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KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Relentless Russian attacks on energy infrastructure prompted Ukrainian authorities on Friday to announce worsening blackouts around the country’s largest cities, with Kyiv’s mayor warning that the capital’s power grid is working in “emergency mode” with energy supplies down as much as 50% from pre-war levels.
Meanwhile, the Russian president sought to dispel criticism of a chaotic call-up of 300,000 reservists for service in Ukraine by ordering his defense minister to make sure they’re properly trained and equipped for battle.
In the Kyiv region, as winter looms, the latest damage to utilities would mean outages of four or more hours a day, according to Ukrenergo, the state operator of Ukraine’s high-voltage transmission lines.
But Gov. Oleksiy Kuleba warned “more severe and longer shutdowns will be applied in the coming days.”
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the city’s power grid was operating in “emergency mode” and added he hoped Ukrenergo would find ways to address the shortage “in two to three weeks.”
The former boxing world champion also said new air defense equipment has been deployed in the Ukrainian capital to help defend against Russian drone and missile attacks on energy facilities.
In the Kharkiv region, home to Ukraine’s second-largest city of the same name, Gov. Oleg Syniehubov said daily one-hour power outages would begin Monday.
Officials across the country have urged people to conserve by reducing electricity consumption during peak hours and avoiding the use of high-voltage appliances.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that 30% of Ukraine’s power stations had been destroyed since Russia launched the first wave of targeted infrastructure strikes on Oct. 10.
In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that the thousands of reservists who were recently called up need the right training and equipment so “people feel confident when they need to go to combat.”
Shoigu told Putin that 82,000 reservists had been deployed to Ukraine, while 218,000 others were still being trained. He said there were no immediate plans to round up more, but Putin’s mobilization order left the door open for a future military call-up.
Putin’s effort to beef up the number of troops along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line followed recent setbacks, including a Russian withdrawal from the Kkarkiv region. The mobilization, however, fueled scores of protests in Russia and prompted hundreds of thousands of men to flee the country.
Activists and reports by Russian media and The Associated Press said many of the draftees were inexperienced, were told to procure basic items such as medical kits and flak jackets themselves, and did not receive training before they were sent to fight. Some were killed within days of being called up.
Shoigu acknowledged that “problems with supplies existed in the initial stages,” but told Putin those have now been solved.
Putin ordered Shoigu to propose ways to reform the ground troops and other parts of the military based on their performance in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russian missile and artillery barrages pounded targets across Ukraine. Several towns across the Dnieper River from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant were struck, the presidential office said. Shelling damaged dozens of residential buildings in Nikopol, and power was cut there and to thousands of families in neighboring towns.
A Russian S-300 air defense missile destroyed a three-story office building and damaged a new residential building nearby, said Mykolaiv regional governor Vitalii Kim. Russian forces have frequently used converted S-300 missiles to strike ground targets in Ukraine.
Moscow also pressed its ground advance on the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiikva after a string of setbacks in the east. The fighting had turned the entire Donetsk region into “a zone of active hostilities,” according to Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko.
“Civilians who remain in the region live in constant fear without heating and electricity,” Kyrylenko said in televised remarks. “Their enemy is not only Russian cannons but also the cold.”
A Russian takeover of Bakhmut, which has remained in Ukrainian hands throughout the war, would open the way for the Kremlin to push on to other Ukrainian strongholds in the heavily contested Donetsk region. A reinvigorated eastern offensive could also potentially stall or derail Ukraine’s push to recapture the southern city of Kherson, a gateway to Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
Last month, Putin also illegally annexed annexed the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Much of the fighting since then has appeared geared toward consolidating Moscow’s control over that territory, which Putin has put under martial law.
Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai reported Friday that Russian soldiers had retreated from some areas; Moscow had claimed Luhansk’s complete capture in July.
“The Russians practically destroyed some villages after they started to retreat,” Haidai said. “There are a lot of freshly mobilized Russians in the Luhansk region, but they are dying in droves.” His claim could not be independently verified.
In the Zaporizhzhia region, Kremlin-appointed officials urged residents not to switch to daylight savings time along with Kyiv and the rest of the country. Russia switched to permanent winter time in 2014.
“We live in the Russian Federation, and our city lives by Moscow time,” said Alexander Volga, the Russian-installed mayor of Enerhodar, where Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is located.
Meanwhile, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency planned to visit two locations where Russia alleged, without citing evidence, that Ukraine was building radioactive “dirty bombs.” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said inspectors are being dispatched after a written request from the Ukrainian government.
Moscow has repeatedly made the unfounded claim that Ukraine is preparing to detonate a device that spreads radioactive waste on its own territory while trying to blame Russia. Western officials have dismissed the claim as misinformation possibly designed as a pretext for Russia’s own military escalation.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/ap-international/ap-ukraine-blackouts-back-in-kyiv-as-war-takes-multiple-fronts/ | 2022-10-28 19:03:46 | 0 | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/ap-international/ap-ukraine-blackouts-back-in-kyiv-as-war-takes-multiple-fronts/ |
XIAMEN, China, Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Qudian Inc. ("Qudian" or the "Company") (NYSE: QD), a consumer-oriented technology company in China, today announced that the Company has regained compliance with the New York Stock Exchange's ("NYSE") continued listing standard for share prices as confirmed by a notification letter from the NYSE on August 1, 2022.
On May 25, 2022, the NYSE notified the Company of its non-compliance with the exchange's continued listing standards because the average closing price of its American depositary shares ("ADSs") had fallen below $1.00 over a period of 30 consecutive trading days.
On August 1, 2022, the NYSE confirmed to Qudian that a calculation of the average closing price of the Company's ADSs over the 30-trading day period ended July 29, 2022 indicated that such price exceeded the NYSE's minimum requirement of $1.00. Accordingly, the Company is no longer considered below the $1.00 continued listing criterion.
About Qudian Inc.
Qudian Inc. ("Qudian") is a consumer-oriented technology company in China. The Company historically focused on providing credit solutions to consumers. Qudian is exploring innovative consumer products and services to satisfy Chinese consumers' fundamental and daily needs by leveraging its technology capabilities. In March 2022, it launched a ready-to-cook meal business catering to working-class consumers in China.
For more information, please visit https://ir.qudian.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the expectation of its collection efficiency and delinquency, contains forward-looking statements. Qudian may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the SEC, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Qudian's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Qudian's goal and strategies; Qudian's expansion plans; Qudian's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Qudian's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products; Qudian's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with customers, business partners and other parties it collaborates with; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Qudian's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Qudian does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
In China:
Qudian Inc.
IR team
Tel: +86-592-596-8208
E-mail: ir@qudian.com
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Jenny Cai
Tel: +86 (10) 6508-0677
E-mail: qudian@tpg-ir.com
In the United States:
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
E-mail: qudian@tpg-ir.com
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SOURCE Qudian Inc. | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/qudian-inc-regains-compliance-with-nyse-minimum-price-requirement/ | 2022-08-02 09:25:54 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/qudian-inc-regains-compliance-with-nyse-minimum-price-requirement/ |
Traackr's 2022 "Influencer Marketing Impact Report" Reveals How Influencers, Content and Platforms Drive Consumer Purchase Behavior
SAN FRANCISCO, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- When the pandemic forced brands to pivot to a digital-first strategy, marketers relied on social commerce as a key driver of sales – and they're seeing positive results. According to new research from influencer marketing platform Traackr, despite having very young influencer marketing programs (1-4 years old), 82% of marketers report that influencer marketing has driven sales for their brand.
Traackr today released the 2022 Influencer Marketing Impact Report, which surveyed 500 marketing leaders and 1,000 consumers to reveal the impact of influencers, social content and platforms on engagement and purchase behavior. The survey found that more than 70% of consumers at least somewhat agree they are more likely to buy a product from a brand if they collaborate with an influencer they know and trust.
"Influencers really became a fundamental gateway for brands to reach their customers during the pandemic," said Pierre-Loïc Assayag, CEO and co-founder, Traackr. "Clearly, even brands that were nascent in influencer marketing are seeing the value influencers bring to the table when curating authentic collaborations. We expect to see even more spend going toward influencer marketing as measurement on influencer campaigns gets more sophisticated to demonstrate the impact on the bottom line."
YouTube is the most popular social media platform, with 73% of consumers reporting using it at least once a week, followed by Instagram (66%), Facebook (65%) and TikTok (56%). However, when looking at preferences between generations, Millennials are more likely to report using Facebook weekly than Gen Z (81% vs 48%, respectively). Gen Z is also slightly more likely to use TikTok and Snapchat at least once a week than Millennials.
In addition, short videos were found to be most engaging with both Millennials and Gen Z, but Gen Z was 2x more likely to find long videos most engaging, showing that attention spans of younger generations might not be as short as we assume.
Overall, Instagram and Facebook were the top two platforms where respondents are most likely to purchase products, followed by YouTube. However, Gen Z was more likely to purchase on Instagram and YouTube, followed by TikTok – dropping Facebook to the fourth spot. Millennials on the other hand, ranked Facebook as their top social shopping destination, followed by Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
Most marketers (37%) have only had an influencer marketing program in place for one to two years, followed by 31% who have had one for three to four years – yet they are investing heavily in practice.
Thirty percent of brands spend $500,000 or more each year on influencer marketing; with 25% spending between $200,000 and $500,000; and another 25% spending between $50,000 and $200,000 a year.
No matter the longevity or budget of the program, more than 80% of brands at least somewhat agree that influencer marketing has both successfully increased brand awareness and driven sales for their business.
To read the full report with additional insights from brands and consumers, visit http://www.traackr.com/influencer-marketing-impact-report.
To learn more about Traackr, visit http://www.traackr.com.
Two surveys were conducted for this report using the online survey platform Pollfish. The sample of 500 individuals in the United States was surveyed between May 9, 2022 and May 10, 2022. The margin of error is ±4.38% and no additional weighting was done to the initial sample. The sample of 1000 individuals in the United States was surveyed between May 9, 2022 and May 10, 2022. The margin of error is ±3.1% and no additional weighting was done to the initial sample. Pollfish's survey platform delivers online surveys globally through mobile apps and the mobile web along with the desktop web.
Traackr is the data-driven influencer marketing platform, providing the intelligence and tools needed to run impactful programs at scale. The platform enables marketers to optimize investments, streamline campaigns, and orchestrate global programs. Traackr powers the most advanced influencer marketing programs in the world for brands including L'Oréal, Shiseido, Revlon, Diageo and Samsung. Traackr has hubs in San Francisco, New York, Boston, London, Paris and Singapore. Learn more at www.traackr.com.
Contacts
Heather Sliwinski
Changemaker Communications for Traackr
heather@changemakercomms.com
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SOURCE Traackr, Inc. | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/new-traackr-research-finds-social-commerce-driving-awareness-sales-brands/ | 2022-06-28 13:42:38 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/new-traackr-research-finds-social-commerce-driving-awareness-sales-brands/ |
Ozzy Osbourne’s daughter Aimee escapes fatal Hollywood studio fire
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ozzy Osbourne’s daughter Aimee and her producer escaped a Hollywood recording studio fire that killed another person, her mother said.
The fire erupted late Thursday afternoon in a two-story commercial building, and it took 78 firefighters more than 50 minutes to extinguish the flames, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott said in a statement.
Two people reported respiratory symptoms related to smoke exposure and were evaluated at the scene, but both declined to be taken to a hospital, Scott said.
“Sadly, one person was found dead inside, as firefighters searched the structure,” Scott said, adding that no firefighters were injured and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
One of the two survivors was the elder daughter of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne said in an Instagram post.
Aimee Osbourne, 38, and a producer she was working with were “the lucky two that made it out alive,” Sharon Osbourne said, without identifying the producer.
“It is utterly heartbreaking that someone lost their life today in this fire & we are sending our prayers to this person & their family,” Osbourne said, adding “our prayers go out to the family and friends of the person that lost their life to this senseless fire.”
Aimee Osbourne is a singer who releases music under the name ARO, her initials. She did not take part in the Osbourne family’s reality show.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kalb.com/2022/05/20/ozzy-osbournes-daughter-aimee-escapes-fatal-hollywood-studio-fire/ | 2022-05-20 19:31:36 | 1 | https://www.kalb.com/2022/05/20/ozzy-osbournes-daughter-aimee-escapes-fatal-hollywood-studio-fire/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert Hanssen, a former FBI agent who took more than $1.4 million in cash and diamonds to trade secrets with Moscow in one of the most notorious spying cases in American history, died in prison Monday.
Hanssen, 79, was found unresponsive in his cell at a federal prison in Florence, Colorado, and later pronounced dead, prison officials said. He is believed to have died of natural causes, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of Hanssen’s death and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
He had been serving a sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole since 2002, after pleading guilty to 15 counts of espionage and other charges.
Hanssen had divulged a wealth of information about American intelligence-gathering, including extensive detail about how U.S. officials had tapped into Russian spy operations, since at least 1985.
He was believed to have been partly responsible for the deaths of at least three Soviet officers who were working for U.S. intelligence and executed after being exposed.
He got more than $1.4 million in cash, bank funds, diamonds and Rolex watches in exchange for providing highly classified national security information to the Soviet Union and later Russia.
He didn’t adopt an obviously lavish lifestyle, instead living in a modest suburban home in Virginia with his family of six children and driving a Taurus and minivan.
Hanssen would later say he was motivated by money rather than ideology, but a letter written to his Soviet handlers in 1985 explains a large payoff could have caused complications because he could not spend it without setting off warning bells.
Using the alias “Ramon Garcia,” he passed some 6,000 documents and 26 computer disks to his handlers, authorities said. They detailed eavesdropping techniques, helped to confirm the identity of Russian double agents, and spilled other secrets. Officials also believed he tipped off Moscow to a secret tunnel the Americans built under the Soviet Embassy in Washington for eavesdropping.
He went undetected for years, but later investigations found missed red flags. After he became the focus of a hunt for a Russian mole, Hanssen was caught taping a garbage bag full of secrets to the underside of a footbridge in a park in a “dead drop” for Russian handlers.
The story was made into a movie titled “Breach” in 2007, staring Chris Cooper as Hanssen and Ryan Phillippe as a young bureau operative who helps bring him down.
The FBI has been notified of Hanssen’s death, according to the Bureau of Prisons.
___
Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo contributed to this report. | https://www.qcnews.com/news/politics/election/former-fbi-agent-robert-hanssen-who-was-convicted-of-spying-for-russia-dies-in-prison/ | 2023-06-06 10:49:19 | 1 | https://www.qcnews.com/news/politics/election/former-fbi-agent-robert-hanssen-who-was-convicted-of-spying-for-russia-dies-in-prison/ |
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A bill that would criminalize helping minors obtain an abortion without parental consent won final passage in Idaho’s legislature on Thursday and is headed to the desk of Republican Gov. Brad Little.
The measure would be the first of its kind in the U.S. It seeks to restrict travel by creating the crime of “abortion trafficking” and would bar adults from obtaining abortion pills for a minor or “recruiting, harboring or transporting the pregnant minor” without the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian.
Anyone convicted of breaking the law would face two to five years in prison, and could also be sued by the minor’s parent or guardian. Parents who raped their child would not be able to sue, though the criminal penalties for anyone who helped the minor obtain an abortion would remain in effect.
To sidestep violating a constitutional right to travel between states, Idaho’s law would make illegal only the in-state segment of a trip to an out-of-state abortion provider.
Once it lands on his desk, the governor will have five days to either sign or veto the bill or allow it to become law without his signature. Little is against abortion and has supported Idaho’s stringent abortion bans.
Idaho is one of 13 states that already effectively ban abortion in all stages of pregnancy, and is one of a handful of states that already have laws penalizing those who help people of any age obtain abortions.
Democratic Sen. Melissa Wintrow said the legislation “further shackles young girls that need help,” and harms those who try to help them.
“I think we all know that Idaho has the strictest abortion bans in the country,” Wintrow said. “It is criminal, it is totally banned, and this bill adds insult to injury in my estimation.”
But Sen. Todd Lakey, a Republican, said the legislation will “help protect our kids. It does help prevent and protect against abortion, especially those that occur without consent of a parent in another state.” | https://www.koin.com/news/national/idaho-bill-passes-to-criminalize-help-for-minors-abortions/ | 2023-03-31 01:04:24 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/news/national/idaho-bill-passes-to-criminalize-help-for-minors-abortions/ |
Florida officials began planning to transport migrants to other states in July and told potential contractors their task would be to relocate them on a voluntary basis, according to state documents.
The documents released Friday night to The Associated Press and other news organizations provide new details about the program that culminated in the Sept. 14 flight of 48 mostly Venezuelan migrants from San Antonio, Texas, to Martha's Vineyard, an island off Massachusetts.
The flight has spawned an investigation by a Texas sheriff and two lawsuits amid criticism that the program was a political stunt by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to appeal to his conservative base.
DeSantis is running for reelection this year and is frequently mentioned as a potential 2024 presidential candidate. His office did not immediately respond to an email Saturday seeking comment about the document release.
According to the documents, the program as outlined in July was intended to “assist in the voluntary relocation of Unauthorized Aliens who are found in Florida and have agreed to be relocated” elsewhere in the country. It made no mention of finding migrants in Texas.
One Florida-based bidder that was not chosen, Gun Girls Procurement Solutions Inc., quoted a price of $26,000 to transport a minimum of five people and a security staffer to Massachusetts. Another potential bidder that provided price options was a New York-based charter jet company called Wheels Up, the documents show.
Ultimately, state officials chose Vertol Systems Co., based in Destin, Florida, and has so far paid the firm $1.56 million for the Martha's Vineyard flight and possibly for a second flight to Delaware, the home state of President Joe Biden, that didn't happen. No other flights have been announced.
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The records show that an Ohio-based charter company, Ultimate JetCharters, was subcontracted to fly the migrants from Texas to a brief stop in Crestview, Florida, and then on to Martha's Vineyard.
In Massachusetts, meanwhile, officials said Friday that all of the Venezuelan migrants, who are seeking asylum in the U.S., have left a temporary shelter at a military base on Cape Cod.
In an email statement, Gov. Charlie Baker's administration said it is “grateful for the collaborative efforts between several state agencies and non-profit providers to ensure each individual received necessary humanitarian resources and access to new housing options.”
Some of the migrants have sued DeSantis and other Florida officials in Boston federal court, claiming they were the victims of a “fraudulent and discriminatory scheme” to relocate them.
Florida Sen. Jason Pizzo, a Democrat, has also filed a lawsuit in state court in Tallahassee contending that the Massachusetts flight is a violation of state law partly because the migrants were not in Florida at the time. The Legislature authorized $12 million for the relocation program that specifically cites migrants within Florida borders.
_____
Associated Press writer Jennifer McDermott contributed from Providence, Rhode Island. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/documents-reveal-florida-migrant-transport-planning-began-in-july/3386356/ | 2022-10-09 04:05:11 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/documents-reveal-florida-migrant-transport-planning-began-in-july/3386356/ |
Despite 33% surge in risk of general anxiety and 12% rise in stress February – May 2022; June saw general anxiety risk tumble 39% and stress fall 15%
SAN FRANCISCO and WASHINGTON, July 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For many, sun, sand, and sea breezes are the antidote to stress and anxiety. Recent findings from the Q2 2022 Mental Health Index: U.S. Worker Edition support the notion that summertime fun is good for your mental health. From February – May 2022, stress levels went up 12%, risk of general anxiety rose 33%, and risk of PTSD jumped 57% amid growing inflation, a declining stock market, a seemingly unending war in Ukraine and the emergence of the stealth BA.2 omicron variant. Yet, despite ongoing health, economic and social chaos, June data shows a markedly different story. In June, stress levels dropped 15%; risk of general anxiety plummeted 39%; and risk of PTSD plunged 31%. Further, February – May 2022 saw a 42% swell in risk of social anxiety with a subsequent 22% drop in June.
"Total Brain has been monitoring U.S. workers' mental health for more than three years," noted Matthew Mund, CEO, Total Brain. "There is an interesting pattern of mental health improvements each June likely induced by a vacation state of mind. Subsequently, we see a decline in mental health assessment scores in September – the dreaded "back-to-school" season. So, while we are cautiously optimistic based on the data in June; history tells us that people need to be prepared for emotional and cognitive declines come fall. Their ability to assess and monitor their mental health is more important than ever."
The Mental Health Index: U.S. Worker Edition, powered by Total Brain, a mental health monitoring and support platform, is distributed in partnership with the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, One Mind at Work, and the HR Policy Association and its American Health Policy Institute.
Margaret Faso, director, Health Care Research and Policy of HR Policy Association said, "Despite improvements in the index results employers recognize improving mental health is not a linear process. Maintaining flexible work policies that help reduce both stress and anxiety and improve employee satisfaction will remain key priorities for HR executives."
"The data reinforces how critical the benefits of collective periods of recovery are to the emotional wellbeing of our workforce," said Michael Thompson, National Alliance president and CEO. "This downtime pays huge dividends in improved effectiveness and engagement of the people who we rely on to drive results in our organizations."
Christina McCarthy, executive director of One Mind at Work said, "We are seeing employers move to a longer-term response to COVID, and at an employee level the summer offers more opportunities to take breaks or maybe even go on vacation. However, we anticipate that the impacts of COVID in terms of stress and anxiety will remain for many and urge employers to continue to take this moment in time to review and adjust their mental health strategies to provide even better support for mental health."
The full Q2 2022 Mental Health Index results can be found here. For additional insights, there will be a complimentary 30-minute webinar on Friday, July 22 at noon Eastern. Register here.
Methodology: The Mental Health Index: U.S. Worker Edition contains data drawn from a weekly randomized sample of 500 working Americans taken from a larger universe of Total Brain users. The Index is NOT a survey or a poll. Data is culled from neuroscientific brain assessments using standardized digital tasks and questions from the Total Brain platform. Participants include workers from all walks of life and regions, job levels, occupations, industries, and types of organizations (public vs. private). The brain assessments used to compile the Mental Health Index were taken weekly from the first week of February 2020 until the week starting June 20, 2022, inclusive. The two weeks from March 21 to April 3 (inclusive) were compared to the last two weeks of June 13-16 (inclusive).
About Total Brain Limited (ASX: TTB): Total Brain Limited is an applied, integrative neuroscience company, based in San Francisco and Sydney, that has developed and offers Total Brain, a mental health monitoring and support platform powered by the world's largest standardized brain database. Its SaaS platform has helped more than one million registered users to-date scientifically measure and optimize their brain capacities while managing the risk of common mental conditions. Benefits for providers include improved patient outcomes, tracking of evidence-based outcomes across the continuum of care, and a reduction in clinician fatigue. Benefits for populations and payers include better mental healthcare access, lower costs, and higher productivity. For more information, please visit www.totalbrain.com and follow on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
About the National Alliance: The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions (National Alliance) is the only nonprofit, purchaser-led organization with a national and regional structure dedicated to driving health and healthcare value across the country. Its members represent private and public sector, nonprofit, and Taft-Hartley organizations, and more than 45 million Americans spending over $300 billion annually on healthcare. nationalalliancehealth.org
About One Mind at Work: Launched in 2017, One Mind at Work is a global coalition of leaders from diverse sectors who have joined together with the goal of transforming approaches to mental health and addiction. One Mind at Work now includes more than 90 global employers and 18 research and content partners. The coalition covers more than 8 million people under its charter. onemindatwork.org
About HR Policy Association: HR Policy Association is the lead organization representing Chief Human Resource Officers at major employers. The Association consists of over 390 of the largest corporations doing business in the United States and globally, and these employers are represented in the organization by their most senior human resource executive. Collectively, their companies employ more than 10 million employees in the United States, over nine percent of the private sector workforce, and 20 million employees worldwide. These senior corporate officers participate in the Association because of their commitment to improving the direction of human resource policy. hrpolicy.org.
About American Health Policy Institute: American Health Policy Institute is a non-partisan non-profit think tank, started by the HR Policy Foundation, which examines the practical implications of health policy changes through the lens of large employers. The Institute examines the challenges employers face in providing health care to their employees and recommends policy solutions to promote the provision of affordable, high-quality, employer-based health care. The Institute serves to provide thought leadership grounded in the practical experience of America's largest employers. Their mission is to develop impactful strategies to ensure that those purchasing health care can not only bend the cost curve, but break it, by keeping health care cost inflation in line with general inflation. americanhealthpolicy.org.
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SOURCE Total Brain | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/22/according-mental-health-index-americans-usher-summer-with-improved-state-mind-data-reinforces-seasonal-pattern/ | 2022-07-22 12:22:04 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/22/according-mental-health-index-americans-usher-summer-with-improved-state-mind-data-reinforces-seasonal-pattern/ |
Community frustrated with police as University of Idaho murderer still uncaptured, questions unanswered
MOSCOW, Idaho - Community members have expressed growing frustration with law enforcement agencies tasked with investigating the murders of four University of Idaho students as many details surrounding their deaths are still unknown at this time.
Five days after the Nov. 13 deaths of Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, police have not yet arrested any suspect or suspects, or persons of interest, prompting some criticisms.
During a vigil at Independence Point in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Wednesday night, a mother of a friend of one of the deceased students suggested officials could be doing more.
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO MURDERS TIMELINE: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE SLAUGHTER OF FOUR STUDENTS
Angela Navejas, whose daughter Ashlin was best friends with Maddie Mogen, said: "I don’t want to tell you what I feel about the Moscow Police Department right now, because I feel like they could’ve done a better job."
Police search a home in Moscow, Idaho on Monday, November 14, 2022 where four University of Idaho students were killed over the weekend in an apparent quadruple homicide. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
COMMUNITY REMEMBERS UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO MURDER VICTIMS: ‘VIBRANT AND WILD, CAREFREE’
"I pray and I hope that they figure it out because it’s ludicrous that they have absolutely nothing," she added.
Steve Goncalves, the father of the deceased, said in a statement Wednesday that his family will "not rest" until the perpetrator is "punished and held responsible," according to The Spokesman-Review.
"I want to know that my daughter is safe wherever she is," Goncalves said. "I want to never have someone experience what I am – and the rest of my family is – experiencing right now."
"Myself and my family will not rest until Kaylee, Maddie, Xana and Ethan get the justice they deserve," he added.
Aubrie Goncalves, the sister of Kaylee Goncalves urged students to flee the small college town as the suspect or suspects in the killings remain at large.
"To the students of the University of Idaho that are still staying around campus, leave. Your grades are severely less important than your lives," she wrote in an Instagram post Wednesday. "No one is in custody and therefore no one is safe."
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO PRESIDENT SAYS SHOCKING MURDER OF FOUR STUDENTS IS 'BEYOND COMPREHENSION’
"You guys are not safe until this sicko is found," the post continued. "If the person who did this is capable of killing four innocent people, they are capable of killing more. The last thing I want is to have another family experience what I, and my family is experiencing now."
Police search a home in Moscow, Idaho on Monday, November 14, 2022 following the deaths of four University of Idaho students: Ethan Chapin, 20, of Conway, Washington; Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Avondale, Idaho;
She also called for the person or persons responsible to be placed info prison "to rot for the rest of their life."
IDAHO MURDERS: SISTER OF SLAIN STUDENT SAYS 'NO ONE IS SAFE' WITH SUSPECT AT LARGE
Alaina Tempelis, a University of Idaho student, told Fox News Digital that there needs to be increased surveillance since the suspect hasn't been arrested, adding that she has been praying for the community.
"I think there needs to be justice. And I think there will be justice. That's another reason why I'm praying, because I know that God brings justice," Tempelis said. "And we, as students, all we can do is pray and hope that that comes."
Investigators search a home in Moscow, Idaho on Monday, November 14, 2022 where four University of Idaho students were killed on Nov. 13. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
"And I know there's power and my prayers and everyone's prayers. So I do believe that things will get better," she added.
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO MURDERS: THREAT STILL POSSIBLE WITHOUT ANY SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY, POLICE SAY
As of Thursday evening, the Moscow Police do not have a suspect or person of interest in custody. Officials have said a knife was used and that the victims had each been stabbed, but no weapon was recovered.
Police suspect a KaBar knife may have been used in slayings of four University Idaho students, inset. Caution tape surrounds the house near campus where the students were slaughtered. (Credit: Ka-Bar / Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Moscow Police Department Chief James Fry said there was "possibly" still a threat to the Moscow community as no persons of interest or suspect(s) have been placed in custody as of Wednesday evening.
POLICE SEEK ‘RAMBO’-STYLE KNIFE IN UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO MURDERS PROBE: REPORT
He added, though, the attack appeared to be "targeted."
A series of events Saturday night into the early morning on Sunday has been determined, showing the four individuals at separate parties or events before meeting back together at the home. They were no visible signs of a break-in and it is not known if an entrance was unlocked.
University of Idaho President Scott Green speaks at a press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022. (Fox News)
University of Idaho President Scott Green said the school was fully cooperating with Moscow police "when asked and continually pushed for information whenever possible."
"You will see an increased security presence through the weekend. This is an intentional increase in response to your concerns and not a reflection of any new information or heightened threat communicated by MPD," he said in a memo on Thursday.
Fox News' Audrey Conklin, Rebecca Rosenberg and The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.fox5ny.com/news/university-of-idaho-murderer-still-uncaptured-questions-unanswered | 2022-11-18 20:08:21 | 0 | https://www.fox5ny.com/news/university-of-idaho-murderer-still-uncaptured-questions-unanswered |
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — Lafayette Police say emergency officials were able to revive two people found unresponsive at a gas station.
Police Spokesperson Sgt. Robin Green said just after 6 a.m. Tuesday officers were dispatched to the RaceTrac on the NE Evangeline Thruway where they located two people inside a parked vehicle.
She said police found the car unlocked and in park and the driver and passenger both without a pulse.
From their initial approach, Green said, officers suspected that both individuals had overdosed on opioids.
When emergency officials administered Narcan to overcome the effects of the narcotics, she said, the male driver eventually came to, declined transport to the hospital and started the car in an attempt to get away from police.
The passenger fell out of the car, Green said, as the driver began to resist officers and drive away at a high rate of speed hitting two police units, an ambulance and an innocent bystanders vehicle.
To ensure the safety of other motorist on the roadway, Green said, police did not give chase.
After fleeing to Maurice, Jorel Hughes, 39 drove back into Lafayette and abandoned his vehicle then fled on foot, Green said.
He was apprehended a short time later, placed under arrest and transported to a local hospital for treatment then booked into Lafayette Parish Correctional Center with no bond.
Hughes faces numerous charges including two counts hit and run, resisting an officer, battery of a police officer, simple criminal damage to property, aggravated flight from an officer, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, attempting to disarm a peace officer and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/crime/louisiana-man-arrested-ran-away-from-police-shortly-after-being-revived-with-narcan/ | 2022-07-13 14:18:14 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/crime/louisiana-man-arrested-ran-away-from-police-shortly-after-being-revived-with-narcan/ |
Which quarter-zip sweatshirt is best?
A quarter-zip sweatshirt is an excellent compromise between a zip-up and a traditional pullover. It lets you maintain the ventilating benefits of zip-up without removing the option of a front pouch pocket to keep your hands warm. They also come with a wide variety of necklines and styles. The best ones look stylish and are built to last.
The Carhartt Women’s Clarksburg Half-Zip Hooded Sweatshirt is a top pick because it maintains an excellent combination of design, functionality and durability.
What to know before you buy a quarter-zip sweatshirt
What is a quarter-zip sweatshirt?
Quarter-zip sweatshirts have various silhouettes and necklines. They are much like a classic pullover but have a zipper at the front of the neck.
Instead of zipping down to the bottom, the zipper can only be lowered to the center of your chest. They are also commonly referred to as half-zip sweatshirts.
Sweatshirt vs. sweater
While sweatshirts and sweaters have similar shapes, they are made differently and serve different purposes.
A sweatshirt is a thick shirt that comes in various lengths and styles. Due to their durable, tight-knit and relaxed aesthetic, they are ideal for casual wear. They are great for the gym or anywhere that doesn’t have a dress code.
While a sweater can also be considered a type of thick shirt that comes in various lengths and styles, they are made from a looser knit or crocheted material that is far more fragile than a sweatshirt.
Due to their craftsmanship and the more delicate materials used to construct them, they are typically considered dressier than sweatshirts. Thus, they can be worn to work or more formal events when paired with other dressier pieces.
Sweatshirt materials
Quarter-zip sweatshirts are usually found in fleece and terry knits. Most are made from cotton, polyester or a blend of both with some added stretch from spandex or modal.
What to look for in a quality a quarter-zip sweatshirt
The right neckline
Quarter-zip sweatshirts come with various necklines. To get the one you want, you should know what styles exist. There are five common considerations:
- Hoodie: This style has a hood attached to the back of the neck.
- Collar: This has a loose neckline that lands high on the neck when zipped up and a wide lapel when zipped down.
- Cowl neck: This features a loose neckline that drapes around the neck and shoulders whether it is zipped up or not.
- Turtleneck: This has a tight collar that lands high on the neck and opens to a wide lapel.
- Mock neck: This neckline lands on the middle of the neck. When unzipped, it opens to a small lapel.
The right silhouette
Quarter-zip sweatshirts come in several styles that have various shapes. There are five standard silhouettes to consider:
- Pullover: This classic style is loose through your midsection and lands at your hips.
- Oversized: This silhouette is like a pullover but much larger for a cozier look and feel.
- Cropped: This youthful design is much like a regular pullover, but its bottom hem can land anywhere between your low chest and your navel.
- Fitted: This design hugs your body and shows off your shape. It is an excellent option for those who want the warmth of a traditional sweatshirt but don’t want the added bulk.
- Tunic: This silhouette resembles a classic sweatshirt, but its bottom hem lands at your hips or high on your thighs.
Pockets or a pouch
Pockets can make your life easier. They let you take your essentials, such as your keys and wallet, on the go without needing a bag. You can typically find pockets at the hips or on the front in the shape of a pouch. The best quarter-zip sweatshirts have a separate pocket for your phone to keep your device safe and secure.
How much you can expect to spend on a quarter-zip sweatshirt
Depending on the brand, style and details added to the sweatshirt, prices range from $15-$100.
Quarter-zip sweatshirt FAQ
What is the best way to wash your quarter-zip sweatshirt?
A. It is always good to check with your sweatshirt’s wash instructions on the label first. However, when you wash your clothes inside out with like colors on a delicate cycle and dry them on low heat, they tend to last longer.
Can you get rid of pilling on your sweatshirts?
A. Yes. Consider investing in a fabric shaver that quickly and efficiently removes excess fuzz, lint and pilling.
What’s the best quarter-zip sweatshirt to buy?
Top quarter-zip sweatshirt
Carhartt Women’s Clarksburg Half-Zip Hooded Sweatshirt
What you need to know: This is a well-made sweatshirt that is comfortable and built to last.
What you’ll love: It’s made from heavyweight fleece to keep you warm. It has a pouch pocket in the front and a hidden media pocket to secure your phone. It comes in three colors and sizes XS to 2XL.
What you should consider: This sweatshirt might be a little too pricey for some people.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top quarter-zip sweatshirt for the money
Daily Ritual Women’s Relaxed-Fit Quarter-Zip Sweatshirt
What you need to know: This is a classic, comfortable zipped pullover with a flattering fit.
What you’ll love: This is a slightly flowy but classic-fit sweatshirt with a mock neck. It’s made of a soft terry knit, and its hem lands at the hip. The zipper is durable, and it has pockets at the sides. It also comes in six colors and sizes XS to 2XL.
What you should consider: The material might be a little too thin to keep you warm in cooler months.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Carhartt Men’s Quarter-Zip Mock-Neck Sweatshirt
What you need to know: This smart sweatshirt isn’t just for looks; it’s also ultradurable.
What you’ll love: This traditional pullover has a mock neck with inner ribbing. It is made with sweat-wicking material to keep you cool and dry. It is also stain resistant, has a front pouch pocket and comes in sizes S to 4XL in three colors.
What you should consider: Some might prefer a sweatshirt that has individual pockets placed at the hips.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.kron4.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/outerwear-br/best-quarter-zip-sweatshirt/ | 2022-08-31 13:27:34 | 1 | https://www.kron4.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/outerwear-br/best-quarter-zip-sweatshirt/ |
New Global VP of Sales to Drive Expansion of Green Technology for Lab Consumables
RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Grenova, the innovative manufacturer of green technology for lab consumables, announced today that Wayne Shepherd has been appointed Global Vice President of Sales. Shepherd joins Grenova during a period of explosive growth as the organization expands operations to meet a dramatic increase in demand for automated, high-throughput pipette tip and microwell plate washers. As a leader in the life sciences industry with 20 years of experience, he will drive Grenova's growth as it provides patented technology to labs around the world.
"It's an honor to join Grenova as we push the life sciences industry into the future by finding innovative ways to reuse plastic consumables to protect the environment while cutting costs and creating supply chain resilience," said Shepherd. "Grenova is leading this charge with the only green technology capable of washing and reusing plastic consumables to make labs smarter, greener, and cleaner."
Prior to joining Grenova, Shepherd served as Vice President of Health Systems and Vice President of Sales – East at AccuVein, Global Vice President of Sales and Marketing at BG Medicine, Regional Sales Director at Abbott, Diabetes Management Consultant at Medtronic Diabetes, Area Manager and Regional Trainer at Novartis, and founder and president of Commonwealth Consulting. He has extensive experience and a consistent record of outstanding performance in corporate management, business development, and executive leadership. Shepherd has successfully built and defended market positions in the capital, disposable, and medical device spaces within both the acute and non-acute markets.
"Team Grenova is proud to call Wayne Shepherd a Grenovian," said Ali Safavi, founder and CEO of Grenova. "Wayne defines the values of Grenova and is the type of leader that is driven by an unwavering sense of purpose. Best of all, he's always ready to collaborate with others in the lab industry and is committed to reimagining what is possible when labs wash and reuse their plastic consumables."
Today, Grenova's tip washers are implemented in the largest domestic and international labs around the world and are relied upon by NIH, NCI, and the CDC. Partner labs report a dramatic reduction in plastic pipette tip consumption by 90 percent, resulting in significant cost savings while dramatically cutting plastic waste.
Founded in 2014, Grenova™ is an innovative company that is revolutionizing lab consumables through high-quality waste reduction solutions. Grenova's mission is to lower costs in the laboratory industry and reduce biohazard waste in the environment by delivering groundbreaking approaches in dealing with plastic consumables. Grenova's existing products include the TipNovus™ family of pipette tip-washing solutions for labs such as the Automated TipNovus (ATN) Package, a fully integrated tip-washing solution; the TipLumis™ family of HEPA-filtered, temperature-controlled, UV-sanitized tip storage solutions; GrenoClean, a proprietary and scientifically validated cleaning solution; and Purus by Grenova™, a novel microwell plate cleaner. For more information, visit https://www.grenovasolutions.com/.
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SOURCE Grenova | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/life-sciences-executive-wayne-shepherd-joins-grenova-global-vice-president-sales/ | 2022-08-22 13:19:50 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/life-sciences-executive-wayne-shepherd-joins-grenova-global-vice-president-sales/ |
After several months of delays, the state Supreme Court will hear a case this week challenging New Mexico’s new congressional maps.
The hearing, scheduled for Monday, comes about three months after the state’s highest court ordered a stay in proceedings in a lawsuit brought by the Republican Party of New Mexico contending the newly redistricted maps of the state’s three congressional districts amount to a political gerrymander.
Monday’s arguments will focus on whether claims of partisan gerrymandering can be decided by the state courts or whether, as the Democratic defendants contend, congressional maps are a policy matter that falls under the Legislature’s purview. If the state Supreme Court sides with the Democrats, the case could be dead. If the justices side with the Republicans, the case would go back to the district court level, where it started early last year.
In the long run, the stakes could be high for both major political parties. A win for the GOP on Monday would send the case back to district court with the possibility, if the plaintiffs prevail down the line, that the Legislature will be ordered to return to the state Capitol and redraw the congressional maps, said the GOP’s lawyer, Carter B. Harrison IV.
“[The] Supreme Court will either say that a partisan-gerrymandering claim can’t be brought at all (i.e. no one can bring one, not just that we haven’t met our burden) or will say that a claim can be brought and outline some of the standards for what constitutes judicially correctable partisan gerrymandering,” Harrison wrote in an email.
Monday’s hearing — which could be ruled on as soon as the same day — is the latest chapter in a still-evolving story about the often contentious process of redrawing the maps for state legislative and congressional seats every 10 years after the census.
When New Mexico lawmakers met in a special session late in 2021 to draw new maps, many said that no matter how the maps came out, lawsuits would follow.
They were right.
Shortly after the new maps were approved by the heavily Democratic Legislature and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the state Republican Party and six other plaintiffs filed a lawsuit to stop the new congressional map from moving forward. The legal complaint said lawmakers “ran roughshod” over traditional redistricting methods to give Democrats an advantage.
Under the previous map, Republican voters in southeastern New Mexico were mostly grouped within a single congressional district, creating one district that usually elected a Republican and two that usually elected a Democrat. Now, the plaintiffs say, those voters are split among all three of the state’s congressional districts, diluting their voting power.
Some critics say those redrawn maps played a role in the November defeat of former U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell in the state’s 2nd Congressional District, which left New Mexico with an all-Democratic congressional delegation.
The suit names Lujan Grisham, Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, and House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, as defendants. (Egolf did not run for reelection and will be relinquishing his House seat and role as speaker later this month.)
Initially, lawyers for Lujan Grisham and Democratic lawmakers asked state 9th District Judge Fred T. Van Soelen to throw the case out. Last April, Van Soelen ruled the case could go forward but said he would not make a final ruling until 2023 because of the short amount of time left to create a new map before the 2022 primary elections in June and general election in November. In July, the Democratic defendants asked the state Supreme Court to stay the proceedings and to rule on whether the issue of gerrymandering can be tried in court under the state Constitution.
Steve Pearce, chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, wrote in an email last week his organization is hopeful the New Mexico Supreme Court will rule the Legislature’s maps “were a blatant case of partisan gerrymandering.”
“The new boundaries were strictly for political gain and to ensure Republicans could not win certain races,” he wrote. “This was an obvious case of partisanship and designed to stop GOP momentum last November. This illegal gerrymandering certainly played a role in Republican setbacks this past election. We look forward to the Court making a just and proper ruling.”
Michael Li, senior counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice, said if the court agrees with Pearce, the Legislature would likely convene a special session, as it did before, on redistricting. He said if the Legislature ignores or delays the court order, the court could appoint an independent mapmaker to draw the maps for the state.
New Mexico is not the only state dealing with a redistricting lawsuit. According to the Brennan Center’s website, as of Dec. 21, “73 cases have been filed challenging congressional and legislative maps in 27 states as racially discriminatory and/or partisan gerrymanders, of which 48 remain pending at either the trial or appellate levels.”
The center reported litigation has led to court orders to redraw legislative and/or congressional maps in several states, including Alaska, New York and Ohio.
Li said nationally there is “pretty much an equal number of Democrats and Republicans filing litigation to turn over maps.”
The New Mexico case is playing out as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule later this year on a similar case in North Carolina. There, the state’s Supreme Court said the Legislature’s congressional redistricting map amounted to partisan gerrymandering on the part of Republicans.
The court ordered lawmakers to redraw the maps. Instead, some North Carolina Republican lawmakers appealed it to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking it to decide if the state Supreme Court has the right to make such redistricting decisions. North Carolina Republicans are arguing no, citing the “independent state legislature” theory, which holds that state legislatures have sole authority over the conduct of federal elections in their states, which cannot be limited by state courts or constitutions or any other state-level power. The court is expected to revisit the case this summer.
Li said that decision could impact every state in the country when it comes to redistricting. Ultimately, he said, it’s possible Congress “could come in and mandate how you draw districts.”
Li said he’s not surprised by the number of redistricting court cases popping up around the country.
“In America, we make maps and fight about them in court,” he said with a laugh.
Robert Nott has covered education and youth issues for the Santa Fe New Mexican. He is assigned to The New Mexican's city desk where he covers a general assignment beat. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/legislature/new-mexico-supreme-court-to-hear-gop-challenge-to-congressional-map/article_5b01465e-8b7f-11ed-bdb0-f3d8483e71af.html | 2023-01-08 07:28:14 | 0 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/legislature/new-mexico-supreme-court-to-hear-gop-challenge-to-congressional-map/article_5b01465e-8b7f-11ed-bdb0-f3d8483e71af.html |
Artist Nick Cave took a break from overseeing the installation of his latest work at Kansas City International Airport to discuss a side project: a line of fabrics and wall coverings he has created in collaboration with Knoll Textiles.
“I approached it the way that I would approach a collage,” Cave said in a phone interview last week. “Taking many, many ideas and sort of putting them together.”
Cave, 63, spoke over the din of a crane beeping in the background. His creation for the airport terminal, an immersive sculpture called “The Air Up There,” is the size of a football field.
He is perhaps best known for the sculptural pieces known as soundsuits, many of which are part of “Nick Cave: Forothermore,” the career-spanning exhibition that had a five-month run at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago last year and is now at the Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan. The first soundsuit was inspired by the beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers in 1991; a more recent one depicts Trayvon Martin, the Florida high school student who was shot and killed by a security guard in 2012.
Cave, who is the chair of the fashion design department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, has long sifted through flea markets and thrift shops to gather materials for his work — plush toys, artificial flowers, ceramic figurines, buttons, sequins, plastic tag fasteners and other objects. For his collaboration with Knoll, he came up with 10 designs in keeping with his usual methods and aesthetic.
“How do I look at a soundsuit and translate that into a commercial sort of fabric?” Cave said. “That is really unique with these textiles.”
The wall coverings, upholstery and drapery in the collection range in price from $35 a yard to $949. They include Guise, a luminous fabric made partly from chenille yarns, and Forest, an intensely colorful wall covering based on his installation “Architectural Forest.”
“We are always looking for a designer or an artist who has a very unique and distinct aesthetic, but also an interesting use of materiality,” Caroline Ollivier, the marketing director at Knoll Textiles, said. “I think that by pushing the boundaries with technology and techniques in creating textiles, we’ve been able to accomplish a lot of that sort of depth and layering and movement with some of them.”
Translating Cave’s designs into textiles required careful work, she added.
“There is a drapery fabric called Heard, which really captures Nick’s handmade aesthetic in that there are five different colors of ribbon in rows,” Ollivier said. “They’re hand-sewn, row by row, ribbon by ribbon. Then they are sewn on one end and they’re loose on the other, so that when the fabric moves there is this beautiful sway and movement.”
Cave said the items in the collection had to work on their own, rather than just recreate his art.
“The core of the concept comes from a body of work that reads as one point of view,” he said. “I was very interested in all of that, but also in working very independently, developing each individual cloth or wallpaper or upholstery and making sure that it was strong and that it provided the energy and the sort of vibration that I had imagined.” | https://www.phillytrib.com/lifestyle/nick-cave-for-the-home/article_e7c49c16-fe3c-5791-b16d-9524e4095bab.html | 2023-01-18 00:39:00 | 1 | https://www.phillytrib.com/lifestyle/nick-cave-for-the-home/article_e7c49c16-fe3c-5791-b16d-9524e4095bab.html |
JACKSON, Miss. — eZra Brown, owner of Soulé Coffee and Bubble Tea, starts his day differently than most other restaurant operators in the nation — traveling to neighboring cities for water and ice to serve his customers.
When Brown opened his cafe less than a month ago in Jackson, Miss., the city was entering the third week of a boil-water notice because of low pressure at the O.B. Curtis Water Plant. Then flooding at the Pearl River in early August caused the plant's pumps to fail.
Officials don't know when the health alert will end.
"If you have a boil alert, we have to get our ice from another city," Brown said. "We're rolling through 100 plus pounds of ice every single day. One-hundred-plus pounds, not including water. If you want a lemonade, if you want a green tea, that's all bottled water that we have to have.
More than 40 Jackson restaurant owners wrote a letter to Mississippi's governor and Jackson's mayor in early August, telling them that the repeated boil water orders and outages were costing them hundreds of dollars a day.
On Monday, the city's water pressure dropped so low that many people didn't have access to water at all. That prompted the city, state and federal governments to declare a state of emergency.
Pat Fontaine, executive director for the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association, said many of the 500 area restaurants are experiencing issues with the water.
"There is some fear of the water supply being fit for consumption, so they chose to go to outlying cities that do not have the boil water notice," Fontaine said.
Some owners have reported rising costs of supplies, such as canned drinks and disposable packaging, reaching thousands of dollars above normal operating costs each week. Those come on top of diminishing sales as customers aren't eating in the city as much as before.
Few have closed their doors for now, but Fontaine hopes that the state's emergency management teams as well as federal aid can solve the problem that's been threatening to occur for years: Jackson has been struggling with a crumbling city water system.
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba estimated it will cost billions of dollars to fix.
During a news conference Wednesday, Lumumba said it's not clear when people in Jackson will be able to use their water without boiling it.
"That all will be dependent upon a few things," Lumumba said. "First and foremost, restoring the pressure, the circumstance that initially led to the boil-water notice, long before we dealt with the flood waters and the challenge there was because of turbidity."
Lumumba said they fixed that problem of turbidity, or how cloudy or clear water is, but then had to do hundreds of tests on the water to make sure it was safe to drink.
"Then we had the rain, then we had the flood," he said. "Now we have low water pressure as a result of the flood. "
The city installed a temporary pump at its main water-treatment facility, Lumumba said, and once water pressure returns to normal, they'll be able to start testing the water quality again.
As of Thursday, half of the water tanks had begun filling up, and some homes and businesses closer to the plant were seeing water pressure return. Those further away remained affected.
For Brown, solutions can't come soon enough. He opened Soulé Coffee as a hub for local creatives to collaborate and dream, but he's grinding. He's the sole employee, and he said the hiring process has been slower than he expected.
Right now, he works more than 12 hours a day to make sure his first months are successful. He wants city and state government officials to cooperate so Black-owned businesses like his can thrive.
"Now I need y'all to do your job," Brown said. "Get me clean water."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2022-09-03/unsafe-water-challenges-jackson-miss-restaurant-owners-who-must-look-elsewhere | 2022-09-03 13:23:25 | 0 | https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2022-09-03/unsafe-water-challenges-jackson-miss-restaurant-owners-who-must-look-elsewhere |
After years of work, W.K. Kellogg Foundation partners in Haiti establish an alliance to strengthen local food systems and food security.
The Haiti Food Systems Alliance (HFSA) includes 14 established Haitian businesses and organizations dedicated to improving farmer incomes and children's food security.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new coalition of organizations working on the ground in Haiti has united to contribute to developing the country's agricultural sector and boost food security for marginalized families.
The Haiti Food Systems Alliance (HFSA), years in the making, was formed as a local response to the top-down approach commonly adopted by external development interventions. It will contribute to local efforts to develop a Haitian-led roadmap to agricultural viability and sustainability that puts Haitian farmers and local food system organizations in the driver's seat for the benefit of Haitian children and their communities.
The Alliance includes agricultural groups supporting food production in rural communities, including Association des Cadres pour la Protection de l'Environnement (ACAPE), Acceso Haiti, Association Zanmi Agrikol (AZA), Haiti Christian Development Fund (HCDF), KORE Foundation (KORE) and Partenariat Developpement Local (PDL).
They will be supported by service partners specializing in local capacity building, research and data service, including Association pour le Developpement de Fond-des-Blancs (ADF), Centre d'Appui et de Services aux Entreprises Locales et Internationales (Caseli), Centre Haitien du Leadership et de l'Excellence (CLE), Haiti Development Institute (HDI) and Université de Quisqueya (UniQ).
Finally, three feeding partners will complete the Alliance, including Health Equity International (HEI), Model School Network (MSN) and Zanmi Lasante (ZL).
"This is very important because today we are talking about systems - the food system that encompasses the entire agricultural industry," said Cantave Jean-Baptiste, HFSA partner and director of Partenariat pour le Developpement Locale (PDL).
"At a past meeting of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation partners, we highlighted the assets and resources of our country, and many mentioned that our biggest weakness was our isolation. Today we are coming together to bring about the impact that each of us alone cannot have."
"This Alliance has a great advantage: we already know each other, as individuals, as professionals, as institutions. Many have collaborated already, and many are currently working together. Let us put these assets in service of the Alliance to strengthen the capacity of groups, farmers' organizations and social movements working for food sovereignty in Haiti."
Over the next 18 months, the Alliance will provide short-term relief to household food and economic insecurity in some of the most neglected and vulnerable communities in Haiti, while also driving improvements in local food systems and value chains to make them more inclusive, profitable and sustainable.
This will include investment in production, marketing and feeding activities in strategic value chains (corn, cassava, beans, eggs and peanuts) to rapidly improve nutrition for children in schools, hospitals and vulnerable rural communities.
The Alliance will also focus on ongoing improvement in these strategic value chains through applied research, testing and production supported by Alliance partners to increase income for rural farming households.
The HFSA draws its legitimacy from its 14 members - organizations with decades of experience in Haiti's agricultural sector, leading research, innovation and impact to support local food security and sustainability. The Alliance is founded on the belief that Haitian farmers are the motors of agricultural sustainability and must be supported, throughout the whole value chain, for Haiti's food system to reach its full potential.
After years of international funding mainly going to foreign businesses and interventions, the HFSA will fund actions to create stronger alignment between local businesses and organizations and to increase their organizational, data and technical capacity. Despite Haiti's significant challenges, which include poor governance, increased food insecurity, climate change and increased gang violence, the HFSA will present solutions in areas where real impact is possible, all the while putting in place strong collective foundations essential to a thriving food system.
"To the international community and those looking to support Haiti, we encourage you to look beyond the negative headlines, not perpetuate them, and support local solutions and development projects that address issues in a sustainable way. We need solutions that come from and empower the Haitian people," said Sergeline Renee, HFSA partner and Director of Administration and Sales for Acceso Haiti.
The HFSA partners, working across agriculture, education and healthcare sectors, and with longstanding support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, have been highly effective in engaging communities to deploy innovative, partnership-based and community-led solutions.
To date, members of the Alliance have developed and expanded local sourcing for school feeding programs to feed more than 10,000 students, launched and expanded research and development of agricultural innovations to improve multiple value chains and developed new export products, obtained certifications, and built expertise and teams to expand market opportunities for farming families.
These organizations have also played a key role in responding to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity, and natural disasters by helping local farmers and food systems workers provide food for hospitals and community organizations.
Now, the coalition has formalized its expanded collaboration through the creation of the Haiti Food Systems Alliance.
"Over the years, it has been an honor to partner with the organizations now serving as the foundation of the Haiti Food System Alliance. I have seen firsthand the evolution of their work as collaborators, innovators and local leaders, marching hand in hand with communities at such a critical moment in Haiti's history." said Dana François, program officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
"The Alliance is a result of years of partnerships founded on the commitment of these organization to a shared vision of families thriving through sustainable Haitian-led economic development and food sovereignty during evolving challenging global and local contexts. Much more work awaits the Alliance as it continues to fine-tune, calibrate, maintain alignment with communities' visions, to reach the impact it seeks to have on many fronts as a community-driven initiative working alongside Haitian farmers, families, and the agricultural sector."
Some of HFSA's primary goals include raising the incomes of 3,000 more smallholder farmers and creating 100 more rural food systems jobs, feeding over 8,000 more school kids with locally sourced snacks, and providing 3,000 more smallholder farmers with access to parcel-specific weather forecasting and best practices information via text or WhatsApp.
The Alliance will also seek to rapidly add and engage central and local government offices and other production, service, and feeding partners throughout the country in the years to come. Continued growth, expansion and partnership building with other organizations will increase the Alliance's impact and overall sustainability.
More information is available via the official HFSA website.
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SOURCE W.K. Kellogg Foundation | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/new-locally-led-alliance-launched-haiti-build-long-term-food-sovereignty-security-bottom-up/ | 2022-05-19 18:53:12 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/new-locally-led-alliance-launched-haiti-build-long-term-food-sovereignty-security-bottom-up/ |
The SaddleBrooke Tennis Club (STC) held its annual St Patrick’s Day Social on Friday, March 17. Although the Leprechauns did not bring us their pot of gold from the end of the rainbow, they did bring us great weather.
The event featured 19 mixed-doubles tennis and POP tennis matches from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. When the matches were completed, participants proceeded to the SaddleBrooke Tennis Center to join their fellow non-playing STC members for the BBQ/potluck portion of the social. Approximately 100 members and guests enjoyed appetizers, bratwursts, sauerkraut, side dishes and an array of delicious desserts.
The STC Social Committee wishes to acknowledge all those who helped make this event successful. A BIG “THANK YOU” to Linda Foy, Cindy Madsen, Chris Madsen, Julie Parker, Greg Poling, John Reingruber, Landon Sheat, Carol Sochacki, John Sochacki, Sandy Stettler and other members or the tear-down crew who made this event a success.
SaddleBrooke residents interested in joining the STC to play either tennis or POP tennis should contact Tracy Reingruber, the New-Member Coordinator (tracy.reingruber@gmail.com or (571) 218-7677), or the STC Coordinators (TennisClub@saddlebrooke.org or (520) 825-0255). | https://tucson.com/saddlebag/sports/st-patrick-s-day-social-at-the-saddlebrooke-tennis-center/article_6b2d82b0-d308-11ed-93f8-8b0e2ed6d189.html | 2023-04-28 08:23:47 | 1 | https://tucson.com/saddlebag/sports/st-patrick-s-day-social-at-the-saddlebrooke-tennis-center/article_6b2d82b0-d308-11ed-93f8-8b0e2ed6d189.html |
A family in California has been reunited after 20 years when a wrongful conviction sent a young man to a country he barely knew — the Philippines. Gideon Baena fought his case all the way to the California Superior Court which overturned his conviction, deeming it unconstitutional. Then his legal team went to the Department of Homeland Security, petitioned for his case to be reopened and for his status as a green card holder to be restored.
Baena returned home this week and spoke with Here & Now‘s Deepa Fernandes in an exclusive interview, along with his attorney, Shan Potts.
Gideon Baena was wrongfully convicted and deported to the Philippines. (Courtesy of Gideon Baena)
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kanw.com/2023-01-05/its-good-to-be-home-wrongfully-convicted-deportee-begins-a-new-chapter | 2023-01-18 05:21:06 | 1 | https://www.kanw.com/2023-01-05/its-good-to-be-home-wrongfully-convicted-deportee-begins-a-new-chapter |
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – This Monday, the board of park commissioners for Mill Creek MetroParks is expected to make a decision about deer culling. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has approved two ways of lowering the deer population: sharpshooting and hunting. Both include killing the deer.
It’s a controversial issue, with many parkgoers saying they don’t want the deer to be harmed. Some have suggested a form of birth control for the deer called immunocontraception, but it’s not approved for deer population management in Ohio. We spoke with a wildlife expert with ODNR to find out why.
Mill Creek Park is known for its albino deer. Currently, there are at least three of them in the park. These beloved albino and other color-phase deer are not to be harmed if the park allows hunting or sharpshooting.
Geoff Westerfield works for ODNR to help control deer populations.
“Any park district or community that kills deer would rather, I’m sure, not do that,” he said.
Scientists have been studying immunocontraception in deer since at least the early 1990s. It’s a kind of birth control that uses the animal’s immune system to keep her from getting pregnant.
Several immunocontraception vaccines are approved for use in white-tail deer by the federal government. Some can be administered through a blow dart. In others, the animal has to be captured.
In Ohio, these vaccines can only be used as part of an official research project.
“The research that’s going on in south Euclid, that research project is looking at fertility control alongside lethal control,” Westerfield said.
Mill Creek MetroParks currently doesn’t have such a research project, but one has been done in Cleveland MetroParks.
“They did the research. It wasn’t getting them to where they needed to be… If fertility control worked, they would go back to that,” Westerfield said.
Three studies outside Ohio have shown strong evidence that these vaccines can decrease the deer population — The National Institute of Standards and Technology in Maryland, Fire Island National Seashore in New York and Fripp Island in South Carolina.
The one in Maryland showed a 50% decrease in deer population over six years.
Westerfield says the areas of those studies are very different terrain than the Mill Creek MetroParks.
“The situations where it has shown to be effective, at least in not increasing the population, is those isolated situations where they’re fenced or on an island,” Westerfield said.
The deer in Mill Creek Park aren’t trapped by a natural barrier and can move fairly freely in and out of the park. Westerfield says new fertile deer can move into the park, birth fawns and continue to grow the population. | https://www.wdtn.com/animals/could-immunocontraception-be-used-to-control-ohio-deer-population/ | 2023-04-08 16:44:37 | 0 | https://www.wdtn.com/animals/could-immunocontraception-be-used-to-control-ohio-deer-population/ |
Dave Krauth coaches final game in Sioux Falls as Augie falls to Duluth in NSIC semi’s
Augustana loses to 9th-ranked Bulldogs in semi’s at Pentagon
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) -The Augustana women’s basketball team fell to the Bulldogs of Minnesota Duluth, 76-59, during the NSIC Semifinals in the Sanford Pentagon Monday. Augustana wraps up its NSIC season with a 26-4 overall record. Minnesota Duluth advances to the NSIC Tournament Finals with a 26-3 overall record.
Minnesota Duluth found an early spark with a 6-0 run to open the contest. The NSIC North Division Player of the Year, Brooke Olson, was responsible for four of the Bulldogs six points. UMD held their lead for the remainder of the period, digging a 14-point deficit for Augustana.
The Vikings crawled back in it during the second period chipping away at the deficit. Augustana found its own spark during the quarter with a 7-0 run to pull within seven. UMD and AU traded back-and-forth points the remainder of the half. The Vikings won the shooting percentage fight during the second quarter seeing 47 percent of their shots fall compared to the 46 percent from the Bulldogs. Augustana out scored Minnesota Duluth, 20-16 in the second quarter.
At the half, UMD led 38-34. Aislinn Duffy led Augustana in scoring and rebounds with 12 points and six rebounds. Jennifer Aadland and Michaela Jewett had an almost identical state line with each totaling seven points and four boards.
Minnesota Duluth returned to the second half with a vengeance, opening the half with a 15-3 run. In the third period, UMD outscored AU, 23-7, handing a deficit the Vikings could not return from.
Augustana closed the deficit to 17 points in the fourth quarter.
Overall, Augustana was led by 24 points and nine rebounds. Aadland was next with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Augustana, who was No. 5 in the latest NCAA Central Region Rankings, will learn their NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. Stay tuned to GoAugie.com for NCAA Tournament information where the top eight teams in the region advance to the tournament.
Recap courtesy Augustana Athletics
Copyright 2023 KSFY. All rights reserved. | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/02/28/dave-krauth-coaches-final-game-sioux-falls-augie-falls-duluth-nsic-semis/ | 2023-02-28 05:49:32 | 0 | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/02/28/dave-krauth-coaches-final-game-sioux-falls-augie-falls-duluth-nsic-semis/ |
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The rapper Desiigner was charged Monday with one federal count of indecent exposure on an aircraft, after authorities say he masturbated on a flight from Tokyo to Minneapolis.
The misdemeanor filed against the rapper, whose real name is Sidney Royel Selby III, is punishable by no more than 90 days of imprisonment and a $500 fine.
The charges came just days after he announced in a tweet Thursday that he was “ashamed” about what happened on the plane, that he was admitting himself to a facility to get help and was canceling all his shows.
“Mental health," he wrote, "is real guys.” No attorney is listed for him in online court records.
The criminal complaint said a flight attendant first spotted Selby exposing himself about 60 to 90 minutes into the April 17 Delta flight. He covered himself, but five minutes later, two flight attendants spotted Selby masturbating. Again he was told “No” and covered himself, the complaint said.
The lead flight attendant then came to Selby's first-class seat and said that he was going to be arrested. But a short time later, a flight attendant spotted Selby exposing himself a third time.
Selby then was moved to the back of the plane, where two travel companions agreed to monitor him. There, he told his security guard that he was “bugging," had “messed up” and was “sorry,” the complaint said
Selby apologized to the air crew at the end of the flight and then was detained.
When questioned by the FBI, Selby said he “didn't get much” in Japan and found one of the flight attendants attractive so he exposed himself.
Selby said in his tweet that he had been admitted to a hospital while performing oversees and given meds. The complaint, however, said he told the FBI that he had not taken that medication before exposing himself. Asked whether he was under the influence, Selby said “no,” and the FBI agent who questioned him said he didn’t appear impaired.
In 2016, Selby was arrested after another driver claimed that he waved a handgun while exiting a tunnel connecting Manhattan and New Jersey. But the gun charge was dropped. | https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/rapper-desiigner-charged-with-indecent-exposure-17915868.php | 2023-04-24 22:21:49 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/rapper-desiigner-charged-with-indecent-exposure-17915868.php |
WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 11, 2023
_____
FLOOD WARNING
Flood Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1255 PM CDT Sat Apr 8 2023
...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Texas...
Neches River Near Neches affecting Houston, Cherokee and Anderson
Counties.
For the Neches River...including Lake Palestine, Neches, Alto,
Diboll, Rockland...Minor flooding is forecast.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Do not drive cars through flooded areas.
Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
For more hydrologic information, copy and paste the following website
address into your favorite web browser URL bar:
water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=shv
The next statement will be issued Sunday afternoon at 100 PM CDT.
...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING...
* WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast.
* WHERE...Neches River Near Neches.
* WHEN...Until Tuesday evening.
* IMPACTS...At 12.0 feet, Expect minor lowland flooding of the
heavily wooded floodplain. Ranchers that may have livestock and
equipment in the river bottoms should move them to higher ground.
Expect minor flooding of the boat ramp.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 11:30 AM CDT Saturday the stage was 11.4 feet.
- Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 12.0
feet early Monday afternoon.
- Flood stage is 12.0 feet.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/tx-wfo-shreveport-warnings-watches-and-17886259.php | 2023-04-08 18:55:49 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/tx-wfo-shreveport-warnings-watches-and-17886259.php |
PHOENIX — Thanks to the pitch clock, the action is moving much faster at Major League Baseball games.
It also means a little less time for fans to enjoy a frosty adult beverage.
To combat that time crunch, at least four teams — the Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers — have extended alcohol sales through the eighth inning this season. Others, like the Miami Marlins and New York Mets, still have seventh-inning cutoffs, but haven’t ruled out changes.
“Totally makes sense to me,” said Tom Lienhardt, who was sipping on a beer Tuesday night before the Brewers-Diamondbacks game at Chase Field. “Since the games are shorter, you’ve got to adjust.”
Teams historically have stopped selling alcohol after the seventh.
At least one team, the Baltimore Orioles, already sold alcohol through the eighth inning, or until 3 1/2 hours after first pitch, whichever came first.
MLB games have been considerably shorter this season, largely thanks to a series of rule changes, particularly the new pitch clock. Through the first 1 1/2 weeks of the season, the average game time was down 31 minutes, on track to be the sport’s lowest since 1984.
The minor leagues played with the pitch clock last season. At least one minor league general manager — Kevin Mahoney of the Class A Brooklyn Cyclones — said there was no dropoff in concession sales even with shorter games.
Still, some big league teams have felt the need to make adjustments.
The Rangers allowed some alcohol sales in the eighth inning last season, but have made that option more widely available in 2023. The team said the move to offer in-seat service to everyone — fans can order on their phones — was done partly in reaction to the pitch clock and the potential of shorter game times so fans would not have to miss extended action waiting in lines at concession stands.
Brewers President of business operations Rick Schlesinger confirmed to MLB.com that their team’s move to extend alcohol sales through the eighth was an experiment.
“If it turns out that this is causing an issue or we feel that it might cause an issue, then we’ll revert to what we have done previously,” Schlesinger said.
MLB says it does not regulate when teams sell alcohol. Most franchises have used the seventh inning as a cutoff, at least partly to avoid overserving customers who could then get in their cars and drive home.
But in reality, most teams already had areas around the ballpark where fans could get alcohol after the seventh, even if the concession stands stopped serving. Many parks are connected to restaurants or have VIP areas where the booze still flows.
“If it cuts off sales in the seventh inning, the eighth inning or the ninth inning, that really doesn’t affect our stance because regardless, we just don’t want people to drink alcohol and then drive home from the game,” said Erin Payton, Regional Executive Director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
___
AP Baseball Writers Ronald Blum, Noah Trister and Stephen Hawkins, and AP Sports Writers Dave Campbell, Alanis Thames and Ryan Kryska contributed to this report. | https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ct-mlb-beer-sales-20230412-gclwyge7hbchtppneghdhv37ri-story.html | 2023-04-12 15:52:41 | 0 | https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ct-mlb-beer-sales-20230412-gclwyge7hbchtppneghdhv37ri-story.html |
Minnesota taxpayers can expect rebates under $3B bill nearing passage
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota taxpayers can expect rebate checks in the next few months and struggling families with children are likely to get additional relief under a $3 billion tax cut bill nearing approval in the Legislature.
Democratic Senate Tax Committee Chair Ann Rest, of New Hope, said after House and Senate negotiators unveiled the framework of the bill Wednesday that she was “extremely proud” of the measure, adding that it will provide significant tax relief for families and children.
Her House counterpart, Democratic Rep. Aisha Gomez of Minneapolis, said the bill will “significantly cut child poverty.”
“There are just really incredible transformational things in this bill that will benefit people across our state,” Gomez said.
The bill also includes about $1 billion in tax increases for the next two-year budget, which takes effect July 1. They include a tax aimed at companies with international earnings, plus changes aimed at some higher income earners. And it will authorize some communities to raise local sales taxes.
Republicans, who are in the minority in both chambers, were quick to object to those hikes given that the state had a $17.5 billion budget surplus earlier in the session. And they pointed out that other major budget bills still being negotiated, including the transportation and housing bills that contain their own tax and fee increases. A gas tax increase for roads and bridges has been under discussion.
“Minnesotans should feel outraged about what’s happening at the State Capitol right now. It’s runaway tax season down here,” Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, of East Grand Forks, said at a news conference Thursday.
Republicans have been fuming over being shut out of most of the budget negotiations while Democrats work out the details of the big bills, often behind closed doors.
The tax bill conference committee was expected to give its final approval to its package Thursday and send it to the House and Senate floors for final approval. With a Monday adjournment deadline, the tax bill is one of the most important remaining pieces of a budget that’s expected to come in at around $65 million, which would be a big jump from the current $55 billion budget that runs through June.
Although Democratic Gov. Tim Walz had proposed rebates of $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for couples, he told reporters Wednesday that he was fine with the compromise and plans to sign the bill.
The one-time rebates will mean $260 payments to individuals who made up to $75,000 last year or $520 for married couples who earned up to $150,000. Qualifying families could also get $260 per child up to three, which could add up to a $1,300 rebate for a family of five.
Families with children could get even more via other per-child and child care tax credits that are aimed at lower- and middle-income families. Couples who earn up to $35,000 would get $1,750 per dependent, but that would decrease as incomes rise and phase out at $90,000.
Around 80% of Minnesotans who get Social Security will be exempt from taxes on that income, up from around 50% currently. Couples making under $100,000 would be fully exempt, with a partial exemption for incomes up to $140,000. There’s also a break for people receiving public pension benefits.
Homeowners and renters would also get one-time boosts of around 20% in their property tax refunds.
The plan also includes $300 million for public safety assistance for communities and $160 million more in state aid for cities and counties.
The tax bill does not contain a House-backed fifth income tax bracket on incomes over $1 million, a hike that was dropped during the negotiations.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2023/05/18/minnesota-taxpayers-can-expect-rebates-under-3b-bill-nearing-passage/ | 2023-05-18 20:45:12 | 1 | https://www.kttc.com/2023/05/18/minnesota-taxpayers-can-expect-rebates-under-3b-bill-nearing-passage/ |
HONG KONG, March 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Govee, an innovator in the smart home industry, today announced the availability of its AI Gaming Sync Box Kit and an all-new product – the RGBIC Neon Rope Light for Desks – both of which are designed for elevated and customizable setups to provide the ultimate gaming experience. To create an immersive environment and for maximum enjoyment, the AI Gaming Sync Box Kit leverages Govee's proprietary CogniGlow AI technology to learn and identify on-screen moments and bring them to life via corresponding real-time lighting effects. In addition, the brand new RGBIC Neon Rope Light for Desks (available April 10, 2023) can work in tandem with the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box and other lights in the Govee ecosystem to make gaming setups even more captivating.
Next-Generation AI-Driven Smart Light Technology Brings Gaming to Life
AI is revolutionizing every aspect of our daily lives. Now, it's entering the game lighting sphere with the first-ever AI-powered gaming lights – the AI Gaming Sync Box Kit. Designed to bring ultimate allure, captivating experiences, and maximum fun, the brand's AI technology uses powerful chips and a custom algorithm to provide never-before-seen lighting effects. Whether you ACED in VOLARANT or get First Blood in League of Legends, the AI Gaming Sync Box Kit will display complementary lighting effects for incredible visual impact.
It's also not just about color matching, it's about the power of AI within the new lighting solution. These AI lighting effects turn standard gameplay into an immersive light show - and perfectly harmonize with on-screen events for an incredible experience. Providing additional real-time excitement, CogniGlow's deep learning algorithm analyzes characteristic gameplay to provide more than 30 customized lighting effects, emphasizing every highlight moment instantaneously with near-zero delay. Other features include:
- Gorgeous light effects through near-perfect color matching and zero delays – unlike other solutions on the market, which feature weak color-capture accuracy and slow performance
- Smooth gameplay and real-time content-reactive syncing, as it's the first HDMI box to support an incredibly high refresh rate (up to 240Hz) and beautiful, high-resolution pictures (up to 4K)
- Seamless functionality with smart controls through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Wide game support including League of Legends, Apex Legends, VALORANT, and Overwatch 2 at launch, with more games to come this year
Unleash Creativity with Customizable DIY AI Lighting Effects and DreamView
Govee is known for lighting customization and has extended that to the AI Gaming Sync Box Kit. To bring games to life like never before, users can hand-pick lighting effects for recognizable in-game actions by changing the lighting movements, speed, and colors for each epic move they make in the game. This can all be done through the Govee Home app.
For additional opportunities for customization, Govee DreamView is also supported via the app. This allows users to sync the kit with Govee strip lights, wall lights, string lights, and more for 360° content-reactive lighting across the entire space. This truly brings the gaming experience next level.
Transform Gaming Stations with the Govee's Newest Neon Rope Light
The next addition to the gaming light lineup is the Govee RGBIC Neon Rope Light for Desks. It is crafted with silicone material for a smooth, premium touch that's durable and perfect for wrapping around desk edge surfaces and instantly transforms desks with colorful and vibrant lighting. In addition, gamers can maximize the fun in their gameplay with dynamic lighting effects that sync seamlessly. Additional key features of the soon-to-be Matter-compatible RGBIC Neon Rope Light for Desks include:
- Immersive customizable RGBIC lighting effects with 42 independent controllable light segments
- Glare-free game lighting by using back-facing LED light emissions to create uniform luminosity for a truly elevated gaming station
- Can be easily cut and resized to ensure a perfect fit for even the most complex desk designs
Price and availability
The Govee AI Gaming Sync Box is now available on Govee.com or Amazon for $299.99/€299.99/£299.99, in the US, EU, and UK. Other regions and countries will be available soon.
The Govee RGBIC LED Neon Rope Light for Desks will be available on April 10, 2023, for $89.99. It will also be Matter-compatible for seamless compatibility across several smart home platforms in the summer of 2023.
For additional information and to learn more about Govee's AI technology, please visit Govee.com.
About Govee
Since 2017, Govee has been committed to making life smarter. As a leading global smart home solution company, the company aims to provide personalized and fun life experiences through innovation in the smart home space. This includes a close focus on ambient lighting solutions and home appliances. Govee is continuously building upon its ecosystem of smart products and improving performance, user benefits, and consumer usability in all scenarios. To learn more about Govee, please visit Govee.com.
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SOURCE GOVEE MOMENTS LIMITED | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2023/03/27/govee-elevates-gaming-experience-announces-availability-first-ai-gaming-sync-box-kit-brand-new-neon-rope-light-desks/ | 2023-03-27 12:55:11 | 1 | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2023/03/27/govee-elevates-gaming-experience-announces-availability-first-ai-gaming-sync-box-kit-brand-new-neon-rope-light-desks/ |
HILLSDALE, Mich., July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: CNBB), the parent company of County National Bank, today announced earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. Earnings during the second quarter of 2022 totaled $2.9 million, a decrease of $369,000 or 11.2% compared to the $3.3 million earned during the three months ended June 30, 2021. Basic earnings per share for CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") decreased to $1.36 during the three months ended June 30, 2022, down $0.19 from $1.55 for the second quarter of 2021. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company reported net income of $5.1 million, a decrease of $1.2 million, or 19.0%, from the $6.3 million earned during the six months ended June 30, 2021. Basic earnings per share decreased to $2.39 during the six months ended June 30, 2022, down $0.57 from $2.96 for the first six months of 2021.
The annualized return on average assets (ROA) decreased to 1.02% for the three months ended June 30, 2022, down 37 basis points from 1.4% for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The annualized return on average equity (ROE) decreased to 14.4% for the current quarter, down from 17.6% for the second quarter of 2021. ROA decreased to 0.9% during the six months ended June 30, 2022, down 48 basis points from the 1.37% during the first six months of 2021. ROE was 12.7% during the first half of 2022, down from 17.2% during the six-month period ended June 30, 2021. Book value per share increased to $38.52 at June 30, 2022, up $2.44 from $36.08 at June 30, 2021.
Craig S. Connor, President and Chief Executive Officer of CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. and County National Bank, remarked, "It is very rewarding to see the strong financial results for our community bank. The efforts of our employees helped us to post increased earnings and robust growth compared to the first quarter of 2022. Even though the current economic environment does contain challenges, our loan growth and increasing net interest margin bodes well for CNB. Opening a new full-service branch in Jackson on Spring Arbor Rd. is another example of the commitment CNB has to community banking in our market footprint. We continue our focus of working with our customers, both new and existing, in aiding their growth and prosperity during the rest of 2022 and beyond."
- Total assets increased $64.9 million, or 6.2%, to $1.11 billion from June 30, 2021 and decreased $37.1 million, or 3.2% from December 31, 2021.
- Net loans increased $80.6 million, or 10.5%, to $844.8 million at June 30, 2022 compared to $764.2 million at June 30, 2021 and increased $53.3 million, or 6.7%, from December 31, 2021.
- Total deposits increased $70.2 million, or 7.4%, to $1.01 billion at June 30, 2022 from $945.1 million at June 30, 2021 and decreased $29.7 million, or 2.8% from December 31, 2021.
- Book value per share increased $2.44, or 6.8%, to $38.52 at June 30, 2022, up from $36.08 at June 30, 2021 and up $0.89 from $37.63 at December 31, 2021.
- Total equity increased $5.9 million to $82.8 million from June 30, 2021.
- Net income decreased $369,000, 11.2%, to $2.9 million in the second quarter of 2022 and basic EPS decreased $0.19, or 12.3%, to $1.36 from $1.55 in the second quarter of 2021.
- Net interest income for the second quarter of 2022 increased $768,000 to $9.6 million.
- Pre-tax, pre-provision income decreased to $3.9 million in the second quarter of 2022 from $4.2 in the second quarter of 2021 or 7.1%.
CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX:CNBB) is a one-bank holding company formed in 2005. Its subsidiary bank, County National Bank, is a nationally chartered full-service bank, which has served its local communities since its founding in 1934. CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered in Hillsdale, Michigan and through its subsidiary bank offers banking products along with investment management and trust services to communities located throughout South Central Michigan.
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release and other releases and reports issued by the Company may contain "forward-looking statements." The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company is including this statement for purposes of taking advantage of the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
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SOURCE CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/15/cnb-community-bancorp-inc-reports-second-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-07-15 19:39:44 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/15/cnb-community-bancorp-inc-reports-second-quarter-2022-results/ |
Some law enforcement officials are policing elections
(CNN) - Early voting in Berks County, Pennsylvania, is underway where voters face a short questioning by an armed sheriff deputy before they drop their early ballot in a secured ballot box.
“Is that your ballot, sir?” a sheriff’s deputy asked.
“He just asked if those were our ballots. And we said yes,” said Donna Gorman, a voter in Berks County.
You would think this is in response to some sort of vote fraud that took place in Berks County, but it’s not.
“It’s about giving voters confidence that this is a safe place to vote,” Berks County Commissioner Chris Leinbach said.
County officials said there were no security issues with drop boxes, yet by September they adopted a new policy of deputies questioning voters, spearheaded by Leinbach.
“If something negative was going to happen, some criminal activity may be perpetrated, a sheriff’s deputy is trained to respond,” he said.
Election experts said they are concerned about the potential impact.
“Anytime that you have uniformed and armed law enforcement around places where people are trying to vote, that that raises a dangerous risk that you’ll cross the line into intimidation,” said Marian Schneider of Pennsylvania ACLU.
What’s happening in Berks County is part of an alarming trend of law enforcement becoming involved in elections across the country.
Some sheriffs said they plan to safeguard the midterm elections, even though that is normally the duty of election officials.
“We’re going to make sure that people are not coming over and over again, putting ballots in the boxes,” said Mark Lamb, the sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona.
He leads a right-wing group of roughly 70 colleagues across the country, and he’s launched an initiative with True the Vote, a controversial nonprofit that has trained poll watchers and pushed false claims of fraud.
“There’s nothing more important than defending your vote,” Lamb said.
Emails obtained by CNN show Lamb has been reaching out to other sheriffs, asking them to join his so-called “election integrity” efforts.
Documents show his group recommends “increased patrol activity around drop box locations” and “video surveillance” with “access points directly on sheriff department computers” warning if they don’t do that the “opportunity for illegal activity is incredibly high.”
Lamb is far from the only sheriff spreading bogus election conspiracy theories.
“I saw the True the Vote documentary ‘2,000 Mules,’ ... It should open anybody’s eyes ... and if the federal government is not going to investigate that, I think the sheriffs should,” said Grayson County, Virginia, Sheriff Richard Vaughan.
“I talked to some guys yesterday that actually showed the algorithm of the machines,” said Johnson County, Kansas, Sheriff Calvin Hayden. “I think they’ve been programmed in by some foreign entities, and they are manipulating the vote.’
“They get offended when you start questioning the election. Folks, this has been going on a long time, this vote manipulation, this electronic, computerized voting,” said Barry County, Michigan, Sheriff Dar Leaf.
Again, none of that is true.
The fear of what could happen in this midterm election is based on what’s happened in America’s past.
“Law enforcement meddling in elections throughout history in this country has been used for oppressing Black voters, other minority populations. And the signaling there is, ‘We don’t trust you. We think you’re cheating,’” said Mary McCord, executive director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy & Protection at Georgetown Law.
Pennsylvania’s interim secretary of state warned Berks County to “not station deputy sheriffs outside of ballot drop boxes in Berks County,” and to “refrain from stopping and questioning prospective voters.”
That didn’t happen.
Fact is, this is a county that went for former President Donald Trump. There is no vote fraud. The deputies are nice. Voters don’t seem to mind the deputies.
“Because of everything that has gone on with the contentious things happening, that’s perfectly fine. If it makes people feel better, great,” said Raedell Marks, a voter in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
But remember, people should have already felt great about the last election in Berks County. It was secure. It was fair.
Unnecessarily having armed deputies guard this election may be sending an entirely different message.
“It sends this broader message that our elections aren’t secure, that there’s widespread fraud … we the law need to be there to ensure that’s not the case,” McCord said.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/2022/11/04/some-law-enforcement-officials-are-policing-elections/ | 2022-11-04 15:18:39 | 1 | https://www.cleveland19.com/2022/11/04/some-law-enforcement-officials-are-policing-elections/ |
Oregon wildfire roundup: Flat Fire grows to 5,500 acres, Estacada fire brings evacuations
Oregon's wildfire activity has kicked into high gear over the past few days, with the season's first major fire burning in southwest Oregon and evacuation orders near Estacada in the Clackamas River area.
Here's a roundup of the major fires burning and notes of interest across the state.
Flat Fire reaches 5,500 acres, season's first major inferno
The Flat Fire continued to grow Monday, reaching an estimated 5,477 acres by early afternoon, according to fire teams.
The fire is burning in the Oak Flat and Agness area of southwest Oregon's Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, near the confluence of the Illinois and Rogue rivers, about an hour east of Gold Beach.
Crews focused on structure protection in the communities of Oak Flat and Agness — approximately 40 structures are threatened, an evening report said.
"Fire behavior is expected to be active today after the inversion layer lifts," a report on Monday said. "Fire growth is being affected by terrain, wind, and low humidity."
An air quality alert has been issued for southern Curry County and parts of western Josephine County due to smoke from the fire. No official fire closures have been issued but the public is asked to stay away from the fire area.
The fire is fully established on both sides of the Illinois River and burning in the 2002 Biscuit Fire scar. It's remote country but popular for outdoor recreation, as the Illinois River is considered among the best whitewater rafting trips in Oregon, and the Illinois River Trail also is popular for hiking and backpacking.
A total of 332 firefighters and personnel on 10 crews, 19 engines and seven helicopters are working the fire, with more expected to arrive in coming days.
The fire ignited at Oak Flat Campground near the mouth of the Illinois River. On Saturday afternoon, the fire grew rapidly, putting up a smoke column visible from Gold Beach to Grants Pass. The fire was spotting — or sending embers that ignited new fires — a quarter mile ahead of the blaze.
Rumors have swirled locally about the cause of the fire, but nothing has been confirmed by officials so far.
Explore Oregon Podcast:Wildfire season looking increasingly dire this year
The fire is burning in steep and remote terrain in an area with a history of producing megafires — the Biscuit (2002), Cheto Bar (2017) and Klondike fires (2018) all grew to well over 100,000 acres in the area.
Previously, fire officials said they would "continue to work to keep the fire as small as possible," a news release said. However, "weather conditions and terrain are not favorable and rapid growth is expected over the next few days."
224 Fire near Estacada brings evacuation warnings
The 224 Fire near Estacada grew to 40 acres by Monday and has brought a level 1 evacuation warning for areas in the Clackamas River corridor.
Clackamas River RV Park, Promontory Park Campground, SE Michaels Road, SE Fall Creek Road south of Divers Road and Tumala Mountain Road between the addresses of 40820-48176 are all on level 1 evacuation warnings, which means be "be ready" to go.
Multiple fire crews are attacking the blaze, which is burning on on Weyerhauser-owned timberland.
Firefighters stop small wildfire ignited by campfire
Firefighters stopped at small wildfire Sunday in Ochoco National Forest outside Prineville that was ignited from an escaped campfire.
Firefighters kept the blaze to two-tenths of an acre. The cause was determined to be an escaped campfire located along Forest Service Road 42 roughly one mile northwest of Lookout Mountain Trailhead.
"If you’re recreating somewhere campfires are stilled allowed, make sure your fire is DEAD out, meaning cold to the touch, before you head out," Central Oregon Fire Information wrote.
Boulder Fire containment increases nearly 50%
The Boulder Fire hasn't grown in a number of days and containment was increased to 46% by Monday. The fire is southeast of Government Camp in Mount Hood National Forest. The fire still is 233 acres.
"Work continues as firefighters further strengthen containment lines all around the fire. Crews are pushing toward the fire’s center, creating cool and fuels-free ground 100 feet inside the perimeter," a fire report on Monday said.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. To support his work, subscribe to the Statesman Journal. Urness is the author of “Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors. | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/oregon/2023/07/17/oregon-wildfire-updates-flat-size-fire-location-evacuations-estacada-blaze/70422205007/ | 2023-07-18 00:54:20 | 0 | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/oregon/2023/07/17/oregon-wildfire-updates-flat-size-fire-location-evacuations-estacada-blaze/70422205007/ |
The pandemic gave researchers at the National Gallery of Art an opportunity to closely examine paintings by Johannes Vermeer. They discovered one was painted by someone else.
Copyright 2022 NPR
The pandemic gave researchers at the National Gallery of Art an opportunity to closely examine paintings by Johannes Vermeer. They discovered one was painted by someone else.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wdiy.org/2022-10-13/vermeers-girl-with-a-flute-was-likely-painted-by-an-associate-of-the-dutch-master | 2022-10-13 09:52:35 | 0 | https://www.wdiy.org/2022-10-13/vermeers-girl-with-a-flute-was-likely-painted-by-an-associate-of-the-dutch-master |
HOUSTON (AP) — Maks Klanjscek put up 33 points as Houston Christian beat Lamar 93-74 on Saturday night.
Klanjscek was 10 of 19 shooting, including 4 for 10 from distance, and went 9 for 10 from the line for the Huskies (9-19, 6-9 Southland Conference). Brycen Long scored 22 points and added seven rebounds and five assists. Bonke Maring recorded 16 points and shot 6 of 7 from the field and 4 for 6 from the line.
Nate Calmese finished with 23 points for the Cardinals (9-19, 5-11). Chris Pryor added 13 points and two steals for Lamar. Jason Thirdkill Jr. also put up 11 points and seven rebounds.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/klanjscek-scores-33-houston-christian-takes-down-lamar/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-02-19 04:49:05 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/klanjscek-scores-33-houston-christian-takes-down-lamar/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, are returning to Washington next month to be recognized for their work on combatting HIV/AIDS worldwide.
The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition announced Thursday that it will honor Bush and the former first lady on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, during its annual Tribute Celebration.
The Bushes will receive the Global Leadership Award for establishing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, in 2003. Bush announced the program in his State of the Union address in January 2003. He signed legislation to establish it in May 2003.
Liz Schrayer, the coalition’s president and CEO, called the AIDS relief program “one of the most significant achievements in global health in our lifetime.” In a statement, she also praised the Bushes for “transformational leadership” in launching it nearly 20 years ago.
PEPFAR is the largest commitment by any nation in history to address a single disease.
Since the program’s inception, the U.S. government has spent nearly $100 billion to respond to HIV/AIDS worldwide, saving 21 million lives, preventing millions of infections and making strides to control the HIV/AIDS pandemic in more than 50 countries, mostly in Africa and the Caribbean, according to the State Department.
The Bushes were most recently in Washington in September. Laura Bush was a guest of President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at a White House music event on the South Lawn featuring Elton John, a longtime advocate for people with HIV/AIDS.
The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition is a network of 500 businesses and nongovernmental organizations, national security and foreign policy experts, and business, religious, academic, military and community leaders from across the United States who support investing in development and diplomacy alongside defense. | https://www.wivb.com/news/political-news/ap-politics/ap-george-w-bush-to-be-honored-in-washington-on-world-aids-day/ | 2022-10-14 12:18:52 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/political-news/ap-politics/ap-george-w-bush-to-be-honored-in-washington-on-world-aids-day/ |
LONDON and ALISO VIEJO, Calif., July 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UST, a leading digital transformation solutions company, has announced a strategic partnership with Xiatech, the pioneer of the world's first ML-powered composable Hyper-Integration Platform, Xfuze.
UST and Xiatech will combine forces to accelerate the business transformation and success of organisations worldwide. Together, the companies will jointly leverage their AI and ML-powered platforms and expertise to solve business and technology data challenges facing companies. In addition, UST and Xiatech will co-innovate by bringing to market a series of joint Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) solutions, including new innovative data and carbon ecosystems for business management and reporting.
UST will leverage Xfuze, Xiatech's ML-powered composable Hyper-Integration Platform, to rapidly connect business applications, unify data into a single view as well as deliver advanced insights and analytics across UST's global business and customer base. Xiatech will tap into UST's native Data and AI platforms and capabilities to deliver greater levels of actionable insight and business value to customers.
Hyper-Integration for UST's customers
The rapid evolution of AI and technological innovation has led to increasing demand for efficient and seamless composable Hyper-Integration Platforms. Xiatech's Xfuze Platform will play a crucial role in empowering large-scale technology innovation with UST. By unifying and automating the process of data integration and management, Xfuze enables organisations to harness the full potential of their data, drive innovation and enhance their competitive edge.
The MACH-certified Xfuze platform empowers customers to adapt quickly to the ever-changing technological landscape as well as to leverage new and disruptive technology from integrated partners such as UST, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of their industries.
New joint ESG solution for retailers
The retail industry faces increasing demand for seamless data integration to meet emerging ESG regulatory requirements. The UST ESG-Ecosystem offers a comprehensive solution that combines Xiatech's expertise in system and data integration with UST's advanced AI capabilities, enabling retailers to swiftly meet regulatory requirements and effectively manage their ESG initiatives while driving informed and specific business decision-making via a powerful end-to-end ESG management, and reporting solution.
This strategic partnership underscores UST and Xiatech's commitment to providing innovative solutions that empower businesses to thrive in a rapidly evolving and competitive landscape.
Andy Knowles, Head of Retail at UST, said, "UST is excited to partner with Xiatech and take our combined expertise in disruptive technology innovation to the next level. By leveraging the power of Xiatech's Xfuze Hyper-Integration Platform and integrating UST's AI capabilities, we will be able to radically shorten the time for organisations struggling to integrate systems and unify data sources into a single view required to support a wide range of use cases, such as meeting complex ESG regulations."
Jonathan Summerfield, Founder and CEO of Xiatech, said, "Our global partnership with UST is an important milestone for Xiatech as we continue to see huge demand for the value our Hyper-Integration Platform, Xfuze, delivers to customers now that they have connected businesses, so data and actionable insights intelligently flows across their organisations in real-time. By combining the strengths of our Xfuze Platform with UST, our new joint go-to-market proposition will also provide retailers with an exceptional solution to manage their ESG responsibilities and embed ESG considerations into their core business processes."
About Xiatech
Xiatech shortens time-to-insights, accelerates digital transformation, and extends the value of legacy technology investments by providing organisations with Xfuze, the world's first ML-powered composable Hyper-Integration Platform that innovatively connects systems, creates a single view of data and delivers actionable insights in one solution. Developed for the Hyper-Connected economy, Xiatech powers Hyper-Integrated organisations by unifying system integration, process automation, data management, continuous insights, and advanced analytics so business and technology professionals have the tools and data to make real-time decisions. To learn more about how organisations are quickly generating value in weeks, visit www.xiatech.co.uk.
Global Media Contacts for Xiatech:
Lance Mercereau
lance@xiatech.co.uk
Alex Green
alex.g@xiatech.co.uk
About UST
For more than 23 years, UST has worked side by side with the world's best companies to make a real impact through transformation. Powered by technology, inspired by people, and led by our purpose, we partner with our clients from design to operation. Through our nimble approach, we identify their core challenges, and craft disruptive solutions that bring their vision to life. With deep domain expertise and a future-proof philosophy, we embed innovation and agility into our clients' organizations—delivering measurable value and lasting change across industries, and around the world. Together, with over 30,000 employees in 30+ countries, we build for boundless impact—touching billions of lives in the process. Visit us at www.UST.com.
Media Contacts, UST:
Tinu Cherian Abraham
+1 (949) 415-9857
Neha Misri
+91-9284726602
Merrick Laravea
+1 (949) 416-6212
Media Contacts, U.S.:
S&C PR
+1-646.941.9139
media@scprgroup.com
Makovsky
ust@makovsky.com
Media Contacts, U.K.:
FTI Consulting
UST@fticonsulting.com
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1422658/UST_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE UST | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/13/ust-xiatech-announce-strategic-partnership-empower-businesses-unlock-full-potential-their-data-launch-revolutionary-esg-reporting-framework/ | 2023-07-13 13:56:35 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/13/ust-xiatech-announce-strategic-partnership-empower-businesses-unlock-full-potential-their-data-launch-revolutionary-esg-reporting-framework/ |
Review: '80 for Brady' is a sports film fumble for the ages
Tom Brady has officially — and finally, he insists — retired from the National Football League. Based on his new movie "80 For Brady," it's also time that he immediately retire from filmmaking.
No one emerges with glory from this syrupy, undercooked story of four older friends who are determined to see Brady lead an astonishing come-from-behind win at the 2017 Super Bowl.
A quartet of our finest actors — Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field— are sacrificed for cheap laughs and unearned poignancy. And Brady, an executive producer, sullies one of his greatest triumphs. That hissing sound you hear in the theater is not footballs losing air but an audience deflated.
Screenwriters Sarah Haskins and Emily Halpern seem to have opened a door into exploring loss, obligation and regret in our sunset years, but fumble badly, instead drifting into granny-accidentally-takes-an-edible territory.
Up on that screen is an EGOT winner, multiple Oscar, Tony and Emmy owners, a recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor as well as Kennedy Center and Cecil B. DeMille Award honorees. But they are utterly wasted. At one point Field is reduced to participating in a pointless hot wings eating contest.
There’s nothing wrong with silly buddy movies or celebrating age on screen and it's refreshing to see both bundled here. But don’t tell us you’re empowering older people by making them dance The Twist to get past security into the Super Bowl. Add this to the utter misuse of Diane Keaton in last year's "Mack & Rita," and we call Hollywood for illegal blindside blocks on people over 70 and a loss of 15 yards.
RELATED: Tom Brady announces he is retiring 'for good' after 23 seasons in NFL
Very, very loosely based on actual events, the film is so light plot-wise that it threatens to float away. A ticket mix-up pads a few extra minutes but logic is tossed out, like the time our heroines just happen to find four empty seats in a row just at kickoff — at the Super Bowl.
Rita Moreno attends the Los Angeles Premiere Screening of Paramount Pictures' "80 For Brady" at Regency Village Theatre on January 31, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage)
Brady is a constant benevolent presence throughout, whether speaking to Tomlin's character through one of his bobble heads or from TV screens in dialogue only she can hear. "This is going to work out," he promises.
Each of our leading ladies get a single note to develop: Fonda plays the vain, boy-crazy author of Rob Gronkowski erotic fan fiction. Field is the sensible, responsible one. Recent widow Moreno is up for any adventure and Tomlin is the glue holding them together.
When one of the quartet becomes fearful of a recurrence of cancer, Brady becomes her north star and she asks a bust of him what she should do, like a prayer. "He never gives up no matter what he’s up against," she says. You come to expect a bright halo to appear over Brady’s head.
Director Kyle Marvin fails to build any real tension as he frighteningly shifts from farce to cringe to melancholy, but real footage of the big game is nicely knitted into the second half. The message here is simple: When you're down, dig deep and go for it. In other words, have the courage to go to a different movie.
At some points the film just becomes a branding opportunity, like for Microsoft Surface and the theme park NFL Experience. "This is better than my wildest dreams," one of our august actors is forced to say while throwing footballs. When the four later finagle their way into a skybox during the game, one helpfully explains: "You can see everything!" Yes, from up here, you can see terrible writing.
This is a movie that is supposed to boost people in their 70s and 80s but has jokes about fanny packs and Pat Sajak. Co-stars Billy Porter, Sara Gilbert and Guy Fieri somehow emerge OK in small roles but the main heroines tread water in what can only be considered an after-school special for older people.
"80 for Brady," a Paramount Pictures release that is only in theaters starting Feb. 3, is rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some drug content and some suggestive references. Running time: 98 minutes. Half a star out of four.
RELATED: From Tampa Bay to 'Champa' Bay: How Tom Brady forever changed sports in Florida | https://www.fox5ny.com/news/80-for-brady-review | 2023-02-02 17:50:43 | 0 | https://www.fox5ny.com/news/80-for-brady-review |
The Knicks will be very interested spectators to Tuesday night’s draft lottery.
Although they don’t have any of their own Ping Pong balls in the machine, the Knicks are rubbing their rabbit foot for some Mavericks bad luck.
Why?
There’s roughly a 20% chance that Dallas’s first-round pick falls outside of the top-10 and conveys to the Knicks this year. It’s the final payment of the 2019 Kristaps Porzingis trade and is top-10 protected.
If the pick doesn’t convey this year, it pushes to next year and remains top-10 protected. If it’s not conveyed by 2026, it becomes two second-round picks.
Karmic retribution would give it to the Knicks this year. The Mavericks, a team built to compete for a title with Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic in the backcourt, pulled the plug on their season with a few games remaining and a legitimate chance at the play-in tournament.
They were open about the tanking strategy – with the logic that a top-10 draft pick was more important than a longshot chance at playoff success – which prompted the NBA to fine the Mavericks $750,000 for “conduct detrimental to the league.”
It’s a worthwhile penalty if the Mavericks retain their pick. But if they lose it to the Knicks, that’s a lot of money for a failed strategy.
SO WHAT ARE THE ODDS EXACTLY?
For the Mavericks, who finished with the league’s 10th-worst record at 38-44, there’s a 3% chance the pick is No. 1, a 3.3% it’s No. 2, a 3.6% chance it’s No. 3, a 4% it’s No. 4 and a 65.9% chance it’s No. 9. They keep the pick under those scenarios.
However, the Knicks get the pick if it’s No. 11 (19% chance) or No. 12 (1.2% chance).
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE KNICKS OWN PICK?
They traded it in February to Portland, along with Cam Reddish, for Josh Hart. The move worked out for the Knicks, who rode Hart’s intensity to their first playoff series victory in a decade.
Hart also arrived with his Bird Rights, which the Knicks plan to use to re-sign the 28-year-old in the summer on a multi-year deal.
However, it also left them with a strong possibility of not having a first-round pick heading into a draft for the first time since 2016.
WHAT WOULD GETTING DALLAS’S PICK MEAN?
The 2023 class is considered strong through the lottery, so picking at No. 11 or 12 could give the Knicks a real contributor. Currently, ESPN lists point guards Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas) and (Kentucky) as the 11th and 12th best prospects of the class, respectively. Under Leon Rose, the Knicks have drafted three players currently in the rotation – Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes and Obi Toppin. RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson were drafted by the prior regime.
Getting the pick also adds a strong trade chip to New York’s pot. It’s no secret the Knicks are in the market for a superstar.
WHAT ELSE IS AT STAKE?
This is the Victor Wembanyama lottery. A prospect hasn’t generated this much hype since Zion Williamson.
Landing No. 1 and the 7-2 Frenchman is a pathway to long term success, although variables can easily throw it off course (just look at Williamson and Greg Oden).
Detroit, Houston and San Antonio have the greatest odds of getting No. 1 at 14% each. Charlotte (12.5%), Portland (10.5%) and Orlando (9%) are also in the mix.
Alabama’s Brandon Miller and G League Ignite’s Scoot Henderson are strong consolation prizes.
() | https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/05/15/how-the-knicks-can-be-winners-at-the-draft-lottery/ | 2023-05-15 17:29:34 | 0 | https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/05/15/how-the-knicks-can-be-winners-at-the-draft-lottery/ |
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WASHINGTON (AP) — It's been a big week for U.S.-Mexico relations, and that was even before President Joe Biden becomes the first U.S. leader to visit Mexico in nearly a decade.
In the lead-up to that trip, Biden announced a major border policy shift, with Mexico's blessing, that will result in the United States sending 30,000 migrants from four other countries per month back across the border. In Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's security forces nabbed one of the sons of imprisoned former Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, touching off violence that left 30 dead and dozens injured. The son, Ovidio Guzmán, is a reputed drug trafficker wanted by the United States.
The two presidents, along with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will gather in Mexico City on Monday and Tuesday for a North American leaders summit. Even with progress on the migration issue, there is much to discuss: climate change, manufacturing, trade, the economy and the potential global clout of a more collaborative North America.
Biden arrives at the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City on Monday afternoon and the presidents will meet before Trudeau joins them for dinner. Biden and Trudeau will hold talks Tuesday and then the three will gather for discussions. It will be the first time since 2014 that Mexico has hosted a U.S. president.
Biden hopes to use the summit "to keep driving North America's economic competitiveness and help promote inclusive growth and prosperity,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
For the U.S., the major talking points are migration, drug trafficking and building on Biden's push on electric vehicles and manufacturing.
Lopez Obrador is focused on economic integration for North America, supporting the poor in the Americas and regional relationships that put all governments on equal footing.
The U.S. and Mexico are expected to continue discussions about ending a dispute over U.S. corn after Mexico announced it would ban imports of genetically modified corn. In addition, Mexico is seeking money to boost solar energy projects.
As for Canada, the goal is simply "to carve some attention and space in this summit,” said Louise Blais, a longtime Canadian diplomat.
Mexico sees the event as a chance to advance its economic interests.
It stands to benefit as U.S. companies reconsider their relationships with China after supply chain disruptions, coronavirus outbreaks and changes in federal policy. Both Mexico’s proximity to the U.S. and existing trade agreements would be incentives for American factories to relocate south of the border. The U.S. imported more than $380 billion worth of goods from Mexico through the first 10 months of 2022 — the third-largest source of imports after China and the European Union, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Canada is the fourth-largest U.S. partner by imports, with the State Department calling it “the world’s most comprehensive trading relationship.” The U.S. and Canada are each other’s largest market for exports, and Canada is the largest foreign supplier of energy products to the U.S.
The U.S., Mexico and Canada are already in a long-standing trade agreement that was updated in 2020. When U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai met last month with Mexico’s secretary of the economy, Raquel Buenrostro, they discussed further economic integration as well as energy, fisheries and the trade agreement’s ban on importing goods made by forced labor — a subject that is among the tensions with China.
Analysts at Bank of America estimated in October that Mexico could increase its trade by as much as 30% if more supply chains returned to North America. Their report notes there had already been a bump in Mexican manufacturing as U.S. policymakers and businesses increasingly focus on bringing more trade to allied countries that are near American consumers.
“Every country is arriving with different priorities, but there is common ground,” said Enrique Perret, managing director of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation, a think tank focused on cooperation between the two nations. “It’s competitiveness, it’s economy, it’s education, it’s labor mobility.”
But it's not all rosy.
The leaders of Canada and Mexico have voiced concerns over Biden's “Buy America” plan. And while Biden's push toward electric vehicles is a boon to both nations because of the tax credits for North American batteries, there's concern the U.S. allies will be left behind.
Meantime, the U.S. and Canada accuse López Obrador of trying to favor Mexico’s state-owned utility over power plants built by foreign and private investors, something that is forbidden under the three countries' free trade pact.
The leaders did meet in Washington last November, but until then, there hadn't been a summit in five years and many of the current disputes have festered despite constant discussion. They include fentanyl trafficking, corn production, automobile rules of origin and Mexican energy laws.
"These topics are really complicated issues and they will not be solved in a two-day summit," said Carin Zissis of the Americas Society, a nonprofit dedicated to education, debate and dialogue in the Americas.
The chemistry between Biden and Lopez Obrador is tricky, too. Their relationship is highly transactional and absent any of the warmth and camaraderie Biden has with other world leaders.
Lopez Obrador has made no secret of his admiration of Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump. Lopez Obrador did not recognize Biden’s election victory from November 2020 until after the formal Electoral College vote a month later.
Biden has raised concerns over security and drug trafficking in Mexico and the deaths of journalists there. The U.S. took issue with Lopez Obrador for boycotting the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles last year over Biden's decision not to invite the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Biden plans to stop in El Paso, Texas, on Sunday for his first visit as president to the U.S.-Mexico border, just days after announcing that the U.S. will immediately begin turning away Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans who illegally cross into the U.S. from Mexico. The new policy is an effort to manage the spiraling numbers of migrants arriving at the border.
Mexico agreed each month to take 30,000 Cubans, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans and Haitians who walk or swim to the U.S. and are turned back, and the U.S. each month will offer 30,000 people from those four nations work permits for two years and a legal path if they come to the U.S. by plane, have eligible sponsors and pass background checks. People from those four countries now make up the most migrants crossing the border.
Biden's attempt to tackle border security issues has drawn considerable criticism from immigrant advocates and refugee rights groups ,who say the changes are inhumane and reminiscent of Trump's hard-line approach.
___
Verza reported from Mexico City. Associated Press writer Josh Boak contributed to this report. | https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Big-week-for-US-Mexico-ties-going-into-North-17701277.php | 2023-01-07 16:15:19 | 0 | https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Big-week-for-US-Mexico-ties-going-into-North-17701277.php |
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has died, Russian news reports
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Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has died, Russian news reports
Russian news outlets are reporting that former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has died. He was 91 years old. The Tass, RIA Novosti and Interfax agencies cited the Central Clinical Hospital.Gorbachev’s office said earlier that he was undergoing treatment at the hospital.Gorbachev was the eighth and final leader of the Soviet Union, serving as the head of state until 1991. Notably, he worked closely with the United States during the late 20th century to end the Cold War between the two world powers.This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
MOSCOW —
Russian news outlets are reporting that former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has died. He was 91 years old.
The Tass, RIA Novosti and Interfax agencies cited the Central Clinical Hospital.
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Gorbachev’s office said earlier that he was undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Gorbachev was the eighth and final leader of the Soviet Union, serving as the head of state until 1991. Notably, he worked closely with the United States during the late 20th century to end the Cold War between the two world powers.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates. | https://www.wesh.com/article/mikhail-gorbachev-died/41033147 | 2022-08-30 20:51:30 | 1 | https://www.wesh.com/article/mikhail-gorbachev-died/41033147 |
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As winter weather grips much of the country, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers about deadly hazards from home heating equipment, including space heaters, furnaces and fireplaces.
Two hazards of special concern are fires and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and although these deadly hazards impact all populations, they disproportionally affect certain communities. According to CPSC's 2017 to 2019 Residential Fire Loss Estimates report, African Americans have the highest rate of fire deaths, nearly twice the overall rate across the population. In addition, African Americans represent 23 percent of portable generator-related CO deaths, 186 from 2011-2021.
CPSC urges consumers to take safety precautions while keeping their home warm this winter.
Portable Heaters
CPSC estimates that portable heaters, including electric space heaters, were involved in an average of 1,700 fires per year, resulting in an average of 70 deaths and 160 injuries annually from 2017 to 2019.
Portable heaters can cause fires if they are placed too close to combustible materials, such as drapes, furniture or bedding, so make sure to place them at least three feet away from these materials. Always plug electric space heaters directly into a wall outlet and never into an extension cord or power strip, to prevent overloading and causing a fire. Never leave portable heaters on while sleeping. Fuel-burning portable heaters should never be refueled while in use. Turn the heater off, and allow it to cool down before refueling.
A CPSC staff report found that portable heaters can also present a hyperthermia (overheating) hazard to consumers, particularly children, people with disabilities and senior citizens, who may be more susceptible because of their limited ability to act or react to the elevated ambient temperature. Hyperthermia can result in death. Don't leave portable heaters running unattended in a confined space around infants or individuals with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities.
Furnaces, Fireplaces and Chimneys
Have a professional inspect all fuel-burning heating systems, including furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves, water heaters, chimneys, flues and vents each year.
Fireplaces can cause fires if the chimney is cracked, blocked or coated with creosote, or if sparks and embers reach flammable materials. CPSC estimates that fireplaces and chimneys were involved in and average of 15,800 fires per year, resulting in an average of 20 deaths and 50 injuries annually from 2017 to 2019.
Fuel-burning heating systems, including furnaces and fireplaces, are a potential source of CO, which is an odorless, colorless and poisonous gas known as the "invisible killer." These heating systems can cause CO poisoning if they are improperly installed, poorly maintained, have defective or blocked venting systems or are misused.
Generators
A gasoline-powered generator used during winter weather-related power outages can produce as much CO as hundreds of cars. CPSC estimates that from 2011-2021, more than 800 people died from CO poisoning associated with generators, over 103 in 2020 alone, a record number that is expected to climb as CPSC is still receiving data for that year.
Use portable generators outside only and place them at least 20 feet from the home with exhaust pointed away from any nearby building. Never use a generator inside a home, basement, shed or garage.
Never refuel a generator while it is running. Turn it off, and allow the generator to cool down before refueling.
Use flashlights instead of candles
During a power outage, use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns, rather than candles, to light the home. If candles are used, never leave them burning unattended.
Smoke and CO Alarms
Working smoke and CO alarms save lives! Install smoke alarms on every level of the home and inside each bedroom. CO alarms should be placed on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Alarms should be battery operated or have battery backup in case of a power outage. Interconnected alarms are best because, when one sounds, they all sound.
Test the alarms every month to make sure they are working. Replace batteries at least once every year, or install smoke and CO alarms with sealed, 10-year batteries.
Check for recalled products
Before using household products as the colder weather arrives, check to see if the products have been recalled at www.cpsc.gov/recalls. If a product has been recalled, stop using it immediately and contact the recalling company for the remedy--a refund, repair or replacement.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products for nearly 50 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
For lifesaving information:
Visit CPSC.gov.
- Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC.
- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
- Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).
- Contact a media specialist.
Release Number: 23-084
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SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2023/01/05/cpsc-warns-consumers-be-cautious-when-using-space-heaters-furnaces-fireplaces-this-winter/ | 2023-01-05 17:42:42 | 1 | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2023/01/05/cpsc-warns-consumers-be-cautious-when-using-space-heaters-furnaces-fireplaces-this-winter/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials released data Tuesday showing how chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases have been accelerating, but doctors are hoping an old drug will help fight the sexually transmitted infections.
Experts believe STDs have been rising because of declining condom use, inadequate sex education and reduced testing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Millions of Americans are infected each year. Rates are highest in men who have sex with men, and among Black and Hispanic Americans and Native Americans.
“Sexually transmitted infections are an enormous, low-priority public health problem. And they’ve been a low-priority problem for decades, in spite of the fact that they are the most commonly reported kind of infectious disease,” said Dr. John M. Douglas Jr., a retired health official who lectures at the Colorado School of Public Health.
To try to turn the tide, many doctors see promise in doxycycline, a cheap antibiotic that has been sold for more than 50 years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is drafting recommendations for using it as a kind of morning-after pill for preventing STDs, said Dr. Leandro Mena, director of the agency’s STD prevention division.
The drug is already used to treat a range of infections. A study published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine showed its potential to prevent sexually transmitted infections.
In the study, about 500 gay men, bisexual men and transgender women in Seattle and San Francisco with previous STD infections took one doxycycline pill within 72 hours of unprotected sex. Those who took the pills were about 90% less likely to get chlamydia, about 80% less likely to get syphilis, and more than 50% less likely to get gonorrhea compared with people who did not take the pills after sex, the researchers found.
The study was led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and built on a similar French study that saw promise in the idea.
“We do need new approaches, new innovations” to help bring sexually transmitted infections under control, said Dr. Philip Andrew Chan, who is consulting with the CDC on the doxycycline recommendations.
Mena, of the CDC, said there is no sign the STD trend is slowing.
Mississippi had the highest rate of gonorrhea cases, according to 2021 CDC data released Tuesday. Alaska saw a sharp increase in its chlamydia case rate that allowed it to overtake Mississippi at the top of that list. South Dakota had the highest rate of early-stage syphilis.
And Arizona had the tragic distinction of having the highest rate of cases in which infected moms pass syphilis on to their babies, potentially leading to death of the child or health problems like deafness and blindness.
Using an antibiotic to prevent these kinds of infections won’t “be a magic bullet. but it will be another tool,” said Chan, who teaches at Brown University and is chief medical officer of Open Door Health, a health center for gay, lesbian and transgender patients in Providence, Rhode Island.
Experts noted the CDC will have many factors to weigh as it develops the recommendations.
Among them: The drug can cause side effects like stomach problems and rashes after sun exposure. Some research has found it ineffective in heterosexual women. And widespread use of doxycycline as a preventive measure could contribute to mutations that make bacteria impervious to the drug, as has happened with antibiotics before.
Nevertheless, the San Francisco Department of Public Health in October became the first U.S. health department to issue guidance about doxycycline as an infection-prevention measure. And some other clinics have been been recommending the antibiotic to patients who may be at higher risk.
Derrick Woods-Morrow, a 33-year-old artist and an assistant professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, is an early adopter. Woods-Morrow, said he isn’t a fan of condoms — they can break and sometimes people slip them off during sex. But he wants to stay healthy.
About a decade ago, he started taking an anti-viral medication before sex to protect himself from HIV infection. Five years ago, a doctor told him about research into whether doxycycline might protect people from other diseases.
“I thought it was probably in my best interest to protect myself, and my partners as well,” he said. He said it’s been a positive experience and that he hasn’t tested positive for chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis while using it.
“I feel like it’s a tool to sort of take back the sexual freedoms that someone may have lost and to really enjoy sex and interactions with people with a piece of mind,” he said.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://www.koin.com/news/national/post-sex-pill-seen-as-new-tool-to-fight-rising-std-rates/ | 2023-04-11 23:52:55 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/news/national/post-sex-pill-seen-as-new-tool-to-fight-rising-std-rates/ |
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Chicago mayoral race: Lightfoot ousted, but no clear winner yet
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s reelection campaign came up short at the polls. Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson advance to the April 4 runoff after none of the nine candidates were able to secure over 50% of the vote to win outright.
| Chicago
Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will meet in a runoff to be the next mayor of Chicago after voters denied incumbent Lori Lightfoot a second term, issuing a rebuke to a leader who made history as head of the nation’s third-largest city.
Mr. Vallas, a former school CEO backed by the police union, and Mr. Johnson, a Cook County commissioner endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, advanced to the April 4 runoff after none of the nine candidates were able to secure over 50% of the vote on Tuesday to win outright.
Ms. Lightfoot, the first Black woman and first openly gay person to lead the city, won her first term in 2019, after promising to end decades of corruption and backroom dealing at City Hall. But opponents blamed Ms. Lightfoot for an increase in crime that occurred in cities across the United States during the pandemic and criticized her as being a divisive, overly contentious leader.
She is the first elected Chicago mayor to lose a reelection bid since 1983, when Jane Byrne, the city’s first female mayor, lost her Democratic primary.
Speaking to supporters Tuesday night, Ms. Lightfoot called being Chicago’s mayor “the honor of a lifetime.”
“Regardless of tonight’s outcome, we fought the right fights and we put this city on a better path,” Ms. Lightfoot said. She told her fellow mayors around the country not to fear being bold.
At his victory party, Mr. Vallas noted that Ms. Lightfoot had called to congratulate him and asked the crowd to give her a round of applause. In a nod to his campaign promise to combat crime, he said that, if elected, he would work to address public safety issues.
“We will have a safe Chicago. We will make Chicago the safest city in America,” Mr. Vallas said.
Mr. Johnson on Tuesday night noted the improbability that he would make the runoff, considering his low name recognition at the start of the race.
“A few months ago they said they didn’t know who I was. Well, if you didn’t know, now you know,” Mr. Johnson said. He thanked the unions that supported him and gave a special shoutout to his wife, telling the crowd, “Chicago, a Black woman will still be in charge.”
Ms. Lightfoot’s loss is unusual for mayors in large cities, who have tended to win reelection with relative ease. But it’s also a sign of the turmoil in U.S. cities following the COVID-19 pandemic, with its economic fallout and spikes in violent crime in many places.
Public safety has been an issue in other recent elections, including the recall of a San Francisco district attorney who was criticized for progressive policies. The pandemic also may shape elections for mayor in other cities this year, such as Philadelphia and Houston, where incumbents cannot run again due to term limits.
There are clear contrasts between Mr. Vallas and Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Vallas served as an adviser to the Fraternal Order of Police during its negotiations with Ms. Lightfoot’s administration. He has called for adding hundreds of police officers to patrol the city, saying crime is out of control and morale among officers sunk to a new low during Ms. Lightfoot’s tenure.
Mr. Vallas’ opponents have criticized him as too conservative to lead the Democratic stronghold. Ms. Lightfoot blasted him for welcoming support from the police union’s controversial leader, who defended the Jan. 6 insurrectionists at the Capitol and equated Ms. Lightfoot’s vaccine mandate for city workers to the Holocaust.
Mr. Johnson received about $1 million from the Chicago Teachers Union for his campaign and had support from several other progressive organizations, including United Working Families. The former teacher and union organizer has argued that the answer to addressing crime is not more money for police but more investment in mental health care, education, jobs, and affordable housing, and he was accused by rivals such as Ms. Lightfoot of wanting to defund the police.
Mr. Johnson has avoided the word “defund” during the race, and his campaign says he does not want to cut the number of police officers. But in a 2020 radio interview, Mr. Johnson said defunding is not just a slogan but “an actual real political goal,” and he sponsored a nonbinding resolution on the county board to redirect money from policing and jails to social services.
Crime was an issue that resonated with voters.
Rita DiPietro, who lives downtown, said she supported Ms. Lightfoot in 2019. But she voted for Mr. Vallas on Tuesday, saying she was impressed by his detailed strategy to address public safety. “The candidates all talk about what they’d like to do,” she said. “This guy actually has a plan. He knows how he’s going to do it.”
Lindsey Hegarty, a paralegal who lives on Chicago’s North Side, said she backed Mr. Johnson because “he seemed like the most progressive candidate on issues like policing, mental health” and public transit.
Race also was a factor as candidates courted votes in the highly segregated city, which is closely divided in population among Black, Hispanic, and white residents. Mr. Vallas was the only white candidate in the field. Ms. Lightfoot, Mr. Johnson, and five other candidates are Black, though Lightfoot argued she was the only Black candidate who could win. U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia was the only Latino in the race.
Ms. Lightfoot accused Mr. Vallas of using “the ultimate dog whistle” by saying his campaign is about “taking back our city,” and of cozying up to the president of the Fraternal Order of Police, whom she calls a racist. A recent Chicago Tribune story also found Mr. Vallas’ Twitter account had liked racist tweets and tweets that mocked Ms. Lightfoot’s appearance and referred to her as masculine.
Mr. Vallas denied his comments were related to race and says his police union endorsement is from rank-and-file officers. He also said he wasn’t responsible for the liked tweets, which he called “abhorrent,” and suggested someone had improperly accessed his account.
Ms. Lightfoot touted her record of investing in neighborhoods and supporting workers, such as by increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour. She also noted that the city had navigated unprecedented challenges such as the pandemic and its economic and public safety fallout to protests over policing.
Asked if she was treated unfairly because of her race and gender, Ms. Lightfoot said: “I’m a Black woman in America. Of course.”
Mr. Vallas, who has led school systems in Chicago, New Orleans, and Philadelphia, lost a 2019 bid for mayor. This time, he was laser-focused on public safety, saying police officers who left the force under Ms. Lightfoot’s administration will return if he’s elected.
The other candidates were businessman Willie Wilson, Chicago City Council members Sophia King and Roderick Sawyer, activist Ja’Mal Green and state Rep. Kambium “Kam” Buckner.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Claire Savage and Teresa Crawford in Chicago contributed to this report. | https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2023/0301/Chicago-mayoral-race-Lightfoot-ousted-but-no-clear-winner-yet | 2023-03-01 21:12:07 | 1 | https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2023/0301/Chicago-mayoral-race-Lightfoot-ousted-but-no-clear-winner-yet |
- Enables Rapid Assessment of Critical Bleeding at the Point of Care, Reducing Inappropriate Transfusions and Improving Outcomes -
BEDFORD, Mass., July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Werfen today announced the 510(k) clearance of the ROTEM sigma Thromboelastometry System by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The ROTEM sigma delivers real-time, rapid and actionable results, now at the point of care (POC), to guide bleeding management. With clinical use throughout Europe, Australia, Asia, Latin America and Africa, the ROTEM sigma will be commercialized in the US in late 2022.
Built upon proven cup-and-pin technology, the ROTEM sigma leverages similar assays as its leading predecessor, the ROTEM delta Thromboelastometry System, used widely throughout North America and in thousands of peer-reviewed clinical studies. For a clear picture of coagulopathy, the ROTEM sigma provides at-a-glance assessment of clot firmness and stability, enabling hemostasis optimization, while minimizing blood loss. The result is a reduction in inappropriate transfusions, associated complications and cost—all essential to a successful patient blood management (PBM) program.
"Reducing inappropriate transfusions is paramount in healthcare today for patient safety, to help preserve blood supply, and for cost containment. Incorporating ROTEM sigma testing into a PBM program allows hospitals to achieve these goals," said Remo Tazzi, VP, Worldwide Marketing and Service, Hemostasis and Acute Care Diagnostics at Werfen. "By viewing real-time, actionable results in the operating room, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other clinicians can make faster and more informed transfusion decisions, improving patient outcomes and enhancing hospital efficiency."
ROTEM sigma is fully integrated and automated, cartridge-based, and simple to operate, making it ideal for POC testing. Large, easy-to-view TEMograms provide clear, real-time viscoelastic testing results, for enhanced, rapid interpretation. With a comprehensive assay menu, and four independent channels, the ROTEM sigma facilitates targeted therapeutic decisions in a variety of clinical settings. For critical procedures, including those requiring heparin neutralization, the ROTEM sigma complete + hep cartridge delivers intraoperative results in the cardiovascular surgery and liver transplantation.
Citrated whole blood arterial or venous samples require no incubation time and testing is initiated in minutes. Early validated parameters, such as A5, are delivered faster than traditional methods, with actionable results in less than 15 minutes—essential in critical bleeding scenarios. Ready-to-use, room-temperature cartridges with integrated closed-tube sampling simplify testing, saving time and standardizing the testing process.
Werfen's new GEMweb Live real-time onscreen viewer consolidates diagnostic test results from ROTEM thromboelastometry systems, as well those from other networked systems in Werfen's portfolio of Acute Care Diagnostics (ACD) systems. Comprehensive, rapid test results, viewed on one screen, help guide goal-directed therapy and other critical intraoperative needs, before, during and after surgery, enabling faster clinical decision-making during cardiac surgery. Additionally, GEMweb Plus 500 Custom Connectivity provides centralized access to results from any networked Werfen ACD system, including ROTEM sigma.
The ROTEM sigma Thromboelastometry System is part of Werfen's integrated and comprehensive ACD product portfolio—helping clinicians and laboratorians achieve better patient outcomes, lower total cost of care, assure accreditation compliance and improve operational efficiency in hospital acute care settings. For Whole Blood Hemostasis testing, ROTEM thromboelastometry systems, the GEM Hemochron™ 100 system, and the VerifyNow™ platelet-reactivity testing system inform key clinical decisions regarding transfusion, bleeding risk and heparin dose adjustment during surgical and interventional procedures along with a clinical assessment of the patient's condition and other laboratory tests. For Blood Gas testing, the GEM Premier systems, including GEM Premier 5000 and 3500 systems, and Avoximeter™ portable CO-Oximeters, simplify POC operations by automating key labor- and skill-intensive tasks, including quality management and system maintenance. From Cardiovascular Operating Rooms and Catheterization Labs, to Intensive Care Units and Emergency Departments, whole-blood, cartridge-based systems with Werfen's integrated data management solutions, help hospitals improve efficiency and enhance patient care.
Werfen (www.werfen.com), founded in 1966, is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and distributor of specialized diagnostic instruments, related reagents, automation workcells, and data management solutions for use primarily in hospitals and independent clinical laboratories. The Company's business lines include Hemostasis, Acute Care Diagnostics (ACD), Autoimmunity, and Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM). Werfen's Hemostasis portfolio includes ACL TOP® Family 50 Series and ACL TOP Family Hemostasis Testing Systems, ACL AcuStar® system, ACL Elite® systems, HemoCell™ Specialized Lab Automation, HemoHub™ Intelligent Data Manager, along with the comprehensive line of HemosIL® assays. The ACD portfolio includes the GEM® Premier™ 5000 system with Intelligent Quality Management 2 (iQM®2), GEM Premier 3500 system with iQM, GEM Premier ChemSTAT™ system, ROTEM® Thromboelastometry Systems, Hemochron™ systems, VerifyNow™ platelet function testing system, and Avoximeter™ CO-Oximeters, GEMweb® Plus Custom Connectivity and GEMweb Live. The Autoimmunity portfolio includes Aptiva®, BIO-FLASH®, NOVA View®, AUTOLoader and QUANTA-Lyser® 3000 systems, and QUANTA Link® data management solutions. The OEM business line offers services for end-to-end development and manufacturing of customized immunoassays and biomaterials for diagnostic companies.
The Werfen logo is a trademark of Werfen. GEM, Premier, GEM Premier ChemSTAT, GEMweb, iQM, ChemSTAT, HemosIL, ACL, ACL TOP, ACL Elite, ACL AcuStar, ReadiPlasTin, RecombiPlasTin, SynthASil, SynthAFax, ROTEM, Hemochron, VerifyNow and Avoximeter are trademarks of Instrumentation Laboratory Company, d.b.a Werfen, and/or one of its subsidiaries or parent companies and may be registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in other jurisdictions. Aptiva, QUANTA-Lyser, QUANTA Lite, QUANTA Link, QUANTA Flash, NOVA View, NOVA Lite are registered trademarks of Inova Diagnostics, Inc., d.b.a., Werfen. BIO-FLASH is a registered trademark of Biokit S.A. All other product names, company names, marks, logos, and symbols are trademarks of their respective owners.
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SOURCE Werfen | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/werfen-receives-us-fda-510k-clearance-rotem-sigma-thromboelastometry-system/ | 2022-07-18 13:26:10 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/werfen-receives-us-fda-510k-clearance-rotem-sigma-thromboelastometry-system/ |
A tech millionaire offered to buy it. A U.S. senator suggested that the government should force manufacturers to make it.
But so far, Klondike isn’t budging from its plan to discontinue the Choco Taco.
Klondike confirmed Tuesday that the summer treat is being pulled from ice cream trucks, convenience stores and grocery shelves.
“Over the past two years, we have experienced an unprecedented spike in demand across our portfolio and have had to make very tough decisions to ensure availability of our full portfolio nationwide,” a Klondike representative said in an email. “A necessary but unfortunate part of this process is that we sometimes must discontinue products, even a beloved item like Choco Taco.”
The news came just days after ice cream maker Good Humor confirmed the demise of another nostalgia-steeped favorite: Toasted Almond Bars. Good Humor also cited production problems, saying it sometimes has to discontinue slower sellers in order to ensure distribution of more popular treats.
Klondike, which is owned by London-based Unilever, continues to sell cones, shakes and its signature Klondike bar nationwide.
The Choco Taco, invented in 1983 by a former ice cream truck driver, is a waffle cone shaped like a taco shell filled with fudge-swirled ice cream. It’s dipped in chocolate and peanuts.
The news of its demise sent some Twitter users into a meltdown.
“There are bad decisions, like getting a face tattoo or French kissing an alligator. Then there are horrifically bad inexcusable decisions like discontinuing the Choco Taco,” one fan tweeted.
Multi-millionaire Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian called out Unilever on Twitter.
“I’d like to buy the rights to your Choco Taco and keep it from melting away from future generations’ childhoods,” Ohanian tweeted. Unilever didn’t appear to respond.
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, tweeted that he would invoke the Defense Production Act to mandate continued manufacture of Choco Tacos.
Klondike seemed to realize it had struck a nerve. In a later tweet Tuesday, the company said it was “working hard to find a way to bring Choco Taco back to ice cream trucks in the coming years.”
One place the Choco Taco might show up? Taco Bell. In February, the restaurant chain announced a collaboration with Klondike, testing Choco Taco sales at 20 locations in Los Angeles and Milwaukee. It was a welcome return for fans: Taco Bell used to sell Choco Tacos but took them off their menu in 2015.
A message seeking comment was left with Taco Bell Tuesday. Klondike also didn’t respond when asked if Choco Tacos might be sold in the future at Taco Bell. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/weird/ap-strange-news/sorrow-in-choco-taco-town-after-summer-treat-is-discontinued/ | 2022-07-27 22:30:30 | 0 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/weird/ap-strange-news/sorrow-in-choco-taco-town-after-summer-treat-is-discontinued/ |
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Jenny Xie about her first novel, Holding Pattern. It takes a familiar story — a young adult who decides to move home — and flips it on its head.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Jenny Xie about her first novel, Holding Pattern. It takes a familiar story — a young adult who decides to move home — and flips it on its head.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.kasu.org/arts-culture/arts-culture/2023-06-20/jenny-xie-tackles-a-fraught-mother-daughter-relationship-in-novel-holding-pattern | 2023-06-20 20:51:14 | 0 | https://www.kasu.org/arts-culture/arts-culture/2023-06-20/jenny-xie-tackles-a-fraught-mother-daughter-relationship-in-novel-holding-pattern |
ATLANTA, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Home Depot®, the world's largest home improvement retailer, announced today that its Board of Directors has elected CEO and President Edward "Ted" Decker as chair of the board, effective Oct. 1, 2022. He will succeed Craig Menear, who will retire as chair effective Sept. 30, 2022.
"During Ted's tenure as CEO and a member of the board, we have witnessed firsthand his passion for the customer experience and our associates, and we look forward to continuing to work with him as chair," said Greg Brenneman, the board's lead director. "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Craig for his unwavering commitment to The Home Depot's values and his visionary leadership, which established a solid foundation for the long-term success of the company."
Decker, a 22-year veteran of The Home Depot, was named CEO in March 2022. He was named president and chief operating officer in October 2020. Decker joined The Home Depot in 2000 as a director of business valuation and has held numerous strategic positions across the company.
The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer. At the end of the second quarter, the company operated a total of 2,316 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. The Company employs approximately 500,000 associates. The Home Depot's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE The Home Depot | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/home-depot-names-ted-decker-chair-board/ | 2022-08-18 21:46:40 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/home-depot-names-ted-decker-chair-board/ |
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ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Democratic Minnesota senators, holding firm despite only a one-vote majority, were poised Friday to pass gun control legislation strongly supported by the governor that would align the battleground state with others nationally that have taken steps to keep guns out of the hands of people in crisis and criminals.
The proposals include a “red flag law” that would allow authorities to ask courts for “extreme risk protection orders” to temporarily take guns away from people deemed to be an imminent threat to others or themselves. The provision is part of a broad public safety budget bill that also contains expanded background checks for gun transfers.
“What we are going to be providing — finally — is a path forward for families and law enforcement who know that someone's exhibiting signs of crisis and danger," said Democratic Sen. Rob Latz of St. Louis Park, chairman of the Senate public safety committee. "And it will give them lawful tools to separate people in crisis from the firearms that are around them.”
Nineteen other states have some kind of red flag laws, Latz noted at a news conference, including several red states.
Across the country, a few cracks have been opening up in the pattern of Republican-controlled states loosening gun laws while Democratic states like Minnesota tighten them. GOP Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee wants to call a special session to pass what he has avoided calling a red flag law, calling it a “toxic political label.” And two Republicans in a Texas legislative committee broke ranks to back raising the age for buying semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21. But it’s far too soon to say the GOP is changing direction even amid a record-setting pace for mass killings in the U.S.
The overall package survived an initial test vote when all Democrats voted down a Republican motion to send it back to a House-Senate conference committee for more work.
Some rural Democratic senators had long been on the fence. But a key moment came Wednesday when one of them, Sen. Grant Hauschild of Hermantown announced that he would support the overall bill. The two gun measures were not part of the public safety budget bill that the Senate passed earlier. But they were added Wednesday in the conference committee that negotiated the final version, providing some political cover to holdouts by wrapping them into a much bigger public safety package.
The debate was expected to last well into Friday evening. Leaders of the Republican minority signaled ahead of time that they were upset with several non-firearms provisions that were added to the public safety bill in conference committee that weren't in the original Senate-passed version of the bill.
Democrats who have a more comfortable majority in the Minnesota House scheduled the package for debate late Friday night on the presumption that the Senate would pass it first. The House had already passed the gun measures as part of its original public safety bill. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has repeatedly said he will sign the legislation.
The package also includes tougher restrictions on the use by police of no-knock warrants. While it stops short of a ban, it allows only very limited exceptions.
GOP leaders objected to how the final version of the 522-page bill wasn't posted until around 2:30 a.m. Friday. Members can vote only up or down on a conference committee report. They can't amend it. And Republicans were upset at their voices being shut out of shaping the final version, which they oppose on Second Amendment and other grounds.
“This bill is actually what bad legislating looks like,” Republican House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring said at a separate news conference. “Democrats have full control, but a very small margin.”
The Minnesota Legislature is rushing to complete work on the major budget bills of the session before the May 22 adjournment deadline. Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park told reporters Thursday that she wants to adjourn early — either next Thursday night or early next Friday morning. Senate Democratic leaders, however, have not agreed to that. | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/politics/article/democrats-in-the-minnesota-legislature-poised-to-18097116.php | 2023-05-12 23:17:49 | 1 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/politics/article/democrats-in-the-minnesota-legislature-poised-to-18097116.php |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the Indiana Lottery's "Quick Draw Evening" game were:
03-10-17-18-26-33-41-42-45-46-48-51-52-62-63-64-67-73-79-80, BE: 26
(three, ten, seventeen, eighteen, twenty-six, thirty-three, forty-one, forty-two, forty-five, forty-six, forty-eight, fifty-one, fifty-two, sixty-two, sixty-three, sixty-four, sixty-seven, seventy-three, seventy-nine, eighty; BE: twenty-six) | https://www.sfgate.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Quick-Draw-Evening-game-17167015.php | 2022-05-12 04:01:18 | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Quick-Draw-Evening-game-17167015.php |
Kentucky community remembers fallen officers following deadly shooting
FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT/Gray News) - People throughout Floyd County, Kentucky, are still mourning following a shootout that left three officers dead, one K-9 officer dead and five more officers wounded, WYMT reported.
Prestonsburg Police Chief Randy Woods says the officers killed in Thursday’s shooting were “irreplaceable.”
“That’s the definition of sacrifice above self because they give it all. They sacrificed their own lives in the service of others,” Woods said. “It’s irreplaceable. In this line of work, there’s not many. They call it a thin line for a reason, and our line just got thinner.”
The community is banding together, with hundreds of locals lining the roads for processions to welcome the fallen officers home. Officials say first responders are also coming together.
“There’s a law enforcement family out there. There’s an EMS family. There’s a first responder family, and they’re tight,” said Prestonsburg Mayor and former KSP Trooper Les Stapleton. “Regardless, it’s like brothers fighting sometimes, you know, that’s just what happens. They are going to carry on, you know, but when it comes down to it, it’s time. They’re all going to work with each other.”
Funeral arrangements for Captain Ralph Frasure, Officer Jacob Chaffins and Sheriff’s Deputy William Petry are set, but Woods said he will see his fellow officers again someday.
“I just want to see those smiling faces and those open arms again, because I know that they will be there,” Woods said. “I’d say they’ll be at the front of the line to be there to greet each and every one of us that love them so dearly.”
Stapleton says grief counseling will be scheduled in the following days and weeks to help those in the community during this troubling time.
The suspect, 49-year-old Lance Storz, started shooting Thursday when officers arrived. Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt says the deputies were trying to serve a court-issued warrant in a domestic violence situation.
Police say Storz used a rifle to fire multiple rounds at multiple police officers.
“Kentucky State Police Post 9 in Pikeville received a call for an officer assist for a shots-fired complaint,” Matt Gayheart with Kentucky State Police said “They responded out here. That situation turned into an active shooter.”
Kentucky State Police Troopers arrested Storz, and he was booked into jail early Friday morning.
He faces multiple charges, including two counts of murder of a police officer and two additional counts of attempted murder. He is also charged with assaulting a service animal.
His cash bond is set at $10 million.
Copyright 2022 WYMT via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/07/03/kentucky-community-remembers-fallen-officers-following-deadly-shooting/ | 2022-07-03 15:32:29 | 0 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/07/03/kentucky-community-remembers-fallen-officers-following-deadly-shooting/ |
Longtime Japan watchers could be forgiven for getting a bad feeling upon learning that a government-backed fund is shelling out $6 billion to take control of a domestic technology company.
There’s good reason to believe that Japan Investment Corp.’s purchase of chemicals-maker JSR Corp. could be different. JSR makes specialty materials used in life sciences, plastics, and electronics, with each of these divisions posting growth over the past two years. Most importantly, the Tokyo-based company is consistently profitable. One of JSR’s key products is used in semiconductor production. Its photoresists are a key component in extreme ultraviolet photolithography, the most difficult and advanced part of chip manufacturing.
Looking at its income statement and product catalog, it seem there’s no financial reason why JSR needs a bailout. That’s why it could be a great move for the government.
Rather than trying to save a dying industry, Tokyo’s policy now appears to be focused on strengthening existing champions and ensuring their long-term viability. This is a continuation of its broader strategy aimed at rebuilding the semiconductor sector, for both national security and economic development reasons.
In the past two years, the government has played local and international matchmaker, including luring Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to build a fab in Kumamoto with Sony. A mark of success for this venture is that autoparts maker Denso Corp. is joining the project.
A similar future may be on the cards for JSR. Speaking after the announcement of its buyout on Monday, Chief Executive Officer Eric Johnson heavily hinted that the firm would seek to lead consolidation in the Japanese chip materials sector.
“The capabilities here are superb, but there’s a lot of us and all of us are spending money redundantly,” Johnson told reporters. “The opportunities for efficiency gains are significant, and the need to drive scale is paramount.” While he wouldn’t be drawn on specific targets or tie-ups, the photoresist industry is dominated by Japanese peers, including Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co. and Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Johnson spoke repeatedly of the need to reform not just JSR, but the broader domestic industry.
For this buyout to work, though, JIC needs to act like a private-equity fund but with a public-equity goal. If the buyer, funded mostly by the government along with a sliver from private industry, turns JSR into a state-owned enterprise, then all will be lost. PE firms have a reputation for buying, stripping and flipping their targets, quite often leaving behind a shell of a company, but with lower costs and fatter margins.
In JSR’s case, management needs to be empowered to make necessary large-scale renovations, including cutting staff and shuttering strategically expendable businesses. Yet it needs to resist a slash-and-burn tactic that would strip the firm of resources to keep developing new and niche materials that would make it an indispensable piece of global supply chains for years to come.
The government’s matchmaking role could also be put to good use as it marches toward relisting, something Johnson said the firm was targeting within five to seven years. The American CEO, still an unusual sight in Japanese boardrooms, indicated that he would seek to leverage Japan’s intermediary position by utilizing JIC’s network of contacts to speed up deals.
Since JSR doesn’t seem to be struggling, the rationale for this move is a little hard to understand. Conversely, that’s also why it might succeed. Rather than wait until it’s too late, this seems to be a more proactive step than is typical for Japanese industry. “We’re coming to this deal from a position of strength,” Johnson said. “This is an opportunity, not a crisis that we’re trying to solve.”
The moves to consolidate the likes of Japan Display, Elpida and OLED display maker Joled Inc. came too late, but the success of the 2012 rescue of Renesas Electronics Corp. by INCJ, the predecessor to JIC, gives more room for optimism. Having set the chipmaker on the road to profitability, with the firm now a component of the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, the fund has been reducing its stake.
If there is one caveat to be made of the JSR deal, though, it’s the price. At 52-times last year’s net income, that $6.3 billion it is spending seems a bit rich. Admittedly, the outlook for this year and next appears good at both the top and bottom line. But the company needs to quadruple profit if it’s to be in line with the 13.65-times ratio of its peers, and go beyond that if JSR’s board is to give public-equity investors a reason to buy into its IPO toward the end of this decade.
Japan seems serious about its chip intentions. The fate of JSR may prove how much its competence matches its ambition.
More From Bloomberg Opinion:
• TSMC Keeps Spending to Leverage the AI Boom: Tim Culpan
• Three Billionaires Agree, Tokyo’s Worth a Revisit: Gearoid Reidy
• AI Is Helping Create the Chips That Design AI Chips: Tim Culpan
(1) The announced amount was 160 billion yen, though the final amount in equity and loans was revised down.
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.
Tim Culpan is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology in Asia. Previously, he was a technology reporter for Bloomberg News.
Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Japan and the Koreas. He previously led the breaking news team in North Asia, and was the Tokyo deputy bureau chief.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion
©2023 Bloomberg L.P. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/06/27/japan-s-latest-chip-deal-shows-a-savvy-strategy-shift/7ec07c6e-1530-11ee-9de3-ba1fa29e9bec_story.html | 2023-06-27 21:53:51 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/06/27/japan-s-latest-chip-deal-shows-a-savvy-strategy-shift/7ec07c6e-1530-11ee-9de3-ba1fa29e9bec_story.html |
SARASOTA, Fla. — A Sarasota man accused of buying homes, luxury cars and flights on private jets using money he made through a multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme is set to spend the next 23 years behind bars.
Michael J. DaCorta, 57, has been sentenced to federal prison time after he was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, money laundering, and filing a false income tax return in 2020. The court also entered an order of forfeiture for $2,817,876.16.
Based on evidence from the trial, the Department of Justice says DaCorta ran an investment company named Oasis International Group, Ltd. from 2011 to 2019. During this time, DaCorta and his co-conspirators persuaded more than 700 people to invest in the company by falsely representing that Oasis was reaping enormous profits through foreign exchange trading, the DOJ adds.
According to a release from the state attorney's office, DaCorta did this by pitching the opportunity as essentially risk-free, when in reality, Oasis had no true revenue. Spread earnings were reportedly being paid on each trade by Oasis back to Oasis to create the illusion of revenue for potential investors.
The DOJ says DaCorta used these investment funds to "make Ponzi-style payments" to fund lavish purchases on multi-million-dollar homes, college tuitions, private jet flights, international trips, Range Rovers and a Maserati.
DaCorta also under-reported his income on his 2017 tax return, allowing him to receive a tax refund, according to the state attorney.
"Mr. DaCorta guaranteed his more than 700 clients an 'oasis' of an investment, when in reality all they got was a dust bowl of empty promises,” IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne said. “Today’s significant prison sentence ordered by the court should offer some measure of justice to all of those impacted by the destructive wake of Mr. DaCorta’s greed and indifference.” | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/crime/sarasota-man-20-years-prison-80-million-ponzi-scheme/67-6a631dad-74a2-47bb-893f-0ebf4df07a2e | 2022-10-24 22:39:36 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/crime/sarasota-man-20-years-prison-80-million-ponzi-scheme/67-6a631dad-74a2-47bb-893f-0ebf4df07a2e |
CA Eureka CA Zone Forecast for Saturday, December 3, 2022
_____
526 FPUS56 KEKA 041119
ZFPEKA
Zone Forecast Product for California
National Weather Service Eureka CA
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
This is an average forecast over a large and geographically diverse
area. For a specific forecast for your location...please refer to
the point and click forecast on our webpage at:
Spot temperatures and probabilities of measurable precipitation
are for today, tonight, and Monday.
CAZ101-050230-
Coastal Del Norte-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
.TODAY...Mostly cloudy with rain showers. Highs 46 to 56. South
wind 5 to 15 mph.
.TONIGHT...Rain showers. Lows 34 to 44. Southeast wind 5 to
15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy. Rain showers likely in the morning, then
chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Highs 46 to 56.
Southeast wind around 5 mph shifting to the south in the
afternoon.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers.
Lows 30 to 40. East wind around 5 mph.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs 46 to 56. Northeast wind around
5 mph.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 28 to 38.
Highs 46 to 56.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain. Lows 32 to 42.
.THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...Rain likely. Highs 45 to 55. Lows
31 to 41.
.FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain. Highs
44 to 54. Lows 31 to 41.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Rain likely. Highs 45 to 55.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Crescent City 51 41 50 / 80 80 60
Klamath 52 37 53 / 80 90 70
$$
CAZ102-050230-
Del Norte Interior-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers and snow showers. Near steady temperature
in the upper 30s. Snow level 3500 feet. Snow accumulations of
2 to 4 inches.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow showers in the evening.
Rain showers through the night. Snow showers overnight. Near
steady temperature in the upper 30s. Snow level 3000 to
3500 feet. Snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy. Rain showers likely in the morning.
Chance of snow showers through the day. Chance of rain showers in
the afternoon. Snow level 3000 feet. Snow accumulations up to
2 inches. Highs 36 to 51.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 26 to 36.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 37 to 52.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 24 to 34.
Highs 37 to 52.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain and snow.
Lows 29 to 39.
.THURSDAY...Rain and snow likely. Highs 35 to 50.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of
rain and snow. Lows 28 to 38. Highs 35 to 50.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Rain and snow likely. Highs 36 to 51.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Gasquet 47 37 51 / 90 80 60
$$
CAZ103-050230-
Northern Humboldt Coast-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
.TODAY...Mostly cloudy with rain showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Highs 46 to 56. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
.TONIGHT...Slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Rain
showers through the night. Slight chance of thunderstorms
overnight. Some thunderstorms may produce small hail overnight.
Lows 36 to 46. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning. Rain
showers likely through the day. Some thunderstorms may produce
small hail in the morning. Highs 47 to 57. South wind around
5 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers.
Lows 30 to 40. East wind around 5 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 46 to 56. Northeast wind around
5 mph.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 28 to 38.
Highs 46 to 56.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain. Lows
32 to 42.
.THURSDAY...Rain likely. Highs 45 to 55.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Cloudy. Chance of rain. Lows 32 to 42.
.FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain. Highs
44 to 56. Lows 32 to 42.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
McKinleyville 51 40 51 / 90 90 80
Arcata 51 41 51 / 90 90 80
Eureka 51 42 51 / 90 90 80
Fortuna 52 42 51 / 90 90 70
$$
CAZ104-050230-
Southwestern Humboldt-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs
45 to 55. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
.TONIGHT...Slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Rain
showers through the night. Slight chance of thunderstorms
overnight. Some thunderstorms may produce small hail overnight.
Lows 37 to 47. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Rain showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms.
Some thunderstorms may produce small hail. Highs 44 to 54. South
wind around 5 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Chance of rain showers. Lows 32 to
42. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs 46 to 56. North wind around 10 mph.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 30 to 40.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny. Highs 45 to 55.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming
mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain. Lows 32 to 42.
.THURSDAY...Rain likely. Highs 43 to 53.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain.
Lows 32 to 42. Highs 43 to 55.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Honeydew 50 39 50 / 100 90 80
$$
CAZ105-050230-
Northern Humboldt Interior-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers and snow showers. Near steady temperature
in the upper 30s. Snow level 1000 feet rising to 2000 feet in the
afternoon. Snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches.
.TONIGHT...Cloudy. Chance of snow showers in the evening. Rain
showers through the night. Snow showers overnight. Near steady
temperature in the upper 30s. Snow level 1000 feet. Snow
accumulations of 2 to 4 inches.
.MONDAY...Rain showers and snow showers likely. Snow level
1000 feet rising to 2000 feet in the afternoon. Snow
accumulations up to 2 inches. Highs 38 to 53.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers and
snow showers. Snow level 1000 feet in the evening. Lows 26 to 36.
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs 40 to 55.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 24 to 34.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny. Highs 40 to 55.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain. Lows
29 to 39.
.THURSDAY...Rain and snow likely. Highs 38 to 53.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain
and snow. Lows 27 to 37. Highs 39 to 54.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Orleans 45 37 49 / 100 90 70
Hoopa 44 37 47 / 90 90 80
Willow Creek 44 36 49 / 90 90 80
$$
CAZ106-050230-
Southern Humboldt Interior-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers, snow showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Snow level 3500 to 4000 feet. Snow accumulations
of 3 to 5 inches. Highs 38 to 53.
.TONIGHT...Rain showers, snow showers likely and slight chance of
thunderstorms in the evening, then rain showers, snow showers and
slight chance of thunderstorms overnight. Some thunderstorms may
produce small hail overnight. Snow level 4000 feet. Snow
accumulations of 3 to 5 inches. Lows 32 to 42.
.MONDAY...Rain showers, snow showers likely and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may produce small hail. Snow
level 4000 feet. Snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches. Highs 38 to
53.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers. Snow level
4000 feet in the evening. Lows 26 to 36.
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs 40 to 55.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 24 to 34.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny. Highs 39 to 54.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming
mostly cloudy. Lows 28 to 38.
.THURSDAY...Mostly cloudy. Rain and snow likely. Highs 36 to 51.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain
and snow. Lows 28 to 38. Highs 39 to 54.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Garberville 51 37 50 / 100 90 80
$$
CAZ107-050230-
Northern Trinity-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST MONDAY...
.TODAY...Snow showers. Near steady temperature in the lower 30s.
Snow level 1000 to 1500 feet. Snow accumulations of 4 to
6 inches.
.TONIGHT...Cloudy. Snow showers. Near steady temperature in the
lower 30s. Snow level 1000 feet. Snow accumulations of 4 to
5 inches.
.MONDAY...Snow showers likely. Snow level 1000 feet rising to
2000 feet in the afternoon. Snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches.
Highs 35 to 50.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of snow showers.
Snow level 1000 feet in the evening. Lows 19 to 29.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 37 to 52.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 18 to 28.
Highs 38 to 53.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming
mostly cloudy. Lows 21 to 31.
.THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain and
snow. Highs 37 to 52. Lows 21 to 31.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Trinity Center 40 36 43 / 90 90 80
Weaverville 40 31 42 / 90 90 80
$$
CAZ108-050230-
Southern Trinity-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST MONDAY...
.TODAY...Snow showers through the day. Rain showers and slight
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Snow level 1000 feet
rising to 2000 feet in the afternoon. Snow accumulations of 4 to
6 inches. Highs 34 to 49.
.TONIGHT...Rain showers likely in the evening. Snow showers
through the night. Rain showers overnight. Near steady
temperature in the mid 30s. Snow level 1000 feet. Snow
accumulations of 3 to 5 inches.
.MONDAY...Rain showers in the morning. Snow showers likely
through the day. Rain showers likely in the afternoon. Snow level
1000 feet rising to 2000 feet in the afternoon. Snow
accumulations of 1 to 3 inches. Highs 35 to 50.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of snow showers.
Snow level 1000 feet in the evening. Lows 22 to 32.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 37 to 52.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 19 to 29.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny. Highs 37 to 52.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming
mostly cloudy. Lows 22 to 32.
.THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain and
snow. Highs 36 to 51. Lows 23 to 33.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Hayfork 40 29 44 / 90 90 70
Ruth 43 29 42 / 90 90 80
$$
CAZ109-050230-
Mendocino Coast-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs
48 to 58. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
.TONIGHT...Slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Rain
showers through the night. Slight chance of thunderstorms
overnight. Some thunderstorms may produce small hail overnight.
Lows 36 to 46. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Rain showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms.
Some thunderstorms may produce small hail. Highs 47 to 57.
Southwest wind around 5 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers. Lows 30 to
40. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs 47 to 57. North wind around 5 mph.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 28 to 38.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny. Highs 47 to 57.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming
mostly cloudy. Lows 31 to 41.
.THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain. Highs
45 to 57. Lows 29 to 39.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Fort Bragg 53 42 52 / 90 90 80
Point Arena 53 45 51 / 90 90 70
$$
CAZ110-050230-
Northwestern Mendocino Interior-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs
42 to 52.
.TONIGHT...Rain showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms
in the evening, then rain showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms overnight. Some thunderstorms may produce small
hail overnight. Lows 31 to 41.
.MONDAY...Rain showers in the morning. Slight chance of
thunderstorms through the day. Chance of rain showers in the
afternoon. Some thunderstorms may produce small hail. Highs 42 to
52.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers. Snow level
3000 feet overnight. Lows 26 to 36.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 44 to 54.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 23 to 33. Highs
44 to 56.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming
mostly cloudy. Lows 26 to 36.
.THURSDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain and snow. Highs 40 to
50.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain. Lows 26 to 36.
.FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain and
snow. Highs 40 to 51. Lows 26 to 36.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain. Highs 44 to 55.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Leggett 49 37 49 / 90 90 80
Laytonville 46 36 46 / 80 90 80
Willits 48 36 48 / 80 90 80
$$
CAZ111-050230-
Northeastern Mendocino Interior-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers, snow showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Snow level 4000 feet. Snow accumulations of 3 to
5 inches. Highs 36 to 51.
.TONIGHT...Rain showers and snow showers likely in the evening,
then rain showers and snow showers overnight. Snow level
4000 feet. Snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches. Lows 30 to 40.
.MONDAY...Rain showers and snow showers likely. Snow level
4000 feet. Snow accumulations up to 2 inches. Highs 36 to 51.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers and snow
showers. Snow level 4000 feet falling to 3000 feet overnight.
Lows 25 to 35.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 38 to 53.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 22 to 32. Highs
39 to 54.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming
mostly cloudy. Lows 24 to 34.
.THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain and
snow. Highs 38 to 53. Lows 24 to 34.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Covelo 46 33 46 / 80 90 80
$$
CAZ112-050230-
Southwestern Mendocino Interior-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers in the morning. Slight chance of
thunderstorms through the day. Rain showers likely in the
afternoon. Highs 48 to 58.
.TONIGHT...Slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Rain
showers through the night. Slight chance of thunderstorms
overnight. Some thunderstorms may produce small hail overnight.
Lows 38 to 48.
.MONDAY...Rain showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms.
Some thunderstorms may produce small hail. Highs 48 to 58.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers. Lows 32 to
42.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 49 to 59.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 29 to 39.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny. Highs 48 to 58.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming
mostly cloudy. Lows 32 to 42.
.THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain. Highs
45 to 58. Lows 32 to 42.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Boonville 52 40 52 / 70 90 70
$$
CAZ113-050230-
Southeastern Mendocino Interior-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms.
Highs 44 to 54.
.TONIGHT...Slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Rain
showers through the night. Slight chance of thunderstorms
overnight. Some thunderstorms may produce small hail overnight.
Lows 35 to 45.
.MONDAY...Rain showers likely in the morning. Slight chance of
thunderstorms through the day. Chance of rain showers in the
afternoon. Some thunderstorms may produce small hail. Highs 45 to
55.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers. Lows 31 to
41.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 45 to 55.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 28 to 38.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny. Highs 46 to 56.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming
mostly cloudy. Lows 30 to 40.
.THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain. Highs
42 to 55. Lows 30 to 40.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Ukiah 53 39 53 / 70 90 70
$$
CAZ114-050230-
Northern Lake-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers and snow showers. Snow accumulations of
4 to 6 inches. Highs 35 to 50.
.TONIGHT...Cloudy. Chance of snow showers in the evening. Rain
showers through the night. Snow showers overnight. Near steady
temperature in the upper 30s. Snow accumulations of 2 to
4 inches.
.MONDAY...Rain showers and snow showers likely. Snow
accumulations up to 2 inches. Highs 36 to 51.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers and
snow showers. Lows 26 to 36.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 37 to 52.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 23 to 33. Highs
38 to 53.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming
mostly cloudy. Lows 24 to 34.
.THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain and
snow. Highs 34 to 48. Lows 25 to 35.
.FRIDAY...Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly
cloudy. Chance of rain and snow. Highs 33 to 48.
.FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain and
snow. Lows 24 to 34. Highs 36 to 51.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Lake Pillsbury 48 27 47 / 80 90 80
$$
CAZ115-050230-
Southern Lake-
319 AM PST Sun Dec 4 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms.
Highs 43 to 54.
.TONIGHT...Cloudy. Rain showers. Lows 34 to 44.
.MONDAY...Rain showers likely. Highs 45 to 55.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers. Lows 31 to
41.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 44 to 55.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 27 to 37. Highs
44 to 55.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming
mostly cloudy. Lows 28 to 38.
.THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain.
Highs 42 to 52. Lows 29 to 39.
.FRIDAY...Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly
cloudy. Slight chance of rain. Highs 41 to 52.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly
cloudy. Chance of rain. Lows 28 to 38.
.SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of rain. Highs 45 to 55.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Lakeport 48 36 49 / 70 90 70
Middletown 53 35 53 / 60 90 80
Clearlake 51 37 51 / 60 80 70
$$
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/CA-Eureka-CA-Zone-Forecast-17630071.php | 2022-12-04 11:47:22 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/CA-Eureka-CA-Zone-Forecast-17630071.php |
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eurofins Discovery, the leading provider of products and services to the drug discovery industry, today announced its collaboration with Invasight, a Switzerland-based biotech developing cancer therapies. The collaboration focuses on advancing first-in-class, small molecule, protein-protein interaction antagonists (PPIAs) against a protein that causes cancer cell invasion.
Invasight is teaming with Eurofins Discovery's DiscoveryOne™, an integrated drug discovery platform that provides expert comprehensive support to progress programs from concept to preclinical development and beyond.
Invasight will combine its own breakthrough technology, ACINDA (Anti-cancer Cell Invasion Drug Discovery Accelerator), which closely mimics the in vivo tumor microenvironment, with Eurofins Discovery's fully integrated capabilities that include medicinal chemistry, in vitro pharmacology, ADME-PK, biomarkers and industry-leading safety pharmacology, to progress to a development candidate.
The DiscoveryOne team's successful track record and experience moving candidates effectively from hit to preclinical candidate, coupled with Invasight's proprietary cancer cell invasion models, are expected to result in high-quality molecules moving rapidly to IND-enabling studies to accelerate therapeutics in the fight against cancer.
About Eurofins Discovery
Eurofins Discovery is recognized as the industry leader for providing drug discovery researchers with the largest and most diverse portfolio of standard and custom in vitro safety & pharmacology assays and panels for drug screening and profiling. In addition to in vitro safety pharmacology strengths, we also offer a broad portfolio of over 3,500 drug discovery services and 1,800 products. These include in vitro assays, cell-based phenotypic assays, safety pharmacology and efficacy, ADME toxicology, medicinal chemistry design, synthetic chemistry, and custom proteins and assay development capabilities. We support a variety of drug discovery targets such as GPCRs, Kinases, Ion Channels, Nuclear Hormone Receptors and other proteins & enzymes. Eurofins Discovery capabilities, expertise, knowledge and skill sets provide clients the benefit of being able to work with a single outsourcing provider (CRO) for all their drug discovery programs.
About Invasight
Invasight specializes in advanced targeted therapies for invasive cancers. The Zurich-based biotech has developed breakthrough technologies enabling discovery and development of first-in-class therapies, including ACINDA, which enables the precise design of small molecule inhibitors against proteins that cause cancer cell invasion. Among its key developments are protein-to-protein interaction antagonists that combine potent anti-tumor activity with a promising safety profile for patients with cancers.
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SOURCE Eurofins Discovery | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/02/14/eurofins-discovery-collaborating-with-invasight-cancer-therapies/ | 2023-02-14 17:52:04 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/02/14/eurofins-discovery-collaborating-with-invasight-cancer-therapies/ |
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vial's tech-enabled CRO has added Marcia Swank to the team. Marcia will be the company's new VP of Ophthalmology. Swank joins the team with over 20 years of experience in ophthalmology and optometry research. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of Ophthalmology at TFS HealthScience. Swank is a demonstrated leader of global teams in clinical research and has conducted trials from Phase I to Phase III across 15+ ophthalmology indications, including posterior and anterior related indications, pediatric indications, and rare diseases.
On her new position, Swank said, "Throughout my career, there has never been a more exciting time in Ophthalmology research. With the rise of innovative therapies and cutting-edge technology, combined with the ever-changing external factors of our society, we've been forced to step back and take a hard look at the processes that make up our industry. We continue to learn from our previous ways of doing things and apply our most valuable lessons. However, we are in a time when we must take a look at how to repair or build the foundation of ophthalmology research with a more efficient, innovative, and collaborative approach than ever before. My passion for ophthalmology research lies not only in finding better options for patients but also in continued learning, the growth of people, and the empowering of teams by providing the support and resources needed; to challenge the barriers that prevent ophthalmology clinical trials from being successful. I'm very excited about the days ahead for Vial Ophthalmology CRO."
Marcia will be working together with Vial's scientific advisory board members, including founding members Dr. Arshad Khanani, Dr. Nancy Holekamp, and Dr. Jeffrey Heier, to refine the CRO to support ophthalmology sponsors' greatest needs.
The Vial CRO promises quick execution and high-quality trial outcomes by leveraging Vial's tech-enabled trial management system, streamlined study startup processes, and proven enrollment playbook. Together, these best-in-class CRO services will accelerate the development of new therapies and devices for ophthalmology sponsors.
See the full release here.
About Vial: Vial's mission is to empower scientists to cure all human diseases. Vial has executed that vision by launching a next-generation Contract Research Organization (CRO) (with slated launches in Ophthalmology CRO, Oncology CRO, Gastroenterology CRO, and a Neurology CRO), a site network (Dermatology Clinical Trials, Ophthalmology Clinical Trials, Gastroenterology Clinical Trials, Women's Health Clinical Trials, Neurology Clinical Trials), and technology platform (VialConnect CTMS) to accelerate research. Vial has over 125 employees, is based in San Francisco, California, and has contributed to over 750 trials from Phase I through Phase IV.
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SOURCE Vial | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/vial-welcomes-marcia-swank-vp-ophthalmology/ | 2022-08-03 00:18:49 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/vial-welcomes-marcia-swank-vp-ophthalmology/ |
CAUGHT ON CAM: Robbers make off with more than $2 million in jewelry, police say
Published: Aug. 8, 2022 at 4:12 PM CDT|Updated: 38 minutes ago
(CNN) – Have you seen these men?
A video released by the New York Police Department Crime Stoppers caught the four of them in a criminal act.
Police said they were stealing jewelry from a store in the Bronx, coming into the shop and using a hammer to break through the display cases, while collecting jewelry pieces.
They got away with more than $2 million worth of merchandise, according to police.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kswo.com/2022/08/08/caught-cam-robbers-make-off-with-more-than-2-million-jewelry-police-say/ | 2022-08-08 21:50:58 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/2022/08/08/caught-cam-robbers-make-off-with-more-than-2-million-jewelry-police-say/ |
(The Hill) – Twitter’s former security chief, who alleged the company has major security deficiencies in a bombshell whistleblower disclosure, will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September, the committee said Wednesday.
The whistleblower, Peiter “Mudge” Zatko, will participate in a hearing aimed at examining the allegations of security failures at Twitter.
“Mr. Zatko’s allegations of widespread security failures and foreign state actor interference at Twitter raise serious concerns. If these claims are accurate, they may show dangerous data privacy and security risks for Twitter users around the world,” Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and ranking member Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said in a joint statement.
“The Senate Judiciary Committee will investigate this issue further with a full Committee hearing this work period, and take further steps as needed to get to the bottom of these alarming allegations,” the senators added.
In an 84-page disclosure, published by The Washington Post on Tuesday, Zatko alleged Twitter has not been complying with a 2011 consent order from the Federal Trade Commission that called for the company to create and maintain a security program designed to protect privacy and nonpublic consumer information.
Zatko also alleged the platform is vulnerable to exploitation by foreign governments.
Twitter has pushed back strongly on Zatko’s allegations.
“What we’ve seen so far is a false narrative about Twitter and our privacy and data security practices that is riddled with inconsistencies and inaccuracies and lacks important context,” a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday. “Mr. Zatko’s allegations and opportunistic timing appear designed to capture attention and inflict harm on Twitter, its customers and its shareholders.”
The complaint in part references a back-and-forth between Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO who is trying to back out of his deal to buy Twitter for $44 billion.
Musk has accused Twitter of not providing information about the number of spam bots on the platform, an accusation the platform has pushed back on.
Zatko accused the Twitter CEO of misleading Musk and the public about the number of spam accounts on the platform and how the platform counts them. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/twitter-whistleblower-to-testify-at-senate-hearing/ | 2022-08-24 23:08:43 | 0 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/twitter-whistleblower-to-testify-at-senate-hearing/ |
’Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ trailer debuts at Comic-Con
Posted/updated on: July 25, 2022 at 7:48 amThe trailer for Marvel's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has arrived.
The highly-anticipated first look debuted at San Diego Comic-Con over the weekend and shows glimpses of life without Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa. Boseman died in 2020 of colon cancer.
Per a press release, "As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia and Everett Ross and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda."
Set to Nigerian singer Tems' cover of Bob Marley's classic "No Woman, No Cry," fans are treated to clips of various scenes from the upcoming sequel, including peeks at returning favorites like Letitia Wright's Shuri and Lupita Nyung'o's Nakia. The brief clips also show new life being born, and ends with a glimpse of someone new wearing the Black Panther costume -- though we aren't shown who that new someone is.
The only words spoken during the emotional two-minute-long trailer come from Angela Bassett's Queen Ramonda.
"I am queen of the most powerful nation in the world, and my entire family is gone!" she shouts. "Have I not given everything?"
Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the cast of which also includes Winston Duke, Martin Freeman, Florence Kasumba, Michaela Coel and more, opens in theaters November 11.
Marvel is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.
Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. | https://ktbb.com/post/?p=1146981 | 2022-07-25 15:46:19 | 0 | https://ktbb.com/post/?p=1146981 |
If you're sniffling and sneezing you're not alone. Mild winters, like the one the eastern U.S. has had, can bring longer allergy seasons, as warmer temperatures prompt some plants to produce more pollen.
For the millions of Americans who battle allergies, taking over the counter antihistamines, often combined with a steroid nasal spray, is enough to tamp down symptoms temporarily. But Abigail Bortnick, 41, wanted a way to prevent allergic reactions over the long term.
"I had really bad seasonal allergies," Bortnick says. Tests showed she was allergic to grasses and weeds, and she recalls feeling lousy when pollen counts rose. "I would have a runny nose, itchy eyes, the whole deal," says Bortnick, who lives in the Washington, D.C. area.
Allergy shots were one option, but with young children and a busy career, it wasn't convenient to drive to the doctor's office each week to get a shot. So, her allergist offered her an alternative, called sublingual immunotherapy, known as SLIT, a form of exposure therapy. She was given liquid drops she can administer herself. "I liked the idea of not having to go in for shots and being able to do it at home," Bortnick says.
Five drops, personalized serum
The serum comes in a small bottle with a pump on top. Once each day she puts five drops under her tongue. "It makes it easy," Bortnick says. She can't eat or drink for 30 minutes, so she aims to take them at the same time every day, so they don't interfere with meals.
She started the allergy drops a few years ago and has seen a significant improvement. "I've absolutely noticed that my allergies are much better," Bortnick says. She's also noticed she has more energy, perhaps because she's sleeping better due to less congestion and inflammation. When she starts a new vial she sometimes gets a "slight bit of itchiness" in her mouth, but that subsides quickly. And at the height of grass pollen season she still takes Claritin, but her symptoms are much less severe.
Both allergy shots and SLIT are forms of allergy immunotherapy. Patients are exposed to very small amounts of the specific things they're allergic to with the goal of training the immune system to tolerate them, gradually, over time. Doctors make SLIT allergy drops the same way they make allergy shots, mixing extracts of allergens. For each patient, the serum is personally tailored to include the specific mix of irritants that trigger their allergies.
"Part of the beauty of the therapy is its convenience," says Dr. Rachel Schreiber, an allergist in Rockville, Maryland who treats Bortnick. Schreiber says patients typically stay on SLIT for several years. "We reevaluate yearly to determine whether we should continue the therapy," she explains. Sometimes patients stop too early and symptoms can recur. "It's easy to restart," in those cases, Schreiber says, and many of her patients improve over time.
Tablets, too
There are two kinds of sublingual immunotherapy, the liquid drops mixed by allergists that Bortnick takes, as well as dissolvable tablets, available for single allergens. The Food and Drug Administration has approved four tablets, including one for ragweed, one for dust mites, and two grass pollen allergy tablets, including one for timothy grass. The tablets melt within a minute or two of being placed under a person's tongue. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says the tablets have been shown to provide long-term improvement.
The most common side effects of the tablets are temporary itching or burning in the mouth, which typically resolves quickly. Studies show the tablets have a good safety profile, though a severe allergic reaction is possible, so patients on SLIT tablets are also prescribed an epinephrine auto injector, known as an Epi-Pen. Typically, insurance covers the cost of these tablets.
"They're very effective," says Dr. Howard Boltansky, an allergist at Johns Hopkins, but the main downside is that the SLIT tablets each target only a single allergen. Since most people are allergic to multiple things, many patients prefer the drop option.
Off-label use
Boltansky has been in practice more than 35 years, and recently started offering SLIT allergy drops. (He sees patients at Hopkins' otolaryngology center in Lutherville, Maryland.) "The use of sublingual immunotherapy drops has increased because of the ability to include multiple allergens that are not available in the currently FDA approved tablet, " Boltansky says. And, as patients learn about this option, they like the flexibility and convenience, which helps explain the increased interest too, he says.
The drawback is that the SLIT allergy drops are not FDA-approved, so they are not covered by most insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.
Boltansky explains, when he makes the allergy drops, he uses the same FDA-approved extracts he uses to make allergy shots. The only difference is, instead of injecting the serum into a person's arm, it's put into a dropper-bottle, for the patient to administer at home. So, the drops are an 'off-label' use of the extracts. "I am completely comfortable using allergy extracts that are FDA approved in an 'off-label' fashion," Boltansky says, pointing to an excellent safety record.
In Europe, many doctors have used this approach for years, Boltansky says. And, just like with the SLIT tablet, doctors also prescribe an Epi-Pen to patients taking the allergy drops, though he says serious allergic reactions are rare.
When a patient begins sublingual immunotherapy, the exposure to the allergens is very controlled. "We start off giving people small amounts of what they're allergic to," Boltansky says. "Gradually, as their body says it's OK, we increase the dose a little more," he says. The drops are made from purified extracts, so Boltansky has a bottle of ragweed pollen, another for tree pollen, as well as extracts for dust mites and cats. So, if a person is allergic to all four of these, "we mix them together into a customized vial of allergy drops," he explains.
"When we start someone on immunotherapy, whether it be drops or a shot, we approach it as initially a test," Boltansky says. They try it for about six months, and if they're doing well, they continue the treatment. He says about 80% of patients respond well, and the treatment usually lasts 3 to 5 years.
Not all allergists offer SLIT allergy drops, given the "off-label" status, and the lack of insurance coverage. "There is a wide range of effective and ineffective doses of SLIT liquid formulations," according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. That's why people should find a doctor who is experienced at testing and formulating an immunotherapy treatment, such as a board-certified allergist. Also, some board-certified otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat doctor, known as ENT's) have expertise in SLIT.
Abigail Bortnick pays about $600 a year out of pocket for her allergy drops. "I did not love that it's not covered by insurance, but I thought the convenience factor outweighed the cost," she says.
Boltansky says he'd like to see more research to show how effective SLIT allergy drops are in preventing symptoms. "I'm hopeful that over time the studies will get done and the FDA will review them, and that they will be approved," Boltansky says. In the meantime, doctors will continue the off label use for patients who are good candidates for immunotherapy.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wqcs.org/2023-04-08/more-pollen-more-allergies-exposure-therapy-in-several-forms-treats-symptoms | 2023-04-10 09:52:50 | 1 | https://www.wqcs.org/2023-04-08/more-pollen-more-allergies-exposure-therapy-in-several-forms-treats-symptoms |
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts woman who released a swarm of bees on sheriff’s deputies as they tried to serve an eviction notice is facing multiple assault and battery charges, authorities said.
Rorie S. Woods, 55, pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on Oct. 12 in Springfield District Court and was released without bail, Masslive.com, citing court records, reported on Wednesday.
She and other protesters maintain that they were trying to prevent a wrongful eviction. The homeowner, Alton King, brought evidence of a bankruptcy stay to court the next day, at which point “everything should have stopped,” said Grace Ross of the Massachusetts Alliance Against Predatory Lending.
Woods’ lawyer did not immediately respond to a voicemail left by The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Hampden County deputies were met by protesters when they went to the home in Longmeadow on the morning of Oct. 12, according to the official department report.
Woods, who lives in Hadley, arrived in an SUV towing a trailer carrying bee hives and started “shaking” them, breaking the cover off one and causing hundreds of bees to swarm out and initially sting one deputy, according to the report.
Woods, who put on a beekeeper’s suit to protect herself, was eventually handcuffed but not before several more sheriff’s department employees were stung, including three who are allergic to bees, the report said.
When Woods was told that several officers were allergic, she said “Oh, you’re allergic? Good,” according to the report.
Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi said Woods could have faced more serious charges if anything worse had happened. “We had one staff member go the hospital, and, luckily, he was all right,” Cocchi said.
The deputies were simply doing their duty, Chief Deputy Sheriff Robert Hoffman said.
“We had a court order that’s been presented to us and it’s our job to effectuate that court order,” Hoffman said. “It was Miss Woods’ arrival with her vehicle and her trailer that really caused things to go haywire.” | https://cw33.com/strange-news/ap-strange-news/ap-woman-charged-with-sending-bee-swarm-on-deputies-at-eviction/ | 2022-10-20 21:23:22 | 0 | https://cw33.com/strange-news/ap-strange-news/ap-woman-charged-with-sending-bee-swarm-on-deputies-at-eviction/ |
Canadiens G Carey Price still experiencing knee pain
MONTREAL (AP) — When it comes to playing again, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price has a long way to go. There are some important steps along the way, too. Sidelined by a lingering knee injury, the 35-year-old Price is on long-term injured reserve, and there is no timetable for his return. Price says his focus has gravitated toward his daily life and not ending his 15-year run in the NHL. He says his goal right now “is to just be pain-free from day to day.” | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/10/24/canadiens-g-carey-price-still-experiencing-knee-pain/ | 2022-10-24 22:45:03 | 1 | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/10/24/canadiens-g-carey-price-still-experiencing-knee-pain/ |
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s State Election Board won’t take over running elections in the state’s most populous county, ending an investigation that had sparked fears of partisan meddling.
The board voted unanimously on Tuesday to end its performance review of Fulton County nearly two years after it had begun.
Multiple board members said that they want the county to continue to work on improvements before the 2024 election and not to backslide on work already done.
“The question is, are we going to draw a line in the sand and say let us go, be done with this, and leave us alone, which is a little bit of what I’m hearing… or are we going to say it’s time to change?” said State Election Board Chair Bill Duffey.
Fulton County officials noted that the review panel found no violations of state law or rules across nine elections that it monitored.
“I’m proud of the work of Fulton County and what we’ve achieved in the last few years and feel fully confident moving into the future that we’ll be setting the standard for how elections need to be run here and across the country,” said Cathy Woolard, the outgoing chair of the Fulton County election board.
A takeover legally required state officials to find the county violated state election law or rules three times in the previous two election cycles and hadn’t fixed violations, or to find county officials had shown “nonfeasance, malfeasance, or gross negligence” in two elections over two years.
If the county board had been removed, the state board would have appointed a temporary administrator.
The State Election Board appointed a three-person panel in August 2021 after Republican lawmakers used a provision of a sweeping election law passed earlier that year to request a review of Fulton County’s handling of elections.
The bipartisan review panel found Fulton County had a history of election problems but has also shown considerable improvement, with the panel recommending in January that the state should not take over.
Former President Donald Trump had zeroed in on the county after he lost Georgia by a slim margin in the November 2020 general election. In phone calls to state election officials and in public comments, Trump made unfounded claims of widespread election fraud in Fulton.
Actions he took as he tried to overturn his election loss, including a phone call to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, led Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to open an ongoing investigation into whether Trump and others illegally meddled in the state’s election.
Fulton County includes most of the city of Atlanta and is home to about 11% of the state’s electorate. A Democratic stronghold, it has long been targeted by Republicans, and Democrats said they feared the 2021 law would be used by Republicans to tamper with how elections were run in Democratic-controlled counties across the state.
That hasn’t yet happened, with one State Election Board member, Republican appointee Matt Mashburn, saying Tuesday that “the talking heads were wrong.”
“I think the process has been very good and thorough and everybody took their time,” Mashburn said.
However, most state board members and Fulton County officials said they believed the amount of time that unpaid volunteer review board members donated was unsustainable, and that changes to the process will be needed going forward to make it practical.
“A two-year process is really not sustainable,” said board member Sara Tindall Ghazal, a Democratic appointee. “We do need something else.”
Duffey asked Fulton County to help develop a more collaborative review process, where counties could advise each other. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/politics/ap-politics/georgia-officials-wont-take-over-elections-in-states-largest-democrat-heavy-county/ | 2023-06-21 03:37:28 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/politics/ap-politics/georgia-officials-wont-take-over-elections-in-states-largest-democrat-heavy-county/ |
WFO SPOKANE Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Thursday, June 9, 2022
_____
FLOOD WATCH
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Spokane WA
1227 PM PDT Thu Jun 9 2022
...The Flood Watch has been upgraded to a Flood Warning for the
following rivers in Washington...
Stehekin River at Stehekin affecting Chelan County.
...FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A FLOOD WARNING...
The Flood Watch is cancelled for
the Stehekin River at Stehekin.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 9:30 AM PDT Wednesday, June 08 the stage was 22.2 feet.
- Forecast...Flood stage may be reached tomorrow morning.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/WA-WFO-SPOKANE-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17231177.php | 2022-06-09 21:55:25 | 1 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/WA-WFO-SPOKANE-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17231177.php |
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Three days before Elon Musk agreed to buy Twitter, the world’s richest man tweeted a photo of Bill Gates and used a crude sexual term to make fun of his belly.
Playful, aggressive and often juvenile, Musk’s past tweets show how he has used social media to craft his public image as a brash billionaire unafraid to offend. They may also reveal clues as to how Musk will govern the platform he hopes to own.
“Look at the feed: It’s all over the place. It’s erratic. At times it’s pretty extreme,” said Jennifer Grygiel, a Syracuse University professor who studies social media and who recently assigned Musk’s tweets as reading material for their students. “It paints him as some sort of rebel leader who will take control of the public square to save it. That is a myth he has constructed.”
Musk joined Twitter in 2010 and now has more than 85 million followers — the seventh most of any account and the highest for any business leader. He had mused about buying the site before he agreed on Monday to pay $44 billion for Twitter, which he said he hopes to turn into a haven where all speech is allowed.
“I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means,” Musk wrote in a tweet.
As the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk uses his Twitter account to make business announcements and promote his enterprises. He muses about technology and trade, but has also posted jokes about women’s breasts and once compared Canada’s prime minister to Hitler. He regularly weighs in on global events, as he did in March 2020 when he tweeted that “The coronavirus pandemic is dumb.”
He’s also used the account to punch back at critics, such as when he calleda diver working to rescue boys trapped in a cave in Thailand a “pedo,” short for pedophile. The diver had previously criticized Musk’s proposal to use a sub to rescue the boys. Musk, who won a defamation suit filed by the diver, later said he never intended “pedo” to be interpreted as “pedophile.”
A few years ago, after software engineer Cher Scarlett criticized Musk’s handling of the cave incident, the tech billionaire fired back and she was soon being harassed by dozens of Musk’s online fans. He later deleted the posts, but not before Scarlett had to lock down her account because she was receiving so many hateful messages.
“It’s ironic to me that somebody who claims they want to buy Twitter to protect free speech has such thin skin,” she said. “He’s a very smart man, and when he replies to people that criticize him, he knows what he’s doing. To me that’s not championing free speech, it’s weaponizing free speech, and I think that’s what he’ll do owning this platform.”
Nineteen-year-old Jack Sweeney got Musk’s attention when he created an automated Twitter account that tracked the movements of Musk’s jet. Musk responded by offering Sweeney $5,000 to pull the account. When Sweeney refused, Musk blocked him on Twitter.
Sweeney said he’s worried he may get kicked off the site entirely if Musk’s takeover is approved. But he said he likes Musk’s free speech absolutism, and hopes he sees it through.
“He’ll make it more open, and I think that’s a good thing,” Sweeney said.
Musk’s use of Twitter has also led to problems for his own companies. In one August 2018 tweet, for instance, Musk asserted that he had the funding to take Tesla private for $420 a share, although a court has ruled that it wasn’t true. That led to an SEC investigation that Musk is still fighting.
More recently, Musk appeared to have violated SEC rules that required him to disclose that he’d acquired a 5% stake in Twitter; instead he waited until he had more than 9%. Experts say these issues aren’t likely to affect his Twitter acquisition.
Last year another federal agency, the National Labor Relations Board, ordered Musk to delete a tweet that officials said illegally threatened to cut stock options for Tesla employees who joined the United Auto Workers union.
Those tweets helped cement Musk’s reputation as a brash outsider, a workingman’s billionaire, Grygiel said. But that doesn’t mean he is equipped to run a social media platform with more than 200 million users, the professor added.
“Maybe he wants to burn it down,” Grygiel said. “I don’t know. But I do know that it shows that no one person should have this kind of power.” | https://www.cbs42.com/news/business/what-musks-past-tweets-reveal-about-twitters-next-owner/ | 2022-04-27 21:20:49 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/business/what-musks-past-tweets-reveal-about-twitters-next-owner/ |
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Six longtime partners form SEC Registered Investment Adviser and financial planning firm to bring expanded financial services and fiduciary-driven wealth management to clients in Kansas City and beyond
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tax Favored Benefits, Inc. (TFB), a 40-year old, third-generation financial services firm headquartered in the Kansas City area, today announced the formation of a sister company and new business entity, TFB Advisors, LLC. TFB Advisors is a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) and wealth management firm driven by fiduciary standards that will offer a new suite of solutions to current and prospective clients. The current leadership team remains in place at TFB, an established brand and respected firm that has been serving business owners, families and individuals since 1978. The newly-established TFB Advisors leadership team includes six partners who have worked together as colleagues and peers for many years: David B. Wentz, J.D., Bill Stapp, J.D., Josh Selzer, J.D., Tim Gaigals, CFP®, Dan Dolan, ChFC®, CLU®, LUTCF, and Adam Bettis, AIF®.
"We've been working together for many years now," said Wentz, "but it was time to formalize our partnership. This new entity, TFB Advisors, will allow us to best serve our clients. The decision to form TFB Advisors, LLC as a new sister company to Tax Favored Benefits, Inc. was driven by the desire to enhance the client experience."
"We will be announcing new services, investment offerings, financial planning solutions, and technology as we continue our ever-evolving journey and quest to enhance all aspects of the client experience," added Selzer. We have been growing together under the TFB brand since 2005. We're headed in a great direction and plan to continue our growth trajectory through new staff hires and advisor recruiting efforts."
"Once the transition of fee-based assets has been completed, TFB Advisors expects total assets under management (AUM) to be approximately $2 billion," said Gaigals. "The creation of this partnership between highly experienced and proven, long tenured advisors establishes the opportunity to grow in the future. The new RIA structure will allow us to offer new investment and financial planning solutions to clients."
Custodial services will be provided by Schwab Advisor Services and AssetMark, Inc. Schwab is one of the nation's largest providers of custody, trading, and support services for independent investment advisors. Independent investment advisors are not owned by, affiliated with, or supervised by Schwab. AssetMark is a leading provider of extensive wealth management and technology solutions that help financial advisors meet the ever-changing needs of their clients.
Over the past 40 years, TFB has provided financial advice, business planning, insurance and brokerage services to individuals, families and business owners. Business owner clients include professional law firms, CPAs, medical and dental associations, farm implement and supply dealers, technology companies, institutions, and endowments. Individuals and families also make up a large component of the firm's clientele.
"At Tax Favored Benefits (TFB), we serve as a partner in helping individuals, families and business owners achieve financial success," said Wentz. "Headquartered in Kansas City, we are driven by our Midwestern values and work ethic and powered by a wide range of resources. Our experienced professionals provide a full suite of wealth, investment, and retirement planning services to clients across the country. We can help them achieve their version of personal and professional success because we put their best interests first, at all times and in all situations. It's that simple."
TFB Advisors may also offer 3(38) ERISA services. This special type of fiduciary is specifically appointed to have full discretionary authority and control to make the actual investment decisions. This means that for its corporate plan sponsor services, the firm serves as an investment fiduciary, lifting the majority of investment responsibilities from the plan sponsor to TFB, which then becomes responsible for the investment selection, monitoring and replacement of plan options. The plan sponsor is informed before any changes are made. This allows plan sponsors to focus their time and energy on other business matters while outsourcing their fiduciary responsibility to TFB.
"We love working with our clients, helping them grow, finding affordable retirement solutions, and meeting their needs over time," said Jeff Pytlinski, President of both Tax Favored Benefits, Inc. and TFB Advisors, LLC. "We are proud of the long-term relationships we've built with our clients and our advisors. We've worked hard to build a great company culture."
Advisors who are seeking an independent business model are invited to contact Jeff Pytlinski for a confidential exploratory conversation. "When an advisor joins our firm, they know they are not in it by themselves. We work as their partner to help them grow and realize success," said Pytlinski. "We have created a great place for entrepreneurial advisors to thrive and grow. We welcome inquiries from advisors who are looking for a new, dynamic team and business structure."
Tax Favored Benefits, Inc. (TFB) is a 40 year old company and specializes in retirement plans, employee benefit programs, personal planning, and investments. Headquartered in Kansas City, and serving clients nationwide, they are driven by their strong work ethic, and powered by a wide range of professional resources and work force that includes J.D.s, MBAs, CFPs®, and a CFA®. TFB is a third-generation firm, founded by R. David Wentz, J.D., ChFC®. His son, David B. Wentz, J.D., now runs the business as CEO, and his son Vance Wentz is now in the business serving clients as an advisor.
TFB Advisors, LLC (TFB Advisors), the newly formed business entity, and their experienced professionals provide a full suite of wealth, investment and retirement planning services to clients across the country. The teams work together to serve as a partner in helping individuals, families and business owners achieve financial success.
To learn more about how they help clients succeed today, visit: TaxFavoredBenefits.com.
Marie Swift or Dori Thomas
Impact Communications, Inc.
913-649-5009
ImpactMediaManager@ImpactCommunications.org
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Tax Favored Benefits, Inc. | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/tax-favored-benefits-inc-announces-formation-new-sister-company-tfb-advisors-llc/ | 2022-08-16 12:20:15 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/tax-favored-benefits-inc-announces-formation-new-sister-company-tfb-advisors-llc/ |
Judge delays end of asylum restrictions to late December
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday granted the Biden administration a five-week delay to end far-reaching asylum restrictions, writing in upper-case letters that he was doing so “WITH GREAT RELUCTANCE.”
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan acknowledged in his brief order that attorneys for asylum-seeking families didn’t object to the delay and that the administration wasn’t challenging his decision, just asking for time to prepare.
The Trump-era policy denying migrants rights under U.S. and international law to request asylum on public-health grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19 is now set to end Dec. 21.
Sullivan ruled in Washington on Tuesday that enforcement must end immediately for families and single adults, calling the ban “arbitrary and capricious.” The administration has not applied it to children traveling alone.
Within hours, the Justice Department asked the judge to let the order take effect Dec. 21, giving it five weeks to prepare. Plaintiffs including the American Civil Liberties Union didn’t oppose the delay.
“This transition period is critical to ensuring that (the Department of Homeland Security) can continue to carry out its mission to secure the Nation’s borders and to conduct its border operations in an orderly fashion,” government attorneys wrote.
Sullivan, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, wrote in a 49-page ruling that authorities failed to consider the impact on migrants and possible alternatives.
The ruling appears to conflict with another in May by a federal judge in Louisiana that kept the restrictions. ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt said Sullivan’s order renders the Louisiana ruling moot.
If Sullivan’s ruling stands, it would upend border enforcement. Migrants have been expelled from the United States more than 2.4 million times since the rule took effect in March 2020.
The practice was authorized under Title 42 of a broader 1944 law covering public health.
Before the judge in Louisiana kept the ban in place in May, U.S. officials said they were planning for as many as 18,000 migrants a day under the most challenging scenario, a staggering number. In May, migrants were stopped an average of 7,800 times a day, the highest of Joe Biden’s presidency.
Immigration advocacy groups have pressed hard to end Title 42, but more moderate Democrats, including U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, wanted it to stay when the administration tried to lift it in May.
The ban has been unevenly enforced by nationality, falling largely on migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador — in addition to Mexicans — because Mexico allows them to be returned from the United States. Last month, Mexico began accepting Venezuelans who are expelled from the United States under Title 42, causing a sharp drop in Venezuelans seeking asylum at the U.S. border.
Nationalities that are less likely to be subject to Title 42 have become a growing presence at the border, confident they will be released in the United States to pursue their immigration cases. In October, Cubans were the second-largest nationality at the border after Mexicans, followed by Venezuelans and Nicaraguans.
The Homeland Security Department said Wednesday that it would use the next five weeks to “prepare for an orderly transition to new policies at the border.”
“We continue to work with countries throughout the Western Hemisphere to take enforcement actions against the smuggling networks that entice migrants to take the dangerous and often deadly journey to our land borders and to address the root causes of irregular migration that are challenging our hemisphere as a whole,” the department said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kold.com/2022/11/16/judge-delays-end-asylum-restrictions-late-december/ | 2022-11-16 18:14:17 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/2022/11/16/judge-delays-end-asylum-restrictions-late-december/ |
JERUSALEM (AP) — Tens of thousands of protesters on Tuesday blocked highways and train stations and massed in central Tel Aviv during a day of countrywide demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious judicial overhaul plan.
The protests, now in their seventh month, have taken on a sense of urgency in recent days as Netanyahu and his allies in parliament march ahead with the program. The first bill in the package – a measure that seeks to limit the Supreme Court’s oversight powers – could become law as soon as next week.
The unrest also cast a shadow over a visit to the White House by Israel’s figurehead president, Isaac Herzog, who was invited to Washington to celebrate Israel’s 75th anniversary.
Herzog, a political centrist, has been involved in behind-the-scenes efforts to broker a compromise on the judicial overhaul, which has strained relations between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden.
In a meeting with Biden in the Oval Office, Herzog acknowledged that Israel was “going through a heated debate as a society.” But he said that debate shows that Israeli society is “strong and resilient.” He added that the country should seek an “amicable consensus.”
Biden, who has criticized the overhaul plan, said that the U.S. commitment to Israel was strong and the bond between the two countries was “unbreakable.”
Netanyahu and his allies say the overhaul is needed to rein in the powers of an unelected judiciary – particularly the Supreme Court – that they believe is overly interventionist in government decisions.
Their opponents, representing a wide cross section of Israeli society, say the plan is a power grab by Netanyahu and his ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies that will destroy the country’s fragile system of checks and balances. They also say the prime minister, who is on trial for corruption charges, and his allies are motivated by various grievances against the justice system.
Late Tuesday, protesters thronged outside the U.S. diplomatic offices, packed the central square of Tel Aviv and crippled the city’s main highway. Police on horseback galloped among the crowds, trying to clear them away.
Earlier, protesters gathered outside Israel’s stock exchange and military headquarters. Business leaders have repeatedly warned that a weakened legal system will deter foreign investors. Reservists in key military units, including fighter pilots and cyber warfare agents, have threatened to stop reporting for duty.
Demonstrators, many of them reservists, created human chains and blocked one of the entrances to Israel’s military headquarters in central Tel Aviv.
Protesters flooded train stations during afternoon rush hour. Many blew horns or held up blue and white Israeli flags.
Outside the Tel Aviv stock exchange, demonstrators ignited smoke bombs, drummed and chanted, and held up signs reading “save our startup nation.”
“We came to the stock exchange because this is the symbol of what this craziness of dictatorship is doing to Israel’s economy,” said protester Tzvia Bader. “We’ve become a third world country. There is no chance for our economy.”
A group of 161 reservists signed a letter to the commander of the Israeli air force saying they would not report for duty, and that the overhaul was “leading to dictatorship.” Israel’s military chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, warned that a refusal to report for duty “harms the army and the security of the state of Israel.”
The Israel Medical Association also announced that doctors would hold a two-hour strike in protest of the legislation on Wednesday. Emergency operations will proceed as normal, said Dr. Hagai Levine, a former head of Israel’s association of public health doctors.
Police said at least 45 people were arrested on public disturbance charges.
Netanyahu heads the most ultranationalist and religiously conservative government in Israel’s 75-year history.
His overhaul plan has exposed wide rifts in Israeli society – largely based on religious and economic differences.
Netanyahu’s allies are motivated by an array of grievances against the court system.
His ultra-Orthodox allies, for instance, fear the courts will strip away exemptions that allow young religious men to skip otherwise compulsory military service in order to pursue seminary studies. Others have spoken out against rights for LGBTQ+ people, while several Cabinet ministers are hard-line settler leaders who remain furious about Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005 and accuse the courts of siding with Palestinians.
The protesters, on the other hand, are largely members of Israel’s secular, middle class who believe the government is planning to clamp down on their way of life and on the country’s liberal traditions.
The coalition took office in December after winning the country’s fifth election in under four years. That election, like the previous four that ended in deadlock, were referendums on Netanyahu’s fitness to serve as prime minister while on trial.
The weekly mass protests led Netanyahu to suspend the overhaul in March but he revived the plan last month after compromise talks with the political opposition collapsed.
The Israeli parliament gave initial approval last week to a key portion of the overhaul that would prevent the Supreme Court from striking down decisions it finds “unreasonable.” Netanyahu’s coalition spent Tuesday rejecting 26,000 objections to the bill filed by opposition lawmakers.
The law is meant to serve as a safeguard against corruption and improper appointments to key positions. But Netanyahu’s allies look at it as an infringement on the powers of elected officials.
The judges invoked the clause earlier this year when they said the appointment of a veteran politician to the Cabinet was unreasonable because of his past conviction for accepting bribes and plea bargain over tax offenses.
The bill has already received preliminary approval in parliament and is scheduled to receive formal approval next week unless Netanyahu decides to freeze the legislation.
Other proposed laws in the overhaul would grant lawmakers greater control over the appointment of judges and give parliament the power to overturn high court decisions and pass laws impervious to judicial review.
The protests continued as Herzog landed in Washington. He was to address Congress on Wednesday.
The visit has drawn attention to Biden’s refusal so far to invite Netanyahu to the White House. Such visits are standard protocol for Israeli prime ministers. But Biden has said he is unhappy with Netanyahu’s new government – both because of the overhaul and because of rapid expansion of West Bank settlements, built on occupied lands claimed by the Palestinians.
Biden spoke with Netanyahu by phone on Monday and invited him to meet in the U.S. this fall. But he did not say whether the meeting would take place at the White House or a more neutral location, such as the United Nations General Assembly.
___
AP correspondents Julia Frankel in Jerusalem and Sam McNeil in Tel Aviv contributed reporting. | https://who13.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-israeli-protesters-block-highways-in-day-of-disruption-against-netanyahus-judicial-overhaul-plan/ | 2023-07-19 05:11:11 | 0 | https://who13.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-israeli-protesters-block-highways-in-day-of-disruption-against-netanyahus-judicial-overhaul-plan/ |
FROM NORTH AMERICA SYNDICATE, 300 W 57th STREET, 15th FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10019
CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT. 236
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH #12345_20221031
FOR RELEASE WEEK OF OCT. 31, 2022 (COL. 1)
BYLINE: By Keith Roach, M.D.
TITLE: Swallowing pills together is OK, unless meds shouldn't interact
---
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have always wondered if it matters if you swallow a bunch of pills in one swallow or if it would be better to space them out. I take a bunch, like Eliquis, dicyclomine, gabapentin, etc. -- B.A.
ANSWER: With most pills, it's OK to take them as a bunch together, if you can tolerate doing so (I've known people who have a tough time taking multiple pills at the same time due to gagging). There are a few combinations of pills that shouldn't be taken together, such as tetracyclines and calcium, but these should be labelled clearly on your bottle. A few medicines, like alendronate (Fosamax), can't be taken with any other medicines. Some medicines, including all the ones you mentioned, can cause sedation, which can be worse if taken together.
As always, your pharmacist is your best friend for questions about medication interactions.
DEAR DR ROACH: Despite having family history of high cholesterol (including early death due to heart failure), I was told at 53 that my 10-year risk is not alarming. I do not smoke nor drink.
I recently had some tests done and was told that my Lipoprotein (a) is above normal. I am wondering if that may explain my concern of why, despite keeping a very careful diet over two decades (and a fairly good Mediterranean diet before, as well) and an ideal BMI, my figures are not getting better. (I still have a high LDL, low HDL and high triglycerides.)
After I recovered from COVID, I seemed to have a high pulse and was advised that my stress ECG is positive. I find aerobic exercise very challenging, but keep active when I can. I tend to be anemic and feel tired very often due to heavy periods, but I take iron supplements.
What should I do concerning my cholesterol in my blood? I am concerned that my high figures may indicate a silent serious illness. -- M.H.
ANSWER: The 10-year risk is a good place to start in deciding whether elevated cholesterol needs to be treated; however, the 10-year risk does not consider some risk factors, including the high Lp(a), which is an independent risk factor on top of your high LDL and low HDL. The Lp(a) doesn't affect the other cholesterol numbers.
Diet and exercise do tend to help cholesterol numbers, and definitely help reduce heart disease risk, but it is possible to have cholesterol results that are not ideal despite a very good lifestyle.
A positive stress test is a concerning finding and is usually followed up by a definitive test for blockages in the artery, such as an angiogram. The results of that will absolutely guide your cardiologist as far as further treatment, including whether you need treatment for your cholesterol numbers.
Although statin drugs do not reduce Lp(a), they do reduce the risk of heart disease in people with elevated levels of Lp(a). I follow the advice of experts who recommend a lower threshold for medication treatment in people with high Lp(a) levels, especially in people with a family history of heart blockages or heart attacks.
* * *
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu or send mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.
(c) 2022 North America Syndicate Inc.
All Rights Reserved
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Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music will premiere on HBO tonight at 9/8c.
The concert film documents New York icon Taylor Mac’s “joyously queer” 24-hour musical performance, charting the history of the U.S. from 1776 to present day, according to HBO.
Those without basic cable can still stream the concert documentary with HBO’s streaming service, MAX.
More about Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music
In 2016, Taylor Mac performed a one-time-only, 24-hour immersive theatrical experience in front of a live audience at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn.
According to HBO, the concert offered an alternative take on U.S. history, narrated through music that was popular from the nation’s founding to the present, with Mac transforming hourly by changing into elaborate, decade-specific costumes by Mac’s longtime collaborator Machine Dazzle.
The documentary captures Mac’s marathon performance in New York, alongside footage from other shows on the tour, which played throughout the world. In the show, Mac and 24 musicians interpret 24 songs, from “Yankee Doodle” to “Gimme Shelter,” “Born to Run” and “Gloria,” with one performer leaving the stage each hour, until Mac is on stage alone in the final 24th hour.
What is Max?
Max, formerly known as HBO Max, describes itself as the culture-defining entertainment service for every mood.
When signing up, users can either select Max’s limited-ad plan for $9.99 a month, the ad-free plan for $15.99 a month or the “ultimate ad-free plan” for $19.99 a month. Max also offers annual subscription plans for an overall discounted price.
Those who sign up for the Max add-on channel through their Amazon Prime account can also get a 7-day free trial and watch for free before committing to anything.
“With a variety of genres that include your favorite series and movies from iconic brands and treasured franchises, it delivers irresistible stories every time. From reuniting with life-long favorites to uncovering new ones you haven’t discovered yet, there’s something for every moment, every feeling, every you; it’s all here,” Max’s description states.
“Iconic series, award-winning movies, fresh originals and family favorites featuring the worlds of Harry Potter, the DC Universe and HBO. Discover the best entertainment for every mood.” | https://www.al.com/tv/2023/06/how-to-watch-taylor-macs-24-decade-history-of-popular-music-where-to-stream.html | 2023-06-27 22:26:30 | 0 | https://www.al.com/tv/2023/06/how-to-watch-taylor-macs-24-decade-history-of-popular-music-where-to-stream.html |
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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Donovan Mitchell and the surging Cavaliers arrived in a city where they hadn't won in a decade and demonstrated why Cleveland was among just three teams that held off on making any deals at this week's NBA trade deadline.
Mitchell scored 30 points and Cleveland maintained a double-digit lead most of the way for a 118-107 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night that extended the Cavaliers' winning streak to five games.
“We just kept making the right play over and over again," Mitchell said. "You’re starting to see us get more familiar with each other, get more comfortable and now you’re starting to see what that team looks like and the team we want to be ultimately.
“We believe in ourselves," Mitchell added. “We believe in what we have.”
Evan Mobley had 28 points and 13 rebounds, while Jarrett Allen added 20 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland, which snapped the Pelicans' three-game winning streak and won in New Orleans for the first time since March 2010.
“Chemistry’s at an all-time high right now," Mobley said. "Everyone’s clicking on offense. Everyone’s hitting shots, playing their role and on defense, we’re doing the same thing, getting to our spots and just running our system very well.”
Cleveland shot 56.5% (48 of 85), outscored New Orleans 70-58 in the paint and outrebounded the Pelicans 41-34.
“Offensively we were just completely selfless,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "It was one of our best games, I believe, in picking apart an opponent by the way they were playing us. We were able to get open layups on the back side, open 3s.”
The Pelicans' Brandon Ingram scored 25 points, his fourth straight game with at least that many. Trey Murphy added 17 points and CJ McCollum 12 for New Orleans.
Cleveland went in front for good in the first quarter and opened up a 22-point, first-half lead.
“Just a lack of toughness tonight to be honest," Pelicans coach Willie Green said. "That game is not an example of who we are and who we have been.
“Our margin for error is small,” Green added. “We can’t allow teams to get out to leads like that.”
The Cavs led by as many as 25 in the second half and the lead hovered around 20 until the latter stages of the fourth quarter, when most of the starters had gone to the bench for good.
“We love the group that we have," Bickerstaff said. "We are confident in giving it time and letting guys grow together. We are not in a rush. We have guys that are developing, learning how to win and learning how to play together. There is no reason to skip steps and do something desperate when we are not.”
Mitchell had 21 points in the first half, highlighted by an off-balance scoop off the glass while being fouled from behind by McCollum.
Mitchell's driving floater gave Cleveland a 73-55 lead late in the second quarter before Ingram's free throw made it 73-56 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Cavaliers: Darius Garland scored 11 points. ... Mobley had 18 points and 10 rebounds before halftime. ... Came in allowing an NBA-low 106.2 points per game. ... Have won each game during their current winning by 11 or more points.
Pelicans: Herb Jones scored 11 points, highlighted by a soaring two-handed dunk in the first half. ... Newly acquired guard Josh Richardson did not arrive in New Orleans in time to play and watched in street clothes. He was acquired in exchange for Devonte' Graham and four second-round picks on Thursday. ... Fell to 20-10 at home in what was their last home game before the All-Star break. ... Fell to 11-14 vs. Eastern Conference teams. ... Shot 47.6% (39 of 82), including 9 of 24 from deep. ... All-Star forward Zion Williamson (right hamstring) missed his 20th straight game. Green said he will also miss New Orleans' last two games before the All-Star Game, from which Williamson was officially scratched earlier in the day.
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: Host Chicago on Saturday.
Pelicans: Visit Oklahoma City on Monday.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.expressnews.com/sports/article/mitchell-scores-30-cavs-top-pelicans-to-win-5th-17778165.php | 2023-02-11 07:33:12 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/sports/article/mitchell-scores-30-cavs-top-pelicans-to-win-5th-17778165.php |
South Congaree Town Council denies landlord’s appeal; gives tenants more time to leave
SOUTH CONGAREE, S.C. (WIS) - In a unanimous 5-0 vote, the South Congaree Town Council voted to deny an appeal from a landlord to have her business licenses reinstated.
Additionally, the council delayed when the residents of the four affected mobile home parks will have to leave. That includes the parks at Sana Circle, Cactus Court, Genesis Circle, and Ciera Circle.
Town ordinances require all residents to leave the property 30 days after the appeal hearing. However, the council voted to delay the enforcement of that ordinance until Jan. 31, 2023.
That means residents of the parks will have to leave by March 2, 2023.
RELATED STORY: “Shadowy figure” and “stacks of cash”: Investigative reports give details on “suspicious fire”
Naomi Halter owns the parks and has faced state and local scrutiny for some of the conditions at her properties. A WIS investigation found roaches, holes, and leaking wastewater at some of the properties.
Some repairs to the leaking wastewater have since been made.
Halter was not present for the appeal hearing, but her attorney Bryn Sarvis gave a speech to the council on her behalf.
RELATED STORY: S. Congaree mobile home residents live in squalor as landlord accountability moves slowly
Sarvis argued Halter has provided low-income housing to the minority population, has struggled to find staff to get the necessary work done, and has been a pillar of the community. Sgt. Chad Walker for the South Congaree Police Department responded, explaining Halter’s properties have been a drain on police resources and she continues having properties which are out of compliance.
Police Chief Josh Shumpert told the council their decision will shape a precedent for landlords for moving forward.
Sarvis estimated that 40 families were impacted. Check back for updates to this web story.
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Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/11/02/south-congaree-town-council-denies-landlords-appeal-gives-tenants-more-time-leave/ | 2022-11-02 01:40:11 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/11/02/south-congaree-town-council-denies-landlords-appeal-gives-tenants-more-time-leave/ |
MARATHON, Fla. (AP) — Several motorists who were speeding through an elementary school zone on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway received an odorous onion as a reminder to slow down from a county sheriff’s deputy dressed as the Grinch.
Col. Lou Caputo, a 37-year veteran of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office who conjured up the concept more than 20 years ago, was back on the streets Tuesday.
Drivers who travel about 5 mph or less above the school zone’s speed limit can choose between traffic citations and an onion presented by the Grinch. Those speeding beyond that likely receive a costly ticket.
“It’s about education, awareness that our school zones are still operating even though it’s the holiday season,” Caputo said. “We want people to slow down.”
Caputo said he portrays the fictional character created by children’s author Dr. Seuss to give motorists a “gift” but also to call attention in a nice way to the need to obey speed limits in school zones.
“It catches them off guard,” Caputo said.
“But when I give them a clear choice of a citation or the onion, they will take the onion. And I’ve had them eat the onion right in front of me.”
Keys schools remain in session through Dec. 16. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/deputy-dressed-as-grinch-gives-onions-to-speeding-drivers/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world | 2022-12-14 17:43:50 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/deputy-dressed-as-grinch-gives-onions-to-speeding-drivers/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch voters go to the polls Wednesday in local elections with a national impact, with campaign themes ranging from local bugbears like dwindling public transport in remote villages to global issues such as migration and the environment.
It is also a test of strength for Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s four-party center-right coalition, especially since newly elected provincial lawmakers also pick a new upper house of the national parliament in May. A big shift could affect Rutte’s ability to pass legislation for the remainder of his coalition’s term in office.
After increasingly populist campaigning, the vote for the country’s 12 provincial parliaments is expected to highlight a simmering discontent with Rutte’s government and the continuing rise of a party representing farmers angry at moves to contain their output in an attempt to rein in pollution.
Across the nation of nearly 18 million people, dozens of parties take part in the elections, many of them small and local. Voters also will elect members of the country’s 21 local water authorities, key institutions in a nation more than a quarter of which is below sea level and which has endless lines of dikes to protect its heartland.
Often elections with little impact in the past, Wednesday’s poll could be a turning point for Rutte.
Rutte, who came to power in 2010 and is now the Netherlands’ longest-serving leader, is under pressure after a parliamentary inquiry into earthquakes caused by natural gas extraction in the northern province of Groningen was critical of him and his government. Rutte’s administration has not yet formally responded to the findings, but he acknowledged that the conclusions were “hard and painful.”
His government also has faced massive protests by farmers over plans to slash emissions of nitrates that damage protected natural habitats. Thousands of farmers and others, including many from the far right of the political spectrum, gathered in a park in The Hague on Saturday for a protest demonstration.
Sylvia Smits, a 61-year-old protester lamented what she sees as the demise of the country amid the cost of living crisis in the Netherlands that also is hitting many other wealthy European nations.
“There’s a shortage of food, many people do not have enough money to eat every day. And it’s really horrible. The Netherlands, Holland, was once a very, very rich country, but now we are falling apart,” she said.
Polls show that the populist Farmer and Citizen Movement led by lawmaker Caroline van der Plas is likely to win big in the elections as it taps into discontent in rural communities that perceive themselves as sidelined by the government in The Hague.
The party, known by its Dutch acronym BBB, was formed in 2019 and is taking part in provincial elections for the first time. It won 1% of the vote in national elections in 2021 with Van der Plas, a former journalist focusing on agriculture, becoming a national lawmaker.
Andre Krouwel, a political scientist from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam said Van der Plas’ popularity now extends beyond just farmers.
“The farmers party is basically using a sort of folksy nationalism, referring to traditional ways of life and traditional Dutch landscape in order to be open to traditional social and moral values,” he said. “This creates an appeal that goes far beyond farmers, which are a very small proportion of the … population, and extends deep into suburban and urban voters who have a traditional and conservative right-wing outlook on life.”
Van der Plas did not attend Saturday’s farmers’ protest in The Hague, telling Dutch media that she has been facing threats.
The anti-immigration Freedom Party led by Geert Wilders performed poorly in the last provincial elections in 2019 but is tipped to regain ground this time. Wilders supports farmers and is calling for more investment in affordable housing and drastic reduction in immigration.
“The Dutch people are in last place and I’m fed up with that,” he said in a speech at the farmers’ protest.
He said a vote for his party “will return the Netherlands to the Dutch people on Wednesday. Then we will put the Dutch people first again.”
“There has to be more investment in the provinces,” he said in a recent television interview. “Good infrastructure, shops, services and bus stops must remain available for the people.”
Forum for Democracy, the far-right populist party which won the last provincial elections, has been riven by defections and unrest in recent years and is expected to see its share of the vote decline.
To the left of Rutte’s center-right coalition, the Dutch Labor and Green parties have said they will form a combined bloc in the senate after the elections, possibly making it the single biggest grouping. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/dutch-set-to-vote-in-local-elections-with-national-impact/ | 2023-03-14 18:42:35 | 0 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/dutch-set-to-vote-in-local-elections-with-national-impact/ |
TOKYO, Jan. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tokyo's world-famous, 132-year-old Imperial Hotel, Tokyo is now celebrating the 100th anniversary of the opening of its second main building (commonly known as the Wright Building) designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. To celebrate the anniversary, the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, is offering an exclusive Frank Lloyd Wright (R) Suite stay available from January 24, 2023, to March 31, 2024 (special periods such as New Year's Day are excluded).
Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202301182229-O6-6P54t7yn
The Frank Lloyd Wright (R) Suite is a 214-square-meter (2,303-square-feet) luxury suite featuring original designs and architectural motifs from its world-renowned 1923-1967 Frank Lloyd Wright hotel building and other landmark Wright structures. To be marketed as the Frank Lloyd Wright (R) Suite, the JPY1,400,000 or approximately USD10,850 (as of January 20, 2023, exchange rate) per night accommodation overlooks Hibiya Park and Imperial Palace gardens in central Tokyo from a higher floor of the hotel's main building and houses a living room, a dining room and a bedroom (consumption tax and service charge included, accommodation tax excluded). By using the Imperial Floor Deluxe Twin connecting room adjacent to the suite, guests can use these accommodations for up to four people at one time (JPY1,410,000 for three persons and JPY1,420,000 for four persons).
The Frank Lloyd Wright (R) Suite is the only suite in the world to bear the name of the U.S. architect under a name use agreement with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation of the United States. The Frank Lloyd Wright (R) Suite incorporates the design of the former Wright Building of the Imperial Hotel, using Wright's original carpets, furniture and lighting, as well as the design of his private residence in the United States, and reconstructs them in a hotel room. Upon entering the room, one can feel Wright's unique compression and release techniques. The walls of the entrance foyer are decorated with reliefs of Oya stone, reproduced from designs from the Wright Building, and the carpets are based on the design sketches Wright drew when he created the Wright Building. Wright's designs are used throughout the building, including as wall decorations, ceiling moldings, furniture, and lamps. In addition to the decorations and furniture design, the suite also captures the flow of light and air, rather than confining them to a single space, with latticework on some walls and glass and air passageways in the doors, allowing the room space itself to reflect the life of Wright.
The suite opened in 2005. This is the first time it will be offered in an exclusive stay; the package includes daily breakfast, in-room check-in and check-out, and guest attendant service. The hotel's exclusive concierge service will assist patrons with their trip from the moment they make their reservation. One drink service is available daily at the Old Imperial Bar, which includes the original 1923 Wright design. Also included is tea service in the Toko-an, a tea ceremony room designed by Togo Murano, an architect famous for his sukiya-style work (Japanese architectural style). An all-you-can-drink minibar with seasonal domestic juice, beer, wine, whiskey and Japanese sake is included. Usage of the laundry, pool and fitness center is available.
Living Room: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M100588/202301182229/_prw_PI5fl_86Icd5MD.jpg
Bedroom: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M100588/202301182229/_prw_PI1fl_QumhS9jr.jpg
Dining Area: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M100588/202301182229/_prw_PI4fl_gjenDK23.jpg
In 2023, the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Wright Building, the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo started marketing Wright Building-related exhibits and products in addition to accommodations in the Frank Lloyd Wright (R) Suite.
Old Imperial Bar
A patrician salute to the hotel's architectural heritage of Frank Lloyd Wright, with fascinating motifs from the 1923 Imperial Hotel and masterfully concocted spirits from around the world, the Old Imperial Bar offers two original cocktails selected in an in-house competition to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Under the theme of the Jewel of the Orient, the Imperial Hotel held a competition in cocktail and non-alcohol categories. "LUGEND" was chosen as the best cocktail. (*LUGEND is a coined word that combines Lux in Latin and Legend in English). This is a cocktail that expresses the connection between the United States, the birthplace of Frank Lloyd Wright, and Japan by combining American bourbon whisky with amazake, which is a sweet, fermented drink well-known in Japan. The price is JPY2,640 (consumption tax included, service charge excluded). In the non-alcoholic category, a cocktail named "Gratitude for 100 years" was created, flavored with peach and cherry blossom syrup. Soy milk is used so that patrons with various food cultures and backgrounds can enjoy the service. The price is JPY2,200 (consumption tax included, service charge excluded).
Two Original Cocktails, LUGEND and Gratitude for 100 years (from Right): https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M100588/202301182229/_prw_PI2fl_WZL8FqHy.jpg
Old Imperial Bar: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M100588/202301182229/_prw_PI3fl_3Zvi2IMm.jpg
Hotel Delicatessen
Gargantua, the hotel delicatessen with an array of beautiful and delicious delicacies made with great care by the Imperial Hotel's artisans, offers a very rare cookie can designed using the design of a pamphlet created by Kenichi Shigeoka, who was commissioned to create a mural for the "Peacock Room" banquet hall in the Wright Building. The price is JPY4,320 (consumption tax included).
Wright Imperial Anniversary Cookies: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M100588/202301182229/_prw_PI7fl_Lj8BV2S7.jpg
"Imperial Times" Exhibition
In the exhibition space "Imperial Times" on the 1st floor of the main building, "The Wright Imperial; a Century and Beyond" is on display. It introduces the exquisite architectural beauty of the Wright Building, and the culture of the Imperial Hotel that has been created and passed on through the Wright Building. In addition to a reprint of the uniforms of room attendants of the time, the exhibition will also introduce the Japanese who supported the Wright Building (architect Arata Endo and painter Kenichi Shigeoka), as well as the furniture and furnishings used in the Wright Building. Guests can also note the demise of the Wright Building, the birth of the current main building, and a perspective of the new main building scheduled to be reconstructed from 2031 under the concept of the Jewel of the Orient, which represents the Wright Building.
Exhibition Space "Imperial Times": https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M100588/202301182229/_prw_PI8fl_1XafLB6E.jpg
For reference about "Imperial Hotel 2nd Generation Main Building" and "Frank Lloyd Wright," please visit: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202301182229-O1-oeKf3lm4.pdf
Official website: https://www.imperialhotel.co.jp/e/tokyo/
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SOURCE Imperial Hotel, Ltd. | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2023/01/24/imperial-hotel-tokyo-offering-frank-lloyd-wright-r-suite-celebration-100th-anniversary-opening-wright-building/ | 2023-01-24 08:31:12 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2023/01/24/imperial-hotel-tokyo-offering-frank-lloyd-wright-r-suite-celebration-100th-anniversary-opening-wright-building/ |
This immaculate 2018 Buhr built home is located in the popular Village Meadows neighborhood…close to shopping, dining and within walking distance to Wysong Elementary School. This home has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a 3 stall garage, and a finished walkout basement. The home features over 1500 square feet on the main level and has an open concept design with spectacular hard wood flooring, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and custom blinds throughout. The main level flows seamlessly with the kitchen, living room, den/ bedroom, primary bedroom with attached bathroom suite, walk in closet, and pass through laundry area. The finished walkout basement features 9 ft. ceilings, an expansive living room with wet bar, 2 additional bedrooms, a full bathroom, and access to the oversized patio. Other features include – whole house water softener / purifier, composite deck, professional epoxy flooring in the garage, and so much more. Call today to schedule your private showing!! | https://journalstar.com/townnews/building_industry/4-bedroom-home-in-lincoln---515-000/article_4508419f-dadd-5879-a3c2-a601e778ef58.html | 2022-10-22 06:30:11 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/townnews/building_industry/4-bedroom-home-in-lincoln---515-000/article_4508419f-dadd-5879-a3c2-a601e778ef58.html |
In this week’s Medical Minute With Dr. Mel, we learn how Gas stoves may be harmful to us, how telehealth visits may be the new wave, and can a new variant of COVID protect you.
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Are Gas Stoves Harmful?
RUSS: Briefly, should be really worried about your gas stove.
DR. MEL: There’s 50 years of research that shows that exposure to gas stove emissions can be harmful, including a higher risk of childhood asthma, among other things. It’s worse if your home is poorly ventilated or you don’t have a range hood. You can rapidly exceed safe nitrogen oxide level exposure within just a few minutes, but you don’t necessarily have to get rid of your gas though. Because of this, you can lessen your risk by ventilating your kitchen by opening windows. If you have an exhaust hood, use it every time. You use your gas stove and consider buying an air purifier with a HEPA filter. All those make gas stove usage much safer.
Black History: A Black Woman Made Telehealth Visits Possible. Are They The New Wave?
DR. MEL: Well, it certainly, you know, kept people able to see their doctor during the pandemic, and it looks like it’s here to stay, cause people are using it so much more. Now, and the woman who invented something called voice over IP. She’s a black woman. She’s an engineer, Marian Croak. She’s a VP of Engineering now at Google. Holds more than 200. Patients, One of which is this voice-over IP that allows us to video conference. You know we use it for a lot of stuff. But in healthcare, those telehealth visits are really key. And just want to salute Marian Croak is her name for her brilliance and creativity.
What About COVID
RUSS: I just read where when if you recently got COVID with this new variant, they said that you’re extremely protected for the next 10 months. Did you say anything about it?
DR. MEL: Yes, absolutely. And you know, some people are using it to say, well, see, you don’t need to get vaccinated, but I think we forget that there’s so many people who are vulnerable who can’t afford to get COVID, instead of getting vaccinated. If we had taken that approach during the pandemic and not developed the vaccine, there have been 3 million people who died as opposed to I I hate to even say just one million. But there’s so much excess death that was saved because of the vaccination. What I would do with that information and say look, you know if you get COVID that’s and you. And you survive, that’s great. It means that you don’t need a booster for 10 months instead of, you know, getting one right away.
And the other thing is getting COVID isn’t doesn’t prevent long COVID.
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Medical Minute With Dr. Mel: Are Gas Stoves Harmful + More was originally published on blackamericaweb.com | https://thebeatdfw.com/3731955/medical-minute-with-dr-mel-are-gas-stoves-harmful-more/ | 2023-02-28 18:22:30 | 0 | https://thebeatdfw.com/3731955/medical-minute-with-dr-mel-are-gas-stoves-harmful-more/ |
The Daily(ish) Advocate focuses on providing digital marketing strategies, tools and tactics for the middle-aged market
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TheMarketingAdvocate.com, co-founded in 2018 by four digital marketing veterans, announced their rebranding efforts today. The brand introduced a new visual identity and launched an email newsletter, The Daily(ish) Advocate, providing digital marketing strategies and insights focused on the needs of middle-aged business owners.
The rebrand comes as TheMarketingAdvocate.com evolves to help business owners adapt to the ever-evolving world of digital marketing. Topics include how to handle increasing uncertainty around many social media platforms, how AI and machine learning are changing online marketing, issues with tracking and Google Analytics 4, and ways to protect a business' digital assets from bots, hackers and other bad actors.
"Middle-aged business owners face a unique set of challenges," says TheMarketingAdvocate.com's co-founder Adam Kreitman. "They tend to be more sensitive to financial pressures, are not as technologically focused as 20-somethings, and are wary of the hype common in the digital marketing world."
The Daily(ish) Advocate offers educational and entertaining content specifically for this demographic. Adds Kreitman, "There's less about the latest social media craze and more of a focus on proven, time-tested strategies and tactics."
TheMarketingAdvocate.com is also developing tools to help business owners better protect and control their digital assets. "These tools address issues we've encountered when running digital marketing campaigns for ourselves and our clients," says co-founder Chris Clark. "They will help businesses fight harmful bot traffic and address holes in analytics so business owners can get a clearer understanding of the key metrics driving their business' revenue."
TheMarketingAdvocate.com provides strategies and tools to help middle-aged business owners leverage digital marketing to grow their companies. The company offers an email newsletter, The Daily(ish) Advocate, written to address the unique challenges of middle-aged business owners. The company was founded by four veteran digital marketers with a combined 80 years of experience in SEO, e-commerce, web development and paid online advertising.
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SOURCE TheMarketingAdvocate.com | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/12/06/themarketingadvocatecom-announces-rebrand-launches-new-email-newsletter-middle-aged-business-owners/ | 2022-12-06 17:17:24 | 0 | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/12/06/themarketingadvocatecom-announces-rebrand-launches-new-email-newsletter-middle-aged-business-owners/ |
BEIJING, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As an important part of the 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services, Olympic Cities Development Forum 2022 is hosted by the Beijing Olympic City Development Association and organized by the Beijing Olympic City Development Center and ADG Expo Group Co., Ltd., which was officially held in Beijing Shougang Park in the afternoon of September 1st. Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, Vice President of International Olympic Committee delivered a keynote speech. Liu Jingmin, Executive Vice President of Beijing Olympic City Development Promotion Association delivered an address. Fu Xiaohui, Secretary General of Beijing Olympic City Development Promotion Association delivered a keynote speech. Marie Sallois, Head of Corporate and Sustainable Development of the International Olympic Committee; Günther Platter, Governor of Tyrol, Austria; Gianluca Lorenzi, Major of Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy; Ingunn TROSHOLMEN, Mayor of Lillehammer, Norway; Liu Haifeng, Vice Mayor of Zhangjiakou Municipal People's Government; Zhu Yuetao, Deputy Secretary of Qingdao Olympic Sailing City Development Association; Zhang Xiaoqi, Chairman of Nanjing Sports Industry Group delivered keynote speeches. Zhang Li, Executive Vice President of Asia Digital Group; Li Guohong, Director of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Chaoyang District Committee of Beijing Municipality; Ren Jianghao, Vice Governor of Yanqing District Government, Beijing; Wang Shihong, Vice Mayor of Jilin Municipal People's Government and Wang Daming, Deputy General Manager of Beijing Shougang Construction Investment Co., Ltd held a roundtable dialogue. The moderator of the forum is Gao Yunchao, Deputy Secretary General of Beijing Olympic City Development Promotion Association. Wang Kun, Deputy Bureau Chief of Beijing Olympic City Development Promotion Center; Wang Shuxian, Director General of Beijing Olympic City Development Foundation, and Zhu Dongfang, CEO of Asia Digital Group attended the forum.
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr expressed in his address that, as the world's first city to have held both Summer and Winter Olympics, Beijing has set an example for the world in the sustainable utilization of Olympic legacy. As an international platform for exchange and cooperation among Olympic cities, the Olympic Cities Development Forum has enhanced friendship and mutual trust among Olympic cities around the world, strengthened exchanges and cooperation in sports culture, pooled experience and creativity in the inheritance and utilization of the Olympic legacy, and promoted the development of the ice and snow industry and the popularization of ice and snow sports. He expects the Olympic Cities Development Forum to continue to be held as a legacy of the Winter Olympics, play an important role in promoting the integrated development of Olympic cities around the world, and develop into a branded world-class event for the exchange and mutual learning of Olympic legacy.
Liu Jingmin stated in his address that the successful conclusion of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics has presented to the world a streamlined, safe, splendid and unparalleled Winter Olympics and fulfilled its solemn commitment to the international community. The Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics is a vivid demonstration of the concept of hosting a green, sharing, open and corruption-free Olympic Games, and a success story of implementing new development concept, building new development pattern and promoting high-quality development. The rich legacy of Winter Olympics is a valuable asset for the Dual Olympic City. He also gave a profound summary of the legacy from Beijing holding two Olympic Games, which set the direction of sustainable, green and people-oriented city development for Beijing. He also said that as an organization carrying on the Dual Olympic legacy, Beijing Olympic City Development Promotion Association will fully implement the deployment of the Beijing municipal Party committee and government, implement the people-centered development thinking, inherit and make good use of the Dual Olympic legacy, and allow the people to share the achievements of the Olympic Games.
Fu Xiaohui pointed out that innovation is the driving force of development in our time, and sustainability is the key to continuous development. Beijing Olympic City Development Promotion Association was conceived and developed in the process of innovation, and has been committed to innovation since its establishment, constantly exploring ways to effectively carry on the Olympic legacy, and striving to realize the sustainable development of the Olympic legacy. Beijing Olympic City Development Promotion Association will stay committed to "the main position of spreading Olympic spirit and inheriting Olympic legacy; serving as a unique window to help build Beijing into an international exchange center; a high-end think tank serving the organization of international large-scale sports events; an effective force promoting the building of Beijing-Zhangjaikou sports culture tourism belt". These four functions are reflected in efforts in four aspects, namely, inheritance and innovation, meaning effectively inheriting the "Dual Olympic legacy"; stay committed to our duties, meaning strengthen the publicity of the "Dual Olympic legacy"; extensive cooperation, meaning comprehensive sharing "Dual Olympic legacy"; serve the city, meaning make good use of the "Dual Olympic legacy". In the next step, Beijing Olympic City Development Promotion Association will work with all sectors in the society to deliver solid outcomes in the post-Olympic era, to do a good job in inheriting and utilizing the "Dual Olympic legacy", continue the glory of "Dual Olympic city", to await the successful opening of the 20th National Congress of the CPC with practical action.
In addition, representatives from Olympic cities at home and abroad delivered keynote speeches on the theme of "innovation" and "sustainability", shared valuable experience of Olympic cities leveraging Winter Olympics legacy to promote cities' sustainable development, winning rounds of applause from guests.
At the end of the forum, with Zhang Li as the moderator, representatives from Chaoyang District, Yanqing District in Beijing, Jilin City and Shougang Park had a roundtable dialogue on issues including the sustainable development of regions in the post-Olympic era.
Themed "Carry on Olympic Spirit, Build a Better City - Innovation and Sustainability", this forum combined offline forum and global livestreaming, pooling experts and scholars in the field of Olympic cities development from home and overseas, to discuss various topics such as Olympic opportunities and urban development, urban planning of host cities and venue utilization after sports events, international cooperation and exchange among host cities, and experience in the inheritance and utilization of Olympic legacy to offer suggestions for the future development of Olympic cities. It is worth mentioning that this forum also presented an Olympic-themed Picture Exhibition on-site to demonstrate the charm of Olympic cities with beautiful pictures, and open a visual window for the public to know more about Olympic cities.
Since the Olympic Cities Development Forum was first held in Beijing in 2009, it has invited the president of the World Union of Olympic Cities, mayors or city representatives of Helsinki and Lahti of Finland, Lillehammer of Norway, Sapporo and Nagano of Japan, Lausanne and St. Moritz of Switzerland, Pyeongchang of South Korea, Tyrol of Austria, and Cortina d'Ampezzo of Italy to attend and deliver keynote speeches, and has played an important role in promoting exchange in the experience of Olympic legacy inheritance, pooling great ideas for the sound development of the ice and snow industry, boosting the popularization and development of ice and snow sports, publicizing and demonstrating the concept of Beijing Winter Olympics.
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SOURCE Asia Digital Group | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/innovation-sustainability-olympic-cities-development-forum-2022-held-shougang/ | 2022-09-06 09:54:28 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/innovation-sustainability-olympic-cities-development-forum-2022-held-shougang/ |
By RAQUEL REDONDO
Associated Press
MADRID (AP) — Spain on Tuesday eased requirements for foreign laborers without legal documents in an effort to bring thousands of workers into the official labor force and regulate jobs in understaffed sectors including the hospitality and farming industries.
The government decree reforms an existing immigration law and makes it easier for Spanish employers to hire workers from their home country. It also eases work permit requirements for workers already settled in Spain.
The Migration Ministry acknowledged that previous procedures were “often slow and inadequate”, leading to high social and economic costs for the country.
There are an estimated 500,000 people working in Spain’s underground economy.
“These measures will provide us with better tools to tackle the challenges posed by migration,” Social Security and Migration Minister José Luis Escrivá said at a press conference following the government cabinet meeting that approved the bill.
Foreign workers who have lived in the country for two years or more can seek temporary residency papers by enrolling in training courses for jobs in high-demand sectors.
International students will be able to start work in Spain at the end of their studies instead of waiting for three years. Foreign students will be also allowed to work up to 30 hours a week while studying. Foreigners who can show they have been in Spain for at least two years and have worked without papers for at least six months can also seek work permits.
Escrivá said the ministry will update a list of job areas needing workers to provide a more exact picture of the labor market. Sectors like hospitality and agriculture are traditionally understaffed in Spain and businesses often resort to migrant laborers without documents.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/07/26/spain-passes-bill-to-help-legalize-foreign-workers-2/ | 2022-07-26 19:51:08 | 1 | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/07/26/spain-passes-bill-to-help-legalize-foreign-workers-2/ |
MESA, Ariz., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM), a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions, announced today that it will report financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, after market close on August 9, 2023.
Verra Mobility's Chief Executive Officer, David Roberts, and Chief Financial Officer, Craig Conti, will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss financial results for investors and analysts at 5:00 p.m. ET on August 9, 2023.
To access the conference call, dial 1-888-886-7786 (U.S. toll-free) or 1-416-764-8658 (International) with conference ID 11014275 or click on the following link and request a return call: callme.viavid.com. A live webcast will be available on the Company's Investor Relations website at ir.verramobility.com.
An audio replay of the call will also be available until 11:59 p.m. ET on August 23, 2023, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (U.S. toll-free), or 1-412-317-6671 (International) and entering passcode 11014275.
In addition, an archived webcast will be available in the "News & Events" section of Verra Mobility's Investor Relations website at ir.verramobility.com.
About Verra Mobility
Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM) is a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions that make transportation safer, smarter and more connected. The company sits at the center of the mobility ecosystem, bringing together vehicles, hardware, software, data and people to enable safe, efficient solutions for customers globally. Verra Mobility's transportation safety systems and parking management solutions protect lives, improve urban and motorway mobility and support healthier communities. The company also solves complex payment, utilization and compliance challenges for fleet owners and rental car companies. Headquartered in Arizona, Verra Mobility operates in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. For more information, please visit www.verramobility.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Verra Mobility's plans, objectives, expectations, beliefs and intentions and other statements including words such as "hope," "anticipate," "may," "believe," "expect," "intend," "will," "should," "plan," "estimate," "predict," "continue" and "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements herein represent the judgment of the Verra Mobility, as of the date of this release, and Verra Mobility disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated. This press release should be read in conjunction with the information included in Verra Mobility's other press releases, reports and other filings with the SEC and on the SEC website, www.sec.gov. Understanding the information contained in these filings is important in order to fully understand Verra Mobility's reported financial results and our business outlook for future periods. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions and estimates used as a basis for the forward-looking statements.
Additional Information
We periodically provide information for investors on our corporate website, www.verramobility.com, and our investor relations website, ir.verramobility.com. We intend to use our website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor our website, in addition to following the Company's press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts.
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SOURCE Verra Mobility | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/verra-mobility-schedules-second-quarter-2023-earnings-call/ | 2023-07-31 20:19:24 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/verra-mobility-schedules-second-quarter-2023-earnings-call/ |
If ever there was a banner day for hats — wild and colorful hats — it was Saturday, the dual spectacle of King Charles III’s coronation and the celebration that IS the Kentucky Derby.
Katy Perry donned a wide lilac hat to go with her matching bespoke jacket and skirt by Vivienne Westwood, her chin up as she peered under its flat, tilted brim while she searched for her seat at Westminster Abbey (yes, there were memes).
And there was Princess Anne, the king’s sister, in a two-pointed military topper with tall red feathers that blocked Prince Harry’s view from the third row (more memes ensued). Sorry, Harry, she was chosen as Gold Stick in Waiting and holds a variety of military titles.
It’s tradition, of course, to wear hats to coronations and other formal royal affairs, but the thousands who gathered on the streets to celebrate went all out with head gear, from fake golden crowns to novelty deeley bobbers (those springy headband things) and hats of all kinds with motifs featuring the British flag.
Speaking of hats of all kinds, the Kentucky Derby is arguably the world’s most famous horse race. It’s also a chance for racegoers to strut their fashion stuff.
Seersucker suits, floral dresses and bright colors abound, but racegoers famously elevate their style to another level with their grand collections of hats and fascinators.
Men tend to favor fedoras or bowlers, while women sport designs featuring feathers and flowers in every shape, color and size. Bigger is often better when it comes to Derby hats.
The event has appointed an official milliner, or hatmaker, every year since 2018. But in a sign of their growing importance at the Kentucky Derby, it named three milliners for the 2023 event: Christine Moore, Jenny Pfanenstiel and The Hat Girls.
The tradition of wearing hats to the Derby began with its first running in 1875. | https://wgntv.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-photos-from-charles-to-derby-day-for-fancy-hats-to-rule/ | 2023-05-06 22:39:23 | 0 | https://wgntv.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-photos-from-charles-to-derby-day-for-fancy-hats-to-rule/ |
Lightning confident they’re set up for continued success
By FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Three consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final, two championships and a strong — though ultimately unsuccessful — bid for a third. Any way you list the accomplishments, it’s been quite a run for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who feel they are nowhere close to being done after falling short of becoming the first team in nearly 40 years to win three consecutive NHL titles. Losing to the Colorado Avalanche in six games was disappointing, however the talented core that’s enjoyed more playoff success than any other team over the past decade remains intact and expects the Lightning to be a contender again next season. | https://kion546.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/06/28/lightning-confident-theyre-set-up-for-continued-success/ | 2022-06-29 01:24:05 | 1 | https://kion546.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/06/28/lightning-confident-theyre-set-up-for-continued-success/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Elon Musk’s mass layoffs at Twitter and trying to obtain his internal communications as part of ongoing oversight into the social media company’s privacy and cybersecurity practices, according to documents described in a congressional report.
The FTC has been watching the company for years since Twitter agreed to a 2011 consent order alleging serious data security lapses. But the agency’s concerns spiked with the tumult that followed Musk’s Oct. 27 takeover of the company.
The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee published excerpts from the FTC’s letters Tuesday as part of a report alleging that the agency was overreaching “to harass Elon Musk’s Twitter.”
The House said the requests amounted to a deluge of “demands about its personnel decisions in each of the company’s departments, every internal communication relating to Elon Musk and even Twitter’s interactions with journalists” who Musk’s team allowed to see certain employee emails and messages.
Those documents were dubbed “The Twitter Files” and were meant to show how the company made decisions to moderate content before Musk took over.
In a response to the House report, the FTC said, “Protecting consumers’ privacy is exactly what the FTC is supposed to do. It should come as no surprise that career staff at the commission are conducting a rigorous investigation into Twitter’s compliance with a consent order that came into effect long before Mr. Musk purchased the company.”
Twitter had already paid a $150 million penalty in May, about five months before Musk’s takeover, for violating the 2011 consent order. An updated version established new procedures requiring the company to implement an enhanced privacy-protection program as well as beefing up information security.
But in November, a group of Democratic senators called those commitments into question and asked the FTC — led by Chair Lina Khan, a Democrat — to investigate any possible violations amid concerns that reports of Twitter’s disorder and drastically reduced staff under Musk posed serious security risks.
The FTC said at the time it was “tracking recent developments at Twitter with deep concern.” | https://wgntv.com/technology/ap-technology/ftc-probes-twitter-data-practices-after-elon-musks-layoffs/ | 2023-03-09 05:21:48 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/technology/ap-technology/ftc-probes-twitter-data-practices-after-elon-musks-layoffs/ |
Bismarck teacher named as finalist for North Dakota Teacher of the Year
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - Elk Ridge is just seven days into writing the book on their first year of school and already has a teacher nominated for teacher of the year.
Students gathered in the cafeteria to celebrate Abby Dubord who was announced as one of the finalists for North Dakota Teacher of the year. She says she’s passionate about teacher’s taking time for themselves and making their care a priority too.
“So I just find value in being well. Whether its physical wellness, mental wellness spiritual wellness, making sure we’re taking care of ourselves. Because spending time with students all day you’re giving of yourself over and over,” said Abby Dubord a first-grade teacher at Elk Ridge Elementary.
This is Abby’s 4th year as a teacher, last year she taught at Centennial Elementary. She joined Megan Wald of Linton and Ivona Todorovic of Grand Forks and one more teacher is yet to be announced.
The North Dakota Teacher of the Year will be named on Monday, September 19th at the Capitol.
Copyright 2022 KFYR. All rights reserved. | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/09/02/bismarck-teacher-named-finalist-north-dakota-teacher-year/ | 2022-09-03 00:03:13 | 0 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/09/02/bismarck-teacher-named-finalist-north-dakota-teacher-year/ |
TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lazydays Holdings, Inc. (NasdaqCM: LAZY) will announce its fourth quarter 2022 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, February 23, 2023. A conference call to discuss the results is scheduled for the same day at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
How to Participate
The conference call may be accessed by telephone at 877-407-8029 / +1 201-689-8029. To listen live on our website or for replay, visit www.lazydays.com/investor-relations.
ABOUT LAZYDAYS RV
As an iconic brand in the RV industry, Lazydays, The RV Authority, consistently provides the best RV sales, service, and ownership experience, which is why RVers and their families become Customers for Life. Lazydays continues to add locations at a rapid pace as it executes its geographic expansion strategy that includes both acquisitions and greenfields.
Since 1976, Lazydays RV has built a reputation for providing an outstanding customer experience with exceptional service excellence and unparalleled product expertise, along with being a preferred place to rest and recharge with other RVers. By offering the largest selection of RV brands from the nation's leading manufacturers, state-of-the-art service facilities, and thousands of accessories and hard-to-find parts, Lazydays RV provides everything RVers need and want.
Lazydays Holdings, Inc. is a publicly listed company on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker "LAZY."
News Contact:
+1 (813) 204-4099
investors@lazydays.com
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SOURCE Lazydays Holdings, Inc. | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/01/24/lazydays-schedules-release-fourth-quarter-results/ | 2023-01-24 22:51:42 | 0 | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/01/24/lazydays-schedules-release-fourth-quarter-results/ |
BEIJING, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (the "Company" or "New Oriental") (NYSE: EDU/ 9901.SEHK), a provider of private educational services in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year ended May 31, 2023.
Financial Highlights for the Fourth Fiscal Quarter Ended May 31, 2023
- Total net revenues increased by 64.2% year over year to US$860.6 million for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023.
- Operating income increased by 145.5% year over year to US$48.1 million for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023.
- Net income attributable to New Oriental increased by 115.3% year over year to US$29.0 million for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023.
Key Financial Results
Operating Highlights for the Fourth Fiscal Quarter Ended May 31, 2023
- The total number of schools and learning centers was 748 as of May 31, 2023, an increase of 36 and 4 compared to 712 as of February 28, 2023 and 744 as of May 31, 2022, respectively. The total number of schools was 85 as of May 31, 2023.
Michael Yu, New Oriental's Executive Chairman, commented, "We are delighted to conclude the fiscal year 2023 with record growth in revenue and profitability, respectively. In the fourth quarter, revenue was up by 64.2%, benefitting from the strong post-COVID recovery of demand. Our overseas test preparation and overseas study consulting businesses have also recorded encouraging results with approximately 52% and 6% growth year over year, respectively. In addition, the domestic test preparation business targeting adults and university students recorded a growth of approximately 34% year over year. Apart from our longstanding traditional business lines, our educational new business initiatives have made a promising start, paving the way for continued success and yielding better-than-expected margins. As of May 31, 2023, our non-academic tutoring courses were offered in around 60 cities, attracting 629,000 student enrollments in this fiscal quarter; at the same time, around 60 cities have adopted our intelligent learning system and devices, with 99,000 paid active users in this fiscal quarter. With such strong market demands and satisfactory customer retention rate recorded, we have great confidence in the bright future of these new business initiatives, leveraging our distinctive edge and expertise to capture new market opportunities."
Chenggang Zhou, New Oriental's Chief Executive Officer, added, "As of the end of this fiscal year, the total number of schools and learning centers increased to 748. Despite all of the different challenges we have encountered in the recent years, our ongoing investment in R&D to maintain and uphold our technology capabilities has enabled us to continue to provide high-quality services to our customers, and successfully capture new business opportunities during this transition period. By proactively redesigning our long-term strategic planning and implementing a series of initiatives to strengthen the long-term sustainability, East Buy (东方甄选) achieved multiple breakthroughs in both business operations and financial performance. During the year, East Buy has made significant strides in increasing the variety and scale of its product offerings. By applying scientific and advanced technologies to strictly control the entire process, from product development to sales and after-sales services, East Buy has been able to provide consumers with high-quality and cost-effective products. In addition, their featured onsite livestreaming events in different provinces in China successfully boosted social awareness and affection on Chinese culture, and at the same time provided customers with better experience and cultural knowledge."
Stephen Zhihui Yang, New Oriental's Executive President and Chief Financial Officer, commented, "We are pleased to achieve turnaround in profitability since the beginning of this fiscal year and maintained a healthy margin trend in the whole fiscal year. Our GAAP operating margin and Non-GAAP operating margin for the quarter were 5.6% and 9.1%, respectively. GAAP operating margin and Non-GAAP operating margin for the whole fiscal year were 6.3% and 9.3%, respectively. A positive operating cash flow of US$421.6 million was also generated in the quarter, and by the end of this fiscal year, our cash and cash equivalents, term deposits and short-term investments totaled approximately US$4.5 billion. We are determined in pursuing profitable growth for all business lines and maintaining a healthy growth with improving operational efficiency and service quality. We have great confidence in creating sustainable value for our customers and shareholders in the long term."
Share Repurchase
On July 26, 2022, the Company's board of directors authorized a share repurchase program, under which the Company may repurchase up to US$400 million of the Company's ADSs or common shares during the period from July 28, 2022 through May 31, 2023. The Company's board of directors further authorized the Company to extend its share repurchase program launched in July 2022 by twelve months through May 31, 2024. As of July 25, 2023, the Company repurchased an aggregate of approximately 5.9 million ADSs for approximately US$191.7 million from the open market under the share repurchase program.
Financial Results for the Fourth Fiscal Quarter Ended May 31, 2023
Net Revenues
For the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023, New Oriental reported net revenues of US$860.6 million, representing a 64.2% increase year over year. The growth was mainly driven by the increase in revenues from our educational new business initiatives and East Buy private label products and livestreaming e-commerce business.
Operating Costs and Expenses
Operating costs and expenses for the quarter were US$812.5 million, representing a 29.0% increase year over year. Non-GAAP operating costs and expenses for the quarter, which exclude share-based compensation expenses, were US$782.0 million, representing a 30.1% increase year over year. The increase was primarily due to the cost and expenses related to the substantial growth in East Buy private label products and livestreaming e-commerce business.
- Cost of revenues increased by 58.0% year over year to US$391.6 million.
- Selling and marketing expenses increased by 54.3% year over year to US$147.8 million.
- General and administrative expenses for the quarter decreased by 4.5% year over year to US$273.1 million. Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, which exclude share-based compensation expenses, were US$249.5 million, representing a 3.0% decrease year over year.
Total share-based compensation expenses, which were allocated to related operating costs and expenses, increased by 6.1% to US$30.5 million in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023.
Operating Income and Operating Margin
Operating income was US$48.1 million, compared to the loss of US$105.6 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP income from operations for the quarter was US$78.6 million, compared to the loss of US$76.9 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year.
Operating margin for the quarter was 5.6%, compared to negative 20.2% in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP operating margin, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, for the quarter was 9.1%, compared to negative 14.7% in the same period of the prior fiscal year.
Net Income and Net Income per ADS
Net income attributable to New Oriental for the quarter was US$29.0 million, compared to the loss of US$189.3 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental were US$0.18 and US$0.17, respectively.
Non-GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Net Income per ADS
Non-GAAP net income attributable to New Oriental for the quarter was US$62.1 million, compared to the loss of US$160.3 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental were US$0.38 and US$0.37, respectively.
Cash Flow
Net operating cash inflow for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023 was approximately US$421.6 million and capital expenditures for the quarter were US$68.4 million.
Balance Sheet
As of May 31, 2023, New Oriental had cash and cash equivalents of US$1,663.0 million. In addition, the Company had US$1,318.5 million in term deposits and US$1,477.8 million in short-term investment.
New Oriental's deferred revenue represents cash collected upfront from customers and related revenue will be recognized as the services or goods are delivered, at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023 was US$1,337.6 million, an increase of 43.4% as compared to US$933.1 million at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2022.
Financial Results for the Fiscal Year Ended May 31, 2023
For the fiscal year 2023 ended May 31, 2023, New Oriental reported net revenues of US$2,997.8 million, representing a 3.5% decrease year over year.
Operating income from operations for the fiscal year 2023 was US$190.0 million, compared to a loss of US$982.5 million for the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP operating income for the fiscal year 2023 was US$279.8 million, compared to loss of US$849.5 million for the prior fiscal year.
Operating margin for the fiscal year 2023 was 6.3%, compared to negative 31.6% for the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP operating margin, which excludes share-based compensation expenses for the fiscal year 2023, was 9.3%, compared to negative 27.4% for the prior fiscal year.
Net income attributable to New Oriental for the fiscal year 2023 was US$177.3 million, compared to a loss of US$1,187.7 million for the prior fiscal year. Basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental for the fiscal year 2023 amounted to US$1.06 and US$1.03, respectively.
Non-GAAP net income attributable to New Oriental for the fiscal year 2023 was US$258.9 million, compared to a loss of US$1,046.2 million for the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental for the fiscal year 2023 amounted to US$1.54 and US$1.51, respectively.
Outlook for the First Quarter of the Fiscal Year 2024
New Oriental expects total net revenues in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2024 (June 1, 2023 to August 31, 2023) to be in the range of US$983.2 million to US$1,005.5 million, representing year over year increase in the range of 32% to 35%.
This forecast reflects New Oriental's current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.
Conference Call Information
New Oriental's management will host an earnings conference call at 8 AM on July 26, 2023, U.S. Eastern Time (8 PM on July 26, 2023, Beijing/Hong Kong Time).
Please register in advance of the conference, using the link provided below. Upon registering, you will be provided with participant dial-in numbers, and unique personal PIN.
Conference call registration link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI16c238a4400247fdbab6e4ed386859ae. It will automatically direct you to the registration page of "New Oriental FY2023 Q4 Earnings Conference Call" where you may fill in your details for RSVP.
In the 10 minutes prior to the call start time, you may use the conference access information (including dial in number(s) and personal PIN) provided in the confirmation email received at the point of registering.
Joining the conference call via a live webcast:
Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available at http://investor.neworiental.org.
Listening to the conference call replay:
A replay of the conference call may be accessed via the webcast on-demand by registering at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/w73sywkc first. The replay will be available until July 26, 2024.
About New Oriental
New Oriental is a provider of private educational services in China offering a wide range of educational programs, services and products to a varied student population throughout China. New Oriental's program, service and product offerings mainly consist of educational services and test preparation courses, online education and other services, overseas study consulting services, and educational materials and distribution. New Oriental is listed on NYSE (NYSE: EDU) and SEHK (9901.SEHK), respectively. New Oriental's ADSs, each of which represents ten common shares. The Hong Kong-listed shares are fully fungible with the ADSs listed on NYSE.
For more information about New Oriental, please visit http://www.neworiental.org/english/.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, quotations from management in this announcement, as well as New Oriental's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. New Oriental may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about New Oriental's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: our ability to attract students without a significant increase in course fees; our ability to continue to hire, train and retain qualified teachers; our ability to maintain and enhance our "New Oriental" brand; our ability to effectively and efficiently manage the expansion of our school network and successfully execute our growth strategy; the outcome of ongoing, or any future, litigation or arbitration, including those relating to copyright and other intellectual property rights; competition in the private education sector in China; changes in our revenues and certain cost or expense items as a percentage of our revenues; the expected growth of the Chinese private education market; Chinese governmental policies relating to private educational services and providers of such services; health epidemics and other outbreaks in China; and general economic conditions in China. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in our annual report on Form 20-F and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New Oriental does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and New Oriental undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
About Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement New Oriental's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, New Oriental uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC: net income excluding share-based compensation expenses and loss from fair value change of investments, operating income excluding share-based compensation expenses, operating cost and expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses, general and administrative expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses, operating margin excluding share-based compensation expenses, and basic and diluted net income per ADS and per share excluding share-based compensation expenses and loss from fair value change of investments. The related tax effect of the exclusion of share-based compensation expenses and loss from fair value change of investments has been immaterial. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures" set forth at the end of this release.
New Oriental believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding share-based compensation expenses and loss from fair value change of investments that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. New Oriental believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to New Oriental's historical performance and liquidity. New Oriental believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP measures is that they exclude share-based compensation charge and loss from fair value change of investments that has been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in our business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables have more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures.
Contacts
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Rita Fong Ms. Sisi Zhao
FTI Consulting New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.
Tel: +852 3768 4548 Tel: +86-10-6260-5568
Email: rita.fong@fticonsulting.com Email: zhaosisi@xdf.cn
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SOURCE New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/26/new-oriental-announces-results-fourth-fiscal-quarter-fiscal-year-ended-may-31-2023/ | 2023-07-26 10:18:37 | 1 | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/26/new-oriental-announces-results-fourth-fiscal-quarter-fiscal-year-ended-may-31-2023/ |
OMAHA, Neb. — Members of one union rejected a tentative deal with the largest U.S. freight railroads Wednesday while three other unions remained at the bargaining table just days ahead of a strike deadline, threatening to intensify snarls in the nation's supply chain that have contributed to rising prices.
About 4,900 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 19 voted to reject the tentative agreement negotiated by IAM leadership with the railroads, the union said Wednesday. But the IAM agreed to delay any strike by its members until Sept. 29 to allow more time for negotiations and to allow other unions to vote.
Railroads are trying to reach an agreement with all their other unions to avert a strike before Friday’s deadline. The unions aren't allowed to strike before Friday under the federal law that governs railroad contract talks.
Government officials and a variety of businesses are bracing for the possibility of a nationwide rail strike that would paralyze shipments of everything from crude and clothing to cars, a potential calamity for businesses that have struggled for more than two years due to COVID-19 related supply chain breakdowns.
There are 12 unions — one with two separate divisions — that must agree to the tentative deals. So far, nine had agreed to tentative deals and three others are still at the bargaining table. IAM members were the first to reject their deal while other votes are expected Wednesday.
The tentative deals are based on the recommendations of a Presidential Emergency Board Joe Biden appointed this summer that called for 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses in a five-year deal that’s retroactive to 2020. The deal also includes one additional paid leave day a year and higher health insurance costs.
The key unions that represent the conductors and engineers who drive trains are holding out in the hope that railroads will agree to go beyond those recommendations and address some of their concerns about unpredictable schedules and strict attendance policies that they say make it difficult to take any time off.
Contract talks continued Wednesday with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh participating to put pressure on both sides to reach a deal before Friday's deadline.
“All parties need to stay at the table, bargain in good faith to resolve outstanding issues, and come to an agreement," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. "A shutdown of our freight system is an unacceptable outcome for our economy and the American people, and all parties must work to avoid just that.”
If the two sides can't agree, Congress could step in to block a strike and impose terms on the railroads and unions, but it wasn't clear Wednesday how quickly they could or would act because Democrats and Republicans may not be able to readily agree on a solution. A number of business groups have written letters to lawmakers over the past week urging them to be prepared to step in because of their concerns that a rail strike would be what the Business Roundtable called an “economic catastrophe."
The many businesses that rely on railroads to deliver their raw materials and finished products say a rail strike would cause significant problems particularly for oil refineries, chemical businesses, auto makers, retailers and agricultural groups. The Association of American Railroads trade group estimated that a strike would cost the economy more than $2 billion a day.
Businesses would likely try to turn to trucks and other modes of shipping if the railroads do shut down, but there isn't enough trucking capacity to take up all the slack. The railroad trade group estimated that 467,000 additional trucks a day would be required to deliver everything railroads handle now.
A freight rail strike would also disrupt passenger traffic because Amtrak and many commuter railroads operate on tracks owned by the freight railroads. Amtrak has already cancelled a number of its long-distance trains this week. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/nation-world/railroad-contract-talks/507-001507a4-1ed1-42d6-af22-768736fdb5d2 | 2022-09-14 19:46:32 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/nation-world/railroad-contract-talks/507-001507a4-1ed1-42d6-af22-768736fdb5d2 |
,
/PRNewswire/ -- 745 Capital LLC (the "Purchaser") previously announced a cash tender offer (the "Tender Offer") for up to
principal amount of the Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. 6.50% Senior Notes Due 2027 (CUSIP No. 50575Q300)
(Bloomberg symbol LTSL
The Purchaser announced today that it is amending the Offer to Purchase and extending the Expiration Time (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) until 5:00p.m., New York City time, on August 12, 2022, unless further extended or withdrawn. Previously tendered Notes may be validly withdrawn prior to the Expiration Time, as extended, in accordance with the Offer to Purchase, as amended.
The Tender Offer otherwise remains subject to the conditions in the Offer to Purchase, as amended, and Letter of Transmittal. Provided that the conditions to the Tender Offer have been satisfied or waived, payment for the Notes purchased in the Tender Offer will now be made on or about August 17, 2022.
This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes. The Purchaser is making the offer only by the terms of the Offer to Purchase, as amended, and Letter of Transmittal, copies of which may be obtained from D.F. King & Co., Inc., the tender and information agent for the Tender Offer, at LTSL@dfking.com or (800) 706-3274 or, for banks and brokers, at (212) 269-5550.
745 Capital was incorporated in New York in 2022 and is not affiliated with Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including those related to the completion of the Tender Offer. Forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future. The Purchaser is not under any obligation to update its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Contact: Michael Horthman (212) 232-3233
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SOURCE 745 Capital LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/745-capital-announces-extension-cash-tender-offer-ladenburg-thalmann-financial-services-inc-650-senior-notes-due-2027-through-august-12-2022-1500-plus-accrued-interest-nyse-symbol-ltsl/ | 2022-07-18 16:19:18 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/745-capital-announces-extension-cash-tender-offer-ladenburg-thalmann-financial-services-inc-650-senior-notes-due-2027-through-august-12-2022-1500-plus-accrued-interest-nyse-symbol-ltsl/ |
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Already, across the country, other retail chains have scooped up the vacant stores. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/star-the-jack-russel-terrier-mix-puppy/article_ba1fe8b7-d3a7-5250-9c13-466713ab4a8e.html | 2023-03-25 11:17:46 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/star-the-jack-russel-terrier-mix-puppy/article_ba1fe8b7-d3a7-5250-9c13-466713ab4a8e.html |
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Chesterfield Police are investigating a fatal crash along Hull Street Road at the intersection of Bayside Lane on Saturday afternoon.
A Chevrolet Equinox was headed west on Hull Street Road when it was struck by a Suzuki Boulevard C90 motorcycle just after 2:20 p.m., according to police.
The driver of the motorcycle was transported to an area hospital, where he later died, officers said.
The driver's identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Police said their investigation into the crash is ongoing.
The wreck closed all westbound lanes Hull Street Road, according to VDOT officials.
"Expect delays and seek alternate routes," officials warned.
Anyone with information about the wreck is asked to call Chesterfield County Police at 804-748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660 or through the P3 app.
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip. | https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/motorcycle-driver-killed-hull-street-road-crash-chesterfield-june-17-2023 | 2023-06-17 21:36:51 | 1 | https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/motorcycle-driver-killed-hull-street-road-crash-chesterfield-june-17-2023 |
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Regression Games, the AI gaming and esports company, today announced it has closed $4.2M in seed funding led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA) with participation from Andreesen Horowitz (a16z), BBQ Capital, Roosh Ventures, and various angel investors to bring the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to gaming and esports. Regression Games plans to use the new capital to grow their engineering team and accelerate the development of their initial platform to test AI-driven gaming, in partnership with existing games and game studios.
Regression Games is building the platform and ecosystem to make AI gaming and esports accessible and enjoyable for everyone. The platform will enable players to write code and AIs that control characters, debug strategies in real-time, compete for prizes in tournaments and top spots on leaderboards, and collaborate with friends to build the best bots possible. Rather than traditional game playing where players utilize a controller or mouse and keyboard, Regression Games users will program algorithms and machine learning models to battle others. The AI platform will be made to integrate with both existing games and original games developed by Regression Games. With more than 3.2 billion gamers around the world, 175 US collegiate esport programs, and over 47% of US high schools teaching computer science, this intersection of gaming and coding is poised to grow over the years to come. By 2028, the video game industry is estimated to be worth over $435bn, as well as an estimated 45 million coders by 2030.
The company was founded by Aaron Vontell, an MIT alum and early engineer at AI-powered automation company Instabase. Aaron has spent the past few years working on low-code / no-code systems for non-technical people to harness the power of large machine learning models. Before Instabase, he helped develop Battlecode, an annual AI gaming competition at MIT where college students from around the globe build virtual bots to compete in video games.
"People really enjoy being able to use their technical skills to compete and win prizes, and with the proliferation of AI–this is the perfect time to start bringing AI gaming to the masses," says Aaron Vontell, Founder and CEO, Regression Games. "There is a lot of really great work coming from the ML community in using neural networks to play games like Minecraft, Dota 2, and Atari games. I want to bring those ideas to the mainstream and give people an accessible place to have fun using and competing with artificial intelligence in games."
"The growth of gaming, combined with its significant overlap with the esports and programming communities, has created a market primed for the collision of gaming and AI," said Rick Yang, General Partner and Head of Consumer Investing at NEA. "We met Aaron through our investment in Instabase and are thrilled to keep him in the NEA Family and partner with him as he executes on his vision to build Regression Games into a platform offering opportunities for competition, education, and recreation for players of all skill levels. Regression has great potential to become a pioneer in the emerging AI gaming space."
a16z General Partner James Gwertzman added, "One of the core tenets of our a16z games fund is that games are great breeding grounds for new technologies that will then find their way into all sorts of other industries. And Regression is a perfect example. What Aaron is doing — turning the creation of AI bots into a game — is not only fun in its own right, but will likely create new frameworks to simplify AI bot creation that will have broad applicability outside of games."
Aaron believes that the tools and approaches for AI competition are useful to more than just the players, but also to game studios that wish to enhance AI capabilities, or run their own AI competitions. Aaron says: "A lot more people are gaming these days, and there is a lot of complexity that goes into planning the NPCs and AIs that are used in the metaverse, online battle arenas, etc. The tools and platform we're building for players to compete will also be extremely useful for developers who want to build AIs into their games. It's widely known that existing bots in games are lacking, and we can do so much more than what is currently implemented"
Regression Games plans to hold a private alpha test and tournament with players on its AI platform in the coming months. Interested players and game developers can visit: https://regression.gg to sign up for the mailing list and follow Regression Games on Twitter and join the company's Discord server for updates!
Regression Games is hiring! Visit https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/regressiongg to view available positions.
Regression Games is building the platform and ecosystem to make competitive gaming with artificial intelligence accessible and fun to everyone. Players create AIs using code or machine learning models, debug strategies in real time, compete for prizes in tournaments and top spots on leaderboards, and collaborate with friends to build the best bots possible. For more information visit: https://www.regression.gg/
New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) is a global venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs build transformational businesses across multiple stages, sectors and geographies. With nearly $24 billion in cumulative committed capital since the firm's founding in 1977, NEA invests in technology and healthcare companies at all stages in a company's lifecycle, from seed stage through IPO. The firm's track record of investing includes more than 260 portfolio company IPOs and more than 440 mergers and acquisitions. www.nea.com
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SOURCE Regression Games | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/ai-gaming-esports-startup-regression-games-raises-42m-seed-funding-nea-a16z/ | 2022-08-15 15:00:42 | 1 | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/ai-gaming-esports-startup-regression-games-raises-42m-seed-funding-nea-a16z/ |
- Total revenues of $655.9 million ($643.2 million on an adjusted basis) compared to $961.7 million ($955.2 million on an adjusted basis) in the prior year quarter
- Net income of $13.3 million ($16.3 million on an adjusted basis) compared to $85.5 million ($83.7 million on an adjusted basis) in the prior year quarter
- Diluted EPS of $0.49 ($0.60 on an adjusted basis) compared to prior year quarter diluted EPS of $3.12 ($3.05 on an adjusted basis)
HOUSTON, Feb. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE: STC) today reported net income attributable to Stewart for the fourth quarter 2022 of $13.3 million ($0.49 per diluted share), compared to net income attributable to Stewart of $85.5 million ($3.12 per diluted share) for the fourth quarter 2021. On an adjusted basis, Stewart's fourth quarter 2022 net income was $16.3 million ($0.60 per diluted share) compared to $83.7 million ($3.05 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter 2021. Fourth quarter 2022 pretax income before noncontrolling interests was $20.8 million ($24.7 million on an adjusted basis) compared to pretax income before noncontrolling interests of $114.1 million ($111.7 million on an adjusted basis) for the fourth quarter 2021.
Fourth quarter 2022 results included $12.7 million of pretax net realized and unrealized gains, primarily composed of net unrealized gains on fair value changes of equity securities investments and gains related to settlements of company-owned insurance policies, offset by $16.7 million of combined office closure, severance and regulatory settlement and litigation expenses. Fourth quarter 2021 results included $6.5 million of pretax net realized and unrealized gains, primarily composed of net unrealized gains on fair value changes of equity securities investments and net gains related to acquisition contingent liability adjustments, partially offset by net realized losses primarily related to sale of securities investments and other assets and $4.1 million of office closure costs.
"Our fourth quarter results were impacted by historically low transaction volumes due to the current economic environment and its impact on the housing industry. We have continued to manage our operations during this challenging environment with a reasonable balance of cost discipline and investment in capabilities that we expect will have a positive impact on our business over the long term," commented Fred Eppinger, chief executive officer. "We have made significant progress in becoming a stronger company and will continue to invest opportunistically to build a more resilient company. In line with our long-term strategies of improving Stewart, we are excited to welcome to the Stewart family BCHH, a national provider of title services to institutional real estate investors and lenders."
Selected Financial Information
Summary results of operations are as follows (dollars in millions, except per share amounts, and amounts may not add as presented due to rounding):
Title Segment
Summary results of the title segment are as follows (dollars in millions, except pretax margin):
Operating revenues for the title segment decreased $254.8 million, or 30 percent, in the fourth quarter 2022 compared to the fourth quarter 2021, primarily due to volume declines in our direct title and agency operations, while total segment operating expenses decreased $154.6 million, or 21 percent, primarily as a result of lower revenues. Agency retention expenses in the fourth quarter 2022 decreased $107.8 million, or 30 percent, consistent with the 30 percent decline in gross agency revenues, while the average independent agency remittance rate in the fourth quarter 2022 was 17.6 percent compared to 18 percent in the fourth quarter 2021.
Total employee costs and other operating expenses in the fourth quarter 2022 decreased $36.2 million, or 11 percent, compared to the prior year quarter, and as a percentage of operating revenues, these expenses were 48.9 percent in the fourth quarter 2022 compared to 38.3 percent in the fourth quarter 2021, primarily due to lower revenues in the fourth quarter 2022. Title loss expense in the fourth quarter 2022 decreased $11.9 million, or 36 percent, compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to lower title revenues. As a percentage of title revenues, title loss expense was 3.7 percent in the fourth quarter 2022 compared to 4.0 percent in the fourth quarter 2021.
The title segment's net realized and unrealized gains in the fourth quarters 2022 and 2021 included net unrealized gains of $11.2 million and $8.1 million, respectively, related to fair value changes of equity securities investments and net realized losses of $0.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively, on sale of investment securities. Additionally, the segment recorded $2.0 million of net losses related to acquisition contingent liability adjustments during the fourth quarter 2021. Investment income in the fourth quarter 2022 increased compared to the prior year quarter, primarily as a result of higher interest income resulting from increased interest rates and higher short-term investments in the fourth quarter 2022.
Direct title revenues information is presented below (dollars in millions):
Total non-commercial revenues decreased $94.0 million, or 32 percent, primarily resulting from a 55 percent decline in residential purchase and refinancing transactions during the fourth quarter 2022 compared to the prior year quarter. Domestic commercial revenues in the fourth quarter 2022 decreased $26.2 million, or 28 percent, primarily due to lower transaction volume and size compared to the fourth quarter 2021. Average domestic commercial fee per file in the fourth quarter 2022 was $15,100, which was 23 percent lower compared to $19,700 in the fourth quarter 2021, while average residential fee per file in the fourth quarter 2022 increased 45 percent to $3,500, compared to $2,400 in the prior year quarter due to a higher purchase mix in the fourth quarter 2022. Total international revenues in the fourth quarter 2022 declined by $16.0 million, or 34 percent, primarily as a result of lower transaction volumes in our Canadian operations and weaker foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar compared to the prior year quarter.
Real Estate Solutions Segment
Summary results of the real estate solutions segment are as follows (dollars in millions):
Operating revenues for the real estate solutions segment decreased in the fourth quarter 2022 compared to last year's fourth quarter primarily due to lower transaction volumes influenced by the current high interest rate environment. Combined employee costs and other operating expenses decreased 36 percent in the fourth quarter 2022, consistent with the reduced operating revenue. Net realized and unrealized gains during the fourth quarter 2021 were primarily driven by net gains related to acquisition contingent liability adjustments. Included in the total non-GAAP adjustments to pretax income were total acquired intangible asset amortization expenses in the fourth quarters 2022 and 2021 of $5.8 million and $5.6 million, respectively.
Corporate and Other Segment
The corporate and other segment recorded $2.5 million of net realized and unrealized gains in the fourth quarter 2022, primarily related to settlement of a company-owned life insurance policy, compared to $1.6 million of net realized losses in the fourth quarter 2021, primarily driven by losses on asset disposals. Segment results for the fourth quarter 2021 included a real estate brokerage company that was acquired in late 2021 and sold in early 2022. Net expenses attributable to corporate operations increased to $9.0 million in the fourth quarter 2022 compared to $7.9 million in the prior year quarter, primarily as a result of higher interest expense resulting from debt.
Expenses
Consolidated employee costs in the fourth quarter 2022 decreased $29.8 million, or 14 percent, compared to the fourth quarter 2021, primarily due to lower incentive compensation and temporary labor costs, consistent with lower operating results and volumes, partially offset by severance expenses and increased average headcount resulting from acquisitions. As a percentage of total operating revenues, consolidated employee costs increased to 30.1 percent for the fourth quarter 2022 compared to 23.3 percent in the prior year quarter, primarily due to lower operating revenues in the fourth quarter 2022.
Total other operating expenses in the fourth quarter 2022 decreased $65.8 million, or 31 percent, compared to the prior year quarter, primarily as a result of reduced costs tied to lower title and real estate solutions revenues, partially offset by higher office closure costs and regulatory settlement and litigation expenses recorded during the fourth quarter 2022. As a percentage of total operating revenues, consolidated other operating expenses for the fourth quarter 2022 were 22.8 percent compared to 22.2 percent in the fourth quarter 2021; excluding office closure costs and regulatory settlement and litigation expenses, consolidated other operating expenses were 20.6 percent in the fourth quarter 2022 compared to 21.7 percent in the prior year quarter.
Other
Net cash provided by operations in the fourth quarter 2022 decreased to $24.8 million compared to net cash provided by operations of $133.0 million in the fourth quarter 2021, primarily driven by the lower net income in the fourth quarter 2022.
Fourth Quarter Earnings Call
Stewart will hold a conference call to discuss the fourth quarter 2022 earnings at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, February 9, 2023. To participate, dial (800) 274-8461 (USA) or (203) 518-9843 (International) - access code STCQ422. Additionally, participants can listen to the conference call through Stewart's Investor Relations website at http://investors.stewart.com/news-and-events/events/default.aspx. The conference call replay will be available from 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on February 9, 2023 until midnight on February 16, 2023 by dialing (800) 839-2383 or (402) 220-7202 (International).
About Stewart
Stewart (NYSE:STC) is a global real estate services company, offering products and services through our direct operations, network of Stewart Trusted Providers™ and family of companies. From residential and commercial title insurance and closing and settlement services to specialized offerings for the mortgage and real estate industries, we offer the comprehensive service, deep expertise and solutions our customers need for any real estate transaction. More information can be found at http://www.stewart.com, subscribe to the Stewart blog at http://blog.stewart.com or follow Stewart on Twitter® @stewarttitleco.
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements. Certain statements in this earnings release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements relate to future, not past, events and often address our expected future business and financial performance. These statements often contain words such as "may," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "will," "foresee" or other similar words. Forward-looking statements by their nature are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to be materially different than those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the volatility of economic conditions; adverse changes in the level of real estate activity; changes in mortgage interest rates, existing and new home sales, and availability of mortgage financing; our ability to respond to and implement technology changes, including the completion of the implementation of our enterprise systems; the impact of unanticipated title losses or the need to strengthen our policy loss reserves; any effect of title losses on our cash flows and financial condition; the ability to attract and retain highly productive sales associates; the impact of vetting our agency operations for quality and profitability; independent agency remittance rates; changes to the participants in the secondary mortgage market and the rate of refinancing that affects the demand for title insurance products; regulatory non-compliance, fraud or defalcations by our title insurance agencies or employees; our ability to timely and cost-effectively respond to significant industry changes and introduce new products and services; the outcome of pending litigation; the impact of changes in governmental and insurance regulations, including any future reductions in the pricing of title insurance products and services; our dependence on our operating subsidiaries as a source of cash flow; our ability to access the equity and debt financing markets when and if needed; our ability to grow our international operations; seasonality and weather; and our ability to respond to the actions of our competitors. These risks and uncertainties, as well as others, are discussed in more detail in our documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and if applicable, as supplemented by any risk factors contained in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed subsequently. All forward-looking statements included in this earnings release are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update, amend or clarify any forward-looking statements contained in this earnings release to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof, except as may be required by applicable law.
ST-IR
Appendix A
Non-GAAP Adjustments
Management uses a variety of financial and operational measurements other than its financial statements prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to analyze its performance. These include: (1) adjusted revenues, which are reported revenues adjusted for net realized and unrealized gains and losses, and other adjustments (sold real estate brokerage company), and (2) adjusted pretax income and adjusted net income, which are reported pretax income and reported net income after earnings from noncontrolling interests, respectively, adjusted for net realized and unrealized gains and losses, office closure, severance and regulatory settlement and litigation expenses, and other adjustments. Adjusted diluted earnings per share (adjusted diluted EPS) is calculated using adjusted net income divided by the diluted average weighted outstanding shares. In addition to these adjustments, acquired intangible asset amortization and other expenses are excluded in the calculation of adjusted pretax income for the title and real estate solutions segments. Management views these measures as important performance measures of core profitability for its operations and as key components of its internal financial reporting. Management believes investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures that management uses.
Below are reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measurements used by management to the most directly comparable GAAP measures for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (dollars in millions, except share and per share amounts, and amounts may not add as presented due to rounding).
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SOURCE Stewart Information Services Corporation | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/02/08/stewart-reports-fourth-quarter-2022-results/ | 2023-02-08 22:47:56 | 1 | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/02/08/stewart-reports-fourth-quarter-2022-results/ |
Colorado has passed the nation's first "right to repair" law for farm equipment. Farmers have complained for years that not being able to fix their own equipment costs them time and money.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Colorado has passed the nation's first "right to repair" law for farm equipment. Farmers have complained for years that not being able to fix their own equipment costs them time and money.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.wboi.org/2023-05-06/colorado-is-the-first-to-pass-a-law-allowing-farmers-to-repair-their-own-equipment | 2023-05-06 12:21:34 | 1 | https://www.wboi.org/2023-05-06/colorado-is-the-first-to-pass-a-law-allowing-farmers-to-repair-their-own-equipment |
LONDON (AP) — Tens of thousands of doctors walked off the job across England on Tuesday, kicking off a four-day strike billed as the most disruptive in the history of the U.K.’s public health service.
The walkout by junior doctors, who form the backbone of hospital and clinic care in the National Health Service, is due to last until 7 a.m. on Saturday.
Junior doctors — those in the first years of their careers — make up almost half of all NHS doctors. Health service bosses say as many as 350,000 scheduled operations and appointments will be canceled during the walkout. Senior doctors and other medics have had to be drafted in to cover for emergency services, critical care and maternity services.
Stephen Powis, medical director of NHS England, said the walkout “is going to be the most disruptive period of strike action that we’ve seen this winter, probably the most disruptive period of action in NHS history.”
The British Medical Association, the doctors’ trade union, is seeking a 35% pay raise to make up for what it says are years of below-inflation increases. The union says newly qualified medics earn just 14.09 pounds ($17) an hour — the U.K. minimum wage is just over 10 pounds an hour — though salaries rise rapidly after the first year.
Dr. Vivek Trivedi, co-chairperson of the union's junior doctors committee, said the walkout could be stopped if Health Secretary Steve Barclay made a “credible offer” on pay. The government says it is willing to negotiate if the strike is called off, but calls the 35% demand unaffordable.
A wave of strikes has disrupted Britons’ lives for months, as workers demand pay raises to keep pace with soaring inflation, which stood at 10.4% in February.
Nurses, ambulance crews, teachers, border staff, driving examiners, bus drivers and postal workers have all walked off their jobs to demand higher pay.
Unions say wages, especially in the public sector, have fallen in real terms over the past decade, and a cost-of-living crisis fueled by sharply rising food and energy prices has left many struggling to pay their bills.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/uk-junior-doctors-begin-4-day-strike-seeking-hefty-pay-hike/FO4CSK6LBREV3ELHY4AKV7F47Y/ | 2023-04-11 09:22:18 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/uk-junior-doctors-begin-4-day-strike-seeking-hefty-pay-hike/FO4CSK6LBREV3ELHY4AKV7F47Y/ |
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) _ Parke Bancorp Inc. (PKBK) on Wednesday reported net income of $10.5 million in its third quarter.
The Washington Township, New Jersey-based bank said it had earnings of 87 cents per share.
The holding company for Parke Bank posted revenue of $24.4 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $21.3 million, topping Street forecasts.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PKBK at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PKBK | https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Parke-Bancorp-Q3-Earnings-Snapshot-17519179.php | 2022-10-19 14:36:13 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Parke-Bancorp-Q3-Earnings-Snapshot-17519179.php |
Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty To 2 Tax Crimes After Agreement With Prosecutors Falls Through
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden’s son Hunter pleaded not guilty Wednesday to two tax crimes after a plea deal with federal prosecutors unraveled during a court hearing following the judge’s concerns over the agreement.
Hunter Biden was charged last month with two misdemeanor tax crimes of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018, and he was expected to plead guilty on Wednesday after he made an agreement with prosecutors, who were planning to recommend two years of probation. That deal is now on hold.
But during the hearing Wednesday, there was a dispute in court over whether the initial agreement gave him protection against any future charges. U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, raised concerns about the language of the deal.
The judge gave defense lawyers and prosecutors 30 days to explain why she should accept the initial deal.
The collapsed the proceedings, a surprising development because the plea had been carefully negotiated over weeks and included a lengthy back-and-forth between Justice Department prosecutors and Biden’s attorneys.
The plea deal was meant to clear the air for Hunter Biden and avert a trial that would have generated weeks or months of distracting headlines. But the politics remain as messy as ever, with Republicans insisting he got a sweetheart deal and the Justice Department pressing ahead on investigations into Trump, the GOP’s 2024 presidential primary front-runner.
Prosecutors said in court Wednesday that Biden remained under federal investigation.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden’s son Hunter’s plea deal on two tax charges fell apart on Wednesday, at least temporarily, after the federal judge hearing his case expressed concern over a related agreement on a more serious gun possession charge.
The outcome leaves in jeopardy the resolution of a yearslong investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings. He had been charged with two misdemeanor tax crimes of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018, and he made an agreement with prosecutors, who were planning to recommend two years of probation.
Last month, Biden was charged with possession of a firearm by a person who is a known drug user, a felony. He had a Colt Cobra .38 Special for 11 days in October 2018. He agreed to enter into a diversion agreement, which means that he would not technically plead guilty to the crime. As long as he adhered to the terms of his agreement, the case would be wiped from his record. If not, the deal would be withdrawn. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, said she was concerned about the language in the diversion agreement, which contained details about not prosecuting Biden for tax crimes in the future. She suggested the lawyers get back together and discuss it.
“I think having you guys talk more makes sense,” she said to the attorneys.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether the lawyers could resolve the case Wednesday.
The deal was meant to clear the air for Hunter Biden and avert a trial that would have generated weeks or months of distracting headlines. But the politics remain as messy as ever, with Republicans insisting he got a sweetheart deal and the Justice Department pressing ahead on investigations into Trump, the GOP’s 2024 presidential primary front-runner.
Trump is already facing a state criminal case in New York and a federal indictment in Florida. But last week, a target letter was sent to Trump from special counsel Jack Smith that suggests the former president may soon be indicted on new federal charges, this time involving his struggle to cling to power after his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.
Republicans claim a double standard, in which the president’s son got off easy while the president’s rival has been unfairly castigated. Congressional Republicans are pursuing their own investigations into nearly every facet of Hunter Biden’s dealings, including foreign payments.
On Tuesday, a dustup arose after Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee filed court documents urging Noreika to consider testimony from IRS whistleblowers who alleged Justice Department interference in the investigation.
Shortly after their motion was filed, a court clerk received a call requesting that “sensitive grand jury, taxpayer and Social Security information” be kept under seal, according to an oral order from the judge. The clerk said the lawyer gave her name and said she worked with an attorney from the Ways and Means Committee but was in fact a lawyer with the defense team.
Noreika demanded the defense team show why she should not consider sanctioning them for “misrepresentations to the court.” Defense attorneys responded that their lawyer had represented herself truthfully from the start and called the matter a misunderstanding.
Christopher Clark, a lawyer for Hunter Biden, said in a statement last month when the deal was announced that it was his understanding that the five-year investigation had now been resolved.
“I know Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life,” Clark said then. “He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward.”
President Biden, meanwhile, has said very little publicly, except to note, “I’m very proud of my son.” | https://www.kfornow.com/hunter-biden-pleads-not-guilty-to-2-tax-crimes-after-agreement-with-prosecutors-falls-through/ | 2023-07-26 23:21:47 | 1 | https://www.kfornow.com/hunter-biden-pleads-not-guilty-to-2-tax-crimes-after-agreement-with-prosecutors-falls-through/ |
Employee narrowly avoids scam which would have cost hotel $130,000, officials say
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow/Gray News) – A hacker is accused of nearly swindling a hotel out of more than $130,000, according to police.
They said the attempted scam started with a phone call.
Hawaii police said the alleged scammer called Kaimana Beach Hotel about 10:30 p.m. Friday. When a front desk employee answered, the scammer said he was with the hotel’s IT company.
HawaiiNewsNow reports the worker was alone at the front desk.
The scammer reportedly told the employee he needed to perform maintenance on the hotel’s computer system and convinced the employee to give him remote access.
The worker then said they noticed multiple credit card transactions had been made attempting to transfer more than $130,000 out of the hotel’s account.
Despite this type of scam being common, retired FBI special agent Tom Simon said this particular case stands out.
“The dollar amount is pretty staggering,” he said.
Simon said the scheme is known as pretexting, which is where a scammer will use an invented scenario to trick the victim into divulging sensitive information. In this case, the scammer wanted access to the computer system.
“It’s important for the hackers to create a sense of urgency so the victims feel pressure to act immediately without looping their bosses in,” Simon said. “And I think that’s what went wrong this time.”
The worker cut the scammer’s access immediately after realizing something was wrong.
In a statement, a hotel spokesperson confirmed it was able to stop the transactions, saying, “No funds were lost.”
“I can’t stress enough how important training is to make sure all the frontline employees of a company know they should never give sensitive information out no matter how much pressure the person on the phone is putting on you,” Simon said.
As for catching these types of criminals, Simon said law enforcement has two options.
“One is the IP address, or digital fingerprint, that they left behind when they accessed the system,” he said. “And the other is my expertise, and that’s following the money to see who benefits economically from this threat.”
Meanwhile, the investigation continues. Hawaii police said there have been no arrests.
Copyright 2022 KHNL/KMGB via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/08/28/employee-narrowly-avoids-scam-which-would-have-cost-hotel-130000-officials-say/ | 2022-08-29 00:42:36 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/08/28/employee-narrowly-avoids-scam-which-would-have-cost-hotel-130000-officials-say/ |
HARLOWTON, Mont. (AP) — Near the banks of Montana’s Musselshell River, cattle rancher Michael Miller saw a large, white orb above the town of Harlowton last week, a day before U.S. officials revealed they were tracking a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the state. The balloon caused a stir in the 900-person town surrounded by cattle ranches, wind farms and scattered nuclear missile silos behind chain link fences.
Miller worries about China as a rising threat to the U.S., but questioned how much intelligence could be gained from a balloon. China’s bigger threat, he said, is to the U.S. economy. Like many throughout the country, Miller wonders if stricter laws are needed to bar farmland sales to foreign nationals so power over agriculture and the food supply doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.
“It’s best not to have a foreign entity buying up land, especially one that’s not really friendly to us,” Miller said. “They are just going to take us over economically, instead of military-wise.”
Miller’s concerns are increasingly shared by U.S. lawmakers after the Chinese balloon’s voyage over American skies inflamed tensions between Washington and Beijing.
In Congress and statehouses, the balloon’s journey added traction to decades-old concerns about foreign land ownership. U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, is sponsoring legislation to include agriculture as a factor in national security decisions allowing foreign real estate investments.
“The bottom line is we don’t want folks from China owning our farmland. It goes against food security and it goes against national security,” Tester told The Associated Press.
At least 11 state legislatures also are considering measures to address the concern. That includes Montana and North Dakota, where the U.S. Air Force recently warned that a $700 million corn mill proposed near a military base by the American subsidiary of a Chinese company would risk national security.
City council members in Grand Forks, North Dakota, endured a barrage of criticism from town residents Monday night before voting 5-0 to abandon the plan. The move came a year after a joint press release from local officials and North Dakota’s governor called the project “extraordinary,” saying it would bring jobs and bolster the farm industry.
Enraged residents of the 59,000-person city near the Minnesota border demanded resignations from council members they claimed had tried to push through the plan, brushing off Chinese threats to national security.
“You decided, for whatever reason, this was such a fantastic thing for our city that you got blinders on,” said Dexter Perkins, a University of North Dakota geology professor. “You guys went all in when there were a gazillion unanswered questions.”
Before the Air Force’s warning, officials said they weren’t in a position to opine on national security matters.
Foreign entities and individuals control less than 3% of U.S. farmland, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Of that, those with ties to China control less than 1%, or roughly 600 square miles (340 square kilometers).
Yet in recent years, transactions of agricultural and non-agricultural land have attracted scrutiny, particularly in states with a large U.S. military presence.
Limitations on foreign individuals or entities owning farmland vary widely throughout the U.S. Most states allow it, while 14 have restrictions. No states have a total prohibition. Of the five states where the federal agriculture department says entities with ties to China own the most farmland, four don’t limit foreign ownership: North Carolina, Virginia, Texas and Utah.
The fifth, Missouri, has a cap on foreign land ownership that state lawmakers want to make more stringent.
Ownership restriction supporters often speculate about foreign buyers’ motives and whether people with ties to adversaries such as China intend to use land for spying or exerting control over the U.S. food supply.
Texas in 2021 banned infrastructure deals with individuals tied to hostile governments, including China. The policy came after a Chinese army veteran and real estate tycoon purchased a wind farm in a border town near a U.S. Air Force base. This year, Texas Republicans want to expand that with a ban against land purchases by individuals and entities from hostile countries including China.
Critics see it as anti-foreigner hysteria, with Texas’ Asian American community particularly concerned about the effect on immigrants who want to buy homes and build businesses.
In Utah, concern has centered on a Chinese company’s purchase of a speedway near an army depot in 2015 and Chinese-owned farms exporting alfalfa and hay from drought-stricken parts of the state.
Lawmakers this year are considering two proposals that would, to varying degrees, ban entities with ties to foreign governments from owning land.
“Do we really want any foreign country coming in and buying our agricultural land, our forests or our mineral rights?” asked Republican state Rep. Kay Christofferson, who is sponsoring one of the bills. “If it would interfere with our sovereignty — especially in an emergency situation or during a threat to national security — I think that we’d lose our ability as a state to be independent and self sufficient.”
Caitlin Welsh, director of the Global Food Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the scramble to limit foreign land ownership tracked rising U.S.-China tensions. Welsh shares concerns about U.S. adversaries purchasing land near military bases like in Grand Forks, but said worries about China controlling the food supply were overblown.
“China is just a small slice of the bigger picture of foreign ownership,” Welsh said. “When it comes to food security, the biggest threat is that foreign owners can potentially pay a higher price for agricultural land, which then drives up prices.”
The restrictions have encountered resistance in states with strong property rights. In Wyoming, two proposals to restrict foreign land ownership failed this week even though Republicans who control the statehouse were sympathetic to concerns about China expanding its reach.
“We’ve had a lot of problems with China lately in the air. Big balloons flying over us. We look at this as a national and state security bill, for Wyoming and the United States,” said Rep. Bill Allemand, a Republican from Casper.
Lawmakers on Monday rejected Allemand’s proposal to ban ownership of more than an acre of land by people from China, Russia and countries the U.S. government considers state sponsors of terrorism. Skeptics said it would be difficult to police due to the complex web of title companies and holding corporations in agricultural real estate.
“This is very easy to get around,” Republican Rep. Martha Lawley said. “We may end the day feeling good about ourselves, but we’ve opened up to a lot of liability.”
Questions about foreign investment are increasingly prompting debate over whether cities and states should be rolling out welcome mats or shutting doors to potential threats. The issue can pit local officials interested in economic development against state and federal agencies concerned with national security.
That was initially the case with the proposed corn mill in Grand Forks, where officials last year lauded the plans. But days after the U.S. Air Force shot down the Chinese balloon, which China insists was only a weather balloon, the sentiment had fizzled and the city changed course.
“There’s something that I’ve learned through this process, and that is sometimes to slow down and make sure we fully understand before we move to the next level,” Grand Forks council member Ken Vein said before voting to abandon the corn mill.
___
Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming, David Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, Acacia Coronado in Austin, Texas, and AP reporters throughout the U.S. contributed reporting. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/ap-us-states-weigh-farmland-restrictions-after-chinese-balloon/ | 2023-02-08 22:36:36 | 0 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/ap-us-states-weigh-farmland-restrictions-after-chinese-balloon/ |
DETROIT, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lion Order, a cannabis lifestyle brand led by Rohan Marley, featuring strain genetics developed by Heavyweight Heads, and powered by 305 Farms, is honored to announce winning two awards at the 2023 HIGH TIMES Cannabis Cup: Michigan People's Choice:
- 2nd Place - Adult Use Topicals / Tinctures / Capsules / Sublinguals: Lion Balm
- 3rd Place - Medical Sativa Flower: King Clementine
Lion Order LION BALM Full Spectrum Cooling Stick is a topical herbal rub containing 500mg THC and 500mg CBD with a proprietary blend of essential oils that provide extra healing properties. This easy to apply roll-on applicator soothes the mind and body with an intoxicating lavender scent. CBD and THC work together using the "entourage effect" to provide localized relief from sore muscles, joint pain, and skin irritations. This potent balm is applied topically, directly onto the affected area, where it is absorbed by the skin and interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system.
Lion Order's King Clementine flower packs a delicious citrusy, clementine taste with a creamy exhale, easing stress and elevating mood as a true King's herb. Dubbed for its royal vibes, King Clementine is a cross between Heavyweight Heads' Sunfuel and the award-winning Tropicana Cookies strains.
Established in 1974, HIGH TIMES Magazine has become the definitive source for cannabis news, culture, and brands, appealing to dedicated enthusiasts and industry insiders alike. Boasting an unwavering reputation founded on trust, it provides a dependable platform, delivering in-depth reviews and comprehensive information covering every facet of the cannabis realm. The HIGH TIMES Cannabis Cup stands as an internationally acclaimed cannabis competition, cementing its position as the pinnacle event within the cannabis community.
"We are grateful for the community's votes that led to Lion Order winning second and third place at HIGH TIMES' prestigious Cannabis Cup. Our Lion Balm topical provides much needed relief to our customers and King Clementine is Lion Order's flagship strain, developed by one of the most innovative cultivation teams in the state, so we are thrilled to see these products win in their respective categories," said Aaron Cole, CEO of Heavyweight Heads.
"We are blessed to have such a dynamic team behind Lion Order, with carefully curated genetics co-developed by Heavyweight Heads, and scalability through our partnership with 305 Farms, who operate the largest cultivation campus in the state of Michigan," said Rohan Marley, son of legendary musician Bob Marley. "I am excited to bring our vision for a roots luxury brand that transcends the cannabis industry and represents the culture and our movement."
Lion Order herb is grown with a deep Love and Respect for the plant. From seed to sale, each of their proprietary strains are cultivated with care to meet their five-factor standard: Aesthetic, Aroma, Flavor, Efficacy, and Resin-Release. To provide the most elevated experience possible, Lion Order prioritizes freshness so that their rich terpene profiles can be fully enjoyed.
Lion Order has launched 6 unique strain cultivars in the Michigan market, including:
Island Sunshine (Sativa), King Clementine (Hybrid), Road Block (Indica), Hurricane (Indica-Dominant Hybrid), and Gully Kush (Sativa-Dominant Hybrid); the sixth strain, Lion Fuel (Indica-Dominant Hybrid), launched this month, with additional strains coming soon. Lion Order is also launching a line of proprietary vapes in the Michigan market in August 2023 through 305 Farms, who also won "Best Adult-Use Distillate Vape" in the 2023 HIGH TIMES Cannabis Cup: Michigan People's Choice with their Workers Cannabis "Unicorn Piss" vape.
Lion Order products are currently available throughout Michigan in 100+ retail stores, and Lion Order is looking to expand into other licensed markets soon. For more information on Lion Order, please visit www.lionorder.com.
ABOUT LION ORDER GROUP LION ORDER is a movement led by Rohan Marley and a collection of professional athletes, activists, musicians and visionaries around the world who seek everlasting change and commitment to the elevation and edification of consciousness via plant medicine.
The Lion Order crest is our commitment to excellence and the virtues of Rastafari, Peace, Love and Unity.
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SOURCE The Verleur Group | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/26/lion-order-wins-two-2023-high-times-cannabis-cup-michigan-peoples-choice-awards/ | 2023-07-26 14:34:03 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/26/lion-order-wins-two-2023-high-times-cannabis-cup-michigan-peoples-choice-awards/ |
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A plaque memorializing the home where Springfield, Massachusetts, native Dr. Seuss authored his first book has disappeared.
The office of Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said officials were contacted about the missing plaque, which was reported stolen to Springfield police after it was determined that it had not been removed to be cleaned or restored.
The plaque was attached to a rock on Mulberry Street that read:
“This was the site of one of Mulberry Street’s oldest houses, circa 1830. Mulberry Street was memorialized in “AND TO THINK THAT I SAW IT ON MULBERRY STREET,” the first book authored by Springfield native Theodore (sic) Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss.”
Springfield police confirmed that the plaque has not been accounted for for several months, but it is unknown exactly how long it has been missing.
Mayor Sarno is hoping to find those responsible for the theft and have the plaque returned.
In a statement, he said, “Let’s see if we can catch the despicable individual who did this. Little things mean a lot and this is part of Springfield’s historic lore. The Springfield Police Department will check cameras in the area and check in with local pawnshops and junkyards because they are supposed to have protocols and procedures about specific items that may have been stolen.”
He added that if not found, he hopes to have the plaque replaced and to “restore this monument honoring our beloved Theodor ‘Dr. Seuss’ Geisel.”
Springfield detectives are investigating the incident. | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/national-news/dr-seuss-plaque-missing-on-mulberry-street/ | 2023-05-19 14:37:22 | 0 | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/national-news/dr-seuss-plaque-missing-on-mulberry-street/ |
ROME (AP) — With its dozens of “revolving door” governments, Italy might give the impression that carving out new ruling coalitions is quick work.
But the process can take weeks, even months, especially if a new government's formation is prompted by the premature demise of Parliament. That's the case now.
On Thursday, when newly elected lawmakers take their seats, the process of giving the country a new government can formally begin.
Giorgia Meloni, who scored a solid victory in the Sept. 25 election, is well-positioned to become the first far-right leader of an Italian government since the end of World War II and the first female premier.
A number of rituals must happen first though.
GETTING SEATED
Italy’s governments require the backing of Parliament. Before a new ruling coalition can be formed, newly elected lawmakers must take their seats in the legislature. According to the constitution, that has to happen within 20 days of an election. On Thursday, both the Senate, Parliament’s upper chamber, and the lower Chamber of Deputies, will formally hold their first session since the election.
This time, there will be fewer lawmakers. Under a reform to streamline the legislature and reduce spending, the new Senate now has 200 members, down from 315. Similarly, the Chamber of Deputies, has 400 instead of 630. Their main order of business is electing each chamber's president, a process expected to be complete by Friday.
MAKING THE ROUNDS
After parliamentary elections, Italy’s president, as head of state, has to task someone with trying to cobble together a government — formally called “conferring a mandate.”
The clear winner of last month's election was far-right Brothers of Italy leader Meloni.
With her main coalition partners – Matteo Salvini's League and former Premier Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia — Meloni should be able to command a comfortable majority in Parliament.
But before President Sergio Mattarella asks Meloni to see if she can assemble a viable coalition, he is expected — but not obliged — to hold a round of consultations with party leaders, including from the potential opposition in the legislature. Those huddles could take two or three days.
RESERVATIONS
Barring surprises, the presidential Quirinal Palace will announce that Meloni has accepted “with reservation” the task of trying to create a new government.
But that doesn’t mean she has any doubts she'll succeed — it's a customary phrase used by the president's office.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Once tapped, Meloni and her allied leaders will confer — separately or together — on how to divvy up Cabinet posts.
That’s where it can get sticky, as each party jockeys for the most high-profile ministries.
Since Meloni’s party won a bigger share of the votes than Salvini’s and Berlusconi’s forces put together, her campaign allies will have somewhat limited bargaining power.
REPORT TIME
Once Meloni is confident that she has nailed down a solid Cabinet that will pass Mattarella’s muster, she’ll meet with him to present her list of ministers.
Any disagreement over names is usually dealt with outside of the public eye. But after the 2018 election, Mattarella vetoed the pick of a euroskeptic economist for finance minister. That veto angered the coalition's populist leaders, but ultimately forced selection of another minister acceptable to the president.
UNVEILING
Should Meloni succeed in forming a Cabinet, as journalists wait in a salon of the hilltop Quirinal Palace and a pair of towering, helmeted Corazzieri Carabinieri stand guard, the palace secretary general will emerge and announce that the political leader has “dissolved the reservation” — a formulaic way of saying she has formed a government.
Generally, the premier-to-be then makes a brief statement and reads out the names of the Cabinet ministers.
IT’S OFFICIAL
Then it’s back to the Quirinal Palace — usually the next day — for the new government's swearing-in ceremony.
The new premier and each minister pledge to be faithful to the republic, to loyally observe its constitution and laws and to exercise their powers “in the exclusive interest of the nation.”
PASS THAT BELL
After the oath-taking, the new premier heads a few blocks away to Chigi Palace, the premier's office, for an official photo.
The outgoing premier hands the incoming one the bell used to open Cabinet meetings. Typically, the protagonists smile for posterity.
But in 2014, as he handed over the bell, outgoing Premier Enrico Letta refused to smile or even look at newly-minted Premier Matteo Renzi, who had ousted him from office through backroom party maneuvers.
FULL POWERS
Italy's constitution requires all new governments to face a confidence vote in each chamber of Parliament within 10 days of the Cabinet's formation. Only then is the government considered to be fully in power.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/ap-top-news/2022/10/13/explainer-rituals-play-role-in-creating-italian-government | 2022-10-13 08:52:45 | 0 | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/ap-top-news/2022/10/13/explainer-rituals-play-role-in-creating-italian-government |
Colorado won shootout 1-0
First Period_1, Colorado, Makar 5 (Lehkonen, Rantanen), 10:10 (pp). Penalties_Manson, COL (Tripping), 5:38; Kiviranta, DAL (Hooking), 8:41; Lundkvist, DAL (Hooking), 18:01.
Second Period_2, Dallas, Robertson 13 (Dellandrea), 5:33. Penalties_Manson, COL (Fighting), 4:35; Benn, DAL (Fighting), 4:35; Dellandrea, DAL (High Sticking), 7:12.
Third Period_3, Colorado, Newhook 4 (Englund, Rodrigues), 2:06. 4, Dallas, Robertson 14 (Miller, Hintz), 19:34. Penalties_Johnston, DAL (High Sticking), 5:40; Glendening, DAL (Tripping), 10:19.
Overtime_None. Penalties_Dallas bench, served by Dellandrea (Tripping), 2:21; Marchment, DAL (Misconduct), 2:21.
Shootout_Colorado 1 (MacKinnon NG, Rantanen G), Dallas 0 (Seguin NG, Pavelski NG).
Shots on Goal_Colorado 11-7-14-4_36. Dallas 11-8-5-0_24.
Power-play opportunities_Colorado 1 of 6; Dallas 0 of 1.
Goalies_Colorado, Georgiev 9-2-1 (24 shots-22 saves). Dallas, Oettinger 7-2-2 (36-32).
A_18,532 (18,532). T_2:46.
Referees_Frederick L'Ecuyer, Francois St. Laurent. Linesmen_Travis Gawryletz, Ben O'Quinn. | https://www.expressnews.com/sports/article/Colorado-3-Dallas-2-17602831.php | 2022-11-22 05:30:27 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/sports/article/Colorado-3-Dallas-2-17602831.php |
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) — The United States will begin training Ukrainian forces on how to use and maintain Abrams tanks in the coming weeks, as the it continues to speed up its effort to get them onto the battlefield as quickly as possible, U.S. officials said Friday.
The decision comes as defense leaders from around Europe and the world are meeting at Ramstein Air Base, in the ongoing effort to coordinate the delivery of weapons and other equipment to Ukraine. An announcement is expected later Friday. | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/politics/article/us-to-begin-training-ukrainian-troops-on-abrams-17910293.php | 2023-04-21 09:16:09 | 0 | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/politics/article/us-to-begin-training-ukrainian-troops-on-abrams-17910293.php |
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