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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Ronnie Gajownik spent her Saturday afternoon as the bench coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
It wasn’t until mid-game she realized that was quite remarkable.
“It was awesome,” Gajownik said later. “I didn’t realize how big of a moment it was until (pitching coach Brent Strom) told me in the fifth inning, he’s like, ‘They’re doing articles all over about you. You’re trending!’”
The split-squad Diamondbacks lost to San Diego 5-4.
The 29-year-old Gajownik was hired during the offseason as manager of the D-backs minor league affiliate Hillsboro Hops. She’ll be the first woman to manage a Class High-A team.
Gajownik and D-backs manager Torey Lovullo sat next to each other in chairs just outside the dugout, talking for the better part of three hours.
“I told her we were just going to sit down, talk baseball for nine innings and let’s have some fun with it,” Lovullo said before the game. “I said, ‘You think I’m going to be teaching you things, but you’re going to be teaching me things as well.’
“I’m just appreciating my time with her. She’s a spectacular teacher and can relate with the players very well,” he said.
Gajownik has been with the organization for a few years and said sitting with Lovullo and asking questions was an invaluable experience as she prepares for her first job as a manager in pro baseball.
“It’s cool to take a step back and realize how far women have come,” Gajownik said. “And then also, me personally as a coach, all the work I’ve put in myself and then all the work the Diamondbacks have put into me, my family, my friends, my wife. It’s just cool to see the culmination of everything coming together. It’s a cool moment.”
Gajownik said Saturday’s game conversation with Lovullo varied between mundane topics like who might pinch-hit the next inning, to broader topics, like caring about players on and off the field.
“Him and I think a little bit of the same way, in regards that you’ve really got to care for the person,” Gajownik said. “And just know that ‘Hey, I’ll have your back and where there are moments of the game where I need to fight for you, I’ll fight for you.’”
Rachel Balkovec became the first woman to manage a minor league affiliate of a Major League Baseball team last year when she led the New York Yankees’ Class A Tampa Tarpons.
Gajownik was a two-year starter on South Florida’s softball team and also won a gold medal with the United States in the 2015 Pan American Games.
Gajownik served as video coordinator for the Hops in 2021. She was on the coaching staff of the Amarillo Sod Poodles, the D-backs’ Double-A affiliate, last season as the first base coach.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.koin.com/sports/ap-sports/female-minor-league-manager-gets-day-as-d-backs-bench-coach/ | 2023-03-05 08:10:37 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/sports/ap-sports/female-minor-league-manager-gets-day-as-d-backs-bench-coach/ |
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "This is a revised shower curtain liner that would be used to provide greater comfort and less aggravation while showering" said client from Brooklyn, NY "My idea was inspired while taking a shower, the shower liner kept touching me and its inspired this idea."
This improved shower curtain liner would serve as an effective alternative to conventional methods of securing curtains in place while showering. THE REVELL LINER would fulfill the need for a means of preventing a shower curtain from billowing into the shower stall and touching a person while showering. It would prevent the curtain from rubbing against the user's skin, and water leaking on the floor.
The original design was submitted to the Manhattan, NY sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 21-MBQ-199, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/01/09/inventhelp-inventor-develops-revell-liner-mbq-199/ | 2023-01-09 17:15:17 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/01/09/inventhelp-inventor-develops-revell-liner-mbq-199/ |
SILVER SPRING, Md., June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sam Stiers, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Urban One's iOne Digital division today announced the promotion of Tiffany Nasralla to Chief Revenue Officer, iOne Digital. This marks the first position of its kind at Urban One's digital division. Urban One is the largest African American minority-controlled and operated, fully integrated media company that reaches, connects, and engages with the Black and Urban consumer at scale across audio, digital, linear, and experiential.
In 2017, Tiffany Nasralla joined iOne Digital as the Vice President of Business Development. The following year, Nasralla was promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales & Revenue Operations where she oversaw sales, revenue operations, and business development. By 2019, Nasralla was responsible for iOne Digital's entire sales force, where she led the division to profitability, averaging year-over-year double-digit revenue growth and EBITDA growth to the tune of $17.5M in 2021. Nasralla has a well-earned reputation for exceeding revenue and gross profit goals while building, leading, and coaching high-performance sales teams.
Sam Stiers, General Manager and Executive Vice President, iOne Digital remarked, "I'm excited to announce Tiffany Nasralla's promotion to Chief Revenue Officer of iOne Digital. Tiffany's leadership, drive, and ability to collaborate with clients and internal stakeholders have powered Urban One's surge in digital revenue. It's no coincidence that as she's expanded her responsibilities, the company has expanded its digital revenue. She's built a best-in-class team that has propelled the business to new heights, and I'm excited to see how she'll continue to grow revenue and the business in her new role."
"I am honored and grateful for this recognition and am truly proud of our entire iOne Digital team. I am excited to see brands and media agencies make good on their pledges and commitments to Black-owned media by showing up in a big way and giving the influential Black consumer their much-needed attention and due respect. While there is still much to be done, I am happy to see movement," said Nasralla. "I look forward to continuing to build upon the positive momentum we've created, working with the best talent in the business, and collaborating with our brand and agency partners to accelerate their business efforts by driving value and impactful results. Thank you, Cathy Hughes, Alfred Liggins, and Sam Stiers, for your continued support and leadership."
Urban One, Inc. (urban1.com), together with its subsidiaries, is the largest diversified media company that primarily targets Black Americans and urban consumers in the United States. The Company owns TV One, LLC (tvone.tv), a television network serving more than 46 million households and CLEO TV, its sister network with a an almost 41 million household reach. As of March 31, 2021, we owned and/or operated 64 independently formatted, revenue producing broadcast stations (including 54 FM or AM stations, 8 HD stations, and the 2 low power television stations we operate) branded under the tradename "Radio One" in 13 urban markets in the United States. Through its controlling interest in Reach Media, Inc. (blackamericaweb.com), the Company also operates syndicated programming including the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, the Russ Parr Morning Show and the DL Hughley Show. In addition to its radio and television broadcast assets, Urban One owns iOne Digital (ionedigital.com), our wholly owned digital platform serving the African American community through social content, news, information, and entertainment websites, including its Cassius, Bossip, HipHopWired and MadameNoire digital platforms and brands. We also have invested in a minority ownership interest in MGM National Harbor, a gaming resort located in Prince George's County, Maryland. Through our national multi-media operations, we provide advertisers with a unique and powerful delivery mechanism to the African American and urban audiences.
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SOURCE Urban One, Inc. | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/urban-ones-ione-digital-division-promotes-tiffany-nasralla-chief-revenue-officer/ | 2022-06-09 15:33:29 | 1 | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/urban-ones-ione-digital-division-promotes-tiffany-nasralla-chief-revenue-officer/ |
4Front Development spearheading partnership as lead consultant for the new Hip Hop Hall of Fame Museum & Hotel Residential Mega Entertainment Complex in NYC
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Imagine AR Inc. (CSE: IP) (OTCQB: IPNFF) ("ImagineAR" or "Company"), an Augmented Reality Company that enables sports teams, businesses and enterprises to quickly create their own AR mobile campaigns, is honored to announce the signing of a three year partnership agreement with Hip Hop Hall of Fame Inc. to provide a Custom Mobile App delivering Immersive Metaverse Experiences.
JT Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame, stated, "Working with 4Front Development, we are targeting to unveil The Hip Hop Hall of Fame & Hotel Mega Residential Entertainment Complex located in the heart of New York City in 2025. In the interim, the new mobile app by ImagineAR will deliver virtual museum experiences & multi-channel metaverse experiences featuring hip-hop music artists & cultural immersive content to fans around the world starting in 2022. It will integrate dynamic experiential engagements with sponsored exclusive content to Hip Hop fans around the world including Hip Hop Hall of Fame co-branded artists & membership NFT's and a virtual world metaverse. The first metaverse prototype has been designed by our partners and will go live in the 4th quarter 2022 with the mobile app, as we continue our ongoing talks with various blockchain companies to finalize a strategic web3 tech and marketing partner to power the Hip Hop Hall of Fame NFTs and Metaverse the "Hip Hop Universe". Imagine AR mobile app will provide a safe community space and friendly eco-system for the Hip Hop fans, artists, celebrities, and influencers to express their creativity and experience real life and virtual world live events and content."
Chris Eddy, Co-Founder of 4FRONT DEVELOPMENT, "We have been focusing on large-scale projects that merge hospitality, entertainment, and technology. As the Lead Consultant for the new Hip Hop Hall of Fame & Hotel Entertainment Complex in NYC, we selected ImagineAR to be the metaverse app provider to build a global community and drive revenue prior to the launch of the physical buildings in two years."
Alen Paul Silverrstieen, CEO of ImagineAR, stated "ImagineAR is thrilled to work with both the Hip Hop Hall of Fame and 4Front Development to deliver a Metaverse Mobile App featuring virtual museum experiences, holograms, and premium multi-channel interactive content. We expect this mobile app to be one of the most dynamic and leading museum virtual experiences ever produced to date. Thank you to Chris Eddy and JT Thompson for having the confidence to bring ImagineAR as a key technology partner."
The Mission and Objectives of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame Museum is to promote and preserve the past, present and future of hip-hop music and cultural arts, and to highlight the role of hip- hop music & culture in the broader urban culture and its explore its social impact in the world. To create and support projects that develop, inspire, educate and enrich the hip-hop community; and celebrate the positive and uplifting characteristics of the music culture that promotes socio-economic empowerment, and urban development.
Hip Hop Hall of Fame is a Chartered Non-Profit Museum & Educational Institution in the service of Society for the purposes of Study, Research, Education, Enlightenment, and Empowerment of Hip Hop Music & Culture Communities in America, and around the World.
4FRONT DEVELOPMENT is a New York City based company specializing in helping both startup and established companies to fulfill and grow in their scope, missions and goals. 4FRONT facilitates fulfilling our clients and partners needs and vision by providing real estate, finance and business development strategies and solutions. 4FRONT's areas of focus include Renewable Energy, Entertainment, Hospitality, Medtech, Insurtech, Education, Commercial and Residential Real Estate Development, Disaster Relief and Cryptocurrency.
ImagineAR Inc. (CSE: IP) (OTC: IPNFF) is a self-publishing augmented reality (AR) platform that enables businesses of any size to create and implement their own AR campaigns with no programming or technology experience. Every organization, from professional sports franchises to small retailers, can develop interactive AR campaigns that blend the real and digital worlds. Customers simply point their mobile device at logos, signs, buildings, (products, landmarks and more to instantly engage videos, information, advertisements, coupons, 3D holograms and any interactive content all hosted in the cloud and managed using a menu-driven portal. Integrated real-time analytics means that all customer interaction is tracked and measured in real-time. The AR Enterprise platform supports both IOS and Android mobile devices and upcoming wearable technologies. The AR Platform is available as an SDK Plug-in for existing mobile apps.
2021 STA Category Award Winner for Fan Engagement.
All trademarks of the property of respective owners.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Alen Paul Silverrstieen
President & CEO
(818) 850-2490
https://twitter.com/IPtechAR
https://www.facebook.com/imaginationparktechnologies
https://www.instagram.com/iptechar
https://www.linkedin.com/company/imagination-park-technologies-inc
The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein may include, but is not limited to, information concerning the ability of the Company to generate revenues, roll out new programs and to successfully achieve business objectives, and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.
By identifying such information and statements in this manner, the Company is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has made certain assumptions. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information and statements are the following: changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws; compliance with extensive government regulation. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.
Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward- looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.
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SOURCE ImagineAR Inc. | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/imaginear-otcqb-ipnff-signs-hip-hop-hall-fame-three-year-agreement-deliver-private-label-metaverse-ready-mobile-app/ | 2022-08-18 13:39:27 | 0 | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/imaginear-otcqb-ipnff-signs-hip-hop-hall-fame-three-year-agreement-deliver-private-label-metaverse-ready-mobile-app/ |
H2 FY23 results for Digicel Haiti will be significantly impacted
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Digicel Group Holdings Limited ("DGHL" or "Digicel") provides the following market update on current trading conditions in Haiti and the impact they are having on its business.
The current security situation in Haiti has deteriorated considerably following a lifting of fuel subsidies in September 2022 resulting in public unrest, violence and substantial disruption to economic activity.
In addition to the very regrettable community and societal impacts, ongoing disruption to the country's daily operations and particularly fuel supplies, has had a substantial impact on economic activity and Digicel's operations in Haiti which depend on fuel to operate much of its network.
Digicel is working hard to ensure that key sites in terms of traffic and population coverage are operating as effectively as possible, though as much as 50% per cent of its national telecommunications network is experiencing disruption at any given time.
While it is difficult to forecast given the uncertainty in the market and fluctuations in the exchange rate, Digicel estimates the financial impact on Digicel Haiti in H2 FY23 (the six-month period ended March 31, 2023) will be significant. On a reported basis, assuming recent trends, Digicel estimates Adjusted EBITDA in Haiti will be in the region of US$25 – 35 million compared to US$74 million in the prior half year.
Commenting, Digicel's Chairman, Denis O'Brien, said: "Our thoughts are with the people of Haiti as they suffer extreme community and societal impacts. At times like these, our priorities are our colleagues and our customers. As such, we have activated our emergency protocols to secure the safety of our staff and their families and to ensure business continuity."
A further update on trading conditions in Haiti will be provided in our Q2 FY23 results call which will take place on November 29, 2022.
For Reference:
Antonia Graham
Head of PR
T: +1 876.564.1708 (Jamaica)
E: antonia.graham@digicelgroup.com
Pat Walsh
Murray Group
T: +353.87.2269345
E: pwalsh@murraygroup.ie
About Digicel
As a Digital Operator, Digicel is in the business of delivering powerful digital experiences 1440 minutes of each day to customers – that's every minute, all day, every day.
Through its world-class LTE and fibre networks, together with its suite of 8 apps spanning sports (SportsMax), music (D'Music), news (Loop), local radio and podcasts (GoLoud), TV streaming (PlayGo), enhanced messaging and marketplaces (BiP), cloud storage (Billo) and self-care (MyDigicel app), Digicel is the only operator in its markets that can deliver that.
Serving consumer and business customers in 25 markets in the Caribbean and Central America, its investments of over US$6 billion and a commitment to its communities through its Digicel Foundations in Haiti, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago have contributed to positive outcomes for over 3 million people to date.
With its Better Together brand, Digicel is making a promise of simply more to customers and communities and its 5,300 employees worldwide work together to make that a powerful reality day in, day out. Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws of the United States. Certain other jurisdictions may have analogous concepts. Such forward-looking statements reflect, among other things, management's current expectations, plans and strategies, and anticipated financial results, all of which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Many of these risks are beyond our ability to control or predict.
Because of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to update or review any such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Other disclosure
Our debt securities are not registered with the SEC or any other securities regulator and are not listed with any exchange. We have no intention of registering the securities in the United States or listing them with any exchange.
Certain figures in this release, including financial data, are rounded. Accordingly, corresponding calculated figures, including totals and percentage changes, may not be an exact arithmetic presentation of the corresponding figures.
Regulation G
This release contains non-GAAP financial measures as defined by Regulation G of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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SOURCE Digicel Group Holdings Limited | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/10/digicel-provides-update-trading-conditions-haiti/ | 2022-11-10 23:24:50 | 1 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/10/digicel-provides-update-trading-conditions-haiti/ |
Novak Djokovic made a successful return to the Australian Open.
The Serbian beat Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena in straights sets in the first round of the grand slam tournament on Tuesday.
Djokovic, a nine-time champion of the event, did not play in the tournament last year. He was deported from Australia for not being vaccinated against COVID-19 despite providing a medical exemption.
Arriving in Rod Laver for his match, Djokovic was greeted with a massive round of applause. Throughout the match, the crowd cheered as the former world No. 1 showcased his talent, proving why he is the favorite to win the tournament for the 10th time.
"Thank you for giving me such a welcoming reception I can only dream of," Djokovic told the crowd after the match. "I really feel very happy that I'm back in Australia, back here on the court where I had the biggest success in my career."
While Djokovic entered the tournament as the favorite, many tennis observers kept a close eye on his heavily-strapped left thigh. He suffered an injury during the semifinals of a previous event in Australia but still went on to win the tournament. He showed no signs of discomfort in the match against Carballes Baena.
Djokovic will have one day off before his second round match. He is seeking his 21st grand slam title, which would tie him with Rafael Nadal for the most major trophies in men's tennis. | https://www.kxxv.com/news/national/novak-djokovic-wins-first-match-at-australian-open-since-deportation | 2023-01-17 17:10:38 | 0 | https://www.kxxv.com/news/national/novak-djokovic-wins-first-match-at-australian-open-since-deportation |
First Alert Weather Day: Portions of East Texas upgraded to Enhanced Risk
EAST TEXAS, Texas (KLTV) - Thursday is a First Alert Weather Day.
The majority of East Texas is currently under a Slight (Level 2/5) Risk, while our northern counties have been upgraded to an Enhanced (Level 3/5) Risk for potentially significant severe weather. All modes of severe weather will be possible tomorrow, with the main severe threat being damaging gusty winds.
Some large hail up to the size of half-dollars will be possible as well as a few tornadoes. General timing places our storms in two potential rounds tomorrow, the first being in the late afternoon as a few strong to severe storms will be possible well ahead of the main line of activity.
Round two occurs during the evening as a cold front ignites a potent line of strong to severe storms. Damaging winds, large hail, isolated tornadoes, and very heavy rainfall will be possible as this line travels from west to east Thursday night. A few severe storms could persist in Deep East Texas after midnight before skies quickly quiet down behind the cold front.
As is usual with severe wind events, power lines can go down by fallen trees and debris. Please keep your phones charged at all times tomorrow and keep a close eye on updates to the First Alert Weather App.
Copyright 2023 KLTV. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/2023/03/15/first-alert-weather-day-portions-east-texas-upgraded-enhanced-risk/ | 2023-03-15 16:37:24 | 1 | https://www.ktre.com/2023/03/15/first-alert-weather-day-portions-east-texas-upgraded-enhanced-risk/ |
MIAMI (AP) — A Los Angeles attorney detained in Venezuela is pleading for help from the Biden administration, saying in a secretly recorded jailhouse message that he feels forgotten by the U.S. government as he faces criminal charges at the hands of one of the nation's top adversaries.
Eyvin Hernandez, who has been detained for five months, describes in the recording how he has dedicated the past 15 years to public service as an employee of the Los Angeles County public defender's office, seeking fair treatment for often penniless clients.
“No one should be abandoned at the time of their greatest need and when they're most vulnerable,” he said in the almost two-minute recording, which was provided to The Associated Press by Hernandez's family. “However, I don't feel like my government feels that way about me.”
In a calm voice, Hernandez said he and other Americans imprisoned in Venezuela — there are at least 10, including five oil executives and three veterans — feel “like our government has abandoned us.”
Hernandez's appeal comes as the Biden administration is under pressure to do more to bring home roughly 50 Americans it believes have been wrongfully detained by hostile governments around the world. Much of the focus is on Russia, where the U.S. has taken the unusual step of proposing a swap of a convicted arms dealer for WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner. U.S. officials have for months been quietly pursuing a separate deal with Nicolás Maduro's socialist government in Venezuela, which holds the largest contingent of Americans suspected of being used as bargaining chips.
Henry Martinez said his brother sent him the voice message Aug. 21. A copy was also provided to the State Department, which has been weighing whether to turn Hernandez's case over to the administration's special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, Roger Carstens.
In the recording, Hernandez said it's been months since he or any of his fellow Americans have seen a courtroom, nor do they have any hopes of getting a fair trial.
“This place is meant to break you psychologically and spiritually,” he said of confinement at a maximum security prison housing many of Maduro's opponents. “We're all innocent, yet we're being charged and treated as terrorists.”
He said the uncertainty, isolation and human rights violations are taking a toll, with two Americans having already attempted suicide and a third on the brink with daily mental breakdowns.
“If you don’t get us out soon, then there might not be anyone left to save,” he said.
The AP was unable to verify Hernandez’s claims. But United Nations officials have long complained about the lack of independence for Venezuelan judges and prosecutors and about conditions at the facility where Hernandez and several other Americans are being held.
A State Department spokesman declined to comment on Hernadez’s case, citing privacy limitations, but said the agency continuously reviews the detentions of Americans overseas. He also noted that the U.S. government has issued an advisory warning Americans to avoid all travel to Venezuela due to the risk of wrongful detentions and threats from illegal armed groups, especially along the country’s porous borders.
Hernandez, who turned 44 in jail, was arrested March 31 along the Colombia-Venezuela border. His family says he traveled there from the city of Medellin with a Venezuelan friend who needed to get her passport stamped to resolve an issue with her migratory status in Colombia. His family said he never intended to enter Venezuela, and he was due to fly home three days later.
But the two apparently fell into the hands of criminal gangs.
Upon arrival by bus to the city of Cucuta, they hailed a taxi for the short drive to the Simon Bolivar International Bridge, according to an account Hernandez shared with his family. A fourth individual hopped in the front seat, purportedly offering his services as a guide who could help them navigate the confusion at the border, an area overrun by squatters, criminal gangs and a mass of people making their way back and forth in illegal crossings.
Before they knew it, the cab was stopped along a dirt path, and the two were ordered to get out and walk across the invisible border separating the two countries.
Once Hernandez realized his mistake, it was too late to turn back. A man carrying a rifle demanded he cough up $100, according to his family. When he protested that he didn’t have any cash, they put a hood over his head.
When his captors found his American passport, they told him he was in trouble and handed him over to security forces, who kept him incommunicado for weeks.
Adding to the Hernandez family’s anguish is the fact that he isn’t classified as wrongfully detained, a definition that covers Americans believed innocent or jailed for the purpose of exacting concessions from the U.S. Without such designation, a process that can take months, the U.S. government’s ability to push for his release is limited.
At least three of the 11 other Americans known to be detained in Venezuela are in a similar state of limbo. They include Jerrel Kenemore, a computer programmer arrested within a week of Hernandez, and two former Green Berets who took part in a blunder-filled beach attack in 2020 aimed at overthrowing Maduro.
Biden last month signed an executive order aimed at providing more information to families of Americans detained abroad and imposing stiff sentences on the criminals, terrorists and government officials holding them.
Maduro’s socialist government is a harsh critic of U.S. foreign policy. But more recently, as the Biden administration has shown a willingness to review the Trump-era policy of punishing Maduro with sanctions and calling for regime change, the outlook for a possible release has improved.
In March, the Maduro government freed two Americans following a surprise trip to Caracas by senior White House and State Department officials, including Carstens, who met with Hernandez in a subsequent wellness check on detained Americans in June. Maduro also vowed to resume negotiations with his opponents, although has so far failed to follow through.
___
Follow Goodman on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/APJoshGoodman
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/ap-top-news/2022/08/30/la-man-jailed-in-venezuela-pleas-for-biden-not-to-forget-him | 2022-08-30 21:53:54 | 0 | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/ap-top-news/2022/08/30/la-man-jailed-in-venezuela-pleas-for-biden-not-to-forget-him |
An entangled whale spotted off the coast of North Carolina is expected to die from its injuries.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says an aerial survey team from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium spotted the North Atlantic right whale on Jan. 8.
The New England Aquarium, which tracks and catalogs North Atlantic Right Whales, identified this whale as #4904, a 4-year-old female. She was previously spotted in May 2022 in Massachusetts Bay and was not entangled at the time, according to NOAA.
The whale now has a line that wraps several times around her mouth and tail, NOAA states. The agency adds that #4904 also has numerous wounds across her body and whale lice on her head.
NOAA Fisheries will reportedly be efforting another search for the whale to determine if they can at least help ease the entanglement.
The North Atlantic right whale is considered an endangered species. NOAA says it's estimated that there are only 70 reproductively active females remaining. | https://www.kivitv.com/news/national/severely-injured-entangled-whale-spotted-off-north-carolinas-coast | 2023-01-13 22:26:57 | 1 | https://www.kivitv.com/news/national/severely-injured-entangled-whale-spotted-off-north-carolinas-coast |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Four people associated with the Oath Keepers were convicted on Monday of conspiracy and obstruction charges stemming from the attack on the U.S. Capitol in the latest trial involving members of the far-right antigovernment extremist group.
A Washington D.C. jury found Sandra Parker, of Morrow, Ohio; Laura Steele, of Thomasville, North Carolina; William Isaacs, of Kissimmee, Florida and Connie Meggs, of Dunnellon, Florida guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and other felony charges.
In a rare loss for prosecutors, Sandra Parker’s husband, Bennie Parker, was acquitted of obstruction as well as one conspiracy charge, and a sixth defendant — Michael Greene, of Indianapolis, Indiana — was acquitted of two conspiracy charges.
Jurors said they couldn’t reach a verdict on another conspiracy charge for Bennie Parker and the obstruction charge for Greene, so the judge instructed them to keep deliberating. All six defendants were convicted of a misdemeanor trespassing offense.
They were the third group of Oath Keepers members and associates to be tried on serious charges in the riot that temporarily halted the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory and left dozens of police officers injured. Unlike other Oath Keepers, they were not charged with seditious conspiracy — the most serious offense prosecutors have levied so far in the attack.
The verdict comes as the prosecution on Monday rested its case in another high-profile Capitol riot trial against former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and four lieutenants who are charged with seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors say was a plot to forcibly overturn Biden’s election victory.
In November, Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and Kelly Meggs — who led the Oath Keepers’ Florida chapter — were convicted of seditious conspiracy. Three other Oath Keepers were cleared of the charge in that case but were found guilty of other serious crimes. After a second trial, four additional Oath Keepers were convicted of seditious conspiracy in January. None of the Oath Keepers have been sentenced yet.
Connie Meggs is the wife of Kelly Meggs.
Authorities alleged Oath Keepers prepared for weeks leading up to Jan. 6, attended training sessions and recruited others to come to Washington. Authorities have said the extremist group stashed weapons at a Virginia hotel in case they were needed, donned tactical vests and helmets and moved in an organized fashion as they advanced on the Capitol.
The Oath Keepers have denied there was any plot to storm the Capitol or stop the certification. Defense lawyers have argued that their clients came to Washington only to watch President Donald Trump speak or provide security for speakers at events prior to the riot, and that those who entered the Capitol did so spontaneously.
Greene took the witness stand for the defense at Rhodes’ trial in November and told jurors that he never heard anyone discussing plans to storm the Capitol. Rhodes told jurors during that case that he tapped Greene as an “operation leader” for Jan. 6 after meeting Greene in 2017, when they helped with disaster relief after Hurricane Harvey.
Greene said he wasn’t a dues-paying member of the Oath Keepers but worked essentially as a contractor, providing security services, and was asked to come to Washington to help with security operations for events around the Capitol before the riot.
Authorities said Sandra Parker, Connie Meggs, Issacs and Steele were part of the group of Oath Keepers who stormed into the Capitol after marching in military-style “stack” formation up the steps of the building.
Bennie Parker, who didn’t go inside, told a reporter: “We had just had a presidential election and it’s been stolen from us. . . . all of these people out here are patriots. And if we need to, it’ll come to a civil war, and a lot of people are willing to take up their arms,” according to the indictment.
Bennie Parker’s attorney, Stephen Brennwald, said after the verdict that his client would rather have been convicted of the serious charges than his wife, saying “it’s tearing him up.”
More than half of the roughly 1,000 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes have pleaded guilty, including more than 130 who pleaded guilty to felony crimes. Of the 400 who have been sentenced, more than half have gotten terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years, according to an Associated Press tally.
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Richer reported from Boston. | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/politics/ap-politics/4-guilty-of-conspiracy-in-latest-oath-keepers-jan-6-trial/ | 2023-03-20 19:46:10 | 0 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/politics/ap-politics/4-guilty-of-conspiracy-in-latest-oath-keepers-jan-6-trial/ |
Software offerings give developers freedom to use the test equipment of their choice
SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Granite River Labs (GRL), a global leader in engineering services and test automation solutions for digital connectivity, has expanded its offering of electrical compliance test automation software solutions that give product developers exceptional freedom to use test equipment from leading vendors including Anritsu, Keysight and Tektronix through a single software platform. The new solutions include PCI Express® (PCIe®) 5.0 architecture and earlier Phase Lock Loop (PLL) Bandwidth and Peaking, as well as DisplayPort 2.0 Source and Sink. GRL now offers the most comprehensive and flexible portfolio of electrical compliance test solutions available through a single software automation platform. GRL's PCIe 5.0 PLL Bandwidth and Peaking solution has been approved by PCI-SIG for PCIe 5.0 Compliance Testing. DisplayPort 2.0 solution approval is underway by VESA (GRL-DP21-SINK-AN & GRL-DP21-TX).
Traditional compliance test automation software solutions work exclusively with a narrowly-defined range of test equipment with no flexibility to be used with other platforms. Users rely on test equipment vendors for solutions availability and quality, and must learn multiple software applications to leverage multiple equipment platforms. Also, while test equipment vendors manufacture excellent instrumentation, keeping their test automation software up-to-date with the latest standards is a constant challenge.
GRL's electrical compliance test solutions support Transmitter and Receiver physical layer testing for the latest digital connectivity standards – including PCIe 5.0 technology and earlier, USB4, USB 3.2, DisplayPort, and SAS – on most high-performance oscilloscopes and multiple BERTs. GRL's solutions sharply increase product developers' buying power and ROI by enabling test equipment mix and match and facilitating freedom of choice among test equipment brands. GRL's solutions free product developers to focus on product validating and debugging instead of wrestling with multiple software toolsets, limited budgets, and purchasing red tape.
GRL works closely with leading test equipment vendors and standards organisations to develop robust test tools and methodologies. GRL's roadmap anticipates even more solutions to be released in 2022 and beyond to support PCIe 6.0 specification and other emerging standards.
"GRL's compliance test software automation solutions facilitate the widespread adoption of the PCI Express standard," said PCI-SIG® Chairperson and President, Al Yanes. "As a contributor to the PCI Express ecosystem, GRL's support for PCIe 5.0 specification electrical compliance testing will help our members deliver PCIe specification compliant products to market. We look forward to GRL's future contributions to PCI Express technology."
"With VESA's newly established DisplayPort UHBR (Ultra High Bit Rate) Certification Program, device and cable manufacturers can now send products that support the higher data link rates supported by DisplayPort 2.0 to GRL and other DisplayPort authorized test centers for testing and certification," stated Bill Lempesis, Executive Director of the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), which develops and administers the DisplayPort standard and compliance logo program. "The availability of UHBR test solutions like those offered by GRL play an important role in advancing the DisplayPort ecosystem and accelerating the introduction of higher-performance video and display products enabled by the latest DisplayPort specifications."
"Since releasing our first multivendor test solution in 2014, GRL has aggressively pursued our vision to provide product developers with freedom and flexibility to use the test equipment that they want while enjoying the benefits of proven, cost effective and easy-to-use automation software solutions," said Miki Takahashi, Executive Vice President of Engineering at GRL. "GRL's new PCIe PLL and DisplayPort 2.0 test solutions are the latest step in a journey to put the power of test automation in the hands of the end user, along with the confidence that the solution works with the latest test equipment of their choice and delivers reliable test results aligned with the latest standards."
For more information about Granite River Labs visit www.graniteriverlabs.com.
For PCI-SIG visit https://pcisig.com/.
For VESA visit https://vesa.org/.
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SOURCE Granite River Labs (GRL) | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/26/grl-extends-compliance-test-automation-portfolio-with-flexible-pcie-50-specification-displayport-20-multivendor-solutions/ | 2022-04-26 16:41:56 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/26/grl-extends-compliance-test-automation-portfolio-with-flexible-pcie-50-specification-displayport-20-multivendor-solutions/ |
A group of Senate Republican defense hawks are holding up passage of legislation to raise the debt ceiling in protest of a 1-percent, across-the-board spending cut that would go into effect if Congress doesn’t pass its spending bills on time, and to pressure Senate leaders to agree to move a funding measure for the Ukraine war later this year.
Only a few hours after the debt limit deal crafted by President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) passed the House with more than 300 votes, defense-minded Republican senators are threatening to hold up the bill to protect the Pentagon.
A Republican senator familiar with floor discussions said there are “people who are willing” to hold up the bill unless leaders commit to moving a defense supplemental later this year.
But the source added there’s “a pathway to getting this done by midnight.”
The ink on the agreement is barely dry, but some GOP senators are already looking for a way to get around the cap on defense spending — which falls well short of what they think is needed — by moving a supplemental spending bill to provide more military aid to Ukraine.
“We are exchanging language, and I certainly hope that we can get there with a commitment to bring the appropriations bills to the Senate floor, so that we’re never in a situation where we trigger the automatic 1-percent, across-the-board, indiscriminate cut,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the ranking member on the Appropriations Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.
The debt limit bill would implement an across-the-board, 1-percent cut on discretionary spending if Congress fails to pass the annual spending bills by the end of the calendar year, which some Republicans worry that Democrats could use as leverage in future negotiations since many social welfare programs are funded by mandatory spending.
And while the defense budget will otherwise be capped below the rate of inflation, Collins said she and her allies also want Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to promise to move a defense supplemental spending package to ensure continued military support for Ukraine.
“The second part would be a commitment for a defense supplemental, an emergency defense supplemental,” she said.
Collins said she wants Schumer to make these commitments in a “colloquy on the floor or a statement on the floor.”
Republican senators including Collins and Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) took to the Senate floor Thursday to vent their concerns about the defense spending caps in the bill.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday called the defense caps the “worst part of the deal.”
Graham fumed that there’s “not a penny in this bill to help Ukraine defeat Putin.”
He noted that Ukrainian forces are about to launch an offensive to push back Russian troops and declared “we need to send a clear message to Putin that when it comes to your invasion of Ukraine, we’re going to support the Ukrainians to ensure your loss.”
“If we don’t do that, then we’re going to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory,” Graham said.
Cotton said under the spending caps negotiated by Biden and McCarthy, the defense budget will grow only half as fast as the rate of inflation, “causing even more real cuts to defense.”
He also argued the 1-percent cut to penalize lawmakers for not passing spending bills on time “means defense spending will go down if the sequester kicks in.”
“If the sequester takes effect, Democrats will get more welfare spending, while defense gets cut,” he warned.
“This bill poses a mortal risk to our national security by cutting our defense budget, which I cannot support as grave dangers gather on the horizon,” Cotton declared. | https://www.fox16.com/hill-politics/senate-defense-hawks-hold-up-debt-ceiling-bill-in-protest-of-cuts-lack-of-ukraine-money/ | 2023-06-01 20:18:49 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/hill-politics/senate-defense-hawks-hold-up-debt-ceiling-bill-in-protest-of-cuts-lack-of-ukraine-money/ |
Hayden Panettiere is sharing more details about losing custody of her daughter, Kaya, amid her struggles with depression and addiction. In ET's exclusive clip for the upcoming episode of Red Table Talk, the 33-year-old actress sat down with Jada Pinkett Smith, Adrienne Banfield Norris, and guest host Kelly Osbourne where she revealed that she wasn't aware she was losing custody until her now-7-year-old was already with her ex, Wladimir Klitschko, in Ukraine.
"I was trying to tell myself that if I'm not OK, if I'm not good, then I cannot be the best mom to you," Panettiere said. "I was going through such a hard time that I knew the most unselfish thing I could do was to make that hard decision and just try to work on myself."
"She was almost three, and it wasn't fully my decision," Panettiere continued. "In fact, I didn't even know it was happening until she was already over there."
Panettiere previously spoke out during an interview with People in July about hitting her lowest point of alcohol abuse ahead of Kaya's move to Ukraine to live with Klitschko.
"I would have the shakes when I woke up and could only function with sipping alcohol," she said. "It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. But I wanted to be a good mom to her — and sometimes that means letting them go."
Despite suffering from depression, Panettiere told People that she "never had the feeling that I wanted to harm my child, but I didn't want to spend any time with her." As for her relationship with Klitschko, whom she split from for good in 2018, she shared, "He didn't want to be around me. I didn't want to be around me. But with the opiates and alcohol I was doing anything to make me feel happy for a moment. Then I'd feel worse than I did before. I was in a cycle of self-destruction."
The actress later spent eight months in rehab, a place she credits to giving her the tools she needed to "get over the hump" of her addiction. "It's an everyday choice, and I'm checking in with myself all the time," she explained. "But I'm just so grateful to be part of this world again, and I will never take it for granted again."
During that interview, Panettiere admitted that she was only 15 years old when she was given "happy pills" to make her "peppy during interviews," noting she had "no idea that this was not an appropriate thing, or what door that would open for me when it came to my addiction."
"I put a lot of work into myself and I had to be willing to be incredibly honest," Panettiere said of seeking help in recent years. "This hasn't been easy and there were a lot of ups and downs, but I don't regret even the ugliest things that have happened to me. I feel incredibly accomplished. And I feel like I have a second chance."
Panettiere's entire Red Table Talk interview airs Wednesday.
RELATED CONTENT: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/hayden-panettiere-says-losing-custody-of-daughter-kaya-wasnt-fully-her-choice-exclusive/603-f9df6188-28b6-4b14-88e3-9813dbc4e4b4 | 2022-09-28 06:43:38 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/hayden-panettiere-says-losing-custody-of-daughter-kaya-wasnt-fully-her-choice-exclusive/603-f9df6188-28b6-4b14-88e3-9813dbc4e4b4 |
TARRYTOWN, N.Y., May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tyré Robinson has been named Tarrytown, New York Regional President at M&T Bank . In her new role, she will ensure collaboration across all lines of business, and direct community banking activities that advance the bank's localized focus to provide more value for customers, businesses and communities across the region. She will also continue to serve in her previous role as Business Banking Lead for the Tarrytown and Hudson Valley regions, a role she held since 2020.
Under its local engagement model, M&T separates the geographic areas it serves into community regions led by regional presidents. Because they know their communities best, these regionally based teams work to create differentiated strategies to serve their markets, combining the capabilities of a large institution with the care and empathy of a neighborhood bank. They also make decisions locally about community activities, grants and lending.
"Tyré has a proven track record of building trust and fostering collaboration among diverse communities, while contributing to inclusive growth in Tarrytown neighborhoods," said Mike Keegan, M&T Bank senior executive vice president and head of community banking. "With her local knowledge and personal commitment to making a difference in people's lives, Tyré will be an outstanding leader for this region."
Throughout her tenure with M&T Bank, Robinson was responsible for building and managing small business banking and consumer relationships across Westchester, Rockland and Connecticut. Robinson also conceptualized and implemented the Brand Builder Program which helped more than 250 employees take an active role in their career development. She is also a sponsor for the Equity One Sponsorship program, an overarching education and awareness campaign that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. The program specifically aims to increase Black and Brown team members in senior management and leadership roles within M&T Bank and Wilmington Trust.
Robinson co-founded M&T's African American Resource Group of New York and New Jersey (AARG). As a chair member of the Professional Development Committee for AARG, Robinson facilitates personal branding workshops and mentors employees of diverse backgrounds, including many women. Additionally, as a Multicultural Banking Advisor to M&T, she supports the bank's efforts to connect with multicultural consumers, identify and designate multicultural banking centers and certify bilingual branch employees.
Robinson earned her Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctor from The Stern School of Business at New York University and is an alumna of the Rising Leadership Development Program (RLDP). She is a member of M&T's Women in Networking (WIN) and HOLA Employee Resource Group (ERPs).
M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank.
For more information on M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com. People's United customers can visit www.mtb.com/peoples for more information on the conversion to M&T Bank.
Media Contact:
David Samberg,
(201) 368-4515,
dsamberg@mtb.com
© 2022 M&T Bank. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
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SOURCE M&T Bank | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/mampt-bank-names-tyr-robinson-regional-president-tarrytown-ny-region/ | 2022-05-12 18:55:34 | 0 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/mampt-bank-names-tyr-robinson-regional-president-tarrytown-ny-region/ |
ROME (AP) — Russell Crowe, who won a best actor Academy Award for portraying a gladiator in the 2000 film of the same name, was feted Friday by the city of Rome, home to the Colosseum where real gladiators clashed before thousands of spectators through the time of the Roman Empire.
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri welcomed the actor to City Hall which sits atop the ancient Capitoline Hill, stepping out on a balcony with Crowe to show off a sweeping view of the ancient Roman Forum.
Crowe was given a plaque and the title of “ambassador or Rome in the world.”
The actor, speaking Italian, said, “I am always at the service of Rome.”
In the film, Crowe portrayed Maximus, who was a general forced into slavery before turning into a gladiator
Crowe is in Rome these days for the city’s film festival, where a movie he directed and stars in, “Poker Face,” is having its world premiere.
The mayor said the city was giving the plaque “as the symbol of friendship and affection of Rome for Russell Crowe.” | https://www.wivb.com/entertainment-news/ap-gladiator-actor-russell-crowe-feted-in-rome/ | 2022-10-14 20:23:34 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/entertainment-news/ap-gladiator-actor-russell-crowe-feted-in-rome/ |
Man steals 2 French bulldogs at gunpoint from pregnant woman in broad daylight, police say
LOS ANGELES (Gray News) – Two French bulldogs have been reunited with their owner after they were stolen from her at gunpoint in Los Angeles, police said.
To make matters worse, the dogs’ owner is nine months pregnant, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The LAPD said the woman was walking the dogs in daylight at 10 a.m. on Dec. 9 in Studio City when she was approached by an armed man.
Police said the suspect pointed a pistol at the victim and took both French bulldogs. The suspect fled the area with the dogs in a gray SUV.
Investigation led police to 27-year-old Sammeiso Lewis, a resident of Las Vegas. Police said Lewis had attempted to extort the victim after stealing the dogs.
Using witness information, police were able to conduct several search warrants and arrest Lewis on Jan. 26. He was charged with one count of robbery.
The dogs have been safely reunited with their owner unharmed.
Detectives are reminding pet owners to take precautions against being a victim of theft. They say to:
- Stay visible in public settings with significant light while walking your dog
- Utilize dog chips with GPS for your dogs
- Be a good witness by providing as much detailed information to the police
- Don’t leave your dog unattended in public
- Install security cameras around your residence to monitor your pets and intruders
- Keep current photos of your dog
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.newschannel6now.com/2023/02/09/man-steals-2-french-bulldogs-gunpoint-pregnant-woman-broad-daylight-police-say/ | 2023-02-09 22:18:20 | 1 | https://www.newschannel6now.com/2023/02/09/man-steals-2-french-bulldogs-gunpoint-pregnant-woman-broad-daylight-police-say/ |
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore executed a man Wednesday for drug trafficking and is set to hang a woman Friday—the first in 19 years—prompting renewed calls for a halt to capital punishment.
Mohammed Aziz Hussain, 56, was hanged at Singapore’s Changi Prison and has been buried, said activist Kirsten Han of Transformative Justice Collective, which advocates for abolishing the death penalty in Singapore. A citizen of the citystate, he was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking around 1.75 ounces of heroin, Han said
Saridewi Djamani, a 45-year-old Singaporean woman, is due to be hanged Friday after she was convicted and sentenced in 2018 for trafficking around 1.05 ounces of heroin, the group and other human rights organizations said. Han said the last woman known to have been hanged in Singapore was 36-year-old hairdresser Yen May Woen, also for drug trafficking, in 2004.
“Singaporean authorities must immediately stop these blatant violations of the right to life in their obsessive enforcement of misguided drug policies,” Adilur Rahman Khan, secretary-general of the International Federation of Human Rights, said in a statement.
If Djamani’s is executed as planned, Singapore will have executed 15 people for drug offenses since it resumed hangings in March 2022, an average of one execution every month, Transformative Justice Collective, Amnesty International and seven other groups said in a joint statement.
Anyone—citizens and foreigners alike—convicted of trafficking more than 17.64 ounces of cannabis and 0.53 ounces of heroin faces the mandatory death penalty.
Human rights groups, British business mogul Richard Branson and the United Nations have urged Singapore to halt executions for drug-related offenses as increasing evidence shows the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent. But Singapore authorities insist that all prisoners get due process of law and that capital punishment remains key to helping halt both drug demand and supply.
The joint statement by Transformative Justice Collective and other groups noted that Law Minister K. Shanmugam reportedly acknowledged in a 2022 interview that Singapore’s harsh policy on drugs has not led to the arrest of the so-called drug kingpins.
“Instead of disrupting drug cartels … the government of Singapore deliberately retains capital drug laws that, in practice, operate to punish low-level traffickers and couriers, who are typically recruited from marginalized groups with intersecting vulnerabilities, the statement said.
The groups said Singapore is out of step with the global trend of more countries moving away from capital punishment. Neighboring Thailand has legalized cannabis while Malaysia ended the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes this year. The groups urged Singapore to halt all executions and instead pursue effective measures to humanely address drug trafficking in the country. | https://nwasianweekly.com/2023/07/singapore-hangs-a-man-for-drug-trafficking-it-will-hang-a-woman-on-friday-__-the-first-in-19-years/ | 2023-07-27 21:12:49 | 1 | https://nwasianweekly.com/2023/07/singapore-hangs-a-man-for-drug-trafficking-it-will-hang-a-woman-on-friday-__-the-first-in-19-years/ |
Declares Quarterly Dividend on Common Shares
Reaffirms 2022 Outlook for Sales and EBITDA
Record Quarter Sales of $536.1 Million vs. $424.8 Million in Prior Year Quarter
PITTSBURGH, Nov. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Koppers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: KOP), an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals, and carbon compounds, today reported net income attributable to Koppers for the third quarter of 2022 of $19.1 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, compared to $10.2 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter.
Adjusted net income attributable to Koppers and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were $25.1 million and $1.19 per share for the third quarter of 2022, compared to $22.0 million and $1.01 per share in the prior year quarter, respectively.
Consolidated sales of $536.1 million, which was a quarterly record, increased by $111.3 million, or 26.2 percent, compared with $424.8 million in the prior year. Excluding a $17.1 million unfavorable impact from foreign currency changes, sales increased by $128.4 million, or 30.2 percent.
The Railroad and Utility Products and Services (RUPS) business reported record third-quarter sales and improved profitability compared with the prior year period primarily driven by pricing increases across multiple markets, particularly crossties and utility poles, and higher activity in its maintenance-of-way businesses.
The Performance Chemicals (PC) segment delivered a second consecutive record sales quarter; however, profitability continued to be unfavorably impacted by higher overall raw material costs, partly offset by global price increases.
The Carbon Materials and Chemicals (CMC) segment continued to generate strong sales and profitability in a favorable pricing environment, which more than offset higher raw material costs.
President and CEO Leroy Ball said, "I'm excited to report that we finished the third quarter with record sales and record CMC adjusted EBITDA performance, which keeps us on track for another record year. The fact that we overcame dual headwinds of a stronger U.S. dollar on our foreign earnings and an increase in our effective tax rate is equally impressive and speaks to the ongoing strength of our diversified business model."
"Our CMC business generated record quarterly results, driven by stronger pricing supported by a balanced supply and demand environment and continued operations improvements. Demand for our PC business remained healthy, while we continued working down higher cost inventory impacting margins, a situation that's expected to reverse in January 2023 with additional price increases. RUPS improved sequentially and year-over-year as hardwood supply continued to increase and demand for utility infrastructure remained robust. My thanks go out to our incredible team worldwide who keeps finding ways to overcome challenging market conditions by continuing to execute on our expand and optimize strategy."
Third Quarter Financial Performance
- RUPS delivered record third quarter sales of $207.7 million, an increase of $20.8 million, or 11.1 percent, compared to $186.9 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding an unfavorable impact from foreign currency changes of $0.7 million, sales increased by $21.5 million, or 11.5 percent, from the prior year quarter. The sales increase was driven by higher pricing, particularly for crossties and utility poles, and higher activity in the railroad bridge services business, partly offset by volume decreases in utility poles due to labor-driven capacity and transportation constraints. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was $15.5 million, or 7.5 percent, compared with $10.7 million, or 5.7 percent, in the prior year quarter. Profitability increased year-over-year as a result of improvements in the utility pole and maintenance-of-way businesses from price increases and favorable cost absorption, partly offset by higher raw material and operating costs. The railroad business continued to see higher procurement volumes of green ties, consistent with expectations for the second half of 2022.
- PC generated record quarter sales of $153.1 million, an increase of $37.9 million, or 32.9 percent, compared to sales of $115.2 million in the prior year. Excluding an unfavorable foreign currency impact of $3.4 million, sales increased by $41.3 million, or 35.9 percent, from the prior year quarter. The year-over-year sales growth was primarily due to volume increases of 30 percent in the Americas and global price increases for copper-based preservatives, partly offset by volume decreases in Europe. In the third quarter of 2021, volumes in the Americas were unfavorably impacted by high lumber prices and a shift in consumer spending habits that tempered customer demand. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was $16.7 million, or 10.9 percent, compared with $20.2 million, or 17.5 percent, in the prior year quarter, reflecting higher overall raw material costs, including working through higher cost inventory in a falling copper price environment, partly offset by higher volumes in the Americas and global price increases.
- Sales for CMC of $175.3 million increased by $52.6 million, or 42.9 percent, compared to sales of $122.7 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding an unfavorable impact from foreign currency changes of $12.9 million, sales increased by $65.5 million, or 53.4 percent, from the prior year quarter. Compared with the prior year period, sales benefited from higher prices for carbon pitch, phthalic anhydride, carbon black feedstock and naphthalene, driven by strong demand and a higher raw material price environment, partly offset by volume decreases. Adjusted EBITDA was a quarterly record of $36.6 million, or 20.9 percent, compared with $22.5 million, or 18.3 percent, in the prior year quarter. The year-over-year increase in profitability reflects higher sales prices, partly offset by an increase in raw material and other operating costs and an unfavorable effect from foreign currency.
- Total adjusted EBITDA was $68.8 million, or 12.8 percent, in the third quarter, compared with $53.9 million, or 12.7 percent, in the prior year quarter.
- Capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, were $80.0 million, compared with $87.6 million for the prior year period. Net of insurance proceeds and cash received from asset sales, capital expenditures were $75.1 million for the current year, compared with $78.7 million for the prior year period.
2022 Outlook
Koppers remains committed to expanding and optimizing its business and making continued progress toward its long-term financial goals. After considering global economic conditions as well as the ongoing uncertainty associated with geopolitical and supply chain challenges, Koppers expects 2022 sales of approximately $2.0 billion, compared with $1.68 billion in the prior year, and adjusted EBITDA of approximately $230 million for 2022, compared with $223.5 million in the prior year.
The effective tax rate for adjusted net income attributable to Koppers in 2022 is projected to be approximately 35 percent, compared to the tax rate in 2021, excluding certain income tax effects relating to non-recurring items, of 27 percent. The higher 2022 tax rate is primarily due to higher anticipated interest expense deduction disallowances and the mix of income from domestic and foreign subsidiaries. Accordingly, the 2022 adjusted EPS is forecasted to be approximately $4.00, compared with adjusted EPS of $4.21 in the prior year. The higher tax rate anticipated in 2022 is estimated to have a negative impact on adjusted EPS of approximately $0.60 compared to the prior year.
Koppers expects capital expenditures of approximately $95 million in 2022. Net of cash received from asset sales and property insurance recoveries, Koppers expects its net investment in capital expenditures to be $85 million to $90 million.
Commenting on the forecast, Mr. Ball said, "We remain on track to finish this year with record sales and profitability, and more importantly, on target to reach our $300 million adjusted EBITDA goal in 2025. We continue to strengthen the competitive moat around our business that puts us in the best position to assure a stable and secure supply chain. The recent acquisition of crosstie supplier Gross & Janes, the addition of DCOI to our product portfolio, and the most recent new contract to recover and dispose of end-of-life crossties are all examples of Koppers continuing to find success in our vertically integrated business model. This enables the reliable delivery of critical top-quality products to a customer base placing ever-greater emphasis on sustainable solutions and demonstrating a willingness to pay for them. We remain committed to helping our customers run uninterrupted while taking care of our team members around the globe and driving returns for our shareholders."
Dividend Declaration
Koppers announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share of its common stock. The dividend is payable on December 12, 2022, to shareholders of record as of the close of trading on November 25, 2022.
Investor Conference Call and Webcast
Interested parties may access the live audio broadcast toll free by dialing 833-366-1128 in the United States and Canada, or 412-902-6774 for international, Conference ID number 10172445. Participants are requested to access the call at least five minutes before the scheduled start time to complete a brief registration. The conference call will be broadcast live on www.koppers.com and can also be accessed here.
An audio replay will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call at 877-344-7529 for U.S. toll free, 855-669-9658 for Canada toll free, or 412-317-0088 for international, using replay access code 4463139. The recording will be available for replay through February 4, 2023.
About Koppers
Koppers, with corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals, and carbon compounds. Our products and services are used in a variety of niche applications in a diverse range of end markets, including the railroad, specialty chemical, utility, residential lumber, agriculture, aluminum, steel, rubber, and construction industries. We serve our customers through a comprehensive global manufacturing and distribution network, with facilities located in North America, South America, Australasia, and Europe. The stock of Koppers Holdings Inc. is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "KOP."
For more information, visit: www.koppers.com. Inquiries from the media should be directed to Ms. Jessica Franklin Black at BlackJF@koppers.com or 412-227-2025. Inquiries from the investment community should be directed to Ms. Quynh McGuire at McGuireQT@koppers.com or 412-227-2049.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. Koppers believes that adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income attributable to Koppers, adjusted earnings per share, net debt and net leverage ratio provide information useful to investors in understanding the underlying operational performance of the company, its business and performance trends, and facilitate comparisons between periods and with other corporations in similar industries. The exclusion of certain items permits evaluation and a comparison of results for ongoing business operations, and it is on this basis that Koppers management internally assesses the company's performance. In addition, the Board of Directors and executive management team use adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure under the company's annual incentive plans.
Although Koppers believes that these non-GAAP financial measures enhance investors' understanding of its business and performance, these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered an alternative to GAAP basis financial measures and should be read in conjunction with the relevant GAAP financial measure. Other companies in a similar industry may define or calculate these measures differently than the company, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures. Because of these limitations, these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.
See the attached tables for the following reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release: Unaudited Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA; Unaudited Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to Koppers and Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Koppers; Unaudited Reconciliation of Diluted Earnings Per Share and Adjusted Earnings Per Share; Unaudited Reconciliation of Total Debt to Net Debt and Net Leverage Ratio; and Unaudited Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA On A Latest Twelve Month Basis.
Koppers does not provide reconciliations of guidance for adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS to comparable GAAP measures, in reliance on the unreasonable efforts exception. Koppers is unable, without unreasonable efforts, to forecast certain items required to develop meaningful comparable GAAP financial measures. These items include, but are not limited to, restructuring and impairment charges, acquisition-related costs, mark-to-market commodity hedging, and LIFO adjustments that are difficult to forecast for a GAAP estimate and may be significant.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and may include, but are not limited to, statements about sales levels, acquisitions, restructuring, declines in the value of Koppers assets and the effect of any resulting impairment charges, profitability and anticipated expenses and cash outflows. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties.
All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking, and words such as "outlook," "guidance," "forecast," "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "may," "will," "should," "continue," "plan," "potential," "intend," "likely," or other similar words or phrases are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement contained herein, in other press releases, written statements or other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or in Koppers communications and discussions with investors and analysts in the normal course of business through meetings, phone calls and conference calls, regarding future dividends, expectations with respect to sales, earnings, cash flows, operating efficiencies, restructurings, the benefits of acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures or other matters as well as financings and debt reduction, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and contingencies.
Many of these risks, uncertainties and contingencies are beyond our control, and may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance or achievements. Factors that might affect such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the impact of changes in commodity prices, such as oil and copper, on product margins; general economic and business conditions; disruption in the U.S. and global financial markets; potential difficulties in protecting our intellectual property; the ratings on our debt and our ability to repay or refinance our outstanding indebtedness as it matures; our ability to operate within the limitations of our debt covenants; potential impairment of our goodwill and/or long-lived assets; demand for Koppers goods and services; competitive conditions; interest rate and foreign currency rate fluctuations; availability and costs of key raw materials; unfavorable resolution of claims against us, as well as those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Koppers, particularly our latest annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings by Koppers with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after that date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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SOURCE Koppers | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/04/koppers-reports-third-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-11-04 13:53:58 | 0 | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/04/koppers-reports-third-quarter-2022-results/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and a group of legislators reached a last-minute compromise to extend the lifespan of the state’s last operating nuclear plant by up to five years. But the proposal faces an uncertain future as the Legislature concludes its two-year session this week.
To pass, the proposal to keep the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant running needs a two-thirds vote in the state Assembly and Senate, a threshold that can be difficult to reach. Last week, a competing proposal emerged from Democratic legislators that would use $1.4 billion to speed up development of renewable power and transmission lines, while leaving intact plans to shutter the twin-domed plant by 2025.
Newsom has argued that the reactors are needed to fill gaps in the state power supply as California transitions to solar, wind and other renewables. He earlier proposed the reactors remain online for an additional 10 years, which was dropped in the latest version of the plan.
The legislation is anchored to the assumption that operator Pacific Gas & Electric will qualify for a share of $6 billion the Biden administration has set aside to rescue nuclear plants at risk of closing. But if that doesn’t happen, the state could consider backing out of the deal.
PG&E also would need approval to keep running from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a process that has not started and sometimes takes years to complete.
Pro-nuclear advocates and industry-linked groups have praised the idea of a longer life for the reactors and their carbon-free power in the climate change era. But environmentalists and other critics warn of safety risks from nearby earthquake faults and tons of spent nuclear fuel at the site, along with potential future costs that could land on ratepayers.
Ralph Cavanagh of the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of the groups that negotiated and signed the agreement to close the plant by 2025, pointed to language in the bill that would allow PG&E to seek public dollars to pay for as-yet-unknown refurbishment costs for a longer operating run.
Cavanagh said it amounted to a risky “blank check” for the utility, and he said his group would oppose the deal.
He also pointed to language in the bill that states a longer run for the plant “may be necessary” to improve statewide power reliability, which he said backs up complaints from the NRDC and others that no detailed analysis has been done concluding that the reactors are needed beyond 2025. It also directs state utility regulators to conduct a study to determine if Diablo Canyon’s power is needed beyond that date.
The bill calls for extending the plant’s lifespan to improve reliability but “the study hasn’t been done yet” to support that, Cavanagh said.
The plant on the coast midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco produces 9% of the electricity for California’s nearly 40 million residents. The legislation also calls for a $1.4 billion forgivable loan for PG&E, and the state earlier set aside up to $75 million to extend operation of older power plants scheduled to close.
The debate has left PG&E in an awkward position, assessing the possibility of a longer run while simultaneously continuing to plan for closing and dismantling the plant as scheduled.
To keep the plant running, Newsom is trying to find a way to unspool the 2016 closure agreement agreed to by environmentalists, plant worker unions and the utility. The decision to close the plant also was endorsed by California utility regulators, the Legislature and then-Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown.
Legislators have complained about being bull-rushed at the end of the two-year session with a vastly complex plan, which is expected to be voted on by midweek.
State Sen. John Laird, a Santa Cruz Democrat whose district includes the plant, last week raised the possibility of the Legislature approving a stripped-down bill that would provide PG&E only with what is “absolutely necessary” for the utility to apply for federal funding.
To apply for the $6 billion federal program by a Sept. 6 deadline, Diablo Canyon needs state legislation to show it has a path to continue operations beyond its planned shutdown.
Laird said he is reviewing the compromise, but said it appears to meet many of his concerns, including a more aggressive schedule to develop renewables and setting a five-year cap on continued operations.
Even if it is approved, a summary of the compromise bill released by the state Public Advocates Office said state utility regulators could cancel the extended run at a later date if there is a lack of federal dollars, if capital needs climb above $1.4 billion or if enough new, zero-carbon power comes online to make the reactors unnecessary.
Laird declined to speculate on the bill’s chances of passage.
“Everybody is reading it and trying to make their individual decision,” he said. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/governor-lawmakers-debate-longer-run-for-california-nukes/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world | 2022-08-29 23:59:31 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/governor-lawmakers-debate-longer-run-for-california-nukes/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
When Sean was at his lowest point, struggling with alcoholism and living on the streets of Sacremento, California, he didn’t know how to find the help he needed.
Sean started drinking heavily at the age of twelve when he would go on fishing trips with his uncle. His parents suffered from drug addiction and so his uncle would spend time with him, but he was an alcoholic.
“It was kind of a cool thing back in those days to give your kid a beer,” Sean said. “And so I got the opportunity to drink… at a young age.”
At that age, he started getting into trouble with the law, doing other drugs when his probation officer said, “Sean, if I catch you doing this again, you're gonna go to YA prison until you're 18.”
“And so I ended up getting the approval to have drinks as long as it was at home. and, of course, that's when the phenomenon of craving and the loss of control started.”
“Living life as an alcoholic, it affects every single person around you. And that's something that while you're currently in your disease, you don't see. You can't see the truth about yourself and you can't see the truth about how you're affecting others because you're so clouded with resentment,” Sean said. “I burned every bridge with everybody that loved and cared about me. I thought they didn't love me and didn't want to help me, but they tried and tried and tried and sooner or later, they couldn't put up with it any longer.”
His parents ended up kicking him out of their house, leading to him living on the streets.
But then when he was in a felony drug court in 2010 after being caught relapsing, the coordinators gave him a, “slap on the wrist,” requiring him to go to more meetings a week instead of the three he was attending. He walked into a meeting and there was a woman speaking who said, “if you're looking for a manager of your own life, would you hire yourself to do it again?”
“I heard exactly what she said and she said you might as well leave it up to a higher power. And so I just kind of had this amazing experience where I sat down and I quit trying to figure everything out and I just started taking direction on learning a new way to live and started practicing prayer and meditation. It's just a magical thing to happen, to go from a gutter homeless drunk and then to go from that to completely free of the obsession is amazing,” Sean said.
“And the way I keep the obsession gone is I continue to practice love and tolerance and I continue to serve other people,” Sean said.
Sean has been sober for ten years now, and he’s spent that time making amends and reconciling with his loved ones.
“you could say sorry a million times to the people that have reasonable resentment towards you, but I got to actually change my actions and since I got to change my actions, every single one of the relationships I've had that were ruined or destroyed as has been rekindled because I got to change my behaviors, change my perspective and and just make things right. So yeah, I've cleaned up all of the wreckage,” Sean said.
Sean said that he can now live on life’s terms, and not let things like breaking a leg or losing a job effect him the same way they used to.
“My life today is miraculous because I've been given a gift of a change in perception,” Sean said.
Sean said that if someone is struggling with alcoholism and they want to make a change in their life, the will to do so has to come from themselves.
“Perhaps they feel like nobody understands them or they feel like it's hopeless. Maybe you think that everybody else is a problem and the drinking is not the problem, but either way the feeling is gonna come deep down inside you,” Sean said.
Sean [who isn’t a spokesperson] hosts an Alcoholics [Anonymous] support group that meets [don’t know if he want’s address here]. If anyone is interested in attending they can [don’t know if put meeting times here or contact information]
“When the weather is nice, we take it out back and we have a campfire, s'mores and coffee available,” Sean said.
And the group that Sean hosts isn’t the only help available.
“It is no secret that there are meetings available for anybody that needs it. You can Google, you know, alcoholics anonymous near me and find locations of meetings anywhere in the world,” Sean said.
“Perhaps all it takes is just the courage to go to somebody's house for a campfire and just sit there uncomfortably until you become comfortable,” Sean said. | https://www.postregister.com/for-alcoholics-help-is-out-there/article_f0f43ab4-354d-11ed-89dc-6bfa4374f275.html | 2022-09-16 00:26:45 | 1 | https://www.postregister.com/for-alcoholics-help-is-out-there/article_f0f43ab4-354d-11ed-89dc-6bfa4374f275.html |
Yusef Salaam, one of the exonerated “Central Park Five,” has won a Democratic primary for a seat on the New York City Council, all but assuring him of eventual victory. It’s an improbable feat for a political novice who was wrongly accused, convicted and imprisoned as a teenager for the rape and beating of a white jogger in Central Park.
The Associated Press refrained from calling the race to represent Central Harlem on election night, but vote tallies released Wednesday showed him to be the clear winner.
“To have a voice from a person who’s been pushed into the margins of life — someone who has actually been one of those who has been counted out — is finally having a seat at the table," Salaam said in an interview Wednesday.
It was time, he said, for “a new Harlem renaissance.”
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“Harlem is such a special place that it is known as the Black Mecca,” he said. What happens in Harlem “reverberates around the world.”
Salaam and the four other Black and Latino teens from Harlem became known as the Central Park Five after their arrest in 1989 in the headline-grabbing rape, one of the city’s most notorious and racially fraught crimes. He served nearly seven years in prison before the group was exonerated through DNA evidence.
His outsider campaign prevailed over two political veterans — New York Assembly members Inez Dickens, 73, and Al Taylor, 65 — in his first bid for public office. Democratic socialist Kristin Richardson Jordan, the incumbent council member, dropped out of the race in May but remained on the ballot.
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Salaam declared victory on election night with his vote tally barely exceeding 50%, although an unknown number of absentee ballots had yet to be counted. But his lead over Dickens, his nearest competitor, seemed insurmountable, and both she and Taylor conceded. New York City is still tabulating late-arriving mail ballots that could potentially push him back above the 50% threshold, in which case he will have won without the benefit of ranked-choice voting tallies.
“When I think about the things that we need the most, of course on the top of everyone’s list are affordable housing, education and safe streets,” Salaam told the AP.
While all three candidates focused on promoting affordable housing, controlling gentrification and easing poverty in Harlem, Salaam capitalized on his celebrity in neighborhoods that consider the Central Park Five — now the Exonerated Five — to be living symbols of the injustices faced by the Black and Latino residents who make up about three-fourth’s of the district’s population.
“He comes from the neighborhood, and he was incarcerated then turned himself around,” said voter Carnation France. “He’s trying to do something for the people.”
Others were looking for a change in leadership.
Zambi Mwendwa said she voted for Salaam because he is “a new face.” She said her decision had nothing to do with the injustice in his past.
“I’ve heard him talk. He seems to be talking about the things I care about,” Mwendwa said on election day.
Salaam's lack of experience in public office might have actually worked in his favor, according to Amani Onyioha, a partner at Sole Strategies, which ran phone banks and engaged residents on Salaam’s behalf.
“In a time like this, when people are looking for a hero, they're looking for somebody who can relate to them,” Onyioha said.
“I think people saw him as a survivor," Onyioha said. “He was vindicated and the system eventually ended up working out for him.”
Salaam moved to Georgia shortly after he was released and became an activist, a motivational speaker, an author and a poet. He returned only in December to launch his campaign.
Salaam was 15 when he was arrested along with Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise, who served between five and 12 years in prison before prosecutors agreed to reexamine the case. DNA evidence and a confession ultimately linked a serial rapist and murderer to the attack, but he wasn’t prosecuted because too much time had passed. Their convictions were vacated in 2002 and the city ultimately agreed in a legal settlement to pay the exonerated men a combined $41 million.
A 2012 Ken Burns documentary called “The Central Park Five” rekindled public attention on the men's childhood saga. More recently, a 2019 television miniseries, “When They See Us,” drew attention again, just before the Black Lives Matter Movement was launched in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
Burns and his co-directors applauded Harlem voters for “electing a man who has dedicated his life to reconciliation.”
Donald Trump, who in 1989 placed ads in four newspapers before the group went on trial with the blaring headline “Bring Back the Death Penalty,” later refused to apologize, saying all five had pleaded guilty — a reference to their coerced confessions. Salaam reminded voters of that in April, putting out his own full-page ad headlined “Bring Back Justice & Fairness,” in response to one of Trump's indictments. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/exonerated-member-of-central-park-five-wins-nyc-council-primary/3598845/ | 2023-07-05 23:50:40 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/exonerated-member-of-central-park-five-wins-nyc-council-primary/3598845/ |
(The Hill) – An independent laboratory and healthcare research group found elevated levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene in the majority of tested samples from several dry shampoo brands.
In a new study released Tuesday, Valisure said 70 percent of the samples it tested contained elevated levels of benzene, with some reaching up to 170 times the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limit of 2 parts per million (ppm).
Valisure tested 148 batches from 34 different brands, including from Not Your Mother’s, Sebastian and Batiste.
The healthcare and medical research group sent a petition to the FDA asking for a recall of the products it identified in the study and requesting updated guidelines for the regulation of benzene.
David Light, the CEO of Valisure, said “the detection of high levels of benzene in dry shampoos should be cause for significant concern since these products are likely used indoors, where benzene may linger and be inhaled for prolonged periods of time.”
“These and other issues identified by Valisure, including the detection of benzene in body spray, hand sanitizer, and sunscreen products, strongly underscore the importance of independent testing,” Light said in a statement.
Last month, Unilever, which makes beauty and personal care products, voluntarily recalled several dry shampoo brands, including Dove, Suave and Bed Head, because of elevated levels of benzene.
Benzene is a colorless or light yellow liquid that has a sweet odor. The chemical, which is both natural and manmade, evaporates into the air quickly and humans are typically exposed to it through inhalation.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, benzene is one of the top 20 most commonly used chemicals in production.
Prolonged exposure to benzene is associated primarily with the loss of red blood cells and anemia as well as leukemia, cancer of the blood-forming organs.
In Valisure’s study, three batches from one brand contained benzene levels of more than 100 ppm, while 11 batches from three other brands contained more than 20 ppm. Even more products were found to have levels between 2 and 20 ppm.
According to Valisure, prolonged exposure to even just 1 ppm of benzene could result in the development of leukemia.
Light said one issue may be that raw, shipped materials and products are not rigorously checked, which can be risky due to companies using the global supply chain.
“Adding independent testing and certification into the supply chain could significantly improve the overall quality and help prevent these contamination issues from reaching consumers,” he suggested in a statement. | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/study-finds-benzene-in-many-dry-shampoos/ | 2022-11-01 18:18:47 | 1 | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/study-finds-benzene-in-many-dry-shampoos/ |
MONTREAL, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Dollarama Inc. (TSX: DOL) ("Dollarama" or the "Corporation") announced today that it has amended its existing syndicated credit facilities to convert them to a sustainability-linked loan ("SLL") with available credit of C$1,050 million.
"We are proud to be among the first Canadian retailers to integrate ESG targets to our credit agreement. This marks another important step in our ESG journey, as we pursue our growth strategy and seek to create sustainable value for our stakeholders," said Neil Rossy, President and Chief Executive Officer.
"The conversion to sustainability-linked credit facilities is a concrete example of Dollarama's continued efforts to meaningfully integrate our ESG strategy and commitments into everyday decision-making, including in the active management of our capital structure," said J.P. Towner, Chief Financial Officer.
The SLL is tied to two specific sustainability performance targets ("SPTs") related to the Corporation's overall Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") strategy and which are linked to incentive pricing terms, namely: 1) Climate Change and Energy Management: Reduction of Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions intensity; and 2) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Increase of female gender representation in management positions.
RBC Capital Markets ("RBC") and CIBC acted as Co-Sustainability Structuring Agents.
Concurrently, Dollarama extended the term of each syndicated credit facility and upsized the credit available under all facilities to C$1,050 million, from C$800 million. The term of each facility was extended by one year, with Facility A now maturing on July 5, 2027, Facility B and Facility C maturing on July 5, 2025, and Facility D maturing on July 5, 2023. Under certain circumstances and subject to receipt of additional commitments from existing lenders or other eligible institutions, the Corporation may request increases to committed facilities up to an aggregate amount, together with all then-existing commitments, of C$1,500 million. RBC and CIBC acted as Joint Bookrunners on the extension and upsizing of the credit facilities.
Upsize of U.S. Commercial Paper Program
The Corporation also announced today the upsize of its commercial paper program in the United States (the "US Commercial Paper Program") from US$500 million to US$700 million.
Under the terms of the US Commercial Paper Program initially launched in February 2020, the Corporation may issue, from time to time, on a private placement basis, unsecured commercial paper notes with maturities not in excess of 397 days from the date of issue (the "Notes"). The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any one time under the US Commercial Paper Program, as amended, will not exceed US$700 million. The Corporation intends to continue to use the proceeds from the issuance of Notes for general corporate purposes.
The Notes are direct unsecured obligations of the Corporation and rank equally with all of its other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The Notes are unconditionally guaranteed by Dollarama L.P. and Dollarama GP Inc., each a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation. The Corporation's upsized credit facilities will continue to serve as a liquidity backstop for the repayment of the Notes issued under the US Commercial Paper Program.
The Notes have not been and will not be qualified for sale to the public under applicable securities laws in Canada and may not be offered or sold to any resident of Canada.
The Notes offered under the US Commercial Paper Program have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes in the United States or any jurisdiction where it is unlawful to do so.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release about our current and future plans, expectations and intentions, results, levels of activity, performance, goals or achievements, and any other future events or developments constitute forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to management and on estimates and assumptions made by management in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that are believed to be appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. However, there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Many factors could cause future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the factors discussed in the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of the Corporation's annual management's discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2022, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made herein. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at July 7, 2022 and the Corporation has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
About Dollarama
Dollarama is a recognized Canadian value retailer offering a broad assortment of consumable products, general merchandise and seasonal items both in-store and online. Our 1,431 locations across Canada provide customers with compelling value in convenient locations, including metropolitan areas, mid-sized cities and small towns. Select products are also available, by the full case only, through our online store at www.dollarama.com. Our quality merchandise is sold at select fixed price points up to $5.00.
Dollarama also owns a 50.1% interest in Dollarcity, a growing Latin American value retailer. Dollarcity offers a broad assortment of consumable products, general merchandise and seasonal items at select, fixed price points up to US$4.00 (or the equivalent in local currency) in 358 conveniently located stores in El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia and Peru.
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SOURCE Dollarama Inc. | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/dollarama-converts-sustainability-linked-credit-facilities-upsizes-its-us-commercial-paper-program/ | 2022-07-08 00:06:57 | 0 | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/dollarama-converts-sustainability-linked-credit-facilities-upsizes-its-us-commercial-paper-program/ |
...AIR QUALITY ADVISORY FROM THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY FOR Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette,
Valley, and Washington Counties...
* WHAT...Air Quality Advisory because degraded air quality due to
wildfire smoke.
Air Quality Index is forecast to be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.
* WHERE...Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette,
Valley, and Washington Counties.
* WHEN...Until 3 PM MDT Tuesday.
* IMPACTS...Members of sensitive groups may experience health
effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Air pollutants can cause breathing difficulties for children, the
elderly, as well as persons with respiratory problems. Those
individuals who are sensitive to increased particulate matter or
smoke are encouraged to avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor
activity during this advisory. Open burning is prohibited by air
quality rule. It is also recommended that all other individuals
limit prolonged or strenuous activity outdoors.
THIS STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY, AIR QUALITY GROUP FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT DEQ's
Boise Regional Office at (208) 373-0550
A woman is dead and two children were hospitalized following a single-car crash Sunday in Canyon County.
The driver of a 2010 Dodge Journey — a 33-year-old woman — was driving northbound on Batt Corner Road near Sunshine Road when the vehicle left the roadway, struck a guardrail and came to rest in a canal around 3 p.m.
The driver died at the scene. Two juvenile passengers from Notus were transported to a local hospital.
The incident remains under investigation by Idaho State Police. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/canyon-county-car-crash-leaves-woman-dead-kids-hospitalized/article_6ee9f998-32c6-11ed-8d99-37785ee2ddbf.html | 2022-09-12 18:53:05 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/canyon-county-car-crash-leaves-woman-dead-kids-hospitalized/article_6ee9f998-32c6-11ed-8d99-37785ee2ddbf.html |
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Ridge Bankshares, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE American: BRBS), the holding company of Blue Ridge Bank, National Association ("Blue Ridge Bank" or the "Bank") and BRB Financial Group, Inc. ("BRB Financial Group"), announced today financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
For the second quarter of 2023, the Company reported net loss from continuing operations of $19.5 million, or $1.03 per diluted common share, compared to net income from continuing operations of $1.6 million, or $0.09 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2023, and net income from continuing operations of $1.1 million, or $0.06 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2022.
A Message From Blue Ridge Bankshares, Inc. President and CEO, G. William "Billy" Beale:
"The net loss for the quarter was driven primarily by higher provision expense and the associated reversal of interest income related to loans that were placed on nonaccrual during the quarter. This group of loans, totaling $58.1 million at quarter-end, were sourced by a former lender, and is best described as specialty finance that we deemed to be not in keeping with our desired risk profile. I don't believe this asset quality matter is pervasive within our loan portfolio, and excluding these loans, measures of asset quality were generally stable as compared to the prior quarter.
Having recently joined the organization in May 2023, I am pleased to have found Blue Ridge to be a quality bank providing exceptional service to its customers. My foremost priority, and that of our team, is to remain focused on our regulatory remediation efforts, as we continue to work diligently to bring the Bank's fintech policies, procedures, and operations into conformity with regulatory directives. At the same time, we want to re-energize the core banking franchise by attracting new customers from within our footprint, while supporting our fintech partners that continue to gain momentum."
Q2 2023 Highlights
(Comparisons for Second Quarter 2023 are relative to First Quarter 2023 unless otherwise noted)
Formal Written Agreement:
- As previously disclosed, Blue Ridge Bank entered into a formal written agreement (the "Agreement") with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") on August 29, 2022. The Agreement principally concerns the Bank's fintech line of business and requires the Bank to continue enhancing its controls for assessing and managing the third-party, BSA/AML, and IT risks stemming from its fintech partnerships. A complete copy of the Agreement was filed as an exhibit to the Company's Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on September 1, 2022 and can be accessed on the SEC's website (www.sec.gov) and the Company's website (www.mybrb.com). The Company continues to actively work to bring the Bank's fintech policies, procedures, and operations into conformity with OCC directives. The Company reports that, although work is progressing, many aspects of the Agreement require considerable time for completion, implementation, validation, and sustainability. Remediation costs related to regulatory matters were $2.4 million in the second quarter of 2023 compared to $1.1 million in the prior quarter.
Asset Quality:
- Nonperforming loans totaled $86.1 million, or 2.68% of total assets, compared to $30.7 million, or 0.92% of total assets, at the prior quarter-end. The increase reflects the migration of a group of specialty finance loans to nonaccrual status during the quarter. These loans had a 1.79% impact on the nonperforming loans to total assets ratio for the second quarter.
- The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $20.5 million, compared to $3.7 million last quarter. Net loan charge-offs were $8.0 million in the quarter, representing an annualized net charge-off rate of 1.29% of average loans, compared to $1.1 million, representing an annualized net charge-off rate of 0.17% of average loans, for the prior quarter. Net loan charge-offs in the quarter were primarily attributable to one loan.
- The allowance for credit losses ("ACL") as a percentage of total loans held for investment was 1.76% at quarter-end, compared to 1.22% at the prior quarter-end. Specific reserves associated with the aforementioned specialty finance loans totaled $14.1 million at June 30, 2023.
Capital:
- As previously announced, on July 12, 2023, the Board of Directors determined to forego the declaration and payment of a cash dividend on the Company's common stock in the third quarter of 2023. The decision was based on the desire to preserve capital and available cash.
- The ratio of tangible stockholders' equity to tangible total assets was 6.3%1, compared to 6.8%1 at the prior quarter-end. Tangible book value per common share was $10.551, compared to $11.931 at the prior quarter-end.
- For the quarter ended June 30, 2023, the Bank's tier 1 leverage ratio, tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, common equity tier 1 capital ratio, and total risk-based capital ratio were 7.86%, 9.27%, 9.27%, and 10.77%, respectively, compared to 8.50%, 10.06%, 10.06%, and 11.12%, respectively, at the prior quarter-end. Capital ratios at quarter-end were within regulatory guidelines to categorize the Bank as well capitalized.
Net Interest Income / Net Interest Margin:
- Net interest income was $20.4 million, a decline of $7.0 million from the prior quarter, primarily reflecting the reversal of $4.7 million in interest income, related to the aforementioned group of specialty finance loans, and higher funding costs. These impacts were partially offset by increasing loan yields in the quarter, which increased 5 basis points excluding the effect of the interest income reversal.
- Net interest margin was 2.67% compared to 3.58% for the prior quarter. The reversal of interest income noted above had an approximate negative 60 basis points impact on second quarter net interest margin.
- Cost of deposits and total cost of funds were 2.21% and 2.49%, respectively, compared to 1.74% and 2.11%, respectively, for the prior quarter. Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta ("FHLB") and Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond ("FRB") advances were $284.1 million at June 30, 2023, compared to $239.1 million at the prior quarter-end. Deposit costs and overall funding costs increased during the second quarter of 2023 due primarily to the impact of higher average balances of wholesale funding secured in late first quarter in response to then market events, as well as interest rates on deposits that adjust with changes in federal funds rates.
Balance Sheet:
- Total deposit balances declined $148.0 million, or 5.4%, from the prior quarter-end, due primarily to a decrease of $93.8 million in wholesale funding, primarily time deposits and interest-bearing demand balances. Excluding wholesale funding, total deposits during the second quarter of 2023 declined by 2.1% from the prior quarter-end.
- Deposits related to fintech relationships were $708 million at June 30, 2023, compared to $716 million at the prior quarter-end. These deposits represented 27.1% of total deposits at June 30, 2023, compared to 25.9% of total deposits at the prior quarter-end. Excluding wholesale funding, deposits related to fintech relationships represented 30.1% and 29.8% of total deposits at June 30, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively.
- Loans held for investment, excluding Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans, were $2.45 billion, essentially level with the prior quarter-end.
- The held for investment loan to deposit ratio measured 94.1% at quarter-end, compared to 89.0% at the prior quarter-end. The increase was primarily due to the reduction in wholesale deposits.
Noninterest Income / Noninterest Expense:
- Noninterest income was $9.7 million, compared to $7.3 million for the prior quarter, due primarily to fair value adjustments to mortgage servicing rights ("MSRs"), reported in residential mortgage banking income, which were a positive $0.8 million, compared to a negative $2.1 million in the prior quarter.
- Noninterest expense was $34.1 million, compared to $28.8 million for the prior quarter. Increased expenses primarily reflected higher other contractual services, legal, regulatory remediation, and FDIC insurance costs, partially offset by lower salaries and employee benefits costs. Higher other contractual services expense was primarily due to outsourced BSA/AML compliance services as the Bank continues to augment its compliance staff, while higher legal expense was primarily attributable to corporate, employee benefit plans, and other employment matters. Higher FDIC insurance cost relative to the prior quarter was primarily due to balance sheet growth, while lower salaries and employee benefits cost was primarily due to continued headcount reduction in the mortgage division. During the quarter, the Company sold its wholesale mortgage business operating as LenderSelect Mortgage Group.
Income Statement:
Net Interest Income
Net interest income was $20.4 million for the second quarter of 2023, compared to $27.4 million for the first quarter of 2023, and $24.1 million for the second quarter of 2022. Relative to both the prior quarter and year-ago periods, net interest income declined due to a lower net interest margin resulting primarily from the aforementioned reversal of interest income related to the specialty finance loans moved to nonaccrual status during the second quarter of 2023, the impact of higher interest rates on the Company's deposits and overall funding costs, and actions taken to add balance sheet liquidity following the market events of March 2023. Relative to the prior year period, these developments were partially offset by an increase in average interest-earning asset balances, and relative to both prior periods, higher loan yields.
Total interest income was $39.0 million for the second quarter of 2023, compared to $43.1 million for the first quarter of 2023, and $26.2 million for the second quarter of 2022. The decline relative to the prior quarter reflects the aforementioned reversal of interest income related to loans placed on nonaccrual status during the second quarter of 2023. The increase relative to the prior year reflects higher average balances of and yields on interest-earning asset balances, partially offset by the reversal of interest income on loans moved to nonaccrual status during the second quarter of 2023, and lower income from purchase accounting adjustments. The yield on average loans held for investment, excluding PPP loans, was 5.54% for the second quarter of 2023, compared to 6.24% for the first quarter of 2023, and 4.97% for the second quarter of 2022. The reversal of interest income noted above had an approximate negative 75 basis points impact on the yield on average loans held for investment, excluding PPP loans, for the second quarter of 2023.
Total interest expense was $18.6 million for the second quarter of 2023, compared to $15.7 million for the first quarter of 2023, and $2.2 million for the second quarter of 2022. The increase relative to the prior quarter and the year-ago period reflects higher deposit costs and overall funding costs due to higher market interest rates and a shift in the mix of average interest-bearing liabilities, primarily to higher cost wholesale funding sources.
Average balances of interest-earning assets increased $3.6 million, or 0.1%, to $3.06 billion, in the second quarter of 2023, relative to the prior quarter, and increased by $582.0 million, or 23.5%, from the year-ago period. Relative to the prior quarter, average interest-earning asset balances were relatively flat, reflecting a slight decline in average total securities and loans held for investment balances, offset by higher average balances of loans held for sale and interest-earning deposits in other banks. Relative to the prior year-ago period, average interest-earning asset balances increased due primarily to higher balances of loans held for investment and interest-earning deposits at other banks, partially offset by lower average securities balances.
Average balances of interest-bearing liabilities increased $177.1 million, or 8.2%, to $2.35 billion, in the second quarter of 2023, relative to the prior quarter, and increased $719.3 million, or 44.2%, relative to the year-ago period. Relative to the prior quarter, the increase reflected higher average interest-bearing deposits, primarily higher average wholesale time deposits, partially offset by lower average FHLB borrowings. Relative to the prior year, the increase reflected higher average interest-bearing deposits and higher average FHLB borrowings.
Cost of funds was 2.49% for the second quarter of 2023, compared to 2.11% for the first quarter of 2023, and 0.36% for the second quarter of 2022, while cost of deposits was 2.21%, 1.74%, and 0.26%, for the same respective periods. Higher deposit costs and overall funding costs reflect the impact of higher market interest rates, higher average balances and related interest costs of FHLB borrowings, and a shift in the mix of funding, including an increase in higher cost time deposits, which includes an increase in wholesale funding average balances and a decline in average noninterest-bearing deposits.
Net interest margin was 2.67% for the second quarter of 2023, compared to 3.58% for the first quarter of 2023, and 3.89% for the second quarter of 2022. The decline in net interest margin relative to both prior periods primarily reflects the aforementioned reversal of interest income related to loans placed on nonaccrual status during the second quarter of 2023, the impact of higher interest rates on funding costs, and less benefit from purchase accounting adjustments. These declines were partially offset by higher yields on loans, excluding the reversal of interest income.
Provision for Credit Losses
The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $20.5 million for the second quarter of 2023, compared to $3.7 million for the first quarter of 2023, and $7.5 million for the second quarter of 2022. Relative to both prior periods, the increase in provision is primarily attributable to specific reserves and charge-offs on the aforementioned group of specialty finance loans.
Noninterest Income
Noninterest income was $9.7 million for the second quarter of 2023, compared to $7.3 million for the first quarter of 2023, and $10.2 million for the second quarter of 2022. Relative to the prior quarter, the increase reflected higher residential mortgage banking income, primarily due to the aforementioned fair value adjustments to MSRs, and, to a lesser extent, higher bank and purchase card income, partially offset by lower other noninterest income and negative fair value adjustments of other equity investments. Relative to the year-ago period, the decline reflected lower residential mortgage banking income, partially offset by higher other noninterest income and higher gain on sale of government guaranteed loans.
Noninterest Expense
Noninterest expense was $34.1 million for the second quarter of 2023, compared to $28.8 million for the first quarter of 2023, and $25.3 million for the second quarter of 2022. Relative to the prior quarter and year-ago period, the increase primarily reflects higher other contractual services, legal, regulatory remediation, and FDIC insurance costs, partially offset by lower salaries and employee benefits costs.
Balance Sheet:
Loans
Loans held for investment, excluding PPP loans, were $2.45 billion at June 30, 2023, compared to $2.45 billion at March 31, 2023, and $2.05 billion at June 30, 2022. Loan balances were flat with the prior quarter level, while the Company selectively replaced the amortization of balances with higher yielding loans. The increase in loan balances relative to the year ago period reflected the high level of growth, particularly in the second half of 2022.
Deposits
Total deposits were $2.61 billion at June 30, 2023, a decline of $148.0 million, or 5.4%, from the prior quarter-end, and an increase of $277.4 million, or 11.9%, from the year-ago period. Relative to the prior quarter, the decrease reflected a decline in wholesale funding, primarily time deposits, and, to a lesser extent, declines in other deposit types. Relative to the year-ago period, the increase reflected higher wholesale funding balances, interest-bearing demand and money market deposits, partially offset by lower noninterest-bearing demand deposits. Noninterest-bearing deposits declined 3.1% and 26.7% relative to the prior quarter and year-ago periods, respectively, and represented 22.0%, 21.5%, and 33.6% of total deposits at June 30, 2023, March 31, 2023, and June 30, 2022, respectively. The change from the year-ago period was primarily due to certain fintech-related balances shifting to interest-bearing accounts.
The held for investment loan to deposit ratio was 94.1% at June 30, 2023, compared to 89.0% at the prior quarter-end, and 88.4% at the year-ago period-end. The increase on a linked quarter basis was due primarily to lower wholesale funding at second quarter-end 2023, while the increase from the year-ago period end was due to second half 2022 loan growth.
Fintech Business:
Interest and fee income related to fintech partnerships represented approximately $3.4 million, $2.9 million, and $1.8 million of total revenue for the Company for the second quarter of 2023, the first quarter of 2023, and the second quarter of 2022, respectively.
Deposits related to fintech relationships were $708 million at June 30, 2023, compared to $716 million at the prior quarter-end. These deposits represented 27.1% of total deposits at June 30, 2023, compared to 25.9% of total deposits at the prior quarter-end. Included in deposits related to fintech relationships were assets managed by BRB Financial Group's trust division of $37.2 million as of June 30, 2023.
Other Matters:
On May 15, 2023, the Company sold its wholesale mortgage business operating as LenderSelect Mortgage Group ("LSMG") to a third-party for $250 thousand in cash. The Company recorded a loss on the sale of LSMG of $553 thousand, which is reported in other noninterest income in the consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023.
In the first quarter of 2022, the Company sold its majority interest in MoneyWise Payroll Solutions, Inc. ("MoneyWise") to the holder of the minority interest in MoneyWise. Income statement amounts related to MoneyWise are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, management uses certain non-GAAP measures to supplement the evaluation of the Company's performance. Management believes presentations of these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information that is essential to a proper understanding of the operating results of the Company's core businesses. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP measures are included at the end of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This release of the Company contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements represent plans, estimates, objectives, goals, guidelines, expectations, intentions, projections, and statements of the Company's beliefs concerning future events, business plans, objectives, expected operating results and the assumptions upon which those statements are based. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance or achievements, and are typically identified with words such as "may," "could," "should," "will," "would," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "aim," "intend," "plan," or words or phases of similar meaning. The Company cautions that the forward-looking statements are based largely on its expectations and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on factors which are, in many instances, beyond the Company's control. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
The following factors, among others, could cause the Company's financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in such forward-looking statements: (i) the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which it conducts operations; (ii) changes in the level of the Company's nonperforming assets and charge-offs; (iii) management of risks inherent in the Company's real estate loan portfolio, and the risk of a prolonged downturn in the real estate market, which could impair the value of collateral and the ability to sell collateral upon any foreclosure; (iv) the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary, and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve, inflation, interest rate, market, and monetary fluctuations; (v) changes in consumer spending and savings habits; (vi) the Company's ability to identify, attract, and retain experienced management, relationship managers, and support personnel, particularly in a competitive labor environment; (vii) technological and social media changes impacting the Company, the Bank, and the financial services industry in general; (viii) changing bank regulatory conditions, laws, regulations, policies, or programs, whether arising as new legislation or regulatory initiatives, that could lead to restrictions on activities of banks generally, or the Bank in particular, more restrictive regulatory capital requirements, increased costs, including deposit insurance premiums, increased regulations, prohibition of certain income producing activities, or changes in the secondary market for loans and other products; (ix) the impact of changes in financial services policies, laws and regulations, including laws, regulations and policies concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance, and the application thereof by regulatory bodies; (x) the Company's involvement, from time to time, in legal proceedings and examination and remedial actions by regulators; (xi) the impact of, and the ability to comply with, the terms of the formal written agreement between the Bank and the OCC; (xii) the impact of changes in laws, regulations, and policies affecting the real estate industry; (xiii) the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted from time to time by bank regulatory agencies, the SEC, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or other accounting standards setting bodies; (xiv) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the adverse impact on our business and operations and on the Company's customers which may result, among other things, in increased delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures and losses on loans; (xv) the occurrence of significant natural disasters, including severe weather conditions, floods, health related issues, and other catastrophic events; (xvi) geopolitical conditions, including acts or threats of terrorism and/or military conflicts, or actions taken by the U.S. or other governments in response to acts or threats of terrorism and/or military conflicts, which could impact business and economic conditions in the U.S. and abroad; (xvii) the timely development of competitive new products and services and the acceptance of these products and services by new and existing customers; (xviii) the willingness of users to substitute competitors' products and services for the Company's products and services; (xix) the Company's inability to successfully manage growth or implement its growth strategy; (xx) reputational risk and potential adverse reactions of the Company's customers, suppliers, employees or other business partners; (xxi) the effect of acquisitions the Company may make, including, without limitation, disruption of employee or customer relationships, and the failure to achieve the expected revenue growth and/or expense savings from such acquisitions; (xxii) the Company's participation in the PPP established by the U.S. government and its administration of the loans and processing fees earned under the program; (xxiii) the Company's involvement, from time to time, in legal proceedings, and examination and remedial actions by regulators; (xxiv) the Company's potential exposure to fraud, negligence, computer theft, and cyber-crime; (xxv) the Bank's ability to effectively manage its fintech partnerships, and the abilities of those fintech companies to perform as expected; (xxvi) the Bank's ability to pay dividends to the Company; and (xxvii) other risks and factors identified in the "Risk Factors" sections and elsewhere in documents the Company files from time to time with the SEC.
1 Non-GAAP financial measure. Further information can be found at the end of this press release.
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SOURCE Blue Ridge Bankshares, Inc. | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/blue-ridge-bankshares-inc-announces-second-quarter-2023-results/ | 2023-07-31 17:17:10 | 1 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/blue-ridge-bankshares-inc-announces-second-quarter-2023-results/ |
DENVER (AP) — Colorado voters are deciding Tuesday whether theirs will become the second state, after Oregon, to create a legalized system for the use of psychedelic mushrooms.
A ballot initiative would decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms for those 21 and older and create state-regulated “healing centers” where participants can experience the drug under the supervision of a licensed “facilitator.” The measure would establish a regulated system for using substances like psilocybin and psilocin, the hallucinogenic chemicals found in some mushrooms. It also would allow private personal use of the drugs.
If passed, the initiative would take effect toward the end of 2024. It also would permit a state advisory board to add other plant-based psychedelic drugs to the program in 2026. Those include dimethyltryptamine, also known as DMT, ibogaine and mescaline not derived from peyote, which is considered sacred by some Native Americans.
Proponents argued that Colorado’s current approach to mental health has failed and that naturally occurring psychedelics, which have been used for hundreds of years, can treat depression, PTSD, anxiety, addiction and other conditions. They also said jailing people for the nonviolent offense of using naturally occurring substances costs taxpayers money.
But critics noted the Food and Drug Administration has not approved the substances as medicine. They also argued allowing healing centers to operate and permitting personal use would jeopardize public safety and send the wrong message to kids and adults alike that the substances are healthy.
The move comes a decade after Colorado voted to legalize recreational marijuana, which led to a multibillion-dollar industry with hundreds of dispensaries popping up across the state. Critics of the latest ballot initiative say the same deep-pocketed players who were involved in legalizing recreational marijuana are using a similar playbook to create a commercial market, and eventually recreational dispensaries, for dangerous substances.
The psychedelics that would be decriminalized are listed as schedule 1 controlled substances under state and federal law and are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use with a high potential for abuse.
Even so, the FDA has designated psilocybin a “breakthrough therapy” to treat major depressive disorder. The designation can expedite research, development and review of a drug if it might offer substantial improvements over existing treatments.
Colorado’s ballot initiative would allow those 21 and older to grow, possess and share the psychedelic substances but not sell them for personal use. It also would allow people who have been convicted of offenses involving the substances to have their criminal records sealed.
In 2020, Oregon became the first state in the nation to legalize the therapeutic, supervised use of psilocybin after 56% of voters approved Ballot Measure 109. But unlike the Colorado measure, Oregon allows counties to opt out of the program if their constituents vote to do so.
Oregon’s initiative is expected to take effect at the beginning of next year.
Washington, D.C., and Denver have partially decriminalized psychedelic mushrooms by requiring law enforcement officers to treat them as their lowest priority. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/ap-colorado-votes-on-decriminalizing-magic-mushrooms/ | 2022-11-09 10:28:17 | 0 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/ap-colorado-votes-on-decriminalizing-magic-mushrooms/ |
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A Kissimmee man accused of sex crimes against multiple children may have more unidentified victims, investigators say.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Deputies with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Victims Unit arrested 21-year-old Vitor Camilo Coelho-Pinto Tuesday on ten counts each of capital sexual battery as well as lewd and lascivious molestation.
READ: Smoky haze blanketing US and Canada could last into the weekend
The investigation began Monday after an 11-year-old boy reported being victimized by Coelho-Pinto on more than one occasion. That investigation led to another eight-year-old victim who also reported multiple incidents of sexual abuse committed by Coelho-Pinto.
According to the sheriff’s office, Coelho-Pinto is an immigrant from Brazil who has lived in the Kissimmee area since 2020. In that time, deputies say he has befriended other Brazilian families in the area and offered to babysit and help them with child care.
READ: Texas sheriff calls for criminal charges over Florida’s migrant flights to Martha’s Vineyard
According to the sheriff’s office, the circumstances of the allegations against Coelho-Pinto lead them to believe he may have other unidentified victims.
They’re asking anyone who thinks their child may have been in contact with him to call the sheriff’s office at (407) 348-2222.
The investigation is ongoing. According to the sheriff’s office, additional charges against Coelho-Pinto are pending.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/osceola-deputies-seeking-potential-victims-volunteer-babysitter-accused-raping-children/EB25QL6GA5F4PFRB3Q7V5XQCNM/ | 2023-06-09 00:19:48 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/osceola-deputies-seeking-potential-victims-volunteer-babysitter-accused-raping-children/EB25QL6GA5F4PFRB3Q7V5XQCNM/ |
HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Feb. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance (Ping An P&C) has launched its first ocean carbon sink index insurance policy in the city of Dalian, announced Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An" or the "Group", HKEx:2318; SSE:601318). This follows Ping An P&C's pilot of the forest carbon sink remote sensing index insurance in 2021.
The ocean carbon sink index insurance provides carbon sink risk protection with RMB400,000 for 13.3 mu (8,866.67 square meters) of kelp, shellfish and algae, enriching Ping An P&C's carbon sink insurance coverage on terrestrial and marine ecosystems, including forests, mangroves and grasslands.
The ocean is the Earth's largest carbon sink. It can absorb approximately 2 billion tons carbon dioxide a year from the atmosphere, which is 50 times the capacity of the atmosphere and 20 times that of terrestrial ecosystem. The total volume of carbon dioxide absorbed by the ocean annually accounts for around one-third of annual global emissions. However, due to the ever-changing marine climate, marine disasters such as typhoons, abnormal sea temperatures and red tides (algae blooms) could compromise the carbon sequestration capacity of the ocean, releasing carbon dioxide into the air again and hindering progress towards carbon neutrality.
The ocean carbon sink index insurance in Dalian is Ping An P&C's first foray into the field of the ocean carbon sink. Ping An P&C will provide compensation when specific changes in the marine environment damages local species such as kelp, shellfish and algae and lead to the weakening of carbon sink. The loss compensation can be used for post-disaster marine species rescue to restore the carbon sink resource, as well as ecological protection and restoration. The index insurance enhances ocean carbon sequestration capacity by encouraging fishing to protect and repair marine ecosystems. It also enables carbon sink indicators of marine aquaculture to be listed and traded, thus increasing the income of fishermen, and turning the marine carbon sink from resources into assets.
Ping An fully supports the low-carbon transition of the economy to support China's goals of peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. Ping An is committed to incorporate environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles into its insurance business to create sustainable insurance products. In the first three quarters of 2022, Ping An's premium income of environmentally sustainable insurance products totaled approximately RMB110.5 billion (USD16.21 billion[1]). Under the Group's guidance, Ping An P&C offers diversified and innovative green insurance products, including catastrophe insurance, environmental liability insurance, old and valuable trees conservation and rescue insurance and grassland ecosystem insurance, providing increasingly comprehensive coverage to environmental protection and green industry development. As of November 2022, Ping An P&C provided over RMB174 trillion (USD25.53 trillion) in green insurance coverage to promote green development.
Jiang Hua, Director of Ping An P&C, said, "We will continue to develop more agricultural insurance products for ecological and environmental protection, as well as explore different pathways to achieve low-carbon transformation for insurance services. We will fully support the development of carbon sink forests and carbon sink fisheries, providing comprehensive risk protection for carbon sink resources to help China achieve its 'dual carbon' goals."
About Ping An Group
Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An") strives to become a world-leading retail financial services group. With nearly 228 million retail customers, Ping An is one of the largest financial services companies in the world. Ping An advances intelligent digital transformation, and employs technologies to improve the quality and efficiency of its financial businesses and enhance risk management. The Company believes "Expertise Creates Value" and "Expertise makes life simple". Ping An develops the "integrated finance + healthcare" service system and builds the "finance + elderlycare" and "finance + healthcare" industry ecosystems to provide professional "financial advisory, family doctor, and elderlycare concierge" services. As China's first joint stock insurance company, Ping An is committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate reporting and corporate governance. The Group is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Ping An ranked 17th in the Forbes Global 2000 list in 2022 and ranked 25th in the Fortune Global 500 list in 2022.
For more information, please visit www.group.pingan.com and follow us on LinkedIn - PING AN.
[1] Calculated at the exchange rate prevailing on the day of distribution (RMB's spot exchange rate against USD at around 6.81)
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SOURCE Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/02/14/ping-an-launches-first-ocean-carbon-sink-index-insurance-policy-marine-ecosystem-protection/ | 2023-02-14 09:55:00 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/02/14/ping-an-launches-first-ocean-carbon-sink-index-insurance-policy-marine-ecosystem-protection/ |
State officials are reviewing the site of the March 22 crash on I-695 that killed six highway workers.
The left lane closest to the crash site on the inner loop between I-70 and Liberty Road is closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Thursday, May 11.
Maryland Department of Transportation spokesperson Danny Allman said the lane is closed during off-peak hours “to accommodate work related to the ongoing review of the March 22 work zone crash.”
[ Footage from I-695 accident that killed six workers ]
Allman did not provide a time frame for when work might resume at the site. The project is an attempt to widen I-695 between I-70 and White Marsh Boulevard by converting a median and shoulder into a lane.
Last month state police said it would be increasing patrols around highway work sites. | https://www.capitalgazette.com/maryland/bs-md-co-highway-crash-site-20230510-3rhhxbwhdnavllv63twsbym7ty-story.html | 2023-05-10 15:20:19 | 1 | https://www.capitalgazette.com/maryland/bs-md-co-highway-crash-site-20230510-3rhhxbwhdnavllv63twsbym7ty-story.html |
WWE Smackdown comes to Orlando: How to watch
ORLANDO, Fla. - Australia and New Zealand are co-hosting the FIFA Women's World Cup which began on Thursday and runs through Sunday, Aug. 20. FOX 35 will be carrying the Women's World Cup, which may disrupt our regular programming.
WWE Smackdown comes to the Amway Center in Orlando. The program normally airs on FOX 35 at 8 p.m. on Friday evenings, but because of the Women's World Cup, WWE Smackdown can be seen on FS1. FOX 35 News at 10 p.m. can be viewed on FOX35 PLUS, WRBW. FOX 35 NewsEdge at 11 p.m. can be seen on FOX 35 following the Women's World Cup coverage.
RELATED: 2023 Women’s World Cup: How to watch, time zone math, superstars and more questions answered
MIAMI, FL- SEPTEMBER 01: Roman Reigns looks on during the WWE Smackdown on September 1, 2015 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Ron ElkmanSports Imagery/Getty Images)
What to know if attending in person
Friday Night SmackDown returns to Amway Center on July 21. See the Universal Champion Roman Reigns, who will be joined by undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, Bianca Belair, AJ Styles, Rey Mysterio, Charlotte Flair, Bobby Lashley, and many more! Here a few things to know before you go:
- Amway Center doors open at 6:15 p.m. with the event getting underway at 7:45 p.m.
- Pay with debit or credit cards, Google Pay and Apple Pay
- Leave bags at home or in the car. Only small clutches are permitted, and they must be no bigger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches by 1 inch
For a full list of items and additional information about Amway Center security policies, visit AmwayCenter.com/arena-info. For information on tickets, visit TicketMaster.com. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/sports/wwe-smackdown-comes-to-orlando-this-friday-how-to-watch | 2023-07-22 00:09:00 | 0 | https://www.fox35orlando.com/sports/wwe-smackdown-comes-to-orlando-this-friday-how-to-watch |
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Who will oversee the 2024 presidential election in the critical battleground state of Wisconsin remains clouded with uncertainty just weeks before the state’s nonpartisan top elections official reaches the end of her term.
Republicans who control the state Legislature could finally have a chance to oust the elections head they’ve sparred with over conspiracy theories and install their own appointee. But a recent state Supreme Court ruling appears to offer her an avenue to get around Republicans and stay in office.
And that’s if Meagan Wolfe, administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission and one of the most respected election leaders in the nation, even wants to keep the job when her term ends on July 1. All across the country, election officials have left the profession after an unrelenting 2020 election cycle that brought unprecedented challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic but also an onslaught of harassment and death threats triggered by false claims about voting and elections.
Wolfe has declined to comment on whether she plans to seek reappointment.
The situation plays out as both parties are looking for every advantage they can get in Wisconsin, where the presidential winner has been determined by less than 1 percentage point in four of the last six elections. The outcome of the 2020 election in Wisconsin has withstood two partial recounts, a nonpartisan audit, a conservative law firm’s review, numerous state and federal lawsuits, and a Republican-ordered review that found no evidence of widespread fraud before the investigator was fired. The GOP-controlled Legislature has rejected attempts to decertify the results.
Unlike most states, where partisan secretaries of state run elections, Wisconsin’s top elections official is the nonpartisan administrator of the statewide elections commission. This person plays a crucial role in carrying out decisions from a panel of six partisan commissioners and giving guidance to the more than 1,800 local clerks who actually run the state’s elections.
The administrator can’t single-handedly reverse election results, or decide not to certify results, but a partisan appointee who embraces conspiracy theories about elections could cause significant trouble. Such an appointee could publicly promote election lies, push the limits of their freedom to interpret instructions from commissioners and hire partisan staff and legal counsel within the commission.
Wolfe got the job in 2018 after her predecessor was rejected by the Senate. How she handled the 2020 election angered Republicans, who had voted unanimously in 2019 to confirm her. If she seeks reappointment when her term ends, “there’s no way” she will be confirmed by the state Senate, said Senate President Chris Kapenga, a Republican. Senate rejection of her confirmation carries the effect of firing her.
“I will do everything I can to keep her from being reappointed,” Kapenga said. “I would be extremely surprised if she had any votes in the caucus.”
If Wolfe’s position becomes vacant, election commissioners can recommend a new administrator for Senate approval. If 45 days pass without a nomination, a legislative committee controlled by Republicans can appoint a temporary administrator for up to a year.
But for lawmakers to stall the process in order to install a partisan administrator is “extraordinarily hypothetical,” according to Kathy Bernier, a former Republican state senator and county election official who chaired the Senate elections committee during the 2020 election and was outspoken against claims of election fraud.
“I don’t see that happening,” she said. “I think cooler heads prevail in the Legislature.”
Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu did not respond to an email asking about Wolfe’s reappointment. He also walked away from reporters after a Senate session last week without taking questions.
In a statement, Wolfe called it “deeply disappointing that a small minority of lawmakers continue to misrepresent my work.”
“Lawmakers should assess my performance on the facts, not on tired, false claims,” Wolfe said.
If Wolfe wants to avoid the possibility of Senate Republicans rejecting her confirmation, she could decide to simply stay in office without asking for reappointment.
A conservative majority on the state Supreme Court ruled last year that lawmakers can’t replace an appointed official until their position is vacant and that the end of a term is not a vacancy. The sweeping 4-3 decision allowed Republicans to maintain conservative control of policy boards by delaying votes for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ nominations.
That path would raise unexplored legal questions, but the ruling appears to imply that Wolfe could only be removed by impeachment or a vote by a majority of the elections commissioners. Senate Republicans in April gained the two-thirds supermajority they need to convict an office holder at an impeachment trial.
In addition to her more than 10 years working at the elections commission and its predecessor, Wolfe has served as president of the National Association of State Election Directors and chair of the bipartisan Electronic Registration Information Center, which helps states maintain accurate voter rolls and has been targeted by conspiracy theories.
“Administrator Wolfe has done an outstanding job,” said Democratic Commissioner Ann Jacobs. “Wisconsin has been lucky to have her in this position for our recent elections.”
Jacobs did not say whether she planned to vote for Wolfe’s reappointment.
Following President Joe Biden’s victory in 2020, Republicans called on Wolfe to resign for carrying out a commission decision to send absentee ballots to voters in nursing homes, instead of sending special voting deputies to assist them as state law requires. Nursing homes were not allowing visitors at that time because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think in some ways that they think I’m an easy target — I’m not,” Wolfe said in response.
Commissioner Bob Spindell, a Republican appointed by LeMahieu, said he would not be voting to reappoint Wolfe, even though “she’s been accused of a lot of things that were really not her doing.” Spindell, who served as a fake elector for Trump in 2020, came under fire earlier this year for bragging about decreased turnout among Black and Hispanic voters in the Democratic stronghold of Milwaukee.
All four Republican candidates for governor last year supported either abolishing or overhauling the elections commission, saying it had failed as an agency. The Legislature’s powerful budget-writing committee last month killed a bipartisan plan to create a new office under the elections commission tasked with addressing voter complaints and building confidence in elections. Republicans instead signaled support for directing elections funding to local clerks.
___
Harm Venhuizen 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. Follow Harm on Twitter. | https://www.kark.com/news/politics/ap-politics/wisconsins-top-elections-official-for-2024-uncertain-as-incumbents-term-nears-end/ | 2023-06-13 15:03:18 | 0 | https://www.kark.com/news/politics/ap-politics/wisconsins-top-elections-official-for-2024-uncertain-as-incumbents-term-nears-end/ |
WFO LAS VEGAS Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Thursday, January 5, 2023
_____
WINTER STORM WARNING
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
1209 PM PST Thu Jan 5 2023
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to
12 inches below 9000 feet. 1 to 3 feet above 9000 feet. Winds
gusting as high as 50 mph.
* WHERE...Eastern Sierra Slopes.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM PST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult or impossible. Areas
of reduced visibility due to blowing snow. High winds and
heavy snow could result in increased avalanche danger.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather
conditions will make travel very hazardous or impossible. If you
must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your
vehicle in case of an emergency.
The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.
12 inches possible. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.
* WHERE...White Mountains of Inyo County.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Chain restrictions
or road closures may result due to several inches of
accumulating snow on roadways.
...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 208 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON...
* WHAT...Urban and small stream flooding caused by excessive
rainfall is expected.
* WHERE...A portion of Southwest California, including the following
counties, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino.
* WHEN...Until 208 PM PST.
* IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
Water over roadways. Rocks and mud over mountain highways.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 1210 PM PST, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain. This will
cause urban and small stream flooding. Between 0.5 and 1 inch
of rain has fallen.
- Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are expected
over the area. This additional rain will result in minor
flooding.
- Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Anaheim, Riverside, San Bernardino, Fontana, Moreno Valley,
Ontario, Corona, Fullerton, Rialto and Chino.
- https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central Kings
and western Tulare Counties through 1245 PM PST...
At 1211 PM PST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm
about 9 miles southeast of Stratford, or around 18 miles south of
Hanford, moving to the northeast near 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 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...
Corcoran.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
LAT...LON 3597 11978 3604 11983 3626 11955 3615 11941
TIME...MOT...LOC 2011Z 230DEG 26KT 3606 11974
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/CA-WFO-LAS-VEGAS-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17697390.php | 2023-01-05 20:39:49 | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/CA-WFO-LAS-VEGAS-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17697390.php |
NEW YORK -- The mother of a New Yorker killed in 2017 when a man used a truck to mow down cyclists and pedestrians on a crowded bike path told a hushed courtroom on Wednesday that no punishment meted out to the attacker could compare to her pain.
"This evil murderer has destroyed so many lives," Monica Missio, the mother of victim Nicholas Cleves, said at a sentencing hearing for Sayfullo Saipov, who was convicted in January of murder and terrorism charges. Eight people were killed and 12 were injured.
"It disgusts me that he gets to wake up every day while my son does not, she said. "His barbarism and cruelty fills me with rage."
Missio was among the 25 victims and family members of those who died in the attack who were scheduled to speak before U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick formally metes out a sentence of life without parole to 35-year-old Saipov. That sentence became automatic in the case after a jury deadlocked on whether Saipov should receive the death penalty.
Saipov used a Home Depot rental truck to cut down people on a path along the Hudson River on Manhattan's West Side, according to prosecutors. He had hoped the attack would help him gain membership into Islamic State, or ISIS, they said. The United States designates ISIS as a terrorist organization.
Many of the people killed or injured were foreign nationals visiting the most populous U.S. city. Most of the people scheduled to speak at the hearing are traveling from Argentina and Belgium.
Speaking through an interpreter, Luciana Martinez, the widow of Argentine victim Diego Angelini, choked up when she said society had a responsibility to future generations to "eradicate the hatred" that Saipov's attack and others represented.
"Their voices will never be heard again," Martinez said, referring to her late husband and the other victims. "We will continue to raise our voices, and we will continue to work, in order to achieve a world that is free of terrorist attacks."
It was unclear whether Saipov would address the court during the proceeding. He is expected to be housed at Colorado's Supermax facility, the most secure U.S. federal prison. There he is due to spend 22 or 23 hours a day alone in a cell with a concrete bed.
Saipov's case was the first federal death penalty trial since President Joe Biden, a Democrat, took office in 2021. Biden had pledged during his campaign to abolish capital punishment in federal cases. | https://www.unionleader.com/news/courts/victims-confront-man-convicted-in-new-york-bike-path-attack/article_b6e869aa-eeb1-5dbc-84bf-092e09cc4246.html | 2023-05-17 18:24:21 | 1 | https://www.unionleader.com/news/courts/victims-confront-man-convicted-in-new-york-bike-path-attack/article_b6e869aa-eeb1-5dbc-84bf-092e09cc4246.html |
LANCASTER, Pa. — The Lancaster Center for Animal Life Saving collected over 800 pounds of food and secured 27 homes for animals in the shelter last weekend. Their Adoption & Flea Market Weekend encouraged donations from the community and support for the animals. The resources provided to the shelter aren't just for the cats and dogs being cared for.
Lexi Vollmer, Veterinary Technician at the Lancaster Center for Animal Life Saving, said their Spike’s Pet Pantry also provides food to owners going through hardships. The pantry allows anyone to pick up or drop off food that could contribute to the shelter and another family.
“Any donated brands of dry and wet dog and cat food are the things we use the most for spiked pet pantries and hand them out when people need some extra assistance for getting food for their pets,” said Vollmer.
With many people in the U.S. today facing an economic crisis, Vollmer said that many people can no longer afford the necessities to take care of their pets. The Spike’s Food Pantry is an outlet to help combat the rise of inflation and take care of animals outside the shelter.
“With the economy, prices have gone up with a lot of stuff so just making sure we have the bare necessities to properly care for all of our animals and have all the different foods that we need for them is important,” said Vollmer.
Vollmer said during the winter months, the shelter sees an influx of owners coming into the pantry to request food for their pets. She says because it’s colder and jobs seem to slow down, they want to be prepared to provide for the community facing difficult times.
“We want to make sure that we have a good wealth of donations available when it gets colder, oftentimes jobs might be slower in the winter times outside so those are the harder times for people typically. So we want to make sure we have an abundance of food available to help people as needed during the winter time,” said Vollmer.
The Lancaster Center for Animal Life Saving will continue to collect donations. The shelter request:
Food
Beds
Blankets
Toys
- Treats
And anything else to help enrich the life of an animal inside or outside the shelter. The items can be dropped off between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. during the week.
Organizers say if someone is interested in making a monetary donation, they can visit our website at humanepa.org or mail in a check directly to the shelter (2195 Lincoln Hwy E, Lancaster).
Download the FOX43 app here. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/community/spikes-food-pantry-pets-prices-inflation/521-95e4486c-9ced-4357-9489-b13c515cf27f | 2022-09-26 12:07:24 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/community/spikes-food-pantry-pets-prices-inflation/521-95e4486c-9ced-4357-9489-b13c515cf27f |
President Biden and Big Oil are at each other's throats.
At a time when gas prices are at the highest level in history, hurting regular Americans, he points out that Big Oil companies are enjoying record profits.
The president earlier this month singled out ExxonMobil, saying the company "made more money than God this year."
Gas prices started skyrocketing following a raft of sanctions on Russian oil, after its invasion of Ukraine in February.
The national average price of gasoline surpassed $5 a gallon for the first time ever this month. Prices have edged down by a few cents in recent days, but remain elevated.
Exacerbating these high gas prices is a huge shortage in refining capacity in the U.S., which isn't likely to be resolved any time soon.
Refiners turn crude oil into usable products like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. There's just fewer refiners in the U.S. today than a couple of years ago.
Refining capacity in the U.S. is about a million barrels a day below what it was prior to the pandemic. That's left the country unable to meet its fuel needs as more people are commuting, traveling and driving as they emerge from the throes of the pandemic.
So, where did all the refineries go?
Some refineries shuttered during the pandemic-induced recession in 2020, when demand for gasoline took a nosedive. Not all of those refineries have come back online. The U.S. had five fewer refineries at the beginning of this year that at the beginning of 2020.
When the pandemic hit and demand for oil evaporated during the recession, refineries took a big financial hit when the price of gasoline plummeted. Some refiners threw in the towel. They said the numbers just didn't work, and closed up shop.
"When you're losing money on doing it, what do you do? You stop making it. And that's when you shut down refineries," says Denton Cinquegrana, chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service.
There were other disasters around the same time. A Philadelphia refinery, one of the largest in the country, was rocked by explosions a few months before the pandemic. In Louisiana, another refinery was wiped out by Hurricane Ida. Both have been shut down.
Oil is not where the future lies
Underpinning the decisions not to reopen refineries is the fact that the U.S. is undergoing an energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables.
The Biden administration envisions a future where the world is powered by clean energy rather than oil with its destructive effect on the environment.
"I think the refining executives say, well, looks like the writing's on the wall," Cinquegrana says.
In fact, some refiners have repurposed their facilities, where instead of making gasoline from oil, they're ramping up to produce renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel out of feed stocks like soybean oil and used cooking oil.
Biden wants a future in renewables, but wants oil companies to pump more now
Of course, high demand combined with high prices has led oil companies to make big profits. ExxonMobil's profit in the first quarter more than doubled from a year earlier. Meanwhile Chevron reported its highest quarterly profit in nearly a decade, while Shell posted its highest earnings ever.
So President Biden wants them to do more to bring down the price of gasoline.
"At a time of war, refinery profit margins well above normal being passed directly onto American families are not acceptable," the president wrote in a letter to the heads of seven oil companies earlier this month.
The president urged oil executives to increase the supply of gasoline and other refined products, and to drill for more oil in a bid to bring gas prices down.
It's no surprise that this is raising eyebrows, given the president's stated goals on an energy transition and also his promise to voters on the campaign trail that he would "end fossil fuels."
Francisco Blanch, head of commodities research at Bank of America, points out that the country is still heavily reliant on gasoline despite those goals.
"The narrative until today was that we were going to be driving electric vehicles by the end of the year. So who cares about refined products? Well, it turns out a lot of people need refined products," says Blanch.
But could refiners be doing more?
U.S. refineries are already going gangbusters right now. They're operating above 90% capacity according to the Energy Information Administration, and expected to run at 95% for the rest of the summer.
As for turning back on idled refineries, that's not a quick fix either. It would take months to bring the refineries back online, and it would be costly for the refiners. Cinquegrana from Oil Price Information Service says that from the refiners' perspective, it doesn't make financial sense to invest in additional oil refining given the broader transition.
"You're talking about a lot of money to get these refineries that are idled up and running...when I'm being told five years from now, we hope you don't exist," Cinquegrana says.
The United States hasn't seen a major new refinery built since the 1970s. And there's a good chance it never will. Chevron CEO Mike Wirth recently stated as much in an interview with Bloomberg.
"My personal view is there will never be another refinery built in the United States," Wirth said.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.ijpr.org/economy-and-finance/2022-06-27/how-a-massive-refinery-shortage-is-contributing-to-high-gas-prices | 2022-06-27 14:28:55 | 1 | https://www.ijpr.org/economy-and-finance/2022-06-27/how-a-massive-refinery-shortage-is-contributing-to-high-gas-prices |
Deloitte announces plans to adapt its Trustworthy AI™ framework for CRM to accelerate the Salesforce AI Cloud journey
NEW YORK, June 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Deloitte Digital and Salesforce announced a collaboration to provide organizations around the world with the accelerators and strategies they need to deploy trusted AI for CRM. Deloitte Digital will offer its AI services, industry experience, and deep knowledge of data protection to help organizations implement and scale Salesforce AI Cloud, Salesforce's suite of trusted, open and business-ready generative AI-powered applications. Together, Deloitte Digital and Salesforce will help clients harness the power of AI for CRM to deliver tailored customer experiences, supercharge company productivity and safeguard their data.
Deploying AI for CRM requires a paramount focus on trust and data security. New Salesforce research reveals that 73% of employees perceive generative AI as introducing new security risks, and almost 60% of those intending to use the technology lack knowledge regarding data security measures. Deloitte's Trustworthy AITM framework highlights six fundamental dimensions for the effective deployment of AI: fairness and impartiality; transparency and explainability; responsibility and accountability; robustness and reliability; privacy preservation; and safety and security, as announced previously.
Deloitte recently announced a new Generative AI practice that combines the leading services, AI talent and deep industry experience that enterprise leaders need as they design their Generative AI strategies and create innovative AI-fueled applications. Deloitte's Trustworthy AI framework helps clients develop necessary safeguards and balance competing ethical priorities during product development and operation.
"For many years, Deloitte has been leading the industry in AI capabilities anchored in trust. With our extended focus and collaboration with Salesforce, we are able to offer our clients the technical experience and industry-specific knowledge to help them design, develop and deploy AI solutions that optimize CRM processes, enable personalized customer interactions, and generate actionable insights for strategic decision-making," said Jim Rowan, principal and U.S. leader for Deloitte Consulting's Strategy & Analytics business.
Deloitte Digital will collaborate with Salesforce to offer clients a comprehensive set of tools to help accelerate their AI for CRM journeys and implement AI in an effective and trustworthy way. In this collaboration, clients will have access to:
- Strategies Ready to Deploy AI for CRM: Quantitative, research-backed trust framework to prepare clients to deploy AI for CRM in a way that helps them address the security, privacy and compliance requirements of their customers and fosters loyalty and brand equity.
- Industry-Specific AI Use Cases: AI readiness labs at Deloitte Digital studios, with dedicated industry-specific immersive experiences to explore the potential of generative AI and accelerate the adoption of Salesforce AI Cloud across various sectors, including technology, health care, and financial services.
- Upskilling in AI for CRM Success: The Deloitte AI Academy's commitment to upskill 10,000 professionals across the globe will include training programs to develop and enhance generative AI for CRM skills, fostering the next generation of talent.
"Deloitte Digital helps organizations leverage generative AI technologies responsibly and ethically. As the world's most trusted brand, Deloitte is uniquely positioned to help our clients prepare for this exciting phase of innovation. Our collaboration with Salesforce signifies our dedication to building the foundation for AI-driven transformation in sector-specific CRM use cases," said Maximilian Schroeck, global chief commercial officer for Salesforce, Deloitte Global.
Clara Shih, CEO of Salesforce AI, added, "Today every organization must become an AI-first company to compete, and that can only be done by adopting technologies rooted in trust and transparency. Salesforce's work with Deloitte Digital will help ensure organizations have the strategies and technologies they need to confidently adopt and deploy AI for CRM, driving personalized customer experiences and immediate business outcomes."
Salesforce AI Cloud is built for CRM to power customer experiences and company productivity by bringing together AI, data, analytics and automation to provide trusted, open, real-time generative AI that is enterprise ready. AI Cloud will enable sales reps, and developers to unlock efficiency, enhanced experiences and accelerate growth.
Delivering work in over 40 countries, Deloitte Digital will bring its global breadth and depth of Salesforce experience to help clients deploy AI for CRM at scale. Deloitte Digital will share perspectives on this topic and many others at Salesforce's London World Tour on June 29, 2023.
Deloitte Digital combines consulting and creativity to solve new problems with new ideas and unlock growth across the entire customer experience. By uniting leading digital and creative capabilities with the deep industry knowledge and experience Deloitte is known for, we help clients tackle their biggest challenges. New problems are arriving faster than ever before and we're using creativity, purpose, and technology as our solution to power modern business transformation. Alongside all of Deloitte, we foster the connections necessary to shape a better future for our clients, culture, society, and the planet. Visit https://www.deloittedigital.com/us/en.html or follow Deloitte Digital on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram to learn more.
About Salesforce
Salesforce empowers companies of every size and industry to connect with their customers in a whole new way through the power of AI + data + CRM. For more information about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), visit: www.salesforce.com.
Any unreleased services or features referenced here are not currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available.
About Deloitte
Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500® and more than 7,000 private companies. Our people come together for the greater good and work across the industry sectors that drive and shape today's marketplace — delivering measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in our capital markets, inspire clients to see challenges as opportunities to transform and thrive, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthier society. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Building on more than 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's approximately 415,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com.
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.
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SOURCE Deloitte Consulting LLP | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/06/29/deloitte-digital-salesforce-collaborate-help-unleash-power-ai-crm/ | 2023-06-29 07:17:34 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/06/29/deloitte-digital-salesforce-collaborate-help-unleash-power-ai-crm/ |
Organization reiterates its commitment to Little Rock, negotiates long-term lease to occupy reduced footprint in same building, will continue to own and operate Heifer Ranch
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- International development organization Heifer International today announced it had reached an agreement to sell its Little Rock campus. The organization renewed its commitment to its Little Rock operations, negotiating a long-term lease to remain in the same building over a reduced footprint.
Heifer International's operations have shifted significantly during the global pandemic, as it continues to build signature programs in 21 countries focused on supporting small-scale farmers to reach a living income. Consultations with staff in Little Rock revealed a strong preference for hybrid work arrangements, resulting in a reduced need for office space at the campus and an opportunity to funnel more resources into larger, scalable programs around the world.
Heifer International will continue to occupy the top two floors of the main building at the campus in downtown Little Rock and is reconfiguring the space to provide a dynamic, collaborative environment connected to its work around the world and a range of flexible work options.
"Our staff have expressed a clear desire for more flexible ways of working and we are excited to be building this with them," said Pierre Ferrari, President and CEO of Heifer International. "Heifer International has a long history in Arkansas and we remain committed to Little Rock and our work with farmers across the state. Our offices will remain in Little Rock in the same building, occupying a smaller footprint, providing staff with flexible workspace as they continue their life-changing work."
Proceeds from the sale of the Heifer International Little Rock campus will be used for programs around the world to end hunger and poverty. Heifer International's programs already reach more than one million families every year through livestock, training and investments in farming and business infrastructure. The organization will continue to own and operate the Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas.
The award-winning, environmentally friendly campus was constructed by Heifer International on the site opposite the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. The campus was built with a strong focus on education and learning, with interactive exhibits and an urban farm helping to raise awareness of issues linked to hunger and poverty globally.
Ferrari continued: "With global hunger rates on the rise for the first time in decades, it is our strong belief that Heifer International needs to deploy all its available resources in service of communities around the world. Selling the Little Rock campus enables us to unlock more resources in support of our programs, getting help to the people that need it most.
"The new owners approached us with a shared vision of the campus as a thriving center for education and learning at the heart of the city and will soon announce their plans for the site. The facilities they will offer will bring new opportunities to Little Rock, aligning nicely with Heifer International's core values of caring for people, animals and the environment. We are excited to remain part of this community and look forward to welcoming staff back into our flexible workspace very soon."
Construction of the Heifer International Little Rock campus was completed in 2006, providing 94,000 square feet of office space made largely from local and recycled materials. While work continues to reconfigure office space at the site, the campus remains closed to the public.
Future plans for the site will be announced at a press conference at Heifer Village on May 19 at 10.30 a.m. For more information and to register, contact media@heifer.org.
ABOUT HEIFER INTERNATIONAL
For 77 years, Heifer International has worked with more than 39 million people around the world to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. Working with rural communities in 21 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, including the United States, Heifer International supports farmers and local food producers to strengthen local economies and build secure livelihoods that provide a living income. For information, visit https://www.heifer.org
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SOURCE Heifer International | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/heifer-international-reaches-agreement-sale-little-rock-campus-with-leaseback/ | 2022-05-17 14:53:16 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/heifer-international-reaches-agreement-sale-little-rock-campus-with-leaseback/ |
With reading scores in decline, Heggerty's new foundational skills curriculum aims to help classrooms rebound from pandemic losses, providing all students with essential reading instruction.
OAK PARK, Ill., Nov. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Heggerty announced the upcoming release of a new foundational skills kit, Bridge to Reading.
For nearly 20 years, Heggerty has supported educators in more than 70% of all US school districts to incorporate phonemic awareness instruction into their classrooms. This new curriculum for grades K-2 combines phonemic awareness with phonics instruction, providing a natural first step for classrooms looking to align their literacy instruction with the Science of Reading.
"Our phonemic awareness curriculum was created by a teacher who recognized that his students lacked the basic skills to become fluent readers," says Heggerty CEO, Andrew Follett. "Our new curriculum, Bridge to Reading, is a natural extension of that original mission and an incredible way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Dr. Heggerty's pioneering effort."
Bridge to Reading couples the latest edition of Heggerty's phonemic awareness lessons with explicit phonics instruction, decodable texts, hands-on, multisensory learning aids, and a online learning library to provide teachers with the resources and knowledge they need to support students' word recognition abilities.
"Bridge to Reading is the curriculum I wish I had when I was a teacher and a reading specialist. It's easy for teachers to follow, with explicit instructional language connecting phonemes and graphemes for a comprehensive and consistent approach to foundational skills instruction," says Alisa VanHekken, Heggerty's Chief Academic Officer and Bridge to Reading co-author. "What makes it truly special is its ability to help teachers build their own professional knowledge, going beyond the what to help teachers, and even students and parents, understand the why of this approach to literacy instruction."
According to 2022 NAEP scores, 66% of US 4th graders and 69% of US 8th graders are reading below a proficient level, a significant decline over 2019 reports.
"The need for explicit phonemic awareness and phonics instruction in every school has never been greater. The Heggerty curriculum is the best 'first step' I've encountered for schools wanting to incorporate Science of Reading aligned instruction into their classrooms," says Alana Mangham, Director of Curriculum Development at Heggerty and Bridge to Reading co-author. "Every component of this curriculum is thoughtfully designed with teachers in mind, accounting for time limitations, core curriculum requirements, and pandemic learning gaps that they're facing every day. It's truly the intersection of research and reality."
The Bridge to Reading curriculum provides everything teachers need to implement daily phonemic awareness and phonics lessons in 30-45 minutes, including:
- detailed teachers' guides,
- student practice books,
- multisensory learning tools,
- decodable texts,
- classroom visual aids,
- progress monitoring assessments,
- access to interactive classroom tools and digital curriculum; and
- a robust online learning library for teachers including on-demand professional learning courses.
Available for pre-order in early 2023, Bridge to Reading will land in classrooms this Summer.
To learn more about Bridge to Reading and to download a free curriculum sample, please visit www.Heggerty.org/BridgetoReading.
See the announcement here: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeggertyPhonemicAwareness
Since 2003, Heggerty has provided classrooms with effective reading instruction materials that marry the latest science on how children learn to read with practical strategies that meet the needs of real-world classrooms. Their phonemic awareness curriculum, decodable books, and digital tools can be found helping teachers in more than half of all US school districts to improve students' ability to read.
For media inquiries, please contact Megan Colburn at megan@heggerty.org.
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SOURCE Heggerty | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/11/17/heggerty-announces-phonics-expansion-with-bridge-reading/ | 2022-11-17 14:47:27 | 0 | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/11/17/heggerty-announces-phonics-expansion-with-bridge-reading/ |
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Much was expected of Rose Zhang when she turned professional last week, and she is already delivering.
The two-time NCAA champion moved into position to win in her pro debut, shooting a 6-under 66 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Mizuho Americans Open.
“I’ve been in this position before, but I haven’t been in this position as a professional, since this is my first week, so I’m really just learning everything that I could,” Zhang said. “Tomorrow, I’ll be just trying to figure out what it feels like to be in the final group, navigate my way through, and I’m sure by the end of the day I’ll be able to, you know, just build my character more.”
The former Stanford star had six birdies in a bogey-free round on a raw, overcast day at Liberty National in jumping to the top of the leaderboard. It's nothing new for the 20-year-old who won 12 of 20 events in her two years in college, with many viewing it as a sign of things to come.
Event 1 is certainly shaping up that way a day to go, and it could have been better. Zhang settled for a tap-in birdie at the driveable 16th hole after hitting her tee shot within about 5 feet.
Cheyenne Knight, who was tied with Minjee Lee for the halfway lead at 7 under, was tied for second with Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand and Aditi Ashok of India, who both shot 68s. Knight had a 69, making a bogey at No, 17 and missing a 10-footer for birdie on the final hole.
Lee (72) was 7 under in fifth place, a shot ahead of Jennifer Kupcho (69) rookie Hae Ran Ryu (66) and Eun-Hee Ji (70).
Stephanie Kyriacoiu of Australia had the best round of the day, shooting a 65 that included an eagle, six birdies and an early bogey. The 22-year-old was at 5 under along with top-ranked Jin Young Ko (73) and fellow South Korean player Sei Young Kim (70).
They will all have to catch Zhang, who was the No. 1 women's amatuer for 141 weeks. She also is on a roll, having won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur this year and her second straight NCAA title last month.
This has been a hectic week for Zhang. Not only did she turn pro, but she has shown a lot of composure on the course and off with the sheer volume of interview requests.
“I still think I’m human so I do feel little small butterflies here and there,” the Irvine, California, resident said, “I’ve been pretty comfortable when I’ve been on the golf course. I’ve been able to tap into my zone and I’ve just been trying to think about how this is the sport that I’ve been playing for the last ten or so years. I’m just doing what I need to do and going back to what my body knows.”
Seven women have won their first start as a pro on the LPGA Tour since 1992, with Hinako Shibuno of Japan the last in the 2019 Women’s British Open.
Knight also has been in her zone looking for her second win on tour and first since 2019. She has been in the top 10 after 36 holes in her last four events.
“I’m excited, but, I mean, yeah, Minjee I think shot 8 under yesterday. Marina (Alex) did, too. It’s out there,” Knight said. “I’m excited to attack, and, yeah, just give myself some chances tomorrow and hopefully they drop.”
Ashok has had only one bogey in three rounds in her search for her first win on this tour.
“I think this golf course especially makes you think a lot,” said Ashok, who has had two top three finishes in recent weeks. “If you get the right angles and if you play it smart I think it’s easier to not drop shots.”
No. 3 ranked Lydia Ko, who was a shot behind the lead entering the round, and No. 8 ranked Brooke Henderson, who was two shots off the pace, finished at 1-under. Ko shot 77, and Henderson 76.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.clickorlando.com/sports/2023/06/04/spectacular-debut-rose-zhang-shots-66-to-take-lead-into-mizuho-americas-open-finale/ | 2023-06-04 01:40:28 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/sports/2023/06/04/spectacular-debut-rose-zhang-shots-66-to-take-lead-into-mizuho-americas-open-finale/ |
TX Houston/Galveston TX Zone Forecast for Friday, July 29, 2022
_____
829 FPUS54 KHGX 300643
ZFPHGX
Zone Forecast Product for Southeast Texas
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
TXZ211-310900-
Austin-
Including the cities of Sealy and Bellville
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Lows in the
mid 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Heat index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs around 100. South winds
10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. Southeast
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat
index values up to 105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100. Heat index values
up to 105.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100. Heat index values
up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs around 100. Heat index
values up to 105.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ237-310900-
Inland Brazoria-
Including the cities of Pearland, Alvin, and Angleton
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Lows in the mid
70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Southeast
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Lows in the upper 70s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph,
diminishing to around 5 mph after midnight.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph, diminishing to around 5 mph after midnight.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the mid 90s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Heat
index values up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Chance of rain
40 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ196-310900-
Brazos-
Including the cities of College Station and Bryan
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Hot with highs around 100. Lows in the mid
70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent. Heat
index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs around 101. South winds
10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Sunny, hot with highs in the upper 90s. South winds
10 to 15 mph. Heat index values up to 105.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. Heat index
values up to 105 early in the evening.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs around 100. Heat index
values up to 105.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ195-310900-
Burleson-
Including the cities of Caldwell and Somerville
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. Hot with highs around 100. Lows
in the mid 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Heat index values up to
105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs around 101. South winds
10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 10 to 15 mph. Heat index values up to 105.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs 100 to 105.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs 100 to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs around 100.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ214-310900-
Chambers-
Including the cities of Winnie, Mont Belvieu, Anahuac, Stowell,
and Old River-Winfree
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Humid with highs in the lower 90s. Lows in the
upper 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 90s. Southeast winds 10 to
15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Humid with lows in the upper 70s. Southeast winds 10 to
15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Humid with highs in the lower 90s. South winds
10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Humid with lows in the upper 70s.
South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming
partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ210-310900-
Colorado-
Including the cities of Columbus, Eagle Lake, and Weimar
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Lows in the
mid 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Heat index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s.
Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. Southeast
winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, diminishing to around
5 mph after midnight.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ227-310900-
Fort Bend-
Including the cities of Missouri City, Mission Bend, Sugar Land,
Rosenberg, First Colony, and Pecan Grove
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Lows in the mid
70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent. Heat
index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds around 5 mph, increasing to southeast 10 to 15 mph in the
afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s. Southeast
winds 10 to 15 mph, diminishing to around 5 mph after midnight.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. South winds 5 to
10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph,
diminishing to around 5 mph after midnight.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat
index values up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Chance of rain
40 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ238-310900-
Inland Galveston-
Including the cities of League City and Friendswood
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Lows in the upper 70s. South
winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s. Southeast winds
10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Humid with lows in the upper 70s. Southeast winds 10 to
15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Humid with highs in the lower 90s. South winds
10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Humid with lows in the upper 70s.
South winds 10 to 15 mph, diminishing to around 5 mph after
midnight.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Highs in the mid 90s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Heat index values up to 105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. Heat index
values up to 105.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ198-310900-
Grimes-
Including the city of Navasota
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Hot with highs around 100. Lows in the mid
70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent. Heat
index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs around 100. South winds
10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows
in the upper 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100. Heat index values up
to 105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100. Heat index values
up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ213-310900-
Inland Harris-
Including the city of Houston
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Lows in the upper
70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent. Heat
index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s. Southeast
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows
in the upper 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat
index values up to 105.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
in the afternoon. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Chance of rain
40 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ163-310900-
Houston-
Including the city of Crockett
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Hot with highs around 100. Lows in the mid
70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent. Heat
index values up to 110.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds
5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ235-310900-
Inland Jackson-
Including the cities of Edna and Ganado
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Lows in the
mid 70s. South winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Heat index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s.
Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 15 to 20 mph with
gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoon. Heat index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Lows in the upper 70s. Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph with
gusts up to 30 mph, diminishing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. South
winds 15 to 20 mph. Heat index values up to 105.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Humid with lows in the upper 70s.
South winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, diminishing to
5 to 10 mph after midnight.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat
index values up to 105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat index
values up to 105.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat index
values up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat
index values up to 105.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ200-310900-
Northern Liberty-
Including the cities of Liberty, Cleveland, and Dayton
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Lows in the mid
70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent. Heat
index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. South
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. Southeast
winds 10 to 15 mph, diminishing to around 5 mph after midnight.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. South winds 5 to
10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows
in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
in the afternoon. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Chance of rain
40 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ176-310900-
Madison-
Including the city of Madisonville
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Hot with highs around 100. Lows in the mid
70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent. Heat
index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs around 100. South winds
5 to 10 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100. Heat index values up
to 105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ236-310900-
Inland Matagorda-
Including the city of Bay City
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Lows in the
upper 70s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
Chance of rain 20 percent.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Southeast
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 70s. Southeast
winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, diminishing to around
5 mph after midnight.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. South winds 10 to 15 mph
with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Humid with lows in the upper 70s.
South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the mid 90s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs in the mid 90s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs in the mid 90s. Heat index
values up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ199-310900-
Montgomery-
Including the cities of Conroe and The Woodlands
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Lows in the mid
70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent. Heat
index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s. Southeast
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows
in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat
index values up to 105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs around 100. Heat index
values up to 105.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100. Heat index values
up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Chance of rain
40 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ179-310900-
Polk-
Including the cities of Livingston and Corrigan
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Lows in the mid
70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent. Heat
index values up to 110.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds
5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows
in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs in the upper 90s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat index
values up to 105.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat index
values up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Chance of rain
40 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows
in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ178-310900-
San Jacinto-
Including the cities of Shepherd and Coldspring
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Lows in the mid
70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent. Heat
index values up to 110.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds
5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows
in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs in the upper 90s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 99. Heat index values
up to 105.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat
index values up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ164-310900-
Trinity-
Including the cities of Trinity and Groveton
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Lows in the
upper 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Heat index values up to 110.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds
5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows
in the upper 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100. Heat index values
up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ177-310900-
Walker-
Including the city of Huntsville
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Hot with highs around 100. Lows in the upper
70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent. Heat
index values up to 110.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s. South winds
5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows
in the upper 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ212-310900-
Waller-
Including the cities of Hempstead, Prairie View, Brookshire,
and Waller
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Lows in the mid
70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent. Heat
index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. Southeast
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 10 to 15 mph. Heat index values up to 105.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat
index values up to 105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100. Heat index values
up to 105.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100. Heat index values
up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ197-310900-
Washington-
Including the city of Brenham
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Hot with highs around 100. Lows in the mid
70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent. Heat
index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs around 100. South winds
10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. Southeast
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. South
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs around 100. Heat index
values up to 105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs around 100.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat
index values up to 105.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ226-310900-
Wharton-
Including the cities of El Campo and Wharton
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Lows in the
mid 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance
of rain 20 percent.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s.
Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 15 to 20 mph with
gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s. Southeast
winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, diminishing to around
5 mph after midnight.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds
10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, diminishing to around 5 mph
after midnight.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat
index values up to 105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny, hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat index
values up to 105.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny, hot with highs in the upper 90s. Heat index
values up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the upper 90s.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ300-310900-
Southern Liberty-
Including the city of Devers
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Lows in the mid 70s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent. Heat index values
up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Sunny, hot with highs in the mid 90s. Southeast winds
10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s. Southeast
winds 10 to 15 mph, diminishing to around 5 mph after midnight.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Highs in the mid 90s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Humid with lows in the mid 70s.
South winds 5 to 10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the mid 90s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
in the afternoon. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ313-310900-
Coastal Harris-
Including the cities of Pasadena and Baytown
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Lows in the upper
70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent. Heat
index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. Southeast winds
10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Humid with lows in the upper 70s. Southeast winds 10 to
15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Humid with highs in the mid 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Humid with lows in the upper 70s.
South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Heat
index values up to 105.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
in the afternoon. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Chance of rain
40 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ338-310900-
Coastal Galveston-
Including the cities of Texas City, Dickinson, and La Marque
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Humid with highs in the lower 90s. Lows around 80.
South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Humid with highs in the lower 90s.
Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Humid with lows around 80. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Humid with highs in the lower 90s. South winds
10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Humid with lows around 80. South
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Heat index values up to 105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 80.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s. Heat index
values up to 105.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 80.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the
afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Heat index values up to 105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ337-310900-
Coastal Brazoria-
Including the cities of Lake Jackson, Freeport, and Clute
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Lows in the upper 70s.
South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s. Southeast winds
10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 70s. Southeast
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the morning. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Humid with lows in the upper 70s. South winds 10 to
15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 90s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ336-310900-
Coastal Matagorda-
Including the city of Palacios
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Humid with highs in the lower 90s. Lows around
80. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance
of rain 20 percent.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s. Southeast winds
10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 80s. Southeast
winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the morning. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 10 to 15 mph
with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Humid with lows in the lower 80s.
South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 80s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 90s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 80s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 90s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 80.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 80.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ335-310900-
Coastal Jackson-
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Lows in the upper 70s. South
winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent. Heat index values
up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. Southeast winds 5 to
10 mph, increasing to 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph in the
afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Humid with lows in the upper 70s.
Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, diminishing
to 5 to 10 mph after midnight.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Humid with highs in the lower 90s. South
winds 15 to 20 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Humid with lows around 80. South
winds 15 to 20 mph, diminishing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. Heat index values
up to 105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 80.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. Heat index values up to
105.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 80.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. Heat index values up to
105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. Heat index values
up to 105.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s.
.SATURDAY...Sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ436-310900-
Matagorda Islands-
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Humid. Near steady temperature in the mid 80s.
Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Humid with highs in the upper 80s.
Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Humid. Near steady temperature in
the mid 80s. Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the morning. Humid with highs in the upper 80s. South winds 10 to
15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Humid. Near steady temperature in
the mid 80s. South winds 15 to 20 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Near steady temperature in the mid 80s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming
partly cloudy. Near steady temperature in the mid 80s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny. Near steady temperature in the mid 80s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Near steady temperature in the
mid 80s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Near steady temperature in the mid 80s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Near steady temperature in the
mid 80s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Near steady temperature in the mid 80s.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Near steady temperature in the mid
80s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ437-310900-
Brazoria Islands-
Including the city of Surfside Beach
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Humid with highs in the upper 80s. Lows in the
lower 80s. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
Chance of rain 30 percent.
.SUNDAY...Sunny with highs in the upper 80s. Southeast winds
10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Humid. Near steady temperature in
the mid 80s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to
25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the morning. Humid with highs in the upper 80s. South winds 10 to
15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Humid. Near steady temperature in the mid 80s. South
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 90.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming
partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 80s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Near steady temperature in the
mid 80s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Near steady temperature in the
mid 80s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 80s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ438-310900-
Galveston Island-
Including the city of Galveston
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Humid with highs in the mid 90s. Lows in the mid
80s. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of
rain 30 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Humid with highs in the mid 90s.
Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Heat index values up to 105.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Humid with lows in the mid 80s.
Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in
the morning. Humid with highs in the mid 90s. South winds 10 to
15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Humid with lows in the mid 80s.
South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. Heat index values
up to 105.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 80s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 90s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 80s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. Heat index values up to
105.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming
partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 80s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 80s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
TXZ439-310900-
Bolivar Peninsula-
143 AM CDT Sat Jul 30 2022
.REST OF TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Humid with highs around 90. Lows in the lower 80s.
South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Humid with highs in the lower 90s.
Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Humid with lows in the lower 80s.
Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Humid with highs in the lower 90s. South winds
10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Humid with lows in the lower 80s.
South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 90s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming
partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 80s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 80s.
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of rain
30 percent.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming
partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 80s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 80s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning.
$$
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/TX-Houston-Galveston-TX-Zone-Forecast-17339833.php | 2022-07-30 07:50:51 | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/TX-Houston-Galveston-TX-Zone-Forecast-17339833.php |
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden informed Russia on Tuesday that five employees of the Russian Embassy in Stockholm were asked to leave the country because they were suspected of spying.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said the alleged activities of the five were “incompatible” with their diplomatic status. Billström said Russia’s ambassador to Sweden, Viktor Tatarintsev, was informed of the expulsions.
The Swedish Security Service, which is known by the acronym SAPO, recently received a list of names of a number of suspected Russian intelligence officers, Swedish broadcaster SVT reported.
The domestic security agency has said that “every third Russian diplomat in Sweden is an intelligence officer.”
Sweden also expelled three Russian Embassy staff members a year ago. Neighboring Norway said two weeks ago that it was expelling 15 Russian diplomats accused of spying.
The public broadcasting companies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden reported last week in a joint investigation that Russia was suspected of spying in the waters of the Baltic Sea and North Sea using civilian fishing trawlers, cargo ships and yachts.
For their series titled “Shadow War,” the broadcasters analyzed marine radio traffic and locations of Russian vessels. They said the data revealed suspicious sailing patterns, particularly around offshore wind farms, gas pipelines and undersea power and data cables.
A new episode is scheduled to air Wednesday.
Alarmed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, Sweden and neighboring Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022, seeking protection under the organization’s security umbrella. Finland joined the military alliance on April 4. However, objections from NATO members Turkey and Hungary have delayed the process for Sweden, which has avoided military alliances for more than 200 years.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.wjhl.com/news/international/sweden-expels-5-russian-embassy-staff-on-suspicion-of-spying/ | 2023-04-26 01:46:54 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/international/sweden-expels-5-russian-embassy-staff-on-suspicion-of-spying/ |
The awards keep coming for Boston Pride forward Loren Gabel, who was named Most Valuable Player of the 2022-23 Premier Hockey Federation season on Thursday.
Gabel also earned Newcomer of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year awards after scoring 40 points in 22 games to tie a single-season record. She won the first offensive triple crown in PHF history. The Ontario native was also MVP of the PHF All-Star Game in February.
The MVP was chosen by voters from the Professional Hockey Writers Association Women’s Hockey Chapter. Gabel also earned the Outstanding Player of the Year award based on a vote from the PHF Players’ Association.
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“It is an absolute honor to win the 2022-23 MVP and Outstanding Player of the Year awards, and I am proud to be recognized by my fellow players and by the dedicated media who cover this league,” said Gabel. “I am thankful for the opportunity I was given to play in Boston, and I am looking forward to my future in the PHF.” | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/04/27/sports/boston-prides-loren-gabel-named-premier-hockey-federations-most-valuable-player/ | 2023-04-27 16:09:42 | 0 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/04/27/sports/boston-prides-loren-gabel-named-premier-hockey-federations-most-valuable-player/ |
Microsoft says it is making a “multiyear, multibillion dollar investment” in the artificial intelligence startup OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT and other tools that can write readable text and generate new images.
The tech giant on Monday described its new agreement as the third stage of a growing partnership with San Francisco-based OpenAI that began with a $1 billion investment in 2019. It didn't disclose the dollar amount for its latest investment.
OpenAI's free writing tool ChatGPT launched on Nov. 30 and has brought public attention to the possibilities of new advances in AI.
It’s part of a new generation of AI systems that can converse, generate readable text on demand and even produce novel images and video based on what they’ve learned from a vast database of digital books, online writings and other media.
OpenAI started out as a nonprofit artificial intelligence research company when it launched in December 2015. With Tesla CEO Elon Musk as its co-chair and among its early investors, the organization’s stated aims were to “advance digital intelligence in the way that is most likely to benefit humanity as a whole, unconstrained by a need to generate financial return.”
That changed in 2018 when it incorporated a for-profit business Open AI LP, and shifted nearly all its staff into the business, not long after releasing its first generation of the GPT model for generating human-like paragraphs of readable text. Musk also left its board in 2018.
OpenAI is also the creator of the DALL-E tool for generating new images.
Microsoft said Monday its strengthened partnership can help “to accelerate AI breakthroughs to ensure these benefits are broadly shared with the world.” | https://www.ourmidland.com/business/article/Microsoft-invests-billions-in-ChatGPT-maker-OpenAI-17735543.php | 2023-01-23 15:04:06 | 0 | https://www.ourmidland.com/business/article/Microsoft-invests-billions-in-ChatGPT-maker-OpenAI-17735543.php |
The Santa Fe Opera is three-for-three this season, with a solid staging of Giuseppe Verdi’s Falstaff joining the repertory Saturday.
It’s not quite in the same rarified league as The Barber of Seville, which opened a week ago. True, there are two casting miscues, some scenic design issues and occasional conducting lapses, but it’s very much worth taking in. That’s especially true for those who frown on updated stagings; this one is as Elizabethan and Jacobean as they come.
Scotland’s Sir David McVicar pulled triple duty as the opera’s stage director, scenic designer and costume designer, succeeding admirably in the first and third areas.
His staging was energetic, unforced and grounded in the opera’s music, as well as its libretto. McVicar also made frequent and effective use of two supernumeraries who were uncredited in the program — Falstaff’s young pageboy and a buxom lass who seemed to work in several, um, customer-service functions at The Garter Inn.
The costume designs were splendid, especially those for the female principals, which were luxurious in their fabric choices and flowing in form. The style dates from the Jacobean era, circa 1615, setting up a telling contrast with Falstaff’s old-fashioned and fussy Elizabethan-era courting attire.
McVicar also ranged more widely afield than the usual witches, imps and fairies in the final scene. Here, his witty choices included the appearance of Don Quixote and his horse Rocinante, which has only two legs, both in front, made possible by a cantilevered costume, and a caricatured Queen Elizabeth, smiling strangely while holding a glowing globe in her hand.
The scenic design was problematic on several fronts. It’s a co-production with Scottish Opera, and as a “coming out of the coronavirus” offering last summer outdoors at a car park, it probably worked better than it does here.
McVicar’s utilitarian unit set evokes an Elizabethan theater, not quite Shakespeare’s famous “wooden O” from Henry V, but a big split-level wooden structure with a playing area above, flanked by symmetrical stairs leading to it on either side. There’s not much visual variety in the many scene changes, even though they take too long to execute.
The set is also too big for the Santa Fe stage, scraping the ceiling overhead and so wide that it has to play far downstage. It’s especially problematic in the final scene, which features the entire cast, chorus and supers, all crammed into a space so confining that the outraged villagers can do little more than wave their instruments of torture at Falstaff most of the time, since there’s so little room to move.
The casting of the male roles was solid from top to bottom, while the female roles were more variable.
You’ll never hear the title role sung better than it is here by Quinn Kelsey. He’s widely known as a true Verdi baritone, a rare breed these days, and with good reason. His voice is big and well-focused, produced with incredible consistency throughout his range. At first his portrayal had an edgy, even angry quality that seemed more like Rigoletto, but Kelsey soon found a wider variety of emotional colors in his character.
Roland Wood was an effective adversary as Ford. His singing is softer-grained than Kelsey’s, but it has plenty of punch when necessary, and his acting choices tend to be more subtle. Wood was an excellent Falstaff in the original Scottish Opera production, and it would be great fun to see them swap roles from night to night, in the manner of 19th-century barnstorming actors.
Veteran character tenor Brian Frutiger, a Santa Fe apprentice in 1995 and 1997, was amusing and appropriately sanctimonious as Dr. Caius; aspiring character tenor Thomas Cilluffo, an apprentice last season and this, was amusing and versatile as Bardolfo, one of Falstaff’s carousing buddies who ends up “married” to Dr. Caius at the opera’s end. As Pistola, Falstaff’s other companion, bass Scott Connor was imposing physically and vocally.
Alexandra LoBianco was a puzzling Mrs. Ford. She has a big dramatic soprano voice and sang well, after a less-than-impressive start. But her acting was often rudimentary in a part that’s a female equivalent of Figaro, plotting and scheming to drive the action forward. She seems better suited temperamentally and vocally to grand roles such as Tosca and Aida.
Two former apprentices, mezzo-sopranos Ann McMahon Quintero and Megan Marino, were Mistress Quickly and Meg Page, respectively. Marino has a gift for creating unique, three-dimensional characterizations and made Mrs. Page more memorable than usual as a result. A terrific Cherubino in last season’s The Marriage of Figaro, Marino also seized on one of Mrs. Page’s few moments in the vocal spotlight — announcing the supposed arrival of Mr. Ford during the Act II finale — to offer a very funny portrayal of intentionally bad acting.
Quintero was miscast in her much larger role. She doesn’t have the vocal heft it requires and was often nearly inaudible. And while Arrigo Boito’s text stripped out much of her character’s quirkiness in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Quintero couldn’t find anything particularly interesting to replace it with onstage.
Elena Villalón and former apprentice Eric Ferring offered charm and lyrical vocalism as the young lovers Nannetta and Fenton. Their solos near the beginning of the Windsor-forest-at-night final scene effectively established the transition from hurly-burly action to a delicate woodland environment (at least at first), with some beautifully floated high notes.
Conductor Paul Daniel elicited much impressive playing from the orchestra, especially the crisp, well-balanced contributions by the winds and brass. Coordination between the orchestra and the stage was sometimes out of kilter, however, and the orchestra was simply too loud and swamped the singers in several forte passages.
In sum, though, this Falstaff offers a mostly excellent cast in a lively staging of a genuine comic masterpiece. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/opera/solid-falstaff-keeps-santa-fe-operas-win-streak-alive/article_adf76dd4-05e7-11ed-9e16-c3bbbae8f31b.html | 2022-07-18 06:57:13 | 0 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/opera/solid-falstaff-keeps-santa-fe-operas-win-streak-alive/article_adf76dd4-05e7-11ed-9e16-c3bbbae8f31b.html |
Company Focusing on Hiring Top Talent to Address Strategic Growth Initiatives
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., May 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hylant, a leading full-service insurance brokerage serving markets across the United States, announced today that Carman Baines has been hired as client executive.
Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Baines will play a critical role in driving new business wins for the family-owned company and delivering outstanding service to existing client partners. With more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, she will serve within the sales arm of the brokerage – a key area accelerating new and organic growth for Hylant's services.
"We are incredibly excited for Carman to join the growing Hylant team," Jeff Lumpp, Hylant president, said. "I know that her industry expertise will contribute to the unique collaboration among our colleagues, members, client partners and vendor partners to create strategies that set the bar in developing and managing all facets of our benefit programs. Carman's diligent and positive attitude will help us further our mission to strengthen and protect the businesses, employees and communities we are privileged to serve."
"When the opportunity to become part of Hylant came about, the move was a no-brainer for me," Baines said. "The idea of working with an amazing service team that is tenured and has had virtually no turnover over the past several years speaks to the company's unique dynamic that always puts employees and clients first."
The addition of Baines as a client executive happens alongside recent appointments in executive, transactional and cyber risk-related areas of the business as the company continues to expand its service offerings and expertise to better serve the growing needs of Hylant clients.
"I am thrilled to be joining Hylant during this meaningful period of growth and innovation for the company," Baines said. "The family-like culture will allow me to jump in, roll up my sleeves and get to work on making a difference for the team and our clients in creative, solution-based ways."
Baines previously served as Vice President, Employee Benefits at USI Insurance Services. She studied Business Administration and Management at Davenport University and Grand Rapids Community College.
For more information about Hylant and its expansive team of subject matter experts, visit https://www.hylant.com/about/.
About Hylant
Founded in 1935, Hylant is one of the largest privately held insurance brokerages in the United States, renowned for serving clients as business partners and trusted advisors. We offer complete risk management services; captive consulting and management services; employee benefits brokerage and consultation; merger, acquisition and complex business transaction consultation services; loss control; healthcare management; and insurance solutions for businesses and individuals nationally and internationally.
Hylant is a founding member of BrokerTech Ventures, the first accelerator program and investor group designed specifically to incubate technologies and drive innovations that benefit insurance brokers and clients. Named 13 consecutive years to the "Best Places to Work in Insurance" list, we have aggressive growth plans and are actively seeking caring people to help us make the world a better place for the clients and communities we serve.
Media Contact:
Darby Dame
ddame@lambert.com
269-870-5956
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SOURCE Hylant | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/05/25/hylant-hires-industry-veteran-carman-baines-client-executive/ | 2022-05-25 13:36:54 | 1 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/05/25/hylant-hires-industry-veteran-carman-baines-client-executive/ |
Creta Class's math learning app for kids will continue to provide an equal and engaging remote learning experience to foster gradual learning patterns post-pandemic
NEW YORK, May 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading international math learning program, Creta Class, has recently been recognized by the 2022 Mom's Choice Award ("MCA") as being among the best in family-friendly media, products, and services. Creta Class was granted the prestigious Gold Award for its 5-stage learning program. Complementing their MCA success, on May 7, Creta Class was also awarded the Spring 2022 Academics' Choice Smart Media Award, while granted kidSAFE® accreditation and earned a 5-star evaluation from the Educational App Store earlier this year.
Aside from being an exceptional learning tool, Creta Class was granted the 2022 Mom's Choice Gold Award for innovation in remote and application-based mathematics teaching. This has been exceptionally important since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020 and has led to the program being a key component in countless virtual classrooms and homes around the world. With additional award-winning platforms available, the app can be found and explored by more families interested in mathematical thinking and learning.
Upon receiving the award, Christy, Curriculum Development Head of Creta Class said, "We are very grateful for the recognition that our program has received from the 2022 Mom's Choice Awards. At Creta Class, we see it as our mission to understand and guide the cognitive development of young children. Our methodology is to stimulate the interest of young learners, cultivate their enthusiasm for learning, guide them step by step as they explore, and ultimately make them feel happy and accomplished. Moving forward, we are excited to continue extending the reach and depth of our learning materials to help more young children unlock their learning potential."
Creta Class addresses this issue by introducing children to principles of math education from an early age through 240 lessons, 1,200 animations, and over 12,000 interactive exercises to work through each year. The syllabus covers a wide range of areas, including number concepts, operations, shapes, space, and much more. With daily lessons only 15 minutes in length, children are encouraged to focus on short bursts and commit their lessons to long-term memory, giving them a strong foundation to support their future math studies.
"We are happy to award deserving apps like Creta Class," said Dawn Matheson, CEO of Mom's Choice Awards. "Our panel of judges really felt this app merited a place on our list of the best in family-friendly products that parents and educators can feel confident in using."
Creta Class utilizes cutting-edge technology to provide a mathematics educational program that is fun, engaging, and safe for young learners. The team of early education and IT industry veterans designed the course to help 3–8-year-old kids establish systematic knowledge through progressive learning pathways. The program features engaging animations and hands-on interactive exercises supported by AI technology to ensure maximum immersion to realize a learning experience for children.
The MCA award affirms the learning experience of Creta Class provided as an educational product for children and parents, and the ACA award attests its professionalism as a mathematical and logical thinking training product. Creta Class has also been granted kidSAFE® accreditation for its strict security settings, and earned a 5-star evaluation from the Educational App Store which noted the program's scientific-based approach to learning, design, and presentation.
For more information, please visit Creta Class and on social media at Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.
About Creta Class
Creta Class is a math program developed by education experts and designed for kids ages 3 to 8. The systematic program provides a 5-stage plan, with each stage consisting of 240 lessons, 1,200 animations, and 12,000+ interactive exercises with a progressive course setting. Creta Class's 15 minutes per day, 5 days per week approach makes learning math fun and easy with bite-sized daily sessions and AI-backed learning paths.
Media Contact:
Creta Class Communication Team
press@cretaclass.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Creta Class | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/05/24/2022-moms-choice-gold-award-winner-creta-class-named-best-family-friendly-media-products-services/ | 2022-05-24 16:30:24 | 1 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/05/24/2022-moms-choice-gold-award-winner-creta-class-named-best-family-friendly-media-products-services/ |
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Four teenagers were shot at a birthday party in North Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
It happened shortly before 11:30 p.m. at a home on Bonsal Street by Cambria.
Police say there were between 15 and 20 people between the ages of 11 and 18 gathered for a 17th birthday party.
Arriving officers found the victims, three girls and a boy, all between the ages of 15 and 18.
A 15-year girl who lives in the home was shot in her back and leg. The three other victims were shot in the leg.
All four were taken to the hospital in stable condition.
Police recovered at least nine spent shell casings in the first floor and the basement of the home. They also found a loaded magazine for a semiautomatic gun.
Authorities say two bullets went into the second-floor bedroom of the house across the street where a woman was lying in bed. She was not hit.
Responding officers spotted two males running away from the scene.
Officers chased them on foot into a home about a block away on Judson Street. Police took them into custody.
A third suspect was found nearby.
"The officers apprehended those two individuals that were running from the scene of the shooting, and in that property, they also recovered a handgun. They found a third suspect in the area, and when officers stopped that third suspect, he had a handgun in his possession," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.
According to the controller's data, as of Tuesday, 138 juveniles have been shot this year, which is on pace with last year. More girls have been shot this year compared to 2020 and 2021.
This shooting came a day after five people were shot near a West Philadelphia rec center in an unrelated incident. | https://6abc.com/north-philadelphia-birthday-party-shooting-teenagers-shot-bonsal-street-cambria/12136850/ | 2022-08-18 09:00:47 | 0 | https://6abc.com/north-philadelphia-birthday-party-shooting-teenagers-shot-bonsal-street-cambria/12136850/ |
Which snowman Christmas tree is best?
If you’re looking for some Christmas decor with a little more personality this year, consider swapping your old Christmas tree out for an artificial snowman Christmas tree. The snowman style brings a snowy vibe right into your home, and the friendly face on top is festive and inviting. Take a look at the Fraser Hill Farm White Snowman Christmas Tree for a big, cheerful snowman tree with warm lights and a sweet face.
What to know before you buy a snowman Christmas tree
Set-up
A snowman tree uses the same materials as most artificial Christmas trees. It has a metal frame and base with wire branches and plastic-coated faux pine needles. The needles are all white instead of green for the snowman’s body.
The snowman’s head serves as the tree topper, so you don’t have to worry about what the top of the tree will look like. You assemble the base and the branches as you would any artificial tree before adding the head topper and any other separate accessories.
Decorating
A snowman Christmas tree is versatile in that you can decorate it the way you would any Christmas tree or leave it undecorated. Put the head on top, add a few “coal” buttons down the center and you’re all done without the fuss of ornaments.
If you want to dress your snowman up a little, consider getting a matching white tree skirt. This gives the look of fresh snow piled beneath the snowman, heightening the illusion of a winter wonderland.
Size
The average snowman tree is 48-96 feet tall. The width at the bottom, where the branches are larger and most pronounced, is about 30-50 inches. While a snowman usually has three rounded sections, a snowman tree maintains the standard triangular shape without rounded edges.
What to look for in a quality snowman Christmas tree
Accessories
A great snowman doesn’t just have a face and arms. It features cozy accessories that bring it to life. This includes a scarf, hat or even mittens. It has an expressive face with two eyes, a carrot-shaped nose, and a wide smile that matches the faux buttons down the front.
Built-in string lights
Built-in string lights save you time and energy putting up lights. It also ensures that the lights match the style of the tree. Snowman trees typically have white or yellow string lights built into the branches or frame. These offer a soft, warm glow that highlights the snowy look of the tree.
Remember that built-in string lights usually mean there is a power cord attached that you’ll need to plug into the wall.
Flocked branches
Since a snowman is supposed to look like it is made from snow, flocked branches make the tree look like it’s covered in real snow. A flocked snowman tree features white artificial snow across the branches and needles, adding texture and dimension. The fake snow is already attached to the tree, so you don’t have to add it yourself with a spray can.
How much you can expect to spend on a snowman Christmas tree
Depending on the size, it usually costs $80-$300. Some trees can cost as much as $700.
Snowman Christmas tree FAQ
Can you display it outside?
A. The artificial tree is made for indoor use. Purchase snowman yard decorations separately for outside displays, as these are designed to withstand the elements.
Can the scarf or hat be switched out?
A. The hat, button and facial components are usually attached. There’s no switching them out, but this also means that the pieces won’t fall off or droop over time. Some scarves are attached to the head. Others are packaged separately so you can drape them in whatever style you please.
What’s the best snowman Christmas tree to buy?
Top snowman Christmas tree
Fraser Hill Farm White Snowman Christmas Tree
What you need to know: This white artificial tree is 90 inches tall and 46 inches wide. It comes with a head topper, black ornament-shaped buttons and brown stick arms.
What you’ll love: It has 450 built-in LED string lights. The head has a cute top hat, a cheerful expression and a red plaid scarf. It’s flame-resistant and nonallergenic.
What you should consider: The head does not light up like the rest of the tree.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top snowman Christmas tree for the money
Decoway Snowman Christmas Tree
What you need to know: This white artificial tree is 48 inches tall, 31 inches wide and comes with a head topper, black buttons and a red scarf.
What you’ll love: It has 100 LED lights built into the branches and a 59-inch power cord. The face, hat and buttons are fixed in place, but the scarf is detached so you can arrange how it falls. It’s flocked with faux snow. It’s fireproof.
What you should consider: The head topper does not have any built-in lights.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Our Warm Christmas Tree Topper Snowman
What you need to know: If you already have an artificial tree, this plush cotton snowman topper features arms, mittens, a scarf and a hat to give your old tree a new look.
What you’ll love: The arms fold in a way that makes it look like a hug. The scarf is well-detailed with fringe at the end. The face has rosy cheeks and the hat has a red ribbon with faux berries across it. It’s significantly less expensive than a complete snowman tree.
What you should consider: It only works if you already have a tree. Buttons are not included.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/holiday-br/best-snowman-christmas-tree/ | 2022-11-15 21:27:32 | 0 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/holiday-br/best-snowman-christmas-tree/ |
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- United Steelworkers District 10 Director Bernie Hall issued the following statement after the union endorsed Josh Shapiro for Pennsylvania governor and Austin Davis for lieutenant governor:
"The USW is proud to endorse Josh Shapiro and Austin Davis to lead Pennsylvania, as we look to expand opportunity and provide long-term economic security, not just for the ultra-wealthy but for everyone in the Commonwealth.
"Shapiro and Davis recognize that in order for working people to have the fair wages, safe working conditions and voice on the job that they deserve, our elected leaders must fight to protect workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively.
"Both Shapiro and Davis have proven track records of standing up for working families, and as governor and lieutenant governor, they will continue to ensure workers and their values remain front and center in Harrisburg."
The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in manufacturing, metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in tech, public sector and service occupations.
Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, 412-562-2444, jkamm@usw.org
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SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW) | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/usw-proudly-supports-josh-shapiro-austin-davis-pennsylvania-governor-lt-governor/ | 2022-08-24 14:54:13 | 0 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/usw-proudly-supports-josh-shapiro-austin-davis-pennsylvania-governor-lt-governor/ |
BERLIN (AP) — German police searched homes and questioned suspects as part of an annual nationwide crackdown against online hate speech, authorities said Wednesday.
Police carried out 91 operations in 14 German states.
In the central state of Hesse, officers investigated three women and six men, ages 17 to 72, prosecutors said. The allegations against them include incitement to hatred, defamation and libel.
Germany has staged annual police raids against online hate speech since 2016.
The country's top security official, Nancy Faeser, said in a statement that crimes committed on social media, messaging apps and Internet forums provide “fertile ground for extremist violence."
“We need to draw clear lines here and get the culprits out of their supposed anonymity,” she said.
Federal police say more than 2,000 politically motivated crimes committed online are recorded each year in Germany, but the actual figure is likely to be much higher because many illegal postings aren't reported to authorities or take place in closed groups. | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/German-police-raid-question-online-hate-speech-17620486.php | 2022-11-30 12:51:52 | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/German-police-raid-question-online-hate-speech-17620486.php |
On June 15, Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville four-star cornerback Bryce West said he was down to two schools in his recruitment: Michigan and Ohio State, making it a true head-to-head battle between the two rivals.
Despite the Wolverines’ strong push to land an elite recruit from the Buckeyes’ backyard, Ohio’s top-ranked prospect in the 2024 class chose OSU on Saturday, announcing his commitment to Ryan Day’s program. The 5-foot-11, 177-pounder is ranked as the No. 49 overall player and No. 4 cornerback nationally, per the 247Sports Composite.
Here’s what his commitment to OSU means for Michigan:
- Plucking a top-50 prospect from an elite Glenville program coached by Ted Ginn, the father of former OSU receiver Ted Ginn Jr., would have been a seismic win for the Wolverines on the recruiting trail.
- The Buckeyes have now landed the top-ranked player in Ohio for six straight cycles, but West’s recruitment shows Michigan is closing the gap. The Wolverines won one head-to-head battle for an elite Ohio prospect this cycle in top-100 running back Jordan Marshall, and also have scored three more verbal pledges from Ohio prospects in the 2024 class.
- While OSU faced more pressure to land the top prospect in its backyard, West’s commitment to the Buckeyes is still a significant blow to the Wolverines. Michigan rolled out the red carpet on his official visit earlier this month, but Day and his staff were able to close with the elite corner on his official to Columbus this weekend.
- Michigan has experienced a resurgence on the recruiting trail this cycle after finishing outside the top 15 in the national rankings in the 2023 class. However, OSU hasn’t experienced a lull in bringing in elite talent despite back-to-back losses to the Wolverines. West’s commitment vaulted the Buckeyes over Michigan for the No. 2 spot in the national rankings this cycle. When it comes to the average rating of committed prospects, OSU narrowly trails Alabama and Georgia for the top spot, while Michigan sits No. 9.
- The Wolverines currently have 22 verbal pledges in the 2024 class – the third-most nationally – but are still without a corner. With West off the board, Michigan will shift its attention to another top cornerback prospect from Ohio, Aaron Scott. The 6-foot, 170-pounder from Springfield is ranked No. 53 nationally and has visited both schools this month.
RELATED: The states Michigan football has recruited the most under Jim Harbaugh | https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2023/06/ohios-no-1-prospect-bryce-west-chooses-buckeyes-over-michigan-football-what-it-means.html | 2023-06-25 16:04:16 | 0 | https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2023/06/ohios-no-1-prospect-bryce-west-chooses-buckeyes-over-michigan-football-what-it-means.html |
One of the fastest-growing freight brokerages in the nation announced as recipient of Top Workplaces USA and Great Place to Work Certification
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arrive Logistics, a leading multimodal transportation and technology company headquartered in Austin, Texas, recently received two distinguished awards recognizing its company culture. The honors include Top Workplaces USA and a Great Place to Work® certification.
"We are honored to receive these awards which reflect Arrive's energetic and collaborative culture apparent in each of our five office locations," said Chief People Officer Jonathan Schoonmaker. "As a people-first organization, we are proud of our employees' unwavering dedication to our mission, 'we deliver, so you can.' We remain committed to ensuring that Arrive is the top employer of choice for talented individuals who share our values."
As one of the fastest-growing freight brokerages in the nation, Arrive attributes its success to the hard work and dedication of its employees. Through strategic hiring, Arrive has been able to attract world-class talent and foster growth among all levels of the company to serve the needs of its transportation partners.
In a year that also included record revenue and volume achievements, 2022 saw the company promote twenty percent of its workforce to new positions, and hire 950 new team members. Arrive is positioned to hire 3,000 employees through 2025 and open three additional U.S. offices by 2024.
Arrive is proud to offer numerous resources and programs focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion, including its six employee resource groups (ERGs). Arrive's ERGs include: Emerging Professionals, Women in Logistics, Salute, Prisms, Unidos and Black Logistics Group. These ERGs are made up of those who would like to enhance their workplace experience while establishing connections and networking with other employees who identify as part of these communities or as allies.
As an additional investment into employee wellness and to further support employees' mental and physical well-being, Arrive has partnered with the Calm App™, ClassPass™, Rally™ and Sanvello™ to provide free or discounted services. Arrive offers competitive benefits, including paid-time off, paid parental leave, short-term disability coverage at no cost, health and dependent care FSAs, affordable health insurance, including telehealth visits and a dedicated nurseline, and onsite amenities. Arrive's Employee Assistance Program provides access to local childcare, family resources, confidential counseling services, legal support, financial resources, and more.
"We will continue to push the limits of what's possible in both the technology and transportation industries and look forward to celebrating these wins with our team," continued Schoonmaker.
To learn more about Arrive and its available job openings, visit the careers page at arrivelogistics.com/careers.
About Arrive Logistics
Arrive Logistics is a leading multimodal transportation and technology company delivering unparalleled service and custom strategic solutions. With over 1,700 employees, 6,000 customers, and 70,000 carriers in its network, Arrive is one of the largest firms in the freight brokerage industry, with $2.35 billion in 2022 revenue. The company has been recognized as a top workplace by Inc., Great Places to Work, The Austin American-Statesman and The Chicago Tribune. Learn more at www.arrivelogistics.com and explore career opportunities at www.arrivelogistics.com/careers. At Arrive, "We Deliver, So You Can."
About Great Place to Work®
Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work For All™.
Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
ABOUT ENERGAGE
Making the world a better place to work together.™
Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through 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 or Workplaces.
Press Contact
Nicole Paleologus
Next PR
arrive@nextpr.com
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SOURCE Arrive Logistics | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/02/21/arrive-logistics-earns-coveted-awards-honoring-its-company-culture/ | 2023-02-21 17:06:02 | 1 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/02/21/arrive-logistics-earns-coveted-awards-honoring-its-company-culture/ |
Funds vanish at bankrupt crypto exchange FTX; probe underway
NEW YORK (AP) — Collapsed cryptocurrency trading firm FTX confirmed there was “unauthorized access” to its accounts, hours after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Friday.
The embattled company’s new CEO John Ray III said Saturday that FTX is switching off the ability to trade or withdraw funds and taking steps to secure customers’ assets, according to a tweet by FTX’s general counsel Ryne Miller. FTX is also coordinating with law enforcement and regulators, the company said.
Exactly how much money is involved is unclear, but analytics firm Elliptic estimated Saturday that $477 million was missing from the exchange. Another $186 million was moved out of FTX’s accounts, but that may have been FTX moving assets to storage, said Elliptic’s co-founder and chief scientist Tom Robinson.
A debate formed on social media about whether the exchange was hacked or a company insider had stolen funds, a possibility that cryptocurrency analysts couldn’t rule out.
Until recently, FTX was one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges. It was already short billions of dollars when it sought bankruptcy protection Friday and its former CEO and founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, resigned.
The company had valued its assets between $10 billion to $50 billion, and listed more than 130 affiliated companies around the world, according to its bankruptcy filing.
The unraveling of the once-giant exchange is sending shockwaves through the industry, with companies that backed FTX writing down investments and the prices of bitcoin and other digital currencies falling. Politicians and regulators are calling for stricter oversight of the unwieldy industry. Experts say the saga is still unfolding.
“We’ll have to wait and see what the fallout is, but I think we are going to see more dominoes falling and an awful lot of people stand to lose their money and their savings,” said Frances Coppola, an independent financial and economic commentator. “And that is just tragic, really.”
The timing and the extent of access that the assumed hacker appeared to achieve, siphoning money from multiple parts of the company, led Coppola and other analysts to theorize that it could have been an inside job.
FTX said Saturday that it’s moving as many digital assets as can be identified to a new “cold wallet custodian,” which is essentially a way of storing assets offline without allowing remote control.
“It does look as if the liquidators didn’t act fast enough to stop some kind of siphoning off of funds from FTX after it filed for bankruptcy, and that’s bad, but it just shows how complex this thing is,” Coppola said.
Initially, some people were hoping that perhaps all the missing funds were liquidators or bankruptcy administrators trying to move assets to a more secure spot. But it would be unusual for that to happen on a Friday night, said Molly White, cryptocurrency researcher and fellow with the Library Innovation Lab at Harvard University.
“It looked very different from what a liquidator might do if they were trying to secure the funds,” she said.
White also said there are signs of possible insider involvement. “It seems unlikely that someone who is not an insider could have pulled off such a massive hack with so much access to FTX systems.”
The collapse of FTX highlights the need for cryptocurrency to be regulated more like traditional finance, Coppola said.
“Cyrpto isn’t in the very early stages anymore,” she said. “We’ve got ordinary people putting their life savings into it.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/11/12/funds-vanish-bankrupt-crypto-exchange-ftx-probe-underway/ | 2022-11-13 00:23:04 | 1 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/11/12/funds-vanish-bankrupt-crypto-exchange-ftx-probe-underway/ |
BEIJING, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NaaS Technology Inc. ("NaaS" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: NAAS), the first publicly listed Chinese EV charging service provider, recently initiated a partnership with EEZI, a solution service provider that boasts an intelligent travel ecosystem integrating hardware and software. Both parties will work in tandem on solutions for intelligent travel and smart charging services to offer a diversified charging experience and customized services.
At present, China's new energy vehicle industry has entered a phase of large-scale and rapid development, and intelligent travel is experiencing a sustained boom in popularity. As an intelligent travel solution provider combining hardware and software, EEZI is proficient in the design, research and development, and the operation of smart cockpits, autonomous driving, software ecosystems, and user experience. EEZI, as a new company in the intelligent travel industry, is committed to developing autonomous driving and smart cockpits, in a bid to make users more comfortable as they drive.
EEZI OS, EEZI's smart cockpit system, is a highlight of EEZI''s offerings. EEZI OS achieves the core goals of design, of human-computer interaction, immersive entertainment, and intelligent connection of the cockpit via voice control, a central control PAD, a steering wheel for games, and customized console parts. In doing so, EEZI can break down the barriers between service scenarios and meet the diverse needs users have for entertainment, travel, and shopping in a variety of scenarios.
As the two companies cooperate, NaaS will integrate its digital charging network covering the whole of China into the EEZI's charging operation and management platform, EEZI machine and the EEZI App. In addition, intelligent matching for charging needs, vehicle scenario data and charging service will be handled by relying on NaaS' cloud computing, intelligent algorithms, and big data service capability. Car owners will be able to enjoy an innovative charging experience featuring "charging pile location, navigation, and payment with a single click" thanks to the Company's deep collaboration with Kuaidian. NaaS aims to comprehensively improve the driving experience for car owners and advance the development of EEZI's intelligent network ecosystem. Furthermore, NaaS will work with Kuaidian to provide EEZI with a range of services, including product promotion, operational platform development, and the user experience, to help EEZI empower new vehicles belonging to third-party vehicle companies, to enter the market rapidly.
"The current trend in the industry is software-defined vehicles. NaaS features a public charging pile network that covers the whole country that can provide one-stop charging service solutions for users," said Mou Lu, CEO of EEZI, "NaaS boasts industry-leading capabilities in terms of its digitization, resource integration, and user service. Thanks to NaaS and EEZI's partnership, EEZI-empowered new vehicles for third-party vehicle enterprises can produce a diversified smart cockpit experience and promote deep integration between intelligent travel and smart networks."
"The first half of the new-energy vehicle revolution is electric, whereas the second half will focus on the introduction of smart technology. Improving the driving experience for car owners in a digital and intelligent way remains the secret to stabilizing and expanding the consumption of new-energy vehicles," said Liang Xing, vice president of NaaS, "NaaS is ready to keep sharing digital energy solutions, empowering the industry and partners in order to enhance the degree of intelligence in the industry's energy supply. As NaaS and EEZI join hands, energy consumption may shift from Data Buy (purchase based on data guidance) to Auto Buy (unmanned intelligent supply consumption)."
As one of China's largest and fastest-growing new energy service providers, NaaS can provide a one-stop service for charging pile manufacturers, operators, and main engine plants by linking the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain digitally. As of June 30, 2022, NaaS operates in 358 cities across China and has connected to more than 400,000 chargers and 44,000 charging stations. NaaS is also reportedly providing charging services to brands such as NIO, FAW-Volkswagen, Li Auto as well as VOYAH.
About NaaS Technology Inc.
NaaS Technology Inc. ("NaaS" or the "Company") is one of the largest and fastest growing electric vehicle ("EV") charging service providers in China. The firm is a subsidiary of NewLink, a leading energy digitalization group in China. NaaS offers a comprehensive one-stop shop to charger manufacturers and operators, OEMs, in-house delivery fleets as well as fleet operators, with online, offline, and non-electric services covering the entire EV industry value chain. As of June 30, 2022, NaaS operates in 358 cities across China and has connected to more than 400,000 chargers and 44,000 charging stations. On June 13, 2022, NaaS Technology Inc. was officially listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker NAAS.
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SOURCE NAAS | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/naas-collaborate-with-eezi-marking-another-step-way-intelligent-travel/ | 2022-09-02 09:38:43 | 1 | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/naas-collaborate-with-eezi-marking-another-step-way-intelligent-travel/ |
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - A mural arts program meant to beautify the community is underway in Allentown.
69 News got a look at one of the murals Wednesday.
It's being painted on the side of a building at 119 South Seventh Street. The mural is 40 feet high, and 70 feet long.
The artist painting it is from Germany.
Her work, with some help from students at Donegal Elementary School in Bethlehem, was interrupted by the pandemic.
She hopes the mural inspires other artists from around the world to come to the Lehigh Valley.
"I hope it inspires people. And it's a community work. So I'm really happy about that," said artist Paulina Quintanajornet.
The mural should be finished later this week.
There are two more planned for other spots in Allentown. | https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/mural-arts-program-kicks-off-in-allentown/article_2af4f862-39e9-11ed-bdb7-13a2911ed8b8.html | 2022-09-22 00:30:17 | 1 | https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/mural-arts-program-kicks-off-in-allentown/article_2af4f862-39e9-11ed-bdb7-13a2911ed8b8.html |
Known for our forests, the Northwest also had appeal for its moderate climate and fertile land. Indigenous people had been cultivating crops and game, with periodic burnings to promote the growth of berries, camas root, and oak prairies.
When Euro-American settlers poured into the region, they were dazzled by the forests, which they proceeded to chop down for lumber to build with and to sell.
Cleared areas for cultivation were comparatively scarce, so homesteaders sought to raze the forests for farm and grazing land. But that often left them with fields of stumps. Massive stumps. Endless stumps.
These rugged allotments were called “stump farms.”
You know those souvenir postcards showing giant fruit or potatoes or ears of corn on flatcars? They were a joking way to show off a region’s pride in its abundance. Here, we didn’t need faked photos. Real photos of real trees and their stumps showed what the pioneer class faced: trees so big they could only be felled one or two stories above the ground by loggers with whipsaws and axes standing on springboards. You still can see some of those notches on old-growth stumps today.
The logs and stumps from mammoth firs, spruce and cedars became trophies of pioneer-era industriousness. While we might weep over these fallen giants today, postcards and images once featured people standing next to felled big timber much like someone might pose with a record-sized fish — or leviathan.
As forests came down, vast fields of stumps could not be easily removed. What do you do with stumps of trees so huge and so deeply rooted in the soil?
You could burn them; you could dig, chop, and pry them out; or haul them out with horse or oxen.
Some took a shorter route: dynamite.
An exploding stump could be dangerous. Dexter Horton, a Seattle pioneer and early banker, is said to have stopped by a stump being burned. He decided to warm himself by the fire. Suddenly the stump exploded and launched him and his overly warmed backside through the air. Perhaps a lesson was learned: Horton recovered and later built a fireproof bank that survived the great Seattle Fire of 1889.
Stumps were not unusual in growing frontier cities. Portland was nicknamed “Stumptown” during its expansion in the mid-1800s. Portlanders are said to have hopped from stump to stump to avoid the mushy rain-soaked ground — a kind of improvised boardwalk, I guess.
Ingeniously, settlers found uses for some of the larger stumps. One in the Olympic Peninsula’s Elwha country was turned into a post office in the 1890s. Another in Tacoma’s Wright Park had stairs installed and became a kind of observation platform.
People danced on stumps, played music on stumps, performed acrobatics and posed for family photos on stumps. Near Olympia, some enterprising guys turned a giant stump into a barn for their livestock.
Massive cedar stumps often had hollow or soft interiors at the base. Why let them go to waste? Why not carve out some space and move in? In Vancouver, B.C., someone built a three-room stump house. Much easier than throwing up a log cabin!
The most famous stump dwelling was the Edgecomb house in Snohomish County near Arlington. It was hollowed out by the Lennstrom family, Swedish immigrants who moved west. They put a roof on, installed a window and a stove. They used it as a temporary home until they could build a more permanent one.
Photographers, including the prolific Darius Kinsey, took pictures of it, and they sold as postcards. You could say that in the early 20th century the Edgecomb stump house went viral. It was eventually dismantled and lost to old age. There’s still a stump house in Arlington, though, that stands at the Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum.
A spectacular kind of stump house was shown at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo in 1901. It was a hollowed-out fir from Everett that stood 10 feet high and 13 and a half feet in diameter and could hold 65 people! The scale dazzled visitors who learned that Washington boasted of “inexhaustible” forests.
Even more exotic was a multistoried stump house with a spiral staircase planned for the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle. It was never built, but offered a kitchen, porch, living room, fireplace and, of course, cedar flooring, along with the old-fashioned woodsy fragrance of pioneer days. Alas, such fairs often promise more than they deliver, so there are no flying cars to fly you to your luxury stump house.
Back in the day, a shorthand way to say the Northwest was a remarkable place was to feature a stump so big you could live in it. A stump house could make our rainy region seem habitable — even cozy — as if we were mossy hobbits living in a landscape of forest giants, even while we were chopping them down. | https://crosscut.com/mossback/2023/04/mossbacks-northwest-after-clearing-forests-settlers-were-stumped | 2023-04-28 13:26:30 | 1 | https://crosscut.com/mossback/2023/04/mossbacks-northwest-after-clearing-forests-settlers-were-stumped |
CEO’s killing marks this city’s first homicide since 2008
FAIRFAX, Va. (WUSA) – The murder of a CEO in Fairfax City, Virginia marks the first homicide the city has seen in 14 years.
Police in Fairfax got the call just before 3 a.m. on Friday about a shooting. When they arrived at the home, officers found 32-year-old Gret Glyer dead inside.
Police said another adult resident of the home was the person who called 911. Two young kids were also inside the home at the time of the 911 call.
Police said the back door of the home was open when they arrived, but they have not identified a suspect nor a motive for the murder.
Glyer’s family said he was the CEO for a company called Donorsee, a giving platform which describes its mission as to “help the world’s poorest.” Glyer wrote on the company website that he found his love for giving on a trip to Malawi, Africa.
His last tweet ever, which was sent Thursday evening, reads, “The day we end extreme poverty, we will throw the world’s biggest party. It will be one of the greatest days of humankind.”
Neighbors were shocked to hear about the shooting.
“We certainly never think it’s going to happen in our neighborhood,” one neighbor said. “But unfortunately, this is America, and the proliferation of guns, and the level of violence we all experience is just unacceptable. And it can happen everywhere.”
A post on Donorsee’s Facebook page called Glyer a “shining light that has brought hope and joy to everyone and everything he touched.”
According to police, this was the first homicide in Fairfax City since July 2008.
Copyright 2022 WUSA via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/2022/06/27/ceos-killing-marks-this-citys-first-homicide-since-2008/ | 2022-06-27 21:51:09 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/2022/06/27/ceos-killing-marks-this-citys-first-homicide-since-2008/ |
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MUNICH (AP) — Tom Brady stayed undefeated abroad by throwing two touchdown passes to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-16 on Sunday in the first regular-season game played in Germany.
Brady connected with Julio Jones and Chris Godwin on scoring passes and Leonard Fournette ran one in as the Bucs (5-5) improved to .500 and snapped Seattle's four-game winning streak.
German fans packed Allianz Arena for the historic game and the Bucs delivered with a balanced offensive performance on three long scoring drives. Rachaad White started and ran for 105 yards on 22 carries.
Brady completed 22 of 29 passes for 258 yards to add Germany to his list of international wins after victories in London (twice) and Mexico City with the New England Patriots.
Trailing 21-3, Seattle's Geno Smith threw touchdown passes to Tyler Lockett and Marquise Goodwin to make the score 21-16 with 3:58 to play.
Smith found Goodwin in the corner of the end zone for a 19-yard score on fourth-and-1 to complete a drive that started on the Bucs 45 after Brady threw his first interception since the season opener. Linebacker Cody Barton picked it off.
Lockett caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Smith with 8:20 left, but the 2-point conversion try failed, leaving the score 21-9.
Smith was 23 of 33 for 275 yards and the two touchdowns for the Seahawks (6-4), who are still atop the NFC West.
Brady is the first quarterback to start a regular-season game in three countries outside the U.S.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion found Jones on a short crossing route and the receiver ran it in for a 31-yard scoring play early in the second quarter. Jones put his left shoulder down and got past safety Josh Jones at the goal line.
Fournette then rumbled in from 1 yard to finish a 13-play, 86-yard drive. He scored two plays after a wide-open Scotty Miller caught a 22-yard pass and went down while bobbling the ball at the 5.
Godwin caught a 4-yard touchdown reception to make it 21-3 early in the fourth quarter. Godwin led the Bucs with 71 yards on six receptions.
Down 14-3, Seattle drove to the Bucs 9 before Devin White's strip-sack of Smith, whose fumble was recovered by Anthony Nelson at the 13.
Seattle had 57 net yards in the first half and came out throwing after halftime with Smith completing four straight passes. But the drive stalled on the Tampa 22 on a third-down incompletion intended for DK Metcalf, who was then flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Jason Myers kicked a 55-yard field goal to get Seattle on the board at 14-3.
YELLOW CARD
The Bucs drove to the Seattle 22 when Fournette took a direct snap, rolled right and threw across the field to Brady — but it was intercepted by cornerback Tariq Woolen, who had the slow-footed, 45-year-old quarterback well covered at the 6.
Brady was then flagged for tripping — which would be a yellow card if he played for Bayern Munich.
SACK ATTACK
White had two of Tampa Bay’s three sacks.
Down 14-3, Seattle drove to the Bucs 9 before Devin White’s strip-sack of Smith, whose fumble was recovered by Anthony Nelson at the 13.
Just inside the two-minute warning of the first half, White burst through the line unblocked and brought down Smith for a 10-yard loss at the Seattle 10.
On Seattle’s first drive, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka beat rookie tackle Abraham Lucas around the edge and dropped Smith for a 17-yard loss on third down.
INJURIES
Fournette left in the fourth quarter with a hip injury. Bucs CB Zyon McCollum was ruled out at halftime with a concussion.
GERMAN CONNECTIONS
Seahawks practice squad linebacker Aaron Donkor of Germany led the team out of the tunnel carrying the “12” flag. Donkor is not on the 53-man roster.
UP NEXT:
Seahawks: Bye before hosting the Las Vegas Raiders on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Buccaneers: Bye and then at Cleveland on Nov. 27.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Brady-Bucs-beat-Seahawks-21-16-in-historic-17581510.php | 2022-11-13 19:27:19 | 1 | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Brady-Bucs-beat-Seahawks-21-16-in-historic-17581510.php |
Utah district’s Bible ban spurs protest by parents, Republicans
By SAM METZ
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Republican lawmakers rallied with more than one hundred Bible-toting parents and children at Utah’s Capitol on Wednesday to protest a school district’s decision to remove the Bible from middle and elementary school libraries in the wake of a GOP-backed “sensitive materials” law passed two years ago.
Concerned parents and children holding signs that read “The Bible is the original textbook” and “Remove porn, not the Bible,” said they were outraged after the Davis School District announced that a review committee concluded the Bible was too “violent or vulgar” for young children. The committee ruled that it did not qualify as obscene or pornographic under the sensitive materials law, but used its own discretion to remove it from libraries below the high school level.
Karlee Vincent, a Davis County mother of three kids carrying children’s Bibles to the demonstration, said districts could weigh banning certain titles with controversial material, but not religious texts like the Bible.
“We love the Bible. We love God. And we need God in our nation,” she said.
The anonymously made challenge to the Bible appears to have been submitted as a statement to undermine the two-year-old law, noting the sacred text contains instances of incest, prostitution and rape. It derided the review procedures as a “bad faith process” and attacked groups that have pushed to remove certain titles from schools, including Parents United and its Utah-based affiliate.
The Bible removal is the highest-profile effort to remove a book from a school in Utah since the Legislature passed a law requiring school districts to create new pathways for residents to challenge “sensitive materials” and used a statute-based definition on pornography to define them. It has put a crossroads in front of proponents of scrutinizing materials available in schools. The pushback has also emboldened book-banning critics, who argue anger at removing the Bible illustrates arbitrary and political double standards and the issues inherent to removing books that have certain content.
“If folks are outraged about the Bible being banned, they should be outraged about all the books that are being censored,” Kasey Meehan, who directs the Freedom to Read program at the writers’ organization PEN America, said last week.
Utah Parents United President Nichole Mason said she worried the spotlight the Bible ban turned on Utah distracted from conversations about obscene materials that remain in school libraries. Defending Utah’s sensitive materials law, Mason noted that the committee determined the Bible didn’t qualify as pornographic under state statute. She doubled down on her stance that Utah should give parents more say in what’s in their kids’ schools.
“God Bless America that we can challenge any book out there!” Mason said.
State Rep. Ken Ivory, the sensitive materials law’s Republican sponsor, rebuffed the idea that his law paved the way for the Bible to be banned. Though he defended the review process after the sacred text’s removal, he said on Wednesday that the Davis School District had overstepped its role by removing the Bible from middle and elementary schools because of criteria not in state law.
He said criticism of the review process that led to the banning of the Bible didn’t relinquish the need for oversight from parents and administrators about materials in schools.
“Should we have age appropriate limits for children in school? Almost universally anyone of good faith says ‘Yes.’ The question is then: What should those limits be?” he said.
Ivory urged the Legislature to change the law so book removal decisions have to be overseen by elected officials at open public meetings, not the kind of committee that decided to remove the Bible from middle and elementary schools in the Davis School District.
Utah is among a longer list of Republican-led states that have in recent years expanded residents’ ability to challenge books and curriculum in schools and libraries. Lobbied by an ascendant parents’ rights movement, lawmakers from Florida to Wyoming have increasingly scrutinized what books are available, touching off outrage about content related to race, sex and gender in particular. New state laws have given parents additional power to challenge books and opened librarians up to potential criminal charges if they provide minors content deemed “harmful.”
Neither Ivory nor parents took issue with efforts to remove other books, including the race- and LGBTQ-related titles that account for the majority of book challenges.
Many parents and people of faith at Wednesday’s protest said they had heard little of book banning efforts until news about the Bible’s removal broke last week. They defended the Bible’s role as a foundational text, saying it shouldn’t be compared to other books that parents have challenged. They said the committee’s decision affirmed long-simmering distrust against public schools and those who make decisions governing them.
“I hope it will be part of our schools, not only to give information to our minds but character to our hearts — and the greatest character of all is Jesus Christ,” Tad Callister, the former Sunday School General President for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said of the Bible and Book of Mormon as an audience applauded. | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/06/07/utah-districts-bible-ban-spurs-protest-by-parents-republicans/ | 2023-06-08 04:18:20 | 1 | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/06/07/utah-districts-bible-ban-spurs-protest-by-parents-republicans/ |
WFO SPOKANE Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Friday, May 12, 2023
_____
FLOOD WARNING
Flood Statement
National Weather Service Spokane WA
1059 AM PDT Sun May 7 2023
...The Flood Warning continues for the following river in
Washington...
Kettle River near Ferry above Curlew affecting Ferry County.
For the Kettle River...including Ferry above Curlew...Moderate
flooding is forecast.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive
cars through flooded areas. A depth of 2 feet will float your car.
Never try to walk, swim, or drive through such swift water. Cold
water shock can cause loss of muscle function and the rapid onset of
hypothermia.
Additional information is available at www.weather.gov.
The next statement will be issued this evening at 1100 PM PDT.
...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL FRIDAY AFTERNOON...
* WHAT...Moderate flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is
forecast.
* WHERE...Kettle River near Ferry above Curlew.
* WHEN...Until Friday afternoon.
* IMPACTS...At 19.7 feet, Water begins to impact State Route 21 near
Little Goosemus Road at mile post 185.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 10:15 AM PDT Sunday the stage was 19.9 feet.
- Bankfull stage is 17.5 feet.
- Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours
ending at 10:15 AM PDT Sunday was 20.0 feet.
- Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage on
Friday.
- Flood stage is 18.5 feet.
- Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of
19.7 feet on 06/01/2020.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
Fld Observed Forecasts (11 am PDT)
Location Stg Stg Day/Time Mon Tue Wed
Kettle River
Ferry above Curle 18.5 19.9 Sun 10 am PD 19.6 19.4 19.0
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/wa-wfo-spokane-warnings-watches-and-advisories-18084392.php | 2023-05-07 18:49:56 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/wa-wfo-spokane-warnings-watches-and-advisories-18084392.php |
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Sixth-ranked Louisville scrapped on the boards and gave Coach Jeff Walz the level of fight he didn't see a night before.
Third-ranked Texas did the same for Coach Vic Schaefer. It just wasn't enough to beat the Cardinals and avoid an 0-2 start in the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Chrislyn Carr scored 19 points to help Louisville beat Texas 71-63 in Sunday night's consolation bracket, sending the Longhorns to their worst start in nearly a quarter-century.
Morgan Jones and Hailey Van Lith each added 18 points for the Cardinals (4-1), who pulled away in the fourth quarter to bounce back from their first loss of the season.
"I thought we fought more today," Walz said.
In other women's Top 25 games, Bree Hall hit a three-pointer with 42 seconds left in overtime, Aliyah Boston overcame early foul trouble to score 14, including the tying jumper with two seconds left in regulation, and No. 1 and defending champion South Carolina rallied past second-ranked Stanford 76-71 on Sunday in a dramatic early-season showdown. Victaria Saxton missed both free throws with 24.3 seconds left but a jump ball moments later gave possession to the Gamecocks (4-0). Stanford got another chance with 10 seconds left after Agnes Emma-Nnopu's steal but Haley Jones couldn't get the ball inbounds before a 5-second violation. Stanford (5-1) then blew another opportunity, receiving a technical with 3.4 seconds left after calling a timeout in the backcourt it didn't have. ... Azzi Fudd scored 32 points to give No. 5 UConn a 91-69 win over No. 10 North Carolina State. The game started with a scary moment when longtime Huskies associate head coach Chris Dailey fainted after the national anthem. She was taken off on a stretcher, and was waving and smiling. The game was delayed 10 minutes. ... Caitlin Clark scored a season-high 33 points and No. 4 Iowa pulled away late to defeat Belmont 73-62. The Hawkeyes (4-1), who came into the game ranked fourth nationally in scoring at 94.2 points, were held to a season low in scoring by the Bruins (1-3). ... Ashley Joens had 33 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 7 Iowa State rolled past Columbia 99-76 to improve to 4-0. Joens made 9 of 14 shots. ... Taylor Thierry scored 15 points in Ohio State's 99-43 rout of McNeese. The Buckeyes spotted the Cowgirls the first bucket of the game, then scored the next 26 points. Ohio State (4-0) got 41 points from the bench, led by Rikki Harris with 11 points. ... Dara Mabrey scored 19 points and Olivia Miles had 13 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds in No. 9 Notre Dame's 95-60 win over Ball State. The Fighting Irish (4-0) have won four consecutive contests against in-state foes in the last three seasons. ... Charisma Osborne scored 23 points and hit five three-pointers to help UCLA beat No, 11 Tennessee 80-63 in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament semifinals. First-year guard Kiki Rice added 15 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for the Bruins (5-0). ... Mackenzie Holmes finished with 22 points and seven rebounds to lead No. 12 Indiana over Quinnipiac 92-55. Holmes sank 8 of 9 shots from the floor and blocked three shots for Indiana (5-0). ... Deja Kelly scored 20 of her 22 points in the second half to help No. 13 North Carolina rally for a 76-65 win over James Madison. Kiki Jefferson scored 15 points as the Dukes (3-2) took a 34-30 lead at halftime. But the Tar Heels (4-0) hit four three-pointers to grab the lead in the third quarter. ... Flau'jae Johnson scored 27 points, Angel Reese had 23 and No. 15 LSU matched a record with its 100-45 win over Northwestern State. Jasmine Carson's three-pointer with 45 seconds left gave LSU 100 points for the fifth consecutive game. ... Taylor Robertson scored 21 points, Skylar Vann had 14 points and 12 rebounds and Oklahoma defeated UT Arlington 89-80 in the Maggie Dixon Classic despite blowing a 19-point lead. ... Esmery Martinez scored 19 points and Jade Loville scored 18 points in No. 18 Arizona's 86-64 win over Long Beach State. Arizona (4-0) broke open a close game, outscoring Long Beach State 28-12 in the fourth quarter. ... Diamond Miller scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to help No. 19 Maryland hold off No. 17 Baylor 73-68. The Terrapins (4-1) squandered most of a 14-point fourth-quarter lead against the Bears (4-1). ... Emma Ronsiek scored 23 points, Lauren Jensen scored 19 and No. 20 Creighton was in control against Northern Iowa from the get-go for a 85-66 victory. With the exception of an early span, the Bluejays (4-0) held the lead. Molly Mogensen's layup with 7:12 left in the first quarter put Creighton in front 6-5 and the Bluejays never trailed again. ... Emily Kiser scored 20 points, Leigha Brown and Laila Phelia each scored 17 and No. 23 Michigan beat Fairfield 69-53 in the Wolverines' first road game of the season. Phelia scored seven points for Michigan in a 10-2 run to close the first quarter. MacKenzie Daleba made a layup for a 13-12 Stags lead, but Maddie Nolan and Phelia each made a three-pointer and Michigan (4-0) never trailed again. ... Maddy Siegrist scored 41 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to help No. 24 Villanova rally from an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Temple 74-71, The Wildcats (4-0) trailed 57-49 after three quarters, then held Temple without a point until 4:19 remained in the game. | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/nov/21/louisville-rebounds-after-first-round-loss/ | 2022-11-21 09:29:42 | 0 | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/nov/21/louisville-rebounds-after-first-round-loss/ |
Desi Sills commits to Kansas State
JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - A former Red Wolf & Razorback is thinking Big 12.
Desi Sills announced Tuesday afternoon that he’s committing to Kansas State for his final year of eligibility. The former Arkansas State and Arkansas guard entered the transfer portal in March.
Sills averaged 12 points & 3 rebounds per game in the 2021-22 season. He led Arkansas State with 51 steals & shot 44% from the field. The Jonesboro High alum played 3 seasons at Arkansas before transferring to A-State.
Arkansas State Men’s Basketball (2022 offseason)
Arrivals
F Omar El-Sheikh (Assumption/Fairfield)
C Alaaeddine Boutayeb (Florida State)
G Mak Manciel (Henry Ford College)
G Detrick Reeves (John A. Logan College - Marion native)
G Terrance Ford (Victory Rock Prep)
G Parker St. Pierre (Valley View, PWO)
F Izayiah Nelson (Marietta HS)
Departures
G Desi Sills (Kansas State)
F Keyon Wesley (Alabama State)
G Mario Fantina (Arkansas-Monticello)
In Transfer Portal
Returning
G Caleb Fields (Jr.)
G/F Markise Davis (Sr.)
G Avery Felts (RS Soph.)
G Malcolm Farrington (RS Soph.)
G Nicolas Tingling (Soph.)
G Caleb London (RS Fr.)
F Antwon Jackson (Jr.)
Copyright 2022 KAIT. All rights reserved. | https://www.kait8.com/2022/06/14/desi-sills-commits-kansas-state/ | 2022-06-14 20:40:28 | 0 | https://www.kait8.com/2022/06/14/desi-sills-commits-kansas-state/ |
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The first visit by an Australian foreign minister to China in four years is raising hopes that Australia will make progress on ending trade sanctions and freeing two Australian citizens detained in China.
But Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong cautioned on Tuesday before leaving that some of the thorny issues between the countries will take time to resolve.
Still, diplomacy experts welcomed the visit as a positive move following years of frosty relations.
Wong will meet with her counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing this week as Australia and China mark 50 years of diplomatic relations. The visit will include a new round of talks on foreign and strategic issues after the talks were suspended in 2018.
“There has been a lot of speculation in the last 24 hours or more about what will happen,” Wong told reporters. “I will say this: the expectation should be that we will have a meeting, and that dialogue itself is essential to stabilizing the relationship. Many of the hard issues in the relationship will take time to resolve in our interests.”
She said she didn't want to speculate on outcomes because it could have an impact on Australia's leverage in the talks.
“In relation to consular cases, to save you asking the question, obviously I will be raising consular cases, as I always do, just as I will continue to advocate for the trade impediments to be lifted," Wong said.
Australia has been pushing for the release of spy novelist Yang Hengjun, who China accused of espionage, and journalist Cheng Lei, who China accused of sharing state secrets.
China does not recognize dual citizenship and Chinese-born defendants such as Yang and Cheng are often not afforded the same treatment as other foreign nationals, particularly when facing espionage charges.
Wong's trip signals a continued thaw in relations between the two nations since Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese won an election victory in May, replacing the more conservative Scott Morrison in the top role.
Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit last month in Bali, the first such formal meeting between the leaders of the two nations in six years.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China hopes the visit will build on the momentum toward improved ties established at the Bali summit.
China hopes the two countries will “push bilateral relations back to the right track and achieve sustainable development,” Mao said at a daily briefing this week.
Relations between Australia and China have been poor for several years after China imposed trade barriers and refused high-level exchanges in response to Australia enacting rules targeting foreign interference in its domestic politics and calling for an independent inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jennifer Hsu, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute think tank, said the resumption of diplomatic dialogue was a welcome development.
She said she could “see the wheels starting to move with regards to a number of issues pertaining to Australia and China.”
“It would be great if a breakthrough happens but these things take time," Hsu said.
She noted that China could reap some economic benefit from relaxing its trade sanctions on Australian goods. | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Australian-visit-to-China-raises-hopes-on-trade-17665711.php | 2022-12-20 05:01:19 | 1 | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Australian-visit-to-China-raises-hopes-on-trade-17665711.php |
- AFT attracted $1 million in seed investment due to the success of their plant-based emulsified protein production technology
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alternative protein development company, Armored Fresh Technologies (AFT), said it has developed its own technology that can produce alternative proteins that replicates "casein," a milk protein ingredient only found in animal milk. The company has applied their alternative protein to plant-based materials to create plant-based emulsifying proteins. As a result of this leading-edge technology, AFT succeeded in attracting $1 million in seed investment at the same time as their US subsidiary was established.
AFT is developing materials and technologies to prepare for inevitable changes in our food culture, and to promote food sustainability, which is one of the most crucial factors in human life. Currently, the company is developing an innovative technological process that can reproduce casein protein alternative. We anticipate our technology to develop casein protein alternative even with just water and oxygen.
This technology has led to the company being invested in by a high-profile investor. The company attracted seed investment, which is meaningful because it is an achievement made right after the establishment of the local corporation in New York, USA. The investor is Forward Deployed VC, which is known to have been funding a number of successful IPO companies, such as Palantir and Lyft.
Thanks to its successful investment, AFT plans to complete the technologies currently being promoted more quickly. The company therefore has its focus on developing plant materials that can function like animal protein using 100% plant-based raw ingredients, with the ultimate goal of replacing animal proteins with plant-based materials. According to AFT, this technology that can be used to replace casein emphasizes the theory that it is possible to produce substitutes for all kinds of animal dairy products, such as cheese, ice cream, and yogurt, on Mars by using only oxygen and water.
In particular, the emulsified protein differs from existing plant-based proteins in terms of function and nutrition, as it is water-soluble, emulsified, and contains more than 50% of essential amino acids. It also has the advantage of not affecting the flavor profile when applied in any way, since the material itself has little taste and flavor. As well as the protein being different from other existing technology as it is a completely non-GMO technology. The key is to extract proteins from selected microorganisms and give those microorganisms emulsification functions so that they produce proteins that can replace casein. AFT has also applied for a patent in the US, in order to safekeep this plant-based protein technology.
In simpler terms, the main goal of the company is to produce non-animal materials that can function on the same level as animal proteins, and AFT explains that this new technology can eventually be applied to all products containing animal proteins.
Currently, AFT is in the process of developing raw materials to completely replace animal proteins by producing alternative proteins for casein, and plans to expand their scope by also introducing plant-based vitamins, minerals, and functional proteins.
AFT officially confirmed its first participation at CES 2023, held in Las Vegas from January 5th to 8th. At CES, the AFT booth (Booth #53314 Tech West, Venetian Expo (formerly Sands, Level 2, Halls A-D) will sample alternative protein ice cream made using their plant-based emulsifying protein.
AFT's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) said, "We are close to changes that we have never faced before, such as what we will eat in the future. That is why we are happy to introduce a plant-based emulsified protein without animal or GMO material. In particular, this raw material is easy to apply to all dairy products such as ice cream, cheese, yogurt, and powdered formula, so we expect it to be an opportunity to collaborate with leading global companies seeking transformation."
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SOURCE Armored Fresh Technologies | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/01/04/aft-showcases-alternative-protein-ice-cream-ces-2023-made-with-plant-based-emulsifying-protein/ | 2023-01-05 01:31:30 | 1 | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/01/04/aft-showcases-alternative-protein-ice-cream-ces-2023-made-with-plant-based-emulsifying-protein/ |
Pence says Trump ‘endangered my family’ on Jan. 6
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday harshly criticized former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, widening the rift between the two men as they prepare to battle over the Republican nomination in next year’s election.
“President Trump was wrong,” Pence said during remarks at the annual white-tie Gridiron Dinner attended by politicians and journalists. “I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”
Pence’s remarks were the sharpest condemnation yet from the once-loyal lieutenant who has often shied away from confronting his former boss. Trump has already declared his candidacy. Pence has not, but he’s been laying the groundwork to run.
In the days leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, Trump pressured Pence to overturn President Joe Biden’s election victory as he presided over the ceremonial certification of the results. Pence refused, and when rioters stormed the Capitol, some chanted that they wanted to “hang Mike Pence.”
The House committee that investigated the attack said in its final report that “the President of the United States had riled up a mob that hunted his own Vice President.”
With his remarks, Pence solidified his place in a broader debate within the Republican Party over how to view the attack. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, for example, recently provided Tucker Carlson with an archive of security camera footage from Jan. 6, which the Fox News host has used to downplay the day’s events and promote conspiracy theories.
“Make no mistake about it, what happened that day was a disgrace,” Pence said in his Gridiron Dinner remarks. “And it mocks decency to portray it any other way.”
Trump, meanwhile, has continued to spread lies about his election loss. He’s even spoken in support of the rioters and said he would consider pardoning them if he was reelected.
Speeches at the Gridiron Dinner are usually humorous affairs, where politicians poke fun at each other, and Pence did plenty of that as well.
He joked that Trump’s ego was so fragile, he wanted his vice president to sing “Wind Beneath My Wings” — one of the lines is “did you ever know that you’re my hero?” — during their weekly lunches.
He took another shot at Trump over classified documents.
“I read that some of those classified documents they found at Mar-a-Lago were actually stuck in the president’s Bible,” Pence said. “Which proves he had absolutely no idea they were there.”
Even before the dinner was over, Pence was facing criticism for his jokes about Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, the first openly gay Cabinet member in U.S. history.
Pence mentioned that, despite travel problems that were plaguing Americans, Buttigieg took “maternity leave” after he and his husband adopted newborn twins.
“Pete is the only person in human history to have a child and everyone else gets post-partum depression,” Pence said.
___
Megerian reported from Wilmington, Delaware.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/03/12/pence-says-trump-endangered-my-family-jan-6/ | 2023-03-12 04:26:35 | 0 | https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/03/12/pence-says-trump-endangered-my-family-jan-6/ |
Siegrist goes third | Sports Daily Newsletter
Villanova star went to the Dallas Wings with third pick in WNBA draft.
Over the years, a host of women’s college basketball players from the main universities connected to Philadelphia have declared for the WNBA draft, but Maddy Siegrist made history by being picked third, the highest ever City 6 (Temple, Villanova, St. Joseph’s, Penn, Drexel, La Salle) player chosen at that event for the women’s pro basketball league.
The Dallas Wings took Siegrist and helped her reach another milestone in the same year she bid farewell to her college career.
Siegrist’s performance in the NCAA tournament may have pushed her up the draft order, perhaps from a top 5 to a top 3 spot, but all season long, she had been consistently impressive.
Now she gets to prove herself on the next level.
— Andrea Canales, Inquirer Sports Staff, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
❓How many points do you predict Siegrist will average in her rookie WNBA season? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.
unCovering the Birds with Jeff McLaneEp 3: Chip Kelly - Part I: The Rise
There was no sexier NFL head coaching hire than the Eagles landing Chip Kelly . He was deemed an innovator, offensive mastermind, sports science guru, and after leading the Birds to the playoffs for the first time in 3 years, he seemed worthy of the hype. In the first installment of a two-part retrospective looking back on Kelly’s brief rollercoaster tenure with the Eagles, Inquirer beat reporter Jeff McLane examines the factors that fueled Kelly’s meteoric rise in the NFL and questions whether the popular narrative surrounding his Eagles legacy is fair.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts or go to Inquirer.com/podcasts
The 76ers have a long playoff history of entering the NBA playoffs with grand ambitions and an exciting fanbase. Both typically subside around the second round, where the Sixers’ season has ended every year of Joel Embiid’s career. But this year has a bit of a different feel, and the primary reason for that is Embiid himself. The Inquirer’s Keith Pompey explains how the big man elevated his game — and the Sixers.
Next: The Sixers start their playoff run against the Brooklyn Nets at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center.
KPI: Opens, clicks, meter stops and conversions.
The first significant milepost in Rhys Hoskins’ rehabilitation from ACL surgery won’t come for about three months, when he tries to begin jogging. Doctors told Hoskins he won’t be able to play again for seven to nine months. Hoskins intends to prove them wrong. After all, he noted that teammate Kyle Schwarber tore the ACL in his left knee on April 7, 2016, and was the Cubs’ designated hitter six months and 18 days later in Game 1 of the World Series. “I’m going to do everything in my power to give myself the opportunity that, if and when we are playing in late October, I have a chance to contribute to that.”
Jean Segura didn’t know what to expect in his return to Philadelphia as a member of the Marlins. He was greeted with a standing ovation and a championship ring.
The Phillies are starting to get their groove back, and it could be due in no small part to Bryson Stott and manager Rob Thomson remembering a short stint back in August.
Next: The Phillies continue their series against Miami at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday (NBCSP+). Aaron Nola (0-1, 7.45) will start against Marlins left-hander Jesus Luzardo (1-0, 0.71).
The Eagles could look to use this draft to select Lane Johnson’s eventual replacement. Johnson is signed through 2026, but the succession plan could very well begin later this month. There are offensive tackle prospects on the board who would be a fit, and EJ Smith has a look at them.
All the recent changes around the Flyers organization provide hope that the organization is truly turning in a new direction.
New Flyers chairman Dan Hilferty revealed the latest change when doing a radio interview over the weekend with WIP-FM (94.1). Hilferty laid out that while the “old guard” of Bob Clarke, Bill Barber, and Paul Holmgren will still be around, they will no longer be as influential in terms of decisions regarding the future of the organization.
This would be a major development, as the Flyers’ trio of “wise men” have been looming in the shadows and wielding their influence, often misguidedly, for decades. Mike Sielski has more on the Flyers’ long overdue decision to finally usher out the old guard.
Next: The Flyers wrap up their home schedule against the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight (7 p.m., NBCSP).
Sure, there was sadness and shock at the sight of the probably most on-form player for the United States women’s national team, Mallory Swanson, going down with a ruptured patella. However, there is also a deep bench of attacking options who are deserving and eager to prove themselves. One of them, Alyssa Thompson, is still a teenager.
Reporting from St. Louis, where the team will play one final game before the World Cup roster is named, Jonathan Tannenwald takes stock of the situation and the choices ahead for coach Vlatko Andonovski.
Of all the players to be selected in the WNBA draft, 10 of them played their college ball right here in Philly. Maddy Siegrist is the most recent, but who are some of the stars who came before her? We take a walk down memory lane, one that’s full of Big 5 hall of famers and All-Americans.
Some of them like the Washington Mystics’ Natasha Cloud are household names in the WNBA today. Some of them are coaches — Candice Dupree is on Gregg Popovich’s San Antonio Spurs’ staff. And some are hard at work in other fields.
But one thing is for certain, whether they had long careers or never took the court in a WNBA game. They all made their mark on the Philly hoops landscape and heard their name called on draft day.
Worth a look
Left out: Drexel’s Keishana Washington was not picked in Monday’s WNBA draft.
The one that got away: Claude Giroux notched 900 points with the Flyers, but hit the 1000th elsewhere.
Sixers slip into a mess: There are team ties to an ethically murky situation involving a mayoral candidate.
Inquirer reporters Massarah Mikati and Jeff Gammage are taking questions in a Reddit AMA with r/philadelphia at 1 p.m. on the “Downtown Dreams” Sixers arena story.
🧠 Trivia time 🧠
Joel Embiid has won the scoring title for this NBA season, which brings us naturally to the question of who is the all-time points leading scorer for the Sixers? Without looking up the answer, email us your response.
A) Allen Iverson
B) Wilt Chamberlain
C) Hal Greer
D) Julius Erving
What you’re saying about the Sixers in the playoffs
We asked: How will the Sixers fare in their upcoming series against the Nets? Among your responses:
The Sixers have an uphill road ahead of them to advance deep into the playoffs. They’ll likely have to get past both the Bucks and the Celtics. True, they boast both NBA leading scorer Joel Embid and assist leader James Harden. Tyrese Maxey has also proven to be an offensive catalyst, all of which make them an entertaining and usually winning team to watch. Hurdles await: Doc Rivers’ struggles to coach teams to a championship; Embid’s and Harden’s previous failures in the playoffs; and the Sixers’ inability to beat in the regular season the two teams they’ll have to defeat. Thus, they have to overcome their collective histories as well as the psychological challenges facing them. It’s a lot to ask. — John N.
The Sixers will handle the Nets with ease, though they’ll be reminded that they should have held onto Mikal Bridges. — Joel G.
Sixers in 6 games. — James H.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Meghann Morhardt, Matt Ryan, Mike Sielski, Alex Coffey, Scott Lauber, Keith Pompey, Maria McIlwain, EJ Smith, Jonathan Tannenwald, Gus Elvin, Sean Collins Walsh, Anna Orso, and Chris Brennan. | https://www.inquirer.com/newsletters/sports/phillies-union-eagles-flyers-sixers-philadelphia-sports-20230411.html | 2023-04-11 10:43:12 | 0 | https://www.inquirer.com/newsletters/sports/phillies-union-eagles-flyers-sixers-philadelphia-sports-20230411.html |
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind (WLFI) — How to get the fans at Mackey Arena loud? Shoot like Sasha.
Sasha Stefanovic made 226 career three-pointers while he was a Boilermaker, which is the seventh most in Purdue’s history.
The Crown Point Indiana Native played overseas for a year, before announcing in March that he was retiring.
From sharpshooter to the sidelines. Sasha Stefanovic is back in West Lafayette and is taking on a new role with the Purdue men’s basketball team.
“I wanted to try to do something in, obviously, the basketball world, but something different than playing, obviously,” Stefanovic said. “So I’m excited to get this new chapter started and see how it goes and see how I like it and go from there.”
Head Coach Matt Painter initially offered him a graduate assistant position, but Stefanovic wasn’t ready to be done playing basketball.
After thinking things over, he reached back out to his former coach and accepted a role as Director of Player Personnel, where he will be primarily helping with the offense.
“I think he’ll be great just because he has a feel, you know, he’s been through it,” Painter said. “You know, he was here for five years. You know, he had every role. You know, he redshirted. You know, he averaged eight, nine minutes his freshman year, didn’t play all the time, especially when Kline and Carson got it going there down the stretch. And then he was a three-year starter. He had a year where he was lights out on the road shooting threes. He had a year where he struggled shooting from three. He really knows our offense. So I just think just from being and having the success that he did and some of the ups and downs.”
“I love, obviously, the offensive side of the ball and everything that comes with it and sets and schematics and learning how different players are most effective,” Stefanovic said.
After the Boilers struggled from beyond the arc last season, Stefanovic said he wants to help the guys with their confidence.
“I think we have a lot of players that can shoot the ball and I know they have the capability of doing it, so somehow, some way, if I’m able to relay that confidence to the guys and little tiny things that I know help me with mechanics and techniques or whatever it may be, I think that’s going to be important for myself to help these guys out,” Stefanovic said.
Stefanovic is excited about coaching the talented Purdue squad and said everybody in the building has been really happy that he’s back.
While it’s an adjustment to not be suiting up with the team, he said his one goal stays the same.
“That’s winning a national championship,” said Stefanovic. “I really think that we have the personnel, I think we have the coaching staff, I think everybody in this building is geared towards that goal and I think we have everybody here to do it and I’m really excited to take on that challenge.” | https://www.wlfi.com/news/sasha-stefanovic-discusses-new-role-with-the-purdue-men-s-basketball-team/article_d1556a62-1827-11ee-ba04-b7023b2c2d4a.html | 2023-07-02 02:06:10 | 1 | https://www.wlfi.com/news/sasha-stefanovic-discusses-new-role-with-the-purdue-men-s-basketball-team/article_d1556a62-1827-11ee-ba04-b7023b2c2d4a.html |
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — PGA Tour rookie Davis Thompson played his first six holes in 7 under, including consecutive eagles, and shot a career-low 10-under 62 at La Quinta on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead over Jon Rahm and four others after the first round of The American Express.
The 23-year-old Thompson got off to a brilliant start by birdieing three of the first four holes and then making eagle on both par-5s on the front nine, Nos. 5 and 6. He made the turn in 8-under 28, the lowest front-nine score at La Quinta.
That flawless start on a sunny day in the Southern California desert put Thompson two clear of Rahm, Tyler Duncan, Taylor Montgomery, Matti Schmid and Sam Burns.
“I just got off to a hot start and just kind of coasted on my way in,” said Thompson, who finished with a birdie. “It’s always good to see some putts go in early and give you confidence to just keep it rolling.”
Rahm, the world’s fourth-ranked player who won two weeks ago at Kapalua, shot 64 at La Quinta, one of three courses being used for the first three rounds. After the cut at 54 holes, the final round will be played at the Stadium Course at PGA West.
“I’ll be picky about a lot of things. But it’s a great start to the tournament,” Rahm said. “You can’t really win it on this golf course, but you can sure fall off the pace. It’s a great start, solid round of golf, great putting out there. Hopefully I can keep that going the whole week and feel a little bit better tee to green.”
The field includes five of the top seven players in the world and 10 of the top 20.
Sixth-ranked Xander Schauffele, in the field after having tests on muscle spasms in his back, was in a group of nine at 7-under 65. He also eagled No. 5 at La Quinta.
Second-ranked Scottie Scheffler and No. 5 Patrick Cantlay each shot 68 at La Quinta, and No. 7 Will Zalatoris had a 3-under 69 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course.
Thompson said he had a good warmup and then “had good numbers” on the holes where he made eagle.
“I actually missed the green on 6 and chipped in. I put two good swings on it and had a really nice chip and a really good putt,” he said.
While this was his first competitive round at PGA West, Thompson said he stopped here and played the Nicklaus course before going to Hawaii for last week’s Sony Open. “So I was a little familiar with it,” said Thompson, who will play that course on Friday.
Rickie Fowler shot 68 at La Quinta. Fowler is playing his first tournament of 2023 after having two top 10s in the fall, including a runner-up finish at the Zozo Championship in Japan.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-thompson-makes-consecutive-eagles-leads-amex-rahm-2-back/ | 2023-01-20 22:57:27 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-thompson-makes-consecutive-eagles-leads-amex-rahm-2-back/ |
Queen’s death is reminder of disappearing WWII generation
By DANICA KIRKA
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — The long good-bye for Queen Elizabeth II is a reminder of a broader truth playing out with little fanfare across Britain: The nation is bidding farewell to the men and women who fought the country’s battles during World War II. The queen, who served as a mechanic and truck driver in the last months of the war, was a tangible link to the sailors, soldiers, airmen and others who signed up to do their bit in a conflict that killed 384,000 service personnel and 70,000 British civilians. But like the queen, even the youngest veterans of the war are now nearing their 100th birthdays. A steady stream of obituaries tells the story of a disappearing generation. | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2022/09/17/queens-death-is-reminder-of-disappearing-wwii-generation/ | 2022-09-17 15:51:14 | 1 | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2022/09/17/queens-death-is-reminder-of-disappearing-wwii-generation/ |
ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani court on Monday accepted former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s written apology in a contempt case stemming from his outburst against a female judge that was seen as a threat, court officials and a defense lawyer said.
The ruling by the Islamabad High Court averted Khan’s possible disqualification to run for the next parliamentary elections. Khan initially refused to apologize for his remarks, but last month reversed course and submitted a written apology.
Khan’s lawyer, Babar Awan, said the court dismissed the contempt charge that had been issued last month in connection with the former premier’s controversial remarks about judge Zeba Chaudhry.
Khan was ousted through a no-confidence vote in April and since then, he has been leading rallies to pressure the government of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to agree to snap elections. Khan claims his government was toppled by Sharif under a U.S. plot.
Sharif and Washington both have denied the allegation.
Monda’s development came weeks after Athar Minallah, the chief justice at the Islamabad High Court, issued a contempt notice to Khan for threatening Chaudhry during a rally in August.
Khan had vowed to bring a lawsuit against Chaudhry for allowing Islamabad police to question Shahbaz Gill, who is chief of staff of Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf political party.
Khan, a former cricket star turned politician who became premier in 2018, is still facing multiple cases, including defying a ban on rallies in Islamabad and issuing verbal threats to police. | https://www.fox16.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-pakistan-court-accepts-ex-pm-khans-apology-in-contempt-case/ | 2022-10-03 20:21:31 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-pakistan-court-accepts-ex-pm-khans-apology-in-contempt-case/ |
Novak Djokovic won’t be playing in US Open due to COVID-19 vaccination status
Posted/updated on: August 25, 2022 at 2:45 pm(NEW YORK) -- Novak Djokovic, one of the world's top tennis players, confirmed Thursday that he won't be competing at the upcoming U.S. Open.
The Serbian athlete will miss this year's tournament in New York City due to his COVID-19 vaccination status.
"Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open," Djokovic, 35, said on Twitter Thursday. "Good luck to my fellow players! I'll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. See you soon tennis world!"
Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open. Thank you #NoleFam for your messages of love and support. ❤️ Good luck to my fellow players! I’ll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. 💪🏼 See you soon tennis world! 👋🏼
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 25, 2022
The U.S. government does not allow international travelers to come into the U.S. without proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Djokovic is not vaccinated, telling the BBC earlier this year that "based on all the information that I got, I decided not to take the vaccine."
The U.S. Tennis Association said Djokovic withdrew from the U.S. Open prior to the draw to determine the tournament's official seeding list. His withdrawal paved the way for a "lucky loser" to be included in the draw, the association said.
"Novak is a great champion and it is very unfortunate that he will be unable to compete at the 2022 U.S. Open, as he is unable to enter the country due to the federal government's vaccination policy for non-U.S.citizens. We look forward to welcoming Novak back at the 2023 U.S. Open," U.S. Open tournament director Stacey Allaster said in a statement.
The athlete was deported from Australia in January over his vaccination status after arriving to compete in the Australian Open. His visa was revoked at the Melbourne airport, restored, then ultimately canceled.
Djokovic won Wimbledon in the U.K. last month -- his 21st grand slam title. The U.K. allows travelers into the country without requiring proof of vaccination. France relaxed its COVID-19 requirements in time to allow Djokovic to play in the French Open in May.
After his Wimbledon win, Djokovic told reporters that an exemption to play in the U.S. Open didn't seem "realistically possible."
The U.S. Open and New York City allow visitors without proof of vaccination.
"Though the U.S. Open does not have a vaccination mandate in place for players, we respect the U.S. government's position regarding travel into the country for non-U.S. citizens," a spokesperson for the U.S. Open told ABC News last month.
ABC News' Michela Moscufo contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. | https://ktbb.com/post/?p=1157173 | 2022-08-25 21:44:18 | 0 | https://ktbb.com/post/?p=1157173 |
ROME, Italy — Martina Navratilova is doing “OK” after being diagnosed with throat cancer and breast cancer.
“I’ve gone through a very difficult year but now I’m OK,” the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame said at the Italian Open on Sunday after receiving the “Racchetta d’Oro” (Golden Racket) award for her contributions to the sport.
The 66-year-old Navratilova said in January that her prognosis was good and that she was going to start treatment that month. She said then that she noticed an enlarged lymph node in her neck while attending the season-ending WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, in November, and a biopsy showed early stage throat cancer.
While Navratilova was undergoing tests on her throat, she said, the unrelated, early stage breast cancer was discovered.
Navratilova returned to her work as a TV analyst at Tennis Channel in March, when in an interview with TalkTV’s Piers Morgan, she said she was told by doctors that, “as far as they know, I’m cancer-free,” and she should be “good to go” after some additional radiation treatment.
Navratilova made her acceptance speech in Italian to the Campo Centrale crowd.
“Tennis gave me a surprising life for which I am very grateful,” she said. “I always tried to give something back when I played, and also in retirement.”
Navratilova was a four-time runner-up in singles at the Foro Italico and a three-time champion in doubles — with her last Rome title coming in 2003 with partner Svetlana Kuznetsova at the age of 46.
She won 59 Grand Slam titles overall, including 31 in women’s doubles and 10 in mixed doubles. The last was a mixed doubles championship with Bob Bryan at the 2006 U.S. Open, a month shy of her 50th birthday.
Navratilova originally retired in 1994, after a record 167 singles titles and 331 weeks at No. 1 in the WTA rankings. She returned to the tour to play doubles in 2000 and occasionally competed in singles, too. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/martina-navratilova-golden-racket-award/507-0a82c2e8-0d00-47fe-8548-0cffdaa8bdcc | 2023-05-21 20:58:18 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/martina-navratilova-golden-racket-award/507-0a82c2e8-0d00-47fe-8548-0cffdaa8bdcc |
Food insecurity affects more than 34 million Americans in the United States and more than a quarter of them are children, according to Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks.
Audry Thompson, staff attorney at the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, will discuss the U.S. charitable food system at a National Ag Law Center (NALC) webinar at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Thompson will address the federal and state food surplus programs, as well as how they connect agricultural producers with consumers, in "An Overview of U.S. Charitable Food Surplus Programs."
To help those facing hunger, farmers and food processors all play a role by assisting the U.S. charitable food system and federal and state food surplus programs. The U.S. charitable food system includes a network of more than 200 food banks, which are regional organizations that source, warehouse and distribute food.
"Food insecurity is an issue that has so many facets," NALC Director Harrison Pittman said. "It's important to understand the important role that charitable food programs play for millions of people every day and what it means for those who donate food."
The U.S. charitable food system's success depends on connecting food producers with consumers. This allows donations by producers to be distributed to consumers and families in need.
"Ensuring food security for families and children within the United States is essential," Thompson said. "Food processors, as well as agricultural producers, play an important role in providing necessary assistance through the charitable food system."
With recent higher grocery costs, the need for surplus donations is more urgent. Producers who donate benefit from various forms of protection, including liability.
"This webinar will highlight these programs, discuss how federal and state programs connect producers with consumers and outline liability and other protections put into place for those donating their surplus," Thompson said.
The webinar is free and registration is available at https://nationalaglawcenter.org/webinars/food-surplus/.
"We're looking forward to hearing Audry discuss these programs that work to benefit millions of Americans who are in need," Pittman said. "With the current need for surplus donations from producers, it is extremely important that people know more about charitable food programs in the U.S."
For information about NALC, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on Twitter. NALC is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.
For updates on agricultural law and policy developments, subscribe free to The Feed, NALC's newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing agriculture, which is issued twice a month.
NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.
Tru Joi Curtis is with the National Agricultural Law Center, U of A System Division of Agriculture. | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jun/20/talk-set-on-food-charity-system/ | 2023-06-20 10:24:15 | 1 | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jun/20/talk-set-on-food-charity-system/ |
What are the best supplements for arthritis pain?
The human body is linked together with joints. A joint is where two bones connect, and cartilage is the gel-like connective tissue that keeps bones mobile and prevents them from rubbing against each other.
Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint causing swelling and pain. According to the Arthritis Foundation, one in four adults have some form of arthritis. It is the leading cause of disability in adults. Supplements to relieve arthritis pain target different parts of joint function. With its triple-strength combination of glucosamine, chondroitin and vitamin D, the best supplement for arthritis pain is Osteo BiFlex Joint Health.
What to know before you buy a supplement for arthritis pain
Can arthritis be prevented?
There is no way to prevent arthritis, but there are tips from health professionals about lifestyle choices that keep arthritis at bay or minimize its impact.
- Exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a week to keep joints agile and muscles toned.
- Maintain a healthy weight and blood sugar levels. High blood sugar stiffens joints.
- Quit smoking, which stresses the tissue that protects your joints.
- Wear protective gear when exercising or playing sports. Joints that have never been injured are less likely to become arthritic.
How do arthritis pain supplements work?
Arthritis pain supplements reintroduce natural elements found in the body like glucosamine and chondroitin. These ingredients help regrow cartilage which can degenerate over time due to arthritis. When this lubricant is gone, the bones, muscles and nerves become painfully inflamed. There are other ingredients in some supplements that target inflammation, bone density and synovial fluids.
Are supplements for arthritis pain safe?
Supplements for arthritis pain are considered food supplements, not medicine. They are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, and there is not usually clinical research to back their claims of pain relief and tissue repair. Nevertheless, the supplements do not include controlled substances or pain medication and are generally safe.
Diabetics should be aware that some products contain added sugar, and some products include shellfish which should be red-flagged by anyone with a shellfish allergy.
What to look for in a supplement for arthritis pain
Glucosamine
The body makes glucosamine in cartilage to aid in the lubrication of joints. It is also found in bone marrow and is made for supplements from shellfish. It is helpful for rebuilding cartilage that has been damaged or lost due to arthritis.
Chondroitin
Chondroitin is an important component of cartilage. It absorbs fluid in the connective tissue and blocks enzymes known to break down cartilage. It creates an environment for the body to produce new cartilage.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an important nutrient for joint health. It strengthens bone tissue and builds resistance against inflammation. Research shows that two in five adults do not get enough vitamin D in their diets.
MSM
Methylsulfonylmethane is made by both the human body and green plants. It delivers sulfur to damaged tissue in the body. MSM has anti-inflammatory properties and assists the body’s production of glucosamine.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a common spice used to flavor mustard and curry powders in Indian food. It contains a chemical called curcumin which may have properties that decrease swelling, leading to reduced pain.
How much you can expect to spend on a supplement for arthritis pain
Blended supplements with glucosamine, chondroitin and other ingredients are the most expensive due to the manufacturing process. The number of pills and popularity of the brand also influence overall price.
Inexpensive arthritis supplements are priced under $15 and are mostly pills or capsules with minimal levels of glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM. Medium-priced supplements, which cost between $15-$25, are commercial brands in pill, capsule and powder form that include turmeric and other ingredients in addition to the standard glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM. Expensive arthritis supplements are priced over $25 and have higher levels of ingredients, plus vitamins and minerals.
Supplement for arthritis pain FAQ
How long do supplements take to work?
A. Rebuilding cartilage takes time, and you may not feel any pain relief for two to three months. Some consumers claim to feel a difference in a week or two but allow your body eight to 12 weeks.
Are there side effects from chondroitin?
A. Chondroitin has blood thinning properties. If you take blood thinners or certain cancer drugs, there may be risks to taking chondroitin too. Check with your healthcare professional to determine what is best for you.
What is the best supplement for arthritis pain to buy?
Top supplement for arthritis pain
Osteo BiFlex Joint Health Triple Strength
What you need to know: Recommended by pharmacists, this joint health supplement includes vitamin D.
What you’ll love: The supplement includes glucosamine, chondroitin and vitamin D for immune health. It also includes a clinically studied herbal extract. There are numerous testimonials of feeling pain relief after one week of use.
What you should consider: The pills are large and contain shellfish.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and iHerb
Top supplement for arthritis pain for the money
Doctor’s Best Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM
What you need to know: This supplement features a powerful combination of ingredients that support your joint health.
What you’ll love: There is glucosamine to prevent joint tissue breakdown, chondroitin to absorb fluid in the bones, and MSM to import doses of sulfur. It is manufactured without genetically modified organisms.
What you should consider: The large pills may be difficult to swallow for some consumers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and iHerb
Worth checking out
Garden of Life Joint Supplement for Men and Women
What you need to know: This supplement is comprised of a systemic enzyme formula that supports joint health throughout the body.
What you’ll love: The formula contains pancreatic enzymes, plant-based enzymes and antioxidants. It is clinically researched and can be used for quick recovery following activity. The pills are gluten-free and have a vegetable-based enteric coating.
What you should consider: There were a few reports of stomach distress when taking the pills.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and iHerb
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Steve Ganger writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cenlanow.com/reviews/br/health-wellness-br/supplements-br/best-supplement-for-arthritis-pain/ | 2022-08-05 20:40:50 | 1 | https://www.cenlanow.com/reviews/br/health-wellness-br/supplements-br/best-supplement-for-arthritis-pain/ |
PORTAGE, MI -- Students at Portage North Middle School used a specialized bicycle with a blender attached to blend their own smoothies during lunch Monday.
The Oct. 24 event launched a grant-funded program to bring smoothie stations to middle school cafeterias in Portage. In addition, a special guest known to football fans across Michigan joined students Monday to promote healthy eating and exercise.
Roary, the Detroit Lions mascot, was on hand posing for photos and high-fiving students. Roary teamed up with Milk Means More and Chartwells, who were at the school in Portage passing out health-related literature and promoting exercise and healthy eating.
Portage Central and North Middle Schools were recently the recipient of a grant from Milk Means More to install smoothie stations in their school cafeterias. The two Portage schools were among 40 across Michigan to receive grants for equipment to make smoothies for students.
“At a young age, if we can start the habits now, they’ll be lifelong healthier students and adults, when they get older,” said Susan Livingston, director of dining services for Portage Public Schools.
During Monday’s event, Livingston set up the “Rock the Bike” station, where students used a specialized smoothie bike to mix smoothies with people power.
Livingston said they will be using the grant to offer smoothies at the schools three days a week. Students can expect to see about a dozen different smoothies in rotation throughout the course of the school year.
Also on MLive:
McAlister’s offers free tea for a year to first 134 customers at new Portage deli
Portage Public Schools grant will help district staff become certified teachers
Pita Way to open next door to City BBQ in Portage
New senior housing development expected to break ground next May in Portage
Seven candidates to appear on ballot for Portage School Board election | https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2022/10/smoothie-stations-coming-to-portage-middle-schools.html | 2022-10-24 19:42:09 | 0 | https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2022/10/smoothie-stations-coming-to-portage-middle-schools.html |
Matt Chapman came sliding across the plate, touching off a wild celebration in Toronto after the Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of Atlanta.
It was yet another moment of excellence for the AL East, which could be headed to a historic season.
The Blue Jays are in third place in the division, but after their walk-off win over the Braves on Sunday, they also have the sixth-best record in all of baseball. All five AL East teams are above .500. The team in last place — the Boston Red Sox — is a solid 22-19, which is about an 87-win pace for a whole season.
Right now the AL East includes baseball’s top team in Tampa Bay (31-11), plus the top four teams in the American League wild-card race. Baltimore (26-14), Toronto (24-16) and the New York Yankees (23-19) would all be in the playoffs if the postseason began now, and the five teams in the division have a combined winning percentage of .615.
And that includes all the games they’ve spent beating up on each other. Against teams in other divisions, the AL East has won over two thirds of its games, going an incredible 93-46 to this point. It’s not unusual for the AL East to be powerful, given the presence of the Yankees and Red Sox, but this year has been something of a perfect storm, with lower-spending teams like Tampa Bay and Baltimore posting the two best records in the majors so far.
So it’s not too early to speculate on whether this year’s AL East might be the very best division in MLB history. No division has ever had all of its teams finish above .500, and right now FanGraphs projects that the AL East will do just that.
The .615 winning percentage by the AL East — if it continues — would easily top the all-time list for a division. According to Sportradar, the current record belongs to the 2002 AL West, which finished at .566. That division included Oakland (103-59), Anaheim (99-63) and Seattle (93-69), with the Angels winning the World Series that year.
Of course, the AL West also had Texas, which was 72-90 in 2002. What is setting this year’s AL East apart is that it has dominant teams at the top, plus teams at the bottom that are still pretty good. With a more balanced schedule in effect this season, the AL East teams won’t have to face each other as much, and that makes it quite feasible that they could all finish with winning records.
Although no division in MLB or the NFL has had every team finish above .500, it has happened in basketball, according to Sportradar. And quite recently, at that. This season, the NBA’s Pacific Division included the Kings (48-34), Suns (45-37), Clippers (44-38), Warriors (44-38) and Lakers (43-39).
If that went largely unnoticed, it’s probably because the relevance of divisions is pretty low in the NBA these days. And even in baseball, you shouldn’t expect an “AL EAST!” chant to break out if one of those teams wins the World Series. Divisional or conference solidarity isn’t the same in the pro sports as it might be in the SEC.
But about a quarter of the way through the 2023 season, AL East fans are watching something special.
TRIVIA TIME
Before the wild card — when there were only two divisions per league — which division had the highest winning percentage in a season?
RISING
With the AL East looking so formidable, the Seattle Mariners have to be careful not to fall too far behind in the postseason race. They’ve won nine of their last 13 to pull back to .500, and they’re only two games behind the Yankees for the third wild card. They’re also five games behind AL West-leading Texas.
FALLING
That 107-win season for San Francisco in 2021 feels like a long time ago. This past week, the Giants dropped two of three at home against Washington and then lost three of four at Arizona. They trail the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers by 8 1/2 games in the NL West.
LINE OF THE WEEK
Baltimore’s Cedric Mullins hit for the cycle Friday night in a 6-3 win over Pittsburgh. He was the seventh Oriole to accomplish the feat — a list that includes Brooks Robinson and Cal Ripken.
COMEBACK OF THE WEEK
Down by four runs with one out in the bottom of the eighth, Cleveland strung together four straight singles, cutting the Los Angeles Angels’ lead in half. Then Josh Naylor connected for a three-run homer.
Andres Gimenez added a solo shot to cap the six-run inning, and the Guardians went on to an 8-6 win Saturday night.
Naylor ended up hitting three go-ahead homers in the eighth inning in that series.
TRIVIA ANSWER
That was the AL East in 1983, which posted a winning percentage of .534. It included Baltimore (98-64), Detroit (92-70), New York (91-71), Toronto (89-73), Milwaukee (87-75), Boston (78-84) and Cleveland (70-92).
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Follow Noah Trister at https://twitter.com/noahtrister
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.localsyr.com/sports-news/torontos-sweep-of-atlanta-just-the-latest-flex-for-dominant-al-east/ | 2023-05-15 18:26:35 | 1 | https://www.localsyr.com/sports-news/torontos-sweep-of-atlanta-just-the-latest-flex-for-dominant-al-east/ |
BALTIMORE — Authorities have arrested and charged a teen who detectives believe was involved in a mass shooting at a Baltimore block party over the holiday weekend that left two people dead and 28 others wounded, officials announced Friday.
Members of the homicide and SWAT teams arrested the 17-year-old boy around 7 a.m. Friday after a search warrant was executed at a home, police said in a news release. He was taken to the Central Booking Intake Facility, where he was charged with possession of a firearm by a minor and possession of an assault weapon, as well as reckless endangerment and having a handgun in a vehicle, police said.
Police referred to the teen in the release as a person of interest. He is charged as an adult, but police aren't identifying him since he is a minor, according to department spokesperson Detective Freddie Talbert.
Detectives are still actively investigating the shooting in the Brooklyn Homes area in the southern part of the city, Talbert said. A reward for up to $28,000 is being offered for any information that leads to an arrest and charges in the case.
There was a wave of shootings this week as the U.S. celebrated the Fourth of July. The gun violence that flared this week in Washington, D.C.; Louisiana; Florida; Pennsylvania; Texas; Maryland and Massachusetts left more than a dozen dead and more than 60 wounded — including children as young as 2 years old.
Earlier this week, interim Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said that investigators believed there were multiple shooters in the block party shooting, and that it wasn’t clear if the shooting was targeted or random.
“We don’t know exactly how many, but we do know more than one person was shooting,” Worley said. The event has been held for decades, but no permit was issued this year and police didn’t find out about it ahead of time, as they have in past years, Worley said.
Police identified the two people killed as 18-year-old Aaliyah Gonzalez and 20-year-old Kylis Fagbemi. The 28 injured victims ranged in age from 13 to 32, with more than half younger than 18, officials said. Of those injured, police said Friday that three victims remain at hospitals in fair condition. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/nation-world/baltimore-block-party-shooting-arrest/507-908aaa12-184f-412f-badd-62fc7789aa71 | 2023-07-08 23:57:30 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/nation-world/baltimore-block-party-shooting-arrest/507-908aaa12-184f-412f-badd-62fc7789aa71 |
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s new government on Tuesday will propose an economic plan to steer the nation through rising inflation and interest rates while reigning in debt.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers will deliver his center-left Labor Party’s first annual budget for the fiscal year that began in July.
It will be the first budget by a Labor government in nine years and must contend with unprecedented levels of debt as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chalmers said rising inflation was the primary influence on how he drafted his economic blueprint.
“The budget will be solid, sensible and suited for the times. It will recognize that in a time of extreme global uncertainty, our best defense is a responsible budget at home,” Chalmers told reporters.
“The budget has three objectives: responsible cost-of-living relief, strengthening the economy and beginning the hard yards of budget repair,” he added.
The previous conservative government had forecast in its last budget in March a 78 billion Australian dollar ($49 billion) deficit in the current fiscal year.
The new government’s forecast more than halves that deficit to AU$36.9 billion ($23.3 billion) thanks mainly to higher prices for commodities including iron ore and coal.
However, slowing economic growth was expected to add to the longer-term difficulty of repaying debt.
The March budget forecast that gross debt as a share of the economic growth would peak in mid-2025 at 44.9%, or AU$1.117 trilllion ($709 billion).
The budget will help families by increasing child care subsidies and gradually increasing paid parental leave entitlements from 18 to 26 weeks, the government said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the budget would provide cost-of-living relief for families without fueling inflation.
“The priority will be on measures that boost the economy, that boost productivity. Cheaper child care does just that. So does paid parental leave,” Albanese said.
The government will need to get its budget measures through the Parliament, where compromises may need to be made. | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Australia-to-reveal-economic-plan-for-17531698.php | 2022-10-25 01:06:59 | 0 | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Australia-to-reveal-economic-plan-for-17531698.php |
FARMINGTON, N.M. (KRQE) – On Monday, Farmington experienced what many are calling a tragedy. A shooting left four people dead, including the suspect, and left several others wounded.
Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe described the shooting as “horrific” in a video update.
Hebbe reported the suspect, an 18-year-old male, shot at six houses and three cars in what appears to be a completely random act. He also said the suspect fired from three different weapons, including an AR-style rifle.
Prior to the suspect being killed, three civilians were killed, and six others were injured, including two officers.
In honor of the victims and their families, a vigil was held outside Hills Church.
Multiple statements have been released about the fatal incident.
“We are grateful today, and every day, to our caregivers who respond and stand ready to serve,” said Laura Werbner, public relations coordinator for San Juan Regional Medical Center. “We extend our condolences and prayers to the families of those who lost loved ones and to those who were affected by this incident.”
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement:
“I am receiving frequent updates on the situation in Farmington as it evolves. I am grateful to law enforcement for their quick response and that there does not appear to be any ongoing threat to public safety. I have directed the state to provide whatever support the city and county need as they conduct a thorough investigation and as the community begins to heal.
I am praying for the families of the victims, the wounded, and the entire community of Farmington following this horrific tragedy.
Although details continue to emerge about this incident, this serves as yet another reminder of how gun violence destroys lives in our state and our country every single day. This administration will not stop fighting the epidemic of gun violence from every angle possible.”
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Jason Bowie said, “Multiple civilians, a New Mexico State Police Officer, and a Farmington Police Department Officer were involved in this senseless violent act. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, injured civilians, and police officers. The first responders deserve our gratitude for their courageous and timely response.”
Senator Steven Neville and Senator Bill Sharer released a joint statement. It reads:
“We are deeply distraught and disturbed that violence of this kind would strike our community. We mourn the loss of our neighbors and friends who had their life cut short. Our deepest gratitude goes out to Farmington Police officers who stood up to this individual and put an end to the carnage. We pray for a speedy recovery for our officers shot in the line of duty and for the families who grieve the loss of a loved one tonight.”
Senators Steven Nevillo and Bill Sharer
Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett also released a response to the incident. See it below:
“Today, our community experienced a horrific tragedy that claimed the lives of three innocent citizens and injured several others. It is with profound sorrow that I acknowledge a shooting that occurred in our midst – an act of violence that has left us reeling in anguish and disbelief. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families during this incomprehensible time of pain and loss.
Two officers were also shot while responding to the call, receiving non-life-threatening injuries. Our prayers are with the officers and their families as they recover.
I want to commend all area law enforcement who responded swiftly when the call came out, including Farmington Police Department, San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, State Police, Bloomfield Police, and other neighboring jurisdictions.
Countless lives were saved because of their timely response.
I extend my gratitude to our area’s first responders and the staff at San Juan Regional Medical Center for their outstanding care of the injured.
Thank you to the citizens who called dispatch to report they heard shots fired. I encourage the public to remember if you see something/hear something, say something. We must continue to work together to keep our community safe.
Calls of support have come in from our delegation in Washington DC, the White House, the Navajo Nation, mayors across our state, and countless others from around the country. We are a resilient community – a community that cares for each other. In the face of adversity, we must stand together, comfort one another, and make a determined effort to heal these wounds so we can emerge stronger and not allow this act of violence to define us.”
Mayor Nate Duckett
As of 9 p.m. on Monday, the suspect has not been identified, but police believe he was acting alone.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact police at 505-334-6622.
For those impacted, counseling service resources are listed below:
• Desert View Family Counseling: 505-326-7878 (Press Option 1)
• Totah Behavioral Health: 505-564-4804
• Farmington Community Health: 505-326-4796 | https://www.krqe.com/news/community/farmington-community-in-mourning-after-deadly-shooting/ | 2023-05-16 15:19:08 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/news/community/farmington-community-in-mourning-after-deadly-shooting/ |
Six killed in air show crash at Dallas Executive Airport
DALLAS - Six people were killed in a mid-air collision between two historic planes during an air show at the Dallas Executive Airport on Saturday.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins confirmed the deaths early Saturday morning.
Jenkins says authorities are continuing to work on investigating the crash and notifying family members.
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and a Bell P-63 Kingcobra collided just after 1 p.m. on Saturday during the Commemorative Air Force’s Wings Over Dallas WWII Airshow. There were between 4,000 to 6,000 spectators at the show.
Historic military planes collide in mid-air crash at Dallas Executive Airport
Video from witnesses obtained by FOX 4 shows the planes colliding and then bursting into flames after hitting the ground.
The Allied Pilots Association said two of its members – Terry Barker and Len Root – were among those who died in the crash.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash to determine the exact causes.
The team from the NTSB arrived in Dallas on Saturday night. | https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/dallas-air-show-crash-deaths | 2022-11-13 17:37:56 | 1 | https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/dallas-air-show-crash-deaths |
(WSYR-TV) — Here on Bridge Street, we’re bringing the wacky this Wednesday.
Rumor has it aliens have invaded the Bridge Street studio. Behind Iris and Steve, they were peeping through the window the other day. Steve was on his toes when walking into the studio to make sure our fellow aliens were out of sight!
Air quality could be better today. Steve talks about the unusual air quality and reminds viewers how wearing a mask could improve your health today.
Out with the old and in with the new. The “American Idol” switches paths to take over the Wheel of Fortune legend Pat Sajak’s position. Ryan Seacrest made the news official in a lengthy statement on Twitter Tuesday morning. Iris and Steve can’t wait to see what Seacrest brings to the wheel. | https://www.localsyr.com/bridge-street/bridge-street-host-chat-june-28-2023/ | 2023-06-28 18:57:54 | 0 | https://www.localsyr.com/bridge-street/bridge-street-host-chat-june-28-2023/ |
BEIJING, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd. ("First High-School Education Group" or the "Company") (NYSE: FHS), an education service provider primarily focusing on high schools in Western China, today announced that its board of directors (the "Board") has authorized a share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to RMB4.0 million of its Class A ordinary shares in the form of American depositary shares ("ADSs") during a twelve-month period commencing on July 15, 2022 (the "Share Repurchase Program").
"The Share Repurchase Program is well aligned with our commitment to maximizing value for shareholders and reflects the Board's confidence in the Company's continued growth and long-term prospects," said Mr. Tommy Zhou, the Company's Chief Financial Officer.
Repurchases under the program may be made from time to time through open market transactions at prevailing market prices, in privately negotiated transactions, in block trades and/or through other legally permissible means. The repurchases will be subject to all applicable rules and regulations, including Rule 10b-18 and Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as the Company's insider trading policy. The number of ADSs repurchased and the timing of repurchases will also depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, price, trading volume and general market conditions, along with the Company's working capital requirements, general business conditions and other factors. The Board will review the Share Repurchase Program periodically, and may authorize adjustment of its terms and size or suspend or discontinue the program. The Company plans to fund the repurchases from its existing cash balance.
About First High-School Education Group
First High-School Education Group is an education service provider primarily focusing on high schools in Western China. The Company aspires to become a leader and innovator of private high school education in China, with the focuses on a comprehensive education management integrating education information consulting, education research project development, education talent management, education technology management, education service management, and general vocational integration development services. For more information, please visit https://ir.diyi.top/.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected trading commencement and closing dates. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the preliminary prospectus filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For Investor and Media Inquiries Please Contact:
First High-School Education Group
Tommy Zhou
Chief Financial Officer
E-mail: tommyzhou@dygz.com
Customer Service
E-mail: FHS_info@dygz.com
Phone: 010-62555966 (9:30-12:00, 13:30-16:00 CST)
View original content:
SOURCE First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/first-high-school-education-group-announces-up-rmb4-million-share-repurchase-program/ | 2022-06-30 12:42:13 | 1 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/first-high-school-education-group-announces-up-rmb4-million-share-repurchase-program/ |
Court strikes down charter boat tracking rule
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An appeals court has struck down a federal fisheries management rule requiring operators of privately owned charter boats to equip their vessels with tracking devices, a victory for a group of Louisiana and Florida charter operators who challenged the rule in a 2020 lawsuit.
Thursday’s ruling by a panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans reversed a lower court decision upholding the regulation, which had been developed to help regulators keep track of the amount of fish caught on recreational charter vessels.
Rejecting government arguments, the panel said that tracking devices are not the type of equipment regulators can require on recreational vessels under a federal fishing regulation law passed by Congress — the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
And it said regulators, in adopting the rule, failed to adequately consider charter operators’ concerns that the regulation may violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. While not ruling on the regulation’s constitutionality, the opinion written by Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod said it “very likely violated the Fourth Amendment.”
Charter operators have complained that the requirement imposed a costly, needless burden on charter operators. Lawyers for the operators say charter operations account for a tiny percentage of fishing done in the Gulf of Mexico.
Along with Elrod, nominated to the court by President George W. Bush, the case was decided by judges Priscilla Richman, also a George W. Bush nominee; and Andrew Oldham, a nominee of President Donald Trump.
“The rights of all charter boat fishing businesses in the Gulf of Mexico have been vindicated,” John J. Vecchione, an attorney with the conservative New Civil Liberties Alliance, said in a news release. The organization had represented charter operators in the lawsuit.
The National Marine Fisheries Service did not immediately respond Friday morning to emailed and phone messages seeking comment.
Copyright 2023 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/02/24/court-strikes-down-charter-boat-tracking-rule/ | 2023-02-24 17:51:22 | 0 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/02/24/court-strikes-down-charter-boat-tracking-rule/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The unprecedented effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 paused work requirements for Florida welfare beneficiaries. Now in 2022, those halts on work requirements are gone, but the economic upheaval has continued, with inflation reaching historic highs and solutions still in progress.
The federal poverty level for a family of three is $23,030 before taxes. That number is the annual income for a mom, a dad and a single child to qualify as poor in the United States. For an individual, to count as someone living in poverty, you have to make $13,590 per year or less, before taxes.
While the state’s population, economy, and industries have changed, the welfare benefits have not.
Welfare program history
Florida has controlled the benefits access to impoverished residents since 1994. Called the Family Transition Program, Florida’s FTP was the first state-level welfare reform regarding eligibility and benefits. It predates a national shift to state control by three years.
In 1997, under former President Bill Clinton, a change in federal law turned management of welfare to the states, rather than the U.S. government. As a result, welfare beneficiaries across the country have a patchwork of different rules and regulations to access the help they need, and in some places, a time limit, too.
A 2021 settlement between the U.S. Department of Justice and Florida DCF, underscores how the federal government relies on the states to pick who gets assistance.
“Although the federal government funds SNAP benefits, it relies on the states to determine whether applicants are eligible for benefits, to administer those benefits and to have appropriate quality control processes in place,” USDOJ said about the settlement.
It has done so since July 1997, U.S. Congress completely restructured the current welfare system, replacing the one set up by the Social Security Act of 1935.
The Personal Responsibility and Opportunity to Work Act passed under Clinton changed a New Deal program, the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, and renamed it to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The program still gives cash assistance to poor families through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, but now there are more restrictions, more requirements, and fewer people, proportionally, who receive benefits.
Families in need are able to get some help from the state and federal governments, through two programs. The first is temporary, called the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
To qualify for TANF, more commonly known as welfare, you have to be a U.S. citizen, legal alien or qualified alien. You also have to be unemployed, underemployed, or have low or very low income.
If you check all of those boxes, you still have to be pregnant, be younger than 18 years old and the head of your household, or have a child who is 18 years old or younger.
Since the eligibility requirements were placed in the management of the states, each one has its own unique rules for determining final eligibility and qualification. Nationally, PRWORA set the limit to receive welfare benefits to five years.
The state of Florida set its limit to four years.
Florida’s welfare rules
According to the Florida Policy Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan organization, Florida families must have little or no income in order to get benefits from TANF. The organization said “very few families meet that criterion.” They said one factor affecting benefit amounts is that the state “Legislature has not updated benefit payments for the program in three decades.”
In Florida, if you meet all requirements, you can expect benefits to come from a program called ACCESS Florida, run by the state’s Department of Children and Families. If you are approved for benefits, you can get up to $3,636 per year, based on the state’s maximum benefit of $303 per month.
You can still qualify for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program benefits, or food stamps, in addition to the cash assistance from TANF. Like many states, Florida requires you to work to receive benefits, and not just putting the work in to file the necessary paperwork.
The Sunshine State requires residents to work in order to qualify for TANF benefits. If you’re a minor head of household, you still need to work, even if you’re in school. That means you’re expected to work up to 40 hours per week. The state is prevented from requiring beneficiaries to work more than 40 hours a week to get benefits.
Additionally, residents with felony drug trafficking convictions are ineligible to receive any state assistance, for welfare or food stamps, according to state law. The FPI said this particular policy decision “had already cost Florida more than $70 million due to high re-arrest rates,” by 2017, due to the lack of support for those exiting the correctional system.
Florida also has additional statutes in place that block a family from receiving benefits, even if only one family member does not abide by state restrictions or requirements to get them.
Who receives benefits
As of August 2022, there were 50,120 TANF clients in Florida, an 8.8% increase. State data shows the number of TANF clients across Florida is increasing and has been for months. There were 28,935 TANF Families in Florida that month, according to data from DCF, a 3.9% increase from the month before.
If your household is on the poverty line and makes less than $22,000 per year for a family of three, DCF only gives you $3,600 of assistance from TANF for a single year, split into just over $300 per month.
To put that in perspective, the median monthly income in Florida is roughly $4,640 before taxes, according to the latest data from the U.S. government.
The number of TANF beneficiaries receiving welfare funds in Florida has been on the rise since April. In the Tampa Bay area, almost every county has seen the numbers increase, either by number of families or number of clients.
Beneficiary families include orphans and children without adults at home.
Minor households, those led by juveniles, the state’s work requirements are complicated by federal labor laws. Those ages 14 to 15 can only work a set number of hours, and only during certain hours. At 16 to 17, workers can have unlimited hours except in jobs with hazardous conditions. Upon becoming an adult at 18, all limitations are removed.
The state of Florida had 22,028 “No Parent Families” receiving TANF benefits, as of March 2022.
Without the SNAP program’s federal funds and state-level intervention to distribute them, almost 3 million Floridians would have had less food to put on their table.
Even with those benefits, families still struggle, particularly amid record-high inflation levels. To that end, Florida’s government provided 59,000 families with additional funds to prepare for the new school year through specially mailed checks. Administered by DCF, checks were sent to families that receive TANF benefits. Each one contained $450 per child per family.
Among the 50 states, Florida is ranked No. 35 by the Annie E. Casey Foundation for overall child well-being in 2022. Breaking down the various factors that gave Florida its overall rank, AECF said Florida was in the bottom for economic well-being, at No. 42, though much higher in terms of education, taking the No. 13 spot.
For health, which was ranked based on exposure to violence, inadequate housing, nutrition, family stress, preventive health care, poverty, and substance abuse, Florida was reached No. 35.
The state was listed as No. 32 for what AECF listed as “Family and Community.”
“Parents struggling with financial hardship have fewer resources available to foster their children’s development and are more prone to face severe stress and depression, which can interfere with effective parenting,” AECF describes. “These findings underscore the importance of two-generation approaches to ending poverty, which address the needs of parents and children at the same time so they can succeed together.”
The AECF report said that as of 2020, Florida had 774,000 children living in poverty, 1,177,000 children in the state with parents lacking secure employment, and 1,537,000 children in house holds with high housing cost burdens. Focusing on education, which is widely considered a key to finding gainful employment and living a successful life, 62% of Florida Fourth Graders were reportedly not proficient in reading, while 69% of Eighth Graders were not proficient in math, and 13% of high schoolers did not graduate on time.
The report also said 8% of the state’s children were living in high-poverty areas.
For the children living in poverty, AECF defined it as a family with two adults and two children where the annual income of the whole household fell below $26,246.
To qualify for federal welfare benefits, a household income must be at most $27,750 for a family of four in 2022. In 2020, the income level was $26,200. While federal poverty guidelines have been increased, and the COVID-19 pandemic’s relief efforts expanded some programs, states still have discretion over qualification. | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/florida-welfare-benefits-unchanged-since-1997-number-in-need-has-only-grown-alongside-inflation/ | 2022-08-23 18:50:14 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/florida-welfare-benefits-unchanged-since-1997-number-in-need-has-only-grown-alongside-inflation/ |
Hailey Bieber is loving the redhead life! At least when it comes to Halloween.
The 25-year-old shared a series of snaps on Instagram showing off a bold new look, donning fiery red hair for spooky season. Hailey captioned the post with bat and ghost emojis, writing, "Having a lil too much fun."
She also showed off pointy black nails, a bold and glossy red pout, and red shimmery eye shadow for the look.
Last week, Hailey snapped a similarly spooktacular pic of pal Kylie Jenner donning green body paint as she posed in a bathtub with a fake skeleton.
While she didn't caption the photo, Jenner's big sister, Khloe Kardashian, was quick to comment, writing, "Wtf is happening." Momager Kris Jenner was also confused, commenting, "OMG what’s happening over there???? 🦇"
It's clear the girls were just having a little fun, with Hailey also dressing up and sporting a green tint. The model rocked a black witches hat in a series of snaps where she posed in front of a mirror. "SPOOKY SEASON COMMENCE," she captioned the post.
Videos of Hailey also wearing green body paint were posted to OBB Media's official Instagram page, teasing a "spooky episode coming soon..."
Hailey, who married Justin Bieber in 2019, recently shocked fans by posing for a photo with her husband's ex, Selena Gomez. The pair were seen smiling and snapping pics together while at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles last week.
A source tells ET that by posing for the photos, Hailey and Selena wanted to show the world that "there's no beef or bad feelings" between them.
For more on that story, watch below.
RELATED CONTENT: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/hailey-bieber-gets-in-the-spooky-spirit-with-fiery-red-hair-for-halloween/603-a66eaffc-cbfa-4357-af98-56eabab4800e | 2022-10-18 19:37:17 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/hailey-bieber-gets-in-the-spooky-spirit-with-fiery-red-hair-for-halloween/603-a66eaffc-cbfa-4357-af98-56eabab4800e |
Trevor Immelman used five of his six captain’s picks Tuesday on Presidents Cup rookies to fill out an International team decimated by defections to Saudi-funded LIV Golf.
British Open champion Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann of Chile signed with the rival league after qualifying had ended. They played their first LIV Golf event last week, making them ineligible for the Presidents Cup.
The only captain’s pick with any experience is Si Woo Kim of South Korea. He played on the 2017 team at Liberty National that was beat so badly the match was nearly decided before singles.
The only pick from the top 50 in the world is K.H. Lee of South Korea — only one other was available, Ryan Fox of New Zealand, who plays on the European tour and was overlooked by Immelman.
The other picks were Cameron Davis of Australia, Sebastian Munoz of Colombia, Taylor Pendrith of Canada and Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa.
The six qualifiers were Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, Adam Scott of Australia, Sungjae Im and Tom Kim of South Korea, Corey Conners of Canada and Mito Pereira of Chile.
Scott, Matsuyama and Im are the only players who were at Royal Melbourne three years ago when the International team nearly ended more than 20 years of losing.
Prospects aren’t any better this time for the Sept. 22-25 matches at Quail Hollow in North Carolina. The Americans lost three potential players to the Saudi league, none who would have qualified for a U.S. team with great depth.
The U.S. has lost only one Presidents Cup since the matches began in 1994. There also was a tie in South Africa in 2003. The Americans have won eight in a row.
U.S. captain Davis Love III announces his six picks on Wednesday.
___
More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.krqe.com/sports/ap-immelman-picks-5-rookies-to-fill-out-depleted-pcup-team/ | 2022-09-06 15:48:35 | 0 | https://www.krqe.com/sports/ap-immelman-picks-5-rookies-to-fill-out-depleted-pcup-team/ |
SALISBURY, Md. (AP) — Thousands of women living in rural, eastern Maryland have few options when they’re looking for someone to deliver their babies.
The local hospital doesn’t have an obstetrics doctor on staff so most women in this region, flanked by sprawling farm fields and antique stores, turn to the Chesapeake Health Care clinic.
Five of the 10 obstetricians and midwives at the clinic are there because of the National Health Service Corps, which promises to pay off $50,000 in medical school debt for every two years that a doctor serves working in rural, urban or poor areas.
“OB is frightfully difficult to recruit, and I’m not real sure exactly why,” said the clinic’s chief medical officer Dr. Lee Jennings. “We’re isolated, we’re in an area where we’re the only OB group in the entire area.”
Over the last three years, millions of taxpayer dollars were pumped into the National Health Service Corps to hire thousands more doctors and nurses willing to serve the country’s most desperate regions during the COVID-19 pandemic in exchange for forgiving medical school debts. Now, with the health emergency over, the program’s expansion is in jeopardy – even as people struggle to get timely and quality care because of an industry-wide dearth of workers.
Funding for the program expires at the end of September, although President Joe Biden asked Congress to sign off an extra half-billion dollar for the project in his budget.
The number of nurses, physician, dentists, counselors, and midwives has ballooned thanks to an extra $800 million the U.S. Congress kicked to the program in stimulus packages unveiled as coronavirus raged. Last year, just over 20,000 people were corps members – up 50% from 13,000 people in 2019.
The program has placed medical professionals across a variety of disciplines – from occupational therapists in Ohio to counselors who treat drug and alcohol addictions in Alaska – in community health centers around the country. Those clinics receive federal funding to provide primary care for patients, regardless of their health insurance status or ability to pay.
The program has found rare bipartisan support from Republican and Democratic lawmakers who say they’re grateful for the void corps members fill in rural and needy communities alike that are coping with shortages. The U.S. is short thousands of family doctors, OB-GYNs and nurses, a problem that is only expected to worsen over the next decade.
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who oversees the powerful Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, has made the issue a top talking point in hearings. Sanders said in his state, people have complained to him about waits as long as five months just to get a physical with a doctor.
The situation would worsen, he told The Associated Press, if corps funding is not renewed and increased.
“People are going to struggle to find a dentist, to find a mental health counselor,” Sanders said. “If it’s bad now, it’s only going to get worse.”
Last month, a group of House Republicans sponsored a bill that would continue funding for the corps program, but not give it the same cash infusion that Biden has requested.
“One of the most consistent issues I’ve heard in my district in Pennsylvania is the shortage of physician and health care workers,” Republican Rep. John Joyce, who introduced the bill, said during a congressional hearing on the health care worker shortage last month.
Still, the program’s future is hanging in the balance with a split Congress that’s just weeks away from allowing the U.S. to default on its debts. Uncertainty around funding for the program also makes it difficult for health clinics to recruit providers, said Carole Johnson, who heads up the federal Health Resources and Services Administration that oversees corps funding.
“We’re hopeful to continue to grow. We know there’s a net demand out there,” Johnson said. “All the conversations that we’ve had have been very positive; that doesn’t make it easy.”
One of the largest areas of growth for the program has been in mental health, with more than 2,000 additional counselors, social workers, psychologists, and substance abuse counselors being hired over the past four years.
At Chicago’s largest, around-the-clock treatment center, about eight of the Haymarket Center’s providers are corps members. The center sees roughly 12,000 patients every year, many of them homeless. The corps program allows the not-for-profit Haymarket Center to recruit health care workers in a competitive market with a different benefit: as much as $250,000 in student loan repayment, said Jeffrey Collord, the vice president of operations at the center.
“We might not be able to compensate staff at the highest levels so being able to be part of the program allows us to provide a benefit that other sites don’t have access to,” Collord said.
Student loan forgiveness allowed Dr. Stephen Robinson to be the family physician that he always hoped to be. He worried through medical school about the mountain of student loan debt that was piling up and watched as many of his classmates pursued more lucrative salaries as specialty doctors. But his dad researched alternatives and discovered the National Health Service Corps program.
“If more providers thought they could come out and still be able to pay off their debt, they’d go into primary services,” Robinson said. “This has allowed us to do that.”
His wife, Caitlin, is one of the coveted OB-GYNs that Chesapeake Health Care recruited through the program. Pregnant women drive as much as an hour to see her.
Both are now nearly debt-free after spending seven years in the program. But they don’t plan on leaving this small Maryland town anytime soon. The Robinsons love raising their children close to the shore, fresh air and parks.
“We have no plans on going anywhere, even though we’re done,” Stephen Robinson said. | https://www.kark.com/news/national/federal-governments-1-billion-effort-to-recruit-next-generation-of-doctors-at-risk/ | 2023-05-12 16:41:16 | 0 | https://www.kark.com/news/national/federal-governments-1-billion-effort-to-recruit-next-generation-of-doctors-at-risk/ |
Nationwide rallies Saturday for “Women’s Wave” for reproductive rights
More than 420 events are planned in all 50 states.
Published: Oct. 7, 2022 at 4:45 PM CDT|Updated: 8 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - On Saturday October 8th, one month before Election Day, hundreds of thousands of women are expected to rally nationwide in a day of action to raise awareness for reproductive rights ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. The event is being called “Women’s Wave” with more than 420 events planned in all 50 states. Gray Washington News Bureau’s Nicole Neuman speaks to Rachel Carmona, the Executive Director of the Women’s March.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.valleynewslive.com/2022/10/07/nationwide-rallies-saturday-womens-wave-reproductive-rights/ | 2022-10-07 21:54:13 | 1 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/2022/10/07/nationwide-rallies-saturday-womens-wave-reproductive-rights/ |
2 brothers got victims drunk, sexually assaulted them in Phoenix, police say
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Two brothers are accused of sexually assaulting young women and girls after getting them drunk from 2005 to 2010 in Phoenix, police said. According to court documents, the attacks involving Jairo Valerio and Isai Valerio started in April of 2005 near 27th Avenue and Pima Street. They were at a party when the brothers escorted the victim to a bedroom after she drank too much. She passed out but woke up with Jairo on top of her and Isai encouraging him to keep going, court documents said. The victim tried to tell a school resource officer about it but was afraid her mom would find out about the drinking. A report was created when Isai started bragging about it, police said. Jairo was 17 years old at the time, while Isai was 14.
On New Year’s Eve in 2005, the pair gave alcohol to a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old and drove them to a park, where the 14-year-old blacked out, police said. The Valerios took them to a home near 25th Avenue and Durango Street where they sexually assaulted both girls, court paperwork said. Jairo was 18 while Isai was 15 during that incident. In July of 2008, 17-year-old Isai forced a 19-year-old victim to drink alcohol and she became drunk, police said. Isai and his 17-year-old cousin carried her to the bedroom where they raped her, detectives said. She tried to fight them off but couldn’t.
Then in March 2010, Isai picked up an 18-year-old woman with his cousins and went to a house party near 91st Avenue and Encanto Boulevard. She was forced to drink mixed drinks and was drunk by the time she got to the house. Police said the victim woke up with Isai raping her. The teen found her sister and they ran off. The suspects were driving through the neighborhood looking for the sisters but they hid in a yard until they left.
Police said they got in touch with the 2010 victim last month and arrested Jairo and Isai on Tuesday. During an interview with police, Isai admitted making dumb decisions and drinking between 2005 and 2010 but denied the sexual assaults. Isai was booked into jail on four counts of sexual assault and four counts of kidnapping while Jairo was booked on two counts of sexual assault.
Copyright 2022 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved. | https://www.kold.com/2022/06/18/2-brothers-got-victims-drunk-sexually-assaulted-them-phoenix-police-say/ | 2022-06-18 04:28:33 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/2022/06/18/2-brothers-got-victims-drunk-sexually-assaulted-them-phoenix-police-say/ |
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina mother and her boyfriend have been charged with involuntary manslaughter after her two young children died Saturday.
Rocky Mount Police say the 1-year-old girl and her 3-month-old baby brother were found unresponsive Saturday morning and declared dead at a nearby hospital. Police have not released additional details about the circumstances of their death.
Later Saturday, police arrested the mother and her boyfriend, both 21. They were each charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse.
Police said their investigation continues and that further charges are possible once the medical examiner's office completes its report. | https://www.mrt.com/news/article/North-Carolina-mom-boyfriend-charged-in-17123019.php | 2022-04-24 16:44:54 | 0 | https://www.mrt.com/news/article/North-Carolina-mom-boyfriend-charged-in-17123019.php |
CHICAGO — Attention Chicagoland Swifties, Taylor has a message for you.
The music artist posted to Twitter Tuesday night and addressed all the fans who attended her ‘Eras Tour’ stops at Soldier Field.
The tour took over the Chicago stadium for a total of three nights.
“Chicago that was sooooo epic. Playing 3 nights at Soldier Field and getting to sing ‘You All Over Me’ with Maren Morris who I adore. You guys were so much fun to play for, I love you.”
Swift’s next tour stop is Detroit, Michigan this weekend. | https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/sooooo-epic-taylor-swifts-message-to-chicago-fans-after-soldier-field-concerts/ | 2023-06-07 16:59:05 | 0 | https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/sooooo-epic-taylor-swifts-message-to-chicago-fans-after-soldier-field-concerts/ |
Stocks slipped again on Wall Street.
The S&P 500 fell 0.6% Monday, its second straight fall after a stunningly strong report on the jobs market dented the market’s hopes that interest rates would ease. The Nasdaq and the Dow also fell.
The sharpest action was again in the bond market, where expectations are rising for the Federal Reserve to stay firm on keeping interest rates higher for longer to combat inflation. It’s something the Fed has been talking about for a long time, but also something the market has been stubborn about not believing fully.
On Monday:
The S&P 500 fell 25.40 points, or 0.6%, to 4,111.08.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 34.99 points, or 0.1%, to 33,891.02.
The Nasdaq composite fell 119.50 points, or 1%, to 11,887.45.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 27.82 points, or 1.4%, to 1,957.72.
For the year:
The S&P 500 is up 271.58 points, or 7.1%.
The Dow is up 743.77 points, or 2.2%.
The Nasdaq is up 1,420.97 points, or 13.6%.
The Russell 2000 is up 196.47 points, or 11.2%. | https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/how-major-us-stock-indexes-fared-monday-2-6-2023-17767490.php | 2023-02-06 22:17:39 | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/how-major-us-stock-indexes-fared-monday-2-6-2023-17767490.php |
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We've placed cookies on your device to improve your browsing experience. They're safe and don't contain sensitive information. | https://tj.news/national-post/102113531 | 2023-05-19 00:09:54 | 1 | https://tj.news/national-post/102113531 |
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Dec. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) and Acotec Scientific Holdings Limited ("Acotec" and 6669.HK) announced today that Boston Scientific will make a partial offer to acquire a majority stake, up to a maximum of 65%, of shares of Acotec, a Chinese medical technology company that offers solutions designed for a variety of interventional procedures. The proposed price is HK$20 per share, which represents a total upfront cash payment consideration of approximately US$523 million for the 65% stake at current exchange rates.
Acotec is a leader in innovative medical solutions, including drug-coated balloons (DCBs), which are used in the treatment of vascular and other diseases. In 2016, the company launched the first peripheral DCB in China after receiving approval from the National Medical Products Administration. The Acotec portfolio also includes radiofrequency ablation technologies and thrombus aspiration catheters, as well as more than 20 other products in various stages of development across a range of specialties. In the 12-month period ending June 30, 2022, Actotec generated sales of RMB 339 million (approximately US$53 million), growing 25% year-over-year in the first six months of 2022 with strong double-digit growth in each of the two years prior.
"Acotec is a profitable, fast-growing company with a strong portfolio and innovative pipeline of medical technologies, and we believe this investment will generate growth opportunities for both companies," said Art Butcher, executive vice president and group president, MedSurg and Asia Pacific, Boston Scientific. "We expect completion of the partial offer to further strengthen our presence in China and create the potential for commercialization of Acotec products globally, providing an increased number of physicians and patients access to our robust and complementary product portfolios."
Boston Scientific expects the impact to adjusted earnings per share to be immaterial in 2023 and the impact to GAAP earnings per share to be less accretive, or dilutive, as the case may be, due to amortization expense and acquisition-related net charges.
The completion of the transaction, which is anticipated in the first half of 2023, is subject to acceptance and approval by Acotec shareholders and other conditions set forth in related filings.
Additional information about this investment is available on the Events and Presentations section of the Boston Scientific investor relations website.
About Boston Scientific
Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 40 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high-performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.com and connect on Twitter and Facebook.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "may", "estimate," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding the financial and business impact of the transaction, our business plans and product performance and impact. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.
Factors that may cause such differences include, among other things: future U.S. and global economic, political, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; new product introductions; expected procedural volumes; the closing and integration of acquisitions; demographic trends; intellectual property rights; litigation; financial market conditions; the execution and effect of our business strategy, including our cost-savings and growth initiatives; and future business decisions made by us and our competitors; the conditions to the completion of the proposed transaction, including the receipt of the required regulatory approvals and clearances, may not be satisfied; closing of the proposed transaction may not occur or may be delayed. New risks and uncertainties may arise from time to time and are difficult to predict, including those that have emerged or have increased in significance or likelihood as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A – Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A – Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.
CONTACTS:
Media:
Blake Rouhani
+1.763.494.2268
Blake.Rouhani@bsci.com
Investor Relations:
Lauren Tengler
+1.508.683.4479
BSXInvestorRelations@bsci.com
View original content:
SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/12/11/boston-scientific-announces-strategic-investment-acquire-majority-stake-acotec-scientific-holdings-limited/ | 2022-12-11 22:34:08 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/12/11/boston-scientific-announces-strategic-investment-acquire-majority-stake-acotec-scientific-holdings-limited/ |
Bay City’s new public safety director focused on future
BAY CITY, Mich. (WNEM) - It was a hectic week for the Bay City Department of Public Safety.
A high-speed chase ended when a truck crashed into a townhome Tuesday night, and police took another man into custody Thursday afternoon after an armed standoff.
This all happened amid the new public safety director’s first few days on the job.
“The people I have in command of this department are fully capable of handling anything that comes their way and I had no issues,” Bay City Public Safety Director Caleb Rowell said.
That’s how Rowell felt about the eventful first few days in his new position with the city. Rowell replaced Michael Cecchini who retired earlier this month.
“I have great staff here and I’m excited for the future,” Rowell said.
Rowell said one of his first objectives is to add numbers to the ranks.
“We’re down nine officers right now. For a small department, that’s substantial,” Rowell said.
Right now, he has 48 sworn law enforcement officers on staff when he’s authorized to have 57.
“There’s no better place you can work to be a police officer. You will definitely have the backing of your administration if you work here. We will take care of you and make sure you don’t want to leave,” Rowell said.
Rowell would not comment on Cecchini and his actions captured on video that led to his retirement.
“I’m not going to comment on anything that happened with the prior chief. I’m not focused on that. We’re moving forward. We have a great bunch of officers here and I’m ready for them to move past it. They didn’t do anything wrong. And the community is awesome, treats our officers with a ton of respect. Everywhere we go, they say how much they appreciate us. It’s a great community to work in so, I’m going to let the past be in the past,” Rowell said.
Copyright 2022 WNEM. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/10/28/bay-citys-new-public-safety-director-focused-future/ | 2022-10-28 22:04:03 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/10/28/bay-citys-new-public-safety-director-focused-future/ |
Twitter poll closes, users vote in favor of Musk exit as CEO
(AP) - More than half of 17.5 million users who responded to a poll that asked whether billionaire Elon Musk should step down as head of Twitter voted yes when the poll closed on Monday.
There was no immediate announcement from Twitter, or Musk, about whether that would happen, though he said that he would abide by the results.
Musk has clashed with some users on multiple fronts and on Sunday, he asked Twitter users to decide if he should stay in charge of the social media platform after acknowledging he made a mistake in launching new speech restrictions that banned mentions of rival social media websites.
In yet another significant policy change, Twitter had announced that users will no longer be able to link to Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon and other platforms the company described as “prohibited.”
But that decision generated so much immediate criticism, including from past defenders of Twitter’s new billionaire owner, that Musk promised not to make any more major policy changes without an online survey of users.
The action to block competitors was Musk’s latest attempt to crack down on certain speech after he shut down a Twitter account last week that was tracking the flights of his private jet.
The banned platforms included mainstream websites such as Facebook and Instagram, and upstart rivals Mastodon, Tribel, Nostr, Post and former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social. Twitter gave no explanation for why the blacklist included those seven websites but not others such as Parler, TikTok or LinkedIn.
Twitter had said it would at least temporarily suspend accounts that include the banned websites in their profile — a practice so widespread it would have been difficult to enforce the restrictions on Twitter’s millions of users around the world. Not only links but attempts to bypass the ban by spelling out “instagram dot com” could have led to a suspension, the company said.
A test case was the prominent venture capitalist Paul Graham, who in the past has praised Musk but on Sunday told his 1.5 million Twitter followers that this was the “last straw” and to find him on Mastodon. His Twitter account was promptly suspended, and soon after restored as Musk promised to reverse the policy implemented just hours earlier.
Musk said Twitter will still suspend some accounts according to the policy but “only when that account’s (asterisk)primary(asterisk) purpose is promotion of competitors.”
Twitter previously took action to block links to Mastodon after its main Twitter account tweeted about the @ElonJet controversy last week. Mastodon has grown rapidly in recent weeks as an alternative for Twitter users who are unhappy with Musk’s overhaul of Twitter since he bought the company for $44 billion in late October and began restoring accounts that ran afoul of the previous Twitter leadership’s rules against hateful conduct and other harms.
Musk permanently banned the @ElonJet account on Wednesday, then changed Twitter’s rules to prohibit the sharing of another person’s current location without their consent. He then took aim at journalists who were writing about the jet-tracking account, which can still be found on other social media sites, alleging that they were broadcasting “basically assassination coordinates.”
He used that to justify Twitter’s moves last week to suspend the accounts of numerous journalists who cover the social media platform and Musk, among them reporters working for The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, Voice of America and other publications. Many of those accounts were restored following an online poll by Musk.
Then, over the weekend, The Washington Post’s Taylor Lorenz became the latest journalist to be temporarily banned. She said she was suspended after posting a message on Twitter tagging Musk and requesting an interview.
Sally Buzbee, The Washington Post’s executive editor, called it an “arbitrary suspension of another Post journalist” that further undermined Musk’s promise to run Twitter as a platform dedicated to free speech.
“Again, the suspension occurred with no warning, process or explanation — this time as our reporter merely sought comment from Musk for a story,” Buzbee said. By midday Sunday, Lorenz’s account was restored, as was the tweet she thought had triggered her suspension.
Musk’s promise to let users decide his future role at Twitter through an unscientific online survey appeared to come out of nowhere Sunday, though he had also promised in November that a reorganization was happening soon.
Musk was questioned in court on Nov. 16 about how he splits his time among Tesla and his other companies, including SpaceX and Twitter. Musk had to testify in Delaware’s Court of Chancery over a shareholder’s challenge to Musk’s potentially $55 billion compensation plan as CEO of the electric car company.
Musk said he never intended to be CEO of Tesla, and that he didn’t want to be chief executive of any other companies either, preferring to see himself as an engineer instead. Musk also said he expected an organizational restructuring of Twitter to be completed in the next week or so. It’s been more than a month since he said that.
In public banter with Twitter followers Sunday, Musk expressed pessimism about the prospects for a new CEO, saying that person “must like pain a lot” to run a company that “has been in the fast lane to bankruptcy.”
“No one wants the job who can actually keep Twitter alive. There is no successor,” Musk tweeted.
——
AP writer Brian P. D. Hannon contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/12/19/twitter-poll-closes-users-vote-favor-musk-exit-ceo/ | 2022-12-19 11:48:42 | 0 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/12/19/twitter-poll-closes-users-vote-favor-musk-exit-ceo/ |
STOCKHOLM, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global iGaming Hosting Solutions Supplier Internet Vikings receives the Services Provider of the Year award at SiGMA Americas Awards 2022, acknowledging the company's achievements and input into the industry.
"We are very proud and honored to be recognized as the Hosting Services Provider of the Year once again, this time on American soil. Our team has spent some time refining our products and services for our U.S. customers. The fact that the iGaming industry has awarded us this award is humbling, and we will continue to serve our industry and always uphold this title. " - Internet Vikings, Founder and CCO, Rikard Vikstrom.
The SiGMA Americas iGaming festival awards night took place on the 8th of June and was well-received by all participants. The summit was attended by some of the biggest names in the industry.
"The entire SiGMA event was fantastic to be a part of. We are already looking forward to the next one. The team and I are thrilled that our dedication to the industry has won us yet another award of this magnitude, adding to our other industry accolades. We are so proud of our team." - Internet Vikings, CEO, Peter Ekmark.
Going alongside some of the biggest industry names with determination and a top-notch product, Internet Vikings is becoming one of the most powerful companies in the industry. Their efforts to become the top provider in the U.S. has proved bountiful as Internet Vikings are now fully licensed and operating in most of the U.S. states with plans put in motion for even further U.S. growth.
For press inquiries please contact Julija Lavosnik
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julija.lavosnik@internetvikings.com
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/internet-vikings-win-big-in-the-us-301572097.html
SOURCE Internet Vikings International AB | https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_technology/internet-vikings-win-big-in-the-u-s/article_7aabc294-189d-54dc-a3b4-8ae2ead7931d.html | 2022-06-21 15:41:42 | 1 | https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_technology/internet-vikings-win-big-in-the-u-s/article_7aabc294-189d-54dc-a3b4-8ae2ead7931d.html |
ATLANTA (AP) — Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are bringing their own version of team golf to the PGA Tour.
A day after Woods and McIlroy announced a new media venture called TMRW Sports, they unveiled a project Wednesday that involves 18 players competing in a series of matches featuring technology as much as shot-making.
It’s called “TGL,” a tech-infused golf league that will be held in a stadium built for the occasion where fans can watch three-man teams compete in an 18-hole match — using simulators for the long shots, live shots for the shorter ones — that will take only two hours.
The league is to start in January 2024 and feature 15 regular-season matches on Monday nights, followed by the semifinals and the finals.
“For the fans, think sitting courtside at an NBA game. It’s that type of environment — music, player introductions. You’re right on top of the action as a fan,” said Mike McCarley, the former Golf Channel president who formed TMRW Sports with Woods and McIlroy and is its CEO. “You see everything play out in front of you.”
TMRW Sports — pronounced “tomorrow” — was formed to build technology-focused projects with a progressive approach to sports, entertainment and media.
Among the investors is Dick Ebersol, the retired chairman of NBC Sports whose many contribution to sports on TV include Sunday Night Football. He worked with McCarley at NBC.
“Since I’ve retired, I’ve refused any real work besides giving advice for plenty of friends, but this is the right idea at the right time with one of the few people I would do this with,” Ebersol said.
The announcement was lacking many details, including a broadcast partner, thought NBC is a likely candidate given its relationship with the PGA Tour and with Ebersol and McCarley. Also, McIlroy has a deal with the “GolfPass” venture in conjunction with Golf Channel.
Still to be determined are the 18 players on the six teams and when the matches will be held, though a majority figure to be the week of elevated events also announced Wednesday for the new PGA Tour schedule that starts next year.
“As a big sports fan myself, I’m excited about blending golf with technology and team elements common in other sports,” Woods said in a statement. “We all know what it’s like to be in a football stadium or a basketball arena where you can watch every play, every minute of action unfold right in front of you. It’s something that inherently isn’t possible in traditional golf.”
Woods previously was involved in real golf on Monday night when he was part of the “Showdown at Sherwood” and “Battle at Bighorn.” That faded within a decade, though the Monday night spot on the sports calendar from January to August is attractive.
Woods played only three times — all majors — this year as he recovers from leg injuries suffered in a February 2021 car crash. But he will be playing in the TGL and won’t have to walk far.
“We don’t know what his schedule is going to be. We don’t know how his body is going to be,” McIlroy said. “But to be able to see him still showcase his skills on prime time on TV without really any wear and tear on his body, to be able to see Tiger hit golf shots and still sort of provide people with a glimpse of his genius, I think it is a really good use of his time.”
___
More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/sports/ap-woods-mcilroy-behind-tech-infused-golf-league-in-tv-venture/ | 2022-08-24 22:53:05 | 1 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/sports/ap-woods-mcilroy-behind-tech-infused-golf-league-in-tv-venture/ |
PARIS (AP) — French investigators searched the Paris Olympic organizers’ headquarters on Tuesday as part of corruption investigations into contracts linked to the Games, according to officials, the third straight time graft allegations have dogged a Summer Olympics.
The Paris organizing committee said in a statement that a search was underway at their headquarters in the suburb of Saint-Denis, and said it was cooperating. It would not comment further.
Tuesday’s search and other related raids were linked to two preliminary investigations related to the Olympics that had not previously been made public, according to an official with the financial prosecutor’s office, who was not authorized to be publicly named according to office policy. One probe was opened in 2017 — the year Paris was picked by the International Olympic Committee as the 2024 host — and the other began last year.
Corruption allegations have hung over the world’s biggest sporting event many times — from accusations surrounding how the Games were awarded in the first place to how contracts for construction, sponsorship and team services were handed out.
Accusations of vote buying linked to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the Tokyo Games in 2021 led to the removal of several members of the IOC.
Those scandals revived memories of ones surrounding the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games that led to reforms that limited IOC members’ contact with candidate countries, though did not entirely remove the scope for corruption.
But Paris 2024 had gone to lengths to prove it would be different. The biggest event France is hosting in decades, the Games are being billed as a celebration of openness after two Olympics closed off by the COVID-19 pandemic, and as an example of democratic celebration after two World Cups tainted by human rights concerns in Qatar and Russia.
The organizers and Paris city hall have stressed a spirit of transparency and social justice — including planning an opening ceremony outdoors along the Seine that will be free for up to half a million people. The Games are scheduled for July 26-Aug. 11, 2024.
Saccage 2024, an anti-Olympics group that argues that the Games cause widespread ecological and social damage, said it was “very pleased” the raids took place.
“For us, an event of Olympic proportions cannot be held without corruption,” the group said in a statement. “It’s the size of the event that makes it necessary, whatever the country.”
The probe opened in 2017 is looking into suspected embezzlement of public funds and favoritism, and concerns about an unspecified contract reached by Paris organizers, the prosecutor’s office said.
The 2022 one followed an audit by the French Anti-corruption Agency. The prosecutor’s office said that case targets suspected conflict of interest and favoritism involving several contracts reached by the organizing committee and Solideo, the public body in charge of Olympic infrastructure.
That body’s offices were also searched, prosecutors said. According to Le Monde newspaper, raids also took place at the headquarters of several companies and consultants linked to the organization of the Games.
Solideo oversees construction and renovation or more than 60 projects for the multibillion-dollar Olympics — including the athletes’ village in the Saint-Denis neighborhood that is set to provide about 2,000 housing units after the games.
The IOC said in a statement it was informed by the organizers that they are cooperating with authorities. It did not comment further.
The raids unfolded as the IOC executive board began a two-day meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.
IOC president Thomas Bach told reporters early Monday the meeting “of course will be about Paris, where we have some good news after the visit of the coordination mission and after my visit to France, to President Macron, and also the organizing committee.”
Paris was awarded its Olympics six years ago — and at the same time the IOC also rewarded its only remaining bid rival, Los Angeles, with the 2028 Summer Games.
Avoiding a contested vote removed the scope for vote-trading and bribery in a process that has since changed again effectively to shut down public campaigning. Brisbane was picked two years ago as the 2032 Summer Games host after being pre-selected by the IOC to get exclusive negotiating rights.
The runup to the 2024 Games has seen turmoil in French sports.
Just last month, the president of the French Olympic Committee resigned following a period of intense infighting, prompting calls from Paris organizers for sports leaders to set differences aside and focus on delivering the Games.
Also, Noël Le Graët resigned as president of the French soccer federation in February after a government audit found he no longer had the legitimacy to lead because of his behavior toward women and his management style. Bernard Laporte resigned as president of the French Rugby Federation in January after he was convicted of corruption and illegally acquiring assets and handed a suspended prison sentence.
Last October, Claude Atcher was fired as chief executive of the Rugby World Cup. That event opens in France in September, and also will serve as a test of France’s security preparations for the Olympics. Atcher’s removal followed an investigation by French labor inspectors into his workplace conduct.
___
Dunbar contributed from Geneva. AP Sports Writer Samuel Petrequin reported from Brussels.
___
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.koin.com/sports/ap-sports/french-investigators-search-the-offices-of-paris-olympic-organizers-in-suspected-corruption-probe/ | 2023-06-20 16:23:17 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/sports/ap-sports/french-investigators-search-the-offices-of-paris-olympic-organizers-in-suspected-corruption-probe/ |
WFO LAKE CHARLES Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, December 26, 2022
_____
FLOOD WARNING
Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
858 AM CST Sun Dec 25 2022
...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in
Louisiana...Texas...
Calcasieu River Near Glenmora
Sabine River Near Deweyville
Additional information is available at www.weather.gov.
...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...
* WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast.
* WHERE...Sabine River Near Deweyville.
* WHEN...Until further notice.
* IMPACTS...At 24.0 feet, Minor lowland flooding will occur.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 10:45 PM CST Saturday the stage was 24.5 feet.
- Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours
ending at 10:45 PM CST Saturday was 24.5 feet.
- Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 24.5
feet early this morning.
- Flood stage is 24.0 feet.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
Fld Observed Forecasts (6 am CST)
Location Stg Stg Day/Time Mon Tue Wed
Sabine River
Deweyville 24.0 24.5 Sat 10 pm CS 24.4 24.3 24.2
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-LAKE-CHARLES-Warnings-Watches-and-17676831.php | 2022-12-25 16:41:35 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-LAKE-CHARLES-Warnings-Watches-and-17676831.php |
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