good Friday, especially in a standout first run that was the platform for yet another dominating win in her storied career. Her time in the morning sunshine was more than one second faster than her highest-ranked rivals and eventually left her with a lead of 0.58 seconds to defend in second run.
Clearly pleased with her skiing in the opening run, Shiffrin smiled and said “yeah” to herself after seeing her time in the finish area.
“It’s one of the few runs in my life where, while I was skiing it, I was thinking, ‘This is good,’” Shiffrin told TV6.
Shiffrin went out more cautiously under the floodlights in the fast-darkening afternoon, tapping her ski poles together four times in the start hut before setting out with 1.04 seconds in hand over then-leader Federica Brignone.
The lead was cut to 0.57 seconds midway down the slope before Shiffrin skied cleanly in sections where Brignone’s aggressive pushing had led to mistakes. The winning margin was 0.64 seconds.
Shiffrin crossed the finish line and put her hands to her helmet, then to her face and shook her head slowly while taking in the enormity of her achievement.
“This is just a spectacular day. Oh my goodness,” she said in a course-side interview.
It was Shiffrin’s fourth straight wire-to-wire win in World Cup giant slaloms since January. In that time, she also took gold in the event at last month’s world championships in Meribel, France.
“When I was little I would never have believed some day I would be in this position,” Shiffrin later told Swiss broadcaster SRF. “The whole day I was trying not to focus on that.”
Shiffrin’s 86th victory came in her 245th World Cup race, and on the fifth attempt to equal Stenmark’s record since she won her 85th race in January.
“It’s been on my mind. It’s been quite tough to focus the last few weeks,” said Shiffrin, who hugged her mother and coach, Eileen, in the finish area.
Brignone made a theatrical bow toward Shiffrin in the finish-area ceremony. The podium included Olympic champion Sara Hector of Sweden, who finished 0.92 seconds behind in third.
Shiffrin also clinched the season-long World Cup giant slalom title to secure her 15th career crystal globe trophy. She already won her fifth overall World Cup title and the slalom title this season.
Making even more World Cup history Friday, Shiffrin’s 20th career victory in the giant slalom — six of them this season — matched the all-time women’s mark held by Vreni Schneider.
Schneider got her wins between 1984 and 1992. The Swiss racer, like Shiffrin, also has Olympic and world championship gold medals in both giant slalom and slalom.
Shiffrin won her first World Cup race in Are, a slalom in December 2012, and then earned two gold medals at the 2019 worlds at the Swedish resort. It was also where she was due to race again in March 2020 after the death of her father the previous month, but the races were called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’ve had a quite a few different experiences here,” Shiffrin said after her first run on Friday. “I have felt everything you can feel here so it’s special to be back.”
___
More AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/skiing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://pix11.com/sports/ap-sports/shiffrin-leads-giant-slalom-closes-in-on-86th-world-cup-win/ | 2023-03-11 06:37:31 | 1 | https://pix11.com/sports/ap-sports/shiffrin-leads-giant-slalom-closes-in-on-86th-world-cup-win/ |
Researchers from the University of North Carolina and Northwestern University Medical School win prestigious Pathway to Stop Diabetes grants to advance diabetes research
ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) announced the two winners of the Pathway to Stop Diabetes® (Pathway) grants, a five-year grant to support breakthroughs in translational science, clinical science, technology, care, and potential cures in the field of diabetes.
The first grant recipient is Anna Kahkoska, MD, PhD, an assistant professor at the Department of Nutrition in the Gillings School of Global Public Health and adjunct assistant professor with the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism in the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received the Pathway grant for her research, Fusing rapid-cycle testing and adaptive interventions: A scientific pipeline to translate and individualize evidence-based psychosocial and behavioral interventions in routine type 1 diabetes care, which investigates how to integrate and tailor evidence-based mental health resources and interventions into routine patient care for people living with type 1 diabetes.
"Psychological well-being is foundational for reaching treatment goals in type 1 diabetes, and interventions that support behavioral and psychosocial aspects of living with diabetes are a critical aspect of providing comprehensive, person-centered care," said Dr. Kahkoska. "The Pathway award will allow me to build a scientific pipeline to translate interventions from research settings to the clinic and individualize them to meet each patient's unique needs."
The second grant recipient is Lisa Beutler, MD, PhD of Northwestern University Medical School for her research, Dissecting sugar-induced modulation of gut-brain circuits, which seeks to understand how sugar consumption alters the connection between the gut and the brain, and how this may link to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
"Excessive sugar intake is clearly linked with the development of diabetes and obesity, but the mechanisms underlying this association are not completely understood," said Dr. Beutler. "I want to determine how what we eat alters the activity of brain centers that control appetite and blood glucose at single-cell resolution. This will allow us to understand how certain diets promote the development of diabetes and obesity by disrupting neural activity. Ultimately we hope this will lead to better treatments for obesity and its complications, including type 2 diabetes."
The Pathway program provides funding and support not only for research, but for promising young innovators who are sparking momentum to benefit diabetes patient care. The ADA is proud to support these individuals and their potential to change the face of diabetes care since 2014.
"Supporting researchers is vital to our mission at the ADA. Their contributions lead to improved diabetes care and technology, as well as the discovery of possible cures," said Charles "Chuck" Henderson, CEO of the ADA. "Our Pathway to Stop Diabetes grants create an environment of success for awardees and provides them with the autonomy, resources, and guidance needed to pioneer the next historic advancement in diabetes care. Congratulations to Drs. Beutler and Kahkoska. The ADA is honored to support their important work."
To learn about past and current Pathway award recipients, visit Pathway to Stop Diabetes.
About Pathway to Stop Diabetes
The Pathway to Stop Diabetes program is a revolutionary grant designed to transform diabetes research by attracting innovative scientists, physicians, and researchers through financial support and professional mentorship. Since the program's inception in 2014, 34 scientists have been selected and 100 percent have secured their first independent faculty positions, 46 invention disclosures and patent applications have been filed, 16 start-ups have been launched, and over 233 manuscripts have been published in peer-reviewed journals by Pathway awardees. After a pause in the program due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ADA is proud to renew the program and continue fostering new leadership and medical breakthroughs for diabetes research.
Pathway awardees are selected by the ADA's Mentor Advisory Group—eminent scientists who review the core elements of exceptional science in selecting an awardee: rigorous though processes, keen intellect, and capacity for innovation, creativity, and productivity. The advisors also provide the Pathway awardees with mentorship and scientific and professional guidance throughout the duration of their grant.
About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For 82 years, the ADA has driven discovery and research to treat, manage, and prevent diabetes while working relentlessly for a cure. Through advocacy, program development, and education we aim to improve the quality of life for the over 133 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).
Contact: Rebecca Fisher, 703-253-4918
press@diabetes.org
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SOURCE American Diabetes Association | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2023/01/31/american-diabetes-association-announces-2023-pathway-stop-diabetes-grant-recipients/ | 2023-01-31 15:56:58 | 0 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2023/01/31/american-diabetes-association-announces-2023-pathway-stop-diabetes-grant-recipients/ |
Chris Cuomo Says He Contemplated Suicide After CNN Firing
Chris Cuomo says he struggled with suicide ideation following his firing from CNN.
Speaking to former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci on the latter's Open Book with Anthony Scaramucci podcast, Cuomo revealed at one point he thought he "was going to kill everybody, including myself," after he was let go by the cable news network.
"Things can consume you," he said, according to Page Six, adding he made "a lot of mistakes" but has since gotten help after getting "s--t canned" by CNN.
"There is damage that is relatable, there is damage that is unrelatable to people that I have to deal with, that I am working on," Cuomo continued.
The veteran TV journalist was first suspended, then terminated, by former CNN president Jeff Zucker in 2021.
Cuomo was fired for violating the network's journalistic ethics after he helped his brother, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, navigate mounting sexual harassment allegations against him at the time.
In 2022, Cuomo made a comeback on NewsNation, where he currently hosts the prime-time show CUOMO.
Cuomo noted that although it's "embarrassing" that his NewsNation audience is so "small" compared to his viewership at CNN, it's a work in progress.
"At CNN, I wasn’t set up to be [No. 1]. I wasn’t the big name there, I didn’t have the big team, they didn’t do the advertising about me. But I was still No. 1. Why? Because it was the best show. Because I was giving people what they needed in that moment," he told Scaramucci.
Cuomo is reportedly suing CNN for $60 million over his firing.
“I believe that was taken, I believe wrongly. I will litigate that. I am not going to b---h about it in the press," he said.
CUOMO airs weeknights on NewsNation at 8PM ET.
If you or someone you know needs help, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 800-273-TALK (8255). | https://nj1015.com/chris-cuomo-says-he-contemplated-suicide-after-cnn-firing/ | 2023-02-16 23:11:29 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/chris-cuomo-says-he-contemplated-suicide-after-cnn-firing/ |
All 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 models will qualify for the highest $7,500 federal EV tax credit amount under the latest rules, VW confirmed Wednesday in a press release.
Local assembly of U.S.-market ID.4 crossover SUVs, as well as local battery sourcing, help allow the ID.4 to qualify for the full credit amount. New rules introduced Tuesday require North American assembly for qualifying EVs, and take into account sourcing of critical minerals and battery components.
As anticipated, the new rules dramatically cut the number of qualifying models—until they comply with battery raw materials requirements and are American-made (Canada and Mexico included). VW plans a lot of qualifying EVs, but it hadn’t yet verified the ID.4’s status with the IRS at the start of the week.
The Treasury Dept. in February clarified confusion over what constitutes an SUV vs a car—critical in establishing a vehicle price cap of $55,000 for cars and $80,000 for SUVs (as well as pickup trucks). The ID.4 is eligible at the higher price cap, although most versions would likely still qualify under the lower cap.
The 2023 ID.4 has a base price of $38,790 (with destination) for the new ID.4 Standard base model, with a 62-kwh gross (58-kwh usable) battery pack yielding an EPA-estimated 209 miles of range and a 201-hp single-motor rear-wheel-drive powertrain. Above that, the ID.4 Pro starts at $43,790 with the same motor configuration and an 82-kwh gross (77-kwh usable) pack, for an estimated 275 miles of range. ID.4 Pro AWD models start at $52,590 and get a dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration, boosting output to 295 hp, with 255 miles of range.
For vehicles that don’t meet the new requirements, either for local assembly and sourcing or the price caps, EV leases remains a loophole. Lucid for instance in January advertised “an automatic $7,500 in savings in the form of a capital cost reduction,” using a tax deduction that allows it to take a $7,500 credit and pass the savings along to a customer in the form of a discounted lease.
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- Polestar 4 will rival Model Y with $60,000 start, 300-mile range | https://who13.com/automotive/internet-brands/all-2023-vw-id-4-models-qualify-for-top-7500-ev-tax-credit/ | 2023-04-21 02:46:57 | 1 | https://who13.com/automotive/internet-brands/all-2023-vw-id-4-models-qualify-for-top-7500-ev-tax-credit/ |
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Over the past several weeks, it seems like nearly every day Americans find ourselves processing another mass shooting. Over time, the number of casualties, the cities, and the circumstances may seem to blur together. This feeling is familiar. We've been here before and, if our recent history is any indication, we will be here again.
And although it may seem as if you and your family are numb to headlines about mass shootings, it's very possible that you are not. Many people are likely feeling the stress and even distress tied to each event with every passing day. So, it's worthwhile to ask how we take care of ourselves and our loved ones during these emotionally brittle times. I've reached out to some colleagues for some ideas and how best to care for ourselves, our loved ones and our children during these times. Here are some ideas from experts.
Normalize our fears
It's OK to be fearful during times of uncertainty, instability and violence, according to clinical psychologist Alexandra Solomon, a clinical assistant professor at Northwestern University and host of the "Reimagining Love" podcast. Fear is, she said, a perfectly normal and expected reaction to such events.
Psychotherapist Kelley Kitley, author of "My Self: An Autobiography of Survival" and mother of four, agreed with Solomon, saying that families are threading a very delicate needle here. On one hand, we shouldn't try to avoid conversations about violence that are prompted by peers or media coverage. On the other hand, we don't want to sit in fear.
Feeling scared makes sense, but we also need to be aware of feeling excessively fearful -- or of our kids feeling that way. Check in with yourself and your kids. If being afraid is interfering significantly with your lives, consider some of the following interventions to help mitigate your anxiety, or your family's apprehension.
Opportunities for connection
Many of us would like to protect our children from some of these alarming headlines, but with the wide access our kids have to information, this is no longer a reasonable expectation, Kitley said.
Mass shootings are devastating events, but they present families with an opportunity for meaningful talks about broad social issues, including an opportunity to talk about safety and race. For instance, her 10-year-old recently asked Kitley, "Why are people even allowed to buy guns?" A healthy discussion ensued about social issues and safety across races and demographics that Kitley and her child may never have engaged in otherwise. It's also important to note that our kids need to express their opinions and be heard.
We need to be open to communication with our children, even if what they have to express does not match our feelings or beliefs, Solomon added. At times of distress, kids need to be heard, and not only to correct and redirect any errors in thinking or facts.
Cathy Cassani Adams, adjunct professor of sociology at Dominican University in the metro Chicago area and author of the recently published "Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredicatable World," adds that it's important to keep in mind the good people involved in keeping all of us safe. Remind yourself and your children that, though we see reports of violence every day, this type of violence remains relatively rare, according to a 2020 study published in the journal Criminology & Public Policy cited by RAND Corporation's report on mass shootings in the United States. And remember that heroes, helpers and problem solvers are always present. This affirmation provides hope, a rare commodity at times like these.
Know your facts
Solomon shared some thoughts on the racial elements of these tragic events. She believes the challenge for parents and caregivers in families is to be sober, direct, and age-appropriate about the realities and dangers of anti-Blackness and White supremacy.
"I want parents in White families to be intentional about talking about many of these as White supremacist shootings, versus mass shootings," she said. "Parents of young White males especially need to be monitoring online activity. We know that groups are targeting young White guys for radicalization."
This is not about making anybody feel guilty or bad about being White, she said. As a White man, I know it is about our responsibility as White people to understand our country's history and how insidious systemic racism has been and continues to be deeply rooted.
Pay attention to your information intake
It's important to be informed about what's going on day-to-day, but be mindful that the news about mass shootings can be overwhelming to your family. To limit the anxiety you and your kids might experience, turn off the news at least some of the time, Kitley suggested.
Remember to create some normal family time, doing chores and playing games. During times of high stress, a degree of normalcy will provide a sense of balance that your family needs. Solomon said that families need to focus on each other and cultivate moments of joy and pleasure and rest.
Don't skip the good stuff
This is an important time of year for so many families, with proms, graduations, the end of school, family vacations and other rites of passages that are joyful. Kitley recommended focusing on the good stuff that's right in front of us.
In order to maintain a sense of well-being, don't just avoid the headlines -- enjoy these milestone events. Some sense of normalcy and joy is crucial for making it through times of social unrest.
Get involved in positive change
Families fare best when they have a mission to do something instead of standing by while terrible events are taking place. In fact, a 2020 meta-analysis by the journal Psychological Bulletin revealed that helping others improves our own emotional well-being, a powerful benefit fringe to getting involved.
So get your family to make a donation, organize a march, or do something else in an effort to curb violence in this country. As Kitley told me, sometimes taking action and getting involve might help you feel empowered to be a part of something.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/features/health/how-to-process-anxiety-and-fear-in-the-wake-of-mass-shootings-according-to-experts/article_71b29d68-7371-555b-b3a7-aa75f0e4e262.html | 2022-05-17 09:57:13 | 0 | https://www.albanyherald.com/features/health/how-to-process-anxiety-and-fear-in-the-wake-of-mass-shootings-according-to-experts/article_71b29d68-7371-555b-b3a7-aa75f0e4e262.html |
Cure CEO Seema Kumar to Announce BioGENEius Award Winner at BIO Opening Plenary and participate in Women In Bio Plenary June 5
Cure to Showcase Cure Innovation Labs, CureXChange Collaboration Residency and Cure Studio on the Road at BIO Exhibit
NEW YORK, June 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cure®, a healthcare innovation campus in New York City, today announced a one-of-a-kind Super Session featuring experts focused on leveraging AI for good as part of the company's presence at the Biotechnology International Convention, the largest global event for the biotech industry, in Boston, MA. from June 5 to 8, 2023.
"The dizzying array of things AI can seemingly do – good, great, and worrisome – has the world of healthcare both excited and overwhelmed. For the BIO Super Session, the panel Cure has gathered will discuss how we can optimally leverage AI and other advanced technologies while mitigating risks," said Cure Chief Executive Officer Seema Kumar. "We also will challenge emerging digital entrepreneurs to demonstrate how AI can take on truly tough challenges in healthcare, like predicting Alzheimer's Disease, providing early warnings for pandemics, or curing cancer."
Joining Kumar for the Super Session, AI For Good: Making sense of big data and high tech to Cure what ails us, on Monday, June 5, 2023, are:
- Rick A. Bright, PhD, former Chief Executive Officer of the Pandemic Prevention Institute of the Rockefeller Foundation and former Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA);
- Daniel Kraft, MD, founder of NextMed Health (formerly Exponential Medicine) and Digital.Health;
- Gregory Petsko, DPhil, Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital; and
- Maria Luisa Pineda, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Envisagenics, Inc.
David Ewing Duncan, award-winning science journalist and CEO of ArcFusion, will moderate the panel. The event, from 2:15 to 3:15 pm EDT, will be in Room 253 ABC of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC), 415 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210.
Launch of CureXChange
During the Super Session, Kumar will announce the launch of CureXChange for innovative ideas at the intersection of disciplines and sectors to receive annual support from the program, which Cure is funding up to $1 million. The CureXChange will seek submissions of ideas focusing on using AI to solve critical healthcare challenges to cure what ails us. Winning teams will receive seed money, a one-year residency at the Cure innovation campus in New York City, access to the Cure network and ecosystem, mentorship, office hours, and resources, the value of which is $1M.
BioGENEius Award
Cure sponsors the Biotechnology Institute's flagship BioGENEius Challenge for high school students, one of the most prestigious high school science competitions for original research in biotechnology. Kumar will announce the 2023 BioGENEius Award winner during the BIO opening plenary session on Tuesday, June 6, at 8:15 am EDT on the BCEC Main Stage.
Women In Bio
At Women Impacting Bio: Breakthrough Stories, a plenary hosted by Women In Bio (WIB) on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, Kumar will join a panel featuring Aoife Brennan, MB, BCh, BAO, MRCPI, CEO of Synlogic, Inc.; Geralynn Ritter, JD, Executive Vice President, External Affairs and ESG at Organon; Nancy Simonian, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Syros Pharmaceuticals; and Azurii Collier, PhD, WIB President. The event, from 6 to 7:30 pm EDT, will be at the Boston Marriott Copley Place, 110 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116.
Cure Exhibit Booth #2242
Cure will showcase the Cure innovation campus and the company's collaboration residency space in New York City as part of its booth in the BIO exhibition. The Cure booth also will host Cure Studios on the Road, capturing highlights and insights from leading biotech executives. Visit and follow Cure's LinkedIn page for updates. Cure Studios invites BIO attendees to stop by for coffee, happy hour, and giveaways, as well as to share their take on the future of healthcare, the impact of AI and what ails them. The booth will be open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EDT in the BCEC Ground Level Halls A-C from June 5 to 8, 2023.
Registered attendees can schedule one-on-one meetings during BIO with a member of Cure's management team by emailing Vilia Baumilas at vbaumilas@cureexperience.com.
ABOUT CURE:
Cure is a 12-story innovation campus in the heart of New York City that features cutting-edge wet labs, premium event venues, and office space—plus tools, mentoring, and other assistance to physician-scientists, entrepreneurs, academics, and nonprofits working across the spectrum of healthcare and biomedicine. Cure's mission is to foster and accelerate the development of therapies and cures and to facilitate critical conversations about the future of healthcare and medicine. For more information, please visit https://cure.345pas.com.
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SOURCE Cure Experience | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/06/02/cure-hosts-ai-good-super-session-make-sense-big-data-high-tech-2023-bio-international-convention-june-5/ | 2023-06-02 16:44:12 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/06/02/cure-hosts-ai-good-super-session-make-sense-big-data-high-tech-2023-bio-international-convention-june-5/ |
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Southern California's Orange County has agreed to pay $480,000 to an inmate who was pregnant but suffered a miscarriage after sheriff’s deputies stopped at a Starbucks while driving her to a hospital.
Sandra Quinones, who is no longer in custody, alleged in a federal lawsuit that sheriff’s staff delayed treatment after her water broke in the jail.
County supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved the payment, but Quinones must formally accept the settlement before it becomes final, the Orange County Register reported.
“That’s a very good result for someone badly treated in the jail,” her lawyer, Dick Herman, told the Register. “This poor woman, she’s in jail having a miscarriage and, instead of calling an ambulance, they take her to the hospital in a patrol car and the cops stop at Starbucks while she’s bleeding.”
Herman said Quinones is homeless and mentally ill.
The lawsuit said no jail staff responded for two hours after Quinones pushed a call button in her cell when her water broke on March 28, 2016.
Then instead of being put in an ambulance, Quinones was given a ride to a hospital in a patrol car, but not until deputies stopped for coffee, the lawsuit alleged.
Quinones was hospitalized, but the fetus did not survive, according to court filings.
Sheriff’s officials declined to comment on the settlement.
The lawsuit accused deputies of acting with “deliberate indifference” toward Quinones’ civil rights and her medical condition, the Register said. | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/480K-to-inmate-who-miscarried-after-stop-for-17396529.php | 2022-08-25 01:41:08 | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/480K-to-inmate-who-miscarried-after-stop-for-17396529.php |
Northeast Jackson residents react to Pearl River flooding
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - As the Pearl River continues to rise and spill spilling over into neighborhoods, volunteers and city leaders are stepping up to lend a helping hand to residents whose homes are expected to be impacted.
“I just say I can only do the best I can. I can’t hold none of it back. The only thing I can do is prepare and let the lord do the rest,” Jackson resident Luretha Clark stated.
Clark is one of dozens of Jackson residents preparing to evacuate.
Floodwaters are already creeping into her Northeast Jackson neighborhood.
The flood water on Westbrook and Old Canton roads, along with the entire soccer fields are nearly covered with water.
As the water continues to rise, Clark is loading up on sandbags to lay outside her home.
“I was told when I first moved over here that I didn’t need no flood insurance and I was asking about so they said I really didn’t need any. So now like I said, I need to at least try to be prepared,” Clark said.
“What we are trying to do is be proactive,” David L. Archie, The Hinds County District 2 Supervisor stated. “We got with local businesses and owners like Marcus Wallace and friends that have these dump trucks that were providing sand that was donated to help the residents of this district and ward.”
Volunteers, along with city and county leaders, are all pitching in to make sure everyone has the resources they need ahead of the potential flood. Several dump trucks were outgoing from street to street hauling sand to any residents looking to protect their homes from flooding.
“Just wanted to take some stress off the citizens,” Marcus Wallace stated. “I mean, the citizens over here have gone through so much and you know a lot of them are stressed, trying to furniture out their homes and trying to keep water from coming in. And we just wanted to go that extra step to get sand out here in the neighborhoods, so these people want to have to drive so far to get it.”
Clark says she’s hoping things won’t become as bad as in 2020.
“Those are material things. If I have to move on I’ll move on and get to higher ground, and if I can come back, I will be back.”
Governor Tate Reeves urges everyone who may be affected by this flood event, to take all safety measures now while you still have time.
To take a look at all the areas expected to be impacted by the flood waters, you can visit our website at WLBT.com and the link here.
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Copyright 2022 WLBT. All rights reserved. | https://www.wlbt.com/2022/08/28/northeast-jackson-residents-react-pearl-river-flooding/ | 2022-08-28 04:10:31 | 1 | https://www.wlbt.com/2022/08/28/northeast-jackson-residents-react-pearl-river-flooding/ |
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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysians began casting ballots Saturday in a tightly contested national election that will determine whether the country’s longest-ruling coalition can make a comeback after its electoral defeat four years ago.
Political reformers under opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim are gunning for a second victory — but with three main blocs vying for votes, analysts said the outcome is hard to predict and could lead to new alliances if there is a hung Parliament.
Polling booths opened at 7:30 a.m. (2330 GMT) in two states on Borneo island, and half an hour later on the Malaysian Peninsula. Long lines had already formed in the capital Kuala Lumpur and other cities as voters rushed to cast ballots ahead of afternoon thunderstorms predicted in parts of the country.
More than 21 million Malaysians are eligible to cast ballots to fill 222 seats in federal Parliament and choose representatives in three state legislatures. The Election Commission has extended voting time from nine to 10 hours, with results expected to be out late in the day.
The main battle is between the United Malays National Organization-led alliance and Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan, or Alliance of Hope. The Perikatan Nasional, or National Alliance, which is a Malay-based bloc led by former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, is seen as a dark horse. Many polls have put Anwar’s bloc in the lead, but short of winning a majority. But two research houses have predicted a win for the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional, or National Front alliance.
Apathy among voters worried about the economy and rising costs of living and the addition of some 6 million mostly young voters since 2018 polls are adding to uncertainties in the tight race. The prospect of flash floods due to seasonal monsoon rains may also affect voters’ turnout.
“The choice today is between sticking with the status quo … or opting for a different future, with the hope that Harapan will improve lives," said Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asian political expert.
Anwar's bloc emerged the strongest in the race but it is unclear if this will translate into a victory given Malaysia's gerrymandering and uneven proportion of voters in constituencies, she said. UMNO had lost the popular vote in past elections but still won a majority in Parliament due to a skewed electoral system that gives power to rural Malays, its traditional supporters.
Once an omnipotent force credited with developing and modernizing Malaysia, anger over government corruption led to UMNO’s shocking defeat in 2018 polls to Anwar’s bloc that saw the first regime change since Malaysia’s independence from Britain in 1957.
The watershed polls had sparked hopes of reforms as once-powerful UMNO leaders were jailed or hauled to court for graft. But political guile and defections led to the government’s collapse after 22 months. UMNO bounced back as part of a new government but infighting led to continuous political turmoil. In all, Malaysia's had three prime ministers since 2018 polls.
Initially confident of a strong comeback due to a fragmented opposition, UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had pushed incumbent caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to call snap polls. But the UMNO campaign has been relatively muted as infighting and corruption charges against Zahid cast a shadow over its election promise for stability and prosperity.
The opposition has warned that a UMNO victory would result in Zahid, who is fighting dozens of graft charges, taking over as prime minister and escaping the corruption allegations. Zahid has dropped eight party leaders aligned to Ismail from the polls, but he and UMNO leaders insist Ismail remains the party’s candidate.
Anwar, 75, has put up a strong fight as he crisscrossed the country, often drawing large crowds with his message for change and his oratory skills. Thousands of people chanted his battle cry of “We Can” at his final rally late Friday as Anwar urged them not to let corrupt leaders dictate the country’s future.
A second victory at the ballot box would cap Anwar’s storied political journey, a former deputy prime minister whose sacking and imprisonment in the 1990s led to massive street protests and a reform movement that saw his bloc rise into a major political force.
Anwar was in prison during the 2018 vote for a sodomy charge that critics say was trumped up. Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad led the alliance’s campaign and became the world’s oldest leader at 92 after the victory. Anwar was pardoned shortly after and would have succeeded Mahathir had their government not crumbled.
The stakes are high for Anwar, who is contesting a new federal seat in Tambun in northern Perak state in a calculated gamble to showcase his alliance’s strength. His bloc has promised a reset in government policies to focus on merits and needs, rather than race, and good governance to plug billions of dollars it said was lost to corruption. Critics say the affirmative action policy that gives majority Malays privileges in business, housing and education has been abused to enrich the elites, alienate minority groups and has sparked a brain drain.
But this has been a sore point with rural Malays, who have been constantly warned by UMNO of the risk of Chinese economic domination if the opposition won. Anwar’s alliance includes a Chinese-majority party that has long been used as the bogeyman by UMNO. Malays form two-thirds of Malaysia’s 33 million people, which include large minorities of ethnic Chinese and Indians.
The National Alliance, UMNO’s ally-turned rival, ran a sleek campaign to woo Malay supporters uncomfortable with corruption in UMNO and greater pluralism espoused by Anwar. Its leader Muhyiddin defected from Mahathir’s government in early 2020, causing its collapse. He became prime minister under a tieup with UMNO but resigned after 17 months due to infighting. Anwar’s supporters have accused Muhyiddin and leaders of his Islamic ally of hate speech against ethnic minority groups in their bid to win Malay votes.
Mahathir, 97, is also seeking support under a new Malay movement that isn’t expected to make much headway but may split the vote. His popularity has faded and the elections are likely to be the last for Mahathir. | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Malaysians-vote-in-elections-as-old-party-17596515.php | 2022-11-19 02:25:11 | 1 | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Malaysians-vote-in-elections-as-old-party-17596515.php |
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have agreed to terms with Ejiro Evero on Sunday to be their new defensive coordinator.
The 42-year-old Evero was the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator last season and was one of nine candidates to interview for the Panthers head coaching position before owner David Tepper hired Frank Reich.
The Broncos ranked seventh in the league in total defense in 2022 under Evero and were 14th in points allowed. Evero previously worked as the Broncos secondary coach before being promoted to coordinator.
He has also experience coaching with the Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Steve Wilks was Carolina’s defensive coordinator to start the 2022 season, but was later promoted to interim head coach after Matt Rhule was fired. Al Holcomb took over as interim defensive coordinator and remained in that role for the rest of the season.
Carolina’s defense, led by defensive end Brian Burns and safety Jeremy Chinn, finished 22nd in the league last season in yards allowed per game and allowed the 19th-most points in the league, but the defense is generally considered the strength of a team that finished 7-10.
Evero has ties to Carolina.
Dom Capers, who served as Carolina’s first head coach, was a senior defensive assistant on Evero’s staff last season in Denver. Evero also spent four years on the 49ers staff under Vic Fangio, the Panthers defensive coordinator from 1995-98 under Capers.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.wane.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-panthers-hire-evero-as-new-defensive-coordinator/ | 2023-02-06 16:14:38 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-panthers-hire-evero-as-new-defensive-coordinator/ |
This Is New Jersey’s Favorite Star Wars Movie
Today’s the day! It’s National Star Wars Day! If someone in your life is a big Star Wars fan, I’m sure you already know you’ll be hearing a lot of “May The Fourth Be With You” today.
The “holiday” was created by Star Wars founder, George Lucas, and has since been a big day within the fandom. The first recorded reference to the phrase being used was on May 4th, 1979 according to Wikipedia. I am a huge Star Wars fan so when I saw this list of every single state’s favorite Star Wars movie, I was so invested.
Everyone has their own opinions on each movie and each trilogy for that matter, but it’s easy to appreciate something from each movie. The movie that is the most popular is apparently the original movie, A New Hope. 11 out of 50 states have stated that that is their favorite.
As for New Jersey, we’re on the same page as New Hampshire and Montana. Fandom.com reported that as a state, our favorite movie is Revenge of the Sith, and I couldn’t agree more with this. Revenge of the Sith and Return of the Jedi are my top two favorites so I can definitely get behind this poll! New Jersey Star Wars fans have good taste!
There are a ton of ways to celebrate with deals today. Disney World is offering deals on different Star Wars-themed goodies in the parks and also Homesick Candles are offering two specially-themed candles for the “holiday” that are Star Wars inspired.
Also, if you’re near the Bordentown, NJ area, Bordentown Creamery is serving a Star Wars ice cream series!
May The Fourth Be With You! | https://catcountry1073.com/new-jersey-favorite-star-wars-movie/ | 2023-05-04 19:17:10 | 0 | https://catcountry1073.com/new-jersey-favorite-star-wars-movie/ |
Harbor House Domestic Abuse Program is hosting its third annual Harbor House Amazing Race fundraising event on Saturday, April 22.
This annual fundraising event is based on the television show, “The Amazing Race”. Teams will drive to various locations throughout the Appleton area to complete challenges. The 10 challenges are a test of creativity and teamwork more than athleticism – it’s not a run event, it’s a fun event. They will also educate participants about the programs and services Harbor House offers to domestic and sexual violence victim-survivors. “We are looking forward to creating awareness and highlighting a few of our community partnerships in a unique way,” said Kim Davis, Harbor House Marketing Coordinator, and Harbor House Amazing Race Committee Chair. “Last year, 1,700 clients utilized Harbor House services and over 700 of them resided in our shelter. This is the largest amount of people we have ever served in our 38-year history!”
Rally family, friends, and co-workers to form a team of 2-6 people (or the number of people that can safely fit in one vehicle). Register a team online at the Harbor House Amazing Race webpage. Once registered, teams set a minimum fundraising goal of $500 and can start collecting donations. Prizes will be awarded to the top team fundraisers and top individual fundraiser. There will also be prizes given to the best finish time, most creative team name, and best team fashion.
Harbor House Amazing Race debuted with great success in 2021. Since then, 48 teams have helped raise over $100,000! The goal this year is to have 30 teams participate and raise $75,000. All the proceeds from the event will support the services and programs available to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. For more information on how to register or to donate, please visit www.harborhousewi.org/amazingrace.
Harbor House leads a community-wide partnership in the awareness and prevention of domestic and sexual violence. The organization also offers safety and support to diverse families and individuals in crisis. Established in 1984, Harbor House is committed to understanding the breadth of domestic and sexual violence victims’ evolving needs in Outagamie and Calumet counties. Each year the organization serves more than 1,600 children and adults. | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/local5live/amazing-race-fundraiser-to-benefit-harbor-house/ | 2023-03-27 21:56:38 | 0 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/local5live/amazing-race-fundraiser-to-benefit-harbor-house/ |
FBI thwarted 'despicable' cyberattack on children's hospital, director says
WASHINGTON - The FBI thwarted a planned cyberattack on a children's hospital in Boston that was to have been carried out by hackers sponsored by the Iranian government, FBI Director Christopher Wray said Wednesday.
Wray told a Boston College cybersecurity conference that his agents learned of the planned digital attack from an unspecified intelligence partner and got Boston Children's Hospital the information it needed last summer to block what would have been "one of the most despicable cyberattacks I've seen."
"And quick actions by everyone involved, especially at the hospital, protected both the network and the sick kids who depended on it," Wray said.
The FBI chief recounted that anecdote in a broader speech about cyber threats from Russia, China and Iran, and the need for partnerships between the U.S. government and the private sector.
Christopher Wray testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on his nomination to be the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on July 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by MANDEL NG
He said the bureau and Boston Children’s Hospital had worked closely after a hacktivist attacked the hospital’s computer network in 2014. Martin Gottesfeld launched a cyberattack at the hospital to protest the care of a teenager at the center of a high-profile custody battle; Gottesfeld later was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The attack against the hospital and a treatment home cost the facilities tens of thousands of dollars and disrupted operations for days.
"Children’s and our Boston office already knew each other well — before the attack from Iran — and that made a difference," Wray said.
RELATED: The 20 most common passwords leaked from data breaches — did yours make the list?
He did not ascribe a particular motive to the planned attack on the hospital, but he noted that Iran and other countries have been hiring cyber mercenaries to conduct attacks on their behalf. In addition, the health care and public health sector is classified by the U.S. government as one of 16 critical infrastructure sectors, and health care providers such as hospitals are seen as ripe targets for hackers.
When it comes to Russia, he said, the FBI is "racing" to warn potential targets about preparatory actions that hackers are taking toward destructive attacks. In March, for instance, the FBI warned that it was seeing increased interest by hackers in energy companies since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Hackers from China have stolen more corporate and personal data from people in the United States than all other nations combined, as part of a broader geopolitical goal to "lie, cheat and steal their way into global denomination of global sectors," Wray said.
The speech took place as the FBI continues to combat ransomware attacks from criminal gangs, a continuing concern for U.S. officials despite the absence of crippling intrusions in recent months.
Wray emphasized the need for private companies to work with the FBI to thwart ransomware gangs and nation-state hackers.
"What these partnerships let us do is hit our adversaries at every point — from the victims’ networks, back all the way to the hackers’ own computers," Wray said.
The FBI and other federal agencies have been working to assure hacking victims that it is in their best interest to report intrusions and cyber crimes. Many companies attacked by ransomware gangs often do not go to the FBI for a variety of reasons.
RELATED: Red Cross cyber attack exposed data on 515,000 vulnerable people
Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, the top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued a report this year critical of the FBI’s response to some ransomware victims. In two cases, the FBI "prioritized its investigative and prosecutorial efforts to disrupt attacker operations over victims’ need to protect data and mitigate damage," the report said.
One unnamed Fortune 500 company told committee staff that the FBI did not offer any "helpful assistance" when responding to a ransomware attack.
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Wray, though, cited the FBI's capacity to get a technically trained agent to any victimized company in an hour — "and we use it a lot." | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/fbi-cyberattack-boston-childrens-hospital-christopher-wray | 2022-06-02 00:44:07 | 1 | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/fbi-cyberattack-boston-childrens-hospital-christopher-wray |
State OKs lawsuit over Wesson appointment, throwing his future at City Hall in doubt
A state official cleared the way for a group of South Los Angeles community leaders to sue over the selection of Herb Wesson as a temporary member of the Los Angeles City Council, throwing the future of his City Hall appointment into question.
Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta issued an opinion granting the request from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California to challenge Wesson’s appointment in court. The civil rights group has argued that Wesson is ineligible to serve as an interim replacement for Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who is fighting federal corruption charges and was suspended from his post last year.
In Wednesday’s opinion, Bonta said the SCLC of Southern California had raised substantive questions about whether the council’s selection of Wesson violated the City Charter, the city’s governing document. The city’s term limit law may prevent Wesson from holding that office again, he said.
“We conclude that substantial questions of law exist as to whether Wesson’s appointment to the Los Angeles City Council was lawful,” Bonta’s decision states. “Further, the public interest will be served by allowing the proposed [legal challenge] to proceed.”
John Sweeney, an attorney for the SCLC of Southern California, said he and his clients will decide in the next day whether to file a temporary restraining order seeking Wesson’s removal. Residents of the 10th District did not vote for Wesson, who was appointed to the post during a “secretive process,” he said.
“We believe that he is illegally holding office,” Sweeney said. “And that’s why we wanted to keep the status quo and put no one in there until Mark Ridley-Thomas’ criminal trial came around.”
Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for City Atty. Mike Feuer, declined to comment on the state’s decision. Wesson, for his part, said in a statement that he would “continue to work in the best interest of the people” until the legal matter is resolved.
Wesson, who previously served on the council from 2005 to 2020, said he had been enjoying retirement before being contacted about a return to City Hall. “When there was a need for someone to temporarily step in and keep the district running, there was no way I could say no to my neighbors and friends that I love so much,” he said.
Under the City Charter, council members are limited to three four-year terms. However, they can also serve a portion of another official’s unexpired term if that official steps down ahead of schedule.
The drama surrounding the 10th Council District, which stretches from Koreatown to the Crenshaw Corridor in South Los Angeles, has been playing out in fits and starts over the past nine months. Ridley-Thomas, elected in 2020, was indicted on bribery, conspiracy and fraud charges in October, in a case stemming from his time serving on the five-member county Board of Supervisors.
In their indictment, prosecutors accused Ridley-Thomas of conspiring with a USC dean to steer county money to the university in return for admitting his son into the graduate school with full tuition and a paid professorship. Ridley-Thomas pleaded not guilty and has vowed to fight the charges.
A former USC dean is charged with paying off Mark Ridley-Thomas in exchange for millions of dollars in L.A. County contracts with the university.
The council suspended him from his post soon afterward, tapping one of his high-level aides to serve as the district’s unelected caretaker. That move spurred complaints from residents who said they no longer had a voting representative to weigh in on budget decisions and other issues.
In February, the council voted to approve Wesson as the district’s voting representative until Dec. 31. Under that plan, Wesson is to step down earlier if the charges against Ridley-Thomas are dropped or if a jury finds him not guilty.
Supporters of that move described Wesson as a sensible choice, saying he was already familiar with the district and would be barred from running again, preventing the council from handpicking a successor who could run for election as an incumbent in 2024.
The SCLC of Southern California disagreed, joining forces with several voters in the district, filing a lawsuit to keep Wesson from taking office.
A Superior Court judge initially sided with them, issuing a temporary restraining order blocking Wesson from participating in council business. At the time, she said the plaintiffs had a sufficient likelihood of prevailing with their argument that Wesson is barred under term limits from returning.
The judge also questioned whether the City Charter permits an interim council appointment that lasts only 10 months.
Weeks later, that same judge dissolved her order, concluding that the case could not proceed until the plaintiffs had obtained permission from Bonta’s office to pursue a “quo warranto” action — a challenge to a public official’s eligibility to hold public office. Such challenges cannot be filed by a private party without the attorney general’s consent.
Wesson returned to the council in March and began casting votes. He fired Ridley-Thomas’ two top deputies, one of whom had spent several months as the district’s nonvoting caretaker. He hired Heather Hutt, who ran unsuccessfully for state Assembly last year, as his chief of staff.
Karly Katona, aide to Ridley-Thomas, said she and another aide were told that Wesson had them removed
Hutt lives in the district and therefore would be eligible for an interim appointment herself.
Meanwhile, the SCLC of Southern California filed its application with Bonta to pursue its challenge in court.
Wednesday’s action gives fresh momentum to that effort. In his decision, Bonta said the legal questions surrounding Wesson’s appointment are a matter of public importance that would “benefit from judicial review.”
Asked about Bonta’s decision, Council President Nury Martinez said she is “determined” to give the district representation. Martinez, who spearheaded the move to make Wesson a temporary councilman, defended the council’s decision, saying residents in the district had “overwhelmingly suggested” him for the interim post.
“The residents of the 10th Council District wanted a trusted voice on this council, and their choice was Herb Wesson,” she said in a statement.
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. | https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-06-22/state-gives-ok-to-lawsuit-challenging-herb-wesson-city-council-appointment | 2022-06-23 02:21:21 | 1 | https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-06-22/state-gives-ok-to-lawsuit-challenging-herb-wesson-city-council-appointment |
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nicole Cottrill, FINN Partners' Senior Partner and Health Provider Services Group Lead, has been named one of Medika Life's Women Transforming Healthcare. The prestigious list features 30 must-watch-and-follow global ambassadors who relentlessly work to improve the healthcare system.
Cottrill is credited with guiding US health provider and health plan leaders in addressing the needs of vulnerable patient communities, helping health systems navigate economic challenges and crises and enabling health executives to express thought leadership on critical topics surrounding health equity, innovation and policy.
"As we compiled the list of women making a substantial impact across the healthcare industry, Nicole was a top candidate as a veteran in healthcare communications," said Dr. Robert Turner, Founding Editor, Medika Life. "Her relentless passion to make a difference is improving lives across the globe."
As FINN's leader of the Health Provider Services sector, Cottrill serves as senior counselor for the agency's provider and payer clients including hospitals and health systems, physician practices, long-term and post-acute care providers, and specialists in areas including oncology and behavioral health.
Recognized as US Healthcare Agency of the Year by HITMC and a top four PRovoke Media global healthcare agency, FINN's Health Practice is among the agency's largest and fastest-growing divisions. Nashville, the nation's health services capital, is the southeastern hub for FINN, where Cottrill previously served as Senior Partner and Health Group co-lead. The health industry is Nashville's largest economic driver. Data from Nashville Health Care Council shows that the industry contributes an overall economic benefit of $46.7 billion to the local economy annually and generates more than $92 billion globally. Cottrill has played a major role in developing the reputation and growth of the agency's health team.
Cottrill joined FINN in 2006. She began her career at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. In 1999, she joined Boston-based public relations firm Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications where she rose to vice president, healthcare and science. Honoring her many industry achievements, Cottrill was named one of Nashville Medical News' "Women to Watch" in 2019 and among Nashville Business Journal's Forty Under 40 in 2012.
Founded in 2011 on the core principles of innovation and collaborative partnership, FINN Partners has grown from about $24 million in fees to almost $170 million in fees over ten years, becoming one of the fastest growing independent public relations agencies in the world. The full-service marketing and communications company's record setting pace is a result of organic growth and integrating new companies and new people into the FINN world through a common philosophy. With more than 1,300 professionals across 32 offices, FINN provides clients with global access and capabilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. FINN Partners clients are also supported through longstanding partner agencies and its membership in the PROI network of leading agencies around the world. Headquartered in New York, FINN has offices in: Atlanta, Bangalore, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Delhi, Denver, Detroit, Dublin, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Guam, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Jerusalem, Kuala Lumpur, London, Los Angeles, Manila, Mumbai, Munich, Nashville, Orange County, Paris, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, Vancouver and Washington D.C. Find us at finnpartners.com and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @finnpartners.
Contact: Karen Orne
615-610-0262
karen.orne@finnpartners.com
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SOURCE FINN Partners | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/05/finns-nicole-cottrill-named-prestigious-list-women-transforming-healthcare/ | 2022-08-05 19:47:30 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/05/finns-nicole-cottrill-named-prestigious-list-women-transforming-healthcare/ |
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett was released from a hospital late Monday night after he was injured when he rolled over his Porsche while driving on a rural road following practice.
Garrett suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the one-car wreck. He had been taken to the hospital, along with an unidentified female passenger, after crashing around 3 p.m. — about 2 hours after practice ended.
Garrett’s playing status for the upcoming game is unknown. The Browns visit the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Cleveland’s players don’t practice Tuesday.
His agent, Nicole Lynn, said Garrett didn’t break any bones. Lynn said Garrett was “alert and responsive” while receiving medical care.
Ohio State Highway Patrol said in a release that troopers arrived at the scene of the accident to find Garrett’s damaged car on the side of the road after it appeared to flip over several times. Garrett had been driving on State Road in Sharon Township while traveling south after he left the team’s headquarters in Berea, Ohio.
The highway patrol doesn’t suspect impairment from drugs or alcohol. Garrett and his passenger were both wearing seat belts in his Porsche 911 Turbo S. The crash is still under investigation.
One of the NFL’s most dominant defensive players, the 26-year-old Garrett has recorded 61 1/2 sacks in 71 games. He needs one sack to pass Clay Matthews for the team’s career record.
The Browns drafted Garrett with the No. 1 overall pick in 2017.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.yourbasin.com/sports/ap-browns-garrett-released-from-hospital-after-scary-crash/ | 2022-09-27 14:45:10 | 0 | https://www.yourbasin.com/sports/ap-browns-garrett-released-from-hospital-after-scary-crash/ |
SAN JOSE, Calif., May 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) today announced the pricing of its previously announced offer to purchase for cash any and all of the company's outstanding notes listed in the table below (collectively, the "Notes"). Each reference to an "Offer" herein refers to the applicable offer to purchase for cash the 2.200% Senior Notes due September 2022 (the "2022 Notes") or the 1.350% Senior Notes due June 2023 (the "2023 Notes"), as applicable.
The Offer was made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase, dated May 16, 2022 (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Offer to Purchase"), and its accompanying notice of guaranteed delivery (the "Notice of Guaranteed Delivery" and, together with the Offer to Purchase, the "Tender Offer Documents"). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this announcement have the meanings given to them in the Offer to Purchase.
Details of the Offer
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Tender Offer Documents, Holders who (i) validly tender Notes at or prior to the Expiration Time (as defined below) (and do not validly withdraw such Notes at or prior to the Withdrawal Time (as defined below)) or (ii) deliver a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (or comply with ATOP procedures applicable to guaranteed delivery) and all other required documents at or prior to the Expiration Time and validly tender their Notes at or prior to the Guaranteed Delivery Time pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures, and, in each case, whose Notes are accepted for purchase by us, will receive the applicable Tender Offer Consideration specified above for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes, which will be payable in cash.
In addition to the applicable Tender Offer Consideration, Holders whose Notes are accepted for purchase by us will be paid applicable accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes from the last interest payment date of the Notes to, but not including, the settlement date (which is expected to be May 23, 2022, the first business day after the Expiration Time (as defined below), unless the Expiration Time is extended or the Offer is terminated earlier) (the "Settlement Date") for the Notes purchased in the Offer ("Accrued Interest"). Interest on the Notes will cease to accrue on the Settlement Date for all Notes accepted in the Offer, including those tendered through the guaranteed delivery procedures.
The Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 20, 2022, unless the Offer is extended or earlier terminated (the "Expiration Time"). Tendered Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 20, 2022, or if the Offer is extended, the 10th business day after the commencement of the Offer (the "Withdrawal Time"), but not thereafter, except as required by applicable law as described in the Offer to Purchase. Notes tendered pursuant to the Offer may also be withdrawn at any time after the 60th business day after commencement of the Offer if for any reason the Offer has not been consummated within 60 business days of commencement.
For further details on the procedures for tendering the Notes, please refer to the Offer to Purchase, including the procedures set out under the heading "The Offer—Procedures for Tendering Notes" in the Offer to Purchase.
The Offer is subject to certain conditions, including, among other things, the Financing Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), and certain customary conditions. Subject to applicable law and limitations described in the Offer to Purchase, we may waive any of the conditions in our sole discretion.
We intend to issue a redemption notice for any remaining outstanding 2022 Notes that have not been validly tendered and accepted for payment in the Offer at the "make-whole" redemption price set forth in the terms and conditions of the 2022 Notes. In the case of the 2023 Notes, we do not presently intend, but reserve the right, to acquire any 2023 Notes that are not purchased pursuant to the Offer through the optional redemption provisions of the 2023 Notes or otherwise. This press release does not constitute a notice of redemption or an obligation to issue a notice of redemption for any Notes.
We have retained Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC ("Morgan Stanley") to act as the Dealer Manager in connection with the Offer (the "Dealer Manager"). Questions regarding terms and conditions of the Offer should be directed to Morgan Stanley at 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Liability Management Group or at (212) 761-1057 (collect) or (800) 624-1808 (toll free).
D.F. King has been appointed as information agent and tender agent (the "Information Agent and Tender Agent") in connection with the Offer. Questions or requests for assistance in connection with the Offer, or for additional copies of the Tender Offer Documents, may be directed to the Information Agent and Tender Agent at (212) 269-5550 for banks and brokers or (866) 207-3648 for holders (toll free), or via e-mail at PayPal@dfking.com. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer. The Tender Offer Documents can be accessed at the Offer Website: www.dfking.com/PayPal.
We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, not to purchase any Notes or to extend, re-open, withdraw or terminate the Offer and to amend or waive any of the terms and conditions of the Offer in any manner, subject to applicable laws and regulations.
Holders are advised to read carefully the Offer to Purchase for full details of and information on the procedures for participating in the Offer.
All documentation relating to the Offer, including the Offer to Purchase, together with any updates, are available from the Information Agent and Tender Agent, the contact details for whom are set out below. Holders are urged to contact the Information Agent and Tender Agent for the relevant announcements relating to the Offer. In addition, all documentation relating to the Offer to Purchase, together with any updates, will be available via the Offer Website: www.dfking.com/PayPal.
DISCLAIMER This announcement must be read in conjunction with the Offer to Purchase. This announcement and the Offer to Purchase contain important information which should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Offer. You are recommended to seek your own financial, legal and tax advice, including as to any tax consequences, immediately from your broker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial or legal adviser. Any individual or company whose Notes are held on its behalf by a broker, dealer, bank, custodian, trust company or other nominee or intermediary must contact such entity if it wishes to participate in the Offer.
None of the Company, the Dealer Manager, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Tender Agent or the Information Agent or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates makes any recommendation as to whether or not Holders should tender their Notes in the Offer.
None of the Company, the Dealer Manager, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Tender Agent or the Information Agent or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates assumes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information concerning the Company, the Notes, or the Offer contained in this announcement or in the Offer to Purchase. None of the Company, the Dealer Manager, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Tender Agent, the Information Agent or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates is acting for any Holder, or will be responsible to any Holder for providing any protections which would be afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Offer, and accordingly none of the Company, the Dealer Manager, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Tender Agent, the Information Agent or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates assumes any responsibility for any failure by the Company to disclose information with regard to the Company or Notes which is material in the context of the Offer and which is not otherwise publicly available.
General
This announcement is for informational purposes only. This announcement is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any Notes or any other securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase. The Offer is not being made to Holders of Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities laws or blue sky laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer will be deemed to be made on behalf of the Company by the Dealer Manager or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.
No action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction that would permit the possession, circulation or distribution of either this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or any material relating to us or the Notes in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase nor any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the Offer may be distributed or published, in or from any such country or jurisdiction, except in compliance with any applicable rules or regulations of any such country or jurisdiction.
The distribution of this announcement and the Offer to Purchase in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement or the Offer to Purchase comes are required by us, the Dealer Manager, the Information Agent and Tender Agent to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.
Neither this announcement nor the Offer to Purchase, or the electronic transmission thereof, as applicable, constitutes an offer to sell or buy any of the new notes pursuant to the New Notes Offering, a solicitation for acceptance of the Offer, or a notice of redemption under the indenture governing the Notes. The distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. We are not aware of any jurisdiction where the making of the Offer is not in compliance with applicable law. If we become aware of any such jurisdiction, we will make a good faith effort to comply with applicable law or seek to have such law declared inapplicable to the Offer. If, after such good faith effort, we cannot comply with any such law, the Offer will not be made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) Holders residing in such jurisdiction. In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer and the Dealer Manager or any of their respective affiliates is such a licensed broker or dealer in any such jurisdiction, the Offer shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Manager or such affiliate (as the case may be) on behalf of the Company in such jurisdiction.
Each Holder participating in the Offer will give certain representations in respect of the jurisdictions referred to above and generally as set out herein. Any tender of Notes pursuant to the Offer from a Holder that is unable to make these representations will not be accepted. Each of the Company, the Dealer Manager, the Tender Agent and Information Agent reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to investigate, in relation to any tender of Notes pursuant to the Offer, whether any such representation given by a Holder is correct and, if such investigation is undertaken and as a result the Company determines (for any reason) that such representation is not correct, such tender shall not be accepted.
About PayPal
PayPal has remained at the forefront of the digital payment revolution for more than 20 years. By leveraging technology to make financial services and commerce more convenient, affordable, and secure, the PayPal platform is empowering 429 million consumers and merchants in more than 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements related to the anticipated terms of the offering, the anticipated closing of the offering, the expected use of proceeds of the notes and other statements that are not historical fact. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "may," "will," "would," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "project," "forecast" and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based upon various estimates and assumptions, as well as information known to PayPal as of the date of this press release, and are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially from those predicted or implied by forward-looking statements. For the reasons discussed above, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release. PayPal assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Investor Relations Contacts
Gabrielle Rabinovitch
grabinovitch@paypal.com
Ryan Wallace
ryanwallace@paypal.com
Media Relations Contacts
Josh Criscoe
jcriscoe@paypal.com
Taylor Watson
taywatson@paypal.com
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SOURCE PayPal Holdings, Inc. | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/05/20/paypal-announces-pricing-debt-tender-offer/ | 2022-05-20 19:32:06 | 0 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/05/20/paypal-announces-pricing-debt-tender-offer/ |
BEIJING (AP) — The Beijing office of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu has been fined $30.8 million for failing to adequately audit a Chinese state-owned asset management company whose former head was sentenced to death on corruption charges.
The office also was ordered to suspend operations for three months for mishandling audit and other work at China Huarong Asset Management Co. in 2014-19, the Ministry of Finance announced Friday.
Deloitte was fined 211.9 million yuan ($30.8 million), the ministry said. It said Huarong was fined a total of 800,000 yuan ($116,000) and 13 employees were fined a total of 250,000 yuan ($36,000) for their role in faulty audits.
Huarong is one of four entities created in the 1990s to buy nonperforming loans from state-owned banks. They expanded into banking, insurance, real estate finance and other fields.
Huarong’s former head, Lai Xiaomin, was sentenced to death on 2021 on charges of embezzlement and taking bribes in exchange for investments, construction contracts and jobs.
Regulators concluded Deloitte failed to pay close enough attention to management activities, Huarong’s assets and compliance matters, the Ministry of Finance said.
In a statement issued to Chinese media, Deloitte said it accepted the punishment and expressed regret regulators found aspects of its audit failed to meet standards. | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/china-fines-deloitte-30-8-million-over-audit-failings/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world | 2023-03-17 14:10:52 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/china-fines-deloitte-30-8-million-over-audit-failings/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
Tick Population Explodes This Year: Here’s How Mainers Should Protect Themselves
Maine woman Rita Boutaugh had a pretty busy weekend picking an entire family of ticks out of her father's beard.
Say what? I guess it makes sense though because ticks grapple onto anything, even facial hair.
She posted this in the Maine Wildlife Facebook Group to make others aware that the ticks are out and popping.
Her post said the following,
This is just from my father's beard.. be prepared for a hard summer with these nasty things!
Rita Boutaugh
This happened in Ellsworth, Maine.
Every year we talk about this. But this time, I am going to prepare you for the inevitable and let you know, they are unavoidable, like that wedgy you always get when you wear those yoga pants.
You will most likely see a tick or have one burrow under your skin this summer because they have increased in Maine, according to Pine State Pest.
They say,
In more than one spot on the web, researchers have noted climate change and an increase in deer population could be to blame for an ever-increasing tick problem in Maine as well.
Maine has always had a tick problem and Gateway Maine lets us know which diseases you can get from being bit by a tick,
According to Gateway Maine,
Maine has high rates of tickborne diseases. The Maine Tracking Network uses data from case reports, surveys, and tick submissions to help understand the spread of tickborne diseases. Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis are the most reported tickborne diseases in Maine. People become infected from the bite of an infected deer tick.
Normally, when most of us see a tick, we scream and grab a lighter. But there are other ways to deal with this increasing issue!
Below is a list of how to prevent and manage the tick problem in Maine, according to information from Maine.gov.
Tick Population Explodes this Year, Here's How to Protect Yourself
Dozens of Adorable Dogs Arrive in Maine From Bahamas, Need Homes Now | https://q961.com/tick-population-explodes-this-year-heres-how-mainers-should-protect-themselves/ | 2022-05-18 23:08:19 | 1 | https://q961.com/tick-population-explodes-this-year-heres-how-mainers-should-protect-themselves/ |
Both top-seeded Alabama and Auburn, who received a No. 9 seed, will both debut in the NCAA tournament in Birmingham. As you might imagine, it will be a tough ticket to get. There are seats available at Vivid Seats, StubHub and Seat Geek.
Alabama will open the tournament Thursday by playing the winner of a No. 16 seed play-in game Tuesday between Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Southeast Missouri State. With a win, Alabama would advance to play the winner of No. 8 seed Maryland and No. 9 seed West Virginia on Saturday.
The Tigers were tabbed as a ninth-seed in the Midwest Region. Auburn (20-12) will face eighth-seeded Iowa (19-13) in the opening round of the tournament Thursday in Birmingham at Legacy Arena. It’s the first time in 12 all-time NCAA Tournament appearances that Auburn has drawn a nine-seed.
Schedule for Birmingham games Thursday:
- 11:15 a.m.: Maryland vs. West Virginia (CBS)
- 1:45 p.m. Alabama vs. TAMU-CC/SEMU (CBS)
- 5:50 p.m.: Auburn vs. Iowa (TNT)
- 8:20 p.m.: N. Kentucky vs. Houston (TNT)
Check out the ticket options.
Vivid Seats
Vivid Seats’ cheapest all-session tickets start at $432 apiece.
Tickets for session 1 on March 16 are as cheap as $66 each. Session 2 seats are more expensive and start at $91 on March 16. Session 3, which is set for March 18, start at $218.
Check out all the options here.
StubHub
StubHub has all-session tickets starting at $449.
Session 1 seats on March 16 will run you at least $77 each. Meanwhile, session 2 -also on March 16, tickets start at $97. On March 18, the cheapest session 3 seats are $240.
Here are all the available options.
Seat Geek
Seat Geek has all-session seats for $424. The best seats, however, jump to $709 each.
The lowest prices for March 16′s first session are $92 a seat. Some of the best tickets are going for $113 each. The second session - on the same day - are going for $94 a ticket. The best seat is listed for $153.
On March 18, the third session has tickets for $263 as the cheapest, while some of the best seats are going for $296 each.
Check out what Seat Geek has to offer.
Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. | https://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/2023/03/march-madness-tickets-heres-how-to-get-ncaa-tournament-seats-for-alabama-auburn-in-birmingham.html | 2023-03-13 00:36:56 | 1 | https://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/2023/03/march-madness-tickets-heres-how-to-get-ncaa-tournament-seats-for-alabama-auburn-in-birmingham.html |
MOSCOW (AP) — A court in Georgia on Monday rejected an appeal for former president Mikheil Saakashvili to be released from prison on health grounds.
Saakashvili, who served as Georgia's president in 2004-13 and led the so-called Rose Revolution protests that drove the previous president out of office, left for Ukraine after the end of his second term. He was later convicted in absentia of abuse of power and sentenced to six years in prison.
He was arrested in October 2021 after returning to Georgia to try to bolster opposition forces before nationwide municipal elections.
He went on hunger strikes after his arrest and is currently in a private clinic. His supporters say he should be released for medical examination outside Georgia because of concerns that he is suffering from poisoning by heavy metals.
They cite doctors' assessments that he appears to have developed dementia. However, other doctors and Georgian authorities claim that Saakashvili was engaged in self-harm and is disobeying doctors. | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/georgian-court-rejects-ex-president-s-appeal-for-17767147.php | 2023-02-06 20:59:10 | 0 | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/georgian-court-rejects-ex-president-s-appeal-for-17767147.php |
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A truck driver who spewed hatred of Jews was convicted Friday of storming a Pittsburgh synagogue and shooting everyone he could find on a Sabbath morning, killing 11 congregants in an act of antisemitic terror for which he could be sentenced to die.
The guilty verdict was a foregone conclusion after Robert Bowers’ lawyers conceded at the trial’s outset that he attacked and killed worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, in the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Jurors must now decide whether the 50-year-old should be sent to death row or sentenced to life in prison without parole as the federal trial shifts to a penalty phase expected to last several weeks.
Bowers was convicted of all 63 criminal counts he faced, including hate crimes resulting in death and obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death. His attorneys had offered a guilty plea in return for a life sentence, but prosecutors refused, opting instead to take the case to trial and pursue the death penalty. Most of the victims’ families supported that decision.
“I am grateful to God for getting us to this day,” Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life Congregation, who survived the attack, said in a written statement. “And I am thankful for the law enforcement who ran into danger to rescue me, and the U.S. Attorney who stood up in court to defend my right to pray.”
The jury deliberated for about five hours over two days before reaching a verdict. Bowers, wearing a dark sweater and blue shirt, had little reaction. Several survivors and victims’ relatives were in the courtroom, bearing quiet witness. Sniffles could be heard in the gallery as the judge intoned “guilty” dozens of times.
Bowers, who had raged against Jews online and at the synagogue, turned a sacred house of worship into a “hunting ground,” targeting his victims because of their religion, a prosecutor said Thursday.
Reading each of the 11 victims’ names, prosecutor Mary Hahn asked the jury to “hold this defendant accountable … and hold him accountable for those who cannot testify.”
All three congregations sharing the building — Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life — lost members in the attack. The victims ranged in age from 54 to 97.
Congregational leaders said the trial opened new wounds but was also validating.
“We learned things that we did not know,” said Stephen Cohen, co-president of New Light. “… In that sense, it was traumatizing. But it’s also, in a sense, cathartic because you did hear what happened.”
Jo Recht, president of Dor Hadash, applauded the prosecutors’ solid case.
“They drew a picture that was even more horrific than we had imagined,” Recht said. “And the level of antisemitism, the level of hatred, the volume of the outrageous (social media) posts was really sobering and really frightening. So for the jury to come back so quickly with the verdict of guilty on all 63 counts was affirming, and it was a relief.”
Prosecutors presented evidence of Bowers’ deep-seated animosity toward Jews and immigrants. Over 11 days of testimony, jurors learned that he had extensively posted, shared or liked antisemitic and white supremacist content on Gab, a social media platform popular with the far right, and praised Hitler and the Holocaust. Bowers told police that “all these Jews need to die,” Hahn said.
Jewish community members were bracing for the next stage of the trial, which would determine if Bowers is eligible for and should receive the death penalty. The penalty phase is scheduled to start June 26.
“It’s just as traumatic,” Cohen said. “Because now we get into learning about the shooter. In four and a half years, he has said nothing. We don’t know who he is. … There’s no background, nothing other than the Gab posts. So we’re going to be learning what kind of horrible human being he really is.”
Bowers, who was armed with an AR-15 rifle and other weapons, also shot and wounded seven, including five responding police officers.
Survivors testified about their terror on that day, including a woman who recounted how she was shot in the arm and then realized her 97-year-old-mother had been shot and killed right next to her. Andrea Wedner, the trial’s last witness, told jurors she touched her mother’s lifeless body and cried out, “Mommy,” before SWAT officers led her to safety.
Other survivors testified of hiding or fleeing for their lives, of making final prayers as they expected to die, of saying farewell to their slain fellow congregants. The slain were among the congregations’ stalwarts, always on time for Sabbath activities, many of which they led.
Bowers’ attorneys did not mount a defense at the guilt stage of the trial, signaling they will focus their efforts on trying to save his life. They plan to introduce evidence that Bowers has schizophrenia, epilepsy and brain impairments. Defense lawyer Judy Clarke had also sought to raise questions about Bowers’ motive, suggesting to jurors that his rampage was not motivated by religious hatred but his delusional belief that Jews were committing genocide by helping refugees settle in the United States.
The congregations have spoken out against antisemitism and other bigotry since the attack. The Tree of Life congregation also is working on a plan to overhaul the synagogue building — which still stands but has been closed since the shootings — by creating a complex that would house a sanctuary, museum, memorial and center for fighting antisemitism.
President Joe Biden said during his 2020 campaign that he would work to end capital punishment at the federal level and in states that still use it, and Attorney General Merrick Garland has paused executions to review policies and procedures. But federal prosecutors continue to work to uphold already-issued death sentences and, in some cases, to pursue the death penalty at trial for crimes that are eligible, as in Bowers’ case.
Killed were Joyce Fienberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Rose Mallinger, 97; Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; brothers David Rosenthal, 54, and Cecil Rosenthal, 59; Bernice Simon, 84, and her husband, Sylvan Simon, 86; Dan Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 87; Irving Younger, 69.
Ellen Surloff, who was Dor Hadash president at the time of the attack, said hearing the guilty verdicts was a relief.
“Fighting antisemitism was always important to my family,” she said. “My mother passed away not long after the shooting. So from a personal matter, the first thought that went to my head was, I wish she could have been alive to hear the verdict, to hear this horrible, horrible monster convicted for what he did on Oct. 27.”
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Associated Press reporter Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/jury-resumes-deliberating-in-trial-of-gunman-who-killed-11-at-pittsburgh-synagogue/ | 2023-06-17 02:35:16 | 0 | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/jury-resumes-deliberating-in-trial-of-gunman-who-killed-11-at-pittsburgh-synagogue/ |
Dallas police chief: Data shows race does not impact when, how DPD uses force
DALLAS - For the first time, Dallas police are giving the public a comprehensive look at use of force by its officers.
Dallas police chief Eddie Garcia says one big takeaway from the data is that race does not factor into his officers' decisions on when and how to use force.
The report analyzed historical data from 2014 through 2020 and went more in-depth on incidents in 2021.
Chief Garcia says the third-party review supports his belief that Dallas residents should be proud of their police officers.
"I think they can rest assured, again, at the point where our officers are using force to arrest," Garcia said. "Racial disparities don't exist, and I think that's important for our community to know."
The report includes data like time and location, the type of force used, injuries or fatalities, and information about race, gender and age.
Garcia says the data will be helpful to analyze where the department is successful and how they can improve.
"We are going to make mistakes, there’s no question about it, and we will hold ourselves accountable when we do," Garcia said.
The information will be kept on an online dashboard, which will be updated with more recent use of force incidents on a quarterly basis.
Use of force: https://dallaspolice.net/reports/Pages/force-analysis-data.aspx
Officer-involved shootings: https://dallaspolice.net/ois/ois | https://www.fox4news.com/news/dallas-police-chief-data-shows-race-does-not-impact-when-how-dpd-uses-force | 2023-03-31 00:05:45 | 0 | https://www.fox4news.com/news/dallas-police-chief-data-shows-race-does-not-impact-when-how-dpd-uses-force |
Today is Thursday. Temperatures will be in the low to mid-70s with a chance for showers throughout the state. See what weather is in store for the rest of the day here. Here’s the latest on gas prices in Maine. Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.
The latest on the coronavirus in Maine
Another Mainer has died and 261 more coronavirus cases reported across the state, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. That brings the statewide death toll to 2,463 as of Wednesday morning. Check out our COVID-19 tracker for more information.
COVID-19 has edged out unintentional injuries and chronic lower respiratory disease to become the third leading cause of death in Maine. Cancer and chronic heart disease continue to be the top causes of death.
From the White House to local level, officials are warning about new highly transmissible COVID-19 variants. The BA.5 variant now accounts for 65 percent of cases with its cousin BA.4 contributing another 16 percent. But experts said the warnings were too little, too late.
U.S. regulators on Wednesday approved Novavax’s vaccine against COVID-19, giving American adults the choice of four jabs to protect themselves again serious infection.
Great white shark photographed killing seal in Penobscot Bay
A graphic series of photos show how the attack played out.
Paul LePage won’t say if he’s supporting Donald Trump’s potential 2024 bid
The former Republican governor instead said he was focused only on his November race with Gov. Janet Mills.
Inside the hotel lobby as US governors descended on downtown Portland
Some of the most powerful people in the U.S. visited Portland on Wednesday on the first day of a National Governors Association meeting.
Dispensaries brace for 1st Phish show since Maine legalized cannabis sales
While most concerts bring plenty of customers eager to spend money on food, drink and shopping while they’re in town, Phish fans are a little different.
UMaine could get $18M from feds for cutting-edge PFAS lab
If the funding is secured, the university could lead the way to understanding these chemicals and minimizing their negative effects on humans and the environment.
Maine doesn’t know how many birds are dying from avian flu because of lab backlog
Officials are now assuming any sick or dying birds — especially waterfowl — are infected with the deadly H5N1 variant of avian flu.
The latest sign that southern Maine’s housing market is cooling
The rising rate of contracts falling through is another sign that the housing market has quickly cooled in Maine.
Homeless youth will be able to stay in Aroostook with new shelter opening
While many shelters take adults and families, homeless youths who are alone have had to seek housing 150 miles away or more in Bangor, Portland or Lewiston.
Caribou’s oldest resident says she has ‘no special secret’ to living to 105
Anna Roberts was unprepared for the number of family, friends, city employees and even state senators who turned out to celebrate her big day.
Hancock County land trust expands Wildlands preserve and safeguards river
The 355-acre property adds to the trust’s 4,500-acre Wildlands preserve that protects almost all of the Dead River’s shoreline.
State requests more details about financial viability of proposed Moosehead ski resort
It’s the latest wrinkle in developers’ efforts to meet state requirements to renovate and expand a partially defunct ski resort on Big Moose Mountain.
Homemade strawberry shortcake is the summer dessert you need right now
Just make sure it’s a proper New England-style one.
In other Maine news …
Missing Bangor news anchor was found safe in his home
Regulators want to know if T-Mobile is tying up 207 phone numbers
Maine politicians blast ‘unfair’ court decision targeting lobster gear
Tourists are still flocking to Maine but might be spending less this summer
A Maine entrepreneur is keeping the art of wallpaper alive through unique designs
Woman killed in Piscataquis County crash
Kittery residents blast ‘coward’ neo-Nazis recruiting in their town
Lightning strikes set 2 Maine houses on fire during severe thunderstorms
Mainer accused of invading Capitol on Jan. 6 pleads not guilty
Maine sues Windham moving firm whose owner expressed support for Jan. 6 rioters
Inmate sentenced to 35 years for murder-for-hire plot dies at Maine State Prison | https://www.bangordailynews.com/2022/07/14/morning-update/great-white-shark-attack-bangors-phish-show-cooling-housing-market/ | 2022-07-14 13:11:53 | 1 | https://www.bangordailynews.com/2022/07/14/morning-update/great-white-shark-attack-bangors-phish-show-cooling-housing-market/ |
Blinken welcomes 'time out' on Greece-Turkey tension
|Updated
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday urged NATO allies Greece and Turkey to calm rhetoric as both countries head to national elections, in an effort to bolster unity in the trans-Atlantic alliance as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nears its anniversary.
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Blinken met with officials in Athens after a stop in Turkey, where he also visited regions hardest hit by devastating recent earthquakes.
Greek and Turkish officials said they are willing to take a time out from longstanding disputes over sea boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean in the aftermath of the earthquakes that have killed about 45,000 people in Turkey and Syria.
Blinken said he hoped the pause would provide an opportunity to return to diplomacy.
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“It’s profoundly in our interest and I believe in the interest of both Greece and Turkey to find ways to resolve longstanding differences,” Blinken told reporters in Athens on Tuesday.
“And to do it through dialogue through diplomacy to do it peacefully and in the meantime to not take any unilateral actions or use any charged rhetoric that would only make things more difficult.”
Greece is expected to hold a parliamentary election in April, while Turkey will hold a general election in June. | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/politics/article/blinken-welcomes-time-out-on-greece-turkey-17795975.php | 2023-02-21 10:30:34 | 0 | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/politics/article/blinken-welcomes-time-out-on-greece-turkey-17795975.php |
Cherokee takes home the boys Group 4 title, Its first since 2019 and its fifth overall, finishing with 102 points to edge out second-place Westfield (111) and third-place Southern (119).
The Chiefs finished with a 16:47 average with a 1-5 split of 1:56. Patrick Ditmars had the team’s best finish, placing third in 15:59 with Nick Kuenkel coming across the line fifth in 16:08. | https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2022/11/boys-cross-country-group-4-recap-and-results-from-group-championships.html | 2022-11-05 23:03:35 | 0 | https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2022/11/boys-cross-country-group-4-recap-and-results-from-group-championships.html |
NEW YORK (AP) — Best Buy, the nation’s largest consumer electronics chain, cut its annual sales and profit forecast Wednesday, citing surging inflation that has dampened consumer spending on gadgets.
The Minneapolis-based company echoed Walmart, which earlier this week said higher prices on basic necessities are forcing shoppers to cut back on discretionary items.
Shares of Best Buy fell more than 2% in after-market trading Wednesday.
Best Buy said it now expects this year’s sales at stores opened at least a year to be down 11%, much steeper than the 3% to 6% drop it originally forecast in May.
For the company’s fiscal second quarter, it expects comparable sales to be down 13%. Still, revenue for the quarter should be roughly 7.5% higher than the second quarter of 2020, it said.
In a statement, Best Buy’s CEO Corie Barry said the company entered the year expecting its financial results would be weaker than last year, when consumer spending was fueled by government stimulus support. But high inflation has eroded consumer sentiment, weakening demand for consumer electronics even further.
Matt Bilunas, chief financial officer at Best Buy, noted that given the economic uncertainty, it’s difficult to assess the duration of the weaker sales environment and the impact of its business.
Best Buy’s announcement comes as the Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate by three-quarters of a point for a second straight time in its most aggressive drive in three decades to temper inflation.
The Fed’s move will raise its key rate, which affects many consumer and business loans, to a range of 2.25% to 2.5%, its highest level since 2018.
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Follow Anne D’Innocenzio: http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio
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AP Economics Writer Chris Rugaber in Washington contributed to this report. | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/best-buy-cuts-sales-forecast-as-inflation-tempers-spending/ | 2022-07-28 22:01:12 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/best-buy-cuts-sales-forecast-as-inflation-tempers-spending/ |
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has again vowed to fight the Biden administration over new rules that seek to prohibit discrimination against transgender students at schools that receive federal food assistance.
In an op-ed published Thursday, Marshall said “the federal government’s ever-increasing control over primary and secondary education offends our American constitutional system. The root cause is coercion through federal funding, upon which states have been far too willing to blindly accept and jealously rely.”
Marshall joined attorneys general from 21 other states in a federal lawsuit in July against the Biden administration’s move.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in June it would interpret sex discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and sexual identity and would require agencies that receive federal food assistance funds to update their policies to reflect that.
Alabama and the other states that sued say that means because they have regulations against transgender sports participation and because they restrict access to bathrooms and locker rooms based on biological sex, they could be at risk of losing federally funded programs including SNAP, WIC and school meal programs.
“These programs both tug at the heart strings and come with a hefty price tag for states, so the Biden administration has found them to be ideal vehicles for forcing genderlessness into our state governments, and more particularly, our public schools,” said Marshall in his op-ed.
Alabama lawmakers passed a bill that went into effect this school year to require public school students to use restrooms and locker rooms designated for the sex shown on their birth certificates. Supporters of the bill said it was to protect the safety and privacy of girls. Critics and families with transgender students said the bill is discriminatory and creates stigma and shame.
The first few weeks of this school year parents reported their transgender students being pulled out of bathroom lines and singled out in front of their classes. Others said their children had to take mental health days to cope with the negative experience resulting from the new legislation.
The bathroom bill includes an amendment that prohibits the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms. The state legislature also passed a ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors, penalizing the administration of treatments by up to 10 years in prison and requiring school personnel to inform parents if their child is questioning their gender identity.
Last year, Gov. Ivey signed into law a bill prohibiting public schools from allowing students to participate on sports teams that conflict with their biological sex as shown on their birth certificate.
However, the Alabama High School Athletic Association said at the time of the bill’s passage that it was not aware of any trans athletes participating in public school sports, and AL.com reached out to multiple school districts around the state represented by legislators who voted on the bathroom bill and none provided examples of recent incidents of students wanting to use a bathroom other than the one corresponding to their sex assigned at birth.
The USDA says its goal is to protect students from discrimination based on sex, which is a federal protection granted by Title IX.
“USDA is committed to administering all its programs with equity and fairness, and serving those in need with the highest dignity. A key step in advancing these principles is rooting out discrimination in any form – including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity,” Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said in a press release when the agency announced its policy in May.
In the lawsuit, Marshall and the other attorneys general argue that the USDA misapplied the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that the agency cites.
“The guidance imposes new and unlawful regulatory measures on state agencies and operators receiving federal financial assistance from the USDA and thus threatens essential nutritional services for Alabama’s most vulnerable children,” Marshall’s office said in the press release.
Other states that sued are Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia. | https://www.al.com/news/2022/10/steve-marshall-biden-using-free-lunches-vows-to-push-genderlessness-schools-on-alabama.html | 2022-10-07 16:07:14 | 1 | https://www.al.com/news/2022/10/steve-marshall-biden-using-free-lunches-vows-to-push-genderlessness-schools-on-alabama.html |
Justice Department investigating Abbott baby formula plant
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department is investigating the Abbott Laboratories infant formula plant in Michigan that was shut down for months last year due to contamination, the company confirmed.
The factory’s closure in February 2022 was a key cause of a nationwide baby formula shortage that forced parents to seek formula from food banks, friends and doctor’s offices. Production restarted in June.
The Justice Department has informed Abbott of its investigation and the company is “cooperating fully,” Abbott spokesperson Scott Stoffel said via email. He declined to provide further details.
The investigation was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, which said the Justice Department’s consumer protection branch is looking into conduct at the Sturgis, Michigan, plant that led to its shutdown.
Abbott closed the factory after the Food and Drug Administration began investigating four bacterial infections among infants who consumed powdered formula from the plant. Inspectors uncovered several violations at the plant, including bacterial contamination, a leaky roof and lax safety protocols. But Abbott has stated that its products have not been directly linked to the infections, which involved different bacterial strains.
Abbott is one of just four companies that produce 90% of U.S. formula, and its February recall of several leading brands, including Similac, squeezed supplies that had already been strained by supply chain disruptions and stockpiling during COVID-19 shutdowns.
The shortage was especially acute for children with allergies, digestive problems and metabolic disorders who rely on specialty formulas. The Abbott factory is the only source of many of those products.
The FDA has faced intense criticism for taking months to close the plant and then negotiate its reopening.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wkyt.com/2023/01/21/justice-department-investigating-abbott-baby-formula-plant/ | 2023-01-21 19:11:08 | 1 | https://www.wkyt.com/2023/01/21/justice-department-investigating-abbott-baby-formula-plant/ |
So far, five well-known comics have taken over as guest host at Comedy Central's news satire The Daily Show. Former Daily Show correspondent Hasan Minhaj will make the sixth, returning to the program Monday night.
But before Minhaj kicks off another round of well-known guest hosts — Comedy Central's response to Trevor Noah's surprise resignation back in September — its worth considering who performed best among the five comics who have tried it so far.
And, most importantly, what their successes and failures might say about the future of Comedy Central's landmark news satire show.
Noah's departure revealed some uncomfortable problems with late night TV: hosting the shows are a grind, they attract a fraction of the audience they once did and it's tough for media companies to justify the large salaries they once paid to stars like Jay Leno and David Letterman (consider news that CBS is expected to replace departing Late, Late Show host James Corden with a reboot of the old Comedy Central game show, @midnight).
With all that in mind, it's worth asking: Is there any clue who might get the gig long-term at The Daily Show? Or, at least, whether Comedy Central will even bother hiring a new regular host at all?
Here's my take on all that and more, with an analysis of the guest hosts arranged in order of who I liked most.
Number 1: Leslie Jones (week of Jan. 17)
The Saturday Night Live alum – who was the show's first guest host – was also my favorite so far, mostly because of the energy, enthusiasm and commitment she brought to the gig. Other hosts may have an aura of cool or detachment that they used to provide a little distance – Jones is known as a comic for bringing her whole self to any bit, with little regard for how she looks when the dust clears.
I loved when Jones took on the bizarre, controversial sculpture of Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife in Boston, turning to the secondary camera to tell white viewers "you don't need to be saying s--- about this statue," before turning back to the main camera and admitting, "You know it's messed up when Black people and the Proud Boys hate the same statue." She also implied the statute resembled Dr. King, um, servicing his wife.
A few flowers to hand out here. I appreciate that the first two guest hosts were Black women (Jones and Wanda Sykes) and all the comics so far are women and/or people of color, given how white males are overrepresented already in the world of late night TV. I also want to give props to the staff writers and producers on The Daily Show – who not only had to deal with the sudden uncertainty of their employment in the face of Noah's surprise announcement, but also have had to figure out how to adapt the show to the style of a new host every week.
Any TV show with a host works best when its format reflects the ideas, interests and talents of that person. In announcing a long roster of guest hosts, Comedy Central essentially told the remaining Daily Show staff they would have to reshape the show every seven days.
That's a dynamic which emerged in a conversation between Jones, her writing partner Lenny Marcus and Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr., talking about the process of developing material for her guest hosting stint on the podcast Beyond the Scenes. Marcus and Jones spoke about how bits on the need for men to accept therapy and an interview with the head of Planned Parenthood relate to her personal passions.
"I always look on the other side of the joke," said Jones. "Men, literally are going through it. And honestly, I don't think that you have been given the permission to get help for that."
"I'm smart and grown," she added. "I didn't realize how many people ain't smart and grown." I will say, given how hilarious she is on social media, I'm not buying that Jones didn't realize how many ignorant people there are out there.
I would love to see what Jones might do with a chance to spend more time in the host's chair. But I fear she may be too big a star to find tethering herself to a late-night program long term is a good move.
Number 2: Sarah Silverman (week of Feb. 13)
Yeah, I'm surprised, too. But I really enjoyed Silverman's touch with jokes. I know her shtick is often that she's the innocent-looking, cute woman who says raunchy things, but she's also a comic who has an earnestness that she can reveal at surprising times to make a joke land a little harder.
In her first episode, she uncorked a montage of right-wing pundits, mostly on Fox News Channel, calling her horrible things, like "diabolically dumb" and a "god-hating whore." Her response, after insinuating they hated her like they hate gender neutral bathrooms: "What am I, a grown woman with an opin-- Oh yeah, that's it."
Later, in noting how some conservative pundits try to use the word "woke" as an insult, she noted, "It feels cooler to say 'I'm not woke,' than the truth, which is 'I'm terrified by what I don't understand, and I only know how to process that as anger.'" Earnest and telling.
I love the show's longform take on a big issue, called Long Story Short. And I really enjoyed the Long Story Short Silverman presented on how politicians and media platforms — especially social media/tech companies and cable TV news channels — leverage anger and division to increase engagement, boosting their profits while also fanning the flames of conflicts which threaten to tear the country apart.
"They can say anything, as long as it's what their audience wants to believe," Silverman says, right before telling the audience that conservative firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene killed legislation requiring the factchecking of fundraising emails ... then admitting that was a lie she made up as the audience was reacting.
Number 3: Chelsea Handler (week of Feb. 6)
Far as I know, Handler is the first comic among the guest hosts who has said publicly she wants the job, permanently. Given that, I was surprised that she didn't make more of her week in the host's chair.
Reading jokes from a teleprompter with ease and good humor is harder than it looks (one of Noah's secret weapons was how sharp he was at making the show's riffs on the headlines funnier than the actual lines). And since Handler has hosted comedic talk shows for E! and Netflix, I thought she'd be a little better at delivering jokes from behind the desk than she was.
Another tweak she brought to her guest hosting stint was roundtable discussions with a panel of comics about the day's news. But the panels didn't include the show's correspondents, who are the program's in-house experts on making news funny. Despite including some great comics, like Sam Jay and Atsuko Okatsuka, these panels didn't have quite the spark they needed and felt a little too much like Handler was trying to turn The Daily Show into her old show, Chelsea Lately.
One great segment she did present was a Long Story Short on being childless by choice (it does also reflect her biggest weakness as a host, however, which is that Handler seems most interested in subjects that are, in some way, about her).
Number 4: Wanda Sykes (week of Jan. 23)
I have been a Wanda Sykes fan since her early days as a writer/performer on Chris Rock's groundbreaking HBO late night show (search on YouTube for Sykes and The Chris Rock Show to see what I mean).
So it pains me to admit that I liked but didn't love her turn in the host's chair. Though I did like her Long Story Short on how law enforcement often uses speeding tickets to raise municipal revenue, suggesting that communities create a "broke lane" on the highway, so folks who are speeding from their second job to their third job can do so without a penalty.
Number 5: D.L. Hughley (week of Jan. 30)
Remember that thing I wrote about the difficulty of reading jokes effortlessly off a teleprompter? Since Hughley has done everything from host a show on CNN to leading a radio show, his struggle to find a groove delivering the show's monologues early on seemed puzzling. (He had the additional challenge of starting a few days after video was released of Tyre Nichols' beating by police, forcing him to try to joke about a terrible national tragedy.)
My theory: Hughley had a tough time negotiating the shifts between serious and side-splitting that riffing on the day's news requires. And the studio audience seemed to throw him off, particularly when they didn't like a joke – as happened after he said Kamala Harris was the first vice president to speak at the funeral of a Black person killed by police. Hughley added, one good thing about having a Black V.P. is "if you're not going to do anything about police reform, at least you can have somebody who goes to those funerals."
Ugh. That's a tough line to drop in a monologue that was mostly offering tart one-liners about the day's news. It also reveals that filling the host chair permanently – if that's what Comedy Central intends to do – may be a lot tougher than many people realize.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wvasfm.org/arts/2023-02-27/the-daily-show-guest-hosts-so-far-why-leslie-jones-soared-and-d-l-hughley-sank | 2023-02-27 20:01:24 | 1 | https://www.wvasfm.org/arts/2023-02-27/the-daily-show-guest-hosts-so-far-why-leslie-jones-soared-and-d-l-hughley-sank |
Herschel Walker’s loss in the Georgia Senate runoff is setting off a fresh round of recriminations among Senate Republicans, with allies of Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) pointing the finger at former President Trump’s involvement in Senate GOP primaries and discontented conservatives blaming their leadership for lacking an agenda.
Tuesday’s loss in Georgia reopened the Election Day wound of failing to defeat a single Senate Democratic incumbent or hold onto retiring Sen. Pat Toomey’s (R-Pa.) seat. It’s the first time in recent memory that no incumbent from the president’s party was defeated in a midterm election.
Trump’s Senate critics put the loss in Georgia and other races squarely on his shoulders, arguing his endorsement helped weak candidates win nominations and his relentless claims — unsupported by evidence — that the 2020 election was stolen turned off many voters.
“Whether we talk about it or not, Trump was going to be a factor and [for] a lot of the folks that he endorsed he insisted the predicate for that endorsement be that the 2020 election was stolen and that’s a losing argument,” Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) said.
“His obsession with the 2020 election became an albatross and a real liability for people who are running, especially in swing states,” Thune added.
Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah), one of Trump’s most vocal Senate GOP critics, said Trump had a huge influence on which candidates advanced to the general election because of his influence among Republican primary voters.
“President Trump has a big impact on the primary and the general. If you get endorsed by him in the primary, you’re likely to win. If you’re endorsed by him in the general, you’re likely to lose. For someone who actually wants to win an election, getting endorsed by President Trump is the kiss of death,” Romney said.
Toomey, whose seat will be held by Democrat John Fetterman in 2023, echoed those comments.
“I think it was the badly flawed candidates, candidates that were too clearly aligned with Trump, that’s what was being rejected,” he said.
Toomey noted the Republican gubernatorial candidate in Pennsylvania, Doug Mastriano, embraced Trump’s stolen-election claim and lost by 15 points. That, in turn, was a drag on the party’s Senate candidate, Mehmet Oz, who lost Pennsylvania only by four points.
Mastriano, a state senator, beat eight other candidates to win the party’s nomination. Trump also endorsed Oz in the primary.
Toomey added Oz wasn’t helped by Trump showing up in Pennsylvania the weekend before Election Day. Trump held a rally with Oz and Mastriano in Latrobe.
“A guy losing by 15 points at the top of the ticket makes it very, very hard for down-ballot races,” Toomey said. “It wasn’t only Oz who was affected. We lost three House races that could have been pick-ups.”
Other Republicans described Trump’s drag on Republican candidates in more general terms, arguing candidates who tried to relitigate the results of the 2020 election failed to talk enough about what voters could expect in the future if they won election to the Senate.
“I think there are two major lessons. One is we need to look forward and that candidates who looked back at the 2020 presidential election did not generally fare that well,” said Sen. Susan Collins (Maine), a prominent Republican moderate. “Second, we need to do a better job as Republicans in appealing to moderate voters.”
Trump’s Senate allies, however, rallied to his defense and instead blamed the failure of party leaders in Washington to draft an agenda that appealed to working-class voters who turned out in huge numbers for Trump in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Trump ally, said the claim by fellow GOP senators that Trump is to blame for dragging down Senate Republican candidates was overblown.
“That analysis makes sense in some places, not in others — not in Georgia,” he said.
President Biden beat Trump by roughly 12,000 votes in Georgia in 2020.
He argued Senate Republican candidates were hurt by the failure of the national party to develop a more effective early voting program and to generate enough fundraising to compete with Democratic candidates who outspent their GOP rivals in key races.
“We’ve got to improve early voting and we’ve got to find a way to be more competitive financially,” he said. “Structurally, we’ve got a problem in several states. [Democrats] get too far ahead in early voting. We got to fix that and they’re outspending us three and four to one.”
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who traveled to Mar-a-Lago last year to give Trump a “Champion of Freedom” award dismissed criticisms that Walker was a flawed candidate or that his association with Trump turned off voters.
“I’m really disappointed. Herschel’s a really good person and he’s a good candidate. He would have been a really good U.S. senator,” he said. “If you look at the guy’s background. He’s a successful business guy, he’s a successful football player, he’s a hard worker. If you meet him, he’s a sincere person.”
Like Graham, he said Walker and other Republican candidates fell behind their Democratic opponents in early voting.
He also criticized the failure by Republican leaders in Washington to lay out a compelling message for how they would govern if in control of Congress.
“We all have to sit back and say to ourselves, ‘What’s our message? What message do we have? Do we have the right message to get voters to support us?” he said, noting that Senate Republican conservatives will convene a special conference meeting next week to discuss the direction of the party.
Scott said he hadn’t seen any polls showing that Trump’s influence hurt Walker.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said the lesson from Georgia is that Republican leaders need to work on a better party agenda.
“Another Senate election, another GOP loss. Maybe time for Senate GOP to change direction, craft a new agenda to, you know, appeal to voters. Just a thought,” he tweeted.
Scott challenged McConnell for the Senate’s top Republican leadership position in an acrimonious race last month. Graham and Hawley both voted for him.
Democrats came away from the Nov. 8 election and Tuesday’s runoff in Georgia convinced that Trump and his “Make America Great Again” brand of GOP politics helped them expand their Senate majority despite predictions earlier in the year that they would lose control of the chamber.
“In May and June, the public began to realize how far right these MAGA Republicans had gone. The Dobbs decision was the crystallization of that, of course, when people said, ‘Wow these MAGA Republicans are serious about turning the clock all the way back,’” Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters Wednesday.
He credited the House Jan. 6 hearings for keeping Trump’s election fraud claims in the spotlight as well as his role in encouraging last year’s attack on the Capitol.
“There were the Jan. 6 hearings. I think they had an important effect because people didn’t just read about something that happened once but every night they saw on TV these hooligans, these insurrections being violent, beating up police officers,” he said.
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), who beat Walker by nearly 3 points to keep the Georgia seat in Democratic hands, said voters rejected Trump’s divisive brand of politics.
“I think that the voters of Georgia rejected the politics of division. They saw my real effort to build relationships, even with people on the other side of the aisle and to stay focused on doing the people’s work,” he said. “I think too often the politics has been about the politicians.” | https://phl17.com/hill-politics/georgia-loss-fuels-gop-divisions-over-trump/ | 2022-12-08 12:30:16 | 0 | https://phl17.com/hill-politics/georgia-loss-fuels-gop-divisions-over-trump/ |
The Popular International "Pizza, Wings And More" Restaurant Brand Expands Aiming To Bring High-Quality, Fast And Flavorful Pizza To More People Across The Globe; Plus, The Brand Reveals A Fresh, Fun New Look.
BURBANK, Calif., Nov. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With a steady eye on its commitment to high-quality, premium ingredients, the popular international 800° Woodfired Kitchen brand of restaurants announces the launch of its brand extension, 800° Degrees Pizza, leveling up its already elevated pizza game along with a new 1,665-square-foot brick-and-mortar location in Burbank, California set to open Dec. 5. Located at 3619 W. Magnolia Boulevard, this latest space for the innovative enterprise represents the first phase of introducing its new style of pizza and a new look to match, while encompassing major expansion in the United States and across the world via a combination of its existing 800° Woodfired Kitchens; its new brick and mortar prototype; along with a network of ghost kitchens; and fully automated robotic pizza kitchens on the horizon.
"In this ever-changing industry, it is more important than ever to continue evolving as a company," said Chef and Founder Anthony Carron. "I am optimistic about the pivotal new direction for the brand, which will provide an exciting opportunity to bring great food to even more people in more places. We see 800° Degrees Pizza as a lifestyle choice, bringing the pizza party to whoever, wherever, whenever and however our guests want it."
Continuing to prove that "good things come in square packages" — as the reimagined bright and colorful packaging boldly emphasizes — the 800° Degrees Pizza Burbank store will remain true to the brand's ethos to present diners with the freshest ingredients while introducing new styles of pizza cooked to perfection in a state-of-the-art oven that bakes the pies in record time. Guests can choose between newly introduced personal 10-inch and large 14-inch size options, as well as new choices of "Thin and Crispy" or "Classic" crusts alongside the "800° Degrees Original" Neapolitan-style crust.
Fans of the 800° brand will recognize the same signature pizza builds such as the famous Doppio with crispy pepperoni and spicy soppressata salami; the Tartufo with truffled pecorino cheese, wild mushrooms, roasted garlic, fresh mozzarella and arugula; or the always popular Build Your Own option, encouraging guests to evoke their inner chef while choosing from a vast selection of premium toppings. Those hungry for more than pizza can select from other enticing dishes like Homemade Meatballs with tangy marinara sauce and fresh Parmigiano served with toasted ciabatta bread; or the enormously popular baked, not fried Chicken Wings with a choice of five different flavors including the 800° Signature Sweet & Spicy Calabrian Chile Wings.
800° Degrees Pizza in Burbank will also debut an advanced ordering system technology that gives diners the unique option to either complete their order through self-service automated kiosks, through their own personal smartphones or through an in-person cashier. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating for dine-in customers, the 50-seat restaurant will also feature convenient pick-up and delivery options through online ordering.
Concurrently, the multi-faceted expansion includes a fleet of 800° Degree Pizza ghost kitchens as part of a partnership with REEF Kitchens, which aligns with the company's mission to bring 800° Degree Pizza to more people around the world. 800° Degrees Pizza will continue to partner in new neighborhoods in and outside of the U.S. Currently operating in more than 20 cities nationwide, including Austin, Denver, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, and more including the first UK location scheduled to open in December 2022 with additional international locations soon to follow.
Guests who visit the Burbank location may also be treated to a sneak peek at the future 800° Degrees Pizza by Piestro robotic pizza kitchens. Additional details on that piece of the pie will be coming soon.
800° Degrees Pizza is located at 3619 W Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, Calif. 91505. Days and hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, please visit www.800degreespizza.com. Follow the brand on its social handles: Instagram: @800degreespizza_ and on TikTok: @800degreespizza.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Dana Gidney
RockawayMore
dana@rockawaymore.com
(212) 751-9641 x 112
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SOURCE 800° DEGREES PIZZA | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/11/29/800-degrees-woodfired-kitchen-announces-new-brand-extension-800-degrees-pizza-conjunction-with-opening-brick-and-mortar-flagship-burbank-this-december/ | 2022-11-29 18:00:18 | 0 | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/11/29/800-degrees-woodfired-kitchen-announces-new-brand-extension-800-degrees-pizza-conjunction-with-opening-brick-and-mortar-flagship-burbank-this-december/ |
At Orlando International Airport (MCO), passenger traffic is rebounding to pre-pandemic levels, intermodal connectivity is on its way with Brightline intercity passenger rail, and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) is continuing to contribute to the vibrancy and prosperity of Central Florida as it unveils its most innovative offering to date for our region: Terminal C.
The largest project in airport history, the iconic space is marked by sun-filled spaces, high-tech information displays and a distinctively Floridian aesthetic.
Terminal C is a destination that should impress even the most sophisticated travelers. The new terminal adds 300 acres and 15 gates to Orlando’s modal hub, accommodating travel for an additional 10 to 12 million annual passengers.
JetBlue will be the main domestic airline in the new terminal with several flights daily. High-tech features enable user-friendly travel, while prioritizing safety and security. Passengers’ luggage is tracked in real time using Radio Frequency Identification for baggage and Bluetooth navigational beacons are used for wayfinding. The security process will be streamlined with automated screening lanes at checkpoints overseen by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and 100% biometric facial recognition systems at every gate in place of boarding passes and scanning.
It’s a unique experience.
Terminal C is more than an impressive addition to the capabilities and functionality of MCO; it’s a boon to economic development and a significant revenue generator. We can expect the airport’s current economic impact at more than $40 billion annually to grow along with air travel and our community — affecting employment, transportation and shipping capacity, and creating more opportunities for small businesses and minority business enterprises. Even if they never roll a piece of luggage across our signature mosaic tile floors, residents benefit from the airport as a foundation for our region’s diverse economic infrastructure. MCO moves more than people — serving as a shipping hub for retail goods, grocery items and business supplies that travel from the runway to Central Florida’s front doors.
Equally important to area residents: These benefits come without impacting the budget of our local governments. In fact, the airport operates as a user-funded “enterprise business,” receiving no local tax dollars and actually generating $26 billion annually in direct and indirect revenue from parking, car rentals, more than 130 food, beverage and retail concessions, and over 240 commercial contracts.
MCO’s next-generation connectivity to more than 150 destinations helps propel Orlando forward to its place among the world’s top cities, elevating the community’s business resources, entrepreneurial opportunity and the Orlando brand. With this public sector infrastructure investment, Central Florida is better positioned to foster economic diversity, along with high-tech and high-wage industries, and sustain job growth in the private sector.
Even as we mark the completion of Terminal C, GOAA is looking ahead — making additional investments in parking options, traffic management and intermodal transportation, which will refine and go “Beyond The Orlando Experience.”
Kevin Thibault is chief executive officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which manages the Orlando International Airport. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/guest-commentary/os-op-airport-terminal-c-20220918-72vet5rq6ffphnlwu55tpqd57i-story.html | 2022-09-18 10:06:20 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/guest-commentary/os-op-airport-terminal-c-20220918-72vet5rq6ffphnlwu55tpqd57i-story.html |
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — The tech industry’s drive to dot the Virginia landscape with data centers may have hit a glitch this week in Prince William County.
Residents of the state’s second most populous jurisdiction delivered perhaps the biggest upset among a series of surprising election results in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, when political newcomer and data center opponent Deshundra Jefferson knocked off the county’s top elected official, Ann Wheeler.
Last year, Wheeler led a majority on the Board of Supervisors that approved a plan to rezone more than 2,000 acres (809 hectares) of farmland to accept data centers, which house the computer servers and hardware required to support modern internet use.
The plan, called the Prince William Digital Gateway, prompted one of the region’s biggest land-use disputes in decades. It was approved despite vocal opposition from residents concerned that the data centers are noisy, ugly, and consume massive amounts of electricity that require the addition of high-voltage transmission lines.
“Ann Wheeler’s loss should send a shockwave to the industry,” said Elena Schlossberg with the Coalition to Protect Prince William County, one of many data center opponents who supported Jefferson.
The outer suburbs of northern Virginia have a long history fighting development projects. Most famously, county residents successfully derailed a planned Disney theme park 30 years ago that many people believed was a done deal when the entertainment giant announced its plans in 1993.
Now, northern Virginia is home to the world’s largest concentration of data centers. Tech companies like to place the centers here, in part because the region’s proximity to the nation’s traditional internet backbone allows the servers in those data centers to save nanoseconds that are crucial to support financial transactions, gaming technology and other time-sensitive applications.
While data center proposals have prompted opposition from neighboring residents, local governments have been reluctant to turn them away because of the tax revenue they generate. In neighboring Loudoun County, the world’s largest concentration of data centers now contributes 30% of the county’s general fund revenue and has resulted in significant cuts to the county’s residential property tax rate.
Jefferson capitalized on data center discontent in her campaign, saying Prince William was too eager to emulate Loudoun, offering discounted tax rates to data centers to lure them in.
“We’re luring these big data centers but we’re not really taxing them appropriately. What benefit are we really getting?” she said.
The morning after her election, Jefferson was on her regular morning commute to work, taking a commuter bus from Prince William County to her job in the nation’s capital, contemplating the ramifications of a victory she admitted she did not anticipate.
“It was hard to beat an incumbent,” she said in a phone interview. “I was not just running against her — I was running against the whole Democratic Party.”
She said she heard from numerous voters who believed the data center issue was emblematic of a government more responsive to corporate interests than citizen concerns.
“People were just expressing their anger and frustration because they’re just wanting someone to listen,” she said.
Josh Levi, president of the Data Center Coalition, an industry trade group, said that data centers can make a compelling argument to local officials about the tax benefits that accrue from hosting data centers.
“The industry prioritizes maintaining an open, active, and collaborative dialogue with elected officials and candidates for office, their constituents, and other community stakeholders,” he said in a statement.
The political upset comes as Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has embraced data centers. Earlier this year, Youngkin and Amazon Web Services announced a $35 billion plan to invest in data centers across the state.
Youngkin, on a recent tour of Amazon’s new headquarters complex in Arlington, said he still believes the data center deal is a good one. He emphasized that the deal contemplates putting data centers across the state, not just in northern Virginia jurisdictions that are becoming increasingly resistant.
“We can have great economic development projects and we can have a great place to live,” he said.
Jefferson will now face Republican Supervisor Jeanine Lawson, another data center opponent, in November. | https://www.cenlanow.com/technology/ap-technology/backlash-to-data-centers-prompts-political-upset-in-northern-virginia/ | 2023-06-23 10:57:50 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/technology/ap-technology/backlash-to-data-centers-prompts-political-upset-in-northern-virginia/ |
Make-A-Wish grants 6-year-old girl's shopping spree dreams
Alyson woke up early Saturday morning and put on a Rapunzel dress, matching gloves, jewelry, and tiara — the perfect outfit to wear while having her wish granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Joined by her family, Alyson hopped into a limousine and headed toward Target for a shopping spree. When she arrived at the store, a red carpet was rolled out.
Employees and shoppers applauded the princess as Alyson walked through the red doors.
The 6-year-old was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a rare form of kidney cancer that affects children, in December 2022 after doctors found a one-foot mass on her left kidney.
Since then, she has received treatment through chemotherapy.
“She is already doing better,” Audrey, Alyson’s mother, said, watching her daughter as she picked up a basket, ready to shop. “It has been overwhelming. But [as a family], we are managing.”
Her daughter immediately began making her way through the store — there were a few items Alyson knew she wanted, including a makeup kit and art supplies.
However, the first item she picked out was a pair of rainbow rain boots.
It wasn’t soon after that Alyson began moving quickly throughout the rest of the aisles, grabbing pink, purple, and rainbow slime, a Lilo and Stich-themed plushie, one or two dolls, and a Rainbow High Dollhouse. She found the art set she was looking for and a makeup kit for beginners.
Alyson picked out a few shirts, shorts, shoes, socks, a swimsuit top, and cloud-shaped sunglasses; she even picked out another princess dress.
While shopping, a young girl, her younger brother, and her mother walked by Alyson. The young girl stopped and said, “Mom, look, Rapunzel is here! She is so beautiful.”
The two waved to one another before the group made their way to the front of the store. A few hours had passed, and Alyson had racked up a few baskets full of handpicked items.
The family stood before their haul for photos before sharing an embrace.
Audrey jokingly said she worried they wouldn’t have room for it all.
Alyson said her favorite item was the dollhouse, then she said it was the Disney plushie. She ultimately landed on three or four items that she loved and loved.
Some of the items Alyson will enjoy right away, while others will be perfect for when she returns to school next year. When asked if she was excited for school to start in the Fall, Alyson smiled and said, “Yes.” | https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/local/2023/05/09/make-a-wish-grants-6-year-old-girls-shopping-spree-dreams/70172058007/ | 2023-05-09 17:31:54 | 1 | https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/local/2023/05/09/make-a-wish-grants-6-year-old-girls-shopping-spree-dreams/70172058007/ |
16-year-old girl accused of hiring 16-year-old boy to kill her mom
BATON ROUGE, La. (WBRZ) – A 16-year-old girl in Louisiana is accused of paying a 16-year-old boy to kill her mother.
Friends and family of 33-year-old Markeshia Stone said they still can’t believe the mom of four was shot to death in her apartment this week while all four children were home.
Stone’s daughter, Jermyne Lewis, is accused of paying Dwayne Barfield to shoot her mother – something she planned for a while, according to police.
The two teens are both being held at the East Baton Rouge Juvenile Detention Center.
Marvin Palmer, Stone’s father, said he cannot believe his granddaughter would do this. He doesn’t want to see her, but he wants to understand what happened.
“She has to pay for what she done,” he said.
While a motive for the shooting hasn’t been released, Palmer said he believes it’s because Stone ran a tight house and told her daughter “no” to things.
“[Stone] kept the family in line. She was a mom, a good friend,” Palmer said. “She loved her daughter. I hate to God to lose her.”
Copyright 2022 WBRZ via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wcjb.com/2022/10/18/16-year-old-girl-accused-hiring-16-year-old-boy-kill-her-mom/ | 2022-10-18 17:42:40 | 0 | https://www.wcjb.com/2022/10/18/16-year-old-girl-accused-hiring-16-year-old-boy-kill-her-mom/ |
Midterm elections major takeaways so far By Domenico Montanaro Published November 9, 2022 at 1:23 PM PST Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 4:25 With races yet to be decided and the balance of power in Congress up in the air, what are the main lessons to learn from the 2022 midterm elections? Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.kvpr.org/2022-11-09/midterm-elections-major-takeaways-so-far | 2022-11-10 00:06:20 | 0 | https://www.kvpr.org/2022-11-09/midterm-elections-major-takeaways-so-far |
New solution helps organizations boost efficiency and accuracy by automating the inventory count process
AUSTIN, Texas, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- To help organizations improve the highly challenging inventory count process, Oracle NetSuite today announced NetSuite Smart Count. NetSuite Smart Count is an inventory counting solution that enables organizations to improve the efficiency and accuracy of inventory management by automating inventory counts and enabling them to be conducted live without freezing transactions, minimizing the impact on operations.
"Inventory counts are an important check-and-balance that ensure records are accurate, but without the right tools in place, they are often expensive, labor-intensive, and time consuming to conduct," said Gary Wiessinger, senior vice president, Product Management, Oracle NetSuite. "With NetSuite Smart Count, we are automating the entire process for our customers so that they can quickly and easily validate inventory records to help ensure inventory availability, optimize inventory levels, and return to doing what they love – running their business."
NetSuite Smart Count helps organizations improve decision making by simplifying and automating inventory processes. It conducts inventory counts live without freezing transactions in the entire location, helping minimize interruptions that impact operations. If there is any activity during the count, NetSuite Smart Count will automatically alert counters so they can react appropriately. Key capabilities in NetSuite Smart Count include:
- Administrator Control: Helps organizations manage counts without disrupting sales by enabling administrators to choose what happens if the on-hand quantity changes for an item during the count process.
- Advanced Visibility: Helps organizations automate the count process by providing lists of items that need to be counted using predefined criteria, business rules, and key drivers.
- Automated Recounts: Helps organizations minimize unnecessary replenishment by automatically triggering a count to check the accuracy of a given bin if the inventory level falls below the reorder point.
- Centralized Information: Helps organizations efficiently manage the cycle counting process by providing visibility into all the items due to be counted in a location.
- Mobile Access: Helps organizations increase count accuracy and minimize time required to complete counts by using a handheld mobile device and barcodes.
Embedded within NetSuite, NetSuite Smart Count is fully integrated with NetSuite Inventory Management to give organizations added efficiencies, greater control over their stock, and more flexibility when making financial and business decisions. For more information, read the latest NetSuite blog.
Oracle NetSuite
For more than 20 years, Oracle NetSuite has helped organizations grow, scale and adapt to change. NetSuite provides an integrated system that includes financials / Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), inventory management, HR, professional services automation and omnichannel commerce, used by more than 31,000 customers in 217 countries and dependent territories.
Learn more at https://www.netsuite.com. Like us on Facebook, and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.
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SOURCE Oracle NetSuite | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/netsuite-introduces-smart-count-streamline-inventory-management/ | 2022-07-19 12:23:17 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/netsuite-introduces-smart-count-streamline-inventory-management/ |
New "Suggested Roles and Responsibilities" features from Trainual increase accountability and streamline documentation
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trainual, the leading training management system for small businesses and growing teams, today released an AI-powered documentation engine for outlining roles and responsibilities. The "Suggested Roles" and "Suggested Responsibilities" features allow users of its platform to leverage the learnings of thousands of growing organizations around the world by recommending roles by company type, along with the responsibilities associated with those roles. Trainual accomplishes this with proprietary data that connects which types of trainings have been assigned to comparable job titles from similar businesses in every industry.
Small businesses create 1.5 million jobs annually in the United States, accounting for 64% of annual averages (source). With Suggested Roles and Responsibilities, small business owners and leaders have tools to quickly identify the duties for new roles within their organization, and map training materials to them.
"Every small business is unique. As they grow, so does their employee count and the mix of different roles they have within their companies. And along with each role comes a new set of responsibilities that can take lots of time to think up and document," said Chris Ronzio, CEO and Founder of Trainual. "We decided to make that process easier. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, Trainual is providing small business owners and managers the tools to easily keep their roles up-to-date — and the people that hold them, trained — in record time."
The process is simple. When a company goes to add a new role, they'll automatically see a list of roles (AKA job titles) that similar businesses have added to their companies. After accepting a suggested role in the Trainual app, they'll see a list of suggested responsibilities, curated utilizing AI and Trainual's own machine learning engine. Owners, managers, and employees can then easily add context to all of the responsibilities for every role in the business by documenting or assigning existing content that's most relevant for onboarding and ongoing training.
For more information, or to get started with Trainual and try out Suggested Roles and Responsibilities, visit Trainual.com.
Trainual is a training and knowledge management platform designed to help business teams get people up to speed faster, keep them aligned from anywhere, streamline their systems and processes, and increase productivity. Built with small business budgets and ease of use in mind, Trainual makes online training manuals easy to build and simple to scale. More than 7,500 companies in over 180 countries are building their business playbooks, training their teams, and improving their operations with Trainual.
For more information, visit Trainual.com
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The National Park Service declared that Washington’s cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin reached their penultimate stage of development on Saturday, meaning peaking bloom should occur within the next several days.
The blossoms are now at Stage 5 out of 6, known as “puffy white” — meaning most of the flowers are just about to open up. Some trees are already flowering and photographers at the Tidal Basin have shared beautiful views.
Less than 24 hours after reaching Stage 5, the coldest air in a month moved over the D.C. area Sunday morning and temperatures dipped into the upper 20s; at Reagan National Airport, just south of the Tidal Basin, the low was 29 degrees. Fortunately, exposed buds and early bloomers can withstand these temperatures. Had it dropped below 28 degrees for more than a few hours, they would have been harmed. This occurred in 2017 when temperatures plunged into the low 20s and half of the blossoms were damaged.
Temperatures are forecast to drop into the upper 20s and low 30s again on Monday and Tuesday mornings, which will probably slow the blossoms’ progression through this second-to-last stage. But both days and nights and will warm substantially midweek, with lows rising well above freezing and highs moderating into the 60s and 70s. It’s probable that peak bloom will occur between Tuesday and Friday.
The National Park Service declares peak bloom when 70 percent of cherry tree buds are flowering. Once peak bloom occurs, the blossoms can remain on the trees for another week or so if the weather is mild and winds are light. But some years, petals fall off sooner because of wind, rain or frost.
Through Thursday, weather will be generally favorable for seeing the blossoms. Winds should mostly be light to moderate; only Wednesday night offers a small chance of light showers.
Some more substantial showers and gustier breezes are possible by late Friday into Saturday morning, but next weekend should be pretty nice and some flowers should remain.
Sunset tonight at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC @capitalweather pic.twitter.com/wiCKaQv9sF
— Chris Duncan, DAT, LAT, ATC (@CTDPIX) March 18, 2023
Assuming peak bloom occurs between Tuesday and Friday (March 21 to 24), it would be about seven to 10 days ahead of average. Because of climate change and rising temperatures, the average peak bloom date has advanced from around April 5 to March 31 over the past century; this year’s bloom cycle is certainly in keeping with that trend toward earlier dates. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/03/19/cherry-blossoms-puffy-white-dc/ | 2023-03-19 15:58:22 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/03/19/cherry-blossoms-puffy-white-dc/ |
‘Up significantly from last year’: Delaware County sees rise in food insecurity
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The problems brought by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continue to have a domino effect on Delaware County.
Delco residents need more help with food and mental health services than they did before the pandemic.
“I’m sure you can imagine that with the fact that everything — whether it’s heating cost or food costs or housing costs, gas — with everything increasing generally, our paychecks don’t rise,” said Joanne Craig, chief impact officer of the Foundation for Delaware County.
Craig said with Delco residents paying more of their budgets to make sure that they can heat their homes or keep roofs over their heads, they’re being forced to take money away from something else that they may have budgeted for.
As a result, many folks are caught in an impossible situation and need to seek resources from elsewhere to stay afloat. The Foundation outlined this need in its annual report.
Ellie Crowell, the Delaware County program director for Share Food Program, said data from their affiliated food pantries show huge increases in visitors from 2021 to 2022 “across every metric.”
“One of the most marked increases we saw was the number of new individuals,” Crowell said. They saw over 18,000 new people between July and September — a 68% increase compared to the same three-month period the year before.
And in October and November of this year, Share saw the highest numbers of individuals — 16,523 and 16,794, respectively — at Delco food pantries it has seen since the organization began serving the county.
Crowell said social programs that provided a lot of relief at the start of the pandemic are spreading around less relief.
“There was a huge rent relief program in Delaware County. Also, there were increased benefits through SNAP, depending on how many kids there were in the family,” Crowell said. “And so I think, yeah, we’re just seeing less support for these families in general, which means folks are back in the position even more so now of choosing: Do I pay for rent? Do I pay for food? Do I favor medical bills? How do I manage all of these different costs that I have?”
Inflation and the rising cost of food have made the situation even worse. On top of that, Share Food Program has seen a 50% reduction in the amount of food it receives from the federal government since the summer of 2021.
Nevertheless, Jess Bautista, the director of communications and external relations at Share Food Program, said the organization is consistently looking for ways to meet the growing need.
The Foundation for Delaware County is also seeing huge gaps in access to mental health services, especially for those expecting children.
“The challenges that we have seen are a lack of availability of services. There is a long, long, long waitlist for those needing services for pregnant moms or postpartum mothers. The cultural diversity is not expected to be there. We have a large population of people who are Spanish speaking in the county, and there’s not enough therapists who are bilingual and bicultural,” said Carolina Alshon, the social service coordinator with the foundation.
Alshon said it is impacting not only the health of the parent, but also the health and the mental health of their kids.
Delaware County isn’t alone in experiencing problems with food insecurity and access to mental health services. Bautista, of Share Food Program, said their affiliated food pantries in Montgomery County and Philadelphia are also seeing more people.
Kelly Cofrancisco, a spokesperson for Montgomery County, said the county Office of Community Connections has received 813 requests for food assistance as of Dec. 15. In 2021, those requests totaled just 281.
Montgomery County’s Community Connections program can help link residents to a program that meets their needs, and the six brick-and-mortar Community Behavioral Health Centers offer mental health assessments, treatment, and medication management.
Jim O’Malley, a spokesperson for Bucks County, said while county officials aren’t seeing an increased need for mental health services, they are seeing an increase in food insecurity.
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Transforming the Insurance Buying Process with Digital Real-Time Quoting, Cost Savings, and System-Wide Compliance to Ensure Better Strategy and Coverage
CHICAGO, July 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hub International Limited (HUB), a leading global insurance brokerage and financial services firm, announced today the launch of HUB Franchise Insurance Solutions, a digital platform to help franchisors and franchisees in the U.S. and those with cross-border operations in Canada manage all their insurance needs in one place, review competitive pricing and track compliance.
With HUB Franchisee Insurance Solutions, franchisors and franchisees will be able to digitally review insurance options and competitive pricing. In addition, they can track insurance certificates, receive automated updates when franchisees are not in compliance and/or need to renew insurance policies, and review claims notifications, with the added benefit of live agent support via phone or live chat.
"Maintaining insurance is complex in franchising, especially for multi-unit operators," said Chris Treanor, HUB President of Programs and Specialties. "As additional locations open, the franchisors typically lack the tools to track insurance compliance while the franchisees may set up an insurance program that lacks structure – under-insured in some locations, over-insured on others, navigating many different expiration dates and paying more than they should. Our solutions help to navigate these complexities offering not only best coverage and pricing for the franchisees while maintaining contractual compliance for the franchisor."
While franchising is regulated at the federal level, there are also state-level franchise laws. Franchisors and franchisees must be compliant in the state where they are headquartered and, in the states where the franchises are located. HUB Franchise Insurance Solutions helps ensure franchisors and franchisees understand these complexities and are insured appropriately.
With HUB Franchisee Insurance Solutions, HUB continues its commitment to providing tailored insurance solutions designed to best manage its clients' risks and insurance needs. For more information on HUB Franchisee Insurance Solutions, click here.
About Hub International
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Hub International Limited is a leading full-service global insurance broker and financial services firm providing risk management, insurance, employee benefits, retirement and wealth management products and services. With more than 16,000 employees in offices located throughout North America, Hub's vast network of specialists brings clarity to a changing world with tailored solutions and unrelenting advocacy, so clients are ready for tomorrow. For more information, visit Hub Media Center.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Marni Gordon
Phone: 312-279-4601
Marni.gordon@hubinternational.com
Jessica Wiltse
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jessica.wiltse@hubinternational.com
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Fourth- and eighth-graders fell behind in reading and had the largest ever decline in math, according to a national educational assessment that shows the devastating impact of Covid-19 on America's children.
The alarming findings are based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress reading and math exams, often called the "Nation's Report Card" and conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, a branch of the Education Department.
"The results of today's Nation's Report Card are appalling and unacceptable," US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said Friday during a briefing before the report's release official on Monday.
"This is a moment of truth for education. How we respond to this will determine not only our recovery but our nation's standing in the world."
The first national assessment of student achievement in three years revealed the largest math score declines among fourth- and eighth-graders since the initial trial assessment in 1990, according to NCES Commissioner Peggy Carr. The tests were administered between January and March.
No state or large urban district showed improvements in math, the report said. Eighth-grade math scores sank in the more than 50 states and jurisdictions that participated in the assessment. The last report card was issued in 2019, before the start of the pandemic in the US, where schools were shut down and teachers turned to online learning.
"Eighth grade is that gateway to more advanced mathematical course taking," Carr told reporters before the report's release. "This is what these students are missing. They're missing these important skills that will prepare them eventually for (science, technology, engineering and math) level careers."
The average math score of 236 for the fourth grade was 5 points lower than in 2019, and 8 points below the 2019 mark of 274 for the eighth grade. The reading score of 217 for the fourth grade was down 3 points this year -- the same decline as the eighth grade score of 260 -- compared to 2019.
The discouraging results come more than a month after NAEP released results showing that math and reading scores for 9-year-olds -- typically fourth graders -- fell between 2020 and 2022 by a level not seen in decades.
The Nation's Report Card offers the first detailed look into how health crisis disruptions and virtual learning affected fourth- and eighth-graders across the country.
The report shows the pandemic affected all students but had a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable, who fared the worst.
Scores on the eighth-grade math exams declined across most racial and ethnic groups as well as for lower, middle and high performing students. Fourth-grade math scores dropped for all racial and ethnic groups except native Hawaiian-Pacific Islanders.
The gaps between White students and Black and Hispanic students were larger in 2022 than three years ago, with greater score declines in math for Black and Hispanic students further widening those gaps.
"What we're seeing is (lower performing) students ... dropping even faster and we're also seeing students who were not showing declines -- students at the top, meaning students at the higher performing levels -- they were holding steady before the pandemic or even improving," Carr said. "Now all the students, regardless of their ability, are dropping. That is the point we need to be taking away from this report."
The math exams reflected the performance of 116,200 fourth-graders in 5,780 schools, and 111,000 eighth-graders in 5,190 schools. The reading tests were given to 108,200 fourth-graders in 5,780 schools and 111,300 eighth-graders in 5,190 schools.
The declines are only partly attributable to the dynamics of schooling during the pandemic, when schools were shuttered and later turned to a mix of online and in-person classes in some cities.
"There's nothing in this data that tells us that there is a measurable difference in the performance between states and districts based solely on how long schools were closed," Carr said.
"And let's not forget that remote learning looks very differently all across the United States. The quality -- all of the factors that were associated with implementing remote learning -- it is extremely complex."
Declines in average math and reading scores in the fourth and eighth grades spanned the country -- in the Northeast, Midwest, South and West, the report said.
"We're not surprised to see that the math scores were going to take a bigger hit," Carr said. "Math is just simply more sensitive to schooling. You really need good teachers to teach math. Reading, on the other hand, is something that parents and the community are more comfortable with helping students with."
Carr said more analysis is needed to understand the role the pandemic played in the declines, along with other factors such as teacher shortages and bullying.
"This must be a wake-up call for the country that we have to make education a priority," Beverly Perdue, former governor of North Carolina and chair of the National Assessment Governing Board that oversees the test, said in a statement.
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The city of Jackson was already struggling with a deteriorating water system long before the latest rains cut off access to safe drinking water for more than 150,000 people in Mississippi's capital.
For years, residents of the majority-Black city have endured everything from service disruptions and recurring boil-water advisories to concerns over contaminants like lead and E. coli bacteria, thanks to failures to upgrade Jackson's aging infrastructure.
With the city now under a state of emergency, officials are scrambling to distribute bottled water to tens of thousands of people in a city where roughly 1 in 4 people live in poverty. Amid the fledgling response, officials have sent mixed signals about how long it may take to restore service. City officials have said it could be "days," but Gov. Tate Reeves has said it is unclear exactly how long it will take.
The current crisis began last week, when days of torrential rain caused the Pearl River, which runs through Jackson, to swell and then crest around 35 feet high, according to the National Weather Service. In an emergency order issued Monday, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said the flooding "created problems with treating water" at the city's primary water-treatment facility, the O.B. Curtis Water Plant.
Yet even before last week's rains, concerns over Jackson's water system were well-documented, and the city was already under a state-issued boil water notice in the month leading up to the flooding.
"It was a near certainty that Jackson would begin to fail to produce running water sometime in the next several weeks or months if something didn't materially improve," Reeves told reporters this week.
"Until it is fixed, it means we do not have reliable running water at scale," Reeves said. "It means the city cannot produce enough water to fight fires, to reliably flush toilets, and to meet other critical needs."
A similar crisis played out last year
Across Jackson, the situation is an unwelcome replay of the winter of 2021, when bruising storms blanketed the state in ice and nearly decimated the city's water system. Pipes and water mains burst throughout the city, leaving tens of thousands without water — some for as long as three weeks.
The crisis came at a moment when the city was continuing to confront widespread worries about the safety of its drinking water. In 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency order warning that the water system in Jackson posed "an imminent and substantial endangerment" to residents and could contain dangerous contaminants such as E. coli. Four years earlier, state health officials alerted the city about elevated levels of lead in its drinking water.
At the root of the challenges in Jackson are decades of underinvestment in a sprawling water system made up of roughly 1,500 miles of water mains, some of which are over 100 years old. In 2013, the city sought to overhaul the system through a $90 million contract with Siemens to upgrade sewer lines, water-treatment plants and to install a new water-sewer billing system for residents.
But the deal brought myriad new issues for the city, including the installation of faulty water meters that measured water use in gallons instead of cubic feet. In the years following the installation, some residents received exorbitant bills for months of water use at a time, while others weren't billed at all. At one point, city officials advised residents to simply pay what they thought they owed, but unpaid bills would eventually strain Jackson's ability to address the system. The city ultimately sued Siemens and several local subcontractors for $450 million in damages, reaching an $89.8 million settlement in 2020.
Fixing the system could cost billions
The city has also been unable to fully chip away at its service backlog, in part because a shrinking population has left it with a tax base that is roughly 20% smaller today than it was in 1980.
At the same time, it has struggled to secure state infrastructure funding. Last year, at least two bills aimed at helping raise money for water-system repairs died in the legislature. And in June 2020, Reeves, a Republican, vetoed bipartisan legislation designed to help residents with overdue water bills which, in turn, would have enabled the city to collect sorely needed water revenue.
In vetoing the bill, the governor acknowledged that residents "got overcharged in the past," but said the legislation would allow "politicians to say that individuals are not responsible for paying their water bill." Reeves also said there were "no safeguards in place" to ensure aid would go only to "the impoverished or needy."
Mayor Lumumba has estimated that modernizing the city's infrastructure could cost as much as $2 billion. Mississippi received $75 million from the federal infrastructure bill signed by President Biden last year for water and sewage needs, but that money is for the entire state, not Jackson alone.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.ijpr.org/npr-news/2022-08-31/the-water-crisis-in-jackson-follows-years-of-failure-to-fix-an-aging-system | 2022-09-09 22:08:32 | 0 | https://www.ijpr.org/npr-news/2022-08-31/the-water-crisis-in-jackson-follows-years-of-failure-to-fix-an-aging-system |
MACON, Ga. (AP) — Fred Payton threw three touchdowns passes and Mercer held the Southern Conference's top-scoring team to a pair of field goals in the Bears' 49-6 win over Western Carolina on Saturday.
The Catamounts (3-3, 1-2) came in as the nation's second-best producing offense at 549.8 yards per game but Mercer, with the conference's best defense and 11th in the country, outgained Western Carolina 520-249.
Payton was 16-of-22 passing for 247 yards and ran for 48 more. Payton has 16 TD passes without an interception this season. Devron Harper made six catches for 94 yards and a score.
Two Catamount quarterbacks combined for 175 yards passing with four interceptions, two made by the Bears' Isaac Dowling, while Western Carolina was held to 74 yards on 31 carries.
Payton had a 15-yard TD pass to Drake Starks and scoring throws of 9 yards to Brandon Marshall and 46 to Harper in building a 42-0 halftime lead for the FCS 12th-ranked Bears.
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Biggest news stories of 2022: Supreme Court, Russia-Ukraine top headlines
It was another turbulent year in the U.S. and across the globe.
From the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to soaring inflation to the biggest invasion in Europe since World War II, here’s a look back at some of the biggest news stories of 2022.
COVID-19 pandemic enters year 3
It was the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 300 million more cases reported worldwide in 2022. The biggest surges were largely because of the Omicron variant, which became dominant in the U.S. in March. Cases fell over the summer, but winter and the holidays are bringing higher case counts.
(Photo by John Paraskevas/Newsday RM vis Getty Images)
Combined with flu and RSV, the "tripledemic" doctors have warned about has overwhelmed some hospitals and healthcare systems across the U.S.
2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing
The Olympic Rings illuminated by the sun seen at Genting Snow Park, on January 26, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Despite the pandemic and China’s restrictive "zero COVID" policy, the 2022 Winter Olympic Games were still held in Beijing and labeled a success. The government there used a segregated system that effectively turned Beijing into two cities — one sequestered for the Olympic community, and one proceeding very much as normal.
Unlike the first pandemic Olympics in Tokyo in 2021, which featured all but empty seats at the opening and closing, a modest but energetic crowd populated the seats of Beijing’s "Bird’s Nest." It was the first city to host both the summer and winter games.
Russia invades Ukraine
Firefighters work on a fire on a building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on February 24, 2022 (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)
On Feb. 24, Russia sent troops into neighboring Ukraine for the start of what’s become a nearly year-old invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to justify the attack with claims that Ukraine was threatening Russia and being governed by "Nazis."
The Kremlin expected the conflict to last days, but they grossly underestimated the Ukrainian military and support from the U.S. and other NATO allies. Ukrainian troops stopped Russia from taking Kyiv, eventually forcing Russian troops to retreat back to the far east and southern parts of Ukraine.
Inflation reaches highest levels in decades
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is one factor that led to soaring costs around the globe — and the worst inflation crisis the U.S. has seen in four decades. The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates aggressively throughout 2022 in an effort to tame rising prices and avoid a recession.
Inflation has retreated from the four-decade high it reached this summer, but it’s still sapping the spending power of consumers. Prices rose 7.1% in November from a year ago, down from a peak of 9.1% in June.
Overall spending has slowed from the pandemic-infused splurges and shifted increasingly toward necessities like food, while spending on electronics, furniture, new clothes and other non-necessities has faded. Many shoppers have been trading down to private label goods, which are typically less expensive than national brands. They’ve been going to cheaper stores like dollar chains and big box stores like Walmart.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard face off in court
Actors Amber Heard and Johnny Depp watch as the jury leave the courtroom for a lunch break at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 16, 2022. (Photo by STEVE HELBER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Millions of people tuned when actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard faced off in court. The ex-couple sued each other for defamation after Heard claimed that Depp was physically abusive during their relationship.
After a six-week trial, the jury largely sided with Depp, awarding him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. For Heard’s countersuit, the jury awarded her $2 million in compensatory damages, but no money for punitive damages.
Monkeypox outbreak spreads across the globe
Health workers sit at a check-in table at a pop-up monkeypox vaccination clinic which opened today by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health at the West Hollywood Library on August 3, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mario Ta
Health officials scrambled at the start of the summer when a monkeypox outbreak was reported in the UK. It quickly spread across the world, infecting people in all 50 states and killing at least six people before vaccination efforts helped quell the spread.
The virus has mainly spread among gay and bisexual men, though health officials continue to stress that anyone can be infected. The outbreak peaked in the U.S. in early August.
Uvalde, Texas school shooting
On Tuesday, May 24, a gunman stormed the campus of Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two teachers in the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. in nearly a decade.
A memorial is seen surrounding the Robb Elementary School sign following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 26, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Investigative reports have concluded that officials failed to follow active shooter protocol when they waited more than an hour to confront the attacker inside a fourth-grade classroom. Two officers have been fired because of their actions at the scene and others have resigned or been placed on leave.
In October, Col. Steve McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, acknowledged mistakes by officers but defended his agency, saying they "did not fail" Uvalde.
Supreme Court overrules Roe v. Wade
People protest in response to the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 24, 2022 in Washington, DC. The Court's decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health overturns the landmark 50-year-old Roe
The U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade in what became one of the court’s most consequential decisions in decades. The court’s conservative majority ruled in June that abortion is not a constitutional right, which led to abortion bans in more than a dozen states.
Justice Clarence Thomas implied in a concurrent ruling that the court could review other constitutional rights, like same-sex marriage and access to birth control.
Jan. 6 committee hearings
The House committee tasked with investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol held a series of public hearings this year to identify who was to blame.
(L-R) U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) (L), Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, and Vice Chairwoman Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), listen during a hearing on the January 6th in
After nine hearings and explosive testimony from a number of witnesses, committee members sent criminal referrals to the U.S. Justice Department against former President Donald Trump and his top allies.
FBI seizes top-secret documents from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago
Police outside of Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Aug. 9, 2022, the day after the FBI searched Donald Trump's estate. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
In August, the FBI searched Trump’s private residence in Palm Beach, Florida, where agents seized hundreds of documents from his home, some of them marked top-secret.
Along with highly classified government documents, the FBI agents who searched the Mar-a-Lago estate found dozens of empty folders marked classified but with nothing inside and no explanation of what might have been there.
The agents also found more than 10,000 other government documents kept by Trump with no classification marked.
Presidential records are required by law to be turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration. The Archives had tried unsuccessfully for months to secure their return from Trump and then contacted the FBI after locating classified information in a batch of 15 boxes it received in January.
Boris Johnson resigns
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned his position in July after a series of personal scandals and ethical lapses.
(L-R) Former UK Prime Ministers Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and Gordon Brown during the National Service Of Remembrance at The Cenotaph on November 13, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)
The brash, 58-year-old politician who took Britain out of the European Union and steered it through COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine was brought down by one scandal too many — this one involving his appointment of a politician who had been accused of sexual misconduct.
Liz Truss took over in early September, but she only lasted six weeks in office. She, too, was forced to resign, becoming the shortest lived prime minister in British history.
Queen Elizabeth II dies
Queen Elizabeth II tours Queen Mother Square on October 27, 2016 in Poundbury, Dorset. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, died Sept. 8 after 70 years on the throne. She was 96 years old. Her death sent shock waves around the world, as the monarch served as a constant, stabilizing force throughout her reign — and most people alive today don’t know a world without her in it.
Elizabeth’s son Charles was crowned King Charles III after 64 years as heir to the throne.
Hurricanes Fiona, Ian wreak havoc
September started with a pair of hurricanes that wreaked major havoc in Puerto Rico and Florida.
Hurricane Fiona brought widespread flooding and power outages to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic before heading far north and slamming Canada as a powerful cyclone with 100-mph winds.
Two weeks later, Hurricane Ian struck southwest Florida, becoming the deadliest hurricane to hit the state in more than 80 years.
Pro-democracy protests in Iran
A pro-democracy movement is growing in Iran. Protests there began in September when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died while in custody of the country’s morality police. She’d been detained for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.
A picture obtained by AFP outside Iran on September 21, 2022, shows Iranian demonstrators taking to the streets of the capital Tehran during a protest for Mahsa Amini, days after she died in police custody. (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)
Protests have continued for months despite a deadly crackdown.
Human Rights Activists in Iran, a U.S.-based group that has been closely tracking the protests since they erupted, says 451 protesters and 60 security forces have been killed since the start of the unrest. They estimate more than 18,000 people have been detained.
The World Cup
The 2022 World Cup took place in the Middle East for the first time in history. Qatar, a conservative Muslim emirate that restricts alcohol, bans drugs and suppresses free speech, hosted the world’s biggest party, banning alcohol sales in World Cup stadiums just two days before it began.
(Photo by Qatar 2022/Supreme Committee via Getty Images)
In probably the wildest final in the tournament’s 92-year history, Argentina won its third World Cup title by beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw featuring two goals from the 35-year-old Lionel Messi and a hat trick by his heir apparent, France forward Kylian Mbappé.
Elon Musk buys Twitter
Billionaire Elon Musk took over Twitter on Oct. 27 after buying the social media company for $44 billion.
(Photo by -/Twitter account of Elon Musk/AFP via Getty Images)
Since buying Twitter, the Tesla CEO has presided over a dizzying series of changes that have unnerved advertisers and turned off users. He fired half the staff, axed contract content moderators and disbanded a council of trust and safety advisors. He has also dropped enforcement of COVID-19 misinformation rules and called for criminal charges against Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert.
Musk reinstated the account of former President Donald Trump, who was permanently banned following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. He also authorized the release of the so-called "Twitter files," showing alleged misconduct by former employees in the leadup to the 2020 election.
Republicans take House in midterm elections
The United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
Republicans took control of the U.S. House of Representatives following the midterm elections, but there was no "red wave" as anticipated. Republicans secured a slim House majority, and Democrats gained a seat in the Senate.
Still, the GOP will have notable power. Republicans will take control of key committees, giving them the ability to shape legislation and launch probes of Biden, his family and his administration. There’s particular interest in investigating the overseas business dealings of the president’s son Hunter Biden.
Some of the most conservative lawmakers have raised the prospect of impeaching Biden, though that will be much harder for the party to accomplish with a tight majority.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.fox29.com/news/biggest-news-stories-of-2022 | 2022-12-28 22:13:06 | 0 | https://www.fox29.com/news/biggest-news-stories-of-2022 |
—Within the last 18 months, the company has amortized more than $3,300 million pesos of its debt—
—The trustee of the holders of the notes provided with a notification of acceleration of the maturity of $400 million dollars due 2024—
MEXICO CITY, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: AZTECACPO; Latibex: XTZA), one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television programming in the world, received a notification issued by The Bank of New York Mellon, trustee of the holders of the notes, informing about the intention of the early expiration of its $400 million dollars notes due 2024.
Within the last 18 months, the company has amortized debt with cost in the amount of $3,347 million pesos, strengthening its capital structure and reiterating its commitment to preserve a solid strategic, financial and operating condition.
The company has maintained a dialogue with the holders of the 2024 notes to reach an agreement that is favorable for all parties.
TV Azteca will continue working within a strict financial discipline to guarantee operations that benefit audiences, employees and clients, in compliance with regulation.
About TV Azteca
TV Azteca is one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television programming in the world, operating four television networks in Mexico: Azteca uno, Azteca 7, adn40 and a+, through more than 300 owned and operated stations across the country. The company also owns TV Azteca Digital, operator of several of the most visited digital platforms and social networks in Mexico.
TV Azteca is a Grupo Salinas company (www.gruposalinas.com), a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating: economic value through market innovation and goods and services that improve standards of living; social value to improve community wellbeing; and environmental value by reducing the negative impact of its business activities. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. These companies include TV Azteca (www.TVazteca.com; www.irtvazteca.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Purpose Financial (havepurpose.com), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), Punto Casa de Bolsa (www.puntocasadebolsa.mx), Totalplay (irtotalplay.mx; www.totalplay.com.mx) and Totalplay Empresarial (totalplayempresarial.com.mx). TV Azteca and Grupo Elektra trade shares on the Mexican Stock Market and in Spains' Latibex market. Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. The group of companies shares a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance.
Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are concepts about the future that involve risks and uncertainty that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Other risks that may affect TV Azteca and its subsidiaries are presented in documents sent to the securities authorities.
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SOURCE TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/tv-azteca-reaffirms-its-commitment-dialogue-order-reorganize-liabilities-with-2004-noteholders/ | 2022-08-08 15:43:40 | 0 | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/tv-azteca-reaffirms-its-commitment-dialogue-order-reorganize-liabilities-with-2004-noteholders/ |
Johnny Depp's popularity dips after trial especially among older Americans, poll says
After a sensational six-week trial closely followed by millions on social media, a jury sided with Johnny Depp in his defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard. But according to a recent poll of U.S. adults, Depp’s popularity may have actually dipped — despite what seemed to be a barrage of support online for the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor.
A poll of roughly 2,200 U.S. adults conducted by the data intelligence company Morning Consult found that Depp’s popularity dropped after the defamation trial concluded, particularly among men and baby boomers — or those born between 1946 and 1964.
From April 8-10 (before the trial began) to June 4-5 (days after the verdict), the share of U.S. adults with a "very" or "somewhat" favorable view of Depp dropped 12 percentage points from 68% in an April survey to 56%, according to the survey.
Among all the generations surveyed, the baby boomer opinion of Depp worsened the most: His favorability rating stood at 59% in April, compared to 37% by June. Depp’s popularity rating also dropped among men, from 67% to 52%, compared to a 9-point drop among women in the same time frame.
Johnny Depp smiles during a recess outside court during the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard civil trial at Fairfax County Circuit Court on May 27, 2022, in Fairfax, Virginia. (Photo by Cliff Owen/Consolidated News Pictures/Getty Images)
Earlier this month, the jury found that Depp had been defamed by three statements in a 2018 op-ed written by Heard in which she said she was an abuse victim. Depp was awarded more than $10 million. Jurors also concluded Heard was defamed, by a lawyer for Depp who accused her of creating a hoax surrounding the abuse allegations. She was awarded $2 million.
The case, which captivated viewers who watched gavel-to-gavel television coverage, attracted millions of followers on social media — specifically TikTok — who dissected the actors’ mannerisms, their wardrobe choices, and their use of alcohol and drugs. The hashtag #JusticeForJohnnyDepp has amassed over 20.5 billion views on TikTok, compared to just 91 million views for the #JusticeForAmberHeard tag.
Elaine Bredehoft, one of Heard's lead attorneys during the trial, said she believes the jury was influenced by a relentless barrage of online posts condemning her and supporting Depp.
Interestingly, younger respondents of the poll found Depp much more likable following the trial, compared to their older peers. Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) viewed Depp better than any other generation, with 78% viewing him as favorable in April and down to 72% by June.
Depp’s popularity among Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) remained the most unchanged throughout the six-week trial, dropping just 2 percentage points to 70% between April and June.
After the conclusion of the drawn-out trial, both Depp and Heard each face the task of trying to rebuild their images and careers. Most of the trial testimony focused on whether Heard had been physically and sexually abused by Depp, as she claimed.
Heard testified about more than a dozen alleged assaults, including a fight in Australia — where Depp was shooting a "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequel and lost the tip of his middle finger. Heard said she was sexually assaulted with a liquor bottle.
Depp said he never hit Heard and that she was the abuser, though Heard’s attorneys highlighted years-old text messages Depp sent apologizing to Heard for his behavior as well as profane texts he sent to a friend in which Depp said he wanted to kill Heard and defile her dead body.
And while Depp may already have a head start, with a jury verdict largely favoring his narrative, experts say he will still face challenges.
"Depp has a hill to climb. Heard has a mountain to climb," Eric Dezenhall, a crisis mitigator in Washington with no involvement in the case, told the Associated Press. "If Depp keeps his expectations proportional and understands that he’s unlikely to hit his former heights, he can have a solid career if he takes things slowly. After all, he was vindicated in court, not declared a saint."
This story was reported from Cincinnati. The Associated Press contributed. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/johnny-depp-popularity-dips-amber-heard-trial-baby-boomers-poll | 2022-06-10 17:14:22 | 0 | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/johnny-depp-popularity-dips-amber-heard-trial-baby-boomers-poll |
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — For Urbana native Derek Johnson, Smokeout BBQ is a tale of two careers.
The husband and father of two spent 15 years in the automotive industry, reaching manager status.
But Johnson has always enjoying to cook, and when he experienced enough burnout and an opportunity came his way, it was full steam ahead on Smokeout BBQ.
“Really fell in love with it. I use to always associate barbecue with stuff that was slathered in sauce automatically, instead of something that was truly smoked and dry rubbed, that somebody put their time into,” said Johnson.
Smokeout BBQ started as a food truck, added catering, and in June, Johnson gathered up his homemade recipes and opened up his first restaurant along State Route 256 in Pickerington, ironically in a building that was previously a quick-lube oil change.
Johnson said he's quite humbled by the hundreds of people who came out to support the business during opening weekend, and he hopes his signature style will continue to help Smokeout stand out among barbecue rivals in central Ohio.
“Brisket or a pork butt that we've got in there for several hours is gonna see 15 or 16, is going to see 15 pieces of wood instead of two or three, and it just completely soaks into the flavor of the meat,” said Johnson.
Johnson said while the food truck has been sold off, Smokeout BBQ will continue to cater various events. And as far as his favorite sauces, “We have a sweet and tangy which is kind of our traditional. It's a Memphis-based sauce,” said Johnson.
He said he's excited for what the future holds, and Johnson tells budding entrepreneurs not to be afraid to take that leap of faith no matter their age.
“If you try something your 20s, your 30s, your early 40s—you know you're still working another 20 years once you're in your early 40s, so you shouldn't feel strapped down. We don't live long enough to not like what we do,” said Johnson. | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2022/06/20/smokeout-bbq- | 2022-06-24 14:01:09 | 0 | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2022/06/20/smokeout-bbq- |
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Achor Achor’s 18 points helped Samford defeat Alabama A&M 84-64 on Thursday.
Garrett Hicks led the Bulldogs (0-3) in scoring, finishing with 14 points and four steals. Dailin Smith added 10 points and two steals for Alabama A&M. In addition, Cameron Tucker had nine points.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/samford-wins-84-64-against-alabama-aandm/2022/11/18/d28fcb30-6700-11ed-b08c-3ce222607059_story.html | 2022-11-18 05:57:59 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/samford-wins-84-64-against-alabama-aandm/2022/11/18/d28fcb30-6700-11ed-b08c-3ce222607059_story.html |
NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Reserve’s expected move Wednesday to raise interest rates for the 11th time could once again send ripple effects across the economy.
Mortgage rates, which have surged since the Fed began lifting rates in March 2022, could rise further. So could rates on credit cards and some business loans.
Perhaps no one has felt the pain more than car buyers. It’s not just that sticker prices are way up. Or that lenders have tightened credit standards. On top of all that, steadily higher auto loan rates have elbowed many would-be buyers out of the market.
Consider: A study by the New York Federal Reserve has found that 14% of applicants for auto loans were rejected over the past year — the highest such proportion since the New York Fed began tracking the figure in 2013 — up from 9% in February.
Auto-loan applicants, of course, aren’t the only borrowers being turned down in larger numbers these days. In that same June 2022-June 2023 period, applicant rejections for credit cards, mortgages, mortgage refinancings and higher credit card limits all rose, too, according to the New York Fed. Overall, the rejection rate for credit applicants reached 21.8 percent, the highest level since June 2018.
Some of those rejections reflect the subpar credit of loan applicants. But some are a direct consequence of the Fed’s rate increases — the most aggressive in four decades. Those hikes, in turn, have made high-cost purchases out of reach for some.
HOW WILL BORROWERS BE AFFECTED BY THE FED’S LATEST MOVE?
Credit card rates are at or near all-time peaks, and mortgage rates have more than doubled in two years.
“No one should expect them to stop rising anytime soon,” said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst of LendingTree. “Perhaps the scariest thing of all for folks with credit card debt is that interest rates are actually rising more quickly than the Fed is forcing them to.”
The average Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on a currently held credit card that charges interest is 22.16%, according to the latest data from the Fed. That’s up about 6 percentage points from the average rate in the first quarter of 2022. The average APR on a new credit card offer is 24.24%, the highest rate since LendingTree began tracking it in 2019.
Whenever possible, Schulz recommends that card users consider asking their issuers to lower their APR. LendingTree recently concluded that a majority of cardholders who had asked their card issuers for a lower rate received one. The average reduction was significant — 6 percentage points.
“It is well worth your time to make that call,” Schulz said.
I NEED TO BUY A CAR. WHAT’S THE OUTLOOK FOR AUTO LOANS?
Many people were already having trouble affording new vehicles before Wednesday’s expected quarter-point hike. The average price paid for a new vehicle last month was nearly $48,000 — about 25% above the pre-pandemic average. Used vehicle prices have jumped by even more: The average one now costs nearly $30,000, a stinging 45% above what it was before the pandemic.
In some cases, even people with good credit are being rejected for auto loans. The problem for them is that with vehicle prices up sharply, the additional burden of higher loan rates — from 4.5% on average in March 2022 to 7.2% in June — has made monthly payments unaffordable.
“I think people are just not able to qualify for the payments,” says Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights for Edmunds.com.
The average monthly auto payment last month, she said, was $736. Over the life of an an average loan — just under six years — a typical borrower is paying nearly $9,000 in interest.
David Kelleher, who owns David Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, said he has seen loan rejections rise even in his affluent Philadelphia suburb, though not as much as they have nationally. The larger loan sums that borrowers are now financing, along with a small uptick in delinquencies, have made lenders more cautious.
“I think that’s probably making them tighten the reins a little bit,” he said.
Kelleher said he hopes the Fed stops raising rates after this week, given that vehicle prices, a key component of inflation, have begun to ease. Prices had skyrocketed in 2021, a result of high demand as the economy roared out of the pandemic recession and clogged supply chains caused a severe shortage of vehicles for sale.
“These interest rates,” Kelleher said, “are really starting to hurt us.”
Still, Caldwell said she doesn’t expect the Fed’s latest quarter-point hike in its benchmark rate to significantly affect auto loan rates. With factories cranking out more autos and vehicle availability improving, she expects automakers to spend more to subsidize loan rates to help fuel sales.
Despite the rising cost burden, auto sales have remained relatively solid as prices have eased slightly and the supply of vehicles has grown: For the past two months, sales have hit an annual rate of 15 million.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR SAVERS?
That’s where the good news lies: Yields on savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs) have reached their highest levels in a decade, said Ken Tumin, a banking expert and founder of DepositAccounts.com. The average online savings account yield is 4.08%, up from 3.31% at the start of this year, according to DepositAccounts.com.
Even juicier yields are available from CDs. The average online one-year CD yield is now 4.89%, up from 4.37% on Jan. 1 and from a puny 1.90% one year ago. The average online five-year CD yield is 3.93%, down from 4.04% on Jan. 1, but up from 2.89% a year ago.
All that said, those richer yields might not last if price pressures across the economy ease further.
“If we continue to get good news on inflation in the coming months,” Tumin said, “expect long-term CD rates to drift downward.”
WHAT ABOUT MORTGAGES?
If the economy does cool, Jacob Channel, senior economist for LendingTree, predicts that mortgage rates will end the year closer to 6% than to 7%. The current national average for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, according to Freddie Mac, is 6.78%.
Rates have fluctuated sharply this year. The average 30-year fixed rate, which had pierced 7% back in October, fell to just above 6% in early February before surging back to 6.96% in mid-July. On the heels of better-than-expected inflation data for June, the average mortgage rate has eased a bit again.
“This goes to show just how much mortgage rates can vary from week to week and how hard it can be to truly determine what trend they’re going to follow in the long term,” Channel said. “It’s likely that mortgage rates will continue to fluctuate in the face of the uncertainty that permeates today’s economy.”
IS THE FED MANAGING TO DEFEAT INFLATION?
The Fed has clearly achieved progress. Inflation, which peaked above 9% last year, was just 3% in June compared with a year earlier. That’s thanks, in part, to easing prices for gasoline, airline fares, used cars and groceries.
Even so, current measures of inflation remain above the Fed’s 2% target. The result is that many households are still being squeezed by higher prices and struggling to afford basic necessities. Reducing inflation back to the Fed’s target level will require more time.
And that means high rates on consumer and business loans are likely to remain in place well into 2024.
___
Krisher contributed from Detroit.
___
The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism. | https://www.wivb.com/news/u-s-headlines/ap-car-buyers-bear-a-heavy-burden-as-federal-reserve-keeps-raising-rates-auto-loan-rejections-are-up/ | 2023-07-26 14:20:32 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/u-s-headlines/ap-car-buyers-bear-a-heavy-burden-as-federal-reserve-keeps-raising-rates-auto-loan-rejections-are-up/ |
RALEIGH — I have strong opinions — but not about how to perform brain surgery, write an app, design a golf course or produce a hip-hop album. Perhaps you do have a strong view about one of these, but almost certainly not about all four.
Why? Because none of us can simultaneously be a surgeon, a software engineer, a golfing expert and a music producer. When it comes to our work, we specialize in a few things and then trade what we produce for the goods and services other specialists produce. The exchange makes us all better off.
We live most of our lives engaged in such exchanges. There is a great deal of specialized knowledge, with more produced every day. But individually, we possess or are even aware of only a tiny fraction of that knowledge. It would be too difficult or costly to acquire. We don’t need it. We just need to trade for its fruits.
Among specialists or other discrete communities of interest, however, there is often robust debate. Surgeons learn, practice and disagree about the merits of new ways to attack brain cancers. The rest of us don’t typically know which side to root for in these contests. We just root for them to keep at it, so we as potential cancer patients can benefit, and otherwise leave them alone as we go about our own business.
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Now consider what happens when goods and services are provided by government agencies and public employees rather than private companies and independent professionals. Suddenly, we all feel the need to express our expert opinions about the best ways to rehabilitate a prisoner, treat a mental illness or teach a child to read — even though we can’t possibly possess expertise about so many different and challenging fields, and even those possessing such expertise may lack consensus.
The problem is that, unlike in the earlier cases, we can’t simply sit back and let the professionals fight it out. If we don’t like a new smartphone app or hip-hop album, we don’t have to buy it. If a particular brain surgeon or hospital seems to have poor results, we can go elsewhere.
But what if we don’t like the outcomes produced by our prisons, public health agencies or public schools? It’s either impossible or highly expensive to “take our business elsewhere,” as it were, by relocating ourselves and our tax dollars to another state. Instead, we seek to change the mix of professionals providing those services by casting ballots in the next election.
This is not nearly as effective an accountability mechanism. For one thing, we may be outvoted. Even if our preferred candidates win, they may not be in a position to swap out the personnel in question or overrule their professional judgments. And through it all, we end up doing the very thing I’m suggesting we lack the capacity to do well — engaging in debate about matters we don’t and can’t fully understand.
There is no magic wand one can wave here. Ensure more competitive elections? Great. Collect more data and encourage more experimentation and research? Sure. But the problem will remain in some form. It is endemic.
I submit that the best response is to minimize the extent to which people are compelled to receive services from professionals they don’t select. That argues for more choice and competition in education, health care and transportation, even when those services are substantially funded by governments. The next best thing is for governments to pay for measurable performance, by public or private providers, rather than focusing on inputs or dictating procedures.
More fundamentally, this argues for limiting the scope of the public sector. In fact, I think it’s one of the best arguments for limited government. Although you may care and worry about me as a person, it does you no harm if I have a wrong idea, do a foolish thing or hire an incompetent doctor. You can even learn from my mistakes. | https://greensboro.com/opinion/columnists/john-hood-small-government-more-choices-better-results/article_b5b9c250-0836-11ed-bd6b-cb0d56542f10.html | 2022-07-24 04:47:51 | 0 | https://greensboro.com/opinion/columnists/john-hood-small-government-more-choices-better-results/article_b5b9c250-0836-11ed-bd6b-cb0d56542f10.html |
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