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With the legendary flavor, SNICKERS Hi Protein bars stave off hunger, without sacrificing flavor
NEWARK, N.J., Dec. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, SNICKERS®, proudly part of Mars, announced SNICKERS Hi Protein bars, a brand-new performance nutrition bar. SNICKERS Hi Protein bars feature the same satisfying chocolate, caramel and peanut ingredients iconic to SNICKERS but now packed with twenty (20) grams of protein offering the nutritional profile consumers expect, with the taste they crave.
Whether you are an extreme athlete or perhaps emerging as exercise-curious, SNICKERS Hi Protein bars are the satisfying solution for people who want the benefit of high protein without sacrificing on taste.
"Mars is consumer obsessed, and after talking with many consumers through the product development process, it was clear that the performance nutrition category was missing one key ingredient - delicious tasting products," said Michelle Deignan, Senior Brand Director, Mars Wrigley. "With the demand for delicious tasting protein bars increasing, SNICKERS Hi Protein bars are guaranteed to be a hit whether you work out avidly, casually or are looking for a delicious snack with more protein."
SNICKERS Hi Protein bars will be available at select retailers beginning January 2023, with the product set to be available nationwide later in the year. SNICKERS Hi Protein will be available in a single size (2.01 oz) bar.
To learn more about SNICKER Hi Protein bars, be sure to follow SNICKERS on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.
ABOUT MARS, INCORPORATED
Mars Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a global, family-owned business, Mars is transforming, innovating, and evolving to make a positive impact on the world.
Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of quality confectionery, food, and pet care products and services, we employ 140,000+ dedicated Associates. With almost $45 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world's best-loved brands including Ben's Original™, CESAR®, Cocoavia®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, KIND®, M&M's®, SNICKERS®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, and WHISKAS®. We are creating a better world for pets through our global network of pet hospitals and diagnostic services – including AniCura, BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, Linnaeus and VCA™ – using cutting edge technology to develop breakthrough programs in genetic health screening and DNA testing.
For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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SOURCE Mars Wrigley | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/12/13/mars-steps-into-performance-nutrition-game-with-new-snickers-hi-protein-bars/ | 2022-12-13 14:35:10 | 0 | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/12/13/mars-steps-into-performance-nutrition-game-with-new-snickers-hi-protein-bars/ |
Powerball jackpot jumps to $1.2 billion after no winner on Halloween
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Powerball jackpot has soared to an estimated $1.20 billion after no ticket matched all six numbers on Halloween night.
The winner, who must match numbers on five white balls (1-69) and the red Powerball (1-26), also has the option to claim a one-time lump sum payment of an estimated $596.7 million before taxes.
Lottery officials said the current jackpot ranks as the 2nd largest in Powerball history, only behind the world record $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot, and 4th largest in U.S. lottery history.
The next drawing will be held at 10:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Last night’s Powerball jackpot winning numbers
The winning numbers in Monday evening’s drawing of the Powerball game were: 13-19-36-39-59, Powerball: 13, and Power Play: 3.
There were 10 winners who matched five numbers worth $1 million in California, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Texas, lottery officials said.
Three tickets in Florida, New York, and Oklahoma matched all five white balls and increased their $1 million prize to $2 million by including the Power Play option for an additional $1. There were also 134 tickets nationwide that won a $50,000 prize, and another 23 tickets that won a $150,000 prize, according to Powerball officials.
How to play the Powerball Jackpot
FILE IMAGE - Powerball tickets at The Hub on Broadway on Friday, March 22, 2019, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
The Powerball jackpot grows until a winning ticket is sold. Winners can choose to receive their prize as an annuity, paid in 30 payments over 29 years, or take the lump sum payment. Federal and jurisdictional taxes are applicable to either payout.
Powerball drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday in 45 states, Washington D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The drawings are broadcast live from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, and also live-streamed on Powerball.com.
The grand prize was previously won on Aug. 3 in Pennsylvania, resulting in a $206.9 million jackpot. Since then, there have been 38 consecutive drawings without a grand prize winner, lottery officials said.
Powerball currently holds the world record for the largest jackpot ever: a whopping $1.586 billion prize in 2016 that was shared by winners in California, Florida, and Tennessee.
Odds of winning the Powerball Jackpot
The overall odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are just 1 in 292.2 million. To put that into perspective, those odds are a little worse than flipping a coin and getting heads 28 straight times, University of Nebraska-Omaha mathematics professor Andrew Swift previously told the Associated Press.
For those feeling lucky and wanting to spend $2 for a ticket, the overall odds of winning any prize is a little better at 1 in 24.9.
This story was reported from Cincinnati. | https://www.fox4news.com/news/powerball-jackpot-1-2-billion-last-nights-drawing-no-winner | 2022-11-01 14:36:40 | 0 | https://www.fox4news.com/news/powerball-jackpot-1-2-billion-last-nights-drawing-no-winner |
Coming off the first losing season of his tenure, University of Central Arkansas Coach Nathan Brown is looking toward new beginnings as he and his team prepare for the inaugural ASUN football season.
The fifth-year coach spoke at UCA's media day Thursday as he prepares an attempt to get the Bears back to their winning ways.
UCA got its first taste of ASUN competition last season, with matchups against ASUN foes Jacksonville State and Eastern Kentucky. But this season will be the conference's first full slate of games.
"I think we're going to see our players and coaches thrive more this year knowing what to expect," Brown said.
Along with the excitement surrounding the inaugural ASUN season, Brown said he believes it will be the perfect test as to where UCA is as a program -- and where it hopes to be.
"I think it's exciting. I mean, anytime you can be the first and kind of be a trailblazer, I think that's a positive thing," Brown said. "I've talked to our players about that all the time. You have a chance to get your name in the record book forever. [If] you become the inaugural season conference champions of the ASUN, people will always remember that. When you talk about a lasting legacy, when you talk about the ever-changing environment we're in in college athletics, and conference realignments and all the things that are right in our face right now, I think it's an exciting time to be a part of a progressive and proactive conference.
"We're trying to find out where our wheelhouse is moving forward as a university and as an athletic program, and the ASUN is in the perfect spot for us right now."
The Bears will take two schools that finished last season in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision rankings -- Missouri State (No. 14) and Stephen F. Austin (No. 18).
In Week 2, the Bears will travel to Oxford, Miss., to take on Ole Miss, which is in most preseason FBS rankings. The Rebels will be the fifth FBS team Brown has faced during his tenure, and his players said they are eager to see how they stack up to the competition.
"To be in that atmosphere and just see how you measure up," Junior defensive back Cameron Godfrey said. "The SEC is like the top conference. You know, it's how you measure up [with] 'the best in the nation.' "
"Well, coming out of high school everybody felt like they was SEC, Power 5 talents and [now] we get to play them, so we'll just see how we play against [them]," sophomore defensive back Tamaurion Wilson said.
For junior defensive end Logan Jessup, an ASUN all-conference selection, it's season-opening matchup against Missouri State, not the game against Ole Miss, that peaks his interest. He said he has his sights set on revenge following a 43-34 loss last season.
"Obviously [I'm] looking forward to that opportunity to play in that atmosphere and that level of ball, but to me, I think we've got a lot of unfinished business in Week 1 against Missouri State at home," Jessup said. "So I've got that one circled. Definitely looking forward to that challenge as well. We'll knock Missouri State off first."
Brown said if his team is to reach his lofty expectations for the 2022 season, it starts before the season with a strong schedule.
"It's difficult," Brown said. "[Athletic Director Brad] Teague does a great job scheduling our football program and our schedule every single year. ... There are no cupcakes, and I think that's the part that gets you excited. It's a challenge. It ought to motivate you.
"But again, it's going to make us be on point week in and week out to have a successful season. At the end of the day, to make the playoffs, you've got to play a tough nonconference schedule."
[] | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/jul/22/brown-bears-take-aim-at-asun-slate/ | 2022-07-22 08:58:23 | 1 | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/jul/22/brown-bears-take-aim-at-asun-slate/ |
Ooni launches its most innovative offering yet, including the brand's first electric indoor and outdoor pizza oven, the reimagination of an award-winning pizza oven, and new pizza-making accessories.
EDINBURGH, Scotland, March 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ooni Pizza Ovens, the creator and leader of the home pizza oven market, is today launching new products including two new additions to its multi-award-winning line of ovens: the Ooni Volt 12 Indoor & Outdoor Electric Pizza Oven and the Karu 12G Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven. Building on a decade of experience and innovation, Ooni's new ovens bring a new level of versatility and accessibility to home pizza-making.
After releasing the world's first-ever portable pizza oven in 2012, Ooni is now making plug-in pizza possible with the debut of its first electric indoor and outdoor pizza oven, the Volt 12 (MSRP: $999). Capable of reaching 850 °F in just 20 minutes, Ooni Volt 12 offers heat, time and balance control, allowing users to cook a wide range of pizza styles, including classic Neapolitan, deep dish Detroit-style and authentic New York-style pizza. With a triple-paned borosilicate glass door, weather-resistant powder-coated carbon steel shell, and intuitive user interface, the Volt 12 is an accessible innovation that enables world-class pizza.
"We want absolutely everyone to be able to make delicious pizza at home — wherever they are," said Ooni Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Darina Garland. "So, we've spent years developing an oven that brings the pure pizza power of our outdoor ovens indoors! We're super excited to offer the Ooni experience to a new group of fellow pizza-lovers."
In addition, Ooni is also proud to introduce the world's most advanced portable pizza oven, the all-new Ooni Karu 12G (MSRP: $429). With multi-fuel versatility, an integrated thermometer and a triple-paned borosilicate glass door, the Ooni Karu 12G shares the design and technical DNA of the much-lauded Ooni Karu 16, enabling users to create authentic wood-fired pizzas in just 60 seconds. What's more, when coupled with the optional gas burner attachment, this supremely balanced oven uses 36% less propane than Ooni's previous models, while still offering the fuel flexibility of both wood and charcoal.
Ooni Founder and Co-CEO Kristian Tapaninaho, who designed the brand's first pizza oven, worked tirelessly with Ooni's teams of engineers and designers to create the brand's most accessible pizza-cooking experience yet.
"We've thought through every single detail, from the ClearView glass door to the built-in thermometer," said Tapaninaho. "The Karu 12G is for everyone who wants to make great pizza at home, but also wants the flexibility to take the pizza party on the road. In a portable yet powerful package, we've created an oven that embodies our decade of pizza oven product development. Every touchpoint is meticulously designed to deliver a superior pizza-making experience."
Today, Ooni is also introducing two new accessories designed to enhance pizza preparation. Made in the United Kingdom of BPA-free polypropylene and sold in a set of two for $59.99, the Ooni Pizza Dough Boxes are a new space-saving solution to proof up to 12 dough balls. Sold separately for $34.99, the Ooni Pizza Prep Lid stacks neatly onto the Ooni Pizza Dough Boxes. Made with sustainable FSC bamboo, the multi-purpose prep board is perfect for preparing dough, chopping toppings, and serving delicious pizza. Both new accessories are also available in an exclusive bundle for $89.99.
See Ooni reveal the details of these new category-defining ovens and innovative accessories here, during their first multi-product launch broadcast. ooni.com/pages/the-future-of-pizza
About Ooni
Founded by husband-and-wife team Kristian Tapaninaho and Darina Garland in 2012, Ooni Pizza Ovens revolutionized the outdoor cooking landscape and created a new category when they launched the world's first portable pizza oven. Known for bringing portable pizza ovens to backyards all over the world, Ooni's goal is to help people make truly great pizza at home.
Ooni's live fire ovens give users the ability to cook authentic, flame-cooked pizza in just 60 seconds, ready to start cooking in 25 minutes or less and heating up to 950 ˚F — twice the temperature of a home oven and the searing temperature you need for incredible Neapolitan-style pizza.
In addition to offering award-winning ovens, Ooni has a comprehensive range of must-have accessories and carefully curated ingredients for pizza cooks, all available on Ooni.com.
Ooni Pizza Ovens, a family-run business, is a values-lead organization driven by passion, innovation, kindness, rigor and ambition, with an overarching belief that everyone deserves great pizza. It is BCorp™ certified, joining a highly selective group of companies verified to meet high standards for social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
Ooni is also an official partner of 1% for the Planet, and donates 1% of its annual global revenue to social and environmental causes. Among the many initiatives supported, Ooni has funded the planting of 3,114,825 trees in Madagascar through its partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects.
To explore the full Ooni Pizza Ovens product range, visit ooni.com
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SOURCE Ooni Pizza Ovens | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/03/02/future-pizza-is-here-introducing-ooni-volt-12-amp-ooni-karu-12g/ | 2023-03-02 18:27:46 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/03/02/future-pizza-is-here-introducing-ooni-volt-12-amp-ooni-karu-12g/ |
HOUSTON (AP) _ Service Corp. International (SCI) on Tuesday reported second-quarter earnings of $132.7 million.
On a per-share basis, the Houston-based company said it had net income of 82 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 84 cents per share.
The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 82 cents per share.
The funeral home and cemetery operator posted revenue of $990.9 million in the period.
Service Corp. expects full-year earnings in the range of $3.30 to $3.70 per share.
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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SCI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SCI | https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Service-Corp-Q2-Earnings-Snapshot-17346444.php | 2022-08-02 22:45:26 | 1 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Service-Corp-Q2-Earnings-Snapshot-17346444.php |
Open-sourcing of its UE5 SDK for Solana, ATLAS Locking, and a Star Atlas Graphic Novel among the latest updates unveiled by the Star Atlas team
MIAMI, Sept. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Star Atlas, a next-gen gaming experience with triple-A game design and visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5 – built on the Solana blockchain – today hosted their second community-focused 426LIVE event announcing a series of updates, including the highly-anticipated launch of the first playable experience in Star Atlas, available on the Epic Games Store.
Michael Wagner, Co-Founder of Star Atlas and CEO of ATMTA, Inc., commented, "We're really excited to finally be able to give users a taste of Star Atlas and start to bring this immersive world to life. We're excited to bring our triple-A quality blockchain game to the Epic Games Store, and we can't wait to see web3 gaming become mainstream."
Star Atlas keynote announcements include:
- Star Atlas: Showroom / Pre-Alpha gameplay demo - The Showroom features a real-time Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) game environment and is the first glimpse into what players can look forward to in Star Atlas. The downloadable Pre-Alpha demo client combines UE5's Nanite, Lumen, and other cutting-edge graphics technology, to deliver cinematic quality video game visuals, with the state-of-the-art in blockchain, allowing for a display of in-game assets that's wholly owned by the players. The full Showroom with expanded functionality is aimed for release in Q4 2022. You can obtain an access key to the Pre-Alpha demo by joining the Star Atlas metaverse, selecting a faction, choosing your ship and enrolling it in your faction's fleet to be eligible for a key.
Danny Floyd, Co-Founder and CPO of ATMTA, Inc., commented on the Pre-Alpha Demo: "With this first Pre-Alpha module released on the Epic Games Store, Star Atlas continues to pave the way for mass adoption of Web3 gaming. As one of the early adopters to utilize UE5's advanced all-new technologies like Nanite and Lumen, we believe that we're setting the worldwide standards for the next generation of triple-A gaming. With every single pixel and texture expertly placed in the environment, we achieve the best immersive experience with a look and feel that rivals reality itself." - Foundation Software Development Kit: F-KIT - The fully open source SDK is the ultimate tool designed to lead an entire new generation of entertainment and facilitate the mass adoption of web3 gaming. Available to any developer worldwide, it enables quick and simple integration of Unreal Engine 5 with the Solana blockchain. By sharing with developers worldwide, Star Atlas is making it easier than ever for studios to build on the Solana blockchain.
Matt Sorg, Head of Partner Engineering of the Solana Foundation, commented on the Foundation SDK launch: "Star Atlas is a pioneer that is bolstering the entire Solana ecosystem. With a major reduction in development time and cost compared to building the functionality from scratch, Star Atlas is supporting and expediting the development of high quality Solana games and lowering the barrier of entry for studios new to blockchain gaming and Solana."
Yat Siu, the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands, commented: "Channeling the spirit of Web3, the Star Atlas F-kit paves the way for mass adoption of decentralized gaming. It instantly renders the open metaverse accessible to hundreds of millions of new entrants and enables anyone to build immersive experiences themselves, creating more opportunities through digital ownership and by giving game studios and publishers the ability to integrate the Solana blockchain into high-quality projects built using Unreal Engine." - Star Atlas participates in the MLH Fellowship - To introduce aspiring developers to the future of web3 gaming, Star Atlas is participating in the Major League Hacking Web3 Fellowship, a program sponsored by Solana where developers come to contribute to projects and launch their careers in the web3 ecosystem. Over the course of 12 weeks, 4 emerging developers will pair up with the Star Atlas development team to expand the use cases supported by the Foundation SDK.
Jon Gottfried, Co-Founder of Major League Hacking, commented on the project: "We see a lot of developers that are passionate about web3, and they've been clamoring for a project in the gaming space — now we can give them the best of both worlds. This program is designed to power the next generation of open source developers, and we see this partnership as a pathway for the MLH community to help build the future of web3 gaming." - Star Atlas: CORE - Star Atlas: CORE is an episodic graphic novel that brings the Star Atlas metaverse, its lore, and characters to a global audience. Featuring a gripping tale with high-quality art, this first-of-its-kind metaverse graphic novel is being released to the community in individual chapters that follow the story development and will be available for reading on the Star Atlas website as well as in the Showroom at a later date.
Tim McBurnie, Lead Artist at ATMTA, Inc, commented on the release of CORE: "The CORE graphic novel takes you on a journey of a lifetime in the form of individual chapters that mark key developments in the Star Atlas lore and deepen the reader's understanding of the Star Atlas metaverse." - ATLAS Locking - ATLAS Locking is a new feature in the Star Atlas DAO interface that makes the galactic economy and its Marketplace even more interwoven with the governance layer. Much like the recently announced POLIS Locking, players can now lock their ATLAS tokens for up to five years.
Dan Park, General Counsel at ATMTA, Inc., commented on the Star Atlas DAO: "The Sustainable Governance Framework for the Star Atlas DAO reflects a community-first and community-driven ethos. Just as players own Star Atlas assets via non-fungible tokens and ecosystem development is increasingly led by community developers, the fate of the Star Atlas metaverse itself is in the hands of a decentralized and diverse community expressing its will via on-chain governance."
Mr. Wagner concluded: "To bring the future to Unreal and blockchain developers at warp speed, we are also publishing F-kit, a first-ever entirely open source SDK for easily connecting the Solana blockchain to Unreal Engine 5 projects."
This 426LIVE is the second in a series of community events marking the grand finale on the cusp of Star Atlas summer, with the first having taken place earlier this summer in July, announcing new releases like the new Galactic Marketplace and the Star Atlas DAO. These events will be followed by additional product releases throughout the next months, with more to be announced on the Star Atlas Discord.
ABOUT STAR ATLAS
Star Atlas is a next-gen gaming metaverse emerging from the confluence of state-of-the-art blockchain, real-time graphics, multiplayer video game, and decentralized financial technologies. Real-time graphics technology using Unreal Engine 5's Nanite allows for cinematic quality video game visuals. Blockchain technology using the Solana protocol establishes a largely serverless and secured gameplay experience.
Non-fungible tokens obtained and traded within Star Atlas create an economy that replicates the tangibility of real-world assets and ownership.
To learn more, visit StarAtlas.com, download the game demo on the Epic Game Store, join a faction at Play.StarAtlas.com.
M Group Strategic Communications (for Star Atlas)
1-646-859-5955
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SOURCE Star Atlas | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/09/29/star-atlas-launches-unreal-engine-5-powered-pre-alpha-showroom-epic-games-store/ | 2022-09-29 19:16:56 | 0 | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/09/29/star-atlas-launches-unreal-engine-5-powered-pre-alpha-showroom-epic-games-store/ |
Multiple Senate Democrats have announced their support for a bill reversing President Biden's executive action allowing Chinese solar panel manufacturers to sidestep tariffs.
The growing support for the resolution among Senate Democrats, including some committee leaders, comes as the House is set to vote on a companion bill Friday morning. The Senate and House bills were introduced earlier this year, months after Biden implemented a 24-month pause on the enforcement of solar panel anti-circumvention tariffs amid pressure from climate and green energy groups.
"The United States relies on foreign nations, like China, for far too many of our energy needs, and failing to enforce our existing trade laws undermines the goals of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act to onshore our energy supply chains, including solar," said Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
"I cannot fathom why the Administration and Congress would consider extending that reliance any longer and am proud to join this CRA to rescind the rule," he continued.
CHINESE TECH COMPANIES ARE EXPLOITING US GREEN ENERGY GOALS, FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS WARN
Manchin also co-sponsored the Senate resolution overturning Biden's actions. Like the House bill, the Senate resolution utilizes the Congressional Review Act (CRA), a law dating back nearly three decades that allows Congress to revoke federal regulation.
Shortly after Manchin's announcement, several other Democratic colleagues similarly argued the Biden administration's actions protecting Chinese solar exports unfairly harmed the American solar industry.
DEM CONGRESSWOMAN SILENT ON WHY SHE SIGNED HUSH AGREEMENT INVOLVING CHINESE TECH COMPANY
"I’ve fought my whole career to stand up for Ohio manufacturers and Ohio workers when they’re forced to compete with cheap, unfairly subsidized imports – I’m not going to stop now," Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said in a statement. "The Chinese government will do anything to undermine American manufacturing, and would like nothing more than to kill the American solar manufacturing industry before it takes off."
"Ohio is ready to lead in the manufacturing industries of the future – we must not put that progress at risk," added Brown, who chairs the Senate Banking Committee. "The president got this one wrong. I’ve always stood up to presidents of both parties to fight for fair trade and a level playing field for Ohio workers, which is why I will support Congressional action to end the Administration’s waiver of solar tariffs."
In addition, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said he would vote for the bill because he supports "red, white and blue manufacturing jobs," The Washington Post reported.
And in an interview with the Post, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., also vowed to support the resolution, explaining that "China’s got to be held accountable."
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont, a critic of China's economic aggression, is still reviewing the bill, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
REPUBLICANS PLAN OVERSIGHT INTO HOW BIDEN ADMIN'S GREEN PUSH BENEFITS CHINA: 'NOTHING IS OFF THE TABLE'
"Standing up for American manufacturers and workers—especially in the face of illegal, predatory Chinese trade activity — should be an issue that unites lawmakers on both sides of the aisle," Nick Iacovella, a spokesperson for the Coalition for a Prosperous America, a pro-tariff industry group, told Fox News Digital.
"The facts are clear: Commerce confirmed that China is illegally violating U.S. trade law and the Biden administration’s misguided rule protects them," he continued. "We applaud Democrats and Republicans for recognizing that Congress should never sit idly by and fail to respond to attacks on American industries and workers by any administration—regardless of party."
Months before Biden issued his executive action temporarily removing tariffs from the Chinese solar industry, the Commerce Department opened a probe into whether Chinese manufacturers were illegally routing solar panels through Southeast Asia to avoid U.S. tariffs.
In December, the Commerce Department released preliminary investigation findings showing that four large solar companies had, in fact, routed products through Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam to circumvent duties. But, with Biden's tariff enforcement moratorium in effect, the agency hasn't enforced trade laws prohibiting such activity.
In response, a month later, a group of Republicans and Democrats led by Reps. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., and Bill Posey, R-Fla., and joined by Reps. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., Bob Latta, R-Ohio, Terri Sewell, D-Ala., and Garret Graves, R-La., introduced a CRA resolution to nix Biden's executive action.
And Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., introduced the Senate version of the CRA in February.
"I’m a strong supporter of President Biden, and I was proud to work with him to pass new laws to boost American manufacturing and bring back our country’s solar manufacturing industry. However, I disagree with the administration’s policy on this matter," Kildee told Fox News Digital in a statement.
"China has been found to have violated our trade laws, yet the United States has failed to respond, including suspending tariffs and letting their unlawful behavior go unanswered."
The White House said late last week that Biden would veto the legislation if it is passed by Congress. The veto can be overridden if the bill receives a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House. | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/national/senate-dems-line-up-in-favor-of-spiking-bidens-chinese-solar-handout/article_d083f018-15be-5a98-b0ba-315e80604326.html | 2023-04-28 11:52:53 | 0 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/national/senate-dems-line-up-in-favor-of-spiking-bidens-chinese-solar-handout/article_d083f018-15be-5a98-b0ba-315e80604326.html |
Women’s sports saw pivotal growth in deals, interest in 2022
By ALANIS THAMES
AP Sports Writer
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley has been around women’s basketball long enough to see the growing pains of a young WNBA league gradually shifting to increased interest in the sport at all levels.
“We probably are bursting at the seams for the people that are decision-makers in our game to allow us to be just that,” said Staley, who led the Gamecocks to their second women’s hoops title this year.
Popularity across women’s sports has grown steadily over the past few years, but 2022 marked a pivotal moment as several sports saw increases in viewership and ratings, sponsorship deals and prime-time coverage.
This past WNBA regular season was the most watched since 2006. And storylines were plentiful as the league contended with the detainment of Phoenix Mercury center and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner and the retirement of one of the league’s most popular players in Seattle Storm point guard Sue Bird.
According to ESPN, which aired 25 regular-season games and the entire postseason, the 2022 playoffs averaged 456,000 viewers — up 22% over 2021’s postseason — making it the most-viewed WNBA postseason since 2007. The WNBA draft averaged 403,000 viewers, which was the most since Diana Taurasi was the top pick in 2004.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said her league and the women’s college game build off each other.
Engelbert said the NCAA Women’s Tournament, which had the most viewed championship game in nearly two decades, built momentum for the women’s game heading into the WNBA season. Now she wants to see how far that growth can go.
“I’m never satisfied,” Engelbert said. “My team is like ‘Ask for more.’ When you’re in hyper growth mode that’s how you have to do it. We don’t rest. We have to take advantage of the momentum when you have it. … You have to keep pushing, too.
“We’re underinvested and undervalued.”
The league has a deal with ESPN/ABC through 2025 where the company paid the WNBA $27 million in 2021 and $28.5 million this past season. That number goes up $1.5 million per season until it hits $33 million in 2025.
At the collegiate level, division I football players continue to exponentially out-earn athletes in all other sports. But name, image and likeness (NIL) deals have been a game changer for female collegiate athletes, particular in non-revenue producing sports. NIL allows women to take advantage of large social media followings and earn sponsorships with brands like Champs and Adidas.
Olivia Dunne, a gymnast at LSU, has over 8 million followers across all of her social media platforms, more than any other female collegiate athlete. Her sponsorships include deals with the clothing brand Vuori and American Eagle.
From the July 2021 inception of NIL through November, women’s sports occupied six of the top 10 highest-earning sports by NIL compensation, according to the NIL technology and marketing company Opendorse.
“The student-athletes are using social media to build their own audiences, which is driving more interest and tune in to their sports,” said Blake Lawrence, CEO at Opendorse. “The industry is feeding itself … the more marketable the women’s sports athletes, the more engaged their audience will be, the more engaged the audience will be, the more marketable the athletes become.”
Women’s soccer has also enjoyed a boost in 2022.
The sport has seen increased global revenue from sponsorships and broadcast deals, according to a survey by FIFA, the sports’ governing body. In an October report, the organization found that clubs reported year-on-year commercial revenue growth of 33% — indicating growing interest from sponsors; 77% of leagues had a title sponsor in 2021, up from 66% the previous year.
That structural growth was coupled with unprecedented overall interest in the game.
An August friendly between the United States and England at Wembley sold out in a day and drew nearly 78,000 fans. That was after 87, 192 people watched England defeat Germany 2-1 in the European Championship finals. It was the biggest attendance for a European Championship match, men’s or women’s.
“The number and the types of different platforms that are highlighting women’s sports, not just women’s soccer, it’s just showing overall that there is interest,” said Kate Markgraf, the general manager of the U.S. Women’s National Team.
In the United States, the National Women’s Soccer League saw growing popularity amid the backdrop of a league-wide abuse scandal.
In August, an independent investigation commissioned by U.S. Soccer found that emotional abuse and sexual misconduct in its pro league were systemic, impacting multiple teams, coaches and players.
Still, the NWSL title game on Oct. 29 averaged 915,000 viewers on CBS in prime time, a league record.
As the sport gains global momentum ahead of next summer’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, U.S., Markgraf expects this year’s trend to continue for the foreseeable future, and she wants the success and popularity of women’s soccer to impact fans personally.
“When you go to a game and you watch it, it’s like, huh, and you leave changed,” she said. “And the more frequently they happen, the longer they resonate. … That’s the goal of U.S. soccer, is to be one of the preeminent sports in our country.” | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national/2022/12/27/womens-sports-saw-pivotal-growth-in-deals-interest-in-2022/ | 2022-12-27 15:41:30 | 1 | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national/2022/12/27/womens-sports-saw-pivotal-growth-in-deals-interest-in-2022/ |
Firm to Remain a Minority Investor
NEW YORK, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the closing of the merger of its portfolio company, Altima Dental, with 123Dentist, a leading dental support organization ("DSO") based in Vancouver, to create one of the largest DSOs in Canada. The transaction was financed through equity capital provided by 123Dentist's existing private equity sponsor, Peloton Capital Management, and new investors KKR, a leading global investment firm, and Heartland Dental, a KKR portfolio company and the leading dental support organization in the U.S. Sentinel will retain a minority equity stake in the combined company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Altima Dental, headquartered in Toronto, was Sentinel's fifth investment in the dental sector at the time of the closing in 2016. In 2019, Altima merged with Quebec-based Lapointe Group, creating a leading DSO with offices in six provinces across Canada. In July 2022, Altima Dental and 123Dentist announced the plan to merge all three entities to create one of the largest DSOs in Canada with a network of 350 clinics servicing the entire country with a presence in every major metropolitan market. The merger creates a business with a national footprint across Canada and supports dental practices that provide a wide range of dental care to more than 800,000 patients, with more than 2.5 million patient visits annually.
"We expect this merger to benefit Canadian dentists, dental professionals, and patients alike, and will greatly expand support services for an already thriving dentist community that focuses on delivering exceptional care, improved access to high quality dentistry services, and greater opportunities for career advancement and mentorship for our team members," said Dr. Amin Shivji, CEO of 123Dentist.
"As a dentist-led organization for nearly 30 years, we have focused on bringing to patient care a dentist perspective as we built Altima Dental. Because 123Dentist has a similar focus, this combination will enable our supported dentists to continue to deliver an exceptional patient experience to Canadians," said Dr. George Christodoulou and Dr. Sven Grail, co-Founders and co-CEOs of Altima Dental. "Now, as part of the 123Dentist family, we are incredibly well-positioned to further develop our capabilities as one of the leading dental support organizations in Canada."
"We are grateful for the strong partnership we have had with the founders and management teams at Altima Dental and Lapointe Group," said Paul Murphy, Partner at Sentinel Capital Partners. "As an ongoing investor in the merger, we are looking forward to supporting Dr. Amin Shivji and the combined 123Dentist team as they continue to build a leading dentist-centric organization."
Sentinel has established a strong long-term record of investing in the dental sector dating back to its first platform investment in 2003. Besides Altima Dental, Sentinel's other dental investments include MB2 Dental, a dental partnership organization with a unique doctor-centric ownership model; Castle Dental and Metro Dentalcare, each a leading regional dental service provider; Northeast Dental Management, a leading dental service provider in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic; and ReachOut Healthcare America, a leader in mobile dentistry.
Sentinel specializes in buying and building midmarket businesses in the United States and Canada in partnership with management. Sentinel targets aerospace and defense, business services, consumer, distribution, food and restaurants, franchising, healthcare, and industrial businesses. Sentinel invests in management buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures, going-private transactions, and structured equity investments of established businesses with EBITDA of up to $80 million. Sentinel also invests in special situations, including balance sheet restructurings, operational turnarounds, and minority junior capital solutions. For more information, please visit: sentinelpartners.com.
Altima Dental is one of Canada's longest-standing premier dental support organizations, founded and led by dentists, Dr. George Christodoulou and Dr. Sven Grail, who recognize the aspiration of providing exceptional healthcare and achieving personal and professional advancement. Altima Dental focuses on supporting superior patient care, best clinical practices, and true partnership with dentists. Altima Dental was named 2021 Best Workplaces in Health Care. For more information, please visit: altimadentalpartners.com.
Founded in 1987 by Larry and Yves Lapointe, Lapointe Group has been serving professionals and patients for 35 years. The Lapointe Group joined Altima Dental in 2019 and operates the Lapointe Dental Centres, a 100% Quebec banner of the Lapointe Group, with over 35 dental practices that provide the infrastructure for the practice of dental health professionals, offering a wide range of integrated services that enable dentists and denturists to optimize their practice and direct their full focus on patient care. The Lapointe Group also operates a high-tech integrated dental lab, Summum Dental Laboratory, including over 80 dental technicians, and expertise in all types of dental prosthetics. For more information, please visit: centreslapointe.com.
123Dentist is a leading dental support organization in Canada. It has grown from a single practice in Vancouver, owned by CEO Dr. Amin Shivji and two partners, to more than 250 supported practices and 3,500 team members. 123Dentist was founded on two key principles: putting patients above all else; and that supported dentists and staff are the most important factors in keeping patients happy. 123Dentist's vision is to be the dental support community all Canadian dentists and dental professionals want to belong to. 123Dentist offers alternative partnership models to meet the needs of each individual dentist, including the opportunity to retain ownership of the clinic. This unique model enables supported dentists to focus on providing optimal care to patients, while an experienced team provides a wide range of support services. For more information, please visit: 123dentist.com.
Contact: Roland Tomforde
Broadgate Consultants
212-232-2222
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SOURCE Sentinel Capital Partners | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/sentinel-exits-altima-dental-via-merger-with-123dentist/ | 2022-08-15 11:26:44 | 0 | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/sentinel-exits-altima-dental-via-merger-with-123dentist/ |
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New funding will further fuel Taranis' growth, global expansion, and investment in technologies to make the agri-carbon market a reality for growers
WESTFIELD, Ind. and TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Taranis, the leading AI-powered crop intelligence provider, announced today that it has raised $40 million in Series D funding. The round was led by Inven Capital, a European climate tech fund, with participation from new investors Seraphim Space Investment Trust ('SSIT') and Farglory Group, and strong backing from existing investors: Vertex Growth, Viola Ventures, Vertex Ventures Israel, La Maison Partners, Hitachi Ventures, K3 Ventures, UMC Capital, OurCrowd, Micron Ventures, iAngels Ventures, Presidio Ventures (Sumitomo), Cavallo Ventures (Wilbur Ellis), Finistere Ventures, and Eyal Gura. This latest round brings Taranis' total funding to $100 million.
"We see a tremendous need for crop intelligence at scale as growers deal with soaring costs and a constant need to increase productivity and yield,'' said Ofir Schlam, Taranis' President & Co-Founder. "Over 100 agricultural retailers and advisors are sharing our journey as innovation partners. They rely on Taranis as the critical source of insights into crop health and threats across millions of acres, to drive better outcomes for their growers."
Taranis' crop intelligence platform uniquely leverages leaf-level imagery and is powered by cutting-edge machine learning, trained by the industry's largest crop dataset containing over 200 million AI-data points. In the most recent growing season, Taranis delivered millions of actionable insights to ag advisors and growers, empowering decision making, simplifying crop management, and improving their bottom line.
Petra Sokolová, Investment Manager at Inven Capital, said: "Inven Capital is delighted to lead this important investment round. Agritech innovations are critical in advancing sustainable agriculture, making the most efficient use of our Earth's resources, and securing the future of farming. Technologies that facilitate crop intelligence and agricultural carbon credits such as Taranis' solutions have large-scale potential to improve sustainability and enduring prosperity. We are excited about the impact they will have in the local communities they serve, and to support them in their mission."
"Responsibly increasing global food supply is a critical challenge we face today. We have been following the Agritech market for quite some time as we see the value of using Earth observation data to optimize crop yields," said Andre Ronsoehr, Investment Principal at Seraphim Space Manager. "When we discovered Taranis, they immediately stood out to us, given their sub-millimeter imaging capabilities. These images unlock early detection of nutrient deficiencies and diseases which is the key to improving crop yields."
"I'm excited about our growth trajectory," said Bar Veinstein, Taranis' CEO. "The new funding will allow us to accelerate our 3-year plan, rapidly expand our operations, and deliver transformative technology to the market faster. We are delighted to welcome our new investors and continue to be grateful to our existing investors for their support."
Taranis is the world's leading AI-powered crop intelligence platform, 100% focused on helping ag advisors demonstrate value to their growers and build better relationships through full-service, leaf-level data capture that allows them to accelerate decision making, simplify management, and improve their bottom line. Since starting in 2015, Taranis has worked with the world's top agricultural retailers and crop protection companies, serving millions of acres for customers in the United States, Brazil, and Europe. Taranis has offices located in Westfield, Indiana, Tel Aviv, Israel, and Campinas, Brazil. To learn more visit www.taranis.ag.
Inven Capital is a European VC fund with EUR 430m fund size focused on later-stage climate tech investments in Europe & Israel, backed by CEZ Group and European Investment Bank (EIB). Inven Capital's strategy is to seek out investment opportunities in innovative and fast growing climate tech startups, with focus on CO2 footprint reduction. It primarily focuses on later-stage growth investment opportunities with a sound business model proven by realized revenues and long-term growth potential. The fund is a member of Invest Europe (European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association), VentureESG and Cleantech for Europe. Since 2015, INVEN CAPITAL has invested in a total of fourteen companies (e.g. CyberX, Driivz, Sonnen, Sunfire, tado, Forto or Zolar), and made successful exits from three of them. For more information, visit www.invencapital.cz.
Seraphim Space Investment Trust plc is the world's first listed fund focused on SpaceTech. The Company seeks exposure predominantly to early and growth stage privately financed SpaceTech businesses that have the potential to dominate globally and that are category leaders with first mover advantages in areas such as climate, communications, mobility and cyber security.
The Company listed on the London Stock Exchange on 14 July 2021, following an oversubscribed IPO raising £150m of fresh capital. As 31 March 2022, the Company had net assets of £250m and exposure to 23 SpaceTech companies.
Seraphim Space Investment Trust plc is managed by Seraphim Space Manager LLP.
Further information is available at: https://investors.seraphim.vc
Contact:
Dani Guzman
dani.guzman@taranis.ag
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SOURCE Taranis | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/taranis-raises-40-million-series-d-advance-crop-intelligence-unlock-growth-opportunities-agribusinesses/ | 2022-09-07 13:17:09 | 0 | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/taranis-raises-40-million-series-d-advance-crop-intelligence-unlock-growth-opportunities-agribusinesses/ |
NEW YORK, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Smartfluence, the leading SaaS influencer marketing platform, announced a seed round investment of $2.15 million led by PACA Ventures. Ira Lubert and Jo Webber, both principals at PACA Ventures, will be joining Smartfluence's board of directors.
Smartfluence, founded in 2018, is changing the way brands and social media influencers engage with each other by utilizing a quantitative analytical approach. Its platform enables brands to automate and scale their influencer marketing programs through its proprietary data-driven algorithms which enable brands to understand influencer audiences by providing metrics like audience credibility scores, brand and interest affinities, audience demographics, and estimated pricing. Its influencer discovery engine helps brands identify relevant influencers for their campaigns, customize and automate outreach in order to build and nurture influencer relationships, and utilize campaign results to refine search and double down on high-ROI relationships.
The funding will be used to accelerate customer expansion and enhance Smartfluence's proprietary influencer automation software – building integrated influencer relationship management and e-commerce platform support.
"Smartfluence being added to PACA Ventures' portfolio of innovative technology brands is a great honor as we continue the rapid growth of our SaaS influencer marketing platform," said David Ko, CEO & co-founder of Smartfluence. "Ira, Jo and the rest of team are the perfect partners as they have insight into the market segment and deep experience with visionary companies transforming in this space. With this funding round, we are in a position to further help customers automate influencer relationships and expand reach across all advertising channels at-scale."
Smartfluence is positioned as the leading player in key industries including luxury apparel, pets, and beauty & cosmetics. Smartfluence's customers range from e-commerce stores to enterprises looking to scale their influencer discovery.
"From our first meeting with Smartfluence, we were impressed with the company's innovation and leadership team, and knew we wanted to play a role at the ground floor of their acceleration," said Ira Lubert, PACA Ventures. "The social media influencer industry is exploding right now, and Smartfluence has a tremendous opportunity to meet brands' needs for a platform that scales influencer marketing programs."
For more information about Smartfluence, visit smartfluence.io and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Smartfluence is a creator discovery and management platform that enables brands to find the right influencers for their brand. Smartfluence's influencer analytics and predictive campaign statistics help brands automate their influencer marketing programs. For more information, visit smartfluence.io and schedule a demo.
PACA Ventures partners with visionary founders to build exceptional high-growth tech companies from Seed through Series B. Bringing decades of experience to venture capital funding, management and tech company creation, PACA Ventures operates out of Philadelphia, PA and Los Angeles, CA.
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SOURCE Smartfluence | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/smartfluence-fastest-growing-saas-influencer-marketing-platform-closes-215-million-seed-round-led-by-paca-ventures/ | 2022-08-09 17:20:20 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/smartfluence-fastest-growing-saas-influencer-marketing-platform-closes-215-million-seed-round-led-by-paca-ventures/ |
A first-time filmmaker makes a mark in Cannes competition with a Senegalese drama
By JAKE COYLE
AP Film Writer
CANNES, France (AP) — Most filmmakers in the Cannes Film Festival’s top-rung competition lineup are well-known directors who have been around for decades. One dramatic exception this year is Ramata-Toulaye Sy, a French-Senegalese filmmaker whose first film, “Banel & Adama,” landed among the 21 films competing for the Palme d’Or. The 36-year-old Sy is the sole first-timer in Cannes’ main lineup this year. She is also only the second Black female director to ever compete for the Palme. | https://kion546.com/news/2023/05/21/a-first-time-filmmaker-makes-a-mark-in-cannes-competition-with-a-senegalese-drama/ | 2023-05-21 23:11:46 | 0 | https://kion546.com/news/2023/05/21/a-first-time-filmmaker-makes-a-mark-in-cannes-competition-with-a-senegalese-drama/ |
TORONTO, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Nickel Creek Platinum Corp. (TSX: NCP) ("Nickel Creek" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of its annual general and special meeting of shareholders (the "AGM") that was held on May 31, 2022.
All of the following business items were approved at the AGM by the requisite majority of shareholder votes cast at the meeting:
- setting the size of the Board of Directors at seven;
- electing each management-nominated director;
- approving share-based compensation plan matters; and
- appointing PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Nickel Creek's auditor
The seven directors of Nickel Creek elected at the AGM are: Michele S. Darling, Mark Fields, Stuart Harshaw, Wayne Kirk, Myron G. Manternach, David Peat and Michel (Mike) Sylvestre. Votes for the directors were cast as follows:
About Nickel Creek Platinum Corp.
Nickel Creek Platinum Corp. (TSX: NCP; OTCQB: NCPCF) is a Canadian mining exploration and development company and its flagship asset is its 100%-owned Nickel Shäw Project. The Nickel Shäw Project is a large undeveloped nickel sulphide project with a unique mix of metals including copper, cobalt and platinum group metals, located in the Yukon, Canada, one of the most favourable jurisdictions in the world. The Nickel Shäw Project has exceptional access to infrastructure, located three hours west of Whitehorse via the paved Alaska Highway, which further offers year-round access to deep-sea shipping ports in southern Alaska. The Company is also investigating other opportunities for shareholder value creation.
The Company is led by a management team with a proven track record of successful discovery, development, financing and operation of large-scale projects. Our vision is to create value for our shareholders by becoming a leading North American nickel, copper, cobalt and PGM producer.
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SOURCE Nickel Creek Platinum Corp. | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/nickel-creek-platinum-announces-results-2022-annual-general-special-meeting/ | 2022-05-31 22:31:08 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/nickel-creek-platinum-announces-results-2022-annual-general-special-meeting/ |
Now that the May 1 deadline for entering the transfer portal without needing a waiver has passed, some clarity is emerging for Alabama men’s basketball roster for the 2022-23 season.
It’s a matter of math at this point with 13 scholarships available.
The subtractions include five scholarship players who entered the transfer portal -- three of whom signed with new schools -- and three who exited for the NBA draft. The deadline for basketball players to submit their name to the portal without needing a special exemption to transfer was Sunday. Schools had up to two days to officially enter those names so, at this point, the pool of transfers is effectively set for the upcoming season.
That would leave five scholarship players in Tuscaloosa, a number that includes Nimari Burnett. He tore his ACL before last season, after transferring from Texas Tech. Jahvon Quinerly’s return after tearing his ACL in the NCAA tournament added to the group that also includes Noah Gurley, Charles Bediako and Darius Miles.
The incoming signing class, ranked No. 3 nationally by 247Sports, includes four high school and one JUCO signee. Highlighted by McDonald’s All-American and five-star prospects Brandon Miller and Jaden Bradley, this class is ranked higher than the 2017 haul that included Collin Sexton, John Petty and Herbert Jones.
As of now, the only transfer portal addition is point guard Mark Sears from Ohio.
That leaves Alabama’s scholarship count at 11, with two spots to fill.
A decision is expected soon from Oregon State transfer guard Jarod Lucas who is deciding between the Crimson Tide and Nevada.
Other transfer prospects include Davidson’s Michael Jones (as reported by CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein) and Wichita State’s Ricky Council as Nate Oats reloads for his fourth season with the Crimson Tide. | https://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/2022/05/the-latest-on-alabama-basketball-roster-after-transfer-window-closes.html | 2022-05-06 15:11:37 | 1 | https://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/2022/05/the-latest-on-alabama-basketball-roster-after-transfer-window-closes.html |
SAN ANTONIO — A man was found dead inside a northeast side apartment after police responded to reports of shots fired early Tuesday. A neighbor reported hearing a car leaving the location just after the shots were fired.
When officials arrived at the 3800 block of Barrington St. near Starcrest Drive and Loop 410 around 4:14 a.m., they saw the fire and smoke coming from the apartment and quickly called the fire department.
Firefighters made entry to the unit and found the man dead inside. The man, who police believe was in his 50s, had been shot multiple times.
The fire, which was found in the living room, was knocked out quickly, according to officials.
No word on how the fire may have been started or the damage to the unit caused by the fire.
This is an ongoing investigation.
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KENS 5 has brought numerous firsts to South Texas television, including being the first local station with a helicopter, the first with its own Doppler radar and the first to air a local morning news program.
Over the years, KENS 5 has worked to transform local news. Our cameras have been the lens bringing history into local viewers' homes. We're proud of our legacy as we serve San Antonians today.
Today, KENS 5 continues to set the standard in local broadcasting and is recognized by its peers for excellence and innovation. The KENS 5 News team focuses on stories that really matter to our community.
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Want to get in touch with someone at KENS 5? You can send a message using our Contacts page or email one of our team members. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/man-found-dead-inside-northeast-side-apartment-fire-officials-say-shot-shooting-gun-san-antonio-texas/273-53a0b9b6-168c-44c7-b598-60c88fe0a032 | 2023-02-28 13:51:03 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/man-found-dead-inside-northeast-side-apartment-fire-officials-say-shot-shooting-gun-san-antonio-texas/273-53a0b9b6-168c-44c7-b598-60c88fe0a032 |
CLEVELAND — For the Cleveland Browns, being on the clock in this year’s NFL draft will again require extra patience.
It’s not an ideal situation for a team that underachieved last season, finishing 7-10 and last in the AFC North. But the Browns put themselves in this spot by banking on Watson, handing him $230 million guaranteed.
Berry has been aggressive in past drafts, sliding up, dropping back and free-wheeling with Cleveland’s draft assets. But following a successful offseason in free agency devoted to filling numerous holes on defense, it’s more likely the Browns will sit tight until their number is called.
Watson’s acquisition was costly for Cleveland, which sent three first-round picks (2022, 2023 and 2024) along with a handful of third and fourth-rounders to Houston for the quarterback, who was suspended for 11 games last season and didn’t exactly look like a franchise savior in the six games he played.
But the Browns remain confident their massive investment will pay off, and Watson, who spent most of 2022 in a “whirlwind,” arrived at the team’s voluntary offseason program this week making promises for the season ahead.
“A lot of wins,” Watson said.
Berry didn’t wait for the draft to find Watson a needed deep playmaker, two of them actually. He signed free agent wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and traded Cleveland’s second-round pick (No. 42 overall) to the New York Jets for wideout Elijah Moore in February.
In exchange for Moore, the Browns received pick No. 74, which is where Cleveland’s draft is scheduled to start this year.
If Berry can wait that long.
PICK ‘EM
The Browns enter the draft with eight selections: two in the third round (No. 74, No. 98), two in the fourth (No. 111 and No. 126), two in the fifth (No. 140 and No. 142) and one each in the sixth (No. 190) and seventh (No. 229).
A year ago, Cleveland didn’t pick until the third round (No. 68) before taking cornerback Martin Emerson Jr., who was a solid contributor as a rookie, could have an expanded role this season under new coordinator Jim Schwarz and may be a future core player.
Emerson proved to be the star of Cleveland’s 2022 draft class, which included kicker Cade York (fourth round), who had an uneven season (24 of 32 on FGs) and will be counted on to be much better in 2023.
NEEDS
The super-soft middle of Cleveland’s defense was addressed in free agency with the signings of tackles Dalvin Tomlinson, Maurice Hurst and Trysten Hill, but the Browns could use more depth in their interior rotation along with another developmental end.
Linebacker is another shallow area with Sione Takitaki and Anthony Walker Jr. both coming back from season-ending injuries.
On offense, there’s room for a swing tackle in case of injury to either Jack Conklin or Jedrick Wills Jr., who have both been nicked up the past two seasons.
Safety Juan Thornhill signing gives the Browns a dependable veteran to anchor the secondary, but Cleveland lacks a young, up-and-coming option for the future.
DON’T NEED
About the only position the Browns are set at is starting quarterback, so long as Watson lives up to expectations. If that doesn’t happen, well, then it’s back to the drawing board and the top of the draft.
Ethan Pocic not only saved the Browns last season following a rash of injuries, but he became one of the league’s top centers while anchoring Cleveland’s proven offensive line — perhaps the team’s biggest strength.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nfl/2023/04/20/browns-nfl-draft-deshaun-watson/640e0aca-df94-11ed-a78e-9a7c2418b00c_story.html | 2023-04-20 16:35:14 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nfl/2023/04/20/browns-nfl-draft-deshaun-watson/640e0aca-df94-11ed-a78e-9a7c2418b00c_story.html |
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- My Plates, the official vendor for specialty license plates in Texas, is auctioning a limited release of 50 unique lots of license plate messages and numbers as part of their 2022 Great Plate Auction. Plate messages range from GO HUNT to COSMIC. The Great Plate Auction is a fun opportunity to showcase your love for a sport, activity, or passion, or to just give you an opportunity to customize your vehicle with a rare plate.
Are you a movie fan? Maybe you want to bid on the message 300. What about a car fan? Messages like VINTAGE and CRUISIN are available to win.
Sports fan? Try SPORTS, 1-MAVS, RAMS, or even OILERS for the old-school Texans fans.
Do you have a love for everything Texas? My Plates has MY TX, BUCEES, GO TEXAN, and BORN TX up for auction.
This year's Great Plate Auction has a little bit for everyone including the sci-fi lovers with UFO. There's so much more! Review the full list of plates available below.
For the first time in years, My Plates will be auctioning off two plates in one lot, THE BOYS and THE GALS. The opportunity to own these plate messages is due to TxDMV's updated rules on acceptable plate messages, which go into effect November 2, 2022.
"There are a lot of unique, clever, fun and interesting plate messages available, and through the auction, Texans have an opportunity to secure one," said Steve Farrar, President and CEO of My Plates.
Plate messages sold at auction by My Plates are legally transferable, unlike other everyday Texas license plates. This allows the plate owner the right to pass it on to a family member, or gift it to a friend. Transferability also means these plates can be sold, and therefore could make great investments. Any future recipient also gets the same ongoing transfer rights.
Each plate message offered in this auction is for an initial 5-year term with first right to renew, and has an opening bid of only $500, with only a few with a reserve above that price. So, on most plate messages, an opening bid could be the winning bid for that lot if no other bids are received.
The My Plates Great Plate Auction is online-only and may be accessed via www.myplates.com/auction. Registering is quick and easy, and once completed, you'll be able to bid on your desired plate message.
Auction Details:
- Dates: November 2, 2022, 12:01 am until December 7, 2022, 8:00 pm.
- Online auction accessed via www.myplates.com/auction.
- All bidders must be registered to place a bid.
- People interested in the auction can visit www.myplates.com/auction for more information, to register, and to view the complete list of plate messages available.
- Winners get to place the plate message on any of the 100+ eligible My Plates Select designs.
Previous Auction Results:
- 12THMAN sold for $115,000 in September 2013, making it the most expensive plate message in Texas.
- HOUSTON sold for $25,000 in January 2013.
- 3 sold for $20,500 in May 2019.
- 0001 sold for $27,500 in March 2022.
- ALAMO sold for $10,250 in March 2016.
- 99 sold for $9,000 in April 2018.
- 1969 sold for $5,250 in August 2017.
My Plates designs and markets new specialty license plates as a vendor for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. My Plates' goal is to create a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship designed to maximize revenues for the state through the sale of My Plates specialty plates. Learn more at www.MyPlates.com.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) is a dynamic state agency dedicated to customer service, consumer protection and the success of motor vehicle-related industries. For every $1 the agency spends, it returns more than $10 in state revenue. These funds are primarily used to build and maintain the state's roads and bridges. Each year the agency registers approximately 25 million vehicles; regulates vehicle dealers; credentials buses and big trucks for intrastate and interstate commerce; issues oversize and overweight permits; and awards grants to law enforcement agencies to reduce vehicle burglaries and thefts. Learn more at www.TxDMV.gov.
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SOURCE MyPlates.com | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/11/03/my-plates-2022-great-plate-auction-showcases-rare-unique-messages/ | 2022-11-03 17:04:29 | 1 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/11/03/my-plates-2022-great-plate-auction-showcases-rare-unique-messages/ |
NEW YORK, June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Riskified Ltd. (NYSE: RSKD) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
This lawsuit is on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased Riskified Class A ordinary shares in or traceable to the Company's July 2021 initial public offering.
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 1, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in RSKD:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/riskified-ltd-loss-submission-form?id=28432&from=4
Riskified Ltd. NEWS - RSKD NEWS
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Riskified Ltd. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) as Riskified expanded its user base, the quality of Riskified's machine learning platform had deteriorated (rather than improved as represented in documents issued in connection with the July 2021 initial public offering), because of, among other things, inaccuracies in the algorithms associated with onboarding new merchants and entering new geographies and industries; (ii) Riskified had expanded its customer base into industries with relatively high rates of fraud – including partnerships with cryptocurrency and remittance business – in which Riskified had limited experience and that this expansion has negatively impacted the effectiveness of Riskified's machine learning platform; (iii) as a result, Riskified was suffering from materially higher chargebacks and cost of revenue and depressed gross profits and gross profit margins during its third fiscal quarter of 2021; and (iv) thus, the representations in documents issued in connection with the July 2021 initial public offering regarding Riskified's historical financial and operational metrics and purported market opportunities did not accurately reflect the actual business, operations, and financial results and trajectory of Riskified prior to and at the time of the July 2021 initial public offering, and were materially false and misleading, and lacked a factual basis.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Riskified Ltd. you have until July 1, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Riskified Ltd. securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the RSKD lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/riskified-ltd-loss-submission-form?id=28432&from=4.
ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM
J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
J. Klein, Esq.
Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
59th Floor
New York, NY 10118
jk@kleinstocklaw.com
Telephone: (212) 616-4899
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SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/rskd-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-july-1-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-riskified-ltd-shareholders/ | 2022-06-14 11:27:56 | 0 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/rskd-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-july-1-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-riskified-ltd-shareholders/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jeffrey Epstein was left alone in his jail cell with a surplus of bed linens the night he killed himself. Nearly all the surveillance cameras on his unit didn't record. One worker was on duty for 24 hours straight. And, despite his high profile and a suicide attempt two weeks earlier, he wasn't checked on regularly as required.
The Justice Department’s watchdog said Tuesday that a “combination of negligence, misconduct and outright job performance failures” by the federal Bureau of Prisons and workers at the New York City jail enabled the wealthy financier to take his own life in August 2019, finding no evidence of foul play.
Inspector General Michael Horowitz blamed numerous factors for Epstein's death, including the jail's failure to assign him a cellmate and overworked guards who lied on logs after failing to make regular checks. Had the guards done so, Horowitz said, they would've found Epstein had excess linens, which he used in his suicide.
The failures are deeply troubling not only because they allowed Epstein’s suicide but also because they “led to questions about the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death and effectively deprived Epstein’s numerous victims of the opportunity to seek justice,” Horowitz said in a video statement.
Horowitz’s investigation, the last of several official inquiries into Epstein’s death, echoed previous findings that some members of the jail staff involved in guarding Epstein were overworked. He identified 13 employees with poor performance and recommended charges against four workers. Only the two workers assigned to guard Epstein the night he died were charged, avoiding jail time in a plea deal after admitting to falsifying logs.
Horowitz’s report also revealed new details about Epstein’s behavior in the days before his death, including that he signed a new last will and testament while meeting with his lawyers two days before he was found unresponsive in his cell the morning of Aug. 10, 2019. Jail officials did not know about the new will until after Epstein’s death, Horowitz said.
Few of the cameras in the area where Epstein was housed were making recordings of the images they captured due to a mechanical failure July 29. The prison had contracted for a camera system upgrade three years before his death, but it had not been completed, in part due to serious staffing shortages.
Meanwhile, Epstein was alone the night of his death, even though the prison's psychology department had informed 70 employees that he needed to be with a cellmate after his previous suicide attempt in July. His cellmate was nevertheless transferred Aug. 9, with no plan in place to replace him.
Horowitz's report highlighted some of the many problems plaguing the Bureau of Prisons, many of which have been exposed by The Associated Press. The agency, the Justice Department's largest with more than 30,000 employees, 158,000 inmates and an annual budget of about $8 billion, is plagued by severe staffing shortages, staff sexual abuse and criminal conduct, among other issues.
The Bureau of Prisons said it has accepted all eight of Horowitz’s recommendations, has updated its suicide watch process and will apply other lessons learned “to the broader BOP correctional landscape."
The agency said it will review video to ensure correctional officers are making the proper rounds in restrictive housing and will require more paperwork when prisoners are kept alone in cells. A warden must now be notified when someone is placed on suicide watch, the agency said. It is also requiring specialized training on suicide prevention.
“We make every effort to create a controlled environment within our facilities that is both secure and humane, prioritizing the physical and emotional well-being of those in our care and custody,” the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement.
Horowitz's report comes nearly four years after Epstein took his own life at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. It also comes weeks after the AP obtained thousands of pages of records detailing the wealthy financier's detention and death and its chaotic aftermath.
Horowitz's investigators found no evidence to suggest anything other than suicide, echoing the findings of New York City's medical examiner's office, which determined Epstein killed himself, and a separate FBI investigation that found no crimes associated with the death.
No physical evidence supported any of the many conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s death, Horowitz concluded, and none of the video captured from the cameras that were recording showed any indication of anyone else in the cell. Investigators probed for possible money changing hands involving guards but found no evidence of that, either.
The workers assigned to guard Epstein were sleeping and shopping online instead of checking on him every 30 minutes as required, prosecutors said.
Nova Noel and Michael Thomas admitted lying on prison records to make it seem as though they had made the checks but avoided prison time under a deal with prosecutors. They left the Bureau of Prisons in April 2022, agency spokesperson Benjamin O’Cone said.
It's the second time in six months that Horowitz has blamed a high-profile inmate's death on the Bureau of Prisons' failings. In December, the inspector general found that management failures, flawed policies and widespread incompetence were factors in notorious gangster James "Whitey" Bulger's 2018 beating death at a troubled West Virginia prison.
The AP obtained more than 4,000 pages of documents related to Epstein's death from the federal Bureau of Prisons under the Freedom of Information Act. The documents, including a reconstruction of events leading to Epstein's suicide, internal reports, emails, memos and other records, underscored how short staffing and corner-cutting contributed to Epstein's death.
Epstein spent 36 days at the now-shuttered Metropolitan Correctional Center. Two weeks before his death, he was placed on suicide watch for 31 hours after what jail officials said was a suicide attempt that left his neck bruised and scraped.
The workers tasked with guarding Epstein the night he died were working overtime. One of them, not normally assigned to guard prisoners, was working a fifth straight day of overtime. The other was working mandatory overtime, which meant a second eight-hour shift in one day.
___
Sisak reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
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Credit: AP | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/misconduct-by-federal-jail-guards-led-to-jeffrey-epsteins-suicide-justice-department-watchdog-says/D5NIHCF7S5ERRDOSWN4DHV5V74/ | 2023-06-27 16:45:28 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/misconduct-by-federal-jail-guards-led-to-jeffrey-epsteins-suicide-justice-department-watchdog-says/D5NIHCF7S5ERRDOSWN4DHV5V74/ |
Deals Include LG InstaView Refrigerators with Craft Ice, Allergy-Friendly Washers with Advanced Sanitization, CordZero Vacuums, the LG Styler and More.
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., May 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LG's Memorial Day promotions are back with big savings on top rated home appliances. With deals on essentials for the entire home, including the kitchen and laundry room – LG Electronics USA is offering savings up to $400* off select refrigerators and over $400* on select laundry models – through June 4 at participating retailers nationwide and LG.com.1
LG InstaView refrigerators (LFXS26596D) with Craft Ice™ are the perfect solution for entertaining in style this summer. Enjoy 26 cu. ft. of capacity, a convenient Full-Convert™ Drawer – now with five temperature settings to fit your family's needs – and ice three ways including cubed, crushed and LG's iconic Craft Ice for $3,110 (a savings of up to $400*).
LG is also offering a kitchen promotion on cooking appliances with savings over $200* on models like the 6.3 cu. ft. Smart wi-fi Enabled Dual Fuel Slide-In Range (model LSDL6336F) and enjoy features like InstaView®, ProBake® Convection and Air Fry.
Consumers can bring home unbeatable savings on ENERGY STAR® certified LG washers with deals on top-load and front-load models that offer advanced cleaning and fabric sanitization features—including steam washers that are CERTIFIED asthma and allergy friendly® by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to eliminate virtually common allergens.
- Save time with TurboWash front-load washers that deliver a complete clean with steam power, even for big loads in under 30 minutes.2 Score the WM4500HBA and matching electric dryer each for $1,221 (over $800* in combined savings).
- Revolutionize your laundry room with LG's vertical laundry solution, LG WashTower™ (WKEX200HBA), featuring a full-sized and featured-packed dryer above a washer with TurboSteam in a sleek single unit design for $2,221 (savings of almost $500*).
- Save nearly $200 on LG Styler® – a first-of-its-kind steam clothing care system that uses the gentle power of steam to provide a chemical free clean and exclusive moving hangers to refresh and sanitize fabrics, including jackets, clothing, bags, pillows and even stuffed animals.
Clean more and empty less with the LG CordZero™ A9 Kompressor Stick Vacuum for as low as $549 (a savings of $150*). Enjoy cleaning with superior suction and longer usage with two quick-release rechargeable batteries that offer an uninterrupted performance, while the Kompressor™ technology compresses dirt and debris to more than double3 the bin capacity.
Create the ultimate home oasis with the LG PuriCare™ 360 Single Air Purifier. The unique purification method offers a multi-filter system that captures six different types of particles to deliver 360 degrees of purer, cleaner air for only $629 (a savings of $70*). On the go? Bring clean air and peace of mind with you on your summer travels with the LG PuriCare™ Mini Air Purifier for only $149.99 (a savings of $50*). The LG portable air purifier is certified by the British Allergy Foundation (BAF) for preventing allergens that can cause respiratory and skin diseases—and is Intertek certified to remove 99% of 0.3-micron ultra-fine dust and particles which can cause disease, within your personal space.
To shop all of LG's 2022 Memorial Day savings, visit www.lg.com/us/promotions.
*All savings are off of MSRP
1Select models only. Prices, promotions and availability may vary by store and online. Prices subject to change without notice. Terms and Conditions apply. Details available at www.lg.com/us/promotions.
2Based on independent testing in normal cycle with TurboWash™ option, 10 lb. load (June 2020).
3 Vs. previous models.
LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $63 billion global innovator in technology and manufacturing. In the United States, LG sells a wide range of innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, commercial displays, air conditioning systems, energy solutions and vehicle components. LG is an eight-time ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year. The company's commitment to environmental sustainability and its "Life's Good" marketing theme encompass how LG is dedicated to people's happiness by exceeding expectations today and tomorrow. www.LG.com.
Media Contacts:
LG Electronics USA
JL Lavina
JL.Lavina@lge.com
917 386 4213
Devyn Doyle
Devyn.Doyle@lg-one.com
770 653 7239
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SOURCE LG Electronics USA | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/05/20/celebrate-summer-with-major-memorial-day-savings-lg-home-appliances/ | 2022-05-20 13:13:04 | 1 | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/05/20/celebrate-summer-with-major-memorial-day-savings-lg-home-appliances/ |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A new Arkansas law signed Thursday is hoping to give officers and the public an extra layer of protection.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the Disarming an Officer bill into law Thursday. The law will create a separate felony charge when an offender either attempts to or disarms an officer with the intent to cause harm to the officer or the public.
Under previous Arkansas law, the offender would only be charged with resisting arrest which is a misdemeanor.
Those who attended the signing like retired North Little Rock Police Department officer Lt. Jim Scott said the new law is a game changer.
“I think this is going to send a very strong message to those offenders who would try to harm our police officers statewide,” Scott said. “It’s a big win for law enforcement and public servants today.”
Scott said it was a career dream of his to help get the law passed when he learned other states had similar laws. | https://www.fox16.com/news/your-local-election-hq/arkansas-gov-sarah-huckabee-sanders-signs-disarming-an-officer-bill-into-law/ | 2023-05-05 02:45:09 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/news/your-local-election-hq/arkansas-gov-sarah-huckabee-sanders-signs-disarming-an-officer-bill-into-law/ |
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Separatist rebels in Indonesia’s restive Papua province released photos and videos on Tuesday of a man they said is the pilot from New Zealand they took hostage last week.
Phillip Mark Mehrtens of Christchurch, a pilot for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air, was abducted by independence fighters from the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, who stormed his single-engine plane shortly after it landed on a small runway in Paro in remote Nduga district.
The plane, carrying five passengers, was scheduled to pick up 15 construction workers who had been building a health center in Paro after a group of separatist rebels led by Egianus Kogoya threatened to kill them, said Nduga district chief Namia Gwijangge.
“Our plan to evacuate the workers angered the rebels, who responded by setting fire to the plane and seizing the pilot,” said Gwijangge, who was one of the passengers. “We deeply regret this incident.”
The rebels released all five passengers because they are indigenous Papuans, rebel spokesperson Sebby Sambom said earlier.
Sambom sent videos and photos to The Associated Press on Tuesday that showed a group of gunmen led by Kogoya setting fire to the plane on the runway. Sitting in the plane’s cockpit, Kogoya said he took the pilot hostage as part of their struggle “to free Papua” from Indonesia.
Another video showed a man identified as Mehrtens standing in a forest surrounded by a group of people armed with rifles, spears and bows and arrows. In a third video, the man was ordered by the rebels to say, “Indonesia must recognize Papua is independent.”
“I took him hostage for Papua independence, not for food or drinks,” Kogoya said in the video with the man standing next to him. “He will be safe with me as long as Indonesia does not use its arms, either from the air or on the ground.”
The coordinating minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs, Mohammad Mahfud, said the government is making every effort to persuade the rebels to release Mehrtens “because the priority is the safety of the hostage.”
“Taking civilians hostage for any reason is unacceptable,” Mahfud said in a video statement late Tuesday. He said persuasion is the best method to ensure hostage safety, but “the government does not rule out other efforts.”
He emphasized the government’s view that Papua is part of Indonesia.
“Papua will forever remain a legitimate part of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia,” Mahfud said.
Papua police chief Mathius Fakhiri told reporters in Jayapura, the provincial capital, that they are seeking to obtain the pilot’s freedom by involving several community leaders, including tribal and church figures, to build communication and negotiate with the rebels.
Conflicts between indigenous Papuans and Indonesian security forces are common in the impoverished Papua region, a former Dutch colony in the western part of New Guinea that is ethnically and culturally distinct from much of Indonesia. Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a U.N.-sponsored ballot that was widely seen as a sham. Since then, a low-level insurgency has simmered in the mineral-rich region.
The 15 construction workers, who were rescued by security forces last Wednesday, came from other Indonesian islands to build the health center in Paro. They had taken refuge in a priest’s house in the village for several days after rebels threatened to kill them.
Separatists consider civilian workers to be outsiders who sometimes spy for the Indonesian government.
Conflict in the region has risen in the past year, with dozens of rebels, security forces and civilians killed.
Flying is the only practical way of accessing many areas in the mountainous area. | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/politics/article/separatist-rebels-in-papua-say-kidnapped-nz-pilot-17783690.php | 2023-02-14 16:51:32 | 0 | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/politics/article/separatist-rebels-in-papua-say-kidnapped-nz-pilot-17783690.php |
IRVINE, Calif., March 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total February sales of 30,639 vehicles, an increase of 8.8 percent compared to February 2022. Year-to-date sales totaled 53,606 vehicles; an increase of 8.9 percent compared to the same time last year. With 24 selling days in February, compared to the same the year prior, the company posted an increase of 8.8 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.
CPO sales totaled 5,016 vehicles in February, an increase of 41 percent compared to February 2022.
Sales Highlights
- Best-ever total February sales with 30,639 vehicles sold.
- Best-ever sales of CX-30 with 8,026 vehicles sold.
- 2nd best-ever February sales of CX-9 with 3,515 vehicles sold.
Mazda Canada, Inc., (MCI) reported February sales of 2,714 vehicles, a decrease of 24.9 percent compared to February last year. Year-to-date sales total 7,109 vehicles; a decrease of 17.6 percent compared to the same time last year.
Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported February sales of 5,568 vehicles, an increase of 16 percent compared to last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 12,159 vehicles; an increase of 16 percent compared to the same time last year.
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts, and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Colombia through approximately 795 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at News.MazdaUSA.com.
Follow MNAO's social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.
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SOURCE Mazda North American Operations | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/03/01/mazda-reports-february-sales-results/ | 2023-03-01 16:52:00 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/03/01/mazda-reports-february-sales-results/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. — As of 4 p.m., isolated showers have begun popping up and will get more widespread through dinnertime.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Meteorologist George Waldenberger said to watch for lightning through the evening, as storms will remain possible through bedtime.
If you have plans to grill out, check the radar before starting the grill.
Read: Law enforcement officials host free event to teach kids how to fish
After a quiet spell overnight and tomorrow morning, a few more scattered thundershowers will be possible Sunday afternoon and evening.
Looking ahead, we will have chances for a few isolated storms each afternoon through next week, with even hotter temperatures brewing.
Read: iOS 17: Will your phone support new system?
Scattered storms have started firing up and will remain possible over the next 7 hours...monitor lightning from your phone: https://t.co/cNHkwRXBg2. pic.twitter.com/Jo64JWQ6Gh
— George Waldenberger (@GWaldenWFTV) June 10, 2023
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/hot-temps-isolated-storms-saturday-afternoon/EIK2TUQFZNESLD2OW7YFCWYS64/ | 2023-06-11 00:36:07 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/hot-temps-isolated-storms-saturday-afternoon/EIK2TUQFZNESLD2OW7YFCWYS64/ |
Risk of severe storms persists from Texas to Great Lakes
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Severe thunderstorms were expected to bring hail, strong winds — and the threat of tornadoes — to parts of the Midwest and South that are reeling from a weekend of deadly weather.
Officials warned residents to have shelter ready Tuesday night before going to sleep.
At least two tornadoes were confirmed Tuesday in Illinois as storms targeted the state and eastern Iowa and southwest Wisconsin before nightfall. Areas of southern Missouri, Arkansas, southwestern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas were most at risk overnight.
“This could be a night to just set up down in the basement to be safe,” Tom Philip, a meteorologist in Davenport, Iowa, said Tuesday.
The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings in Iowa and Illinois on Tuesday evening and said a confirmed twister was spotted southwest of Chicago near Bryant, Illinois. Officials said another tornado touched down Tuesday morning in the western Illinois community of Colona. Local news reports showed wind damage to some businesses there.
The storms were expected to hammer some areas hit by severe weather and possibly dozens of tornadoes just days ago that killed at least 32 people, meaning more misery for those whose homes were destroyed in Arkansas, Iowa and Illinois.
When a tornado hit Little Rock, Arkansas, last Friday, Kimberly Shaw peeked outside to film the storm, then suffered a painful foot injury that required stitches when a glass door behind her shattered and wind nearly sucked her away. With another storm coming, Shaw said she intends to be far more cautious this time and will rush to an underground shelter at her home.
“The original plan was just, ‘If we see a tornado coming, we’ll get in the shelter,’” Shaw said. “But now it’s like you’re not going to see it coming. You’re not going to hear it coming. You just need to get (inside the shelter) as soon as the warning goes out or if you just feel unsafe.”
Earlier Tuesday, strong thunderstorms swept through the Quad Cities area of Iowa and Illinois with winds up to 90 mph (145 kph) and baseball-size hail. No injuries were reported, but trees were downed and some businesses were damaged in Moline, Illinois.
Northern Illinois, from Moline to Chicago, saw 75-80 mph (120-128 kph) winds and hail 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 centimeters) in diameter Tuesday afternoon, National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Baker said. The agency received reports of semitrucks tipped over by winds in Lee County, about 95 miles (153 km) west of Chicago.
The Storm Prediction Center said severe storms could produce strong tornadoes and large hail Wednesday across eastern Illinois and lower Michigan and in the Ohio Valley, including Indiana and Ohio. The weather threat extends southwestward across parts of Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Arkansas. Farther south and west, fire danger remained high.
The fierce storms that started Friday and continued into the weekend spawned deadly tornadoes in 11 states as the system plodded through Arkansas and onto the South, Midwest and Northeast.
The same conditions that fueled those storms — an area of low pressure combined with strong southerly winds — were setting up the severe weather Tuesday into early Wednesday, said Ryan Bunker, a meteorologist with the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma.
Those conditions, which typically include dry air from the West going up over the Rockies and crashing into warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, are what make the U.S. so prone to tornadoes and other severe storms.
Dramatic temperature changes were expected, with Tuesday highs of 74 F (23 C) in Des Moines and 86 F (30 C) in Kansas City plunging overnight to 40 F (4 C) or colder overnight. In Little Rock, Arkansas, Tuesday’s high of 89 F (32 C) tied the record for the date set in 1880.
A blizzard warning was in effect for nearly all of North Dakota and most of South Dakota through at least Wednesday night. In Minnesota, a winter storm warning was in effect in the north.
Fire danger persisted across portions of far western Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle, northeastern New Mexico and far southeastern Colorado, with low humidity, dry vegetation and high wind gusts. In Oklahoma, officials urged some residents near the town of Weatherford to evacuate because of a wildfire.
___
Associated Press writers Trisha Ahmed in St. Paul, Minnesota; Margery A. Beck in Omaha, Nebraska; Claire Savage in Chicago; Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Washington; and Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, contributed to this report.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.weau.com/2023/04/05/risk-severe-storms-persists-texas-great-lakes/ | 2023-04-05 11:33:49 | 0 | https://www.weau.com/2023/04/05/risk-severe-storms-persists-texas-great-lakes/ |
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — The Canada geese in Coeur d'Alene won't face being euthanized as the others in the extended gaggle were recently in Sandpoint.
Bill Greenwood of the Parks Department said the birds' population in Coeur d'Alene is not as significant as it was in Sandpoint, which led USDA Wildlife Services to round up and euthanize an estimated 150 on June 23 under a statewide degradation permit in a plan approved by Mayor Shelby Rognstad.
Greenwood said Coeur d'Alene would not consider similar actions.
"They've got a bigger problem than we do," he said.
The action in Sandpoint was criticized by some, while others said it was necessary as the geese population has, for decades, left poop all over City Beach, caused disturbances and, in general, been a major nuisance.
Other, nonlethal means to drive the geese away proved ineffective.
To read more of this article, please visit our content partner, the Coeur d'Alene Press.
DOWNLOAD THE KREM SMARTPHONE APP
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HOW TO ADD THE KREM+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KREM in the Channel Store.
Fire TV: Search for "KREM" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email webspokane@krem.com. | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho/coeur-dalene-canadian-geese/293-0587cac7-31f1-4884-bc11-eb31cdddb240 | 2023-07-06 19:32:49 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho/coeur-dalene-canadian-geese/293-0587cac7-31f1-4884-bc11-eb31cdddb240 |
NEW YORK – Dhonielle Clayton is not just a bestselling author of young adult fiction. She's an organizer, a former teacher and a founder of the grassroots publishing movement We Need Diverse Books. She's also the kind of friend who can convince five of her well-known peers to collaborate on a single novel, and then come back for another.
Opinions differ over her personal style:
“A tiny tyrant,” jokes novelist Tiffany D. Jackson, whose books include “Monday's Not Coming” and “Let Me Hear a Rhyme.”
“A little pushy,” says Ashley Woodfolk, author of “When You Were Everything” and “The Beauty That Remains” among others.
Or, as Clayton likes to describe herself, “the ringmaster," “the center of the circus,” practitioner of the art of “tender leadership.” “They say I bulled them into this. But I have leadership skills, and I was persuasive,” she says.
Clayton thought of a group narrative after seeing the 2019 romantic comedy “Let It Snow” and wanted to create a story centered on the lives, and loves, of Black teens. She brought in not just Woodfolk and Jackson, who agreed despite having a background in thriller writing, but fellow bestsellers Nicola Yoon (“Everything Everything”), Nic Stone ("Dear Martin") and Angie Thomas, whose “The Hate U Give” is among the most talked about young adult books of recent years.
In 2021, the six authors teamed up on “Blackout,” a romance about Black teens during a power outage in New York. The Obamas' Higher Ground production company is adapting the book into a Netflix series. The friends have just published a second novel about another city in a moment of paralysis: “Whiteout” takes place on a snowy day in Atlanta, where even a couple inches of precipitation can stop traffic as effectively as a blizzard up North.
Like “Blackout,” the new book follows a wide circle of young people at various points in their relationships. Clayton helped establish the narrative by sending the other authors a list of what she calls common romance tropes she thought worth dramatizing — exes to lovers, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, best friends to lovers and dude in distress (as opposed to damsel in distress).
"Each chapter is about helping a core couple fix their stuff," Clayton says.
Stories with multiple authors aren't new — Clayton previously co-wrote “The Rumor Game” with Sona Charaipotra. But the creators of “"Blackout" and “Whiteout” organized the books to the point of scientific certainty. If Clayton is best at getting the action started, Woodfolk is the resident expert on Google Docs, tracking the amount of sunlight for given sections of “Blackout” and placing characters in precise areas of Atlanta for “Whiteout.”
The book's editor at the HarperCollins imprint Quill Tree Books, Rachel Brosnan, kept her own records. She set up an Excel spreadsheet and called it “Whiteout — Continuity and Consistency," through which she tracked “character details, setting, time stamps, character intersections” and other parts of the narrative. She needed another chart to make sure she knew every scene's location.
“I’m unfamiliar with Atlanta, so I used Google Maps to map out where the characters were, and then asked the authors to resolve any questions about setting,” she added.
Individual authors rotated chapters, but readers aren't told who wrote which, excepting a series of clues at the end that range from the easily searchable ("the only Atlanta native among us") to the more mysterious ("the self-professed love grump of the group"). Keeping identities hidden was part of the fun, the authors explain, ("Kids love puzzles," Clayton says), and a way of getting readers to focus on the book itself.
“One of the things we realized from ‘Blackout’ was that people were sort of obsessed by who was writing which story and were thinking of it as an anthology rather than an actual book co-written by six people,” Jackson says. “So there was an executive decision not to say who wrote each story.”
“People are biased with themselves whether they realize it," Woodfolk says. “So seeing somebody's name automatically colors the reading experience, the experience of the book.”
“Whiteout,” like “Blackout,” is a page-turning romance but also a message of love from the authors to their fans that their stories are worth telling and their flaws forgivable. Jackson remembers how rarely she saw people like herself in the books she read as a child and how often Black characters in romance fiction were relegated to the “sassy best friend.” Clayton believes that the contributors' shared ambition helped make what might have been an unwieldy project assured and professional.
"We all understood the mission and that we needed to add our pieces to make the missions complete; everyone knew what they needed to do," Clayton says. “We are all in the service of children and teens. This is purpose-driven work for us. So, that being the heart of what we do, means there is no nonsense when it comes to this work.” | https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2022/11/11/6-popular-black-authors-co-write-teen-romance-whiteout/ | 2022-11-11 21:11:03 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2022/11/11/6-popular-black-authors-co-write-teen-romance-whiteout/ |
BEIJING, March 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zhihu Inc. ("Zhihu" or the "Company") (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390), a leading online content community in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
Fourth Quarter 2022 Highlights
- Total revenues were RMB1,114.0 million (US$161.5 million) in the fourth quarter of 2022, representing a 9.3% increase from the same period of 2021.
- Net loss was RMB179.5 million (US$26.0 million) in the fourth quarter of 2022, narrowed by 53.2% from the same period in 2021.
- Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP)[1] was RMB134.1 million (US$19.4 million) in the fourth quarter of 2022, narrowed by 44.3% from the same period of 2021.
- Average monthly active users (MAUs)[2] reached 100.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with 103.3 million in the same period of 2021.
- Average monthly subscribing members[3] reached 13.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, representing a 112.5% increase from the same period of 2021.
"We capped off 2022 by delivering solid operating and financial results in the fourth quarter and full year. Our total revenues in the fourth quarter recorded a 9.3% year-over-year increase. Our average MAUs for the year grew to 101.3 million with further improved user engagement and user time spent. As we continued to broaden our fulfilling content coverage, we captured the evolving needs from our massive user base for premium content. For the full year, the revenue from our vocational training business increased by more than four times, becoming another growth driver incubated by our vibrant ecosystem. At the same time, paid membership achieved strong revenue growth of 84% year over year. Moving into 2023, we will continue to stimulate user experience across our community, empower our multiple growth engines and further enhance our technical capabilities to embrace long-term growth opportunities." said Mr. Yuan Zhou, chairman and chief executive officer of Zhihu.
Mr. Henry Sha, chief financial officer of Zhihu, added, "During the fourth quarter, our total revenues reached RMB1,114.0 million with resilient growth from both paid membership and the vocational training business, with gross margin improving to 56.4% from 47.1% a year ago. As we concentrated on our core business and strove to improve operating efficiency, we further narrowed our net loss by 53.2% year over year, with a net loss margin of 16.1%. We will continue to implement strict cost control measures and prudently evaluate rising investment opportunities as we progress through the expected ongoing economic recovery."
Fourth Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Total revenues were RMB1,114.0 million (US$161.5 million), representing a 9.3% increase from RMB1,019.2 million in the same period of 2021.
Advertising revenue was RMB274.7 million (US$39.8 million), compared with RMB377.8 million in the same period of 2021. The decrease was primarily due to the challenging macroeconomic environment and the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in certain cities in China during the period.
Paid membership revenue was RMB402.5 million (US$58.4 million), representing a 92.8% increase from RMB208.8 million in the same period of 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to the continued growth of our subscribing members, resulting from our enhancement of content attractiveness and improving user experience.
Content-commerce solutions revenue was RMB297.7 million (US$43.2 million), compared with RMB367.3 million in the same period of 2021. The decrease was primarily attributable to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenging macroeconomic environment.
Vocational training revenue[4] was RMB84.6 million (US$12.3 million), representing a 281.1% increase from RMB22.2 million in the same period of 2021. The significant increase was primarily attributable to our growing and diverse online course offerings, and the revenue contributions from our recently acquired businesses in the period.
Other revenues were RMB54.5 million (US$7.9 million), representing a 26.2% increase from RMB43.2 million in the same period of 2021, primarily attributable to the increased sales of our private label products and book series.
Cost of revenues decreased by 10.0% to RMB485.4 million (US$70.4 million) from RMB539.4 million in the same period of 2021, primarily attributable to a decrease in content and operational costs, and the decrease in cloud services and bandwidth costs resulting from our improved efficiency, partially offset by the increase in payment processing costs.
Gross profit was RMB628.5 million (US$91.1 million), representing a 31.0% increase from RMB479.8 million in the same period of 2021. Gross margin increased to 56.4% in the fourth quarter of 2022 from 47.1% in the same period of 2021, primarily attributable to our optimized products and service offerings and our improved efficiency.
Total operating expenses was RMB844.8 million (US$122.5 million), compared with RMB855.1 million in the same period of 2021.
Selling and marketing expenses increased to RMB509.2 million (US$73.8 million) from RMB470.2 million in the same period of 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to our increased marketing activities to promote our products and service offerings and to strengthen Zhihu's brand awareness.
Research and development expenses increased to RMB212.5 million (US$30.8 million) from RMB208.0 million in the same period of 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to the higher salaries and welfare expenses of research and development personnel, as well as the employee severance costs in the fourth quarter of 2022 associated with the optimization of our organizational structure.
General and administrative expenses decreased by 30.4% to RMB123.1 million (US$17.8 million) from RMB176.9 million in the same period of 2021. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower share-based compensation expenses recognized, partially offset by the increased employee severance costs associated with the optimization of our organizational structure in the period.
Loss from operations decreased by 42.4% to RMB216.3 million (US$31.4 million) from RMB375.2 million in the same period of 2021.
Adjusted loss from operations (non-GAAP)[1] decreased by 26.6% to RMB170.3 million (US$24.7 million) from RMB232.1 million in the same period of 2021.
Net loss decreased by 53.2% to RMB179.5 million (US$26.0 million) from RMB383.3 million in the same period of 2021.
Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP)[1] decreased by 44.3% to RMB134.1 million (US$19.4 million) from RMB240.8 million in the same period of 2021.
Diluted net loss per American Depositary Share ("ADS") was RMB0.29 (US$0.04), compared with RMB0.65 in the same period of 2021.
Cash and cash equivalents, term deposits and short-term investments
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, term deposits and short-term investments of RMB6,261.5 million (US$907.8 million), compared with RMB7,371.7 million as of December 31, 2021.
Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Results
Total revenues were RMB3,604.9 million (US$522.7 million), representing a 21.8% increase from RMB2,959.3 million in 2021.
Advertising revenue was RMB926.3 million (US$134.3 million), compared with RMB1,160.9 million in 2021. The decrease was primarily due to the challenging macroeconomic environment in China.
Paid membership revenue was RMB1,230.8 million (US$178.5 million), representing an 84.1% increase from RMB668.5 million in 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to the continued growth of our subscribing members.
Content-commerce solutions revenue was RMB1,030.2 million (US$149.4 million), representing a 5.8% increase from RMB974.0 million in 2021.
Vocational training revenue[4] was RMB248.3 million (US$36.0 million), increasing from RMB45.8 million in 2021. The significant increase was primarily attributable to our growing and diverse online course offerings, and the revenue contributions from our recently acquired businesses in 2022.
Other revenues were RMB169.4 million (US$24.6 million), representing a 53.8% increase from RMB110.1 million in 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to the increased sales of our private label products and book series.
Cost of revenues increased by 27.9% to RMB1,796.9 million (US$260.5 million) from RMB1,405.4 million in 2021, primarily attributable to the increase in content and operational costs to enhance our content attractiveness and growing cloud services and bandwidth costs.
Gross profit increased to RMB1,808.1 million (US$262.1 million) from RMB1,553.9 million in 2021. Gross margin in 2022 was 50.2%, compared to 52.5% in 2021.
Total operating expenses increased to RMB3,411.8 million (US$494.7 million) from RMB2,944.6 million in 2021.
Selling and marketing expenses increased to RMB2,026.5 million (US$293.8 million) from RMB1,634.7 million in 2021, mainly attributable to our increased marketing activities to promote our products and service offerings and to strengthen Zhihu's brand awareness.
Research and development expenses increased to RMB763.4 million (US$110.7 million) from with RMB619.6 million in 2021, mainly attributable to the increase in salaries and welfare expenses of research and development personnel in 2022.
General and administrative expenses decreased to RMB622.0 million (US$90.2 million), from RMB690.3 million in 2021. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower share-based compensation expenses recognized, partially offset by the increase in salaries and welfare expenses of management personnel and our expenses in relation to our listing on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited in 2022.
Loss from operations was RMB1,603.8 million (US$232.5 million), compared with RMB1,390.7 million in 2021.
Adjusted loss from operations (non-GAAP)[1] was RMB1,218.8 million (US$176.7 million), compared with RMB837.9 million in 2021.
Net loss was RMB1,578.4 million (US$228.8 million), compared with RMB1,298.9 million in 2021.
Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP)[1] was RMB1,195.9 million (US$173.4 million), compared with RMB747.1 million in 2021.
Diluted net loss per ADS was RMB2.59 (US$0.38), compared with RMB3.06 in 2021.
Share Repurchase Program
The Company announced a share repurchase program in May 2022 under which the Company may repurchase up to US$100 million of Class A ordinary shares or ADSs for a 12-month period, which was approved by shareholders at the Company's annual general meeting held on June 10, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, 6.5 million Class A ordinary shares (including Class A ordinary shares underlying the ADSs) had been repurchased on both the New York Stock Exchange and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the program for a total price of US$16.7 million.
[1] Adjusted loss from operations and adjusted net loss are non-GAAP financial measures. For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section of "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release.
[2] MAUs refers to the sum of the number of mobile devices that launch our mobile app at least once in a given month, or mobile MAUs, and the number of logged-in users who visit our PC or mobile website at least once in a given month, after eliminating duplicates.
[3] Monthly subscribing members refers to the number of our Yan Selection (盐选) members in a specified month. Average monthly subscribing members for a period is calculated by dividing the sum of monthly subscribing members for each month during the specified period by the number of months in such period.
[4] Effective in the first quarter of 2022, the Company separately reported the revenue of its vocational training business, which was formerly included in "revenue - others," in light of the significant growth of the revenue contribution from vocational training to the Company's total revenues. For comparison purposes, the revenue of vocational training business and the revenue in "others" for each quarter of 2021 have been retrospectively re-classified.
Conference Call
The Company's management will host an earnings conference call at 7:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on March 22, 2023 (7:00 p.m. Beijing/Hong Kong time on March 22, 2023).
All participants wishing to join the conference call must pre-register online using the link provided below. Once the pre-registration has been completed, each participant will receive a set of dial-in numbers, a passcode, and a unique registrant ID which can be used to join the conference call. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.
Participant Online Registration: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10176364/f620171988
Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.zhihu.com.
About Zhihu Inc.
Zhihu Inc. (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390), the operator of Zhihu, a leading online content community in China where people come to find solutions, make decisions, seek inspiration, and have fun. We have been dedicated to expanding our content and service offerings to enable our users to explore and enjoy "fulfilling content" (有获得感的內容) that broadens horizons, provides solutions, and resonates with minds. Since the initial launch in 2010, we have grown from a Q&A community into one of the top five comprehensive online content communities and the largest Q&A-inspired online content community in China, both in terms of average mobile MAUs and revenue in 2019, 2020, and 2021, according to CIC. For more information, please visit https://ir.zhihu.com.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In evaluating the business, the Company considers and uses non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted loss from operations and adjusted net loss, to supplement the review and assessment of its operating performance. The Company defines non-GAAP financial measures by excluding the impact of share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions and the tax effects of the non-GAAP adjustments, which are non-cash expenses. The Company believes that the non-GAAP measures facilitate comparisons of operating performance from period to period and company to company by adjusting for potential impacts of items, which the Company's management considers to be indicative of its operating performance. The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating the Company's consolidated results of operations in the same manner as it helps the Company's management.
The non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. The use of the non-GAAP measures has limitations as an analytical tool, and investors should not consider it in isolation from, or as a substitute for analysis of, our results of operations or financial condition as reported under U.S. GAAP. For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned "Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release.
Exchange Rate Information
This announcement contains translations of certain Renminbi amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars were made at a rate of RMB6.8972 to US$1.00, the exchange rate in effect as of December 30, 2022 as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "target," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to," or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
In China:
Zhihu Inc.
Email: ir@zhihu.com
Piacente Financial Communications
Helen Wu
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
Email: zhihu@tpg-ir.com
In the United States:
Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Phone: +1-212-481-2050
Email: zhihu@tpg-ir.com
View original content:
SOURCE Zhihu Inc. | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/03/22/zhihu-inc-reports-unaudited-fourth-quarter-fiscal-year-2022-financial-results/ | 2023-03-22 12:37:32 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/03/22/zhihu-inc-reports-unaudited-fourth-quarter-fiscal-year-2022-financial-results/ |
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Before he fled Sri Lanka on Wednesday amid a crushing economic crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the last of six members of the country’s most influential family still clinging to power.
Rajapaksa, his wife and two bodyguards flew to the city of Male, the capital of the Maldives, according to an immigration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
His departure comes four days after massive crowds broke into his official residence and occupied his seaside office, and he pledged to leave the country. Protesters also stormed the residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has said he will leave once a new government is in place.
Here is a closer look at the rise and fall of Rajapaksa:
__
A FAMILY AFFAIR
For decades, the powerful land-owning Rajapaksa family had dominated local politics in their rural southern district before Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected president in 2005. Appealing to the nationalist sentiment of the island’s Buddhist-Sinhalese majority, he led Sri Lanka into a triumphant victory over ethnic Tamil rebels in 2009, ending a 26-year brutal civil war that had divided the country. His younger brother, Gotabaya, was a powerful official and military strategist in the Ministry of Defense.
Mahinda remained in office until 2015, when he lost to the opposition led by his former aide. But the family made a comeback in 2019, when Gotabaya won the presidential election on a promise to restore security in the wake of the Easter Sunday terrorist suicide bombings that killed 290 people.
He vowed to bring back the muscular nationalism that had made his family popular with the Buddhist majority, and to lead the country out of an economic slump with a message of stability and development.
Instead, he made a series of fatal mistakes that ushered in an unprecedented crisis.
TAX CUTS DRAIN GOVERNMENT FUNDS
As tourism plunged in the wake of the bombings and foreign loans on controversial development projects — including a port and an airport in the president’s home region — needed to be repaid, Rajapaksa didn’t listen to economic advisers and pushed through the largest tax cuts in the country’s history. It was meant to spur spending, but critics warned it would slash the government’s finances. Pandemic lockdowns and an ill-advised ban on chemical fertilizers further hurt the fragile economy.
The country soon ran out of money and couldn’t repay its huge debts. Shortages of food, cooking gas, fuel and medicine stoked public anger at what many saw as mismanagement, corruption and nepotism.
THE END BEGINS
The family’s unravelling began in April, when growing protests forced three Rajapaksa relatives, including the finance minister, to quit their Cabinet posts and another to leave his ministerial job. In May, government supporters attacked protesters in a wave of violence that left nine dead. The anger of the protesters turned against Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was pressured to resign as prime minister and took refuge on a heavily fortified naval base.
But Gotabaya refused to go, triggering chants in the streets of “Gota Go Home!” Instead, he saw his savior in Wickremesinghe, a seasoned opposition politician who he brought in to steer the country out of the abyss. Ultimately, however, Wickremesinghe lacked the political heft and public support needed to get the job done.
___
Associated Press journalist Krishan Francis contributed to this story. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/a-brief-history-of-the-rise-fall-of-sri-lankas-president/ | 2022-07-13 21:06:30 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/a-brief-history-of-the-rise-fall-of-sri-lankas-president/ |
The collision of two helicopters in Alaska was the latest in a series of military helicopter crashes this year whose causes are still being investigated.
The crashes and a rollover involved Black Hawk and Apache helicopters on training missions. A total of 14 soldiers have died and three have been injured.
Black Hawk and Apache helicopters are among the models analyzed in a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report of Army and Air National Guard accidents from fiscal years 2012 through 2021. Among its eight recommendations to military leaders, GAO advised they ensure that National Guard helicopter units continuously update risk management worksheets and remove barriers to pilot training.
___
ALASKA
Two U.S. Army helicopters collided and crashed Thursday in Alaska while returning from a training flight, killing three soldiers and injuring a fourth.
Two of the soldiers died at the scene of the daytime crash near Healy, Alaska, and a third died on the way to a hospital in Fairbanks. A fourth soldier was being treated at a hospital for injuries, the Army said in a statement.
Each AH-64 Apache helicopter was carrying two people at the time of the crash, said John Pennell, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army Alaska.
Also in Alaska, two soldiers were injured on Feb. 5 when a military helicopter was involved in a rollover accident in Talkeetna, officials said.
The Army AH-64D Apache helicopter was damaged in the accident, which occurred when the helicopter was taking off.
The Apache was one of four from the 25th Attack Battalion at Fort Wainwright, near Fairbanks, traveling to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage for training. The four helicopters stopped in Talkeetna to refuel.
Talkeetna is located about 110 miles (180 kilometers) north of Anchorage.
___
KENTUCKY
Two Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters crashed during a routine nighttime training exercise in southwestern Kentucky on March 29, killing all nine soldiers aboard.
One helicopter had five people aboard and the other had four. The helicopters crashed in a field near a residential area with no injuries on the ground.
The two Black Hawks were flying during a training exercise and the pilots were using night-vision goggles, Army officials said. The accident occurred during flying and not during the course of a medical evacuation drill, said Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the 101st Airborne deputy commander.
Officials said April 4 that a U.S. Army aviation safety team found the flight data recorders from the helicopters. These might help determine the cause of the crash.
The 101st Airborne confirmed the crash was about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Fort Campbell.
_____
ALABAMA
A Black Hawk helicopter from the Tennessee National Guard crashed in Alabama during a flight-training mission on Feb. 15, killing two crew members. The helicopter crashed around 3 p.m. and caught fire just outside of Huntsville along Alabama Highway 53. No one on the ground was hurt.
The Tennessee National Guard said in a statement that the helicopter was approaching the Huntsville Executive Airport, “when the aircraft rapidly descended and impacted the ground.”
Military officials said the pilots were both experienced aviators with more than a dozen years of military service apiece. | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/ap-us-news/recent-u-s-military-helicopter-crashes-in-training-missions/ | 2023-04-29 03:41:18 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/ap-us-news/recent-u-s-military-helicopter-crashes-in-training-missions/ |
Supreme Court rules against union in labor dispute involving truck drivers and wet concrete
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a dispute about the pressure that organized labor can exert during a strike, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday against unionized drivers who walked off the job with their trucks full of wet concrete.
The decision united liberal and conservative justices in labor’s latest loss at the high court. The lone dissenter in the case, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, said the ruling would hinder the development of labor law and “erode the right to strike.”
Justice Amy Coney Barrett, writing for the majority, said the union failed to take reasonable precautions to protect the company’s concrete when the drivers went on strike. Barrett wrote that the drivers for Washington state-based Glacier Northwest quit work suddenly, putting the company’s property in “foreseeable and imminent danger.”
“The Union’s actions not only resulted in the destruction of all the concrete Glacier had prepared that day; they also posed a risk of foreseeable, aggravated, and imminent harm to Glacier’s trucks,” Barrett wrote in a decision joined by four other justices. Three more justices agreed with the outcome in the case but did not join Barrett’s opinion.
In 2018, the court’s conservative majority overturned a decades-old pro-union decision involving fees paid by government workers. More recently, the justices rejected a California regulation giving unions access to farm property so they could organize workers.
Justice Samuel Alito wrote in a separate opinion in the Washington state case that the federal National Labor Relations Act protects the right to strike, but with limits. He said it “does not protect striking employees who engage in the type of conduct alleged here.”
In her dissent, Jackson wrote: “Workers are not indentured servants, bound to continue laboring until any planned work stoppage would be as painless as possible for their master.”
This case stemmed from contract negotiations in 2017 between Glacier Northwest and the local Teamsters union, representing the drivers. When negotiations broke down, the union called for a strike. Drivers walked off the job while their trucks were full of concrete, which must be used quickly and can damage the trucks if it’s not.
Glacier says the union timed the strike to create chaos and inflict damage. Glacier not only had to dump the concrete but also pay for the wasted concrete to be broken up and hauled away.
The company sued the union in state court for intentionally damaging its property; the lawsuit was initially dismissed.
The question for the Supreme Court was about how the case should proceed. Glacier said its lawsuit in state court should not have been dismissed at the outset. The union said Glacier’s lawsuit should only be allowed to go forward in state court if the federal National Labor Relations Board first found that the union’s actions were not protected by federal law.
Barrett wrote that because the union did not take reasonable precautions to protect Glacier’s property, the trial court was wrong to think federal law required dismissing the lawsuit. By “reporting for duty and pretending as if they would deliver the concrete, the drivers prompted the creation of the perishable product. Then, they waited to walk off the job until the concrete was mixed and poured in the trucks,” Barrett wrote.
Lawyers for the union had said that in this case the drivers were instructed to be conscientious when they walked off the job, to bring their full trucks back to Glacier’s facility and to leave the trucks’ mixing drums spinning so that the concrete would not immediately begin to harden.
Barrett said that argument wasn’t persuasive. “That the drivers returned the trucks to Glacier’s facility does not do much for the Union — refraining from stealing an employer’s vehicles does not demonstrate that one took reasonable precautions to protect them,” Barrett wrote.
In a statement, Glacier Northwest’s lawyer, Noel Francisco, said the decision “vindicates the longstanding principle that federal law does not shield labor unions ... when they intentionally destroy an employer’s property,”
“Our client is entitled to just compensation for its property that the union intentionally destroyed,” he said.
Darin Dalmat, a lawyer for the union, said in a statement that while the union was disappointed, “nothing in this decision will stop workers from exercising their federally protected rights to strike when necessary to achieve better wages, benefits, and working conditions.”
Dalmat said that in “this particular case, Glacier has found a way to prolong its meritless lawsuit” and get past a motion to dismiss. But, he said, he was confident that the union’s actions would ultimately be found to be protected by the NLRB.
The case is Glacier Northwest v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union No. 174, 21-1449.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2023/06/01/supreme-court-rules-against-union-labor-dispute-involving-truck-drivers-wet-concrete/ | 2023-06-01 19:06:30 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2023/06/01/supreme-court-rules-against-union-labor-dispute-involving-truck-drivers-wet-concrete/ |
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Jon-Patrick Allem, University of Southern California
(THE CONVERSATION) In early September 2022, electronic cigarette maker Juul Labs – the face of the vaping epidemic among teenagers – agreed to pay US$438.5 million to 33 states.
The settlement concludes a two-year bipartisan investigation into the e-cigarette maker’s marketing and sales practices for its vaping products. Those states claimed that Juul marketed its addictive nicotine products to adolescents. The company had previously settled suits with four other states.
As part of the settlement, Juul has also agreed to limit marketing and sales practices that may appeal to adolescents. In addition, the company faces pending lawsuits by nine other states and hundreds of claims on behalf of teenagers who want to hold Juul responsible for their nicotine addiction.
In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration stated that e-cigarette use, or “vaping,” among youths had reached “epidemic proportions.” Juul’s arrival coincided with massive increases in vaping among teenagers.
Though Juul is just one type of e-cigarette in a field of vaping products, its sales comprised 70% of the market at the end of 2017. Juul quickly dominated after its launch in 2015 because of its discreet design – it is small, concealable and resembles a USB thumb drive device – as well as its high-nicotine concentration and range of flavors. The 33 states that are party to the suit claimed that the company’s aggressive and targeted marketing and sales practices have fueled the uptake in vaping among adolescents.
As a researcher in tobacco control, I use publicly accessible data from social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to capture and describe the marketing practices of companies whose products may directly affect public health. I’ve conducted studies that examined the impact of tobacco marketing on adolescents and young adults.
Juul use among kids has been a research focus of mine since 2016. It was during this time when my colleagues and I found hundreds of Twitter posts describing students sneaking Juul products onto school grounds to use during school hours. The latest settlement marks a small victory for those working to curb Juul use among teenagers.
Nicotine’s effects on the developing brain
In 2021, a survey by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that some 2.55 million high school and middle school students – or 9.3% of U.S. students in that age range – said they had used a tobacco product in the previous 30 days. E-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product; according to the 2021 survey, 2.06 million high school and middle school students reported having used e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes like Juul often contain nicotine, which has been shown by a vast body of research to be an addictive substance. Extended exposure to nicotine can have a detrimental impact on brain development during adolescence.
Adolescent brains continue to develop into early adulthood, particularly in the prefrontal cortex. This brain region is involved in higher cognitive development, including cognitive functions related to attention, memory and cognitive flexibility. Human neuroimaging studies have revealed that nicotine exposure results in long-term functional and structural changes in the brain .
How Juul use took off among teenagers
The two-year investigation into Juul revealed that the company grew quickly in popularity in part by marketing to underage users by organizing launch parties. Juul also hired young and trendy-looking models to appear in advertisements and relied on social media posts to raise brand awareness.
Juul’s use of social media to appeal to young people was a concern that my colleagues and I raised in 2018. We examined whether adolescents – defined in our study as people under age 18 – were following Juul’s official Twitter account and the extent to which adolescents shared Juul’s posts to their own followers – other adolescents.
To accomplish this, we collected all tweets from Juul’s official Twitter account from February 2017 to January 2018. We then identified Juul’s tweets that were retweeted, meaning shared by others on Twitter. We found that there were 721 unique users who shared Juul’s tweets during that time. We then determined whether those unique users were adolescents or adults based on a systematic classification procedure.
Our study showed that 25% of users following Juul were adolescents. We also found that an adolescent could be exposed to Juul’s posts without directly following Juul’s official account, as a result of retweeting.
Our findings have clear implications for public health. For example, a meta-analysis – or study that synthesizes the pertinent and available data on a topic from prior research – found that exposure to online e-cigarette marketing increases an adolescent’s risk of trying e-cigarettes.
Targeted strategies aimed at youth
While Juul has not admitted any wrongdoing, as part of the settlement it has agreed to refrain from marketing aimed at youth and from depicting persons under age 35 in any marketing. Juul also agreed to forgo the use of paid influencers – public figures with sizable followings on social media platforms who promote products on behalf of brands for monetary compensation or other benefits. And as part of the settlement, the company agreed to refrain from product placement, use of cartoons and other marketing practices that appeal to adolescents.
I’m cautiously optimistic that the settlement reached between Juul and the states will help curb e-cigarette use among adolescents. However, Juul’s share of the e-cigarette market has decreased in recent years, replaced by disposable, one-time-use e-cigarettes like the newly popular PuffBar. PuffBar offers its products in a variety of flavors, which is important because flavored e-cigarettes are trendy among U.S. middle school and high school students.
Juul is just one e-cigarette company that has employed marketing practices that appeal to adolescents. For example, our team’s research found that e-cigarette companies were using cartoons as company logos and in other promotional material. We’ve documented 106 companies that have used cartoons to help establish their brand identities.
In 2021, we examined the associations between recognition of e-cigarette packaging with cartoons and e-cigarette use. We also studied adolescents’ susceptibility to e-cigarette use and their expectations of benefits and risks from use. To assess the degree to which adolescents recognize cartoon images on product labels, we presented adolescents in our study with 40 images of e-cigarette packages – 20 with cartoons and 20 without. We then asked each adolescent whether they recognized the products.
We found a positive association between recognition of cartoon images and e-cigarette use, susceptibility to use and a perceived social benefit of use. In other words, we determined that adolescents recognized e-cigarette-related cartoon marketing, and that these adolescents were using e-cigarettes.
A step in the right direction
The settlement comes at a time when the public outcry against teen vaping has reached a fever pitch. Although the settlement is an important step forward, research from the tobacco control community shows that marketing practices from tobacco companies can and will influence young people to consider trying tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
As Juul’s popularity wanes and new e-cigarette companies begin to capture more of the market share, strict measures to curb additional marketing practices will be critical in the efforts to keep more young people from becoming addicted to nicotine.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/e-cigarette-maker-juul-settled-a-lawsuit-over-its-practice-of-targeting-teens-through-social-media-parties-and-models-heres-why-the-company-is-paying-438-5-million-to-dozens-of-states-190399. | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/E-cigarette-maker-Juul-settled-a-lawsuit-over-its-17440752.php | 2022-09-14 14:12:50 | 0 | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/E-cigarette-maker-Juul-settled-a-lawsuit-over-its-17440752.php |
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is visiting Sarajevo on Thursday to reaffirm the U.K.'s commitment to peace and stability in Bosnia amid growing fears of malign influence from Russia in the ethnically-divided Balkan country.
During her one-day trip, Truss will meet with top Bosnian officials and announce plans to deepen “security and economic partnership with (the country) in the face of secessionists and Russian attempts to influence and destabilize” it, the U.K. Foreign Office said in a statement.
Truss will also address Bosnia’s multi-ethnic armed forces to urge support for Ukraine with a message that “Russia’s aggression cannot be appeased. It must be met with strength,” it added.
Bosnia has been divided along ethnic lines since the 1992-95 war between its Bosniak, Croat and Serb ethnic communities that killed around 100,000 people.
The country condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations, but failed to agree on imposing sanctions against the Kremlin because of opposition from Serb officials.
Fears of destabilization have mounted in Bosnia in recent months as staunchly pro-Russia Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik increased his divisive rhetoric, threatening to dismantle the country’s multi-ethnic institutions, block its long-stated strategic goal of joining NATO and advocating for the secession of majority Serb parts of its territory.
Dodik’s strong anti-Western stance has been repeatedly praised by Russia's ambassador to Bosnia, who stated in March that if Bosnian achieves its goal of NATO membership, Moscow “will have to react to this hostile act.” | https://www.mrt.com/news/article/UK-foreign-secretary-visits-Bosnia-to-pledge-17199883.php | 2022-05-26 07:44:10 | 1 | https://www.mrt.com/news/article/UK-foreign-secretary-visits-Bosnia-to-pledge-17199883.php |
Summer Program Will Help Students from Underresourced Communities Recover Emotionally from COVID-19 & Prevent Summer Slide
WASHINGTON, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Camps, schools, and advocates are partnering to provide underresourced middle school students with a week of summer camp that will help address their emotional well-being and academic losses caused by the pandemic over the past two years.
Through the collaboration of the American Camp Association (ACA), the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA), and the New York Life Foundation, middle schoolers will have the opportunity to gain social, emotional, and noncognitive skills through a camp experience, which will help put them on track for the upcoming school year. The partnerships are happening at 10 summer camps across seven states in 2022, with plans to double the number of camps and participants in 2023.
The 10 participating camps each received $25,000 in grant funding for the programs, which will allow students from the partner schools to attend accredited summer camps for one week. Summer camps focus on the social-emotional well-being of children and provide them with the opportunity to gain essential life skills such as problem-solving, leadership, and communication in a safe environment. Intentional summer learning programs such as camp help stem summer learning loss and prepare students for a successful upcoming school year.
"The need for summer learning and enrichment opportunities has never been greater," said Aaron Dworkin, CEO, NSLA. "Helping young people experience the unique camp experience with their schoolmates and teachers promises to engage them and ease the transition back to school."
"Summer camp experiences are essential to the education and development of the whole child," said Tom Rosenberg, President/CEO, ACA. "These school-camp partnership programs will provide students with crucial opportunities to learn beyond the classroom, to bridge summer learning gaps, to take positive risks and try new things, and that will help set them up for increased academic success in the new school year."
"Children, particularly young adolescents, continue to struggle with negative impacts of the pandemic on their well-being and academic learning. These camp-school partnerships will provide thousands of middle school students with important emotional and social supports that create a strong foundation for academic growth when the school year resumes," said Marlyn Torres, senior program officer, New York Life Foundation. "This initiative strongly aligns with the Foundation's educational enhancement focus to support middle schoolers during the critical out-of-school time hours."
The school-camp partnership is another initiative in the push by national, state, and local organizations to increase summer learning opportunities as encouraged by US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona during the Discover Summer campaign: "Summer learning programs have always been important for our students but in the last couple of years, they have become essential. Quality summer learning and enrichment programs are key to recovering from the pandemic."
Camps participating in the camp-school partnership include:
- Camp Echo Lake (Warrensburg, NY)
- Camp Twin Lakes (Atlanta, GA)
- Frost Valley YMCA (Claryville, NY)
- Change Summer (New York, NY)
- Hale Education (Westwood, MA)
- Trailblazers (Montague, NJ)
- Mo Ranch (Hunt, TX)
- Guided Discoveries (San Juan Capistrano, CA)
- BGCSF-Camp Mendocino (Fort Bragg, CA)
- BGCM-Whitcomb-Mason (Hartland, WI)
For more information about this camp-school partnership, please contact PR@ACAcamps.org.
The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization serving the more than 15,000 year-round and summer camps in the US who annually serve 26 million campers. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy, evidence-based education, and professional development, and is the only independent national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp's voluntary commitment to the health, safety, risk management, and overall well-being of campers and staff. For more information, visit ACAcamps.org or call 800-428-2267.
The National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) is the only national nonprofit exclusively focused on closing the achievement and opportunity gaps by increasing access to high-quality summer learning opportunities. NSLA recognizes and disseminates what works in summer learning, develops and delivers community capacity-building offerings and convenes and empowers key actors to embrace summer learning as a solution for equity and excellence in education. For more information, visit www.summerlearning.org.
Inspired by New York Life's tradition of service and humanity, the New York Life Foundation has, since its founding in 1979, provided over $390 million in charitable contributions to national and local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation supports programs that benefit young people, particularly in the areas of educational enhancement, childhood bereavement and social justice. The Foundation also encourages and facilitates the community involvement of employees and agents of New York Life through its Volunteers for Good program and Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative. To learn more, please visit newyorklifefoundation.org
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SOURCE American Camp Association | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/new-camp-school-partnership-provides-children-with-summer-camp-opportunity/ | 2022-07-26 18:43:46 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/new-camp-school-partnership-provides-children-with-summer-camp-opportunity/ |
11 sets of twins prepare to graduate from the same high school together
ALLENDALE, N.J. (WABC) – Twins make up about 3% of the U.S. population, but for one high school graduating class in New Jersey, the rate of seeing double is more than doubled.
Nearly a dozen sets of fraternal twins are graduating from Northern Highlands Regional High School together.
“My teacher said there are a lot of twins in my grade. ‘Why don’t we do a spreadsheet on them?’ So I had to nag everybody,” senior Juliana Lavinio said.
The 11 pairs of twins make up about 6.5% of their graduating class of 340 students.
“They’re outstanding students,” Principal Joe Occhino said. “They’re confident. They help each other and are highly academic.”
Each set has gone to school together all their lives, but most are going in different directions for college.
The Northern Highlands graduating class of 2021 had 16 sets of twins.
Copyright 2023 WABC via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wymt.com/2023/06/22/11-sets-twins-prepare-graduate-same-high-school-together/ | 2023-06-22 12:17:05 | 1 | https://www.wymt.com/2023/06/22/11-sets-twins-prepare-graduate-same-high-school-together/ |
The third installment in the “Magic Mike” series danced its way to the top of the box office charts this weekend with a James Cameron double header, “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Titanic” (yes that “Titanic”), looming close behind.
“ Magic Mike’s Last Dance ” earned $8.2 million in its first weekend in North American theaters, according to studio estimates on Sunday. Cameron’s “Avatar” sequel brought in an additional $6.9 million while the 25th anniversary rerelease of “Titanic” took in $6.4 million from Friday to Sunday.
North American moviegoing tends to come to a halt on Super Bowl Sunday and studios react strategically, often releasing films that are more “female-targeted.” Star Channing Tatum has also had several films perform well in the Super Bowl/Valentine’s Day corridor, including “The Vow,” “Dear John” and “Dog.”
“This is not known as a spike the football weekend for theaters. But there are people who want to go to theaters, even on Super Bowl weekend,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “And this is perfect counterprogramming.”
“Magic Mike’s Last Dance,” which brought Steven Soderbergh back to the director’s chair, was given a modest theatrical release in only 1,500 theaters. The film starring Tatum as the lovable male stripper and introducing a wealthy benefactor played by Salma Hayek, was made to go straight to HBO Max. But like the “ House Party ” reboot from several weeks ago, Warner Bros. pivoted and decided to go theatrical first with both in a company effort to refocus on the theatrical experience and give fresh fare to exhibitors.
The ”Magic Mike” franchise has been a profitable one. In 2012, the first film opened to some $39.1 million from just under 4,000 theaters, on its way to earning $167.3 million globally (against a $7 million production budget). The second, “XXL,” was made for slightly more ($14 million) and took in slightly less ($122.5 million) in 2015. The success of the films also spawned a Las Vegas stage show that has since expanded to Miami and London – in the lead up to the release of “Last Dance,” ticket sales for “Magic Mike Live” spiked too.
This latest installment reportly carried a much bigger production budget, around $40 million, according to entertainment trades.
“Avatar: The Way of Water” in its ninth weekend added $25.8 million globally, bringing its total earnings to $2.2 billion, holding its spot as the 4th biggest movie release ever but closing in on “Titanic.”
“Titanic” was rereleased in 2,464 domestic locations this weekend, with Paramount handling the North American release and The Walt Disney Co. on the international rollout in 51 territories. All told the film earned $22.3 million globally, with $2 million of that from IMAX screens. “Titanic” has now earned an estimated $2.2 billion globally, maintaining its title as the third biggest movie of all time.
In fourth place was the Super Bowl-themed “80 for Brady,” in its second weekend, with $6 million. The Paramount release has made just under $25 million so far. M. Night Shyamalan’s “Knock at the Cabin,” a Universal release, rounded out the top five with $5.5 million.
“Super Bowl weekend is typically slow for theaters, and this one is no exception, but help is on the way with ‘Ant-Man,’” Dergarabedian said. “It’ll start a chain reaction that should carry throughout the whole year.”
The Marvel/Disney film “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” opens in theaters on Feb. 17.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore, with Wednesday through Sunday in parentheses. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “Magic Mike’s Last Dance,” $8.2 million.
2. “Avatar: The Way of Water,” $6.9 million.
3. “Titanic,” $6.4 million.
4. “80 for Brady,” $6 million.
5. “Knock at the Cabin,” $5.5 million.
6. “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” $5.5 million.
7. “A Man Called Otto,” $2.6 million.
8. “Missing,” $2.6 million.
9. “M3GAN,” $2.4 million.
10. “Plane,” $1.2 million.
—-
Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr. | https://www.kark.com/entertainment-news/ap-magic-mikes-last-dance-wins-super-bowl-weekend-box-office/ | 2023-02-13 13:28:33 | 0 | https://www.kark.com/entertainment-news/ap-magic-mikes-last-dance-wins-super-bowl-weekend-box-office/ |
ALMA, Ark. – Millions have seen the cell phone video of a man being punched and kneed 21 times during an arrest in Arkansas, and now surveillance footage shows what led up to the violent incident.
Shortly before that arrest in the Crawford County town of Mulberry, security cameras in nearby Alma captured parts of a convenience store clerk’s interaction with 27-year-old Randal Worcester on Sunday.
A police report shows the clerk wasn’t comfortable with Worcester loitering in the front of the store and told him to leave. The clerk alleges Worcester spit on her and threatened to cut her face off. Shortly after, the South Carolina man could be seen riding away on his bicycle.
Worcester then headed east to Mulberry, to the Kountry Xpress store just off of Interstate 40. That was where he was approached by three law enforcement officers, Deputy Levi White and Deputy Zack King with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and Officer Threll Riddle with the Mulberry Police Department.
Authorities confirm a police dashcam captured the moment leading up to the arrest, but the Crawford County prosecuting attorney has not yet authorized its release.
The next video was of the arrest and was captured on cell phone. In it, Worcester can be seen being punched and kneed in the first six seconds of the 33-second video.
White appears to punch Worcester 12 times before rubbing his face onto the parking lot and smashing his head into the cement. It appears King kneed Worcester eight times before kicking him once.
From the only publicly available perspective, it appears Mulberry police officer Thell Riddle does not throw a punch or kick but lays across Worcester at times.
All three officers have had extensive training in law enforcement, with two of them having had training in “use of force” within the last year.
King, who has been on the job since 2018, completed a one-hour state course ranging in conversation from Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Tamir Rice two weeks before the arrest in Mulberry. Riddle, who has been in law enforcement for more than 20 years, went through similar training in January of this year.
Worcester was released on bond from the Crawford County Detention Center Monday. White, King and Riddle have all been suspended as the investigation into the arrest continues. | https://www.fox16.com/news/state-news/new-video-shows-interaction-that-led-to-viral-arkansas-arrest-where-suspect-was-struck-21-times/ | 2022-08-25 02:13:56 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/news/state-news/new-video-shows-interaction-that-led-to-viral-arkansas-arrest-where-suspect-was-struck-21-times/ |
Progestagen-only contraceptives carry similar, small breast cancer risk as other hormone contraceptives, study finds
By Jessie Gretener, CNN
All hormone contraceptives, including progestagen-only “minipills,” carry a small “excess risk” of breast cancer, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Oxford, but the overall risk remains low.
The study, published Tuesday in the journal PLOS Medicine, bridges a research gap by investigating the link between breast cancer and progestagen-only contraceptives.
“Use of combined oral contraceptives, containing both estrogen and progestagen, has previously been associated with a small increase in breast cancer risk but there is limited data about the effect of progestagen-only hormonal contraceptives,” the authors wrote.
The study found that progestagen-only contraceptives are associated with a 20% to 30% relative risk for breast cancer, which aligns with previous research on combined hormone contraceptives. The overall risk of breast cancer among hormone contraceptive users is low, especially for younger women, and past studies have shown that the excess risk is gone entirely about 10 years after stopping.
The study does not indicate that hormonal contraceptives cause breast cancer but rather investigated potential links to the disease.
What are progestagen-only contraceptives?
Progestagens, or progestin, are a type of synthetic hormone drug that mimic the natural hormone progesterone, which is crucial for menstruation and pregnancy.
Unlike combined hormone contraceptives, progestagen-only contraceptives do not have estrogen. Types of progestagen-only contraceptives available in the UK and US include the implant, the hormonal intrauterine device (IUD), the contraceptive injection and the minipill.
In the UK, which is ranked highest for access to contraception on the 2023 Europe Contraception Policy Atlas, prescriptions for progestagen-only contraceptives are almost as high as for combined oral contraceptives.
In the US, the combined pill is the most popular hormonal contraception, but a significant percentage of women are choosing an implant or IUD, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Progestagen-only contraceptives work to prevent pregnancy by thickening mucus in the cervix to stop sperm reaching an egg and, in some cases, can stop ovulation completely.
The CDC and the British National Health Service also cite additional benefits.
For example, women who have severe period pain are often advised to opt for the implant or IUD, as progestagen-only contraceptives can weaken or stop periods for some women. This can serve as a more sustainable and affordable option for long-term pain management for conditions like endometriosis. The minipill is also cited as a safe option for women who are breastfeeding.
Like combined hormonal contraceptives, progestagen-only contraceptives are designed to prevent unwanted pregnancies but should still be used in tandem with condoms, as they do not protect women from sexually transmitted infections.
Risks vs. benefits
The new study analyzed data on almost 10,000 women under the age of 50 in the UK who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 1996 and 2017, as well as more than 18,000 who did not have breast cancer.
“On average, 44% of women with breast cancer and 39% of matched controls had a hormonal contraceptive prescription, with about half the prescriptions being for progestagen-only preparations,” the study stated.
The Clinical Practice Research Datalink, which collected the data for the study, also combined the results with previous research, including women from a wider age range.
The resulting 15-year “excess risk” associated with five years of use of combined or progestagen-only contraceptives in high-income countries was estimated at 8 per 100,000 users ages 16 to 20 and 265 per 100,000 users ages 35 to 39.
Kirstin Pirie, a researcher at the University of Oxford and lead author of the study, said excess risks must be viewed in the context of the “well-established benefits” of contraceptive use during a woman’s reproductive years, such as birth control and hormone regulation. Pirie also noted that breast cancer risks are lower for younger women, given that the underlying risk increases with age.
Claire Knight, a senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK, which provided core funding for the study, said that hormonal contraception is a personal choice, as “there are lots of possible benefits to using contraception, as well as other risks not related to cancer.”
“Women who are most likely to be using contraception are under the age of 50, where the risk of breast cancer is even lower. For anyone looking to lower their cancer risk, not smoking, eating a healthy balanced diet, drinking less alcohol and keeping a healthy weight will have the most impact,” Knight said.
Limitations of the research
The researchers noted some limitations in the study, including a lack of complete information on a woman’s prescription history. However, while that limitation affected the ability to assess the long-term associations of contraceptive use with breast cancer risks, the authors say it is unlikely to have disproportionately affected the short-term findings.
The study says data was lacking on a family history of breast cancer, but the researchers said that previously published findings for combined oral contraceptives were unaltered after adjusting for family history.
The authors also said they attempted to investigate whether there are differing breast cancer risks between hormonal and nonhormonal IUDs. However, they said too few women in England had been prescribed nonhormonal IUDs to make a reliable comparison.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/health/cnn-health/2023/03/21/progestagen-only-contraceptives-carry-similar-small-breast-cancer-risk-as-other-hormone-contraceptives-study-finds/ | 2023-03-22 08:34:21 | 1 | https://localnews8.com/health/cnn-health/2023/03/21/progestagen-only-contraceptives-carry-similar-small-breast-cancer-risk-as-other-hormone-contraceptives-study-finds/ |
SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. and GREENVILLE, S.C., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, and GrandSouth Bancorporation ("GrandSouth"), the parent company of GrandSouth Bank, announced today the signing of a definitive merger agreement under which First Bancorp will acquire GrandSouth in an all-stock transaction with a total current value of $181.1 million, or $31.43 per share, based on First Bancorp's stock price as of June 17, 2022.
The merger agreement, unanimously approved by the board of directors of each company, is expected to close in the late fourth quarter of 2022 or early first quarter of 2023, subject to customary conditions, including GrandSouth shareholder approval and regulatory approval. At closing, GrandSouth shareholders will receive 0.910 shares of First Bancorp's common stock for each share of GrandSouth's common and preferred stock.
GrandSouth Bank currently operates eight branches in South Carolina in key towns and cities that match First Bank's desired areas for growth, including Greenville, Fountain Inn, Anderson, Greer, Columbia, Orangeburg, and Charleston. With a focus on small business banking, the acquisition complements First Bank's strengths in that area.
"GrandSouth is in great communities with talented bankers," said Mike Mayer, President and CEO of First Bank. "Our cultures are very similar and we are excited to bring our teams together."
Upon completion of the acquisition, the combined company is expected to have over $12 billion in assets, $7 billion in loans, and $10 billion in deposits. This transaction represents an opportunity to accelerate First Bank's South Carolina expansion.
"We are very excited about this partnership and the unique opportunity it presents," said J.B. Schwiers, President and Director of GrandSouth. "We have long admired First Bancorp, and our combined company will be positioned to capitalize on an enhanced presence in exceptional markets, talent, and financial strength."
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. served as financial advisor to First Bancorp and Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP provided legal counsel. Piper Sandler & Co. served as financial advisor to GrandSouth and Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP served as legal counsel.
Further information on the terms of this transaction will be included in an Investor Presentation to be filed by First Bancorp and GrandSouth with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
First Bancorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of approximately $10.5 billion at March 31, 2022. Its principal activity is the ownership and operation of First Bank, a state-chartered community bank that operates 110 branches in North Carolina and South Carolina. Since 1935, First Bank has taken a tailored approach to banking, combining best-in-class financial solutions, helpful local expertise, and technology to manage a home or business. First Bancorp's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FBNC." Visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.
GrandSouth is a bank holding company with assets of $1.3 billion at March 31, 2022. GrandSouth Bank provides a range of financial services to individuals and small and medium sized businesses. GrandSouth Bank has eight branches in South Carolina, located in Greenville, Fountain Inn, Anderson, Greer, Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including certain plans, expectations, goals, and projections, and including statements about the benefits of the proposed merger between First Bancorp and GrandSouth, which are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by such statements for a variety of factors including, without limitation: the businesses of First Bancorp and GrandSouth may not be integrated successfully or such integration may take longer to accomplish than expected; the expected cost savings and any revenue synergies from the merger may not be fully realized within the expected timeframes; disruption from the merger may make it more difficult to maintain relationships with clients, associates, or suppliers; the required governmental approvals of the merger may not be obtained on the proposed terms and schedule; the shareholders of GrandSouth may not approve the merger.
This communication is being made in respect of the proposed transaction involving First Bancorp and GrandSouth. This material is not a solicitation of any vote or approval of the shareholders of GrandSouth and is not a substitute for the proxy statement/prospectus or any other documents which First Bancorp and GrandSouth may send to shareholders in connection with the proposed merger. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.
In connection with the proposed transaction, First Bancorp intends to file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement of GrandSouth and a prospectus of First Bancorp, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders are also urged to carefully review and consider each of First Bancorp's and GrandSouth's public filings with the SEC, including but not limited to their Annual Reports on Form 10-K, their Proxy Statements, their Current Reports on Form 8-K and their Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. GrandSouth will mail the proxy statement/prospectus to its shareholders. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISIONS, INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF GRANDSOUTH ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE ENTIRE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other filings containing information about First Bancorp and GrandSouth at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Investors and security holders may also obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by First Bancorp on its website at http://www.localfirstbank.com and by GrandSouth on its website at http://www.grandsouth.com
GrandSouth and certain of its directors and executive officers, under the SEC's rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of GrandSouth's shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of GrandSouth Bancorporation and their ownership of GrandSouth common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for GrandSouth's 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, as filed with the SEC on a Schedule 14A on April 11, 2022. Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.
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SOURCE First Bancorp; GrandSouth Bancorporation | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/first-bancorp-accelerates-its-south-carolina-expansion-with-acquisition-grandsouth-bancorporation/ | 2022-06-21 21:39:22 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/first-bancorp-accelerates-its-south-carolina-expansion-with-acquisition-grandsouth-bancorporation/ |
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP)Jordan Mims and Jake Haener helped complete the biggest in-season turnaround in Football Bowl Subdivision history in their final game for Fresno State,
Mims rushed for a career-high 205 yards and two scores, Haener threw two TD passes and the Bulldogs rolled to a 29-6 victory over Washington State in the LA Bowl on Saturday.
Fresno State – which won the Mountain West Conference title – is the first team to get to 10 wins after dropping four of the first five. The Bulldogs (10-4) were 1-4 in early October before winning their final nine games.
”We set history today. Every guy in that locker room day in and day out has been resilient and positive,” said Haener, who completed 24 of 36 passes for 284 yards.
Mims – who was selected as game’s offensive MVP – accounted for 232 all-purpose yards and outgained Washington State, which had 182 offensive yards. Both of Mims’ touchdowns were on direct snaps out of the Wildcat formation.
Early in the second quarter, the senior went 4 yards around left end to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 advantage. In the fourth quarter, he carried it 2 yards up the middle to make it 29-6.
”It felt surreal. I knew I had a pretty solid game. Our line did their thing and I followed them,” Mims said. ”We always want to stick with the run game and pound the ball first. It was good for us to make plays on the ground and we can dish out here and there and throw shots.”
Haener connected with Zane Pope on a 22-yard touchdown to complete the Bulldogs’ opening possession. He added an 11-yard score to Nikko Remigio late in the third quarter to extend the lead to 22-6.
Cameron Ward was 22 of 32 for 137 yards for Washington State (7-6).
Nakia Watson rushed for 33 yards and had the Cougars only touchdown in the third quarter, when he scored from 1 yard to bring Washington State within 16-6.
”I don’t think we ever got in a rhythm. We never established running the football which is a key piece to what we always want to do,” coach Jake Dickert said. ”Those are some things as we watch the tape that we’ll kind of hopefully lean into and learn.”
GETTING DEFENSIVE
Fresno State made it 16-0 with a safety in the second quarter. On third-and-14 from the Cougars’ 3-yard line, Ward was pressured by Bulldogs’ defensive lineman Leonard Payne Jr. and stepped on the end line in the back of the end zone.
It was the second time in the last three games the Bulldogs have scored on a safety.
HOW ‘BOUT THEM APPLES?
Haener began his career at the University of Washington. He spent two seasons there but transferred in 2019 after losing the QB competition in fall camp.
Haener never played in the Apple Cup rivalry game against Washington State, but had his own personal victory on Saturday.
In a post on social media, Haener looked into the camera with an apple and said ”this is my Apple Cup.” He took a bite of the apple and tossed into the air before saying ”I love it.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Fresno State: The Bulldogs have won four straight bowl games and have their second consecutive season with double-digit victories. It also completes a great first year for Jeff Tedford, who is in his second stint at Fresno State after Kalen DeBoer left for Washington.
”There’s a lot of teams where people opt out of games. I didn’t hear any talk about that because our players have commitment to each other and want to do something special,” Tedford said. ”I think that’s a real tribute to the guys on our team.”
Washington State: The Cougars have dropped their last three bowl games but were short-handed after both coordinators left for other positions. Washington State also was impacted at wide receiver and linebacker with players opting out of the game or putting their name in the transfer portal.
”I thought operationally we were pretty good. We just needed to get in a little bit more rhythm and establish some toughness which we just weren’t able to do,” Dickert said.
—
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap-top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/mrxhe6f2 | https://www.kxnet.com/scoreboard/mims-haener-lead-fresno-st-past-washington-st-in-la-bowl/ | 2022-12-18 19:39:21 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/scoreboard/mims-haener-lead-fresno-st-past-washington-st-in-la-bowl/ |
NFL suspends Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for 6 games, AP sources say
(AP) - Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was suspended without pay for six games Monday for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy following accusations of sexual misconduct made against him by two dozen women in Texas, two people familiar with the decision said.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been publicly released. Watson, who played for four seasons with Houston before being traded to Cleveland in March, recently settled 23 of 24 lawsuits filed by women alleging sexual harassment and assault during massage therapy appointments in 2020 and 2021.
The NFL has three days to appeal the decision by disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson. The NFL Players’ Association already stated it would abide by her ruling. If either side appeals, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell or someone he designates will make the decision, per terms of the collective bargaining agreement. The union then could try to challenge that ruling in federal court.
The league had pushed for an indefinite suspension of at least one year and at least a $5 million fine for the 26-year-old Watson during a three-day hearing before Robinson in June.
Watson can continue to practice and play in exhibition games before his suspension begins the first week of the regular season. He would be eligible to return on Oct. 23 when the Browns play at Baltimore.
Watson, who signed a fully guaranteed $230 million, five-year contract, will lose only $345,000 if the suspension is unchanged because his base salary this season is $1.035 million. His $45 million signing bonus is not affected by the suspension.
After learning the ruling was imminent, the NFLPA issued a joint statement with Watson on Sunday night, saying they will not appeal Robinson’s ruling and urged the league to follow suit.
“Every player, owner, business partner and stakeholder deserves to know that our process is legitimate and will not be tarnished based on the whims of the League office” the union said in a statement.
As he awaited the ruling, Watson has been in training camp with the Browns. He has continued to take most of the reps with the first-team offense, which will be turned over to backup Jacoby Brissett while he’s sidelined.
While the NFL pushed for a severe penalty, the union had argued Watson shouldn’t be punished at all because he was not convicted of any crime.
Two grand juries in Texas declined to indict Watson on criminal complaints brought by 10 of the women.
This was the first case for Robinson, a former U.S. district judge who was jointly appointed by the NFL and the union to handle player misconduct — a role previously held by Goodell.
A three-time Pro Bowl pick with the Texans, Watson has seen his playing career stalled by the allegations that he acted inappropriately with the women during massage therapy sessions he scheduled via social media. He sat out the 2021 season.
In their lawsuits, the women accused Watson of exposing himself, touching them with his penis or kissing them against their will. One woman alleged Watson forced her to perform oral sex.
Watson has denied all wrongdoing, insisting any sexual activity with three of the women was consensual. He publicly insisted his goal was to clear his name before agreeing to confidential financial settlements with 20 of the women on June 21.
“This case started because one woman had the fortitude to step forward and make her voice heard,” said attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the women in the civil lawsuit. “Her courage inspired many others with the same experience. None of this saga would have occurred without that one brave voice. One person can make a difference.
“I have been asked repeatedly about my thoughts in regard to the NFL’s proceeding with Deshaun Watson. Although some of my clients do have strong feelings in that regard, I have nothing meaningful to say about that process. I’ve said in the beginning that the civil process and the NFL’s disciplinary process are very different. My role was to advance the cause of my clients, in civil court—nothing more. I’ve done that. I am extremely proud of these women and our legal team’s efforts. The settlements are confidential. I won’t comment further on them.”
Watson’s high-profile case has renewed scrutiny of the league’s handling of player misbehavior, along with its support for women, and left the Browns wondering if they’ll ever find a franchise quarterback.
Since the trade, Watson has been on public display, with fans questioning whether the league had the authority to ban him from playing despite no criminal charges.
The league has been sensitive about its image and handing out the appropriate discipline for Watson after being criticized for its handling of previous cases of domestic violence or sexual misconduct against women involving Baltimore running back Ray Rice, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Cleveland running back Kareem Hunt among others.
For their part, the Browns were widely condemned for signing Watson. The team has been desperate to find a long-term answer at quarterback — they’ve had a league-high 32 starters since 1999 — and many questioned why the team would take on a player with so much baggage.
During his introductory news conference after he was traded to Cleveland, Watson was adamant about his innocence.
“I have never assaulted, disrespected or harassed any woman in my life,” he said at the dais, where he was joined by Browns general manager Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski. “I was raised differently. That is not my DNA. That is not my culture. That is not me as a person.”
He repeated those comments three months later during the Browns’ minicamp, insisting his only goal was to clear his name. However, a week later he settled 20 of the civil lawsuits. Any remaining lawsuits could still go to trial, but not until 2023 after both sides agreed to wait until after the upcoming season.
On July 15, 30 women settled lawsuits against the Texans after claiming the team ignored and enabled Watson as he harassed and assaulted them during the therapy sessions. Terms of the settlements were kept confidential.
Despite Watson’s legal entanglement, the Browns — along with several other teams — pursued Watson after the first grand jury declined to indict him.
Initially, Watson turned down the Browns. But Cleveland owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam enticed him with the richest fully guaranteed contract in league history, to that point.
Watson had other offers but chose the Browns and waived his no-trade clause to join a team coming off a disappointing 8-9 season. Cleveland completed the deal on March 18 by agreeing to send Houston three first-round draft picks and six selections overall for Watson.
The Haslams said any concerns they had about his character or behavior were alleviated when they flew to Houston along with Berry and Stefanski and spent time talking to Watson.
An All-American at Clemson, Watson was drafted by the Texans with the No. 12 pick in 2017. He started six games as a rookie before passing for 4,165 yards and 26 touchdowns in his second year.
Watson has developed into one of the league’s elite QBs, throwing for 4,823 yards and 33 TDs in 2020 despite playing on a Texans team that went just 4-12.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/08/01/nfl-suspends-cleveland-browns-quarterback-deshaun-watson-6-games/ | 2022-08-01 14:08:59 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/08/01/nfl-suspends-cleveland-browns-quarterback-deshaun-watson-6-games/ |
(The Hill) — Don Lemon says he regrets the way he talked about “women in their prime” during a segment on CNN’s morning show on Thursday.
“The reference I made to a woman’s ‘prime’ this morning was inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and loved ones have pointed out, and I regret it,” Lemon wrote in a tweet on Thursday afternoon, following his remarks on “CNN This Morning.”
“A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day,” he continued.
Lemon was widely panned for comments made hours earlier about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who called for competency tests for politicians over 75 years old as part of her campaign launch earlier this week.
“This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable. I think it’s the wrong road to go down. She says people, you know, politicians or something are not in their prime,” Lemon said on the air. “Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime, sorry.”
“A woman is considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s,” he added.
The host’s comments were met with immediate pushback from his female co-hosts and resounding scorn from critics, many on the political right, including Haley herself.
“Liberals can’t stand the idea of having competency tests for older politicians to make sure they can do the job,” said Haley, who also sent a fundraising e-mail about the CNN anchor’s comments. “[By the way], it’s always the liberals who are the most sexist.”
Lemon — who for years hosted a show in prime time at CNN — was tapped last fall by network leadership to host its revamped morning program. At the time, Lemon insisted he “was not demoted” and said he was looking forward to the new challenge. | https://who13.com/news/national-news/don-lemon-says-he-regrets-his-inartful-comments-about-women-age/ | 2023-02-16 20:44:44 | 1 | https://who13.com/news/national-news/don-lemon-says-he-regrets-his-inartful-comments-about-women-age/ |
Question: My strawberry bed has become so crowded with plants that it is no longer producing much fruit. Is this a good time to start a new bed?
Answer: It is true that strawberry beds become so clogged with plants that their fruit yield drops. Strawberry plants are producing a lot of new runner plants in mid to late summer. So, now is a good time to start a new bed using the new runner plants.
The first question to ask is: Do you have the best variety of strawberry to suit your particular needs? Most of the strawberry varieties grown here are of the single crop or long day type. They produce a big crop of fruit for about a month or so in June to July. This is the best type if you want a big crop all at once so you can make jam or freeze some berries for later use.
The second type of strawberry bears a crop in June-July and then a second, smaller crop in the fall. Although it is referred to as everbearing, there is a big gap between crops.
The newest strawberry type is referred to as day neutral or continuous bearing.
They produce a smaller amount of fruit during June and July but continue to flower and produce all summer long into the fall. If your bed is still producing fruit right now, you have this day neutral type. Seascape is the most widely sold variety of this type in our area, but others are also available. I prefer the day neutral type because I like to be able to pick a few berries for my cereal or ice cream whenever I want.
Strawberry plants are normally available for sale only in the spring. So, if you don’t have the type you want or know someone who does, you may want to rejuvenate your old bed and wait until next spring to start a new bed. To rejuvenate your current bed, remove the oldest and largest plants until plants are spaced at least 6 inches apart. Plants can be moved to get the desired spacing.
Before I plant a new bed, I like to add 3 or 4 inches of bark dust or compost and till it in with a large tiller to a depth of about 8 inches. I add a pound of general purpose fertilizer like 16-16-16 and 5 pounds of sulfur per 100 square feet before planting.
I started a new strawberry bed in the spring with Seascape plants. I planted three rows a foot apart with plants a foot apart in the row. This allows me to reach in from either side without stepping into the bed. Those plants have been producing fruit since June. They have produced enough runner plants to fill in so they are now about 6 inches apart, and I am cutting off all additional new runner plants. Next year I will remove the original plants and allow enough new runner plants to fill in. There will be enough additional runner plants to start a new bed if I want to. Always use the newest runner plants (still attached to their larger mother plants) for a new bed. They will be the most productive. | https://www.postregister.com/features/start-a-new-strawberry-bed-or-rejuvenate-an-old-bed/article_e2a294e1-f9e4-5e9a-bb92-d35b2d47163e.html | 2022-08-17 08:25:00 | 1 | https://www.postregister.com/features/start-a-new-strawberry-bed-or-rejuvenate-an-old-bed/article_e2a294e1-f9e4-5e9a-bb92-d35b2d47163e.html |
Road closures in Downtown Visalia scheduled for next week
Visalians should prepare for overnight road closures and some lane restrictions in downtown Visalia next week as California Water Service starts the final phase of its Water Main Replacement Project.
Work for the project includes removing temporary asphalt patches along the water main trenches throughout downtown and repaving them with new permanent asphalt, as well as paving around existing water valve covers.
“Traffic delays and parking inconveniences associated with the closures and lane restrictions can be expected and motorists are encouraged to be mindful of potential delays and seek alternate routes,” California Water Service Superintendent Scott McNamara said. “Sidewalk access will be maintained at all times for businesses in the area.”
All work will be completed overnight and into the morning from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. each day, with the exception of work scheduled from 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. on May 1 on Church Street from Acequia Avenue to Main Street.
“Each street will be completed in one work shift,” McNamara said. “From start to finish, the entire job is anticipated to take approximately six days, ground conditions permitting.”
Here is a list of streets that will be closed or restricted on the following days:
- April 24 – Church Street from Main Street to Center Avenue (Closure)
- April 25 – Encina Street from Main Street to the intersection with Center Avenue (Closure)
- April 26 – Main Street from Locust Street to Santa Fe Street (Lane Restriction)
- April 27 – Floral Street from just south of Main Street to the intersection with Acequia Avenue (Closure)
- April 28 – Willis Street from Mineral King to Willow Avenue (Closure)
- May 1 – Church Street from Acequia Avenue to Main Street (Closure) | https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/local/visalia/2023/04/21/road-closures-in-downtown-visalia-scheduled-for-next-week/70136439007/ | 2023-04-22 01:41:29 | 0 | https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/local/visalia/2023/04/21/road-closures-in-downtown-visalia-scheduled-for-next-week/70136439007/ |
When Daniel Ellsberg died last week at the age of 92, he was called the patron saint of whistleblowers, maybe the most important one in American history.
But how did the Pentagon Papers — 7,000 classified documents — travel from the apartment he was renting in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the front page of the New York Times?
Ellsberg was a hawkish military analyst who would ultimately realize that several presidents were lying about the Vietnam War. In 1971, he announced he had the proof: the so-called Pentagon Papers detailing the government’s own concerns.
We speak with Ellsberg’s Cambridge neighbor at the time, Pebble Gifford, whose husband Dun Gifford helped New York Times reporter Neil Sheehan Xerox the papers in Dun’s downtown Boston office. We also hear from our past conversations with Ellsberg about how he tried to get people to follow his lead and blow the whistle on lies about more current wars.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kanw.com/2023-06-19/how-a-cambridge-mass-neighbor-helped-xerox-whistleblower-daniel-ellsbergs-pentagon-papers | 2023-06-19 20:11:50 | 1 | https://www.kanw.com/2023-06-19/how-a-cambridge-mass-neighbor-helped-xerox-whistleblower-daniel-ellsbergs-pentagon-papers |
- ZTE has partnered with Leia Inc., to jointly announce Nubia's first eyewear-free 3D•AI tablet at MWC 2023
- Nubia has introduced the world's first 3D•AI tablet, featuring naturally immersive 3D experiences, content sharing and creation applications
BARCELONA, Spain, March 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of information and communication technology solutions, has partnered with Leia Inc., the world's leading 3D•AI technology developer, to jointly announce the world's first 3D•AI tablet - nubia Pad 3D, a new ecological product of its Nubia brand, at Mobile World Congress 2023. This innovative device features embedded technology that enables fully eyewear-free immersive 3D calling, streaming, and gaming experiences, as well as content sharing and creation applications. The company also unveiled other exciting products at the exhibition, including Nubia's first AR eyewear - nubia Neovision Glass, and a range of smart ecological products.
Ni Fei, Senior Vice President of ZTE Corporation and President of ZTE Mobile Devices, says: "ZTE, in partnership with Leia on 3D•AI technology, is pleased to announce the expansion of its 5G+3D offering. With this technology, users can eyewear-free enjoy a rich, natural 3D experience."
Cecilia Qvist, Leia's CEO, says: "3D has been there for a while but we are now enhancing the 3D viewing and content creation with the latest AI technologies. The AI brings the 3D experience to a whole new level, both in terms of viewing comfort, and the ease it is to create 3D content at a whim - a 5-year-old can now create and share stunning immersive art in seconds using the device."
Immersive 3D experience
The nubia Pad 3D features Leia's cutting-edge 3D lightfield technology, with robust AI computing power engine, making it the perfect device for dynamic three-dimensional face-tracking and real-time matching up to comfortable 3D viewing angles. The device also employs advanced neural network and deep-learning algorithms to seamlessly convert massive 2D content such as streaming media, games, movies, etc., into immersive and unique 3D visual experiences, all in real-time.
High-quality 3D content producer
The nubia Pad 3D is not only a 3D playback browser, but also a 3D content maker. Adopting the principle of the human eye's stereoscopic perception, both its front and rear dual cameras are able to record a 3D view of the world before them. The Dual 16MP rear camera is dedicated to 3D shooting, and the Dual 8MP front camera can be used for 3D video calls, allowing users to create high-quality 3D content, making 3D creation possible. With the addition of creative software, everyone can be an artist to create 3D visual works through AI.
Wide range of 3D applications
By leveraging the power of comprehensive AI and 3D technology, nubia Pad 3D offers an unparalleled digital experience. With its various 3D applications, users can access a wide array of content including 3D chat, 3D streaming media, 3D games, 3D theatre, 3D shooting, and other creation content. The Leia App Store offers a one-stop-shop for users to download all the applications they need.
The nubia Pad 3D is not just limited to consumer scenarios, but also can be used in commercial scenarios. It has the potential to revolutionize the 3D education with digital demonstrations for education, medical support, digital exhibitions at museums, and other fields. With the ability to realize an augmented reality experience, nubia Pad 3D is a game-changer in the world of technology.
Powerful Leia 3D content ecosystem
The nubia Pad 3D's rich applications are inseparable from strong Leia ecosystem support, including Stability.ai's stable diffusion technology that enables LeiaDream to create generative art in 3D, SDK integrations with Unreal Engine, Unity, and many more. On the way to building a comprehensive ecosystem, Nubia and Leia will continue to explore future possibilities of 3D vision with ecosystem partners, aiming to bring users more wonderful and naturally immersive 3D experiences.
Flagship performance and ultra long endurance
The nubia Pad 3D comes built-in with the latest Snapdragon 888 chipset configuration, UFS3.1, and LPDDR5 RAM. Users can expect to experience stunning visuals on the 12.4-inch 2.5K adaptive dimming IPS LCD display, with a resolution of 2560*1600 and 120Hz intelligent high refresh rate. If that's not enough, it also comes with the four-corner symmetrical Dolby surround sound speakers and a large 9070mAh battery with 33W fast charger, providing uninterrupted power for your three-dimensional adventures.
Exquisite and stylish design
The nubia Pad 3D features a metal body design, which is light and portable. The multi-interface and card slot design also greatly improve the usability. A midnight black body color matching with an elegant vegan leather case of the same color, makes it a versatile fashion choice.
After two years, with the efforts of more than 200 professional R&D team members and the support of over 100 laboratories around the world, nubia Pad 3D came into being, and will bring a new 3D digital experience powered by unique AI technology. The product will be ready for pre-sale in March. At MWC 2023, ZTE also singed a Memorandum of Understanding with AIS, the largest mobile operator in Thailand. The two parties would jointly promote nubia Pad 3D in the local market.
For more information, please visit ZTE booth (3F30, Hall 3, Fira Gran Via) at Mobile World Congress 2023, or explore: https://www.zte.com.cn/global/about/exhibition/mwc23.html
ABOUT Leia Inc.
Founded in 2014, Leia Inc. is the leading provider of 3D display hardware and content services for Mobile and Automotive. Leveraging breakthroughs in nanotechnology design, manufacturing and Intelligent Software, the Silicon Valley company is building the future of digital interactions. Its core technology originated from years of R&D at HP Labs and makes any display beautifully immersive through unparalleled depth, look-around, and realistic light effects. Leia's 3D•AI content platform empowers developers and content creators worldwide with the ability to easily create stunning Lightfield content for commercial and consumer use.
ABOUT ZTE:
ZTE helps to connect the world with continuous innovation for a better future. The company provides innovative technologies and integrated solutions, its portfolio spans all series of wireless, wireline, devices and professional telecommunications services. Serving over a quarter of the global population, ZTE is dedicated to creating a digital and intelligent ecosystem, and enabling connectivity and trust everywhere. ZTE is listed on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. www.zte.com.cn/global
FOLLOW US:
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Twitter www.twitter.com/ZTEPress
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/zte
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Email: ZTE.press.release@zte.com.cn
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SOURCE ZTE Corporation | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/03/01/zte-nubias-first-3dai-tablet-offers-eyewear-free-immersive-3d-experiences-amp-content-creation/ | 2023-03-01 08:32:29 | 1 | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/03/01/zte-nubias-first-3dai-tablet-offers-eyewear-free-immersive-3d-experiences-amp-content-creation/ |
Coast Guard intercepts more than 14,000 pounds of cocaine worth $186 million
MIAMI (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard has offloaded cocaine in Miami worth an estimated $186 million that was seized in international waters of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
The Coast Guard said in a news release that more than 14,000 pounds (6,400 kilograms) of cocaine was intercepted recently in nine separate cases. Twelve suspected drug smugglers were arrested on a variety of charges.
The drugs were brought ashore in Miami on Friday.
Coast Guard helicopters and ships as well as Customs and Border Protection air and sea assets took part in the seizures and arrests.
“This teamwork is imperative to the identification, interception and seizure of vessels engaged in illicit trafficking and a testament to the hard work of these crews,” said Coast Guard Lt. Peter Hutchison.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kbtx.com/2023/06/20/coast-guard-intercepts-more-than-14000-pounds-cocaine-worth-186-million/ | 2023-06-20 21:30:59 | 0 | https://www.kbtx.com/2023/06/20/coast-guard-intercepts-more-than-14000-pounds-cocaine-worth-186-million/ |
TSX:ORV
All Amounts in US Dollars Unless Otherwise Stated
FY2022 Consolidated Financial Highlights:
- $95 M Revenue
- $6 M EBITDA (1)
- $20 M CAPEX
- $7 M EoY Unrestricted Cash
FY2022 Orovalle Highlights:
- 57.7 K Au Oz Eq produced (44.7 K Au Oz, 4.8 M Cu lb and 157 K Ag oz)
- COC (1) at $1,497 and AISC (1) at $1,864
FY2023 Orovalle Guidance:
- Gold: 46K – 51 K Au Oz
- Copper: 4.0 M – 4.4 M Cu lb
- COC (1) and AISC (1): $1,300 - $1,400 and $1,650 – $1,800
- CAPEX: $14.5 M – $16.5 M
Juan Gavidia, CEO of Orvana Minerals Corp. stated: "We are pleased to present our fiscal 2022 financial results. Factors including extreme European energy price increases, COVID-relief-induced higher inflation in goods and services, and COVID-related Supply Chain delays have materially impacted us in fiscal 2022. Our production & costs guidance for fiscal 2023 takes into consideration these external factors. In Bolivia, during the first quarter of fiscal 2023, our subsidiary in Bolivia, EMIPA, filed an application with the Bolivian financial authorities to seek approval of a bond issuance to partially finance the planned oxides stockpile project."
TORONTO, Dec. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Orvana Minerals Corp. (TSX: ORV) (the "Company" or "Orvana") announced today financial and operational results for the fourth quarter and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 ("FY2022"), the highlights of which are included in this news release.
This news release contains only a summary of the Company's financial and operations results for FY2022, and readers should refer to the full set of audited consolidated financial statements for FY2022 and Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) related thereto, available on SEDAR and on the Company's website at www.orvana.com.
Operating Highlights Fiscal 2022:
- Orovalle:
- EMIPA:
- Orvana Argentina:
Fiscal 2023 ("FY2023") Outlook:
The Company continues to pursue its objectives of optimizing production, lowering unitary cash costs, maximizing Free Cash Flow, and extending the life-of-mine of its operations under a long term operational strategy. Main objectives per unit are:
- Orovalle: Stable cash flow generation based on a production range around 60,000 GEO. Continue brownfield and Greenfield exploration drive to expand the resource base.
- Orvana Argentina: In light of global developments and the current business environment, Orvana is repositioning its long term strategy for the Taguas Project, now potentially including current sulphides resources; plus deep copper-gold porphyry opportunities.
- EMIPA: During the first quarter of fiscal 2023, EMIPA initiated the process for the issuance of a $47 million Bond Program in the Bolivian stock market. Conditional upon closing the Bonds Program issuance and completing the rest of funding during the second quarter of fiscal 2023, EMIPA expects OSP construction to start in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. OSP is projected to operate for 35 months, after completion of a 12-month construction period. TRP infill drilling program was completed.
The mining industry is being impacted by significant social and economic uncertainties that could impact the performance of our sites (refer to section "Significant social and economic uncertainties" of the MD&A for further details).
FY2023 Guidance
The following table sets out Orovalle's fiscal 2022 results and fiscal 2023 production, capital expenditures and costs guidance:
Cautionary Statements – Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements in this presentation constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, potentials, future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "believes", "expects", "plans", "estimates" or "intends" or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", "are projected to" or "confident of" be taken or achieved) are not statements of historical fact, but are forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements herein relate to, among other things, Orvana's ability to achieve improvement in free cash flow; the ability to maintain expected mining rates and expected throughput rates at El Valle Plant; the potential to extend the mine life of El Valle and Don Mario beyond their current life-of-mine estimates including specifically, but not limited to, in the case of Don Mario, the processing of the mineral stockpiles (OSP) and the reprocessing of the tailings material, and sufficient funding to proceed with the processing; Orvana's ability to optimize its assets to deliver shareholder value; the Company's ability to optimize productivity at Don Mario and El Valle; EMIPA's ability to finance the OSP, including without limitation, the completion of the planned bonds issuance program in the Bolivian stock market; EMIPA's ability to complete the construction of the OSP in a timely manner and operate same for the estimated periods; estimates of future production (including without limitation, production guidance), operating costs and capital expenditures; mineral resource and reserve estimates; statements and information regarding future feasibility studies and their results; future transactions; future metal prices; the ability to achieve additional growth and geographic diversification; and future financial performance, including the ability to increase cash flow and profits; future financing requirements; mine development plans; and the possibility of the conversion of inferred mineral resources to mineral reserves.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, which includes, without limitation, as particularly set out in the notes accompanying the Company's most recently filed financial statements. The estimates and assumptions of the Company contained or incorporated by reference in this information, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to the various assumptions set forth herein and in Orvana's most recently filed Management's Discussion & Analysis and Annual Information Form in respect of the Company's most recently completed fiscal year (the "Company Disclosures") or as otherwise expressly incorporated herein by reference as well as: there being no significant disruptions affecting operations, whether due to labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, damage to equipment or otherwise; permitting, development, operations, expansion and acquisitions at El Valle and Don Mario being consistent with the Company's current expectations; political developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations; certain price assumptions for gold, copper and silver; prices for key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; production and cost of sales forecasts meeting expectations; the accuracy of the Company's current mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with Orvana's current expectations; and the availability of necessary funds to execute the Company's plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this news release also contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including, without limitation, references to the results of the Company's exploration activities, including but not limited to, drilling results and analyses, mineral resource estimation, conceptual mine plan and operations, internal rate of return, sensitivities, taxes, net present value, potential recoveries, design parameters, operating costs, capital costs, production data and economic potential; the timing and costs for production decisions; permitting timelines and requirements; exploration and planned exploration programs;; and the Company's general objectives and strategies.
A variety of inherent risks, uncertainties and factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Company and its business, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results expressed or implied by forward looking statements. Some of these risks, uncertainties and factors include: the potential impact of the COVID-19 on the Company's business and operations, including: our ability to continue operations; our ability to manage challenges presented by COVID-19; the accounting treatment of COVID-19 related matters; Orvana's ability to prevent and/or mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases at or near our mines; the general economic, political and social impacts of the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, our ability to support the sustainability of our business including through the development of crisis management plans, increasing stock levels for key supplies, monitoring of guidance from the medical community, and engagement with local communities and authorities; fluctuations in the price of gold, silver and copper; the need to recalculate estimates of resources based on actual production experience; the failure to achieve production estimates; variations in the grade of ore mined; variations in the cost of operations; the availability of qualified personnel; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain all necessary regulatory approvals and licenses; the Company's ability to use cyanide in its mining operations; risks generally associated with mineral exploration and development, including the Company's ability to continue to operate the El Valle and/or ability to resume long-term operations at the Carlés Mine; the Company's ability to successfully implement a sulphidization circuit and ancillary facilities to process the current oxides stockpiles at Don Mario; the Company's ability to successfully carry out development plans at Taguas; sufficient funding to carry out development plans at Taguas and to process the oxides stockpiles at Don Mario; the Company's ability to acquire and develop mineral properties and to successfully integrate such acquisitions; the Company's ability to execute on its strategy; the Company's ability to obtain financing when required on terms that are acceptable to the Company; challenges to the Company's interests in its property and mineral rights; current, pending and proposed legislative or regulatory developments or changes in political, social or economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates; general economic conditions worldwide; the challenges presented by COVID-19; fluctuating operational costs such as, but not limited to, power supply costs; current and future environmental matters; and the risks identified in the Company's disclosures. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company's Disclosures for a description of additional risk factors.
Any forward-looking statements made herein with respect to the anticipated development and exploration of the Company's mineral projects are intended to provide an overview of management's expectations with respect to certain future activities of the Company and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions and, except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this information are intended to provide an overview of management's expectations with respect to certain future operating activities of the Company and may not be appropriate for other purposes.
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SOURCE Orvana Minerals Corp. | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/12/20/orvana-reports-fy2022-results-amp-fy2023-guidance/ | 2022-12-20 01:59:46 | 1 | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/12/20/orvana-reports-fy2022-results-amp-fy2023-guidance/ |
These pants are just as comfortable and versatile as classic leggings with some added flare
Whether you loved sporting flare leggings in the early 2010s or have admired the look from afar, you’ll be thrilled to know that these comfortable pants with flowing legs are back in fashion. Forgotten by some fashionistas, Jennifer Lopez was recently seen out and about in flare leggings with an eye-catching pattern, which got the look trending again.
If you’d like to sport J.Lo’s look, you’ll need a pair of high-waisted leggings with vivid colors, wide flares and dramatic prints. However, even if you prefer solid colors and subtle flares, there’s a stylish pair available to suit your personality and fashion sense.
What to look for in flare leggings
If you love the comfort and versatility of classic leggings, chances are those with flare legs will also fit your style. These casual pants are made of stretchy material with a comfortable, flexible fit, just like leggings with straight legs. They are versatile for everyday wear and look great with t-shirts, tunic tops, and blouses. Additionally, flare leggings go well with numerous types of shoes, from fancy high heels to casual sneakers. There are a few considerations to keep in mind as you shop for the perfect pair of flare leggings.
Fit
If you love the way leggings fit, chances are that you’ll also love the fit of those with flare legs. They offer the same body-hugging style that’s form-fitting and flattering. However, the difference is the flare. While they fit snug throughout the leg, flare leggings have extra material at the ankles that produces a loose, flowing fit. The look is both edgy and vintage. What’s more, it creates a classy silhouette and makes legs look a bit longer.
Flare
Not all flare leggings are the same. Some have legs that flare just a little, while others have wide flares reminiscent of 1970s bell bottoms. In fact, some of today’s modern flare leggings are referred to as bell-bottom leggings. Regardless of the width of the flare, it looks great with different types of footwear, including sandals, sneakers, boots, pumps and wedge heels.
Material
When it comes to leggings, it’s all about comfort that’s due to the stretch. Most pairs are made of polyester or nylon blended with either Spandex or elastane, giving them a stretchy, flexible fit. Because the material conforms to the body, it’s ideal to wear when relaxing or working out.
Colors and prints
If you want a style inspired by J.Lo, you’ll be able to choose from a nice selection of flare leggings with patterns that pop. Geometric designs, swirls, strips, florals and more are sure to get you noticed. However, if you prefer a more subdued look, flare leggings are also available in solid hues, including neutral shades and bold jewel tones.
Sizes
In addition to being available in a large selection of colors and prints, flare leggings also come in numerous sizes. Most pairs range from extra-small to extra-large, but some come in sizes from XX-small to XX-large.
Best flare leggings
Calvin Klein Crossover Waist Flare Leggings
These leggings feature a high-rise V-waist that gives them a modern look. The soft material is available in several appealing neutral shades. The flare is subtle yet stylish.
Sold by Macy’s
SOLY HUX Print Flared Elastic Pants
Swirls, florals, animal prints and more — you have a choice of numerous gorgeous patterns when you choose these flare leggings. The material is a soft blend of polyester and elastane for a comfortable and attractive fit. The high waist is on-trend for today’s styles.
Sold by Amazon
DSG Momentum Momentum Wrap Waist Flare Leggings
If you are looking for flare leggings that are ideal for active lifestyles, this pair is a good option. The wrap waist, moisture-wicking fabric and silky soft finish make them look as good as they feel. You can choose from a wide range of sizes from XX-small to XX-large.
Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Leggings Depot Flared Wide-Leg Pants
A large selection of fashionable colors makes these flare leggings ideal for anyone who loves the design but prefers solid colors over prints. The flowing flares give them a classy look that’s great for casual and special occasions.
Sold by Amazon
Cotton On Contouring Yoga Flare Pants
We love the contemporary zebra-print style of these flare leggings that gives them a unique appearance. They are made of a blend of polyester and elastane that wicks moisture. What’s more, they look fabulous with modern shirts in bold, solid colors.
Sold by Macy’s
These lightweight leggings are ideal for warm-weather wear. The high waist is in style. They come in a nice selection of prints and colors and are available in sizes up to XX-large.
Sold by Amazon
Sonoma Goods For Life Plus-Size High Waisted Flare Leggings
These stylish high-waist flare leggings are available in plus sizes from 0X to 5X. They come in a choice of attractive colors that pair nicely with printed shirts.
Sold by Kohl’s
SWEETKIE Boho Stretchy Flare Pants
Wide flares and unique, vivid prints make these leggings ideal for those who love edgy styles. The material is soft, stretchy and comfortable. The button closure on the high waist is a stylish touch.
Sold by Amazon
Daisy Del Sol High Waist Bell Bottom Yoga Pants
If you love wide, exaggerated flares, these yoga pants are for you. They have a bell-bottom design that is a throwback to 1970 styles. However, they come in flashy patterns that are on-trend in 2022.
Sold by Amazon
TOPYOGAS V Crossover High-Waisted Flare Leggings
The nylon material of these leggings is breathable and wicks moisture, making them ideal for wearing when working out or doing yoga. They feature a V-waist that gives them modern styling. You can choose from several neutral colors, including black, navy and khaki.
Sold by Amazon
adidas Originals Adicolor Classics Flared Leggings
If you want flare leggings with a sporty appearance, this is the pair to choose. Made by a top brand in athletic wear, they feature the classic trio of stripes on the leg that the company is known for. The material is flexible and wicks moisture.
Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
FASHIONOMICS Stretchy Bell-Bottom Pants
From solid colors to bold stripes to tie dye patterns, there are a lot of options to choose from with these flare leggings. In addition to the large selection of colors and prints, they have wide, bell-like flares so you can sport the trendy look like a rock star.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wdtn.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/bottoms-br/jennifer-lopez-is-bringing-back-flare-leggings-here-are-the-12-best-pairs-you-can-buy-now/ | 2022-08-08 11:49:19 | 1 | https://www.wdtn.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/bottoms-br/jennifer-lopez-is-bringing-back-flare-leggings-here-are-the-12-best-pairs-you-can-buy-now/ |
NEW YORK, Feb. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of ESS Tech Inc. (NYSE: GWH) between August 11, 2022 and December 7, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important March 13, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased ESS Tech securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the ESS Tech class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=10877 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 13, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose, among other things, that: (1) the purported agreement with Energy Storage Industries Asia Pacific ("ESI") was in fact an undisclosed related party transaction because ESI was a de-facto subsidiary of ESS masquerading as third-party client; (2) ESS misled investors with their partnership announcement to signal business success to investors; and (3) as a result, Defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the ESS Tech class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=10877 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm.
Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm's attorneys are ranked and recognized by numerous independent and respected sources. Rosen Law Firm has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for investors.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/02/04/rosen-top-ranked-law-firm-encourages-ess-tech-inc-investors-secure-counsel-before-important-deadline-securities-class-action-filed-by-firm-gwh/ | 2023-02-05 01:22:54 | 0 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/02/04/rosen-top-ranked-law-firm-encourages-ess-tech-inc-investors-secure-counsel-before-important-deadline-securities-class-action-filed-by-firm-gwh/ |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Cincinnati has hired Louisville’s Scott Satterfield to be its next coach, the university announced Monday.
Louisville was 7-5 this season under Satterfield and earned a berth in the Fenway Bowl, where coincidentally it will face Cincinnati. He replaces Luke Fickell, who recently left to become coach at Wisconsin.
Cincinnati athletic director John Cunningham called Satterfield “a proven winner” and noted his competitiveness and culture-building.
“He’s an innovative offensive mind and a leader who develops men on and off the field,” Cunningham said in a statement. “He’s the perfect fit to grow this program and lead us into the Big 12 next season and beyond.”
The Cardinals overcame starts of 2-3 overall and 0-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play with a 5-2 stretch run highlighted by wins over then-No. 10 Wake Forest, Pittsburgh and North Carolina State. Their disappointing start fueled speculation at midseason that Satterfield would be fired before Louisville won 34-17 at Virginia to begin its second-half surge toward bowl eligibility. It also finished 4-4 in league play despite a 31-16 loss at Clemson.
It was not immediately known who will lead the Cardinals in their bowl game.
Louisville athletic director Josh Heird wished Satterfield well in a statement and said he was grateful for his dedication to the program. A search was on for Satterfield’s successor.
“We will be looking for a tremendous leader who recognizes both the history and potential of Louisville Football and is committed long term to helping the program reach new heights,” Heird said.
Satterfield, who signed a six-year contract through Dec. 31, 2024, with an annual base salary of $3.25 million, departs Louisville following a somewhat tumultuous tenure after succeeding Bobby Petrino following a highly successful chapter guiding Appalachian State.
He inherited a Cardinals squad reeling from a 2-10 finish in 2018 and engineered a remarkable turnaround, ending 2019 with an 8-5 record and bowl victory. Louisville regressed to 4-7 against a 10-game ACC schedule in a coronavirus-marred 2020 season but seemed headed back to respectability last fall with a 6-6 regular season and another bowl appearance.
In between, Satterfield came under fire for talking with South Carolina about its coaching vacancy after initially denying contact. He later issued a public apology.
Last season ended with a 31-28 loss to Air Force in the First Responder Bowl, one of many defeats that highlighted Louisville’s defensive deficiencies. The Cardinals lost several games last season that they led in the fourth quarter, wasting the performances of a dynamic offense led by mobile quarterback Malik Cunningham.
Cunningham returned for his senior season determined to make the team competitive in an ACC largely dominated by Clemson. While he continued using his arm and feet to pile up yardage and points that should have won many games, the Cardinals continued their frustrating knack for blowing leads early on. The fifth-year senior has missed games this season with a concussion and shoulder injury.
At the same time, Cunningham has executed Satterfield’s high-octane offense into one of the ACC’s best attacks. The Cardinals ranked fifth in total offense during the regular season (405.5 yards per game) thanks to a ground game that averages 193.8 yards. This despite using Cunningham and backup Brock Domann behind center.
Louisville’s defense also improved, ranking second in the FBS with 43 sacks.
Louisville enters the Fenway Bowl looking to rebound from a 26-13 loss to Kentucky that left Satterfield 0-3 against the Cardinals’ archrival and 25-24 overall.
And now, having to find his replacement.
___
This story has been corrected to show that Louisville beat Virginia by a score of 34-17, not 31-17, and that Louisville went 8-5 in 2019 instead of 8-4.
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap_top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/mrxhe6f2 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-cincinnati-hires-louisvilles-satterfield-as-football-coach/ | 2022-12-05 21:10:40 | 0 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-cincinnati-hires-louisvilles-satterfield-as-football-coach/ |
HARBOR SPRINGS — A Little Traverse Township official is facing willful neglect of duty charges related to the 2022 election.
The Michigan Attorney General alleges that Sherry Ann Duntley, a clerk for Little Traverse Township, attempted to influence voters’ decisions on three ballot proposals.
Duntley was arraigned last month in the 90th District Court in Emmet County on one count of common law offenses, which is a felony, and one count of willful neglect of duty, which is a misdemeanor.
An arraignment is a formal reading of the charges; Duntley has not been convicted of a crime.
“The department of the Attorney General alleges that Duntley, while performing her duties as an election administrator, willfully disregarded her obligation to remain impartial by attempting to influence voters’ preferences on three ballot proposals in the 2022 election cycle,” said a statement from Kimberly Bush, a spokesperson for the state Attorney General’s office.
Bush said this case did not involve a local investigation. The matter was brought to the attention of the Michigan Department of State by citizens of the township.
“Such behavior allegedly violated a lawful instruction from the Secretary of State, compelling election officials to refrain from expressing their personal opinions on issues that are concurrently up for vote on already-distributed ballots across the state,” the statement continues.
According to the township administrator, as of Wednesday, Duntley still holds the title of clerk. Recent minutes also show Dutley as being present at township meetings.
Duntley was appointed clerk and sworn in on Feb. 28, 2020, according to meeting minutes. She replaced former Clerk Lynda Armon.
“My client enjoys the presumption of innocence and she looks forward to having her day in court on this,” said Mary Beth Kur, Duntley’s attorney. “She denies criminal wrongdoing.”
Conviction on the felony charge can result in a $10,000 fine and/or five years in prison and conviction on the misdemeanor charge can result in a $1,000 fine and/or up to one year in jail, according to the criminal complaint.
Duntley is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary exam at 2 p.m. May 3.
The Record-Eagle reached out for comment from Little Traverse Township officials and Duntley’s attorney following her probable cause conference on Wednesday, but received no responses by the time of publication. | https://www.record-eagle.com/news/little-traverse-clerk-faces-election-related-charges/article_b194debe-df9d-11ed-83a8-ffa115af2365.html | 2023-04-27 12:48:09 | 0 | https://www.record-eagle.com/news/little-traverse-clerk-faces-election-related-charges/article_b194debe-df9d-11ed-83a8-ffa115af2365.html |
At this point, it’s clear from multiple reports that Sean McVay is seriously contemplating stepping away from coaching the Rams.
The club finished a 5-12 season with a 19-16 overtime loss to the Seahawks on Sunday — easily the worst record of McVay’s six-year tenure with the franchise.
McVay said on Friday that TV offers are flattering, but at the same time, he was focused on his current job .
He reiterated that after Sunday’s loss when asked directly if he would be coaching the Rams in 2023.
“I’m not thinking about that right now ,” McVay said in his press conference. “Nothing’s changed from kind of where we left things off on Friday. … I’m right here right now and we’ll deal with that stuff at a later time.”
McVay was asked a follow-up on what’s making him unsure and said he would only answer questions about the game and not himself.
But, McVay also said he didn’t think about a “last” anything during the game and noted he doesn’t have a timeline to make a decision.
In six years under McVay, the Rams have gone 60-38, winning Super Bowl LVI last season. McVay has a 7-3 postseason record with Los Angeles winning three NFC West titles and two conference championships since he was hired in 2017. | https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/sean-mcvay-on-his-future-well-deal-with-that-stuff-at-a-later-time | 2023-06-30 09:54:20 | 0 | https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/sean-mcvay-on-his-future-well-deal-with-that-stuff-at-a-later-time |
Just two years ago, the roles were reversed.
The Ravens met the Cincinnati Bengals on the last Sunday of the 2020 regular season and made mincemeat of their divisional foe, bashing out 404 rushing yards to clinch a playoff berth for the third year in a row. At that point, they had won their last three games against the Bengals by a combined score of 114-19.
Little did we know the seeds of change were already in the ground. The Bengals had parlayed their futility into a franchise quarterback, Joe Burrow, who had demonstrated his promise in the face of terrible punishment through that 2020 season. Four months later, they would draft another offensive superstar in wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
In Baltimore, Lamar Jackson was one year removed from winning NFL Most Valuable Player honors and still the king bee of AFC North quarterbacks, but his contractual future was about to become as big a story as his play.
Now, we jump to the present and the impending matchup between the Ravens, struggling to find any offensive spark with Jackson sidelined by a knee injury, and the Bengals, enjoying a second straight division title with their ambitions firmly fixed on a repeat trip to the Super Bowl.
These two teams are still not far apart on paper. The Ravens defeated the Bengals in Week 5 and led the AFC North most of the season. They might have played for the division title Sunday if not for the chilling on-field collapse of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, which prompted the NFL to declare last Monday’s Bills-Bengals game a no contest. The Ravens could still capture home-field advantage via coin flip if they win the season finale in Cincinnati. Even with reduced stakes this weekend, there’s a good chance they will meet the Bengals again in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Despite their proximity in the standings, however, the Ravens and Bengals have moved in opposite directions over the last two months and more broadly, over the last two years. The Bengals have won seven games in a row, with Burrow throwing fearlessly and accurately into the teeth of defenses designed to stop him. He’s surrounded by big, fleet pass catchers and bolstered by an efficient running game. As the Bengals soared, the Ravens trudged. They secured a playoff berth with Tyler Huntley filling in for Jackson at quarterback but have scored a mere 59 points over their last five games.
Analytics tell the same story. The Ravens are actually ahead of the Bengals in DVOA, Football Outsiders’ measure of overall team efficiency, for the season. Over the last seven weeks, however, the Bengals have ranked sixth, while the Ravens have ranked 14th. The gap is wider if we look just at offense, with the Bengals fourth and the Ravens 23rd over that span.
Do you prefer betting odds? Again, same story. The Bengals are a +750 bet to win the Super Bowl, according to Las Vegas sportsbooks. The Ravens are +3000.
In the standings and in the minds of most outside observers, Cincinnati is now the team to beat in the AFC North.
“Of course,” Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen said. “They were the last team there to win it. [They] got to the Super Bowl. I know some of them will say it runs through them, so now we’ve got to go through there at their home place and try to take it back.”
Coach John Harbaugh acknowledged that the Ravens can’t simply follow the same plan they did in Week 5 and assume the result — a tense, 19-17 win — will be identical. “They’re the same, but they’re better than they were then,” he said.
This is not a week for animosity, not after players and coaches around the league dropped everything to pray for Hamlin, whose heart had to be restarted on the field in Cincinnati. Harbaugh admired the way Bengals coach Zac Taylor conducted himself in the moments after the trauma. Ravens players watched Burrow embrace Bills quarterback Josh Allen as they both feared for Hamlin’s life.
It was a dose of perspective that pushed games and rivalries to the back burner. The Ravens and Bengals will play their next snaps on the very field where Hamlin fell. How this will change the tone of the confrontation is anyone’s guess.
“Obviously, this is something that I think for this whole week — and probably for many weeks to come — it’s going to be in the back of everyone’s minds, especially the guys that are playing,” Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said. “But I don’t think this alters the way you play. I think you go out there, be yourself and everything else will take care of itself.”
Burrow offered similar thoughts to Cincinnati reporters: “As unusual as this week has been, it’s business as usual from a football standpoint. I don’t even really know what to say about it, because it’s such a scary, emotional time, and guys still have a football game to play on Sunday. It’s our job to get out there and execute and play the game we need to play it to win.”
He said his mind didn’t turn to the Ravens until Wednesday.
There’s also the practical question of whether the Ravens and Bengals will rest key players, though that’s likely with home-field advantage still at stake. On Monday, Harbaugh said he would be inclined to go all-out for the win, because the Ravens will at least have a chance to move up to the No. 5 seed in the AFC if the Denver Broncos beat the Los Angeles Chargers.
If they remain at No. 6, however, there’s a possibility they will go right back to Cincinnati for their playoff opener. This raises strategic questions: Will the Ravens treat the Bengals as a two-week problem and hold their best tricks in reserve for a possible playoff matchup?
Offensive coordinator Greg Roman and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald said the possibility is on their minds.
“It certainly could [factor into our approach],” Roman said. “We’re going to try to go win the game no matter what the situation is. But will it change strategy? It could. It certainly could.”
“A whole lot of unknowns,” defensive end Calais Campbell said. “At the end of the day, we’re focused on what we do know, and we’ll give it our best shot.”
How will that best shot land against a rival that’s playing so well? The Bengals were off to an uneven start when last they met the Ravens, and Macdonald bottled them up with two-high coverage designed to keep Burrow’s top playmakers from getting downfield. Will Macdonald again eschew aggression at the line of scrimmage in hopes of preventing deep strikes?
The Ravens know too well that the Bengals can light them up if they’re a step off in planning or execution. Burrow threw for a combined 941 yards in a pair of blowout victories over them last season.
“The stats speak for themselves. The film speaks for itself,” Macdonald said. “Burrow at quarterback, he’s incredibly efficient with the ball and makes very fast decisions. At one point in time, they have up to five guys that are potential matchup problems. … They’re clicking on all cylinders right now.”
Week 18
Ravens at Bengals
Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV: Ch. 13
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Line: Bengals by 9
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the Texas Lottery's "All or Nothing Night" game were:
01-03-05-08-11-12-14-18-19-21-22-23
(one, three, five, eight, eleven, twelve, fourteen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three) | https://www.sfchronicle.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-All-or-Nothing-Night-17303994.php | 2022-07-14 05:17:23 | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-All-or-Nothing-Night-17303994.php |
Warning: Spoilers ahead. Come back when you've binged episodes 1 to 6 of Rick and Morty, season 6.
Angry-faced asteroids. Traumatizing fortune cookies. Aliens quoting Die Hard. The first half of Rick and Morty's sixth season was stacked with unforgettable adventures. Luckily, there are still four more episodes to come.
I spoke with showrunner Scott Marder and the Rick and Morty cast during the season 6 hiatus, which ends with the release of episode 7 on Sunday on Adult Swim. They shared some details about the "real deal" Rick from the premiere; the much-discussed ending to episode 3, Bethic Twinstinct (sorry to those who scrutinized the final scene -- it appears the Beths just partook in some plain old red wine); and why Rick didn't get portal travel up and running again sooner.
"I think fixing it is probably something that was within his means, but it's also something that Rick's, like, 'I'll get to it tomorrow,'" Marder told me over Zoom last week on Rick's inoperable portal travel gun. "So it made us laugh that Rick kind of kicked the can down the road to the point where [episode 6's genius dinosaurs] were, like, 'We can fix that.'"
The season premiere, Solaricks, found Rick and Morty stranded without a working portal gun after the events of the season 5 finale, which saw Evil Morty hack the gun. The device stays out of commission for several more episodes.
"We really wanted to make it feel like what Evil Morty did in [season 5, episode 10] wasn't just like a quick and easy thing," Marder said. "He's like a fan favorite villain. So we wanted what he did to have major ramifications."
Solaricks also included a character fans have come to know as integral to Rick's past.
When Rick flubs an attempt to reset portal travel, he and Morty are transported back to their realities of origin. Morty subsequently learns he shares that dimension with the Rick who tragically murdered our Rick's wife, Diane.
This character, who's been referred to by people who make the show as Rick Prime, appears at first dancing naked (he could either be himself or a clone) and later wearing his signature purple-ish jacket (he talks about just having been naked). It's anyone's guess when the villain will show up next and what might happen when he does. Justin Roiland, who co-created the show with Dan Harmon, told me a bit about this "very intelligent" Rick… and I'm a bit worried for our Rick and Morty.
"At least with our Rick, there's a little bit of empathy, a little bit of, maybe, as much as he doesn't want to admit it, like attachment to Morty and the family and stuff a little bit, right?" Roiland said. "We've seen it, you know, here and there. But with this Rick, there's just none of that."
There are "truly like, no fucks. No, like, really in a dark, dark way. An actively psychopathic, like malicious way," Roiland said.
The mysterious 'Venusian' wine
On a lighter note, Solaricks also brought Space Beth back into the fold, allowing for an episode that gave a whole new meaning to "self love."
Rick previously cloned his adult daughter Beth, and Space Beth is either the original or the clone. In Bethic Twinstinct, Beth voice actress Sarah Chalke plays the dual versions of her character as they fall for each other.
"It was one of the more unique things that I've done in my career and in my career on Rick and Morty," said Chalke, who's also known for starring in the comedy series Scrubs.
Before their highly unconventional romance blossoms, the two Beths share some "Venusian" wine (from Venus, presumably). In the episode's final scene -- after Rick and his grandkids suffer though a meal while the adults get audibly frisky in another room -- Rick wordlessly unlocks a hidden cabinet with a remote, shelves the wine and purges the remote down a garbage disposal.
Following Rick's solo moment with the wine, some fans theorized the drink could have played a bigger role in what unfurled between the two Beths. (Did Rick know something we didn't know about its contents? Venus is the Roman goddess of love and beauty, after all).
While Rick and Morty the show often takes the more complicated route, this scene was actually meant to be pretty straightforward, according to Marder.
"That was just supposed to be a silly joke," Marder said. "I feel like the internet really took off with it."
Like, really? Nothing there at all?
"There was nothing supernatural to it," Marder said. "It was just what the two of them did to loosen up in the kitchen. I think Rick was just like, 'Damn you wine,' like, 'You'll get us into trouble time and time again.' I think that was all it really was."
Chalke's Beths speak "Venusian" in the episode, but it's actually just French. (Chalke spoke French in school from kindergarten to grade 12.) Marder said the show's co-creator Dan Harmon suggested they re-name "French" late in the game, and at first, Marder thought he was going to need to whip up a language.
"[Harmon's] like 'No, you just call it Venusian," Marder said. "It stays French."
More 'crazy' adventures to come
Another season 6 highlight is Night Family, an episode that sees the Smith family pass unwanted tasks off to their unconscious bodies while they sleep… with only a few minor consequences. In a twist, Rick's granddaughter Summer, not Rick, is designated the leader of their terrifying "night" counterparts. Voice actress Spencer Grammer said she embraced the chance to "be really evil."
"I've been wanting to do that for a while," Grammer said.
There's also Final DeSmithation, where Jerry (Rick's son-in-law, Beth's husband) becomes destined after reading a fortune cookie fortune to have sex with his mom. It sets off a hilarious Rick and Jerry adventure.
"I love the idea that you're reading a fortune cookie, but … there's some machinations behind the scene that actually cause you to have that fortune," said Chris Parnell, who voices Jerry. "I thought, "Wow, they can justify anything. They can come up with a way to make sense of anything."
According to Marder, the idea for that episode was an immediate yes.
Harmon, he said, "immediately put it on a Post-it, just slapped it on the board like 'Episode!'"
A preview for the rest of season 6 teases what looks like a humanoid bug in a letter jacket, Morty engaged in a sword fight and Rick paying a visit to recurring character Dr. Wong, who's voiced by Susan Sarandon. The intelligent therapist first appeared in the Emmy-winning season 3 episode Pickle Rick.
You should probably snag your pint of Gloppydrop-ice cream now, because Marder said the back half of the season is as stacked as the first.
"If you're happy with what you've seen so far in season 6, I think we've got some really action-packed, crazy ones for the rest of the season," Marder said. "One of the ones in these final four is like one of my absolute favorite episodes that the show's done."
New Rick and Morty episodes air on Sundays on Adult Swim. Rick and Morty's sixth season is expected to eventually hit HBO Max and Hulu (for those without Hulu Plus Live TV, who have access). | https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/rick-and-morty-season-6-showrunner-explains-that-venusian-wine/ | 2022-11-19 21:09:05 | 0 | https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/rick-and-morty-season-6-showrunner-explains-that-venusian-wine/ |
PETALUMA, Calif., Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tangram Insurance Services, Inc. ("Tangram"), a Managing General Agency and Program Manager, announced today the launch of its newly redesigned website. Its key features include a fresh modern design, improved functionality, and a more comprehensive user experience.
The website's newly enhanced content highlights Tangram's dedication to developing valuable programs that align with its brokers and customers. The site provides an in depth look at the company's various programs including animal welfare, captives, cyber, entertainment, janitorial and building services, kidnap, ransom & extortion, personal care & assisted living, portable sanitation, propane & fuel companies, security guards, and social services. The new site also provides easy-to-use downloadable resources for visitors and an insights section to enable visitors to stay in the know. These resources, along with future features to be released, will extend tools and information to brokers and business owners looking for industry specific insurance solutions.
"We are excited to launch a new website that reflects our Company's depth, creativity, and professionalism in the program space. We are constantly evolving as a team and expect our digital footprint to do the same," said Rekha Skantharaja, President and CEO at Tangram Insurance Services, Inc. "Tangram will continue to produce meaningful digital tools and materials for our customers and partners to utilize."
To see the site's refreshed and streamlined look and connect with a member of the Tangram team, visit the new website at tangramins.com.
Tangram Insurance Services, Inc. is a national program manager bringing in-depth expertise and specialized program capabilities to a variety of industries. With 20 years of experience in the program space, Tangram partners with top insurance companies to deliver niche insurance solutions. For more information, please visit tangramins.com.
View original content:
SOURCE Tangram Insurance Services, Inc. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/01/03/tangram-insurance-services-inc-unveils-new-website/ | 2023-01-03 18:09:05 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/01/03/tangram-insurance-services-inc-unveils-new-website/ |
CoinDesk and CRADL unite creatives & developers to address pressing social problems
NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CoinDesk and CRADL announce the winners of the Web3athon: Hyperlocal, People-First Crypto Hackathon. The Web3athon is a multi-blockchain, 2-stage, virtual hackathon powered by HackerEarth that brought creatives and developers together to address some of the most pressing hyperlocal problems facing communities. The driving goal of Web3athon: build better, scalable products that use Web3 that provide tangible solutions for everyday utility. Launched on June 9, 2022 at CoinDesks's flagship conference, Consensus, Web3athon concluded after 14 weeks of building with 32 winners and 15 standouts announced at CoinDesk's I.D.E.A.S Conference on October 19, 2022. The winners split over $800,000 in prizes.
Web3athon took a radical departure from typical hackathons. Instead of submitting a technical problem for a single-chain, participants kicked off stage 1 by focusing on one of the five hyperlocal hackathon challenges areas: Generational Wealth Building, Financial Health, Sustainable Communities and Culture, Disaster Relief and Response, and Environmental Well-Being. Sponsors approved of 163 projects for Stage 2 building an MVP on-chain.
The event recruited Web3 developers and people new to Web3 such as Web2 coders, designers, community organizers, policymakers, economists, urban planners and artists. The multi-chain effort led to 17 protocols joining as sponsors to create a prize pool of $800,000: Filecoin, Stellar, Celo, Circle, Avalanche, Polkadot, Prasaga, Polygon, Ripple, Accumulate, Aleo, Qtum, Provenance, Acala, Hedera, Boba Network, Blockdaemon (API). Featured judges included; Erikan Obotetukudo; Founder & CEO of Audacity, Akin Sawyerr; MD, Feleman Ventures, Akihisa Shiozaki; Member of the House of Representatives, Japanese Government, Sheila Warren; CEO of Crypto Council for Innovation, Michael Casey; Chief Content Officer, CoinDesk, Daniel Culotta; Chief Innovation Officer, City of Austin, Texas.
Tricia Wang, Director and Co-founder of CRADL said, "Web3athon sets a precedent by proving that we can create a Web3 that has real-world utility by focusing on 3 things: prioritizing solving human problems over technical problems, hosting multi-chain not single-chain hackathons, and aggressively welcoming domain experts as builders. By creating an environment where non-technical experts feel comfortable contributing, the Web3athon winners and standouts are proof that we can create a high quality funnel of teams ready for pre-seed investment."
About Web3athon: Top Line Statistics
Web3athon Winners: Out of the 32 winning teams and 15 standouts, here are three winners that exemplify the best of Web3athon, including the chain and prize level the project team placed, along with a project description. These projects also won the title of Web3athon Standout.
- EVOLVE, 1st place Polygon, is a Learn-To-Earn & community pooling platform to strengthen financial literacy and mental health; supporting women of color globally to build generational wealth. Users will learn and invest $EVOLVE tokens in a community pool for staking and building interest for their contributions to tackle a perennial financial inequity issue: the median net worth of Black and Latina women is $1k compared to $80k for White women.
- Peace DeFi Wealth Protocol, 3rd place on Polkadot, is a protocol that combines DeFi with a non-custodial solution for the new generations, to manage and grow their on-chain assets, while also keeping them safe in case of emergency, error, or death. Based out of Mexico, the Peace DeFi Wealth team, co-founded by Juan Espejel, was inpired to create a solution for generational wealth when they discovered that $4 billion in crypto assets have been lost due to death or loss of access.
- Black History DAO, 1st place on Polkadot, is an NFT-based cultural museum and anthropology organization on-chain. The team and community, led by Theresa Kennedy, are dedicated to the preservation of Black history using blockchain technology and decentralized systems like IPFS and Substrate.
- realCashFlow, 1st place on Circle, is a Web3 native payroll product offering a solution to inflation's harmful effects on workers by paying them daily in inflation-adjusted dollars. The co-founders, Kunal Kewalramani and Michael Jones, are a student and professor team at University of Cincinnati's Kautz-Uible Cryptoeconomics Lab.
Michael Casey, Chief Content Officer at CoinDesk, said, "The world is on the precipice of a humanitarian catastrophe. As Web3 technologies barrel forward, it is imperative that we figure out how to use them in ways that advance the human experience. The crypto community has an opportunity to change the world. Hackathons are a vital building block for that effort, a means of collectively creating world-changing tools. But they need to be humanity-centered if they are to shift crypto culture and work practices in a lasting, meaningful way. And that's precisely what we got with hundreds of tremendous submissions to this hackathon, now whittled down to 32 highly worthy winners. They are all very different but each, in their own special way, captures the ethos of Web3athon's human-centric, hyperlocal approach. Congratulations to all who participated."
For more information, the Web3athon Messaging Kit contains the list of winners and standouts, additional stats, and testimonials from attendees, organizers, and judges.
CoinDesk and Consensus: CoinDesk is the most influential, trusted information platform for a global community engaged in the transformation of the financial system and the emerging crypto economy. CoinDesk's annual festival, Consensus, is the most influential crypto and blockchain experience of the year since 2015. coindesk.com | @coindesk
CRADL: The Crypto Research and Design Lab (CRADL)'s vision is to put people at the center of Web3. Its mission is to use evidence-based thought leadership to accelerate the crypto industry toward its goal of creating a more equitable, inclusive society. Their research on hackathons led to the partnership with CoinDesk to design Web3athon.
HackerEarth: HackerEarth is the global leader in Hackathons. They have hosted over ten thousand Hackathons around the world and coordinate with developer relations managers globally and are the turnkey partner to execute Web3athon. Hackerearth.com | @hackerearth
Press Contact:
Casey Craig | casey@coindesk.com
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SOURCE CoinDesk Inc | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/10/24/web3athon-largest-multi-chain-people-first-crypto-hackathon-announces-32-winners-15-standouts/ | 2022-10-24 14:10:00 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/10/24/web3athon-largest-multi-chain-people-first-crypto-hackathon-announces-32-winners-15-standouts/ |
The head Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee says he is worried about a flurry of “extreme right-wing amendments” attached to the House version of the annual defense bill as lawmakers prepare to debate and vote on the legislation this month.
Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.) told The Washington Post he was concerned about GOP measures on “abortion, guns, the border, and social policy and equity issues.”
“We’ll just have to wait and see what amendments are made in order when the bill is debated on the House floor,” the Armed Services ranking member said. “Depending on which amendments pass, I will make an evaluation on whether I support the final bill.”
Smith voted for the initial $874 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bill, which passed out of the committee in late June on a 58-1 bipartisan vote, but only after hours of fighting over amendments on culture war issues.
Democrats and Republicans on the committee clashed for hours over amendments targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at the Pentagon. Smith vowed after the vote to continue the fight on the House floor.
The amendments that passed include a ban on the Defense Department funding drag shows, the elimination of the Pentagon’s chief diversity officer and a prohibition on critical race theory at military academies. Critical race theory is an academic framework evaluating U.S. history through the lens of racism.
The House Appropriations Committee, which funds the priorities listed in the Armed Services defense bill, also included several amendments to limit the Pentagon’s use of clean energy and ban a new Defense Department policy reimbursing travel costs for servicemembers who travel to get an abortion, among a wide range of others that infuriated Democrats.
Lawmakers this week are returning for a three-week blitz before the August recess, with spending bills on the list of priorities. A vote on the NDAA is expected to come later this month.
Hundreds of amendments on the NDAA are now being offered by the entire House, some of which target cultural issues.
Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) introduced an amendment to ban funding for sustainable building materials, while Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) offered one to block the Defense Department from “discriminating against or granting preferential treatment” to a person or group based on race.
Several more amendments from other lawmakers take aim at diversity efforts, including the prohibition of funds for DEI programs.
The amendments are setting up another contentious showdown on culture wars. Democrats are likely to object to the provisions, while Republicans will try to muscle through the votes with control of the House.
Democrats are offering their own counter to the GOP. Some Democratic amendments would reverse those amendments that passed the HASC last month, including the elimination of the chief diversity officer position.
The Democratic-controlled Senate passed its own version of the NDAA last month without any major divisive amendments. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/hill-politics/top-house-armed-services-dem-worried-about-extreme-right-wing-amendments-filed-to-defense-bill/ | 2023-07-10 15:09:28 | 1 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/hill-politics/top-house-armed-services-dem-worried-about-extreme-right-wing-amendments-filed-to-defense-bill/ |
Torres: Should someone barred from working for school district be on school board?
School board member Gene Trent, elected in November, lied on his teacher job application in 2015.
This information, long suspected, was made public by the school district this week with the release of an April 4 letter from acting Superintendent Susan Hann to Trent after a lengthy months-long investigation. Trent admitted he answered "no" on the application when asked if he had ever been arrested.
This means Trent, who quit his teaching job in November to be able to serve on the school board, is barred from working for the very same district he oversees as one of five elected board members. It also means he violated a policy rule the very same board he serves on is supposed to uphold.
And that's a problem.
Something about this doesn't sit right. How can someone barred from working for an organization be on the board that oversees that very organization making important budgetary and staffing decisions?
"The investigation has revealed a School Board policy violation in connection with seeking employment with the School Board. Such incident has already been reported to the Florida Department of Education, Office of Professional Practices Services," concluded the investigational report conducted by Orlando law firm Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell.
Neither Trent nor School Board Chair Matt Susin responded to my request for a comment or reaction.
More:Brevard schools removes Cocoa councilman as substitute; complaint came through Gene Trent
Tampa attorney John Grant, who sits on the Florida Commission of Ethics, said the issue does raise ethical concerns.
"If someone filed a complaint, I believe the staff would find legal sufficiency and the commission would find probable cause," he said.
The investigation into Trent's 2015 employment application was initiated after several seemingly politically-motivated complaints were made against Trent on Oct. 15, 21 and 26 of last year. Trent, at the time, was in a heated race for the school board seat he later won.
There were six complaints in total and Trent was cleared in three of them.
In the letter from Hann, Trent was told he was "welcome to reapply for employment with Brevard public schools as early as April 3, 2024."
We already know the arrests happened, and Trent willingly answered a FLORIDA TODAY reporter's questions about them in the run-up to the election. No convictions followed. One was an arrest for battery, in which Trent has said he was trying to protect his spouse from a club owner who put his hands on his wife's hips at 4 a.m. after Trent and his wife attended a wedding. The other was for violating an alcohol ordinance about serving beer after hours to an employee after the restaurant they were working in was closed.
By lying on his employment application, the investigation found that Trent violated the school board's standard of ethical conduct.
More:Schiller slams Brevard School Board, adding to turmoil amid superintendent search
According to the investigative report, "When asked why he put “no” on his application, Mr. Trent replied that he believed because more than twenty years had elapsed and these were low-level crimes, he did not think he needed to check 'yes.'"
Interesting. Remember, it was Trent himself who passed along a complaint on Jan. 13 claiming Cocoa Deputy Mayor and Brevard County firefighter LaVander Hearn was not completely honest about his BPS application to work as a substitute teacher. Now he finds himself in the same "penalty box."
It took five days for the district to complete an investigation into the matter involving Hearn and impose a one-year employment ban on him. It took 161 days for them to do the same to Trent. The district took another 30 days to make the results public.
The investigation also concluded that Trent violated policy by campaigning during school hours, though that consisted of one email sent to a sitting board member asking for a meeting outside of school hours.
He was also found to have violated the district's internet policy. Teachers are only allowed to access the internet for educational purposes. Trent's browser history revealed he accessed Fox News and Reddit and tried to access Facebook and TikTok. Trent also admitted to perusing the MLS listings of homes for sale in the morning as he also works in real estate.
The investigation noted there was no evidence that Trent's internet "use interfered with his supervision, control, and protection of students or was not commensurate with his assigned duties and responsibilities."
"It is not lost on the investigators that the complaints investigated herein appear to be motivated by political purposes and the fact that Mr. Trent was running for School Board," the report states. "Regardless, however, the investigation has revealed a School Board policy violation in connection with seeking employment with the School Board."
So, what happens next?
On a board of politically friendly faces, likely nothing.
It's just another black mark against a district still reeling from a slew of ousters and retirements, including the forced resignation of Superintendent Mark Mullins and last month's sidelining of Interim Superintendent Robert Schiller.
Contact Torres at jtorres@floridatoday.com. You can follow him on Twitter @johnalbertorres or on Facebook at facebook.com/FTjohntorres.
Support local journalism and become a subscriber. Visit floridatoday.com/subscribe | https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2023/05/05/brevard-school-board-member-barred-working-school-district-be-on-school-board-gene-trent/70182607007/ | 2023-05-05 19:41:05 | 0 | https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2023/05/05/brevard-school-board-member-barred-working-school-district-be-on-school-board-gene-trent/70182607007/ |
IDAHO, USA — The Idaho Humane Society was awarded a $200,000 grant to help make veterinary care more accessible for low-income families.
The grant comes from PetSmart Charities. The funding will be used by the Idaho Humane Society for new veterinary staff training, improving service deliverability, and help make sure low-income families can afford a trip to the vet.
"We had applied because vet care has completely changed within the last decade. Even in the last five years, it has changed," Kristine Schellhaas, communications manager for the Idaho Humane Society said. "Right now across the nation, there's a veterinary shortage. A lot of people may have experienced this themselves when trying to get their pets in for veterinary medicine."
The Idaho Humane Society has new graduates joining their team, which requires some extra training. The new grant will help meet that need, while also making sure more people can afford a trip to the vet.
"With this grant, we're really looking forward to doing some new staff training. Taking a look at our processes, which might include looking at our pricing, are we offering the most competitive rate that we can," Schellhaas said. "Are we able to get more of those low-income clients through our doors, who are really at the heart of our mission. And making sure that we can keep loving pets in their homes. We never want a pet to be euthanized that we can provide grants for, financing for, or any kind of help for through our nonprofit."
The funding will allow the Idaho Humane Society to increase the number of appointments for low-income families, and provide urgent care for pets from families that need financial support.
"As a nonprofit, our heart is to look at what we can do to meet the most people and help the most," Schellhaas said. "That means that we are trying to make sure we can provide any kind of financial help that we can. We are one of the only nonprofits in the United States that will guarantee financing to anyone that walks through our doors."
Fifty million pets in the United States experience a lack of access to basic veterinary care.
Unexpected health issues can be one problem for pet owners - and their finances. The Idaho Humane Society says its important to take preventative measures to help avoid serious health complications.
"If we can do that education of saying, 'Here's one of the benefits of spaying and neutering'. And of course, that's why we do so much for our pets before we adopt them," Schellhaas said. "So that's microchipping to make sure those pets can get home to their owners, that's providing current vaccination, providing any dentals if that's needed, spay/neuters, all of that. It's really important for us to make sure that pet is set up for success."
The PetSmart Charities grant is part of a nationwide $100 million program to improve access to veterinary care. PetSmart Charities says rising costs have put standard veterinary care out of reach for as many as 50% of pet-owning families.
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See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-idaho-humane-society-awarded-grant-to-support-and-expand-veterinary-care-for-low-income-families/277-2efcb1e8-ebdc-4e41-bd34-841581f6bec5 | 2023-02-01 04:12:57 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-idaho-humane-society-awarded-grant-to-support-and-expand-veterinary-care-for-low-income-families/277-2efcb1e8-ebdc-4e41-bd34-841581f6bec5 |
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wheeler Bio, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in small batch clinical production of biologics and GMP-grade reagents using their open-source platform, Portable CMC™, today announced the first closing of their Series A financing round. The round was co-led by Charles River Laboratories and Echo Investment Capital with participation from ATUM, Floating Point Advisors, Plains Venture Partners (a subsidiary of i2E), and Pine Ridge Ventures.
Wheeler Bio is solving for the typical momentum drop between discovery and development. This early "translation gap" poses significant challenges for emerging biotechs adding technical, financial, and regulatory risks. Wheeler Bio believes that this gap can be minimized through efficient partnering and democratization of standardized manufacturing platforms.
"I am thrilled to have the support of investors and partners who agree that innovators need to minimize friction points more than ever before in the face of new market headwinds," said Jesse McCool, co-Founder and CEO at Wheeler Bio. "A key part of our thesis has been that by making the clinical manufacturing process more transparent, cost-effective, and integrated with coastal drug discovery partners, like Alloy Therapeutics, biotechs will have more opportunities to create clinical impact."
John Loser, Managing Partner at Floating Point agrees that "by closing the translation gap between drug discovery and scale-up manufacturing, Wheeler makes bringing novel therapeutics to market faster and more affordable for the next generation of biotech innovators."
Wheeler will use the new funding to expand its state-of-the-art drug substance GMP manufacturing facility in the Ziggurat building in Oklahoma City. Through key strategic partnerships with recognized CRO providers, like Alloy Therapeutics and ATUM, Wheeler Bio will continue building an innovative hub-and-spoke business model that connects cutting-edge biologics discovery technologies with an agile, open-source biomanufacturing platform for GMP clinical trial material.
"Alloy is building an innovative drug discovery ecosystem to empower the global scientific community to make better medicines together. A key part of that is our venture studio, 82VS, which supports the efficient launch of next generation medicines companies. We are excited about our partnership with Wheeler, which connects our brilliant scientists and entrepreneurs to high quality, pre-competitive small batch manufacturing — ultimately enabling them to move more quickly to the clinic," said Errik Anderson, Founder and CEO at Alloy Therapeutics.
"Echo and its partners are focused on connecting companies, capabilities, communities, and capital for everyone's benefit," said Christian Kanady, Echo's Founding Partner. "Investing with respected coastal resources to advance Wheeler Bio's growth is another step forward in connecting Oklahoma with the world and the world with Oklahoma. Together, we are accelerating drug development and unlocking the state's unique potential."
Oklahoma City (OKC) has long been a production, distribution, and business services hub. Key advantages include consistently lower business costs, a ready biomanufacturing workforce, a world-class training network of 16 technology centers, 18 public and private universities, major medical and aerospace research centers, "shovel ready" sites with interstate, rail and runway access, and special incentives. OKC was recently awarded $35 MM by the U.S. Economic Development Administration to further advance the bioecosystem, including specific funding for biomanufacturing workforce development.
Bruce Lawrence, Founding Partner, Pine Ridge Ventures further commented, "Pine Ridge Ventures is excited to be participating in Oklahoma's biotech transformation. We appreciate the expertise, vision, and other strategic partners that Wheeler Bio is bringing to this space and look forward to Wheeler Bio's continued growth."
That's Nice LLC provided M&A advisory services to Wheeler Bio for the Series A Round.
For Further Information:
Wheeler Bio
Contact: Jesse McCool
405 279 6767
info@wheelerbio.com
About Wheeler Bio
Wheeler Bio is a biomanufacturing pioneer, founded by a team of industry experts and strategic investors who believe a different CDMO model is needed to help innovators reach their clinical milestones faster. Wheeler's novel hub-and-spoke operational model, centered in the biomanufacturing metro of Oklahoma City (OKC) and integrated with discovery CROs, will revolutionize the speed of drug development. Wheeler Bio's technology platform, Portable CMC™, simplifies the path between drug discovery and clinical manufacturing by standardizing and democratizing the innovation-to-impact process. A new bridge for translating discoveries to IND filing, innovators benefit from increased momentum during technology transfer, shorter timelines, and lower costs. Join the Wheeler Bio community by visiting www.wheelerbio.com, or following Wheeler Bio on LinkedIn.
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SOURCE Wheeler Bio | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/10/04/wheeler-bio-announces-initial-closing-series-round-supporting-new-biologics-drug-substance-gmp-expansion-oklahoma/ | 2022-10-04 07:19:20 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/10/04/wheeler-bio-announces-initial-closing-series-round-supporting-new-biologics-drug-substance-gmp-expansion-oklahoma/ |
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban government on Saturday ordered all foreign and domestic non-governmental groups in Afghanistan to suspend employing women, allegedly because some female employees didn't wear the Islamic headscarf correctly. The ban was the latest restrictive move by Afghanistan's new rulers against women's rights and freedoms.
The development comes just days after the Taliban banned female students from attending universities across the country. Afghan women have since demonstrated in major cities against the ban, a rare sign of domestic protest since the Taliban seized power last year. The decision has also caused outrage and opposition in Afghanistan and beyond.
The order came in a letter from Economy Minister Qari Din Mohammed Hanif, which said that any NGO found not complying with the order will have their operating license revoked in Afghanistan. The ministry's spokesman, Abdul Rahman Habib, confirmed the letter's content to The Associated Press.
The ministry said it had received "serious complaints" about female staff working for NGOs not wearing the "correct" headscarf, or hijab. It was not immediately clear if the order applies to all women or only Afghan women working at the NGOs.
More details were not immediately available amid concerns the latest Taliban ban could be a stepping-stone to a blanket ban on Afghan women leaving the home.
"It's a heartbreaking announcement," said Maliha Niazai, a master trainer at an NGO teaching young people about issues such as gender-based violence. "Are we not human beings? Why are they treating us with this cruelty?"
The 25-year-old, who works at Y-Peer Afghanistan and lives in Kabul, said her job was important because she was serving her country and is the only person supporting her family. "Will the officials support us after this announcement? If not, then why are they snatching meals from our mouths?" she asked.
Another NGO worker, a 24-year-old from Jalalabad working the Norwegian Refugee Council, said it was "the worst moment of my life."
"The job gives me more than a ... living, it is a representation of all the efforts I've made," she said, declining to give her name fearing for her own safety.
Also Saturday, Taliban security forces used a water cannon to disperse women protesting the ban on university education for women in the western city of Herat, eyewitnesses said.
According to the witnesses, about two dozen women were heading to the Herat provincial governor's house on Saturday to protest the ban — many chanting: "Education is our right" — when they were pushed back by security forces firing the water cannon.
Video shared with the AP shows the women screaming and hiding in a side street to escape the water cannon. They then resume their protest, with chants of "Disgraceful!"
One of the protest organizers, Maryam, said between 100 and 150 women took part in the protest, moving in small groups from different parts of the city toward a central meeting point. She did not give her last name for fear of reprisals.
"There was security on every street, every square, armored vehicles and armed men," she said. "When we started our protest, in Tariqi Park, the Taliban took branches from the trees and beat us. But we continued our protest. They increased their security presence. Around 11 a.m. they brought out the water cannon."
A spokesman for the provincial governor, Hamidullah Mutawakil, claimed there were only four-five protesters.
"They had no agenda, they just came here to make a film," he said, without mentioning the violence against the women or the use of the water cannon.
There has been widespread international condemnation of the university ban, including from Muslim-majority countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as warnings from the United States and the G-7 group of major industrial nations that the policy will have consequences for the Taliban.
An official in the Taliban government, Minister of Higher Education Nida Mohammad Nadim, spoke about the ban for the first time on Thursday in an interview with the Afghan state television.
He said the ban was necessary to prevent the mixing of genders in universities and because he believes some subjects being taught violated the principles of Islam. He also added the ban would be in place until further notice.
Despite initially promising a more moderate rule respecting rights for women and minorities, the Taliban have widely implemented their interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, since they seized power in August 2021.
They have banned girls from middle school and high school — and now universities — and also barred women from most fields of employment. Women have also been ordered to wear head-to-toe clothing in public and have been banned from parks and gyms.
Afghan society, while largely traditional, had increasingly embraced the education of girls and women over the past two decades of a U.S.-backed government.
In the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, dozens of Afghan refugee students protested on Saturday against the ban on female higher education in their homeland and demanded the immediate reopening of campuses for women.
One of them, Bibi Haseena, read a poem depicting the grim situation for Afghan girls seeking an education. She said was unhappy about graduating outside her country when hundreds of thousands of her Afghan sisters were being deprived of an education. | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/dec/24/taliban-ban-women-from-working-for-domestic-foreign-ngos/ | 2022-12-24 17:35:09 | 0 | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/dec/24/taliban-ban-women-from-working-for-domestic-foreign-ngos/ |
- High-throughput, multi-omic single-cell Tapestri® VCN Assay quantifies vector copy number (VCN) and transduction in individual engineered cells in a single assay — saving precious time and sample while working to ensure safety and potentially reducing the risk of clinical holds.
- Increasingly stringent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines highlight the need to quantify VCN at higher resolution in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T lots, recommending fewer than five copies per genome to minimize oncogenic risk
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mission Bio, the pioneer in single-cell DNA and multi-omics analysis, announced the availability of the Tapestri® VCN Assay, the first high-throughput commercial single-cell assay to simultaneously quantify VCN and transduction at the level of individual cells. For the first time, developers of cell therapies like CAR-T cells will be able to apply multi-omic analysis to assess the cell-to-cell variability of vector copies within a batch, rather than averages gleaned from bulk analysis that can hide potentially oncogenic cells.
Most cell therapy developers recognize the limitations of their current analytical tools for characterizing CAR-T product quality. Due to the risk of insertional mutagenesis and oncogenesis, FDA has recommended VCN of less than five copies per genome, and FDA has stated in draft guidance that VCN should be determined for each CAR-T therapy lot. Today's marketed PCR-based approaches may be inadequate for full characterization of cell therapies, as they may underestimate the presence of dangerous cell clones within a cell population and obscure variability in manufacturing, either from scale-up or between batches.
Single-cell multi-omics with Tapestri® is working to expand possibilities for the development of CAR-T and other cell therapies, where engineering is becoming increasingly complex and therapies in development contain multiple modifications. The new assay consolidates VCN with transduction measurements – reducing time, labor, and sample material required while eliminating variability due to different instruments. Because Tapestri® can measure VCN and transduction in the same cells together, the VCN Assay alone has the potential to accurately and comprehensively assess the vector dosage using a single sample. Adding on cell-surface proteins enables developers to assess the subclonal cell subpopulations that have been modified without the need for flow cytometry.
Mission Bio's Pharma Assay Development (PAD) group can facilitate the technology transfer of the VCN Assay, streamlining deployment to one's institution, contract research organization, or contract development and manufacturing organization, of choice.
"We're continuing to lead the pack in cell and gene therapy analytics with the Tapestri® VCN Assay, which we believe to be the next big step in measuring critical quality attributes with single-cell sequencing," said Yan Zhang, CEO of Mission Bio. "Our biopharma customers have begun using this assay for data-driven decisions regarding the quality and safety of cell-based therapies through development. And we've only just begun."
"In many regards, therapeutic opportunities in the cell therapy space have grown faster than the capacity to match them," said Todd Druley, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of Mission Bio. "With the Tapestri® VCN Assay and Mission Bio's growing suite of single-cell multi-omics solutions for cell and gene therapy, the right analytical tools are becoming available to reassure drugmakers, regulators, and patients of their safety."
Zhang will share new insights on the cell and gene therapy market, as well as Mission Bio's advances to provide end-to-end support for drug developers through PAD, in a presentation at 1:30 p.m. PT on Oct. 11, 2022 at Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa in Carlsbad, CA.
To learn more about Mission Bio and the Tapestri® Platform, please visit www.missionbio.com.
About Mission Bio
Mission Bio is a life sciences company that accelerates discoveries and cures for a wide range of diseases by equipping researchers with the tools they need to better measure and predict our resistance and response to new therapies. Mission Bio's multi-omics approach improves time-to-market for new therapeutics, including innovative cell and gene therapies that provide new pathways to health. Founded in 2014, Mission Bio has secured investment from Novo Growth, Cota Capital, Agilent Technologies, Mayfield Fund, and others.
The company's Tapestri® platform gives researchers around the globe the power to interrogate every molecule in a cell together, providing a comprehensive understanding of activity from a single sample. Tapestri® is the only commercialized multi-omics research platform capable of analyzing DNA and protein simultaneously from the same sample at single-cell resolution. The Tapestri® Platform is being utilized by customers at leading research centers, pharmaceutical, and diagnostics companies worldwide to develop treatments and eventually cures for cancer.
Media Contact
Consort Partners for Mission Bio
missionbio@consortpartners.com
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SOURCE Mission Bio | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/10/06/mission-bio-launches-first-commercial-high-throughput-cell-therapy-assay-measuring-vector-copy-number/ | 2022-10-06 15:25:46 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/10/06/mission-bio-launches-first-commercial-high-throughput-cell-therapy-assay-measuring-vector-copy-number/ |
LA PAZ – Bolivia is now using the yuan to pay for imports and exports, becoming the latest country in South America to regularly use the Chinese currency in a small but growing challenge to the hegemony of the U.S. dollar for international financial transactions in the region.
Between May and July of this year, Bolivia conducted financial operations amounting to 278 million Chinese yuan ($38.7 million), which accounts for 10% of its foreign trade during that period, Economy Minister Marcelo Montenegro said on Thursday.
“We’re already using the yuan. It’s a reality and a good start,” Montenegro said during a news conference. “Banana, zinc, and wood manufacturing exporters are conducting transactions in yuan, as well as importers of vehicles and capital goods.” These electronic transactions are carried out through the state-owned Banco Unión.
“The amount being used in yuan is still relatively small, but it will increase over time,” Montenegro said.
With these transactions, Bolivia joins other countries in South America, most notably Brazil and Argentina, which are using the yuan. The three countries are ruled by leftist or left-leaning governments.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the use of the yuan is growing especially “in those countries that are looking to establish stronger ties with China, that view themselves as in some way politically aligned on this particular objective on decreasing their overall reliance on the dollar and on the U.S. in general,” said Margaret Myers, director of the Asia & Latin America Program at the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue.
The use of the yuan comes at a time when China’s footprint in the region is increasing with rising trade and investment.
“There is a lot of anxiety in Washington about threats to the special role of the dollar in regions like Latin America,” Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America Program at the Washington-based Wilson Center, said. “China’s new role as a lender of last resort in Argentina, and the use of the yuan for international trade by Bolivia, are a sign of the times.”
Earlier this year, Argentina’s government unveiled a plan to use the yuan to pay for imports from China as a way to preserve its dwindling foreign reserves and it has raised the possibility of paying off debts with the International Monetary Fund using the Chinese currency. In Brazil, the yuan surpassed the euro as the second most important currency in its foreign reserves at the end of 2022, when 5.37% of the central bank’s holdings were in the Chinese currency, compared to 4.74% for the euro.
In Bolivia, the yuan started to be used after months of severe dollar shortages that have been impacting the country’s economy since February.
Some analysts and members of the opposition have questioned the move to use the yuan.
“It is not a long-term solution, and it seems more like an attempt to cover up economic problems,” said José Gabriel Espinoza, an economics professor at Bolivia’s Catholic University.
The manager of the Chamber of Exporters of Bolivia, Marcelo Olguín, dismissed the criticism, characterizing the use of the yuan as merely “an alternative to operate.”
Beyond political considerations, looking for alternatives to the U.S. dollar that has become more expensive amid rising interest rates also makes economic sense, said Rebecca Ray, senior academic researcher at the Boston University Global Development Policy Center.
“They’re all facing the same global macroeconomic conditions, and the most important part of that is the US dollar is really expensive and hard to get a hold of. So there’s basically a global dollar shortage among current central banks,” Ray said. “Central banks everywhere are looking for alternatives.”
Bolivia’s President Luis Arce said earlier this month the Andean country was looking for alternatives amid a “dollar liquidity crisis.”
During a visit to China in April, Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva questioned the omnipresence of the U.S. dollar in foreign trade.
“Who was it that decided that the dollar was the currency after the disappearance of the gold standard?” he said.
Beijing is welcoming this new dynamic after years of a concerted effort to push for the yuan to be used more widely on the international stage.
“China clearly wants to challenge the global dominance of the dollar, both for practical and symbolic purposes,” Gedan said.
Now that is starting to be more appealing to more countries.
“China has been wanting to internationalize (its currency) for many years. What is new is that other countries are receptive to the idea because the current situation isn’t sustainable,” Ray said.
Experts agree though that any large-scale shift to the yuan is unlikely in the near future.
“I think there’s a sort of natural limit that most countries will hit,” Myers said. “So many transactions still need to be done using the dollar.”
The “primary limitation here is the fact that the Chinese financial system is still relatively closed,” Myers added.
Gedan added that at least “for now, there is generally more faith in the Fed than in China’s central bankers.”
___
Politi reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Associated Press writer Mauricio Savarese contributed to this report from Sao Paulo, Brazil. | https://www.clickorlando.com/business/2023/07/28/bolivia-is-the-latest-south-american-nation-to-use-chinas-yuan-for-trade-in-challenge-to-the-dollar/ | 2023-07-28 04:00:44 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/business/2023/07/28/bolivia-is-the-latest-south-american-nation-to-use-chinas-yuan-for-trade-in-challenge-to-the-dollar/ |
Filled with mentally stimulating challenges and fun activities
MAZATLÁN, Mexico, Oct. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mexican-based indie game developer and publisher ENSENASOFT is proud to announce the worldwide release of ISLA SINALOA to STEAM™. This unique FREE-TO-PLAY tropical island simulation and puzzle game is suitable for players of all ages and experience levels.
Game Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEnusZsAGNQ
ISLA SINALOA features a tropical island with many fun activities and mini-games to enjoy. You can choose to go fishing in the river, grab a wetsuit, and go diving for sea creatures, or if you desire, take a casual swim or walk on the beach watching the sunset or the fantastic fireworks starting at 10 pm every night. No island grows without much work, and you play an essential part in making it happen. You will become a lumberjack chopping several types of trees, a miner finding gold and diamonds, and an archeologist finding fossils, hieroglyph cubes, and ancient artifacts. You get to be a zoologist, learn about insects and ocean life, and even become a botanist mastering the names of many lovely flowers as you collect over 500 items to fill your museum, zoo, and botanical gardens.
ISLA SINALOA is packed with options for customization: You can change your look with 100's of possible outfits and body combinations, and you can decorate your house and your island with 100's of unique and exciting items. You can even design your own items with the built-in pattern designer.
As your island grows, there are many more things to experience: Discover buried treasures in the Treasure Hunter activity, become a farmer in the Farm Simulator, or run the pop-up restaurant at Nacho's Food Truck. Challenge yourself to find the way through a labyrinth leading to underground pyramid temples or put together lovely Jigsaw Puzzles with Pamela Possum. Match the tiles playing Barnyard Mahjong with Piao, locate Gideon Gorilla's lost items in Where's My What? or find the hidden words with Hudson Hippo in Word Search Cubes. You can also play Marble Solitaire to challenge your mind or test your memory following the dance moves in Disco Dance Battle. These are just some of the 20+ brain teasers, puzzle games, and mentally stimulating activities you will get to discover and enjoy to help sharpen your mind.
ISLA SINALOA is more than a game filled with puzzles and adventure: it is an experience of life as an islander in a community of more than 30+ charming, sometimes odd, animal characters mixing with visitors to the island. They celebrate your birthday by hosting a party, and they offer you fresh baked goods. Ten major international holidays like Christmas, Halloween, and Cinco de Mayo are given special treatment in the game as buildings and houses are decorated according to season. English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese are fully supported, with French and German translations coming soon! In total, you can enjoy more than 1000 hours of content meant to be played over 400 or more active playing days. Optional in-app purchases and an optional annual pass offering additional features are included.
ISLA SINALOA is available from here:
Journalists interested in further information or additional assets may contact indie PR specialist Hans Olsen by sending an email to hans@hansfrederikolsen.dk. Members of the press are encouraged to check out the following Hotlinks for recent news and updates.
About ENSENASOFT
ENSENASOFT is an award-winning game developer and publisher founded in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, in 2009, and consists of a talented group of designers, artists, programmers (and musicians from around the world) all committed to creating high-quality digital games content across all major gaming platforms and technologies. With a portfolio spanning hundreds of released titles, it is our continued promise to produce entertaining digital games to audiences of all ages and gaming preferences.
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SOURCE ENSENASOFT | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/10/11/isla-sinaloa-is-unique-tropical-island-simulation-amp-puzzle-game-now-available-steam/ | 2022-10-11 12:45:03 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/10/11/isla-sinaloa-is-unique-tropical-island-simulation-amp-puzzle-game-now-available-steam/ |
The expansion of radiation oncology services is part of TGH Cancer Institute's vision of improving health through innovative technologies, compassion and multidisciplinary cancer care for all.
TAMPA, Fla. , Jan. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its commitment to offering the most advanced technology for cancer treatment, the Cancer Institute at Tampa General Hospital (TGH) announced today that it is expanding its Radiation Oncology program to include the addition of new cancer treatment technology and enhanced locations under the direction of world-renowned physicians. Additionally, to continue expanding access to cancer treatment, Tampa General Hospital and the Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) are working in a collaborative partnership to build the first proton therapy center in the Tampa Bay region.
"Establishing a world-class cancer institute at one of the country's leading academic medical centers comes down to its people and innovative technologies and science. In radiation oncology, under the leadership of Dr. Richard Tuli, we have recruited a cadre of physicians and physicists from premier academic institutions. This experienced team, along with our investment in state-of-the-art technologies such as proton therapy and in clinical trials, is well-poised to transform the radiation oncology field in our region and beyond," said Dr. Eduardo M. Sotomayor, director of the TGH Cancer Institute.
"As one of the nation's leading academic medical centers, we are focused on driving innovation to deliver world-class, advanced treatment options to the Tampa Bay region and beyond," said Dr. Abraham Schwarzberg, executive vice president of Network Development and chief of the TGH Cancer Institute. "Our Radiation Oncology enhancements, including our collaborative partnership to develop Tampa's first proton therapy center, is an example of initiatives that bring the most advanced resources to our patients."
TGH Radiation Oncology Program
The TGH Cancer Institute's expanded Radiation Oncology platform offers a full complement of radiation oncology services to treat all types of cancers, offering evidence-based, multidisciplinary care incorporating cutting-edge radiation therapies such as the CyberKnife System®, the TrueBeam™ system, high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy and radiopharmaceuticals, among others.
"The expansion of the TGH Radiation Oncology program represents TGH Cancer Institute's latest investment in providing world-class care by leveraging technology to improve diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes," said Tuli, professor and chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, deputy director of the TGH Cancer Institute, and director of Radiation Oncology at Tampa General Hospital. Tuli joined TGH from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, N.Y.
The TrueBeam system, available within the TGH Cancer Institute, is an advanced medical linear accelerator capable of fast and precise image-guided radiation therapy. "Our linear accelerator machine dramatically decreases treatment time from 30 minutes to two minutes while maintaining accuracy, precision and safety through enhanced low-dose imaging and motion compensation," Tuli said. Additionally, the CyberKnife S7 radiosurgery system — a non-invasive alternative to surgical treatment for cancerous and non-cancerous tumors — will be installed at the TGH Cancer Institute on the main TGH campus in summer 2023.
HDR brachytherapy is a highly specialized cancer treatment and involves careful and temporary placement of radioactive material inside the body in direct contact with tumors. This allows much higher doses of radiation to be delivered safely compared to external radiation by lowering dosages to the surrounding normal tissues and organs. This highly effective treatment can often be delivered in one to three treatments.
Proton Therapy Center
Through the collaborative partnership with FCS, plans call for the proton therapy center to be located in the academic medical center's Medical and Research District adjacent to downtown Tampa and in a highly specialized and comprehensive three-story, 44,000-square-foot building at the intersection of W. Kennedy Boulevard and S. Fielding Avenue.
"Through our partnership, we will have the opportunity to treat our patients with the most advanced form of cancer-fighting technology available to date," Tuli said. "Proton therapy is a highly innovative and precise form of radiation treatment, which can be ideal when a cancerous tumor is close to a vital organ such as the heart, brain stem or the spinal cord." It has been proven to be an effective and recommended therapy in treating a wide range of adult tumors, both cancerous and benign.
Radiation Oncology Physician-Scientists
Alongside Tuli, TGH Cancer Institute's radiation oncologists combine their medical expertise with the use of state-of-the-art technology to deliver the best outcomes for patients.
- Dr. Brian T. Collins is a professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and director of the Radiosurgery Program at TGH. He specializes in cutting-edge radiation techniques and tools and is a world-renowned expert in CyberKnife radiotherapy technology. Prior to joining Tampa General Hospital, he served as the Chief of the Department of Radiation Medicine and director of both the Proton Therapy Center and ZAP-X radiosurgery center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington D.C. Collins is a frequent contributor to scientific publications, books and journals in his areas of expertise.
- Dr. John David is an assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, director of Brachytherapy Services and lead physician of Radiopharmaceuticals at Tampa General Hospital. Prior to joining TGH, David worked alongside physicians at the New York Proton Center, where he gained experience in proton therapy. He completed his residency training at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif.
- Dr. Alexander Engelman, medical director of radiation oncology at Florida Urology Partners and a radiation oncologist with TGH Cancer Institute, is an expert in the research and treatment of genitourinary cancers. He was the first physician in the United States to perform a Barrigel procedure, which is an injectable, flexible, biodegradable material that provides a barrier between the prostate and rectum to protect the healthy tissue during radiation therapy treatment for prostate cancer. For his residency training, Engelman attended the University of Maryland Medical Center, and the Maryland Proton Treatment Center, Baltimore, with additional time at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.
TGH Cancer Institute Expansion
To help make cancer care more accessible, the TGH Cancer Institute recently opened an Infusion Center at the TGH Brandon Healthplex, where an additional TrueBeam linear accelerator will also be available in July 2023. In December 2022, Tampa General announced that it had earned a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program established by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Ranked among the top 10 percent of U.S. hospitals for cancer care according to U.S. News & World Report's 2022-2023 rankings, the Tampa General Cancer Institute provides comprehensive care via groundbreaking therapies and advanced diagnostic imaging tools and is part of the hospital's vision to be the safest and most innovative academic health system in America.
Through the TGH Cancer Institute, Tampa General and USF Health physicians offer a highly coordinated, interdisciplinary approach to quality patient care and provide a wide range of multidisciplinary specialties such as hematologic malignancies, bone marrow transplant, cell therapy, neuro-oncology, thoracic oncology, breast, colorectal and gynecologic oncology. Advanced subspecialties include liver and hepatobiliary oncology, otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat), and genitourinary (reproductive system and genitourinary tract). For more information about the TGH Cancer Institute, visit www.tgh.org/cancer.
Tampa General Hospital, a 1,040-bed, not-for-profit, academic medical center, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2022-23 Best Hospitals, and is tied as the third highest-ranked hospital in Florida, with seven specialties ranking among the best programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic medical center's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by two prestigious Forbes magazine rankings – first nationally in the 2022 America's Best Employers for Women and sixth out of 100 Florida companies in the 2022 America's Best Employers by State. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2021, provided a net community benefit worth more than $224.5 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With six medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Brandon Healthplex, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH Imaging powered by Tower outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics, and they can even receive home visits in select areas through TGH Urgent Care at Home, powered by Fast Track. As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.
USF Health's mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the Taneja College of Pharmacy, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, the Biomedical Sciences Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs, and USF Health's multispecialty physicians' group. The University of South Florida is a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success. Over the past 10 years, no other public university in the country has risen faster in U.S. News & World Report's national university rankings than USF. For more information, visit health.usf.edu.
Media Contact: Beth Hardy
Senior Communications Specialist
(813) 844-7322 (direct)
(727) 510-6363 (cell)
ehardy@TGH.org
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SOURCE Tampa General Hospital | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/01/13/tampa-general-hospital-cancer-institute-expands-its-radiation-oncology-program-with-world-renowned-physicians-state-of-the-art-proton-therapy-center-bringing-greater-access-best-in-class-cancer-treatment-patients/ | 2023-01-13 16:50:49 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/01/13/tampa-general-hospital-cancer-institute-expands-its-radiation-oncology-program-with-world-renowned-physicians-state-of-the-art-proton-therapy-center-bringing-greater-access-best-in-class-cancer-treatment-patients/ |
ATLANTA (AP) — Hawks star Trae Young was ejected after heaving the ball hard to referee Scott Wall in the third quarter of Atlanta’s 143-130 win over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.
After Hawks coach Quin Snyder called a timeout in the third quarter with the game tied at 84, Young first bounced the ball and then threw a hard, two-handed pass at Wall, who caught the ball. Young was immediately called for a technical foul and ejected.
Only seconds earlier, Young had an apparent 3-pointer disallowed when he was called for a technical foul for sticking out his leg and tripping Aaron Nesmith.
“It’s just a play he can’t make,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said after the game. “I told him that. He knows it.”
Snyder said Young acknowledged his mistake.
“There wasn’t a single part of him that tried to rationalize what happened,” Snyder said.
The technical foul was Young’s 15th of the season. A 16th technical foul results in an automatic one-game suspension.
Young, who leads Atlanta with his averages of 26.8 points and 10 assists, had 14 points and five assists when he was ejected.
The game was tied at 84 when Young was ejected.
“We didn’t allow it to turn into a negative,” Hawks guard Dejounte Murray said. “We turned it into a positive and got the win.”
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wfla.com/sports/ap-sports/hawks-star-young-ejected-after-hard-ball-toss-to-referee/ | 2023-03-26 19:15:51 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/sports/ap-sports/hawks-star-young-ejected-after-hard-ball-toss-to-referee/ |
Services to be Sustained for the Community
MOORESVILLE, N.C., Feb. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Novant Health has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Lake Norman Regional Medical Center, Davis Regional Medical Center and their related businesses, including physician clinic operations and outpatient services from subsidiaries of Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH).
"Our shared commitments to the community will continue to anchor our efforts and plans as we deliver exceptional, patient-centered experiences; protect safety and quality; improve community health; and promote equitable access to care," said Carl S. Armato, president and CEO of Novant Health. "This unique and exciting opportunity to extend Novant Health's regional delivery network to new communities also creates opportunities for medical education, research and innovation."
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close later this year.
"Novant Health has a demonstrated commitment to delivering quality care to the patients they serve across the communities they serve," said Matthew Littlejohn, Chief Executive Officer of Lake Norman Regional Medical Center and Davis Regional Medical Center. "Our tradition of serving the community with medical services close to home will be enhanced thanks to the dedication and skill of our medical staff and employees."
Once the transaction is complete, Novant Health will continue working with employees, members of the medical staff, and other stakeholders to deliver quality care close to home.
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SOURCE Novant Health | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/02/28/agreement-signed-acquisition-lake-norman-regional-medical-center-davis-regional-medical-center/ | 2023-03-01 01:03:09 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/02/28/agreement-signed-acquisition-lake-norman-regional-medical-center-davis-regional-medical-center/ |
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
© 2022 Good Karma Brands Milwaukee, LLC. | https://wtmj.com/entertainment/2022/09/07/ap-top-entertainment-news-at-956-p-m-edt-2/ | 2022-09-08 03:06:30 | 0 | https://wtmj.com/entertainment/2022/09/07/ap-top-entertainment-news-at-956-p-m-edt-2/ |
The White House issued a brief statement Tuesday expressing President Biden and first lady Jill Biden’s support for Hunter Biden, after he reached a plea deal with the Justice Department on federal tax and gun charges.
“The President and First Lady love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life. We will have no further comment,” White House spokesman Ian Sams said in an emailed statement.
The president’s son is set to plead guilty to tax crimes in a deal reached with federal prosecutors. Hunter Biden also reached a diversion agreement relating to unlawful possession of a weapon, according to court papers filed Tuesday. The plea deal, which must be accepted by a judge, would likely keep him out of jail.
The president has defended his son from allegations against him, and the first couple has emphasized in previous comments that they support him.
The White House has also sought to keep its distance from Hunter Biden’s ongoing legal case in an effort to avoid any implication that the president was pressuring the Justice Department; White House officials often refer questions about the case to Hunter Biden’s lawyer.
Upon taking office, the Biden administration allowed U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a holdover from the Trump administration, to continue to oversee the case.
Hunter Biden was charged with two counts of willful failure to pay income tax. The third charge stems from possession of a firearm in 2018, a weapon prosecutors say Hunter Biden was in possession of while using crack cocaine. The president’s son is accused of denying drug use when applying in order to secure the gun. | https://www.localsyr.com/hill-politics/white-house-biden-first-lady-support-son-hunter-after-federal-charges-revealed/ | 2023-06-20 17:01:27 | 1 | https://www.localsyr.com/hill-politics/white-house-biden-first-lady-support-son-hunter-after-federal-charges-revealed/ |
Oregon murders: Deaths of 4 women over 3 months are linked, authorities now say
SALEM, Ore. - The bodies of four women began appearing in wooded areas in northwest Oregon in February, though police initially said the cases appeared to be unconnected. But on Monday, prosecutors dropped a bombshell, saying they are linked and "at least one person of interest" has been identified.
The state medical examiner has not determined the cause or manner of death for any of the women, prosecutors said in a statement. Officials did not use the words "serial killer" in announcing the connection between the deaths.
But, in an about-face from a June 4 Portland Police Bureau statement saying six deaths did not appear to be connected, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office in Portland announced that four of them are.
"Investigators and prosecutors from multiple law enforcement agencies have been working collaboratively, ... and they have determined that there are links between four cases: Kristin Smith, Charity Perry, Bridget Webster, and Ashley Real," the prosecutor’s office said.
"Investigators have interviewed multiple people in connection with these cases and have identified at least one person of interest that is linked to all four," the DA's office added.
(Multnomah County District Attorney's Office)
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s office in Portland says no charges have been filed against anyone but that the community is not currently in any danger. Local media reported that a man is in custody.
The women’s bodies were found in Portland and rural areas starting on Feb. 19, with the latest one found on May 7. One body was found about 45 miles southwest of Portland, near a creek in Polk County.
The first body discovered was that of Smith, 22, found in a wooded area in a suburb southeast of Portland. Smith's disappearance was reported to police in suburban Gresham on Dec. 22, 2022.
"It’s quite like a piece of you is missing, that’s really the only way you can describe it," Hailey Smith, Kristin’s sister, told KPTV, a Portland television station, as family members searched for the then-missing woman.
Family members hung up fliers and looked for Smith near homeless shelters and other sites in downtown Portland. And a private "Justice for Kristin Smith" Facebook page with over 600 members was created over four months ago.
Perry was 24 when she died. Her body was found on April 24 near a state park alongside the Columbia River, east of Portland.
Webster’s body was found on April 30 near Mill Creek in rural northwest Polk County. She was 31.
Real, 22, was last seen at a fast-food restaurant near Portland on March 27, police said. She was reported missing on April 4. Her body was found on May 7 in a forest southeast of Portland.
Investigators from nine law enforcement agencies, including the prosecutor’s offices in three Oregon counties and the Oregon State Police, have been collaborating on the cases, authorities said. | https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/oregon-murders-deaths-of-4-women-over-3-months-are-linked-authorities-now-say | 2023-07-18 02:08:17 | 1 | https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/oregon-murders-deaths-of-4-women-over-3-months-are-linked-authorities-now-say |
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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/kings-county-record/101970977 | 2022-09-25 23:03:53 | 1 | https://tj.news/kings-county-record/101970977 |
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — The suspected gunman in a Fourth of July parade shooting “seriously contemplated” committing a second shooting in Madison after he left Highland Park where he is accused of killing seven and wounding several others.
A judge denied bond on Wednesday for Robert “Bobby” Crimo III, 21, who was charged with seven counts of first-degree murder on Tuesday. Officials said he sprayed more than 70 rounds from a rooftop into a crowd attending a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park. Prosecutors said he reloaded his weapon three times.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said if Crimo is convicted of the first-degree murder charges, he would receive a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. He promised that dozens more charges would be sought.
Crimo appeared in bond court virtually Wednesday morning where a bond was denied. Officials spoke at a press conference afterward and said a motive for the shooting is still unclear.
Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesman Christopher Covelli said while the motive for the mass shooting is still unknown, he said Crimo had some sort of affinity toward the numbers four and seven, and the inverse which is seven and four.
“When asked what the obsession with those number meant, he said it has something to do with the music he listens to,” Covelli said.
Rinehart said after Crimo’s arrest, he confessed to officials and admitted to the shooting.
In court, which was held virtually through Zoom, the suspect mainly looked down, only lifting his head when the case against him was read out loud.
WATCH: Prosecutor, police official speak after bond denied for alleged gunman
The attack happened at the downtown parade around 10:10 a.m. on the Fourth of July after shots were fired near Central Avenue and 2nd Street.
Officials said Crimo was wearing a dress and long-haired wig — possibly to hide his distinctive neck and face tattoos — and was able to blend into the crowd, posing as a bystander. After the shooting, he went to his mother’s home where he took her car and left the area. He was caught after someone recognized him and phoned North Chicago police.
He was arrested on Route 41 in Lake County after several hours of being wanted. Police said Crimo was able to drive into Wisconsin and back into Illinois during the manhunt.
Covelli said their investigation revealed that when Crimo drove to Madison he saw a celebration there and contemplated using the firearm in his vehicle to commit another shooting.
Crimo legally bought five weapons, including two high-powered rifles used in the shooting. Authorities said Tuesday that the purchases were allowed even though police were called to his home twice in 2019 for threats of violence and suicide.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Lake County Coroner’s Office identified six of the seven victims. They are; Catherine Goldstein, 64, of Highland Park, Irina McCarthy, 35, of Highland Park, Kevin McCarthy, 37, of Highland Park, Jacki Sundheimm, 63, of Highland Park, Stephen Straus, 88, of Highland Park and Nicolas Toledo, 78, of Morales, Mexico.
The seventh victim was identifed Wednesday as 69-year-old Eduardo Uvaldo. He was pronounced dead around 7:45 a.m. that morning.
Anyone with any information, or anyone with video, is urged to call Highland Park police at 847-432-7730 or you can submit a tip to fbi.gov/highlandpark. | https://www.ksn.com/news/national-world/bond-denied-for-highland-park-shooting-suspect/ | 2022-07-06 17:49:41 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/national-world/bond-denied-for-highland-park-shooting-suspect/ |
Wedding show
Carolina Weddings Show has announced that The Wedding Fair, originally set for Jan. 8, has been cancelled.
The Carolina Weddings Shows are still on the schedule and will take place Jan. 21 at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Complex and on Jan. 28 at the Greensboro Coliseum.
For information, visit www.33bride.com or call 336-545-1970.
Live fire training
The Greensboro Fire Department plans to conduct live fire training at 702 & 704 Hyde Drive, on Dec. 28-30. These exercises will be for current firefighters to practice extinguishment, ventilation and search techniques. The training exercises are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. and will conclude at approximately 5 p.m. Heavy amounts of smoke may be present in the area, but should not pose hazards to the public. All structures utilized for live fire training by the Greensboro Fire Department meet compliance with NC DENR-Air Quality and NC Public Health regulations.
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Live fire training provides the opportunity for firefighters to gain valuable practice and experience in fire control and extinguishment.
Sights of the season
The Triad and surrounding communities are enjoying the sights and sounds of the season at High Point University’s Annual Community Christmas Drive, which kicked off Dec. 19.
During the first night of this year’s Christmas Drive, HPU welcomed nearly 1,500 people to campus. More than 30,000 people total are expected to attend the drive this year. The drive is free and continues each night from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. through Jan. 1.
Guests will enter campus at the University Parkway entrance and exit at Panther Drive onto Lexington Avenue by the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center.
During the drive, families will enjoy views of more than 100,000 Christmas lights, a life-size Nativity scene with more animals and shepherds than ever, 235 nutcrackers, ornaments that are 10 feet tall and other holiday decorations.
At the end of the route, families received a special gift that includes a book about HPU’s transformation, a coloring book and crayons for children, an HPU Christmas card and HPU basketball game information.
MLK Jr. breakfast sold out
Tickets for the City of Greensboro’s 37th annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast have sold out. Hosted by the Human Rights Commission, the Jan. 16 event at the Koury Convention Center is themed “Every Day Champions: Honoring Local Civil Rights Pioneers.”
The Commission’s MLK Planning Committee reduced the capacity of this year’s breakfast to 400 in-person participants in light of the high number of COVID-19, cold and flu-related illnesses this season.
Individuals and organizations may participate by watching the program online or by serving as an event sponsor. The Greensboro Television Network and the City’s YouTube channel will provide live coverage of the event starting at 7:30 a.m. Names of event sponsors are displayed at the breakfast and recognized during the program. Contact Human Rights Technician Marion Davis at 336-373-2038 for sponsorship information.
Cone Health Chief Inclusion Officer Niketa Greene is the breakfast’s keynote speaker and the inaugural class of the city’s Every Day Champions of Human Rights will be honored.
Leaf collection has been extended
Greensboro’s loose leaf collection has been extended. The first round of collection, originally expected to end this week, will not be completed until Jan. 14. The second round of pickup will now run from Jan. 16 through Feb. 10.
This year, a large number of leaves fell within the first few weeks of the season, slowing the collection. The city has picked up more than 7,600 tons of leaves so far—2,800 more tons than were collected last year at this time. Wet weather and staffing issues have also slowed the program’s progress.
Womens’ workshops
The Women’s Resource Center of Greensboro has planned the following workshops for women 18 and older:
- My First Home: 1-2:15 p.m. Jan. 5. Learn the process of buying a home, down payment assistance, finance options, overcoming credit hurdles and how to choose the right people.
- Women’s Self-Defense: noon-1:30 p.m. Jan. 10.
- Women’s Job Club—Employer Spotlight Event: 9:30 a.m. Jan. 11. Network with select employers and learn about what they have to offer. RSVP. 336-275-6090 or info@womenscentergso.org.
- Breaking Up and Moving On: 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 19. Learn about legal separation, how child custody and child support work, property division and more.
- What’s Your 2023 Vision?- Vision Board Creations: 10 a.m.-noon Jan. 19. A vision board is a collection of images and words that symbolize a person’s goals, dreams and visions of success for what they want to accomplish in the future. Registration required.
- Women to Work Session: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, Jan. 23-Feb. 2. Must attend all classes. In-house, specialized job-search training program helps women navigate through a successful job search process. Contact Heather Schneck to determine if this program is a good fit. 336-275-6090, Ext. 223 or Heather@WomensCenterGSO.org.
- Health Insurance Enrollment: 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Jan. 12. Open to everyone 18 and older. Walk-ins are available, appointments are preferred. Book an appointment at https://ncnavigator.net/get-help/ or call 855-733-3711.
- Financial Tips to Help During Your Job Search: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 30. Financial advice and tips to help maintain good money habits, both when working and during job search. Lunch provided. Registration is required.
Register for workshops by calling 336-275-6090 or email info@womenscentergso.org with your name, phone number and title of workshop.
Museum announces speaker series
The International Civil Rights Center & Museum has announced plans for an inaugural speaker series that will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesdays in February, Feb. 1-22, at the Harrison Auditorium at N.C. A&T.
Community members will have the opportunity to listen to legendary civic leaders and get their autographed works.
More details and tickets will be available soon.
Charity endurance event
The spring Trailblaze Challenge to benefit Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina will take place May 19-21 and June 9-11. The challenge is an endurance event where participants tackle 28.3 miles of the Foothills Trail in one day. This is a hike, not a race, and caters to all levels from novice to advanced outdoor enthusiasts.
Each Trailblazer will be asked to raise funds to cover their expenses and to help Make-A-Wish continue its mission of granting wishes of children who are diagnosed with critical illnesses.
Information sessions are virtual and will be offered multiple times, Jan. 10-Feb. 2.
To attend a session, visit https://wish.org/nc/trailblaze-challenge.
For information, contact Emily Gibson at events@nc.wish.org or 704-469-4663.
Travel guide available
“The Official 2023 North Carolina Travel Guide,” an 108-page armchair tour designed to inspire real-life trips across the state, is available. Drawing on authentic experiences found in all 100 counties, the new guide creates fresh ways to explore cities, towns and the outdoor wonderlands at the heart of 2023’s Year of the Trail celebration.
The guide is free. The print edition is available at the state’s nine Welcome Centers or by calling 800-847-4862. Readers can also link to VisitNC.com/travel-guides to request a copy, access the digital edition or download a PDF version.
In all, the guide features 175 towns and cities and highlights nearly 400 attractions, restaurants, lodging properties and events with more than 180 images capturing the state’s allure. A fold-out map, which is supported by a Town and City Index, expedites navigation as travelers chart getaways. | https://greensboro.com/lifestyles/community-briefs/article_197def62-7c97-11ed-83da-73ded2e9e049.html | 2022-12-23 06:14:38 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/lifestyles/community-briefs/article_197def62-7c97-11ed-83da-73ded2e9e049.html |
- Erik Barefield, Robert DeBolt, Jesse Keig and Ketan Shah appointed to the Mesirow Board
- New Directors bring diverse perspectives and wide-ranging skills from across Mesirow's differentiated capabilities and corporate services teams
CHICAGO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesirow, an independent, employee-owned financial services firm, today announced the appointment of four new internal Directors to the firm's Board of Directors (the "Board"). Comprising a diverse group of business and industry executives, the Mesirow Board shapes all facets of Mesirow's corporate policy and strategy.
Joining the Mesirow Board effective immediately are:
Erik Barefield, Senior Managing Director, Head of Traditional Investment Management. Erik is responsible for providing strategic oversight and leadership on all aspects of the traditional investment management platform including competitive positioning, product development, distribution, and collaboration both within and between the businesses. Erik serves as the Chair of the Investment Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee for Metropolitan Family Services. He is also on the Executive Committee of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and sits on the board of DePaul College Prep.
Robert M. DeBolt, Chief Investment Officer, Private Equity. Bob leads the investment due diligence team, is a member of the Private Equity Investment Committee and is involved in all aspects of the private equity investment process. Bob participates on the limited partner advisory committees for a number of buyout and venture capital partnerships. Prior to joining Mesirow in 2004, Bob was a Principal with Adams Street Partners, where he was involved in all aspects of the private equity investment process. He is also a member of the Illinois Venture Capital Association.
Jesse Keig, Chief Financial Officer. Jesse leads Mesirow accounting operations, business accounting, financial reporting and tax, and financial planning and analysis. Prior to becoming CFO, Jesse was the firm's Financial Controller, responsible for the firm's annual financial statements and tax strategy. Jesse has 18 years of experience in accounting and finance. Jesse serves on the board for the Chicago Fire Department Foundation.
Ketan Shah, General Counsel. Ketan joined Mesirow in November 2012 and was named General Counsel of Mesirow in August 2021. Ketan leads Mesirow's legal team and is responsible for overseeing Mesirow's worldwide legal affairs, including corporate and regulatory matters, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, and other general legal matters. He is also a member of the Investment Banking New Engagement Committee. Prior to assuming the role of General Counsel, Ketan served as Associate General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel.
"These new Directors enhance our Board through diverse perspective, varied professional experiences and distinct areas of specialization," said Richard S. Price, Mesirow Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board. "I look forward to the contributions they will make as we begin the firm's 85th year and continue to invest in our clients, our communities, and our workplace culture."
"We are pleased to welcome Erik, Bob, Jesse, and Ketan to the Board and congratulate each on achieving this hallmark," said Natalie A. Brown, CEO of Mesirow. "I am confident that each of these individuals will bring their unique skills and voice to the Board, helping Mesirow continue to deliver value and differentiation to the marketplace as we act as a force for social good."
Mesirow Board of Directors
- Richard S. Price, Executive Chairman
- Natalie A. Brown, CEO
- Erik Barefield, Senior Managing Director, Head of Traditional Investment Management
- Melissa L. Bean, President, Wealth Management
- Ben Blakney, President, Institutional Real Estate Direct Investments
- Garry W. Cohen, Senior Managing Director, Sale-Leaseback Capital
- Alasdair Cripps, CEO, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Institutional Real Estate Direct Investments
- Robert M. DeBolt, Chief Investment Officer, Private Equity
- Thomas F. Hynes, Senior Managing Director, Global Investment Management Distribution
- Jesse Keig, Chief Financial Officer
- Jeffrey M. Levine, COO, Institutional Sales & Trading
- Brian D. Price, President and COO, Investment Banking
- Larry D. Richman, Director
- Marc E. Sacks, CEO, Private Equity
- Nathaniel Sager, Senior Managing Director, CTL and Structured Debt Products
- Ketan Shah, General Counsel
- Kathryn A. Vorisek, Senior Managing Director, CIO, Portfolio Manager, Equity Management
About Mesirow
Mesirow is an independent, employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937. Headquartered in Chicago, with locations around the world, we serve clients through a personal, custom approach to reaching financial goals and acting as a force for social good. With capabilities spanning Global Investment Management, Capital Markets and Investment Banking, and Advisory Services, we invest in what matters: our clients, our communities, and our culture. To learn more, visit mesirow.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
Mesirow was recently named one of the Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain's Chicago Business and one of the Top 100 RIA firms by Barron's.
Inquiries
mediainquiries@mesirow.com
Michael Herley | 203.308.1409
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SOURCE Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/mesirow-appoints-four-new-internal-directors-firms-board-directors/ | 2022-08-17 15:49:25 | 0 | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/mesirow-appoints-four-new-internal-directors-firms-board-directors/ |
US player Pulisic cleared to play against Dutch in World Cup
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Christian Pulisic was cleared to play for the United States in its round of 16 match at the World Cup against the Netherlands on Saturday.
The U.S. Soccer Federation said after Friday’s training session that the American had been given the go-ahead.
Pulisic left Tuesday’s final group match against Iran at halftime after bruising his pelvic bone in a collision with the goalkeeper while scoring in the 38th minute. The Americans won 1-0 to advance.
A 24-year-old winger, Pulisic was taken to the hospital after halftime and then returned to the team hotel in time for the postgame celebration. Pulisic said Thursday he was feeling better.
United States forward Josh Sargent left the Iran match in the 77th minute, three minutes after injuring his right ankle in a challenge by Majid Hosseini.
“With Christian we’re hopeful, I think with him a little less so,” United States coach Gregg Berhalter said before training. “At this stage, it’s go time. If you can push through it, you do. So I’m sure he’ll have that mindset.”
Haji Wright and Jesús Ferreira are the other strikers in the squad. Sargent started against Wales and Iran, and Wright against England.
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/12/02/us-player-pulisic-cleared-play-against-dutch-world-cup/ | 2022-12-02 20:51:07 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/12/02/us-player-pulisic-cleared-play-against-dutch-world-cup/ |
LONDON – Scotland’s governing party will elect a new leader on Monday after a bruising five-week contest that exposed deep fractures within the pro-independence movement.
The Scottish National Party is choosing a successor to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who unexpectedly stepped down last month after eight years as leader of the party and of Scotland’s semi-autonomous government.
The SNP’s 72,000 members are choosing among Scottish Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and lawmaker Ash Regan.
The winner will be announced on Monday afternoon. The new party leader is due to be confirmed as first minister by Scottish lawmakers on Tuesday.
A formidable leader who led the SNP to a dominant position in Scottish politics, Sturgeon failed in her aim of leading Scotland out of the United Kingdom, and divided the party with a contentious transgender rights law.
The three candidates to succeed her share the goal of independence, but differ in their economic and social visions for Scotland.
Yousaf, 37, is widely seen as a “continuity Sturgeon” candidate who shares the outgoing leader’s liberal social views. Forbes, 32, is an evangelical Christian who has been criticized for saying that her faith would have prevented her from voting in favor of allowing same-sex couples to wed, had she been a lawmaker when Scotland legalized gay marriage in 2014.
Both Forbes and 49-year-old Regan, who is widely considered a long shot, oppose legislation championed by Sturgeon to make it easier for people in Scotland to legally change their gender.
The gender recognition bill has been hailed as a landmark piece of legislation by transgender rights activists, but faced opposition from some SNP members who said it ignored the need to protect single-sex spaces for women, such as domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers.
Only Yousaf has promised to push forward with the legislation, which has been passed by the Scottish parliament but blocked by the U.K. government.
The SNP holds 64 of the 129 seats in the Scottish parliament and governs in coalition with the much smaller Greens. The smaller party has warned it may quit the coalition if the SNP elects a leader that doesn’t share its progressive views — meaning a victory by Forbes or Regan could splinter the government.
The new leader will face the challenge of leading the independence movement out of an impasse.
Scottish voters backed remaining in the U.K. in a 2014 referendum that was billed as a once-in-a-generation decision. The SNP wants a new vote, but the central government in London has refused to authorize one, and the U.K. Supreme Court has ruled that Scotland can’t hold one without London’s consent.
Regan wants to sweep those obstacles aside by treating the next election in Scotland as a “trigger point” for independence, effectively daring the U.K. government not to recognize Scotland’s democratic choice to secede.
Forbes and Yousaf are more cautious. Forbes called for more effort to win over voters who back remaining in the U.K., while Yousaf says he wants to build a “settled, sustained” majority for independence. Polls currently suggest Scottish voters are split about evenly on the issue.
The leadership contest has sent the SNP’s poll ratings plunging — to the delight of the Labour Party and the Conservatives, which hope to gain seats in Scotland during the next U.K.-wide election, due by the end of 2024. | https://www.wsls.com/business/2023/03/27/scotlands-ruling-snp-picks-new-leader-to-succeed-sturgeon/ | 2023-03-27 11:56:23 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/business/2023/03/27/scotlands-ruling-snp-picks-new-leader-to-succeed-sturgeon/ |
OGDEN, Utah (AP) — Bronson Barron threw two touchdown passes and Weber State drained the final 5:43 off the clock to hold off Montana 24-21 on Saturday in a showdown of two Top 10 FCS teams.
The Wildcats (7-1, 4-1 Big Sky Conference), ranked seventh in the FCS coaches poll, took a 24-13 lead on Barron's second TD pass, a 12-yarder to Hayden Meacham with 5:56 to play.
But Malik Flowers took the ensuing kickoff 100 yard s and the Grizzlies (5-3, 2-3), who have lost three straight and dropped to 10th in the rankings, used a trick play for the 2-point conversion to pull within a field goal.
Weber State then pounded the ball on the Grizzlies and clinched the game by converting a fourth-and-1 just outside the Montana 40.
Barron was 14-of-23 passing for 153 yards and Dontae McMillan ran for 100 on 23 carries. Damon Bankson added 79 yards on nine carries, including a 47-yard touchdown for a 7-3 lead. Bronson's first TD was a 69-yard catch-and-run with Ty MacPherson to grab a 17-13 lead in the third quarter.
Montana could only muster 114 yards behind backup quarterback Kris Brown. Brown was just 10-of-17 passing for 72 yards and was sacked four times as the replacement for Lucas Johnson, who was injured early in last week's overtime loss to third-ranked Sacramento State.
__
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25 | https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/Weber-State-shuts-down-Montana-in-Big-Sky-17544053.php | 2022-10-30 00:10:53 | 0 | https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/Weber-State-shuts-down-Montana-in-Big-Sky-17544053.php |
Frontier, 5 other airlines to refund more than $600 million
(AP) - Frontier Airlines and five foreign carriers have agreed to refund more than $600 million combined to travelers whose trips were canceled or significantly delayed since the start of the pandemic, federal officials said Monday.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said it also fined the same airlines more than $7 million for delaying refunds so long that they violated consumer-protection rules.
The largest U.S. airlines, which accounted for the bulk of complaints about refunds, avoided fines, and an official said no other U.S. carriers are being investigated for potential fines.
Consumers flooded the agency with thousands of complaints about their inability to get refunds when the airlines canceled huge numbers of flights after the pandemic hit the U.S. in early 2020. It was by far the leading category of complaints.
“When Americans buy a ticket on an airline, we expect to get to our destination safely, reliably and affordably, and our job at DOT is to hold airlines accountable for these expectations,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.
The department said Frontier Airlines is refunding $222 million and paying a $2.2 million civil penalty.
In a consent order, the government charged that Frontier changed its definition of a significant delay to make refunds less likely, and an online system to process credits went down for a 15-day period in 2020.
Frontier spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz said the Denver-based airline issued nearly $100 million in “goodwill refunds,” including to people with non-refundable tickets who canceled on their own and were not entitled to a refund under federal law.
The refunds “demonstrate Frontier’s commitment to treating our customers with fairness and flexibility,” de la Cruz said.
The Transportation Department said TAP Portugal will refund $126.5 million and pay a $1.1 million fine; Air India will pay $121.5 million in refunds and a $1.4 million penalty; Aeromexico will pay $13.6 million and a $900,000 fine; Israel’s El Al will pay $61.9 million and a $900,000 penalty; and Colombia’s Avianca will pay $76.8 million and a $750,000 fine.
“We have more enforcement actions and investigations underway and there may be more news to come by way of fines,” Buttigieg said during a call with reporters.
However, there will be no fines for other U.S. airlines because they responded “shortly after” the Transportation Department reminded them in April 2020 of their obligation to provide quick refunds, said Blane Workie, the assistant general counsel for the Transportation Department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection.
“We do not have any pending cases against other U.S. carriers. Our remaining cases are against foreign air carriers,” Workie said on the same call with Buttigieg.
That did not satisfy consumer advocates, who said that the major U.S. airlines also violated rules around refunds — even if they took corrective steps more quickly.
“Frontier was a bad player in all this, and they deserve to be fined, and we’re glad they are paying the refunds they were supposed to pay, but we are very critical of how the DOT just seems to not want to go after the biggest fish, the ones causing the most problems,” said Bill McGee of the American Economic Liberties Project, a non-partisan group that opposes concentrated industrial power.
In 2020, United Airlines had the most refund-related complaints filed with DOT — more than 10,000 — although smaller Frontier had a higher rate of complaints. Air Canada, El Al and TAP Portugal were next, both over 5,000, followed by American Airlines and Frontier, both topping 4,000.
Air Canada agreed last year to pay $4.5 million to settle similar U.S. allegations of slow refunds and was given credit of $2.5 million for refunds. The Transportation Department initially sought $25.5 million in that case.
___
This story has been updated to correct that five foreign airlines were fined, not four.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kait8.com/2022/11/14/us-says-airlines-refund-more-than-600-million-flyers/ | 2022-11-15 00:41:09 | 1 | https://www.kait8.com/2022/11/14/us-says-airlines-refund-more-than-600-million-flyers/ |
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SACRAMENTO, California (AP) — After putting off routine health care for much of the pandemic, Americans are now returning to doctors’ offices in big numbers — a trend that’s starting to show up in higher insurance rates across the country.
Health insurers in individual marketplaces across 13 states and Washington D.C. will raise rates an average of 10% next year, according to a review of rate filings by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
That’s a big increase after premiums remained virtually flat for several years during the pandemic as insurers seek to recoup costs for more people using their policies, combined with record-high inflation that is driving up prices for virtually everything, including health care.
The rates review included Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont and Washington.
“We’re at a point in the pandemic where people are using health care that they may have put off before,” said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy with the Kaiser Family Foundation. “We have a double whammy right now of people using more care and inflation throughout the economy.”
In California, state officials announced Tuesday that rates would increase an average of 6% next year for the 1.7 million people who purchase coverage through Covered California, the state-operated health insurance marketplace. That’s a big jump after years of record low increases, when rate increases averaged about 1% in the past three years.
Increased use of health plans was the biggest reason for the increase, accounting for four percentage points, according to Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California.
“That is really the consistent message that other states are seeing as well, and even more so than California,” she said.
The rate increases come as Congress debates whether to extend financial help for consumers through the American Rescue Plan — the $1.9 trillion economic aid package Congress passed last year to combat the economic impacts of the pandemic.
The American Rescue Plan included significant funding to keep health insurance premiums low for people who purchase coverage through state marketplaces.
California receives about $1.7 billion annually from that funding to make sure no one paid more than 8.5% of their household income on monthly premiums.
If that assistance expires at the end of this year, about 3 million Americans — including 220,000 Californians — would likely drop coverage because they will no longer be able to afford it, according to an analysis by Covered California.
Without guidance on whether Congress will extend the assistance next year, some insurers have reacted by proactively raising rates in anticipation of people dropping coverage. The uncertainty accounted for half a percentage point of California’s 6% increase, Altman said.
California officials have lobbied hard for Congress to extend the financial assistance through the American Rescue Plan. In general, the price of health insurance premiums depends on who is buying coverage. If its mostly sick people, the premiums are more expensive. If more healthy people buy them, the premiums cost less.
Altman said California has managed to keep its rate increases below the national average in part because more healthy people are buying coverage through Covered California than most other states.
She said that’s in part because of a California law that taxes people who refuse to purchase health coverage. But she said it’s also because of subsidies that keep premiums low so more people can afford them.
Altman said not extending the federal financial assistance would price some people out of coverage and “is the core outcome to be concerned about here.”
“That would be a big step backwards,” she said. | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/us-health-insurers-raise-rates-to-match-increase-in-usage/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world | 2022-07-19 19:23:48 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/us-health-insurers-raise-rates-to-match-increase-in-usage/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
- Report to be released at approximately 7:00 AM CET on January 20, 2023
- One live video webcast for analysts, investors and journalists at 9:00 AM CET
STOCKHOLM, Jan. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ericsson's (NASDAQ: ERIC) financial report for the fourth quarter and full year of 2022 will be published at approximately 7:00 AM CET on January 20, 2023.
The company will issue a press release with the complete financial report attached, including tables, in PDF format.
Following publication of the press release, the financial report will be available on Ericsson's website: www.ericsson.com/en/investors/financial-reports/interim-reports
President and CEO Börje Ekholm and CFO Carl Mellander will comment on the report and take questions at a live video webcast at 9:00 AM CET (8:00 AM GMT London, 3:00 AM EST New York).
Join the webcast or please go to www.ericsson.com/investors
To ask a question: Access dial-in information here
The webcast will be available on-demand after the event and can be viewed on our website.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
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ABOUT ERICSSON:
Ericsson enables communications service providers and enterprises to capture the full value of connectivity. The company's portfolio spans the following business areas: Networks, Cloud Software and Services, Enterprise Wireless Solutions, Global Communications Platform, and Technologies and New Businesses. It is designed to help our customers go digital, increase efficiency and find new revenue streams. Ericsson's innovation investments have delivered the benefits of mobility and mobile broadband to billions of people globally. Ericsson stock is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and on Nasdaq New York. www.ericsson.com
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SOURCE Ericsson | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/01/11/invitation-media-analyst-briefing-ericsson-q4-full-year-2022-report/ | 2023-01-11 12:52:20 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/01/11/invitation-media-analyst-briefing-ericsson-q4-full-year-2022-report/ |
GOP-led Texas House to vote Saturday on possible impeachment of state Attorney General Ken Paxton
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Republican-led Texas House of Representatives has set a historic Saturday vote to possibly impeach embattled state Attorney General Ken Paxton and suspend him from office, just as some prominent conservatives began to rally around him.
Paxton, a 60-year-old Republican, finds himself on the brink of impeachment after years of scandal, criminal charges and corruption accusations. The House will consider a resolution calling for Paxton’s impeachment at 1 p.m. Saturday, according to a statement released Friday by the House Committee on General Investigating.
If impeached, Paxton would be forced to leave office immediately. He would be just the third person in the state’s nearly 200-year history to be impeached and the first statewide officer since former Gov. James “Pa” Ferguson in 1917.
The GOP-led committee spent months quietly looking into Paxton and recommended Thursday that the state’s top lawyer be impeached on 20 articles including bribery, unfitness for office and abuse of public trust.
Paxton has criticized the impeachment effort as an attempt to “overthrow the will of the people and disenfranchise the voters of our state.” He has said the charges are based on “hearsay and gossip, parroting long-disproven claims.”
Prominent conservatives had been notably quiet on Paxton until Friday, but some began to rally around him by late morning. The chairman of the state Republican Party, Matt Rinaldi, criticized the process as “sham” and called on the GOP-controlled Senate to acquit Paxton when the cases reaches trial in that chamber.
Like Paxton, he took aim at Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan.
“It is based on allegations already litigated by voters, led by a liberal speaker trying to undermine his conservative adversaries,” Rinaldi said.
“It seems Texas Republicans will have to rely yet again on the principled leadership of the Texas Senate to restore sanity and reason for our state,” Rinaldi said.
First will come the House vote, where the investigation panel proposed at least 40 minutes to lay out the charges against Paxton and four hours for the members to debate.
It’s unclear how many supporters Paxton may have in the House, where he served five terms before becoming a state senator.
Impeachment requires a majority vote of the state’s usually 150-member House chamber, which Republicans now control 85-64, since a GOP representative resigned ahead of an expected vote to expel him.
“We cannot over-emphasize the fact that, but for Paxton’s own request for a taxpayer-funded settlement over his wrongful conduct, Paxton would not be facing impeachment by the House,” the panel wrote in its scheduling memo to House members.
The move to impeach Paxton sets up what could be a remarkably sudden downfall for one of the GOP’s most prominent legal combatants, who in 2020 asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory.
Paxton has been under FBI investigation for years over accusations that he used his office to help a donor. He was separately indicted on securities fraud charges in 2015, but has yet to stand trial.
When the five-member committee’s investigation came to light Tuesday, Paxton suggested it was a political attack by Phelan. He called for Phelan’s resignation and accused him of being drunk during a marathon session last Friday. Phelan’s office brushed off the accusation as Paxton attempting to “save face.”
The articles of impeachment issued by the investigative committee, which include three Republicans and two Democrats, stem largely from Paxton’s relationship with one of his wealthy donors. They deal heavily with Paxton’s alleged efforts to protect the donor from an FBI investigation and his attempts to thwart whistleblower complaints brought by his own staff.
Unlike in Congress, impeachment in Texas requires immediate removal from office until a trial is held in the Senate. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott could appoint an interim replacement. Abbott’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the impeachment counts.
Final removal would require two-thirds support in the Senate, where Paxton’s wife’s, Angela, is a member. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican and leader of the Senate, did not respond to requests for comment.
Paxton faces ouster at the hands of GOP lawmakers just seven months after easily winning a third term over challengers — among them George P. Bush — who had urged voters to reject a compromised incumbent but discovered that many didn’t know about Paxton’s litany of alleged misdeeds or dismissed the accusations as political attacks.
Even with Monday’s end of the regular session approaching, state law allows the House to keep working on impeachment proceedings. It also could call itself back into session later. The Senate has the same options.
In one sense, Paxton’s political peril arrived with dizzying speed: The House committee investigation came to light Tuesday, followed the next day by an extraordinary public airing of alleged criminal acts he committed as one of Texas’ most powerful figures.
But to Paxton’s detractors, who now include a widening share of his own party in the Texas Capitol, the rebuke was years in the making.
In 2014, he admitted to violating Texas securities law over not registering as an investment advisor while soliciting clients. A year later, Paxton was indicted on felony securities charges by a grand jury in his hometown near Dallas, where he was accused of defrauding investors in a tech startup. He has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts carrying a potential sentence of five to 99 years in prison.
He opened a legal defense fund and accepted $100,000 from an executive whose company was under investigation by Paxton’s office for Medicaid fraud. An additional $50,000 was donated by an Arizona retiree whose son Paxton later hired to a high-ranking job but was soon fired after trying to make a point by displaying child pornography in a meeting.
But what has unleashed the most serious risk to Paxton is his relationship with another wealthy donor, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul.
Several of Paxton’s top aides in 2020 told the FBI that they had became concerned the attorney general was misusing the powers of his office to help Paul over unproven claims that an elaborate conspiracy to steal $200 million of his properties was afoot. The FBI searched Paul’s home in 2019 but he has not been charged and his attorneys have denied wrongdoing. Paxton also told staff members that he had an affair with a woman who, it later emerged, worked for Paul.
The impeachment charges cover myriad accusations related to Paxton’s dealings with Paul. The allegations include attempts to interfere in foreclosure lawsuits and improperly issuing legal opinions to benefit Paul, and firing, harassing and interfering with staff who reported what was going on. The bribery charges stem from Paul allegedly employing the woman with whom Paxton had an affair in exchange for legal help and Paul allegedly paying for expensive renovations to Paxton’s Austin home.
Other charges date back to Paxton’s still-pending 2015 felony securities fraud indictment, including lying to state investigators.
The eight aides who reported Paxton to the FBI were all fired or quit, and four later sued under Texas’ whistleblower law, In February, Paxton agreed to settle the case for $3.3 million. But the Texas House must approve the payout and Phelan has said he doesn’t think taxpayers should foot the bill.
Shortly after the settlement was reached, the House investigation into Paxton began. The probe amounted to rare scrutiny of Paxton in the state Capitol, where many Republicans have long taken a muted posture about the accusations that have dogged him.
___
Bleiberg reported from Dallas. Associated Press reporter Paul J. Weber contributed from Austin, Texas.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2023/05/26/gop-led-texas-house-vote-saturday-possible-impeachment-state-attorney-general-ken-paxton/ | 2023-05-26 19:50:58 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2023/05/26/gop-led-texas-house-vote-saturday-possible-impeachment-state-attorney-general-ken-paxton/ |
Which microwaveable rice cookers are best?
Cooking rice isn’t particularly difficult, but it can be finicky, and improperly cooked rice can impact your entire meal. A quality rice cooker streamlines this process, ensuring you get the right amount of rice properly cooked.
While there are plenty of electric rice cookers on the market, you can save money and counter space by opting for a microwaveable rice cooker. You can pop these pot-like cookers in the microwave to cook your rice, then store them with the rest of your cookware when not in use. There are a lot of microwaveable rice cookers on the market. For a well-designed and versatile cooker, check out Joseph Joseph’s microwave rice cooker.
What to know before you buy a microwaveable rice cooker
When it comes to microwaveable rice cookers, there aren’t as many considerations to look out for as with electric rice cookers, which makes for a less complicated purchasing experience. Even so, there are a few things to be aware of when picking out your rice cooker.
Capacity
You’ll need your cooker to be able to handle the amount of rice you typically cook, so capacity is important. Microwaveable rice cookers typically range in capacity from 4-8 cups, although there are larger models available. If you only need to serve a couple of people, don’t rush to get the biggest one, as larger cookers have a harder time fitting in many medium and small microwaves. If you cook for multiple people, an 8-cup cooker is a safe choice.
Ease of use
Microwave cookers tend to be pretty straightforward, but some are easier to use than others. There are some that just cook rice and don’t require much learning or getting used to, so you can get started right away. If you want a cooker that can properly cook more than just rice, however, you may need to carefully read through some instructions before use, as these units have more pieces and complex venting systems.
Material
The majority of microwaveable rice cookers are made entirely out of plastic because it is one of the only materials that can safely cook rice in the microwave. If avoiding plastic at all costs is your goal, you may want to consider other rice cooking methods. However, there are products on the market aiming to alleviate this problem. By mixing a small amount of plastic with more eco-friendly materials, companies can produce rice cookers that can still safely go in the microwave while minimizing the plastic content.
What to look for in a quality microwaveable rice cooker
Versatility
Most microwaveable cookers can handle most grains in addition to rice, while some can handle pasta as well. There are other rice cookers on the market that have added pieces and technical features or accessories that allow for thorough cooking of vegetables and even meat. If you have limited kitchen storage, a multi-functional rice cooker is a great way to reduce the number of gadgets you need; however, they cost more than simple models, and the pieces and techniques can take some getting used to.
How much you can expect to spend on a microwaveable rice cooker
On average, expect to spend $15-$45 on a microwaveable rice cooker, although most consumers can look for models in the $20-$30 range. Price typically is determined by how cheap the plastic is and how many accessories or features are included with the cooker.
Microwaveable rice cooker FAQ
Can you use a dish you already have to cook rice?
A. Similar to pressure cookers, microwaveable rice cookers are specifically designed to move heat around in just the right way, making for a more even cook than other methods. Microwave cookers take half as much time to make perfect rice than the stovetop method, and they are easier to maneuver.
Can you cook something other than rice in your cooker?
A. Most rice cookers can handle other grains, such as quinoa, but if you want to cook pasta, vegetables, or meat in your microwaveable rice cooker, you need to check the manufacturer’s recommendations, as there typically are additional features designed to help cook these foods properly.
What are the best microwaveable rice cookers to buy?
Top microwaveable rice cooker
Joseph Joseph 45002 M-Cuisine Microwave Rice Cooker
What you need to know: This large 2-liter rice cooker is stylish and functional, perfect for evenly cooking rice for the whole household.
What you’ll love: Designed with pieces that fit together both for storage and for cooking, this dishwasher-safe rice cooker is large and multifunctional. The strainer doubles as the bucket, and the steamer lid sits on top of the bucket and locks into place with the spoon, creating a carrying handle. It is made from BPA-free plastic and is available in three colors.
What you should consider: The white hull stains easily.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top microwaveable rice cooker for the money
Handy Gourmet Eco-Friendly Microwave Pressure Cooker
What you need to know: This all-around pressure cooker does it all with 40% less plastic than other models at an affordable price.
What you’ll love: Made from a combination of earth-friendly wheat fiber and BPA-free plastic, this pressure cooker has a unique aesthetic. Dishwasher safe and easy to store, this 2.5-liter pressure cooker is ideal for individuals who know their way around a kitchen.
What you should consider: This cooker may be confusing for those unfamiliar with pressure cookers, and it may be too large for small microwaves.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Lékué Microwave Rice, Grain and Quinoa Cooker
What you need to know: Beautifully crafted, this rice cooker is simple and effective, and easy to use for both newbies and experienced cooks.
What you’ll love: Made with two molded walls and an air gap in between, this rice cooker maintains safe temperatures externally even when the internal contents are boiling hot. Utilizing a silicone lid with high walls to prevent leakage, this smaller rice cooker will produce the perfect amount of rice or quinoa for a couple of servings.
What you should consider: The lid does not lock on and may be too small for some households.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.koin.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/rice-cookers-br/best-microwaveable-rice-cooker/ | 2022-05-21 10:22:16 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/rice-cookers-br/best-microwaveable-rice-cooker/ |
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PARCLL, a leading global e-commerce logistics solutions provider, plans to attend two important events. With the rapid growth PARCLL is experiencing being a relatively new brand, these events are well timed for eCommerce shippers to learn more about is will be the first opportunity for the PARCLL's executives to formally introduce its extensive capabilities and infrastructure built for small parcels. to the eCommerce community.
The first event in which PARCLL will participate is ProShip's PROS WHO KNOW 2022 virtual conference, which takes place on September 28, 2022. This conference is hyper-focused on parcel shipping, and brings together industry leaders and experts to discuss trends and best practices that are shaping the future of parcel shipping strategies. PARCLL's Head of Sales & Strategic Alliances, Vincent D'Amato, will join a panel of alternative emerging carriers at 10am CST to cover the topic "Closing the Door and Opening a Window: A Diversified Alternative Carrier Mix."
Click here to register: https://go.proshipinc.com/register-pros-who-know-2022
The PARCLL team is also slated to exhibit at PARCEL FORUM '22, the "go-to," in-person event for shippers and their logistics partners, both of whom who are always looking to streamline their warehousing and delivery operations. You can meet the PARCLL team at Booth #221XXXXX. The PARCEL FORUM runs from October 10-12, at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, in Chicago, IL.
To learn more about this event, visit: www.parcelforum.com/
"We can't wait to meet potential new partners and re-connect with familiar faces," said Vincent D'Amato. "We've spent the better part of two years growing our infrastructure, fine-tuning delivery solutions — both domestic and cross-border — and building our team in order to meet the demand for world-class delivery solutions. We're truly looking forward to these events to listen, learn and share our growing capabilities."
PARCLL is a global e-commerce logistics solutions provider built to serve shippers who demand better service, more reliability and more pricing options for domestic and cross border lightweight parcels. Equipped with a dynamic IT-platform, PARCLL provides best-in-class delivery services to U.S. brands, online sellers, e-commerce fulfillment providers, and digital shipping platforms. Domestically, PARCLL provides B2C small package delivery services from its strategically located, large-scale sortation hubs in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, New York /New Jersey and Toronto. Internationally, PARCLL offers fully-tracked DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) solutions into Canada, UK, the European Union and many other markets via its own eCommerce facilities based in each region.
Media contact: For all press inquiries, please contact press@parcll.com.
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SOURCE PARCLL | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/20/parcll-attend-two-important-logistics-industry-events-this-fall/ | 2022-09-20 19:29:38 | 0 | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/20/parcll-attend-two-important-logistics-industry-events-this-fall/ |
1 dead, 1 hurt in shooting during Miami Beach spring break
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Gunfire erupted in an area of Miami Beach crowded with people on spring break, killing one person, wounding another and sending dozens scrambling for safety, police said.
Two males were shot Friday night, and one person was detained at the scene, the Miami Beach Police Department tweeted. It wasn’t clear if the person being held was the shooter. Police also said three guns were recovered.
The shooting happened on South Beach’s Ocean Drive, which is closed to vehicle traffic along its busiest stretch as hundreds of people gather to celebrate spring break. One of the victims died at a hospital and the second person was listed in critical condition, police said. Their identities were not immediately released.
Dozens of people scrambled to get away from the gunfire, authorities said. Several blocks in the area were cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape.
No other information was immediately available.
The shooting is the second in as many years during spring break on South Beach. Last year, the city imposed a midnight curfew following two shootings also on Ocean Drive.
The year before that, there were about 1,000 arrests and dozens of guns confiscated during a rowdy spring break that led Miami Beach officials to take steps aimed at calming the situation.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/03/18/1-dead-1-hurt-shooting-during-miami-beach-spring-break/ | 2023-03-18 15:53:19 | 0 | https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/03/18/1-dead-1-hurt-shooting-during-miami-beach-spring-break/ |
INDIANAPOLIS – Brad Stevens thought the Boston Celtics needed another playmaker and more depth to win their first NBA title since 2008.
He may have found both with one big move Friday.
Boston’s president of basketball operations acquired combo guard Malcolm Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers for five players, all backup forwards, and a 2023 first-round pick, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.
Brogdon joins a backcourt that already features NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.
Brogdon, who averaged 19.1 points, 5.9 assists and 5.1 rebounds last season, has struggled to stay healthy. Injuries limited him to just 36 games in 2021-22 and the 29-year-old hasn’t played more than 56 games since he joined Indiana in 2019.
Stevens didn’t give up any of his key pieces, either. The Pacers got veteran Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith and Nic Stauskas – former first-round picks – along with Juwan Morgan and Malik Fitts.
In addition to adding Theis’ physical presence, the Pacers also now have $31 million in salary cap room and will have three first-round picks next summer if the Cleveland Cavaliers make the playoffs.
Gobert part of mega deal
The Utah Jazz have agreed to trade Rudy Gobert – a three-time defensive player of the year – to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a massive package of players and draft picks, according to a source.
Utah will receive four first-round picks between 2023 and 2029, a first-round pick from this year’s draft in Walker Kessler, along with Patrick Beverley and Malik Beasley, the source said.
ESPN, which first reported the trade, also said Jarred Vanderbilt was going from Minnesota to Utah as part of the deal for Gobert – who now gets paired alongside another elite big man in Karl-Anthony Towns.
Minnesota struck the deal less than 24 hours after coming to an agreement on a $224 million, four-year extension with Towns, who is now under contract for the next six years.
Gobert has four years and $170 million left on a five-year, $205 million deal he signed with the Jazz last summer.
Other signings
Zach LaVine secured the richest contract in Bulls history when he agreed to a $215 million, five-year deal. … Jusuf Nurkic got by far the biggest payday of his career, agreeing to a four-year, $70 million contract with Portland. The center just completed his eighth NBA season. … John Wall and the Clippers agreed to a two-year contract worth $13.2 million. … Ricky Rubio, 31, coming off a torn ACL, signed with Cleveland, for which he averaged 13.1 points and 6.6 assists in 34 games last season. After his injury, he and his expiring contract were dealt to Indiana.
Bridges charged
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges has been charged with felony domestic violence stemming from an incident this week, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed. He was released on $130,000 bond and has a July 20 court date. | https://www.journalgazette.net/sports/professional/nba/celtics-acquire-brogdon-from-pacers-more-big-nba-moves/article_7ee13c4e-f9af-11ec-ad35-d3651014f138.html | 2022-07-02 06:24:32 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/sports/professional/nba/celtics-acquire-brogdon-from-pacers-more-big-nba-moves/article_7ee13c4e-f9af-11ec-ad35-d3651014f138.html |
- 'Between the Lines' offers a unique look at key moments for the Oracle Red Bull Racing team in 2022 and the similarities with poker play strategies
- New series starts with Sergio Perez' take on his success at last year's race in Monte Carlo
- Available to watch now with further episodes being released every two weeks
- Monaco Race weekend will also see the launch of PokerStars 2023 Red Spade Pass, offering its community and fans an epic money-can't-buy experience in Las Vegas later this year
ONCHAN, Isle of Man, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As drivers gear up for the Monaco race this weekend, PokerStars is showcasing its commitment to providing their community and racing fans with exciting new content and experiences by launching the first episode as part of a 4-part turbo-charged documentary series, and free and easy routes to win this year's coveted Red Spade Pass – Vegas edition.
The new, four-part YouTube series 'Between the Lines' is a creative YouTube series produced by the world's most popular online poker site, PokerStars, which highlights the importance of strategy both in motor racing and poker play. It will give fans of both the racing and poker communities insights into the thought processes and crucial real-time decision-making that comes with being at the top of your game.
The series compares strategic and bold moves from key races during the 2022 racing season to nail-biting final table moments from one of the most prestigious live tours in the poker world, the European Poker Tour, to thrill racing and poker audiences alike.
The first episode, Fortune Favours the Brave, features Sergio Perez, who took the chequered flag at the iconic Monaco street circuit in 2022. He speaks about the team's bold, early decision that led to him winning the most prestigious race in the calendar.
About the race, which has been dubbed a driver's dream but a strategist's nightmare, Sergio says, "Monaco really exposes the driver, the team and everyone. You've got to be perfect; you cannot make any mistakes… An early aggressive strategy requires you to make a decision before anyone else, [such as] move to a tyre that no-one else is on. It can work for you, or it cannot. You're taking a big risk."
Christian Horner, Team Principal and CEO of Oracle Red Bull Racing said, "We loved being part of this content series developed by PokerStars. Strategy sits at the heart of everything that we do here at Oracle Red Bull Racing just as it does at the poker table. The series really drove home the synergies between the two sports.
Christian Horner appears in the Between the Lines series alongside other key members from the championship winning team including Hannah Schmitz, Hugh Bird, and Stephen Knowles, as well as racing analyst Lee McKenzie. PokerStars ambassadors Lex Veldhuis and Sam Grafton and PokerStars champions Hossein Ensan, Giuliano Bendinelli, and Michel Dattani also feature.
In addition, PokerStars will also be launching its 2023 Red Spade Pass that will take people beyond the screen by offering a selection of lucky winners the chance to have an unforgettable experience in Las Vegas later this year.
The four day all-expenses paid trip with PokerStars will allow pass winners to soak up a unique VIP atmosphere, with the package also including accommodation, return flights, and a number of other exclusive activities across the weekend.
The Red Spade Passes will be available to win across the PokerStars universe at different points of the season between May and October, with the first up for grabs via an easy to enter and free to play online casino game, 'Spin of the Day', from May 15 – July 10, 2023.
Rebecca McAdam Willetts, Director of Partnerships & PR at PokerStars said, "Developing the Between the Lines series with the support of Oracle Red Bull Racing has given us such a brilliant opportunity to look back at some of the most pivotal moments in one of the teams' most successful seasons, as well as some of the most exciting moments in our live event history, and really dig into the skills and strategies that can be applied wherever mental dexterity is necessary and competition is fierce. Alongside creating major memories through our Red Spade Pass, we're looking forward to giving fans additional opportunities to get under the hood this season with even more content, promotions, experiences, and rewards."
Three more episodes of Between the Lines are set to be launched in the coming weeks, each focusing on a crossover between the two sports: putting adversity in the rear-view mirror, the importance of patience and how staying one step ahead of the competition is critical to securing the win. Look out for further episode drops on June 6, June 20, and July 4.
PokerStars prides itself on providing its community around the world with best-in-class entertainment with poker, casino, and sports betting whilst always ensuring safe and responsible play.
To watch Between the Lines, fans can visit PokerStars YouTube channel:
Brasil: https://youtu.be/mD4Py-uFFKc
Central: https://youtu.be/MW_PJxNMQcE
UK: https://youtu.be/b1xxsV7QxY4 or https://www.pokerstars.net/poker/between-the-lines/
Spain: https://youtu.be/1z-lVj8QpQI
France: https://youtu.be/ak_-EnrSQDA
For more information about the PokerStars community and ways to win a Red Spade Pass, fans can visit: https://www.pokerstars.uk/casino/epic-ride/.
Note to editors:
For more information, images and interview requests please contact pokerstars@grayling.com
About PokerStars:
PokerStars operates the world's most popular online poker sites, serving the global poker community. Since it launched in 2001, PokerStars has become the first choice of players all over the world, with more daily tournaments than anywhere else and with the best online security. More than 200 billion hands have been dealt on PokerStars, which is more than any other site. PokerStars is ultimately owned by Flutter Entertainment plc. (LSE: FLTR; EURONEXT: FLTR). Play Responsibly! For more information on responsible gaming please visit our website at http://www.pokerstars.com/about/responsible-gaming/
About Oracle Red Bull Racing:
Since its inception, Oracle Red Bull Racing has been a major force in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the globe's premier motorsport category. Founded in 2005 to expand parent company Red Bull's presence in F1 and to disrupt the status quo within the sport through a bold mix of passion, playfulness, ambition and achievement, Oracle Red Bull Racing has grown to become one of F1's most successful teams. With multiple Constructors' and Drivers' world titles and more than 80 race wins to its credit, Oracle Red Bull Racing continues its pursuit of ultimate performance – as a race team, as a home of champions and as an innovator operating at the cutting edge of technology.
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085513/Between_the_Lines.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1164298/PokerStars_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE PokerStars | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2023/05/25/pokerstars-launches-new-youtube-series-with-exclusive-interviews-insight-oracle-red-bull-racing/ | 2023-05-25 12:59:00 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2023/05/25/pokerstars-launches-new-youtube-series-with-exclusive-interviews-insight-oracle-red-bull-racing/ |
DALLAS (AP) — With summer vacations winding down, airlines are counting on the return of more business travelers to keep their pandemic recovery going into the fall.
Air travel in the United States, bolstered by huge numbers of tourists, has nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
Inflation — and especially this year's sharp rise in airfares — raises concern about how long vacationers can afford to keep flying at their current pace. Airlines say they see no signs of a slowdown in leisure travel.
Business travel, however, remains about 25% to 30% below 2019 levels, according to airlines and outfits that track sales.
And it is not clear when — or if — road warriors will return to their old travel habits.
“The whole challenge for the industry is around the return of the corporate traveler, and whether he is going to come back in enough volume and frequency that is going to help these airlines,” says John Grant, an analyst with travel-data provider OAG.
The Global Business Travel Association recently predicted that corporate travel won’t fully return until mid-2026, 18 months later than the trade group had previously forecast.
Business travelers generally pay higher fares, so their absence has an outsized impact on airline revenue and profit.
Business travel is slower to return because it is more complicated than somebody deciding they want to take a vacation after staying home during the first two years of the pandemic, says Chuck Thackston, who leads data research at the Airlines Reporting Corp., a ticket-settlement firm that operates as a middleman between airlines and travel agents.
“On the corporate side, it just takes a little more to restart that because there are so many moving parts,” Thackston said. “If you want to go visit clients in New York, it could be that nobody is in the office in New York. That is slowly building back.”
Conventions and other big meetings are another key driver of business travel, and also seem to be coming back, Thackston said.
Airline officials say that travel by small-business operators has recovered nearly fully, but that many corporate travelers have not returned to the road or skies.
The chief commercial officer of Southwest Airlines, Andrew Watterson, said that since business travel began picking up this spring, “it was skewed toward smaller businesses and government and education were traveling. Our largest corporates are the ones that are lagging, particularly banking, consulting and technology.”
Watterson said that among Southwest’s biggest corporate accounts, they all have employees traveling — but not as many of them, and not as often.
The nature of business travel is changing as companies become accustomed to smaller travel budgets. Some trips are being replaced by video calls, perhaps permanently. Speculative sales trips could be especially easy for companies to cut.
Conventions now routinely offer a “hybrid” format with an option to stay behind and watch online — although that means missing the hallway conversations and other opportunities to network.
Standard & Poor's said this week that many convention center operators are running summer and fall schedules similar to those in 2019, but a recession or new COVID-19 variant are still risks.
Vasu Raja, the chief commercial officer at American Airlines, said demand has dropped for one-day business trips in which someone leaves in the morning and flies home that evening.
“But interestingly, we’ve seen more demand for blended trips where somebody leaves on a Thursday from Dallas to go to New York, they don’t return on the Friday — they stay through the weekend and they come back on Sunday," he said. Sometimes a spouse goes with them, he added.
Business travel is big business worldwide. The Global Business Travel Association estimates that it was worth more than $1.4 trillion in 2019, then plummeted by more than half each of the next two years. The trade group estimates that after being hindered by the omicron variant early this year, business travel will hit $933 billion in 2022 — still 35% below the pre-pandemic mark.
The widespread availability of vaccines and better treatment of COVID-19 — along with relaxation of mandatory quarantines and other travel restrictions — have boosted leisure and corporate travel. However, travel is now threatened by deteriorating economic conditions including surging inflation and labor shortages. New COVID-19 variants remain a concern among travel managers, particularly in Asia.
The cost of travel is expected to keep rising, putting pressure on corporate budgets. A recent report from travel-management company CWT predicted that fares paid by business travelers will rise nearly 50% this year and 8% next year, and hotel rates will rise 19% this year and 8% in 2023.
Most U.S. airlines reported profits for the April-through-June second quarter. For American and United, it was their first profitable quarter excluding government aid since the pandemic started, and they should be in the black for the third quarter, which ends with vacation-heavy July and August.
Business travel traditionally enjoys a peak in the spring and another in September and October. Airlines are about to find out whether that happens this year.
“There has been a lot of discussion about, yeah, business travel is coming back, and U.S. airline CEOs being quite bullish about it," said Grant, the OAG analyst. "But the hard evidence now needs to come forward.” | https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Airlines-count-on-business-travelers-to-keep-17421472.php | 2022-09-06 10:44:31 | 1 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Airlines-count-on-business-travelers-to-keep-17421472.php |
Award-winning ad agency Liquified Creative announces celebration of 15-year anniversary with continued growth.
ANNAPOLIS, Md., June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This year, Annapolis-based creative agency Liquified Creative is celebrating its 15th anniversary.
The agency, founded in 2007, has grown to become one of the region's leading boutique-style advertising agencies, known for award-winning creative work for various branding, marketing, and web projects, to name a few.
Humble Beginnings
In 2006, founder Shawn Noratel left his job at Borcz + Dixon (now AdsIntelligence), and launched Liquified Creative, an agency of one that initially offered creative and web design services supporting the efforts of various regional agencies, public relations firms, and non-profit organizations.
Bootstrapped since day one, Noratel started with a computer, a desk, and the humble ambiance of his basement.
"I remind myself everyday about where this company came from, leading me to instill the concept in my team that greatness comes not only from humility, but accepting challenges that are greater than yourself. I believe that helps drive the collaborative nature of the work that we produce each and every day," says Noratel. "This is what led me to grow. I've always believed in the power of collaboration. It's why we approach every client project as a true partnership."
In the early years, Liquified Creative produced creative for clients such as Bozzuto Homes, Maple Lawn, Broadstripe, and National Geographic. Liquified's current portfolio still includes a wide variety of clients such as Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation, Providence Center, AeroVanti Airlines, Wye River Group, Annapolis Plastic Surgery, DeCaro Auctions, American Breast Cancer Foundation, and Realtime Medical Systems, among others.
Continued Growth
Agency leadership continues to be acutely aware of changing consumer habits and evolving technologies which are shaping individuals' engagement with media. As a result, Liquified Creative has evolved to a strategically led, full-service creative agency.
Most recently, the agency has added a public relations division, offering clients a full suite of communication services.
"Our agency success and growth are directly attributable to the strength and talent of our team," says Caitlin Wiggins, Liquified's current Director of Marketing. "We've positioned ourselves as a thought leader through our non-traditional conformities – providing clients with everything they need under one roof, no matter the ask. That's why I could not be more thrilled to announce the new public relations division of the agency as we continue to support our clients with a truly holistic approach to their brand development initiatives."
To support the launch of the company's public relations division, Liquified Creative brought on Jaclyn Fenton as Associate PR Manager.
Fenton joins Liquified Creative from 10 Tampa Bay, where she was an associate producer with the CBS television affiliate serving Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida. Working closely with producers and executive producers, she developed special newscast segments, wrote for 10 Tampa Bay's social media and digital platforms and managed long-term news projects.
While the agency is cultivating the next generation of leadership for the future, Noratel continues to actively lead Liquified as Founding Partner and Creative Director.
The Future is Only the Beginning
The agency isn't looking to slow down anytime soon. Noratel points to the continued expansion of staff, capabilities, partnerships, and even office locations.
"It's been an amazing journey and I speak for our entire team when I say that we offer our heartfelt thanks to all of our clients and partners who have joined us on this adventure," stated Noratel. "I am so proud of what has been achieved in turning the agency into what it is today. As we look to the future, we're excited about building on that success together in the years ahead."
About Liquified Creative
Liquified Creative is an award-winning advertising agency based in Annapolis, Maryland. The agency's in-house creative and marketing team provides strategic integrated marketing services, including branding, graphic design, creative web design & development, strategic digital and traditional advertising services, experience marketing, and public relations, among others. The agency works with Fortune 500, top mid-size, and enterprise-level companies throughout Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia.
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SOURCE Liquified Creative | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/liquified-creative-celebrates-15th-anniversary-by-announcing-new-public-relations-division/ | 2022-06-02 17:39:51 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/liquified-creative-celebrates-15th-anniversary-by-announcing-new-public-relations-division/ |
NEW YORK, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd..
Shareholders who purchased shares of FHS during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
CONTACT US HERE:
https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/first-high-school-education-group-co-ltd-loss-submission-form/?id=29511&from=4
CLASS PERIOD: This lawsuit is on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased FHS American Depositary Shares in or traceable to the Company's March 2021 initial public offering.
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (a) the new rules, regulations and policies to be implemented by the Chinese government following the Two Sessions parliamentary meetings were far more severe than represented to investors and posed a material adverse threat to the Company and its business; (b) contemplated Chinese regulations and rules regarding private education were leading to a slowdown of government approval to open new educational facilities which would have a negative effect on FHS's enrollment and growth; and (c) as a result, representations made in connection with the Company's initial public offering regarding FHS's historical financial and operational metrics and purported market opportunities did not accurately reflect the actual business, operations, and financial results and trajectory of the Company at the time of the initial public offering, and were materially false and misleading and lacked a factual basis.
DEADLINE: July 11, 2022 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/first-high-school-education-group-co-ltd-loss-submission-form/?id=29511&from=4
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of FHS during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is July 11, 2022. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
The Gross Law Firm
15 West 38th Street, 12th floor
New York, NY, 10018
Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com
Phone: (646) 453-8903
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SOURCE The Gross Law Firm | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-first-high-school-education-group-co-ltd-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-july-11-2022-nyse-fhs/ | 2022-07-06 10:35:55 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-first-high-school-education-group-co-ltd-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-july-11-2022-nyse-fhs/ |
NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFST).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/lifestance-health-group-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=30982&from=4
This lawsuit is on behalf of all purchasers of LifeStance common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the documents issued in connection with LifeStance's June 10, 2021 initial public stock offering.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until October 11, 2022 to petition the court. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
According to a filed complaint, LifeStance Health Group, Inc. issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the number of virtual visits clients were undertaking utilizing LifeStance Health was decreasing as the COVID-19 lockdowns were being lifted, thereby flatlining LifeStance Health's out-patient/virtual revenue growth; (ii) the percentage of in-person visits clients were undertaking utilizing LifeStance Health was increasing as the COVID-19 lockdowns were being lifted, thereby causing LifeStance Health's operating expenses to increase substantially; (iii) LifeStance Health had lost a large number of physicians due to burn-out and, as a result, its physician retention rate had fallen significantly below the 87% highlighted in the initial public offering's registration statement, and LifeStance Health had been expending additional costs to onboard new physicians who were less productive than the outgoing physicians they were replacing; and (iv) as a result, LifeStance Health's business metrics and financial prospects were not as strong as the initial public offering's registration statement represented.
Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
JAKUBOWITZ LAW
1140 Avenue of the Americas
9th Floor
New York, New York 10036
T: (212) 867-4490
F: (212) 537-5887
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SOURCE Jakubowitz Law | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/19/lfst-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-lifestance-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-october-11-2022/ | 2022-08-19 10:28:38 | 0 | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/19/lfst-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-lifestance-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-october-11-2022/ |
TORONTO (AP) — George Springer homered twice against his former team, leading José Berríos and the Toronto Blue Jays over Houston 2-1 Saturday to snap the Astros’ season-long winning streak at four.
Springer’s leadoff homer in the first was the 46th of his career. Starting at DH, Springer connected again in the third, his 19th multi-homer game.
“It boiled down to too much George,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said.
Springer was hit by a pitch in his next at-bat and stole second.
Of Springer’s six home runs this season, three have come against Houston. He was the MVP of the 2017 World Series when the Astros won their only championship.
“A home run is a home run,” Springer said. “It doesn’t matter who you’re playing.”
Berríos (2-0) gave up seven hits, struck out five and walked two.
“I got it in my mind to be aggressive, trying to be ahead of the hitters,” Berríos said. “We created a plan and then went out there and executed it.”
Yordan Alvarez homered off Berríos to begin the fourth, his sixth. But that was all Houston managed against the Blue Jays right-hander.
“Hats off to José,” Springer said. “He held a good team down.”
Adam Cimber pitched one inning, Tim Mayza went 1 1-3 innings and Jordan Romano threw a perfect ninth for his 10th save in 11 chances.
Both of Springer’s homers came off Luis Garcia (1-1), who allowed five hits in six innings.
“Man, that was a tough one to lose because both pitchers were throwing the ball well,” Baker said.
Toronto improved to 8-2 in one-run games, the most one-run victories in baseball. The Blue Jays have not lost back-to-back games since Sept. 24, 2021, an MLB-best 30-game stretch.
“That just shows we’re a resilient team,” Springer said. “It’s who we are. We expect to win every day.”
Yuli Gurriel followed Alvarez’s homer with a walk and advanced on Kyle Tucker’s single. Berríos then threw Gurriel out at third on Jeremy Peña’s attempted sacrifice and retired the next two batters to end the inning.
Baker said Peña, who hit a three-run homer Friday, bunted on his own after misinterpreting a sign.
“We’ll get better, we’ll address it,” Baker said. “He was the hottest hitter at the bottom of the order. He didn’t bunt on his own. He thought he saw something.”
Chas McCormick and Niko Goodrum had back-to-back hits to open the Houston fifth, but Alex Bregman lined out, Alvarez grounded out, and Berríos fanned Gurriel to keep the Blue Jays in front.
ZONED OUT
Home plate umpire Nic Lentz ejected Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo for arguing balls and strikes after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was called out looking at a low strike to end the fifth. Guerrero slammed his bat in frustration after the call but was not ejected. Montoyo’s ejection was his second of the season.
START ME UP
With his 46th leadoff drive, Springer matched Jimmy Rollins for sixth-most leadoff homers in MLB history. Curtis Granderson is next with 47. Rickey Henderson (81) is the all-time leader.
HIT PARADE
Houston lost for the first time in nine games when out-hitting its opponents. The Astros had eight hits Saturday while Toronto had six.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: OF Michael Brantley missed his second straight game, with the team again citing health and safety protocols. Brantley stretched with his teammates on the field before the game. His status for Sunday remains uncertain. “At best he’ll be DHing tomorrow,” Baker said after the game.
Blue Jays: Toronto put LHP Tayler Saucedo (right hip) on the 10-day IL and recalled RHP Bowden Francis from Triple-A. Saucedo faced two batters Friday before leaving the game.
UP NEXT
Astros LHP Framber Valdez (1-1, 3.15) faces Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (1-1, 2.19) in Sunday’s series finale. Gausman is 1-3 with a 5.16 ERA in four career starts against the Astros.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/sports/springer-homers-twice-vs-former-team-jays-beat-astros-2-1/ | 2022-05-01 00:22:47 | 0 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/sports/springer-homers-twice-vs-former-team-jays-beat-astros-2-1/ |
INDIANPOLIS — An Indianapolis man with 24 prior felony convictions was sentenced to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to a charge of felon in possession of a firearm, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday.
Dariel Hill, age 57, was arrested on October 3 of 2020 after a witness flagged down a police officer near East Michigan Street and North Sherman Drive and reported that a man was running down the street firing a gun at vehicles, per court documents.
Documents state the officer found Hill walking along East Michigan Street holding a black handgun. When the officer ordered Hill to drop the gun, Hill threw it in some nearby bushes. After Hill was detained, the officer found a black .40 caliber Glock handgun in the bushes.
Authorities said upon further investigation, police discovered that the gun was stolen. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department found several spent .40 caliber shell casings over a five-block, densely-populated residential area. The casings were later determined to have been fired from the gun Hill was in possession of, said the DOJ.
Hill — who had 24 prior felony conviction dating back to 1983 — was prohibited from legally possessing a firearm due to his criminal record, the DOJ noted.
On top of his five years in prison, the judge ordered that Hill be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release. | https://cbs4indy.com/news/indycrime/indy-man-with-24-prior-convictions-gets-5-years-after-running-through-neighborhood-firing-gun/ | 2022-07-22 20:23:29 | 0 | https://cbs4indy.com/news/indycrime/indy-man-with-24-prior-convictions-gets-5-years-after-running-through-neighborhood-firing-gun/ |
ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Mario Draghi wins confidence vote but boycott by key allies is likely to doom his unity government.
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DENVER (AP) — Randal Grichuk doubled twice and drove in three runs, C.J. Cron had two hits in his return to the starting lineup, and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 8-5 on Thursday.
Cron, the Rockies' lone All-Star selection, missed three of the last five games with a wrist injury suffered Friday night at Arizona. He had a pinch-hit single Wednesday night.
The Rockies took three of four from San Diego and have won 13 of 16 against the Padres at Coors Field since the start of last season.
Jhoulys Chacin (4-2) worked two scoreless innings in relief of Kyle Freeland and Carlos Estévez pitched a flawless ninth for his first save. Kris Bryant was activated from the paternity list and went 0 for 4 with a walk.
Cron and Grichuk were instrumental during a three-run sixth inning that put the Rockies ahead for good. Jose Iglesias doubled against reliever Nabil Crismatt (5-2) to make it 6-5. Cron followed with a run-scoring single and Grichuk had a two-out RBI double off Luis Garcia.
San Diego's Blake Snell pitched 3 2/3 wild innings, walking six batters and allowing five runs. The Padres issued nine walks on the day.
Grichuk had a two-run double in the second. Snell then walked two batters before Connor Joe's sacrifice fly made it 3-0.
With two outs and a runner on first in the fourth, Snell gave up a single and three more walks to put his team behind 5-2.
The Padres rallied in the fifth. Trent Grisham led off with a homer, and Ha-Seong Kim doubled and scored on Jake Cronenworth’s single that chased Freeland. Cronenworth later scored on Jorge Alfaro’s single off Chacin to tie it.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: RHP Nick Martinez didn’t pitch out of the bullpen for the second straight game. He left Tuesday’s game with a mild ankle sprain suffered while trying to avoid a line drive.
Rockies: RHP Alex Colomé is still day to day with a mild strain at the top of his right hamstring suffered Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Padres: RHP Yu Darvish (7-4, 3.38 ERA) will open a three-game home series against Arizona on Friday night.
Rockies: RHP Germán Márquez (5-7, 5.66) will face José Quintana (2-4, 3.59) when Pittsburgh comes to town on Friday night.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.mrt.com/sports/article/Grichuk-Cron-power-Rockies-to-8-5-win-over-Padres-17306202.php | 2022-07-15 00:41:25 | 0 | https://www.mrt.com/sports/article/Grichuk-Cron-power-Rockies-to-8-5-win-over-Padres-17306202.php |
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a new face mask that allows fresh air to be inhaled while covering carbon dioxide expelled from the mouth," said an inventor, from Henderson, Nev., "so I invented the FRESH FLOW FACIAL MASK. My design would enhance breathing comfort and it could help to prevent glasses from fogging."
The invention provides an improved design for a face mask. In doing so, it allows the user to breathe more comfortably. It also helps prevent optical products from fogging and it helps to reduce the spread of viruses. The invention features an effective design that is easy to wear so it is ideal for the general population. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.
The original design was submitted to the Las Vegas sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 21-LGT-267, 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.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/12/19/inventhelp-inventor-develops-improved-design-face-masks-accessory-lgt-267/ | 2022-12-19 19:50:08 | 0 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/12/19/inventhelp-inventor-develops-improved-design-face-masks-accessory-lgt-267/ |
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Browns special teams coordinator Mike Priefer was fired Tuesday following four seasons of inconsistency and numerous breakdowns by his units.
The move came six weeks after coach Kevin Stefanski fired defensive coordinator Joe Woods following a 7-10 seasons.
Priefer spent three seasons on Stefanski's staff and filled in for him when the coach had COVID-19 and missed the Browns' wild-card win over Pittsburgh in the 2020 season.
“I appreciate everything Prief has done for this team in his three seasons as my special teams coordinator, but I have decided to move in another direction in the best interest of our organization," Stefanski said. “I know this city will forever be grateful for the job he did as acting head coach in our AFC wild-card win and for all his contributions while leading the Browns special teams units for the last four seasons.”
The Browns have requested an interview with Colts special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone, who was a candidate for Indianapolis' head coaching job. Even though he was passed over in favor of Shane Steichen, Ventrone remains under contract in Indianapolis.
Priefer coached with Stefanski in Minnesota and was retained by him after the Browns fired coach Freddie Kitchens following the 2019 season.
Priefer's dismissal creates another opening on Cleveland's staff. Stefanski also must replace quarterbacks coach Drew Petzing, who left to become Arizona's offensive coordinator. Also, defensive line coach Chris Kiffin moved on to Houston and defensive backs coach Jeff Howard took a position coaching linebackers for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Cleveland's special teams had issues all last season, beginning with punt returner Jakeem Grant suffering a knee injury in training camp. The Browns had little impact with their return game though they did make some improvement as the season progressed, with rookie Jerome Ford returning kickoffs and Donovan Peoples-Jones handling punts.
One of the biggest special teams gaffes came in a Week 2 loss to the New York Jets. Cleveland's inability to cover an onside kick helped the Jets overcome a two-touchdown deficit in the final 1:55 to win 31-30.
Also, rookie kicker Cade York's struggles didn't help Priefer's case. The fourth-round draft pick missed several big kicks — including an extra point in the Jets loss — and had a few blocked because of low trajectory.
York finished 24 of 32 on field goals and 35 of 37 on PATs.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Credit: AP
Credit: AP | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/ohio/cleveland-browns-fire-special-teams-coordinator-mike-priefer/TW2YPBBVQNAWDMG3N3BPJQ2ONA/ | 2023-02-21 16:20:03 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/ohio/cleveland-browns-fire-special-teams-coordinator-mike-priefer/TW2YPBBVQNAWDMG3N3BPJQ2ONA/ |
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