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(WJW) – Fall Out Boy released a cover of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” Wednesday and the band is getting a lot of mixed feedback.
The music video opens by saying the band is, “Covering newsworthy items from 1989-2023.” Billy Joel’s original version of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” was released in 1989 and the catchy, rapid-fire lyrics reference major political, cultural, scientific, and sports events dating back to 1949, the year Joel was born.
The song includes references to present-day sports, political figures, and celebrities, from LeBron James to Boris Johnson.
Fall Out Boy also makes mention of school shootings at Sandy Hook and Columbine, as well as the police killings of Tamir Rice, George Floyd and Sandra Bland.
Other topics mentioned in the new version include: “World Trade,” “deep fakes,” “Kanye West,” “Y2K,” “Boston bombing,” “Taylor Swift,” “Obama, “Twilight,” “Tiger King” and “Michael Jackson Dies.”
Fall Out Boy shared the news of their release on Instagram.
“I thought about this song a lot when I was younger,” Fall Out Boy said in the caption. “All these important people and events- some that disappeared into the sands of time- others that changed the world forever. So much has happened in the span of the last 34 years- we felt like a little system update might be fun. Hope you like our take on it…”
One thing commenters mentioned that they dislike about the song is that the band left out major headlines from that time period, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
“How’d you guys recreate We Didn’t Start The Fire and not mention the pandemic in the last few verses,” @bee_etta said on Instagram.
Another critique was that Fall Out Boy didn’t follow Joel’s chronological construction, which was likely harder to write but allowed the listener to zip through the years in order.
“Are you telling me Fall Out Boy made an updated We Didn’t Start The Fire except they missed the point about the events needing to be chronological and instead they just plugged in whatever rhymed,” @mcrmy119 wrote on Twitter.
Others loved the song saying “STOP NO SERIOUSLY THIS IS AMAZING,” @kenzie_shay_ commented.
Fall Out Boy is currently on its “So Much For (Tour) Dust” tour, with upcoming stops in California, Utah, Colorado, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, and more. | https://www.wane.com/entertainment-news/fall-out-boy-releases-cover-of-billy-joels-we-didnt-start-the-fire-to-mixed-reviews/ | 2023-06-29 19:36:59 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/entertainment-news/fall-out-boy-releases-cover-of-billy-joels-we-didnt-start-the-fire-to-mixed-reviews/ |
NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attention Latch, Inc. f/k/a TS Innovation Acquisitions Corp. ("Latch") (NASDAQ: LTCH) shareholders:
The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that a class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of investors who purchased between May 13, 2021 and August 25, 2022.
If you suffered a loss on your investment in Latch, contact us about potential recovery by using the link below. There is no cost or obligation to you.
https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/latch-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=32827&wire=4
ABOUT THE ACTION: The class action against Latch includes allegations that the Company made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) there were unreported sales arrangements related to hardware devices; (2) as a result, the Company had improperly recognized revenue throughout fiscal 2021 and first quarter 2022; (3) there were material weaknesses in Latch's internal control over financial reporting related to revenue recognition; (4) as a result of the foregoing, Latch would restate financial statements for fiscal 2021 and first quarter 2022; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
DEADLINE: October 31, 2022
Aggrieved Latch investors only have until October 31, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. You are not required to act as a lead plaintiff in order to share in any recovery.
Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
Vincent Wong, Esq.
39 East Broadway
Suite 304
New York, NY 10002
Tel. 212.425.1140
E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com
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SOURCE The Law Offices of Vincent Wong | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/10/24/class-action-alert-law-offices-vincent-wong-remind-latch-investors-lead-plaintiff-deadline-october-31-2022/ | 2022-10-24 11:29:18 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/10/24/class-action-alert-law-offices-vincent-wong-remind-latch-investors-lead-plaintiff-deadline-october-31-2022/ |
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s leader said Friday that it’s upsetting Indonesia has further reduced the prison sentence of the bombmaker in the Bali terror attack that killed 202 people — which could free him within days if he’s granted parole.
The most recent reduction of Umar Patek’s sentence takes his total reductions to almost two years and means Patek could be released on parole ahead of the 20th anniversary of the bombings in October.
“This will cause further distress to Australians who were the families of victims of the Bali bombings,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Channel 9. “We lost 88 Australian lives in those bombings.”
Albanese said he would continue making “diplomatic representations” to Indonesia about Patek’s sentence and a range of other issues, including Australians currently jailed in Indonesia. Albanese described Patek as “abhorrent.”
“His actions were the actions of a terrorist,” Albanese told Channel 9. ”They did have such dreadful results for Australian families that are ongoing, the trauma which is there.”
Indonesia often grants sentence reductions to prisoners on major holidays such as the nation’s Independence Day, which was Wednesday.
Patek received a 5-month reduction on Independence Day for good behavior and could walk free this month from Porong Prison in East Java province if he gets parole, said Zaeroji, who heads the provincial office for the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
Zaeroji, who goes by a single name, said Patek had the same rights as other inmates and had fulfilled legal requirements to get sentence reductions. “While in the prison, he behaved very well and he regrets his radical past which has harmed society and the country and he has also vowed to be a good citizen,” Zaeroji said.
Patek was arrested in Pakistan in 2011 and tried in Indonesia, where he was convicted in 2012. He was originally sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
With his time served plus sentence reductions, he became eligible for parole on Aug. 14. The decision from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights in Jakarta is still pending, Zaeroji said. If refused parole, he could remain jailed until 2029.
Patek was one of several men implicated in the attack, which was widely blamed on Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian militant group with ties to al-Qaida. Most of those killed in the bombing on the resort island were foreign tourists.
Another conspirator, Ali Imron, was sentenced to life. Earlier this year, a third militant, Aris Sumarsono, whose real name is Arif Sunarso but is better known as Zulkarnaen, was sentenced to 15 years following his capture in 2020 after 18 years on the run.
Jan Laczynski, a survivor of the bombings, told Channel 9 that many Australians will be “devastated” by Patek’s potential release. “This guy should not be going out unsupervised, unmonitored,” he said. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/australia-upset-at-indonesia-reducing-bali-bombers-sentence/ | 2022-08-19 06:49:42 | 0 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/australia-upset-at-indonesia-reducing-bali-bombers-sentence/ |
Dynamic Nonprofit Executive Courtney Bugler to Propel Prostate Cancer Movement
WASHINGTON, June 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After a nationwide executive search, ZERO Prostate Cancer proudly announces Courtney Bugler, CFRE, as its new President and CEO, effective August 7. Bugler, a trailblazing nonprofit leader with extensive executive experience in national health nonprofits, fundraising, and advocacy, will succeed the current President and CEO, Jamie Bearse, as part of a planned transition.
Under Bearse's leadership, ZERO Prostate Cancer grew into a premier, nationally-recognized nonprofit, making significant strides in patient support, awareness, and research. As Bearse transitions to start his own nonprofit consulting business, Bugler is poised to continue the organization's impactful work.
Previously, she spearheaded substantial organizational change and growth as the National Director of the Race for the Cure / MORE THAN PINK Walk Series at Susan G. Komen, leading a nationwide affiliated staff of 200 to successfully transform a top-ten National Peer-to-Peer Walk Series. While at Komen, she also spearheaded the rollout of a new brand and restructured a support team of fundraisers to drive a yearly revenue budget of nearly $50 million.
"The selection of Courtney Bugler as our new President and CEO represents anexciting chapter in our evolution of ZERO Prostate Cancer. With her remarkableleadership skills and proven ability to drive transformative change in breast cancer and other movements,I'm confident that Courtney will guide our organization to new heights and accelerateour efforts to end prostate cancer," said Tom Bognanno, ZERO's Board of Directors Chair. "Her passion for the cause, combined with her deep understanding of nonprofits and her own personal journey with cancer, positions her well to lead ZERO into a futurefilled with hope and progress."
Bugler has also held leadership positions at JDRF International and the Young Survival Coalition, where she made significant contributions to organizational growth, developed programs for underserved populations, and advocated for health equity in the state of Georgia. She is a trained cancer patient navigator, a consumer reviewer, and mentor for the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive®. Most recently, Bugler served as the Chief Development and Marketing Officer at the Piedmont Park Conservancy, where she played a pivotal role in elevating the organization's profile and expanding its philanthropic efforts, despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic.
"As a caregiver to my father, who currently lives with prostate cancer, and as a 17-year breast cancer survivor, I'm humbled to work on behalf of the organization at the forefront of the fight to end this disease," said Courtney Bugler. "I've spent my career and personal life advocating for more cancer awareness, funding, patient resources, and health equity. With prostate cancer cases on the rise, it's more urgent than ever to help all men understand their risk and the importance of early detection. I look forward to working alongside the inspiring ZERO community, our partners, and all who are impacted by this disease to save lives together."
About ZERO Prostate Cancer:
ZERO Prostate Cancer is the leading national nonprofit with the mission to end prostate cancer and help all who are impacted. ZERO advances research, provides support, and creates solutions to achieve health equity to meet the most critical needs of our community. From early detection to survivorship, ZERO is the premier resource for prostate cancer patients and their families to access comprehensive support, make meaningful connections, and take action to save lives. Our dedicated national and chapter staff is joined by a growing team of passionate volunteer champions to increase advocacy, awareness, and community engagement to ZERO out prostate cancer. ZERO is recognized with four out of four stars by Charity Navigator and accredited by the Better Business Bureau. ZERO spends more on programs than any other prostate cancer charity, dedicating 85 cents of every dollar to support, education, and research.
Media Contact:
ZERO - Colony Brown
Colony@zerocancer.org
202-640-8265
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SOURCE ZERO Prostate Cancer | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/06/08/zero-prostate-cancer-taps-breast-cancer-leader-survivor-next-president-ceo/ | 2023-06-08 16:06:46 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/06/08/zero-prostate-cancer-taps-breast-cancer-leader-survivor-next-president-ceo/ |
IndyGeneUS plans to use the grant funding from Johnson & Johnson Innovation to Scale Blockchain-secured Genomic Data Marketplace and Proprietary GenēUS™ Discovery Platform
WASHINGTON, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, IndyGeneUS AI was named an awardee of the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Veterans Lead QuickFire Challenge: Innovations by Vets.
Johnson & Johnson Innovation, together with Bunker Labs, a national nonprofit organization that aims to equip the military-connected community with the network, tools, and opportunities needed to launch and grow successful businesses, invited U.S. Veteran innovators and military spouses/legal partners to submit potentially ground-breaking ideas in all aspects of human healthcare.
The black-owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small Business (SDVOSB), IndyGeneUS AI, pitched their cutting-edge blockchain-encrypted and machine learning-powered bioinformatics "GenēUS™ Discovery Platform" to a panel of judges, which included both Johnson & Johnson Innovation and Bunker Labs executives.
"It's extremely important that we support the visions of our veterans," says Lenore Karafa, Board Member President of Bunker Labs. "I was excited to learn about the mission of IndyGeneUS AI, during their pitch and the hard work and dedication they are pouring into eradicating health disparities."
IndyGeneUS AI is a precision genomics company aiming to create the world's largest blockchain-encrypted digital health platform of indigenous and diasporic African clinical and genomic data. Using proprietary technology, IndyGeneUS AI can potentially detect novel signature sequences, identify biomarkers, and calculate polygenic risk scores by integrating multi-omics data, electronic health record (EHR) data, and other textual information such as scientific manuscripts.
"This is literally a dream come true, and a bit nostalgic," said IndyGeneUS AI Founder, Yusuf Henriques. "Today, IndyGeneUS AI has its first lab set up at JLABS @ Washington, DC at Children's National new Research and Innovation Campus, on the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus. A site where I walked the halls as a combat medic in the U.S. Army, over 20-years ago. Now, I have an opportunity to identify novel cell & gene therapies that will hopefully address health disparities and rare diseases like retinitis pigmentosa (RP), which my twin daughters were diagnosed with in 2014. This is my opportunity to deliver on the promise that I made my girls to find better treatment options or a cure."
To aid in this mission, IndyGeneUS AI will provide workforce economic development to engage minority young men and women who desire to learn more about genomics and driving precision care through careers in biotech.
In addition to being awarded the QuickFire Challenge, IndyGeneUS AI officially became a resident at JLABS @ Washington, DC on May 1st. IndyGeneUS AI has a strong commitment to driving precision health equity. Ninety percent of IndyGenUS' executive leadership and advisors are Howard University Alumni. The company will focus on whole genome sequencing which utilizes multiple next-generation DNA sequencing platforms and methodologies to identify genetic drivers of conditions disproportionately impacting Black, Brown, and Indigenous populations.
"We are leveraging genetic diversity via large-scale whole-genome sequencing to advance the understanding of the causes of human biology, health, and disease," said Dr. Bradford Wilson, IndyGeneUS AI -Chief Scientific Officer. "This will lay the foundation for precision therapeutics to reduce or eliminate health disparities globally."
For more information about IndyGeneUS AI visit: https://indygeneus.ai. For media inquiries contact: Angel Livas at angel@indygeneus.ai.
Media Contact:
IndyGeneUS AI
Angel N. Livas
Photos:
https://www.prlog.org/12917085
Press release distributed by PRLog
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/indygeneus-ai-awarded-grant-funding-through-quickfire-challenge-301546333.html
SOURCE IndyGeneUS AI | https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_health/indygeneus-ai-awarded-grant-funding-through-quickfire-challenge/article_d273de32-447f-541e-9a60-ad1253806f76.html | 2022-05-12 20:21:01 | 1 | https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_health/indygeneus-ai-awarded-grant-funding-through-quickfire-challenge/article_d273de32-447f-541e-9a60-ad1253806f76.html |
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — When Joseph Kibbe attended the first Boise Pride Festival in 1989, he and about two dozen other participants wore paper bags over their heads to hide their faces from potentially violent onlookers.
At the first festival parade two years later, Kibbe and his friends were greeted by protesters with nooses in front of the Statehouse.
“Boise was a very different place back then — it was not a safe time to be LGBTQIA,” he said.
Still, for Kibbe — then a junior high student who faced frequent beatings at school, now the vice principal of the Boise Pride Festival board — the event was the one place where he felt like part of a community.
“I could come and be who I wanted to be here, who I actually was,” Kibbe said on Friday, just a few hours before this year’s festival was set to begin. “That was a huge morale booster, and why I’m so passionate about what we’re doing today.”
But this year, a roughly half-hour program on the three-day-long festival schedule called “Drag Kids” has prompted a wave of political pressure and anonymous threats.
Festival organizers envisioned a short performance where kids could put on sparkly dresses and lip-sync to songs like Kelly Clarkson’s “People Like Us” on stage. But others, including Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon, expected a lurid scene where children would “engage in sexual performances with adult entertainers.”
The event garnered national attention from far-right websites and podcasts, and by Tuesday organizers realized this wasn’t the “normal” amount of opposition, said festival president Michael Dale.
“The sexualization of children is wrong, full stop,” the Idaho GOP wrote on Twitter. “Idaho rejects the imposition of adult sexuality & adult sexual appetites on children.”
Moon and the Idaho GOP sent out statements directing constituents to ask the festival’s corporate sponsors to pull support. A few did, at least partly — removing their logos from festival fencing and canceling plans for booths. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced it was pulling $38,000 in funding along with resources focused on tobacco-cessation and HIV/AIDS prevention.
A conservative pastor from California began rallying like-minded congregations, asking members to tell the Ada County Sheriff to arrest any festival organizer who “contributes to the delinquency of minors.” A group known for armed protests told followers to show up Sunday.
Others, though, rallied to support Boise Pride. Four Democratic state lawmakers pledged their own financial support, and released a joint statement criticizing what they called “the false, dangerous claims from Idaho GOP Chair Dorothy Moon that stoke violence.” New business sponsors stepped up to fill vacancies.
But the political maelstrom was growing more intense by the hour, and five kids were stuck in the middle. Riley Burrows, a full-time drag entertainer from Boise who was co-producing the Drag Kids event, began getting death threats on social media.
“It’s: ‘We’re going to show up at this festival,’ ‘We’re coming after you,’ ‘I hope you know you have a target on your back,’ and ‘You’re going to be found in a tree,'” Burrows said. “It’s gotten so repetitive.”
On Thursday afternoon, festival organizers made the decision to postpone the kids’ performance.
“We wanted to ask these kids first and foremost, because it affects them, and their confidence and their lives. And they still wanted to do it,” Dale said, fighting back tears. “But it came to be an issue of their health, their wellbeing, and that of the festival-goers.”
Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric has been increasing in Idaho and around the U.S. in recent months, and earlier this year 31 members of a white supremacist group were arrested outside of a northern Idaho Pride event for allegedly planning to riot. The Boise Pride organizers have been working with Boise Police to boost security since the northern Idaho arrests in June.
None of the five young performers are new to drag shows. The youngest is 10, and was inspired by watching her mom get ready to perform.
“She really wanted to copy me and just do the makeup and have fun with it,” said Harley Innocent, who goes by her stage name. Innocent is one of many cisgender women who participate in drag, sometimes referred to as “AFAB” or “Assigned Female At Birth Queens.”
Her daughter’s first performance was in 2019, in the rural Idaho town of Emmett. She loved it, Innocent said.
“She was really looking forward to being able to do it on the Pride main stage — it was a big opportunity for her to share her talent.”
Innocent says her daughter does a “porcelain doll” makeup look, wears a wig and chooses a song that fits her mood.
It’s similar to a glitzy beauty pageant, Innocent said, but more laid back. “In drag you don’t have to be perfect. We’re just trying to have fun and welcome them to this art form.”
Burrows, the Drag Kids co-producer, said the kids are just having fun on stage in pretty outfits.
“It’s like if you were to send your kid to a school of dance, and the performance theme was rainbows — big tutus, bows and fun hair.”
That’s different from an adult drag show, which can have heavier themes, more revealing costumes and be geared toward more mature audiences, Burrows said: “It’s like the difference between a kid’s TV show and an adult TV show.”
Youth performances can give kids a sense of belonging, he said, adding that “it’s not scary to be gay when you’re surrounded by love and acceptance.”
There’s a lot more support available for LGBTQ kids today, said Kibbe, but it was still heartbreaking to tell them the event was being postponed until organizers could find a safer, more supportive venue.
“The actions of whatever small minority group don’t reflect how the majority of people feel, but we haven’t figured out how to counterbalance that yet,” Kibbe said. “The kids that were going to be performing in that show, they were literally just trying to let others know, ‘Hey, you’re OK, this is what a supportive parent looks like, this is what a friend looks like.’” | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/ap-us-news/ap-political-pressure-over-drag-kids-event-rocks-boise-pride/ | 2022-09-10 15:06:34 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/ap-us-news/ap-political-pressure-over-drag-kids-event-rocks-boise-pride/ |
MSU basketball hosts UT Permian Basin
Published: Feb. 9, 2023 at 10:51 PM CST|Updated: 23 minutes ago
WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - Mustang basketball was back in Texoma taking on UT Permian Basin.
Final women’s score:
UTPB - 80, MSU - 50
Final men’s score:
UTPB - 59, MSU - 62
Copyright 2023 KAUZ. All rights reserved. | https://www.newschannel6now.com/2023/02/10/msu-basketball-hosts-ut-permian-basin/ | 2023-02-10 05:55:47 | 0 | https://www.newschannel6now.com/2023/02/10/msu-basketball-hosts-ut-permian-basin/ |
Texas Store Brawl: Flying Fists and Hair Caught on Video
That must have been one hell of a sale.
Does Bath and Body Works in Dallas have a fight club I'm not aware of?
The video at the bottom of this article opens on a typical day at B&BW with a customer all up in the face of an employee.
The customer is always right?
We have no context and can't hear what is being said, but the employee isn't having any of it. She hauls of and cracks the lady shopping in the noggin.
Teamwork building exercise
Hey, these ladies have each other's back, that's for sure. A couple of employees jump in the fray and help out their co-worker.
She has backup
I'm assuming that the other customer who jumps in to help the first customer knew her. Or just woke up ready to fight that day. Regardless, she jumps in and now we have a full-on Royal Rumble!
The end
The video ends with everyone slightly calming down as level heads take over. Check out the video for yourself below and keep scrolling for the best comments from Twitter. | https://newstalk1290.com/texas-store-brawl-flying-fists-hair-video/ | 2023-05-06 00:04:50 | 1 | https://newstalk1290.com/texas-store-brawl-flying-fists-hair-video/ |
New Wasserstein Products Include a 3-in-1 Charging Stand, Clip Holder, and Screen Protector - Compatible with the Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wasserstein is launching a line of products that will bear Fitbit's "Made for" badge, indicating those products have been designed by Wasserstein for use with the Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2 and have been certified to meet Fitbit's compatibility standards.
The official Wasserstein Made for Fitbit product line will include:
- Wasserstein Made for Fitbit 3 in 1 Charging Stand - Allows users to charge their Fitbit and multiple Google devices at the same time
- Wasserstein Made for Fitbit Clip Holder - Allows users to safely clip their Fitbit to their clothes during their workout
- Wasserstein Made for Fitbit Screen Protector - Keeps Fitbit display free from scratches and provides extra protection against dropping and other damage
"We're excited about the launch of Google's new Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2," said Christopher Maiwald, Founder and CEO of Wasserstein, "With the addition of our Made for Fitbit line, we're ensuring that users have compatible accessories that truly live up to Google and Fitbit's high quality standards."
Wasserstein's Made for Fitbit products can be found on the Wasserstein website, Fitbit.com, and Amazon.
Wasserstein is the nation's top smart home accessory manufacturer and is committed to making thoughtful smart home products. Wasserstein is an official Made for Google product partner, and also manufactures solar panels, floodlights, camera mounts, doorbell mounts, and other smart home products, compatible with Ring, Blink, Arlo, Wyze, Oculus, Eufy, Apple, and other popular smart home brands. Wasserstein products can be found on the Wasserstein website, as well as on Amazon, The Home Depot, Walmart, Sam's Club, Best Buy, Target, and other top retail channels.
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SOURCE Wasserstein | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/08/29/wasserstein-announces-its-official-made-fitbit-product-line-new-fitbit-versa-4-sense-2/ | 2022-08-29 14:21:32 | 1 | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/08/29/wasserstein-announces-its-official-made-fitbit-product-line-new-fitbit-versa-4-sense-2/ |
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Amazon driver may soon be dropping off OraSure Technologies' COVID-19 test kits.
OraSure's InteliSwab is now available from the e-commerce company, and it qualifies for free Prime shipping.
The Bethlehem-based maker of medical diagnostic tools said Wednesday that the home test kit is now available for delivery to U.S. customers of Amazon.
When OraSure showed off a new factory last month in Bethlehem Township, Chief Executive Officer Carrie Eglinton Manner said the company's goal is "to reach patients where they are."
The Amazon distribution is part of that strategy, she said Wednesday in a statement.
"Amazon has strong consumer reach in the United States, which will help facilitate our goal of broadening access to testing," Eglinton Manner said. That will help "consumers to manage their own health."
On the Amazon website, packs of two InteliSwab kits were on sale for $17.52. Several kits from other companies are also available.
InteliSwab is a preassembled device that takes about one minute to use, according to OraSure. The federal government has chosen InteliSwab for a school testing program because of its ease of use, OraSure said.
The year 2022 has been challenging for OraSure, with prices of its shares falling, three chief executives (including an interim CEO) and a search for "strategic alternatives" that resulted in no alternatives.
In the past 52 weeks, shares in the company have traded as high as $11.22, and as low as $2.62. The stock has perked up recently, last trading at $4.46 on the NASDAQ market. | https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/orasures-rapid-covid-19-home-test-now-available-through-amazon/article_bf8b222c-5aae-11ed-aea8-5b16f9af2919.html | 2022-11-02 14:51:38 | 0 | https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/orasures-rapid-covid-19-home-test-now-available-through-amazon/article_bf8b222c-5aae-11ed-aea8-5b16f9af2919.html |
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — President Joe Biden met Friday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the man he once pledged to shun for human rights violations, and shared a cordial fist bump as he tried to reset an important diplomatic relationship, bolster Mideast security and increase the global flow of oil.
It was the first encounter for the two leaders, and their chummy gesture was swiftly criticized. But Biden insisted that he did not shy away from pressing the crown prince on the kingdom’s abuses, particularly the 2018 murder of the U.S.-based writer Jamal Khashoggi, which U.S. intelligence believes was approved by the heir to the throne.
“I said, very straightforwardly, for an American president to be silent on an issue of human rights is inconsistent with who we are and who I am,” Biden said after the meeting. “I’ll always stand up for our values.”
Biden said Prince Mohammed claimed that he was “not personally responsible” for the death of Khashoggi, who wrote for The Washington Post. “I indicated I thought he was,” the president said he replied.
Though he brushed off any focus on the fist bump, it was described as “shameful” by Fred Ryan, the Post’s publisher.
“It projected a level of intimacy and comfort that delivers to MBS the unwarranted redemption he has been desperately seeking,” Ryan said, referring to the crown prince by his initials.
Biden had long refused to speak to Prince Mohammed. But concerns about human rights have been somewhat eclipsed by other challenges, including Iran’s nuclear ambitions and rising gas prices in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia wants to strengthen its security relationship with the United States and secure investments to transform its economy into one less reliant on pumping oil.
For now, it appears the two leaders are taking incremental steps together. Biden announced that U.S. peacekeepers would leave the Red Sea island of Tiran by the end of the year, paving the way for Saudi Arabia to develop tourist attractions there.
Because of a complex diplomatic arrangement governing control of the strategically located island, America’s departure required Israel’s assent, and the deal was the latest reflection of warmer relations between the Israelis and Saudis.
The agreement followed an earlier announcement that the Saudis were ending strict limits on Israeli commercial flights over their territory.
Biden also said progress was being made on extending a cease-fire in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia had been battling Iran-backed militants for years, leading to a humanitarian crisis.
The United States played down expectations for any immediate increases in Saudi oil production, which could help alleviate high gas prices that are politically damaging to Biden back home. But after his meeting with the crown prince, Biden hinted that relief could be on the way, although “you won’t see that for another couple of weeks.”
The current OPEC+ agreement expires in September, opening the door to potentially higher production after that, although questions remain about how much excess capacity the Saudis have.
Biden’s nearly three hours at the royal palace were widely seen as a diplomatic victory for Prince Mohammed, who has tried to rehabilitate his image, draw investments to the kingdom for his reform plans and bolster the kingdom’s security relationship with the U.S.
The Saudis carefully controlled the visit, even trying to bar Post reporters from a briefing with government officials before relenting.
They also released a steady stream of photos and videos from private meetings that journalists were barred from attending. Biden was shown shaking hands with King Salman, the 86-year-old monarch who suffers from poor health, including two hospitalizations this year, while the crown prince looked on.
Afterward, reporters were only briefly allowed into a meeting that Biden and the crown prince held with their advisers. The two men sat across from each other, an arrangement that burnished the perception that they are counterparts. It’s an image that the crown prince has been eager to foster as he solidifies his path to the throne after sidelining, detaining and seizing the assets of royal rivals and critics.
Prince Mohammed’s rise to power has ushered with it a new era for the kingdom, one in which Saudi Arabia is more assertive on the world stage as it expands its relations with Russia and China. In addition, budding ties with Israel are not only underpinned by shared enmity with Iran, but also a possible hedge against the perception that the U.S. has increasingly disengaged from the region.
Biden has spent his first trip to the Middle East since taking office trying to convince people otherwise.
During an earlier stop in Israel, he said he was going to Saudi Arabia to “promote U.S. interests in a way that I think we have an opportunity to reassert what I think we made a mistake of walking away from: our influence in the Middle East.”
On Saturday, he’ll participate in a gathering of leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — before returning to Washington. The leaders of Mideast neighbors Egypt, Iraq and Jordan are also to attend, and Biden’s national security adviser said Biden would make a “major statement” on his vision for the Middle East.
The Saudi visit is one of the most delicate that Biden has faced on the international stage.
Any success in soothing relations could pay diplomatic dividends as the president seeks to ensure stability in the region. But it has also opened Biden, already floundering in public opinion polls at home, to deeper criticism that he is backtracking on his pledges to put human rights at the center of foreign policy. During his campaign for president, he had vowed to treat Saudi Arabia as a “pariah.”
“If we ever needed a visual reminder of the continuing grip oil-rich autocrats have on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, we got it today,” tweeted Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. “One fist bump is worth a thousand words.”
Khashoggi’s fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, said that, with the visit to Saudi Arabia, Biden was backing down on human rights.
She told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday, “It’s heartbreaking and disappointing. And Biden will lose his moral authority by putting oil and expediency over principles and values.”
___
Batrawy reported from Dubai, Knickmeyer from Sacramento, Calif., and Megerian from Washington. | https://who13.com/news/ap-top-headlines/biden-to-meet-saudi-king-prince-mbs-after-human-rights-rift/ | 2022-07-16 08:01:35 | 1 | https://who13.com/news/ap-top-headlines/biden-to-meet-saudi-king-prince-mbs-after-human-rights-rift/ |
One week after its parent company found a way to get Ben & Jerry’s ice cream sold in east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, the company known for its stance on social issues almost as much as for its Chunky Monkey ice cream is suing to block that from happening.
Unilever announced that it was selling its interest in the Vermont ice cream maker to its Israeli licensee, which would market Ben & Jerry’s products with Hebrew and Arabic labels.
In a Manhattan federal court this week, the ice cream maker said that Unilever’s maneuver “poses a risk” to the integrity of its brand. It claims the deal violates the 2000 acquisition agreement that allowed Ben & Jerry’s to continue its progressive social mission independently of business decisions made by Unilever.
“An injunction restraining Unilever from violating the express terms of the Merger Agreement and Shareholders Agreement is essential to preserve the status quo and protect the brand and social integrity Ben & Jerry’s has spent decades building,” the complaint says.
That passage in the lawsuit refers to the intense bidding process that took place in 2000 for Ben & Jerry’s, one of the most recognizable brands in America. Ben & Jerry’s was adamant that even after a sale, it would be allowed to continue to pursue its social causes.
The final agreement was so unique that Richard Goldstein, then group president of Unilever North American Foods, said ““I never did another deal that was remotely like it,” according to the suit.
In agreeing to the sale, Ben & Jerry’s was allowed an independent board of directors which was authorized to prevent Unilever from making decisions that are “inconsistent with the Essential Integrity of the Brand,” according to legal filings.
Unilever said it does not comment on pending litigation, but said it did have the right to the sale and that, “The deal has already closed.”
The complaint outlines Ben & Jerry’s history of social activism over its 44-year history, including opposition to U.S. nuclear weapons spending in the 1980s and in the 1990s supporting LGBTQ+ rights and farmers.
That activism has continued under Unilever with the focus on, among other issues, migrant justice and climate change. In the aftermath of the 2020 death of George Floyd, Ben & Jerry’s became an advocate for Black Lives Matter.
Last year Ben & Jerry’s independent board said it was going to stop selling its ice cream in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and contested east Jerusalem, saying the sales in the territories sought by the Palestinians are “inconsistent with our values.”
Unilever said it was committed to its operations in Israel, and earlier this year it was sued by its Israeli licensee, American Quality Products Ltd, over the termination of their business relationship, saying it violated U.S. and Israeli law.
When Unilever announced it was selling the Israeli operations to American Quality Products last week, it said it had “used the opportunity of the past year to listen to perspectives on this complex and sensitive matter and believes this is the best outcome for Ben & Jerry’s in Israel.”
Israel hailed the decision by Unilever as a victory in its ongoing campaign against the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which aims to bring economic pressure to bear on Israel over its military occupation of lands the Palestinians want for a future state.
Unilever does not support the BDS movement and has said it was “very proud” of its business in Israel, where it employs around 2,000 people and has four manufacturing plants.
Ben & Jerry’s 2021 decision was not a full boycott, and appeared to be aimed at Israel’s settlement enterprise. Some 700,000 Jewish settlers live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, which Israel annexed and considers part of its capital. Israel captured both territories in the 1967 Mideast war, and the Palestinians want them to be part of their future state.
Most of the international community views the settlements as a violation of international law. The Palestinians consider them the main obstacle to peace because they absorb and divide up the land on which a future Palestinian state would be established. Every Israeli government has expanded settlements, including during the height of the peace process in the 1990s. | https://phl17.com/business/ap-business/ben-jerrys-ice-cream-fight-in-israel-heats-up/ | 2022-07-07 11:58:11 | 0 | https://phl17.com/business/ap-business/ben-jerrys-ice-cream-fight-in-israel-heats-up/ |
Tigers vs. White Sox Probable Starting Pitchers Today - May 27
Published: May. 27, 2023 at 8:48 AM EDT|Updated: 56 minutes ago
The Detroit Tigers (23-26) host the Chicago White Sox (22-31) at 1:10 PM ET on Saturday.
The Tigers will give the nod to Michael Lorenzen (2-2, 4.08 ERA), who is eyeing win No. 3 on the season, and the White Sox will counter with Jesse Scholtens (0-2, 2.25 ERA).
Bet Now: Get the latest odds for this matchup and pitcher props on BetMGM
Tigers vs. White Sox Pitcher Matchup Info
- Date: Saturday, May 27, 2023
- Time: 1:10 PM ET
- TV: MLB Network
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
- Venue: Comerica Park
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
- Probable Pitchers: Lorenzen - DET (2-2, 4.08 ERA) vs Scholtens - CHW (0-2, 2.25 ERA)
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Read More About This Game
Tigers Probable Starting Pitcher Tonight: Michael Lorenzen
- The Tigers' Lorenzen (2-2) will make his eighth start of the season.
- The right-hander gave up five earned runs in 5 2/3 innings pitched on Monday in his last outing, a matchup with the Kansas City Royals.
- The 31-year-old has pitched to a 4.08 ERA this season with 7 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 2.5 walks per nine across seven games.
- In seven starts this season, he's earned three quality starts.
- Lorenzen has pitched five or more innings in six straight games and will look to extend that streak.
Try FanDuel Fantasy today with our link and make your perfect team!
White Sox Probable Starting Pitcher Tonight: Jesse Scholtens
- Scholtens will take the mound to start for the White Sox, his first of the season.
- The 29-year-old right-hander is pitching in his MLB debut.
- In three games this season, he has a 2.25 ERA and 5.6 strikeouts per nine innings while opponents are batting .214 against him.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/05/27/tigers-vs-white-sox-mlb-probable-starting-pitchers/ | 2023-05-27 15:04:56 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/05/27/tigers-vs-white-sox-mlb-probable-starting-pitchers/ |
Becomes the first company to bring Illumina's revolutionary Genome Sequencing Technology to South Asia
Launches KaryoSeq to detect genome abnormalities in Prenatal and newborn conditions
FOSTER CITY, Calif., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MedGenome, a leading global Genomic Diagnostic and Research Services company in South Asia, becomes the first to offer advanced genomics services using Illumina's NovaSeq X Plus in South Asia. With this, the company anticipates bringing down the reagent cost of Human Whole Genome sequencing to USD $200 in the near future. In conjunction with this acquisition, MedGenome is thrilled to launch KaryoSeq (or Karyotype Sequencing), an innovative Whole Genome Sequencing to diagnose prenatal and newborn conditions.
The NovaSeq X Series is Illumina's most powerful sequencing system. With the ability to generate more than 20,000 whole genomes per year – 2.5 times the throughput of prior sequencers at shorter turnaround time, this latest sequencer is aimed at making genomics more sustainable and accessible to more people globally. MedGenome has had a long-standing partnership with Illumina over the last decade expanding its portfolio of sequencing equipment with the latest offerings and becoming leaders in adopting the most up to date sequencing technology. NovaSeq X Plus promises to accelerate a deeper understanding of genetic disorders and can perform a broad range of data-intensive applications, bringing more breakthroughs genetic disease diagnosis and treatment.
MedGenome has launched several breakthrough tests in key disease areas in the last few years. The latest offering, KaryoSeq has significant advantages over traditional cytogenetic and molecular techniques. The test is a faster and accurate solution which allows for the detection of small chromosomal abnormalities, such as microdeletions or microduplications, that may not be easily identified through microscopic examination alone. It is recommended for individuals with suspected or confirmed genetic disorders or an increased risk of carrying chromosomal abnormalities, aiming to provide precise and rapid results, and helping clinicians and families make informed decisions about inherent genetic conditions.
Dr Vedam Ramprasad, PhD, CEO, MedGenome said, "As pioneers in genetic testing with deep focus on scientific innovation and research, bringing NovaSeq X Plus in India will help us in making faster and accurate diagnosis. The launch of KaryoSeq further marks a significant milestone in the field of prenatal and newborn genetic testing in this part of the world, empowering clinicians with accurate and comprehensive genetic information. Traditionally, cost has played a major factor in penetrating the genetic testing market. MedGenome has been striving to make these tests affordable to the masses while adhering to global quality standards. MedGenome's KaryoSeq test is another step in this direction. The test is cost-effective while providing superior diagnostic yield and accuracy in identifying deletions and gains as small as 1 megabase (1 million DNA base pairs)."
MedGenome offers an extensive range of over 1300 advanced genetic tests covering various disease categories. With a CAP-accredited genetic testing laboratory in India and a high-throughput Next-Generation Sequencing lab in Foster City, California, the company has established itself as a prominent player in the field. Notably, MedGenome has developed the largest database of South Asian genetic variants through its expertise in genetic diagnostics, research collaborations, and its role as a co-founding member of GenomeAsia 100K. Serving more than 3,50,000 families through a network of over 4,000 hospitals and over 11,000 clinicians across India, MedGenome provides comprehensive genetic testing services and making significant contributions to the field of genomics and continues to revolutionize the healthcare space with its path-breaking genomics solutions.
About MedGenome:
MedGenome (www.medgenome.com) is a global leader in personalized medicine with unique genomic solutions in immuno-oncology, infectious diseases, reproductive health, and rare diseases. MedGenome has facilities across the US, India, and Singapore. Its high-throughput Next-Generation Sequencing lab in Foster City, California, supports biomarker identification and target discovery research projects for biopharma and academic institutions in the US, Europe and Canada. MedGenome is a market leader in genetic diagnostic testing in India and developed genomic datasets based on South Asian population data, algorithms, and tools to correlate genomic data with clinical and phenotypic information to provide deep insight into complex diseases at a genetic and molecular level to support drug development and personalized medicine programs.
Media Contacts:
Namrata Sharma
+91-90354 72440
Senior Manager, GCI Health
namrata.sharma@genesis-bcw.com
Debarati Das
+91-99536 57513
PR Manager, MedGenome
Debarati.das@medgenome.com
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2151304/MedGenome_Logo.jpg
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE MedGenome | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/11/medgenome-acquires-illuminas-novaseq-x-plus-launches-genome-sequencing-test-karyoseq/ | 2023-07-11 07:28:50 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/11/medgenome-acquires-illuminas-novaseq-x-plus-launches-genome-sequencing-test-karyoseq/ |
WA Spokane WA Zone Forecast for Monday, August 8, 2022
_____
596 FPUS56 KOTX 090917
ZFPOTX
Zone Forecast Product for Eastern Washington and North Idaho
National Weather Service Spokane WA
216 AM PDT Tue Aug 9 2022
WAZ031-092300-
Northeast Blue Mountains-
Including the cities of Anatone and Peola
216 AM PDT Tue Aug 9 2022
.TODAY...Hot. Partly cloudy in the morning, becoming mostly
cloudy. Highs in the 90s.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Southwest wind
5 to 15 mph overnight.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly cloudy. A 40 percent chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s to mid 90s.
Gusts up to 20 mph in the morning. Rainfall amounts less than a
quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in
thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower to mid 60s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper
50s to mid 60s. Highs in the lower 80s to lower 90s.
$$
WAZ034-035-092300-
Moses Lake Area-Upper Columbia Basin-
Including the cities of Moses Lake, Ephrata, Othello, Quincy,
Ritzville, Grand Coulee, Odessa, Wilbur, and Coulee City
216 AM PDT Tue Aug 9 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING...
.TODAY...Hot. Mostly cloudy. A chance of sprinkles. Highs 97 to
100. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers.
Lows in the lower 70s. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to
20 mph in the evening.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming partly
cloudy. Highs in the mid to upper 90s. Southeast wind 5 to
15 mph.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s.
South wind 5 to 10 mph with gusts to around 20 mph.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower to mid 90s. South wind 5 to
10 mph.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s.
.FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs in the 90s.
Lows in the mid 50s to mid 60s.
.SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY...Clear. Highs in the mid 80s to mid 90s.
Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
$$
WAZ038-092300-
Okanogan Highlands-
Including the cities of Republic, Inchelium, and Wauconda
216 AM PDT Tue Aug 9 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING...
.TODAY...Sunny in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy. A chance
of sprinkles in the afternoon. Highs in the 90s.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers
overnight. Lows in the lower 60s to lower 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain showers in the
morning, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the
afternoon. Highs in the 90s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s to upper 60s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower to mid 90s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in
the mid 50s to mid 60s. Highs in the upper 80s to upper 90s.
.SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY...Mostly clear. Highs in the mid 80s to
lower 90s. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
$$
WAZ041-044-092300-
Wenatchee Area-Waterville Plateau-
Including the cities of Wenatchee, Chelan, Entiat, Cashmere,
Waterville, and Mansfield
216 AM PDT Tue Aug 9 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING...
.TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of sprinkles. Highs in the mid
to upper 90s. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers
overnight. Lows in the upper 60s to lower 70s. North wind 5 to
15 mph in the evening, becoming light.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers in the
morning, then partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid to upper 90s.
Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of
precipitation 20 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s.
Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower to mid 90s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s.
.FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs in the upper
80s to mid 90s. Lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s.
.SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY...Mostly clear. Highs in the mid 80s to
lower 90s. Lows in the upper 50s to lower 60s.
$$
WAZ043-092300-
Okanogan Valley-
Including the cities of Omak, Okanogan, Brewster, Bridgeport,
Oroville, and Nespelem
216 AM PDT Tue Aug 9 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING...
.TODAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy. A
chance of sprinkles. Highs 95 to 100.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers
overnight. Lows in the upper 60s to lower 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Hot. Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers in the
morning, then partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs 95 to 100. Chance of
precipitation 20 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid to upper 60s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 90s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in
the upper 50s to mid 60s. Highs in the upper 80s to upper 90s.
.SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY...Mostly clear. Highs in the mid 80s to
mid 90s. Lows in the upper 50s to lower 60s.
$$
WAZ047-092300-
Central Chelan County-
Including the cities of Leavenworth, Plain, and Lake Wenatchee
216 AM PDT Tue Aug 9 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING...
.TODAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of sprinkles. Highs in the 90s.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers
overnight. Lows in the lower 60s to lower 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the lower to mid 90s. Chance of
precipitation 40 percent. Rainfall amounts less than a tenth of
an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the
mid 50s to mid 60s. Highs in the mid 80s to mid 90s.
.SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY...Mostly clear. Highs in the lower 80s
to lower 90s. Lows in the lower 50s to lower 60s.
$$
WAZ048-092300-
Western Chelan County-
Including the cities of Stevens Pass, Holden Village,
and Stehekin
216 AM PDT Tue Aug 9 2022
.TODAY...Partly cloudy with a chance of rain showers in the
morning, then mostly cloudy with a chance of sprinkles in the
afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s to upper 90s. Chance of
precipitation 20 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers
overnight. Lows in the mid 60s to lower 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the morning, then mostly cloudy with a chance of
showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper
80s to upper 90s. Chance of precipitation 50 percent. Rainfall
amounts less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts
possible in thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s to mid 60s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to mid 90s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the
upper 50s to mid 60s. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s.
.SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s
to upper 80s. Lows in the mid 50s to mid 60s.
$$
WAZ049-092300-
Western Okanogan County-
Including the cities of Mazama, Winthrop, Twisp, Methow,
and Conconully
216 AM PDT Tue Aug 9 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING...
.TODAY...Sunny with a chance of rain showers in the morning, then
mostly cloudy with a chance of sprinkles in the afternoon. Highs
in the 90s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers
overnight. Lows in the mid 60s to lower 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain showers in the
morning, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the
afternoon. Highs in the 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
Rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch, except higher
amounts possible in thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower to mid 90s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in
the mid 50s to mid 60s. Highs in the mid 80s to mid 90s.
.SUNDAY...Sunny with a 20 percent chance of rain showers. Highs
in the 80s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid to upper
50s. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s.
$$
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/WA-Spokane-WA-Zone-Forecast-17360982.php | 2022-08-09 09:55:27 | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/WA-Spokane-WA-Zone-Forecast-17360982.php |
Brenda Anne Friery, 30, of Kenosha, faces charges of neglecting a child (harm did not occur and child is under 6 years of age or has a disability), and neglecting a child (specified harm did nor occur).
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David Zoerner took a look around at the more than 300 people who came out to support him at the Parkway Chateau Tuesday evening. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/brenda-anne-friery/article_fd45dd8a-6451-11ed-b379-6b2386e7cbd7.html | 2022-11-14 21:10:34 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/brenda-anne-friery/article_fd45dd8a-6451-11ed-b379-6b2386e7cbd7.html |
NEW YORK, July 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Think Energy, LLC ("Think Energy"), a leading clean energy provider, proudly announces a collaboration between its affiliate, Energywell Community Solar, LLC d/b/a Think Community Solar ("Think Community Solar"), and Aspen Power Partners ("Aspen") to expand community solar initiatives throughout Maine.
"We are thrilled to join forces with Aspen Power Partners to bring the benefits of community solar to Maine residents," said Steve Condon, VP of Community Solar at Think Community Solar. "Through our seamless enrollment process, participants are saving up to 10% on their electric bills for up to 20 years, all while supporting local solar projects and making a positive impact on the environment."
Think Community Solar's collaboration with Aspen accelerates the transition to clean energy in Maine; by expanding access to community solar projects in both Central Maine Power and Versant utility territories. Think Energy brings the value of real choice to Maine residents, offering both Think Energy supply, our affordable, fixed-rate clean electricity with no cancellation fees, and Think Community Solar subscriptions ensuring long-term electric utility savings.
"Our goal is to drive significant environmental impact and create a sustainable future for Maine," emphasized Michael Fallquist, CEO of Think Energy. "By connecting participants' utility accounts with local solar farms, we enable clean electricity generation, job creation, and long-term cost savings for our customers."
The impact of community solar extends far beyond individual households. By collectively embracing renewable energy, Maine residents are playing a vital role in mitigating climate change and creating a sustainable future for generations to come.
Join Think Community Solar and Aspen in driving community solar impact in Maine. Discover the benefits of community solar by visiting: www.thinkenergy.com/communitysolar/.
About Think Energy
Think Energy is a leading clean energy provider serving customers in 12 states and the District of Columbia. With a customer-centric approach, innovative technology, and a growing suite of sustainable energy products, Think Energy is disrupting the retail energy industry by offering better products that create a more sustainable future for everyone. Visit http://www.thinkenergy.com for more information.
About Think Community Solar
Think Community Solar is a fast-growing community solar customer acquisition and management services provider. With cutting-edge technology, the proprietary Think+ sales channel and a large base of residential, LMI and commercial electricity customers served by its affiliate Think Energy, Think Community Solar is the preferred partner to subscribe and manage projects for IPPs across the United States. Think Community Solar is a wholly owned subsidiary of Energywell. Visit http://www.thinkenergy.com/communitysolar/ for more information.
CONTACT:
Lauren Valdes
lvaldes@thinkenergy.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Think Energy, LLC | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/07/19/think-energy-aspen-power-partners-drive-community-solar-impact-maine/ | 2023-07-19 14:31:54 | 1 | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/07/19/think-energy-aspen-power-partners-drive-community-solar-impact-maine/ |
Try them for free when Tillamook takes over iconic bagel shops nationwide, for one day only
TILLAMOOK, Ore., March 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- At Tillamook County Creamery Association, it's our opinion* that our cream cheese spreads just taste better.
Maybe that's why Tillamook Cream Cheese Spreads are the fastest-growing soft cream cheeses in the country, out-pacing Philadelphia®, Kite Hill®, and private-label brands.1 Just sayin'.
See if you agree by trying our spreads for free at your favorite bagel shops on March 29.
Find out where at BetterCreamCheese.com.
That's it. That's the release.
1 % sales increase, Soft Cream Cheese, Brands >$10K in sales, Total US, Latest 52 Weeks ending 2-26-23, IRI POS.
About Tillamook County Creamery Association
Founded in 1909 as a farmer-owned cooperative, Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) recently achieved the distinction as a Certified B Corporation® (B Corp™) and prides itself on its commitment to bringing to market the most consistent, best tasting, highest quality dairy products made in the most natural way possible. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves real food that makes them feel good every day, Tillamook® produces internationally recognized, award-winning cheese as well as exceptional ice cream, butter, cream cheese spreads, yogurt, and sour cream, made with unwavering values that never sacrifice or compromise quality for profit. TCCA is owned by a group of farming families, primarily based in Tillamook County, Oregon. TCCA operates production facilities in Tillamook and Boardman, Oregon and employs more than 900 people throughout the state. The Tillamook Creamery is the largest tourist attraction on the coast of Oregon and one of the most popular in the state, attracting more than one million visitors each year. For more information on TCCA and Tillamook, visit Tillamook.com.
Media Contacts:
Jenna Faller, FleishmanHillard
jenna.faller@fleishman.com
Katie MacDonald, Tillamook
kmacdonald@tillamook.com
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SOURCE Tillamook County Creamery Association | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2023/03/16/tillamook-cream-cheese-spreads-just-taste-better/ | 2023-03-16 16:29:00 | 0 | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2023/03/16/tillamook-cream-cheese-spreads-just-taste-better/ |
NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for XCUR, YELL, SENS, GBT, and MOTS.
To see how InvestorsObserver's proprietary scoring system rates these stocks, view the InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alert by selecting the corresponding link.
- XCUR: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=XCUR&prnumber=080420221
- YELL: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=YELL&prnumber=080420221
- SENS: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=SENS&prnumber=080420221
- GBT: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=GBT&prnumber=080420221
- MOTS: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=MOTS&prnumber=080420221
(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alerts are based on our proprietary scoring methodology. Each stock is evaluated based on short-term technical, long-term technical and fundamental factors. Each of those scores is then combined into an overall score that determines a stock's overall suitability for investment.
InvestorsObserver provides patented technology to some of the biggest names on Wall Street and creates world-class investing tools for the self-directed investor on Main Street. We have a wide range of tools to help investors make smarter decisions when investing in stocks or options.
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SOURCE InvestorsObserver | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/thinking-about-buying-stock-exicure-yellow-corp-senseonics-global-blood-therapeutics-or-motus-gi/ | 2022-08-04 13:49:32 | 0 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/thinking-about-buying-stock-exicure-yellow-corp-senseonics-global-blood-therapeutics-or-motus-gi/ |
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Oh-so-close to completing a straight-set upset of No. 2 seed Casper Ruud at the Australian Open, Jenson Brooksby frittered away three match points, sat down at a changeover and began yelling at himself.
“How?! How?! God!!”
His face was flush, his emotions unhidden, his game unraveling. Soon enough, that set slipped away, as Ruud’s confidence seemed to surge and Brooksby’s collapse momentarily continued. And then, in a blink, Brooksby was back in charge, taking command immediately in the fourth set along the way to a 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-2 victory over Ruud and a spot in a surprisingly American-filled third round at Melbourne Park.
“I was getting a little more frustrated out there that I didn’t close it out, and my mentality was changing a little bit,” said the 39th-ranked Brooksby, who sipped from little jars of pickle juice in the fourth set at Rod Laver Arena. “Those are the situations you have to handle sometimes in matches, and you’re going to face. I think the biggest question is: How do you respond? I just told myself to reset.”
So leave it to a pair of 20-something Californians to rid the men’s bracket of its two highest seeded players: Brooksby, 22, delivered his unexpected triumph at the same stage and in the same stadium that Mackenzie McDonald, 27, defeated No. 1 seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal a day earlier. That makes this the first Grand Slam tournament since the 2002 Australian Open that the Nos. 1-2 seeds lost before the end of the second round.
Nadal owns a men’s-record 22 Grand Slam titles. Ruud was the runner-up at the French Open to Nadal last June and at the U.S. Open to Carlos Alcaraz last September.
Their exits are a big deal and make nine-time champion Novak Djokovic — who faced Enzo Couacaud on Thursday night — even more of a title favorite in his return to Australia after being deported a year ago because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Also a big deal: The progress of U.S. men through the year’s first major championship. None has won a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick at the 2003 U.S. Open.
By reaching the third round, Brooksby joined countrymen Michael Mmoh, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul and J.J. Wolf, who also won Thursday, along with McDonald, No. 16 Frances Tiafoe and No. 29 Sebastian Korda, who all won Wednesday. The highest-seeded American man, though, could not make it that far: No. 8 Taylor Fritz bowed out with a 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-2 loss to 113th-ranked Australian wild-card entry Alexei Popyrin.
Still, the eight men from the United States remaining are the most into the third round in Australia since the same number did it in 1996.
Mmoh, who lost in qualifying but got into the main draw when another player withdrew, made it this far at a major tournament for the first time by defeating No. 12 Alexander Zverev 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
“Life is crazy. Right when you think everything is looking dim, everything is looking dark, there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” the 107th-ranked Mmoh said. “My week is proof of that.”
Shelton, the NCAA champion from the University of Florida participating in just his second Slam, beat qualifier Nicolas Jarry of Chile 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3), 7-5; Paul came back to edge No. 30 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 6-2, 2-6, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4; and Wolf breezed past No. 23 Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
Brooksby now plays Paul; Mmoh takes on Wolf.
“Frances is probably my best friend. I grew up with Tommy,” Mmoh said. “I’ve known these guys for so long. I’ve competed with them.”
There was also a big win for an American woman Thursday: 21-year-old qualifier Katie Volynets defeated No. 9-seeded Veronika Kudermetova of Russia 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
Elsewhere, No. 4 Caroline Garcia beat 2021 U.S. Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 7-6 (5), 7-5, No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka improved her 2023 record to 6-0 by topping Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-1 after trailing 3-1 early, and No. 19 Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated Taylor Townsend 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.
“I literally have the chills, because the fans here are just incredible,” said Volynets, who reached the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. “I’ve never played in a stadium this packed and with that many people keeping the energy up for me. It was awesome.”
Brooksby was supposed to enter the Australian Open a year ago but came down with COVID-19 the day before he was supposed to fly overseas.
“Hopefully this is the first of many many good years here to come,” Brooksby said.
His unusual playing style, including his two-handed backhand volleys, and ability to track down opponent’s shots, were trouble for Ruud, who took a medical timeout after the second set because of a bothersome abdominal muscle.
“He was annoyingly good today,” said Ruud, a 24-year-old Norwegian coached by his father, a former pro player.
The biggest problem for Brooksby was closing this one out. He held a trio of match points while trying to serve for the victory at 5-3 in the third set but could not cash any of them in.
Ruud raced through the end of that set, but Brooksby righted himself in the fourth, jumping out to a 3-0 lead. Brooksby finished things off 1 hour, 15 minutes after his first chance.
When the match ended, Brooksby said, “The first thing that popped to my mind was I was just proud of my mental resolve just to stay focused out there.”
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.qcnews.com/sports/ap-no-5-sabalenka-moves-into-3rd-round-at-the-australian-open/ | 2023-01-19 11:44:03 | 0 | https://www.qcnews.com/sports/ap-no-5-sabalenka-moves-into-3rd-round-at-the-australian-open/ |
MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday evening's drawing of the Wisconsin Lottery's "All or Nothing Midday" game were:
02-07-08-11-12-13-15-16-19-21-22
(two, seven, eight, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fifteen, sixteen, nineteen, twenty-one, twenty-two) | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-All-or-Nothing-Midday-17293103.php | 2022-07-08 19:56:15 | 1 | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-All-or-Nothing-Midday-17293103.php |
Postal Service Honors Congressman John Lewis on New Forever Stamp Published: Jun. 22, 2023 at 7:00 AM MST | Updated: 29 minutes ago
ATLANTA , June 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
Congressman John Lewis Forever Stamp(PRNewswire)
What:
The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the life and legacy of Congressman, John Lewis (1940-2020), a key figure in some of the most pivotal moments of the Civil Rights Movement.
The first-day-of-issue event for the John Lewis Forever stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #J ohnLewisStamp .
Who:
The Honorable Ronald A. Stroman, governor, U.S. Postal Service
When:
Friday, July 21, 2023, at noon EDT
Where:
Morehouse College
Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel
830 Westview Drive SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
RSVP:
Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to rsvp at: usps.com/johnlewis
Background:
The stamp features a photograph of Lewis taken by Marco Grob on assignment for the Aug. 26, 2013, issue of Time magazine. Lewis's name is at the bottom of the stamp. The words "USA" and "Forever" appear in the stamp's top left corner. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp.
Devoted to equality and justice for all Americans, Lewis spent more than 30 years in Congress steadfastly defending and building on key civil rights gains that he helped achieve in the 1960s. Lewis was a staunch and unwavering believer in and advocate for nonviolent protests. The recipient of more than 50 honorary degrees, he was called a "saint" by Time magazine and "the conscience of the Congress," by his colleagues.
Lewis was the face of the Nashville Student Movement, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, an original Freedom Rider, and one of the keynote speakers at the 1963 March on Washington. He served as executive director of the Voter Education Project; as associate director of ACTION, the federal volunteer agency that oversaw the Peace Corps and VISTA; and as a member of the Atlanta City Council. He was also the best-selling author of several books, including the "March" comic book series and the inspiring autobiography, "Walking With the Wind."
Elected to represent Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986, Lewis garnered the support needed to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1991, sponsored the legislation that created the 54-mile-long Selma-to-Montgomery National Historic Trail, and worked for more than a decade to establish the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, by President Barack Obama.
Throughout his life, Lewis remained resolute in his commitment to what he liked to call "good trouble," even in the face of hatred and violence.
Postal Products
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps , by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon .
Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to nearly 165 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America , to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
For USPS media resources, including broadcast quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom . Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , Pinterest and LinkedIn . Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook . For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com .
Contact: Felicia Lott felicia.m.lott@usps.gov usps.com/news
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SOURCE U.S. Postal Service
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc. | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/06/22/postal-service-honors-congressman-john-lewis-new-forever-stamp/ | 2023-06-22 14:29:12 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/06/22/postal-service-honors-congressman-john-lewis-new-forever-stamp/ |
MURRELLS INLET, S.C. (WBTW) — A North Carolina man is accused of attacking a woman with a knife Thursday and then using the knife to injure himself at a Murrells Inlet hotel, according to the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office.
Todd Anderson Abernathy, 51, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with attempted murder and other charges, according to deputies.
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Deputies responded to the Hampton Inn on Courtfield Drive shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday after a 911 hang-up call, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies heard a woman call for help from outside one of the rooms.
Deputies entered the room and found the woman and Abernathy seriously injured, according to the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office said evidence shows Abernathy allegedly tried to kill the woman with a knife and then used the knife to injure himself.
Abernathy was taken to the Georgetown County Detention Center and remained there as of Friday morning, according to online booking records. | https://www.qcnews.com/crime-and-public-safety/charlotte-man-accused-of-attacking-woman-with-knife-then-himself-at-murrells-inlet-hotel/ | 2022-10-14 16:31:16 | 1 | https://www.qcnews.com/crime-and-public-safety/charlotte-man-accused-of-attacking-woman-with-knife-then-himself-at-murrells-inlet-hotel/ |
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BOSTON (AP) — Boston Common, America’s oldest public park, is getting a multimillion-dollar makeover that includes an expanded visitors’ center, more restrooms, additional sports facilities, and even a sit-down restaurant at the famed Frog Pond, city officials announced Wednesday.
The goal is to make the 50-acre (20-hectare) swath of green space in the heart of the city more welcoming, convenient, fun and accessible for both city residents and tourists.
“Boston Common’s gorgeous tree-lined paths and open spaces have hosted so many moments marked in history, from shaping our collective conscience to celebrating our communities,” Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement. “We’re excited to be sharing a plan that honors the Common’s history, reflects the community’s vision, and creates a space that will be more accessible, more resilient, and more inclusive for generations to come.”
The Common was founded in 1634 and draws millions of people per year. It has been used as a place for public executions, as a pasture, and a military training field, according to the nonprofit group Friends of the Public Garden, which helped develop the Boston Common Master Plan.
More recently it has hosted civil rights marches, Vietnam War protests and a 1979 Catholic Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II attended by an estimated 400,000 people during a soaking rainstorm. It was also the site of huge protests in 2020 against police brutality.
The multiyear plan also includes tripling the size of a children’s playground, a dog park, and adding wheelchair ramps to the Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial, and the Parkman Bandstand.
“With this Boston Common Master Plan, America’s first public park will have a unified vision for evolving and adapting to meet the needs of Boston’s residents and visitors to our city as well as of the park itself,” said Liz Vizza, president of the Friends of the Public Garden.
The planned changes are the result of years of public input and will be funded in part by $28 million from the 2019 sale of a city parking garage. The city has opened a 45-day public comment period for residents to share their priorities for the makeover plan. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/city-unveils-plan-for-major-makeover-of-boston-common/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world | 2022-10-12 15:39:08 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/city-unveils-plan-for-major-makeover-of-boston-common/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
LONDON and NEW YORK, July 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE: RC) ("Ready Capital" or the "Company") today announced Starz Real Estate (Starz), a pan-European commercial real estate lending platform has formed a new joint venture with Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE: RC), a commercial mortgage REIT headquartered in New York, to originate circa €300m of new commercial real estate loans over the next two years.
The new joint venture will focus on deploying commercial real estate bridge and term loans between €10m and €40m in size across the UK, Benelux, Dach Region, Italy and Portugal with up to 75% LTV across sectors including office, residential, mixed use, student housing, logistics, self-storage, and selective retail and hotel opportunities. The joint venture can also offer construction lending in the above mentioned continental European locations.
The deal reflects further institutional confidence in Starz, following backing from a Middle East Sovereign Wealth Fund at the end of last year to originate €900m of loans with the latest transaction in that fund comprising a €68.5m senior facility to Union Street Investments for a multi-office investment platform in the Netherlands.
David Arzi, CEO of Starz, said: "This partnership with Ready Capital will significantly expand our capability to service the increasing demand for agile, mid-market capital across the UK and Europe, bolstering our existing lending strategy."
"We are working in a challenging yet exciting landscape in the wake of the pandemic, with new opportunities as assets change hands or need repurposing to suit new demands. We are pleased to have an institutional investor of this calibre backing us, with our streamlined underwriting processes ensuring we can take capital to market in an efficient and decisive manner."
"This new JV partnership with Starz follows through on our commitment to expand Ready Capital's commercial real estate lending business internationally," said Thomas Capasse, CEO of Ready Capital. "With a history of sourcing high quality loans from strong sponsors, the team at Starz has an investment philosophy that aligns well with the credit foundation of Ready Capital's lending strategies, plus they share our hands-on approach to loan servicing and asset management." Ready Capital is externally managed by Waterfall Asset Management, LLC.
About Starz
Launched in July 2018, Starz is a commercial real estate lender focused on middle-market loans throughout Europe. With a balance sheet built for the long haul, Starz is a flexible and reliable source of capital for real estate investors. Starz provides collaborative lending solutions coupled with streamlined underwriting processes that ensures seamless service. https://starzrealestate.com/
About Ready Capital
Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE: RC) is a multi-strategy real estate finance company that originates, acquires, finances and services small to medium balance commercial loans. Ready Capital specializes in loans backed by commercial real estate, including multifamily agency, stabilized and bridge financing, as well as government guaranteed business loans. Ready Capital and its affiliates also provide alternative lending, construction lending, and low-income housing finance as well as residential mortgages. Headquartered in New York, Ready Capital employs more than 600 lending professionals nationwide. The company is externally managed by Waterfall Asset Management, LLC. www.readycapital.com
Contact
Investor Relations, Ready Capital Corporation
212-257-4666
InvestorRelations@readycapital.com
Ready Capital Media Relations
PR@readycapital.com
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SOURCE Ready Capital Corporation | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/13/starz-real-estate-forms-new-300m-jv-with-ready-capital/ | 2022-07-13 21:49:26 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/13/starz-real-estate-forms-new-300m-jv-with-ready-capital/ |
For starters, the stars of The Idol are singing its praises.
"We were all super-proud of this project and it feels like a really long time coming," Lily-Rose Depp told E! News, two days after the HBO series' May 22 premiere at the Cannes Film Festival was met with a five-minute standing ovation. "To get to birth The Idol at a festival like Cannes is just a dream come true."
Added co-star Troye Sivan, "We had such a good time making it, so I think it was only appropriate and fair to send it off with a bang."
Off into the world, that is, after months of anticipation as to just how provocative the drama from Euphoria creator Sam Levinson would prove to be, the writer-producer-director not exactly known for restraint when depicting the raw side of human behavior.
And yet, the content of his new show—about Jocelyn, an adrift, increasingly self-destructive pop star (Depp) who falls under the thrall of Tedros, a manipulative club owner (played by The Weekend, who's also a series co-creator)—would have come in for scrutiny no matter what. Even HBO leaned in, billing The Idol as a story about the "sleaziest love story in all of Hollywood." But that's just marketing.
Rather, what many critics admittedly lined up on the Croisette to see was the mature-audiences-only end result after a March Rolling Stone report alleged the production was riddled with issues, including a ballooning budget and questionable creative choices.
Which Levinson has since pushed back against but, in a way, also cheekily embraced.
"When my wife read me the article," he told reporters in Cannes the day after the premiere, "I looked at her and I said, 'I think we're about to have the biggest show of the summer.'"
As the makers of Don't Worry Darling might venture, not all press is good press. And reviews of the first two episodes of The Idol range from Rolling Stone's observation (really doubling down on its previous reporting) that the series is "more toxic and way worse than you've heard" to Vanity Fair's take that it's trying really hard to be shocking, yet is "way too Top 40 to rattle the squares."
But people have been talking a lot about the first-ever TV show to premiere at Cannes (where, incidentally, a film starring Lily-Rose's dad, Johnny Depp, opened the whole festival). So before you judge for yourself whether The Idol deserves your loyalty, here's what everyone has been talking about:
How long has The Idol been in the works?
It was first reported in June 2021 that The Weekend (whose real name is Abel Tesfaye) had joined forces with Levinson and Reza Fahim to develop, write and produce a series at HBO about a troubled singer who gets into a relationship with a cult-leading nightclub owner.
The network greenlighted the drama in November 2021, with Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO Programming, saying in a statement it "was clear their subversive, revelatory take on the cult of the music industry was unlike anything HBO had ever done before."
Depp was already attached to star opposite The Weeknd, and newly announced cast members included Sivan, Suzanna Son, Elizabeth Berkley and Anne Heche. (Berkley and Heche, who died last August, as well as some other actors from that initial crop, are still currently listed among the cast on IMDb but have not been in any of the trailers and do not appear to be part of the final incarnation of the show.)
Actress and filmmaker Amy Seimetz, whose experience behind the camera included The Girlfriend Experience and Atlanta, was on board to direct all six episodes.
When and why did The Idol change course?
By April 2022, the series was in the throes of evolution.
"The Idol's creative team continues to build, refine, and evolve their vision for the show and they have aligned on a new creative direction," an HBO spokesperson told Deadline at the time. "The production will be adjusting its cast and crew accordingly to best serve this new approach to the series. We look forward to sharing more information soon."
That report came April 25. The very next day, Deadline reported that Seimetz was leaving the production.
Sources told Variety that multiple episodes of the six that HBO had ordered had already been shot, but they'd be redone to take the show in a new creative direction.
The day after that, Deadine reported that cast member Suzanna Son was not going to be returning, either. (However, Son still has a designated character—Chloe, follower of Tedros—and has appeared in teaser footage.) At the time, sources told Deadline that The Weeknd had been unhappy with the creative direction the show was taking, that the story was being told too much from the "female perspective."
Meanwhile, Sivan, who plays Xander, Jocelyn's creative director, had already shared his thoughts—and he was delighted to be a part of it.
"I'm just having the best time," he gushed to W in a story published Feb. 22, 2022. The Idol marked his first role in a TV series and, he continued, "the quality of every single aspect of a production like this is so inspiring to watch. It's just a crazy experience, it's been so fun."
How did The Idol regroup?
An atmospheric teaser released in August 2022 introduced the likes of Dan Levy, Hank Azaria, Jane Adams, Hari Neff, Jennie Ruby Jane, Moses Sumney, Eli Roth, Rachel Sennott, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Mike Dean, and Ramsey as part of the ensemble along with Depp, The Weeknd, Sivan and Son.
There was still no premiere date, as yet, but there was content.
What did the Rolling Stone report allege about the making of The Idol?
The gist of the much-talked-about March 1, 2023, Rolling Stone story was that multiple people who worked on the production alleged they signed up for one thing—an intelligently crafted, boundary-pushing satire about fame, creativity, exploitation, power and sexuality—and ended up with something else.
And what they got, once Levinson became more hands-on after Seimetz's departure—according to one of the 13 unnamed sources who contributed to the piece—was "a show about a man who gets to abuse this woman and she loves it."
There was also logistical chaos throughout, the story alleged, with scripts being re-written constantly—"It was kind of a joke how many revisions there were," one production member noted—as filming stretched beyond a scheduled May-to-July 2022 window and into September. "A s--tshow," another source called it, while multiple people said they weren't even sure what would end up in the finished product.
But the article also quoted sources who were supportive of the production, with one saying it "couldn't have been a better crew from my standpoint, from both Amy and in Sam's case across the board."
HBO defended it as well, stating in response to the story, "The creators and producers of The Idol have been working hard to create one of HBO's most exciting and provocative original programs. The initial approach on the show and production of the early episodes, unfortunately, did not meet HBO standards so we chose to make a change."
They concluded, "Throughout the process, the creative team has been committed to creating a safe, collaborative and mutually respectful working environment, and last year, the team made creative changes they felt were in the best interest of both the production and the cast and crew."
Depp also denounced the complaints about Levinson, calling him "for so many reasons, the best director I have ever worked with."
"Never have I felt more supported or respected in a creative space, my input and opinions more valued," she continued in a statement obtained by E! News. "Working with Sam is a true collaboration in every way—it matters to him, more than anything, not only what his actors think about the work, but how we feel performing it."
More recently, Depp told E! that the cast "laughed so much" making what, from the footage available so far, looked to be a super-gritty show.
"Even in the moments where the scene was heavier or more emotional," she said, "because we all had those genuine friendships, even those heavier moments felt lighter…There was a really good support system going on."
How did The Weeknd respond to the Rolling Stone story?
The "Blinding Lights" singer pushed back in a different way, tweeting at the publication, "did we upset you?"—along with a clip from The Idol in which Tedros calls Rolling Stone "irrelevant" and Jocelyn wonders if the mag is "past its prime" when her publicist pitches an opportunity to be on the cover. (Then Levy, who plays the publicist, got dragged by a faction of Twitter who had already decided the series was a toxic mess.)
The Weeknd, who shared the brunt of the criticism of what the show had supposedly become with Levinson, eventually said that he thought the article was "ridiculous." So, he explained for Vanity Fair's June 2023 cover story, "I wanted to give a ridiculous response to it."
He "loved" working with Seimetz, he continued, but there were scheduling and other run-of-the-mill issues that led to the parting of the ways. "Shows get reshot every day."
Levinson concurred, telling the magazine in an email that he sat down with The Weeknd to watch what they had so far in early 2022 and "it wasn't working."
The Weeknd also called it "a challenge to redo The Idol," telling W, "in truth, I sacrificed my health and home to make it work."
In fact, to save money, they did use his actual house when they resumed shooting.
"The bedrooms were now greenrooms; the bathrooms were for hair and makeup," he said. "We built a music studio in the basement so Mike Dean, who helped compose, and I could score the show while we were filming."
What has Sam Levinson said about The Idol backlash?
Levinson appeared in fine spirits after The Idol's Cannes premiere.
Recalling how his initial thought about the Rolling Stone article was that it would only make the series loom larger, he told reporters, "We know we're making a show that is provocative. It's not lost on us."
But the allegations in the story, he continued, "felt completely foreign to me. But I know who I am…People can write whatever they want. If I have a slight objection, it's that they intentionally omitted anything that didn't fit their narrative. But I think we have seen a lot of that lately."
Depp, who's been nothing but supportive of Levinson and The Weeknd, noted, "It's always a little sad and disheartening to see mean, false things said about someone you care about. It wasn't reflective at all of my experience."
Levinson maintained that he was "proud of this show, proud of how we made this show."
Where does Lily-Rose Depp stand with The Weeknd?
Sivan called The Weeknd "so lovely and hilarious," and Depp agreed, telling E! News, "He's a generous scene partner, he's really present, he's really supportive and he is a really good friend to me—to all of us."
Acknowledging The Idol's intense subject matter and graphic sexual content, she explained, "I think for me personally, when you're going to these really vulnerable emotional places with somebody in a scene, the hope is that you'll have that kind of trust and safety with them, and I really feel like I had that with Abel tenfold, and I'm very grateful he was the person I was doing that with."
But as far as the show itself, Depp accepted that it's now in audiences' hands to respond to it however they will.
"The beautiful thing about art is people are going to take way from it what they want to see in that moment," she said. "To me, it raises a lot of interesting questions about celebrity culture and idolatry and how we see people we actually don't know at all and talk about them as if we really do know them, and how strange that concept is and what kind of effect that can have on somebody's psyche."
"You just don't ever know what's going on behind closed doors," Depp added, "even if you see a lot of somebody's face and you imagine that you know them—you don't, unless you do."
The Idol premieres Sunday, June 4, at 9 p.m. on HBO and MAX. | https://www.eonline.com/news/1376144/unpacking-all-the-drama-swirling-around-lessigreaterthe-idollessigreater?cmpid=rss-syndicate-genericrss-us-top_stories | 2023-06-04 13:32:49 | 1 | https://www.eonline.com/news/1376144/unpacking-all-the-drama-swirling-around-lessigreaterthe-idollessigreater?cmpid=rss-syndicate-genericrss-us-top_stories |
OMAHA, Neb. — The major freight railroads announced a number of steps Wednesday that they are taking to improve safety in the wake of last month’s fiery Ohio derailment, but it’s not clear if their actions will be enough to satisfy regulators and members of Congress who are pushing for changes.
Many of the proposals from the Association of American Railroads trade group focus on strengthening the network of trackside detectors that railroads use to spot problems before they can cause derailments. The railroads plan to do this by installing 1,000 more of the detectors nationwide and tweaking the way railroads use the data from them.
Norfolk Southern, the railroad responsible for the Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border, proposed similar changes earlier this week, but the Federal Railroad Administration responded saying the company wasn’t doing nearly enough.
And several members of Congress — led by Ohio’s two senators — have proposed a sweeping package of rail reforms that go well beyond what the industry is proposing. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has also urged the railroads to make immediate changes.
Federal regulators didn’t immediately respond Wednesday to questions about the industry’s proposals. Congress plans to scrutinize Norfolk Southern’s safety record and its response to the Ohio derailment at a Senate hearing Thursday morning that will also examine the reforms Ohio’s senators proposed. Two federal agencies also announced broad investigations into Norfolk Southern’s safety record Tuesday.
Overall, railroads are proud of their safety record, which reflects a decline in derailments over the past several years, and they like to tout the statistic that 99.9% of all hazardous materials shipments railroads handle reach their destinations safely. Still, there were 1,049 derailments nationwide last year — and the East Palestine one showed how even a single mishap involving hazardous materials can be disastrous.
“Rail is indisputably the safest way to move dangerous commodities,” AAR President Ian Jefferies said. “Yet we fully appreciate that these data do not comfort the residents of East Palestine and that public trust must be restored through action.”
The major freight railroads — which include Norfolk Southern, CSX, Union Pacific, BNSF, Canadian Pacific, Kansas City Southern and Canadian National — said they will tighten up the spacing between the hot-bearing detectors to ensure they average no more than 15 miles (24 kilometers) apart along the main routes they use to transport hazardous chemicals. Currently, there are no federal rules on those detectors, which can be spaced up to 40 miles (64 kilometers) apart in places, though most of them are much closer together.
Rail safety expert Allan Zarembski said the existing network of detectors was already quite effective and allowed only a handful of derailments every year related to overheating bearings. But these changes will undoubtedly catch even more of these problems, said the University of Delaware professor who leads the railroad engineering and safety program there.
Zarembski said he believes these changes are likely to be “pretty effective.”
The railroads said they will also commit to stopping and inspecting any train that has a bearing that registers more than 170 degrees above the outside temperature. That’s in line with the standards Norfolk Southern already uses.
The National Transportation Safety Board has said the Norfolk Southern crew received a warning about an overheating bearing just before the derailment but wasn’t able to stop the train before 38 cars, including 11 carrying hazardous materials, jumped off the tracks and caught fire. About half the town of East Palestine — about 2,500 residents — had to evacuate a couple days later because officials were worried that five of the cars carrying vinyl chloride might explode. They then released the chemical and burned it off.
In addition to stopping trains anytime a bearing exceeds 170 degrees, the railroads also analyze the data from sensors all across their networks to identify problems even before a bearing hits that threshold. The trade group said all the major railroads plan to discuss ways to improve that analysis by the end of March.
The railroads said they also plan to train about 20,000 first responders nationwide this year to deal with hazardous materials incidents. As part of that, Norfolk Southern announced plans Wednesday to build a new regional training center in Ohio. Gov. Mike DeWine praised the effort.
“The derailment in East Palestine made clear that ensuring first responders are prepared for disasters involving hazardous materials is vitally important to the safety of communities,” DeWine said. “Often, first responders are volunteers, and their need to have the most up-to-date training and equipment is vitally important.” | https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/03/08/railroad-safety-ohio-derailment-hazardous-materials/d83fc584-bdf0-11ed-9350-7c5fccd598ad_story.html | 2023-03-08 21:22:43 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/03/08/railroad-safety-ohio-derailment-hazardous-materials/d83fc584-bdf0-11ed-9350-7c5fccd598ad_story.html |
NEW YORK (AP) — Before the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT was unleashed into the world, the novelist Robin Sloan was testing a similar AI writing assistant built by researchers at Google.
It didn’t take long for Sloan, author of the bestseller “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore,” to realize that the technology was of little use to him.
“A lot of the state-of-the-art AI right now is impressive enough to really raise your expectations and make you think, ‘Wow, I’m dealing with something really, really capable,’” Sloan said. “But then in a thousand little ways, a million little ways, it ends up kind of disappointing you and betraying the fact that it really has no idea what’s going on.”
Another company might have released the experiment into the wild anyway, as the startup OpenAI did with its ChatGPT tool late last year. But Google has been more cautious about who gets to play with its AI advancements despite growing pressure for the internet giant to compete more aggressively with rival Microsoft, which is pouring billions of dollars into OpenAI and fusing its technology into Microsoft products.
That pressure is starting to take a toll, as Google has asked one of its AI teams to “prioritize working on a response to ChatGPT,” according to an internal memo reported this week by CNBC. Google declined to confirm if there was a public chatbot in the works but spokesperson Lily Lin said it continues “to test our AI technology internally to make sure it’s helpful and safe, and we look forward to sharing more experiences externally soon.”
Some of the technological breakthroughs driving the red-hot field of generative AI — which can churn out paragraphs of readable text and new images as well as music and video — have been pioneered in Google’s vast research arm.
“So we have an important stake in this area, but we also have an important stake in not just leading in being able to generate things, but also in dealing with information quality,” said Zoubin Ghahramani, vice president of research at Google, in a November interview with The Associated Press.
Ghahramani said the company wants to also be measured about what it releases, and how: “Do we want to make it accessible in a way that people can produce stuff en masse without any controls? The answer to that is no, not at this stage. I don’t think it would be responsible for us to be the people driving that.”
And they weren’t. Four weeks after the AP interview, OpenAI released its ChatGPT for free to anyone with an internet connection. Millions of people around the world have now tried it, sparking searing discussions at schools and corporate offices about the future of education and work.
OpenAI declined to comment on comparisons with Google. But in announcing their extended partnership in January, Microsoft and OpenAI said they are committed to building “AI systems and products that are trustworthy and safe.”
As a literary assistant, neither ChatGPT nor Google’s creative writing version comes close to what a human can do, Sloan said.
A fictionalized Google was central to the plot of Sloan’s popular 2012 novel about a mysterious San Francisco bookstore. That’s likely one reason the company invited him along with several other authors to test its experimental Wordcraft Writers Workshop, derived from a powerful AI system known as LaMDA.
Like other language-learning models, including the GPT line built by OpenAI, Google’s LaMDA can generate convincing passages of text and converse with humans based on what it’s processed from a trove of online writings and digitized books. Facebook parent Meta and Amazon have also built their own big models, which can improve voice assistants like Alexa, predict the next sentence of an email or translate languages in real time.
When it first announced its LaMDA model in 2021, Google emphasized its versatility but also raised the risks of harmful misuse and the possibility it could mimic and amplify biased, hateful or misleading information.
Some of the Wordcraft writers found it useful as a research tool — like a faster and more decisive version of a Google search — as they asked for a list of “rabbit breeds and their magical qualities” or “a verb for the thing fireflies do” or to “Tell me about Venice in 1700,″ according to Google’s paper on the project. But it was less effective as a writer or rewriter, turning out boring sentences riddled with clichés and showing some gender bias.
“I believe them — that they’re being thoughtful and cautious,” Sloan said of Google. “It’s just not the model of a reckless technologist who is in a hurry to get this out into the world no matter what.”
Google’s development of these models hasn’t been without internal acrimony. First, it ousted some prominent researchers who were examining the risks of the technology. And last year, it fired an engineer who publicly posted a conversation with LaMDA in which the model falsely claimed it had human-like consciousness, with a “range of both feelings and emotions.”
While ChatGPT and its competitors might never produce acclaimed works of literature, the expectation is they will soon begin to transform other professional tasks — from helping to debug computer code to composing marketing pitches and speeding up the production of a slide presentation.
That’s key to why Microsoft, as a seller of workplace software, is eager to enhance its suite of products with the latest OpenAI tools. The benefits are less clear to Google, which largely depends on the advertising dollars it gets when people search for information online.
“If you ask the question and get the wrong answer, it’s not great for a search engine,” said Dexter Thillien, a technology analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit.
Microsoft also has a search engine — Bing — but ChatGPT’s answers are too inaccurate and outdated, and the cost to run its queries too expensive, for the technology to pose a serious risk to Google’s dominant search business, Thillien said.
Google has said that its earlier large language model, named BERT, is already playing a role in answering online searches. Such models can help generate the fact boxes that increasingly appear next to Google’s ranked list of web links.
Asked in November about the hype around AI applications such as OpenAI’s image-generator DALL-E, Ghahramani acknowledged, in a playful tone, that “it’s a little bit annoying sometimes because we know that we have developed a lot of these technologies.”
“We’re not in this to get the ‘likes’ and the clicks, right?” he said, noting that Google has been a leader in publishing AI research that others can build upon. | https://cbs4indy.com/business/ap-business/ap-google-has-the-next-move-as-microsoft-embraces-openai-buzz/ | 2023-02-02 10:57:53 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/business/ap-business/ap-google-has-the-next-move-as-microsoft-embraces-openai-buzz/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — As U.S. spy agencies ramped up their work to catch foreign meddling in this year’s election, a team of CIA experts studied lessons learned from the contentious 2020 vote. Unexpectedly, their report sparked a controversy within parts of the intelligence community.
In a rare move, their study was withdrawn shortly after it was issued in the spring after rank-and-file officers protested that it failed to address the allegations of politics seeping into intelligence that arose in the 2020 election and that remain unresolved for some today.
Reissued in September, the study remains classified and its full contents aren’t publicly known. Several people familiar with the matter would say only that it included recommendations on how intelligence leaders could best examine and report election threats attributed to Russia, China and other American adversaries.
The dispute over a relatively routine study and its unusual withdrawal highlight ongoing concerns over how to address the varying foreign threats to U.S. elections — including disinformation, cyber espionage and the amplification of existing divisions within American society. In an increasingly polarized America, some of those tensions have spilled over inside the nominally apolitical world of intelligence, some former officers say.
Some officers have alleged intelligence leaders in 2020 played down findings on Russia to suit the demands of former President Donald Trump, who fired a director of national intelligence in one dispute over Moscow’s election meddling. Others say election-related intelligence on China in particular was wrongly played down out of a belief that politicians would misuse it.
The study was requested by the former election threats executive at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees the 18 U.S. spy agencies. It was ultimately republished with what’s known as a “scope note” explaining the study was focused primarily on senior leaders and not intended to delve into the politicization of intelligence or other potential issues around elections.
Several people described the debate over the study on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters.
Tim Barrett, the top spokesman for Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, said intelligence officials have expanded training on objectivity in analysis and worked to better collaborate across agencies.
“We are committed to impartial and inclusive analysis and will continue to provide the insights needed to safeguard our democracy,” Barrett said in a statement.
The CIA’s Center for the Study of Intelligence produces internal histories of key moments and issues faced across the intelligence community. Its reports are intended to guide current and future officers.
Nicholas Dujmovic, a retired CIA officer who served on the agency’s history staff, said any decision to withdraw a study would be unusual, but not unprecedented. Dujmovic, now a professor at the Washington-based Catholic University of America, said he did not have specific knowledge of the recently republished study.
“We’re in the intelligence business. We’re in the truth business,” he said. “Occasionally, if we have information that a study is flawed, we might pull it back and rework it.”
One of the study’s recommendations was for intelligence agencies to adopt a definition across countries of “election influence” and “election interference.”
The lack of a standard practice was flagged by the intelligence community’s analytic ombudsman, Barry Zulauf, shortly after the 2020 election. Zulauf wrote in a separate report — an unclassified version of which was released in January 2021 — that analysts studying Russia and China defined “influence” differently, possibly leading to the analysts drawing different conclusions about each country’s intentions and actions.
The ombudsman accused Trump’s top appointees of delaying and distorting some intelligence findings for political reasons. Some of Trump’s attacks on election-related intelligence became public in 2020, including his firing of the director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, after his office briefed Congress that Russia was trying to boost Trump’s reelection campaign.
Zulauf also found the political pressure may have affected analysts focused on China, who “appeared hesitant to assess Chinese actions as undue influence or interference,” in part because they felt Trump would use their findings to attack China and downplay Russia’s interventions in support of him.
Ultimately, U.S. intelligence concluded Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized influence operations intended to help Trump while Chinese leaders “considered but did not deploy” measures. In a dissent published in the same report, the national intelligence officer for cyber said he believed China “took at least some steps” in 2020 to try to undermine Trump, primarily through social media and official statements.
This year, U.S. officials are warning of more foreign campaigns to influence midterm races along with the spread of domestic disinformation, the prospect of cyberattacks, and threats and harassment toward election workers.
“The current election threat environment is more complex than it has ever been,” said Jen Easterly, the director of the Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity arm, in a recent media briefing.
Intelligence officials have not given a public briefing on foreign election threats. But unclassified intelligence reports from the Department of Homeland Security, sent to state and local governments, capture some of the current U.S. findings on the intentions of Russia, China and Iran.
Russia is seen as trying to undermine Americans’ willingness to support Ukraine eight months into Putin’s invasion.
Iran may be interested in “exacerbating social divisions and sowing doubt in U.S. democratic institutions,” according to a DHS report issued earlier this year.
And China is probably seeking to influence select midterm races to “hinder candidates perceived to be particularly adversarial to Beijing,” according to a DHS report from September. Officials said in the advisory they believe Beijing sees a lower risk in meddling in the midterms versus a presidential election.
Zulauf, the ombudsman, said in his report released last year that the “polarized atmosphere” of the U.S. has “threatened to undermine the foundations of our Republic, penetrating even into the Intelligence Community.”
That has made election influence a particularly sensitive topic for spy agencies, former officers say.
“In the golden age, the good old days, people at work didn’t know whether your co-workers — also intelligence officers — were Democrats or Republicans,” said Dujmovic, the retired CIA historian. “That has changed over time. There is more partisanship in the workforce and that reflects American society in general.” | https://www.kxnet.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-withdrawal-of-study-highlights-tension-in-us-intel-community/ | 2022-10-27 19:32:19 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-withdrawal-of-study-highlights-tension-in-us-intel-community/ |
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ON LEECH LAKE, Minnesota (AP) — Seated low in her canoe sliding through a rice bed on this vast lake, Kendra Haugen used one wooden stick to bend the stalks and another to knock the rice off, so gently the stalks sprung right back up.
On a mid-September morning, no breeze ruffled the eagle feather gifted by her grandmother that Haugen wore on a baseball cap as she tried her hand at wild rice harvesting — a sacred process for her Ojibwe people.
“A lot of reservations are struggling to keep rice beds, so it’s really important to keep these as pristine as we can. ... It renews our rice beds for the future,” the 23-year-old college student said.
Wild rice, or manoomin (good seed) in Ojibwe, is sacred to Indigenous peoples in the Great Lakes region, because it’s part of their creation story — and because for centuries it staved off starvation during harsh winters.
“In our origin story, we were told to go where food grew on water,” said Elaine Fleming, a Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe elder whose manoomin class at Leech Lake Tribal College went harvesting last week. “It’s our sacred food.”
But changing climate, invasive species and pollution are threatening the plant even as its cultivated sibling rises in popularity nationwide as an exceptionally nutritious food, though often priced out of reach of urban Indigenous communities.
Those threats make it crucial to teach young band members to harvest wild rice respecting both rituals and the environment. That will help wild rice remain available as an essential element for ceremonies, but also as a much-needed income generator for the Leech Lake reservation, where nearly 40% of Native residents live in poverty.
The basic instructions for newbies reflect that dual reality — respect the rice by not breaking the stems, and if you lose balance, jump out to avoid tipping the canoe with its precious cargo.
Fleming gave everyone tobacco from a zip-close bag. Before scattering it on the calm water and setting out, the youths gathered around another elder praying in Ojibwe — to introduce the group to the natural elements around them, explain why it needed their help, ask for safe passage on the water and give thanks.
“Any time you take something from the earth, you want to thank the earth for what she’s given us,” said Kelsey Burns, a student and first-time ricer.
That reciprocity between humans and nature is essential to Ojibwe spirituality. In their stories, the Creator, before bringing to the earth Anishinaabe, the first Indigenous person, gathered all animals to ask how they could help.
“Plants were listening and chimed in and said, ‘We have gifts too, so Anishinaabe can have a good life,’” Fleming explained. “Rice said, ‘We’ll feed Anishinaabe.’”
In two hours on the water, the pairs of polers, who stood steering with 20-foot poles, and knockers, who rained rice into the canoe until it formed a thick, green-brown carpet, gathered about 35 pounds. Experienced ricers can harvest a quarter ton a day.
This year, they can get $6 per pound of rice, a high price because the two-week harvest is particularly meager, said Ryan White. A 44-year-old single dad, he takes his two boys and a nephew ricing to help cover the bills and for the kids to buy video games.
“You learn the essence of hard work out here,” he said while knocking rice on a recent afternoon, with duct tape over his trousers’ hem and shoes so not a grain would be wasted.
“Cleaning the boat real good,” White explained later as he swiped the rice into a sack. “Because of stories we heard of old times, when … even a handful like this meant a meal or two for the kids, and at the end of winter it actually might save your family.”
“That manoomin is our brother, that saved us as a people many different ways,” said Dave Bismarck, who was loading about 200 pounds of just-harvested rice at a nearby landing. “Ricing to me is real spiritual. There’s a lot who have gone home already, and when I’m ricing, the harder I work … the closer I am to them.”
But the beds are “continually shrinking,” said White, who's been ricing for three decades. And that endangers wild rice's spiritual and economic gifts.
While some natural cycling is normal, bad years for wild rice are becoming more frequent, said Ann Geisen, a wildlife lake specialist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
“It seems to be tied to climate change,” she added. “Bigger storm events when it’s uprooted and wiped out, we seem to have more of these. A big bounce (in water levels) in the spring can wipe out an entire lake.”
A warming climate can also damage the plant, whose seeds need to be close to freezing on shallow lake bottoms for months to germinate well, and brings destructive invasive species and fungi to Minnesota, Wisconsin and parts of Canada, wild rice’s only natural habitats.
“It’s going to completely ravish natural stands,” said Jenny Kimball, a professor of agronomy and plant genetics at the University of Minnesota. She works on both conservation and developing more resistant breeds for cultivated wild rice growers, an industry she estimates adds about $58 million to the state economy and has far outpaced natural production for decades.
Most Ojibwe bands want to save natural stands, however, and several recently filed lawsuits fighting water contamination — including one dismissed this year in White Earth tribal court that named manoomin as the lead plaintiff in a novel “rights of nature” approach.
The suit accused the state of failing to protect water where wild rice grows by allowing the pumping of billions of gallons of groundwater from an oil pipeline project.
In July, two other northern Minnesota tribes sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over its approval of state changes to water quality standards that the tribes allege would increase pollution and damage wild rice.
Leech Lake students and faculty discussed industrial pollution and controversial pipelines as they gathered outside the college for a feast celebrating their first day harvesting.
Before cooking the rice, they had to parch it, stirring it in a giant iron kettle for more than an hour; jiggle the husks loose by dancing over it as it lay in a hide-covered hole in the ground; and finally winnow it in birchbark baskets.
“We understand our responsibility, as nation, to this land. We’re supposed to think seven generations to the future,” Fleming said.
Burns, the student, was thinking of her son, who’s 5.
“I like learning everything that I can about our culture,” she said. “I didn’t learn much when I was younger, so I felt a part of me was missing. I want to keep teaching everything I learn.”
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. | https://www.sfgate.com/living/article/Minnesota-Ojibwe-harvest-sacred-17454197.php | 2022-09-20 18:29:28 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/living/article/Minnesota-Ojibwe-harvest-sacred-17454197.php |
A blistering heat wave is turning up the pressure on Texas’ power grid
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — On another 100-degree day in Texas, Sean Whitaker lingered outside a Dallas cafe after polishing off an iced coffee, having switched off the power to everything back home except his refrigerator.
“That’s the reason I’m out,” said Whitaker, 52, finding shade at a patio table.
As an unrelenting heat wave grips Texas for a second week, public appeals to stay hydrated and limit outdoor activities have come with another ask of the state’s nearly 30 million residents: Conserve electricity if possible as demand on the power grid is stretched to projected record peaks.
An early summer arrival of blistering temperatures — which have been blamed for at least two deaths — is taxing Texas’ power grid that many residents still view nervously two years after a deadly winter blackout. Regulators warn that Texas may offer a preview of what could be tight demand on grids across the U.S. this summer because of extreme temperatures worsened by climate change.
On Tuesday, the Texas grid was operating under an elevated “weather watch” that does not ask residents to curtail power but raises the possibility. Even some energy experts who have been critical of Texas’ grid management consider outages this summer unlikely, saying winter carries bigger risks.
But as scorching temperatures in some parts of Texas climb above 110 degrees (43 degrees Celsius), flirting with records or breaking them outright, air conditioners are cranked and officials are nudging homeowners to be mindful of their electricity usage.
“Please, please do what you can to conserve energy,” said Stuart Reilly, interim general manager of Austin Energy, which serves more than a half-million customers in Texas’ capital.
Forecasters say relief in Texas may not arrive before the Fourth of July holiday. The culprit is a stalled heat dome forged by an unpleasant mix of stationary high pressure, warmer-than-usual air in the Gulf of Mexico and the sun beating overhead, according to John Nielsen-Gammon, the state’s climatologist.
For some, the conditions have been deadly. Last week, a Florida man and his 14-year-old stepson died after hiking in extreme heat at Big Bend National Park in far West Texas, where temperatures soared to 119 degrees (48 degrees Celsius).
In Austin, paramedics have responded to more than 100 heat-related incidents the past two weeks alone, which city officials say accounts for more than half of all of their heat-related emergency calls since April.
Hot weather has not caused rolling outages in Texas since 2006. But operators of the state’s grid, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, have entered recent summers not ruling out the possibility as a crush of new residents strains an independent system. Texas mostly relies on natural gas for power, which made up more than 40% of generation last year, according to ERCOT. Wind accounted for about 25% ,with solar and nuclear energy also in the mix.
Texas’ grid is not connected to the rest of the country, unlike others in the U.S., meaning there are few options to pull power from elsewhere if there are shortages or failures. In May, regulators warned the public that demand may outpace supply on the hottest days.
“We have the equivalent of the entire city of Oakland, California, moving to Texas every year,” said Peter Lake, who at the time was chairman of the state’s Public Utility Commission but resigned earlier this month.
California has come close to running out of power in recent years, especially in the early evenings when electricity from solar is not as abundant. In Texas, Republicans’ attitudes toward renewables have soured since the 2021 winter blackout, when conservative commentators falsely blamed wind turbines and solar energy as the prime driver of the outages.
Since the blackout, Texas lawmakers say the grid is more reliable and passed bills this year to try incentivize the development of more “on-demand” generation, which does not include renewables. But even some Republicans continue raising concerns and lawmakers have done little to address demand. Just before the heat wave settled into Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a bill designed to strengthen energy efficiency in new construction, saying it wasn’t as important as cutting property taxes.
Doug Lewin, an energy consultant and the president of Stoic Energy, said he worries more about the grid in winter when there is more constant demand to keep homes warm. Any summer outages in Texas, he said, would likely be rotating outages that would last for a couple hours. Still, he said grid operators don’t issue pleas to conserve power lightly.
“I don’t think it’s a cause for alarm,” said Lewin, who also writes a newsletter on Texas energy. “But yeah, it’s a sure sign that things are getting fairly close to the edge.”
Texas isn’t the only state watching supply and demand closely. The annual summer forecast by the North American Electric Reliability Corp., which oversees the nation’s grid reliability, put two-thirds of the continent at risk of shortfalls in the event that temperatures spike above normal.
In Red Oak, just outside Dallas, Mireya Usery does more than just cross her fingers there is enough supply to keep the power flowing: The thermostat at her house gets parked at 78 degrees (26 degrees Celsius).
“We don’t want to end up without electricity for too long,” she said, “so we try to do our best.”
___
Associated Press reporters Jake Bleiberg in Dallas and Kendria LaFleur in Red Oak, Texas, contributed to this report.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2023/06/27/blistering-heat-wave-is-turning-up-pressure-texas-power-grid/ | 2023-06-27 19:07:17 | 0 | https://www.kxii.com/2023/06/27/blistering-heat-wave-is-turning-up-pressure-texas-power-grid/ |
HERSHEY, Pa. (AP) _ Hershey Co. (HSY) on Thursday reported second-quarter profit of $315.6 million.
The Hershey, Pennsylvania-based company said it had profit of $1.53 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and costs related to mergers and acquisitions, were $1.80 per share.
The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.69 per share.
The chocolate bar and candy maker posted revenue of $2.37 billion in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $2.23 billion.
Hershey expects full-year earnings in the range of $8.05 to $8.20 per share.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on HSY at https://www.zacks.com/ap/HSY | https://www.mrt.com/business/article/Hershey-Q2-Earnings-Snapshot-17334489.php | 2022-07-28 12:18:22 | 1 | https://www.mrt.com/business/article/Hershey-Q2-Earnings-Snapshot-17334489.php |
Editor’s note: If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Columbia University professor and director of suicide prevention training at New York State Psychiatric Institute Barbara Stanley died earlier this year at the age of 73. Stanley left behind a simple, but staggeringly effective interview to prevent suicides: having patients who had thoughts of self-harm create detailed “crisis plans” listing ways to cope, distract themselves and also who to reach out to for support.
The suicide prevention plans were meant as a short-term strategy for adolescents waiting for long-term therapy, but they proved so effective that they became important interventions on their own.
Among those who have implemented the plans with their patients is Dr. Paul Nestadt, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He joins host Robin Young to discuss the Stanley-Brown Safety Planning intervention and why it works.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kasu.org/2023-04-05/creating-a-suicide-prevention-plan-to-distract-cope-and-reach-out-for-support-can-save-lives | 2023-04-05 17:25:33 | 1 | https://www.kasu.org/2023-04-05/creating-a-suicide-prevention-plan-to-distract-cope-and-reach-out-for-support-can-save-lives |
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The head of the US Environmental Protection Agency got a first-hand look Thursday at the damage and emotional toll left by a freight train derailment in Ohio that spilled toxic chemicals and burned in a huge plume over homes and businesses.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan sought to reassure residents who are skeptical of testing results that say the air is safe to breathe and the water is fit for drinking around East Palestine, where just under 5,000 people live near the Pennsylvania state line.
“I’m asking they trust the government. I know that’s hard. We know there’s a lack of trust,” Regan said. “We’re testing for everything that was on that train.”
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Residents are frustrated by what they say is incomplete and vague information about the lasting effects from the disaster.
“I have three grandbabies,” said Kathy Dyke, who came with hundreds of her neighbors to a public meeting Wednesday where representatives of railroad operator Norfolk Southern were conspicuously absent. “Are they going to grow up here in five years and have cancer?”
In the nearly two weeks since the derailment forced evacuations, residents have complained about suffering from headaches and irritated eyes and finding their cars and lawns covered in soot. The hazardous chemicals that spilled from the train killed thousands of fish, and residents have talked about finding dying or sick pets and wildlife.
Regan, who stood along a waterway still reeking of chemicals, said anyone fearful of being in their home should seek testing from the government.
“People have been unnerved. They’ve been asked to leave their homes,” he said, adding that if he lived there, he would be willing to move his family back into the area as long as the testing shows it’s safe.
Those attending Wednesday’s informational session had questions about health hazards and demanded more transparency from Norfolk Southern, which did not attend, citing concerns about its staff safety.
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Many who had waited in a long line snaking outside the high school gymnasium came away upset that they didn’t hear anything new. Some booed or laughed each time they heard the village mayor or state health director assure them that lingering odors from the huge plumes of smoke aren’t dangerous.
“They just danced around the questions a lot,” said Danielle Deal, who lives a few miles from the derailment site. “Norfolk needed to be here.”
“Why are they being hush-hush?” Dyke said of the railroad. “They’re not out here supporting, they’re not out here answering questions. For three days we didn’t even know what was on the train.”
Norfolk Southern announced this week that it is creating a $1 million fund to help the community while continuing to remove spilled contaminants from the ground and streams and monitoring air quality.
“We are here and will stay here for as long as it takes to ensure your safety and to help East Palestine recover and thrive,” Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw said in a letter to the community.
Families who evacuated said they want assistance figuring out how to get the promised financial help. Beyond that, they want to know whether the railroad will be held responsible.
State and federal officials have promised to make sure Norfolk Southern not only pays for the cleanup but also reimburses residents.
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At least five lawsuits have been filed against the railroad.
The White House said Thursday that teams from the federal health and emergency response and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will go to East Palestine.
“We understand the residents are concerned -- as they should be -- and they have questions. That’s all understandable,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “And we’re going to get to the bottom of this.”
No one was injured when about 50 cars derailed in a fiery, mangled mess on the outskirts of East Palestine on Feb. 3. Officials seeking to avoid an uncontrolled blast evacuated the area and opted to release and burn toxic vinyl chloride from five rail cars, sending flames and black smoke billowing into the sky again.
The Ohio EPA said the latest tests show five wells supplying the village’s drinking water are free from contaminants.
At least 3,500 fish, mostly small ones such as minnows and darters, have been found dead along more than 7 miles of streams, according to estimates from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Precautions are being taken to ensure contaminants that reached the Ohio River don’t make it into drinking water, officials said.
There have been anecdotal reports that pets or livestock have been sickened. No related animal deaths have been confirmed and the risk to livestock is low, Ohio officials said, but the state Agriculture Department is testing samples from a beef calf that died a week after the derailment.
The suspected cause of the derailment is a mechanical issue with a rail car axle. The National Transportation Safety Board said it has video appearing to show a wheel bearing overheating just beforehand. The NTSB expects to issue its preliminary report in about two weeks.
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NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — A recent survey asked families which hidden beaches they want to visit most this summer, and more than a dozen states made the list.
Familydestinationguide.com surveyed 3,000 adults in the United States across ages, genders, and geography. It’s no surprise that a Hawaii beach took the top spot – as well as two other spots in the top 10.
Florida and California, with their massive coastlines, were also well represented.
Further down the list, inland states were even recognized for their hidden spots. Oklahoma, Iowa, Vermont and Tennessee aren’t exactly known as beach destinations, but – according to survey respondents – all have idyllic lakeside beaches worth a visit.
The top 25 “secret beaches,” according to the poll, are:
- Hawaii – Awahua Beach
- Florida – Shell Key Preserve
- Hawaii – Lanikai Beach
- Hawaii – Kauapea Beach
- New Jersey – Sedge Island
- Florida – Lovers Key State Park
- California – Salt Creek Beach
- California – Wildcat Beach
- Florida – Dry Tortugas National Park
- Florida – Boneyard Beach
- Hawaii – Gray’s Beach
- California – Hollywood Beach
- Florida – Navarre Beach
- Hawaii – Pa’ako Cove
- Virginia – Sandbridge Beach
- Texas – San Jose Island
- Florida – Crescent Beach
- South Carolina – Kiawah Island
- New York – Amsterdam Beach Preserve
- Alaska – Lowell Point Beach
- California – Enderts Beach
- California – Bowling Ball Beach
- Florida – Caladesi Island
- Georgia – Driftwood Beach
- California – Gray Whale Cove Beach
The survey resulted in a full list of 100 “secret” beaches. (You can read more here.)
The survey results come around the same time as the university professor known as “Dr. Beach” revealed his list of 2023 favorites. This year’s top 10 list marks the 33rd year Stephen Leatherman, professor in the Department of Earth & Environment at Florida International University, has rated the best of America’s 650 public beaches.
A 9-mile stretch of Florida sugar-white sand on St. George Island is the nation’s best beach for 2023, according to the annual ranking.
Leatherman uses 50 criteria to evaluate beaches including sand type, wave action, whether lifeguards are present, presence of wildlife, the level of development and crowding, and many other factors. Extra credit is given to beaches that forbid cigarette smoking, mainly because of the need to prevent discarded butts. None were seen during a recent visit to St. George Island, he said.
The rest of Dr. Beach’s top 10 choices are:
- St. George Island State Park, Florida Panhandle
- Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
- Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
- Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
- Lighthouse Beach, Buxton, Outer Banks of North Carolina
- Coronado Beach, San Diego
- Wailea Beach, Maui, Hawaii
- Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
- Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
- Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/survey-reveals-best-secret-beaches-in-us/ | 2023-05-21 17:40:37 | 1 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/survey-reveals-best-secret-beaches-in-us/ |
Solutions extend from the components and devices needed to build new equipment to those engineered to maintain and improve the quality, efficiency, scalability, safety, and sustainability of existing equipment and processes. Leading suppliers include Southwire, Endress+Hauser, SKF, and Kimberly-Clark Professional.
FORT WORTH, Texas, March 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RS (formerly Allied Electronics & Automation), a trading brand of RS Group plc (LSE: RS1), a global omni-channel provider of industrial product and service solutions, currently offers more than 78,000 ready-to-ship products designed to provide end-to-end support for an extensive range of food & beverage industry applications.
The food & beverage industry is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the U.S. economy, accounting for over 4% of national GDP with an estimated value of $1.5 trillion. RS has a robust food & beverage product portfolio that supports applications extending from the production of equipment used to produce food & beverage products, ranging from industrial mixers to commercial ovens and packaging equipment, to the production of consumable food & beverage products and the equipment used to serve them, including commercial toasters and frozen drink machines.
Solutions extend from the components and devices needed to build new equipment to those engineered to maintain and improve the quality, efficiency, scalability, safety, and sustainability of existing equipment and processes. Well-represented product categories include factory automation & control solutions, process automation & control solutions, preventative and facilities maintenance solutions, and material handling & packaging solutions.
Factory automation & control solutions support the physical movement of food & beverage products throughout production processes and include motors and motor controls, hydraulics & pneumatics, mechanical power transmission products, sensors, wire & cable, and fans and thermal management solutions. Leading suppliers in this product category include Southwire, whose complete range of NFPA 79-compliant wire is available through RS and backed by more than 70 years of experience. These wires feature copper conductors, thermoset insulation, and a metallic shield with a robust industrial-grade jacket optimized for high performance in harsh environments. They also have a high strand count for improved flexibility, especially in constrained spaces, and a dual voltage rating for machine flexibility.
Process automation & control solutions include temperature and level sensors, industrial controls, PLCs and HMIs, and enclosures and are often ruggedized for use in environments exposed to hazards such as chemicals, washdowns, and extreme temperatures. Leading suppliers in this product category include Endress+Hauser, whose compact Soliphant FTM20 and Liquiphant FTL31 point level limit switches offer broad application suitability. Soliphant FTM20 switches are engineered for use with fine- and coarse-grained, non-fluidized bulk solids, including cereals, flour, cocoa, sugar, animal feed, dye powder, and chalk, and are available in various designs suitable for use in environments with dust and gas hazards. Liquiphant FTL31 point level limit switches are engineered for overfill prevention and pump dry-run protection, offer IO-Link capabilities, and are widely used in cleaning systems in the machine industry.
Preventative and facilities maintenance solutions help manufacturers boost productivity, protect employees and equipment, and avoid downtime. Solutions include lubricants, maintenance chemicals, PPE, tools & hardware, handheld test & measurement devices, vibration and temperature sensors, and replacement components for modular solutions extending from wire and cable to PLCs, HMIs, and mechanical power transmission products. Leading suppliers in this product category include SKF and Kimberly-Clark Professional. SKF offers a highly configurable line of Food Line ball bearings, which provide relubrication-free solutions in most wet, abrasive, and contaminating environments, and high-quality, food-grade grease essential to maintaining food & beverage manufacturing and service equipment and available in manual and automated dispensers. Kimberly-Clark Professional offers a world-class line of trusted facilities maintenance products extending from PPE, such as shoe covers, safety glasses, and gloves, to wipes, gloves, and shop towels.
Together, these solutions help food & beverage industry manufacturers comply with strict food safety and hygiene regulations and improve operational efficiency, employee and equipment safety, and even sustainability by enabling reduced energy consumption, food waste, and equipment downtime.
The depth and breadth of the RS food & beverage product portfolio, combined with its more than 78,000 in-stock and ready-to-ship solutions and its highly experienced technical support team, is well positioned to support suppliers through the concept, design, build, and maintenance stages and help them overcome challenges ranging from retrofitting legacy equipment to implementing IIoT networks and future-proofing maintenance processes.
For more information about the end-to-end solutions RS offers for food & beverage industry applications, including relevant automation & control and preventative and facilities maintenance content from the RS Expert Advice series of thought leadership articles, interviews, and podcasts, please click the links embedded here. For assistance identifying and deploying food & beverage industry solutions optimized to overcome your unique challenges and achieve your goals, please contact your local RS representative at 1.866.433.5722 or reach out to our technical support team.
In the Americas region, RS (formerly Allied Electronics & Automation) stocks more than 230,000 industrial and electronic products from more than 650 trusted suppliers. These solutions cover categories extending from automation and control equipment to interconnect, passive, active, and electromechanical components and include more than 80,000 high-quality, competitively priced RS PRO products. For more information, please visit https://us.rs-online.com or connect with us via social media on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
RS Group plc is a leading global omni-channel industrial product and service solutions provider to customers who are involved in designing, building, and maintaining industrial equipment and operations, safely and sustainably. We stock more than 700,000 industrial and electronic products, sourced from over 2,500 leading suppliers, and provide a wide range of product and service solutions to over 1.2 million customers. With operations in 32 countries, we trade through multiple channels and ship over 60,000 parcels a day.
We support customers across the product life cycle, whether via innovation and technical support at the design phase, improving time to market and productivity at the build phase, or reducing purchasing costs and optimizing inventory in the maintenance phase. We offer our customers tailored product and service propositions that are essential for the successful operation of their businesses and help them save time and money.
RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1, and in the year ended 31 March 2022, reported revenue of £2,554 million.
For more information, please visit https://www.rsgroup.com/ or connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter.
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SOURCE RS | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/03/14/rs-offers-an-extensive-range-end-to-end-solutions-food-amp-beverage-industry/ | 2023-03-14 17:18:34 | 0 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/03/14/rs-offers-an-extensive-range-end-to-end-solutions-food-amp-beverage-industry/ |
SHELBYVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A restaurant created by KFC founder Harland Sanders for his wife decades ago is for sale.
Claudia Sanders Dinner House in Shelbyville, Kentucky, hit the market this week, news outlets reported, citing a statement from the listing agents describing the nearly 25,000-square-foot restaurant and banquet hall.
The sale of the 3-acre property is being handled by Six Degrees Real Estate and includes the trademark and likeness of the Claudia Sanders name as well as memorabilia from the Sanders family. Also included is a 5,000-square-foot residence where Harland and Claudia Sanders lived for more than 20 years.
The Claudia Sanders Dinner House opened in 1959 and also served as the first KFC headquarters, but was sold to a local couple years ago.
The listing does not include a sale price. Listing agent Morgan Hancock said that potential buyers will have to sign a non-disclosure agreement and show proof of at least $5 million cash on hand.
“The restaurant has only been owned by the Sanders and their close friends, the Settles,” Hancock said in the statement. “The Settles are now committed to finding the next caretaker of this historic brand that will not only fight to maintain its legacy, employees and staple dishes here in this community, but potentially expand the Claudia Sanders brand nationwide.” | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/weird/kentucky-restaurant-created-by-kfc-founder-for-sale/ | 2022-06-18 00:48:05 | 1 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/weird/kentucky-restaurant-created-by-kfc-founder-for-sale/ |
Michael A. Taylor Player Prop Bets: Twins vs. Orioles - July 8
Published: Jul. 8, 2023 at 12:23 PM CDT|Updated: 55 minutes ago
Michael A. Taylor -- .138 average over his past 10 games -- will be in action for the Minnesota Twins versus the Baltimore Orioles, with Tyler Wells on the hill, on July 8 at 2:10 PM ET.
In his last game he had a hitless showing (0-for-2) against the Orioles.
Michael A. Taylor Game Info & Props vs. the Orioles
- Game Day: Saturday, July 8, 2023
- Game Time: 2:10 PM ET
- Stadium: Target Field
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
- Orioles Starter: Tyler Wells
- TV Channel: BSN
- Hits Prop: Over/under 0.5 hits (Over odds: -128)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 home runs (Over odds: +525)
- RBI Prop: Over/under 0.5 RBI (Over odds: +260)
- Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 runs (Over odds: +165)
Looking to place a prop bet on Michael A. Taylor? Check out what's available at BetMGM and use bonus code "GNPLAY" when you sign up with this link!
Read More About This Game
Michael A. Taylor At The Plate
- Taylor has 11 doubles, 10 home runs and 11 walks while batting .207.
- Taylor has picked up a hit in 37 of 74 games this season, with multiple hits eight times.
- He has hit a long ball in 12.2% of his games this season, and 4.2% of his trips to the dish.
- In 17 games this year (23.0%), Taylor has picked up an RBI, and in seven of those games (9.5%) he had more than one. He has also driven in three or more of his team's runs in two contests.
- He has scored at least once 21 times this year (28.4%), including three games with multiple runs (4.1%).
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Michael A. Taylor Home/Away Batting Splits
Orioles Pitching Rankings
- The 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings compiled by the Orioles pitching staff ranks seventh in the league.
- The Orioles' 4.20 team ERA ranks 16th across all league pitching staffs.
- The Orioles rank 19th in baseball in home runs surrendered (106 total, 1.2 per game).
- Wells (6-4) gets the starting nod for the Orioles in his 17th start of the season. He's put together a 3.19 ERA in 98 2/3 innings pitched, with 99 strikeouts.
- In his most recent time out on Monday, the right-hander tossed six innings against the New York Yankees, giving up two earned runs while surrendering five hits.
- Among qualifying pitchers in MLB action this season, the 28-year-old ranks 16th in ERA (3.19), first in WHIP (.902), and 29th in K/9 (9).
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/sports/betting/2023/07/08/michael-a-taylor-mlb-player-prop-bets/ | 2023-07-08 18:19:54 | 0 | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/sports/betting/2023/07/08/michael-a-taylor-mlb-player-prop-bets/ |
Officials search for missing Junction City woman after disappearance reported
Published: May. 24, 2023 at 6:19 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (WIBW) - Officials have opened an investigation into a Junction City woman’s disappearance after she was reported missing.
The Junction City Police Department announced on Tuesday, May 23, that it has opened an investigation into the disappearance of Wilona Gouveia Torres.
Officials noted that Torres was last seen leaving 1616 Clover Dr. around noon on Tuesday and has not been seen since. She was wearing a burgundy shirt, blue capris and rainbow-colored slides.
JCPD described Torres as a 5-foot-2, 125 lb. Hispanic female with black hair and brown eyes.
If anyone sees Torres or knows where she may be, they should report that information to JCPD at 785-762-5912.
Copyright 2023 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2023/05/24/officials-search-missing-junction-city-woman-after-disappearance-reported/ | 2023-05-24 12:44:01 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/2023/05/24/officials-search-missing-junction-city-woman-after-disappearance-reported/ |
MINNEAPOLIS -- Brian Daboll kept talking about missed opportunities and he swore he wasn’t even aware of the biggest one of them all.
The Giants coach did not realize that a Christmas Eve win over the Minnesota Vikings would have vaulted his team into the playoffs for the first time since 2016 because the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks had both lost.
He was fully cognizant, however, that his team had left way too many points on the field.
That’s why he had no warm, fuzzy feelings about his team even after the Giants showed plenty of pluck before falling to the 12-3 Vikings 27-24 on a 61-yard field goal by Greg Joseph as time expired.
“No, you never feel good after a loss,” Daboll said after the Giants slipped to 8-6-1 with two games remaining. “To be in the game at the end of the game, the guys were resilient, but you can’t have those mistakes. A fumble took away three points, an interception took away three points -- that’s the minimum number -- and then we gave the ball back to them near our end zone.”
The Vikings scored a touchdown to go up by eight points after the last of those gaffes, a blocked punt that led to 17-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to Justin Jefferson. That score came with three minutes remaining and it looked like it might be the end for the Giants.
Instead, they went 75 yards in 59 seconds with Saquon Barkley capping things off with a 27-yard run on a fourth-and-two play. They tied it when Daniel Jones found Daniel Bellinger in the back of the end zone for a two-point conversion.
That left the Vikings 121 seconds to get into field-goal range and they did so when Cousins, one play after being sacked by Landon Collins, connected with Jefferson for 17 yards and a first down at the Giants 42-yard line. A quick spike by Cousins left four seconds on the clock and a long field goal by Joseph left the Giants feeling sick about the outcome.
“We went up against possibly the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the NFC and we just have to lock in better on the little details, keep ourselves away from the self-inflicted wounds and learn from them,” Barkley said. “I think that it is important we learn from what we did against a really good team and use that for momentum for the rest of the season, especially against Indianapolis.”
The Giants should have learned two things from their Christmas Eve defeat.
One is that they are capable of beating a team that they might see again in three weeks if they can win one of their final two games of the season. At the moment, the Giants would be the sixth seed and be playing at San Francisco, which probably would be a tougher opponent than the Vikings.
Outside linebacker Jihad Ward has said several times this season that he believes the Giants can beat anybody in the league. It’s open for debate whether that’s true, but given what we witnessed in US Bank Stadium, they certainly have enough firepower and will power to hang with the defensively challenged Vikings.
Jones was exceptional most of the game, completing 30 of 42 passes for 334 yards and running four times for 34 yards, but he made e a costly fourth-quarter mistake. With the Giants down 17-13, the quarterback tried to connect with Isaiah Hodgins inside the Minnesota 20-yard line. Instead the pass was intercepted by Patrick Peterson and a chance for the Giants to pull within one or even take the lead had vanished.
“It was just a bad throw,” Jones said. “I threw it behind him. I have to give him a better ball than that.”
It was only Jones’ fifth interception of the season, but the fourth quarter is the time when great quarterbacks make their everlasting impressions. Daboll was reluctant to offer any glowing review of his quarterback.
“I thought he did some good things,” was the only praise Daboll could muster for Jones. “Look, all of us didn’t do enough to win the game.”
Barkley was also good for a second straight week after enduring a four-game slump. He ran for 84 yards on 14 carries and caught eight passes for 49 yards.
It’s often mentioned that Jones doesn’t have great receivers, but a trio of guys had big days against the Vikings’ 32nd-ranked defense. Richie James caught eight passes for 90 yards. Hodgins caught eight passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. Darius Slayton had four catches for 79 yards.
The Giants finished with a season-high 445 yards of offense.
If ever there was a week that the Giants should have ended their inexplicable streak of not being able to score 30 points, this was it. Instead, that streak reached 43 games and, worse, they lost a game they could have won.
James, for all the good he did, also dropped a pass that forced the Giants to settle for a 55-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
Bellinger was stripped of the football at the Minnesota 23-yard line on the first play of the second quarter, which cost the Giants at least three points and maybe seven.
Defensively, the Giants had some terrific moments, too, against a high-powered offense. They sacked Cousins four times and came up with a huge stop after Jones’ interception. But on the final series, they yielded just enough yards to give Joseph a chance to be the kicker who stole a game on Christmas Eve.
“Obviously, the kick at the end was tough,” Jones said.
The Giants, for all the good they had done, had also made too many mistakes to beat a team as talented as the Vikings.
“That’s not just a lesson against a team like this,” Barkley said. “That’s just football. We made more mistakes than them. The majority of times ... you’re going to lose those games. Even with that being said, you saw the fight, the heart from this team. We found a way for the defense to make a stop and we found a way for the offense to go down and score a touchdown and then get a two-point conversion. But at the end of the day they made more plays than us. They’re a really good team. We have to learn from it and get ready for Indianapolis.”
The playoffs remain well within the Giants’ reach even though Christmas Eve 2022 will always be remembered as the afternoon they let too many opportunities slip away
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Bob Brookover can be reached at rbrookover@njadvancemedia.com. | https://www.nj.com/giants/2022/12/giants-many-mistakes-against-vikings-result-in-missed-chance-to-make-playoffs.html | 2022-12-25 01:48:36 | 1 | https://www.nj.com/giants/2022/12/giants-many-mistakes-against-vikings-result-in-missed-chance-to-make-playoffs.html |
Biden boosts US effort to stem sexual violence in war zones
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is strengthening U.S. policy aimed at stemming sexual violence in war conflict zones, elevating the problem — increasingly documented in Ukraine and elsewhere — to the level of a possible serious human rights abuse that triggers sanctions and other actions against foreign perpetrators.
Biden, a Democrat, on Monday will sign a presidential memorandum that seeks to combat the use of rape by both foreign governments and individuals as a weapon of war, according to a senior administration official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the decision ahead of the announcement.
The memorandum directs for the first time that the State and Treasury departments and other agencies give equal consideration of acts of sexual violence to other serious human rights abuses in leveraging sanctions and other punishment against foreign actors and to respond to the full extent possible, the official said.
Currently, U.S. policy allows for the imposition of sanctions for conflict-related sexual violence, but it is not commonly used.
Biden’s action comes when the United Nations has warned that sexual violence in Ukraine, especially against women and girls, remains prevalent and underreported. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield has previously cited “a mountain of credible reports of atrocities committed by Russia’s forces against civilians,” including “horrific accounts of sexual violence.”
The Biden administration on Monday pointed to a proliferation of sexual violence cases in Ukraine, Ethiopia and elsewhere. It cited a U.N. report that found 3,293 verified sexual violence cases in 2021 across 18 countries, an increase of about 800 compared with the previous year. The U.N. has estimated that for each rape reported in connection with a conflict, about 10 to 20 cases go undocumented.
The administration had previously pledged $400,000 in addition to its annual contribution of $1.75 million to the Office of the U.N. Special Representative to the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. The State Department plans an added investment of $5.5 million over the next two years to civil society projects and survivor groups seeking sexual violence accountability and will expand programs to help survivors and investigate and document acts of such violence.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/11/28/biden-boosts-us-effort-stem-sexual-violence-war-zones/ | 2022-11-28 13:47:47 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/11/28/biden-boosts-us-effort-stem-sexual-violence-war-zones/ |
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democrats celebrated winning what was billed as North Carolina’s lone toss-up race for the U.S. House this month, as state Sen. Wiley Nickel’s narrow victory over Republican Bo Hines in the 13th Congressional District helped weaken any national GOP midterm wave.
Nickel’s win creates a 7-7 split in the state’s delegation, marking the best showing for state Democrats after a decade of trailing the GOP in an otherwise closely divided state. Trial judges drew the latest district boundaries after redistricting litigation successfully blocked maps passed by the Republican-controlled legislature that could have whittled Democrats down to four seats.
“We’re a 50-50 state — we should have a 7-to-7 delegation,” Nickel told The Associated Press this week during a break in his congressional orientation in Washington. “When we have fair maps, we get fair results that reflect the choice of the voters.”
But there’s a good chance Nickel’s Raleigh-area district and others will be dramatically altered for the 2024 elections, returning the advantage to Republicans.
A confluence of events opens the door for General Assembly Republicans to pass their preferred congressional map in 2023 and have it used the following year. A new GOP majority on the state Supreme Court likely will be more skeptical of legal challenges that allege excessive partisanship.
“Seven-seven does not reflect the will of the voters in North Carolina,” House Speaker Tim Moore told reporters the day after the election. “So it should be something different. I don’t know what that is. But at the end of the day … let’s trust the voters of this state.”
Republicans hold eight of the state’s 13 U.S. House districts through the year’s end. Population growth gave North Carolina a 14th seat with the November election.
GOP legislators vehemently opposed a split opinion by the state Supreme Court last winter that struck down a more favorable map for their party by declaring the state constitution prohibited partisan gerrymandering of boundaries.
State law required the judge-drawn map be used only for this year’s races. Republicans will continue to have majorities in the state House and Senate next year comfortable enough to pass their favored map. Redistricting plans are not subject to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto stamp.
Most importantly, Republicans will have a 5-2 majority on the Supreme Court come January with victories by Trey Allen and Richard Dietz for seats currently held by registered Democrats.
The current 4-3 Democratic majority ruled that congressional and legislative maps approved by the General Assembly in November 2021 unlawfully gave Republicans outsized favoritism compared with Democrats. The three Republican justices who dissented wrote that the constitution doesn’t expressly bar or limit partisan advantage in mapmaking.
The arrival of two more GOP justices makes it more likely — but not assured — that the court would uphold a future congressional map by the legislature while rejecting last year’s landmark ruling that defined illegal partisan gerrymandering.
Senate leader Phil Berger said he expected the state would now move away from what he called the “judicial gerrymander” to “what would be, I think, a different drawing of the congressional maps.”
It’s too soon to say what the next congressional lines will look like. Plans approved by the legislature but never implemented would have positioned Republicans to win 10 of the state’s 14 congressional seats.
Michael Bitzer, a political science professor at Catawba College in Salisbury, said Nickel would be a likely target for Republican lawmakers to place in a more GOP-friendly district.
Democratic state Sen. Jeff Jackson, who won the newly created 14th District seat covering portions of Mecklenburg and Gaston counties, and 6th District Democratic Rep. Kathy Manning of Greensboro, who won her third term, are also vulnerable, Bitzer said.
It’s possible the state Supreme Court shift could be moot. Litigation involving the congressional map is before the U.S. Supreme Court and could result in state courts losing the ability to judge laws involving federal elections, including seat boundaries. Oral arguments are scheduled for next month in the case, in which lawyers for Berger and Moore argue the U.S. Constitution delegates “the Times, Places and Manner” of congressional elections solely to state legislatures.
“Even if they’re unsuccessful in the U.S. Supreme Court, they now have a state Supreme Court that is most likely to be deferential to whatever the legislature comes up with, excusing any precedent” reached by the state justices, Bitzer said.
An analysis by Bitzer of federal statewide contests in North Carolina since 2008 show Republican candidates winning nearly 51% of the cumulative votes compared with 47% for Democrats. But the idea that a political party should be assured of seats aligned with their percentage support at the ballot box over time was shunned by authors of the state Supreme Court’s prevailing and dissenting opinions last February.
Nickel said he’s not worrying himself about what a future map looks like.
“We’ve got a huge opportunity to make some real bipartisan accomplishments in the next Congress, so that’s really the focus,” Nickel said. “At some point, they will draw new maps, but I’m optimistic that when that happens, we’ll have a seat we can run in.”
___
Schoenbaum is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/politics/ap-nc-democrats-parity-in-congress-delegation-may-be-fleeting/ | 2022-11-20 10:45:27 | 1 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/politics/ap-nc-democrats-parity-in-congress-delegation-may-be-fleeting/ |
As summer kicks into full force, top motivators for family travel include making memories and having fun
WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis., June 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the school year ends and the summer heat kicks in, now is the perfect time to start planning a family vacation. In fact, Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, home to America's Largest Indoor Waterparks, in collaboration with Market Intelligence firm, Mintel, recently conducted a travel research study to better understand families' behaviors, aspirations, needs and motivations. The study revealed that 62% of parents intend to take more summer vacations in 2023 compared to last year.
During summer, when the kids are out of school and the weather heats up, families are eager to make the most of their time together. In fact, two of the top motivators for taking family vacations include making memories (77%) and having fun (74%).
Additionally, over half of families (59%) are looking for a travel destination that has everything under one roof. At Kalahari Resorts, guests can simply park and stay; they never have to leave the resort to experience an array of activities. Kalahari offers a wide range of activities, including world-class dining, thrilling adventure parks, game rooms and more, ensuring that families of all ages will have something to enjoy. In fact, Kalahari Resorts was recently named Best Indoor Waterparks in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice awards.
Summer road trips are a beloved American tradition, and, if you prefer road trips, you're not alone. Nearly three-quarters of families prioritize choosing a travel destination that's within driving distance. Kalahari Resorts has convenient locations in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Sandusky, Ohio, Pocono Manor, Penn., and Round Rock, Texas, making the resorts easily accessible from dozens of major metropolitan areas. In just a short car ride, families can escape to a whole new world of excitement and relaxation.
Additionally, the study revealed that over half of families crave culinary experiences while traveling. Kalahari Resorts provides world-class dining at all four of its locations. Whether you're in the mood for modern Mexican cuisine, unique burgers with handcrafted milkshakes, premium cuts of meat or sushi, Kalahari offers a diverse range of options to satisfy every guest's palate.
Tim Arnold, Vice President of Operations at Kalahari Resorts, shared, "Whether it's a toddler riding their first waterslide or an annual family summer road trip vacation to enjoy both our indoor and outdoor waterparks, Kalahari is dedicated to creating family memories." Arnold continued, "Kalahari Resorts is committed to providing beyond-expectations experiences for every family that walks through our doors."
About Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, Sandusky, Ohio, Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania, and Round Rock, Texas, delivers a beyond-expectations waterpark resort and conference experience all under one roof. The authentically African-themed Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, privately owned by the Nelson family, home to America's Largest Indoor Waterparks. All Kalahari Resorts and Conventions feature well-appointed guest rooms, the full-service Spa Kalahari, a fun-filled family entertainment center, on-site signature restaurants, unique retail shops and a state-of-the-art convention center. To learn more about Kalahari, members of the media are encouraged to visit KalahariMedia.com.
About Mintel Mintel is the expert in what consumers want and why. As the world's leading market intelligence agency, our analysis of consumers, markets, new products and competitive landscapes provides a unique perspective on global and local economies. Since 1972, our predictive analytics and expert recommendations have enabled our clients to make better business decisions faster. Our purpose is to help people and businesses grow. To find out how we do that, visit mintel.com.
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SOURCE Kalahari Resorts and Conventions | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/06/29/recent-study-shows-families-expect-take-more-summer-vacations-this-year-than-last/ | 2023-06-29 15:03:13 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/06/29/recent-study-shows-families-expect-take-more-summer-vacations-this-year-than-last/ |
LANSING, Mich., March 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Celink, the nation's leading reverse mortgage subservicer, has received HousingWire's Tech100 Mortgage Award for its innovative technology platform and secure online borrower portal.
The Tech100 Mortgage Award recognizes companies that are revolutionizing the mortgage industry across all functions including origination, closing, secondary marketing, and servicing.
HousingWire highlighted Celink's focus on developing ground-breaking solutions for senior borrowers: "Celink has an intentional focus on delivering intuitive and powerful borrower-facing technology targeted to meet the specific needs of seniors. The (borrower) portal's self-service features have been designed with a senior audience in mind. Its intuitive layout, comfortable fonts, less cluttered pages, and explanation videos drive acceptance by seniors."
"We are extremely proud of this national recognition by HousingWire for the ongoing investments we've made into technology, which directly help our reverse mortgage clients and their borrowers, says Marion McDougall, Celink's CEO. "Celink's technology powers the industry's most unique mortgage product – reverse mortgages. Specifically, our borrower portal offers seniors 24/7 secure access to their loan information. It provides them with self-service options, such as the ability to draw funds or utilize eSign capabilities to empower seniors to seamlessly complete tasks that previously required manual intervention."
About Celink
Celink is the nation's leading subservicer of reverse mortgages for almost two decades and is the subservicer of choice for the nation's largest reverse mortgage lenders. With operations in both Austin, TX and Lansing, MI, Celink is a Ginnie Mae-approved Participation Agent and Subcontract Servicer for the HMBS program, a DBRS Morningstar approved servicer, as well as a Moody's approved servicer of reverse mortgages ("SQ2" rating). Celink utilizes an innovative servicing platform, ReverseServ Elite, which is fully scalable and supports numerous proprietary reverse mortgage products in addition to the HUD HECM program. For more information, visit www.celink.com.
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SOURCE Celink | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/03/06/celink-receives-housingwires-2023-tech100-mortgage-award/ | 2023-03-06 16:40:58 | 1 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/03/06/celink-receives-housingwires-2023-tech100-mortgage-award/ |
NEW YORK, Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Owl Rock, a division of Blue Owl Capital Inc. ("Blue Owl") (NYSE: OWL), today announced that certain of its funds have made an initial equity commitment to Amergin Asset Management ("Amergin"), a newly formed portfolio company created to invest in a leasing platform focused on railcar and aviation assets.
The capital will enable Amergin to build a diversified portfolio of assets, across rail and aviation. Amergin will be headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida and led by Mark McGreenery, a 35-year industry veteran who most recently served as the CEO of Infinity Transportation, a $2.2 billion AUM lessor of rail, aviation, and intermodal assets under the Global Atlantic umbrella. McGreenery was previously a Partner at Perella Weinberg where he was one of the key leaders for the Asset Based Value Fund from 2008-2016.
In addition, Amergin will be led by a senior management team made up of seasoned executives who previously worked with McGreenery and have over 100 years of combined experience.
"The transportation equipment leasing space is an attractive asset class, underpinned by long lived infrastructure-like assets that generate steady cash flows," said Craig Packer, co-founder of Blue Owl and the Chief Executive Officer of Owl Rock's business development companies. "With Mark and his experienced management team at the helm, Amergin has the opportunity to generate long duration, uncorrelated returns at scale. We are excited about the partnership and look forward to what he and the team will accomplish over the long run."
"We are excited to build this business with the investment from Owl Rock. This will enable Amergin to create a scaled portfolio of railcar and aircraft assets," said Mark McGreenery, CEO of Amergin. "Amergin's management team and I are excited to build a differentiated leasing platform that will drive real value for all our stakeholders."
About Owl Rock
Owl Rock, a division of Blue Owl Capital Inc. (NYSE: OWL), is a direct lending platform with approximately $44.8 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2022. Owl Rock's platform provides multiple investment funds with management services, including public and private business development companies and other products. Owl Rock's platform includes teams of seasoned investment professionals with significant and diverse experience from some of the world's leading investment firms and financial institutions. Owl Rock's platform embodies a relationship-oriented approach to investing seeking to provide companies with sizeable commitments to facilitate transactions and support their growth needs with certainty, speed and transparency throughout the entire investment process. For more information, please visit www.owlrockbdcs.com.
Investor Contact
Dana Sclafani
212-419-3000
owlrockir@blueowl.com
Media Contact
Prosek Partners
David Wells / Nick Theccanat
Pro-blueowl@prosek.com.
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SOURCE Owl Rock | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/owl-rock-announces-investment-amergin-asset-management/ | 2022-08-02 13:12:06 | 1 | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/owl-rock-announces-investment-amergin-asset-management/ |
- U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm got a first-hand look at high-power EV charger manufacturing in the United States
- ABB E-mobility's DC fast chargers made in Columbia, South Carolina are National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI)-ready and meet Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements
- ABB E-mobility operations are capable of producing up to 10,000 DC fast chargers in the United States per year
COLUMBIA, S.C., June 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm got a first-hand look at U.S. manufacturing of high-power EV chargers that are helping the U.S. meet its electrification and climate goals. Secretary Granholm visited ABB E-mobility's production operations as part of her "People Powered Summer Road Trip," accompanied by longtime U.S. Representative and current Assistant Democratic Leader, James E. Clyburn.
ABB E-mobility's DC fast chargers made in Columbia, South Carolina enable the transition to an e-mobility economy and support a number of transformational federal and state government policies and programs. Production began early this year and Terra 184 DC fast chargers produced in South Carolina have already been installed along American highways.
The state-of-the-art operations are another example of ABB E-mobility's leadership and commitment to a sustainable transportation future. ABB E-mobility's Terra 184 is one of the first Build America, Buy America compliant 150 kW+ DC fast chargers that also meet the NEVI program standards and requirements. ABB E-mobility's Terra DC Wallbox charger is used by school districts across the country and can support the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus program.
"ABB E-mobility has been a long-time leader in e-mobility and our commitment to enabling the U.S. transition to electric transportation has never been stronger," said Bob Stojanovic, Senior Vice President for ABB E-mobility in North America. "Our U.S. manufacturing operations support a growing e-mobility economy and ensures that the benefits of electric transportation reach all Americans, whether they are driving electric or producing the chargers that keep those cars moving,"
In order to quickly ramp up production to meet strong U.S. demand, ABB E-mobility worked with its global advanced manufacturing partner, Flex, to expand EV charging manufacturing operations. With Flex's portfolio of manufacturing services and expertise, ABB E-mobility was able to start U.S. production and delivery of 180 kW DC fast chargers at the start of 2023.
"Our collaboration with ABB E-mobility is built on our shared commitment to accelerating the future of electrification, including the adoption of clean energy technology and electric vehicles globally," said Chris Butler, president, Industrial Business, Flex. "We appreciate the continued trust ABB has placed in Flex to get their chargers to market faster, reliably and more sustainably in the U.S. with our advanced manufacturing capabilities and services."
About ABB E-mobility
ABB E-mobility is enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient mobility future as a global leader in electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions. ABB E-mobility is a partner of choice for the world's biggest EV OEMs and nationwide EV charging network operators. It offers the widest portfolio of EV charging solutions from smart chargers for the home to high-power chargers for the highway stations of the future, solutions for the electrification of fleets and charging for electric buses and trucks. With ~1,500 employees around the world, ABB E-mobility has sold more than one million EV chargers across more than 85 markets, including over 50,000 DC fast chargers. e-mobility.abb.com
For more information please contact:
ABB Media Relations
Phone: (919) 561-8639
Email: chris.shigas@us.abb.com
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SOURCE ABB E-mobility | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/06/28/us-secretary-energy-tours-abb-e-mobility-ev-charging-facility/ | 2023-06-28 18:34:54 | 0 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/06/28/us-secretary-energy-tours-abb-e-mobility-ev-charging-facility/ |
SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego Padres third base coach Matt Williams has colon cancer and will have surgery on Friday.
Mike Shildt, the former St. Louis Cardinals manager who is a senior adviser with the Padres, will fill in as third base coach beginning Thursday, when the most eagerly anticipated season in franchise history begins with a home game against the Colorado Rockies.
Williams, a five-time All-Star in a 17-year career spent mostly with the San Francisco Giants, said he was diagnosed about three weeks ago.
“I don’t have any symptoms, I don’t have any issues, but at this point it’s important that we get it out of there,” Williams said Wednesday.
Williams, 57, said initial scans show that the cancer hasn’t spread. “That’s a good thing, so we’ll see how it goes from here. … I’ll do what I can and fight as hard as I can to get back as quickly as possible.”
Williams played 10 seasons with San Francisco, one with Cleveland and six with Arizona, including 2001 when the Diamondbacks won the World Series. He won four Gold Glove Awards and four Silver Slugger Awards.
Williams managed the Washington Nationals for two seasons and was the NL Manager of the Year in 2014. He was manager Bob Melvin’s third base coach in Oakland in 2018-19 and joined Melvin’s Padres staff last season.
“I’ve been with Matt on five different teams, I’ve known him for over 35 years and he might be the toughest guy I’ve ever come across in baseball,” Melvin said. “I know in particular he’s going to give this the fiercest effort of his life and he’s going to beat it. Our players have been fully supportive of him. It’s hard being so close to somebody and knowing he has to deal with it but I know he is and I know he’s going to beat it.”
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.qcnews.com/sports/padres-3b-coach-williams-has-colon-cancer-surgery-friday/ | 2023-03-30 11:50:45 | 1 | https://www.qcnews.com/sports/padres-3b-coach-williams-has-colon-cancer-surgery-friday/ |
Women comprised less than half the head coaching positions and just over half of the assistant coaching spots for women’s college teams in the 2021-22 school year, according to a diversity study released Wednesday.
Women held just 42% of head coaching positions of women’s teams in NCAA Division I — a slight increase from the previous season — as well as 35.6% in Division II and 43.8% in Division III. For all three divisions combined, women filled 41.2% of head coaching positions and 50.3% of assistant coaching positions for women’s teams.
The annual report by the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) gave schools a “C” for overall racial and gender hiring practices. But TIDES director and report author Richard Lapchick called the representation of women coaches in women’s sports “the most depressing statistic that we report every year.”
“It doesn’t even make any sense to me, that nearly 60% of women’s teams are coached by men 50 years after the passage of Title IX,” Lapchick said, referring to the federal law best known for its role in gender equity in athletics and preventing sexual harassment on campuses.
A month earlier, a separate TIDES report showed that the number of women working as athletic directors at Football Bowl Subdivision programs dropped from 13 to 10 in 2022, with only six of them in Power Five conferences (Duke, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Washington).
From a racial hiring and employment standpoint for coaches, white people continue to fill the vast majority of head coaching positions at all levels.
But Wednesday’s report did note slight increases in the percentages of Black head coaches of men’s teams between the 2020-21 school year to the 2021-22 school year — 9.9% in Division I (up from 9%), 6.6% in Division II (up from 6.2%) and 6.3% in Division III (up from 5.9%).
White people hold 84.1% of the men’s head coaching positions in Division I, 85.2% in Division II and 89% in Division III. For women’s teams, it’s 80.6% white head coaches in Division I, 84.5% in Division II and 88.1% in Division III. Those figures represent slight decreases in all three divisions for both men’s and women’s teams.
In all three divisions, white people made up 70.6% of the men’s basketball head coaches, 86.8% of the football head coaches and 92.8% of the baseball head coaches.
Lapchick noted that the lack of racial and gender diversity within the athletic director ranks could play a part in the lack of diversity among coaches overall, since athletic directors do much of the hiring.
“I’m not saying they’re all racist or sexist,” Lapchick said. “I’m just saying that the likelihood is they’re going to continue to move within the circles that they’ve moved in, and that’s overwhelmingly going to be white men.”
Almost 25% of Division I men’s basketball head coaches were Black, up from 24.3% in 2020-21 but short of the record high of 25.2% in 2005-06. Black student-athletes made up 52.4% of the Division I men’s basketball rosters.
“An ideal goal … is to be representative of the student-athletes that are playing, or at least close to that,” Lapchick said. “We’re not close to that.”
TIDES gave the the NCAA’s national office a B-minus for racial diversity and an A-plus for gender diversity in senior leadership and professional positions.
“Our marks are reflective of an intentional effort to develop an inclusive culture that recognizes and values organizational excellence,” said Felicia Martin, the NCAA senior vice president of inclusion, education and community engagement. “By now, the importance of diversity in leadership is clear. When organizations embrace diversity, equity and inclusion, the data supports better company culture.”
Lapchick said the next step is to get NCAA member schools to have a similar level of diversity as the national office.
“It’s a parallel to pro sports, where the league offices all do well, and then with the individual teams, the grades go down pretty dramatically,” Lapchick said. “If the schools follow the national office’s hiring practices, we’d have much more diverse leadership positions, including coaches, at the college level.”
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/sports/ap-sports/study-most-womens-ncaa-teams-are-still-coached-by-men/ | 2023-03-22 19:55:02 | 1 | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/sports/ap-sports/study-most-womens-ncaa-teams-are-still-coached-by-men/ |
Oil-rich Texas produces more wind power and, soon, more solar power than anywhere else in the country. Now state lawmakers want to cut renewable power off at the knees.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Oil-rich Texas produces more wind power and, soon, more solar power than anywhere else in the country. Now state lawmakers want to cut renewable power off at the knees.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-05-14/texas-is-a-leader-in-renewable-energy-local-politicians-want-to-change-that | 2023-05-14 12:40:17 | 0 | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-05-14/texas-is-a-leader-in-renewable-energy-local-politicians-want-to-change-that |
Amazon is ordering thousands of its workers back to the office for at least three days per week, according to a company memo by CEO Andy Jassy on Friday.
The move, which takes effect May 1, marks an end to the remote- or hybrid-friendly policy that had been in place at Amazon previously. It also comes a month after Amazon confirmed plans to lay off more than 18,000 workers amid broader uncertainty in the economy.
In defending the policy change, Jassy argued that in-person work would lead to better collaboration and company culture.
"It's not simple to bring many thousands of employees back to our offices around the world, so we're going to give the teams that need to do that work some time to develop a plan," Jassy wrote in the memo. "We know that it won't be perfect at first, but the office experience will steadily improve over the coming months (and years) as our real estate and facilities teams smooth out the wrinkles, and ultimately keep evolving how we want our offices to be set up to capture the new ways we want to work."
Jassy also said the in-person requirements would give a boost to the local economies where Amazon's offices are located, calling out the company's "urban headquarter locations in the Puget Sound, Virginia, Nashville and the dozens of cities around the world where our employees go to the office."
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™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.abc12.com/news/business/amazon-requiring-office-workers-to-show-up-at-least-3-days-a-week/article_fa2d4c8f-988d-590c-a38b-ff7d37f68167.html | 2023-02-17 21:39:22 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/business/amazon-requiring-office-workers-to-show-up-at-least-3-days-a-week/article_fa2d4c8f-988d-590c-a38b-ff7d37f68167.html |
Authorities are searching for the four jihadist prison escapeesImage: Sia Kambou/AFP/Getty Images
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Mauritania: Four jihadists escape after jail break
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Authorities are searching for a group of "terrorists" who escaped prison. Mauritania has largely been unscathed by the Islamist terrorism that has affected its neighbors in the Sahel region.
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Four jihadist prisoners escaped from prison in Mauritania's capital Nouakchott on Sunday night, killing two guards in the process.
Two other guards were wounded during a gunfight that ensued, authorities said on Monday.
"The National Guard has tightened its control over the prison and immediately started tracking down the fugitives in order to arrest them as soon as possible," Mauritania's Interior Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry described the escapees as "terrorists" but did not provide any further information.
A military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the AFP news agency that two of the escapees had been sentenced to death, while the other two were awaiting trial for membership in a terrorist organization.
Documents produced by the US government in 2011 suggested the existence a secret non-aggression pact between Mauritania and Islamist groups, but the government in Nouakchott has denied this. | https://www.dw.com/en/mauritania-four-jihadists-escape-after-jail-break/a-64898900 | 2023-03-06 13:08:01 | 0 | https://www.dw.com/en/mauritania-four-jihadists-escape-after-jail-break/a-64898900 |
HOUSTON — Police are investigating a fiery crash that left at least one person dead in north Houston, according to the Houston Police Department.
This happened around 3:45 a.m. on West Dyna Drive near Airline Drive.
Houston police said the driver appears to have lost control of their pickup truck and crashed into a tree and then into a fence and METRO bus stop.
No word on why the driver lost control of the truck or if anyone else was injured in the crash. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/crime/truck-crashes-into-bus-stop/285-36fefac4-e3a7-4fed-811d-d66a48d11377 | 2022-10-22 22:08:37 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/crime/truck-crashes-into-bus-stop/285-36fefac4-e3a7-4fed-811d-d66a48d11377 |
After the trade deadline in August, when Mike Elias, the Orioles’ executive vice president and general manager, said “it’s liftoff from here” and suggested significant free-agent additions were possible, he set lofty expectations for what Baltimore might accomplish in the offseason.
The start of spring training Wednesday brings an end to the Orioles’ winter, and given the external hopes about what it could have looked like, it was largely disappointing. But that doesn’t mean the same will be true of their 2023 season.
Baltimore’s offseason moves did little to boost its potential but did shore up weak spots of a team that returns most of last year’s players, a group that surprisingly contended for an American League playoff spot until the final week of the regular season. With a wave of talent coming behind a group who established themselves as building blocks during the organization’s rebuild, both players and organizational leaders have been clear their goal for 2023 is for the Orioles to make their first playoff appearance in seven years.
“We have a really good group of guys,” said catcher Adley Rutschman, the most prominent of the team’s young stars. “Everyone’s a year older now, and I’m really excited to see what we can do. I know the guys on this team are just of high character, and we come together well, and I’m really excited to see what we’ve got.”
Barring injuries and further additions, 20 of the Orioles’ 26 opening day roster spots figure to go to players who took part in last year’s unexpected 83-79 campaign, a 31-game improvement from the previous season that left Baltimore as the best AL team not to reach the playoffs. Those players include Rutschman and infielder Gunnar Henderson, Elias’ first two draft picks with Baltimore who have both since become baseball’s top-ranked prospect.
This winter, the Orioles signed starting pitcher Kyle Gibson, second baseman Adam Frazier and relief pitcher Mychal Givens — who pitched for Baltimore from 2015 to 2020 — to contracts totaling $21 million in 2023 salary, nearly matching the amount the team’s payroll has increased since the start of last season. But none of the three appeared in either FanGraphs’ or MLB Trade Rumors’ rankings of the 50 best free agents available. Gibson ($10 million) and Frazier ($8 million) received the two largest free-agent contracts Elias has given out since becoming general manager in November 2018, but he has yet to commit to an outside player beyond one season.
For the first time in his tenure, though, the Orioles made trades in which they received the more experienced of a player-for-player swap, giving up one minor leaguer each to acquire catcher James McCann from the New York Mets and pitcher Cole Irvin and a pitching prospect from the Oakland Athletics.
But given the Orioles’ top-ranked farm system with depth in various areas, some thought the team could be more aggressive in the trade market and land more than a backup catcher and a durable-but-middling starter.
The PECOTA projection system, which uses players’ past performance to forecast future outcomes, has the Orioles’ expected record at about 74-88, last in the division and 12th of the 15 teams in the AL, and many sportsbooks also expect Baltimore to regress after last year′s breakout.
Earlier this month, Elias said the Orioles’ plan “includes growing the team over the next few years, managing our payroll, trying to get into contracts that make sense for the long haul.”
It echoed his December reiteration that “liftoff” — originally said after the team traded away fan favorite Trey Mancini and All-Star Jorge López amid a playoff race — was about the organization’s overall direction, not a reference to its plans for payroll.
“It’s something that I think a team like the Orioles in particular has to be careful about, so there’s lots that goes into it,” Elias said this month. “The bottom line is we want to do the best that we can in our situation.”
It’s unclear how much financial flexibility Elias truly had this offseason, one that also was rocky from an ownership perspective.
In the past month, Orioles Chairman and CEO John Angelos resolved his monthslong legal dispute with his brother, cited Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a reason not to answer a question about his family’s future owning the team, failed to follow through on an offer to reporters to “show you the financials of the Orioles,” and declined an option to extend the team’s lease at Camden Yards by five years, meaning it will expire at the end of this year.
Next month, the New York Court of Appeals will hear arguments in the ongoing legal dispute between the Orioles and Washington Nationals regarding the Nationals’ claim to about $100 million in rights fees from the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, which broadcasts both teams’ games and of which Angelos is also the CEO.
The Orioles’ roster moves leave the club’s payroll at nearly $65 million, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. That represents an increase of almost 50% on the league-worst figure they opened 2022 with, but it’s still the second-lowest of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams and more than $110 million behind three of their four AL East opponents and $280 million below the league-leading Mets.
Yet, a key reason for Baltimore’s low payroll is the team’s youth. Along with Rutschman, Henderson and Grayson Rodriguez, the team’s prized pitching prospect expected to debut this season, the Orioles could have former top prospects DL Hall, Kyle Bradish, Kyle Stowers and Terrin Vavra play their first full seasons after they made their debuts in 2022.
Right-handers Dean Kremer and Dillon Tate, the only players still with the Orioles of those they acquired in trading away All-Stars Manny Machado and Zack Britton in 2018, should occupy important spots in the rotation and bullpen, respectively.
First baseman Ryan Mountcastle and outfielders Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander and Austin Hays are likely to account for nearly half of manager Brandon Hyde’s opening day lineup March 30 in Boston.
Players other organizations cast aside, including pitchers Félix Bautista, Tyler Wells, Austin Voth, Cionel Pérez and Bryan Baker and infielders Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo, could all have significant roles in the Orioles’ plans to contend after exceeding expectations in 2022.
“The competition we have in camp is something we haven’t had here, just from how athletic and the skill level of our guys,” said Hyde, who is entering his fifth year with Baltimore a season removed from being runner-up for the AL Manager of the Year award. “It’s a great mix right now.”
More talent is on the way. Eleven players in the organization have appeared on at least one publication’s list of baseball’s top 100 prospects, and seven of them ended last year in Triple-A or the majors.
When Elias took over baseball operations, the Orioles’ farm system was viewed as one of the sport’s worst, but it’s consistently been regarded among its best in recent years.
“It’s really made a 180, and it’s for the better,” said Hall, the organization’s first-round pick in 2017. “Just to be around all these guys and to see all this talent, I mean, it’s unreal, really, to be honest. It really is crazy, and I think it’s gonna be super exciting for fans to see, as well.”
The same wasn’t true of the offseason, with the Orioles’ moves on the margins not the type to land them on a list of baseball’s winter winners. But that won’t matter if they win in the spring, summer and fall.
“I think everybody is just looking forward to taking it up a notch,” Tate said. “We did exactly what we needed to do last year, and I felt like our presence was felt amongst the division and other teams in baseball.
“They know that we mean business.”
() | https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/02/15/with-rebuild-in-rearview-mirror-the-young-orioles-are-excited-to-see-what-weve-got-with-eye-on-playoffs/ | 2023-02-15 11:57:51 | 1 | https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/02/15/with-rebuild-in-rearview-mirror-the-young-orioles-are-excited-to-see-what-weve-got-with-eye-on-playoffs/ |
TV/radio sports best bets
TV
AUTO RACING
5:55 a.m. ESPNU Formula 1: Qualifying, Baku City Circuit
12 p.m. FS1 NASCAR Xfinity: Qualifying, Dover Motor Speedway
COLLEGE BASEBALL
2 p.m. BTN Iowa at Penn St.
4 p.m. ESPNU Texas at TCU
4 p.m. SECN Alabama at LSU
5 p.m. ACCN Duke at Virginia
5 p.m. BTN Minnesota at Nebraska
7 p.m. ESPNU UCLA at Stanford
7 p.m. PAC12 Arizona at Oregon St.
COLLEGE BEACH VOLLEYBALL PAC12 TOURN. (WOMEN)
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9 a.m. PAC12 TBD, Semi.
10:45 a.m. PAC12 TBD, Contender’s Semi.
1 p.m. PAC12 TBD, Contender’s Champ.
4 p.m. PAC12 TBD, Champ.
COLLEGE LACROSSE (MEN)
5:15 p.m. CBSSN Boston U. at Army
COLLEGE LACROSSE (WOMEN)
10 a.m. ACCN Notre Dame vs. Boston College
12:30 p.m. ACCN North Carolina vs. Syracuse
3 p.m. CBSSN Loyola (Md.) at Navy
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
1:30 p.m. ESPNU Florida A&M at Jackson St.
3 p.m. ACCN Florida St. at Notre Dame
5:30 p.m. PAC12 UCLA at Utah
GOLF
9 a.m. GOLF PGA: Insperity Invitational
12:30 p.m. GOLF PGA: Mexican Open
3:30 p.m. GOLF LPGA: JM Eagle
9 p.m. GOLF DP World Tour: Korea Champ.
MLB BASEBALL
1 p.m. MLBN Kansas City at Minnesota
4 p.m. MLBN Atlanta-NY Mets OR Pittsburgh-Washington
5:10 p.m. APPLETV+ Philadelphia at Houston
5:40 p.m. BSAZ Arizona at Colorado
7:10 p.m. APPLETV+ St. Louis at LA Dodgers
NBA PLAYOFFS
5:10 p.m. ESPN Sacramento at Golden State, Game 6
7:30 p.m. ESPN Memphis at LA Lakers, Game 6
NFL DRAFT
4 p.m. ABC Rounds 2-3
4 p.m. ESPN Round 2
4 p.m. NFLN Rounds 2-3
5 p.m. ESPN2 Rounds 2-3
NHL PLAYOFFS
4 p.m. TBS Carolina at NY Islanders, Game 6
4:30 p.m. TNT Boston at Florida, Game 6
6:30 p.m. TBS Dallas at Minnesota, Game 6
7 p.m. TNT Colorado at Seattle, Game 6
RADIO
COLLEGE BASEBALL
7 p.m. 1290-AM Arizona at Oregon State
NFL DRAFT
3 p.m. 1490-AM Round 2
TALK
7 a.m. 1490-AM “Spears and Ali”
3 p.m. 1450-AM ”Eye on the Ball”
<&rule>
All times MST. Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts.
TV channel guide: BSAZ is Bally Sports Arizona (Ch 26 on Cox, Ch 31 on Comcast, Ch 686 on DirecTV) BTN is Big Ten Network (Ch 320 on Cox, Ch 272 on Comcast, Ch 610 on DirecTV, Ch 439 on Dish) CBSS is CBS Sports Network (Ch 312 on Cox, Ch 274 on Comcast, Ch 221 on DirecTV, Ch 158 on Dish) ESPN (Ch 24 on Cox, Ch 2 on Comcast, Ch 206 on DirecTV, Ch 140 on Dish) ESPN2 (Ch 25 on Cox, Ch 30 on Comcast, Ch 209 on DirecTV, Ch 143 on Dish) ESPNU (Ch 330 on Cox, Ch 266 on Comcast, Ch 208 on DirecTV, Ch 141 on Dish) FS1 is Fox Sports 1 (Ch 27 on Cox, Ch 32 on Comcast, Ch 219 on DirecTV, Ch 150 on Dish) Golf (Ch 65 on Cox, Ch 28 on Comcast, Ch 218 on DirecTV, Ch 401 on Dish) Pac-12 Network (Ch 70 on Cox, Ch. 283 on Comcast, not available on DirecTV, Ch 409 on Dish, Ch 406 on Dish Hopper) SEC is SEC Network (Ch 329 on Cox, Ch 286 on Comcast, Ch 611 on DirecTV, Ch 408 on Dish) TNT (Ch 29 on Cox, Ch 36 on Comcast, Ch 245 on DirecTV, Ch 138 on Dish)
<&rule> | https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/tucsons-tv-radio-sports-best-bets-friday-april-28-2023/article_ce111b0c-d4a8-11ed-8f6a-7fa6e5992975.html | 2023-04-28 12:50:34 | 1 | https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/tucsons-tv-radio-sports-best-bets-friday-april-28-2023/article_ce111b0c-d4a8-11ed-8f6a-7fa6e5992975.html |
New images from the James Webb Space Telescope show the most distant reaches of the universe in the most stunning detail ever captured.
Harvard University astronomy professor Alyssa Goodman talks about what the images show and what they will help astronomers learn about the universe.
See the images here.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kbia.org/2022-07-12/nasa-releases-the-first-high-resolution-color-images-from-the-largest-space-telescope-ever-built | 2022-07-12 18:32:31 | 1 | https://www.kbia.org/2022-07-12/nasa-releases-the-first-high-resolution-color-images-from-the-largest-space-telescope-ever-built |
New antitrust lawsuit against NCAA seeks millions in damages
(AP) - The attorneys who beat the NCAA in the Supreme Court have filed a new class-action antitrust lawsuit against the association and the five wealthiest college sports conferences that seeks millions of dollars in damages for thousands of athletes.
The case was filed Tuesday — the day after the NCAA Tournament concluded — in the Northern District of California, where several other landmark cases involving college sports have been heard.
The plaintiffs are listed as former Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard, who is currently with the Carolina Panthers, and former Auburn track athlete Keira McCarrell, but the lawsuit seeks triple damages for all current and former Division I athletes as far back as 2018.
The defendants named in the lawsuit are the NCAA, the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference.
A 2019 ruling by a federal judge in the so-called Alston case against the NCAA made it permissible for schools to provide nearly $6,000 in academic benefits to college athletes.
The NCAA appealed the ruling all the way to the Supreme Court. In 2021, the court ruled unanimously against the NCAA.
“Since the Supreme Court’s decision in Alston, dozens of Division I schools have announced that they will be providing $5,980 academic awards to athletes across all sports,” attorney Steve Berman said in a statement. “Thousands of female and male athletes, including many in sports other than football and basketball, will directly benefit from this action aimed at recovering the monetary awards, of which the NCAA illegally deprived them.”
The NCAA did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Berman, of the Seattle-based firm Hagens Berman, and Jeffrey Kessler, a New York-based attorney with Winston & Strawn LLP, were the lead lawyers on the Alston case.
“While the injunction striking down the NCAA’s restrictions on education-related compensation, which was unanimously affirmed by the Supreme Court in Alston, unlocked life-changing benefits for NCAA Division I athletes moving forward, it did not rectify the harm suffered by thousands of Division I athletes who were unlawfully prevented from receiving education-related compensation before the injunction was issued,” Kessler said in a statement. “Plaintiffs aim to recover triple damages for those injuries here.”
Berman and Kessler have another open case against the NCAA that is seeking to recoup damages dating back to 2016 for college athletes who were denied by NCAA rules to earn money from their names, images and likenesses.
House vs. the NCAA also asserts college athletes should be permitted to share in the billions of dollars the association and some conferences make in media rights deals.
The NCAA has lost the two previous lawsuits filed in the Northern District of California that have gone to trial before U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, including a 2014 ruling in an antitrust case that challenged the NCAA’s ability to use the name, image and likeness of college athletes for commercial purposes.
The NCAA lifted its ban on college athletes being compensated for sponsorship and endorsement deals in 2021, shortly after the Supreme Court ruling in the Alston case.
College sports leaders have been asking for help from federal lawmakers to regulate NIL compensation ever since, but to no avail.
The NCAA is also currently facing a separate — potentially greater — legal threat in Pennsylvania, where a federal lawsuit seeks to have college athletes deemed employees of their schools.
___
AP March Madness coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wymt.com/2023/04/04/new-antitrust-lawsuit-against-ncaa-seeks-millions-damages/ | 2023-04-04 21:10:37 | 1 | https://www.wymt.com/2023/04/04/new-antitrust-lawsuit-against-ncaa-seeks-millions-damages/ |
Defining formal transition plans for at-risk key roles and their successors improves organizational performance by reducing the impact of sudden departures.
TORONTO, Jan. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Although pending retirements in key roles can create workforce risks and potentially impact business continuity, many organizations have not tackled succession planning, according to studies from global IT research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group. To guide organizations in assessing key role incumbent risk factors and to identify potential successors and their readiness, the firm has published its new industry blueprint titled Build an IT Succession Plan.
According to Info-Tech's research, most organizations are unprepared for the loss of employees who hold key roles, with the majority of organizations having no formal process for facilitating knowledge transfer between individuals. The departure of employees in key positions can negatively affect an organization as valuable knowledge, core business relationships, and profits are lost with their exit. Planning and executing key role transitions can take years. The firm recommends CIOs prepare now to mitigate the risk of loss later.
The blueprint's studies further indicate that when workers leave and don't effectively transfer their knowledge, the organization can start to face the duplication of efforts to solve problems and find solutions. Losing knowledge can make an organization vulnerable as it can impede the ability to identify, understand, and mitigate risks and stifle growth by lost client relationships. Innovation within an organization is also negatively affected by reduced capacity since tenured employees can determine the status quo faster to make way for novel thinking.
Info-Tech advises organizations to plan for the transfer of critical knowledge held by key role incumbents to build an effective IT succession plan. It is also important to explore alternative work arrangements to ensure sufficient time to prepare successors. The following approach is outlined in the blueprint as a holistic solution for building a future-proofed IT team:
1. Talent Review – Conduct a talent review to identify key roles.
a. Identify Critical Roles
b. Assess Talent
2. Succession Planning – Succession planning helps to assess which key roles are most at risk.
a. Identify Successors
b. Develop Successors
c. Select Successors
3. Knowledge Transfer – Utilize methods that make it easy to apply the knowledge in day-to-day practice.
a. Identify Critical Knowledge
b. Select Transfer Methods
c. Document Role Transition Plans
Further, the benefits of a future-proofed IT team include:
- Business continuity
- The right people, in the right positions, at the right time
- Retention due to employee development and growth
- IT success
- Decreased impact of sudden departures
- Improved performance
It is best that organizations prepare now to mitigate the risk of potential loss later. Losing employees in key roles without adequate preparation for their departure directly impacts the bottom line in terms of disrupted productivity, lost knowledge, severed relationships, and missed opportunities, especially during what could be a turbulent economic period over the coming year.
To learn more, download the complete Build an IT Succession Plan blueprint.
For more about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and Twitter
Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading information technology research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals. The company produces unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For 25 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with IT teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.
Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and over 200 IT and Industry analysts through the ITRG Media Insiders Program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.
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SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2023/01/12/majority-organizations-do-not-have-formal-process-facilitating-knowledge-transfer-between-employees-reports-info-tech-research-group/ | 2023-01-12 22:25:31 | 0 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2023/01/12/majority-organizations-do-not-have-formal-process-facilitating-knowledge-transfer-between-employees-reports-info-tech-research-group/ |
ChatGPT’s chief to testify before Congress as concerns grow about artificial intelligence’s risks
The head of the artificial intelligence company that makes ChatGPT is set to testify before Congress as lawmakers call for new rules to guide the rapid development of AI technology.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is scheduled to speak at a Senate hearing Tuesday.
His San Francisco-based startup rocketed to public attention after its release late last year of ChatGPT, a free chatbot tool that answers questions with convincingly human-like responses.
What started out as a panic among educators about ChatGPT’s use to cheat on homework assignments has expanded to broader concerns about the ability of the latest crop of “generative AI” tools to mislead people, spread falsehoods, violate copyright protections and upend some jobs.
And while there’s no immediate sign that Congress will craft sweeping new AI rules, as European lawmakers are doing, the societal concerns brought Altman and other tech CEOs to the White House earlier this month and have led U.S. agencies to promise to crack down on harmful AI products that break existing civil rights and consumer protection laws.
“Artificial intelligence urgently needs rules and safeguards to address its immense promise and pitfalls,” said a prepared statement from Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law.
Founded in 2015, OpenAI is also known for other AI products including the image-maker DALL-E. Microsoft has invested billions of dollars into the startup and has integrated its technology into its own products, including its search engine Bing.
Also testifying will be IBM’s chief privacy and trust officer, Christina Montgomery, and Gary Marcus, a professor emeritus at New York University who was among a group of AI experts who called on OpenAI and other tech firms to pause their development of more powerful AI models for six months to give society more time to consider the risks. The letter was a response to the March release of OpenAI’s latest model, GPT-4, described as more powerful than ChatGPT.
“Artificial intelligence will be transformative in ways we can’t even imagine, with implications for Americans’ elections, jobs, and security,” said the panel’s ranking Republican, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri. “This hearing marks a critical first step towards understanding what Congress should do.”
Altman and other tech industry leaders have said they welcome some form of AI oversight but have cautioned against what they see as overly heavy-handed rules. In a copy of her prepared remarks, IBM’s Montgomery asks Congress to take a “precision regulation” approach.
“This means establishing rules to govern the deployment of AI in specific use-cases, not regulating the technology itself,” Montgomery said.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kob.com/news/business-money/chatgpts-chief-to-testify-before-congress-as-concerns-grow-about-artificial-intelligences-risks/ | 2023-05-16 11:21:05 | 1 | https://www.kob.com/news/business-money/chatgpts-chief-to-testify-before-congress-as-concerns-grow-about-artificial-intelligences-risks/ |
WILDWOOD — Cape May County has no cannabis dispensary, although it seems inevitable that one will open eventually.
When it does, it will not open in Wildwood, which like many beach towns has opted out of allowing cannabis sales in the community, and out of the chance to charge an additional local tax on weed sales.
Which has led to some surprise and confusion with the opening of Kannavis Botanicals on New Jersey Avenue, with images of a familiar spiky leaf on the sign and “Licensed” marked under the name.
The business is licensed by the state to sell hemp and hemp-derived products, not cannabis, a distinction that has more to do with legal definitions than with plant biology. Both are from the buds of the same plant, but hemp, by definition, has less than 0.3% of THC, the chemical in marijuana that gets you high.
Many cannabis dispensary strains boast THC concentrations of more than 20%.
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But that distinction gets blurrier still with the assurance from Dill Nelson, who owns Kannavis with her husband, Ken, that if you smoke their hemp, you will feel it. As Ken Nelson explains it, the process of burning the hemp flowers changes the nature of other cannabinoids in the plant.
ATLANTIC CITY — Christina Casile stands in the lobby of Design 710 at 112 Park Place, the la…
“Once you light it, it changes,” he said.
“Then it’s game on,” added Dill Nelson.
The New York Avenue shop is their third location in Wildwood. The first opened on the Boardwalk in 2020, a tough time for any new business, and there is also a location on Pacific Avenue. The other locations remain open, and the New Jersey Avenue site opened April 20, often described as a “weed holiday” for its connection to 420, which has become cannabis culture slang for consumption.
This shop is in a former bank, with a drive-through in operation. The hemp and hemp products are dispensed from the old teller stations, while lighted boards show the available strains and their relative potency, much like one of the cannabis dispensaries.
The buds available for purchase at the shop are indistinguishable, by sight or smell, from the cannabis sold at a licensed dispensary, or for that matter from weed bought on the still-thriving underground market.
Presumably, a lab test could find a difference, or an experienced smoker. Ken Nelson has compared the difference between hemp and dispensary cannabis as similar to the difference between beer and whiskey, with one offering a much stronger impact.
As marijuana has become far more mainstream, potent, and sometimes dangerous, uneven regulation at the state and federal levels leaves consumers at risk.
“It’s an option for somebody who does not have the $60 or $70 to spend on an eighth at a dispensary,” he said. An eighth of an ounce is close to 3.5 grams, which is a standard measurement of sale at licensed dispensaries. Kannavis offers 5 grams of a hemp flower called Sour Haze for $20, or $5 for a single gram, which would be enough to roll about three cigarettes.
The store also offers gummies and other edibles, as well as a barbecue sauce. Several of the products in the store included the label “Contains THC.”
The store has raised concerns in Wildwood, enough so that the municipal government issued a news release this year stating that they were selling hemp, not marijuana.
“These stores are not selling anything with THC in it,” part of the release states. The products could be legally sold in a vitamin store, for instance.
The Wildwood Board of Commissioners had an appearance from the Kannavis store on the agenda for its Wednesday meeting, with a request for the owners to explain their business plan.
The name of the business, which Nelson described as Greek for hemp, and the mention of a license on the sign created confusion, said Mayor Pete Byron. The city wanted to let the public know it did not issue any licenses.
Veterinarians are growing alarmed by an apparent rise in marijuana poisonings among dogs that ingest discarded joints and edibles on city sidewalks.
“Honestly, as long as it’s not illegal, there’s nothing we can do about it,” Byron said.
Nelson said his business does have a license, from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. That means he gets an annual inspection, he said, and has to comply with other regulations that do not impact other Boardwalk stores or vape shops that offer hemp-derived products like CBD and Delta 8.
No one from the Department of Agriculture responded to requests for an interview for this story. A spokesperson for the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, the agency that issues licenses to the now-legal cannabis dispensaries, said the CRC does not regulate hemp-derived products, and directed questions to the Department of Agriculture.
As many have pointed out, hemp has been used for clothing, food and in manufacturing for thousands of years. It’s the same species of plant as marijuana, and for decades, that kept hemp products off American shelves.
In 2001, early in President George W. Bush’s administration, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration cracked down on hemp in foods, from cereals to granola bars to protein powders, even though the seeds that were used did not contain enough THC to possibly have an effect.
A federal court later rejected that effort, and in 2018, a federal farm bill made clear that hemp with under 0.3% THC was as legal as apples or any other agricultural product.
Brittney Griner got emotional quickly while speaking to reporters for the first time since her nearly 10-month detainment in Russia on drug-related charges. The WNBA star had to take a moment to compose herself after being asked about her resiliency through the ordeal. Griner's first news conference drew more than 100 people, including Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, members of the Phoenix Mercury organization and her wife, Cherelle.
That cleared the way for products containing CBD, another part of the plant, to be sold across the country so long as it was derived from hemp. Proponents say CBD has anti-inflammatory properties and other benefits.
But the DEA says THC Delta 8 and its cousin THC Delta 9 are not hemp, but instead are schedule 1 drugs, just like marijuana. The DEA has proposed changes to federal drug laws that would take Delta 8 off the shelf, and 14 states have issued an outright ban.
The potential for a legislative change that could upend his business keeps Nelson worried, he said. He added he is phasing out Delta 8 products, instead using more products that use the entire hemp flower.
Delta 8 appears in nature, but only in very small quantities. It is concentrated from hemp plants to reach effective levels.
Scott Rudder, with the industry group the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, described hemp as a useful and beneficial plant, but he expressed concerns about the sale of products containing Delta 8 and other potential intoxicants, insisting it is not just because they are taking sales from association members.
Most of the products being sold are not tested, and consumers may have little information about what they are buying. In some instances, someone may think it is similar to CBD, which may or may not have a mild, calming influence like a cup of chamomile tea, and instead find themselves feeling intoxicated behind the wheel.
“When you see these products being sold at gas stations and at convenience stores, there’s a good chance that most of those products have not gone through a testing process,” he said.
In many instances, he said, there appears to be little care to ensure only those over 21 are buying the products, he added.
At a recent open house at the new Wildwood location, a local classic rock station blasted Tom Petty in the parking lot while staff offered samples of hot sauce, presumably infused hot sauce. Nelson said he remains scrupulous about checking IDs and will not sell anything to someone under 21. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/is-weed-by-another-name-a-legal-loophole-or-a-whole-different-plant/article_70671b16-faf3-11ed-8f4f-1768170d5ae2.html | 2023-05-28 16:47:01 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/is-weed-by-another-name-a-legal-loophole-or-a-whole-different-plant/article_70671b16-faf3-11ed-8f4f-1768170d5ae2.html |
UConn vs. Ohio State Women's Basketball Predictions & Picks - NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Published: Mar. 21, 2023 at 10:44 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
Saturday's game at Climate Pledge Arena has the UConn Huskies (31-5) squaring off against the Ohio State Buckeyes (27-7) at TBA on March 25. Our computer prediction projects a 76-66 victory for UConn, who are favored by our model.
In their last game on Monday, the Huskies claimed a 77-58 victory against Baylor.
UConn vs. Ohio State Game Info
- When: Saturday, March 25, 2023
- Where: Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington
Use this link to get a free trial of fuboTV, where you can watch every women's tournament game and other live sports without cable!
UConn vs. Ohio State Score Prediction
- Prediction: UConn 76, Ohio State 66
UConn Schedule Analysis
- On November 27, the Huskies picked up their best win of the season, an 86-79 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes, who rank No. 3 in the AP's Top 25.
- The Huskies have tied for the second-most Quadrant 1 wins in the country (14).
- When facing Quadrant 2 teams, UConn is 7-1 (.875%) -- tied for the 16th-most wins.
- The Huskies have tied for the 15th-most Quadrant 3 victories in the country (nine).
UConn 2022-23 Best Wins
- 86-79 over Iowa (No. 3/AP Poll) on November 27
- 83-76 at home over Texas (No. 15/AP Poll) on November 14
- 60-51 on the road over Villanova (No. 10/AP Poll) on February 18
- 67-56 over Villanova (No. 10/AP Poll) on March 6
- 63-58 at home over Villanova (No. 10/AP Poll) on January 29
Ohio State Schedule Analysis
- The Buckeyes beat the No. 2-ranked Indiana Hoosiers, 79-75, on March 4, which goes down as their signature win of the season.
- Against Quadrant 1 teams, the Buckeyes are 10-6 (.625%) -- tied for the 11th-most wins.
- Ohio State has six wins against Quadrant 2 opponents, tied for the 25th-most in the country.
- Against Quadrant 3 opponents (according to the RPI), the Huskies are 9-0 (1.000%) -- tied for the 15th-most wins.
Ohio State 2022-23 Best Wins
- 79-75 over Indiana (No. 2/AP Poll) on March 4
- 87-75 at home over Tennessee (No. 24/AP Poll) on November 8
- 96-77 on the road over Louisville (No. 19) on November 30
- 71-69 at home over North Carolina (No. 20/AP Poll) on March 20
- 84-67 over Oregon (No. 26) on December 21
Watch college hoops all season on all your devices without cable with a seven-day free trial on fuboTV!
UConn Performance Insights
- The Huskies have a +644 scoring differential, topping opponents by 17.9 points per game. They're putting up 76.3 points per game to rank 25th in college basketball and are giving up 58.4 per contest to rank 43rd in college basketball.
- With 73.5 points per game in Big East tilts, UConn is posting 2.8 fewer points per game in conference games compared to its overall average (76.3 PPG).
- At home, the Huskies are scoring 5.7 more points per game (78.5) than they are in road games (72.8).
- Defensively, UConn has played better in home games this season, surrendering 58.3 points per game, compared to 58.4 away from home.
- In their last 10 games, the Huskies have been putting up 70.7 points per contest, an average that's a little lower than the 76.3 they've scored over the course of the 2022-23 season.
Ohio State Performance Insights
- The Buckeyes put up 80.4 points per game (eighth in college basketball) while allowing 68.2 per contest (275th in college basketball). They have a +416 scoring differential and outscore opponents by 12.2 points per game.
- Ohio State scores fewer points in conference action (74.8 per game) than overall (80.4).
- At home the Buckeyes are scoring 82.1 points per game, 4.1 more than they are averaging on the road (78).
- At home Ohio State is giving up 64.9 points per game, 2.1 fewer points than it is on the road (67).
- In their past 10 games, the Buckeyes are putting up 75 points per contest, 5.4 fewer points than their season average (80.4).
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/sports/betting/2023/03/25/uconn-ohio-state-womens-college-basketball-picks-predictions-ncaa-tournament-sweet-16/ | 2023-03-21 16:46:07 | 1 | https://www.kttc.com/sports/betting/2023/03/25/uconn-ohio-state-womens-college-basketball-picks-predictions-ncaa-tournament-sweet-16/ |
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Just two days before the World Cup opener, host nation Qatar banned the sale of beer at stadiums in a sudden U-turn that was criticized by some and welcomed by others.
Qatari officials have long said they were eager to welcome soccer fans from around the world to the tournament but that visitors should also respect their culture and traditions. Alcohol consumption, impermissible in Islam, is one of the areas where the country has been attempting to strike a delicate balance.
Here’s a look at some of the issues related to alcohol and Muslim beliefs.
WHAT DOES THE QURAN SAY ABOUT ALCOHOL?
Drinking alcohol is considered haram, or forbidden, in Islam. As proof of the prohibition, Islamic scholars and Muslim religious authorities typically point to a verse in the Quran, the Muslim holy book, that calls intoxicants “the work of Satan” and tells believers to avoid them. Additionally, they cite sayings of Prophet Muhammad and the negative effects that alcohol can have.
Beyond abstaining from drinking, some Muslims also seek religious edicts on a variety of related day-to-day questions or dilemmas. These include whether or not to consume food mixed with alcohol; if it’s considered a sin to work at a restaurant that serves alcohol in a Western country; if perfumes containing alcohol are allowed; and whether to attend ceremonies or events where booze is served.
MUSLIM ATTITUDES ON ALCOHOL
While the prohibition on alcohol in Islam is believed to be widely heeded, not all Muslims abstain from drinking. Some drink, whether privately or publicly. In a Pew Research Center survey of Muslims around the globe, most people surveyed said that drinking alcohol was morally wrong. More than half in all countries where Muslims were surveyed held this view, including more than nine-in-ten in Thailand, Ghana, Malaysia, the Palestinian territories, Indonesia, Niger and Pakistan, according to the Pew report, which was published in 2013 and included 38,000 interviews. Still, in 11 of the 37 countries where this question was asked, at least one-in-ten said that drinking alcohol is morally acceptable and in some countries, sizable percentages said consuming alcohol is not a moral issue, the report added.
HOW IS THE BAN ON ALCOHOL APPLIED?
Alcohol is available in some Islamic nations though regulations vary widely and there can be intricate rules and restrictions on its sale or where it can be consumed. Some countries, like Saudi Arabia, outlaw alcohol altogether. Drinking there can be punished by flogging, fines, imprisonment and, for foreigners, deportation. The kingdom has in recent years been opening up entertainment options, which has spurred speculation about whether exceptions for alcohol consumption may be made in the future.
Other places have a more relaxed approach, such as Dubai, a top travel destination in the United Arab Emirates that is known to many for its glitz and love for superlatives. Dubai boasts a variety of bars, nightclubs and lounges that attract many visitors and well-to-do expatriate residents. In recent years, the city has also been increasingly loosening laws governing alcohol sales and possession of liquor. As in some other places, alcohol sales there provide a lucrative tax revenue source.
Alcohol is sold freely in liquor stores in Jordan and served in bars and restaurants throughout the capital of Amman. It is also available in Muslim-majority Egypt, which is traditionally popular with tourists and is home to a Christian minority. There, the young and rich can sip on cocktails or wines in beach clubs or bars, many with foreign names, while swaying to music. Wine, beer and spirits can also be ordered online among other options. Still, drinking is rejected by most; in the Pew study, 79% of surveyed Muslims in Egypt said they viewed alcohol as morally wrong.
BREAKING THE RULES
In dry countries, some have gone to great lengths to obtain alcohol, at times risking arrest, or worse. In Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites, there have been reports of efforts to skirt the ban, including liquor runs by some to neighboring Bahrain. Attempts to sneak booze into the kingdom have over the years included bottles of whisky hidden in socks and cans of beer disguised as Pepsi. Some endeavors, however, end in tragedy. In 2002, 19 people in Saudi Arabia died and others were hospitalized after drinking cologne containing methanol. In Iran, some have also died from methanol poisoning after they drank toxic homemade brews.
DRINKING IN QATAR
Qatar, which like Saudi Arabia follows an ultraconservative version of Islam known as Wahhabism, has strict limits on the purchase and consumption of alcohol, though its sale has been permitted in hotel bars for years. During the World Cup, beer was originally supposed to be sold also at stadiums and at fan zones in the evenings. That changed Friday when it was announced that only non-alcoholic beer would be available at the stadiums, except for in the luxury hospitality areas where champagne, wine, whiskey and other alcohol is served. The vast majority of ticket holders don’t have access to those areas.
The World Cup in Qatar is not the first to spur debate over whether alcohol sales should be allowed in matches. For the 2014 tournament, Brazil was forced to change a law to allow alcohol sales in stadiums — but the same cultural issues were not at play. Brazil had banned alcohol sales at soccer matches in a bid to curb fan violence. Some of those who were pushing for the ban’s lifting said at the time that in-stadium beer sales were a key part of World Cup tradition.
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ap-explainer-islams-ban-on-alcohol-and-how-its-applied/ | 2022-11-21 21:51:50 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ap-explainer-islams-ban-on-alcohol-and-how-its-applied/ |
Which epoxy resin is best?
Epoxy resins are clear, viscous coatings poured onto surfaces, such as kitchen countertops and bar tops, to protect them from moisture and wear. Epoxy resins are not to be confused with epoxy glues and adhesives. Epoxy resins are a modern alternative to traditional varnishes, easier to work with and more durable.
If you’re looking for a coating that has a deep glass-like appearance and is scratch- and water-resistant, take a look at the ProGlas 1000 Clear Coat Epoxy Resin System.
What to know before you buy an epoxy resin
What is epoxy?
Epoxy is a general term referring to a group of compounds that are used as adhesives, coatings and in castings.
- Epoxy glues are ideal for repairing machinery, household appliances and anything requiring a strong bond. Epoxies made for metals are a handy alternative to bolting, welding and soldering. To be successful as adhesives, epoxies need to stand up to heat, water and harsh chemicals and stick to all kinds of materials and surfaces.
- Epoxy resins are the liquid form of epoxy adhesives. Epoxy resin coatings are poured over surfaces as sealants that harden to become strong, durable protective coats. Epoxy resins flow at about the same rate as honey.
- Casting resins are thin and runny, attributes that are a big help when you want to pour small amounts of a more liquid form into molds.
How to apply epoxy coatings
- Protect yourself: Make sure you wear latex or rubber gloves to protect your hands. It’s also a good idea to wear old work clothes.
- Surface: Make sure your surface is clean and free of any dust, dirt and lint. The cleaner your surface, the less the risk of ruining your glassy finish with trapped particles and air bubbles.
- Surrounding area: Protect what’s nearby. Just as you would if you were painting, cover all nearby surfaces and items to protect them from spills and drips.
- Temperature: Keep it steady. Always stay within the range recommended by the manufacturer so flow and curing won’t take long.
- Thickness: Apply only to the recommended maximum thickness. If you pour epoxy on too thickly, it won’t cure properly.
What to look for in a quality epoxy resin
Work life and cure time
These measurements are often confused, but the difference is significant.
- Work life is how long it takes an epoxy adhesive to harden and dry while you’re working with it. Epoxy resins with short work lives need to be handled quickly so they don’t dry too soon because you don’t want your epoxy to harden before the job is finished. On the other hand, you don’t want it to remain in a liquid state for any longer than it has to.
- Cure time refers to how long it takes the internal chemical reactions to be completed after you’ve applied the epoxy. It is the amount of time it takes an epoxy resin to harden internally and reach its full strength.
How much you can expect to spend on epoxy resin
Most epoxy resins for sealing projects are sold in gallon bottles and cost $75 to $150, depending upon the chemical formulation. Resins for casting come in smaller bottles costing $1 to $2 per ounce.
Epoxy resin FAQ
Can I use epoxy resins on wood?
A. Yes, but porous surfaces such as wood and concrete require additional preparation, including laying a primer coat. As always, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and heed its cautions.
What are skim coats?
A. Skim coats are thin layers that act as primers to fill in gaps and smooth the surface of what you’re coating. They seal the surface and keep air bubbles from forming later. You apply skim coats with a squeegee and work the epoxy in until the surface looks wet but not glossy. You may need more than one coat and must wait several hours between applications.
Do I need to do anything special when sealing a butcher-block countertop?
A. When sealing a flat wooden surface, prime the vertical edges first. Epoxy flows at about the same rate as honey and will always be thinner on the edges where it drips off, unless you prime them first.
What’s the best epoxy resin to buy?
Top epoxy resin
ProGlas 1000 Clear Coat Epoxy Resin System
What you need to know: Use this coating for tabletops, bar tops, countertops and any other remodeling project you have in mind.
What you’ll love: The resin is self-leveling for easy application and produces a tough, clear high-gloss coating specially formulated for a deep glass appearance. It is scratch- and water-resistant, contains ultraviolet inhibitors and has a work life of 60 minutes.
What you should consider: This resin is best for smaller surface areas because it may harden too quickly for large-surface projects.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top epoxy resin for the money
What you need to know: The 1-to-1 resin is non-toxic, self-leveling and easy for beginners to work with.
What you’ll love: You get resin and hardener, mixing and measuring cups, stirrers, spoons, a silicone spatula pad and disposable gloves. You stir the mixture, add one or more of the 32 colors, pour the liquid into flexible molds, wait 24 hours and remove two dozen colorful pendants.
What you should consider: The silicone mat comes folded and is hard to get the creases out of.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Janchun High Gloss Coating and Casting Resin
What you need to know: This low-viscosity 1-to-1 mix ratio resin is specially formulated for artists because it is non-toxic, has low odor and fumes, and resists yellowing from UV exposure.
What you’ll love: It’s free of bubbles, perfectly transparent and dries crystal clear or in your choice of 12 colors of mica powders. It cures as hard as a rock in eight hours. You get gloves, an apron, drop cloths, stir sticks and a spatula.
What you should consider: Measuring cups are not included.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/arts-crafts-br/best-epoxy-resin/ | 2023-04-01 07:59:21 | 1 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/arts-crafts-br/best-epoxy-resin/ |
Italian mayor invites ousted Florida principal to Florence following 'David' statue controversy
The mayor of Florence has invited Hope Carrasquilla, the former principal of a Florida school embroiled in controversy over a sixth-grade lesson on Michelangelo's "David," to visit Italy after she was forced out of her job last week.
Writing to Twitter on Sunday, politician Dario Nardella said he would "personally invite" the American educator to Florence, where the statue is located, to "give her recognition on behalf of the city," adding that "art is civilization and whoever teaches it deserves respect."
The move comes after Carrasquilla resigned from her position at Tallahassee Classical School following complaints over a lesson that featured Michelangelo's famous nude sculpture of the biblical figure David.
Although the former principal told a local media outlet that one parent had complained the lesson was "pornographic," the school insists she was reprimanded for failing to follow procedure – alongside other unspecified disagreements – and not because the 500-year-old statue itself was considered indecent.
In a recent interview, chair of the school's board Barney Bishop III told CNN that Carrasquilla was given a choice between resigning or being terminated from her position because she had neglected to inform parents about the lesson's content beforehand. "She was not let go because of Michelangelo's 'David' lesson," Bishop said, adding that the picture has been shown in previous years' art classes.
"We aren't trying to ban the picture," he said. "We think it's beautiful, but we are going to make sure the concept of parental rights is supreme in Florida and at our charter school."
Despite the school's protestations, its decision has prompted outcry from observers who believe Carrasquilla's removal was an act of censorship. In a tweet preceding his invitation to Florence, which is also Michelangelo's birthplace, Mayor Nardella stated that "mistaking art for pornography is just ridiculous."
The controversy comes in the wake of last year's Parental Rights in Education Act, backed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which introduced stricter controls on what can be taught in public schools. Described by opponents as the "Don't Say Gay" act, due to its restrictions on how teachers address sexuality and gender, the legislation also gives parents at Florida's public schools the right "to receive effective communication from the school principal as to the manner in which instructional materials are used to implement the school's curricular objectives."
Bishop said that Tallahassee Classical School's board agreed with DeSantis' approach, claiming that it "does not mean that parents are telling us what we are going to teach their children."
"We are going to make sure that parents specifically know what we are going to show their kids, what we are going to talk to their kids about and any keywords that might be a triggering event," he added. "This gives parents the opportunity to say, 'Wait a minute. My child isn't old enough to hear that,'" he added.
Both Bishop and the school's former principal said that parents had not been given prior notice about its Renaissance art lesson. Carrasquilla informed the same local media outlet that two parents complained about not being notified in advance, though she later told CNN that disputes between her and the school went beyond – and predated – last week's controversy. | https://www.kcra.com/article/david-statue-controversy-italian-mayor-florida-principal/43428914 | 2023-03-27 15:49:48 | 1 | https://www.kcra.com/article/david-statue-controversy-italian-mayor-florida-principal/43428914 |
MUD LAKE — School was released early on March 10. The Scholastic team chose not to attend the Regional competition in Idaho Falls.
The West Jefferson Scholastic team received first place at the district competition in Mackay. The team consisted of Emma Sauer, Darren Grover, Lili Allen, Anna Parker, and Mayli Allen. Tim and Aimee Allen attended as chaperones. The other teams that attended were Mackay, Arco, Ririe, and Challis.
The Distinguished Young Women participants for Jefferson County are looking for donations to help families in the area. They are teaming up with “The Village, a foster care closet.” They will be collecting items from now until April 1. You can drop off new clothing, new socks and underwear, shoes, diapers, food and toys to their drop off location in the ALC building foyer. You can contact Anna Ball at 208–589–8120 or Maggie O’Sullivan at 208–390–2741 for more information.
The Mud Lake Museum and Historical Society had their annual meeting last week. They set the calendar of events. If you would like to help out or volunteer for anything, or would like to receive more information about any events, please contact Trish Petersen.
Happy birthday today to Cory Petersen, Amanda Torgerson, Ellie Carpenter, Omar Llamas, and Val Young. Other birthdays this week include the following: March 16 — Cassie Coleman, Matt Linger, Brad Park, Ryan Barzee, Jordan Thomas, and Chance Pancheri; March 17 — Hailey Belnap, Gaylord Maughn; March 18 — Betty Garcia, Holly Burtenshaw, and Ambriee Ricks; March 19 — Cindy Siddoway and David Spencer; March 20 — Alex Place, John Hansen, Boden Barzee, Weston Shaffer, Colette Shaffer, Ben Roundy, Carmelita Vega, and Harold Wilson; March 21 — Catee Daley, Megan Bingham, Steve Shively, Desiree Shively, Tracy Johnson, Jerik Nef, and Robert Telford; March 22 — Alyssa Burtenshaw Jolley, Kim Milloway, Cadie Olsen, and George Hansen.
Wedding anniversaries this week include the following: March 21 — Dean and Yvonne Wadsworth;
If you would like anything included in the column, please call Cara Shuldberg at 208–201–6972, or email her at mudlakenews@mudlake.net.
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T.J. Maxx offers killer deals on good quality items all year round, but if you shop through the website right now, you could end up with even higher savings. We’ve curated a list of seven items to give you a sneak peek of what’s on sale online. No coupon code is needed — simply add these to your cart to cash in on the savings.
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A good pair of shades will last you several seasons. This tortoiseshell pair with brown gradient lenses comes with its own carrying case and carrying cloth to keep them looking brand new all year long. (Case style may vary.) These typically retail for $99.99 but are on sale for $80. That’s a 19% discount.
Buy Max Mara 56mm Designer Sunglasses at T.J. Maxx for $80 (was $99).
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For a decor piece that’s stylish and functional, check out this tribal basket that will bring an earthy element to a room and store small items. Use it to keep extra washcloths in a bathroom or to hold books in a family room. Dual cut-out carry handles make it easily transportable. Originally sold for $39.99, it’s currently on sale for 62% off at $15.
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This 10-by-9.5-inch bucket basket will hold everything you need this summer: wallet, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip gloss and a snack. The purse is originally sold for $129.99 — but it’s on sale for $70. That means you’ll save $60 or 46%.
Buy Menotti Leather Bicolor Bucket Woven Basket Crossbody at T.J. Maxx for $70 (was 129.99).
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Warmer weather means you’ll want to have lighter throw blankets on hand. This Brooks Brothers throw is made with linen, which is perfect for taking the edge off a chilly air-conditioned room. It’s available in tourmaline and tan for $39.99 or 11% off the original price of $49.99.
Buy Brooks Brothers Linen Throw at T.J. Maxx for $39.99 (was $49.99).
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Disney fans will delight in this three-piece hard-shell luggage set emblazoned with Mickey Mouse emblems to take with them on upcoming travels. The wheeled rose gold set was originally $359.99 but is on sale for $288, a savings of $72.
Buy Disney 3-piece Mickey Molded Hardside Spinner Set at T.J. Maxx for $288 (was $359.99).
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This aquamarine elastic-waist men’s swimsuit with drawstring closure keeps men looking stylish while poolside or relaxing on the beach. It comes with built-in briefs, two front pockets and one zip back pocket. Originally sold for $24.99, it’s on sale now for $20, a 20% savings.
BuySouthern Tide Solid Swim Trunks at T.J. Maxx for $20 (was $24.99).
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Add a touch of nature to your interior without having to worry about the blooms dwindling. This vase comes with faux cherry blossoms that are adhered to the vase and stand 22 inches tall. It’s on sale for $20, which is a 50% savings off the list price of $39.99.
Buy Martha Stewart 22 in Cherry Blossom in Pot at T.J. Maxx for $20 (was $39.99).
Are any of these items already on your wish list? If so, you might want to act fast. There’s no telling how long supplies will last.
This story originally appeared on Don't Waste Your Money. Checkout Don't Waste Your Money for product reviews and other great ideas to save and make money. | https://www.kivitv.com/7-best-things-on-sale-at-t-j-maxx-right-now | 2023-06-23 22:55:25 | 1 | https://www.kivitv.com/7-best-things-on-sale-at-t-j-maxx-right-now |
LITTLETON, Colo., Oct. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CONX, Corp. (Nasdaq: CONX, CONXU, CONXW) ("CONX" or the "Company") encourages stockholders to vote in favor of the proposal to amend CONX's articles of incorporation (the "Extension Amendment") to extend the date by which the Company must complete a business combination from November 3, 2022 to June 3, 2023 (the "Extension"). A special meeting of the Company's stockholders ("Special Meeting") to approve the Extension Amendment will be held on October 31, 2022 at 2:30 p.m., Mountain Time, and can be accessed virtually by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/conxcorp/2022.
The Extension will provide CONX with additional time to complete a business combination. The Company has begun preliminary discussions with DISH Network Corp. ("DISH") regarding a potential business combination involving DISH's retail wireless business (which we refer to as the "Transaction"). The Company expects to announce additional details regarding the potential business combination if and when a definitive agreement is executed. No assurances can be made that the parties will successfully negotiate and enter into a definitive agreement, or that the Transaction will be consummated or the timeframe for such consummation. Any business combination, including the Transaction, would be subject to, among other things, negotiation between the parties, significant due diligence, appropriate board and shareholder approvals, regulatory approvals and other conditions. We have agreed to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or a valuation or appraisal firm regarding the fairness to the Company from a financial point of view of a business combination with any entity that is affiliated with our sponsor, nXgen Opportunities, LLC (the "Sponsor"), or any of the Company's officers or directors, including the Transaction. In addition, we intend to appoint a special committee of independent and disinterested directors to evaluate and if appropriate negotiate and approve the terms of any Transaction.
In connection with the Extension, our Sponsor has agreed to advance to us (i) $0.02 for each public share that is not redeemed in connection with the Special Meeting plus (ii) $0.02 for each public share that is not redeemed for each subsequent calendar month commencing on December 3, 2022, and on the 3rd day of each subsequent month, or portion thereof, that we require to complete a business combination from November 3, 2022 until June 3, 2023. For example, if we complete the business combination on June 3, 2023, which would represent seven calendar months, our Sponsor or its designee would make aggregate maximum advances of $0.14 per share or $10,500,000 in the aggregate (assuming no public shares were redeemed). Assuming the proposal for the Extension (the "Extension Amendment Proposal") is approved, the initial contribution will be deposited in the Trust Account promptly following the Special Meeting. Each additional contribution will be deposited in the Trust Account on or before the 3rd day of such calendar month. Accordingly, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented and we take the full time through the Extended Date to complete a business combination, the redemption amount per share at the meeting for such business combination or the Company's subsequent liquidation will be approximately $10.19 per share, in comparison to the current redemption amount of approximately $10.05 per share. The advances are conditioned upon the implementation of the Extension Amendment Proposal and will not occur if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or the Extension is not completed. The advances will not bear interest to our Sponsor or its designee and will be repayable by the Company to our Sponsor or its designee upon the earlier of: (i) the consummation of the business combination or (ii) our liquidation. The Sponsor has waived any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account with respect to those advances. If our Sponsor or its designee advises the Company that it does not intend to make the advances, then the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal will not be put before the stockholders at the Special Meeting and we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with our Amended and Restated Articles. Our Sponsor or its designee will have the sole discretion whether to continue extending for additional calendar months until the Extended Date and if our Sponsor determines not to continue extending for additional calendar months, its obligation to make additional advances will terminate. At the option of the Sponsor, up to $1,500,000 of the loan may be converted into warrants identical to CONX's private placement warrants, at $1.50 per warrant.
The Company's stockholders of record at the close of business on the record date, September 27, 2022, are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. Every stockholder's vote is important, regardless of the number of shares held, and the Company requests the prompt submission of votes. The Company has made arrangements for stockholders to vote online, by telephone, or by mail.
In connection with the Special Meeting, public stockholders may elect to redeem their shares by demanding that the Company redeem such shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the Trust Account, and tender such shares to the Company's transfer agent at least two business days prior to the Special Meeting (or October 27, 2022).
If stockholders have any questions or need assistance in identifying the 12-digit meeting control number or any other matter please call the Company's proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, at toll-free: (877)-750-5836 (toll free).
This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements and factors that may cause such differences include, without limitation, uncertainties relating to our ability to obtain approval for the Extension Amendment, our ability to complete our initial business combination, including the Transaction, and other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in filings with the SEC, including "Risk Factors" in the Extension Proxy Statement (as defined below) and in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2022, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 10, 2022 and in other reports we file with the SEC. CONX expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in CONX's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
CONX URGES STOCKHOLDERS TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SEC ON OCTOBER 12, 2022 (THE "EXTENSION PROXY STATEMENT"), AS WELL AS OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY CONX WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING ANY REGISTRATION STATEMENT (WHEN AVAILABLE) FILED BY CONX IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION, BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CONX, THE EXTENSION AND THE TRANSATION. Stockholders may obtain copies of these documents (when available), without charge, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: CONX Corp., 5701 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, CO 80120, Attn: Secretary.
CONX and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of CONX stockholders. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of CONX's directors and officers in the Extension Proxy Statement and any registration statement, which, when available, may be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of CONX, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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SOURCE CONX Corp. | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/10/13/conx-files-proxy-statement-stockholders-vote-extension-completion-period-discloses-preliminary-discussions-regarding-business-combination/ | 2022-10-13 01:21:57 | 0 | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/10/13/conx-files-proxy-statement-stockholders-vote-extension-completion-period-discloses-preliminary-discussions-regarding-business-combination/ |
Open hearts, helping hands: Jill Biden’s valentine to US
WASHINGTON (AP) — The handprints of military children pressed onto paper hearts are decorating a corner inside the White House and the lawn as first lady Jill Biden celebrates Valentine’s Day.
Three large hearts, one with the message, “Reach Out with Open Hearts and Helping Hands this Valentine’s Day,” and two others featuring handprints are on display on the north lawn in view of television cameras where White House correspondents stand for their live reports.
Cut-outs of dog Commander and cat Willow are also part of the display.
The theme continues inside the executive mansion as a corner of the East Wing entrance is decorated with three more large hearts, all printed with “Love,” and replicas of the dog and cat. Hearts bearing the children’s handprints have been strung together and hung in a window for visitors taking public tours to see.
The first lady and the children worked on the “heart” projects when she visited the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Drum, New York, home of the 10th Mountain Division, on Jan. 30. The 3- to 5-year-old children are enrolled at Fort Drum South Riva Ridge Child Development Center.
The visit was part of her Joining Forces initiative to support military and veteran families and their caregivers.
Valentine’s Day is one of the first lady’s favorite holidays. She also displayed Valentine’s Day messages at the White House in 2021 and 2022.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.newschannel6now.com/2023/02/14/open-hearts-helping-hands-jill-bidens-valentine-us/ | 2023-02-14 13:53:42 | 0 | https://www.newschannel6now.com/2023/02/14/open-hearts-helping-hands-jill-bidens-valentine-us/ |
Judge Denies Haart's Claims to 50% Ownership of Scaglia Companies & Property
"It's time for Ms. Haart to acknowledge her lies regarding 50% ownership," Davis said. "She must retract all inaccurate statements made to the media and business community that she owned 50% of Freedom, EWG or associated properties." Scaglia's attorney Lanny J. Davis said. "We also plan to challenge Netflix's right to continue filming My Unorthodox Life in what is now proven company property – which I believe Ms. Haart is no longer entitled to use."
NEW YORK , May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Renowned tech entrepreneur and global talent agency chairman Silvio Scaglia received a major win in Delaware when a judge ruled Scaglia to be the controlling owner of Elite World Group ("EWG") and its parent company, Freedom Holding, Inc. This decision comes in response to a petition filed by Julia Haart, Scaglia's estranged wife, on February 11, 2022, claiming equal ownership of the company – just two days after being terminated as CEO of EWG.
"I always had faith that 'fake it till you make it,' would not hold up in a court of law," Scaglia said. "The challenge to my ownership of Freedom and EWG was always based on lies, and I'm happy to have this behind me."
Vice Chancellor Morgan T. Zurn ruled on May 26, 2022, in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, in a final order, "Haart is therefore not entitled to the relief she seeks in Counts I, II, III, and IV" – i.e., the four counts relating to her lie about owning 50% of all of Scaglia's properties and businesses.
"It's time for Ms. Haart to acknowledge her lies regarding 50% ownership," Davis said. "She must retract all inaccurate statements made to the media and business community that she owned 50% of Freedom, EWG or associated properties. Even after Vice Chancellor Zurn's final order, Ms. Haart could not resist trying to 'fake it,' saying that the court's decision wasn't 'final.'"
The Hon. Vice Chancellor Zurn wrote that her forthcoming memorandum opinion would include the "reasons detailed" for the final order rejecting Haart's four false claims that she owned 50% of Scaglia's companies and property. Vice Chancellor Zurn also wrote she "has made her key factual findings and legal conclusions," and issued the order to "expedite finality and steady Freedom and EWG."
Additionally, Mr. Davis plans to challenge Netflix's right to continue filming My Unorthodox Life at 70 Vestry Street. "The apartment is in what is now proven company property – which I believe Ms. Haart is no longer entitled to use," Davis said. "She signed a contract with Netflix, saying that she 'owned' the apartment – a lie." Davis had previously sent a cease-and-desist demand to Netflix and its producers, asking them to stop filming the series My Unorthodox Life at 70 Vestry Street.
Press Contact:
Emma Novak
enovak@tridentdmg.com
(202) 557-5559
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SOURCE Lanny Davis | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/05/27/silvio-scaglia-defeats-julia-haart-delaware-case/ | 2022-05-27 15:34:45 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/05/27/silvio-scaglia-defeats-julia-haart-delaware-case/ |
MOORESVILLE, N.C., Nov. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of one dollar and five cents ($1.05) per share, payable Feb. 8, 2023 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 25, 2023.
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 19 million customer transactions a week in the United States and Canada. With fiscal year 2021 sales of over $96 billion, Lowe's and its related businesses operate or service nearly 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.
LOW-IR
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SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc. | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/11/11/lowes-companies-inc-declares-cash-dividend/ | 2022-11-11 21:55:41 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/11/11/lowes-companies-inc-declares-cash-dividend/ |
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Feb. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagerty (NYSE: HGTY) today announced that the Greenwich Concours, hosted June 2-4, 2023, will return to a two-day competitive format, adding a day of judged competition with a focus on motorsports and performance cars to the existing concours weekend programming. Additionally, TV host Wayne Carini will join the concours and serve as Grand Marshal.
The inaugural Concours de Sport, held Saturday June 3, will kick-off a motorports-inspired concours experience. Fifteen judged classes, highly curated to a showfield of 150 cars selected for their style, performance and innovation will be hosted at Greenwich Harbor's picturesque Roger Sherman Baldwin Park.
Building upon 27 years of excellence, Sunday's traditional Concours d'Elegance in the park will feature 18 judged car classes including post war American, Italian and English automobiles, a celebration of the storied Alfa Romeo brand, Brass Era steam cars as well as the 'Class of 1963.'
Both days will feature fan-favorite, complimentary Hagerty Ride & Drive starring an assortment of enthusiast vehicles both modern and classic as well as the Future Drivers Club featuring automotive activities for yet-to-be licensed drivers.
"The addition of a Concours de Sport represents enthusiasts' call for an additional day of concours displays and an opportunity to celebrate the rich history of competition central to the Northeast automotive culture," said Hagerty CEO McKeel Hagerty. "Our purpose at Greenwich, and our company, is to save driving and car culture for future generations. So, for us, it's all about creating on-ramps for new enthusiasts and honoring tradition with those that know the ritual of the concours world."
Connecticut native, television host, passionate auto enthusiast and restorer Wayne Carini will be celebrated as Grand Marshal in 2023, including a special class of cars from his private collection including cars seen on his well-known TV show, Chasing Classic Cars.
"I've had the pleasure of traveling the world thanks to this wonderful community, but to be celebrated in my own backyard is something special," said Carini. "I'm thrilled to gather with the people and cars that have been such a big part of my life and hope to return that positivity to the guests and participants at the Concours this year."
Upcoming Hagerty Events concours include:
- The Amelia – March 3-5, 2023
- Greenwich Concours d'Elegance - June 2-4, 2023
- Detroit Concours – September 22-23, 2023
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit greenwichconcours.com.
About Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY)
Based in Based in Traverse City, Michigan, Hagerty's purpose is to save driving and car culture for future generations and its mission is to build a global business to fund that purpose. Hagerty is an automotive enthusiast brand offering integrated membership products and programs as well as a specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. Hagerty is home to Hagerty Marketplace, Hagerty Drivers Club®, Hagerty Drivers Club magazine, Hagerty Drivers Foundation, Hagerty DriveShare™, Hagerty Valuation Tools®, Hagerty Media, MotorsportReg, Hagerty Garage + Social®, The Amelia, the Detroit Concours d'Elegance, the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, the California Mille, Motorlux, RADwood, Broad Arrow Group and more. For more information on Hagerty please visit www.hagerty.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
More information can be found at newsroom.hagerty.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect our current intentions, expectations, or beliefs regarding the business. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and may be outside of our control. Some of the factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by our forward-looking statements include: (i) our ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the subject of this press release; (ii) our ability to compete effectively within our industry and attract and retain members; and (iii) the other risks and uncertainties listed in our Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 24, 2022. This press release should be read in conjunction with the information included in our other press releases, reports, and other filings with the SEC. Understanding the information contained in those filings is important in order to fully understand our reported financial results and our business outlook for future periods. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as required by law.
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SOURCE Hagerty | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2023/02/28/greenwich-concours-adds-concours-de-sport-saturday-honors-wayne-carini-grand-marshal/ | 2023-02-28 02:22:00 | 1 | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2023/02/28/greenwich-concours-adds-concours-de-sport-saturday-honors-wayne-carini-grand-marshal/ |
This new connection point creates a more seamless experience for global customers in the cloud
CHICAGO, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Relativity, a global legal and compliance technology company, today announced an integration with Box, the leading Content Cloud, to enable RelativityOne users to collect data from Box directly for e-discovery processes. The integration underscores Relativity's commitment to ensuring that cloud customers can directly collect data from the most popular enterprise data sources to streamline their e-discovery and investigation projects. RelativityOne Collect allows for defensible collections and enables users to collect just the right amount of data, which can prevent risky over collections.
"We are thrilled to leverage Box's enterprise-grade cloud content management solution so users can collect the relevant files they need in an intentional, defensible manner," said Chris Brown, Chief Product Officer at Relativity. "These workflows will enable users to identify and gather just the right amount of data to enable a case to proceed as efficiently as possible. This approach also provides detailed reporting, at the item and job levels, to provide context on how collection decisions were made, why specific data may or may not have been included, and any native metadata regarding access, modifications and more."
This integration represents how Relativity carefully invests in how users organize data today so they can more easily discover the truth and act on it.
"Organizations today need products that are inherently secure to support employees working from anywhere," said Fred Klein, Vice President of Business and Corporate Development at Box. "At Box, we continuously strive to improve our integrations with third-party apps so that it's easier than ever for customers to use Box alongside best-in-class solutions. We're excited to work with Relativity to enable our customers to easily leverage robust e-discovery capabilities while working with their most important content."
In addition to collections, legal teams and e-discovery professionals can use connectors to help issue and monitor legal holds and apply data retention policies. With end-to-end e-discovery capabilities, the results of these upstream efforts are quickly present in a review interface—enabling quicker work with minimal data juggling and platform hopping.
"Our goal is to make the often-cumbersome e-discovery process faster and easier for our users, and this integration with Box achieves just that," said Brown. "This is only the beginning as we plan to release additional connection points on a regular basis for our cloud customers to enhance the overall user experience."
About Relativity
Relativity makes software to help users organize data, discover the truth and act on it. Its SaaS product RelativityOne manages large volumes of data and quickly identifies key issues during litigation and internal investigations. The AI-powered communication surveillance product, Relativity Trace proactively detects regulatory misconduct like insider trading, collusion and other non-compliant behavior. Relativity has more than 300,000 users in approximately 40 countries serving thousands of organizations globally primarily in legal, financial services and government sectors, including the U.S. Department of Justice and 198 of the Am Law 200. Relativity has been named one of Chicago's Top Workplaces by the Chicago Tribune for 10 consecutive years. Please contact Relativity at sales@relativity.com or visit http://www.relativity.com for more information.
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SOURCE Relativity | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/relativityone-integrates-with-boxs-leading-content-cloud-enable-direct-data-collection-e-discovery/ | 2022-06-06 16:14:27 | 1 | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/relativityone-integrates-with-boxs-leading-content-cloud-enable-direct-data-collection-e-discovery/ |
With a brief break in the storms hitting the state, businesses in the Santa Cruz area are trying to clean up. Officials say true recovery can't begin until the last expected storm hits next week.
Copyright 2023 KAZU
With a brief break in the storms hitting the state, businesses in the Santa Cruz area are trying to clean up. Officials say true recovery can't begin until the last expected storm hits next week.
Copyright 2023 KAZU | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-01-12/parts-of-california-such-as-santa-cruz-get-a-break-from-relentless-storms | 2023-01-12 11:23:37 | 0 | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-01-12/parts-of-california-such-as-santa-cruz-get-a-break-from-relentless-storms |
LadderUp launches for local retailers in Atlanta, Birmingham, Detroit, Houston and Washington, D.C. providing business owners with capital, e-commerce-focused technical assistance, and education from industry leaders
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Applications opened today for LadderUp, an innovative new accelerator program from retail technology company Shipt that will equip local retailers with tools needed to thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace. The program builds upon a set of commitments announced at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to expand access to food in underserved communities, particularly for those with mobility or transportation barriers.
LadderUp will support local economies by helping local small businesses, especially ones owned by LGBTQ+ people and people of color, grow and compete by providing capital, e-commerce-focused technical assistance, and education from industry leaders to businesses around the country. In line with their commitment to level the economic playing field for Black and other underrepresented populations, Shipt aims to have at least 50% of the businesses in LadderUp to be LGBTQ+ and BIPOC-owned.
"As a growing tech company that is putting food insecurity and equity at the forefront of its work, Shipt is proud to announce the launch of LadderUp," said Kamau Witherspoon, CEO of Shipt. "Working with small businesses to build up their capabilities is a key part of our commitment to help create healthier, more resilient and equitable communities. We recognize the unique role that we can play in both combating hunger in under-resourced communities and boosting small, local retailers that are so vital to communities across our country."
LadderUp applications are open today, February 6, through March 6, 2023, and small businesses in five cities can apply to be part of the program: Atlanta; Birmingham, AL; Detroit; Houston; and Washington, D.C. This opportunity is open to grocery/beverage, health, beauty, and floral/gifts retailers. If selected, small business owners will go through an extensive 8 week course learning from retail industry leaders on driving sustainable growth, building financial foundation, building efficiency, marketing, e-commerce 101, using Shipt, and the basic legal knowledge needed to run a business.
Upon completion of the program, retailers will have in-depth industry knowledge to help them navigate and understand trends in the evolving e-commerce landscape. Additionally, Shipt will provide each participating retailer who completes the LadderUp program $5,000 to help invest in their e-commerce. Shopify, a leading e-commerce company, is partnering with Shipt to teach a course in the program and provide no-cost access to their platform to help retailers build an online storefront, streamline operations, and optimize inventory tracking.
"At Shopify, our mission is to make commerce better for everyone," said Crystal Hunt, Shopify Sr. Program Manager of Partnerships Diversity & Belonging. "To achieve this mission we must bring more voices to entrepreneurship. Together with Shipt, we are reducing the unique barriers facing underrepresented business owners. Through this partnership we will create community and opportunity for the change makers, disruptors and creators of tomorrow, because we know the success of a single entrepreneur can create a legacy, power communities and inspire the world."
The LadderUp program builds on Shipt's existing work designed to support the communities in which it operates and serves. In 2022, Shipt awarded nearly $250,000 in microgrants to organizations who focused on food insecurity, economic disparities and youth workforce development. Shipt works with national partners such as Feeding America, American Red Cross and United Way to help funding go even further in the communities that need it the most.
More information is also available at Shipt.com/LadderUp.
ABOUT SHIPT
Through easy-to-use technology and a network of reliable workers, Shipt connects personal shopping and delivery to 80% of households in more than 5,000 U.S. cities. Shipt's app and website offer consumers access to a variety of stores and product categories including fresh foods, household essentials, wellness products, office and pet supplies. Shipt also helps power deliveries for retailers on orders placed on their own websites by leveraging Shipt Driven, a delivery-only last-mile offering. Shoppers and drivers on the Shipt platform are known for reliability and going above and beyond, including communicating in real time about preferences and substitutions. Shipt is an independently operated, wholly owned subsidiary of Target Corp. Founded and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Shipt also maintains an office in San Francisco. For more information, visit Shipt's Newsroom.
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SOURCE Shipt | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2023/02/06/shipt-announces-accelerator-program-boost-local-small-business-growth-five-cities/ | 2023-02-06 12:12:57 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2023/02/06/shipt-announces-accelerator-program-boost-local-small-business-growth-five-cities/ |
Stephen Curry launches graphic novel series on sports stars
NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Curry’s latest move is one for the books.
The NBA superstar is launching a graphic novel series, “Stephen Curry Presents!: Sports Superheroes,” in partnership with Penguin Workshop. The first of four planned installments will focus on Curry’s career and is scheduled for fall 2024.
The series will be created through the publishing arm of Unanimous Media, the company founded by Curry and Erick Peyton. Last month, Penguin released Curry’s picture book “I Have a Superpower.”
“We hope that when kids pick up the books in this series to read all about their favorite athletes, it not only instills excitement and grows their love for reading, but also inspires them to reach for the stars and accomplish their dreams,” Curry and Peyton said in a statement released Friday by Penguin Workshop, a Penguin Random House division.
The new series will be written by Rich Korson and Josh Bycel, with illustrations by Damion Scott.
For more U.S. news, click here. | https://www.wbbjtv.com/2022/10/23/stephen-curry-launches-graphic-novel-series-on-sports-stars/ | 2022-10-23 23:28:52 | 1 | https://www.wbbjtv.com/2022/10/23/stephen-curry-launches-graphic-novel-series-on-sports-stars/ |
- $1 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) and electric infrastructure project achieves commercial operations
- Represents country's largest ever private foreign direct investment
- Provides up to 30% of country's energy demand with clean, reliable electricity
CHICAGO, Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Invenergy, the largest privately held global developer, owner, and operator of sustainable solutions, has reached commercial operations at the Energía del Pacífico (EDP) LNG-to-power project, located at the Port of Acajutla in El Salvador. The completion of EDP is a major uplift in electric reliability and lower emissions through natural gas supply to the Central American region. The project represents the country's largest ever private foreign direct investment and is providing clean and reliable power to meet up to 30% of El Salvador's energy demand.
By shifting a significant amount of power supply to natural gas, EDP reduces El Salvador's reliance on diesel and heavy fuel oil-fired power generation, offsetting 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, and provides grid support to facilitate more renewable energy penetration, further diversifying the country's energy mix.
The commercial operations milestone for the state-of-the-art, historic energy infrastructure project was achieved in the spring of 2022, despite significant obstacles as a result of the worst global pandemic in modern history. These challenges included supply-chain disruptions, travel restrictions, airport closures, and global financial volatility. Despite these unprecedented circumstances, EDP maintained the highest standard of COVID-19 health and safety protocols during construction to deliver the project.
The project is comprised of a 380-megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired power plant, a permanently moored floating storage regasification unit (FSRU), a 1.8-km subsea pipeline that connects the power plant to the FSRU, and two 230-kV electric transmission lines, one of which connects to the Central American Electrical Interconnection System, providing added grid reliability to the region and opening further opportunities for renewable energy in El Salvador.
The more than $1 billion transformative infrastructure project, the largest-ever private investment in El Salvador, was financed by leading global financial institutions U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, International Finance Corporation, IDB Invest, Finnish Export Credit Ltd and KfW IPEX-Bank. The project, which commenced building in early 2020, employed over 2,000 construction workers and its operations employ 80 people today. EDP has long-term contracts with seven local electric distribution companies under power purchase agreements.
"EDP marks a step change in the clean energy transition in Central America and for our work as innovators building a sustainable world. Bringing our landmark Energia del Pacifico project online during the pandemic is nothing short of remarkable and is a testament to Invenergy's expertise and perseverance and remains a shining example of the opportunities that can be created when private initiatives have strong local government support." said Michael Polsky, Invenergy Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "I am proud of Invenergy's leadership in delivering a clean energy future for El Salvador."
Invenergy served as lead developer of the EDP project with the support of El Salvador-based partners Grupo Calleja, VC Energy de Centroamerica and Quantum Energy. To construct the project, Invenergy worked with a consortium of global project partners including BW LNG, BW Offshore, SAAM Towage, Boskalis, Wärtsilä, Elecnor, and Shell.
The project's construction and commercialization are already strengthening the Salvadoran economy. EDP supports local Acajutla communities through investments of $500,000 per year in economic and social development projects. Multiple social impact projects have already been completed, including the remodeling of schools and community centers, paving central roadways, electrification of homes and businesses, and infrastructure improvements, such as a new sewage and wastewater treatment plant. EDP is also committed to the environment and biodiversity in the region and helped create 150 artificial reefs, hosts educational workshops to promote the conservation of local ecosystems, supports local fishing cooperatives, among other environmental initiatives.
Invenergy drives innovation in energy. Invenergy and its affiliated companies develop, own, and operate large-scale renewable and other clean energy generation and storage facilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Invenergy's home office is located in Chicago, and it has regional development offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Japan, Poland, and Scotland.
Invenergy and its affiliated companies have successfully developed more than 30,000 megawatts of projects that are in operation, construction or contracted, including wind, solar, transmission infrastructure and natural gas power generation and advanced energy storage projects. Learn about Invenergy at Invenergy.com.
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SOURCE Invenergy | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/10/20/transformative-lng-to-power-project-lights-up-el-salvador-accelerates-regions-energy-transition/ | 2022-10-20 15:57:11 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/10/20/transformative-lng-to-power-project-lights-up-el-salvador-accelerates-regions-energy-transition/ |
Nevaeh Roark tallied a goal and two assists in powering No. 12 Eastern to a 4-1 victory over Haddonfield Saturday in Haddonfield.
Kasey Eustace added a goal and an assist. Lily Burt and Lindsey Emerson also scored for the Vikings (9-1-1) who won their third in a row.
Sammie Gallo had the goal for the Bulldogs (5-4).
The N.J. High School Sports newsletter now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here | https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2022/10/camden-county-girls-soccer-recap-for-oct-1-no-12-eastern-downs-haddonfield.html | 2022-10-01 22:21:59 | 0 | https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2022/10/camden-county-girls-soccer-recap-for-oct-1-no-12-eastern-downs-haddonfield.html |
WFO CORPUS CHRISTI Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, April 23, 2023
_____
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
844 AM CDT Sun Apr 23 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northwestern Live Oak
and northwestern Bee Counties through 930 AM CDT...
At 843 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Nell to near Esseville to near Three
Rivers. Movement was east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Pawnee, Nell, Ray Point, Esseville and Oakville.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 37 between mile markers 66 and 83.
US Highway 281 near mile marker 618.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 200 PM CDT for
south central Texas.
LAT...LON 2869 9801 2870 9797 2868 9797 2843 9806
2853 9828 2862 9827 2868 9825 2879 9810
TIME...MOT...LOC 1343Z 256DEG 14KT 2876 9814 2864 9816 2850 9822
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/tx-wfo-corpus-christi-warnings-watches-and-17913520.php | 2023-04-23 14:02:25 | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/tx-wfo-corpus-christi-warnings-watches-and-17913520.php |
Jose Ramirez is averaging more than one RBI per game this season.
The Cleveland Guardians’ slugger will try to keep that pace going in the finale of a three-game series in Detroit on Sunday.
Ramirez drove in five runs — with a three-run triple and a two-run homer — in Cleveland’s 8-1 victory Saturday. He has 48 RBIs in 42 games, along with 12 home runs. He’s driven in 14 runs over his last seven games.
“I don’t know how many RBIs he’s at,” said Shane Bieber, Saturday’s winning pitcher. “I’m done counting. I know he’s done counting. We know he’s going to keep going. It’s otherworldly right now. But it’s a lot of fun to watch.”
It wasn’t fun for Detroit manager A.J. Hinch.
“He’s one of the best players in the game, across the league, across the board,” Hinch said. “He’s very dangerous. He controls the strike zone, he’s got power, speed, defense — All-Star player every year. He demonstrated all of that today.”
Right-hander Triston McKenzie (3-3, 2.70 ERA) will make his eighth start of the season for the Guardians. McKenzie has lasted at least six innings in all four of his May starts, including back-to-back seven-inning outings in his last two appearances.
He held Minnesota to three runs and three hits on May 15, then limited Houston to one run and three hits on Monday.
“Used the fastball early and mixed in some curveballs later and just tried to keep them off balance,” McKenzie said. “That’s a good lineup, top to bottom. We were just trying to figure them out and execute my stuff.”
McKenzie has always been a thorn in Detroit’s side. Last August, he carried a perfect game into the eighth inning and struck out 11. A single by Harold Castro with two outs in the eighth spoiled McKenzie’s bid for perfection.
In four career starts against the Tigers, McKenzie is 2-0 with an 0.78 ERA. He hasn’t put up big strikeout totals this season — his high is seven — but he’s been very effective.
“It’s more about just being in the zone and letting the hitters put the ball in play and letting my guys work behind me,” he said.
He’ll be opposed by rookie right-hander Elvin Rodriguez (0-0, 9.39), who made his first major league start on Monday. He gave up a first-inning grand slam to Minnesota’s Max Kepler, then settled down and tossed four scoreless innings before departing.
“I wasn’t nervous or jittery,” Rodriguez said. “I was trying to be too perfect in what I was trying to do. I was trying to paint my pitches and be more precise than I needed to be. … My biggest memory is going to be the adjustments I made after the first inning to keep my team in the game. That’s what will stay with me.”
The Tigers may not have Miguel Cabrera for Sunday’s game. The veteran designated hitter experienced back stiffness on Saturday and was removed for a pinch hitter.
The series marks the start of an eight-game homestand for Detroit. Cleveland can finish a six-game trip at 3-3 with a win on Sunday.
–Field Level Media | https://www.krqe.com/sports/mlb-baseball/jose-ramirez-guardians-look-for-series-win-vs-tigers/ | 2022-05-29 13:21:35 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/sports/mlb-baseball/jose-ramirez-guardians-look-for-series-win-vs-tigers/ |
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii's Kilauea began erupting inside its summit crater Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, less than one month after the volcano and its larger neighbor Mauna Loa stopped releasing lava.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected a glow in webcam images indicating Kilauea had begun erupting inside Halemaumau crater at the volcano's summit caldera, the agency said.
Kilauea’s summit is inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and away from residential communities.
Earlier Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey raised the alert level for Kilauea due to signs that magma was moving below the summit surface, an indication that the volcano might erupt.
Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes. It last erupted for 16 months starting in September 2021. For about two weeks starting Nov. 27, Hawaii had two volcanoes spewing lava side by side when Mauna Loa erupted for the first time in 38 years. Both volcanoes stopped erupting at about the same time.
During the twin eruption, visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park were able to see lava from both eruptions at the same time.
“It was a beautiful eruption, and lots of people got to see it, and it didn’t take out any major infrastructure and most importantly, it didn’t affect anybody’s life,” said Ken Hon, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s scientist in charge.
Mauna Loa lava didn’t pose a threat to any communities, but got within 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) of a major highway connecting the east and west sides of the island. A 2018 Kilauea eruption destroyed more than 700 residences.
The observatory planned to continue monitoring the volcanoes for signs of renewed activity. Hon previously said there is generally a three-month “cooling off” period before scientists consider an eruption to be complete.
It was unclear what connection there could be to the volcanoes stopping their eruptions around the same time. The volcanoes can be seen at the same time from multiple spots in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park near Kilauea’s caldera.
Scientists planned to look at data to study the relationship between the two volcanoes, Hon previously said.
For Native Hawaiians, volcanic eruptions have deep cultural and spiritual significance. During Mauna Loa’s eruption, many Hawaiians took part in cultural traditions, such as singing, chanting and dancing to honor Pele, the deity of volcanoes and fire, and leaving offerings known as “hookupu.” | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/hawaiis-kilauea-volcano-erupts-again-summit-crater-glows | 2023-01-06 15:53:49 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/hawaiis-kilauea-volcano-erupts-again-summit-crater-glows |
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The Food and Drug Administration warns horse owners of a recent food recall on Top of the Rockies Alfafa cubes. The cubes are reportedly causing death and illness.
According to the USFDA, the contaminated cubes with the date codes 111222, 111322, 111422, 111522, and 111622 have been recalled. The cubes are sold in white and tan plastic bags with green labeling. These cubes have been recalled by Manzanola Feeds, the company that distributes directly to stores in 10 states. Officials recommend disposing of the cubes properly by placing them in a secure container.
The FDA says at least 98 horses in Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas have shown neurologic symptoms. At least 45 died or were euthanized because of the state of their health.
Officials suggest if your horse has eaten this product and is showing signs of neurologic illness, such as muscle tremors, difficulty eating, or difficulty standing, to consult a veterinarian.
For more information, click here. | https://www.cenlanow.com/state-news/officials-warn-livestock-owners-about-feeding-recall/ | 2022-12-18 17:10:22 | 1 | https://www.cenlanow.com/state-news/officials-warn-livestock-owners-about-feeding-recall/ |
To combat a nationwide shortage and increased costs, some restaurants are turning to plant-based eggs like Zero Egg to keep their customers happy
NORTH RIVERSIDE, Ill., Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nationwide consumers and restaurants alike are having difficulty finding eggs, and when they can they're facing insane prices. According to the USDA, the price of eggs has more than tripled in the last year. This is due to fewer birds producing eggs right now in part due to a severe bird flu epidemic. About 57 million fewer birds to be exact, worse than the last outbreak in 2015. The cause for the outbreak is due to large scale farming operations, a consolidated food supply, and lack of concern for animal welfare.
To fight back against the shortage and rising costs restaurants are turning to a better-for-all solution: plant-based eggs like Zero Egg.
"We're hearing time and again from customers that this HPAI outbreak is impacting their decision to expand menu options to include plant-based eggs," said Graeham Henderson, Zero Egg's Director of Sales. "Restaurants around the country were just starting to make a comeback from the slowdowns and labor shortages caused by COVID, and now they're facing this. But Zero Egg helps flip this pain-point into an intelligent, forward-thinking way to solve the problem. And their customers are happy to enjoy Zero Egg because it has the taste and texture that they love, without them or the restaurant having to pay more. In fact, the operators in some cases are paying less!"
The shortage and increased pricing have led to a spike in sales for Zero Egg's foodservice business, poaching restaurants and their goers willing to give plant-based eggs a try.
"We're going to keep seeing bird flu outbreaks. This is our new normal until we prioritize the health of animals, the health of our planet, and our own health. We're seeing that the cost of cheaply produced food isn't so cheap after all," said Liron Nimrodi, Zero Egg's CEO and Co Founder. "At Zero Egg, we're committed to transforming the food system and offering a product that doesn't cause more problems than it solves. We removed the animal, our dear friend the hen, so that we can make tasty and versatile eggs from plants."
Zero Egg is made with a proprietary blend of plant proteins and has the same taste, texture, and versatility of an ordinary egg. It's 100% plant-based, preservative free, gluten-free, and non-GMO, making it suitable for nearly all dietary needs. Zero Egg offers foodservice businesses a pre-cooked patty, frozen liquid, and pre-cooked ready-to-use scramble.
About Zero Egg:
Animal friendly, sustainable, and a healthier alternative, Zero Egg is the plant-based egg for everyone. Founded in 2018, the company believes the plant-based egg should be an everyday choice and is on a mission to make plantbased food accessible to everyone. With a feather-light footprint, Zero Egg offers the taste and texture of an ordinary egg, has better-for-you attributes, and is easy on the planet. It is made of plant proteins including soy, potatoes, peas, and chickpeas. Manufacturing Zero Egg uses radically less land, water, and energy, and produces significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than eggs from hens. Zero Egg is determined to meet the growing demand for egg alternatives that taste, cook, and function like traditional eggs, specifically in foodservice and food manufacturing. In addition to the United States, Zero Egg is also distributed in Israel and Europe. The company received early accolades at launch, including Calcalist's 2019 Food Innovation competition in Israel. More at www.zeroegg.com, Instagram and Linkedin.
Media Contacts:
Joseph Loria, media@zeroegg.com; 631-456-3073
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SOURCE Zero Egg | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/01/31/restaurants-are-dealing-with-national-egg-shortage-steep-price-increase-heres-how-some-are-fighting-back/ | 2023-02-01 00:47:12 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/01/31/restaurants-are-dealing-with-national-egg-shortage-steep-price-increase-heres-how-some-are-fighting-back/ |
DALLAS (AP) — Airlines expecting a hectic summer travel season are planning to hire thousands of new workers this year, lifting a job market that has been hit by layoffs in technology and turmoil in the banking industry.
United Airlines said Wednesday that it hired 7,000 new workers in the first four months of this year and plans to hit 15,000 new hires by year-end, matching the number it hired last year.
By 2026, United projects adding 50,000 workers to a workforce that was about 93,000 at the start of this year.
“We are in hiring mode here at United Airlines,” Kate Gebo, the company’s executive vice president of human resources, told reporters. Airline officials said they already have enough pilots to operate the peak summer schedule.
Airlines have been in a hiring frenzy since being caught understaffed when air travel bounced back from the depths of the pandemic more quickly than anticipated. Shortages of pilots and flight attendants contributed to a jump in the rates of canceled and delayed flights last year.
The nation’s passenger airlines received $54 billion in taxpayer money to keep people on the payroll through the pandemic, and they were prohibited from making layoffs, but they got around that prohibition by paying workers to quit or take early retirement.
Since bottoming out in November 2020, airline-industry jobs have jumped by more than 117,000 — an increase of 32% — to more than 480,00 as of this February, the latest figures available from the Transportation Department. That is a 5% increase over the pre-pandemic peak.
Delta Air Lines hasn’t disclosed its 2023 hiring plans, but CEO Ed Bastian has said the airline has hired nearly 20,000 workers since the start of 2021.
Southwest Airlines planned to hire 7,000 workers this year, but executives said last week they will reduce that number because the airline hasn’t received as many new Boeing jets as it expected.
Some of the new hires at United will replace retiring employees. United executives said they plan to hire 2,300 pilots this year and expect nearly 500 to retire, after first giving a lower range of 250 to 300 retirements. Federal law requires airline pilots to retire by age 65.
A pilot shortage has been especially severe at smaller, so-called regional airlines that operate flights for bigger carriers under the United Express, American Eagle and Delta Connection brands.
Gebo said the next bottleneck is expected to involve aircraft technicians. While there is no federal age limit for aircraft mechanics, Gebo said 40% to 50% of United’s technicians are already eligible to retire under the airline’s guidelines.
United is using career fairs, including a big one in Houston on Thursday, and other tactics to find workers. The tight labor market is causing United to offer higher wages for non-union jobs, Gebo said, and the airline faces higher rates in contracts it is negotiating with pilots and other union workers.
United said 3,800 of its new jobs this year will be in Chicago, where the company is headquartered and runs a big operation at O’Hare International Airport. Airline executives said they will add another 2,300 in Denver, 2,100 in Houston, 2,000 in Newark, New Jersey, and 1,600 in San Francisco. United has hub airports in each of those cities. | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/business/ap-business/united-plans-to-hire-15000-adding-to-surge-in-airline-jobs/ | 2023-05-04 17:09:51 | 0 | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/business/ap-business/united-plans-to-hire-15000-adding-to-surge-in-airline-jobs/ |
(NEXSTAR) – While respiratory illnesses are getting a lot of attention right now (and for good reason), you may find yourself afflicted with a different issue: a stomach bug.
Gastroenteritis – often called stomach flu – is very common, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with millions of cases reported every year. We also routinely hear warnings of listeria, E. coli and salmonella outbreaks, all of which can cause food poisoning.
How can you tell them apart?
The first big difference is that stomach flu is caused by a virus (norovirus, not influenza), while food poisoning is caused by bacteria in food that’s improperly cooked or refrigerated. But that’s not something that will help you tell them apart at the moment when you start to feel sick.
The symptoms are also confusingly similar: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, chills, fever and stomach pain are associated with both the stomach flu and food poisoning, according to the CDC.
The types of symptoms may not differ much, but their onset does. While viruses that cause stomach flu usually have an incubation period of one to two days, food poisoning is usually felt within a few hours.
“Most people don’t have any problem thinking back to what they’ve just eaten, and realize maybe that egg salad was sitting out for too long,” said Donald Ford, chairman of Family Medicine at Cleveland Clinic.
If multiple people are feeling sick two to six hours after eating together, that’s a sign it’s food poisoning, said Ford. With stomach flu, which can spread person-to-person, you may start to feel ill 12 to 48 hours after seeing someone who was infected.
With stomach flu, most people start to feel better in one to three days, says the CDC.
For food poisoning, the CDC recommends seeing a doctor if you have severe symptoms, including bloody diarrhea, fever above 102 degrees, frequent vomiting, dehydration or symptoms lasting more than three days.
In both cases, the sickness often runs its course on its own with rest and hydration.
Story continues below:
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Fluids are especially important, said Ford. “When your body is trying to get rid of what’s in there, it’s going to throw out the good with the bad. It’s pushing out a lot of fluid along with the toxins that are making you ill. You have to be super aggressive about replacing them.” | https://www.krqe.com/health/flu-vs-food-poisoning-how-to-tell-which-one-you-have/ | 2022-12-12 00:46:18 | 0 | https://www.krqe.com/health/flu-vs-food-poisoning-how-to-tell-which-one-you-have/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pharoah Sanders, the influential tenor saxophonist revered in the jazz world for the spirituality of his work, has died, his record label announced. He was 81.
Sanders, also known for his extensive work alongside John Coltrane in the 1960s, died in Los Angeles early Saturday, said the tweet from Luaka Bop, the label that released his 2021 album, “Promises.” It did not specify a cause. A phone message to Luaka Bop in New York was not immediately returned.
“We are devastated to share that Pharoah Sanders has passed away. He died peacefully surrounded by loving family and friends in Los Angeles earlier this morning. Always and forever the most beautiful human being, may he rest in peace,” said the label’s message on Twitter, accompanied by a heart emoji.
The saxophonist’s best-known work was his two-part “The Creator Has a Master Plan,” from the “Karma” album released in 1969. The combined track is nearly 33 minutes long.
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1940, Sanders began playing jazz in Oakland, California. He moved to New York City in 1961, where a few years later he joined Coltrane’s band and began slowly establishing his solo career. | https://www.pahomepage.com/entertainment-news/ap-pharoah-sanders-influential-jazz-saxophonist-dies-at-81/ | 2022-09-24 19:03:52 | 1 | https://www.pahomepage.com/entertainment-news/ap-pharoah-sanders-influential-jazz-saxophonist-dies-at-81/ |
Good morning and welcome to The Climate 202! Congrats to Beyoncé for not only landing nine Grammy Award nominations on Tuesday, but also speaking out about climate change. 👑
A runoff race for a seat on the Louisiana Public Service Commission has big climate implications. Here’s why.
Much of the nation’s attention is focused on the runoff election in Georgia between Democratic Sen. Raphael G. Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker, which will determine whether Democrats pad their Senate majority.
But in Louisiana, a lesser-noticed runoff election for a seat on an obscure regulatory body — the state Public Service Commission — could have even bigger implications for efforts to cut the nation’s planet-warming emissions.
One of the candidates has vowed to bring an influx of renewable energy to Louisiana, one of the nation’s top oil-and-gas-producing states, even as the prospects fade for ambitious climate legislation in a divided Congress, with Republicans nearing a House majority and Democrats keeping the Senate.
The details: Davante Lewis, a young activist from Baton Rouge, is trying to unseat Lambert Boissiere III, a member of a prominent New Orleans political family who chairs the commission. Both men are Democrats, although Lewis is more liberal.
Boissiere, who took office in 2005, is seeking a final term on the commission, which oversees electric utilities and natural gas facilities in the state. But in the primary last week, Boissiere fell short of the 50 percent threshold needed to win outright, garnering 43 percent of the vote, while Lewis received 18 percent.
Lewis has called for Louisiana to adopt a renewable portfolio standard that would require utilities to reach net-zero emissions by 2035. That’s in line with President Biden’s aggressive goal of 100 percent clean electricity nationwide by 2035, as well as a net-zero plan from Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D).
The commission has five members, each serving six-year terms. Lewis’s campaign contends that only two of the five current commissioners favor clean energy over fossil fuels. If Lewis prevails, his campaign says, three of the five commissioners would favor clean energy, cementing a pro-climate majority that would probably pass a renewable portfolio standard and other green policies.
In a phone interview with The Climate 202, Lewis said he was motivated to enter the race by recent hurricanes that have hammered Louisiana, exposing the vulnerability of the state’s electric grid to climate-change-fueled disasters.
“As hurricanes and storms get stronger, this is going to be a very big crisis that Louisiana must face,” he said. “And so this is why I strongly believe in 100 percent renewables by the year 2035.”
Lewis added that he hopes to partner with Public Service Commissioner Craig Greene, a Republican who has supported some climate investments, including efforts to make the grid more resilient during extreme weather.
Boissiere did not respond to a request for comment. But the Advocate, a Louisiana newspaper, reported that Boissiere has defended his environmental record, saying there is only so much he can do as one of two Democrats on the commission and highlighting his recent vote for new large-scale solar projects.
Friends in high places
To be sure, Lewis is considered an underdog after receiving 18 percent of the vote compared to Boissiere’s 43 percent. But he has garnered support from some well-funded environmental advocates.
A super PAC called Keep the Lights On, which is funded by the political arm of the Environmental Defense Fund, spent half a million dollars to force Boissiere into the runoff, the Advocate reported.
In a 30-second ad that aired on TV and social media, the super PAC slammed Boissiere for accepting “piles of campaign contributions from the same industries he’s supposed to regulate,” including the utility Entergy and its executives. Lewis has pledged to create a rule barring campaign contributions from regulated entities.
In response, Boissiere has said the donations from Entergy and other industry interests do not sway his votes, adding that he is open to restricting such donations in the future.
Liz Russell, chair of the super PAC and Louisiana state director at EDF Action, told The Climate 202 that she has been encouraged to see the race get more national attention than usual, including from some celebrities. (The actor Mark Ruffalo last week encouraged his 8 million Twitter followers to donate to both Lewis and Warnock “to save our climate.”)
“Public utility commission races are generally overlooked,” Russell said. “These commissioners have done their work in relative anonymity for decades. But this race is a tremendous opportunity to set the direction of climate policy for our state and our country.”
The runoff is scheduled for Dec. 10.
On the Hill
Exclusive: House Democrats urge Biden administration to support ‘loss and damage’ fund
Liberal House Democrats are calling on the Biden administration to support the creation of a fund for “loss and damage,” which would help developing countries cover the cost of cascading climate disasters, at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Egypt, known as COP27, according to a letter shared first with The Climate 202.
“We have both a moral and a strategic responsibility to provide comprehensive support for countries facing climate disaster, including debt forgiveness and reparations,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter to U.S. climate envoy John F. Kerry.
Led by Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), the letter was also signed by 11 other Democrats, including House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (Ariz.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.).
The push comes as Kerry has resisted the establishment of a finance facility for loss and damage, fearing liability for America's outsized greenhouse gas emissions.
“It's a well-known fact that the United States and many other countries will not establish … some sort of legal structure that is tied to compensation or liability,” Kerry said at COP27 on Saturday. “That's just not happening.”
International climate
G-20 agrees to phase down coal as Ukraine war looms over COP27
World leaders at the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, on Wednesday agreed to a communique that calls for moving away from coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel.
The leaders vowed to "rapidly scale up the deployment of clean power generation, including renewable energy, as well as energy efficiency measures, including accelerating efforts towards the phasedown of unabated coal power."
This language could pave the way for countries to ramp up their climate ambition at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Egypt, known as COP27, according to experts in international climate diplomacy.
Here’s more key updates from the climate summit:
- U.S. climate envoy John F. Kerry on Tuesday met with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua for about 45 minutes, hinting at further progress after the world’s two biggest greenhouse gas emitters resumed talks on climate action, the Associated Press reports. “We had a very good meeting,” Kerry said, adding that while it is too early to talk about any remaining differences, “we’re going to go to work.”
- Frans Timmermans, the European Union’s top climate official, announced a small increase of the bloc’s 2030 emissions reduction target, unveiling a 57 percent cut instead of a 55 percent cut compared with 1990 levels.
- Russia has seen its role on the global stage diminished by the war in Ukraine, and the climate summit is no exception, The Washington Post’s Siobhán O'Grady and Rebecca Tan report. When asked if the Russian delegation felt sidelined at COP27, Viacheslav Fetisov, chairman of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation, scoffed and said, “What do you think?”
Pressure points
Trump says he is running again, vows 'energy dominance'
Former president Donald Trump, who inspired a failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election culminating in a deadly attack on the Capitol, officially declared on Tuesday night that he is running to retake the White House in 2024, The Washington Post's Isaac Arnsdorf reports.
In a speech at his Florida Mar-a-Lago Club, Trump asserted that President Biden “has intentionally surrendered our energy independence” and vowed to restore the nation’s ”energy dominance,” an apparent reference to boosting domestic fossil fuel production and exports.
Trump added that "the Green New Deal and the environment, which they say may affect us in 300 years, is all that is talked about" on the left. He appeared to be arguing that climate change will not affect humanity for another 300 years, even though leading scientists say rising global temperatures are already leading to more frequent and deadly extreme weather events around the globe.
Advocates blast Biden administration’s delay on soot pollution standards
Environmental and public health advocates on Tuesday criticized the Biden administration for blowing past a deadline to strengthen soot pollution standards, saying the delay will further harm the health of disadvantaged communities.
Monday marked the 90-day deadline for the White House Office of Management and Budget to complete its review of updated soot standards from the Environmental Protection Agency, but the regulations have still not been unveiled.
In response, 167 climate and public health advocates — coordinated by the Climate Action Campaign — sent a letter to President Biden saying the delay comes at “the expense of improved health and environmental justice outcomes for communities that have borne the brunt of this pollution” for decades.
“We’re out of time,” Raul Garcia, legislative director for healthy communities at Earthjustice, said on a call with reporters Tuesday. “We need the Biden administration to act promptly to address this and to ensure that EPA is living up to its mission.”
Spokespeople for the EPA and the White House did not respond to a request for comment on the letter.
Meanwhile, the Office of Management and Budget on Tuesday completed its review of regulations from the Bureau of Land Management that would limit the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from oil and gas operations across the country, according to Reginfo.gov, a federal rule-tracking website.
In the atmosphere
- One man’s lonely quest to save the world’s corals draws a following — Rebecca Tan for The Post
- The world population just hit a milestone. Here’s where you fit in. — Daniel Wolfe, Ruby Mellen, Leslie Shapiro and Hailey Haymond for The Post
- Facing questions about climate aid, Democrats blame the GOP — Jean Chemnick for E&E News
- Biden administration eyes limiting diesel exports as Northeast stocks dry up — Jennifer A. Dlouhy for Bloomberg News
Viral
If you’re feeling stressed today, you otter take a look at this:
'Sea otter and pup' by Suzi Eszterhas, award-winning wildlife photographer known for documenting animal family groups #WomensArt #Tuesday pic.twitter.com/9gYCW8HP7w
— #WOMENSART (@womensart1) November 8, 2022
Thanks for reading! | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/16/this-obscure-runoff-race-could-help-shape-state-climate-action/ | 2022-11-16 12:43:58 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/16/this-obscure-runoff-race-could-help-shape-state-climate-action/ |
Theranos' Elizabeth Holmes loses bid to stay out of prison
Disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has been rebuffed in her attempt to stay out of federal prison while she appeals her conviction for the fraud she committed while overseeing a blood-testing scam that exposed Silicon Valley's dark side.
In an 11-page ruling issued late Monday, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila concluded there wasn't compelling enough evidence to allow Holmes to remain free on bail while her lawyers try to persuade an appeals court that alleged misconduct during her four-month trial led to an unjust verdict.
The judge's decision means Holmes, 39, will have to surrender to authorities on April 27 to start the more than 11-year prison sentence that Davila imposed in November. The punishment came 10 months after a jury found her guilty on four counts of fraud and conspiracy against the Theranos investors who believed in her promises to revolutionize the health care industry.
Holmes had accompanied her lawyers to a San Jose, California, courtroom on March 17 to try to convince Davila that various missteps by federal prosecutors, and the omission of key evidence, will culminate in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals exonerating her.
Holmes' prison sentence is scheduled to start roughly 20 years after she dropped out of Stanford University when she was 19 years old to start Theranos in Palo Alto, California — the same city where William Hewlett and David Packard founded a company bearing their surnames in a small garage and planted the seeds of what grew into Silicon Valley.
Holmes could still file another appeal of Davila's latest ruling, a maneuver her co-conspirator at Theranos — Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani — successfully used to delay his scheduled March 16 date to begin a nearly 13-year prison sentence. But the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last week rejected that appeal, and Balwani is now scheduled to report to a Southern California prison on April 20.
Davila has recommended Holmes serve her sentence in a Bryan, Texas, prison. It hasn't yet been publicly confirmed if that will be the facility where she reports.
Unless she can find a way to stay free, Holmes will be separated from the two children she had leading up to the trial and after her conviction.
Her first child, a boy, was born shortly before her trial began in September 2021. The youngest child, whose gender hasn't been disclosed in court documents, was born at some point after her November sentencing. She conceived both with her current partner, William "Billy" Evans, whom she met after breaking up with Balwani in the midst of Theranos' downfall.
The denial of Holmes' request to remain free is the latest twist in a long-running saga that has already been the subject of an acclaimed HBO documentary and an award-winning Hulu TV series.
Although they had separate trials, Holmes and Balwani were accused of essentially the same crimes centered on a ruse touting Theranos' blood-testing system as a breakthrough in health care. The claims helped the company become a Silicon Valley sensation that raised nearly $1 billion from investors and at one point anointed Holmes with a $4.5 billion fortune, based on her 50% stake in Theranos.
Holmes also parlayed the buzz surrounding Theranos to speaking engagements on the same stage as former President Bill Clinton and glowing cover stories in business publications that likened her to tech visionaries such as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
But Theranos' technology never came close to working like Holmes and Balwani boasted, resulting in the company's scandalous collapse and a criminal case that shined a bright light on Silicon Valley's greed and hubris. | https://www.wgal.com/article/theranos-elizabeth-holmes-loses-bid-prison/43569359 | 2023-04-11 22:34:06 | 0 | https://www.wgal.com/article/theranos-elizabeth-holmes-loses-bid-prison/43569359 |
Which gazebos are best?
You might have heard people talking about them or maybe you’ve seen them around, but you’re still left wondering, what is a gazebo? Or perhaps you know the basics but you’d like to learn more.
A gazebo is an outdoor structure that provides shade and protection from the elements. You can buy them in a range of styles, shapes and sizes. Once you know more about them, it’s easier to find the right one for you.
What is a gazebo?
A gazebo is a freestanding garden structure that’s open-sided, rather than having walls or fixed sides like a shed or summerhouse. The primary function of a gazebo is to provide shade and shelter while you’re outside.
Although they’re often square or rectangular, you can find hexagonal, octagonal and other similarly shaped gazebos. They come in two main varieties: hardtop and soft-top.
Hardtop gazebos
As the name suggests, hardtop gazebos have roofs made from hard materials. More often than not, their canopies are made from metal or some type of hard plastic, such as vinyl. They’re more rugged than soft-top varieties, but they’re also significantly more expensive.
Gazebos of this type take a significant amount of time to set up and take down, so they’re designed to be either permanent or semi-permanent. They can either be concreted into the ground as a permanent structure or anchored with pegs or screws if you want to be able to move them.
Soft-top gazebos
Soft-top gazebos have canopies made from a sturdy fabric that’s UV-resistant and either naturally waterproof or has a waterproof coating. They’re more affordable than hardtop versions but not as durable.
They’re generally meant for temporary use, either for a day or week at a time or the full summer. Some soft-top gazebos have pop-up frames, making them even quicker and easier to put up and take down.
What are gazebos used for?
Now you know what gazebos are, but you might still be wondering what they’re used for. These are some of the most common ways to use gazebos.
- Shade: If your yard doesn’t have much natural shade, you’ll be able to sit out more comfortably and for longer when shaded by a gazebo.
- Shelter from rain: It’s frustrating when it’s warm enough to enjoy your backyard but it’s raining. However, with a gazebo, you can enjoy the fresh air while staying dry.
- Keeping bugs out: Many gazebos have mosquito net curtains, so you can spend time outdoors without worrying about bugs.
- Grilling under: Thanks to their open sides, gazebos are safe to grill under and can be used on rainy days or to provide shade when it’s hot out.
- Hot tubs: Gazebos make ideal covers for hot tubs, providing shade and shelter from rain or snow.
How to choose the right gazebo
Think about size
You can choose from a wide range of sizes, from under 10 feet by 10 feet to over 14 feet by 20 feet. Consider what or how many people you want to fit under your gazebo and also the size of your outdoor space. You don’t want a gazebo to absolutely dwarf a small yard or look comically small in a large yard.
Decide if you want a permanent or temporary structure
Do you want a shelter just for the summer months or are you looking for something more permanent that you can enjoy year-round? Your answer to this question will dictate which type of gazebo is right for you: hardtop for permanent or long-term use or soft-top for short-term use.
Consider materials
Gazebos usually have metal frames, though some cheap models have plastic frames and some high-end versions have wooden frames. Roofs can be fabric, metal, plastic or even made from wooden shingles. Choose durable materials if you want your gazebo to last years to come.
Pay attention to side panels
While gazebos don’t have fixed sides, some have removable side panels or curtains that can be drawn around the edges. Some curtains are made from mesh to keep bugs out while maintaining airflow, while others are made from more solid fabric to help block out wind and rain.
Best gazebos
Best Choice Products Hardtop Gazebo
Lightweight yet durable, it’s made with an aluminum frame and a UV-blocking tinted plastic roof. It measures 10 feet by 10 feet, which is large enough to accommodate a group without taking over your yard.
Sold by Amazon
Purple Leaf Permanent Hardtop Gazebo
This rugged hardtop gazebo is meant to be concreted into the ground as a permanent backyard structure. It’s available in four sizes between 10 feet by 14 feet and 12 feet by 18 feet.
Sold by Amazon
Kozyard Alexander Hardtop Aluminum Permanent Gazebo
With an aluminum frame and steel top, this is a highly durable choice of gazebo that comes in sizes between 10 feet by 12 feet and 12 feet by 20 feet. The double curtains have a mosquito net layer that you can use independently of the opaque fabric layer.
Sold by Amazon
Best Choice Products Outdoor Portable Pop-Up Gazebo
Taking just minutes to pop up and peg down, this is a great choice for occasional use or impromptu garden gatherings. It folds relatively small so you can take it camping or on day trips.
Sold by Amazon
Cool Spot Pop-Up Instant Gazebo Tent
This stylish pop-up gazebo has a vented roof and mosquito net curtains to keep bugs at bay. It comes in six colors, including beige, blue and red.
Sold by Amazon
Measuring 10 feet by 13 feet, this is relatively spacious for a soft-top gazebo. The sturdy frame is made of iron and the canopy and curtains are made of high-quality fabric.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/office-br/furniture-br/what-is-a-gazebo/ | 2023-05-11 16:11:37 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/office-br/furniture-br/what-is-a-gazebo/ |
Chicago police officer shot on Southwest Side, rushed to hospital: CFD
CHICAGO - A Chicago police officer was shot Wednesday on the city's Southwest Side.
Fire officials say the shooting occurred in the 5200 block of S. Spaulding Avenue in the Gage Park neighborhood.
The officer was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital. The condition of the officer is not yet known.
According to the Chicago Fire Department, an offender was also taken to an area hospital.
The circumstances of the shooting are unknown.
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SkyFOX was live over the scene and observed at least a dozen squad cars escorting an ambulance to the hospital.
No further details were immediately available.
Check back later for updates. | https://www.fox29.com/news/chicago-police-officer-shot-gage-park | 2023-03-02 01:08:19 | 1 | https://www.fox29.com/news/chicago-police-officer-shot-gage-park |
WATCH: Good Samaritans rescue dog trapped on interstate bridge
NASHVILLE (WTVF) – A group of good Samaritans are being credited with saving a dog that was trapped on a Tennessee highway.
The area of the Silliman Evans Bridge which overlooks downtown Nashville can get pretty hectic, and a woman who got out of her car on that part of the highway drew a lot of attention.
The woman was trying to help a dog on the interstate.
Officer Edward Holden of the Nashville Metro Police approached the scene.
“I saw that traffic was backed up. I originally thought it was a traffic crash, to be honest with you,” he said.
The situation he found was pretty strange. Some good Samaritans were helping to rescue the dog. A woman ran over with a leash, and a man who the dog seemed comfortable with carefully connected it with the dog’s collar.
“Definitely, if not for the two people who had the dog, it might have got hit by a car,” Holden said. “I opened up the car, put the dog in there. He was fine. I put the windows down for him. Gave him a little air. He was just walking back and forth.”
The dog was taken to Metro Animal Care and Control. He did not have a collar tag nor was he microchipped.
Matthew Peters, who works with animal control, said anyone who is looking for missing pets should check their website. He also said the dog saved on the highway was safe and sound at the shelter.
“Wasn’t hurt, was in good health. Seemed like he was being fed really well. It seems the owner definitely cared for it. We’re hoping this owner does come through,” he said.
Peters said the dog’s safety in the shelter is a credit to the people who stepped up to help.
Copyright 2023 WTVF via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/03/01/watch-good-samaritans-rescue-dog-trapped-interstate-bridge/ | 2023-03-01 19:23:17 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/03/01/watch-good-samaritans-rescue-dog-trapped-interstate-bridge/ |
Voyager Space Names Hilton Official Hotel Partner to Elevate the Guest Experience in Space
DENVER and MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Voyager Space ("Voyager"), a global leader in space exploration, today announced Hilton will be the official hotel partner of Starlab, Voyager's planned free-flying commercial space station. Hilton will bring the company's renowned hospitality expertise and experience to support the design and development of crew suites aboard Starlab, helping to reimagine the human experience in space, making extended stays more comfortable.
"Starlab will be more than just a destination, it will be an experience made infinitely more unique and artful with the Hilton team's infusion of innovation, expertise, and global reach," said Dylan Taylor, Chairman and CEO, Voyager Space. "Voyager and Hilton are acutely focused on creating innovative solutions for the future of humanity and this partnership opens new doors to what is possible for comfort-focused space exploration and habitation."
Voyager, and its operating company Nanoracks, were awarded $160 million in NASA funding in 2021 for the Starlab space station, which is set to replace the International Space Station. Starlabis planned toto have the capacity to continuously host up to four astronauts and house the George Washington Carver (GWC) Science Park, a state-of-the-art laboratory system and first science park in-space. Starlab leverages Voyager and Nanoracks' experience managing global customer experience and research operations on the International Space Station for over a decade.
"Hilton has been innovating to improve the guest experience and pioneering new destinations for travel for more than a century. We are thrilled to partner with Voyager to bring that expertise to Starlab," said Chris Nassetta, president and CEO, Hilton. "For decades, discoveries in space have been positively impacting life on Earth, and now Hilton will have an opportunity to use this unique environment to improve the guest experience wherever people travel. This landmark collaboration underscores our deep commitment to spreading the light and warmth of hospitality and providing a friendly, reliable stay – whether on the ground or in outer space."
This first-of-its-kind venture builds on Hilton's effect in new and emerging markets, its storied history with space, and its global lodging and hospitality leadership, welcoming more than three billion guests across a portfolio of 18 brands comprising 7,000 properties in 122 countries and territories. In partnership with Voyager, Hilton will bring this unique scale and customer focus to Starlab as it continues to serve every traveler for every trip occasion.
The research and design work being dedicated to Starlab could also lead to advancements driving sustainability and greater design efficiencies for future hotel owners in space and on Earth.
Voyager and Hilton will partner in the areas of architecture and design, leveraging Hilton's word-class creative design and innovation experts, to develop Space Hospitality crew headquarters aboard Starlab, including communal areas, hospitality suites, and sleeping arrangements for the astronauts. Additionally, the teams will seek to explore opportunities together for longer-term efforts including the ground-to-space astronaut experience, global co-marketing and branding, and other tourism, educational, and commercial efforts.
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 18 world-class brands comprising 7,000 properties and 1.1 million rooms, in 122 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, earned a top spot on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For list and been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for five consecutive years. Hilton has introduced several industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the 139 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can't buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
Voyager Space is a space technology company with nearly 20 years of spaceflight heritage. Voyager's long-term mission is to create a vertically integrated NewSpace company capable of delivering any space mission humans can conceive. The firm's first-in-industry model is uniquely tailored to support the growth needs of commercial space companies by replacing traditional private capital models with a longer-term approach that provides permanent capital.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including those with respect to Voyager Space, Inc.'s (the "Company's") mission statement and growth strategy, are "forward-looking statements." Although the Company's management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from those anticipated. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; and the ability to obtain necessary financing on acceptable terms or at all. Readers should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve these known and unknown uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
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NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
If you own shares in any of the companies listed above and
would like to discuss our investigations or have any questions concerning
this notice or your rights or interests, please contact:
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305 Broadway, 7th Floor
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(212) 682-3025
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Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Forma Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: FMTX), in connection with the proposed acquisition of FMTX by Novo Nordisk A/S via tender offer. Under the terms of the merger agreement, FMTX shareholders will receive $20.00 in cash for each share of FMTX common stock owned. If you own FMTX shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us at one of the numbers listed above or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/fmtx
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives, Inc. (NASDAQ: IEA), in connection with the proposed acquisition of IEA by MasTec, Inc. ("MasTec"). Under the terms of the merger agreement, IEA shareholders will receive $14.00 per share in cash and 0.0483 shares of MasTec common stock for each IEA share owned, representing implied per-share merger consideration of approximately $17.68 based upon MasTec's September 22, 2022 closing price of $76.11. If you own IEA shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us at one of the numbers listed above or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/iea
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AERI), in connection with the proposed acquisition of AERI by Alcon Inc. Under the terms of the merger agreement, AERI shareholders will receive $15.25 in cash for each share of AERI common stock owned. If you own AERI shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us at one of the numbers listed above or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/aeri
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Meridian Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ: VIVO), in connection with the proposed acquisition of VIVO by SD Biosensor, Inc. ("SDB") and SJL Partners LLC ("SJL"). Under the merger agreement, VIVO shareholders will receive $34.00 in cash for each share of VIVO stock owned, leaving SDB owning approximately 60% and SJL owning approximately 40% of Meridian. If you own VIVO shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us at one of the numbers listed above or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/vivo
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TORONTO, July 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Mandalay Resources Corporation ("Mandalay" or the "Company") (TSX: MND) (OTCQB: MNDJF) announces today its production and sales results for the second quarter of 2023 and provides revised production and cost guidance for 2023.
Second Quarter Production Highlights:
- Consolidated saleable gold equivalent production of 20,850 ounces; and
- Consolidated saleable gold equivalent sold of 20,229 ounces.
Revised 2023 Production and Cost Guidance:
- Revised 2023 production guidance to 88,000 – 100,000 gold equivalent ounces from 105,000 – 118,000;
- Cash cost and all-in sustaining costs expected at $1,010 – $1,170 and $1,370 – $1,580 per gold equivalent ounce, respectively. Previously $800 – $975 cash cost and $1,150 – $1,325 all-in sustaining; and
- Exploration budget remains unchanged. Revised capital guidance to a consolidated $41 – $49 million, a reduction of $3 million.
Frazer Bourchier, President and CEO of Mandalay, commented:
"The Company experienced a challenging first half of 2023 at both its operations which will impact our ability to meet the previously stated annual production and cost guidance for 2023. Despite our original expectation that production will be higher in the second half of this year than it was over the first six months, we no longer anticipate that this will compensate for the shortfall experienced year-to-date and are therefore revising production guidance downward by just over 15%.
"While the revision in our annual guidance is unfortunate, we now have a better understanding of the factors that led to the recent production shortfalls. We are taking steps to implement mitigating solutions, which I am confident will be effective. In addition, the recently expanded exploration budget at both operations not only remains unchanged but will become a key focus area going forward as self-funded organic exploration success is envisioned to underpin the growth of the assets. Lastly, I am pleased that all of our previous gold hedges have now expired and that we anticipate the continued generation of positive cashflow."
Ryan Austerberry, COO of Mandalay, commented:
"Several temporary, yet significant factors influenced our production performance during this quarter which unfortunately caused production to fall below our initial expectations at both operations. On a consolidated basis, the Company produced 20,850 and 40,836 saleable gold equivalent ounces during Q2 2023 and the first six months of this year, respectively.
"Björkdal produced 10,397 saleable gold ounces in Q2 2023, while facing continued challenges related to personnel vacancies, mined tonne volumes and stope dilution. However, we are seeing encouraging signs of improvement resulting from the initiatives implemented during the first half of the year with a steady increase in ore volumes delivered from the mine. We expect further productivity enhancements from our trucking contractors in the second half of this year.
"Looking ahead, we are optimistic that we will receive the mining concession required to allow us to begin production from the eastern extension of the Björkdal veining that was discovered and defined over the past two years. This development would initially shift our focus to the Eastern extension of Main Zone, where we are anticipating higher gold grades and less dilution due to the vertical orientation of the mineralization. Regarding personnel, we are committed to ongoing investment and training, but have needed to leverage the expertise of experienced contractors to supplement staffing shortfalls particularly over the summer vacation period in Sweden.
"Costerfield produced 10,453 saleable gold equivalent ounces in Q2 2023, as it encountered challenges leading to deficits in the annual budget for both gold grades and mined tonnes. The drop in grades can be attributed primarily to a delay in stope progression into the higher-grade core of the Youle orebody. We have investigated root causes of the grade discrepancies and have recalibrated our geological modeling and scheduling, adding confidence to the revised guidance. For the latter half of this year, we will be retreating production fronts into the higher-grade core of Youle while continuing to develop along the multiple veins of the Shepherd orebody.
"The shortfall in mined tonnes was further exacerbated by supply chain issues that resulted in a delay in receiving a remote underground loader. Although we initially anticipated its arrival during Q2, we now expect it to be delivered and fully functional in Q3."
Mr. Bourchier concluded, "We are making concerted efforts towards mitigating the factors leading to this productivity shortfall. In parallel, we are actively working towards optimizing our mining processes, increasing mining flexibility, and streamlining our operations. These measures are aimed at mitigating most of the identified operational risks to better position our operations on a path towards building a stronger and sustainable track record of operational excellence."
Saleable Production for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2023:
- In the second quarter of 2023, the Company produced a total of 17,693 ounces of gold and 517 tonnes of antimony representing a total of 20,850 ounces of gold equivalent, versus 19,395 ounces of gold and 523 tonnes of antimony in the second quarter of 2022, representing a total of 23,305 ounces of gold equivalent.
- Production at Björkdal was 10,397 ounces of gold in the second quarter of 2023 versus 8,316 ounces of gold in the second quarter of 2022.
- Production at Costerfield was 7,296 ounces of gold and 517 tonnes of antimony in the second quarter of 2023 versus 11,079 ounces gold and 523 tonnes antimony in the second quarter of 2022.
Saleable Production for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2023:
- The Company produced a total of 34,030 ounces gold and 1,061 tonnes antimony, representing a total of 40,836 ounces of gold equivalent production, versus 43,976 ounces gold and 1,206 tonnes of antimony in the corresponding six months of 2022, representing a total of 52,936 ounces of gold equivalent.
- Production at Björkdal was 19,366 ounces gold.
- Production at Costerfield was 14,664 ounces gold and 1,061 tonnes antimony.
Table 1 – Second Quarter and Six Months Saleable Production for 2023 and 2022
Sales for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2023:
- In the second quarter of 2023, the Company sold a total of 17,200 ounces of gold and 496 tonnes of antimony, representing a total of 20,229 ounces of gold equivalent, versus 21,189 ounces of gold and 748 tonnes of antimony in the second quarter of 2022, representing a total of 26,781 ounces of gold equivalent.
- Björkdal sold 9,939 ounces of gold in the second quarter of 2023 versus 8,976 ounces of gold in the second quarter of 2022.
- Costerfield sold 7,261 ounces of gold and 496 tonnes of antimony in the second quarter of 2023 versus 12,213 ounces of gold and 748 tonnes of antimony in the second quarter of 2022.
Sales for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2023:
- The Company sold 35,220 ounces gold and 1,055 tonnes antimony, representing a total of 41,998 ounces of gold equivalent, versus 45,572 ounces gold and 1,275 tonnes antimony in the first six months of 2022, representing a total of 55,061 ounces of gold equivalent.
- Björkdal sold 19,460 ounces gold.
- Costerfield sold 15,760 ounces gold and 1,055 tonnes antimony.
Table 2 – Second Quarter and Six Months Sales for 2023 and 2022
Mandalay's updated guidance for 2023 production and capital expenditures are set out below together with the original guidance amounts.
Table 3 – Revised 2023 Full-Year Guidance
Table 4 – Original 2023 Full-Year Guidance
About Mandalay Resources Corporation:
Mandalay Resources is a Canadian-based natural resource company with producing assets in Australia (Costerfield gold-antimony mine) and Sweden (Björkdal gold mine). The Company is focused on growing its production and reducing costs to generate significant positive cashflow. Mandalay is committed to operating safely and in an environmentally responsible manner, while developing a high level of community and employee engagement.
Mandalay's mission is to create shareholder value through the profitable operation and continuing the regional exploration program, at both its Costerfield and Björkdal mines. Currently, the Company's main objectives are to continue mining the high-grade Youle vein at Costerfield, bring online the deeper Shepherd veins, both of which will continue to supply high-grade ore to the processing plant, and to extend Youle Mineral Reserves. At Björkdal, the Company will aim to increase production from the Aurora zone and other higher-grade areas in the coming years, in order to maximize profit margins from the mine.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the Company's expected production of gold and antimony and costs for the 2023 fiscal year. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, changes in commodity prices and general market and economic conditions. The factors identified above are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect Mandalay. A description of additional risks that could result in actual results and developments differing from those contemplated by forward-looking statements in this news release can be found under the heading "Risk Factors" in Mandalay's annual information form dated March 31, 2023, a copy of which is available under Mandalay's profile at www.sedar.com. In addition, there can be no assurance that any inferred resources that are discovered as a result of additional drilling will ever be upgraded to proven or probable reserves. Although Mandalay has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Non-IFRS Measures:
This news release may contain references to Income from mine operations before depreciation & depletion, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, free cash flow, cash cost per saleable ounce of gold equivalent produced and all-in sustaining cost all of which are non-IFRS measures and do not have standardized meanings under IFRS. Therefore, these measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.
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SOURCE Mandalay Resources Corporation | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/07/13/mandalay-resources-announces-production-sales-results-second-quarter-2023-revised-full-year-2023-guidance/ | 2023-07-13 11:57:57 | 0 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/07/13/mandalay-resources-announces-production-sales-results-second-quarter-2023-revised-full-year-2023-guidance/ |
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LONDON (AP) — Artists, if they have really made a mark, might get a gallery dedicated to their work once they are gone.
Gilbert and George don’t want to wait that long.
The dapper duo, who have been creating beguiling and unsettling art together for over half a century, have poured their own time and money into the Gilbert and George Center, a permanent exhibition and research space devoted to their work. Located just off bustling Brick Lane in London’s East End, the building opens to the public April 1 with an exhibition of the big, bold photo assemblies for which the pair has become famous.
Admission is free — and that, they say, is important.
“We want to make art for people, not for collectors,” said Italy-born Gilbert Prousch, who met Englishman George Passmore at London’s St. Martin’s art college in 1967. They have been partners in art and in life ever since.
“Our earliest slogan was ‘Art for all,’” added George in an interview Friday with The Associated Press.
“We’re always being stopped on the streets of London by young people who say, ‘I love your art.’ We say, ‘Which art did you see?’ And they’d never actually seen an exhibition. They saw a catalogue in a house or a magazine. So we thought, if there is a proper place where you can have pictures permanently on show, it would be fantastic.”
Gilbert and George — like Raphael or Madonna, known universally by their first names — are as recognizable as their art, inseparable from it and from each other.
In early work they performed as living statues, a pair of impeccable gentlemen in tweed suits with a subversive streak. Later they inserted their own images into photo montages, juxtaposed against the totems and detritus of modern life – newspaper headlines, graffiti, advertisements, garbage, even excrement and bodily fluids.
Over the decades they have created hundreds of these huge, multicolored assemblies, which resemble secular — some might say sacrilegious — stained-glass windows.
“We invented a language for ourselves,” Gilbert said.
Added George: “We have different things to say as we traverse through life, but the form remains the same.”
They began as self-styled outsiders, and Gilbert says they still feel that way.
“We felt we were alone,” he said. “We have never been part of an art group, never been art groupies. We kept ourselves outside. And it’s freedom to be there.”
Still, the gleaming new gallery reflects their status as art world stars whose work has been displayed in museums around the world and has sold for more than $3 million at auction.
The art center, with 3,000 square feet (280 square meters) of exhibition space in three high-ceilinged galleries, has been created from a 200-year-old former brewery in Spitalfields, an area that has been home to successive groups of migrants, from French Protestant Huguenots to eastern European Jews to Bangladeshi Muslims.
For decades the neighborhood has attracted the young and creative, with its warehouse spaces, cheap restaurants, street markets and independent stores. Gilbert and George have lived in the area for years and have seen it move steadily upmarket; 18th-century houses like the one they live in now sell for millions.
Despite gentrification, the area continues to inspire them.
“The East End of London is a global center — has always been,” Gilbert said.
Works in the gallery’s debut exhibition, “The Paradisical Papers,” depict the pair amid lush, faintly psychedelic foliage including flowers, berries and leaves, in bold hues of green, purple and pink. This is a very earthly paradise, with dollops of sex — there are some suggestively bulbous dates and figs — and hints of rot and decay.
It may be the garden of paradise, but there is something lurking in the undergrowth.
“Most people think of paradise as the afterparty, and we are reversing that: We’re starting off with the paradisical pictures,” George said.
“The party’s here,” Gilbert added.
Gilbert and George think of the new gallery as a gift to the public, but not a goodbye. As they enter their ninth decades — Gilbert is 79 and George 81 — the pair remain as excited by art as they were when they started.
“We are still amazed and fascinated by the great mystery of creativity,” George said. “When we go down to the studio in the morning and see the picture we created or finished the day before, we are never able to reconstruct exactly how we arrived at that. And not being able to do that shows that there is some mystery and magic there."
“The pictures make themselves, as much as we can let them. We try not to interfere too much,” he added. “Think of the sound of the world turning, the pain of the world turning at the moment. Just imagine that. That’s quite an inspiration.” | https://www.expressnews.com/entertainment/article/art-duo-glibert-and-george-get-their-own-gallery-17858371.php | 2023-03-24 17:30:14 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/entertainment/article/art-duo-glibert-and-george-get-their-own-gallery-17858371.php |
Prosecutors to Congress: Let state prisons jam cellphones
By MEG KINNARD
Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Top state prosecutors are urging Congress to pass legislation allowing state prisons to jam signals of cellphones smuggled to inmates. The 22 attorneys general say in a letter Wednesday to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that the devices allow prisoners to plot violence and carry out crimes. The letter cites a handful of criminal incidents the attorneys say were orchestrated by inmates using contraband cellphones, including a deadly 2018 South Carolina prison riot in which seven inmates were killed. Prosecutors want a change in a nearly century-old federal communications law that currently prevents state prisons from using jamming technology. Federal prisons can jam signals behind bars, although none do. | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/01/25/prosecutors-to-congress-let-state-prisons-jam-cellphones/ | 2023-01-27 13:03:05 | 1 | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/01/25/prosecutors-to-congress-let-state-prisons-jam-cellphones/ |
ROCKY HILL, Conn. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday evening's drawing of the Connecticut Lottery's "Play3 Night" game were:
8-4-5, WB: 7
(eight, four, five; WB: seven)
ROCKY HILL, Conn. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday evening's drawing of the Connecticut Lottery's "Play3 Night" game were:
8-4-5, WB: 7
(eight, four, five; WB: seven) | https://www.mrt.com/lottery/article/winning-numbers-drawn-in-play3-night-game-17747736.php | 2023-01-28 05:41:59 | 0 | https://www.mrt.com/lottery/article/winning-numbers-drawn-in-play3-night-game-17747736.php |
BETHESDA, Md., July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DMI, a global digital transformation solutions company, today announced it has has earned a 2022 Top Workplaces National Industry Award in Technology issued by Energage. This is a follow up to the 2022 Top Workplaces USA, a distinction the company garnered in February.
The awards spotlight organizations nationwide for their dedication to employee empowerment, culture and innovation. The program is based on Energage's anonymous, research-backed, employee engagement survey, evaluating workplace engagement and satisfaction. To participate, companies must receive more than 50 percent engagement on the survey and have more than 150 total employees.
This marks the fourth award for workplace culture DMI has received in 2022. DMI has earned top workplace awards and recognition in other geographic locations in the U.S. and across the globe as well as being recognized as a top Remote workplace employer. In addition, the company has received multiple Culture Excellence recognitions for Leadership, Innovation, Work-Life Flexibility, and Purpose & Values.
Jay Sunny Bajaj, CEO and Founder, DMI, said: "While we seek to always make sure our customers are well-served, we place that same value on our people, who are on the front lines of developing the successful relationships that allow us to continue to innovate. Whether it's through our extensive benefits, training, career flexibility, or global growth opportunities, we aim to support each individual's total well-being while empowering them to take their lives and careers to new places. We're honored to receive this recognition and consider it a testament to our company values."
Making the world a better place to work together.™
Energage is a purpose-driven technology company that helps organizations build and brand Top Workplaces. Built on 14 years of culture research and the results from 23 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.
DMI is a global leader in digital strategy, design, transformation, and support services. We bring together an integrated set of industry and technology solutions that combine both public and private sector expertise to deliver human-centric innovation at scale. Born digital, DMI has been delivering secure, mission-critical technology solutions since 2002 for more than a hundred Fortune 1,000 enterprises, various state and local government agencies and all fifteen U.S. federal departments. DMI has grown to 2,100+ employees globally and has been continually recognized by top industry analysts as a market leader as well as named a Top Workplace in both regional and national categories. www.DMInc.com
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SOURCE DMI | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/dmi-recognized-nationally-top-workplace-technology/ | 2022-07-21 13:17:17 | 0 | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/dmi-recognized-nationally-top-workplace-technology/ |
Law enforcement authorities in Texas have issued an arrest warrant for Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, an Austin woman suspected of murdering cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson earlier this month.
Wilson was a competitive gravel and mountain bike racer and had traveled to Austin in early May for the Gravel Locos race, according to the cycling website VeloNews.
She was pronounced dead on May 11 after the Austin Police Department responded to a call from a woman who said she returned home to find her friend bleeding and unconscious. Wilson suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died, police say. She was 25.
The U.S. Marshals Service is now assisting in the search for Armstrong, 35, who is suspected of killing Wilson.
According to an arrest warrant obtained by NPR, both Wilson and Armstrong had had romantic relationships with the same man, Colin Strickland, who is a professional cyclist.
According to Wilson's friend, Armstrong had apparently contacted Wilson multiple times in the past and once told her to stay away from Stickland, the warrant says. Strickland said he and Wilson went to a pool the day of the murder.
An anonymous caller to the Austin Police Department also said that in January, after Armstrong learned that Strickland had been in a romantic relationship with Wilson, Armstrong "became furious and was shaking in anger" and said she was so angry she wanted to kill Wilson, according to the warrant.
In a statement shared by Austin American-Statesman and KVUE reporter Tony Plohetski, Strickland said he was "reeling" from Wilson's death.
"There is no way to adequately express the regret and torture I feel about my proximity to this horrible crime," Strickland said. "I am sorry, and I simply cannot make sense of this unfathomable tragedy."
Strickland said that he and Wilson had a roughly week-long romantic relationship in the fall. After that ended, he said he reconciled with Armstrong and resumed his relationship with her.
Wilson's family also released a statement thanking people for their love and support, VeloNews reported.
"While the tragic loss of Moriah is unfathomable, at the same time we want everyone to join us in celebrating her life, accomplishments, and love for others," the family said. "Always pushing tirelessly to reach her goals, we knew she was pursuing that which she loved. We will miss her terribly and know that all mourn her with us."
The cyclist's family also set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for "community organizations that help youth find self-confidence, strength, and joy through biking, skiing, and other activities that Moriah was passionate about."
The U.S. Marshals Service is asking anyone with information about Armstrong's location to contact them.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wunc.org/2022-05-23/a-texas-woman-is-wanted-in-the-murder-of-cyclist-anna-moriah-mo-wilson | 2022-05-23 23:07:34 | 1 | https://www.wunc.org/2022-05-23/a-texas-woman-is-wanted-in-the-murder-of-cyclist-anna-moriah-mo-wilson |
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Derek Kerr might have the hardest job in the airline business.
Kerr is the chief financial officer of American Airlines, and his task is to fix a balance sheet that has been battered by borrowing needed to survive the pandemic.
American has the most debt among all U.S. airlines, more than $36 billion. The airline is trying to fly through a bumpy recovery in travel during which revenue is rising but so are costs like fuel and labor.
Kerr spoke recently to The Associated Press. The answers have been edited for length.
Q. American is coming off its first profitable quarter, excluding government aid, since the pandemic started. Planes are packed. What’s going to happen to revenue after Labor Day, when leisure travel slows down?
A. Leisure is really, really strong. Small business is back 100% also, because those businesses had to survive, they are out flying. Corporate business is back about 65%, 75%. As we look out at bookings … we don’t see any huge change from a revenue standpoint as we go forward.
Q. Spot prices for jet fuel prices have eased in the last couple of months, but they’re still double the price before the pandemic. Why doesn’t American hedge against fuel spikes like Southwest does?
A. Hedging is insurance. It’s very expensive, and you can’t insure your entire portfolio of fuel. The airline industry is the No. 2 user of fuel. If we all hedged fuel, we’d move the fuel price and actually drive the fuel price up. Plus you put a risk on the company (if oil prices fall). And then the last thing is you have a natural hedge today — as fuel increases, the industry can raise revenues. We have passed on pretty much the fuel increases that are out there.
Q. American predicts nonfuel costs in the third quarter will be up 12% to 14% compared with the third quarter of 2019 on a per seat, per mile basis. Can you get costs under control?
A. It’s not necessarily a cost issue, it’s a utilization of the fleet issue. If we flew our entire fleet, that (cost per seat per mile) would only be up about 2%. We’ve built these airlines, from a cost perspective, to fly more, and we’re not flying more because of the resources that we need to do that.
Q. How will you fly more? Do you need more pilots?
A. There is a pilot shortage at the (regional airlines) because the mainline carriers (like American, Delta and United) hire from the regionals. We’ll continue to work through that. That may take a couple of years to resolve itself. At the mainline, it’s more about a throughput of training. We can bring the pilots on, we have to get them through training. I hope by the beginning of next year, middle of next year, we’ll work through that and we’ll be able to have the whole mainline fleet up.
Q. When will your profit margins return to pre-pandemic levels?
A. It’s actually the same answer, because obviously that growth will come back at a much cheaper cost because the costs are already here. That will improve the margins over time.
Q. You’ve got $15.6 billion in liquidity. When are you going to use that to pay down debt?
A. Right now we’re going to hold on to that liquidity until we feel like we’ve totally turned the corner. We did have one profitable quarter. That’s awesome, it’s great, I’m proud of everybody here that that worked to get to that point, but we need to sustain that. We are going to take ($15.6 billion of liquidity) down into the $10 (billion) to $12 billion range at some point in time — just not ready to do that yet, but hopefully pretty soon.
Q. Can you refinance your debt with interest rates rising?
A. We’re in really good shape that we don’t have any debt that has come due. We paid off the $750 million unsecured (senior notes that matured in June). Our next big payment is a $1.2 billion term loan (for work at Reagan National and LaGuardia airports) that comes due at the end of next year. The second thing we have to do is finance aircraft. Every aircraft we have is financed through the end of the third quarter. We’re working hard to finance the back half of the year, and there are a lot of good proposals out there, even in a rising interest environment.
Q. Where do you find sources for financing planes?
A. We can do commercial banks. We can do market EETCs (publicly traded securities called enhanced equipment trust certificates). The market for EETCs is open still right now. It’s probably at 100 or 200 basis points bigger than what we have done in the past, but that’s still very attractive financing in this environment.
Q. Is an equity raise on the table?
A. It is not on the table right now. We have enough liquidity to make it through any downturn.
Q. What about share repurchases when the prohibition (a condition of federal pandemic aid) expires Sept. 30?
A. There is no plan to do any share repurchases. All of our excess liquidity will go to pay off debt.
Q. How would a recession change how you manage American’s finances?
A. If it does impact revenues, we would hold on to liquidity longer than than we have. It doesn’t mean that we’re not going to hit our $15 billion number (the target for debt reduction by the end of 2025). It might mean that we don’t accelerate paydown of that debt. But I’m fully confident with the liquidity we have at $15.6 billion that if there is a recessionary environment, that we will be able to withstand anything like that.
Q. American’s stock is being shorted much more often than the shares of Delta, United or Southwest. Why are those investors betting, in effect, that the stock price is going to fall?
A. It doesn’t concern me, but it’s really driven by the balance sheet and the differences between the airlines. We need to continue to make profits. We need to continue to stay on the plan that we’re on, return the airline to profitability, return the reliability of the airline, and everything will take care of itself.
Q. You were the CFO at America West right after 9/11, at US Airways during the airline downturn in the 2008 financial crisis, and at American since late 2013. For the airline business, how does the pandemic compare with those earlier crises?
A. This COVID time has been the hardest of all the times. A recession is one thing, where revenues go down 5% or 10%. When you get to a situation where you have zero receipts and you don’t know when you’re going to get out of this, that was the toughest time.
Q. Could American have survived without the federal aid?
A. American had negative receipts in the month of April 2020. You are refunding more money going out the door than you have coming in. It’s like nothing we’ve ever seen. It would have been really hard for all of us to make it through that. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/business/ap-business/american-airlines-cfo-on-fixing-balance-sheet-after-pandemic/ | 2022-08-08 22:02:19 | 1 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/business/ap-business/american-airlines-cfo-on-fixing-balance-sheet-after-pandemic/ |
Twitter crushes NFL's logo for Hispanic Heritage Month originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The National Football League's logo for Hispanic Heritage Month has gone viral, but for all the wrong reasons.
With Thursday marking the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month, the NFL sent out a tweet introducing its "Por La Cultura" (For the Culture) campaign, which features a special logo.
The logo is the NFL shield in black and gray colors with a yellow "eñe" accent over the "N," giving it what the league termed an "unmistakable Latin flavor."
"The league is proud to celebrate Latino Heritage Month by highlighting NFL players, coaches and staff while partnering with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement," the NFL's graphic read. "We look forward to continuing collaborations with Latino creators, artists and writers. We are here to amplify the voices of the Latino community on and off the football field.
"This shield integrates an unmistakable Latin flavor and is fundamental to our always-on, 365-day initiative. The electric brush stroke of the 'eñe' is filled with an infectious personality that is carried out through the rest of the look and feel."
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Where did the NFL go wrong?
Well, as noted in The Diversity Style Guide, "ñ" is an additional letter in the Spanish alphabet and not just an "n" with an accent mark. It's referred to as an "eñe" and pronounced “enye."
Additionally, the Spanish word for "national" is "nacional" and doesn't include an eñe. Words in Spanish don't start with an eñe either.
So the NFL misused the eñe in a logo for Hispanic Heritage Month, as "NFL" simply translates to "NFL" in Spanish. And, unsurprisingly, the league got crushed for the mistake on Twitter:
NBC News reached out to the NFL for comment, but a spokesperson did not immediately respond to the request. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/twitter-crushes-nfls-logo-for-hispanic-heritage-month/3074333/ | 2022-09-17 00:19:36 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/twitter-crushes-nfls-logo-for-hispanic-heritage-month/3074333/ |
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