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US to limit asylum for migrants who pass through a 3rd nation
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Tuesday that it will generally deny asylum to migrants who show up at the U.S. southern border without first seeking protection in a country they passed through, mirroring an attempt by the Trump administration that never took effect because it was blocked in court.
The measure, while stopping short of a total ban, imposes highly severe limitations on asylum for any nationality except Mexicans, who don’t have to travel through a third country to reach the U.S.
The measure won’t take effect immediately and is almost certain to face legal challenges. President Donald Trump pursued a similar ban in 2019 but a federal appeals court prevented it from taking effect. It will also be subject to possible revisions after a 30-day period for public comment.
Administration officials expect the rule will take effect when a pandemic-era rule that denies asylum on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19 ends. That rule, known as Title 42 authority, is set to expire May 11 but has been delayed twice by legal challenges from Republican-led states.
The Homeland Security and Justice Departments argued that surging numbers of migrants left them with little choice. They anticipate illegal crossings to climb to between 11,000 and 13,000 a day if no action is taken after Title 42 ends, up from from an already extraordinarily high daily average of 6,500 in the government’s fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.
Title 42 was scheduled to end in late December until the Supreme Court ordered that it stay in effect. Administration officials said daily crossings climbed to 7,700 a day in early November and to 8,600 by mid-December as anticipation spread among migrants and smugglers that the rule was about to end.
The proposed rule establishes “a rebuttable presumption of asylum ineligibility” for anyone who passes through another country to reach the U.S. border with Mexico without first seeking protection there, according to a notice in the Federal Register. Exceptions will be made for people with an “acute medical emergency,” “imminent and extreme threat” of violent crimes such as murder, rape or kidnapping, being a victim of human trafficking or “other extremely compelling circumstances.”
U.S. officials insist that the measure is different from Trump’s, largely because there is room for exemptions and because the Biden administration has made other legal pathways available, particularly humanitarian parole for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans and Ukrainians.
“We are a nation of immigrants, and we are a nation of laws. We are strengthening the availability of legal, orderly pathways for migrants to come to the United States, at the same time proposing new consequences on those who fail to use processes made available to them by the United States and its regional partners,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
For asylum seekers traveling north through Central America and Mexico to the U.S. border, Costa Rica and Mexico have the most robust asylum systems. Both countries, however, have been overwhelmed by the surging number of asylum applications in recent years.
Costa Rica, a country of only 5 million residents, trailed only the United States, Germany and Mexico in the number of asylum applications it received in 2021. In December, President Rodrigo Chaves decreed changes to the asylum system, alleging that it was being abused by economic migrants.
Most of those seeking asylum in Costa Rica in recent years are Nicaraguans fleeing repression in that country. In 2012, Costa Rica received barely 900 asylum applications. Last year, the total was around 80,000.
That has created a tremendous backlog and lengthened the process, something that led more Nicaraguans to look north to the United States last year.
Mexico has been facing increased asylum applications for years and last year received 118,478, mostly from Honduras, Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela. Many migrants lacking other options had used the asylum system as a way to legally cross Mexico while in process and then to try to cross the U.S. border.
Other countries along the migrant route north have very limited capacity for receiving asylum seekers. Some, like Mexico, suffer from high levels of violence, others have struggling economies and few resources available to offer.
___
Spagat reported from San Diego. Associated Press writer Christopher Sherman in Mexico City contributed.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kwch.com/2023/02/21/us-limit-asylum-migrants-who-pass-through-3rd-nation/ | 2023-02-21 22:44:59 | 1 | https://www.kwch.com/2023/02/21/us-limit-asylum-migrants-who-pass-through-3rd-nation/ |
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning filmmaker Parker Brennon and Rainbow Swan, LLC, a film production company led by Brennon as Managing Creative and Rob Jarosinski as Managing Member, announced their partnership to make the horror anthology film, Hauntology. The film comes from an original script written by Brennon, and will feature a collection of supernatural tales with many elements of queer identity.
Hauntology has a target completion date of August 2023, which will then be followed by a 2024 festival run. The film will feature a variety of notable and historic locations in Ohio, along with a blend of local and national talent, some of whom are considered legends of the horror genre.
"We're so excited for Parker to bring their dark, atmospheric style to this project about finding identity through horror storytelling," said Rainbow Swan, LLC managing member Rob Jarosinski. "Everyone from hardened horror cinephiles to casual moviegoers will find something to love about Hauntology."
Hauntology follows an older sister who takes her fearless runaway sibling on a road trip, to share the most chilling tales surrounding their hometown. Each place they visit has its own ghost story and queer perspecitve.
"The queer community loves horror stories, but I've always been surprised by how few films are made with us in mind. As I wrote Hauntology, I included a variety of LGBT+ characters who have stories beyond "coming out" or suicide. We're more than those tropes." - Parker Brennon
To help raise additional funds, a Kickstarter campaign for the project is planned to launch on June 1, 2022 in alignment with the start of Pride month.
Casting is underway and production is set to commence in August 2022.
ABOUT RAINBOW SWAN, LLC
Rainbow Swan, LLC is an Ohio based film production company dedicated to bringing Hauntology to life. To learn more about Hauntology, https://hauntologymovie.com.
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SOURCE Rainbow Swan, LLC | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/parker-brennon-team-launch-rainbow-swan-produce-horror-anthology-film-hauntology/ | 2022-05-17 17:46:12 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/parker-brennon-team-launch-rainbow-swan-produce-horror-anthology-film-hauntology/ |
MONTGOMERY, Ala (AP) — U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville said this week that the country has too many “takers” instead of workers and suggested that many in younger generations — including people in their 40s — don’t understand they need to work.
Tuberville, 68, made the remarks while discussing the national worker shortage during a speech to business groups in south Alabama.
“What’s happening in our country right now, we’re getting too many takers in our country,” Tuberville said Tuesday, according to Al.com. Later, he added, “They don’t want to go to work. We’ve got to get Generation X and these Millennials to understand that you have to tote your own load.”
A spokeswoman for Tuberville, responding to a question from The Associated Press on Wednesday, said the state’s junior senator misspoke and meant to say Generation Z, which is loosely defined as people born in the late 1990s and early 2000s, instead of Generation X, which includes people in their 50s. Millennials are generally defined as people born between 1981 and 1996. The oldest millennials are entering their 40s.
Tuberville made the remarks in Mobile on Tuesday. He was the featured speaker at a Forum Alabama breakfast presented by the Mobile Chamber and attended by local business leaders. He also spoke to news outlets during an appearance at Austal USA after touring the shipyard. The remarks about generational work ethic came two weeks after Tuberville was widely criticized for comments about race and crime.
WALA-TV reported that Tuberville blamed government benefits.
“We’re getting too many takers in our country,” the former college football coach said. “They’d rather take a (government) check.”
While the federal government initially sent out trillions in pandemic relief funds, the COVID-19-related extended unemployment benefits and stimulus checks have ended. The last pandemic stimulus check was given out last year.
Businesses nationwide have struggled to fill positions amid a dire worker shortage, prompting some companies to raise wages or offer perks such as college tuition reimbursement to try to lure workers. Economists have pointed to complex reasons for the worker shortage in the wake of the pandemic, including a rise in early retirements, a shortage of affordable child care and other factors that have contributed to a workforce reshuffling.
Tuberville’s comments came two weeks after he drew widespread criticism for saying at an election rally that Democrats support reparations for the descendants of enslaved people because “they think the people that do the crime are owed that.”
In an interview with WALA-TV afterward, Tuberville maintained his comments were about crime, not race. “It had nothing to do with race. You know crime has no color,” he said.
Tuberville rejected calls to apologize. “I would apologize if I meant anything about race, but it wasn’t. Like I said, race has no color. Reparation would have no color,” Tuberville said.
Al.com reported that Tuberville deflected a question about the controversy.
“We don’t have enough people right now paying the price for a lot of the crimes that are being made,” he said. “They don’t need to be rewarded for it. They need to understand that we can’t run a country — it’s like a football team. If you’ve got people going in different directions breaking all the rules, you’re not going to win.” | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/ap-tuberville-us-has-too-many-takers-who-dont-want-to-work/ | 2022-10-27 21:01:06 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/ap-tuberville-us-has-too-many-takers-who-dont-want-to-work/ |
For nearly a decade, Viviana Gonzalez has spent her summers delivering packages for United Parcel Service under sweltering sun in Palmdale, California – in a truck without air conditioning.
A typical work day means at least 10 hours in and out of one of UPS' brown delivery vehicles, where temperatures in the back, Gonzalez said, at times surpass 150 degrees. Her only relief is a fan that blows hot air into her face.
Gonzalez has come to expect waves of nausea and weakness throughout the day.
"We're out there for hours, so you can only think about how much stress we're putting on our bodies," Gonzalez said.
Delivering packages is a solo task. Sometimes, Gonzalez calls her friends for support while she's on her delivery route, in case her health takes a turn for the worse.
Last June, a 24-year-old Palmdale UPS driver named Esteban Chavez was found unconscious in his truck while on his delivery route in Pasadena. Chavez died of sudden cardiac dysfunction, according to the medical examiner's report. Temperatures exceeded 90 degrees that day, and his family believes his heart failure was due to the heat.
Another driver, 23-year-old José Cruz Rodriguez, died from a heat-related illness, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, during his UPS delivery shift in Waco, Texas, in August 2021. His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against UPS and ultimately settled with the company.
Gonzalez often thinks of her 18-year-old son when she's out driving.
"What would've happened to him if I had died in the back of the truck?" Gonzalez said. "We are putting our lives at risk by delivering in these hot weather conditions. And we're human – we don't know what our body is going to take."
New heat safety measures at UPS
Conditions are set to change for UPS delivery drivers nationwide. UPS and the Teamsters union, which represents 340,000 UPS workers, negotiated a tentative heat safety agreement in June to install air conditioning systems in all of the company's small package delivery vehicles purchased after Jan. 1, 2024.
UPS said it will send the new vehicles to the hottest parts of the U.S. first, when possible. The company has also agreed to add new heat shields and fans in delivery vehicles.
The agreement will be finalized once UPS and the Teamsters negotiate a new contract – a process that could lead to the largest strike against a single employer in U.S. history.
Teamsters President Sean O'Brien called the heat safety agreement a "significant step towards a stronger new reality for so many workers and their families." UPS said in a statement that worker safety "remains our top priority."
Jim Mayer, a UPS spokesperson, said the company currently supplies its employees with cooling gear. But drivers have to get through this summer's heat waves – mostly without air conditioning.
"We're still going to have to live through this peak, but it's almost like a touchdown," Gonzalez said. "We're almost there."
Drivers at UPS competitors also concerned about heat risks
OSHA lists mail and package delivery as one of the primary industries where outdoor workers suffer from heat-related illnesses. The agency's work-related injury database shows at least 40 UPS drivers have been hospitalized due to heat-related illness since 2015.
It's not just a UPS concern. Drivers working similar jobs for UPS' competitors – including Amazon and FedEx – are also raising alarms about heat on the job as climate change causes temperatures to rise.
Both companies said their delivery vehicles are equipped with functioning air conditioning. But drivers Renica Turner and Demetria Forte, who deliver packages for Amazon, as well as Johnathon Ervin, the owner of an Amazon subcontractor, told NPR the air conditioning is often broken in Amazon-branded vans.
Most workers at Amazon and FedEx aren't represented by a union – and they aren't even classified as company employees, making it that much harder to demand protections.
Amazon workers join the fight
Last April, Turner was delivering Amazon packages on a 110-degree day in Victorville, California – northeast of Los Angeles – when her body started to tingle. She thought she might pass out.
Amazon said company-branded vehicles have functioning air conditioning, and those without it are immediately grounded.
But Turner said the air conditioning and fans in the van weren't working on that day. When she rolled down the windows, hot air drifted inside. She said she let the Amazon dispatcher know about her symptoms.
All she got was a 20-minute break.
"They never sent no one out to help me with the rest of the route," Turner said, referring to the 300 packages she was expected to deliver, at a rate of 25 per hour. "I had to deliver the rest of that, feeling woozy, feeling numb, and just really overwhelmed."
Turner works for an Amazon subcontractor called Battle Tested Strategies, or BTS. It's one of about 3,000 independent contractors in the e-commerce giant's delivery network – small businesses contracted by Amazon to deliver packages.
BTS owner Johnathon Ervin, who leases vans from Amazon, said Amazon regularly fails to fix broken air conditioning in the vehicles. He said it can take weeks, even months, for Amazon to repair the vans.
"It's insane that we're forced to drive these vehicles," Ervin said. "We went to Amazon, asked them to retire the vehicles, and it went on deaf ears."
Email communications reviewed by NPR show BTS has reported several cases of malfunctioning air conditioning in leased vehicles. On September 1, 2022, Ervin wrote in an email to Amazon that the air conditioning units in five vans stopped working on that day alone.
Similarly, in June 2021, emails show it took weeks for BTS to get air conditioning units fixed, as the subcontractor navigated delays from Amazon's third-party repair companies. An Amazon spokesperson said Amazon is not responsible for delays, adding that subcontractors are in charge of fixing the vans.
Turner and 83 of her colleagues unionized with Teamsters and bargained a contract with BTS in April, in large part to push for heat safety measures. It's the first union of its kind in the Amazon delivery network.
These newly-unionized drivers have been on strike since late June over Amazon's termination of its contract with BTS. Ervin and the Teamsters union allege Amazon is retaliating against the workers for unionizing; an Amazon spokesperson, however, said the company ended its contract with BTS over unrelated contract breaches.
Regarding heat safety, the spokesperson said Amazon adjusted some of its delivery routes last year so drivers can take more breaks to cool down.
The burden falls on drivers
OSHA, the federal agency that oversees workplace safety, has recommendations for how employers should handle heat – but it's still in the process of drafting heat-specific worker protections.
This means, currently, the county's biggest delivery companies have no legal obligation to provide nationwide heat protections for drivers.
Brenda Jacklitsch, a heat stress expert at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, said outdoor workers can experience heat-related illnesses ranging from heat rash and heat cramps to heat stroke.
Employers, she said, can schedule the most physically intense work activities for cooler times in the day – and provide air conditioning and fans when possible.
"Even having an air-conditioned vehicle that is pre-cooled is a great way to help cool somebody down during a rest break," Jacklitsch said.
Jacklitsch added that "buddy systems" can help workers look out for one another and monitor symptoms of heat stress. This can be a challenge for drivers who deliver packages on their own.
For now, delivery drivers are doing what they can to protect themselves from extreme heat.
Forte, another driver who delivers packages for Amazon in Palmdale employed by subcontractor BTS, said Amazon's expectation of 25 to 30 package deliveries per hour puts a strain on her health when temperatures surpass 100 degrees.
Forte rotates through different vans for her delivery shifts. She tries to secure a van equipped with working air conditioning when she reports to work in the morning.
But she said some days, she's stuck without AC, in which case she pours frozen bottles of water over the van's cooling rack.
"(Customers) don't see all of that. They just see, 'Oh, yes, my package is here, great,'" Forte said. "They don't see what we go through on a daily basis."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-20/delivery-drivers-want-protection-against-heat-but-its-an-uphill-battle | 2023-07-21 21:19:37 | 1 | https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-20/delivery-drivers-want-protection-against-heat-but-its-an-uphill-battle |
Project will leverage consulting and advisory strategy accelerator to modernize airport facilities
DALLAS, June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs (NYSE:J) was selected by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to provide asset management consulting and professional services to develop a strategy for the operations, maintenance, modernization and future growth of physical assets throughout its 4,700-acre campus.
Under this contract, Jacobs will assess the Department of Aviation's current asset management program; develop strategies, processes and asset management plans; assess the condition of facilities; and provide support and training for enterprise asset management systems.
"Our decades-long partnership with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has given us a deep understanding of our client, its operations and vision for the future," said Jacobs Executive Vice President and President of People & Places Solutions Patrick Hill. "We'll consult with ATL to develop a strategic asset management program that supports their vision and delivers on our commitment to provide custom strategic solutions that leverage our deep domain knowledge."
Jacobs' consulting team will integrate program elements into a comprehensive asset management program to bring measurable improvements in operational performance, sustainability, risk mitigation resiliency, investment planning and total cost of ownership.
At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $14 billion in revenue and a talent force of approximately 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector. Visit jacobs.com and connect with Jacobs on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used herein, words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "plans," "intends," "future," "will," "would," "could," "can," "may," and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the timing of the award of projects and funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as well as general economic conditions, including inflation, changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and changes in capital markets, geopolitical events and conflicts, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the related reaction of governments on global and regional market conditions and the company's business, among others. For a description of some additional factors that may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements, see the discussions contained under Item 1 - Business; Item 1A - Risk Factors; Item 3 - Legal Proceedings; and Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, ,and Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; Item 1 - Legal Proceedings; and Item 1A - Risk Factors in our most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company is not under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform to actual results, except as required by applicable law.
For press/media inquiries:
Kerrie Sparks
214.583.8433
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SOURCE Jacobs | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/jacobs-contract-improve-operations-worlds-busiest-airport-atlanta/ | 2022-06-14 12:47:11 | 1 | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/jacobs-contract-improve-operations-worlds-busiest-airport-atlanta/ |
The House committee probing the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol will present new testimony and evidence at Thursday's hearing, according to select committee aides.
They briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.
New testimony
There will be no live witnesses, but the hearing will present "new testimony" from witnesses. Some have appeared in previous hearings and some the committee has not presented before. The aides declined to name the witnesses.
New documents
The panel will present "a great deal of new documentary evidence" and among that evidence is some of the information from the hundreds of thousands of pages that the United States Secret Service has turned over to the committee since the committee issued a subpoena to the agency in July. Some text messages the committee wanted, though, have been deleted.
New video of the violence
There will also be new video footage of efforts to respond to the violence on Jan. 6 as it was unfolding, according to the aides. Unlike previous hearings that examined one topic, Thursday's session will take "a step back." The panel will bring a particular focus to the "former president's state of mind" and his involvement in the events as they unfolded.
The aides declined to say if this is a closing argument from the committee, emphasizing this is an "ongoing investigation" and the panel's charter tasks it with producing a comprehensive report by the end of this year.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wdiy.org/npr-news/2022-10-12/whats-coming-up-in-the-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-thursday | 2022-10-13 00:45:19 | 0 | https://www.wdiy.org/npr-news/2022-10-12/whats-coming-up-in-the-jan-6-committee-hearing-on-thursday |
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After gaining 30 pounds during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Murillo is finally getting back into fighting shape.
Early pandemic lockdowns, endless hours on his laptop and heightened stress led Murillo, 27, to reach for cookies and chips in the barracks at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Gyms were closed, organized exercise was out and Murillo's motivation to work out on his own was low.
“I could notice it,” said Murillo, who is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighed as much as 192 pounds. “The uniform was tighter.”
Murillo wasn't the only service member dealing with extra weight. New research found that obesity in the U.S. military surged during the pandemic. In the Army alone, nearly 10,000 active duty soldiers developed obesity between February 2019 and June 2021, pushing the rate to nearly a quarter of the troops studied. Increases were seen in the U.S. Navy and the Marines, too.
“The Army and the other services need to focus on how to bring the forces back to fitness,” said Tracey Perez Koehlmoos, director of the Center for Health Services Research at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, who led the research.
Overweight and obese troops are more likely to be injured and less likely to endure the physical demands of their profession. The military loses more than 650,000 workdays each year because of extra weight and obesity-related health costs exceed $1.5 billion annually for current and former service members and their families, federal research shows.
More recent data won’t be available until later this year, said Koehlmoos. But there’s no sign that the trend is ending, underscoring longstanding concerns about the readiness of America’s fighting forces.
Military leaders have been warning about the impact of obesity on the U.S. military for more than a decade, but the lingering pandemic effects highlight the need for urgent action, said retired Marine Corps Brigadier General Stephen Cheney, who co-authored a recent report on the problem.
“The numbers have not gotten better,” Cheney said in a November webinar held by the American Security Project, a nonprofit think tank. “They are just getting worse and worse and worse.”
In fiscal year 2022, the Army failed to make its recruiting goal for the first time, falling short by 15,000 recruits, or a quarter of the requirement. That’s largely because three-quarters of Americans aged 17 to 24 are not eligible for military service for several reasons, including extra weight. Being overweight is the biggest individual disqualifier, affecting more than 1 in 10 potential recruits, according to the report.
“It is devastating. We have a dramatic national security problem,” Cheney said.
Extra weight can make it difficult for service members to meet core fitness requirements, which differ depending on the military branch. In the Army, for instance, if soldiers can’t pass the Army Combat Fitness Test, a recently updated measure of ability, it could result in probation or end their military careers.
Koehlmoos and her team analyzed medical records for all active duty Army soldiers in the Military Health System Data Repository, a comprehensive archive. They looked at two periods: before the pandemic, from February 2019 to January 2020, and during the crisis, from September 2020 to June 2021. They excluded soldiers without complete records in both periods and those who were pregnant in the year before or during the study.
Of the cohort of nearly 200,000 soldiers who remained, the researchers found that nearly 27% who were healthy before the pandemic became overweight. And nearly 16% of those who were previously overweight became obese. Before the pandemic, about 18% of the soldiers were obese; by 2021, it grew to 23%.
The researchers relied on standard BMI, or body mass index, a calculation of weight and height used to categorize weight status. A person with a BMI of 18.5 to 25 is considered healthy, while a BMI of 25 to less than 30 is considered overweight. A BMI of 30 or higher is categorized as obese. Some experts claim that the BMI is a flawed measure that fails to account for muscle mass or underlying health status, though it remains a widely used tool.
In Murillo’s case, his BMI during the pandemic reached nearly 32. The North Carolina Army soldier knew he needed help, so he turned to a military dietician and started a strict exercise routine through the Army's Holistic Health and Fitness, or H2F, program.
“We do two runs a week, 4 to 5 miles,” Murillo said. “Some mornings I wanted to quit, but I hung in there.”
Slowly, over months, Murillo has been able to reverse the trajectory. Now, his BMI is just over 27, which falls within the Defense Department's standard, Koehlmoos said.
She found increases in other service branches, but focused first on the Army. The research squares with trends noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which warned that in 2020, nearly 1 in 5 of all service members were obese.
The steady creep of obesity among service members is “alarming,” said Cheney. “The country has not approached obesity as the problem it really is,” he added.
Putting on extra pounds during the pandemic wasn’t just a military problem. A survey last year of American adults found that nearly half reported gaining weight after the first year of the COVID-19 emergency. Another study found a sharp rise in obesity among kids during the pandemic. The gains came in a country where more than 40% of American adults and nearly 20% of children struggle with obesity, according to the CDC.
“Why would we think the military is any different than a person who is not in the military?” said Dr. Amy Rothberg, an endocrinologist at the University of Michigan who directs a weight-loss program. “Under stress, we want to store calories.”
It will take broad measures to address the problem, including looking at the food offered in military cafeterias, understanding sleep patterns and treating service members with issues such as PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, Rothberg said. Regarding obesity as a chronic disease that requires comprehensive care, not just willpower, is key. “We need to meet military members where they are,” she said.
A new category of effective anti-obesity drugs, including semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, could be a powerful aid, Rothberg said. TRICARE, the Defense Department's health plan, covers such drugs, but uptake remains low. Since June 2021, when Wegovy was approved, just 174 service members have received prescriptions, TRICARE officials said. Novo Nordisk, which makes Wegovy, funded the security group's report, but didn't influence the research, Rothberg said.
“People are working hard at their weight and we have to give them whatever tools we have,” Rothberg said.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/pandemic-pounds-push-10-000-u-s-army-soldiers-17873958.php | 2023-04-02 11:23:58 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/pandemic-pounds-push-10-000-u-s-army-soldiers-17873958.php |
WFO CORPUS CHRISTI Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, September 3, 2022
_____
AREAL FLOOD ADVISORY
Flood Advisory
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
328 PM CDT Sat Sep 3 2022
...FLOOD ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 330 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON...
The Flood Advisory will expire at 330 PM CDT this afternoon for a
portion of south Texas, including the following counties, Duval and
Jim Wells.
The heavy rain has ended, however, low lying and poor drainage areas
could remain flooded for the next hour or two. Please continue to
heed remaining road closures.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-CORPUS-CHRISTI-Warnings-Watches-and-17417744.php | 2022-09-03 21:45:07 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-CORPUS-CHRISTI-Warnings-Watches-and-17417744.php |
JACKSON -- They played for 32 minutes. Then four more. Then four more. Then four more.
It still wasn’t enough to decided Wednesday’s Division 3 district semifinal between Hanover-Horton and Concord.
Finally, in the fourth overtime, Hanover-Horton built a lead Concord could not overcome, and the Comets found their way to Friday’s district championship game with a 73-69 win.
With the score tied at 66-66 at the end of the third overtime, Logan Blackledge opened the fourth overtime by finding Kaiden Henry in the paint for a basket. Blackledge added a layup moments later. Despite the Yellowjackets getting a Jordan Medellin 3-pointer, the Comets’ lead held up.
“Those late timeouts, we had to get everyone together as a group and just unite and say it’s not over in our heads, and just come out with fire,” Blackledge said.
Both teams had chances to end it before the fourth overtime. At the end of regulation, both teams had a chance to win it then and there from the free throw line, and both hit one free throw but missed the other. Both teams even grabbed offensive rebounds off of those missed free throws in the final 30 seconds, but the Comets couldn’t hit another free throw when sent back to the line and the Yellowjackets couldn’t get a shot off.
In the first overtime, Concord jumped out to the early lead when Mehki Wingfield knocked down a jumper. The Yellowjackets led 50-47 in the waning seconds of the overtime before Blackledge came around an off-ball screen set by Henry and drilled a 3-pointer to tie it once again.
“We had to screen, get some off-ball movement and get some switches we could use to our advantage,” Blackledge said.
Concord again took the lead early in the second overtime when Isaac Waldron hit a 3-pointer, but baskets by Blackledge and Henry put the Comets back in front.
With Hanover-Horton up 57-53 late in the overtime, Anthony Evans hit a pull-up jumper to get the Yellowjackets within two, and after a pair of missed free throws at the other end, Wingfield drove to the basket and tied it at 57-57 to force a third overtime.
“I could never be prouder of my team in my life,” Concord coach Marcus Gill said. “I’ve been coaching basketball a long time, big-time AAU level, college-level, I’ve never been so proud of guys, especially when we struggled in the first half offensively and down at half, to come out and fight like that.”
In the third overtime it was again Concord jumping ahead, with Evans hitting a pair of free throws followed by a steal and a layup, and Tyreke Brown hitting a long-range 3-pointer to make it 64-57. But moments later Hanover-Horton got a 3-pointer of its own from Blackledge. The Comets trailed 66-64 as time ticked down in the third overtime, and got the ball to Blackledge again. This time his 3-pointer was off, but Henry was right there for the offensive rebound and the putback to force a fourth overtime.
“They have a no-quit mentality,” Hanover-Horton coach Andrew Birch said. “We’ve been down plenty of times all season and we’ve battled back a few times. That was just who wanted it more at the end of the game.”
Wingfield finished with 29 for the Yellowjackets, with Evans adding 23 and Waldron scoring seven. By the end of the fourth overtime, Evans, Waldron, Connor Stevens and Carter Arbuckle had all fouled out and the only remaining starter, Wingfield, was limping.
Hanover-Horton had foul trouble by the end of the 48-minute game as well, with Luke Soper on the bench after getting his fifth foul. In his absence, Blackledge scored 15 points in the overtimes, and Henry had 12 points and blocked a shot. Henry finished the game with 16 points. Soper had 10 before fouling out.
“Everyone was acting like we had lost the game when he went down,” Birch said. “He was real positive on the bench, being a leader and pumping those guys up, keeping that belief that if we worked we could still win the thing. We had Tristan Johnson go down to and next-man-up mentality.”
In a preview of things to come, the game was also tied at 11-11 after one, as Wingfield pulled Concord even with a dunk after a Medellin steal with seconds remaining in the first.
The Comets pulled out to a 19-13 lead in the second, and led 21-16 at halftime. Early in the third, Beau Biaklczyk fed Blackledge for a 3-pointer to make it 24-16, and the lead grew to 28-18 a few minutes later when Blackledge fed Henry for a layup.
But Concord rallied, getting 11 points in the third quarter from Wingfield, including a 3-pointer to get the Yellowjackets within four at 31-27.
The Comets maintained the lead until the 3:54 mark of the fourth when Evans found Medellin for a 3-pointer to tie it at 40-40. A layup by Wingfield briefly put Concord in the lead, but Blackledge soon tied it again.
“We knew we were struggling to score some, so we slapped on our three-quarter-court trap to force some turnovers, speed the game up a little bit and it worked,” Gill said. “Then Mehki was just a beast today. He started getting to the rim and he was going to finish.” | https://www.mlive.com/sports/jackson/2023/03/hanover-horton-knocks-off-concord-in-four-overtimes.html | 2023-03-09 06:43:42 | 0 | https://www.mlive.com/sports/jackson/2023/03/hanover-horton-knocks-off-concord-in-four-overtimes.html |
SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Anixa Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANIX) ("Anixa"), a biotechnology company focused on the treatment and prevention of cancer and infectious diseases, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance broadening protection of Anixa's novel breast cancer vaccine technology. This technology was invented and developed at Cleveland Clinic and Anixa is the exclusive worldwide licensee.
The patent is titled, "Vaccine Adjuvants and Formulations," and the lead inventor is the late Dr. Vincent Tuohy, of Cleveland Clinic. This patent covers additional intellectual property related to the formulation of Anixa's breast cancer vaccine.
"We are pleased to receive this notice of allowance from the USPTO, confirming additional protection of our breast cancer vaccine technology," stated Dr. Amit Kumar, Chairman and CEO of Anixa. "This breast cancer vaccine has the potential to prevent Triple Negative Breast Cancer ("TNBC"), the deadliest form of breast cancer, and perhaps other forms of breast cancer that express alpha-lactalbumin. With our partners at Cleveland Clinic, we are currently performing clinical trials of this vaccine, and plan to present data from the trial at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in April."
About Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with an invasive breast cancer at some point in their lives. Approximately 10-15% of those diagnoses are TNBC, however TNBC accounts for a disproportionately higher percentage of breast cancer deaths and has a higher rate of recurrence. This form of breast cancer is twice as likely to occur in African-American women, and approximately 70% to 80% of the breast tumors that occur in women with mutations in the BRCA1 genes are triple-negative breast cancer.
About Anixa Bioscience's Breast Cancer Vaccine
Anixa's breast cancer vaccine, currently in Phase 1 trials, takes advantage of endogenously produced proteins that have a function at certain times in life, but then become "retired" and disappear from the body. One such protein is a breast-specific lactation protein, α-lactalbumin, which is no longer found post-lactation in normal, aging tissues, but is present in the majority of triple-negative breast cancers. Activating the immune system against this "retired" protein provides preemptive immune protection against emerging breast tumors that express α-lactalbumin. The vaccine also contains an adjuvant that activates an innate immune response, which allows the immune system to mount a response against emerging tumors to prevent them from growing. This vaccine technology was invented by the late Dr. Vincent Tuohy, who was the Mort and Iris November Distinguished Chair in Innovative Breast Cancer Research in the Department of Inflammation and Immunity at Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute. Dr. Tuohy is named as inventor on the technology, which Cleveland Clinic exclusively licensed to Anixa Biosciences.
About Anixa Biosciences, Inc.
Anixa is a clinical-stage biotechnology company with programs addressing cancer and infectious disease. Anixa's portfolio of therapeutics includes a cancer immunotherapy program being developed in collaboration with Moffitt Cancer Center, which uses a novel type of CAR-T, known as chimeric endocrine receptor T-cell (CER-T) technology, and, with partner MolGenie GmbH, a COVID-19 program focused on compounds targeting the Mpro enzyme of SARS-CoV-2, which is largely conserved across all recently identified variants. The company's vaccine portfolio includes a novel vaccine being developed in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic to prevent breast cancer – specifically triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most lethal form of the disease – as well as a vaccine to prevent ovarian cancer. These vaccine technologies focus on immunizing against "retired" proteins that have been found to be expressed in certain forms of cancer. Anixa's unique business model of partnering with world-renowned research institutions on clinical development allows the company to continually examine emerging technologies in complementary fields for further development and commercialization. To learn more, visit www.anixa.com or follow Anixa on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
Forward-Looking Statements: Statements that are not historical fact may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts, but rather reflect Anixa's current expectations concerning future events and results. We generally use the words "believes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "likely," "will" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including those concerning our expectations, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth in "Item 1A - Risk Factors" and other sections of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. You are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this press release.
Contact:
Mike Catelani
mcatelani@anixa.com
408-708-9808
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SOURCE Anixa Biosciences, Inc. | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/02/27/anixa-biosciences-announces-notice-allowance-additional-key-patent-breast-cancer-vaccine-technology/ | 2023-02-27 14:29:12 | 0 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/02/27/anixa-biosciences-announces-notice-allowance-additional-key-patent-breast-cancer-vaccine-technology/ |
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Monday to keep a key border crossing from Turkey to Syria’s rebel-held northwest open for critical aid deliveries for another six months. Syria’s ally Russia — in a surprise move — supported the resolution.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said after the vote that cross-border aide remains “an indispensable lifeline for 4.1 million people in northwest Syria.”
The vote, the U.N. chief stressed, “comes as humanitarian needs have reached the highest levels since the start of the conflict in 2011, with people in Syria grappling with a harsh winter,” according to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
All eyes had been on Russia, which in the past abstained or vetoed resolutions on cross-border aid deliveries. It has sought to replace aid crossing the Turkish border to northwestern Idlib province with convoys from government-held areas in Syria. Since the early years of the war, Turkey has sided with and supported Syria’s rebels.
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said supporting the resolution “difficult,” describing the northwest as an enclave “inundated with terrorists.” The vote, he said, is not a change in Moscow’s “principled position” that cross-border aid deliveries — which began in 2014 — are temporary and should be replaced by Syrian government-controlled deliveries.
Syria’s U.N. Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh criticized Western countries for “politicizing humanitarian work,” and said Western sanctions “have aggravated the suffering of the Syrians.” He claimed the government has been “working relentlessly” to provide basic services to Syrians.
Last month, Guterres warned in a report to the council that Syria’s already dire humanitarian situation is worsening. If the aid deliveries from Turkey to Idlib weren’t renewed, millions of Syrians might not survive the winter, he said.
Deliveries across conflict lines within the country cannot substitute for “the size or scope of the massive cross-border United Nations operation,” Guterres said. On Sunday, a convoy of 18 trucks entered the area of Idlib through front lines held by Syrian government forces.
The resolution put the Security Council on record as “determining that the devastating humanitarian situation in Syria continues to constitute a threat to peace and security in the region.”
Guterres said humanitarian access across Syria — both through cross-border operations and deliveries across front lines — must be expanded. He urged Security Council members and others “to continue supporting humanitarian partners’ efforts to deliver assistance to those who need it throughout Syria,” Dujarric said.
In July, the council approved a resolution extending humanitarian aid deliveries to Idlib for six months as Russia demanded. Many of the people sheltering in the area have been internally displaced by the nearly 12-year conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million.
The resolution, co-sponsored by Brazil and Switzerland, will allow for aid deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa crossing from Turkey to northwest Syria for the next six months, until July 10.
Speaking on behalf of the Security Council’s 10 elected members, Ecuador’s U.N. Ambassador Hernan Perez Loose said the resolution will address “the dire and urgent needs of the Syrian people” but reiterated the need for “more certainty and predictability for humanitarian organizations.”
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stressed that an extension of only six months — while allowing the “Syrian people to breathe a sigh of relief” — makes it “harder and more costly for aid workers to procure, hire and plan” assistance. It also hinders so-called recovery projects, or restoration of critical functions that helps communities bounce back — a key Russian demand.
“A 12-month extension is needed for the U.N., and it is needed for our humanitarian partners and for recipients,” she said.
David Miliband, CEO of the International Rescue Committee, echoed the U.S. ambassador, expressing relief at the cross-border aid renewal guaranteeing assistance over the winter but stressed that the six-month extension “will once again be short-lived.”
Russia’s Nebenzia warned there will be “no discussion about a mechanical extension of the cross-border extension” unless Western members of the council “fundamentally change” their views on providing aid to Syria.
He accused the West of not being concerned about the needs of ordinary Syrians and inflating “the myth” that cross-border deliveries can’t be supplanted by convoys across front lines. He also sharply criticized the West, saying Idlib receives half the funds for early recovery projects while the majority of Syrians live elsewhere.
In addition to pushing for more cross-front-line aid deliveries, Russia has also pushed for early recovery projects in Syria. Guterres said in the December report that at least 374 early recovery projects have taken place throughout the country since January 2021, directly benefiting over 665,000 people, but he said more is needed.
The resolution also calls on all U.N. member states to respond to Syria’s “complex humanitarian emergency” and meet the urgent needs of the Syrian people “in light of the profound socioeconomics and humanitarian impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Russia has repeatedly said the cross-border aid deliveries that began in 2014 were meant to be temporary.
In July 2020, China and Russia vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have maintained two border crossing points from Turkey for humanitarian aid to northwest Idlib. Days later, the delivery of aid was reduced to just the Bab al-Hawa crossing for a year as they demanded.
In July 2021, Russia pressed for a further reduction, finally agreeing to a six-month extension with another six-months contingent on a report from the secretary-general on progress in cross-line deliveries. But last July, Russia insisted on U.N. authorization for just six months.
In Syria, an Idlib-based doctor, welcomed Monday’s vote.
“The decision to extend aid through the border is the only real lifeline for Syria’s north, especially for the medical sector,” said Safwat Sheikhouni.
Had the resolution not been extended, it would have been a “catastrophe” for local residents because it would have led to the closure of the offices of most humanitarian organizations there, he said.
___
Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this story. | https://www.ksn.com/news/national-world/ap-international/ap-un-extends-critical-aid-from-turkey-to-syrias-rebel-north/ | 2023-01-09 21:30:44 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/national-world/ap-international/ap-un-extends-critical-aid-from-turkey-to-syrias-rebel-north/ |
This story is part of 12 Days of Tips, helping you make the most of your tech, home and health during the holiday season.
Sometimes an Amazon purchase arrives and it isn't what you hoped. Amazon returns are generally fairly painless: There are numerous places you can return unwanted Amazon products, including UPS. But sometimes you have to pay for return shipping, which is not great for your wallet (though we have found some tricks for getting free Amazon returns). After this holiday season is over, returns will be crucial because you'll probably want to return one or more items to get your money back.
One of the more convenient Amazon return drop-off spots that a lot of people don't know about is Kohl's. The next time you return your Amazon purchase, ditch your old method and return your products at Kohl's -- where you'll not only avoid return shipping, but you'll also get a $5 coupon you can use for anything in store.
We will walk you through the process of everything you need to know to return your Amazon purchases and get your coupon so you can shop and save at the same time.
For additional ways to save when you're shopping at Amazon or at another CNET retailer favorite, Best Buy, take a look at these articles on Amazon hidden coupons, how to avoid shipping fees and getting like-new products at Best Buy for extra tips on keeping more money in your pocket while shopping for the things you love and need.
What is a Kohl's Amazon return?
If you purchased something from Amazon and need to return it, you can take it to any of the participating shipping companies, retailers or Amazon drop-off centers, including Kohl's.
Whereas some locations charge a fee for accepting Amazon returns, Kohl's accepts returns at no cost.
Except for customers in Anchorage, Alaska, you can drop your returns off with no hassle and get something useful instead.
What's different about dropping off your return package at Kohl's is that you can return eligible items without a box or a label. Kohl's will package and send items to Amazon for you.
Getting Kohl's cash for your current purchase can net you savings for your next visit.
How to make an Amazon return at Kohl's
Returning your Amazon items isn't any different from what you've done before. There are only a few different steps you'll take to make sure everything goes smoothly when you return your products.
1. Go to the Returns and Orders section of Amazon App or Amazon.com.
2. Select the item you want to return.
3. Click Return or Replace Items.
4. Select a Reason for Return.
5. Select your return payment method.
6. Select Kohls from the drop-off location for your return.
7. Wait for QR code in an email from Amazon.
8. Bring your package to Kohl's and go to the Amazon Return section.
9. Show the QR code, return the item and await your coupon.
Read more: Best Gifts Available From Amazon: 22 Gifts from $10 to $200
How do I get the $5 coupon after returning my Amazon package?
Once a Kohl's associate is done with everything, you'll receive a $5 coupon that you can use on discounted and regular-priced items. While you can immediately use the coupon, the best part is that you don't have to use the coupon right away.
Rather, you can save it and use it along with other $5 coupons you receive in exchange for returns to get a significant discount on your next purchase at Kohl's. What you should keep in mind is that you get one Kohl's coupon each time you visit, whether you have one product return or more.
Now that you know how to get a $5 coupon for returning your Amazon products, you can save and be rewarded for your returns. You can also go save at other places too. Take a look at our tips on Amazon subscriptions and sending gifts easily to kick off your holiday planning.
More from 12 Days of Tips: Unlock Savings of $34 or More Each Month on Your Internet Bill
The Best Way to Reheat Leftovers (Spoiler: It's Not the Microwave)
Netflix, HBO Max, Disney Plus: How to Curb Spending Big on Streaming Services | https://www.cnet.com/deals/heres-how-you-use-kohls-to-get-an-amazon-refund-in-the-new-year/ | 2022-12-27 11:59:39 | 0 | https://www.cnet.com/deals/heres-how-you-use-kohls-to-get-an-amazon-refund-in-the-new-year/ |
New Mexico Legislature rejects ban in immigration detention
By MORGAN LEE
Associated Press
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico legislators rejected a proposal Tuesday to prohibit state and local government agencies from contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain immigrants as they seek asylum in the U.S.
The bill failed on a 17-21 vote of the state Senate. It also would have phased out local government participation in three-way agreements with private detention facilities and federal authorities.
The bill held implications for three privately operated detention facilities in New Mexico — and would have effectively ended migrant detention in early 2025 at the privately operated Otero County Processing Center at Chaparral in southern New Mexico on the outskirts of El Paso, Texas.
Legislatures in Colorado and New York are considering similar bills that would restrict local government contracts with federal immigration authorities or with private contractors through intergovernmental service agreements.
Proponents of the New Mexico bill highlighted reports of prison-like discipline, poor sanitation and suicide attempts at immigrant detention facilities, urging lawmakers to take action on humanitarian grounds.
“We’re talking here about those immigrants who’ve come into the country in accordance with our laws and applied for asylum,” said Democratic Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque, cosponsor of the bill. “We found that many of them … are being detained under conditions that are far from adequate.”
During debate, Republican senators downplayed the severity of living conditions at the Otero County migrant detention center run by Utah-based Management & Training Corporation and said that terminating the government contract there would deliver a serious financial blow to the community.
Republican state Sen. Ron Griggs, whose district includes the Otero County Processing Center, said Otero County borrowed money to build the migrant processing and detention center in 2007, hoping to eventually pay off bonds and create an enduring source of revenue to support public services.
He called the bill a “direct attack on facilities in some of our poorer rural areas.”
The Otero County Processing Center typically holds about 600 male and female migrants.
Five Democratic senators joined with Republicans to defeat the bill. Four other Democratic senators were excused or absent from the vote.
Griggs also argued that a local detention ban in New Mexico wouldn’t necessarily improve conditions for migrants who wind up at detention centers in other states awaiting asylum proceedings.
Jazmin Irazoqui-Ruiz, senior attorney with New Mexico Immigration Law Center, disputed that and said migrants might be released out of cost considerations to live temporarily with relatives or other sponsors, or find themselves transferred to states such as Colorado that take a different approach by underwriting legal representation for indigent immigrants.
In recent years, California, Illinois and New Jersey have enacted legislation aimed at reining in migrant detention centers within their territory. | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/03/14/new-mexico-legislature-rejects-ban-in-immigration-detention-2/ | 2023-03-15 04:41:30 | 1 | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/03/14/new-mexico-legislature-rejects-ban-in-immigration-detention-2/ |
SAN DIEGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthrosi Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, today announced the successful securing of $75 million in Series D financing. This round is led by Guangrun Health Industry (Hong Kong) Co. Limited and backed by a consortium of investors, including Reichstein Biotech (HK) Co. Limited, a subsidiary of ApicHope Pharmaceuticals. The participation of these notable investors underscores their continued confidence and commitment to the development of AR882. This financing represents another milestone in the development of AR882, a highly potent and selective next-gen URAT1 inhibitor delivered in a once daily immediate release oral capsule. AR882 has the potential to change the treatment paradigm for gout, addressing critical aspects such as serum uric acid (sUA) levels, flares, and tophi reduction.
Recent Phase 2b trials have demonstrated remarkable efficacy and safety of AR882, positioning it as a frontrunner in the industry. Notably, AR882 has not only demonstrated high response rates achieving the minimum sUA target of below 6 mg/dL needed to control the disease, but also demonstrated sufficient potency to achieve targets below 5 mg/dL or 4 mg/dL for faster flare reduction and dissolution of crystal deposition and tophi.
"I am not aware of any other molecule that has shown such promising results," said Litain Yeh, PhD, and CEO of Arthrosi. "We continue to be extremely positive about how AR882 can address the significant unmet need in the gout space. In the U.S. alone there are 9 million people who suffer with limited treatment options. The Series D financing and continued partnership with ApicHope will accelerate the development of AR882 and other groundbreaking drugs in Western countries and in Asia."
"We look forward to the continued collaboration with Arthrosi to accelerate the company's innovative drug portfolio and provide global access to these promising treatments," said Hanxiong Li, Chairman and CEO of ApicHope. "We have been very impressed with the progress Arthrosi has demonstrated. The results of the Phase 2b trials are exceptional and we expect the ongoing Phase 2 tophi trial to also show improvements in flares, sUA reduction, and tophi."
With over 9 million gout patients in the U.S. alone and 20 percent of patients with visible tophi, the market potential for AR882 is estimated to be over $1 billion.
About Arthrosi
Arthrosi Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in San Diego, CA, in 2018 with a mission to create a revolutionary treatment option to target uric acid levels and reduce joint damage for people living with gout. With its vast therapeutic and treatment knowledge, Arthrosi has accumulated a comprehensive and robust intellectual property portfolio and impressive Phase 1 and Phase 2b data showing industry leading efficacy rates and superior safety profiles.
About ApicHope
ApicHope Pharmaceutical is an innovative pharmaceutical company with integrated R&D, manufacturing, and sales capabilities. It was founded in 2002 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in November 2017 (300723.SZ). ApicHope focuses on the fields of pediatric medicine, chronic disease drugs, and biogenetic vaccines. It is recognized as one of the top 100 comprehensive pharmaceutical research and development companies in China and one of the top 100 pharmaceutical companies in China.
To learn more about Arthrosi, visit www.arthrosi.com.
Media Contact:
Shunqi Yan, PhD
Founder & Chief Operating Officer
shunqi.yan@arthrosi.com
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SOURCE Arthrosi Therapeutics | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/11/arthrosi-secures-75m-series-d-financing/ | 2023-07-11 23:20:09 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/11/arthrosi-secures-75m-series-d-financing/ |
Siamak Namazi, a U.S. citizen imprisoned in Iran since 2015, has embarked on a hunger strike to mark the seventh anniversary of being left behind in a deal that freed other Americans.
In a letter delivered to the White House by his lawyer, the 51-year-old Iranian-American said he was beginning a seven-day hunger strike on Monday, which was also the seventh anniversary of the Iran nuclear deal.
"When the Obama Administration unconscionably left me in peril and freed the other American citizens Iran held hostage on January 16, 2016, the U.S. Government promised my family to have me safely home within weeks," Namazi wrote in his letter. "Yet seven years and two presidents later, I remain caged in Tehran's notorious Evin prison, holding that long overdue IOU along with the unenviable title of the longest held Iranian-American hostage in history."
Namazi implored President Biden to devote one minute of every day this week — one "for each year of my life that I lost in Evin prison after the U.S. Government could have saved me but didn't" — to thinking about the U.S. hostages held in Iran. They include Emad Shargi and Morah Tahbaz, who were both detained in 2018.
Namazi was arrested during a 2015 business trip and convicted of cooperating with a hostile government, meaning the U.S. The following year Iran released four American detainees as part of a prisoner swap with the U.S. (with another person released separately), but Namazi was not one of them. His own father, arrested in 2016 while trying to visit him, was allowed to leave the country for medical treatment last October.
Namazi feels he has been left behind, Jared Genser, the family's lawyer, told Morning Edition's Leila Fadel. He says Namazi's concerns are amplified after seeing the situation in Russia, where American detainee Paul Whelan is still being held despite the U.S. recently reaching a deal to release WNBA player Brittney Griner. (The Biden administration has said that efforts to free Whelan are ongoing).
Genser describes Namazi as "desperate, despondent, heartbroken and also angry" all at the same time.
"He has been given a series of promises over many years by multiple U.S. administrations — President Obama, President Trump, President Biden — that his case was a top priority and that they would get it resolved and they would be able to bring him home," he adds. "And it just simply hasn't happened."
While the family has met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Genser says, they haven't gotten an audience with Biden despite asking for one since he took office — something Namazi also mentioned in his letter.
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement that the administration is aware of Namazi's hunger strike and letter to Biden, calling Iran's use of wrongful detentionas political leverage "outrageous" and reiterating that bringing its detained citizens home is a top priority for the U.S.
"Our thoughts are with him and his family, as we work ceaselessly to bring him along with fellow wrongfully detained U.S. citizens Emad Shargi and Morad Tabhaz home to their families and loved ones as soon as possible," Price added.
Genser says discussions are underway between the U.S. and Iran to resolve what he calls the current "hostage cases." And he acknowledges that while it's not an ideal time to be making deals with Iran (especially given Iran's crackdown on human rights protesters in recent months), there are calls Biden can and should be making — no matter how tough — to bring innocent civilians home.
"The one thing that I would say to President Biden is: You need to put aside any political considerations and the blowback of cutting a deal, which undoubtedly will result in criticism from many directions," Genser says. "And you have to do what's right. And you have to look to your own moral compass and understand the responsibility that you, as the former vice president under President Obama, has for having left Siamak behind seven years ago, having promised his family he'd be home within weeks."
Read more excerpts of Genser's conversation with Fadel below. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Interview highlights
On Namazi's experience in Evin prison, notorious for mistreatment of political prisoners
What I would say is that the first two years were literally like hell on earth. He was in the intelligence wing of the prison and was in solitary confinement, was subjected to daily interrogations, was repeatedly beaten and tased, was psychologically tortured on top of physical torture. He was told that his father had died of a heart attack and then it took a week until they told him that, "Sorry, just kidding. He didn't really die." He was also in ... a teeny room with a concrete floor and no bedding of any kind, not even a pillow.
... Once he was ultimately convicted and ... given a 10-year prison term, he was moved into the general ward of Evin prison where the conditions are better, but still not great. He shares a cell with multiple people. They have the ability to watch Iranian television, to get access to Iranian newspapers and to be with other prisoners as well. So it's less terrible than the first two years, which were extraordinarily horrific, but nonetheless he's seeing his life waste away one year at a time. He's still in his early 50s and wants to get married, have children and all that has been irrevocably changed.
On what the hunger strike looks like and aims to achieve
He is going to drink water to stay hydrated ... His goal is not to secure his freedom from doing a hunger strike, but rather to draw attention to what is happening. This is the first time he's done this in the seven-and-a-half years that he has been imprisoned. And he just felt that now was the right time to do it, with repeated promises by the Biden administration that they would find a way to negotiate his freedom and all of them having come to naught. As you can imagine, he just feels like people just keep telling him what he wants to hear but take no action.
On what he thinks Biden could do to secure Namazi's release
I think the bottom line is that he needs to do what's necessary to bring Siamak and the other American hostages home, and the administration would know much better than me what the options would be to do that ... There are a range of possibilities that could be there, which would include a prisoner swap or an unfreezing of some amount of Iranian funds and putting it into a humanitarian channel that could only be used strictly for humanitarian goods. These are the kinds of things that have been done in the past and certainly would be an option now.
The audio for this story was produced by Kaity Kline and edited by Simone Popperl.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.knau.org/npr-news/2023-01-17/american-siamak-namazi-is-on-a-hunger-strike-in-iranian-prison-why-now-and-for-what | 2023-01-17 16:04:10 | 1 | https://www.knau.org/npr-news/2023-01-17/american-siamak-namazi-is-on-a-hunger-strike-in-iranian-prison-why-now-and-for-what |
Don’t let greenwashing interfere with your goals to buy green products
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Greenworks Pro Cordless Lawn Mower
- Green Toys Farm Playset
- Biokleen Concentrated Laundry Detergent Liquid
With climate change a major concern, people are more conscious than ever about protecting the environment. Companies are aware of this trend, too, as they compete for consumer dollars. However, some use deceptive advertising and marketing practices called greenwashing to get shoppers to buy items that may not be environmentally friendly.
If your goal is to shop online for items that won’t hurt the environment, you need to be aware of greenwashing and how to choose environmentally friendly products across numerous categories.
What is greenwashing?
Greenwashing occurs when a company promotes products using terms and slogans that are associated with the green movement, but in reality, it doesn’t abide by environmentally sound practices.
Words commonly used to appeal to customers who prefer to buy green products include natural, organic and nontoxic. Some companies even claim that products are sustainable or eco-friendly when in fact, they don’t live up to those claims with sustainable practices.
Not only is greenwashing bad for the environment, but it’s misleading to consumers who want to invest in products that aren’t harmful to the planet.
Types of greenwashing
There are four key types of greenwashing to look out for as you shop.
- Persuasive imagery: Some companies use lovely photos of flowers, trees, birds and more in the marketing of their products to make them appear green. While these appealing images grab attention, they mean nothing if the company is actually polluting the earth.
- Irrelevant messaging: A claim that’s contradicting is another form of greenwashing. For example, if a cosmetic company lists that a product is free of parabens but contains other equally harsh additives, it’s not eco-friendly.
- Misleading label information: A common form of greenwashing includes claims of organic, all-natural or pure on labeling without proof to back up these claims.
- Unmentioned trade-off: You may think a product is green if it’s made of recycled materials. However, if the company is involved in other practices that pollute the planet, it’s not green.
Tips for shopping green online
As you browse for products on your favorite online merchants’ sites, there are steps you can take to ensure that you aren’t swayed by false promises of sustainability.
Do your research. When in doubt, look online to find out more information about a company’s stance on the environment before you buy.
Read beyond the product listing. When you shop online, retailers’ websites have varying amounts of information posted about each product they sell. However, many companies offer closer views of product labeling so you can easily check out fine details such as ingredients. For example, you can find an ingredient list for products such as eco-friendly laundry detergents to help you make an informed decision.
Look for certification by key green organizations. Certifications such as Energy Star, FSC and WaterSense ensure that products meet specific green standards. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also provides information on its website about sustainable products that are made without harsh chemicals.
Opt for energy-saving products. Investing in smart thermostats, battery-powered tools, water-conserving products and solar-powered gadgets will help make your home and lifestyle greener.
Best green products to buy online
Greenworks Pro Cordless Lawn Mower
Greenworks has been a leading company in battery-powered lawn tools for years. With a powerful motor and up to 45 minutes of runtime per charge, the Pro cordless mower is the way to go for cutting your grass without producing emissions.
Sold by Amazon
Goal Zero Boulder 200 Briefcase Solar Panel
Easy to transport and set up, this foldable unit features two 100-watt solar panels for powering small appliances and devices when paired with a power station. It’s a good choice for off-the-grid adventures when you need sustainable energy on the go.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Toys can be eco-friendly too! Green Toys is a sustainable brand that makes toys with 100 percent recycled plastic. This adorable set has a barnyard theme that youngsters love.
Sold by Amazon
A steam mop may not come to mind when you think of green products, but the fact that it sanitizes with steam instead of chemicals makes it an environmentally friendly home cleaning tool. This top-selling model sets up in minutes and is easy to use.
Sold by Amazon, Wayfair and Home Depot
Biokleen Concentrated Laundry Detergent Liquid
This laundry detergent meets the EPA’s Safer Choice standards for its chemical-free formula, so you can feel confident using it as part of your green living plan. You can choose from three scents that are light and pleasant or a fragrance-free formula.
Sold by Amazon
We love this solar fountain’s stylish fish design that looks great in any outdoor living space. In addition to gaining its power from the sun’s rays, it also uses minimal water by recycling it through the unit.
Sold by Amazon
Jackery Explorer 240 Power Station Solar Generator
You can have power when exploring or when the power goes out with this solar generator. Simply pair it with a solar panel, and it will operate devices, lights and other small appliances. You can also charge in via a wall or vehicle outlet.
Sold by Amazon
Puracy Everyday Surface Cleaner
Made with plant-based ingredients, this cleaner doesn’t contain harsh additives such as petrochemicals that are hard on the environment. A little goes a long way with the concentrated formula that’s simple to mix and use.
Sold by Amazon
Google Nest Learning Thermostat
The Nest Learning Thermostat gets its name from the intuitive technology that learns your temperature preferences and sets itself accordingly. You’ll also know when you’re saving energy — a leaf pops up on the vivid screen to alert you when you make a smart temperature choice.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
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Jennifer Manfrin writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/home-br/cleaning-tools-supplies-br/how-to-avoid-greenwashing-while-online-shopping/ | 2023-04-23 03:55:17 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/home-br/cleaning-tools-supplies-br/how-to-avoid-greenwashing-while-online-shopping/ |
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Oklahoma’s baseball players came to the College World Series calling themselves “a bunch of Davids,” a nod to their embrace of the underdog identity they adopted after an underwhelming start to the season.
It was one David — David Sandlin — who got most of the credit Wednesday for taking down Texas A&M, the last of the national seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
Sandlin held the Aggies to one run and struck out a career-high 12 in seven innings, Jimmy Crooks’ three-run homer in the first held up and Oklahoma advanced to the CWS finals with a 5-1 victory.
Trying to complete a softball-baseball title sweep, the Sooners (45-22) have won three straight games at Charles Schwab Field by no fewer than four runs and will play for their first national championship since 1994.
Oklahoma’s opponent in the best-of-three finals starting Saturday will be either Arkansas or Mississippi. Arkansas beat Ole Miss 3-2 on Wednesday night to force another game Thursday.
As Sooners fans chanted “O-U! O-U!” closer Trevin Michael struck out Brett Minnich to end the game against the Aggies. The celebration was subdued.
“I think those kids are focused,” coach Skip Johnson said. “I don’t know if it’s dog-piling or whatever it is… It’s kind of weird sometimes. I don’t tell them not to dog-pile, I can tell you that.”
Texas A&M (44-20) finished 2-2 in the CWS under first-year coach Jim Schlossnagle after going 29-27, winning only nine Southeastern Conference games and not even qualifying for the league tournament in 2021.
The Sooners didn’t look like an NCAA Tournament team after losing two of their first three Big 12 series and starting 18-12. They’ve won 27 of 37, including 12 of 14 since the end of the regular season.
Sandlin, in his first season with the Sooners after transferring from a junior college, had pitched one-third of an inning of relief in the Sooners’ 13-8 win over the Aggies on Friday. He was tagged for four runs.
The purpose of that appearance was to prepare Sandlin for the heightened atmosphere. It turned out to be a good plan. Sandlin said he had tried too hard in his brief appearance and took a different approach Wednesday.
“I just trusted my preparation,” he said. “I feel like today was more muscle memory than anything else. Just going out there and he just executing, don’t think about things too much.”
Sandlin (9-4), who allowed five hits and walked one in his 100-pitch outing, effectively worked the outside half of the plate with a sharp slider and elevated fastball.
He struck out the first three batters he faced, five of the first eight and 10 of the first 20. He encountered trouble in the fourth inning when the first two batters reached base. He then fanned Troy Claunch, Brett Minnich and Jordan Thompson on 12 pitches.
“He is just able to mix all of his pitches,” Claunch said. “He was able to get ahead early with fastballs, and then next time around was able to mix and kind of threw whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.”
Texas A&M starter Ryan Prager (1-4) allowed four runs, three earned, in 2 1/3 innings. Jacob Palisch went the rest of the way, gave up three hits and a run and struck out eight.
The Aggies beat Texas and Notre Dame to reach the bracket final. But they couldn’t score against Sandlin until Dylan Rock homered to left center leading off the sixth.
Sandlin then retired the last six batters he faced and turned the game over to closer Trevin Michael to start the eighth.
The Sooners led 3-0 in the first on Crooks’ fourth of the NCAA Tournament, and ninth of the season, and added single runs in the third and fifth. OU has not trailed in its CWS games.
“They’ve proven over the last six, seven days they’re the best team in our bracket — at least playing the best baseball,” Schlossnagle said. “Very, very consistent starting pitching, defense, timely hits.”
___
More AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://www.wfla.com/sports/ap-sports/sooners-off-to-college-world-series-finals-after-beating-am/ | 2022-06-23 02:45:59 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/sports/ap-sports/sooners-off-to-college-world-series-finals-after-beating-am/ |
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Ethiopian lawmakers have removed the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front from the country’s list of designated terror groups more than four months after a peace agreement ended a conflict that killed hundreds of thousands of people.
Wednesday’s decision highlights the improving relations between federal officials and Tigray regional ones and moves the region closer to the establishment of an interim government. The TPLF dominated Ethiopian politics for close to three decades before Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018. The Tigray conflict began in late 2020.
Most of Ethiopia’s 547 lawmakers voted to remove the TPLF from the terror list, with 61 objections and five abstentions, according to the state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.
The TPLF was added to the list in May 2012.
Kindeya Gebrehiwot, a senior TPLF official, told The Associated Press the removal will be a “very good step in moving the peace agreement forward.”
Ethiopia accused the TPLF of starting the conflict by attacking an army base in Tigray, while the TPLF accused the federal government of preparing to strike first.
The peace agreement signed in November has led to the return of communications, banking and other basic services cut to the Tigray region of more than 5 million people. Ethiopia now faces a post-conflict reconstruction bill of $20 billion.
Earlier this week, the United States said it had determined that all sides in the conflict committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ethiopia’s foreign ministry in a statement criticized the U.S. statement as “selective” and “inflammatory.” | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/ethiopian-lawmakers-remove-tigray-group-from-terror-list/ | 2023-03-23 11:07:49 | 1 | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/ethiopian-lawmakers-remove-tigray-group-from-terror-list/ |
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A Democrat in the North Carolina state House switched to the Republican Party on Wednesday, giving the GOP veto-proof control in both chambers of the legislature and handing Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper a setback in trying to block hardline conservative policies in his final two years in office.
The party switch announced by Rep. Tricia Cotham, of Mecklenburg County, means Republicans now hold the 72 seats required in the 120-seat House to hold a veto-proof majority. Republicans had already held 30 of the 50 seats in the Senate needed to override vetoes if party members are present and voting, but until Wednesday, they were one seat shy of a similar advantage in the House following the November elections.
Recently improving margins for Republicans in the General Assembly, capped off by Cotham’s switch, have emboldened the North Carolina party to try again on topics such as gun rights, immigration and voting. Republicans also are interested in further restricting abortion following last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
Cotham, a former teacher and assistant principal who had served in the House for nearly 10 years through 2016 before returning in January, announced her decision at a news conference at North Carolina Republican Party headquarters.
“I will not be controlled by anyone,” Cotham said as she announced she would switch her party registration to the GOP. She said the Democratic Party is no longer a big tent party and tries to bully its members. She said that she was considered a “spy” and a “traitor” and that the turning point was when she was criticized for using the American flag and praying-hands emoji on social media and on her vehicles.
House Speaker Tim Moore, who had served previously with Cotham, appointed her this year to co-chair the House K-12 education committee, making her one of the few Democrats to hold top committee posts. And she had already voted with Republicans on a handful of key issues while nearly all other Democrats voted the other way.
Cotham, 44, has significant Democratic roots. Her mother, Pat, serves on the Mecklenburg County commission and has been a Democratic National Committee member. Her ex-husband is a former chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party.
Republicans have been advancing legislation this year that in previous years Cooper successfully vetoed because Democrats had enough seats in the General Assembly to uphold vetoes if they were presented and united.
Last week, the legislature overrode a Cooper veto for the first time since 2018 when it enacted, over his objections, a bill eliminating the state’s pistol permit purchase system. And Cooper this year has allowed three other bills on topics that he also vetoed in 2021 to become law without his signature.
Cotham was one of three House Democrats who were absent last week during the override votes on the gun bill. The absences meant Republicans were able to meet, on their own, the necessary three-fifths threshold.
Cotham said later that day that while she didn’t support the permit repeal, she had informed both parties she would be absent. She said she was receiving scheduled hospital treatment stemming from a previous bout with COVID-19. But Cotham and the other absent Democrats took criticism for what happened, leading a liberal-leaning group, Carolina Forward, to announce plans to “hold them accountable” in 2024.
House Minority Leader Robert Reives said Cotham should have instead resigned from her House seat because she campaigned as a Democrat in a heavily Democratic district.
Cotham campaigned as a “supporter of abortion rights, health care, public education, gun safety and civil rights,” Reives said before her announcement. “Now, just a few months later, Rep. Cotham is changing parties. That is not the person that was presented to the voters” of the district.
The announcement came as the House prepared to vote Wednesday on its version of the two-year state government budget, which directs $60 billion in spending through mid-2025. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/party-switch-gives-gop-veto-proof-control-in-north-carolina/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-04-05 15:27:53 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/party-switch-gives-gop-veto-proof-control-in-north-carolina/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Phoenix faces dueling lawsuits over homeless crisis as advocates scramble for more shelter
May 26, 2023, 1:24 PM
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix is facing dueling lawsuits as it tries to manage a crisis of homelessness that has converted its downtown into a tent city housing hundreds of people as summer temperatures soar.
The city was ordered by the local Superior Court to clear out the downtown encampment because it is considered a “public nuisance.” But the Arizona Civil Liberties Union argued in a federal lawsuit that the city is violating the constitutional rights of unhoused people by slowly clearing the area known as “The Zone.”
The dilemma faced by Phoenix is an example of the balance municipalities across the United States now must strike when trying to satisfy the demands of residents and business owners while respecting the rights of homeless people.
Seattle faced a similar situation in 2020 when a woman sued the city, alleging that a sweep of the homeless encampment where she lived would violate her rights.
In New Mexico, as the city of Albuquerque worked to prohibit panhandling along roadways, the ACLU fought for that right.
A hearing was scheduled Friday afternoon on the ACLU’s request that Phoenix be declared in contempt of an order by U.S. District Court Judge G. Murray Snow that the city refrain from enforcing camping and sleeping bans against people who cannot get shelter. He also barred the city from seizing and destroying their belongings without giving them the chance to get it back later.
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2019 that homeless people cannot be criminalized for sleeping outside if no alternatives exist.
But a Maricopa County Superior Court judge overseeing the case filed by business owners and residents who say the encampment is a public nuisance ordered Phoenix in March to make a plan to clear the tent city quickly.
By May 10, the city started the first round of the plan, cleaning one block of the encampment. But the ACLU said city employees seized and destroyed the property of homeless individuals and refused to let them return to the area after it was cleaned.
“The city should be held accountable for its conduct before any future cleanings can take place,” Jared Keenan, legal director for the ACLU of Arizona, said in a statement.
The city has said it “vehemently disagrees” with the ACLU’s assessment.
Amid the back and forth in court, Phoenix area advocates have scrambled for more shelter space for homeless people as the hot season begins.
Shelter space in an old motel came online Friday, but with just 52 beds it’s hardly enough as Arizona’s largest county announces the first four heat associated deaths of the year.
More than a third of the 425 people who died from heat-associated causes in Maricopa County last year were homeless.
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, a former social worker, has been seeking new solutions to Arizona’s housing crisis.
She successfully pushed for $150 million to be included in Arizona’s Housing Trust Fund in the state’s recently approved budget to shore up rent and utility assistance programs, eviction prevention, and build new shelters and affordable housing.
Another $60 million was included in the state budget for a new homeless shelter and services fund to be overseen by the Arizona Department of Housing. | https://mynorthwest.com/3893731/phoenix-faces-dueling-lawsuits-over-homeless-crisis-as-advocates-scramble-for-more-shelter/ | 2023-05-26 22:52:55 | 1 | https://mynorthwest.com/3893731/phoenix-faces-dueling-lawsuits-over-homeless-crisis-as-advocates-scramble-for-more-shelter/ |
From funding requests to gun laws to the culture wars, Polk legislators get an earful
Elected officials seek state money for local projects
WINTER HAVEN — Polk County’s state legislators heard from two distinct groups during Friday’s annual pre-session public meeting.
Local elected officials and representatives of various public and private entities made appeals for state funding, while some city leaders also asked the lawmakers to honor the concept of “home rule.”
The legislators also absorbed the statements of private citizens, some of whom urged the lawmakers to champion a law allowing guns to be carried without permits or sought changes in election procedures.
The county’s six legislators sat on a stage at the Polk State College Center for Public Safety for what amounted to a listening session lasting about 3 1/2 hours. The gathering, held each year in preparation for the legislative session, provided an introduction for the one new member, Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland.
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The delegation's other members are Sen. Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula; Sen. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland; Rep. Josie Tomkow, R-Polk City; Rep. Sam Killebrew, R-Winter Haven; and Rep. Melony Bell, R-Fort Meade. Burton is in her first term as a senator after serving in the Florida House for eight years.
The agenda listed 40 people who registered in advance to speak, though a few did not show up. The format allowed each speaker three minutes at a microphone placed at the front of the auditorium.
Elected leaders from seven cities spoke near the start of the meeting, and at least three of them — Bartow Mayor Steve Githens, Auburndale Mayor Dorothea Taylor Bogert and Winter Haven Mayor Brad Dantzler — emphasized their desire for home rule, the concept of allowing local officials to set policies affecting their cities and counties without state control.
Bogert repeated that request when she spoke again on behalf of the Ridge League of Cities, offering the slogan: “Local voices making local choices.”
“We are closest to our citizens, and we're best positioned to determine how we are going to grow and what we need to do for our economic development,” Bogert said. “We want to partner with our state leaders to protect our ability to control the direction and future of our municipalities because it allows the leaders of the cities that are elected by the citizens to make local decisions.”
The Florida Legislature in recent years has adopted some measures pre-empting actions by cities or counties. In last year’s session, for example, lawmakers passed a bill that would have allowed businesses to sue municipalities over regulations that could reduce their revenues.
Deputy County Manager Ryan Taylor estimated that the measure would cost Polk County $27 million a year. Albritton, Burton and Tomkow voted for the bill, while Killebrew and Bell voted against it. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the measure.
The Legislature in recent years has also taken pre-emptive action on the regulation of short-term rentals, smoking in public areas and setting building-design standards, according to the Florida League of Cities.
Pitching for funding
City officials also made pitches for funding they hope will emerge from this year’s legislative session, which begins March 7. Individual lawmakers submit appropriations requests each year for possible inclusion in the massive budget bill the Legislature is required to adopt. Last year, the Legislature approved a budget of $112.1 billion, though DeSantis removed $3.1 billion through line-item vetoes.
Githens told lawmakers that Bartow sustained flooding near a lift station during Hurricane Ian in September, and he said the city hopes to install 15 backup generators at water facilities. He asked legislators to help with the estimated cost of $1.4 million.
Frostproof Mayor John Albert requested state funds to help cover the cost of extending its sewer system into an area where housing developments are planned. That would eliminate the need for septic tanks, a source of pollution to water supplies. Killebrew, in a rare response from a legislator, said he will request such funding.
Lakeland City Commissioner Sara Roberts McCarley requested $950,000 in appropriations for an education center at Se7en Wetlands Park. The Legislature allocated that amount last year, but DeSantis vetoed the funding, part of $6.2 million in grants for Polk County he deleted.
That was at least the third time that funding for Se7en Wetlands had been vetoed, going back to former Gov. Rick Scott’s action in 2018.
Dantzler discussed Winter Haven’s plans for the Sapphire Necklace, a network of waterways that is part of a long-term hydrologic restoration project. He requested state funding for that project and support for improvements along Lake Silver.
Legislators also heard from local educational entities. Heather Pharris, an executive at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, requested state funds to help preserve buildings designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Pharris said the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel and the Buckner Building are at greatest risk from water damage.
Polk State College benefited greatly from last year’s appropriations, receiving tens of millions for renovations and maintenance. President Angela Garcia Falconetti thanked the legislators for that funding and asked for additional money, including $16.2 million for a two-story building at Polk State’s emerging Haines City campus.
Maggie Mariucci, an executive with Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, said the school seeks $3.6 million in funding through the state’s Engineering School of Distinction program. She also mentioned plans for a $13 million student achievement center.
Kat Nickell of the Polk Education Association, the union representing public school teachers and workers, urged lawmakers to address salary compression among teachers. The Legislature last year approved money to raise salaries for starting teachers, but Nickell said some longtime teachers now make only slightly more than newcomers.
Nickell also asked for a restoration of tax allotments to pre-2008 levels and a boost in funding for public education capital outlay projects.
Representatives of several nonprofit organizations made appeals for either funding or for policies they said would support their programs.
Jessica Davis of the Children’s Home Society of Florida asked for $11 million to expand its network of Community Partnership Schools. She also requested legislation that would hold state agencies financially responsible for harm that children experience in the foster-care system, rather than allowing them to pass the burden on to providers such as the Children’s Home Society.
Larry Williams, CEO of Peace River Center, a nonprofit behavioral health program, asked legislators to provide more funding to cover a gap created by the state’s increase in minimum wages to $15 an hour for Medicaid providers.
Williams said the pay increase, though “very well intended,” had a negative impact of about $1.5 million on Peace River Center’s budget.
Gene Conrad, president and CEO of the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, asked legislators for $8 million to expand a program that provides training in aviation maintenance for students from Travis Technical College. He also requested $450,000 to support a master plan for the annual Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo.
Pushing for gun rights
The audience of more than 100 sat quietly through the comments from elected officials and leaders of organizations. That changed when the first of about 20 private citizens addressed the legislators.
Sheryl Rubin set a dominant theme of the citizen statements when she opened her comments by reciting the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which establishes the right to keep and bear arms. Rubin was the first of a few speakers urging lawmakers to pass a law allowing “constitutional carry,” or the possession of weapons in public without a permit or license.
Florida now requires citizens to obtain a concealed-carry license in order to be armed in public places. Gun-rights groups have pushed for a law allowing permit-free carry, and DeSantis has signaled that he supports the idea.
Some advocates for “constitutional carry” also want Florida to allow citizens to display guns openly in public. None of the speakers Friday specified whether they supported that idea.
Rubin, wearing a vest covered with gun-related patches, also asked the legislators to abolish a section of state law that creates “gun-free zones,” such as schools.
“We are not here asking you for money,” Rubin said. “We are asking you to respect our constitutional rights. That is why you are hired. … Don't wait for someone else to take action. Be bold. Be unafraid. Be a leader. The time to act is now.”
Rubin’s final words drew applause from at least half of the audience, the first of several rounds of clapping following addresses by private citizens.
Glynnda White, secretary of the Polk County Republican Party, echoed the call for a permit-free carry law, as did her husband, Royal Brown III, president of the Winter Haven 9-12 Project. Both also demanded the changes to the state’s “red-flag law,” passed in the aftermath of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.
The law enables law-enforcement agencies to seek risk-protection orders that, with a judge’s approval, allow the temporary removal of weapons from someone deemed a danger to themselves or others. White dismissed the orders as unconstitutional.
Brown requested specific changes to the process of obtaining risk-protection orders. He suggested that a hearing should be required before an order can be issued and that the government provide a defense attorney. He also asked that the time frame for an order be shortened to 30 days from an alleged threat and said the subject of such an order should not automatically be entered in a national crime database.
Concerns about elections
Richard Nutt was the first of several speakers to raise concerns about Florida’s election system. He implored the lawmakers to eliminate the use of any machines in election offices, arguing that “election machines lead to unfair elections.”
Quoting a series of Bible verses, Nutt talked about “the use of fraudulent scales and deceit.” He said that machines malfunction and cause delays in voting, citing incidents in Arizona during the November election. Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards spoke early in the meeting but had left by the time of Nutt’s comments.
White, the Polk GOP secretary, also spoke about elections, making a reference to “cheating SEOs” (supervisors of election). She said county elections offices should conduct elections only by paper ballots.
“If they can’t count paper ballots by midnight, remove them,” White said.
Elizabeth Suits asked the legislators for a series of specific changes tightening procedures for voting by mail.
Education and the 'culture wars'
A few citizens offered criticisms of the state’s and county’s education systems. Robert Goodman, executive director of County Citizens Defending Freedom, a conservative political group based in Mulberry, expressed concerns about Polk County Public Schools’ use of tablets in place of textbooks.
Goodman said the district has not been transparent in letting parents know what material is available to students on the tablets. He also said the devices contain software that displays popup surveys based on social emotional learning, a concept many conservatives oppose.
Goodman alleged that the state is selling information submitted by students to private companies and sharing it with government agencies.
Bobby Dees of Winter Haven spoke of “socialism and wokeism infecting our schools in Polk County.” He accused Polk County Public Schools of keeping “pornographic books” in libraries and said a process by which the district reviewed 16 challenged books was inappropriate.
Dees asked legislators to strengthen the Parental Rights in Education Law, passed last year and labeled by critics as “Don’t Say Gay.”
Virgil Ullom of Babson Park presented a more general critique of society. He lamented that “the left” wants to redefine marriage and is telling children that they are free to change their genders.
“This lie comes from Satan and is child abuse,” he said.
Ullom said he was born in 1939, a time before such “nonsense” existed. He urged the lawmakers to call on God to direct their actions.
Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13. | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/18/polk-lawmakers-hear-about-funding-requests-gun-laws-and-culture-wars/69791664007/ | 2023-01-18 14:33:18 | 0 | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/18/polk-lawmakers-hear-about-funding-requests-gun-laws-and-culture-wars/69791664007/ |
The Ohio State Faculty Club welcomes “The Ohio Wanderers Collection,” a new exhibition highlighting over 50 paintings from three Ohio-based artists of landscapes of areas surrounding Columbus.
Featuring artists Tim Hawk, Terry Welker and Ruth Gless, the Club will host an opening reception with refreshments Friday from 6-8 p.m. and an artist talk Feb. 7 from 3:30-5 p.m. The exhibit is running through March.
The artists are fellows of the American Institute of Architects — a collective voice of architects — and started the work featured in the exhibit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The artists said in order to practice their creativity safely during lockdown, they traveled to nearly every Ohio county within an hour drive from Columbus to paint architecture and landscapes.
“All of us are of an age where our doctors were advising us to stay away from people because we’re more vulnerable,” Hawk, president of WSA Studio, said. “We started painting in April of 2020, and I remember Ruth and I often would drive because we were driving from Columbus to meet Terry, and we were fully masked in the car with one another.”
An Ohio State graduate with both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of architecture, Hawk said he remains local to Columbus and has served on the national board of directors for AIA for the last five of his 17 years with the institute. Weller, the longest-tenured AIA member of the three, has been with the organization since 1982 and resides in Kettering, Ohio.
Gless joined the institute in 2000 and was awarded the Ohio Gold Medal in 2021. She currently sits as the chair of AIA Columbus Fellows Committee.
“I think painting in the company of other architects is different from having the company of other painters. I think we have a certain point of view about the city,” Gless said. “I have spent a lot of time in my studio by myself. I don’t have to be with other people, but I like being with Tim and Terry when I paint because they’re useful.”
Hawk said although the trio began their travels in April 2020, some of the pieces in the show were created as recently as November 2022. The group painted in a style categorized by the French word “en plein air,” meaning painting outdoors with the subject in full view, Gless said.
“It was very important to us to paint outside using what we saw in the natural light instead of doing it in a studio environment,” Gless said. “When you paint on-site, your art is very unique compared to taking a photograph and then doing it in the studio. When you paint outside for three hours, you can see the Earth move.”
Due to painting nearly every weekend for the last three years, Hawk said they were able to distinguish each quadrant of Ohio and its architecture by the end of their journey: northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest Ohio.
“When you’re in the Appalachian district, it feels more Appalachian when you’re in northeast Ohio painting, let’s say in Mansfield, it feels much more like Connecticut,” Hawk said. “The same can be true of all the different districts. To me, even though people think of Ohio as a homogenous state, we saw incredible complexity in the architecture from each of the areas that we went to.”
Robie Benve, Ohio State’s Faculty Club art coordinator, said the artists had over 200 paintings and sketches to choose from for the exhibition but collectively chose 57 works to feature.
“We really selected the best pieces that were the most cohesive,” Benve said. “These are all smaller towns and showcase specific artistic buildings or architectural constructs in the city. It also highlights some landscapes that didn’t have an architectural presence, but are still very beautiful.”
The Ohio State Faculty Club’s “The Ohio Wanderers Collection” is free to attend through March 17. | https://www.thelantern.com/2023/01/the-ohio-state-faculty-club-features-3-architectural-painters-in-the-ohio-wanderers-collection/ | 2023-01-12 05:18:42 | 1 | https://www.thelantern.com/2023/01/the-ohio-state-faculty-club-features-3-architectural-painters-in-the-ohio-wanderers-collection/ |
Biden order aims to protect old-growth forests as wildfires blaze around US
The administration said it would work with Congress to secure wildfire risk reduction resources
President Biden is visiting Washington on Friday to sign an executive order that aims to protect against wildfire threats to old-growth forests.
The measure – the president's 88th executive order since taking office – builds on bipartisan infrastructure law to safeguard mature and old-growth forests on federal land, strengthen reforestation partnerships and support local economies, combat global deforestation to deliver on COP26 commitments and address the climate crisis using comprehensive efforts to deploy nature-based solutions that reduce emissions and build resilience.
BIDEN ISSUES CLARIFICATION AFTER TITLE 42, MASK MANDATE QUESTION MIX UP
The nation's old-growth forests serve as critical carbon sinks, absorbing more carbon from the atmosphere than they release. America's forests absorb carbon dioxide equivalent to more than 10% of U.S. annual greenhouse gas emissions.
Those emissions contribute to the planet's warming.
Fox Weather, citing data compiled by independent research group Climate Central, reports that average temperatures across the U.S. are 2.4 degrees warmer than they were on the first Earth Day 52 years ago.
The order does not ban the logging of mature or old-growth trees, according to The Associated Press. Critics, however, say officials are allowing for the removal of too many older trees that can withstand wildfires.
In a fact sheet, the White House wrote that the order advances action on data collection and analysis, directing the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to conduct the first-ever inventory of mature and old-growth forests on federal lands. The inventory will be made publicly available within a year, according to the fact sheet.
Following that, the agencies will develop new policies and partner with other federal agencies, states, Tribal Nations and any interested private landowners to better coordinate conservation and wildfire risk reduction efforts.
ARIZONA WILDFIRE FORCES RESIDENTS TO EVACUATE
The administration wrote that it would work with Congress to secure additional resources, highlighting a request for $6.1 billion for wildfire risk reduction in the president’s FY 2023 Budget.
The executive order will build on millions in investments made in cooperative forestry programs and the expansion of reforestation projects on National Forest land by advancing economic opportunities in outdoors recreation and sustainable forest products, developing agency-specific 2030 targets for reforestation and expanding seed and nursery capacity.
The State Department will lead the development of a report on whole-of-government approaches to reduce or eliminate U.S. purchases of agricultural commodities grown on illegally or recently deforested lands, as well as coordinate with other agencies to assess the broader use of foreign assistance, trade tools, finance and international partnerships to combat deforestation and support sustainable forest management around the world.
The White House Council on Environmental Quality, Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and Office of Domestic Climate Policy will work with agencies to develop a report to the National Climate Task Force on key opportunities for greater deployment of nature-based solutions.
The Office of Management and Budget will issue valuation guidance to help agencies better account for services provided by ecosystems and the environment.
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Lastly, the 13-agency U.S. Global Change Research Program will develop the first-ever assessment of the condition of nature within the country.
Scientists say that climate change will make wildfires more frequent and intense, with conditions fueled by a decadeslong, human-driven megadrought.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.foxnews.com/us/biden-order-aims-to-protect-old-growth-forests-wildfires-blaze | 2022-04-22 16:47:27 | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/us/biden-order-aims-to-protect-old-growth-forests-wildfires-blaze |
The Fast Company Grill will host four days of innovation and networking, featuring some of the brightest lights and rising stars in tech, music, social media, and more
AUSTIN, Texas, March 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fast Company is returning to SXSW with its annual Fast Company Grill in Austin, TX, March 10–13, at Cedar Door (201 Brazos Street). This exclusive four-day hub of business visionaries, diverse leaders, and innovative artists will be open daily, with a full slate of panels, demos, and interactive experiences.
Fast Company Grill headliners include: Anne Wojcicki, CEO of 23andMe; Jimmy Chin, filmmaker and The North Face Athlete; Dawn Laguens, Chief of Global Strategy and Innovation of Planned Parenthood; Jen Wong, COO of Reddit; and Everette Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter, among others.
Every night at the Grill will feature live performances from some of music's hottest up-and-coming artists including Mexican singer Foudeqush, most recently featured on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack; Brody Brown, rapper and 7-time GRAMMY® Award-winner, and hitmaker for Bruno Mars and Silk Sonic; West London-born and New York-based singer-songwriter Adam Masterson; and Manu Manzo, Latin GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer.
"From the moment I became editor of this iconic brand last summer, I've been looking forward to hosting my first Fast Company Grill," says Fast Company Editor-in-Chief Brendan Vaughan. "We have booked a diverse and electric lineup of talent across the worlds of tech, music, media, fashion, retail, and entertainment—the full sweep of the Fast Company universe. The Grill will light it up for four days straight, and I can't wait."
Complimentary lunch and drinks will be served daily, including a greens boost bar serving mocktails from Athletic Greens using AG1 powder, a nutritional supplement.
Complete list of headliners:
- Anne Wojcicki, CEO, 23andMe
- Jimmy Chin, filmmaker (Free Solo, Wild Life) and The North Face Athlete
- Dawn Laguens, Chief of Global Strategy and Innovation at Planned Parenthood
- Jen Wong, COO, Reddit
- Everette Taylor, CEO, Kickstarter
- Terence Carter, Co-president and Head of TV, Westbrook
- Jessica Rafuse, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Policy, Microsoft
- Dr. Laurie Santos, Professor and Host, The Happiness Lab
- Fenton Bailey, Co-founder, World of Wonder
- Brent Weinstein, Chief Development Officer, Candle Media
- John Hendrickson, Staff Writer, The Atlantic, and author of Life on Delay
- Jess Pires-Jancose, Dallas Outreach and Organizing Manager, Avow Texas
Schedule of performances:
- Friday, March 10: Adam Masterson, British singer-songwriter
- Saturday, March 11: Manu Manzo, Latin GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer
- Sunday, March 12: Brody Brown, 7-time GRAMMY® Award-winner who has written hits for Bruno Mars and Silk Sonic
- Monday, March 13: Foudeqush, Rising Mexican electronic pop musician whose music was featured on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack
SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS:
The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) will showcase its Voice-Enabled Makeup Assistant (VMA) application, a first-of-its-kind, artificial intelligence-powered mobile app to empower visually impaired users to apply makeup more easily and confidently. ELC's Chief Information Officer Michael Smith will discuss the journey of developing the app and the company's focus on inclusive and accessible beauty.
GS1 US will invite attendees to experience a new dimension in barcodes, play an interactive product scavenger hunt, and unlock fun giveaways.
Guardant Health will explore the future of healthcare and how to ensure innovative technologies reach patients at every bedside. Discover how revolutionary advancements are unlocking opportunities, especially for cancer control and diagnostics, and how we can ensure equitable access to the promise these technologies hold.
Loop Media will host an insightful panel on the importance of creating curated customer experiences—and how to do so effectively. Hear how forward-thinking businesses are harnessing the power of music, digital video, and more to drive brand loyalty and repeat purchases. Additionally, in a Loop Media fireside chat with TikTok's Dan Page, attendees will hear about their innovative partnership and the art of content curation for their audiences.
Pella Windows and Doors will explore how environments can define and elevate communities in a panel covering key trends from material and technology innovation to interior and exterior design. Hear how high-quality buildings form the bedrock of sustainability, urban strategy, and community engagement.
Sierra Club and Electric Vehicle Association will host a panel examining the current transition to electric vehicles (EVs), and how auto companies must play an important role by accelerating production in order to mitigate the climate crisis and meet consumer demand. This timely session will bring together a diverse group of auto industry and sustainability experts. In a separate fireside chat, join Electric Vehicle Association's Elaine Borseth as she shares her vision for an all-electric future and discusses what is still needed to make the transition to clean energy vehicles by 2035.
The Fast Company Grill is open to invited guests and credentialed members of the media only. To request press credentials or for media requests, please contact: fastcopress@kivvit.com events.fastcompany.com/fcgrill | #FCGRILL| @fastcompany
ABOUT FAST COMPANY
Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.
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SOURCE Fast Company | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2023/03/08/announcing-2023-fast-company-grill-sxsw/ | 2023-03-08 19:24:30 | 0 | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2023/03/08/announcing-2023-fast-company-grill-sxsw/ |
As the weather gets warmer, we all slowly start to head outside and explore a little more — and with that exploration comes a boost to our local businesses.
Since North Dakota shares a border with Canada, it’s no surprise that Canadians play a big role in our state’s economy and the local sub economies in border towns and beyond.
We explored this in part one of our three-part special series, Business Along the Border.
The pandemic brought a lot of restrictions, and with that, most tourists could not travel. But now that COVID infection rates are dropping and border restrictions are being lifted, we will soon begin to see more of our neighbors to the north.
For the past few years, there has been a decrease in Canadian visitors to North Dakota.
According to Stephanie Schoenrock with Visit Minot, April saw a 40 percent drop in Canadian visitors compared to April 2019.
However, the state is expecting more Canadian visitors to come to our state over the next few months.
“We are in a lot of communications with Canadians and we’re very optimistic of what it looks like for the summer,” said Schoenrock.
But what exactly is it that makes Canadians want to come to the U.S.?
“They really like to go to stores, home-improvement stores,” said Schoenrock. “They really like to go out for dinner. They love our shopping. And they also, there’s a limit on the amount of liquor and beer they can take back, but we do find that they like the selection, the variety that they’re able to purchase here too.”
Tyler Glen is one of those tourists.
He lives in Brandon, Manitoba and he says he visited the U.S. often, before the pandemic.
“We would do about three visits a year, sometimes four,” said Glen.
Glen says he has been to many states, but North Dakota is closest to home.
“We have friends there and it’s really a nice, great weekend getaway to sneak into Minot,” Glen added.
While he’s here, he likes to shop.
“We can get in Canada probably 3/4 of the things that you get in the United States,” said Glen. “I think the big deal for us is our tax structure. We pay heavy, heavy taxes on a lot of things.”
Glen says retail in the U.S, especially in North Dakota, is a lot cheaper than buying online.
“I’m sure there’s people saying well why don’t you just buy them online.
Well, the government taxes anything over $100 that you purchase online so that would get you maybe a shirt or an outfit, or maybe a pair of shoes. It’s so much different when you can climb in your car without restriction, and just fill your car with stuff.”
He says the Canadian taxes are especially high for certain items like gasoline, alcohol and even running shoes.
“At back to school time running shoes in Canada can sometimes cost twice as much. So if we’re going to go shopping, you’ll see a lot of Canadians with three or four pairs of running shoes in their shopping cart because they’re just so much cheaper there. Groceries traditionally, I would say, are roughly ten to twenty percent cheaper as well.”
So for a Canadian family, this can make a big difference to their daily budget.
And when it comes to the malls in our state, they’re definitely feeling the impact. Mikalah Auer is the marketing director at Dakota Square Mall, and she says they are thankfully seeing an uptick in Canadian visitors to their stores — something very much needed.
“We see a lot of Canadian visitors at Dakota Square Mall especially as we’ve seen that traffic picking back up again. It really helps our stores, helps our traffic, all of that,” she added.
COVID put up a literal roadblock to Canadians, and their money stayed stuck over the border.
But now, Schoenrock says Visit Minot is using a lot of tools to get Canadians to cross the border.
“We’ve got a very loyal social following in Canada. We also have a really large email marketing list. So Canadians over the past X amount of years, that subscribed to our E-newsletters and we provide content just to Canadians,” she added.
One of the many tools they have is a way of tracking border crossings that are close to Minot to get an understanding of how many visitors are Canadian.
“We are able to compare passenger cars year over year and so that’s one way that we are able to track the amount of people coming from Canada. We always track our website traffic from Canadians as well. And then we also track GPS, phones basically, And so if people are coming from Canada, we’re able to see how many people are coming and truly, where they’re coming from.”
And for those businesses in the area, a boost in Canadian visitors is much needed after more than two years of border restrictions.
As for Glen, he plans to visit the U.S. this summer.
“Probably a lengthy visit. Likely a week to 10 days that we’ll come down over the summer and get back down there. So looking forward to that.”
And Schoenrock says that’s when we get most of our Canadian tourism.
“We absolutely see them every month of the year, but the biggest amount of traffic that we get from Canada is from late to June through August after school’s out,” she added.
The impacts of Canadian tourism go far beyond Minot.
With fewer border restrictions, all North Dakota border towns will likely have a boost in Canadian tourists this summer as well.
Next Thursday, May 19, our Business Along the Border series continues when we head to Dunseith, home of the U.S. side of the International Peace Garden, and learn about the impacts the border closure and restrictions have had there these last two years. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/top-stories/business-along-the-border-part-i-vital-canadian-tourism-and-its-change-since-the-pandemic/ | 2022-05-13 01:19:09 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/top-stories/business-along-the-border-part-i-vital-canadian-tourism-and-its-change-since-the-pandemic/ |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A 21-year-old man who was shot and killed in Birmingham Monday night has been identified.
According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, DeAthony Dewayne Samuels was found shot around 9:37 p.m. at 23d Street North and Park Place. Samuels was transported to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:58 a.m.
The Birmingham Police Department is investigating Samuels’ death as a homicide. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the BPD at 205-254-1764. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/crime/21-year-old-man-dead-following-shooting-in-downtown-birmingham/ | 2022-12-20 16:46:38 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/crime/21-year-old-man-dead-following-shooting-in-downtown-birmingham/ |
Another hot day in southern Arizona, how people are dealing with the heat
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - With a high of 108 degrees in Tucson, people around Tucson are beating the heat in their own ways.
At the Tucson Premium Outlets, less people were seen walking around the stores than usual.
Businesses at the outlets, like Famous Wok, say fewer shoppers mean less business.
“Before we went into spring break,” said Juan Moreno, an employee at Famous Wok, “we were seeing around 100 customers a day. Now, it was probably cut in half, we’re getting around 40.”
But while some are struggling with the heat and its effects, others aren’t letting the sun get in the way of what they have to do.
In Marana, the Baldwin-Joiner family is hard at work packing their belongings to move into their new home. Parking the truck as close to the door as possible, they are taking every shortcut they can to make the move quicker and more efficient.
The family says the best way to beat the heat is to work around the sun’s schedule.
“We moved throughout the night because it’s just so hot to do it during the day,” says Layla Baldwin. “And we’re moving today as well, but we did a majority of it last night.”
And for kids and families, there is no better or more fun way to cool off than to head to a splash pad.
There are seven splash pads in the City of Tucson, plus two splash pads run by Pima County, for families to enjoy from 8 a.m. to sunset.
“It was hot enough to come out to the splash pad, it’s even hot enough to come out twice. Morning and evening,” said Sara Febes.
Febes and her daughter try not to leave the house after 10 a.m., but they have some tricks to keep them cool during the hottest hours of the day. To help keep her daughter Emory cool, Sara relies on a lunch bag staple: an ice pack.
“It’s something that Emory can play around with, put it up against her chest or on the back of her neck to keep them cool. But it’s something childproof.”
Be sure to subscribe to the 13 News YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@13newskold
Copyright 2023 13 News. All rights reserved. | https://www.kold.com/2023/07/09/another-hot-day-southern-arizona-how-people-are-dealing-with-heat/ | 2023-07-09 14:23:13 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/2023/07/09/another-hot-day-southern-arizona-how-people-are-dealing-with-heat/ |
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A passenger bus struck a roadside bomb in central Mali, killing at least six people and wounding many others, authorities said Friday.
The explosion took place Thursday in the village of Songo, 12 kilometers (7 miles) from Bandiagara, said local official Bachirou Tall.
“There were many people seriously injured who were taken to Sevare’s hospital, in Mopti region, and for the moment we don’t have information on their condition," Tall told The Associated Press.
The attack has not been claimed but bears the hallmark of al-Qaida-linked extremist groups who are known for placing mines on roads to target Malian army vehicles and U.N. peacekeepers.
In December 2021, an attack by gunmen identifying themselves as jihadists on a public transportation bus killed at least 30 people, most of whom burned to death in the bus.
Bandiagara was once a tourist hub for Western travelers coming to hike through Mali's Dogon country. However, the Islamic extremists who once were contained to the country's north have infiltrated the central part of Mali, making the area unsafe for tourism.
In 2012 extremists held the main centers of northern Mali but French troops pushed the rebels out of the towns in 2013. But the jihadists continued to operate in Mali's vast northern desert areas, attacking government targets.
Security concerns across the country have deepened since the French military withdrew its troops from Mali. France's decision to move its forces to neighboring Niger came after relations sharply deteriorated with Mali's junta leader Col. Assimi Goita, the man who seized power in an August 2020 coup. | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Passenger-bus-hits-a-roadside-bomb-in-central-17508853.php | 2022-10-14 13:30:37 | 0 | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Passenger-bus-hits-a-roadside-bomb-in-central-17508853.php |
ALBANY, Ga., July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HCI Equity Partners, a leading lower middle-market private equity firm, today announced the sale of SouthernAg Carriers, Inc. on July 8, 2022.
Headquartered in Albany, Georgia, SouthernAg is a transportation and logistics service provider for agricultural and related processed food manufacturers, specializing in peanuts, cotton, pecans and other agricultural products to large consumer packaged goods customers including Mars, P&G and ConAgra. SouthernAg has five facilities in Georgia, North Carolina and Texas.
"HCI was an incredible partner for our company," said SouthernAg CEO John Kenneally. "They had a sense of care and appreciation to our family-style business which we think makes SouthernAg unique. The ability to align with our team's values sets HCI apart as a private equity firm. We're very thankful for the support they lent to our team over the years."
Dan Dickinson, HCI's Managing Partner commented, "John Kenneally and the entire management team at SouthernAg have been a pleasure to partner with as they developed the Company into a leading transportation provider for the agricultural industry. We are confident they will continue to be successful and have an excellent partner to support the future growth of the business."
Republic Partners served as the financial advisor and Vedder Price served as legal counsel to SouthernAg.
HCI Equity Partners is a lower market private equity firm focused on partnering with family and founder-owned distribution, manufacturing and service companies. HCI is headquartered in Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.hciequity.com.
Contacts:
Kelsey Clute, VP, Director of Communications, HCI
kclute@hciequity.com
Megan Bowman, Lambert
mbowman@lambert.com
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SOURCE HCI Equity Partners | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/hci-equity-partners-announces-sale-southernag-carriers/ | 2022-07-19 12:08:33 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/hci-equity-partners-announces-sale-southernag-carriers/ |
NEW YORK (AP) _ MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (MKTX) on Wednesday reported fourth-quarter net income of $59.2 million.
On a per-share basis, the New York-based company said it had profit of $1.58.
The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.53 per share.
The operator of bond trading platforms posted revenue of $177.9 million in the period, also exceeding Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $176.3 million.
For the year, the company reported profit of $250.2 million, or $6.65 per share. Revenue was reported as $718.3 million.
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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on MKTX at https://www.zacks.com/ap/MKTX | https://www.mrt.com/business/article/marketaxess-q4-earnings-snapshot-17740509.php | 2023-01-25 13:11:51 | 0 | https://www.mrt.com/business/article/marketaxess-q4-earnings-snapshot-17740509.php |
NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attention Yext, Inc. ("Yext") (NYSE: YEXT) shareholders:
The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that a class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of investors who purchased between March 4, 2021 and March 8, 2022.
If you suffered a loss on your investment in Yext, contact us about potential recovery by using the link below. There is no cost or obligation to you.
ABOUT THE ACTION: The class action against Yext includes allegations that the Company made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Yext's revenue and earnings were significantly deteriorating because of, among other things, poor sales execution and performance, as well as COVID-19 related disruptions; (ii) accordingly, Yext was unlikely to meet consensus estimates for its full year fiscal 2022 financial results and fiscal 2023 outlook; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
DEADLINE: August 16, 2022
Aggrieved Yext investors only have until August 16, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. You are not required to act as a lead plaintiff in order to share in any recovery.
Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
Vincent Wong, Esq.
39 East Broadway
Suite 304
New York, NY 10002
Tel. 212.425.1140
E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com
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SOURCE The Law Offices of Vincent Wong | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/class-action-alert-law-offices-vincent-wong-remind-yext-investors-lead-plaintiff-deadline-august-16-2022/ | 2022-06-27 22:28:51 | 1 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/class-action-alert-law-offices-vincent-wong-remind-yext-investors-lead-plaintiff-deadline-august-16-2022/ |
Final Moorhead Farmers Market to end their year
It's the last Tuesday of the season for the Moorhead Farmers market which provides a chance for people to come and buy fresh homegrown products from local vendors.
MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR)-It’s the last Tuesday of the season for the Moorhead Farmers market which provides a chance for people to come and buy fresh homegrown products from local vendors.
Many were out grabbing their pumpkins for Halloween, one kind vendor was handing them out to anyone who wanted one for free!
Kids enjoy an educational aspect cashing in on books from the local library.
Vendors have fruits, vegetables, plus arts and crafts.
It’s an opportunity for them to showcase their products to a new audience
“We have local goods that are just going right back into the community, so it’s a nice program. I hope we grow the program, grow the farmers market, and we can reach out to the community,” said Emma Wiitamaki, City of Moorhead.
They will return next year on the last Tuesday in May! | https://www.kvrr.com/2022/09/27/final-moorhead-farmers-market-to-end-their-year/ | 2022-09-28 09:03:13 | 1 | https://www.kvrr.com/2022/09/27/final-moorhead-farmers-market-to-end-their-year/ |
WFO PORTLAND Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, February 14, 2023
_____
HIGH SURF ADVISORY
Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Portland OR
548 AM PST Tue Feb 14 2023
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS
MORNING...
* WHAT...Large waves and hazardous surf conditions. Breakers up to
20 feet.
* WHERE...South Washington Coast.
* WHEN...Until 10 AM PST this morning.
* IMPACTS...Destructive waves may wash over beaches, jetties, and
other structures unexpectedly. People can be swept off rocks and
jetties and drown while observing high surf. Higher than normal
water run-up is expected on beaches and low-lying shoreline.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A High Surf Advisory means that high surf will affect beaches,
producing rip currents, sneaker waves and beach erosion. Stay
well back from the water's edge and be alert for exceptionally
high waves.
Keep away from large logs on the beach. Water running up on the
beach can easily lift or roll logs which can injure or kill
someone caught in their path.
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/weather/article/wa-wfo-portland-warnings-watches-and-advisories-17783252.php | 2023-02-14 15:22:33 | 0 | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/weather/article/wa-wfo-portland-warnings-watches-and-advisories-17783252.php |
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Multiple potential witnesses in the Gov. Grethen Whitmer kidnap trial invoked Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination.
Stephen Robeson, described as a “double agent” for helping the FBI, then sharing information with defendants, and Brandon Caserta, acquitted in an earlier trial, were among those who refused to testify.
The jury trial in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids ended Tuesday, Aug. 23, with Barry Croft Jr., 46, of Bear, Delaware, and Adam Fox, 38, of Wyoming, Michigan, convicted of conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to use a weapons of mass destruction.
An earlier trial ended in a mistrial for Croft and Fox when jurors, who acquitted Caserta and Daniel Harris, could not reach a unanimous decision.
The various people who refused to testify in the trial that featured nearly two weeks of testimony was one of several themes that took hold.
Here are five takeaways of the latest trial:
Taking the Fifth
Several witnesses, including those who acted as informants, invoked the Fifth Amendment.
Robeson, a Wisconsin man who provided information to the FBI in the 2020 investigation, was referenced repeatedly at both trials but did not testify.
“By my signature below, I hereby assert, invoke, or otherwise claim my rights under the 5th Amendment to the United States Constitution to not be compelled to offer testimony that may be incriminating,” he said, in a filing by his attorney, Lawrence Phelan.
As an informant, he allegedly set up meetings and field-training exercises and encouraged others’ involvement in the kidnapping plot. He also told a defendant about an upcoming arrest and urged another to get rid of evidence, the government said.
Caserta, who was acquitted at the first trial, invoked his Fifth Amendment protections.
But outside of the Gerald R. Ford Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, he told FOX 17: “I think it’s ridiculous that the government’s still going to try to continue to push this narrative that these people are actually terrorists, and that actually wanted to do violence.
He said the men were “a group of dudes who shoot guns and talk crap.”
The FBI
Defense attorneys accused the FBI of orchestrating a domestic-terrorism plot - with undercover agents and a dozen informants - to boost careers. Christopher Gibbons, representing Fox, said the FBI worked to turn the defendant’s big talk into “some type of actionable plan.”
He noted that an FBI special agent told an informant to get Fox focused on the plan.
Croft’s attorney, Josh Blanchard, said his client had no previous connection to Fox or the Wolverine Watchmen, a Michigan militia allegedly tied to the kidnap plot, until the FBI and informants put them in touch. He said Croft became a target for his online criticism of the FBI an anti-immigration fugitive’s death in Texas.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler called the claims nonsense.
“This whole thing was (Croft’s) and Adam’s idea,” Kessler told jurors.
‘Hapless’ defendants
If they weren’t facing such serious charges, Croft and Fox might have had their feelings hurt at trial. Their own attorneys portrayed them as pot-smoking losers incapable of plotting Whitmer’s – never mind getting others to buy into the idea. A Delaware State Police trooper, assigned to a terrorism task force, said Croft was known as “bonehead” by investigators.
When asked if he referred to Croft as a “moron” in a text, he said: “It could be Mr. Croft or it could be anyone in the group.”
“He’s frankly high on marijuana all the time,” Blanchard said.
Gibbons called Fox “hapless” and told jurors that Fox was so enamored by an informant’s military-combat background that he drew the ire of his girlfriend.
Public officials a target
Top law-enforcement officials said the verdicts were important to protecting public officials and the public.
“No governor, no public official should have to contend with what Gov. Whitmer contended with here. All of our elected officials, everyone, deserves to live in safety, not in fear.”
James Tarasca, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office, said: “These defendants believed their anti-government views justified violence. Today’s verdict sends a clear message that they were wrong in their assessment.”
State Attorney General Dana Nessel, whose office is handling state cases related to the alleged kidnapping plot, issued a statement, too: “Those who threaten the lives of public officials must be held accountable. No one should have to forfeit their safety or that of their loved ones in exchange for pursuing public service.
In their own words, actions
With two undercover FBI agents and a dozen informants, investigators had real-time information about the defendants. The FBI got past “op-sec,” or operation security, using, for instance, hidden recorders in key fobs. Adam Fox required attendees of a meeting in the basement of a Grand Rapids-area business – Vac Shack, where the unwitting owner let him live as a favor - leave their cellphones upstairs.
The FBI had audio, video, encrypted text messages and social-media posts – even a sign up sheet at one event – that were shown to jurors. The defense acknowledged that Croft and Fox had strong anti-government views but said it was just talk, protected by the First Amendment. The two had no way of carrying out what has been called a fantastical plot.
The words of the defendants were apparently damning to jurors. They had talked about kidnapping Whitmer at her Elk Rapids summer home and putting her on trial for treason. There was video of training sessions. Jurors saw a smiling Fox light up a Taser.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher O’Connor said: “There’s no doubt what they wanted to do and who they wanted to kidnap.”
Related:
Judge in Whitmer kidnapping plot trial explains why juror wasn’t dismissed after attorney complaint
Guilty verdict in Whitmer kidnap case highlights anti-government threats to public officials
Men found guilty of leading plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer
Did FBI save lives or is it to blame? Jury deliberates Gov. Whitmer kidnap case
Defendants in Gov. Whitmer kidnap trial called pot-smoking morons
FBI pushed ‘hapless’ client into Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot, attorney says
Lawyers object to limit on cross examination in Gov. Whitmer kidnap case
Kidnapping Gov. Whitmer was ‘all they talked about,’ former co-defendant testifies
Man in Gov. Whitmer kidnap case wanted to ‘hang her on TV,’ witness says
Alleged leader of Gov. Whitmer kidnap case excited driving past her home, recording shows
FBI says defendants in Gov. Whitmer kidnap case posed threat; defense raises concern about juror
Suspect in secret recording played at trial suggested killing Gov. Whitmer’s security detail
Defendant in Gov. Whitmer kidnap case wanted to ‘build an army,’ jury told
Retrial of 2 suspects in alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer ready to begin
Defense attorney says Gov. Whitmer was ‘never in any real danger’ | https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2022/08/taking-the-fifth-fbi-attacked-5-takeaways-of-gov-whitmer-kidnap-trial.html | 2022-08-25 12:24:03 | 0 | https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2022/08/taking-the-fifth-fbi-attacked-5-takeaways-of-gov-whitmer-kidnap-trial.html |
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts gambling regulators on Thursday denied a request to allow legal betting on this year’s Boston Marathon, citing concerns by the race’s organizers.
All four members of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission who participated in the online meeting voted against the request by DraftKings.
Commission Chair Cathy Judd-Stein shared an email she received Wednesday from the Boston Athletic Association, which runs the marathon.
“At this moment, there is not sufficient time for the Boston Athletic Association, nor its many partners and agencies, to coordinate and fully ensure proper protocols are in place to support such a proposal for wagering on our event,” said Scott Stover, chief marketing officer for the BAA.
He added: “Until we can complete due diligence, our concerns include, but are not limited to, ensuring event security and potential influence on the outcome of the race.”
The commissioners also discussed the proximity of the marathon, scheduled for April 17, and what they saw as DraftKings’ lack of communication with the BAA.
“I’m going to respect this local organization’s request to be included in the process that could potentially ever allow wagering on their event, and for that reason I also respect that they don’t think they can work out any issues in 12 days, and that seems reasonable,” Commissioner Jordan Maynard said.
Commissoner Brad Hill called the proposal “not ready for prime time.”
Although the Boston Marathon attracts about 30,000 runners, the DraftKings proposal would have allowed bets to be placed only on the elite women’s and men’s runners.
“We respect the decision made by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and look forward to our continued work with them,” DraftKings said in a statement.
The state last month started allowing online sports wagering on pro sports and some college sports. The online rollout came about a month after in-person sports betting started at the state’s three casinos.
The BAA in a statement did not directly address the commission’s decision.
“With 11 days to go until the 127th Boston Marathon, our focus remains on creating the best event experience for our participants, volunteers, spectators, and community members,” the statement said. “We’ll have no further comment at this time.” | https://www.kxnet.com/sports/regulators-deny-request-to-allow-betting-on-boston-marathon/ | 2023-04-06 23:06:05 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/sports/regulators-deny-request-to-allow-betting-on-boston-marathon/ |
The PGA Tour and the Saudi backers of LIV Golf responded to a Justice Department inquiry by dropping a provision in their agreement that would have prohibited the poaching of players, the PGA Tour said Thursday.
The New York Times first reported the development, which stems from the Justice Department’s antitrust review that began last summer and expanded when the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s national wealth fund agreed to become business partners.
The non-solicitation clause was part of the framework agreement announced June 6 and signed by the PGA Tour, European tour and Public Investment Fund.
The agreement, still being negotiated and requiring PGA Tour board approval, is for the parties to form a for-profit company that would pool commercial businesses and rights. During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, PGA Tour Chief Operating Officer Ron Price said PIF would contribute at least $1 billion.
Key to the agreement was dropping all antitrust litigation, which a federal judge signed off on last month. Below that section was the non-solicitation clause that said PIF, the PGA Tour and European tour would no longer “solicit or recruit any players who are members of the other tours or organizations to become members of their respective organizations.”
The clause was effective May 30, when the agreement was signed.
“Based on discussions with staff at the Department of Justice, we chose to remove specific language from the Framework Agreement,” the PGA Tour said in a statement. “While we believe the language is lawful, we also consider it unnecessary in the spirit of cooperation and because all parties are negotiating in good faith.”
LIV Golf signed deals reported to be $100 million or more last year when the rival league began, marquee names ranging from Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson to Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau. The rival league added more players last August, including British Open champion Cameron Smith, after the PGA Tour season ended.
A new batch of defectors for the second season included Mito Pereira, Thomas Pieters and Brendan Steele.
The Times reported antitrust experts have warned the clause could violate federal law if it threatened the integrity of the labor market and promised to stifle competition for players, who are independent.
The agreement sets a Dec. 31 deadline for finalizing the deal, though both sides can agree to an extension.
LIV Golf has a set 48-man roster for this season — alternates are available for injury — so it was unlikely any player would have left for LIV until the 2024 season.
Still to be determined is the future of LIV.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan is to be the CEO of the new company, with assets that include LIV. The agreement said the company would objectively evaluate LIV Golf and its prospects and potential and make a “good faith assessment” of the benefits of team golf.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://fox59.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-pga-tour-and-saudi-wealth-fund-drop-poaching-clause-from-agreement-at-justice-departments-request/ | 2023-07-14 15:35:05 | 1 | https://fox59.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-pga-tour-and-saudi-wealth-fund-drop-poaching-clause-from-agreement-at-justice-departments-request/ |
Services for Venita Damon, 85, of Temple are pending with Don D. Summers Funeral Chapel in Temple.
Ms. Damon died Thursday, July 7, at a local hospital.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Dallas Cowboy fans be warned: ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has a memoir coming out next year.
13A, an imprint of Gallery Books, announced Tuesday that Smith’s “Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes” is scheduled for January 2023. According to 13A, Smith will share stories about growing up poor in New York City, his early years in journalism and his long history of speaking his mind — to a fault — about sports (the Cowboys are a favorite target) and a wide of range of issues.
“This book is a long time coming. Due to my fixation on privacy pertaining to my personal life, it took a lot of time, and a lot of prodding by loved ones, to finally get me to do this,” Smith said in a statement.
“But as I once told my Mom, ‘if I’m going to write a book, I’ll be damned if I’m holding back. I’m going to speak my truth, say what I have to say, just so everyone knows where I stand and why.’ I know I’ve done that in this book. I had to do so eventually. It was time. No matter the consequences.”
Smith has a history of making controversial remarks, including a joke about women soccer players and comments about domestic violence that led to ESPN briefly suspending him in 2014. | https://who13.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/espns-stephen-a-smith-has-memoir-coming-in-january-2023/ | 2022-08-16 16:49:59 | 1 | https://who13.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/espns-stephen-a-smith-has-memoir-coming-in-january-2023/ |
‘Multiple fatalities’ on Illinois highway following crashes in dust storm
DIVERNON, Ill. (AP) — A windstorm in south-central Illinois kicked up dangerous clouds of dust off farm fields Monday, blinding drivers and causing numerous crashes and “multiple fatalities” on Interstate 55, police said.
The late morning crashes involved 40 to 60 cars and multiple tractor-trailers, two of which caught fire, Illinois State Police Maj. Ryan Starrick said. The highway was shut down in both directions in Montgomery County, 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of St. Louis.
“The cause of the crashes is due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway, leading to zero visibility,” Starrick said at a news conference.
He reported that there were “multiple fatalities” but did not give an exact number, saying that would be released later in the day.
Winds at the time were gusting between 35 mph (56 kph) and 45 mph (74 kph), the National Weather Service said.
“It’s very flat, very few trees,” meteorologist Chuck Schaffer said. “It’s been very dry across this area really for the last three weeks. The farmers are out there tilling their fields and planting. The top layer of soil is quite loose.”
Starrick said more than 30 people were transported to hospitals with injuries following the crashes, which occurred in both the southbound and northbound lanes.
He said I-55 would be closed until late morning or early afternoon Tuesday.
The Auburn Travel Center in Divernon was established as a reunification spot for travelers.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wkyt.com/2023/05/01/multiple-fatalities-illinois-highway-following-crashes-dust-storm/ | 2023-05-01 21:48:10 | 0 | https://www.wkyt.com/2023/05/01/multiple-fatalities-illinois-highway-following-crashes-dust-storm/ |
Named in honor of fallen firefighter Billy Moon, Kristina Moon was presented with the "Billy Moon Medal of Life" in recognition of her tireless advocacy of organ donation, and in doing so, preserving Billy's legacy as an organ donor hero.
NEW YORK, June 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LiveOnNY is proud to announce that the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) presented the inaugural "Billy Moon Medal of Life" to Ms. Kristina Moon.
Established by the FDNY, the "Billy Moon Medal of Life" honors individuals who exemplify Billy's benevolence and compassion for others. Billy's decision to become an organ donor saved multiple lives and brought hope to those in desperate need of a lifesaving organ.
"The FDNY is honored to present the inaugural 'Billy Moon Medal of Life' to Kristina Moon for her advocacy and support of helping those in need. She and Billy represent the generosity of our community and we are forever grateful for their gifts of life," said Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh.
This prestigious medal is a testament to FDNY Fire Fighter Moon's heroism; he was a hero in life, and he is a hero in death; he saved the lives of five individuals who were in desperate need of a heart, liver, lungs and kidneys, including two FDNY firefighters.
Kristina Moon, the wife of Billy Moon, was presented with this prestigious award in recognition of Billy's remarkable act of generosity. Her unwavering support and understanding of Billy's decision to be an organ donor have sparked a movement to encourage more people than ever to say 'yes' to donation, helping countless individuals live on through the gift of organ donation.
"Our New York Community is grateful to the FDNY for honoring Billy's compassionate act of organ donation. LiveOnNY is humbled by Billy's compassion and proud to have joined Kristina in honoring Billy's decision to share his precious gifts of life to help others in need," said LiveOnNY President and CEO Leonard Achan RN, MA, ANP.
About LiveOnNY
LiveOnNY is a nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to saving lives, providing comfort, and strengthening legacies through organ, eye, and tissue donation. The OPO, which was established in 1978, serves a culturally and ethnically diverse population of 13 million residents in New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley. Working closely with transplant centers and hospitals, LiveOnNY coordinates organ, eye, and tissue donation for transplant, educates the public and healthcare professionals about donation and transplantation, and promotes the importance of signing up on the New York State Donate Life Registry. LiveOnNY works closely with 11 transplant centers, nearly 100 hospitals, and several tissue and eye banks. LiveOnNY is a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which oversees the organ transplant waiting list in the U.S. For more information, please visit LiveOnNY.org.
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SOURCE LiveOnNY | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/06/08/liveonny-organ-donor-advocate-kristina-moon-presented-with-fdnys-inaugural-billy-moon-medal-life/ | 2023-06-08 23:21:46 | 0 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/06/08/liveonny-organ-donor-advocate-kristina-moon-presented-with-fdnys-inaugural-billy-moon-medal-life/ |
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea kept up its intensive launching of missiles, firing three more on Thursday after setting a record the previous day with 23 launches.
The projectiles, including a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile, have triggered alerts, prompting some residents to seek shelter in two countries — South Korea and Japan — on both days.
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the launches "intolerable." Japan's government initially issued an alert for three prefectures, saying the ICBM had flown over the main island of Honshu, but later corrected the statement. North Korea last fired an intermediate range missile over Japan on Oct. 4.
"North Korea staged a very threatening provocation at a magnitude we've never seen before," says Kim Jong-dae, a former defense official and visiting professor at Yonsei University in Seoul.
"First, they launched missiles from all around the country — east, west, south, north," he explains. "This seems intended to negate our strategy of striking the source of attack." He adds that the quantity of projectiles suggests that North Korea has produced ample stockpiles of weapons.
Wednesday's launches marked the first time a North Korean missile had flown over the de facto maritime border separating the two Koreas since the Korean War ended in an armistice in 1953. One flew toward Ulleung Island off South Korea's east coast, triggering air raid sirens, before dropping in the sea.
While missiles did not land in South Korea's territorial waters, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called the launch "tantamount to violating South Korea's territory." South Korea responded by firing two air-to-ground missiles across the maritime border into international waters.
Launching them so close to South Korean territory, Kim Jong-dae says, could be seen as a kind of "area denial strategy that blocks the combined forces [of the U.S. and South Korea] from approaching North Korea."
"And the region where the North Korean missile fell," he adds, "has many fishing boats catching squid," suggesting that it could put South Koreans' livelihoods at risk, and "pose existential threat to South Korea, if need be."
North Korea has accused the U.S. of preparing to attack it, possibly with nuclear weapons, in order to justify its missile launches.
Pyongyang points to this week's U.S.-South Korean joint air force drills, involving some 240 military aircraft flying a record of about 1,600 sorties.
Last week, it pointed to 12 days of "National Defense" field exercises. While the allies insist the drills are defensive in nature, they are aimed at defeating threats from North Korea.
Pyongyang has fumed at the U.S. deployment of "strategic assets" such as aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines to the area around the Korean peninsula to deter and respond to North Korean provocations. Pyongyang has called the deployments a threat to regional stability.
And it especially bristles at U.S. and South Korean military exercises that simulate "decapitation" strikes against North Korea's leadership.
Of course, even without the pretext of U.S. and South Korean military exercises, North Korea is likely to be testing many nuclear weapons and missiles for years to come.
It's a part of a five-year plan to beef up its nuclear and missile arsenals, in hopes of forcing the U.S. to make concessions, such as sanctions relief and recognition of Pyongyang as a nuclear weapons state. Washington insists these will not happen.
As dramatic as this week's military muscle flexing may seem, North Korea has reportedly completed preparations to top it off with the test-detonation of an atomic bomb, if it so chooses. While this has been predicted for months, Pyongyang may think that timing it to coincide with U.S. midterm elections would yield extra political impact.
NPR's Se Eun Gong contributed to this report in Seoul.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2022-11-03/north-korea-launches-multiple-missiles-triggering-alerts-in-japan-and-south-korea | 2022-11-04 05:41:15 | 0 | https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2022-11-03/north-korea-launches-multiple-missiles-triggering-alerts-in-japan-and-south-korea |
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Houston and Texas remain firmly entrenched atop The Associated Press men's college basketball poll, while preseason No. 1 North Carolina has dropped out entirely after a fourth straight loss.
The Cougars earned 37 of 62 first-place votes in Monday's poll, extending the program's first stay at No. 1 since the “Phi Slama Jama” days in the 1980s for another week. Houston (8-0) beat Norfolk State and Saint Mary's in its first week at the top.
“I don’t dwell on it,” coach Kelvin Sampson said last week about the No. 1 ranking. "We’re not running around here pushing our chest out, thinking we’re something we’re not.”
The Longhorns received 14 first-place votes. No. 3 Virginia got three votes and No. 4 Purdue got the remaining eight.
Connecticut (9-0) climbed to No. 5, the program's highest ranking since early in the 2011-12 season. Other than the top five, there are three other teams in the AP Top 25 that entered Monday undefeated (No. 11 Auburn, No. 13 Maryland and No. 23 Mississippi State).
SWIFT FALL
North Carolina is only the sixth team to go from preseason No. 1 to unranked since at least the 1961-62 season, most recently with Michigan State during the 2019-20 season.
Of that group, the Tar Heels had the swiftest exit from the poll to start the season (four weeks) excet for UCLA in 1965-66. The Bruins fell out of the poll after just three weeks back when only 10 teams were ranked.
Ranked No. 18 last week, the Tar Heels (5-4) l ost their fourth straight game over the weekend at Virginia Tech while playing without banged-up big man Armando Bacot. They appeared on a single ballot this week from the 62-member panel that votes on the AP Top 25.
“I told them also that I'm not panicked, I'm not any of that," coach Hubert Davis said afterward. “I'm convinced we're going to be a great basketball team by the end of the season.”
Last year’s Tar Heels were on the bubble to even make the NCAA Tournament well into February in Davis’ debut season. They went on a final-month tear all the way to the NCAA championship game before falling to Kansas.
THE TOP TIER
Kansas climbed to No. 6, followed by three Southeastern Conference teams in Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas. For the Volunteers and Crimson Tide, it marked their first appearances inside the top 10 this year. Arizona rounded out the top 10, falling six spots after a loss at Utah.
RISING
No. 13 Maryland had the biggest jump of the week, vaulting nine spots after wins against Louisville and Illinois last week in the Terrapins' first year under Kevin Willard. That marks the program's highest ranking since pushing into the top 10 during the 2019-20 season.
Tennessee was next up with a six-spot climb, while No. 11 Auburn rose four spots.
In all, 13 teams climbed from last week.
SLIDING
Creighton had the week's biggest fall, tumbling 14 spots to No. 21 after losing at Texas and at home to Nebraska last week.
No. 12 Baylor fell six spots after a loss to Marquette, though the Bears responded by beating Gonzaga on Friday in a rematch of the 2021 NCAA championship game won by Baylor.
The Zags, now No. 18, fell four spots to their lowest ranking since checking in at No. 20 on Christmas Day in 2017.
In all, four teams slid from last week.
STATUS QUO
Beyond the top three, No. 25 Ohio State remained in place after a tough loss at No. 15 Duke last week.
WELCOME
No. 23 Mississippi State and No. 24 TCU were the new additions to the poll, with the Bulldogs (8-0) earning their first AP Top 25 ranking under first-year coach Chris Jans since January 2019.
The Horned Frogs were ranked 14th and 15th, respectively, in the first two polls before falling out for two weeks.
FAREWELL (FOR NOW)
In addition to UNC, Michigan State (No. 20) fell out after losses to Notre Dame and Northwestern.
CONFERENCE WATCH
The SEC led the way with six ranked teams, including No. 16 Kentucky. The Big Ten and Big 12 each had five ranked teams, followed by two each for the Atlantic Coast, Pac-12 and Big East conferences.
The American Athletic, West Coast and Mountain West conferences each had one.
___
Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap
___
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://www.expressnews.com/sports/article/Preseason-No-1-North-Carolina-drops-out-of-AP-17632403.php | 2022-12-05 17:57:10 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/sports/article/Preseason-No-1-North-Carolina-drops-out-of-AP-17632403.php |
At Least 16.8 Million Illegal Aliens are in the U.S., Costing Taxpayers As Much as $163 Billion Annually, Finds New Analysis by FAIR
WASHINGTON , June 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- An analysis by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) of the most recent Census Bureau data reveals that at least 16.8 million illegal aliens now reside in the United States. This figure represents an increase of 1.3 million just since the beginning of 2022, and 2.3 million since President Biden took office in January 2021.
Along with the sharp increase in the illegal alien population comes sharp increases in costs to American taxpayers. The unprecedented rate of influx of new illegal aliens over the past year would add $12.6 billion annually to the costs of illegal immigration, bringing the cumulative net cost to at least $163 billion a year. At the current pace of illegal immigration, the annual net cost will exceed $200 billion by 2026.
Key Takeaways:
- The study is based on the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) and Current Population Survey (CPS) data, which traditionally undercounts the illegal population by about 30 percent because many illegal aliens are reluctant to respond to the surveys.
- The increase in the illegal alien population under President Biden is based on a sample that only tracks household addresses on file with the government. Even adjusting for undercount, it excludes the tens of thousands of unsheltered illegal migrants and a huge number of "gotaways" or other individuals who have been paroled into the U.S. and live under the radar. The full number is impossible to quantify but likely even higher.
- These 16.8 million illegal aliens now represent nearly one-third of the foreign-born residents of the United States.
- The additional $12.6 billion in costs annually is only a down payment. These costs are likely to grow as the migrants become more settled and increase their use of services like public education and health. Moreover, parolees are immediately eligible for a range of welfare benefits.
- At the current pace of illegal immigration, more new illegal aliens will have settled in the U.S. in the first three years of the Biden administration than in the entire decade of the 2010s.
"As just about every mayor and governor around the country – including those who preside over jurisdictions that have declared themselves sanctuaries for illegal aliens – has loudly proclaimed, the fiscal and social burdens of the Biden administration's sabotage of our immigration enforcement policies are unsustainable," observed Dan Stein, president of FAIR.
"The impact of these policies is causing social upheaval, setting states and against other states, big cities against surrounding communities, overwhelming school districts and social service providers, as economic migrants from all across the globe pour across our borders. The report, How Many Illegal Aliens Are in the United States? 2023 Update, provides hard, albeit conservative, numbers that graphically illustrate the magnitude of this self-inflicted crisis," concluded Stein.
The full report, including detailed methodology, can be found here.
Contact: Ira Mehlman, 202-328-7004 or imehlman@fairus.org.
ABOUT FAIR
Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.
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SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/06/22/biden-border-crisis-abuse-parole-send-illegal-alien-population-costs-soaring-says-fair/ | 2023-06-22 19:09:41 | 1 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/06/22/biden-border-crisis-abuse-parole-send-illegal-alien-population-costs-soaring-says-fair/ |
CHICAGO (AP) _ Enova International Inc. (ENVA) on Thursday reported third-quarter net income of $51.7 million.
On a per-share basis, the Chicago-based company said it had net income of $1.57. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to $1.74 per share.
The online financial services company posted revenue of $456.2 million in the period.
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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ENVA at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ENVA | https://www.ourmidland.com/business/article/Enova-International-Q3-Earnings-Snapshot-17539667.php | 2022-10-27 21:47:37 | 0 | https://www.ourmidland.com/business/article/Enova-International-Q3-Earnings-Snapshot-17539667.php |
A New York family had a memorable Christmas.
In a news release, the Buffalo Airport Fire Department stated that Demetrice and Danielle lost electricity at their home in Williamsville at the start of the recent blizzard.
But as they drove to a nearby hotel, their car got stuck.
The family was one of many motorists who had gotten stuck and were saved by the Buffalo Airport firefighters.
According to the news release, firefighters Mike Carrubba, Mark Wolhfiel, and Joel Eberth rescued 42 people and brought them to the aircraft rescue and firefighting facility.
Officials said the couple was the only ones with young children, so they stayed in the firehouse.
“It was an amazing experience for our firefighters, and it definitely made us better people.” Said Joel Eberth, Assistant Chief Buffalo Airport Fire Department, in a statement. “With them being here, Christmas became a big concern because Aayden was so excited that Santa would know he was here and he would get to celebrate at a real firehouse. We didn’t want to disappoint, so we were able to find several items in the firehouse to wrap for the family. With the amazing help from the field office delivering some items from the terminal, we were able to make sure Santa paid a visit.”
Firefighters said the couple's eldest child Aayden asked if he could be in uniform, so he was given a uniform and department t-shirt. They also taught him about dispatch. | https://www.ksby.com/news/national/buffalo-firefighters-rescue-stranded-family-then-surprise-them-with-christmas-gifts | 2022-12-28 18:38:42 | 1 | https://www.ksby.com/news/national/buffalo-firefighters-rescue-stranded-family-then-surprise-them-with-christmas-gifts |
Hylton Named to U23 Canadian National Team Training Camp Roster
TORONTO, Ont. – Texas A&M women’s basketball’s Tineya Hylton was selected to attend the U23 Canada Basketball National Team Training Camp set for July 1-8, the organization announced Friday.
Training camp will be held at Humber College in Toronto ahead of the world-class GLOBL JAM tournament. The international event will take place July 12-16, and will feature women’s and men’s U23 teams from around the world at Toronto’s Mattamy Athletic Centre.
Hylton averaged 19.4 minutes per game last season for the Aggies and produced 6.1 points and 2.5 assists per contest. Her assist average was good for second on the team and she tied for first in steals per game (1.2).
The Toronto native dished out four-or-more assists on six different occasions, including her Aggie debut against A&M-Corpus Christi (Nov. 10, 2022) where she poured in 10 points and had six dimes. She also logged a career-high 12 points versus LSU on Feb. 5, 2023.
Canada is looking to win the GLOBL JAM gold medal for the second-straight year after last year saw the U23 Women’s National Team finish a perfect 5-0 in the inaugural event.
For more information on Canada Basketball or GLOBL JAM, please click here.
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Visit for more information on Texas A&M women’s basketball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M women’s basketball team on Facebook, Instagram, and on Twitter by following @AggieWBB.
Copyright 2023 KBTX. All rights reserved. | https://www.kbtx.com/2023/07/02/hylton-named-u23-canadian-national-team-training-camp-roster/ | 2023-07-02 01:25:27 | 0 | https://www.kbtx.com/2023/07/02/hylton-named-u23-canadian-national-team-training-camp-roster/ |
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — NASA is asking for help analyzing the phenomenal photos taken of Jupiter by the Juno spacecraft.
Juno launched in August 2011 and made the 1,740-million-mile journey in only five years. Nine years later, Juno has taken thousands of pictures of the largest planet in our solar system and will continue to study the planet and its moons through September 2025 or the spacecraft’s end of life.
The Jovian Vortex Hunter is one of NASA’s citizen science projects where anyone can help find vortices, which are spiral wind patterns, in photos taken by a spacecraft. The vortices are formed in a similar way to hurricanes on Earth except these storms can be 30 miles high and several hundred miles across.
“There are so many images that it would take several years for our small team to examine all of them,” said Dr. Ramanakumar Sankar, who leads the project. “We need help from the public to identify which images have vortices, where they are, and how they appear.”
Helpers look at a photo from Junocam and determine if there is a vortex. If there is, they then circle it. Examining these images will help scientists understand the fluid dynamics, cloud chemistry and atmosphere on Jupiter.
Jovian Vortex Hunters are in the process of examining pictures taken in early 2019.
The project, hosted on Zooniverse, allows anyone to help with real research being conducted by teams across the world on a variety of subjects.
Those who would like to help with the image processing for Junocam can do so by visiting the project’s website. From there, helpers can download images to realistically enhance or turn into works of art. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/help-nasa-hunt-for-storms-on-jupiter/ | 2022-06-28 19:40:24 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/help-nasa-hunt-for-storms-on-jupiter/ |
OAKLAND — Just as the Yankees were about to be whole, they took another hit. A big one. Nestor Cortes is heading to the injured list with a groin injury.
The Yankees are expected to bring up Triple-A closer Greg Weissert to take his roster spot.
That news came just days after Cortes said he felt “great” following his last start on Sunday. The 27-year-old was asked because of the concern over his innings.
Cortes has thrown a career-high 131 innings, which was around the number of innings the lefty said he had thrown in a year between spring training and pitching in winter ball.
Besides Cortes saying he felt fine, he’s been the staff’s stalwart.
Cortes has posted a 2.68 ERA and has a strong strikeout (25.9%) and walk rate (5.8%).
The Yankees’ pitching depth is really being challenged right now. Luis Severino is on the 60-day IL with what the Yankees said was a “minor” lat strain. Severino, who only pitched 27 innings over the previous three years, has declared that he feels great. The Yankees had been managing his inning before he went on the IL with 86 innings pitched.
The Yankees placed him on the IL on the trade deadline day, allowing them to add Scott Effross, Lou Trivino and Frankie Montas to the 40-man roster. That was also when the Yankees traded away not only proven big league starter Jordan Montgomery, but also most of their high-level pitching prospects. They will face one of the best they gave away on Friday when lefty JP Sears, dealt for Montas, starts for the A’s.
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INDIANAPOLIS — One woman is speaking out after she says her 14-year-old nephew was arrested for firing a pellet gun in an Aldi parking lot last week in Irvington.
There were four pellet gun shootings within a week at the same Aldi on East Washington Street.
The 14-year-old was arrested in connection to one of those incidents.
“I watched the little boy grow up,” said Dawnelle Ehrgott, the boy’s aunt. “I love him and everything, but he needs help. He was mentioning that when he went to a birthday party when he was here that he had shot a pellet gun.”
Ehrgott said she knew about this because the boy lived with her from March to April of this year. She sent us court documents that show she and her boyfriend were approved for the 14-year-old to live with them by The Department of Child Services.
FOX59/CBS4 has reached out to DCS for comment, but has not heard back.
“We just had a lot going on here at our house, and we couldn’t disturb our children’s lives,” Ehrgott said. “So we called DCS and they removed him from here.”
Ehrgott said the boy was placed back in his original home, but she has kept in contact with DCS.
She left a tip early last week that the 14-year-old might be connected to the pellet gun shooting.
“If he would’ve had access to a real gun, who knows the consequences of that,” she said. “And that is my main concern.”
Anna Cope with Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Center said if you believe a child is in a dangerous situation, you must immediately report it according to Indiana Law.
“We teach kids to trust their bodies and trust their instincts,” Cope said. “But it is the exact same thing for adults. If they think something is going on, it is important for them to report it to the proper authorities. Sometimes making that difficult decision of reporting is something that you need to do because you do love them, and that is even more of a reason to make that report.”
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says there are no updates on the other three pellet gun incidents at this time. | https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/aunt-of-indy-pellet-gun-shooting-suspect-reported-crime/ | 2023-06-15 00:11:52 | 0 | https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/aunt-of-indy-pellet-gun-shooting-suspect-reported-crime/ |
LOS ANGELES, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Spero Therapeutics, Inc. ("Spero" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: SPRO).
Class Period: October 28, 2021 – May 2, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 25, 2022
If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.
The complaint filed alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the data submitted in support of the Tebipenem HBr NDA were insufficient to obtain FDA approval; (2) accordingly, it was unlikely that the FDA would approve the Tebipenem HBr NDA in its current form; (3) the foregoing would necessitate a significant workforce reduction and restructuring of Spero's operations; and (4) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to info@frankcruzlaw.com, or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
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SOURCE The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/spro-investors-have-opportunity-lead-spero-therapeutics-inc-securities-fraud-lawsuit/ | 2022-06-29 16:28:11 | 1 | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/spro-investors-have-opportunity-lead-spero-therapeutics-inc-securities-fraud-lawsuit/ |
The Rams’ Super Bowl hangover has been both acute and lengthy. More to the point, as they seemingly run out of players and somehow played a quarterback who had yet to really practice with them last week, that hangover is ongoing.
Might the totality of everything that has gone wrong for Los Angeles’s most glitzy football franchise — and the uncertainty around the short-term future of an organization facing bloated contracts, withering cap space and a dearth of draft capital — expedite that exodus for the wunderkind head coach? My best guess: probably not now. But it’s very much possible a year from now.
McVay is not a football cyborg. He is a savant for the game, but unlike some of the coaches who heavily influenced him (Jon Gruden) or whom he respects the most (Bill Belichick), he has interests and ambitions outside of the game and a worldview that is far less myopic. Those who know him best and who have worked with him were telling me a year ago that there was no way McVay would coach another four or five years. Many back then would have set the over/under at around 2½ seasons. Some of them now believe 2023 will be it.
“He won’t be there for long,” said one NFL executive who has close ties to McVay. (The executive spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not permitted to publicly discuss coaches under contract with other teams.) “I’d give it one more year to see what he can do with this group. Can he get another ring with [Aaron] Donald and Stafford and [Jalen] Ramsey? That roster isn’t built to last.”
Donald mulled retirement after the Super Bowl before ultimately agreeing to another megadeal, and he has missed two straight games with an ankle injury. One has to wonder how healthy Stafford ever really was in what amounted to a lost season for him. The Rams’ varied trade deadline pursuits all came up empty, and the football gods did them no favors.
It’s hard to see McVay walking away now, knowing this group did not get an opportunity to attempt to repeat on anything close to its own terms. But when the Rams gather again next spring to begin offseason work, one suspects there will be a tacit assumption — if it isn’t outright stated — that because of age, injuries, retirement and an inevitable roster purge, 2023 will be the last dance for this version of the team. And it could be years — even a decade or more — before McVay invariably returns to his coaching calling.
A pending reboot in Arizona
Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim is stepping away from the team to tend to health issues, a development that is being viewed around NFL front offices as the latest sign of an inevitable reboot for the franchise.
Several general managers suggested to me that former star safety Adrian Wilson, the team’s vice president of pro personnel, could be Arizona’s next GM. The Cardinals have won consecutive games just once since starting the 2021 season 7-0, are mired in a 4-9 campaign and are 1-12 in their past 13 games at home. And with quarterback Kyler Murray showing few signs of development despite signing a huge extension in the offseason, there is a very strong sense around the league that Coach Kliff Kingsbury will not be back in 2023. I’ll put it this way: Teams that are concerned about losing a top assistant to a head coaching job are assuming that the Cardinals will conduct a coaching search this offseason.
“They can’t bring him back,” said one NFL GM, who is unable to speak about other teams’ coaches publicly — but who also predicted the Matt Rhule firing in this space months ago. “It’s over. That’s a bad job, too. The Bidwills have no history of winning consistently. It’s a bad roster. Horrible quarterback contract. And Murray [who tore his ACL in Week 14] probably isn’t even practicing until after the [2023] season has started, and you are putting in a new system.”
Indeed. Sounds bleak. Then again, doubling down on the Kliff and Kyler experiment never really made sense in the first place.
A slow start for Deshaun Watson
Through two games with Deshaun Watson at the helm, the Browns’ offense has been pretty pathetic. They have produced one offensive touchdown and their once-potent run game is regressing as teams play the run, not believing Watson can be accurate on the deep ball after two years away. It’s obvious that right now, the better quarterback — Jacoby Brissett — is on the bench. It could be another very tough watch Saturday against a stout Baltimore defense, putting Cleveland Coach Kevin Stefanski in a difficult spot.
If opposing scouts and executives know Brissett gives the team a better chance to win than Watson right now, you can be damn certain the locker room knows it. “It doesn’t look very good,” said a high-ranking official with another AFC North team who has watched the Browns closely. “You look at what Brissett did with [Amari] Cooper to what it is now, and it’s night and day. They were getting big chunks on play action. That was a hard offense to defend.” Any signs that improvement are on the way? “I don’t see it,” he said.
It makes one wonder if owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, the architects of the Watson trade and contract, will take responsibility, or if some underlings will end up getting fired should the offensive malaise continue through the end of the season. “Trust me, the Haslams aren’t taking the blame for this,” an NFL GM predicted, anticipating changes on the offensive coaching staff.
Notes from around the league
Could the Houston Texans be a potential destination for Sean Payton should they make a coaching and GM change? In that scenario, Payton would get full authority over football operations, bring in his own front office people and team with an owner who has tanked to accrue a significant cache of draft picks, with the franchise almost inevitably improving. (It’s hard to do worse than one win a week from Christmas). Given owner Cal McNair’s willingness to authorize continuous losing for such a long time, would he perhaps tolerate another season in the abyss, with the chance to get Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams in 2024 and pair him with Payton? Living in Southern California, Payton has seen plenty of the USC star and has downright gushed about him on television. Hmm. …
Some executives believe every team in the AFC South could have a new general manager by May. The Titans already fired theirs, the Colts fired their coach, and the Texans are 1-11-1 in a league in which every other team has at least three wins. Some around the league also believe Jaguars Coach Doug Pederson is going to get more personnel authority in Jacksonville. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/12/17/sean-mcvay-rams-future/ | 2022-12-17 14:31:08 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/12/17/sean-mcvay-rams-future/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Last year was a mixed bag pay-wise for the women who run companies in the S&P 500 — compensation increased for more than half of them, but the median pay package fell 6%.
Of the 343 CEOs in the compensation survey of S&P 500 companies done by the AP and Equilar, only 20 were women. Because they are a small group, changes in pay for only a few can easily skew the overall figures.
The drop comes after a 26% jump in the value of pay packages for female CEOs in 2021, a year when compensation reflected a recovering economy and soaring stock prices and profits. Many chief executives were rewarded for steering their companies through the worst of the pandemic.
Overall, female CEOs saw their performance bonuses fall 13% to $2.8 million last year and stock awards fall 4% to an average of $10 million. Their median total compensation fell 6% to $14.7 million. The median pay for male CEOs rose 1% to $14.8 million.
“We still do not have enough women CEOs,” said Lorraine Hariton, President and CEO of Catalyst, a nonprofit organization focused on women in the workplace. “It’s hard to make a comment about pay when we really don’t have a big enough sample size.”
Lisa Su, CEO of Advanced Micro Devices, was the highest paid female CEO in the AP survey for the fourth year in a row, but she slipped to 26th highest paid overall, from 22nd last year. Su was the highest paid of all CEOs, men and women, in 2019.
The AP’s and Equilar’s compensation study included pay data for 343 CEOs at S&P 500 companies who have served at least two fiscal years at their companies, which filed proxy statements between Jan. 1 and April 30.
Some notable female CEOs aren’t included because they became CEO less than two years ago or their companies file proxy statements at a different time, including Roz Brewer at Walgreens Boots Alliance, Jane Fraser at Citigroup and Linda Rendle at Clorox.
Most of a CEO’s pay package consists of stock and stock options awards. At AMD, stock awards and options made up more than 90% of Su’s pay. Her total pay package of $30.2 million was up 2% from her package the previous year.
Nasdaq’s CEO Adena Friedman received the biggest pay raise, a 40% jump. That was mostly due to a performance-based stock option award with a value of $10 million, associated with the renewal of her employment agreement for an additional five years. Half of the stock option award will become available after five years of employment, and half will be awarded if Friedman reaches an earnings target in five years. Her total pay package is valued at $28 million.
Executives could see steeper pay cuts in 2023 when boards consider the full effect of the stock market’s downturn, said Kelly Malafis, a partner at Compensation Advisory Partners, a consulting firm that works with boards. The S&P 500 fell nearly 20% in 2022. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/median-pay-dips-for-the-few-women-ceos-of-sp-500-companies/ | 2023-05-31 13:52:48 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/median-pay-dips-for-the-few-women-ceos-of-sp-500-companies/ |
GLENDALE, Ky. (AP) — Ford Motor Co. has awarded a volunteer fire department more than $40,000 raised from the sale of timber harvested at the future site of twin electric vehicle battery plants in Kentucky.
The donation to the Glendale Volunteer Fire Department totaled $41,589, increasing the department’s annual average budget of $80,000 by more than 50%, Ford said.
“It’s awesome that they are willing to help out the fire department, to help our community,” said Dave Black, Glendale volunteer fire chief.
Site prep has included the removal of necessary trees on the Kentucky property. Trees removed from construction sites often are mulched, but the construction team at Glendale saw an opportunity for the maple, oak and black walnut logs to help the community.
Part of the donation has been used to purchase an ATV to help the department fight remote fires. The donation also will be used to maintain equipment and help the department update firefighting gear. | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Ford-turns-timber-harvest-into-donation-to-fire-17232459.php | 2022-06-10 08:21:28 | 0 | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Ford-turns-timber-harvest-into-donation-to-fire-17232459.php |
Police on Friday raided the home of the man suspected of using an improvised firearm to assassinate former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and said they seized multiple weapons that also appeared to be homemade.
The discovery followed the arrest of the suspect — identified by officials as Tetsuya Yamagishi, 41 — in the western Japanese city of Nara, where Abe had been delivering a campaign speech outdoors ahead of parliamentary elections this weekend.
Local media captured video and photos of the bulky weapon that police said was used to kill Abe. They confirmed that the firearm consists of two metal barrels attached to a wooden board and is more than a foot long.
For more on this story, go to NBC News. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/homemade-guns-are-seized-in-raid-on-abe-shooting-suspects-home-police-say/3766922/ | 2022-07-08 19:51:09 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/homemade-guns-are-seized-in-raid-on-abe-shooting-suspects-home-police-say/3766922/ |
Latrell Bullock tallied 30 points as the Holy Cross Prep boys’ basketball team toppled Moorestown Friends Saturday in Delran, 72-48.
Samir Wellington (13) and Donovan Fey (10) reached double figures in scoring for the Lancers (14-9).
Jayden Lewis netted 13 points for the Foxes (0-20).
The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here.
Mobile device users: For the best experience downloading high-resolution images (available free and to subscribers only) and making photo purchases, it’s best to visit this page from your desktop or laptop computer. | https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2023/02/boys-basketball-recap-bullock-holy-cross-dispose-of-moorestown-friends.html | 2023-02-12 01:32:47 | 0 | https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2023/02/boys-basketball-recap-bullock-holy-cross-dispose-of-moorestown-friends.html |
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Macron vows to build back factories, boost France’s economy shaken by pension protests
DUNKIRK, France (AP) — Building factories to boost job creation and make France more independent — that’s President Emmanuel Macron’s ambition for the French economy.
It’s a big challenge, as France reels from protracted protests, rising food and energy prices and other fallout from the Ukraine war.
While Macron woos investors to help “re-industrialize” France and reduce Europe’s dependence on China and the U.S., protesters follow him around the country, banging saucepans to protest economic injustice and his leadership.
More than 200 international business leaders are expected Monday at the ‘Choose France’ event staged at the palace of Versailles to promote foreign investment.
It follows a series of incentives announced by Macron last week to support innovative industries and transition towards greener technology. They include tax credits in fields like battery production, electric cars, hydrogen and wind power, as well as accelerating authorization for industrial projects.
“France is changing, is getting adapted to the course of the world and I believe that we’re following the right path, which is to reindustrialize the country, to be more sovereign and more respectful of the climate and biodiversity,” Macron said Friday during a visit to Dunkirk, in northern France.
Macron’s move comes after months of protests against his decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. The unpopularity of the reform has weakened his government at parliament and hampered his economic strategy.
Unions have called for a new round of nationwide demonstrations on June 6. Meanwhile, opponents keep staging small protests, with people loudly banging pots and pans in places where Macron and government members are scheduled to travel.
Credit rating agency Fitch last month downgraded France’s sovereign credit rating, citing the protest movement. “Political deadlock and (sometimes violent) social movements pose a risk to Macron’s reform agenda,” the agency wrote.
In Dunkirk Friday, Macron made time for many selfies with workers from several local factories who attended his speech at Aluminium Dunkerque, one of the biggest aluminum production sites in Europe. None of them asked him about the retirement age and, in contrast with his previous visits across French regions, he didn’t walk through the city streets to meet with the crowd.
A heavy police presence was deployed in Dunkirk to keep potential protesters away.
Macron announced two major investments, both in the battery sector: one worth 5.2 billion euros ($5.7 billion) by Taiwanese group Prologium, the other one via a joint venture of China’s XTC with French energy giant Orano worth 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion). They are expected to create 3,000 and 1,700 jobs in the area respectively by 2030.
He seized the occasion to present the pension reform as part of a “package” that has already produced “results.” “If we want to be more competitive, we must work a little longer,” he said.
Since he took office in 2017, Macron has cut business taxes. He has made it easier to hire and fire workers and more difficult for the unemployed to claim benefits, amid other pro-business policies.
Macron said 300 new factories had been created since 2017 — two thirds in the past two years — while 600 had been shut down in the previous decade. The COVID-19 crisis and Ukraine war have shown that domestic industrial production is needed to strengthen the country’s sovereignty, he stressed.
For a fourth consecutive year, France was the European country that had attracted the greatest number of foreign investments, Macron said, citing a survey by EY last week.
The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Friday its statistics showed France’s unemployment rate in March reached its lowest level since 2001, at 6.9% — down from about 10% when Macron was elected. Still, the proportion of jobless people in France is higher than the average in the European Union, which is stable at 6%.
ProLogium CEO Vincent Yang told reporters in Dunkirk his group considered establishing facilities in the U.S., yet eventually chose the European Union as being more a favorable environment to develop innovative battery technology.
France was a relevant choice, Yang said, because “we need to have stable, low-cost, and green electrical power” and Dunkirk, one of the major industrial ports in Europe, already has battery-related facilities. The country relies on nuclear power for 70% of its electricity, offering a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels.
Macron has been one of the most prominent advocates for a strong EU response to the $375 billion U.S. Inflation Reduction Act announced last summer by President Joe Biden to favor clean energy technology.
Earlier this year, the European Union presented plans to revamp its policies on promoting green technologies, unleashing subsidies and other financial incentives to ramp up domestic production.
“We’re going to better target our subsidies on low-emission European productions,” Macron said. “We’re not being protectionist but taxpayers neither in the U.S. nor China fund batteries made in Europe. So why should we be the only place in the world where taxpayers’ money goes to helping non-European products? We’re going to stop doing that.”
He also called last week for a “pause” on EU environmental regulations, arguing the bloc of 27 already imposes tougher rules than its competitors. The comments prompted immediate criticism from French and European Green politicians.
Macron later insisted he was sticking to his climate-related commitments, including all policies aimed at making the EU reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, but said, “Let’s not add more.”
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/business-news/macron-vows-to-build-back-factories-boost-frances-economy-shaken-by-pension-protests/ | 2023-05-15 07:13:27 | 0 | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/business-news/macron-vows-to-build-back-factories-boost-frances-economy-shaken-by-pension-protests/ |
ALEA encourages moving over for disabled vehicles on the roadway after 8 traffic fatalities in Jefferson County over the weekend
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - ALEA is encouraging drivers to try and move over for cars pulled off on the side of the road.
This past weekend, 8 people died in Jefferson County from traffic crashes and two of those victims were hit by another car while they waited next to their broken down vehicles.
Alabama has a “Move Over Law” that says if you see first responder’s flashing lights on the side of the road, you need to get into the other lane. If the other lane isn’t open, the law says you need to reduce your speed by 15mph. But, that law only applies to first responders, not any other driver.
Officials with ALEA tell WBRC drivers are pulling over onto the roadside everyday, and while you aren’t required by law to slow down or move over, it’s safer for everyone. Alabama law says the moment you exit your vehicle, even on a highway, you’re considered a pedestrian and it’s your responsibility to get as far from the roadway as possible. If you have to walk on the road, ALEA officials said to walk facing the cars and try and make eye contact with the drivers.
“The law doesn’t require motorists to pull over for disabled vehicles, however it is a common courtesy,” ALEA’s Corporal Reginal King said. “It creates an area that is conducive for everyone. It’s the pedestrians responsibility to remove themselves as far from the roadway as possible.”
“Motorists don’t realize how dangerous the roadside can be,” ALEA’s Corporal Reginal King said. “For instance, every interstate in Alabama the speed limit is 70 mph, so you have every other vehicle traveling at least 70 mph. There’s only a few feet of distance between the roadside and roadway. Anytime you are parked on that roadside, it is quite dangerous.”
Birmingham Police are investigating the two cases where the victims were waiting for a tow truck, but they tell WBRC that there is no update in either case. They suggest drivers call 911 and a patrol car will come sit with you until you’re safe.
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Copyright 2023 WBRC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/03/16/alea-encourages-moving-over-disabled-vehicles-roadway-after-8-traffic-fatalities-jefferson-county-over-weekend/ | 2023-03-16 03:39:29 | 1 | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/03/16/alea-encourages-moving-over-disabled-vehicles-roadway-after-8-traffic-fatalities-jefferson-county-over-weekend/ |
NEW ORLEANS, March 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- B. Hadley Wilson, MD, FACC, is the new president of the American College of Cardiology. Today marks the first day of his one-year term leading the global cardiovascular organization in its mission to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health.
"Some of the best qualities of the ACC and its members are the commitment to patient care and the shared vision of a world where science, innovation and knowledge optimize and transform cardiovascular care and outcomes for all," Wilson said. "I believe we all really practice what we preach. I am honored to lead an organization dedicated to innovating best practices for a growing number of patients with cardiovascular disease, combating clinician burnout and supporting the cardiovascular workforce, and expanding and diversifying our cardiovascular team."
Wilson is an interventional cardiologist and executive vice chair at Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute/Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Clinical Professor of Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He graduated with honors from Davidson College and subsequently from Duke University School of Medicine. He trained in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University, where he served as chief resident. After completing his cardiology fellowship, Wilson joined Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute as an interventional cardiologist and served as director of the catheterization laboratory and chief of cardiology for 15 years.
Throughout his almost 25 years of ACC membership, Wilson has held numerous leadership positions, including governor of ACC's North Carolina Chapter, chair of the Board of Governors, secretary of the Board of Trustees, and chair-elect of the Governance Committee. He also was chair of the Membership Committee and served on the NCDR Management Board.
Wilson has been extensively involved in international service through the ACC. Since 2019, he has been a senior adviser to the steering committee for the ACC Global Heart Attack Treatment Initiative, a program launched by ACC to improve heart attack outcomes in low- and middle-income countries by encouraging adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy. He has also led numerous cardiology medical missions to other countries, including Haiti, Panama, Nicaragua and Honduras. Wilson is a past co-chair of ACC Latin America and is a past ACC ambassador to Mexico.
"I have been fortunate to observe and learn a tremendous amount about the importance of the ACC around the world for education, leadership, and transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all," he said.
Other new officers for 2023-24 are Vice President Cathleen Biga, MSN, RN, FACC; Board of Trustees Member Sandra J. Lewis, MD, FACC; Finance Committee Chair-Elect Akshay K. Khandelwal, MD, FACC; Board of Governors Chair Nicole Lohr, MD, PhD, FACC; and Board of Governors Chair-Elect Himabindu Vidula, MD, MS, FACC.
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is the global leader in transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all. As the preeminent source of professional medical education for the entire cardiovascular care team since 1949, ACC credentials cardiovascular professionals in over 140 countries who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. Through its world-renowned family of JACC Journals, NCDR registries, ACC Accreditation Services, global network of Member Sections, CardioSmart patient resources and more, the College is committed to ensuring a world where science, knowledge and innovation optimize patient care and outcomes. Learn more at www.ACC.org or follow @ACCinTouch.
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SOURCE American College of Cardiology | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2023/03/06/dr-b-hadley-wilson-is-new-american-college-cardiology-president/ | 2023-03-06 22:55:58 | 0 | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2023/03/06/dr-b-hadley-wilson-is-new-american-college-cardiology-president/ |
You might have noticed a vinyl sign in the window of the cubby next to the South Asian clothier Desi Mall in midtown.
For now, the sign reads: Desi Snacks.
“I might call it Desi Snacks and Sweets,” owner Faiziah Rahman said.
When you walk in to the space at 4662 E. Speedway, you’ll see a glass counter displaying desserts I haven’t seen anywhere else in town: shahi tukra, a sweet sandwich rolled in coconut; burfi, a fudge-like bar flavored of ghee; and gulab jamun, the national dessert of India that resembles a fragrant, cakey doughnut hole.
Faiziah makes the desserts fresh every other day, and had run out of her favorite — baklava — and the fried spiral jalebee by the time I got there.
But if you go up to the counter, Faiziah has special entrees and savory snacks that taste like they were made by a family’s best home cook. The day I went, a sign at the register offered entrees of chicken biryani and chicken wraps. Faiziah's cooking is inspired by flavors found both in Pakistan and India.
Her limited menu can rotate. Items like veggie pulao or chicken tikka might be available when you stop by: you can expect, no matter the order, you'll find something delicious.
Her side dishes are off-menu: that day she had an amazing chana chaat — a hot and spicy chickpea salad garnished with fresh vegetables — and a yogurty dish called dahibara, whose mild flavor seemed like a respite against the fiery, big flavors elsewhere on the menu.
“My weakness are the samosas,” she said. The fried dumplings are filled with fresh vegetables and a spice blend she mixes herself.
At the register, she brought out two ceramic bowls full of curry powder you can use to season to your liking: one was sweeter and the other one was spicy, but both were addictively salty and loaded with flavor you couldn’t find anywhere else. She also brought out a thin, delightfully bitter tamarind chutney (as opposed to the syrupy ones I’ve had elsewhere) from the fridge and a sweeter dipping sauce for the samosas.
The restaurant has a few tables for indoor seating, and a large catering menu from pre-pandemic days. If you ask, she’ll show it to you, but note that the prices have changed since due to inflation.
Desi Snacks and Sweets
Location: 4662 E. Speedway
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday | 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday | Call 520-405-7071 to confirm hours.
Price: Chicken biryani entree costs $10.99. Snacks and sweets range from $1-$5 each. | https://tucson.com/thisistucson/eat/hidden-gem-find-homey-indian-and-pakistani-food-in-this-strip-mall/article_f79afce4-2329-11ed-ad8e-736d252299d9.html | 2022-08-24 00:05:52 | 0 | https://tucson.com/thisistucson/eat/hidden-gem-find-homey-indian-and-pakistani-food-in-this-strip-mall/article_f79afce4-2329-11ed-ad8e-736d252299d9.html |
Company signs on as corporate affiliate to diversify talent pipeline in support of military community
PITTSBURGH, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of retail and franchise locations across the U.S., a thriving e-commerce business and a need to staff up to support consumer demand, GNC is positioned for growth. To deliver, the company is investing in its commitment to the military community, launching a U.S. based partnership with the University of Health & Performance to form a dedicated Veteran hiring initiative company-wide the goal of which is to hire over 1,000 program participants over the next two years.
Founded by CEO Matt Hesse, a former GNC associate, franchise operator, Army Veteran and the Founder and Former CEO of PERFORMIX (a sports brand sold at GNC), the University of Health & Performance leverages his four-dimensional, integrated curriculum known as The Purpose Blueprint, to support the distinct needs of Veterans, empowering them to discover a new purpose and way to serve, though fitness and health.
"GNC played a fundamental role in my transition after service, offering stability and community during a time of change," said Hesse. "I joined GNC as an associate and was immediately drawn to its mission and commitment to supporting consumers through innovation and science-driven advancements. Building upon the company's mission to Live Well, I expanded my role; going on to own 12 units as a franchisee and developing the disruptive supplement brand, PERFORMIX."
As part of its affiliation, GNC is working with the University of Health & Performance to craft custom programming to equip graduates with the skills necessary to join the company as associates following graduation. Together, the organizations are aligning on core competencies, training opportunities, and leveraging the University's coaches to help develop and position potential candidates for success at GNC via a formal veteran recruitment pipeline.
"Active military and veterans have been a major part of the GNC community since the beginning, and we are passionate about supporting their transition to civilian life as part of the GNC family," said Nate Frazier, Chief Operating Officer, GNC. "We are actively pursuing ways to empower veterans throughout the company, and our partnership with the University of Health & Performance will allow us to drive meaningful value across all levels of the business."
In addition to Hesse, the University of Health & Performance boasts a strong coaching staff comprised of experts including former Army Special Forces coach, Hunter Schurrer, former Head of Mental Performance for the Toronto Blue Jays, Ben Freakley, and former Director of Whole Health Education at the Department of Veteran's Affairs, Kelly Howard, as Head of Education.
This relationship will complement GNC's existing engagement with Jay Glazer's Merging Vets and Players.
To learn more about GNC, visit www.gnc.com.
About GNC
GNC is a leading global health and wellness brand that provides high-quality, science-based products and solutions consumers need to live mighty, live fit and live well.
The brand touches consumers worldwide by providing its products and services through company-owned retail locations, domestic and international franchise locations, digital commerce and strong wholesale and retail partnerships across the globe. GNC's diversified, multi-channel business model has worldwide reach and a well-recognized, trusted brand. By combining exceptional innovation, product development capabilities and an extensive global distribution network, GNC manages a best-in-class product portfolio. www.gnc.com.
About the University of Health & Performance
The University of Health & Performance (UHP) is a wellness-based educational institution on a mission to empower students to discover purpose and new career paths, though fitness and health. UHP teaches a four-dimensional, integrated curriculum known as "The Purpose Blueprint," where students set goals in four key pillars of: How to Think, Train, Feel, & Lead. The immersive experience held on 500 acres in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas, gives students the tools to identify their purpose, while building a focused plan to live it. Students train and live in world class facilities designed by a top NYC architecture firm. Graduates are certified as accredited health and fitness trainers and receive continued mentorship, job placement support, and counseling through UHP's graduate support program.
UHP was founded in January 2022, by Matt Hesse in Bentonville, AR. Hesse has an extensive history working within, and on behalf of the Veteran population. He also serves on the President of the United States Council for Fitness and Sports. For more information visit www.university-hp.com
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SOURCE GNC | https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_pennsylvania/gnc-establishes-veteran-hiring-initiative-through-university-of-health-performance-partnership/article_62c24a47-f1ec-557d-8825-cc121ce0a0e7.html | 2022-06-07 15:37:45 | 1 | https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_pennsylvania/gnc-establishes-veteran-hiring-initiative-through-university-of-health-performance-partnership/article_62c24a47-f1ec-557d-8825-cc121ce0a0e7.html |
Models covered by Hyundai and Kia anti-theft software update
About 8.3 million Hyundais and Kias dating to the 2011 model year can be stolen easily by using just a screwdriver and a USB cord, creating an auto-theft outbreak across the U.S.
The cars lack theft immobilizers, whereby computer chips in the car keys and the steering columns must recognize each other before the engines will start.
The wave of thefts began in 2021 and spread nationally as a result of instructional videos posted on TikTok and other social media sites. Some police departments report continued rampant thefts despite the automakers’ unveiling of anti-theft software nearly three months ago.
Here are the vehicles covered by the software upgrade:
____
Hyundai:
2018-2022 Accent
2011-2022 Elantra
2013-2020 Elantra GT
2018-2022 Kona
2013-2022 Santa Fe
2013-2018 Santa Fe Sport
2019 Santa Fe XL
2011-2019 Sonata
2011-2022 Tucson
2012-2017 and 2019-2021 Veloster
2020-2021 Venue
2013-2014 Genesis Coupe
2020-2021 Palisade.
_____
Kia:
2011-2022 Sportage
2011-2020 Optima
2011-2022 Sorento,
2011-2021 Forte
2020-2022 Soul,
2012-2021 Rio
2011-2021 Sedona,
2021-2022 Seltos
2021-2022 K5.
Kia says it began adding immobilizers in the factory in 2021, so few 2022 model year vehicles were built without them.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/business-news/models-covered-by-hyundai-and-kia-anti-theft-software-update/ | 2023-05-09 15:07:53 | 0 | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/business-news/models-covered-by-hyundai-and-kia-anti-theft-software-update/ |
HONOLULU (KHON) — Pat Sajak has been the host of the “Wheel of Fortune” for 41 years. KHON’s Howard Dashefsky sat down with Sajak to talk about his impending retirement.
Here is what the People’s Choice and Emmy Award-winning game show host had to say:
Pat Sajak: “Yeah, it’s a celebratory mixed with melancholy. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. I’ve known that this was coming, and I talked about it with good friends and Joe and my family. So I’ve had time to get used to the idea. It’s not like I woke up the other day and said, ‘You know, it’s over.’ So there’s that. But it’s mixed emotions sure.”
Sajak is in Honolulu to star in a play with his longtime pal Joe Moore, who is a KHON news anchor as well as an actor.
Dashefsky asked Sajak about any plans he may have after he retires or if he plans on simply walking into the sunset.
Pat Sajak: “I’m realistic enough to know the people aren’t gonna be banging my door down. But I’ll take projects if they come. But I suspect most of my time will be whittling on the front porch, but I don’t know how to whittle and I don’t have a front porch so that’ll be a challenge.”
You can catch Pat Sajak at the Hawaii Theater starring in the comedy The Sunshine Boys, the story of two aging comedians who ended their act eight years earlier and now must overcome their differences for a movie comeback.
Also starring in this production are KHON’s Moore and his son, Bryce, who is a news reporter at the station making his stage debut. | https://www.kron4.com/news/national/im-realistic-pat-sajak-speaks-candidly-about-his-future-beyond-wheel-of-fortune/ | 2023-06-15 20:41:58 | 0 | https://www.kron4.com/news/national/im-realistic-pat-sajak-speaks-candidly-about-his-future-beyond-wheel-of-fortune/ |
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, Peter L. Saltonstall, President and CEO, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), issued the following statement:
"The Inflation Reduction Act is a significant step forward in helping ensure that individuals and families with rare diseases have access to the comprehensive health care they need to survive and thrive.
The extension of enhanced Advanced Premium Tax Credits for three years will keep quality health insurance accessible to millions of Americans, and the creation of an annual out-of-pocket cap on prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries will provide a vital protection to patients who struggle to afford their medications.
NORD is pleased to see that Congress did not include damaging changes to the Orphan Drug Tax Credit (ODTC) within the Inflation Reduction Act. We advocated tirelessly on behalf of the over 25 million Americans with a rare disease to preserve this critical incentive when significant changes to the ODTC were considered by Congress last fall. We are grateful the current 25% tax credit for clinical trial testing services remains unchanged and believe it is a critical tool to help foster robust rare disease drug development. We applaud the federal commitment shown to ensure access to safe and effective treatment for rare disease populations is maintained, and future research efforts for new therapies are incentivized by protecting the ODTC.
While this bill includes provisions important to individuals and families facing rare diseases, the work of our leaders on Capitol Hill is not done. NORD has elevated rare community voices for generations, and we will continue to work closely with lawmakers in Congress and the Biden Administration on the implementation of this legislation and on future efforts to improve the lives of people living with rare disorders."
To learn more about NORD's policy work, visit: http://bit.ly/Policy-Issues.
About the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is the leading independent advocacy organization representing all patients and families affected by rare diseases in the United States. NORD began as a small group of patient advocates that formed a coalition to unify and mobilize support to pass the Orphan Drug Act of 1983. Since then, the organization has led the way in voicing the needs of the rare disease community, driving supportive policies, furthering education, advancing medical research, and providing patient and family services for those who need them most. Together with over 330 disease-specific member organizations, more than 17,000 Rare Action Network advocates across all 50 states, and national and global partners, NORD delivers on its mission to improve the lives of those impacted by rare diseases. Visit rarediseases.org.
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SOURCE National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/12/nord-statement-passage-inflation-reduction-act/ | 2022-08-13 01:16:54 | 0 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/12/nord-statement-passage-inflation-reduction-act/ |
The Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, says a suspect has been arrested over the kidnapping of four Americans — two of whom were found dead on Tuesday.
Copyright 2023 NPR
The Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, says a suspect has been arrested over the kidnapping of four Americans — two of whom were found dead on Tuesday.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/2023-03-07/two-of-the-four-u-s-citizens-kidnapped-in-northern-mexico-have-been-killed | 2023-03-07 23:06:27 | 1 | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/2023-03-07/two-of-the-four-u-s-citizens-kidnapped-in-northern-mexico-have-been-killed |
GENEVA (AP) — Ukraine’s top soccer club on Monday urged FIFA to remove Iran from the World Cup because of the country’s alleged military support to the Russian invasion.
Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin accused Iran of “direct participation in terrorist attacks on Ukrainians,” suggesting his own country’s team should play in Qatar instead as a replacement.
“This will be a fair decision that should draw the attention of the whole world to a regime that kills its best people and helps kill Ukrainians,” Palkin said in a statement one day before his team plays at Celtic in the Champions League.
The White House said Thursday that the U.S. has evidence that Iranian troops are “directly engaged on the ground” in Crimea supporting Russian drone attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and civilian population. And the head of Ukraine’s intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov, said in a published interview on Monday that Russian forces had used about 330 Iranian-built “Shahed” drones as of Saturday — and that more had been ordered.
Russia and Iran have both denied that the drones used were Iranian-built.
Iran plays in the second game of the World Cup, on Nov. 21 against England, and then faces Wales and the United States in Group B. Wales qualified by beating Ukraine in the playoffs in June in a game that was delayed from March by the war.
FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, if an Asian team was suspended there would be no precedent for FIFA to replace it with a European team at the World Cup.
Soccer’s world body does not typically suspend member federations because of military decisions by a national government, though Yugoslavia was barred from trying to qualify for the 1994 World Cup after United Nations sanctions were imposed during the war in the Balkans.
FIFA has suspended Russian teams following its invasion of Ukraine, which barred Russia from playing in the World Cup qualifying playoffs in March. FIFA cited risks to the security and integrity of its competitions, and Russia’s scheduled opponent Poland had refused to play that game.
FIFA is also resisting calls this month from Iranian fan groups to suspend the national team during a national crackdown on street protests in support of women’s rights and because of a long-time policy stopping women from freely attending games in soccer and other sports.
FIFA normally only suspends national teams when the country’s government is judged to have interfered in the independent running of the national soccer federation.
Five Asian confederation teams advanced to the World Cup to join host Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates was the next best in qualifying. The UAE lost a regional playoff in June to Australia ahead of the intercontinental playoffs.
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.pahomepage.com/sports/ap-ukrainian-club-urges-fifa-to-remove-iran-from-world-cup/ | 2022-10-25 03:54:32 | 1 | https://www.pahomepage.com/sports/ap-ukrainian-club-urges-fifa-to-remove-iran-from-world-cup/ |
GRAND PORTAGE — Keith Aili won the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon on Tuesday, crossing the finish line along Lake Superior in Grand Portage at about 2:59 p.m. with 8 dogs.
The Ray, Minnesota, musher took the lead late Monday when he caught up with defending champion Ryan Anderson's team.
Keith Aili has won the Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon pic.twitter.com/BHB9z7Kvwo
— Jimmy Lovrien (@JimmyLovrien) January 31, 2023
Anderson, who left the last checkpoint 12 minutes behind Aili with 9 dogs, finished about 8 minutes later. Sarah Keefer was in third with 10 dogs.
The nearly 300-mile-long race began Sunday at Billy's Bar in Duluth and followed snowmobile trails along the North Shore and Gunflint Trail.
Racers are finishing at the Grand Portage Lodge and Casino.
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This year's field saw 17 teams start the race. Two dropped out as of Tuesday afternoon.
This story will be updated; check back for updates. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/aili-wins-beargrease-sled-dog-marathon | 2023-01-31 21:56:45 | 1 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/aili-wins-beargrease-sled-dog-marathon |
A bipartisan group reintroduced a bill for a three-option referendum on Puerto Rico’s political status as a state or an independent nation Thursday, testing the consensus plan’s viability in a new political environment.
A nearly identical bill cleared the then-Democratic-led House in December, leaving little time for the Senate to consider the bill as the 117th Congress gave way to a divided Capitol this year.
“One of the biggest challenges last time, it took us so long to get an agreement — almost a year, right?” said Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón (R-P.R.).
“So finally we got an agreement. It was the end of the last Congress,” she added. “So now filing this bill early in this Congress would allow all of us to work not just to have a hearing, but to actually see the bill and get something done at the Senate at the same time.”
The Puerto Rico Status Act is essentially a deal struck between González-Colón, an ardent supporter of statehood, and Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) a supporter of self-determination with deep roots in the pro-commonwealth political movement in Puerto Rico.
Under the bill as currently written, Puerto Ricans would go to the polls in 2025 to choose between statehood, independence, and independence followed by a compact of free association with the United States. In the event no choice wins an outright majority of voters, a runoff would be held between the top two.
The González-Colón and Velázquez agreement is significant because it does not include the option for Puerto Rico to remain a U.S. territory, a status that many have decried as colonialist.
While the bill was hailed as a paradigm-breaking model to advance a standoff that’s engulfed Puerto Rican politics since at least the 1950s, it’s been written off as unrealistic in the current political climate.
House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) panned it on the House floor in December.
“It’s bad policy. I don’t see how anybody can read this bill and think there are not problems with it, [that] there is not a lack of logic. There’s incoherence in the text of the bill, and it’s taking us to a position where we would make bad decisions,” Westerman said.
While he said he had issues with the substance of the legislation, his criticism was mainly directed at its timing, which didn’t allow for an amendment process or regular consideration by the Natural Resources Committee, which oversees the territory.
For some of the measure’s supporters, that’s a window of opportunity.
Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the top Democrat on the panel, said “step number one” is to approach Westerman to ask for a hearing.
“Which I will do,” said Grijalva, who, along with Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), sponsored the negotiations between González-Colón and Velázquez.
“Ask for a hearing and move from there, regardless of what their position might be on it or not, I think it merits a hearing. It did the last time; it’s significant, it’s important.”
The legislation’s proponents hope that by filing it just over 100 days into the current Congress, it will have time to go through regular order, regardless of opposition from key lawmakers such as Westerman.
The Hill has reached out to Westerman for further comment.
Even with ample legislative time ahead of it, the bill faces political headwinds.
For one, Puerto Rican Gov. Pedro Pierluisi (D) is up for reelection next year and could face a primary challenge within the pro-statehood New Progressive Party (PNP), of which González-Colón is also a member.
And the presidential election is already sucking the air out of other issues, even though it’s more than 18 months away.
Although the bill has bipartisan support — in addition to González-Colón, Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.) attended its unveiling Thursday — the idea of Puerto Rico statehood is more closely tied to Democrats.
“The impression I have is [Republicans think] that supporting statehood means there will automatically be two Democratic senators and four Democratic representatives,” said Pierluisi.
“I am the first who, as a Democrat, would tell them that in all likelihood that will not be the case, that we will have members from both parties.”
Though Puerto Rico’s sole congressional seat was occupied by Democrats from the end of World War II until the end of the 20th century, two of the four resident commissioners elected in the 21st century have been Democrats, including Pierluisi, and two have been Republicans, including González-Colón.
Pierluisi said the gubernatorial election should not interfere with the bill’s progress.
For one, the governor said the 2024 election will differ from the 2020 one, where voters largely punished the two major parties, his PNP and the Popular Democratic Party, giving rise to smaller political movements and parties.
Though voters spread their choices, more than 52 percent of voters chose statehood in a nonbinding referendum on the 2020 ballot.
“The last elections were unusual, they were unique, and I’m sure that scenario will not repeat itself,” Pierluisi said.
Pierluisi and the PNP, a party whose membership includes both Republicans and Democrats at the federal level, are betting Puerto Rico’s economic headwinds and the prospects for statehood will give them a boost among the electorate.
“What we will see in this election is a strengthened New Progressive Party with a substantial majority vote,” predicted the governor. | https://cbs4indy.com/hill-politics/push-to-change-puerto-rico-status-faces-new-challenges/ | 2023-04-21 19:47:46 | 0 | https://cbs4indy.com/hill-politics/push-to-change-puerto-rico-status-faces-new-challenges/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The U.S. House of Representatives had broad support from lawmakers Wednesday in passing a debt ceiling and budget cuts package. While the bill passed in a 314-117 vote, lawmakers from around the Pacific Northwest cast their votes on both sides.
The 99-page bill raises the limit of how much money the U.S. federal government can borrow to pay its bills until 2025 and avoids a federal default. It also establishes new limits on government spending.
In a way, it’s a win-win for Biden, who had hoped to raise the debt ceiling to avoid the looming potential fallout that could result from defaulting on loans, and for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was pursuing Republicans’ goal of limiting government spending.
The bill aims to limit federal budget growth to 1% for the next six years, but that provision would not be enforceable starting in 2025.
The Congressional Budget Office, on Tuesday, projected the bill would reduce budget deficits by about $1.5 trillion over the next decade.
Part of the cuts involved rescinding about $30 billion in unspent COVID-19 relief money that had been approved by lawmakers through previous bills. It takes back funding that had been promised to federal programs that provide rental assistance, small business loans and broadband for rural areas.
The bill also takes away some of the money that was allotted to the IRS in 2022 to crack down on tax fraud, rescinding $1.4 billion.
The agreement also adjusts work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and would require able-bodied recipients of the benefits to work up to age 54 rather than the current age limit of 49. The new age would go into effect by 2025.
The deal also makes it harder to waive work requirements for SNAP for certain people. The agreement would lower the number of exemptions a state can issue.
Republicans had hoped the agreement could put an end to Biden’s plan to waive $10,000 to $20,000 in student loan debt for federal borrowers, but that didn’t make it into the package. Instead, Biden agreed to put an end to the pause on student loan repayment. This means the pause would end at the end of August.
Republicans had also hoped to repeal many of the clean energy tax credits Democrats passed in 2022, but that also did not make it into the package.
Among Oregon and Washington U.S. representatives, the majority voted in favor of the bill, but a few stood firm against it.
In Oregon, Democrats Earl Blumenauer and Andrea Salinas, and Republicans Cliff Bentz and Lori-Chavez-DeRemer voted in support of the bill passing.
Democrats Suzanne Bonamici and Val Hoyle opposed it.
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat for Washington’s 3rd District in the Southwestern part of the state, also voted in support of the bill.
“This bill, H.R. 3746, the ‘Fiscal Responsibility Act,’ is the result of Speaker McCarthy forcing President Biden to the bargaining table, where our team was able to negotiate a truly meaningful deal, giving me – and the entire House of Representatives – the opportunity to vote for the largest spending cut in U.S. history,” Bentz said in a statement.
Blumenauer, who’s a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee and the Budget Committee, said this is not the bill he would have written, but he refused to alow Republicans to crash the economy.
“Congress may have averted catastrophe, but it doesn’t mean that there was not a real cost to America’s stature. We should use the clear words in the 14th amendment, which states the validity of our public debt ‘shall not be questioned,’ to abolish the debt ceiling and end this cycle. America, and the world, deserves better,” he said.
Salinas also issued a statement saying she’s not fully satisfied with the bill, but hopes it allows lawmakers to move forward on other issues.
“A default would have jeopardized the hard-earned benefits, livelihoods, and lifesavings of tens of thousands of Oregonians in the Sixth District — and this deal, while imperfect, will help avert fiscal calamity,” she said.
Like Bentz, Chavez-DeRemer said she supports the spending cuts that made it into the bill.
“While protecting Social Security, Medicare, veterans’ programs, and national defense priorities, the Fiscal Responsibility Act will prevent inflation from getting worse by limiting future spending growth, rescinding $29 billion in unobligated and unspent COVID funds, and implementing permitting changes that would streamline construction projects and create good-paying union jobs in Oregon,” she said.
Bonamici, who voted against the bill, said it would be devastating for the country to default, but she could not in good conscience vote for a bill she believes would harm some of the most vulnerable people in the U.S.
“Although I am grateful that the deal doesn’t include some of the House GOP’s most egregious demands—such as gutting Medicaid and repealing clean energy tax credits—the budget cuts and burdensome work requirements will harm the people safety net programs like SNAP are designed to help,” she said.
In a blunt tweet, Hoyle said she voted against the Fiscal Responsibility Act because it “screws over working people.”
“We should be passing a clean bill to pay for what we’ve already bought, exactly as Republicans supported under Reagan and Trump. Instead, we got a messy bill that guts environmental protections, greenlights a fossil fuel pipeline, strips essential government programs & takes food from the mouths of the most vulnerable members of our society,” she wrote.
The bill now moves to the Senate where Democratic and Republican leaders have both indicated they hope to move it through a vote quickly.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.koin.com/news/politics/oregon-washington-lawmakers-split-votes-on-debt-limit-bill/ | 2023-06-01 19:14:41 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/news/politics/oregon-washington-lawmakers-split-votes-on-debt-limit-bill/ |
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Russia may pull out of a wartime deal that allows the export of Ukrainian grain to global markets if the West fails to remove obstacles to Russian agricultural exports, Moscow’s top diplomat suggested Friday.
The deal, which was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July, unblocked shipments that were stuck in Ukraine’s blockaded and mined ports, alleviating rising food prices and threat of hunger in some countries.
A separate agreement aimed to facilitate the export of Russian fertilizers and grain. Moscow has repeatedly complained that the deal failed to work for Russian agricultural exports, which have had trouble reaching world markets due to Western sanctions.
Speaking at a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters that Russia agreed last month to extend the deal for 60 days – instead of the 120 days set under a previous extension – to send a warning signal to the West.
“After we extended the deal for 120 days, we saw no indication that those issues could be solved and grew tired of appealing to the conscience of those who determine it,” Lavrov said of Moscow’s dissatisfaction. ”We made a small escalatory move and offered to extend the deal only for 60 days on the assumption that if there is no change in removing the obstacles to the exports of Russian fertilizers and grain, we would think whether the deal is needed.”
Lavrov shrugged off the West’s argument that Russian food and fertilizers are not subject to sanctions. He noted that “obstacles related to financing, logistics, transportation and insurance of Russian exports have remained and even have grown tougher.”
Experts say private shipping and insurance companies remain cautious about handling Russian commodities amid the war in Ukraine, although Russian wheat shipments were at or near record highs in November, December and January, according to financial data provider Refinitiv.
Lavrov said the West has effectively blocked the U.N-Turkey agreement on Russian agricultural exports and “that’s why we’ve asked for letters of comfort from certain governments.”
Instead of agreeing to another extension later this year, Russia may decide to cooperate directly with Turkey and Qatar to ensure grain gets to the countries that need it.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, whose country joined the U.N. and Ukraine in pressing for a 120-day extension before the deal on Ukrainian exports expired last month, said he and Lavrov “agreed that the obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertilizer should be removed immediately.”
“We value the continuation of the deal,” Cavusoglu said. “This is not only important for Ukraine’s and Russia’s grain and fertilizer exports. It is also important in terms of reducing the world food crisis and especially the problem experienced by every household in the world.”
Lavrov’s warning echoed one from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said last month that Moscow could end its participation in the initiative if its conditions were not met. Putin said Russia expected the facilitation of exports of its own agricultural products as part of a package agreement.
Lavrov and Cavusoglu also discussed Russian efforts to forge a reconciliation between Turkey and Syria. Earlier this week, Moscow hosted the deputy foreign ministers of Turkey, Syria and Iran to facilitate the rapprochement.
Turkey has backed armed opposition groups that have sought to overthrow President Bashar Assad’s government during the Syrian civil war. Turkey has control over large swaths of territory in northwestern Syria, and Damascus is pressing for the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syria as a prerequisite for a normalization of ties.
Turkey, for its part, is looking for security guarantees, including regarding Kurdish militants in Syria that Ankara considers to be terrorists.
“We know that not all issues can be settled in one or two meetings,” Cavusoglu said. “But the dialogue needs to continue and it would be beneficial if the consultations continue in the same way.”
___
Isachenkov reported from Moscow.
___
See AP’s complete coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.wowktv.com/news/u-s-world/russia-west-must-remove-obstacles-to-its-grain-exports/ | 2023-04-07 20:04:33 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/u-s-world/russia-west-must-remove-obstacles-to-its-grain-exports/ |
Biden makes late push for West Coast Democrats ahead of midterms
PORTLAND, Ore. - President Joe Biden strode into the telephone bank at a crowded union hall and eagerly began making calls and eating doughnuts — one frosted, one glazed — as he tries every page in the political playbook to deliver votes for Democrats.
"What a governor does matters," Biden said in a pep talk to volunteers who were making Friday night calls for gubernatorial hopeful Tina Kotek and other candidates. "It matters! It matters, it matters, it matters!"
Before leaving Portland on Saturday, the president attended a union hall reception for Kotek as he tried to boost her chances in a three-way race that could cost Democrats a reliably blue governor's seat. He also gave a speech at a community center, warning that his administration's progress "goes away, gone" if Republicans take control of Congress in the midterm elections.
It was the final stop on a four-day swing through Oregon, California and Colorado that has encapsulated Biden's strategy for turning out voters on Election Day, Nov. 8: flex the levers of government to help boost candidates, promote an agenda aimed at strengthening an uncertain economy and haul in campaign cash.
And this: show up for candidates when Biden can be helpful, steer clear of places where a visit from a president with approval ratings under 50% isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Throughout the trip, Biden had to compete for the spotlight and contend with a troubling new inflation report and rising gas prices.
"Folks are still struggling. We can’t kid ourselves about that," Biden said Saturday.
He touted Democratic legislation that he says will fight climate change with clean energy incentives and limit the cost of prescription drugs, saying that "we’re fighting for folks who need our help."
READ MORE: Trump super PAC reserves millions in airtime in key states
In Oregon, Democratic officials hope that Biden can help consolidate the party’s support behind Kotek. The party is in danger of losing the governor’s race in the traditional Democratic stronghold as Betsy Johnson — who has quit both the Democratic and Republican parties — has run a well-financed race against Kotek and the GOP nominee Christine Drazan.
US President Joe Biden speaks alongside Tina Kotek (R), the Democratic nominee for governor of Oregon, during an Oregon Democrats grassroots phone banking event at SEIU Local 49 in Portland, Oregon, October 14, 2022. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo
The settings throughout the president's trip were tailor-made for him.
In Los Angeles on Thursday, at a construction site for an extension on the city’s subway line, he spoke about his massive infrastructure law. Giant cranes rose up behind him as he stood before bulldozers and excavators. Many on hand were hard-hat workers in construction orange.
The stop neatly combined many of Biden's agenda's successes: investments in infrastructure, job creation, fighting climate change by promoting mass transit.
"When you see these projects in your neighborhood -- cranes going up, shovels in the ground, lives being changed -- I want you to feel the way I do: pride," Biden said. "Pride in what we can do when we do it together. This is what I mean when I say we’re building a better America."
But his remarks came as the government reported that consumer prices, excluding volatile food and energy costs, jumped 6.6% in September from a year ago — the fastest such pace in four decades. Biden acknowledged that people were being "squeezed by the cost of living. It’s been true for years, and folks don’t need a report to tell them they’re being squeezed."
RELATED: How many Americans vote? Map shows voter turnout by state
Democratic candidates have been far more likely to appear with Biden at official White House events underscoring their achievements than at overt campaign events. In California, Biden was joined by state lawmakers and the city's mayor, and he called them out individually. Rep. Karen Bass, who is running for mayor of Los Angeles, made a takeout run with Biden to a taco shop.
Biden raised $5 million at a fundraiser in the Brentwood backyard of TV producer Marcy Carsey. Guests included fashion designer Tom Ford and actor-filmmaker Rob Reiner.
In Colorado, the president designated the first national monument of his administration at Camp Hale, a World War II-era training site, with a group of Democrats by his side. His audience in a canyon of stunning views, tall pines and bright yellow aspens included Sen. Michael Bennet, who is facing a tough reelection campaign and had worked for the new monument. Democrats hope the designation, popular in the state, will boost Bennet's numbers.
Early voting is underway in California and begins next week in Oregon and Colorado. The president notably stayed away from states where his presence could hurt Democrats, so far skipping Nevada and Arizona, where Democratic senators are tough races.
Democrats are trying to retain power in the face of widespread economic uncertainty and the traditional midterm headwinds against the party in power. Republicans, aiming to regain the House and Senate, think they can capitalize on gas prices, inflation and the economy.
During his taco stop, Biden’s chicken quesadilla order ran to $16.45, but he handed the clerk $60 and asked him to use the change to pay the next patron’s bill.
It was the kind of personal connection Biden loves. But while the moment was unfolding, the headlines in Los Angeles focused on a bitter City Council clash over racist remarks, while in Washington, it was all about how the House voted to subpoena former President Donald Trump on his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. | https://www.fox29.com/news/biden-makes-late-push-for-west-coast-democrats-ahead-of-midterms | 2022-10-16 00:32:41 | 1 | https://www.fox29.com/news/biden-makes-late-push-for-west-coast-democrats-ahead-of-midterms |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California avoided rolling outages during extreme heat, as operators of the state’s electricity grid continued to warn that unprecedented demand on energy supplies could force them to periodically cut power to some customers.
The California Independent System Operator on Wednesday thanked residents and businesses for heeding another “flex alert,” a request to reduce electricity consumption during peak evening hours.
“With your help, we made it through another day without rotating #poweroutages,” Cal-ISO said on Twitter. Another flex alert was issued for Thursday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. as temperatures were expected to spike again.
Targeted blackouts were avoided a day after miscommunication led utilities to mistakenly cut power to customers in several California cities.
The confusion occurred Tuesday afternoon between a dispatcher at the Northern California Power Agency, which owns and operates power generating facilities for 16 members including a dozen cities, and the California Independent System Operator as the grid it manages was perilously close to running out of energy amid record-breaking temperatures.
“That is certainly concerning to me,” Elliot Mainzer, president and CEO of Cal-ISO, said Wednesday. “There was a lot happening on the grid for everybody last night. And so we’ll double down on the communication to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
With record demand on power supplies across the West, California snapped its record energy use around 5 p.m. Tuesday with 52,061 megawatts, far above the previous high of 50,270 megawatts set July 24, 2006.
As residents and businesses cranked air-conditioning to escape withering heat across the West and solar power supplies began to wane, Cal-ISO issued a stage 3 energy emergency alert to prepare utilities to initiate outages if demand didn’t decrease. The state’s legal marijuana regulatory agency also urged businesses to turn off lights and reduce power or use backup generators.
The Northern California Power Agency said its dispatcher misinterpreted Cal-ISO’s order to prepare to cut power and immediately undertook the process to cut 46 megawatts — enough to serve about 35,000 customers — in the cities of Alameda, Lodi, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Healdsburg, and Ukiah.
It wasn’t clear how many customers lost power, though the agency said no outage lasted more than an hour.
“Once the outages had been initiated, our dispatcher contacted (Cal-ISO) to inform them that the curtailment action had been undertaken, and was then notified there had been a misunderstanding of the initial order,” NCPA said.
With the state on the brink of outages, Gov. Gavin Newsom for the first time triggered a wireless emergency alert system at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday that sent messages to 27 million cellphones urging them to turn off or reduce non-essential power.
Within moments, there was a reduction of more than 2,000 megawatts, bringing the state “back from the edge,” Mainzer said.
“It took a very loud signal,” Mainzer said. “I think they now recognize that we’re not messing around. This is a real issue. And we need real response.”
Newsom, speaking Wednesday in Beverly Hills, said he had debated pushing that button for the past four to five days. He ultimately decided to test it and concluded it was a game- changer, though he’s reluctant to use it too often because he fears weakening its effectiveness. The emergency alert was not repeated Wednesday.
Western states are struggling through one of the hottest and longest September heat waves on record. Temperatures began soaring last week, and the National Weather Service warned that dangerous heat could continue through Friday, despite some slight moderation.
Nearly 54 million people were under heat warnings and advisories across the West as temperature records were shattered in many areas.
California’s state capital of Sacramento hit an all-time high Tuesday of 116 degrees (46.7 C), breaking a 97-year-old record. Salt Lake City tied its all-time high temperature Wednesday at 107 degrees (41.6 C). The heat wave was expected to last until Saturday.
Reno, which sits just across the Nevada line along the Sierra’s eastern front at an elevation of 4,500 feet (1,372 meters), topped the century mark for the ninth day in a row on Wednesday with its seventh consecutive daily record-high — reaching 104 degrees (40 C) after recording its hottest September day ever on Tuesday at 106 degrees (41.1 C), according to weather service records dating to 1893.
Scientists say climate change has made the West warmer and drier over the last three decades and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. In the last five years, California has experienced the largest and most destructive fires in state history.
On the Northern Plains, the unusually late heat wave peaked Wednesday following a prolonged string of scorching days.
Along a main thoroughfare in downtown Billings, where the temperature set a daily record at 102 degrees (39 C), Gale Spotted Bear, native of the Blackfeet Reservation, sought shelter from the punishing heat in the shade of a vacant building.
“This year has been hotter than hell,” said Spotted Bear, adding that homeless people can be hit the hardest if they have nowhere to go. “It’s hard out here.”
___
Associated Press writers Christopher Weber in Los Angeles; Michael R. Blood in Beverly Hills; Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada; and Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana, contributed to this report. | https://www.kron4.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-california-avoids-outages-after-day-of-grid-straining-heat/ | 2022-09-08 20:59:07 | 0 | https://www.kron4.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-california-avoids-outages-after-day-of-grid-straining-heat/ |
The 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic Odds & Preview: Chez Reavie
Following the third round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Chez Reavie is in 20th place at -12.
Looking to place a bet on Chez Reavie at the Rocket Mortgage Classic this week? Keep reading for the statistics you need to know before you make your picks.
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Chez Reavie Insights
- Over his last 19 rounds, Reavie has finished below par on 10 occasions, while also carding two bogey-free rounds and 13 rounds with a better-than-average score.
- He has recorded a top-five score in five of his last 19 rounds, while ranking among the top 10 scores of the day six times.
- Over his last 19 rounds, Reavie has finished within three strokes of the best score of the round five times, and within five strokes of the top score of the day on 11 occasions.
- In his past five tournaments, Reavie has finished in the top five once.
- In his past five tournaments, Reavie has finished within five shots of the leader once. He posted a score that was better than average three times.
- Reavie will try to make the cut for the seventh straight event by making it to the weekend in this tournament.
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Over the last year
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Rocket Mortgage Classic Insights and Stats
- In Reavie's previous three appearances at this tournament, he has finished in the top 20 once. His average finish has been 20th.
- Reavie has made the cut in one of his past three appearances at this tournament.
- Reavie finished 20th when he last played this event, which was in 2023.
- This course is set up to play at 7,370 yards, 344 more than the average course on the Tour in the past year.
- The average course Reavie has played i the last year (7,309 yards) is 61 yards shorter than the course he'll be playing this week (7,370).
Reavie's Last Time Out
- Reavie finished in the 33rd percentile on the 16 par-3 holes at the Travelers Championship, with an average of par.
- His 3.73-stroke average on the 48 par-4 holes at the Travelers Championship was strong, putting him in the 94th percentile of the field.
- Reavie was better than 76% of the field at the Travelers Championship on the tournament's eight par-5 holes, averaging 4.25 strokes per hole compared to the field average, which was 4.55.
- Reavie recorded a birdie or better on three of 16 par-3s at the Travelers Championship, better than the field average of 2.0.
- On the 16 par-3s at the Travelers Championship, Reavie carded more bogeys or worse (three) than the tournament average (1.7).
- Reavie's 15 birdies or better on the 48 par-4s at the Travelers Championship were more than the field average (7.6).
- In that last outing, Reavie's par-4 performance (on 48 holes) included a bogey or worse two times (better than the field's average, 4.8).
- Reavie finished the Travelers Championship with a birdie or better on five of the eight par-5s, more than the tournament average of 2.9.
- The field at the Travelers Championship averaged 0.6 bogeys or worse on the eight par-5s, but Reavie finished without one.
Rocket Mortgage Classic Time and Date Info
- Date: June 29 - July 2, 2023
- Course: Detroit Golf Club
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
- Par: 72 / 7,370 yards
- Reavie Odds to Win: +100000 (Bet now with BetMGM!)
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All statistics in this article reflect Reavie's performance prior to the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/07/01/chez-reavie-rocket-mortgage-classic-pga-odds/ | 2023-07-02 07:09:52 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/07/01/chez-reavie-rocket-mortgage-classic-pga-odds/ |
Northern Colorado Bears (3-4) at New Mexico Lobos (5-0)
The Lobos are 4-0 on their home court. New Mexico is second in the MWC scoring 81.6 points while shooting 47.0% from the field.
The Bears are 0-2 in road games. Northern Colorado has a 1-1 record in one-possession games.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jamal Mashburn Jr. is scoring 17.4 points per game and averaging 4.6 rebounds for the Lobos. Morris Udeze is averaging 16.8 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 61.4% for New Mexico.
Matt Johnson averages 3.3 made 3-pointers per game for the Bears, scoring 14.0 points while shooting 40.4% from beyond the arc. Kountz is averaging 16.7 points and 3.3 assists for Northern Colorado.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/kountz-and-northern-colorado-host-new-mexico/2022/11/27/16cbb4de-6e28-11ed-8619-0b92f0565592_story.html | 2022-11-27 08:07:06 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/kountz-and-northern-colorado-host-new-mexico/2022/11/27/16cbb4de-6e28-11ed-8619-0b92f0565592_story.html |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Fewer than 100 employees out of the thousands who work at Nissan’s auto assembly plant in Tennessee can hold a vote on whether to form a small union, the federal labor board has decided.
The ruling Thursday by the National Labor Relations Board overturns a June 2021 decision by one of its regional officials that has long blocked the vote. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers sought to limit the push to about 86 tool and die technicians at Nissan’s Smyrna plant, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) outside Nashville.
The union said it is discussing the ruling with the employees at the Nissan facility “to determine the best path forward.”
The board’s three Democrats, who now hold a majority under President Joe Biden, signed off on the decision. The last remaining GOP member did not join the majority’s ruling.
The ruling offers a dash of hope for unions in their struggle to get a foothold in foreign-owned auto assembly plants in the traditionally anti-union South.
Previously, the regional official ruled against the smaller bloc vote after finding the few dozen workers share an “overwhelming community of interest” with the rest of the facility’s production and maintenance workers. She found that the only appropriate unionized group would be one representing about 4,300 plantwide production and maintenance workers. The union did not want the larger vote and didn’t pursue it.
The board, under a newly installed Democratic majority, announced in December 2021 that it would review that decision.
The board reasoned this week that the group of workers qualifies for the carved-out vote as a “craft unit,” saying those workers are “highly trained, highly paid employees working in a trade that the Board has frequently recognized as a craft.”
Nissan had contended that the employees are not sufficiently distinct from other plant workers to be eligible for their own small unionized subgroup. The company has about 7,000 employees at the Smyrna facility.
“While we do not agree with the Board’s position, our history reflects that we respect the right of employees to determine who should represent their interests in the workplace,” Nissan spokesperson Lloryn Love-Carter said in a statement.
The union, meanwhile, said the decision “sets a strong precedent going forward that appropriately classifies standalone craft units.”
“It is unfortunate that a broken and painstakingly long NLRB process has again allowed a company to put the brakes on workers obtaining a voice on the job without delay,” Machinists union spokesperson DeLane Adams said in a statement.
Nissan does work with organized labor in the rest of the world, but votes to unionize broadly at the U.S. two plants have not been close. Workers in Smyrna rejected a plantwide union under the United Auto Workers in 2001 and 1989. The Japan-based automaker’s other U.S. assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi, rejected facility-wide representation by the UAW during a 2017 vote.
The margin was much closer in 2014 and 2019 votes at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where workers twice rejected a factory-wide union under the UAW.
The year after the 2014 vote failed, a group of 160 Chattanooga maintenance workers won a vote to form a smaller union, but Volkswagen refused to bargain. The German automaker had argued the bargaining unit needed to include production workers as well. The dust-up led to the 2019 factory-wide vote.
Unions also have run into opposition from Republican politicians when they attempt to organize at foreign automakers in the South, including in Tennessee.
Tennessee does have a big union presence at an American automaker: the General Motors plant in Spring Hill has thousands of production and skilled trades workers represented by UAW.
There is also an open question about whether workers will unionize at four sprawling new factories planned by Ford in Kentucky and Tennessee by 2025, with an aim of hiring nearly 11,000 workers. Three of the plants — two in Kentucky, one in Tennessee — will be built with Ford’s South Korean corporate partner, SK Innovation, to produce electric vehicle batteries. A fourth, in Tennessee, will make electric F-Series pickup trucks. | https://www.koin.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-us-board-clears-path-for-mini-union-vote-at-big-nissan-plant/ | 2023-02-04 20:06:39 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-us-board-clears-path-for-mini-union-vote-at-big-nissan-plant/ |
Lions Odds to Make Playoffs and Win Super Bowl
At +2000, the Detroit Lions are No. 8 in the NFL in terms of Super Bowl-winning odds as of December 31.
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Lions Super Bowl Odds
- Odds to Win the NFC North: +130
- Odds to Win the Super Bowl: +2000
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Detroit Betting Insights
- Detroit covered 10 times in 17 games with a spread last season.
- A total of 10 Lions games last season hit the over.
- While Detroit ranked worst in the in total defense with 392.4 yards allowed per game last season, it was a different situation on the other side of the ball, as it ranked fourth-best in the (380 yards per game).
- The Lions posted five wins at home last year and four on the road.
- Detroit was 5-5 as underdogs and 3-2 as favorites.
- The Lions were 7-5 in the NFC, including 5-1 in the NFC North.
Lions Impact Players
- Jared Goff had 29 touchdown passes and seven interceptions in 17 games last year, completing 65.1% of his throws for 4,438 yards (261.1 per game).
- Amon-Ra St. Brown had 106 receptions for 1,161 yards (72.6 per game) and six touchdowns in 16 games.
- In 16 games for the Bears a season ago, David Montgomery rushed for 801 yards (50.1 per game) and five TDs.
- In the passing game with the Jaguars, Marvin Jones Jr. scored three TDs, catching 46 balls for 529 yards (33.1 per game).
- In 17 games last year, Alex Anzalone amassed 1.5 sacks to go with 7.0 TFL, 125 tackles, and one interception.
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The show must go on: Putting on a Tony Awards telecast during a writers’ strike
NEW YORK (AP) — New location? No script? No rehearsal? No sweat.
Welcome to the 2023 Tony Awards, a show with an extra jolt of electricity this time due to the Hollywood writers’ strike.
Unpredictability has been inserted into what is usually an upbeat, safe and chummy night. The strike has left Broadway’s biggest night without a script, in a new venue far from the theater district.
A 1 1/2-hour pre-show on Pluto TV from 6:30-8 p.m. Eastern, hosted by Julianne Hough and Skylar Astin, will then throw to the three-hour main event led by Ariana DeBose on CBS and Paramount+ starting at 8 p.m. Eastern.
A total of 26 Tony Awards will be handed out Sunday for a season that had 40 new productions — 15 musicals, 24 plays and one special engagement during the first post-pandemic full season.
Broadway had some very serious works this season, like the new plays “Cost of Living” and “The Kite Runner” and revivals of “Topdog/Underdog” and “Death of a Salesman,” led by Wendell Pierce. A revival of “Parade,” about the lynching of a Jewish businessman starring Ben Platt, was also well received.
The season also had an element of the fantastical in a puppet-heavy adaptation of the lifeboat book “Life of Pi,” satire in “The Thanksgiving Play” and pure silliness in “Shucked” and “Peter Pan Goes Wrong.”
“Just like the country and the world is resetting, I think our storytelling and how we get our stories out there is resetting as well,” said Kenny Leon, who directed “Topdog/ Underdog” and “Ohio State Murders” this season. “The positive I take away is the variety of the material, from a Black-led ‘Death of a Salesman’ to new plays like ‘KPOP’ and ‘Ain’t No Mo’’ and ‘Leopoldstadt’ and ‘Prima Facie.’ I felt the diversity in almost every way — racially, generationally.”
“Some Like It Hot,” a musical adaptation of the classic cross-dressing movie comedy that starred Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, goes into the night with a leading 13 Tony Award nominations. For the top crown, it is pitted against “& Juliet,” which reimagines “Romeo and Juliet” and adds some of the biggest pop hits of the past few decades, “New York, New York,” which combined two generations of Broadway royalty in John Kander and Lin-Manuel Miranda, and “Shucked,” a lightweight musical comedy studded with corn puns.
The critical musical darling and intimate, funny-sad “Kimberly Akimbo,” with Victoria Clark playing a teen who ages four times faster than the average human, rounds out the best musical category.
The best new play category is a competition among Tom Stoppard’s “Leopoldstadt,” which explores Jewish identity with an intergenerational story, and “Fat Ham,” James Ijames’ Pulitzer Prize-winning adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” set at a Black family’s barbecue in the modern South.
The rest of the category is made up of “Ain’t No Mo,’” the short-lived but critically applauded work by playwright and actor Jordan E. Cooper, Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Between Riverside and Crazy” and “Cost of Living,” parallel stories of two caretakers and their respective patients.
The answers to some intriguing questions pend: Can Audra McDonald ( “Ohio State Murders” ) extend her record as the most awarded actor in Tony Awards history? Will either J. Harrison Ghee (“Some Like It Hot”) or Alex Newell (“Shucked”) become the first nonbinary person to win a Tony for acting? (Last year, “Six” composer and writer Toby Marlow became the first out nonbinary winner.)
Performances are slated from the casts of “Camelot,” “Into the Woods,” “& Juliet,” “Kimberly Akimbo,” “New York, New York,” “Parade,” “Shucked,” “Some Like It Hot” and “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”
In addition, Joaquina Kalukango — the winner of last year’s Tony for best lead actress in a musical — will sing, as will the casts from “A Beautiful Noise” and “Funny Girl.” That means there’ll be plenty of star power, from Josh Groban to Lea Michele.
It will all take place at the United Palace Theatre, in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan — a new venue for the ceremony, many miles from Times Square and the theater district.
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Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
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For more coverage of the 2023 Tony Awards, visit https://apnews.com/hub/tony-awards
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbay.com/2023/06/11/show-must-go-putting-tony-awards-telecast-during-writers-strike/ | 2023-06-11 14:49:28 | 0 | https://www.wbay.com/2023/06/11/show-must-go-putting-tony-awards-telecast-during-writers-strike/ |
Mark Hoppus will soon go from "Adam's Song" to "Mark's Book."
The Blink-182 bassist recently revealed he's working on a memoir that details his life in the rock band, as well as his battle with lymphoma.
"I started writing a book, actually, earlier this year," he told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published Oct. 10. "I'm not that far into it yet but I'm writing a book about my life and experience in Blink and what I've gone through over the past year or so."
Hoppus is working with an editor and publisher to get everything in motion, though he indicated he won't share many details just yet. As he noted, "We're finalizing the deal and I'm really happy with the way that's coming together. I'm excited to tell my story."
The news comes 30 years after the formation of Blink-182, which now includes members Travis Barker and Matt Skiba.
The upcoming memoir will also give Hoppus his chance to share more about his 2021 cancer battle, which he accidentally shared on Instagram last summer when he only meant to inform his "close friends" list, he told THR.
The musician added that he didn't publicly announce for the "longest time" anything about his stage 4 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma because he was "scared and overwhelmed by the whole thing."
"My world got really, really small. Like, I closed down and it was just my family and dear friends that were in my life," Hoppus recalled. "I was in the hospital chair for my third chemo session when I accidentally posted it to Instagram."
The world's reaction to the news came swift, Hoppus said.
"I remember staring at it and people started calling, like my publicist, manager and friends," he continued. "All of a sudden, it was like, 'oh, damn, I really screwed it up.'"
However, family and friends only had strong support from him.
"But as soon as it got out, there was such an overwhelming outpouring of support and love, not only from the world at large and people on Instagram and Twitter and Discord, but to old friends that I had fallen out with 20 years ago," he shared. "They came back into my life and, at that point, I felt like I turned a corner."
The love pushed him to move past his fear.
He added, "I stopped being so afraid and started feeling like, 'OK, let's see how we can get through this by sharing my story.'"
The bassist has been cancer-free since September 2021. In an Instagram story at the time, Hoppus wrote he needed to get scanned every six months, but was overall feeling grateful.
"Thank you God and universe and friends and family everyone who sent support and kindness and love," he wrote. "Can I get a W in the chat?" | https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1349811/mark-hoppus-will-dive-deeper-into-blink-182-and-cancer-battle-in-upcoming-memoir?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories | 2022-10-11 03:00:55 | 0 | https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1349811/mark-hoppus-will-dive-deeper-into-blink-182-and-cancer-battle-in-upcoming-memoir?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories |
Global hospitality brand honors women around the world with star-studded performances, limited-edition merchandise, and specialty beverages for an 'International Women's Month' celebration
HOLLYWOOD, Fla., March 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hard Rock Heals Foundation® is committing to "Rock Women's Health" this March in partnership with multi-platinum recording artist and actress, Jordin Sparks, and fellow champion of women, Women Who Rock (WWR)™. While International Women's Day is March 8 and March is Women's History Month, Hard Rock's celebration – dubbed 'International Women's Month' – aims to empower women and raise awareness for women's health all month long. To kick off the celebrations, Hard Rock hosted Sparks at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood for a special performance at the Hard Rock Cafe on February 28. A special International Women's Day performance featuring Maren Morris, Bebe Rexha, Ingrid Andress and Jax will follow later this month at Hard Rock Hotel New York.
In partnership with WWR, an organization focused on educating, supporting and funding women-centric health research, Hard Rock will advocate for the future of women through the power of music. Hard Rock Cafes around the world will mark the month-long occasion with a series of iconic performances, limited-edition merchandise and special food & beverage items, benefitting the nation's largest research institute dedicated to women's health, Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation.
"The 'Rock Women's Health' initiative brings to life Hard Rock's 'All is One' Motto that we strive toward each and every day," said Tracy Bradford, President of Seminole Hard Rock Support Services and Co-founder of Seminole & Hard Rock Women in Leadership internal mentoring program. "We're fortunate to partner with amazing organizations like Women Who Rock to continue to amplify the important messages of women's rights and health awareness in ways that are integral to our company values."
Now through March 31, Hard Rock Cafes, WWR and Gibson Gives Foundation together will present a series of all-female performances by iconic and up-and-coming artists, that will include: Orianthi's March 8 performance at Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood Blvd, Hobbs Sisters & Natalie Brady's March 10 performance at Hard Rock Cafe Nashville and Margot Bingham's March 18 performance at Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta. Throughout March, three specialty beverages – Rock'n Rose Spritz, Tito's CAUSE-MO, and a Strawberry Basil Lemonade mocktail – will be available at Hard Rock Cafes around the world, as well as a special co-branded t-shirt, designed by WWR, that will be available online and at Rock Shops, through April 15. A portion of proceeds from both the specialty beverages and the co-branded t-shirt will benefit Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation via the Hard Rock Heals Foundation®.
"Women Who Rock is thrilled to bring the future of women's health to the global stage through this incredibly powerful partnership with Hard Rock Heals Foundation," said Melinda Colaizzi, Founder, Women Who Rock. "WWR is dedicated to using the power of music to impact and empower the lives of women around the world and we will ignite the power and strength of women worldwide, one Hard Rock stage at a time."
"This amazing partnership is helping fund critical research that impacts and improves women's lives globally," added Michael Annichine, CEO, Magee-Womens Research Institute. "Our research is helping to: stop the spread of HIV, reduce infant and maternal mortality, and improve survival rates for women's cancers. Hard Rock Heals Foundation is helping us achieve our goal to rock women's health worldwide!"
In addition, Hard Rock Hotel New York will host Audacy's 'Leading Ladies' on International Women's Day on March 8, featuring Maren Morris, Bebe Rexha, Ingrid Andress and Jax. Leading Ladies is dedicated to uplifting women's voices and championing a more equitable and inclusive world, while giving listeners the opportunity to win tickets to the private event.
Hard Rock International continues to provide career mentorship between junior and senior executives and provide tools and resources through its Women in Leadership® program. Since the program's inception in 2016, over 1,000 female team members have participated in the mentorship program and/or a brand-hosted educational conference. Hard Rock now exceeds the industry standard of 22 percent for women's representation in leadership roles and planning to expand the Women in Leadership® program to Europe.
For the full Hard Rock International Women's Month performance schedule, please see here. Information on Hard Rock International can be found by visiting www.hardrock.com.
About Hard Rock Heals Foundation®:
The Hard Rock Heals Foundation® is a 501c(3) founded in 2016 in order to unite all philanthropic efforts, including global initiatives and local events, under one charity platform to benefit one common goal: making the world a better place by serving people and our planet.
The foundation's motto, Love.Amplifed., seeks to inspire us all to turn up the volume and deliver the message that lives can be improved by the healing power of music. The Hard Rock Heals Foundation® provides grants and assistance to health and wellness, disaster relief, humanitarian causes and more around the world. All funds raised through Hard Rock's various philanthropic efforts at cafes, hotels, casinos and other venues will be used to support global and local efforts that align with Hard Rock's core values of philanthropy and giving.
The Hard Rock Heals Foundation initiatives include an exclusive merchandise collection, philanthropy- driven Hard Rock Hotel suites which benefit the cause, casino programs, live music donations and much more.
About Hard Rock®:
Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in over 70 countries spanning 265 locations that include owned/licensed or managed Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. HRI also launched a joint venture named Hard Rock Digital in 2020, an online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 86,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe. In 2022, Hard Rock Hotels was honored as the number one brand in Outstanding Guest Satisfaction for the second year in a row among Upper Upscale Hotels in J.D. Power's North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study. This designation is the fourth consecutive year the iconic brand has been among top brands in this category. HRI is the first privately-owned gaming company designated U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal for the second year. Hard Rock's recognition by Forbes in the 2023 list of America's Best Large Employers for the seventh year in a row, stands amongst other accolades by Forbes such as ranking amongst World's Best Employers, as well as Best Employers for Women, Diversity and New Grads and a Top Large Employer in the Travel & Leisure, Gaming, and Entertainment. In the 2022 Global Gaming Awards, Hard Rock was named Land-Based Operator of the Year for the second time in four years. In 2021, Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos received first place ranking in the Casino Gaming Executive Satisfaction Survey conducted by Bristol Associates Inc. and Spectrum Gaming Group for six of the last seven years. Hard Rock International currently holds investment grades from primary investment rating agencies: S&P Global Ratings (BBB) and Fitch Ratings (BBB). For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com.
About Women Who Rock™:
Women Who Rock™ connects through the power of music and helps educate, support and fund women-centric health research. As a female-founded brand, WWR benefit concerts feature some of the brightest stars in music with a 100% female-fronted line-up with all proceeds benefiting life-saving women's health research at Magee-Womens Research Institute 501(c)(3) (MWRI). In addition to benefit concerts, Women Who Rock offers a full apparel and accessory line and hosts global campaigns, fundraisers, and pop-up events.
About Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI):
MWRI, a 501(c)(3), is based in Pittsburgh and the nation's largest research institute dedicated solely to women's health research and reproductive biology. MWRI's current research includes 319 active studies spanning 292 different conditions with 162,000 clinical trial participants all over the world. MWRI's areas of research cover breast and gynecologic cancers, reproductive biology, infectious diseases, the development of COVID-19 therapeutics and women-controlled HIV prevention, obstetric care for women with substance use disorder, postpartum depression, and more.
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SOURCE Hard Rock International | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2023/03/01/hard-rock-heals-foundation-teams-up-with-jordin-sparks-women-who-rock-rock-womens-health-all-march-long/ | 2023-03-01 15:09:54 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2023/03/01/hard-rock-heals-foundation-teams-up-with-jordin-sparks-women-who-rock-rock-womens-health-all-march-long/ |
ISTANBUL, June 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arçelik, one of Europe's leading home appliances companies, announces a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to sustainability. Through its innovative initiatives, in 2022 alone, the company utilized a total of 13,207 tons of recycled plastic in the production of its appliances.
The company has successfully recycled 192 million plastic bottles from ending up in landfill from 2017 to 2022. By using recycled PET bottles, the company has built sustainability and inventive resource solutions into its products such as its washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers and air conditioners.
Arçelik's dedication to plastic saving extends beyond the recycling of waste PET bottles; the company with well-known brands such as Beko and Grundig has implemented a robust circular model that embraces the recycling of wider forms of plastic, namely industrial fishing nets and thread. These recycled materials have been incorporated into the plastic components of ovens, dishwashers, and washing machines, further reducing plastic waste. Since 2020, 26 tons of recycled fishing nets and 563 tons of recycled industrial thread have been used in these products.
From 2014 to 2022, Arçelik has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability by recycling 1.7 million Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) units in leading-edge recycling plants. By encouraging the replacement of older, inefficient appliances with newer more efficient products, Arçelik is able to encourage even greater water and energy savings. Additionally, WEEE recycling enables Arçelik to form a closed loop as waste from one appliance is used in the production of another, such as the dishwasher cutlery baskets of Arçelik's own products are used in production of fan parts of dishwashers.
By adopting these initiatives, Arçelik helps contribute to setting an industry expectation for reducing plastic waste and preserving the environment through its supply chain and manufacturing activities.
Commenting on the progress made thus far, Hakan Bulgurlu, CEO of Arçelik, stated, "Striving for greater sustainability is a vision Arçelik continuously works towards and we're always looking for ways to improve our progress and contribute more to climate conservation. Plastic pollution is this year's World Environment Day theme, and an issue that we take very seriously. While we are proud of our achievements to date, we know there is a long journey ahead of us. We look forward to continuing to save, innovate and collaborate towards further innovation in plastic saving solutions to contribute to a better and cleaner world."
Arçelik reaffirms its priorities and commitments regarding plastic pollution prevention. Developing product solutions that minimize plastic waste remains a high priority for the company, as it has done for many years. Building upon the achievements and recognitions received since 2019, such as the Sustainable Business Award Turkey, Arçelik is dedicated to further expanding its efforts in plastic saving. The company's ambition by 2030 is to increase the recycled plastic content of its products to 40%.
About Arçelik:
With 40,000 employees throughout the world, Arçelik's global operations include subsidiaries in 52 countries, and 30 production facilities in 9 countries and 12 brands (Arçelik, Beko, Grundig, Blomberg, ElektraBregenz, Arctic, Leisure, Flavel, Defy, Altus, Dawlance, Voltas Beko). Arçelik, Europe's second largest white goods company with its market share (based on volumes), reached a consolidated turnover of 7.7 billion Euros in 2022. Arçelik's 30 R&D and Design Centers & Offices across the globe are home to over 2,300 researchers and hold up to 3,000 international registered patent applications to date. In 2022, Arçelik achieved the highest score in the DHP Household Durables category for the 6th year in a row (based on the results dated December 2022) in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. Through its leadership position in sustainability and credible decarbonization roadmap for achieving net zero, Arçelik became the first and only company from its industry to receive the Terra Carta Seal by His Majesty King Charles III. Arçelik's vision is 'Respecting the World, Respected Worldwide.'
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SOURCE Arçelik Global | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2023/06/02/arelik-recycles-192-million-waste-pet-bottles-celebrating-world-environment-day/ | 2023-06-02 09:36:53 | 0 | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2023/06/02/arelik-recycles-192-million-waste-pet-bottles-celebrating-world-environment-day/ |
ROME (AP) — The Florence museum housing Michelangelo’s Renaissance masterpiece the David on Sunday invited parents and students from a Florida charter school to visit after complaints about a lesson featuring the statue forced the principal to resign.
Florence Mayor Dario Nardella also tweeted an invitation for the principal to visit so he can personally honor her. Confusing art with pornography was “ridiculous,” Nardella said.
The board of the Tallahassee Classical School pressured Principal Hope Carrasquilla to resign last week after an image of the David was show to a sixth-grade art class. The school has a policy requiring parents to be notified in advance about “controversial” topics being taught.
The incredulous Italian response highlighted how the U.S. culture wars are often perceived in Europe, where despite a rise in right-wing sentiment and governance, the Renaissance and its masterpieces, even its naked ones, are generally free of controversy. Sunday’s front page of the Italian daily publication Corriere della Sera featured a cartoon by its leading satirist depicting David with his genitals covered by an image of Uncle Sam and the word “Shame.”
Carrasquilla believes the board targeted her after three parents complained about a lesson including a photo of the David, a 5-meter tall (17 foot) nude marble sculpture dating from 1504. The work, reflecting the height of the Italian Renaissance, depicts the Biblical David going to fight Goliath armed only with his faith in God.
Carrasquilla has said two parents complained because they weren’t notified in advance that a nude would be shown, while a third called the iconic statue pornographic.
Carrasquilla said in a phone interview Sunday that she is “very honored” by the invitations to Italy and she may accept.
“I am totally, like, wow,” Carasquilla said. “I’ve been to Florence before and have seen the David up close and in person, but I would love to go and be a guest of the mayor.”
Cecilie Hollberg, director of the Galleria dell’Accademia, where the David resides, expressed astonishment at the controversy.
“To think that David could be pornographic means truly not understanding the contents of the Bible, not understanding Western culture and not understanding Renaissance art,” Hollberg said in a telephone interview.
She invited the principal, school board, parents and student body to view the “purity” of the statue.
Tallahassee Classical is a charter school. While it is taxpayer-funded and tuition-free, it operates almost entirely independently of the local school district and is sought out by parents seeking an alternative to the public school curriculum.
About 400 students from kindergarten through 12th grade attend the three-year-old institution, which is now on its third principal. It follows a curriculum designed by Hillsdale College, a conservative Christian school in Michigan frequently consulted by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on educational issues.
Barney Bishop, chairman of Tallahassee Classical’s school board, has told reporters that while the photo of the statue played a part in Carrasquilla’s ouster, it wasn’t the only factor. He has declined to elaborate, while defending the decision.
“Parents are entitled to know anytime their child is being taught a controversial topic and picture,” Bishop said in an interview with Slate online magazine.
Several parents and teachers plan to protest Carrasquilla’s exit at Monday night’s school board meeting, but Carrasquilla said she isn’t sure she would take the job back even if it were offered.
“There’s been such controversy and such upheaval,” she said. “I would really have to consider, ‘Is this truly what is best?’”
Marla Stone, head of humanities studies at the American Academy in Rome, said the Florida incident was another episode in escalating U.S. culture wars and questioned how the statue could be considered so controversial as to warrant a prior warning.
“What we have here is a moral crusade against the body, sexuality, and gender expression and an ignorance of history,” Stone said in an email. “The incident is about fear, fear of beauty, of difference, and of the possibilities embedded in art.”
Michelangelo Buonarroti sculpted the David between 1501-1504 after being commissioned by the Cathedral of Florence. The statue is the showpiece of the Accademia, and helps draw 1.7 million visitors each year to the museum.
“It is incredibly sought-after by Americans who want to do selfies and enjoy the beauty of this statue,” Director Hollberg said.
The museum, like many in Europe, is free for student groups. There was no indication that any trip would be subsidized by the city or museum. | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/is-the-david-porn-see-for-yourself-italy-ask-fla-parents/ | 2023-03-27 14:26:42 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/is-the-david-porn-see-for-yourself-italy-ask-fla-parents/ |
Updated May 23, 2023 at 2:56 PM ET
A man with a prosthetic leg hooks up a portable generator, the yellow cord stretching a safe distance from his house. A woman with a walker shines a flashlight in a dark kitchen. A guy wearing a hearing aid changes his smoke alarm batteries.
These are some of the new stock images recently released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the government agency that focuses on accident prevention and has amused the internet for years with its public safety awareness memes on Twitter.
And while the photos may not sound particularly groundbreaking, they represent a major step forward in physical disability representation.
"A lot of us agreed this would be one of the most important things we worked on in our careers," CPSC Social Media Specialist Joseph Galbo told NPR over email. "There was a real sense of helping right a wrong and delivering something important for a community that's too often left out of many important conversations."
The CPSC tweeted last week that it had taken action after noticing a lack of stock photos showing people with disabilities using common home safety devices, from carbon monoxide detectors to fire extinguishers to flashlights. And it shared a link to a page on its website with more than a dozen such photos.
Their announcement was cheered by many on Twitter, who applauded the agency for creating a valuable, inclusive new resource.
"Thank you ... for representing all Americans," responded the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association.
The American Association of People with Disabilities applauded the move, with President and CEO Maria Town telling NPR in an email that it "brings us closer to embracing that disabled people are everywhere."
And, she adds, that should be "standard practice, rather than a lauded exception" as government entities implement visibility and diversity into their programs and practices.
"Disability is a natural part of the human condition, and yet all too often it is viewed as special or distinct from mainstream society," Town wrote. "Representation — from stock photos, to policies and programs — helps create the comprehensively accessible society we aspire toward, rather than leaving our communities behind."
The CPSC has already started using the stock photos in its posters and social media graphics, such as this March tweet showing a man in a wheelchair extolling the virtues of his fire extinguisher to a magical deer inexplicably named Alan Dracula, and a May tweet in which a man with a prosthetic leg stands by his boiling pan while a Pegasus teeters on the counter behind him.
Always have a working fire extinguisher in your home. pic.twitter.com/fLthdH6Fzb
— US Consumer Product Safety Commission (@USCPSC) March 7, 2023
The commission has made the photos available in the public domain, and Galbo says it's also shared them with its international partners in Canada and Mexico.
It hopes organizations — including hospitals, fire departments, public health departments and state and local groups — across and beyond the U.S. will use them in their outreach and educational materials.
"For the sake of our mission, we want to make sure we're being effective in our public health communications to help save as many lives as possible," Galbo said. "We also want people with disabilities to know that we're committed to helping them live safe and healthy lives."
The CPSC says the new imagery is one step in that direction — and there's more to come.
Addressing an old problem with new resources
Photos are incredibly important to the CPSC's mission of promoting awareness. Its social media graphics usually use a minimum of three to four photos each, Galbo says.
"We know visually representing the correct way of doing something is important for effective public health communication," he adds. "In injury prevention, that's especially crucial because so many of the positive behaviors we want to drive require interacting with safety devices."
And yet, he says, images of people using these common, crucial safety devices have generally been hard to find — especially when it comes to people from historically excluded communities.
The social media team spends a lot of time looking through stock photo repositories but has struggled to find images of Americans with disabilities using even the most common home safety devices, like cooking in the kitchen.
"At first they thought it was maybe the lower-cost stock image library we use," he wrote. "But, the more they looked across libraries — even the most well-known and expensive — the more it became obvious that this was a huge gap in what was available."
The result, he says, is less effective visuals. So when the 2021 American Rescue Plan gave the CPSC more resources for developing new creative materials, it made this project a priority.
Choosing the right scenarios and models was key
Galbo says the CPSC worked with its public relations agency to hold an open casting call for the stock images, ultimately hiring a mix of models and non-models with disabilities "who had heard about the project and wanted to be a part of it."
The most time-consuming part of the process was deciding which products and hazards to shoot. Galbo says that selection was informed by the more than 20 safety campaigns the CPSC runs throughout the year.
They considered several key questions: Which hazards injure and kill the most people? Which hazards does the CPSC know it will have to warn about year after year? What behaviors does it need to visualize to address the hazards that have the biggest gaps in visuals featuring people with disabilities?
"With those questions guiding us, fire hazards and carbon monoxide hazards emerged as the areas with the most need," Galbo says.
Cooking fires are the No. 1 cause of home fires, he explains. And climate change is driving larger, more powerful storms that can cause power outages and drive people to portable generators, which can create deadly levels of carbon monoxide when used improperly. Safety products like carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms can help address these risks.
Galbo said the models provided valuable knowledge about how best to showcase the devices in use, and were "key to keeping the images true to life."
For instance, no one on the team had used a vibrating smoke alarm before, but luckily one of the models knew how. Another demonstrated safety best practices for cooking while in a wheelchair.
"For the team, cooking safely means standing by your pan ... but thanks to the model we also found out that for someone who uses a wheelchair that may also mean covering your legs," Galbo added, calling it a powerful example of why it was so important to work with models who live with a disability themselves.
The CPSC says there's room — and plans — for improvement
Through this project, Galbo said, CPSC team members realized there are gaps in visuals for other hazard areas as well.
Baby safety is one example: There aren't many images of parents with disabilities holding their baby next to a safe sleep environment.
"We're also now taking a hard look at our safety guidance and identifying any education messages that may be inadvertently ableist or not account for how someone who uses a wheelchair or walker may safely use a product," Galbo wrote.
Identifying problems has become much easier now that the team knows what they're looking for, he added, and they are now working to "address as many as we can as fast as we can."
Part of that strategy involves looking for new ways to reach the public. The CPSC has a sizable following (over 171,000 users) on Twitter, where it's gained attention over the years for its creative graphics.
Galbo says their "unconventional" approach to social media continues to deliver results: People have come to know their recurring animal characters (from Quinn the Quarantine Fox to the Carbon Monoxide Safety Geese Brigade) and tell the CPSC that their outreach has inspired them to do things like replace their smoke alarm batteries, check their fire extinguishers and make the change to cordless window blinds.
"Government is at its best when it's relatable to people and we're so thankful that the public continues to enjoy and learn from us on social media," he wrote.
The CPSC account's blue checkmark (which it mourned with a very on-brand tweet) was replaced with a gray one in April, after Twitter phased out its old verification program. What does this mean for its social strategy?
Galbo says the commission is committed to its audience on Twitter, while looking for additional platforms to join, too. Its signature PSAs could soon be making their way to sites like Tumblr, Mastodon or BlueSky.
You can find all sorts of safety guidance on its website too. And, with the start of the Atlantic hurricane season just days away, it's as good a time as ever to get yourself, your loved ones and your home safety devices up to speed.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kanw.com/npr-news/2023-05-23/people-with-disabilities-arent-often-seen-in-stock-photos-the-cpsc-is-changing-that | 2023-05-23 20:24:51 | 1 | https://www.kanw.com/npr-news/2023-05-23/people-with-disabilities-arent-often-seen-in-stock-photos-the-cpsc-is-changing-that |
Know Your Machine, Review Safety Procedures and Follow Manufacturer's Guidance
ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring is here and as we get out our lawn mowers and other outdoor power equipment out from storage to work in our yards, businesses and other green spaces, it's important to keep safety in mind.
"Think safety first," says Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing outdoor power equipment, small engine, utility vehicle, golf car and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.
"I can't stress enough to review manufacturer's safety guidance before starting up any equipment—especially your lawn mower. Review your owner's manual and do maintenance on your equipment," said Kiser.
OPEI offers these tips for readying and using your outdoor power equipment:
- Know not all lawn mowers are the same. Whether your mower is a garden tractor, zero turn mower or other, it has a unique design, requirements, weight classification, and other differences that impact how to use it safely. The newest machines have the latest safety standards.
- Know your specific machine. Many mowers may look similar but the technology is ever evolving with evolving safety systems. They vary in design, power supply, performance, operating parameters, and more. Your manufacturer-supplied owner's manual will guide you in these differences. Read your owner's manual.
- When using mowers on slopes follow the manufacturer's guidance to the letter.
- Do not disable or alter manufacturer-installed safety equipment.
- Walk your yard before mowing. Slopes, wet grass and weather may impact equipment performance, as well as safe handling procedures. Pick up sticks and limbs that may have fallen to the ground over the winter and any loose objects that could be hit by a mower. Inspect trees for damaged limbs that may get in your way when mowing.
- Look over equipment before use. Check the air filter, oil level and gasoline tank. Watch for loose belts and missing or damaged parts. Replace any parts needed or take your equipment to a qualified service representative.
- Protect your power. Use only E10 or less fuel in gasoline-powered outdoor power equipment if it is not designed for higher ethanol blends. Add a fuel stabilizer if you don't use up all the fuel in the tank right away. Burn off any fuel before storing the mower more than 30 days. For battery-powered equipment, only use battery packs specified by the manufacturer. Follow all charging instructions as outlined in the owner's manual. Be sure to store fuel and batteries safely. Keep batteries away from other metal objects, store them in a climate-controlled area, and never stack batteries.
- Keep children and pets away from machines during operation.
- Keep your mower clean. It will run more efficiently and last longer. Always remove dirt, oil or grass before using and storing. Store equipment in a dry place, avoiding damp or wet environments.
For information on safe fueling, go to www.LookBeforeYouPump.com
For more safety information visit www.opei.org
About OPEI
OPEI is an international trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers of outdoor power equipment, small engines, battery power systems, portable generators, utility and personal transport vehicles, and golf cars. OPEI is the advocacy voice of the industry, and a recognized Standards Development Organization for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and active internationally through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in the development of safety and performance standards. OPEI owns Equip Exposition, the international landscape, outdoor living, and equipment exposition, and administers the TurfMutt Foundation, which directs the environmental education program, TurfMutt. OPEI-Canada represents members on a host of issues, including recycling, emissions and other regulatory developments across the Canadian provinces.
Media contacts
Ami Neiberger, Four Leaf PR on behalf of OPEI, (703) 887-4877, ami@fourleafpr.com
Debbi Mayster, Four Leaf PR on behalf of OPEI, (240) 988-6243, debbi@fourleafpr.com
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SOURCE Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/04/10/pay-attention-safety-when-using-spring-lawn-mowers-amp-other-outdoor-power-equipment/ | 2023-04-10 13:17:18 | 1 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/04/10/pay-attention-safety-when-using-spring-lawn-mowers-amp-other-outdoor-power-equipment/ |
Which radar gun is best?
There are more uses for a radar gun than to be tagged by a cop for speeding down the highway at 11 p.m. because you just want to get to your destination quickly. The next most common usage is in training for various sports, most commonly used in baseball to measure pitching speeds or in American football to measure running speeds.
The best radar gun for any possible use is the Pocket Radar Smart Coach. While it’s true this radar gun chews straight through batteries, you can alleviate this by securing a power pack, and the rest of the features, especially the accuracy, are impossible to ignore.
What to know before you buy a radar gun
How speed is measured
Radar guns measure the speed of an object using either the Doppler effect or lasers to measure.
- Doppler method: A radar gun that uses the Doppler effect sends radio signals toward the object to be measured. When the radio signals bounce off the target and return to the radar gun, the change in the frequency of the sent wave and the returned wave is measured and then computed into the final given speed. The entire process takes less than a second.
- Laser method: Laser radar guns, most often used by the police, use a light shined onto the object and measure how long it takes for that light to reflect off the object and return to the radar gun.
Typical radar gun uses
There are all kinds of different speeds to measure when it comes to almost every sport.
What to look for in a quality radar gun
Design
The typical design of a radar gun, the shape you most often visualize, is similar to a handheld drill. The front of the radar gun sends and receives the signals with the back housing the display and controls.
More recently designed radar guns look almost like smartphones. You use it as you would taking a picture. Point at your object and press the center button to trigger the measuring mechanism. A benefit of this type of design is the ability to mount it to a tripod far easier than mounting a drill-shaped radar gun.
Controls
All radar guns are activated by a button or trigger to take a reading but some have additional control options for different uses. The most common alternate mode is a continuous reading mode that automatically takes measurements without holding the gun.
Other popular modes include displaying only the fastest speed of the measuring period or storing the range of speeds an object has during its full testing period, both especially useful for measuring baseball pitches.
How much you can expect to spend on a radar gun
Even the most basic radar guns are going to require many pretty pennies from your wallet. The most basic radar guns that simply measure speed within a few miles per hour can cost a few hundred dollars, and once you start looking at quality options, you’ll find prices up to $500. Radar guns used by law enforcement can cost a few thousand dollars.
Radar gun FAQ
Are the radar guns used by police more accurate than commonly available consumer-grade options?
Very much so, yes. At a minimum, they are accurate within a single mile per hour but are frequently even more accurate than that. However, this comes at a cost, as you must test and recalibrate them regularly. Otherwise, their accuracy can begin to deviate. The next time you’re pulled over for speeding though you followed the speed limit, have them check when it was last calibrated as it may affect whether or not you receive a speeding ticket.
Does it matter where I place my radar gun when I’m trying to measure speed?
A. If you’re using a Doppler effect radar gun, then yes, your radar gun must be pointing in the same direction as the object you wish to measure, as it measures the speed at which the object comes toward or moves away from the gun. In other words, place it in front of or behind the object for accurate results.
Will radar guns remain accurate in precipitous weather conditions?
A. Yes, they will. Precipitation does not affect a radar gun unless the radar gun isn’t proofed against the type of weather to which it is being subjected. For example, it would need waterproofing against rain or snow.
What are the best radar guns to buy?
Top radar gun
What you need to know: Don’t let the simplistic design fool you, this radar gun is packed with features.
What you’ll love: Bluetooth connectivity and a companion app assist an already impressive device.
What you should consider: The AAA batteries are drained very quickly, almost necessitating a power pack.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top radar gun for the money
What you need to know: This is an affordable and solid option if you just want to get some quick reads while saving some money.
What you’ll love: This streamlined and straightforward design can still register speeds up to 200mph.
What you should consider: You lose some good features seen in better models by selecting this low-cost option.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Stalker Sport 2 Series Radar Gun
What you need to know: This is the perfect radar gun option for any baseball player in training.
What you’ll love: A recall mode shows the last five readings taken, perfect for averaging speeds.
What you should consider: Rechargeable batteries with AC adapters are available but unfortunately sold separately.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://fox59.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/best-radar-gun/ | 2022-04-10 17:28:39 | 1 | https://fox59.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/best-radar-gun/ |
SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.- The high winds and storm surges have buried several beaches that are normally an oasis for vacationers and locals alike.
Rachel Hoopes took a visit to the beach to see the chaos. She said she was shocked to see what she saw.
"Most of the beach is gone. There is no beach," Hoopes said.
It's not over yet. More rain is projected over the next several days. Coastal consultant Tony Pratt said it's possible the damage will continue.
"We might lose another foot or two or three feet, but I wouldn't consider we would see major break throughs of the dune at this point," Pratt said.
He said it's not uncommon to see high tides and erosion during storms.
A process called beach replenishment will restore the coastline by pumping sand onto the shore. Kevin Williams, Director of Public Works, said there's one upcoming this winter.
"I know we are scheduled to get that. That'll put the original protection back but they've held up pretty well," Williams said.
Pratt said though it looks like a war zone right now, the replenishment and some magic from mother nature will bring back the beaches.
"Following the storm, when the ocean lays back down to a calm condition, there will be a natural repair that will bring sand back to the beach and rebuild itself to a large degree," Pratt said. | https://www.wrde.com/news/many-beaches-wiped-out-from-strong-winds-and-erosion/article_3d797d3e-435b-11ed-bcd0-1fb48d99529d.html | 2022-10-03 22:05:27 | 1 | https://www.wrde.com/news/many-beaches-wiped-out-from-strong-winds-and-erosion/article_3d797d3e-435b-11ed-bcd0-1fb48d99529d.html |
WASHINGTON (AP) — After months of primaries, campaign events and fundraising pleas, the midterm elections that will determine the balance of power in Washington and state capitals are finally here.
Republicans are predicting a massive red wave as anxious Democrats defend their narrow majorities in Congress while struggling to overcome pervasive concerns about the economy, crime and President Joe Biden’s leadership. Democrats are hoping that a backlash against the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade will save them.
The political environment has led to an unusually large playing field as emboldened Republicans press into Democratic strongholds like New York, California, New Mexico and Washington state. Still, the marquee races are taking place in swing states like Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, all of which could help determine the outcome of the 2024 presidential contest.
Because of close contests and extended vote counting, it could take days or weeks before the final outcome is known in several key races.
What we’re watching on Election Day:
RED WAVE RISING?
All signs point to Republicans making significant gains on Tuesday. But whether it’s a red ripple or a tsunami remains to be seen.
Voters are overwhelmingly pessimistic about the direction of the country as inflation surges and political divisions explode. And history suggests that voters will take out their frustrations on the party in power.
The party that occupies the White House has suffered significant losses in nearly every president’s first midterm election for more than a century. Exceptions were in 1934 during the Great Depression; in 1998 during the effort to impeach Bill Clinton; and in 2002 after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Democrats were initially hopeful that the Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate abortion rights might be enough to disrupt historical trends — or at least limit their losses — but party leaders have turned increasingly concerned as Election Day approached.
Operatives in both parties expect the GOP to win the House majority, which would require a net gain of five seats. But with a big wave, the GOP could win 25 new seats or more. Sensing opportunity, Republican groups invested millions of dollars in Democratic-leaning districts in California, New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania in the election’s final days.
The fight for the Senate majority is more competitive. If Republicans pick up even one seat, they would control the Senate’s upper chamber.
Democrats are fighting to protect vulnerable incumbents in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and New Hampshire, while Republicans believe they’re within striking distance in Colorado and Washington state. The GOP chances are hampered somewhat by flawed candidates in Arizona, Georgia and New Hampshire, who have been boosted by former President Donald Trump.
Pennsylvania represents the Democrats’ best opportunity to flip a Republican-held seat, while GOP-held seats in North Carolina and Wisconsin also remain close.
At the same time, races for governor and statewide officers like secretary of state loom larger than normal. The political environment is giving Republicans confidence in gubernatorial races in blue states like Oregon and New Mexico.
Should a massive red wave materialize, Democrats may struggle everywhere.
THE ROE EFFECT
After the Supreme Court eliminated Roe v. Wade in June, Republicans, including Trump, worried aloud that the decision might trigger a backlash against GOP candidates who oppose abortion rights. And there have been signs in recent months that voters — suburban women and younger voters, in particular — were energized and ready to vote for Democrats on Nov. 8.
But more than four months after the ruling, the abortion effect may be fading.
Democratic candidates have shifted their message away from abortion in recent weeks, at least somewhat, in favor of the economy, Social Security and Medicare. And some elected officials, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, warned that Democrats have relied too much on abortion rights as a galvanizing issue.
The issue is especially critical in the push for suburban women, a group that swung against Trump’s GOP in 2020 and seemed to swing back after Trump left office when the GOP shifted its focus to pandemic restrictions and the economy.
DO LATINO VOTERS DRIFT FURTHER RIGHT?
Democrats sought to improve their outreach to Latinos after underperforming with the group in 2020. But there are reasons to believe that Democrats may do even worse this year among the key voting bloc, long a pillar of the party’s coalition.
Both parties have been especially focused on the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas, made up of heavily Latino communities where the Biden administration’s struggle to address problems along the U.S.-Mexico border is a central issue. The GOP believes it will win as many as three House seats in the former Democratic stronghold.
The GOP is also bullish about its standing in Florida’s Miami-Dade County, home to 1.5 million Latinos of voting age and a Democratic stronghold for the past 20 years. The GOP made significant gains there in the last presidential election.
Should Democrats lose Miami-Dade, it would virtually eliminate their path to victory in statewide contests, including presidential elections.
The Latino vote will be consequential in other states but none more so than in Arizona and Nevada, where Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto, the nation’s first Latina senator, is locked in a close race.
HOW DO TRUMP’S CANDIDATES PERFORM?
Trump remains a dominant force in the Republican Party, but Tuesday’s contests will test his strength among the broader electorate.
He is not on the ballot, of course, but dozens of Trump-endorsed candidates are. They include several controversial picks who beat out alternatives backed by the party’s establishment.
Should Trump’s higher-profile endorsees struggle, it would raise questions about his political strength as he weighs a 2024 presidential run that could be launched shortly after the midterms.
In Pennsylvania, Trump loyalist Doug Mastriano, the Republican candidate for governor, has struggled in the polls against Democrat Josh Shapiro. Trump’s pick for the Senate, Dr. Mehmet Oz, is locked in a close race with Democrat John Fetterman. In Arizona, gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and Senate contender Blake Masters, who both promoted Trump’s lies of a stolen 2020 election, are in position to win.
Other Trump loyalists to watch: Ohio Senate candidate JD Vance, North Carolina Senate contender Ted Budd, Michigan gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon and New York gubernatorial hopeful Lee Zeldin.
THE 2024 IMPACT
In ways big and small, the 2022 midterms will help shape the 2024 election.
A bad night for Democrats could undermine Biden’s rationale for a second term. And Trump would almost certainly seize on sweeping Republican victories as evidence of his political strength ahead of a third prospective White House bid.
Good-government advocates are particularly worried about dozens of election deniers running for state office across several presidential battlegrounds.
In Nevada, Republican Jim Marchant is running to become the secretary of state, the state’s chief elections official. Marchant is head of the America First Secretary of State Coalition, a collection of Trump loyalists who falsely say the 2020 election was plagued by voter fraud.
It’s the same in Arizona and Michigan, where fellow coalition members Mark Finchem and Kristina Karamo are running for secretary of state. And in Pennsylvania, Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, another vocal election denier, would have the authority, if he wins, to appoint his own chief elections official.
Election administration aside, other statewide candidates could use a strong showing on Tuesday to position themselves for the 2024 ticket.
Lake, Arizona’s Republican candidate for governor, is already thought to be a potential Trump running mate. And in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running for reelection Tuesday, is also considering a 2024 presidential bid, whether Trump runs or not.
WHAT WILL WE KNOW BEFORE WE GO TO BED?
It’s possible — maybe even likely — that the outcome in several key contests may take days or even weeks to be finalized.
The reasons are many.
In Georgia, a candidate must earn at least 50% of the vote to win outright. Otherwise, the election goes to a Dec. 6 runoff. Strategists on both sides believe the state’s Senate race, in particular, may do just that.
In other states, the process of counting votes can be long and complicated, especially as voting by mail becomes more popular.
Under Arizona law, for example, all ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day, but officials have 20 days to finalize their counts. In Nevada, counties have four days to count late-arriving mail ballots and give voters two more days to fix mail ballots that arrive in envelopes with errors or missing information.
In some swing states, including Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, officials are not allowed to begin validating mail ballots until Election Day. Nineteen states provide a grace period to receive mail ballots as long as they were sent by Election Day. Such ballots in California can be received up to seven days later.
This could take a while.
___
Learn more about the issues and factors at play in the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections. And follow the AP’s election coverage of the 2022 elections at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-what-to-watch-in-the-high-stakes-2022-midterm-elections/ | 2022-11-07 12:18:36 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-what-to-watch-in-the-high-stakes-2022-midterm-elections/ |
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sept. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Paychex, Inc. announced the release of its 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report. The report details the steps the company, a leading provider of integrated human capital management software solutions for human resources, payroll, benefits, and insurance services, is taking in pursuit of "Working for a Better World."
"Working for a better world is something Paychex has been doing since we were founded in 1971," said Stephanie Schaeffer, chief legal and ethics officer at Paychex. "As we've grown to the company we are today, with nearly 16,000 employees serving 730,000 clients, we've remained steadfast in holding ourselves to the highest standards of ethics, including an unwavering commitment to integrity. ESG is about applying that integrity across everything that touches our business – from how we use energy in our operations; to how we contribute to the quality of life in the communities we serve; to how we establish our governance framework; to how our workplace is a place of diversity, equity, and inclusion."
The 2022 ESG Report highlights the impact Paychex has made to-date and new initiatives related to the nine pillars of the company's ESG program:
- Ethics – Last fiscal year, Paychex celebrated its 14th appearance on the World's Most Ethical Companies list, which honors organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership and a commitment to business integrity through best-in-class ethics, compliance, and governance practices.
- Governance – To address the company's ongoing dedication to advancing ESG priorities, the Paychex board of directors divided the responsibilities of the Governance and Compensation Committee into two separate board committees: the Compensation and Leadership Committee and the Nominating and ESG Committee.
- Privacy and Security – The privacy and security of confidential client information is a top priority of Paychex. The company's leadership can be demonstrated using independent security rating services such as Security Scorecard and Bitsight, providing external validation of the Paychex cybersecurity program.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Paychex continues to prioritize and amplify diverse voices through recruitment, employee resource groups, mentorship programs, training, and pay equity. Last fiscal year, in (FY22): 62 percent of Paychex hires were female (+12 percent from FY21); 44.4 percent of Paychex hires were racially diverse (+14.5 percent from FY21); and Paychex was included on Forbes' Best Employers for Diversity and Best Employers for Women lists.
- Employees – Paychex is committed to supporting the well-being and professional growth of its nearly 16,000 employees. In FY22 more than 5,800 workforce training, skills, and leadership development programs were delivered to employees, and an average of 21.5% of Paychex employees utilized emotional and well-being support through the company's Employee Assistance Program, 17.6% of eligible household members used the program as well.
- Environment – To align with the shifting guidance on reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Paychex has committed to updating its environmental policy at least once a year, performing enterprise-wide risk assessments, and achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
- Community – The spirit of giving is central to the corporate identity of Paychex. In 2014, the Paychex Charitable Foundation was founded to support community service organizations where Paychex employees and clients live and work. In FY22, the Paychex Charitable Foundation introduced a multi-million-dollar commitment and strategic giving framework focused on four critical areas of well-being: mental wellness, physical wellness, financial wellness, and professional skills development. The framework will direct a $1 million investment, over the course of four years, in support of each area of well-being, for a total investment of $4 million.
- Empowering Businesses – Paychex is committed to helping businesses succeed. As of May 31, 2022, we helped clients retroactively claim more than $8 billion in Employee Retention Tax Credits by providing a review, documentation, preparation and filing of the amended returns. This builds on the success of the $65 billion in Paycheck Protection Program loans we helped our clients secure (with a 96 percent forgiveness rate), providing them much-needed assistance at the height of the pandemic.
- Occupational Safety – With an ongoing focus on providing its employees with a safe and comfortable work environment, Paychex has experienced a 75 percent reduction in the number of reported new workers' compensation claims in the last five years.
Visit www.paychex.com/corporate/corporate-responsibility to download the Paychex 2022 ESG Report: Working for a Better World.
About Paychex
Paychex, Inc. (Nasdaq: PAYX) is a leading provider of integrated human capital management solutions for human resources, payroll, benefits, and insurance services. By combining innovative software-as-a-service technology and mobility platform with dedicated, personal service, Paychex empowers business owners to focus on the growth and management of their business. Backed by 50 years of industry expertise, Paychex serves more than 730,000 payroll clients as of May 31, 2022 in the U.S. and Europe, and pays one out of every 12 American private sector employees. Learn more about Paychex by visiting www.paychex.com and stay connected on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Media Contact
Lisa Fleming
Manager, Paychex, Inc.
Paychex, Inc.
(585) 387-6402
lfleming@paychex.com
@Paychex
Colleen Bennis
Account Director, Matter
paychexpr@matternow.com
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SOURCE Paychex, Inc. | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/09/29/paychex-releases-2022-environmental-social-governance-esg-report/ | 2022-09-29 18:48:27 | 0 | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/09/29/paychex-releases-2022-environmental-social-governance-esg-report/ |
Jovē is Putting the 'Skin' in National (Skin) Hydration Day with a Series of Exciting Social Giveaways and the Ultimate Hotel and Spa Getaway Sweepstake
BOCA RATON, Fla., June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- To mark National Hydration Day, taking place each year on June 23, Jovē will launch the Jovē Summer Refresh Campaign to educate consumers about the importance of skin and cellular hydration — what the brand refers to as Deep Hydration® — particularly as it relates to the skin during summer months when temperatures rise, layers of clothing are shed and outdoor activities become intensified.
Jovē is encouraging consumers to take a 7-day Hydration Challenge this summer to experience the benefits of Deep Hydration® for the skin and throughout the body. Jovē not only provides ultra-hydration for the skin from the inside out, but with averaging a consumption of at least one liter a day of Jovē, consumers may experience supple skin, improved complexion, flushed toxins, more energy, and better sleep amongst a number of wellness benefits.
Since water makes up nearly 60% of body composition, the best way to maintain optimal health and smooth, supple skin is to stay properly hydrated. Drinking copious amounts of water may sound like a simple solution, but unfortunately the body can expel that water as waste before optimal skin and cellular hydration has occurred. Here's where Jovē comes in.
To support the initiative, consumers can follow the brand's social media channels - @drinkjove on Instagram and Drink Jovē on Facebook - to enter fun giveaways all summer long. Jovē will give away over $10,000 in prizes during their seasonal social media campaign, with the theme of 'Jovē's Summer Refresh' this year. The signature campaign is one that Jovē reintroduces during the summer and fall seasons each year with the goal of introducing Jovē to new consumers and building community through fun mini-giveaways. Jovē's Summer Refresh Hydration Challenge will officially kick-off on June 29.
"We love taking this breakthrough science that serves as the foundation of Jovē water and communicating it in fun and engaging ways," says Tammy Hobbs, Jovē's Chief Executive Officer. "Cellular hydration is essential for healthy skin and we hope to engage our consumers in a way that helps demonstrate how they can feel and look their best by making Jovē the daily drink of their choice this summer."
To end a summer of fun giveaways, Jovē has partnered with the beautiful Vista Encantada Spa Resort & Residences for an exciting sweepstakes. Three lucky winners will win a 3-night getaway to Vista Encantada Spa Resort & Residences including a roundtrip flight, resort stay and spa package for two guests. Located in the destination of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Vista Encantada's luxurious suites provide an exclusive and tranquil retreat for guests seeking to recharge and indulge in a place that helps disconnect and then reconnect to what really matters. The sweepstake will launch on July 5 and run through August 6. Consumers are encouraged to follow Jovē on social media in preparation for the sweepstakes.
Through their proprietary ACH Technology® (Advanced Cellular Hydration Technology) Jovē increases alkalinity with an exclusive patented essential mineral, liquid silica, that not only supports hair, skin, and nail strength, but overall wellness. Jovē water is also charged with an abundance of electrons, a primary source of energy, for a water that's smooth, refreshing and deeply hydrating. Up to 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated, and feeling irritable, sluggish, having dull and dry skin and poor sleep can all be associated with dehydration. The level of hydration in the body can decline as we age, but by drinking truly hydrating water, the body benefits at the cellular level. Cellular hydration supports mitochondria (the power plant of cells), cellular metabolism and the release of cellular waste. Jovē is clinically shown to provide skin and cellular hydration and drinking Jovē water leads to a happy body and healthy skin.
Jovē is a new premium Alkaline water made with ACH Technology® (Advanced Cellular Hydration) that is clinically shown to provide proper skin and cellular hydration in support of healthy, vibrant living. Jovē is infused with an exclusive patented liquid silica, an essential mineral that increases alkalinity and is then charged with an abundance of electrons, a primary source of energy. This combination of science and nature has led to the creation of the smooth and refreshing taste of Jovē. Jovē bottles and caps are 100% recyclable. To show its commitment to being part of responsible use and processing of plastic, Jovē has partnered with TerraCycle to support the responsible use of plastic and cleaning of our oceans. Jovē is currently available in-store at Publix, Giant Food Stores and Earth Fare and online at Amazon. Follow @drinkjove on Instagram and Facebook. For more information, visit drinkjove.com.
Contact:
Yazmin Perez
CIIC PR
yperez@ciicpr.com
305-677-3904 x19
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SOURCE Jovē | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/embrace-summer-with-jovs-summer-refresh-hydration-challenge/ | 2022-06-23 23:31:23 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/embrace-summer-with-jovs-summer-refresh-hydration-challenge/ |
WFO NEW YORK CITY Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, September 6, 2022
_____
AREAL FLOOD ADVISORY
Flood Advisory
National Weather Service New York NY
445 AM EDT Tue Sep 6 2022
...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 AM EDT THIS MORNING...
* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.
* WHERE...A portion of southern Connecticut, including the following
counties, Middlesex, New Haven and New London.
* WHEN...Until 630 AM EDT.
* IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 445 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain. Minor
flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the
advisory area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain have fallen.
- Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Jewett City, New Haven, Meriden, Milford, Middletown,
Wallingford, Norwich, Shelton, Guilford, Colchester, Clinton,
East Hampton, Old Saybrook, Durham, Salem, Chester, Hamden,
Stratford, Cheshire and Branford.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/CT-WFO-NEW-YORK-CITY-Warnings-Watches-and-17421453.php | 2022-09-06 09:22:35 | 1 | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/CT-WFO-NEW-YORK-CITY-Warnings-Watches-and-17421453.php |
Burger King has a plan to make you fall in love with the Whopper again
The past few years have been tough for Burger King.
Related video above: Burger King Sued Over Whopper Size
Missteps during the pandemic caused the chain to lag behind competitors. Over the past few quarters, Burger King has been playing catch up, and now the company is hoping a major investment in restaurants and advertising will help spark growth and propel it ahead of its peers.
In the next two years, Burger King, which is owned by Restaurant Brands International, is planning to invest $400 million in improving the brand — $250 million will go toward updating restaurant tech, kitchens and remodeling, and $150 million to advertising and digital products. Franchisees will also invest in improving the brand.
One key part of that plan? Reminding customers of what Burger King is all about: The Whopper.
"What we really want to do in the short term is reintroduce America's love affair with the Whopper," Tom Curtis, president of Burger King North America, told CNN Business. The plan is to make sure workers are well trained in making the best possible Whopper and that kitchens support consistency and ease of preparation.
The fast food giant is also going to lean in to advertising its signature burger.
"I don't think we've talked about it enough. I just don't think we've celebrated it enough," Curtis said. "And I'm looking forward to putting it back in its rightful place as our lead act." Through advertising, Burger King wants to remind customers that the Whopper is flame-grilled and customizable. But some other tweaks could be in store as well, Curtis said.
The brand is "evaluating whether or not there are changes to the Whopper that could make it a better product," he said. But the team also doesn't want to risk messing with its best known offering. "[We're] a little bit in the camp of if it ain't broke, don't fix it," Curtis said.
What went wrong
During the pandemic, restaurants had to quickly adjust their business models to contend with disrupted supply chains, closed dining rooms and a spike in demand for delivery. Burger King didn't adapt very well.
"Over the last few years during the pandemic and coming out of the pandemic ... [Burger King U.S.] didn't do a great job of adjusting our business to the environment, " RBI CEO Jose Cil told CNN Business. "We didn't simplify."
In the pandemic, many restaurants quickly slimmed down menus in order to simplify kitchen operations when delivery orders suddenly went through the roof. Workers scrambling to fill online orders could at least avoid complicated preparations.
But Burger King did the opposite.
"We, in fact, complicated things," Cil said, "we added menu items ... that were more difficult and not necessarily intuitive and typical for us to serve."
Specifically Cil is talking about the Ch'King, a hand-breaded chicken sandwich that the chain introduced last year. The product "created a ton of bottlenecks operationally," Cil said.
The issues set Burger King back as competitors advanced. In the second quarter of this year, sales at Burger King U.S. restaurants open at least 13 months grew by just .4%. Sales at McDonald's U.S. restaurants open at least 13 months jumped 3.7% in that period.
Burger King recently retired the Ch'King, replacing it with the Royal Crispy Chicken sandwich.
The Ch'King "was a great product that was difficult or challenging for teams to execute on," Curtis said. "The best thing for the guest is great flavor and consistency. So our Royal Crispy Chicken, which we just launched, offers both."
As Burger King continues to work on other menu innovations, it will have to balance ease of execution with items that excite customers, Curtis added.
Remodels and rewards upgrades
To help boost sales and restaurant traffic, Burger King is making other improvements, including making restaurants look more modern.
The chain plans to remodel about 800 restaurants over the next two years.
The idea is to have consistent branding, but with customized layouts that make sense for the environment, Curtis said. A Burger King in a city might be smaller, with a higher focus on digital ordering. In a rural town, it might have more seating.
Burger King has already started updating its image. The brand changed its logo last year, switched packaging, uniforms and signage to the new look. A few years ago, it shared what remodeled restaurants might look like: triple-lane drive-thrus, burger pickup lockers and takeout counters.
The company also wants to make make it easier for customers to use the chain's mobile app, revamp its rewards program by offering customized digital deals, and make delivery and to-go orders more convenient. | https://www.koat.com/article/burger-king-plan-make-you-fall-in-love-whopper-again/41180294 | 2022-09-13 03:02:48 | 0 | https://www.koat.com/article/burger-king-plan-make-you-fall-in-love-whopper-again/41180294 |
NEW YORK — A Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict Donald Trump on charges involving payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of an extramarital sexual encounter, the first ever criminal case against a former U.S. president and a jolt to Trump’s bid to retake the White House in 2024.
The indictment, confirmed Thursday by Joe Tacopina, a lawyer for Trump, and other people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to discuss sealed criminal charges, is an extraordinary development after years of investigations into his business, political and personal dealings. It is likely to galvanize critics who say Trump lied and cheated his way to the top and embolden supporters who feel the Republican is being unfairly targeted by a Democratic prosecutor.
Tacopina said in a statement: “He did not commit any crime. We will vigorously fight this political prosecution in court.”
The district attorney’s investigation centered on money paid to porn actor Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, whom he feared would go public with claims that they had extramarital sexual encounters with him.
Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing and has repeatedly attacked the investigation as politically motivated, was expected to surrender to authorities next week, though the details were still being worked out, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss a matter that remained under seal.
In bringing the charges, the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, is embracing an unusual case that had been investigated by two previous sets of prosecutors, both of which declined to take the politically explosive step of seeking Trump’s indictment.
In the weeks leading up to the indictment, Trump railed about the investigation on social media and urged supporters to protest on his behalf, prompting tighter security around the Manhattan criminal courthouse.
Trump faces other potential legal perils as he seeks to reassert control of the Republican Party and stave off a slew of one-time allies who are seeking or are likely to oppose him for the presidential nomination.
The district attorney in Atlanta has for two years been investigating efforts by Trump and his allies to meddle in Georgia’s 2020 vote count. And a U.S. Justice Department special counsel is investigating Trump’s storage of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida and his efforts to reverse his election loss.
The fate of the hush-money investigation seemed uncertain until word got out in early March that Bragg had invited Trump to testify before a grand jury, a signal that prosecutors were close to bringing charges.
Trump’s attorneys declined the invitation, but a lawyer closely allied with the former president briefly testified in an effort to undercut the credibility of Trump’s former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen.
Late in the 2016 presidential campaign, Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 to keep her silent about what she says was a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier after they met at a celebrity golf tournament.
Cohen was then reimbursed by Trump’s company, the Trump Organization, which also rewarded the lawyer with bonuses and extra payments logged internally as legal expenses. Over several months, Cohen said, the company paid him $420,000.
Earlier in 2016, Cohen had also arranged for the publisher of the supermarket tabloid the National Enquirer to pay Playboy model Karen McDougal $150,000 to squelch her story of a Trump affair in a journalistically dubious practice known as “catch-and-kill.”
The payments to the women were intended to buy secrecy, but they backfired almost immediately as details of the arrangements leaked to the news media.
Federal prosecutors in New York ultimately charged Cohen in 2018 with violating federal campaign finance laws, arguing that the payments amounted to impermissible help to Trump’s presidential campaign. Cohen pleaded guilty to those charges and unrelated tax evasion counts and served time in federal prison.
Trump was implicated in court filings as having knowledge of the arrangements, but U.S. prosecutors at the time balked at bringing charges against him. The Justice Department has a longtime policy that it is likely unconstitutional to prosecute a sitting president in federal court.
Bragg’s predecessor as district attorney, Cyrus Vance Jr., then took up the investigation in 2019. While that probe initially focused on the hush money payments, Vance’s prosecutors moved on to other matters, including an examination of Trump’s business dealings and tax strategies.
Vance ultimately charged the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer with tax fraud related to fringe benefits paid to some of the company’s top executives.
The hush money matter became known around the D.A.’s office as the “zombie case,” with prosecutors revisiting it periodically but never opting to bring charges.
Bragg saw it differently. After the Trump Organization was convicted on the tax fraud charges in December, he brought fresh eyes to the well-worn case, hiring longtime white-collar prosecutor Matthew Colangelo to oversee the probe and convening a new grand jury.
Cohen became a key witness, meeting with prosecutors nearly two-dozen times, turning over emails, recordings and other evidence and testifying before the grand jury.
Trump has long decried the Manhattan investigation as “the greatest witch hunt in history.” He has also lashed out at Bragg, calling the prosecutor, who is Black, racist against white people.
The criminal charges in New York are the latest salvo in a profound schism between Trump and his hometown — a reckoning for a one-time favorite son who grew rich and famous building skyscrapers, hobnobbing with celebrities and gracing the pages of the city’s gossip press.
Trump, who famously riffed in 2016 that he “could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody” and “wouldn’t lose voters,” now faces a threat to his liberty or at least his reputation in a borough where more than 75% of voters — many of them potential jurors — went against him in the last election.
Michael R. Sisak, Eric Tucker, Colleen Long and Jennifer Peltz of The Associated Press wrote this story. | https://www.nj.com/news/2023/03/trump-indicted-first-ex-president-charged-with-crime-lawyer.html | 2023-03-30 22:41:31 | 0 | https://www.nj.com/news/2023/03/trump-indicted-first-ex-president-charged-with-crime-lawyer.html |
85 teachers welcomed to GFPS ahead of school year; district rolls out new app
Great Falls Public Schools has recently held training for 85 new teachers across the district to begin this upcoming school year. Throughout the summer, GFPS has posted several new teachers on their Facebook page, introducing them with a picture and short bio about themselves.
Director of Human Resources Kerry Dattilo explained that GFPS is looking to hire roughly 8-10 more teachers as of last week. On August 10, the district held a job fair, hiring for several positions throughout the district such as substitute teachers, teacher aides, crossing guards, custodians, paraprofessionals and more.
Through the recent job fair, those remaining teacher positions could be filled before school starts back. The district interviewed more than 50 people during the job fair.
“We interviewed about 50 people yesterday; we're working on onboarding and filling as many of those positions as we can,” Dattilo said.
“Our principals in elementary school are working on reference checks for all the teacher aide interviews they did, and then special education departments working on reference checks for the paraprofessionals. So, it's just kind of a process, but we felt like it was a really good turnout. We'll be hosting another job fair in early September, and it's just something we do throughout the year to try to just kind of most efficiently hire new people in.”
More:Montana Supreme Court said masking in schools may serve legitimate, legal purpose
Those who are interested in working for GFPS and missed the job fair can also apply for various remaining positions online through the GFPS website under "employment" or keep an eye out for the Job Fair posting in September.
The recent new hires will be greeting students on August 24 for the first day of school.
The new GFPS app
Along with new staff for the new school year, GFPS has announced its very own app. Parents and students are encouraged to download it for easy access to calendars, sports, announcements and more. Students' grades and schedules are still done through Powerschool, which can be accessed through the app.
The app, titled "Great Falls Public Schools," can be downloaded through the Apple Store or Google Play.
1,964 notebooks and more:United Way Stuff the Bus to help local kids kick off new school year
GFPS often utilizes Facebook to keep parents informed of events coming up or in emergencies, and the app gives a direct link to the GFPS page.
The app also provides convenient access for all things GFPS such as school nutrition, safety/transportation, employment, and other online resources. | https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2022/08/17/great-falls-public-schools-hiring-teachers-app-launches-students-parents/65406206007/ | 2022-08-18 10:55:59 | 0 | https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2022/08/17/great-falls-public-schools-hiring-teachers-app-launches-students-parents/65406206007/ |
In a game between division leaders Tuesday, the Milwaukee Brewers wasted no time in jumping on the Minnesota Twins.
The National League Central leaders took a 2-0 lead on Andrew McCutchen’s two-run home run off Josh Winder in the first inning and never trailed on the way to a 6-3 victory in front of an announced crowd of 37,183 at Target Field.
The Twins got a solo home run from Jorge Polanco in the second, and the AL Central leaders tied the game 2-2 in the fourth on Nick Gordon’s two-out, RBI single. But Brewers No. 9 hitter Jonathan Davis hit a run-scoring single in the top of the fifth, and Willy Adames followed with a two-out, two-run home run for a 5-2 lead.
“They had a couple of big swings and put some runs on the board quickly with some homers, and we didn’t take advantage of the couple of opportunities we had with guys on base,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “(if) we hit a double in those situations, or put a ball out of the ballpark like they did, we’re in a lot better spot.”
The Twins were 2 for 5 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven runners.
After the Twins went down in order in their half of the fifth, a strong thunderstorm moved in to delay the game for a third time. The first delay lasted 29 minutes, the second eight minutes and the third 1 hour, 6 minutes before the game resumed at 9:55 p.m.
Making his sixth major league start, Winder (4-3) was charged with all five runs on four hits — including the McCutchen and Adames homers — and a pair of walks in five innings. He struck out two.
Jandel Gustav (2-0) pitched a scoreless fifth for the victory. Josh Hader pitched the ninth for Milwaukee to earn his major league-leading 27th save and end the Brewers’ two-game skid.
When the game resumed a third time, right-hander Trevor Megill took the mound for Minnesota and gave up a swinging bunt to leadoff hitter McCutchen. After moving to second on an errant pickoff throw by Megill, he scored on a two-out single off the right field wall by Jace Peterson to increase Milwaukee’s lead to 6-2.
Left-handed side-armer Hoby Milner started the sixth for Milwaukee and got Byron Buxton on a foul ball to right and a groundout from Max Kepler before loading the bases. Polanco singled, and Milner hit Alex Kirilloff and pinch-hitter Kyle Garlick. The next batter, Gio Urshela, drew the count to 3-1 before launching a long drive that landed about 20 feet to the wrong side of the foul pole in left before grounding out to short to end the inning.
The Twins put the two batters on in the seventh with one out against right-hander Brad Boxberger on a double by Luis Arraez and single by Carlos Correa. Buxton scored Arraez on a fielder’s choice grounder to cut the Twins’ deficit to 6-3. But Gilberto Celestino — a defensive replacement for Gordon — struck out to end the inning.
Major league batting leader Arraez went 1 for 4 with a walk and is hitting .347.
Jovani Moran and Emilio Pagan combined to throw 2⅓ innings of scoreless relief for the Twins. Pagan struck out the side in the ninth.
Max Kepler left the game after fouling a ball off his right ankle and was replaced in right field by Garlick. Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich was a late scratch because of tightness in his back.
The two-game interleague series continues Wednesday at 12:10 p.m. | https://www.twincities.com/2022/07/12/undaunted-by-rain-delays-brewers-beat-twins-in-battle-of-division-leaders/ | 2022-07-13 05:15:23 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/07/12/undaunted-by-rain-delays-brewers-beat-twins-in-battle-of-division-leaders/ |
Triplets graduating as co-valedictorians, salutatorian
MAHONING COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) - Three Ohio teens are looking forward to an exciting graduation weekend, when they’ll be honored as co-valedictorians and salutatorian.
The best part? They’re triplets!
Sadie, Gage and Caydin Barker graduate from Sebring McKinley High School on Sunday, with nothing but bright futures ahead of them.
“These three are amazing in everything they have done in life so far,” said their mom, Becky Pusateri-Barker.
Caydin and Sadie will be named co-valedictorians, and Gage will be named salutatorian.
Sadie is planning to attend the University of Cincinnati, majoring in chemical engineering and branching into law school.
Electrical Lineman trade school is up next for Gage, who hasn’t ruled out college completely.
Caydin is also planning to attend the University of Cincinnati, majoring in electrical engineering and branching into business.
So far, Pusateri-Barker said Sadie has won $15,000 in scholarships and Caydin has won $10,000 in scholarships.
They were chosen as two of the 17 recipients of the Edward J. Debartolo Scholarship, which received 350 applications.
Copyright 2023 WOIO via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/05/19/triplets-graduating-co-valedictorians-salutatorian/ | 2023-05-19 20:41:51 | 0 | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/05/19/triplets-graduating-co-valedictorians-salutatorian/ |
CAIRO, Egypt — The debate over who owns ancient artifacts has been an increasing challenge to museums across Europe and America, and the spotlight has fallen on the most visited piece in the British Museum: The Rosetta Stone.
The inscriptions on the dark grey granite slab became the seminal breakthrough in deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics after it was taken from Egypt by forces of the British empire in 1801.
Now, as Britain's largest museum marks the 200-year anniversary of the decipherment of hieroglyphics, thousands of Egyptians are demanding the stone’s return.
‘’The British Museum’s holding of the stone is a symbol of Western cultural violence against Egypt,” said Monica Hanna, dean at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport, and organizer of one of two petitions calling for the stone's return.
The acquisition of the Rosetta Stone was tied up in the imperial battles between Britain and France. After Napoleon Bonaparte’s military occupation of Egypt, French scientists uncovered the stone in 1799 in the northern town of Rashid, known by the French as Rosetta. When British forces defeated the French in Egypt, the stone and over a dozen other antiquities were handed over to the British under the terms of an 1801 surrender deal between the generals of the two sides.
It has remained in the British Museum since.
Hanna’s petition, with 4,200 signatures, says the stone was seized illegally and constitutes a “spoil of war.” The claim is echoed in a near identical petition by Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s former minister for antiquities affairs, which has more than 100,000 signatures. Hawass argues that Egypt had no say in the 1801 agreement.
The British Museum refutes this. In a statement, the Museum said the 1801 treaty includes the signature of a representative of Egypt. It refers to an Ottoman admiral who fought alongside the British against the French. The Ottoman sultan in Istanbul was nominally the ruler of Egypt at the time of Napoleon’s invasion.
The Museum also said Egypt’s government has not submitted a request for its return. It added that there are 28 known copies of the same engraved decree and 21 of them remain in Egypt.
The contention over the original stone copy stems from its unrivaled significance to Egyptology. Carved in the 2nd century B.C., the slab contains three translations of a decree relating to a settlement between the then-ruling Ptolemies and a sect of Egyptian priests. The first inscription is in classic hieroglyphics, the next is in a simplified hieroglyphic script known as Demotic, and the third is in Ancient Greek.
Through knowledge of the latter, academics were able to decipher the hieroglyphic symbols, with French Egyptologist Jean-Francois Champollion eventually cracking the language in 1822.
‘‘Scholars from the previous 18th century had been longing to find a bilingual text written in a known language,’’ said Ilona Regulski, the head of Egyptian Written Culture at the British Museum. Regulski is the lead curator of the museum’s winter exhibition, “Hieroglyphs Unlocking Ancient Egypt,” celebrating the 200th anniversary of Champollion’s breakthrough.
The stone is one of more than 100,000 Egyptian and Sudanese relics housed in the British Museum. A large percentage were obtained during Britain’s colonial rule over the region from 1883 to 1953.
It has grown increasingly common for museums and collectors to return artifacts to their country of origin, with new instances reported nearly monthly. Often, it’s the result of a court ruling, while some cases are voluntary, symbolizing an act of atonement for historical wrongs.
New York’s Metropolitan Museum returned 16 antiquities to Egypt in September after a U.S. investigation concluded they had been illegally trafficked. On Monday, London’s Horniman Museum signed over 72 objects, including 12 Benin Bronzes, to Nigeria following a request from its government.
Nicholas Donnell, a Boston-based attorney specializing in cases concerning art and artifacts, said no common international legal framework exists for such disputes. Unless there is clear evidence an artifact was acquired illegally, repatriation is largely at the discretion of the museum.
‘‘Given the treaty and the timeframe, the Rosetta Stone is a hard legal battle to win,’’ said Donnell.
The British Museum has acknowledged that several repatriation requests have been made to it from various countries for artifacts, but it did not provide The Associated Press with any details on their status or number. It also did not confirm whether it has ever repatriated an artifact from its collection.
For Nigel Hetherington, an archaeologist and CEO of the online academic forum Past Preserves, the museum’s lack of transparency suggests other motives.
‘‘It’s about money, maintaining relevance and a fear that in returning certain items people will stop coming,’’ he said.
Western museums have long pointed to superior facilities and larger crowd draws to justify their holding of world treasures. Amid turmoil following the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak, Egypt saw an uptick in artifact smuggling, which cost the country an estimated $3 billion between 2011 and 2013, according to the U.S.-based Antiquities Coalition. In 2015, it was discovered that cleaners at Cairo’s Egyptian Museum had damaged the burial mask of Pharaoh Tutankhamun by attempting to re-attach the beard with super glue.
But President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s government has since invested heavily in its antiquities. Egypt has successfully reclaimed thousands of internationally smuggled artifacts and plans to open a newly built, state-of-the-art museum where tens of thousands of objects can be housed. The Grand Egyptian Museum has been under construction for well over a decade and there have been repeated delays to its opening.
Egypt’s plethora of ancient monuments, from the pyramids of Giza to the towering statues of Abu Simbel at the Sudanese border, are the magnet for a tourism industry that drew in $13 billion in 2021.
For Hanna, Egyptians’ right to access their own history should remain the priority. “How many Egyptians can travel to London or New York?” she said.
Egyptian authorities did not respond to a request for comment regarding Egypt's policy toward the Rosetta Stone or other Egyptian artifacts displayed abroad. Hawass and Hanna said they are not pinning hopes on the government to secure its return.
‘‘The Rosetta Stone is the icon of Egyptian identity,’’ said Hawass. ‘‘I will use the media and the intellectuals to tell the (British) museum they have no right.’’ | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/nation-world/egypt-rosetta-stone-return/507-ff0680eb-1220-4071-ab8b-91bf4c9d869c | 2022-11-30 13:17:21 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/nation-world/egypt-rosetta-stone-return/507-ff0680eb-1220-4071-ab8b-91bf4c9d869c |
ALAMEDA COUNTY, Calif., Dec. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerome Bellotti of Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc. recovers $1.1 million for client Johnny Moore during litigation.
On a clear afternoon, Defendant Dareck Randolph ran a stop sign while driving in front of an elementary school and t-boned the car of Plaintiff Johnny Moore. As a result of this crash, Moore sustained serious injuries to his neck, back, right shoulder, and right knee.
Desperate to find a cure for his relentless chronic pain, Moore began an exhaustive course of treatment, consisting of orthopedic and pain management consultations, chiropractic care, physical therapy, medications, and injections. Unfortunately, his symptoms persisted, and he was forced to undergo a three-level anterior cervical decompression and fusion surgery.
The insurance carrier argued that Moore's injuries were limited to simple muscle sprains and made a pre-suit settlement offer of $15,000.
Bellotti and his team at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc. fought tirelessly to prove the severity of Moore's injuries. He deposed the Defense Medical Expert who retracted the opinions in his medical evaluation and testified that Moore in fact needed surgery to treat his injuries. This effort resulted in a settlement more than 70 times the pre-suit offer.
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SOURCE Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc. | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/12/21/harris-personal-injury-lawyers-inc-recovers-11-million-alameda-county-client/ | 2022-12-21 18:18:54 | 1 | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/12/21/harris-personal-injury-lawyers-inc-recovers-11-million-alameda-county-client/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — The vast majority of Americans will find multiple options for health insurance coverage for 2023 on HealthCare.gov after open enrollment began Tuesday under the Affordable Care Act.
People searching for plans on the government marketplace should consider their budget, health, doctors and a variety of other factors before picking a plan.
Currently, more than 14.5 million people get their health insurance through the ACA, commonly known as “Obamacare.” The number swelled during the coronavirus pandemic after Congress passed generous subsidies to make coverage more affordable.
While most people have three or more options, about 8% of participants will choose from only two insurance carriers, a number that drops to one in rural counties across Alabama, Alaska, Arizona and Texas.
According to the Biden administration, 80% of consumers should be able to find a plan for $10 or less per month after tax credits.
Here’s a look at navigating the Affordable Care Act marketplace:
HOW DOES THE MARKETPLACE WORK?
The ACA marketplace is geared toward people who don’t have health insurance through their job, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program or another source.
While most states use the federal marketplace at HealthCare.gov, some have set up their own. These are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont plus the District of Columbia.
Premium tax credits and other savings reducing the cost of insurance are based on income and the number of people in your family. For example, individuals with an annual income between $13,590 and $54,360 are eligible for a subsidy. Those who make less than that qualify for Medicaid.
You can use the HealthCare.gov calculator to determine what savings are available to you.
Know the deadlines for coverage in 2023: Dec. 15 for coverage that starts on Jan. 1 and Jan. 15 for coverage that begins Feb. 1.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN CHOOSING A PLAN
Shop around, even if you’re currently covered under the ACA.
First, you’ll want to see what the monthly premium — the amount you pay for coverage — will be.
Next, check on the plan’s deductible — that’s what you pay up front for health services before your insurance begins to share some of the remaining costs for the year.
Look into the plan’s copayments or coinsurance. Those are the the fees you pay every time you visit the doctor’s office or go to an urgent care clinic, for example. Plans with coinsurance can be trickier to budget for because you pay a percentage of the service cost, instead of a set fee.
And make sure to know the out-of-pocket maximum. After you hit that number, your insurance will cover 100% of costs. You’ll want to keep that number in mind if you might have big health expenses — a major surgery, childbirth or ongoing therapy or treatment — in the upcoming year.
“Consider whether you are going to have an expensive year,” said Kelly Rector, an insurance broker and president of Missouri-based Denny and Associates Inc. “If you know you’re going to be hitting that out-of-pocket max no matter what, maybe you look at the lower premiums and higher deductible plan.”
DOES YOUR DOCTOR PARTICIPATE IN THE PLAN?
Do you want to continue seeing a favorite doctor or need a prescription drug covered on your plan?
HealthCare.gov also offers search features and tools for you to check whether your doctor or prescription drugs are covered under specific plans.
Those are “the biggest things” that Rector recommends consumers check when searching the marketplace.
WHAT LEVEL PLAN SHOULD I CHOOSE?
All plans cover basic health services, including preventive services, prescription drugs, mental health services and pregnancy.
There are four levels of plans offered: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Bronze plans have the lowest premiums but the highest out-of-pocket costs. Premium costs increase as you go up the medal ladder, but deductibles are lower.
The best deal for people who qualify for extra savings is a silver plan, said Cynthia Cox, the Kaiser Family Foundation’s director for the Affordable Care Act program.
“If you’re just barely making above the poverty level, you really should be buying a silver plan, with the lowest premiums, lowest deductibles,” Cox said.
In some cases, those plans will still be nearly free and will have much lower copays and deductibles, making for the best deal in the long run. Depending on your income, you might have to pay a monthly premium of $15 to $20, but the lower costs to the overall plan still make a better deal, Cox said.
For people in higher income brackets, shop around before selecting a plan. Your subsidies won’t be as big — if you qualify at all — and the plans will be pricier.
If you’re young and healthy and don’t anticipate significant health care needs, the bronze plan remains a reasonable choice, according to Rector. High-deductible “catastrophic plans” are also available to people under age 30.
WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY SPECIFIC SITUATION?
In each state, people known as “navigators” provide free consultations to help you choose a health insurance plan. The program is supported by public funding. You can search for local help in your state on HealthCare.gov. Agents and brokers are also available to help. They do charge fees but typically provide their services for free to consumers and charge the insurance companies instead.
___
Seitz reported from Washington.
___
The Associated Press receives support from the Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism. | https://www.kark.com/news/business/ap-explainer-how-to-navigate-affordable-care-act-enrollment/ | 2022-11-01 17:10:55 | 0 | https://www.kark.com/news/business/ap-explainer-how-to-navigate-affordable-care-act-enrollment/ |
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Theatre Tuscaloosa | https://www.apr.org/tags/theatre-tuscaloosa | 2023-03-27 15:26:28 | 1 | https://www.apr.org/tags/theatre-tuscaloosa |
Four years after Vladimir Putin hosted the World Cup party, Russia is off the guest list.
While the soccer world focuses on the opening game of the World Cup in Qatar on Sunday, Russia will be playing a friendly game in Uzbekistan.
Russia was kicked out of World Cup qualifying after it invaded Ukraine and now can only play friendlies against the few nations prepared to accept its invitations.
The Russian men’s national team’s only game of 2022 so far was a 2-1 win over Kyrgyzstan in September. Russian clubs are barred from the Champions League and the women’s national team was removed from the European Championship.
Monday marked one year since the last competitive game of the Russian men’s national team, a 1-0 loss at Croatia on a swampy, waterlogged field. That meant Russia didn’t qualify for the World Cup directly and went into the playoffs. By the time those came around, Russia had invaded Ukraine.
Russia’s scheduled opponent, Poland, refused to travel to Moscow to play, as did the other teams in the playoff bracket. That raised the prospect of Russia qualifying for the World Cup by default. In legal battles at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, FIFA argued that letting Russia compete could cause more boycotts and “irreparable and chaotic” damage to its tournament. CAS let the ban stand.
Games against Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina were planned for November but neither is taking place. Instead, Russia is touring two former Soviet nations to play Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The planned Iran game would have given Russia the credibility of facing a team which has qualified for the World Cup. Ukraine accuses Russia of using Iranian drones to attack its cities, something Russia denies. Ukraine asked FIFA to remove Iran from the tournament, though FIFA has not done so.
The president of the Russian soccer federation told local media that the game with Iran could be held in Qatar shortly before the World Cup. That could have been seen as a snub to FIFA. No date or venue was ever confirmed before Russia announced the Tajikistan and Uzbekistan games instead.
Putin endorsed plans for a friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina in September, saying that “sport should unite, not divide, people.” That game was postponed indefinitely by the Bosnian soccer federation last month, after team captain Edin Džeko and the national players’ union opposed the game and expressed support for Ukraine.
Russia still has friends in the World Cup host nation. Qatar’s emir thanked Russia in October for its “great support” for organizing the World Cup when he met Putin for talks at a summit in Kazakhstan.
“We are also doing everything we can in terms of transferring the experience of preparing for the World Cup,” the Russian president said.
What exactly Russia’s support for Qatar involves is unclear, but Qatari officials have shown interest in the tight security around Russian games in 2018. For the first time at a World Cup, it included a mandatory “Fan ID” scheme. A ticket on its own wasn’t enough to enter the stadium. Fans provided personal data to get an ID card needed to pass stadium security, which also doubled as a visa to enter the country. The same is true of Qatar’s similar Hayya Card program.
There are more similarities.
Both Russia and Qatar were awarded their World Cups in a 2010 vote overshadowed by allegations of corruption.
Both nations also faced scrutiny over the working conditions for people involved in World Cup construction projects, including migrant workers. Activists accused Russia of unpaid wages, workplace deaths and unsafe conditions, including people being required to work in temperatures far below freezing.
Four years after the World Cup in Russia, there is tension between the government and soccer fans. The government has expanded its Fan ID scheme from the World Cup to cover league games within Russia, sparking a furious response from many fans. Groups of hardcore fans of Russia’s biggest clubs have been boycotting games rather than sign up for an ID.
Attendances for Russian league games average less than 11,000 this season. That’s a third lower than in the pre-pandemic 2018-19 season and less than the average for the Swiss and Portuguese leagues. It also means thousands of empty seats at many stadiums built for the 2018 World Cup.
Russian clubs have also seen key players — including Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, now at Napoli — move abroad for no transfer fee under a FIFA ruling that allows them to suspend their contracts during the war.
When the group stage at the World Cup gets going in earnest next Monday, eight Russian clubs will be busy at the Court of Arbitration for Sport trying to overturn that transfer ruling.
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.ksn.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-former-host-russia-frozen-out-as-world-cup-begins-in-qatar/ | 2022-11-14 18:54:27 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-former-host-russia-frozen-out-as-world-cup-begins-in-qatar/ |
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