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PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Ahead of the Fourth of July holiday WPTV is reminding people of the risks of using fireworks. Data shows most injuries related to fireworks happen around this time of year.
It’s one of the most colorful and patriotic holidays, but officials said, it can also be one of the most dangerous.
This year, Palm Beach County firefighters are encouraging people to leave the over-the-top fireworks display to professionals.
“We actually really promote and encourage people to go see a show, because there are professionals that handle the fireworks,” Palm Beach County Fire Rescue community education supervisor Elyse Weintraub Brown. “There’s a lot of parameters they need to abide by, there’s a permitting process, an inspection process.”
For those who prefer to skip the show and host their own patriotic party, beware of the risks of using fireworks.
There were 11,500 emergency room-treated injuries involving fireworks in 2021, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
CPSC also said nearly 75% of all injuries dealing with fireworks happen in the few weeks around the Fourth of July holiday.
WPTV spoke to the trauma medical director at Delray Beach Medical Center about the patients they’ve seen recently in the emergency room.
“Explosion injuries, firework injuries, losing fingers, hands, eyes, things of that nature,” Trauma Medical Director Pedro Gonzalez. “A very bad injury is probably the worst injury that we see in regard to long term effect.”
Here are some tips on preventing injuries:
- Light fireworks one at a time, then quickly move away.
- Keep a bucket of water or a hose handy, in case of fire or other issues.
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to melt some metals and definitely hot enough to melt a bathing suit.
Gonzalez said another thing that sends people to the hospital is drinking.
“Alcohol and fireworks do not mix,” he said. “They don’t limit their alcohol, they don’t know when to say when, and then they end up here. You don’t want to end up here.”
Although it’s a celebration, officials are warning people to not get lost in partying.
“Just for that one moment of smiles and happiness and bright lights, can cause a lifetime of devastating, traumatic injuries,” Brown said.
Fire officials also told WPTV glow sticks are a great alternative for sparklers. | https://www.wptv.com/news/palm-beach-county/officials-warn-of-risks-associated-with-using-fireworks-ahead-of-independence-day | 2023-07-03 18:46:35 | 1 | https://www.wptv.com/news/palm-beach-county/officials-warn-of-risks-associated-with-using-fireworks-ahead-of-independence-day |
First Quarter 2023 Highlights:
- Total revenue of $143.4 million increased $75.5 million versus 2022 and $53.7 compared with 2019
- Net loss available to stockholders of $0.4 million improved $42.6 million versus 2022
- Adjusted EBITDA of $27.2 million increased $48.4 million versus 2022 and $5.1 million compared with 2019
- Lindblad segment Net Yield per Available Guest Night of $1,205 increased 63% versus 2022 and 10% compared with 2019
- Occupancy of 81% compared with 66% in 2022
- Strong reservations for future travel with bookings for 2023 45% ahead of bookings for 2019 at the same point in 2019
- Following the quarter, further increased financial flexibility through issuance of new senior secured notes
NEW YORK, May 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIND; the "Company" or "Lindblad"), a global provider of expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.
Dolf Berle, Chief Executive Officer, said "Lindblad is off to a great start in 2023 as the momentum we have generated since emerging from the pandemic continued in earnest during the first quarter. The strategic investments we have made to expand capacity and diversify our product portfolio are delivering strong results as new and returning guests are eager to explore the world's most amazing destinations. We are also just beginning to tap into the expanded earnings potential of the Company. Demand for expedition travel continues to grow and as we further ramp occupancies, continue to broaden and deepen our offering of high-quality authentic experiences and maintain premium pricing levels, we are uniquely positioned to significantly ramp earnings and build long-term shareholder value in the years ahead."
FIRST QUARTER RESULTS
Tour Revenues
First quarter tour revenues of $143.4 million increased $75.5 million, or 111%, as compared to the same period in 2022. The increase was driven by a $65.2 million increase at the Lindblad segment and a $10.3 million increase at the Land Experiences segment.
Lindblad segment tour revenue of $115.5 million increased $65.2 million, or 130%, compared to the first quarter a year ago primarily due to a 71% increase in available guest nights as we continued to ramp operations. The year-on-year growth was also driven by a 63% increase in net yield per available guest night to $1,205 due to increased pricing and broader fleet utilization, as well as from an increase in occupancy to 81% from 66% in the first quarter a year ago.
Land Experiences tour revenues of $27.9 million increased $10.3 million, or 59%, compared to the first quarter a year ago primarily due to the ramp in departures and higher pricing.
Net Income
Net loss available to stockholders for the first quarter was $0.4 million, $0.01 per diluted share, as compared with net loss available to stockholders of $43.0 million, $0.85 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2022. The $42.6 million improvement primarily reflects the ramp in operations, which was partially offset by $1.5 million of income tax expense versus a $0.1 million tax benefit, in the first quarter a year ago due to the improved operating results and a $1.8 million increase in interest expense due to additional borrowings and higher rates.
Adjusted EBITDA
First quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $27.2 million increased $48.4 million as compared to the same period in 2022 driven by a $47.1 million increase at the Lindblad segment and a $1.3 million increase at the Land Experiences segment.
Lindblad segment Adjusted EBITDA of $26.1 million increased $47.1 million as compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to increased tour revenues, partially offset by higher cost of tours and increased personnel costs related to the ramp in operations, increased commissions related to the revenue and bookings growth and higher marketing costs to drive future growth.
Land Experiences segment Adjusted EBITDA of $1.1 million increased $1.3 million as compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to increased tour revenues, partially offset by higher cost of tours and increased personnel costs related to the ramp in operations, increased commissions related to the revenue and bookings growth and higher marketing costs to drive future growth.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
The Company's cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term securities were $120.7 million as of March 31, 2023, as compared with $129.6 million as of December 31, 2022. The decrease primarily reflects $2.1 million in cash from operations due to the strong operating performance and increased bookings for future travel, which was more than offset by $6.1 million in cash used by financing activities primarily related to principal and interest payments, and $6.4 million in cash used in purchasing property and equipment, predominantly related to maintenance on existing vessels.
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had a total debt position of $560.0 million and was in compliance with all of its applicable debt covenants.
Following the quarter, the Company issued $275.0 million of 9.00% senior secured notes, maturing 2028, with proceeds used primarily to pay the outstanding borrowings under the Company's previously existing export credit agreements. The senior secured notes are guaranteed on a senior secured basis by the Company and certain of the Company's subsidiaries and are collateralized by certain of the Company's assets.
FINANCIAL OUTLOOK
The Company's current expectations for the full year 2023 are as follows:
- Tour revenues of $550 - $575 million
- Adjusted EBITDA of $70 - $80 million
The Company has substantial advance reservations for future travel with strong gross bookings, partially offset by short-term cancellations. As of April 24, 2023, Lindblad segment bookings for travel during 2023 have increased 45% as compared with bookings for 2019 as of the same date in 2019.
STOCK REPURCHASE PLAN
The Company currently has a $35.0 million stock repurchase plan in place. As of April 24, 2023, the Company had repurchased 875,218 shares and 6.0 million warrants under the plan for a total of $23.0 million and had $12.0 million remaining under the plan. As of April 24, 2023, there were 53.3 million shares common stock outstanding.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
The Company uses a variety of operational and financial metrics, including non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, Occupancy, Net Yields and Net Cruise Costs, to enable it to analyze its performance and financial condition. The Company utilizes these financial measures to manage its business on a day-to-day basis and believes that they are the most relevant measures of performance. Some of these measures are commonly used in the cruise and tourism industry to evaluate performance. The Company believes these non-GAAP measures provide expanded insight to assess revenue and cost performance, in addition to the standard GAAP-based financial measures. There are no specific rules or regulations for determining non-GAAP measures, and as such, they may not be comparable to measures used by other companies within the industry.
The presentation of non-GAAP financial information should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The definitions of non-GAAP financial measures along with a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial information to GAAP are included in the supplemental financial schedules.
Conference Call Information
The Company has scheduled a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on May 3, 2023, to discuss the earnings of the Company. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (833) 470-1428 (United States), (833) 950-0062 (Canada) and for all other locations please visit https://www.netroadshow.com/events/global-numbers?confId=49870. The access code is 745356. A replay of the call will be available at the Company's investor relations website, investors.expeditions.com.
About Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. is an expedition travel company that focuses on ship-based voyages through its Lindblad Expeditions brand and land-based travel through its subsidiaries, Natural Habitat, Inc. ("Natural Habitat"), Off the Beaten Path LLC ("Off the Beaten Path"), DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co. ("DuVine"), and Classic Journeys, LLC ("Classic Journeys").
Lindblad Expeditions works in partnership with National Geographic to inspire people to explore and care about the planet. The organizations work in tandem to produce innovative marine expedition programs and promote conservation and sustainable tourism around the world. The partnership's educationally oriented voyages allow guests to interact with and learn from leading scientists, naturalists and researchers while discovering stunning natural environments, above and below the sea, through state-of-the-art exploration tools.
Natural Habitat partners with the World Wildlife Fund to offer and promote conservation and sustainable travel that directly protects nature. Natural Habitat's adventures include polar bear tours in Churchill, Canada, Alaskan grizzly bear adventures and African safaris.
Classic Journeys is a luxury cultural walking tour company that operates a portfolio of curated tours centered around cinematic walks led by expert local guides. Classic Journeys offers active small-group and private custom journeys in over 50 countries around the world.
DuVine designs and leads luxury bike tours in the world's most amazing destinations, from Italy's sun-bleached villages and the medieval towns of Provence to Portugal's Douro Valley and the vineyards of Napa, California. Guests bike, eat, drink, and sleep their way through these regions and many more while sampling the finest cuisine, hotels, and wine.
Off the Beaten Path is an outdoor, active travel company offering guided small group adventures and private custom journeys that connect travelers with the wild nature and authentic culture of their destinations. Off the Beaten Path's trips extend across the globe, with a focus on exceptional national park experiences in the Rocky Mountains, Desert Southwest, and Alaska.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include the Company's financial projections and may also generally be identified as such because the context of such statements will include words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe the Company's financial guidance or future plans, objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those expected. Many of these risks and uncertainties are currently amplified by, and will continue to be amplified by, or in the future may be amplified by, the COVID-19 outbreak. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. There may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) events and conditions around the world, including war and other military actions, such as the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, inflation, higher fuel prices, higher interest rates and other general concerns about the state of the economy or other events impacting the ability or desire of people to travel; (ii) suspended operations, cancelling or rescheduling of voyages and other potential disruptions to our business and operations related to COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the political unrest in Peru or another unexpected event; (iii) the impacts of inflation, COVID-19 and/or the Russia-Ukraine conflict on our financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows, employees, plans and growth, fuel prices, changes in fuels consumed and availability of fuel supply in the geographies in which we operate; (iv) the impacts of inflation and negative economic conditions or negative economic outlooks on the demand for future expedition travel; (v) the loss of key employees, our inability to recruit or retain qualified shoreside and shipboard employees and increased labor costs; (vi) unscheduled disruptions in our business due to travel restrictions, weather events, mechanical failures, pandemics or other events; (vii) changes adversely affecting the business in which we are engaged; (viii) management of our growth and our ability to execute on our planned growth; (ix) our business strategy and plans; (x) our ability to maintain our relationship with National Geographic; (xi) compliance with new and existing laws and regulations, including environmental regulations and travel advisories and restrictions; (xii) compliance with the financial and/or operating covenants in our debt arrangements; (xiii) the impact of severe or unusual weather conditions, including climate change, on our business; (xiv) adverse publicity regarding the travel and cruise industry in general; (xv) loss of business due to competition; (xvi) the result of future financing efforts; (xvii) delays and costs overruns with respect to the construction and delivery of newly constructed vessels; (xviii) the inability to meet revenue and Adjusted EBITDA projections; and (xix) those risks described in the Company's filings with the SEC. Stockholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More detailed information about factors that may affect the Company's performance may be found in its filings with the SEC, which are available at http://www.sec.gov or at http://www.expeditions.com in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website.
Operational and Financial Metrics
Adjusted EBITDA is net income (loss) excluding depreciation and amortization, net interest expense, other income (expense), income tax (expense) benefit, (gain) loss on foreign currency, (gain) loss on transfer of assets, reorganization costs, and other supplemental adjustments. Other supplemental adjustments include certain non-operating items such as stock-based compensation, executive severance costs, the National Geographic fee amortization, debt refinancing costs, acquisition-related expenses and other non-recurring charges. We believe Adjusted EBITDA, when considered along with other performance measures, is a useful measure as it reflects certain operating drivers of the business, such as sales growth, operating costs, selling and administrative expense, and other operating income and expense. We believe Adjusted EBITDA helps provide a more complete understanding of the underlying operating results and trends and an enhanced overall understanding of our financial performance and prospects for the future. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a measure of liquidity or cash flows from operations or a measure comparable to net income as it does not take into account certain requirements, such as unearned passenger revenues, capital expenditures and related depreciation, principal and interest payments, and tax payments. Our use of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other companies within the industry.
The following metrics apply to the Lindblad segment:
Adjusted Net Cruise Cost represents Net Cruise Cost adjusted for Non-GAAP other supplemental adjustments which include certain non-operating items such as stock-based compensation, the National Geographic fee amortization and acquisition-related expenses.
Available Guest Nights is a measurement of capacity available for sale and represents double occupancy per cabin (except single occupancy for a single capacity cabin) multiplied by the number of cruise days for the period. We also record the number of guest nights available on our limited land programs in this definition.
Gross Cruise Cost represents the sum of cost of tours plus selling and marketing expenses, and general and administrative expenses.
Gross Yield per Available Guest Night represents tour revenues divided by Available Guest Nights.
Guest Nights Sold represents the number of guests carried for the period multiplied by the number of nights sailed within the period.
Maximum Guests is a measure of capacity and represents the maximum number of guests in a period and is based on double occupancy per cabin (except single occupancy for a single capacity cabin).
Net Cruise Cost represents Gross Cruise Cost excluding commissions and certain other direct costs of guest ticket revenues and other tour revenues.
Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel represents Net Cruise Cost excluding fuel costs.
Net Yield represents tour revenues less commissions and direct costs of other tour revenues.
Net Yield per Available Guest Night represents Net Yield divided by Available Guest Nights.
Number of Guests represents the number of guests that travel with us in a period.
Occupancy is calculated by dividing Guest Nights Sold by Available Guest Nights.
Voyages represent the number of ship expeditions completed during the period.
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SOURCE Lindblad Expeditions | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2023/05/03/lindblad-expeditions-holdings-inc-reports-2023-first-quarter-financial-results/ | 2023-05-03 12:05:54 | 0 | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2023/05/03/lindblad-expeditions-holdings-inc-reports-2023-first-quarter-financial-results/ |
This coming Memorial Day weekend could be the busiest in years for air travel. Close to 3.5 million travelers are expected to fly this weekend, according to AAA — a more than five percent increase over 2019.
Meanwhile, the airline industry has had multiple disruptions recently. Perhaps the greatest was the Southwest Airlines meltdown over the winter holidays, when the carrier canceled more than 15,000 U.S. flights after a technical failure.
So are airlines ready for the weekend?
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby spoke to Morning Edition host Michel Martin from the Denver Airport.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Interview highlights
On how United Airlines is trying to contain weather-related delays
When weather happens, there's nothing you can do. But what you can do is recover quickly. What we attempt to do is really isolate the problem to the day and the location where the weather is, and not have it bleed over into the rest of the system. We've gotten pretty good at that. It's not always possible – especially if there's weather rolling across the entire country, that's where it gets really challenging. But for the most part, if a storm hits Denver and closes the airport for a few hours, we've gotten pretty good at isolating it to just that day and that airport.
On challenges facing airlines
The biggest issue for us and for the industry is air traffic control staffing shortages. The secretary of transportation acknowledged that they're short 3,000 controllers. We have fewer air traffic controllers today than we had 30 years ago. Here in Denver, the last two days we woke up to a 30% reduction in the arrival rate for aircraft at the airport because of [air traffic control] staffing shortages on clear, blue sky days. That is by far the biggest issue, and the most addressable.
By the way, it's not the FAA's fault – this is a 20- to 30-year-old issue. They simply don't have the Congressional authorization. We are working hard to get the right amount of resources and a bipartisan FAA reauthorization bill to address that issue.
These issues are never isolated. When Denver had that reduction in arrival rates, that doesn't just impact those flights. Those are airplanes that are scheduled to keep flying around the whole country for the rest of the day. The same thing happens in New York. It's a help that the number of flights have been reduced in the New York airspace this summer. But this isn't unique to New York – it's everywhere in the country, and it really is about [air traffic control] staffing, and we have to fix that issue. We've invested in physical infrastructure like four parallel runways here in Denver, but we couldn't use two of them [Monday] because there weren't enough air traffic controllers to use the other two runways.
On labor negotiations with pilots
We think our pilots deserve an industry-leading contract, and we have put that deal on the table. It includes significant work rule enhancements. There are a lot of changes that they requested in the contract, and an awful lot of changes that we've agreed to, and it's just taking a little time. But the deal that we have on the table is a better deal than either the Delta [Airlines] deal or the recently announced American [Airlines] deal. So I hope that we are close to the finish line with them.
On high air travel prices
Prices have returned to pre-pandemic levels. Fares collapsed during COVID. If you go back to pre-pandemic, they're still lower than they were in real terms 10 years ago, and I think we've just returned to normal. My guess would be fares are going to grow with inflation in the overall economy as they've historically done. But they're never going to go back to the artificial lows of COVID.
On the Biden administration's proposed protections for airline customers
I saw the secretary of transportation two weeks ago, and I'll tell you exactly what I said to him, which is we have every motivation to run a reliable operation because that's what's best for our customers, which means that's what's best for our business. And we are doing that. By far the biggest issue that we have is the weather and air traffic control delays. I mean, every day it's chronic. Every day we wake up to restrictions in the amount of capacity that we can have, and that bleeds through the rest of the system.
But I think the most important point is safety. We start from Day One with every employee — we drill it into them that safety is No. 1. You don't think about costs. And if you all of a sudden start saying, well, there's a big expense associated with delaying or canceling this flight – I don't want to chip away at that safety foundation with the pilot or mechanic in the back of their minds saying, "Well, this is a close call and it's going to cost a lot of money" – we shouldn't do that.
On the looming debt ceiling deadline
The economy is balanced on a knife's edge. When the Silicon Valley banking scare happened, we saw a 15% drop in bookings overnight for business travel. That tells you how fragile the economy is. Defaulting on the debt would be an unnecessary unforced error and we just shouldn't do it. To me, our politicians — and this is a bipartisan comment – need on both sides to find a compromise and not let this happen because it's just a really big risk. Maybe it winds up lasting one or two days and no big deal. But there's a lot of dominos lined up and they're really fragile. And if it starts knocking over the other dominoes, it goes from a debt default to some kind of banking crisis or something else. That's the real risk, and it would just be crazy for us to not get this done.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wboi.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-05-24/lack-of-air-traffic-controllers-is-industrys-biggest-issue-united-airlines-ceo-says | 2023-05-24 18:07:41 | 1 | https://www.wboi.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-05-24/lack-of-air-traffic-controllers-is-industrys-biggest-issue-united-airlines-ceo-says |
When Russia withdrew from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared this move “the beginning of the end of the war.”
Here & Now‘s Lisa Mullins checks in with Dara Massicot, senior policy researcher at the Rand Corporation, to talk about the strategic significance of this new step in Russia’s war on Ukraine.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-11-15/zelenskyy-declares-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-russias-war-in-ukraine | 2022-11-15 20:52:55 | 1 | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-11-15/zelenskyy-declares-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-russias-war-in-ukraine |
NEW YORK (AP) — A longtime emergency medical worker with New York City’s fire department who was a first responder on Sept. 11 was killed in an apparently random stabbing in broad daylight, police said Thursday.
The stabbing happened at approximately 2:15 p.m. in Queens, about a half-block from the station where FDNY EMS Lt. Alison Russo-Elling was assigned, according to police.
The 61-year-old Russo-Elling was wearing clothes that would have identified her as EMS personnel, officials said, and was heading to a corner store to get something to eat when a 34-year-old man stabbed her multiple times. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police didn’t speculate on a motive for the attack and didn’t immediately identify the suspect.
“Members of EMS serve only to help and save other people’s lives,” Acting Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said at a news conference. “To be attacked and killed in the course of helping others is both heartbreaking and enraging for our department in ways I cannot describe.”
“She served the city for 25 years. She was a World Trade Center first responder. She was cited multiple times for her bravery and her life-saving work. And she was absolutely beloved on this job,” Kavanagh said.
Russo-Elling was appointed to the FDNY as an emergency medical technician in 1998 and was promoted to paramedic in 2002 and to lieutenant in 2016, the FDNY posted on Instagram Thursday.
There were two eyewitnesses to the attack who knew the assailant, and one of them gave chase, police said. The man fled to the third floor of his nearby residence and barricaded himself inside. He eventually was talked into coming out and taken into custody. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/veteran-ems-worker-fatally-stabbed-in-random-nyc-attack/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world | 2022-09-30 02:01:46 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/veteran-ems-worker-fatally-stabbed-in-random-nyc-attack/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
BEIJING, May 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, ended on Friday. "The China-Central Asia relationship is steeped in history, driven by broad actual needs, and built on solid popular support. Our relations are brimming with vigor and vitality in the new era," said Chinese President Xi Jinping in his keynote speech during the event. How do foreign experts evaluate this summit? What role will it play in the further development of China-Central Asia ties? Global Times asked former officials and scholars of Central Asian countries and Russia about their views on the summit, as well as their understanding of China-Central Asia relations.
Djoomart Otorbaev, former prime minister of the Kyrgyz Republic and a Non-resident Senior Fellow of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China
I think that during the 30 years of our diplomatic relationship, the key is that we established trust between our countries. We work continuously with each other without any problems. So the time was not wasted: We understand each other better and the structures of our economy better. We know about the China-launched Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative. We also want to be part of these global initiatives so that the region will be more harmonious with security, peace, and mutually beneficial activities together. On our horizons, we have much more ambitious projects between each other. And what's happening is that now we're going to go to the next step of our cooperation.
Denis Berdakov, head of the "Elchi" Institute of Social-Political Research in Kyrgyzstan
The China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an is a new platform in the international arena and will open a new chapter in the history of cooperation between the six countries. For the countries of Central Asia, it is very important that China puts forward the idea of global partnership at the world and regional levels based on the understanding that "joint development is real development, sustainable development is high-quality development." And China focuses on the fact that the results should be aimed at obtaining a win-win. China aims to strengthen all-round diplomacy and move from bilateral to multilateral relations, advocating all-round development and partnerships around the world. In this regard, the China-Central Asia Summit can be regarded as a logical step toward creating a belt of stability in Central Eurasia.
Kairat Batyrbayev, Executive Director of the Eurasian International Studies Association
It is expected that the summit of the heads of state of China and Central Asian countries will be important and bring significant results. The main purpose of the summit is to discuss and strengthen cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries, as well as to form a common understanding of the future steps and development of relations, especially in the context of the changing geopolitical situation in the world related to the Ukraine crisis. In general, it is believed that the C+C5 platform is a more effective mechanism for the development of relations between China and Central Asia.
Timofei Bordachev, a program director of the Moscow-based Valdai Discussion Club
China and Russia are equally interested in the stability of Central Asia simply because they are directly neighboring most of the states located in this part of Eurasia. The common task of China and Russia is to make their friends and neighbors in Central Asia stable and relatively prosperous in today's turbulent times. Those who want stability in Central Asia believe in the general openness of the market economy and have a sincere desire to ensure security and development in this important part of Eurasia. One would expect that the Xi'an summit will open a new page in China-Central Asia relations and bring good news for all neighbors of this important region.
Sergey Biryukov, a professor at the Siberian Institute of Management in Novosibirsk, Russia
The Xi'an summit will be of great significance. The Central Asian nations, accepting China's proposal to turn the region into a new powerful center of economic growth, can return in a new capacity to the same role that they successfully performed two millennia ago: the role of a link between trade routes from East to West and vice versa. Such a role of the Central Asian countries is in demand today. The China-Central Asia Summit can rely on the established and successfully functioning mechanisms of inter-country and interregional cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. It acts as a structure that could unite and consolidate a diverse world, confirming its declarations and plans with regular practical work.
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SOURCE Global Times | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/05/19/china-central-asia-relations-enter-new-era-after-xian-summit-international-observers/ | 2023-05-19 15:20:31 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/05/19/china-central-asia-relations-enter-new-era-after-xian-summit-international-observers/ |
Most of the world’s population has been affected in some way by climate change — 85% of the world, in fact. But the effects of climate change haven’t been equally felt by all. Some communities have seen a slight rise in temperature here and there, but others have had their entire communities wiped out.
As the rise of global temperatures and sea level continues to affect the world with increasing frequency and intensity, who are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change?
The answer is clear, according to climate scientists, climate and environmental justice experts and international research efforts on the question. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found in a 2022 report that vulnerability to climate change is “exacerbated by inequity and marginalization linked to gender, ethnicity, low income or combinations thereof.”
“(The) poor, ethnic minorities, and women are very clearly the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change that we are already seeing today: heat waves; displacement and smoke due to fires; and price shocks due to supply chain interruptions, higher energy prices,” Daniel Kammen, a professor of energy at the University of California, Berkeley and a coordinating lead author on IPCC reports, told The Associated Press.
These populations are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change because of racism, sexism and pursuit of profits over protection of people, according to Bineshi Albert, co-executive director of the Climate Justice Alliance.
“Due to the continued search for profits by our current economic system and (by) the fossil fuel industry in particular, there are entire neighborhoods that are deemed worthy of becoming sacrifice zones, and this breaks down every time around race, class, and national lines,” she said.
Research also shows that disabled people are more vulnerable to effects of climate change than abled bodied people.
The increased vulnerability to climate change experienced by these populations and who is to blame for causing these inequities have become increasing topics of conversation at the international level. Debate about loss and damage — the climate harm caused by some nations to others, how much and what should be done about it — has waged on since at least COP23.
A study published in July 2022 found that richer nations like the U.S. caused climate harm to poorer countries.
In terms of repairing damage already caused to vulnerable populations and countries and helping them become less vulnerable, experts told the AP that it starts with including them in developing policies.
“A natural start is to develop policies to target these underserved communities with enhanced attention and support,” Kammen said.
Albert said it should go a step further with direct economic investments in communities most vulnerable to climate change.
“Economic resources should go directly to those on the frontlines of the climate crisis to develop and implement their own community-led solutions,” she said. “Communities rather than profits must be the motive if we are truly going to solve the climate crisis.” | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/who-is-most-vulnerable-to-impacts-of-climate-change/ | 2022-10-18 14:01:04 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/who-is-most-vulnerable-to-impacts-of-climate-change/ |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — A portion of Interstate 55 in Memphis, Tennessee, was forced to partially close Tuesday evening after a tractor-trailer wreck sent alfredo sauce pouring across the roadway.
The wreck was reported shortly before 5 p.m. local time.
Traffic camera video from the Tennessee Department of Transportation shows a white sauce covering all three northbound lanes of the interstate.
Police and fire crews did not confirm what the truck was carrying, but a reporter with Nexstar’s WREG that was on the scene confirmed that the truck was carrying jars of alfredo sauce.
No injuries have been reported in the crash.
Authorities have not said how long it will take to clean up the spill or what caused it. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/alfredo-sauce-spill-partially-closes-tennessee-highway/ | 2022-08-31 03:40:17 | 1 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/alfredo-sauce-spill-partially-closes-tennessee-highway/ |
Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising member Elise Ketch called out the "coordinated onslaught" of the FBI against the pro-life movement after two agents visited her mother’s house in April.
On Wednesday, the Daily Signal released Ring doorbell footage of two FBI agents arriving at Ketch’s childhood home in Virginia requesting to speak with her. When Ketch’s mother asked for the reason behind the visit, they only stated that it involved "information" sent to them, but that Ketch was "not in any trouble."
Describing the situation to Fox News Digital, Ketch said there was "a little bit of panic, but it wasn't surprising."
"It's another attack on the pro-life movement because these are our frontline workers. These are the people that are helping women who are in crisis," she said. "And they are an active threat to the abortion industry as well. They take away business and money, and we're all very profit-driven in the abortion industry. So I think that the FBI doesn't want to see pregnancy centers succeed. A lot of governments don't even see them as legitimate health centers."
FBI VISITS HOME OF PRO-LIFE ACTIVIST’S MOTHER IN ACT SHE SAYS WAS MEANT ‘TO INTIMIDATE:’ ‘REFUSE TO BACK DOWN’
She added, "I think altogether there's like a coordinated onslaught on them because they are so effective in preventing abortions."
Ketch remarked that her mother’s house was likely targeted as a way to intimidate her and her organization rather than an earnest attempt to reach out to her.
"I think my mom's house was specifically targeted because I feel like they should…if they're really an intelligence agency, they should have known by now that I moved and that I'm living here in Washington, D.C. That's not a secret. So it only makes sense to me that they went to my mom's house just to intimidate me family and to intimidate me. It really does. At the end of the day, it feels like a threat, but at the same time, like an empty one," Ketch said.
The FBI’s visit followed the controversial arrest of pro-life activist Mark Houck outside his Pennsylvania home in September. Approximately 25 armed officers pounded on his front door and, according to Houck’s wife, "raided" their home and brought Houck out in "shackles" in front of their seven children.
PRO-LIFE ACTIVIST SOUNDS ALARM ON FBI ‘INTIMIDATION’ AFTER AGENTS VISIT HOME: ‘THEY’RE GOING AFTER EVERYBODY’
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, also detailed reports from FBI whistleblowers on Thursday that revealed pro-life groups were among those who were targeted to "inflate" the threat of domestic terrorism.
"If you're a parent attending a school board meeting; if you're a pro-lifer praying at a clinic, or you're a Catholic simply going to Mass, you are a target of the government, a target of the FBI," Jordan said.
Ketch similarly accused the federal government of targeting pro-lifers in an effort to protect the abortion industry.
"I think we're a challenge to institutional and corporate power, especially because the abortion industrial complex is a major pillar of power. It's the status quo. The government and our country, frankly, doesn't know how to run without child killing. So here we are. They really don't want us to topple that pillar for them. We're definitely a threat to the government. So I think they have a major interest in targeting pro-lifers," Ketch said.
In response to future potential targeting of pro-lifers, Ketch remained optimistic and hoped her experience can inspire others.
"But what should we do about them is just keep making them public. If we keep saying this is happening and documenting it whenever we can, we can show that there's a coordinated trend and that this isn't just a conspiracy. This is actually happening, and we are actually actively being targeted by this administration. So I hope that the pro-lifers who see my video will learn from it what to say," she said.
She advised others who are approached by the FBI to have legal representation before talking to the law enforcement agency.
"You have the right ot remain silent and don't compromise yourselves," she advised. "Just make sure you have proper legal representation and then get that documentation and get it out to the public so that we can all be aware. Safety in numbers, you know."
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Fox News Digital reached out ot he FBI for comment, but they declined. | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/national/pro-life-activist-describes-fbis-coordinated-onslaught-of-the-movement-we-are-actively-targeted/article_2b26eaba-09ed-5264-9856-af3efb784ca7.html | 2023-05-22 10:01:38 | 1 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/national/pro-life-activist-describes-fbis-coordinated-onslaught-of-the-movement-we-are-actively-targeted/article_2b26eaba-09ed-5264-9856-af3efb784ca7.html |
New technologies often benefit highly paid, college-educated professionals — while putting others out of work. Research indicates generative AI could benefit middle-skill workers in surprising ways.
Copyright 2023 NPR
New technologies often benefit highly paid, college-educated professionals — while putting others out of work. Research indicates generative AI could benefit middle-skill workers in surprising ways.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.apr.org/business-education/business-education/2023-06-02/how-will-generative-ai-such-as-chatgpt-affect-the-workplace | 2023-06-02 09:37:51 | 1 | https://www.apr.org/business-education/business-education/2023-06-02/how-will-generative-ai-such-as-chatgpt-affect-the-workplace |
Nature and EnvironmentGlobal issues'Financing will be the sticking point' for COP15 dealTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 videoNature and EnvironmentGlobal issues4 hours ago4 hours agohttps://p.dw.com/p/4L9lVAdvertisement | https://www.dw.com/en/financing-will-be-the-sticking-point-for-cop15-deal/video-64147773 | 2022-12-19 14:23:49 | 0 | https://www.dw.com/en/financing-will-be-the-sticking-point-for-cop15-deal/video-64147773 |
SMITH ISLAND, Md. — Three trucks set sail on a two-hour voyage through the Chesapeake Bay Friday morning.
Smith Island, the tiny and isolated Maryland community with a population of about 200, had been hit by a tornadic waterspout, and recovery efforts began within minutes. Like everything else that makes its way to the island, the recovery would arrive by boat.
Shortly after the cyclone injured one woman, severely damaged a few buildings and knocked out power to many residents around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, a boat was on its way. Denny Crockett of A&N Electric Cooperative sped over from Tangier Island, 10 miles to the south in Virginia, to begin efforts to restore power. He and others worked until about 1:30 a.m. Friday, then “babysat” the generators overnight while trying to sneak in a couple hours of sleep.
Later Friday morning, a crew on the mainland in Crisfield, Maryland, squeezed the three power trucks onto a barge, along with four electric poles and plenty of wiring. The barge embarked by 11 a.m. and slowly made its way to the island, arriving after 1 p.m. and not fully making its way to the affected area until 4 p.m.
Rebuilding on an island only accessible by boat and helicopter provides a unique challenge: Every step of the recovery process requires a boat.
“We’re used to it,” said volunteer fire chief Eddie Evans Jr. “Most of us have lived here all our lives.”
A charming community with ancient roots
Tourists know Somerset County’s Smith Island as a charming community with ancient roots. It’s a vestige of colonial America, and its residents still speak in a rhythmic dialect that mixes Elizabeth English with a twang.
Carole Ann Landon, who was born on the island, can trace her ancestry on the island back to the early 1600s.
Her husband, Everett Landon, is the island’s pastor, and he emphasized the importance of heritage to Smith Island, which prides itself on living a slow, still life, rather than a “rat race.”
“It’s living history, is what it is,” he said.
But Thursday brought something new as a cyclone tore through the island for the first time in recent memory.
Betty Tyler and her family were on their pontoon boat when they spotted the waterspout — a rotating column of water — near the island. She, her husband and others had spent 15 years building a manicured three-story house, completed in 2019. The building had originally been planned as their home, but they’d opted a couple of years ago to turn it into a rental property that sleeps 14.
So Tyler and her family retreated to their home Thursday, out of the tornado’s path. After it passed, she called her son to check in on his safety.
“He said, ‘Ma, your whole third floor is gone,’” Tyler recalled him saying of the building that they’d nearly made their house.
The top floor of the rental, dubbed “Island Time,” extended across the island, with insulation as far as a mile away. A misshapen bed frame, a warped bicycle, and a mattress with a metal rod thrust through it sat 100 feet from the structure.
Though she’d spent years constructing the house, Tyler kept in good spirits Friday, despite the damage. “It’s better to laugh than to cry,” she repeated.
Plus, she called the damage to her home “immaterial” compared with what happened to her neighbor, who spent Thursday night in a mainland hospital.
“My third floor has no meaning at all to what the lady next door (experienced),” she said.
‘No place like it’
This week marked one of the most important on the Smith Island calendar. A history of Christian faith is paramount to many residents, and it was time for the 136th camp meetings. It’s a period when people from across the island — and a few from outside — gather for a sort of religious revival.
Lindsey Bradshaw, one of the many residents born on the island, was at the tabernacle as part of the camp meetings when his fire pager went off Thursday evening. A volunteer firefighter, he checked his pager to discover he was being summoned to the address of his 88-year old mother, Doris.
“They said, ‘Building collapse,’” he said. “So I knew it wasn’t going to be very good.”
When he arrived on the scene, though, a chorus of others assured him — “She’s OK!” — and they all worked to remove debris from her. Doris Bradshaw’s trailer had been essentially flattened, with her belongings and furniture and appliances dumped on the ground in the pattern of a whirlwind. But her bed, and she in it, were relatively untouched.
As she was assisted, one resident wiped insulation out of her hair, and Bradshaw replied: “I just had my hair fixed — don’t mess my hair up.”
One of the island’s two ambulances drove her to the dock, where Terry Laird — a boat captain and another lifelong Smith Island resident of 72 years — ferried her in his 1977 watercraft to the mainland, where she was taken to the hospital.
Bradshaw was still receiving treatment Friday as her son worked to clean up the wreckage of her trailer. Like many other islanders, Lindsey Bradshaw thanked God for his mother’s miraculous survival, given the destruction of her home.
When asked what Smith Island means to him, Bradshaw paused and teared up. He’s lived on the island for each of his 60 years, and he said he wouldn’t trade that for anything.
“There’s no place like it,” he said.
***
The majority of Smith Island is in good shape. Though no tourists were on the island Friday, due to ferry cancellations, they are likely to be permitted back soon. Smith Island cakes, the state dessert of Maryland, were on sale. The camp meeting services continued, as did life on the island — their patented, slow version of it.
The Morning Sun
Still, there is rebuilding to be done. Across the island, 17 homes suffered damage, and some will need extensive work.
Tyler isn’t sure if she’ll restore the third floor of the vacation rental she spent more than a decade building. Each step of the process adds a unique challenge not faced on elsewhere on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
“Just ordering 500 pieces of lumber, and then you pick it up, and you have to put it on the boat,” Tyler said. “And you have to pick it (up) off the boat and put it in your truck, and then you gotta get it out of the truck and put it in the yard, and then you gotta take it in the house.”
On Friday afternoon, locals — each with a matching Old English twang and friendly demeanor — swapped stories of where they were at the time of the tornado’s touchdown or what they saw. One resident heard what he described as bricks on his roof, while another wrapped himself in a blanket to protect himself from shattering glass of the boat he was in. Some described the noise “like a freight train coming” or the tornado’s hue at one point as “black as your britches.”
Even as they processed the events, recovery efforts had begun. A restaurant owner in Crisfield placed Gatorades, water and snacks in a boat headed to Smith Island, while some on the island were fielding phone calls from people willing to donate thousands of dollars to the cause.
As the three trucks worked to restore power after their voyage on the Chesapeake, Tyler began to take measures to protect her now-vulnerable vacation rental from further wind and rain. A crew of volunteers placed dozens of two-by-fours on top the exposed building, laying the foundation for a tarp to protect it from the elements.
The wooden planks had been picked up that day, like everything else, by boat. | https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/eastern-shore/bs-md-smith-island-rebuilding-by-boat-20220806-cop5gdsugrbhvdwjxx4c5f6opm-story.html | 2022-08-06 13:19:05 | 1 | https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/eastern-shore/bs-md-smith-island-rebuilding-by-boat-20220806-cop5gdsugrbhvdwjxx4c5f6opm-story.html |
Which orthotic shoes are best?
While your body can cushion the effect of your every step as you walk or run, this cushioning function tends to reduce as you grow older. Fortunately, orthotic shoes solve this problem by supporting the structure of your foot and providing maximum cushioning.
If you’re looking for the right pair of orthotic shoes, always consider the comfort feature and cushioning effect. One highly rated footwear that delivers on these fronts is the ASICS Men’s GEL Venture 5 Running Shoe.
What to know before you buy orthotic shoes
Type of foot condition
Some shoes are suitable for individuals with plantar fasciitis, while others are ideal for those with bunions or heel spurs. For those with plantar fasciitis, the right shoes should have ample arch support, flexible midsole and special forefoot cushioning to support your feet and relieve heel pain. If you have bunions, the ideal shoes should have a wide toe box to give your toes some wiggle room and comfort. Overall, shoes made with soft materials that ensure a comfortable fit should be your go-to option when buying the right orthotic shoes.
Comfort
Some shoes combine a lightweight mesh upper with a breathable soft interior to give utmost comfort, while others include a padded collar to reduce friction against the back of the ankle. A contoured footbed with arch support is another comfort feature in some shoe options. Another important factor in terms of comfort is the shoe size. To get this right, you should always measure your feet before you go shopping for your shoes.
Support
The ideal orthotic shoes should provide the type of support that redistributes your body weight so one area of your foot isn’t absorbing more than its share as this can lead to pain and injury. Some manufacturers also design their shoes to contour to the shape of your feet, which keeps the foot in an optimal position, improves posture and supports the feet. To aid this, manufacturers embed their shoes with memory foam cushioning to mimic the natural shape of the foot and provide excellent support.
What to look for in a quality orthotic shoes
Shape
When looking for the ideal orthotic shoes, the shape should match that of your foot. If you like pointed shoes, but you have a square forefoot, wearing pointed shoes will be uncomfortable. To choose the right shoes, make sure there is at least a thumbnail length between the end of your longest toe and the end of the footwear.
Shock absorption
The right type of cushioning in your shoes can do the trick if you’re looking for quick relief from pain due to conditions such as flat feet, overpronation and arthritis. Furthermore, wearing shoes with excellent cushioning can make each step you take feel springy and buoyant. Some components of your shoes, like the flatbed, may also be embedded with foam materials to give a type of cushioning that maximizes support
Toe box
The toe box is the part of your shoes that surrounds the toes, and it usually comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Pointed shoes can be problematic if you need a pair of shoes with a big toe box. Luckily, there are orthotic shoe options with roomy toe boxes, which can leave plenty of room for your digits and even provide a pain-free experience if you have bunions and hammertoes.
How much you can expect to spend on orthotic shoes
The cost of orthotic shoes varies for men and women. Women’s options range between $50-$150, while men’s shoes usually start from $75, and you can expect to pay up to $200 for special features.
Orthotic shoes FAQ
Are orthotic shoes for everyone?
A. If you have a foot condition, such as plantar fasciitis, bunion or heel spurs, orthotic shoes can be very helpful. These shoes are designed to enhance your comfort level when wearing them, and they can also alleviate the pain or inflammation due to these conditions. However, you should discuss these issues with a podiatrist.
How long do I have to wear orthotic shoes?
A. For chronic conditions like arthritis, you may have to wear your orthotic shoes continuously. If you have an acute foot condition like acute plantar fasciitis, you don’t have to keep wearing the shoes once the condition has been resolved.
What are the best orthotic shoes to buy?
Top orthotic shoes
ASICS Men’s GEL Venture 5 Running Shoe
What you need to know: These outdoor-ready performance-driven running shoes are known for their durability and are a great choice for your daily runs regardless of the terrain.
What you’ll love: There is a gel cushioning embedded in the rearfoot to give the shoes effective shock absorption. They also come with a removable sock liner, which gives the wearer the option to replace the insole with an orthotic insert. The high abrasion rubber sole is another great feature that confers the shoes with superior durability.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top orthotic shoes for the money
New Balance Men’s 608 V5 Casual Comfort Cross Trainer
What you need to know: These training shoes are designed with durability and comfort in mind.
What you’ll love: They combine premium cushioning with superior flexibility thanks to the ABZORB heel pad and outsole flex grooves. The rubber outsole along with the midsole shank are also designed to give unique support and stability
What you should consider: They combine premium cushioning with superior flexibility, thanks to the ABZORB heel pad and outsole flex grooves. The rubber outsole along with the midsole shank are also designed to give unique support and stability.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Women’s Brisk Alma Lace-Up Leisure Sneakers
What you need to know: These super-lightweight sneakers is biomechanically designed to contour to your foot’s natural curve to provide optimal comfort
What you’ll love: They combine breathability with flexibility, thanks to the lightweight mesh upper and lace-up design. The EVA footbed has a removable mesh and the outsole is made of durable rubber to provide essential support and unmatched longevity. The shoes also come in a variety of colors, giving you a plethora of stylish options to choose from.
What you should consider: Some users complained of the shoe being tight around the ankle.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Ayotola Ogunsipe 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://www.wowktv.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/footwear-br/best-orthotic-shoes/ | 2022-05-29 23:37:31 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/footwear-br/best-orthotic-shoes/ |
Column: Is the Inflation Reduction Act really a victory for Biden? The outraged GOP acts like it is
In an era of ugly legislative gridlock, it’s easy to forget that progress isn’t necessarily pretty.
Last week, Washington got blindsided by the unveiling of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. For Democrats it was a moment of spontaneous joy, while Republicans reacted with instantaneous outrage.
In brief, here’s what happened. The Senate passed, on a bipartisan basis, the Chips and Science Act, which would spend up to $280 billion to subsidize domestic microchip production. The bill is flawed, but justifiable on national security grounds. Then almost immediately afterward, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced their Inflation Reduction Act, which is mostly a vastly scaled down version of the old Build Back Better package that Manchin almost singlehandedly blocked for more than a year.
Republicans were furious because they were led to believe such a thing was impossible. In what appeared like a fit of pique, they blocked the PACT Act, aimed at helping veterans harmed by burn pits in war zones. Except in June the same bill had passed the Senate 84-14 (it had to be reintroduced for technical reasons). In other words, the “support the troops” party voted down a pro-veteran bill they had supported just to spite the Democrats.
Republicans deny such motivations, and some, like Sen. Patrick J. Toomey (R-Pa.), have plausible explanations. But the GOP certainly leapt at the opportunity to look like sore losers. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) says GOP feelings are so hurt over the Manchin Maneuver, her colleagues might balk on a bill to recognize gay marriage too.
By complaining about Joe Manchin and Joe Biden, progressives are revealing how out of sync they are with voters — and their own Democratic Party.
Now, I get spite. But what’s more confounding is how so many progressives are hailing the Inflation Reduction Act as a huge victory for Joe Biden and the left. For most of Biden’s time in the White House, progressives insisted that even the $3.5 trillion they demanded for Build Back Better was itself the bare minimum and even a painful compromise. “I already negotiated. The truth is we need more,” Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who had wanted anywhere from $6 trillion to $16 trillion in climate spending, told Politico. The $3.5 trillion, he said, is “the minimum of what we should be spending.” Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) said a year ago that the $3.5 trillion was merely a “down payment.”
Now, everyone is cheering a bill that spends a comparatively meager $369 billion on climate-related subsidies. The rest of the measure’s $739 billion price tag goes to extending Obamacare provisions, prescription drug subsidies, expanding the Internal Revenue Service workforce and various tax hikes aimed at deficit reduction.
I have many substantive objections to the bill which, if passed, is unlikely to have nearly the success its backers claim at reducing emissions or increasing revenues. For instance, the extension of the eligibility for the carried interest deduction from three years to five is supposed to be a major broadside against perfidious private equity fat cats, but the average amount of time investors hold assets is about five years anyway.
More annoying is Manchin’s claim that this is just about “closing loopholes” when the bill is chock-a-block with loopholes for green energy firms, just as the chips bill was for manufacturers. Subsidizing affluent people to buy electric cars and shoveling subsidies to Democrat client industries is good politics for Biden, but I’m old enough to remember Solyndra.
But my consternation is mostly political. If you had told Republicans that they could derail the old BBB with a deficit reduction package that spent just 10 cents for every dollar the Democrats wanted, a lot of them would have counted themselves lucky. And if Biden had pushed for such a deal, the same people popping champagne now would be denouncing Biden as a sellout.
Biden let his vanity and instinct to placate the left get the better of him. He’s left with a party that demands an agenda voters don’t want.
It’s all the stranger because Biden didn’t push for this bill. Everyone’s touting this deal as a huge win for Biden when he had nothing to do with it. Indeed, Manchin says that he kept Biden out of negotiations because Biden’s involvement would have messed it all up. Biden campaigned on the promise that he knew how to work with Congress, but he was entirely out of the loop.
After a spate of brutal polls for Biden and his party, the Democrats who wanted the moon, are happy to celebrate moon rocks. And Republicans have gotten so entitled to winning that in their outrage over losing, they’d rather vote against legislation they support. It’s almost as if policy were an afterthought.
A cure for the common opinion
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. | https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-08-02/inflation-reduction-act-biden-democrats-gop | 2022-08-02 10:19:57 | 0 | https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-08-02/inflation-reduction-act-biden-democrats-gop |
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday pledged his country’s support in resolving long-standing disputes in the Balkans that continue to threaten stability in the troubled region.
Speaking in the Serbian capital Belgrade, Erdogan expressed hope that a recent agreement settling a travel document dispute between Serbia and Kosovo can help further bolster regional stability.
Tensions recently soared between Serbia and Kosovo over a mutual refusal to recognize each other’s travel documents. The dispute was resolved through Western mediation but other problems remain. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 which Belgrade won’t recognize.
“We are ready to extend our support and I hope that there is now a positive acceleration which will be sustained in the Balkans, because the Balkans can no longer tolerate these kind of problems,” Erdogan said at a joint press conference with Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic.
Erdogan’s stop in Belgrade was part of a tour of the Balkans. He visited Bosnia on Tuesday and on Thursday travels to Croatia where he will inaugurate a mosque.
Turkey has in recent years ramped up its presence in the Balkans, both politically and economically. Mainly Muslim Bosniak communities in Bosnia and Serbia have close relations with Ankara, while Turkish companies have increased investment in infrastructure projects throughout the region.
Erdogan also said Turkey would like to help three rival ethnic groups in Bosnia “find reconciliation.” Tensions there also have been simmering following the devastating 1992-95 war.
Erdogan and Vucic oversaw the signing of a string of cooperation agreements, including abolishing passports and simplifying travel between the two countries through the use of identity cards only. Serbia also asked for Turkey’s help to supply electricity from Azerbaijan through the coming winter amid a continent-wide energy crisis, Vucic said. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ap-turkeys-erdogan-pledges-help-to-bolster/ | 2022-09-08 10:11:59 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ap-turkeys-erdogan-pledges-help-to-bolster/ |
ELGIN, Ill. (AP) _ John B. Sanfilippo & Son Inc. (JBSS) on Tuesday reported fiscal first-quarter earnings of $15.5 million.
The Elgin, Illinois-based company said it had net income of $1.34 per share.
The peanut and tree nut producer posted revenue of $252.6 million in the period.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on JBSS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/JBSS | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/business/article/John-B-Sanfilippo-Fiscal-Q1-Earnings-Snapshot-17550804.php | 2022-11-01 22:32:49 | 1 | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/business/article/John-B-Sanfilippo-Fiscal-Q1-Earnings-Snapshot-17550804.php |
7 things to know about the LPGA Epson Tour Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic at Ol' Colony
The immediate future of women’s professional golf will make a stop at Ol' Colony Golf Course for the Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic Sept. 27 through Oct. 2. The Classic is the final stop on the Epson Tour before the Oct. 6-9 tour championship in Daytona Beach, Florida. At stake is an LPGA Tour card.
Here are seven things to know about the Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic:
The schedule
On Tuesday, Ol’ Colony’s course and driving range will be open only to Epson Tour players. On Wednesday, the course will host the Alabama Credit Union Pro-Am at 12:30 p.m., followed at 6 p.m. by a “Meet the Players Reception.” On Thursday, the Pro-Am continues, beginning at 8:30 a.m., followed by a 1:30 p.m. pro-am trophy presentation. At 2 p.m., tour players will start practice rounds. There will be a 5 p.m. skills clinic for area youth. Official tournament play begins at 7:30 a.m. Friday, followed by second-round play at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, and third and final round play at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. The trophy presentation will be at 6 p.m.
Admission
Admission is free to the public for official play, practice rounds, the pro-am, and the youth clinic. Enter through the club house. All ages are welcome, though youth under 15 should be accompanied by an adult. Spectators may not use golf carts. Accessible areas are at the Nos. 1 and 10 tees as well as the Nos. 9 and 18 greens for spectators unable to walk the course.
Parking
Parking is on the west side lot near the main entrance. Handicap parking is available for those with an official handicap parking license plate or disability access placard.
Spectators
Signs will direct spectators where to walk along the course. Folding chairs are allowed. Comfortable shoes are recommended. Restrooms are available inside the clubhouse and at holes 4, 7 and 12. Portable units also will be available along the course. Pets are not allowed. Spectators are allowed to watch players on the driving range during the hours of 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Cell phones are allowed but must be silenced while on the course. As long as the phone is on silence, photos and videos may be taken and are encouraged to share via #TuscaloosaToyota Classic. Any photos with or autographs from golfers may be done only after the player has finished her round. Hospitality tents are not open to the public.
Youth clinic
Boys and girls who play on local middle and high school golf teams are invited and should register through their school’s golf coach.
How to follow on social media
Updates will be available on TuscaloosaToyotaClassic.com, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TuscaloosaToyotaClassic and Instagram @tuscaloosatoyotaclassic and #tuscaloosatoyotaclassic, and #DreamBigDriveOn.
The field
Approximately 108 golfers from more than two dozen countries, are expected. The field will include former University of Alabama golfers. Tuscaloosa’s event is one of 20 regular-season Epson tournaments. The 21st event is the championship. Standings are based on season-long play. The top 10 players in the Ascensus Race for the Card final standings earn their LPGA Tour cards. Others may try again through Q-School in Mobile beginning Nov. 28 and in Dothan beginning Dec. 5. The purse for each tournament ranges from $200,000 to the championship’s $250,000. The Tuscaloosa purse is $200,000. | https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/2022/09/26/what-to-know-about-the-lpga-golf-tuscalooa-toyota-classic-at-ol-colony/69500454007/ | 2022-09-26 14:27:05 | 1 | https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/2022/09/26/what-to-know-about-the-lpga-golf-tuscalooa-toyota-classic-at-ol-colony/69500454007/ |
The Cade: Video and arcade gaming bar includes a side of trivia
People weary of the pandemic have expanded the already large numbers of video and arcade gamers. They're upping their time spent playing as well, and Bloomingtonians are part of the trend. One local place to play is the Cade.
NBA Jam, Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong. Golden Tee, Off road, Atari Star Wars — and other arcade and video games — await players Tuesday through Saturday evenings in this retro-style venue.
All the games are free to play, and Tuesdays and Wednesdays there's not even a cover charge at the 217 N. Walnut St. bar.
Video games, entertainment options inside a computer, come in many forms. Some are movies that let participants interact. Others are sports, such as NBA Jam's basketball. Some are board and card games. Some mimic a day in the life; some enable artistry.
Gaming nostalgia
In 1940, "Nim" became the world's first video game. Visitors to the New York World's Fair in 1939-40 stood in lines to play the Nimitron, a non-programmable computer connected to two miles of copper wire. Its sole intention was to entertain people weary of the Great Depression.
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According to MorganStanley.com, the increase in gamers has created an international market, with people playing one another in foreign countries as well as their own.
AlphaWise, Morgan Stanley's survey and data department, has recently discovered that not only all ages but all demographics have taken to gaming. Half of the surveyed U.S. residents said they had played a video game after the pandemic began. Some used a personal computer; others used gaming consoles or their mobile devices.
"This is my favorite place in Bloomington to play video games," said Trenton "Moosy" Musch, a local artist. He entered the Cade late last month with two friends, conversed a little, then picked up a fake gun. He pointed at the machine to which it was affixed, took aim, and in an instant was wholly focused on his electronic prey.
A couple of decades ago, gaming was considered almost asocial, with one person sitting for hours clutching a console and yelling at a screen, alone.
That has changed. The strongest motivator, like the Nimitron at the World's Fair, is still amusement, but almost a third of the gamers surveyed replied that, by playing, they are looking for social circuits. And particularly for gamers who are younger. More than a quarter of the surveyed participants under 35 believed gaming to be more effective than social media at connecting them with others.
The vibe at the Cade
The Cade's retro vibe makes entering feel like stepping into a 1970s movie or bar.
"Even our younger customers like the nostalgic vibe, and they actually prefer to play our older video games," said Hannah Rennels, the Cade's bartender and assistant general manager. She studied environmental management at Indiana University and had nearly finished her degree when the Cade's owner offered her a good job. The drink she makes and serves most often, she said, is the Mario Tart, with its "secret vodka."
Rennels has been employed full-time at the Cade since it opened in 2017. She likes working for a family-owned business, "where I can talk with my bosses." Her personal favorite drink is the Pixel Faded, into which she pours whiskey, triple sec — and secrets.
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The Cade's location, steps north of the Bloomington square, brings in plenty of age 21-plus IU students, she said, but also older patrons and date-night couples.
The consoles, and all the games, are free to play. The newest console is Nintendo Switch. Nintendo 64 is a hit too, and so is Sony Computer Entertainment's console PlayStation 1.
PlayStation, with its 32-bit consoles, sent Sony soaring in the gaming scene. Games such as Ridge Racer attracted players, and by 2005 the PlayStation was the first console to sell 100 million.
Game consoles, computer systems that let one or more participants play games, work either with a screen such as a TV or come as held-held games with built-in displays. Unlike a personal computer, which can play many types of games, the console depends on particular game software.
The Cade also offers themed trivia nights every other Wednesday starting at 8 p.m. Past themes have included TV shows such as the police comedy “Brooklyn Nine-Nine," along with "The Office," "Pokémon" and "Bob’s Burgers." The next trivia competition (topic to be announced) will be 8-10 p.m. April 20. Hannah Rennels writes the trivia questions.
The Cade offers space for private events, too.
If neither video games nor trivia appeals, next door the same owner runs the Video Saloon, featuring a pool table and dart boards.
If you go
WHAT: The Cade, a Bloomington video and arcade gaming bar and events space for those 21 and older.
WHEN: Opens at 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
WHERE: The Cade, 217 N. Walnut St., 812-287-7181, thecade812.com.
HOW MUCH: No cover charge Tuesdays and Wednesdays; cover is $2 Thursdays, $3 Friday and Saturday. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/entertainment/2022/04/07/cade-video-and-arcade-gaming-bar-includes-side-trivia/9464767002/ | 2022-04-07 14:26:53 | 0 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/entertainment/2022/04/07/cade-video-and-arcade-gaming-bar-includes-side-trivia/9464767002/ |
Campaign will offer up to $200,000 for AVMF REACH Program to provide veterinarians relief from stress brought on by financial struggles of pet owners
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Clients who love their pets but can't afford to pay for vital veterinary care represent a significant source of burnout and stress for compassionate veterinary practitioners. To help ease this burden, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets is partnering with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) to help expand the AVMF Reaching Every Animal with Charitable Care (REACH) program, which offers grants to veterinarians who provide immediate care for owners experiencing financial hardship. For each purchase made on Purina Pro Plan's VetDirect website from January 15, 2023 through June 30, 2023, Purina will donate $1 to the AVMF to support the REACH program, up to $200,000, so veterinarians don't have to choose between their patients and their practice.
The Cost of Caring for Pets
While the global pandemic has worsened the situation, the stress caused by the financial hardships of clients is not a new problem; in a survey of veterinarians published in JAVMA in 2017, 77% of respondents reported that the economic limitations of clients (regardless of whether those limitations were by choice or necessity) were either a moderate or primary contributor to their level of professional burnout¹.
"Over the past several years, many veterinary practitioners have been riding a roller coaster of emotional and operational challenges in their practices, between working through a global pandemic, staffing challenges, and—most recently— inflationary pressures making it harder for clients to make ends meet," notes Dr. David Granstrom, Assistant Executive Director at AVMF. "The goal of the AVMF REACH program is to remove some of the difficult decisions practitioners must make when a client can't afford lifesaving care for their pet. Thanks to the donation from Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, more of their answers can be 'yes' instead of 'no.'"
The REACH program offers grants to AVMA members who provide low or no-cost veterinary services for the treatment of illness or conditions requiring immediate care for owners experiencing financial hardship. The program is soon expanding its eligibility criteria to go beyond helping underserved clients affected by COVID-19, disaster relief and domestic violence to those with other, more general financial needs.
"Veterinarians today face so many challenges, from working extra-long hours to providing quality care for their patients to keeping their own staff members motivated. We believe this program not only honors the calling of veterinarians but will also directly alleviate some of the everyday stress practitioners feel as they make decisions regarding patient care," says Jason Gagné, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition), Director of Veterinary Technical Communications for Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets.
In 2022, the AVMF funded more than 600 grants, assisting more than 700 animals, through its charitable care programs. The Foundation is hopeful that the additional funding, along with changes to the program, will result in a significant increase in participation and the number of animals helped.
To apply for a grant or to learn more about the REACH program criteria and eligibility, visit vcare.avmf.org. To enroll your clinic in VetDirect or learn more, visit www.proplanvetdirect.com.
About Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets is manufactured by Nestlé Purina PetCare, a global leader in the pet care industry. Purina promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premier global manufacturer of pet products, Purina is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.
Information about Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets can be found at PurinaProPlanVets.com.
About the American Veterinary Medical Foundation.
The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) is the charitable arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. Now celebrating its 60th anniversary, the AVMF has been dedicated to developing resources to advance the science and practice of veterinary medicine to improve animal and human health. Foundation programs and activities are designed to benefit veterinary medicine, promote animal welfare, and enhance research so that the profession is better prepared to deal with difficult problems facing animal health today and tomorrow. Charitable contributions and support to the Foundation assist veterinarians and the entire veterinary healthcare team help animals. Our funding priorities include Education, Disaster Relief, Crisis Support, Charitable Veterinary Care and Animal Health Research.
¹Kipperman BS, Kass PH, Rishniw M. Factors that influence small animal veterinarians' opinions and actions regarding cost of care and effects of economic limitations on patient care and outcome and professional career satisfaction and burnout. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2017 Apr 1;250(7):785-794. https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/250/7/javma.250.7.785.xml
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SOURCE Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/01/26/purina-pro-plan-veterinary-diets-announces-partnership-with-avmf-support-veterinarians/ | 2023-01-26 13:14:33 | 0 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/01/26/purina-pro-plan-veterinary-diets-announces-partnership-with-avmf-support-veterinarians/ |
Cat gets head stuck in jar, gets named ‘Buzz Lightyear’
BOSTON - Curiosity may not have killed one cat in Massachusetts, but it certainly put her in a precarious situation after her head got stuck in a glass jar.
The kitten, now named "Buzz Lightyear" from the "Toy Story" movie franchise, was found by a resident along the 200 block of Danforth Street. The resident had been feeding and monitoring cats in the area.
The jar appeared to be a glass bowl or light fixture.
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The Animal Rescue League in Boston said it assisted Fall River Animal Control to help the six-month-old kitten.
Responders said they found the written wandering along the roadway. Buzz was eventually captured with the use of a drop trap.
They were able to remove the glass jar. Buzz was then taken to a nearby animal care and adoption center. She was determined to be in good health and was given vaccines and spay surgery.
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"Buzz has settled into her new surroundings, however, because she is still learning to trust humans, she will need time for ARL staff and volunteers to help socialize the young cat, and she is not yet available for adoption," ARL said in an online statement.
Authorities said during the rescue, they discovered an unknown cat colony in the area. They have started capturing other cats in the area to provide medical treatment and spay/neuter surgeries before possibly placing them in homes.
This story was reported from Los Angeles. | https://www.fox5ny.com/news/cat-gets-head-stuck-in-jar-earns-nickname-buzz-lightyear | 2022-10-09 20:44:10 | 1 | https://www.fox5ny.com/news/cat-gets-head-stuck-in-jar-earns-nickname-buzz-lightyear |
Seventeen people were hospitalized during an Ed Sheeran concert in Pittsburgh over the weekend.
"The transports were for heat-related issues, some falls, one seizure and two cardiac arrest patients," the City of Pittsburgh said in a press release.
Pittsburgh EMS personnel at the concert received a total of 37 calls for service, which included the 17 transports to the hospital.
A worker inside the stadium who was tearing down the set went into cardiac arrest on the floor. Numerous crews worked swiftly to treat the patient, who was transported to the hospital.
While leaving the facility, a paramedic from an outside agency also went into cardiac arrest, the city said. The patient was resuscitated after receiving several shocks, and then brought to the hospital.
Sheeran's concert took place at Acrisure Stadium Saturday night, which is an outdoor venue. Temperatures that day reached a maximum of 82 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
The Pittsburgh concert was a part of Sheeran's three-leg "+–=÷x Tour", also known as "The Mathematics Tour," which kicked off in Dublin in August 2022.
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Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | https://www.wptv.com/ed-sheeran-concert-in-pittsburgh-prompts-17-hospitalizations | 2023-07-11 19:53:41 | 1 | https://www.wptv.com/ed-sheeran-concert-in-pittsburgh-prompts-17-hospitalizations |
LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II’s grandson Prince Harry hailed her Monday as a “guiding compass” and praised her “unwavering grace and dignity,” as members of the public were to get the chance to pay their respects to the monarch when her coffin lies at rest at St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.
The personal statement, posted on Harry and his wife Meghan’s Archwell website, said he cherished their times together “from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved greatgrandchildren.”
Amid acrimony in the House of Windsor, Harry quit as a senior royal and moved to the U.S. two years ago. On Saturday, there was a possible sign of a reconciliation as Harry and Meghan joined his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Catherine in meeting mourners outside Windsor Castle.
Harry’s statement came at the start of another day steeped in the historic pageantry and pomp that follows the death of a British sovereign.
King Charles III was starting the day speaking to lawmakers at Parliament in London before flying to Scotland.
Hundreds of lawmakers crowded into the 1,000-year-old Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament for a service in which Parliament will offer its condolences to the king, and he will reply.
A trumpet fanfare greeted the king and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, as they entered the hall, which was packed with hundreds of legislators.
The Speakers of the House of Commons and House of Lords were offering condolences on the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and Charles will make a speech in reply.
The hall, with its magnificent hammer-beam roof, is the oldest part of the parliamentary complex — a remnant of the medieval Palace of Westminster that once stood on the site.
The ceremony was being held in Westminster Hall because monarchs are not allowed inside the House of Commons. That rule dates from the 17th century, when King Charles I tried to enter and arrest lawmakers. That confrontation between crown and Parliament led to a civil war which ended with the king being beheaded in 1649.
On Sunday, thousands of people lined streets and roadsides as the oak coffin was borne from the late queen’s beloved Balmoral Castle summer retreat, where she died on Thursday, to Edinburgh.
The new king will fly to Edingburgh later and will walk behind his mother’s coffin as it is slowly transported from Holyroodhouse to St. Giles’ Cathedral, where the crown of Scotland will be placed on the coffin ahead of a service of prayer and reflection on the life and 70-year reign of the widely cherished monarch.
The queen’s coffin will lie at the cathedral for 24 hours, giving members of the public a chance to file past and pay their respects. On Tuesday, it will be flown to London where the coffin will lie in state at the Houses of Parliament Palace from Wednesday afternoon until the morning of the funeral on Sept. 19.
Authorities already have issued rules and guidelines for people wanting to pay their respects in London, with a long queue expected.
After visiting Scotland, Charles embarks on a tour of the other nations that make up the United Kingdom — he visits the Northern Ireland capital, Belfast, on Tuesday and Wales on Friday.
Harry’s statement ended on a poignant note alluding to the death last year of his grandfather, Prince Philip, saying that “We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.” | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/national-news/public-gets-chance-to-view-queens-coffin-in-edinburgh/ | 2022-09-12 10:59:44 | 0 | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/national-news/public-gets-chance-to-view-queens-coffin-in-edinburgh/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Castillo pitched five-hit ball into the seventh inning in his Seattle debut, and the Mariners used a fast start to beat Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees 7-3 on Wednesday.
Eugenio Suárez, Carlos Santana and Jarred Kelenic homered against Cole (9-4) during Seattle’s six-run first. Jesse Winker connected against Wandy Peralta in the seventh, helping the Mariners match their season high for homers.
“It was just another Luis Castillo start,” said Winker, who played with the pitcher in Cincinnati. “He did great. First start here, I’m sure he was fired up and excited and he did his thing.”
Castillo (5-4) struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings in his second start in the Bronx in less than a month. The right-hander allowed three runs and walked three.
“It was a little emotional … but that did not distract me from my routine,” Castillo said through a translator.
Castillo threw 109 pitches, 66 for strikes. He has struck out eight batters in each of his last four starts.
“Thought he was awesome,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Couldn’t be any more excited about what he’s going to bring to our ballclub, the stability, taking the ball every fifth day and the confidence and the stuff.”
The 29-year-old Castillo pitched seven sparkling innings for Cincinnati at New York on July 14. The Reds traded the ace to the Mariners on Friday night for four prospects.
The Yankees were reportedly in the mix for Castillo, but they acquired right-hander Frankie Montas in a trade with Oakland on Monday.
“They were one of the teams that was very interested in me, but I’m here with the Mariners now and just got to keep moving forward and now I’m here to take this team as far as I can,” Castillo said.
Castillo got some help from shortstop J.P. Crawford, who made a pair of impressive defensive plays.
Crawford cut down Isiah Kiner-Falefa with a strong relay throw when he tried to score from first on a double by Kyle Higashioka. Crawford also speared a 106.5 mph liner by Aaron Hicks to open the fifth while shifted to the right of second base.
Castillo retired 10 straight before issuing consecutive walks to DJ LeMahieu and Josh Donaldson in the sixth. But he got out of the jam by striking out Josh Donaldson on a slider and retiring Andrew Benintendi on a liner to second.
Castillo cruised into the seventh at 95 pitches and easily got the first two outs. He allowed a single to Kiner-Falefa and exited after Higashioka hit a two-run homer.
Cole was booed at various points of the first when Ronald Marinaccio began warming up. He allowed seven hits, struck out eight and walked one in six innings.
“Just a tough inning where he was struggling to I think to just find his command and his rhythm and getting all his pitches,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Unfortunately we’re behind the eight ball there and then pitched really well from there.”
It was the second time he allowed three homers in the first inning this season. Cole allowed three straight homers in the first and five total for his outing during the Yankees’ 10-7 win at Minnesota on June 9.
“There were bad pitch selections,” Cole said. “There were some bad pitches and we got punished for it again.”
The Mariners took a 3-0 lead when Suárez hit a first-pitch slider into the seats in left for his second straight homer in the opening inning. Santana followed with his 10th homer, driving a 3-1 fastball deep to right-center field.
After Seattle hit back-to-back homers for the second time this season, Crawford singled before Kyle Lewis struck out. Kelenic then made it 6-0 by reaching the short porch in right for his first homer since returning from spending over two months in the minors.
“It was a great day for us,” Winker said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: 1B Ty France missed a fourth straight game with a sore left wrist. … RHP Ken Giles (right shoulder tightness) struck out two and threw 12 pitches in a rehab appearance for Single-A Everett on Tuesday. … Newly acquired INF Jake Lamb will join the team Friday.
Yankees: Montas was placed on the bereavement list and will make his Yankees debut Sunday in St. Louis. … LHP Zack Britton (left elbow) faced batters at the team’s spring training complex in Florida for the first time since he underwent Tommy John surgery last September.
UP NEXT
Mariners: LHP Robbie Ray (8-8, 4.11 ERA) opens a three-game series against the Angels on Friday in Seattle.
Yankees: LHP Nestor Cortes (9-3, 2.53 ERA) opens a three-game series Friday in St. Louis.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/castillo-early-power-send-mariners-past-cole-yankees-7-3/ | 2022-08-04 12:33:36 | 0 | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/castillo-early-power-send-mariners-past-cole-yankees-7-3/ |
Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, stoking international fears of a catastrophe on the continent. A look at the plant and the situation around it:
EUROPE’S BIGGEST NUCLEAR PLANT
The Zaporizhzhia plant is in southern Ukraine, near the town of Enerhodar on the banks of the Dnieper River. It is one of the 10 biggest nuclear plants in the world.
Built during the Soviet era, it has six reactors with a total capacity of 5,700 megawatts. Three of the reactors are in operation.
Before the war, the plant accounted for about half of the electricity generated by nuclear power in Ukraine. The country has 15 reactors at four active plants, and also is home to the decommissioned Chernobyl plant, the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster.
RUSSIANS TAKE CONTROL
Russian troops overran the plant shortly after invading Ukraine on Feb. 24.
During the fighting in early March, Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged fire near the plant. The skirmishes resulted in a fire at its training complex.
The Russians have left the Ukrainian staff in place to keep the plant operating, and it has continued to supply electricity to government-controlled parts of Ukraine.
The fighting around the plant has fueled fears of a disaster like the one at Chernobyl, where a reactor exploded and spewed deadly radiation, contaminating a vast area in the world’s worst nuclear accident.
Russian forces occupied the heavily contaminated Chernobyl site soon after the invasion but handed control back to the Ukrainians after withdrawing from the area at the end of March.
RUSSIA AND UKRAINE TRADE ACCUSATIONS
Ukraine has accused Russia of storing troops and weapons at the plant and using its grounds to launch strikes against Ukrainian-controlled territory across the Dnieper. Ukrainian officials and military analysts say Moscow’s forces have cynically employed the plant as a shield, knowing that the Ukrainians would be hesitant to fire back.
Russia has denied the accusations and, in turn, accused Ukrainian forces of repeatedly shelling the plant.
A series of attacks on the plant over the past few days has damaged some of its auxiliary equipment but not its reactors, and there has been no threat of a radiation leak, according to Russian authorities.
The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukrainian shelling of the plant on Sunday caused a power surge and smoke, triggering an emergency shutdown and forcing the staff to lower output from two of the reactors.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that the Ukrainian shelling of the plant is “fraught with catastrophic consequences for vast territories, for the entire Europe,” while the Russian Foreign Ministry has accused Ukraine of “taking the entire Europe hostage.”
Ukrainian officials countered by accusing Russian forces of planting explosives at the plant in preparation for an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive in the region. They also have accused Russia of launching attacks from the plant using Ukrainian workers there as human shields and shelling the place themselves.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russian shelling and mining of the plant amount to “nuclear blackmail.”
Zaporizhzhia Gov. Oleksandr Starukh said that while the reactors are well protected by their thick concrete containment domes, it is impossible to guarantee their safe operation because of the Russian troops’ presence. He noted, too, that the storage sites at the plant for spent nuclear fuel are not as well protected as the reactors.
Mark Wenman, a nuclear expert at London’s Imperial College, said the plant’s reactors are designed “to protect against natural disasters and or man-made incidents such as aircraft crashes or reactor accidents.”
“I do not believe there would be a high probability of a breach of the containment building even if it was accidentally struck by an explosive shell, and even less likely the reactor itself could be damaged by such,” he said. He added that the spent fuel is also stored in “very robust steel and concrete containers that are designed to withstand very high-energy impacts.”
CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL MONITORING
Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, told The Associated Press last week that the situation surrounding the Zaporizhzhia plant “is completely out of control,” and he issued an urgent plea to Russia and Ukraine to allow experts to visit the complex to stabilize matters and avoid a nuclear accident.
“Every principle of nuclear safety has been violated” at the plant, Grossi said. “What is at stake is extremely serious and extremely grave and dangerous.”
Grossi said the supply chain of equipment and spare parts has been interrupted, “so we are not sure the plant is getting all it needs.” He noted that the IAEA also needs to perform highly important inspections to ensure that nuclear material is being safeguarded.
Grossi added that there have been instances of friction and reports of violence between the Russians and the Ukrainian staff.
“When you put this together, you have a catalog of things that should never be happening in any nuclear facility,” Grossi said.
RUSSIA AND UKRAINE CLASH OVER IAEA VISIT
The IAEA has sought in vain to send an inspection team to the plant for months.
Moscow has said it welcomes a visit to the plant by the IAEA, but it is unclear whether it is ready to actually help arrange such a trip.
Ukraine previously opposed Grossi’s visit to the site for as long as it remains under Moscow’s control, demanding the Russian military withdraw.
This week, however, Ukrainian officials appeared to warm up to such a trip, with Ukraine’s ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, urging the U.N. and IAEA to send a delegation to help “completely demilitarize the territory” and provide security guarantees to plant employees.
____
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/international/ap-international/explainer-fighting-in-ukraine-endangers-big-nuclear-plant/ | 2022-08-10 11:56:28 | 0 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/international/ap-international/explainer-fighting-in-ukraine-endangers-big-nuclear-plant/ |
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A 911 call released Tuesday afternoon by the City of Raleigh provides new insight into the emergency landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Friday in which a man was found dead after exiting the plane mid-flight.
The call, which came in at 2:34 p.m. Friday, was made by an unnamed staff member of the FAA air traffic control tower at RDU.
“We have a pilot that was inbound to the field. His co-pilot jumped out of the aircraft. He made impact to the ground and here are the coordinates,” the FAA staff member told a 911 dispatcher.
“He literally just said, ‘my pilot just jumped out,’” the FAA official can be heard saying. “I’ve never heard anything… this is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.”
You can listen to the full audio below.
For several minutes, the caller and dispatcher exchanged coordinates in an attempt to narrow down the exact location of the reported jump by the co-pilot, Charles Crooks.
Crooks’ body was later found dead in the Sonoma Springs Neighborhood, roughly 30 miles south of the airport.
While the 911 call says Crooks jumped from the plane at least four times, questions remain about where the jump actually occurred.
The control tower originally pegged the location as Cary and later said it was near West Lake Middle School, which is in Apex. This is roughly 10 miles north of where Crooks was found.
Additionally, the 911 call released coordinates that would’ve had Crooks jump in Johnston County just south of Four Oaks, 30 miles southeast of the Sonoma Springs Neighborhood.
“All we can do is recovery at this point,” FAA personnel said on the phone with 911. “I mean, I don’t know…I’ve never heard…This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Still, investigators have not confirmed that Crooks intentionally jumped at this time despite the context of the call.
CBS News Transportation Safety Analyst and former Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board Robert Sumwalt tells Nexstar’s WNCN that the plane, a CASA C-212 Aviocar, is a rare aircraft typically used for parachute drop operations.
Since the model is often used for parachute drop operations, it typically has a large door toward the rear of the plane that parachuters drop out of.
The surviving pilot was taken to a nearby hospital, where officials said he was okay. Authorities have interviewed the unidentified pilot and turned that information over to federal officials now leading the investigation.
The National Transportation and Safety Board, as well as the FAA, remains investigating this emergency landing. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/911-call-co-pilot-jumped-from-plane-before-emergency-landing-in-north-carolina/ | 2022-08-03 23:01:33 | 1 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/911-call-co-pilot-jumped-from-plane-before-emergency-landing-in-north-carolina/ |
Former police chief who defended himself at trial is convicted of conspiracy in Jan. 6 riot
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former California police chief was convicted on Thursday of joining the riot at the U.S. Capitol with a hatchet in his backpack and plotting to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.
A judge in Washington’s federal court heard testimony without a jury before convicting Alan Hostetter, a right-wing activist and vocal critic of COVID-19 restrictions who defended himself at his bench trial with help from a standby attorney.
Hostetter used his closing arguments to spin conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. He falsely claimed the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump, portrayed himself as a victim of FBI corruption and referred to the mob’s attack as a “federal setup” involving “crisis actors wearing costumes.” He downplayed violence at the Capitol, referring to the riot as “basically the equivalent of a three-hour hissy fit.”
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth told Hostetter that no reasonable person — let alone a veteran police officer — would believe that it was legal to use mob violence to obstruct Congress.
“Belief that your actions are for a greater good does not negate consciousness of wrongdoing,” Lamberth said.
Hostetter — who previously served as police chief in La Habra, California, near Los Angeles — was convicted on all four counts, including conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and entering a restricted area with a deadly or dangerous weapon. The judge scheduled sentencing for Oct. 13, and denied a Justice Department request to have Hostetter jailed immediately.
Federal prosecutors said Hostetter has no evidence to support his conspiracy theories but stressed that he was charged with crimes for his actions on Jan. 6 — not his political beliefs. One prosecutor, Jason Manning, said Hostetter advocated for violence and mobilized allies to join him in Washington on Jan. 6 because he “didn’t like the election results.”
“For many Americans, the horror of January 6th came out of nowhere. Not for the defendant,” Manning said.
Hostetter was arrested in June 2021 along with five other men. Their indictment linked four of Hostetter’s co-defendants to the Three Percenters wing of the militia movement. Their name refers to the myth that only 3% of Americans fought against the British in the Revolutionary War.
Hostetter said he doesn’t have any connection to the Three Percenters movement and accused prosecutors of falsely portraying him as “a caricature of some radical terrorist.”
One of Hostetter’s co-defendants, Russell Taylor, pleaded guilty in April to a conspiracy charge. Taylor testified for the government at Hostetter’s trial. A trial for the other four is scheduled for October.
The six men — Hostetter, Taylor, Eric Scott Warner, Felipe Antonio Martinez, Derek Kinnison, and Ronald Mele — were part of a chat group called “The California Patriots-DC Brigade” on Telegram, an encrypted messaging platform, prosecutors said. Taylor posted that he created the group for “fighters” who were expected to bring “weaponry” and “plates” with them to Washington on Jan. 6, according to prosecutors.
All six co-defendants entered restricted areas of the Capitol grounds during the riot, prosecutors said. Hostetter wasn’t accused of entering the Capitol building.
On Instagram, Hostetter posted a photo of himself and Taylor on the building’s Upper West Terrace with rioters in the background. A message under the photo said, “This was the ‘shot heard ‘round the world!’ … the 2021 version of 1776. That war lasted 8 years. We are just getting warmed up.”
Hostetter began teaching yoga after more than 20 years in law enforcement. In the spring of 2020, he founded a nonprofit called the American Phoenix Project. He used the tax-exempt organization to oppose COVID-19 restrictions and to advocate for violence against political opponents after the 2020 presidential election.
In November 2020, Hostetter drove from California to Washington to attend the “Million MAGA March” supporting Trump. On the way, he posted a video on his nonprofit’s YouTube channel in which he expressed his belief that the election had been stolen from Trump and called for killing “tyrants and traitors.”
In December 2020, Hostetter’s nonprofit hosted a “Stop the Steal” rally in Huntington Beach, California.
“The enemies and traitors of America both foreign and domestic must be held accountable. And they will,” he said at the rally. “There must be long prison terms, while execution is the just punishment for the ringleaders of this group.”
A day before the riot, Taylor gave a speech at a “Virginia Women for Trump” rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court in which he called for violence to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, prosecutors said.
“We are free Americans and in these streets, we will fight and we will bleed before we allow our freedom to be taken from us,” Taylor said, according to the indictment.
More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. Approximately 100 of them have been convicted after trials decided by judges or juries. More than 600 others have pleaded guilty.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.valleynewslive.com/2023/07/13/former-police-chief-who-defended-himself-trial-is-convicted-conspiracy-jan-6-riot/ | 2023-07-13 20:41:40 | 1 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/2023/07/13/former-police-chief-who-defended-himself-trial-is-convicted-conspiracy-jan-6-riot/ |
NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. — A boy who has been fighting Muscular Dystrophy his whole life can now do so while fighting ghosts, living through his favorite movie on his newly customized 'Ghostbusters' wheelchair.
The reveal took place after Carter won a nationwide contest through the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Magic Wheelchair.
Magic Wheelchair promotes inclusion and self-expression for people with disabilities by transforming their wheelchairs and partnering with MDA every year to customize a wheelchair for a child with a neuromuscular disease.
"The great thing about Magic Wheelchair, they allow the child to pick whatever theme they want and it was the theme he came up with on his own, he likes the new movie Ghostbuster and that's the movie the chose," said Erin Randall, Director of the Firefighter Partnership with MDA.
Carter has Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD).
He turned 9-years old last week with a low-key celebration as he was recovering from his 13th surgery.
The unveiling of his new wheelchair is the ultimate birthday gift for the boy who has watched the new 'Ghostbusters: After Life' movie more than mom can count.
"I don't even know how many times he had us watch it," mom Tara Rhodes said. "He's been driving his wheelchair since he was 2, that is his means of transportation. He has always been independent but having something for him that is something he loves, it's amazing."
The wheelchair was complete with a proton pack, Muncher the monster, and a ghost catcher robot that Carter can control with an Xbox remote. All while also wearing the signature beige Ghostbusting uniform with a patch that now reads 'Carter'.
"It's really cool," Carter said, and "I really like the movie."
"Just seeing the joy in his face, it was everything," his mom Tara added.
This story was first reported by Nadeen Yanes at WFTX in Fort Myers, Fla. | https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/boy-fights-muscular-dystrophy-and-ghosts-with-customized-ghostbusters-wheelchair | 2022-06-07 17:04:07 | 0 | https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/boy-fights-muscular-dystrophy-and-ghosts-with-customized-ghostbusters-wheelchair |
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
© 2022 Good Karma Brands Milwaukee, LLC. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/06/03/ap-top-business-news-at-413-p-m-edt-33/ | 2022-06-04 00:30:22 | 1 | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/06/03/ap-top-business-news-at-413-p-m-edt-33/ |
Hidalgo County COVID-19 report: April 26, 2022
Related Story
Hidalgo County on Tuesday reported one coronavirus-related death and 58 cases of COVID-19.
A man in his 70s or older died as a result of the virus. He was not vaccinated, according to the report from the Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Department.
The people who tested positive are in the following age groups:
The county also reported that 31 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, including 27 adults and four children.
Of the 31 people hospitalized with COVID-19, eight adults are in intensive care units.
Across Hidalgo County school districts, three staff members and eight students tested positive for the virus.
Since the pandemic began, 199,293 people have tested positive for the virus, and 3,900 people have died due to the virus in the county.
There are currently 206 reported active cases of COVID-19 in the county. | https://www.krgv.com/videos/hidalgo-county-covid-19-report-april-26-2022 | 2022-05-07 02:59:11 | 0 | https://www.krgv.com/videos/hidalgo-county-covid-19-report-april-26-2022 |
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This week on U.S. Money Reserve's "In Conversation" 35th Director of the U.S. Mint (1994-2000) and U.S. Money Reserve President, Philip N. Diehl and 38th Director of the U.S. Mint (2006-2011) and U.S. Money Reserve's Senior IRA Strategist, Edmund C. Moy, discuss the increase in demand for gold and silver bullion coins.
Watch the latest video to learn more.
Director Diehl believes the rarity and quality of coin can impact the demand and price of a bullion coin. Despite the increase in demand for bullion coins over time, the process for minting these coins has kept up and can produce museum-quality coins.
When Director Moy's tenure at the U.S. Mint began in 2006, demand for silver bullion coins was roughly 10 million ounces/per year. When he left in 2011, demand for silver bullion had increased by almost 500% to 47 million ounces. Similarly, demand for gold was close to 200,000 ounces at the start of Moy's tenure but had surged to 1.4 million ounces, approximately a 700% increase.
Learn more insights from these mint directors on U.S. Money Reserve's website: https://www.usmoneyreserve.com/news/executive-insights/
For more information or to speak with company leadership, please contact Christol Farris at 512-568-9991 or cfarris@usmr.com or visit www.usmoneyreserve.com.
About U.S. Money Reserve, America's Gold Authority®
U.S. Money Reserve is one of the nation's largest private distributors of U.S. government–issued gold, silver, and platinum products.
Founded in 2001, U.S. Money Reserve has grown into one of the world's largest private distributors of U.S. and foreign government-issued gold, silver, and platinum legal-tender products as well as precious metals IRAs. Hundreds of thousands of clients across the country rely on U.S. Money Reserve to diversify their assets with physical precious metals, primarily in the form of U.S. gold and silver coins.
U.S. Money Reserve's uniquely trained team includes coin research and numismatic professionals equipped with market knowledge to find products for precious metals buyers at every level. U.S. Money Reserve goes above the industry standard to provide superior customer service, with the goal of establishing a long-term relationship with each and every one of its customers. U.S. Money Reserve is based in Austin, Texas. Like them on Facebook, connect on LinkedIn, and follow them on Twitter.
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SOURCE US MONEY RESERVE | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/11/22/silver-amp-gold-surged-500-700-5-years-two-former-us-mint-directors-give-unique-insights/ | 2022-11-22 11:32:48 | 1 | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/11/22/silver-amp-gold-surged-500-700-5-years-two-former-us-mint-directors-give-unique-insights/ |
TOKYO (AP) — Tropical Depression Talas unleashed fierce rainfall Saturday in parts of Japan, setting off landslides, halting trains and killing a man after he crashed his car into a pond.
Police said the man who drove into a pond in central Japan’s Shizuoka prefecture was rushed to a hospital but died.
In another part of Shizuoka, rescue efforts were underway after a road collapsed from the heavy rainfall, police said. Japanese media reports said one man managed to crawl out of a truck that got stuck but another man was missing.
Separately, three people were injured in a mudslide in Shizuoka, according to a prefectural police spokesperson.
Rivers swelled in Shizuoka’s Hamamatsu city, where video shared on social media showed cars wading through watery streets. News footage showed an underground walkway at a train station flooded with muddy water. Because trains stopped temporarily, about 1,000 people were stranded at an arena in Shizuoka where a concert was held Friday night.
The storm is the latest to batter Japan after typhoons have caused several deaths and damage in recent weeks.
Talas was headed toward Tokyo and hammering a wide area around the capital with heavy showers. Landslide warnings were issued along the storm’s path.
___
Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/storm-hammers-japan-with-rain-man-dies-driving-into-pond/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world | 2022-09-24 02:56:09 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/storm-hammers-japan-with-rain-man-dies-driving-into-pond/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
DENVER (AP) — When Angelica Saupe was 20, she went to police to report that she was sexually abused by her high school basketball coach as a teen but said she was wrongly told that it was too late to pursue criminal charges against him.
She got another chance to pursue her claim last year after state lawmakers allowed childhood victims of sexual assault to sue their alleged abusers and employers. But now, the Colorado Supreme Court is considering whether the law violates the state constitution.
The court’s justices heard arguments Tuesday from a lawyer representing Saupe as well as Aurora Public Schools, which Saupe sued under a law that took effect last year that opened up a three-year window for people to pursue litigation for sexual abuse they suffered as children dating as far back as 1960. The law is part of a national effort to make it easier for victims to seek justice later in life after they have had time to come to terms with what happened.
At issue is whether that law violated the state Constitution’s ban on passing laws that are retrospective — changing the rules to address actions that have already happened. A lower court judge ruled that it did, dismissing Saupe’s lawsuit. Saupe appealed that ruling.
The school district’s lawyer, Stuart Suller, said recognizing that the constitution places limits on the kinds of laws state lawmakers can pass does not show disrespect to the survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
“The General Assembly can do many things. But what it can’t do is take the legislative priorities of 2022 and transport them back in time onto conduct that occurred during the final year of the Eisenhower administration,” he told the court’s seven justices.
Saupe’s lawyer, Robert Friedman, said a 1993 state law changed the statue of limitations to allow victims to file claims within six years after realizing that they had been abused, rather than just six years after they turned 18. The subjective nature of when that time limit would be reached means an abuser could have no reasonable expectation of ever being beyond the reach of a claim, he said. The 1993 law is the one that was in place when Saupe said she was abused at Rangeview High School from 2000 to 2004.
Saupe, known as Angelica Synovic then, said she hoped her case would be able to proceed and that it would help other women who have been abused to also come forward.
“Regardless if the law has come after the crime, the crime is still a crime and has been,” she said. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/colorado-court-considers-challenge-to-sex-abuse-lawsuit/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-04-04 21:07:59 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/colorado-court-considers-challenge-to-sex-abuse-lawsuit/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $100,000 In Iris Energy To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options
NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Iris Energy Limited ("Iris Energy" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: IREN) and reminds investors of the February 6, 2023 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.
If you suffered losses exceeding $100,000 investing in (a) Iris ordinary shares pursuant and/or traceable to the Offering Documents (defined below) issued in connection with the Company's initial public offering conducted on or about November 17, 2021 (the "IPO" or "Offering"); and/or (b) Iris securities between November 17, 2021 and November 1, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period") and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). You may also click here for additional information: www.faruqilaw.com/IREN.
There is no cost or obligation to you.
Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading minority and Woman-owned national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia.
Iris touts itself as a leading owner and operator of institutional-grade, highly efficient, proprietary Bitcoin mining data centers powered by 100% renewable energy.
Iris's Bitcoin mining operations purportedly generate revenue by earning Bitcoin through a combination of block rewards and transaction fees from the operation of specialized computing equipment called "miners" or "Bitcoin miners" and exchanging these Bitcoin for fiat currencies such as U.S. dollars or Canadian dollars on a daily basis.
Iris has three wholly-owned special purpose vehicles, referred to as "Non-Recourse SPV 1", "Non-Recourse SPV 2", and "Non-Recourse SPV 3" (collectively, the "Non-Recourse SPVs"), each of which was incorporated for the specific purpose of financing certain of the Bitcoin miners operated by the Company.
On October 25, 2021, Iris filed a registration statement on Form F-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in connection with the IPO, which, after several amendments, was declared effective by the SEC on November 16, 2021 (the "Registration Statement").
On or about November 17, 2021, Iris conducted the IPO, issuing approximately 8.27 million of its ordinary shares to the public at the Offering price of $28 per ordinary share for approximate proceeds to the Company of $215 million, before expenses, and after applicable underwriting discounts and commissions.
On November 18, 2021, Iris filed a prospectus on Form 424B4 with the SEC in connection with the IPO, which incorporated and formed part of the Registration Statement (the "Prospectus" and, together with the Registration Statement, the "Offering Documents").
The Complaint alleges that the Offering Documents were negligently prepared and, as a result, contained untrue statements of material fact or omitted to state other facts necessary to make the statements made not misleading and were not prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations governing their preparation. Additionally, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, the Offering Documents and Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) certain of Iris's Bitcoin miners, owned through its Non-Recourse SPVs, were unlikely to produce sufficient cash flow to service their respective debt financing obligations; (ii) accordingly, Iris's use of equipment financing agreements to procure Bitcoin miners was not as sustainable as Defendants had represented; (iii) the foregoing was likely to have a material negative impact on the Company's business, operations, and financial condition; and (iv) as a result, the Offering Documents and Defendants' public statements throughout the Class Period were materially false and/or misleading and failed to state information required to be stated therein.
On November 2, 2022, Iris issued a press release disclosing, among other things, that "[c]ertain equipment (i.e., Bitcoin miners) owned by [Non-Recourse SPV 2 and Non-Recourse SPV 3] currently produce insufficient cash flow to service their respective debt financing obligations and have a current market value well below the principal amount of the relevant loans" and that "[r]estructuring discussions with the lender remain ongoing."
On this news, Iris's ordinary share price fell $0.51 per share, or 15.04%, to close at $2.88 per share on November 2, 2022—a nearly 90% decline from the Offering price.
As of the time the Complaint was filed, Iris's ordinary shares continue to trade significantly below the $28 per share Offering price, damaging investors.
The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Iris Energy's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.
Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.
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SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/12/16/iris-energy-deadline-alert/ | 2022-12-16 23:20:01 | 0 | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/12/16/iris-energy-deadline-alert/ |
House reportedly asked to investigate George Santos' marriage
NEW YORK - Letters submitted to the House Ethics Committee are reportedly questioning whether Congressman George Santos' 7-year marriage to a Brazilian woman was just a scheme to aid her immigration bid, according to the New York Times.
The report said LGTBQ activist and former prosector, Malcolm Lazin, requested an investigation into whether Santos violated federal immigration laws.
Rep. George Santos (R-NY) walks to a closed-door GOP caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
While Lazin doesn’t claim to have clear evidence, he cited new reports that suggest the couple lived separate lives, with Santos dating during the marriage.
Santos' lawyer is not commenting at this moment.
It comes after a crowd chanted Wednesday outside his Douglaston, Queens district office.
Santos’ director of operations met over a dozen constituents at the door.
"We want to talk to our congressman," said NY03 constituent Jody Kass Finkel.
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They handed over a petition asking for the congressman’s expulsion and want Speaker McCarthy to shepard the resolution through the House.
There were barricades and police outside the building. but no Santos sightings.
FOX 5 News spotted him getting into a car outside his district office Monday morning. He left with his operations director before FOX 5 News could speak to him.
Toby Nemeoff met with the staff Wednesday. She called her sit-down unproductive.
"We need a representative with character," Nemoff said. "Not who is a character. How can he represent us when he’s in hiding?"
On Twitter, Santos said he’s not in hiding and isn’t backing down. FOX 5 News' repeated requests to speak to the representative have been denied.
Santos is at the center of investigations for his campaign finances and also his role in alleged GoFundMe schemes.
One reported scam involved a veteran’s dying service dog. Santos allegedly stole $3,000 that had been raised for its care.
Over the past month, people in the community have raised more than $27,000 in a new fundraiser.
On Wednesday, the money was donated to Paws of War. The nonprofit helps train and place service dogs with veterans. | https://www.fox5ny.com/news/george-santos-marriage-house-to-investigate | 2023-02-16 16:59:18 | 0 | https://www.fox5ny.com/news/george-santos-marriage-house-to-investigate |
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — A College Station police officer was injured Monday morning when a man threw a hatchet at him, according to Police Chief Billy Couch.
Couch said police were called to a house in the 5100 block of Bellerive Bend Dr. at 5:45 a.m.
The caller said their family member had locked himself inside a room, suffering from hallucinations and becoming violent.
Couch said when the man came out of the house he was carrying a hatchet. When he refused to drop it, an officer fired several shots at him.
Couch said the suspect, 26, threw the hatchet at the officer hitting him in the lower leg.
The officer and the suspect were taken to the hospital.
Couch said the officer has worked at the department for four years. He was released from the hospital.
The suspect was shot. Couch did not say how many times but did say he was in stable condition.
The names of the officer and suspect were not released.
Couch said the case remained under investigation. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/crime/college-station-police-respond-officer-involved-shooting/500-1a131df3-c80a-4daf-b084-9af279d07ef2 | 2022-09-19 18:24:53 | 1 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/crime/college-station-police-respond-officer-involved-shooting/500-1a131df3-c80a-4daf-b084-9af279d07ef2 |
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the Texas Lottery's "Lotto" game were:
03-05-06-14-25-40
(three, five, six, fourteen, twenty-five, forty)
Estimated jackpot: $17,500,000
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the Texas Lottery's "Lotto" game were:
03-05-06-14-25-40
(three, five, six, fourteen, twenty-five, forty)
Estimated jackpot: $17,500,000 | https://www.expressnews.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Lotto-game-17433376.php | 2022-09-11 04:40:58 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Lotto-game-17433376.php |
ST. JOHN — More than 800 students were asked to rewrite narratives of the future at Lake Central's 2022 commencement Wednesday night.
Graduate Kyle Kennedy led a student address during which he said that the graduates' time at Lake Central High School has been the foundation to let them lead successful lives in the future.
"Never let anyone say you are finished constructing. Continue to renovate your house as you lead your future. Class of 2022, never let anyone tell you you are aiming too high because there will be times when people will try to stop you from achieving your full potential, but never let anyone bring doubt to your success by geographic location, your sexual orientation and certainly not by the color of your skin," Kennedy said, interrupted by applause from the audience.
In total, there were 839 graduates in the Class of 2022. Of those graduates, 574 plan to continue on to a post-secondary institution to continue their education. Several are also planning to serve in the United States military.
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The ceremony began with a moment of silence for those who were not able to attend, as well as those who lost their lives in the Texas school shooting Tuesday.
Principal Erin Novak welcomed graduates to the ceremony, emphasizing the unconventional high school experience they had. Students were only given half of a sophomore year, as well as junior years that were partially or fully virtual.
"Know that you have gained the strength, and in turn power, to push through tough times and find better days ahead," Novak said.
As the ceremony was inside due to rain, Novak emphasized how rain brings good luck and renewal for the graduates' futures.
Kimberly Hestermann, senior class president, and Elizabeth Solia, senior class vice president, provided remarks regarding the class motto and presented the class gift.
The Class of 2022 motto was "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can," from Arthur Ashe.
The class gift went to groups within Lake Central, such as the Class of 2025 and the incoming Class of 2026. In addition, the class contributed a monetary gift to Phil's Friends, a nonprofit that helps provide support to individuals with cancer.
Student Kaitlyn O'Drobinak reflected on the students' time at Lake Central and how they had an unusual experience due to the impacts of the pandemic. She also discussed the lockdown that occurred at LCHS in September and how students felt fear they had never experienced before.
O'Drobinak emphasized how even though students are moving on, they can always come home to Lake Central.
"One thing I think all of us sitting here can say is that these four wacky years were not anything like High School Musical. And always remember — once an Indian, always an Indian," O'Drobinak said, referencing LCHS's mascot.
Superintendent Larry Veracco also provided several remarks to the graduates, emphasizing how they need to leave the world kinder than they found it.
"Your efforts and participation in activities to assist others did make Lake Central a kinder and gentler place," Veracco said, mentioning several service events that occurred this year. "Please know that your commitment to helping others has made a positive impact."
Several members of LCTV, a student-run television station at Lake Central High School, contributed a video tribute to the graduates. LCHS Counterpoints also performed "In My Life" in a video.
Lake Central High School is the biggest individual high school in Lake County. The enrollment at LCHS was over 3,000 for 2021. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-central-high-school-graduates-told-to-never-stop-constructing-their-future/article_2b7e3cd9-a05e-5dda-af48-cd1bc47c1f51.html | 2022-05-26 16:59:01 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-central-high-school-graduates-told-to-never-stop-constructing-their-future/article_2b7e3cd9-a05e-5dda-af48-cd1bc47c1f51.html |
NEW ORLEANS, June 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until June 17, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Lilium N.V. f/k/a Qell Acquisition Corp. (NasdaqGS: LILM, LILMW, QELL, QELLU, QELLW), if they purchased the Company's securities between March 30, 2021 and March 14, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Get Help
Lilium investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nasdaq-lilm/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.
About the Lawsuit
Lilium and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.
On March 14, 2022, market analyst Iceberg Research issued a report on the Company's electric vertical take-off and landing production aircraft, Lilium Jet, highlighting numerous significant problems in design, capability and testing performance as well as other supply and company-wide issues.
On this news, shares of Lilium fell $1.25 per share, or 34%, to close at $2.44 per share on March 14, 2022, on unusually heavy trading volume.
The case is Gnanaraj v. Lilium N.V., et al., No. 22-cv-2564.
About ClaimsFiler
ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.
To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.
View original content:
SOURCE ClaimsFiler | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/06/04/lilium-shareholder-alert-claimsfiler-reminds-investors-with-losses-excess-100000-lead-plaintiff-deadline-class-action-lawsuit-against-lilium-nv-lilm-lilmw/ | 2022-06-04 04:02:01 | 1 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/06/04/lilium-shareholder-alert-claimsfiler-reminds-investors-with-losses-excess-100000-lead-plaintiff-deadline-class-action-lawsuit-against-lilium-nv-lilm-lilmw/ |
They are the bane of summertime existence: Mosquitoes, eager to bite anytime. Not only are they an itchy nuisance — they carry diseases.
In 2020, the CDC reported “dramatic” increases in illnesses spread by mosquitoes and other blood feeders. Scientists are finding malaria and dengue emerging in previously unaffected areas.
Climate change has extended the mosquito season in some areas, and that’s factoring into surging demand for professional yard spraying.
But there’s a potential downside to yard-wide treatments.
According to the journal Biological Conservation, more than 40% of insect species worldwide are threatened with extinction. That includes pollinator bees and butterflies.
"If you're using a toxic chemical that's toxic to certain types of species like insects, you might expect to see some collateral damage," said John Meeker, an environmental health sciences professor at University of Michigan.
There’s also been a decrease of predators. Three billion North American birds have been lost in recent decades, mostly consisting of insect eaters.
Some companies offer natural alternatives for mosquito control, like water mixed with essential oils from plants like lemongrass, garlic and peppermint.
"One of our dogs likes to eat wood chips from the landscaping," said Marty Marino, who is trying natural mosquito repellents. "I haven't figured out how to stop that yet, but if he's going to do that and there's the synthetic insecticide on it, that's a great concern."
Experts say homeowners can also avoid the unwanted effects of chemicals by using simpler solutions, like emptying stagnant water sources and using electric fans to keep the pests away.
Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here. | https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/surging-demand-for-bug-spraying-is-hurting-other-animals | 2022-08-22 20:47:56 | 1 | https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/surging-demand-for-bug-spraying-is-hurting-other-animals |
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The Fellowship helps educate the next generation of diverse institutional grade asset managers in Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Impact Investing.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --VC Include (VCI), an organization committed to evolving the traditional investment industry by creating an inclusive ecosystem of LPs and GPs from diverse backgrounds, today announced this year's BIPOC First-Time Fund Manager fellows.
Twelve venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) funds were selected for VCI's 2022 fellowship cohort. These funds represent a total of fifteen emerging fund managers that joined the two-month education and mentoring program. The fellowship was designed for women and BIPOC fund managers based in the United States who are building their first fund. The VCI Fellowship is made possible with the generous support of Visa Foundation, Skoll Foundation, Blue Haven Initiative, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Nasdaq Foundation.
The 2022 VCI fellows are as follows:
- Eunice Ajim, Ajim Capital
- Carlos Torres, AMG Block Ventures
- Renata Merino, Blazin' Babes
- Himalaya Rao, The BFM Fund
- Tessa Flippin, Capitalize VC
- Aisha T. Weeks, Dearfield Fund for Black Wealth
- Azin Radsan van Alebeek, La Keisha Landrum Pierre & Naseem Sayani, Emmeline Ventures
- Madeline Darcy, Kaya Ventures
- Daniel Balzora, Macellum Private Capital
- Kent Lucas and Sid Smith, Non Sibi Ventures
- Toussaint Bailey, Uplifting Capital
- Hernando Bunuan, Z2Sixtly Ventures
"I'm thrilled to welcome this year's cohort of New Majority, next generation fund managers and wealth creators, coming on the heels of a massively successful first cohort of fund managers that have closed their first VC and PE funds" said VCI's founder, Bahiyah Yasmeen Robinson.
"Visa Foundation is proud to support VC Include and the women and BIPOC fund managers selected for their 2022 fellowship cohort," said Robert Meloche, Head of Programs, Visa Foundation. "The work that VC Include does to accelerate investment into historically underrepresented founders and fund managers aligns closely with Visa Foundation's long-term focus of uplifting everyone, everywhere through the power of economic inclusion and advancement."
"Investment firms led by or owned by women and people of color have faced challenges in attracting investment capital due to discrimination, implicit bias, lack of mentorship, and closed networks. We are excited to support VC Include as it works to build a more equitable future by tackling these issues through its fellowship program," said John Balbach, Director, Impact Investments at the MacArthur Foundation.
To get the latest news on VCI and its dynamic programs, fund managers with diverse teams as well as investment professionals interested in diversity and inclusion are encouraged to visit the VCI website and join the mailing list here.
About VC Include
The VC Include platform launched in 2018 to accelerate investment into historically underrepresented emerging managers – women, Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and LGBTQ – to drive economic growth through the power of diversity. The organization has built the infrastructure for an inclusive economy and is a forerunner in connecting diverse fund managers and founders with environmental, social and governance (ESG) and impact investing.
CONTACT: Alia Einstein-Diez, alia@vcinclude.com, 7203238383
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SOURCE VC Include | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/09/19/vc-include-announces-2022-cohort-fellowship-bipoc-first-time-fund-managers/ | 2022-09-19 13:37:08 | 1 | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/09/19/vc-include-announces-2022-cohort-fellowship-bipoc-first-time-fund-managers/ |
Justices to consider case involving fishing boat monitor pay
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court will take up the subject of who pays for workers who gather valuable data aboard commercial fishing boats.
Justices announced Monday that they will take the case, which stems from a lawsuit by a group of fishermen who want to stop the federal government from making them pay for the workers. The workers are tasked with collecting data on board fishing vessels to help inform rules and regulations.
The fishermen involved in the lawsuit harvest Atlantic herring, which is a major fishery off the East Coast that supplies both food and bait. Lead plaintiff Loper Bright Enterprises of New Jersey and other fishing groups have said federal rules unfairly require them to pay hundreds of dollars per day to contractors.
“Our way of life is in the hands of these justices, and we hope they will keep our families and our community in mind as they weigh their decision,” said Bill Bright, a New Jersey fisherman and plaintiff in the case.
The high court announced its decision to take the case via an order list that made no comment on the merits of the lawsuit. The fishermen previously lost in lower court rulings. Their lawsuit over fishing monitors is part of a long-standing fight between commercial fishing groups and the federal government over who pays for data collection and regulatory compliance.
Fishermen have argued that Congress never gave federal regulators authority to require the expense of paying for monitors.
Fisheries in the U.S. are regulated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A representative for NOAA declined to comment on the case. The agency does not typically comment on pending litigation.
Attorneys for the fishermen have said the case will directly confront the future of so-called “Chevron deference,” which is a legal principle that compels courts to defer to a federal agency’s interpretation of an unclear law. Conservative groups have long sought to challenge Chevron deference at the Supreme Court level.
The plaintiffs are represented by Cause of Action Institute, which advocates for limited government. They said in their petition to the high court that the monitors “take up valuable space on their vessels and oversee their operations,” and the payments make commercial fishing unsustainably expensive.
“That is an extraordinary imposition that few would tolerate on dry land,” the petition states.
The U.S. haul of Atlantic herring has fallen dramatically in recent years. Fishermen caught more than 100 million pounds of the fish as recently as 2017, but the 2021 catch was less than 11 million pounds. Much of the industry is based in Maine and Massachusetts.
NOAA has described the Atlantic herring stock as “overfished.” Fishermen of herring have been subject to quota cuts for the fish in recent years.
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/us-world-news/justices-to-consider-case-involving-fishing-boat-monitor-pay/ | 2023-05-01 17:19:00 | 1 | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/us-world-news/justices-to-consider-case-involving-fishing-boat-monitor-pay/ |
WASHINGTON — Despite its unprecedented nature and the obvious public interest in the case, there will be no cameras in the courtroom while Donald Trump is arraigned.
Late Monday night, a judge ruled that news media will not be allowed into the courtroom because of the media frenzy the direct coverage would cause.
Despite the lack of cameras, the day's events will still be one of the most covered in 2023. Reporters and photographers have tracked Trump's movements starting Monday, when he left his Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida for a New York-bound plane.
When he arrived, Trump went to his property in New York City, a penthouse in the tower named for him. Tuesday morning, the same wall of cameras and reporter microphones from Florida were pointed at the tower, waiting for him to exit.
Trump on Tuesday will make his way through New York's legal system like any other defendant — albeit with a few modifications befitting his fame.
He will be escorted to the New York District Attorney's Office by Secret Service agents. Then, he will be taken by investigators to get his fingerprints taken and possibly a mugshot.
Although traditionally there is a "perp walk" for high-profile suspects where the suspect is taken into custody (usually in handcuffs), it is unclear if Trump will have one, partially because of the special protections required for the former president.
According to CNN, it is also unclear if Trump will have a booking photo, known as a mugshot, taken immediately when he is booked.
He will then head to the courthouse, which is in the same building as the DA's office, for an arraignment hearing. That hearing is expected around 2:15 p.m.
While there won't be cameras in the courtroom, they will be allowed in the hallway outside, and a few photographers will be able to take photos of Trump in court before the arraignment begins.
Trump is expected to plead not guilty to up to 34 charges against him, including at least one felony, related to hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.
While sources have told several outlets that 34 charges are expected, the details won't be known until the indictment against Trump is unsealed. That could happen shortly before, during or after the arraignment hearing.
Most analysts believe that Trump will be released without bond because the crimes he is accused of are not violent in nature, although he could face restrictions on his travel as a condition of release.
After the arraignment, Trump will head out the back from the courthouse to his motorcade, which will take him to a waiting plane ready to fly him back to Florida.
Trump will then give a primetime address from Mar-a-Lago, responding to the charges against him and likely attacking prosecutors and political opponents. That speech is expected to begin around 8:15 p.m., six hours after the arraignment.
It's unclear what kind of press coverage will be allowed for the rest of Trump's trial, and news outlets are likely to bring forward a case to be allowed more access to the courtroom for other hearings involving Trump. But as the case begins, all eyes will continue to be on Trump. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/no-cameras-trump-arraignment-hearing/507-6a5dd530-9a81-42d2-9384-c8d84c2b8c02 | 2023-04-04 15:48:21 | 0 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/no-cameras-trump-arraignment-hearing/507-6a5dd530-9a81-42d2-9384-c8d84c2b8c02 |
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Rock Resorts, Inc. ("Red Rock Resorts," "we" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: RRR) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022.
Third Quarter Results
Consolidated Operations
- Net revenues were $414.4 million for the third quarter of 2022, effectively flat, from $414.8 million in the same period of 2021.
- Net income was $95.5 million for the third quarter of 2022, a decrease of $22.5 million, from $117.9 million in the same period of 2021.
- Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $181.9 million for the third quarter of 2022, a decrease of 1.4% or $2.7 million from $184.5 million in the same period of 2021.
Las Vegas Operations
- Net revenues from Las Vegas operations were $411.6 million for the third quarter of 2022, a decrease of 0.3%, or $1.1 million, from $412.7 million in the same period of 2021.
- Adjusted EBITDA from Las Vegas operations was $199.9 million for the third quarter of 2022, a decrease of 0.9% or $1.7 million, from $201.7 million in the same period of 2021.
Balance Sheet Highlights
The Company's cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2022 were $101.1 million and total principal amount of debt outstanding at the end of the third quarter was $2.91 billion.
Quarterly Dividend
The Company's Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per Class A common share for the fourth quarter of 2022. The dividend will be payable on December 30, 2022 to all stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 15, 2022.
Prior to the payment of such dividend, Station Holdco LLC ("Station Holdco") will make a cash distribution to all unit holders of record, including the Company, of $0.25 per unit for a total distribution of approximately $27.0 million, approximately $15.5 million of which is expected to be distributed to the Company and approximately $11.5 million of which is expected to be distributed to the other unit holders of record of Station Holdco.
Conference Call Information
The Company will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its financial results. The conference call will consist of prepared remarks from the Company and include a question and answer session. Those interested in participating in the call should dial (888) 317-6003, or (412) 317-6061 for international callers, approximately 15 minutes before the call start time. Please use the passcode: 5601881. A replay of the call will be available from today through November 3, 2022 at www.redrockresorts.com. A live audio webcast of the call will also be available at www.redrockresorts.com.
Presentation of Financial Information
(1) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that is presented solely as a supplemental disclosure. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is a widely used measure of operating performance in our industry and is a principal basis for valuation of gaming companies. We believe that in addition to net income, Adjusted EBITDA is a useful financial performance measurement for assessing our operating performance because it provides information about the performance of our ongoing core operations. Adjusted EBITDA includes net income plus depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, write-downs and other, net (including gains and losses on asset disposals, demolition costs, severance, preopening, business innovation and technology enhancements, contract termination costs and non-routine items), asset impairment, interest expense, net, loss on extinguishment of debt, provision for income tax and other, which includes losses from assets held for sale. In the third quarter of 2022, we reclassified certain allocated corporate expenses from our Las Vegas Operations segment to Corporate and other. The reclassifications were applied to all periods presented.
Company Information and Forward Looking Statements
Red Rock Resorts is a holding company that owns an indirect equity interest in and manages Station Casinos LLC ("Station Casinos"). Station Casinos is the leading provider of gaming, hospitality and entertainment to the residents of Las Vegas, Nevada. Station Casinos' properties, which are located throughout the Las Vegas valley, are regional entertainment destinations and include hotels as well as various amenities, including numerous restaurants, entertainment venues, movie theaters, bowling and convention/banquet space, as well as traditional casino gaming offerings such as video poker, slot machines, table games, bingo and race and sports wagering. Station Casinos owns and operates Red Rock Casino Resort Spa, Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa Casino, Palace Station Hotel & Casino, Boulder Station Hotel & Casino, Sunset Station Hotel & Casino, Santa Fe Station Hotel & Casino, Wildfire Rancho, Wildfire Boulder, Wildfire Sunset, Wildfire Valley View, Wildfire Anthem and Wildfire Lake Mead. Station Casinos also owns a 50% interest in Barley's Casino & Brewing Company, Wildfire Casino & Lanes and The Greens.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our expectations, hopes or intentions regarding the future. These forward looking statements can often be identified by their use of words such as "will", "might", "predict", "continue", "forecast", "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "outlook", "could", "would", "target", "project", "intend", "plan", "seek", "estimate", "pursue", "should", "may" and "assume", or the negative thereof, as well as variations of such words and similar expressions referring to the future. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in any such statement. Certain important factors, including but not limited to, financial market risks, could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. Further information on potential factors which could affect our financial condition, results of operations and business includes, without limitation, the extent and duration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, higher interest rates and increased energy costs on consumer demand and the Company's business, financial results and liquidity; the impact and cost of new operating procedures implemented at the Company's properties in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of actions that the Company has undertaken to reduce costs and improve efficiencies to mitigate losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and resulting unemployment and changes in general economic conditions on discretionary spending and consumer demand; the impact of our substantial indebtedness; the effects of local and national economic, credit and capital market conditions on consumer spending and the economy in general, and on the gaming and hotel industries in particular; the effects of competition, including locations of competitors and operating and market competition; changes in laws, including increased tax rates, regulations or accounting standards, third-party relations and approvals, and decisions of courts, regulators and governmental bodies; risks associated with construction projects, including disruption of our operations, shortages of materials or labor, unexpected costs, unforeseen permitting or regulatory issues and weather; litigation outcomes and judicial actions, including gaming legislative action, referenda and taxation; acts of war or terrorist incidents, natural disasters or civil unrest; risks associated with the collection and retention of data about our customers, employees, suppliers and business partners; and other risks discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and in the Company's other current and periodic reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements in this document are made based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
View source version on http://redrockresorts.investorroom.com/:
INVESTORS:
Stephen L. Cootey
Stephen.Cootey@redrockresorts.com
(702) 495-4214
MEDIA:
Michael J. Britt
Michael.Britt@redrockresorts.com
(702) 495-3693
View original content:
SOURCE Red Rock Resorts, Inc. | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/10/27/red-rock-resorts-announces-third-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-10-27 20:51:15 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/10/27/red-rock-resorts-announces-third-quarter-2022-results/ |
NEW HAVEN TOWNSHIP, Minn. – A two-vehicle collision injures two Thursday afternoon in Olmsted County.
The Minnesota State Patrol says it took place on Highway 52 just north of 490th Street at around 3:30 pm. Two vehicles were both heading north and crashed together near miler marker 74.
Two people in one vehicle were hurt. Francis Alex Koshenina, 70 of Bertrum, and Karen Elizabeth, 71 of Burtrum, suffered non-life threatening injuries are were taken to Mayo Clinic for treatment. The driver of the other vehicle, Jason Paul Spaeth, 54 of Moorhead, was not hurt.
The Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office, Zumbrota Police Department, and Mayo Ambulance assisted with this accident. | https://www.kimt.com/news/olmsted-county-collision-injures-two-people/article_3bd179a6-4049-11ed-992c-d3e29bda2ece.html | 2022-09-30 02:18:43 | 1 | https://www.kimt.com/news/olmsted-county-collision-injures-two-people/article_3bd179a6-4049-11ed-992c-d3e29bda2ece.html |
Save big on early morning and late evening departures between New York and Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Special "Night Owl Fares" as low as $5 - $20 are now available on select Amtrak Northeast Corridor (NEC) routes. This is a great option for travelers returning from concerts, plays, sporting events or those who prefer later or earlier departures.
How Night Owl Fares work: Off peak hour trains traveling between Washington, D.C. and New York only, departing between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., will feature ultra-low fares for Coach tickets on Northeast Regional and other select routes. This deal is now available for most Northeast Corridor city pairs including stops in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Sample One-Way Coach Fares To/From:
- New York – Washington: $20
- New York – Baltimore/BWI: $15
- Washington – Newark/Newark Liberty: $15
- New York – Philadelphia: $10
- New York – Wilmington: $10
- Philadelphia – Washington: $10
- Washington – Wilmington $10
- Philadelphia – Baltimore/BWI: $5
- New York – Newark/Newark Liberty: $5
- Washington – Baltimore/BWI: $5
Additional restrictions, terms and conditions apply. Learn more at amtrak.com/nightowl.
About Amtrak®
For more than 50 years, Amtrak has connected America and modernized train travel. Offering a safe, environmentally efficient way to reach more than 500 destinations across 46 states and parts of Canada, Amtrak provides travelers with an experience that sets a new standard. Book travel, check train status, access your eTicket and more through the Amtrak app. Learn more at Amtrak.com and connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
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SOURCE Amtrak | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/03/16/amtrak-introduces-ultra-low-night-owl-fares/ | 2023-03-16 18:09:28 | 0 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/03/16/amtrak-introduces-ultra-low-night-owl-fares/ |
GENEVA (AP) — Quantifying the toll of Russia's war in Ukraine remains an elusive goal a year into the conflict.
Estimates of the casualties, refugees and economic fallout from the war produce an incomplete picture of the deaths and suffering. Precise figures may never emerge for some of the categories international organizations are attempting to track.
U.N. human rights experts count civilians killed and wounded, but know their tally falls significantly short. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has provided an updated accounting of their troop losses.
Even the scope of the weaponry that Western countries have sent Ukraine is murky.
Here's a look at some of the numbers as Friday marks one year since Russian forces invaded Ukraine, with no end to the war in sight.
THE EVOLUTION OF AN INVASION
Roughly 5,000 missile strikes, 3,500 airstrikes and 1,000 drone strikes: Firepower that Russia has launched against Ukraine over the past year, according to Brig. Gen. Oleksiy Hromov, a senior official in the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
18: The percentage of total Ukrainian land controlled by Russian forces as of Thursday, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a think tank. That’s down from 27% on March 23, before Ukrainian counteroffensives recaptured vast swaths of land — but up from the 7% held by Russia and Russia-aligned separatists before Feb. 24, 2022, as part of an armed rebellion in eastern Ukraine that began in 2014, and Russia's annexation of Crimea that year.
71,905: Potential Russian war crimes — killings, kidnappings, indiscriminate bombings and sexual assaults — that are under investigation by Ukraine's prosecutor-general. Reporting by The Associated Press and "Frontline," recorded in a public database, has independently verified 639 incidents that appear to violate the laws of war.
THE CASUALTIES
8,006: Confirmed civilian deaths in Ukraine since Russia's invasion, through Feb. 15, according to the U.N. human rights office. The office uses strict methodology and says verification of thousands of reported casualties is still pending in Russian-occupied cities such as Mariupol, Lysychansk, and Sievierodonetsk.
3,382: Civilian deaths in Ukraine recorded by the U.N. rights office for March 2022, the highest number for a single month of the war.
13,287: Civilians injured in the conflict over the last year, according to the U.N.
5,937: Russia's most recent count, from September, of its troops killed in Ukraine since February 2022.
Around 200,000: Western Estimate of Russian troops killed and wounded. Britain's Ministry of Defense has estimated 40,000-60,000 Russian troops have died fighting in Ukraine.
9,000 : Ukraine's most recent count, of its troops losses since the invasion provided in August by Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces.
More than 100,000: Estimate of Ukrainian troops killed or wounded, according to Western officials.
REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PEOPLE
8.1 million: Refugees who fled Ukraine after the Russian invasion, based on figures provided by national governments. The number includes more than 5.2 million in over 40 European and central Asian countries, including nearly 1.6 million in Poland, over 880,000 in Germany and nearly 2.9 million who went to Russia, according to U.N. refugee agency UNHCR.
5.4 million: People who were driven from their homes but stayed inside Ukraine, according to a Jan. 23 count by the International Organization for Migration. The number of internally displaced people peaked in early May 2022, when IOM reported there were more than 8 million.
5.6 million: Ukrainians who have returned to their homes, either from within Ukraine or abroad, according to the latest IOM figures.
17.6 million: People in Ukraine needing humanitarian aid, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
ECONOMIC COST
$138 billion: The total damage caused to Ukraine’s infrastructure due to the war, according to the latest Kyiv School of Economics figure from Jan. 24.
33%: Minimum drop in Ukraine's gross domestic product in 2022 expected by the International Monetary Fund. Final numbers are pending.
2.2%: Expected decline in Russia's GDP in 2022, according to the IMF.
30%: Decline in the value of Ukrainian exports in 2022, as reported by the World Trade Organization
16% : Increase in the value of Russian exports in 2022, according to the WTO. It noted that the volume of Russian exports may have declined slightly, but the value was up because of price increases for fuels, fertilizers and cereals that Russia produces.
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE
$113 billion: Emergency funding for the Ukraine response approved by U.S. Congress last year. Includes about $62 billion to be provided through the Defense Department, nearly half of it for weapons, training and other "direct security assistance," and $46 billion through the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development, according to the Pentagon and an inter-departmental report issued last month.
$78 billion: Total U.S. commitments made directly to Ukraine over most of last year and through Jan. 15, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. The Germany-based institute says its figure excludes funds that were over-reported, have gone unused, or actually go to Ukraine's neighbors or to U.S. domestic programs. Its tally doesn't include more recent U.S. pledges to Ukraine, such as for 31 M1 Abrams tanks.
$59 billion (55 billion euros): Total commitments to Ukraine from European Union member nations and EU institutions, according to IFW Kiel.
$14 billion (13 billion euros): Pledges and allocations from non-country donors, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
50%: Rough estimate by IFW-Kiel of aid disbursed as a percentage of commitments made by various donors.
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Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report.
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Credit: AP | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/the-calculus-of-war-tallying-ukraine-toll-an-elusive-task/7BTXNKRPGBAY7JFKZTUE67HD6Y/ | 2023-02-24 08:14:59 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/the-calculus-of-war-tallying-ukraine-toll-an-elusive-task/7BTXNKRPGBAY7JFKZTUE67HD6Y/ |
LAS VEGAS, March 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Acres Manufacturing Company ("Acres" or the "Company"), a leading casino loyalty and technology innovator, announced today the launch of TIBO (Ticket-In Bonus-Out), a groundbreaking new slot ticketing solution enabled by its next-generation Foundation™ technology. TIBO dispenses cashable tickets and bonuses directly to players via the slot machine's ticket dispenser. Acres will demonstrate its new TIBO solution at the upcoming Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention, to be held on March 27-30, 2023, in San Diego, California. Deployments are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2023.
TIBO is one of the first true evolutions of Ticket-In Ticket-Out ("TITO") technology, a solution that changed the industry when it debuted roughly 20 years ago and is now installed nearly universally in slot machines worldwide. The new TIBO offering from Acres takes TITO to the next level, performing core ticket issuance and redemption functions at slot machines, kiosks and cashier terminals while enhancing the player experience by delivering tangible, physical bonuses of value to the player. Players appreciate and value the power and excitement of a printed ticket and TIBO makes it easier for casino operators to bring bonuses to players' hands.
TIBO works on any slot machine, including those connected to casino management systems ("CMS") from Aristocrat, IGT, Konami and Light & Wonder, allowing casino operators to immediately deploy TIBO on their casino floors. While the legacy CMS continues to account for play and loyalty data, the combination of TIBO and Foundation takes over ticketing responsibilities to deliver exciting new bonus opportunities, which can be triggered by Foundation's real-time data stream. This new, seamless solution from Acres follows on the current success of Acres' Cashless Casino deployments which have now reached 31,000 games in 9 states. Over time, casinos will be able to migrate all CMS functionality to Foundation – including loyalty, bonusing, cashless, reporting and analytics – and remove the legacy CMS without disruption, resulting in meaningful annual hardware and maintenance savings that flow immediately to the bottom line.
"We are continuously looking for ways to innovate to bring new technology to casino floors. In much the same way we've pursued the burgeoning cashless opportunity, we created TIBO because consumer tastes have changed in the 20 plus years since TITO was released," said Noah Acres. "Modern consumers want gamified experiences triggered by real-time personal data and TIBO fulfills these desires by issuing targeted, data-driven bonuses through the slot machine's ticket printer."
Legacy TITO solutions cannot leverage real-time player data, can only print in response to the push of the cash out button on a slot machine and only issue tickets for the amount shown on the game's credit meter at the time of cash out. Acres' new TIBO solution leverages the real-time data stream provided by Foundation and benefits from access to game commands to print a ticket of any value at any moment, including a 'print ticket' pop-up in the casino operator's Cashless Casino app or even automatically if a trigger event occurs. Bonus tickets produced by TIBO and dispensed by the ticket printer can be redeemed for a multitude of value categories, including cash, free play, or merchandise.
Acres is a leading casino loyalty and technology expert and the creator of Foundation™, the first-of-its-kind casino management system. Foundation provides casinos with real-time data from slot machines and a direct interface to the credit meter on any slot machine. Acres was founded by John Acres, the inventor of casino systems technology. For more information on Acres and Foundation, visit www.acresmanufacturing.com.
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Diverse Ecosystem of Global Technology, Finance and University Leaders Join as First OpenWallet Foundation Members, Many More Expected
BRUSSELS and SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Linux Foundation Europe, an independent trusted supporter and vendor-neutral home for open source projects in Europe, today announced the official formation of the OpenWallet Foundation (OWF). This new, collaborative effort will develop open source software to support interoperability for a wide range of wallet use cases, including making payments, proving identity, storing validated credentials such as employment, education, financial standing, and entitlements — to enable trust in the digital future.
Inaugural Premier members sponsoring the OWF include Accenture, Gen, Futurewei and Visa. General members sponsoring the foundation include American Express, Deutsche Telekom / T-Systems, esatus AG, Fynbos, Hopae, IAMX, IDnow, IndyKite, Intesi Group, Ping Identity, SmartMedia Technologies (SMT), Spruce and Swisscom.
Additionally, 20 leading nonprofits and academic and government entities have joined the foundation, including Customer Commons, Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF), Digital Identification and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC), Digital Dollar Project, Digital Identity New Zealand (DINZ), Digital Identity and Data Sovereignty Association (DIDAS), DizmeID Foundation (DIZME), Hyperledger Foundation, Information Technologies ics and Telematics Institute / Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH/ITI), Johannes Kepler University Linz, ID2020, IDunion SCE, Mifos Initiative, MIT Connection Science, Modular Open Source Identity Platform (MOSIP), OpenID Foundation, Open Identity Exchange (OIX), Secure Identity Alliance (SIA), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, and the Trust Over IP Foundation (ToIP).
The OWF will not publish a wallet itself, nor offer credentials or create new standards. Instead, its open source software engine aims to become the core that other organizations and companies leverage to develop their own digital wallets. The wallets will seek feature parity with the best available wallets and interoperability with major cross-border projects such as the EU's Digital Identity Wallet.
"Wallets are critical infrastructure for payments, for identity, and for secure access. Open source – driven by collaboration among for-profits large and small, non-profits, and government leaders – is a great role model for infrastructure that is vital for digital societies and benefits everyone," said Daniel Goldscheider, Founder of the OpenWallet Foundation. "With open source at the core of wallets, like it is at the core of web browsers, anyone can build a digital wallet that works with others and gives consumers the freedom to maintain their identity and verifiable credentials and share relevant data when, where, and with whom they choose."
With such a consequential and diverse group of members, OWF underscores how important it is to have an open foundation to support a plurality of digital wallets to ensure consistency, interoperability, and portability while protecting consumer privacy.
"The world needs a place to store digital assets that matter, and the work of this foundation has the potential to redefine the credentials landscape globally, creating in turn much better digital experiences for people everywhere and new market opportunities," said Gabriele Columbro, general manager of Linux Foundation Europe. "The EU has been a leading force in data privacy and consumer protection, and efforts like OWF offer a concrete opportunity for policy makers to "shift left" their engagement, enabling a continuous and transparent feedback cycle between regulations and regulated technology. That's why we are honored to bring such a relevant group of cross-industry players together in OWF under Linux Foundation Europe. "
The OWF is the second project hosted by Linux Foundation Europe. Project Sylva was added in November 2022 to create an open source telco cloud software framework.
Launching in tandem with OWF is a new report, Why the World Needs an Open Source Digital Wallet Right Now, from the OWF in partnership with Linux Foundation Research. The report notes:
- Digital wallets are the world's leading payment method for e-commerce and point-of-sale retail. In 2021, the value of digital wallet transactions came to $15.9 trillion.
- Hundreds of digital wallets exist, but suffer from a host of problems, including vendor lock in, no interoperability, questionable security, and limited capabilities.
- New wallets are underway, too, but without them all staying in sync, every country or organization that issues credentials could become a walled garden. IDs and wallets from elsewhere won't work, disrupting travel, international students, and mobile workforces.
- The future will include multiple wallets, which is why we need a world-class wallet engine to ensure that interoperability is built in.
Quotes from inaugural members are available here.
For more information about the project and how to participate in this work, please visit: openwallet.foundation.
Join Open Wallet Foundation members for a livestream and Q&A on February 23rd, at 5:00 pm CEST/11:00 am ET. Register here.
About Linux Foundation Europe
Linux Foundation Europe was launched in September 2022 to facilitate open collaborations originating in Europe that succeed on a global scale, supporting one of the largest and most influential open source ecosystems in the world. The Linux Foundation and Linux Foundation Europe together are supported by more than 3000 members internationally. The Linux Foundation is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, hardware, standards, and data. Linux Foundation projects are critical to the world's infrastructure including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js, ONAP, Hyperledger Foundation, PyTorch, RISC-V, and more. Linux Foundation Europe methodology focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users, and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit linuxfoundation.eu.
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VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Taseko Mines Limited (TSX: TKO) (NYSE American: TGB) (LSE: TKO) ("Taseko" or the "Company") reports Adjusted EBITDA* of $34.0 million and Adjusted net income* of $4.5 million, or $0.02 per share for the third quarter 2022. Cash flows provided by operations was $12.1 million and Earnings from mining operations before depletion* was $18.6 million.
Stuart McDonald, President and CEO of Taseko, stated, "Strong financial performance in the third quarter was driven by a nearly 40% increase in copper production at Gibraltar. Head grades and copper production have continued to improve as mining advances deeper into the Gibraltar pit. Higher throughput due to the softer ore in the new pit also benefited production with average daily mill throughput of 89,400 tons in the third quarter. This was the highest quarterly mill throughput at Gibraltar since the expansion ten years ago, and we continue to see the potential for further increases. Combined with higher grades, production in the quarter was 28.3 million pounds of copper and 324 thousand pounds of molybdenum. For the fourth quarter, we anticipate approximately a 10% increase in production, and more stable production levels in the coming quarters."
"Our unit operating costs declined by 22% quarter-over-quarter, as result of increased production and lower site spending. But operating costs are still being impacted by diesel prices which are ~55% higher than in 2021. During the third quarter, we purchased diesel call options which will protect the Company from further diesel price escalation through June 2023," added Mr. McDonald.
"The average realized copper price for the period was US$3.48 per pound and was supported by our pricing and hedging strategy. We realized proceeds of $18.6 million in the quarter from copper put options, and going forward, we have protected a substantial portion of future sales at a minimum price of US$3.75 per pound through June 2023. Given that we expect Florence construction to be underway next year, we are looking for a market opportunity to extend our put position into the second half of 2023," continued Mr. McDonald.
"At our Florence Copper Project, we made important steps towards completion of the review process for the Underground Injection Control ("UIC") permit. The US Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") issued the draft UIC permit in August and the subsequent public comment period and public hearing confirmed overwhelming support for the project from residents of the town of Florence and surrounding areas. We're confident that all submitted comments will be fully addressed by the EPA, and we look forward to receiving the final UIC permit and getting started on construction of the commercial production facility. Deliveries of major components for the SX-EW plant and other long-lead items continued through the third quarter and should be complete by year-end." continued Mr. McDonald.
Third Quarter Review
- Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA* was $34.0 million, earnings from mining operations before depletion and amortization* was $18.6 million, and Adjusted net income* was $4.5 million ($0.02 per share);
- On September 29, 2022, the EPA concluded its 45-day public comment period for the draft Underground Injection Control permit for Florence Copper. The project received overwhelming support from business organizations, community leaders and state-wide organizations in written submissions and as voiced at the public hearing;
- Gibraltar produced 28.3 million pounds of copper for the quarter. Head grades improved over the first half of the year to 0.22% but were still impacted by higher than normal mining dilution;
- Mill throughput exceeded nameplate capacity at an average rate of 89,400 tons per day in the quarter due to the softer ore from the Gibraltar pit. Copper recoveries were 77.1% for the quarter and were primarily impacted by the lower head grade;
- Total site costs* in the third quarter decreased from the previous quarters of 2022 but remained elevated compared to 2021 primarily due to higher diesel prices;
- Gibraltar sold 26.7 million pounds of copper in the quarter (100% basis) at an average realized copper price of US$3.48 per pound;
- GAAP net loss was $23.5 million ($0.08 loss per share) and reflected unrealized foreign exchange losses of $28.1 million on the translation of the Company's US dollar denominated debt;
- Cash flow from operations was $12.1 million which did not include $18.6 million in cash proceeds realized from copper put option contracts in the quarter;
- The Company has copper collar contracts in place to protect a minimum copper price of US$3.75 per pound until mid-2023. The Company also has 18 million litres of fuel call options in place to provide a ceiling cost for its share of diesel over the same period;
- Development costs incurred for Florence Copper were $27.3 million in the quarter and included further payments for the major processing equipment being delivered for the SX/EW plant, other pre-construction activities and ongoing site costs; and
- The Company had a cash balance of $142 million and has approximately $210 million of available liquidity at September 30, 2022, including its undrawn US$50 million revolving credit facility.
HIGHLIGHTS
REVIEW OF OPERATIONS
Gibraltar mine (75% Owned)
Third Quarter Review
Gibraltar produced 28.3 million pounds of copper for the quarter, a 37% increase over the second quarter. Head grades improved over the first half of the year to 0.22% but still were impacted by higher than normal mining dilution. Grades are expected to continue improving into the fourth quarter as mining advances deeper into the Gibraltar pit, and a number of initiatives are underway to reduce the above normal mining dilution being experienced in this pit.
Mill throughput averaged 89,400 tons per day exceeding the name plate capacity by 5% and the best quarterly average for Gibraltar. Copper recoveries of 77% were primarily impacted by the lower grade and are also expected to improve as consistency and quality of the Gibraltar pit ore improves at depth.
A total of 23.2 million tons were mined in the third quarter as mining operations were focused in the Gibraltar pit. The strip ratio of 1.5 was lower than prior quarter as stripping activity in Pollyanna was minimal and ore stockpiles increased by 1.0 million tons in the third quarter.
REVIEW OF OPERATIONS – CONTINUED
Total site costs* at Gibraltar of $71.0 million (which includes capitalized stripping of $1.1 million) for Taseko's 75% share were $10.0 million higher than the third quarter of 2021 due to higher diesel prices (56% higher than 2021) and with grinding media and other input costs also increasing.
Molybdenum production was 324 thousand pounds in the third quarter due to lower grades. At an average molybdenum price of US$16.10 per pound, molybdenum generated a by-product credit per pound of copper produced of US$0.15 in the third quarter.
Off-property costs per pound produced* were US$0.35 for the third quarter reflecting higher ocean freight costs (including bunkers) and increased treatment and refining charges (TCRC) compared to the same quarter in the prior year.
Total operating costs per pound produced (C1)* were US$2.72 for the quarter and were US$1.15 per pound higher than the third quarter last year as shown in the bridge graph below:
Of the US$1.15 variance in C1 costs in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the prior year quarter, US$0.46 was due to decreased copper production, US$0.35 was due to less mining and other costs being capitalized, US$0.11 was due to lower molybdenum production, US$0.26 was due to inflation arising from increased prices for diesel, grinding media, explosives and other site costs, US$0.06 was due to higher treatment and refining charges, and partially offset by a weakening Canadian dollar impact of US$0.09.
GIBRALTAR OUTLOOK
Ore from the Gibraltar pit will be the primary source of mill feed for the fourth quarter and for 2023. Copper production in the fourth quarter is expected to improve by approximately 10% over the third quarter and continue at those higher production rates into 2023 as mining progresses deeper into the Gibraltar pit. Stripping activities for the new Connector pit will also commence in 2023. The primary crusher for Mill 1 which overlays the Connector zone is scheduled to be moved to its new location in the third quarter of 2023.
GIBRALTAR OUTLOOK - CONTINUED
The Company currently has copper price collar contracts in place that secure a minimum copper price of US$3.75 per pound for a substantial portion of its attributable production until June 30, 2023. The Company has also executed price caps for its share of diesel purchases. Improving production combined with this copper hedge and diesel price protection program should continue to provide the foundation for stable financial performance and operating margins at the Gibraltar mine over the coming quarters.
FLORENCE COPPER
Once in commercial production, Florence Copper is expected to have the lowest energy and greenhouse gas-intensity ("GHG") of any copper producer in North America, and will contribute to reducing the United States' reliance on foreign producers for a metal considered to be foundational for the transition to a low-carbon economy. It is a low-cost copper project with an annual production capacity of 85 million pounds of copper over a 21-year mine life. With the expected C1* operating cost of US$1.10 per pound, Florence Copper will be in the lowest quartile of the global copper cost curve and will have one of the smallest environmental footprints of any copper mine in the world with carbon emissions, water and energy consumption all dramatically lower than a conventional mine.
The Company has successfully operated a Production Test Facility ("PTF") since 2018 at Florence to demonstrate that the in-situ copper recovery ("ISCR") process can produce high quality cathode while operating within permit conditions.
The next phase of Florence Copper will be the construction and operation of the commercial ISCR facility with an estimated capital cost of US$230 million (including reclamation bonding and working capital) based on the Company's published 2017 NI 43-101 technical report. At a conservative copper price of US$3.00 per pound, Florence Copper is expected to generate an after-tax internal rate of return of 37%, an after-tax net present value of US$680 million at a 7.5% discount rate, and an after-tax payback period of 2.5 years.
In December 2020, the Company received the Aquifer Protection Permit ("APP") from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality ("ADEQ"). During the APP process, Florence Copper received strong support from local community members, business owners and elected officials.
The other required permit is the Underground Injection Control permit ("UIC") from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), which is the final permitting step required prior to construction of the commercial ISCR facility. On September 29, 2022, the EPA concluded its public comment period on the draft UIC it issued following a virtual public hearing that was held on September 15, 2022. Public comments submitted to the EPA have demonstrated strong support for the Florence Copper project among local residents, business organizations, community leaders and state-wide organizations. Over 98% of written comments to the EPA were supportive of the project and supplement the unanimous public support voiced at the EPA's public hearing. Taseko has reviewed all of the submitted comments and is confident they will be fully addressed by the EPA during their review, prior to issuing the final UIC permit.
FLORENCE COPPER - CONTINUED
Detailed engineering and design for the commercial production facility was substantially completed in 2021 and procurement activities are well advanced with the Company having awarded and procured the key contract for the major processing equipment associated with the solvent extraction and electrowinning ("SX/EW") plant. The Company has incurred $79.6 million of costs for Florence in the nine month period ended September 30, 2022 and most of ordered SX/EW plant equipment is expected to be on site by the end of year. Florence Copper also has outstanding purchase commitments of $16.4 million as at September 30, 2022. Deploying this strategic capital and awarding key contracts has assisted with protecting the project execution plan including against supply chain challenges, mitigated inflation risk and should ensure a smooth transition into construction once the final UIC permit is received.
LONG-TERM GROWTH STRATEGY
Taseko's strategy has been to grow the Company by acquiring and developing a pipeline of complementary projects focused on copper in stable mining jurisdictions. We continue to believe this will generate long-term returns for shareholders. Our other development projects are located in British Columbia.
Yellowhead Copper Project
Yellowhead Mining Inc. ("Yellowhead") has an 817 million tonnes reserve and a 25-year mine life with a pre-tax net present value of $1.3 billion at an 8% discount rate using a US$3.10 per pound copper price based on the Company's 2020 NI 43-101 technical report. Capital costs of the project are estimated at $1.3 billion over a 2-year construction period. Over the first 5 years of operation, the copper equivalent grade will average 0.35% producing an average of 200 million pounds of copper per year at an average C1* cost, net of by-product credit, of US$1.67 per pound of copper. The Yellowhead copper project contains valuable precious metal by-products with 440,000 ounces of gold and 19 million ounces of silver with a life of mine value of over $1 billion at current prices.
The Company is preparing to advance into the environmental assessment process and is undertaking some additional engineering work in conjunction with ongoing engagement with local communities including First Nations. The Company is also collecting baseline data and modeling which will be used to support the environmental assessment and permitting of the project.
New Prosperity Gold-Copper Project
In December 2019, the Tŝilhqot'in Nation, as represented by the Tŝilhqot'in National Government, and Taseko entered into a confidential dialogue, with the involvement of the Province of British Columbia, to try to obtain a long-term resolution to the conflict regarding Taseko's proposed gold-copper mine currently known as New Prosperity, acknowledging Taseko's commercial interests and the Tŝilhqot'in Nation's opposition to the project.
LONG-TERM GROWTH STRATEGY - CONTINUED
The dialogue was supported by the parties' agreement on December 7, 2019 to a one-year standstill on certain outstanding litigation and regulatory matters that relate to Taseko's tenures and the area in the vicinity of Teẑtan Biny (Fish Lake). The standstill was extended on December 4, 2020, to continue what was a constructive dialogue that had been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The dialogue is not complete but it remains constructive, and in December 2021, the parties agreed to extend the standstill for a further year so that they and the Province of British Columbia can continue to pursue a long-term and mutually acceptable resolution of the conflict.
Aley Niobium Project
Environmental monitoring and product marketing initiatives on the Aley niobium project continue. The converter pilot test is ongoing and is providing additional process data to support the design of the commercial process facilities and will provide final product samples for marketing purposes.
Stuart McDonald
President & CEO
No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the information in this news release.
NON-GAAP PERFORMANCE MEASURES
This document includes certain non-GAAP performance measures that do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. These measures may differ from those used by, and may not be comparable to such measures as reported by, other issuers. The Company believes that these measures are commonly used by certain investors, in conjunction with conventional IFRS measures, to enhance their understanding of the Company's performance. These measures have been derived from the Company's financial statements and applied on a consistent basis. The following tables below provide a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable IFRS measure.
Total operating costs and site operating costs, net of by-product credits
Total costs of sales include all costs absorbed into inventory, as well as transportation costs and insurance recoverable. Site operating costs are calculated by removing net changes in inventory, depletion and amortization, insurance recoverable, and transportation costs from cost of sales. Site operating costs, net of by-product credits is calculated by subtracting by-product credits from the site operating costs. Site operating costs, net of by-product credits per pound are calculated by dividing the aggregate of the applicable costs by copper pounds produced. Total operating costs per pound is the sum of site operating costs, net of by-product credits and off-property costs divided by the copper pounds produced. By-product credits are calculated based on actual sales of molybdenum (net of treatment costs) and silver during the period divided by the total pounds of copper produced during the period. These measures are calculated on a consistent basis for the periods presented.
NON-GAAP PERFORMANCE MEASURES - CONTINUED
Total Site Costs
Total site costs is comprised of the site operating costs charged to cost of sales as well as mining costs capitalized to property, plant and equipment in the period. This measure is intended to capture Taseko's share of the total site operating costs incurred in the quarter at the Gibraltar mine calculated on a consistent basis for the periods presented.
Adjusted net income (loss)
Adjusted net income (loss) removes the effect of the following transactions from net income as reported under IFRS:
- Unrealized foreign currency gains/losses;
- Unrealized gain/loss on derivatives; and
- Loss on settlement of long-term debt and call premium, including realized foreign exchange gains.
Management believes these transactions do not reflect the underlying operating performance of our core mining business and are not necessarily indicative of future operating results. Furthermore, unrealized gains/losses on derivative instruments, changes in the fair value of financial instruments, and unrealized foreign currency gains/losses are not necessarily reflective of the underlying operating results for the reporting periods presented.
NON-GAAP PERFORMANCE MEASURES - CONTINUED
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is presented as a supplemental measure of the Company's performance and ability to service debt. Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in the industry, many of which present Adjusted EBITDA when reporting their results. Issuers of "high yield" securities also present Adjusted EBITDA because investors, analysts and rating agencies consider it useful in measuring the ability of those issuers to meet debt service obligations.
Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest, income taxes, and depreciation and also eliminates the impact of a number of items that are not considered indicative of ongoing operating performance. Certain items of expense are added and certain items of income are deducted from net income that are not likely to recur or are not indicative of the Company's underlying operating results for the reporting periods presented or for future operating performance and consist of:
- Unrealized foreign exchange gains/losses;
- Unrealized gain/loss on derivatives;
- Loss on settlement of long-term debt (included in finance expenses) and call premium;
- Realized foreign exchange gains on settlement of long-term debt; and
- Amortization of share-based compensation expense.
NON-GAAP PERFORMANCE MEASURES - CONTINUED
Earnings (loss) from mining operations before depletion and amortization
Earnings from mining operations before depletion and amortization is earnings from mining operations with depletion and amortization added back. The Company discloses this measure, which has been derived from our financial statements and applied on a consistent basis, to provide assistance in understanding the results of the Company's operations and financial position and it is meant to provide further information about the financial results to investors.
Site operating costs per ton milled
The Company discloses this measure, which has been derived from our financial statements and applied on a consistent basis, to provide assistance in understanding the Company's site operations on a tons milled basis.
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This document contains "forward-looking statements" that were based on Taseko's expectations, estimates and projections as of the dates as of which those statements were made. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "outlook", "anticipate", "project", "target", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "should" and similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These included but are not limited to:
- uncertainties about the effect of COVID-19 and the response of local, provincial, federal and international governments to the threat of COVID-19 on our operations (including our suppliers, customers, supply chain, employees and contractors) and economic conditions generally and in particular with respect to the demand for copper and other metals we produce;
- uncertainties and costs related to the Company's exploration and development activities, such as those associated with continuity of mineralization or determining whether mineral resources or reserves exist on a property;
- uncertainties related to the accuracy of our estimates of mineral reserves, mineral resources, production rates and timing of production, future production and future cash and total costs of production and milling;
- uncertainties related to feasibility studies that provide estimates of expected or anticipated costs, expenditures and economic returns from a mining project;
- uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary licenses permits for development projects and project delays due to third party opposition;
- uncertainties related to unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings;
- changes in, and the effects of, the laws, regulations and government policies affecting our exploration and development activities and mining operations, particularly laws, regulations and policies;
- changes in general economic conditions, the financial markets and in the demand and market price for copper, gold and other minerals and commodities, such as diesel fuel, steel, concrete, electricity and other forms of energy, mining equipment, and fluctuations in exchange rates, particularly with respect to the value of the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar, and the continued availability of capital and financing;
- the effects of forward selling instruments to protect against fluctuations in copper prices and exchange rate movements and the risks of counterparty defaults, and mark to market risk;
- the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover mining risks;
- the risk of loss of key employees; the risk of changes in accounting policies and methods we use to report our financial condition, including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates;
- environmental issues and liabilities associated with mining including processing and stock piling ore; and
- labour strikes, work stoppages, or other interruptions to, or difficulties in, the employment of labour in markets in which we operate mines, or environmental hazards, industrial accidents or other events or occurrences, including third party interference that interrupt the production of minerals in our mines.
For further information on Taseko, investors should review the Company's annual Form 40-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission www.sec.gov and home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
This discussion includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this discussion, other than statements of historical facts, that address future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities, and events or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements. Although we believe the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements made in this MD&A are qualified by these cautionary statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law. Further information concerning risks and uncertainties associated with these forward-looking statements and our business may be found in our most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities.
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SOURCE Taseko Mines Limited | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/03/taseko-reports-improved-production-34-million-adjusted-ebitda-third-quarter-2022/ | 2022-11-04 00:03:36 | 1 | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/03/taseko-reports-improved-production-34-million-adjusted-ebitda-third-quarter-2022/ |
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create an all-natural way for diabetics to control their blood sugar levels," said an inventor, from Enfield, N.C., "so I invented the DIA CRUX. My formula would be easy to take and it would contain no artificial colors or artificial flavors."
The invention provides a method for people with diabetes to regulate their blood sugar. In doing so, it could provide added health benefits. As a result, it enhances safety and it increases convenience and peace of mind. Additionally, the invention features an all-natural formula that is easy to prepare and consume so it is ideal for individuals with diabetes.
The original design was submitted to the National sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-RBH-180, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/inventhelp-inventor-develops-blood-sugar-regulator-diabetics-rbh-180/ | 2022-09-14 16:34:57 | 1 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/inventhelp-inventor-develops-blood-sugar-regulator-diabetics-rbh-180/ |
WASHINGTON — A judge on Friday awarded more than $1 million to a Black church in downtown Washington, D.C. that sued the far-right Proud Boys for tearing down and burning a Black Lives Matter banner during a 2020 protest.
Superior Court Associated Judge Neal A. Kravitz also barred the extremist group and its leaders from coming near the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church or making threats or defamatory remarks against the church or its pastor for five years.
The ruling was a default judgment issued after the defendants failed to show up in court to fight the case.
Two Black Lives Matter banners were pulled down from Metropolitan AME and another historically Black church and burned during clashes between pro-Donald Trump supporters and counterdemonstrators in December 2020.
The destruction took place after weekend rallies by thousands of people in support of Trump's baseless claims that he won a second term, which led to dozens of arrests, several stabbings and injuries to police officers.
Metropolitan AME sued the Proud Boys and their leaders, alleging they violated D.C. and federal law by trespassing and destroying religious property in a bias-related conspiracy.
Proud Boys leader Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, of Miami, publicly acknowledged setting fire to one banner, which prosecutors said was stolen from Asbury United Methodist Church.
In July 2021, Tarrio pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor criminal charges of property destruction and attempted possession of a high-capacity magazine.
He was sentenced to more than five months in jail.
Tarrio and other members of the Proud Boys were separately convicted of seditious conspiracy charges as part of a plot to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a desperate bid to keep Donald Trump in power after the Republican lost the 2020 presidential election.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/2023-07-01/judge-awards-a-black-church-1m-over-blm-banner-burned-by-proud-boys-during-protest | 2023-07-01 15:03:02 | 1 | https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/2023-07-01/judge-awards-a-black-church-1m-over-blm-banner-burned-by-proud-boys-during-protest |
President Joe Biden on Monday announced new actions to help airline customers view any potential fees when they book a flight, an effort he said would help them compare the “full cost” of a trip and choose their best price.
The president announced the newly-proposed rule from the Department of Transportation at a meeting of the White House Competition Council, highlighting how his administration was working to lower costs by safeguarding competition throughout the economy, as millions of Americans feel the impact of persisting inflation.
Biden last July signed an executive order aimed at boosting competition, slowing company consolidation and blocking antitrust practices. The order created the council and directed government agencies to take action.
The DOT rule proposed Monday would force airlines and travel websites to show any potential fees the very first time an airfare is displayed. That includes any fee to sit with your child, to change or cancel your flight or to add luggage.
“You should know the full cost of your ticket right when you’re comparison shopping … so you can pick the ticket that actually is the best deal for you,” Biden said Monday.
Airlines charged nearly $700 million in change and cancellation fees last year, according to transportation department data, plus another $5.27 billion on baggage fees.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg earlier this year called out airlines for the high number of flight cancellations and delays this summer, noting inconsistency in their commitment to compensate Americans who deal with those inconveniences.
Many airlines then clarified their policies, and DOT created a dashboard to show what fliers should expect. Most will offer a meal for a long delay, or rebooking if a flight is canceled.
“They cancel on you and you have to pay a fee to rebook. C’mon man,” Biden said Monday. “No really. It’s simply not fair. It’s not fair.”
DOT’s rule is now online and open for comments for the next 60 days, so it won’t take effect just yet.
Since Biden’s executive order on competition, his Justice Department has also filed a number of antitrust lawsuits, including one to stop major book publishers Simon & Schuster and Penguin Random House from merging.
But DOJ lawyers have also suffered setbacks in their efforts to block mergers: a federal judge this week ruled against the administration, allowing a merger of two major sugar companies in the south to go through. The Justice Department had argued the union could raise sugar prices in some states.
Last week, a separate judge blocked the DOJ challenge to UnitedHealth’s $13 billion purchase of Change Healthcare.
Still, Biden has promised his administration will continue to be tougher on anti-competition business practices that could raise prices for consumers, hurt workers or reduce profits for people like small farmers.
He has especially focused on unfair labor practices, as he’s often affirmed his intention to be the most “pro-union president” in history.
“Capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism,” he said toward the end of his remarks at the Monday meeting. “It’s exploitation. And we’re building an economy that works for everyone.” | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2022/09/26/biden-announces-airline-fee-rule-competition | 2022-09-27 02:29:33 | 1 | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2022/09/26/biden-announces-airline-fee-rule-competition |
WASHINGTON (AP) — With heat waves spreading across the United States, President Joe Biden on Thursday announced new steps to protect workers — including a hazard alert notifying employers and employees about ways to stay protected from extreme heat — as well as measures to improve weather forecasts and make drinking water more accessible.
The actions come as nearly 40% of the U.S. population faces heat advisories, according to the National Weather Service. High temperatures have already scorched the Southwest this month, and more heat is expected in the Midwest and the Northeast in the coming days. Washington won’t be spared, and the heat index in the capital could reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit or 43 degrees Celsius on Friday.
It’s a worldwide problem, and scientists calculate that July will be the hottest month on record.
Noting that ocean temperatures near Miami topped 100 F (38 C), Biden said “that’s more like jumping in a hot tub than jumping into the ocean to ride a wave.”
Citing federal data, Biden called extreme heat the No. 1 weather-related killer in the United States.
“Even those places that are used to extreme heat have never seen it as hot as it is now for as long as it’s been,” Biden said. “Even those who deny that we’re in the midst of a climate crisis can’t deny the impact of extreme heat is having on Americans.”
Biden’s bid to address the immediate effects of climate change come as he faces pressure from fellow Democrats and environmental groups to declare a climate “emergency,” a step he has so far resisted. The steps announced Thursday supplement his long-term agenda for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and deploying clean energy technology, policies that may not pay dividends for years to come while global temperatures continue to rise.
Biden directed the Labor Department to increase inspections of potentially dangerous workplaces such as farms and construction sites and called for heightened enforcement of heat safety violations.
As part of the initiative, the department will issue a hazard alert notifying employers and employees about ways to stay protected from extreme heat, which has killed 436 workers since 2011, according to federal statistics.
The Biden administration plans to spend $7 million to develop more detailed weather predictions to anticipate extreme weather like heat waves, plus $152 million to boost drinking water infrastructure and climate resilience in California, Colorado and Washington.
Biden was joined on Thursday by acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, as well as the leaders of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The mayors of Phoenix and San Antonio, two cities that have suffered from the heat waves, participated in the White House event virtually.
“Phoenix is known for heat,” said Mayor Kate Gallego. “We are often called the Valley of the Sun. But right now, this summer has really been unprecedented. It’s taking a real toll on our community. We feel like we are very much on the front lines of climate change.”
Phoenix is the first in the nation to have a permanent, publicly funded heat office, Gallego said, with efforts now focused on getting residents inside as much as possible, at public cooling centers and encouraging use of water stations throughout the city.
Phoenix has seen at least 27 days in a row of temperatures exceeding 110 F (43.3 C). No other major city — defined as the 25 most populous in the United States — has had any stretch of 110 F (38 C) days or 90-degree (32 C) nights longer than Phoenix, said weather historian Christopher Burt, of the Weather Company.
Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, reported recently that there were 25 heat-associated deaths between April 11 and July 22. An additional 249 deaths remain under investigation. There were 425 heat-associated deaths in the county last year.
Other areas of Arizona are also struggling. A 26-year-old farmworker died after collapsing in the fields on July 20, when the high temperature reached 116 F (46.7 C), according to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office.
San Antonio, Texas, saw at least 15 straight days of 100-plus F (38-plus C) temperatures. At least 13 deaths in Texas have been blamed on the extreme heat.
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said his city has moved to end the use of coal and is launching its first advanced rapid transit line, which will feature low- or zero-emission vehicles. The city is also developing solar power and other renewable energy, he said.
“I’m confident that the state best known for oil and gas production can help lead the way to a greener tomorrow,” he said.
Thursday’s announcement follows other steps that the Biden administration has taken to adapt to increasing threats from extreme heat. Among those it is highlighting:
The Labor Department is developing a standard for how workplaces deal with heat. The proposed rule by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration would require employers to provide adequate water and rest breaks to outdoor workers, as well as medical services and training to address signs and symptoms of heat-related illness. That agency s holding meetings this summer to hear comments on how the heat standard would affect small businesses.
To keep low-income populations cool, the Department of Health and Human Services expanded its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to provide more access to air conditioning and cooling centers such as libraries, senior centers or other public buildings. The Environmental Protection Agency also has provided assistance to help communities develop cooling centers within schools.
NOAA has been helping cities and towns map “heat islands” with dense buildings and fewer trees, and the Department of Agriculture issued guidance for creating more tree canopy coverage, which helps with cooling environments.
In addition, the administration launched a website called heat.gov with interactive maps, weather forecasts and tips for keeping cool amid record-breaking heat.
More than 100 members of Congress, led by Democratic Reps. Greg Casar and Sylvia Garcia of Texas and Judy Chu of California have called on the administration to implement the new heat standard for outdoor workers as quickly as possible.
“We know extreme weather events such as heat waves are becoming more frequent and more dangerous due to climate change,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter Monday. U”rgent action is needed to prevent more deaths,″ the lawmakers wrote in a letter Monday.
The United Farm Workers and other groups also called on OSHA to immediately issue a nationwide rule protecting outdoor workers after farm worker deaths this month in Florida and Arizona.
“Farm workers need and deserve the access to shade, water and paid breaks,” said UFW President Teresa Romero. “How many more workers will we let dangerous heat and callous employers kill before this nation acts?”
Casar, a freshman lawmaker from Austin, staged a “thirst strike” on Tuesday outside the U.S. Capitol, forgoing water breaks for nearly nine hours, to protest a new Texas law that bans local governments from requiring water breaks and other safety measures for outdoor workers. Casar called the law “insane″ and accused Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of being “on the wrong side of history.” Republican lawmakers and other supporters of the law say it eliminates a patchwork of local regulations that are burdensome to businesses, and they say it won’t stop workers from taking breaks.
At least 42 workers died in Texas between 2011 and 2021 from environmental heat exposure, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Ladd Keith, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona who studies heat policy and governance, said the record-breaking heat much of the nation is experiencing “is very much in line with climate change projections.”
Despite the recent headlines, rising temperatures have typically not received the same level of attention as other climate risks, such as flooding and wildfires, Keith said.
“Heat has just not been a topic at the national level or local level that we’ve even considered addressing until the last couple of years,” he said.
___
Costley reported from New Orleans. AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein contributed to this report. | https://wgntv.com/weather/ap-biden-looks-to-provide-relief-from-extreme-heat-as-record-temperatures-persist/ | 2023-07-28 00:33:37 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/weather/ap-biden-looks-to-provide-relief-from-extreme-heat-as-record-temperatures-persist/ |
PORTALES, N.M. (KRQE) – On Wednesday, Eastern New Mexico University reported they saw an increase in enrollment since the 2017 school year. In a press release, the university said enrollment is up by 2.3% overall from fall 2021 and the fall 2022 enrollment number is 5,106 students, up from 4,991 for the 2021-2022 school year.
The release states the freshman class saw the biggest growth – a 23.2% increase with a freshman class of 430. The school also saw a 23% increase in transfer student enrollment over the past year.
“Our enrollment growth was a team effort, across campus and with our community,” said ENMU president and Chancellor Patrice Caldwell. “We are excited about this and will work hard to retain these students and ensure their success.”
The school’s graduate program also grew from 2021 to 2022 by 3.1% with 1,273 students enrolled. ENMU houses 475 students on its campus, including 305 first-time freshmen. | https://www.krqe.com/news/education/enmu-sees-student-enrollment-increase-for-fall-2022/ | 2022-09-07 20:07:04 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/news/education/enmu-sees-student-enrollment-increase-for-fall-2022/ |
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. -- The director of a southern Indiana funeral home where 31 decomposing bodies and the cremains of 17 others were found pleaded guilty Friday to more than 40 counts of felony theft.
Randy Lankford, owner of Lankford Funeral Home and Family Center in Jeffersonville, faces a proposed sentence of 12 years: four years in prison and eight years of home incarceration, Clark County Circuit Court Judge N. Lisa Glickfield said.
Lankford was charged with theft for failing to complete the funeral services he was paid for, and must also pay restitution to 53 families totaling $46,000.
Lankford was released to home incarceration following the hearing. A formal sentencing hearing is planned for June 23.
Jeffersonville Police began investigating the funeral home early last July after the county coroner's office reported a strong odor emanating from the building. The unrefrigerated bodies were found in various states of decomposition, and some had been at the funeral home since March.
Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said the many charges against Lankford and existing court backups from the COVID-19 pandemic complicated the process. He said he felt the state's move to eliminate about half of the counts will grant the most immediate form of relief.
"We wanted to get justice for these families," he said.
Derrick Kessinger attended Friday's court hearing. He said he trusted Lankford while the remains of three loved ones sat inside the funeral home.
"It's been tough, but I do forgive him for what he did," Kessinger said. "I hope he can find forgiveness."
Kessinger eventually received the cremains.
The video in the player above is from a previous report. | https://abc7ny.com/randy-lankford-funeral-director-home-and-family-center-indiana-jeffersonville/13308523/ | 2023-05-28 12:38:07 | 1 | https://abc7ny.com/randy-lankford-funeral-director-home-and-family-center-indiana-jeffersonville/13308523/ |
Lincoln Airport Authority Board of Directors candidate profile: Chris Stokes
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - The Lincoln Airport Authority is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of five members who are elected by Lincoln voters. The Authority operates the airport and a 1,000-acre industrial park, consisting mostly of manufacturing and warehousing tenants.
Two seats on the board are up this year, with both incumbents not seeking re-election. The four candidates with the most votes will advance onto the May 2 general election.
10/11 NOW sent a questionnaire to all candidates and we did not edit responses. Read Chris Stokes’ responses below and view other candidate profiles here.
Name: Chris Stokes
Political Party: Republican
Occupation: Airline Pilot and Real Estate Investor
Why are you running to become a director of the Lincoln Airport Authority? I want United mainline aircraft (ie 737, Airbus), Delta, Southwest, and American Airlines to fill the gates at the Lincoln Airport. My primary purpose for running is I believe substantial positive changes must be made in the approach to attracting airlines to Lincoln. As an airline professional for 28 years, I know first-hand how airlines choose cities and will relentlessly work to get two additional major airlines to Lincoln. Further, I believe in championing fiscally conservative and business-friendly policies, in cutting overreaching regulations, and ensuring new businesses have easy access to the vast underutilized Lincoln Airport Business Park.
What experience do you bring to the role, and how will it help you if elected? As an airline, military, corporate, and general aviation professional, I care deeply for the Lincoln Airport - It has been part of my life for the last 35 years. My first three “real” jobs were at the Lincoln Airport - the Nebraska Air National Guard, a flight instructor, a pilot. For my job with the airlines, for the last 28 years I have flown almost weekly from Lincoln commuting to work. I recently retired after 34-years as a combat fighter pilot flying the F-16 and A-10. Having a background in airline, corporate, military, and general aviation give me an intensive understanding of airport operations and issues; and understanding commercial real estate, leases, and FAA limitations gives me a great advantage in creating solutions for the Lincoln Airport’s industrial park.
How would you help increase awareness of the Lincoln Airport and help attract additional airlines, as well as companies to the industrial park? The marketing team at the Lincoln Airport is incredible, and a shining step forward in the Lincoln Airport’s growth. However, it is difficult to market with little inventory – one commuter airline with limited destinations and flight times. I propose a joint venture with the Lincoln Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and Chamber of Commerce to fund the Lincoln Airport marketing team which will constantly “bombarding” the United, Delta, American, Southwest, etc. route planners, airline marketing teams, and key decisionmakers until they establish service in Lincoln.
Sadly, the west side industrial park (the old air base) is incredibly and grossly underutilized for over 60 years. Although the Airport Authority is hobbled by federal regulation, the land on the west side of the Lincoln Airport has everything it needs to be a top-tier industrial park. The infrastructure alone is invaluable, with miles of paved streets, utilities, drainage coupled with access to rail, I-80, and a huge runway/ramp, 2 ½ hours to almost anywhere in the continental U.S. I will strive to work with local and regional business, the Federal Government, the FAA, and the Lincoln management team to develop a plan to enable industry to build in the park. I will champion and support innovative programs to allow incentives to attract and provide accessibility to industry, air cargo operations, and business to thrive in the industrial park.
Copyright 2023 KOLN. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2023/03/31/lincoln-airport-authority-board-directors-candidate-profile-chris-stokes/ | 2023-03-31 17:08:17 | 1 | https://www.1011now.com/2023/03/31/lincoln-airport-authority-board-directors-candidate-profile-chris-stokes/ |
Leader of Franchised Paint and Sip Studios Recognized Among Female Business Leaders, Investors and More
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cathy Deano, Co-founder and Co-owner of Painting with a Twist, the nation's original and largest paint-and-sip studio franchise, has landed a coveted spot on the 2022 Forbes 50 over 50 Lifestyle list. The list honors 50 women who are reshaping the face of entertainment across the country, proving that success has no age limit.
Over the last two years, Forbes has received thousands of nominations from the general public for this list. Each nominee is assessed by five main factors including achievements after turning 50, success at scale, impact, first time listees and having a pay-it-forward mindset.
Deano is included on the list alongside names like Kris Jenner, Dolly Parton and Sandra Bullock – all women who have founded companies in varying industries. Deano co-founded Painting with a Twist in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster to help rebuild the community.
"To be on this prestigious list is pretty incredible. I can't believe my name is among inspiring icons like Dolly Parton, who I consider a hero for her philanthropic work," said Deano. "When we created Painting with a Twist, it was important for us to use the business platform for good. What stemmed out of tragedy to bring joy after Hurricane Katrina, has since taken off through the franchise model, and inspired small business owners around the U.S. to use the social concept to give back locally to their own communities."
Through the national franchise each month, hundreds of studios across the country host Painting with a Purpose events in collaboration with local non-profit organizations, where proceeds from the events go back to local organizations. To date, the brand has raised nearly $7 million for local non-profits such as Habitat for Humanity, Multiple Sclerosis, Odyssey House and the Vera Bradley Breast Cancer Foundation.
Other notable recent achievements for the Painting with a Twist franchise brand include:
- Deano was recognized in Franchise Dictionary Magazine's October issue to celebrate 50 Women of Wonder (WOW). Each of the 50 WOW included remarkable female franchisors who are making a difference with their brands.
- Painting with a Twist was named a 2022 Best Places to Work by New Orleans CityBusiness, on its 20th annual list.
- The paint and sip franchise earned ranking on the Franchise Times annual Top 500, which includes the 500 largest U.S.-based franchise systems by global systemwide sales.
"Cathy has always been an inspiration to the franchise community and remains a visionary for the brand as we continue to evolve to further support our franchisees and guests who are seeking time to unwind and find creative ways to reconnect with one another," said Todd Owen, CEO and Co-Owner of Painting with a Twist. "We'll continue to innovate under the parent company Twist Brands, as we have seen the positive role the Arts & Crafts entertainment category plays among consumers who want a safe place to make new memories."
About Painting with a Twist®
Painting with a Twist, based in the New Orleans, Louisiana metropolitan area is the original and leading paint and sip franchise with 230 studios open or in development in 37 states. Guests have painted more than 10 million paintings at studios throughout the country since Painting with a Twist started franchising in 2009. The brand was founded by entrepreneurs Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney, two friends with a knack for organizing communities and a passion for giving back. The company maintains a strong focus on giving back to the local community, and was recently recognized by the International Franchise Association's Franchise Education & Research Foundation's Franchising Gives Back Awards. For more information about Painting with a Twist, visit https://www.paintingwithatwist.com.
Media Contact: Rachel Patton, Fishman Public Relations, 847-945-1300 or rpatton@fishmanpr.com
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SOURCE Painting with a Twist | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/10/21/painting-with-twist-co-founder-cathy-deano-lands-forbes-50-over-50-lifestyle-list/ | 2022-10-21 16:15:39 | 0 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/10/21/painting-with-twist-co-founder-cathy-deano-lands-forbes-50-over-50-lifestyle-list/ |
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea launched a ballistic missile that landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan on Thursday, prompting Japan to order residents on an island to take shelter as a precaution. The order has been lifted.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staffs said the North Korean missile launched from near the capital Pyongyang flew toward the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The statement described the missile as a weapon with a medium or longer range but didn’t say how far the missile flew.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said South Korea’s military boosted its surveillance posture and maintains a firm readiness in close coordination with the United States.
Japan said the missile landed in the water but did not immediately give a more exact landing location.
Earlier, the launch had prompted the Japanese government to urge people to seek shelter on the northernmost island of Hokkaido. The government then corrected and retracted its missile alert saying its analysis showed there was no possibility of a missile landing near Hokkaido. Officials in charge of the government crisis management division could not be immediately reached.
Last October, Japan issued a similar evacuation order when a North Korean intermediate-range missile flew over Japan in a launch that demonstrated the potential to reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. At the time, Japanese authorities alerted residents in its northeastern regions to seek shelter and halted trains, although no damages were reported before the weapon landed in the Pacific.
Thursday’s launch, the latest in the North’s barrage of weapons tests this year, came days after its leader Kim Jong Un vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more “practical and offensive” ways.
This year, North Korea has launched about 30 missiles in response to South Korean-U.S. military drills that it views as a rehearsal for an invasion. South Korean and U.S. officials say their drills are defensive in nature and were arranged to respond to North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile threats.
During a military meeting Monday, Kim reviewed the country’s frontline attack plans and various combat documents and stressed the need to bolster his nuclear deterrent with “increasing speed on a more practical and offensive” manner, according to North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency.
KCNA said that meeting discussed unspecified issues related to strengthening defense capacities and perfecting war preparations to counter the threat posed by its rivals’ military drills.
North Korea has long argued that U.S.-led military exercises in the region are proof of Washington’s hostility against Pyongyang. The North has said it was compelled to develop nuclear weapons to deal with U.S. military threats, though U.S. and South Korean officials have steadfastly said they have no intention of invading the North.
There are concerns that North Korea could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years since it unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead earlier this month. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on its more advanced missiles.
South Korean officials say North Korea has not been responding to South Korean calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. The North’s alleged suspension of communications on those channels could be worrisome because they are meant to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals’ disputed western sea boundary.
On Tuesday, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse, Seoul’s point man on the North, expressed “strong regret” over North Korea’s “unilateral and irresponsible attitude” over the hotlines. Kwon also warned unspecified legal action over the North’s use of South Korean assets at a now-stalled inter-Korean factory park in North Korea.
South Korea pulled its companies out of Kaesong in North Korea in 2016 following a North Korean nuclear test, removing the last remaining major symbol of cooperation between the rivals. North Korean state media recently showed what appeared to be South Korean commuter buses running in the streets of Kaesong and Pyongyang.
North Korea’s advancing nuclear arsenal is expected to be a major topic during a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden later this month in Washington. Yoon’s government has been seeking stronger U.S. assurances that it will surely and swiftly use all its military capabilities, including nuclear, to protect South Korea in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack.
North Korea’s weapons testing spree has also raised the urgency for Seoul and Tokyo to strengthen their defense postures in conjunction with their alliances with the United States.
Experts say the discussions between world leaders at next month’s Group of Seven meetings in Japan could also be crucial for maintaining diplomatic pressure on North Korea given the dysfunction at the U.N. Security Council. Permanent members China and Russia have blocked tighter sanctions on North Korea in recent months, underscoring a divide deepened by Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/seoul-north-korea-launches-ballistic-missile-toward-sea-2/ | 2023-04-13 02:10:33 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/seoul-north-korea-launches-ballistic-missile-toward-sea-2/ |
CINCINNATI, May 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- First Financial Bank (Nasdaq: FFBC) is making substantial changes to its overdraft programs to eliminate or reduce its overdraft fees, the latest in a series of steps from the bank to help its clients and communities thrive and improve financial wellness. The changes take effect June 1, 2022.
"We understand that there are times in life when an interruption in income or unanticipated expenses may present challenges. We want to help clients rebound from these difficult moments and improve their financial futures, and believe these broad changes to overdraft fees can help provide this assistance," said Archie Brown, president and CEO at First Financial Bank.
The changes include elimination of both non-sufficient funds fees when an item is returned unpaid and notification fees when an account remains overdrawn. Other fees have been reduced, and a full list of the changes will be available beginning June 1 at bankatfirst.com, in all First Financial banking centers, and in clients' June statements.
First Financial continues to offer even more options to help clients avoid fees and provide cash flow assistance. Its NoWorry Checking account includes no overdraft fees or minimum balance requirements. NoWorry Checking received national Bank On certification from the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund in 2021 for being a safe and affordable consumer transaction account.
First Financial account holders can activate, at no charge, Dynamic Transfer, an overdraft protection feature that links each account to another checking, savings or money market account to cover any shortfall.
First Financial's Credit Achiever loan and secured credit card both allow clients to make purchases from pre-funded accounts so clients can improve their credit scores.
More information on these and other financial solutions can be found at www.bankatfirst.com.
About First Financial Bancorp.
First Financial Bancorp. is a Cincinnati, Ohio based bank holding company. As of March 31, 2022, the Company had $16.0 billion in assets, $9.2 billion in loans, $12.8 billion in deposits and $2.1 billion in shareholders' equity. The Company's subsidiary, First Financial Bank, founded in 1863, provides banking and financial services products through its six lines of business: Commercial, Retail Banking, Investment Commercial Real Estate, Mortgage Banking, Commercial Finance and Wealth Management. These business units provide traditional banking services to business and retail clients. Wealth Management provides wealth planning, portfolio management, trust and estate, brokerage and retirement plan services and had approximately $3.3 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2022. The Company operated 135 full-service banking centers as of March 31, 2022, primarily in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois, while the Commercial Finance business lends into targeted industry verticals on a nationwide basis. Additional information about the Company, including its products, services and banking locations, is available at www.bankatfirst.com.
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EV Education Hub to Help Answer Consumer Questions
CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Electric vehicles (EV) will be on full display on the expanded and redesigned Chicago Drives Electric indoor test track and education hub, powered by ComEd. The new area will feature a one-stop-shop for interested parties to experience and learn about all aspects of EV mobility.
This 100,000 sq.-ft. destination in the show's South Hall will feature electric vehicles from five brands:
- BMW i4
- BMW i7
- BMW iX
- Cadillac LYRIQ
- Chevrolet Bolt EV
- Chevrolet Bolt EUV
- Nissan ARIYA
- Nissan Leaf
- Volkswagen ID.4
Consumers can ride along with professional drivers on the track and experience the unique feel of driving in an electric vehicle, including the power that comes from instant torque. Each manufacturer will manage their own registration process within the track so attendees can ride in a variety of EVs – making it the perfect location to compare different models.
The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) hosted a fall EV test drive program under the same name and is building on the success of that pilot event to make the EV test drives and education available to all consumers. Experts will be on hand to help break down the various aspects of EV ownership and tackle complex topics such as range anxiety; at-home charging solutions; on-the-go charging and infrastructure; tax credits and incentives; and where people can begin their search.
"The redesigned Chicago Drives Electric indoor track, powered by ComEd, is bigger and better than before providing the perfect place for consumers to compare many EV models all in one location," said Chicago Auto Show Chairman Kevin Keefe. "We know that consumers have questions about electric vehicles and we designed this educational and experiential hub to provide the experts and resources to answer them!"
The Chicago Auto Show has engaged a range of EV experts to support the Chicago Drives Electric hub including title sponsor, ComEd, and premier sponsors Autel, Cars.com, and Powering Chicago:
- ComEd will have a booth adjacent to the Chicago Drives Electric test track to interact with attendees, answer questions and learn about their online toolkit.
- Autel, a charging hardware company, is providing chargers for all the EVs running on the indoor test track along with an interactive exhibit where consumers can learn more about charging technology.
- Powering Chicago is sponsoring this EV track for the second year and will once again feature their mobile field trip truck directly across from the track. Powering Chicago is also hosting a series of educational panels in their EV Learning Center to educate businesses and consumers on critical topics such as EV charging infrastructure installation and the different types of EV chargers available, rebates and tax incentives, energy needs, safety considerations and more.
Other brands exhibiting in the show will also highlight their EVs and hybrid models with their own tracks.
- Hyundai will be showcasing the IONIQ5 with an all-new test track in their display and have an IONIQ6 on display.
- Jeep will have various 4xe models running in Camp Jeep.
- Ford will bring back Built to Electrify with the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning.
- Toyota will focus on hybrids and plug-in hybrids with an indoor track featuring the Prius, RAV4, Tundra, Sequoia, and Sienna.
- And outside, attendees can get behind the wheel to test drive the Kia EV6, Subaru Solterra, and Volkswagen ID.4.
Watch this video for a glimpse of what to expect at Chicago Drives Electric and find full information on the 2023 show at ChicagoAutoShow.com.
Tickets to the 2023 Chicago Auto Show are currently on sale at ChicagoAutoShow.com. The 2023 show runs Feb. 11-20 at McCormick Place and is open to the public everyday beginning at 10 a.m. Adult ticket prices are $15; seniors ages 62 and older are $10; children ages 4-12 are $10; kids 3 and younger are free.
First staged in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show is the nation's longest running auto exposition in North America. The show is produced by the Chicagoland's new-car dealer association, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, which has staged the show since 1935. The 2023 public show is Feb. 11-20 at McCormick Place. For more information and the latest updates, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com or Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow.com.
Founded in 1904 and located in Oakbrook Terrace, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is comprised of more than 400 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ about 19,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information, please visit www.CATA.info.
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SOURCE Chicago Auto Show | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/02/08/expanded-chicago-drives-electric-indoor-test-track-showcases-electric-vehicles/ | 2023-02-08 22:21:48 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/02/08/expanded-chicago-drives-electric-indoor-test-track-showcases-electric-vehicles/ |
COLUMBIA BANKING SYSTEM, INC. REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2023 RESULTS
Published: Apr. 26, 2023 at 3:02 PM CDT|Updated: 48 minutes ago
TACOMA, Wash., April 26, 2023 First Quarter 2023 Results
Net income of $(14) million, or $(0.09) per common share
Operating net income of $72 million, or $0.46 per common share1
Successfully closed merger with Umpqua Holdings Corporation and completed core systems conversion
Consolidated asset balances increased $22 billion to $54 billion at quarter end
Loan balances of $37 billion and deposit balances of $42 billion at quarter end
/PRNewswire/ --
Organizational Update
On February 28, 2023, Columbia Banking System, Inc. ("Columbia", "we" or "our") completed its merger with Umpqua Holdings Corporation ("UHC"), combining the two premier banks in the Northwest to create one of the largest banks headquartered in the West ("the merger"). Columbia completed its core systems conversion on March 20, 2023, and branch consolidations are scheduled to occur through the second quarter of 2023.
Columbia's financial results for any periods ended prior to February 28, 2023 reflect UHC results only on a standalone basis. In addition, Columbia's reported financial results for the first quarter of 2023 reflect UHC financial results only until the closing of the merger after the close of business on February 28, 2023. As a result of these two factors, Columbia's financial results for the first quarter of 2023 may not be directly comparable to prior reported periods. The number of shares issued and outstanding, earnings per share, additional paid-in capital, and all references to share quantities or metrics of Columbia have been retrospectively restated to reflect the equivalent number of shares issued in the merger as the merger was treated as a reverse merger. Under the reverse acquisition method of accounting, the assets and liabilities of Columbia as of February 28, 2023 ("historical Columbia") were recorded at their respective fair values.
Net Interest Income
Net interest income was $375 million for the first quarter of 2023, up $69 million from the prior quarter. The increase, which includes $32 million of purchase accounting accretion and amortization, reflects one month of the combined company's larger balance sheet as well as the net favorable impact of higher interest rates.
Columbia's net interest margin was 4.08% for the first quarter of 2023, up 7 basis points from 4.01% for the fourth quarter of 2022. The net interest margin for the month of March was 4.31%, which includes a 76-basis point net benefit from purchase accounting accretion and amortization and an approximate 10-basis point adverse impact from holding higher cash balances funded by borrowings beginning March 13, 2023. The cost of interest-bearing deposits increased 55 basis points on a linked-quarter basis to 1.32% for the first quarter of 2023, which compares to 1.33% for the month of March and 1.43% on March 31, 2023. Please refer to the Q1 2023 Earnings Presentation for additional net interest margin change details and interest rate sensitivity information as well as our non-GAAP disclosures in this press release for the impact of purchase accounting accretion and amortization on individual line items.
Non-interest Income
Non-interest income was $55 million for the first quarter of 2023, up $20 million from the prior quarter. While results benefited from one month as a combined organization, the increase was primarily driven by a $16 million favorable change in cumulative fair value adjustments and mortgage servicing rights ("MSR") hedging activity. A net fair value gain of $8.1 million in the first quarter compares to a net fair value loss of $8.1 million in the fourth quarter, as detailed in our non-GAAP disclosures.
Non-interest Expense
Non-interest expense was $343 million for the first quarter of 2023, up $148 million from the prior quarter level. The increase reflects one month of the higher expense rate of the combined organization as well as a $104 million linked-quarter increase in merger-related expenses, which were $116 million in the first quarter, inclusive of a $20 million contribution to the Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation that was outlined when the merger was announced in October 2021. Please refer to the Q1 2023 Earnings Presentation for additional expense details, including an update on realized merger-related cost-savings through March 31, 2023.
Balance Sheet
Total consolidated assets were $54.0 billion as of March 31, 2023, an increase of $22.2 billion compared to $31.8 billion as of December 31, 2022. The increase was driven by the addition of historical Columbia balances at fair value on February 28, 2023, related intangible assets, and higher cash balances added in March that were funded by borrowings. Cash and cash equivalents was $3.6 billion as of March 31, 2023, an increase of $2.3 billion relative to December 31, 2022. Including secured off-balance sheet lines of credit, total available liquidity was $17.9 billion as of March 31, 2023, representing 33% of total assets, 43% of total deposits, and 121% of uninsured deposits. Please refer to the Q1 2023 Earnings Presentation for additional details related to our liquidity position.
Available for sale securities, which are held on balance sheet at fair value, were $9.2 billion as of March 31, 2023, an increase of $6.1 billion relative to December 31, 2022, primarily due to the addition of $6.2 billion of historical Columbia balances, which were categorized as available for sale at quarter end. The net unrealized loss on historical Columbia securities was eliminated as of February 28, 2023, as part of the reverse merger method of accounting, and these securities had a pre-tax net unrealized gain of $84 million as of March 31, 2023. On a consolidated basis, our available for sale securities balance of $9.2 billion includes a pre-tax net unrealized loss of $397 million as historical UHC balances were not marked as part of the merger, and the net unrealized gain position associated with historical Columbia balances does not fully offset the net unrealized loss position related to the remainder of the consolidated portfolio. Held to maturity securities were $2.4 million at March 31, 2023, and represent investments in local community housing bonds; there is no unrealized loss associated with these balances.
Following the close of the merger, we restructured a portion of the historical Columbia securities portfolio during the first week of March by selling $1.2 billion of securities and purchasing $937 million of securities with the proceeds. The restructure transactions resulted in no gain or loss on the income statement. Purchases included agencies, mortgage-backed securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations with a projected average yield of 4.63%. The restructuring reduced the potential adverse impact to net interest income in a declining interest rate environment, which the Q1 2023 Earnings Presentation reviews.
Gross loans and leases were $37.1 billion as of March 31, 2023, an increase of $10.9 billion relative to December 31, 2022, due to the addition of $10.9 billion of historical Columbia balances at fair value. "On an organic basis, loans were up just slightly during the first quarter, as drawdowns related to single-family home construction offset slight declines in commercial portfolio balances," commented Tory Nixon, President of Umpqua Bank. Please refer to the Q1 2023 Earnings Presentation for additional details related to our loan portfolio, which include underwriting characteristics, the composition of our commercial portfolios, and enhanced disclosure related to our office portfolio.
Total deposits were $41.6 billion as of March 31, 2023, an increase of $14.5 billion relative to December 31, 2022, primarily due to the addition of $15.2 billion of historical Columbia balances at fair value. "Our deposit balances continued to be affected by market liquidity tightening and the impact of inflation on customer spending," stated Mr. Nixon. "Declining balances with existing customers was the primary driver of the net reduction in deposits during the month of March and for the first quarter on an organic basis. We were pleased to see continued new account acquisition in March in both the consumer and commercial bank across all major product types." Please refer to the Q1 2023 Earnings Presentation for additional details related to deposit characteristics and flows.
Credit Quality
The allowance for credit losses was $436 million, or 1.18% of loans and leases, as of March 31, 2023, compared to $315 million, or 1.21% of loans and leases, as of December 31, 2022. The $121 million increase in the allowance includes the addition of $26 million related to historical Columbia purchased credit deteriorated ("PCD") loans and $5.8 million related to historical Columbia off balance sheet commitments, which were booked at the merger's close and did not affect the income statement. The provision for credit losses was $106 million for the first quarter of 2023, which includes an initial provision of $88 million for historical Columbia non-PCD loans. Outside the initial provision, the quarter's expense was driven almost entirely by changes between the November 2022 and February 2023 economic forecasts used in credit models, with a modest expense associated with the change in mix. Please refer to the Q1 2023 Earnings Presentation for additional details related to the allowance for credit losses, including a breakout of the aforementioned impacts of the merger.
Net charge-offs were 0.23% of average loans and leases (annualized) for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 0.19% for the fourth quarter of 2022. Net charge-off activity continued to be centered in the FinPac portfolio as bank charge-off activity was de minimis. As of March 31, 2023, non-performing assets were $76 million, or 0.14% of total assets, compared to $59 million, or 0.18% as of December 31, 2022. The $17 million linked-quarter increase primarily reflects the addition of historical Columbia balances.
Capital
As of March 31, 2023, Columbia's book value per common share increased to $23.44, compared to $19.18 at December 31, 2022, which was retrospectively restated under the reverse merger method of accounting. The linked-quarter change in book value primarily reflects common shares issued and exchanged as a result of the merger and a change in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income ("AOCI") to $(300) million at March 31, 2023, compared to $(427) million at the prior quarter-end. The change in AOCI is due primarily to a reduction in the tax-effected net unrealized loss on available for sale securities to $295 million at March 31, 2023, compared to $403 million at December 31, 2022. Tangible book value per common share[3] decreased to $15.12, compared to $19.14 at December 31, 2023 as a result of $1.0 billion of goodwill and $710 million of core deposit intangible assets added through the merger.
Columbia's estimated total risk-based capital ratio was 11.0% and its estimated common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 8.9% as of March 31, 2023. Columbia remains above current "well-capitalized" regulatory minimums. "While initial fair value marks drove the linked quarter decline in our regulatory capital ratios, we expect loan and investment securities discount accretion to contribute meaningfully to capital build over time," stated Ron Farnsworth, Chief Financial Officer of Columbia. The regulatory capital ratios as of March 31, 2023 are estimates, pending completion and filing of Columbia's regulatory reports.
Earnings Presentation and Conference Call Information
Columbia's Q1 2023 Earnings Presentation provides additional disclosure. A copy will be available on our investor relations page: www.columbiabankingsystem.com.
Columbia will host its first quarter 2023 earnings conference call on April 26, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET). During the call, Columbia's management will provide an update on recent activities and discuss its first quarter 2023 financial results. Participants may register for the call using the below link to receive dial-in details and their own unique PINs or join the audiocast. It is recommended you join 10 minutes prior to the start time.
Columbia (Nasdaq: COLB) is headquartered in Tacoma, Washington and is the parent company of Umpqua Bank, an award-winning western U.S. regional bank based in Lake Oswego, Oregon. In March of 2023, Columbia and Umpqua combined two of the Pacific Northwest's premier financial institutions under the Umpqua Bank brand to create one of the largest banks headquartered in the West and a top-30 U.S. bank. With over $50 billion of assets, Umpqua Bank combines the resources, sophistication and expertise of a national bank with a commitment to deliver personalized service at scale. The bank operates in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington and supports consumers and businesses through a full suite of services, including retail and commercial banking; Small Business Administration lending; institutional and corporate banking; and equipment leasing. Umpqua Bank customers also have access to comprehensive investment and wealth management expertise as well as healthcare and private banking through Columbia Wealth Management and Columbia Trust Company, a subsidiary of Columbia. Learn more at www.columbiabankingsystem.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "Safe-Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which management believes are a benefit to shareholders. These statements are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty and actual results could differ materially due to various risk factors, including those set forth from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and we undertake no obligation to update any such statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "target," "projects," "outlook," "forecast," "will," "may," "could," "should," "can" and similar references to future periods. In this press release we make forward-looking statements about strategic and growth initiatives and the result of such activity. Risks that could cause results to differ from forward-looking statements we make include, without limitation: current and future economic and market conditions, including the effects of declines in housing and commercial real estate prices, high unemployment rates, continued inflation and any recession or slowdown in economic growth particularly in the western United States; economic forecast variables that are either materially worse or better than end of quarter projections and deterioration in the economy that could result in increased loan and lease losses, especially those risks associated with concentrations in real estate related loans; our ability to effectively manage problem credits; the impact of bank failures or adverse developments at or news developments concerning other banks on general investor sentiment regarding the liquidity stability of banks; changes in interest rates that could significantly reduce net interest income and negatively affect asset yields and valuations and funding sources; changes in the scope and cost of FDIC insurance and other coverage; our ability to successfully implement efficiency and operational excellence initiatives; our ability to successfully develop and market new products and technology; changes in laws or regulations; any failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger when expected or at all; the possibility that the integration following the merger may be more expensive than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events, diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the completion of the merger and integration of the companies; the effect of geopolitical instability, including wars, conflicts and terrorist attacks; and natural disasters and other similar unexpected events outside of our control. We also caution that the amount and timing of any future common stock dividends or repurchases will depend on the earnings, cash requirements and financial condition of the Columbia, market conditions, capital requirements, applicable law and regulations (including federal securities laws and federal banking regulations), and other factors deemed relevant by Columbia's Board of Directors, and may be subject to regulatory approval or conditions.
1 "Non-GAAP" financial measure. See GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation for the comparable GAAP measurement. 2 Prior periods have been restated as a result of the adjustment to common shares outstanding based on the exchange ratio from the merger of 0.5958. 3 "Non-GAAP" financial measure. See GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation for the comparable GAAP measurement.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. The company believes presenting certain non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with information useful in understanding our financial performance, our performance trends, and our financial position. We utilize these measures for internal planning and forecasting purposes. We, as well as securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties, also use these measures to compare peer company operating performance. We believe that our presentation and discussion, together with the accompanying reconciliations, provides a complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business and allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to management. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitution for GAAP basis measures and results, and we strongly encourage investors to review our consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names.
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc. | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/04/26/columbia-banking-system-inc-reports-first-quarter-2023-results/ | 2023-04-26 20:52:21 | 0 | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/04/26/columbia-banking-system-inc-reports-first-quarter-2023-results/ |
As droughts strain water supplies across Western states, some cities and farmers have struggled with mandatory cutbacks. Determining who gets cut is decided by the foundational pecking order of Western water: the older your claim to water, created as the country expanded westward, the better protected it is.
When there's a shortage, those with newer water rights have to cut back first, sometimes giving up their water completely before older claims lose a single drop.
It's known as "first in time, first in right." But "first" is a relative term.
"First in time, first in right is kind of laughable, because the ones that were here first were the indigenous people," says Gary Mulcahy, government liaison for the Winnemem Wintu tribe in Northern California.
As the climate gets hotter and further shrinks strained water supplies, Western states are grappling with whether a century-old water system created by white settlers can equitably handle a future of worsening droughts.
Rights to water have long been seen as sacrosanct by many. But after decades of exclusion, Native American tribes are helping lead the charge both in California and on the Colorado River, arguing for overhauling an arcane system they say is inherently racist.
California lawmakers are debating whether to create new authority to rein in the oldest water users, who have long contended their rights can't be constrained by the state. Cities like San Francisco and farming districts with senior water rights are lobbying hard against the bills, saying billions of dollars invested into the water system are at stake.
"The weight of the inequities is really stunning," say Felicia Marcus, a fellow at Stanford University's Water in the West program and a former California water regulator. "Folks are going to need to think about what are the alternatives to cure what might be a historic injustice, while also being aware of the equities of all the communities and people dependent on the system that we do have."
First in time, via a piece of paper on a tree
More than a century ago, San Francisco locked up a pristine water supply. The city was booming in the late 1800s, and officials knew that local supplies wouldn't be enough for the growing population. They set their sights on a river high in the Sierra Nevada mountains, more than 150 miles away.
To tap into that river, the city had to first officially file for a water right.
"It meant you write it on a piece of paper and nail it to a tree," says Steve Ritchie, assistant general manager at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
Thanks to that piece of paper nailed to an 8-inch round oak tree near the Tuolumne River in 1901, San Francisco has enjoyed a stable water supply ever since. During California's most severe droughts, the city hasn't had to make mandatory cutbacks, even when other cities and farms around the state saw their supplies dwindle.
"We and others have invested a lot of money in our systems to make them work based on the principle of first in time and first in right," Ritchie says.
For tribes, being first doesn't mean you have water
For California's Native American tribes, which have largely been excluded from the water rights hierarchy, that focus on the history of settlers' interests rings hollow.
"What we say about the senior water rights holders is they all got their water through murder, mayhem, rape, theft and genocide," Mulcahy says.
The traditional land of the Winnemem Wintu tribe in Northern California was flooded in the 1940s when California built Shasta Dam, creating the largest reservoir in the state. Today, it's one of the most valuable sources of water, supplying farms and cities that stretch hundreds of miles, all the way to Los Angeles.
"We have no water rights," Mulcahy says. "We're the Winnemem Wintu tribe. Winnemem means 'middle water'– middle water people. That kind of tells you our culture, our spirituality is based on water."
California's tribes, like most across the West, were forced to sign treaties with the federal government, giving up their land in exchange for a reservation to live on. But the treaties with most California tribes were never ratified by the U.S. Senate and were lost for 50 years. As a result, the tribes have no federal recognition, giving them little standing to claim water.
"The water rights system absolutely totally needs to change for everybody's right, for everybody's health and well-being, and not just a select few who think that they are the gods of water and they can't be touched," Mulcahy says.
State bills would grant authority over senior rights
California lawmakers are now debating whether to take some steps toward reform. State bills would give regulators more power to investigate the water use of senior rights holders, allow them to order those rights holders to stop using water when there's a shortage, and to increase the fines against those who take water illegally.
The pushback has been swift from senior rights holders, which represent some of California's wealthiest cities and farming areas. Many contend their water use can't be curbed, since their rights were established before California created its regulatory water agency in 1914, the California State Water Resources Control Board.
"We don't think that curtailment should apply to us," Ritchie says. "Water rights are basically a form of a property right. So having the uncertainty that that supply might be cut at some point, that is very troubling."
During California's last two droughts, state regulators struggled to order cutbacks among those with senior water rights, lacking data about how much water was being used and what rights were affected. When water users have defied orders to cut their use, the state's ability to levy fines has been minimal.
"I don't mean to say it's kind of a hot mess, but it's kind of a mess," Marcus says. "We have to figure out how to have a better way of allocating water more fairly according to set-upon rules that everybody can see."
Tribes push for water rights on the Colorado River
Water cutbacks are also contentious on the Colorado River. There, a two-decades long drought is forcing states to face a harsh reality: the future will mean less water for everyone. But tribes on the river have been left out from the very beginning.
The Navajo Nation has been battling with the state of Arizona for decades over getting its water rights clarified on the river. Some parts of the reservation still lack running water, forcing residents to get deliveries by truck. As a federally-recognized tribe, the Navajo Nation has rights to water as part of the "permanent home" the federal government granted with a treaty creating the reservation.
"The issue is that they haven't been quantified and no one really knows what the scope of those rights look like," says Dylan Hedden-Nicely, director of the Native American Law Program at the University of Idaho College of Law.
Last month, the Supreme Court ruled against the tribe, saying the federal government had no duty to support the investment needed to deliver a water supply. Still, after a long-fought battle, tribes are now being included in key negotiations over the future of the river.
In cases where tribes have had their water rights spelled out, they've struck deals to transfer some of that water to alleviate the overall shortage for everyone.
"Those are the types of opportunities that exist if people can get over this historical paradigm that this is a zero-sum game – if you get anything, it's coming out of my hide and therefore I'm going to fight you tooth and nail," Hedden-Nicely says.
As the climate gets hotter, water supplies both on the Colorado River and in California are expected to shrink and become more erratic. With the pressure mounting, the inequities in the system are becoming hard to ignore.
"I think climate change is forcing these conversations that are uncomfortable because the water's just not there," Marcus says. "And we need to figure out what to do."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wbaa.org/2023-07-11/a-racist-past-and-hotter-future-are-testing-western-water-like-never-before | 2023-07-11 10:21:09 | 0 | https://www.wbaa.org/2023-07-11/a-racist-past-and-hotter-future-are-testing-western-water-like-never-before |
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- sweetFrog (www.sweetFrog.com), the premium frozen yogurt brand, is partnering with ICEE® on a cool, new summertime swirl. The sweetFrog ICEE® swirl is now available at participating U.S. sweetFrog stores.
This summer, guests can cool off with a new swirl made with Cherry ICEE® Sorbet and Blue Raspberry ICEE® Sorbet. These two familiar and beloved flavors are swirled together, combining two favorites into one sweet cup.
"We are excited to partner with ICEE this summer on a new sorbet swirl," said Heather Marini, senior national marketing manager for Kahala Brands®, parent company of sweetFrog. "The two flavors together combine these longtime favorites and offer our guests an alternative to dairy all summer long!"
The sweetFrog ICEE® swirl will be available at participating U.S. sweetFrog stores for a limited time until August 30, 2022.
Promotional Flavor:
- Cherry ICEE® Sorbet
- Blue Raspberry ICEE® Sorbet
Promotional Swirl:
- Cherry ICEE® Sorbet and Blue Raspberry ICEEdd Sorbet
About sweetFrog®
sweetFrog, one of the country's top frozen yogurt concepts, prides itself on providing a family-friendly environment where customers can enjoy premium frozen yogurt, ice cream, gelato and sorbets with the toppings of their choice. There are more than 250 sweetFrog locations in over 25 states and the Dominican Republic. In 2018, sweetFrog was acquired by MTY Franchising USA, Inc., a member of one of the fastest growing franchising conglomerates in the world. Between it and its subsidiaries, it has a portfolio of nearly 30 fast-casual and quick-service restaurant brands with approximately 3,000 locations in 35 countries.
For more information about sweetFrog, please visit www.sweetFrog.com.
About The ICEE Company
Founded in 1967, The ICEE Company is the leader and innovator in the frozen beverage industry, offering the most comprehensive frozen beverage package and service network in the beverage and foodservice categories. The brand portfolio includes ICEE, SLUSH PUPPIE, PARROT-ICE fruit smoothies, THELMA's frozen lemonade, and frozen cocktails. The ICEE Company is also a major service provider to the foodservice category through ICEE Managed Service. The ICEE Company is a subsidiary of J&J Snack Foods Corp. (NASDAQ-JJSF), and operates Service Centers throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada. ICEE is distributed globally across Europe, China, Central America, the GCC and Australia.
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SOURCE sweetFrog | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/sweetfrog-icee-team-up-new-sorbet-swirl-this-summer/ | 2022-06-09 12:10:27 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/sweetfrog-icee-team-up-new-sorbet-swirl-this-summer/ |
Dodgers All-Star pitcher Walker Buehler had Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career Tuesday.
“There’s no sugarcoating it,” said Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations. “It was a tough blow but we’ll get him back.”
The team disclosed this month that the 28-year-old right-hander would be having season-ending elbow surgery. At that time, the team did not say Buehler would have Tommy John. The typical recovery time for the ligament replacement is 12 to 18 months.
Buehler was 6-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 12 starts this season.
TUESDAY’S GAMES
Harper has
blast — no, two
With two big swings, Bryce Harper looked primed to join the Phillies in a pennant race.
Harper homered to right-center in his first at-bat, then went opposite field for a three-run shot in the eighth inning for Philadelphia’s Triple-A team in Allentown, Pa., in the first game of his rehab assignment from a broken left thumb. He was the designated hitter and hit second in the lineup for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs for the start of a six-game series against Gwinnett.
“I think anytime you go out there and you’re able to put the bat on the ball and have good at-bats, see pitches, compete at a high level, it’s always good,“ Harper said.
Gwinnett had some fun after Harper’s solo homer cut the Stripers’ lead, tweeting “Phillies prospect Bryce Harper goes deep to cut the Stripers lead 3-1. Admittedly, he looks like one to watch in the future.”
Phillies 7, Reds 6: Nick Maton singled in Bryson Stott with the winning run in the ninth after Stott had tied it with an RBI double as host Philadelphia rallied past Cincinnati, which had taken a 6-5 lead in the top of the inning on T.J. Friedl’s two-run triple.
Cubs 2, Cardinals 0: Javier Assad pitched four scoreless innings in his major-league debut and combined with four relievers on a five-hitter in the first game of a split doubleheader as host Chicago ended St. Louis’ eight-game winning streak.
Braves 6, Pirates 1: Max Fried allowed only three hits in eight innings, pacing Atlanta to a win in Pittsburgh. Fried (12-4) struck out seven and walked one, retiring 20 of the final 23 batters he faced.
Orioles 5, White Sox 3: Ryan Mountcastle hit a three-run homer in the first inning and host Baltimore won despite being outhit 11-5. Andrew Vaughn had an RBI single for Chicago.
Yankees 4, Mets 2: Aaron Judge hit a 453-foot drive halfway up the bleachers for his 48th home run and added an RBI single during a seventh-inning rally, boosting the host Yankees to complete a two-game sweep.
Rays 11, Angels 1: Former Athletic Christian Bethancourt had two run-scoring hits in the same inning and later moved from behind the plate to the mound to pitch a scoreless ninth for surging Tampa Bay.
Briefly: Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno says he is exploring the possibility of selling the franchise. ... The Twins placed All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list with a low-grade strain of his right hip. ... The White Sox put right-hander Michael Kopech on the 15-day IL with a left knee strain and recalled left-hander Tanner Banks from Triple-A Charlotte. ... San Diego shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. apologized to fans for his 80-game PED suspension and said he’ll have shoulder surgery while he is out. | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/Baseball-roundup-Walker-Buehler-has-surgery-17393995.php | 2022-08-24 03:39:04 | 1 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/Baseball-roundup-Walker-Buehler-has-surgery-17393995.php |
Chicken fajita tacos: Try the dinner recipe
Bring the food you love from a Mexican restaurant to your table at home with this easy recipe
If you're searching for an easy dinner idea, give these chicken fajita tacos a whirl.
"Our chicken fajita tacos are the answer on a night when you have little time, low bandwidth and maybe even limited ingredients. This delicious dish can be made in 28 minutes or less and only uses one pan. That means quick cook time and minimal after-dinner cleanup," says Julie Park, co-creator of platein28.com.
"Plus, the ingredients are super flexible. The chicken can be thighs, breasts or tenders (fresh or frozen). If you don’t have all the seasonings, use taco seasoning or whatever you have/like (add cayenne for more heat, replace fresh garlic with garlic powder). Any tortilla will work and pick whatever toppings you like," she continues, adding that there are endless ingredient swap options for you to customize the dish as you desire.
EASY CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH A 2-INGREDIENT SAUCE: TRY THE RECIPE
Bottom line: "Make tonight easy on you, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your family!" says Park.
FILIPINO CHICKEN ADOBO IS ‘TENDER, GARLICKY’ BLISS: TRY THE RECIPE
Super Yummy Chicken Fajita Tacos by Julie Park of Platein28
Makes 6 servings
Prep time: 13 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon chili powder
6 chicken thighs, boneless & skinless, cut into strips or chunks
2 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
½ onion, cut into strips or chunks
1 green bell pepper, cut into strips or chunks
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips or chunks
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3 tablespoons lemon juice
6 tortillas
Optional toppings: avocado, Cotija cheese, cilantro
Optional sides: Mexican rice, black beans
MOUTHWATERING CHICKEN BBQ NACHOS: TRY THE RECIPE
Directions:
1. Combine garlic and dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add chicken to bowl and mix together until all sides of the chicken are coated with the seasonings. Heat a large pan on medium. Once heated, add oil and chicken. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
2. Add veggies to the chicken, lower heat, stir, and cover. Cook covered for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent.
3. Uncover and add tomato paste and lemon juice. Cook uncovered for another 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat.
4. Scoop fajita mix onto tortillas and decorate with your favorite toppings
This original recipe is owned by Platein28.com and was shared with Fox News Digital. | https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/chicken-fajita-tacos-try-dinner-recipe | 2022-08-16 23:16:53 | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/chicken-fajita-tacos-try-dinner-recipe |
Call Simplified Accelerates Clarus Growth
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Graham Healthcare Capital (GHCC) announced that its portfolio company, Clarus, has acquired Call Simplified, an innovative medical call automation software company, according to Rich Maradik, CEO of Clarus.
Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.
Call Simplified, based in California, was founded by Scott Reynolds and David L. Finke, MD, FACOG, in 2014, and has grown to serve providers across multiple states and specialties. The company's SaaS technology allows patients to submit after-hour requests electronically and be automatically routed to the after-hours on-call provider, resulting in the most accurate and fastest response times vs. voicemail-only services. Their web request technology allows patients and providers to bypass using a phone entirely, allowing requests to be completed three times faster.
The acquisition will increase Clarus's existing customer base of 8,000 providers and administrators in physician offices. Maradik announced that Reynolds has joined Clarus as Head of Product.
In commenting on the acquisition, Maradik said that Clarus was attracted to Call Simplified because its product complements and expands Clarus's patient call automation software. "Clarus chose Call Simplified because Scott has done a great job with their product," Maradik said. "It has features that, once incorporated into our existing product, enable us to grow our leadership position in call automation software for physicians' offices."
He went on to say, "The Call Simplified acquisition will also allow us to quickly expand in Southern California, accelerating our organic growth. We're estimated to add more than 2,000 users before the end of year. And adding Scott to the team is an important part of continuing to expand the platform capabilities to better service patients, providers and administrators."
Reynolds has more than 20 years of experience in SaaS technology, implementing innovative product solutions across many vertical markets, including healthcare.
"I am excited to be a part of Clarus and the Graham Healthcare family," Reynolds said. "Rich and his team have demonstrated their commitment to innovation in call automation technology for the physician services segment of the healthcare industry. This is an outstanding opportunity to continue to develop unique solutions that help medical professionals respond quickly and accurately to their patients' needs."
More information is available at grahamhealthcarecapital.com
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SOURCE Graham Healthcare Capital | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/10/03/clarus-acquires-california-call-automation-software-company/ | 2022-10-03 18:56:48 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/10/03/clarus-acquires-california-call-automation-software-company/ |
Two Washburn football players named to Elite 100 Watch List
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Two Washburn seniors were named to D2Football.com’s Elite 100 Watch List on Tuesday.
James Letcher Jr. and Landen Urban were named to the list for the upcoming season after being selected by coaches, scouts, media, and sports information directors.
Letcher Jr. was a first team all-purpose selection last year and is a six-time All-American selection as an Ichabod. He had appeared in 37 games overall, compiling 148 receptions for 1,916 yards, and 19 touchdowns. He has also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns which is the most in program history.
Urban is entering his sixth season at Washburn where he has started 27 games at defensive tackle, recording 118 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks.
The Ichabods open the 2022 campaign on September 1st in Yager Stadium against Lincoln.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/30/two-washburn-football-players-named-elite-100-watch-list/ | 2022-08-30 21:58:35 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/30/two-washburn-football-players-named-elite-100-watch-list/ |
Nicholasville, Wilmore fire departments help collect toys for children
From now until December 16th, the firefighters will be collecting toys, hats, coats, and other warm clothes for infants and children up to 12-years of age
JESSAMINE COUNTY, Ky (WTVQ)- Fire departments in Jessamine County are teaming up this holiday season to collect Christmas toys for kids in need.
The Wilmore and Nicholasville fire departments are partnering for a toy drive.
From now until December 16th, the firefighters will be collecting toys, hats, coats, and other warm clothes for infants and children up to 12-years of age. Nicholasville Fire’s Lieutenant Josh Polley says the departments will be at the Nicholasville Walmart every Friday and Saturday for the drive. The donations will be distributed on December 17th.
Polley says every year, they help hundreds of kids in the community. He says the drive is a special way they can give back.
“It’s important because in today’s age, not every child gets presents for Christmas. We serve hundreds of families through the toy drive. And every time, we have parents and grandparents that come to us and say ‘hey without you, we wouldn’t be able to have presents this year.’ So that’s reward enough for us,” said Polley.
If you’re interested in donating or need assistance in giving your children a christmas this year, click here. | https://www.wtvq.com/nicholasville-wilmore-fire-departments-help-collect-toys-for-children/ | 2022-11-27 08:37:54 | 1 | https://www.wtvq.com/nicholasville-wilmore-fire-departments-help-collect-toys-for-children/ |
NAZARETH, Pa., July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Northeast's custom kitchen remodeling company, Kitchen Magic, outlines the combinations homeowners are choosing and the many reasons why a customized hybrid kitchen is the perfect solution for their next home remodeling project.
Today hybrids are everywhere, from hybrid automobiles, trucks, and bicycles, to plants, puppies, people, and sports. Indeed, hybrids combine the best of two or three elements.
Essentially a hybrid kitchen is a design plan that combines both refacing and custom cabinetry. Refacing saves substantially on budget, allowing you to reinvest in other features and upgrades. Additional custom cabinetry or a new island creates valuable additional storage space and that visual change homeowners often want.
The new cabinetry added into a hybrid kitchen remodel will perfectly match the refaced, existing cabinet boxes.
The result is a highly personalized and transformative kitchen design.
This hybrid approach improves the aesthetics and function of a kitchen, while also increasing the property value should you decide to sell down the road.
The 2022 cost vs. value report says that a minor kitchen remodel will return 74.7% of the investment
A hybrid kitchen can include any type of custom-built cabinets, a desk, or a customized display case that match the refacing cabinets for a unified space.
Our design consultants often propose creative ideas for storage solutions, addressing issues you may not have even known you had. A good example of that might be creating a designated storage space for dry goods, spices, cooking essentials, and other everyday items. All of these improvements go a long way in helping you stay organized.
Hybrid kitchens are a top trend in Kitchen Magic kitchens, and most homeowners utilize a hybrid design model to one degree or another.
Designers do not see that trend slowing since the outcome is a custom solution for every customer. Even with the pandemic in the rear-view mirror, many homeowners still have enhanced storage on their wish lists.
Adding a custom kitchen island instead of a peninsula is more conducive to gatherings. Homeowners with older homes often bid adieu to their kitchen peninsula, as the U-shape is a configuration that tends to "trap" people into a particular prep or dining area.
Instead, allow your kitchen design team to create a kitchen island for increased workflow. A kitchen island is also a user-friendly layout for dining and social gatherings.
Stock up and add a bank of cabinets, a buffet, a credenza, or a pantry. Copious storage is more critical than ever as remote work and more time at home have become permanent for many. A top request of homeowners is additional storage for dry goods, small appliances, and cooking equipment allowing them to keep stocked up and maintain a high-functioning kitchen.
An empty corner can become that creates a personalized focal point for your new kitchen design. Imagine a coffee station, device charging zone, bar area or even a display case as an empty corner becomes your 'statement' corner.
A built-in desk offers a welcome addition to working and learning at home. On those days you can avoid the commute and stay just as functional with an additional work-from-home zone. Reface the existing cabinets and add a custom deck that suits your home office needs.
A hybrid kitchen design allows you to claim extra space and even double your existing space with smart storage solutions, Whether you plan to add a pantry, credenza, or a mudroom with cabinets, the sky's the limit with the help of the skilled craftspeople and designers at Kitchen Magic.
Up your design game with glass-front cabinets flanked by new pantry cabinets to increase storage and still showcase your new finds. Mix and match colors and textures for a unique design. A woodgrain display cabinet or island can add flair when paired with a white kitchen for a beautiful timeless look.
At Kitchen Magic, our signature refacing consists of premium North American lumber and solid veneers that set the tone for a quality, functional design. Our custom cabinetry is all USA Made, hand crafted in our factory in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
To explore how you can transform the way your kitchen looks and functions with a free in-home design consultation. It's fun, informative, and completely free! Give us a call at 866.437.6147, or click here to schedule your free design consultation with us today!
Linda Fennessy
Public Relations Manager
Kitchen Magic
800.237.0799x 4155
Linda.fennessy@kitchenmagic.com
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SOURCE Kitchen Magic, Inc. | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/kitchen-magic-defines-hybrid-kitchen/ | 2022-07-05 14:13:42 | 1 | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/kitchen-magic-defines-hybrid-kitchen/ |
Since the early days of Hollywood, Latin American composers have created theme songs and soundtracks for some of the most classic movies and TV shows.
A century ago, Maria Grever was a maverick in the male-dominated film world. She had studied with French composer Claude Debussy before returning to her native Mexico where she wrote boleros that were wildly popular throughout Latin America. Then, Grever composed songs for movies in the 1920s, '30s and '40s.
In the 1944 MGM musical Bathing Beauty, Colombian baritone Carlos Ramírez sings Grever's song Te Quiero Dijiste (accompanied by Xavier Cugat and his orchestra) to actress Esther Williams just before she dives into a swimming pool. The song was translated to Magic is the Moonlight.
Grever wrote another song, Cuando Vuelva a Tu Lado, about missing her husband during the Mexican revolution. Translated to What a Difference a Day Makes, the song became a staple of Hollywood films (Dinah Washington won a Grammy award for her R&B rendition in 1959).
In the 1930s and '40s, renowned Mexican composer and musician Agustín Lara also wrote beautiful songs for movies. His Solamente Una Vez became a hit in the U.S. as You Belong to My Heart. It was covered by Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley and many others.
Lara's first American film composition was for the 1938 picture Tropic Holiday.
"The film itself is about a Hollywood screenwriter who's looking for inspiration in Mexico. Then, the film features music by a Mexican who'd come to Hollywood to record it," says professor Josh Kun, interim dean of the USC Thornton School of Music.
Kun says film studios turned to successful Latin American composers like Lara and Grever for authenticity. But more often, they would appropriate generic "Latin sounds" and rhythms-- "either making Latin America feel safe to Americans, make it seem romantic, or increasingly, make it seem dangerous."
Kun says then and now, films would often use tropical music for any Latin American setting. "This idea that there would be one sound was a problem then and frankly, is a problem now. That one set of sounds becomes a sonic stereotype."
Even so, there were Latino film composers who innovated soundtracks. For example, Argentine-American composer Lalo Schifrin created one of the most iconic 1960s TV themes ever for the show Mission Impossible.
Schifrin has blended jazz and Latin American rhythms and sounds for more than 100 film and TV shows. The 90-year-old composer once described to NPR his ideal musical style: "There's an imaginary world in which a street of Vienna intersects an avenue from New York. And in that corner, there is a tavern. And in the tavern, there is a piano, and there you can encounter Gustav Mahler, Beethoven and Dizzy Gillespie, and they are exchanging ideas. It's a gigantic jam session."
Gustavo Santaolalla was also born in Buenos Aires, 19 years after Schifrin. He pioneered the fusion of rock and Latin American folk with his group Arco Iris, he modernized tango with his group Bajofondo, and he produced Latin alternative and rock en español hits for Maldita Vecindad, Molotov, Café Tacuba, Julieta Venegas and Juanes.
Santaolalla also composed music for films such as Amores Perros and The Motorcycle Diaries. He won two Oscar awards for scoring the 2005 film Brokeback Mountain and the 2006 film Babel.
Santaolalla continues to create the sonic fabric of films and shows, often collaborating with his musical partner Aníbal Kerpel and filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu.
"There's definitely that influence that makes me who I am and... connects with my Latino heritage," he told NPR in 2021. "It is Latin music because it's made by a Latino. But it's universal music. You can say exactly the same thing about Iñárritu's films."
When filmmaker Iñárritu made his Oscar-winning film Birdman in 2014, he asked Mexican jazz drummer Antonio Sanchez to score it.
"It was pretty much improvised," says Sanchez. "It was the kind of score that had never been done before, you know just a full drum set score."
Sanchez grew up in Mexico City, the grandson of Ignacio López Tarso, a famous actor from Mexico's Golden Age of cinema. He says working on films has opened up creativity in his musical projects, and he credits Iñárritu with developing a new style of film composition.
"What Iñárritu wanted me to do was just to be myself, you know, just to improvise, to react, to use my instincts and just imprint something in real-time."
Of course, no story about Latino film composers would be complete without Nuyorican Lin-Manuel Miranda. Like his Broadway musicals, his movies, including In The Heights, incorporate Hip Hop, Latin and musical theater styles.
Miranda's music will be featured in the new Little Mermaid Disney remake, hot off the heels of writing for last year's Oscar-winning animated film Encanto.
For Disney's Encanto, he traveled to Colombia to find inspiration in the diverse musical styles of the country.
Germaine Franco's work on Encanto led her to become the first Latina nominated for Best Original Score at the Oscars. She says for one scene, she wrote an Afro-Colombian chant and gathered an ensemble of women to perform it for the film.
"I wanted to honor the Afro-Colombian community," she says. "People forget how amazing it is that they managed to escape from the colonies and have their own communities. The women there sing and play and chant to a special marimba you can only get there. I had one built and I had it shipped here."
For Coco, Pixar's animated love letter to Mexico, Franco arranged and orchestrated the score. She brought in familiar elements from her childhood along the El Paso and Juárez border and added the sounds of folkloric dancing. Franco also produced all the recording sessions, with 50 master musicians from Mexico.
"Knowing that there's this connection between my ancestor's Mexican music that goes back, you know, hundreds of years," she says. "There we were, and I was saying to them, 'put the sound that you want, what it should be, not what I want. It should be your sound.'"
Producer Camilo Lara, from the group Mexican Institute of Sound, also worked on Coco. "I even have a cameo in the movie. I'm the deejay at the party," he says from his home recording studio in Mexico City. "It was fun to be portrayed as a skeleton."
Lara sampled hip hop and electronic music to create loops and beats for films like Y Tu Mamá También and Thor. And he produced a song by Santa Fe Klan for the new film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Lara says he was inspired by the midcentury lounge-meets-Latin music of Mexican composer Juan Garcia Esquivel. And he's grateful to all those before him. "I'm thanking Maria Grever, Lalo Schifrin and of course, Gustavo Santaolalla and a bunch of amazing people that did the hard work in Hollywood to let other Latino composers to have a chance," he says. "All of them are my idols."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kcbx.org/npr-top-news/2022-10-02/without-these-latino-composers-hollywood-wouldnt-sound-the-same | 2022-10-02 12:09:29 | 0 | https://www.kcbx.org/npr-top-news/2022-10-02/without-these-latino-composers-hollywood-wouldnt-sound-the-same |
Donuts Wins 'Publisher's Choice Anti-Phishing Award' for Homograph Phishing Protection Included with its Domain Names
SAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Donuts Inc., the global leader in next-generation top-level descriptive domains and authentic digital identities, today announced in conjunction with the RSA Conference that it was awarded the 'Publisher's Choice Anti-Phishing Award' from Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM), the industry's leading electronic information security magazine. Donuts is the first and only domain registry to automatically provide homograph phishing protection to its customers across hundreds of top-level domains (TLDs).
"We're thrilled to receive one of the most prestigious and coveted cybersecurity awards in the world from Cyber Defense Magazine, during their 10th anniversary," said Akram J. Atallah, CEO, Donuts Inc. "We knew the competition would be tough, and with top judges who are leading InfoSec experts from around the globe, we couldn't be more pleased."
With phishing on the rise, businesses need to fight back against bad actors using look-alike domain names in their attacks. Unlike other domain registries, Donuts' Phishing Protection automatically identifies known homographs of a buyer's domain name at the time of registration and provides phishing protection for a domain's lifetime. In addition to Phishing Protection, Donuts offers enhanced brand protection with its Domains Protected Marks List (DPML) program. This service protects a brand's trademarks, prevents cybersquatting, and ensures that domains are available for future use.
"We scoured the globe looking for cybersecurity innovators who could make a huge difference and potentially help turn the tide against the exponential growth in cybercrime," said Yan Ross, editor of Cyber Defense Magazine. "Donuts Inc. is absolutely worthy of this coveted award and consideration for deployment in your environment."
The RSA Conference takes place from June 6-9 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. For a complete list of winners, please visit http://www.cyberdefenseawards.com/.
About CDM InfoSec Awards
This is Cyber Defense Magazine's tenth year of honoring InfoSec innovators from around the globe. Our submission requirements are for any startup, early-stage, later-stage, or public companies in the InfoSec (Information Security) space who believe they have a unique and compelling value proposition for their product or service.
About the Judging
The judges are CISSP, FMDHS, CEH, and certified security professionals who voted based on their independent review of the company submitted materials on the website of each submission, including but not limited to data sheets, white papers, product literature, and other market variables. CDM has a flexible philosophy of finding more innovative players with new and unique technologies than those with the most customers or money in the bank. CDM is always asking "What's Next?" so we are looking for best of breed, next-generation InfoSec solutions.
About Donuts Inc.
Donuts Inc. simplifies and connects the online world with domain names and related technologies that allow people to build, market and own their digital identities. Donuts owns the world's largest portfolio of top-level domains, branded TrueName Domains, and operates hundreds of others for registry partners on its innovative registry services platform. Together, Donuts' top-level domains have nearly 25 million domains under management. Beyond its domain name registry and innovative registry services platform, Donuts enables customers to discover, register, support, and use high-quality domain names with its registrar, Name.com. Donuts, which ranked on Inc.'s 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing U.S private companies in 2021, is a global company with hundreds of employees. It is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington with international offices across four continents. For more information, please visit www.donuts.domains.
Media Inquiries:
Irene Noser, Marketing Executive
Cyber Defense Magazine
marketing@cyberdefensemagazine.com
1-833-844-9468
www.cyberdefensemagazine.com
Sacha Arts
Bella Vista Communications
(408) 458.6316
sacha@bellavista.agency
www.bellavista.agency
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SOURCE Donuts Inc. | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/donuts-inc-named-winner-coveted-global-infosec-awards-rsa-conference-2022/ | 2022-06-06 16:48:34 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/donuts-inc-named-winner-coveted-global-infosec-awards-rsa-conference-2022/ |
(The Hill) – Missing text messages for top Trump administration Homeland Security officials in the days surrounding Jan. 6, 2021, are raising new questions about why the agency’s watchdog did not alert officials to the potential destruction of records.
According to a document obtained by the Project on Government Oversight, text messages for former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf as well as his deputy, Ken Cuccinelli, were unable to be located.
The late February message to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari indicates that record retention issues at the agency extend beyond the Secret Service and that DHS’s own watchdog failed in multiple instances to notify lawmakers about the missing messages.
The news was first reported by The Washington Post, which described the text messages as being lost in a reset of their government phones when they left office after President Biden’s inauguration.
The correspondence from DHS’s management division alerted Cuffari that the messages could not be extracted and were no longer accessible.
The revelation of additional messages that the department is no longer able to account for comes after Cuffari was asked by lawmakers earlier this week to step aside from investigating what he said earlier this month were “erased” text messages of Secret Service agents.
Lawmakers, including Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chair of both the House Homeland Security Committee and the Jan. 6 select committee, said Cuffari may have violated the law by failing to alert DHS or lawmakers about the potential mismanagement of government records.
The latest development also indicated that Homeland Security Under Secretary for Management Randolph Alles, who also previously led the Secret Service, also had his phone reset and his messages were unaccounted for.
Neither Cuffari’s office nor DHS responded to requests for comment.
Both Wolf and Cuccinelli met with Jan. 6 investigators to face questions about pressure from former President Trump for DHS to seize voting machines. Baseless allegations that the machines had been hacked are thought to be behind the pressure campaign.
But their texts from Jan. 5 and Jan. 6 could also shed light on how top national security advisors were reacting as the Capitol was stormed.
The Jan. 6 committee swiftly subpoenaed the Secret Service text messages after being alerted by Cuffari — roughly seven months later — that the messages were “erased” as part of a device replacement program. Secret Service contends any data that was lost was due to a migration to a new mobile management software.
Lawmakers serving on the panel said it could provide another line of inquiry.
“We’re certainly going to be looking into any emails or text messages that were within the scope of what we requested and that have been lost or destroyed,” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told The Hill.
A suite of legislative committees made the request for such documents just days after the Jan. 6 attack and ahead of any planned tech updates at DHS.
“I just don’t know why everybody’s texts and emails are suddenly disappearing all over the place. So I assume it’s not just a technological problem. But we’ll get to the bottom of it,” Rep Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said.
“We would expect that they would be there and we expect to get all of the records and we will work for both legal and technological answers where evidence mysteriously disappeared,” Raskin added.
Secret Service has previously said they are unsure whether any texts are missing as they instruct agents not to use text messages for security reasons. Agents were instructed to archive any records ahead of the migration. Still, the agency ultimately turned over just one message to the Jan. 6 committee — a text from former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund pleading for help.
“Well, I’m concerned. First of all, if that information exists, what’s the format? If it’s missing, how did it end up being missed? These individuals are not connected to the Secret Service, although they are in the Department of Homeland Security. So obviously, we’ll have to look and see the connection, if any, between that,” Thompson said. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/more-missing-texts-this-time-from-trump-dhs-officials-raise-new-jan-6-questions/ | 2022-07-29 20:23:53 | 0 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/more-missing-texts-this-time-from-trump-dhs-officials-raise-new-jan-6-questions/ |
TX Amarillo TX Zone Forecast for Thursday, July 21, 2022
_____
314 FPUS54 KAMA 211346
ZFPAMA
Zone Forecast Product for The Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
TXZ012-017-220000-
Potter-Randall-
Including the cities of Amarillo, Bushland, Buffalo Lake, Canyon,
and Umbarger
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. Northeast
winds around 5 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, becoming southeast in
the afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
in the evening, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms
after midnight. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Chance of rain 30 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. Southwest winds 10 to
20 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower
70s. Highs in the upper 90s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s.
.TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs around 100. Lows
in the lower 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. Chance of
rain 20 percent.
$$
TXZ317-220000-
Palo Duro Canyon-
Including the city of Palo Duro Canyon State Park
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 101. Northeast winds
5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, becoming southeast in the
afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows around 70. South winds 10 to 15 mph, becoming
southeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 102. South winds 10 to
15 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs around 103. Southwest winds 10 to
20 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the
lower 70s. Highs 100-105.
$$
TXZ002-220000-
Sherman-
Including the city of Stratford
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 90s. East winds
5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, becoming southeast in the
afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Chance of rain 20 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 70. South winds 15 to
20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny, breezy. Highs around 101. Southwest winds
15 to 25 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s.
Highs around 100.
.SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Highs
in the upper 90s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 100.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy with a slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Highs in the
mid 90s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
$$
TXZ007-220000-
Moore-
Including the cities of Dumas, Four Way, and Masterson
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 90s. Northeast
winds around 5 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, becoming southeast in
the afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening, then partly cloudy with a slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the
upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 70. South winds 10 to
15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs around 100. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph
with gusts up to 30 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s.
Highs around 100.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening. Lows around 70. Chance of rain
20 percent.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 90s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of
rain 20 percent.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 100.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy with a slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 70. Highs in the upper
90s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
$$
TXZ003-220000-
Hansford-
Including the cities of Spearman and Gruver
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. East
winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph early in the morning.
Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Chance of rain 20 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 100. South winds 10 to
15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds
10 to 20 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs around 102. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph
with gusts up to 30 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
Highs around 100.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening. Lows around 70. Chance of rain
20 percent.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs around 100.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of
rain 20 percent.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 100.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy with a slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Highs in the
upper 90s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
$$
TXZ008-220000-
Hutchinson-
Including the city of Borger
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. Northeast
winds around 5 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, becoming southeast in
the afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the
upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs around 102. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph
with gusts up to 30 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
Highs 100-105.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 100.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 100.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 100. Chance of rain
20 percent.
$$
TXZ004-220000-
Ochiltree-
Including the cities of Farnsworth, Perryton, Wolf Creek Park,
and Waka
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. East
winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph early in the morning.
Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Chance of rain 20 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 70. South winds 10 to
20 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs around 102. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph
with gusts up to 30 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s.
Highs around 100.
.SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the
lower 70s. Highs around 100.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 100.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. Chance of
rain 20 percent.
$$
TXZ009-220000-
Roberts-
Including the cities of Codman, Lora, and Miami
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. Northeast
winds around 5 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, becoming southeast in
the afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Chance of rain 20 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 70. South winds 10 to
20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 102. Southwest winds 10 to
20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s.
Highs around 100.
.SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the
lower 70s. Highs around 100.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 100.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s.
$$
TXZ005-220000-
Lipscomb-
Including the cities of Booker, Higgins, and Follett
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. East
winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph early in the morning.
Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Chance of rain 20 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds
10 to 20 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs around 102. South winds 15 to 20 mph
with gusts up to 30 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s.
Highs 100-105.
.SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the
lower 70s. Highs around 100.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 100-105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 100. Chance of rain
20 percent.
$$
TXZ010-220000-
Hemphill-
Including the cities of Canadian, Glazier, and Lake Marvin
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. Northeast
winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, becoming southeast
10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Chance of rain 20 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs around 101. South winds 10 to 20 mph
with gusts up to 30 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s.
Highs around 100.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 100.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s.
.TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Highs around 100. Lows
in the lower 70s.
$$
TXZ011-220000-
Oldham-
Including the cities of Vega, Wildorado, and Boys Ranch
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. Northeast
winds around 5 mph with gusts up to 20 mph, becoming southeast in
the afternoon. Chance of rain 40 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
in the evening, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms
after midnight. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Chance of rain 40 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 101. Southwest winds 15 to
20 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s.
Highs around 100.
.SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Highs
in the upper 90s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 100.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy with a slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Highs in the
upper 90s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
$$
TXZ016-220000-
Deaf Smith-
Including the cities of Dawn, Hereford, and Bootleg
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 90s. Northeast
winds around 5 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, becoming south in the
afternoon. Chance of rain 40 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
in the evening, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms
after midnight. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Chance of rain 40 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds
10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. Southwest winds
10 to 20 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 60s.
Highs in the upper 90s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the upper 60s. Chance of
rain 20 percent.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the upper 60s. Chance of
rain 20 percent.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy with a slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Highs in the
upper 90s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
$$
TXZ013-220000-
Carson-
Including the cities of Panhandle, Pantex, White Deer,
and Skellytown
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. Northeast
winds around 5 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, becoming south in the
afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Chance of rain 20 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 70. South winds 10 to
20 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 100. Southwest winds 10 to
20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s.
Highs around 100.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s.
.TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Highs in the upper
90s. Lows in the lower 70s.
$$
TXZ018-220000-
Armstrong-
Including the cities of Claude, Washburn, Wayside, and Goodnight
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. Northeast
winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, becoming south in the
afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows around 70. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance
of rain 20 percent.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs around 100. Southwest winds 15 to
20 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the
lower 70s. Highs around 100.
$$
TXZ014-220000-
Gray-
Including the cities of Kingsmill and Pampa
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. North
winds around 5 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, becoming south 10 to
15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Chance of rain 20 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs around 100. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph
with gusts up to 30 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the
lower 70s. Highs around 100.
$$
TXZ019-220000-
Donley-
Including the city of Clarendon
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. North
winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, becoming south 10 to
15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph
with gusts up to 25 mph, becoming southeast around 5 mph after
midnight. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds
10 to 15 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs around 100. South winds 10 to 15 mph
with gusts up to 25 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the
lower 70s. Highs around 100.
$$
TXZ015-220000-
Wheeler-
Including the cities of Briscoe, Wheeler, Lela, Shamrock,
and Twitty
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. North
winds around 5 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, becoming south 10 to
15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows around 70. South winds 10 to 15 mph,
diminishing to around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of rain
20 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 70. South winds 10 to
15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs around 101. South winds 10 to 20 mph
with gusts up to 30 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the
lower 70s. Highs around 100.
$$
TXZ020-220000-
Collingsworth-
Including the cities of Lutie, Wellington, Dozier, and Samnorwood
846 AM CDT Thu Jul 21 2022
.REST OF TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 100. Northwest winds
5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, becoming south 10 to 15 mph
in the afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph,
becoming southeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of rain
20 percent.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds
10 to 15 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs around 102. South winds 10 to 15 mph
with gusts up to 30 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the
lower 70s. Highs 100-105.
$$
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.mrt.com/weather/article/TX-Amarillo-TX-Zone-Forecast-17319417.php | 2022-07-21 14:32:45 | 0 | https://www.mrt.com/weather/article/TX-Amarillo-TX-Zone-Forecast-17319417.php |
Move by Texas, Oklahoma from Big 12 to SEC bumped to 2024
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas and Oklahoma are heading to the Southeastern Conference in 2024, a year earlier than originally planned, after Big 12 officials cleared the way Thursday for the storied programs to exit their league.
Texas and Oklahoma will leave behind the $50 million each school would have received over the next two seasons under the Big 12′s media contracts.
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormak said the league would only agree to an early departure “if it was in our best interest.”
“By reaching this agreement, we are now able to accelerate our new beginning as a 12-team league and move forward in earnest with our initiatives and future planning,” Yormak said in a statement announcing the agreement.
BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati and Houston are joining the Big 12 prior to the 2023 football season, giving the league a temporary membership of 14 schools.
The agreement must still be approved the Texas and Oklahoma boards of regents, but that is considered a formality.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement that the schools will become full members of the conference on July 1, 2024.
“We are continuing our preparation for this membership transition, and we look forward to welcoming the conference’s new members and moving into our future as a 16-team league,” Sankey said.
The moves by Texas and Oklahoma have been in the works since 2021, when the SEC invited the Big 12′s marquee programs to join what is already the strongest football conference in the country.
Oklahoma and Texas have combined for 10 national championships as determined by The Associated Press, but none since the Longhorns’ 2005 season championship. TCU, which made it the College Football Playoff championship game last season, joined Oklahoma as the only Big 12 teams to make the playoff.
Money has been a driving factor in the shifting landscape of college athletics realignment. The SEC reported a revenue distribution of $49.9 million per school for the 2021-2022 school year, exceeding by more than $7 million what the Big 12 distributed to its members for the same period.
Adding Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC’s broadcast portfolio is expected to only increase the league’s payout. The addition of BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF will boost the Big 12′s national footprint and push the league into new media markets.
Texas and Oklahoma haven’t already left for the SEC because both schools have been tied to the Big 12 and its other members through a grant of media rights through the 2024-25 school year. That deal ran concurrently with the conference’s television contracts with Fox and ESPN.
“We have always been committed to fulfilling our contractual obligations to the Big 12. The collegiate athletics landscape has continued to evolve rapidly, and working together to accelerate our exit produced benefits for all parties,” Texas President Jay Hartzell said. “The Big 12 has been a respected partner for nearly three decades, and we look forward to a final season of spirited competition with our friends and rivals.”
___
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Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/2023/02/10/move-by-texas-oklahoma-big-12-sec-bumped-2024/ | 2023-02-10 03:02:01 | 1 | https://www.ktre.com/2023/02/10/move-by-texas-oklahoma-big-12-sec-bumped-2024/ |
ELKHART, Ind., Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Patrick Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: PATK) ("Patrick" or the "Company") today announced that on August 11, 2022, the Company amended its credit agreement to expand its existing senior secured credit facility to $925 million from $700 million. The expanded credit facility is comprised of a $775 million revolving credit facility and a $150 million term loan. The maturity date for borrowings under the credit agreement was extended to August 2027 from April 2026. In addition, base interest rates for borrowings under the credit agreement were changed to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) from LIBOR. Other material provisions remained unchanged.
"We are excited to close the expansion and maturity extension of our credit facility, bolstering our already nimble and flexible posture while reinforcing our ability to execute on our business strategy," said Andy Nemeth, Chief Executive Officer of Patrick. "Our credit facility is provided by a world-class group of financial institutions, and we appreciate their support and partnership as we continue to grow and diversify our business and drive shareholder value."
Patrick Industries (NASDAQ: PATK) is a leading component solutions provider for the Leisure Lifestyle and Housing markets. Founded in 1959, Patrick is based in Elkhart, Indiana, with over 12,000 employees across the United States.
This press release contains certain statements related to future results, our intentions, beliefs and expectations or predictions for the future, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any projections of financial performance or statements concerning expectations as to future developments should not be construed in any manner as a guarantee that such results or developments will, in fact, occur. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will be realized or that actual results will not be significantly different from that set forth in such forward-looking statement. Information about certain risks that could affect our business and cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements are contained in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in the Company's Forms 10-Q for subsequent quarterly periods, which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date on which it is made.
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SOURCE Patrick Industries, Inc. | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/patrick-industries-inc-announces-expansion-credit-facility/ | 2022-08-15 13:23:48 | 1 | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/patrick-industries-inc-announces-expansion-credit-facility/ |
BRAINTREE, Mass. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the Massachusetts Lottery's "Numbers Evening" game were:
4-6-8-9
(four, six, eight, nine)
BRAINTREE, Mass. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the Massachusetts Lottery's "Numbers Evening" game were:
4-6-8-9
(four, six, eight, nine) | https://www.sfchronicle.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Numbers-Evening-game-17698173.php | 2023-01-06 03:29:40 | 1 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Numbers-Evening-game-17698173.php |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — A family photo from a Tipton County, Tennessee home destroyed by a tornado last month was found about 120 miles away in Paris, Tennessee.
The woman who found the picture of a man and woman and two small children had no idea how far the picture had traveled and posted it on Facebook to find the family.
Amanda Morris, who was the baby in the photograph, said her mother saw the picture on Facebook after she was tagged by a friend and messaged the woman who found it.
“It’s a little weird seeing a picture of your family when you were little in the tornado,” said Morris. “It’s crazy because I live in Hickman, Kentucky but was at my mother’s house in Newbern when the tornado hit.”
Morris said the picture taken back in 1979 was in her aunt and uncle’s home near Covington when the tornado ripped through the area on March 31.
The tornado demolished the house on Indian Creek Road. Morris said her aunt, uncle, and two cousins were injured when they were thrown from the home, and her cousin’s finance Cody Moses, was killed.
“My uncle said he could hear it coming, and he went to get a mattress, and Cody got up to help him, and he saw the front wall fall in, and then it just threw them,” said Morris. “It threw Cody farther than it did the rest of the family.”
Morris said her aunt is still in the hospital being treated for numerous injuries.
“Broke pelvis, broken leg, five broken ribs, broken collar bone, and concussion,” Morris said.
Morris said her father, also in the family photo, died in 2021 from COVID. She said after his death, her 17-year-old cousin asked for a picture of her dad, and it was hanging on her cousin’s bedroom wall when the twister touched down.
Morris still can’t believe where it landed.
“To think: while I was sitting at my mom’s house, a picture of myself went from Covington all the way to Paris. That’s wild,” she said.
Morris said her aunt could be released from the hospital in a couple of days and said her uncle and cousins are staying with family as they try to get back on their feet. | https://www.wivb.com/news/photo-from-tornado-ravaged-tennessee-home-travels-over-100-miles/ | 2023-04-14 12:23:34 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/photo-from-tornado-ravaged-tennessee-home-travels-over-100-miles/ |
People outside the U.S. Supreme Court were pushed back as police investigated a "suspicious package" on Thursday.
U.S. Capitol Police said the package was reported on the steps in front of the building.
And they just evacuated everybody from the sidewalk in front of the Supreme Court pic.twitter.com/7ntpNekIsb
— Sam Lisker (@slisker) June 29, 2023
The Supreme Court had been surrounded by media and protesters since the early morning as they awaited opinions.
Around 10 a.m. ET, the high court produced its 6-3 ruling that said race cannot be a factor in college admissions.
SEE MORE: Supreme Court overturns ruling on college affirmative action policies
The decision divided many liberals and conservatives.
"Republicans stand for parents, students, and merit-based admissions that help kids achieve their potential. Discriminating against any student based on their race causes irreparable harm to families trying to achieve the American Dream, and we applaud today’s decision," Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement.
Top Democrats criticized the ruling, saying it will make colleges less diverse.
"For decades, the Supreme Court recognized a college’s freedom to decide how to build a diverse student body and provide opportunity," President Joe Biden said. "Today, the Court walked away from precedent, effectively ending affirmative action in higher education. I strongly disagree with this decision."
It remains unclear who is responsible for the "suspicious package" or whether any arrests have been made.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | https://www.wtvr.com/suspicious-package-reported-at-supreme-court-following-major-ruling | 2023-06-29 18:23:33 | 0 | https://www.wtvr.com/suspicious-package-reported-at-supreme-court-following-major-ruling |
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A southern Indiana nurse facing a criminal charge for allegedly removing a nursing home resident’s oxygen mask hours before his death from COVID-19 will avoid jail time under a plea bargain.
Connie Sneed, 54, of New Albany, pleaded guilty Thursday in Clark Circuit Court to a felony charge of knowingly or intentionally acting as a physician’s assistant without a license. She received a suspended sentence of 540 days.
The charge can be reduced to a misdemeanor if Sneed completes her probation successfully, court records show.
Sneed originally was charged in 2021 with practicing medicine without a license, which carried a potential penalty of one to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Authorities began investigating the man’s April 2020 death at Wedgewood Healthcare Center in Clarksville after learning that Sneed wrote in a social media post that she had asked the man if he wanted her to remove his oxygen mask so he could “fly with the angels.”
In the Facebook post, Sneed called her alleged actions “the hardest thing I’ve ever done in 28 years,” an inspection report from the Indiana Department of Health showed.
The man had been struggling after days of aggressive oxygen treatment for COVID-19, investigators said. Sneed wrote in her Facebook post that she saw him repeatedly try to take off his oxygen mask when she approached him and asked if he wanted her to remove it, the report said.
Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull told The Indianapolis Star that it was important to him that Sneed be convicted of a felony because of the gravity of her actions. He said mitigating factors included Sneed’s belief that she was helping a suffering patient, her distinguished nursing record and her acceptance of responsibility.
“At the end of the day, the evidence left me convinced that Ms. Sneed was a nurse who deeply cared for her patients, but who made a mistake in judgment that led to a very serious result,” Mull said in an email to the Star.
In an interview with state health inspectors a few days after the man’s death, Sneed confirmed that she had removed his oxygen and said his daughter had told her “if it was her father’s wishes, she could remove the mask.”
A phone message seeking comment was left for Sneed’s attorney.
Sneed, who had worked at Wedgewood for 15 years, was fired May 6, 2020, when it was determined she had violated the nursing home’s policy and standard nursing practice by both administering and then removing the oxygen.
Her nursing license has been suspended since May 2021, state records show. | https://cbs4indy.com/news/indiana-nurse-in-mask-case-avoids-jail-time-with-plea-deal/ | 2023-04-19 21:51:39 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/news/indiana-nurse-in-mask-case-avoids-jail-time-with-plea-deal/ |
Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general, is calling for “immediate action” by tech companies and lawmakers to protect kids' and adolescents' mental health on social media.
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But after years of middling and insufficient action by both social media platforms and policymakers, parents and young people still bear most of the burden in navigating the fast-changing, often harmful world of secretive algorithms, addictive apps and extreme and inappropriate content found on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
So what can parents and young people do now? The surgeon general has some tips.
“Our children and adolescents don’t have the luxury of waiting years until we know the full extent of social media’s impact,” Murthy said in an advisory released on Tuesday. “Their childhoods and development are happening now:”
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TIPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
— Reach out for help: If you or someone you know is being negatively affected by social media, reach out to a trusted friend or adult for help. Check the American Academy of Pediatrics' guidance on social media.
— Create boundaries: Limit the use of phones, tablets, and computers for at least one hour before bedtime and through the night to make sure you get enough sleep. Keep mealtimes and in-person gatherings device‑free to help build social bonds and engage in two‑way conversations with others. Connect with people in person and make unplugged interactions a daily priority.
— Be cautious about what you share: Personal information about you has value. Be selective with what you post and share online and with whom, as it is often public and can be stored permanently. If you aren’t sure if you should post something, it’s usually best if you don’t.
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— Don’t keep harassment or abuse a secret: Reach out to at least one person you trust, such as a close friend, family member, counselor, or teacher, who can give you the help and support you deserve. Visit stopbullying.gov for tips on how to report cyberbullying. If you have experienced online harassment and abuse by a dating partner, contact an expert at Love is Respect for support. If your private images have been taken and shared online without your permission, visit Take It Down to help get them removed.
TIPS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
— Create a family media plan: Agreed-upon expectations can help establish healthy technology boundaries at home – including social media use. A family media plan can promote open family discussion and rules about media use and include topics such as balancing screen/online time, content boundaries, and not disclosing personal information
— Create tech-free zones: Restrict the use of electronics at least one hour before bedtime and through the night. Keep meal times and other in-person gatherings tech-free. Help children develop social skills and nurture their in‑person relationships by encouraging unstructured and offline connections with others.
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— Model responsible behavior: Parents can set a good example of what responsible and healthy social media use looks like by limiting their own use, being mindful of social media habits (including when and how parents share information or content about their child), and modeling positive behavior on your social media accounts.
— Empower kids: Teach kids about technology and empower them to be responsible online participants at the appropriate age. Discuss with children the benefits and risks of social media as well as the importance of respecting privacy and protecting personal information in age-appropriate ways. Have conversations with children about who they are connecting with, their privacy settings, their online experiences, and how they are spending their time online. | https://www.seattlepi.com/living/article/the-u-s-surgeon-general-has-some-tips-for-18113882.php | 2023-05-23 09:52:50 | 0 | https://www.seattlepi.com/living/article/the-u-s-surgeon-general-has-some-tips-for-18113882.php |
Justice Thomas reportedly took undisclosed luxury trips
The organization says a 2019 trip to Indonesia the story detailed could have cost more than $500,000 had Thomas chartered the plane and yacht himself.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has for more than two decades accepted luxury trips nearly every year from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow without reporting them on financial disclosure forms, ProPublica reports.
In a lengthy story published Thursday the nonprofit investigative journalism organization catalogs various trips Thomas has taken aboard Crow’s yacht and private jet as well as to Crow’s private resort in the Adirondacks. A 2019 trip to Indonesia the story detailed could have cost more than $500,000 had Thomas chartered the plane and yacht himself, ProPublica reported.
Supreme Court justices, like other federal judges, are required to file an annual financial disclosure report which asks them to list gifts they have received. It was not clear why Thomas omitted the trips, but under a judiciary policy guide consulted by The Associated Press, food, lodging or entertainment received as “personal hospitality of any individual” does not need to be reported if it is at the personal residence of that individual or their family. That said, the exception to reporting is not supposed to cover “transportation that substitutes for commercial transportation” and properties owned by an entity.
A Supreme Court spokeswoman acknowledged an email from the AP seeking comment from Thomas but did not provide any additional information. ProPublica wrote that Thomas did not respond to a detailed list of questions from the organization.
Last month, the federal judiciary beefed up disclosure requirements for all judges, including the high court justices, although overnight stays at personal vacation homes owned by friends remain exempt from disclosure.
Last year, questions about Thomas’ ethics arose when it was disclosed that he did not step away from election cases following the 2020 election despite the fact that his wife, conservative activist Virginia Thomas, reached out to lawmakers and the White House to urge defiance of the election results. The latest story will likely increase calls for the justices to adopt an ethics code and enhance disclosure of travel and other gifts.
In a statement, Crow told ProPublica that he and his wife have been friends of Thomas and his wife since 1996, five years after Thomas joined the high court. Crow said that the “hospitality we have extended to the Thomas’s over the years is no different from the hospitality we have extended to our many other dear friends” and that the couple “never asked for any of this hospitality.”
He said they have “never asked about a pending or lower court case, and Justice Thomas has never discussed one, and we have never sought to influence Justice Thomas on any legal or political issue.”
ProPublica’s story says that Thomas has been vacationing at Crow’s lavish Topridge resort virtually every summer for more than two decades. During one trip in 2017, other guests included executives at “Verizon and PricewaterhouseCoopers, major Republican donors and one of the leaders of the American Enterprise Institute, a pro-business conservative think tank,” ProPublica reported.
Crow wrote that he is “unaware of any of our friends ever lobbying or seeking to influence Justice Thomas on any case, and I would never invite anyone who I believe had any intention of doing that.”
The disclosure of the lavish trips stands in contrast to what Thomas has said about his preferred methods of travel. Thomas, who grew up poor in Georgia, has talked about enjoying traveling in his motorcoach and preferring “Walmart parking lots to the beaches.”
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WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today. | https://whyy.org/articles/supreme-court-thomas-luxury-trips/ | 2023-04-06 17:52:07 | 1 | https://whyy.org/articles/supreme-court-thomas-luxury-trips/ |
A new alert system named in honor of a 14-year-old Black teen murdered in 1955 will notify Maryland leaders and activists of racially motivated crimes.
Carl Snowden with the Caucus of African-American Leaders recently announced the Emmett Till Alerts system, which will notify people who opt-in about racially motivated crimes.
“The FBI director has said the greatest domestic terrorist threat to the nation is white supremacists," Snowden said.
The privately funded software works similarly to an Amber Alert for abducted children.
The system was named after Till, who was abducted, tortured, and lynched almost 70 years ago.
Two white men were acquitted of his killing.
The caucus will send the texts and emails through the software.
They identified a need at a time to better alert the Black community to racially motivated attacks after several recent targeted crimes.
“We had a vandal come and write racial epithet on our church door. They did it twice," Kingdom Celebration Center Bishop Antonio Palmer said.
AlertMedia powers the Emmett Till Alert system.
The software company does business with thousands of customers across the globe, providing two-way communication for everything from severe weather to active shooters.
Any sort of event that could impact employee safety or disrupt business.
“What the caucus is doing is kind of unique," said Sara Pratley, VP of Global Intelligence with AlertMedia.
Pratley believes the Emmett Till system will allow the community to quickly connect possible related hate incidents and elevate what is often under-reported or unreported attacks.
“I’m a big believer that knowledge is power. I think the system may also inspire people within their communities to report more instances that are happening to them and around them," Pratley said. | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/new-alert-system-launched-to-alert-black-leaders-about-racially-motivated-crimes | 2022-09-29 00:13:07 | 0 | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/new-alert-system-launched-to-alert-black-leaders-about-racially-motivated-crimes |
PRINCETON, N.J., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Soligenix, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNGX) (Soligenix or the Company), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products to treat rare diseases where there is an unmet medical need, announced today its recent accomplishments and financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
"We recently completed a public offering with gross proceeds of approximately $8.5 million, which will allow us to continue to move our rare disease pipeline forward," stated Christopher J. Schaber, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Soligenix. "Recently we announced positive clinical results from a compatibility study evaluating HyBryte™ (synthetic hypericin sodium) in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). The purpose of the study was to establish that any light device capable of producing visible light of an appropriate and consistent wavelength (500 to 650 nm) was suitable for use with HyBryte™ and to extend the pharmacokinetic profile using a recently developed, more sensitive hypericin assay. Additionally, the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted our Type A Meeting request to initiate formal discussions regarding the design of a second, confirmatory Phase 3 pivotal study evaluating HyBryte™ in the treatment of early stage CTCL, where it has successfully demonstrated statistically significant results in the first Phase 3 clinical trial. We also continue to evaluate synthetic hypericin (SGX302) in mild-to-moderate psoriasis where we anticipate the clinical study results in the second half of 2023."
Dr. Schaber continued, "From a business strategy perspective, we recently announced two important additions. We entered into an exclusive option agreement with Silk Road Therapeutics, a privately-held company, pursuant to which we have the right to evaluate and acquire a novel topical formulation of Pentoxifylline (PTX), a non-biological anti-TNF-alpha inhibitor, for the treatment of mucocutaneous ulcers in patient's suffering from Behçet's Disease (BD). This has the potential to expand our already robust rare disease pipeline. We also added Timothy R. Coté, MD, to our Board of Directors. Dr. Coté comes with extensive regulatory and orphan drug development expertise, having served as the Director of the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development where he implemented the U.S. Orphan Drug Act and personally signed decisions on more than 1,400 orphan drug designation applications. With approximately $10.3 million in cash at March 31, 2023, not including our non-dilutive government funding and the recent financing, which increases are partially offset by the recent $5.0 repayment under our credit facility, we continue to manage cash burn very carefully to achieve our near-term milestones, as we continue to assess all strategic options, including but not limited to, partnership and merger and acquisition opportunities."
Soligenix Recent Accomplishments
- On May 11, 2023, the Company announced the U.S. FDA had granted our Type A meeting request to discuss the design of a second, Phase 3 pivotal study evaluating HyBryte™ in the treatment of early stage CTCL. To view this press release, please click here.
- On May 9, 2023, the Company announced the closing of its public offering of 6,538,500 shares of common stock (or common stock equivalents in lieu thereof) and warrants to purchase up to 6,538,500 shares of common stock at a combined public offering price of $1.30 per share and accompanying warrant having a $1.50 per share exercise price for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $8.5 million, before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses. To view this press release, please click here.
- On May 4, 2023, the Company announced positive clinical results from a compatibility study evaluating HyBryte™ in the treatment of CTCL using the commercially ready Daavlin Series 7 visible light device. To view this press release, please click here.
- On May 3, 2023, the Company announced the appointment of Timothy R. Coté, M.D., M.P.H. to its Board of Directors. To view this press release, please click here.
- On May 1, 2023, the Company announced that it had entered into an exclusive option agreement with Silk Road Therapeutics, a privately-held company. To view this press release, please click here.
- On April 14, 2023, the Company announced the outcome of the Type A Meeting with the U.S. FDA to discuss the contents of a refusal to file letter previously issued for its new drug application for HyBryte™ in the treatment of early stage CTCL. To view this press release, please click here.
Financial Results – Quarter Ended March 31, 2023
Soligenix's revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 were $0.3 million as compared to $0.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. Revenues primarily relate to third party licensing and the government contracts and grants awarded in support of RiVax®, its ricin toxin vaccine candidate; SGX943, its therapeutic candidate for treatment of emerging and/or antibiotic-resistant infectious diseases; and CiVax™, its vaccine candidate for the prevention of COVID-19.
Soligenix's net loss was $1.0 million, or ($0.36) per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, as compared to $4.3 million, or ($1.52) per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in net loss was primarily due to a decrease in operating expenses in addition to the recognition of an income tax benefit resulting from the sale of its 2021 net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Research and development expenses were $0.9 million as compared to $1.7 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in costs associated with the Oral Mucositis Phase 3 clinical trial as well as a decrease in manufacturing costs associated with the HyBryte™ NDA filing.
General and administrative expenses were $1.2 million and $2.5 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. This decrease in general and administrative expenses is primarily attributable to a reduction in legal and consulting expenses associated with the arbitration against Emergent and certain of its subsidiaries.
As of March 31, 2023, the Company's cash position was approximately $10.3 million.
About Soligenix, Inc.
Soligenix is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products to treat rare diseases where there is an unmet medical need. Our Specialized BioTherapeutics business segment is developing and moving toward potential commercialization of HyBryte™ (SGX301 or synthetic hypericin sodium) as a novel photodynamic therapy utilizing safe visible light for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). With a successful Phase 3 study completed, regulatory approval is being sought and commercialization activities for this product candidate are being advanced initially in the U.S. Development programs in this business segment also include expansion of synthetic hypericin (SGX302) into psoriasis, our first-in-class innate defense regulator (IDR) technology, dusquetide (SGX942) for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including oral mucositis in head and neck cancer, and proprietary formulations of oral beclomethasone 17,21-dipropionate (BDP) for the prevention/treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders characterized by severe inflammation including pediatric Crohn's disease (SGX203).
Our Public Health Solutions business segment includes active development programs for RiVax®, our ricin toxin vaccine candidate, and SGX943, our therapeutic candidate for antibiotic resistant and emerging infectious disease, and our vaccine programs targeting filoviruses (such as Marburg and Ebola) and CiVax™, our vaccine candidate for the prevention of COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2). The development of our vaccine programs incorporates the use of our proprietary heat stabilization platform technology, known as ThermoVax®. To date, this business segment has been supported with government grant and contract funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
For further information regarding Soligenix, Inc., please visit the Company's website at https://www.soligenix.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter at @Soligenix_Inc.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements that reflect Soligenix, Inc.'s current expectations about its future results, performance, prospects and opportunities, including but not limited to, potential market sizes, patient populations and clinical trial enrollment. Statements that are not historical facts, such as "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," "hopes," "intends," "plans," "expects," "goal," "may," "suggest," "will," "potential," or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from what is expressed in, or implied by, these statements, such as experienced with the COVID-19 outbreak. Soligenix cannot assure you that it will be able to successfully develop, achieve regulatory approval for or commercialize products based on its technologies, particularly in light of the significant uncertainty inherent in developing therapeutics and vaccines against bioterror threats, conducting preclinical and clinical trials of therapeutics and vaccines, obtaining regulatory approvals and manufacturing therapeutics and vaccines, that product development and commercialization efforts will not be reduced or discontinued due to difficulties or delays in clinical trials or due to lack of progress or positive results from research and development efforts, that it will be able to successfully obtain any further funding to support product development and commercialization efforts, including grants and awards, maintain its existing grants which are subject to performance requirements, enter into any biodefense procurement contracts with the U.S. Government or other countries, that it will be able to compete with larger and better financed competitors in the biotechnology industry, that changes in health care practice, third party reimbursement limitations and Federal and/or state health care reform initiatives will not negatively affect its business, or that the U.S. Congress may not pass any legislation that would provide additional funding for the Project BioShield program. In addition, there can be no assurance as to the timing or success of any of its clinical/preclinical trials. Despite the statistically significant result achieved in the HyBryte™ (SGX301) Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, there can be no assurance that a marketing authorization from the FDA or EMA will be successful. The Company cannot offer assurances that the FDA will agree to the proposed design of a second, Phase 3 pivotal study evaluating HyBryte™ (hypericin sodium) in the treatment of early stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; that, if accepted, the Company will conduct the trial; or that, if the Company conducts the trial, the trial will be successful. Notwithstanding the result in the HyBryte™ (SGX301) Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and the Phase 1/2 proof-of-concept clinical trial of SGX302 for the treatment of psoriasis, there can be no assurance as to the timing or success of the clinical trials of SGX302 for the treatment of psoriasis. Further, there can be no assurance that RiVax® will qualify for a biodefense Priority Review Voucher (PRV) or that the prior sales of PRVs will be indicative of any potential sales price for a PRV for RiVax®. Also, no assurance can be provided that the Company will receive or continue to receive non-dilutive government funding from grants and contracts that have been or may be awarded or for which the Company will apply in the future. HyBryte™ potential market information is a forward-looking statement, and investors are urged not to place undue reliance on this information. While the Company has determined this potential market size based on assumptions that it believes are reasonable, there are a number of factors that could cause expectations to change or not be realized. These and other risk factors are described from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Soligenix's reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K. Unless required by law, Soligenix assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events.
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SOURCE Soligenix, Inc. | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/05/15/soligenix-announces-recent-accomplishments-first-quarter-2023-financial-results/ | 2023-05-15 12:13:45 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/05/15/soligenix-announces-recent-accomplishments-first-quarter-2023-financial-results/ |
SEATTLE, May 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In support of commercial aviation's path toward net zero carbon emissions, Boeing (NYSE: BA) today released the Boeing Cascade Climate Impact Model for public use. Cascade, a data modeling tool that identifies the effects of a range of sustainability solutions to reduce aviation's carbon emissions, is accessible on Boeing's new Sustainable Aerospace Together hub, www.sustainabilitytogether.aero.
Cascade examines the full life cycle of alternate energy sources for aviation – from production through distribution and use – and quantifies the ability to cut aviation's carbon emissions. Data modeling also measures airplane fleet renewal, operational efficiency, renewable energy sources, future aircraft and market-based measures as pathways to decarbonization.
"We created Cascade to serve as an industry tool that creates a common framework among aviation, energy, finance and policy," said Boeing Chief Sustainability Officer Chris Raymond. "By putting data first and sharing this model with the public, we are enabling collaboration, feedback and alignment across industry, government and others who work together to achieve a more sustainable aerospace future."
Key findings from Cascade's assessments include:
- The journey to net zero is dependent on the overall energy transition. Whether using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), hydrogen or electricity, the energy and emissions associated with the production, distribution and storage of fuels must be minimized to achieve the most sustainable outcome.
- SAF will be the biggest contributor to reducing carbon emissions because it can be used in commercial airplanes flying today – both new and old. Since many jets flying today will be in service into and even beyond the 2040s, it is imperative to abate their emissions with SAF.
- While electric- and potentially hydrogen-powered aircraft will emerge in future decades, their contribution to emissions reduction will likely be limited through 2050 due to long timeframes for development and deployment and the magnitude of related infrastructure changes for airports and pipelines.
- Renewing fleets with best-in-class, fuel-efficient airplanes will significantly reduce emissions in coming years.
"Cascade helps airline operators, industry partners and policymakers see when, where and how different fuel sources affect their sustainability goals," said Neil Titchener, Cascade Program Leader. "Our industry has really hard questions ahead of us, we're going to have to make difficult choices. Cascade can be the conversation starter for how each decarbonization pathway can help us reach a more sustainable future."
Boeing announced the public release of Cascade at its first Sustainable Aerospace Together Forum, a conference convening leaders from commercial aviation, government and the energy and finance sectors. The event was streamed by FT Live and recorded sessions will be made available following the event.
Boeing also introduced the Cascade User Community, a working group that will provide feedback on new features, functionalities and application programming interfaces. The founding members of the Community are IATA, NASA, University of Cambridge's Aviation Impact Accelerator and the MIT Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment.
"The Cascade User Community will ensure the tool and data sources continue to get feedback and evolve for informed and effective discussions towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050," said Raymond.
In addition to hosting Cascade, the Sustainable Aerospace Together website provides resources and industry insights on aviation pathways to decarbonization. Try Cascade at www.sustainabilitytogether.aero.
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. Join our team and find your purpose at boeing.com/careers.
Contact
Lisa Maull
Boeing Sustainability Communications
+1 314 614-4583
lisa.a.maull@boeing.com
Boeing Media Relations
media@boeing.com
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SOURCE Boeing | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/05/17/boeing-publicly-launches-cascade-support-aviations-net-zero-goal/ | 2023-05-17 19:50:35 | 1 | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/05/17/boeing-publicly-launches-cascade-support-aviations-net-zero-goal/ |
Town of Paradise, California, to require all new homes be built to Wildfire Prepared Home standard; creates path to mitigate existing homes
PARADISE, Calif., June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wildfire Prepared Home™, the first-ever wildfire mitigation program to allow homeowners to achieve a designation showing they've taken the science-based actions required to meaningfully reduce their home's wildfire risk, is now open and accepting applications from single-family homeowners in California. A voluntary program based on the latest wildfire research from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), Wildfire Prepared Home fills a gap for homeowners looking to demonstrate the wildfire mitigation actions taken on their property and creates a uniform standard for all stakeholders to reduce wildfire risk.
Joining IBHS for the program launch, the Town of Paradise, California, today announces steps to create a path for every resident to achieve the Wildfire Prepared Home designation for their property, making it the first municipality in the nation to do so. During a time of rapid rebuilding following the 2018 Camp Fire, new homes in Paradise will, as of July 14, 2022, be required to be built to IBHS's Wildfire Prepared Home standard. To assist owners of existing homes, the Town is pursuing federal funding to address the cost associated with mitigation actions required to qualify for a Wildfire Prepared Home designation. Currently in the environmental clearance stage with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Town's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) project would help homeowners retrofit their homes to achieve IBHS's Wildfire Prepared Home designation.
"Homeowners, insurers, communities and policymakers have expressed a shared desire to reduce the losses and human suffering caused by wildfires, particularly wildfires that spread into suburban communities, as Paradise experienced in 2018," said Roy Wright, president and CEO of IBHS. "Science, public policy and market demand have finally come together to provide a meaningful benefit for homeowners. Wildfire Prepared Home brings together the group of mitigation actions that must be taken together to reduce wildfire risk and sets homeowners on a pathway to achieve a designation that shows they are doing their part to reduce the impact of wildfire."
Based on the latest wildfire research from IBHS and input from the broader fire protection community, Wildfire Prepared Home is designed to meaningfully reduce wildfire risk by reducing the chance a home ignites during a wildfire. The system of actions required for a designation addresses the resilience of three vulnerable areas of a home – the roof, specific building features and defensible space, including the 0-5-foot home ignition zone.
Wildfire Prepared Home balances achievability with meaningful risk reduction. No home is fireproof; yet the system of actions required by Wildfire Prepared Home can limit the catastrophic reach of wildfire as it approaches neighborhoods by mitigating the most vulnerable components on and around a home. The voluntary program includes built-in homeowner education, a system of required mitigation actions, an initial verification process and an annual check-in to ensure ongoing landscape maintenance.
In a unanimous vote last week, the Paradise Town Council adopted Wildfire Prepared Home requirements into ordinance, paving the way for a uniform approach to reducing wildfire risk as the Town continues to rebuild following the 2018 Camp Fire.
"Our community knows all too well that hardening your home can help save it in the event of a wildfire, and we are happy to see IBHS rollout this designation program to support our homeowners in making their homes safer," said Paradise Town Manager Kevin Phillips. "We have a unique opportunity as we continue to rebuild to do so in a way that ensures greater resilience for generations to come."
Wright, a Vacaville native whose family members lost their homes in Paradise during the Camp Fire, will join town leaders, including Mayor Steve Crowder and Town Manager Phillips, along with representatives from the insurance industry at an event today to designate the first home into the program.
"Paradise experienced the heartbreak of wildfire as profoundly as any community in memory," Wright added. "As the town rebuilds, Wildfire Prepared Home will reduce the chance that happens again. For other communities in California, Wildfire Prepared Home offers a clear path to reduce the likelihood you have to rebuild from ashes. Homes can be built or retrofitted to the Wildfire Prepared Home standard, and every eligible home should."
Wildfire Prepared Home applies the Suburban Wildfire Adaptation Roadmaps, released by IBHS in August 2020, to create a direct path for homeowners to apply the research to their homes and demonstrate their commitment to mitigation through a designation. Homeowners must take an active role in mitigation to achieve and maintain the 3-year designation, including submitting annual landscape reviews to ensure the ongoing maintenance needed to keep landscaping in compliance with the program is occurring. When homeowners embrace this system, the designation differentiates their homes from unmitigated or partially mitigated properties.
"This program brings together more than a decade of IBHS wildfire research with learnings from the broader fire protection community," adds Dr. Anne Cope, chief engineer at IBHS. "As our research continues, we will immediately incorporate findings into the program's standard. Yet the wildfire crisis in California is happening right now, and we cannot let more communities suffer damage, disruption and displacement while we wait for perfect answers. We must apply what we know now to reduce the catastrophic reach of wildfire into suburban communities."
Wildfire Prepared Home fills a gap as a specific, parcel-level mitigation program to reduce wildfire risk at a time when homeowners are eager to do more to protect their properties. Risk reduction efforts at the parcel-level, in concert with effective community actions like the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Firewise USAÒ program, provide homeowners greater peace of mind and are often recognized by the insurers who analyze changes in the risk landscape.
"The specific steps required for the new IBHS designation are fully aligned with current research and knowledge on how homes ignite from wildfire and what can be done to prevent it," says Michele Steinberg, NFPA's wildfire division director. "We have long advocated for residents of wildfire-prone areas to prepare their homes and property to resist wildfire flames and embers, and to work cooperatively with neighbors to reduce vulnerability across the community using our Firewise USA® recognition program process. Property owners will benefit from taking the steps to earn the IBHS designation and can further improve their risk profile by working with neighbors using the Firewise USA process."
Available now in California, single-family homeowners can get started to achieve a Wildfire Prepared Home designation by taking a free online home assessment at wildfireprepared.org to identify the areas of their home that require further mitigation before applying for a designation.
The Town of Paradise was almost completely destroyed by the most destructive wildfire in California history – the Camp Fire – in November 2018, with more than 11,000 homes and businesses destroyed, and its population of 26,500 displaced as the community rebuilds. As of June 2022, nearly 8,000 residents have returned to call Paradise home again, with 1,400 homes rebuilt and over 700 under construction. 350 businesses have reopened, including restaurants, hardware stores, grocery stores and a medical clinic. Paradise expects its population to reach 75% of its pre-fire population by 2035. For more information on Paradise's recovery, visit www.townofparadise.com or www.makeitparadise.org.
The IBHS mission is to conduct objective, scientific research to identify and promote effective actions that strengthen homes, businesses and communities against natural disasters and other causes of loss. Learn more about IBHS at DisasterSafety.org.
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SOURCE Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/ibhss-wildfire-prepared-home-launches-first-ever-designation-distinguish-homes-mitigated-against-wildfire/ | 2022-06-22 14:26:39 | 1 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/ibhss-wildfire-prepared-home-launches-first-ever-designation-distinguish-homes-mitigated-against-wildfire/ |
Updated February 14, 2023 at 4:26 PM ET
If you were to ask me what game I was playing at any time over the past 25 years, odds are that Final Fantasy would be in the title. I love its stories, characters, and world-building, but the most endearing and memorable aspect of the series has always been its music.
The soundtracks still serve as the background score for my life. I have a meticulously curated Final Fantasy playlist on Spotify that I listen to so much it consistently lands at the top of my year in review list. I used to play Final Fantasy VI so often as a kid that it even got to my mom — she now relaxes to YouTube playlists of its soundtrack.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line breathes new life into songs that I've heard hundreds of times with its snappy action and whimsical presentation. It evokes the best kind of nostalgia and just made me feel good when playing it. Like, good in my soul.
Rock Out
If you've played any rhythm game, Final Bar Line should be easy enough to pick up. Think Guitar Hero, but substitute the fretboard for a sequence of buttons to hit on your controller. There are a couple of distinct flourishes, like when you hold a button and follow notes using the joystick, which at times can almost feel like you're conducting an orchestra. I especially enjoyed this mechanic during sweeping overtures like the main theme from Final Fantasy VII.
The game features a broad catalog from the series' greatest composers; from Nobuo Uematsu to Masashi Hamauzu to Hitoshi Sakimoto. It boasts 385 tracks from mainline entries and the plethora of spin-offs and sequels — almost double that of its 2014 predecessor Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call.
Don't be fooled by the flat chibi art style; Theatrhythm Final Bar Line has impressive depth. During my playthrough, it felt like I was just scratching the surface. I mostly stayed at the Basic and Expert difficulties because I focused more on feeling the music rather than mastering the precision and speed required at higher difficulties. I only ventured into Supreme and Ultimate a couple of times before crashing and burning mere seconds after beginning.
Party On
There are also role-playing elements that add to the game's replayability. You create a party of four from an expansive roster of 100 characters that are unlocked as you play through each entry. I ended up with a mix of my favorite heroes from Final Fantasy VI, VII, and IV — which was a blast.
Customizing your party plays a key role in completing the quests that accompany each song. These quests range from finishing a perfect run to defeating a series of monsters during each track's runtime. In order to beat some of these challenges, you'll have to customize your party with different abilities that play to enemy weaknesses. The combat itself is automated, but setting up abilities ahead of battles is fun enough to give you a reason to return to your favorite songs.
If you appreciate the soundtracks of Final Fantasy and/or happiness, you should probably play this game. It celebrates 36 years of music from a franchise near and dear to the gaming community. Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to lounge in my favorite chair and relive some of my best childhood memories.
James Perkins Mastromarino contributed to this story. contributed to this story
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-02-14/theatrhythm-final-bar-line-review-reliving-the-best-kind-of-nostalgia | 2023-02-14 22:15:05 | 0 | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-02-14/theatrhythm-final-bar-line-review-reliving-the-best-kind-of-nostalgia |
(Our Auto Expert) — Over the last 30 years, three-row SUVs have continued to evolve to meet customer demands.
They offer more room, technology, and the all-new 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V, more horsepower than some modern-day supercars. This hotrod SUV makes nearly 700 horsepower and comes with a six-figure price tag.
In the past, Cadillac mostly reserved its V-series treatment for its high-end sedans and coupes, but you can’t earn the title of “the industry’s most powerful full-size SUV” without a few upgrades, can you?
At the heart of the Escalade-v is Cadillac’s legendary 6.2-liter supercharged V8, and what’s unique about this engine is that it’s hand-built at GM’s performance build center in Bowling green, Kentucky, the same assembly plant where the corvette is manufactured.
Cadillac’s engineers fine-tuned the driving experience using specially tuned adaptive dampers and air springs. There are several driving modes to choose from, ranging from touring to towing, but our favorite is V-mode. Since when are the words full-size SUV and launch control ever in the same sentence? This mode allows the Escalade-V to launch from 0-60 in under 4.4-seconds.
As expected with any Cadillac, luxury is at the forefront, and the Escalade-V is no exception. Platinum trim interior and dark accents make for a premium atmosphere, along with semi-aniline leather featured on all three rows. Optional is Cadillac’s hands-free driver-assistance technology called supercruise, which uses real-time cameras, sensors, and GPS technology to allow drivers a hands-free driving experience on more than 200,000 miles of compatible roads.
The all-new Escalade-V is everything a Cadillac embodies. Luxury, technology, and performance. Starting MSRP of $149,990. Available later this year. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/reviews/br/automotive-br/say-goodbye-to-the-last-gas-powered-full-size-suv/ | 2022-11-16 22:27:53 | 1 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/reviews/br/automotive-br/say-goodbye-to-the-last-gas-powered-full-size-suv/ |
Photographer Perspective: Working through the summer heat
7 hours 45 minutes 56 seconds ago
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NEWARK, Del., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MIFA is a global brand of professional waterproof outdoor portable speakers. As a pioneer of a new generation waterproof camping light speakers, MIFA recently released its professional camping Bluetooth speaker, WildCamping. This lightweight camping equipment combines the function of an outdoor speaker with outdoor lighting and will amaze campers who love the outdoors.
With its lightweight design, excellent performance, amazing sound quality, and excellent practical functions, MIFA WildCamping Bluetooth speakers provide users with first-class music enjoyment and outdoor lighting experience for outdoor activities such as camping, cross-country, self-driving, walking, and hiking. (For more information about MIFA, please visit: https://www.mifa.net/en/)
Creating a high-quality camping experience
The new WildCamping camping Bluetooth speaker features a lightweight design that combines outdoor lighting with an outdoor portable speaker and provides users with various scene applications. It not only provides lighting for the camp at night but also provides music enjoyment at any time.
- The extremely lightweight design redefines portability. It is both an outdoor speaker and a camping light.
- IP67 is waterproof, dustproof, and environmentally adaptable for -15℃ to +45℃. Guaranteed for use in the harsh outdoor environment.
- Two built-in 45mm full-range speakers, two 45mm * 65mm low-frequency amplifiers, and 360° surround sound provide amazing sound quality.
- 9600mAh lithium battery provides 13 hours of use and serves as a power bank for charging a mobile phone.
- When you go to the mountains for camping and cannot play through streaming media, use a micro SD card to play endless audio on your MIFA speaker.
- Bluetooth 5.3 connection provides stronger anti-interference, lower latency, and more stable transmission performance. You can also connect two mobile phones or tablet PCs at the same time via Bluetooth.
- Supports PartyAdd multi-connection technology, which allows the connection of 100+ sets of WildCamping or other MIFA models that support PartyAdd.
Best-in-class sound quality enhances camping fun
WildCamping Bluetooth speaker uses two NdFeB magnet full-range speakers and two low-frequency radiators and applies Bass Loudness technology and excellent Actions DSP sound effect algorithm. Exclusive tuning by acoustics experts of Golden Ear guarantees its excellent sound quality, completely living up to the user's expectations.
High protection performance and portability are more worry-free
WildCamping has IP67 waterproof and dustproof performance, resistance to a 2m drop on grass, a strong environmental adaptation of -15°C to 45°C, and 13-hour battery life, allowing use in harsh outdoor environments.
With an integrated handle and a 1/4 standard screw adapter at the bottom, it is easy to carry, hang on tents, branches, or place on a tripod or light stand.
Bright lights illuminate the night in the mountains
MIFA WildCamping camping Bluetooth speaker has two warm light modes and RA high color rendering close to natural light, restoring things more realistically. It supports 10LM to 230LM step-less dimming, so you can easily adjust the brightness to meet your lighting needs when camping.
It is beyond the imagination to integrate these technologies into one unit. However, the WildCamping camping Bluetooth speaker has achieved the ultimate with its lightweight and brings a new high-quality experience to camping enthusiasts.
MIFA always surprises in the field of outdoor audio
Among the professional outdoor speaker brands, MIFA is young, creative, and powerful. MIFA consumers reach 63 countries and regions around the world. The launch of every new product quickly causes a boom online and offline.
MIFA has always adhered to the mission of "returning everyone to the wildness of their hearts" and the value of passionate "sound," creating an interesting and distinctive "sound" life for people, inspiring technological innovation with a humanistic spirit, interpreting the "sound" aesthetics with an emotional attitude, creating a new generation waterproof camping light speakers, providing users with high-quality portable outdoor audio products that are more distinctive and practical, and making everyone feel the heartbeat of outdoor music.
Let's expect more high-quality camping products from MIFA and add more fun to our camping life.
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SOURCE MIFA INNOVATIONS LLC | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/mifa-outdoor-speaker-with-new-camping-speaker-series-creates-high-quality-camping-experience/ | 2022-06-27 09:59:18 | 0 | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/mifa-outdoor-speaker-with-new-camping-speaker-series-creates-high-quality-camping-experience/ |
Board and management are evolving governance practices and executing an action plan to drive long-term sustainable growth and value creation for ALL stockholders
In contrast, former directors are intent on conducting a disruptive, misleading, and disingenuous campaign aimed only at serving their own short-term interests
MIAMI, June 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cano Health, Inc. ("Cano Health" or the "Company"), a leading value-based primary care provider and population health company, today sent a letter to stockholders in connection with its June 15, 2023 Annual Meeting. The Company's Board of Directors unanimously recommended that stockholders vote the WHITE Proxy Card "FOR" the re-election of its highly qualified, independent directors and the proposed reverse stock split.
The full text of the letter follows:
Dear Fellow Stockholders,
Your Board and management team are executing a decisive action plan focused on operating Cano Health's business more effectively, growing the business more sustainably, and increasing operating cash flows to fully realize Cano Health's potential and drive long-term value for ALL stockholders.
As you consider casting your vote for this year's Annual Meeting, it is critical to remember that:
- We are confident that by executing our plan, which is already showing early signs of progress, we can address the gap between Cano Health's intrinsic value and current market value.
- As part of our plan, we are committed to continuing to evolve our governance practices to ensure we have best in class policies, procedures, and oversight.
- This plan is being overseen by a highly qualified and independent Board—including two directors standing for re-election who bring to Cano Health significant healthcare experience and demonstrated track records of stockholder value creation.
- In stark contrast, the former directors have put forth absolutely NO PLAN to deliver long-term value to stockholders—only a publicly stated objective to dismantle the Company and sell it for parts—at a time when we believe it is clearly undervalued.
- The former directors are conducting a disruptive, misleading, and disingenuous campaign intended only to serve their own short-term interests.
Cano Health is at a pivotal moment in our trajectory. Now is not the time to disrupt the achievable long-term value creation plan the Board and management team have underway for the self-serving, short-term agenda of three former directors.
Your Vote Is Important, No Matter How Many Shares You Own. We Urge You To Vote The WHITE Proxy Card Today – By Telephone Or Internet.
Cano Health Is Poised to Unlock Significant Embedded Value
Our platform is differentiated by our personalized patient care and proactive approach to preventative care, which has resulted in leading clinical outcomes with fewer hospital admissions, fewer ER visits, and lower mortality rates. (See charts on slide 11 of the Company's May 31 investor presentation for further details.)
Moreover, Cano Health's scale, profitability, and efficiency exceed that of key public company peers—yet our share price trades at a discount to them. (See charts on slide 13 of the Company's May 31 investor presentation for further details.)
Your Board and management have a disciplined plan underway to realize the potential inherent in our model by: sharpening the Company's focus on Medicare Advantage, including conducting a process to divest non-core assets; unlocking embedded medical center profitability; streamlining operations; strengthening cash flows; and optimizing Cano Health's management team and governance.
We strongly believe that quarter by quarter, our results will be the catalyst to bridge the gap between our intrinsic value and our market value. In our most recent quarter, we:
- Recorded a 44% year-over-year increase in membership and a 23% increase in revenue
- Raised 2023 guidance for membership and revenue growth
- Meaningfully lowered SG&A expense as a percentage of revenue year-over-year, despite serving significantly more patients
- Achieved our 5th consecutive quarter of positive Adjusted EBITDA
- Reaffirmed our 2023 Adjusted EBITDA outlook
These encouraging signs of progress, which build on our platform's proven and differentiated capabilities, position Cano Health to take advantage of the tremendous market opportunity in front of us and unlock significant value for stockholders over the long term.
Cano Health's Highly Qualified, Independent Board is Committed to Taking Necessary Action
Your Board of Directors comprises a deeply experienced set of directors, who together own more than 35 million Cano Health shares. Collectively, your Board has expertise in areas critical to our business—including healthcare, operations, technology and innovation, financial and investment management, strategic planning, transformations, compliance oversight, and corporate governance.
- Dr. Alan Muney (Standing For Re-Election)
- Kim Rivera (Standing For Re-Election)
- Solomon Trujillo (Chairman)
- Dr. Marlow Hernandez (Chief Executive Officer)
- Jacqueline Guichelaar
- Angel Morales
The Two Independent Directors Standing For Re-Election, Dr. Alan Muney and Kim Rivera, Bring to Cano Health Significant Public Company Executive Leadership Experience, Extensive Healthcare Expertise, and Demonstrated Track Records of Driving Stockholder Value.
Importantly, Your Board Recognizes There Is Work to Be Done to Strengthen the Company's Governance Practices and We Are Taking Important Steps to Do Just That.
As part of that commitment, we have recently taken the following notable actions, among others:
- Separated our Chairman and CEO roles
- Adopted updated compliance policies, including those related to our code of conduct, conflicts of interest, and related party transactions
- Appointed an interim Chief Legal Officer, Frederick Green, who among other responsibilities will work closely with the Board and management team to implement and maintain best-in-class corporate governance policies and support the execution of our value creation strategy
As we move forward, we are committed to continuing to improve our monitoring and controls, consistent with what is expected of a public company.
The Former Directors' Self-Serving Agenda Is Not in Stockholders' Best Interests
To further their short-term agenda, the former directors have waged a disruptive, misleading, and disingenuous campaign rooted in destructive tactics to belie their true intentions. In doing so, they have demonstrated a clear misalignment between their interests and those of all other stockholders.
We encourage you to see through their distraction techniques and focus on the facts:
- The former directors have no long-term value creation plan—they have failed to present any actionable ideas beyond dismantling our attractively positioned company and selling it for parts at a time when we believe it is clearly undervalued.
- Their hostile attacks conveniently ignore that they themselves architected, advocated, and approved the strategic and governance decisions they now criticize—including creating the Company's by-laws they now claim not to be stockholder friendly, and championing multiple acquisitions within weeks of most of the current directors first joining the Board.
- Their opposition to the proposed reverse stock split—which is intended to ensure Cano Health continues to meet the listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange—runs counter to a rational assessment of long-term value for all stockholders. In fact, the former directors themselves approved proceeding with a reverse stock split proposal in March 2023.
At this critical inflection point, now is not the time to acquiesce to disruption from the former directors with no plan beyond cashing out at a massive discount to Cano Health's inherent value.
Your Board and management remain decisively focused on our action plan to maximize our long-term potential on behalf of ALL of our stockholders, and look forward to continuing to demonstrate our progress to you. Thank you for your support.
The Cano Health Board of Directors
Your Vote Is Important
Please vote your shares today by telephone or internet.
If you have any questions or need assistance with
voting your WHITE proxy card please call:
MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
1407 Broadway, 27th Floor
New York, NY 10018
proxy@mackenziepartners.com
(212) 929-5500
or
TOLL-FREE (800) 322-2885
About Cano Health
Cano Health (NYSE: CANO) is a high-touch, technology-powered healthcare company delivering personalized, value-based primary care to approximately 390,000 members. With its headquarters in Miami, Florida, Cano Health is transforming healthcare by delivering primary care that measurably improves the health, wellness, and quality of life of its patients and the communities it serves. Founded in 2009, Cano Health has more than 4,000 employees, and operates primary care medical centers and supports affiliated providers in nine states and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit canohealth.com or investors.canohealth.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements relate to future events and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and could materially affect actual results, performance or achievements. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "forecasts," "estimates" or other words or phrases of similar import, including, without limitation, (i) our plans to execute a decisive action plan focused on operating our business more effectively, growing the business more sustainably, and increasing operating cash flows to fully realize our potential and drive long-term value for all stockholders and our belief that our long-term value creation plan is achievable, that we are poised to unlock significant embedded value and are focused on our action plan to maximize our long-term potential on behalf of all stockholders; (ii) our belief that we can address the gap between Cano Health's intrinsic value and current market value, including that quarter by quarter, our results will be the catalyst to bridge the gap between our intrinsic value and our market value; (iii) our belief that we are positioned to take advantage of the tremendous market opportunity in front of us and unlock significant value for stockholders over the long term; (iv) our plans to unlock embedded medical center profitability; streamline operations; strengthen cash flows; and optimize our management team and governance; (v) our plans to pursue the divestiture of certain non-core assets to sharpen our focus on our high-performing Medicare Advantage business; (vi) our financial guidance for 2023; (vii) our plans to implement the reverse stock split; and (viii) our plans to continue to evolve our governance practices to ensure we have best in class policies, procedures and oversight. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us at the time of this release and our current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. We derive many of our forward-looking statements from our operating budgets and forecasts, which are based on many detailed assumptions. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known or unknown factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. It is uncertain whether any of the events anticipated by our forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations and financial condition. Important risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in market or industry conditions, changes in the regulatory environment, competitive conditions, and/or consumer receptivity to our services; changes in our strategy, future operations, prospects and plans; developments and uncertainties related to the Direct Contracting Entity program; our ability to realize expected financial results, including with respect to patient membership, total revenue and earnings; our ability to predict and control our medical cost ratio; our ability to grow market share in existing markets and continue our growth; our ability to integrate our acquisitions and achieve desired synergies; our ability to maintain our relationships with health plans and other key payors; our future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash, including funds to satisfy our liquidity needs; our ability to attract and retain members of management and our Board of Directors; and/or our ability to recruit and retain qualified team members and independent physicians.
Actual results may also differ materially from such forward-looking statements for a number of other reasons, including those set forth in our filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, the risk factors identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2023, as amended by our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, filed with the SEC on April 7, 2023 (the "2022 Form 10-K"), as well as our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K that we have filed or expect to file with the SEC during 2023 (which may be viewed on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov or on our website at http://www.investors.canohealth.com/ir-home), as well as reasons including, without limitation, delays or difficulties in, and/or unexpected or less than anticipated results from our efforts to: (i) achieve growth, improve our cost structure, improve our operating cash flow and/or drive value, such as due to higher interest rates, higher than expected costs and/or greater than anticipated competitive factors; (ii) address the gap between Cano Health's intrinsic value and current market value, such as due to lower than expected patient utilization rates and/or higher than expected operating costs; (iii) capture additional market share, such as due to higher than expected competition for our patients services; (iv) achieve profitability and/or strengthen our cash flows, whether due to unexpected demands on our cash resources and/or lower than expected revenues; (v) evaluate and/or consummate any asset dispositions, such as due to tightness in the credit markets and/or M&A markets; (vi) achieve our financial guidance for 2023, such as due to a broad recessionary economic environment, less than anticipated utilization of our medical centers and/or access to less than anticipated sources of liquidity; (vii) delays or other developments that may result in our not consummating the reverse stock split; and/or (viii) difficulties or delays in enhancing our governance processes. For a detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, please refer to our risk factor disclosure included in our filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, our 2022 Form 10-K. Investors should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this release in the context of these risks and uncertainties. Factors other than those listed above could also cause our results to differ materially from expected results. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation or duty to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether to reflect actual results of operations; changes in financial condition; changes in general U.S. or international economic, industry conditions; changes in estimates, expectations or assumptions; or other circumstances, conditions, developments or events arising after the issuance of this release. Additionally, the business and financial materials and any other statement or disclosure on or made available through our websites or other websites referenced herein shall not be incorporated by reference into this release.
Important Additional Information and Where to Find It
Cano Health, Inc. has filed a definitive proxy (the "Definitive Proxy Statement") statement containing a form of WHITE proxy card with the SEC in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company's 2023 annual meeting of shareholders (the "2023 Annual Meeting"). SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT THE COMPANY HAS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
Stockholders will be able to obtain, free of charge, copies of the Definitive Proxy Statement, any amendments or supplements thereto and any other documents (including the proxy card) filed by the Company with the SEC in connection with the 2023 Annual Meeting at the SEC's website (http:// www.sec.gov) or at the Company's website at https://investors.canohealth.com/ or by contacting Mackenzie Partners, Inc. by phone at (800) 322-2885 (toll free) or (212) 929-5500 (collect) or by email at proxy@mackenziepartners.com.
Certain Information Regarding Participants
The Company, its directors and certain of its executive officers and other employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders in connection with the 2023 Annual Meeting. Additional information regarding the identity of these potential participants, none of whom, other than Dr. Marlow Hernandez, Dr. Richard Aguilar, Angel Morales and Solomon D. Trujillo, own in excess of 1% of the Company's shares, and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement and other materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the 2023 Annual Meeting. Information relating to the foregoing can also be found in the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement, filed with the SEC on May 19, 2023. To the extent holdings of the Company's securities by such potential participants (or the identity of such participants) have changed since the information printed in the Definitive Proxy Statement, such information has been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Forms 3 and 4 filed with the SEC. You may obtain free copies of these documents using the sources indicated above.
Media Contact
Kekst CNC
Anntal Silver / Nick Capuano
anntal.silver@kekstcnc.com / nicholas.capuano@kekstcnc.com
Investor Contact
Cano Health IR
investors@canohealth.com
1 Oxford was acquired by United Healthcare in 2004; Dr. Muney stayed on as Chief Medical Officer of the Northeast region until 2008
2 Calculated through 5/31/23
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SOURCE Cano Health, Inc. | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2023/06/08/cano-health-sends-letter-stockholders-urges-stockholders-vote-white-proxy-card-its-highly-qualified-directors-proposed-reverse-stock-split/ | 2023-06-08 13:44:36 | 1 | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2023/06/08/cano-health-sends-letter-stockholders-urges-stockholders-vote-white-proxy-card-its-highly-qualified-directors-proposed-reverse-stock-split/ |
Top Kings vs. Warriors Players to Watch - NBA Playoffs Game 1
De'Aaron Fox is one of the players to watch on Saturday at 8:30 PM ET, when the Sacramento Kings (48-34) square off against the Golden State Warriors (44-38) at Golden 1 Center.
In the article below, we'll give you all the info you need to know about who to keep your eye on in this matchup, which you can watch on ABC with a seven-day free trial to Fubo!
How to Watch Kings vs. Warriors
- Game Day: Saturday, April 15
- Game Time: 8:30 PM ET
- Arena: Golden 1 Center
- Location: Sacramento, California
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Domantas Sabonis, Stephen Curry and tons of other NBA stars in action with a free trial to Fubo.
Kings' Last Game
In their most recent game, the Kings lost to the Nuggets on Sunday, 109-95. Their high scorer was Harrison Barnes with 17 points.
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Warriors' Last Game
In their most recent game, the Warriors beat the Trail Blazers on Sunday, 157-101. Curry scored a team-high 26 points (and contributed seven assists and five boards).
Kings Players to Watch
- Sabonis is tops on his squad in both rebounds (12.3) and assists (7.3) per game, and also posts 19.1 points. Defensively, he averages 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocked shots.
- Fox leads his squad in both points (25) and assists (6.1) per contest, and also posts 4.2 rebounds. At the other end, he averages 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocked shots.
- Barnes is putting up 15 points, 1.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds per contest.
- Kevin Huerter puts up 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Defensively, he averages 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocked shots.
- Malik Monk is averaging 13.5 points, 3.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds per contest.
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Warriors Players to Watch
- The Warriors get 29.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game from Curry.
- The Warriors receive 20.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game from Jordan Poole.
- Klay Thompson is the Warriors' top scorer (21.9 points per game) and assist man (2.4), and posts 4.1 rebounds.
- Draymond Green is averaging a team-best 6.8 assists per contest. And he is producing 8.5 points and 7.2 rebounds, making 52.7% of his shots from the floor.
- Kevon Looney is the Warriors' top rebounder (9.3 per game), and he delivers 7 points and 2.5 assists.
Top Performers (Last 10 Games)
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wsaz.com/sports/betting/2023/04/15/kings-vs-warriors-players-to-watch-nba-playoffs/ | 2023-04-15 20:27:25 | 1 | https://www.wsaz.com/sports/betting/2023/04/15/kings-vs-warriors-players-to-watch-nba-playoffs/ |
“A Man Called Otto” is an English-language adaptation of Fredrik Backman’s Swedish bestseller “A Man Called Ove.” It was previously brought to the big screen by Hannes Holm. Holm’s 2016 adaptation, which was nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film, was a morbidly funny and moving success. As Ove, the grumpy, suicidal protagonist whose life changes when he meets an immigrant family, Rolf Lassgard gave one of that year’s best performances.
As with so many foreign films that get the Americanized treatment, “A Man Called Otto” is completely defanged, eliminating the dark humor that made the original successful enough to command a remake. Though it re-creates several of the same scenes from Backman’s novel and Holm’s film (this movie is based on both sources), it lacks the prickliness that kept the original film from becoming the treacly mess that director Marc Forster and writer David Magee serve up here.
They even changed the stray cat who adopts the protagonist to be more audience friendly. Ove’s cat was jacked-up and scraggly. This fluffed-up cat will break the Internet: It’s the Farrah Fawcett of feral felines.
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As rule-enforcing neighbor Otto Anderson, Tom Hanks is miscast. This version removes some of the Job-like trials that made Ove so ornery, but we’re still expected to buy Hanks as mean and unlikable. Movies like “The Road to Perdition” and “Elvis” proved these are two character traits he simply cannot play. When Otto yells at residents for minor transgressions, it’s easy to see why no one takes him seriously.
I kept imagining Clint Eastwood in this role, and then I remembered why: He already did it. See “Gran Torino.”
In addition to being a curmudgeon, Otto is a man in great emotional pain. His wife, Sonya (played in sweet flashbacks by Rachel Keller), recently died of cancer. Every time he visits her gravesite to place the pretty pink flowers she enjoyed in life, he tells her of his plans to join her. Several times in “A Man Called Otto,” Otto attempts suicide only to be rudely interrupted by the neighbors who aggravate him.
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Now, here’s where juggling tone is very important. The original film treated these scenes as pitch-black comedy. Ove’s incompetence and his deep-seated need to help his “idiot” neighbors contribute to his failures. It feels like Sonya is sending these people from beyond the grave to distract her beloved husband, especially because the love story between them plays out as Ove’s life is flashing before his eyes during his suicide attempts.
By contrast, Forster treats these scenes as either slapstick or manipulation; in one cringeworthy instance, he uses a needle drop of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work” while intercutting Otto’s last suicide attempt with a flashback of the biggest tragedy in his young life. Something this potentially distasteful does not need the director goosing your heartstrings with sappy songs. The gravitas this scene requires is absent.
Hanks is much more convincing in scenes where his guard is down, especially when Mariana Treviño is his scene partner. She plays Marisol, the wife of Tommy (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo). Their growing family — two kids, one on the way — has just moved into the house opposite Otto’s. Marisol and Otto’s introduction occurs when Tommy almost backs up his U-Haul trailer into his new home.
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Since Otto thinks Tommy is an “idiot” (his favorite noun to call people, by the way), he feels compelled to help Marisol whenever possible. Treviño and Hanks have great comic and emotional chemistry; he lets her steal scenes with her quick wit, and she brings out Hanks’s best Everyman qualities. A similar energy exists in scenes between Hanks and Mack Bayda, who plays his transgender neighbor, Malcolm, whom Otto takes in after his father throws him out.
The true villain of “A Man Called Otto” is an evil real estate organization that’s trying to scare senior residents out of their homes so it can build more valuable condos. These jackals are truly sinister, perhaps too much so for a feature this light. The addition of a social-media-influencer character is also jarring, as if the filmmakers were making a jaded play to attract the young whippersnappers who might otherwise think this movie was only for their grandparents.
“A Man Called Otto” is a family affair, with Hanks’s wife, Rita Wilson, producing and their son Truman Hanks playing Otto as a young man. The younger Hanks conveys Otto’s shyness around Sonya and his wide-eyed romantic notions so well that one can easily see why the elder Otto would fall into angry despair over her loss. His rebirth would have played so much more effectively had this movie examined that darkness. Instead, it’s too busy aiming for the heart when it should be going for the jugular.
★★
A MAN CALLED OTTO
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Directed by Marc Forster. Written by David Magee, based on “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman and the film by Hannes Holm. Starring Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Rachel Keller, Mack Bayda, and Truman Hanks. At AMC Boston Common and suburban theaters. 126 minutes. PG-13 (brief violence, suicide attempts, permed kitty cat)
Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic. He can be reached at odie.henderson@globe.com. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/04/arts/tom-hanks-is-forrest-grump-man-called-otto/ | 2023-01-04 17:44:41 | 1 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/04/arts/tom-hanks-is-forrest-grump-man-called-otto/ |
LACEY, Okla. (AP) — Police have identified a suspect in the weekend slayings of four people at an Oklahoma marijuana farm but said Tuesday they aren’t releasing a name because doing so could put more people in danger.
Authorities said the three men and one woman, who were Chinese citizens, were “executed” on the 10-acre (4-hectare) property west of Hennessey, about 55 miles (90 kilometers) northwest of Oklahoma City. A fifth victim who was wounded and who is also a Chinese citizen was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital.
Next-of-kin notification was still pending “because of a significant language barrier,” police said.
Authorities have a suspect in mind, but the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is withholding the name for now to avoid endangering others.
“The suspect was inside that building for a significant amount of time before the executions began,” OSBI said in a news release Tuesday. “Based on the investigation thus far, this does not appear to be a random incident.”
OSBI Capt. Stan Florence said the previous day that authorities believe the suspect knew the victims, who were found dead Sunday night.
“They all know each other," Florence said. "Don't know if they're related, or if they're coworkers, but certainly these individuals were, we believe, all familiar with each other.”
Authorities have not identified the victims or said how they died. The case is being investigated as a quadruple homicide.
The Kingfisher County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to a reported hostage situation at the farm and requested help from state authorities, Florence said.
Police searched the property late Sunday and Monday, using drones and helicopters and on the ground, but did not find the suspect, Florence said.
“There’s a lot to unravel with this case,” he said. “It’ll take a little time for us to process it.”
Porsha Riley, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, said there is an active license for a medical marijuana grow business at the location.
Oklahoma voters legalized medical marijuana in 2018, and the industry quickly boomed thanks to an open-ended law that put in place fewer restrictions than in other states.
In March, voters will decide whether to legalize recreational use of the drug.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/ap-top-news/2022/11/22/police-4-dead-at-pot-farm-were-executed-chinese-citizens | 2022-11-22 23:00:50 | 1 | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/ap-top-news/2022/11/22/police-4-dead-at-pot-farm-were-executed-chinese-citizens |
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WWII veterans tour Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial in Perryville
PERRYVILLE, Mo. (KFVS) - Six World War II veterans toured Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial on Monday, June 19.
According to organizers, the veterans toured the facility and “America’s Wall”--an exact replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
”I think it is beautiful--really really beautiful,” said Tom Lacey, one of the World War II veterans. “It is very well thought out, and it is uplifting.“
This trip takes the veterans back to their own days in uniform.
“I was in the Marine Corps, the fourth marine division, as a communications personnel and control naval gunfire,” said Kenton Luttrell, another World War II veteran.
Organizer George Despotis said he has worked with veterans events in St. Louis, and when he heard about this memorial in Perryville, he knew they should make the trip.
“One thing I have focused in on in my life is to try to memorialize the sacrifice of those who wear the uniform and the sacrifices for our freedom because without our freedom the world would be a very different place,” Despotis said.
Before they left, these veterans received pins and other tributes to their service.
Luttrell said he values any time he gets with those who know exactly what he went through.
“You know it is always a pleasure because we share a lot of the same feelings and thoughts and some of these guys I have known for several years and it is always fun and a pleasure to speak with them,” Luttrell said.
The memorial opened in May 2019, followed by a grand opening for its military museum in August 2020.
It also features an honor flag memorial, Guardians of Freedom monument and welcome center.
Copyright 2023 KFVS. All rights reserved. | https://www.kait8.com/2023/06/20/wwii-veterans-tour-missouris-national-veterans-memorial-perryville/ | 2023-06-20 01:44:43 | 1 | https://www.kait8.com/2023/06/20/wwii-veterans-tour-missouris-national-veterans-memorial-perryville/ |
GrowPath's Complete Re-Branding Helps Demonstrate Software's Patented Features
DURHAM, N.C., May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GrowPath, an industry-leading provider of best-in-class case management software for law firms, has announced the launch of an entirely redesigned and re-branded website at GrowPath.com. The new design makes it easier for law firms to discover and learn about GrowPath's patented features and real-world benefits to their bottom lines.
This re-branding will be visible across all new and existing content seen on marketing materials, which includes customer success training and documentation. The site now provides details about new go-to-market and self-service solutions.
Additionally, the new website supports a new product strategy from GrowPath where its best of breed solutions for intake, case management and a new offering called the Office Optimizer will all be sold independently so firms can license what they need. Now if a client recently purchased a different case management offering, that firm can still use our market-leading Office Optimizer or intake solution.
"This is an exciting time for GrowPath as our client list grows and word spreads about the powerful, patented case-management features this software offers to law firms," said Neal Goffman, Chief Executive Officer of GrowPath. "We have some incredible momentum right now, and this re-branding reflects the bold vision we have for the rest of 2022 and beyond."
To date, the software has more than two dozen patents – far more than any other competitor. One highly regarded feature is Buzzwords™, which helps firms find valuable mass tort cases buried deep within ordinary client consultations.
Interested firms who want to learn more about GrowPath can schedule a demo.
About GrowPath
GrowPath is a cutting-edge legal case management software delivering industry-leading solutions for personal injury law firms. By partnering with GrowPath, in addition to yielding the benefits of using a market-leading platform, firms get access to some of the best and most creative minds in the industry. From leadership to our customer service teams, we have years of real-world expertise building successful plaintiffs' firms. GrowPath is empowering firms to boost revenue by improving the efficiency of the services they deliver. To learn more, visit GrowPath.com.
Media Contact:
Connie Wong
Director of Marketing
cwong@growpath.com
o : 844.520.2893 ext. 12112
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SOURCE GrowPath | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/growpath-launches-website-redesign-kick-off-re-branding/ | 2022-05-17 10:00:56 | 0 | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/growpath-launches-website-redesign-kick-off-re-branding/ |
DA, ethics panel back judge: No evidence of bias in Trump hush-money case
NEW YORK - Donald Trump’s tempestuous views aside, Manhattan prosecutors say neither the former president nor his lawyers have shown any evidence to support their claims that the judge in his hush-money criminal case has an anti-Trump bias. They urged him to reject defense demands that he step aside from the case.
In court papers made public Tuesday, the Manhattan district attorney’s office defended Judge Juan Manuel Merchan against Trump's claims that he's a "Trump-hating judge," amplifying a court ethics panel’s recent opinion that a judge in his situation wouldn’t have to recuse himself.
The opinion, issued May 4 by the state’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, suggests Merchan may have sought the panel’s input as he wrestled with the gravity of his role in the case and nagging concerns that he could be seen as having a bias or conflict of interest. The opinion doesn’t list names, but the details match, with "the inquiring judge" described as presiding in a criminal case involving "a former public official."
RELATED: Trump makes video appearance in New York criminal case; trial date set for March
Trump’s lawyers contend Merchan, a state court judge in Manhattan, is biased because his daughter is a political consultant whose firm has worked for some of Trump’s Democratic rivals, and that some of his rulings in two prior Trump-related cases have shown a pro-prosecution bent.
The Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, in its opinion, concluded that a judge in that precise situation "may continue to preside in the matter provided the judge believes he/she can be fair and impartial."
Matthew Colangelo, a senior counsel to District Attorney Alvin Bragg, agreed that neither issue was grounds for Merchan to step aside. He painted Trump’s recusal motion as the latest in his "prolific history of baselessly accusing state and federal judges around the country of bias."
Judge Merchan addresses Donald Trump and attorney Todd Blanche during a virtual court appearance, May 23, 2023 (Jane Rosenberg sketch).
The decision on recusal is up to Merchan himself. He previously rejected a similar request when Trump’s company, the Trump Organization, was on trial.
Separately, Trump’s lawyers are seeking to move the case to federal court, which would also eliminate Merchan from the judicial equation. A federal judge has scheduled a June 27 hearing on that request.
A message seeking comment was left with Merchan. Court spokesperson Lucian Chalfen said: "As this case remains a pending matter before Judge Merchan, we have no further comment."
Trump pleaded not guilty in April to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The charges relate to hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign to bury allegations that Trump had extramarital sexual encounters. He has denied wrongdoing.
The New York case is one of two criminal cases against Trump. Last week in federal court in Miami, he pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts of mishandling classified material and taking steps to hide records and impede investigators. He is the first president to be charged with a federal crime.
In defending Merchan, Colangelo wrote that recusal is only required by state law when there’s "a direct, personal, substantial or pecuniary interest in reaching a particular conclusion," Colangelo wrote. That provision doesn’t extend to Merchan’s daughter working for Trump’s political foes, he argued.
Merchan’s daughter, Loren, is a political consultant whose firm has worked on campaigns for prominent Democrats including Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
In an affirmation included with Tuesday’s filing, Bragg’s political consultant disclosed that he had discussions with Loren Merchan’s firm last fall regarding potential campaign work. The firm wasn't hired and Bragg’s consultant said he wasn't informed of Loren Merchan’s connection to the judge until around the time of Trump’s arraignment.
Trump, the leading contender for the Republican nomination in 2024, could face Biden again as he seeks a return to the White House. He and his allies have seized on Merchan’s political ties in portraying his prosecution as part of a Democrat-led "witch hunt."
Colangelo also took issue with the central point of Trump’s argument for recusal: that Merchan acted inappropriately by involving himself in plea negotiations last year for Trump’s longtime finance chief.
Merchan signed off on a deal that required ex-CFO Allen Weisselberg testify against Trump’s company in exchange for a five-month jail sentence. That testimony ultimately helped prosecutors convict the Trump Organization of tax fraud, but the way Trump's lawyers described Merchan’s involvement in the negotiations was "factually incorrect."
"At no point did the Court seek to ‘induce’ Mr. Weisselberg to cooperate against defendant, or condition any provision of the sentence on such cooperation," Colangelo wrote, citing a sworn statement from a prosecutor involved in the plea negotiations.
RELATED: 'Stand with Trump' becomes rallying cry as Republicans amplify attacks on US justice system
Trump’s lawyers, Susan Necheles and Todd Blanche, had also asked Merchan to explain three political donations totaling $35 that were made to Democratic causes in his name during the 2020 election cycle.
Merchan has yet to respond to that request, nor has he responded to inquiries from The Associated Press asking him to confirm or deny if he’s the person who made the donations, which include $15 for President Joe Biden’s campaign against Trump, according to federal campaign finance records.
The Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics’ opinion suggested that, if a judge like Merchan made such small-dollar contributions — even to a defendant’s political opponent — he’d still be able to stay on the case.
"These modest political contributions made more than two years ago cannot reasonably create an impression of bias or favoritism in the case before the judge," the panel wrote.
Trump’s case ended up in Merchan’s courtroom because of a rotation in which judges assigned to oversee grand juries handle any cases that arise from them, according to the court system.
Merchan also often handles financial cases and runs Manhattan’s mental health court, where some defendants get a chance to resolve their cases with treatment and supervision. | https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/trump-judge-no-evidence-of-bias | 2023-06-21 04:06:36 | 1 | https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/trump-judge-no-evidence-of-bias |
Director Harsha V. Agadi to Serve as Chief Executive Officer on an Interim Basis, Succeeding John W. Gibson Who Has Transitioned Out of the Role of Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Effective Immediately
Chief Operating Officer Ryan Ezell Named President
Independent Lead Director David Nierenberg to Become Chairman of the Board
HOUSTON, Jan. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Flotek Industries, Inc. ("Flotek" or the "Company") (NYSE: FTK), a leader in technology-driven specialty green chemistry solutions, today announced that Director Harsha V. Agadi will become interim Chief Executive Officer of Flotek, effective immediately. He succeeds John W. Gibson, Jr., who has transitioned out of the role of Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer to pursue other professional opportunities. In addition, Chief Operating Officer Ryan Ezell has been promoted to President and Independent Lead Director David Nierenberg has been appointed Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors has commenced a search for the Company's next Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Agadi said, "Since I joined the Flotek Board in 2020, I have witnessed the Company's growth that has brought us to this pivotal moment. I am excited to take on this role as we work to identify our next leader and look forward to working alongside David, Ryan, and our deeply talented Flotek colleagues to ensure a seamless transition to our next CEO. Flotek's potential is unlimited in this sector, and we are well-positioned to gain market share over the coming years."
Mr. Nierenberg said, "On behalf of the entire Board, I want to thank John for his leadership and his success in engineering a highly successful turnaround of Flotek. Today, Flotek is in a strong position with excellent prospects, as evidenced by our quadrupling of the Company's revenue run rate this year compared to 2021. We now have an opportunity to further scale and bring greater value to our customers, colleagues, and shareholders, and I am confident that we will select the right leader to take the company into the future. We wish John our very best in his future professional endeavors."
Mr. Gibson said, "Flotek has been blessed over the past three years. We survived a pandemic and partnered with an industry leader to emerge as a strong platform for growth. The strength of Flotek today resides in great people, great customers, and great shareholders, committed to providing affordable, greener energy to the world. I appreciate the trust my colleagues and the Board have placed in me. Thank you all for a great three years. The next chapter starts today with my highest priorities being faith and family."
Biographies
Mr. Agadi has held senior executive positions at Fortune 50 companies. He has extensive multi-sector experience, having served as Chief Executive Officer of six companies over the past 25 years, and has deep knowledge of Flotek through his service on the Company's Board of Directors. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Agadi served as chair of the Compensation Committee and has been a member of the Board during the Company's successful turnaround over the past several years.
Most recently, Mr. Agadi served as Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Crawford and Co, the largest publicly traded insurance claims company, where he led the company's transformation. Prior to that, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Friendly's Ice Cream Corporation and Church's Chicken, Inc., among other well-known private and public companies. He also served as Chairman of the Board for several of these companies. Currently, Mr. Agadi is the Chairman of GHS Holdings, LLC and serves on the boards of myKaarma and The GLD Shop. He is an emeritus board member of Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and a member of the Board of Trustees for Babson College.
Dr. Ezell brings over 20 years of industry experience to the role. He has served as Chief Operating Officer of Flotek since 2022, and prior to that, he was the President of Flotek's Chemistry Technologies segment and Senior Vice President of Operations. Before joining Flotek, Dr. Ezell held various leadership roles at global energy company Halliburton, where he drove strategy and growth, as well as implemented change management. Dr. Ezell is a published scientist and an author on more than 26 patents.
Mr. Nierenberg has been a Director for Flotek since 2018 and an investor in the Company since 2016. He previously served as Chairman of the Board from 2019 to 2020. He brings extensive board governance and corporate turnaround experience, having served on dozens of public, private, not for profit, and government agency boards since 1985. Currently, Mr. Nierenberg is on the Washington State Investment Board, where he is the longest serving board member, and chairs The Ira Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership at Columbia Law School. Mr. Nierenberg is the Founder and President of Nierenberg Investment Management Company. Prior to that, he was a venture capitalist at Trinity Ventures, as well as a partner at Bain & Company.
About Flotek Industries, Inc.
Flotek Industries, Inc. creates solutions to reduce the environmental impact of energy on air, water, land and people. A technology-driven, specialty green chemistry and data company, Flotek helps customers across industrial, commercial, and consumer markets improve their Environmental, Social, and Governance performance. Flotek's Chemistry Technologies segment develops, manufactures, packages, distributes, delivers, and markets high-quality cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing products for commercial, governmental and personal consumer use. Additionally, Flotek empowers the energy industry to maximize the value of their hydrocarbon streams and improve return on invested capital through its real-time data platforms and green chemistry technologies. Flotek serves downstream, midstream, and upstream customers, both domestic and international. Flotek is a publicly traded company headquartered in Houston, Texas, and its common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "FTK." For additional information, please visit www.flotekind.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements set forth in this press release constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) regarding Flotek Industries, Inc.'s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Words such as will, continue, expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements in this press release. Although forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the good faith judgment of management, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known to management. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements. Further information about the risks and uncertainties that may impact the Company are set forth in the Company's most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K (including, without limitation, in the "Risk Factors" section thereof), and in the Company's other SEC filings and publicly available documents. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect, any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this press release.
View original content:
SOURCE Flotek Industries, Inc. | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/01/19/flotek-announces-leadership-transitions-marking-beginning-new-chapter-future-growth-profitability/ | 2023-01-19 22:58:53 | 0 | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/01/19/flotek-announces-leadership-transitions-marking-beginning-new-chapter-future-growth-profitability/ |
AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — Darting runs. Key tackles. Timely interceptions. Calming passes.
Antoine Griezmann did it all for France on Wednesday, and now he’s going to his second World Cup final.
Griezmann had exceptional moments in both penalty areas — and all parts of the field in between, really — to help France beat an impressive Morocco 2-0 in the semifinals at Al Bayt Stadium.
It was a compete showcase of a gifted player who has reinvented himself at this year’s World Cup. And he will now try to deny Lionel Messi, his former teammate at Barcelona, of a first World Cup title on Sunday.
Griezmann played as a winger at the 2014 World Cup, then was France’s key scoring threat in its 2018 title win. He’s now an all-purpose midfielder creating chances for his teammates and snuffing out opposing threats.
“Griezmannkante,” wrote Paul Pogba admiringly on his Instagram account after the final whistle. Pogba and N’Golo Kante, a relentless ball recovery specialist, were the midfield heart of France’s last title-winning team and their absences in Qatar because of injury put more responsibility on the 31-year-old Griezmann.
It was an older, wiser Griezmann who reflected after being voted player of the match on how this semifinal win felt different to four years ago, when Belgium was beaten 1-0.
“Against Belgium, I cried,” Griezmann said. “I think now I am more focused. I am already focused on the final on Sunday. I try to keep my feet on the ground. I am more composed.”
His perfectly timed run beyond the Morocco defense carried the ball into the penalty area that led to the early opening goal on Wednesday. Theo Hernández was the eventual beneficiary in the fifth minute.
When Morocco put France under severe pressure in the second half, Griezmann responded with tackles, headers and blocks. All his boundless energy was needed before the win was sealed by substitute Randal Kolo Muani’s instant impact — and instant goal — in the 79th.
“Remarkable,” France right back Jules Koundé said of Griezmann. “He works hard, blocks the holes and then every time he touches the ball he tries to light up the game.”
When it was over, Griezmann slowly raised both arms and walked across the field to hug defender Ibrahima Konaté, who also was an immense barrier to Morocco’s persistent attacks.
Griezmann then went to console some of his opponents, seeking out goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who also plays in the Spanish league.
Griezmann has become a perfect example of how France has evolved after 10 years under coach Didier Deschamps.
The team reached the World Cup quarterfinals in 2014 and then played in the 2016 European Championship final, losing to Portugal at home in Paris. The French followed that with the World Cup title in 2018, and they’ll get a chance to win a third in their history on Sunday against Argentina at Lusail Stadium.
The spine of this team — goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, center back Raphaël Varane, Griezmann and striker Olivier Giroud — has been a constant presence. Mbappé’s explosive speed and goals entered the mix in 2017 and have brought glory to the second half of the Deschamps era.
On Sunday, there may yet be more to add to the already impressive list of achievements.
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/ap-griezmann-gives-his-all-france-advances-to-world-cup-final/ | 2022-12-15 04:35:17 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/ap-griezmann-gives-his-all-france-advances-to-world-cup-final/ |
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