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OLD FORGE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — While the Robert Baron search intensifies, a discovery of human remains Wednesday can hopefully lead to long over-due answers.
The search for Robert Baron of Old Forge who went missing in 2017 had a recent break.
A discovery after an extensive search may come with answers.
“We have the potential to help potentially identify this person. Whether it’s somebody that’s brand new or somebody like Robert Baron that potentially has been missing for six years, to be able to potentially provide closure to the family if that’s who it turns out to be. That’s a rewarding feeling to me,” said Hannah Skropits, a graduate student at Mercyhurst University.
When remains were uncovered near Pagnotti Park, professionals on outdoor scene recovery were called in, graduate students of Mercyhurst University’s Department of Applied Forensic Sciences.
“I was sent pictures to evaluate whether they were human or not and determine that they were human, and so that’s when they called us to come in,” said Dennis Dirkmaat, chair for the Department of Applied Forensic Sciences at Mercyhurst University
“We do what’s called a straight line pedestrian search where essentially we identify what we believe to be the borders of the scene. You know, how far the evidence is extended. In this case, it was pretty far. It was very scattered,” said Elizabeth Hagan, a graduate student at Mercyhurst University.
They helped search by using techniques to overcome obstacles that come with older crime scenes such as layers of leaves.
“We were just there to kind of make sure that there was nothing missed,” said Hagan.
The bones were brought back to Mercyhurst to clean, analyze, and present a biological profile such as age and gender.
The analysis can take one to two weeks, followed by a written report that explains every step that was taken by the team of graduates – this can take more than a month.
“We’ll write up that report so that if the case does go to trial or develop into anything else, we’ll be able to have that report,” said Skropits.
These students help crack cases all around the state of Pennsylvania because of this type of hands-on learning.
“What we tell the students is as soon as they step foot on Mercyhurst’s campus and they’re in our department, then they’re basically ready to go,” said Dirkmaat.
“By the time you leave, you are a professional. You are treated like one in the department, you are treated like one on scene, and it really gives you a good gauge as to what it would be like to live and work in this field,” said Hagan.
You can find more information on Mercyhurst University’s Department of Applied Forensic Sciences online. | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/forensic-students-investigate-discovered-remains-in-old-forge/ | 2023-03-31 01:27:14 | 1 | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/forensic-students-investigate-discovered-remains-in-old-forge/ |
A day after revelations that the Titan submersible imploded, officials searched the ocean floor for evidence and grappled Friday with vexing questions about who is responsible for investigating the international disaster.
A formal inquiry has not yet been launched because maritime agencies are still busy searching the area where the vessel fell apart, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday. Debris was located about 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) underwater, several hundred feet away from the Titanic wreckage it was on its way to explore. The U.S. Coast Guard led the initial search and rescue mission.
“I know there are also a lot of questions about how, why and when did this happen. Those are questions we will collect as much information as we can about now,” Rear Adm. John Mauger of the First Coast Guard District said Thursday.
It was not entirely clear Friday who would have the authority to lead what is sure to be a complex investigation involving several countries. OceanGate Expeditions, the company that owned and operated the Titan, is based in the U.S. but the submersible was registered in the Bahamas. OceanGate is based in Everett, Washington, but closed when the Titan was found. Meanwhile, the Titan’s mother ship, the Polar Prince, was from Canada, and the people on board the submersible were from England, Pakistan, France, and the U.S.
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The National Transportation Safety Board said Friday that the U.S. Coast Guard has declared the loss of the Titan submersible to be a “major marine casualty” and the Coast Guard will lead the investigation. NTSB spokesperson Peter Knudson said that information was provided to the agency’s senior management by Coast Guard officials, and the NTSB has joined the investigation.
The Coast Guard has not confirmed that it will lead the investigation. Coast Guard headquarters said the Coast Guard First District in Boston will discuss future operations and plans, but did not say when. The First District did not respond to phone and email messages seeking comment Friday.
U.S. & World
How the investigation will proceed is also complicated by the fact that the world of deep-sea exploration is not well-regulated. Deep-sea expeditions like those offered by OceanGate are scrutinized less than the companies that launch people into space, noted Salvatore Mercogliano, a history professor at Campbell University in North Carolina who focuses on maritime history and policy.
The Titan was not registered as a U.S. vessel or with international agencies that regulate safety. And it wasn't classified by a maritime industry group that sets standards on matters such as hull construction.
OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who was piloting the Titan when it imploded, complained that regulations can stifle progress.
“Bringing an outside entity up to speed on every innovation before it is put into real-world testing is anathema to rapid innovation,” Rush wrote in a blog post on his company’s website.
Bob Ballard, a member of the research team that found the Titanic wreck in 1985, called the lack of certification by outside experts “the smoking gun” in the Titan implosion.
“We’ve made thousands and thousands and thousands of dives ... to these depths and have never had an incident,” Ballard said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
“... The smoking gun is that this is the first time by a submarine that wasn’t classed,” he said.
One question that seems at least partially resolved is when the implosion likely happened. After the Titan was reported missing Sunday, the Navy went back and analyzed its acoustic data and found an “anomaly” that was consistent with an implosion or explosion in the general vicinity of where the vessel was operating when communications were lost, said a senior U.S. Navy official.
The Navy passed on the information to the Coast Guard, which continued its search because the data was not considered definitive, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive acoustic detection system.
Condolences for and tributes to those who died flowed in from around the world. Killed in the implosion were Rush, two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood; British adventurer Hamish Harding; and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
The Titan launched at 8 a.m. Sunday, and was reported overdue Sunday afternoon about 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Rescuers rushed ships, planes and other equipment to the site of the disappearance.
Any sliver of hope that remained for finding the crew alive was wiped away early Thursday, when the submersible’s 96-hour supply of air was expected to run out and the Coast Guard announced that debris had been found roughly 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the Titanic.
“The debris is consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber,” Mauger said.
A flurry of lawsuits is expected, but filing them will be complex and it's unclear how successful they will be. Plaintiffs will run into the problem of establishing jurisdiction, which could be tricky, just as it will be for the investigation, said Steve Flynn, a retired Coast Guard officer and director of Northeastern University’s Global Resilience Institute.
The implosion happened “basically in a regulatory no man’s land,” Flynn said.
“There was essentially no oversight,” Flynn said. “To some extent, they leveraged the murkiness of jurisdiction to not have oversight.”
James Cameron, who directed the blockbuster movie “Titanic” and has made multiple dives to the iconic ship's wreckage, told the BBC that he knew an “extreme catastrophic event” had happened as soon as he heard the submersible had lost navigation and communications at the same time.
“For me, there was no doubt," Cameron said. "There was no search. When they finally got an ROV (remotely operated vehicle) down there that could make the depth, they found it within hours. Probably within minutes.”
The cost of the search will easily stretch into the millions of dollars for the U.S. Coast Guard alone. The Canadian coast guard, U.S. Navy and other agencies and private entities also rushed to provide resources and expertise.
There’s no other comparable ocean search, especially with so many countries and even commercial enterprises being involved, said Norman Polmar, a naval historian, analyst and author based in Virginia.
Some agencies can seek reimbursements. But the U.S. Coast Guard is generally prohibited by federal law from collecting reimbursement pertaining to any search or rescue service,” said Stephen Koerting, a U.S. attorney in Maine who specializes in maritime law.
At least 46 people successfully traveled on OceanGate’s submersible to the Titanic wreck site in 2021 and 2022, according to letters the company filed with a U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Virginia, that oversees matters involving the Titanic shipwreck.
But questions about the submersible's safety were raised by both by a former company employee and former passengers.
One of the company’s first customers, meanwhile, likened a dive he made to the site two years ago to a suicide mission.
“Imagine a metal tube a few meters long with a sheet of metal for a floor. You can’t stand. You can’t kneel. Everyone is sitting close to or on top of each other,” said Arthur Loibl, a retired businessman and adventurer from Germany. “You can’t be claustrophobic.”
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The fourth paragraph has been corrected to note that it was the Coast Guard, not Mauger, who gave the information on Friday.
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Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire; David Sharp, in Portland, Maine; Lolita C. Baldor in Washington; Frank Jordans in Berlin; Danica Kirka in London; Gene Johnson in Seattle; Munir Ahmed in Islamabad; and John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/what-caused-the-titan-to-implode-right-now-its-not-even-clear-who-will-lead-the-investigation/4448562/ | 2023-06-23 20:04:31 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/what-caused-the-titan-to-implode-right-now-its-not-even-clear-who-will-lead-the-investigation/4448562/ |
Camila Mendes has found the perfect date.
The Riverdale star recently confirmed that she's been in a relationship for "a few months" now, though she did not explicitly name her special someone.
"I am still in the honeymoon, but it's one of those situations where I feel like, and I'm really trying to temper myself here," she told the Going Mental podcast in a Jan. 26 episode. "I don't wanna like speak above and beyond, but I feel like I've known him my whole life, and that's something I actually have never felt before."
Camila described the romance as "new-new as of like June," which comes around the time the Do Revenge star posted a TikTok clarifying her relationship status as single.
In November, however, Camila sparked romance rumors when she posted a poolside Instagram photo of her and an unidentified man sharing a kiss. She captioned the Nov. 8 slideshow, "life update."
Though the selfie, taken in reflection of sliding glass door, didn't clearly show the mystery guy's face, fans believe him to be influencer Rudy Mancuso. (Rudy has also posted clips of him lounging near a pool of similar design as the one seen in Camila's snapshot.)
And it wasn't just fans expressing their excitement over the photo. Outer Banks star Chase Stokes wrote, "U guys r 2 cute," while her co-star Vanessa Morgan said, "Living your best life, and I'm here for it."
The pair also packed PDA on a trip to Miami Beach on New Year's Day, as seen in photos obtained by Page Six. Soon, they'll make their onscreen appearance as co-stars in Amazon Studios rom-com, Música, according to InStyle.
Prior to Rudy, Camila was linked to her Riverdale co-star Charles Melton from 2018 to 2021. However, she's since moved past that relationship and Riverdale as well, as the show will end after its seventh season.
"I'm really looking forward to this next chapter of my life," she told InStyle last September. "I know myself more now; I have a clearer sense of what I want for my career, for my personal life." | https://www.eonline.com/news/1362870/lessigreaterriverdalelessigreater's-camila-mendes-reveals-why-her-new-relationship-is-unlike-any-other?cmpid=rss-syndicate-genericrss-us-top_stories | 2023-01-27 02:10:19 | 1 | https://www.eonline.com/news/1362870/lessigreaterriverdalelessigreater's-camila-mendes-reveals-why-her-new-relationship-is-unlike-any-other?cmpid=rss-syndicate-genericrss-us-top_stories |
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) — Jon Rahm faced the wind and handled it just as well Friday in the Mexico Open, making eight birdies on his way to a 5-under 66 that staked the world’s No. 2 player to a two-shot lead over Alex Smalley.
Rahm birdied all four of the par 5s, including the 18th hole at Vallarta Vidanta with a 4-iron from light rough to just short of the green, a pitch to 6 feet and one last putt.
He was at 12-under 130 going into the weekend.
Smalley was playing on the other side of the course, where he did most of his work. The highlight was holing out from 165 yards on the par-4 third hole for eagle. He had eagle chances on consecutive holes late in his round, two-putting from 35-feet on the par-5 sixth and driving the 291-yard seventh hole to 30 feet for another two-putt birdie.
He finished with a 66 and will be in the final group with Rahm.
Rahm was two shots higher then his opening round, in which the Spaniard never had to deal with the wind until the final four holes. This was one felt even better.
“I feel like I might be a little bit more satisfied with today’s score than yesterday,” Rahm said. “Yesterday I felt like I was really under control and relatively speaking stress free. Today was a bit more of a grind, but still a really good round of golf.”
Patrick Reed ran off two late birdies and was poised to close out his round with a third in a row until a pedestrian pitch from just short of the green on the par-5 18th. He had to settle for par and a 66, leaving him in a large group that was three shots behind.
Cameron Champ, who played alongside Rahm and handled the wind with his penetrating ball flight, had a 66 to reach 9-under 133. Champ and Reed were joined by Trey Mullinax (69), Adam Long (66) and Andrew Novak (67).
Rahm played a superb shot from a waste area well right of the green on the par-5 14th to about 3 feet. What really pleased him was his 6-iron on the par-3 ninth, over water while trying to navigate the gusts.
“The 6-iron was perfect. And having 3 feet for birdie there, it’s a huge bonus,” Rahm said. “I think my iron game was really, really good today. It was really under control and in those windy conditions I was hitting it really, really solid so. I was never really too surprised where my ball was ending up and I was always in a good position.”
Smalley, a Duke graduate in his rookie year on the PGA Tour, had a runner-up finish in the Dominican Republic a month ago. Both courses have the same kind of grass on the greens, and Smalley said he picked up plenty of experience playing in the final group on the weekend, starting with the belief he can compete on tour.
He also was a quick study on the wind, that made some of the par 4s more difficult to reach than some of the 600-yard par 5s.
Smalley had a 5-iron for his second shot into the 608-yard sixth. Two holes later, he had 3-wood for his second shot on the 515-yard eighth hole, barely reaching the front of the green. That led to a beautiful lag from 65 feet for a par.
“That’s what happens when you have winds that are gusting 25,” Smalley said. “I was able to keep the ball in play and was able to get out of those holes that were playing really long, and happy I’m done with them.”
Scott Brown, Jonathan Byrd and Davis Riley, who lost in a playoff at the Valspar Championship earlier this year, were in the group at 8-under 134, four shots behind.
The cut was at 2-under 140. Among those making it to the weekend were the Ortiz brothers of Guadalajara — Alvaro shot 69 and was at 5-under 137, while Carlos, a PGA Tour winner, had a 69 and was at 3-under 139. Abraham Ancer, part of 10 Mexican players in the field and No. 20 in the world ranking, had a 69 and made the cut on the number.
The task for everyone is chasing Rahm, going for his first victory of the year.
“I’ve been playing really good,” he said. “I can’t really complain about anything I’m doing right now, so hopefully I can keep that good ball-striking going and keep rolling it the way I have.”
___
More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/rahm-grabs-2-shot-lead-going-into-weekend-at-mexico-open/ | 2022-04-30 06:37:30 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/rahm-grabs-2-shot-lead-going-into-weekend-at-mexico-open/ |
TX Marine Warnings and Forecast for Tuesday, November 15, 2022
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SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY
URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
404 AM CST Tue Nov 15 2022
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...North winds 20 to 25 knots and seas 6 to 8 feet expected.
* WHERE...Coastal waters from Baffin Bay to Port Aransas out 20
NM, Coastal waters from Port Aransas to Matagorda Ship Channel
out 20 NM, Waters from Baffin Bay to Port Aransas from 20 to 60
NM and Waters from Port Aransas to Matagorda Ship Channel from
20 to 60 NM.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM CST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS...Strong to very strong winds and/or increased seas
will result in hazardous marine conditions especially for
inexperienced mariners with smaller vessels.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/TX-Marine-Warning-and-Forecast-17585490.php | 2022-11-15 10:26:45 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/TX-Marine-Warning-and-Forecast-17585490.php |
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus spent Monday evening detailing how Black women have been vital in the fight to enshrine the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th Amendment to the constitution.
The group was clear about why now is the time to make that amendment the law of the land.
“Black women have always been leaders of the fight to enshrine equality in our nation’s constitution, but we haven’t always been in the headlines for leading that work,” said Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo).
“Equality is overdue,” she said. “I rise in support of the Equal Rights Amendment today on the shoulders of the scores of Black women and LGBTQ+ people who have toiled on this initiative for 100 whole years to amplify their calls, calls they made in this very chamber and outside of it, that resonate today as the attacks against us intensify.”
The congresswoman’s remarks came on the eve of the creation of the Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment, which Bush and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) founded and will co-chair together with the sole purpose of enshrining the ERA as the 28th constitutional amendment.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) is seen during the first day of the 118th session of Congress on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.
Equal Rights Amendment has long political history
The ERA was introduced in Congress in 1923 to enshrine equal rights regardless of gender in the constitution. On March 22, 1972, Congress passed the amendment with more than the required a two-thirds majority.
Despite this, only 38 states have ratified the ERA and only 27 states have Equal Rights Amendments in their state constitutions today.
Members said Monday that the recent spate of anti-abortion laws circulating the country since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, along with a slate of laws prohibiting instruction on race and racism, is why the ERA is needed now more than ever.
Finally writing the amendment into the Constitution, said Bush, will lead to equal rights, violence prevention, LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare equity and reproductive rights.
Hearing from Black woman in particular is vital to ensuring policy change, added Pressley.
“As Black women who have earned the right to be members of this august body, we find ourselves at the intersection of both race and gender,” said Pressley. “Some of the most profound and most impactful policies come directly from our lived experiences.”
“I know how transformative the ERA will be for millions of women and our LGBTQ siblings across this country,” Pressley said.
“It is long past time the Constitution affirms our equality and our very existence in the eyes of the law,” she said. “The ramifications run deep as women faced daily sexism, pregnancy discrimination, pay inequities, sexual violence and persistent legislated attacks on our bodily autonomy. We need the ERA now.”
Black women have been instrumental in ERA history
It’s not the first time Pressley has spoken about the need for the ERA.
In late January, Pressley, along with Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) unveiled a bicameral, joint resolution to affirm the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
On Monday, Bush and Pressley were joined by other members of the CBC, including Democratic Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas), Joyce Beatty (Ohio), Yvette Clark (New York) and Alma Adams (North Carolina).
Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.). (AP Photo/Rebecca Droke)
They highlighted names like suffragette and abolitionist Sojourner Truth, Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, and Vice President Kamala Harris, the nation’s first Black female vice president.
Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.), the first Black woman elected from Pennsylvania, and Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.), the first Black woman elected from Virginia, closed out Monday’s comments.
“I stand today frustrated that it is not obvious to all elected members of Congress that the rights of all women, and specifically Black women, need to be protected,” said Lee. “As we are wrapping Women’s History Month, I remain steadfast in making sure that our daughters and granddaughters of the future do not have to continue to discuss this.”
“Constitutional equality is powerful,” Lee added. “Women and states have done their part to ratify the ERA … but now Congress must swiftly follow suit. We must take this action to move one step closer to enshrining the dignity, the humanity and the equality of all people into the highest law in the land.” | https://www.kark.com/hill-politics/equality-is-overdue-congressional-black-women-lead-fight-for-era-as-28th-amendment/ | 2023-03-28 03:41:04 | 1 | https://www.kark.com/hill-politics/equality-is-overdue-congressional-black-women-lead-fight-for-era-as-28th-amendment/ |
STARKVILLE — On the final play before inclement weather forced Mississippi State off the field Saturday night, Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin slid across the middle of the gridiron for a clutch catch on third down, setting up his team in plus territory.
And even after a lengthy delay, the Bulldogs had no trouble picking up where they left off.
MSU showed no signs of weakness after a 2-hour, 15-minute lightning delay, opening the season with a 49-23 win over Memphis.
The Bulldogs dominated the Tigers into near submission in the first half before taking their foot off the gas in the second, still winning their first game of 2022 by a comfortable margin.
Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers threw for 450 yards and tossed five touchdown passes, all to different receivers. Jo’quavious Marks ran for two more scores as the Bulldogs ground game found success.
But MSU’s defense was perhaps most impressive Saturday.
The Bulldogs held the Tigers to just one first down in the entire first half, and it came on their first drive. After Rogers’ lone interception at the MSU 28-yard line, the Bulldogs buckled down to hold Memphis to a 42-yard field goal.
It was all the Tigers could manage as Mississippi State took a 28-3 lead into the break. MSU’s Air Raid scheme was firing on all cylinders, resulting in four touchdowns out of six first-half drives. Rogers’ interception accounted for one unsuccessful possession, and on the other, the Bulldogs got the ball back with only 24 seconds to go until the half.
The delay — like Memphis — couldn’t stop Mississippi State. Lightning strike after lightning strike extended the 30-minute clock to restart the contest, and a stoppage that began at 6:55 p.m. was not lifted until 9:10 p.m.
But MSU marched right down the field after play resumed. Rogers found Jaden Walley for a 9-yard touchdown strike, capping a 13-play, 88-yard drive.
Marks added 1-yard and 2-yard scoring runs in the second quarter as penalties kept both Bulldogs drives alive. A defensive holding call drawn by Caleb Ducking led to Marks’ first score, while holding and pass interference calls — both on Memphis cornerback Greg Rubin — set up the second.
Ducking, who had a breakout game in his first start for MSU, drew one of the calls against Rubin. The redshirt senior caught a beautiful pass from Rogers for a 35-yard score in the third quarter.
That put Mississippi State ahead 35-3, but Memphis wasn’t ready to give up the fight.
Northern Illinois transfer Jevyon Ducker ran for a 50-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and quarterback Seth Henigan found Eddie Lewis for a 15-yard score in the fourth.
The Bulldogs responded with a 33-yard touchdown strike from Rogers to Harvey to put the game away with just under six minutes to play.
Memphis added a late touchdown on a 1-yard run from Henigan against MSU’s defensive reserves, and Rogers hit Georgia transfer Justin Robinson for a 23-yard score.
Rara Thomas also scored from 23 yards out in the first quarter as the Bulldogs capped a perfect opening drive.
Mississippi State finished with 542 total yards to Memphis’ 294.
MSU will travel to face Arizona (1-0) at 10 p.m. Saturday.
- Join the conversation in our exclusive Facebook group for Bulldog fans
Mississippi State 49, Memphis 23
Memphis (0-1);0;3;7;13;—;23
Mississippi State (1-0);14;14;7;14;—;49
First quarter
MS — Rara Thomas 23 pass from Will Rogers (Massimo Biscardi kick), clock 9:53
MS — Jaden Walley 9 pass from Rogers (Biscardi kick), clock 0:53
Second quarter
MEM — Chris Howard 42 FG, clock 13:57
MS — Jo’quavious Marks 1 run (Biscardi kick), clock 10:00
MS — Jo’quavious Marks 2 run (Biscardi kick), clock 1:40
Third quarter
MS — Caleb Ducking 35 pass from Rogers (Biscardi kick), clock 10:48
MEM — Jevyon Ducker 50 run (Howard kick); clock 7:37
Fourth quarter
MEM — Eddie Lewis 15 pass from Seth Henigan (pass failed), clock 10:13
MS — Rufus Harvey 33 pass from Rogers (Biscardi kick), clock 5:59
MEM — Henigan 1 run (Howard kick), clock 3:14
MS — Justin Robinson 23 pass from Rogers (Biscardi kick), clock 2:05
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Error! There was an error processing your request. | https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/mississippi-state/despite-delay-dawgs-dominate-msu-takes-care-of-memphis-in-season-opener/article_019a6dec-a4ab-5ba3-9a4a-781daf7228fc.html | 2022-09-04 06:58:40 | 0 | https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/mississippi-state/despite-delay-dawgs-dominate-msu-takes-care-of-memphis-in-season-opener/article_019a6dec-a4ab-5ba3-9a4a-781daf7228fc.html |
Texas Legislature OKs ban on gender-affirming care for minors
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas would become the largest state to ban gender-affirming care for minors under a bill sent Wednesday night to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has previously ordered child welfare officials to investigate such treatment as abuse.
The bill cleared the GOP-controlled Legislature after a final vote in the Senate over the objections of Democrats, who used parliamentary maneuvers in recent weeks to delay passage but could not derail it entirely.
Texas is now poised to join at least 17 other states that have enacted similar bans.
Abbott’s office did not return an email seeking comment Wednesday night. Last year, Abbott became the first governor to order the investigation of families who were receiving care. The investigations were later halted by a Texas judge.
Every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, has opposed the bans and supported the medical care for minors when administered appropriately.
Texas is among a number of states where Republican lawmakers have given priority status this year to measures limiting the rights of transgender people. Earlier Wednesday, the Texas House also gave preliminary approval to a bill that puts restrictions on transgender college athletes.
Transgender rights activists have disrupted the Texas House with protests from the chamber gallery, which have led to state police forcing demonstrators to move outside the building.
Earlier this month, a Texas hospital’s care for transgender minors came under investigation by state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who said he was seeking evidence of alleged “potentially illegal activity” without elaborating.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kbtx.com/2023/05/18/texas-legislature-oks-ban-gender-affirming-care-minors/ | 2023-05-18 03:18:10 | 0 | https://www.kbtx.com/2023/05/18/texas-legislature-oks-ban-gender-affirming-care-minors/ |
DECATUR -- City Council members decided Feb. 13 to lend Decatur's antique fire truck to the Bentonville Fire Department for that city's sesquicentennial anniversary celebration.
According to Mayor Bob Tharp, rumors had circulated that the Bentonville Fire Department had reached out to the Decatur Fire Department asking to borrow the city's 1917 American LaFrance fire truck, which currently is on display at the Decatur City Museum.
Decatur Fire Chief Joey Gunter approached the council to set the record straight.
"Deputy Chief Kevin Boydston from Bentonville Fire Department called [saying] that fire truck [in Decatur] is the first fire truck Bentonville bought in 1917," Gunter said. "They have the second fire truck -- which they bought in the 1930s -- in their station, completely restored. They have a picture of [our] fire truck and their fire truck side by side in front of City Hall. And they want to recreate that picture for their 150th anniversary this year."
Tharp said the fire truck is an asset to the city and he had concerns about lending the fire truck. In order to proceed, there must be stipulations in order to guarantee the preservation and condition of the fire truck, which is more than 100 years old.
"If we loan it out," Tharp said, "we certainly don't want to have it lost, either inadvertently or unintentionally, whatever. So, I think there should be some document that would have the VIN number, descriptions and photographs before we did this."
In its current condition, the fire truck is not operational. Instead, it's displayed on stilts to make it presentable at the Decatur museum.
"What their intentions are would be to come and get the truck ... put it in an enclosed trailer, haul it to Bentonville, clean it up, make it presentable and recreate the picture," Gunter said.
The Bentonville Fire Department offered to clean the truck and transport it back and forth to both locations. Also, the city of Decatur will receive a copy of the photo.
The council adopted a motion to lend the fire truck to the Bentonville Fire Department for the celebration.
"It sounds like an opportunity where we can be a good neighbor to the city of Bentonville," Tharp said. | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/feb/25/decatur-will-lend-its-antique-fire-truck-to/ | 2023-02-25 07:27:47 | 1 | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/feb/25/decatur-will-lend-its-antique-fire-truck-to/ |
We have love on the brain over Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's latest outing.
The couple—who welcomed their first child together in May—looked more fashionable than ever as they stepped out in New York City on Aug. 23. In photographs from the parents' night-out, Rih wore a navy blue sports jersey and checkered pants along with a snakeskin bag and white sunglasses. A$AP complemented the "Diamonds" singer's outfit by wearing a plain white T-shirt, blue Gucci slacks, and chunky sneakers. He topped off his fit with a black New York Yankees hat.
Since becoming parents, the two have been spotted on multiple occasions out and about in the Big Apple and are always dressed to the nines.
Rihanna and A$AP's outing comes less than a week after the 33-year-old rapper pleaded not guilty to felony assault.
The "Praise the Lord" rapper was charged after allegedly assaulting a former friend with a firearm in November 2021, according to a press release from the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office obtained by E! News on Aug. 15.
He faces two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm with allegations of personally using a firearm.
"Discharging a gun in a public place is a serious offense that could have ended with tragic consequences," District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement. "Not only for the person targeted but also for innocent bystanders visiting Hollywood."
He added, "My office conducted a thorough review of the evidence in this case and determined that the addition of a special firearm allegation was warranted."
The musician pleaded not guilty to two counts of felony assault during an Aug. 17 court appearance. His next court date is scheduled for Nov. 2. | https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1343328/rihanna-and-a-ap-rocky-step-out-for-stylish-date-night-in-nyc?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories | 2022-08-24 18:55:10 | 1 | https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1343328/rihanna-and-a-ap-rocky-step-out-for-stylish-date-night-in-nyc?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories |
NEW YORK (AP) — Seven months into her new television career, it's clear that Jen Psaki didn't sign with MSNBC to just dabble in the media.
The former White House press secretary was up early Monday to appear on the 6 a.m. Eastern hour of "Morning Joe" and spoke to Lawrence O'Donnell on "Last Word" 16 hours later. She taped an appearance on Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" on CBS in between.
She's got a new show to promote — her Sunday series "Inside with Jen Psaki" premieres this weekend — yet that doesn't fully explain the busy schedule.
“When I look at Jen and her potential, she's absolutely a big part of our future,” said MSNBC President Rashida Jones. “You've seen that already.”
The network is banking on Psaki and her popularity with MSNBC's liberal audience. She's already taken a seat at the anchor desk on big events like midterm election night and her former boss' State of the Union address, and makes frequent appearances on day-to-day shows.
She will write a regular column for the network's morning newsletter and is developing a yet-to-be-described show for the Peacock streaming service.
Given that she reached the apex of her previous profession, there seems less chance she'll turn into one of those figures that jumps back and forth between politics and the media.
Psaki, who was spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department from 2013-2015 and was Barack Obama's last White House communications director before serving President Joe Biden, said she considers herself retired from the world of political and government communications.
“I'm not looking in the rearview mirror,” she said.
She's been concentrating on learning new skills, like reading a TelePrompter. Her previous jobs showed she was comfortable talking on camera; Jones has been watching carefully to see if she can fruitfully move a conversation along as an interviewer.
Skill at filibustering is less valued in her new profession.
“I've also been learning how to keep track of time,” Psaki said, “which sounds like a funny thing, but it turns out you can't just keep talking because they'll cut you off and have to end the show.”
Her new program, which will air at noon Eastern time, puts Psaki in the company of long-running Sunday public affairs shows like “Meet the Press” or “Face the Nation.”
There's an expectation in that territory that you'll have guests that can be pushed to produce news, not just the commentary that clogs many cable news hours.
“I think it will be a place where people will want to come and make news,” Jones said. “Jen has a way about her where people want to have a conversation with her and I think it will become a destination, not only for the top guests and newsmakers, but also for our audience.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams will be the first “Inside” guest on Weekend Routine, what Psaki plans as a regular feature to get to know a newsmaker in a less formal setting. She rides the subway with him and he makes them a smoothie in Gracie Mansion, along with answering questions about politics, immigration and crime.
In a future episode, she goes hunting for vinyl records with 26-year-old U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida.
Another planned segment, Don't Freak Out, has Psaki using her policy experience to explain why some stories aren't as big as they seem. “There's often a view that everything is a five-alarm fire, and it's not,” she said.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are also guests on her first show.
To make herself a true player in Sunday morning journalism, Psaki will need more than Democrats to appear. Psaki said she hopes her background explaining national security issues will make Republicans who want to talk about those issues comfortable on her show, for example.
She won't just interview people she agrees with “because I don't think that's very interesting,” she said.
Despite standing at a White House lectern defending President Joe Biden, Psaki said she understands that's no longer her role now that she's at MSNBC.
“I have made it clear when I think some things could have been handled better,” she said. “I'm not going to shy away from that. I'm also not going to shy away from the fact that I was proud to work for President Biden, proud to work for President Obama and Secretary (John) Kerry.”
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/jen-psaki-enters-tvs-weekend-fray-with-show-starting-sunday/GLH5NDO7TRBOLOTXQBBB4G2UKA/ | 2023-03-16 14:33:15 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/jen-psaki-enters-tvs-weekend-fray-with-show-starting-sunday/GLH5NDO7TRBOLOTXQBBB4G2UKA/ |
White House promises crackdown on migrant child labor
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Monday that it is creating a new task force to crack down on an explosion of the illegal exploitation of migrant children for labor in the U.S.
Hundreds of companies that employed nearly 4,000 children last year were found in violation of federal labor laws, a dramatic increase in the last five years.
The growing problem has put Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in the hot seat, with concerns mounting that migrant children have been discharged from shelters and out of federal custody too quickly, pushing them into vulnerable situations where they’re more likely to become victims of child labor.
In a new video that’s been circulating, first reported by The New York Times, the secretary urged his staff to discharge children from the federal government’s broken system of shelters faster.
“If Henry Ford had seen this in his plants, he would have never become famous and rich,” Becerra told staff during a meeting last summer in a recording. “This is not the way you do an assembly line.”
The Times’ investigation identified more than 100 migrant children, some as young as 12 years old, who say they’re working overnight shifts and dangerous jobs for companies big and small throughout the U.S.
President Joe Biden still has “full confidence” in Becerra, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday when asked about the secretary’s job in light of the new report.
“Of course the president does not believe that processing migrants should be treated like an assembly line, and neither does Secretary Becerra,” she said.
Becerra has long been viewed as an advocate for immigrants. He often talks about his own parents’ experience immigrating from Mexico to the U.S.
The administration has struggled with how to respond to a surge of migrants, including children who travel alone, at the U.S. border since Biden first took office. In the fiscal year that ended last September, migrants were stopped 2.38 million times, up 37% from 1.73 million times the year before. The total was more than twice the highest level during Donald Trump’s presidency in 2019.
HHS and the Department of Labor rolled out new policies and the task force on Monday, while also promising stronger follow up for children who are moved from shelters to live with sponsors in the U.S. The agency will help migrant children register for school. It will also now require staff to follow up with children who call the Office of Refugee Resettlement National Call Center to report safety concerns.
The Labor Department also threatened to halt the shipment of products made with child labor.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kbtx.com/2023/02/28/white-house-promises-crackdown-migrant-child-labor/ | 2023-02-28 02:33:06 | 0 | https://www.kbtx.com/2023/02/28/white-house-promises-crackdown-migrant-child-labor/ |
The University of Delaware will be playing in a newly named conference.
The Colonial Athletic Association has changed its name to the Coastal Athletic Association.
The association of schools located in nine states along the Atlantic seaboard announced the change on Thursday to reflect its recent expansion, with members spanning from Massachusetts to South Carolina. The league still will be referred to as the CAA and continue to use the same conference logo.
“Our new name is reflective of the conference’s continuity and unity, as well as each institutions’ commitment to be United in Excellence,” CAA Commissioner Joe D’Antonio said in a statement.
In the past two years, the CAA has added five new members to push its membership to 14 institutions, the highest in its nearly 40-year history. Hampton, Monmouth, North Carolina A&T and Stony Brook came aboard for the 2022-23 academic year, and Campbell joined this year. James Madison left last year to join the Sun Belt and play a higher level of football (FBS) .
The other schools in the association are the College of Charleston, Delaware, Drexel, Elon, Hofstra, North Carolina-Wilmington, Northeastern, Towson and William & Mary.
The CAA has has produced 18 national team champions in five different sports and 33 individual national champions.
The name change will carry over to the league’s football conference, which will be called the Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference but continue to be referred to as the CAA Football Conference. It has 15 members in 10 states from Maine to North Carolina.
Also in the league are Albany (N.Y.), Maine-Orono, New Hampshire, Richmond, Villanova, Delaware, Elon, Hampton, Monmouth (N.J.), Rhode Island, Stony Brook, Towson and William & Mary.
Twelve of the CAA’s current 15 football members have made the playoffs since 2015, and the league has had multiple teams in the FCS playoffs for the past 31 years. | https://www.wdel.com/sports/uds-athletic-conference-changes-its-name/article_6f8f1de8-272f-11ee-896a-6b5d78ca7cf6.html | 2023-07-22 14:02:34 | 1 | https://www.wdel.com/sports/uds-athletic-conference-changes-its-name/article_6f8f1de8-272f-11ee-896a-6b5d78ca7cf6.html |
- $7.4 Million in Net Sales
- $16.6 Million Total Cash as of September 30, 2022
- 85% Increase in Lab Grown Diamond Sales and 12% Decrease in Moissanite Sales on charlesandcolvard.com Versus the Year Ago Quarter
- Opened First Retail Signature Showroom Location in October
- Launched Lab Grown Diamond Couture and Signature Men's Collections
- Introduced Precious Colored Gemstone and Lab Grown Diamond Collection in October
- Conference Call with Accompanying Slide Presentation Scheduled Today at 4:30 PM ET
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Nov. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Charles & Colvard, Ltd. (Nasdaq: CTHR) (the "Company"), a globally recognized fine jewelry company specializing in lab created Made, Not Mined™ gemstones, reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 ("First Quarter Fiscal 2023"), with net sales of $7.4 million and net loss of $0.03 per diluted share.
"While we remained focused on the execution of our key strategic initiatives as our fiscal year began, we faced some softness, we believe due to the current macroeconomic environment, as well as higher shipping costs and unforeseen weather-related supply chain constraints," said Don O'Connell, President and CEO of Charles & Colvard. "Despite these conditions, this quarter we still reported the fourth highest comparable trailing twelve months revenue of over $40 million, all while maintaining $16.6 million in cash and cash equivalents and increased in-stock rates in support of the upcoming holiday season, which has traditionally been our busiest period."
"As we position ourselves to become a leading direct-to-consumer destination for the conscious consumer, we continued to make strategic investments in our systems and infrastructure, as well as our product assortment, with exciting new collections, including Couture, Signature Men's and, in October, our Precious Colored Gemstone and Lab Grown Diamond Collections that we believe will position us to capture a greater share of wallet appealing to a broader audience in the quarters to come," continued O'Connell.
"In addition, we are extremely excited to have opened in October our first retail Signature Showroom location at our Company headquarters in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, for those consumers who want to see our premium product in person. We believe that it remains imperative to stay top-of-mind for consumers who are seeking Made, Not Mined™ fine jewelry with a conscience, providing them with a superlative shopping experience," concluded Mr. O'Connell.
Recent Corporate Highlights
- Announced grand opening of the Company's first retail Signature Showroom location in October;
- Maintained recycled precious metals utilization of 99% for fiscal year 2022;
- Executed a successful Labor Day Sale, Diamond Event and End of Summer Sale;
- Launched new Couture, Signature Collection Men's Bands and, in October, our Created Color Collections in Caydia® lab grown diamond;
- Featured in twenty press publications, including BRIDES, JCK, the Robb Report, Yahoo!, Forbes, and National Jeweler; and
- As of September 30, 2022, 388,403 shares of the Company's common stock had been repurchased that are held in treasury stock for an aggregate purchase price of $489,979 dollars at an average purchase price per share of $1.26.
Financial Summary for First Quarter Fiscal 2023
(Quarter Ended September 30, 2022 Compared to Quarter Ended September 30, 2021)
- Net sales of $7.4 million for the quarter, a decrease of 28% from $10.3 million in the year-ago quarter.
- In the Online Channels segment, which consists of e-commerce outlets including charlesandcolvard.com, moissaniteoutlet.com, third-party online marketplaces, drop-ship retail and other pure-play, exclusively e-commerce outlets, net sales of $4.9 million, a decrease of 10% from the year-ago quarter, representing 66% of total net sales for the quarter, compared to $5.4 million, or 52% of total net sales in the year-ago quarter.
- In the Traditional segment, which consists of wholesale and retail customers, net sales of $2.5 million, a decrease of 49% from the year-ago quarter, representing 34% of total net sales for the quarter, compared to $4.9 million, or 48% of total net sales, in the year-ago quarter.
- Finished jewelry net sales of $5.5 million, a decrease of 3% for the quarter, compared to $5.7 million in the year-ago quarter.
- Loose jewel net sales decreased 60% to $1.8 million for the quarter, compared to $4.6 million in the year-ago quarter.
- Operating expenses increased 5% to $4.5 million for the quarter, compared to $4.3 million in the year-ago quarter, primarily due to increased investment in marketing strategies in preparation for the upcoming holiday season.
- Income tax benefit of $303,000 for the quarter, compared to an income tax expense of $123,000 in the year-ago quarter.
- Net loss was $890,000, or $0.03 loss per diluted share for the quarter, compared to net income of $827,000, or $0.03 earnings per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.
- Weighted average diluted shares outstanding were 30.4 million for the quarter, compared to 31.1 million in the year-ago quarter, partially driven by the impact of the effect of the Company's share repurchase program.
Financial Position
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $16.6 million as of September 30, 2022, representing a decrease of $4.6 million from $21.2 million as of June 30, 2022 and a $2.5 million decrease from the year ago quarter. Total inventory increased to $36.6 million as of September 30, 2022, compared to $33.5 million as of June 30, 2022. The Company had no debt outstanding as of September 30, 2022.
Investor Conference Call
Charles & Colvard will host an investor conference call and webcast presentation to discuss its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 3, 2022. The investor conference call and accompanying presentation slides will be webcast live and can be accessed in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://ir.charlesandcolvard.com/events.
To participate via telephone, callers should dial 877-879-1183 (U.S. toll-free) or 412-902-6703 (international) and enter participant access code 5026333 a few minutes before 4:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 3, 2022.
A replay of this conference call will be available until November 10, 2022 at 877-344-7529 (U.S. toll-free) or 412-317-0088 (international). The replay conference ID is 5444392. The call will also be available for replay in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://ir.charlesandcolvard.com/events.
About Charles & Colvard, Ltd.
Charles & Colvard, Ltd. (Nasdaq: CTHR) believes fine jewelry can be accessible, beautiful and conscientious. Charles & Colvard is the original creator of lab grown moissanite, a rare gemstone formed from silicon carbide. The Company brings revolutionary gemstones and jewelry to market through its pinnacle Forever One™ moissanite brand and its premium Caydia® lab grown diamond brand. Consumers seek Charles & Colvard fashion, bridal and fine jewelry because of its exceptional quality, incredible value and shared beliefs in environmental and social responsibility. Charles & Colvard was founded in 1995 and is based in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park region. For more information, please visit www.charlesandcolvard.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. Statements expressing expectations regarding our future and projections relating to our products, sales, revenues, and earnings are typical of such statements and are made under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, representations, and contentions and are not historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "continue," and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently.
All forward-looking statements are subject to the risks and uncertainties inherent in predicting the future. You should be aware that although the forward-looking statements included herein represent management's current judgment and expectations, our actual results may differ materially from those projected, stated, or implied in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors including, but not limited to, (1) our business and our results of operations could be materially adversely affected as a result of general economic and market conditions; (2) our future financial performance depends upon increased consumer acceptance, growth of sales of our products, and operational execution of our strategic initiatives; (3) the effects of COVID-19 and other potential future public health crises, epidemics, pandemics or similar events on our business, operating results, and cash flows are uncertain; (4) we face intense competition in the worldwide gemstone and jewelry industry; (5) our information technology, or IT, infrastructure, and our network may be impacted by a cyber-attack or other security incident as a result of the rise of cybersecurity events; (6) constantly evolving privacy regulatory regimes are creating new legal compliance challenges; (7) we are subject to certain risks due to our international operations, distribution channels and vendors; (8) our business and our results of operations could be materially adversely affected as a result of our inability to fulfill orders on a timely basis; (9) we are currently dependent on a limited number of distributor and retail partners in our Traditional segment for the sale of our products; (10) we may experience quality control challenges from time to time that can result in lost revenue and harm to our brands and reputation; (11) seasonality of our business may adversely affect our net sales and operating income; (12) our operations could be disrupted by natural disasters; (13) sales of moissanite and lab grown diamond jewelry could be dependent upon the pricing of precious metals, which is beyond our control; (14) our current customers may potentially perceive us as a competitor in the finished jewelry business; (15) we depend on a single supplier for substantially all of our silicon carbide, or SiC, crystals, the raw materials we use to produce moissanite jewels; if our supply of high-quality SiC crystals is interrupted, our business may be materially harmed; (16) if the e-commerce opportunity changes dramatically or if e-commerce technology or providers change their models, our results of operations may be adversely affected; (17) governmental regulation and oversight might adversely impact our operations; (18) the execution of our business plans could significantly impact our liquidity; (19) the financial difficulties or insolvency of one or more of our major customers or their lack of willingness and ability to market our products could adversely affect results; (20) negative or inaccurate information on social media could adversely impact our brand and reputation; (21) we rely on assumptions, estimates, and data to calculate certain of our key metrics and real or perceived inaccuracies in such metrics may harm our reputation and negatively affect our business; (22) we may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property, which could harm the value of our products and brands and adversely affect our business; (23) environmental, social, and governance matters may impact our business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations; (24) if we fail to evaluate, implement, and integrate strategic acquisition or disposition opportunities successfully, our business may suffer; (25) some anti-takeover provisions of our charter documents may delay or prevent a takeover of our Company; (26) we cannot guarantee that our share repurchase program will be utilized to the full value approved, or that it will enhance long-term stockholder value and repurchases we consummate could increase the volatility of the price of our common stock and could have a negative impact on our available cash balance; and (27) our failure to maintain compliance with The Nasdaq Stock Market's continued listing requirements could result in the delisting of our common stock, in addition to the other risks and uncertainties described in more detail in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur except as required by the federal securities laws, and you are urged to review and consider disclosures that we make in the reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, that discuss other factors relevant to our business.
- Financial Tables Follow -
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SOURCE Charles & Colvard, Ltd. | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/11/03/charles-amp-colvard-reports-first-quarter-fiscal-year-2023-financial-results/ | 2022-11-03 21:09:32 | 0 | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/11/03/charles-amp-colvard-reports-first-quarter-fiscal-year-2023-financial-results/ |
(NewsNation) — Prices soared 9.1% in June as American consumers continue to face rising grocery bills and surging fuel costs. The latest consumer price hike announced Wednesday is the largest 12-month increase since 1981.
“This is much worse than anyone expected and there will have to be some aggressive action from the Federal Reserve to rein this in,” said NewsNation contributor Lydia Moynihan.
As bad as they are, the numbers are sure to leave many wondering: How can prices be up only 9.1%?
It’s because the core measure of inflation, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), represents the average change in prices across a variety of goods and services.
In some categories, such as fuel and groceries, prices have risen more than 9.1%. In others, like some electronics, prices are actually lower than at this time last year.
How do we know this? Each month, hundreds of government price checkers visit stores in 75 urban areas across the country and record the costs of specific items.
Those prices are collected from about 6,000 housing units and approximately 22,000 retail establishments, including department stores, supermarkets, hospitals and filling stations, among others.
So which prices are up the most? Here’s a breakdown:
Grocery Prices
Prices at the grocery store are up 12.2%, and depending on what you usually buy, your weekly bill may be even higher. Categories such as milk (up 16.4%) and eggs (up 33.1%) have risen faster than most food items.
One bit of good news: foods such as fresh fruits (up 7.3%) and vegetables (up 6.5%) have risen at slower rates than the average.
Energy Prices
Americans have likely noticed the biggest price hikes at the gas pump, where the cost of regular fuel has risen 61.1% in the last year. In some ways, it’s the most important indicator because the cost of fuel impacts the price of nearly everything you see at the store.
“Fuel costs are too high, diesel is too high. Everything that you buy gets to you in a truck,” said Melissa Armo, founder of The Stock Swoosh LLC.
Other Goods and Services
For the millions of Americans traveling this summer, the cost of lodging (up 11.5%) and airfare (34.1%) have soared well above the average for all goods and services.
Other industries that have been impacted by post-pandemic supply chain disruptions, like new cars (up 12.5%) and household furniture (up 15.4%), have seen prices rise faster than most.
Where Prices are Down
If you’re in the market for a new TV or smartphone, then you’re in luck, as prices have actually fallen in those categories, decreasing 12.7% and 20%, respectively. The same goes for sporting event tickets, which are down 6.1% from last year.
Inflation has continued to climb as the economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, making consumers increasingly anxious about a potential recession. A measure of consumer confidence has reached its lowest point in 16 months, with Americans’ outlook darkened by inflation fears, especially gas and food prices. | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/national-news/inflation-whats-costing-you-more-and-less/ | 2022-07-14 14:21:58 | 0 | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/national-news/inflation-whats-costing-you-more-and-less/ |
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday evening's drawing of the New York Lottery's "Pick 10" game were:
01-03-05-13-16-19-21-23-28-30-35-41-46-51-58-64-71-72-76-79
(one, three, five, thirteen, sixteen, nineteen, twenty-one, twenty-three, twenty-eight, thirty, thirty-five, forty-one, forty-six, fifty-one, fifty-eight, sixty-four, seventy-one, seventy-two, seventy-six, seventy-nine) | https://www.expressnews.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Pick-10-game-17628042.php | 2022-12-03 03:26:06 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Pick-10-game-17628042.php |
Angler Lea Anne Powell caught the fish of a lifetime.
She was fishing on Texas’s O.H. Ivie Lake in February when she caught a huge largemouth bass. The International Game Fish Association just confirmed her catch, saying Powell has earned herself a world record for catching the biggest largemouth bass in the women’s 12-pound line class. The previous fish caught in this category was almost 3 pounds lighter.
The IGFA offers various line classes, including 4 pounds, 8 pounds, 12 pounds and 16 pounds. Powell told local news station KETK that she was using a 10-pound Seaguar Red Label line, which actually tests up to 12 pounds — as proven by her accomplishment. Basically, the line weight determines the size of the fish that can be caught.
Powell was accompanied by her friend, professional fishing guide Dalton Smith, when she caught the bass. On the first day of their fishing trip, she caught a fish that was more than 10 pounds. On their second day out, she was trying to use an underwater sonogram tool called LiveScope. The big bass was hooked 45 feet from the boat and 15 feet down.
“If anybody knows fishing at all, that’s a very hectic situation,” Powell told KETK. “Anytime I would get her close to the boat, she would start taking off and kept nosing down so I was having to adjust the drag when she would take off running.”
MORE: Blood-sucking sea lampreys on the rise in the Great Lakes again
In this Let’s Talk Fishing podcast, she describes the entire experience in detail, including her battle with the fish. It includes some jargon, but you’ll get the idea.
Once they got the fish on the boat, they took it to a local gas station and RV park to get it weighed on an IGFA-certified scale.
“Y’all. I upgraded again. This time with a 12.03lber!!! So close to the share lunker we have been after! This man knows his stuff,” Powell posted on her Instagram page. “We’ve had such a blast fishing together the past few days! Can’t wait to see what the rest of the season produces.”
You can see Powell’s excitement in real time on her Instagram here as she eagerly takes her fish to be weighed. And now, after a three-month application process, she has the official seal of approval from the IGFA.
Powell started fishing after her parents died in 2015. It was a pastime they loved, and when she moved to the Middle East, a friend asked her to come along on a fishing trip. She discovered she had a knack for it. So she has been continuing that tradition on her own.
If you look at her social media, you’ll see that the comments include some negative remarks about her achievement. However, this woman is no stranger to breaking barriers in male-dominated fields. She used to be a race car driver, a profession in which she had trouble getting people to believe in her because she was a woman, she told Crash Jewelry.
So, she’s used to the criticism and doesn’t let it get her down.
“For every no I’m getting told and every word of discouragement, it pushes me and drives me to go harder and go faster and deeper into my tournaments,” she told KETK. “You can’t make a record, you can’t catch a fish unless you have a line in the water and do what you can to not let any negativity get you down. Turn those negatives into positives and let them motivate you to get out there and fish and just catch ’em up!”
For as for the largemouth bass, it was released back into the lake, which is known for its large-sized fish. And if you’d like to support women who fish and compete for world records, check out the International Women’s Fishing Association.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Check out Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.kxlf.com/angler-set-new-record-12-pound-largemouth-bass | 2023-07-07 16:35:29 | 0 | https://www.kxlf.com/angler-set-new-record-12-pound-largemouth-bass |
President Biden heads to Nevada to talk about lowering prescription drug prices
In his 2024 federal spending plan, the president called on Congress to lower the cost of insulin for all Americans to $35.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - President Biden will be speaking in Las Vegas, Nev. Wednesday about his plan to lower prescription drug costs.
On Tuesday, Novo Nordisk said they would slash their prices for insulin by 75 percent. This comes two weeks after Eli Lilly promised to lower the cost of the drug at $35 a month for all. The White House praised both decisions.
The president will focus on getting drugmakers and congressional Republicans on board with his plan to make the price of insulin the same for all Americans.
“These are critical wins for the American people, and we are looking forward to talking to the American people about this work that we’re doing across the board to lower drug costs,” said Christen Linke Young, Deputy Assistant to the President for Health and Veterans Affairs.
When the president signed the Inflation Reduction Act last year, it gave Medicare more power to negotiate prescription drug prices and capped the cost of insulin for seniors at $35 a month.
Linke Young said, “We were delighted to see two of the major insulin manufacturers in this country respond to the president’s call.”
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) said, “Nevadans pay way too much for prescription drugs, forcing many people to make difficult decisions about whether to take their medications or put food on the table. I’ve made it a priority to fight for lower prescription drug prices by helping change the law to allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug costs and cap the costs of insulin for seniors. I’ll keep working in the Senate to ensure we lower prescription drug costs for all Nevadans.”
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) commented, “I fought to lower health care costs for Nevadans, and we’ve already made progress capping the cost of insulin for seniors and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’ll keep working with the administration to bring real relief to Nevada families.”
However, the pharmaceutical lobby thinks the president is looking at the issue the wrong way. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, said drug manufacturers are not to blame for high costs of prescription drugs. Rather, PhRMA blames Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs, that serve as the middlemen between the companies and the patients.
“Because there’s probably no other supply chain in the world that takes up 50% of the cost. And a lot can be done to try and push those discounts and rebates back down to the patients who need them,” said PhRMA COO Lori Reilly.
Reilly also said, between the Inflation Reduction Act and President Biden’s budget, the president’s policies are having and will have long-term devastating impacts on future research and development for medicines.
“He’s doubling down, and I would argue making it much worse by shortening the amount of time that companies will be allowed to be on the market before the government intervenes. And sets that’s the price of it,” Reilly said.
The White House said it is willing to explore all areas to lower costs for drugs in the face of rising inflation and will not stop until Americans can afford their medications.
Copyright 2023 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/03/15/president-biden-heads-nevada-talk-about-lowering-prescription-drug-prices/ | 2023-03-15 16:24:41 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/03/15/president-biden-heads-nevada-talk-about-lowering-prescription-drug-prices/ |
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RIGL) today announced that it will report its second quarter 2022 financial results after market close on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Rigel senior management will follow the announcement with a live conference call and webcast at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (1:30 p.m. Pacific Time) to discuss the financial results and give an update on the business.
Participants can access the live conference call by dialing 877-407-3088 (domestic) or 201-389-0927 (international). The conference call and accompanying slides will also be webcast live and can be accessed from the Investor Relations section of the company's website at www.rigel.com. The webcast will be archived and available for replay for 90 days after the call via the Rigel website.
About Rigel
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a biotechnology company dedicated to discovering, developing and providing novel small molecule drugs that significantly improve the lives of patients with hematologic disorders, cancer and rare immune diseases. Rigel's pioneering research focuses on signaling pathways that are critical to disease mechanisms. The company's first FDA approved product is TAVALISSE® (fostamatinib disodium hexahydrate) tablets, the only oral spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitor for the treatment of adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia who have had an insufficient response to a previous treatment. The product is also commercially available in Europe, the United Kingdom (TAVLESSE) and Canada (TAVALISSE) for the treatment of chronic immune thrombocytopenia in adult patients.
Fostamatinib is currently being studied in a Phase 3 clinical trial (NCT03764618) for the treatment of warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA)1; a Phase 3 clinical trial (NCT04629703) for the treatment of hospitalized high-risk patients with COVID-191; and an NIH/NHLBI-sponsored Phase 3 clinical trial (ACTIV-4 Host Tissue Trial, NCT04924660) for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients.
Rigel's other clinical programs include its interleukin receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) inhibitor program, and a receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase (RIPK) inhibitor program in clinical development with partner Eli Lilly and Company. In addition, Rigel has product candidates in development with partners BerGenBio ASA and Daiichi Sankyo.
For further information, visit www.rigel.com or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.
Please see www.TAVALISSE.com for the full Prescribing Information.
1The product for this use or indication is investigational and has not been proven safe or effective by any regulatory authority.
Investor Contact:
Jodi Sievers
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Phone: 650.624.1232
Email: ir@rigel.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/rigel-announces-conference-call-webcast-report-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-business-update/ | 2022-07-26 13:44:14 | 0 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/rigel-announces-conference-call-webcast-report-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-business-update/ |
The president of Belarus has pardoned the girlfriend of a dissident journalist arrested in 2021 after being pulled off a commercial flight that was diverted to the country, a Russian governor reported Wednesday.
President Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree freeing Sofia Sapega, Primorsk Gov. Oleg Kozhemyako said on Telegram. He said Sapega’s parents had asked for leniency after her conviction and sentencing last June to six years imprisonment. She had been awaiting transfer to a prison in her native Russia.
Her boyfriend, Raman Pratasevich, was convicted last month and sentenced to eight years in prison after their dramatic arrest in May 2021 elicited outrage in the West, with some leaders saying the plane’s diversion was tantamount to state-sponsored hijacking. Lukashenko subsequently pardoned Pratasevich.
Belarusian flight controllers ordered the Ryanair jetliner traveling from Greece to Lithuania to land in Minsk, telling the crew there was a bomb threat against the flight. No explosives were found on board once the airliner was on the ground, but Pratasevich, a Belarusian citizen who lived in exile at the time, was detained.
In response to the forced diversion, several Western countries imposed a raft of new sanctions and barred their planes from flying over Belarus.
Pratasevich ran Nexta, a Telegram channel widely used by participants in mass protests against the disputed 2020 election that gave authoritarian Lukashenko a sixth term in office. Pratasevich was charged with organizing unrest and plotting to seize power.
Three days after Sapega’s sentencing for inciting social hatred and illegal collection of personal data, a message on a Telegram channel billed as belonging to Pratasevich sought to distance him from her — saying they had separated long before and that he was married to someone else.
The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify whether the post was freely written by Pratasevich or any of the claims it contained. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/belarus-leader-pardons-woman-arrested-with-her-dissident-journalist-boyfriend-in-plane-incident/ | 2023-06-07 23:07:19 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/belarus-leader-pardons-woman-arrested-with-her-dissident-journalist-boyfriend-in-plane-incident/ |
Mountain Top 10 - October 24, 2022
Published: Oct. 24, 2022 at 6:57 PM EDT|Updated: 49 minutes ago
HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - With only one week left in the regular season, our Alice Lloyd College Mountain Top 10 has a newcomer.
- Corbin
- Southwestern
- Pikeville
- Pulaski County
- Johnson Central
- Bell County
- Lawrence County
- Belfry
- Letcher Central
- Shelby Valley
Copyright 2022 WYMT. All rights reserved. | https://www.wymt.com/2022/10/24/mountain-top-10-october-24-2022/ | 2022-10-24 23:49:04 | 0 | https://www.wymt.com/2022/10/24/mountain-top-10-october-24-2022/ |
The majority of developing nations are set to miss out on the economic benefits of booming green technologies, slowing progress toward their climate goals and widening the inequality gap between rich and poor countries, a United Nations report warned Thursday.
The U.N.’s agency for trade and development, or UNCTAD, said that unless the international community and national governments actively tend to green tech industries in developing countries, the benefits associated with lower-emission technologies will be near inaccessible for many poorer nations particularly in Latin America, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa.
“We are at the beginning of a technological revolution based on green technologies,” said UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan. “Developing countries must capture more of the value being created in this technological revolution to grow their economies.”
Electric vehicles, solar and wind energy and green hydrogen are projected to reach a market value of $2.1 trillion by 2030, four times higher than they’re worth today. The industries are set to explode as nations try and limit their planet-warming emissions to try and curb warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius (2.7 to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
Countries like Mexico, the Philippines and Vietnam were part of a few countries singled out in the report as emerging nations with policies that will enable them to develop some of their green technology sectors for the future. It also pointed to Brazil’s bioethanol industry and Chile’s green hydrogen potential as examples of successful clean energy industry takeoffs.
The report outlines more than a dozen technologies, including gene editing, blockchain, nanotechnologies and renewable power that are currently being used or developed mostly by industrialized nations. The body has made an urgent appeal to reform existing global trade and intellectual property transfer rules to allow developing countries to harness their own green industries and also be able to access technologies developed in richer states.
“Developing countries need agency and urgency in coming up with the right policy responses” to help the growth of green technology in their own nations, said Shamika Sirimanne, UNCTAD’s director of technology. Sirimanne urged developing nations to adopt innovation and energy policies that would propel their clean energy and technology industries.
The report found that total exports of green technologies from the industrialized north almost tripled from $60 billion in 2018 to over $156 billion in 2021. In comparison, Global South exports rose from $57 billion to $75 billion in the same time period.
High income nations like the United States, Sweden, Singapore and Switzerland dominated the report’s ranking of countries ready for the massive boom in the industry and are primed to benefit the most from spiking investments in green technology.
___
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://www.wdtn.com/news/business/ap-business/dont-leave-global-south-out-of-green-tech-growth-un-warns/ | 2023-03-16 15:55:55 | 1 | https://www.wdtn.com/news/business/ap-business/dont-leave-global-south-out-of-green-tech-growth-un-warns/ |
Beyond Meat on Thursday reported better-than-expected fourth quarter sales despite flagging consumer demand and lower prices.
The plant-based meat maker said its revenue fell 21% to $80 million in the October-December period. Still, that beat Wall Street’s expectations. Analysts polled by FactSet were forecasting revenue of $75.8 million.
Beyond Meat’s shares jumped 14% in after-hours trading.
The El Segundo, California-based maker of plant-based burgers, sausages, nuggets and other products said its sales volumes continued to decline despite price cuts in the U.S. and Europe. The strong dollar also hurt profits from abroad, the company said.
Beyond Meat’s net loss narrowed to $66.9 million for the quarter, or $1.05 per share. That also beat Wall Street’s forecast of a $1.18 per-share loss.
Beyond Meat President and CEO Ethan Brown said the company is seeing progress in its drive to cut costs and manufacturing complexity. Beyond Meat cut 200 jobs __ or 19% of its workforce __ in October and has narrowed its North American contract manufacturers from eight to three. It also reduced inventory.
Those savings __ along with easing costs for raw ingredients __ should help Beyond Meat tackle one of its most persistent problems: the high cost of its products relative to animal-based meat. On Thursday, Walmart was advertising Beyond Meat burgers at $9.68 per pound; lean ground beef was $5.86 per pound.
High prices were one the reasons for a broader slowdown in demand for fresh plant-based meats like burger patties and sausages last year, as shoppers confronted overall inflation at the grocery. U.S. sales of fresh meat alternatives fell 11% in 2022, wiping out the 11% gain they had seen in 2021, according to NielsenIQ.
Brown said the “drummed-up misperception” that plant-based meats are over-processed and unhealthy has also hurt sales, and the company intends to do more marketing and outreach to consumers about the health benefits of a plant-based diet, including lower cholesterol.
Brown also said Beyond Meat plans new products with improved taste this year. The company got a boost this month when McDonald’s introduced plant-based McNuggets in Germany. The McNuggets are the second product McDonald’s has co-produced with Beyond Meat; it also sells a McPlant burger in several European markets.
“This category will win over time on three things. It will win around taste. It will win around a proper understanding of the health benefits that our products provide. And on price,” Brown told investors during a conference call Thursday.
Beyond Meat said it expects net revenue in the range of $375 million to $415 million this year, which would be lower than the $418 million in reported in 2022.
The company said grocery price inflation and concerns about a recession could hurt sales in the first half, but it should see some improvement as the year progresses. | https://www.wdtn.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-beyond-meat-beats-q4-forecasts-despite-flagging-sales/ | 2023-02-24 21:58:58 | 0 | https://www.wdtn.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-beyond-meat-beats-q4-forecasts-despite-flagging-sales/ |
Nissan throughout the month of February will host an event at its headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, showcasing its future endeavors, particularly in the area of sustainable mobility.
Called Nissan Futures, the event will also see the display of a concept car that Nissan first presented in virtual form in 2021.
The concept is the Max-Out, a roadster that was shown alongside the Surf-Out pickup truck, Hang-Out SUV, and Chill-Out coupe-like crossover concepts in 2021 to tease potential designs for the brand’s upcoming EV portfolio. Nissan plans 15 EVs across the Nissan and Infiniti brands by 2030, with the first expected in 2025.
Nissan hasn’t mentioned production plans for any of the four concepts listed above, though the automaker’s design chief, Alfonso Albaisa, told Motor Authority in a 2022 interview that his design team was investigating an electric pickup truck. An executive representing Nissan dealerships has since revealed that Nissan is studying an electric truck for the U.S.
The sleek, low-slung Max-Out likely has the least chance of making it to production, out of the four concepts. Nissan has rolled out several electric sports car concepts over the years, some promised for production but never materializing.
The Nissan Futures event runs Feb. 4 to Mar. 1. Joining the Max-Out at the event will be Nissan’s developments in electrification, vehicle intelligence, power management, vehicle battery reuse, V2V and V2X communications, and more.
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- Tesla subpoenaed by Justice Department for full self-driving | https://who13.com/automotive/internet-brands/nissan-electric-sports-car-concept-to-headline-sustainable-mobility-event/ | 2023-02-03 06:49:06 | 0 | https://who13.com/automotive/internet-brands/nissan-electric-sports-car-concept-to-headline-sustainable-mobility-event/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is asking Congress to provide more than $37 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine, a massive infusion of cash that could help support the nation as Russian forces suffer battlefield losses in their nine-month-old invasion.
The administration’s funding request, which comes as lawmakers begin their post-election session, also seeks $9.25 billion in COVID-19 funding to prepare for a possible winter surge and help combat the virus nationwide. Government funding expires in mid-December, and the Ukraine and COVID aid would be part of the package to fund the government through the end of September 2023.
The request for such a sizable amount of money for Ukraine comes as the GOP is poised to take control of the House following the midterm elections. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, who is in line to become speaker, has warned that Republicans wouldn’t support writing a “blank check” for Ukraine if they capture the majority.
Shalanda Young, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said that more than three-fourths of the $40 billion approved by Congress earlier this year for Ukraine has already been disbursed or committed. The Biden administration has asked for a total of $37.7 billion in support.
“Together, with strong, bipartisan support in the Congress, we have provided significant assistance that has been critical to Ukraine’s success on the battlefield — and we cannot let that support run dry, ” Young said in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The proposed Ukraine assistance includes $21.7 billion for military, intelligence and other defense support, $14.5 billion in humanitarian aid and to help keep the Ukrainian government functioning, $900 million for health care and support services for Ukrainians living in the U.S. and $626 million for nuclear security support to Ukraine and for modernizing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
U.S. aid to Ukraine has already included tens of thousands of missiles and rockets for air defense and anti-armor systems, and more than 84 million rounds of ammunition, as well as drones, tanks, trucks, radars, body armor and other gear.
Ukrainian leaders have begged for more advanced, longer-range weapons, but the U.S. has been careful to not provide systems that would allow Ukrainian forces to strike deep into Russia or hit Moscow.
In recent months the U.S. assistance has centered on air defense systems and a constant stream of ammunition. Those systems have been critical in helping Ukrainian forces mount a massive counteroffensive that has been able to beat back the advances of Russian forces in the south and east and recapture key territory.
The retaking of Kherson, the only provincial capital captured by the Russians, was one of Ukraine’s biggest successes in the nearly nine-month-old Russian invasion. It dealt a stunning battlefield loss to Moscow, but large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine remain under Russian control and fighting continues.
Russian airstrikes have been targeting civilian infrastructure, including power grids, and they are causing widespread blackouts around the country. The attacks appear aimed at leaving Ukrainian civilians in the cold and dark as winter approaches.
Biden sought $13.7 billion in emergency funding in September, and signed a bill that authorized roughly $12 billion and kept the government funded.
House Foreign Affairs committee chairman Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., said the new emergency request was “urgent to make sure that we get them everything that we can possibly get into the omnibus so that they have the weapons to continue the momentum moving through the winter.”
He expressed concerns that Ukraine funding could be jeopardized with the GOP in charge of the House.
“I would hope that if they do take over, that their leadership will get them in line so that we can preserve democracy and not allow Russia to win,” he said.
The coronavirus funding ask is considerably lower than the previous request of $22 billion, which reflects in part the changing nature of the virus and the continued effort to combat it, but also the reluctance among Republicans in Congress to continue to fund COVID-19 efforts.
The request includes $2.5 billion for vaccines and therapeutics, $5 billion to support development of new vaccines, $750 million to support research into long COVID and $1 billion to combat the virus internationally.
The request also includes $400 million in funding for smallpox vaccines used for monkeypox response, and $350 million for hepatitis C and to help prevent HIV.
A request for additional disaster relief funding should come soon but isn’t yet finalized, White House officials said.
___
Associated Press Writers Lolita C. Baldor and Kevin Freking contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-biden-asks-for-more-than-37-billion-in-ukraine-aid/ | 2022-11-16 06:25:31 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-biden-asks-for-more-than-37-billion-in-ukraine-aid/ |
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis was hospitalized with a lung infection Wednesday after experiencing difficulty breathing in recent days and will remain in the hospital for several days of treatment, the Vatican said.
The 86-year-old pope doesn’t have COVID-19, spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement late Wednesday.
The hospitalization was the first since Francis spent 10 days at the Gemelli in July 2021 to have 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed.
It immediately raised questions about Francis’ overall health, and his ability to celebrate the busy Holy Week events that are due to begin this weekend with Palm Sunday.
Bruni said Francis had been suffering breathing troubles in recent days and went to the Gemelli hospital for tests.
“The tests showed a respiratory infection (COVID-19 infection excluded) that will require some days of medical therapy,” Bruni’s statement said.
Francis appeared in relatively good form during his regularly scheduled general audience earlier Wednesday, though he grimaced strongly while getting in and out of the “popemobile.”
Francis had part of one lung removed when he was a young man due to a respiratory infection, and he often speaks in a whisper. But he got through the worst phases of the COVID-19 pandemic without at least any public word of ever testing positive.
Francis had been due to celebrate Palm Sunday this weekend, kicking off the Vatican’s Holy Week observances: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and finally Easter Sunday on April 9. He has canceled all audiences through Friday, but it wasn’t clear whether he could keep the Holy Week plans.
Francis has used a wheelchair for over a year due to strained ligaments in his right knee and a small knee fracture. He has said the injury was healing and been walking more with a cane of late.
Francis also has said he resisted having surgery for the knee problems because he didn’t respond well to general anesthesia during the 2021 intestinal surgery.
He said soon after the surgery that he had recovered fully and could eat normally. But in a Jan. 24 interview with The Associated Press, Francis said his diverticulosis, or bulges in the intestinal wall, had “returned.” | https://www.ksn.com/news/national-world/vatican-pope-to-be-hospitalized-for-days-for-lung-infection/ | 2023-03-29 21:10:10 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/national-world/vatican-pope-to-be-hospitalized-for-days-for-lung-infection/ |
Dutch court bans sperm donor who fathered at least 550
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch court on Friday banned a man from donating any more of his sperm after he fathered at least 550 children in the Netherlands and other countries and misled prospective parents about the number of offspring he helped to conceive.
A judge at The Hague District Court ordered the halt in an injunction brought by the parents of a child conceived with the donor’s sperm and a foundation representing other parents.
The court noted that under Dutch guidelines, sperm donors are allowed to produce a maximum of 25 children with 12 mothers and that the donor lied to prospective parents about his donation history.
The donor, identified as Jonathan M. under Dutch privacy guidelines, provided sperm to several Dutch fertility clinics and to a clinic in Denmark as well as to many other people he connected with through advertisements and online forums, the court said in its written judgment.
The donor’s lawyer said in a court hearing that he wanted to help parents who would otherwise be unable to conceive.
The judge who heard the civil case said that the donor “deliberately lied about this in order to persuade the parents to take him as a donor,” the court said in a statement.
“All these parents are now confronted with the fact that the children in their family are part of a huge kinship network, with hundreds of half-siblings, which they did not choose,” the court said, adding that this “has or could possibly have negative psychosocial consequences for the children. It is therefore in their interest that this kinship network is not extended any further.”
The court said in a statement that the case was about “conflicting fundamental rights. On the one hand, the right to respect for the privacy of the parents and the donor children … and on the other hand, the same right of the donor.”
The court ruled that “the interests of the donor children and their parents outweigh the interest of the donor in continuing to donate sperm to new prospective parents.”
The court ordered him immediately to halt all donations and said he must pay 100,000 euros ($110,000) per case if he breaches the ban. | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/04/28/dutch-court-bans-sperm-donor-who-fathered-at-least-550/ | 2023-04-28 12:12:57 | 1 | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/04/28/dutch-court-bans-sperm-donor-who-fathered-at-least-550/ |
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The Fresno Mission announced Monday that their warming center is open indefinitely.
For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Fresno Mission opened its doors this winter as a warming center. Their warming centers will remain open while temperatures remain below 39 degrees. Individuals needing warmth are given a bed, blanket, and use of restrooms. It is open to anyone that is experiencing any type of homelessness.
Since the opening, officials say they have seen an average of 50 people per night staying in their warming center.
The warming center opens every night at 8:30 p.m. and is located at 263 G Street in Fresno. For more information, you can reach out via phone at (559) 268-0839 or visit their website. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/fresno-mission-opens-warming-center-indefinitely/ | 2022-11-15 02:16:48 | 0 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/fresno-mission-opens-warming-center-indefinitely/ |
The number of low-income, uninsured Maine adults dropped roughly 5% in the year after the state expanded Medicaid.
Ann Woloson of Consumers for Affordable Health Care says a new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is good news for people who gained coverage as well as for Maine's health care infrastructure.
"We always tend to talk about the consumers or the people who are gaining coverage, but it's a much bigger picture when you think about the health care providers who are benefiting as well, especially in rural areas of the state," she says.
The report also found that the overall uninsured rate in the U.S. dropped to an all time low of 8% in the first quarter of this year, due in part to coverage available under the Affordable Care Act's online marketplace.
Woloson says she hopes the data will bolster Congressional efforts to extend a temporary increase in subsidies for marketplace plans that were issued under the American Rescue Plan. | https://www.mainepublic.org/health/2022-08-02/the-number-of-uninsured-low-income-maine-adults-declined-5-in-the-year-after-medicaid-expansion | 2022-08-02 22:41:53 | 1 | https://www.mainepublic.org/health/2022-08-02/the-number-of-uninsured-low-income-maine-adults-declined-5-in-the-year-after-medicaid-expansion |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Kansas State has dominated the summer recruiting circuit, locking in verbal commits from 2023 Maize High quarterback Avery Johnson and Derby running back Dylan Edwards.
But many may not know that the friendship between the families goes way farther back than just these two athletes.
“I’m 50 years old. I’ve only known a couple of guys for 50 years, and Leon Edwards is one of them.”
Mark Johnson, Avery’s father, was also an influence on both on the field.
“You know, I coached them in little league football,” added Johnson. “So, to watch the boys do amazing things in little league football. And then to watch them do their respective special things with Avery being a quarterback and Dylan being a running back in high school. They’ve done some things we might not see for a while.”
When Dylan Edwards committed to Kansas State in June, he told the crowd the first thing he was going to do was recruit others to Manhattan. Just a couple of weeks later, Edwards’ job was a success when Avery verbally committed to K-State.
“I mean, we already have chemistry,” Edwards said. “He’s one of my best friends. I’m at his house all the time. We hang out all the time, so I know playing on the field with him is just going to be special.”
Avery says it was actually another school that convinced him to join Edwards at K-State.
“I got down to Oregon, and you know they asked me what I really want from a program and to make my decision from there,” Avery explained. “And I feel like that really opened my eyes. It didn’t really help them out very much, but it ended up helping Kansas State out.”
Now both athletes are going to look to add even more talent to the Wildcat roster.
“I think this is going to start it even more,” Edwards said. “I started it off, and I think he’s going to start it even more, and it’s going to boom, and we’re going to have the number one recruiting class K-State has ever had.” | https://www.ksn.com/sports/competitive-drive/k-states-stellar-recruiting-class-highlighted-by-longtime-friends/ | 2022-07-08 12:24:19 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/sports/competitive-drive/k-states-stellar-recruiting-class-highlighted-by-longtime-friends/ |
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A wide variety of research and technology development payloads sponsored by the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory will soon launch to the orbiting laboratory. These payloads are among the more than 4,700 pounds of cargo onboard SpaceX's 25th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission (contracted by NASA), launching no earlier than 8:44 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 14, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
The ISS National Lab-sponsored research on this mission is intended to bring value to our nation and stimulate a robust market in low Earth orbit. Payloads include research in the areas of biomedical and physical sciences, advanced materials, and fluid dynamics, along with technology demonstrations and student-led investigations. Examples include the following:
- A tissue chip investigation from the University of California, San Francisco will examine the relationship between immune function, healing outcomes, and aging. Results could help lead to new treatment options for elderly and immunocompromised patients on Earth. This is one of multiple experiments on this mission funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, a center within the National Institutes of Health. These investigations utilize tissue chips, which are small devices containing human cells that model the structure and function of human tissues. Using tissue chips in space, researchers aim to improve disease modeling for more accurate drug testing.
- Multiple projects funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation will study fluids in the unique microgravity environment. This includes a project from Arizona State University that could potentially improve drug development by creating and testing predictive models of flow between proteins to better understand hydrodynamics. Many processes that affect the behavior of fluids on Earth, such as convection, sedimentation, and buoyancy, are absent in microgravity, allowing researchers to study fluids in ways not possible on Earth.
- A student-led investigation will test a new technique that could be used to detect waterborne pathogens on the space station and in remote locations on Earth. This project is part of the Genes in Space educational program, which holds an annual competition for students in grades 7 through 12 to propose genetics-related experiments leveraging the ISS National Lab.
- Continued research from Procter & Gamble's (P&G) Tide research and development team will evaluate the viability of cleaning detergents for use in space and the development of low-resource-use laundry solutions for more sustainable, everyday products on Earth. As part of P&G's ambition to develop a highly effective detergent solution for resource-constrained environments, the company will continue its space-based research to evaluate key ingredients found in Tide To Go Pens and Tide To Go Wipes.
- An investigation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will test the functional performance and resiliency of a fabric that simultaneously senses and protects in the extreme space environment. Such fabric could be integrated into spacesuits or the exterior of spacecraft to provide data on damage from debris impact. This and other investigations on this mission will utilize the extreme environment of space to put new materials to the ultimate durability test.
In the coming days, the ISS National Lab will share even more news highlighting these investigations and others that are part of the SpaceX CRS-25 mission. For a complete video and to learn more about all payloads sponsored by the ISS National Lab on SpaceX CRS-25, please visit our mission overview page.
Image: SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from SpaceX CRS-22
The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Lab allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit www.ISSNationalLab.org.
Media Contact:
Patrick O'Neill
904-806-0035
PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org
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SOURCE ISS National Lab | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/international-space-station-national-lab-sponsoring-diverse-set-experiments-launching-spacex-crs-25/ | 2022-07-06 21:09:34 | 0 | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/international-space-station-national-lab-sponsoring-diverse-set-experiments-launching-spacex-crs-25/ |
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong will scrap its mandatory isolation rule for people infected with COVID-19 starting Jan. 30 as part of its strategy to return the semi-autonomous Chinese city to normalcy, the city’s leader said Thursday.
For most of the pandemic over the last three years, Hong Kong has aligned itself with mainland China’s “zero COVID” strategy, requiring those who test positive to undergo quarantine. Many residents had to be sent to hospitals or government-run quarantine facilities even when their symptoms were mild.
Currently, infected persons are allowed to isolate at home for a minimum of five days and can go out once they test negative for two consecutive days. After the rule is dropped, a mask mandate will be the only major COVID-19 restriction left in the city.
Chief Executive John Lee told lawmakers he made the decision based partly on the city’s high vaccination and infection rates, saying the local community has a strong “immunity barrier.”
“As most infected persons only suffer mild symptoms, the government should shift from a clear-cut, mandatory approach to one that allows residents to make their own decisions and take their own responsibilities when we manage the pandemic,” he said.
He said it is a step all countries make on their paths to normalcy and that Hong Kong has reached this stage now, adding that the city’s pandemic situation has not worsened since it started to reopen its border with mainland China about two weeks ago.
Edwin Tsui, the controller of the Centre for Health Protection, said people with asymptomatic infections can go out freely or return to their workplace, but infected students should not go to school until they obtain a negative test result. Those who suffer from COVID-19 symptoms should avoid leaving home, he said at a news conference.
Residents will no longer need to report to the government when they self-test positive, and doctors will be asked to only report serious cases and deaths, he added. The government will only publish daily data on the number of deaths and people who test positive using PCR tests.
“We will monitor COVID-19 similar to the way we monitor influenza. It is an endemic respiratory disease,” he said.
Hong Kong’s daily tally has fallen to about 4,000 cases from 19,700 over the past two weeks. With many infected residents only having mild symptoms, most choose to isolate at home. The figures don’t include those who never report their cases but stay at home to avoid spreading the virus to others.
The city has one government-run facility in operation for those who are unable to quarantine at home, according to a government reply to a lawmaker’s inquiries on Wednesday. A daily average of about 150 people requested to go to the facility this week, Tsui said.
Hong Kong, which once had some of the world’s strictest COVID-19 rules, has been easing its restrictions to revive its economy, including removing an isolation rule for close contacts of those who test positive for COVID-19 and vaccination requirements to enter certain types of venues. | https://www.wane.com/health-2/ap-health/ap-hong-kong-to-scrap-isolation-rule-for-new-covid-19-cases/ | 2023-01-19 13:28:03 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/health-2/ap-health/ap-hong-kong-to-scrap-isolation-rule-for-new-covid-19-cases/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Frankie Policelli's 30 points and 16 rebounds led Stony Brook over N.C. A&T 76-61 on Saturday night in the second round of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament.
Tyler Stephenson-Moore scored 14 points and added six rebounds and five assists for the Seawolves (11-21).
Kam Woods led the Aggies (13-19) in scoring, finishing with 25 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Tyrese Elliott added 11 points and four steals for N.C. A&T. In addition, Duncan Powell finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Policelli scored 10 points in the first half and Stony Brook went into the break trailing 31-28. Policelli's 20-point second half helped Stony Brook close out the 15-point victory.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/stony-brook-knocks-off-n-c-a-t-76-61-in-caa-17820597.php | 2023-03-05 05:32:24 | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/stony-brook-knocks-off-n-c-a-t-76-61-in-caa-17820597.php |
Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 now in Senate’s hands
In late July, the House sent the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 to the Senate for a vote.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Before the end of the year, the Senate could vote on the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 which proposes the right to keep and bear arms is not unlimited.
In late July, the House sent the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 to the Senate for a vote.
Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth is one of several lawmakers calling for tougher gun laws.
“They want to see more legislation to get these weapons of war off the streets of our cities, and I couldn’t agree with them more,” Sen. Duckworth.
As a leading voice in the Second Amendment community, Amanda Suffecool disagrees.
Her group, DC Project, advocates for firearms education not legislation.
“If somebody is going to break the law to perform a mass shooting there are already laws that are being broken,” said Suffecool.
Suffecool is calling for an expansion in mental health programs and for educators to receive violence response training.
In Detroit, Michigan which is about 50 minutes from the site of the 2021 deadly Oxford High mass shooting, resident Lafaye Jenkins says responsible gun ownership is key to saving lives.
“I know it’s a personal thing,” said Jenkins. “The thing about it is it needs to be checked into although it’s yours personally because we don’t want one person’s physical, mental, everything has to be intact. It’s not a toy.”
In order to make it to the president’s desk, the legislation needs at least 10 Republican votes to bypass the filibuster process.
President Biden calls a ban on certain semi-automatic guns “common sense.” As a senator, he passed the original ban in 1994.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/08/17/assault-weapons-ban-2022-now-senates-hands/ | 2022-08-17 15:37:07 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/08/17/assault-weapons-ban-2022-now-senates-hands/ |
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Myah Selland scored 14 of her 25 points in a dominating fourth quarter to help South Dakota State upset No. 10 Louisville 65-55 in Monday's fifth-place game at the Battle 4 Atlantis.
It marked the highest-ranked opponent the program has beaten since moving to Division I for the 2004-05 season.
The 6-foot-1 sixth-year forward helped the Jackrabbits (4-2) regroup after blowing most of a 17-point third-quarter lead against the Cardinals' defensive pressure. She did just about everything, scoring 10 of the team's final 11 points over the last four minutes.
She also finished with 11 rebounds for the game, including diving on the floor to snag one late that kept a possession alive and ultimately led to her twisting bucket in the lane for a 62-52 lead with 1:24 left.
Hailey Van Lith scored 26 points for the Cardinals (4-2), though no other Louisville players scored in double figures. South Dakota State also beat Louisville by 17 on the glass (41-24).
The loss meant that all three ranked teams entering the Atlantis tournament lost at least twice in three days. No. 23 Tennessee lost to eventual champion UCLA — which entered the AP Top 25 poll Monday at No. 20 — and Gonzaga, while Louisville also lost to the Zags.
No. 19 Texas lost to Marquette and Louisville, and still must face Rutgers in Monday night's seventh-place game.
BIG PICTURE
Louisville: This was a perplexing trip for coach Jeff Walz, who reached his fourth Final Four last year. The Cardinals were beaten badly on the glass in both of their losses. It was also a three-day trip that had him questioning his team's competitiveness in key moments.
South Dakota State: Aaron Johnston is in his 23rd season as coach and has established the Jackrabbits as a strong mid-major program with 10 NCAA Tournament bids, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2019. Add another milestone to the list with this win; South Dakota State has never beaten a team ranked higher than 12th, most recently at Syracuse in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
UP NEXT
Louisville: The Cardinals host Longwood on Friday.
South Dakota State: The Jackrabbits travel to Washington State next Monday.
___
Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap
___
AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/South-Dakota-State-women-upset-No-10-Louisville-17602491.php | 2022-11-22 02:23:14 | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/South-Dakota-State-women-upset-No-10-Louisville-17602491.php |
Man dead following multi-vehicle crash on Lincoln Memorial Drive
Drake Bentley
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A man is dead following a multi-vehicle crash Thursday near the city's lakefront, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office said.
The Milwaukee Fire Department said another person was transported to a hospital following the crash, which happened near North Lincoln Memorial Drive and East Water Tower Road shortly after 1 p.m.
The Milwaukee Police Department have not released a statement. Neither have the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, which handles law enforcement for parks, including Bradford Beach.
Multiple vehicles, with airbags deployed, could be seen at the scene, including a taxi cab with a traffic signal pole on top of it.
This story will be updated. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2023/05/11/man-dead-following-multi-vehicle-crash-on-lincoln-memorial-drive/70209177007/ | 2023-05-11 21:00:48 | 0 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2023/05/11/man-dead-following-multi-vehicle-crash-on-lincoln-memorial-drive/70209177007/ |
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The PokerGO Tour® (PGT®) is doubling down for its season-ending event and offering a $1,000,000 prize pool for the 2023 PGT Championship.
The top 40 ranked players on the PGT will earn a seat to the 2023 PGT Championship as well as a select group of "Dream Seat" winners. The Dream Seats, awarded via special events and promotions, grant players exclusive entry to compete in the PGT Championship inside the iconic PokerGO Studio.
Qualifying players will begin the PGT Championship with starting chip stacks based on leaderboard points earned throughout the season and no fewer than 100 big blinds. The player who finishes the 2023 PGT season with the most leaderboard points will be named PGT Player of the Year and awarded a $50,000 prize.
"The PGT is committed to growing the game at the highest levels and celebrating the best players in the world," said Mori Eskandani, President of PokerGO®. "Not only will the PGT Championship see the game's best players and brightest stars compete for a $1,000,000 prize pool, but it will provide an exclusive group of PGT Championship Dream Seat winners with an opportunity of a lifetime to compete in one of poker's most prestigious events."
In addition to the $1,000,000 PGT Championship prize pool and $50,000 season-long leaderboard prize, series leaderboard bonuses of $50,000 will be awarded for each of the PokerGO Cup, U.S. Poker Open, and Poker Masters, and $25,000 for each of the PGT Mixed Games and PGT PLO Series. In total, the PGT is offering $1,250,000 in additional prize money to players.
The 2023 PGT season begins on January 11 with the PokerGO Cup. The full schedule of 2023 PGT events can be found at PGT.com/schedule.
For the latest news regarding the PGT, please visit PGT.com.
PokerGO® is the world's largest poker content company delivering industry-leading programming around the world to consumers. PokerGO delivers more than 100 days of live poker annually. PokerGO's video-on-demand library includes original content that provides unmatched access to the world of poker. For more information, visit http://www.pokergo.com/. Become a part of the PokerGO community on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Discord.
Contact:
Donnie Peters
donnie@pokergo.com
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SOURCE Poker Go | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2023/01/05/2023-pgt-season-award-1250000-players-culminating-with-pgt-championship-1000000-freeroll/ | 2023-01-05 23:41:16 | 0 | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2023/01/05/2023-pgt-season-award-1250000-players-culminating-with-pgt-championship-1000000-freeroll/ |
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Andrew Wiggins walked into the press conference room, wearing a blue Warriors T-shirt, accompanied by general manager Bob Myers.
And, just like that, as the final moments of the regular season tick away, the Golden State Warriors are finally -- or at least almost finally -- complete.
“Once Andrew is back and playing it will have that feeling of being complete,” Steve Kerr said. “It’s just great to have Andrew back in the building.”
And maybe his presence gave the Warriors a little extra emotional boost, when they needed it most.
“He has such good energy, positive energy,” Jordan Poole said. “He is such a bright light and has an amazing spirit. It’s dope to be around him. It was definitely good to have him back.”
When the critical game against Oklahoma City tipped Tuesday night, Wiggins was there on the bench, wedged between Moses Moody and Donte DiVincenzo, who went on to have huge games. Wiggins was introduced on the big screen and the fans stood and applauded the welcome sight.
“Everyone’s happier when Wiggs is around,” Kerr said.
On a night when the Warriors gave up 79 points in the first half, the prospect of the cavalry coming in the form of an elite defender and high-level scorer was encouraging.
The Warriors won the much-needed game 136-125 with a second-half comeback, to move into fifth place in the Western Conference standings for the moment. With Wiggins in the house and Gary Payton II contributing big down the stretch, it felt like the team is finally about to be whole. Just in time for the postseason.
Wiggins isn’t ready to play, but Tuesday was a first step. It was the first time since Feb. 13 that Wiggins was with the team. He missed 22 games and 48 days, away with what he only described as a family matter. There have been reports that his father Mitchell has been very ill, but Wiggins declined to elaborate on Tuesday.
“I’d rather just keep that private,” Wiggins said. “You know when you’re in a certain situation and your family needs you, your attention and your love, that’s my first priority. Family is always first.”
And is the situation stable now?
“I felt like I was in a safe space to come back,” he said. “It’s not fully settled but, you know, I was in a place where I could say, ‘Fine. Come back.’”
This has clearly been an agonizing ordeal for Wiggins and an extraordinary situation for the Warriors, without one of their best players as they fight for a playoff berth. Not due to injury or suspension but due to an unspecified family matter, with no timetable for his return.
His unexplained absence led to wild speculation, cruel rumors and confusion over whether he would be back at all. But the Warriors – the front office, the coaches and the players – all had Wiggins’ back. They protected his privacy.
“I want to say thank you to Joe, Bob. Steve and the whole Warriors organization,” Wiggins said. “The organization gave me space. And thank you for respecting my privacy.”
On a team with plenty of big personalities, Wiggins is happy staying in the background. He is extremely quiet, extraordinarily private.
The team owed him some protection, which Myers alluded to by saying, “he's made sacrifices personally for this organization.”
When it leaked at the start of last season that Wiggins was not vaccinated for COVID-19 and may not be able to play for the Warriors at Chase, it became a very public story. Wiggins certainly had the right to feel his privacy was violated by the leak, and though he ultimately got vaccinated, he wasn’t happy about it. And his private life was exposed.
Wiggins went on to be a vital part of the team’s fourth championship, playing two-way basketball at the highest level in the first extended playoff run of his career and fitting in seamlessly with the team.
“One of the reasons he’s so beloved in the locker room is that everybody recognizes that he’s just a very kind person,” Kerr said. “And we’ve missed that.”
“The uniform,” Myers said, “isn’t the most important thing to those of us who know him.”
“Kudos to the organization for caring about the players and letting us deal with life,” Payton said. “I was just happy to see his face.”
Wiggins arrived at Chase with a new haircut and looking a bit leaner.
Wiggins said he watched as many games as he could while he was away, so he’s well aware of the agonizing journey the team has been on.
“It’s not hard for me to watch,” he said. “Every night they went out there and competed.”
He said he worked out a lot during his absence, getting up shots in a gym, lifting and running on a treadmill.
“It helped take your mind off what was happening,” he said.
But it’s not playing in the NBA. He got on the court with coaches on Tuesday afternoon. Kerr said the team would take Wiggins’ fitness “day by day.” Which is kind of how the Warriors must take everything right now, with just two regular season games left, their position still a question mark, and every possession meaningful.
“This season has mostly been about searching and trying to find combinations, trying to find momentum and traction,” Kerr said. “It’s been a challenge, but our guys have hung in there. And they’ve put themselves in a position where we can accomplish our goals.”
With Wiggins back in the fold, those goals seem much more tangible.
Reach Ann Killion: akillion@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @annkillion | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/annkillion/article/warriors-welcome-andrew-wiggins-back-putting-17879039.php | 2023-04-05 05:56:05 | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/annkillion/article/warriors-welcome-andrew-wiggins-back-putting-17879039.php |
Willie borrows Snoop and Martha's EZ Reach lighter to light up his "favorite herb…scent"
SHELTON, Conn., Jan. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BIC, a world leader in stationery, lighters, and shavers, welcomes music icon Willie Nelson to its legendary and viral BIC®EZ Reach® advertising campaign featuring entertainment superstar Snoop Dogg and lifestyle innovator Martha Stewart with Marquee Brands. Now in its third year, the campaign's latest iteration, "Most Borrowed Lighter," reinforces the pocket-sized lighter's 1.45-inch extended wand that helps light hard-to-reach places and is inspired by a powerful consumer insight: EZ Reach lighters are so useful that friends and family tend to "borrow" them for their own lighting needs.
The "Most Borrowed Lighter" campaign debuts this month across streaming TV networks, social media and digital content hubs. The creative agency is Doner CX, the media agency is Merkley+Partners and the talent agency is Gamma Communications.
"Consumers love this cheeky campaign and how BIC EZ Reach lights candles and "more" while helping to keep fingers away from flames," said Katty Pien, Vice President of Marketing for BIC North America. "Adding Willie into this playful dynamic with Snoop and Martha will expand the campaign's appeal by welcoming Willie's fans to join in the fun."
"Most Borrowed Lighter" - :15 and :30 second spots
In "Most Borrowed Lighter," Willie Nelson uses a BIC EZ Reach to light up a fat…candle just as he gets a surprise video call from Snoop who has misplaced his beloved EZ Reach lighter. Martha then joins the call to report that her scented candle is missing. While Willie denies seeing their items, it becomes clear that he "borrowed" them from Snoop and Martha. Willie is seen chuckling mischievously as he lights up a candle with his "favorite herb scent" (-ed candle). The ad is available on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest and will be shared on Willie, Snoop and Martha's social channels. The spot is just the beginning of the BIC EZ Reach partnership with Willie, Snoop and Martha, which will continue throughout 2023. Learn more and watch the ad here.
Please see previous campaign below for reference:
BIC Partners With Ultimate Duo Snoop Dogg And Martha Stewart For EZ Reach® Lighter Ad Campaign
Three's Company: Martha Stewart, Snoop Dog and Willie Nelson
"The BIC EZ Reach lighter's unique design helps to light those hard-to-reach places, whether you are lighting a candle or something else," said Willie Nelson. "I'm thrilled to partner with BIC and my friends Martha and Snoop to show off the many ways the BIC EZ Reach lighter is ideal for all lighting occasions."
"Snoop and I have had so much fun demonstrating the versatility of the EZ Reach lighter," said Martha Stewart. "And we are thrilled to welcome Willie into the fun."
"As someone who uses a lighter almost every day, I find the BIC EZ Reach to be safe and reliable, fo shizzle my nizzle," said Snoop Dogg. "Our love for this frequently borrowed household staple is one of the many things that my best friend Martha, Willie and I have in common."
The BIC EZ Reach lighter launched in August 2020 with incredible success, outperforming comparable products in the marketplace and securing distribution at major retailers. EZ Reach lighters are currently available in six designs: Classic BIC colors, Camouflage, Home Decor, Favorites Designs, Martha Stewart designs, and Snoop Dogg designs. The lighters are available at major retailers in-store and online and on BIC.com.
A world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers, BIC brings simplicity and joy to everyday life. For more than 75 years, the Company has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable, essential products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world and feature iconic brands such as BIC Flex™, Soleil®, EZ Reach™, BodyMark™, Cello®, Djeep ®, Lucky ® Stationery, Rocketbook ®, Tipp-Ex®, Us.TM, Wite-Out®, Inkbox™ and more. In 2021, BIC Net Sales were 1,831.9 million euros. The Company is listed on "Euronext Paris," is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and education. It received an A- Leadership score from CDP. For more, visit about.bic.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube
Contact:
Taylor Gerard
917-903-1583
taylorg@mbooth.com
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SOURCE BIC | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2023/01/17/bic-welcomes-willie-nelson-most-borrowed-lighter-ez-reach-lighter-ad-campaign-with-martha-stewart-snoop-dogg-its-lit/ | 2023-01-17 17:09:11 | 0 | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2023/01/17/bic-welcomes-willie-nelson-most-borrowed-lighter-ez-reach-lighter-ad-campaign-with-martha-stewart-snoop-dogg-its-lit/ |
A boutique travel advisory dedicated to providing industry-best culture, technology, and practices to independent travel advisors.
NEW YORK, Jan. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Forty years in the making, the Liben Family is combining legacy and luxury with the introduction of Chai Travel, an innovative and family-oriented full-service travel company (www.ChaiTravel.com) focusing on high-end leisure and small-to-midsize corporate travel.
Chai Travel was first formed in early 2022 by Michael Liben, Rebecca Liben Levy, and Daniella Liben Pally, the children of Barry Liben, former CEO of Tzell Travel and Travel Leaders. After spending 2022 building a core team and platform, Chai Travel is launching its efforts to attract both established and up-and-coming travel advisors that share its vision of a boutique, attentive, and fun host agency.
In addition to the Liben family, Chai's core team includes industry veterans with over 60 years of industry experience. David Buda will serve as the company's first President, having previously spent more than 35 years as the Executive Vice President of Tzell Travel. Kristine Taras signed on as the Director of Advisor Services and brings 25 years of experience supporting travel advisors, most recently at Travel Leaders' GTC division.
Chai has already secured an affiliation with Virtuoso, the high-end leisure network. In addition, through its partnership with First In Service Travel, Chai has access to premiere hotel partnerships, including Four Seasons, Peninsula, and Mandarin Oriental.
Michael Liben, CEO and co-founder of Chai Travel said "industry consolidation has created a need for independent host agencies and Chai Travel is uniquely positioned to fill that need. We provide advisors with the tools, relationships, and technology they need without sacrificing the family-oriented atmosphere that they want."
Liben continued, "we had a front-row seat to the dedication, heart, and vision that our father brought to his work in the travel business. His guiding principles were simple: put the advisors first, give them everything they need to succeed, and make sure you have some fun along the way. We started Chai Travel to continue that winning strategy."
Contact Information:
Chai Travel Advisors
Michael Liben
212-287-4033 x101
Michael@ChaiTravel.com
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SOURCE Chai Travel Advisors | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/01/09/liben-family-launches-chai-travel-next-generation-bespoke-travel/ | 2023-01-09 15:48:27 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/01/09/liben-family-launches-chai-travel-next-generation-bespoke-travel/ |
HOUSTON, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nutex Health Inc. ("Nutex Health" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: NUTX), a physician-led, technology-enabled healthcare services company comprised of a hospital division with 21 facilities in 8 states and a primary care-centric, risk-bearing population health management division, today announced two new fully operational micro hospitals.
The first hospital, New Braunfels ER & Hospital, is in New Braunfels, Texas, located about 30 miles northeast of San Antonio. The state-of-the-art facility is open 24/7, 365 days a year, and includes an emergency room with 9 private exam rooms staffed with board-certified physicians and 4 private inpatient beds. The hospital provides both adult and pediatric care, and has the most advanced imaging and laboratory equipment, including CT, X-Ray and ultrasound with rapid radiological reports.
The second hospital, East Valley ER & Hospital, is in Gilbert, Arizona, located about 21 miles southeast of Phoenix. The state-of-the-art hospital is open 24/7, 365 days a year, and includes an emergency room with 14 private exam rooms and 14 private inpatient beds. The hospital provides both adult and pediatric care, and has the most advanced imaging and laboratory equipment, including MRI, CT, X-Ray and ultrasound.
Nutex currently anticipates opening 3 more facilities in 2022, with another 17 facilities either under construction or in advanced planning stages and anticipated to open in 2023 and 2024. There can be no assurance that these additional facilities will open in the anticipated timing or that they will open at all.
Nutex micro hospitals focus on ensuring that patients receive a premium patient experience. Our hospitals feature short ER wait times averaging 15 minutes from entering the door to seeing a physician, high-quality care, lower nursing- and physician-to-patient staffing ratios and faster discharge times. Physicians, nurses and other employees are incentivized to provide quality, compassionate care to their patients. Nutex micro hospitals consistently have better outcomes and high patient satisfaction scores, with well over 1000 five-star Google reviews.
"We are excited to continue to expand Nutex's network of micro hospitals across the country," stated Tom Vo, M.D., MBA, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nutex Health. "Both New Braunfels and Gilbert are vibrant and rapidly growing suburbs of major metropolitan areas. Our goal is to provide high-quality acute medical care to the populations of these communities."
"Entering the medical field, my goal was always to try to revolutionize the way healthcare is delivered to our patients. Our unique model allows physicians and nurses to retake control of patient care," stated Trey Allen, M.D., Medical Director at New Braunfels ER & Hospital. "We are committed to working with the community to make sure they can receive the healthcare they deserve."
"As physicians, we saw how healthcare was being delivered, and we felt we could do better. We felt the humanity and compassion were absent from many medical interactions. We value and respect our patients, and treat them as family," stated Daniel Stites, M.D., Medical Director at East Valley ER & Hospital.
About Nutex Health Inc. (Combined post-merger company)
Headquartered in Houston, Texas and founded in 2011, Nutex Health Inc. is a physician-led, technology-enabled healthcare services company with approximately 1500 employees nationwide and is partnered with over 800 physicians. The Company has two divisions a Hospital division and a Population Health Management division. The hospital division owns and operates 21 facilities in eight different states. The division implements and operates different innovative health care models, including micro hospitals, specialty hospitals and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). The Population Health Management division owns and operates provider networks such as Independent Physician Associations (IPAs). Through our Management Services Organizations (MSOs), we provide management, administrative and other support services to our affiliated hospitals and physician groups. Our cloud-based proprietary technology platform aggregates clinical and claims data across multiple settings, information systems and sources to create a holistic view of patients and providers, allowing us to deliver greater quality care more efficiently.
Safe Harbor:
Certain statements and information included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words or phrases "will", "will likely result," "expected to," "will continue," "anticipated," "estimate," "projected," "intend," "goal," or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks, known and unknown, and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Such uncertainties and risks include the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction, significant transaction costs and unknown liabilities and litigation and regulatory risks related to the transaction. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to additional uncertainties and risks facing the Company, including but not limited to, economic conditions, dependence on management, dilution to stockholders, lack of capital, changes in laws or regulations, the effects of rapid growth upon the Company and the ability of management to effectively respond to the growth and demand for products and services of the Company, newly developing technologies, the Company's ability to compete, conflicts of interest in related party transactions, regulatory matters, protection of technology, lack of industry standards, the effects of competition and the ability of the Company to obtain future financing. Such factors could materially adversely affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed within this press release.
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SOURCE Nutex Health, Inc. | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/nutex-health-announces-two-new-fully-functional-micro-hospitals/ | 2022-05-16 09:39:52 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/nutex-health-announces-two-new-fully-functional-micro-hospitals/ |
WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, April 22, 2023
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SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
856 PM CDT Sat Apr 22 2023
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL LLANO COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
south central Texas.
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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/tx-wfo-austin-san-antonio-warnings-watches-and-17913066.php | 2023-04-23 02:21:28 | 1 | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/tx-wfo-austin-san-antonio-warnings-watches-and-17913066.php |
Weather Alert Day: Snow chances continue into Thursday with breezy conditions
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - A winter storm system will sweep through the southern half of the 1011 region Wednesday through Thursday morning bringing the chance for snow accumulation to the area. Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories will continue throughout Thursday depending on location.
Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories for areas along and south of the I-80 corridor will sometime between Thursday morning to Thursday evening, depending on location. When it is all said and done, snowfall potential will likely be confined to areas along and south of the I-80 corridor with the bulk of the snowfall expected along the southern border. There will be a sharp cutoff of snowfall potential for areas along and north of the I-80 corridor.
The bulk of the snowfall in the southern tier of the 1011 region will fall in the overnight hours, Wednesday night into Thursday morning. The band of snow will push eastward through the overnight and linger in southeastern Nebraska by sunrise. Breezy to windy conditions are expected through the overnight hours, winds will be between 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35-40 mph. Therefore, patchy blowing snow is possible through the overnight.
Thursday morning through the afternoon a lingering snow or flurries are possible but come the early afternoon skies will dry up and clear out. Therefore, mostly sunny to partly cloudy are possible by the time we hit the second half of the day. Overall, cloud cover will decrease throughout the day. It will be a breezy day with winds between 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph. With the being said, there is the chance for patchy blowing snow in the southern half of the state throughout the day.
As for temperatures, expected snowpack on the ground will cause the cool conditions to be even cooler over the next few days.
Low temperatures Thursday morning will be chilly in the single digits to teens, however with winds between 15 to 20 mph and gust to 35 mph, it will feel much colder due to wind chill. Wind chill values will be as cold as 5 below to the single digits. As mentioned above, breezy conditions may also cause blowing and drifting snow on the roads and create limited visibilities for areas along and south of I-80.
By Thursday afternoon, highs will be well below average across the state... in the upper 20s to low 30s. Highs will be coldest in the southeast and along the southern border, where we will see some snow on the ground. It will be a breezy day as well; winds will be between 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.
As we head into the overnight on Thursday skies will be mostly clear with lights winds causing temperatures to take a drop into the single digits to lower teens. Wind chills may be as cold as 5 to 10 below, even with just a light wind around 5 mph.
Weather conditions will quiet down by Friday. Skies will be mostly sunny with a light breeze between 5 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph. High temperatures will be warmer than Thursday and span the mid 30s to mid 40s. Temperatures will be coolest in the southeast, where we are expecting to see Wednesday night and Thursday snow accumulation.
Temperatures will warm through the weekend and into the start of the new week with mostly to partly cloudy skies. Next Tuesday and Wednesday will bring the slight chance for precipitation and cooler temperatures in to the 30s.
Copyright 2023 KOLN. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2023/02/15/weather-alert-day-snow-chances-continue-into-thursday-with-breezy-conditions/ | 2023-02-15 23:08:54 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2023/02/15/weather-alert-day-snow-chances-continue-into-thursday-with-breezy-conditions/ |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s national police says the death toll from a Russian missile strike on a convoy of cars on the outskirts of Zaporizhzha has risen to 30 people, including children.
Police said 88 people were wounded in Friday’s S-300 missile attack on a column of vehicles that Ukrainian officials said were to ferry relatives back to safety from Russian-occupied territory.
Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of Zelenskyy’s office said four of 16 S-300 missiles that were launched had struck the convoy area, causing impact craters several meters (feet) deep near cars whose windows had all been blown out. Some of the dead lay on the ground covered by trash bags, blankets and towels, while others remains in their vehicles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on his Telegram channel Friday that only “terrorists” would target civilians and accused Russia of trying to seek revenge against Ukraine for its “steadfastness” and to make up for its own battlefield failures.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS:
— Ukraine accelerates NATO bid as Russia annexes seized areas
— US hits Russia with sanctions for annexing Ukrainian regions
— Russian strike kills 25 as Kremlin to annex Ukraine regions
— EXPLAINER: A deep dive into risks for undersea cables, pipes
— Finnish border closed to Russians with tourist visas
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
KYIV — A Ukrainian army officer says Ukrainian forces have recaptured the village Drobysheve, situated in the Donetsk region some four kilometers (2.5miles ) from the Russian-occupied city of Lyman.
Anatolii Shtefan posted a video on his Facebook account Friday showing soldiers from the 81st Airmobile Brigade holding the Ukrainian flag amid destroyed buildings in the village that he said had been liberated.
Russian and Western analysts said Friday Ukrainian forces have likely encircled the Russian-occupied city of Lyman as Kyiv pushes on in an eastern offensive.
Lyman, a city some 160 kilometers (100 miles) southeast of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, had been a key node for ground communications and Russian military operations in the region.
If Ukraine takes Lyman, that allows Kyiv to push into Russian-occupied Luhansk, which just took part in Moscow’s internationally criticized, gunpoint referendums.
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BRUSSELS — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the 30-member military alliance has conveyed to Russia that there would be “severe consequences” if it uses nuclear weapons against Ukraine.
But Stoltenberg was non-committal on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to make a fast-track application for Ukraine for NATO membership.
He told reporters Friday NATO leaders “support Ukraine’s right to choose its own path, to decide what kind of security arrangements it wants to be part of” but that a decision on membership has to be taken by all 30 members.
Stoltenberg said NATO’s focus now is “providing immediate support to Ukraine.”
He also rejected Russia’s “illegal and illegitimate” annexation of four regions of Ukraine, calling it “the largest attempted annexation of European territory by force since the Second World War.”
Asked whether Ukrainian troops should refrain from attacking the annexed regions – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia – Stoltenberg said: “they can defend themselves, they can also continue to liberate territory.”
Stepping back, he said, would be to “accept nuclear blackmailing.”
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BERLIN — The Group of Seven leading economies has condemned Moscow’s annexation of occupied Ukrainian territory as “a new low point in Russia’s blatant flouting of international law.”
The G-7 called the move “another example of Russia’s unacceptable violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty, the UN Charter, and the commonly agreed principles and commitments of the Helsinki Final Act and the Paris Charter.”
The group, which includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, said they “will never recognize these purported annexations, nor the sham ‘referenda’ conducted at gunpoint.”
The G-7 said it would impose further economic costs on Russia, and on individuals and entities – inside and outside of Russia – “that provide political or economic support to these violations of international law.”
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LONDON — Britain has imposed a raft of new sanctions on Russia, including a freeze on the assets of the country’s central bank governor, following the illegal annexation of four Ukrainian regions.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly also summoned Russian Ambassador Andrey Kelin to protest the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The sanctions include freezing the personal assets of central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina, who has been instrumental in steering the Russian economy since the invasion of Ukraine and extending the ruble into Ukrainian territory under Russian control. She will also be barred from traveling to the U.K.
The U.K. is also working with the U.S. and other allies to prevent Russian entities from accessing a range of professional services around the world. British companies will be barred from providing services such as auditing, advertising, engineering, some types of legal advice and information technology consulting services to Russian firms.
Britain also imposed bans on the export of an additional 700 products to Russia.
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WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has dismissed Putin’s claim blaming the West for damage to the Nord Stream pipelines conveying Russian gas to Germany as outlandish.
White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said “Russia’s disinformation” won’t distract the U.S. or the rest of the world “from its transparently fraudulent attempt to annex sovereign Ukrainian territory.”
Earlier Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of sabotaging the Russia-built gas pipelines.
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KYIV — Thousands of people gathered in Moscow for a concert at Red Square, celebrating the illegal annexation of Ukrainian lands.
Many waved large Russian flags as performers from Russia and occupied regions of Ukraine took to the stage to sing patriotic songs hailing Russia’s greatness.
Multiple Russian media reports said that people working for state-run companies and institutions were told to attend the concert, and students were reportedly allowed to skip classes so they can attend.
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Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is urging Western countries to stop Russia’s “aggressive imperial authoritarianism, endlessly inflicted by Russia upon itself.”
In an opinion article the Washington Post published Friday, Navalny wrote that if Ukraine wins the war with Western support, Putin “will vow to create an army so strong and weapons of such unprecedented power that the West will rue the day it defied us, and the honor of our great ancestors will be avenged.”
Navalny said Russian citizens should establish a parliamentary republic leading to “a radical reduction of power in the hands of one person, the formation of a government by a parliamentary majority, an independent judiciary system, a significant increase in the powers of local authorities.”
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WASHINGTON — The U.S. is sanctioning more than 1,000 people and firms connected to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including its Central Bank governor and families of Security Council members.
Friday’s decision comes a few hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed treaties absorbing occupied regions of Ukraine into Russia, in defiance of international law.
The Treasury Department named hundreds of members of Russia’s legislature, leaders of the country’s financial and military infrastructure and suppliers for sanctions designations. The Commerce Department added 57 companies to its list of export control violators, and the State Department added more than 900 people to its visa restriction list.
President Joe Biden said Putin’s actions “have no legitimacy” and that the new financial penalties will impose costs on people and companies inside and outside of Russia “that provide political or economic support to illegal attempts to change the status of Ukrainian territory.”
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KYIV — Ukraine’s president says his country is submitting an “accelerated” application to join the NATO military alliance.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement Friday came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed treaties to annex occupied areas of Ukraine the he warned would protect using “all available means.”
Zelenskyy said “we are taking our decisive step by signing Ukraine’s application for accelerated accession to NATO.”
The Ukrainian leader’s NATO application adds another layer of complexity to the seven-month old conflict that rapidly escalated following Putin’s announcement of annexing parts of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also repeated his pledge to retake all Ukrainian territory now held by Russia which he said “feels our power.” He also said Ukraine is ready for dialogue with Moscow but “with another president of Russia.”
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BRUSSELS — The European Union’s 27 member states say they “firmly reject and unequivocally condemn the illegal annexation” of Ukraine’s territory.
In a joint statement issued Friday shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin started the process of annexing four occupied Ukrainian regions, EU leaders said Moscow is undermining the “rules-based international order” and has violated Ukraine’s fundamental right to independence.
They added that they will never recognize the illegal referendums that Russia organized “as a pretext for this further violation of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
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BRUSSELS — The European Union’s top migration official is urging the 27 member countries to clamp down on issuing visas to Russian citizens amid heightened security concerns over President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats and move to annex parts of Ukraine.
Migration Commissioner Ylva Johansson called Putin’s actions “clearly an escalation and that means also an escalation of the security threat towards the European Union.” She urged EU countries to enforce more stringent checks on Russian nationals and deny documents to anyone who might pose a threat.
Johansson said that EU authorities must stop short-term visa holders from Russia from renewing them in Europe and that Russians who have fled the country should not be allowed to apply for visas abroad. She said that none of the measures the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, is recommending would stop Russian citizens from applying for asylum in Europe.
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KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed treaties to annex occupied areas of Ukraine in a sharp escalation of the seven-month conflict.
Putin said during Friday’s ceremony in the Kremlin that he would protect them using “all available means.” At the beginning of the event, Putin urged Ukraine to sit down for talks but warned that Moscow would not give up the newly incorporated regions.
The ceremony comes three days after the completion of Kremlin-orchestrated “referendums” on joining Russia that were dismissed by Kyiv and the West as a bare-faced land grab, held at gunpoint and based on lies.
The separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine have been backed by Moscow since declaring independence in 2014, weeks after the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. The southern Kherson region and part of the neighboring Zaporizhzhia were captured by Russia soon after Putin sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24.
Both houses of the Kremlin-controlled Russian parliament will meet next week to rubber-stamp the treaties for the regions to join Russia, sending them to Putin for his approval.
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KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the West of sabotaging the Russia-built gas pipelines to Germany.
Speaking Friday at a ceremony to incorporate the four occupied regions of Ukraine into Russia, Putin said that the “Anglo-Saxons” have turned from sanctions to “terror attacks,” sabotaging the Nord Stream pipelines in what he described as an attempt to “destroy the European energy infrastructure.”
He said “those who profit from it have done it,” without naming a specific country.
Swedish coast guard on Thursday confirmed a fourth leak on the pipelines off southern Sweden, two days ater the first leaks to the Nord Stream pipelines that extend from Russia to Germany were reported.
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TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus’ authoritarian president is rejecting the possibility that his country’s armed forces would become embroiled in the war in Ukraine.
Alexander Lukashenko said Friday Belarusians have never attacked nor posed a threat to anyone in their history and that “it will continue to remain this way.”
He said Belarus is “always committed to the peaceful resolution of any international problems” and that it’s “doing everything to stop the bloodshed.”
Belarus offered its territory to its ally Russia to invade Ukraine from the north, but Belarusian military have not been involved in the conflict. Military analysts worry that the Kremlin might force Belarus to join the war and deploy its troops to Ukraine – a prospect Lukahsenko has repeatedly and strongly denied.
Lukashenko met last week with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the seventh time in a year.
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KYIV — Ukraine’s president says his country won’t give up on retaking all the regions which are now under Russian control.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on his Telegram channel Friday that Ukraine is in control of the situation and that “Everything will be Ukraine.”
Zelenskky discussed with Ukraine’s supreme military commander-in-chief plans for the liberation of Russian occupied territories.
He said Ukraine is supplying its troops with weapons and ammunition in the most combat zones.
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KYIV — Donetsk’s Ukrainian governor Pavlo Kyrylenko says Russian shelling of cities shows that Moscow is lashing out because it’s losing ground on the battle field.
Kyrylenko told Ukrainian television that the shelling “shows the weakness of the Kremlin, which is angry and is taking revenge for the loss of military initiative.”
Russian forces have intensified shelling of front-line cities in the Donetsk region, killing eight and wounding 17 civilians over the past 24 hours.
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KYIV — An analyst says the Kremlin’s hasty push to formally annex occupied Ukrainian lands aims to compensate for the fact that Moscow can’t do much to counter Kyiv’s gains on the battlefield.
Former Kremlin speechwriter Abbas Gallyamov told the Associated Press in an interview Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recognition of the the “independence” of Ukraine’s Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions coincided with reports of Ukrainian troops encircling Russian forces in Lyman.
Gallyamov said Russia’s answer to Ukrainian gains “looks quite pathetic” as the Kremlin “is building some kind of a virtual reality, incapable of responding in the real world.”
He said although the Kremlin will try to put on a show of the illegitimate annexations, the Russian public understands that the battlefield dynamics are much different in Ukraine than they were in Crimea in 2014 and as a result, Russians will be less enthusiastic.
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KYIV — The Russian-backed separatist leader of the Donetsk region says Russian forces were no longer controlling the villages of Yampil and Drobysheve, southeast and to the north of the city of Lyman.
Denis Pushilin referred Friday to “worrying news” about Lyman itself, saying that it was “half-encircled” by the Ukrainian forces.
Pushilin was quoted to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti as saying that Ukraine’s armed formations were “trying very hard to spoil our celebration.”
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KYIV— Ukraine’s military says Russia is upgrading military airfields, barracks and warehouses in Belarus, suggesting the country may intend to use them for renewed strikes on Ukraine.
Oleksii Hromov, deputy dhief of the Main Operational Department of the Ukrainian army’s General Staff said Friday work was ongoing at the Lunynets and Zyabrivka bases which are near the Ukrainian border. Iskander tactical missile units were also active in Osypovichi, about 180 kilometers from Ukraine, while Belarussian railways are preparing to transport troops.
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KYIV — Ukrainian officials in the Zaporizhzhia region have declared Oct 1 as a day of mourning for the 25 civilians who were killed following the Russia missile strike on a car convoy on the outskirts Zaporizhzhia. lUkraine’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets also said in an online statement Friday there were no military facilities or equipment situated in the Zaporizhzhia area, “just cars and peaceful civilians.”
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KYIV — Russian state media are accusing Ukraine of carrying out the Zaporizhzhia attack on its own citizens, without providing any evidence to support the claim.
Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Ukrainian civilians in the fighting since the war began in February.
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KYIV — Russian-installed officials in the southern Kherson region said Thursday that a Ukrainian missile strike on the city of Kherson killed a deputy head of the region’s pro-Kremlin administration. A report in Russian state news agency RIA Novosti offered no details as to when the alleged strike took place, saying only that it hit the center of Kherson. Officials in Kyiv have not commented on the alleged attack.
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KYIV — The British military says newly mobilized Russian troops coming into Ukraine are poorly equipped with medical supplies.
The British Defense Ministry said Friday medical knowledge and supplies remain low, with some soldiers having to buy their own modern tourniquets. That mirrors videos and photos online suggesting some soldiers are being supplied with Soviet-era first aid kits.
The ministry added that the Russian troops’ lack of confidence in sufficient medical provision is “almost certainly contributing to a declining state of morale and lack of willingness to undertake offensive operations in many units in Ukraine.”
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UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council has scheduled a vote for Friday afternoon on a resolution that would condemn Russia for its “illegal so-called referenda” in four Ukrainian regions and declare that they “have no validity.”
The U.S.- and Albanian-sponsored resolution would call on all countries not to recognize any alterations to the status of Ukraine’s Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. It would reaffirm the U.N. commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence within its internationally recognized borders.
Russia is certain to veto the resolution. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said earlier this week that if that happens the U.S. and Albania will put the resolution to a vote in the 193-member General Assembly where there are no vetoes.
The draft resolution, obtained late Thursday by The Associated Press, would order Russia to “desist and refrain from actions aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
It would also demand the withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine.
— Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/international/ap-live-updates-russia-ukraine-war-3/ | 2022-09-30 19:32:23 | 1 | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/international/ap-live-updates-russia-ukraine-war-3/ |
The original motor oil brand continues to push its products above and beyond industry standards.
LEXINGTON, Ky., Oct. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV), a global leader in vehicle care powering the future of mobility through innovative services and products, today released its results from head-to-head testing vs. the industry-leading full synthetic.
In side-by-side comparison tests, Valvoline full synthetic motor oils provide 24X stronger protection against engine-killing contaminants than the industry-leading full synthetic motor oil.
What's considered an engine-killing contaminant? In this case, water, fuel and ethanol.
"When gasoline burns in your engine to create energy it also creates a large amount of water", says Dr. Michael D. Warholic, Valvoline Senior Technology Manager for Light Duty Lubricants. "Most of the water goes out your exhaust, but some water finds its way to your oil sump along with unburned fuel. In addition, most gasoline now contains up to 15% ethanol which can lead to even higher amounts of contamination."
If moisture builds up in the engine, and it's not properly controlled by a high-quality motor oil, it could lead to poor lubrication, corrosion, and increased friction which could result in catastrophic engine failure.
"At the end of the day, the motor oil circulating in your engine drains back into your oil pan and sits there," says Warholic. "Water is heavier than oil, so if it separates from the oil, it sinks to the bottom of the pan. When you start your car in the morning, the first thing your oil pump sees could be water, which is a terrible lubricant."
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have identified the critical need for a motor oil to properly manage water, fuel and ethanol. A mandatory performance test is included in the widely utilized API SP and ILSAC GF-6 oil specifications. The test is formally known as ASTM D7563 and measures the ability of an oil to emulsify a mixture of water and fuel for a prescribed length of time.
Through a series of exhaustive in-house tests at Valvoline's New Product Laboratory and complementary testing at an independent third-party laboratory, Valvoline's scientists were able to demonstrate a 24X improvement in emulsion stability versus the leading synthetic.
Valvoline's full synthetic motor oils emulsified the water, fuel and ethanol to keep it from separating, surpassing the industry minimum requirements by a substantial amount of time and proving Valvoline provides 24X stronger protection against engine-killing contaminants than the industry-leading full synthetic.
About Valvoline™
Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV) is a global leader in vehicle care powering the future of mobility through innovative services and products for vehicles with electric, hybrid and internal combustion powertrains. Established in 1866, the Company introduced the world's first branded motor oil and developed strong brand recognition and customer satisfaction ratings over the years across multiple service and product channels. The Company operates and franchises approximately 1,700 service center locations and is the No. 2 and No. 3 largest chain in the U.S. and Canada, respectively, by number of stores. With sales in more than 140 countries and territories, Valvoline's solutions are available for every engine and drivetrain, including high-mileage and heavy-duty vehicles, and are offered at more than 80,000 locations worldwide. Creating the next generation of advanced automotive solutions, Valvoline has established itself as the world's leading supplier of battery fluids to electric vehicle manufacturers, offering tailored products to help extend vehicle range and efficiency. To learn more, or to find a Valvoline service center near you, visit valvoline.com.
™ Trademark, Valvoline or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries
℠ Service mark, Valvoline or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Media Relations
Michele Gaither Sparks
+1 (859) 230-8097
michele.sparks@valvoline.com
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SOURCE Valvoline Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/10/17/side-by-side-tests-valvoline-full-synthetic-motor-oil-offers-24x-stronger-protection-vs-industry-leading-full-synthetic/ | 2022-10-17 22:41:17 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/10/17/side-by-side-tests-valvoline-full-synthetic-motor-oil-offers-24x-stronger-protection-vs-industry-leading-full-synthetic/ |
Memorial services announced for Woody Williams
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Details surrounding funeral and memorial services for Medal of Honor recipient Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams has been released by Beard Mortuary.
A procession will leave Saturday, July 2 at 8 a.m. from Beard Mortuary in Huntington, West Virginia.
The procession will end at the West Virginia Capitol in Charleston. Williams will lie in state inside the Capitol rotunda to allow the public to pay their respects from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Visitation will continue Sunday, July 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A memorial service in honor of Williams is planned for Sunday, July 3 at 4 p.m. at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston.
Williams passed away Wednesday morning just after 3 a.m. at the VA Medical Center in Huntington, W.Va. which bears his name.
Burial is undetermined and will be private for family.
Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest information.
Previous coverage:
Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams, 98, passes away
War hero, Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams honored with procession
Leaders react to passing of Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams
Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest information.
Copyright 2022 WSAZ. All rights reserved. | https://www.wsaz.com/2022/06/29/memorial-services-announced-woody-williams/ | 2022-06-29 17:05:26 | 1 | https://www.wsaz.com/2022/06/29/memorial-services-announced-woody-williams/ |
ONA, WV (WOWK) – A scrimmage was held at Cabell Midland Friday night; several area teams were in attendance to help give us a first look at some Friday Night Lights!
Ripley, Riverside, and Winfield took the field Friday; the Knights will face Johnson Central Saturday.
The Generals were the most impressive, Caden Cunningham lowered his shoulders and barreled over a man. He walked straight into the end zone for their first touchdown.
Later on, it was the senior Brycen Brown throwing the deep ball for the easy pitch and catch.
Riverside’s defense was strong; on the Ripley pass, Adam Wilkerson reached out for the interception. Then on a quarterback bootleg, Ty Stephens was brought down in the backfield by Bishop Hairston.
The Vikings were able to get some big plays on offense; Virgil Meyers was able to punch it in.
We are getting closer to the regular season kicking off; the West Virginia season starts in exactly two weeks, Kentucky and Ohio both start next Friday. | https://www.wowktv.com/sports/first-look-at-friday-night-lights/ | 2022-08-13 19:06:16 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/sports/first-look-at-friday-night-lights/ |
INDIANAPOLIS — An attorney and former dean of the IU Law School took issue with Attorney General Todd Rokita's comments about an IU Health doctor, who performed an abortion for a 10-year-old girl.
Lauren Robel filed a request with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission to investigate Rokita.
(NOTE: The above video is from a previous report on IU Health claiming Dr. Bernard was compliant with Indiana law.)
At issue are remarks the AG made on a Fox News program about Dr. Caitlin Bernard. Robel's letter claims:
"During the interview, General Rokita claimed that Dr. Bernard had a 'history of failing to report,' and that he was 'gathering the evidence' that she had failed to report this abortion including 'looking at her licensure' and suggesting that he would bring criminal charges against Dr. Bernard, to whom he referred multiple times as an 'abortion activist.'”
Bernard responded to the attorney general's comments with a tweet:
"My heart breaks for all survivors of sexual assault and abuse. I am so sad that our country is failing them when they need us most. Doctors must be able to give people the medical care they need, when and where they need it," she wrote.
The following day, Rokita issued a statement about continuing to look into Bernard's actions saying it was meant "to prove if the abortion and/or abuse were reported, as Dr. Caitlin Bernard had requirements to do both under Indiana law. The failure to do so constitutes a crime in Indiana, and her behavior could also affect her licensure. Additionally, if HIPAA violation did occur, that may affect next steps as well. I will not relent in the pursuit of the truth.”
Lobel's request for a disciplinary investigation claims that days before making those comments and statements, a member of Rokita's staff had requested all reports for the past 30 days from the relevant Indiana agencies in order to ascertain whether Bernard had complied with Indiana's reporting requirements. The complaint states that Rokita made the comments and statements before learning the facts from his own department's request for records.
The complaint then points to July 14, when a letter sent from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita to Gov. Eric Holcomb showed there was no evidence Bernard ignored state law.
An attorney for Dr. Caitlin Bernard sent a cease-and-desist order to Rokita on July 15. The order, sent by the law firm of DeLaney & DeLaney, stated, “Please cease and desist from making false and misleading statements about alleged misconduct by Dr. Bernard in her profession, which constitute defamation per se. Moreover, to the extent that any statement you make exceeds the general scope of your authority as Indiana’s Attorney General, such a statement forms the basis of an actionable defamation claim.”
Lobel's complaint claims that Rokita has failed to provide any evidence that Bernard had failed to report the abortion care to appropriate authorities or that she had a history of not reporting.
Attorneys in Indiana are prohibited from making false or baseless statements about the law or facts, and so Lobel is asking the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission to take action against Rokita.
The complaint alleges:
"What General Rokita did, in essence, was identify a private citizen whose political views he disagrees with and suggest repeatedly, on national television, and on the Attorney General’s official website, that she had broken the law, with no evidence to support those claims."
Attorney General Rokita's office sent the following response to 13News about Lobel's complaint:
"Any attorney or client can file anything they want, even without basis, which is the case here. Our office is continuing its investigation into whether Dr. Caitlin Bernard was in compliance with Indiana and federal privacy laws, among other reporting and confidentiality requirements and practices. No enforcement actions have been filed."
13News reached out to the Indiana Supreme Court and was told out of the about 1,000 complaints received last year, only 97 were investigated. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/attorney-seeks-disciplinary-investigation-into-ag-rokita-over-comments-about-doctor-who-performed-abortion-on-10-year-old-caitlin-bernard-todd-indiana/531-05fac9f9-7f38-41ce-bfcb-763747d2bda2 | 2022-07-19 19:27:00 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/attorney-seeks-disciplinary-investigation-into-ag-rokita-over-comments-about-doctor-who-performed-abortion-on-10-year-old-caitlin-bernard-todd-indiana/531-05fac9f9-7f38-41ce-bfcb-763747d2bda2 |
NEW YORK — A federal grand jury has indicted a man suspected of shooting up a New York City subway train last month — an attack that wounded 10 people and rattled a city already experiencing a rise in violent crime.
The panel charged Frank James, 62, on Friday with committing a terrorist attack or other violence against a mass transportation system and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. Both counts carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. The weapons count has a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence.
James was arrested on April 13, about 30 hours after authorities say he drove from Philadelphia and unleashed smoke bombs and dozens of bullets in a train full of morning commuters as it approached a Brooklyn station. The shooting victims ranged in age from 16 to 60; all were expected to survive.
Authorities said James's bank card, cellphone and a key to a van he had rented were found at the shooting scene. Police also said they found the handgun used in the shooting and traced it to James.
James is jailed without bail. An arraignment hasn't yet been scheduled, according to the U.S. attorney's office for New York's Eastern District.
A lawyer representing James at the time of his arrest cautioned not to rush to judgment and noted that James alerted police to his whereabouts. James was arrested in Manhattan's East Village after he called a tip line saying he was at a fast food restaurant in that section of the city.
A motive for the attack is unclear. In numerous rants he posted on YouTube, James, who is Black, made bigoted remarks about people of various backgrounds and railed against New York Mayor Eric Adams and complained about mental health care he received in the city years ago. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/grand-jury-indicts-suspect-in-brooklyn-subway-mass-shooting-frank-james/507-d0a6eb9e-fdc2-487e-9c33-e2118bfd9a9e | 2022-05-08 01:46:44 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/grand-jury-indicts-suspect-in-brooklyn-subway-mass-shooting-frank-james/507-d0a6eb9e-fdc2-487e-9c33-e2118bfd9a9e |
Despite social distancing largely being in the past and gas prices nearing normal levels, fewer Americans are expected to travel this holiday season compared to 2019.
According to AAA, 112.7 million Americans are expected to go at least 50 miles at some point between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2, a decrease of about 7 million compared to 2019. Travel will be up by about 2 million compared to a year ago.
There are about 3 million additional Americans expected to travel this upcoming holiday season.
The overwhelming majority are expected to travel by car. Nearly 101.8 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles by automobile, compared to 7.2 million who will fly. An additional 3.7 million are expected to use other forms of transportation, including trains and busses.
Because Christmas and New Year’s Day both fall on Sundays, AAA expects when people will travel will be spread out.
“This year, travel time will be extended due to Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falling on Sundays,” says Paula Twidale, AAA’s senior vice president of travel. “With hybrid work schedules, we are seeing more people take long weekends to travel because they can work remotely at their destination and be more flexible with the days they depart and return.”
The busiest travel days are expected to be Dec. 23, Dec. 27, Dec. 28 and Jan. 2. AAA and INRIX expect roads to be most congested in the late afternoons.
“Drivers must be prepared for delays in and around major metro areas, with Tuesday, Dec. 27 expected to be the nation’s worst day to travel,” says Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Our advice is to avoid traveling during peak commuting hours. If schedules allow, leave bright and early or after the afternoon commute.”
Gas prices in 2019 averaged around $2.53, according to federal data. Some experts have suggested gas prices could drop below $3 by the end of the year. | https://www.kbzk.com/news/national/holiday-travel-still-expected-to-be-below-pre-pandemic-levels | 2022-12-12 15:06:56 | 0 | https://www.kbzk.com/news/national/holiday-travel-still-expected-to-be-below-pre-pandemic-levels |
Recall Attempt for Edinburg Mayor Hits a Snag
Related Story
EDINBURG – The clock is ticking for signatures to be gathered on a recall of Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina.
The process cannot start because the city has yet to provide the signature forms.
In a press conference, City Attorney Omar Ochoa explained the city has been examining the charter.
Ochoa says they haven’t had a recall in the last 70 years.
The charter states these forms, which are not simple fill-in-the-blank forms, must be created by the commission.
Under the Texas Open Meetings Act, items need to be added within a 72 hour period prior to the meeting.
Watch the video above for more information.
Watch the full press conference held by Edinbug City Attorney Omar Ochoa. | https://www.krgv.com/videos/recall-attempt-for-edinburg-mayor-hits-a-snag | 2022-06-22 17:44:34 | 1 | https://www.krgv.com/videos/recall-attempt-for-edinburg-mayor-hits-a-snag |
WOODINVILLE, Wash., June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As farmers face surging fuel and input costs, unseasonal cold weather and precipitation in Washington State throws a wrench into already complicated food pricing.
"The pathways are up to our boot tops with standing water," said Amy White of Bumblebee Farms. "Even cold-weather crops like spinach, arugula, radishes, peas, and kale are struggling because the soil is saturated with water."
Over the past decade, small local farms have been adjusting to increasing heat by switching out tried-and-true seed varietals for more heat-hardy varieties. By contrast, spring of 2022 has been unusually cold and wet—Seattle is experiencing its coldest spring since 1955.
Many farms in the Greater Seattle area--Sammamish, Snohomish, and Snoqualmie valleys—have high water tables. Seasonal flooding comes with the territory--but not usually this late in the season, when drier, heat-loving crops like tomatoes and squash are supposed to be in the ground already. Food safety rules dictate that fields cannot be planted again until 60 days after a flooding event—meaning some varieties may not have any time to come to fruition.
Plus, when the soil is saturated, tilling can create compaction and disrupt soil ecosystems. For those on tiny margins, farmers are having to choose: Wait until the weather is more stable for heat-loving crops, or till anyway, which can create problems in the future.
"We use a no-till system so we are just waiting until the soil is workable with hand tools," said Noa Kay, farmer at Songbird Haven Farms. "Still, we're planting our cucumbers a month later than what's typical."
That uncertainty is partially responsible for rising costs of food—though not entirely. "We're hearing consistent reports of everything from linen service to the price of olive oil increasing," Farmstand Local Foods shared in a recent newsletter.
An American workforce already reeling from the pandemic is struggling to afford rising costs of food. On the flip side, farmers are barely breaking even. "We are now losing money on every box we send off the farm, so it's time to raise our shipping prices, which will further limit our customer base," Micha Ide wrote in a recent article for Eat Local First.
"The soil is still so wet that we can't get spinach or carrots to germinate. We've done two failed plantings on each," said White. "Arugula is a whole saga, with half our plantings failed."
"That's quite a bit of income and time lost," she added. "It's been discouraging, but we just have to keep replanting, otherwise when the weather does improve we won't have anything."
Increasing fuel costs and inputs like animal feed, fertilizer, and equipment are also putting a strain on farmers. "The heat dome the Pacific Northwest experienced last year damaged crops and reduced the availability of local grains, which raised our feed costs by 12.5%," wrote Ide. "That was before the expected global shortage of wheat that is being predicted due to the war in Ukraine."
As the summer plays out, we're yet to see the true impacts to our food system that the extreme weather this year has caused. "With more precarious growing conditions we need a lot more resiliency and fairer resource allocation," said Kay.
Ansley Roberts, Farm Manager at 21 Acres, said that local food producers are uniquely positioned to contribute to food access initiatives, trial climate-hardy seed varietals, and grow a wide variety of crops. While industrial farms are dependent on imports from abroad, small farms are able to nimbly source their needs locally. And farms on about five acres or less grow more food crops, account for a greater percentage of crop diversity, and produce less waste than large-scale industrial agriculture.
One thing is certain: small farms are still the best-positioned to address urgent food needs.
"What I saw during the pandemic was that smaller, more localized operations were the first to pivot and feed their community," said Roberts. "It speaks to the importance of diversity in our food systems."
21 Acres Center for Local Food & Sustainable Living is a nonprofit organization committed to educating about the value of agroecology, soil health, local food systems, and green energy as solutions to climate change. Our campus in Woodinville, Washington hosts a Certified Organic regenerative farm, a LEED Platinum certified building, a distribution center for local food, and a year-round retail Farm Market.
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SOURCE 21 Acres Center for Local Food | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/21-acres-extreme-precipitation-threatens-food-security-drives-up-local-food-costs/ | 2022-06-29 18:24:23 | 0 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/21-acres-extreme-precipitation-threatens-food-security-drives-up-local-food-costs/ |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Thairo Estrada hit a tiebreaking RBI single as part of a three-run eighth inning and the San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.
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Wilmer Flores and Casey Schmitt each had two-run singles, and Blake Sabol and Brandon Crawford also drove in runs as the Giants won their sixth straight game against the Phillies.
Bryson Stott homered for Philadelphia, which lost its fourth in a row.
With the game tied at 4, J.D. Davis and Mitch Haniger began the eighth inning with pinch-hit singles. Joey Bart followed with a bunt single to load the bases. After Gregory Soto (1-3) retired LaMonte Wade Jr., Estrada looped a single to shallow center field, scoring the go-ahead run. Flores added a two-run single to make it 7-4.
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The Phillies loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, but Camilo Doval struck out Trea Turner swinging to record his third straight save in the series and his 11th in 12 chances this season.
John Brebbia (2-0) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the win as the San Francisco bullpen combined to allow one run in 5 2/3 innings for the second straight day.
The Giants chased Phillies starter Taijuan Walker in the first inning, tagging him for four runs in two-thirds of an inning. Schmitt had a two-run single, and Sabol and Crawford added RBI singles, all coming with two outs.
Philadelphia responded with three runs in the fourth off Ross Stripling, who exited with low back tightness after pitching 3 1/3 innings.
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J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run double and Alec Bohm followed with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 4-3.
Stott tied the game with a solo homer to right in the fifth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: LHP José Alvarado (left elbow inflammation) threw from 60 feet on Tuesday and Wednesday. He will likely need a rehab assignment before returning.
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UP NEXT
Phillies: LHP Ranger Suárez (0-0, 6.75 ERA) makes his second start of the year Friday when Philadelphia begins a three-game home series against the Cubs.
Giants: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (3-3, 3.06) opens a three-game home series against the Marlins on Friday night.
___
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Article continues below this ad | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/estrada-s-rbi-single-keys-3-run-8th-inning-18105451.php | 2023-05-17 23:44:22 | 1 | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/estrada-s-rbi-single-keys-3-run-8th-inning-18105451.php |
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Maddison grabs Leicester lifeline v. Arsenal
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James Maddison's low shot sneaks between Aaron Ramsdale's legs to get Leicester City back within a goal of Arsenal.
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Close Ad | https://www.nbcsports.com/watch/soccer/premier-league/maddison-grabs-leicester-lifeline-v-arsenal | 2023-06-30 00:28:28 | 1 | https://www.nbcsports.com/watch/soccer/premier-league/maddison-grabs-leicester-lifeline-v-arsenal |
Musk testifies in lawsuit over Tesla compensation package
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Tesla CEO Elon Musk took the witness stand Wednesday to defend himself in a shareholder lawsuit challenging a compensation package he was awarded by the company’s board of directors that is potentially worth more than $55 billion.
Musk denied that he dictated terms of the compensation package or attended any meetings at which the plan was discussed by the board, its compensation committee, or a working group that helped develop it.
“I was entirely focused on the execution of the company,” he said.
Plaintiff’s attorney Greg Varallo spent much of his early cross-examination trying to draw Musk into admitting that he controls Tesla to such an extent that he can sway the board to do his bidding. Among other things, Varallo questioned Musk about his title of “Technoking,” a role that Musk has previously noted comes with “panache” and “great dance moves.”
“I think comedy is legal,” Musk told Varallo, who had questioned whether Musk was “stone-cold sober” when he came up with the title.
Varallo also suggested that one of the reasons that Musk developed a “master plan” for Tesla was to let people know he was in charge. He also noted that Musk makes recommendations regarding compensation for senior executives, and that he unilaterally made the decision to pause Tesla’s policy of accepting bitcoin from vehicle purchasers.
“You’re asking complex questions that can’t be answered ‘yes’ or ‘no’,” Musk said when Varallo asked whether he came up with the vision for Tesla.
The lawsuit alleges that the performance-based stock option grant was negotiated by the compensation committee and approved by Tesla board members who had conflicts interest due to personal and professional ties to Musk, including investments in his companies. It also alleges the shareholder vote approving the compensation plan was based on a misleading proxy statement.
The shareholder plaintiff alleges that the proxy wrongly described members of the compensation committee as “independent,” and characterized all of the milestones that triggered vesting in the stock options as “stretch” goals meant to be difficult to achieve, even though internal projections indicated that three operational milestones were likely to be achieved within 18 months of the stockholder vote.
Attorneys for the defendants have noted that two institutional proxy advising firms that urged shareholders to reject the plan nevertheless noted that it would require “significant and perhaps historic achievements” and require growth that “appear stretching by any benchmark.”
The plan called for Musk to reap billions if Tesla hit certain market capitalization and operational milestones. For each incidence of simultaneously meeting a market cap milestone and an operational milestone, Musk, who owned about 22% of Tesla when the plan was approved, would get stock equal to 1% of outstanding shares at the time of the grant. His interest in the company would grow to about 28% if the company’s market capitalization grew by $600 billion.
Each milestone in the plan includes growing Tesla’s market capitalization by $50 billion and meeting aggressive revenue and pretax profit growth targets. Musk would receive the full benefit of the pay plan, $55.8 billion, only if Tesla hit a market capitalization of $650 billion and unprecedented revenue and earnings within a decade.
To date, Tesla has achieved all 12 of the market capitalization milestones and 11 operational milestones, resulting in the vesting of 11 of the grant’s 12 tranches and providing Musk over $52.4 billion in stock option gains, according to the lawsuit. Since the grant was awarded, Tesla’s market capitalization has increased from $59 billion to more than $613 billion now, having briefly hit $1 trillion early this year. Musk has sold Tesla stock to finance the Twitter purchase, adding downward pressure on the shares.
Shares of Tesla and other automakers have been battered this year, but the Austin, Texas, company earned $5.5 billion in 2021, blowing away the previous year’s profit of $721 million. It also produced a record 936,000 vehicles, nearly double vehicle production in 2020.
Attorneys for the plaintiff have suggested that incentivizing Musk to remain at Tesla’s helm by offering a huge compensation package was unnecessary, because he’s never suggested that he might leave. They’ve also suggested that Musk’s true motive in negotiating the package was to fund his dream to colonize Mars.
In a November 2017 email to former Tesla General Counsel Todd Maron, Musk expressed optimism that the compensation package would be seen in a favorable light.
“Given that this will all go to causes that at least aspirationally maximize the probability of a good future for humanity, plus all Tesla shareholders will be super happy, I think this will be received well,” he wrote, adding that “it should come across as an ultra bullish view of the future.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wcjb.com/2022/11/16/musk-testifies-lawsuit-over-tesla-compensation-package/ | 2022-11-16 16:57:34 | 0 | https://www.wcjb.com/2022/11/16/musk-testifies-lawsuit-over-tesla-compensation-package/ |
Golf courses can now market to millions of golfers for free on Supreme Golf, Barstool Golf Time, and Golf Digest directly from their tee sheet
DALLAS, Jan. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Supreme Golf, a leading golf technology company, announced that golf courses can now market tee times to millions of golfers through their marketplaces without cost or requested price advantage. Proprietary marketplaces include Barstool Golf Time, a Supreme Golf and Barstool Sports collaboration, Golf Digest's Places to Play, Supreme Golf, and GolfBook.
Through Supreme Golf's marketplaces, golfers can find and pay for a golf tee time within seconds, no matter where they are in the world. No longer is there a need for golfers to visit multiple websites and search engines to find tee times at golf courses at their selected destination. Courses list alongside other courses to show available tee times and pricing.
Supreme Golf, Barstool Golf Time, Golf Digest's Places to Play, and GolfBook engage millions of brand-loyal golfers across demographics who book tee times and spend money on food & beverage. 85% of these golfers play golf when they travel, and 70% book travel specifically to play golf.
Supreme Golf integrates directly with a golf course's tee sheet, giving the course control over pricing, data, and promotions. Current tee sheet integrations include foreUP, Lightspeed, and ClubCaddie. All tee sheets are invited to integrate with the marketplaces at no cost, and Supreme Golf will complete the required integration at its expense.
Supreme Golf's trusted open marketplace technology is based on the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) guidelines for online distribution of tee time reservations issued in 2015 and endorsed by the PGA of America. Supreme Golf is an Executive Partner of the NGCOA.
For more information, visit courses.supremegolf.com. If you're listed on a third-party marketplace such as GolfNow and TeeOff, you already receive a complimentary listing as a benefit, so no action is needed.
About Supreme Golf
Supreme Golf connects golf courses to golfers worldwide, giving courses access to data, tools, and technology that maximize revenue and golfers the most extensive inventory of tee times from which to book and play golf. Supreme Golf provides integrated solutions for course owners and operators, including tee time distribution, public membership software, white-label marketplaces, advanced reporting, and consulting services.
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SOURCE Supreme Golf | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/01/18/supreme-golf-launches-free-tee-time-marketplace-technology-golf-courses/ | 2023-01-18 13:13:41 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/01/18/supreme-golf-launches-free-tee-time-marketplace-technology-golf-courses/ |
TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Serving the Old Pueblo through hope and purpose is what a local non-profit strives to accomplish each time a new customer walks through their door.
Elsa's Closet Thrift Store is working to help single parents in the Tucson community get back on their feet. This nonprofit accepts donations of all kinds and it immediately goes right back into helping local families in need whether that’s a new outfit, kitchen supplies, toys or even furniture.
“I think single parents are the ones that need a little bit of that extra help," said Gladys Pineda, Elsa’s Closet Thrift Store.
This namesake store says they are motivated to give back because of a late friend named "Elsa" who would have given anything to someone in need.
"She was a single mom. She was funny, she was giving, she was something else!” said Pineda.
Elsa’s Closet is working to create new workshops by 2024 that help single parents get better at using technology, practicing job interview skills, and organizing finances.
“I think the best part is the computer program that we're going to have. Once they're finished their 10 sessions on the computers, they'll be able to take home a laptop for free," said Pineda.
Elsa’s Closet thrives off gently used donations and volunteers. They are hoping more people enter their doors to help single parents in our community understand that they are never alone.
For more information on how you can help jump-start this initiative, call Elsa's Closet at (520) 475-0469 or email elsasclosettucson@gmail.com
——-
Brooke Chau is a reporter for KGUN 9. She was a part of Fresno State's newscast, Fresno State Focus and interned at KFSN-ABC30 in Fresno, CA before coming to KGUN 9. Share your story ideas and important issues with Brooke by emailing brooke.chau@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. | https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/local-thrift-store-gives-back-to-single-parents | 2023-03-28 14:58:59 | 1 | https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/local-thrift-store-gives-back-to-single-parents |
(CNN) — A Colombian government official is “very confident” four children were found alive 17 days after their plane crashed in the Amazon jungle but is awaiting further proof.
The Director of Colombia’s Family Affairs Institute, Astrid Caceres, said her team received second hand confirmation that search teams rescued and identified the children missing following the crash of a small airplane in southern Colombia.
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro tweeted that the group were found alive but what would be an extraordinary survival story is yet to be fully confirmed, with government officials battling poor communications and yet to make direct contact with the children.
The children, aged between 11 months old and 13, were found after the Colombian Armed Forces followed a trail of small objects such as hair scrunchies, plastic wrappings and baby bottles that led them to the missing group, authorities said.
When asked why the police and military were continuing search efforts despite reports that the children had been rescued, Caceres, the government official, said “it’s hard to communicate in the jungle and yesterday it was raining, too.”
“The information I have is that they are fine, we also understand they had very hard days, but these are kids who moved around the area, and they seemed ok,” she added
“We are still missing that very, very last link that confirms all our hopes. Until we have the photo of the kids we won’t be stopping. We are not underestimating the information we received but we want to confirm [directly] ourselves.”
The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement earlier that they found a “shelter built in an improvised way with sticks and leaves.”
Rescuers have been searching for the remnant of the Cessna plane since it crashed on May 1 in the country’s southern region of Guaviare in the Amazonas province.
While the children were found alive, Aerocivil said they found another three bodies inside the small aircraft.
The Colombian Armed Forces launched a massive search operation, supported by dog units, local indigenous communities, planes and helicopters, which flew over the region broadcasting a message recorded by the childrens’ grandmother.
The charter company whose aircraft crashed told CNN they are still waiting to contact the children, reiterating they have not received proof of their arrival.
Giselle Lopez, co-owner of Avianline Charters SAS said the bodies of the three adults who were killed in the crash are yet to be recovered.
“We just pray (to) god that in a few hours we all have the news we are waiting for, and see these kids: you must understand, the storms there are really strong, sometimes we lose radio contact for over an hour due to the electrical storms, and with these rains the navigation over the river is difficult, there are debris and strong currents on that river,” Lopez added.
President Petro said news of the rescue was “a joy for the country.”
“After arduous searching by our military, we have found alive the four children who went missing after a plane crash in Guaviare. A joy for the country,” Petro tweeted earlier on Thursday. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/colombian-government-official-confident-four-children-were-found-alive-days-after-jungle-crash/article_053908e1-c15c-5213-ab71-ee70004c2239.html | 2023-05-18 16:23:44 | 1 | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/colombian-government-official-confident-four-children-were-found-alive-days-after-jungle-crash/article_053908e1-c15c-5213-ab71-ee70004c2239.html |
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ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Josh Harris walked off the field after his first practice as owner of the Washington Commanders, gave a thumbs up and said to anyone listening, “We’re undefeated!”
That perfectly encapsulated the vibe on the first day of training camp under new management. Even without fans in the newly constructed stands at the team’s practice facility, there was a noticeable spring in players’ and coaches’ steps Wednesday in the aftermath of the long-awaited ownership change, with Harris visibly in attendance at the start of a new era for the franchise.
“It’s definitely cool to kind of see just the buzz and a little bit of the glow everybody’s getting,” said punter Tress Way, the longest tenured player now going into his 10th season with Washington. “It feels different. It’s just this kind of clean slate and let’s go. Let’s go play some ball.”
Football that counts is ahead, and the season opener Sept. 10 against Arizona will be another milestone in the process of Harris and his group taking over for loathed longtime owner Dan Snyder. The Commanders ranked last among the NFL’s 32 teams in attendance last season and 31st in 2021.
If the energy around the nation’s capital once owners approved the $6.05 billion transfer of the team from Snyder to Harris, Magic Johnson and Co. last week is any indication, crowds are coming back in a big way.
“It’s going to be exciting to see full stadiums come September,” tight end Logan Thomas said. “It’s just new beginnings, and I think any time you have a new beginning there’s excitement.”
Players were excited to hear from Harris, who addressed them briefly in the huddle after practice to introduce himself and was set to meet with them later in the day. He and minority partner Mitchell Rales watching practice and laughing alongside organizational icon Joe Theismann was a significant departure from Snyder’s conspicuous absence in recent years amid multiple ongoing scandals.
“Super excited to have him out here — obviously super grateful for him taking over the team,” new starting quarterback Sam Howell said. “It’s just an awesome opportunity to be on this team right now with so much momentum. Really, it’s our job as players to go out there and capitalize on the field.”
It’s also on Ron Rivera to capitalize in his fourth season on the job, and the coach acknowledged Tuesday he has a lot to prove to new ownership. He got another opportunity to sit down and talk with Harris, who’s expected to return to camp Thursday when fans are able to watch up close for the first time this year.
“(That) should be even better with the opening of the stands and us having our fan base here,” Rivera said. “I think it’s gonna be dynamic and electric. I’m excited about it. I really am. I think our players will feed off of it.”
Even with no fans around, Way said there was “just a little different look about everybody” at practice. Safety Darrick Forrest explained it as a bit of extra motivation to be playing for new owners.
Under the old owner, plenty of fans resigned to apathy stayed away from games — and running back Antonio Gibson noticed that detachment. Even while trying to block out any outside distractions, he said he and his teammates “have no choice but to notice” chatter about the sale and now wants that hope to turn into real change.
“Hopefully it’s a change,” Gibson said, “and the fans and everybody else can realize we got something new coming.”
NOTES: Chase Young practiced without a brace on his surgically repaired right knee, which Rivera said was the next step in the edge rusher’s progression. Young played just three games last year after tearing the ACL in his right knee in November 2021. … Rivera said the idea behind signing kicker Michael Badgley earlier in the week was to create competition with incumbent Joey Slye. Badgley made 20 of 24 field goal attempts last season, though Rivera pointed out the journeyman was perfect on extra points, four of which Slye missed in 2022.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-commanders-camp-opens-with-new-owner-josh-harris-in-attendance-and-the-buzz-of-a-clean-slate/ | 2023-07-27 04:41:43 | 1 | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-commanders-camp-opens-with-new-owner-josh-harris-in-attendance-and-the-buzz-of-a-clean-slate/ |
Buhl to oversee regional purchasing activities and succeed Mike Winkler, who will retire after a 30-plus year career at DENSO
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DENSO, a leading mobility supplier, has named Kim Buhl vice president of its North America Purchasing Group, effective July 24. She will succeed Mike Winkler, who led the group since 2014 and will retire in January 2024 after 30-plus years of distinguished service at DENSO.
Buhl will lead North America purchasing initiatives from DENSO's regional headquarters in Southfield, Michigan. In the role, she will spearhead efforts to secure and enhance DENSO's supply chain, work with suppliers and customers to continue to deliver best-in-class products and value, and collaborate with an inspired team committed to advancing DENSO's mission of contributing to a better world.
"DENSO is clearly a purpose-driven company, with a strong reputation for quality and excellence in manufacturing," said Buhl. "I'm looking forward to becoming part of a North American team dedicated to transforming mobility for all."
Buhl brings with her a decades-long track record of success in global purchasing, production control and logistics areas. She joins DENSO from Fisker Group, where she served as vice president of Purchasing, SQ&A.
Buhl began her career at General Motors, working in multiple purchasing areas, including engineering prototype materials, axles and components, and information systems and services, before moving to American Axle & Manufacturing in several director roles. From there, she held the position of executive director at Magna Powertrain, leading purchasing activities for Fluid Pressure and Controls, Driveline and Magna Electronics divisions, followed by vice president of Purchasing & Supply Chain Management at Shiloh Industries and vice president of Supply Chain at Karma Automotive.
"We are fortunate to welcome Kim to the DENSO team," said Seiji Maeda, CEO of DENSO's North American operations and a senior director of DENSO Corporation. "Her extensive experience in the auto industry, as well as with start-up companies, will help DENSO transition to the future of mobility and achieve our Two Great Causes of Green and Peace of Mind."
On Winkler's upcoming retirement, Maeda said: "Mike has helped build a world-class regional Purchasing division and helped guide us successfully through three challenging years. We are grateful for his contributions, especially as we navigated the impact of the global pandemic and semi-conductor shortages, as well as the leadership example he set for the Purchasing Group and DENSO in North America."
For those interested in working at a company that acts on its values, innovates for the future and offers opportunities for growth, visit densocareers.com.
About DENSO
Globally headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO is a $47.9 billion leading mobility supplier that develops advanced technology and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in around 200 facilities worldwide to produce cutting-edge electrification, powertrain, thermal and mobility electronics products, among others, that change how the world moves. In developing such solutions, the company's 165,000 global employees pursue rewarding careers while paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents and preserves the environment. DENSO spent around 9.0 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. For more information about DENSO's operations worldwide, visit https://www.denso.com/global.
In North America, DENSO is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs 27,000+ engineers, researchers, and skilled workers across nearly 50 sites in the U.S, Canada and Mexico. In the United States alone, DENSO employs 17,500+ employees across 14 states (and the District of Columbia) at 41 sites. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, DENSO in North America generated $11.3 billion in consolidated sales. DENSO is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion inside the company and beyond – a principle that brings together unique perspectives, bolsters innovation and pushes DENSO forward. To learn more about DENSO operations in the region and to review current career opportunities, please visit https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/.
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SOURCE DENSO | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/11/denso-selects-kim-buhl-vice-president-north-america-purchasing-group/ | 2023-07-11 19:14:34 | 0 | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/11/denso-selects-kim-buhl-vice-president-north-america-purchasing-group/ |
Utah’s ban on transgender kids in youth sports put on hold
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Transgender kids in Utah will be not be subjected to sports participation limits at the start of the upcoming school year after a judge delayed the implementation of a statewide ban passed earlier this year.
Judge Keith Kelly’s decision Friday to put the law on hold until a legal challenges is resolved came after he recently rejected a request by Utah state attorneys to dismiss the case. Most Utah schools students head back to classes this month.
Attorneys representing the families of three transgender student-athletes filed the lawsuit challenging the ban last May, contending it violates the Utah Constitution’s guarantees of equal rights and due process.
Similar cases are underway in states such as Idaho, West Virginia and Indiana.
The issue of whether transgender girls should be allowed to participate in female sports has become flashpoint across the U.S. with Republican lawmakers passing legislation to block them based on the premise it gives them an unfair competitive advantage.
Transgender rights advocates counter that the rules aren’t just about sports but another way to demean and attack transgender youth.
As of March, the Utah High School Activities Association knew of only one transgender girl playing in K-12 sports who would be affected by the ban.
The association, which organizes leagues for 85,000 students, has said there have been no publicly made allegations of competitive advantage concerning any of the state’s four transgender youth athletes.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbay.com/2022/08/19/utahs-ban-transgender-kids-youth-sports-put-hold/ | 2022-08-19 17:36:51 | 1 | https://www.wbay.com/2022/08/19/utahs-ban-transgender-kids-youth-sports-put-hold/ |
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, February 12, Music at St. Mary will present a concert by the Camarata Ensemble under the direction of Maestro Luis Biava. The event starts at 3:40 with a pre-concert talk with radio personality Christopher Purdy, followed by the performance beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Saint Mary Catholic Church 684 S 3rd St. Admission is $25, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.
Regarded as one of the finest chamber ensembles, Camarata will perform Johann Sebastian Bach's beloved Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, Yearning, for violin and orchestra by Pulitzer Prize winner Shulamit Ran and Schubert Symphony No. 1.
Luis Biava is currently the Music Director of Camarata Ensemble, the New Albany Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Cellist of the Columbus Symphony. He has been recognized for his musical excellence and commitment to broadening accessibility to music throughout the community.
Camerata was originally conceived in Spoleto, Italy, as a versatile group ranging from duos, trios, and quartets to contemporary, opera, chamber ensemble, and orchestra. The varied repertoire over the years has included Beethoven, Mozart, Handel, Hayden, Higdon, Read Thomas, Ibert, Weill, Stravinsky, and others.
Artistic Director Mark Voris founded the Music at St. Mary Concert Series to support the artistry of local top-rank musicians in the beautifully renovated sanctuary of Saint Mary Catholic Church in German Village.
Tickets: https://st-mary-catholic-church.ticketleap.com/the-camarata-ensemble/
Website: www.southcolscatholic.org/musicseries
Contact: Music at St. Mary Concert Series
Mark Voris
(614) 445-9668
mvoris56@gmail.com
www.southcolscatholic.org/musicseries
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SOURCE Music at St. Mary | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/01/17/music-st-mary-presents-camarata-ensemble-under-direction-maestro-luis-biava-featuring-beloved-orchestral-works-by-bach-schubert-shulamit-ran/ | 2023-01-18 00:11:47 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/01/17/music-st-mary-presents-camarata-ensemble-under-direction-maestro-luis-biava-featuring-beloved-orchestral-works-by-bach-schubert-shulamit-ran/ |
- Reported second quarter net income of $1.29 billion and EBITDA1 of $1.86 billion
- Exceptional health, safety and environmental performance
- Record-setting refinery utilization and throughput
- Received two AFPM Safety Achievement awards
- Received ILTA Safety Excellence award
HOUSTON, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CITGO Petroleum reported a second quarter net income of $1.29 billion and EBITDA of $1.86 billion compared to net income of $245 million and EBITDA of $518 million in the first quarter of 2022.
"Reliable and safe operations helped us capitalize on favorable market conditions that were supported by excellent product cracks, high refinery utilization and lean global inventories," said CITGO President and CEO Carlos Jordá. "I am enormously proud of what we accomplished this quarter; not only has our work produced outstanding financial results thanks in large part to exceptional reliability and utilization rates at our refineries, our Health, Safety and Environmental performance was similarly excellent, as evidenced by multiple safety awards at CITGO refineries and terminals."
Q2 2022 Highlights:
Strategic and Operational
- Throughput – Total throughput for the second quarter of 2022 was 837,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), of which crude runs were 776,000 bpd and intermediate feedstocks were 61,000 bpd. Refinery assets delivered strong reliability results – the best quarterly results in the last five years – with overall crude runs exceeding nameplate capacity and resulting in 101% utilization, marking three consecutive quarters above 94%. The Lake Charles refinery set a new quarterly crude throughput record of 436,000 bpd, significantly surpassing the previous record of 411,000 bpd set in third quarter of 2018.
- Operational Excellence – Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) performance was exceptional, and the Company is on pace for record-setting occupational safety, process safety and environmental performance for 2022. CITGO was also recognized during the quarter with AFPM's Safety Achievement Award for both the Lemont and Corpus Christi refineries, and ILTA's Safety Excellence Award for terminals.
- Commercial Excellence – We continued growing our exposure into South America, with refined product exports increasing to an average of 195,000 bpd from 157,000 bpd in the first quarter of 2022.
Financial
- For capital spending, we invested $76 million on turnarounds and catalysts and another $59 million on capital projects.
- Under the CITGO Holding debt agreements, certain Excess Cash Flow (ECF) offers are required to be made to the CITGO Holding Term Loan B lenders and the CITGO Holding noteholders based on 50% of excess cash flow. CITGO Petroleum intends to dividend to CITGO Holding the amounts necessary to make prepayments of CITGO Holding debt pursuant to the ECF offers. Further details regarding the ECF offers are contained in the separate press release issued today, which is available here.
"Our second quarter results are the best in the history of the company," continued Jordá, "and the opportunity to reduce our debt will help us further strengthen the company as we continue supplying our customers through safe, reliable and responsible operations."
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a recognized leader in the refining industry and operates under the well-known CITGO brand. CITGO operates three refineries located in Lake Charles, La.; Lemont, Ill.; and Corpus Christi, Texas, and wholly and/or jointly owns 38 active terminals, six pipelines and three lubricants blending and packaging plants. With approximately 3,300 employees and a combined crude capacity of approximately 769,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), CITGO ranks as the fifth-largest and is one of the most complex independent refiners in the United States. CITGO transports and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products, and supplies a network of approximately 4,300 locally owned and operated branded retail outlets, all located east of the Rocky Mountains. CITGO Petroleum Corporation is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc.
General:
CITGO publishes financial and other information on its website, including reports of quarterly and annual results of operations and financial condition. While CITGO's historical financial information is presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), except for certain non-GAAP financial measures (see below), CITGO is not an SEC reporting company and does not report all information required of SEC reporting companies.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" regarding financial and operating items relating to the CITGO business. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties many of which are beyond CITGO's control, that could result in expectations not being realized or could otherwise materially and adversely affect CITGO's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. This press release may also contain estimates and projections regarding market and industry data that were obtained from internal company estimates, as well as third-party sources believed to be generally reliable. However, market data is subject to change and cannot always be verified with complete certainty due to limits on the availability and reliability of raw data and other limitations and uncertainties inherent in any statistical survey, interpretation or presentation of market data and management's estimates and projections. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. CITGO disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
This press release also contains operational metrics and non-GAAP information, including EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, that have not been audited and are based on management's estimates, which may be difficult to verify. These non-GAAP financial measures are in addition to, and not a substitute for or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may differ from non-GAAP measures used by other companies in our industry. We consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be important because we believe they provide useful supplemental measures of the operating performance of the Company, exclusive of unusual events, as well as factors that do not directly affect what we consider to be our core operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. Please see the reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure set forth on page [4] of this press release.
Refinery EBITDA Estimates:
The estimates of Refinery EBITDA presented in this press release are calculated as refinery hydrocarbon gross margin minus refinery operating expenses and non-operating and income/(expense) items, plus depreciation and amortization. Our estimates of Refinery EBITDA are intended as estimates of our refineries' earnings before taxes and interest and depreciation and amortization. Shown in the table on page [5] of this press release is a reconciliation of our estimates of Refinery of EBITDA (on an individual and total refinery basis) to EBITDA for our consolidated operations for the respective periods presented therein. In addition, we summarize below the methodologies and assumptions we utilize in connection with our estimates of the various components of Refinery EBITDA.
With respect to these components of Refinery EBITDA, we define refinery hydrocarbon gross margin as the estimated value of a refinery's production less the cost of hydrocarbons and intermediate feedstocks used by that refinery. The estimated values of production are not calculated in the same way as revenues for U.S. GAAP purposes, and these values would not be eligible for revenue recognition under U.S. GAAP. Under U.S. GAAP, we recognize revenues at the time products are sold, whereas the estimated values are based on production dates, which may not be the same as the market values at the time of sale. In addition, our U.S. GAAP revenues are based on the actual sales prices of products, while the estimated values are based on selected market indexes. As a result, the actual revenues realized for the sale of products may vary based on the timing, location or actual realized sales price. The cost of hydrocarbons and intermediate feedstocks used to calculate refinery hydrocarbon gross margin are the acquisition costs of these inputs used by a refinery. Costs relating to these items are included as part of cost of sales and operating expenses on our consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income under U.S. GAAP. However, for purposes of calculating refinery hydrocarbon gross margin, these costs are not calculated in the same way that we calculate amounts included in cost of sales under U.S. GAAP, and the amounts reflected in refinery hydrocarbon gross margin may materially understate or overstate the corresponding U.S. GAAP amounts.
In addition, refinery operating expenses reflect estimates of the direct costs and expenses associated with operating the refineries, such as labor and related burden energy, maintenance and materials, and depreciation and amortization. Costs and expenses relating to these items are included as part of other expenses or cost of sales and operating expenses on our consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income under U.S. GAAP, along with other expenses. The amounts allocated to our refineries for certain of these costs and expenses for purposes of our estimates of Refinery EBITDA do not necessarily reflect the full amounts of such costs, or may materially overstate or understate such costs.
Further, other miscellaneous costs and indirect expenses associated with operating the refineries include certain overhead expenses for crude supply and trading, industrial products and petrochemicals, as well as certain refinery-related equity in the investments of affiliates and insurance proceeds. These items reflect amounts included as part of cost of sales and operating expenses and other income, other expenses, insurance recoveries and equity in earnings of affiliates on our consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, along with other expenses. The amounts allocated to our refineries for certain of these costs and expenses for purposes of our estimates of Refinery EBITDA do not necessarily reflect the full amounts of such costs, or may materially overstate or understate such costs.
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SOURCE CITGO Corporation | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/citgo-reports-second-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-08-12 01:03:08 | 0 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/citgo-reports-second-quarter-2022-results/ |
Supporters of a law that allows Massachusetts residents without legal immigration status to get driver’s licenses have launched a ballot committee to try and keep that provision on the books in the face of a GOP effort to repeal it this November.
The progressive ballot question committee, Vote YES for Work and Family Mobility, was organized Monday, and is being led by veteran organizer Harris Gruman, a top SEIU union official who has worked on ballot initiatives to raise the minimum wage, give employees paid sick time, and tax the state’s highest earners.
The committee was formed in response to a GOP-led effort to repeal the law, which is trying to gather enough signatures to make the ballot. The driver’s license bill was put into law earlier this month after the Legislature overrode a veto by Governor Charlie Baker.
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Under the new law, people without legal immigration status will be able to obtain a driver’s license starting in July 2023 by providing two documents that prove their identity, such as a foreign passport and birth certificate, or a passport and a marriage certificate.
Gruman, whose union of service workers has spent the last several years involved in crafting the legislation, said he was upset to hear of the effort to repeal the law, but that his group plans to work on educating voters about what the law actually does ahead of Election Day.
“We were overjoyed that [the law] passed with a supermajority, and of course, are now disheartened that there is an effort already to try to repeal a bill that meets a goal that even they want to achieve, which is safety on the roads,” Gruman said.
The goal of the recall initiative, supported by the state party chairman and leading GOP candidate for governor Geoff Diehl, is to ask 2022 midterm voters whether they want to repeal the law. Milford resident Maureen Maloney, whose son was killed a decade ago by a drunk driver who was in the United States without legal status, is chairing the new committee.
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Though the measure garnered veto-proof support from Democratic lawmakers, a recent Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll of Massachusetts residents found that a narrow plurality of respondents — about 47 percent — opposed the legislation. About 46 percent were in favor, and 7 percent undecided.
Jim Lyons, chair of the state Republican Party, said the group leading the recall effort is still waiting on the sign-off on ballot language from Attorney General Maura Healey, who he said “has been reluctant to release any information” about when the petitions may be ready to distribute.
According to correspondence shared with the Globe Monday, a summary of the measure was provided to Secretary of State William F. Galvin in the morning. Healey’s office said the campaign is now able to start collecting signatures.
In order to begin the process of getting a question on the ballot, 17 registered voters — including GOP lawmakers Dean Tran, Ryan Fattman, and Colleen Gary, and Lyons’ wife, Bernadette — submitted a petition. Now, the committee has to collect 40,120 signatures by Sept. 7. Assuming they have enough certified signatures, the question would make it onto the November 2022 ballot.
Lyons said he was unfazed by the counter-effort, saying the opportunity to bring a recall question before voters is “healthy.”
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“My goal has always been to have the voters decide,” he said.
Samantha J. Gross can be reached at samantha.gross@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthajgross. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/06/27/metro/group-launches-effort-preserve-law-that-allows-undocumented-residents-get-drivers-licenses/ | 2022-06-27 19:50:06 | 1 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/06/27/metro/group-launches-effort-preserve-law-that-allows-undocumented-residents-get-drivers-licenses/ |
Lori Mangum was 32 when apple-sized tumors sprouted on her head. Now — six years and 10 surgeries later — the skin cancer is gone. But her pain lives on, in the form of medical debt.
Even with insurance, Mangum paid $36,000 out-of-pocket, charges that stemmed from the hospital, the surgeon, the anesthesiologist, the pharmacy, and follow-up care. And she still has about $7,000 more to pay.
While she was trying to manage her treatment and medical costs, Mangum remembers thinking, "I should be able to figure this out. I should be able to do this for myself."
But medical billing and health insurance systems in the U.S. are complex, and many patients have difficulty navigating them.
"It's incredibly humbling — and sometimes even to the point of humiliating — to feel like you have no idea what to do," Mangum said.
If you're worried about incurring debt during a health crisis or are struggling to deal with bills you already have, you're not alone. Some 100 million people — including 41% of U.S. adults — have health care debt, according to a recent survey by KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation).
But you can inform and protect yourself. NPR and KHN spoke with patients, consumer advocates, and researchers to glean their hard-won insights on how to avoid or manage medical debt.
"It shouldn't be on the patients who are experiencing the medical issues to navigate this complicated system," said Nicolas Cordova, a health care lawyer with the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. But consumers who inform themselves have a better chance of avoiding debt traps.
That means knowing the ins and outs of various policies — whether it's your insurance coverage, or a hospital's financial assistance program, or a state's consumer protection laws. Ask a lot of questions and persist. "Don't take 'no' for an answer," said Cordova, "because sometimes you might get a 'yes'."
Even people with health insurance can land in debt; indeed, one of the biggest problems, consumer advocates said, is that so many people are underinsured, which means they can get hit with huge out-of-pocket costs from coinsurance and high deductibles.
Here is some practical advice about facing down medical debt, at every stage of care and after.
Before You Get Care
Get familiar with your insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs
Get the best insurance coverage you can afford — even when you're healthy. Make sure you know what the copays, coinsurance, and deductibles will be. Don't hesitate to call the insurer and ask someone to walk you through all the potential out-of-pocket costs. Keep in mind that you cannot make changes to your policy except during certain windows of time, such as open enrollment (typically in the fall or early winter) or after a major life event.
Sign up for public insurance if you qualify
If you're uninsured but need health care, you might qualify for public insurance like Medicaid or Medicare. Ask the provider or hospital if they can help you check your eligibility before you commit to a care plan — and then stay with providers who participate in those programs.
Check whether the specifics of your care are covered
After your doctors map out your treatment plan, check whether all the providers you need to see are in-network and whether any part of the treatment needs to be preauthorized. Ask lots of questions of your insurance provider, doctor's office, or hospital, especially for planned procedures, said Joy Dockter, a lawyer at Central California Legal Services, a public interest law firm. "Are my authorizations in place? What are my copays going to be? Find all that out beforehand, if you can," she said.
Additionally, said Mark Rukavina, a program director at health equity advocacy group Community Catalyst, if the drug you want isn't covered by your insurance, ask whether the drugmaker has a patient assistance program; many do, though eligibility requirements vary.
Get a cost estimate
If you're uninsured, ask for a cost estimate in advance. Rukavina noted that the federal No Surprises Act, which took effect in January, requires providers to give uninsured patients "good faith" estimates of what planned care will cost.
Find out whether you're eligible for financial assistance — and come prepared to make your case
Almost every hospital offers some form of financial assistance, or "charity care." Each hospital sets its own eligibility requirements but typically will waive or discount bills for patients earning less than two to three times the federal poverty level. (Three times the federal poverty level for a household of four in 2022 would be $83,250.)
People who are employed often still qualify for a discount, if not for free care, said Jared Walker, founder of Dollar For, a nonprofit group that helps patients secure charity care. His group developed a database of hospital charity care policies and has an online tool that allows patients to check their eligibility.
Even if you're not sure whether you qualify, it's worth trying. Gather up documents such as pay stubs or income tax returns. Do not expect this to be an easy process. For example, Walker said, health care providers often require documentation to be faxed. "One of the most common refrains I heard from experts: Persistence pays," Walker said.
If you've already qualified for government benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, that may streamline applying for a hospital's financial aid.
If you're not a U.S. citizen or legal resident, check whether your state bars the hospital from considering immigration status, as is the case in New Mexico and Maryland.
Check for other forms of financial assistance
Ambulance services, which can lead to huge bills, might offer charity care programs, so ask whether you qualify. Also ask your medical providers if they know of other charitable programs that would cover costs for things like rides to medical appointments.
During Treatment or Soon After
Ask for line items of the costs for every service, prescription, or treatment you receive
Keep an eye on costs as they come up, said Louisville cancer patient Lori Mangum, who is now chief operating officer of Gilda's Club Kentuckiana, a cancer support group she relied on. Ask a family member or a support group to help you keep track, she said. And never assume that just because insurance covers one part of your treatment, that goes for everything else.
Scrutinizing your care can help you avoid costs. Mangum said she realized too late that she could've taken her own Tylenol, instead of paying "exorbitant" markups on the same medicine at the hospital. She said self-advocacy begins with pressing for answers about how much each service, treatment, and medication will cost — in advance, if possible.
Check whether providers are in-network
Consumer protections in the No Surprises Act should help limit out-of-network charges. That law bans "surprise" billing for most emergency care, as well as for some routine care with out-of-network providers. It also limits what providers can bill for out-of-network doctors, Rukavina said, and gives patients greater ability to dispute charges.
Make sure all your providers — including an anesthesiologist, for example — are in-network for your insurance. If it wasn't disclosed to you in advance, that charge may be worth appealing.
Rukavina noted that if you are not insured or not using your insurance and asked for an estimate in advance, you can dispute bills that exceed the estimates by $400. For patients seeking more information about the No Surprises Act and what it covers, Rukavina recommended calling the government's No Surprises Help Desk at 800-985-3059. For patients with complaints, he recommended filing an online complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Check for double billing
Go through each item on your bill. Mangum said that "it's not infrequent for something to be double-billed." Even if you've already been discharged and gotten behind on payments, it is worth checking to make sure you weren't overcharged.
Negotiate with the hospital directly
Consumer advocates said people mistakenly think medical costs are fixed and nonnegotiable. That was the case for John DeAnda, who fainted while working as a cleaner at a New Mexico hospital. Doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with him after four days of tests, but the hospital billed him for $8,000, which he's still trying to pay off, with interest, nine years later.
"I actually didn't realize you could negotiate," said DeAnda. "What I would've done differently is I would've talked to the hospital first, to see if they could work out a deal with me" before the bills were sent to collections.
If you know you cannot pay the bill, negotiate with the hospital administration or billing department. "That's almost always possible" because hospitals want to avoid the costly administrative burden of sending bills to collections, said Ge Bai, a professor of accounting and health care policy at Johns Hopkins University.
Ask repeatedly about any other forms of financial assistance the hospital might offer. Negotiate the terms of payment to a monthly level that is affordable for you. This also saves the hospital the administrative headaches of unpaid bills, and it might help you avoid having bills sent to collections.
Prioritize paying for food and shelter over medical bills
Financial institutions and lenders treat medical debt differently than unpaid consumer bills. People choose to take a loan to buy a car; they don't choose to get ill or injured. So just because people have medical debt does not mean they are unreliable or less likely to pay their bills in general. The three major credit-rating agencies recently agreed that unpaid medical bills will not affect people's credit scores for a year. Once a bill is paid, it should come off your credit report immediately. Starting in 2023, unpaid medical debt under $500 should not appear on reports either.
That means you should focus first on paying for life necessities — rent or mortgage, gas to get to work, and food, said Marceline White, executive director of the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition.
Do not sign up for credit cards that offer to pay medical bills for you
Experts warn against using credit cards offered by dentists, hospitals, and doctors' offices to pay medical charges. Once you take out credit cards, personal loans, or second mortgages, the debt will get lumped in with any other form of consumer debt — the same as if you overspent on clothes or a luxury SUV. That's one reason medical debt is often underreported; a lot of it masquerades as other forms of debt. Once you convert a medical bill to a credit card or personal loan, it's more likely to hurt your credit score and therefore your ability to borrow in the future.
If you are already in debt or in collections
Try to qualify, even after the fact, for charity care
Hospitals sometimes overlook or fail to screen patients eligible for their financial assistance programs. Nonprofit hospitals are required by law to offer charity care and other community benefits. This is where self-advocacy can make the biggest difference. Sometimes hospitals will retroactively qualify patients and write off their debts. Volunteers at Dollar For will help patients push for that.
Dispute your bill if it is inaccurate
Rukavina said that under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, debt collectors are required to provide a written notice, within five days of contacting a patient, detailing the amount owed, the name of the creditor, and how to dispute the bill. Patients can dispute inaccurate bills if they respond within 30 days. Rukavina said even patients whose bills are in collections can tell bill collectors they wish to apply for financial assistance if they haven't already. If the patient qualifies, the collector cannot charge more than what the patient would've had to pay.
Contact free legal aid services
Lawyers around the country will represent consumers free of charge to resolve legal cases, including medical debt cases. They often have experience dealing with hospitals and third-party collections companies and might be able to argue your case on your behalf, especially if one or both have violated your state's consumer protection laws.
Do not ignore the issue
The impulse is understandable, but it will not help and will likely make the debt even more complicated to address, said Rukavina. As daunting as it might be, try to keep advocating for yourself and your family and get help.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wlrn.org/news/2022-07-01/how-to-get-rid-of-medical-debt-or-avoid-it-in-the-first-place | 2022-07-01 17:05:02 | 1 | https://www.wlrn.org/news/2022-07-01/how-to-get-rid-of-medical-debt-or-avoid-it-in-the-first-place |
U.S. Phones Received 4.3 Billion Robocalls in Month of December, Says YouMail Robocall Index
IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- US consumers received over 50.3 billion robocalls in 2022, only slightly less than the 50.5 billion total robocalls received in 2021 despite widespread enforcement efforts by government regulators and state officials.
Americans received just under 4.3 billion robocalls in December, marking a 10.1% decrease from November's monthly volume, and a 13.0% decrease on a daily basis. Specifically, December averaged 137.6 million calls/day and 1,831 calls/second, compared to November which averaged 158.2 million calls/day and 1,593 calls/second.
December's decline was a welcome respite after the growing call volume over the past few months. The decline is likely driven by robocallers taking time off for the holiday season and the disappearance of election-oriented robocalls.
"The big picture is that robocall volume in the US isn't really changing, despite month to month variations, and despite stepped up enforcement and the roll out of Stir/Shaken," said YouMail CEO Alex Quilici. "It feels like mitigation efforts are keeping things from getting worse, but aren't making them materially better. It's clear that consumers continue to need to protect themselves with robocall blocking apps like YouMail, since the problem is just not going to magically go away."
These latest figures are provided by YouMail, a totally free robocall blocking app and call protection service for mobile phones. These figures are determined by extrapolating from the robocall traffic attempting to get through to YouMail's millions of active users.
For the third month in a row, the most unwanted robocall campaign involved a solicitation for potential medical compensation related to Camp Lejeune, as in this example. This campaign continued in December to make tens of millions of robocalls from thousands of different numbers. Like many other illegal telemarketing or scam calls, they appear to be violating a variety of telemarketing regulations, as they do not immediately identify the entity making the call, do not provide a call back number, and appear to be calling people who did not give prior consent. Here is the call transcript:
"Please listen carefully. You may have potential compensation due to you if you would like to opt out, please press one immediately. Once again, if you would like to opt out, please press one immediately. This message is in regards to Camp Lejeune. If you or anyone you know visited Camp Lejeune from August 1st, 1953 through December 31st, 1987 and developed medical complications, diseases and medical issues, you were likely due compensation due to being exposed to toxic water and contamination. To join to get compensation simply press two to speak to a case specialist. Once again this is for anyone you know that attended Camp LeJeune between from August 1st, 1953, through December 31st, 1987 and developed medical complications, diseases and other medical issues, you were likely due compensation. Press two to speak to a case specialist."
Americans received roughly 1.7 billion unwanted scam and telemarketing calls in December, a decrease of nearly 700 million calls from November. Scam and spam robocalls together now make up roughly 41% of all robocall volume, accelerating the recent downward trend from the highs when they made up 60-70% of all robocalls. Another positive trend is that the volume of obvious scam calls appeared to go down 30%, although telemarketing calls were down about 13%.
Some calls initially viewed as telemarketing are eventually recognized as illegal telemarketing or scam calls, so it's important to measure the overall quantity of scam and spam calls combined. A scam call is one that has clearly illegal or fraudulent behavior, such as a call from an enterprise imposter, or one that has a spoofed caller ID. Stir/Shaken continues to reduce the number of robocall campaigns based on spoofed IDs, which drives down the number of obvious scam calls by making them harder to detect, since they appear to be telemarketing campaigns unless there is other evidence of fraud.
The cities, area codes, and states getting the most robocalls in December were identical to November, despite a significant decline in volume for many of them.
These data points are provided by YouMail, a free call protection app for mobile phones. YouMail recently won the American Business Awards' Gold Stevie Award for Technical Innovation of the Year, and the YouMail app was named the nation's best robocall-blocking solution in a competition organized by Geoffrey Fowler of the Washington Post.
YouMail blocks unwanted robocallers by making sure the user's phone doesn't ring, and then plays an out-of-service message that leads them to think they dialed an invalid number. YouMail identifies problematic numbers and robocalls using a combination of its recently patented audio fingerprinting technology, call patterns, and consumer feedback.
YouMail provides the YouMail Robocall Index to estimate robocall volume across the country and for specific area codes every month. This estimate is formed by extrapolating from the behavior of the billions of calls YouMail has handled for its users, and these statistics are regularly cited by the FCC as a definitive source for national data trends.
For a full ranking of cities, states and area codes, as well as details on the behavior of robocallers in each area code, please see http://robocallindex.com. To listen to actual voice messages left by robocallers, please visit the YouMail Directory. To join the YouMail Robocall Index mailing list, please write to RobocallIndex@YouMail.com.
YouMail protects consumers, enterprises, and carriers from harmful phone calls. YouMail provides US and UK consumers app-based call protection services through the YouMail, Another Number, and HulloMail apps. These solutions answer over a billion live calls per year across well over 10 million registered users, powering America's most robust telephone sensor network in identifying and providing zero-hour protection against illegal calling campaigns and cyberattacks. YouMail Protective Services leverages this sensor network to protect consumer-facing enterprises by detecting and helping shut down imposter traffic that can lead to financial or brand damage, as well as to protect carriers with robocall mitigation services that detect and help stop bad traffic originating, traversing, or terminating on their networks. This sensor network is also used to provide the YouMail Robocall Index™ is the nation's definitive source on telephone network activity and attacks. YouMail, Inc. is privately funded and based in Irvine, California.
Contact:
Rohan Notaney for YouMail
Lumina Communications
YouMailPR@luminapr.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE YouMail Inc. | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2023/01/05/robocalls-top-503-billion-2022-matching-2021-call-volumes-despite-enforcement-efforts/ | 2023-01-05 14:52:42 | 0 | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2023/01/05/robocalls-top-503-billion-2022-matching-2021-call-volumes-despite-enforcement-efforts/ |
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Whether you're looking to update your living space or wardrobe for summer, Nordstrom Rack has it all and at discounted prices. This 4th of July, you can score some really great deals on outdoor entertaining must-haves, home essentials, and summer fashion from brands you know and love. The deals on site are so good, you can find savings up to 95% off. There really is no better time to shop!
In addition to all the amazing deals you can find, Nordstrom Rack is one of our go-to's to shop because they tend to have fast and reliable shipping. Often, we'll find ourselves shopping a major sale, like these deals you can score for 4th of July right now, and we'll get our items within that week. Nordstrom Rack also offers free in store pick up, which is perfect if you find something you love now and want to get it in time for the actual holiday weekend.
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Looking for more things to shop today? Check out 15 Affordable Things From Target You Need in Your First Apartment. | https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1336149/nordstrom-rack-4th-of-july-deals-get-up-to-95-off-summer-fashion-home-entertaining-essentials-more | 2022-06-29 00:34:23 | 0 | https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1336149/nordstrom-rack-4th-of-july-deals-get-up-to-95-off-summer-fashion-home-entertaining-essentials-more |
LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) — The mayor of La Crosse has refused to veto the city's ban on conversion therapy, despite pressure from a coalition group.
The coalition includes people from local churches, led by former City Council members Tom Sweeney and Lorraine Decker. They rallied outside City Hall Tuesday afternoon ahead of a 5 p.m. veto deadline for Mayor Mitch Reynolds.
Rally organizers say the ban is in direct violation of the freedom of speech and religion outlined in the U.S. Constitution, the La Crosse Tribune reported. Some people who attended the rally say they want to preserve the ability to freely counsel people on their sexuality and gender identity.
The Common Council voted 6-4 to ban conversion therapy last week, saying the ban protects “the health, safety and welfare of the people of the city of La Crosse.”
Conversion therapy is a controversial practice that often impacts the LGBTQ community by aiming to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
La Crosse is the 14th city in Wisconsin to ban conversion therapy. While the ban was opposed by some, it has the support of the School District of La Crosse, the YWCA of La Crosse, health professionals and other community members.
The group will now focus on getting a current council member who voted to ban conversion therapy to reconsider the vote, according to Sweeny. | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Ban-on-conversion-therapy-stands-in-La-Crosse-17242927.php | 2022-06-15 14:00:02 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Ban-on-conversion-therapy-stands-in-La-Crosse-17242927.php |
With the exception of Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Senate Republicans on the ballot this year have much to answer for concerning the Jan. 6 coup attempt and the perpetuation of the “big lie.” Yet the mainstream media, which boast of their efforts to cover democracy, have so far failed to put forward basic questions to these senators.
For example: Did Donald Trump lose in 2020? If so, why did you not call out his specious claims of voter fraud? How can you defend a former president who targeted election officials despite passionate warnings from people such as Gabriel Sterling in Georgia that he was putting lives at risk?
Each Republican senator running for reelection should be asked if they approved of the scheme to procure fake electors or if they would object to a Democratic presidential winner in 2024. They should explain why they (with the exception of Murkowski) opposed an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Here are several questions for a few key Republicans, to help the media out:
Sen. Ron Johnson (Wis.):
- You said you “had no involvement in that whatsoever” after recent reports that your chief of staff asked Vice President Mike Pence’s office if he should pass along fake electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021. As The Post’s Aaron Blake pointed out, if your version of events — in which you essentially said your office was just a go-between — is true, your office “was happy to serve as a conduit between a House intern and Pence’s staff, offering to deliver documents to no less than the vice president’s office without really reviewing the contents or their implications.” Is it standard procedure to pass along unvetted, unexamined material to the vice president? Are you blaming your staff for enabling the coup attempt? Why did you not come forward with this information previously?
- Were the Jan. 6 rioters violent? Why did you say you would have been afraid of them if they were Black Lives Matter protesters or antifa, but were not alarmed by those hunting down Pence, assaulting police and attempting to halt the counting of electoral votes?
- Last year at a Republican event in Wisconsin, you admitted there was no evidence for the “big lie.” Did you ever implore Trump to accept the results?
Sen. John Neely Kennedy (La.):
- Why did you vote to object to electoral votes? What evidence did you have that they were fraudulent?
- Now that the House Jan. 6 committee has demonstrated no evidence of fraud, do you regret your vote?
- How can voters trust you not to be duped by Trump in the future?
Sen. Mike Lee (Utah):
- You never received actual evidence of widespread fraud. Why did you nevertheless assist Trump in trying to overturn the election, as your messages with then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows show? How do you justify that?
- Were you aware that Trump’s own attorneys — including chief coup-plotter John Eastman — essentially acknowledged there was no viable case to pursue after the last lawsuit was dismissed? If Eastman didn’t believe his own theory, how could you?
- Were you willing to delay or negate the electoral vote count so that states could come up with alternate electors? Do you think the voters should be able to choose the president?
- Ultimately, you did not object to the electoral vote. Did you realize your efforts had been misplaced? Why did you not alert the FBI or the public that an attempt to procure alternate electors in violation of the will of the people was underway?
- Why did you not come forward with evidence of your involvement in the coup before the Meadows messages were released?
- Did you uphold your oath in the aftermath of the 2020 election?
Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.):
- In a recent interview, you said you would of course support Trump if he were the Republican nominee in 2024. Given his role in spreading the “big lie,” pressuring state officials to come up with fake ballots, cajoling Justice Department lawyers to help cast doubt on the election, endangering former vice president Mike Pence’s life and targeting ordinary election workers such as Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, how can you say that?
- What would you say to Freeman and Moss about the harm they suffered based on the utterly false allegations that Trump and his team had spread?
It is frankly inconceivable that these senators — who by acts of commission or omission enabled Trump’s illegal and antidemocratic actions — should be presenting themselves for reelection. It’s even more shocking that they have yet to be interrogated about their conduct.
The mainstream media might pat themselves on the backs for their newfound interest in democracy, but their failure to hold accountable those who had a hand in nearly overthrowing our election suggests they have much to learn. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/06/23/media-must-confront-accessories-coup-attempt-heres-how/ | 2022-06-23 12:04:30 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/06/23/media-must-confront-accessories-coup-attempt-heres-how/ |
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The Browns suffered one of the biggest shock defeats of the season so far last week, with Cleveland throwing away a 30-17 lead with two minutes to go against the Jets to lose 31-30 in dramatic fashion.
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The Inquirer is not an online gambling operator, or a gambling site. We provide this information about sports betting for entertainment purposes only. | https://www.inquirer.com/sports/betting/promo-codes/caesars-sportsbook-promo-code-steelers-v-browns-20220922.html | 2022-09-22 20:53:24 | 0 | https://www.inquirer.com/sports/betting/promo-codes/caesars-sportsbook-promo-code-steelers-v-browns-20220922.html |
Here's an article from the Associated Press:
By Keith Ridler
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's wolf population appears to be holding steady despite recent changes by lawmakers that allow expanded methods and seasons for killing wolves, the state’s top wildlife official said Thursday.
Idaho Department of Fish and Game Director Ed Schriever told lawmakers on the Natural Resources Interim Committee that preliminary data on human-caused and natural wolf mortality looks similar to three previous years.
He also said the agency is using changes in wolf hunting laws that could lead to killing more wolves in areas with livestock conflicts or where elk herds are below population goals, potentially through a wolf-killing reimbursement program for skilled trappers and hunters.
“I think the best way to describe Idaho’s population right now is that it’s fairly stable, and it’s fluctuating around 1,250,” he told lawmakers. “Part of the year it’s below that; part of the year it’s above that. But the population is fluctuating around 1,250.”
Schriever, in a graph presented to lawmakers, showed the state's wolf population from 2019 to 2021 fluctuating with a high of more than 1,600 in May when wolf pups are born down to a low of about 800 in April as wolves die through natural mortality, hunting or trapping.
Schriever said that the same pattern with potentially similar numbers could be repeated this year. But the agency won’t have a solid estimate for the 2022 wolf population until January when it analyzes additional information and millions of photos taken by remote cameras.
The agency in previous years picked August as the date to set the wolf population, putting it at about 1,500. The 1,250 estimate is a snapshot of the wolf population in November, at about the midpoint of the annual population fluctuation.
Idaho lawmakers in 2021 approved a law backed by ranchers that greatly expanded wolf killing in what some lawmakers stated could reduce the wolf population by 90%. Backers said it would reduce the wolf population and attacks on livestock while also boosting deer and elk herds.
Idaho wildlife officials also last year announced the state would make available $200,000 to be divided into payments to hunters and trappers who kill wolves in the state.
However, there has been concern the new rules could overshoot the mark because if the state's wolf population were to fall below 150, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could take over management of wolves from the state.
“If you go below that (150), that's bad news,” Schriever told lawmakers.
Schriever cited a 2009 Fish and Wildlife Service rule delisting northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves. The rule was blocked by a federal court but took effect when approved by Congress in 2011. Schriever noted the rule has a wolf population for Idaho fluctuating around 500, with a potential high of about 650 and a low of about 350.
“I think there are a whole bunch of us that would be happy if we could get to what's described in the federal delisting rule as a population fluctuating around 500,” Schriever said.
Getting there could be challenging because wolves, Schriever noted, get wary when hunted.
He gave a breakdown of 389 wolves killed last year by some 50,000 hunters and trappers, noting only 72 hunters and trappers killed more than one wolf, accounting for 236 wolves in all that year.
"Those people are very important in the concept of managing the wolf population,” Schriever said, suggesting the reimbursement program could be a key component to target wolves in specific areas of the state.
“The reimbursement program may, in fact, be very important in keeping some of these highly skilled people engaged in this for a longer period of time," he said.
Besides setting up the reimbursement program, the law passed in 2021 also expanded wolf killing methods to include trapping and snaring wolves on a single hunting tag, no restriction on hunting hours, using night-vision equipment with a permit, using bait and dogs and allowing hunting from motor vehicles. It also authorized year-round wolf trapping on private property.
Montana lawmakers also changed their laws to expand wolf killing. That prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service late last year, at the request of environmental groups, to announce a yearlong review to see if wolves in the western U.S. should be relisted and again receive federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. Such a move would take away Idaho's management of the species.
On another front, a U.S. District Court judge in August rejected a request by conservation groups to temporarily block Idaho’s expanded wolf trapping and snaring rules. Environmental groups said Idaho’s expanded wolf-killing regulations violate the Endangered Species Act because they will lead to the illegal killing of federally protected grizzly bears and Canada lynx. Schriever said Thursday that no grizzlies have so far been caught in a wolf trap.
It's not clear when the court will make a ruling on the merits in that case. | https://www.idahopress.com/eyeonboise/early-data-indicates-idaho-wolf-population-is-holding-steady/article_4c28b132-45c8-11ed-a88c-03d293452dea.html | 2022-10-07 01:05:56 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/eyeonboise/early-data-indicates-idaho-wolf-population-is-holding-steady/article_4c28b132-45c8-11ed-a88c-03d293452dea.html |
Stranger sexually assaults woman inside restaurant, police say
TULSA, Okla. (Gray News) – A man is accused of approaching a group of women he did not know inside a restaurant and groping one of them, police said.
According to the Tulsa Police Department, officers responded to a call Saturday afternoon for a report about a man sexually assaulting a woman and causing a disturbance.
When officers arrived, they learned Doyle Wilkins was drinking at the restaurant when he approached a table of four women he did not know.
The women told police Wilkins said, “I want to slap a b****” and began tapping one of the women’s faces with the back of his hand.
One of the other women at the table stood up to try to get help, but Wilkins was blocking her path. Then, the woman said, Wilkins began groping her chest and pushed her up against the railing.
The woman later said she was in fear of falling over the railing to the lower level.
Another customer at the bar intervened, and Wilkins punched that man several times, police said.
Restaurant staff were able to get Wilkens “under control” under officers arrived and arrested him, according to police.
Multiple witnesses at the restaurant recounted the same story.
Later, while in custody, police said Wilkins told them that he “didn’t do anything that bad” and claimed the officer was “trying to make this into a ‘Me Too’ thing.”
Police said Wilkins repeatedly made sexual comments to officers and prisoners at the jail.
Wilkins is charged with sexual battery, assault and battery, trespassing, and public intoxication.
According to jail records, Wilkins was released on bond later that evening.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/01/23/stranger-sexually-assaults-woman-inside-restaurant-police-say/ | 2023-01-23 21:57:34 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/01/23/stranger-sexually-assaults-woman-inside-restaurant-police-say/ |
Democrats frustrated by party’s response to abortion ruling
By NICHOLAS RICCARDI
Associated Press
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — As Sen. Michael Bennet sought to encourage a small crowd of fellow Democrats not to give up the fight for abortion rights, Maryah Lauer stepped forward, bullhorn in hand, to exhort him to do more.
“Do you support ending the filibuster and expanding the court?” the 28-year-old called out from a quartet of fellow activists. “The Democrats are not doing enough.”
The confrontation was a sign of the frustration among many Democrats after the Supreme Court’s decision last month to strip women of the constitutional right to abortion. The question heading into this year’s midterm elections is whether the outrage will energize Democrats to vote or leave them disillusioned and staying home.
From rallies like the one in Colorado Springs to the corridors of the White House, Democrats are pressing an urgent message that voters can’t give up and tune out. President Joe Biden, who often embraces Washington’s institutional traditions, called last week for an exception to the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster rules to put Roe v. Wade into federal law.
But the president and his aides have rejected more dramatic steps like adding additional justices to the Supreme Court or opening clinics on federal lands in states that ban the procedure. And that has left some in the party’s more activist circles worried.
“People want to feel like you’re looking at every option,” said Brian Fallon of Demand Justice, a Democratic group advocating court expansion, which Biden has rejected.
The party tried to vote abortion rights into federal law earlier this year, but the effort failed as Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia sided with Republicans opposing the bill. Manchin and Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona say they oppose making an exception to the filibuster rule for abortion rights, and reiterated their stance hours after Biden’s statement, rendering it impossible.
Instead, the Democratic message is shaping up to be: Elect more Democrats to protect abortion rights. That, however, risks falling flat among Democrats who argue that passionate calls to vote hardly translate automatically into people doing as they’re asked.
“There has got to be some articulation of what they get for voting in the election,” said Tresa Undem, a liberal Democratic pollster. “People want to hear real strategy, they want to hear real results.”
The problem is there may not be a strategy that will lead to real results, other than winning elections.
The party needs at least two more senators to end the filibuster and vote on abortion rights, and many worry that even if such a bill should pass, the high court would simply strike down a law establishing a national right to abortion. Even drastic moves like packing the court with liberal justices — unlikely to pass anyway — would be just temporary wins, because the GOP could just expand the court again once it wins power and add conservative justices.
Still, many Democrats say they expect their voters to be outraged into action by the recent ruling. They argue that Biden has truly limited options and any despair about his inability to override the ruling will be overcome by Democratic anger against Republicans in November.
“All the data shows Democratic intensity has gone up significantly in the last few weeks,” said Simon Rosenberg of NDN, a Democratic thinktank. “People in the Democratic Party may be disappointed with their leaders, but they understand, more graphically than ever, the threat the new right represents.”
A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found a growing percentage of Americans calling out abortion or women’s rights as priorities for the government. In an open-ended question, 22% of U.S. adults named abortion or women’s rights as one of up to five problems they want the government to work on, more than double since December.
Democrats have been bracing for a difficult election for months, with numerous polls showing Biden’s approval dropping even among members of his own party. Traditionally, the president’s party in midterm elections is not nearly as motivated as the opposition one, leading to big losses for the incumbent’s supporters. The anger at the Supreme Court decision is a possible political lifeline to incumbents like Colorado’s Bennet, if it doesn’t curdle into apathy or despair.
Though Bennet represents a state that has voted solidly Democratic in several consecutive elections, he could still be vulnerable in November if a Republican wave materializes. The GOP has nominated a challenger who, notably for a Republican, supports a ban on later-term abortions but otherwise backs abortion rights.
Bennet has relied on Colorado voters’ strong support of abortion rights to win his two prior elections, and he knows he cannot afford complacency or apathy among his voters.
During his speech at the June 29 Colorado Springs rally, Bennet spoke about the Supreme Court ruling and addressed Democrats’ frustration and despair. “Don’t give up,” he said. “We can’t just accept things the way they are.”
It was after Bennet’s speech, when he joined local Democratic nominees onstage in a show of party unity, that Lauer and the others charged in. After talking to reporters offstage, Bennet spoke with the demonstrators.
He told them he was also frustrated at how his party had let things get to the point where the GOP appointed a 6-3 majority on the high court. He agreed with them on ending the filibuster and codifying Roe but opposed packing the court. If Democrats did that, he said, “we will guarantee the majority in the Senate will be an anti-choice Senate.”
When the demonstrators continued to be frustrated that Bennet wouldn’t agree to court-packing, he advised them, “There are not remotely 50 votes to do what you’re suggesting in the Senate.”
“Aren’t there 50 Democrats?!” cried one. Others demanded Bennet use “your power” to change Manchin’s position.
Bennet had to leave, but a staffer stepped in and said that Bennet couldn’t change Manchin’s position. She noted the West Virginia senator had, despite Bennet’s pleas, killed his prized program, an expanded child tax credit for parents.
As the crowd broke up, the sense of frustration was palpable. Several rally goers approached Lauer and her companions to thank them for pushing Bennet. One attendee started yelling out the home address of the local Republican congressman, Rep. Doug Lamborn, urging people to “make his life miserable.”
Lauer, who said she canvassed for Bennet’s 2016 campaign, and the others said they weren’t satisfied by their time with the senator.
“If they continue to do what we just witnessed, where they walk away, where they evade responsibility for doing their constitutional duties, I think that’s a great way to lose,” she said.
One of the other protesters, Chauncy Johnson, 22, said he doesn’t want Republicans to win, but he was thinking of withholding his vote due to his frustration with the party.
“I want Democrats to get a rude awakening,” he said.
__
Associated Press writer Hannah Fingerhut in Washington contributed to this report. | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2022/07/06/democrats-frustrated-by-partys-response-to-abortion-ruling/ | 2022-07-06 21:36:45 | 1 | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2022/07/06/democrats-frustrated-by-partys-response-to-abortion-ruling/ |
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Here’s a look at Thursday’s business headlines with Jane King.
IRS forgiving $1.2B in late filing fees
The IRS says it will forgive $1.2 billion in late filing fees that resulted from the coronavirus pandemic.
The IRS estimates that some 1.6 million filers of 2019 and 2020 returns will be issued refunds or credits by the end of September for most of the fees that they incurred.
20 million U.S. households behind on utility payments
Soaring electricity prices amid the global energy crunch have led to 20 million American households falling behind on their utility bills.
The National Energy Assistance Directors Asociation says the problem has been exacerbated by both Russia’s war against Ukraine and summer heat waves.
New attack can read all Gmail messages
Google confirms a new attack can read all Gmail messages.
According to Google, an espionage threat group it says is backed by the Iranian government has a new tool that has been used to successfully hack a small number of Gmail user accounts.
It recommends not using weak passwords and implementing two-factor verification on your Google account.
Amazon pulling the plug on telehealth service
Amazon is shuttering its telehealth service, known as Amazon Care.
Amazon Care launched in 2019 as a pilot program for employees in and around the company’s Seattle headquarters.
The e-commerce giant decided to end the program after determining it wasn’t “the right long-term solution for our customers.”
Smartphone sales are down
Smartphone makers report big downturns in smartphone buying, and analysts think it’s because people are holding onto their phones longer.
Nearly every smartphone maker besides Samsung and Apple reported lower smartphone shipments in the second quarter.
But, the market is still high for expensive phones — people still like buying those. | https://www.wishtv.com/news/business/thursdays-business-headlines-203/ | 2022-08-25 12:39:08 | 0 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/business/thursdays-business-headlines-203/ |
Retired RFD Fire captain passes away
(ABC 6 News) – A retired Fire Captain with the Rochester Fire Department (RFD) has passed away.
Elgin Norman, of Plainview, Minn., died on Saturday at Family Roots Elder Care in Plainview. Norman was 82-years-old.
Captain Norman joined RFD on Apr. 1, 1963. He retired Oct. 31, 1998.
RFD said the 35 years that Norman served the City of Rochester did not go unnoticed, and thanked him and his family for sacrificing so much to help others during his long career.
Visitation will be on Friday, Mar. 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. followed by a funeral at Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester.
Arrangements made by Schad & Zabel Funeral Home in Plainview. | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/top-news/retired-rfd-fire-captain-passes-away/ | 2023-03-21 23:10:49 | 0 | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/top-news/retired-rfd-fire-captain-passes-away/ |
UVALDE, Texas (AP) — The Justice Department said Sunday it will review the law enforcement response to the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 students and two teachers dead.
The review comes amid mounting pressure and questions about the shifting and at times contradictory information about what happened in the shooting last Tuesday at Robb Elementary School and how police responded.
Justice Department spokesman Anthony Coley said the review would be conducted in a fair, impartial and independent manner and that the findings would be made public.
The review is being conducted at the request of Uvalde’s mayor, officials said.
In a statement, Coley said the goal of the review is “to provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and response that day, and to identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to active shooter events.”
Handling the review is the department’s Office of Community Policing Services.
Such a review is somewhat rare and most after-action reports that come after a mass shooting are generally compiled by local law enforcement agencies or outside groups.
Authorities revealed on Friday that students and teachers repeatedly begged 911 operators for help even as a police commander told more than a dozen officers to wait in a school hallway. Officials said the commander believed that the suspect was barricaded inside an adjoining classroom and that there was no longer an active attack.
The revelation caused more grief and raised new questions about whether more lives were lost because officers did not act faster to stop the gunman, who was ultimately killed by Border Patrol tactical officers.
Biden has not spoken publicly about the police response to the shooting. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/justice-dept-to-review-response-to-texas-school-shooting/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world | 2022-05-29 18:03:04 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/justice-dept-to-review-response-to-texas-school-shooting/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
General Motors, which plans to go almost entirely electric by 2035, is creating a new energy division that will produce chargers for electric vehicles, as well as solar panels and other energy-related technology for homes and businesses.
The company said Tuesday that the unit, called GM Energy, will create systems for households and commercial customers that link electric vehicles to power storage and generation. The division should have the capacity to sell energy from electric vehicle and stationary storage batteries back to utilities during peak periods of energy usage.
“GM Energy has the opportunity to help deliver sustainable energy products and services that can help mitigate the effect of power outages and provide customers with resilient and cost-effective energy management,” Travis Hester, vice president of GM EV Growth Operations, said in a statement.
GM's Energy Services Cloud will include data and energy management tools and let customers manage their energy usage.
Ultium Charge 360, which includes several charging station networks and software, will expand its portfolio of integrated public charging networks, integrated mobile apps, and additional product and service offerings over time as part of the division.
GM said it also has partnerships with several companies, including solar technology and energy services provider SunPower. In the deal with SunPower, the two companies will develop and offer customers a home energy system that includes integrated electric vehicle and battery solutions, solar panels and home energy storage. The system will be available at the same time as the retail launch of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV, which is expected to start production in the fall 2023.
There's also a pilot project with Pacific Gas and Electric to allow residential customers to use their compatible electric vehicles with a bi-directional charger as backup power for essential home needs during power outages. After initial lab tests, the companies anticipate expanding the offer to some residential customers within PG&E’s service area. This is expected to begin next year. | https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/General-Motors-broadens-electric-goals-with-new-17501025.php | 2022-10-11 13:20:11 | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/General-Motors-broadens-electric-goals-with-new-17501025.php |
First Ninja Cordless Blender Makes It Easy to Live Life at Full Blast
NEEDHAM, Mass., March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ninja, the #1 brand in blending in the US for the last four consecutive years[1], is disrupting the market by bringing the power and high-performance of its award-winning blenders on the go with its first cordless blender: the Ninja Blast™ Portable Blender.
Packing power and performance all in one portable, lightweight, cordless blender the Ninja Blast™ is the perfect solution for high-quality drinks on the way to or from the gym or even while at the beach with friends. Blasting through ice and frozen ingredients with its durable, stainless steel BlastBlade™ technology, the Ninja Blast™ offers the best cordless blending power [2] at 16oz or 18oz, with better particle breakdown than competitors.
"We are thrilled to introduce the new Ninja Blast™ and allow people to blend anywhere they want by powering their personal performance on-the-go," said Neil Shah, Chief Commercial Officer. "With the Ninja Blast™, you can easily unleash blending creativity in the palm of your hand and make anything from fruity smoothies to creamy milkshakes or even zesty salad dressings - the options are endless."
The cordless, hassle-free, leak-proof design is complete with a long-lasting battery that can blend up to 15 times within a single charge. Not to mention, the motor base fits conveniently in car cup holders, making travel a breeze. Once home, drop the BPA free sip lid and blending vessel in the dishwasher or give it a quick self-clean with a 30 second blend cycle with water and a drop of dish soap.
Whether the day includes intense workouts, back-to-back meetings in the office or a visit to the park with kids, the new Ninja® Blast makes it easy to live life at full blast.
The Ninja Blast™ will come in six colors, and is now available for pre-order in the black colorway for $59.99 on NinjaKitchen.com. It will also be available for purchase at major retailers, including Amazon, Target and Walmart soon.
[1] The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service, brand level U.S. dollar sales, 12ME December 2022 / 12ME December 2021 / 12ME December 2020 / 12ME December 2019 / (Blending & Processing)
[2] Based on particle breakdown and rpm vs. the portable blender market 12ME '22 unit sales.
About Ninja:
SharkNinja is a global product design and technology company that creates 5-star rated lifestyle solutions through innovative products for consumers around the world. SharkNinja has built two billion-dollar brands, Shark® and Ninja®, each of which has a proven track record of establishing leadership positions by disrupting numerous small household appliance product categories including Cleaning, Cooking, Food Preparation, Home Environment and Beauty. Products are sold at key retailers, online and offline, and through distributors around the world. Ninja® and Shark® are registered trademarks of SharkNinja Operating LLC. SharkNinja is a subsidiary of JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited (Hong Kong: 1691) a leader in small household appliance innovation.
About JS Global:
JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited (Hong Kong: 1691) is a world leading producer of small household appliances. As of Dec 31st, 2020, JS Global ranked number 3 among the small household appliance focused companies. It primarily operates three major brands: Shark, Ninja and Joyoung. The Company's success is centered around its deep understanding of consumer needs, and is built on its strong product innovation and design capability powered by a global research and development platform, marketing strengths driving high brand engagement, and an omni-channel distribution coverage with high penetration.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Ninja | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2023/03/23/new-ninja-blast-portable-blender-challenges-competition-with-powerful-innovative-on-the-go-blending/ | 2023-03-23 16:46:09 | 0 | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2023/03/23/new-ninja-blast-portable-blender-challenges-competition-with-powerful-innovative-on-the-go-blending/ |
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A Nigerian governor has ordered the issuing of licenses so citizens can carry guns to defend themselves against armed groups, a first among the measures drawn up to defeat gunmen blamed for the deaths of thousands in the West African country’s troubled northern region.
Zamfara state Gov. Bello Matawalle announced Sunday through the state commissioner for information that the directive to issue gun licenses follows “the recent escalating attacks, kidnapping and the criminal levies being enforced on our innocent communities.”
Armed groups known locally as bandits have targeted remote communities in Nigeria’s northwest and central regions. Kidnappings for ransom took place last year in Zamfara, one of the worst-hit states in the armed violence.
Gun permits for self-defense are very rare in Nigeria, and Zamfara could be the first state to offer mass approvals. It was not yet clear how arming citizens would help prevent the attacks; authorities have admitted that even the Nigerian police are sometimes overwhelmed during violent attacks.
Nigeria also is fighting a decade-long war against Islamist extremist rebels in the northeast region.
“This act of terrorism has been a source of worry and concern to the people and government of the state,” Ibrahim Dosara, the Zamfara information commissioner, said in a statement. He said the government has arranged for 500 licenses to be distributed to those “who qualify and are wishing to obtain such guns to defend themselves.”
Past measures, including telecommunications blackouts, blocks of millions of unregistered phone lines and a series of curfews, have not achieved the long-sought peace.
As gun permits are rolled out in Zamfara, the local information commissioner also urged residents to report informants working for the armed groups. Analysts have told The Associated Press that such informants are usually recruited by the attackers and acquiesce because of economic hardship and fear for their safety.
The state government has ordered the recruitment of 200 additional local guards in each of Zamfara’s 19 emirates “to increase manpower and strengthen its force and capacity to deal with the bandits,” Dosara, the information commissioner, said.
Markets and gas stations in some volatile areas were also closed. In addition, motorcycles were banned; groups of bandits numbering in the hundreds often attack communities while riding motorcycles.
“Government is hereby directing the military, police, civil defense and other security agencies to mobilize their operatives and take (the) fight to the enclaves of the criminals with immediate effect,” the commissioner added. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/international/nigerian-governor-lets-residents-carry-guns-for-self-defense/ | 2022-06-27 11:03:41 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/international/nigerian-governor-lets-residents-carry-guns-for-self-defense/ |
Justice Dept. provides judge with redacted Trump affidavit
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Thursday submitted to a judge a redacted version of the affidavit it relied on when it federal agents searched the Florida estate of former President Donald Trump to look for classified documents.
The document was filed under seal and it was not immediately clear when it might be made public, or how much of it will be disclosed.
“The United States has filed a submission under seal per the Court’s order of Aug. 22,” Justice Department spokesman Anthony Coley said in a statement. “The Justice Department respectfully declines further comment as the Court considers the matter.”
U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart had given the department until Thursday at noon to propose to him the redactions to the affidavit it wanted to make before any portion of it was released to the public. But he acknowledged on Monday that it was possible that the redactions, or blacked-out portions, would be so extensive as to make the document essentially incomprehensible.
The affidavit is likely to contain key information about the FBI’s basis for executing a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach on Aug. 8. Documents already made public as part of the investigation show that the FBI retrieved from the property 11 sets of classified documents, including information marked at the top secret level.
Multiple news media organizations, including The Associated Press, argued in court last week for the disclosure of the document, citing the extraordinary public interest in the federal search of a former president’s home. The Justice Department has opposed the release of the affidavit, saying it could reveal information about witnesses and about sensitive investigative techniques.
Reinhart has said that though he was sensitive to the department’s concerns, he was not inclined to keep the entire document sealed. He directed officials to give him a version of the document redacting the information it wants to keep secret.
Find more on Donald Trump-related investigations: https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kold.com/2022/08/25/justice-dept-provides-judge-with-redacted-trump-affidavit/ | 2022-08-25 16:46:18 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/2022/08/25/justice-dept-provides-judge-with-redacted-trump-affidavit/ |
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen says he was blindsided during an attack on him outside a South Florida hotel following a concert earlier this year.
“I heard a couple of steps and then I just saw this (flash) and the next thing I knew was I was on the ground,” Allen, 59, told ABC’s “ Good Morning America ” in an interview broadcast Monday. “I landed on my backside — hit my head on the pavement.”
Def Leppard was in Fort Lauderdale to perform at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino when he was attacked March 13 while taking a smoke break outside a hotel.
Police arrested Max Hartley, a 19-year-old from Avon, Ohio, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of battery and four counts of criminal mischief, according to court records. Police said they have not determined a motive.
“I don’t think he knew who I was, but he must have seen that I wasn’t a threat because, you know, I’ve only got one arm,” said Allen, who lost his left arm in a car accident in 1984.
According to the police report, Hartley was hiding behind a pillar outside the hotel and then ran at Allen, knocking him to the ground. He also attacked a woman who tried to help Allen, but she wasn’t seriously injured.
Hartley then ran to another hotel and started breaking car windows until he was stopped by witnesses and police arrived, police said.
Hartley’s lawyer, Kevin Gardiner, said in an email that he can’t comment on a pending case.
Allen’s head struck the ground during the attack, and he and his wife, Lauren Monroe, told “Good Morning America” that they’ve been focusing on his recovery.
“My heart just completely sank into me. I know the journey of trauma. Everything stopped in our house and focused on him,” Monroe said.
The couple created the Raven Drum Foundation to help survivors of trauma, especially veterans and first responders, in 2001.
Allen and his bandmates performed Friday at a small venue in their hometown of Sheffield, England, on Friday before kicking off their European tour.
“I know that I’m not going to be playing music in a band forever,” said Allen. “But while I am, I plan on making as many people happy as I possibly can. And this is my time. This is my opportunity.” | https://www.yourbasin.com/entertainment-news/ap-def-leppard-drummer-rick-allen-says-he-was-attacked-outside-florida-hotel-in-march/ | 2023-05-23 03:06:20 | 1 | https://www.yourbasin.com/entertainment-news/ap-def-leppard-drummer-rick-allen-says-he-was-attacked-outside-florida-hotel-in-march/ |
Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. grounds out to third base, Maikel Franco to Josh Bell. Dansby Swanson reaches on error to shallow infield, advances to 2nd. Throwing error by Luis Garcia. Matt Olson singles to left field. Dansby Swanson scores. Austin Riley homers to center field. Matt Olson scores. Adam Duvall singles to shortstop. Marcell Ozuna grounds out to second base, Cesar Hernandez to Josh Bell. Adam Duvall to second. William Contreras strikes out swinging.
3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Braves 3, Nationals 0.
Braves second. Orlando Arcia singles to right field. Michael Harris II strikes out swinging. Ronald Acuna Jr. strikes out swinging. Dansby Swanson singles to right field. Orlando Arcia to second. Matt Olson singles to right field. Dansby Swanson to third. Orlando Arcia scores. Austin Riley flies out to deep center field to Victor Robles.
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 4, Nationals 0.
Braves fourth. Michael Harris II strikes out swinging. Ronald Acuna Jr. singles to left field. Dansby Swanson walks. Matt Olson singles to shallow center field. Dansby Swanson to second. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Austin Riley called out on strikes. Adam Duvall called out on strikes.
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 5, Nationals 0.
Braves fifth. Marcell Ozuna strikes out swinging. William Contreras grounds out to second base, Cesar Hernandez to Josh Bell. Orlando Arcia homers to center field. Michael Harris II strikes out swinging.
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Braves 6, Nationals 0.
Nationals sixth. Josh Bell doubles to left field. Juan Soto walks. Ehire Adrianza pinch-hitting for Nelson Cruz. Ehire Adrianza reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Juan Soto out at second. Josh Bell to third. Keibert Ruiz walks. Ehire Adrianza to second. Yadiel Hernandez flies out to right center field to Ronald Acuna Jr.. Cesar Hernandez hit by pitch. Keibert Ruiz to second. Ehire Adrianza to third. Josh Bell scores. Maikel Franco flies out to shallow left field to Adam Duvall.
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 left on. Braves 6, Nationals 1.
Braves seventh. Austin Riley grounds out to shallow infield, Erasmo Ramirez to Cesar Hernandez to Josh Bell. Adam Duvall doubles. Marcell Ozuna strikes out swinging. William Contreras singles to shallow right field. Adam Duvall scores. Orlando Arcia strikes out swinging.
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 7, Nationals 1.
Braves ninth. Matt Olson strikes out swinging. Austin Riley pops out to first base to Josh Bell. Adam Duvall homers to center field. Marcell Ozuna grounds out to shallow infield, Maikel Franco to Josh Bell.
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Braves 8, Nationals 1.
Nationals ninth. Lane Thomas pinch-hitting for Yadiel Hernandez. Lane Thomas lines out to center field to Michael Harris II. Cesar Hernandez doubles to deep center field. Maikel Franco singles to right field. Cesar Hernandez to third. Victor Robles singles to left center field. Maikel Franco to second. Cesar Hernandez scores. Luis Garcia flies out to deep left field to Adam Duvall. Josh Bell walks. Victor Robles to second. Maikel Franco to third. Juan Soto walks. Josh Bell to second. Victor Robles to third. Maikel Franco scores. Juan Soto to second. Josh Bell to third. Victor Robles scores. Ehire Adrianza walks. Keibert Ruiz strikes out swinging.
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Braves 8, Nationals 4. | https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Atlanta-Washington-Runs-17308960.php | 2022-07-16 03:17:38 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Atlanta-Washington-Runs-17308960.php |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The name of a teenager killed in a shooting outside an Indianapolis shopping mall was released Wednesday.
The Marion County Coroner’s Office identified him as 16-year-old Michael Mason Jr.
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Mason was killed and a man was wounded in the shooting that occurred Tuesday night outside the Castleton Square Mall on the city's far northeast side, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said.
The man was hospitalized in stable condition Tuesday night, Capt. Mike Leepper said.
A third person, an adult described as a person of interest, was cooperating with law enforcement Tuesday night, Leepper said.
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Police said they believe there was an altercation in the parking lot before the shooting.
“Based off the information that we have ... we have absolutely no reason to believe that we have any ongoing threat to the public, and we believe that we have all the parties that were involved in the incident in custody,” Leepper said.
In 2020, a man shot inside at the mall died of his injuries. A man was wounded in a 2021 shooting at the mall. | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Teen-killed-in-shooting-outside-Indianapolis-mall-17695087.php | 2023-01-04 23:34:05 | 1 | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Teen-killed-in-shooting-outside-Indianapolis-mall-17695087.php |
A review of Syracuse police actions is underway, after a video of a young boy being stopped by officers went viral.
The video taken and posted by Kenneth Jackson has received several views, comments and shares. Many commenters have heavily criticized the department's handling of the case, saying it was a wild overreaction to an allegedly stolen bag of chips.
The Syracuse Police Department said they are reviewing the officers' actions and body-worn cameras.
In the video captured by Jackson, at least three police officers surround a wailing boy. One of the officers takes both of the child's arms and holds him from behind as he takes the still-screaming and sobbing boy to the back of the police car.
As Jackson continues to record the interaction, he yells at the officers in protest. Jackson, who spoke to Syracuse.com, said the incident could have been traumatizing for the boy.
"There's other ways to rectify this besides scare tactics," he told the news outlet. "Now that's just another youth that's scarred by the system."
The Syracuse Police Department said the boy "suspected of larceny" was not put in handcuffs and no charges were filed. He was brought home, and officers met with the child's father, they said.
The boy's father, Anthony Weah, also spoke with Syracuse.com about the incident.
"Why would the police treat that child like that?" Weah asked. "Over a $3 bag of chips." Weah told the news outlet that he wants to file a complaint against the police.
The Syracuse case is reminiscent of an incident in Florida a few years ago, in which a young girl named Kaia Rolle was arrested after throwing a tantrum in school. The video of her crying sparked outrage.
Recently, USA Today analyzed federal crime reports and found more than 2,600 arrests in schools involving kids ages 5 to 9 between 2000 and 2019.
In New York state a child must be a minimum of 12 years old to be arrested.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-21/syracuse-police-are-under-scrutiny-after-video-shows-officers-detaining-a-crying-boy | 2022-04-21 14:32:44 | 0 | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-21/syracuse-police-are-under-scrutiny-after-video-shows-officers-detaining-a-crying-boy |
NEW YORK, June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for XELA, CCL, AERC, HOOD, and PLUG.
To see how InvestorsObserver's proprietary scoring system rates these stocks, view the InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alert by selecting the corresponding link.
- XELA: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=XELA&prnumber=061320225
- CCL: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=CCL&prnumber=061320225
- AERC: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=AERC&prnumber=061320225
- HOOD: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=HOOD&prnumber=061320225
- PLUG: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=PLUG&prnumber=061320225
(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alerts are based on our proprietary scoring methodology. Each stock is evaluated based on short-term technical, long-term technical and fundamental factors. Each of those scores is then combined into an overall score that determines a stock's overall suitability for investment.
InvestorsObserver provides patented technology to some of the biggest names on Wall Street and creates world-class investing tools for the self-directed investor on Main Street. We have a wide range of tools to help investors make smarter decisions when investing in stocks or options.
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SOURCE InvestorsObserver | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/13/thinking-about-buying-stock-exela-technologies-carnival-corp-aeroclean-technologies-robinhood-markets-or-plug-power/ | 2022-06-13 15:23:39 | 0 | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/13/thinking-about-buying-stock-exela-technologies-carnival-corp-aeroclean-technologies-robinhood-markets-or-plug-power/ |
LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant’s widow was awarded $16 million as part of a $31 million jury verdict Wednesday against Los Angeles County for deputies and firefighters sharing grisly photos of the NBA star, his 13-year-old daughter and other victims killed in a 2020 helicopter crash.
The nine jurors unanimously agreed with Vanessa Bryant and her attorneys that the photos invaded her privacy and caused emotional distress. She cried quietly as it was read.
The jury deliberated 4 1/2 hours before reaching the verdict on Kobe Bryant Day, which is celebrated in LA on Aug. 24 because it represents his jersey numbers — 8 and 24 — and is the day after his birthday. He would have turned 44 on Tuesday.
After the verdict, Vanessa Bryant posted a photo on Instagram of herself with her husband and daughter.
“All for you!” the caption read. "I love you! JUSTICE for Kobe and Gigi!”
An attorney for the county declined comment on the verdict outside the courtroom.
The pictures were shared mostly between employees of the LA County sheriff’s and fire departments including by some who were playing video games and attending an awards banquet. They were also seen by some of their spouses and in one case by a bartender at a bar where a deputy was drinking.
Vanessa Bryant tearfully testified during the 11-day trial that news of the photos compounded her still-raw grief a month after losing her husband and daughter, and that she still has panic attacks at the thought that they might still be out there.
“I live in fear every day of being on social media and these popping up,” she testified. “I live in fear of my daughters being on social media and these popping up.”
Her co-plaintiff Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter were also among the nine people killed in the crash, was awarded $15 million.
“We’re grateful for a jury and a judge who gave us a fair trial," said Chester’s lawyer Jerry Jackson.
Vanessa Bryant’s attorneys did not give jurors a dollar amount they thought their client deserved, but Chester’s attorney gave them suggested guidelines that would have meant tens of millions for each plaintiff.
Vanessa Bryant and her attorney declined comment outside court Wednesday. Her face was still streaked with tears as she walked past TV cameras and dozens of reporters and climbed into an SUV.
Vanessa Bryant’s lawyer Luis Li told jurors that the close-up photos had no official or investigative purpose, and were mere “visual gossip” shared out of a gruesome curiosity.
County attorney J. Mira Hashmall argued during the trial that the photos were a necessary tool for assessing the situation.
She acknowledged that they should not have been shared with everyone who saw them. But she emphasized that the photos had never appeared publicly, and had never even been seen by the plaintiffs. She said that meant that Sheriff Alex Villanueva and other officials had taken decisive and effective action when they ordered those who had the photos to delete them.
Kobe Bryant, the former Lakers star, five-time NBA champion and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, was traveling with Gianna and seven others to a youth basketball game when the helicopter they were aboard crashed into hills in Calabasas west of Los Angeles on Jan. 26, 2020.
Federal safety officials blamed pilot error for the crash. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/nation-world/vanessa-bryant-awarded-16-million-photo-lawsuit/507-eb645305-fb55-4827-b8ff-ffe72ef020cf | 2022-08-25 06:06:40 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/nation-world/vanessa-bryant-awarded-16-million-photo-lawsuit/507-eb645305-fb55-4827-b8ff-ffe72ef020cf |
GREAT FALLS — The Great Falls Police Department said in a news release on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, that it is investigating a shooting involving a police officer.
At about 03:49 a.m., officers responded to a disturbance on the 400 block of 8th Avenue South. The investigation resulted in what the GFPD said is an "officer involved shooting."
The GFPD did not indicate who fired a weapon, who was shot, or whether anyone was seriously injured.
Police are currently looking for another person who was involved. Based on the information available, the GFPD does not believe there is a threat to the community.
The 400 block of 8th Avenue South will be closed for an extended period as the investigation continues; people are asked to avoid the area if possible.
No other details have been released at this point; we will update you as we get more information.
The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation will be investigating the shooting.
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- Great Falls Independence Day parade | https://www.kbzk.com/news/montana-news/overnight-shooting-reported-in-great-falls | 2022-07-05 16:09:42 | 1 | https://www.kbzk.com/news/montana-news/overnight-shooting-reported-in-great-falls |
Millions of people may still be eligible for COVID-19 stimulus checks, but the deadline is coming up
Time is running out for millions of people to claim their COVID relief checks.
Based on IRS and Treasury data, there could be between 9 and 10 million people who have not yet received their payments.
Qualified Americans with little or no income and are not required to pay taxes have until November 15 to submit a tax return and claim their money.
If you think you may be eligible, but did not receive a direct payment or the Child Tax Credit you can file a simplified tax return.
If you did not file taxes by the April 15 deadline, you only have until Oct. 17.
READ MORE: US inflation accelerated in September, keeping pressure on households
From April 2020 to December 2021 the federal government sent out three rounds of checks to individuals totaling $931B.
U.S. citizens who made less than $75,000 or married couples with an income below $150,000 were eligible for all three payments.
Congress also temporarily expanded the Child Tax Credit to include more families and boost payment amounts.
The Treasury Department and IRS believes many of the people eligible for the money who have not received their money have never filed a tax return, have limited or no internet access, or could be experiencing homelessness. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/millions-of-people-may-still-be-eligible-for-covid-19-stimulus-checks-but-the-deadline-is-coming-up | 2022-10-13 15:35:46 | 1 | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/millions-of-people-may-still-be-eligible-for-covid-19-stimulus-checks-but-the-deadline-is-coming-up |
WASHINGTON (AP) — An off-duty Virginia police officer who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan, 6, 2021, with a fellow officer was sentenced Thursday to more than seven years in prison, matching the longest prison sentence so far among hundreds of Capitol riot cases.
Former Rocky Mount Police Sgt. Thomas Robertson declined to address the court before U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper sentenced him to seven years and three months in prison. Cooper also sentenced Robertson to three years of supervised release after his prison term.
Federal prosecutors had recommended an eight-year prison sentence for Robertson. His sentence equals that of Guy Reffitt, a Texas man who attacked the Capitol while armed with a holstered handgun.
Robertson gets credit for the 13 months he has already spent in custody. Robertson has been jailed since Cooper ruled last year that he violated the terms of his pretrial release by possessing firearms.
The judge said he was troubled by Robertson’s conduct since his arrest — not only his stockpiling of guns but also his words advocating for violence. After Jan. 6, Robertson told a friend that he was prepared to fight and die in a civil war and he clung to baseless conspiracy theories that the 2020 election was stolen from then-President Donald Trump, the judge noted.
Sentencing guidelines calculated by Cooper recommended a prison term ranging from seven years and three months to nine years.
“It’s a long time because it reflects the seriousness of the offenses that you were convicted of,” the judge said.
In April, a jury convicted Robertson of attacking the Capitol to obstruct Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential victory. Jurors found Robertson guilty of all six counts in his indictment, including charges that he interfered with police officers at the Capitol and that he entered a restricted area with a dangerous weapon, a large wooden stick.
Robertson’s lawyers said the Army veteran was using the stick to help him walk because he has a limp from getting shot in the right thigh while working as a private contractor for the Defense Department in Afghanistan in 2011.
The judge said he agreed with jurors that Robertson went to the Capitol to interfere with the joint session of Congress on Jan. 6. Robertson was an “active and willing participant,” not “some bystander” who got swept up in the crowd, Cooper said.
Robertson traveled to Washington on that morning with another off-duty Rocky Mount police officer, Jacob Fracker, and a third man, a neighbor who wasn’t charged in the case.
Fracker was scheduled to be tried alongside Robertson before he pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in March and agreed to cooperate with federal authorities. Cooper is scheduled to sentence Fracker next Tuesday.
Prosecutors have asked Cooper to spare Fracker from a prison term and sentence him to six months of probation along with a period of home detention or “community confinement.” They said Fracker’s “fulsome” cooperation and trial testimony was crucial in securing convictions against Robertson.
Robertson’s lawyer, Mark Rollins, sought a prison sentence below two years and three months. He questioned the fairness of the wide gap in sentences that prosecutors recommended for Robertson and Fracker given their similar conduct.
Robertson served his country and community with distinction, his lawyer told the judge.
“His life already is in shambles,” Rollins said.
Robertson and Fracker were among several current or former law enforcement officers who joined in the riot. Prosecutors say Robertson used his law enforcement and military training to block police officers who were trying to hold off the advancing mob.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi said Robertson was prepared for violence when he went to the Capitol and did a “victory lap” inside the building, where he posed for a selfie with Fracker.
“The defendant is, by all accounts, proud of his conduct on Jan. 6,” she said.
Jurors saw some of Robertson’s posts on social media before and after the riot. In a Facebook post on Nov. 7, 2020, Robertson said “being disenfranchised by fraud is my hard line.”
“I’ve spent most of my adult life fighting a counter insurgency. (I’m) about to become part of one, and a very effective one,” he wrote.
In a letter addressed to the judge, Robertson said he took full responsibility for his actions on Jan. 6 and “any poor decisions I made.” He blamed the vitriolic content of his social media posts on a mix of stress, alcohol abuse and “submersion in deep ‘rabbit holes’ of election conspiracy theory.”
“I sat around at night drinking too much and reacting to articles and sites given to me by Facebook” algorithms, he wrote.
The town fired Robertson and Fracker after the riot. Rocky Mount is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Roanoke, Virginia, and has about 5,000 residents.
Roughly 850 people have been charged with federal crimes for their conduct on Jan. 6. More than 350 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanor offenses, and more than 230 have been sentenced so far.
Robertson’s jury trial was the second for a Capitol riot case; Reffitt’s was the first. Jurors have unanimously convicted seven Capitol rioters of all charges in their respective indictments.
___
For full coverage of the Jan. 6 hearings, go to https://www.apnews.com/capitol-siege | https://www.wdtn.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ex-police-officer-gets-7-plus-years-in-prison-in-jan-6-case/ | 2022-08-12 15:35:54 | 0 | https://www.wdtn.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ex-police-officer-gets-7-plus-years-in-prison-in-jan-6-case/ |
A redesigned Mercedes-Benz C-Class was launched for 2022, and for the 2023 model year the first of two AMG versions has landed at dealerships.
Mercedes on Wednesday announced that AMG’s C 43 is now available for sale in the U.S., priced from $61,050, including a $1,150 destination charge. AMG’s more potent C 63 S E Performance is due to arrive in the second half of the year as a 2024 model.
First shown a year ago, the C 43 brings with it plenty of performance coupled with a long list of standard features.
The car has dropped the inline-6 engine of its predecessor in favor of a 2.0-liter turbo-4 in combination with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The engine is the same one offered in AMG’s SL 43 sold overseas, meaning it features an electrified turbocharger design similar to what’s found in Formula 1.
An electric motor is integrated directly with the turbocharger, sitting between the turbine wheel on the exhaust side and the compressor wheel on the intake side. It spools up the compressor at low revs, before the exhaust gases take over, reducing turbo lag and as a result making the engine more responsive. In F1, the electric motor is also used to recover energy from the exhaust, though the C 43 doesn’t have this ability. Instead, the car’s mild-hybrid system is used to recover energy.
The engine in the C 43 generates 402 hp on its own, with the mild-hybrid system, essentially a beefed up starter motor that also acts as a generator, able to provide a temporary boost of 13 hp during high-load situations. Drive goes to all four wheels via a 9-speed automatic and a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system (31/69 front-to-rear split), and AMG also fits rear-wheel steering as standard. Performance claims include 0-60 mph acceleration in 4.6 seconds and a top speed governed to 155 mph with the standard 18-inch wheels.
Beyond the powertrain, the C 43 benefits from sport-tuned suspension with steel springs and adaptive dampers. The latter is controlled in part by the Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ modes of the vehicle’s drive mode selector. Other modes include Slippery and Individual. Some of the modes also affect the speed-sensitive steering system fitted to the C 43.
Stopping power comes from a brake system with 4-piston calipers and 14.6-inch rotors up front and single-piston calipers and 12.6-inch rotors at the rear. The quoted curb weight of the C 43 is 3,893 pounds.
The exterior design of the C 43, much like that of the regular C-Class, has taken an evolutionary route. Things inside are much more dramatic thanks to a 12.3-inch floating display for the instrument cluster and a similar 11.9-inch floating display for the infotainment system. It also features a flat-bottom steering wheel, heated front seats, ambient lighting in the cabin, LED headlights, a surround-view camera system, and parking sensors and blind-spot monitors.
For $63,850, buyers can upgrade from the standard Premium model to the Pinnacle. This adds extras like Mercedes’s navigation system with augmented reality, a head-up display with AMG-specific content, a Burmester audio system, and wireless charging for mobile devices. For additional money, buyers can also choose from a handful of styling packs and wheel options.
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- 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class revealed with subtle updates | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/automotive/internet-brands/2023-mercedes-benz-amg-c-43-brings-402-hp-f1-tech-for-61050/ | 2023-04-05 19:16:58 | 0 | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/automotive/internet-brands/2023-mercedes-benz-amg-c-43-brings-402-hp-f1-tech-for-61050/ |
Jewel, Third Eye Blind, Styx and more share memorable moments about their first cars; Cover Song Challenge gives fans a chance to win concert tickets
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Concert season is back and Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY) and Live Nation have partnered once again to connect music fans with the artists they love through Mercury's "My First Car" series, a personal look at some of the world's best known musicians and the fond memories behind the wheel of their first car.
"We know that many music fans have been anxiously waiting for the moment they could see their favorite artists back on stage," said Erik Thompson, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Mercury Insurance. "Not only do fans have the opportunity to see live shows again, but the return of Mercury's 'My First Car' video series allows them to connect with their favorite artists in a way that was once only granted by a VIP experience. Through the shared experience of reliving fond memories of our first cars, we thought it would be fun to ask artists about their favorite moments behind the wheel."
Featured musicians for this year's Mercury Insurance 'My First Car' Series include:
- Styx
- Train
- Jewel
- Third Eye Blind
- George Thorogood
All of the artist videos, including the new season trailer, are available at https://www.mercuryinsurance.com/myfirstcar/
Mercury recognizes the powerful connection music has and the fun that is singing along to your favorite artist's songs. Today, Mercury announces the "Cover Song Challenge" singalong contest that gives fans a chance to win tickets to a FivePoint Amphitheatre show this season by posting a video of themselves singing along to one of their favorite songs.
Fans who sing a song from any artist in the 2022 FivePoint Amphitheatre lineup and post their performance on Instagram Reels or TikTok using the hashtags #coveredwithmercury and #sweeps are eligible to win two free tickets to a 2022 concert at FivePoint.
"We are really excited and ready for the return of live music and there's no better way to celebrate than gifting fans tickets to a show," Thompson said.
For more information on how to enter to win as well as access to Mercury Insurance's 2022 concert series, visit https://www.mercuryinsurance.com/music/.
Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY) is a multiple-line insurance carrier predominantly offering personal auto, homeowners, renters and commercial insurance through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Illinois, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, as well as auto insurance in Florida. Mercury writes other lines of insurance in various states, including business owners and business auto, landlord, home-sharing, ride-hailing and mechanical protection insurance.
Since 1962, Mercury has provided customers with tremendous value for their insurance dollar by pairing ultracompetitive rates with excellent customer service. Mercury has earned "A" ratings from A.M. Best and Fitch, as well as ranking highest in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience StudySM and four consecutive "Best Auto Insurance Company" awards from Insure.com. For more information visit MercuryInsurance.com or follow the company on Twitter or Facebook.
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world's leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit https://www.livenationentertainment.com/.
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SOURCE Mercury Insurance | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/mercury-insurance-concert-series-announces-2022-my-first-ride-artists/ | 2022-09-01 17:17:34 | 1 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/mercury-insurance-concert-series-announces-2022-my-first-ride-artists/ |
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Awaiting a new topic during a pre-Australian Open news conference, Caroline Garcia — someone skilled and smart enough to reach the U.S. Open semifinals and win the season-ending WTA Finals in 2022 — was worried the next query could involve naming possible opponents.
“I don’t want to know the draw!” Garcia blurted out, raising her left hand as if to literally deflect the subject. “I don’t know my draw!”
She is hardly the only athlete making that claim at Melbourne Park during the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, where the second round begins Wednesday. Actually, it is a rather common refrain among tennis players as they move from stop to stop on the tour, even ones as successful as No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek.
They insist it is important to remain blissfully unaware of any potential path to a title and offer various reasons, ranging from superstition to an insistence on — yes, you probably guessed it — that old cliche about “playing one match at a time.”
“I didn’t really see the draw,” three-time major champion Swiatek said last weekend, before play began. “I only know who I’m playing (in the) first round.”
They haven’t glanced at the bracket, they say.
They won’t, they say.
And they absolutely, positively, do not want anyone else — a coach, an agent, a physical therapist, a hitting partner, a friend or (heaven forbid!) a journalist — sneaking a peek and revealing what the draw sheet might hold in store.
It can’t be easy to avoid knowing more than that, given all of the attention on the tournament and the giant bracket posted on the side of Rod Laver Arena, where Swiatek won her first-round match Monday night.
As No. 5-seeded Aryna Sabalenka pointed out, social media makes keeping blinders on tough, too. Talk of a player’s path to a championship is constant.
“Someone is going to post a prediction (of) who I’m going to play, so, anyway, I would see that,” said Sabalenka, who takes on Shelby Rogers of the U.S. on Thursday. “I’m not opening the draw and trying to see, ‘OK, I’m going to face that, that, that.’ No, no, no, I’m not doing that. I’m just trying to take it one step at a time.”
There are 128 entrants in the women’s singles event at each of the four Grand Slam tournaments and another 128 in the men’s singles. It takes getting past seven rounds to earn the trophy.
So it seems as if it might be the sensible — even advisable — approach to be fully aware of what, of who, could lie ahead.
Which is why some, such as Frances Tiafoe, the 24-year-old American seeded 16th, thinks it’s nonsense for players to say they are not aware of what’s out there.
“Everyone who says they don’t (know), they’re lying, man,” said Tiafoe, a semifinalist at last year’s U.S. Open. “You know who’s around. You know what the potential matchups look like. But you can’t make those potential matchups unless you take care of the food that’s in front of you.”
No. 6 seed Felix-Auger Aliassime, for one, acknowledged as much.
“I don’t refuse to look; I look a little bit further down the draw,” Auger-Aliassime said. “But it still doesn’t change that I’m totally focused and locked in on the first match I have to play. I’ve had great moments in Grand Slams, but also some very tough moments — losing earlier, like first or second round — so I’m always aware that you never can take anything for granted.”
Swiatek says she used to check out the draw but now she doesn’t.
Same for Alexei Popyrin, an Australian who is 113th in the ATP rankings.
“I used to look ahead. I used to look at every kind of step of the draw when the draw came out. I’ve kind of stopped that. I’m trying to take it one match at a time. Just focus on the match ahead, not look forward to the second or third round or fourth round,” Popyrin said. “It’s not the best to look ahead when you haven’t even done the first step. For me, that was a learning process.”
Don’t look now, but Popyrin could meet No. 8 seed Taylor Fritz of the U.S. in the second round if both won their opening matches.
___
Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HowardFendrich
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://fox59.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-at-australian-open-some-players-say-they-ignore-the-bracket/ | 2023-01-17 05:09:27 | 0 | https://fox59.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-at-australian-open-some-players-say-they-ignore-the-bracket/ |
BERLIN (AP) — German lawmakers voted Friday to end the country’s ban on advertising abortions, which has in the past led to doctors being prosecuted for providing information about the procedure to potential patients.
Government parties and the Left party voted to lift the restriction, while the center-right Christian Democrats and the far-right Alternative for Germany voted against.
Parliament also voted to annul the convictions of doctors since Oct. 3, 1990, when West Germany’s abortion laws were applied to the whole country upon reunification. Under Germany’s criminal code, doctors risked a fine or prison sentence of up to two years if convicted of advertising abortions.
Under a compromise deal in 2019, former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government left the ban formally in place but allowed doctors and hospitals for the first time to say on their websites that they perform abortions. They were not, however, allowed to give more detailed information.
Families Minister Lisa Paus welcomed the parliamentary decision and said it was now time to discuss ending the ongoing criminalization of abortion.
In general abortions are a crime in Germany, but they are not punished if carried out within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Women seeking an abortion must undergo counseling three days before the procedure.
Abortions for health reasons or because the pregnancy resulted from rape are legal. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/u-s-world/german-lawmakers-vote-to-end-ban-on-advertising-abortions/ | 2022-06-24 19:13:06 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/u-s-world/german-lawmakers-vote-to-end-ban-on-advertising-abortions/ |
COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zipline Logistics is celebrating 15 years of bringing world-class service and retail logistics solutions to the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) community.
"We didn't start this business 15 years ago to just move freight," said Zipline Logistics President and Co-Founder, Andrew Lynch, "We started it to solve problems. To deliver value in a marketplace that is absolutely starved for it."
Lynch, along with John Rodeheffer, COO and Walter Lynch, CEO, founded Zipline on a mission to improve the lives of transportation professionals. Previous experience led the founders to build their business model upon positive customer relationships and employee morale: they knew there had to be a better way.
Over the last 15 years, Zipline has built a network of 38,000+ retail-specialized carriers and a world-class team of retail transportation experts in North and South America. Arguably the most impressive innovation of Zipline's has been its state-of-the-art shipper intelligence tool, KanoPI.
This platform began as a simple, lightweight alternative to a full-blown transportation management system. It has since evolved into a freight analysis tool that can analyze logistics performance data and uncover actionable insights for improved supply chain performance and cost-saving opportunities.
With so many of our long-term and recently onboarded clients raving about KanoPI's best-in-class visibility and analytics, it can be easy to lose sight of the world-class service and expert guidance our people and processes bring to the table.
With a focus on retail-specialization and a "people first" mentality, Zipline has been consistently recognized over the years as a rapidly growing, reliable 3PL by prestigious organizations including Inc. 5000, Business First, Food Logistics Magazine, and Transport Topics.
"There's a reason why we double revenue every three years and triple every five, with only five people working in Business Development," said A. Lynch, "Retention through world-class service."
Throughout 11 consecutive years of award-winning growth, they have also maintained a customer satisfaction score ranking five times the industry average.
Zipline plans to celebrate its Crystal Anniversary with an employee cocktail party in mid-June. They are pulling out all the stops including a catered dinner, open bar, live DJ, photo booth, and yard games.
The celebration is very "on brand" for Zipline, as the company continually goes above and beyond to create a positive, rewarding, and exciting working dynamic for employees. These efforts include (but are not limited to) an in-office bar, frequent prize wheel spins, weekly surveys polling employee morale, a rotation of food trucks, in-office massages, and fully paid gym memberships.
"Our account teams and technology are always evolving and improving in-house," said A. Lynch, "In just our first 15 years, Zipline has developed best-in-class people, processes, and technology to deliver unmatched value to retail logistics teams. In the next 15, we will see continued disciplined growth through the same long-term retention that has led us to where we are today."
For more information about Zipline Logistics, visit www.ziplinelogistics.com or call 888-GOZIPLINE.
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SOURCE Zipline Logistics | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/zipline-logistics-celebrates-15-years-empowering-cpg-brands/ | 2022-06-07 16:55:40 | 1 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/zipline-logistics-celebrates-15-years-empowering-cpg-brands/ |
Tonight: Cloudy with a passing shower. Patchy fog. Low in the mid 50s.
Thursday Morning: Cloudy. Lower 60s.
Afternoon: Partly sunny. Upper 70s.
Evening: Mostly clear. Low 70s.
Low pressure will slowly move east tonight, bringing a return to clear skies tomorrow. The weather looks to warm up as we approach the weekend as high pressure moves in. The next low pressure system looks to arrive early next week, increasing our rain chances starting Monday.
Expect cloudy skies this evening, with a passing shower and patchy fog. Overnight lows fall into the mid 50s. The weather looks to dry out and clear out on Thursday, with decreasing clouds and highs in the upper 70s. Beautiful on Friday, with sunny skies and highs near 80. The weather over the weekend looks generally pleasant, with mostly sunny skies on Saturday. Highs in the low 80s. A little cooler on Sunday, with mostly cloudy skies. Highs in the upper 70s. The weather turns unsettled again early next week, with rain chances on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. | https://www.wktv.com/weather/sunshine-returns-tomorrow/article_7b07fb4a-2eec-11ed-8f40-43e983a99fde.html | 2022-09-07 22:35:47 | 1 | https://www.wktv.com/weather/sunshine-returns-tomorrow/article_7b07fb4a-2eec-11ed-8f40-43e983a99fde.html |
Lady M is Committed to Deepening its investment in China with a Continual Focus on Product Excellence and Consistency
NEW YORK, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the last two decades, Lady M Confections Co., Ltd. ("Lady M") has seen remarkable growth as a renowned patisserie brand, with its cakes and confectioneries highly sought after all over the world. With over 50 locations globally, Lady M has set its sights on a company-owned strategy in Mainland China to strengthen the business and drive more growth in the region.
"Lady M is looking forward to taking a direct role in elevating the China business, a market that is pivotal to our growth strategy. We are fully committed to strengthening our presence, and to continue serving our loyal customers by having the ability to maintain and operate our boutiques to our brand standards," said Ken Romaniszyn, CEO of Lady M.
Lady M had worked with a licensing partner Shun Lee Shanghai Commercial Management Co., Ltd. ("Shun Lee") since 2017 when it made its entry into Mainland China. Shun Lee opened and operated over 20 boutiques in five approved provinces and cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai. Their License Agreement with Lady M expired on April 9, 2022, and was not renewed.
Lady M plans to shift operations to a 100% company-owned strategy. According to Romaniszyn, "We are excited to focus on developing the China market with new concept boutiques and innovative product offerings. This decision is important to us since it allows us to maintain the highest quality and consistency customers around the world have come to expect from Lady M."
About Lady M:
Lady M is a New York City luxury confections brand with over 50 boutiques worldwide. Created in 2001 and led by CEO Ken Romaniszyn, Lady M is the creator of the world famous Mille Crêpes. Lady M marries French pastry techniques with Japanese sensibilities, resulting in delicate cakes that are a touch sweet and perfect for every occasion. All cakes are handmade and prepared fresh without food additives or preservatives. Lady M's recipes have been refined over years to provide the finest quality in taste and appearance. Indulge in a world of cakes and confections at LadyM.com.
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SOURCE Lady M Confections Co. | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/lady-m-targets-company-ownership-boutiques-key-growth-mainland-china/ | 2022-07-14 14:33:25 | 0 | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/lady-m-targets-company-ownership-boutiques-key-growth-mainland-china/ |
Billions pour into bioplastics as markets begin ramping up
CLEVELAND (AP) — In a world increasingly troubled by the persistent harm that plastic — manufactured in petrochemical plants — has had on the environment, companies are investing billions of dollars to ramp up production of plastics made from natural, renewable materials that can be safely composted or can biodegrade under the right conditions.
Bioplastics have long been used in medical applications. The stitches you got after cutting your hand slicing onions were likely made of a bioplastic thread that harmlessly dissolved into your body.
But the nascent bioplastics industry envisions a far bigger role for materials made from corn, sugar, vegetable oils and other renewable materials in the hope of grabbing a larger share of a nearly $600 billion global plastic market.
Since large-scale production began in the 1950s, fossil fuel plastics have made food safer to consume and vehicles safer to drive, for example. Yet plastics are seen as one of the world’s leading environmental threats with its production responsible for emitting million tons of greenhouse gases each year.
Of the 9 billion tons of fossil fuel plastic produced since the 1950s, only 9% percent has been recycled, studies have shown. The rest has been buried in landfills, burned or has polluted land and waterways. The chemical structure of fossil fuel plastic means it can never fully disintegrate and instead breaks down into smaller and smaller particles.
For now, bioplastic represents just 1% of global plastic production. If plastic made with fossil fuels is the enormous Mall of America in Minnesota, bioplastics would be a 7-Eleven.
Companies and investors see opportunities. Data from i3 Connect show investment in bioplastic manufacturing reached $500 million in the first three months of 2022, exceeding the previous high of $350 million in the last quarter of 2021. The money is coming in from both corporations and venture capitalists.
Zion Market Research estimates the bioplastics market will surge from $10.5 billion in 2021 to some $29 billion in 2028.
Danimer Scientific is one company making a big bet on bioplastic with a recent expansion of its plant in Winchester, Kentucky, The Georgia-based firm makes a bioplastic called PHA using microorganisms that ferment with canola oil. The result is plastic pellets that manufacturers can use to mold products in the same way they use petrochemical plastic, Danimer CEO Stephen Croskrey said in an interview.
The expansion has made Danimer one of the largest PHA producers in the world.
Straws and plastic drink stirrers made from Danimer’s PHA are being used in Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts and large venues like Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California, Croskrey said.
“We have active development projects for just about anything you can imagine,” he said.
Testing has shown products made from Danimer’s PHA can biodegrade in six months in marine environments and two years in soil, Croskrey said.
The other primary bioplastic sold today is PLA, polylactic acid, usually produced by fermenting sugar from corn and sugar cane. One producer is Minneapolis-based NatureWorks, a joint venture by Cargill, one of the world’s largest privately-held corporations, and Thailand-based PTT Global Chemical. It is the largest PLA company in the world, capable of producing 150,000 metric tons of bioplastic pellets annually at a plant in Blair, Nebraska.
NatureWorks is building a $600 million plant in Thailand that will increase its production capacity by 50%, said Leah Ford, the company’s global marketing communications manager, in an interview.
The company’s “biggest visibility market,” Ford said, is compostable food service items such as plastic cutlery, clear cups, wrappers and containers that, along with restaurant food waste, can be converted into a dark organic material to enrich soil in gardens and on farms. That’s important because food waste clogs recycling machinery and contaminates recyclable petroleum plastics.
Some Starbucks stores use disposable cups lined with NatureWorks’ PLA, Ford said.
NatureWorks has become something of a game changer in the United Kingdom, where PG Tips, a big name in tea, has switched from polyester tea bags to bags made with cellulose and a thin layer of NatureWorks’ PLA that are fully compostable, Ford said.
Researchers at McGill University in Montreal released a study in 2019 that said petroleum-based polyester tea bags leach billions of microplastic particles when steeped in hot water. Around 60 billion cups of tea are consumed annually in the UK.
One of the criticisms of bioplastic made with corn and sugar is that it uses arable land on a hungry planet. Ford called that concern unfounded. NatureWorks uses sugar extracted from corn while the rest of the kernels are used to produce sweeteners, ethanol, cooking oils and livestock feed.
PLA, unlike PHA, does not easily biodegrade in nature. It needs to be mixed with food waste in industrial composters to biodegrade. When buried in landfills, PLA will eventually disintegrate, but that would likely take decades.
NatureWorks has formed a partnership with PHA manufacturer CJ Bio to produce a bioplastic that can more easily biodegrade. The company, headquartered in South Korea, is expanding its plant in Indonesia and is planning to build a large plant in the Americas, said Raj Kirsch, vice president of research and development at CJ Bio.
Blending the two types of bioplastic “brings a lot of value propositions to the final end product,” Kirsch said in an interview.
Ramani Narayan, a professor of chemical engineering at Michigan State University, has worked with Cargill in the past to help with PLA production.
Narayan said companies are using biodegradability claims to make their products more attractive to consumers. But the term is “misused, abused and overused because everything in the world is biodegradable given the right time and environment.”
California, Narayan noted, has banned the use of the term “biodegradable” in marketing. The world needs to replace petroleum plastic with plastic materials that have been verified and certified as completely biodegradable, he said.
Narayan acknowledged that bioplastics are easier to biodegrade than petrochemical plastic which can take centuries to disintegrate, shedding worrisome microplastic along the way. Yet the fact that PHA takes longer to break down in cold oceans and lakes than in temperate climes shouldn’t be sugarcoated.
“It will take time, and you need to say that,” Narayan said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kmvt.com/2022/08/09/billions-pour-into-bioplastics-markets-begin-ramping-up/ | 2022-08-09 13:49:28 | 1 | https://www.kmvt.com/2022/08/09/billions-pour-into-bioplastics-markets-begin-ramping-up/ |
No scoring allowed. That was the mantra Mt. Zion followed in snuffing Decatur Eisenhower's offense 19-0 on April 27 in Illinois softball action.
In recent action on April 19, Decatur Eisenhower faced off against Chatham Glenwood and Mt Zion took on Mattoon on April 21 at Mattoon High School.
You're reading a news brief powered by ScoreStream, a world leader in fan-driven sports results and conversation. Help us collect and deliver more game results from your favorite teams and players by downloading the ScoreStream app. Nearly a million users nationwide share team scores and player performance stats with this convenient free app. | https://pantagraph.com/sports/high-school/softball/girls/point-of-emphasis-mt-zion-posts-stop-sign-on-decatur-eisenhowers-offense-19-0/article_b77fd14a-9cff-5de9-9cfe-f6c5f1da6ef6.html | 2023-04-28 04:29:00 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/sports/high-school/softball/girls/point-of-emphasis-mt-zion-posts-stop-sign-on-decatur-eisenhowers-offense-19-0/article_b77fd14a-9cff-5de9-9cfe-f6c5f1da6ef6.html |
Morning news brief By A Martínez, Leila Fadel Published November 14, 2022 at 3:10 AM MST Facebook Twitter Email President Biden and China's leader will meet at the G20 summit. Democrats retain control of the U.S. Senate. Turkish authorities say at least six people were killed in a blast on an Istanbul street. Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.kunm.org/2022-11-14/morning-news-brief | 2022-11-14 10:21:10 | 0 | https://www.kunm.org/2022-11-14/morning-news-brief |
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