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WASHINGTON (AP) — Kevin Durant said Friday the Brooklyn Nets could have handled this tumultuous week a bit differently — a week in which his coach was fired and teammate Kyrie Irving was suspended for posting a link to an antisemitic work.
Then Durant clarified on Twitter that he doesn’t condone hate speech and “is about spreading love always.”
Durant spoke Friday at the Nets’ shootaround in Washington ahead of the evening’s game against the Wizards. When asked what he thought of Irving’s recent conduct, which landed the guard a suspension of at least five games, Durant said: “I ain’t here to judge nobody or talk down on nobody for how they feel, their views or anything. I just didn’t like anything that went on.
“I felt like it was all unnecessary. I felt like we could have just kept playing basketball and kept quiet as an organization.”
Within an hour, Durant followed up via a tweet.
“Just wanna clarify the statements I made at shootaround, I see some people are confused,” he said. “I don’t condone hate speech or anti-semetism (sic), I’m about spreading love always. Our game Unites people and I wanna make sure that’s at the forefront.”
Irving did apologize in an Instagram post for not explaining the specific beliefs he agreed and disagreed with when he posted about the documentary.
Nets general manager Sean Marks said Friday that the team has had some dialogue with Irving, but not enough given the circumstances.
“The organization has made multiple attempts to get with Kyrie and his representation and to have them clarify his feelings and put out a sense of remorse for this, and that obviously didn’t happen, and he refused to disavow that until his tweet last night,” Marks said.
Marks said Irving’s apology was a step, but actions will speak louder than words. He also said the team is not considering releasing Irving at this time.
“There is going to be some remedial steps and measures that have been put in place for him to obviously seek some counseling … from dealing with some anti-hate and some Jewish leaders within our community,” Marks said. “He’s going to have to sit down with them, he’s going to have to sit down with the organization after this, and we’ll evaluate and see if this is the right opportunity to bring him back.”
Irving’s reluctance to apologize came hours before the FBI said it had received credible information about a “broad” threat to synagogues in New Jersey, Irving’s home state.
In Florida on Saturday, the phrase “Kanye is right about the jews” was projected on the outside of one of the end zones at the TIAA Bank Field stadium in Jacksonville during the Florida-Georgia football game — a reference to recent antisemitic comments that the music mogul formerly known as Kanye West has made on social media and in interviews. The incidents come four years after the deadliest attack on American Jews, when 11 people were killed at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.
The Nets also parted ways with coach Steve Nash this week and despite the star tandem of Durant and Irving, the team has a 2-6 record. Durant said the team has the ability to tune out all the turbulence.
“It’s just the way of the NBA now. So many outlets now and their stories hit pretty fast now. That’s where all the chaos is coming from,” he said. “Everybody’s opinions, everybody has an opinion on the situation, we’re hearing it nonstop, but once the ball starts bouncing and we get into practice, none of that stuff really seeps into the gym.”
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Follow Noah Trister at https://twitter.com/noahtrister
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-durant-nets-could-have-kept-quiet-about-irving-tumult/ | 2022-11-04 20:58:10 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-durant-nets-could-have-kept-quiet-about-irving-tumult/ |
TALLINN, Estonia , June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FinchTrade, a Swiss-based digital asset liquidity provider, has recently added a new token - SNACK, which is the world's fastest-growing iGaming token.
Snack is an innovative DeFi Token that is focused on growing the crypto community by bringing the physical and digital worlds together. Snack is set to become the token currency of choice in the iGaming industry.
The token's partnerships, such as with FinchTrade, and listings with processors enable users to access over 300 online casino and sports betting operators where they can use their Snack as a payment method. FinchTrade is always proud to be a launch pad for the new and handy tokens such as Snack, becoming the point of growth of their evolution.
"We're really pleased to add the Snack token to the choices available to our clients," said FinchTrade Board Adviser Charlie Walker. "Snack is an exciting company with a lot of momentum behind it."
The Snack token (SNACK) is a BEP-20 token, native to the Binance Smart Chain (BSC). SNACK currently offers great utility within the iGaming Industry and beyond. Additionally, the Crypto Snack protocol allows users to earn rewards by staking.
Snack can be a faster and more cost-efficient means of transacting for several reasons. BSC is faster and cheaper to use than Ethereum. With gas prices increasing in recent months, many simply cannot afford to use Ethereum-based DeFi protocols. BSC has a transaction fee which can be as low as one US cent. Furthermore, block confirmation times are as low as three seconds per block.
"Integrating with FinchTrade is another fantastic milestone for the Crypto SNACK token. We are proud to announce this new partnership and look forward to working with such an established company. This is a great step forward for our community and business." - Stuart Morrison, CEO of Crypto Snack OÜ.
About FinchTrade
FinchTrade AG is an institutional-grade digital asset liquidity provider, regulated and based in Zug, Switzerland. Offering deep liquidity and tight spreads coupled with seamless API-driven processes, FinchTrade provides automated post-trade settlement.
About Snack
Crypto Snack OU is an Estonian registered company with deep roots in the blockchain and crypto industry, offering expert advice to individuals and institutions on the benefits of blockchain adoption.
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SOURCE Crypto SNACK | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/finchtrade-quoting-snack-finerymarkets/ | 2022-06-08 13:59:42 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/finchtrade-quoting-snack-finerymarkets/ |
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A weekend fire at Iran's notorious Evin Prison damaged one of the largest buildings in the complex, according to satellite photos analyzed Monday. Authorities raised to eight the number of inmates killed, doubling the initial toll.
What happened on Saturday night at the prison — for decades the main holding facility for political detainees and a centerpiece of the state's systematic crushing of dissent — remains unclear. Online videos purport to show chaotic scenes with a prison siren wailing as flames rise from the complex, the apparent crackle of gunfire and people screaming: “Death to the dictator!”
The fire erupted as nationwide anti-government protests triggered by the death of a young woman in the custody of the country's morality police entered a fifth week. Tensions have escalated to a point unseen since the mass demonstrations that accompanied the country's 2009 Green Movement protests.
The fire at one of Tehran's most heavily guarded facilities potentially raises the stakes for those continuing to rally against the government and the mandatory headscarf, or hijab, for women after the Sept. 16 death of Mahsa Amini.
Satellite photos taken Sunday by Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by The Associated Press show the roof burning away from a large building that's part of the northern section of Evin Prison. The prison also houses prisoners convicted of criminal charges.
The Iran Prison Atlas, a project by the California-based rights group United for Iran, which collects data on Iranian prisons and prisoners, had previously identified the structure's wards as housing prisoners convicted on fraud and theft cases — not those held on political charges. However, the Iran Prison Atlas has said that wards have changed over the years.
The reformist newspaper Etemad on Monday quoted Mostafa Nili, a lawyer for some political prisoners at Evin, as identifying one of the affected areas as Ward 8. He described those imprisoned there as political prisoners and others convicted on financial charges.
He also said political prisoners in Ward 4 of the prison inhaled tear gas during the incident. The semiofficial Tasnim news agency also said Evin's Wards 6 and 7 sustained damage as well. Iranian state television rushed a camera crew to the site early Sunday morning, filming a reporter walking through one ward with prisoners asleep in bunks as firefighters doused the embers of the blaze.
The TV described the fire as having taken place at a sewing workshop, something Iran's judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejehi repeated on Monday. He blamed the incident on “the enemy's agents.” Iran has been portraying all unrest in the country as stirred up by the United States, Israel and other nations it views as enemies.
Earlier Monday, Iran's judiciary raised the death toll from the blaze to eight, after initially reporting four deaths over the weekend.
Authorities have blamed “rioters” for setting the blaze, though they haven't described what measures they took against the prisoners on site. Video of the fire purports to show people on the roof of the building, tossing liquid on the flames at first. Apparent gunfire echoes through other videos, including what appears to be some sort of ordinance being lobbed into the prison complex, followed by the sound of an explosion.
As the fire grew larger, one video includes voices shouting: “Death to the dictator!” That cry against Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has become common at night in Tehran amid the protests, even though it carries the risk of a death sentence in a closed-door Revolutionary Court.
Evin Prison, in northern Tehran abutting the foothills of the Alborz Mountains, first opened under Iran's Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1972. Iran's theocracy took over the facility after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Khamenei, operates its own prison cells at the complex, as does Iran's Intelligence Ministry, which reports to the country's presidency.
The Guard typically holds dual nationals and those with ties to the West there — prisoners often used in swaps with the West. Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post journalist detained by Iran on flimsy spying allegations for 544 days was held there before being freed as Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers took effect.
“Evin is no ordinary prison," Rezaian wrote on Twitter, sharing videos of the fire this weekend. "Many of Iran’s best & brightest have spent long stretches confined there, where brave women & men are denied their basic rights for speaking truth to power.”
Deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel, speaking to reporters in Washington on Monday, said the three U.S.-Iranian citizens it knows are detained at Evin Prison are safe. He did not say where that information came from.
“The wrongfully detained U.S. citizens are accounted for and they are safe,” he said, adding that they remain in detention and their safety is relative considering the conditions of their imprisonment.
Iran carries out executions, as well as punishments such as amputations, prescribed under Islamic laws and ordered by the country's hard-line court system, at Evin. Human rights activists have long documented abuses at the site. Last year, an online account purportedly by an entity describing itself as a group of hackers, leaked a series of videos to the AP showing fighting and grim conditions at the prison.
The wider protests now rocking Iran erupted after public outrage over the death of 22-year-old Amini in police custody. She was arrested by Iran’s morality police in Tehran for violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code. Iran’s government insists Amini was not mistreated in police custody, but her family says her body showed bruises and other signs of beating after she was detained.
So far, human rights groups estimate that over 200 people have been killed in the protests and the violent security force crackdown that followed. Iran has not offered a death toll in weeks. Demonstrations have been seen in over 100 cities, according to the group Human Rights Activists in Iran. Thousands are believed to have been arrested.
Meanwhile, the European Union on Monday slapped sanctions on 11 Iranian officials and four Iranian entities over their suspected role in the crackdown against the protests, imposing travel bans and freezing assets. | https://www.kivitv.com/news/world/satellite-photos-show-damage-at-iran-prison-amid-protests | 2022-10-17 19:43:01 | 0 | https://www.kivitv.com/news/world/satellite-photos-show-damage-at-iran-prison-amid-protests |
PARIS (AP) — Frances Tiafoe says he receives death threats via social media after he loses professional tennis matches. Jessica Pegula says the same. So does Donna Vekic — directed at both her and her family.
“Everybody gets them after a loss,” said Tiafoe, a 25-year-old from Maryland who was a semifinalist at last year’s U.S. Open and reached the French Open’s third round with a victory Thursday. “It’s just how society is today. I know how that affects people’s mental health. That’s very real.”
Sloane Stephens, the 2017 champion at Flushing Meadows and 2018 runner-up at Roland Garros, says she often deals with racist messages directed at her online, and said some prompted the FBI to investigate.
“It’s obviously been a problem my entire career. It has never stopped,” said Stephens, who is Black. “If anything, it’s only gotten worse.”
In a bid to try to protect athletes from that sort of abuse at Roland Garros during the 15-day Grand Slam tournament that ends June 11, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) is paying a company to provide players with software that uses artificial intelligence to block these sorts of negative comments.
Every contestant in every category — singles, doubles, juniors, wheelchair competitors and so on, for a total of around 700 to 800 — is allowed free access to Bodyguard.ai for use on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. A few dozen players had signed up for the service as of the start of this week, according to Bodyguard.
“This is really important for us: for the players to be very comfortable and be able to focus on the competition. Tennis is mental. It’s really what you have in your mind that counts; you’re making 1,000 decisions during a match,” said FFT CEO Caroline Flaissier, who put the cost to the federation at somewhere between $30,000 and $50,000.
“We know that there is a lot of cyberbullying,” she said. “We have to address that major issue, so we thought let’s do a test.”
That includes monitoring social media used by the FFT and the French Open itself. An FFT spokeswoman said Wednesday that 4,500 messages had been deleted out of the 79,000 received on those accounts since May 21.
Yann Guerin, head of sports for Nice-based Bodyguard, said the company’s software — which is constantly updated by employees who might notice new words or emojis that should be part of the screening — needs less than 100 milliseconds to analyze a comment and delete it if it’s “hateful or undesirable.” He cited the example of one player who participated in qualifying rounds last week, before the start of the tournament proper.
“He lost … so he was disappointed. Then he checked his phone and was like, ‘Whoa,’” Guerin said, estimating that more than 70% of the comments that athlete received would fall under the heading of “toxicity.”
“Very bad,” Guerin said. “Not bad. VERY bad.”
That’s nothing out of the ordinary, according to players.
“It’s a big issue in tennis. We get these stupid and abusive comments all the time. And to be honest, we are tired of it,” said Daria Kasatkina, a 26-year-old from Russia who was a 2022 semifinalist in Paris. “People just do that and they don’t get punished. Nothing. Only we suffer from reading all of this (expletive).”
Several players, from various countries, described distasteful messages arriving via apps.
Usually accounts are flooded after a defeat — often, they say, from gamblers disappointed to lose money wagering on a match.
“Last week, I had three match points in the quarterfinals (at the Morocco Open) and I ended up losing in a tiebreaker. And that was probably the worst it’s been. Ever,” said Peyton Stearns, a 21-year-old American who won the 2022 NCAA championship for the University of Texas. “You keep seeing these notifications: Boom, boom, boom, boom. You have to go through it. You report. You block. It’s a hassle and it drains you mentally.”
There are skeptics, such as 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic.
“You think it’s possible? Do you really think it’s possible to stop those things? There’s always going to be something negative and it’s always going to be about the results,” she said. “When you’re winning, you get positive comments. When you’re losing, you get negative comments. That’s just the way it is. It’s in every sport and it’s not only for women or for men. That’s how the world is.”
Then there are players such as Tiafoe or the French Open’s 15th-seeded man, Borna Coric, who didn’t sign up for the AI service because they no longer get bothered by the vitriol.
“I was, for sure, upset the first couple of times,” said Coric, who is from Croatia. “But then you realize that those are not good people. And they would never come to your face and say it.”
Vekic voiced a similar sentiment.
“I wouldn’t say I got used to it, but it’s something that doesn’t really get to me that much anymore at this point in my career,” said Vekic, a 26-year-old from Croatia who lost Thursday as the French Open’s No. 22 seed. “These people are gambling and I lose a match — and they lose money. So what does that really have to do with me at the end of the day?”
Still, every player the AP asked was appreciative of the FFT’s effort.
“It’s a nice way to kind of help us feel a little bit less pressure with the comments and stuff. It makes us more comfortable posting or sharing and talking about matches when we know we’re not going to get like 100 death threats after. It’s crazy,” said Pegula, a 29-year-old American who has reached five major quarterfinals and whose parents own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. “I mean, I get them, like, every day.”
The organizers of the year’s remaining two Grand Slam tournaments, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, are keeping tabs on how things go in Paris.
“We have relationships with the main social media platforms and we do take steps to flag comments that cause players concern,” All England Club spokeswoman Eloise Tyson wrote in an email. “We will be very keen to hear the feedback from the FFT and players regarding the technology they are using at Roland Garros.”
U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Brendan McIntyre said the USTA is “evaluating the product and determining whether this is something we would like to make available to players for 2023 and beyond.”
The No. 9-seeded Kasatkina, who faces Stearns on Friday, said she wasn’t sure whether she would sign up for the program in Paris. She tends to close the comments on Instagram before a tournament, anyway.
Then her eyes lit up as she considered another possible solution: earning the trophy.
“You get all these messages only if you lose,” she said, then added with a laugh: “If you win, then there’s only good things on social media. Everyone loves you so much.”
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Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HowardFendrich
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wivb.com/sports/ap-sports/french-open-hopes-ai-can-help-tennis-players-block-death-threats-other-social-media-hate/ | 2023-06-02 00:48:33 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/sports/ap-sports/french-open-hopes-ai-can-help-tennis-players-block-death-threats-other-social-media-hate/ |
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/sports/2022/06/15/ap-top-sports-news-at-129-a-m-edt-18/ | 2022-06-15 10:26:05 | 1 | https://wtmj.com/sports/2022/06/15/ap-top-sports-news-at-129-a-m-edt-18/ |
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson practiced for a second straight day Friday and will start Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars after he was sidelined by a hip injury earlier in the week.
“It’s getting better,” he said after practice, though he did not say how much the injury bothered him during last Sunday’s win over the Carolina Panthers. “We won,” he said.
Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) and safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle), both injured in the Panthers game, did not participate Friday and have not practiced all week. Stanley was listed as out for Sunday’s game on the Ravens’ final injury report of the week, while Hamilton was listed as questionable.
Patrick Mekari will likely fill in for Stanley as chief protector of Jackson’s blind side, and Brandon Stephens would likely take most of Hamilton’s snaps at nickel back, where the rookie has thrived in recent weeks.
Wide receiver Devin Duvernay (hamstring) and tight end Isaiah Likely (ankle) were both listed as questionable after they were limited participants in practice Friday. Neither had appeared on the injury report earlier in the week.
Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (hip) was also absent Friday and listed as out, while cornerback Marcus Peters and outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul took rest days
Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson returned after he missed practice Thursday with a hip injury. He was listed as questionable to face the Jaguars, but coach John Harbaugh said he was “fine.” Robinson was the Ravens’ leading playmaker in their victory over the Panthers, catching nine passes on nine targets for 128 yards.
Running back Gus Edwards (hamstring) practiced in full for the second straight day. He was listed as questionable for Sunday, but Harbaugh said he’s optimistic the team’s top short-yardage threat will play against Jacksonville. “I feel good,” Edwards said. “I had a good week of practice, definitely made a lot of progress. I’m excited, but we’ll see what happens.”
Edwards said his surgically repaired knee, which cost him the first six games of the season, “feels great” but acknowledged the challenge of managing both injuries. He had hoped to play last weekend against the Panthers but realized on the Friday before that, “I wouldn’t have made a difference, the way I was feeling.”
Meanwhile, the Jaguars didn’t have any injuries to report this week.
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Black and Gold Grey Wolf silver coin and 10-cent 100th Anniversary of Bluenose coloured circulation coin recognized among the world's best
OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - The Royal Canadian Mint is honoured to have won Coin of the Year Awards in two of the 10 categories in which mints from around the world compete for recognition in the most coveted awards program for excellence in coin design and manufacturing. The 2021 $20 Fine Silver Coin - Black and Gold: The Grey Wolf was named "Best Crown", while the Mint's first coloured 10-cent circulation coin issued in 2021 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Bluenose was crowned "Best Circulation" coin.
"The Mint is passionate about finding new ways to showcase Canada on coins that represent the highest levels of craftsmanship, design and innovation," said Marie Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "To win not only one, but two Coin of the Year Awards in the same year is an amazing recognition that our coins are indeed best-in-class, and admired by collectors around the world."
Artist Claude Thivierge captures the feared and admired personality of a top Canadian predator in a yin and yang portrayal, rendered in contrasting gold and black rhodium plating, on the 2021 $20 Fine Silver Coin - Black and Gold: The Grey Wolf. Though human encroachment has reduced its habitat, the majestic grey wolf still thrives in hierarchical packs of six or eight animals in less settled parts of Canada, from Labrador to British Columbia, as well as Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
Bluenose's 100th anniversary in 2021 gave the Mint the opportunity to celebrate in style. We re-imagined the Bluenose design with the help of Nova Scotia marine artist Yves Bérubé and added colour to our smallest circulating coin for the very first time. A peerless maritime icon built in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Bluenose was a hard-working fishing schooner whose racing proficiency in the International Fishermen's Race was unrivalled for nearly two decades. It remains, to this day, a testament to the ingenuity, craftsmanship and exceptional skill of the Canadians who designed, built and crewed it.
The annual Coin of the Year competition receives nominations from an international consortium of mint representatives and numismatists. The judging is conducted by an international panel of the world's leading mint officials, medalists, journalists, central bank and museum officials. The winners were selected from among 100 finalists spanning ten categories.
Images of the Mint's newest award-winning coins can be found here.
About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. The Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca. Follow the Mint on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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SOURCE Royal Canadian Mint | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2023/01/20/royal-canadian-mint-wins-two-coin-year-awards-capturing-best-crown-best-circulation-coin-categories/ | 2023-01-20 19:53:40 | 0 | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2023/01/20/royal-canadian-mint-wins-two-coin-year-awards-capturing-best-crown-best-circulation-coin-categories/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Thirteen Republican state attorneys general are cautioning CEOs of the 100 biggest U.S. companies on the legal consequences for using race as a factor in hiring and employment practices, demonstrating how the Supreme Court’s recent ruling dismantling affirmative action in higher education may trickle into the workplace.
The state attorneys general sent a letter to the CEOs on Thursday arguing that the controversial June ruling declaring that race cannot be a factor in college admissions — consequently striking down decades-old practices aimed at achieving diverse student bodies — could also apply to private entities, like employers.
“Treating people differently because of the color of their skin, even for benign purposes, is unlawful and wrong,” they wrote. The GOP officials also suggested that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs could be a form of discrimination.
The letter and similar actions elsewhere have raised questions about the far-reaching consequences of the Supreme Court decision beyond higher education. But experts note the court’s ruling itself doesn’t directly change current employer obligations or commitments to DEI.
“The decision itself does not legally impact Title VII (of the Civil Rights Act), which is what governs employment discrimination or discrimination in the workplace,” Greg Hoff, associate counsel of the HR Policy Association, told The Associated Press.
Hoff and others say the court’s ruling only applies to higher education institutions and other entities that receive federal funding. They also note that affirmative action in college admissions is very different from DEI efforts in workplaces, which can include expanding outreach for new hires, creating employee resource groups for underrepresented workers, and reducing bias in hiring through such practices as “blind” applications.
“What we’ve been seeing a lot of since the decision came down is political opponents of DEI … conflating affirmative action with DEI more broadly — because it serves their political purposes,” said David Glasgow, executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at New York University’s School of Law. “I think there’s a lot of quite deliberate attempts to muddy the waters here.”
Beyond DEI, affirmative action in the workplace is technically still upheld by Supreme Court precedent, Glasgow adds. But workplace affirmative action is rare, and he suspects today’s court would likely overrule those cases if challenged, mirroring the college admissions decision.
While Thursday’s letter doesn’t mark legal action, experts expect future litigation down the road. The attorneys’ general letter also isn’t the first time officials have argued that the Supreme Court’s ruling applies to private employers.
Last week, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, sent a letter to Target CEO Brian Cornell stating that the company’s DEI program and “racial quota for hiring” was discriminatory while also pointing to the affirmative action ruling. Target did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment on Friday.
“They’re starting with letters, but I don’t think that they’re bluffs,” Temple University assistant professor of law Zamir Ben-Dan said. “It’s going to be a problem.”
The attorneys general said they would be paying attention to companies’ practices in hiring employees and contractors — and called out companies including Airbnb, Facebook, Google, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft and Netflix for programs intended to increase racial diversity with hires and suppliers.
In response, employers may take steps to avoid litigation, Hoff and HR Policy Association president and CEO Tim Bartl said.
“The increased risk for employers is this increased risk of litigation as a result of the decision — but again, not because of any changing obligations under Title VII,” Hoff said.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, one of the signatories, said that the letter isn’t a warning to companies as much as it is a heads-up that racial preferences could run afoul of the law. He added that the group decided to take action in part to respond to speculation about the Supreme Court ruling not applying to employment.
“The court was very clear,” he said in a Friday interview. “The appropriate response to racial discrimination is not more racial discrimination.”
Not all state attorneys general cheered last month’s ruling or are eager to apply it outside college admissions. Only about half the nation’s Republican AGs signed the letter. And Democrats have been condemning the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling.
“For decades the Supreme Court has upheld targeted affirmative action programs to increase diversity in higher education,” the co-chairs of the Democratic Attorneys General Association, Nevada’s Aaron Ford and Delaware’s Kathy Jennings, said in a statement June 29, calling that day’s ruling “a major step backwards that tramples on those ideals.”
Ben-Dan anticipates that the results of any action taken in the workplace to undercut DEI will mimic what already happened when affirmative action had previously been weakened in higher education, noting that enrollment for nonwhite students — particularly Black students — went down after California banned affirmative action in 1996, for example.
“I imagine that it’s going to lead to a decline in racial diversity in workforces,” he said. | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/business/ap-gop-attorneys-general-cite-affirmative-action-ruling-in-warning-to-companies-over-discrimination/ | 2023-07-15 04:20:53 | 1 | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/business/ap-gop-attorneys-general-cite-affirmative-action-ruling-in-warning-to-companies-over-discrimination/ |
84th Consecutive Year of Program for Team Members
AUSTIN, Minn., Nov. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a global branded food company, today distributed its annual profit sharing to eligible hourly and salaried team members during this 84th consecutive grant.
"We are so incredibly proud to continue the tradition of sharing our profits with our team members who help make us the uncommon company we are today," said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. "For 84 years, we have maintained our legacy of giving back to our team members and our communities, and making a difference in the places we work and the lives of those who work for us. Our time-honored tradition reflects the dedication and hard work of our team every day to put food on tables across the globe."
The grant amount varies each year depending on the company's performance and number of eligible employees. In the last 10 years, it has ranged from $14 million to $17 million annually. The profit sharing program was started by Jay C. Hormel in 1938 and is voluntarily paid at the discretion of the Hormel Foods Board of Directors. Distributions from the plan have become an annual Thanksgiving eve tradition at the company.
ABOUT HORMEL FOODS — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $11 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters®, SKIPPY®, SPAM®, Hormel® Natural Choice®, Applegate®, Justin's®, WHOLLY®, Hormel® Black Label®, Columbus®, Jennie-O® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list by 3BL Media 13 times, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ — to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/.
Contact: Media Relations
507-434-6352
media@hormel.com
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SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/11/23/hormel-foods-annual-profit-sharing-continues/ | 2022-11-23 14:06:19 | 0 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/11/23/hormel-foods-annual-profit-sharing-continues/ |
Parents of younger children may be feeling uneasy, as reports of young RSV patients filling hospitals have marked October and November this year. Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common virus, but it can be serious in younger children and babies, as well as some adults.
Respiratory viruses like COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus often spread and peak during winter, when people travel for the holidays and spend more time indoors and breathing the same air. We've already been warned that we are likely in for a rough flu season this year, as public health measures like mask-wearing are phased out after a few years of COVID-19 precautions. But RSV has become an additional concern, as infection waves started earlier than normal and familiar reports of overfilled hospitals flood headlines.
Anyone can get RSV, but babies, children under age 5, older adults and people who are immunocompromised are especially vulnerable to severe RSV, which can cause pneumonia or bronchitis and require hospitalization. While almost all children will have at least one RSV infection before their second birthday and most will recover at home, it's important to know the signs of a more severe infection in order to get the care you need.
Is that a 'COVID cough' or RSV?
Coughing is a common symptom of many respiratory viruses, including RSV, COVID-19 and the flu. So how can you tell what's causing your child's cough?
"From a clinical standpoint, it's difficult to determine how coughs might be different," Dr. Syeda Amna Husain, a pediatrician based in New Jersey, said in an email. RSV, COVID-19 and the flu all have the potential to cause bronchiolitis-like (lung infection) symptoms in children, which can make it difficult for them to move their lungs in order to let air in, Husain says.
Testing is the only sure way to know which virus is responsible, according to Husain, and that may also narrow down some treatment options.
What is RSV? How is it spread?
Respiratory syncytial virus is a common respiratory virus, which means it's spread to others through tiny droplets from the nose or throat of an infected person. You get it when these droplets get into your eyes, nose or throat, either through contact with someone who's sick, or by touching a contaminated surface then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus lives on hard surfaces (like cribs) for hours. RSV doesn't live quite as long on soft surfaces, like skin or tissues. According to the CDC, it is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in babies under age 1.
Can adults catch RSV from kids?
Yes. Children commonly get RSV at school or day care and bring it home to other family members. Most adults, however, will either have mild or no symptoms of RSV.
Some adults, including older adults, folks with compromised immune systems or adults with lung or heart issues may have more severe illness or complications.
What are the symptoms in children and babies?
Symptoms usually show up around four to six days after getting infected or exposed, per the CDC. Common signs include:
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Decreased appetite
- Coughing or wheezing
- Fever
In very young infants or babies, however, the only symptoms may be irritability and fussiness; decreased activity or acting more tired than normal; or troubled breathing, including pauses in breathing.
Signs you should take your child to the hospital
If you or your child has only mild symptoms, extra treatment probably won't be necessary outside of your home. But according to The Cleveland Clinic, your child may need to receive intravenous fluids (have an IV) if their rapid breathing is preventing them from drinking and staying hydrated. According to the clinic, about 3% of children with RSV will require a hospital stay, and most will be able to go home within two to three days.
If your child is having a hard time breathing, they can't drink or their symptoms are getting worse, that's when you should call your doctor, the CDC says. Very young infants (under six months), babies who were born premature, and children who have weakened immune systems, neuromuscular disorders (trouble swallowing or clearing mucus) as well as other health problems have a greater risk of severe illness from RSV.
If you're an older adult, are immunocompromised or have an underlying health condition, you may also be at higher risk of severe disease from RSV. In fact, older adults have a higher burden of death from RSV. According to CDC surveillance, RSV is expected to cause at least 6,000-10,000 deaths in adults 65 and older, compared to 100 to 300 deaths in children younger than 5, each year in the US.
If you or anyone around you is having a hard time breathing, always seek emergency care or medical care right away.
Treatments for RSV
RSV is a viral infection, which means antibiotics won't work. Treatment for RSV is typically supportive, and over-the-counter medications (but never aspirin for children) may help relieve common symptoms like cough or congestion. You should consult your doctor before giving your child any drug, even non-prescription, because not all medication ingredients are safe for children and their smaller, growing bodies.
High risk children that are severely ill are sometimes treated with an antiviral Ribavirin and intravenous immunoglobulin. Treatment may also be considered for severely ill immunocompromised adults. The vast majority of patients do not require these interventions.
For high-risk infants and children preventative strategies are available, there is a monoclonal antibody available called Palivizumab. It's given in monthly injections during RSV season and meant for children who are at higher risk of being hospitalized. Some eligible children would be babies who were born very premature (before 29 weeks), young children who are immunocompromised or have other health conditions, like heart disease or neuromuscular conditions.
If you believe your child is at high risk and might be eligible for the treatment, reach out to your doctor.
Is there a vaccine?
There's not a vaccine for RSV yet, but scientists are working on it. Pfizer announced promising results from its global trial this week that found its RSV vaccine, when given to a pregnant person, was about 82% effective at preventing severe disease in babies who were born to them during the first three months of life. It was about 69% effective during the child's first six months of life.
Johnson & Johnson has also started international trials of its vaccine in older adults.
How to avoid RSV
Because RSV is a respiratory virus, a lot of the same health precautions we take for other viruses will cut down the risk of you or your child getting it. This includes avoiding contact with people who are sick or have symptoms, avoiding crowded indoor places, and washing your hands before eating or touching your face.
For babies and younger kids, prevention could extend to not allowing other people to kiss, hold or touch your baby if you're concerned about contracting the virus. (You can also ask them to wash their hands and wear a mask when holding your baby.) Ideally, the CDC says that people with any cold-like symptoms should avoid being around children at higher risk for RSV.
How about minimizing the risk of RSV in a child who's active and tends to have their hands and toys everywhere?
"Try to keep your child's hands away from their face, especially the nose and mouth," Husain said, as this is a fast way for common infectious particles to spread. You can also disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched, like toys, counter surfaces and door handles.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives. | https://www.cnet.com/health/medical/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-symptoms-treatment-and-how-to-avoid-it/ | 2022-11-13 18:53:22 | 1 | https://www.cnet.com/health/medical/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-symptoms-treatment-and-how-to-avoid-it/ |
ROME (AP) — The mother of a Swiss Guard member accused of committing one of the most sensational crimes in recent Vatican history – fatally shooting his commander and the senior officer’s wife before killing himself — is turning to the United Nations and Pope Francis in hopes of getting some closure nearly a quarter-century after the slayings.
Muguette Baudat was on hand Tuesday as her lawyer, Laura Sgro, a veteran defense attorney in Vatican criminal trials, detailed her efforts to pry information out of the Vatican and access the court file into the May 4, 1998 slayings that are recounted in Sgro’s new book, “Blood in the Vatican.”
“I’ve been waiting for more than 24 years, so I don’t expect anything,” Baudat said at a book launch event. But she added: “The book is very important.”
Within hours of the slayings, the Vatican spokesman announced that Baudat’s 23-year-old son, Cedric Tornay, a noncommissioned Swiss Guard officer, had killed Col. Alois Estermann and Estermann’s Venezuelan-born wife, Gladys Meza Romero, with his service revolver and then turned the gun on himself. The spokesman said a buildup of resentment over a reprimand by Estermann and the denial of a decoration, combined with a ″peculiar″ psychology, led to Tornay’s violent acts.
Nine months later, in February 1999, the Vatican released a 10-page summary of its internal investigation that confirmed its initial assessment. It concluded that Tornay was solely responsible for the murder-suicide but added that his marijuana use and a brain cyst the size of a pigeon’s egg could have impaired his reasoning.
Baudat spent two decades campaigning for more information and hired Sgro in 2019, asking for the Vatican investigation to be reopened. She said her request was not spurred by a belief that the Vatican was responsible, but rather to end the secrecy with which it has always handled the case.
Last year, the Vatican secretary of state intervened personally in the case and asked the Vatican tribunal to pay “particular attention” to Baudat’s request. Sgro was granted access to the court file.
In the book, Sgro details what she found in the file, as well as the conditions imposed on her by the Vatican prosecutor for viewing it: She wasn’t allowed to make copies but could only view the documentation in the tribunal, with two gendarmes standing behind her back monitoring her at all times. She was allowed to take some notes but not too many since she was explicitly barred from copying the text. She had to submit her notes to the prosecutors’ office after each viewing session, which took place over the course of a year.
And what she discovered in reading the court file, she said Tuesday, “confirmed all the doubts that the mother had about an investigation conducted in an absolutely superficial way.”
Sgro noted that at least 20 people were allowed access to the crime scene in the moments after the slayings, including chaplains, monsignors and the Vatican spokesman, none of whom wore protective gear. No fingerprints or blood samples were taken, and no DNA tests performed.
A handwriting analysis of a letter, purportedly from Tornay to his mother and foreshadowing the killings, was done on a photocopy, not the original document. The corpses were moved around the Estermann apartment, as was furniture, according to 38 photographs taken by a Vatican newspaper photographer that were in the court file. Autopsies were performed not in a hospital morgue but in the crypt of a chapel inside the Vatican walls.
“After one hour, Cedric was given up as the guilty one and the investigation was built around this, and this is absolutely the most alarming thing,” Sgro said.
The lawyer alleged that the conditions in which she was forced to work to view the file, as well as the mother’s long fight to find information about her son, constituted human rights violations that should be taken up by the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.
There was no indication Tuesday whether the U.N. might take up her case, since such complaints must show a consistent pattern of “gross violations” of human rights, such as the policy of apartheid in South Africa.
Sgro said she had little other recourse since the Holy See is not a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, and therefore not a party to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, where such appeals would normally be heard. The Holy See enjoys observer status at the U.N. and has received criticism from U.N. human rights experts over the clergy sexual abuse scandal.
Sgro said she sent a copy of “Blood in the Vatican” to Pope Francis and he responded with a personal letter. His response, she said, gave her hope that the Vatican might be ready to acknowledge that its original investigation was flawed and that Tornay’s legacy might somehow be rehabilitated even if he is confirmed as the killer.
“It’s a small drop after 24 years of silence,” Sgro said. “Let us hope this drop becomes a glass of water, then a lake.” | https://www.koin.com/entertainment-news/ap-vatican-swiss-guard-slayings-back-in-spotlight-with-new-book/ | 2022-11-30 10:38:29 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/entertainment-news/ap-vatican-swiss-guard-slayings-back-in-spotlight-with-new-book/ |
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — When Carla Gover attends a jam session at Lexington’s Rock House Brewing, she can’t keep her feet still. Within moments, she places a small wooden platform on the floor, jumps on it, and begins a type of dancing known as flatfooting.
She’s been doing this type of mountain dancing almost as long as she’s been walking.
She learned it growing up in Letcher County in a family of musicians. She thought everyone danced like that, until she moved to central Kentucky and found people making fun of her “hillbilly roots.” But she also found a lot of people where fascinated by her way of dancing and wanted to learn to do it themselves.
“You don’t need to know fancy steps,” Gover said. “You don’t even need to know many steps to express yourself and feel that joy of moving your body with the music. It’s for everybody.”
She teaches Appalachian flatfooting to people all over the world with current students in England, Germany, and Canada, and she doesn’t have to leave home to do it. She’s devised an online class that has people dancing in their dens and dining rooms, a plan born of necessity at the height of COVID-19.
“Of course, like so many artists during the pandemic, when everything shut down, we had to scramble and try to find ways to continue to have money coming in and pay the mortgage,” she said.
MORE SPIRIT OF THE BLUEGRASS:
She interacts with students through Zoom. Cheryl Blanchard logs in from upstate New York.
“I go to a lot of bluegrass festivals and I’ve seen it around a little bit, and I’ve always been fascinated with it,” Blanchard said. “So, when I saw the opportunity to do it, I thought, what a great idea.”
Gover has been surprised but how the remote classes have taken off, but she understands why it’s better for some people who could never find a class in their area or afford to fly to Kentucky. And she’s delighted that people want to learn from a true Appalachian. She believes the classes help her set the narrative of what other people will think of the region.
“It’s more than just a technique or style. This is a connection to our family, our roots, our ancestors,” she said.
Although it looks similar to clogging, Gover said there are differences. She said clogging tends to have higher steps, is “showier,” and often performed in groups. Flatfooting is lower to the ground and more spontaneous, usually performed solo.
Blanchard said she’s looks forward to each lesson and one advantage is that she can go at her own speed, and rewind the videos she downloads.
“You’ll get it and it’s just so joyful. I can’t really explain it better than that,” Blancahrd said. “I’ll burst out laughing and smiling because I’ve accomplished something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Gover offers the first lesson for free to anyone who wants to give it a try.
She plans to offer more classes as long as there’s a demand. She believes she’s tearing down some stereotypes, step by step, letting people know that positive things come from Appalachia, and one of them is a way of dancing that’s full of pride and joy. | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/kentucky-artist-teaches-flatfooting-to-students-around-the-world/ | 2023-03-22 00:22:02 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/kentucky-artist-teaches-flatfooting-to-students-around-the-world/ |
BEIJING, Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VNET Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: VNET) ("VNET" or the "Company"), a leading carrier- and cloud-neutral Internet data center services provider in China, today announced that it will report its unaudited second quarter 2022 financial results on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, after the close of U.S. markets.
The Company's management will host an earnings conference call at 9:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, or 9:00 AM Beijing Time on Wednesday, August 31, 2022.
For participants who wish to join the call, please access the link provided below to complete the online registration process and dial in 5 minutes prior to the scheduled call start time.
Upon registration, each participant will receive a set of dial-in numbers by location, a personal PIN and an email with further detailed instructions, which will be used to join the conference call.
A simultaneous audio webcast and replay of the conference call will be accessible on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.vnet.com.
About VNET
VNET Group, Inc. is a leading carrier- and cloud-neutral Internet data center services provider in China. VNET provides hosting and related services, including IDC services, cloud services, and business VPN services to improve the reliability, security, and speed of its customers' internet infrastructure. Customers may locate their servers and equipment in VNET's data centers and connect to China's internet backbone. VNET operates in more than 30 cities throughout China, servicing a diversified and loyal base of over 6,500 hosting and related enterprise customers that span numerous industries ranging from internet companies to government entities and blue-chip enterprises to small- to mid-sized enterprises.
Investor Relations Contact:
Xinyuan Liu
Tel: +86 10 8456 2121
Email: ir@vnet.com
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SOURCE VNET Group, Inc. | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/19/vnet-announce-unaudited-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-august-30-2022/ | 2022-08-19 12:47:19 | 0 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/19/vnet-announce-unaudited-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-august-30-2022/ |
MILWAUKEE – Center Street Daze Festival is back after a 2-year hiatus caused by the pandemic.
The festival will take place from Humboldt Ave. to Holton St. on Aug. 13 at 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Vendors, music, races and a car show are a few things to expect at the the event.
The Art Cart Fest is set for a start time of 12 p.m. from Breman and Weil St. Human-powered carts are pushed to see who can make it down the block and back the fastest. The Unique Classic Car Club will begin at 1:30 p.m. between Booth St. and Pierce St. However, unlike these traditions, the Riverwest Street Hockey Club’s Shoot the Can and SAUCEOFF Challenge is new to this year’s event. The challenge is benefitting Running Rebel and will run 3 p.m.-6 p.m. in the school playground.
“There will be over 100 vendors showcasing their wares from excellent food and drink, arts and crafts and so much more,” Riverwest Business Association Community Engagement Coordinator Ruth Weill said. “Let’s not forget the 8 musical and performance stages. With entertainment throughout the festival from full on live bands, DJ battles to talk radio there is something for everyone to enjoy.”
Visit CenterStreetDazeFestival.com for any other information. | https://wtmj.com/news/2022/08/08/center-street-daze-festival-is-back-after-2-years/ | 2022-08-10 18:21:47 | 0 | https://wtmj.com/news/2022/08/08/center-street-daze-festival-is-back-after-2-years/ |
Randy Meisner, founding member of the Eagles and singer of ‘Take It to the Limit,’ dies at 77
NEW YORK (AP) — Randy Meisner, a founding member of the Eagles who added high harmonies to such favorites as “Take It Easy” and “The Best of My Love” and stepped out front for the waltz-time ballad “Take It to the Limit,” has died, the band said Thursday.
Meisner died Wednesday night in Los Angeles of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the Eagles said in a statement. He was 77.
The bassist had endured numerous afflictions in recent years and personal tragedy in 2016 when his wife, Lana Rae Meisner, accidentally shot herself and died. Meanwhile, Randy Meisner had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had severe issues with alcohol, according to court records and comments made during a 2015 hearing in which a judge ordered Meisner to receive constant medical care.
Called “the sweetest man in the music business” by former bandmate Don Felder, the baby-faced Meisner joined Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon in the early 1970s to form a quintessential Los Angeles band and one of the most popular acts in history.
“Randy was an integral part of the Eagles and instrumental in the early success of the band,” the Eagles’ statement said. “His vocal range was astonishing, as is evident on his signature ballad, ‘Take It to the Limit.’”
Evolving from country rock to hard rock, the Eagles turned out a run of hit singles and albums over the next decade, starting with “Take It Easy” and continuing with “Desperado,” “Hotel California” and “Life In the Fast Lane” among others. Although chastised by many critics as slick and superficial, the Eagles released two of the most popular albums of all time, “Hotel California” and “Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975),” which with sales at 38 million the Recording Industry Association of America ranked with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” as the No. 1 seller.
Led by singer-songwriters Henley and Frey, the Eagles were initially branded as “mellow” and “easy listening.” But by their third album, the 1974 release “On the Border,” they had added a rock guitarist, Felder, and were turning away from country and bluegrass.
Leadon, an old-fashioned bluegrass picker, was unhappy with the new sound and left after the 1975 album “One of These Nights.” (He was replaced by another rock guitarist, Joe Walsh.) Meisner stayed on through the 1976 release of “Hotel California,” the band’s most acclaimed record, but was gone soon after. His departure, ironically, was touched off by the song he cowrote and was best known for, “Take It to the Limit.”
A shy Nebraskan torn between fame and family life, Meisner had been ill and homesick during the “Hotel California” tour (his first marriage was breaking up) and was reluctant to have the spotlight for “Take It to the Limit,” a showcase for his nasally tenor. His objections during a Knoxville, Tennessee, concert in the summer of 1977 so angered Frey that the two argued backstage and Meisner left soon after. His replacement, Timothy B. Schmit, remained with the group over the following decades, along with Henley, Walsh and Frey, who died in 2016.
As a solo artist, Meisner never approached the success of the Eagles, but did have hits with “Hearts On Fire” and “Deep Inside My Heart” and played on records by Walsh, James Taylor and Dan Fogelberg among others. Meanwhile, the Eagles ended a 14-year hiatus in 1994 and toured with Schmit even though Meisner had played on all but one of their earlier studio albums. He did join group members past and present in 1998 when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and performed “Take It Easy” and “Hotel California.” For a decade, he was part of World Classic Rockers, a touring act that at various times included Donovan, Spencer Davis and Denny Laine.
Meisner was married twice, the first time when he was still in his teens, and had three kids.
The son of sharecroppers and grandson of a classical violinist, Meisner was playing in local bands as a teenager and by the end of the 1960s had moved to California and joined a country rock group, Poco, along with Richie Furay and Jimmy Messina. But he would remember being angered that Furay wouldn’t let him listen to the studio mix of their first album and left the group before it came out: His successor was Timothy B. Schmit.
Meisner backed Ricky Nelson, played on Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James” album and befriended Henley and Frey when all were performing in Linda Ronstadt’s band. With Ronstadt’s blessing, they formed the Eagles, were signed up by David Geffen for his Asylum Records label and released their self-titled debut album in 1972.
Frey and Henley sang lead most of the time, but Meisner was the key behind “Take It the Limit.” It appeared on the “One of These Nights” album from 1975 and became a top 5 single, a weary, plaintive song later covered by Etta James and as a duet by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.
“The purpose of the whole Eagles thing to me was that combination and the chemistry that made all the harmonies just sound perfect,” Meisner told the music web site www.lobstergottalent.com in 2015. “The funny thing is after we made those albums I never listened to them and it is only when someone comes over or I am at somebody’s house and it gets played in the background that is when I’ll tell myself, ‘Damn, these records are good.’”
____
AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/07/27/randy-meisner-founding-member-eagles-singer-take-it-limit-dies-77/ | 2023-07-28 00:35:08 | 1 | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/07/27/randy-meisner-founding-member-eagles-singer-take-it-limit-dies-77/ |
EASTON, Pa. - For individuals with a sweet tooth, a business coming soon to downtown Easton is just what the doctor ordered.
Eileen Newman, MD spent more than a decade as a physician, but the Forks Township mother of three has found that there is more than one way to find happiness - as well as bring happiness to others - in her professional life.
Newman, 37, established a home-based bakery, Mia & Maddie's, in 2019, and swapped her stethoscope for a spatula to become a full-time baker in 2021.
Over the past few years, she's steadily grown the business by becoming a regular vendor at the Easton Farmers Market last summer and, most recently, deciding to open her first brick-and-mortar bake shop in downtown Easton.
Now, Mia & Maddie's Bakery - named after Newman's eldest daughters - is set to hold a soft opening April 3 at 34 N. Second St.
"I'm so excited," Newman said. "I started at the Easton Farmers Market last year, and the community's really embraced me, supported me and encouraged me to open a brick-and-mortar location."
Newman, who finished medical school at age 23, has no regrets about the career change.
She notes that as an African American woman, she often was not valued as much as her peers, making the hospital setting a "challenging environment."
"It didn't feel joy-filled, and it wasn't what I signed up for as a doctor," Newman explained. "I wanted to help people and bring smiles to their faces. I wanted to connect with them and use my expertise to really make a difference. Once that was sort of being overshadowed by outside things, I just decided, 'Hey, let's pivot, take a beat and really pursue my second passion, which is baking.' I could still bring joy through sweets."
Newman, who grew up in the Bronx and moved to the Lehigh Valley in 2012, traces her love for baking to her childhood.
She credits her aunt and cousin, who she'd assist in baking fruit cakes, hot cross buns and other treats for holiday gatherings. She found the activity to be fun and relaxing.
"I then carried that over to all of my stressful situations in life, like studying for a test with a study group," Newman said. "I'd bring a cake, which would bring a little bit of joy before we had to dive into intense stuff. So, I always use baking as a way to kind of decompress and slow down a bit."
Mia & Maddie's new bake shop will offer a variety of staple and rotating baked-goods, incuding cake pops, cinnamon rolls, cookies, cupcakes, French macarons and scones.
Newman also is planning to offer custom cakes and breads such as challah, French baguettes and sweet breads, including cinnamon raisin and morning buns with apricot slices, a crumble and an apricot glaze.
"We're definitely going to have our pineapple coconut banana bread," Newman said. "I have not stopped making it since I started because people want it every week and it sells out every week."
Other popular selections include strawberry rhubarb pies, cupcakes such as Oreo red velvet and funfetti and scones such as lemon lavender blueberry and bacon cheddar chive.
"Our blueberry buckle also is a favorite," Newman said. "It's a mix between a coffee cake and a tea cake, and the recipe is Pennsylvania Dutch. So, that was actually the first item that I put on the menu that I wanted to represent Pennsylvania."
Newman uses high-quality ingredients, sourcing fruits and other items locally whenever possible, and also accommodates dietary requests from individuals with food allergies or those seeking gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan items.
She and her husband enjoy traveling, and she often picks up recipes and cooking techniques from other countries.
"I use techniques from Europe, Asia, Africa, all over the world," Newman said. "So, instead of a regular powdered sugar buttercream, I could use an Italian meringue, a Swiss meringue or a French buttercream, and it's something completely different."
"I also make my own coulis, my own raspberry jam, and then I fill the cupcakes with them. So, I really pay attention to the pairings and the flavorings of the cupcakes to provide customers with an experience that they wouldn't otherwise get unless they were in a different country."
The North Second Street space, which previously housed Belle Âme Eco-Boutique, has been overhauled with new flooring, wall paint and more by local contractor Bryan Miller of Executive Carpentry Solutions.
"He's been absolutely phenomenal," Newman said. "I can't say enough how great of a job he's done."
Following the bakery's opening, Newman plans to continue being a vendor at the Easton Farmers Market.
To stay up-to-date on Mia & Maddie's happenings, follow the business' Facebook page. For more information, visit mia-maddie.com. | https://www.wfmz.com/features/eat-sip-shop/physician-turned-baker-to-satisfy-sweet-cravings-at-new-easton-bake-shop/article_8f88545a-cbe2-11ed-a8ed-430a5bc5eb4f.html | 2023-03-26 18:16:36 | 1 | https://www.wfmz.com/features/eat-sip-shop/physician-turned-baker-to-satisfy-sweet-cravings-at-new-easton-bake-shop/article_8f88545a-cbe2-11ed-a8ed-430a5bc5eb4f.html |
Rams takeaways: Bryce Perkins, young receivers make best of chances against Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Rams, 26-10, on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
Here is what we learned from a loss that dropped the Rams to 3-8:
Receiver Allen Robinson is out for the season: Robinson did not play because of a foot injury that will require surgery, coach Sean McVay said after the game.
Robinson had been limited in practice because of an ankle injury suffered in last Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints and he was listed as questionable to play against the Chiefs. But McVay said tests late Friday revealed a stress fracture in Robinson’s foot.
Robinson, a ninth-year pro, had been signed as a free agent to replace Robert Woods. Robinson started slow, but he finished with 33 catches for 339 yards and three touchdowns.
The Rams battled but were undermanned against the Kansas City Chiefs and lost their fifth in a row, 26-10, despite a valiant effort by the defense.
“It sucks,” receiver Van Jefferson said. “We’ve been plagued by a lot of injuries. Allen’s a great player and a great competitor. We’re going to miss him a lot, and some guys got to step up.”
Jefferson, who was sidelined for the first seven games while recovering from knee surgery, caught a touchdown pass against the Chiefs, his second of the season.
Bryce Perkins can operate the offense: It was far from perfect, but in his first NFL start, Perkins performed admirably in one of the NFL’s toughest environments.
Perkins struggled at times to get plays off in time, but he impressed teammates and opponents, completing 13 of 23 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions. He rushed for 44 yards in nine carries.
On one third-down play, Perkins refused to be tackled and was forced out of bounds.
“I just wanted to do my part and battle to keep the drive going, keep the play going,” he said. “That’s just the competitiveness in me to just try to move things forward and I didn’t get it, but I wasn’t going to go down without fighting.”
Perkins is talented, Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis said.
“He can make you pay, especially with his feet,” Karlaftis said. “He can throw it really well. He’s going to be a really good player, I think.
“He gave us some problems, but we were coached up on him.”
Receiver Tutu Atwell might be more than a deep threat: Atwell went into the game with only two career receptions, having caught a long pass against the Dallas Cowboys and a 62-yard touchdown last week against the New Orleans Saints.
On Sunday, during a third-quarter scoring drive, Atwell had two receptions for 23 yards. Atwell caught a fourth-down pass for eight yards and also had a 15-yard reception.
“You can never lose confidence in anything you do, “Atwell said. “The more confidence you have, the better you play.”
Breaking down the notable numbers behind the Rams’ 26-10 road loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday — scoring and statistics.
The offensive line got its 11th iteration: With left tackle Ty Nsehke sidelined because of a knee injury, rookie A.J. Arcuri started at left tackle.
He was the fourth player to start at the spot, joining Joe Noteboom, Alaric Jackson and Nsehke.
The Rams rushed for 116 yards and gave up three sacks.
The Rams can force turnovers: It had happened only once in the previous eight games, and not at all in the previous four.
But the Rams finally forced a turnover when Robert Rochell recovered a fumbled punt.
Safety Nick Scott intercepted a pass by Patrick Mahomes in the end zone, the Rams’ first interception since Scott grabbed a tipped pass against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 16.
“We got to make people pay for their mistakes,” Scott said, “and I feel like we did that for the most part tonight.”
Running back Kyren Williams is showing promise: Williams, a fifth-round draft pick from Notre Dame, rushed for 35 yards in 11 carries and caught three passes for 25 yards, including one for 15.
“I like the way this guy competes — I thought he did a good job,” McVay said. “There are always going to be things we can learn from, but he has a great spirit and great competitiveness.
“I thought I saw him do some good things without the ball and he did a nice job when he did get the ball in his hands to be able to create a little bit.”
Cam Akers rushed for 37 yards in eight carries.
Authorities say NFL free agent Odell Beckham Jr. was removed from an aircraft before takeoff at Miami International Airport after failing to respond to requests to buckle his seatbelt and appearing to be unconscious
Punter Riley Dixon can pass: Dixon’s arm talent was on display again when he completed a six-yard pass to Jacob Harris for a first down on a fake punt.
Dixon also completed a 12-yard pass against the Cowboys.
Harris’ reception Sunday was the first of his career.
“Once we lined up, right away I knew it was coming,” Harris said. “I was licking my chops, just getting an opportunity to get the offense back on the field.”
Unfortunately for the Rams, Perkins was sacked on the next play and the drive stalled again.
The Chiefs drove for a field goal that gave them a 13-3 lead at halftime.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. | https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/story/2022-11-27/rams-chiefs-takeaways-bryce-perkins-young-receivers-contribute | 2022-11-28 05:36:53 | 0 | https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/story/2022-11-27/rams-chiefs-takeaways-bryce-perkins-young-receivers-contribute |
HOUSTON, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fanttik, a young and dynamic brand focused on outdoor and automotive products announced its collaboration with Aventon, the reputable California-based e-bike company focused on designing user-friendly electric bikes. Under the collaboration, Aventon cobrands Fanttik's flagship product –X8 Apex Air Inflator, which is an essential e-bike companion and will deliver a more appealing, easier-to-use experience for e-bike riders. X8 Apex will be available on Aventon's website and Best Buy stores nationwide via both physical and online platforms.
"Aventon is focused on providing e-bikes and e-bike equipment with elegant designs and reliable performance with the end goal of bringing as many people into the e-bike community as possible. The Fanttik X8 Apex Air Inflator has a beautiful design and makes it easy to tackle a flat tire, especially for fat tires," said JW Zhang, founder of Aventon. "A large part of our strategy is to continue elevating the riding experiences for our customers by partnering with brands that share our vision and provide high-quality products."
"Bicycle sales have skyrocketed since the pandemic, and this presents an opportunity for related accessories. We share a similar commitment with Aventon, both are user-friendly with cutting-edge design. We are thrilled to launch the co-branded X8 Apex Tire Inflator with Aventon. The X8 Apex Air Inflator can inflate nearly everything one might need during a trip or ride. It comes with a built-in battery and lightweight frame for ultimate portability." Introduced by Du Bo, CEO of Fanttik.
The Fanttik X8 Apex has a maximum pressure of 150PSI to satisfy a wide variety of inflation needs, from tires on cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and more to recreational inflatables such as sports balls. Utilizing advanced technology and a powerful motor, X8 APEX boasts 50% faster inflation speeds when compared to other inflators with accuracy within ±1 psi. The inflator takes only 14s to pump up one road bike tire(0-45PSI), and less than 6 minutes for one 205/55 R16 car tire(0-36PSI). X8 Apex also comes equipped with five preset modes for easy inflation: car, motorcycle, bicycle, ball, and manual, allowing users to get fast and safe inflation for the inflatables at all times.
X8 Apex has won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award and iF Design Award respectively in 2022. They also sponsored the car enthusiast community - the Purist Group's 10th Anniversary Event on 4/19 in L.A, also widely endorsed by Tesla owners on social media.
Price and purchase link:
Get X8 Apex just for $149.99 at www.aventon.com/products/aventon-fanttik-portable-air-pump
About Aventon
Aventon is a California-based e-bike company, known for its unique blend of quality, design, performance, and real-world pricing. The ebike brand offers a wide and growing range of e-bike models that cater to adventure, commuting, and recreational riding. With over a decade of experience in the cycling industry, Aventon is a trusted name with a wealth of competence. Besides product implementation, Aventon was featured in Forbes for democratizing the healthy commute.
About Fanttik
Fanttik is a youthful dynamic brand, dedicated to outdoor and automotive products, that caters to every need for the perfect road trip. They believe that traveling is much more than simply going from point A to B, and their goal is to make every inch of every trip as enjoyable and as fulfilling as possible. They promote fun, safe, and fulfilling trips instead of vanilla commutes, be they day-to-day travels or outdoor adventures. They implement their products under the motto – "We explore, we innovate, and we make it happen." Their products have been reviewed by a myriad of esteemed YouTubers, such as Donut Media, Samcrac, and Silver Cymbal, to name a few.
For more information, please visit www.aventon.com and www.fanttik.com.
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SOURCE FANTTIK | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/fanttik-x8-apex-inflator-collaborates-with-leading-dtc-e-bike-brand-aventon-share-sales-channels/ | 2022-06-07 17:09:23 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/fanttik-x8-apex-inflator-collaborates-with-leading-dtc-e-bike-brand-aventon-share-sales-channels/ |
Atlantic County Prosecutor: Woman fatally shot in Pleasantville Monday morning
PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. - Pleasantville Police are investigating a shooting in Pleasantville that left one woman dead early Monday morning.
At around midnight on Monday, police say they received a call for assistance and responded to the 1000 block of Iowa Avenue in Pleasantville.
Upon arrival, authorities say they identified Jazmen Martin-Richardson, 30, who was suffering from a gunshot wound.
Police say medical personnel were unable to revive the victim, and she was pronounced dead on the scene.
The ACPO Major Crimes Unit and the Pleasantville Police Department are actively investigating this incident.
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Anyone with information about serious crimes are urged to contact the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit at 609-909-7666. | https://www.fox29.com/news/atlantic-county-prosecutor-woman-fatally-shot-in-pleasantville-monday-morning | 2022-05-23 18:12:42 | 1 | https://www.fox29.com/news/atlantic-county-prosecutor-woman-fatally-shot-in-pleasantville-monday-morning |
NEW YORK, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Unity Software, Inc. ("Unity" or the "Company") (NYSE: U). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether Unity and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
On May 10, 2022, after the market closed, Unity announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2022. The Company also reduced its fiscal 2022 guidance, citing "challenges with monetization products." Specifically, Unity stated that "a fault in [Unity's] platform . . . resulted in reduced accuracy for [its] Audience Pinpointer tool, a revenue expensive issue given that [the] Pinpointer tool experienced significant growth post the IDFA changes."
On this news, Unity's stock price fell $17.83 per share, or approximately 37%, to close at $30.30 per share on May 11, 2022.
The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980
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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-behalf-investors-unity-software-inc-u/ | 2022-06-09 02:59:50 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-behalf-investors-unity-software-inc-u/ |
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How the Monitor helped a young reader open her heart to the world
“Values ... shine throughout articles in the Monitor and convinced me that news can be good,” writes Favour Odenyi, winner of a national high school essay contest. “It renewed my faith that things can improve in our world.”
I don’t remember getting out of bed in the morning eager to read the news. The only time I ever engaged in a lengthy discussion on tragic events, which are frequently featured in the news, was in school. My teachers would create a curriculum centered on current global issues, and it was through those lessons that I learned about the world around me. At home, I would occasionally direct my attention to the TV news anchor reporting on an issue, while I tried my best to follow the carousel text sliding from right to left. Frankly, this was one of the reasons I disliked the news because it constantly highlighted only the problems we faced.
Major news sources seem to capitalize on eye-catching headlines, and although death, bombings, shootings, poverty, inflation, dictatorial governments, and climate change are global concerns, the delivery of these topics induced fear and was rarely accompanied by tangible solutions. Over time, I eventually became numb to any kind of news because I was accustomed to only receiving the negative aspect of a topic. I felt hopeless and reverted to my little universe. I found it difficult to believe that “little me” could improve the world, and because of my pessimistic mindset, I was unsure of how to approach these problems through prayer.
When I first started reading The Christian Science Monitor, I admit, I solely read the articles just to get to the end. It felt as though it was an assignment I needed to check off, but as I read more articles and discussed them with my mentor, I became more engaged with the news, something I thought I could not do on my own. The Monitor’s mission, “injure no man, but to bless all mankind,” is amplified through 28 values, which work together to deliver accurate and inspiring journalism. While “negative” news, unfortunately, catches the eyes of many people, the Monitor not only highlights progress and unity but indicates what actions people have taken to develop sustainable solutions.
Values such as cooperation, dignity, justice, balance, compassion, and resilience shine throughout articles in the Monitor and convinced me that news can be good and should strive to highlight progress, however little it may be. This was essential for me to acknowledge because it renewed my faith that things can improve in our world.
I read an article that covered how some small woodlot holders along with Indigenous organizations banded together to model the way on how to manage forests more sustainably in eastern Canada. Other pieces I read were about a family that emigrated from Tel Aviv to Canada, nourishing a neighborhood after a mass shooting, and molding moral soldiers.
After reading the articles, I recorded in my journal the importance of the topics and how I could prayerfully support those issues. I noticed that the need for change or aid came from individuals as well as communities who were driven by selflessness, love, compassion, and understanding. Regardless of how little or much these individuals contributed, goodness always seemed to draw people closer. Many communities worked together to have more compassion and understanding with each other, and I wondered how I could pray to also express those qualities. A transformation was happening, one that enabled me to explore how I could apply the values gained from reading the news, in my daily life. This new outlook on what news should be was rooted in my weekly subscription to the Monitor, and this realization directed how I prayed for the world.
As I read the articles, my prayers evolved to recognize the heavenly qualities that govern each individual and community, seeking to transform the world. I was especially intrigued by these two articles: “Denied asylum in Israel, Eritreans are welcomed by Canadian Jews,” and “How an Army ethicist works to mold moral soldiers,” because they expressed qualities of unity, acceptance, love, and goodness.
The first article describes how Jewish Canadians, particularly the Allen family, were outraged over Israel’s stringent policy toward asylum-seekers. Jon Allen was a former Canadian ambassador to Israel, and he along with his wife, Clara Hirsch, and another couple, sponsored an Eritrean family Medhanea and Titi Solomon, and their two Israeli-born daughters, from Israel to Canada.
Given the history and struggles of Jewish people, I initially found it difficult to comprehend how Israel could participate in such discrimination. Danny Schild, the founder of CHAI (Canadians Helping Asylum Seekers in Israel), asked “How could this possibly be happening, this kind of discrimination, this kind of poor treatment of the other in Tel Aviv, when our tradition says 36 times you shall welcome any stranger?” I don’t often consider the human family when it comes to the news and because of this, I was trapped in the cycle of the blame game to recognize the amount of work being done by Jewish individuals and communities abroad to counter Israel’s poor judgment.
The Allen family felt morally obligated to help out the Solomon family. They did not let the idea of distance separate them from loving the Solomon family. I focused on how to pray about the ideas of finding a place to belong, acceptance, security, and discrimination, and found that the solution to these issues was loving your neighbor as yourself. Love brought these families together despite the chaos going around them. Both families expressed love even though their common country, Israel, wanted division, and this defiance brought hope and security to both families.
This article gave me the ability to look past the chaos and consciously understand how a higher character and purpose serve as a catalyst for a more remarkable transformation. Although sometimes it may be difficult to see eye to eye with your neighbor, especially on the topic of war, I understand that when love is at the center and core of our being, people who I may have seen as strangers become my neighbor.
Maj. Jared Vineyard, an Army chaplain, urges soldiers to be ethical leaders for war through values centered around fairness, respect, and even honor toward the opposing side. A memorable quote favored by the chaplain explains why molding ethical and moral soldiers should be at the forefront of Army values: “You are the standard. Be that person. Leaders are readers. Be there. Beware, lest you become the monster you perceive your adversary to be.” He encourages soldiers to be the change they want to see in this world by making an effort to always make a clear ethical decision even when the commander’s judgment is questionable.
I asked myself, “How do I become a better soldier when all around I sense chaos?” I remembered in Sunday School we talked about trusting your highest sense of good. Being still and receptive to those perfect angel thoughts allows me to discern clearly what is beneficial for all. When I consciously desire to do and be better, I believe this is an example of “prayer without ceasing.” This is a gift and the implementation of this idea in the Army, where it would otherwise seem contradictory, serves as a spiritual foundation and moral protection for the soldiers, which may lead to fairer militant action.
The idea in the article mentioning how “leaders are readers” and being aware “lest you become the monster you perceive your adversary to be” is what I have taken with me whenever controversial discussion points are brought up in school. I strive to learn about an issue before I take a stance, and oftentimes refer to the Monitor for the facts. I also make sure that my perspective is never based on the turmoil but rises above it. This speaks clearly to the mission of the Monitor: “We want to be so focused on progress that together we can provide a credible and constructive counter-narrative to the hopelessness-, anger-, and fear-inducing brand of discourse that is so pervasive in the news.”
Before reading the Monitor I sometimes found myself impulsively agreeing with the opinions of other people because I felt I didn’t have enough information to form a separate viewpoint. After reading the Monitor, I felt confident in voicing ideas that came to me on certain topics because it expanded my knowledge and understanding. This was crucial because learning how to rise above the fear and anger that were prevalent in the news was an essential struggle I had to overcome when praying for the world.
The Monitor taught me that news doesn’t have to be something I avoid or feel I can’t do anything about. I’ve learned about the experiences of so many people and how the expression of love, unity, understanding, respect, morality, and community helped them face their adversities.
Praying for the world seemed like something I had to do on my own, but the more articles I read, the more I realized that every day, people are praying for the world through acts of kindness, charity, and unselfishness. I understand that praying for the world does not mean I take on the tragedies of the entire world, but that I start small and express qualities of goodness in my community. As long as my prayers extend to the global family, bless all mankind, and all creatures, and add to the grand goodness seen all over the world, then I am actively making a positive difference and being the change I would like to see in our world.
Favour Odenyi is a high school senior in San Francisco who also enjoys coding and fixing bicycles. She is the winner of a national essay contest focused on the Monitor for participants of Discovery Bound, a youth leadership program for young Christian Scientists. | https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/2023/0314/How-the-Monitor-helped-a-young-reader-open-her-heart-to-the-world | 2023-03-15 02:27:17 | 1 | https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/2023/0314/How-the-Monitor-helped-a-young-reader-open-her-heart-to-the-world |
Idris Elba may go head-to-head with a lion in “Beast,” but the action flick was no match for the latest “Dragon Ball” movie at the North American box office this weekend.
“Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” topped the charts in its first weekend in theaters, with $20.1 million in ticket sales according to studio estimates on Sunday. “Beast,” meanwhile, settled for a second-place debut with $11.6 million.
Crunchyroll released “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” on 3,900 screens in North America, marking the widest-ever opening for an anime. The Toei Animation production was directed by Tetsuro Kodama, who had the support of “Dragon Ball” creator Akira Toriyama. The Dragon Ball universe is almost 40 years old, and includes manga, television shows, movies, games and toys.
“We’re absolutely thrilled that Dragon Ball fans could come together to experience and enjoy this amazing film in theaters,” said Mitchel Berger, senior vice president of global commerce for the distributor, in a statement. “Crunchyroll thanks all of the fans, whether or not you are a ‘super’ fan or a newcomer, and we hope they come back again and again.”
According to PostTrak, the “Dragon Ball Super” audience was heavily male (79%) and 44% between the ages of 25 and 34.
“Japanese anime is a cinematic tradition, but rarely do you see a movie like this topping the domestic chart,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “To be ahead of all these other mainstream Hollywood movies is quite incredible. It speaks volumes to the globalization of the box office.”
“Beast,” meanwhile, opened on 3,743 screens in North America. The film, directed by Baltasar Kormákur (“Everest”) stars Elba as a widowed father of two teenage girls, played by Iyana Halley and Leah Jeffries, who find themselves on the run from a bloodthirsty lion during a trip to South Africa.
Including international showings, “Beast” has made $21.8 million so far.
“I think this is a terrific start for ‘Beast,’” said Jim Orr, Universal’s head of domestic distribution. “I believe we will have a great run at the box office.”
Elba also has another film opening in theaters next weekend — George Miller’s fantasy epic “Three Thousand Years of Longing.”
Sony’s “Bullet Train,” meanwhile, landed in third place after two weekends at No. 1 with an estimated $8 million, bringing its domestic total to $68.9 million. Paramount’s “Top Gun: Maverick” placed fourth in its 13th weekend in theaters with an additional $5.9 million. “Top Gun” has made over $683 million in North America to date, which was was enough to overtake “Avengers: Infinity War” as the sixth highest grossing domestic release of all time. “DC League of Super-Pets” rounded out the top five.
Paramount also released “Orphan: First Kill” on Paramount+ and in 498 locations this weekend. The Esther origin story made an estimated $1.7 million from theaters.
The weekend overall saw about $77 million in North American ticket sales — up over 168% from the same weekend last year— bringing the year to date to $5.2 billion, according to Comscore. But the summer movie season continues a wind down that may last deep into the fall.
“It’s not that there’s not going to be any movies, there’s just not going to be a $100 million blockbuster for a while,” Dergarabedian said. “But in the interim, there’s going to be a lot of cool movies, like ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ (Sept. 23).”
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero,” $20.1 million.
2. “Beast,” $11.6 million.
3. “Bullet Train,” $8 million.
4. “Top Gun: Maverick,” $5.9 million.
5. “DC League of Super-Pets,” $5.8 million.
6. “Thor: Love and Thunder,” $4 million.
7. “Nope,” $3.6 million.
8. “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” $3.5 million.
9. “Where the Crawdads Sing,” $3.2 million.
10. “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” $2.4 million.
___
Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr | https://www.yourbasin.com/entertainment-news/dragon-ball-super-bests-beast-at-box-office-with-20-1m/ | 2022-08-22 00:16:43 | 1 | https://www.yourbasin.com/entertainment-news/dragon-ball-super-bests-beast-at-box-office-with-20-1m/ |
Late-night television icon and famed car enthusiast Jay Leno is in a Los Angeles hospital after he was injured in a car fire over the weekend.
“I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire. I am ok. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet,” Leno told Variety.
According to reports, the former “Tonight Show” host was in his Los Angeles garage on Sunday when one of his cars burst into flames, seemingly inexplicably. Sources told the entertainment site that the left side of Leno’s face was burned but that the flames didn’t “penetrate his eye or his ear.”
He is being treated at Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles. The 72-year-old comedian is reportedly in good spirits and is receiving treatment for his face and hands.
“His family was not able to provide us very many details, but there was a very serious medical emergency that is preventing Jay from traveling,” read the email sent to attendees of the conference. People obtained the email on Monday.
An avid car collector, Leno’s famed automobile collection includes over 180 exotic cars, hypercars and museum-grade artifacts.
Late Night Legend Jay Leno Suffers Serious Burns In Car Fire was originally published on myhoustonmajic.com | https://hot1009.com/3479385/jay-leno-suffers-serious-burns-car-fire/ | 2022-11-15 18:05:57 | 1 | https://hot1009.com/3479385/jay-leno-suffers-serious-burns-car-fire/ |
We've previously brought you grocery-saving math in the forms of name brand versus store brand products, buying via online delivery versus buying in-store and Trader Joe's versus conventional retailers. Now, we take on stockpiling (responsibly of course) to see how much you can save by buying in bulk from Costco.
Most of us inherently understand the principle of bulk buying, but when it comes to our normal grocery shopping habits, how many of us actually take advantage of bulk economics?
Stores such as Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale deal mainly in bulk products, and department stores such as Target and Walmart typically offer a number of bulk options, but even conventional grocery stores often carry bulk or larger sizes of staple items. However, Storage may be an issue when buying in bulk, and not all groceries are suitable for bulk purchasing if they have short shelf lives.
But it does raise the question: How much money can you save by buying groceries in bulk? By my calculations, you'll save over $1,000 shopping from a wholesale retailer. Below is a breakdown of how I reached that figure.
How we did the math: Stop & Shop vs. Costco
Using grocery list templates available online, I assembled a list of 25 typical, staple grocery items that are suitable for longer storage, either in the pantry, refrigerator or freezer. This ruled out most fresh produce, with some exceptions, though if you're hosting a large gathering buying produce in bulk may be worthwhile also. Bulk shopping doesn't mean buying a year's worth of groceries all at one time, but I didn't include anything that wouldn't hold up well for at least a month, with the notion that bulk grocery shopping can be done less often. Bulk buying also requires a greater upfront spend, which is why Costco's per-item total is considerably higher than Stop & Shop's.
Assuming either bi-weekly or monthly consumption of those staple grocery items for a household of one or two people, I came up with the approximate yearly consumption for each. I chose Stop & Shop to represent a conventional grocery retailer, as it's largely considered to be a quality store with median prices, and Costco to represent bulk buying, as its Kirkland Signature products have a bit of a following in their own right -- Costco is the Trader Joe's of the bulk set, for sure.
Unless a national brand is otherwise indicated, I used Stop & Shop's SB brand, or the least expensive name-brand product for a given item, to compare to Costco's Kirkland Signature brand. For the Stop & Shop items, coming up with the yearly price for each item was a simple matter of multiplying by 26 for bi-weekly consumption, or 12 for monthly consumption. For Costco's items, I scaled the prices accordingly based on whatever package size Costco offers to indicate a yearly cost for the same amount of a given item.
Since I was primarily interested in food cost savings, I didn't factor in cleaning supplies, paper products or other items, but you can safely assume these also amount to big saving potential over the year when bought in bulk. Also, since my calculations were based on a small household, the bigger your household, the bigger the savings.
Costco membership fee
Costco requires a membership to take advantage of its bulk savings and low-cost signature brands. A basic membership costs $60 a year and is valid at all locations. Read more about the different Costco membership options.
Why buying in bulk is cheaper
The economics of buying in bulk is simple: The more you buy of something at one time, the less it costs per count or unit of weight. Producers, distributors and retailers are able to offer lower prices in this way not only because bulk items often require less packaging, but also because for them it's a sure sale over a potential sale -- they'd rather have your money now, even at a discount, than parsed out over a period of time.
The verdict: Bulk savings are huge
Given this particular grocery list, buying in bulk would allow you to save over $1,000 during the course of a year, representing a 33% savings overall over conventional groceries. (In today's economy, it is worth mentioning that you also save gas money with fewer trips to the store.) In a few cases, the Stop & Shop item ended up being the cheaper option: organic milk, carrots, potatoes and frozen salmon filets, for example. In all of these cases, there wasn't a huge size difference between the conventional and bulk items. Milk is an especially good example, as it's still offered in a larger quantity at Costco, but there's only so much of it you can buy at one time without risking it spoiling, and so the bulk offering is comparatively modest. Costco also doesn't have a Kirkland brand offering of organic milk, whereas Stop & Shop does.
Generally speaking, the larger the scale on the bulk item, the larger the savings. If you buy a 40-ounce quantity of Cheerios, for example, rather than the 12 ounces you get in a typical box, they become nearly 75% cheaper. Buying 25 pounds of white rice all at once instead of 2 pounds at a time saves you 60%.
With at least a grand in savings available yearly for just a portion of your grocery list, even if you need to buy additional home storage to accommodate it, the verdict is clear: Bulk grocery shopping is well worth the effort.
Shelf-stable items bring some of the biggest savings
Some of the biggest savings by percentage come from shelf-stable and pantry items including chips, crackers, jarred sauce, rice and whole bean coffee. These items are typically easier to store and less likely to spoil or deteriorate in quality. Buying pantry items in bulk from a discount grocer such as Costco represents a clear and risk-free strategy for saving money on your grocery spend over the course of a year.
For more We Do the Math, check out how much you can save by shopping at Trader Joe's compared to other grocery stores, and if it's cheaper to buy meal kits than groceries. | https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/how-much-can-you-really-save-by-shopping-at-costco-we-do-the-math/ | 2022-11-04 15:13:24 | 0 | https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/how-much-can-you-really-save-by-shopping-at-costco-we-do-the-math/ |
Business confidence among the state’s employers fell last month to the lowest level seen since the height of the pandemic, according to a recent survey of Massachusetts employers.
The Associated Industries of Massachusetts, in its monthly Business Confidence Index, says Massachusetts business owners’ faith in the economy plunged half-a-point in May, dropping from 50.1% to 49.6% and continuing a downward trend that first began in November.
And while a half point may not sound like a lot, the move is significant as a reading below 50 indicates a pessimistic outlook.
“Massachusetts employers turned pessimistic about the economy for the first time since December 2020 last month as the state economy slowed to a crawl and the Federal Reserve continued to raise interest rates,” the survey reads, in part.
The index, taken well ahead of Friday’s unexpected report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing the economy had added a further 339,000 jobs and before President Biden’s negotiated deal to suspend the debt ceiling until 2025 had cleared Congress, reflects an ongoing concern among employers that the nation may be barreling toward economic recession or policy driven calamity.
“Businesses have been stung by both stubbornly high inflation and persistently high interest rates, which have dampened demand and raised costs. It’s unfortunately not surprising that the Future Index indicates that business leaders expect these conditions to worsen further,” Michael Tyler, Chief Investment Officer at Eastern Bank Wealth Management and Vice Chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors said with the survey’s release.
“Thankfully, a possible recession would likely be shallow and short, cushioned by a strong jobs market and healthy consumer spending,” Tyler said.
Though circumstances may have seemed particularly dire to business owners as of last month, according AIM President John Regan, doing away with concerns of a U.S. default and the consequences of what might follow will hopefully put the minds of employers at ease.
“The President and Congress did the right thing in hammering out an agreement that will maintain the stability of the global financial system. Employers need all the predictability they can get as the economy continues to slow down,” Regan said.
Friday’s jobs report also showed a slight uptick in the unemployment rate, which has Fed watchers wondering if the economy has slowed enough that Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell could consider a pause in the central bank’s on-going crusade against inflation via raises to the key interest rate, an eleventh of which may or may not materialize out of June’s meeting of the Board of Governors.
AIM surveys more than 140 Bay State businesses to produce their monthly index, the first of which was published in July of 1991. According to AIM, business confidence hit historic highs in 1997 and 1998, with two months in either year showing 68.5% confidence, and hit a low in February of 2009, when it was 33.3%. | https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/06/05/business-confidence-turns-pessimistic-for-the-first-time-since-2020/ | 2023-06-05 09:06:11 | 1 | https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/06/05/business-confidence-turns-pessimistic-for-the-first-time-since-2020/ |
Nearly One-Third of Average Wages Required for Major Home-Ownership Expenses During Second Quarter of 2022; Portion of Wages Consumed by Home Ownership Rises at Fastest Pace This Century; Historic Affordability Plummets to 15-Year Low as Median Home Price Hits $349,000 and Mortgage Rates Top 5 percent
IRVINE, Calif., June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ATTOM, a leading curator of real estate data nationwide for land and property data, today released its second-quarter 2022 U.S. Home Affordability Report, showing that median-priced single-family homes and condos are less affordable in the second quarter of 2022 compared to historical averages in 97 percent of counties across the nation with enough data to analyze. That was up from 69 percent of counties that were historically less affordable in the second quarter of 2021, to the highest point since 2007, just before the housing market crashed during the Great Recession of the late 2000s.
The report also shows that the portion of average wages nationwide required for major home-ownership expenses has risen this quarter to 31.5 percent as the median price of a single-family home has hit a new high of $349,000 and 30-year mortgage rates have shot up above 5 percent. The percentage of average wages consumed by those expenses has risen at the fastest quarterly and annual pace since at least 2000.
"Extraordinarily low levels of homes for sale combined with strong demand have caused home prices to soar over the last few years," said Rick Sharga, executive vice president of market intelligence at ATTOM. "But homes remained relatively affordable due to historically low mortgage rates and rising wages. With interest rates almost doubling, homebuyers are faced with monthly mortgage payments that are between 40 and 50% higher than they were a year ago – payments that many prospective buyers simply can't afford."
The report determined affordability for average wage earners by calculating the amount of income needed to meet major monthly home ownership expenses — including mortgage, property taxes and insurance — on a median-priced single-family home, assuming a 20 percent down payment and a 28 percent maximum "front-end" debt-to-income ratio. That required income was then compared to annualized average weekly wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (see full methodology below).
Compared to historical levels, median home prices in 560 of the 575 counties analyzed in the second quarter of 2022 are less affordable than in the past. The latest number is up from 459 of the same group of counties in the first quarter of 2022, 397 in the second quarter of 2021 and just 251, or less than half, two years ago. That increase has continued as the median national home price has spiked 16 percent over the past year while average annual wages across the country have grown just 6 percent.
Major ownership costs on median-priced single-family homes and condos around the U.S. now require more than 28 percent of the average $67,587 wage in the U.S. - a ceiling considered affordable by common lending standards. The current level of 31.5 percent stands at the highest point since the second quarter of 2007 and is up from 26 percent in the first quarter of 2022 and 23.9 percent in the second quarter of last year. Both increases mark the largest jumps since at least 2000.
Affording a home across the nation has gotten significantly tougher in recent months at a time when the U.S. housing market has roared ahead for the 11th straight year but also faces notable headwinds that could slow it down. One major force remains: home prices have continued to soar in 2022 as a large cohort of homebuyers continues chasing an extremely small supply of properties for sale. Elevated demand has helped push the national median home price up over the past year at more than double the pace of wage growth.
But as mortgage rates have steadily climbed this year from just above 3 percent to near 6 percent for a 30-year loan, costs have escalated for buyers. Higher interest rates, growing inflation, soaring fuel costs and a declining stock market all threaten the housing market, which could already be showing signs of strain – May marked the fifth consecutive month of lower existing home sales than the prior month.
As historic affordability continues to decline, major home-ownership expenses on typical homes are now unaffordable to average local wage earners during the second quarter of 2022 in 388, or 67 percent, of the 575 counties in the report, based on the 28-percent guideline. The largest populated counties that are unaffordable are Los Angeles County, CA; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; San Diego County, CA; Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) and Kings County (Brooklyn), NY.
The most populous of the 187 counties where major expenses on median-priced homes remain affordable for average local workers in the second quarter of 2022 are Cook County (Chicago), IL; Harris County (Houston), TX; Philadelphia County, PA; Franklin County (Columbus), OH, and Hennepin County (Minneapolis), MN.
Home prices continue to rise at least 10 percent annually in two-thirds of country
Median single-family home and condo prices in the second quarter of 2022 are up by at least 10 percent over the second quarter of 2021 in 373, or 65 percent, of the 575 counties included in the report. Data was analyzed for counties with a population of at least 100,000 and at least 50 single-family home and condo sales in the second quarter of 2022.
Among the 47 counties in the report with a population of at least 1 million, the biggest year-over-year gains in median sales prices during the second quarter of 2022 are in Collin County (Plano), TX (up 28 percent); Hillsborough County (Tampa), FL (up 27 percent); Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ (up 25 percent); Clark County (Las Vegas), NV (up 24 percent) and Salt Lake County (Salt Lake City), UT (up 24 percent).
Counties with a population of at least 1 million where median prices have gone up the least or decreased, year-over-year, during the second quarter of 2022 are Oakland County, MI (outside Detroit) (down 2 percent); Honolulu County, HI (up 4 percent); Bronx County, NY (up 5 percent); Cook County (Chicago), IL (up 5 percent) and Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (up 6 percent).
Price gains outpace wage growth in nearly 90 percent of markets
Annual home-price appreciation has been greater than weekly annualized wage growth in the second quarter of 2022 in 510 of the 575 counties analyzed in the report (89 percent), with the largest including Los Angeles County, CA; Harris County (Houston), TX; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; San Diego County, CA, and Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles).
Average annualized wage growth has surpassed home-price appreciation in the second quarter of 2022 in only 65 of the counties in the report (11 percent), including Cook County, (Chicago), IL; Oakland County, MI (outside Detroit); Fairfield County, CT (outside New York City); Erie County (Buffalo), NY, and San Francisco County, CA.
Ownership costs now require more than 28 percent of average local wages in two-thirds of the nation
Major ownership costs on median-priced, single-family homes in the second quarter of 2022 consume more than 28 percent of average local wages in 388 of the 575 counties analyzed (67 percent), assuming a 20 percent down payment. That is up from 52 percent in the first quarter of 2022 for the same group of counties and 44 percent in the second quarter of last year.
"Worsening affordability appears to be having an impact on demand, which could lead to prices plateauing or even correcting modestly in some markets," Sharga noted. "Many potential buyers may elect to continue renting until market conditions improve. Others might adjust their sights and look for smaller properties, or homes that are further away from major metro areas. And it's possible that worsening affordability could accelerate the migratory trends that the COVID-19 pandemic started, as residents in high cost, high tax states who can now work from home look for less expensive places to live."
All but two of counties analyzed have seen an increase in the portion of average local wages consumed by major ownership expenses from both the first to the second quarter of this year and from the second quarter of last year to the same period in 2022.
Counties that require the largest percentage of wages are Santa Cruz County, CA (116 percent of annualized weekly wages needed to buy a home); Marin County, CA (outside San Francisco) (109.6 percent); Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (102.9 percent); Maui County, HI (92 percent) and San Luis Obispo County, CA (88.2 percent).
Aside from Kings County, NY, counties with a population of at least 1 million where major ownership expenses typically consume more than 28 percent of average local wages in the second quarter of 2022 include Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (82.1 percent); Alameda County (Oakland), CA (77.2 percent); Queens County, NY (72.5 percent) and Riverside County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (67.6 percent).
Counties where the smallest portion of average local wages are required to afford the median-priced home during the second quarter of this year are Schuylkill County, PA (outside Allentown) (10.2 percent of annualized weekly wages needed to buy a home); Rock Island County (Moline), IL (12.4 percent); Cambria County, PA (outside Pittsburgh) (12.9 percent); Macon County (Decatur), IL (13.4 percent) and Mercer County, PA (outside Pittsburgh) (13.6 percent).
Counties with a population of at least 1 million where major ownership expenses typically consume less than 28 percent of average local wages in the second quarter of 2022 include Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), PA (17.4 percent); Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH (18.4 percent); Philadelphia County, PA (19.1 percent); St. Louis County, MO (21.4 percent) and Cook County (Chicago), IL (25.3 percent).
Four in 10 counties require annual wages of more than $75,000 to afford typical home
Amid the downward affordability trend, annual wages of more than $75,000 are now needed to pay for major costs on the median-priced home purchased during the second quarter of 2022 in 232, or 40 percent, of the 575 markets in the report.
The top 20 highest annual wages required to afford typical homes again are all on the east or west coast, led by New York County (Manhattan), NY ($362,691); San Mateo County (outside San Francisco), CA ($357,567); Marin County (outside San Francisco), CA ($347,958); San Francisco County, CA ($327,220) and Santa Clara County (San Jose), CA ($322,131).
The lowest annual wages required to afford a median-priced home in the second quarter of 2022 are in Schuylkill County, PA (outside Allentown) ($17,595); Cambria County, PA (outside Pittsburgh) ($20,171); Mercer County, PA (outside Pittsburgh) ($23,255); Fayette County, PA (outside Pittsburgh) ($23,638) and Bibb County (Macon), GA ($24,501),
Homeownership less affordable than historic averages in nearly all counties
Among the 575 counties analyzed in the report, 560 (97 percent) are less affordable in the second quarter of 2022 than their historic affordability averages. That is up from 80 percent in the first quarter of 2022, 69 percent a year ago and more than double the 44 percent level in the second quarter of 2020. Historic indexes have worsened this quarter compared to a year ago in all but two of those counties.
Historic affordability nationwide has declined for the sixth quarter in row to the worst level since the second quarter of 2007, near the end of the last housing-market boom.
Counties with a population of at least 1 million that are less affordable than their historic averages (indexes of less than 100 are considered less affordable compared to historic averages) include Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ (index of 58); Mecklenburg County (Charlotte), NC (59); Travis County (Austin), TX (60); Collin County (Plano), TX (60) and Clark County (Las Vegas), NV (60).
Counties with the worst affordability indexes in the second quarter of 2022 are Clayton County, GA (outside Atlanta) (index of 47); Canyon County, ID (outside Boise) (48); Rankin County (Jackson), MS (48); Maury County, TN (outside Nashville) (49) and Pinal County, AZ (outside Phoenix) (49).
Among counties with a population of at least 1 million, those where the affordability indexes have worsened most from the second quarter of 2021 to the second quarter of 2022 are Hillsborough County (Tampa), FL (index down 30 percent); Clark County (Las Vegas), NV (down 30 percent); Collin County (Plano), TX (down 30 percent); Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ (down 30 percent) and Pima County, (Tucson), AZ (down 30 percent).
Only 3 percent of markets are more affordable than historic averages
Among the 575 counties in the report, only 15 (3 percent) are more affordable than their historic affordability averages in the second quarter of 2022. That is down from 20 percent of the same group in the prior quarter, 31 percent a year ago and 56 percent in the second quarter of 2020.
Counties with a population of at least 1 million that are more affordable than their historic averages (indexes of more than 100 are considered more affordable compared to historic averages) include Westchester County, NY (outside New York City) (index of 103) and New York County (Manhattan), NY (101).
Counties with the best affordability indexes in the second quarter of 2022 include Macon County (Decatur), IL (index of 129); San Francisco County, CA (115); Mercer County, PA (outside Pittsburgh) (114); Peoria County, IL (107) and Schuylkill County, PA (outside Allentown) (106).
Counties with a population of least 1 million where the affordability index has declined the least from the second quarter of last year to the same period this year are Oakland County, MI (outside Detroit) (index down 11 percent); Cook County (Chicago), IL (down 13 percent); Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH (down 17 percent); Westchester County, NY (outside New York City) (down 17 percent) and Bronx County, NY (down 18 percent).
Report Methodology
The ATTOM U.S. Home Affordability Index analyzed median home prices derived from publicly recorded sales deed data collected by ATTOM and average wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 575 U.S. counties with a combined population of 254.1 million during the second quarter of 2022. The affordability index is based on the percentage of average wages needed to pay for major expenses on a median-priced home with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and a 20 percent down payment. Those expenses include property taxes, home insurance, mortgage payments and mortgage insurance. Average 30-year fixed interest rates from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey were used to calculate monthly house payments.
The report determined affordability for average wage earners by calculating the amount of income needed for major home ownership expenses on a median-priced home, assuming a loan of 80 percent of the purchase price and a 28 percent maximum "front-end" debt-to-income ratio. For example, the nationwide median home price of $349,000 in the second quarter of 2022 requires an annual wage of $76,155, based on a $69,800 down payment, a $279,200 loan and monthly expenses not exceeding the 28 percent barrier — meaning households would not be spending more than 28 percent of their income on mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance. That required income is more than the $67,587 average wage nationwide based on the most recent average weekly wage data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, making a median-priced home nationwide unaffordable for average workers.
About ATTOM
ATTOM provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation's population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes, and enhances the real estate data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID — the ATTOM ID. The 20TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include bulk file licenses, property data APIs, real estate market trends, property reports and more. Also, introducing our newest innovative solution, that offers immediate access and streamlines data management – ATTOM Cloud.
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SOURCE ATTOM | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/rising-prices-mortgage-rates-make-homeownership-unaffordable-across-most-us/ | 2022-06-30 05:03:19 | 0 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/rising-prices-mortgage-rates-make-homeownership-unaffordable-across-most-us/ |
Man wins $1M jackpot after grandmother buys lottery ticket for 18th birthday
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Gray News) - A California man celebrated turning 18 while cashing in a million-dollar lottery ticket.
According to the California Lottery, Kaleb Heng won $1 million from a scratch-off lottery ticket that was given to him by his grandmother for his 18th birthday.
Lottery officials said the jackpot was hit from a $10 scratch-off ticket on The Perfect Gift game.
“I’m pretty stoked! I certainly wasn’t expecting it,” Heng said.
Heng’s grandmother bought the winning ticket from a market in the Turlock area and gave it to him while he was heading out on a fishing trip.
“My mom was driving me to go fishing, and on the way, I scratched it,” Heng said. “We had to pull over. It was a million dollars, and I didn’t even have an ID yet!”
Heng said they ended up turning the car around to get his identification and cash in the ticket.
The 18-year-old told lottery officials he plans to use the money for college and investments.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wsaz.com/2023/04/11/man-wins-1m-jackpot-after-grandmother-buys-lottery-ticket-18th-birthday/ | 2023-04-11 20:56:33 | 1 | https://www.wsaz.com/2023/04/11/man-wins-1m-jackpot-after-grandmother-buys-lottery-ticket-18th-birthday/ |
BERLIN (AP) — Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a longtime opera fan, is offering her thoughts on Richard Wagner’s Ring cycle — the latest in a series of sporadic and sometimes idiosyncratic appearances since she left office a year ago.
Merkel joined a former federal court judge, Thomas Fischer, to reflect on “greed,” “revenge” and “vanity” in Wagner’s epic and lengthy creation in a three-part special edition of a crime-themed audio podcast for public broadcaster SWR that went online Sunday.
The 68-year-old center-right politician, who led Germany for 16 years, said that the cycle “is so universally applicable to humanity that you keep finding things, from family life to political life, that keep happening among us humans.”
She said that “when you meet real people, there are situations where you remember — I won’t name any names, but certain themes occur to you.”
Merkel and her husband, chemist Joachim Sauer, are regular guests at the annual Bayreuth opera festival that celebrates Wagner’s work.
Merkel has kept a relatively low profile since handing over to successor Olaf Scholz in December 2021. She has stayed out of the current political fray, but has defended her attempts as chancellor to bring about a diplomatic solution to tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and her government’s decisions to buy large quantities of natural gas from Russia.
Among a few other appearances, the one-time physicist accepted an award from the U.N. refugee agency and gave a speech honoring the former head of a national scientific academy in which she touched on gut flora and antibiotic resistance. Her political memoirs are due to be published in 2024.
“I can do formats now that in the past I could do only very, very seldom, and that’s part of my new-won freedom,” Merkel said of the new podcast. “So I wanted to try out going in a completely different direction.” | https://www.kark.com/entertainment-news/ap-germanys-merkel-offers-her-thoughts-on-wagners-ring-cycle/ | 2022-12-20 00:47:59 | 0 | https://www.kark.com/entertainment-news/ap-germanys-merkel-offers-her-thoughts-on-wagners-ring-cycle/ |
EDUCATION COMMISSIONER Frank Edelblut has demonstrated his lack of respect and disdain for public education in general and teachers specifically throughout his tenure. However, his recent op-ed is so insulting, degrading, and disrespectful that the time has come for Governor Chris Sununu to demand his resignation.
Not only has Edelblut attempted to undermine the healthy relationships between teachers, parents, and community members, but he is trying to drive a wedge between these groups. Supporting public schools has an historical legacy in our state that obviously has eluded Edelblut’s preparation for his role as commissioner.
Let’s start with the New Hampshire Constitution. Part II Article 83 reads, “it shall be the duty of the legislators and magistrates, in all future periods of this government, to cherish the interest of literature and the sciences, and all seminaries and public schools…” Part of Mr. Edelblut’s responsibility is to cherish public education. He fails that test.
The major roles of the commissioner are to lead the advance of education and to bring everyone together to understand challenges and find solutions. Edelblute has done neither. His idea of leadership is to insult those who work the hardest to educate students, to divide groups and organizations who care about education, and to attack public education — all the while working hard to support and fund private schools, charter schools, and homeschooling.
In his op-ed, Edelblut makes claims that there are “activist educators who might be knowingly dismantling the foundations of a value system…” But what is his evidence?
The evidence Edelblut offers is a 74-page document dump of social media posts, redacted letters, photographs of books, notes written by someone (Teacher? Student? Parent? Other?) without any context of why the notes were written. Other items lack any attribution of where they come from, who created them, how they were used, or how they support his claims. He even offers documents from the University of Michigan that have nothing to do with public schooling here. An eighth-grader offering this type of “evidence” would not meet state education competencies.
Edelblut also states that, “…families…entrust the educators to respect the value systems that the family is building.” But what if a family’s value system revolves around racism, or sexism, or antisemitism? Are educators expected to respect that value system? Does he expect educators to support these beliefs if they enter the classroom? Does the commissioner support those beliefs? Do family values always trump what a democratic society requires for educated citizens and a cherished educational system?
Edelblut insinuates that educators are no longer trusted by parents. He states, “For a very long time, educators were a highly trusted partner for parents…” By stating “were” trusted he claims that teachers are no longer trusted by parents but, again, offers no evidence for his claim.
Anyone who knows Mr. Edelblut’s politics and belief system is aware that his focus is on advancing private schools, charter schools, and homeschooling. Anything he can do to harm public education, or drive a wedge between parents and teachers, he is willing to do and has done.
The time has come for Governor Sununu to demonstrate his support for public schools and public school teachers and direct Mr. Edelblut to resign. To avoid this responsibility would only provide clarity about the Governor’s beliefs as well.
The time has come. Edelblut must go. | https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/op-eds/fred-wolff-tom-newkirk-edelblut-must-go/article_63e96abe-d4d2-5e2b-beae-976787a41436.html | 2022-04-27 05:32:04 | 0 | https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/op-eds/fred-wolff-tom-newkirk-edelblut-must-go/article_63e96abe-d4d2-5e2b-beae-976787a41436.html |
89.1 WBOI is operating at reduced power while our engineers install a new transmitter. This affects the HD broadcasts as well, on both channel 1 and 2. Streaming services are not affected.
Paraclimbing athletes hope for inclusion in the Paralympic Games | https://www.wboi.org/2023-05-16/paraclimbing-athletes-hope-for-inclusion-in-the-paralympic-games | 2023-05-16 21:49:19 | 0 | https://www.wboi.org/2023-05-16/paraclimbing-athletes-hope-for-inclusion-in-the-paralympic-games |
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah high school athletics association secretly investigated a female athlete — without telling her or her parents — after receiving complaints from the parents of two girls she had defeated in competition questioning whether the girl was transgender.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported Thursday that the Utah High School Activities Association and the girl’s high school determined she indeed was female after poring through her school records dating back to kindergarten.
Association spokesman David Spatafore told lawmakers that the girl and her family weren’t told of the investigation to spare them embarrassment and “to keep the matter private,” the Tribune reported.
The revelation came as at least 12 Republican-led states — including Utah — have passed laws banning transgender women or girls in sports. Supporters of the bans say transgender girls have an unfair advantage because they were born as stronger males and could deny girls places on sports teams.
There have been almost no cases of potential competitive advantages in K-12 sports in states passing the bans, including Utah. The state’s ban is being challenged in state court.
Spatafore told a legislative hearing on transgender athletes Wednesday that the parents of the second- and third-place finishers in a competition last year filed a complaint with the association after the girl won first place in an event “by a wide margin,” the Tribune said.
The girl’s school reviewed her high school record and determined she was registered as female. The Utah high school association asked the school to “double check,” Spatafore said, and officials contacted her middle and elementary schools to review files.
“The school went back to kindergarten,” Spatafore said, “and she’d always been a female.”
Spatafore declined to reveal the student’s grade, school or sport to protect her identity. He said the student and her family were not told about the investigation because it might be offensive to them and that the parents would have been contacted “if needed.”
Spatafore also said the association has looked into other complaints involving transgender athletes in its efforts to comply with the Utah law, which went into effect in July. Some complaints include “when an athlete doesn’t look feminine enough,” he said. None of the complaints have been verified.
Lawmakers didn’t question the process during the hearing, the Tribune reported.
Sue Robbins, of the Transgender Advisory Council of Equality Utah, said the association should publicly adopt a policy spelling out how and when it may investigate student records.
“Where does the UHSAA get their authority to go investigate?” Robbins said. “We warned about this being a possibility, that everyone would accuse everyone who is successful of being transgender. … It becomes about judging women’s bodies. And no body is safe.”
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican whose veto of the ban earlier this year was overridden by the Legislature, said Thursday that the parents’ complaint about the girl who was investigated had crossed a line.
“My goodness, we’re living in this world where we’ve become sore losers, and we’re looking for any reason why our kid lost,” he said. He said he supports fairness in sports but that “making up allegations like that are pretty disturbing to me.”
Before the ban, Utah had one registered transgender female athlete competing last year on a high school girls’ team, Spatafore said.
In a lawsuit, three transgender girls and their parents claim the outright ban passed by the Republican-majority Utah Legislature wrongly keeps their children from participating in the sports.
Their attorneys argue it violates provisions of the state constitution that prohibit discrimination and guarantee equal rights and due process. | https://www.wowktv.com/sports/utah-officials-secretly-looked-into-female-athletes-gender/ | 2022-08-19 05:24:47 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/sports/utah-officials-secretly-looked-into-female-athletes-gender/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, faced new challenges on the eve of a scheduled court appearance Wednesday in which he’s set to plead guilty in a deal with prosecutors on tax and gun charges.
On Capitol Hill, where Republicans are ramping up their investigations of the president and his son, the GOP chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee took the unusual step of filing court documents urging the judge in Hunter Biden’s case to consider testimony from IRS whistleblowers. The whistleblowers alleged the Justice Department interfered with investigations into Biden, a charge that has been denied by the lead prosecutor in the case, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was also appointed by Trump, will consider whether to accept the plea agreement. Judges rarely throw out plea bargains, but the effort to intervene by Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith of Missouri amounted to a high-profile push to raise questions about the deal, which is expected to spare the president’s son from jail time.
The dynamics of the case became even more complicated hours after the lawmakers filed their motion. A court clerk received a call requesting that “sensitive grand jury, taxpayer and social security information” it contained be kept under seal, according to an oral order from Noreika.
The lawyer gave her name and said she worked with an attorney from the Ways and Means Committee but was in fact a lawyer with the defense team, a clerk wrote in an email to Theodore Kittila, an attorney representing Smith.
When Noreika learned of the situation, she demanded the defense show why she should not consider sanctioning them for “misrepresentations to the court.”
Defense attorneys answered that their lawyer had represented herself truthfully from the start, and called from a phone number that typically displays the firm’s name, Latham & Watkins, on the caller ID. Jessica Bengels said in court documents that she did speak to two different clerk’s office employees, which could have contributed to the misunderstanding. The second employee emailed Kittila.
Biden’s attorneys are still seeking to keep information deemed private out of the public court record. Kittila, though, said he had only filed materials that the committee had already released publicly online. The judge agreed to keep the information sealed for a day to consider the issue.
The dustup came hours before Biden is expected to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges in an agreement that allows him to avoid prosecution on a gun charge if he meets certain conditions. Republicans have decried the agreement as a “sweetheart deal” and heard from two IRS agents who claimed the long-running investigation was “slow walked” and the prosecutor overseeing it was refused broader special counsel powers.
Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a Trump appointee, denied that in a letter to Congress, saying he had “full authority” over the probe and never requested special counsel status.
A spokeswoman for Weiss directed queries back to the court clerk’s office. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/u-s-world/ap-hunter-bidens-guilty-plea-is-on-the-horizon-and-so-are-a-fresh-set-of-challenges/ | 2023-07-27 01:35:20 | 1 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/u-s-world/ap-hunter-bidens-guilty-plea-is-on-the-horizon-and-so-are-a-fresh-set-of-challenges/ |
LUND, Sweden, Dec. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Safeture AB (publ) today announced a partnership agreement with EMA Global, Asia's leading integrated assistance company.
Founded in 1991 and based in Singapore, EMA Global is the leading integrated assistance company specializing in medical assistance and repatriation in Asia. The company secures world-class bedside-to-bedside transport services around the globe and provides 24/7 worldwide medical assistance to its clients.
The new partnership agreement is a multi-license account valid for three years and will enable EMA Global to ensure new business opportunities with Safeture's industry-leading technology.
"We are delighted to be working with Safeture. The partnership has allowed our assistance centers and members access to a powerful platform with unparalleled security advice and updates," comments Dexter Tan, Group Executive Director of EMA Global.
The EMA Global partnership is yet another affirmation of Safeture's successful partnership strategy, which was adopted in 2021. Since then, several new partners have been added, and the company has an ever-growing network of customers in the global security industry. Safeture keeps employees safe, wherever they are, providing real-time status on warnings, alerts, security information, and travel plans. Safeture's partnership strategy continues to affiliate Safeture with companies worldwide and strengthens its unique platform.
For additional information, visit safeture.com or contact:
Safeture CEO Magnus Hultman: +46 706 00 81 66. Magnus.hultman@safeture.com
About Safeture AB
Safeture (founded in 2009) is a Software as a Service (SaaS) company based in Sweden. The company offers a complete platform designed to handle safety and risks for employees, wherever they are. Through world-leading technology and innovative solutions, Safeture helps risk management- and assistance providers secure their clients, global companies, and organizations to protect what matters most - their people. The Safeture share is listed on NASDAQ First North Growth Market Stockholm (ticker: SFTR). Erik Penser Bank AB is the Certified Adviser.
About EMA Global
EMA Global is Asia's leading Assistance Company, founded by Dr. Winston Jong over 30 years ago, with a track record of 7,500+ medical evacuation missions in 200 locations across the globe.
Headquartered out of Singapore, with seven offices and assistance centers across Asia, EMA Global supports 1,000,000+ individuals, handling 50,000+ assistance cases and 250+ medical evacuations annually. EMA Global is a member of the International Assistance Group, providing a global network of 200 accredited assistance partners in 140 countries.
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SOURCE Safeture AB | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/12/15/safeture-partners-with-integrated-assistance-company-ema-global/ | 2022-12-15 08:35:22 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/12/15/safeture-partners-with-integrated-assistance-company-ema-global/ |
HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — Chainsaws buzzed Friday as neighbors helped neighbors clear toppled trees and began cleaning the wreckage of Typhoon Mawar, which walloped Guam as the strongest typhoon to hit the island in over two decades but appeared to have passed without leaving death or massive destruction in its wake.
While it was still early going in the recovery effort, police Sgt. Paul Tapao said there did not seem to be any major damage, main roads were passable and “Guam has been very blessed to have no storm-related deaths or any serious injuries.”
To Tapao, the roar of the mechanical saws was a reminder of the resilience of the storm-prone U.S. Pacific territory and its people.
“Everyone helps out with the cleaning,” he said. “That’s the Guamanian way — that’s embedded in the blood.”
He added that there’s a saying in Chamorro — the indigenous language of the Mariana Islands — “inafa maolek,” that means cooperation, a concept of restoring harmony or order.
“Storms have taught our island to be resilient,” he said. “We’re still here.”
Still, officials said it could take weeks to clean up the mess after Mawar briefly made landfall as a Category 4 storm Wednesday night on the northern tip of the island of roughly 150,000 people, flipping cars, tearing off roofs and leaving trees bare.
Some villages had little or no water Friday, Tapao said. About 51,000 customers were without electricity, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There were 725 people in shelters Friday, down from nearly 1,000 on Thursday, officials said.
Water contamination from the heavy rains and runoff was a concern: The Guam Waterworks Authority issued a notice advising residents to boil water before drinking it, and the Guam Environmental Protection Agency warned people to stay out of the sea at all beaches because of high bacteria content.
The central and northern parts of the island received more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of rain as the eyewall passed. The swirling typhoon churned up a storm surge and waves that crashed through coastal reefs and swamped houses.
In the southeastern village of Yona, the floodwaters reached above the waist at the home where Alexander Ken M. Aflague’s mother-in-law and sister-in-law live, he said. Two trucks and an SUV were completely submerged.
Aflague said the mood on the island was like after every storm, as people assess the damage and move toward rebuilding their lives back to normal. His major worry was shortages, saying supplies were at levels similar to what they were during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The cleanup is the struggle but we all pitch in and help each other,” he said via text message.
Also in Yona, winds peeled back the roof of Enrique Baza’s mother’s house, allowing water to damage everything inside. His mother rode out the storm with him at his concrete residence, he said, but “my mom’s house didn’t escape.”
He drove around in a pickup after the storm passed looking for supplies to repair her roof, but most stores were without power and accepting only cash. Many wooden or tin homes were badly damaged or had collapsed outright.
“It’s kind of a shock,” Baza said.
On Friday, President Joe Biden declared that a major disaster exists for Guam and ordered federal aid to supplement recovery efforts.
There were long lines at ATMs and some stores and gas stations on Friday.
Officials said they anticipated being able to resume operations at the flooded A.B. Won Pat International Airport next Tuesday.
Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero gave the all-clear Thursday evening, returning the island to its typical condition of readiness as the National Weather Service lifted its typhoon watch.
“We have weathered the storm,” Leon Guerrero said.
The storm is forecast to continue moving northwest before turning sharply north Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau. That track would keep the typhoon at sea for days as it gradually weakens.
Mawar had regained its status as a super typhoon on Thursday, with winds reaching 150 mph (241 kph). By early Friday, they had strengthened to 175 mph (282 kph), according to the weather service.
On Friday morning, Mawar was centered 345 miles (555 kilometers) west-northwest of Guam and 360 miles (579 kilometers) west of Rota, Guam’s neighbor to the north, moving west-northwest at 14 mph (23 kph).
Carlo Quinonez, who lives near Tamuning, said he rode out the storm in a hotel and felt “very lucky” that the building was largely unscathed. A nearby abandoned building lost many of its windows and part of a wall on the fifth story, Quinonez said.
“It was the peak that had us questioning our safety. Floors rattling and walls creaking. Tossing debris, and roots, and fruit everywhere,” he wrote in an email.
The Navy has ordered the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group to head to the island to assist in the recovery effort, according to a U.S. official. The Nimitz, along with the USS Bunker Hill, a cruiser, and the USS Wayne E. Meyer, a destroyer, were south of Japan and expected to arrive in Guam in three or four days, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ship movements not yet made public.
___
Kelleher reported from Honolulu. AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein in Kensington, Maryland, and Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor and Sarah Brumfield in Washington, Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu, Mark Thiessen in Anchorage, Alaska, Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles, Ed Komenda in Seattle and Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, contributed. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/ap-guam-very-blessed-with-no-early-reports-of-major-damage-in-the-messy-aftermath-of-typhoon-mawar/ | 2023-05-26 04:15:42 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/ap-guam-very-blessed-with-no-early-reports-of-major-damage-in-the-messy-aftermath-of-typhoon-mawar/ |
President Biden will not sit for the traditional pre-Super Bowl interview with Fox, which is airing the game on Sunday, the White House said Friday.
The president typically gives an interview to air in the lead-up to the Super Bowl, and Biden has done so in each of his first two years in office, sitting down with CBS and NBC, respectively. The White House blamed Fox on Friday for the lapse this year.
“The President was looking forward to an interview with Fox Soul to discuss the Super Bowl, the State of the Union, and critical issues impacting the everyday lives of Black Americans,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted Friday. “We’ve been informed that Fox Corp has asked for the interview to be cancelled.”
Jean-Pierre’s claim comes after Fox News anchors said Tuesday night that the network was waiting on the White House to agree to a presidential interview.
“The president is going to be out on the road, taking his message to the road. Every year, traditionally, the network covering the Super Bowl gets an interview with the president of the United States,” said Bret Baier, a top anchor at the network, during its coverage of Biden’s State of the Union address. “We have formally asked for that interview, but we have not received an answer yet, whether they are going to officially do it or not … we’re running out of days.”
Jean-Pierre had been asked multiple times this week whether there was any word on if Biden would do the traditional Super Bowl interview with Fox, and in each instance she said she did not have any updates.
Biden this week has done televised interviews with PBS Newshour and Telemundo during separate trips to Wisconsin and Florida.
Presidents have typically done interviews with the network airing the Super Bowl, which is watched by millions of viewers, dating back to 2004. Former President Obama sat down twice for Super Bowl interviews with Fox during his presidency.
Former President Donald Trump skipped an interview with NBC when the network broadcast the game in 2018.
Fox News, the top-watched cable news network, has aggressively covered Biden’s campaign and presidency, with several of its leading prime-time hosts routinely criticizing his administration, policies and family business dealings.
Biden has butted heads with Fox News White House corresopndent Peter Doocy throughout his administration, calling him a “stupid son of a bitch” last year. Biden later called Doocy to apologize.
Some Democrats have argued that Biden and the White House should ignore the network, saying it puts out misleading information through its opinion programming and does not fairly cover the administration.
Updated at 1:47 p.m. | https://www.krqe.com/hill-politics/white-house-says-biden-wont-do-super-bowl-interview-blames-fox/ | 2023-02-10 19:42:38 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/hill-politics/white-house-says-biden-wont-do-super-bowl-interview-blames-fox/ |
The $237 million outpatient facility will expand access to healthcare for the people of metro Atlanta.
ATLANTA, March 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Grady Health System, community stakeholders, and government leaders gathered Monday for a ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of Correll Pavilion, Grady's brand-new outpatient facility.
The Correll Pavilion, which is adjacent to Grady Memorial Hospital in downtown Atlanta, is Grady's largest investment in 30 years. The 10-story, 600,000-square-foot facility houses several services, including outpatient surgery, imaging, rehabilitation, and three pharmacies. It also features multiple specialty clinics, including ophthalmology, GI, ENT, oral surgery, and orthopedics. Grady's cancer center is also located in the new pavilion.
"The opening of Correll Pavilion ushers in a new era of healthcare for Grady Health System and the entire city of Atlanta," said John Haupert, Grady's president and CEO. "During a time when other health systems are closing their doors, this state-of-the-art facility symbolizes Grady's unwavering commitment to improving the health of our community by continuing to invest in the people we are privileged to serve."
The Correll Pavilion opens at a critical time in Atlanta's healthcare landscape. The new facility allows Grady, now the city's only Level 1 trauma center, to serve even more patients at its main campus, increasing clinical capacity by 45 percent and offering 25 percent more operating room capacity.
The building features six operating rooms, with space to expand to eight operating rooms in the future to accommodate the region's growing healthcare needs. Outpatient clinical services are co-located, which allows for increased collaboration between Grady's clinicians and staff. All waiting areas and infusion bays feature floor-to-ceiling windows with city views, creating a healing and comfortable environment.
The layout of the facility, a joint venture by Skanska and H.J. Russell & Company, promotes a streamlined patient experience and provides access to quality care under one roof. The building also includes a four-story parking garage, giving patients easier access to their appointments.
The new pavilion was named in honor of A.D. "Pete" Correll, chairman emeritus of Georgia-Pacific and former chair of both the Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation and Grady Health Foundation boards of directors, who passed away in 2021. Correll led the effort to raise $96 million in private funding, which was matched by bond funding provided by DeKalb and Fulton counties.
"We are thrilled to see our vision for this beautiful new outpatient facility become a reality," said Shannon Sale, Grady's chief strategy officer. "We are grateful for the support of the philanthropic community and Fulton and DeKalb counties in making it possible for Grady to take the next step toward ensuring the Atlanta community continues to have access to the best possible care and cutting-edge technology that will help save lives."
For video of Correll Pavilion and photos from the grand opening celebration, please click here.
About Grady Health System
Grady Health System is one of the largest safety net health systems in the United States. Grady consists of the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital, six neighborhood health centers, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, which is operated as a Children's affiliate.
With its nationally acclaimed emergency medical services, Grady is Atlanta's only Level I trauma center and serves as the 911 ambulance provider for the city of Atlanta. Grady's Walter L. Ingram Burn Center is the leading burn center in north Georgia. And the Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center is a Joint Commission designated Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center.
Other key services/distinctions include Grady's Regional Perinatal Center with its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Georgia's first Cancer Center for Excellence, The Avon Comprehensive Breast Center, the Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, and the Ponce de Leon Center - one of the top HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in the country. Grady is one of an elite group of hospitals to earn the Baby-Friendly USA international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Designated birth facility. For more information, visit http://www.gradyhealth.org/.
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Monday evening's drawing of the Missouri Lottery's "Show Me Cash" game were:
17-18-27-33-36
(seventeen, eighteen, twenty-seven, thirty-three, thirty-six)
Estimated jackpot: $86,000
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Monday evening's drawing of the Missouri Lottery's "Show Me Cash" game were:
17-18-27-33-36
(seventeen, eighteen, twenty-seven, thirty-three, thirty-six)
Estimated jackpot: $86,000 | https://www.ourmidland.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Show-Me-Cash-game-17344392.php | 2022-08-02 03:43:31 | 1 | https://www.ourmidland.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Show-Me-Cash-game-17344392.php |
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey has launched a new ground and air cross-border offensive against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq, Turkey’s defense minister announced early Monday.
Turkish jets and artillery struck suspected targets of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, and commando troops — supported by helicopters and drones — then crossed into the region by land or were airlifted by helicopters, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said in a video posted on the ministry’s website.
Akar said the jets successfully struck shelters, bunkers, caves, tunnels, ammunition depots and headquarters belonging to the PKK. The group maintains bases in northern Iraq and has used the territory for attacks on Turkey.
Turkey has conducted numerous cross-border aerial and ground operations against the PKK over the past decades. The latest offensive, named Operation Claw Lock, was centered in northern Iraq’s Metina, Zap and Avashin-Basyan regions.
There was no information on the number of troops and jets involved in the latest incursion.
“Our heroic commandoes and maroon berets — supported by attack helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, armed unmanned aerial vehicles — arrived on the scene by land and by air and captured the determined targets,” Akar said in a second video. “Many terrorists were neutralized.”
“At this point we have reached, all planned targets have been captured,” he said.
The Defense Ministry said the new offensive was launched after it was determined that the militants were regrouping and preparing for a “large-scale attack.”
The offensive was carried out in coordination with Turkey’s “friends and allies,” the ministry added, but didn’t elaborate. Last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Masrour Barzani, the prime minister of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, which controls the areas that were attacked.
The Turkish minister said the incursion was targeting “terrorists” and that “maximum sensitivity” was being shown to avoid damage to civilians and cultural and religious structures.
There was no immediate statement from the Kurdish militant group.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed since the PKK, which is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union, began an insurgency in Turkey’s majority Kurdish southeast region in 1984.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/national/2022/04/18/turkey-launches-new-ground-air-offensive-in-northern-iraq-3/ | 2022-04-18 13:12:42 | 1 | https://wtmj.com/national/2022/04/18/turkey-launches-new-ground-air-offensive-in-northern-iraq-3/ |
Italy-Foreign growth strategy positions the Group among the top global players in terms of profitability, revenues at +49.2% compared to 2019, expansion between Asia, South and North America.
RIMINI, Italy, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A turnover of €267.2 million and an adjusted EBITDA which, in the ambitions of IEG - Italian Exhibition Group, will go from €13 million in 2022 to €69 million in 2027.
IEG's 2022/2027 Strategic Plan consists of a strong approach to development, with recovery as early as 2023/2024, based on a distinctly organisational spirit that aims to reach +49.2% compared to 2019.
According to Corrado Peraboni CEO of IEG, the congress and exhibition joint-stock company that operates in Rimini, Vicenza, Milan, Arezzo and Rome, as well as internationally – "The 2022-2027 Strategic Plan outlines the growth perspective with an Italy - Foreign strategy that aims to position the Group among the top global players in terms of profitability, generating value for all stakeholders, and also looks to accelerate internationalisation in high-potential, non-European markets". Dividends are expected to be distributed again as of 2024.
IEG has set itself the target of becoming the community catalyst for the industries it represents at its events. In this strategy, IEG's constant monitoring of the communities will occur through organised trade shows, the integrated use of regional and international events that accompany the main event held in Italy as well as through investments to make processes digital.
IEG, which oversees and develops events in China, Mexico, the United States and the United Arab Emirates, is looking to accelerate internationalisation in high-potential, non-European markets. The Group aspires to duplicate and create spin-offs of its top events in the most interesting areas for the various products. It has set up a new Group company in Brazil with the intention of organising at least five new events. International reinforcement will also generate new opportunities for domestic events.
In terms of conferences, IEG plans to focus on international events. For hosted events, the strategic guidelines of the Plan centre on customer portfolio loyalty.
The 2022-2027 Plan envisages investments of Euro 134.9 million divided between maintenance, expansion and acquisitions, the latter concerning Italy, Asia, North America and South America.
Italian Exhibition Group Press Contacts:
ress Office Manager: Marco Forcellini, marco.forcellini@iegexpo.it
International Press Office Coordinator: Silvia Giorgi, silvia.giorgi@iegexpo.it, P. +39-0541-744814
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1862182/Italian_Exhibition_Group_CEO.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/723307/Italian_Exhibition_Group_Logo.jpg
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TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (March 8). You have many winning qualities, and moral courage shines among them. This year highlights your style. You’ll change up environments and update your skills. Your relationships thrive as you radiate a calm, cool energy. Aries and Taurus adore you. Your lucky numbers are 3, 4, 24, 18 and 27.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Because you’re so daring, you’ll feel most like yourself when you’re on the verge of the unknown. Of all the different varieties of risk, social risk will take the most courage.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Adding a small, consistent habit to your life is favored now. Stolen moments add up. With a short period of daily practice, you could learn something remarkable, like a language or a musical instrument.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Are people working just to make you happy, or is it that your needs just happen to line up with precisely what they most want to deliver? Either way, it’s a win for you. You’re especially lucky in your dealings with other air signs.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). For better or worse, first impressions are extremely difficult to erase. It’s one more reason to put time and thought into your presentation. You never know when someone new will be in the mix. Let the fresh power of a first impression work for you.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ve done what you set out to do and yet you still want to sail on to find out what else is out there. You’ve a belief that things can always get better, and it will lead you to interesting places today.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Sometimes the answers are out there waiting to be discovered, but not this time. This time, the answer is inside you, just waiting to be invented by you, and furthermore, you’re the only one who gets to say what it means.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Entertainment is a worthy expense as the fun and inspiration you gain will contribute to you living your best life. Tell people what you want and hope for. You’ll be a beacon for others. Let people into your world and share your thought process.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Someone steered you wrong, but you’ll take back the wheel and get on track. A burst of energy has you handling a list of random tasks. It will feel wonderful to get small things accomplished en masse.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Perhaps you’re responsible for your own fun, but you also take responsibility for the fun of another. You’re so excellent at lifting the energy and injecting levity wherever possible.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). It is possible to assign meaning to things without even realizing you’re doing it or knowing where the associations are coming from. You’ll understand yourself a little better as you delve into an analysis of the meanings you assign.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You want the best for loved ones, but you do not assume to know what that is. You do get the sense that you might know what it’s not. When things don’t feel right to you, you’ll speak up. You’ll help the people around you make healthy choices.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ll get a stronger feeling of connection to the world around you as well as a more profound sense of purpose. The outdoors and green spaces will be a panacea. You’ll be revived by the vitality of sunshine. | https://www.record-eagle.com/horoscopes/article_0c11c80c-bc3f-11ed-a50c-173b2fef1968.html | 2023-03-08 02:55:08 | 0 | https://www.record-eagle.com/horoscopes/article_0c11c80c-bc3f-11ed-a50c-173b2fef1968.html |
Feeling the warmth and humidity with a few storms possible later this evening
Weather Where You Live
DEEP EAST TEXAS (KTRE) - Tonight’s weather pattern setup will be eerily similar to last night’s in that we will likely see a few thunderstorms develop along the dryline in central Texas. Once they form, they will be steered in our direction and could bring some east Texans thunderstorm activity later tonight, much like we saw last night.
This first weekend of May will be very warm and humid with lows near 70 and highs reaching the upper 80′s. There is a slight chance of rain each afternoon, but the coverage will be isolated-to-scattered at best.
Our weather pattern will remain warm and muggy next week with more daily downpours coming into play each day.
With the weather pattern becoming a bit more unsettled, this will lead to those daily rain chances coming into play as deeper moisture levels combine with daytime heating and weak disturbances passing through our part of the state.
It will not rain at your place each day, but the pattern favors at least some scattered downpours each afternoon across the Piney Woods over the next seven days.
Rainfall amounts look to average around one-to-two inches in the next week, with isolated, higher amounts certainly possible in a few spots, especially the areas that get in on the rain with a higher frequency.
To stay on top of the weather conditions in your neighborhood, make sure you download and frequent our KTRE First Alert weather mobile application. It gives you access to our First Alert forecast, severe weather alerts, interactive radar, and featured video updates. It is weather on the go, when you want it, at your convenience, right in the palm of your hand.
Copyright 2023 KTRE. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/2023/05/05/feeling-warmth-muggy-with-few-storms-possible-later-this-evening/ | 2023-05-05 22:53:36 | 1 | https://www.ktre.com/2023/05/05/feeling-warmth-muggy-with-few-storms-possible-later-this-evening/ |
BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) _ ADT Inc. (ADT) on Thursday reported first-quarter net income of $52 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier.
On a per-share basis, the Boca Raton, Florida-based company said it had net income of 6 cents. Losses, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 1 cent per share.
The home security company posted revenue of $1.55 billion in the period.
ADT expects full-year revenue in the range of $6.2 billion to $6.4 billion.
ADT shares have dropped 14% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P's 500 index has declined almost 10%. The stock has dropped 21% in the last 12 months.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ADT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ADT | https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/ADT-Q1-Earnings-Snapshot-17149753.php | 2022-05-05 11:27:33 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/ADT-Q1-Earnings-Snapshot-17149753.php |
MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) — The grief is still suffocating, the anger still visceral, President Joe Biden said Tuesday, in this suburban Los Angeles community where a gunman stormed a dance hall and killed 11 in January. He announced fresh federal measures to curb gun violence but emotionally declared there must be more.
“Do something. Do something big,” he implored.
“I’m determined to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines,” Biden told the families of some of the victims who were in the audience for his remarks, along with the 26-year-old who wrestled the semiautomatic pistol away from the gunman.
Biden’s rhetoric has grown ever stronger about guns — he routinely calls for banning assault weapons — in pushing a gun-control platform even tougher than during the Obama administration when he was vice president. He has been emboldened by the midterm elections when his regular talk of gun control didn’t result in massive Democratic losses, and he’s expected to continue to argue for strong changes as he moves toward a 2024 reelection run, his aides say.
“We remember and mourn today,” Biden said in Monterey Park. “But I’m here with you today to act.”
The president told the crowd he’d signed an executive order aimed at stiffening background checks to buy guns, promoting more secure firearms storage and ensuring law enforcement agencies get more out of a bipartisan gun control law enacted last summer.
But Biden has only limited power to go beyond that legislation that was passed after the killings of 10 shoppers at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store and 19 students and two teachers at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school.
His action on Tuesday does not change government policy. Rather, it directs federal agencies to ensure compliance with existing laws and procedures — a typical feature of executive orders issued by presidents when they confront the limits of their own power to act without cooperation from Congress.
“Let’s be clear, none of this absolves Congress from the responsibility of acting to pass universal background checks, to eliminate gun manufacturers immunity to liability,” Biden said.
Using emotion to press Congress to act, he detailied the lives of Monterey Park victims: A dancehall manager who walked patrons to their cars after lessons. An adventurer ready for the next trip abroad. A devoted grandparent.
Biden, whose own familiarity with grief is well known — his small daughter and wife were killed in a car crash in the 1970s and later his adult son died of cancer — touched on the everyday things he said hurt so much after the initial shock is gone; the way a closet still smells like a loved one, the sound of a laugh, the bend of a smile.
The victims in Monterey Park, where 20 were shot after Lunar New Year celebrations, were older Asian Americans, mostly in their 60s and 70s. Biden said they represented a powerful vision of America: “Our diversity is the strength of this nation.”
His order on Tuesday directs the Cabinet to complete a plan to better structure the government to support communities suffering from gun violence. If the Federal Emergency Management Agency can respond to natural disasters to provide on-the-ground support, the government should be able to do the same for a mass shooting, he said. More mental health support for grief and trauma, financial aid for victims and for businesses forced to close during a lengthy police investigations.
He is directing Attorney General Merrick Garland to shore up rules for federally licensed gun dealers so they know they are required to do background checks as part of their licenses.
He is also mandating better reporting of ballistics data from federal law enforcement for a clearinghouse that allows federal, state and local law enforcement to match shell casings to guns. But local and state law enforcement agencies are not required to report ballistics data, and many do not, making the clearinghouse less effective.
And the president is asking the Federal Trade Commission to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market to minors and use military images to market to the general public.
“President Biden’s executive order today is a home run for public safety,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “This is the latest example of President Biden’s leadership on gun safety, and we’re proud to stand with him as he takes robust action to help close the gun-seller loophole — which will significantly expand background checks on gun sales, keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous people and save lives.”
The bill passed last year, known as the Safer Communities Act, is viewed by gun control advocates as a good start but one that doesn’t go far enough. After the law was signed, there were 11 other mass shootings, according to a database of mass killings since 2006 maintained by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. Those killings don’t include shootings in which fewer than four people were killed — and gun violence is also rising nationwide.
Pro-gun groups said the order would do little to stop growing gun violence.
“The reality is that nothing in the president’s executive order today would have done anything to prevent the recent mass shootings in California, Michigan or elsewhere,” said Katie Pointer Baney who is the Managing Director of Government Affairs for the U.S. Concealed Carry Association. “It’s time for the president and political leaders across the country to have an honest conversation with the American people and acknowledge there is no legislative fix that will permanently solve the issue of gun violence.”
Biden said he’d direct his Cabinet to make sure law enforcement agencies and citizens, too, understand the benefits of red-flag laws, which are intended to temporarily remove guns from people with potentially violent behavior and prevent them from hurting themselves or others.
“So more parents, teachers and counselors know how to flag for the court that someone is exhibiting violent tendencies, or experiencing suicidal thoughts that make them a danger to themselves and others,” he said.
Last month, the Justice Department sent out more than $200 million to help states and the District of Columbia administer red-flag laws and other crisis-intervention programs.
___
Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this report. | https://phl17.com/national-news/biden-expected-to-sign-new-executive-order-on-gun-control/ | 2023-03-15 00:08:05 | 1 | https://phl17.com/national-news/biden-expected-to-sign-new-executive-order-on-gun-control/ |
- Newly created role of Chief Transformation Officer to be held by current Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Treasurer; internal interim CFO and Treasurer named
- Co-Chief Parks Operation Officer roles created which include one leader for the Florida parks and one for the non-Florida parks
- Three new Park Presidents announced for parks in Orlando and San Antonio
- Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) named
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS), a leading theme park and entertainment company, today announced the promotion of eight leaders across the business as part of organizational adjustments designed to position the Company for continued growth and long-term value creation. This includes the formation of a new Chief Transformation Officer role and appointment of two seasoned park leaders to the co-role of Chief Parks Operation Officer (CPOO), one for the Florida parks and the other to lead all the non-Florida parks. The Company also named an interim CFO and Treasurer, three new Park Presidents and a new CAO. All the roles involve promotions from within the organization.
Marc Swanson, Chief Executive Officer of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. said, "I am excited to announce these important leadership promotions and organizational changes that will help us better execute our plans and initiatives, capitalize on opportunities, and deliver improved operational and financial results."
Swanson went on to say, "I'm proud of the progress we've made over the past several years, including coming out of the pandemic an even stronger and more profitable business with industry leading results. And I am excited for our plans for 2023 with a terrific line up of new rides, attractions, events and new and improved in park venues and offerings. The changes announced today along with our long-term plans to drive increased revenue, improved in-park experience and operational execution and better cost management will put us in an even stronger position to deliver greater value for our stakeholders – the millions of guests that enjoy our parks each year, our Ambassadors across the company, the communities in which we operate, our partners and our investors."
Current Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Chelle Adams was promoted to the new position of Chief Transformation Officer. In this new role, Adams will be responsible for streamlining and re-engineering organizational processes and implementing high-value initiatives to ensure successful execution of our transformation strategy. She will also be responsible for leading our business development and growth activities. Adams joined the company last year from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas where she was responsible for, among other things, driving business transformation and process improvement across the organization.
Jim Forrester was promoted to serve as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Forrester has been with SeaWorld since 2019, most recently serving as the VP of Finance for the Orlando Parks including SeaWorld, Aquatica and Discovery Cove. He has more than two decades of theme park finance experience including at the Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney World, and Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, among others.
Two seasoned park leaders were promoted to the co-position of Chief Parks Operations Officer (CPOO). The CPOOs will jointly be responsible for overseeing all park operations. Kyle Miller was promoted to CPOO for all the Florida parks. Miller has served as the Park President for SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove and Aquatica Orlando since 2019 and has been with the company for approximately 28 years. Byron Surrett was promoted to CPOO for all the non-Florida parks. Surrett served as Park President of SeaWorld San Antonio and Aquatica San Antonio since 2019 and in June he will celebrate 47 years with the company.
Three leaders were promoted into Park President positions. This includes Jon 'JP' Peterson, who was promoted to Park President of SeaWorld Orlando. Peterson has been with SeaWorld for approximately 30 years and has served as Vice President of Zoological Operations for SeaWorld Orlando since 2019. Bradley Gilmour was promoted to Park President of Aquatica Orlando and Discovery Cove. Gilmour served as Vice President of Park Operations for Discovery Cove for the last four years and 2023 marks his 20th year with the company. Jodi Davenport was promoted to Park President of SeaWorld San Antonio and Aquatica San Antonio. Davenport has been with SeaWorld since 2020, most recently serving as the Vice President of Finance and IT for the park. Prior to joining SeaWorld, Davenport had an almost 20-year career at Six Flags where she served in a variety of finance roles including Director of Finance.
Shekufeh Boyle was promoted to Chief Accounting Officer, reporting to the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. In her ninth year at SeaWorld Entertainment, Boyle most recently served as the Company's Corporate Controller and Vice President of Accounting. Prior to joining SeaWorld, she served in public accounting as an Audit Manager. Boyle is a Certified Public Accountant.
All promotions and changes take effect immediately.
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter, and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. The Company is one of the world's foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry and veterinary care. The Company collectively cares for what it believes is one of the largest zoological collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The Company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld® rescue team has helped over 40,000 animals in need over the Company's history. SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. owns or licenses a portfolio of recognized brands including SeaWorld®, Busch Gardens®, Aquatica®, Sesame Place® and Sea Rescue®. Over its more than 60-year history, the Company has built a diversified portfolio of 12 destination and regional theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its one-of-a-kind zoological collection. The Company's theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its guests.
Copies of this and other news releases as well as additional information about SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. can be obtained online at www.seaworldentertainment.com. Shareholders and prospective investors can also register to automatically receive the Company's press releases, SEC filings and other notices by e-mail by registering at that website.
Investor Relations:
Matthew Stroud
Investor Relations
855-797-8625
Investors@SeaWorld.com
Media Relations:
Lisa Cradit
SVP – Head of Communications
(646) 245-2476
Lisa.cradit@seaworld.com
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SOURCE SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/01/27/seaworld-entertainment-inc-announces-eight-leadership-promotions-organizational-changes-accelerate-business-transformation-performance-growth/ | 2023-01-27 13:43:18 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/01/27/seaworld-entertainment-inc-announces-eight-leadership-promotions-organizational-changes-accelerate-business-transformation-performance-growth/ |
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the biggest contract manufacturer of processor chips for smartphones and other products, said Thursday that its quarterly profit rose 79.7% over a year earlier to $8.8 billion amid surging demand.
Quarterly revenue rose 47.9% over a year ago to $19.2 billion, the company reported.
TSMC, headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, makes processor chips for brands including Apple Inc. and Qualcomm Inc. Many of their products are assembled by factories in China, which has exposed TSMC to the possible impact of U.S.-Chinese tension over technology and security.
TSMC's U.S.-traded shares fell 14% in value after Washington on Friday tightened restrictions on Chinese access to advanced computer chips. Those controls are based on limiting the ability of TSMC and other suppliers to use U.S. chip or manufacturing technology for Chinese customers.
The American Embassy in Beijing didn't immediately respond to a question about whether TSMC had received an exemption that might allow normal supplies to Chinese factories to continue.
TSMC's chip supplies to China already were restricted under a 2020 order by then-President Donald Trump that prohibits vendors from using U.S. technology to manufacture for Huawei Technologies Ltd., a maker of network switching gear and smartphones. Washington says Huawei is a security risk and might facilitate Chinese spying, which the company denies.
Chipmakers are benefiting for demand for next-generation telecoms, high-performance computing and chips for use in products from cars to medical devices.
TSMC announced plans last year to invest $100 billion over the next three years in manufacturing and research and development.
Most semiconductors used in smartphones, medical equipment, computers and other products are made in Taiwan, South Korea and China.
That has prompted concern among American officials about reliance on supplies that might be disrupted by conflict between China and Taiwan. They are lobbying TSMC and other chipmakers to set up factories in the United States.
TSMC announced plans last year to build its first chip factory in Japan. The company and Sony Corp. later said they would jointly invest $7 billion in the facility.
TSMC operates a semiconductor wafer fabrication facility in Camas, Washington, and design centers in San Jose, California, and Austin, Texas.
The company has announced plans for a second U.S. production site in Arizona. | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Taiwan-chipmaker-TSMC-says-quarterly-profit-8-8-17505921.php | 2022-10-13 08:42:05 | 1 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Taiwan-chipmaker-TSMC-says-quarterly-profit-8-8-17505921.php |
COMMACK, New York (WABC) -- Several people were injured Thursday after a BMW crashed into a local business in Commack, New York.
According to Suffolk County Police, a 62-year-old woman was driving the vehicle when it crashed into Craft Shoes, located at 6149 Jericho Turnpike, a little after 2:30 p.m.
The woman and the dog that was in the vehicle were not injured.
Six people who were in the store, including one employee, suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Three of the victims were transported to a nearby hospital.
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Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. | https://abc7ny.com/car-crash-commack-ny-storefront-injuries/13360794/ | 2023-06-09 02:11:25 | 0 | https://abc7ny.com/car-crash-commack-ny-storefront-injuries/13360794/ |
- Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise Host All-Star Line-up with Jean Smart, Gil Birmingham, Mary McCormack, Dennis Haysbert, Lea Salonga, Norm Lewis, Craig Morgan, Rhiannon Giddens, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Pia Toscano, and the National Symphony Orchestra –
WASHINGTON, May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital Concerts announced today the return of PBS' NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT for a live presentation from Washington, D.C. hosted by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise, acclaimed actors who have dedicated themselves to veterans causes and supporting our troops in active service. Featuring all-star musical performances and tributes, the 90-minute broadcast of the 33rd annual NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT will air on PBS and stream on YouTube and www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert on Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. E.T., honoring our men and women in uniform, veterans, their families and all those who have given their lives for our country.
A more than three decades long tradition unlike anything else on television, this deeply moving and reverential night takes us back to the real meaning of the holiday through personal stories interwoven with musical performances by top stars with the National Symphony Orchestra. The 2022 NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT will include the following segments:
- General Colin Powell Remembrance – featuring acclaimed actor Dennis Haysbert (24, MAJOR LEAGUE).
The concert will honor the memory and legacy of General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.). For over a quarter of a century, General Powell was an important part of the NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT, speaking to the nation about the sacred meaning of Memorial Day, reminding us of the debt owed to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our liberty and freedom, and calling on the nation to help and support those who served and their families.
- Generations of Service – portrayed by award-winning actor Gil Birmingham (YELLOWSTONE, WIND RIVER).
In tribute to the over 58,000 American lives lost in the Vietnam War and those who served during the Vietnam era, the concert will share the story of combat medic Francis Whitebird, a young warrior from a Lakota family with generations of military service. Whitebird's uncle fought in World War I, his father was a Lakota Code Talker during World War II, and both his sons served in the Iraq War. During two tours in Vietnam, Whitebird endured combat losses and saved lives, received a Purple heart, and forged bonds of friendship that have lasted a lifetime. Francis Whitebird will be honored for his service to his fellow soldiers and to our country.
- Honoring Gold Star Families – with multi-Emmy Award-winning actress Jean Smart (HACKS, MARE OF EASTTOWN) and Joe Mantegna.
Each year, the concert remembers the fallen and their grieving families. In 2022, we share the story of Maj. General Mark Graham, USA (Ret.) and his wife Carol, who in under eight months suffered the loss of their two sons. 2LT Jeff Graham, killed in Iraq by an IED blast and Senior ROTC Cadet Kevin Graham, who lost his battle with depression. Their sons died fighting different battles, but both dedicated their lives to serving the nation. The Graham's story shares their journey through grief, healing and their decision to spend their lives helping others receive mental health and other critical support.
- Women in WWII Tribute – featuring Tony Award-nominated star of stage and screen Mary McCormack (HEELS, WEST WING)
The concert will honor and remember the women who served the nation in uniform and on the home front in World War II in a tribute to these unsung heroes of the Greatest Generation, with several of these trailblazing women taking part in the segment.
- Medal of Honor Tribute - featuring Gary Sinise.
A tribute to the heroism, sacrifice and dedication of our Medal of Honor recipients - the nation's highest award for valor in combat - will feature the participation of living recipients.
- Lincoln Memorial 100th anniversary - featuring Gary Sinise.
The concert will mark the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, built in tribute to President Lincoln. His Gettysburg Address spoken in honor of those who gave their last full measure of devotion, was foundational to the nation's commemoration of Memorial Day.
The national night of remembrance will also feature performances by: multiple award-winning actress and singer Lea Salonga (MISS SAIGON, MULAN); Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and SAG Award-nominated actor Norm Lewis (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, SCANDAL); chart topping country music singer songwriter and U.S. Army veteran Craig Morgan; Grammy-winning singer Rhiannon Giddens; Tony Award-winning Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell; acclaimed singer and AMERICAN IDOL alum Pia Toscano; the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly; annual audience favorite Salute to Services with the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Also participating are members from The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Chorus, The Soldiers' Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, the Armed Forces Color Guard and Service Color Teams provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.
The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT airs on PBS Sunday, May 29, 2022, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. E.T., as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. The concert will also be streaming on YouTube and www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert and available as Video on Demand, May 29 to June 12, 2022.
After two years of virtual presentations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will once again be a live concert broadcast to the nation. Please join us on PBS and streaming to honor our military heroes and their families. The concert venue is not open to the public as the Capitol complex continues its phased re-opening (please visit https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/2022-national-memorial-day-concert-traffic-restrictions)
The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT is pleased to welcome back the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and ensuring the American dream for future generations through one of the nation's largest privately-funded, need-based scholarship programs. The Association, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2022, has awarded over $253 million to more than 35,000 students since the establishment of its scholarship program in 1984.
The concert is also made possible by grants from: the National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Department of the Army, General Dynamics, PBS and public television stations nationwide. Air travel is provided by American Airlines.
About Capital Concerts
Capital Concerts is the nation's leading producer of live patriotic television shows, including PBS's highest-rated performance specials: the NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT and A CAPITOL FOURTH, the premier celebrations of America's most important holidays broadcast from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. For over 40 years, these two award-winning productions have become national traditions, bringing us together as one family of Americans to celebrate our freedom and democratic ideals and to pay tribute to those who defend them. The holiday specials have been honored with over 80 awards including the New York Film Festival Award, the Golden Cine Award, and the Writer's Guild of America Award.
The program is a co-production of Michael Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C. Executive producer Michael Colbert has assembled an award-winning production team that features the top Hollywood talent behind some of television's most prestigious entertainment awards shows including the ACADEMY AWARDS, GRAMMY AWARDS, COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, TONY AWARDS, and more.
For images and additional information, visit PBS Pressroom at www.pbs.org/pressroom
Visit the program website at http://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/home/
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SOURCE Capital Concerts | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/05/23/pbs-national-memorial-day-concert-an-american-tradition/ | 2022-05-23 11:34:09 | 1 | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/05/23/pbs-national-memorial-day-concert-an-american-tradition/ |
Alumobility's Dr. Thomas Rudlaff to Discuss at Upcoming Conference
ZURICH, Nov. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alumobility, a global ecosystem of leading aluminum and downstream technology partners, will continue its mission of educating the automotive industry about the benefits of using aluminum in vehicles by participating in Automotive Circle's "Sustainability in Automotive Production" conference on November 29-30 in Bad Nauheim, Germany.
Alumobility's Managing Director, Dr. Thomas Rudlaff will share recent insights and study results while discussing "Strategies and roadmaps for the sustainable use of aluminum in the automotive industry," on Nov. 30 at 10:45 a.m. CET.
"I look forward to discussing with my colleagues how aluminum can reduce vehicle weight to realize greater efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions while addressing advanced technology needs and more sustainable manufacturing," said Rudlaff. "We can do this without sacrificing safety, durability or performance, which is why aluminum is quickly becoming the material of choice for automotive manufacturers."
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) driving adoption of aluminum as ideal automotive material
One of the greatest factors behind automakers' switch to aluminum is the quickly growing market for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). They are the vehicles of the future, a vital part of the effort to mitigate climate change and reach sustainability goals.
Batteries are heavy and the most expensive component of a BEV. Aluminum is lightweight with one-third the density of steel but the same in-service strength, which means automotive manufacturers only need to use 600 grams or less of aluminum for every kilogram of steel.
Furthermore, lightweight aluminum BEVs are quicker to charge and have better efficiency and potentially smaller battery packs, which means they drive farther between charging stations with the same amount of energy. Smaller batteries mean lower costs for both automakers and consumers.
Aluminum is infinitely recyclable
Aluminum is the most sustainable choice for automotive body sheet because it is infinitely recyclable without a loss in its qualities, including lightness, durability, and formability. Recycling aluminum uses only about 5 percent of the energy to produce primary metal and reduces carbon emissions by as much as 95 percent. Recycling aluminum scrap in a closed-loop process is an immediate opportunity for vehicle manufacturers to reduce their carbon emissions, while end-of-life recycling offers an opportunity for the future.
Performance, safety, and durability are enhanced with aluminum.
Lightweighting with aluminum provides better handling in the form of faster acceleration, more responsive steering, quicker braking, less load on brakes and suspension, and the capacity to tow and carry more.
Further, aluminum has excellent corrosion resistance and is self-healing, forming a protective oxide barrier when cracked, dented, or deformed. In the event of a crash, aluminum absorbs more energy than steel per kilogram giving it superior crush properties.
"I look forward to sharing more of Alumobility's case studies and insights on the benefits of using aluminum in vehicle manufacturing at the upcoming Automotive Circle conference," said Rudlaff. "We are appreciative of the opportunity to explain how lightweighting with aluminum improves vehicle efficiency, is more cost effective, provides for greater performance and safety, and is ultimately better for the environment."
For more information and to register for Automotive Circle's conference on Sustainability in Automotive Production, please visit: https://www.automotive-circle.com/en/conferences/sustainability
Alumobility's comprehensive whitepaper explaining the benefits of using aluminum, the fastest growing material in vehicle manufacturing, can be accessed here.
About Alumobility
Alumobility is a global ecosystem of the leading aluminum and enabling downstream technology partners committed to driving value for automakers and consumers. Through technical studies and thought leadership, Alumobility will help fulfill the promise of a lighter, more efficient, more sustainable mobility future. For more information, please visit: www.alumobility.com
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SOURCE Alumobility | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/11/21/aluminum-delivers-sustainability-automotive-industry/ | 2022-11-21 17:04:34 | 0 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/11/21/aluminum-delivers-sustainability-automotive-industry/ |
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PARIS (AP) — The dull Paris weather did not dim the power of the French capital’s ready-to-wear shows continued Saturday, vibrantly spanning the restrained colors of minimalism to Renaissance exuberance.
Here are some highlights of Paris Fashion Week fall-winter 2023-2024 collections:
ELIE SAAB SAYS IT WITH FLOWERS
Singers Ciara and Avril Lavigne negotiated crowds and slippery stone steps to get to the Palais de Tokyo, the venue for Elie Saab's show. Inside, the Lebanese designer’s presented an ode to the bouquets of the Renaissance, with flowers blooming from every nook, cranny, seam and hem.
Tailored looks featured blossoming hydrangea embroidery above flared 1970s-style pants, as well as brooding dark prints in ruby and flashes of dazzling citrine.
The collection crescendoed passionately into the evening with Saab’s bread-and-butter va-va-voom silhouettes. Sheer mermaid gowns and dresses with sinuous three-dimensional florets glimmered with paillettes and tulle.
The best looks were figurative, such as a Asiatic pleated cummerbund that fanned out dramatically like opening petals.
HERMES’ FASHION AS CAMOUFLAGE
Hermes creative director Nadege Vanhee-Cybulski made a simple, but powerful, proposition for fall – creating each look in the same shade of color so it seemed to melt into itself, like camouflage.
“Just as a second skin exists beneath the surface of a tree, a bark like fabric, there is a dialogue constantly taking shape between materials, between colors, between details,” the fashion house said, poetically.
The one-color concept created a minimalist feeling even when the looks featured layering and details, such as long duffel-style coats in double-sided cashmere, zip-up coats in shiny lambskin, embroidery, belts, buckles and straps.
The first look, a loose textured double skirt dress, came in cognac red and . It sported a hat reminiscent of equestrians styles – unsurprising given the house’s close association with show jumping.
The monochromatic musing continued throughout amid textural tensions – such as one sheeny red silk pleated skirt that contrasted chicly with the accompanying long suede boots.
COPERNI’S CANINE TALE
How to match Bella Hadid spray-on dress that became an instant viral hit last season and raised the profile of Coperni?
Designers Sebastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant went to the canine world for help — that is, the curious world of robo-dogs. Five Boston Dynamics cyber dogs each called Spot were the stars of the show, posing in various yoga positions for the Instagram-friendly snaps fashion insiders relish.
The tech and canine theme continued in the designs, which were predominantly made from recycled materials and were inspired by versions of “The Wolf and the Lamb," a famous French fable.
The tale was retold as paintings on leather jackets. Sheaths were slashed as if clawed by a predator. Enveloping shawls were a take on “Little Red Riding Hood.” Fabulous feathered mini dresses looked like the wolf had raided the chicken pen.
A shaggy floor-length coat looked like the wolf had been skinned and given the Cruella de Vil treatment.
JAPAN’S FASHION FORWARD HEIR
Junya Watanabe, the protege of Comme des Garcons designer Rei Kawakubo, was in fine fashion forward form Saturday, continuing with his often-referenced theme of “Monozukuri.” It means “making of things” in Japanese and has now come to mean innovations in fashion production and using technology to make materials.
For fall, the talented Japanese designer went full-on utilitarian for a dark and aggressive display that used toggles, armor-like padded coats, ninja mouth coverings and black head gear that evoked the garb of combative sports such as fencing.
Braided hair was wrapped around the head and face like protection for a dramatic effect on the mistily lit runway.
Flashes of swirling color, including neon blue, nicely fused the themes of cycling and combat, while structured black leather coats with eyelets, straps, buckles and zippers merged biker gear with traditional Asian dress. | https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/paris-fashion-week-spans-minimalism-and-17819916.php | 2023-03-04 18:50:38 | 1 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/paris-fashion-week-spans-minimalism-and-17819916.php |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a renewed push to protect same-sex marriage in federal law on Wednesday after a surprising number of House Republicans helped pass landmark legislation in that chamber. Some GOP senators are already signaling support.
The legislation started as an election-season political effort to confront the new Supreme Court majority after the court overturned abortion access in Roe v. Wade, raising concerns that other rights were at risk. But suddenly it has a shot at becoming law. Pressure is mounting on Republicans to drop their longstanding opposition and join in a bipartisan moment for gay rights.
“This legislation was so important,” Schumer said as he opened the Senate Wednesday.
The Democratic leader marveled over the House’s 267-157 tally with 47 Republicans — almost one-fifth of the GOP lawmakers — voting for the bill late Tuesday.
“I want to bring this bill to the floor,” Schumer said, “and we’re working to get the necessary Senate Republican support to ensure it would pass.”
Political odds are still long for the legislation, the Respect for Marriage Act, which would enshrine same-sex and interracial marriages as protected under federal law. Conservatives including House GOP leaders largely opposed the bill, and the vast majority of Republicans voted against it.
But in a sign of shifting political attitudes and a need for an election-year win, some Republicans are signaling there may be an opening. Few Republicans spoke directly against gay marriage during Tuesday’s floor debate in the House. And Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell was notably silent when asked about the bill, saying he would take a look if it comes to the Senate.
“I’m going to delay announcing anything on that issue,” McConnell said, adding he would wait to see if Schumer brings it forward.
So far, the legislation has just two Senate Republican co-sponsors, Susan Collins of Maine and Rob Portman of Ohio. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of North Carolina are among others closely watched for possible support.
In all 10 Republican senators would need to join with all Democrats to reach the 60 vote threshold to overcome a GOP filibuster.
“We’re seeing progress on this, and I’ll take progress,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., the bill’s chief sponsor, told reporters at the Capitol.
The No. 2 Republican, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, was doubtful Tuesday, calling the proposed legislation little more than a political message.
Social issues including same-sex marriage and abortion have sprinted to the top of the congressional agenda this summer in reaction to the Supreme Court’s action overturning Roe v. Wade, a stunning ruling that ended the nearly 50-year-old constitutional right to abortion access. It set off alarms that other rights conservatives have targeted could be next.
While Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, insisted the Roe v. Wade ruling pertained only to abortion access, it demonstrated the new conservative muscle with three Trump-era justices tipping the court’s balance. A concurring opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas, who has gained stature in the new majority, raised questions about gay marriage and other rights.
“We take Justice Thomas – and the extremist movement behind him – at their word,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the House debate. “This is what they intend to do.”
Both Pelosi and Schumer criticized Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who said over the weekend that the Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell vs. Hodges decision upholding gay marriage was “clearly wrong.”
The Respect for Marriage Act was rushed to the House floor in an election year with polling showing a majority of Americans favor preserving rights to marry, regardless of sex, gender, race or ethnicity, a long-building shift in modern mores toward inclusion.
A Gallup poll in June showed broad and increasing support for same-sex marriage, with 70% of U.S. adults saying they think such unions should be recognized by law. The poll showed majority support among both Democrats (83%) and Republicans (55%).
Approval of interracial marriage in the U.S. hit a six-decade high at 94% in September, according to Gallup.
McConnell, the Republican leader, is eager to regain control of the Senate, now evenly split 50-50, and his views on whether his party should support or oppose the same-sex marriage protections will almost certainly be viewed through that political lens.
Incumbent Republican senators seeking to win reelection and GOP candidates running for office may want a chance to support the gay marriage issue that is popular with many voters. Strong Republican-led opposition could be seen as detrimental to the party’s candidates in swing states that McConnell needs to win to regain control.
One Republican hopeful, Joe O’Dea, who is challenging incumbent Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet in Colorado, said he was glad to see the same-sex marriage bill pass in the House.
“You’ve got a lot of politicians in both political parties who spend way too much time trying to tell people how to live their lives. That’s just not me. I live my life. You live yours,” O’Dea said. “Let’s get on with solving the huge challenges facing the American people.”
Still, some vocal leaders in the Republican Party, including Cruz and Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, both potential presidential candidates, have indicated likely opposition to the legislation.
The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act, which put into federal law the definition of marriage as a heterosexual union between a man and woman. That 1996 law was largely overshadowed by subsequent court rulings, including Obergefell vs. Hodges in 2015, legalizing gay marriage nationwide.
___
Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri and Mary Clare Jalonick and Nicholas Riccardi in Denver contributed to this report. | https://www.wane.com/news/politics/ap-politics/pressure-on-senate-gop-after-same-sex-marriage-passes-house/ | 2022-07-20 18:57:07 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/politics/ap-politics/pressure-on-senate-gop-after-same-sex-marriage-passes-house/ |
Good Samaritan rescues 7 people from burning yacht on Hudson River
NEW YORK - A yacht caught fire on the Hudson River Saturday afternoon, but no one was hurt thanks to a good Samaritan.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the fire was reported near 79th Street between Edgewater and Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
A good Samaritan rescued seven people from the boat. The Coast Guard said the 48-foot yacht sunk and officials are monitoring for pollution.
Daisy Khan filmed the boat burning from Edgewater. | https://www.fox5ny.com/news/hudson-river-yacht-fire-good-samaritan | 2022-08-21 14:36:19 | 1 | https://www.fox5ny.com/news/hudson-river-yacht-fire-good-samaritan |
TX El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM Zone Forecast for Friday, April 28, 2023
_____
410 FPUS54 KEPZ 290959
ZFPEPZ
Zone Forecast Product for New Mexico
National Weather Service El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
359 AM MDT Sat Apr 29 2023
TXZ418-300000-
Western El Paso County-
Including the cities of Downtown El Paso, West El Paso,
and Upper Valley
359 AM MDT Sat Apr 29 2023
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Southeast winds around
5 mph, becoming southwest this afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Lows in the mid 50s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Sunny, warmer with highs in the lower 90s. South winds
5 to 10 mph, becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly
cloudy. Highs in the upper 80s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in
the evening, then mostly clear after midnight. Lows in the upper
50s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming partly
cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY...Clear, breezy. Lows in the mid 50s.
Highs in the mid 80s.
$$
TXZ419-300000-
Eastern/Central El Paso County-
Including the cities of East and Northeast El Paso, Socorro,
and Fort Bliss
359 AM MDT Sat Apr 29 2023
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Southeast winds 5 to
10 mph, becoming southwest this afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Not as cool with lows in the lower 50s.
Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Sunny, warmer with highs in the lower 90s. South winds
5 to 10 mph, becoming west 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Lows around 60. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly
cloudy. Highs in the upper 80s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then clearing. Highs in
the mid 80s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in
the evening, then mostly clear after midnight. Lows in the upper
50s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming partly
cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY...Clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in
the mid 80s.
$$
TXZ420-300000-
Northern Hudspeth Highlands/Hueco Mountains-
Including the cities of Hueco Tanks and Loma Linda
359 AM MDT Sat Apr 29 2023
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. South winds around 5 mph,
becoming southwest this afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Not as cool with lows in the lower 50s. West
winds 5 to 10 mph, becoming south after midnight.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Not as cool with highs in the upper 80s.
Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph, becoming west in the afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly
cloudy. Highs in the lower 80s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph,
becoming west in the afternoon.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
.TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. A slight chance of
showers. Highs in the lower 80s. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of
rain 20 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning, then partly cloudy with
a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs in the lower
80s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then clearing. Highs in
the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY...Clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs
in the upper 70s.
$$
TXZ423-300000-
Rio Grande Valley of Eastern El Paso/Western Hudspeth Counties-
Including the cities of Fabens, Fort Hancock, and Tornillo
359 AM MDT Sat Apr 29 2023
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs around 80. Southeast winds around 5 mph,
becoming south this afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Not as cool with lows around 50. East winds
5 to 10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Sunny, warmer with highs in the lower 90s. Southeast
winds 5 to 10 mph, becoming west in the afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly
cloudy. Highs around 90. West winds 5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then clearing. Highs in
the upper 80s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in
the evening, then mostly clear after midnight. Lows in the mid
50s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Highs in the
upper 80s. Lows in the mid 50s.
.THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs in the mid
80s. Lows in the lower 50s.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.
$$
TXZ421-300000-
Salt Basin-
Including the cities of Cornudas, Dell City, and Salt Flat
359 AM MDT Sat Apr 29 2023
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Southwest winds 5 to
10 mph.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Not as cool with lows in the upper 40s.
Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Sunny, warmer with highs in the lower 90s. West winds
10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. West winds
10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly
cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph,
becoming southeast in the afternoon.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
.TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of
showers. Highs in the mid 80s. Lows in the lower 50s. Chance of
rain 20 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.
.THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs in the lower
80s. Lows in the lower 50s.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.
$$
TXZ422-300000-
Southern Hudspeth Highlands-
Including the city of Sierra Blanca
359 AM MDT Sat Apr 29 2023
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. Southeast winds around
5 mph, becoming southwest this afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Not as cool with lows in the lower 50s. South
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Not as cool with highs in the upper 80s. South
winds 10 to 15 mph, becoming west in the afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly
cloudy. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds around 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then mostly sunny with a
slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs in the lower
80s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers in the
evening, then mostly clear after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s.
Chance of rain 30 percent.
.WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight
chance of showers. Highs around 80. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance
of rain 20 percent.
.THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs around 80.
Lows in the lower 50s.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs around 80.
$$
TXZ424-300000-
Rio Grande Valley of Eastern Hudspeth County-
Including the city of Indian Hot Springs
359 AM MDT Sat Apr 29 2023
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs around 80. South winds around 5 mph.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Not as cool with lows in the lower 50s.
Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Sunny, warmer with highs in the mid 90s. Southeast
winds 5 to 10 mph, becoming west in the afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly
cloudy. Highs around 90. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of showers in the
evening. Lows around 60. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. A slight chance of showers in the
afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers in the
evening, then mostly clear after midnight. Lows in the upper 50s.
Chance of rain 30 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning, then partly cloudy with
a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs in the upper
80s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then clearing. Highs in
the upper 80s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.
$$
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/tx-el-paso-tx-santa-teresa-nm-zone-forecast-17947274.php | 2023-04-29 11:03:25 | 0 | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/tx-el-paso-tx-santa-teresa-nm-zone-forecast-17947274.php |
STEINHAUSEN, Switzerland (AP) _ Transocean Ltd. (RIG) on Monday reported a loss of $68 million in its second quarter.
The Steinhausen, Switzerland-based company said it had a loss of 10 cents per share.
The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 11 cents per share.
The offshore oil and gas drilling contractor posted revenue of $692 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $722 million.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on RIG at https://www.zacks.com/ap/RIG | https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Transocean-Q2-Earnings-Snapshot-17343897.php | 2022-08-01 22:17:49 | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Transocean-Q2-Earnings-Snapshot-17343897.php |
Off the coast of Spain, orcas are increasingly attacking sailboats – including a boat in the Ocean Race regatta. +++ Being Putin's double was once a lucrative job. But that’s changed since the attack on Ukraine.
What drives people in Europe – politically, socially and culturally? How do Europeans lead their lives? What are their views, hopes and fears? Focus on Europe – Spotlight on People provides the answers. | https://www.dw.com/en/focus-on-europe-spotlight-on-people/video-66159871 | 2023-07-13 13:48:58 | 1 | https://www.dw.com/en/focus-on-europe-spotlight-on-people/video-66159871 |
Deputies respond to possibly armed barricaded subject in Brooksville; residents asked to stay inside
BROOKSVILLE, Fla. - Hernando County Sheriff's deputies are responding to a barricaded subject in a Brooksville neighborhood.
Investigators said the incident started early Tuesday afternoon on Oakdale Avenue near Dan Lynn Street.
Someone in the home is possibly armed with a firearm, deputies said.
Residents in the area are being asked to remain indoors unless directed otherwise by law enforcement.
Members of the public are advised to avoid the area until the situation has been resolved.
This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 13 for updates. | https://www.fox13news.com/news/deputies-respond-to-possibly-armed-barricaded-subject-in-brooksville-residents-asked-to-stay-inside | 2022-07-12 18:17:22 | 1 | https://www.fox13news.com/news/deputies-respond-to-possibly-armed-barricaded-subject-in-brooksville-residents-asked-to-stay-inside |
Trump’s longtime assistant subpoenaed by NY attorney general
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York attorney general’s office said Monday it subpoenaed Donald Trump’s longtime executive assistant and plans to question her under oath next week as part of its civil investigation into the former president’s business dealings.
The subpoena for Rhona Graff was disclosed by a lawyer for Attorney General Letitia James’ office in court papers opposing Trump’s latest bid to rid himself of a contempt of court order for being slow to respond to a subpoena for documents and other evidence.
Graff’s deposition is scheduled for May 31, special litigation counsel Andrew Amer said in the court filing.
Amer said James’ office plans to ask Graff about a variety of issues, including Trump’s involvement in the preparation of annual financial statements that have been a focus of the attorney general’s investigation.
Graff left Trump’s company, the Trump Organization, in April 2021, but was among several people involved in keeping his records who provided affidavits to Trump’s lawyers late Friday as they sought to have his contempt order lifted.
Graff, who started working for Trump in 1987, has been described as his gatekeeper and right hand. Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, wrote in his book that she had her own Trump Tower office with a large filing cabinet containing folders on various issues pertaining to Trump.
Amer said James’ office wants to question Graff under oath, in part, because her affidavit only described the company’s retention and preservation practices for some of Trump’s records, and lacked detail about how his financial statements were handled.
“Did (Trump) ever review the statement in draft form before he signed the final version each year?” Amer wrote, listing questions left unanswered by Graff’s affidavit.
“Did he annotate any drafts with comments and/or questions?” Amer continued. “If so, what happened to those drafts? In what form was the final version of the statement presented for Mr. Trump’s approval in each year? How did he make his approval clear? Ms. Graff’s affidavit does not say.”
A message seeking comment was left with a lawyer who represented Graff in past legal matters.
James, a Democrat, has said her three-year probe uncovered evidence the Trump Organization misstated the value of assets like skyscrapers and golf courses on financial statements for more than a decade.
Trump, a Republican, denies the allegations. He has called James’ investigation “racist” and a politically motivated “witch hunt.” James is Black. Trump’s lawyers have accused her of selective prosecution.
Trump’s lawyers contend James is using her civil investigation to gain access to information that could then be used against him in a criminal probe being conducted by the Manhattan district attorney, a Democrat.
Trump is also suing James in federal court, seeking to shut down her investigation.
Judge Arthur Engoron declared Trump in contempt on April 25 and fined him $10,000 per day for failing to turn over subpoenaed documents by a March 31 deadline.
Engoron said he would lift the order if Trump met certain conditions by Friday.
Trump has met most of the conditions, including paying $110,000 in fines and submitting affidavits detailing efforts to search for subpoenaed records.
Amer acknowledged that Trump and his lawyers have made strides in meeting Engoron’s conditions, but said the contempt order should remain in effect until Graff’s deposition.
Engoron has yet to rule.
In the meantime, Amer said Trump’s lawyers could take other steps to shed light on his records retention practices. He suggested they provide a detailed affidavit from another Trump executive and an affidavit detailing their efforts to contact each of Trump’s 12 former executive assistants.
___
Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/2022/05/23/ny-attorney-general-subpoenas-trumps-longtime-assistant/ | 2022-05-24 00:32:52 | 1 | https://www.cleveland19.com/2022/05/23/ny-attorney-general-subpoenas-trumps-longtime-assistant/ |
Philadelphia school placed on lockdown after gun found in student’s backpack
A Philadelphia school was placed on lockdown Tuesday morning after a gun was found in a student's backpack.
This story originally appeared on 6abc.
A Philadelphia school was placed on lockdown Tuesday morning after a gun was found in a student’s backpack.
According to police, the First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School in the city’s Frankford section was placed on lockdown at about 9:57 a.m. after a parent received a call from her daughter saying a student had a gun inside.
According to a statement from the school, a gun was found in a student’s backpack.
“All students, faculty, and staff remained safe and secure, and immediate action was taken. The school was placed on lockdown and the Philadelphia Police Department was called to the scene, the campus remains secure,” the statement said.
“The safety of our students and everyone within our school is paramount and will always remain our number one focus. We thank our faculty and staff for their diligence here.”
The lockdown the lifted by 12:30 p.m. and officials said the school is dismissing early.
If you or someone you know has been affected by gun violence in Philadelphia, you can find grief support and resources online.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today. | https://whyy.org/articles/school-on-lockdown-first-philadelphia-preparatory-charter-gun-in-backpack-student-brings/ | 2023-06-06 18:31:47 | 0 | https://whyy.org/articles/school-on-lockdown-first-philadelphia-preparatory-charter-gun-in-backpack-student-brings/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two Los Angeles police officers shot by a wanted parolee have been released from the hospital and a third is in stable condition, police said Friday.
The officers, all members of a K-9 dog-handling unit, were wounded Wednesday in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood near downtown. Two were released on Thursday, a police statement said.
The gunman, Jonathan Magana, 32, was found dead more than two hours after the shooting. The coroner’s office will determine whether he died by suicide or was shot by police during the confrontation.
Around 4 p.m. Wednesday, plainclothes officers from a drug enforcement detail were looking for Magana, who was on parole after being released last year after serving time for robbery, according to police. He also was a suspect in an extortion incident, law enforcement said.
Officers spotted Magana walking, but then lost sight of him. They called in uniformed officers to help surround an area and asked K-9 officers to assist in searching it, the police statement said.
One dog alerted officers to the downstairs room of what appeared to be a converted multiunit living space that was under construction.
Officers surrounded the unit and called on Magana to surrender. When he didn’t, they fired a chemical gas. Magana then opened fire, hitting three officers, who were pulled to a safe location as other officers shot back, according to police. The wounded officers were taken to a nearby hospital in ambulances.
With the area surrounded, SWAT teams were called in and robots were sent in to keep an eye on the suspect. One, equipped with a video camera, went into the room and found Magana, who wasn’t moving.
He was later declared dead at the scene.
Police said they found two semi-automatic handguns — one of them an unregistered “ghost gun” — and a loaded high-capacity magazine. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/2-la-police-officers-shot-by-parolee-released-from-hospital/ | 2023-03-12 04:12:21 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/2-la-police-officers-shot-by-parolee-released-from-hospital/ |
Announced during Financial Literacy Month, the innovative new program is made possible through a partnership between Santander Consumer, City Year and Operation HOPE
DALLAS, April 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. ("Santander Consumer" and "SC") today announced that it is working with its established community partners City Year and Operation HOPE to bring financial literacy training to City Year AmeriCorps members, starting in greater Dallas with the intention to expand the program to other cities over the next two years. City Year AmeriCorps members working in select Dallas schools have access to financial workshops and one-on-one personal coaching designed and administered by Operation HOPE, Inc., the nation's largest non-profit dedicated to financial empowerment, with award-winning financial wellness programs designed to educate and transform thinking when it comes to making decisions about money, building wealth and working toward financial independence.
Funded by a start-up grant to Operation HOPE from the Santander Consumer USA Inc. Foundation, the program launched in Dallas in November 2021 with 25 City Year AmeriCorps members. When participants of this first cohort complete their program in May 2022, they will have received six months of financial literacy and empowerment curriculum from Operation HOPE, personal financial coaching for budgeting, saving, improving credit scores, and establishing and managing credit, as well as a financial award from Santander Consumer.
City Year AmeriCorps members serve as student success coaches, helping students build on their strengths and cultivating social, emotional and academic skills that are important in school and life. Through their service in schools and communities, City Year AmeriCorps members not only make a difference in the lives of students they
serve, they do so while also acquiring valuable skills and experience that prepare them to lead and make meaningful contributions to where they live and work.
The program is the latest initiative in Santander Consumer's $50 million multi-year commitment to boost financial inclusion and grow digital equity in communities in the U.S. In January, SC announced a separate initiative to provide free high-speed Internet connectivity, computers, training and support to eligible low-income residents in select cities.
"Supporting equity and inclusion in our communities is a top focus for SC, not just during Financial Literacy Month in April, but every day," said Mahesh Aditya, President and CEO of SC. "City Year AmeriCorps members provide important support to America's students and schools, and many of those corps members are just beginning to establish their personal finances. By working with Operation HOPE's coaches and financial empowerment curriculum, City Year AmeriCorps members can build healthy financial habits, which – in turn – helps to build generational wealth."
"Financial wellness is a crucial part of success and wholeness," said John Hope Bryant, Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO. "Santander Consumer is helping to instill financial confidence in City Year AmeriCorps members, many of whom are just beginning their professional careers. This is a unique program, and we applaud Santander Consumer and City Year for their ongoing commitment as we work together to uplift and enrich individuals and families with greater financial empowerment."
"City Year AmeriCorps members commit a year or more of their lives toward supporting students' social emotional development," said Chris Mann, City Year Senior Vice President of Development. "We are so grateful to Santander Consumer and Operation HOPE for providing this financial literacy training for our AmeriCorps members and supporting them as they complete their service and begin their life-long journeys as engaged citizens and leaders helping to address the serious challenges of systemic inequity and racial injustice in their communities."
Santander Consumer USA Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a full-service consumer finance company focused on vehicle finance, third-party servicing and delivering superior service to our more than 3 million customers across the full credit spectrum. SC, which began originating retail installment contracts in 1997, had an average managed asset portfolio of approximately $64 billion (for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2021). The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Santander Holdings USA, Inc., and is part of Madrid, Spain-based global banking leader Banco Santander. For more information about Santander Consumer USA, please visit www.santanderconsumerusa.com.
City Year helps students and schools succeed, while preparing the next generation of engaged leaders who can work across lines of difference. Diverse teams of City Year AmeriCorps members provide support to students, classrooms and the whole school. Schools that partner with City Year are up to two to three times more likely to improve in English and math assessments, and the more time students spend with AmeriCorps members, the most they improve on social, emotional and academic skills – skills that help students thrive in school and contribute to their community.
A proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network, City Year is supported by AmeriCorps, local school districts and private philanthropy. City Year partners with public schools in 29 communities across the U.S. and through international affiliates in the U.K. and South Africa. Learn more at cityyear.org or on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to "silver rights" with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for everyone — disrupting poverty for millions of low- and moderate-income individuals and families across the nation. Through its community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which was recognized as "Innovator of the Year" recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities — turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small-business dreamers into small-business owners, minimum-wage workers into living-wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered survivors.
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SOURCE Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/04/30/santander-consumer-usa-launches-financial-literacy-training-city-year-americorps-members/ | 2022-05-01 15:33:01 | 1 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/04/30/santander-consumer-usa-launches-financial-literacy-training-city-year-americorps-members/ |
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Crews are continuing to gain containment on the Oak Fire in Mariposa County. CAL FIRE reports there was no growth on the fire overnight and containment increased by 5% to 64%.
The wildfire has scorched 19,244 acres since it first sparked on the afternoon of Friday, July 22nd.
CAL FIRE reports that 116 houses have been destroyed, along with 66 outbuildings.
Currently, the most complex firefighting operation is in the Devil's Gulch area, with crews working to build and secure control lines in incredibly steep and rugged terrain.
RELATED: Army veteran's home burned down by Oak Fire in Mariposa County
Fire personnel are fighting to control the flames from ground and from air, as the wildfire continues to threaten about 200 more buildings.
WATCH: Video captures 'apocalyptic scene' as Oak Fire smoke blankets skies
The Oak Fire was sparked near the community of Midpines between Mariposa and Yosemite National Park. By evening, it had reached the Sierra National Forest.
Officials have been gradually reducing evacuation orders to fire advisements.
That means residents are allowed in their homes, but should be ready to leave in case flames spread further.
RELATED: Oak Fire: Newly married couple return to find Mariposa County home in ashes
Areas including Triangle Road, some parts of Lushmeadows Subdivision, and all addresses on Highway 140 are now open, but only for residents who live in the area.
You can see updates and details on this evacuation map created by the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office.
Areas marked in red are where residents are ordered to leave. Areas in yellow are under fire advisories.
Governor Newsom has secured federal funding to keep resources and firefighters moving in.
Firefighting efforts are being hampered by hot weather with minimal humidity. The fire is also burning in an area with high tree mortality and dense fuels.
Video taken by an ABC30 crew shows huge, dark clouds of smoke rising from entire hillsides engulfed in flames.
This was the third wildfire to spread rapidly and force evacuation in the county in two weeks.
Firefighters are still trying to fully contain the Washburn Fire.
RELATED: Track wildfires across Central California and the state with this interactive map
Several roads in Mariposa County are closed. You can find updates on the road closures on CAL FIRE's page.
An evacuation center has been set up by the Red Cross at Mariposa Elementary School. Evacuees are being given safe shelter, water, meals and more resources.
Address of evacuation centers:
Animal evacuation centers:
Officials are urging anyone who needs information to call the Oak Fire information line: 844-MMU-FIRE (844-668-3473)
For the latest developments, photos and videos on the Oak Fire, click here.
Full list of stories on the Oak Fire:
READ: Beloved cat found safe after going missing as family forced to evacuate home during Oak Fire
READ: Army veteran's home burned down by Oak Fire in Mariposa County
READ: Oak Fire: Newly married couple return to find Mariposa County home in ashes
READ: Oak Fire: Valley air quality expected to worsen due to smoke from Mariposa County wildfire
READ: Oak Fire: Red Cross volunteers helping more than 50 evacuees
WATCH: Video captures 'apocalyptic scene' as Oak Fire smoke blankets skies
READ: Oak Fire: GoFundMe sets up verified hub for fundraisers
READ: Oak Fire: Animal evacuation shelters busy with pets | https://abc30.com/mariposa-county-evacuation-orders-issued-oak-fire-sierra-national-forest-containment/12088680/ | 2022-07-31 18:43:34 | 1 | https://abc30.com/mariposa-county-evacuation-orders-issued-oak-fire-sierra-national-forest-containment/12088680/ |
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Nov. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With the ever changing, and nightmarish, travel scene right now, having a personalized itinerary with up-to-date adjustments as needed in the palm of your hand is exciting! Group incentive travel programs operating through Motivation Excellence all include Inspire, our fully customizable and personalized mobile travel site.
Features of Inspire include:
- company branding
- personalized air, land and event itineraries
- airline and customs information
- text messaging alerts
- interactive photo gallery
"This is something no other incentive company has at their disposal. The personalized itineraries is a game changer for our industry. Plus, we can customize the app in a number of ways to make it truly unique to our clients' needs and travel destination," says Brad Hecht, VP Travel at Motivation Excellence.
For a quick overview of Inspire please watch the video on our Motivation Excellence homepage.
Motivation Excellence is a performance improvement agency. We use a variety of award solutions to inspire extraordinary performance among our clients' participants. Through a deep dive into each client's particular situation, we develop a comprehensive plan to meet goals and drive peak ROI.
"I'm extremely confident Inspire adds incredible value to our travel programs. Our own people built it and it's already part of the travel solution; there's not an upcharge for this technology. This represents our commitment to our clients and their most deserving participants," says David Jobes, President and CEO of Motivation Excellence.
For more information, please contact our Strategic Marketing Manager, Sky Z. Capriolo at s.capriolo@motivationexcellence.com.
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SOURCE MOTIVATION EXCELLENCE, INC. | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/11/04/motivation-excellence-announces-new-group-travel-technology-called-inspire/ | 2022-11-04 11:52:11 | 1 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/11/04/motivation-excellence-announces-new-group-travel-technology-called-inspire/ |
Given that there are few activities less inherently cinematic than writing, I'm surprised and heartened by how many good movies I've seen in recent years that have convincingly entered the lives and minds of authors. I'm thinking of A Quiet Passion, the Emily Dickinson biopic, and Shirley, about The Haunting of Hill House author Shirley Jackson. You don't spend a lot of time watching these women scribbling with their quills or banging away at their typewriters, but you do get a rich sense of how their artistic sensibilities came into being.
The latest fine addition to this group is Emily, which freely speculates about the life of the 19th-century English writer Emily Jane Brontë in the years before she would write her one and only novel, Wuthering Heights. The movie takes significant liberties with what is known about Emily and her famous sisters, Charlotte and Anne, but as a non-stickler for biopic accuracy, I didn't mind. True or false or somewhere in between, this is an engagingly detailed and emotionally truthful portrait of a family of artists. Every character and actor leaves a vivid impression.
Emily is strikingly played by Emma Mackey, the French-British actor known for her work on the series Sex Education; she was also the best thing in the recent remake of Death on the Nile. Mackey has the kind of searing gaze that cuts right through any period-piece decorum, and that makes her perfect for the sardonic, self-amused Emily. She's neither as sweet as her younger sister, Anne, nor as well behaved as her older sister, Charlotte, who's memorably played by Alexandra Dowling. Charlotte is studying to be a teacher and wants Emily to do the same, mainly to please their strict clergyman father.
But Emily's natural talent is for inventing stories and writing poetry, and also for speaking her mind with a boldness that leaves others unsettled. There's a dark side to Emily, and it emerges whenever she mentions her mother's long-ago death, something the others don't like to talk about.
Of all her siblings, Emily is probably closest to her fellow-misfit brother, Branwell, an aspiring painter played by Fionn Whitehead. Their bond becomes even stronger after Branwell drops out of art school and sinks into alcoholism and opium addiction. One day, while they're walking the Yorkshire moors, she notices three words inked on his arm: "Freedom in thought" — a creed that also becomes her own.
And so Emily tells a familiar but compelling story of a woman rebelling against the expectations of her religious and image-conscious family. In her biggest breach of convention, she falls into a torrid romance with William Weightman, the handsome young curate who assists her father in his church duties.
Emily and William, played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen, initially loathe each other, which makes it all the more affecting when they surrender to their passion. Their affair is clearly laying the narrative framework for the forbidden love between Catherine and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights.
That idea might sound overly simplistic, especially if, like me, you chafe at the notion that great art can only emerge from direct autobiographical experience. But even if the movie plays hard and loose with the facts — some have speculated that there was a romantic connection between Anne Brontë and William Weightman — Mackey and Jackson-Cohen bring so much heat and conviction that their love story sweeps you up in its wake.
But as magnetic as Emily and William are together, their bond isn't the only one of note here. I've rarely seen a movie this attuned to the emotional complexity of sibling relationships, especially between Charlotte and Emily, whose mutual exasperation never obscures the depths of their sisterly love.
Emily marks an excellent writing and directing debut for the actor Frances O'Connor, who's appeared in her own share of English literary adaptations like Mansfield Park and The Importance of Being Earnest. Her witty but unfussy script is rife with echoes of Wuthering Heights, which means it often plays like a ghost story. Much of the movie is set in dim, candlelit interiors, including one terrifying scene in which an innocent game among the Brontë siblings becomes a disturbing kind of séance. O'Connor keeps her camera tightly fixed on Emily even at her most anguished moments, when she seems to be teetering on the brink of madness. Maybe she is. But maybe it takes a little madness to create a work of art, including a movie as good as this one.
Copyright 2023 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air. | https://www.nepm.org/2023-02-17/emily-imagines-bronte-before-wuthering-heights | 2023-02-17 19:30:31 | 1 | https://www.nepm.org/2023-02-17/emily-imagines-bronte-before-wuthering-heights |
PHILADELPHIA, June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating Manning & Napier, Inc. (NYSE: MN) on behalf of the company's shareholders.
On April 1, 2022, Manning & Napier announced that it had agreed to be acquired by Callodine Group, LLC ("Callodine") at a price of $12.85 per share. Following the closing of the proposed transaction, shares of Manning & Napier's stock will no longer be publicly traded.
The investigation seeks to determine: (i) whether the transaction as structured is fair to Manning & Napier shareholders; (ii) whether MN shareholders will be receiving sufficient consideration for their shares; and (iii) whether Manning & Napier's directors have breached their fiduciary duties to the company's stockholders in agreeing to sell the company to Callodine.
Manning & Napier shareholders are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (484) 229 – 0750, or by email (abell@kaskelalaw.com) or online at https://kaskelalaw.com/cases/manning-napier-inc/ , for additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options.
Kaskela Law LLC represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com. This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.
CONTACT:
D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq.
Adrienne Bell, Esq.
KASKELA LAW LLC
18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(484) 229 – 0750
(888) 715 – 1740
www.kaskelalaw.com
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SOURCE Kaskela Law LLC | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/kaskela-law-llc-announces-stockholder-investigation-manning-amp-napier-inc-mn-following-announced-agreement-sell-company-1285-per-share-encourages-mn-shareholders-contact-firm/ | 2022-06-14 15:52:39 | 1 | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/kaskela-law-llc-announces-stockholder-investigation-manning-amp-napier-inc-mn-following-announced-agreement-sell-company-1285-per-share-encourages-mn-shareholders-contact-firm/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA/NEXSTAR) — Part of Southwest Florida was placed under quarantine in an effort to stop the spread of one of the most damaging snails in the world.
The giant African snail, or “GAS” for short, (it can also be called giant African land snail, or “GALS”) can consume at least 500 different types of plants and be devastating to Florida’s agriculture, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Not only does this slimy species possess a mighty appetite, “the snails also pose a serious health risk to humans by carrying the parasite rat lungworm, known to cause meningitis in humans,” the department wrote in an online quarantine advisory.
However, the latest quarantine efforts in Florida’s Lee and Pasco counties are not the state’s first attempts at eradicating the species.
The giant African snail has been eradicated from Florida twice already. The snail was first detected in 1969 and was eradicated in 1975. In 2011, the snail was again detected in Miami-Dade County and eventually eradicated in 2021.
Finally, on June 23, 2022, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) confirmed the detection of the giant African land snail in the New Port Richey area of Pasco County.
That same month, FDACS’s Division of Plant Industry began to survey the area and enacted a quarantine.
Officials said the populations previously eradicated in South Florida and the population in Lee County have dark brown shells with grayish-brown flesh. The snails detected in Pasco County have light to dark brown shells with milky white flesh (seen below).
To protect your property, FDACS reccommends Metaldehyde, a pesticide used to control snails and slugs. The treatment option is approved for use in a variety of vegetable and ornamental crops in the field or greenhouse, on fruit trees, small-fruit plants, in avocado and citrus orchards, berry plants, banana plants and in limited residential areas.
Property owners inside the treatment area will be notified in person or by posted notice at least 24 hours in advance of the planned pesticide treatment. For more information, click here.
Why is it so hard to stop them?
GAS populations are difficult to suppress for a few reasons, the U.S. Department of Agriculture explains. The snails have both male and female reproductive organs — and each snail can produce up to 1,200 eggs each year. Additionally, snails can reproduce several times from a single mating. Research also shows that GAS eggs are hardy, with a 90% survival rate.
Research published in the peer-reviewed PLOS One journal showed that 100 GAS hatchlings were potentially capable of producing over 1,000 more within 270 days.
The snails are so detrimental to ecosystems, they’re considered prohibited organisms in the U.S. Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said specialists intercepted six GAS at Detroit Metropolitan Airport inside the suitcase of a traveler from Ghana. Penalties for traveling with the species — which are eaten and even kept as pets overseas — can include penalties and arrest, CBP says. | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/giant-african-snail-invasion-lands-part-of-florida-in-quarantine/ | 2023-03-21 20:47:40 | 1 | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/giant-african-snail-invasion-lands-part-of-florida-in-quarantine/ |
A Connecticut woman with cancer sued Vermont on Thursday for allowing only its own residents to take advantage of a state law that lets people who are terminally ill end their own lives.
Lynda Bluestein, 75, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, who has terminal fallopian tube cancer, and Dr. Diana Barnard, of Middlebury, Vermont, argue in the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Burlington that Vermont’s residency requirement violates the U.S. Constitution.
The Vermont law allows physicians to prescribe lethal medication to state residents with an incurable illness that is expected to kill them within six months.
Bluestein said in an interview Thursday that she is not yet at the point where her life expectancy is less than six months, but that it is her third bout with cancer and she watched her mother die of the disease.
“She said, “I never wanted you to see me like this.' I don’t want my children to see me like that, either,” she said. “I’d like their last memories of me to be as strong as possible, to interact with them and not in an adult diaper curled up in a fetal position, drugged out of my mind.”
Barnard said in the lawsuit that she would like to be able to offer the end-of-life option to her patients who live in New York. The two women have been advocates on the issue in New York and Connecticut, which have no laws in place to allow for medically assisted suicide.
The lawsuit — filed by the group Compassion and Choices, which describes itself as an organization that “expands options and empowers everyone to chart their end-of-life journey" — argues that the residency requirement violates the commerce, equal protection, and privileges and immunities clauses of the U.S. Constitution.
Bluestein and Barnard are asking the court to block enforcement of the residency provision.
Compassion and Choices says the Vermont lawsuit is the nation's second to challenge residency requirements for such laws. Ten of the 11 jurisdictions nationwide that have authorized medical assistance to help people end their lives have a residency requirement, the group said.
The organization in March settled a similar lawsuit in Oregon that resulted in the suspension of the residency requirement in that state.
The office of Vermont Gov. Phil Scott referred questions to the attorney general's office, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bluestein is a retired community public health professional who worked with women and children. She was diagnosed with cancer in March 2021. At the time she was given six months to three years to live and is undergoing treatment.
Bluestein said she met a woman with advanced lung cancer in a survivor group in Connecticut who moved to Vermont to take advantage of the state's law.
“Every other day or so, she’s telling me, she said, ‘Don’t wait until the end,’” said Bluestein, who noted her friend established Vermont residency and died this year with the help of the law.
For Bluestein, moving to Vermont would be too complicated, she said.
Under Vermont’s Patient Choice and Control at the End of Life Act, passed in 2013, once a determination has been made that a patient has fewer than six months to live, the patient may ask their physician for a prescription for a medication that would hasten death. The process requires both oral and written requests, witnesses and the second opinion from another physician.
Physicians and pharmacists are not required to participate in the actual suicide.
In a January report, the Vermont Health Department said that between May 31, 2013, when the law took effect, and June 30, 2021, 116 people took advantage of the law. Of the total, 77% had cancer. | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Woman-sues-over-residency-requirement-for-17398741.php | 2022-08-25 23:02:52 | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Woman-sues-over-residency-requirement-for-17398741.php |
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We've placed cookies on your device to improve your browsing experience. They're safe and don't contain sensitive information. | https://tj.news/telegraph-journal/102140579 | 2023-07-17 01:45:30 | 1 | https://tj.news/telegraph-journal/102140579 |
SACRAMENTO (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday afternoon's drawing of the California Lottery's "Daily 3 Midday" game were:
7-6-6
(seven, six, six)
SACRAMENTO (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday afternoon's drawing of the California Lottery's "Daily 3 Midday" game were:
7-6-6
(seven, six, six) | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Daily-3-Midday-game-17527413.php | 2022-10-22 21:11:31 | 1 | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Daily-3-Midday-game-17527413.php |
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Erik Reynolds II scored 27 points, four in the overtime, as Saint Joseph's took down Pennsylvania 85-80 on Wednesday night.
Reynolds added five assists for the Hawks (3-3). Kacper Klaczek scored 19 points while going 7 of 13 (4 for 8 from distance), and added nine rebounds and six assists. Lynn Greer III recorded 16 points and shot 6 of 16 from the field and 4 for 7 from the line.
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The Quakers (5-5) were led by Jordan Dingle, who recorded 28 points. Clark Slajchert added 18 points for Pennsylvania. Eddie Holland III also had 10 points.
Dingle's basket with six seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime tied at 74-all.
___
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Reynolds-Saint-Joseph-s-knock-off-Pennsylvania-17622987.php | 2022-12-01 06:16:37 | 0 | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Reynolds-Saint-Joseph-s-knock-off-Pennsylvania-17622987.php |
MOJAVE, Calif., Nov. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratolaunch, LLC is pleased to announce they have been added as a partner to the Multiservice Advanced Capability Test Bed (MACH-TB) project awarded by Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division through the Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS)Other Transaction Agreement (OTA).
One of the key innovations of the NSWC Crane MACH-TB initiative focuses on supporting hypersonic programs through opportunities to flight test technologies with robust, agile, and modular approaches. The Dynetics-led team will demonstrate ways to affordably prototype a testbed that leverages commercial launch vehicles, including Stratolaunch's Talon-A vehicle, for flight testing hypersonic payloads. The data collected will provide insight to the DoD on technology improvement and capability validation. Early, affordable, and regular hypersonic flight testing leads to robust and successful developments of hypersonic weapon systems.
Stratolaunch's Talon-A, a reusable autonomous hypersonic testbed, will operate as a high-cadence, high-speed testbed to advance the MACH-TB program development. Stratolaunch's hypersonic flight test service directly complements the goals of MACH-TB.
"We're excited for the opportunity for Talon-A flights to be integrated into the MACH-TB program as part of the Dynetics team. We look forward to providing flight test opportunities needed to advance hypersonics systems development for the services," said Dr. Zachary Krevor, Chief Executive Officer for Stratolaunch. "This partnership will accelerate the frequency of testing that is imperative to reducing the risk of hypersonic system technology development."
Stratolaunch's mission is to advance high-speed technology through innovative design, manufacturing, and operation of world-class aerospace vehicles. For the latest news and information, visit www.stratolaunch.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Dynetics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leidos, provides responsive, cost-effective engineering, scientific, IT solutions to national security, cybersecurity, space and critical infrastructure sectors. Our portfolio features highly specialized technical services and a range of software and hardware products, including components, subsystems and complex end-to-end systems. The company of more than 3,000 employees is based in Huntsville, Alabama, and has offices throughout the U.S. For more information, visit www.dynetics.com.
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SOURCE Stratolaunch | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/11/29/stratolaunch-partners-with-dynetics-navy-mach-tb-hypersonic-testbed/ | 2022-11-29 20:27:55 | 0 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/11/29/stratolaunch-partners-with-dynetics-navy-mach-tb-hypersonic-testbed/ |
- Almost half (47%) of surveyed CSCOs said they have introduced new automation technologies in the last two years.
- Surveyed CSCOs ranked sustainability as their third biggest challenge in the next few years, trailing only supply chain disruptions and technology infrastructure.
- "The Innovators" are modernizing their technology infrastructure – 56% of those respondents are currently operating on hybrid cloud, and 60% are investing in digital infrastructure to scale and deliver value.
ARMONK, N.Y., Sept. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new IBM (NYSE: IBM) Institute for Business Value (IBV) study "Own Your Transformation" unveils how Chief Supply Chain Officers (CSCOs) are navigating significant supply chain challenges brought on by a global COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, climate change and geopolitical events, and how they plan to future-proof their supply chains.
The survey* of 1,500 CSCOs and Chief Operating Officers (COOs) reveals that they are increasing investments in automation, AI and intelligent workflows, ecosystems and sustainability, and are reimagining their supply chain operations.
"To effectively combat the unprecedented supply chain stressors like inflation, it's imperative that CSCOs focus on using analytics, AI and automation initiatives to build intelligent, resilient, and sustainable supply chains," said Jonathan Wright, IBM Consulting Global Managing Partner, Sustainability Services and Global Business Transformation. "Automation and AI can enable CSCOs and their organizations to collect data, identify risk, validate documentation, and provide audit trails, even in high inflationary periods, while also managing their carbon, waste, energy and water consumption."
Key study findings show that:
CSCOs are embracing AI and automation technologies to provide interconnectivity with partners and suppliers and to enable sustainable operations and predictability.
- Almost half (47%) of surveyed CSCOs said they have introduced new automation technologies in the last two years—an approach that can add predictability, flexibility, and intelligence to supply chain operations, and they're using AI to help monitor and track performance.
Sustainability is both a challenge and a force for change.
- Surveyed CSCOs rank sustainability as their third biggest challenge in the next few years, trailing only supply chain disruptions and technology infrastructure.
- 52% place sustainability at or near the top of their priority list.
- 50% report that their sustainability investments will accelerate business growth.
- They tell us that they experience the most direct pressure for sustainability transparency from: investors (56%), board members (50%) and customers (50%).
"The Innovators": 20% of respondents stand apart for accelerating their data-led innovation to prepare for a precarious future, and this group is already outperforming peers on key metrics including reporting 11% higher annual revenue growth. They are:
- Integrating automated workflows across organizational functions and with their partners for real-time visibility, insights, and action (95% more than other CSCOs).
- Modernizing their technology infrastructure – 56% are currently operating on hybrid cloud, and 60% are investing in digital infrastructure to scale and deliver value.
- Extending their sustainability initiatives, creating new products and services. 58% see opportunities to improve customer engagement through sustainability imperatives.
- Focusing deeper on cybersecurity (nearly 20% more than other CSCOs).
The full study is available at:
https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/c-suite-study/csco
*Methodology
In cooperation with Oxford Economics, the IBM Institute for Business Value surveyed 1,500 CSCOs and COOs from 35+ countries and 24 industries as part of the 26th edition of the IBM C-suite Study series. To simplify, we refer to the full population as CSCOs.
About the IBM Institute for Business Value
For two decades, the IBM Institute for Business Value has served as the thought leadership think tank for IBM. What inspires us is producing research-backed, technology-informed strategic insights that help leaders make smarter business decisions. From our unique position at the intersection of business, technology, and society, we survey, interview, and engage with thousands of executives, consumers, and experts each year, synthesizing their perspectives into credible, inspiring, and actionable insights. To stay connected and informed, sign up to receive IBV's email newsletter at ibm.com/ibv. You can also follow @IBMIBV on Twitter or find us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ibm-institute-for-business-value/
Media Contact
Tricia Vuiton
IBM External Relations
Email: tavuiton@us.ibm.com
Phone: +1 (845) 490-7582
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SOURCE IBM | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/20/ibm-study-supply-chain-leaders-are-investing-ai-automation-navigate-supply-chain-uncertainties-improve-sustainability/ | 2022-09-20 11:03:38 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/20/ibm-study-supply-chain-leaders-are-investing-ai-automation-navigate-supply-chain-uncertainties-improve-sustainability/ |
Friday
Pick Three-Midday
- 6-3-0, Fireball: 2
Pick Four-Midday
- 4-6-6-9, Fireball: 0
Lucky Day Lotto Midday
- 1-2-7-35-44
Mega Millions Jackpot
- $355 million
Powerball Jackpot
- $322 million
Thursday
Pick Three-Evening
- 3-2-2 Fireball: 9
Pick Four-Evening
- 6-0-6-2, Fireball: 2
Lucky Day Lotto-Evening
- 3-12-17-25-38
Lotto
- 1-2-16-21-32-38
- Extra shot: 18
- Jackpot: $3.95 million
Because of an early production deadline, the evening Lottery numbers were not available. | https://pantagraph.com/blm-friday-lottery/article_63bfe460-40ef-11ed-b0f4-0be73deb8bf5.html | 2022-09-30 19:03:36 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/blm-friday-lottery/article_63bfe460-40ef-11ed-b0f4-0be73deb8bf5.html |
Headless alligator spotted in Florida along Volusia County road
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - Drivers in Volusia County made a disturbing discovery Friday after spotting a headless alligator on the side of the road.
"It was really sad to see, honestly," Ashauntai Johnson said.
She was driving along Air Park Road, just south of Massey Ranch Airport, when she noticed the dead gator missing its head.
"My first thought was that the cows probably stomped it to death because there's always cows over there, but I was like, I have no idea how the head could have gone missing," she said.
A headless alligator was discovered alongside a Florida highway. [Credit: Ashauntai Johnson]
A closer look at the gator points to possible evidence a crime may have been committed.
"I saw that the head was quite clean cut off, and that's what was surprising," Johnson said.
Alligators are a protected species in Florida, and killing them is illegal.
Earlier this week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) arrested two men in Manatee County, accused of killing a six-foot gator. They're facing a third-degree felony and up to five years in prison if convicted.
Only a state-certified trapper is allowed to kill a gator outside of hunting season if it's deemed a threat.
And while the circumstances regarding the death of the alligator spotted in Volusia County remain unclear, there's no doubt its discovery was disturbing to many.
"I think they're gorgeous creatures, so I was just really, really devastated and sad to see that somebody could do that to such a beautiful creature, especially something that's so big to Florida's wildlife," Johnson said.
FOX 35 reached out to FWC to find out whether the agency is investigating but has not yet received a response. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/headless-alligator-spotted-along-volusia-county-road | 2023-06-24 03:54:20 | 0 | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/headless-alligator-spotted-along-volusia-county-road |
PORTSMOUTH — Boys and Girls Clubs of Scioto officially celebrated the grand opening of its newest clubs in New Boston and Portsmouth on April 26.
This carnival-style event was well-attended and held on the grounds of Portsmouth High School.
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PORTSMOUTH — Boys and Girls Clubs of Scioto officially celebrated the grand opening of its newest clubs in New Boston and Portsmouth on April 26.
This carnival-style event was well-attended and held on the grounds of Portsmouth High School.
Several notable speakers and local supporters kicked off the ceremony to a community of well-wishers. These included Portsmouth native Ed Jacobs; Brent Seelmeyer of Boys and Girls Clubs of America; Scioto Club Directors Karen Davis and Briana Brown; Assistant Club Directors Len Collins and Chad Morris; as well as Diane Crumley, director of Clubs for project coordinator Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio.
After the ceremonial opening remarks, families spent time enjoying the festivities, including games, bouncy house, obstacle course, and plenty of food. These activities, along with the ceremony, were sponsored by Ed Jacobs & Associates, the Glockner Family of Dealerships, and The Malt Shop.
BGCSC opened its first club in March at the South Central Ohio Educational Service Center in New Boston. The second club opened its doors last month at Portsmouth High school.
These clubs currently serve kids in grades 6-12, but they are expected to expand to younger members as each one becomes more established.
There is no cost to join. For more information and/or to sign up, visit https://www.bgcneo.org/join-a-club/
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A receipt was sent to your email. | https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/ohio_news/boys-and-girls-clubs-of-scioto-celebrate-grand-opening/article_5f62b3d7-7151-525f-9a59-7340c0409c3a.html | 2023-05-05 05:41:23 | 1 | https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/ohio_news/boys-and-girls-clubs-of-scioto-celebrate-grand-opening/article_5f62b3d7-7151-525f-9a59-7340c0409c3a.html |
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – A semi-truck crashed into a local gas station early Thursday morning.
According to authorities at the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, a UPS semi-truck crashed into the Circle K building at 600 Orchard Lane. Deputies responded just after 6 a.m. and found that no one was injured in the collision.
At this time, the cause of the crash remains under investigation, and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office is currently in contact with UPS. | https://www.wdtn.com/news/local-news/ups-truck-crashes-into-circle-k-no-injuries/ | 2023-06-15 19:00:27 | 0 | https://www.wdtn.com/news/local-news/ups-truck-crashes-into-circle-k-no-injuries/ |
TEL-AVIV, Israel, May 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HUB Cyber Security (Israel) Limited (TASE: HUB), a Tel-Aviv based developer of Confidential Computing cybersecurity solutions and services ("HUB" or the "Company"), announces that it has signed a long-term framework agreement with a leading European corporation to provide Confidential Compute hardware solutions expected to reach 18 million dollars in hardware and recurring services, including approximately 3.6 million dollars that are expected in revenues already in 2022.
As Hub Security's CEO Eyal Moshe points out, "Our Confidential Computing solution has been in many pilots with leading enterprises and governments around the world for over a year. We are now gaining momentum in converting these pilots to actual transactions." He added that he anticipates "that the upcoming $1.28 billion SPAC merger with Mount Rainier Acquisition Corp will improve our access to the US market and other markets, which is likely to further increase our sales. Our products are unique on the market and allow the customer to operate in the system even during a cyber attack".
HUB Security was established in 2017 by veterans of Intelligence Units 8200 and 81, including Eyal Moshe, who serves as the company's CEO. A few weeks ago, the company signed a binding agreement with the Mount Rainier Acquisition Corp ( RNER) traded on the Nasdaq, for a merger expected to execute this year. .
Hub Security's cyber platform is designed and manufactured in Israel and provides military-grade security for organizations. The company specializes in protecting sensitive commercial information of companies and has developed an advanced encrypted computing solution aimed at preventing hostile intrusions in organizations. In addition to cyber security solutions for AI, data, fintech, and edge computing, HUB Security offers professional services including integration, pen-tests., red-teams services, DDoS atacks simulations and more.
About HUB Cyber Security (Israel) Limited
HUB Cyber Security (Israel) Limited ("HUB") was established in 2017 by veterans of the 8200 and 81 elite intelligence units of the Israeli Defense Forces. The company specializes in unique Cyber Security solutions protecting sensitive commercial and government information. The company debuted an advanced encrypted computing solution aimed at preventing hostile intrusions at the hardware level while introducing a novel set of data theft prevention solutions. HUB operates in over 30 countries and provides innovative cybersecurity computing appliances as well as a wide range of cybersecurity services worldwide.
About Mount Rainier Acquisition Corp.
Mount Rainier Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company sponsored by DC Rainier SPV LLC, a Delaware limited liability company managed by Dominion Capital LLC, whose business purpose is to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this press release are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or HUB's or RNER's future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "should", "would", "seem", "expect", "intend", "will", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "future", "predict", "potential," "forecast" or "continue", or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by HUB and its management, and RNER and its management, as the case may be, are inherently uncertain. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and may differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of HUB or RNER. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (i) expectations regarding HUB's strategies and future financial performance, including its future business plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products and services, pricing, operating expenses, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and HUB's ability to invest in growth initiatives and pursue acquisition opportunities; (ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of negotiations and any subsequent definitive agreements with respect to the proposed transactions; (iii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against RNER, HUB, the Combined Company or others following the announcement of the proposed transactions and any definitive agreements with respect thereto; (iv) the inability to complete the proposed transactions due to, among other things, the failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of RNER or HUB, to obtain certain governmental and regulatory approvals or to satisfy other conditions to closing, including delays in obtaining, adverse conditions contained in, or the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or complete regulatory reviews required to complete the proposed transactions; (v) the inability to obtain the financing necessary to consummate the proposed transactions; (vi) changes to the proposed structure of the proposed transactions that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations or as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the proposed transactions; (vii) the ability to meet stock exchange listing standards following the consummation of the proposed transactions; (viii) the risk that the announcement and consummation of the proposed transactions disrupts HUB's current plans and operations; (ix) the lack of a third party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed transactions; (x) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transactions, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the Combined Company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; (xi) costs related to the proposed transactions; (xii) the amount of any redemptions by existing holders of RNER's common stock being greater than expected; (xiii) limited liquidity and trading of RNER's and HUB's securities; (xiv) geopolitical risk, including military action and related sanctions, and changes in applicable laws or regulations; (xv) geopolitical risk, including military action and related sanctions, and changes in applicable laws or regulations; (xvi) the possibility that RNER, HUB or the Combined Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (xvii) inaccuracies for any reason in the estimates of expenses and profitability and projected financial information for HUB; and (xviii) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in RNER's final prospectus relating to its initial public offering dated October 4, 2021.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Neither HUB nor RNER undertakes any duty to update these forward-looking statements.
Additional Information About the Transaction and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction, HUB intends to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 containing a proxy statement/prospectus, and after the registration statement is declared effective by the SEC, RNER will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Proposed Business Combination to its stockholders. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed transaction and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the proposed transaction. This press release is not a substitute for any registration statement or for any other document that HUB or RNER may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and the amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the proposed transaction, as these materials will contain important information about HUB, RNER and the proposed transaction.
When available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials for the proposed transaction will be mailed to stockholders of RNER as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed transaction. Stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC, without charge, once available, through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hub-security-announces-a-18m-framework-agreement-to-provide-confidential-computing-hardware-solutions-301552530.html
SOURCE HUB Security | https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_stocks/hub-security-announces-a-18m-framework-agreement-to-provide-confidential-computing-hardware-solutions/article_a653410b-5533-5d48-9faa-931c6ead3168.html | 2022-05-22 18:52:00 | 0 | https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_stocks/hub-security-announces-a-18m-framework-agreement-to-provide-confidential-computing-hardware-solutions/article_a653410b-5533-5d48-9faa-931c6ead3168.html |
LaKisha Redditt is a Black doula and the founder of Virtuously B’Earthed Doula Services in St. Louis. She spoke about how much more education Black birthing people have to do to keep themselves and their babies safe – and about how a doula can help in that process.
Missouri Health Talks gathers Missourians’ stories of access to healthcare in their own words.
LaKisha Redditt: As a doula, my goal is to – in the prenatal period – to educate the client, let them know what their rights are. Educate them on the mechanics of childbirth, what that looks like, and also, educating the family in general, whether that be the birthing partner, any family members that will be in the space.
So, it looks like coming together – making the family aware that these issues exist, and then giving them the tools necessary. So, that when they go into the birthing space, they're able to advocate for themselves, and I'm just the backup person at that point.
I've seen the coercive statements where people are like, “Oh, well, do you want your baby to die if you don't do that, because what'll happen is… this will happen...”
And that’s not the - usually it's not health focused, it's more time focused, if that makes any sense?
So, it's imperative that even if you don't hire a doula, right? That at least your persons that are going to be in this space with you are educated on what can happen. So that way, there is some level of advocacy being done for the birthing person.
I think that's my goal – not just a doula, but a black doula serving black community.
People need to understand that there is a gap between the care that is received from one group to the next. Like, stop treating it like it doesn't exist. It exists. That's why you're hearing about it – because it exists.
Sometimes I think we need to step outside of our own bubbles, and be like, “You know what, there's a whole ‘nother world out there that I am unaware of that I probably need to make myself aware of.”
We all have heard the term like “representation matters.” A lot of times, you know, we look to our peers who have been there before to kind of guide us through and navigate – help us navigate certain systems we have not been a part of before, or that we've been a part of and have been abused by.
And so, if you are black birthing person, it's imperative that you have somebody to look like you because you relate differently than you would to a doula who is nonwhite.
Some of us have been there before, and so we're able to relate and then have somebody that looks like you is just even more like
Sighs
“That's a relief.”
You know what I mean?
So, I think that's what it boils all the way down to is I'm not the only one that has gone through it. So yes, when we say representation matters and black doulas for black people - that's what that means. | https://www.kbia.org/podcast/missouri-health-talks/2023-06-16/for-black-birthing-people-its-imperative-your-persons-that-are-going-to-be-in-this-space-with-you-are-educated-on-what-can-happen | 2023-06-16 14:43:32 | 1 | https://www.kbia.org/podcast/missouri-health-talks/2023-06-16/for-black-birthing-people-its-imperative-your-persons-that-are-going-to-be-in-this-space-with-you-are-educated-on-what-can-happen |
PARIS (AP) — Paris fashion week geared up a notch Wednesday with theatrical performances in historic courtyards, cantering horses and jewels adorning supernatural creations. Fashionistas meanwhile prepared for Olivier Rousteing’s one-off turn as a designer at Jean Paul Gaultier for the highly-anticipated evening show. Gaultier himself retired from couture in January 2020 after 50 years.
Here are some highlights of the fall-winter 2022 collections so far:
ELIE SAAB’S SUPERNATURAL
There was something shamanic in the air at Elie Saab, as the Lebanese designer fused his usual show-stopping fare with the supernatural in a rare co-ed show.
Flame red and charcoal black feathers, which seemed to burn up the skirt of the first black gown in a V, set the otherworldly tone.
There was an ethnic feel to the textures and patterns, and a nice geometry in the garment’s pared-down straps that exposed the model’s flesh.
Another piece, a high priest-cum-bird look, was surely the piece de resistance: A red-black feathered A-line cape with strong shoulders worn on a male model that powerfully swept the floor. With its intricate white embroidered patterning resembling a totem, it was an impressive piece of design.
A sorceress feel infused other creations, such as one bejeweled, silver-tasseled number with a sparkling choker that seemed to hark from a fantasy movie. It was worn on a model with swept-back hair and nude makeup.
FRANCK SORBIER
The French couturier and lover of art and theater took his audience back in time on Wednesday to a Renaissance universe of court jesters, fairytale maidens and cantering horses.
In the cobbled courtyard of a historic grand townhouse, a saxophonist played on stone steps as a horse grazed at his feet. Then a damsel descended from two carved wooden doors, wearing a bleeding red velvet gown with voluminous full skirt to lead the horse away. A court jester appeared in an amorphous white bib featuring playing card motifs, as a model in pigtails and a baby pink textured gown with capped sleeves offered out candy floss. Her skirt, cut on the bias and slightly dropped, had heavy ripples that moved with a stylish swagger.
And then a man in tails and 19th century top hat rode in on a Penny Farthing bicycle.
Groups of men and women entered the courtyard scuffling in stylized black, funeral-style tailored ensembles. One female model had a mafia-style hat and long silk scarf — and looked like the head of some feuding crime clan.
The fusion of performance with fashion made for a highly memorable spectacle. | https://cw33.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/theatrical-shows-horses-and-sparkle-gear-up-paris-couture/ | 2022-07-06 17:30:08 | 1 | https://cw33.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/theatrical-shows-horses-and-sparkle-gear-up-paris-couture/ |
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle 'careful to avoid any eye contact' at Service of Thanksgiving: royal onlooker
Queen Elizabeth II did not attend the Platinum Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving event
LONDON – The Service of Thanksgiving to the queen on Friday was thrown into more royal drama when it was announced last night that Her Majesty would not be attending – reason she is resting after feeling discomfort during celebrations yesterday – people wish her the very best. But as the royal drama unfolded today on the mega-accession of the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral with various senior members of the royal family attending – that was what really took the shine on such an auspicious day.
St Paul’s is known globally thanks to its iconic historical legacy. However, to a more day-generation this was the place where a true royal icon entered a mere Lady and left as The Princess of Wales as it was here in July 1981 that Diana married her prince in Prince Charles. But royal fans take note that this was also the birthplace of what is now known as the royal walkabout as it was here for the very first time at the Queen’s Silver Jubilee that she and the late Prince Philip actually walked about and met the public for the very first time removing the fourth wall in royal terms – and this is now a tradition that lives today, so again a groundbreaking legacy started by the queen.
Following the news that the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby contracted COVID-19 and had to pull out, his place was taken by The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell who delivered the sermon. The Cathedral was packed with over 400 members of the public, including key workers, charity volunteers and members of the armed forces who were recognized for their contribution to public life.
What about the stars of the service? Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge looked stunning in a yellow dress created by Emma Wickstead, adding a stunning Philip Treacy hat -- a favorite milliner of the royal plus to die for mauve slingback shoes.
QUEEN ELIZABETH'S PLATINUM JUBILEE: A LOOK AT THE FESTIVITIES
The crowd went crazy when she arrived, and she really is becoming such a confident queen in waiting. She was joined by Prince William, who was looking delightful as ever, and other senior royals at the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. The Cambridges' kids, Princess Charlotte, 7, Prince George, 8 and Prince Louis, 4, had to stay at home due to the length of the service.
Political guests arrived ahead of the royals, they included Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, who said he was "very nervous" about giving a reading as it’s such an historical event and adding, "I know the queen will be watching right now so one has to get it right for her." Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair and his wife Cherie, said they "are inspired by such a wonderful Monarch and has my highest respect." Another former prime minister Theresa May said, "We just all wish the very best to The Queen she is remarkable," and David Cameron offered the same sentiments.
QUEEN ELIZABETH THROUGH THE YEARS
However, the thaw has not thawed between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Though Markle, 40, was the picture of glamour in a cream coat dress and matching hat and shoes as she joined senior royals in her first public engagement with the family in two years, they were careful to avoid any eye contact it could be said from my vantage point that people were not rushing to meet them. However, more careful on what could be recorded and shown around the world.
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Can we also take time to mention the very young and beautiful Lady Louise Windsor the daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex? There was a lovely touch to see when her father Prince Edward reassured her while she sat in the pew. Meanwhile, Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, really shone with her elegance and poise at such an event. | https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/service-of-thanksgiving-prince-harry-meghan-markle-careful-avoid-eye-contact-onlooker | 2022-06-03 20:35:36 | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/service-of-thanksgiving-prince-harry-meghan-markle-careful-avoid-eye-contact-onlooker |
3 tax prep firms shared ‘extraordinarily sensitive’ data about taxpayers with Meta, lawmakers say
WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of congressional Democrats reported Wednesday that three large tax preparation firms sent “extraordinarily sensitive” information on tens of millions of taxpayers to Facebook parent company Meta over the course of at least two years.
Their report urges federal agencies to investigate and potentially go to court over the wealth of information that H&R Block, TaxAct and Tax Slayer shared with the social media giant.
In a letter to the heads of the IRS, the Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS watchdog, seven lawmakers say their findings “reveal a shocking breach of taxpayer privacy by tax prep companies and by Big Tech firms.”
Their report said highly personal and financial information about sources of taxpayers’ income, tax deductions and exemptions was made accessible to Meta as taxpayers used the tax software to prepare their taxes.
That data came to Meta through its Pixel code, which the tax firms installed on their websites to gather information on how to improve their own marketing campaigns. In exchange, Meta was able to access the data to write targeted algorithms for its own users.
The program collected information on taxpayers’ filing status, income, refund amounts, names of dependents, approximate federal tax owed, which buttons were clicked on the tax preparers’ websites and the names of text entry forms that the taxpayer navigated, the report states.
The letter to federal agencies was signed by Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Duckworth, Bernie Sanders and Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. Katie Porter. The lawmakers called for the agencies to “immediately open an investigation into this incident.”
They ask the agencies to investigate “and prosecute any company or individuals who violated the law,” saying it could result in billions of dollars in criminal liability to the firms.
The Markup, a nonprofit journalism outlet focusing on technology, initially reported on the data-sharing between tax firms and Meta.
TaxAct told The Markup that it takes the privacy of its customers’ data “very seriously” and “endeavors to comply with all IRS regulations.” H&R Block said it has an “ongoing commitment to privacy” and regularly evaluates its practices. TaxSlayer said that its customers’ privacy is “of utmost importance” and that it had removed the Pixel to evaluate its use.
Meta did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Representatives from the IRS, the DOJ, the FTC and the IRS watchdog also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Democrats say their report serves as an argument for the creation of an electronic free-file system for submitting tax returns that would be run by the government, which the IRS is currently piloting.
The IRS plans to launch a pilot program for the 2024 filing season to test a “direct file” system and help the federal government decide whether to move forward with potentially implementing it in the future.
The IRS in May published a feasibility report laying out taxpayer interest in direct file, how the system could work, its potential cost, operational challenges and more.
The report shows that the majority of surveyed taxpayers would be interested in using an IRS-provided tool to prepare and file their taxes electronically — almost 50% of respondents who preferred the IRS free-file option over commercial tax preparation firms said they preferred to give their financial information directly to the IRS instead of the third party.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbay.com/2023/07/12/3-tax-prep-firms-shared-extraordinarily-sensitive-data-about-taxpayers-with-meta-lawmakers-say/ | 2023-07-12 13:19:56 | 0 | https://www.wbay.com/2023/07/12/3-tax-prep-firms-shared-extraordinarily-sensitive-data-about-taxpayers-with-meta-lawmakers-say/ |
Chicago mother sues city after murder charges were dropped against her and her son
CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago mother who was accused of telling her teen son to shoot a man at a fast food restaurant is suing the city and arresting officers, a day after murder charges against her and her son were dropped.
Carlishia Hood, 35, was held on $3 million bail after she was charged last week with first-degree murder and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She was released Monday from the Cook County Jail.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said it was unable to “meet our burden of proof in the prosecution of these cases.”
“I’ve experienced pain in many ways that I would never have thought,” she said about her arrest. “What happened to me was totally unnecessary. Never in a million years would I have imagined being brutally attacked, beaten and being arrested.”
Hood alleges malicious prosecution, false arrest and intentional infliction of emotional distress in her lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court.
A cellphone video posted on social media over the weekend shows the man yelling at Hood on June 18 to “get your food” before threatening to “knock” her out. He then punches Hood in the face and head several times.
Prosecutors said Hood texted her 14-year-old son, who was outside the restaurant, to come inside.
Jeremy Brown, 32, was shot in the back by the teen and then ran from the restaurant. Hood and her son, whose name was not released due to his age, followed Brown as Hood told the teen to continue shooting, prosecutors said. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooting was recorded by surveillance video, but not the cellphone video, officials said. Hood and her son later turned themselves over to police.
Prosecutors said Hood has a valid firearm owner’s identification card and a concealed-carry permit.
Her attorney, Ari Williams, told reporters Monday that “Ms. Hood is and has always been a victim,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
“On June 18 of this year my life changed. My son’s life changed,” she told reporters Tuesday at a news conference.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/06/27/chicago-mother-sues-city-after-murder-charges-were-dropped-against-her-her-son/ | 2023-06-27 17:32:47 | 0 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/06/27/chicago-mother-sues-city-after-murder-charges-were-dropped-against-her-her-son/ |
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Certification of this year’s midterm election results appears to be proceeding smoothly with little controversy across the country, with a small Arizona county being a rare exception, calming fears that local commissions consumed by talk of election conspiracies would create chaos by refusing to validate the will of the voters.
Action has been orderly even in places where suspicions about election fairness ran deep and led to bitter clashes at local public meetings.
In Nevada, a state that has been a hotbed of election conspiracy accusations and movements to ditch voting machines in favor of hand-counting all ballots, all 17 counties met a Friday-night deadline to certify election results.
In rural Elko County, the county commission unanimously certified the results just weeks after questioning the reliability of voting machines and expressing support for hand-counting all ballots.
Commissioners praised county Clerk Kris Jakeman for a post-election audit that included random hand-counts backing up the results from machine tabulators. Some commissioners had watched the audit and said it helped relieve some of their skepticism.
“I’ve learned a lot this year,” said Commissioner Delmo Andreozzi. “And I appreciate everybody’s willingness to help educate me and help me become more aware about the whole process.”
It was much the same story in New Mexico, where several rural county commissions have been under intense pressure by some residents to reject certification since the state’s primary election in June.
In Otero County, where a crisis occurred this summer when commissioners initially denied certification after the primary, the general election results were certified this week with a drama-free unanimous vote.
“In my heart of hearts, I think Otero County does a good job,” Commission Chairwoman Vickie Marquardt said. “I have no reason not to certify this election.”
In another rural New Mexico county, where a livid crowd in June berated county commissioners as “cowards” and “traitors” as they certified the primary results, the room fell silent this week as the all-Republican board pored over vote tallies and signatures from poll judges. Commissioners peppered Torrance County election officials with questions before voting 3-0 to certify.
The commission had spent months responding to doubts about voting systems with a hand recount of the primary ballots and invitations to attend security testing of ballot-counting machines.
“I’m not seeing any discrepancies, commissioners. Are you?” Republican commission Chairman Ryan Schwebach told colleagues. He won reelection to the local post with roughly two-thirds of the vote, defeating a challenger who said vote-counting machines can’t be trusted. All but one county in New Mexico certified vote tallies this week.
Conspiracy-focused protesters rallied Friday outside an election board meeting in Reno, Nevada, with signs reading “Don’t certify before hand count” and “We the people demand hand count.” Despite the protests, the Washoe County commission voted 4-1 to certify the results.
County Commissioner Jeanne Herman, who represents the most rural part of the county, which stretches north to the border with Oregon, cast the lone dissenting vote. She made a failed attempt earlier this year to push an election reform package that, among other things, would have posted National Guard troops at polling places and relied almost exclusively on paper ballots.
Christiane Brown, a Reno gun control activist, told the commission that the system worked this year, and even most candidates who had embraced the 2020 election falsehoods conceded defeat.
“Denying results does not change them,” she said. “The people rejected lies, disinformation, intimidation and ignorance, as well as hatred. The voters spoke, the system worked, and the rule of law held.”
In Arizona, the state’s 15 counties are just beginning to certify their election results and have until Nov. 28 to do their canvass and send final vote tallies to the secretary of state. Kari Lake, the Republican who lost the race for governor, has refused to concede and in a Thursday video said she has a team of lawyers reviewing whether Election Day issues at the polls disenfranchised some voters.
The two Republicans who control the board in southeastern Arizona’s Cochise County delayed their certification Friday night after hearing from a trio of conspiracy theorists who argue vote-counting machines are not certified. The board ignored testimony from the state elections director, who said the contention was false.
The board delayed the vote until the Nov. 28 deadline, saying they wanted to see proof and have the three men evaluate it. State Elections Director Kori Lorick threatened legal action “to compel compliance” and ensure that votes from about 46,000 residents were property reported.
The state is set to certify results from all 15 counties on Dec. 5, a move needed before a recount can proceed in the race for state attorney general, which is too close to call.
Under Arizona law, the only role of the elected county boards is to accept the numbers as they are tallied by their elections departments. If they refuse to do so, either the secretary of state or a candidate would sue.
Election certification emerged as an issue after the 2020 presidential election in Michigan, where Trump and his allies pressured Republicans on both the state certification board and the one for Wayne County, which includes Detroit. The results, showing Democrat Joe Biden winning the state by 154,000 votes, were eventually certified.
Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey said her office anticipates having no problems with certification of the Nov. 8 general election. By midday Friday, 71 of the state’s 83 counties had certified results.
“More Michigan citizens cast ballots than ever before in a midterm election, and now bipartisan canvassing boards across the state are certifying the results in accordance with state law,” said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “We are optimistic that all canvassers will continue to demonstrate this level of professionalism and commitment to upholding the will of the voters.”
___
Sonner reported from Reno, Nevada. Associated Press writers Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta, Ken Ritter in Las Vegas, Gabe Stern in Reno; and Corey Williams in Detroit contributed to this report.
___
Learn more about the issues and factors at play in the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections. And follow the AP’s election coverage of the 2022 elections at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections. | https://www.wfla.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-election-certification-proceeding-smoothly-avoiding-chaos/ | 2022-11-19 17:09:44 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-election-certification-proceeding-smoothly-avoiding-chaos/ |
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SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sabre Corporation ("Sabre") (Nasdaq: SABR) today announced a refinancing of a portion of its existing indebtedness. Sabre incurred no additional indebtedness as a result of the refinancing above the refinanced amount, other than amounts covering the original issue discount (OID), certain interest, fees and expenses. The refinancing has meaningfully improved Sabre's debt maturity profile.
The refinancing included the application of the proceeds of a new $675 million term loan "B" facility (the "New Facility"), borrowed by its wholly-owned subsidiary Sabre GLBL Inc. ("Sabre GLBL") under its existing senior secured credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement"), with the effect of extending the maturity of approximately $647 million of the existing Term Loan B credit facility incurred prior to August 15, 2022 under the Credit Agreement. The New Facility matures on June 30, 2028 and offers Sabre the ability to prepay or repay the New Facility after 12 months or to prepay or repay at a 101 premium before that date. The interest rates on the New Facility will be based on Term SOFR, replacing LIBOR, plus an applicable margin.
The New Facility is guaranteed by Sabre Holdings Corporation and each subsidiary of Sabre GLBL that guarantees the Credit Agreement. The New Facility and the guarantees thereof are secured, subject to permitted liens, by a first-priority security interest in the same collateral that secures Sabre GLBL's other senior secured indebtedness, which is substantially all present and hereafter acquired property and assets of Sabre GLBL and the guarantors (other than certain excluded assets).
BofA Securities Inc. acted as lead left bookrunner, Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and PNC Capital Markets LLC acted as joint bookrunners and BofA Securities Inc. acted as sole lead arranger. Bank of America, N.A. is the administrative agent and the collateral agent for the Credit Agreement.
About Sabre Corporation
Sabre Corporation is a leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, serving a wide range of travel companies including airlines, hoteliers, travel agencies and other suppliers. The company provides retailing, distribution and fulfillment solutions that help its customers operate more efficiently, drive revenue and offer personalized traveler experiences. Through its leading travel marketplace, Sabre connects travel suppliers with buyers from around the globe. Sabre's technology platform manages more than $260B worth of global travel spend annually. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements herein are forward-looking statements about trends, future events, uncertainties and our plans and expectations of what may happen in the future. Any statements that are not historical or current facts are forward-looking statements. In many cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "believe," "could," "likely," "expect," "plan," "commit," "guidance," "outlook," "anticipate," "will," "incremental," "preliminary," "forecast," "continue," "strategy," "confidence," "momentum," "estimate," "objective," "project," "may," "should," "would," "intend," "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Sabre's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. More information about potential risks and uncertainties that could affect our business and results of operations is included in the "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements" sections in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 2, 2022, our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 18, 2022 and in our other filings with the SEC. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future events, outlook, guidance, results, actions, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Unless required by law, Sabre undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events after the date they are made.
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Industry veteran brings over 35 years of experience in health plan operations management, network strategy, business development, digital health, and clinical and quality improvement
CERRITOS, Calif., Nov. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CCA Health California, a leading integrated healthcare organization with proven expertise in complex care coordination, has appointed Laura Mead Clapper, M.D., MPPA, CPE, as Medical Director. In this role, Clapper will lead the plan's clinical operations, focusing on delivering exceptional care management services and improving quality outcomes. She will also partner closely with the plan's provider network to ensure best-in-class outcomes through aligned, value-based relationships.
"Dr. Clapper's vast experience in both clinical and business operations will be invaluable as we continue our mission to improve the health and well-being of our Medicare members," said Wil Yu, General Manager, CCA Health California. "With her guidance and expertise, our care management, provider relations, and quality improvement teams will collaborate to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care. We're confident that her leadership will make a positive impact on our communities."
Clapper's experience runs the gamut from the U.S. Navy to startups to some of the largest healthcare companies in the country. Prior to accepting this role, Dr. Clapper held leadership positions with FemTec Health, Inc., Cigna, Aetna, and Elevance Health (previously Anthem). She also served on the Board of Directors for several nonprofits throughout California. Clapper's previous positions had a strong focus in business development, operations, behavioral health integration, and innovative care model development. She also has experience leading clinical strategy and creating initiatives to integrate digital health.
"I'm thrilled to be joining CCA Health California, especially at this critical juncture as the plan works to drive real change in our communities by delivering its innovative uncommon care® model to the seniors we proudly serve." said Clapper. "I look forward to working with the leadership team to curate the continuum of services to improve health outcomes, and to partner with medical groups, physicians, and other community organizations to help optimize our care delivery programs and reduce healthcare inequities."
CCA Health California was launched by Commonwealth Care Alliance® (CCA), a national, multi-state healthcare organization with a long history of improving clinical outcomes and driving breakthrough complex care innovations. CCA's nationally recognized uncommon care model is proven to help individuals with significant needs live well in their homes for as long as possible.
CCA Health California operates Medicare Advantage plans in San Joaquin and Santa Clara counties, offering benefits and services designed for high-need populations. The plan works closely with IPA's and community organizations to coordinate high-quality, patient-centered care that addresses the social factors that impact health, and empowers individuals to make choices that align with their preferences and values. To learn more, visit ccahealthca.org.
Based in Boston, Commonwealth Care Alliance® (CCA) is a multi-state integrated care system influencing innovative models of complex care nationwide. Mission-based and person-centered, CCA focuses on sustainable and evidence-based healthcare breakthroughs that improve the health and well-being of people with significant needs, and CCA advocates for affordable, high-quality, and cost-effective policies that lead to healthcare equity for individuals who need it most. The CCA uncommon care® model is consistently recognized as one of the best in the country at finding and engaging traditionally hard-to-reach individuals. In 2021, CCA began a multi-year, mission-aligned geographic diversification growth strategy to extend its proven care model throughout the United States, and now serves more than 100,000 individuals and operates health plans in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, California, and Michigan. Learn more at www.commonwealthcarealliance.org or follow CCA on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
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SOURCE CCA Health California | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/29/cca-health-california-appoints-dr-laura-mead-clapper-medical-director/ | 2022-11-29 17:56:37 | 0 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/29/cca-health-california-appoints-dr-laura-mead-clapper-medical-director/ |
State workers rally to keep telework policy in place
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – There’s a battle brewing over where state workers, work. In late November, the state personnel office sent a notice to state employees about the pandemic-era policy reversal. Leaders say they negotiated with union leadership, and landed on a Feb. 2 return date for most employees.
But, concerns over supplies and office space are starting to surface.
“My team actually has nowhere to go,” said one employee within New Mexico’s Public Education Department who wanted to stay anonymous. “We have no desk space, we have no monitors, we have nothing. So if we go back we literally have nowhere to be.”
She brought up several concerns, and stressed the benefits of the at-home option.
“I think New Mexico needs a modernization of the workforce and this is going backwards,” she said. “I’m a mother of several children, and they have special needs and this is not conducive to working families.”
Micheal Peterson is among leadership in the local chapter of the Communications Workers of America Union. He says they’re already getting other complaints about lack of equipment, and requests for office relocation.
“I don’t know how that is actually going to work out Feb. 2,” said Peterson. “There’s simply too many staff without offices.”
He joined other union and non-union members at the Roundhouse to rally for the policy on day one of the legislative session.
“Telework works. In every aspect you can think of,” said Peterson.
For the PED worker, it comes down to quality of life.
“I’m a happier employee when I have telework, and I have that flexibility,” she said. “Good policy reaches out to those it’s going to impact and surveys them. Which never happened.”
Some legislators, like Rep. Joy Garratt of House District 29 in Bernalillo County, are speaking in favor of the telework policy:
“COVID taught us that teams can work together online through Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and many other ways. I believe that supporting multiple ways of working, mixing in person and online, honoring employees by offering work options makes for happier, more productive employees. I believe that New Mexico should be a leader in supporting hybrid and innovative work designs. This makes our state attractive to workers in every field. It’s also why I am so dedicated to broadband expansion, access and affordability.”
Rep. Garratt says she’s currently drafting a letter to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on the issue. | https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/state-workers-rally-to-keep-telework-policy-in-place/ | 2023-01-19 05:54:09 | 1 | https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/state-workers-rally-to-keep-telework-policy-in-place/ |
President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, is experiencing mild symptoms and has begun taking Paxlovid, an antiviral pill treatment.
A look at what we know about the president and his coronavirus infection:
HOW'S HE FEELING?
Biden is reporting a runny nose, fatigue and an occasional dry cough, according to a memo from Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s doctor. Biden's symptoms started Wednesday evening. Biden tweeted Thursday: “Folks, I’m doing great. Thanks for your concern.”
WHAT KIND OF TEST DID HE USE?
Biden is routinely screened for coronavirus. His infection was detected first with an antigen test, the same type that many Americans use at home. It was then confirmed with a PCR test, the president's doctor said. The president’s last previous test for COVID-19 was Tuesday, when he had a negative test result.
IS HE VACCINATED?
Yes. The president is fully vaccinated and twice boosted. Biden got two doses of the Pfizer vaccine shortly before taking office, a first booster shot in September and an additional dose March 30.
IS HE GETTING TREATMENT?
Biden is taking Paxlovid, which was authorized in the U.S. regulators late last year. In older people and other high-risk patients, the drug was shown to reduce the chances of hospitalization or death from COVID-19. The pills work best if taken within five days of the start of symptoms. The president’s doctor said Biden's vaccination status and early treatment with Paxlovid should keep him out of danger.
WHAT’S THE ISOLATION PLAN?
Biden will work in isolation until he tests negative, the White House said. Once he tests negative, he will return to in-person work. The White House said it will provide a daily update on the president’s status.
HOW DOES THE VIRUS AFFECT OLDER PEOPLE?
At age 79, Biden is in a high-risk group for severe illness. About 8 in 10 COVID-19 deaths occur in people over age 65, with risk increasing with age. Also among the most vulnerable are those with other health issues such as diabetes and heart conditions.
DID HE GET THE BA.5 VARIANT?
It's unclear which variant Biden has contracted. But the dominant virus variant in the U.S. is the omicron mutant BA.5, which is also prominent worldwide. The variant accounted for three-quarters of new infections reported in the U.S. last week. It's also been gaining ground globally, making up more than half of sequenced omicron cases. Experts say BA.5 is one of the most transmissible variants yet but they haven't seen an increase in severity compared with previous omicron variants.
WHERE DID HE CATCH IT?
That's unclear. Symptoms can start two days to two weeks after exposure to the virus. Biden has kept a busy travel schedule lately. During his recent Middle East trip, the president was seen fist-bumping, handshaking and even occasionally hugging. He returned to Washington late Saturday and kept a low profile for the next three days, leaving briefly to attend church in Washington and for a Tuesday appearance outside the White House with Ukraine's first lady. He traveled to Massachusetts on Wednesday to announce modest new steps to combat climate change.
WHAT ABOUT JILL BIDEN?
The first lady said Thursday that she tested negative earlier in the day. She will follow CDC guidance on masking and distancing during scheduled visits to Michigan and Georgia on Thursday, said Michael LaRosa, her spokesperson.
___
AP Medical Writer Laura Ungar contributed.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Credit: Evan Vucci
Credit: Evan Vucci | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/explainer-whats-known-about-biden-catching-covid-19/DVWUIY4MQNDR3PXWDYWEPFPYOA/ | 2022-07-21 18:57:49 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/explainer-whats-known-about-biden-catching-covid-19/DVWUIY4MQNDR3PXWDYWEPFPYOA/ |
One man who has frequented Club Q for decades was just opening up a tab at the bar when he was shot in the back. Another man was about to leave the club with his group when he heard a “pop, pop, pop” and took a bullet to his arm — then watched his boyfriend and sister fall to the floor.
They are some of the 17 people wounded by gunfire Saturday when a 22-year-old man went on a shooting rampage at Club Q, a well-known club for the LGBTQ community in Colorado Springs. On Tuesday, they shared the horror of seeing their loved ones shot down in front of them, as well as the hope they felt as people helped each other in the chaos.
Ed Sanders, 63, said he had been waiting in line at the bar, had made his way up to the front and given the bartender his credit card when he was hit in the back — right between the shoulder blades. Surprised, he turned to look at the gunman, only to be hit again in the thigh as another volley of shots were fired.
“I fell. And everybody fell,” Sanders said in video statements released Tuesday by UCHealth Memorial Hospital Center. “It was very traumatic. I shielded another woman with my coat … there was a lot of chaos.”
James Slaugh said he, his boyfriend and his sister were getting ready to leave the club when, “all of a sudden we just hear, ‘pop, pop, pop.’ As I turn, I took a bullet in my arm from the back.”
Slaugh, who spoke to The Associated Press from his hospital bed, said he watched others around him fall — including his boyfriend, who was shot in the leg, and his sister, who had bullet wounds in 13 places. He quickly called the police, heard several more shots, then nothing. The scariest part of the shooting, he said, was not knowing whether the gunman would fire again.
Five people were killed in the shooting, which stopped after the gunman was disarmed by patrons.
The motive for the attack is still being investigated and the man has not been formally charged. Police say he was armed with multiple firearms, including an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, and possible hate crimes are being considered.
“I want to be resilient. I’m a survivor,” Sanders said. “I’m not going to be taken out by some sick person.”
Sanders has been a patron of Club Q for 20 years and even went to the club’s opening night decades ago. He wore a hospital gown and had an oxygen tube in his nose in the video recorded by the hospital.
He said that after the 2016 Pulse gay nightclub shooting in Florida, which killed 49 people, Sanders thought about what he would do if something similar happened at Club Q — but he never dreamed it would become reality.
“I’m smiling now because I am happy to be alive,” Sanders said. “I dodged a major event in my life and came through it, and that’s part of who I am as a survivor.”
Sanders knew many of the victims, including the “door lady” and two bartenders who died. Sanders said that after the shooting, people who weren’t hit were helping each other “just like a family would do.”
Sanders said the shot to his back missed vital organs but broke a rib. He said he now has a concave wound in his back and will need skin grafts. Sanders was also shot in the thigh, and said “that was the most blood.”
“I think this incident underlines the fact that LGBT people need to be loved,” Sanders said.
For Slaugh, Club Q was a place where he felt safe after coming out as gay at age 24. It was where he met his partner, Jancarlos Del Valle, eight months ago, and it was where they took his sister, Charlene, on Saturday night to cheer her up from a recent breakup, as well as the death of their mother from COVID-19 a year ago.
Slaugh said that after the gunman was subdued, the club instantly became a community again. Patrons grabbed paper towels to try to stop bleeding wounds. One man told Slaugh he would be OK and kissed him on the forehead.
“That was such a reassurance to me,” he said. “That hope stayed there.”
Del Valle and James were rushed to one hospital and Charlene, who had more extensive injuries, was taken to another. James said he did not find out what happened to his sister until the next day. A community of support has formed around the Slaughs, including a GoFundMe campaign to pay for medical bills. Messages have poured in from around the world.
“Being shot, being a victim of this whole thing — it left me with a sense of more hope than anything else, especially with everyone coming together,” he said. “This is not a time to be afraid. This is not a time to let in one awful person. This is a time to come together.” | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/national/ap-colorado-club-shooting-survivor-i-want-to-be-resilient/ | 2022-11-23 02:25:28 | 1 | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/national/ap-colorado-club-shooting-survivor-i-want-to-be-resilient/ |
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Hurst motivated by draft slide, must be careful
May 9, 2018 09:42 AM
Maurice Hurst was understandably frustrated about his draft slide, but he must be careful with his health moving forward.
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Close Ad | https://www.nbcsports.com/watch/nfl/profootballtalk/hurst-motivated-by-draft-slide-must-be-careful | 2023-07-05 07:27:53 | 1 | https://www.nbcsports.com/watch/nfl/profootballtalk/hurst-motivated-by-draft-slide-must-be-careful |
KHARKIV, Ukraine (AP) — The mother and grandmother of a 15-year-old Ukrainian boy could not hold back their tears. Their anguish filled the cramped hallway as they knelt over the teen’s body.
Artem Shevchenko was killed by shelling in Kharkiv, a partially blockaded northeastern city where Russian shelling has increased in recent days. Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv is only 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Russian border.
Nine civilians died and more than 50 people were wounded Friday in the attack on one of Kharkiv’s residential areas, the Ukrainian president’s office reported.
“Please open your eyes, my bunny. Please,” Nina Shevchenko pleaded, captured in a moving Associated Press video in which she mourns her son.
The boy’s grandmother arrived as people came to take his body away.
“Let me see him! My baby. My golden sunshine!” the grandmother cried. “My dear sunshine. We just spoke today. My dear, why should I live, if you are gone? I lived for you. My sunshine. Curse them all! They should not find any place, neither on Earth, nor in heaven.”
“I lived for you,” Nina Shevchenko told her son.
“Please open your eyes,” she said, touching his face before paramedics and neighbors took the boy away in a body bag. A seven-month-old baby was also killed in the shelling.
In another building’s hallway, a young girl broke down in tears as she recounted the horror of the attack and how she was saved only when “some woman, God bless her, covered me with her body.”
Outside, bloodied people lay in pain on the streets, where ambulances arrived to treat them.
Amid burned-out cars and debris, a man who had helped his friend into an ambulance spoke out against Russian forces, whose invasion sparked a war in his country.
“What did this guy do to them (Russians)?” asked Sergey Kirichenko, a friend of the wounded man.
“With whom should we make peace?” Kirichenko asked. “With these monsters?”
The Russian Defense Ministry said Russian military strikes in the Kharkiv region “liquidated a squad of mercenaries from a Polish private military company” of up to 30 people and “liberated” an iron and steel factory in the southern Ukrainian port of Mariupol.
The claims could not be independently verified.
___
Follow all AP stories on Russia’s war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. | https://www.koin.com/news/international/my-golden-sunshine-teen-killed-by-shelling-deeply-mourned/ | 2022-04-17 13:59:38 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/news/international/my-golden-sunshine-teen-killed-by-shelling-deeply-mourned/ |
Texas-based SaaS company opens new positions in services, sales, and marketing to meet national public sector demand.
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aurigo Software, the leading provider of capital planning and construction management software for infrastructure and private owners, announced it is expanding operations in key positions at its Austin headquarters. The increase in headcount has been fueled by the company's growth in 2022 and predicted demand for its cloud-based solutions from capital owners into 2023. Aurigo has secured new customers in transportation, transit, local government, and other parts of the public sector landscape since the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed in November 2021.
"Funding from the IIJA is starting to flow, and public agencies are looking for the right long-term partner to support their business process and field technology needs," said Balaji Sreenivasan, CEO and founder of Aurigo Software. "For this historic bill to be a success, owners need modern tools to plan, get feedback on, and deliver their capital programs, safely and effectively. We're building the right team of experts here at Aurigo to help our customers make the most of these capital investments."
The company has already opened more than a dozen positions on its professional services team, who are responsible for implementing and training customers on the software. Aurigo is also planning to open additional positions in customer success and technical support as more customers come on board. The firm is also expanding its sales and marketing team in response to increased interest from capital program executives.
In the past year, Aurigo has signed the largest deal in the company's history and is currently in discussion with several state-level departments of transportation and other major players in North America's public sector. The firm's flagship software platform, Masterworks, is used by large capital owners to digitize their program's lifecycle, including planning, funding, bidding out the work, and managing all aspects of construction. Aurigo also offers best-in-class solutions for right of way, permitting, field inspections, and materials management, all critical parts of any capital program's delivery. The company offers a streamlined version, Aurigo Essentials, for agencies with small- to mid-sized programs.
In 2022, Aurigo has also seen an increase in demand for its public feedback solution, Engage. Public participation during the planning process is required whenever federal funds are used on a capital project. The firm has been working with public agencies to help streamline public engagement, allowing for richer and more equitable feedback early in the lifecycle.
With a substantial client base across the United States and Canada, Aurigo employs more than 400 professionals worldwide and has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine over the last two years. Aurigo has also been recognized as a Great Place to Work certified company in 2021, 2022, and counting.
Aurigo builds software that helps build the world. Aurigo provides modern, cloud-based solutions for capital infrastructure and private owners to help them plan with confidence and build with quality. With more than $300 billion of capital programs under management, Aurigo's solutions are trusted by over 300 customers in transportation, water and utilities, healthcare, higher education, and the government with over 40,000 projects across North America. Aurigo helps capital program executives make better decisions based on proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. Aurigo is a privately held U.S. corporation headquartered in Austin, Texas, with global offices in Canada and India. Learn more at www.aurigo.com.
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SOURCE Aurigo Software Technologies | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/11/09/aurigo-software-expanding-austin-operations-infrastructure-investment-soars/ | 2022-11-09 14:06:38 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/11/09/aurigo-software-expanding-austin-operations-infrastructure-investment-soars/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. government charged Samuel Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, with a host of financial crimes on Tuesday, alleging he intentionally deceived customers and investors to enrich himself and others, while playing a central role in the company’s multibillion-dollar collapse.
Federal prosecutors say that beginning in 2019 Bankman-Fried devised “a scheme and artifice to defraud” FTX’s customers and investors. He diverted their money to cover expenses, debts and risky trades at his crypto hedge fund, Alameda Research, and to make lavish real estate purchases and large political donations, prosecutors said in a 13-page indictment.
Bankman-Fried was arrested Monday in the Bahamas at the request of the U.S. government, which charged him with eight criminal violations, ranging from wire fraud to money laundering to conspiracy to commit fraud. Bankman Fried, one of the largest political donors this year, was also charged with making illegal campaign contributions.
If convicted of all the charges against him, Bankman-Fried could face decades in jail, according to Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for U.S. prosecutors.
At a press conference on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams called it “one of the biggest frauds in American history,” and said the investigation is ongoing and fast-moving. He urged anyone who believes they have been victims of the scheme to contact his office.
Bankman-Fried has fallen hard and fast from the top of the cryptocurrency industry he helped to evangelize. FTX filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 11, when it ran out of money after the cryptocurrency equivalent of a bank run.
Before the bankruptcy, he was considered by many in Washington and on Wall Street as a wunderkind of digital currencies, someone who could help take them mainstream, in part by working with policymakers to bring more oversight and trust to the industry.
He was worth tens of billions of dollars — at least on paper — and was able to attract celebrities like Tom Brady or former politicians like Tony Blair and Bill Clinton to his conferences at luxury resorts in the Bahamas. He was the subject of fawning profiles in media, was considered a prominent advocate for a type of charitable giving known as “effective altruism,” and commanded millions of followers on Twitter.
But since FTX’s implosion, Bankman-Fried and his company have been likened to other disgraced financiers and companies, such as Bernie Madoff and Enron.
The criminal indictment against Bankman-Fried and “others” at FTX is on top of civil charges announced Tuesday by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The SEC alleges Bankman-Fried defrauded investors and illegally used their money to buy real estate on behalf of himself and his family.
U.S. authorities said they will try to claw back any of Bankman-Fried’s financial gains from the alleged scheme.
A lawyer for Bankman-Fried, Mark S. Cohen, said Tuesday he is “reviewing the charges with his legal team and considering all of his legal options.”
At a congressional hearing Tuesday that was scheduled before Bankman-Fried’s arrest, the new CEO brought in to steer FTX through its bankruptcy proceedings leveled harsh criticism. He said there was scant oversight of customers’ money and “very few rules” about how their funds could be used.
John Ray III told members of the House Financial Services Committee that the collapse of FTX, resulting in the loss of more than $7 billion, was the culmination of months, or even years, of bad decisions and poor financial controls.
“This is not something that happened overnight or in a context of a week,” he said.
He added: “This is just plain, old-fashioned embezzlement, taking money from others and using it for your own purposes.”
Before his arrest, Bankman-Fried had been holed up in his luxury compound in the Bahamas. U.S. authorities are expected to request his extradition to the U.S., although the timing of that request is unclear.
At a court hearing in the Bahamas on Tuesday, prosecutors argued that Bankman-Fried was a flight risk and should be held without bail, according to Our News, a broadcast news company based there. His lawyers said he is likely to request a formal extradition hearing.
Bankman-Fried was previously one of the world’s wealthiest people on paper; at one point his net worth reached $26.5 billion, according to Forbes. He was a prominent personality in Washington, donating tens of millions of dollars toward mostly left-leaning political causes and Democratic political campaigns, though he also gave money to Republicans. U.S. Attorney Williams said Tuesday that Bankman-Fried made “tens of millions of dollars” in illegal campaign donations.
That all unraveled quickly last month, when reports called into question the strength of FTX’s balance sheet. As customers sought to withdraw billions of dollars, FTX could not satisfy the requests: their money was gone.
“We allege that Sam Bankman-Fried built a house of cards on a foundation of deception while telling investors that it was one of the safest buildings in crypto,” said SEC Chair Gary Gensler.
The SEC complaint alleges that Bankman-Fried had raised more than $1.8 billion from investors since May 2019 by promoting FTX as a safe, responsible platform for trading crypto assets.
Instead, the complaint says, Bankman-Fried diverted customers’ funds to Alameda Research without telling them.
“He then used Alameda as his personal piggy bank to buy luxury condominiums, support political campaigns, and make private investments, among other uses,” the complaint reads. “None of this was disclosed to FTX equity investors or to the platform’s trading customers.”
Alameda did not segregate FTX investor funds and Alameda investments, the SEC said, using that money to “indiscriminately fund its trading operations,” as well as other ventures of Bankman-Fried.
Bankman-Fried said recently that he did not “knowingly” misuse customers’ funds, and that he believes angry customers will eventually get their money back.
At Tuesday’s congressional hearing, the new FTX CEO bluntly disputed that at the hearing: “We will never get all these assets back,” Ray said.
In its complaint, the SEC challenged Bankman-Fried’s recent assertion that FTX and its customers were victims of a sudden market collapse that overwhelmed safeguards that had been in place.
“FTX operated behind a veneer of legitimacy,” said Gurbir Grewal, director of the SEC’s enforcement division. “That veneer wasn’t just thin, it was fraudulent.”
The collapse of FTX — which followed other cryptocurrency debacles earlier this year — is adding urgency to efforts to regulate the industry.
Yesha Yadav, a law professor at Vanderbilt University who specializes in financial and securities regulation, said U.S. lawmakers and regulators have been too slow to act, but that is likely to change.
“Lawmakers are clearly under pressure to do something, given that so many people have lost their money,” she said.
______
Associated Press Writer Fatima Hussein in Washington contributed to this report. | https://www.koin.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-sec-charges-former-ftx-ceo-with-defrauding-crypto-investors/ | 2022-12-13 20:06:47 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-sec-charges-former-ftx-ceo-with-defrauding-crypto-investors/ |
FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE/KSEE) – Two new variants of the coronavirus are driving an ‘unprecedented’ wave of new infections in the Central Valley.
Wednesday, Fresno County Public health officials acknowledged a 20% positivity rate in the county, but now they say that number, which is already one of the highest in the state, could be even higher.
“There’s really no official way to report these results, so we know that we’re undercounting positives,” said Dr. Rais B. Vohra, the Interim Chief Medical Officer for Fresno County Public Health.
In their first public COVID-19 presser in July, Fresno County Public Health is now warning the public of yet another wave in local case numbers.
“Our percent positivity is 20% and that is just the official case county, that is not including the unofficial case count from the at-home test kits everyone has and is using,” said Vohra while holding high an at-home COVID test kit.
Dr. Vohra encourages at-home testing because it is so accessible and is a good way to instantly tell if you are infectious with COVID-19 or not, despite the case count being difficult to grasp.
“As predicted, we’re still having high numbers,” said Vohra.
Hospitalizations are also up.
In Fresno County, 219 people are COVID positive in Fresno County hospitals. That’s more than four times the number of patients in May.
Vohra says these numbers are adding unnecessary strain.
“All of the area hospitals are really just at capacity; we’re really straining not just because of COVID but because of everything else. It’s just a really hard time right now,” he said.
Public Health echoed precautions like masking, getting vaccinated, and isolating if, you’re positive.
“Mandates are very controversial, and there’s always the question of how are they going to be enforced? I don’t think there is an appetite for mandates, it’s really going to be just strong recommendations,” he responded.
Although these recommendations never fully went away, health officials are reinstating them to the general public.
“It’s going to be like this for the month of July, that is what our models are projecting, and so this is basically where we are,” concluded Dr. Vohra.
The best way Public Health says they get a true number of positive cases is in wastewater.
They have the results for June but have yet to get July’s numbers because of supply chain issues. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/health-officials-say-new-wave-of-covid-19-cases-being-undercounted/ | 2022-07-21 02:14:38 | 1 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/health-officials-say-new-wave-of-covid-19-cases-being-undercounted/ |
Idaho police say thousands of tips received as college murder probe nears three weeks with no suspect
The Moscow Police Department said that it has also received more than 2,770 calls to its tip line
MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho police say that over 1,084 digital media submissions have been sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation after previously asking the public for any tips that might help investigators find a suspect in relation to the fatal stabbings of four University of Idaho students on Nov. 13.
Four University of Idaho students, Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were killed in a King Road house in Moscow, Idaho between 3 and 4 a.m. on Nov. 13.
Police haven't identified a suspect in the murders, and said that each of the victims were stabbed multiple times and "some" had defensive wounds.
After asking the public for tips relating to the quadruple homicide, police said on Saturday that over 1,084 digital media submissions have been sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigations through an online portal.
IDAHO MURDERS: HANDPRINT SPOTTED NEXT TO EVIDENCE TAPE AT HOUSE WHERE FOUR STUDENTS WERE KILLED
The Moscow Police Department also said in the press release that more than 2,770 calls have been made to its tip line regarding the case, in addition to over 2,645 emails sent to the tip line.
In addition, 113 pieces of physical evidence have been collected and handed over to the Idaho State Police crime lab, 4,000 pictures taken at the crime scene, as well as multiple "three-dimensional scans of the residence."
On Nov. 12, Goncalves and Mogen were at the Corner Club bar in Moscow from between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m., then were spotted through a Twitch feed at Grub Wandering Kitchen's food truck at 1:40 a.m. The two arrived back at the King Road home at 1:56 a.m. after being taken home by a "private party" who police don't believe is a suspect.
Chapin and Kernodle were at the Sigma Chi fraternity house on the college campus, and returned back to the King Road home at 1:45 a.m. on Nov. 13, police say.
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO MURDERS TIMELINE: WHAT WE KNOW
Officials say that the two surviving roommates are believed to have been sleeping when the attack took place, and didn't wake up until later in the morning on Nov. 13.
The two surviving roommates who were unharmed "summoned" friends over to the house after believing "one of the second-floor victims had passed out and was not waking up." A 911 call was placed on one of the roommates' cell phone at 11:58 a.m, police said.
IDAHO POLICE CONTRACT PRIVATE SECURITY FIRM TO MONITOR HOUSE WHERE FOUR STUDENTS WERE KILLED
When police officers arrived to the scene, they "found two victims on the second floor and two victims on the third floor."
A sixth person is listed on the lease to the house where the incident took place, but police say that they moved out "prior to the start of the school year" and wasn't at the house when the attack happened.
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While police haven't identified a suspect, authorities remain confident that the attack was targeted.
"Our clarification last night directly addressed comments made by Latah County Prosecutor Thompson, who said the suspect(s) specifically looked at this residence, and that one or more of the occupants were undoubtedly targeted. We remain consistent in our belief that this was indeed a targeted attack but have not concluded if the target was the residence or its occupants," a statement from the Moscow Police Department to Fox News on Thursday read.
Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to call Moscow police at 208-883-7054 or email tipline@ci.moscow.id.us.
Fox News' Cristina Coleman and Alexandria Hernandez contributed to this report. | https://www.foxnews.com/us/idaho-police-say-thousands-tips-received-college-murder-probe-nears-three-weeks-no-suspect | 2022-12-04 00:40:55 | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/us/idaho-police-say-thousands-tips-received-college-murder-probe-nears-three-weeks-no-suspect |
First Alert Weather: Hot conditions Sunday with highs near 95-degrees in some areas
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - A storm complex with heavy rain and intense lightning moved south through West Alabama during the pre-dawn hours. Otherwise, cloudy, warm, humid conditions continue through the early morning.
Expect gradual clearing with hot conditions through the day with highs near 95-degrees in some areas. Drier air will continue moving into the state which will drop humidity with ongoing rain chances shifting into South Alabama. As a result Heat Index Values will remain below Advisory Criteria across the area.
Next Big Thing: With an area of low pressure in place tomorrow isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible through the afternoon. By Tuesday the hot high pressure ridge will begin expanding east bringing little-to-no rain chances and afternoon temperatures approaching triple digits and allowing Heat Index Values to be near or above 105-degrees each afternoon through Friday.
The ridge will begin to weaken and shift east allowing a return to a northwesterly wind flow with disturbances riding along the wind low and chances for thunderstorms again impacting the area going into the upcoming weekend.
Click here to download the WBRC First Alert Weather app.
Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.
Copyright 2023 WBRC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/16/first-alert-weather-hot-conditions-sunday-with-highs-near-95-degrees-some-areas/ | 2023-07-16 11:03:12 | 1 | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/16/first-alert-weather-hot-conditions-sunday-with-highs-near-95-degrees-some-areas/ |
WATERLOO — The Black’s Building in downtown Waterloo may be headed for an online auction after a negotiated deal with a potential buyer fell through earlier this year.
The nine-story historic high-rise at 501 Sycamore St. is currently listed on the Ten-X auction site with an opening bid of $1 million. John Viggers of Cushman and Wakefield is the broker.
Bidding is scheduled to begin Tuesday and run through Thursday.
“With its elegant entryway and first-floor restaurant, 501 Sycamore Street boasts an eclectic tenant roster and some of the most eye-popping interior and exterior designs in Waterloo's CBD (Central Business District),” reads the listing, which boasts about the building’s quick access to the U.S. Highways 63 and 218 interchange.
Proceeds from the sale will be used to pay debts for Black’s operator Midtown Development, and Midtown development attorney Ronald Martin said the online venue is the best option to bring the highest price and best value.
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"It's the best way to reach the most people," he said
Midtown Development filed for bankruptcy in 2021 citing, in part, past flooding, COVID-19 closures and fallout from a scuttled restaurant deal.
A $7.5 million deal to sell the building and use the proceeds to settle bank loans and other outstanding debts and taxes fell through when the buyer -- Denver-based Covalt and Co. Colorado Properties LLC -- unsuccessfully tried to renegotiate the terms of the sale following months of delays and Midtown turned down the new proposal.
After that, Viggers again attempted to market the building, generating interest but not buyers. In January, Midtown’s attorney sought court permission for the online auction.
“At last count, 20 persons have signed nondisclosure agreements to obtain specific information regarding the Black’s Building, and two interested persons have already registered to participate in the auction,” Midtown’s attorney said.
Midtown’s biggest creditor – OSK XII LLC, which bought the debt from MidWestOne Bank – asked the court to lift a stay that bars it from holding its own action with the property.
OSK XII also moved to have the bankruptcy case thrown out or have the court appoint a receiver to oversee the building. A hearing on that request is scheduled for late March. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/blacks-building-heads-to-online-auction/article_f42ba190-9c11-586a-a71a-704e63855e45.html | 2023-02-26 17:12:48 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/blacks-building-heads-to-online-auction/article_f42ba190-9c11-586a-a71a-704e63855e45.html |
The St. Augustine Prep boys basketball team used a 25-0 run in the second and third quarters to beat St. Joseph Academy 70-32 on Friday night.
St. Augustine (10-1) is ranked No. 3 in The Press Elite 11. St. Joe (7-5) had won seven of its last eight games.
Elijah Brown led the Hermits with 21 points.
St. Joseph 12 0 14 6 - 32
St. Augustine 19 15 21 15 - 70
SJ-Spross 9, Cox 7, DeMara 2, Rodriguez 7, Hobson 2, Theophile 5
SA- Okiebiorun 4, Brown 21, Bethea 12, Kouser 10, Fox 12, Gillespie 4, Muits 5, Franks 2 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/elijah-brown-sparks-st-augustine/article_6dc04df6-93ba-11ed-9823-0fe37e0e719f.html | 2023-01-14 04:12:30 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/elijah-brown-sparks-st-augustine/article_6dc04df6-93ba-11ed-9823-0fe37e0e719f.html |
WASHINGTON, Mo. (AP) — In an unusual show of bipartisanship, Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley and Democratic U.S. Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri asked the federal government to perform more testing for radioactive contamination on properties owned by the Hazelwood School District.
In a letter sent Wednesday to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, Hawley and Bush said the agency should respond to a request by the district to have all its properties tested.
The request comes after district officials received conflicting information last year about radioactive contamination at Lana Elementary School in the St. Louis suburb of Florissant.
Lana Elementary opened in 1970 and sits in the flood plain of Coldwater Creek, which was contaminated with radioactive waste generated when Mallinckrodt Chemical processed uranium in the 1940s and 1950s for atomic weapons.
The Corps’ remediation of the creek is not expected to be finished until 2038, Corps officials have said.
Corps spokesman J. P. Rebello said in a statement the agency has been in contact with the district and elected officials and is currently evaluating its authority to conduct additional testing.
He said agency officials will meet with the school board soon and congressional staff this week to continue discussions and “find a path forward.”
Lana Elementary was closed in October when testing by a private company found contamination on the kindergarten playground and inside the building. The study was funded by lawyers whose clients are suing over radioactive contamination in Coldwater Creek, which runs near the school.
In response, the Corps of Engineers did its own study, which found no contamination above normal levels inside the school or in multiple soil samples outside. Subsequent testing by a private firm hired by the district also found no harmful levels of radioactive material.
In their letter, Hawley and Bush said the confusion over the contamination has upended the lives of the district's parents and students and raised questions about the extent of the contamination.
“Concerned parents deserve certainty about the safety of their children’s learning environment and on that, USACE can and should help,” they wrote. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/More-radioactive-tests-sought-at-St-Louis-school-17711696.php | 2023-01-11 23:01:12 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/More-radioactive-tests-sought-at-St-Louis-school-17711696.php |
- The agreement includes renaming the waterfront "ROSHN Waterfront"
- The Waterfront includes 7 different entertainment areas stretching over a distance of 4 km
RIYADH and JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia , Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In the presence of His Excellency the Mayor of Jeddah, Mr. Saleh bin Ali Al-Turki, ROSHN, the national real estate developer wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund and Rotana Star Neon Company, signed an agreement to sponsor the Jeddah Waterfront and transform its name into "ROSHN Waterfront".
Redeveloped and opened 2017, the Waterfront is one of the most important landmarks in Jeddah, attracting approximately 55 million visitors annually. It stretches four kilometers along the Red Sea coast and will consist of seven diverse recreational areas for families and children.
By renaming and sponsoring the waterfront ROSHN intends to boost its efforts to support the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to provide a higher quality of life for the citizens and residents of the Kingdom.
Commenting on the agreement, Sabah Barakat, Group Chief Operating Officer of ROSHN, said: "We were pleased by the attendance of His Excellency Mr. Saleh Al-Turki at the signing ceremony of the sponsorship agreement and the renaming of Jeddah Waterfront. We in ROSHN are keen to diversify our partnerships and efforts to serve the provision of a higher quality of life in the Kingdom. The waterfront is part of our endeavor to activate the role of social responsibility and provide higher quality lifestyles."
ROSHN is a national real estate developer powered by the Saudi Public Investment. It is mandated to provide high-quality living standards for Saudis and to support government efforts to increase citizens' home ownership rates. The announcement of the waterfront agreement comes after the recent launch of the ALAROUS project in Jeddah - ROSHN's second project in the Kingdom after the SEDRA community in Riyadh.
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1872122/ROSHN_1.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1872123/ROSHN_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE ROSHN | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/roshn-signs-agreement-sponsor-rename-jeddah-waterfront/ | 2022-08-03 23:55:15 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/roshn-signs-agreement-sponsor-rename-jeddah-waterfront/ |
MIAMI (AP) — A company with an office in Houston and another owned by two American citizens appear to be helping Venezuela bypass U.S. sanctions and quietly transport millions in petroleum products aboard an Iranian-built tanker, The Associated Press has learned.
The sanctions evasion effort is centered around an idled refinery and adjacent oil terminal on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao that until 2019 was a major shipping hub for Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA.
On Sept. 28, the Togo-flagged tanker Colon discharged 600,000 barrels of fuel oil at the Bullenbaai terminal, which is operated by Curacao’s state-owned refining company in partnership with a fledgling company, Caribbean Petroleum Refinery, owned by two Venezuelan American dual nationals.
The state-owned company issued a news release celebrating the Colon’s arrival as a “historic moment” — saying it was the first delivery for the reactivated terminal, which is capable of storing up to 7 million barrels of oil products.
Although the release made no mention of the fuel oil’s origin, the Iranian-built tanker for the past year has shuttled exclusively among ports in Venezuela. Ship tracking data show that two days prior to its arrival in Curacao, the Colon loaded its giant black-and-red hull at the port of Amuay, home to Venezuela’s largest refinery.
The little-noticed oil shipment would appear to violate the spirit — if not strictly the law — of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela that have been aimed unsuccessfully since 2019 at forcing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
With Maduro’s socialist government shunned as a financial pariah in the west, PDVSA has had to resort to ever-more complex transactions to move oil produced from the OPEC nation’s massive petroleum reserves — the world’s largest.
But until now, many of those transactions involved deeply discounted payments in cryptocurrencies by Russian oligarchs, shell companies in such places as Hong Kong and “ghost tankers” that turn off their mandatory transponders to avoid detection by U.S. authorities.
In contrast, Curacao, whose foreign relations are handled by the Netherlands, a staunch U.S. ally, has strictly adhered to U.S. sanctions, once even confiscating PDVSA’s unsold inventories after its lease of the refinery expired in 2019 to pay American oil companies stiffed by Venezuela over the years.
Authorities in Curacao may be betting on lax enforcement by the Biden administration, said Marshall Billingslea, a former senior Treasury Department official who helped craft the current sanctions policy. During former President Donald Trump’s administration, the U.S. froze the assets of more than 140 Maduro insiders and threatened retaliation against even non-American companies caught dealing in Venezuela’s crude.
In contrast, President Joe Biden hasn’t imposed any additional sanctions on Venezuela since taking office and has promised to roll back existing restrictions if Maduro takes meaningful steps toward holding free and fair elections.
“They’re flouting the sanctions because they know under this administration there are no consequences,” said Billingslea.
The U.S. Treasury Department, which enforces sanctions, didn’t respond to an e-mail requesting comment.
Under U.S. sanctions, Americans and U.S. entities are barred from doing business with Venezuela’s state-owned oil company. That ban becomes harder to enforce, however, the more times an oil cargo changes hands and is blended with other shipments, obscuring PDVSA’s role as the ultimate beneficiary of any international sale.
Internal PDVSA documents show that the cargo transported by the Colon was sold in September by PDVSA to United Petroleo Corp. Little is known about United, which was registered in Panama last year. But it has emerged as PDVSA’s second biggest client this year, with unpaid invoices for oil products sold on consignment of over $400 million, according to the documents, which someone knowledgeable about the transaction shared with the AP on the condition that the person remain anonymous.
PDVSA didn’t respond to an e-mail requesting comment.
The Colon’s cargo was discharged in a storage facility owned by Curacao’s state-owned refinery in partnership with Caribbean Petroleum Refinery.
Caribbean Petroleum Refinery was registered in Curacao only in June and lists among its directors a Venezuelan American businessman, Raul Herrera. A related holding company bearing a similar name lists as its director Luis Giusti, another dual national who was CEO of PDVSA when Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez, was elected in 1998.
When asked whether the shipment originated in Venezuela, Patrick Newton, director of Curacao’s state-owned refinery, said his company is in full compliance with U.S. sanctions and its contracts require that its clients adhere to the same laws.
Meanwhile Herrera said his company’s involvement in the transaction was limited to providing storage to the cargo’s owner, which he identified as Knob Trading SA, a Panama-registered company that lists an office in Houston on its website.
“We are not operating Venezuelan products,” said Herrera, who is also the president of a South Florida loan consulting firm. “We are not the owners or sellers of this cargo.”
Giusti didn’t respond to text messages and an email seeking comment. Knob Trading didn’t respond to repeated emails seeking comment and a person answering the phone number listed on its website hung up when contacted by the AP.
It’s unknown where the crude went after it arrived in Curacao.
However, a month later, traders gingerly tried to offload the cargo, marketing it for re-export as 1 million barrels of “Bullenbaai Fuel Oil” — possibly a blend of different grades since Curacao doesn’t produce oil. That’s according to an Oct. 29 certificate of origin purportedly issued by Caribbean Petroleum Refinery. A copy of the certificate was provided to the AP by an oil trader who had been offered the cargo by a broker working with Knob. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being identified with a transaction in violation of U.S. sanctions.
The certificate was purportedly prepared by Frank Verhoets, who is identified as managing director of Caribbean Petroleum Refinery. However, Herrera said nobody by that name works at the company and called the document, in which Knob’s name is scratched off, a clear fraud.
“Unfortunately in the industry, there’s a lot of falsifications and misleading information,” he said.
___
Associated Press writer Derk Drayer in Willemstad, Curacao, contributed to this report.
___
Follow Goodman on Twitter: @APJoshGoodman | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/us-owned-firms-appear-to-help-venezuela-avoid-us-sanctions/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world | 2022-11-16 21:12:40 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/us-owned-firms-appear-to-help-venezuela-avoid-us-sanctions/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
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