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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida’s chapter of the NAACP has voted unanimously to ask the group’s national board to issue a travel advisory telling Black Americans not to enter the state, citing concerns over what they call “anti-black legislation.”
NBC-2 reports the vote—which took place Thursday at a meeting in Orlando—was “in direct response to anti-black legislation” in Florida’s political sphere and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ policies.
In an interview with the news station, Lee County NAACP President James Muwakkil cited recent feuds between DeSantis and the College Board over a new Advanced Placement course focused on African American Studies, as a cause for concern. He said the advisory will “send a message to voters” about what’s happening in Florida, and aims to “prevent DeSantis from becoming president.”
Other bills circulating the Florida legislature have drawn criticism from teachers and advocates who say they’re trying to erase Black history in higher education.
State officials have doubled down on moves to restrict course topics related to critical race theory (CRT). In 2022, the state legislature passed the Stop WOKE Act, a ban on CRT.
A bill filed during the current legislative session would add more restrictions to the law, banning degrees related to CRT, as well as gender studies. A variety of legal challenges have blocked the law’s enactment on university and college campuses, however it is still in effect at Florida’s K-12 public schools.
The political atmosphere regarding race discussions in higher education has also led to some private universities, not impacted by the legislation, making decisions based on the new law.
Palm Beach Atlantic University, a Christian school, recently terminated the employment of an English professor who taught a racial justice unit. The professor, Dr. Samuel Joeckel, had worked at the school for more than 20 years and taught the course for over a decade. Joeckel directly blamed the state’s “toxic politics” and Gov. DeSantis for his removal.
“We want to educate the voters for the 2024 election,” Muwakkil told NBC-2. “By Black’s not coming here then that’s not on the NAACP’s shoulders — that’s on the governor’s shoulders.”
At a press briefing in Orange Park on Thursday, DeSantis was asked about the NAACP’s decision, and called it “a joke.” He declined to respond to a question about the AP Studies course, and instead pivoted to discussing tourism and travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. He called the travel advisory a stunt.
“This is the reason why our country goes through all of these…we get involved in all of these stupid fights. This is a stunt to try to do that,” DeSantis said. “It’s a pure stunt. And fine, if you want to waste your time on a stunt, that’s fine. But I’m not wasting my time on your stunts. I’m going to make sure that we’re getting things done here.”
WFLA.com reached out to local leaders of the NAACP in the Tampa area but were unable to receive additional comments or statements about the proposed advisory. | https://www.wfla.com/news/politics/florida-naacp-seeks-travel-advisory-amid-concerns-over-anti-black-legislation/ | 2023-03-23 18:38:56 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/politics/florida-naacp-seeks-travel-advisory-amid-concerns-over-anti-black-legislation/ |
Baldwin faces involuntary manslaughter charge in set death
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Prosecutors linked Alec Baldwin to an expansive list of alleged failures in firearms safety as they filed a felony involuntary manslaughter charge Tuesday against the actor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on a New Mexico movie set.
Halyna Hutchins died shortly after being wounded during rehearsals at a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe on Oct. 21, 2021. Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and wounding the director, Joel Souza.
Baldwin and film-set weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed face charges of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Hutchins on the set of the Western movie “Rust.”
A manslaughter charge can be brought for a killing that occurs while a defendant is doing something lawful but dangerous and is acting negligently or without caution.
Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed maintain their innocence and have vowed to fight the charges.
In newly filed court documents, prosecutors say reckless safety failures accompanied the film production from the outset. They cite Baldwin’s failure as an actor to appear for mandatory firearms training prior to filming and his decision as a producer to work with Gutierrez-Reed, who was an uncertified and inexperienced armorer.
A probable cause statement from investigators traces safety failures across a 10-day period from misfires on set and a camera crew walkout to the moments before Hutchins’ death as a revolver was loaded with ammunition and Baldwin’s finger came to rest on the pistol’s trigger.
“Baldwin’s deviation from known standards, practices and protocol directly caused the fatal death of Hutchins,” Robert Shilling, a special investigator for the Santa Fe district attorney’s office, said in the probable cause statement.
Baldwin’s attorney Luke Nikas declined to comment Tuesday and referred to a previous statement in which he called the charges a “terrible miscarriage of justice” that he and his client would fight and win.
“Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the movie set,” the statement said. “He relied on the professionals with whom he worked.”
Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney said they would release a statement later.
Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies told The Associated Press in a Jan. 19 interview that the set was “really being run pretty fast and loose” and Baldwin should have known there were previous misfires on the set and multiple people had brought up safety concerns. She also highlighted Baldwin as the person “that held the gun, that pointed the gun and that pulled the trigger.”
With charges filed on Tuesday, Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed will be issued a summons to appear in court, possibly by remote webcast. Prosecutors will forgo a grand jury and rely on a judge to determine if there is sufficient evidence to move toward trial. A decision could take up to 60 days.
The manslaughter charges against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed include two alternative standards and sanctions.
One version would require proof of negligence, which is punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine under New Mexico law.
The second alternative is reckless disregard of safety “without due caution and circumspection.” It carries a higher threshold of wrongdoing and includes a “firearm enhancement” that could result in a mandatory five years in prison because the offense was committed with a gun.
A jury may decide which definition of manslaughter to pursue, prosecutors said.
Defense litigator Kate Mangels, whose work includes the entertainment sector, said prosecutors submitted a robust analysis of Baldwin’s safety responsibilities as actor and producer on “Rust.”
“The fact that they separated out Alec Baldwin the actor versus Alec Baldwin the producer shows to me that they’re potentially foreseeing a challenge to his culpability as to either of those roles,” said Mangles, who is based in Santa Monica, California. “So they want to differentiate ... and provide a robust analysis of both of those separately.”
Investigators said reckless safety failures culminated when Baldwin drew a revolver from a holster, pointed it at Hutchins and fired the weapon when a plastic or replica gun should have been used by industry standards.
Photos and videos of the rehearsal, including moments before the deadly shooting, showed Baldwin with his finger inside the trigger guard and on the trigger while “manipulating” the pistol’s hammer, investigators said, noting that an FBI analysis shows the pistol could not be fired without pressing the trigger.
Baldwin, who has described the killing as a tragic accident, said he was told the .45-caliber revolver was safe. The 64-year-old actor has sought to clear his name by suing people involved in handling and supplying the loaded gun.
Baldwin said in his lawsuit that, while working on camera angles with Hutchins, he pointed the gun in her direction and pulled back and released the hammer of the weapon, which discharged.
Defense attorney Jason Bowles, who represents Gutierrez-Reed, said the charges are the result of a “flawed investigation” and an “inaccurate understanding of the full facts.”
The decision to charge Baldwin marks a stunning turn of events for an A-list actor whose 40-year career included the early blockbuster “The Hunt for Red October” and a starring role in the sitcom “30 Rock,” as well as iconic appearances in Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed” and a film adaptation of David Mamet’s “Glengary Glen Ross.” In recent years, Baldwin was known for his impression of former President Donald Trump on “Saturday Night Live.”
Prosecutors said a proposed plea agreement signed by assistant director David Halls, who oversaw safety on set, has not yet been approved by a judge and cannot be published.
Halls had agreed to plead guilty in the negligent use of a deadly weapon, explaining that he may have handled the gun improperly before it was given to Baldwin, prosecutors said.
___
AP Entertainment writer Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2023/02/01/baldwin-faces-involuntary-manslaughter-charge-set-death/ | 2023-02-01 13:29:01 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/2023/02/01/baldwin-faces-involuntary-manslaughter-charge-set-death/ |
WATCH: Denver deputy brings food to 71-year-old, great-grandchildren
From Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office
DENVER, Colorado - Our deputies responded to a domestic dispute involving Vicki, 71, and her boyfriend.
Vicki told Deputy Weiner the argument started because her ‘babies were hungry.’ She is parenting her two great-grandchildren, ages 8 and 10. She told deputies her boyfriend had cooked the last two hot dogs for dinner and made the kids watch him eat, while they went to bed hungry.
The argument escalated resulting in the boyfriend calling 911, but when deputies arrived, they determined Vicki’s story was more credible and asked the boyfriend to leave. Deputy Weiner said his heart broke for the children, so he left the home and went to Walmart to buy groceries. Vicki was so appreciative, she encouraged us to share this body camera video.
Thank you Deputy Weiner for the kindness, compassion and generosity you showed this family.
Copyright 2023 KLTV. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/2023/07/25/watch-denver-deputy-brings-food-71-year-old-great-grandchildren/ | 2023-07-25 16:37:58 | 1 | https://www.ktre.com/2023/07/25/watch-denver-deputy-brings-food-71-year-old-great-grandchildren/ |
Vegas goalie Lehner files for bankruptcy, cites $50M debt
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner and his wife have filed for bankruptcy in Nevada, citing up to $50 million in debts to dozens of creditors.
The Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing offers a glimpse into the couple’s financial problems, including money owed to no fewer than 50 people and companies, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
They filed for bankruptcy Dec. 30, months after a Wisconsin company sued Lehner for $4 million, claiming the NHL player and his father failed to make any payments last year on a business loan.
Both Lehner and his father, Michael, are listed as principal members in a Nevada business license filing for Solarcode, a limited liability corporation doing business in multiple states, including Nevada and Arizona.
Solarcode in January 2022 agreed to a four-year repayment plan with Eclipse Service but missed its first five payments, leading the Wisconsin company in late June 2022 to sue in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee.
An attorney for Lehner did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
Lehner’s debts also included missed payments for a collection of rare snakes he purchased for $1.2 million in 2017, according to the bankruptcy filing. Lehner keeps the snakes at his reptile farm in Plato, Missouri.
He and his wife, Donya, estimate their assets are worth up to $10 million.
Lehner, 31, signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Knights in 2020, but the Swedish hockey player has spent the 2022-23 season recovering from hip surgery. | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/01/16/vegas-goalie-lehner-files-for-bankruptcy-cites-50m-debt-3/ | 2023-01-16 23:49:57 | 0 | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/01/16/vegas-goalie-lehner-files-for-bankruptcy-cites-50m-debt-3/ |
WEAVERVILLE, N.C. — While NASA and SpaceX prepare to launch four people to the International Space Station on Monday from Florida's Kennedy Space Center, a North Carolina company has done its part for the Crew-6 mission.
There's one crucial thing every launch needs before leaving the planet — a mission patch. The coaster-sized piece of embroidery adorns the crew's flight suits, each unique to the mission at hand, and has a decades-long history.
The story of the patch that is sewn into the historical fabric of spaceflight begins in a factory situated in the shadows of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, robotic sewing needles rise and plunge at blurring-fast speeds, weaving blue, orange and black thread into a three-and-a-half inch circular patch.
A-B Emblem is a manufacturing company in Weaverville, N.C. that's been family run for five generations. It has produced mission patches for NASA since Apollo 11 — the first lunar landing mission that took Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the surface.
Owner Bernie Conrad said the first ones were manufactured on embroidery looms and hand threaded. Now, the process is mostly automated. "We started off with machines that were like eight heads, 12 heads, now we're up to 44 heads," he said over the sounds of the embroidery machines on his factory floor. "God knows where we're gonna go [in the] next few years."
The origins of mission patches date back to spaceflight's early days. In the Mercury program, astronauts named their capsules as a way to personalize the mission. During NASA's Gemini program, that tradition went away.
Gemini astronaut Gordon Cooper still wanted to do something. "He came to NASA and proposed to them and said 'let us at least personalize something about our mission. Let's design a patch,'" said Robert Pearlman, a space historian and editor of collectSPACE.com.
That mission aimed to set a space endurance record of eight days. Its mission patch was a Conestoga wagon with the crew's names, Gordon Cooper and his crewmate Pete Conrad, embroidered below. And hidden beneath some fabric sewn into the patch was the inscription "eight days or bust" which only was revealed once the capsule returned successfully.
The tradition stuck. "Most of the crews took it upon themselves to at least come up with a basic design," said Pearlman. "They worked with an artist, either at one of the contractors or at NASA to perfect and make it into a usable patch."
Through Apollo and the Space Shuttle programs, the practice of patches continued. Even today, astronauts play a crucial role in the creation of their own mission patch, sometimes drawing the artwork for the final piece.
"The crew patch is really special for so many reasons," said NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg, who is piloting the SpaceX Dragon capsule on the upcoming Crew-6 mission. His crew's mission patch is a blue naval ship with a Dragon as its figurehead, navigating the constellation Draco. Dragon and Draco honor hardware on the crew's capsule.
To Hoburg, the patch represents more than the crew of four. It recognizes the thousands of people working on their flight.
"It's great to have patches and be able to hand them out to teams that have supported us along the way. It's a little memento that we find meaningful, and therefore has meaning when we hand it out to people or wear it on our flight seats."
And they're not just for those directly involved on the mission. Patch collecting is a wildly popular hobby for space enthusiasts.
"There are definitely enthusiastic patch collectors," said Pearlman. "It's a really easy way to enter a hobby, you can buy a replica of any of the U.S. Space patches for $5 or less, maybe a little bit more in the gift shops." There are also patches that have flown in space that go for more.
A-B Emblem's Bernie Conrad said when the shuttle program ended in 2011, interest in patches faded. But as new human missions like the Crew-6 take flight, he's optimistic that patch passion will return.
"If we go to Mars, in other words, this goes through a period of time where it's this lull, but something like [a human mission will] reignite the interest," said Conrad, "or if we went back to the moon."
With NASA planning a human mission to the moon this decade, Conrad's company will get the chance to make another lunar patch, just like a half-century ago.
Copyright 2023 WMFE | https://www.kanw.com/npr-news/npr-news/2023-02-24/every-space-crew-needs-a-mission-patch-this-company-has-designed-nasas-for-50-years | 2023-02-24 22:03:58 | 1 | https://www.kanw.com/npr-news/npr-news/2023-02-24/every-space-crew-needs-a-mission-patch-this-company-has-designed-nasas-for-50-years |
The death of Queen Elizabeth II has elicited empathy from some British pop artists. Elton John, for instance, paid tribute to the queen at a concert earlier this week.
But the relationship between British pop and the late monarch has long been much more fraught.
Until the 1970s, the Queen of England pretty much only made innocuous cameo appearances in British pop songs. The Beatles' "Penny Lane" is a case in point, with the whimsical lyric, "Penny Lane, there is a fireman with an hourglass/And in his pocket is a portrait of the Queen."
The sentiments changed after The Sex Pistols released "God Save the Queen" in 1977.
The song, which the punk band released in tandem with the Queen's Silver Jubilee, equates the monarchy with a right-wing dictatorship.
"It really is an indictment of the system," said Paul McEwan, a professor of media and communications at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania, where he teaches a class on pop music history. "By using the title, 'God Save the Queen,' obviously you're invoking the national anthem and making it about more than just her."
McEwan said a slew of songs that followed in the 1980s — a time of high unemployment and unassailable class divides in the UK — continued to attack the queen for her symbolic status.
Including a comical scene that references a real-life break-in at Buckingham Palace ("So I broke into the palace with a sponge and a rusty spanner/She said, 'I know you, and you cannot sing'/I said, 'That's nothing, you should hear me play the piano'") "The Queen is Dead" by The Smiths pokes fun at Elizabeth. The 1986 track views the monarch as the figurehead of a dissolute empire.
McEwan said this wave of anti-monarchy music, largely driven by white people, subsided in the 1990s as this segment of the population's economic prospects started to improve.
"And so there's a little less of that deep anger, much as there's still plenty of poverty in Britain," he said.
But the financial pressures and racism faced by the country's many citizens with roots in Britain's former colonies largely continued to grow.
A new batch of songs targeting the queen by acts like slowthai and Bob Vylan have emerged in recent years from the UK's hip-hop community. These tracks are even more direct than their punk and alt-rock predecessors.
Slowthai's "Nothing Great About Britain" and "England's Ending" by the band Bob Vylan criticize the monarch's greed.
For example, the Bob Vylan track begins with a direct, f-bomb-laced order to kill the queen, and goes on to explain why:
"'Cause England's ending, death's still pending/Where's that money you spent?/Work all week, still work on weekends/Still can't pay my rent/Times are tough/I've had enough."
Bob Vylan frontman Bobby Vylan (the other band member, who plays the drums, goes by the name Bob Vylan) said the late monarch still owes a debt to Britain's Black and brown families.
"She never came to my house personally and took food out of my fridge," the rapper and songwriter said. "But our families, our community, our ancestors suffered at the hands of this monarchy."
Vylan said the band plans to perform the song on their upcoming U.S. tour this fall. Now that Elizabeth has died, they're considering updating the lyrics to talk about King Charles.
Meanwhile, former Smiths frontman, Morrissey, still apparently espouses anti-royalist sentiments. The cover of his recent solo album, Low in High School, shows a boy holding up a sign that says "Axe The Monarchy." But pop music scholar McEwan noted both Morrissey and John Lydon, the Sex Pistols' singer (known back then as Johnny Rotten) identify with far-right-wing politics these days. Lydon has been a vocal supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Morrissey has shown allegiance with the far-right political party For Britain.
"It's an ugly turn," McEwan said. "I don't quite know what to make of it, that these two people who had these anti-monarchy songs, both became, really unusually for pop music, right-wingers."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2022-09-11/british-pop-music-has-a-fraught-relationship-with-queen-elizabeth | 2022-09-11 10:08:48 | 0 | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2022-09-11/british-pop-music-has-a-fraught-relationship-with-queen-elizabeth |
The victim killed in an early Sunday shooting in Opelousas has been identified as a 23-year-old Sunset man.
Montarrio Dargin was shot in the 1100 block of Ina Clare Drive just after 1 a.m. Sunday. Investigators determined Dargin was riding in a vehicle when it was fired upon. He was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, Opelousas Police Chief Martin McLendon said in a statement.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Opelousas Police Department at 337-948-2500, crimetips@opelousaspd.com or through Crime Stoppers. Tipsters can remain anonymous, he said. | https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/crime_police/article_c574f986-3f44-11ed-86d9-9f832377b40b.html | 2022-09-28 16:14:23 | 1 | https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/crime_police/article_c574f986-3f44-11ed-86d9-9f832377b40b.html |
Georgia and South Dakota are the latest states to offer the wheelchairs, according to The Washington Post. These 500 pound chairs can go over fallen trees, snow, swamps and steep inclines.
Copyright 2022 NPR
Georgia and South Dakota are the latest states to offer the wheelchairs, according to The Washington Post. These 500 pound chairs can go over fallen trees, snow, swamps and steep inclines.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wvpublic.org/2022-11-14/those-with-mobility-issues-can-tour-public-parks-on-motorized-all-terrain-wheelchairs | 2022-11-14 14:43:13 | 1 | https://www.wvpublic.org/2022-11-14/those-with-mobility-issues-can-tour-public-parks-on-motorized-all-terrain-wheelchairs |
(The Hill) — Camilla Parker Bowles, Queen Consort to King Charles III, is breaking the longstanding royal tradition of having “ladies-in-waiting” and will instead appoint assistants under the modernized title “Queen’s Companions,” multiple outlets are reporting.
The BBC reports that Camilla is also scaling back the duties of her six assistants, making the symbolic position less of an administrative or secretarial commitment than in the past, when ladies-in-waiting also worked on logistics for the Queen.
The move is part of an effort to push the British monarchy into modernity and remodel parts of the institution after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, whose passing ended a record seven-decade reign and left the monarchy to her son.
Still, the assistants will likely play a similarly supportive, personal-assistant role to Camilla as they have done to Queens and Queen Consorts since the Middle Ages, attending her at public events and supporting her official duties, according to the Washington Post.
Camilla has reportedly handpicked for the position six of her close friends, and they’re set to make their first appearance with her at a Violence Against Women and Girls event at Buckingham Palace later this week. | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/no-more-ladies-in-waiting-for-queen-consort-camilla/ | 2022-11-28 16:14:53 | 1 | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/no-more-ladies-in-waiting-for-queen-consort-camilla/ |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Years before Memphis Police officer Demetrius Haley pulled Tyre Nichols from his car on Jan. 7, setting in motion a deadly confrontation, Haley was accused of taking part in the savage beating of an inmate at a county prison.
The 2015 assault of the inmate was so disturbing that 34 others — the entire cellblock — signed a letter to the corrections director.
“We are truly asking that this matter gets looked into before someone gets hurt really bad or lose their life because of some unprofessional officers,” the letter stated.
The warning from dozens of inmates at the Shelby County prison is the clearest indication yet that one of the five officers who took part in the violent beating of Nichols had an event in his past that should have raised concerns before he was hired as a police officer. Nichols died three days after the beating.
The letter asks how the inmates are supposed to feel “safe and secure when the staff members at the Shelby County Correctional Center are assaulting and threatening us?”
It concludes, “Please put a stop to this madness.”
Shelby County did not respond to a request Friday seeking information about its investigation into the beating allegations, so it is unclear if Haley was disciplined or cleared of the assault. An email was sent Friday to a police spokesperson asking if the department knew about the allegations when Haley was hired.
There is no national database of officers found guilty of misconduct who resign or are fired, meaning in a lot of cases they can apply for jobs in other police agencies and departments. There is a national database for officers who lose their certification — the equivalent of their professional license to be a police officer in a particular state. That wouldn’t have made a difference in Haley’s case because his job at the county prison didn’t require police certification.
The former officer has been charged with second-degree murder in Nichols’ death, along with ex- officers Tadarrius Bean, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith. All except Bean have infractions in their work records. Policy violations include using minor physical force during an arrest and failing to fill out a form about it; failing to report a domestic violence situation; and a car crash, records show.
The prior accusations against Haley came to light because the inmate, Cordarlrius Sledge, filed a federal lawsuit in 2016 against him and two others. It accused Haley and another officer of punching him, and a third of slamming his head into the floor. The suit was ultimately dismissed on procedural grounds, because Sledge had failed to file a grievance with the prison, which houses inmates in the Memphis area who have been tried and convicted.
Haley continued to work for the Division of Corrections until hired by Memphis Police in 2020, at a time when the department was lowering its standards for recruits in an attempt to fill vacancies. According to records in his personnel file, a previous application to the police department was rejected, but the reason for that rejection is blacked out.
A sixth officer who participated in Nichols’ arrest and beating, Preston Hemphill, has been fired but not criminally charged. He initially failed a physical after he was hired in 2019 and spent several months in a civilian position.
Van Turner, president of the NAACP’s Memphis branch, said Tyre Nichols’ death could have been prevented if the police department had not hired Haley.
“The culture of violence and bravado and the lack of empathy for individuals is not only here in our neighborhoods and communities, but unfortunately also in our jails and prison system,” said Turner, who is running for mayor.
Haley, Hemphill, and the four other officers were all eventually assigned to the Scorpion unit, an acronym for Street Crimes Operations to Restore Peace In Our Neighborhoods. The anti-crime task force that Memphis Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis started when she took over the department in June 2021 was designed to focus on repeat violent offenders, but has been accused of violent and illegal tactics.
Black residents of Memphis have described police sweeps in which unmarked cars roll into neighborhoods and armed plainclothes officers jump out, rushing traffic violators and issuing commands. The resulting fear has led people to text, call and use social media to caution each other to stay inside or avoid the area when police operations are underway.
Davis initially defended but later disbanded the Scorpion unit after Nichols’ death.
Haley has not spoken publicly about his role in Nichols’ arrest and beating. He declined to make a statement at his disciplinary hearing, and his attorney has declined to comment. When a reporter from The Associated Press knocked on Haley’s door this week, no one answered.
Neighbors who live in single-family homes near Haley, in a quiet section of the Memphis suburb of Cordova, said he moved into the house about two years ago. Michael Cassie said he didn’t have many conversations with Haley, but the ones he did have were friendly. Haley mostly kept to himself and has not been seen around the neighborhood in recent weeks, said Cassie, a 74-year-old minister.
Asked about his reaction when he learned of Haley’s involvement with Nichols, Cassie said, “I was totally shocked that it was him.”
___
This story has been corrected to change all references from jail to prison.
___
Loller reported from Nashville. Associated Press news researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York and AP reporter Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia contributed to this report.
___
For more of AP’s coverage on Tyre Nichols’ death: https://apnews.com/hub/tyre-nichols | https://www.qcnews.com/news/national-news/ap-1st-officer-in-nichols-arrest-accused-of-brutality-as-jailer/ | 2023-02-11 13:28:58 | 1 | https://www.qcnews.com/news/national-news/ap-1st-officer-in-nichols-arrest-accused-of-brutality-as-jailer/ |
Amber Heard, the ex-wife of Johnny Depp who was found guilty of defaming the actor last week, said she told the truth in her testimonies and social media may have influenced the jury's decision.
"Of course, 'til my dying day, [I] will stand by every word of my testimony," she told NBC's Savannah Guthrie. "I think (the) vast majority of this trial was played out on social media. I think that this trial is an example of that gone haywire, gone amok, and the jury's not immune to that."
In the dual defamation trial between Heard and Pirates of the Caribbean star Depp, a seven-member jury found that the actress defamed Depp and that he was entitled to $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. The actual amount awarded Depp was $10.35 million. Virginia state law caps punitive damages at $350,000.
In Heard's countersuit, the jury found that she was defamed by one of Depp's lawyers. She was seeking $100 million in damages in her countersuit. The jury awarded her $2 million in damages.
How this case ended up in court
Depp sued Heard, saying she defamed him by accusing him of domestic abuse in an opinion piece in The Washington Post. During the trial it was revealed that the essay was ghostwritten by the American Civil Liberties Union and published to coincide with the release of Aquaman, a movie in which Heard starred. While Depp wasn't named specifically, emails between the ACLU and Heard's lawyers read during the trial discussed whether to include his name in the piece.
The Washington Post has added an "Editor's Note" identifying the statements in the essay that the jury found were false and defamatory.
In the NBC interview, Heard said she exercised her First Amendment right by writing the op-ed.
"It's the freedom to speak truth to power ... and that's all I spoke," she said.
Heard countersued, saying Depp's legal team falsely accused her of fabricating claims against Depp. Adam Waldman, one of Depp's lawyers, called Heard's accusations against Depp a "hoax" and an "ambush" in statements to the press.
Heard says her admissions to hitting Depp were a response to his abuse
Over the course of six weeks, the trial in a Fairfax, Va., courtroom revealed a troubled relationship between the two actors, often in excruciating detail. In recordings and texts, they argued and denigrated each other.
In recorded conversations between the two, Heard tells Depp she didn't "punch" him but rather "was hitting" him and "to grow the f*** up." Witnesses described Depp as a controlling spouse who abused drugs and alcohol.
Guthrie pressed Heard on her admissions in the tape, to which Heard said, "As I testified on the stand about this, is that when your life is at risk, not only will you take the blame for things you shouldn't take the blame for, but when you're in an abusive dynamic — psychologically, emotionally and physically — you don't have the resources...or the luxury of saying, 'Hey, this is black and white,' because it's anything but when you're living in it."
In a recording, Heard also tells Depp the world wouldn't believe him if he said he was a victim of domestic abuse.
"Twenty-second clips, or the transcripts of them, are not representative of even the two hours or the three hours those clips are excerpt from," she said.
Heard said she never instigated violence between the couple, but responded to it.
"When you're living in violence and it becomes normal, as I testified to, you have to adapt," she said.
She added, "I will always continue to feel like I was a part of this, like I was the other half of this relationship, because I was, and it was ugly, and could be very beautiful. It was very, very toxic. We were awful to each other. I made a lot of mistakes ... but I've always told the truth."
What was happening outside the courthouse
Before the jury returned its verdict, the court of public opinion was already in Depp's corner. According to The Washington Post, "The hashtag #justiceforjohnnydepp has received nearly 7 billion views across TikTok and regularly trends on Twitter, as fans create supercuts from trial footage which are edited to make Heard's accusations seem unfounded."
In stark contrast, Heard was the subject of online hate and vitriol. Heard said she saw throngs of people both inside and outside the courtroom supporting Depp, with some holding signs with sayings like "burn the witch."
She said she did not feel confident the day of the verdict.
"I think even the most well-intentioned juror, it would be impossible to avoid this," she said.
Her lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft, told NBC's Today that even though jurors were not supposed to be looking at social media, their friends and families might have been.
"There is no way they couldn't have been influenced by it. It was horrible. It was really, really lopsided," she said.
In addition, Bredehoft said it was wrong that they could not tell the jury about the libel case Depp lost in the U.K., where Depp sued The Sun newspaper over a story in which he was called "a wife beater." The British judge found the story to be "substantially true."
Depp was not in the courtroom when the Virginia verdict was read. In a statement on Instagram he wrote, "the jury gave me my life back." Heard plans to appeal the verdict, according to her lawyer.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wvasfm.org/arts/arts/2022-06-15/amber-heard-says-social-media-was-a-factor-for-her-defamation-trial-jury | 2022-06-15 10:44:46 | 1 | https://www.wvasfm.org/arts/arts/2022-06-15/amber-heard-says-social-media-was-a-factor-for-her-defamation-trial-jury |
To those who celebrate the holiday: Merry Christmas! And for those pining away for those gingerbread-scented, jingle bell-tinkling Christmases gone by, may we suggest the perfect portal to the past — a voyage on the American Queen, the largest, grandest steamboat ever built. This vintage Victorian vessel will transport you to Christmases ‘way past, circa late 1800s, via the Lower Mississippi River.
Caroling and sing-alongs? You bet your hot-buttered rum. Holiday décor? And then some. This 420-foot boat is lavished with seasonal finery worthy of Martha Stewart. If that isn’t Christmas-y enough for you, head to the Ladies’ Parlor and indulge in some holiday crafting. Even in 2022, the parlor is a gals-only zone (men must get permission from every lady present to enter). For gentlemen, the Card Room offers a dignified take on the Man Cave. Because that’s how they rolled in the glory days of steamboating.
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We boarded the 417-passenger paddlewheel steamboat in the port of New Orleans in mid-December. Our seven-night cruise traveled up the Lower Mississippi River to Memphis, passing through ports that included Natchez and Vicksburg, Miss.. Pre-cruise, we spent an extra day in NOLA, eating beignets and doing some last-minute Christmas shopping. (Which is why our family and friends all got carnival masks and pralines this year.)
“This boat and route really appeal to people who love Early Americana. This vessel encapsulates that time period and way of life,” says associate hotel director Anthony Lapertosa. “You feel like Mark Twain himself could be sitting in the room.”
Although it was launched in 1995, and christened with a giant bottle of Tabasco sauce(!), the American Queen replicates steamboats of yore, featuring tall stacks with filigree trim and a 50-ton red-painted steel paddlewheel in the stern. Entering the vessel, we were greeted with brass band music from the Steamboat Syncopators, the American Queen’s house band. And there’s a calliope with 37 whistles, providing the appropriate retro soundtrack.
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America’s watery highway
Admittedly, we knew very little about the Mighty Mississippi prior to this trip. This failing was remedied by the on-board “Riverlorian” (river historian), Frank Rivera, who gave daily chats on river lore. Among the fun facts: With headwaters in Lake Itasca, Minn., the Mississippi runs 2,350 miles to Louisiana. It’s 11 miles wide at its widest point, and reaches a depth of 200 feet. The distance from New Orleans to Memphis is about 640 miles.
You won’t see pleasure boats on the Lower Mississippi — down here, currents create dangerous riptides. The Upper Mississippi has 27 locks and dams, but there are none on the lower river, which begins just outside of St. Louis, Mo. What you will see are levees, tall mounds of earth designed to keep floodwaters at bay. Currently, the Mississippi River is at historically low levels; it’s typically at its highest in March due to snowmelt.
In the engine room on Deck 2, guests can watch Captain Bert Suarez and crew in action. There’s a large ship’s wheel but it’s just for show; steering is done by paddle sticks these days. The paddle wheel is a genuine steam engine but it also uses diesel fuel on a 60/40 basis.
Guest cabins are comfortable and maintain the Steamboat Gothic design of the boat, with flocked wallpaper, Tiffany-style lamps, and antique cabinets. Modern touches include Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. There are also elevators, a small gym, and a spa.
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Go for the gumbo
Another old-school feature: Set dining times for dinner — 5:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. nightly. You’re expected to sit at your assigned table each night. Those traveling in a group can sit with their buds; those traveling in couples may be seated with strangers. After a night or two, you quickly make friends. (Or it’ll be a long, awkward week.) We lucked out with a lively group at our six-top, including a guy from Illinois who ordered the same thing — lobster tails — every night. Yes, they let you do that. Plus, adult beverages are included, except for top-shelf liquor. One of the best things we discovered: a working vintage popcorn machine.
Overall, the food is homey and tasty, if not haute cuisine, with some vegetarian and gluten-free choices. The best options, unsurprisingly, are Southern classics such as shrimp and grits and gumbo. On our cruise, chef and cookbook author Regina Charbonneau gave a culinary demonstration featuring Sazerac cocktails and pasta with butternut squash. Famous for her biscuits, Chef Charbonneau helped create the menus for all of the American Queen vessels.
So, what’s a typical day like on an American Queen cruise? There’s breakfast on the Front Porch (there’s indoor seating too) or in your room, followed by an excursion in port. Hop On/Hop Off bus tours are included in the cruise fare, a nice touch that encourages exploration. Admission to most mansions and museums en route are free to steamboat guests. Museums along the way highlight the Civil War, river topics, and the birth of the Blues on the Mississippi Delta.
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Some “premium experiences” are offered for an extra fee. Among them is a visit to the battlefield at Vicksburg, a Cajun swamp tour, and other active excursions. In Memphis, you can take a music-themed coach tour to famous Beale Street with musicians onboard, or an Elvis-themed jaunt to same.
Move over, Mariah
There’s no such thing as too much glitz at Christmas, so we sprung for a visit to The Towers, a private home, for the “A Jeweled Christmas in Natchez” tour. The hosts, costume jewelry and antiques collector Ginger Hyland and husband James, have filled this stately manor with 100 Christmas trees, dripping with thousands of eye-popping faux gems and jewels. This wildly over-the-top collection includes a sequined dress worn by Betty White and Rhett Butler’s cigar box from “Gone with the Wind.” Move over, Mariah — we found the Real Queen of Christmas. Pure fabulousness. “It’s a bit like visiting an eccentric aunt’s place,” said one tour guest. There was champagne and cookies, and a holiday sing-along led by Ginger. If this doesn’t put you into the holiday spirit, nothing will.
Aboard the boat, there’s live music in the lounges. The boat’s entertainment ensemble and guest artists (we loved jazz and blues singer Michaelyn Oby) perform nightly in the two-story, opera house-style Grand Saloon. There’s holiday music, of course, and rousing renditions of “Rolling on the River,” “Proud Mary,” and other river-centric offerings. Like most river trips, this one draws an older crowd, who aren’t too cool (or attached to their phones) to join in a sing-along.
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Typically, ports on the itinerary include St. Francisville, La., and Greenville, Miss., along with New Orleans, Nottaway, Natchez, Vicksburg, and Memphis. Given the fluky river conditions this year, we got some substitutes. As for the scenery, it’s basically trees and levees, day after day. But this trip is really about slipping into the past for a few delightful pre-Amazon, pre-Twitter days, just rolling along the river.
American Queen Voyages operates four river ships and three ocean vessels. Starting rate for this seven-night trip: $2,199; www.aqvoyages.com.
Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at bairwright@gmail.com | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/12/29/lifestyle/seasons-greetings-river/ | 2022-12-29 21:59:51 | 0 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/12/29/lifestyle/seasons-greetings-river/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is expected to announce Wednesday that it will send about $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, the largest single tranche of weapons and equipment since the war began, in a effort to help stall Russia’s slow but steady march to conquer the eastern Donbas region, U.S. officials said.
According to officials, the aid is expected to include anti-ship missile launchers, howitzers, and more rounds for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems that U.S. forces are training Ukrainian troops on now. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public.
The aid comes as U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin convened a meeting in Brussels of more than 45 nations to discuss support for Ukraine. At the start of the meeting, Austin warned that the West must step up weapons deliveries to Ukraine and prove its commitment to helping the country’s military fight along a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line in a grinding war of attrition with Russia.
And he urged the participating nations to demonstrate “our unwavering determination to get Ukraine the capabilities that it urgently needs to defend itself.”
“We must intensify our shared commitment to Ukraine’s self-defense, and we must push ourselves even harder to ensure that Ukraine can defend itself, its citizens and its territory,” he said.
The meeting, also attended by Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, came on the opening day of a two-day gathering of NATO defense ministers at the alliance’s headquarters.
Increased arms supplies can’t come soon enough for the Ukrainian forces battling to keep Russia from taking control of their country’s industrial east after more than 3½ months of war.
In his nightly address to the nation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded Tuesday for more and faster deliveries of Western arms, specifically asking for anti-missile defense systems.
Austin told the Brussels meeting he was grateful for all the military aid the nations already have shipped or pledged to Ukraine, but cautioned that “we can’t afford to let up and we can’t lose steam. The stakes are too high.”
The formal NATO meeting was set to open later Wednesday with a dinner where ministers also will discuss Sweden and Finland’s applications to join the trans-Atlantic military alliance.
The meeting, less two weeks before a summit of NATO leaders in Madrid, comes with Kyiv imploring the West to send more and heavier weapons to help fend off Russia’s onslaught in eastern Ukraine.
“Allies are committed to continue providing the military equipment that Ukraine needs to prevail, including heavy weapons and long-range systems,” said Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary-general.
He added that Zelenskyy would be invited to address the June 29-30 Madrid summit, either in person or by videoconference.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Tuesday that the invaded nation’s military had received only around 10% of the Western weapons it had requested “to create parity with the Russian army.”
“No matter how much effort Ukraine makes, no matter how professional our army, without the help of Western partners we will not be able to win this war,” Malyar said in a televised news conference.
She said Ukraine uses 5,000 to 6,000 artillery rounds a day, while Russia uses 10 times more.
The NATO meeting opens with a working dinner Wednesday evening at which ministers will speak with their counterparts from Ukraine, as well as Georgia, Sweden, Finland, and the European Union.
“This will be an opportunity for Defense Minister Reznikov to update us on what Ukraine urgently needs. And for NATO allies to make new announcements of support to Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said.
The defense ministers also plan to discuss moves to beef up forces along NATO’s eastern flank and elsewhere, which have gathered pace since Russia invaded Ukraine.
“This will mean more presence, more capabilities and higher readiness, with more NATO forward deployed combat formations to strengthen our battlegroups in the East, more air, sea and cyber defenses, pre-positioned equipment and weapon stockpiles,” Stoltenberg said.
He wouldn’t commit to a timeframe for Sweden and Finland joining NATO. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is blocking the membership bids as he accuses the Nordic nations of supporting Kurdish militants deemed by Turkey to be terrorists.
“My aim is to solve this issue as soon as possible, but since we are several nations involved in this process, there is no way to tell you exactly when we will solve it,” Stoltenberg said.
Because of Turkey’s concerns, “this will take some more time than we originally expected,” he said.
Erdogan signaled Wednesday he won’t back down.
“We will most definitely not change our stance until Sweden and Finland take clear, concrete and determined steps in the fight against terrorism,” Erdogan said in an address to his ruling party’s legislators.
He told Stoltenberg in a phone call that his government wants written guarantees of a “paradigm shift” in the two countries’ anti-terrorism efforts and their defense industry cooperation with Turkey, according to a statement from the Turkish leader’s office.
All 30 NATO members must agree to admit new members.
U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said at a meeting Wednesday in Oslo that the ambition for the NATO summit in Madrid is ensuring “that Sweden and Finland are successfully on the next step towards accession into NATO,”
“I think it is very important we listen and understand Turkey’s concerns and work to a position where Turkey will support the accession and indeed that we can mitigate any of those concerns,” Wallace said.
He added that the West needs to do more to support Ukrainians battling advances by far better equipped Russians.
“The Ukrainian forces in the east of the country, some of them have been on that front line for 90 days. They are exhausted. They are often, in artillery terms, outnumbered at very, very high ratios,” he said.
___
Mike Corder in The Hague, Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/nato-defense-ministers-to-discuss-weapons-for-ukraine/ | 2022-06-15 15:56:18 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/nato-defense-ministers-to-discuss-weapons-for-ukraine/ |
22,300-square-foot freestanding entertainment destination boasts more than 20 betting stations and Guy Fieri's first-ever full-service restaurant in Arizona
PHOENIX, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) ("Caesars") – in partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks – announced today that Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field is officially open. The two-story, 22,300-square-foot entertainment destination is located adjacent to Chase Field in Downtown Phoenix and is now the largest freestanding sportsbook in Arizona and the largest retail sportsbook to open in partnership with a major sports stadium nationwide.
This new, first-class sportsbook and full-service restaurant combo is unlike any opened to date. The venue features a total of nine betting windows and 13 self-service betting kiosks as well as wall-to-wall flatscreen televisions, breathtaking patio space, along with table and plush lounge-style seating on both floors with a total capacity of more than 425. Private space is also available to rent.
An opening event was held on June 21 featuring remarks from Caesars and D-backs representatives, a first bite sampling of menu items and ceremonial first bets, as well as a donation of $20,000 by Caesars to the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation.
"We're extremely proud to bring Caesars Sportsbook and Guy Fieri's Kitchen + Bar to Chase Field and Downtown Phoenix," said Eric Hession, Co-President of Caesars Digital. "This destination provides sports bettors and non-sports bettors, locals and visitors alike, with an experience they can't find anywhere else. Thank you to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Guy Fieri for making this possible."
"What an incredible day for our fans, sports enthusiasts, guests and especially for our organization," said D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall. "We are proud to partner with Caesars Entertainment and Guy Fieri, to bring a year-round first-class sportsbook, restaurant and event space to downtown Phoenix. Everything about this dynamic venue, from the food to the design to the service, has been meticulously planned for an unmatched guest experience."
Bloc9 Architecture served as architect on the project in partnership with Borisoff Design Studio while The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company served as general contractor to create a venue that conveys the Caesars Sportsbook brand in a modern way through a lively and contemporary space fit for a Caesar.
The opening of Guy Fieri's DTPHX Kitchen + Bar at Caesars Sportsbook marks the celebrity chef's first-ever full-service restaurant in Arizona. Designed in partnership with Fieri and led locally by Executive Chef Kayla Laasko, who brings experience from The Barking Bodega, Desert Diamond Casino and the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa, Guy Fieri's DTPHX Kitchen + Bar offers scratch-made food, signature and classic cocktails, and an extensive beer and wine menu. The menu also features a combination of new recipes and Fieri's personal favorites from his other restaurants, including the world-famous Trash Can Nachos ($20) and award-winning Bacon Mac 'n' Cheeseburger ($18). Other menu stand-outs include:
- Jalapeno Pig Poppers: andouille and cheese-stuffed jalapenos wrapped in maple bacon, and then smoked and glazed with bourbon brown sugar barbeque sauce ($18)
- Real Deal Dilly Wings: a dozen wings with dill pickle salt, garlic butter and buttermilk ranch ($16)
- Morgan's Veggie Burger: Scratch-made with donkey sauce, pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato and crispy onions on a whole wheat bun ($16)
- Motley Que Pulled Pork: pulled pork shoulder smothered in Guy's bourbon brown sugar sauce, stacked with citrus slaw, pickle chips, aged cheddar cheese, onion straws and donkey sauce on a toasted pretzel hoagie ($17)
- Blackened Salmon: pan-roasted salmon with blackened "dirty" fried rice, charred asparagus and garlic-lime compound butter ($28)
- Cheesecake Challenge: half of a New York-style marble cheesecake topped with potato chips, pretzels and hot fudge ($24)
"I've worked with the Caesars team for nearly a decade opening restaurants all over the country together. They are the best of the best," said Fieri. "The idea of bringing this next-level restaurant concept to Arizona, a place where I have showcased more than 30 restaurants through 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' over the years, was a no-brainer for me. Thank you to the D-backs and Caesars for making it happen."
Caesars Sportsbook is now open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., on Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m., and on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Guy Fieri's DTPHX Kitchen + Bar is open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. for food service and until 1 a.m. both nights for beverage service. The venue will also be open during D-backs off days and have expanded hours during football season.
The Caesars Sportsbook app integrates mobile sports betting with Caesars' industry-leading loyalty program, Caesars Rewards. Every wager placed on the mobile app rewards the bettor with Tier Credits and Reward Credits that can be used to unlock unbeatable experiences within the Caesars portfolio of properties and partnerships, including access to VIP experiences with the D-backs at Chase Field or at the heart of the famed Las Vegas Strip.
Eligible sports fans in Arizona can download the Caesars Sportsbook app, register, and deposit funds to take advantage of a special sign-up offer for first-time users:
- Insure your first bet for up to $1,500
Caesars is an official sports betting partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, an authorized gaming operator of Major League Baseball, and has partnerships with the NFL, NBA, NHL, and several individual teams.
For refreshing, real-time industry updates and to join the empire of like-minded Caesars, players can engage with the Caesars Sportsbook on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @CaesarsSports. For more information, please visit dbacks.com/GuyDTPHX or @GuysDTPHX on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Caesars Entertainment, Inc.
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) is the largest casino-entertainment company in the US and one of the world's most diversified casino-entertainment providers. Since its beginning in Reno, NV, in 1937, Caesars Entertainment, Inc. has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions. Caesars Entertainment, Inc.'s resorts operate primarily under the Caesars®, Harrah's®, Horseshoe®, and Eldorado® brand names. Caesars Entertainment, Inc. offers diversified gaming, entertainment and hospitality amenities, one-of-a-kind destinations, and a full suite of mobile and online gaming and sports betting experiences. All tied to its industry-leading Caesars Rewards loyalty program, the company focuses on building value with its guests through a unique combination of impeccable service, operational excellence and technology leadership. Caesars is committed to its employees, suppliers, communities and the environment through its PEOPLE PLANET PLAY framework. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. For more information, please visit www.caesars.com/corporate.
About Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks provide industry-leading entertainment in a clean, safe and family-friendly environment and make a positive impact on its fans and civic partners. Their mission is guided by the Circle of Success: team performance, fan experience, financial efficiency, workplace culture, and community contribution. The D-backs' pinnacle on-field moment was their 2001 World Series title, the only championship among the 4 major Valley teams. Since being established in 1997, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation has donated over $75 million in charitable contributions to the Arizona community, more than the state's other professional sports teams combined. The club, established in 1995 and whose inaugural season was in 1998, plays their home games in downtown Phoenix at Chase Field, the first Major League stadium in the United States to feature a pool as well as a retractable roof over a natural-grass playing surface (now synthetic grass). For more information, please visit dbacks.com or on social media via @Dbacks and @LosDbacks.
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SOURCE Caesars Entertainment, Inc. | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/caesars-sportsbook-chase-field-now-open-with-guy-fieris-dtphx-kitchen-bar/ | 2022-06-21 23:04:27 | 1 | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/caesars-sportsbook-chase-field-now-open-with-guy-fieris-dtphx-kitchen-bar/ |
Kentucky on track to have fewer deadly crashes this year than in 2021
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Kentucky has seen 664 deadly crashes around the state this year and could be on pace to reduce traffic fatalities on roads this year.
By this time in 2021, there were already 753 fatal crashes reported. It’s an improvement many agencies have been working towards, like AAA officials, who are encouraged by the numbers.
“We are, I think, leveling off, and perhaps we’ll finish out the year with perhaps some better statistics to talk about as far as number of crashes, number of fatalities, and serious injuries,” AAA spokesperson Lori Weaver Hawkins said.
Kentucky State Police have frequently hosted traffic safety checkpoints throughout the state. KSP works in conjunction with local city police, and county sheriff’s office’s to help educate the public and prevent a tragedy. They say they are looking for life-saving measures to deter drivers under the influence, stop seatbelt evaders and ensure car seats are correctly installed and in use.
“I tell people during the holidays, don’t drive intoxicated, don’t drive ‘intexticated,’” Hawkins said.
Almost 15% of the Commonwealth’s fatal crashes involved alcohol. It’s a holiday heartbreak that could be avoided.
“That’s not the time for you to worry about your budget, nickel and dimes when you have so much on the line,” Hawkins said. “Go ahead and get that rideshare and schedule that before you head out the door, so you don’t have to worry about it for the rest of the evening.”
While the holiday season should be merry and bright, it’s a price you will pay forever and could change the lives of many if you choose to get behind the wheel after drinking.
The lowest number of fatalities reported in the last decade was in 2013 when the state recorded 638 fatal crashes. AAA expects to release a report on driver behavior trends later this week.
Copyright 2022 WKYT. All rights reserved. | https://www.wkyt.com/2022/12/06/kentucky-track-have-less-deadly-crashes-this-year-than-2021/ | 2022-12-06 22:20:36 | 1 | https://www.wkyt.com/2022/12/06/kentucky-track-have-less-deadly-crashes-this-year-than-2021/ |
Two Kenosha sisters have started their own fashion consignment pop-up store, offering sustainable designer label fashion as they follow in their family’s footsteps.
Labels Designer Consignment, founded by Tremper High School graduate Lisa Torres and her sister Lilly will be holding its inaugural event at the Gurnee Holiday Inn, 6161 W. Grand Avenue, starting Thursday, May 18 and going until Saturday, May 20. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
The entrepreneurs indicated their store is part of a broader trend in the fashion industry towards resales of secondhand clothing, offering both affordability and sustainability benefits.
“The resale and consignment markets are so important as we strive to protect the environment through our sustainable resale model,” Lisa Torres said.
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Fashion has always been a passion for the two sisters, with Lisa studying the field in college. Following the example of their mother and aunt, who also owned a consignment store when they were younger, the two siblings went into business together.
“I come from a family of entrepreneurs, especially women,” Lisa Torres said. “It was definitely something my family supported.”
As first-time business owners, there’s plenty of work to do, but she and her sister were enjoying the experience.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” she said. “We’ve gotten to wear a lot of different hats.”
The sisters make a good team, too.
“We get along really great,” Lisa Torres said. “We both have different skills and strengths.”
She said the store is for people looking for something unique, offering a “one-of-a-kind shopping event” with new items every time.
Women can register online at labelsdesignersale.com to sell their goods at the pop-up store.
Drop off times for items, including clothing and accessories, will run from Friday through Sunday, May 12 to May 14. More information can be found on the website. The store can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone there,” Lisa Torres said. “We’re really excited.”
Depending on how the pop-up store performs, she said they are considering bringing the store to Kenosha in the fall. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-sisters-start-fashion-consignment-store-in-gurnee/article_5fe2f94e-ef6e-11ed-9fef-5bf0f1204365.html | 2023-05-11 19:05:24 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-sisters-start-fashion-consignment-store-in-gurnee/article_5fe2f94e-ef6e-11ed-9fef-5bf0f1204365.html |
Follow the alleged path of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago
Donald Trump left the White House in January 2021 with hundreds of classified documents that prosecutors say he was not supposed to keep.
The federal indictment unsealed Friday details how the former president and his aides spent months shuffling boxes of documents around his Mar-a-Lago club and residence in Palm Beach, Fla., stashing them in a ballroom, an office and even a bathroom.
[Trump’s path to indictment: ‘Isn’t it better if there are no documents?’]
Prosecutors say some of the materials described nuclear intelligence, operations against U.S. forces, and sensitive communications with foreign leaders. According to the indictment, Trump’s employees had open access to the papers in some of these unsecured spaces.
Trump and a loyal aide, Walt Nauta, set out to conceal the boxes from the government, the indictment alleges. The FBI eventually recovered hundreds of classified documents from Mar-a-Lago.
Here is the journey those documents took, as described in the indictment.
Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s sprawling residence and resort, according to prosecutors, was not an authorized location for storing or discussing classified information once Trump left office.
The club had more than 150 employees and hundreds of members who were free to access much of the property outside Trump’s residential quarters.
January through March 15, 2021 Dozens of boxes were initially stored in Mar-a-Lago’s White and Gold Ballroom, an event space, according to the indictment. Some were stacked on the ballroom stage.
March 2021 Nauta and other unnamed assistants allegedly moved some boxes from the ballroom to a location described in the indictment as the “business center.”
April 2021 Employees moved boxes from the business center to a bathroom and shower in a space known as the Lake Room, according to the indictment.
The indictment includes an April 5 text exchange in which two Trump staffers, referred to as “Trump Employee 1” and “Trump Employee 2,” debated where to put their boss’s boxes. One indicated that Trump specifically wanted the boxes kept in the business center “because they are his ‘papers.’”
The next month, the National Archives and Records Administration began demanding that Trump turn over records he kept after he left the White House.
Around that time, Trump had an unspecified number of boxes sent to his summer home at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey, according to the indictment.
Like Mar-a-Lago, Bedminster was not an authorized location for keeping classified documents, prosecutors said. Yet there, Trump allegedly bragged to a writer and publisher about having a sensitive document about Iran.
June 2021 At Trump’s direction, employees moved boxes from the Lake Room to a storage room on Mar-a-Lago’s ground floor, prosecutors said.
The room could be reached through multiple entrances, including a door leading from the pool patio that was often kept open, according to the indictment. More than 80 boxes were kept there, prosecutors said.
November 2021 After repeated inquiries from Archives officials, Trump began ordering employees to bring boxes to his residence so he could review them, according to the indictment. He allegedly kept some in an entryway known as Pine Hall.
Nov. 25, 2021 An exchange quoted in the indictment between Nauta and one of Trump’s employees captures what seemed to be a growing sense of urgency around moving the boxes. At this point, prosecutors noted, Archives officials had repeatedly warned that they would refer the matter to the Justice Department if Trump did not comply with their requests.
December 2021 Prosecutors said Nauta found several boxes had fallen in the storage room, their contents scattered across the floor. Some of the papers contained classified information, according to the indictment.
One read “SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY,” meaning it could only be viewed by officials in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Britain and the United States.
January 2022 Nauta and another employee loaded 15 boxes from Trump’s residence into Nauta’s car, then took them to a commercial truck for delivery to Archives officials, according to the indictment.
May 2022 Prosecutors say Nauta lied to the FBI about the episode. According to the indictment, he told investigators in a May 2022 interview that he was not aware of boxes being brought to the residence for Trump’s review before Trump turned them over. He also falsely stated that he did not know how the boxes had gotten to Trump’s residence, according to the indictment.
On May 11, a federal grand jury subpoenaed Trump demanding the return of all documents with classified markings.
Soon after, in late May and early June, Nauta moved 64 boxes from the storage room to Trump’s residence, according to the indictment.
May 23, 2022 At that time, Trump discussed the subpoena with his attorneys, who said they needed to search for the right documents to make sure they were complying.
“I don’t want anybody looking through my boxes,” Trump allegedly told them. He also allegedly asked: “Isn’t it better if there are no documents?”
Later, Nauta and an unidentified Trump family member texted about the moving of the boxes, according to the indictment. The family member said Trump wanted to take some on the plane but that there would not be enough room. “I think he wanted to pick from them,” Nauta allegedly wrote. “I don’t imagine him wanting to take the boxes.”
[Inside the fortified rooms meant to secure U.S. secrets]
June 2022 Nauta allegedly moved 30 boxes back to the storage room on June 2, according to the indictment. That afternoon, Trump met with one of his attorneys to sift through the boxes for classified documents. The attorney located 38 documents and put them in a folder.
“Did you find anything?... Is it bad? Good?” Trump allegedly asked. They discussed whether the attorney should bring the folder to his hotel room for safekeeping.
According to the indictment, Trump made a “plucking motion.” The attorney later suggested this meant that “anything really bad in there, like, you know, pluck it out,” according to the indictment. The next day, a federal prosecutor and FBI agents went to Mar-a-Lago to collect the subpoenaed materials. They left with the folder.
The same day, Nauta loaded several boxes onto an aircraft that flew Trump and his family north for the summer, the indictment says.
August 2022 The FBI searched Mar-a-Lago and seized 102 additional classified documents. Seventeen were marked top secret, 54 secret, and 31 confidential.
Document photos from the Justice Department via the Associated Press. Additional design contributions by Joe Moore. Editing by Kevin Uhrmacher and Kainaz Amaria. Copy editing by Angela Mecca. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/interactive/2023/see-trump-classified-documents-mar-a-lago-path-storage-bathroom/ | 2023-06-11 10:27:54 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/interactive/2023/see-trump-classified-documents-mar-a-lago-path-storage-bathroom/ |
New Series FAST: HOME RESCUE Follows Disaster-Relief Organization, Reach Out Worldwide Founded by the Late Paul Walker, FAST & FURIOUS Franchise Star
ATLANTA, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Weather Channel television network announced a brand new rescue and recovery series, FAST: HOME RESCUE. The show follows families whose lives have been devastated by severe weather and natural disasters, and helps them rebuild stronger than before. In partnership with Reach Out Worldwide (ROWW) – a disaster relief organization founded by the late Paul Walker, star of the Fast & Furious franchise – The Weather Channel works with Cody and Felicia Walker – Paul's brother and sister-in-law and the current leaders of ROWW – to rebuild homes in the most devastated communities.
In FAST: HOME RESCUE, married couple Cody and Felicia Walker lead a team of first-responders, military veterans and construction and design professionals who augment local expertise to accelerate relief efforts. Each episode features a different deserving family and each build happens in just five days. FAST: HOME RESCUE premieres, Saturday, September 17 at 8 p.m. ET on The Weather Channel.
"The new series, FAST: HOME RESCUE is at the intersection of extreme weather events and home renovation. This transformative show reveals the destructive nature of tornadoes, fires and floods, while highlighting the powerful recovery stories of each family," said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group, parent company of The Weather Channel/Weather Group. "Viewers will experience many emotions during the 1-hour episodes, from heartbreak, to surprise, to heart-warming moments of triumph. There's no network better equipped to tell these survivors' stories than The Weather Channel."
This new series, FAST: HOME RESCUE will feature marquee advertising sponsors, including P&G brands Tide and Charmin as well as Ford and Allstate. Tide Loads of Hope initiative, which helps communities wash and get clean clothes after natural disasters, is featured as well as Charmin's Sustainability initiative Protect, Grow and Restore forests. Within an episode, Charmin highlights the restore pillar focusing on their partnership with Arbor Day Foundation to restore 1 million trees in areas that have been devastated by natural disasters by 2025. Ford will debut their new F-150 Lightning throughout the series, highlighting the Lightning's charging features that can assist homeowners affected by power outages during extreme weather events. Allstate will educate homeowners on the best ways to protect their home against the threat of extreme weather and natural disasters before and after the storm through branded content segments that align to their new brand creative.
FAST: HOME RESCUE is produced by Fight or Flight Studios and is executive produced by Rob Hill, Noah Mark and Sam Wasserman. Noah Mark also serves as showrunner. Episodes of FAST: HOME RESCUE will be available to watch on-demand after airing on broadcast via The Weather Channel's Connected Television (CTV) app. The Weather Channel CTV app is available on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Samsung, and Xfinity Flex.
Since its launch 40 years ago, The Weather Channel television network has become the top-rated and most widely distributed weather network in America. The Weather Channel television network has been the leader in severe weather coverage, providing the most comprehensive analysis of any media outlet and serving as the nation's only 24-hour source of national storm coverage. With trusted meteorologists who analyze, forecast and report the weather, its expertise is unrivaled. In 2021 and 2019, The Weather Channel won Emmy Awards for its innovative Immersive Mixed Reality technology which is changing the standard in weather presentation. The Weather Channel CTV app is available on Amazon Fire TV and Android TV and will be coming soon to Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Vizio, and Xfinity Flex. For more information visit: www.weathergroup.com.
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SOURCE The Weather Channel | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/weather-channel-reveals-latest-new-series-fast-home-rescue-home-renovation-series-highlighting-families-impacted-by-natural-disasters-extreme-weather/ | 2022-08-22 23:16:02 | 1 | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/weather-channel-reveals-latest-new-series-fast-home-rescue-home-renovation-series-highlighting-families-impacted-by-natural-disasters-extreme-weather/ |
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. , June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of Neoss' milestone celebration delegates at the Neoss Integrate 2022 congress in Gothenburg, Sweden were given the first access to the NeoScan 1000 intraoral scanner which is set for full commercial launch in September 2022.
"I am excited to introduce the NeoScan 1000 into our range of intuitive dental solutions. The performance of the scanner is beyond my expectations with clear competitive advantages. The scanner will allow Neoss' to significantly expand its proprietary digital dental offering."
Dr. Robert Gottlander, CEO and President of Neoss Group.
Designed for scanning accuracy and speed, the compact, lightweight scanner provides the possibility for a flexible workflow with open and compatible output at a competitive price.
"The NeoScan 1000 is a superfast, lightweight, and easy-to-use scanner. I had the pleasure of being part of early testing and have used the scanner for several digital impression indications at my clinic with excellent results. Digital dentistry is in need of more cost-efficient solutions so that clinicians can use it to its full potential. The NeoScan 1000 has the potential to do just this."
Dr. Marcus Dagnelid, DDS, board-certified prosthodontist
With an easy USB cable connection and full-touch screen support, the NeoScan 1000 is sure to please and excite dental professionals alike! For more information visit neoss.com/neoscan1000
Neoss offers intelligent solutions that are intuitively easy to use. Our products allow dental professionals to provide reliable and cost-effective treatments to their patients with predictable long-term results. Leading the market with ingenuity and integrity, we strive to set new standards. In developing smart treatment solutions and working closely with each practice, Neoss makes the complex less complicated. We call that Intelligent Simplicity. Headquartered in Harrogate, UK, with research and development based in Gothenburg, Sweden, the company has established a global footprint with a long-standing presence in key markets. To find out more visit https://www.neoss.com
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SOURCE Neoss | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/neoss-group-releases-neoscan-1000-mark-20-years-intelligent-simplicity/ | 2022-06-10 14:40:07 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/neoss-group-releases-neoscan-1000-mark-20-years-intelligent-simplicity/ |
EMS' Competency.AI solution receives certification for AAMC Curriculum Inventory Benchmarking
EXTON, Pa. , May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Education Management Solutions, the industry leader in healthcare education solutions, announced today the selection of Competency.AI, an EMS product, as a Curriculum Inventory and benchmarking tool by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
AAMC's Curriculum Inventory (CI) is designed to serve as the premier benchmarking and reporting tool for content, structure, delivery, and assessment of medical school curricula throughout the United States. Reports from CI help participating institutions benchmark their curricula, understand trends, and provide AAMC with data to develop and sustain curriculum and program accreditation standards.
The certification of EMS' CI solution, Competency.AI, was approved in record time for any AAMC vendor applicant, as EMS was fully compliant with AAMC's exacting technical data and interoperability standards. As an approved vendor participant, EMS joins an exclusive list of providers committed to the CI standards to support AAMC-accredited medical colleges and institutions.
"Removing education silos to facilitate visibility and ROI across healthcare curricula is a key focus for EMS," said Matt Merino, CEO of Education Management Solutions. "The selection by AAMC deepens the collaboration across our healthcare partners as we work together to create a scalable, highly skilled workforce."
Competency.AI provides educators with a unique and effective solution aligning target outcomes across the entire curriculum. With a centralized and secure cloud-based framework, Competency.AI ensures program outcomes linearly align with course objectives, assessment protocols, and accreditation requirements. Advanced data reporting and analytic features give educators the ability to track learner performance across the curriculum, monitor assessment accreditation criteria, and analyze risk factors with advanced gap analysis tools.
About EMS:
Celebrating 30 years of innovation, Education Management Solutions (EMS) is a pioneer in simulation and competency-based learning for healthcare education and training. EMS provides turnkey education solutions, program management, design, installation, and 24/7 customer support for hundreds of universities, colleges, and healthcare systems worldwide.
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SOURCE Education Management Solutions | https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_health/ems-approved-by-the-association-of-american-medical-colleges/article_95bdbc04-7feb-584a-8cb2-950ad18f07b3.html | 2022-05-18 15:26:49 | 0 | https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_health/ems-approved-by-the-association-of-american-medical-colleges/article_95bdbc04-7feb-584a-8cb2-950ad18f07b3.html |
EXPLAINER: What happened to Damar Hamlin?
By ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle during Monday night’s game, causing the NFL to suspend a pivotal game against the Cincinnati Bengals that quickly lost significance in the aftermath of a scary scene that unfolded in front of a national television audience. The 24-year-old Hamlin was administered CPR on the field, ESPN reported during the broadcast. Teammates surrounded Hamlin, shielding him from public view. Many were weeping and praying while Hamlin was treated on the field by team and independent medical personnel and local paramedics. He was taken by ambulance to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Teammate Stefon Diggs later went to visit Hamlin at the hospital while fans of both teams gathered outside. | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/01/03/explainer-what-happened-to-damar-hamlin/ | 2023-01-03 20:49:54 | 0 | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/01/03/explainer-what-happened-to-damar-hamlin/ |
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Oscar Gonzalez was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with an abdominal issue.
The move was one of several made by the Guardians before playing a split doubleheader against the New York Yankees. Friday’s series opener was postponed by rain.
The 24-year-old Gonzalez has given the team a major lift since coming up from the minors. He’s batting .285 with two homers and 14 RBIs in 32 games.
Gonzalez was scratched Thursday after arriving at Progressive Field and reporting his discomfort to the team’s training staff. He underwent an MRI on Friday.
The Guardians also recalled rookie left-hander Kirk McCarty to start the opener of the doubleheader and brought up infielder Gabriel Arias from Triple-A Columbus. Arias has been sidelined with a broken hand.
Also, reliever James Karnichak was activated from the 60-day IL and optioned to Columbus. He hasn’t pitched in the majors this season due to a shoulder strain.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/guardians-place-rookie-of-gonzalez-on-injured-list/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2022-07-02 15:50:09 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/guardians-place-rookie-of-gonzalez-on-injured-list/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
NEW YORK, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Charter, the media and insights company focused on building a better future of work, announces a new virtual workshop series called "Charter Skills Accelerator." In partnership with LifeLabs Learning, a leader in training programs for managers and executives, Charter and LifeLabs Learning are offering four free workshops beginning June 29.
The series aims to help People Ops professionals and other owners of the talent agenda grow their skills in areas like change management, inclusive leadership, and hybrid readiness. In the first mini-workshop, a LifeLabs Labs leadership trainer will help attendees learn:
- The psychology of change and how to make it stick
- Strategies to help employees accept change faster
- A formula to message change effectively
"Our mission is to transform every workplace to be more fair and dynamic, and we do this by bridging research to practice for the more than 60,000 leaders and owners of the talent agenda who get our newsletter each week," said Charter co-founder and president, Jay Lauf. "An additional way we can deliver on that mission is by delivering practical, interactive programs for our community, and we are thrilled to be doing that through a brand and group of people we know and admire in LifeLabs Learning."
"Our programs rely on the latest behavioral science research – including our in-house data and real-world outcomes from more than 1,700 client companies and 375,000 learners. For the past 10 years, we've researched the biggest challenges business leaders, and teams face and uncovered the key tipping point skills that lead to big change. We're delighted to deliver a sample of what we do for Charter readers through this partnership." said LifeLabs Learning CEO, Priscila Bala.
The series is underwritten by and will be delivered on Brandlive, which has a robust video streaming and hosting platform trusted by the world's largest brands for hybrid communications, including key meetings, events, conferences, summits, and internal communications. Brandlive was the official virtual event platform for the Biden campaign, powering 300+ unique events across 177 days that hosted millions of page views. "Brandlive was able to help us create event pages that met each varying need, with engagement features that our audience loved," said a Biden campaign team representative.
Four additional workshops are scheduled for September through December and anyone interested can register for the June 29 program here.
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SOURCE LifeLabs Learning | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/charter-lifelabs-learning-launch-new-workshop-series-supported-by-brandlive/ | 2022-06-15 16:34:09 | 1 | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/charter-lifelabs-learning-launch-new-workshop-series-supported-by-brandlive/ |
Yellen downplays US recession as wave of economic data looms
WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Sunday said the U.S. economy is slowing but pointed to healthy hiring as proof that it is not yet in recession.
Yellen spoke on NBC’s “Meet the Press” just before a slew of economic reports will be released this week that will shed light on an economy currently besieged by rampant inflation and threatened by higher interest rates. The data will cover sales of new homes, consumer confidence, incomes, spending, inflation, and overall output.
The highest-profile report will likely be Thursday, when the Commerce Department will release its first estimate of the economy’s output in the April-June quarter. Some economists forecast it may show a contraction for the second quarter in a row. The economy shrank 1.6% in the January-March quarter. Two straight negative readings is considered an informal definition of a recession, though in this case economists think that’s misleading.
Instead, the National Bureau of Economic Research — a nonprofit group of economists — defines a recession as “a significant decline in economic activity that is spread across the economy and lasts more than a few months.”
Yellen argued that much of the economy remains healthy: Consumer spending is growing, Americans’ finances, on average, are solid, and the economy has added more than 400,000 jobs a month this year, a robust figure. The unemployment rate is 3.6%, near a half-century low.
“We’ve got a very strong labor market,” Yellen said. “This is not an economy that’s in recession.”
Still, Yellen acknowledged the economy is “in a period of transition in which growth is slowing,” from a historically rapid pace in 2021.
She said that slowdown is “necessary and appropriate,” because “we need to be growing at a steady and sustainable pace.”
Slower growth could help bring down inflation, which at 9.1% is the highest in two generations.
Still, many economists think a recession is on the horizon, with inflation eating away at Americans’ ability to spend and the Federal Reserve rapidly pushing up borrowing costs. Last week, Bank of America’s economists became the latest to forecast a “mild recession” later this year.
And Larry Summers, the treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton, said on CNN’s “GPS” Sunday that “there’s a very high likelihood of recession,” as the Fed lifts interest rates to combat inflation. Those higher borrowing costs are intended to reduce consumer spending on homes and cars and slow business borrowing, which can lead to a downturn.
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve is likely to announce its second 0.75% point increase in its short-term rate in a row, a hefty increase that it hasn’t otherwise implemented since 1994. That will put the Fed’s benchmark rate in a range of 2.25% to 2.5%, the highest level since 2018. Fed policymakers are expected to keep hiking until its rate reaches about 3.5%, which would be the highest since 2008.
The Fed’s hikes have torpedoed the housing market, as mortgage rates have doubled in the past year to 5.5%. Sales of existing homes have fallen for five straight months. On Tuesday, the government is expected to report that sales of new homes dropped in June.
Fewer home sales also means less spending on items that typically come with purchasing a new house, such as furniture, appliances, curtains, and kitchenware.
Many other countries are also grappling with higher inflation, and slower growth overseas could weaken the U.S. economy. Europe is facing the threat of recession, with soaring inflation and a central bank that just last week raised interest rates for the first time in 11 years.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde also sought to minimize recession concerns in an news conference last Thursday.
“Under the baseline scenario, there is no recession, neither this year nor next year,” Lagarde said. “Is the horizon clouded? Of course it is.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/2022/07/24/yellen-downplays-us-recession-wave-economic-data-looms/ | 2022-07-24 20:38:49 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/2022/07/24/yellen-downplays-us-recession-wave-economic-data-looms/ |
Terrance J. Lach
Terrance (Terry, TJ, Lucky) James Lach passed away peacefully on October 14, 2022 while in Hospice care at the VA Medical Center in Tomah, Wisconsin. Terry began a long and painful fight with bone cancer in 2020, shortly after the death of his beloved wife of 52 years, Annette (Heinz) Lach.
Terry was born on July 8th, 1946 to Anthony and Lucille (Gaulke) Lach of Wausau, Wisconsin. He was the second youngest–and the only son–of a four-daughter family. Growing up, Terry enjoyed being outdoors with his friends, fishing and hunting, and more than likely, getting into his fair share of mischief. During the winter, Terry would walk to and from school in front of his sisters, blazing a path for them through the snow so their feet wouldn’t become cold and wet. When the school day ended, he would go to work at his parents’ bar, the P&K Tavern, often until closing time. Terry was always a hard worker.
In 1964, Terry made the second best decision of his life when he joined the United States Air Force. He was a man who was proud of his service to his country, with home, scooter, and car adorned with our country’s flag. One of his final requests was to be transferred to the Hospice care of the VA Medical Hospital in Tomah.
On New Year’s Eve, 1967, Terry met the love of his life, Annette Marie Heinz, at the Lark Tavern in Wausau. Five months later, Annette and Terry were married. Asking for Annette’s hand in marriage was the best decision he ever made. Shortly after, Terry began working for GTE, a career that would last until his early retirement. The friendships he made at GTE lasted long beyond his time with the company. Former coworkers Karen and Tom Callahan were regular Friday night dinner companions of Terry and Annette. Both Tom and Curt Bresset were often found at Terry’s bedside during his final weeks and days.
Terry loved woodworking, turning pens, carpentry, spending time with his grandchildren and grand-dogs, and visiting with neighbors and friends. There was nothing Terry couldn’t fix or make.
Terry is survived by his sisters, Patricia (Eldon) Pagel, Sandra (Herman) Hintz, and Sue (Gary) Wolslegel; his son, Kurt (Allison Malloy) Lach and daughter Kari (Lach) Thorpe; grandsons, Ben and Wyat Thorpe and Dayne Malloy; great-grandson Ike Malloy; and many nieces and nephews. Terry was preceded in death by his wife, Annette, his parents, Anthony and Lucille, his sister, Bonnie Lach, and his brother-in-law, Herman Hintz.
Terry’s children would like to thank his sisters, brothers-in-law, and friends Tom Callahan, Curt Bresset and Deb Nabozny for the care and friendship they provided their father during his last years. They would also like to thank the nurses and staff of the VA Medical Center in Tomah for their compassion and respect.
A funeral service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, Wausau, Wisconsin on Monday, December 5, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. A private interment will take place next spring. Memorials can be made to the Honor Flight Network.
William O. Genrich
William Otto Genrich, 85, of AZ and formerly of Wausau, WI, passed away on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, in Gilbert, Arizona.
He was born on May 29, 1937, in Wausau, WI, son of the late Frank and Margaret (Garves) Genrich. He served his country in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. As an architect, he designed many of the buildings on Maricopa County Community College campuses and was one of the first groups of architects to use AutoCad.
He is survived by his children, Lesa (Michael) Schuur, Kelli (Jeff) Warren, Jennifer (Edward) Pinnow, and David (Lisa) Genrich; five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, October 28, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 Stewart Ave., Wausau. Rev. Timothy Smith will officiate. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau, where military honors will be conducted. Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service on Friday at the church. Helke Funeral Home, Wausau is assisting the family with arrangements.
You may leave messages and condolences for his family at helke.com
James D. Kienbaum
James “Jim” D. Kienbaum, 78, town of Hewitt, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, October 21, 2022 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
He was born March 7, 1944 in Wausau, son of the late Ordal and Frances (Krause) Kienbaum. On August 5, 1967, he married Hildegard Rajek at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Edgar. She survives.
Following high school graduation, Jim hauled milk and worked at Marathon Box before taking over the family farm in 1980. He worked as a dairy farmer his whole life and also drove school bus for the Wausau School District from 1980 until 1994. Jim was an avid snowmobiler and was a member of the Nutterville Snow Nuts Snowmobile Club and the Glandon Snow Barons.
Among his favorite pastimes, he enjoyed hunting on his land, learning about History, going to Zahrt Implement for a pop and conversation and most of all, spending Thursday nights at State Park Speedway.
Survivors include his loving wife, Hildegard; three children, Lynn (David) Thompson, Scott (Maureen) Kienbaum and Pam Kienbaum, all of Wausau; three grandchildren, Amy Thompson, Auburndale, Ryan Thompson, Wausau and Waylon Kienbaum, Wausau; one brother, Tom (Sharon) Kienbaum, Racine; three brothers-in-law, Robert Rajek, Edgar, Ronald (Darlene) Rajek, Mosinee and Bill (Leann) Rajek, Gleason; and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his parents-in-law, Frank and Bertha Rajek; brother-in-law, Rudy Rajek; and two sisters-in-law, Barbie Rajek and Ardell Rajek.
Funeral services will be at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at Zion Lutheran Church, 238145 Star Road, Aniwa. Rev. Ryan Fehrmann will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the church.
Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Wausau is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com
Gerald J. Klimpke
Gerald “Jerry” J. Klimpke, 78, town of Johnson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at Colonial Health and Rehabilitation Center in Colby, under the care of St. Croix Hospice.
He was born November 24, 1943 in the town of Johnson, son of the late Walter and Lavina (Christenson) Klimpke. On September 2, 1967, he married Phyllis Ortman at Peace Lutheran Church, town of Frankfort. She survives.
Jerry farmed in the town of Johnson his entire life. The two most important pastimes in his life were spending time with his family and farming his land.
Survivors include his loving wife of 55 years, Phyllis; two children, Tina (James) Borter and William (Joy) Klimpke; five grandchildren, Jessica (Matt) Hein, Zach (Alexa) Borter, Skyler Geiger and Alex and Johnathon, Klimpke; five great-grandchildren, Jacob, Emilie and Braxton Hein and James and Kirsten Geiger; three siblings, Walter Jr. (Carol) Klimpke, Shirley (Clarence) Liss and Ruth Komarek; and four sisters-in-law, Donna Solchenbuger, Betty (David) Holbach, Martha Rodman and Barbara Ortman.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Anna Klimpke; four brothers-in-law, Jack Ortman, James Ortman, Lester Solchenbuger and Gene Rodman; and one sister-in-law, Ramona Ortman.
Funeral services will be at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at Peace Lutheran Church, town of Frankfort. Rev. Jeff Tarras will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the church.
Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Athens is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com
Elizabeth J. Wiskowski
Elizabeth J. Wiskowski, 92 of Weston passed away October 20, 2022. Elizabeth was born to William and Alice (Bleir) Krake on June 19, 1930.
She married the love of her life, Russell, on a sunny Wednesday, June 22, 1949 at St. Mary Catholic Church. They had 71 wonderful years together. Together they raised seven children and fostered seven more.
Elizabeth is survived by two sons: Mark (Susan) Schofield; Michael (Bonnie) Pewaukee; three daughters: Tina Mandeville, Madison & Weston; Mary (James) Nechuta, Mosinee; Lisa (Paul) Krause, Wausau; grandchildren: Robert (Denise Garza) Washington, Miles City, MT; Priscilla (Ken Ruhland) Gresens, Madison; Shannon (Jennifer) Mandeville, Madison; Heidi (Brian) Oberstadt, Stevens Point; James (Bailey) Wiskowski, Wyocena; Karla (Zac) Auner, Madison; Ginger (Sam Berman) Pasch, Bradley Wiskowski, Denver, CO; Michael (Kelly) Nechuta, Hayward; Jason (Angela) Nechuta, Mosinee; Nathan (Whitney) Nechuta, Mosinee; Adam (Jennifer) Krause, Wausau; Alex (Willow Falk-Lefay) Krause, Wausau; and Alexa Wiskowski, Pewaukee; great-grandchildren: Brianna (Bobby) Hogan, Neillsville; Justin Mandeville, Madison; Rocky Wiskowski, Baraboo; Rusty Wiskowski, Baraboo; Calliope Wiskowski, Wyocena; Brauley Schneider, Wausau; Theodore Oberstadt, Stevens Point; Benjamin Oberstadt, Stevens Point; Ryan Nechuta, Hayword; Lydia Nechuta, Hayward; Noah Nechuta, Mosinee; Jackson Nechuta, Mosinee; Payton Nechuta, Mosinee; Carter Nechuta, Mosinee; Addison Nechuta, Mosinee; Aiden Krause, Wausau; Bailey Krause, Wausau; Connor Krause, Wausau; and Michael (Bella Bartollota) Pasch, LaCrosse; great-great-grandchildren: Nathan Mandeville, Madison; Jordan Waters, Neillsville; Owen Hogen, Neillsville. One brother, David (Pat) Krake and one sister, Carol Alice (James) Gill.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her loving husband of 71 years, Russell; her parents; son, Matthew; daughter, Frances Olson; sisters, Juanita Kramer, Joyce Busko, Ruth Thompson, and brothers, Harold Krake, Franklin Krake and Benjamin Krake grandson Steven Wiskowski.
Together, Russell and Elizabeth owned and operated Weston Tree Co. and Weston Green Houses for 41 years. Elizabeth had worked as a waitress for many years at Coral Lanes, the Cozy Lounge and Ponderosa.
Outside of caring for her family, Elizabeth primarily emersed herself in service to her church, St Therese, for her entire adult life. This included teaching confirmation and RICA classes, she was involved in the Ladies’ Circle, and hosted a weekly rosary at her home, complete with delicious food for many years. Additionally, Elizabeth loved to sing and often sang for weddings and other church events.
The visitation is at John J. Buettgen Funeral Home, 948 Grand Avenue, Schofield on Friday, October 28th 5pm-7pm, with a rosary at 7pm. Full Mass service will be held at St. Therese Catholic Church, 113 Kort Street, Rothschild, 11am on Saturday, October 29th, with visitation from 10 until time of mass, officiated by Father Albert Saleth. Burial will follow at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Kronenwetter.
John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting the family at this time. Online condolences may be expressed at www.honorone.com.
Arla A. Block
Arla A. Block, 75 of the town of Elderon, died on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield.
Arla was born on November 27, 1946, in Shawano. The daughter of Carl and Evelyn (Wege) Jacobson.
Arla graduated from Wittenberg High School in 1965. On May 23, 1971, Arla was united in marriage to Bradley Block at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Wittenberg.
Arla received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in dietetics from Kansas State University. Arla loved helping others and her job. She worked as a registered dietician at several places throughout the years with Shawano Hospital being her last. Arla enjoyed fishing, reading, and loved sewing. She was an active member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and played the organ.
Arla is survived by her husband, Bradley; one sister, Jean (David Nelson) Jacobson; five brothers, Alan Jacobson, James (Jane) Jacobson, Charles Jacobson, John (Lynn) Jacobson and Glenn (Karen) Jacobson and many nieces and nephews.
Arla was preceded in death by her parents and one nephew, Nels Jacobson.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11 AM on Monday, October 24, 2022, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wittenberg. Rev. Sharon Fox Bogen will officiate. Visitation will be on Monday, from 9 AM until the time of service at the church.
Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Wittenberg is assisting the family with arrangements. Memories and messages of support may be shared at schmidtschulta.com.
Judith A. Rose
Judith (Judy) A. Rose, 83, passed peacefully, into the arms of her Lord and Savior, on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at the Homme Home in Wittenberg.
Judy was born on November 6, 1938, in Wausau to Harold and Marion (Asmus) Duranceau. She graduated from Wausau High School in 1956.
Judy lived in the village of Brokaw for most of her life and held the office of President of the Village of Brokaw at one time. The majority of her career was spent at Marathon Electric, where she retired, as a Tele-communications Manager.
She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wausau, where she enjoyed attending and occasionally leading bible study groups.
Judy had a great sense of humor, and when she was able, enjoyed a night out for dinner or socializing and sharing stories and laughs with family and friends. She loved bird watching, her flower gardens, history, and politics, but her favorite time was spent visiting with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. They were her utmost pride and joy!
Judy is survived by her two sons, Michael (Karen) of Prescott, Arizona and David (Lori) of Wausau; seven grandchildren: Travis (Sara), April (Nick) Krcma, Hannah, Casey (Quinn), Jet, Scarlett and Ruby Rose; seven great grandchildren: Braelyn, Shay, Brielle, Taelynn and Kylie Rose, Jack and Renlee Krcma and baby Rose on the way; and several nephews, cousins and friends. Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Marion and her brother, Harry Duranceau.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at Restlawn Memorial Park Chapel, Wausau with burial to follow. Rev. Barry Levine will officiate.
The family would like to thank the staff of Homme Home for the kindness, friendship and care they provided for her in the past years. And the staff of Compassus Hospice for their care of Judy in the past weeks.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Homme Home, 604 S Webb Street, Wittenberg, WI. | https://wausaupilotandreview.com/2022/10/24/wausau-area-obituaries-october-24-2022/ | 2022-10-24 23:49:10 | 0 | https://wausaupilotandreview.com/2022/10/24/wausau-area-obituaries-october-24-2022/ |
Top NJ news for Tuesday
Here are the top New Jersey news stories for *day*
⬛ Ocean City, NJ, wont let rowdy teens ruin another summer
If teens misbehave in Ocean City, NJ, they will be taken to the police station until their parents come get them
Click HERE to read more.
⬛ Food stamp rip-off in New Jersey: How much, and who is at risk?
Criminals are stealing SNAP benefit cards-what you can do to protect yourself
https://nj1015.com/snap-food-stamp-rip-off-in-new-jersey/
⬛ Decades later, human skull identified as man missing from Trenton
Authorities in Pennsylvania say that a skull discovered in 1986 on the banks of the Delaware River belongs to a man who was reported missing in New Jersey the year before.
https://nj1015.com/decades-later-human-skull-identified-as-man-missing-from-trenton-nj/
⬛ 8th dead whale washes up on New Jersey/New York beach
It's not clear if the whale is the same humpback Ferreira said was spotted 12 miles east of Long Beach Island Saturday night by a survey ship.
https://nj1015.com/8th-dead-whale-washes-up-on-new-jerseynew-york-beach/
⬛ Turning colder
The cooldown begins today. We may see some snowflakes
https://nj1015.com/weather/
Start your day with up-to-the-minute news, traffic and weather for the Garden State.
New Jersey's First News with Eric Scott is the longest running new program in New Jersey. Eric Scott began hosting the program in 1991.
It airs live on New Jersey 101.5 each weekday morning from 5:30 - 6 a.m.
New Jersey's First News with Eric Scott is the winner of the prestigious National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast.
Eric Scott is the senior political director and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at eric.scott@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
Nasty NJ town nicknames — Have you heard of them?
How to get from Monmouth/Ocean to the Holland Tunnel without paying tolls
[carbongallery id="6183d9a9a2ff9b4ff4987858"] | https://nj1015.com/top-nj-news-for-tuesday/ | 2023-01-31 10:53:32 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/top-nj-news-for-tuesday/ |
Pakistani police say 2 blasts at counterterrorism facility kill at least 12
Pakistani Taliban claimed similar attacks after ending cease-fire with government in 2022
Two explosions Monday at a counterterrorism police facility in northwest Pakistan killed at least 12 people and wounded at least 50, police said.
Senior police officer Ataullah Khan said an initial blast at the facility in the Swat Valley district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was followed by a larger, more intense one.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but in recent months, the Pakistani Taliban have claimed similar attacks after ending a cease-fire with the government last year.
Khan said part of the building collapsed and rescue workers retrieved three bodies and 30 of the wounded people. He said the death toll could increase.
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The police complex also houses the Kabal city police station and the headquarters of a reserve police force but the main damage was done at the counterterrorism department building, Khan said.
The picturesque Swat Valley once had been the stronghold of Islamic militants who imposed strict Sharia rule there until the army carried out a massive operation in 2007 that flushed out the militants and restored normalcy.
The Pakistani Taliban, formally known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, is a separate group from Afghan Taliban but linked to them.
The TTP has been emboldened since the Afghan Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 when U.S. and NATO troops were leaving the country after 20 years of war. Many of its leaders and fighters have found sanctuaries in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover there. | https://www.foxnews.com/world/pakistani-police-say-2-blasts-counterterrorism-facility-kill-least-12 | 2023-04-24 21:55:07 | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/world/pakistani-police-say-2-blasts-counterterrorism-facility-kill-least-12 |
Which Christmas porch light cover is best?
If you’re looking to level up your Christmas decor without adding more lights to your exterior display, consider a Christmas-themed porch light cover. Your existing porch light illuminates the cover, so there’s no need for outlets or the use of extra power on your electricity bill. For a festive matching set, the Joyin Cute Snowman Porch Light Covers are cute, reliable and easy to put up during the busy Christmas season.
What to know before you buy a Christmas porch light cover
How it works
Most Christmas porch light covers are made from acrylic materials. This ensures that the cover is durable, won’t overheat and can hold up in all kinds of weather, from rain to snow. It’s flexible, and the crystalized texture helps to spread a soft, warm glow across the porch. There’s a stretchable cord around the back to pull the cover over the light and keep it securely in place.
When attaching the cover, make sure to put it over the existing light fixture. Do not remove the fixture and put the cover directly against the bulb. The heat from this could make even the most durable acrylic cover melt.
Cover size
A Christmas porch light cover is large enough to fit over most outdoor porch lights, lamp posts and garage door lights. It measures about 7-11 inches wide and 11-14 inches in height, depending on the design. The top hat on most snowman covers tends to make these covers a little taller than Santa, penguin, reindeer or dinosaur designs.
Check the wattage
Make sure to check the compatibility of the cover with the light bulbs you use. The average light cover works best with a 40-watt bulb, but some can withstand 60 watts. More than this, and the cover might melt or warp even with the fixture separating the cover from the bulb.
What to look for in a quality Christmas porch light cover
Set of two
If you need more than one cover, a pair saves money and ensures that both covers match. This is particularly important if your front door has one light on each side and you want the size and color tones to match perfectly. If you only have one porch light in the front of your home, you can use the second one on the back porch, garage light or any lamppost in your yard.
Vivid colors
A cover might look bright and festive in the package but make sure that the colors hold up once you turn the light on. You don’t want reds, whites or blacks to look washed out or blurred together when viewed from a distance. Colors should remain crisp, vivid and recognizable at all times. A thick acrylic that’s still opaque enough for light to filter through works best.
Environmental impact
An acrylic cover uses a hard foam to produce the right shape and texture. Make sure that the foam is made with ethylene and vinyl acetate. EVA is one of the least harmful plastic materials. It’s not biodegradable, but it is recyclable. This makes it the most eco-friendly cover.
How much you can expect to spend on a Christmas porch light cover
A single porch light cover costs $15-$20, and a set of two costs $19-$40.
Christmas porch light cover FAQ
How do you turn the light on?
A. You use the same switch you’d always use. You are not changing the light — you are just adding a cover.
Will it fit on any fixture shape?
A. These covers work best placed over a square or rectangular fixture, but what really matters are the dimensions. The cover must be big enough to fit over the fixture without being so large that it slips off. If the elastic cord doesn’t fit around the fixture, you can’t use the cover.
Why does the cover turn yellow when the light is on?
A. If you have a white cover that looks yellow when the light is on, then you’ll want to look at the bulb you are using. The color produced by the bulb inside the fixture will permeate through the cover.
What’s the best Christmas porch light cover to buy?
Top Christmas porch light cover
Joyin Cute Snowman Porch Light Covers
What you need to know: This set comes with two acrylic snowman face covers that measure 8.5 inches wide and 12 inches tall.
What you’ll love: The face is cute and expressive with a festive top hat. The acrylic is waterproof and moisture-proof. The elastic is thick and durable. They are easy to put up.
What you should consider: The width is a little narrow.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Christmas porch light cover for the money
D-Fantix Santa Porch Light Covers
What you need to know: This set comes with two acrylic Santa Claus covers that measure 9 inches wide and 11.2 inches tall.
What you’ll love: Santa has a red hat with matching boots and a big beard with a nose poking out. Each is made from EVA eco-friendly materials. The set is cute and easy to install.
What you should consider: The style of the hat and beard means Santa’s face is not visible.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Yogaxn Penguin Porch Light Covers
What you need to know: This set comes with two acrylic penguin covers that measure 9 inches wide and 11.4 inches tall.
What you’ll love: The penguin is cute with a cheerful expression and a red Santa Claus hat. Each has a thick elastic cord that makes set-up a breeze. EVA environmentally-friendly materials are used.
What you should consider: The elastic cord might have to be adjusted for a better fit.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wivb.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/holiday-br/best-christmas-porch-light-cover/ | 2022-11-03 11:42:46 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/holiday-br/best-christmas-porch-light-cover/ |
SAN MATEO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Freedom Financial Asset Management (FFAM), an Achieve company — the leader in digital personal finance, received two awards for its management of the Freedom Consumer Credit Fund (FCCF) at the Hedgeweek US Awards 2022.
FCCF, a managed investment fund directed by FFAM, was recognized as both the "Best Credit Hedge Fund Under $500 Million" and the "Best Structured Credit Hedge Fund" at an awards presentation on Oct. 27, 2022 in New York City. The Hedgeweek US Awards 2022 recognize fund performance and service provider excellence in hedge funds. The winners represent the best in the American hedge fund industry, from fund managers to service providers, covering all areas of the hedge fund ecosystem. Voting for the awards was conducted in conjunction with Bloomberg via an extensive online poll of the Hedgeweek user base, with over 29,000 votes cast in total.
"Achieve is honored to be recognized at the Hedgeweek US Awards 2022 in two separate categories," said Andrew Housser, co-founder and co-CEO of Achieve. "We've closed 13 securitizations, showcasing the consistency in our product structure and regular cadence of new deals, even in challenging economic times. These awards are a great validation of our value and reputation in the market."
Earlier this year, Achieve, formerly Freedom Financial Network, was recognized as one of the Top 100 Financial Technology Companies by The Financial Technology Report. Also this year, the company was named one of the top 100 corporate philanthropists in the San Francisco Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times for the second consecutive year, and was additionally named to the Phoenix Business Journal's 2022 Healthiest Employers List and the The State of Arizona Top Workplaces 2022 list by azcentral.com and Energage.
FFAM is the investment adviser and managing member to the Freedom Consumer Credit Fund (FCCF). Through FCCF and its FREED ABS Trust, FFAM has issued 13 securitizations since 2018 totaling over $3.8 billion in personal loans originated by partner banks on the FFAM platform. The fund's three securitizations in 2022 all received AAA ratings from both DBRS Morningstar and Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA). Achieve and FFAM are owned by Freedom Financial Network Funding LLC.
Participation in the Hedgeweek US Awards 2022 was open to investment managers that provide data to Bloomberg with at least a three-year track record and a minimum of $50 million in assets under management during the period of May 31, 2021, to May 31, 2022. Voting was open to active industry participants and organized by size and strategy type. Additional details about the award methodology is available here.
The full list of this year's winners is available here.
Achieve is the leader in digital personal finance. Our solutions help everyday people get on, and stay on, the path to a better financial future, with innovative technology and personalized support. By leveraging proprietary data and analytics, our solutions are tailored for each step of a consumer's financial journey and include personal loans, home loans, help with debt and financial tools and education. Achieve is headquartered in San Mateo, California and has more than 2,700 dedicated employees across the country with hubs in California, Arizona, Texas and has regularly been recognized as a Best Place to Work.
Achieve and its affiliates are subsidiaries of Freedom Financial Network Funding, LLC, including Bills.com, LLC d/b/a Achieve.com (NMLS ID #138464) Equal Housing Lender; Freedom Financial Asset Management, LLC (NMLS ID #227977); Freedom Resolution (NMLS ID 1248929); and Lendage, LLC d/b/a Achieve Loans (NMLS ID #1810501), Equal Housing Lender.
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SOURCE Achieve | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/11/01/freedom-financial-asset-management-an-achieve-company-recognized-hedgeweek-us-awards-2022/ | 2022-11-01 22:25:00 | 0 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/11/01/freedom-financial-asset-management-an-achieve-company-recognized-hedgeweek-us-awards-2022/ |
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Monday evening's drawing of the Louisiana Lottery's "Pick 4" game were:
7-7-0-0
(seven, seven, zero, zero)
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Monday evening's drawing of the Louisiana Lottery's "Pick 4" game were:
7-7-0-0
(seven, seven, zero, zero) | https://www.expressnews.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Pick-4-game-17360730.php | 2022-08-09 07:29:08 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Pick-4-game-17360730.php |
Immigration officials revealed Monday that a fugitive Mexican national accused of killing five neighbors over the weekend had previously been deported four times. Even as he remained at large and the target of an extensive search, the case seemed sure to reignite bitter national debates over immigration policy and gun control.
It began Friday evening with a type of noise complaint not uncommon in rural Texas. Authorities said the suspect, Francisco Oropesa, was shooting a gun in his yard in Cleveland, Texas, when a neighbor, Wilson Garcia, approached him and asked him to stop so that his baby could sleep.
Oropesa, 38, responded by getting an AR-15 rifle from his house and walking over to Garcia’s home about 11:30 p.m., where he killed Garcia’s 8-year-old son, wife and three other people, authorities said.
Two women who were killed were shielding a 6-week-old boy and a 3-year-old girl. The gunman then chased Garcia, who escaped through a window and ran.
An official with U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Monday that an immigration judge had ordered ICE to deport Oropesa to Mexico in March 2009. He illegally returned to the United States, and he was caught and removed by ICE in September 2009, January 2012 and July 2016, the official said.
It was unclear what had led to his initial deportation order, but the immigration official said Oropesa was later convicted in Montgomery County, Texas, for driving while intoxicated in January 2012 and sentenced to jail.
Even while the FBI and several Texas law enforcement agencies sought the fugitive, attention turned quickly to the immigration status of the suspect and his victims.
Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, a frequent critic of federal policy, said Sunday that the suspect was in the country illegally but on Monday walked back part of his initial comments that the victims were “five illegal immigrants.”
“We’ve since learned that at least one of the victims may have been in the United States legally,” Renae Eze, a spokesperson for the governor, said in a statement Monday. “We regret if the information was incorrect and detracted from the important goal of finding and arresting the criminal.”
ICE officials did not immediately respond to an email about the immigration status of the victims who were killed, all of whom were from Honduras. If survivors were in the country illegally, they would be eligible to apply for a special visa designated for witnesses of a crime.
Before Abbott walked back part of his comments, the League of United Latin American Citizens, a civil rights organization, called for him to apologize for his remarks about the victims.
“LULAC firmly believes that every human being, regardless of their immigration status, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” said Rodolfo Rosales Jr., the Texas LULAC state director.
Gun-control advocates, meanwhile, were quick to point out that the suspect had used an AR-15 rifle, the weapon of choice in many shootings, which critics call a weapon of war designed to kill as many people as possible.
It was not known where the suspect had obtained the gun, which authorities said had been discarded and found after the killings. It was possible, they said, that he had a second weapon.
Authorities have offered a total reward of $80,000 for information leading to the capture of Oropesa, and on Monday posted signs in Spanish in Cleveland and elsewhere in San Jacinto County seeking help in finding him.
The search Monday briefly extended outside Cleveland, Texas, which is about 45 miles northeast of Houston, when authorities in neighboring Montgomery County received two reports that a man who possibly matched a description of Oropesa had been seen in the area, prompting some schools to secure their campuses.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office asked residents to stay indoors while deputies, dogs and helicopters scoured the area, but officials did not find him.
On Sunday, officials conceded that they did not know the suspect’s whereabouts, adding that they considered him to be a threat.
“We do not know where he is,” James Smith, the special agent in charge of the FBI in the Houston area, told reporters at a news conference. “We do not have any tips right now as to where he may be. Right now, we have zero leads.”
Adding difficulty to the search, authorities had initially identified the suspect as Francisco Oropeza, but on Sunday the FBI said that going forward his surname would be spelled as Oropesa “to better reflect his identity in law enforcement systems.”
An “incorrect” image of Oropesa had been “mistakenly disseminated,” the agency said on Twitter on Sunday. The FBI said it had since removed the image from its social media accounts and asked that others not share it.
Sheriff Greg Capers of San Jacinto County said 10 people were inside the house at the time of the shooting. He said that Oropesa had been drinking when Garcia asked him to stop firing. Capers said that Oropesa responded, “I’ll do what I want to in my front yard.”
The FBI identified those killed as Garcia’s wife, Sonia Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Juliza Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8.
“I have no words to describe what happened,” Garcia said in Spanish at a vigil Sunday evening, where dozens of people surrounded him and the other survivors of the shooting, joining them in prayer. “We are alive but there is no life,” he said. “I was able to escape by a miracle.” | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/fugitive-accused-of-killing-5-in-texas-was-deported-several-times-officials-say/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world | 2023-05-02 03:34:18 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/fugitive-accused-of-killing-5-in-texas-was-deported-several-times-officials-say/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
Updated September 17, 2022 at 4:13 PM ET
Move over, Jeff Bezos.
India's richest man, Gautam Adani, shot past the Amazon founder this week in the rankings of the world's wealthiest people.
According to lists maintained by Forbes and Bloomberg, Adani's fortune lies somewhere between $147 billion and $152 billion, putting him at No. 2 (Bloomberg) or No. 3 (Forbes) on the lists.
Bezos currently boasts around $147 billion in total net worth, placing him third (Bloomberg) or fourth (Forbes).
A shakeup in who ranks highest among the ultrarich saw several people cycle through the second position on Friday, according to The Washington Post.
Though Adani ranks ahead of Bezos in both lists, LVMH luxury goods magnate Bernard Arnault comes up second-richest in one tally and fourth in the other.
The Times of India reported that Adani increased his wealth this year by nearly $61 billion thanks to a series of deals that have seen the industrialist's portfolio expand into cement, airports, coal and more. Adani is the first Asian to make the top three in the list of richest people.
The top spot on both lists still belongs to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
In a report released earlier this year, Oxfam noted that the 10 richest men on Earth doubled their wealth during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic while the incomes of 99% of the global population suffered.
Amazon is among NPR's financial supporters.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/news-from-npr/2022-09-17/move-over-jeff-bezos-indias-richest-man-is-now-wealthier-than-the-amazon-founder | 2022-09-17 20:23:21 | 1 | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/news-from-npr/2022-09-17/move-over-jeff-bezos-indias-richest-man-is-now-wealthier-than-the-amazon-founder |
Justin Bieber has packed his bags and moved into a new home in New York City, the New York Post reports.
Apparently, the building he’s picked at 195 Hudson St. in the Tribeca borough once housed Beyoncé and Jay-Z. In fact, the building that was once the home of the United States Rubber Company is where Bey and Jay reportedly tied the knot.
As for Justin and his wife, Hailey Bieber, the pair snagged a fourth-floor rental that offers three bedrooms, two full baths and a half bath across its sprawling 2,312 square feet of living space.
The condo was reportedly a gut renovation and now offers white concrete floors, 9-foot windows that are double-paned, 11-foot ceilings, an open kitchen, and a spa-style bathroom with teak and marble elements, as well as sliding glass doors in the main bedroom.
As for how much it’s going to cost the Biebers in rent, the outlet notes the building last asked for $22,000 a month.
Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. | https://warm1069.com/justin-bieber-moves-into-nyc-building-that-beyonce-once-called-home/ | 2022-12-17 01:04:41 | 0 | https://warm1069.com/justin-bieber-moves-into-nyc-building-that-beyonce-once-called-home/ |
Woman helps save sergeant’s life with EpiPen after he was stung by bees, police say
CLEVELAND (WOIO/Gray News) - Cleveland police are thanking a woman who helped save a sergeant’s life at a community event last weekend.
The Cleveland Police Fourth District said it was part of a back-to-school event on Aug. 20, where Sgt. Ray O’Connor was playing football with kids.
WOIO reports that O’Connor then told his partner, Officer Brooklyn Barnes, that he had been stung by two bees and was deathly allergic to them. O’Connor also said he didn’t bring his EpiPen.
According to police, within minutes, O’Connor fell to the ground and became unconscious. Barnes and another officer carried O’Connor to a nearby police cruiser and started rendering first aid.
Authorities said Tomika Johnson, a Cleveland resident, saw what was happening and ran home to grab her 10-year-old son’s EpiPen.
Barnes quickly took the EpiPen and administered it to O’Connor before transporting him to the nearest hospital.
Medical staff at the St. Vincent Hospital said the EpiPen and quick response by everyone saved the sergeant’s life.
On Wednesday, O’Connor got to thank Johnson for helping save his life. Police said they learned about her son’s 10th birthday this week and brought them birthday gifts along with a $100 gift card.
The law enforcement agency said Johnson and her son would be recognized at Cleveland’s Fourth District Awards Ceremony on Oct. 6 in receiving the city’s Citizen Award for their actions that day.
Copyright 2022 WOIO via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kmvt.com/2022/08/25/woman-helps-save-sergeants-life-with-epipen-after-he-was-stung-by-bees-police-say/ | 2022-08-25 22:37:28 | 0 | https://www.kmvt.com/2022/08/25/woman-helps-save-sergeants-life-with-epipen-after-he-was-stung-by-bees-police-say/ |
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The 133rd season of Ohio State football is getting closer as the Buckeyes take on No. 5 Notre Dame at Ohio Stadium.
Below is a list of players who are either unavailable or a game-time decision.
Game-time decision
- WR Julian Fleming
Out
- LB Mitchell Melton
- CB Lloyd McFarquhar
- RB Evan Pryor | https://www.wdtn.com/sports/whos-available-for-ohio-states-top-5-showdown-against-notre-dame/ | 2022-09-04 12:56:23 | 1 | https://www.wdtn.com/sports/whos-available-for-ohio-states-top-5-showdown-against-notre-dame/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Follow along for real-time updates on the 2023 Oscars from The Associated Press — on the decidedly not red carpet, inside the Dolby Theatre and behind the scenes. Live updates are brought to you by AP journalists in Los Angeles and around the country.
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OSCARS PREDICTIONS
AP Film Writers Jake Coyle and Lindsey Bahr are pros at the predictions game — but the unexpected can always happen. Last year, Coyle edged out Bahr in predicting the eventual wins. We’ll see who wins tonight, but until then: Read their predictions and check out the interactive Oscar ballot at the end.
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For more Oscars coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/academy-awards | https://www.pahomepage.com/entertainment-news/oscars-2023-live-updates-latest-news-from-carpet-show/ | 2023-03-12 12:40:14 | 1 | https://www.pahomepage.com/entertainment-news/oscars-2023-live-updates-latest-news-from-carpet-show/ |
With many analysts nationally categorizing the 2022 season a “prove-it” season for Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, any failure of his to prove whatever “it” is could reinsert the Dolphins into pursuit of a quarterback next offseason.
The Dolphins took a hard stance this offseason of backing Tagovailoa after previously flirting with the Houston Texans in trade talks for embattled quarterback Deshaun Watson. Now, they’re committing to Tagovailoa for 2022 — with a strong backup in Teddy Bridgewater — while giving him the organizational support, offensive-minded head coach and improved pass catchers, offensive line and running game he needs to succeed.
Shortly after completion of the 2022 NFL draft, a number of way-too-early 2023 mock drafts are already out. While most have Miami going in another direction, at least one mock believes the Dolphins will be searching for a quarterback in the first round by this time next year.
The Dolphins have some of the most draft capital in 2023, which is expected to be a strong draft after this year’s class received subpar projections. Miami has five picks in the first three rounds with two in the first (from the San Francisco 49ers) and two in the third (from the New England Patriots).
In the event the Dolphins are looking for a quarterback next offseason, the team can also package this draft capital to either move up in the draft for a highly rated rookie or for an established veteran signal-caller.
CBS Sports’ mock draft says the Dolphins will take South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler with the later of their two first-round picks in the next draft. With the earlier pick, CBS says the Dolphins take Miami Hurricanes offensive tackle Zion Nelson.
Pro Football Focus has the Dolphins going cornerback and running back in the first round: Georgia’s Kelee Ringo and Texas A&M’s Devon Achane, respectively.
Fox Sports also predicts the Dolphins take Ringo and then draft North Carolina wide receiver Josh Downs with the later first.
Bleacher Report says Miami first picks a running back, Texas’ Bijan Robinson, and then goes with interior offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson from Notre Dame.
Sporting News believes the Dolphins go back-to-back with defensive picks next year, first with Georgia edge defender Nolan Smith and then with TCU cornerback Tre’Vius Hodges Tomlinson.
Patterson shows up again as linked to Miami in The Draft Network’s 2023 mock, which then has the Dolphins eyeing Notre Dame edge Isaiah Foskey with the next pick.
WalterFootball says the Dolphins take LSU defensive end B.J. Ojulari and then Ole Miss running back Zach Evans next.
While one mock draft believes Miami will be searching for a rookie quarterback in next year’s draft class, most seem to believe in Tagovailoa to prove himself given the Dolphins’ improvements around him offensively and project the team will look elsewhere by this time next year.
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/05/04/early-mocks-predict-dolphins-2023-draft-one-says-miami-will-be-looking-for-qb/ | 2022-05-04 12:45:30 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/05/04/early-mocks-predict-dolphins-2023-draft-one-says-miami-will-be-looking-for-qb/ |
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North Korea enters South Korean airspace, first time since 2017
South Korea launched jets and fired warning shots after North Korean drones violated its airspace in a fresh escalation of tensions Monday.
| Seoul, South Korea
South Korea’s military fired warning shots, scrambled fighter jets, and flew surveillance assets across the heavily fortified border with North Korea on Monday, after North Korean drones violated its airspace for the first time in five years in a fresh escalation of tensions.
South Korea’s military detected five drones from North Korea crossing the border, and one traveled as far as the northern part of the South Korean capital region, which is about an hour’s drive away, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
The military responded by firing warning shots and launching fighter jets and attack helicopters to shoot down the North Korean drones. The attack helicopters fired a combined 100 rounds but it wasn’t immediately known if any of the North Korean drones were shot down, according to the Defense Ministry.
There were no immediate reports of civilian damage on the ground in South Korea. One of the North Korean drones returned to the North after three hours in South Korea, while the rest disappeared from South Korean military radars one after another, the Joint Chiefs said.
The North Korean drones and the swift response from the South came three days after the North fired two short-range ballistic missile in the latest in its torrid run of weapons tests this year. Friday’s launches were seen as a protest of the South Korean-U.S. joint air drills that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal.
One of the South Korean fighter jets scrambled on Monday, a KA-1 light attack plane, crashed during takeoff but its two pilots both ejected safely, defense officials said. They said they also requested civilian airports in and near Seoul to halt takeoffs temporarily.
South Korea also sent surveillance assets near and across the border to photograph key military facilities in North Korea as corresponding measures against the North Korean drone flights, the Joint Chiefs said. It didn’t elaborate, but some observers say that South Korea likely flew unmanned drones inside North Korean territory.
“Our military will thoroughly and resolutely respond to this kind of North Korean provocation,” Maj. Gen. Lee Seung-o, director of operations at the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters.
South Korea’s public confirmation of any reconnaissance activities inside North Korea is highly unusual and likely reflects a resolve by the conservative government led by President Yoon Suk Yeol to get tough on North Korean provocations. North Korea could respond with more fiery rhetoric or weapons tests or other provocation, some observers say.
It’s the first time for North Korean drones to enter South Korean airspace since 2017, when a suspected North Korean drone was found crashed in South Korea. South Korean military officials said at the time that the drone with a Sony-made camera photographed a U.S. missile defense system in South Korea.
North Korea has touted its drone program, and South Korean officials have previously said the North had about 300 drones. In 2014, several suspected North Korean drones equipped with Japanese-made cameras were found south of the border. Experts said they were low-tech but could be considered a potential security threat.
Earlier this month, North Korea claimed to have performed major tests needed to acquire its first spy satellite and a more mobile intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. They were among high-tech weapons systems that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to introduce along with multi-warheads, underwater-launched nuclear missiles, nuclear-powered submarines, and hypersonic missiles.
Mr. Kim has also called for the development of reconnaissance drones capable of precision surveillance up to 310 miles deep into enemy’s territory. In 2013, he watched a drone attack drill on a simulated South Korean target, according to the North’s state media.
North Korea had earlier released low-resolution photos of South Korean cities as viewed from space, but some experts in South Korea said the images were too crude for surveillance purposes. Such assessments infuriated North Korea, with Mr. Kim’s powerful sister Kim Yo Jong issuing a series of derisive terms to insult unidentified South Korean experts and express her anger.
North Korea is to hold a key ruling Workers’ Party conference this week to review past policies and set policy goals. Some experts say that during the meeting, North Korea will likely reaffirm its push to bolster nuclear and missile arsenals to cope with what it calls hostile U.S. policies, such as U.S.-led international sanctions and its regular military training with South Korea.
North Korea would eventually use its boosted nuclear capability as a bargaining chip to win international recognition as a legitimate nuclear state, the relaxing of international sanctions, and other concessions, analysts say.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. | https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2022/1226/North-Korea-enters-South-Korean-airspace-first-time-since-2017 | 2022-12-26 18:59:49 | 0 | https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2022/1226/North-Korea-enters-South-Korean-airspace-first-time-since-2017 |
AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. — Inmate James Rousseau remembers the last powwow he attended at the Airway Heights Corrections Center, a few miles west of Spokane, Wash.
"I was here in 2019 before the COVID hit," he said. "I was here at MSU (minimum security unit) camp and we had the powwow. We had a good turnout and a really good time. It felt good to be around my people."
Rousseau grew up on the Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota. Little did he know that would be the last powwow he would attend for three years.
When the pandemic hit, Washington's prison powwow program was put on hold, as were some of the other spiritual activities to which Native American inmates had access. It was considered too dangerous to hold them.
"We were very quick in 2020 to work with the state, upon the advice of indigenous elders, who realized that COVID and sweat lodge, or COVID and anything done in a circle in close confines, would not be compatible," said Gabe Galanda, a Seattle attorney and member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes of California.
Galanda is also the founder of Huy (pronounced HOYT), a Seattle non-profit indigenous rights group that works with the state to organize powwows behind prison walls.
Throughout the last two-and-a-half years, Washington's prisons, like others around the country, battled COVID outbreaks among inmates and staff members. The state Department of Corrections reports more than 16,000 confirmed cases. Eighteen inmates have died. Those who tested positive were segregated in COVID units on prison grounds. More serious cases were evacuated to outside health care facilities. The men and women who remained healthy were often isolated in their cells.
That isolation has taken its toll. As COVID became less of a threat, Galanda saw an opening.
"Through Huy, we have advocated, through the Department of Corrections, to alleviate health restrictions, as society got its hands and arms around COVID, to increase opportunities for indigenous worship," he said.
Galanda says correctional officials agreed it was time to restart the powwows. Earlier this year, negotiations began about how and when to do it. The two sides had hoped to bring the celebrations back behind prison walls in late spring or early summer to coincide with the region's powwow season.
"It really did boil down to the protocols and working with the Department of Health, working with our own epidemiologist and, really, we were threading through a needle to make these powwows go," said state Corrections Secretary Cheryl Strange.
Strange and Galanda say the negotiations were sometimes difficult. They would make progress, then have to postpone their plans until new outbreaks subsided, even as recently as last summer, Galanda said.
Eventually, the agency agreed to stage about 20 powwows in September and October. The first was held on the grounds of the state penitentiary in Walla Walla on Sept. 8.
The powwow in the Airway Heights minimum security unit is one of the last in the series. It's late October and too cold to celebrate outside, so the inmates gather in a large meeting room.
Prison officials had to work quickly to make it happen. There were a lot of logistical details, said Kay Heinrich, the associate superintendent of programs at Airway Heights. The staff perform background checks on visitors and make security arrangements for the outsiders who visit the prison. They also work to make sure the ceremony is culturally appropriate, including the food.
"We have the buffalo stew, the salmon, which is all Native American enhancements that they do not normally get," she said.
The inmates make preparations as well. As soon as they learned they would be granted a powwow, Rousseau and other Native inmates got to work making gifts for visitors.
"I made some dreamcatchers. I made some medallions. I made some earrings," Rousseau said.
Inmate Jason McIlwain from Forks, Wash., and a member of the Shoshone Tribe, worked for weeks to create some of the intricate beaded pieces that now sit on a long table on the side of the room.
"For me, beading is almost like a meditation. That's where I find my happy place when I'm not inside the lodge," he said.
When the powwow begins, the dancers make their grand entry into the meeting room. The first few men carry large flags. Several dancers wear colorful regalia and shake tiny bells on their costumes as they move to the beat set by the small group of drummers in the center of the room. The dancers circle around them, each moving in their own way, some exerting great amounts of effort.
McIlwain and Rousseau are more restrained, both in movement and attire. The two are dressed in maroon t-shirts and tan pants.
Rousseau watches the others as he dances. At 55, he's the elder here and happy to let the younger men strut their stuff.
"The grass dancing and the fancy dancing is for the youngsters," he said. "The men's traditional and the sneak up and the chicken dance are all more or less for the elders to dance to. Traditional, you don't have to move around so much and jump around," he said with a chuckle.
Richard Dennison is one of the younger men. He wears borrowed powder blue and white regalia and a blue bandanna. He's from the Spokane Tribe and grew up around powwows, but drifted away from them as he got older.
"I didn't really get into dancing and stuff until I came to prison because I was running around, doing other things I shouldn't have been doing," he said, part of the reason why he was assigned to Airway Heights when incarcerated in 2019. He's due to be released in 2026.
Several family members, including Dennison's children, have driven to the prison to celebrate this day with him, and he's nervous.
"My kids and my mom and dad, nobody's ever really seen me dance like this before," he said.
Dennison's time behind bars has allowed him to break a drug habit and begin to rediscover his heritage. He says he participates in activities like sweat lodge and looks forward to more spiritual options as health restrictions are lessened.
For years, prison powwows in Washington were funded by the Department of Corrections. But the state went through budget cuts around the time of the Great Recession in 2008 and the powwows were eliminated.
Gabe Galanda and Huy stepped in to work with the state to reinstate the program in 2012. Each year since then, Huy has raised the money needed to cover the costs of putting on the 22 powwows, about $35,000 this year.
"We pay for things like food. Many of these celebrations have salmon and even buffalo served. Wild rice rather than what would be commodity food," he said. "We pay for the regalia and beads and other things that are needed to sew and prepare giveaways."
Galanda says it's money well-spent. He was reminded about the value of the powwows when he attended the celebration in Walla Walla.
"There were six men who had learned to sing, drum and dance and had sewed their regalia for the first time in their lives and there they were in the circle, wearing the regalia they had made and dancing the steps that they had learned to the songs that they had also learned," he said. "It's quite miraculous to witness that type of growth and rehabilitation, especially in a prison environment. It honestly is not something they would experience in the outside world because of the environment that they have been reared in and are living in and that's the environment that contributed to the mistake they made."
Kay Heinrich from the Airway Heights Corrections Center says the powwows are an important motivational and behavioral tool.
"They change their behavior to make sure that they can participate," she said. "Just talking to them a little bit ago, they ask if they can do this again next year. And I'm like, 'You guys going to behave?' And they're like, 'Oh yeah.' It's important because their families come. They're always appreciative. They always say thank you."
Heinrich says the powwows have one other benefit too.
"I think it's helpful for all staff, custody and support staff, because I think they see the incarcerates in a different light, how important it is, how their family members come and how they interact in a healthy prosocial manner," she said.
James Rousseau doesn't have a visitor at the powwow, but he says he's happy seeing the other men enjoy their loved ones. He embraces his role as an elder.
"I encourage the youngsters. I see them and I say, 'How you doin'?' and I shake their hand. 'Hey, you making anything for the powwow?' " he said. "I care for them and it makes me happy to able to do that."
Huy founder Galanda and Correction official Strange say they plan to bring the powwows back in 2023, perhaps closer to the traditional season.
"Fingers crossed, we'll keep going," Strange said.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-11-19/prison-powwows-in-washington-state-restart-after-a-2-year-break-because-of-covid | 2022-11-20 00:52:50 | 1 | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-11-19/prison-powwows-in-washington-state-restart-after-a-2-year-break-because-of-covid |
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr.
AP Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — When Amanda Gorman was invited to read a newly developed poem at the U.N. General Assembly, the young sensation took a deep look at how several societal issues — such as hunger and poverty — have impacted Earth’s preservation.
Just like her stirring inauguration poem last year, Gorman felt compelled to express the impact of unity through her poetic words on the opening day of the 77th session Monday in New York. The 24-year-old poet created “An Ode We Owe” in hopes of bringing all nations together to tackle various issues of disparity along with preserving the planet.
Gorman once again graced center stage in front of world leaders. Her fame exploded after she recited her poem “The Hill We Climb” at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, which made her the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history. Her poem quickly topped bestsellers lists and made her one of the most in-demand poets, putting her on other big stages like the Super Bowl and in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, Gorman talked about her hopes for the U.N. poem, her future presidency plans, resentment she’s gotten toward her commercial success and wanting to someday write a novel.
Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.
AP: What do you want listeners to take away from your poem?
GORMAN: What I hope people can garner from the poem is that while issues of hunger and poverty and illiteracy can feel Goliath and are so huge, it’s not necessarily that these issues are too large to be conquered. But they’re too large to be stepped away from.
AP: How important is having a young voice like yourself to speak at the General Assembly?
GORMAN: When I was writing this poem, I kept getting flashbacks of several years ago when I came to New York for the first time. I was 16 and I was coming as the United Nations delegate for the Commission on the Status of Women. That was the first time I’d really ever engaged the U.N. as a space in any way. I just remember not seeing people who looked as young as me. I also looked like I was 11 at the time. I started marinating on this idea of “I want to come back someday in the future. I don’t just want to be a delegate. I want to be a presenter.” I’m not here to speak on behalf of young people, but to speak alongside and with them.
AP: Why did you touch on Sustainable Development Goals in your poem?
GORMAN: I actually think that there’s swaths of the population which has yet to be engaged or kind of told or activated around the Sustainable Development Goals. So much of what I like to do in the poem is making sure that we raise awareness around these issues and show that these goals do exist.
AP: How have you managed the transition to being a high-level celebrity?
GORMAN: I’m still learning and growing so much. I think one of the things that changed so much for me was just privacy. All of a sudden I became someone — which I never really necessarily expected — who gets recognized on the street. If I go to a restaurant, even if I’m wearing a mask, people are very good at spotting my face and or my voice. I’m very grateful for that type of visibility, even though sometimes I do miss individual privacy because it means that I have a platform that I can use for good.
AP: How have people approached you while in public?
GORMAN: I had an experience (Saturday) night. I was eating at a restaurant and a woman just came up to me and started crying and saying how much my poetry meant to her. It’s flabbergasting to me. That’s not a rare occurrence in my life anymore. My friends started crying around me seeing this woman’s emotion. I had a great conversation with that woman before she moved on, and me having to take a moment, sit with the fact that there were so many people around the world who probably have this person’s same response that haven’t gotten to me. I want to do justice by them when I write. I want to honor them when I write. That’s a really hefty ask. But I also think it’s a deep seated privilege of mine. I think that’s the thing that I wrestle with and draw power from when I write.
AP: Has the fame changed your writing?
GORMAN: I think it hasn’t changed my writing in the sense that my voice and style is still the same because the roots of where I come from are still there. But I do think it makes me think more creatively and imaginatively about ways in which I can get those poems in the world.
AP: Is it much harder to write these days?
GORMAN: I think the main difficulty in writing poetry for me nowadays is, yes, that there’s a lot going on. But even if I’m able to carve out time and space to write, I think the biggest challenge that I can face sometimes is just my own self-sabotage in the sense that I feel so much pressure and so many eyes on me.
AP: How do you keep out the distractions?
GORMAN: I’m like a 70-year-old in an 11-year-old body. I have muscles from that of pulling away from technology and pretending like it’s not there. Like it doesn’t exist. When I write, I tend to put all my devices on “Do Not Disturb.”
AP: Have you had to deal with any resentment from the poetry community, who sometimes don’t look kindly upon commercial success?
GORMAN: The only type of trolling that I experience is actually not from other poets. It’s from people who don’t write poetry. I hear those kind of like “What Amanda Gorman does isn’t that difficult. I don’t understand why she’s famous.” I have no ill will towards those people. I actually, in a sense, feel bad for them because more often than not, these are people who haven’t been exposed to a lot of poetry in their lives, who haven’t been either encouraged or challenged to write poetry in their lifetimes.
AP: What are your thoughts toward those skeptics?
GORMAN: I think the one thing I have to say to those people would be if you’re reading my work and you’re saying, “Amanda Gorman’s writing is so easy for me to do and I can do better.” Oh, my God. We need you. We need you to pick up a pen and write. That means you’re going to be the next great voice of literature. I would love for you to find a way to, for lack of a better term, dethrone me.
AP: Do you still plan to run for president someday?
GORMAN: Yes, that’s still the case. I obviously have a long way to go — not just in terms of years, but in terms of learning.
AP: Is there a timetable?
GORMAN: No, I’m just living and enriching my life with the understanding of “Wow, girl you are a weapon of cultural and poetic power. Here’s where you decide what to do with it.” Whether that follows a specific table that’s explicit for the presidency or whether it’s one that’s a bit more unorthodox and nontraditional than we’ve seen, I think remains to be seen.
AP: Do you aspire to write something besides poetry?
GORMAN: I love poetry, but I love all forms of writing. When I was younger, I actually wanted to be a novel writer. But novels just take — for me — a longer amount of time than a single poem. That’s just how my brain and writing works. But I would love to get out some more prose, some more essay writing. You’ll definitely get more than just a verse for me.
AP: What kind of novels?
GORMAN: I really like to draw from what I consider to be my literary ancestors Zora Neale Hurston or Toni Morrison, who wrote this beautiful prose, which I think came out a culture of language that they drew from the African American community. I think about the titans of writing whose footsteps I would love to dance in.
___
Text of Amanda Gorman’s poem, “An Ode We Owe,” first read to the U.N. General Assembly on Monday:
How can I ask you to do good,
When we’ve barely withstood
Our greatest threats yet:
The depths of death, despair and disparity,
Atrocities across cities, towns & countries,
Lives lost, climactic costs.
Exhausted, angered, we are endangered,
Not because of our numbers,
But because of our numbness. We’re strangers
To one another’s perils and pain,
Unaware that the welfare of the public
And the planet share a name–
–Equality
Doesn’t mean being the exact same,
But enacting a vast aim:
The good of the world to its highest capability.
The wise believe that our people without power
Leaves our planet without possibility.
Therefore, though poverty is a poor existence,
Complicity is a poorer excuse.
We must go the distance,
Though this battle is hard and huge,
Though this fight we did not choose,
For preserving the earth isn’t a battle too large
To win, but a blessing too large to lose.
This is the most pressing truth:
That Our people have only one planet to call home
And our planet has only one people to call its own.
We can either divide and be conquered by the few,
Or we can decide to conquer the future,
And say that today a new dawn we wrote,
Say that as long as we have humanity,
We will forever have hope.
Together, we won’t just be the generation
That tries but the generation that triumphs;
Let us see a legacy
Where tomorrow is not driven
By the human condition,
But by our human conviction.
And while hope alone can’t save us now,
With it we can brave the now,
Because our hardest change hinges
On our darkest challenges.
Thus may our crisis be our cry, our crossroad,
The oldest ode we owe each other.
We chime it, for the climate,
For our communities.
We shall respect and protect
Every part of this planet,
Hand it to every heart on this earth,
Until no one’s worth is rendered
By the race, gender, class, or identity
They were born. This morn let it be sworn
That we are one one human kin,
Grounded not just by the griefs
We bear, but by the good we begin.
To anyone out there:
I only ask that you care before it’s too late,
That you live aware and awake,
That you lead with love in hours of hate.
I challenge you to heed this call,
I dare you to shape our fate.
Above all, I dare you to do good
So that the world might be great
___
For more on the U.N. General Assembly, visit https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations-general-assembly.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/entertainment/2022/09/19/qa-amanda-gorman-talks-un-poem-fame-future-presidency-4/ | 2022-09-20 04:27:36 | 1 | https://wtmj.com/entertainment/2022/09/19/qa-amanda-gorman-talks-un-poem-fame-future-presidency-4/ |
LUCKNOW, India (AP) — Heavy rains triggered house collapses in a northern Indian state, killing at least 12 people, officials said on Friday. The downpour also caused power outages, chaotic traffic and the flooding of hundreds of homes.
Schools were closed for the day in Lucknow, the Uttar Pradesh state capital, where the meteorological office recorded 35 millimeters (1.4 inches) of torrential rain in the past 24 hours, said Brijesh Pathak, the state’s deputy chief minister.
The roof and a wall of a dilapidated house collapsed early Friday in the Hazratganj area of the state capital where laborers were sleeping. Nine died on the spot and another three were hospitalized with injuries, Pathak said.
In Unnao, a town 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Lucknow, another three people were killed in a house collapse following torrential rains, Pathak said.
Earlier this month, life was disrupted in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru after two days of torrential rains set off long traffic snarls, widespread power cuts and heavy floods that swept into homes and submerged roads.
People hopped onto tractors to get to work. Boats were deployed to rescue people submerged in floodwaters in Bengaluru, the capital of southern Karnataka state. The two zones that make up the city, Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural, saw 141% and 114% excess rainfall, making it the wettest September day in the past eight years.
Monsoon rains in South Asia typically begin in June. But this year, heavy downpours lashed northeastern India and Bangladesh beginning in March, triggering floods as early as April in Bangladesh.
The monsoon season that ends in October leaves hundreds of people dead and tens of thousands homeless every year.
The weather system for the Indian subcontinent is being altered due to climate change. Scientists say this is making extreme events such as excess rainfall the new normal.
With rising global temperatures due to climate change, experts say the monsoon is becoming more variable. Much of the rain that would typically fall in a season is arriving in a shorter period of time.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the Asia-Pacific region at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific | https://www.mrt.com/news/article/12-die-in-collapsed-houses-following-heavy-rains-17445629.php | 2022-09-16 05:39:18 | 1 | https://www.mrt.com/news/article/12-die-in-collapsed-houses-following-heavy-rains-17445629.php |
It continues to be one of the most popular holiday productions to grace the Windy City stage.
And this year as "A Christmas Carol" celebrates its 45th anniversary as a highlighted holiday production, the show remains as strong and heartwarming as ever.
"A Christmas Carol" continues to Dec. 31 at The Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Actor Larry Yando once again is at the helm of this show as he stars as the elderly, sarcastic miser Ebenezer Scrooge.
The production tells the story of Scrooge, who is visited by ghosts who reveal to him the past, present and future of his life so he can change his miserly ways.
Director Jessica Thebus is celebrating her third year directing the classic which features 32 performers. The show stars a diverse cast, which has been a highlight of the Goodman's production through the years.
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Watching Yando make Scrooge come alive is always a highlight as well. His expressions offer a mix of humor, passion and wonder as Scrooge goes through the needed changes in the tale. Yando always offers fresh takes on his performances and never just phones it in. He's definitely a standout Scrooge.
It's also fascinating to see the special effects at play in the production including flying characters and delightful costumes.
"A Christmas Carol" also stars Thomas J. Cox, Bethany Thomas, Vikram Konkimalia, Kareem Bandealy, Cindy Gold, Daniel Jose Molina and others.
FYI: "A Christmas Carol" runs through Dec. 31 at The Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, Chicago. Tickets for "A Christmas Carol" range in price from $25 to $144. Call 312-443-3800 or visit GoodmanTheatre.org. Throughout its run, "A Christmas Carol" has had special enhanced and accessible performances as well. | https://www.nwitimes.com/goodmans-christmas-carol-still-warming-hearts/article_a969e724-4c7f-5cbf-96dd-d351e0ccb9c1.html | 2022-12-28 23:28:42 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/goodmans-christmas-carol-still-warming-hearts/article_a969e724-4c7f-5cbf-96dd-d351e0ccb9c1.html |
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association has filed a motion in the Superior Court’s appellate division seeking to proceed in its efforts to hold a hearing on its investigation into alleged recruiting violations by the Camden High boys’ basketball program.
Camden High was scheduled to appear in front of the NJSIAA’s controversies committee on Jan. 9 after two previous postponements. But Justice Steven J. Polansky granted the Panthers a two-week stay on Jan. 6 because Camden officials sought a ruling from the state’s acting commissioner of education on what access the NJSIAA, which oversees high school athletics in the state, could have to its students’ records. | https://www.nj.com/camden/2023/02/njsiaa-files-motion-to-proceed-with-hearing-on-camden-cheating-allegations.html | 2023-02-03 17:10:52 | 1 | https://www.nj.com/camden/2023/02/njsiaa-files-motion-to-proceed-with-hearing-on-camden-cheating-allegations.html |
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SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Co-Diagnostics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CODX) (the "Company"), a molecular diagnostics company with a unique, patented platform for the development of molecular diagnostic tests, announced today that it will be hosting a booth at the upcoming 89th annual American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) conference on February 28-March 3 in Reno, Nevada.
The AMCA Annual Meeting is listed as the premier education and networking event for researchers, educators, vector control professionals, industry representatives, and students in mosquito control. Co-Dx believes the event will provide opportunities for Company representatives to introduce Co-Diagnostics vector control PCR products to a wide array of professionals in the field, following a year where the Company saw growth in terms of both new laboratory installations and reagent purchases from existing customers.
To learn more about the conference, including registration details, please visit https://www.eventscribe.net/2023/AMCA. Attendees interested in learning more about the Company and its products, including its suite of Vector Smart™ tests and other equipment, are invited to visit Booth #107.
About Co-Diagnostics, Inc.:
Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation, is a molecular diagnostics company that develops, manufactures and markets a state-of-the-art diagnostics technology. The Company's technology is utilized for tests that are designed using the detection and/or analysis of nucleic acid molecules (DNA or RNA). The Company also uses its proprietary technology to design specific tests to locate genetic markers for use in industries other than infectious disease and license the use of those tests to specific customers.
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SOURCE Co-Diagnostics | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/02/28/co-diagnostics-inc-host-booth-89th-annual-amca-conference-reno-nv-feb-28-march-3/ | 2023-02-28 17:55:26 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/02/28/co-diagnostics-inc-host-booth-89th-annual-amca-conference-reno-nv-feb-28-march-3/ |
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pedego Electric Bikes, the #1 electric bike retailer in America with sixteen unique models and over 220 brick and mortar stores across North America, released a brand new addition to their lineup of electric bikes.
Offering a contemporary, minimalist design; yet, built for maximum utility, the new Pedego Avenue is simplicity, electrified. With its balanced frame geometry and integrated battery, the Avenue feels just right – relaxed yet responsive. The whisper quiet 500-watt motor delivers breathtaking power that gives the rider everything they need to get up those pesky hills while never feeling like it's heavy or too much to handle.
The Avenue is introduced by Pedego as their sleek, versatile, value-priced bike which is available for purchase at Pedego dealers with a best-in-class introductory price of $1995. Boasting Pedego's industry-leading 5-Year warranty, including anti-theft protection, the Pedego Avenue offers everything the rider needs and nothing they don't.
"I've always had a vision for Pedego to release a low-priced bike without compromises, and after 10 years of iterations– I am proud to release the Pedego Avenue," remarks Pedego's Chief Product Officer, Paul Auclair. "It is packed with thoughtful features and has the ability to be fully customizable based on the rider's everyday needs. It really is simplicity, electrified."
The Pedego Avenue is available in both Classic and Step Thru 28" models with colors ranging from Crocodile Green to Caribbean Blue, depending on the rider's preferred style. MAG wheels and a long range battery option are also available for purchase. Later this year, Pedego is set to release a complete line of accessories for the Pedego Avenue which will allow riders to fully personalize their electric bike. From front suspension to carrying bags and racks, no detail was forgotten when designing these custom add-ons.
The Pedego Avenue's minimalist styling, entry-level pricing, and versatility rounds out Pedego's ebike product lineup and reasserts Pedego as the commuter's choice. The Avenue is now available at Pedego dealers across North America. To test ride the Avenue or learn more, please visit your local dealer.
Founded in 2008, Pedego® is the leading brand of electric bikes in North America. Pedego is famous for premium quality, five-star local service, and an industry-leading five-year warranty. A complete line of 16 electric bike models are available at over 220 locally-owned Pedego stores that offer sales, rentals, tours, accessories, and service. Visit www.pedego.com to find a store and try a Pedego.
Media Contact
Carly San Filippo
carly@pedego.com
949-994-1493
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SOURCE Pedego Electric Bikes | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/pedego-1-ebike-retailer-america-releases-brand-new-electric-avenue/ | 2022-09-07 13:29:53 | 0 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/pedego-1-ebike-retailer-america-releases-brand-new-electric-avenue/ |
New event consulting service enables Event Experience Leaders to deliver engaging event experiences
NEW YORK, May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bizzabo, the Event Experience Operating System (OS), has launched its Event Experience Lab, designed to support the company's mission to create impactful, rewarding experiences. Bizzabo's Event Experience Lab is a dedicated team of Event Experience Designers who enable, advise and guide customers on how to design engaging experiences that build communities and drive action.
The Event Experience Lab team will serve as an extension of our customers' teams and through structured, interactive workshops, will drive design, discussion and decision-making on specific event opportunities and challenges our customers wish to tackle.
"Creating meaningful experiences is a journey from inspiration to action, with each step requiring different skillsets and capabilities. Bizzabo has been on a mission to help companies create long-lasting impact through their events," said Alon Alroy, co-founder and CMO at Bizzabo. "We designed these strategic services to work in tandem with our Center of Excellence to uplevel our customers' events through subject matter expertise and other resources shareable with employees, partners and clients."
With the Event Experience Lab, Event Experience Leaders gain support on long-term objectives, empowering them to be more intentional and thoughtful as they design future events.
"By working with customers on strategy and experience design, Bizzabo effectively becomes the only partner within the event technology market offering an integrated experience for its customers," said Alroy.
Oren Berkovich, head of the Event Experience Lab said, "As an event organizer myself, I know firsthand the value of leveraging event experts who can inspire teams to think differently and provide another informed perspective on key areas. It's been amazing to see the impact on our pilot customers who have already been accessing the service. I'm thrilled we have a new, scalable way to catalyze strategic conversations and provide guidance to so many more Bizzabo customers."
For more information about Bizzabo and the Event Experience Lab, visit https://www.bizzabo.com/product/customer-experience
About Bizzabo:
Bizzabo powers immersive in-person, virtual, and hybrid experiences. The Bizzabo Event Experience OS is a data-rich open platform that allows Event Experience Leaders to manage events, engage audiences, activate communities, and deliver powerful business outcomes — while keeping attendee data private and secure. As a leader in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Marketing Events Management Solutions, Q1 2021 Report, we're trusted to power the events of world-leading brands — from Fortune 100 enterprise organizations and financial institutions to creative agencies and scaling tech companies. Bizzabo was founded by Boaz Katz, Alon Alroy, and Eran Ben-Shushan and has more than 400 employees in its offices in New York, Tel-Aviv, Kyiv, Montreal, London, and 15+ remote locations around the world.
Media Contact:
BLASTmedia for Bizzabo
Abby Lewis
bizzabo@blastmedia.com
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SOURCE Bizzabo | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/bizzabo-launches-event-experience-lab/ | 2022-05-04 12:50:53 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/bizzabo-launches-event-experience-lab/ |
Archeologists discover underwater cemetery, hospital near Florida Keys
Researchers have discovered a 19th-century quarantine hospital site and cemetery on an underwater island near the Dry Tortugas National Park.
The archeological site was found near Garden Key in August 2022 and since then, members of the National Park Service’s Submerged Resources Center, the Southeast Archeological Center, and a University of Miami graduate student have been surveying the area which led to the identification of the site.
"This intriguing find highlights the potential for untold stories in Dry Tortugas National Park, both above and below the water," said Josh Marano, a maritime archeologist for the south Florida national parks and a project director for the survey.
Image showing archeologists over a grave discovered near Dry Tortugas National Park. (Dry Tortugas National Park via Storyful)
Citing historical records, researchers said the hospital was used to treat soldiers and civilians at Fort Jefferson who were diagnosed with yellow fever between 1890 and 1900.
So far, one person has been identified from the burial site, according to a National Park Service news release.
Researchers have identified John Greer, a laborer at the fort. Greer died on Nov. 5, 1861, but the cause of his death is still unclear.
The headstone of John Greer, discovered in a submerged cemetery near Dry Tortugas National Park. (Dry Tortugas National Park via Storyful)
Greer’s gravesite was marked with a large slab of greywacke, which was the same material used to build the first floor of Fort Jefferson.
Researchers believe there are dozens more buried at the archeological site.
"Although much of the history of Fort Jefferson focuses on the fortification itself and some of its infamous prisoners, we are actively working to tell the stories of the enslaved people, women, children and civilian laborers," Marano said.
Archeologists surveying the cemetery near Dry Tortugas National Park. (Dry Tortugas National Park via Storyful)
Efforts to learn more about Greer and other individuals interred on the now submerged island are continuing.
Fort Jefferson was a military prison during the American Civil War, and the surrounding islands became a naval outpost, a lighthouse station, naval hospital, quarantine facility and a site for military training, according to the park’s website.
This story was reported from Los Angeles. Storyful contributed to this report. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/archeologists-discover-underwater-cemetery-hospital-near-florida-keys | 2023-05-08 23:24:38 | 0 | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/archeologists-discover-underwater-cemetery-hospital-near-florida-keys |
“There is no Frigate like a Book, to take us Lands away,” wrote poet Emily Dickinson. But fewer and fewer kids are choosing to jump aboard.
Restoring joy in reading will require commitment from parents — and a renewed trust in teachers, in librarians and in kids themselves.
Children’s reading skills shrank during the pandemic. But even before 2020, the pleasure they took in books was waning. In its 2023 Kids & Family Reading Report, children’s publishing giant Scholastic noted that only 28 percent of children between ages 6 and 17 said they read five or more days a week, a fall of 9 percentage points since 2010. Indeed, frequent reading has been on the decline since the NAEP began measuring it in 1984.
That’s a tragedy. Books are delightful. Reading for pleasure is widely accessible and cheap, thanks to libraries. And it can help kids transcend their circumstances. A 2002 analysis of children in 32 countries performed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that highly engaged but poor 15-year-old readers scored higher on literacy tests than rich children who dislike reading, and almost as well as middle-income frequent readers.
One obvious way to start building a lifetime reading habit is ensuring children have plenty of books at home. Kids who read frequently have an average of 139 books in their home libraries; infrequent readers have just 74.
Nonprofits are stepping in to close the gap. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library sends children a free book each month until they turn 5. Reach Out and Read distributes books and reading guidance to parents at pediatrician’s appointments. In Arkansas, researchers found that Imagination Library participants scored higher on academic tests and were less likely to be held back a grade, even when controlling for factors such as race and family income.
But the presence of books probably isn’t enough to make a reader. Parents also need to read to their children consistently, reinforcing that books are a source of fun and family closeness. And once children are reading independently, caregivers should find creative ways to help them attempt harder texts.
Even reading experts can be surprised by what works. Tricia A. Zucker, co-director of the Children’s Learning Institute at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, has two daughters with dyslexia. One girl’s teacher suggested the family watch the Harry Potter movies before tackling the text. Knowing the plot motivates her daughter, Zucker reflected, “to just keep working when she comes to those hard words.”
It might take time for families to find their breakthrough books, too. Sasha Quinton, president of Scholastic’s school reading events division, told me her son struggled with reading until Dav Pilkey’s bold and colorful Captain Underpants graphic novels zipped to the rescue.
A book has to compete for “culture share” with games, Roblox and YouTube, Quinton explains: “It has to capture their minds in the same way.” The allure of alternatives grows stronger as kids get older, busier and more tethered to their phones — and as reading becomes a solitary pleasure rather than an opportunity for parental snuggles. In 2022, Scholastic found that 46 percent of 6-to-8-year-olds are frequent readers, compared with 32 percent of 9-to-11-year-olds and just 18 percent of 12-to-17-year-olds.
Some simple strategies can keep kids immersed.
Trusting children to pick their own books is essential. Year after year, almost 90 percent of kids 6 to 17 tell Scholastic that they are most likely to complete books they choose for themselves. That might mean books that deliver belly laughs rather than lessons in character, or graphic novels rather than great literature. For an elementary school kid still getting to know the world, a guide to rocks or sharks might be what tempts them to keep reading by the glow of a flashlight after bedtime, even if the prose lacks the luster of the subject matter.
Giving kids freedom to choose doesn’t mean letting them flounder, though. When volumes are too easy or too hard, kids’ experiences might set off a downward spiral of opposition to reading rather than a virtuous cycle. Librarians and teachers are key to guiding children to books that will engage them and encourage them to stretch without getting demoralized.
Given the importance of both autonomy and guidance, it’s a shame to see some conservative activists demonizing librarians, shunting books to restricted shelves or throttling young people’s access to digital libraries. These steps might rob kids of the opportunities and relationships most crucial to fostering their bond with books.
Reading, like any adventure, is always going to be a little bit risky. To chance being awed or crushed, rocked with laughter or moved to tears — that’s the very reason to open a book. Parents who hope to raise readers need to give children the tools they need and then find the courage to let them voyage forth. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/07/24/kids-reading-fun-incentives/ | 2023-07-24 09:54:28 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/07/24/kids-reading-fun-incentives/ |
A leading transgender health association has lowered its recommended minimum age for starting gender transition treatment, including sex hormones and surgeries.
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health said hormones could be started at age 14, two years earlier than the group’s previous advice, and some surgeries done at age 15 or 17, a year or so earlier than previous guidance. The group acknowledged potential risks but said it is unethical and harmful to withhold early treatment.
The association provided The Associated Press with an advance copy of its update ahead of publication in a medical journal, expected later this year. The international group promotes evidence-based standards of care and includes more than 3,000 doctors, social scientists and others involved in transgender health issues.
The update is based on expert opinion and a review of scientific evidence on the benefits and harms of transgender medical treatment in teens whose gender identity doesn’t match the sex they were assigned at birth, the group said. Such evidence is limited but has grown in the last decade, the group said, with studies suggesting the treatments can improve psychological well-being and reduce suicidal behavior.
Starting treatment earlier allows transgender teens to experience physical puberty changes around the same time as other teens, said Dr. Eli Coleman, chair of the group’s standards of care and director of the University of Minnesota Medical School’s human sexuality program.
But he stressed that age is just one factor to be weighed. Emotional maturity, parents’ consent, longstanding gender discomfort and a careful psychological evaluation are among the others.
“Certainly there are adolescents that do not have the emotional or cognitive maturity to make an informed decision,” he said. “That is why we recommend a careful multidisciplinary assessment.”
The updated guidelines include recommendations for treatment in adults, but the teen guidance is bound to get more attention. It comes amid a surge in kids referred to clinics offering transgender medical treatment, along with new efforts to prevent or restrict the treatment.
Many experts say more kids are seeking such treatment because gender-questioning children are more aware of their medical options and facing less stigma.
Critics, including some from within the transgender treatment community, say some clinics are too quick to offer irreversible treatment to kids who would otherwise outgrow their gender-questioning.
Psychologist Erica Anderson resigned her post as a board member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health last year after voicing concerns about “sloppy” treatment given to kids without adequate counseling.
She is still a group member and supports the updated guidelines, which emphasize comprehensive assessments before treatment. But she says dozens of families have told her that doesn’t always happen.
“They tell me horror stories. They tell me, ‘Our child had 20 minutes with the doctor'” before being offered hormones, she said. “The parents leave with their hair on fire.’’
Estimates on the number of transgender youth and adults worldwide vary, partly because of different definitions. The association’s new guidelines say data from mostly Western countries suggest a range of between a fraction of a percent in adults to up to 8% in kids.
Anderson said she’s heard recent estimates suggesting the rate in kids is as high as 1 in 5 — which she strongly disputes. That number likely reflects gender-questioning kids who aren’t good candidates for lifelong medical treatment or permanent physical changes, she said.
Still, Anderson said she condemns politicians who want to punish parents for allowing their kids to receive transgender treatment and those who say treatment should be banned for those under age 18.
“That’s just absolutely cruel,’’ she said.
Dr. Marci Bowers, the transgender health group’s president-elect, also has raised concerns about hasty treatment, but she acknowledged the frustration of people who have been “forced to jump through arbitrary hoops and barriers to treatment by gatekeepers … and subjected to scrutiny that is not applied to another medical diagnosis.’’
Gabe Poulos, 22, had breast removal surgery at age 16 and has been on sex hormones for seven years. The Asheville, North Carolina, resident struggled miserably with gender discomfort before his treatment.
Poulos said he’s glad he was able to get treatment at a young age.
“Transitioning under the roof with your parents so they can go through it with you, that’s really beneficial,’’ he said. “I’m so much happier now.’’
In South Carolina, where a proposed law would ban transgender treatments for kids under age 18, Eli Bundy has been waiting to get breast removal surgery since age 15. Now 18, Bundy just graduated from high school and is planning to have surgery before college.
Bundy, who identifies as nonbinary, supports easing limits on transgender medical care for kids.
“Those decisions are best made by patients and patient families and medical professionals,’’ they said. “It definitely makes sense for there to be fewer restrictions, because then kids and physicians can figure it out together.’’
Dr. Julia Mason, an Oregon pediatrician who has raised concerns about the increasing numbers of youngsters who are getting transgender treatment, said too many in the field are jumping the gun. She argues there isn’t strong evidence in favor of transgender medical treatment for kids.
“In medicine … the treatment has to be proven safe and effective before we can start recommending it,’’ Mason said.
Experts say the most rigorous research — studies comparing treated kids with outcomes in untreated kids — would be unethical and psychologically harmful to the untreated group.
The new guidelines include starting medication called puberty blockers in the early stages of puberty, which for girls is around ages 8 to 13 and typically two years later for boys. That’s no change from the group’s previous guidance. The drugs delay puberty and give kids time to decide about additional treatment; their effects end when the medication is stopped.
The blockers can weaken bones, and starting them too young in children assigned males at birth might impair sexual function in adulthood, although long-term evidence is lacking.
The update also recommends:
—Sex hormones — estrogen or testosterone — starting at age 14. This is often lifelong treatment. Long-term risks may include infertility and weight gain, along with strokes in trans women and high blood pressure in trans men, the guidelines say.
—Breast removal for trans boys at age 15. Previous guidance suggested this could be done at least a year after hormones, around age 17, although a specific minimum ag wasn’t listed.
—Most genital surgeries starting at age 17, including womb and testicle removal, a year earlier than previous guidance.
The Endocrine Society, another group that offers guidance on transgender treatment, generally recommends starting a year or two later, although it recently moved to start updating its own guidelines. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association support allowing kids to seek transgender medical treatment, but they don’t offer age-specific guidance.
Dr. Joel Frader, a Northwestern University a pediatrician and medical ethicist who advises a gender treatment program at Chicago’s Lurie Children’s Hospital, said guidelines should rely on psychological readiness, not age.
Frader said brain science shows that kids are able to make logical decisions by around age 14, but they’re prone to risk-taking and they take into account long-term consequences of their actions only when they’re much older.
Coleen Williams, a psychologist at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Gender Multispecialty Service, said treatment decisions there are collaborative and individualized.
“Medical intervention in any realm is not a one-size-fits-all option,” Williams said.
___
Follow AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner at @LindseyTanner.
___
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. | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/health/trans-kids-treatment-can-start-younger-new-guidelines-say/ | 2022-06-16 12:24:52 | 0 | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/health/trans-kids-treatment-can-start-younger-new-guidelines-say/ |
NEW YORK, HOUSTON and DALLAS, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Republic Capital Group, a firm specializing in providing investment banking services to the RIA, wealth and asset management communities, is today congratulating its client, Chetwood Wealth Management and Allworth Financial Group on the announcement of their new partnership.
Adams Chetwood specializes in providing comprehensive fiduciary retirement planning, client-focused investment management, and forward-thinking estate planning recommendations for individuals and families. In less than 10 years, Adams Chetwood has grown to over $300 million in assets under management and to serve approximately 210 clients throughout North Carolina and the greater Southeastern United States.
"After interviewing hundreds of firms, and with 21 acquisitions in four years, we understand just how important cultural alignment is," said Allworth Co-CEO and Co-founder, Scott Hanson. "With their emphasis on family, caring for clients in every way money impacts them, and their passion for orphan care, the addition of Eric Chetwood and his outstanding team of professionals to Allworth Financial checks every box necessary for a long and rewarding partnership."
"Not only are we excited to be expanding into the North Carolina market," said Allworth Co-CEO and Co-founder, Pat McClain, "we are grateful to the team at Republic Capital Group for introducing us to a firm that has both an established history of growth and a culture that closely aligns with what we've built at Allworth."
Allworth Financial, with $15 billion in AUA, clients in all 50 states, and offices in every region of the country, was founded in 1993 in Sacramento, California. The firm once again earned the National Business Research Institute's Circle of Excellence award for client satisfaction in 2021, which ranks it among the most-admired wealth management brands in America.
Republic Capital Group, led by John Langston and Peter Nesvold, specializes in providing investment banking services to the RIA, Asset and Wealth Management communities. Republic Capital Group serves firms throughout the country and clients include a number of industry leaders.
Learn more about Republic Capital Group at www.republiccapgroup.com or email admin@republiccapgroup.com.
Republic Capital Group - securities offered through Kingswood Capital Partners, LLC.
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SOURCE Republic Capital Group | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/republic-capital-group-congratulates-adams-chetwood-wealth-management-group-new-partner/ | 2022-06-08 16:42:11 | 1 | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/republic-capital-group-congratulates-adams-chetwood-wealth-management-group-new-partner/ |
Enrollment rises for prekindergarten and kindergarten, but declines for grades 1-7
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The total number of students reported to be attending public elementary and secondary schools in the United States in fall 2021 was unchanged compared to fall 2020, according to preliminary data released today by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES).
"Compared with fall 2020, total public school enrollment in prekindergarten through grade 12 was unchanged in fall 2021, with 49.4 million students enrolled in fall 2020 and 49.5 million students in fall 2021," said NCES Commissioner Peggy G. Carr. "However, there were changes in enrollment when you look at individual grade levels. Prekindergarten enrollment rose by 14 percent, and enrollment of kindergarteners rose by 5 percent, while public school enrollment counts in each of the grades 1 through 7 decreased."
Comparing total public school pre-pandemic enrollment in fall 2019 to fall 2021, enrollment dropped from 50.8 million students in fall 2019 to 49.5 million students in fall 2021. This is the second consecutive year in which preliminary fall total enrollment counts are below pre-pandemic fall 2019 enrollment counts.
The preliminary enrollment counts released today are a subset of the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). The CCD is the U.S. Department of Education's primary database on public elementary and secondary education in the United States, and is a comprehensive, annual, national database of all public elementary and secondary schools and school districts. The CCD program collects data annually and publishes datafiles with student enrollment, schools' finances, graduation rates, and other vital data.
The preliminary release for 2021–22 includes data from 49 states, the District of Columbia, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Data from the state of Washington, Guam, and American Samoa were not available as of the submission deadline. Fall 2021 tabulations reported today include imputations for all grades in Washington and prekindergarten for California and Oregon.
Key findings from the preliminary 2020-21 CCD data include:
- Enrollment changes across years varied by grade groupings:
- Within states:
While the preliminary files released today have been reviewed to verify that the counts are within expected ranges, the data in this release has not yet undergone the full data quality review process and may contain errors that have not yet been resolved. These data are meant to provide users with a timely release. Due to the preliminary nature of the data, users should analyze the data with caution. NCES plans to release the final national results in spring 2023. The final release will include enrollment counts for all states and territories, and will report student counts by grade level, race/ethnicity, and sex.
The preliminary CCD Data Files can be downloaded here:
https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/files.asp#Fiscal:2,SchoolYearId:36,Page:1
Digest of Education Statistics Tables:
Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by level, grade, and state or jurisdiction: Fall 2021
The National Center for Education Statistics, a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, is the statistical center of the U.S. Department of Education and the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the U.S. and other nations. NCES fulfills a congressional mandate to collect, collate, analyze, and report complete statistics on the condition of American education; conduct and publish reports; and review and report on education activities internationally. Follow NCES on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube and subscribe to the NCES News Flash to receive email notifications when new data is released.
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is the independent and nonpartisan statistics, research, and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Education. Its mission is to provide scientific evidence on which to ground education practice and policy and to share this information in formats that are useful and accessible to educators, parents, policymakers, researchers, and the public.
CONTACT:
Josh DeLaRosa, National Center for Education Statistics, ARIS.NCES@ed.gov, (202) 705-6692 OR James Elias, Hager Sharp, jelias@hagersharp.com, (202) 355-4417
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SOURCE National Center for Education Statistics | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/nations-total-public-school-enrollment-did-not-change-fall-2020-fall-2021/ | 2022-08-16 19:39:51 | 1 | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/nations-total-public-school-enrollment-did-not-change-fall-2020-fall-2021/ |
Global designation evolves to shape today's investment profession and the professionals who operate within it
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, announces significant enhancements to the CFA Program as part of its continual efforts to evolve the Program. These changes address the way today's candidates learn and prepare them for successful careers as investment professionals, while also supplying the industry with the well-trained, ethical professionals it so requires.
Margaret Franklin, CFA, President and CEO, CFA Institute, commented:
"These enhancements represent an important milestone for our candidates and employers in the industry. In fact, they constitute the most significant changes we have ever made to the CFA Program since its inception in 1963. We conducted extensive research to get feedback directly from employers, candidates, prospective candidates, and the industry at large to inform how best to advance the knowledge and skills we provide to the investment professionals of the future.
"We can say with certainty that candidates are exceptionally keen to get an edge in the market for employment, and they are willing to work very hard for the advantage that the CFA Program provides. These changes will meet their needs by helping them to understand how to put investing concepts into practice on the job and be desk-ready on day one. The CFA Program signals clearly that candidates are serious about a long and successful career in investment management."
The six changes are as follows:
- Self-contained, digital practical skills modules will be introduced to the CFA Program to teach candidates on-the-job, practical applications. The initial practical skills modules include Financial Modelling for Level I; Analyst Skills at Level II; Python Programming Fundamentals (Level I or Level II) and Python, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (Level II). Additional practical skills modules are in development for Level III for the calendar 2025 exam series. Beginning in 2024, at least one practical skills module must be completed for each of Levels I and II but will not be graded as part of the exam.
- Specialized pathways will be introduced at Level III beginning in 2025. A common core of study will exist for all three pathways at Level III, and candidates will be able to choose one of three job-role focused pathways:
- An improved digital badging strategy will reinforce the value of Level I and Level II achievements to candidates on their CFA Program journey. Candidate feedback suggests that a formal acknowledgement of completing Levels I and II would be beneficial in their search for internships and full-time positions as an indicator of the seriousness of their commitment to a career in the investment profession.
- The volume of study materials will be reduced at each Level to ensure candidate preparation remains at around 300 hours for each exam. In our research, we found that today's candidates are spending significantly more than 300 hours to study for each Level of the CFA Program. Best practices in instructional design are therefore being incorporated to ensure that the content is efficient, accessible, and relevant while maintaining the rigor and value-add of the CFA Program. Some introductory content that most candidates would have learned during undergraduate studies will remain available to registered candidates in the preparatory materials but will not be tested on the exams.
- Additional practice materials: when registration opens for the February 2024 exams this May, Level I candidates will have the opportunity to purchase the CFA Program Practice Pack, a new product that includes 1000 new practice questions and six additional Level I mock exams. Candidates are currently granted access to two mock exams at no additional charge eight weeks before their exam window. Based on candidate surveys, it was determined that significant demand exists for more mock exams and practice questions from CFA Institute.
- Level I CFA Exam eligibility has been extended by a year to those who are two years away from completing their undergraduate degree. This change was previously announced on 16 November, 2022.
Chris Wiese, CFA, Managing Director and Head of Credentialing, said:
"We spent years researching market needs while contemplating these changes. We spoke to candidates, students, employers, our members and societies, and others in the financial industry ecosystem. As the $10 trillion private markets continue to play a larger role in investment portfolios and as the $130 trillion1 wealth management segment requires more highly trained professionals, we landed on adding these two new pathways at Level III in addition to the traditional portfolio management route. We also know that the new Financial Modeling, Python, and Analyst Skills modules will be valuable to candidates and employers alike and dovetail with existing curriculum content."
For further information on the CFA Program, please visit https://evolve.cfainstitute.org, where you can also watch a video explainer from Marg Franklin, accompanied by more detailed on the six changes by Chris Wiese.
For further information please contact pr@cfainstitute.org
About CFA Institute
CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization is a champion of ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. Our aim is to create an environment where investors' interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. There are more than 190,000 CFA charterholders worldwide in more than 160 markets. CFA Institute has nine offices worldwide and 160 local societies. For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org or follow us on Linkedin and Twitter at @CFAInstitute.
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SOURCE CFA Institute | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2023/03/20/cfa-institute-announces-significant-enhancements-cfa-program-meet-needs-candidates-employers/ | 2023-03-20 10:20:31 | 1 | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2023/03/20/cfa-institute-announces-significant-enhancements-cfa-program-meet-needs-candidates-employers/ |
Amber Alert issued for missing 15-year-old girl from Florida
(Gray News) - Officials in Florida issued an Amber Alert for a 15-year-old girl missing since Saturday.
Ashley Reyes-Hernandez was last seen in the area of the 100 block of Fourth Street in Jupiter, Florida. She was described as 5 feet, 4 inches tall and 162 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a black hooded sweater, a black and yellow T-shirt, light blue jeans with rips and black high-top Adidas shoes.
The child may be in company of Oliver Ramos, a 5-foot-7 male with brown hair and brown eyes who was last seen wearing a white long-sleeve Hollister shirt with blue sleeves, light blue jeans with rips, black socks and black and gold sandals.
They may be traveling in a dark-colored minivan with tinted windows, no further description given.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jupiter Police Department at 561-799-4445 or call 911.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/07/06/amber-alert-issued-missing-15-year-old-girl-florida/ | 2022-07-06 13:12:11 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/07/06/amber-alert-issued-missing-15-year-old-girl-florida/ |
NPR Breaking News How having a daughter with a disability changed one woman's relationship with her body By Laurel Morales Published April 22, 2023 at 8:00 AM EDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email A woman's lifelong judgement of her own appearance changes after she gives birth to a daughter with disabilities. Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.wlrn.org/npr-breaking-news/npr-breaking-news/2023-04-22/how-having-a-daughter-with-a-disability-changed-one-womans-relationship-with-her-body | 2023-04-22 12:33:22 | 0 | https://www.wlrn.org/npr-breaking-news/npr-breaking-news/2023-04-22/how-having-a-daughter-with-a-disability-changed-one-womans-relationship-with-her-body |
(The Hill) – Ukrainian officials including President Volodymyr Zelensky wished the U.S. a happy Independence Day on Monday as the nation fights for its own independence against the ongoing Russian invasion.
“I appreciate the leadership assistance of the United States in Ukraine’s defending of common values — freedom, democracy and independence,” Zelensky tweeted, wishing Americans and President Biden a happy July 4th.
The U.S. has made supporting Ukraine a cornerstone of its foreign policy since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24. Washington has committed $6.9 billion in security assistance since Russia’s invasion began, uniting Western nations against the move and bringing tensions with Moscow to a boiling point not seen since the Cold War.
“Happy 4th or July to all our American friends and thanks for standing with us in the darkest hour. Together, we will prevail,” the Ukraine government’s official Twitter account said.
The Ukrainian military orchestra on Monday released a video of the group performing the U.S. national anthem, sung in English, in honor of the holiday.
“Dear American friends, we appreciate all the support we receive from the United States, and today we sincerely wish you happy Independence Day,” an unnamed uniformed military official said in the video following the group’s performance.
The gesture was one of many from the Ukrainian military.
“On behalf of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and on my own behalf, I convey my heartfelt wishes to the American people on the anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence,” Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, wrote in a Facebook post.
“I wish you every success in your future endeavors, prosperity, much happiness and robust health,” he continued.
The general staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also marked July 4 in a post.
“Happy 4th or July to all our American friends and thanks for standing with us in the darkest hour,” the Ukrainian government’s official account tweeted on Monday. “Together, we will prevail.” | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/ukraine-zelensky-wish-us-a-happy-july-4th-release-video-of-military-band-playing-star-spangled-banner/ | 2022-07-04 22:06:00 | 0 | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/ukraine-zelensky-wish-us-a-happy-july-4th-release-video-of-military-band-playing-star-spangled-banner/ |
Two fishermen who had been missing for over a week were found dead in Pikes Creek Reservoir in Luzerne County on Thursday morning, state police said.
Daniel Fisk, 67, of Noxen, and his brother Kris Fisk, 58, of Harveys Lake, were found with fishing poles in the water, and their deaths are not considered suspicious, Trooper Bill Evans said.
Police said the brothers had not been seen or heard from since Jan. 4. Investigators found Daniel Fisk’s blue Subaru Crosstrek unoccupied at the reservoir on Tuesday.
Authorities launched a search featuring a helicopter, aerial and water-based drones and a police dog.
On Thursday morning, with help from the Germania Dive Team and the Lake Winola Fire Company, authorities found both men’s bodies.
The causes of death were not immediately known and autopsies were planned.
Police said the deaths did not appear suspicious. | https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-missing-brothers-found-reservoir-20230113-pmjxfysxcbhzbavkfwgxdwdrmq-story.html | 2023-01-13 19:13:27 | 0 | https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-missing-brothers-found-reservoir-20230113-pmjxfysxcbhzbavkfwgxdwdrmq-story.html |
Full set of financial technology services – including tokenization, payments and capital and risk management services – available for businesses previously lacking access
HOUSTON, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Qenta, Inc., (Qenta) a financial services and infrastructure platform with cutting-edge technology and a proprietary enterprise-grade blockchain, the Qenta Operating System, today unveiled an enhanced and integrated suite of financial solutions. With a focus on Africa, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Central and Eastern Europe, Qenta offers tokenized assets, multi token wallets for digital banking, cashless payments, and commodity risk management services and help solve access, connectivity, compliance, and foreign exchange challenges facing many businesses in these emerging markets.
"Many businesses around the world do not have access to the full range of financial services required to be truly successful beyond local borders and piecing together services from individual providers can be a time-consuming process," said Qenta Chairman and CEO Brent De Jong. "Qenta brings previously unrelated services together in a single platform making a suite of technologies and solutions accessible to businesses in emerging markets. For example, farmers using our risk management and foreign exchange services are now able to access digital currencies for programmable money and payments capabilities. They can also obtain earlier financing through blockchain-based supply chain tracking. With Qenta, users can now reap the efficiencies of converging technologies."
Qenta's broad scope of interlinked financial services and global targets represent an extensive addressable market of over $500 billion. High-growth emerging markets comprised a significant portion of Qenta's 2021 revenue, with this segment expected to be a majority contributor to total revenue by 2026.
Kerim Chouaibi, Managing Director of Qenta Payments and Qenta Board Member said "Qenta is uniquely positioned at the intersection of capital and risk management, payments, and tokenization to offer full financial connectivity between global markets and small and mid-sized businesses in emerging high-growth markets. As small and mid-sized businesses in developing nations grow in size, and their needs evolve, they can easily and seamlessly take advantage of all these offerings, while remaining within the same platform."
The Qenta Operating System (QOS) is a private permissioned third generation blockchain, and supports tokens representing fiat currency, cryptocurrency, commodities, or other units of value such as frequent flier miles or mobile minutes. Having launched the G-Coin® token – a digital gold asset to save, send and spend gold, in 2018, its smart contract tools allow users to customize financial transactions of any size and complexity from cross border remittances to collateralized borrowing and lending to linking payments to the provenance and delivery of goods.
A fast-growing, frictionless financial services ecosystem requires a robust global regulatory footprint, and Qenta operates as a money services business in 33 U.S. states and holds financial authorizations in other key markets. It conducts more than 1.4 million transactions per month and has more than 5,000 active customers. QOS is now accessible by third party developers to create additional distributed applications with the knowledge that the Qenta client base meets stringent regulatory requirements.
About Qenta
Qenta combines three divisions: Qenta Tokenization offers patented asset tokenization solutions, multi-token wallets for digital banking, and programmed payout services starting with the G-Coin® token, a digital gold asset; Qenta Payments offers cashless payments processing, multi-currency accounts, debit and credit cards on mobile platforms; and Qenta Capital & Risk Management provides specialized hedging products and margin financing for soft commodities and precious metals.
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Qenta has offices and operations on 5 continents and more than 400 employees. It offers the highest level of security and compliance and is governed by financial authorizations in Bermuda, Brazil, Dubai, Ghana, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the US.
By reducing friction and delivering better access to financial products and services Qenta aims to create borderless and democratized financial ecosystems to elevate global businesses and citizens.
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SOURCE Qenta, Inc. | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/qenta-inc-unveils-first-comprehensive-financial-services-technology-platforms-emerging-markets/ | 2022-06-29 14:18:24 | 1 | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/qenta-inc-unveils-first-comprehensive-financial-services-technology-platforms-emerging-markets/ |
HONG KONG (AP) — The ex-husband and former in-laws of a slain Hong Kong model and influencer appeared in court Monday on a joint murder charge after police found her body parts in a refrigerator.
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The ex-husband Alex Kwong, his father Kwong Kau and his brother Anthony Kwong were charged with murdering model Abby Choi. His mother Jenny Li faces one count of perverting the course of justice. The four were placed in custody without bail.
Choi, 28, was a model and influencer who shared her glamorous life of photo shoots and fashion shows with more than 100,000 followers on Instagram. Dressed in a tulle floor-length gown, she had just attended a Dior show at Paris Fashion Week.
Her last post was more than a week ago, featuring a photoshoot she had done with L’Officiel Monaco, a fashion publication.
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Choi had financial disputes involving tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars with her ex-husband and his family, police said earlier, adding that “some people” were unhappy with how Choi handled her financial assets.
Her friend, Bernard Cheng, said she has four children: two sons ages 10 and 3 and two daughters ages 8 and 6. The elder two were with Kwong, 28, and the younger children were with her current husband, Chris Tam.
Tam said he was very thankful to have had Choi in his life and praised her for being supportive, friend Pao Jo-yee relayed in a Facebook post.
“When Abby was alive, she’s a very kind person and always wanted to help people,” he was quoted in the post. “I feel anyone who could be her family and friends are blessed.”
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Pao, who is married to Cheng, told The Associated Press that she has known Choi for over seven years and Choi treated people around her well.
“She is that type of person that wouldn’t have enemies,” she said.
Cheng said Choi had very good relationships with her family members and would travel with the families of her current and former husbands together.
Choi had been missing for several days when police found her dismembered body and documents Friday, including her legs in a refrigerator, in the house in Lung Mei Tsuen, a suburban part of Hong Kong about a 30-minute drive from the border with mainland China.
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The gruesome killing of Choi has gripped many in Hong Kong as the southern Chinese city is widely considered safe with a very low level of violent crime. Across the border in mainland China, online discussion over her case went viral on social media.
On Sunday, authorities discovered a young woman’s skull believed to be Choi’s in one of the cooking pots that was seized. Officials believe that a hole on the right rear of the skull is where the fatal attack struck her.
The hearing of the murder case was adjourned to May. | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/slain-hong-kong-model-s-in-laws-ex-husband-17807558.php | 2023-02-27 06:46:57 | 0 | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/slain-hong-kong-model-s-in-laws-ex-husband-17807558.php |
No snipping necessary, best coupon apps to save you money
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – No scissors or snipping involved. Saving money with coupons is now easier than you might have imagined.
“Couponing can save you money almost every time you go shopping,” said Kimberly Palmer.
Kimberly Palmer is a Personal Finance Expert for NerdWallet and helped create a list of the best free coupon apps to use. With the price of groceries up 13% since last year, Palmer recommends using Flipp.
“Basically, you download the app and enter your zip code and it pulls up all the grocery coupons for that week, so you can actually plan your grocery list around where the deals are,” explained Palmer.
Once in the app, you pick your favorite stores and weekly staples. Then, Flipp pulls together coupons based on your selection.
Coupons.com is another app that makes grocery shopping easy and more affordable. Palmer said it gives you access to hundreds of coupons from dozens of stores.
“Coupons.com basically collects all of the coupons in the stores you might shop at so you don’t have to do that work of sorting through newspaper circular. It pulls up all those coupons inside the app and it also just makes it easier to go to the store. You don’t have to carry anything with you, other than your phone. Just open the app with you at the store, scan any coupons at checkout,” said Palmer.
If you have a certain item you’d like to buy but want to make sure you’re getting the best deal, Palmer recommends ShopSavvy.
“ShopSavvy is actually one of my favorites because basically, because whenever you’re in store shopping, you pull up the shop savvy app and it has a barcode scanner, you scan the product you’re looking at and it actually tells you if that is the lowest price or if there is a lower price down the street at a different store.”
Honey also helps you track down the best deals per item, but Palmer said it’s best used for online shopping.
“You download the Chrome extension onto your browser and it basically means it’s running in the background whenever you’re online shopping and it will actually pop up and tell you, ‘Hey I see this product is in your cart, it’s actually at a lower price at another online retailer, so why don’t you check that out instead?’”
She continued, “It also pulls in coupon codes for you so you don’t have to do that search on your own. It also automatically applies extra discounts so it’s actually a really good way to get those extra discounts, it’s a really good tool for holiday shopping.”
Whether its weekly grocery shopping, or a special splurge, Palmer promises big savings with little effort.
“If you’re willing to invest that extra time it takes, you can generate significant savings.”
NerdWallet also recommends the following apps:
- The Coupons App
- Features: The Coupons App congregates deals, coupons and promo codes from over 100,000 retailers. Use it to create a list of your favorite retailers, browse store and restaurant deals, and check out weekly ads (when you enable your location). The app can also help you scope out the cheapest gas prices near you, and we’re all trying to save a little on gas these days. It also lets you view daily Groupon deals based on your location and receive product discounts on Amazon.
- Works well for: Shopping and dining, gas purchases
- Target (with Target Circle)
- Features: Target’s app asks users to input their favorite Target store location to browse local deals and see the weekly ad. The app also includes Target Circle, formerly called Cartwheel, a rewards program that lets shoppers earn 1% back on in-store and online purchases. You can redeem your Target Circle earnings on future purchases. Add offers to your list in the app, then enter your mobile number at the register to have the coupons applied to your transaction. When shopping in-store you can also use the barcode scanner feature to see prices, product reviews and deals.
- Works well for: Target shoppers
- CouponCabin
- Features: The CouponCabin app congregates a variety of offerings, including coupon codes for online shopping, coupons that can be downloaded for in-store shopping and freebie offers. Browse available deals at retailers such as Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Target, Petco and Hobby Lobby. You can also earn up to 20% cash back on online purchases from more than 3,500 stores. Plus, access some member-only coupons.
- Works well for: Online and in-store shopping
- Dosh
- Features: Dosh stands out for its ability to apply savings to purchases beyond your typical retailers. For example, users can book through the app with thousands of hotels and earn up to 40% cash back on select stays. You set up Dosh and then savings are applied to your linked debit or credit cards, when you shop at places like Sephora, Walmart and Instacart. Dosh can be used for in-app and in-store purchases, and you can redeem your cash back rewards once $25 accrues in your account.
- Works well for: Travel, dining and general shopping
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Copyright 2022 WBRC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2022/10/27/no-snipping-necessary-best-coupon-apps-save-you-money/ | 2022-10-27 15:11:47 | 1 | https://www.wbrc.com/2022/10/27/no-snipping-necessary-best-coupon-apps-save-you-money/ |
The best-selling robot vacuum on Amazon is seeing an incredible deal for Black Friday
The best-selling robot vacuum on Amazon is seeing an incredible deal for Cyber Week (also known as Black Friday week).
Black Friday deals are happening all over right now. Amazon is holding early Black Friday deals and have announced they will be doing a 48-hour Black Friday sale spanning from the beginning of Thanksgiving through the end of the day on Black Friday.
One of the deals we couldn’t believe we saw was on the Shark AI robot vacuum. It is currently the number one seller in robotic vacuums on the retail giant’s site, and the deal feels too good to be true.
The Shark AI robot vacuum is currently 50% off its original price as of this writing. That’s a savings of $300 on one of the most popular robot vacuums.
It comes with an extra large self-empty base and technology that can accurately map your home so you can set up cleaning areas and no-go zones in the SharkClean app. The listing also says the robot vacuum comes with a feature called UltraClean Mode that can target specific rooms, high-traffic zones or sports for multi-directional deep cleaning coverage.
One of the most recent customer ratings praised the robot vacuum for its self-emptying dock and how quiet the vacuum is when operating around the home. “The bonus is that it is so quiet that I hardly know it is running vs the Neato that I had to program to run when I did not want to watch TV,” the customer said.
Over 25,000 customers have rated the robot vacuum, giving it an overall star rating of 4.3 stars out of five stars.
SHOP THE SHARK AI ROBOT VACUUM AND MORE
SHOP MORE DEALS FROM: Amazon | Walmart | Target | Home Depot | Apple | Sephora | Wayfair | Gymshark
SHOP BLACK FRIDAY PRODUCT DEALS: TVs | Mattresses | Vacuums | Air Fryers | Christmas Trees | Luggage | Beauty | Fitness | Sneakers | https://www.wtae.com/article/shark-robot-vacuum-black-friday-amazon/42043194 | 2022-11-22 22:59:07 | 0 | https://www.wtae.com/article/shark-robot-vacuum-black-friday-amazon/42043194 |
Facebook failed to detect blatant election-related misinformation in ads ahead of Brazil’s 2022 election, a new report from Global Witness has found, continuing a pattern of not catching material that violates its policies the group describes as “alarming.”
The advertisements contained false information about the country’s upcoming election, such as promoting the wrong election date, incorrect voting methods and questioning the integrity of the election — including Brazil’s electronic voting system.
This is the fourth time that the London-based nonprofit has tested Meta’s ability to catch blatant violations of the rules of its most popular social media platform— and the fourth such test Facebook has flubbed. In the three prior instances, Global Witness submitted advertisements containing violent hate speech to see if Facebook’s controls — either human reviewers or artificial intelligence — would catch them. They did not.
“Facebook has identified Brazil as one of its priority countries where it’s investing special resources specifically to tackle election related disinformation,” said Jon Lloyd, senior advisor at Global Witness. “So we wanted to really test out their systems with enough time for them to act. And with the U.S. midterms around the corner, Meta simply has to get this right — and right now.”
Brazil’s national elections will be held on Oct. 2 amid high tensions and disinformation threatening to discredit the electoral process. Facebook is the most popular social media platform in the country. In a statement, Meta said it has “ prepared extensively for the 2022 election in Brazil.”
“We’ve launched tools that promote reliable information and label election-related posts, established a direct channel for the Superior Electoral Court (Brazil’s electoral authority) to send us potentially-harmful content for review, and continue closely collaborating with Brazilian authorities and researchers,” the company said.
In 2020 Facebook began requiring advertisers who wish to run ads about elections or politics to complete an authorization process and include “paid for by” disclaimers on them, similar to what it does in the U.S. The increased safeguards follow the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, when Russia used rubles to pay for political ads designed to stoke divisions and unrest among Americans.
Global Witness said it broke these rules when it submitted the test ads (which were approved for publication but were never actually published). The group placed the ads from outside Brazil, from Nairobi and London, which should have raised red flags.
It was also not required to put a “paid for by” disclaimer on the ads and did not use a Brazilian payment method — all safeguards Facebook says it had put in place to prevent misuse of its platform by malicious actors trying to intervene in elections around the world.
“What’s quite clear from the results of this investigation and others is that their content moderation capabilities and the integrity systems that they deploy in order to mitigate some of the risk during election periods, it’s just not working,” Lloyd said.
The group is using ads as a test and not regular posts because Meta claims to hold advertisements to an “even stricter” standard than regular, unpaid posts, according to its help center page for paid advertisements.
But judging from the four investigations, Lloyd said that’s not actually clear.
“We we are constantly having to take Facebook at their word. And without a verified independent third party audit, we just can’t hold Meta or any other tech company accountable for what they say they’re doing,” he said.
Global Witness submitted ten ads to Meta that obviously violated its policies around election-related advertising. They included false information about when and where to vote, for instance and called into question the integrity of Brazil’s voting machines — echoing disinformation used by malicious actors to destabilize democracies around the world.
In another study carried out by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, researchers identified more than two dozen ads on Facebook and Instagram, for the month of July, that promoted misleading information or attacked the country’s electronic voting machines.
The university’s internet and social media department, NetLab, which also participated in the Global Witness study, found that many of those had been financed by candidates running for a seat at a federal or state legislature.
This will be Brazil’s first election since far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who is seeking reelection, came to power. Bolsonaro has repeatedly attacked the integrity of the country’s electronic voting system.
“Disinformation featured heavily in its 2018 election, and this year’s election is already marred by reports of widespread disinformation, spread from the very top: Bolsonaro is already seeding doubt about the legitimacy of the election result, leading to fears of a United States-inspired January 6 ‘stop the steal’ style coup attempt,” Global Witness said.
In its previous investigations, the group found that Facebook did not catch hate speech in Myanmar, where ads used a slur to refer to people of East Indian or Muslim origin and call for their deaths; in Ethiopia, where the ads used dehumanizing hate speech to call for the murder of people belonging to each of Ethiopia’s three main ethnic groups; and in Kenya, where the ads spoke of beheadings, rape and bloodshed.
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Associated Press Writer Diane Jeantet contributed to this story. | https://www.wivb.com/science/strike-four-facebook-misses-election-misinfo-in-brazil-ads/ | 2022-08-16 00:35:58 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/science/strike-four-facebook-misses-election-misinfo-in-brazil-ads/ |
PROVIDENCE, R.I., Feb. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- G-Form®, the innovative sports protection brand, announces the launch of its all-new Heritage Pro Baseball Elbow Guard for the Spring 2023 season. Worn by G-Form athlete and Major League Baseball player, Bobby Witt Jr., the Heritage Pro brings a completely new look for the industry-leading sports protection brand.
G-Form's product and marketing teams engaged with Bobby Witt Jr., and various Perfect Game athletes, in the development of Heritage Pro guard. Witt began working with G-Form in his early years at Perfect Game before following in his father's footsteps, playing in his first major league season in 2022. "From the first time I put the Heritage guard on, it just felt right," shared Witt, "The looks and comfort are awesome and I'm excited to take my game to the next level this season in the Heritage Pro."
Players of all levels are seeking uniqueness in their style, leading G-Form's design team to bring a sleek new look to the market, featuring an all-new synthetic leather exterior with debossed. "One of the most iconic, personal items in a player's bag is their leather baseball glove, which inspired us." said Paul Fisher, G-Form's VP of Global Product, "Now, their elbow guard is another piece to show their individuality as a player."
G-Form's baseball elbow guards utilize its proprietary SmartFlex™ technology, which offers body-mapped, lightweight protection, without the need for pre-molding. The SmartFlex layer is backed with a pre-curved Polypro shell and an additional foam layer for increased comfort. Its ambidextrous, adjustable strap allows for a versatile fit and quick on/off, ideal for players ready to take second base.
The Heritage Pro Elbow Guard is available in three colors: White, Navy and Brown, for a classic glove-inspired finish. The suggested retail price for the Heritage Pro Elbow Guard is $69.99, now available on g-form.com and in select sporting goods stores nation-wide.
ABOUT G-FORM
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LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – A suspected car thief tried to surrender to the authorities after a chase through Los Angeles on Thursday, but ended up waiting for 20 minutes — and then walking away — because police had given up chasing him.
The pursuit began after Los Angeles Police Department spotted a suspected stolen vehicle, a white Kia, in downtown Los Angeles just before 10 p.m., according to an officer with the LAPD.
The California Highway Patrol then picked up the pursuit, which traveled to the San Fernando Valley, then back toward downtown Los Angeles on the 5 Freeway before exiting onto the 110 Freeway.
The Kia exited near the University of Southern California campus and began to run red lights, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit. The LAPD tracked the car for a bit, then pulled off as well.
By 11 p.m., the driver seemed to be going in circles in a residential area of Jefferson Park, with no police vehicles nearby. A passenger ran from the vehicle at one point while the driver continued on.
About a half-hour later, the driver stopped his car in the parking lot of a Ralphs supermarket, got out and put his hands above his head, despite the lack of law enforcement officers near him.
He then laid on the ground for around 20 minutes in an apparent attempt to surrender, though no one was trying to take him into custody. Video obtained by KTLA shows a woman instructing the man to get up off the ground, at which point he walks off into the parking lot.
An officer with the LAPD told Nexstar on Saturday that officers called off the chase because the “risk of the pursuit … didn’t outweigh the risk to the public” once the driver left the freeway.
He added that the suspect has likely been identified, but could not confirm whether the driver had been apprehended as of Saturday morning. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/suspected-car-thief-attempts-to-surrender-after-chase-but-no-one-is-waiting-to-arrest-him/ | 2022-08-06 18:59:11 | 0 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/suspected-car-thief-attempts-to-surrender-after-chase-but-no-one-is-waiting-to-arrest-him/ |
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Eric Holder, attorney general during the Obama administration, has written a new book, “Our Unfinished March: The Violent Past and Imperiled Future of the Vote” about gerrymandering and voting rights. On Monday, June 6 at 2:00 p.m. ET, join Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart for a conversation with Holder about the book, the state of American democracy and the renewed debate over gun laws in the aftermath of the Texas school shooting. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live/2022/06/06/capehart-with-eric-holder/ | 2022-05-31 21:50:33 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live/2022/06/06/capehart-with-eric-holder/ |
Twelve percent of restaurants in the United States serve Asian food, according to the Pew Research Center.
That’s just above the 7% of the U.S. population that’s Asian American.
The United States is home to more than 22 million Asians, and that number is expected to grow to 46 million by 2060.
And as the population grows, Asian cuisine is expected to follow.
"A lot of Asians who immigrate to the U.S., that is kind of their niche, these small businesses," said Chef Jae Choi. "It gives them an opportunity where they feel a little closer to home, and that community is important for anyone to thrive in another country."
Chef Choi owns Yakitori Jinbei, a Japanese-Korean restaurant.
His family immigrated from South Korea in the 1980s, and he grew up cooking with his mom.
"There were no Korean restaurants where I grew up; I mean, there were some, but not very convenient at the time," said Choi.
Korean restaurants make up only 6% of the Asian restaurants in the U.S.
For Chef Lino Yi, owner of The Korean One, cooking is about more than just food. It was a way to connect with his parents.
"Growing up, I could barely speak Korean. It was very difficult for me to learn because I was just so assimilated into American culture, so I spoke English primarily," said Chef Yi. "But my way of communicating with my parents was making Korean food. Even though I couldn’t express everything, I could express my love and devotion to them by making Korean food."
SEE MORE: Korean artist on the meditative effects of tea
His parents were also chefs. They closed their Orlando storefront in 2010. He opened his restaurant in honor of them.
It’s estimated that there are likely fewer than 100 Indonesian restaurants in the U.S.
So, it’s no surprise that before Iris Li opened Bataviain Atlanta in 2004, there weren’t any places to find traditional Indonesian food in the area.
"They can have a space to sit together and talk and eat the same food. And they like it," said Li.
Li says there is a growing demand for more Asian food in the U.S.
"In America, they have so many different countries all over the world come to the United States. They come here to work, study. They’re homesick, miss their country’s food. That’s what they want. That’s why we have to open something," said Li.
For Li, Batavia is also the center of the expression "breaking bread." It’s about more than just eating. Sharing her food is pivotal for connection and culture.
"With food, you’re able to showcase parts of your culture that you may not just get from reading a book. I think it allows for a deeper understanding of what that culture represents," said Choi.
And it’s as simple as trying something new.
"I like to take foreign things and make them familiar, or familiar things and make them foreign," said Yi.
"Once they try it, they love it, and they can’t stop eating it," said Choi.
And Chef Yi believes that our love of trying something new and expanding our palates is forming a bridge between American and Asian cultures and cuisine.
"I think if you asked the average person, 'When’s the last time you had apple pie?' They’re like once a year for the 4th of July, but when’s the last time you had Chinese takeout or Asian food? 'I dunno, like last week.' So, I think Asian food is American food. It’s part of our culture," said Yi.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | https://www.kgun9.com/exploring-the-fusion-of-asian-cuisine-and-american-culture | 2023-06-01 00:19:54 | 1 | https://www.kgun9.com/exploring-the-fusion-of-asian-cuisine-and-american-culture |
Shows Support for Women's Prison Reentry Programming
MIAMI, Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Monday, August 1, 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise visit to LEAP's Dragonfly Thrift Boutique. LEAP (Ladies Empowerment & Action Program) is a nonprofit re-entry program providing transformational opportunities for women who have experienced incarceration. During her visit, the Vice President met with LEAP graduates, listened to their stories, and offered her support for the LEAP program and second chances.
"It was a momentous day for LEAP and all formerly incarcerated women who are desperate for a fresh start," said Executive Director Mahlia Lindquist. "Scant attention is given to the specific needs of women transitioning from prison. With her visit to LEAP, the Vice President changed that. She treated our women with respect, warmth and empathy. She listened to them. And in doing so, she shined a light on our women and how programs like LEAP help change lives and communities for the better."
LEAP Store Manager and Graduate Nancy DeNike showed the Vice President around the store, where she discussed the need for more reentry programs like LEAP. Dragonfly employees and program graduates Lori Collins, Danielle Estes, and Launa McMurry became emotional when meeting with the Vice President. They shared how the LEAP program has impacted their lives, and how they have reunited with their children, are in recovery, and living a life they never could have imagined thanks to LEAP.
"She gave us hope, she said she was proud of us and that she believed in us," said Cheyanne Guzy, Dragonfly Assistant Store Manager and LEAP Graduate. "It's hard to put into words what this visit meant to us. The Vice President of the United States took the time to listen to us."
Before leaving the Dragonfly, the Vice President purchased a set of appetizer plates. LEAP is a nonprofit organization in Miami, FL that empowers women who have experienced incarceration through in-prison programming, transformational opportunities, housing, employment, and advocacy. Dragonfly is LEAP's social enterprise and 100% of all proceeds support women who have experienced incarceration.
To learn more about LEAP, please visit our website. To support LEAP and shop for second chances, please visit the Dragonfly website.
CONTACT: Mahlia Lindquist, (786) 401-2070, mahlia@leapforladies.org
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SOURCE LEAP | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/05/vice-president-kamala-harris-meets-with-leap-graduates/ | 2022-08-05 14:22:48 | 1 | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/05/vice-president-kamala-harris-meets-with-leap-graduates/ |
Which car jacks are best?
No matter how well you drive or how cautious you are, your car is eventually going to blow a tire or have some part break down. To fix these issues, you could call a tow truck and have it taken to a shop. Or you could keep a car jack and spare parts on hand to fix it for a fraction of the cost.
Car jacks are simple enough to use, but there is a surprisingly varied range of types. Not to mention the fact that they can use different power sources.
What to know before you buy a car jack
Weight and lift limits
The two most important numbers to understand when shopping for car jacks are the weight and lift limits.
- Weight limits are the easiest to understand. If your car is heavier than the limit, don’t get that jack. The “weakest” jacks usually have a weight limit of 2 tons — or 4,000 pounds. The strongest can lift a staggering 50 tons, equal to 100,000 pounds.
- Lift limits are slightly more complex. Each jack has a minimum and a maximum lift. The minimum lift is how short the jack is when it’s not, well, jacked up. It’s crucial that your car be taller than this limit, not equal to it, so the jack can fit. The maximum lift is how high the jack can get.
Car jack types
There are three types of car jacks:
- Scissor jacks are the most basic of the three, and as a consequence tend to be the most affordable. Due to their small size and light weight, they’re best for keeping in your car in case of an emergency tire change.
- Bottle jacks have the strength and stability to lift the heaviest vehicles, though smaller models can be used on regular cars, too. Be careful, though, as bottle jacks have the highest minimum lift height.
- Floor jacks are somewhat in the middle of the three types. They’re large and capable but have smaller minimum lift heights. They’re usually found in professional garages, but having one in your home garage is a wise idea if you engage in auto rehab.
Car jack cost
For $25 to $50 you can get a basic manual scissor jack. For $50 to $100 you can get basic to mid-tier manual jacks of all kinds of basic electric jacks. For $100 to $150 you can get mid- to high-tier jacks regardless of power source. The best jacks of any kind cost $150 to $250.
What are the best scissor car jacks to buy?
Big Red Manual Scissor Car Jack
This jack has a 3,000-pound, or 1.5-ton, weight limit with a lifting range of 4.12 inches to 15.12 inches. It has an extra-wide base to aid stability and strength.
Sold by Amazon
Husky Manual Scissor Car Jacks
This set includes two jacks, each of which has a 6,500-pound, or 3.25-ton, weight limit with a total lift of 24 inches. Instructions on how to use them and a swivel handle are also included.
Sold by Amazon
Pro-Lift Manual Scissor Car Jack
This jack has a 3,000-pound, or 1.5-ton, weight limit with a lifting range of 3.75 inches to 15.12 inches. It has a wide base for stability and comes with two handles.
Sold by Amazon
Rogtz Electric Scissor Car Jack Kit
Besides the jack, this kit contains items such as an SUV and sedan head for the jack, an impact wrench and two spare fuses. The jack has a 6,600-pound weight limit.
Sold by Amazon
Standtall Electric Scissor Car Jack
This jack has a 6,600-pound weight limit and a clearance range of 5.5 to 16.5 inches. It also comes with three spare fuses, a hand rocker, a battery clamp, a glove and support heads for SUVs and sedans.
Sold by Amazon
What are the best bottle car jacks to buy?
This jack comes in six weight limit and lifting range models. The smallest lifts 4,000 pounds with a range of 6.19 to 12.06 inches. The largest lifts 40,000 pounds with a range of 9.56 to 17.62 inches.
Sold by Amazon
This jack comes in five models. The smallest lifts 10,000 pounds with a range of 8.25 to 16.94 inches. The largest lifts 100,000 pounds with a range of 11 to 17.72 inches.
Sold by Amazon
This jack comes in five models. The smallest lifts 4,000 pounds with a range of 5.9 to 14.4 inches. The largest lifts 24,000 pounds with a range of 8.7 to 20.5 inches.
Sold by Amazon
This jack lifts up to 6,000 pounds and has a lift range of 11 to 21 inches. It has a safety lock to ensure its height is held once reached.
Sold by Amazon
This jack comes in seven models. The smallest lifts 4,000 pounds with a range of 7.12 to 13.62 inches. The largest lifts 100,000 pounds with a range of 11 to 17.75 inches.
Sold by Amazon
What are the best floor car jacks to buy?
This jack has a 6,000-pound weight limit and a clearance range of 6 to 17.5 inches. It has a safety feature that prevents it from lowering, even if power is lost. It uses a 12-volt power outlet and has an 11.5-foot cord.
Sold by Amazon
Blackhawk Manual Floor Car Jack
This jack has a 7,000-pound weight limit and a clearance range of 5.5 to 22 inches. It has an internal safety valve and vent plug, plus a swivel saddle for easy positioning.
Sold by Amazon
Eisen Equipment Manual Floor Car Jack
This jack has a 6,000-pound weight limit and a clearance range of 5.25 to 18.25 inches. It can be bought alone or with a two-pack of stands for extra help.
Sold by Amazon
Marchinn Electric Floor Car Jack
This jack has an 11,000-pound weight limit. It comes with a large assortment of extras such as a needle for inflation, a safety hammer, an impact wrench, a hexagonal wrench, three fuses and a glove.
Sold by Amazon
This jack has a 5,000-pound weight limit and a clearance range of 3.38 inches to 14.94 inches. It has two steel casters and two 360-degree swivel casters for easy movement.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/reviews/br/automotive-br/vehicle-lifts-hoists-jacks-br/15-best-car-jacks/ | 2023-04-04 00:16:07 | 0 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/reviews/br/automotive-br/vehicle-lifts-hoists-jacks-br/15-best-car-jacks/ |
Eurovision 2023: These are the last 10 finalists to qualify
Silke Wünsch
20 hours ago
At the second semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest, 16 countries presented songs. Ten have made it to the final on Saturday, to compete against the other 16 finalists.
https://p.dw.com/p/4RFQL
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Overall, the second Eurovision Song Contest semifinal on Thursday was a quieter affair than the first one on Tuesday, where almost every act seemed to be having a party on stage.
For the second event, more solo artists performed, without dancing or special effects beyond lighting and projections of visuals.
The audience seemed to prefer the party mode on stage, however. Quieter songs had more of a hard time, with the exception of Alika from Latvia, who played and sang a ballad on the grand piano. It was written by Wouter Hardy, a composer also involved with the 2019 winning title, "Arcade." With a voice that can move from silky smooth to powerful, Alika is in Saturday's grand final.
For Armenia, Brunette sang her way into the hearts of the audience with a ballad that ended in rap, along with some expressive dancing.
From house to ethno pop
Cyprus went for a typical Eurovision ballad, languidly performed by Andrew Lambrou — an act with lots of pyrotechnics that made it to the final.
Belgium's Gustaph offered a timeless vocal house number with dance interludes, an approach that is obviously popular among numerous acts this year. The audience liked it, so Belgium will be on stage again on Saturday.
Poland sent the singer Blanka into the race with a typical summer hit and a bit of a Britney Spears attitude. She, too, gets to compete again on Saturday along with her dance ensemble.
The audience also liked Albina & Familja Kelmendi's number. The Albanian ethno pop song features traditional singing and drums.
Get ready for indie rock and prog rock
Joker Out performed for Slovenia, and the audience enjoyed their mix of alternative pop and electro so much that the band is in the final on Saturday, too.
Lithuania's Monika Linkyte offered a ballad that culminated with the poignant harmonies of a gospel choir — another song voted into the final.
For Austria, Teya & Salena sang and danced their nicely staged song about Edgar Allen Poe. The audience knew the words and sang along; the duo will be on stage again on Saturday.
Voyager from Australia, too, had a song worthy of the final (see photo at the top, with the car on stage). Their powerful progressive rock song almost sounds like a rock opera.
Australia and the Eurovision Song Contest have a 40-year history. The competition has been broadcast there since 1983. Australia started participating in the contest in 2015, as an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the song contest. This year may be the last time though, as the contract between Australian television and the EBU is about to expire.
Grand final now has 26 acts
The 10 acts voted in on Thursday will compete alongside 10 from the first semifinal.
The artists from the so-called "Big Five" countries — England, France, Italy, Spain and Germany — do not have to qualify, as these countries are the event's biggest financial contributors.
Last year's winner, Ukraine, is also earmarked for the final with the Tvorchi duo. Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine has made it impossible to host the competition there, so the UK, which came second last year, stepped in to host the event on behalf of Ukraine.
An audience of about 11,000 people can follow the grand final live at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool. Tens of thousands are expected to watch on screens set up around town, and about 180 million people should be tuning in worldwide.
Reunion with Eurovision stars
The program surrounding the actual contest is impressive.
Kalush Orchestra, last year's winners from Ukraine, will be there, as well as quite a few Eurovision celebrities from past years including Duncan Laurence (winner 2019), Ukrainian stars Jamala (winner 2016) and Verka Serduchka (runner-up 2007), Italy's Mahmood (runner-up 2019) and Israel's Netta (winner 2018).
German fans have something to look forward to this year, too, as the German entry by the band Lord of the Lost looks likely to break the "curse" of zero points, with a chance of at least enough points for the midfield. | https://www.dw.com/en/eurovision-2023-these-are-the-last-10-finalists-to-qualify/a-65599493?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf | 2023-05-13 06:17:26 | 1 | https://www.dw.com/en/eurovision-2023-these-are-the-last-10-finalists-to-qualify/a-65599493?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf |
NEW YORK (AP) — Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles said Monday he will participate in the Home Run Derby on July 10 in Seattle as he attempts to become the first catcher to win the event.
The Orioles posted a Twitter video with highlights of Rutschman’s home runs that read: “Get Your Popcorn Ready”.
Rutschman joins a field that includes New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, Dodgers’ star Mookie Betts, Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena, Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Seattle’s Julio Rodríguez.
In his second season with Baltimore, the Oregon native will try to win the title in his native Pacific Northwest and join Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. (1991) and Miguel Tejada (2004) as the third Oriole to win the event.
“It’s the best,” Rutschman said of participating in Seattle. “Besides Baltimore, Seattle’s the place that I grew up going to, first stadium I ever went to. So it means a lot. I know a lot of people out there, so basically home.”
The most recent catcher to participate was Kansas City’s Salvador Pérez, who hit 28 homers in 2021 and lost in the first round to Alonso.
Rutschman is the 10th catcher to participate since the event began in 1985 and said his father, Randy, will throw to him. The elder Rutschman is a former college catcher and former coach at Division III George Fox University.
“I’m really excited. I got my dad throwing BP,” Rutschman said. “It’s one of the things I think you dream about as a kid. To be able to do it with my dad, it’s awesome.”
Rutschman is the first switch-hitting catcher to participate since Mickey Tettleton in 1989 for Baltimore. He said he would likely start from the left side of the plate where he has 20 of his 24 homers.
One of four Baltimore representatives in the All-Star Game, Rutschman will be the second Oriole in the past three seasons to participate. In 2021, Trey Mancini lost by one home run in the finals to Alonso, who announced Sunday night he was participating.
“It’s so cool that he’s going to have that experience,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. “It’s always fun watching somebody you know really well.”
Drafted first overall in 2019 out of Oregon State by Baltimore, Rutschman is hitting .268 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs in 79 games heading into a four-game series against the Yankees. He made his major league debut May 21, 2022, and hit .254 with 13 homers and 42 RBIs to help the Orioles win 83 wins for their first winning season since 2016.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wane.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-orioles-catcher-adley-rutschman-will-participate-in-home-run-derby-at-all-star-game/ | 2023-07-03 22:33:11 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-orioles-catcher-adley-rutschman-will-participate-in-home-run-derby-at-all-star-game/ |
ORLANDO, Fla., March 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LSQ, a leading provider of technology-driven working capital financing and payments solutions, announces the hire of Lorraine Julius as Vice President of Sales for the Western Region. This role marks a return to LSQ for Julius, who previously spent 14 years in a similar role supporting accounts receivable finance clients in California.
"We are thrilled to have Lorraine back on our team," said LSQ National Sales Director Renee Jackson. "Her ability to understand the needs of clients and to structure deals that serve an array of companies is remarkable. In her previous tenure, she was one of our consistent top performers and built great relationships with clients and partners. She comes back with even more experience and the same high level of enthusiasm she had before; I'm excited to see the success that combination brings."
In the interceding four years, Julius worked for several large banks that are part of LSQ's network, experience she feels will make her an even better partner for clients and referral partners.
"I learned so much in the four years working internally with the banks," Julius said. "Understanding bankers' goals and the products they offer will make me a better partner as we bring joint solutions to their clients or prospects.
Julius cites a familiarity with the LSQ culture as to what drew her back to the company.
"Having spent the bulk of my career at LSQ, I knew what working here was like," she said, "so when the opportunity came up to return, it was an easy decision. Beyond the familiarity, it's an even stronger company than the one I left in 2019 and has a great name in the market.
"In today's economy, we are seeing so many companies struggling with short- and long-term liquidity. LSQ has really grown over the years to address those specific needs and I'm excited to be a part of that again."
Julius is based in San Diego and has two sons. When not working, she enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors. She is very active in her support of nonprofits, including HEALsci, a Texas-based philanthropic organization that helps ease the financial burden of individuals and families affected by life-changing spinal cord injuries, and is the past President of the Inland Empire Chapter of the Risk Management Association.
About LSQ | lsq.com
LSQ is a market leader and pioneer in working capital finance and payments solutions. For more than 25 years, LSQ has leveraged innovative technology, credit and risk expertise, and proprietary data that empowers thousands of businesses to optimize their working capital, automate and accelerate payments, manage collections, and mitigate risk. Every year, we accelerate billions of dollars in payments to businesses and their suppliers through our LSQ FastTrack platform to help them obtain the funds they need to grow and thrive. LSQ is headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Learn more at www.lsq.com.
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SOURCE LSQ Funding | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/03/29/coming-full-circle-julius-rejoins-lsq-ar-finance-team/ | 2023-03-29 15:17:28 | 0 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/03/29/coming-full-circle-julius-rejoins-lsq-ar-finance-team/ |
The lone forward in the starting line-up netted on 57 minutes in Algiers after a weak back pass led to him being fouled by goalkeeper Muad Allafi.
Algeria hope to win a competition reserved for footballers playing in their country of birth for the first time having finished fourth in a previous appearance 12 years ago.
The capacity 40,000 crowd at Stade Nelson Mandela included the Algerian Prime Minister, Aymen Benabderrahmane, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and his CAF counterpart, Patrice Motsepe.
Ethiopia play Mozambique at the same venue on Saturday in the other opening round match in the mini-league.
It will be followed by a Group B double-header in the north eastern city of Annaba with two-time champions the Democratic Republic of Congo facing Uganda before the Ivory Coast meet Senegal.
There are 17 countries hoping to succeed Morocco as winners of a tournament first staged in 2009 and won by DR Congo in the Ivory Coast. | https://www.beinsports.com/en/football/news/mahious-penalty-gives-hosts-algeria-victory-i/2021912 | 2023-01-14 09:43:20 | 1 | https://www.beinsports.com/en/football/news/mahious-penalty-gives-hosts-algeria-victory-i/2021912 |
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Federal judges ordered South Carolina lawmakers to draw new congressional maps, ruling Friday that the U.S. House district lines of a seat flipped by Democrats four years ago were intentionally redrawn to split Black neighborhoods to dilute their voting power.
The state used the maps in this past November’s midterm elections after the Republican-dominated state Legislature redrew the lines earlier this year following the 2020 U.S. Census.
With Republicans holding a thin margin in the U.S. House, any change to competitive districts has a chance to alter the balance of power after the 2024 elections.
Friday’s ruling said the coastal 1st District running from Charleston to Hilton Head Island was drawn to remove Black voters and make it a safer seat for Republicans.
The judges requested state lawmakers pass new U.S. House maps by the end of March. They said no elections can take place in the 1st District until it is redrawn.
South Carolina House Speaker Murrell Smith said he anticipated the decision would be appealed. “I maintain that the House drew maps without racial bias and in the best interest of all the people of this state,” the Republican said in a statement.
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace currently represents the 1st District. She beat Joe Cunningham in 2020 after Cunningham became the first Democrat to flip a U.S. House seat in South Carolina in 30 years.
Mace won by just over 1 percentage point in 2020. But after the district was redrawn, she won by 14 percentage points in November.
After the new congressional maps were approved, civil rights groups swiftly filed a lawsuit charging the state Legislature with choosing “perhaps the worst option of the available maps” for Black voters.
The judges requested state lawmakers pass new U.S. House maps by the end of March. They said no elections can take place in the 1st District until it is redrawn.
The judges ruled that to make the 1st District safer for Republicans, GOP legislative leaders who drew the new maps pulled Black voters out of the 1st District and placed them into the 6th District, which is the only one represented by a Democrat and was redrawn three decades ago to have a majority of minority voters.
The 6th District stretches through a large swath of rural South Carolina into Columbia, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Charleston.
The judges wrote in their ruling that Will Roberts, who drew the maps, used race to achieve the partisan goal of making the 1st District safer for Republicans, which is not allowed under federal law.
“When asked what community of interest the residents of North Charleston would have with the residents of Congressional District No. 6 in Columbia, Roberts could only think of their common proximity to Interstate I-26, albeit over 100 miles apart,” the judges wrote.
The panel’s decision delivered a victory for civil rights groups after the Supreme Court in 2013 tossed a key provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act. The trial marked the first time South Carolina maps had been scrutinized since the justices removed part of the 1965 law that required the state get federal approval to protect against discriminatory redistricting proposals.
The judges did OK the split of some African American voters in the 2nd District around Columbia to include U.S. Army training base Fort Jackson in the district represented by Joe Wilson. He is expected to be chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and the district boundaries had been in place for 30 years.
South Carolina’s 5th District also was approved by the judges.
Attorneys for state lawmakers said their changes were not driven by race, but by South Carolina’s population boom. Much of the state’s 10% population growth from 2010 to 2020 occurred along the coast.
The General Assembly also argued that the maps were driven not by race but by legitimate political interests like preserving the state’s 6-1 ratio of Republicans to Democrats representing South Carolina in the House of Representatives.
The decision adds another urgent matter to the General Assembly’s session that begins Tuesday.
“We’ve got a lot of other things that we need to be focusing on,” Republican Gov. Henry McMaster said at a Friday news conference where he was releasing his budget plan.
—-
James Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-south-carolina-us-house-district-ruled-racial-gerrymander/ | 2023-01-07 06:10:57 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-south-carolina-us-house-district-ruled-racial-gerrymander/ |
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Five teenagers were killed when their car ran off a curving street and landed in a southwest Florida retention pond where it went underwater, authorities said.
It happened either late Sunday or early Monday, killing everyone inside. The crumpled Kia sedan was pulled from the water on Monday.
On Tuesday morning, Fort Myers Police confirmed their identities as Eric Paul, 19; Jackson Eyre, 18; Amanda Ferguson, 18; Breanna Coleman, 18; and Jesus Salinas, 18.
The News-Press in Fort Myers reported that Paul, Eyre, Ferguson and Coleman worked together at a Texas Roadhouse restaurant, and had gone out together to get fast food after finishing their Sunday night shifts. The steakhouse was closed Monday so their friends and families could grieve together at a dinner where flowers were placed alongside their framed pictures. | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/5-teens-killed-when-car-crashes-into-florida-retention-pond/ | 2023-06-27 19:25:08 | 0 | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/5-teens-killed-when-car-crashes-into-florida-retention-pond/ |
Luke Roskam tossed two batting practice balls to kids watching him take swings in the visiting bullpen at Haymarket Park on a warm summer day in the middle of June.
It's a practice Roskam tries to do every game, whether he is in the lineup or not. But sporting a .230 batting average after an 0-for-3 performance against Sioux City on June 17, Roskam asked for all the good karma he could get.
“It's just realizing it's a game at the end of the day, regardless,” Roskam said. “You can say I believe in (karma) a little bit, but it's more just I try to give a ball out every game. If I'm catching a bullpen, I take the ball we warm up with and throw it out to a kid. Trying to realize it is a game we are playing and stay positive no matter what.”
Whether it is good karma or something else, the second-year Saltdog is on one of the league's best streaks of the season.
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Roskam has produced 27 hits over his last 15 games and continued his hit streak to 14 games since then and risen his average to .309 after Lincoln took a 12-2 victory over Fargo-Moorhead Wednesday at Haymarket Park. Roskam finished 1-for-4 at the plate, adding three runs and an RBI. Yanio Perez added a home run and three RBIs, while Drew Devine and Nate Samson knocked in two runs each.
The former Nebraska baseball player was named the American Association's Batter of the Week Monday after batting .542 (13-for-24) during a six-game road trip.
“It's basically sticking to my approach. Seeing the ball out over the plate and seeing the off-speed up,” Roskam said. “I think early I was a little more pull-happy (and) not seeing the ball as deep as I should. Getting back to what I do. Staying left-center is probably my biggest strength. Just getting back there and getting jammed a little more just to see it a little deeper and it kind of just clicked from there.”
The Chaska, Minnesota native has added four of his eight home runs over the last seven games with six coming in that 14-game span. He has also walked 12 times in that stretch.
“Once it kind of clicks, it's really easy to keep it going,” Roskam said. “It's really hard to get out of that funk, I did strike out a lot, was chasing a lot more and trying to be a hero at times instead of taking my walks. Taking a little bit more pitches. There was a week's time where I would just watch the first pitch and try and just try and track it in. I think that attributed to getting it back deep in the zone and staying through the ball.”
Summer heat up: Lincoln has the third-best record in the American Association (20-14) since the beginning of June. Only Kansas City (24-12) and Milwaukee (23-12) have better records since June 1. | https://journalstar.com/sports/baseball/professional/around-the-bases-roskams-call-for-good-karma-pays-off-leads-to-hitting-streak-for/article_c78004fa-211b-11ee-b787-53aa7b1938e5.html | 2023-07-13 04:35:55 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/sports/baseball/professional/around-the-bases-roskams-call-for-good-karma-pays-off-leads-to-hitting-streak-for/article_c78004fa-211b-11ee-b787-53aa7b1938e5.html |
The BDN is exploring Maine’s housing crisis from every possible angle, from how it affects home prices, to what it means for Mainers across the state. Read our ongoing coverage here and fill out this form to tell us what you want to know.
HOULTON, Maine — One Houlton entrepreneur couple thinks they have come up with the perfect solution to the housing shortage that is affecting so many. And if the way their business has exploded is any indication, they may be exactly right.
Corinne Watson and her husband Tom Small are the proprietors of Tiny Homes of Maine. Founded in 2016 while the couple were both employed in the corporate world of southern Maine, the business has rapidly found its niche in providing affordable housing at a fraction of the cost of a traditional stick-built home.
It is no secret that Maine is experiencing an unprecedented boom in the real estate market at the same time there is an affordable housing crunch. The few homes available for sale are being scooped up quickly and put under contract — sometimes in less than a week for amounts well above asking prices — leaving many potential buyers out of the market. But buyers see Tiny Homes as a solution to those problems.
With orders for 70 dwellings to be built, Tiny Homes of Maine is taking names for its 2024 waiting list. Demand is so high that the corporation will expand later this year, thanks to a partnership with the town of Houlton. The town is building a new facility in its Industrial Park, which it will lease to Tiny Homes of Maine for 20 years.
The town recently awarded the business $250,000 from a Community Development Block Grant to purchase equipment and inventory, and for working capital for the Tiny Homes manufacturing facility located in Houlton’s Industrial Park.
“On behalf of the Houlton Town Council, I think it is fair to say we [the council] are unanimous in our support of the expansion of Tiny Homes of Maine via the CDBG [grant] and spec building project,” Council Chair Chris Robinson said. “The council’s vote is indicative that the town of Houlton is open for new business development.”
Tiny homes are that in name only. The largest dwelling manufactured in Houlton is a 10-foot by 38-foot behemoth called the “Sebago.” The exterior width is typically 8.5 feet and the total height is 13.5 feet. The maximum length, including the towing vehicle, cannot exceed 60 feet.
Most range between 20 and 30 feet long, with a living space up to 400 square feet, not including loft space.
It makes the homes easily accessible, and moveable, should a person decide to relocate to another part of the state or country. And recent legislation has made it easier for people to park their tiny homes in Maine.
Watson, who is an electrical engineer, said she started working on her first tiny home while employed at IDEXX, a maker of veterinarian equipment in Westbrook.
“We had three kids in day care and were picking and choosing which one of us got to go on their field trips, if at all, and I just wasn’t feeling it,” Watson said.
Changing professions was not necessarily on the radar for Watson in 2015 when she talked her husband into building their first tiny home as a fun project. Little did she know it would soon blossom into one of the fastest growing businesses in the state.
“Tom is a residential home designer and is very talented,” she said. “So I asked him to check out this tiny home thing. I grew up in a small house in Smyrna and have always liked small spaces.”
It took the couple nearly 18 months to complete that project, but Watson felt they had something she could market. They officially launched Tiny Homes of Maine in Windham in 2016. But finding a space big enough to build the homes — and enough people to work on them — proved to be too difficult.
In 2018, they moved the business to Houlton, where there was adequate labor and plenty of space to grow their fledgling company. The couple still managed the business from their home in Windham, while working in their regular jobs.
Then in 2020, the world changed.
COVID-19 shut down their children’s school, as Maine transitioned to remote learning. The couple moved to Houlton, where their children could continue to get their education remotely, and they could be closer to family, while also getting away from surging cases in southern Maine. Both Watson and Small are natives of Aroostook County.
“We didn’t go back,” Watson said. “All of our family was here, and our kids said they wanted to be closer to Grammy and Grampy. So we never went back.”
The pandemic has created shortages in the supply chain that have affected production. Everything from wood to windows to bathtubs have been that much harder to get.
But with a statewide housing crunch forcing more and more people to seek out alternative options, many customers appear to be willing to wait.
The price tag of a new unit — estimated between $90,000 and $140,000 — may be a bit high for some in Aroostook County, but statewide and nationally, that price point is proving too good to resist.
“People are buying and selling homes with cash because we have such a crazy market right now,” Watson said.
Andrew Mooers, a realtor based in Houlton, said the real estate market was already brisk before the onset of COVID-19. But once the pandemic struck, that market went into warp drive. People with jobs sold their homes for big money and moved to Maine to find affordable housing, he said.
“People are getting out of the crowded, expensive city with high crime traded in for small town, friendly, low population rural Maine,” Mooers said. “Some folks decided to sell and move to Maine where there are less people, lower prices, friendlier and friendlier small town simple living.” | https://bangordailynews.com/2022/05/16/news/aroostook/tiny-home-company-with-2-year-waitlist-is-expanding-in-houlton/ | 2022-05-16 07:45:56 | 0 | https://bangordailynews.com/2022/05/16/news/aroostook/tiny-home-company-with-2-year-waitlist-is-expanding-in-houlton/ |
Cybersecurity Industry Veteran Brings More Than 20 Years of Marketing Experience to Support Continued Growth
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., April 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MixMode Inc., the leader in AI-driven network security, today announced that Cybersecurity industry veteran, Karen Buffo, has joined MixMode as its Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). As CMO, Karen will establish a world-class marketing function, driving its marketing strategy and execution during a period of rapid growth and demand for MixMode's leading self-supervised Cybersecurity platform.
Buffo brings more than two decades of experience developing and leading enterprise marketing strategies resulting in substantial value for customers, partners, employees and the cybersecurity community. Prior to joining MixMode, Buffo was CMO of the Symantec Enterprise Division, a role Broadcom appointed her to after the acquisition of Symantec. Previously, while at Symantec, she defined their marketing strategy, driving double-digit annual growth for the Cybersecurity business. Before Symantec, Oracle selected her to oversee global communications for the executive office. While in this role, she oversaw the dissemination of the corporate vision and strategy. Most recently, she was the CMO at Anomali, where she led its global marketing strategy across all activities, driving substantial pipeline growth and strengthening its brand.
"We are thrilled to have Karen join the team," said John Keister, CEO of MixMode. "Karen's wealth of Cybersecurity knowledge, expertise in building powerful brands, and go-to-market acumen will help continue to build out our leadership team. Karen is joining us at an interesting time as we continue to grow our footprint both in the U.S. and globally."
Buffo is a recognized industry keynote speaker, mentor, and contributor to the Cybersecurity community and joins the MixMode team during a time of great momentum.
"I am honored and excited to join MixMode and help further build a world-class go-to market team," said Buffo. "MixMode's self-supervised Cybersecurity platform is delivering tremendous value to partners and customers. With its proprietary generative artificial intelligence platform, MixMode is uniquely positioned to define and lead the next phase of the Cybersecurity market. I look forward to working with the team to amplify the brand, expand our market leadership, and accelerate new growth opportunities."
For more information, visit: www.mixmode.ai
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MixModeAI
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mixmode/about/
Blog: https://mixmode.ai/blog/
About MixMode:
MixMode is a no-rules-required Cybersecurity platform, serving large enterprises with big data environments across a variety of industries. MixMode delivers a patented, self-learning platform that acts as the Cybersecurity Intelligence Layer℠ to detect both known and unknown attacks, including novel attacks designed to bypass legacy cyber defenses. This is accomplished in real-time, across any cloud or on-premise data stream. Trusted by global entities in banking, public utilities and government sectors, industry cyber leaders rely on MixMode to protect their most critical assets. The platform dramatically improves the efficiency of SOC teams previously burdened with writing and tuning rules and manually searching for attacks. The MixMode platform can be deployed remotely, with no appliances, in under an hour with business outcomes evident within days. Backed by PSG and Entrada Ventures, the company is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA.
CONTACT:
Christian Wiens
christian.wiens@mixmode.ai
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SOURCE MixMode | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2023/04/24/mixmode-appoints-karen-buffo-chief-marketing-officer/ | 2023-04-24 13:33:16 | 1 | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2023/04/24/mixmode-appoints-karen-buffo-chief-marketing-officer/ |
NEWARK, N.J., Nov. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic, a leader in cordless assembly technology, is proud to announce that its AccuPulse 4.0 Transducerized Tool Series was awarded "Product of the Year" in the Fastening Solutions category for New Product Awards at the 2022 ASSEMBLY Show in Rosemont, IL.
The New Product Awards honored five new products in five different categories, all displayed at the 10th annual Assembly Show. More than 225 exhibitors displayed the latest products and services in five categories, including Assembly Machines and Systems, Adhesives, Dispensing and Curling; Fastening Tools; Robotics and the Factory of the Future.
The AccuPulse 4.0, Panasonic's next generation transducerized mechanical pulse tool, was one of five nominees in the category selected by editors of Assembly Magazine, who received hundreds of submissions for the New Product of the Year Awards. Attendees voted over the three-day event, and ultimately selected The AccuPulse 4.0 as the top Fastening Tool of the showcase.
"Some tools are ergonomic. Some tools are accurate. Some are intelligent. It's rare to find a tool that combines all three. That's what caught our attention," said John Sprovieri, chief editor of ASSEMBLY. "The AccuPulse 4.0 offers precision, data collection and ergonomics. The tool has four onboard microcomputers and a transducer to manage torque sensing, motor control, power and wireless communication. It truly is a state-of-the art tool."
Key features of the AccuPulse 4.0 Transducerized series include:
- 20-120Nm torque control range with high speed and no reaction for increased worker safety and freedom of movement
- Durable high-resolution non-contact torque transducer for reliable torque measurement
- Patented double hammer mechanism and torque curve detection algorithm for high accuracy
- Advanced programmable features for greater productivity and plant automation
- 2-way wireless communication with up to 99 parameters for advanced error proofing
- Data collection for monitoring torque, angle, time, OK/NOK, pulses, and fastening curves
For more information about Panasonic AccuPulse 4.0 mechanical pulse tools, click here.
Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is committed to creating a better life and a better world by enabling its customers through innovations in Sustainable Energy, Immersive Entertainment, Integrated Supply Chains and Mobility Solutions. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation. One of Interbrand's Top 100 Best Global Brands of 2021, Panasonic is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the world. Learn more about Panasonic innovations at https://na.panasonic.com/us/.
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SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/11/08/panasonic-accupulse40-transducerized-tool-awarded-product-year-fastening-solutions-assembly-show/ | 2022-11-08 16:33:08 | 1 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/11/08/panasonic-accupulse40-transducerized-tool-awarded-product-year-fastening-solutions-assembly-show/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Deep in the center of the Earth is the inner core, which spans roughly 746 miles and is composed of primarily pure, solid iron, NASA explains. Though we’ve long believed – and research has shown – that the inner core rotates, a new study suggests it may have “paused” its spin and could even have reversed.
The liquid outer core that surrounds the inner core causes Earth’s magnetic field. According to NASA, as the molten iron and nickel in the outer core move, they create electrical currents that result in a magnetic field. The outer core also allows the inner core to spin on its own, Nature explains.
Though scientists can’t track the core directly, they can analyze seismic waves caused by earthquakes – and Cold War-era nuclear weapon tests – as they reach the core. That’s what study co-authors Yi Yang and Xiaodong Song, seismologists at Peking University in Beijing, did for their new research, which was published in the Nature Geoscience journal on Monday.
Based on their analysis of seismic waves caused by similar earthquakes dating back to the 1960s, Yang and Song said they found that the inner core’s rotation seems to have “paused” between 2009 and 2020 and could even be reversing “by a small amount.”
Sounds concerning, right? Don’t be alarmed – this likely isn’t the first time our inner core has come to a halt. Instead, they believe the change is “associated with a gradual turning-back of the inner core as part of an approximately seven-decade oscillation.”
According to Yang and Song, results from their study also suggest “another overturn or a slowdown of the rotation around the early 1970s.”
The seismologists said their findings – changes in how fast seismic waves traveled through the inner core – coincide “with changes in several other geophysical observations, especially the length of day and magnetic field,” which are both areas that are impacted by the inner core’s movement, research has shown.
While the changes are “valid,” what Yang and Song found may not be exactly what’s happening in the depths of our planet. John Vidale, a professor of earth sciences at the University of Southern California that wasn’t involved in the study, noted “several competing ideas” about the Earth’s core to The Wall Street Journal.
This includes theories that the inner core reverses its rotation more frequently than the 70 years Yang and Song determined and that it stopped rotating in the early 2000s.
“No matter which model you like, there’s some data that disagrees with it,” Vidale told The New York Times.
Vidale recently co-authored a study that showed the inner core changed its spin between 1969 and 1974, and that it seems to oscillate “a couple of kilometers every six years.” | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/earths-inner-core-may-have-paused-its-rotation-and-reversed-new-study-suggests/ | 2023-01-24 02:56:47 | 0 | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/earths-inner-core-may-have-paused-its-rotation-and-reversed-new-study-suggests/ |
- The new installation will give park visitors the chance to see America's most majestic bird in its natural habitat.
PLAINFIELD, Ind., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy is converting two electric transmission towers that have reached the end of their useful service life into nesting platforms for bald eagles at the Wabashiki Fish & Wildlife Area in West Terre Haute, Ind.
In early August, Duke Energy will deploy a specialty helicopter crew to begin stripping inactive electrical lines and equipment from 50-foot transmission towers that span approximately 1,000 feet in the floodplain along the Wabash River. Crews will then work to install two nesting platforms at the top of the towers. The platforms will each be 8 feet wide and 6 feet long and constructed with fiberglass grating and steel supports – strong and large enough to accommodate bald eagles' colossal nests, which are the largest of any North American bird. Eagle nests typically measure 5 to 6 feet wide and 2 feet deep and are lined with grass, moss and sometimes cattails.
According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, more than 350 bald eagle nesting territories have been recorded in Indiana. The birds have periodically been spotted at Wabashiki Fish & Wildlife Area since it opened to the public in 2010. With the addition of these nesting platforms, park officials hope to attract even more of these once federal- and state-endangered species to the area.
"A lot of hard work has gone into restoring the bald eagle population in Indiana over the last 50 years, and their recovery is one of our state's great conservation success stories," said Adam Grossman, superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department. "The creation of nesting towers like these have been critical in supporting their survival here, and we're grateful for partners like Duke Energy that are finding creative ways to support these majestic birds and allow them to thrive right here in West Terre Haute."
The project will be completed in early September, long before eagles begin looking for nesting sites in January and February. Local residents can expect to see and hear helicopter activity in the area during daylight hours as the work progresses. Property owners near the impacted transmission line have been notified of this work by mail, and Duke Energy account holders are being notified through calls or text messages. The helicopter may cause wind disturbance at ground level. Homeowners have been advised to secure outdoor furniture or other items that could be moved by the wind.
"Conservation is an integral part of who we are as a company," said Rick Burger, government and community relations manager at Duke Energy. "We're proud to partner with the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department to repurpose these transmission towers in an innovative and sustainable way to build a better future for the environment and the communities we serve."
The Wabashiki Fish & Wildlife Area's 2,600 acres of lush marshland along the west bank of the Wabash River make it an ideal natural habitat for bald eagles. As the water level of the river rises and falls, receding floodwaters trap large numbers of fish in the floodplain. Pools of water abundant with stranded fish remain and offer rich hunting grounds for eagles and other wildlife.
The Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department hopes to one day build a viewing platform at the Dewey Point trailhead for visitors to come and safely observe eagles that may eventually settle down at the nesting platforms.
Duke Energy Indiana
Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 870,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana's largest electric supplier.
Contact: McKenzie Barbknecht
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/duke-energy-indiana-transmission-towers-repurposed-eagle-nesting-platforms-wabashiki-fish-amp-wildlife-area-west-terre-haute/ | 2022-07-28 16:08:20 | 1 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/duke-energy-indiana-transmission-towers-repurposed-eagle-nesting-platforms-wabashiki-fish-amp-wildlife-area-west-terre-haute/ |
Uber is working with unnamed automakers to design EVs customized for its ride-hailing and delivery services, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi confirmed the project last week at an event hosted by the paper, but declined to say which automakers the company was working with.
Ride-hailing could have seats that allow passengers to face each other, while two- or three-wheeled vehicles are being considered for delivery services owing to their smaller footprint, the Uber CEO said.
All vehicles would be optimized for city use, meaning lower speeds than conventional cars. Higher top speeds aren’t necessary in urban environments, Khosrowshahi said, adding that designing for a lower top speed could lower costs.
Uber was previously working with U.K.-based Arrival, coming up with a great-looking, futuristic people-mover, but later last year Arrival reportedly dropped the project, in favor of a focus on electric vans, which the startup had been aiming to build before the Uber tie-in.
Efforts to acquire customized EVs feed into Uber’s targeting of a “zero-emission platform” by 2040, with a goal to be all-electric by 2030—but only in some markets. In the meantime, Uber drivers are eligible to rent Tesla EVs for shorter terms, all-inclusive, through Hertz. The rental giant wants to make ride-hailing drivers a big share of customers for the EV fleet it’s rolling out nationwide.
By California standards, that’s not above and beyond but just complying. In 2021 the state approved an EV mandate for Uber and Lyft that will make larger fleet and ride-hailing companies go all-electric by 2030.
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- Lightyear 0 solar EV nixed, as company pivots to Lightyear 2 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/automotive/internet-brands/report-uber-working-on-evs-for-ride-hailing-deliveries/ | 2023-01-25 18:03:32 | 0 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/automotive/internet-brands/report-uber-working-on-evs-for-ride-hailing-deliveries/ |
CHEVY CHASE, Md., Nov. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FCP® and joint venture partner Avanti Residential announce the $65 million acquisition of Omnia on Thomas, a 382-unit garden apartment community at 1645 E. Thomas Road in Phoenix, AZ. Omnia on Thomas represents FCP's third multifamily investment in Phoenix and the second time partnering with Avanti after an initial joint venture in Colorado earlier this year.
"FCP is excited to expand our successful partnership with Avanti at Omnia on Thomas," said FCP's Bart Hurlbut. "Together, we will continue to invest in the property to improve the resident experience and the asset's market position."
"We are pleased to partner with FCP on this project and leverage our knowledge of the property and the local submarket," said Christian Garner, CEO at Avanti Residential. "We view this as a unique opportunity to infuse new capital into the project and further enhance the resident experience at Omnia on Thomas."
Capital One arranged Freddie Mac financing for the acquisition. "In continuing our relationship with FCP, we look forward to supporting this team as they focus on expanding their multifamily footprint in the Western U.S.," said Jonathan Pratt, Senior Vice President of Agency Finance.
Omnia on Thomas features studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments featuring high ceilings, hardwood-style flooring, and large closets in a community with four swimming pools, a renovated fitness center, and a shady courtyard. The property is conveniently located adjacent to Phoenix Children's Hospital, minutes to Sky Harbor Airport, the Biltmore Camelback Corridor, and Old Town Scottsdale with abundant local dining and shopping options.
FCP® is a privately held real estate investment company that has invested in or financed more than $9.3 billion in assets since its founding in 1999. FCP invests directly and with operating partners in commercial and residential assets. The firm makes equity and mezzanine investments in income-producing and development properties. Based in Chevy Chase, MD, FCP invests both its commingled, discretionary funds and separate accounts targeted at major real estate markets in the United States. For further information on FCP, please visit www.fcpdc.com.
Avanti Residential is an experienced investor and owner-operator of lifestyle-forward multifamily communities in the U.S. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Avanti operates 37 properties across 5 states, comprising of 9,000 units. The company utilizes a vertically integrated platform led by a seasoned executive team, each with more than 25 years' experience in the acquisition and value creation of apartment properties. Avanti applies skilled real estate investment acumen in a culture of personal accountability and alignment to deliver exceptional value and attractive risk-adjusted returns for its institutional venture partners and private capital investors. AvantiResidential.com
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SOURCE FCP | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/11/28/fcp-partners-again-with-avanti-residential-acquiring-omnia-thomas-apartments-phoenix-az-65-million/ | 2022-11-28 16:52:44 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/11/28/fcp-partners-again-with-avanti-residential-acquiring-omnia-thomas-apartments-phoenix-az-65-million/ |
Sports gambling proposal moves forward in state House
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Legislation authorizing and regulating sports gambling in North Carolina advanced through two more House committees on Wednesday, laying the groundwork for key chamber-wide votes next week.
The finance and judiciary committees approved the measure one day after the House commerce panel also advanced details of a proposed infrastructure whereby people across the state could wager online and at or near pro sports stadiums and arenas. From 10 to 12 interactive sports wagering licenses would be awarded by the state lottery commission.
Although sports gambling happens lawfully now at three American Indian casinos in the state, North Carolina is a largely untapped market in a country where over 30 states allow some kind of in-person or online sportsbooks, including neighboring Virginia and Tennessee. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper also supports legalizing sports gambling.
A sports gambling measure passed the Senate comfortably in 2021. But the effort collapsed in the House last June after a coalition of social conservatives and hardline liberals weakened and ultimately defeated the legislation. This year’s measure also would have to pass the Senate as well before it could go to Cooper.
Determined forces behind the measure - gambling companies and North Carolina-based sports franchises among them - have pushed robustly for the idea again in the new two-year session. They say such gambling is already happening in the state through local bookies and online work-arounds.
There were 1.75 million attempts based in North Carolina to log in to online sportsbooks in other states during the past National Football League season, said John Pappas, an executive with a cybersecurity company that works to ensure bettors live in states where such gambling is lawful.
“Sports betting is here today,” Pappas said.
Over 50 House members - nearly half of the chamber - from both parties have sponsored the latest legislation. And some past opponents are no longer in the legislature.
“It is a new year and we have new legislators,” Rep. Jason Saine, a Lincoln County Republican and chief bill sponsor, said in the judiciary committee, where the measure passed by a 7-3 vote.
If the bill became law, people within the state over age 21 could cast bets starting next January on professional, college and amateur sports, as well as horse racing. There are prohibitions on betting on high school and youth sports. Wagering licensees would have to pay $1 million application fees
The state would collect a 14% tax on the operators’ gross wagering revenue, minus winnings and other expenses. Promotional credits given to encourage new players to bet and become customers also would reduce revenue levels until 2027.
Cooper’s state budget proposal projects the state collecting $60 million through sports betting in the 2024-25 fiscal year. But the legislature’s fiscal staff paints a more conservative picture, with a $21 million net revenue boost in 2024-25 that doubles within three years.
The state’s proceeds would go to local, regional and state athletics initiatives, athletic programs at smaller University of North Carolina system schools and problem-gambling programs.
The bill cleared the committees after several amendments by bill opponents were rejected. Outside speakers attacked the measure in the judiciary committee, saying it would create a massive expansion of legalized gambling and more betting addictions that would harm tens of thousands of families and normalize the activity for children.
“Their favorite athletes are endorsing gambling. Every advertisement’s gambling,” Les Bernal, national director of the group Stop Predatory Gambling, told legislators. “You’re not a sports fan anymore unless you’re betting on the game.”
Brandt Iden, an executive with Fanatics Betting & Gaming supporting the measure, pushed back against Bernal’s comments.
“We do not support predatory gaming,” Iden said. “We do not support advocating for children getting involved in this.”
Rep. Abe Jones, a Wake County Democrat opposed to the measure, said pro-sports gambling forces appear to be in a better position compared to last year.
“I know the train is on the track and it’s going to happen,” Jones said. “I hope it will help our state more than it harms our state.”
Copyright 2023 WITN. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/2023/03/22/sports-gambling-proposal-moves-forward-state-house/ | 2023-03-22 22:20:29 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/2023/03/22/sports-gambling-proposal-moves-forward-state-house/ |
Construction simultaneously can be a good and bad thing. It has both a positive and negative effect on a community.
The construction boom in the Black community -- look at the Junction and Garfield Avenue, for example -- has had a debilitating affect. Most of the high-rise multi units come with 30- to 40-year PILOT (payments in lieu of taxes) agreements, or tax abatements, where these developers pay little or no taxes for years.
Second, these are luxury apartments -- rental units cloaked and marketed as affordable housing.
The question is affordable to whom?
Most people in the Black community cannot and will not afford to rent these units. An entirely different population will move into these units and many Blacks will be pushed out.
Third, the burden of the tax revenue loss caused by the PILOT agreements will be made up by the increase in taxes to be paid by the single-, two-family and multi-family homeowners.
Combine this with the artificially inflated and bloated Board of Education school budget in which teachers have either left, been dismissed, are on medical leave and/or retired, and the question becomes what is the basis for this $973 million budget, which has necessitated this huge tax increase? Put all this together and it makes for the perfect storm.
This is boys-play with your property tax dollars.
On its face, it is fiscal mismanagement.
City taxpayers, look at your tax bill. You ought to be outraged. The same thing Trump is doing for this country is the same thing Fulop is doing for this city and the Black community. Bringing it down.
It is time for a recall or simply not vote for him in 2025. Put this boy in a Space X rocket. And considering the mess he has made, do not consider him for the next governor.
Ronald J. Sullivan, Jersey City
Send letters to the editor and guest columns for The Jersey Journal to jjletters@jjournal.com. | https://www.nj.com/opinion/2022/11/get-the-space-x-rocket-ready-for-fulop-letter.html | 2022-11-14 15:17:08 | 0 | https://www.nj.com/opinion/2022/11/get-the-space-x-rocket-ready-for-fulop-letter.html |
Investment to Support North American Automotive Customers and Reduce Carbon Emissions by More Than One Million Tons a Year
GUTHRIE, Ky., May 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Novelis Inc., a leading sustainable aluminum solutions provider and world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, has broken ground on a $365 million investment to build a highly advanced recycling center for automotive in North America. With an annual casting capacity of 240 kt of sheet ingot, the facility is expected to reduce the company's carbon emissions by more than one million tons each year. The new recycling facility will add approximately 140 new jobs in Guthrie and will be built adjacent to Novelis' existing automotive finishing plant in Guthrie, Kentucky. The Guthrie automotive finishing facility currently employs 150 people and expects to grow to 190 employees over the next two years.
"This groundbreaking marks a major milestone in our ongoing commitment to sustainability and recycling, and also supports our automotive customers' carbon reduction targets," said Tom Boney, Executive Vice President and President of Novelis North America. "The Commonwealth of Kentucky continues to be a great partner to Novelis. We are proud to build on the rich 40-year history of our aluminum recycling operations in Kentucky, and look forward to deepening our relationships to ensure our facility has a lasting, beneficial impact in the region."
The new recycling center, expected to be operational in 2024, will be equipped with industry-leading processes and capabilities, including advanced shredding and sorting technology, as well as energy-efficient innovations to support the company's sustainability goal to reduce energy intensity by 10 percent by 2026 and be net carbon neutral by 2050 or sooner.
"We're grateful to have celebrated this occasion with our employees, community leaders and the great Commonwealth of Kentucky," said Tom Lilienthal, Guthrie Plant Manager.
Novelis welcomed nearly 100 attendees to its groundbreaking, including distinguished guests, Senator Paul, Governor Beshear, Representative Petrie, Representative Thomas, Morgan Alvey from Senator McConnell's office, Corey Elder from Congressman Comer's office, as well as Guthrie Mayor Jimmy Covington and Judge Todd Mansfield.
"I was thrilled to be a part of Novelis' groundbreaking on their new state-of-the-art facility that will create over 140 jobs for Kentuckians and allow the company to grow its recycling programs to serve customers all across the U.S. I look forward to watching Novelis' continued success in the Commonwealth and the economic prosperity it brings to Guthrie," said Senator Paul.
Novelis has a proud 40-year history of creating jobs in Kentucky and investing in local communities. In addition to its Guthrie automotive finishing facility, Novelis operates an aluminum beverage can recycling plant in Berea and the Logan Aluminum joint venture in Russellville - employing 1,600 people in the state.
"I am very pleased to have the opportunity to take part in this ground-breaking ceremony today for a project that will create 140 quality jobs for Kentucky residents," Gov. Andy Beshear said. "Novelis has seen rapid growth in our state, and this new recycling center in Todd County emphasizes the company's commitment to sustainability and job creation in the commonwealth. I want to thank the leaders at Novelis for this latest long-term commitment in our incredible workforce."
About Novelis
Novelis Inc. is driven by its purpose of shaping a sustainable world together. We are a critical partner providing innovative aluminum solutions to customers, and the world's largest roller and recycler of aluminum. Our ambition is to be the leading provider of low-carbon, sustainable aluminum solutions and to achieve a fully circular economy by partnering with our suppliers, as well as our customers in the aerospace, automotive, beverage can and specialties industries throughout North America, Europe, Asia and South America. Novelis had net sales of $12.3 billion in fiscal year 2021. Novelis is a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Limited, an industry leader in aluminum and copper, and the metals flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, a multinational conglomerate based in Mumbai. For more information, visit novelis.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this news release that describe Novelis' intentions, expectations or predictions may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include expectations to reduce carbon emissions by more than one million tons each year, the creation of 140 new jobs at Guthrie for the new recycling facility, and expectations to grow the rest of the workforce to 190 employees over the next two years. Novelis cautions that, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty. We do not intend, and we disclaim any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Important risk factors which could impact outcomes are included under the caption "Risk Factors" in the company's Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.
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SOURCE Novelis Inc. | https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_stocks/novelis-breaks-ground-on-365-million-advanced-recycling-center/article_d643620f-e059-5a36-8dd0-c3ac7bc1c853.html | 2022-05-02 23:13:01 | 0 | https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_stocks/novelis-breaks-ground-on-365-million-advanced-recycling-center/article_d643620f-e059-5a36-8dd0-c3ac7bc1c853.html |
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Prodigo Solutions is pleased to announce the release of its next generation EDI platform. Its healthcare clients continue to leverage EDI as a core enabler of their supply chain modernization initiatives, seeking to drive deeper penetration into their vendor communities to automate more transactions. This next generation EDI solution, Xchange, has significantly faster processing times with a smaller memory footprint to support an ever-increasing volume of EDI documents being transmitted between trading partners.
Prodigo's Xchange is a full-service, peer-to-peer electronic transaction messaging network designed to help trading partners rapidly exchange electronic transactions at a lower cost per transaction. To increase adoption, Prodigo provides a flexible messaging gateway to enable greater participation in B2B automation initiatives.
Dermot Pope, Vice President of Technology at Prodigo said, "We are excited to launch this new version of our Xchange. It provides a long runway for growth with our current clients and sets Prodigo up to support the growing demand for EDI integration across our trading partner community."
The goals for this modernization initiative were to increase capacity and reliability. In recently completed performance trials, the new Xchange platform reduced transaction processing time by 90% with an overall 40% reduction in resource consumption – all of which translates into improved service levels for Prodigo's clients.
"Prodigo has built a high-reliability trading network that lowers EDI costs, increases supplier participation, and provides total transparency and control over EDI initiatives," commented Tim Sutton, Prodigo's Manager, Client B2B Integration.
Xchange continues to attract large health systems and has seen a volume increase in onboarding suppliers.
In the past year, six leading health systems have selected to move to Prodigo's Xchange network for a variety of reasons – enhanced EDI automation; to grow their EDI footprint with trading partners; to improve vendor adoption of EDI to more quickly automate a greater percentage of supplier EDI transactions; to extend the functionality of Prodigo's Marketplace procurement platform; to consolidate supply-chain technology on a single platform; to streamline vendor onboarding; and to gain enhanced visibility and tools to maximize efficiency.
"With our Xchange, clients can leverage decision support tools to monitor supply chain efficiency, through-put, and vendor adoption and performance," added Sutton. "The network has become a central building block for many supply chain modernization and transformation strategies."
Xchange is one component of Prodigo's industry leading suite of applications that drive down supply chain costs and reduce the risks from clinical variation. To learn more about Xchange, visit www.prodigosolutions.com/EDI.
Prodigo Solutions is a healthcare technology company that improves providers' financial control and reduces supply chain cost. Prodigo Solutions' technology was purpose-built for healthcare by supply chain experts to deliver tangible results across a continuum of care. Customers who use our systems purchase more than $23 billion annually for the more than 700 hospitals they operate.
For additional information please contact:
Prodigo Solutions' Marketing Department
724-741-1900
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SOURCE Prodigo Solutions | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/09/29/prodigo-introduces-next-generation-edi-exchange-platform-healthcare/ | 2022-09-29 14:58:32 | 0 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/09/29/prodigo-introduces-next-generation-edi-exchange-platform-healthcare/ |
A premier partnership with the Painting Contractors Association (PCA) spotlights the stories of four professional women painters to initiate Behr Paint Company's pledge to amplify voices and support educational opportunities.
SANTA ANA, Calif., March 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, on International Women's Day, Behr Paint Company announces 'Women in Paint', a program created to highlight the company's commitment to elevating professional women painters' voices, celebrating their achievements, and inspiring the next generation. In partnership with the Painting Contractors Association (PCA), Behr seeks to help grow the presence of women in a male-dominated industry by spotlighting career-journeys and providing educational opportunities and training resources to women through the PCA's Women in Paint group.
"Women comprise only 10% of the building trades workforce nationally1, but this number is on the rise thanks to training programs and diversity and inclusion efforts that encourage more women to enter the skilled trades," said Jodi Allen, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Behr Paint Company. "By partnering with the PCA and spotlighting the stories of professional women painters, we hope to spark conversation around increasing the presence of tradeswomen and learn how we can be a stronger ally to women in the industry."
"Women are the unsung heroes, movers and shakers, doers and leaders in the painting industry," said Nigel Costolloe, Executive Director of PCA. "PCA is proud to partner with Behr on supporting Women in Paint."
To kick off this commitment, Behr worked with the PCA to produce an episode for its 'Business Anatomy' docu-series that highlights four professional women painters' journeys, capturing both their challenges and successes in the industry:
- Gillian Nielsen, President, Contemporary Surface Solutions, LLC (CSS): After starting her painting career residentially, Gillian became San Diego's first commercial painting forewoman and cultivated an expertise in management, project estimating and executive leadership throughout her 30-plus years in the commercial painting industry. Since her start, Gillian has been determined to break down barriers and pave the way for other women to follow her footsteps through mentoring and employing women painters. CSS is a woman-owned division for specialty finishes and is considered one of San Diego's top commercial painting contractors.
- Gina Koert, President, Shamrock Painting Inc. (SPI): In addition to having more than two decades of experience with people and project management, Gina served as Board Director and Chair of PCA. For the last year, Gina has served as Chair for the PCA Education committee where she laid the groundwork for creating Trade Best Practice and training videos. A strong believer in the power of positive culture in the workplace, Gina regularly develops internal work/life balance campaigns to assist employees achieve the balance of "working hard and playing hard."
- Billie Machain, Co-Owner/Managing Partner, Billie's Painting Solutions: After starting out with stocking duties in a paint store, Billie has served in the industry for 30 years and is now a co-owner of a commercial painting company, specializing in residential projects with her daughter. Their combined experience helps them see the big picture on the job and approach each project with a teamwork mindset.
- Veronica Tucci, Co-Owner/Managing Partner, Billie's Painting Solutions: While studying accounting at school, Veronica began working for a national paint manufacturer in 2008. She climbed the ranks from assistant manager to sales representative and had the opportunity to discover her true passion: helping people achieve their goals. Despite taking brief breaks to try sales and management, she always found her way back to the painting industry where her mom worked. In 2022, Billie and Veronica decided to take a chance and partner together to start their own painting company.
Behr plans to execute on its pledge to women paint contractors by providing in-person training events, helpful resources, and educational opportunities in the future. "There is a promising opportunity to increase the exposure and career growth of professional women painters, and we're focused on uplifting and inspiring future generations," said Allen.
For more information on the Women in Paint program, visit www.behr.com/womeninpaint.
About Behr Paint Company
Founded in 1947, Behr Paint Company is one of the largest manufacturers of paints, primers, decorative finishes, stains, surface preparation and application products for do-it-yourselfers and professionals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Santa Ana, Calif.-based company and maker of the BEHR®, KILZ®, WHIZZ® and E&J® brands is dedicated to meeting the project needs of DIYers, professionals, architects and designers with an unwavering commitment to quality, innovation and value. For more information, visit Behr.com. Professional contractors can visit BEHRPRO.com to learn about BEHR Products and BEHR PRO® Services. Behr Paint Company is a subsidiary of Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS).
Behr and the Behr logo are registered trademarks of Behr Process Corporation.
1 "Diversity in the Trades," Contractor Magazine, March 11, 2022.
Contact: BehrPRO@mbooth.com
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SOURCE Behr Paint Company | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2023/03/08/behr-paint-company-announces-commitment-celebrating-achievements-inspiring-next-generation-women-paint/ | 2023-03-08 14:18:52 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2023/03/08/behr-paint-company-announces-commitment-celebrating-achievements-inspiring-next-generation-women-paint/ |
WKYT Investigates: Student deaths in Rockcastle County
Students and staff at Rockcastle County Schools are dealing with extremely difficult circumstances - four separate tragedies under a tight time frame.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Students and staff at Rockcastle County Schools are dealing with extremely difficult circumstances - four separate tragedies under a tight time frame.
Between late February and late March, three of their students unexpectedly died and one of their families was involved in a murder-suicide.
To help their students and staff deal with these unexplainable and unexpected losses, district leaders are hosting a community conversation.
“Losing a friend is very difficult, no matter what age you are, but as a student and as a young child, it’s very hard to process that grief, so our role as a district is providing support for them,” says Dr. Carrie Ballinger, the superintendent of Rockcastle County Schools. “It’s heartbreaking to see kids grieve, and we want to be able to support them.”
That is why Dr. Ballinger organized a community conversation, outside school hours, with dozens of local counselors and mental health professionals. She hopes Thursday night’s event sparks other conversations that may help other community members.
Copyright 2023 WKYT. All rights reserved. | https://www.wymt.com/2023/04/13/wkyt-investigates-student-deaths-rockcastle-county/ | 2023-04-13 20:40:44 | 0 | https://www.wymt.com/2023/04/13/wkyt-investigates-student-deaths-rockcastle-county/ |
SAN ANTONIO — One of two suspects who allegedly made off with about $300,000 after holding up an armored truck at gunpoint last month has been taken into custody, authorities say.
According to San Antonio Police Department spokesperson Nick Soliz, 21-year-old Lawrence Eric Taylor has been charged with aggravated robbery stemming from the August 25 incident, which happened outside a Chase Bank along FM 78 near Seguin. Soliz said Taylor and the other, still-unidentified suspect disarmed the armored truck security personnel before taking "heavy money bags."
It's unclear at this point, however, if any of that money was recovered.
Authorities ran a search on the car the suspects took off in, eventually tracing it back to Taylor. When confronted by authorities at his residence, Soliz said, Taylor had a gun in one hand and a baby in the other.
He was taken into custody without incident. The second suspect remains on the run.
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Over the years, KENS 5 has worked to transform local news. Our cameras have been the lens bringing history into local viewers' homes. We're proud of our legacy as we serve San Antonians today.
Today, KENS 5 continues to set the standard in local broadcasting and is recognized by its peers for excellence and innovation. The KENS 5 News team focuses on stories that really matter to our community.
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Want to get in touch with someone at KENS 5? You can send a message using our Contacts page or email one of our team members. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/crime/armored-truck-robbery-san-antonoi-arrest-sapd-police/273-5c658c62-b831-4a19-9032-290ac83098b6 | 2022-09-16 04:28:02 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/crime/armored-truck-robbery-san-antonoi-arrest-sapd-police/273-5c658c62-b831-4a19-9032-290ac83098b6 |
Florida alligator hunting season: What to know
TAMPA, Fla. - Thousands of Floridians now have the opportunity to legally hunt alligators. The statewide gator hunting season begins Monday – and this time, hunters can target gators around the clock.
Before, gator season was limited to 17 hours a day, mostly at night. But earlier this year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission expanded it to 24 hours.
According to FWC, the change will allow more young and senior hunters to take part. Last year, hunters killed about 7,500 gators. Florida is home to an estimated 1.3 million of them.
Alligator season runs through Nov. 1, but not just anyone can participate. You'll need a permit and FWC has been accepting applications since May.
READ: Watch: Manatee swims behind alligator as pair peacefully co-exist at Myakka River State Park
It generally receives about 15,000 applications for around 7,000 permits. Each successful applicant will receive: an alligator trapping license, an area-specific harvest permit, and two CITES tags, allowing them to harvest two gators.
They cost $272 for Floridians and more than $1,000 for out-of-state hunters. Hunters are also required to report their harvest to FWC at the end of the season.
To apply for a permit, head over to: GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. | https://www.wogx.com/news/florida-alligator-hunting-season | 2022-08-15 13:28:41 | 0 | https://www.wogx.com/news/florida-alligator-hunting-season |
HONG KONG (AP) — The following are key events in the history of Hong Kong, which marked the 25th anniversary of its handover from British to Chinese rule on Friday.
China had promised the territory could retain its civil, economic and political liberties for 50 years under the “one country, two systems” framework. However, in recent years Beijing has severely limited rights to free speech and assembly and virtually eliminated political opposition under the rubric of maintaining national security.
— 1841: The Qing dynasty cedes Hong Kong Island to Britain after China’s defeat in the first Opium War. British administration begins the next year, helping to grow trade in goods from tea to porcelain, while China’s leadership deals with internal conflicts and increasing demands for foreign access to its enormous domestic market.
— 1860: The colony grows after the Qing cede Kowloon, a mountainous region opposite Hong Kong Island, to Britain after the second Opium War. China accedes to the demands after the imperial court is driven from Beijing and its famed Summer Palace is sacked, looted and torched by foreign troops.
— 1898: Britain leases the New Territories, a large area around Kowloon, from China for 99 years, or until 1997. The largely rural area provides a buffer against unrest within mainland China and greater economic viability for the colony as a whole. The lease also sets the clock ticking on Hong Kong’s eventual return to Chinese rule.
— 1941-45: Japan occupies Hong Kong until the end of World War II. British, Chinese and allied forces resisted for three weeks, but were forced to surrender against overwhelming odds. Along with anti-colonialism, rhetoric against Japanese wartime atrocities remains a central theme in the Communist Party’s nationalistic appeal.
— 1984: Britain agrees to return Hong Kong to China in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” framework that gives the city its own economic and political system for 50 years. The Sino-British Joint Agreement is registered with the United Nations, although Beijing now says it is null and void and rejects any foreign criticism as meddling in its internal affairs.
— 1997: Hong Kong is handed over to Chinese rule in a ceremony attended by Prince Charles and Chinese President Jiang Zemin. Hours later, People’s Liberation Army troops enter the city in a highly public display of China’s repudiation of colonial rule.
— 2003: In the largest protest since the handover, hundreds of thousands of citizens march against proposed national security legislation that would have criminalized “subversion” against the Chinese government. The bill was subsequently withdrawn in what was seen as a victory for civic organization and an indication of Beijing’s continued — although waning — tolerance for dissent.
— 2014: Protesters seeking direct elections for Hong Kong’s leader lay siege to government headquarters for 79 days but fail to win any concessions. The protests spawn a generation of young activists who will continue to push for greater freedoms against an increasingly intransigent Chinese leadership.
— 2017: Chinese leader Xi Jinping visits Hong Kong on the 20th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule, during which he delivers a speech declaring Beijing will accept no opposition. Long-time civil servant and close Beijing ally Carrie Lam becomes Hong Kong’s chief executive with a mandate to enforce China’s will, while maintaining the city’s status as an international business hub.
— 2019: Protests break out over proposed legislation that could have see Hong Kongers and foreign residents sent to mainland China for trials in a legal system beset with accusations of ill-treatment and forced confessions. While the bill is withdrawn, protests continue among mostly students and young people frustrated with a lack of representation and opportunities in one of the world’s most economically divided cities.
— 2020: Following a heavy crackdown on protesters, opposition figures and independent media, China’s rubber-stamp parliament imposes a sweeping National Security Law that jails thousands of government critics, with others seeking asylum abroad or being intimidated into silence. Changes to the makeup of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council ensure only “patriots” loyal to Beijing will have a voice.
— 2022: Former security chief John Lee is installed as Hong Kong’s chief executive following what was widely seen as a sham election in which he was the only candidate. Lee is among a number of Hong Kong and mainland Chinese officials under U.S. and European visa bans for their roles in cracking down on human rights in the territory. Authorities require new textbooks asserting that Hong Kong was never a British colony, claiming China never recognized the treaties over its status. The move is seen as an attempt to erase the memory of past freedoms and assert the ideology of China’s “great rejuvenation” that is central to Xi’s political agenda. | https://www.kark.com/news/ap-top-headlines/timeline-hong-kong-under-25-years-of-chinese-rule/ | 2022-07-01 13:52:18 | 0 | https://www.kark.com/news/ap-top-headlines/timeline-hong-kong-under-25-years-of-chinese-rule/ |
– Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2022 Highlighted by Another Record Loan Portfolio and Record Revenue, Net Interest Income and Net Income –
LONDON, ON, Dec. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - VersaBank ("VersaBank" or the "Bank") (TSX: VBNK) (NASDAQ: VBNK), a North American leader in business-to-business digital banking, as well as technology solutions for cybersecurity, today reported its results for the fourth quarter and year ended October 31, 2022. All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.
Consolidated and Segmented Financial Summary
HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2022
Consolidated
- Consolidated revenue increased 33% year-over-year and 14% sequentially to a record $24.3 million driven by higher interest income resulting substantially from loan portfolio growth, as well as higher non-interest income derived predominantly from the Bank's cybersecurity services operations, Digital Boundary Group ("DBG");
- Consolidated net income increased 9% year-over-year and 12% sequentially to a record1 $6.4 million as a function of higher revenue, which was partially offset by transitory strategic investments in several business development initiatives amounting to $1.8 million and higher income tax provisions of $1.1 million (which are expected to reduce in fiscal 2023), as well as higher provision for credit losses;
- Consolidated earnings per share decreased 4% year-over-year and increased of 15% sequentially to $0.23. The year-over-year decrease was due primarily to the impact of the issuance of 6.3 million common shares concurrent with the Bank's listing on Nasdaq in September 2021 (the "Common Share Offering"). Consolidated earnings per share was dampened by transitory strategic investments in several business development initiatives, which amounted to $0.06 per share, and higher income tax provisions, which amounted to $0.04 per share; and,
- On August 5, 2022, VersaBank received approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") to proceed with a Normal Course Issuer Bid ("NCIB") for its common shares through which the Bank may purchase for cancellation up to 1,700,000 of its common shares representing approximately 9.54% of its public float. On September 21, 2022, the NCIB was expanded to the Nasdaq Global Select Market. If fully executed, the impact of the NCIB will not have a material impact on the Bank's regulatory capital levels and ratios. The Bank had repurchased 195,300 shares under the NCIB as at October 31, 2022.
Digital Banking Operations
- Loans increased 42% year-over-year and 6% sequentially to a record $2.99 billion, driven primarily by growth in the Bank's Point-of-Sale ("POS") Financing portfolio, which increased 74% year-over-year and 11% sequentially;
- Digital Banking revenue increased 40% year-over-year and 12% sequentially to a record $22.5 million due primarily to loan growth;
- Net interest margin on loans decreased 28 bps, or 8%, year-over-year and decreased 4 bps, or 1% sequentially, to 3.03%, with both decreases due primarily to a shift in the Bank's funding mix and rising interest rates over the respective periods, as well as the Bank successfully executing on its strategy to grow its POS Financing portfolio, which were partially offset by generally higher yields earned on the Bank's lending portfolio due to rising interest rates. Net interest margin overall increased 8 bps, or 3%, year-over-year and increased 5 bps, or 2%, sequentially to 2.81% due to the more than offsetting impact on the aforementioned factors of the redeployment of available cash into higher yielding, low-risk securities; and,
- Provision for Credit Losses ("PCLs") as a percentage of average loans was 0.03%, compared with a 12-quarter average of 0.00%, which remains among the lowest of the publicly traded Canadian Schedule I (federally licensed) Banks.
DRTC (Cybersecurity Services and Banking and Financial Technology Development)
- Sales, which are generated entirely by DRTC's Cybersecurity Services business, Digital Boundary Group ("DBG"), increased 33% sequentially and decreased 8% year-over-year to $2.8 million due to the timing of engagements in the respective periods. Gross profit increased 48% sequentially and decreased 19% year-over-year to $1.7 million due to increased pricing on offered services and improvements in DBG's operational efficiency; and,
- Net loss was $0.5 million compared with net income of $0.5 million last year and a net loss of $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2022, with the higher gross profit from DBG being partially offset by higher salary and benefits expense associated with employee retention in a highly competitive labour market. Net loss for DRTC includes costs associated with strategic technology development investments for the Bank's Digital Banking operations. The operations of DBG on a stand-alone basis continue to be profitable.
HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE FULL FISCAL 2022 YEAR
Consolidated
- Consolidated revenue increased 26% year-over-year to a record $82.4 million due to higher net interest income generated by the Digital Banking operations (driven primarily by strong loan growth of 42% year-over-year) and higher non-interest income attributable to higher gross profit generated by DBG;
- Consolidated net income increased 1% year-over-year to a record $22.7 million as a function of higher revenue, which was partially offset by transitory strategic investments in several business development initiatives that amounted to $5.2 million, and higher income tax provisions, which amounted to $1.1 million (and which are expected to reduce in fiscal 2023); and,
- Consolidated earnings per share decreased 18% to $0.79 per share primarily due to the impact of the issuance of 6.3 million common shares concurrent with the Bank's listing on Nasdaq in September 2021. Earnings per share was dampened by transitory strategic investments in several business development initiatives, which amounted to $0.16 per share, and higher income tax provisions, which amounted to $0.04 per share (which are expected to reduce in fiscal 2023).
Digital Banking Operations
- Loans increased 42% year-over-year to a record $2.99 billion driven primarily by growth in the Bank's Point-of-Sale ("POS") Financing portfolio, which increased 74% year-over-year;
- Digital Banking revenue increased 28% year-over-year to a record $76.7 million;
- Net interest margin on loans decreased 27 bps, or 8%, year-over-year to 3.08% due primarily to a shift in the Bank's funding mix and rising interest rates over the period offset partially by generally higher yields earned on the Bank's lending portfolio due to rising interest rates. Net interest margin overall decreased 6 bps, or 2%, year-over-year to 2.70%, due to the partially offsetting impact on the aforementioned factors of the redeployment of available cash into higher yielding, low-risk securities;
- Provision for Credit Losses ("PCLs") as a percentage of average loans was 0.02%, compared with a 12-quarter average of 0.00%, which remains amongst the lowest of the publicly traded Canadian Schedule I (federally licensed) Banks; and,
- On June 14, 2022, VersaBank signed a definitive agreement to acquire Minnesota-based Stearns Bank Holdingford, N.A. ("SBH"), a privately held, wholly owned subsidiary of Stearns Financial Services Inc. ("SFSI") based in St. Cloud, Minnesota, for an estimated US$13.5 million (CA$18.4 million). The transaction is anticipated to close in the first half of calendar 2023, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval by both the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") in the U.S. and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, ("OSFI") in Canada.
DRTC (Cybersecurity Services and Banking and Financial Technology Development)
- Sales and gross profit, which are generated entirely by DBG, increased 14% to $9.8 million and 8% to $5.6 million, respectively; and,
- Net loss was $1.5 million compared with net income of $0.7 million in the prior year due primarily to higher costs related to investments in certain growth initiatives for the Digital Banking Operations, including the ongoing development of the Canadian-dollar version of VersaBank's Digital Deposit Receipts. Net loss for DRTC includes costs associated with strategic technology development investments for the Bank's Digital Banking operations. The operations of DBG on a stand-alone basis continue to be profitable.
HIGHLIGHTS SUBSEQUENT TO THE END OF THE FOURTH QUARTER
- Initiated an internal pilot program of a new model of its revolutionary Digital Deposit Receipts ("DDRs") (undertaken exclusively within Canada, the purpose of which the internal pilot program is to validate the security, processes, procedures and protocols of the Bank's new DDR model called "CADV" (for the Canadian-dollar version). The pilot program will limit deposits and transfers to senior VersaBank executives and members of the Bank's board of directors, all of whom reside in Canada; and,
- Completed submission of the requisite U.S. regulatory filings to the OCC and Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis seeking approval of its proposed acquisition of OCC-chartered U.S. bank, Stearns Bank Holdingford, and expects to submit is regulatory application to OSFI shortly. The Honorable Tom Ridge, former governor of Pennsylvania and first secretary of the U.S. Office of Homeland Security, has consented to serve as chair of the board of directors of VersaBank's post-acquisition subsidiary, VersaBank USA. The acquisition is expected to be completed during the first quarter of calendar 2023.
MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY
"Continued strong year-over-year growth in the fourth quarter capped off an outstanding year that saw 74% growth in our Point-of-Sale Loan and Lease portfolio, which contributed to our total loan portfolio growing 42% to a new high of $2.99 billion and which drove record net income of $22.7 million," said David Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer, VersaBank. "The fourth quarter was highlighted by the highest-ever levels of revenue, net interest income and net income, even with the dampening effect on our bottom line of transitory investments in multiple strategic growth initiatives we made throughout the year, which combined to reduce net income by $1.8 million, and a temporarily elevated tax rate. We expect to begin to see the contribution of these investments, which will be substantially completed during the current quarter, to profitability in fiscal 2023, as our tax rate declines early in the year."
"We enter 2023 with strong momentum and confidence in our ability to continue to generate strong growth in our loan portfolio that is in line with pre-2022 levels. We begin the year with nearly $3 billion in loans in our Canadian Digital Banking operations that we expect alone will drive continued strong earnings growth in 2023. Moreover, the significant strategic growth investments we made in 2022, most notably for the pending acquisition of a U.S. national bank and the launch of our Receivable Purchase Program ("RPP") in U.S., provide meaningful additional upside to earnings growth. We continue to be very encouraged by the limited launch of RPP in the U.S., confirming both the value proposition of the offering and the market opportunity, as we continue to plan for broad launch upon competition of our U.S. acquisition. Importantly, VersaBank was specifically designed to perform well in any economic environment – in fact, the Bank has a track record of performing even a little better in economic downturns as the requisite cautious stances of our banking peers give rise to additional opportunities that VersaBank is uniquely able to capitalize on due to the Bank's meaningfully lower risk profile."
Mr. Taylor added, "Additionally, we expect to see continued strong growth in revenue and gross profit and continued profitability at DBG as the demand for cybersecurity services continues to increase and DBG continues to expand its business activities with new and existing clients, while at the same time we continue to leverage the tremendous talent and assets within DRTC for growth initiatives within our Digital Banking operations."
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Consolidated
Net Income – Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 was $6.4 million, or $0.23 per common share (basic and diluted), compared with $5.7 million, or $0.20 per common share (basic and diluted) for the third quarter of fiscal 2022 and $5.9 million, or $0.24 per common share (basic and diluted), for the same period of fiscal 2021. The sequential and year-over-year increases were a function of higher revenue attributable primarily to lending asset growth offset partially by higher non-interest expense attributable to transitory investments in several business development initiatives, including the planned acquisition of a U.S. national bank, development and initial launch of the U.S. RPP, and the ongoing development of the Canadian-dollar version of VersaBank's Digital Deposit Receipts. These transitory investments are expected to be substantially completed in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 and expected to contribute to revenue and net income growth beginning in 2023. Higher non-interest expense was also the result of higher salary and benefits expense due to higher staffing levels to support expanded revenue-generating business activity across the Bank and higher costs associated with employee retention amidst the current challenging labour market. In addition, net income was dampened by temporarily elevated corporate income taxes resulting in the Bank's tax provision increasing incrementally, which was attributable to a higher effective income tax rate, which management anticipates will be reduced in fiscal 2023.
Digital Banking Operations
Net Interest Margin – Net interest margin (or spread) for the quarter increased to 2.81% from 2.76% for the third quarter of 2022 and 2.73% for the same period of fiscal 2021. The sequential and year-over-year increases were primarily the result of higher yields earned on the Bank's lending assets generally attributable to rising interest rates and management adjusting the Bank's liquidity management strategy to optimize average liquid/total asset ratios offset partially by higher cost of funds attributable to changes in the Bank's funding mix and rising interest rates.
Net Interest Margin on Loans – Net interest margin on loans for the quarter decreased 4 bps, or 1% sequentially, and decreased 28 bps, or 8%, year-over-year to 3.03%, with both decreases due primarily to a shift in the Bank's funding mix and rising interest rates over the respective periods, as well as the Bank successfully executing on its strategy to grow its POS Financing portfolio, which were partially offset by generally higher yields earned on the Bank's lending portfolio due to rising interest rates.
Net Interest Income – Net interest income for the quarter increased to a record $22.5 million from $20.1 million for the third quarter of 2022 and $16.1 million for the same period of fiscal 2021. The sequential and year-over year increases were due primarily to higher interest income earned on a significantly larger loan portfolio, higher yields earned on floating-rate lending assets amidst the higher interest rate environment, and the redeployment of available cash into higher-yielding, low-risk securities, which were partially offset by higher interest expense.
Non-Interest Expenses – Non-interest expenses for the quarter were $13.8 million compared with $13.2 million for the third quarter of 2022 and $10.4 million for the same period of fiscal 2021. The sequential and year-over-year increases were a function primarily of transitory investments in certain business development initiatives including, but not limited to, the acquisition of a U.S. national bank, the development and initial launch of the U.S. RPP and the ongoing development of the Canadian-dollar version of VersaBank's Digital Deposit Receipts, which in total added $1.8 million to non-interest expenses. Investments for the acquisition and integration of the operations of the U.S. national bank, including development of the U.S. RPP, are anticipated to be substantially completed by the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2023. The year-over-year trend was also a function of higher insurance premiums attributable to VersaBank's listing on the Nasdaq in September 2021, higher salary and benefits expense attributable to higher staffing levels to support expanded revenue generating business activity across VersaBank, higher costs associated with employee retention and higher office and facility related costs attributable to implementation of the Bank's return-to-work strategy.
Provision for/Recovery of Credit Losses – Provision for credit losses for the quarter was $205,000 compared to a provision for credit losses of $166,000 for the third quarter of 2022 and a recovery of credit losses of $279,000 for the same period of fiscal 2021. The sequential and year-over-year changes were a function primarily of higher lending asset balances and changes in the forward-looking information used by the Bank in its credit risk models offset partially by changes in the Bank's lending asset mix.
Capital – At October 31, 2022, VersaBank's total regulatory capital was $449 million compared with $438 million at July 31, 2022 and $419 million at October 31, 2021. The Bank's total capital ratio at October 31, 2022 was 16.52%, compared 17.05% at July 31, 2022 and 20.80% at October 31, 2021. The sequential and year over year capital ratio trends were a function primarily of retained earnings growth and changes to the Bank's risk-weighted asset balances and composition over the same periods.
Credit Quality – Gross impaired loans at October 31, 2022 were $0.3 million, all of which was repaid on November 1, 2022, compared with $1.4 million last quarter and $nil a year ago. The Bank's allowance for expected credit losses, ("ECL") at October 31, 2022 was $1.9 million compared with $1.7 million last quarter and $1.5 million a year ago. The quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year changes were a function primarily of the factors set out in the Provision for/Recovery of Credit Losses section above. VersaBank's Provision for Credit Losses ratio continues to be one of the lowest in the Canadian banking industry, reflecting the very low risk profile of the Bank's lending portfolio, enabling it to generate superior net interest margins by offering innovative, high-value deposit and lending solutions that address unmet needs in the banking industry through a highly efficient partner model.
Lending Operations: POS Financing – The POS Financing portfolio for the fourth quarter increased 11% sequentially and 74% year-over-year to $2.2 billion as a function primarily of continued strong demand for home finance, home improvement/HVAC receivable financing, and auto financing. Although consumer spending and business investment in Canada are expected to slow into 2023 due to rising interest rates combined with persistent inflation, management anticipates that consumers will continue to spend, albeit at a tempered rate relative to 2022 in the various sectors to which the Bank provides POS financing supported to some extent by residual savings accumulated over the course of the recent global pandemic. This consumer behaviour, combined with the anticipated addition of new origination partners in Canada, is expected to contribute to continued strong growth in the Bank's POS Financing portfolio in fiscal 2023 that is more consistent with pre-fiscal 2022 levels, however, lower than the outsized growth experienced in fiscal 2022.
U.S. Receivable Purchase Program: Despite elevated inflation, higher gas prices and supply chain disruptions in the U.S., continued momentum in the job market and higher wages are expected to mitigate material declines in consumer spending, which in turn will support stable demand for durable goods and agricultural products which is expected to continue to stimulate transportation equipment purchases. Additionally, despite a cooling of the residential home market in the U.S., overall construction activity is expected to continue to expand modestly in the coming year, including residential homes, rental apartments, commercial properties, and public infrastructure which is anticipated to support demand for construction equipment in the near term. Moreover, despite higher borrowing costs and inflation, pent-up demand is anticipated to be sufficient to support manufacturers continuing to invest in process and equipment productivity initiatives in order to fulfil the current pipeline of orders in several end-use markets, including industrial machinery, materials handling equipment, and construction equipment. Management is of the view that the anticipated U.S. macroeconomic and industry trends set out above will be supportive of healthy balance sheet growth in the U.S. over the course of fiscal 2023 via the Bank's U.S. RPP, which will be focused on the provision of commercial equipment financing over the course of the same period. The Bank's U.S. RPP launched in a limited manner in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 with a large, North American, commercial transportation financing business focused on independent owner/operators and subsequent to the end of the fiscal 2022 year added its second partner.
Lending Operations: Commercial Lending – The Commercial Lending portfolio for the fourth quarter decreased 6% sequentially and 7% year-over-year to $759 million as the Bank has taken a cautionary stance with respect to the Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") portfolio due to the anticipation of volatility in CRE asset valuations in a rising interest rate environment and the potential impact of same on borrowers' ability to service debt, as well as due to concerns related to inflation and higher input costs, which continue to have the potential to drive higher construction costs. VersaBank anticipates modest growth in the commercial mortgage sector specifically related to financing for residential housing properties over the course of fiscal 2023. Additionally, management anticipates more meaningful participation in the B-20 compliant conventional, uninsured mortgage financing space, however, does not expect this lending activity to impact the Bank's balance sheet until early fiscal 2023.
Deposit Funding – Cost of funds for the fourth quarter was 2.45%, an increase of 51 bps sequentially and 114 bps year-over-year which was attributable to a shift in the Bank's funding mix and a rising interest rate environment. Management expects that commercial deposit volumes raised via VersaBank's Trustee Integrated Banking ("TIB") program will grow moderately over the course of fiscal 2023 as a function of an increase in the volume of consumer bankruptcy and proposal restructuring proceedings over the same timeframe amidst a more challenging current and forecasted economic environment. Further, VersaBank continues to grow and expand its well-established, diverse deposit broker network through which it sources personal deposits, consisting primarily of guaranteed investment certificates. Commercial deposits at October 31, 2022 were $598 million, down 1% year-over-year and up 1% sequentially.
DRTC (Cybersecurity Services and Banking and Financial Technology Development)
Sales, which are generated entirely by DRTC's Cybersecurity Services business, Digital Boundary Group ("DBG"), increased 33% sequentially and decreased 8% year-over-year to $2.8 million, due to the timing of engagements in the respective periods. Gross profit increased 48% sequentially and decreased 19% year-over-year to $1.7 million due to increased pricing on offered services and improvements in DBG's operational efficiency. DRTC recorded a net loss for the quarter of $486,000 compared with a net loss of $662,000 for the third quarter of 2022 and net income of $490,000 for the same period of fiscal 2021. The sequential and year-over-year changes were a function primarily of higher salary and benefits expense attributable substantially to higher costs associated with employee retention in a highly competitive labour market, while the year-over-year change was also attributable to higher costs related to investments in specific growth initiatives, including the ongoing development of the Canadian-dollar version of VersaBank's Digital Deposit Receipts. Net loss for DRTC includes costs associated with strategic technology development investments for the Bank's Digital Banking operations. The operations of DBG on a stand-alone basis continue to be profitable.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
About VersaBank
VersaBank is a Canadian Schedule I chartered (federally licensed) bank with a difference. VersaBank became the world's first fully digital financial institution when it adopted its highly efficient business-to-business model in 1993 using its proprietary state-of-the-art financial technology to profitably address underserved segments of the Canadian banking market in the pursuit of superior net interest margins while mitigating risk. VersaBank obtains all of its deposits and provides the majority of its loans and leases electronically, with innovative deposit and lending solutions for financial intermediaries that allow them to excel in their core businesses. In addition, leveraging its internally developed IT security software and capabilities, VersaBank established wholly owned, Washington, DC-based subsidiary, DRT Cyber Inc. to pursue significant large-market opportunities in cyber security and develop innovative solutions to address the rapidly growing volume of cyber threats challenging financial institutions, multi-national corporations and government entities on a daily basis.
VersaBank's Common Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") and Nasdaq under the symbol VBNK. Its Series 1 Preferred Shares trade on the TSX under the symbol VBNK.PR.A.
Forward-Looking Statements
VersaBank's public communications often include written or oral forward-looking statements. Statements of this type are included in this document, and may be included in other filings and with Canadian securities regulators or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or in other communications. All such statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and any applicable Canadian securities legislation. The statements in this press release that relate to the future are forward-looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, many of which are out of our control. Risks exist that predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as several important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the strength of the Canadian and U.S. economy in general and the strength of the local economies within Canada and U.S. in which we conduct operations; the effects of changes in monetary and fiscal policy, including changes in interest rate policies of the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve; changing global commodity prices; the effects of competition in the markets in which we operate; inflation; capital market fluctuations; the timely development and introduction of new products in receptive markets; the impact of changes in the laws and regulations pertaining to financial services; changes in tax laws; technological changes; unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings; unexpected changes in consumer spending and savings habits; the impact of wars or conflicts including the crisis in Ukraine and the impact of the crisis on global supply chains; the impact of new variants of COVID-19 and the Bank's anticipation of and success in managing the risks implicated by the foregoing. For a detailed discussion of certain key factors that may affect our future results, please see our annual MD&A for the year ended October 31, 2022.
The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The forward-looking information contained in this document and the related management's discussion and analysis is presented to assist our shareholders and others in understanding our financial position and may not be appropriate for any other purposes. Except as required by securities law, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that is contained in this document and the related management's discussion and analysis or made from time to time by the Bank or on its behalf.
Conference Call
VersaBank will be hosting a conference call and webcast today, Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. (EST) to discuss its fourth quarter results, featuring a presentation by David Taylor, President & CEO, and other VersaBank executives, followed by a question and answer period.
Dial-in Details
Please call between 8:45 a.m. and 8:55 a.m. (EST).
Webcast Access: For those preferring to listen to the conference call via the Internet, a webcast of Mr. Taylor's presentation will be available via the internet, accessible here https://app.webinar.net/8eaAkKpz0Xl or from the Bank's web site.
Instant Replay
The archived webcast presentation will also be available via the Internet for 90 days following the live event at https://app.webinar.net/8eaAkKpz0Xl and on the Bank's web site.
Visit our website at: www.versabank.com
Follow VersaBank on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter
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SOURCE VersaBank | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/12/07/versabank-reports-record-fourth-quarter-fiscal-2022-financial-results/ | 2022-12-07 12:45:34 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/12/07/versabank-reports-record-fourth-quarter-fiscal-2022-financial-results/ |
Judge approves class certification for Hideaway Hills homeowners in class-action lawsuit against state
RAPID CITY, S.D., Sept. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A South Dakota judge has awarded class certification to all owners of homes rendered worthless by unstable underground mines operated by the state of South Dakota.
The ruling on Thursday means all 158 homeowners in the Hideaway Hills neighborhood in Black Hawk, South Dakota, are part of the class-action lawsuit unless they opt out. A lawsuit filed by the Fox Rothschild law firm will now proceed demanding that the state pay full value of each home based upon the fair market value of the home before the collapse incident, plus lost opportunity costs. Homeowners can participate in the lawsuit without impacting any claims they might have against other defendants.
Obtaining class certification is a major milestone and follows extensive work by geological experts to document the imminent dangers faced by all homes in the neighborhood and the challenges that homeowners would face pursuing individual lawsuits. Circuit Court Judge Kevin Krull previously ruled that the plaintiffs "demonstrated that their injuries likely will be redressed by a favorable decision – i.e., an award of damages, based on their constitutional right to individually bring an inverse condemnation case against the State."
"This has been a living nightmare for every family in this neighborhood," said lead attorney Kathleen Barrow. "The judge carefully reviewed the detailed findings from geological experts and agreed that a class-action lawsuit is the best way for homeowners to obtain justice. We look forward to the next phase of this litigation and continuing to seek a fair resolution for members of the class."
The underground dangers were exposed in April 2020 when an abandoned gypsum mine collapse opened a large hole near East Daisy Drive. According to geological and engineering analysis, correcting the subsurface dangers would require removing the homes, which would cost more than the homes are worth with no guarantee that the remediation would work. Mounting a lawsuit would be too costly for any individual homeowner. As a class-action lawsuit, those costs would be shared by all of the plaintiffs.
The case is Andrew Morse and John and Emily Clarke et al. v. State of South Dakota et al., No. 46CIV-20-000295 in the Meade County 4th Judicial District.
Fox Rothschild has grown to a 950-lawyer national law firm with 27 offices by focusing on client service and responsiveness and by attracting bright and creative lawyers who know how to deliver. More information at foxrothschild.com.
Contact:
Robert Tharp
robert@androvett.com
800-559-4534
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SOURCE Fox Rothschild | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/09/19/south-dakota-homeowners-win-key-ruling-lawsuit-over-dangers-caused-by-unstable-underground-mines/ | 2022-09-19 15:46:56 | 0 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/09/19/south-dakota-homeowners-win-key-ruling-lawsuit-over-dangers-caused-by-unstable-underground-mines/ |
Students gear up for robotics competition at DECC
High school teams compete for a spot at the championships
DULUTH, MN. (Northern News Now) - Teens from 50 different schools around the region are at the DECC in Duluth this week putting their robotic creations to the test.
More than 2,500 students are competing at the Duluth Regionals to earn a spot at the world championships in Houston, Texas.
It’s the largest competition under one roof outside of the world championships, according to Bruce Fehringer, a local organizer for Duluth’s competition.
Behringer is one of the local organizers of the FIRST Robotics competition. FIRST, or “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology” is an international youth organization that aims to inspire students in the fields of engineering and technology.
Thursday was the first day with robots being in the pits.
Teams demonstrate their skill in science, mathematics, and technology during the competition by collaborating to figure out the best way to accumulate the most points in 3v3 team matches.
“Our events are the culmination of countless hours of preparation by our teams of students, coaches, and mentors,” said Collin Fultz, Senior Program Director of FIRST Robotics Competition, adding, “The event is part competition and part celebration of what our teams have achieved this year. While only a few teams at the event will be crowned champions, all of our participants will leave the season as better problem-solvers, more gracious professionals, and more prepared to tackle the challenges of the future.”
With a limited timeframe, students work with professional engineering mentors to design and build a robot.
The robot must solve problems using a standard kit of parts while following a set of rules.
“Robotics is really fun, especially in first because there’s a new challenge every year, and it’s a high-stress, high-risk, but high reward,” said Caleb Hassebrock, the Safety Captain of the Duluth East Daredevils.
“We’ve seen so many lives changed by being part of a team that allows them to find out more about that they do like the technical as well as it’s a business, so they gain other skills. So it’s a great opportunity for them to get life experiences,” said Fehringer.
The competition itself kicks off on Friday and will run Saturday too.
The top teams earn a spot in the championships next month in Houston.
Copyright 2023 Northern News Now. All rights reserved. | https://www.valleynewslive.com/2023/03/03/students-gear-up-robotics-competition-decc/ | 2023-03-04 01:56:51 | 0 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/2023/03/03/students-gear-up-robotics-competition-decc/ |
COLUMBUS, Ohio — An investigation is underway after each of the Ohio GOP senators were mailed feces; however, the envelopes were intercepted Thursday before reaching the lawmakers.
The Statehouse mail room received most of the excrement-filled letters, but the Cleveland and Akron post offices intercepted a few. The return addresses were fake, Senate GOP spokesperson John Fortney said.
“We’re assuming human,” Fortney said, after being asked by statehouse reporter Morgan Trau if the feces came from a human or an animal.
The whole situation is ridiculous, he added.
“I’m really angry about it,” Fortney said. “These are a bunch of little scared, little cowards that wouldn’t say s*** or a thing to you face-to-face, right, they would rather send it in the mail.”
The U.S. Postal Inspector is investigating this federal crime, he added.
“The OHP has been notified, and as always, the safety of all 33 members of the Senate, their staff and statehouse employees remains a priority,” he said.
There were no certain public policy issues, like abortion or gun access, written in the letter, Fortney said, but he doesn’t know if there were any threats or expletives targeting the legislators.
State Sen. Kristina Roegner, a Republican from Hudson, said she trying to be understanding.
“There are other things going on and I don’t want to make myself seem like a victim,” she said. “I understand that people are very passionate right now.”
A few Republicans said they are assuming the feces envelopes line up with Roegner’s six-week abortion ban going into effect.
“This is a highly charged and emotional issue, there’s passion on both sides,” the lawmaker continued. “But we need to engage in civil discourse.”
This calls into consideration the safety of not only the elected members of the Senate, but their staffers and every employee of the Ohio Statehouse, Fortney said.
It reminded the spokesperson of when anthrax attacks happened through the mail after 9/11.
“You’re talking about any type of biohazard, and also, what if this had been blood that was contaminated with hepatitis C or some other contaminant and people were exposed to it?” he said. “It was just uncalled for.”
There are some companies online that let anyone send feces through the mail discreetly, but Fortney didn’t know if they were looking into that.
The Statehouse team is determining if there will be heightened security measures for the staff.
As of right now, only the senators received the feces, not the representatives, Fortney said. That would probably take a lot more time and be a lot more expensive.
Follow statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on Twitter and Facebook.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/feces-assumed-to-be-human-sent-to-ohio-gop-senators-through-mail/CLW6IVX2EVGPLIL4S4KEHDVOUE/ | 2022-07-08 17:06:23 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/feces-assumed-to-be-human-sent-to-ohio-gop-senators-through-mail/CLW6IVX2EVGPLIL4S4KEHDVOUE/ |
Senate negotiators are racing to finalize an agreement on a narrow set of gun control proposals with a goal of finishing their work before the week's end.
Members of a bipartisan group of senators on Tuesday shuttled between negotiations, party briefings and White House conversations under intense political pressure to get a deal.
Negotiators have narrowed their talks to a slim set of proposals to address school safety and set standards for safe gun storage while providing some federal support for mental health programs and incentives for states to create so-called red flag laws to remove guns from potentially dangerous owners. The talks also included some possible expansions to federal background checks for younger people seeking to buy guns.
The talks played out behind closed-doors on Capitol Hill while families and victims of gun violence testified in public hearings about the damage guns wreaked on their lives.
Garnell Whitfield Jr., the son of Ruth Whitfield, who was killed by a gunman last month in the mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, N.Y., was among family members who began a two-day stretch of testimony and appearances on Capitol Hill. As lawmakers talked, he pleaded for them to do more than stand idly by as gun violence ruins lives.
"My mother's life mattered," Whitfield told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "You are actions here today would tell us how much it matters to you."
As Whitefield spoke, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., one of the lead negotiators for Democrats, traveled to the White House to brief President Biden on their progress. Murphy later told reporters that his goal was to keep Biden in the loop but lawmakers themselves are in control of the negotiations.
"He's giving us the space to negotiate the deal but we obviously need the president's support and signature," Murphy said. "We don't have an agreement, we don't have anything to present to our colleagues or the White House. Yet."
Earlier in the day, Murphy told ABC's The View that there is support among members for raising the legal age for purchasing semiautomatic weapons to 21, though he is "sober-minded" about the challenges of reaching a bipartisan deal.
"We are trying to figure out if there is something we can do with this population that is 18 to 21, that tends to be the profile of a mass shooter, to make sure there is the ability to find out if there are any red flags or warning signs before they get their hands on a weapon," Murphy said.
Also on Tuesday, lawmakers gathered on the National Mall and called for gun reform beside a memorial of flowers commemorating the 45,000 lives lost to gun violence each year.
And actor Matthew McConaughey, a native of Uvalde, Texas, where a shooter killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school two weeks ago, made an emotional call for Congress to act on guns at the White House daily news briefing.
"We are in a window of opportunity right now that we have not been in before. A window where it seems like real change, real change can happen," McConaughey said. "I'm here today in the hopes of applying what energy, reason and passion that I have into trying to turn this moment into a reality."
Schumer expects an agreement by the end of the week
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters on Tuesday that Murphy expects to come to an agreement with Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas by the end of the week "and I expect to give him that time."
"I have a lot of faith in Senator Murphy and the other Democrats who are negotiating. I don't think that they would bring us a deal that has no teeth," Schumer said.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters that he hopes Murphy and Cornyn come up with a measure that tackles mental health and school safety, but it's too soon to speculate how many GOP senators would be on board with what they propose.
Biden, himself, has issued a high bar for what he wants to see pass out of Congress, including a ban on assault weapons, a ban on high-capacity magazines, background checks, red flag laws, and a repeal of the immunity that protects gun manufacturers from legal liability if their weapons are used in violence.
In the Senate, lawmakers are beginning to negotiate pieces of the wish list, like incentives for states to implement their own red flag laws.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told reporters grant money for red flag laws is intended to encourage states to pass the legislation and to give them the tools and funding they need to actually implement the laws once they are on the books. Blumenthal said even states that already have red flag laws, like New York, need more resources to make sure the programs do an effective job of getting guns out of the hands of people who should not have them.
"The law in New York probably was not implemented as effectively as it should be because they didn't invest in it," Blumenthal said. "So the money is important not just as an incentive but as an implementing enabler."
Lawmakers are also attempting to reach a deal on changes to the National Instant Background Check system, known as NICS. One proposal is to include previously sealed juvenile criminal records in the overall vetting process. Some lawmakers say that could help ensure the system has a better picture of a young would-be gun buyer. Aides say adding juvenile information is a way of addressing concerns about the minimum age for purchasing weapons without actually changing the requirements.
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of the Republican negotiators, said that information is already included in background checks in South Carolina but he would not say if he supports adding the measure to any federal legislation.
Lawmakers are still working on the details of how to fund the programs in the bill and whether Republicans will require the money to be offset with cuts to spending on other programs.
Conversations continue on the House side
The House Oversight and Reform Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday morning to "examine the gun violence epidemic in the United States" featuring two panels of witnesses from Uvalde and Buffalo.
Slated to speak before the lawmakers are Zeneta Everhart, mother of a survivor of the Buffalo shooting. Also on the list are Felix and Kimberly Rubio, parents of Lexi Rubio — a 10-year-old killed in the Robb Elementary mass shooting in Uvalde — and Miah Cerrillo, a fourth-grade student at Robb Elementary who survived the attack.
The hearing will also feature testimony from New York City Mayor Eric Adams and National Education Association President Becky Pringle.
The hearing comes after members of the House advanced their own gun reform bill, H.R. 7910, out of the Judiciary Committee last week as Biden addressed the nation in a prime-time speech calling for bills to be passed.
The bill, dubbed the Protecting Our Kids Act, and a second bill, the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, which would nationalize red flag laws, were also being debated by the House Rules Committee Tuesday afternoon.
The full House could vote as early as this week on the bills, according to a letter sent on Friday to members by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. The prospect of those measures making any headway in the Senate are bleak.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.knau.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-06-07/senate-gun-law-negotiators-working-toward-a-deal-by-the-end-of-the-week | 2022-06-07 21:17:05 | 1 | https://www.knau.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-06-07/senate-gun-law-negotiators-working-toward-a-deal-by-the-end-of-the-week |
Mason City police investigating human remains found
Published: Jul. 6, 2023 at 6:10 PM CDT|Updated: 43 minutes ago
MASON CITY, Iowa (KTTC) – Police in Mason City are investigating human remains that were found Thursday afternoon.
According to a Facebook post, MCPD officers were called to the 200 block of 7th Street NE at 2:10 p.m. While on scene, officers found human remains. The department said the are working with the medical examiner.
No identity or preliminary cause of death were released. Mason City police said they will have more information in a press release on Friday morning.
Copyright 2023 KTTC. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2023/07/06/mason-city-police-investigating-human-remains-found/ | 2023-07-06 23:54:17 | 0 | https://www.kttc.com/2023/07/06/mason-city-police-investigating-human-remains-found/ |
by: D. Malik Posted: Jun 17, 2022 / 08:18 AM EDT Updated: Jun 17, 2022 / 08:18 AM EDT SHARE Philadelphia (WPHL)- Philadelphia Fire Dept. and Local 22 join our Morning News show to discuss their campaign called “Fill in the Boot.” Close Modal Suggest a Correction Your name(required) Your email(required) Report a typo or grammatical error(required) Submit Δ Suggest a Correction | https://phl17.com/phl17-news/philadelphia-fire-dept-local-22-campaign-to-help-local-kids/ | 2022-06-17 14:23:03 | 1 | https://phl17.com/phl17-news/philadelphia-fire-dept-local-22-campaign-to-help-local-kids/ |
The Christian Television Network Aims to Reach New Audiences with the Re-Launch of Bethel Plus
BOSTON, Dec. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TVCoins announces that it was selected by Bethel Televisión to carry out the new development and re-launch of Bethel Plus, a new Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) platform. Bethel Plus is available to download today on iOS, Android, and Roku devices.
Founded in 1998, Bethel Televisión offers a variety of original content with the goal of strengthening moral and spiritual values. The network focuses its programming in the areas of education, health, and culture. After launching a streaming service two years ago with a third-party vendor, Bethel Televisión made the decision to re-launch the platform – this time with the support of TVCoins.
"We're very happy with our decision to re-launch the Bethel Plus app with TVCoins,'' explained Miguel Ángel Ángeles, CEO of Bethel Televisión. "This customized app will support our goal of reaching audiences around the world. I appreciate the dedicated and efficient support that the TVCoins team provided throughout the process," added Miguel.
On December 17, Bethel Televisión officially announced the new Bethel Plus app at its annual community event, "Lanzamiento de Lema", with thousands in attendance. Coverage of the event was broadcasted live on Bethel Plus, where they discussed the network's ongoing globalization efforts.
Bethel Televisión is also developing premium content specifically for the new streaming service. Bethel Plus viewers were given exclusive access to a newly released feature film, "Padre de Mentira", which can only be viewed on the app. In addition to new content, several past series will be re-uploaded to the app and an additional live channel will also be implemented.
"Uploading exclusive content will help motivate Bethel's existing audience to switch to the app," said Gustavo Marra, Chief Revenue Officer of TVCoins. "It presents a clear value-add that can be very effective in changing viewing habits."
TVCoins is a free, white-label video streaming platform that delivers live content and video on-demand through an app for Connected TV and mobile platforms. The ad-powered platform-as-a-service (PaaS) is fully managed and features a viewer incentive program that rewards viewers for time spent watching video content. Visit our website to learn more.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE TVCoins | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/12/28/tvcoins-selected-by-bethel-televisin-deploy-its-global-streaming-platform/ | 2022-12-28 14:11:11 | 1 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/12/28/tvcoins-selected-by-bethel-televisin-deploy-its-global-streaming-platform/ |
After witnessing the horrors of war during three tours of combat duty in Iraq and even more suffering while responding to emergencies as a firefighter/paramedic, Exeter Fire Lt. Stephen Holmes is now leading a new fight on the homefront.
The 36-year-old Holmes is on a life-saving mission to raise awareness of mental health issues among first responders. It’s a mission that’s deeply personal, as he spent 15 years battling post-traumatic stress disorder before he was able to find ways to overcome his struggles in order to heal and grow.
“We see some pretty awful stuff. We don’t give ourselves enough credit for what we go through,” Holmes said as he delivered his message to a group of first responders last week during a presentation hosted by the Kingston Fire Department and open to several local departments.
Holmes is at a point in his life where he’s willing to share his painful experience with anyone who will listen, but has been focused primarily on speaking to fire departments and others in public safety that have invited him in hopes of sounding the alarm on a problem that too many ignore.
A Sandown native, Holmes joined the Exeter Fire Department in 2011 after serving in the Marine Corps as an infantryman and squad leader. It was his experiences with death, explosions, fear and other struggles on the battlefield that left him mentally scarred and sent him on a downward spiral.
After returning from his second deployment, he said he noticed that something inside him had changed. He was depressed. He had mood swings. He was angry, paranoid and felt like he was in a constant state of fight or flight.
“There was a beast inside me that I couldn’t control,” he recalled.
But Holmes didn’t recognize his battle within himself as a problem because many of his friends were feeling the same way.
“This is what it was supposed to feel like,” he said.
By the time he was deployed for the third time at age 21, Holmes was convinced that he would die in Iraq like so many others he had known, but he survived and returned home.
What he didn’t realize at the time was that his personal struggles had only just begun.
He was diagnosed with PTSD at the Manchester VA Medical Center, but said he didn’t hear from the center again for five years.
In the meantime, he was left to figure out how to begin living again with some help from a therapist.
Holmes married his sweetheart and decided to pursue a career in fire service. He was hired in Exeter when he was 25, but his struggle with PTSD continued.
“I didn’t know how to connect with people. I felt like I didn’t fit in here. I just kept reliving it over and over. I didn’t want to be looked at as broken so I kept it all in. I never let anyone know what I was thinking. I just felt toxic, like I was a cancer,” he said.
Holmes admitted that he hated himself and had considered taking his own life several times.
As a firefighter/paramedic, he recalled how he responded to teenage suicides and didn’t feel impacted like his peers. He was simply numb, but he hit a breaking point following an experience at the hospital where he was surrounded by people who were crying after a teenager’s suicide death and he didn’t feel it at all.
“I just felt broken and I was ashamed of myself. That was when it hit me,” he said.
When he went on another emergency call, Holmes said he no longer trusted himself or his mental capacity, so he stepped away from his job to focus on his own mental health.
As he searched for ways to deal with his struggles, he discovered the healing effects of meditation. It didn’t work at first, he said, but soon he began to realize its effectiveness, and for the first time, he felt at peace.
“My mind cleared and my thoughts disappeared and I became calm. I finally turned my fight or flight off. It was so profound. I felt safe for the first time in 15 years. I forgot what it was like to feel safe,” he said. “I just felt overall calmer, clearer. I finally felt like I came home.”
Meditation turned out to be a positive life-changing experience for Holmes as it made him more aware of the triggers in his life. While Holmes found meditation works for him, he stressed that what’s most important is that first responders acknowledge the difficulties of the job and find some way to take care of themselves.
“This is an incredibly tough profession, and it’s going to catch up with you. It’s like thinking you’re going to walk through water and not get wet. There’s a ton of pressure put on our shoulders, especially the medics. We go to people’s homes. We see hurt people. We see dying people. To deny that it affects you, you’re just lying to yourself,” he said.
For Holmes, speaking publicly about his experience has been therapeutic, but he hopes he’s made a difference for some who may be struggling.
“I wish more people would share their story,” he said.
Kingston Fire Chief Graham Pellerin, who asked Holmes to speak, recalled how when he joined the fire service over 20 years ago it wasn’t common for members to be open and talk about their feelings. But that’s been changing over the years as a push has been made to focus more on mental health.
“We do see a lot of stuff that people don’t see and don’t want to see. Being able to talk to somebody and get that help is important,” he said.
East Kingston Fire Chief Ed Warren, who attended the presentation, said PTSD is a much larger issue than most people think.
“Most people with PTSD don’t realize they are dealing with it. It is up to everyone — all of us — to look out for each other and help. Sometimes just being there is help,” he said, adding that it’s important to recognize that PTSD is nothing to hide from or be ashamed of.
“It’s part of you, so we need to make it part of us so we can all move forward and live better, healthier lives,” he said. “What is affecting people today is usually brought on by something that happened months or years earlier.”
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis in New Hampshire should contact the New Hampshire Rapid Response Access Point, a 24/7 call center, by calling or texting 1-833-710-6477.
They can also get help by calling the 988 suicide prevention and crisis lifeline or online at www.nh988.com. | https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/firefighter-is-on-a-mission-to-raise-awareness-of-first-responders-mental-health-issues/article_7ae07bda-3fab-58ca-9fd4-e081b1a6f550.html | 2023-03-14 01:38:41 | 1 | https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/firefighter-is-on-a-mission-to-raise-awareness-of-first-responders-mental-health-issues/article_7ae07bda-3fab-58ca-9fd4-e081b1a6f550.html |
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