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HONG KONG, April 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
I - Statement purpose
In light of significant and at times misleading market speculation and reports regarding Ping An's relations with and views about HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC or HSBC Group), Ping An Asset Management Company (PAAMC) wishes to publicly clarify its ownership stance on HSBC.
II - HSBC performance
PAAMC has been a long-term investor in HSBC having initiated the position in 2015. Despite initial optimism, PAAMC grew increasingly concerned about HSBC's deteriorating operating performance, marked underperformance against a credible peer group, damaging dividend policy adjustments, market value decline and tepid response to global business model challenges.
Consequently, since 2020 we have strengthened our engagement with HSBC, participating in communications through various channels and we have presented a raft of detailed considered suggestions designed to help HSBC enhance its value, mitigate risks and increase its focus on more Asia development opportunities.
After years of persistent effort, PAAMC is heartened to see HSBC's most recent results improving and its management embracing a number of our suggestions since we intensified our communication, such as:
- Exited some business lines: Announced exits of some ex-Asia business lines that were underperforming and/or lacked synergies, such as US retail and Canada. However, the frictional challenges of exiting problematic ex-Asia businesses, recently exemplified by French retail disposal issues, underscores why a more radical broader structural solution to unburden HSBC's Asia business is needed which has greater execution feasibility.
- Improved its peer benchmarking system: Changed its peer group benchmarking to increase the number of Asian banks in its benchmarking peer group from one to four, so as to more accurately reflect HSBC's mix of business.
- Implemented reform of executive remuneration: Implemented the reform of executive remuneration standards to include "Asia RoTE (return on average tangible equity)" to HSBC's latest annual KPIs for executives and link it to executive remuneration.
- Promoted the reform of its long term incentive plan: Raised management's long-term incentive plan RoTE target range from 8%-11% to a more demanding 13%-15.5%.
- Committed to resume quarterly dividends: Committed to resuming quarterly dividend payments from the first quarter of 2023 and plans to pay a special dividend in 2024.
However, despite improving financial performance improvements in 2022, we remain deeply concerned about HSBC on five fronts.
Firstly, HSBC's absolute performance improvement has been driven mostly by interest rate rises which are now likely to peak. HSBC's reported 4% rise in Operating Revenue in 2022 was purely driven by interest rate linked net interest margin (NIM) expansion, which drove a 23% rise in net interest income (NII) despite average interest earning assets falling 0.3% YoY. In fact, non-interest income fell 17% in 2022.
Secondly, HSBC Group and HSBC Asia performance continues to significantly underperform peers despite absolute performance improving. In 2022, HSBC Group underperformed global peers on key performance metrics having reported a RoTE of 9.9% (vs. 12.5% global peer average), Cost Income Ratio (CIR) of 64.4% (vs. 55.2% global peer average) and revenue growth of 4.4% (vs. 9.2% global peer average). The underperformance gap was even starker for HSBC's Asia operations which in 2022 only delivered a RoTE of 10.5% (vs. 13.8% Asia peer average). HSBC's relatively poor performance in Asia was hurt by a high CIR (54% vs. 38% Asia peer average) and a low NIM that was dragged down by the bank's relatively high exposure to lower yielding interbank assets (14% vs. 7% average for Asia peers).
Thirdly, HSBC management's RoTE and cost targets are not sufficient. HSBC management is only targeting >12% RoTE for 2023 onwards which is the level already surpassed by its selected peer group two financial reporting years earlier in 2021 (12.8% average) when the interest rate environment was less favorable. Furthermore, HSBC's ambition to grow adjusted costs at c.3% in FY23 from $30.5bn does not seem sufficient given the Group's relatively high CIR at both at HSBC Group and HSBC Asia level that has been compounded seemingly by high group head office expenses (3% of revenue vs 1% peer average in 2021, as no 2022 number disclosed by HSBC) and excessive headcount (HSBC currently has 219,199 full-time equivalent staff or FTEs versus the original 2022 FTE target of 200,000 which was dropped by management). In addition, the management has not addressed the apparent lack of scale - and thus structurally high costs - in some of the sub-scale/ peripheral market positions (for example, CIR was 88% in Singapore[i], 68% in Mainland China, 84% in US, and 113% in Europe non-ring fenced bank).
Fourthly, HSBC management has failed to fundamentally address key business model challenges. These challenges include weak localization, excessive cost base, capital inefficiencies, and elevated geopolitical tensions.
Fifthly, HSBC Group has drained HSBC Asia of dividends and growth capital to support its relatively low return non-Asia businesses. Over the past three years, HSBC Asia has upstreamed 61% of its cumulative profits to HSBC Group. The US$16bn worth of dividends upstreamed by HSBC Asia to HSBC Group over the past 3 years is more than 1.1x the total dividends that HSBC Group paid out to shareholders over that period. In effect, HSBC Asia has been subsidizing the Group's relatively low return non-Asia businesses, which have taken up over half of the Group's overall Risk-Weighted Assets (RWA) over the last three years, but contributed only 14% of profits. While HSBC has exited some non-core operations, these exited businesses are very small (only 4.7% of RWA), hence the Group still has 51% of RWA outside of Asia which generates only a quarter of the returns that the Asia business does (pre-tax return on RWA for ex-Asia 0.9% vs 3.4% Asia).
III – Strategic restructuring options
It is necessary for HSBC to push for structural reform to fundamentally address HSBC's underlying market competitiveness issues, improve performance, enhance value and accelerate growth opportunities in Asia.
In recent years, numerous shareholders have repeatedly suggested that HSBC management should spin off HSBC's Asian business into a separately listed entity that is Hong Kong headquartered. We believe that such a proposal which grants the Asia business more autonomy merits serious consideration following years of underperformance and underinvestment. Over the past 2 years, PAAMC has also shared numerous structural suggestions with HSBC management ranging from listing the HSBC Asia business in Hong Kong to consolidating Asia businesses.
After careful study of the spin-off solution proposed by numerous shareholders, and listening carefully to feedback and opinions from HSBC and market professionals, we suggest that the original spin-off solution be adjusted to a strategic restructuring solution, which can fully address HSBC's concerns, including but not limited to global value destruction, surging operating costs and legal barriers.
Each solution suggested by PAAMC adheres to two principles: Firstly, HSBC Group would still remain the controlling shareholder of a separately listed Asia headquartered Bank in order to preserve global business line synergies. Secondly, each structural solution would deliver material benefits to the Group's shareholders including valuation unlock, capital relief, long-term efficiency gains, geo-political risk mitigation and competitive repositioning.
Despite sharing multiple suggestions with HSBC, we have been extremely disappointed by HSBC management's consistent closed-minded attitude to all solutions. We believe that both the HSBC team and its appointed paid external advisors have an adamantly preconceived view against reviewing any structural options, despite our continued request for an open dialogue and the demands of other shareholders.
Indeed, HSBC has refused to verbally engage in discussions on the proposals, and only simply shared with us their review conclusions. HSBC management simply defaults to statements "that this proposal is materially value destructive" followed by a laundry list of reasons why they cannot entertain such a proposal with little to no acknowledgement of any benefits.
While we recognize that a structural solution will entail some initial incremental costs, we believe these should be open mindedly weighed against the benefits. This prejudice was highlighted in the HSBC 2022 interim results presentation where management listed 14 reasons[ii] why a break up would destroy material value. Not only did management refuse to countenance any benefits but also, in our view, exaggerated many of the costs and risks, for example:
- "Future trading arrangements between HSBC Asia and Group unlikely to mitigate revenue loss". By remaining as the major controlling shareholder in any partially spun-off entity, HSBC Group would have great influence to make sure that commercial arrangements needed to secure global business line synergies work effectively. HSBC Asia may continue using current business systems under service agreements with HSBC just as it has successfully done with Hang Seng Bank for years. Operational improvements from an Asia spin-off should offset additional costs from independent corporate functions.
- "Build c.US$40bn MREL (Minimum Requirement for own funds and Eligible Liabilities) stack; based on stand-alone application of rules to HSBC Asia. Refinance costs in single-digit billions". We consider single-digit US$ billions refinancing costs to be extreme. Our understanding is that HSBC has ~US$40 billion of MREL maturing over the next 2-3 years, hence the MREL refinancing costs could be greatly reduced or even avoided if the Hong Kong Monetary Authority were to allow HSBC Asia a transitional/ grace period.
- "Build new, full service IT system in standalone options". There a number of issues with this claim. Firstly, there is no explicit HK listing rule saying all IT systems need to be independent for an applicant to be qualified for listing in HK (Hong Kong Exchange Guidance Letter 68-13). Secondly, we believe HSBC Asia can continue using the core banking system of HSBC to avoid significant IT costs. There are major precedents for this. For example, Bank of China (HK) is still using its parent company's IT system and benefits from its global network. Hang Seng Bank (which is also 62% owned by HSBC) also benefits from HSBC's IT system, ATM network, data processing, etc., even though it is separately listed on Hong Kong Exchange.
- "Loss of Group purchasing power". It is hard to imagine a significant loss of group purchasing power. For a financial institution, mainly General and Administration (G&A) expenses will be impacted by purchasing power. HSBC Group had G&A expenses of US$11bn (33% of total operating expenses in 2022). Excluding $6.9bn G&A expense from HSBC Asia, HSBC would still have similar purchasing power with >$4bn annual G&A expenses. HSBC Asia can continue to maintain links for economies of scale e.g. in purchasing, and to get operational and technological support from the Group by signing SLAs as needed.
- "Other one-off execution costs (e.g. programme costs, external advisers)". It is also hard to be convinced that such costs are prohibitive given that HSBC Asia is already a separate legal entity and domiciled in HK/Asia, so no material re-domiciling cost would be incurred. The annual maintenance cost of being a public company is limited.
Challenges aside, we believe that a structural solution which creates a separately listed Asia business headquartered in Hong Kong will crystallize multiple benefits to all HSBC Group shareholders. This would include material value creation driven by a multiple re-rating of an Asia focused business, RoTE accretion, cost synergy benefits (where proposed structure involves in-market business combination), and capital relief benefits.
A structural solution would also deliver a refocused Asian organization that is more streamlined, nimble, localized and has stronger competitive positioning to benefit from Greater Bay Area development and the Chinese yuan internationalization. The HK-listed business would be able to focus on investing resources in Asia and being more attuned to local Asia market dynamics. We also believe a separately listed Asia business would provide greater dividend protection for HSBC Asia shareholders from challenges in the Group's ex-Asia operations.
We believe the new HSBC Asia, after strategic restructuring, will rapidly become one of the most profitable businesses with a dedicated Asia focused management team capable of generating stronger shareholder returns. It will be the most valuable and unique bank in Asia with the strongest growth potential within the HSBC system, and also the only local bank with global competitiveness.
V - The Hong Kong Retail Shareholder Resolutions
PAAMC has taken note of HSBC's AGM Resolutions 17 & 18 that were requisitioned by Mr. Lui Yu Kin and the group of shareholders he represents. After careful study we believe the resolutions, which requires HSBC to commit to restore dividends to pre-COVID levels and push management to consider structural reforms on a periodical basis, have their merits. As such we support in principle resolutions 17 & 18 and hope HSBC can be open to and study shareholders' suggestions.
VI - About Ping An Asset Management Co., Ltd. ("PAAMC")
PAAMC is a top-ranked asset management institution in China and has been ranked among the top in Asia. Its investment returns have led the industry in recent years, with an entrusted AUM of RMB4.24 trillion (approximately USD582.2 billion), of which approximately 80% of the assets are entrusted by various insurance companies who are members of the Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Ltd. and 20% by third parties.
PAAMC has a fiduciary duty towards its clients whose funds are invested in HSBC. As such, we will continue to undertake constructive shareholder engagement with a focus on securing sustainable long term value for our clients.
Mr. Michael Huang
Chairman & CEO PAAMC
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SOURCE Ping An Asset Management Co., Ltd. | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/04/18/ping-an-asset-management-company-statement-hsbc-group-plc/ | 2023-04-18 14:55:52 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/04/18/ping-an-asset-management-company-statement-hsbc-group-plc/ |
Kyle Marsh signs on as new Flagler Palm Coast head baseball coach
Kyle Marsh and Flagler Palm Coast High School wasted no time.
Less than three weeks after former head baseball coach Anthony Campanella announced he was stepping down in early May, the school hired Marsh for the vacated job last week. Marsh spent last season, his first as a high school baseball coach, as an assistant under Campanella.
“It definitely feels great,” Marsh said. “Being there this past year and being able to be an assistant there under coach Campanella was a good experience for me and got me acclimated to the program. High school baseball in general has been nice.”
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Despite being only 26 years old, Marsh brings an accomplished baseball history with him.
He grew up in Port Orange and graduated from Spruce Creek High School in 2014. There, he won a state championship, claimed the All-Central Florida Pitcher of the Year award as a sophomore and senior and was named a Perfect Game All-American.
He played two years of college ball and missed another due to injury at the University of Central Florida before transferring to Embry-Riddle for his final two seasons.
While a senior in college, Marsh co-founded the Florida Xtreme, a youth baseball organization that gave him his coaching start. He led the program through this spring. He also coaches for the Orlando Scorpions in the summer.
Marsh joined Flagler Palm Coast’s staff before last season. He worked mainly with the pitchers, but because he pitched and was a position player all the way through college, he holds expertise in both areas.
“I thought it would be a great learning experience for me and a great year to get into high school baseball and learn from (Campanella), one of the best that’s been around high school baseball for 30-plus years and had great success in the game,” Marsh said.
So, what did he take from his former boss?
“Just the ins and outs of how to run certain things when it comes to umpires, practices, getting ready for games and travel,” Marsh said. “But I think the main things I learned from him are just having patience and knowing when the time is right to do certain things.
“The knowledge he has for the game and the care he has for his players went a long way, and I was able to see that the one year I was underneath him.”
Days after Campanella stepped down, Marsh saw the job posting online and immediately applied. He talked with Athletic Director Steve DeAugustino about the gig and the hiring process. The next week, Marsh followed up with DeAugustino, who told him the job was his.
“It was a quick process,” said Marsh, who also works at the school as a virtual learning assistant.
His next steps include piecing together his coaching staff. Marsh said Casey Bell, who was an assistant with Marsh this spring, will return.
The Bulldogs finished their 2022 season with a 10-16 record and lost in the district semifinals. The last year they had a winning record was the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
But because Marsh spent a year with the current group of players, he knows their strengths, weaknesses and everything in between. He built bonds with many of them.
“I’d like to continue to see them grow,” Marsh said, “in the game of baseball and life in general.” | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2022/06/02/kyle-marsh-signs-new-flagler-palm-coast-head-baseball-coach/7472545001/ | 2022-06-02 17:20:42 | 1 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2022/06/02/kyle-marsh-signs-new-flagler-palm-coast-head-baseball-coach/7472545001/ |
Amber Alert issued for 3-year-old girl allegedly abducted in North Dakota
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR/Gray News) - An Amber Alert has been issued for a 3-year-old girl in North Dakota after police say she was abducted.
Police are searching for 3-year-old Beatris Lorraine Decoteau after they say she was abducted Wednesday in Fargo, North Dakota.
She may be with 22-year-old Breanna Ziegler and/or 22-year-old Terell Decoteau. The adults were ordered by the courts to turn over Beatris because the child may be in danger of bodily harm, KFYR reports.
Ziegler and Decoteau were last seen at a Fargo courthouse.
According to the Amber Alert, Ziegler is a 5′7″ white woman, who weighs 150 lbs and has blue eyes and blonde hair. Decoteau is a 5′11″ Native American man, who weighs 189 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair.
They may be in a gray 2013 Chevrolet Sonic with North Dakota plates 268 DSC.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Beatris, Ziegler or Decoteau should call 911.
Copyright 2023 KFYR via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.azfamily.com/2023/06/29/amber-alert-issued-3-year-old-girl-allegedly-abducted-north-dakota/ | 2023-06-29 05:39:56 | 1 | https://www.azfamily.com/2023/06/29/amber-alert-issued-3-year-old-girl-allegedly-abducted-north-dakota/ |
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Billy Packer, an Emmy award-winning college basketball broadcaster who covered 34 Final Fours for NBC and CBS, died Thursday. He was 82.
Packer’s son, Mark, told The Associated Press that his father had been hospitalized in Charlotte for the past three weeks and had several medical issues, and ultimately succumbed to kidney failure.
Packer’s broadcasting career coincided with the growth of college basketball. He worked as analyst or color commentator on every Final Four from 1975 to 2008. He received a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio and Sports Analyst in 1993.
“He really enjoyed doing the Final Fours,” Mark Packer said. “He timed it right. Everything in life is about timing. The ability to get involved in something that, frankly, he was going to watch anyway, was a joy to him. And then college basketball just sort of took off with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird and that became, I think, the catalyst for college basketball fans to just go crazy with March Madness.”
Packer played three seasons at Wake Forest, and helped lead the Demon Deacons to the Final Four in 1962, but it was his work as an analyst that brought him the most acclaim.
He joined NBC in 1974 and called his first Final Four in 1975. UCLA beat Kentucky in the title game that year in what was John Wooden’s final game as coach.
Packer was also part of the broadcast in 1979 with Dick Enberg and Al McGuire when Magic Johnson’s Michigan State team beat Larry Bird’s Indiana State squad in the title game. That remains highest-rated game in basketball history with a 24.1 Nielsen rating, which is an estimated 35.1 million viewers.
Packer went to CBS in the fall of 1981, when the network acquired the rights to the NCAA Tournament. He remained the network’s main analyst until the 2008 Final Four.
In 1996 at CBS, Packer was involved in controversy when he used the term “tough monkey″ to describe then-Georgetown star Allen Iverson during a game. Packer later said he “was not apologizing for what I said, because what I said has no implications in my mind whatsoever to do with Allen Iverson’s race.″
Sean McManus, the chairman of CBS Sports, said Packer was “synonymous with college basketball for more than three decades and set the standard of excellence as the voice of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.”
“He had a tremendous impact on the growth and popularity of the sport.” McManus said. “In true Billy fashion, he analyzed the game with his own unique style, perspective and opinions, yet always kept the focus on the game. As passionate as he was about basketball, at his heart Billy was a family man. He leaves part of his legacy at CBS Sports, across college basketball and, most importantly, as a beloved husband, father and grandfather. He will be deeply missed by all.”
Packer was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale took to Twitter as word of Packer’s death spread. “So sad to learn of the passing of Billy Packer who had such a passion for college basketball,” Vitale tweeted. “My (prayers) go out to Billy’s son Mark & the entire Packer family. Always had great RESPECT for Billy & his partners Dick Enberg & Al McGuire-they were super. May Billy RIP.”
College basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla tweeted: “We fell in love (with) college basketball because of you. Your voice will remain in my head forever.”
Packer was viewed as a controversial figure during his broadcasting days, often drawing the ire of college basketball fans, particularly on North Carolina’s “Tobacco Road.”
“As a kid, I was a big NC State fan growing up, and I would watch a game and the next day I’d be like, ‘Boy you sure have it out for NC State, don’t you?’ And he would just laugh,” Mark Packer said.
The younger Packer, who is the host of ACC PM on the ACC Network, said it didn’t matter what school — most fans felt the same way about his father.
“He would cover North Carolina game and Tar Heels fans would be like, ‘you hate North Carolina,’” Mark Packer said. “Wake (Forest) fans would be like, ‘you hate us.’ And Billy just sort of got a kick out of that.”
Mark Packer said that while most fans will remember his father as a broadcaster, he’ll remember him even more for his business acumen. He said his father was a big real estate investor, and also owned a vape company, among other ventures.
“Billy was always a bit of a hustler — he was always looking for that next business deal,” Packer said.
___
AP Sports Writer Joe Reedy contributed to this report.
___
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll | https://www.myarklamiss.com/local-news/ap-college-basketball-broadcaster-billy-packer-dies-at-82/ | 2023-01-28 00:01:10 | 1 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/local-news/ap-college-basketball-broadcaster-billy-packer-dies-at-82/ |
After the U.S. and its partners reached a major breakthrough in delivering heavy weapons to Ukraine, Kyiv’s top law enforcement official is pushing allies to show similar determination to punish Russia in the courtroom.
“The instruments of delivering justice should be as strong as weapons we receive in order to fight for our independence,” Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin told The Hill.
He is visiting Washington this week for meetings with his counterpart, Attorney General Merrick Garland, other administration officials and lawmakers to push for further U.S. support in Ukraine’s legal battles against Russia.
Kostin’s visit follows President Biden’s decision last week to supply 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, in tandem with similar commitments from Germany and other NATO allies. Ukraine has now renewed its push for modern fighter jets.
“The very difficult decisions to give us more and more weapons really went in parallel with decisions to support us in our justice initiatives,” Kostin said.
While Biden has described Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as committing “genocide,” Kyiv wants such crimes prosecuted in an international court, plus a special tribunal to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for launching an invasion of the country on Feb. 24.
The administration has resisted Ukraine’s push to label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, but Kostin said he supports the Biden administration’s proposal to label Russia an “aggressor state,” a compromise term to avoid legal consequences of the terrorism designation.
“Our position was, all the time, that Russia should be declared as a country, as a state sponsor of terrorism,” he said.
“If, going on this track, Russia would be declared as an ‘aggressor state,’ this also would be very helpful to reach justice on international level, because we are still actively fighting for the tribunal for the crime of aggression.”
Kostin described an uphill battle in finding consensus among dozens of countries to support the establishment of a special tribunal but said he expected a decision within “months,” adding that recent buy-in from countries like France and the United Kingdom have helped build more consensus on the idea of prosecuting Russia for the crime of aggression.
But Ukraine is looking for a clear sign from the U.S. on this issue.
“What we understand is that U.S. is also on the way, in case the U.S. [Congress] declares Russia as an aggressor state … this will be very helpful,” he said.
Biden administration officials have not stated publicly whether they support the establishment of a special tribunal, but have told The Hill that they are in conversations with “Kyiv’s strongest partners as we consider Ukraine’s proposal … as well as all other options for holding Russia and its leaders to account.”
The Office of the Prosecutor General is faced with the enormous challenge of investigating alleged Russian war crimes — with nearly 67,000 documented already, and many more expected as Ukrainian forces push to liberate additional territory from Russian occupation.
Among those are at least 155 identified cases of sexual violence, Kostin said, up from 44 cases that were identified when he was appointed prosecutor general in July.
“Some of [the cases] are already in Ukrainian courts, some are in absentia, but the perpetrator is identified,” Kostin said. “And if we are talking about for the sake of justice for the survivors, it’s important for them to know that this case goes to court.”
Another grievous war crime is the abduction of Ukrainian children. The head of the United Nations’s refugee agency said last week that Russia is violating the “fundamental principles of child protection” by giving Ukrainian children Russian passports and putting them up for adoption.
Kostin said that while the priority is to find and return these children to their families, the investigation of their forced relocation is part of evidence being gathered to bring the case of genocide against Russia.
The Ukrainian government estimates that nearly 15,000 children were deported to Russia. About 126 children have been returned to Ukraine, according to their figures.
In September, the U.S. sanctioned Russia’s presidential commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Alexeyevna Lvova-Belova, saying she has led Russia’s efforts to deport thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Kostin said his office has prioritized resources to focus on these three elements: the forced deportation of children, sexual violence and genocide.
He added that the intentional destruction of critical civil infrastructure — Russia has destroyed nearly 70 percent of Ukraine’s electrical grid with missile and drone attacks since October — is another element of the genocide case and is likely to be pursued through the International Criminal Court.
Kostin’s staff are spread across the country in nine regional offices, allowing them to quickly descend on the scene of liberated villages and cities to collect evidence of possible war crimes.
Armored vehicles help protect staff traveling to areas close to the battlefield — Kharkiv in the north, Donetsk in the east, and Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv in the southeast. Drones are further used to scout out areas that require demining, which is carried out by trained security officials.
Assistance ranging from technical expertise to practical items such as laptops, printers and armored vehicles and demining equipment is provided by the U.S. and other partner countries, Kostin said.
“This was all done with the help of our partners, which is very important,” he said.
But Kostin is also tasked with confronting corruption in the country that risks undermining international support and that feeds into criticism, largely from a minority wing of the Republican Party, that billions of dollars of U.S. support is at risk of being misused.
Kostin called corruption Ukraine’s second enemy, along with Russia’s aggression. Last week, he accepted the resignation of his deputy, who quit in the face of public backlash for taking a vacation during war time and under questionable circumstances.
“My position from the very first day of my appointment was that, it’s war, we need to work very actively, and we need to devote all our time to work for our country, for our nation, and if some of them didn’t understand, then it’s time for changes,” he said.
Kostin was appointed prosecutor general in July. His predecessor was ousted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after he revealed hundreds of prosecutors and security officials allegedly conspired with Russia before and during the invasion.
Rooting out collaborators is an ongoing challenge, Kostin said, as they pose risks from exposing Ukrainian military positions and putting civilians in the crosshairs to assisting Russian forces and officials exercising control in the occupied territories.
Kostin said he finds the motivations of these individuals difficult to understand, but said it could relate to Russian nationalism, money or, in the case of those under Russian occupation, being forced to betray their country under duress.
Bringing accountability to areas liberated from Russia is incredibly difficult, sussing out those Ukrainians who willingly worked for the Russians, those collaborating under duress or neighbors exercising personal grievances.
“For those who stayed on the occupied territories and started active collaboration with the occupation administration, it’s very important, also, to find all of them,” Kostin said.
“We check this information because we are fighting for justice for everyone, and it’s important for Ukrainians to understand, even if they are angry, some of them, [by] the actions of the other, we need to ensure that justice would be for all.” | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/hill-politics/tanks-jets-and-justice-ukraines-top-prosecutor-tries-to-rally-us-on-legal-battle/ | 2023-01-31 21:41:08 | 1 | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/hill-politics/tanks-jets-and-justice-ukraines-top-prosecutor-tries-to-rally-us-on-legal-battle/ |
Q: Your columns on childhood prayers are a delight and at times downright poignant, and I enjoy them very much. I wish I could offer my own but by the time I came along (no. 5), my parents, God rest their souls, were probably praying harder than I. Anyway, as we get older and, hopefully, wiser, many of us begin asking questions, some of which are considered heretical. But we’re old (I’m 76), so we really don’t care.
Here’s a prayer from the United Methodist Hymnal (597) that I often begin my day with. The only attribution is “Prayer from Kenya.”
For the Spirit of Truth
From the cowardice that dares not face new truth,
from the laziness that is contented with half-truth,
from the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth,
People are also reading…
Good Lord, deliver me. Amen.
Thank you for your good words and works. — (From D from Hattiesburg, Mississippi
A: Thank you, dear D, for your courageous prayer. What I particularly love about your prayer is that it connects praying with the search for truth and with the great obstacles to the search for truth which are indeed cowardice, laziness, and arrogance.
We often think of prayer as a search for some reward from God. However, that sought reward is often a gift that we are best advised to seek for ourselves through hard work and not through petitions from God.
The other areas that truthful prayer can explore with great value are repentance, awe, and gratitude.
Prayers of repentance remind us that we are responsible to do better and are accountable when we fall short.
One of my favorite bedtime prayers as I fall asleep is to remind myself of something awesome that I have seen or experienced during the day that is coming to conclusion. It’s so easy to overlook the moments of awe and wonder that are sprinkled through our days like God’s diamonds.
My most favorite object of bedtime prayers are just two words: thank you. As I have quoted many times in this column, the medieval Christian mystic Meister Eckhart reminds us all that if the only prayer we ever say is thank you, it will be enough.
The hardest task in the pursuit of truth is combating the idea that there is no such thing as truth but merely an endless list of personal opinions with no truth to anchor them. This is called ethical relativism. That would leave us like a survivor on a deserted island. The greatest decision in our lives is the decision that some things are absolutely true. If that decision is not made with all the conviction of our soul, then our lives are empty and bereft.
To return to your wonderful connection between prayer and truth from Kenya brings us to an abundant number of contemporary issues. Many times we are challenged with new information that is difficult. Taking a deep breath and stretching ourselves to accommodate our changing world, our health, or our beliefs indeed requires courage. We have all experienced the lack of clarity from half-truths. When we are confronted with information that doesn’t appear to sit right with us we need the strength and fortitude to pursue the whole of the truth. And then, as always, we pray for the humility to understand that each of us will never possess the whole of all the truth, but we can always hope that we will be introduced to the truth eventually.
This is God’s promise through the prophet Isaiah, “That which had not been told to them they shall see, and that which they have not heard, they shall understand.” (Isaiah 52:15)
Send questions and comments to The God Squad via email at godsquadquestion@aol.com. Rabbi Gellman is the author of several books, including “Religion for Dummies,” co-written with Fr. Tom Hartman. Also, the new God Squad podcast is now available. | https://kenoshanews.com/god-squad-more-bedtime-stories-without-fear/article_1a4d44a8-f0d0-11ed-93d5-b36d9a1f1632.html | 2023-05-13 16:11:34 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/god-squad-more-bedtime-stories-without-fear/article_1a4d44a8-f0d0-11ed-93d5-b36d9a1f1632.html |
A last chance for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Kylian Mbappé back on the biggest stage of all. Brazil bidding for a record-extending sixth title.
One of the most eagerly anticipated World Cups in memory — as much for off-the-field reasons as those on it — is just around the corner in Qatar.
Thirty-two teams, 64 matches, 29 days. The first World Cup in the Middle East.
The tournament starts on Nov. 20 and the final is set for Dec. 18.
Here’s a few things to watch when the tournament gets going in the smallest country ever to host a World Cup, where some fans will be staying in floating hotels when they head over to take in the games:
TOP TEAMS
Brazil (No. 1 in FIFA ranking). Neymar, Vinícius Júnior and the rest of the flair-filled Selecao are peaking at the right time. Is a first World Cup title since 2002 on the horizon?
Belgium (No. 2). The “Golden Generation” is gradually breaking up but there’s still Kevin De Bruyne leading the Belgian charge.
Argentina (No. 3). No World Cup title since the days of the great Diego Maradona. This will be the first World Cup since his death in November 2020 and Argentina is improving, with Messi still at its core.
France (No. 4). The defending champions. Still the country with the most depth to its squad, despite a growing injury list. Now with Mbappé AND Karim Benzema leading the attack. No team has retained its World Cup title since Brazil in 1962.
England (No. 5). The team has hit a bad patch of form — winless in six games — but has a strong track record in recent major tournaments. England was a semifinalist at the World Cup in 2018 and a finalist at the European Championship in 2021.
Read up on all 32 teams who will be playing in the World Cup.
BIG STARS
Lionel Messi, Argentina. The seven-time world player of the year might have been saving his 35-year-old legs for one last push at a World Cup winner’s medal that, to many, would solidify him as soccer’s greatest player. He is in stellar form for Paris Saint-Germain at the moment.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal. He has won the European Championship but the leading scorer in men’s international soccer hasn’t played in a World Cup final, let alone won one. He’s 37 years old now and no longer first choice at Manchester United — so make the most of him while you can.
Kylian Mbappé, France. The star of the last World Cup at the age of 19 and he is only getting better. The speedy striker could match Brazil great Pelé in being a champion at his first two World Cups.
Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium. Widely regarded as the world’s best midfielder, his driving runs are among the best sights in soccer. Belgium just has to hope he arrives healthy.
Neymar, Brazil. Often overshadowed by Mbappé and Messi at Paris Saint-Germain, still the main man for Brazil. Watch out for tricks and flicks, and some histrionics, too.
HOW IT WORKS
Get ready for a feast of soccer. There are eight groups of four teams, with the top two advancing to the 16-team knockout stage.
There will be four games back-to-back per day — yes, four! — for most of the first two sets of group games, then simultaneous kickoffs for the last two games in each group.
There’ll be no break for the knockout stage, which begins the day after the group stage ends. The first day without soccer comes on Dec. 7 — the 17th day of competition.
MUST-SEE GAMES
Qatar vs. Ecuador, Nov. 20. The first match of the tournament and always a date to save on the calendar.
Argentina vs. Mexico, Nov. 26. The first of the big continental rivalries in the group stage, with Messi potentially sealing his and Argentina’s spot in the last 16.
Spain vs. Germany, Nov. 27. Surely there can’t have been many bigger group-stage matches than this at a World Cup? Two recent champions, two giants of European and world soccer.
Iran vs. United States, Nov. 29. It has been labeled as “The Mother of All Games Part II.” Just like at the World Cup in 1998, the two countries will meet in the group stage in a politically charged matchup. Diplomatic relations have yet to be restored between the nations since being severed in 1980.
Ghana vs. Uruguay, Dec. 2. Anyone remember the night of July 2, 2010? In the last minute of extra time in a World Cup quarterfinal match between Uruguay and Ghana, Luis Suarez deliberately stopped the ball with his hand on the goalline, got sent off, only for Ghana to miss the penalty and lose in a shootout as Suarez celebrated on the sideline. Revenge would be sweet for Ghana.
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/ap-viewers-guide-for-the-world-cup-in-qatar/ | 2022-10-28 15:46:06 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/ap-viewers-guide-for-the-world-cup-in-qatar/ |
Rebates, deferred spending ineffective uses of windfall
As the state’s Permian oil production boom continues in New Mexico the budget surpluses available to legislators each session grow as well. The latest announced budget surplus is $3.6 billion which is a positively mind-blowing 43 percent. This surplus is on top of already dramatic spending growth of 30 percent during the first four years of the Lujan Grisham Administration.
More spending growth this year is to be expected, but the capacity for government to continue expanding after years of rapid growth is somewhat limited by the ability of government to manage existing resources available to it. This is not surprising since New Mexico’s state and local government is already among the very largest in the nation.
But I’m not here to rail about the size of New Mexico government (at least not this time). Rather, I’m here to remind legislators of both parties that such massive surpluses present rare opportunities to lead our state to a better future.
Gov. Lujan Grisham has already proposed rebates of $750 or $1,500 for New Mexicans depending on marital status. Rebates are a bipartisan idea, one supported in the recent campaign by her Republican opponent Mark Ronchetti, though details differed. To be clear the Rio Grande Foundation does not oppose tax rebates if they are not an excuse to (yet again) punt on long-overdue tax reform. Returning a portion of the budget surplus is not going to move New Mexico’s economy forward and diversify it in the same way as long-overdue tax reform would.
The same can be said for an idea that often garners bipartisan support in Santa Fe: that is bolstering various permanent and “rainy day” funds. Quite honestly, New Mexico has numerous big problems facing it. There is no better time to address these problems than right now. If policymakers use the surplus to diversify and improve the State’s economy in ways that will make it more competitive with its neighbors, the well-being of future New Mexicans won’t be so contingent on the vagaries of oil and gas.
New Mexico’s litany of current economic challenges includes:
- A low workforce participation rate that has historically lagged behind our neighbors and remains well below pre-pandemic levels and has even dropped in recent months;
- Poverty rates that are among the very highest in the nation;
- A medical provider shortage that, while driven in part by regulations is worsened by gross receipts taxation of medical practitioners including Medicaid services;
- Lack of economic diversity in a state that relies heavily on oil and gas for money and government (federal, state, and local) for employment opportunities;
- Water and other infrastructure issues.
These problems (and more) can at least partially be solved by using New Mexico’s financial largesse wisely. New Mexico policymakers have long focused on government-driven approaches to these problems. State and local government spends a very high percentage of the economy.
Majority Democrats have an opportunity to not only pump more funding into their priorities, but they could show that they are pro-business and interested in using oil and gas revenues to diversify the state economy for a time when the oil and gas industry isn’t as bullish.
Republicans, rather than leaving the bold ideas to Democrats, should offer their own serious reform ideas and bills in the upcoming session. Ideally, the minority GOP could influence Democrats toward a more pro-growth agenda. Worst case, in two years they can point to their detailed policy ideas and use them to challenge Democrats for failing to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
Regardless of your political affiliation or beliefs we all must realize that 43 percent budget surpluses don’t come around often. We can’t solve all of New Mexico’s problems even with this massive surplus, but with strategic moves like those outlined here we can certainly move the needle.
More from Paul J. Gessing:
- Several questions for NM's Blue majority (and one for the Red minority)
- New Mexico should strengthen, not weaken anti-donation clause
- Lujan Grisham touts abortion; what about economy, education?
Paul J. Gessing is president of New Mexico’s Rio Grande Foundation. | https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/opinion/2022/12/25/gessing-rebates-deferred-spending-ineffective-uses-of-windfall/69745947007/ | 2022-12-25 17:38:43 | 1 | https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/opinion/2022/12/25/gessing-rebates-deferred-spending-ineffective-uses-of-windfall/69745947007/ |
Woman sentenced to 90 days in jail for fatal hit-and-run
PHOENIX (KPHO/Gray News) – A woman who killed a Phoenix mother in a hit-and-run was sentenced Monday to 90 days in jail followed by three years of probation.
Police said Elizabeth Richards struck and killed Heather Fairchild on June 23, 2021. Fairchild died a week later at the hospital.
Police said Richards “freaked out” when she hit Fairchild, then “freaked out some more” when she saw her lying in the road.
Richards then fled the scene and called her daughter to tell her what happened. Richards’ daughter then went to the crash site and told police her mother was the one who hit Fairchild.
Richards’ daughter then directed police to Richards’ apartment, where police said they found her slurring her speech and swaying side to side. She also smelled of alcohol, officers said.
However, Richards told investigators that she had drank some wine after she got home from the collision.
Although police questioned Richards on the day of the hit-and-run, she wasn’t arrested until August 2022, which was 14 months after the crash.
Fairchild’s mother, Priscilla Pfleging, previously told Arizona’s Family she had mixed emotions following the arrest, wondering why it took so long to take Richards into custody.
“She left my daughter laying in the road screaming,” Pfleging said. “She stopped and looked at her and saw she was bleeding, but she took off and left her there. I feel angry that they took so long to get her, but I am relieved that they got her.”
In August 2022, following Richards’ arrest, Arizona’s Family reached out to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and asked why it took 14 months for an arrest to be made. A spokesperson said they couldn’t talk specifically about this case but said they had been dealing with a backlog of cases.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said during an August 2022 news conference that justice sometimes takes time to hand down.
“My message to victims is, we are doing everything we can and we will do everything we need to do to ensure justice, but this takes time,” Mitchell said.
Copyright 2023 KPHO via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kold.com/2023/04/11/woman-sentenced-90-days-jail-fatal-hit-and-run/ | 2023-04-11 20:32:54 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/2023/04/11/woman-sentenced-90-days-jail-fatal-hit-and-run/ |
LONDON (AP) — The English Premier League postpones all games this weekend as 'mark of respect' following death of Queen Elizabeth II.
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Full-Featured EcoTank Printer, Enhanced with PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology, is a Fast, Affordable and Easy-to-Use Solution for Home Offices
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., May 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Epson, the number one Brand by revenue at retail for Inkjet Printers in the U.S. in Q1 2023,1 today announced the EcoTank® ET-4810 All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer will be available at select retailers. From printing high-quality documents for business needs to colorful projects for the busy family, the ET-4810 gives users the freedom to print in color without worrying about running out of ink. Now powered with PrecisionCore Heat-Free® technology for high-quality prints at fast print speeds and an additional EcoFit® black ink bottle, the ET-4810 is an essential everyday printing solution to add to any home office.
"While professionals have a workplace outside of their homes, many continue to work from their home offices as a convenience while juggling busy family schedules. However, the convenience could cost more than expected," said Nils Madden, marketing director, Consumer Imaging & Printing, Epson America. "By implementing fast, cost-efficient and easy-to-use solutions like an EcoTank cartridge-free printer, users have the peace of mind knowing they can print thousands of pages2 without the discomfort of replacing expensive ink cartridges."
The EcoTank ET-4810 offers dramatic savings on replacement ink. Users can save up to 90% with low-cost replacement ink bottles versus ink cartridges3—that's about one cent per color ISO page versus about 20 cents with cartridges.3 The ET-4810 also comes included with an extra black ink bottle for up to 4,300 additional pages black2 right out of the box. Plus, users get up to 4,300 pages black/7,300 color2 with each replacement set of bottles.
Environmental Benefits
As part of the EcoTank lineup of printers that produce zero cartridge waste, the EcoTank ET-4810 leverages supersized, easily refillable ink tanks and EcoFit ink bottles to help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills. The ET-4810 contains up to 30 percent recycled plastic4 and offers improved packaging with recyclable carboard inserts, replacing polystyrene.
Additional EcoTank ET-4810 Features
- Impressive Print Quality ― Epson's unique PrecisionCore Heat-Free technology produces extremely sharp text—plus impressive color photos and graphics—on a wide variety of paper types
- Fast Productivity ― Epson PrecisionCore® printhead provides high-quality prints at fast speeds; plus 30-page Auto Document Feeder for increased productivity
- Modern Connectivity ― Features Ethernet and wireless, plus hands-free voice-activated printing;5 easily print from smart devices6 with the intuitive Epson Smart Panel® app7
- Built-in Scanner and Copier ― High-resolution flatbed scanner and a color display for easy document copying and navigation
Pricing, Availability and Support
The EcoTank ET-4810 ($299 MSRP) will be available in store and online at Walmart this month and in store and online at Target in October 2023. For more information on availability, visit the Epson store (www.epsonstore.com). The ET-4810 also includes a worry-free 2-year limited warranty with registration,8 including full unit replacement. For more information, visit https://epson.com/ecotank-ink-tank-printers.
About Epson
Epson is a global technology leader whose philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson's goal is to become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050.
Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of more than JPY 1 trillion. global.epson.com/
Epson America, Inc., based in Los Alamitos, Calif., is Epson's regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/epsonamerica), and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica).
1 Source: Circana/Weekly Retail Tracking Service, U.S., Inkjet Printers (single and multifunction combined), based on dollar sales, January 1 – April 1, 2023 combined.
2 Part of the ink from the included bottles is used for initial setup; yields are lower than those of replacement ink bottles. Replacement and included ink bottle yields based on the ISO/IEC 24712 pattern with Epson's methodology. Actual ink yields will vary considerably for reasons including images printed, print settings, temperature and humidity. Yields may be lower when printing infrequently or predominantly with one ink color. All ink colors are used for printing and printer maintenance, and all colors must be available for printing. For more information, visit www.epson.com/inkinfo
3 Actual savings and costs will vary considerably based on print tasks, print volumes and usage conditions. Savings and cost per ISO page are based on the cost of replacement ink bottles and the cost of enough standard cartridges to achieve the total page yields of the bottles using the MSRP (USD) and yields for Epson standard-capacity ink cartridges for similarly featured Epson consumer inkjet printers as of April 2023..
4 Ratio determined by weight of recycled vs. non-recycled plastic.
5 See www.epson.com/voice for device compatibility. Epson Connect™ account and voice-activated account registration required.
6 Most features require an Internet connection to the printer, as well as an Internet- and/or email-enabled device. For a list of Epson Connect enabled printers and compatible devices and apps, visit www.epson.com/connect
7 Requires Epson Smart Panel App download. Data usage fees may apply.
8 12 months of standard limited warranty or 50,000 plain paper sheets (whichever happens first). For an additional 12-month extended service plan (total of 24 months or 50,000 plain paper sheets, whichever happens first), you must register your product and use Epson genuine ink bottles. See Limited Warranty for details.
EPSON, EcoTank, Epson Smart Panel, PrecisionCore, and PrecisionCore Heat-Free are registered trademarks and Epson Connect is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. EcoFit is a registered trademark of Epson America, Inc. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2023 Epson America, Inc.
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SOURCE Epson America, Inc. | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2023/05/11/epson-announces-ecotank-et-4810-all-in-one-cartridge-free-supertank-printer-availability/ | 2023-05-11 08:07:10 | 1 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2023/05/11/epson-announces-ecotank-et-4810-all-in-one-cartridge-free-supertank-printer-availability/ |
44% revenue growth driven by high demand across all markets
NORTHBOROUGH, Mass., July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspen Aerogels, Inc. (NYSE: ASPN) ("Aspen" or the "Company"), a technology leader in sustainability and electrification solutions, today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2022, which ended June 30, 2022, and discussed recent business developments.
Total revenue for the second quarter of 2022 was $45.6 million, compared to $31.7 million in the second quarter last year. Second quarter net loss was $24.1 million, compared to a net loss of $6.7 million in the second quarter of 2021. Net loss per share for the second quarter was $0.68, compared to $0.23 in the second quarter last year.
Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2022 was $(18.3) million, compared to $(3.4) million in the second quarter of 2021. A reconciliation of non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA to net loss is provided in the financial schedules that are part of this press release. An explanation of this non-GAAP financial measure is also included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."
Second Quarter Highlights and Recent Business Developments
- Grew total revenue 44% year-over-year to $45.6 million
- Generated $10.8 million of PyroThin® thermal barrier revenue
- Increased Energy Industrial revenues to $34.8 million
- Ended second quarter with cash of $162.2 million
- Shipped first production parts from Mexico assembly facility
"We are pleased with the increasing market adoption of our high-performance thermal and EV safety solutions," noted Donald R. Young, President and CEO. "Aspen continues its strong growth trajectory, with accelerated demand for both our PyroThin® thermal barrier solutions for EVs and energy industrial products which address energy efficiency, asset resiliency, and safety in traditional energy settings and LNG facilities. Total second quarter revenue grew 44% year-over-year and 19% sequentially. We are increasing the level of our investment in personnel, infrastructure, and related activities, primarily focusing on Phase 1 of our second aerogel manufacturing facility located in Georgia ("Plant II"); a high-volume thermal barrier assembly operation in Mexico; and enhancing the technical, commercial and operational teams that support our commercial markets. The positive impact of these investments and the leveraging of growing volumes set the stage for reaching our revenue and profitability goals."
2022 Financial Outlook
Aspen's full year outlook remains unchanged.
- Total revenue is expected to range between $180.0 million and $200.0 million
- Net loss is expected to range between $79.8 million and $86.8 million
- Adjusted EBITDA is expected to range between $(55.0) million and $(62.0) million
- Net loss per share is expected to range between $2.16 and $2.35
The Company's 2022 outlook assumes depreciation and amortization of $9.7 million, stock-based compensation expense of $8.2 million, interest expense of $6.8 million and weighted average shares outstanding of 37.0 million for the full year.
Ricardo C. Rodriguez, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, added, "Our thermal barrier design, prototype, quoting and fabrication activities continue to accelerate, and we maintain our growth targets for a doubling of revenue from 2021 to 2023 and a tripling of revenue from 2023 to 2025 to approximately $720 million. We believe that the considerable investments we are making in 2022 will pave the way for Aspen to grow through the decade and to become cash flow positive in 2024."
A reconciliation of non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA to net loss for the 2022 financial outlook is provided in the financial schedules that are part of this press release. An explanation of this non-GAAP financial measure is also included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."
Aspen Aerogels may incur, among other items, additional charges, realize gains or losses, incur financing costs or interest expense, or experience other events in 2022, including those related to the planned capacity expansion, supply chain disruptions or further cost inflation, that could cause actual results to vary materially from this outlook.
Conference Call and Webcast Notification
A conference call with Aspen management to discuss second quarter 2022 results and recent business developments will be held at 8:30 am ET on July 28, 2022. During the call, management will respond to questions concerning, but not limited to, Aspen's financial performance, business conditions, and financial outlook. Management's discussion and responses could contain information that has not been previously disclosed.
Shareholders and other interested parties may call 844-200-6205 (domestic) or +1 929-526-1599 (international) and referencing conference ID 750795 a few minutes before 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, July 28, 2022. In addition, the conference call and an accompanying slide presentation will be available live as a listen-only webcast hosted on the Investors section of Aspen's website at www.aerogel.com.
Following the live event, an archived version of the webcast will be available on Aspen's website for convenient on-demand replay for at least a year. A copy of this press release is posted in the Investors section on Aspen's website.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to providing financial measurements based on generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"), Aspen provides additional financial metrics that are not prepared in accordance with GAAP ("non-GAAP"). The non-GAAP financial measure included in this press release is Adjusted EBITDA. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, as a measure of operating performance because the non-GAAP financial measures do not include the impact of items that management does not consider indicative of Aspen's core operating performance. In addition, management uses Adjusted EBITDA (i) for planning purposes, including the preparation of Aspen's annual operating budget, (ii) to allocate resources to enhance the financial performance of its business, and (iii) as a performance measure under its bonus plan.
Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect Aspen's ongoing business in a manner that allows for meaningful comparisons and analysis of trends in its business, as they exclude expenses and gains not reflective of Aspen's ongoing operating results or that may be infrequent and/or unusual in nature. Management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors in understanding and evaluating Aspen's operating results and future prospects in the same manner as management and in comparing financial results across accounting periods and to those of peer companies. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.
The non-GAAP financial measures do not replace the presentation of Aspen's GAAP financial results and should only be used as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, Aspen's financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. In this press release, Aspen has provided a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Management strongly encourages investors to review Aspen's financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety and not rely on any single financial measure.
About Aspen Aerogels, Inc.
Aspen is a technology leader in sustainability and electrification solutions. The Company's aerogel technology enables its customers and partners to achieve their own objectives around the global megatrends of resource efficiency, e-mobility and clean energy. Aspen's PyroThin® products enable solutions to thermal runaway challenges within the electric vehicle ("EV") market. Aspen Battery Materials, the Company's carbon aerogel initiative, seeks to increase the performance of lithium-ion battery cells to enable EV manufacturers to extend the driving range and reduce the cost of EVs. Aspen's Spaceloft® products provide building owners with industry-leading energy efficiency and fire safety. The Company's Cryogel® and Pyrogel® products are valued by the world's largest energy infrastructure companies. Aspen's strategy is to partner with world-class industry leaders to leverage its Aerogel Technology Platform™ into additional high-value markets. Headquartered in Northborough, Mass., Aspen manufactures its products at its East Providence, R.I. facilities. For more information, please visit www.aerogel.com.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release and any related discussion contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including statements relating to Aspen's 2022 financial outlook. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on Aspen's current expectations, estimates and projections regarding Aspen's business, operations and other factors relating thereto, including with respect to Aspen's 2022 financial outlook. Words such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "anticipate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "outlook," "assumes," "targets," "opportunity," and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, Aspen's expectations about capacity, revenue, backlog, costs, expenses, profitability, cash flow, gross profit, gross margin, operating margin, net loss, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin and related decreases, improvements, timing, variability or trends; beliefs about higher than expected demand from General Motors and Toyota and how they may enable path to profitability, expectations about improvement in ability to absorb fixed costs and reduction of conversion costs as a percentage of sales and the same leading to target gross margins; beliefs about the general strength, weakness or health of Aspen's business; acceleration in demand; demand increase from General Motors and Toyota for 2022, energy industrial demand book acceleration in 2022, level of penetration in EV market, growth in energy industrial markets; beliefs about current or future trends in the energy, energy infrastructure, chemical and refinery, LNG, sustainable building materials, EV thermal barrier, EV battery materials or other markets and the impact of these trends on Aspen's business; beliefs about the strength, effectiveness, productivity, costs, profitability or other fundamentals of Aspen's business; beliefs about the role of Aspen's technology and opportunities in the electric vehicle market; beliefs about Aspen's ability to provide and deliver products and services to electric vehicle customers; beliefs about content per vehicle, revenue, costs, expenses, profitability, investments or cash flow associated with Aspen's electric vehicle opportunities, including the EV thermal barrier business; beliefs about revenue growth and profitability; beliefs about the performance of PyroThin® including its ability to mitigate the propagation of thermal runaway in electric vehicles; beliefs about Aspen's ability to expand the market for PyroThin, to achieve design wins, to commence shipments of production parts, and to become an industry standard solution for thermal runaway management; beliefs about Aspen's thermal barrier design, prototype, quoting and assembly activities; expectations about the cost of the capital projects, including Plant II, expectations about the commissioning of Phase I of Plant II in Q4 2023; beliefs about our planned Mexico assembly facility and its timely operations, its ability to meet the demand, the growth in thermal barrier demand to match the assembly operation and vice versa; ability to shift assembly operations from East Providence to Mexico in a timely manner. All such forward-looking statements are based on management's present expectations and are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, outcome of events, timing and performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: inability to execute the growth plan through 2025, inability to complete construction and commissioning the Phase I of Plant II by Q4 2023 and reasonably within budget, inability to manage supply chain disruptions to avoid undue delay or impact on operations or construction of Plant II and Mexico assembly facility, inability to create new product, partnership and market opportunities; any sustained downturn in the industry or energy prices; any sustained downturn in the energy, energy infrastructure, chemical and refinery, LNG, sustainable building materials, EV thermal barrier, EV battery materials or other markets due to the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 or any other factor; any failure to sustain project-based demand in the subsea, LNG, on-shore or other markets; the right of EV thermal barrier customers to cancel contracts with Aspen at any time and without penalty; any costs, expenses, or investments incurred by Aspen in excess of projections used to develop pricing under the contracts with EV thermal barrier customers; any failure of Aspen or PyroThin to meet contractual specifications and requirements under contracts with EV thermal barrier customers; Aspen's inability to create customer or market opportunities for, including PyroThin; any other battery performance and safety products, battery materials or for other new products developed from Aspen's aerogel technology; any disruption or inability to achieve expected capacity levels in any of our three existing production lines in East Providence, RI or the Mexico assembly facility, including due to the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 or any other factor; any inability to expand manufacturing capacity in a second manufacturing facility in Bulloch County, Georgia or at any other location; any inability to establish or timely establish thermal barrier assembly operations in Mexico or any other location; the failure to receive all regulatory or other approvals required to operate, maintain or expand any of Aspen's facilities; any failure to achieve demand for Aspen's products; any failure to achieve expected price increases or average selling prices for Aspen's products; any significant increase in the cost of raw materials, utilities or any other manufacturing consumable; shortages of raw materials, utilities or any other manufacturing consumable due to the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 or any other factor; the failure to generate sufficient operating cash flow or to obtain significant additional capital to pursue Aspen's strategy; any failure to timely raise sufficient capital to fund various capital projects; the failure of Aspen's products to become widely adopted; the competition Aspen faces in its business; any failure to enforce any of Aspen's patents; any failure to protect or expand Aspen's Aerogel Technology Platform™; any future finding of invalidity of any of Aspen's patents in any jurisdiction; any failure to generate sufficient operating cash flow or to obtain sufficient additional capital to continue to pursue Aspen's new business, technology, patent enforcement, or patent defense strategy; any failure of Aspen's products to meet applicable specifications and other performance, safety, technical and delivery requirements; the general economic conditions and cyclical demands in the markets that Aspen serves; the economic, operational and political risks associated with sales and expansion of operations in foreign countries including Mexico; the loss of any direct customer, including distributors, contractors and OEMs; compliance with health and safety laws and regulations; the maintenance and development of distribution channels; and the other risk factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 1, 2022, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our subsequent periodic and current reports filed with the SEC. All statements contained in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. Aspen does not intend to update this information unless required by law.
Square Foot Operating Metric
The following chart sets forth Energy Industrial product shipments in square feet associated with recognized revenue.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The following tables present a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure included in this press release to the most directly comparable GAAP measure:
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net loss
We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest expense, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation expense and other items, which occur from time to time and which we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance.
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
For the 2022 full year financial outlook:
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SOURCE Aspen Aerogels, Inc. | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/aspen-aerogels-inc-reports-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-recent-business-developments/ | 2022-07-27 21:38:07 | 1 | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/aspen-aerogels-inc-reports-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-recent-business-developments/ |
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - CubicFarm® Systems Corp. ("CubicFarms" or the "Company") (TSX: CUB), a leading local chain agricultural technology company, today reported its second quarter financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. All amounts are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated.
"In the second quarter, we continued our focus on project execution, including installations underway of our commercial indoor growing CubicFarm Systems and HydroGreen Automated Vertical Pastures™ ("AVPs") solutions, while further building our sales pipeline," said Carlos Yam, Chief Financial Officer, CubicFarms. "We will review our operating performance on an ongoing basis and implement measures, including expense management, to ensure financial alignment within our operations," said Yam.
"HydroGreen's installation of AVPs that make up the world's largest automated indoor growing solution is nearing completion at Burnett's Land & Livestock in Carpenter, Wyoming, where our HydroGreen Certified Dealer Network is already touring potential customers," said Dan Schmidt, President of HydroGreen, a division of CubicFarms. "Recently, we welcomed more than 400 National Holstein Convention conference participants to our HydroGreen Innovation Center R&D facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At the event, we showcased growing from seed to feed in six days and how nutritious HydroGreen fresh forage can lower methane emissions in dairy cows by about 24 per cent on a per unit milk output and in beef cattle by about 48 per cent on a per kilogram weight gain basis, plus other significant benefits like saving water and land. We've received strong interest in our machines from both domestic and international markets."
"Our focus is on the strategic growth of our next generation of indoor growing systems, empowered by our software platform and latest research," said Dave Dinesen, Chief Executive Officer, CubicFarms. "Our R&D efforts continue to drive improvements in the scalability of the CubicFarm Systems and HydroGreen AVPs, and through leveraging data science, we're making continuous progress on plant and animal performance results. We're also very excited about the announcement of our carbon credit commercialization strategy. The incremental value of carbon credits from our AVPs coupled with recently announced studies has created a compelling economic proposition in the livestock industry, in addition to the environmental benefits allowing farmers and ranchers to achieve reliable and consistent feed production for their herds."
- The Company currently has a total of 223 modules pending manufacturing and installation, with a total estimated contract value of USD $30.7 million.
- Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2022, was $2.9 million, up from $0.4 million in the prior period. Q2 revenue included sales of CubicFarm Systems and HydroGreen AVPs of $2.7 million, up from $0.1 million in the prior period. Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2022, was $3.1 million, compared to $4.3 million in the prior period.
- Net loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, was $9.1 million and $17.9 million respectively, compared to net loss of $6.5 million and $10.1 million in the prior period. The increased net loss in the current quarter reflected the Company's continued expansion through staffing additions in the areas of research and development and general operations.
- Research and development expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, was $3.2 million and $5.8 million respectively, compared to $1.3 million and $2.5 million in the prior period.
- Selling, general and administrative expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, was $6.0 million and $11.7 million respectively, compared to $5.0 million and $8.9 million in the prior period.
- On April 1, 2022, the Company announced Mountainland Supply Company as a new member of the HydroGreen Certified Dealer Network.
- On April 27, 2022, the Company announced the appointment of Carlos Yam as CFO of the Company, effective June 27, 2022. With over 15 years of experience as a senior financial executive for public and private companies, Yam has served as CFO of both publicly traded and private companies with responsibilities ranging from strategic growth, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, business integration, risk management, banking and treasury, to financial reporting and analysis and operational finance.
- On May 12, 2022, the Company announced new data that demonstrates 54% to 62% less energy is used in CubicFarm System modules compared to results reported by other vertical farms surveyed by Agritecture in its 2021 Global Controlled Environment Agriculture Census Report. With electricity being the number one input cost in vertical farming, this is a significant advantage to customers using the CubicFarm System technology.
- On May 17, 2022, the Company announced that its HydroGreen division has entered into an agreement with Deloitte LLP to develop a carbon commercialization program designed to provide high-quality carbon credits to a fast-growing global market. HydroGreen's commercial scale AVPs help meet increasing demand for valuable farm-based inset and offset carbon credits from organizations with net-zero goals worldwide.
- On June 2, 2022, the Company announced the closing of its overnight marketed public offering of unsecured convertible debenture units (the "Debenture Units") at a price of $1,000 per Debenture Unit for total gross proceeds of $6,540,000, and 7,361,000 common shares at a price of $0.55 per common share for total gross proceeds of $4,048,550. In aggregate, total gross proceeds were $10,588,550, which is inclusive of the partial exercise of the overallotment option.
- On June 14, 2022, the Company announced that it has entered an agreement with Cnossen Dairy for the sale of 10 HydroGreen AVPs. The AVPs will be installed in Hereford, West Texas, which currently milks 11,000 cows over 7,500 acres of farmland. In addition, the Company also announced Dairy Specialists, Advanced Dairy Systems, and Penner Farm Services have joined the HydroGreen Certified Dealer Network.
- On June 28, 2022, the Company announced that it has entered into agreements with NTE Discovery Park Ltd. for the sale of 26 CubicFarm System modules at a sale price of $4.4 million, as well as the future manufacturing of major components for contracts within North America. The initial 26 modules will be installed at Discovery Park in Campbell River, B.C., with the intention to expand with the sale and manufacturing of an additional 100 modules in the near future.
The Company's second quarter financial statements and management's discussion and analysis will be issued and filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com on August 15, 2022, and will be available on the same day on CubicFarms' website at https://cubicfarms.com/investors/.
The Company also announced a comprehensive review of its internal cost structure to optimize operating efficiency and accelerate its path to profitability.
"We have realigned operating expenses by reducing approximately 16.5% of our workforce and other non-payroll related overhead expenditures, resulting in an estimated $6.7 million of annualized savings, or 21.8% of the Company's cash-based operating expenses on a trailing 12-month basis," said Yam. "Investors can expect to see the positive impact of these initiatives and results starting from Q3 onwards. With an optimized corporate structure and cost reductions, we are better positioned to support the disciplined, long-term growth of the business."
In addition, the Company will implement a centralized procurement structure aimed at rightsizing indirect costs and driving further efficiencies across its supply chain.
CubicFarms is a leading local chain agricultural technology company developing and deploying technology to feed a changing world. Its proprietary ag-tech solutions enable growers to produce high quality, predictable produce and fresh livestock feed with HydroGreen Nutrition Technology, a division of CubicFarm Systems Corp. The CubicFarms™ system contains patented technology for growing leafy greens and other crops onsite, indoors, all year round. CubicFarms provides an efficient, localized food supply solution that benefits our people, planet, and economy.
For more information, please visit www.cubicfarms.com.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
"Dave Dinesen"
Dave Dinesen, Chief Executive Officer
Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, statements with respect to: the Company's sales pipeline (and the Company's ability to close sales in the current sales pipeline), the Company's growth strategy, the results of the Company's cost reduction measures, the quantification of value of carbon credits to the AVPs and the market for carbon credits generally.
Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict", and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events, or results "may", "can", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken, occur, or be achieved.
These statements reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events, performance, and results and speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except as required by securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if the Company's expectations regarding future events, performance, or results change.
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SOURCE CubicFarm Systems Corp. | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/cubicfarm-systems-corp-reports-q2-fy-2022-results-announces-cost-reduction-measures/ | 2022-08-15 12:47:34 | 0 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/cubicfarm-systems-corp-reports-q2-fy-2022-results-announces-cost-reduction-measures/ |
Elon Musk said he believes the Biden administration might try to “weaponize” federal agencies against Twitter if former President Trump returns to the platform.
Musk made the comment on Wednesday in a reply to a tweet from another user who reported that Trump is planning to do so after his account was restored in November.
NBC News reported on Tuesday that Trump is urging Facebook to restore his account, which has been locked since the day after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, and is considering a return to Twitter after his account was restored following Musk’s takeover of the social media platform.
Trump at least initially indicated after the suspension on his Twitter account was lifted that he would instead remain on his own platform, Truth Social.
“Will be interesting to see how the Biden administration reacts to this. They may try to weaponize Federal agencies against Twitter,” Musk posted.
Musk’s comment comes a week after House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) officially launched the GOP’s investigation of Biden family finances and allegations surrounding President Biden’s son Hunter Biden. Comer also has sent letters to former top executives at Twitter to request they testify about their role in how the platform handled news reporting about information allegedly found on Hunter Biden’s laptop.
He said these executives played a role in “suppressing” the public’s access to information about the Biden family on Twitter ahead of the 2020 presidential election. | https://www.krqe.com/hill-politics/musk-says-biden-may-try-to-weaponize-government-against-twitter-if-trump-returns/ | 2023-01-18 22:03:03 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/hill-politics/musk-says-biden-may-try-to-weaponize-government-against-twitter-if-trump-returns/ |
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge will conduct a prescribed burn on today on the interior pasture near the Headquarters Corrals.
For the safety of the public and refuge staff, traffic control will be employed until the project is completed. Refuge visitors and local residents should expect delays today from Refuge Headquarters east along Oklahoma 49 to Burford Lake.
The prescribed burn is in the Special Use Area of the Refuge, but smoke will impact Oklahoma 49 from Refuge Headquarters to Burford Lake. Additionally, Boulder Road will be closed until smoke clears and routine traffic can resume. The Refuge will make every attempt to keep closures and delays at a minimum to areas that are not directly impacted by the daily scope of work. Smoke will likely be visible from a great distance during the burn. After completion, residual smoke may persist in the area for a few days.
Prescribed burns are implemented under a strict set of guidelines and weather parameters to provide for public and firefighter safety and to limit potential smoke impacts to residents and visitors in the area. Burns will take place when wind conditions will avoid sending smoke into populated or smoke sensitive areas. If predicted and actual weather conditions do not meet the prescribed plan parameters, the burns will be rescheduled. Several small units have been burned over the last several months in preparation for the this prescribed burn, according to a press release. | https://www.swoknews.com/community_news/prescribed-burn-set-today-in-wichita-mountains-wildlife-refuge/article_223466de-c111-5c1b-9f57-0accf17b8e0f.html | 2023-02-23 10:42:37 | 0 | https://www.swoknews.com/community_news/prescribed-burn-set-today-in-wichita-mountains-wildlife-refuge/article_223466de-c111-5c1b-9f57-0accf17b8e0f.html |
COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers signed linebacker Eric Kendricks with the belief his leadership and skill can help their defense reach the next level.
Kendricks got to work on demonstrating the former as he met many of his new teammates for the first time at the start of voluntary workouts on Monday.
“I feel like I came into UCLA kind of as the underdog in the same situation, not really knowing anybody. I’m just kind of taking that approach, just like when I was a rookie — put my head down and work,” he said.
Kendricks signed a two-year contract with the Chargers in March after eight productive seasons for the Minnesota Vikings. He had at least 107 tackles in each of the past seven seasons, including a career-high 87 solo stops among his 137 total tackles last season.
The Chargers need that kind of effectiveness after allowing an NFL-worst 5.42 yards per carry last season. They finished 29th overall in yards per play despite having made significant personnel additions on the defensive line and in the secondary.
Head coach and defensive play-caller Brandon Staley sees Kendricks as the middle linebacker capable of helping to bring those two groups together.
“I think the intangible part of that position is that you’re truly connecting both places, you’re connecting the front of your defense to the back of your defense,” Staley said. “You’re in the middle of everything. … That’s part of your value to the football team that goes far beyond height, weight, speed.”
Kendricks demonstrated that ability throughout his time in Minnesota. He was a multi-year captain and the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2020 for his contributions off the field.
Defensive lineman Morgan Fox said Kendricks’ reputation preceded him.
“Today was the first time that I’ve met him in person, but everyone that I know that knows him speaks very highly of him, nothing but great things about him,” Fox said. “It was awesome to actually meet him today, get to work with him. I’m excited to see what the season is going to look like with him.”
The Chargers expect to see Kendricks lining up next to Kenneth Murray Jr. this fall, but the two linebackers already spent time together attending a car drifting show in Long Beach last week.
“I know he’s a big car guy, I’m a big car guy. I don’t care about anything else, he’s a good guy for me in that sense,” Kendricks said. “The football stuff, obviously, that’s our first love and passion. I’m sure that will take care of itself. The fact that we can hang out in a different setting and kind of unwind and be personable with each other on that level is going to be great for us.”
Kendricks knows California and its car culture having grown up in Fresno and attending college at UCLA, but he said choosing the Chargers was not about the lifestyle.
“Honestly, they’re a good team. They’re contenders,” he said. "This is my ninth year in the league. I’ve seen a lot. I’ve done a lot. Hopefully, my experiences can help everybody else around me. … I’m just going to come in here, be myself and play the game that I love to play.”
NOTES: QB Justin Herbert attended workouts on Monday, but his status for later stages of the offseason program remains uncertain after undergoing surgery on his non-throwing shoulder in January. “We’re going to listen to the doctors,” Staley said. “I know that he’s making progress.” … Staley had no update on RB Austin Ekeler after he received permission to seek a trade in March.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/article/chargers-value-leadership-new-lb-eric-kendricks-17902735.php | 2023-04-18 00:15:10 | 1 | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/article/chargers-value-leadership-new-lb-eric-kendricks-17902735.php |
The ministers spoke about Iran and recent events in IsraelImage: Odd Andersen/AFP
PoliticsIsrael
Germany tells Israel death penalty would be a mistake
34 minutes ago
At a meeting of foreign ministers, Germany's Annalena Baerbock urged Israel to abandon a plan to start executing terrorists. Her Israeli counterpart, meanwhile, warned that Iran now poses a threat to Europe.
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German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Tuesday said she had conveyed strong objections to Israel over its plans to introduce mandatory death penalties for people convicted of terrorist killings of Israeli citizens.
She spoke after a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, with a first vote on capital punishment expected to take place in Israel's parliament, the Knesset, on Wednesday.
Baerbock said Germany was consistent in its approach to the death penalty and made this point regularly to other allies — such as G7 members the United States and Japan — who still routinely use capital punishment.
"We are firmly opposed to the death penalty, and we are raising this issue all over the world," Baerbock said at a press conference in Berlin alongside her Israeli counterpart, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new right-wing government.
"All over the world, states are in the process of abandoning this cruel practice, partly because it has been proven that it is not effective as a deterrent," Baerbock said.
The foreign minister said it was a credit to Israel that, despite the considerable terrorist threats it has long faced, the country's civilian courts had imposed capital punishment only once: against the Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in the 1960s.
"That has always been an impressive argument for those of us who have defended Israel on the international stage against unfair criticism," Baerbock said. "I, therefore, say as a friend: I am convinced that it would be a big mistake to break with this history."
The Israeli penal code theoretically includes provisions for capital punishment but only in rare cases.
Baerbock's comments came after the Israeli Cabinet nodded through a bill that would impose the death penalty on terrorists found guilty of killing Israeli citizens. The legislation must still pass several readings by lawmakers before it can be enacted.
Israeli-American killed as violence in West Bank intensifies
There have been previous attempts to pass such bills in Israel, and this one is regarded as unlikely to succeed. Members of ultra-Orthodox coalition parties are expected to vote against it for religious reasons.
At Tuesday's press conference, Cohen urged Baerbock to "do everything in your power" to convince Palestinian authorities to take "decisive action" to stop terror attacks. He highlighted the killings of two Israeli brothers near Nablus on Sunday and an Israeli-American man near Jericho on Monday.
Iran poses a threat to Europe, says Israel
The foreign ministers also spoke about the nuclear threat posed by Iran, with Cohen saying it was time to reimpose sanctions and put a "credible military option" on the table.
"This is the time to take action," Cohen said. "Germany, as a European and a world power, must send a clear message that only strong actions will have strong results."
The minister, who visited Kyiv earlier this month, said Russia's use of Iranian drones to inflict devastation on Ukraine underlined the widening threat.
Israel: Fresh violence threatens to derail peace efforts
"Iran is no longer just a regional problem but also a problem to Europe and the world as one," he said.
Germany's foreign minister said a report that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors had found uranium enriched to 84% purity was of utmost concern. Uranium enriched up to 90% purity is considered nuclear weapons-grade.
"There is no plausible civilian justification for such a high grade of enrichment," Baerbock said. "Iran must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear bomb. This is our common stance and this is the goal of our diplomatic efforts."
"The consequences of such an escalation would be devastating for the entire region," she said.
Iran agreed to a deal with the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany and the European Union in 2015 by signing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), often referred to as the Iran nuclear deal. The agreement restricted the country's nuclear program, in particular limiting the enrichment of uranium.
Under the administration of President Donald Trump, the United States withdrew from the deal unilaterally in 2018. Since then, Tehran has gradually breached its provisions, and efforts to revive the deal since Joe Biden became US president in 2021 have stalled. | https://www.dw.com/en/germany-tells-israel-death-penalty-would-be-a-mistake/a-64844751 | 2023-02-28 21:22:13 | 0 | https://www.dw.com/en/germany-tells-israel-death-penalty-would-be-a-mistake/a-64844751 |
As atmospheric river exits, another awaits to hit California
WATSONVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Wet, miserable weather continued across huge swaths of California on Sunday as an atmospheric river that caused major flooding flowed eastward and makes way for another onslaught of rain and snow — accompanied by strong gusts — that could yet again pummel the beleaguered region as soon as Monday night.
The National Weather Service said the next torrent could exacerbate the severe flooding that overwhelmed the area in the past few days, including a levee failure that prompted widespread evacuations Saturday in farming communities near the state’s Central Coast.
The next weather system is not expected to bring as much rain, but weather officials nevertheless cautioned that “considerable flooding” could occur in lower elevations from additional rain and snowmelt that could swell creeks and streams.
“Definitely prepare for some more flooding impacts. The ground is very saturated. We’re already seeing some impacts from some light amounts even today,” National Weather Service forecaster Eleanor Dhuyvetter said Sunday.
The rain and snow is expected to extend from Central California to Oregon, as well as northern Nevada.
Of particular concern are the strong winds that are expected to accompany the approaching weather system. NWS is predicting wind gusts of up to 50 mph (81 kph) in some places — which could potentially snap tree branches and damage power lines.
Fortunately, the new storm is a fast-moving one which means it won’t have time to dump as much rain.
As much as a foot of rain fell in the Big Sur area of the state over a two-day period, according to weather data.
Authorities suggest that residents have a plan in case further evacuations orders are issued.
Across Monterey County, more than 8,500 people were evacuated Saturday, including roughly 1,700 residents — many of them Latino farmworkers — from the unincorporated community of Pajaro.
The atmospheric river, known as a “Pineapple Express” because it brought warm subtropical moisture across the Pacific from near Hawaii, was melting lower parts of the huge snowpack built in California’s mountains.
Because of the massive flooding over the early weekend, more than 50 people had to be rescued by first responders and the California National Guard. One video showed a member of the Guard helping a driver out of a car trapped by water up to their waists.
The extent of property damages was still uncertain but Luis Alejo, the chair of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, sought help from the state and federal governments.
“The need will be great! Will take months for our residents to repair homes!” he wrote in a tweet Saturday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared emergencies in 34 counties in recent weeks, and the Biden administration approved a presidential disaster declaration for some on Friday morning, a move that will bring more federal assistance. President Joe Biden spoke with Newsom on Saturday to pledge the federal government’s support in California’s response to the emergency, the White House said.
Weather-related power outages affected more than 17,000 customers in Monterey County late Saturday, according to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
The governor’s office said it was continuing to monitor the situation in Pajaro.
The Pajaro River separates the counties of Santa Cruz and Monterey in the area that flooded Saturday. Floodwaters that got into the region’s wells might be contaminated with chemicals, officials said, and residents were told not to drink or cook with tap water.
Officials had been working along the levee in the hopes of shoring it up when it was breached around midnight Friday into Saturday. Crews began working to fix the levee around daybreak Saturday as residents slept in evacuation centers.
This week’s storm marked the state’s 10th atmospheric river of the winter, storms that have brought enormous amounts of rain and snow to the state and helped lessen the drought conditions that had dragged on for three years. State reservoirs that had dipped to strikingly low levels are now well above the average for this time of year, prompting state officials to release water from dams to assist with flood control and make room for even more rain.
In San Francisco, an 85-foot (25.91 meter) eucalyptus tree fell onto the Trocadero Clubhouse early Saturday morning. The 1892 clubhouse, a San Francisco historical landmark, was left severely damaged, with part of the roof crushed and the inside flooded.
Funnel clouds were spotted in the Jamestown area — the heart of California’s Gold Rush — on Saturday afternoon and the weather service issued a tornado warning — later canceled — for the Sierra Nevada foothills as severe thunderstorms, hail and high winds blanketed the region.
Another set of tornado warnings were briefly issued in Fresno County, nearly 100 miles (161 kilometers) south of Gold Country. Flash flooding warnings were in effect late Saturday in Tuolumne County, with roads submerged around Sonora and neighboring communities.
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Dazio reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press reporter Bobby Caina Calvan contributed from New York.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.newschannel6now.com/2023/03/12/atmospheric-river-exits-another-awaits-hit-california/ | 2023-03-12 17:58:34 | 0 | https://www.newschannel6now.com/2023/03/12/atmospheric-river-exits-another-awaits-hit-california/ |
SUZHOU, China, June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Transcenta Holding Limited ("Transcenta") (HKEX: 06628), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company with fully-integrated capabilities in discovery, research, development and manufacturing of antibody-based therapeutics, has presented updated data of Cohort C from a phase I/IIa, multi-center study of Osemitamab (TST001) in combination with Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin (CAPOX) as a first-line treatment of advanced G/GEJ cancer at 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. The data showed that Osemitamab (TST001) has durable anti-tumor activity in all the study population including both high and low to median CLDN18.2-expressing gastric cancer. These data will support the upcoming global Phase III pivotal trial to be initiated in the second half of 2023.
Adding an anti-claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2) antibody to a chemotherapy is a clinically validated approach for patients with high CLDN18.2 expressing gastric tumors. Osemitamab (TST001) is a potential best-in-class humanized antibody with higher CLDN18.2 binding affinity and lower fucose, resulting in enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity. Pre-clinical studies showed that Osemitamab (TST001) has stronger tumor growth inhibition effect than the Zolbetuximab (IMAB362)-analog at the same dose, regardless of CLDN18.2 expression levels.
Title
Osemitamab (TST001) in Combination with Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin (CAPOX) as a First-Line Treatment of Advanced G/GEJ Cancer-updated Data of Cohort C from a Phase I/IIa, Multi-center Study (TranStar102/TST001-1002)
Study Design
Transtar-102 (NCT04495296) is an ongoing Phase I/II, open-label, multi-cohort, multi-center clinical study in China to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Osemitamab (TST001) plus CAPOX as a first-line treatment for Chinese patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic G/GEJ cancer who had not received prior systemic treatment for advanced disease. Positive CLDN18.2 expression (membranous staining ≥1+ intensity in≥10% of tumor cells) as assessed centrally using the LDT assay was required in the expansion phase only.
Safety Results
As of April 21, 2023, 15 patients received Osemitamab (TST001) in the escalation phase and 49 patients at dose of 6mg/kg Q3W in the expansion group. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were mostly grade 1-2 and the most common TEAEs include nausea, hypoalbuminemia, anemia and vomiting. Only one patient experienced grade 3 nausea and vomiting at the dose of 6mg/kg, one patient experienced grade 3 hypoalbuminemia at the dose of 8mg/kg. There were no grade 4 adverse events.
Efficacy Results
As of April 21, 2023, among the 49 patients of 6mg/kg Q3W dose expansion group, 42 patients had measurable lesions and at least one post treatment tumor assessment, 28 (66.7%) achieved partial response. Estimated median duration of response was 9.9 months in 34 responders from all dose groups. Estimated median progression-free survival was 9.5 months from all dose groups.
Conclusions
The safety profile of Osemitamab (TST001) is mainly characterized by manageable on-target, off-tumor side effects; most of these AEs are of grade 1 or 2.
The addition of Osemitamab (TST001) to CAPOX for first-line treatment of CLDN18.2 expressing (≥10% tumor cells with membrane staining≥1+) patients with G/GEJ cancer leads to improved efficacy outcomes as compared to historical controls, with no trend to lower efficacy with lower levels of expression.
"We are very encouraged by these longer follow up data. Based on other clinical trials results, we know that long term efficacy endpoints such as PFS and DOR, rather than ORR, are critical indicators of the potential of Osemitamab. We selected patients with CLDN81.2 expressing tumors, corresponding to around 55% of all cases of G/GEJ cancer, and the benefit risk of Osemitamab in combination with CAPOX in that large group of patients is extremely favorable. We look forward to initiating the Phase III trial for Osemitamab (TST001)." said Dr. Caroline Germa, Transcenta's Executive Vice President, Global Medicine Development and Chief Medical Officer.
The full text of posters is available on Transcenta's website: https://www.transcenta.com/Scientific_Publications.html
About Osemitamab (TST001)
Osemitamab (TST001) is a high affinity humanized anti- CLDN18.2 monoclonal antibody with enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity ("ADCC") and complement-dependent cytotoxicity ("CDC") activities and potent anti-tumor activities in tumor xenograft models. Osemitamab (TST001) is the second most advanced CLDN18.2 targeting antibody being developed globally. Osemitamab (TST001) is generated using Transcenta's Immune Tolerance Breaking Technology (IMTB) platform. Osemitamab (TST001) kills CLDN18.2 expressing tumor cells by mechanisms of ADCC and CDC. Leveraging advanced bioprocessing technology, the fucose content of Osemitamab (TST001) was significantly reduced during the production, which further enhanced NK cells mediated ADCC activity of Osemitamab (TST001). Clinical trials for Osemitamab (TST001) are ongoing in the U.S. and China (NCT05190575, NCT04396821, NCT04495296, NCT05608785 / CTR20201281). Osemitamab (TST001) was granted Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. by FDA for the treatment of patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) and pancreatic cancer.
About Transcenta Holding Limited
Transcenta (HKEX: 06628) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company with fully integrated capabilities in antibody-based biotherapeutics discovery, research, development and manufacturing.
Transcenta has established global footprint, with Headquarters and Discovery, Clinical and Translational Research Center in Suzhou, Process and Product Development Center and Manufacturing Facility in Hangzhou, and Clinical Development Centers in Princeton, US and in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou of China, and Business Development Center in Boston and Los Angeles, US. Transcenta has also initiated the construction of the Group Headquarters and the second high-end biopharmaceutical facility with HiCB as its core technology in Suzhou Industrial Park. Transcenta is developing 13 therapeutic antibody molecules for oncology and selected non-oncology indications including bone and kidney disorders.
For more information, please visit www.transcenta.com and https://www.linkedin.com/company/transcenta.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Transcenta, are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements. Transcenta does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly.
These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of Transcenta with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Transcenta's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, Transcenta's competitive environment and political, economic, legal and social conditions.
Transcenta, the Directors and the employees of Transcenta assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained in this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turn out to be incorrect.
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SOURCE Transcenta Holding Limited | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/06/06/transcenta-presents-updated-data-osemitamab-tst001-combination-with-capox-first-line-treatment-ggej-cancer-2023-asco-annual-meeting/ | 2023-06-06 01:53:39 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/06/06/transcenta-presents-updated-data-osemitamab-tst001-combination-with-capox-first-line-treatment-ggej-cancer-2023-asco-annual-meeting/ |
WFO SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, August 17, 2022
_____
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Hanford CA
610 AM PDT Tue Aug 16 2022
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS
MORNING TO 11 PM PDT WEDNESDAY...
...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM WEDNESDAY TO 8 PM
PDT FRIDAY...
* WHAT...For the Excessive Heat Warning, high temperatures ranging
from 104-108 degrees in the San Joaquin Valley and 99-104
degrees in the Lower Sierra Nevada foothills, Kern River Valley,
and Coastal Range. For the Heat Advisory, high temperatures of
101-106 degrees are forecast across the San Joaquin Valley, with
highs of 97-102 in the Lower Sierra Nevada foothills, Kern River
Valley, and Coastal Range.
* WHERE...San Joaquin Valley, Lower Sierra Nevada foothills,
Kern River Valley, and Coastal Range.
* WHEN...For the Excessive Heat Warning, from 11 AM this morning
to 11 PM PDT Wednesday. For the Heat Advisory, from 11 PM
Wednesday to 8 PM PDT Friday.
* IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the
potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those
working or participating in outdoor activities.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Warm overnight lows will make those
susceptible to heat related illnesses at higher risk. Overnight
lows in the 74-79 degree range in urban areas possible, with
lows in the 68-73 range in rural areas.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.mrt.com/weather/article/CA-WFO-SAN-JOAQUIN-VALLEY-Warnings-Watches-and-17376470.php | 2022-08-16 14:21:51 | 1 | https://www.mrt.com/weather/article/CA-WFO-SAN-JOAQUIN-VALLEY-Warnings-Watches-and-17376470.php |
UVALDE, Texas — KVUE has received varied reports that the Texas House special committee investigating the Uvalde school shooting could soon release hallway surveillance videos from the day of the massacre.
ABC News has reported that the 77-minute hallway video from May 24 could be released as early as Monday during the committee's latest hearing. However, as of Monday morning, it remains unclear whether the video will be played at the hearing.
Though the video has not yet been made public, KVUE and our news partners at the Austin American-Statesman have gained access to the video and viewed it in full. Below is a breakdown of what the full video shows:
Initially, the video shows a truck crashing outside Robb Elementary School on May 24, and the 18-year-old gunman walking to the school building. The video then shows the gunman entering the school and walking down the hallway to a classroom, carrying a long gun.
Five seconds after the gunman turns the corner, the video shows a young boy come into the frame. The boy witnesses the first gunshots in the school before running away, presumably unharmed. The shooter did not appear to see the boy, based on the video.
The video then shows the gunman start shooting toward the classroom before walking in. Between gunfire, screams can be heard from the teachers and students inside the classroom.
The video shows the first armed law enforcement officers arrive in the school hallway three minutes after the gunman. The officers are seen running toward the classroom, but they take fire and end up back at the end of the hallway.
According to KVUE staff members who have viewed the full surveillance video, 13 rifles can be seen arriving in the hallway in the first 30 minutes of the incident. The first shield arrives in under 20 minutes. Dozens of law enforcement officers can be seen in the hallway, along with equipment.
No officers make entry into the classroom for more than 70 minutes.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/special-reports/uvalde-school-shooting/uvalde-school-shooting-surveillance-video-robb-hallway/269-1647430f-3ff5-4dfe-87e3-c84b43629f3f | 2022-07-11 17:57:58 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/special-reports/uvalde-school-shooting/uvalde-school-shooting-surveillance-video-robb-hallway/269-1647430f-3ff5-4dfe-87e3-c84b43629f3f |
BECKER, George H.
A man of faith with an inquisitive mind and a servant's heart, George H. Becker, age 84, of Bellbrook, passed away on Tuesday, June 7th, 2022. He was born on October 25th, 1937, to George and Josephine (Huschle) Becker in St. Paul, Minnesota.
George was preceded in death by his parents, brother Charles Becker, sister Mary Just, sister Marcie (Dick) Joyce, and son Christopher George Becker. George will be dearly missed by his beloved wife, Miky Hammer Becker, 11 children, 19 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, former spouse Janice Becker, brother-in-law Phil Just, close friends Roger Dunlap and Jim Becker, as well as many other cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends.
To help the family celebrate his life, you are invited to share in his viewing at Conner & Koch Life Celebration Home, (92 W. Franklin St. Bellbrook, Ohio 45305) on Sunday, June 12th, 2022, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. A second viewing will be held for George's close friends and family on Monday, June 13th, 2022, from 9:30-10:15 am at St. Francis of Assisi Church, (6245 Wilmington Pike, Dayton, OH 45459). All are welcome to the Funeral Mass which will be held at 10:30am, immediately
following the viewing. Burial will take place immediately
following the Funeral Mass. George's love and care for nature prompted burial at Calvary Cemetery's St. Kateri Preserve for Natural Burial. After the burial, all are welcome to join us for a reception celebration at St. Francis in the Friendship Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Global Catholic Media Network (https://www.ewtn.com/), Mercy Ships (https://www.mercyships.org/), or Catholic Relief Services
(https://www.crs.org/). You are welcome to write a condolence message, send flowers in the form of perennials, plant a tree, and share a story or picture about George at
Funeral Home Information
Conner & Koch Funeral Home
92 W. Franklin Street
Bellbrook, OH
45305
https://www.connerandkoch.com/?utm_campaign=legacytraffic&utm_source=legacy&utm_medium=referral | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/obituaries/becker-george/RGVVVSB465FFFHJO24Y2MGBM7A/ | 2022-06-11 05:34:40 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/obituaries/becker-george/RGVVVSB465FFFHJO24Y2MGBM7A/ |
Featured Tap N Win and Double Jackpot Time Bonus Applications Debuting at G2E will Highlight how Acres is Helping Casino Operators Drive Higher Player Engagement and Loyalty
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Acres Manufacturing Company ("Acres"), a leading casino loyalty and technology developer, will feature the unique cashless, bonusing and data generation capabilities of its Foundation™ casino management technology and system at the 22nd annual Global Gaming Expo (G2E®), October 10-13, 2022. Acres' Foundation technology is the industry's first and only solution capable of both processing real-time gaming data and conducting cashless transfers to and from any slot machine or table game.
"The development and continued evolution of Foundation reflects our commitment to provide casino operators with a modern, easy to implement technology that delivers the power to grow revenue and operate more efficiently by engaging with players at a significantly higher level than ever before," said Noah Acres. "We're excited to demonstrate the many benefits enabled by our Foundation technology at G2E, such as our unique bonusing applications that provide casino operators with tools to build and strengthen player loyalty, including through personalized gaming entertainment experiences based on players' individual behaviors and preferences. We will also demonstrate how we've unlocked the code on cashless gaming to provide for an engaging and seamless user experience.
"For decades, gaming technology has stagnated, significantly impacting casino operators' ability to simultaneously grow revenue while reducing costs. Visitors to our booth at G2E will see clearly that Acres is at the forefront of revolutionizing casino gaming technology, and we expect to remain the industry's leading solutions provider as we partner with more operators seeking the benefits of our Foundation casino management technology and system."
Foundation provides casinos with real-time data from slot machines and a direct interface to the credit meter on any slot machine. Foundation provides casinos with over 1,000x more data, giving operators dramatic new capabilities to analyze and influence player behavior. Through its standard APIs, any application approved by the casino can interface with Foundation to enable advanced data analytics, bonusing, cashless gaming and more.
Highlights of the unique capabilities of Foundation featured by Acres at G2E (Booth #: 4211) include:
Awarded the Gold Medal for Best Interactive Product by the GGB Gaming & Technology Awards 2022, the Cashless Casino application allows casino operators to deploy the industry's best-of-breed cashless gaming and loyalty solution within 15 weeks of order. Acres will demonstrate how the Cashless Casino app blends cashless gaming with real-time data, bonusing and loyalty to provide the player experience of the future. Cashless Casino can be downloaded in Apple's App Store and on Google Play. Once downloaded, G2E attendees can use the app to play slots, tables and win bonuses at the Acres G2E booth.
Cashless Casino works on any slot machine or table game, including those connected to legacy casino management systems. These solutions continue to account for play and loyalty data, while Foundation processes the entire machine event stream in real-time. Over time, casinos can migrate all CMS functionality to Foundation without any disruptions.
Deploying Cashless Casino is simple, as casinos only need to pick a payment processor and provide a mobile app. Players use Cashless Casino use the mobile app to virtually "card in" and start a rated play session as point balances accrue in real-time and players are incentivized to continue playing when a new tier status approaches Foundation allows the player's funds, as well as accrued points which can be converted to free play, to move between the app's wallet and the game.
Tap N Win is a one-of-a-kind bonus that allows casinos to bonus players anywhere they carry their app. Once unlocked, players simply tap their device to reveal their prize. Casinos can configure how the bonus is earned, what prizes are awarded and when they can be redeemed. Engaging content and bonuses like Tap N Win will help casinos create loyal customers even when players are away from the casino.
The featured prize of Tap N Win is Double Jackpot Time, a first-of-its kind bonus application for the casino industry. When a player earns and pushes the Double Jackpot Time button on their mobile app during a live slot session, all pays on the slot machine are doubled for the length of time determined by the casino operator as an exciting Double Jackpot Time animation sequence is played simultaneously on the player's mobile app and on the display screen over the slot machine. The Foundation technology enables casino operators to customize bonuses such as Double Jackpot Time based on a myriad of factors arising from the real-time data collected by the system. In addition to casino operators having the ability to program their optimal length of the Double Jackpot Time bonus session, they can also personalize bonus sessions based on the play of each individual player and determine on which slot machines to offer the bonus rounds.
Leveraging Foundation's ability to read 100% of slot machine data in real-time, Optimal Poker Analyzer empowers casinos to perform high-definition video poker analytics. Optimal Poker Analyzer identifies the optimal solution for any five-card combination dealt in a wide variety of video poker pay tables. When players never differ from optimal play, casinos can designate them as advantage players and modify their marketing offers, while marketing offers can be increased for high margin players who are more prone to frequent mistakes.
Acres is a leading casino loyalty and technology expert and the creator of Foundation™, the first-of-its-kind casino management system. Foundation provides casinos with real-time data from slot machines and a direct interface to the credit meter on any slot machine. Acres was founded by John Acres, the inventor of casino systems technology. For more information on Acres and Foundation, visit acresmanufacturing.com.
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TORONTO, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - SoftwareReviews, a leading source for insights on the software provider landscape, has published its 2022 Employee Monitoring Software Data Quadrant, naming two providers as Gold Medalists.
Employee monitoring software enables companies to monitor and supervise employees, regardless of their location. The software collects data on employees' web and application usage to track activity, time, and productivity from a central location. The insights enable organizations to identify areas of improvement objectively. For example, a sales teams testing new approaches could use employee monitoring to help ensure that proper messaging is being conveyed to prospects. This software allows organizations to be more agile and quickly determine if processes are working efficiently or need to be changed to ensure business goals are met.
The top employee monitoring software providers for 2022 have been identified based on verified survey data collected from end users on SoftwareReviews. These providers have received high scores on SoftwareReviews' Data Quadrant.
Providers are ranked by a composite satisfaction score, called a Composite Score (CS), that averages four different areas of evaluation: Net Emotional Footprint, Vendor Capabilities, Product Features, and Likeliness to Recommend.
The 2022 Employee Monitoring Software Gold Medalists are as follows:
- Insightful (formerly Workpuls), 8.9 CS, had the highest ranking for business value creation.
- Time Doctor, 8.6 CS, had the highest ranking for task tracking.
SoftwareReviews' comprehensive software reviews provide the most accurate and detailed view of a complicated and ever-changing market. The data comes from real end users who use the software day in and day out and IT professionals who have worked with it intimately through procurement, implementation, and maintenance.
To compare and evaluate employee monitoring software providers using the most in-depth and unbiased analyst reports available, visit SoftwareReviews' dedicated employee monitoring category page.
For more information about SoftwareReviews, the Data Quadrant, or Emotional Footprint, or to access resources to support the software selection process, visit softwarereviews.com and connect via LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
SoftwareReviews is the most in-depth source of buyer data and insights for the enterprise software market. By collecting customer experience data from business and IT professionals, the SoftwareReviews methodology produces detailed and authentic insights into the experience of evaluating and purchasing enterprise software.
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SOURCE SoftwareReviews | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/best-employee-monitoring-software-solutions-year-that-will-help-increase-organizational-productivity-revealed-by-softwarereviews-users/ | 2022-06-16 15:25:41 | 0 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/best-employee-monitoring-software-solutions-year-that-will-help-increase-organizational-productivity-revealed-by-softwarereviews-users/ |
Dopple clients see 4.5x time spent after deploying 3D
CHARLESTON, S.C., Dec. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- If you were to estimate how many ads you see in a day, what would you guess? Industry experts vary in their opinions, but reports range from the average person seeing 4,000 - 10,000 ads per day. That may seem excessive, but when you consider that the average American spends over 7 hours staring at screens every day, those numbers become more believable.
So what does this mean for marketers looking to capture consumer's attention? For starters it means that screens are incredibly crowded, and making an impact can be a struggle with the constant noise bombarding consumers. Second; it means that channels not reliant on a screen become all the more valuable as opportunities to capitalize on more 1:1 interactions.
Among the fastest growing tools for marketers are 3D and augmented reality (AR), which bring products to life with realistic and immersive experiences that have proven to drive significant results. While digital platforms are the most common applications for 3D and AR, they are far from the end of the potential for 3D and AR in commerce.
Increase Time Spent
The more time a user spends with a product, the more likely they are to convert. Whether a brand deploys a 3D configurator, AR lens, or AR product preview, time spent with an AR ad or on an AR enabled website has shown to be significantly higher than traditional media. Time spent with AR ads averages at 75 seconds, which is 4x as high as video. Eyewear brand Bolle saw an 18 second average time spent with their AR models,along with an 85% increase in new traffic to their website.
Improved Customer Experience
80% of consumers say that the buying experience is as important in their decision process as the product itself, and 66% say that they would be more interested in shopping with brands who have 3D and AR enabled capabilities. As more brands adopt these technologies as part of their core digital offerings, 3D and augmented reality will become the standard as opposed to innovative.
Shared Experiences
Even in the digital age, word of mouth is still the gold standard of marketing, with referrals from friends and families still the most trusted source. It is an exciting opportunity then, to know that MediaPost found users share 62% of AR powered ads they interact with. Studies also found that 26% of respondents shared AR content to get feedback on how something looks; providing compelling data for apparel companies pursuing the use of virtual try on.
Higher Conversions
The end goal for the majority of brands is to sell more products than they previously have. As competition becomes more stiff and barriers to entry are removed, the need to gain and retain loyal customers is paramount. Providing a better customer experience has proven to attract more customers, and data from ecommerce leader Shopify shows that products enabled with AR have driven 94% more conversions than those not enabled with AR capabilities. In a recent campaign with Snap, MAC Cosmetics saw a 17x life in purchases while Ulta drove 30+ million virtual try-ons and $6 million in sales over a two week period.
Reduced Returns
Average returns for ecommerce range from 20-30%, representing some of the biggest areas of loss for brands. Consumers return products for many reasons, but one of the most commonly reported complaints is that the product did not look like the picture when it arrived. High fidelity 3D configurators and augmented reality reduce these concerns by providing buyers with lifelike models of the products they are shopping for, ensuring their purchase will look great and fit their needs when it arrives.
On average, 58% of marketing budgets are allocated to digital marketing, but as marketers at all levels look to derive more value from their channels, traditional media is poised to take advantage of technology in new and innovative ways.
Augmented Reality and Print Media
Magazines and catalogs may have fallen out of favor for a few years, but a desire for slower paced consumer/brand contact from both sides has given rise to increased interest in the power of snail mail. Brands ranging from sporting apparel to high end furniture leverage traditional print media with their own catalogs, as well as ads and sponsored editorials in popular publications. While a significant portion of emails will be deleted without ever being open, many consumers can't resist flipping through a few pages of a new catalog. Similarly, direct mail coupons and fliers are given at minimum a cursory glance before being discarded, and often remain in the receiver's house long after its delivery.
To connect this analog discovery with digital purchase behavior, brands are turning to digital experiences triggered with traditional marketing assets. Consider a consumer perusing the spring catalog from Ballard Designs. The luxury home furnishings brand has just released their new patio line, and as the potential buyer looks out at her patio, she wonders what that conversation set would look like in her yard. Instead of setting the catalog aside, she uses her phone and the QR code at the bottom of the page to trigger an AR experience that places that set with the cushion color of her choice in exactly the spot she imagines it. No more imagining, the vision is now within reach, and the likelihood that she will make a purchase has exponentially increased.
Discovery and initial engagement are not the only areas of opportunity with AR and direct mail. Augmented reality can also be used to re-engage the owner of an abandoned cart. 3D configurators are a popular tool among brands who offer a variety of colors and features within their product SKUs. As stated before, the more time spent with a product, the greater the chance of a conversion. While not all consumers who configure a product on a brand website will be buyers, the time spent on customizing a product to their taste generally leaves an impression.
Imagine a bike company with a 3D product configurator that allows buyers to choose the model, the color, seat type, and add ons such as lights or accessories for their bike. At the end of the experience the buyer adds the bike to the cart, but does not complete the purchase. The majority of brands will send a cart abandonment email if they have the buyer's email address. However, if they also have their mailing address, the brand can send a piece of direct mail with a QR code that triggers an AR model of not only the style of bike the consumer built, but their exact configuration.
Dopple provides brands with an intuitive, low code platform to seamlessly integrate 3D and augmented reality into any marketing stack. Products come to life with digital twins that capture the attention and confidence of buyers by allowing them to shop in an immersive setting. Find out more about how 3D can elevate your brand experience by connecting with our visual experts.
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SOURCE Dopple | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/12/01/how-amplify-your-marketing-with-3dar/ | 2022-12-01 17:12:03 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/12/01/how-amplify-your-marketing-with-3dar/ |
As improvements at Cape Horn Park in Hampstead continue, commissioners last week approved funding to install electricity for new lights to be installed at two soccer fields there.
The Board of Carroll County Commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved $40,990 for the installation of electricity for new lighting at the park, funded through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure and Program Open Space funds. These funds can only be used for park projects, a county document states.
The latest approval is part of a larger project to update the 60-plus-acre park, primarily used by the North Carroll Recreation Council. The park has three multipurpose fields for soccer and lacrosse, and a softball diamond.
Last year, the Board of County Commissioners approved the installation of a new $140,553 playground and a 12-foot-by-20-foot pavilion costing $44,857. Those projects were funded largely by Program Open Space funds, with approximately 90% of the cost covered by the state.
Jeff Degitz, director of the county’s Department of Recreation and Parks, said he hopes the park project will be complete later this year.
He reminded commissioners that in December, they unanimously approved the installation of LED lighting for two soccer fields at Cape Horn Park at a cost of $490,024. Thursday’s approval will pay for electricity to operate the lights.
“This is the part of the project that actually brings power to the site that will support the lights,” he said. “We are very much looking forward to getting them started, so then the rest of the project can proceed.”
Afternoon Update
“It’s going to depend on the lead time for the poles and equipment,” he said. “That is all in the works now. But obviously they can’t start with any of the site work until they get power to the site.”
Degitz told commissioners in December that the LED lighting is energy efficient and will allow for extended hours of park usage.
Eastern Sales and Engineering Company, Inc., will install the lighting.
Funding for the lights is from impact fees and local park and infrastructure funds that can only be used for park projects. Impact fees are imposed on property developers by municipalities for infrastructure that must be built to accommodate new development. | https://www.capitalgazette.com/maryland/cc-commissioners-park-lighting-20230410-7ip2y6bk3bbzdlwu3qkbs25ztu-story.html | 2023-04-10 21:55:07 | 1 | https://www.capitalgazette.com/maryland/cc-commissioners-park-lighting-20230410-7ip2y6bk3bbzdlwu3qkbs25ztu-story.html |
Michigan’s new hands-free law takes effect
LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Starting Friday, holding a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle in Michigan is illegal.
Michigan is the 26th state to pass a hands-free law.
The goal is to reduce distracted driving crashes and fatalities.
Travelers will see many hands-free law signs as they head to their holiday destination.
Previous story: MDOT installing ‘hands-free device use only’ signs along state lines, border crossings
Michigan’s had a texting and driving law in effect since 2010. The new hands-free law makes it illegal even to hold your phone. You can’t call, text, record or post on social media. If you need to use a phone, have Bluetooth set up or a hands-free headset.
Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth said police officers will be on the lookout for distracted drivers.
“It’s so prevalent out there that for the first several weeks,” said Wriggelsworth. “I mean, we’re gonna continue to see it probably as much as we do now, and we just hope over time we significantly see a reduction and people on their phones in their driving, and that really equates you safer roads in Michigan.”
Related: Mid-Michigan Matters: What the Hands-Free Law means for drivers
Some exceptions include calling 911, and first responders can use their phones as long as they perform official duties.
First-time offenders will pay a fine but might face a court appearance if they violate the law three times in three years.
One of the bills requires State Police to provide an update on the new law—that’s required three and a half years after it takes effect.
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Copyright 2023 WILX. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2023/06/30/michigans-new-hands-free-law-takes-effect/ | 2023-06-30 12:26:34 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2023/06/30/michigans-new-hands-free-law-takes-effect/ |
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SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — When you’ve got the second-most goals in NHL history, you’re evidently permitted to bring a guest onto the ice for the All-Star Skills competition.
That’s why there were two No. 8 Washington jerseys out there Friday night.
Capitals star Alex Ovechkin took the ice with his Metropolitan Division teammates — and his oldest child, 4-year-old Sergei.
Sergei, named for Ovechkin’s late brother, was wearing an Ovi Jr. jersey. The kid has built a bit of a following in recent weeks, after scoring a goal at a Caps practice in December and playing a role in helping the Washington crowd celebrate his dad’s 800th goal.
It was Ovi Jr.’s first chance at being part of an All-Star weekend. His father hasn’t participated at All-Star since 2018, either because of COVID-19 or injuries. The last time his dad played in an All-Star event, Sergei hadn’t been born.
Alex Ovechkin has 812 goals. He only trails Wayne Gretzky's 894 in NHL history.
And later in the night, Ovi Jr. got to center a line alongside his dad and Pittsburgh great Sidney Crosby. They each got an assist on a goal that Sergei scored — beating Roberto Luongo, the Florida great who came out of retirement for All-Star weekend.
Said Ovechkin after his son scored: “I think he's really enjoying it."
WELCOME HOME, LU
Luongo got to be part of one more All-Star competition.
In a building where a banner bearing his No. 1 jersey hangs — he’s the only former Panthers player to have that distinction – Luongo was a celebrity goaltender during the Breakaway Challenge during the Skills Competition on Friday night.
He stopped his lone shot in the breakaway, off the stick of Toronto’s Mitch Marner. On one hand, Marner is the Maple Leafs’ leading scorer this season. On the other hand, he was also wearing a white suit, sunglasses and a light blue T-shirt to keep with a “Miami Vice” theme.
Luongo was up to the challenge. Marner tried to beat him to the glove side, but Luongo got enough of it to make the save — then flopped forward to cover up the rebound, the smile clearly seen through his mask.
“You got too close,” Luongo told Marner.
Later, Luongo told ESPN during the telecast of the event that “this is my house. This is my home right here. The crease is my home.”
Luongo’s pads paid tribute to his career — the design paid tribute to his time both as a member of the Panthers and the Vancouver Canucks.
He also took part, and scored a goal, in a Florida alumni game on Wednesday night.
REMEMBERING JIMMY
Sergei Ovechkin — who knocked a shot into an open net during a stoppage of the skills events — wasn’t the only child who got a great view of the night.
Philadelphia forward Kevin Hayes has his 3-year-old nephew Beau with him for All-Star weekend. Beau’s father was Jimmy Hayes, Kevin Hayes’ brother.
Jimmy Hayes was 31 when he died in 2021 with fentanyl and cocaine in his system. He played for four NHL teams, including Florida.
Kevin Hayes is part of an All-Star weekend for the first time.
ANTHEM POISE
“The Star-Spangled Banner” was performed by the South Florida Gay Men’s Chorus, and group crushed it — never minding that the crowd, representing several different fan bases, was going to shout some term specific to their team at various points in the lyrics.
Florida fans shout along with “red” and “Knight,” one a nod to one of the team’s primary colors, the other for goaltender Spencer Knight. There also were some shouts from other fan bases; some St. Louis fans, for example, could be heard singing “home of the Blues" instead of “home of the brave" to close the song.
And “O Canada” performer Hannah Walpole had some shouting as she sang as well, particularly when she reached the “true North” portion of those lyrics — something typically heard at Winnipeg games.
SLAP SHOTS
Cale Makar, the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner from the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche, was the first participant in the Fastest Skater event – the opening competition of the night. He fell coming around the second turn. ... Tampa Bay’s Pat Maroon, one of the broadcasters on the event, reported that he was “freezing” by working at ice level. “I’m used to the gear,” said Maroon, who was in a blazer and open shirt Friday night. ... A big hit for those used to the regular colors of FLA Live Arena — and basically all other hockey arenas — was the ocean-water-shade of blue used for the blue lines and the creases. The faceoff dots at the circles on either end of the ice aren’t the standard solid red this weekend, but depict an image of the sun instead.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/ovechkin-and-ovi-jr-take-the-ice-at-all-star-17763088.php | 2023-02-04 03:14:07 | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/ovechkin-and-ovi-jr-take-the-ice-at-all-star-17763088.php |
GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy (AP) — The biggest team event in golf is coming to Italy and the Ryder Cup’s organizing committee is concerned that the locals might miss the party.
About 90% of the tickets sold so far for the 2023 contest between the United States and Europe at the Marco Simone club outside Rome have gone to foreigners, according to Gian Paolo Montali, a former coach of Italy’s national volleyball team who is the local organizing committee’s executive director.
“That surprised us a lot,” Montali said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “On one hand I’m surprised. But on the other hand we’ve been doing everything we can to promote Italian products (abroad). And we’re not a country with a golfing profile.
“But what I’m afraid of is that the Italians will show up at the last minute and realize what’s going on. That’s the real concern. I tried to see if we could put aside some tickets for that last period but the organizational structure was already in place.”
At 975 euros ($950) per ticket, the full allocation of season passes for the Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2023 event sold out in seven hours.
While Ryder Cup Europe would not disclose exact numbers, it did say that it’s the most season tickets ever sold for the event in Europe.
“I’m in charge of the Ryder Cup and I have friends asking me for tickets to whom I have to say, ‘No,’” Montali said.
A ballot is currently underway to sell general admission daily tickets — which comprise the majority of the tickets.
“We are delighted with the terrific response we have had,” Ryder Cup match director Edward Kitson said. “So far, we have had applications from people in 122 different countries, including strong interest from Italian fans. . .The ballot remains open until October 16, so there is still time for people to apply.”
Marco Simone will become the third venue in continental Europe to host the Ryder Cup after Valderrama in Spain (1997) and Le Golf National in France (2018).
“We’re hoping to have a total of up to 280,000 spectators for the week, including practice rounds” Montali said. “With up to 50,000 per day.”
Those numbers could surpass the 270,000 who attended Le Golf National in 2018.
Major champions Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick were impressed by the challenges that the completely redesigned Marco Simone course presented when they played it in last month’s Italian Open.
“The course is defending itself well,” Montali said.
U.S. captain Zach Johnson and Europe counterpart Luke Donald are currently in Rome for the year-to-go festivities, which will include a photo shoot with the captains hitting shots into the Colosseum on Tuesday, followed by a private audience with Pope Francis on Wednesday.
Montali would like to arrange an audience with the pope during Ryder Cup week, too.
“But that won’t be easy with 24 players,” he said. “It’s one thing to arrange for two people — quite another for two dozen.”
POSTPONEMENT AND CONFLICT
Montali has been on the job for six years and if not for the coronavirus pandemic he would have been just about done by now.
That’s because this edition of the Ryder Cup was originally scheduled for the just-concluded weekend — before the 2020 edition in Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, was pushed back a year to 2021 and therefore moving the Marco Simone event to 2023.
Because of the European tour’s conflict with the Saudi-backed breakaway series LIV Golf, Montali has also had to endure a change in Europe’s captaincy from Henrik Stenson to Donald after Stenson joined LIV.
“We had already filmed a promotional video inside the colosseum with Stenson,” Montali said. “But these things happen in sports. I was previously the coach of Italy’s national (men’s) volleyball team and the general director of Juventus and Roma (soccer clubs). Coaches are fired from one day to the next.”
While lawsuits involving LIV players’ participation in PGA and European tour events are ongoing on both sides of the Atlantic and could also determine who can and who can’t participate in the Ryder Cup, Montali doesn’t want to entertain the thought that the conflict could result in another postponement for the event.
He is concerned, though, that many top golfers might not be able to compete at Marco Simone.
“I like to win against the best,” he said. “So it would be a shame for the show, and above all for golf.”
INFRASTRUCTURE
So how will visiting ticketholders staying in the center of Rome get out to Marco Simone each day?
The club is located just beyond the city’s ring road and requires a half-hour drive without traffic — but longer on congested weekdays.
“It’s all organized,” Montali said. “We’ll have specially dedicated metro and bus stops and there will be a ‘Ryder Lane’ on the roads approaching the course.”
TIGER’S STATUS
Montali is hoping that Tiger Woods is a part of the U.S. team.
“Even if he’s just a vice captain, just seeing him walk around here would be something,” Montali said.
Woods would likely create more ticket demand, though.
“That,” Montali said, “could be a problem for us.”
___
More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
___
Andrew Dampf is at https://twitter.com/AndrewDampf | https://who13.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-ap-interview-ryder-cup-director-concerned-for-italian-fans/ | 2022-10-04 15:48:11 | 0 | https://who13.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-ap-interview-ryder-cup-director-concerned-for-italian-fans/ |
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A five-year government report found Australia’s environment continues to deteriorate due to climate change, resource extraction and other causes, prompting leaders on Tuesday to promise new laws and enforcement of them.
The State of the Environment report also adds political pressure on the government to set a more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target when Parliament resumes next week for the first time since May 21 elections.
The previous conservative government received the report in December but decided against making it public before the elections.
The center-left Labor Party won on pledges including greater action on climate change.
It wants a target to reduce emissions by 43% below 2005 by the end of the decade enshrined in law when Parliament sits on July 26.
Several unaligned lawmakers want a more ambitious target. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said the report sent a “very strong message that we need to do better, but she rejected calls for deeper emission cuts.
“On the 43% target, we made a promise to the Australian people. We’re going to keep the promise we made to the Australian people,” Plibersek told the National Press Club.
She said she would introduce new environmental protection laws to Parliament next year and the government would create an agency to enforce them.
The government will also set a target of having 30% of Australia’s land and surrounding sea declared protected areas. It wants to create an east Antarctic marine park.
“I am optimistic about the steps that we can take over the next three years. Legislating strong action on climate change is a great start,” Plibersek said.
The wide-ranging report found the number of Australian species listed as threatened had increased by 8% since the 2016 report.
That number will increase substantially after wildfires in 2019 and 2020 destroyed vast tracts of southeast Australian forests, the report said.
Kelly O’Shanassy, chief executive of the Australian Conservation Foundation, an environmental organization, said land clearing was the major cause of habitat loss.
“There’s nothing in this report we don’t know. This is the fourth State of the Environment Report and every time it’s told us that the environment is getting worse and worse and worse because we’re not taking the type of action we need,” O’Shanassy told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
She welcomed the government’s commitment to law reform.
“That’s what we need to do pretty quickly, otherwise these endangered species will go extinct and they’ll do that in our lifetimes,” O’Shanassy said. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/science-and-technology/australian-environmental-report-tallies-lost-land-species/ | 2022-07-19 18:43:52 | 1 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/science-and-technology/australian-environmental-report-tallies-lost-land-species/ |
Which wooden toys are best?
Hands-on play develops a child’s imagination, eye-hand coordination and conceptual skills—and nothing says hands-on play better than wooden toys. Toys made of solid wood are especially long lasting because they stand up to the abuse kids dish out. Wooden toys last so long that some of the classics are handed down from generation to generation, connecting your child with family history.
If you are looking for a toy for your child that doesn’t beep, flash or whirl, try a classic wooden toy that is great fun to play with and environmentally sound, too. If you want to unleash your child’s imagination, take a look at the Melissa & Doug Wood Building Blocks With Wood Storage Tray.
What to know before you buy a wooden toy
Safety
Wooden toys are safer than plastic and metal toys because they have fewer parts to break. Look for wood toys that have rounded corners, are smoothly sanded and are made of wood that doesn’t splinter or chip.
Durability
Wooden toys outlast nearly all other kinds of toys. Because there is so little to go wrong, they last for generations and often become nostalgic pieces. Only consider toys made of solid wood that is smooth overall and has rounded corners.
Imagination
Wooden toys encourage open-ended play. Because they are so simple, kids need to use their imaginations, something they don’t do much of with toys that have rules and instructions. For example, a 60-piece set of wooden blocks can be put together millions of different ways.
What to look for in a quality wooden toy
Types
Blocks: The simplest of all wood toys are blocks that come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and themes. Classic wood blocks come in 26 pieces, one for each letter of the alphabet. Blocks that are meant to be put together in prescribed ways are called building blocks and call to mind classic wooden toys such as Lincoln Logs. Wooden building blocks may come in sets as dramatic as the Montessori 253-Piece Rainbow Stacking Game that develops kids’ cognitive abilities along with their eye-hand coordination and makes for a great birthday party game.
Educational: There are many different educational toys made from wood. Some involve structured play, such as alphabet toys, counting toys, puzzles, mazes, stackable rings and wood beads.
Pretend play: This is a huge category of wooden toys that includes dolls, dollhouses, playhouses, toy kitchens, workbenches and more.
Baby play: This category is among the simplest of wooden toys and is best personified by a small wooden cutout of an animal that is pulled along by a string, such as a duck that waddles and quacks.
Vehicles: Some of the most popular wooden toys among kids are cars, trucks, planes and trains. These vary in size and design according to age group. The vehicles go from very simple to very detailed as a child grows older.
How much you can expect to spend on a wooden toy
Inexpensive wooden toys like blocks and vehicles cost anywhere from $5-$50, depending on quality. Wooden toys that cost between $50-$150 are bigger and better in all ways. Above $150 is where you will find incredibly well-made wooden toys with a lot of detail.
Wooden toy FAQ
What types of wood should you look for?
A. Avoid any wooden toy made of particleboard or engineered wood or is labeled MDF. Manufactured woods are made by gluing together wood scraps, sometimes with toxic adhesives unsafe for toys. After that, it’s a matter of choosing hardwoods such as birch, maple and oak or softwoods such as pine, spruce and fir.
What about splinters?
A. Well-made wooden toys are treated to prevent splintering, splitting and chipping. Check to see that all surfaces are sanded and all corners are rounded. Some wooden toys are coated with paint or polymers as a shield against splintering.
What’s the best wooden toy to buy?
Top wooden toy
KidKraft Majestic Mansion Wooden Dollhouse
What you need to know: This 4-foot-tall dollhouse has four levels, eight rooms, a staircase and a hand-operated working elevator.
What you’ll love: This 54-by-52-by-14-inch dollhouse is so big that several children can play with it together. At the top level is an attic nursery or playroom for your child’s littlest dolls. This wallpapered room has a crib, high chair, alphabet blocks and even a little kitty friend. The rest of this play house is scaled to fit all fashion dolls up to 12 inches tall, including Barbie, Disney Princess and more. This dollhouse comes fully furnished with 34 decorating pieces kids can rearrange endlessly.
What you should consider: The average assembly time is about two hours.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top wooden toy for the money
Manhattan Toys Skwish Classic Rattle, Teether and Grasping Toy
What you need to know: This classic multipurpose wooden toy is safety rated for newborns 3 months and up.
What you’ll love: The movable rubberwood balls are splinter and chip resistant. The wood pieces are strung together with elastic that allows kids to squish this toy into different shapes that always return to their original form. This toy’s bright wood balls and interconnecting wood dowels are covered in nontoxic paint for kid safety when teething. This classic wooden toy keeps young kids engaged on several different levels.
What you should consider: Do not put this wooden toy in water. Clean it only with baby-safe teether wipes.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Melissa & Doug Wood Building Blocks With Wood Storage Tray
What you need to know: These 60 smooth, sanded hardwood blocks with rounded edges unleash your child’s imagination more than toys with rules and directions.
What you’ll love: Because the blocks stack instead of link together, there are unlimited ways your child can put these blocks together. These blocks enhance play with other toys, like building a house for a small doll. The blocks fit neatly and snugly into the crate, turning it into a solvable puzzle of its own.
What you should consider: The box does not have a lid.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxnet.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/theme-toys-br/best-wooden-toy/ | 2022-07-03 12:55:47 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/theme-toys-br/best-wooden-toy/ |
How to Watch College Baseball Super Regionals Streaming Live - Saturday, June 10
As a fan of college baseball, we're guessing that you want to catch as many games as you can. Luckily, we can help. For info on how to watch or live stream the 12 NCAA baseball games that are scheduled to air on Fubo on June 10, keep reading.
Watch even more College Baseball games with ESPN+!
College Baseball Games Streaming Live Today
Watch Virginia vs Duke Baseball
- Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Virginia vs Duke Baseball
- Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Alabama vs Wake Forest Baseball
- Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Florida vs South Carolina Baseball
- Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Tennessee vs Southern Mississippi Baseball
- Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Kentucky vs LSU Baseball
- Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Florida vs South Carolina Baseball
- Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Indiana State vs TCU Baseball
- Game Time: 6:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Texas vs Stanford Baseball
- Game Time: 6:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Indiana State vs TCU Baseball
- Game Time: 6:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Oregon vs Oral Roberts Baseball
- Game Time: 9:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Oregon vs Oral Roberts Baseball
- Game Time: 9:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Make sure you're following along with all the College Baseball action all season long on Fubo and ESPN+!
Every team's journey toward the College World Series starts with the NCAA Tournament selection show on Monday, May 29 at 12:00 PM ET on ESPN2. Tournament play kicks off the next weekend with Regionals action from June 2-5, followed by Super Regionals from June 9-12, and culminates with the College World Series from June 16-26, taking place at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/sports/betting/2023/06/10/college-baseball-super-regionals-live-stream/ | 2023-06-10 10:04:10 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/sports/betting/2023/06/10/college-baseball-super-regionals-live-stream/ |
NEW YORK, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Practical Pain Management (PPM), a leading digital health brand that serves pain-treating clinicians and published by Remedy Health Media, is honored to be the establishing sponsor of the Fudin Award for Pain and Palliative Care Mentorship, presented by the Society of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacists Foundation (SPPCP Foundation).
With a particular focus on education, this award will be given annually to a mentor working to hone the skills of rising clinicians in the field of chronic pain management through palliative care, advanced pain practice, and/or clinical pharmacy. The Fudin Award for Pain and Palliative Care Mentorship will honor individual clinicians who have demonstrated a commitment to both medicine and purpose in their daily practice through remarkable mentorship, a devotion to patient-centered care and education as well as inter-professional collaboration, and a sense of practicality and humor – representing the legacy of Dr. Jeffrey Fudin, or what those who know him best call "the Fudin Factor."
The inaugural award and namesake will honor Jeffrey Fudin, PharmD, FCCP, FASHP, FFSMB.
Dr. Fudin joined the PPM Editorial Advisory Board in 2014 and has served as Co-Editor-at-Large, with Jeff Gudin, MD, since the summer of 2018. Described as an icon and trailblazer throughout the pain management community, which he has served for more than 4 decades, Dr. Fudin is someone who always seeks to find an educational lesson in a case or treatment decision, including as part of his own healthcare, which took a turn in 2021 when he received a terminal cancer diagnosis. Full of what he calls "lemonade" posts from the past year of his journey with colon cancer, from initial diagnosis to medication management to insurance struggles – his personal blog exhibits relentless dedication to educating those on both the giving and receiving side of care.
SPPCP Foundation President Chris Herndon, PharmD, BCAPC, FASHP, FCCP, says, "Dr. Fudin has shaped the way many of us practice, teach, and advocate in our professional lives. I cannot think of a more fitting recognition."
Says Dr. Gudin, Dr. Fudin's Co-Editor and close colleague, "Dr. Jeffrey Fudin's passion and dedication to pain and palliative care education is unmatched. For the decades that I have known and worked with him, Dr. Fudin has strived not only to increase his knowledge in our field of chronic pain management but also has made it his life's work to pass on that knowledge to his students and peers. I have been fortunate enough to work closely with many of his former students and residents, and it is remarkable how his innate dedication to patient care and education has been imparted to those he mentored. He is a true icon in our field and 'the Fudin Factor' will live on through this legacy award."
Adds PPM Executive Managing Editor Angie Drakulich: "Dr. Fudin's determination to learn, uncover, and challenge the way that chronic disease care is delivered, even using his own experience to educate others, is unrivaled. He has shaped numerous lives and careers, even on the edges of his work, including mine."
When notified of PPM's plans for the award, Dr. Fudin shared: "I'm just overwhelmed by learning the impact I have had – one advantage of knowing your time on earth is limited…. I'm speechless and most appreciative."
About Dr. Jeffrey Fudin
Jeffrey Fudin, PharmD, FCCP, FASHP, FFSMB, has served as a clinical pharmacy specialist in pain management at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, New York, since 1982, where he also directed and founded the PGY2 Pharmacy Pain Residency. Dr. Fudin is a founding member and inaugural Trustee for the Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists (SPPCP). Dr. Fudin has been a staunch advocate for patients with chronic pain and an educator to providers for appropriately monitoring and interpreting opioid risks. He earned his doctorate from the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and completed an American Cancer Society sponsored oncology/hematology fellowship at SUNY Upstate Medical University. View full bio.
About the SPPCP Foundation
The SPPCP Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists. Established in 2022, the aim of the SPPCP Foundation is to support and recognize clinicians providing high quality care, education, and advocacy for patients in pain, with serious illness, or at the end-of-life.
About PPM
Practical Pain Management (PPM) was founded in the year 2000 to provide in-depth clinical information on a variety of pain conditions and treatment approaches. Written and reviewed by pain experts and leaders in the field, PPM helps clinicians navigate the evolving landscape of pain management, from the latest research in assessment to novel approaches in care to bring about the best long-term outcomes for individual patients.
Media Contact:
Remedy Health Media
Carrie Kreiswirth
ckreiswirth@remedyhealthmedia.com
646-326-9691
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Practical Pain Management (PPM) | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/practical-pain-management-society-pain-amp-palliative-care-pharmacists-foundation-announce-inaugural-fudin-award-mentorship/ | 2022-05-18 21:20:43 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/practical-pain-management-society-pain-amp-palliative-care-pharmacists-foundation-announce-inaugural-fudin-award-mentorship/ |
DACULA, Ga. — Editor's note: The video above is from a recent previous case of rabies in Gwinnett County.
A rabid raccoon in a Gwinnett County neighborhood bit a 2-year-old that was attempting to pet it.
Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and the Health Department said it happened on Friday on Brooks Road in Dacula. Officials said the raccoon later tested positive for the disease.
Officials are warning residents to use caution in their neighborhoods and avoid animals behaving "unusually."
This is the fourth animal this year to test positive for rabies in Gwinnett County after three cats were infected with the disease.
Officials added that rabies can be transmitted to humans and pets through both bites and scratches.
Here's how officials said residents should be protecting themselves and their pets:
- Ensure your pets receive regular rabies vaccinations. According to the National Association of State Health Veterinarians, unvaccinated dogs and cats exposed to a rabid animal must be strictly quarantined for four months and vaccinated one month prior to being released.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rabies attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal in humans if left untreated.
- Keep your pets on your property, according to the Gwinnett County Health Department.
- Avoid leaving garbage or pet food outside; it may attract wild or stray animals.
- Report any animal acting unusually to Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and Enforcement. Animals will normally act strange or move aggressively.
- Stay away from wild, sick, hurt or dead animals. Do not pick up or move sick or hurt animals.
- Do not keep wild animals like raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes as pets; it is dangerous and illegal, according to the health department.
- The health department also said residents should educate their children about the importance of not approaching, teasing or playing with wild animals or strange dogs and cats.
If you or someone you know has been bit by a rabid animal, Gwinnett County officials urge residents to seek care.
Residents should immediately call and inform the healthcare provider of their exposure. Then, they should contact the Gwinnett County Health Department at 770-339-4260 and ask for the on-call epidemiologist.
To report the animal and have it picked up, please call the Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement Bite Office at 770-339-3200 ext. 5576; for after-hours assistance, contact non-emergency Dispatch at 770-513-5700. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/health/rabid-raccoon-bites-toddler-gwinnett-county/85-00d1b820-1c9a-4660-b2ab-4b4b073f72bc | 2023-07-31 23:37:40 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/health/rabid-raccoon-bites-toddler-gwinnett-county/85-00d1b820-1c9a-4660-b2ab-4b4b073f72bc |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has reopened its embassy in the Seychelles after a 27-year absence during which China and other U.S. rivals made significant inroads in the Indian Ocean islands.
The U.S. State Department announced the move late Thursday, after having unveiled plans to open a diplomatic mission in northern Norway, which will be its only only such facility above the Arctic Circle.
The Seychelles embassy is part of a push to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. is already constructing an embassy in the Maldives and has opened or announced plans to open embassies in the Pacific, including in the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Kiribati.
The U.S. Embassy in the Seychelles capital of Victoria was shuttered in 1996 as part of cost-saving measures after the end of the Cold War. American interests in the 115-island archipelago about 1,500 kilometers (800 miles) east of mainland Africa had been handled by diplomats based in Mauritius.
“The time is right to elevate the relationship so that together we can better address shared challenges and take advantage of mutually beneficial opportunities,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
He said that the U.S. would focus its efforts there on economic development, climate change, maritime security and combating transnational crime and corruption.
“Our joint pursuit of peace, democracy, and prosperity will be a beacon across Africa and the Indian Ocean region,” Blinken said. | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/us-reopens-embassy-in-seychelles-after-27-year-absence/ | 2023-06-02 23:29:43 | 1 | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/us-reopens-embassy-in-seychelles-after-27-year-absence/ |
As is the tradition, participants who attend the May Wine Brunch are invited to wear their favorite hat.
This year marks the 51st annual event sponsored by the Women’s Association of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Society (WANISS).
The fundraising event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 10 at the Center for Visual & Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road in Munster.
Cost is $50 per person.
This year’s event includes the Boulevard of Shoppes & Avenue in the atrium starting at 10 a.m.; May wine served at 11 a.m. and brunch served at noon.
There is also an annual raffle with top two prizes of $400 and two other prizes for $100 awarded.
Suggested raffle donations are $5 each or five for $20.
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The annual brunch is one of the organization’s two large annual fundraisers for the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra.
Longtime WANISS member Linda Eisenhauer named and founded the original May Wine Brunch in 1972.
WANISS members have continued the May Wine Brunch tradition even hosting a virtual event on June 24, 2020 during COVID-19 restrictions.
The event earned WANISS the Gold Award of Excellence for its 2020 Stay at Home Wine Brunch.
For more information, call WANISS at 219-836-0525, ext. 206 or email development@nisorchestra.org visit nisorchestra.org. | https://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/waniss-to-present-may-wine-brunch/article_379a09b8-e939-11ed-999b-4b1cf054751d.html | 2023-05-03 23:15:59 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/waniss-to-present-may-wine-brunch/article_379a09b8-e939-11ed-999b-4b1cf054751d.html |
Wednesday: First Alert for scattered, strong storms
Impact timing: Thunderstorms will develop in the afternoon and evening
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - A First Alert has been declared for Wednesday, June 8 for scattered strong storms.
Here are three things you need to know from Meteorologist Jason Myers:
- Warm and muggy for Wednesday, with scattered strong storms possible.
- Mostly sunny and hot for Thursday, with highs around 90 degrees.
- Scattered rain and storms for Friday night into early Saturday.
Isolated rain showers and a few storms are possible through this evening, with partly cloudy skies overnight, with temperatures cooling into the 60s.
Warm and muggy conditions develop for Wednesday, with afternoon high temperatures in the upper 80s around Charlotte, with mid-70s in the mountains. Scattered thunderstorms will develop for the afternoon and evening hours, with a few strong to severe storms possible. Gusty winds, heavy rainfall, hail, and lightning are the biggest threats with any storms that develop.
High temperatures will remain around 90 degrees for Thursday and Friday. We expect dry conditions overall, yet a stray shower or storm could develop.
A cold front will move through the Carolinas early Saturday, with another round of scattered rain and storms expected Friday night into early Saturday. We will need to keep a watch on the forecast for updates to the severe threat for Friday night, as there are still questions to the exact threats.
Even though a few rain showers and storms may linger into Saturday morning, we expect a drying trend for late Saturday into Sunday, behind a cold front moving through. Saturday afternoon high temperatures will be in the upper 80s, and near 90 degrees for Sunday. Weekend high temperatures will be in the lower 70s for the NC mountains. Sunday will feature mostly sunny skies.
Hotter temperatures look to develop for early next week, with highs back into the lower 90s.
Download the free WBTV Weather app on your mobile device, to receive weather alerts and get your latest WBTV weather forecast on the go. You can also get the latest weather forecast on Roku and Amazon Fire’s WBTV app.
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Copyright 2022 WBTV. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/2022/06/07/scattered-strong-storms-expected-wednesday-afternoon/ | 2022-06-07 21:25:40 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/2022/06/07/scattered-strong-storms-expected-wednesday-afternoon/ |
KOKOMO, Ind. (WISH) — Indiana State Police is asking for the public’s assistance in search for a man who was captured on camera around the time of a burglary.
On Sunday, an Indiana State Police trooper started a criminal investigation after an employee at Quality Plumbing and Heating reported that at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 11, power and plumbing tools had been stolen from a fenced-in area of the business.
During the investigation a video recording was found that showed the suspect who was described to be a slender white male with dark hair, wearing dark pants and dark shoes. He was also wearing a light-colored backpack.
Anyone that has any information on the identity of the male or has any information about the burglary is encouraged to contact investigators by calling 765-473-6666. | https://www.wishtv.com/news/crime-watch-8/indiana-state-police-trying-to-identify-possible-burglary-suspect-in-kokomo/ | 2022-08-18 19:00:16 | 1 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/crime-watch-8/indiana-state-police-trying-to-identify-possible-burglary-suspect-in-kokomo/ |
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk and Jonathan Huberdeau had the best years of their career this past season.
And now they’re changing places in an NHL blockbuster.
Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers on Friday night, with Huberdeau part of the haul that is going to the Calgary Flames for the power forward. Florida also sent defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt and a lottery-protected first-round selection in the 2025 NHL draft.
“Matthew is a tenacious, physical competitor who possesses a tremendously unique skillset,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said. “He is a consistent elite offensive contributor and has emerged as one of the most complete and dynamic young players in the National Hockey League. We are thrilled to be able to add a generational talent to our lineup.”
As part of the move, Tkachuk is under contract with Florida through the 2029-30 season now as well, the Panthers said; a person familiar with the terms said it was worth $76 million over those eight years, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not yet announced it publicly. Tkachuk decided earlier in the week that he would not accept a long-term deal to stay in Calgary — which immediately led to trade talks and no shortage of suitors around the NHL wanting to land him.
The Panthers, a team that won the President’s Trophy this past season for having the NHL’s best regular-season record, apparently wanted him more than most.
They gave up a package headlined by Huberdeau, Florida’s career leader in games, assists and points, to make it happen. The move also breaks up one of the top duos in hockey, after Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov formed a 1-2 punch like few others with Florida in recent years.
But it never translated into the type of playoff success that Florida is seeking. The Panthers won a playoff series this past season for the first time since 1996, then got swept by Tampa Bay in the second round and scored only three goals in those four games.
“We would like to thank Jonathan and MacKenzie for their immense contributions to the Florida Panthers, both on and off the ice, during their tenures in South Florida,” Zito said. “They have both blossomed into exceptional athletes and people. Their contributions as players and people made an indelible mark on our franchise.”
Tkachuk had career bests of 42 goals, 62 assists and 104 points this past season for Calgary. Huberdeau tied a career best with 30 goals for Florida, plus set marks with 85 assists and 115 points — both of those being franchise records for the Panthers as well.
The trade means Calgary is without its two leading scorers from this past season. Johnny Gaudreau, who led the Flames with 115 points, signed a seven-year deal with Columbus as a free agent last week.
Huberdeau also was extension-eligible this summer, and the Panthers had a decision to make — commit to him with a long-term, big-money deal, or look to make another splashy move.
Tkachuk is 24, Huberdeau is 29, and that surely was something that went into Florida’s thinking when deciding about making an eight-year commitment. The age is one of the few things that separates Tkachuk and Huberdeau on paper: both are about 6-foot-2, both about 200 pounds, both are left wings, both have averaged about nine points for every 10 games played in their NHL careers, Huberdeau was the No. 3 pick in the 2011 draft, Tkachuk the No. 6 pick in the 2016 draft.
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/ap-source-panthers-get-tkachuk-from-flames-for-huberdeau/ | 2022-07-23 12:46:46 | 1 | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/ap-source-panthers-get-tkachuk-from-flames-for-huberdeau/ |
Anne Heche died without a will, son files to control estate
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actress Anne Heche died without a will, and her 20-year-old son has filed court papers to control her estate.
Homer Laffoon, Heche’s son with ex-husband Coleman Laffoon, filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday requesting that he be allowed to administer his mother’s estate.
The petition lists Homer Laffoon and 13-year-old Atlas Tupper, Heche’s son with former partner James Tupper, as her only heirs.
The document says the value of Heche’s estate is unknown. That is often the case on such initial filings, before anyone has the legal authority to assess the dead person’s assets.
Homer Laffoon also filed a petition asking that someone be appointed to represent his brother’s interests in court.
A representative of Heche declined to comment on the filing.
On Aug. 5, a car Heche was driving jumped a curb, smashed into a Los Angeles home and burst into flames. She was declared brain dead on Aug. 11, and was kept alive on life support for three more days so her organs could be donated.
Heche, 53, was among the biggest film stars of the late 1990s, starring opposite actors including Johnny Depp and Harrison Ford, and had worked consistently in movies and television for more than three decades.
She was married to Coleman Laffoon, a television camera operator, from 2001 to 2009, and was in a relationship with James Tupper, an actor, from 2007 to 2018. She had a son with each.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/09/02/anne-heche-died-without-will-son-files-control-estate/ | 2022-09-02 04:00:07 | 1 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/09/02/anne-heche-died-without-will-son-files-control-estate/ |
"Saint Nick" doesn't plan on being jolly to his opponent when he returns to his hometown ring.
Undefeated Lowell boxer Nick Molina will put his 10-0 record on the line, as he takes on hard-hitting Lucas Alejandro Mignoni for the ABF lightweight title, as Reyes Boxing Club presents Down & Dirty Boxing on Oct. 29 at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
A two-ticket boxing extravaganza, the event will feature two separate starting at noon. Molina will help headline a nine-bout evening card which starts at 6:30 p.m.
"I feel very excited," said Molina, 23. "I can't wait. I'm going to be fighting for my first belt as a professional, and I'm just excited to be back in Lowell."
Molina is no stranger to fighting in his hometown. He cut his teeth at the Lowell Auditorium as an amateur pugilist at the 2019-20 Golden Gloves. He has steadily climbed up the pro ranks.
The 5-foot-8, 135-pound righty is coming off a second-round knockout over southpaw Jose Aubel (8-11) on June 25 at the Sheridan Framingham Hotel. It was the fourth TKO of his career. Since that time, Molina has been staying in shape waiting for the next fight to be scheduled.
"I've been training nonstop," said Molina. "We're working every day sparring in the gym, just working hard, training."
His opponent, Mignoni, is a 40-year-old righty with a 14-5 record, including four knockouts. Making his pro debut in 2002, the Argentinian went undefeated in his first 10 bouts, before enduring a 4-5 run over his last nine. His most recent fight came in a knockout loss to Devin Cushing, Aug. 19.
Despite his recent struggles, Molina isn't about to take this ring-savvy veteran lightly.
"My game plan is just to outbox him and work the body," said Molina.
Meanwhile, in the main event of the evening, undefeated Lowell super featherweight Gabriel Morales (4-0) squares off with Lawrence native Kevin Rodrigues (3-1) for the ABF Atlantic belt.
Another local pugilists scheduled to fight that night is Tyngsboro welterweight Nathan Balakin. Molina's training partner, Balakin (3-2) will look to bounce back after losing to Attleboro's Bryan Urday in a tough six-round unanimous decision for the vacated Massachusetts welterweight title on June 25. A 5-foot-10, 147-pound righty, "Nasty Nate" is a 2012 graduate of Tyngsboro High.
Methuen super welterweight Luke Iannuccilli, and Haverhill's Carlos Candelario are also slated to see action that night.
"It's cool just bringing a bunch of local fighters together," said Molina.
As for his future plans, Molina's fight card remains booked. He's already slated to square off with another local, Chelmsford's Brandon Higgins (9-2, 5 KO's), Thanksgiving eve at The Castleton in Windham, N.H.
But first things first: Bring on Mignoni.
"Right now, I'm just focused on this fight," said Molina. "We're not taking any breaks."
Tickets for Down & Dirty Boxing at Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Oct. 29 at 12pm & 6:30 p.m. are on sale now at lowellauditorium.com or by calling 1-800-657-8774. | https://www.unionleader.com/sports/boxing_mma/molina-excited-about-ring-homecoming-plans-thanksgiving-eve-fight-in-windham/article_10c4be29-4c15-5393-8894-4929442a600b.html | 2022-10-11 18:31:53 | 1 | https://www.unionleader.com/sports/boxing_mma/molina-excited-about-ring-homecoming-plans-thanksgiving-eve-fight-in-windham/article_10c4be29-4c15-5393-8894-4929442a600b.html |
Updated February 11, 2023 at 2:47 PM ET
An uncrewed Russian spacecraft docked at the International Space Station has lost pressure, but the incident does not pose a danger to the station's crew, the Russian space corporation said on Saturday.
Engineers at the Russian Mission Control Center near Moscow first identified depressurization inside the Progress MS-21 cargo ship's coolant loop, Roscosmos said. The hatches between the spacecraft and the station were temporarily closed to prevent further loss of pressure.
As of Saturday afternoon, the hatches were re-opened and the temperatures and pressures abroad the station are all normal, according to NASA. The U.S. space agency added that the station crew continues its normal operations and no other issues have been identified.
The unpiloted cargo spacecraft, which is filled with trash, was scheduled to undock from the space station to deorbit over the Pacific Ocean on Feb. 17, NASA said. All the waste scheduled for removal had already been loaded onto the spaceship prior to Saturday's incident.
NASA said its specialists are working with their Russian counterparts to investigate the cause for the unexpected depressurization. Roscosmos added that the incident should not affect the station's future flight program.
The announcement came shortly after a new Russian cargo ship docked at the station on Saturday, the Associated Press reported. The Progress MS-22 delivered nearly three tons of food, water and fuel along with scientific equipment.
In December, a planned spacewalk by two Russian cosmonauts was abruptly called off after ground teams noticed a leak from a different Soyuz spacecraft docked at the space station. The coolant leak was later blamed on a meteoroid strike.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-02-11/an-uncrewed-russian-spacecraft-docked-at-the-space-station-loses-pressure | 2023-02-12 14:14:49 | 1 | https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-02-11/an-uncrewed-russian-spacecraft-docked-at-the-space-station-loses-pressure |
HOUSTON (KIAH) — A man who was reported missing as a teen eight years ago was found alive but injured earlier this week, and police now say he had been at home all along.
Rudy Farias IV was 17 years old when he vanished on March 6, 2015, while walking his two dogs near Tidwell Road in north Houston. The dogs were later found, but Rudy was not located.
That is until Sunday, when Farias’ family and the Texas Center of the Missing said that Rudy, now 25, had been found. He was taken to the hospital for “several injuries,” his family said, adding that he was in “bad shape.”
Authorities previously said Farias had been diagnosed with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. According to his family, Farias was found unresponsive outside of a church.
But he may not have been missing this entire time.
During a press conference Thursday, Houston Police said evidence collected this week shows Farias had returned home on March 8, 2015, a day after his mother, Janie Santana, reported him missing.
According to Lt. Christopher Zamora of the department’s Missing Persons Unit, authorities had searched Santana’s home several times during the eight years that Farias was reportedly gone.
The duo had encounters with officers, but Zamora says they used fake names to continue the ruse that Farias was missing.
Chief Troy Finner said such an act could constitute making a false report to a police officer, a Class C Misdemeanor, but as of Thursday, neither Farias nor Santana will face any charges. The investigation is ongoing.
Finner also noted that, despite allegations of sexual abuse, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges against the man’s mother, or anyone else involved, at this time.
Local activist Quanell X alleges that more serious crimes took place.
X claims he spoke to Farias, now 25, who said that his mother wouldn’t allow him to leave the home and sexually abused him during the years she reported him missing.
According to Insider, several private investigators who looked into the case said that Farias’ mother had lied to them over the years, and that HPD investigators weren’t that interested in the case.
Finner said that HPD respects everyone in the community, including activists, and that he doesn’t question Quanell X’s integrity. But he said investigators did not find any evidence or receive any testimony about alleged sexual abuse.
“We’ve been open as much as we can,” Finner said as he ended the press conference. “This has become a local, national, and in some case, international (story). When it’s appropriate, we will send out more information.”
Farias is back home with his mother, according to Finner. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/man-who-disappeared-as-teen-in-2015-was-at-home-all-along-police-say/ | 2023-07-06 18:57:41 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/man-who-disappeared-as-teen-in-2015-was-at-home-all-along-police-say/ |
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Which Alo Yoga bra is best?
If you practice yoga, you know how important it is to have athletic wear that can move with you. Alo Yoga bras offer comfort and sustainability, from fabric quality to design. Their quality construction provides buyers with a bra that holds up for many years. In pursuit of the best Alo yoga bra for you, consider the fabric, your activity level and the support you need.
A top choice is the Alo Yoga Women’s Starlet Bra, which offers style and support while remaining comfortable and cute.
What to know before you buy an Alo yoga bra
Fabric
You can find Alo yoga bras in many fabrics. Those who are very active and desire a lightweight feel want to buy spandex, nylon or polyester options.
Yoga bras made of jersey fabric are comfortable for lounging or cold weather. This fabric doesn’t provide as much support as spandex. If the product states that it uses waffle knit fabric, then it doesn’t double as a workout garment — these items are strictly for loungewear purposes.
Bra types
- Compression: These yoga bras keep the breasts in place during workouts by pushing them against the body to prevent movement. These bras work well for all breast sizes and are the most popular bra style for athletic activity.
- Encapsulation: These yoga bras have individual cups for the breasts and typically have an underwire to hold them in place. They offer significant support and are generally recommended for women with large breasts. Many yoga bras don’t use underwire design for comfort reasons during maximum levels of activity. This style of bra is most popular for fashion purposes and support.
- Encapsulation-compression: These yoga bras have individual cups for the breasts but also press them against the body to prevent movement. These bras provide significant support but are used more for fashion than for activity.
Activity level
- High-impact: These bras are used primarily for strenuous activities such as running, biking and intense interval training. High-impact bras are rarely necessary for lighter activities.
- Medium-impact: These bras can work for intense activities if you have a smaller bust size or for less intense activities if you have a larger bust. If you have a larger bust, you might feel more comfortable in a medium-impact bra.
- Low-impact: These bras provide adequate support for yoga and less strenuous activity while still allowing for the movement and stretching necessary for your workout. These typically are a lightweight style.
What to look for in a quality Alo yoga bra
Straps
Some yoga bras have adjustable straps that allow you to customize the fit for greater comfort and performance. These bras usually last longer because you can adjust the fit as the material stretches or as your body shape changes.
Adjustability
Aside from the straps, some bras feature added adjustability in the back of the bra. A pull-on bra may not offer you much customization to the fit. A yoga bra with a back closure lets you tighten or loosen the band of the bra. You can ensure the right level of support and comfort, as well as make it easier to remove after a workout.
Color
While many yoga bras are available in neutral colors like black and gray, you can find unique styles in many different patterns and colors. Many are part of a set. While looking for Alo yoga bras online, search for a color that matches a pair of leggings you already have, or plan to buy so that you can wear them together as a workout set.
How much you can expect to spend on an Alo yoga bra
Alo yoga bras vary in price based on the type, impact level and other features. Most yoga bras cost $10-$80. Inexpensive yoga bras typically use a cheaper quality of fabric, while higher-priced bras may have better fabric or adjustability.
Alo yoga bra FAQ
Can I machine-wash my Alo yoga bra?
A. It’s best to wash yoga bras by hand so they’ll last longer. Soak your bra in warm water and gentle detergent and then rinse the bra in cool water and let it air-dry. If you prefer washing your yoga bra in the machine, use the gentle cycle option. Dryer heat can remove the stretch from the bra, so it’s best to let the item air dry.
How do I know if I found the right bra fit?
A. Check that the straps aren’t leaving indentations in your shoulders or slipping off. Either of these is a sign that the yoga bra doesn’t fit you. Check the product description and reviews to see if the specific bra runs large or small and consult a size chart, too.
What’s the best Alo yoga bra to buy?
Top Alo yoga bra
What you need to know: This unpadded bra offers medium support, which is perfect for yoga and other moderate exercise.
What you’ll love: It features mesh fabric detail for comfort and style. It has an Alo logo on the front. The four-way stretch fabric moves with you as you exercise. It’s machine-washable.
What you should consider: It’s on the pricey side.
Where to buy: Amazon
Top Alo yoga bra for the money
What you need to know: This stylish bra has attractive strap detailing on the back.
What you’ll love: It comes in four colors, including black and white. It’s supportive enough for all forms of yoga.
What you should consider: Some buyers find that the large band rolls up instead of sitting flat.
Where to buy: Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This longline bra is designed to be worn as a top, with gorgeous criss-cross detailing down the back.
What you’ll love: It’s made from a moisture-wicking fabric to keep you comfortable while you work out. It has anti-odor properties. It offers enough support for medium-impact activity.
What you should consider: If you want a bra to wear under your clothes only, this one is overkill.
Where to buy: Amazon
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.localsyr.com/reviews/br-reviews/sports-fitness-br/yoga-pilates-br/best-alo-yoga-bra/ | 2023-02-15 13:55:47 | 0 | https://www.localsyr.com/reviews/br-reviews/sports-fitness-br/yoga-pilates-br/best-alo-yoga-bra/ |
Alex Michelsen vs. Adrian Mannarino: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Hall of Fame Open
In the final of the Hall of Fame Open on Sunday, Alex Michelsen (ranked No. 190) meets Adrian Mannarino (No. 38).
Mannarino is favored to bring home the tournament title against Michelsen, with -140 odds compared to the underdog's +110.
Looking to place a bet on this or other tennis matches? Head over to BetMGM, the King of Sportsbooks, and sign up today with our link!
Alex Michelsen vs. Adrian Mannarino Match Information
- Tournament: The Hall of Fame Open
- Round: Finals
- Date: Sunday, July 23
- Venue: International Tennis Hall of Fame
- Location: Newport, Rhode Island
- Court Surface: Grass
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Alex Michelsen vs. Adrian Mannarino Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Adrian Mannarino has a 58.3% chance to win.
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Alex Michelsen vs. Adrian Mannarino Trends and Insights
- By taking down No. 126-ranked John Isner 7-6, 6-4 on Saturday, Michelsen reached the finals.
- Mannarino advanced past Ugo Humbert 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals on Saturday.
- Michelsen has played 13 matches over the past 12 months across all court surfaces, and 24.5 games per match (24.5 in best-of-three matches).
- In his seven matches on grass over the past year, Michelsen has played an average of 26.7 games (26.7 in best-of-three matches).
- In the past 12 months, Mannarino has competed in 64 total matches (across all court surfaces), winning 50.6% of the games. He averages 24.1 games per match (23.3 in best-of-three matches) and 9.8 games per set.
- Mannarino is averaging 25.1 games per match (24.5 in best-of-three matches) and 9.9 games per set in 15 matches on grass courts in the past year.
- This is the first time that Michelsen and Mannarino have played in the last five years.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wagmtv.com/sports/betting/2023/07/23/alex-michelsen-vs-adrian-mannarino-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-hall-of-fame-open/ | 2023-07-23 04:59:43 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/sports/betting/2023/07/23/alex-michelsen-vs-adrian-mannarino-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-hall-of-fame-open/ |
The last time the Brooklyn Nets were on the road, they showed a lack of poise in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers.
Then, the Nets won six times on a season-high, seven-game homestand by demonstrating plenty of composure down the stretch. They hope their recent experience at closing games translates to another win Saturday night when they face the Pacers in Indianapolis.
Brooklyn is coming off a 6-1 homestand in which five wins were decided by single digits, including a 120-116 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. The Nets, who led most of the way, never got the lead above 12, but they made enough plays in the final minutes.
One of Brooklyn’s clutch plays was a go-ahead 3-pointer by Kevin Durant with 3:17 remaining that put the Nets ahead 111-109. The trey highlighted a 34-point showing by Durant, who averaged 32.3 points on the homestand while also playing at least 36 minutes each time.
The successful homestand occurred after the Nets folded badly in the final quarter of their 128-117 loss at Indiana on Nov. 25. In that contest, Brooklyn was outscored 40-23 during a fourth quarter in which the Pacers shot 63.2 percent and forced eight turnovers.
“Hopefully we remember what it was like going into the fourth quarter with that team, the emotion, the poise that I talked about at that time,” Brooklyn coach Jacque Vaughn said.
Because Saturday is the second night of a back-to-back for the Nets, Ben Simmons is not expected to play after returning Friday following a four-game absence caused by a calf injury. Neither is T.J. Warren, who returned Dec. 2 from missing nearly two years while recovering from foot injuries.
Vaughn was non-committal about whether Durant would play as the Nets are hoping to limit his minutes.
“They’ve got my best interest at heart, so I just listen to what they say and go with it,” Durant said.
Indiana is 3-5 since its last encounter with the Nets. After losing five times on a seven-game road trip, the Pacers improved to 8-4 at home with a 121-111 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.
The Pacers hit 18 3-pointers vs. Washington after making 19 in a loss at Minnesota on Wednesday. Indiana limited the Wizards to 40 percent shooting in the second half after Washington made 64.3 percent of its field-goal attempts in the first half.
Indiana’s Buddy Hield scored a season-high 28 points on 12-of-19 shooting, including 4 of 10 from 3-point range. He has made at least four 3-pointers in four consecutive games, and he put up 26 points in the last meeting with the Nets.
“At the core, he’s a guy who is a scorer,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said of Hield. “That’s who he is. We need to understand that and celebrate it.”
Tyrese Haliburton added 23 points and 11 assists for his 16th double-double. He logged 26 points and 15 assists on Wednesday following a two-game absence caused by a strained groin.
“Everyone showed out today and gave us a big boost and a lot of love,” Indiana reserve forward Oshae Brissett said following the Friday victory. “We need that. The road is tough, but coming home, it feels great having everyone there.”
–Field Level Media | https://www.kxnet.com/sports/after-strong-homestand-nets-aim-to-even-score-with-pacers/ | 2022-12-11 04:09:52 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/sports/after-strong-homestand-nets-aim-to-even-score-with-pacers/ |
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Kara Weipz, whose brother was killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.
Copyright 2022 NPR
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Kara Weipz, whose brother was killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-12-11/the-sister-of-a-lockerbie-bombing-victim-reacts-to-alleged-bomb-maker-in-u-s-custody | 2022-12-11 23:20:10 | 1 | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-12-11/the-sister-of-a-lockerbie-bombing-victim-reacts-to-alleged-bomb-maker-in-u-s-custody |
AUSTIN, Texas — The weekend is here and, as always, there are a ton of things going on in the Austin area! From Lunar New Year celebrations to a bloody popular musical, there's no shortage of fun activities happening over the next few days.
Here’s a breakdown of just some of the events you can attend this weekend.
Lunar New Year celebrations
It's the Year of the Rabbit! Central Texans have been celebrating the Lunar New Year with events throughout the week, but the fun isn't over yet.
On Saturday, OMG Squee will host a Lunar New Year and third anniversary party from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event will include a vendor market with a dozen Asian-owned businesses, a lion/dragon dance performance by Summit Lion-Dragon Dance Team, music by DJ Mike Swing and more.
OMG Squee, located at 4607 Bolm Road, Suite A, is also currently offering Year of the Rabbit-inspired treats.
Elsewhere in town, Austin's Asian American Resource Center is hosting a Lunar New Year makers' market featuring a "curated lineup of creatives, from artists to bakers, jewelry makers to crocheters."
Doors open at 1 p.m. at the Asian American Resource Center, located at 8401 Cameron Road. From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., the Asian Memory Project will perform. The celebration wraps up at 4 p.m.
This weekend, the Palmer Events Center will host the 20th Anniversary Star of Texas Tattoo Revival. The event will feature dozens of tattoo artists, daily live entertainment and tattoo contests.
Advance ticket sales have closed, but tickets will still be available at the door for $25 for a one-day pass and $60 for a weekend pass. Take a look at the schedule and the floor plan map to see where the artists will be located.
When: noon to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: Palmer Events Center, located at 900 Barton Springs Road
Austin Opera's Winter 2023 production is Stephen Sondheim's famous musical, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" – a story of love, razor-sharp revenge and meat pies with a wicked origin.
The play runs two and a half hours with an intermission. If you miss Saturday's show, there will be two other performances: Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 5, at 2:30 p.m.
When: Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Long Center for the Performing Arts, located at 701 W. Riverside Dr.
Other events happening this weekend:
- Resume Skills Workshop – Friday at Austin Public Library - Central Library
- Texas Stars vs. Colorado Eagles – Friday and Saturday at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
- Noah Kahan: The Stick Season Tour – Saturday at Emo's
- Texas Women's Basketball vs. Oklahoma State – Saturday at Moody Center
- Eastside Pop Up + Handcrafted + Vintage Market – Sunday at Central Machine Works
- "Casablanca" and "Paris, Texas" – Sunday at AFS Cinema
- Puzzle Relays – Sunday at Blue Owl Brewing
- "Cinderella" – through March 5 at the ZACH Theatre | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/entertainment/events/things-to-do-austin-weekend-lunar-new-year-tattoo-convention/269-3516e16b-2921-468a-a979-d35ed6ceea6f | 2023-01-27 21:39:02 | 1 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/entertainment/events/things-to-do-austin-weekend-lunar-new-year-tattoo-convention/269-3516e16b-2921-468a-a979-d35ed6ceea6f |
This week, Britain will continue a days-long party featuring mounted troops, solemn prayers — and a pack of dancing mechanical corgis.
The nation will celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne this week with four days of pomp and pageantry in central London.
But behind the brass bands and the queen's appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace lies a drive to show that the royal family still remains relevant.
The royals, sometimes criticized as being out of touch, want to show that their support comes from all parts of a society that has become more multicultural amid immigration from the Caribbean, South Asia and Eastern Europe.
The jubilee is also part of the effort to prepare the public for the day when Prince Charles takes the throne.
Only 15 other monarchs around the world have celebrated a Platinum Jubilee in the last 1,000 years.
Queen Elizabeth is not only Britain’s longest-serving monarch but the world’s oldest and longest-reigning current monarch as well. | https://www.kxxv.com/news/world/uk-celebrates-queen-elizabeths-70-year-reign | 2022-05-30 19:19:28 | 0 | https://www.kxxv.com/news/world/uk-celebrates-queen-elizabeths-70-year-reign |
The U.S. union membership rate reached an all-time low last year despite high-profile unionization campaigns at Starbucks, Amazon, Apple and other companies.
Union members fell to 10.1% of the overall U.S. workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That was down slightly from 10.3% in 2021.
The number of workers belonging to a union actually increased by 1.9% to 14.3 million. But that failed to keep pace with higher overall employment rates. The number of wage- and salary-earning workers rose by 3.9%, the government said.
U.S. union membership has been falling steadily for decades. In 1983, the first year that comparable data is available, the union membership rate was 20.1%, the government said.
Public-sector workers, like police and teachers, had the highest unionization rates last year, at 33%. Just 6% of private-sector workers were unionized.
Automation, outsourcing and lower unionization rates in traditional union strongholds, like auto manufacturing, are among the reasons for the steady decline. But states have also chipped away at unions’ power. Twenty-seven states now have “right-to-work” laws, which prohibit a company and a union from signing a contract that requires workers to pay dues to the union that represents them.
Despite those laws, support for unions has been growing. In a survey published in August, Gallup found that 71% of Americans said they approve of labor unions, the highest percentage recorded since 1965.
There has been a surge in demand for union representation as the pandemic has eased. Labor shortages gave workers a rare upper hand, which they used to seek higher pay and benefits from their employers. Median weekly earnings for union workers are about 18% higher than those for nonunion workers, the government said.
The National Labor Relations Board reported a 53% increase in union representation petitions in its 2022 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. A total of 2,510 petitions were filed with the agency, the highest number since 2016.
Dan Cornfield, a sociology professor at Vanderbilt University who studies unions, noted that while unionization rates are declining in some sectors, like telecommunications and clothing manufacturing, they’re rising in others, including hospitality, the arts and entertainment. Younger workers are largely driving those efforts, he said.
“Those actions and attitudes could portend a reversal of this long-term decline,” Cornfield said.
Workers at more than 270 U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize over the last year, an effort that Starbucks opposes. Workers at REI and Chipotle followed with their own unionization campaigns.
Contract negotiations began last week at an Apple store in Maryland that voted to unionize last June. And workers at an Amazon warehouse in New York City voted to unionize last spring, although Amazon workers at a different warehouse in upstate New York later rejected unionization.
New York and Hawaii have the highest unionization rates, while North Carolina and South Carolina have the lowest, according to the government’s data. Men are slightly more likely to be union members than women. And Black workers are more likely to be union members than white, Hispanic or Asian workers. | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/us-union-membership-rate-hits-all-time-low-despite-campaigns/ | 2023-01-20 00:44:09 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/us-union-membership-rate-hits-all-time-low-despite-campaigns/ |
Truex, Reddick, Allmendinger are drivers to watch
June 29, 2023 03:05 PM
Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, and Dustin Long select the drivers they're keeping an eye on in Chicago, including Martin Truex Jr., Bubba Wallace, AJ Allmendinger, Chris Buescher, Tyler Reddick, and Brad Keselowski. | https://www.nbcsports.com/watch/nascar/extra-set-of-tires-for-championship-4 | 2023-07-04 22:33:58 | 1 | https://www.nbcsports.com/watch/nascar/extra-set-of-tires-for-championship-4 |
WHL
All Times Local
Eastern Conference
Central Division
East Division
Western Conference
B.C. Division
U.S. Division
Note: x - clinched playoff berth; y - clinched division; z - regular season champion; Two points for a team winning in overtime or shootout; the team losing in overtime or shootout receives one which is registered in the OTL or SOL columns.
Friday's results
Saskatoon 3 Regina 2
Moose Jaw 5 Prince Albert 3
Winnipeg 3 Brandon 2 (SO)
Swift Current 3 Medicine Hat 1
Lethbridge 6 Red Deer 4
Seattle 7 Portland 3
Prince George 7 Kamloops 2
Victoria 6 Everett 4
Tri-City 7 Spokane 4
Vancouver 3 Kelowna 2
Saturday's results
Calgary 3 Edmonton 2
Prince Albert 5 Regina 3
Saskatoon 6 Moose Jaw 3
Winnipeg 5 Brandon 3
Red Deer 5 Lethbridge 1
Prince George 3 Kamloops 2 (SO)
Medicine Hat 4 Swift Current 3
Everett 4 Victoria 3 (SO)
Portland 3 Seattle 1
Tri-City 2 Spokane 1 (SO)
Kelowna 5 Vancouver 4
Sunday's results
Edmonton 2 Calgary 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/hko-whl-standings-17863246.php | 2023-03-27 23:15:24 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/hko-whl-standings-17863246.php |
NEW ORLEANS, June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV).
Facing the loss of patent protection for its key drug, Humira, in 2023, and the resulting increased competition from generic drug products, throughout the first half of 2021, the Company promoted its drug product, Rinvoq, a Janus kinase ("JAK") inhibitor purposed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis ("RA"). During this time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced warnings resulting from studies of another JAK inhibitor, Xeljanz, which the Company downplayed as unrelated to Rinvoq. In September 2021, the FDA ordered "new and updated warnings" for Xeljanz, as well as other JAK inhibitors including Rinvoq, "since they share mechanisms of action with Xeljanz." On December 3, 2021, the Company announced the updated warning for Rinvoq to include "additional information about the risks of malignancy and thrombosis, and the addition of mortality and MACE (defined as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and stroke) risks within the Boxed Warnings and Warnings and Precautions sections."
The Company was subsequently sued in a securities class action lawsuit for failing to disclose material information, violating federal securities laws, which remains ongoing.
KSF's investigation is focusing on whether AbbVie's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to the Company's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.
If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of AbbVie shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-abbv/ to learn more.
KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients – including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors – in seeking to recover investment losses due to corporate fraud and malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.
To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.
Contact:
Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner
lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com
1-877-515-1850
1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200
New Orleans, LA 70163
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SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/11/abbvie-investigation-initiated-by-former-louisiana-attorney-general-kahn-swick-amp-foti-llc-investigates-officers-directors-abbvie-inc-abbv/ | 2022-06-11 03:41:59 | 0 | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/11/abbvie-investigation-initiated-by-former-louisiana-attorney-general-kahn-swick-amp-foti-llc-investigates-officers-directors-abbvie-inc-abbv/ |
NATCHITOCHES, La. (AP) — Jalen Hampton had 20 points in Northwestern State's 81-64 win over Incarnate Word on Wednesday night.
Hampton added nine rebounds for the Demons (21-10, 13-5 Southland Conference). Demarcus Sharp scored 15 points, shooting 6 of 10 from the field and 3 for 3 from the foul line. Emareyon McDonald recorded 13 points and was 5 of 7 shooting (3 for 4 from distance).
The Cardinals (12-19, 6-12) were led by Jonathan Cisse, who posted 18 points, four assists and three steals. Benjamin Griscti added 12 points and Stephon Payne III totaled 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/article/northwestern-state-eases-past-incarnate-word-81-64-17814866.php | 2023-03-02 06:27:27 | 0 | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/article/northwestern-state-eases-past-incarnate-word-81-64-17814866.php |
NEW YORK (AP) — The Blumhouse evil-doll horror film “M3gan” got off to a killer start, debuting with $30.2 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates, while “Avatar: The Way of Water” continued its box-office reign in the top spot.
Universal Pictures’ “M3gan,” about a robot companion built for a young girl after her parents are killed in a car accident, rode strong buzz and viral dancing memes to an above-expectations debut. In the low-budget slasher, starring Allison Williams, Blumhouse and producer James Wan crafted Hollywood’s first hit of the new year, likely spawning a new high-concept horror franchise.
Audiences gave the PG-13 film a “B” CinemaScore — though reviews (94% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) were stronger for the modern, techy twist on a “Child’s Play”-like thriller. It added $10 million internationally.
But while “M3gan” drew audiences largely in 2D showings, large-format screens continued to be soaked up by James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water.” The 3-D three-hour sequel remained No. 1 for the fourth straight week in U.S. and Canadian theaters with $45 million in sales.
Cameron’s sci-fi spectacle has now surpassed $500 million domestically and $1.7 billion globally. After dominating the otherwise lackluster holiday corridor, the “Avatar” sequel is nearly matching the original’s pace; the 2009 “Avatar” scored $50.3 million in its fourth weekend. “The Way of Water” already ranks as the seventh highest grossing film ever, not accounting for inflation — a total particularly owed to its strong overseas performance. The film’s $1.2 billion in international ticket sales exceeds that of any film released since the start of the pandemic.
“M3gan” was the only new film in wide release, though Sony Pictures’ “A Man Called Otto,” starring Tom Hanks, played in 637 theaters after first launching in four theaters. The film, a remake of the Swedish film “A Man Called Ove,” managed a solid $4.2 million ahead of its nationwide release on Friday.
Third place went to “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” with $13.1 million in its third week of release. The animated Universal Pictures sequel has tallied $87.7 million in three weeks, plus $109.7 million internationally.
While many awards contenders have struggled in recent months at the box office, Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale” is proving a modest exception. The A24 indie starring Brendan Fraser ranked seventh in its fifth week of release with $1.5 million and a cumulative total of $8.6 million — a good return for a film that cost an estimated $3 million to make.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “Avatar: The Way of Water,” $45 million.
2. “M3gan,” $30.2 million.
3. “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” $13.1 million.
4. “A Man Called Otto,” $4.2 million.
5. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” $4 million.
6. “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” $2.4 million.
7. “The Whale,” $1.5 million.
8. “Babylon,” $1.4 million.
9. “Violent Night,” $740,000.
10. “The Menu,” $713,000. | https://www.wane.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-m3gan-dolls-up-with-30-2m-while-avatar-stays-no-1/ | 2023-01-08 22:06:25 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-m3gan-dolls-up-with-30-2m-while-avatar-stays-no-1/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Silicon Valley Bank failed due to a combination of extremely poor bank management, weakened regulations and lax government supervision, the Federal Reserve said Friday, in a highly-anticipated review of how the central bank failed to properly supervise the bank before it collapsed early last month.
The report, authored by Federal Reserve staff and Michael Barr, the Fed's vice chair for supervision, takes a critical look at what the Fed missed as Silicon Valley Bank grew quickly in size in the years leading up to its collapse. The report also points out underlying cultural issues at the Fed, where supervisors were unwilling to be hard on bank management when they saw growing problems.
“The Federal Reserve did not appreciate the seriousness of critical deficiencies in the firm’s governance, liquidity, and interest rate risk management. These judgments meant that Silicon Valley Bank remained well-rated, even as conditions deteriorated and significant risk to the firm’s safety and soundness emerged,” the report said.
The Fed also said, based on its own report, it plans to reexamine how it regulates banks the size of Silicon Valley Bank, which had more than $200 billion in assets when it failed. One criticism that has arisen from Silicon Valley Bank's failure is that the Fed and other regulators took a lighter approach to supervision for midsize banks following the passage of a 2018 banking law that eased some of the tougher restrictions on the industry after the 2008 financial crisis.
“While higher supervisory and regulatory requirements may not have prevented the firm’s failure, they would likely have bolstered the resilience of Silicon Valley Bank,” the report said.
The Fed is also critical of how the bank managed executive compensation. The report indicates that executive compensation at the bank was geared toward short-term profits and the stock price. There were no incentives tied to risk management. Silicon Valley Bank notably had no chief risk officer at the firm for roughly a year, during a time when the bank was growing quickly.
The nation’s banks are regulated by a troika of regulators: the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. All have been criticized for potentially missing signs that Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank might be in trouble.
The Fed's report, which includes the release of internal reports and Fed communications, is a rare look into how the central bank supervises individual banks as one of the nation's bank regulators. Typically such processes are confidential, and rarely seen by the public, but the Fed chose to release these reports to show how the bank was managed up to its failure.
Silicon Valley Bank was the go-to bank for venture capital firms and technology start-ups for years, but failed spectacularly in March, setting off a crisis of confidence for the banking industry. Federal regulators seized Silicon Valley Bank on March 10 after customers withdrew tens of billions of dollars in deposits in a matter of hours.
Two days later, they seized Signature Bank of New York. Although regulators guaranteed all the banks’ deposits, customers at other midsize regional banks rushed to pull out their money — often with a few taps on a mobile device — and move it to the perceived safety of big money center banks such as JPMorgan Chase.
The report also looks at the role social media and technology played in the bank's last days. While the bank's management was poor and ultimately that was the reason the bank failed, the report also notes that social media caused a bank run that happened in just hours, compared to days for earlier bank runs like those seen in 2008.
Although the withdrawals have abated at many banks, First Republic Bank in San Francisco appears to be in peril, even after receiving a $30 billion infusion of deposits from 11 major banks in March. The bank’s shares have plunged 57% this week after it revealed the extent to which customers pulled their deposits in the days after Silicon Valley Bank failed.
Barr appeared at two hearings in Congress last month and acknowledged that Federal Reserve bank supervisors had warned Silicon Valley management as early as the fall of 2021 of risks stemming from its business model, but the bank's managers failed to take the steps necessary to fix the problems.
Republicans at both hearings had criticized federal regulators for failing to act with the proper sense of urgency.
___
Sweet reported from New York.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/ap-top-news/2023/04/28/feds-review-of-role-in-silicon-valley-bank-collapse-due-out | 2023-04-28 15:57:03 | 1 | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/ap-top-news/2023/04/28/feds-review-of-role-in-silicon-valley-bank-collapse-due-out |
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ISTANBUL (AP) — Europe’s highest court said Monday that Turkey has failed to comply with its ruling that a prominent Turkish philanthropist be immediately released from jail.
The European Court of Human Rights, based in Strasbourg, ruled in 2019 that Turkey violated Osman Kavala’s right to liberty, saying his detention and trials against him were used to silence him and in effect send a chilling message to civil society in Turkey. The judgment to immediately release him became final in May 2020.
The Council of Europe launched infringement procedures against Turkey for refusing to abide by its ruling. Monday’s ruling is the latest step in the lengthy infringement process by the Council of Europe, the continent’s foremost human rights organization, and could lead to the suspension of Turkey’s voting rights or membership in the 47-nation organization.
“Turkey urgently needs to make concrete and sustained progress in the respect of fundamental rights,” said a statement from the European Union. “Turkey’s continued refusal to implement these rulings increases the EU’s concerns regarding the Turkish judiciary’s adherence to international and European standards.”
The civil rights activist was sentenced to life in prison without parole in April after the court found him guilty of attempting to overthrow the government with the mass protests in 2013. Seven others were convicted and jailed for allegedly aiding the attempt. Kavala has maintained his innocence.
Human rights groups say Kavala, 64, was prosecuted with flimsy evidence and that the case is politically motivated. Kavala is the founder of a nonprofit organization, Anadolu Kultur, which focuses on cultural and artistic projects promoting peace and dialogue.
That verdict came after another court acquitted Kavala in February 2020. He was expected to be released from prison where he was held since October 2017 in pre-trial detention but was instead re-arrested on other charges. The European court said the new charges did not contain any substantial facts.
Monday’s ruling also ordered Turkey to pay Kavala 7,500 euros ($7,600).
Julia Hall at Amnesty International’s Europe office said: “This ruling shames Turkey’s authorities.”
“Today’s ruling lays bare yet again the failure of the government to abide by a legally binding obligation. Turkey’s continuing inaction compounds the egregious suffering of Osman Kavala and his family,” she added.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Kavala, of being the “Turkish branch” of billionaire U.S. philanthropist George Soros, whom the Turkish leader alleges has been behind insurrections in many countries. He has threatened to expel Western envoys for meddling in Turkey’s internal affairs.
Erdogan has also dismissed the infringement process, saying Turkey would not “recognize those who do not recognize our courts.” | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/international/ap-international/european-court-says-turkey-not-complying-with-kavala-ruling/ | 2022-07-11 17:58:03 | 1 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/international/ap-international/european-court-says-turkey-not-complying-with-kavala-ruling/ |
NEW YORK, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wix.com Ltd. (Nasdaq: WIX), today released registration information for Wix's conference call discussing the results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022 before the market opens on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. Management will host a conference call and webcast that morning at 8:30 a.m. ET to answer questions about the Company's financial results. Prior to the conference call and webcast, Wix will issue a press release reporting these results along with a shareholder update and additional materials at https://investors.wix.com/.
About Wix.com Ltd.
Wix is a leading platform to create, manage and grow a digital presence. What began as a website builder in 2006 is now a complete platform providing users with enterprise-grade performance, security and a reliable infrastructure. Offering a wide range of commerce and business solutions, advanced SEO and marketing tools, Wix enables users to have full ownership of their brand, their data and their relationships with their customers. With a focus on continuous innovation and delivery of new features and products, anyone can build a powerful digital presence to fulfill their dreams on Wix.
For more about Wix, please visit our Press Room
Investor Relations:
ir@wix.com
Media Relations:
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SOURCE Wix.com Ltd. | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/wix-announce-second-quarter-2022-results-august-10-2022/ | 2022-07-27 13:33:46 | 1 | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/wix-announce-second-quarter-2022-results-august-10-2022/ |
Tuckerton, NJ fire company shut down by borough, but questions remain
TUCKERTON — A long-troubled volunteer fire company has gotten the order from its home borough to cease and desist, with firefighters being told the decision is effective "until further notice."
On Tuesday afternoon, the Tuckerton Fire Department posted on Facebook that it had been "removed from service" as of 1:15 p.m. that day, attaching a letter sent to Tuckerton Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 on North Green Street by Tuckerton Borough Administrator and Clerk Jenny Gleghorn.
The fire department said the borough had "removed the fire apparatus" from their station house without prior notification.
Gleghorn's letter indicated that borough officials received a letter from the state Department of Community Affairs Division of Fire Safety Bureau of Fire Department Services saying borough residents were "not adequately protected" by the fire company because of non-compliance of certain regulations.
A May 18 post from the fire department said it had been fined $24,500 by the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development for repeat penalties related to annual fit testing, which the company claimed it had to curtail due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, the fire company said it would appeal the fine.
The volunteer company has been plagued for years by internal matters that eventually came into the public light.
In 2018, the Transparency NJ blog reported that two years earlier, the borough paid out $65,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a former female firefighter who claimed she was retaliated against, then dismissed, after a fire captain, the son of the company chief, broke off a relationship with her.
A further incident involving the Eggert family, which has a long history of holding top posts in the company, in the summer of 2021 was reported by the Asbury Park Press, which said allegations against the department had ratcheted up to more than $100,000 in settlement money.
However, that report also identified the fire company as the only one in the borough, which raises questions as to who will respond to anywhere between 325 and 360 calls that may occur in 2022, based on numbers from recent years.
The Tuckerton Fire Department asked anyone who desires to support their reinstatement to attend a special Borough Council meeting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
An email message left for Gleghorn was not immediately returned Wednesday.
Patrick Lavery is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at patrick.lavery@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. | https://nj1015.com/tuckerton-nj-fire-company-shut-down-by-borough-but-questions-remain/ | 2022-06-09 00:20:06 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/tuckerton-nj-fire-company-shut-down-by-borough-but-questions-remain/ |
INDIANAPOLIS — When Doug Boles took his dream job as Indianapolis Motor Speedway president, he devoted himself to cleaning up the track's increasingly common race-day blight of empty seats and empty sections.
Sure, that meant selling tickets. But to the lifelong Indianapolis 500 fan, it also meant selling newcomers on the pageantry, pizzazz and purpose of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
A decade later, Boles has presided over an IndyCar renaissance few saw coming, one that has included the first two announced sellouts since the resumption of the 500 after World War II, what appears to be another near sellout for the 107th running of the race Sunday and potentially even bigger crowds in the future.
“It was painful because my memories and what made me love this place was coming here in 1977 when the seats were full," he said, reflecting on the decline that began in the mid-1990s. “I get the question all the time, what's the Indianapolis 500 like? I don't even know where to begin. You truly, truly have to experience it to describe it."
Boles rebranded the event with a years-long campaign to celebrate the 100th anniversaries of the Brickyard's biggest moments, culminating in 2016 when ticket sales were cut off for what was believed to be the first time in a century of racing.
Race organizers also sold all 135,000 tickets in 2021 when public health officials limited capacity because of the pandemic. Last year's crowd was the largest since 2000, with the exception of 2016, and this weekend will be even larger. Boles said Thursday fewer than 5,000 tickets are available.
It doesn't get much better for a race carrying the mantle of world's largest single-day spectator sporting event. Crowd estimates often exceed 275,000 and potentially climb past 300,000 in the vast infield and stands overseeing the 2.5-mile oval.
Actual ticket sales — and the number of existing permanent seats — remain one of the sports world's greatest mysteries because those numbers are not publicly released. But IndyCar teams and drivers don't need attendance figures to know how much has changed.
“Look at last year when we had the big crowd," said Tony Kanaan, the popular 2013 Indy 500 winner. “I think we had a lot of old hands here, but now we're getting the millenials and I think it's great.”
Last week's practices also drew some of the largest crowds since the speedway started scanning tickets in 2016. Those attending last weekend's qualifying made it feel more like the large, festive Carb Day crowds and there were even long traffic lines for Monday's two-hour practice.
“Qualifying weekend, I thought it was like the best in the last 10 years,” driver Connor Daly said.
After the retirements, the loss of stars like Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart to NASCAR and the damaging split of American open-wheel racing during the 1990s, the IndyCar Series finally has rebounded with big names and compelling storylines.
Young international stars like Pato O'Ward and Alex Palou and the return of more Formula One drivers have rekindled the enthusiasm Kanaan, four-time 500 winner Helio Castroneves and six-time series champ Scott Dixon injected into the series two decades ago.
American drivers such as Josef Newgarden and Colton Herta have strong, visible fan bases parading around the speedway. The pole-day shootout, the return of bumping and the anticipation of rerecord-breaking qualifying runs have become must-see attractions.
But it was the 2016 race that gave many their first glimpse into the colorful, race-day flavor family members and people like Boles and Chip Ganassi Racing managing director Mike Hull grew up with.
“On race day, the electricity in this place is like putting your finger in a 110 socket and it's because the grandfathers and the great grandfathers brought their sons here and then those dads and moms brought their kids,” Hull said. "It's so cool."
Still, there were complications — none greater than 2020 when pandemic restrictions left the seats completely empty for the first race run under new owner Roger Penske. Boles spent part of that day with fans camped out in a parking lot across the street. He event took the unusual step of announcing fans could keep their beloved streaks of consecutive races attended intact by watching or listening.
"It was really depressing being here,” 2014 race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay recalled. “It just wasn’t the Indy 500. Fans make it go."
Boles learned that lesson first as a fan, then as part-owner of the now defunct Panther Racing team and eventually in the speedway’s front office before he replaced Jeff Belskus in 2013 and embarked on his new mission — bringing fans back home again to his most revered track.
“We just had a lot of people who said, ‘We're in, this is great and we had so much fun,'” Boles said, referring to those lucky enough to attend the 2016 race. “When you get that number of eyeballs out there and they actually see it and experience the race-day sparkle first-hand, that atmosphere I think is a lot of it, especially for somebody who has never experienced it before.” | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/nation-world/indianapolis-500-roaring-back/507-12dc245e-7f86-4077-9a7a-b5a8fe8f016b | 2023-05-26 15:12:52 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/nation-world/indianapolis-500-roaring-back/507-12dc245e-7f86-4077-9a7a-b5a8fe8f016b |
WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, January 2, 2023
_____
FLOOD WARNING
Flood Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
940 AM CST Mon Jan 2 2023
...The Flood Warning is cancelled for the following rivers in
Texas...
Attoyac Bayou Near Chireno affecting Shelby, Rusk, Nacogdoches
and San Augustine Counties.
...FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED...
The Flood Warning is cancelled for
the Attoyac Bayou Near Chireno.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 8:30 AM CST Monday the stage was 13.3 feet. Additional
rises may be possible with forecasted rainfall.
- Forecast...The river is expected to fall to 9.4 feet Saturday
morning.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-SHREVEPORT-Warnings-Watches-and-17689797.php | 2023-01-02 16:18:16 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-SHREVEPORT-Warnings-Watches-and-17689797.php |
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2022. Key results include:
- Total revenues increased 1% to $6.6 billion in comparison to the second quarter of 2021, resulting from 3% growth in global product sales partially offset by lower Other Revenue from our COVID-19 manufacturing collaboration.
- GAAP earnings per share (EPS) increased from $0.81 to $2.45 driven by a decrease in operating expenses due to the write-off of $1.5 billion in Acquired In-Process Research & Development (Acquired IPR&D) associated with our acquisition of Five Prime Therapeutics in Q2 2021 and lower weighted-average shares outstanding in Q2 2022, partially offset by an impairment charge related to the divestiture of GENSENTA, a generics subsidiary in Turkey.
- Non-GAAP EPS increased from $1.77 to $4.65 driven by a decrease in operating expenses due to the write-off of $1.5 billion in Acquired IPR&D associated with our acquisition of Five Prime Therapeutics in Q2 2021 and lower weighted-average shares outstanding in Q2 2022.
- The Company generated $1.7 billion of free cash flow for the second quarter versus $1.7 billion in the second quarter of 2021.
- 2022 total revenues guidance revised to $25.5-$26.4 billion; EPS guidance revised to $11.01-$12.15 on a GAAP basis, and reaffirmed at $17.00-$18.00 on a non-GAAP basis.
"We are focused on delivering our long-term objectives by serving an ever-increasing number of patients around the world with our medicines," said Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer. "We are advancing our pipeline and look forward to important readouts over the next few months."
Non-GAAP EPS has been recast due to an update to our non-GAAP policy effective January 1, 2022, resulting in a $2.61 reduction of previously-reported non-GAAP EPS for the second quarter of 2021. Refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures below for further discussion.
References in this release to "non-GAAP" measures, measures presented "on a non-GAAP basis" and "free cash flow" (computed by subtracting capital expenditures from operating cash flow) refer to non-GAAP financial measures. Beginning January 1, 2022, the Company's non-GAAP financial measures no longer exclude adjustments for upfront license fees, development milestones and IPR&D expenses of pre-approval programs related to licensing, collaboration and asset acquisition transactions. For purposes of comparability, the non-GAAP financial results for the second quarter of 2021 have been updated to reflect this change. Adjustments to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and other items are presented on the attached reconciliations. Refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures below for further discussion.
Product Sales Performance
Total product sales increased 3% for the second quarter of 2022 versus the second quarter of 2021. Unit volumes grew 10%, partially offset by 6% lower net selling price and 2% negative impact from foreign exchange.
General Medicine
- Prolia® sales increased 13% year-over-year for the second quarter, primarily driven by 12% volume growth.
- EVENITY® sales increased 46% year-over-year to a record $191 million for the second quarter, driven by strong volume growth across our markets. U.S. sales grew 65% year-over-year, driven by 60% volume growth. Outside the U.S., EVENITY sales grew 17%, driven by 37% volume growth, partially offset by foreign exchange impact.
- Repatha® sales increased 14% year-over-year for the second quarter, driven by 55% volume growth, partially offset by lower net selling price. In the U.S., sales grew 8%, driven by 38% volume growth, partially offset by lower net selling price resulting from higher rebates to support and expand access for patients. Outside the U.S., sales grew 20%. Repatha remains the global proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) segment leader, with over 1.1 million patients treated since launch.
- Aimovig® (erenumab-aooe) sales increased 12% year-over-year for the second quarter, primarily driven by higher net selling price, partially offset by a 11% decline in volume.
Inflammation
- TEZSPIRE® (tezepelumab-ekko) generated $29 million of sales in the second quarter, driven by strong adoption by both allergists and pulmonologists across all severe asthma patient types. Healthcare providers acknowledge TEZSPIRE's unique, differentiated profile and its broad potential to treat the 2.5 million patients worldwide with severe asthma who are uncontrolled or biologic eligible, without any phenotypic and biomarker limitation.
- Otezla® (apremilast) sales increased 11% year-over-year for the second quarter, driven by 8% volume growth and favorable changes to estimated sales deductions, partially offset by lower net selling price. In the U.S., total prescription (TRx) volumes grew 12% year-over-year and new-to-brand prescriptions (NBRx) grew 18% year-over-year, supported by broader adoption of Otezla among patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis. We expect continued volume growth in the second half of 2022 given our unique, broad indication to treat patients suffering from mild, moderate or severe psoriasis.
- Enbrel® (etanercept) sales decreased 8% year-over-year for the second quarter, primarily driven by lower net selling price and a 3% decline in volume. Going forward, we expect net selling price to continue to decline year-over-year, driven by increased competition.
- AMGEVITA™ (adalimumab) sales increased 8% year-over-year for the second quarter, driven by 32% volume growth, partially offset by foreign exchange impact and lower net selling price resulting from increased competition. AMGEVITA continued to be the most prescribed adalimumab biosimilar in Europe.
Hematology-Oncology
- LUMAKRAS®/LUMYKRAS™ (sotorasib) generated $77 million of sales for the second quarter, representing 24% quarter-over-quarter growth. In the U.S., LUMAKRAS has been prescribed to over 3,000 patients by over 1,900 physicians in both academic and community settings. Outside the U.S., LUMYKRAS has now been approved in over 40 countries around the world. We are actively launching in 25 markets and pursuing reimbursement in the remaining countries.
- KYPROLIS® (carfilzomib) sales increased 13% year-over-year for the second quarter, driven by 19% volume growth, partially offset by lower net selling price.
- XGEVA® (denosumab) sales increased 9% year-over-year for the second quarter, driven by higher net selling price and favorable changes to estimated sales deductions. Volume remained flat year-over-year in the second quarter.
- Vectibix® (panitumumab) sales decreased 13% year-over-year for the second quarter driven by the timing of shipments to Takeda, our partner in Japan, in the second quarter of 2021. In the U.S., sales increased 4% year-over-year, driven by volume growth.
- Nplate® (romiplostim) sales increased 16% year-over-year for the second quarter, primarily driven by 11% volume growth and higher net selling price.
- BLINCYTO® (blinatumomab) sales increased 29% year-over-year for the second quarter, driven by volume growth.
- MVASI® sales decreased 17% year-over-year for the second quarter, driven by lower net selling price that was partially offset by 10% volume growth. In the U.S., MVASI continued to hold leading volume share with 49% of the bevacizumab segment for the quarter. The most recently published Average Selling Price (ASP) for MVASI in the U.S. declined 39% year-over-year and 21% quarter-over-quarter. Looking forward, we expect continued net selling price erosion and declining volume driven by increased competition and continued ASP erosion.
- KANJINTI® (trastuzumab-anns) sales decreased 46% year-over-year for the second quarter, primarily driven by declines in net selling price and volume. In the U.S., KANJINTI continued to hold leading volume share with 41% of the trastuzumab segment in the quarter. The most recently published ASP for KANJINTI in the U.S. declined 43% year-over-year and 21% quarter-over-quarter. Going forward, we expect continued net selling price deterioration and volume declines driven by increased competition and continued ASP erosion.
Established Products
- Total sales of our established products, which include Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim), NEUPOGEN® (filgrastim), EPOGEN® (epoetin alfa), Aranesp® (darbepotein alfa), Parsabiv® (etelcalcetide), and Sensipar®/Mimpara™ (cinacalcet), decreased 15% year-over-year for the second quarter, primarily driven by lower net selling price. In the second quarter, the published ASP for Neulasta in the U.S. declined 35% year-over-year and 9% quarter-over-quarter. In the aggregate, we expect the year-over-year net selling price and volume erosion for this portfolio of products to continue.
Product Sales Detail by Product and Geographic Region
Operating Expense, Operating Margin and Tax Rate Analysis
On a GAAP basis:
- Total Operating Expenses decreased 22%. Cost of Sales margin decreased 2.8 percentage points primarily driven by lower COVID-19 antibody shipments and lower manufacturing costs, partially offset by unfavorable product mix. Research & Development (R&D) expenses decreased 4% primarily due to lower marketed product support, partially offset by higher spend in research and early pipeline. Acquired IPR&D expenses were zero in Q2 2022, compared to $1.5 billion in Q2 2021 due to the Five Prime Therapeutics acquisition. Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased 4%. R&D and SG&A expenses were also impacted by lower acquisition-related expenses from Five Prime Therapeutics.
- Operating Margin as a percentage of product sales increased 21.1 percentage points to 34.6%.
- Tax Rate decreased 2.8 percentage points primarily due to the Five Prime Therapeutics non-deductible IPR&D expense in the prior year, partially offset by the impact of current year net unfavorable items, including an increase in the interest expense on tax reserves and the tax impact of the GENSENTA impairment charge.
On a non-GAAP basis:
- Total Operating Expenses decreased 34%. Cost of Sales margin decreased 2.2 percentage points primarily driven by lower COVID-19 antibody shipments and lower manufacturing costs, partially offset by unfavorable product mix. R&D expenses decreased 2% primarily due to lower marketed product support, partially offset by higher spend in research and early pipeline. Acquired IPR&D expenses were zero in Q2 2022, compared to $1.5 billion in Q2 2021 due to the Five Prime Therapeutics acquisition. SG&A expenses decreased 2%.
- Operating Margin as a percentage of product sales increased 26.8 percentage points to 53.1%.
- Tax Rate decreased 11.6 percentage points primarily due to the Five Prime Therapeutics non-deductible IPR&D expense in the prior year.
Cash Flow and Balance Sheet
- The Company generated $1.7 billion of free cash flow in the second quarter of 2022 versus $1.7 billion in the second quarter of 2021.
- The Company's second quarter 2022 dividend of $1.94 per share was declared on March 2, 2022, and was paid on June 8, 2022, to all stockholders of record as of May 17, 2022, representing a 10% increase from 2021.
- During the second quarter, there were no repurchases of shares of common stock, following the 24.6 million shares of common stock repurchased in the first quarter primarily in connection with accelerated share repurchase agreements that the Company entered into in February 2022.
- Cash and investments totaled $7.2 billion and debt outstanding totaled $36.5 billion as of June 30, 2022.
2022 Guidance
For the full year 2022, the Company now expects:
- Total revenues in the range of $25.5 billion to $26.4 billion.
- On a GAAP basis, EPS in the range of $11.01 to $12.15 and a tax rate in the range of 11.5% to 13.0%.
- On a non-GAAP basis, EPS in the range of $17.00 to $18.00, unchanged from previous guidance, and a tax rate in the range of 14.0% to 15.0%.
- Capital expenditures to be approximately $950 million, unchanged from previous guidance.
- Share repurchases in the range of $6.0 billion to $7.0 billion, unchanged from previous guidance.
Second Quarter Product and Pipeline Update
The Company provided the following updates on selected product and pipeline programs:
Inflammation
Otezla
- The primary and secondary endpoints of the SPROUT study, an international Phase 3, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating Otezla in pediatric patients (ages 6 through 17) with moderate to severe pediatric plaque psoriasis, have been successfully met. No new safety signals were identified and the overall treatment-emergent adverse event profile during the placebo-controlled phase of the study was consistent with the known safety profile of Otezla. The trial will continue to completion and final analysis, expected in 2023.
TEZSPIRE
- In July, TEZSPIRE was recommended for approval in the European Union by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use for severe asthma.
- In July, Health Canada approved TEZSPIRE for the add-on maintenance treatment of adult and adolescents 12 years and older with severe asthma,
- In July, the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) approved TEZSPIRE as an add-on maintenance treatment in patients with severe asthma aged 12 years and older. Regulatory reviews continue in other jurisdictions.
- The PASSAGE Phase 4 real-world effectiveness study and the WAYFINDER Phase 3b study are enrolling patients with severe asthma.
- The SUNRISE Phase 3 study, designed to assess the efficacy and safety of TEZSPIRE in reducing oral corticosteroid use in adults with oral corticosteroid dependent asthma, was initiated.
- A Phase 3 study continues to enroll patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
- Planning is underway for a Phase 3 study in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.
- A Phase 2b study in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria is fully enrolled with data readout anticipated in H1-2023.
- A Phase 2 study continues to enroll patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Rocatinlimab (AMG 451 / KHK4083)
- The ROCKET Phase 3 program evaluating rocatinlimab, an anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody, in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis was initiated in June. Following additional discussions with regulators and our partner, we are amending the studies to further improve patient convenience and investigate a range of doses. No safety or efficacy issues have arisen.
Rozibafusp alfa (AMG 570)
- A Phase 2b study of rozibafusp alfa, an antibody-peptide conjugate that simultaneously blocks inducible T-cell costimulatory ligand (ICOSL) and B-cell activating factor (BAFF) activity, continues to enroll patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Efavaleukin alfa (AMG 592)
- A Phase 2b study of efavaleukin alfa, an interleukin-2 (IL-2) mutein Fc fusion protein, continues to enroll patients with SLE while a Phase 2b study continues to enroll patients with ulcerative colitis.
Ordesekimab (AMG 714 / PRV-015)
- A Phase 2b study of AMG 714, a monoclonal antibody that binds interleukin-15, continues to enroll patients with non-responsive celiac disease.
Oncology
LUMAKRAS/LUMYKRAS
- In June, data were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting where investigators evaluated patterns of resistance to LUMAKRAS in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) at disease progression. These and other data continue to guide the LUMAKRAS clinical development program.
- The Company is planning to initiate a Phase 3 study of LUMAKRAS plus chemotherapy in first-line KRAS G12C mutant and PD-L1 negative advanced / metastatic NSCLC.
- Initial data from cohorts exploring LUMAKRAS in combination with immunotherapy in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC will be presented on August 7th at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC).
- Initial data from cohorts exploring LUMAKRAS in combination with the Src homology-2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP2) inhibitor RMC-4630 from Revolution Medicines in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC will be presented on August 7th at WCLC. This combination was safe and well tolerated, with promising and durable clinical activity in patients with NSCLC, most notably in those who were KRAS G12C inhibitor-naïve.
- Top-line results from the event-driven, confirmatory Phase 3 study comparing LUMAKRAS to docetaxel in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated advanced NSCLC are expected in Q3-2022.
- Top-line results from a study comparing the 960 mg/day dose of LUMAKRAS with a lower dose of 240 mg/day in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated advanced NSCLC are expected in Q4-2022.
- A Phase 2 study in first-line patients with KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC whose tumors express serine/threonine kinase 11 (STK11) mutations and/or less than 1% programmed death-ligand 1 is ongoing.
- A Phase 3 study of LUMAKRAS in combination with Vectibix in third-line KRAS G12C-mutated CRC continues to enroll.
- Data from the full dose expansion Phase 1b study of LUMAKRAS in combination with Vectibix in refractory KRAS G12C-mutated CRC were accepted for presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress taking place in September.
Vectibix
- In June, the Company and its partner Takeda Pharmaceutical Company presented data from the Phase 3 PARADIGM clinical trial of Vectibix in Japanese patients with previously untreated unresectable wild-type RAS metastatic CRC at the ASCO annual meeting. These data demonstrated that the mFOLFOX6 + Vectibix combination provides a statistically significant improvement in overall survival over the mFOLFOX6 + bevacizumab combination in patients with a left-sided primary tumor or regardless of tumor locations.
Bemarituzumab
- The final analysis of the FIGHT study, a Phase 2 randomized, double-blind, controlled study evaluating bemarituzumab, a fibroblast growth factor receptor 2b (FGFR2b) targeting monoclonal antibody, and modified FOLFOX6 in patients with previously untreated advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer was completed. These results continued to demonstrate that bemarituzumab + mFOLFOX6 improves the clinical outcome of patients with FGFR2b expressing tumors with no new safety concerns. A greater survival benefit was observed with increasing FGFR2b expression levels.
- A Phase 3 study (FORTITUDE-101) of bemarituzumab plus chemotherapy, versus placebo plus chemotherapy in first-line gastric cancer with FGFR2b overexpression continues to enroll patients.
- A Phase 1b/3 study (FORTITUDE-102) of bemarituzumab plus chemotherapy and nivolumab versus chemotherapy and nivolumab in first-line gastric cancer with FGFR2b overexpression is enrolling patients in the Phase 3 portion of the study.
- A Phase 1b study (FORTITUDE-103) of bemarituzumab plus oral chemotherapy regimens in first-line gastric cancer with FGFR2b overexpression is enrolling patients.
- A Phase 1b study (FORTITUDE-201) of bemarituzumab monotherapy and in combination with docetaxel continues to enroll patients with squamous NSCLC with FGFR2b overexpression.
- A Phase 1b/2 study (FORTITUDE-301), evaluating the safety and efficacy of bemarituzumab monotherapy in solid tumors with FGFR2b overexpression, was initiated.
Tarlatamab (AMG 757)
- Updated exploration and first expansion Phase 1 data of tarlatamab, a half-life extended (HLE) bi-specific T-cell engager (BiTE®) molecule targeting delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3), in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory small cell lung cancer (SCLC) will be presented on Aug 8th at WCLC. In this setting, tarlatamab demonstrated promising antitumor activity with notable response durability.
- DeLLphi-301, a potentially registrational Phase 2 study of tarlatamab for the treatment of relapsed/refractory SCLC after two or more prior lines of treatment, continues to enroll patients.
- DeLLphi-302, a Phase 1b study of tarlatamab in combination with AMG 404, an anti-programmed cell death-1 monoclonal antibody, continues to enroll patients with second-line or later SCLC.
- DeLLphi-303, a Phase 1b study of tarlatamab in combination with standard of care in first-line SCLC, is open for enrollment.
- DelLphi-300, a Phase 1b study of tarlatamab, continues to enroll patients with de novo or treatment emergent neuroendocrine prostate cancer.
AMG 509
- A Phase 1 dose-escalation study of AMG 509, a bi-specific molecule targeting six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 1 (STEAP1) continues to enroll patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
AMG 340
- A Phase 1 dose-escalation study of AMG 340, a lower T-cell affinity BiTE molecule targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), continues to enroll patients with mCRPC.
Acapatamab (AMG 160)
- Acapatamab, a HLEBiTE molecule targeting PSMA for the treatment of patients with mCRPC, has been deprioritized in favor of AMG 340.
Pavurutamab (AMG 701)
- Clinical development of pavurutamab an anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) HLE BiTE molecule being investigated for the treatment of multiple myeloma, has been discontinued for strategic reasons.
AMG 193
- A Phase 1/1b/2 study of AMG 193, a novel small molecule methylthioadenosine (MTA) cooperative protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) molecular glue, continues to enroll patients with advanced methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP)-null solid tumors.
General Medicine
Repatha
- An abstract based on data from the Repatha open label extension (OLE) studies (FOURIER OLE) has been accepted as a late-breaking presentation for the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) annual conference in August.
Olpasiran (AMG 890)
- In May, the Company announced positive top-line data from a Phase 2 study of olpasiran, a lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) small interfering RNA molecule, in subjects with elevated Lp(a). These data demonstrated a significant reduction from baseline in Lp(a) of up to or greater than 90 percent at week 36 (primary endpoint) and week 48 (end of treatment period) for the majority of doses. No new safety concerns were identified during this treatment period. Presentation of these results is expected at a medical congress in 2022.
AMG 133
- A Phase 1 study of AMG 133, a multispecific that inhibits the gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor (GIPR) and activates the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor, has completed enrollment.
- Data from the initial cohorts of this Phase 1 study will be submitted to a medical congress occurring in Q4-2022.
Biosimilars
- The final analysis from a Phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of ABP 654 compared to STELARA® (ustekinumab) in adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis is expected in 2022.
- A Phase 3 study to support an interchangeability designation in the U.S. for ABP 654 is ongoing.
- Phase 3 studies of ABP 938, an investigational biosimilar to EYLEA® (aflibercept), and ABP 959, an investigational biosimilar to SOLIRIS® (eculizumab), are on track, with data expected in 2022.
- A Phase 3 study to support an interchangeability designation in the U.S. for AMJEVITA™ (adalimumab-atto) is ongoing.
- The U.S. label for AMJEVITA™ has been modified to include pediatric Crohn's disease (ages 6 and above) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (ages 2-3).
TEZSPIRE is being developed in collaboration with AstraZeneca.
Rocatinlimab, formerly AMG 451 / KHK4083 is being developed in collaboration with Kyowa Kirin.
Ordesekimab formerly AMG 714 and also known as PRV-015 is being developed in collaboration with Provention Bio.
AMG 509 is being developed in collaboration with Xencor.
STELARA is a registered trademark of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV.
EYLEA is a registered trademark of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
SOLIRIS is a registered trademark of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this news release, management has presented its operating results for the second quarters of 2022 and 2021, in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and on a non-GAAP basis. In addition, management has presented its full year 2022 EPS and tax guidance in accordance with GAAP and on a non-GAAP basis. These non-GAAP financial measures are computed by excluding certain items related to acquisitions, divestitures, restructuring and certain other items from the related GAAP financial measures. Beginning January 1, 2022, following industry guidance from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company no longer excludes adjustments for upfront license fees, development milestones and IPR&D expenses of pre-approval programs related to licensing, collaboration and asset acquisition transactions from its non-GAAP financial measures. For purposes of comparability, the non-GAAP financial results for the second quarter of 2021 have been updated to reflect this change. Reconciliations for these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the news release. Management has also presented Free Cash Flow (FCF), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, for the second quarters of 2022 and 2021. FCF is computed by subtracting capital expenditures from operating cash flow, each as determined in accordance with GAAP.
The Company believes that its presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides useful supplementary information to and facilitates additional analysis by investors. The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to enhance an investor's overall understanding of the financial performance and prospects for the future of the Company's ongoing business activities by facilitating comparisons of results of ongoing business operations among current, past and future periods. The Company believes that FCF provides a further measure of the Company's liquidity.
The Company uses the non-GAAP financial measures set forth in the news release in connection with its own budgeting and financial planning internally to evaluate the performance of the business, including to allocate resources and to evaluate results relative to incentive compensation targets. The non-GAAP financial measures are in addition to, not a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.
Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.
Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also part of the Nasdaq-100 index. In 2021, Amgen was named one of the 25 World's Best Workplaces™ by Fortune and Great Place to Work™ and one of the 100 most sustainable companies in the world by Barron's.
For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Amgen. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any statements on the outcome, benefits and synergies of collaborations, or potential collaborations, with any other company (including BeiGene, Ltd., Kyowa-Kirin Co., Ltd., Generate Biomedicines, Inc., Arrakis Therapeutics, Inc., Plexium, Inc., or any collaboration to manufacture therapeutic antibodies against COVID-19), the performance of Otezla® (apremilast) (including anticipated Otezla sales growth and the timing of non-GAAP EPS accretion), the Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. acquisition, the Teneobio, Inc. acquisition, or the recently announced proposed acquisition of ChemoCentryx, Inc., as well as estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes, effects of pandemics or other widespread health problems such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on our business, outcomes, progress, and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission reports filed by Amgen, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those we project. Our results may be affected by our ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally, clinical and regulatory developments involving current and future products, sales growth of recently launched products, competition from other products including biosimilars, difficulties or delays in manufacturing our products and global economic conditions. In addition, sales of our products are affected by pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny and reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment. Furthermore, our research, testing, pricing, marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. We or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with our products, including our devices, after they are on the market. Our business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. In addition, our business may be impacted by the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. If we fail to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between us and the U.S. government, we could become subject to significant sanctions. Further, while we routinely obtain patents for our products and technology, the protection offered by our patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors, or we may fail to prevail in present and future intellectual property litigation. We perform a substantial amount of our commercial manufacturing activities at a few key facilities, including in Puerto Rico, and also depend on third parties for a portion of our manufacturing activities, and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of our current products and product candidate development. An outbreak of disease or similar public health threat, such as COVID-19, and the public and governmental effort to mitigate against the spread of such disease, could have a significant adverse effect on the supply of materials for our manufacturing activities, the distribution of our products, the commercialization of our product candidates, and our clinical trial operations, and any such events may have a material adverse effect on our product development, product sales, business and results of operations. We rely on collaborations with third parties for the development of some of our product candidates and for the commercialization and sales of some of our commercial products. In addition, we compete with other companies with respect to many of our marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for our products are supplied by sole third-party suppliers. Certain of our distributors, customers and payers have substantial purchasing leverage in their dealings with us. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of our products that implicate an entire class of products could have a material adverse effect on sales of the affected products and on our business and results of operations. Our efforts to collaborate with or acquire other companies, products or technology, and to integrate the operations of companies or to support the products or technology we have acquired, may not be successful. A breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our systems and our data. Our stock price is volatile and may be affected by a number of events. Our business and operations may be negatively affected by the failure, or perceived failure, of achieving our environmental, social and governance objectives. The effects of global climate change and related natural disasters could negatively affect our business and operations. Global economic conditions may magnify certain risks that affect our business. Our business performance could affect or limit the ability of our Board of Directors to declare a dividend or our ability to pay a dividend or repurchase our common stock. We may not be able to access the capital and credit markets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all.
CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks
Jessica Akopyan, 805-440-5721 (media)
Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (investors)
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TAIZ, Yemen — A grassy strip of no-man's land divides the city that's covered in bullet holes. Taiz, Yemen's third most populous city, is symbolic of the civil war that has ravaged the country for nearly a decade.
The war has destroyed millions of Yemeni lives, but perhaps nowhere has it been felt more than in the front-line neighborhoods in Taiz that are closest to the fighting and have seen the worst of the war.
Snipers have terrorized residents for years. Many children have lost limbs due to rockets and landmines, while playing outside.
"I don't play with my friends outside, I sit at home," said 9- year-old Mohammad Abdulrahman al-Yusufi, who is about as old as the war itself, and lost his father in a rocket attack by Houthi militants.
"I want the war to end, so life can come back here. They destroyed all the homes, they destroyed everything," he said.
In 2015, the Iran-backed Houthi militia took over the north and west of Taiz with the rest of the city under the control of the Yemeni government, backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The Houthi blockade severely disrupted the lives of people here. Distances that used to take 10–15 minutes by car are now an 8-hour drive on precarious mountain roads, as nearly all of the direct routes have been cut off. This has impeded the flow of food and medicine and other necessities to the city, driven prices up and further disrupted a failing economy.
The areas of Taiz under Houthi control have most of the city's water resources as well as the factories and jobs.
Several residential buildings were also hit by Saudi airstrikes in the first years of the war, killing many civilians — which led the U.S. to take a step back from providing military and intelligence support to Saudi Arabia.
In the last year, peace talks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia have slowed down the fighting. The streets are mostly peaceful, but negotiations so far have failed to produce an agreement that would ease the Houthi siege of Taiz.
Families have been separated for years by the blockade. The shortage of water and food is further exacerbating malnutrition and dehydration in women and children.
The citizens of Taiz say they are at their wits end, desperate for change.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kbia.org/2023-06-21/a-front-line-city-in-yemen-is-desperate-for-change-after-nearly-a-decade-of-civil-war | 2023-06-21 19:32:59 | 0 | https://www.kbia.org/2023-06-21/a-front-line-city-in-yemen-is-desperate-for-change-after-nearly-a-decade-of-civil-war |
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — Sacramento County supervisors heard form neighbors and business owners about a proposed "Safe Stay Community" in North Highlands.
The board approved the money last week to buy the site, and are weighing thoughts from community members as they figure out the best ways to run the shelter.
Sharing their stories, struggles and their concerns, dozens of people showed up at the North Highlands Community Center, thrusting the homeless crisis into the spotlight.
Watt Avenue in North Highlands is the site of the county's third proposed "Safe Stay Community."
"I think it's a possible solution, one of many. There's no be all, end all solution to homelessness. It could be a good first step," said Shirley Marimee, of North Highlands.
Mark Lum, who lives near the proposed site, agrees, saying that it has benefits.
"I think when we're dealing with record numbers of homeless people, anything is beneficial," Lum said.
A "Safe Stay Community" is also known as a sanctioned encampment.
It's a temporary shelter setting that is intended to be an interim solution between living on the street and living in traditional shelters - without the risk of being arrested or cited.
The site will be fenced off and supervised. Pets are allowed, food is provided and people living there will be connected to other services as a stepping stone to more permanent housing.
Leaders said they've learned from pushback they got on the first two Safe Stay sites and are weighing those concerns as they move forward with the third site.
Now that the nearly $23 million for buying property is approved, the sale is currently being finalized. Meanwhile the Safe Stay site proposal will return to the Board of Supervisors in two weeks with more specific recommendations from staff on the design and operation of the site.
The two other Safe Stay sites in the works are at 7001 East Parkway and at Florin and Power Inn roads. Both are planned as tiny home communities—different from the Watt Avenue location.
WATCH ALSO: | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/sacramento-county-safe-stay-site-watt-avenue/103-d0a0cf1d-2b27-497e-b745-e7e2fe721ca8 | 2022-11-02 10:04:28 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/sacramento-county-safe-stay-site-watt-avenue/103-d0a0cf1d-2b27-497e-b745-e7e2fe721ca8 |
Nearly 250 years ago, on June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress approved the design of a national flag. We now celebrate Flag Day on the anniversary of that resolution — but observances certainly didn't start right away.
Here's a quick look at the history of Flag Day, which celebrates the history and symbolism of the American flag.
Why do we celebrate Flag Day?
"Resolved, that the Flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation."
That's the resolution adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, in the midst of the Revolutionary War. We don't know for sure who designed this first official flag, but the Library of Congress says most historians believe it was designed by congressman Francis Hopkinson and sewn early on by Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross. The new flag first saw battle three months later — according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the flag was carried in the Battle of Brandywine.
RELATED: Can you wash an American flag?
There have now been more than two dozen official versions of the flag, with the current 50-star flag dating back to 1960 after Hawaii became a state.
When was the first Flag Day?
The VA says sources vary on the first Flag Day observances, with Hartford, Connecticut, claiming the earliest in 1861. School programs on the holiday became widespread in the late 1800s after a New York City school's patriotic ceremony caught education officials' attention.
National recognition of Flag Day came even later, with President Woodrow Wilson issuing the first presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day in 1916. The holiday wasn't signed into law until 1949, when Congress approved legislation designating June 14 of each year as Flag Day.
How is Flag Day celebrated?
In the days before the holiday each year, U.S. presidents issue a proclamation designating "National Flag Week" and "calling upon all citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week."
Various communities hold annual Flag Day parades, picnics and other events, though celebrations are far less widespread than those of Independence Day a few weeks later. Flag Day is not one of the U.S.'s 11 federal holidays, meaning banks and government offices remain open.
"On Flag Day and during National Flag Week, we celebrate the enduring strength and promise that the stars and stripes on our flag have always embodied as they fly proudly across our country and around the world," President Joe Biden wrote in his 2023 proclamation on Flag Day. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/nation-world/what-is-flag-day-2023-history-meaning-celebration/507-d5f6c877-1423-4081-9dd5-49259725d602 | 2023-06-14 18:15:44 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/nation-world/what-is-flag-day-2023-history-meaning-celebration/507-d5f6c877-1423-4081-9dd5-49259725d602 |
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SAO PAULO (AP) — Whether or not Pelé scored almost 1,300 goals in his professional soccer career, all of his biographers agree that the three-time World Cup champion wrote more than 100 songs and sold more than 100,000 copies of one of his albums.
He was also in the movies, notably in the World War II film “Victory,” and was one of the stars of a Brazilian comedy that brought more than 3.6 million people to the theaters in the South American nation.
Pelé, whose full name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, died Thursday with cancer at a hospital in Sao Paulo. He was 82.
Pelé's success on the soccer field made him a sports icon, but he added to that with many performances as an actor and singer.
MOVIES
“King Pelé” (O Rei Pelé, 1962)
Pelé's first big-screen moment came in a movie directed by Carlos Hugo Christensen in the same year he won his second World Cup title. The narrative starts at Pelé's native city of Tres Coracoes, talks about his move to the Sao Paulo countryside city of Bauru and then on to Santos, where he becomes a global star.
“Victory” (1981)
Directed by John Huston, it was the movie Pelé said he had most fun doing. He played Cpl. Luis Fernandes, a soldier from Trinidad.
The plot involves prisoners of war preparing to face a German team in Nazi-occupied Paris amid their attempt to escape. At the time with the New York Cosmos, Pelé had the chance play with very different teammates — actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine.
“If I had to give myself a grade as an actor it would be a 10,” Pelé jokingly said in several interviews after “Victory.”
He also told friends that the original script had Stallone in position to score the winning goal with a bicycle kick, but the American actor did not have the skills to do it, so he was placed as a goalkeeper instead. Former England captain Bobby Moore is also in the film, along with several other professional soccer players.
“Victory,” known as “Escape to Victory” in many places, made almost $28 million at the box office.
“The Clumsies and the King of Soccer” (Os Trapalhões e o Rei do Futebol, 1986)
This was an association between two of Brazil's most popular brands at the time — a recently retired Pelé and a Three Stooges-like group of comedians who were widely popular for their TV program Os Trapalhões (The Clumsies). The movie's opening was three days before the 1986 World Cup final in which Argentina, led by Diego Maradona, beat Germany 3-2. It took millions to the cinema in Brazil that year.
Pelé played the role of a sports reporter named Nascimento who replaced the injured goalkeeper of a team named Independência Futebol Clube and scored the winning goal of a match with a goal kick.
Pelé also took part in documentaries, including “This is Pelé” (1974), “Pelé Eterno” (2004) and “Cine Pelé” (2011).
TELEVISION
Brazilians are almost as obsessed with soap operas as they are with soccer, and Pelé had many cameos. Most of his appearances were on TV Globo's soap operas, which are often exported to the rest of the world.
Author Ivani Ribeiro was the first to bring him to TV soap operas. She cast Pelé in a show named “Os Estranhos" (The Strangers), in which he played the role of a famous writer who lived on an island and had extraterrestrial friends.
Pelé's last famous appearance in a soap opera came in 2002 in “O Clone” (The Clone), which was popular in dozens of other countries. He played himself and sang the song “Em Busca do Penta" (Seeking the Fifth). The lyrics were about Brazil winning the World Cup again. Three months later, Brazil won the World Cup for the fifth time.
MUSIC
"Peléginga" was his biggest hit. Recorded with a choir and an orchestra, the samba album included 12 songs written by Pelé and was released in 2006.
Three years later, the Brazilian star wanted to record another album for international audiences and invited U2 singer Bono to share the vocals on one of the tracks. The Irishman was on tour with his band, however, and the project was abandoned.
Pelé also recorded a record with Brazilian diva Elis Regina and released an album that was produced by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sergio Mendes.
COMICS
Pelé has also been a character in widely popular comic books in Brazil. Cartoonist Mauricio de Sousa and Pelé, who was playing for New York Cosmos at the time, reached a deal in 1976 for the publication of children's stories in comic book format.
At first, Pelé didn't like the childlike features of Pelezinho. Sousa said in several interviews the player wanted to be portrayed as a strong child athlete. The cartoonist then made a suggestion that he should ask his children what they thought. Both kids loved it.
Sousa used several stories from Pelé's childhood in Pelezinho plots. The comic books were published regularly from 1977-86, and after that on special occasions. The latest was in 2013 as Brazil hosted the Confederations Cup, a warm-up tournament for the following year's World Cup in the country.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.expressnews.com/sports/article/Movies-music-and-TV-helped-Pele-to-even-more-17684293.php | 2022-12-30 01:37:43 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/sports/article/Movies-music-and-TV-helped-Pele-to-even-more-17684293.php |
Riley Ahrens scored a game-high 14 points to go along with three assists and six steals to lead Delran to a victory at home over Collingswood, 47-14, in the SJIBT Holiday Showcase Classic round-robin event.
Emma Rider added 10 points while Mya Jackson tallied six points and 10 rebounds for Delran (3-1), which held a 30-3 advantage at halftime.
Collingswood falls to 2-3 with the loss.
Bryce Harvey-Carr scored 25 points to lead Camden to a win over Winslow, 61-42, at Delran.
Camden moves to 3-2 with the win while Winslow falls to 1-4 on the season.
The four teams will be back in action on Friday, with Delran facing Winslow at 11 a.m. and Camden facing Collingswood at 1 p.m., with both games once again being held at Delran.
The NJ High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. | https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2022/12/girls-basketball-delran-camden-win-at-sjibt-holiday-showcase-classic.html | 2022-12-29 01:06:28 | 1 | https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2022/12/girls-basketball-delran-camden-win-at-sjibt-holiday-showcase-classic.html |
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There's no relationship quite like the one you have with your sister. Even if you're fighting, pranking each other, or wearing clothes she specifically told you not to, you're (probably) still best friends and each other's #1 fan.
So whether your siblings or older or younger, naughty or nice, across the country or across the hallway, they deserve something as sweet and unique as they are.
Oh, and sparkly. Everyone deserves something sparkly.
Instead of goofy gag gifts or just pouring candy in and hoping it doesn't melt over the open fire, get your sister stocking stuffers that actually mean something this year. Items that can help her glam up, wind down, and maybe even goof off a little. Because, yes: There's still time to shop, which means you're still on the hook for real stocking stuffers.
Scroll on for our list of ideas for the best mini gifts for sisters this holiday season!
Lime Crime Freckle Pen
With this playful, easy-to-use pen from Lime Crime, your sis can "dot freckle makeup directly onto bare skin, or even over face makeup." The brand advises that she "blend into skin using a sponge or brush for a more natural look," but one can always "layer the formula to build up freckles for a bolder complexion."
Joey Baby Antoni Earrings
Joey Baby's effortlessly chic huggies add "the perfect mix of simplicity and modern design" to everyday ensembles.
Ouai Hair Oil
Slip this premium Ouai hair treatment into your sibling's stocking to guarantee your spot atop their nice list for years to come.
Eminence Tea Tree and Mint Hand Cleanser
For the sister who complains about her hands drying out in the winter: This high-end hand cleanser from Eminence. Formulated with natural ingredients like tea tree and mint, it's a gentler (yet still effective, per the brand) alternative to her go-to hand sanitizer.
EcoTools Amethyst Roller
This amethyst roller from EcoTools is "designed to help reduce puffiness and smooth skin," for a calmer complexion from a calming ritual to boot. Plus, it's kind of goth-looking, which is fun.
Skin Gym Gold Foil Eye Mask
This shimmering set of botanical eye patches makes every pampering moment an extra fabulous one.
Olivia and June Nail Art Stickers
And while your sister's getting cute, she'll definitely want to try out these playful nail art stickers. Hey, maybe she'll even share them with you! Maybe.
Mystery Minis - Disney Villains
For the Disney fan: This undeniable hall-of-fame gift from the House of Mouse. Because this stocking stuffer is not just a mini figure; it's a mini mystery figurine that could be any one of a number of iconic villains.
Elephant Tea Infuser
If your sibling's a fan, have them steep and sip their favorite looseleaf tea before they spill it, thanks to this too-cute elephant.
Batiste Dry Shampoo
Particularly in the winter months, it's actually healthier to not wash your hair every day. Help your sis extend her blowout with this effective, fragrance-free dry shampoo from Batiste.
Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens
This slim pack of blotting linens is perfect for slipping into a stocking, and then for your sister to keep in a purse or back pocket for touch-ups on the go.
Be your sister's favorite sibling (even if it's just the two of you) with these top picks for gifts under $250. | https://www.eonline.com/news/1358075/11-holiday-stocking-stuffers-for-sisters-that-they-won-t-want-to-share?cmpid=rss-syndicate-genericrss-us-top_stories | 2022-12-14 22:04:14 | 1 | https://www.eonline.com/news/1358075/11-holiday-stocking-stuffers-for-sisters-that-they-won-t-want-to-share?cmpid=rss-syndicate-genericrss-us-top_stories |
SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.- Ringing in the New Year with old problems: RSV, COVID-19 and the flu are still spreading in Southern Delaware.
COVID-19 hospitalizations and flu cases have been on the rise in recent weeks, according to Beebe Healthcare.
Dr. Lisandra Clarke with the Division of Public Health says basic cautionary steps like washing your hands and masking up can help keep you healthy.
"Other measures for example, covering your cough, staying home if you are sick," she said. "If you are sick, we definitely recommend not socializing, not meeting up with gatherings, just staying home by yourself and isolating."
Beebe says RSV cases have been declining- but cases are still higher than normal. The viruses all have very similar symptoms of coughing, shortness of breath and fatigue among others- and that makes them difficult to tell them apart.
"Even as a physician, I can see someone in the hospital or in my office, and I am not sure if it's flu, versus COVID versus RSV," said Beebe Healthcare's Dr. William Chasanov.
DPH is expecting more flu cases to rise, as we are currently only halfway through flu season. DPH says flu season ends in May. | https://www.wrde.com/news/health-officials-ask-people-to-celebrate-new-year-responsibly-during-tripledemic/article_261f8492-87c8-11ed-8982-1f83c607b602.html | 2022-12-30 00:33:39 | 0 | https://www.wrde.com/news/health-officials-ask-people-to-celebrate-new-year-responsibly-during-tripledemic/article_261f8492-87c8-11ed-8982-1f83c607b602.html |
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STOCKHOLM, July 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Elkem has entered into an agreement with NCL (North Sea Container Line AS) who will charter in two new container ships enabling carbon neutral operations from MPC Container Ships to further improve Elkem's North Sea logistics. Enabling the use of green methanol as fuel, featuring high safety standards and backed by a strong business case, the new ships will enable higher operational efficiency and more climate-friendly transport in line with Elkem's strategy. The agreement will also enable NCL to become the first container vessel operator in Norway to put methanol-powered ships into operations.
The two new-build ships will replace three of NCL's current diesel-powered vessels, which will be phased out from operations. The ships, each at a capacity of 1300 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), will be owned by the Oslo Børs listed MPC Container Ships ASA (MPCC) in partnership with Topeka MPC Maritime AS. Both vessels are expected to be in operation from the second half of 2024. The new ships are also highly automated, enabling higher efficiency, and feature several new safety measures to eliminate the risks of injury during operations.
"Elkem's mission is to provide advanced material solutions shaping a better and more sustainable future. Our operations require a significant amount of transport across the value chain, including sea transport as the most climate-friendly mode of transport for bulk goods. These state-of-the-art vessels will further increase our efficiency through increased capacity and can potentially cut net CO2-emissions from 45 % up to 100% through the use of green methanol. This contract with NCL and the innovative newbuilding project with MPC Container Ships ASA is a great example of how operational excellence and sustainability can go hand in hand," says Elkem's CEO, Helge Aasen.
Green methanol is a fuel derived from renewable electricity and captured CO2. Compared to conventional fuels, it enables reductions of carbon dioxide emissions to around zero, reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80%, and eliminates sulphur oxide and particulate matter emissions.
Elkem is one of NCL's owners, with a 40% share. As part of its climate project portfolio, Elkem is also exploring the potential for capturing CO2 from Elkem's Norwegian plants and turning the CO2 into methanol for downstream use.
"We in NCL are continuously working to make sea freight safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly. This is in line with our initiative Sea Change, where we aim to take the lead in making the whole industry greener, quicker. The ships, and the partnership with MPCC, will boost a significant amount of innovation and energy saving measures and are fully prepared for the green transition. A key point for us is making it cost-effective for customers, so that we make green freight the preferred choice. This agreement with Elkem is a great example," says NCL's managing director, Bente Hetland.
CEO of MPC Container Ships ASA, Constantin Baack comments: "We are excited to extend our selective fleet renewal with the two newbuildings in partnership with Elkem and NCL. This newbuilding project is a proof of how innovative projects that address the important green transition of the maritime industry can be executed in a way that they are also economically attractive, if the right partners join forces. Combining NCL's regional expertise and competencies and the strive and commitment of Elkem and others on the cargo side with MPCC's unique execution capabilities and in-depth understanding of intra-regional trade and vessel designs has been the basis for this project."
The project has been awarded NOK 13.7 million by Enova, owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, and NOK 60 million from the NOx fund, the Norwegian business sector's fund to reduce emissions.
Elkem is among the world's most environmentally friendly manufacturers of silicon-based materials, and high performance on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors are central to the company's corporate strategy.
The company recently announced a climate roadmap detailing how Elkem plans to develop its business in line with the aim of the Paris agreement of limiting global warming to well below two degrees. The company aims to reduce its total fossil CO2 emissions by 28% from 2020-31 while growing its supplies to the green transition – thereby delivering a 39% improvement of its product carbon footprint in the same period. Elkem's long-term goal is net zero emissions by 2050.
For further information, please contact:
Odd-Geir Lyngstad
VP Finance and Investor Relations
Tel: +4797672806
E-mail: odd-geir.lyngstad@elkem.com
Hans Iver Odenrud
Corporate Communication Manager
Tel: +4795816230
E-mail: hans.iver.odenrud@elkem.com
About Elkem
Elkem is one of the world's leading providers of advanced material solutions shaping a better and more sustainable future. The company develops silicones, silicon products and carbon solutions by combining natural raw materials, renewable energy and human ingenuity. Elkem helps its customers create and improve essential innovations like electric mobility, digital communications, health and personal care as well as smarter and more sustainable cities. With a strong track record since 1904, its global team of more than 7,000 people has a joint commitment to stakeholders: Delivering your potential. In 2021, Elkem obtained a Platinum score from EcoVadis, which rated the company among the world's top 1% on sustainability transparency, and the company achieved an operating income of NOK 33.7 billion. Elkem is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: ELK). www.elkem.com
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SOURCE Elkem | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/07/04/elkem-commissions-two-climate-friendly-ships-north-sea-operation-ncl-mpc-container-ships/ | 2022-07-04 07:34:19 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/07/04/elkem-commissions-two-climate-friendly-ships-north-sea-operation-ncl-mpc-container-ships/ |
Simone Biles visit puts Door County in the spotlight
Published: Jun. 1, 2023 at 10:59 AM CDT|Updated: 55 minutes ago
DOOR COUNTY, Wis. (WBAY) - Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles appears to enjoy time in Northeast Wisconsin as her husband settles in as a newly minted Packer.
Over Memorial Day weekend, the Olympic gymnast enjoyed some time in Door County along with the “Mayor” of Door County, Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon.
Their fun in the sun was documented on some recent Instagram posts.
Dillon regularly tweets about his love for Door County and his visits there. In 2021, Destination Door County presented Dillon with a symbolic key to the county.
Simone Biles married Jonathan Owens in April. The Green Bay Packers recently signed Owens as a new safety.
Copyright 2023 WBAY. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbay.com/2023/06/01/simone-biles-visit-puts-door-county-spotlight/ | 2023-06-01 16:55:41 | 0 | https://www.wbay.com/2023/06/01/simone-biles-visit-puts-door-county-spotlight/ |
NEW YORK -- For decades, Jackie Young had been searching.
Orphaned as an infant, he spent the first few years of his life in a Nazi internment camp in what is now the Czech Republic. After World War II he was taken to England, adopted and given a new name.
As an adult, he struggled to learn of his origins and his family. He had some scant information about his birth mother, who died in a concentration camp. But about his father? Nothing. Just a blank space on a birth certificate.
That changed earlier this year when genealogists were able to use a DNA sample to help find a name - and some relatives he never knew he had.
Having that answer to a lifelong question has been "amazing," said Young, now 80 and living in London. It "opened the door that I thought would never get opened."
Now there's an effort underway to bring that possibility to other Holocaust survivors and their children.
The New York-based Center for Jewish History is launching the DNA Reunion Project, offering DNA testing kits for free through an application on its website. For those who use the kits it is also offering a chance to get some guidance on next steps from the genealogists who worked with Young.
Those genealogists, Jennifer Mendelsohn and Adina Newman, have been doing this kind of work over the last several years, and run a Facebook group about Jewish DNA and genetic genealogy.
The advent of DNA technology has opened up a new world of possibilities in addition to the paper trails and archives that Holocaust survivors and their descendants have used to learn about family connections severed by genocide, Newman said.
"There are times when people are separated and they don't even realize they're separated. Maybe a name change occurred so they didn't know to look for the other person," she said. "There are cases that simply cannot be solved without DNA."
While interest in genealogy and family trees is widespread, there's a particular poignancy in doing this work in a community where so many family ties have been ripped apart because of the Holocaust, Mendelsohn said.
Her earliest effort in this arena was for her husband's grandmother, who had lost her mother in a concentration camp. That effort led to aunts and cousins that no one in her husband's family had known about.
Her husband's uncle, she said, called afterwards and said, "You know, I've never seen a photograph of my grandmother. Now that I see photographs of her sisters, it's so comforting to me. I can imagine what she look like."
"How do you explain why that's powerful? It just is. People had nothing. Their families were erased. And now we can bring them back a little bit," Mendelsohn said.
She and Newman take pains to emphasize that there are no guarantees. Doing the testing or searching archives doesn't mean a guarantee of finding living relatives or new information. But it offers a chance.
They and the center are encouraging people to take that chance, especially as time passes and the number of living survivors declines.
"It really is the last moment where these survivors can be given some modicum of justice," said Gavriel Rosenfeld, president of the center.
"We feel the urgency of this," Newman said. "I wanted to start yesterday, and that's why it's like, no time like the present."
Rosenfeld said the center had allocated an initial $15,000 for the DNA kits in this initial pilot effort, which would cover about 500 of them. He said they would look to scale up further if they see enough interest.
Ken Engel thinks there will be. He leads a group in Minnesota for the children of Holocaust survivors and has already told his membership about the program.
"This is an important effort," Engel said. "It may reveal and disclose wonderful information for them that they never knew about, may make them feel more settled or more connected to the past."
Young definitely feels that way.
"I've been wanting to know all my life," he said. "If I hadn't known what I do know now, I think I would still felt that my left arm or my right arm wasn't fully formed. Family is everything, it's the major pillar of life in humanity."
ALSO READ | Police bust Manhattan street vendors, seize $10M+ worth of luxury knock offs
---------- | https://abc7ny.com/holocaust-survivors-dna-testing-kits-center-for-jewish-history/12511055/ | 2022-11-30 20:58:08 | 0 | https://abc7ny.com/holocaust-survivors-dna-testing-kits-center-for-jewish-history/12511055/ |
Alpha-gal syndrome: Tick-borne disease that triggers meat allergies is on the rise, CDC says
More than 100,000 people in the U.S. have become allergic to red meat since 2010 because of a weird syndrome triggered by tick bites, according to a government report released Thursday. But health officials believe many more have the problem and don't know it.
A second report estimated that as many as 450,000 Americans have developed the allergy. That would make it the 10th most common food allergy in the U.S., said Dr. Scott Commins, a University of North Carolina researcher who co-authored both papers published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health officials said they are not aware of any confirmed deaths, but people with the allergy have described it as bewildering and terrifying.
"I never connected it with any food because it was hours after eating," said one patient, Bernadine Heller-Greenman.
READ MORE: Salmonella outbreak linked to ground beef sickens 16, hospitalizes 6
The reaction, called alpha-gal syndrome, occurs when an infected person eats beef, pork, venison or other meat from mammals — or ingests milk, gelatin or other mammal products.
It’s not caused by a germ but by a sugar, alpha-gal, that is in meat from mammals — and in tick spit. When the sugar enters the body through the skin, it triggers an immune response and can lead to a severe allergic reaction.
Scientists had seen reactions in patients taking a cancer drug that was made in mouse cells containing the alpha-gal sugar. But in 2011 researchers first reported that it could spread through tick bites, too.
"Black-legged ticks" l L. Levin, Ph. D. 1990. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images).
They tied it to the lone star tick, which despite its Texas-themed name is most common in the eastern and southern U.S. (About 4% of all U.S. cases have been in the eastern end of New York’s Long Island.)
One of the studies released Thursday examined 2017-2022 test results from the main U.S. commercial lab looking for alpha-gal antibodies. They noted the number of people testing positive rose from about 13,000 in 2017 to 19,000 in 2022.
Experts say cases may be up for a variety of reasons, including lone star ticks' expanding range, more people coming into contact with the ticks or more doctors learning about it and ordering tests for it.
READ MORE: Nevada toddler dies from brain-eating amoeba
But many doctors are not. The second study was a survey last year of 1,500 U.S. primary care doctors and health professionals. The survey found nearly half had never heard of alpha-gal syndrome, and only 5% said they felt very confident they could diagnose it. Researchers used that information to estimate the number of people with the allergy — 450,000.
People with the syndrome can experience symptoms including hives, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe stomach pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness and swelling of the lips, throat, tongue or eye lids. Unlike some other food allergies, which occur soon after eating, these reactions hit hours later.
Some patients have only stomach symptoms, and the American Gastroenterological Association says people with unexplained diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain should be tested for the syndrome.
Doctors counsel people with the allergy to change their diet, carry epinephrine and avoid tick bites.
The allergy can fade away in some people — Commins has seen that happen in about 15% to 20% of his patients. But a key is avoiding being re-bitten.
Female soft tick (Argasidae) laying a batch of eggs, a carrier of the Lyme disease, 1975. Image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
"The tick bites are central to this. They perpetuate the allergy," he said.
One of his patients is Heller-Greenman, a 78-year-old New York art historian who spends summers on Martha's Vineyard. She has grown accustomed to getting bitten by ticks on the island and said she has had Lyme disease four times.
About five years ago, she started experiencing terrible, itchy hives on her back, torso and thighs in the middle of the night. Her doctors concluded it was an allergic reaction, but couldn't pinpoint the trigger.
READ MORE: Dozens of cats in Poland got bird flu amid global outbreak
She was never a big meat eater, but one day in January 2020 she had a hamburger and then a big, fatty steak the following evening. Six hours after dinner, she woke up nauseated, then suffered terrible spells of vomiting, diarrhea and dizziness. She passed out three times.
She was diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome shortly after that, and was told to avoid ticks and to stop eating red meat and dairy products. There have been no allergic reactions since.
"I have one grandchild that watches me like a hawk," she said, making sure she reads packaged food labels and avoids foods that could trigger a reaction.
"I feel very lucky, really, that this has worked out for me," she said. "Not all doctors are knowledgeable about this." | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/alpha-gal-syndrome-tick-borne-disease-triggers-meat-allergies-cdc | 2023-07-28 23:45:30 | 1 | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/alpha-gal-syndrome-tick-borne-disease-triggers-meat-allergies-cdc |
NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Enviva Inc. ("Enviva" or the "Company") (NYSE: EVA) and reminds investors of the January 3, 2023 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.
If you suffered losses exceeding $100,000 investing in Enviva stock or options between February 21, 2019 and October 11, 2022 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). You may also click here for additional information: www.faruqilaw.com/EVA.
There is no cost or obligation to you.
Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading minority and Woman-owned national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia.
The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Enviva had misrepresented the environmental sustainability of its wood pellet production and procurement; (2) Enviva had similarly overstated the true measure of cash flow generated by the Company's platform; (3) accordingly, Enviva had misrepresented its business model and the Company's ability to achieve the level of growth that Defendants had represented to investors; and (4) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
On October 12, 2022, during pre-market hours, Blue Orca Capital ("Blue Orca") published a report on Enviva (the "Blue Orca Report"). Among other allegations, the Blue Orca Report stated that "new discovered data suggests . . . the company is flagrantly greenwashing its wood procurement" and characterized Enviva's claim to be a "pure play ESG Company with a healthy, self-funded dividend and cash flows to provide a platform for future growth" as "nonsense on all counts." Moreover, the Blue Orca Report alleged that "Enviva is a dangerously levered serial capital raiser whose deteriorating cash conversion and unprofitability will drain it of cash next year" and is "a product of deranged European climate subsidies which incentivize the destruction of American forests so that European power companies can check a bureaucratic box."
On this news, Enviva's stock price fell $7.74 per share, or 13.13%, to close at $51.23 per share on October 12, 2022.
The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Enviva's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.
Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.
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SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/01/03/enviva-investor-alert-securities-litigation-partner-james-josh-wilson-encourages-investors-who-suffered-losses-exceeding-100000-enviva-contact-him-directly-discuss-their-options/ | 2023-01-04 00:06:33 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/01/03/enviva-investor-alert-securities-litigation-partner-james-josh-wilson-encourages-investors-who-suffered-losses-exceeding-100000-enviva-contact-him-directly-discuss-their-options/ |
PARIS (AP) — French police threw a security cordon around a shareholders’ meeting in Paris of oil major TotalEnergies on Friday, spraying tear gas and pushing back climate protesters who chanted, “Be gentle, police officers, we’re doing this for your kids!”
Shareholders, some escorted into the meeting by police, ran a gauntlet of the peaceful, earnest and mostly young demonstrators, who waved signs attacking the climate record of the French energy giant that has reaped colossal profits from price surges that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Their signs declared, “The last pipeline before the end of the world” and “Listen to the scientists: No more fossil projects.”
Protesters sat down in surrounding streets and linked arms to block access to the meeting in a famed Paris concert hall. Police officers carried some protesters to move them out of the way. They sprayed tear gas from canisters to force people back.
It comes after climate protesters tried to rush the stage of the Shell shareholder meeting in London on Tuesday, with security guards dragging and carrying them away.
Dozens of activists also forced the delay of the start of the meeting by chanting “Shut down Shell,” while others shouted, held signs and linked arms outside as security tried to remove them.
The tactics come as demonstrators contest the burning of coal, oil, natural gas and biomass blamed for air pollution that researchers say kills 1.2 million people worldwide per year and is driving the climate crisis, causing deadly weather extremes, hunger, heat deaths, migration and environmental destruction.
The United Nations chief has pleaded for an end to new fossil fuel exploration and for rich countries to quit coal, oil and gas by 2040.
Citing the protests, TotalEnergies had told shareholders beforehand that they could vote remotely.
Protesters came hours before the meeting, as dawn was breaking, to try to stop it from going ahead. The standoff with police evolved from there.
“We have no choice but to be here every single time they are here,” demonstrator Camille Etienne said.
___
Follow AP’s climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment | https://www.kron4.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-climate-protesters-face-tear-gas-at-oil-major-totalenergies-shareholder-meeting-in-paris/ | 2023-05-26 13:15:52 | 1 | https://www.kron4.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-climate-protesters-face-tear-gas-at-oil-major-totalenergies-shareholder-meeting-in-paris/ |
13-year-old gets trapped in claw machine he was trying to steal from, park official says
Published: Apr. 17, 2023 at 10:31 AM CDT|Updated: 18 minutes ago
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) – A 13-year-old boy got stuck in a claw machine at Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte on Sunday afternoon, officials said.
A park spokesperson said the boy was attempting to steal from the Cosmic XL Bonus Game when he got trapped.
Carowinds medical personnel helped him out of the machine after about 15 minutes.
He was given first aid and released to his guardian.
Further information was not available.
Copyright 2023 WBTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wlbt.com/2023/04/17/13-year-old-gets-trapped-claw-machine-he-was-trying-steal-park-official-says/ | 2023-04-17 15:51:03 | 1 | https://www.wlbt.com/2023/04/17/13-year-old-gets-trapped-claw-machine-he-was-trying-steal-park-official-says/ |
MANOR, Texas — The Texas Department of Transportation will welcome public feedback on a potential FM 973 realignment and widening project in a hearing on Thursday.
The hearing, focusing on the Travis County project's environmental assessment, begins at 6 p.m. both virtually on www.txdot.gov and in-person at ShadowGlen Golf Club in Manor.
The hearing's presentation will stay on the TxDOT website until Aug. 26.
The proposed project aims to build a roadway between SH 130 and US 290 as well as take FM 973 to six lanes from the current two. Three lanes will go in each direction.
Drainage improvements, shared-use paths and more are also part of the project.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kvue.com/article/traffic/txdot-public-hearing-fm-973-project/269-0b917d32-1bee-432a-882c-ebda294e3933 | 2022-08-11 17:28:01 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/traffic/txdot-public-hearing-fm-973-project/269-0b917d32-1bee-432a-882c-ebda294e3933 |
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — A United States envoy of Friday urged Serbia and Kosovo to implement a European Union-facilitated agreement on normalizing their relations, calling it the best option to preserve peace and security in the region.
Envoy Gabriel Escobar was in Pristina ahead of Saturday’s summit meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Ohrid, North Macedonia.
“We think that this European proposal, facilitated through the EU dialog, offers a tremendous opportunity to create a peaceful, sustainable and productive relationship between two countries, two important countries of the region,” Escobar said after talks with Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani.
Last month in Brussels, Vucic and Kurti gave their tacit approval to the EU plan to end months of political crisis and help improve ties. The summit will tackle the most contentious issue on which the two sides fundamentally disagree – the recognition of Kosovo’s statehood.
Vucic said Thursday he won’t “sign anything” during the summit. The EU plan calls for the two countries to maintain good neighborly relations, recognize each other’s official documents and national symbols, and would see Belgrade allow Pristina to seek membership in the EU and U.N..
Kurti has hailed the agreement as a firm step toward a final deal on mutual recognition likely later this year. Concluding such a deal has gained added importance amid concerns that Russia could attempt to stir instability in the volatile region where it holds historic influence.
Tensions have simmered between Serbia and Kosovo, whose independence is recognized by many Western countries, but is opposed by Belgrade with the backing of Russia and China.
Kosovo is a majority ethnic Albanian former Serbian province which broke away in 2008. That came nine years after the end of a 1998-99 war, which erupted when separatist ethnic Albanians launched a rebellion against Serbia’s rule, and Belgrade responded with a brutal crackdown. About 13,000 people died, mostly ethnic Albanians.
In 1999 a NATO intervention forced Serbia to pull out of the territory and ended the war, but tensions over Kosovo’s status remain a source of instability in the Balkans. ___ Semini reported from Tirana, Albania. | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/ap-international/us-envoy-optimistic-about-upcoming-serbia-kosovo-summit/ | 2023-03-17 23:16:03 | 0 | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/ap-international/us-envoy-optimistic-about-upcoming-serbia-kosovo-summit/ |
A version of this show previously aired on March 26, 2021.
Jackson, Mississippi are still boiling their drinking water after the latest breakdown to their water treatment plant.
Jackson is just one of many American communities relying on a century old water supply system.
For a month, residents of Jackson, Mississippi went without clean running water. The city’s mayor says the problem’s decades in the making. That makes Jackson a lesson for the entire country.
Today, On Point: America’s fragile water infrastructure – and how to fix it.
Guests
Donna Ladd, founding editor of the Mississippi Free Press and Jackson Free Press. (@DonnerKay)
Aaron Packman, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northwestern University.
Catherine Coleman-Flowers, environmental and climate justice activist. 2020 MacArthur Fellow for Environmental Health Advocacy. (@CathFlowers)
Also Featured
Harvey Johnson, Jr., former mayor of Jackson, Mississippi.
Nancy Sylvester, director of Global Learning Connection Center, a day care for children of teenage mothers.
Transcript: Highlights From The Show’s Open
MEGHNA CHAKRABARTI: There’s a rule of thumb for human survival, called the rule of threes. You can only survive three minutes without air, three days without water, and three weeks without food. Well, that middle one, that you can’t survive without water for more than three days, water is that essential. And don’t the people of Jackson, Mississippi, know it.
CHAKRABARTI: Patricia Anderson has been boiling and bleaching the water coming out of her kitchen tap since the beginning of August. Torrential rain and severe flooding of the Pearl River overwhelmed Jackson’s water treatment plant, whose main pumps had already broken down in July.
Residents haven’t had potable water for more than six weeks now. Earlier this month, many people spent several days without any water coming out of their faucets. The work has been done to shore up the treatment plant.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba said this week that the city remains under a boil water advisory.
MAYOR LUMUMBA: We’re optimistic that we’re looking at a matter of days, not weeks, before we can expect the boil water notice to be lifted.
CHAKRABARTI: Time and again, Jackson residents have been asked to live without reliable, clean water. The antiquated treatment system has needed upgrades for decades, and the number of failures has recently been mounting. In 2015 and again in 2021, the city’s water had unusually high levels of lead.
Ask yourself honestly, how long could you tolerate not having reliable drinking water in your town in America in 2022? How long would you tolerate it? How long do you think you’d have to? Do you think you’d have to deal with water shutdowns so often that buckets and boil water advisories become a constant way of life? Really? Ask yourself. And if your answer is, I would not be willing to, nor would I have to deal with that kind of threat to my survival for long. Well, then ask yourself, why do the citizens of Jackson, Mississippi, have to suffer through it again and again and again? What’s your answer to that?
This is On Point. I’m Meghna Chakrabarti. Jackson is Mississippi’s largest city and its state capital. The median household income is about $40,000. That’s $25,000 less than the median income nationwide. More than 150,000 people live in Jackson, and more than 80% of the residents are Black. So back to that question, Why do Jackson residents have to suffer a lack of reliable drinking water? Mississippi Congressman Democrat Bennie Thompson has his answer.
BENNIE THOMPSON: If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. I don’t know of any white-run city that’s a capital city that’s being treated like Jackson, Mississippi, is.
CHAKRABARTI: Thompson there on MSNBC. In an April 2022 print interview with Mississippi Today, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba gave the duck a name: paternalistic and racist. He said, quote, The state legislature is racist. Is that what you all want to hear? I wasn’t holding that back. It is what it is. Prove me wrong. I dare you.’ This past Sunday on CBS, Lumumba added.
LUMUMBA: I’m not backing down from any characterizations that I have made. However, I think that this is a time to focus on the solutions for our residents.
TATE REEVES: Cities run their water departments.
CHAKRABARTI: This is Mississippi’s Republican Governor, Tate Reeves, speaking last month. He rejects the accusations of racism and instead says the jurisdictional lines are clear, as is where he believes the responsibility for Jackson’s water woes lies.
REEVES: The state is not asked to fix the water system in Madison. They’re not asked to fix the water system in Flowood. I live in the city. I am frustrated, just like everyone else is. We’re going to continue to put pressure on the leaders of the city of Jackson to do their job.
CHAKRABARTI: However, Mississippi state government also has a direct impact on Jackson’s long term ability to fix its infrastructure. In 2021, the city sought to increase its sales tax by 1% in order to fund infrastructure improvements. That proposal had to go through the state legislature where it was killed. House Speaker Republican Philip Gunn explained to TV station WAPT, why.
PHILIP GUNN: It creates a precedent, if you will, that that may be a dangerous area to go to, as far as other cities around the state wanting to do the same thing. And we may get into a situation where the tax burden just gets too great.
CHAKRABARTI: This month, Governor Tate Reeves pointed to another problem, the fact that Jackson’s water treatment plant has long been understaffed. An investigation by local TV station WLBT found that for years, operators had been sending dire warnings to the EPA, including e-mails describing workers having to pull 24 hour shifts because the treatment plant had just two class A certified water operators. It’s supposed to have 12. Reeves also said he wants to consider every possible long term solution to Jackson’s water crisis.
REEVES: We’ve never received a real plan from Jackson on how to improve their water system so that the state could consider funding it.
CHAKRABARTI: Jackson Mayor Lumumba rejects that, saying that the city has a plan that it’s submitted to the EPA. But that the plan is hidden behind a court ordered confidentiality agreement. It’s worth noting, though, that the nonprofit news organization Mississippi Today reports that it has not been able to confirm that such an agreement exists. Governor Tate Reeves also opened the door to another option.
REEVES: I’m open to all options. Privatization is on the table.
CHAKRABARTI: That’s an option Mayor Lumumba totally opposes, Representative Bennie Thompson says, in other cases, cities are receiving needed funds such as COVID relief and federal infrastructure dollars.
THOMPSON: And so what’s happening here with Jackson now is the mayor of Jackson is struggling because the resources that he so desperately need, and the 150,000 plus individuals in the city who also need it, that money is going to the suburbs.
CHAKRABARTI: American infrastructure is the physical manifestation of generations of social and financial choices. It is crumbling not just for one reason, but for many. … The water crisis does seem never ending in Jackson. So today, we’re going to rebroadcast an episode of the show we did back in March of last year.
We wanted to understand then, in as much detail as possible, how Jackson got here and what the rest of the nation needs to learn from the city’s endless challenges. Lessons that bear repeating. We started with Donna Ladd, editor of the Mississippi Free Press. She lives in Jackson, and she described how often the city’s water system breaks down.
DONNA LADD: Water main breaks happen here continually. Boil water notices are a thing. They come out so often that it’s hard to report them all. Now, they’re not usually citywide. What is our typical situation is that parts of the system are so outdated. So that means that different parts of the city will end up with boil water wards. I think we kind of live in a perpetual state of not sure what’s in our water.
CHAKRABARTI: You know, there has been lots of coverage about what has happened in Jackson. And I want to hear from you, Donna, as a lifetime resident there. Like you said, like just uncertainty around water is a thing there. That seems to be an intolerable thing. What’s the cause of it?
LADD: Well, to use words that my reporter Nick Judin used, it’s a complex system collapse. And when we say that, it’s not just the technological part of the system, it’s the fact that we’ve known this for years. There was a big 2013 study that warned about all of these things, that there’s a systemic breakdown in the willingness to actually do something about it.
And the city itself, you know, like so many cities in the U.S., because of flight, and disinvestment and losing the tax base. But we still have a huge landmass of city with outdated pipes under them. So we can’t pay, we can’t afford to keep it up. So as we’re finding more and more, it’s a systemic breakdown of federal, state and local municipal areas being able to work together to solve problems together.
CHAKRABARTI: But, you know, I mean, I think it was fairly recently the lieutenant governor of the state of Mississippi, Delbert Hosemann, criticized Jackson’s political leadership and he said, quote, ‘You remember during Kane Ditto’s administration, he did repair work on water and sewer. So what happened since then?’ Referring to, I believe, Jackson’s last white mayor. Is that right?
LADD: That’s right. And that was in answer to a question from our reporter Nick. And Nick recognized immediately, because he’s from here, too. Recognized, hey, that’s the last white mayor, what? And he was texting me. And so we followed that up very quickly. And it really kind of enabled us to start talking about this long time systemic racism and attitudes toward our Black leaders. You know, Nick talked to Harvey Johnson, who I think you’re talking to today and who was our first Black mayor. And he had followed Kane Ditto.
And under his administration, they found $200 million to put into a water system problem that they had inherited, because it’s been going on, as you said, for decades. You know, there are pipes that are a century old. But it’s just this attitude, you know, one way Nick put it to me, is that we just think that a lot of these of our statewide politicians who happen to be white just unplug from what’s happening, from the reality of what’s happening in Jackson in their capital city, and just don’t feel responsible for the people who live here.
Interview Highlights
What has the city of Jackson done over the past couple of decades to attend to this known problem?
Donna Ladd: “I think the best way to break it down is to say staunching the bleeding, Band-Aid approach as far as the city itself is concerned. I mean, I can’t … sit here and blame a city that is as beleaguered as our city has been for not having the resources to be able to overhaul the water system.
“Some of the numbers that we’ve come up with, the least amount that they need is $600 million. And then, as you said earlier, it keeps climbing from there. I mean, if the money’s not here, the money’s not here. So what that means is that the state should be at the same table with the city, side by side. This is the capital city.
“You know, the state is no stronger than its capital city. That’s absurd. And so they should be side by side with the city saying, OK, how are we going to work together to get federal help? What is it that we can do? How can we help? But the opposite happens. You know, one of the things our governor said just recently was, Well, you know, Jackson residents should pay their water bill, so they should go collect the water bill.
“Well, there’s a whole issue around faulty billing that we’ve been through. But beyond that, it’s like the city tried to get the state, and the state legislature passed legislation to allow payment plans for the water bill. And the governor vetoed it last year. And so that’s like working against us, and so the money doesn’t come in. But the water billing money is not enough to pay for what we’re talking about here.
“And we have to work with the federal government, as we’ve discovered. A lot of the disinvestment and helping municipal areas across the country came during the ’80s and particularly the Reagan era. Which was kind of pulling back on financial assistance, for environmental improvements, those kinds of things. And that is one of those perfect storm moments where it got so much worse afterwards as far as not being able to pay for things. And so when you’ve got everybody working against each other, or ignoring each other, then it’s a terrible situation.”
We keep using this phrase ‘crumbling.’ Is that a fair description of some of these water systems?
Aaron Packman: “Most of the infrastructure we have in the eastern half of the United States is quite old. Just for point of comparison, I live in Chicago. We’re still using the water intakes from Lake Michigan that were built in the 1960s. And in places like Philadelphia, the water infrastructure goes back 300 years. So clearly infrastructure that age needs a lot of maintenance to work properly. And it’s very hard to do, because most of the pipes are underground and inaccessible. So we definitely have an issue with its aging, deteriorating water infrastructure in a lot of the country.”
Where should early targets be for the federal government if it’s going to pump a whole lot of money into infrastructure?
Catherine Coleman-Flowers: “First of all, those people that never got the infrastructure should get it first. So, I mean, in this conversation we were talking about municipalities when most of the United States is rural. And most of them are not in municipalities. So should they still be denied access to infrastructure, especially water and wastewater infrastructure? And we’re seeing in some places, I’m actually doing a project right now with The Guardian where we are documenting wastewater problems throughout the United States, it’s not just a one situation. It’s not just Jackson, Mississippi. It’s not just even Detroit, which is having a lot of issues and water shut offs.
“And if we shut off the water, you shut off sanitation. And I think the other thing that we have to do is make sure that the policy makers, if we’re going to have solutions, we cannot separate wastewater from water. Because a lot of people in their mind, because they can flush the toilets, they assume that everybody else in the U.S. can do the same thing. That’s the reason why we were able to do a study to show that there was hookworm in Lowndes County. And it’s probably in other areas, too. We just haven’t looked for it yet. So that’s the first thing we need to do, give it to places that don’t have it.
“We also need to identify where those places are. There are no accurate numbers on how many people do not have wastewater sanitation, because that was taken off the census in the 1990s. So if we’re going to make decisions based on what numbers we have, we’re still going to leave a lot of people behind. And a lot of these people are in rural communities, or they are poor people or people of color. And we have to unpack and unfold that.
“And I think we can’t talk about infrastructure, and where the dollars are going or where they have gone, unless we deal with the social justice issues around those decisions. Because to people who are not like me, they see it just as simply a political decision. But socially, it has an impact on people that look like me. And we need to make sure that our voices are heard and that part of the solution is getting those dollars to those communities that have been left behind.”
Aaron Packman: “This is a rare opportunity, because you don’t usually have these problems get elevated to the presidential level and a commitment to make an investment. So I would advocate for modernization of our wastewater treatment facilities, a lot of which used 50-year-old plus technology. And also fixing some of the hard problems with the water distribution system and also the wastewater system, the things that are less accessible, that often get ignored and are not fully maintained. So this will be expensive, but it will make a big difference.”
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wlrn.org/2022-09-16/the-jackson-mississippi-water-crisis-and-americas-crumbling-water-system | 2022-09-16 19:37:39 | 0 | https://www.wlrn.org/2022-09-16/the-jackson-mississippi-water-crisis-and-americas-crumbling-water-system |
WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, February 6, 2023
_____
FLOOD WARNING
Flood Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
901 PM CST Sat Feb 4 2023
...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Texas...
Neches River Near Neches affecting Anderson, Cherokee and Houston
Counties.
For the Neches River...including Lake Palestine, Neches, Alto,
Diboll, Rockland...Minor flooding is forecast.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Do not drive cars through flooded areas.
Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
For more hydrologic information, copy and paste the following website
address into your favorite web browser URL bar:
water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=shv
The next statement will be issued Sunday evening at 900 PM CST.
...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL EARLY MONDAY AFTERNOON...
* WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast.
* WHERE...Neches River Near Neches.
* WHEN...Until early Monday afternoon.
* IMPACTS...At 12.0 feet, Expect minor lowland flooding of the
heavily wooded floodplain. Ranchers that may have livestock and
equipment in the river bottoms should move them to higher ground.
Expect minor flooding of the boat ramp.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 7:30 PM CST Saturday the stage was 11.9 feet.
- Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 12.0
feet just after midnight tonight. It will then fall below
flood stage tomorrow evening.
- Flood stage is 12.0 feet.
- Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of
12.4 feet on 06/24/2015.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/tx-wfo-shreveport-warnings-watches-and-17764500.php | 2023-02-05 03:51:41 | 0 | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/tx-wfo-shreveport-warnings-watches-and-17764500.php |
(Motor Authority) – A 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow owned by Queen frontman Freddie Mercury is heading to auction with RM Sotheby’s on November 5, with proceeds from the sale going to the Superhumans Center, a charity providing aid to Ukraine.
While the Silver Chalice-painted sedan was registered in the United Kingdom when it was new, it didn’t enter Mercury’s orbit until 1979, when it was purchased by the rock star’s production company, Goos Productions Ltd., the listing says. While Mercury was likely chauffered in the Rolls, he probably never drove it himself because he seemingly never got a license.
The car is accompanied by documents supporting its connection to Mercury, including workshop invoices in the singer’s name, other documents in the name of his former partner Mary Austin, and a letter from longtime Queen manager Jim Beach confirming Mercury’s ownership.
Produced from 1965 to 1980, the Silver Shadow was a big technological step forward for Rolls. The Shadow (and related Bentley T-Series) had unibody construction rather than the body-on-frame construction of previous models, along with a hydraulic self-leveling suspension system licensed from Citroën.
Power is provided by the ubiquitous Rolls-Royce/Bentley L-Series V-8, which started at 6.3 liters when the Silver Shadow launched, but was later enlarged to 6.8 liters (this car has the larger-displacement version). Iterations of this engine—with electronic fuel injection and turbocharging—continued in production until 2020.
After Mercury’s death in November 1991, the Silver Shadow was driven by the late rock star’s sister Kashmira Cooke, who bought the car from the Freddie Mercury Estate in 2003. It was then auctioned off in 2013, when it was bought by the current owner. The listing notes that the car has been stored for a while, and should be inspected before being driven.
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RM Sotheby’s expects the Silver Shadow to sell for between 20,000 and 30,000 British pounds, equivalent to $22,539 to $33,808 at current exchange rates. Even those relatively low estimates likely reflect this car’s celebrity connection. The Silver Shadow’s long production run makes it relatively common for a Rolls-Royce, so values have never been particularly high. | https://www.kark.com/automotive/freddie-mercurys-1974-rolls-royce-silver-shadow-heads-to-auction/ | 2022-10-21 16:53:59 | 0 | https://www.kark.com/automotive/freddie-mercurys-1974-rolls-royce-silver-shadow-heads-to-auction/ |
The API Insights Lab allows commercial and public entities to build their own unique workflows by implementing APIs from Windward's robust Insights Catalog
LONDON, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Windward (LSE: WNWD), the leading Maritime AI™ company, announced today the launch of its API Insights Lab. The Lab enables customers and partners to integrate Windward's Maritime AI™ directly into internal systems to enhance solutions, processes, and workflows with customized insights to fit their unique needs and risk appetite. The Insights Lab includes the full Maritime AI™ Insights Catalog and the following off-the-shelf API packages: Due Diligence and Compliance, Ocean Freight Visibility (OFV), Homeland Security, and Behavioral Analysis.
The APIs utilize advanced GraphQL technology that enables users to integrate them with minimal effort and time, and easily receive the exact Windward data analysis they need to complete their due diligence and investigation processes.
The API Insights Lab allows customers and partners to explore Windward's Insights Catalog and choose any API or dataset they want, creating their own bundle of Maritime AI™ insights. The Catalog includes insights related to areas of interest, vessel behavior, maritime and non-maritime companies, and shipment risk levels. This empowers users to optimize their workflows and decision-making processes with AI-driven insights and automatic push notifications in real-time. Solution providers can also partner with Windward to build applications for their clients, utilizing Windward's unique and valuable data and insights.
Windward also offers off-the-shelf API packages that include the company's insights bundled together to cater to specific sectors and workflows. The Due Diligence & Compliance package provides compliance risk recommendations, enriching existing due diligence and vetting processes, improving efficiency. The OFV package empowers customers to accurately track ocean container shipments with Maritime AI™ ETA Predictions and receive constant updates on status changes and risk of delay.
The Behavioral Analysis package delivers both historical and recent vessel data in a single response, along with customized, automatic alerts, so users can track behavioral changes over time. The Homeland Security package provides law enforcement agencies with data and alerts regarding vessel behavior, allowing them to stay on top of patterns and discover new leads based on anomalous behavior and geographical relevancy.
"With the launch of our API Insights Lab, we are empowering our partners and customers to build their own bespoke solutions and workflows with best-in-class Maritime AI™ insights," said Ami Daniel, Co-Founder and CEO of Windward. "We already see customers using our APIs for a variety of use cases, including a leading energy company that customized our compliance risk scores and integrated them into their IT platform, and a digital freight solution provider that partnered with us to enhance its platform by providing visibility and predictability of their shipments to all their users. We are proud to give our clients the power of Maritime AI™ in their own domain – enabling them and their customers to make decisions better, faster, and with confidence."
About Windward
Windward (LSE:WNWD), a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange, is the leading Maritime AI™ company, enabling organizations to achieve business and operational readiness. Windward's AI-powered solution allows stakeholders including banks, commodity traders, insurers, and major energy and shipping companies to make real time, predictive intelligence-driven decisions, providing a 360° view of the maritime ecosystem and its broader impact on safety, security, finance, and business. For more information, visit: https://windward.ai/.
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SOURCE Windward | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/windward-launches-api-insights-lab-enabling-partners-customers-power-their-solutions-with-maritime-ai/ | 2022-06-30 12:47:26 | 1 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/windward-launches-api-insights-lab-enabling-partners-customers-power-their-solutions-with-maritime-ai/ |
Save-A-Lot store reopens after being closed
KENOVA, W.Va. (WSAZ) -A neighborhood grocery store reopened after a year of being shut down due to extreme damage.
The Save-A-Lot, a grocery store chain, reopened its doors to customers on Wednesday.
Fire marshals say the store was burglarized, then set on fire in late June.
Jamason Sparks, the owner, announced in July 2021 he had plans to rebuild the store.
Leslie and Thelma Murray were amongst the first customers inside.
“I remember shopping here for years. It’s in a great location,” said Thelma Murray.
Robert Hill, the General Manager of Save-A-Lot, said they’re excited to reopen to serve customers.
“We’ve been working for about three months to get this place ready. The community has been wanting it open. We’re just excited as they are.,” Hill said.
Amongst the renovations, a deli also offers fresh slice meats and cheeses.
The Kenova store is open daily from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Even though the store reopened, fire marshals are still looking for the people responsible for the burglary and arson. A $5,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information that leads to an arrest.
Copyright 2022 WSAZ. All rights reserved. | https://www.wsaz.com/2022/09/14/save-a-lot-store-reopens-after-being-closed/ | 2022-09-14 19:27:45 | 0 | https://www.wsaz.com/2022/09/14/save-a-lot-store-reopens-after-being-closed/ |
DALLAS, Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Highland Income Fund (NYSE: HFRO) ("HFRO" or the "Fund") today announced its regular monthly distribution on its common stock of $0.0770 per share. The distribution will be payable on January 31, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business January 23, 2023.
The Fund is a closed-end fund that seeks to provide a high level of current income, consistent with the preservation of capital in a registered fund format. The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in the following categories of securities and instruments: (i) floating-rate loans and other securities deemed to be floating-rate investments; (ii) investments in securities or other instruments directly or indirectly secured by real estate (including real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), preferred equity, securities convertible into equity securities and mezzanine debt); and (iii) other instruments, including but not limited to secured and unsecured fixed-rate loans and corporate bonds, distressed securities, mezzanine securities, structured products (including but not limited to mortgage-backed securities, collateralized loan obligations and asset-backed securities), convertible and preferred securities, equities (public and private), and futures and options. The Fund declares and pays distributions of investment income monthly.
About the Highland Income Fund
The Highland Income Fund (NYSE: HFRO) is a closed-end fund managed by NexPoint Asset Management, L.P. For more information visit nexpointassetmgmt.com/income-fund/.
About NexPoint Asset Management, L.P.
NexPoint Asset Management, L.P. is an SEC-registered investment adviser. It is the adviser to a suite of registered funds, including open-end mutual funds, closed-end funds, and an exchange-traded fund. For more information visit nexpointassetmgmt.com.
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Highland Income Fund carefully before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund's prospectus, which may be obtained by calling 1-800-357-9167 or visiting nexpointassetmgmt.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.
The distribution may include a return of capital. Please refer to the 19(a)-1 Source of Distribution Notice on the Highland Funds website for Section 19 notices that provide estimated amounts and sources of the fund's distributions, which should not be relied upon for tax reporting purposes.
No assurance can be given that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.
Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount to net asset value. The price of the Fund's shares is determined by a number of factors, several of which are beyond the control of the Fund. Therefore, the Fund cannot predict whether its shares will trade at, below or above net asset value. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Closed-End Fund Risk. The Fund is a closed-end investment company designed primarily for long-term investors and not as a trading vehicle. No assurance can be given that a shareholder will be able to sell his or her shares on the NYSE when he or she chooses to do so, and no assurance can be given as to the price at which any such sale may be affected.
Credit Risk. The Fund may invest all or substantially all of its assets in Senior Loans or other securities that are rated below investment grade and unrated Senior Loans deemed by Highland to be of comparable quality. Securities rated below investment grade are commonly referred to as "high yield securities" or "junk securities." They are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuing company's continuing ability to meet principal and interest payments. Non-payment of scheduled interest and/or principal would result in a reduction of income to the Fund, a reduction in the value of the Senior Loan experiencing non-payment and a potential decrease in the NAV of the Fund. Investments in high yield Senior Loans and other securities may result in greater NAV fluctuation than if the Fund did not make such investments.
Senior Loans Risk. On July 27, 2017, the head of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority announced that it will stop encouraging banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. The ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, the administrator of LIBOR, ceased publishing certain LIBOR maturities, including some US LIBOR maturities, on December 31, 2021, and is expected to cease publishing the remaining and most liquid US LIBOR maturities on June 30, 2023. It is expected that market participants will transition to the use of alternative reference or benchmark rates prior to the applicable LIBOR cessation date. Additionally, although regulators have encouraged the development and adoption of alternative rates, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"), the future utilization of LIBOR or of any particular replacement rate remains uncertain.
Although the transition process away from LIBOR has become increasingly well-defined in advance of the anticipated discontinuation dates, the impact on certain debt securities, derivatives and other financial instruments remains uncertain. It is expected that market participants will adopt alternative rates such as SOFR or otherwise amend financial instruments referencing LIBOR to include fallback provisions and other measures that contemplate the discontinuation of LIBOR or other similar market disruption events, but neither the effect of the transition process nor the viability of such measures is known. Further, uncertainty and risk remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include alternative rates and revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. To facilitate the transition of legacy derivatives contracts referencing LIBOR, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. launched a protocol to incorporate fallback provisions. While the transition process away from LIBOR has become increasingly well-defined in advance of the expected LIBOR cessation dates, there are obstacles to converting certain longer-term securities and transactions to a new benchmark or benchmarks and the effectiveness of one alternative reference rate versus multiple alternative reference rates in new or existing financial instruments and products has not been determined. Furthermore, the risks associated with the cessation of LIBOR and transition to replacement rates may be exacerbated if an orderly transition to alternative reference rates is not completed in a timely manner. Certain proposed replacement rates to LIBOR, such as SOFR, which is a broad measure of secured overnight US Treasury repo rates, are materially different from LIBOR, and changes in the applicable spread for financial instruments transitioning away from LIBOR will need to be made to accommodate the differences. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition to replacement rates may be exacerbated if an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. As market participants transition away from LIBOR, LIBOR's usefulness may deteriorate, and these effects could be experienced until the permanent cessation of the majority of U.S. LIBOR rates in 2023. The transition process may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR to determine interest rates. LIBOR's deterioration may adversely affect the liquidity and/or market value of securities that use LIBOR as a benchmark interest rate.
Alteration of the terms of a debt instrument or a modification of the terms of other types of contracts to replace LIBOR or another interbank offered rate ("IBOR") with a new reference rate could result in a taxable exchange and the realization of income and gain/loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") has issued final regulations regarding the tax consequences of the transition from IBOR to a new reference rate in debt instruments and non-debt contracts. Under the final regulations, alteration or modification of the terms of a debt instrument to replace an operative rate that uses a discontinued IBOR with a qualified rate (as defined in the final regulations) including true up payments equalizing the fair market value of contracts before and after such IBOR transition, to add a qualified rate as a fallback rate to a contract whose operative rate uses a discontinued IBOR or to replace a fallback rate that uses a discontinued IBOR with a qualified rate would not be taxable. The IRS may provide additional guidance, with potential retroactive effect.
Real Estate Industry Risk: Issuers principally engaged in real estate industry, including real estate investment trusts, may be subject to risks similar to the risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including: (i) changes in general economic and market conditions; (ii) changes in the value of real estate properties; (iii) risks related to local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition; (iv) increases in property taxes and operating expenses; (v) changes in zoning laws; (vi) casualty and condemnation losses; (vii) variations in rental income, neighborhood values or the appeal of property to tenants; (viii) the availability of financing and (ix) changes in interest rates and leverage.
Illiquidity of Investments Risk. The investments made by the Fund may be illiquid, and consequently the Fund may not be able to sell such investments at prices that reflect the Investment Adviser's assessment of their value or the amount originally paid for such investments by the Fund.
Ongoing Monitoring Risk. On behalf of the several Lenders, the Agent generally will be required to administer and manage the Senior Loans and, with respect to collateralized Senior Loans, to service or monitor the collateral. Financial difficulties of Agents can pose a risk to the Fund.
CONTACTS
Investor Relations
Kristen Thomas
IR@nexpoint.com
Media Relations
Prosek Partners for NexPoint
Pro-nexpoint@prosek.com
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SOURCE Highland Income Fund | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/01/03/highland-income-fund-announces-regular-monthly-distribution/ | 2023-01-04 01:45:33 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/01/03/highland-income-fund-announces-regular-monthly-distribution/ |
HARTFORD, Conn., June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Virtus AllianzGI Diversified Income & Convertible Fund (NYSE: ACV) today announced the following monthly distributions:
Under the terms of its Managed Distribution Plan, the Fund will seek to maintain a consistent distribution level that may be paid, in part or in full, from net investment income and realized capital gains, or a combination thereof. Shareholders should note, however, that if the Fund's aggregate net investment income and net realized capital gains are less than the amount of the distribution level, the difference will be distributed from the Fund's assets and will constitute a return of the shareholder's capital. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's Managed Distribution Plan.
The Fund provided this estimate of the sources of the distributions:
Information regarding the Fund's performance and distribution rates is set forth below. Please note that all performance figures are based on the Fund's NAV and not the market price of the Fund's shares. Performance figures are not meant to represent individual shareholder performance.
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are estimates only and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the distributions for tax purposes will depend on the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund or your broker will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you what distributions to report for federal income tax purposes.
About the Fund
Virtus AllianzGI Diversified Income & Convertible Fund is a diversified closed-end fund that seeks to provide total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation, while seeking to provide downside protection against capital loss. The Fund normally invests at least 50% of total managed assets in convertibles. Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc. is the investment adviser to the Fund and Allianz Global Investors is its subadviser.
For more information on the Fund, contact shareholder services at (800) 254-5197, by email at closedendfunds@virtus.com, or through the Closed-End Funds section of virtus.com.
Fund Risks
An investment in a fund is subject to risk, including the risk of possible loss of principal. A fund's shares may be worth less upon their sale than what an investor paid for them. Shares of closed-end funds may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. For more information about the Fund's investment objective and risks, please see the Fund's annual report. A copy of the Fund's most recent annual report may be obtained free of charge by contacting "Shareholder Services" as set forth at the end of this press release.
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SOURCE Virtus AllianzGI Diversified Income & Convertible Fund | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/virtus-allianzgi-diversified-income-amp-convertible-fund-declares-distributions-discloses-sources-distribution-section-19a-notice/ | 2022-06-07 20:53:29 | 0 | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/virtus-allianzgi-diversified-income-amp-convertible-fund-declares-distributions-discloses-sources-distribution-section-19a-notice/ |
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People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe | https://www.postregister.com/obituaries/anderson-jody/article_8ec711e6-1ab4-5cf9-8da4-21ce973d57d1.html | 2023-06-27 20:40:52 | 1 | https://www.postregister.com/obituaries/anderson-jody/article_8ec711e6-1ab4-5cf9-8da4-21ce973d57d1.html |
INDIANAPOLIS — Super Bowl LVII is just about here, and after that ... it's NFL Draft season.
The 2023 Scouting Combine will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Feb. 28 through March 6. Draft prospects will work out, participate in drills such as the 40-yard dash and interview with teams ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft (April 27-29 in Kansas City).
A total of 319 prospects have been invited this year, with nine coming from in-state schools.
Last year's combine featured standout performances from Iowa State running back Breece Hall (a second-round pick by the New York Jets) and Northern Iowa offensive lineman Trevor Penning (a first-round pick by the New Orleans Saints).
2023 Combine Drills Schedule
- Thursday, March 2 (2 p.m. CT): Defensive lineman and linebackers
- Friday, March 3 (2 p.m. CT): Defensive backs
- Friday, March 4 (12 p.m. CT): Quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends
- Saturday, March 5 (12 p.m. CT): Running backs and offensive linemen
Iowa Hawkeyes
- Jack Campbell, LB
- 6'5", 246 lbs.
- Sam LaPorta, TE
- 6'4", 249 lbs.
- Kaevon Merriweather, DB
- 6'0", 212 lbs.
- Riley Moss, DB
- 6'1", 193 lbs.
- Lukas Van Ness, DL
- 6'5", 275 lbs.
Iowa State Cyclones
- MJ Anderson, DL
- 6'3", 275 lbs.
- Xavier Hutchinson, WR
- 6'3", 205 lbs.
- Anthony Johnson Jr., DB
- 6'0", 207 lbs.
- Will McDonald IV, DL
- 6'3", 236 lbs. | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/sports/nfl/nfl-combine-2023-hawkeyes-cyclones-lukas-van-ness-will-mcdonald-draft-prospects-indianapolis/524-bd6ce69b-5b36-4d75-880d-ccb29451d7a5 | 2023-02-09 19:00:01 | 0 | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/sports/nfl/nfl-combine-2023-hawkeyes-cyclones-lukas-van-ness-will-mcdonald-draft-prospects-indianapolis/524-bd6ce69b-5b36-4d75-880d-ccb29451d7a5 |
This week drivers are paying slightly higher prices at the pump on average, but that spike may fade, according to experts.
A gallon of regular gas was $3.47 on average Monday, March 13, according to AAA. Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Dallas, TX metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of March 13. State gas tax data is from World Population Review.
Metros in states like Texas, Missouri, and Mississippi had the lowest costs this week compared to the last.
Prices could slide further in the near future due to demand for retail gasoline remaining low. The bump in cost is mostly associated with the switch over to seasonal gas blends that cost more for consumers. The cost per gallon of gasoline is lower today than one year prior as prices were climbing into the $4 range.
Dallas by the numbers
– Gas current price: $3.13
— Texas average: $3.08
– Week change: +$0.15 (+5.0%)
– Year change: -$0.89 (-22.1%)
– Historical expensive gas price: $4.84 (6/16/22)
– Diesel current price: $3.81
– Week change: +$0.07 (1.8%)
– Year change: $-1.28 (+-25.2%)
– Historical expensive diesel price: $5.48 (6/20/22)
Metros with the most expensive gas
#1. Lihue (Kauai), HI: $5.27
#2. San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, CA: $5.15
#3. Napa, CA: $5.14
Metros with the least expensive gas
#1. Tulsa, OK: $2.89
#2. Lawton, OK: $2.95
#3. Henderson, KY: $2.97 | https://cw33.com/news/local/how-gas-prices-have-changed-in-dallas-in-the-last-week-25/ | 2023-03-15 21:36:07 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/local/how-gas-prices-have-changed-in-dallas-in-the-last-week-25/ |
Schlotzsky's in west Lubbock to reopen with $2.99 sandwiches, VIP swag bags
One Lubbock Schlotzsky's restaurant is set to return this weekend with a delicious deal and a chance for free sandwiches.
The Schlotzsky's at 6804 82nd St. will reopen at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, the restaurant announced in a news release. As part of the reopening celebration, the restaurant's classic Original Sandwich will be $2.99 and "Loaded VIP Swag Bags" will be for sale for the first 100 customers.
The bags will be $29.99 and will have a BOGO entrée once a week for a year, a two-pack of Cinnabons, a Schlotzsky's frisbee, and "many other fun items."
“We are excited to celebrate the re-opening of this Schlotzksy’s restaurant in the Lubbock community,” said Chuck Wood, franchisee. “We look forward to continue to getting to know the locals and celebrate with them, and enjoy the best sandwiches and pizza in town together.”
Wood detailed some of the new additions, which includes an exterior remodel, extended hours of 8 a.m.-9 p.m., and a more employees. The previous employees were also brought back.
"It is such a wonderful feeling knowing we will continue to serve this great community and are able bring back previous team members and expand with new hires," he said. "I want to extend my sincere thanks to our customers for their loyalty and kind words of support as we reopen our doors."
The re-opening comes after a remodel and transfer of ownership following the death of the previous owner last spring. | https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/business/2022/08/25/lubbock-shlotzskys-on-82nd-to-reopen-with-2-99-sandwiches-swag-bags/65411507007/ | 2022-08-25 16:06:31 | 0 | https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/business/2022/08/25/lubbock-shlotzskys-on-82nd-to-reopen-with-2-99-sandwiches-swag-bags/65411507007/ |
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The AC Golf Classic tees off Monday with the goal of fundraising for Teachers’ Treasures, a non-profit store for teachers to obtain school supplies for students in need.
With a collection of the most prominent figures of the sports community of Central Indiana coming together for the special summer tradition, competitive spirits are still high.
Colts Head Coach Frank Reich took to the Colts’ Complex golf course to get his swing warmed up before Monday’s tee time.
The annual AC Charity Golf Classic raised $330,000 for the organization back in 2021. | https://www.wishtv.com/community/localsonly/ac-golf-classic-will-colts-hc-frank-reich-come-out-on-top/ | 2022-06-20 01:32:17 | 0 | https://www.wishtv.com/community/localsonly/ac-golf-classic-will-colts-hc-frank-reich-come-out-on-top/ |
BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. - Flaming Crab Cajun Seafood has shut down its Bethlehem Township location after about two years.
The restaurant closed Nov. 21, according to a sign at the location in the Bethlehem Square shopping center. That location, at the southern end of the shopping center near Wal-Mart and Home Depot, was in a space once occupied by the Eastern Palace restaurant.
The sign says three nearby locations remain open. They are at 2411 Nazareth Road, Palmer Township; 3758 Nazareth Highway, Lower Nazareth Township, and 1433 W. Allen St., Allentown. Calls made to those locations before regular business hours were not answered.
Flaming Crab's menu includes hushpuppies, "po boy" sandwiches, pasta, fried seafood and more.
A Flaming Crab specialty is a seafood boil. In the American South, a "boil" is often served at parties.
At the Flaming Crab restaurants, customers can choose crab legs, lobster, shrimp, sausage, scallops, clams or mussels, then add flavors and spices. Boils comes with a corn and potato. The boils come in half-pound and pound portions. Seafood prices are set at market rates. | https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/flaming-crab-seafood-chain-closes-bethlehem-square-location/article_03cf8c2e-7581-11ed-beb0-e79952ec1785.html | 2022-12-06 19:07:48 | 1 | https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/flaming-crab-seafood-chain-closes-bethlehem-square-location/article_03cf8c2e-7581-11ed-beb0-e79952ec1785.html |
By PAUL WISEMAN
AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — For nearly a year, the Federal Reserve has been on a mission to cool down the job market to help curb the nation’s worst inflation bout in four decades.
The job market hasn’t been cooperating.
Consider what happened in January: The government said Friday that employers added a sizzling 517,000 jobs last month and that the unemployment rate dipped to 3.4%, the lowest level since 1969.
The job gain was so large it left economists scratching their heads and wondering why the Fed’s aggressive interest rate hikes haven’t slowed hiring at a time when many foresee a recession nearing.
Friday’s report added instead to the picture of a resilient U.S. labor market, with low unemployment, relatively few layoffs and many job openings. Though good for workers, employers’ steady demand for labor has also helped accelerate wage growth and contributed to high inflation.
Still, the Fed’s inflation watchers might be reassured somewhat by January’s wage data: Average hourly pay rose 4.4% last month from a year earlier, slower than the 4.8% year-over-year increase in December. And from December to January, wages rose 0.3%, below the 0.4% increase the previous month.
On top of the sizzling job growth it reported for January, the government on Friday also revised up its estimate of the gains in November and December by a combined 71,000.
President Joe Biden called the jobs report “strikingly good news” and asserted that his Republican critics were wrong in their warnings of continued high inflation and a coming recession and layoffs.
“Our plan is working,” Biden said, “because of the grit and resolve of the American worker.”
January’s hiring gain, which far exceeded December’s 260,000, was broad-based across industries. A category that includes restaurants and bars added 99,000 workers. Professional and business services jobs, including bookkeepers and consultants, rose by 82,000.
Governments added 74,000, boosted by the end of a worker strike against California’s state university system. Health care added 58,000 jobs, retailers 30,000. Construction gained 25,000 jobs. Manufacturing added 19,000.
Economists had collectively estimated that the economy added just 185,000 jobs last month.
“This is a labor market on heat,’’ said Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Principal Asset Management. It would be difficult, she suggested, “to see the Fed stop raising rates and entertain ideas of rate cuts when there is such explosive economic news coming in.”
The Fed has raised its key rate eight times since March to try to slow the job market and contain inflation, which hit a 40-year high last year but has slowed since then.
Yet companies are still seeking more workers and are hanging tightly onto the ones they have. Putting aside some high-profile layoffs at big tech companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon and others, most workers are enjoying an unusual level of job security even at a time when many economists foresee a recession approaching.
For all of 2022, the economy added a sizzling average of roughly 375,000 jobs a month. That was a pace vigorous enough to have contributed to some of the painful inflation Americans have endured. A tight job market tends to put upward pressure on wages, which, in turn, feed into inflation.
But year-over-year measures of consumer inflation have steadily eased since peaking at 9.1% in June. At 6.5% in December, though, inflation remains far above the Fed’s 2% target, which is why the central bank’s policymakers have reiterated their intent to keep raising borrowing rates for at least a few more months.
Giacomo Santangelo, an economist at the jobs website Monster, said he doubted the Fed would take much comfort from the decelerating wage gains — or relent in its rate-hiking campaign.
“As long as unemployment continues to go down,” Santangelo said, “as long as the economy continues to be strong, the Fed’s going to keep fighting inflation.’’
The Fed is aiming to achieve a “soft landing” — a pullback in the economy that is just enough to tame high inflation without triggering a recession. The policymakers hope that employers can slow wage increases and inflationary pressures by reducing job openings but not necessarily by laying off many employees.
But the job market’s resilience isn’t making that hoped-for outcome any easier. On Wednesday, the Labor Department reported that employers posted 11 million job openings in December, an unexpected jump from 10.4 million in November and the largest number since July. There are now about two job vacancies, on average, for every unemployed American.
And in response, many employers have raised wages.
Stew Leonard Jr., CEO of Stew Leonard’s, a supermarket chain in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, said the company’s series of hourly wage increases over the past two years have helped expand their job applicant pool. Entry-level hourly wages are now $17.
For more specialized workers like butchers and bakers, hourly wages start at $25 to $30. Those pay gains have helped the chain attract about 10 to 12 applicants per job posting, the same level as before the pandemic. Earlier, the chain had been receiving as few as seven applicants per posting.
“If you want good people, you have to pay,” Leonard said.
He said he’s unsure whether the company will have to keep raising pay.
“It’s almost a day-to-day decision,” he said. “But right now, we’re happy.”
Over the past year or so, the job market has earned the label “The Great Resignation’’ because jobs are so plentiful and many workers are willing to change jobs to seek better pay or working conditions.
Centura Health, a nonprofit that runs hospitals and clinics in Colorado and Kansas, has offered $15,000 “retention’’ bonuses to retain nurses, respiratory therapists and others for 24 months; 2,500 have accepted the offer. And for employees who perform routine but vital tasks like changing sheets and delivering meals to patients, Centura has raised entry-level hourly pay as high as $18.
By streamlining hiring and directing managers to prioritize the filling of vacancies, Centura has slashed the time needed between receiving an application and putting a new hire to work.
Sebastien Girard, who holds the title of “chief people officer,’’ said Centura has about 1,500 job openings each month. The market for clinical staff, like doctors, nurses and radiologists, remains extraordinarily tight, he said, though it’s eased a bit recently for other positions.
Girard doesn’t think labor shortages are going away. He thinks America’s aging population means there will be an ongoing scarcity of available workers.
“The Great Resignation is there to stay,’’ he said. “It is a generational shift.’
____
AP Business Writers Christopher Rugaber and Josh Boak in Washington and Anne D’Innocenzio in New York contributed to this report.
This story has been corrected to show that the labor force participation rate was unchanged in January and did not rise.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/national/2023/02/03/a-surprising-burst-of-us-hiring-in-january-517000-jobs-2/ | 2023-02-03 19:03:11 | 0 | https://wtmj.com/national/2023/02/03/a-surprising-burst-of-us-hiring-in-january-517000-jobs-2/ |
How to organize holiday decorations
Now that the season is coming to a close, it’s time to think about how you store your holiday decorations. If you’ve been stuffing them in makeshift containers or plastic bags the past few years, it’s time to upgrade to a better system.
Properly storing holiday decorations does more than keep your favorite ornaments and trinkets organized. By placing them in the correct containers, they’re protected from unnecessary damage and are more likely to withstand the test of time. Well-organized containers are infinitely easier to unpack when the holiday season rolls around next year.
What you need to know about storing holiday decorations
Tally up holiday decorations
Before you start comparing storage options for holiday decorations, conduct an inventory of all your items. Depending on your collection, you may need specific containers or cases to store certain pieces.
- If you have an ever-growing ornament collection, you may need to buy extra storage cases to accommodate new pieces.
- Fragile or heirloom decorations often require special storage solutions that may involve rigid containers, bubble wrap or packing peanuts.
- Outdoor holiday decorations, ranging from inflatables to giant wreaths, can be stored in portable soft-sided cases.
- Holiday drinkware, plates and serveware are typically stored in soft padded cases lined in scratch-free materials.
- Large ceramic and porcelain decorations, like Christmas gnomes, may need to be wrapped in newspaper or towels when you place them in storage boxes.
Consider where you store holiday decorations
It’s important to consider where you intend to store holiday decorations, as it may impact the type of organization or storage solutions you choose.
When decorations are kept in basements or garages, choosing water-resistant or waterproof storage bins is wise to protect against potential water damage. These containers may prevent mildew and mold from accumulating inside, as well.
Some people keep holiday storage decorations in attics. Because critters sometimes live up there, it’s best to choose storage containers with sealing mechanisms. While soft-sided cases with zipper closures may work well, they’re more likely to be chewed open. Storage bins with latching lids are superior, as they’re harder to penetrate.
Generally speaking, it’s not recommended to store holiday decorations outdoors in sheds or other storage units. Extreme temperature changes and exposure to the elements may damage decorations, particularly painted details.
Other holiday decoration storage tips
When you purchase large storage containers or cases for holiday decorations, you’ll need a few internal organizers, too. Fortunately, they don’t have to be fancy or expensive.
Resealable plastic bags, for example, work well for organizing smaller ornaments that aren’t delicate or fragile. Tackle boxes or bead organizers can store ornament hooks, mini ornaments or cell batteries from light-up ornaments. You can store Christmas stockings or linens in zippered pillowcases.
How much are holiday storage organizers?
Holiday storage containers start at $10 for bins and soft-sided zippered totes. Specialized ornament and wreath containers cost anywhere from $15-$50. Storage cases for holiday drinkware, plates and serveware run for $25-$50.
Store holiday decorations like a pro with these top picks
Honey-Can-Do Plaid Wreath Storage Bag
Store artificial wreaths up to 36 inches in this festive case with a 360-degree zipper. It’s durable nylon that is water and stain-resistant and should last through a decade of use with proper use.
Sold by Kohl’s
With 64 dedicated compartments, it’s never been easier or safer to store delicate ornaments. The cube-style tote has side handles for easy carrying.
Sterilite 25-Quart Latching Clear Storage Totes
Protect holiday decorations from moisture, mold and mildew with these latching totes. Because they’re transparent, you won’t need to worry about labeling contents, either.
Sold by Amazon
Holiday Spirit Christmas Tree Storage Bag
Keep your artificial tree in pristine condition year after year with this heavy-duty storage bag. It has a reinforced zipper and is constructed with waterproof materials, making it suitable for storage in attics and garages.
Sold by Amazon
Holdn’ Storage Premium Christmas Light Storage Bag
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.qcnews.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/holiday-br/time-to-put-away-your-holiday-decorations-here-are-top-picks-for-organizing/ | 2022-12-27 15:12:16 | 0 | https://www.qcnews.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/holiday-br/time-to-put-away-your-holiday-decorations-here-are-top-picks-for-organizing/ |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Code violations continue at Big Country Chateau apartments in Little Rock.
Now, a code inspector has a court warrant to go back and check every apartment, inhabited or not, to see if any repairs have been made.
This is on top of the state filing an emergency petition to freeze the company's money— something Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin wants to happen immediately before the owners have time to disappear with the cash.
For years, tenants at Big Country Chateau have had unsafe living conditions and code violations.
Griffin is suing the owners of the apartment complex for deceptive trade practices. He said they are taking the tenant's money, and not using that money for its intended use.
The attorney general asked the judge for an emergency petition to freeze the assets of the owners and is asking for someone to be appointed as a receiver to run the property, fix it up and pay the utilities.
Little Rock City Director Andrea Lewis went to Big Country Chateau two weeks ago to see what the living conditions were like for herself.
Building damage, flooding and cockroaches were some of the biggest things that stood out to Lewis when she visited with tenants.
"I visited with four families and I will say it was quite disturbing," Lewis said. "It breaks my heart... just seeing them in those living conditions it's unacceptable."
Lewis said she was able to get some families moved to other apartments.
The City of Little Rock has the warrant to inspect every unit for code violations again.
A letter from the code inspector who did the last round of inspections says that management has been absent for months with security and maintenance no longer working there.
The letter also detailed violations that had not been fixed since the last time the code inspector was there.
"The utmost importance is making sure they are held accountable," Lewis said."Because if you are a resident and you are paying the rent with the understanding that the utilities will be paid, we have to look out for the residents."
Griffin has asked for an emergency hearing to have the receiver appointed as soon as possible.
The next round of inspections is expected to start next week with the judge wanting to hear the results on Feb. 13. | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/judge-orders-re-inspection-of-big-country-chateau/91-5e38bbd4-73ef-42a2-a0b2-2aaacf8ff586 | 2023-02-03 05:55:43 | 1 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/judge-orders-re-inspection-of-big-country-chateau/91-5e38bbd4-73ef-42a2-a0b2-2aaacf8ff586 |
Long the hottest place on Earth, Death Valley put a sizzling exclamation point Sunday on a record warm summer that is baking nearly the entire globe by flirting with some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded, meteorologists said.
Temperatures in Death Valley, which runs along part of central California’s border with Nevada, reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit (53.33 degrees Celsius) on Sunday at the aptly named Furnace Creek, the National Weather Service said.
The hottest temperature ever record was 134 F (56.67 C) in July 1913 at Furnace Creek, said Randy Ceverny of the World Meteorological Organization, the body recognized as keeper of world records. Temperatures at or above 130 F (54.44 degrees C) have only been recorded on Earth a handful of times, mostly in Death Valley.
“With global warming, such temperatures are becoming more and more likely to occur,” Ceverny, the World Meteorological Organization’s records coordinator, said in an email. “Long-term: Global warming is causing higher and more frequent temperature extremes. Short-term: This particular weekend is being driven by a very very strong upper level ridge of high pressure over the Western U.S.”
On Sunday in Death Valley, meteorologists were tracking high clouds in the area that could keep temperatures in check.
“The all-time record seems fairly safe today,” said Matt Woods, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Las Vegas office, which monitors Death Valley.
The heat wave is just one part of the extreme weather hitting the U.S. over the weekend. Four people died in Pennsylvania on Saturday when heavy rains caused a sudden flash flood that swept away multiple cars. Three other people, including a 9-month-old boy and a 2-year-old girl, remained missing. In Vermont, authorities were concerned about landslides as rain continued after days of flooding.
Death Valley’s brutal temperatures come amid a blistering stretch of hot weather that has put roughly one-third of Americans under some type of heat advisory, watch or warning. Heat waves are not as visually dramatic as other natural disasters, but experts say they are more deadly. A heat wave in parts of the South and Midwest killed more than a dozen people last month.
Residents in the western U.S. have long been accustomed to extreme temperatures, and the heat appeared to prompt minimal disruptions in California over the weekend. Local governments opened cooling centers for people without access to air conditioning to stay cool. The heat forced officials to cancel horse racing at the opening weekend of the California State Fair as officials urged fair-goers to stay hydrated and seek refute inside one of the seven air-conditioned buildings.
In Las Vegas, temperatures reached 115 degrees F (46.11 degrees C) early Sunday afternoon, approaching the desert city’s all-time high of 117 degrees. Temperatures in Phoenix hit 112 degrees F (44.4 C) on early Sunday afternoon, the 17th consecutive day of 110 degrees or higher. The record is 18 days, set in June 1974. Phoenix is on track to break that record on Tuesday, said Gabriel Lojero, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
Heat records are being shattered all over the U.S. South, from California to Florida. But it’s far more than that. It’s worldwide, with devastating heat hitting Europe along with dramatic floods in the U.S. Northeast, India, Japan and China.
For nearly all of July, the world has been in uncharted hot territory, according to the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer.
June was also the hottest June on record, according to several weather agencies. Scientists say there is a decent chance that 2023 will go down as the hottest year on record, with measurements going back to the middle of the 19th century.
Death Valley dominates global heat records. In the valley, it’s not only hot, it stays brutally warm.
Some meteorologists have disputed how accurate Death Valley’s 110-year-old hot-temperature record is, with weather historian Christopher Burt disputing it for several reasons, which he laid out in a blog post a few years ago.
The two hottest temperatures on record are the 134 F in 1913 in Death Valley and 131 F (55 degrees C) in Tunisia in July 1931. Burt, a weather historian for The Weather Company, finds fault with both of those measurements and lists 130 F (54.4 C) in July 2021 in Death Valley as his hottest recorded temperature on Earth.
“130 degrees is very rare if not unique,” Burt said.
In July 2021 and August 2020, Death Valley recorded a reading of 130 F (54.4 degrees C), but both are still awaiting confirmation. Scientists have found no problems so far, but they haven’t finished the analysis, NOAA climate analysis chief Russ Vose said.
There are other places similar to Death Valley that may be as hot, such as Iran’s Lut Desert, but like Death Valley are uninhabited so no one measures there, Burt said. The difference was someone decided to put an official weather station in Death Valley in 1911, he said.
A combination of long-term human-caused climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is making the world hotter by the decade, with ups and downs year by year. Many of those ups and downs are caused by the natural El Nino and La Nina cycle. An El Nino cycle, the warming of part of the Pacific that changes the world’s weather, adds even more heat to the already rising temperatures.
Scientists such as Vose say that most of the record warming the Earth is now seeing is from human-caused climate change, partly because this El Nino only started a few months ago and is still weak to moderate. It isn’t expected to peak until winter, so scientists predict next year will be even hotter than this year. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/californias-death-valley-reaches-128-degrees/ | 2023-07-17 00:13:05 | 1 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/californias-death-valley-reaches-128-degrees/ |
TEMPE — It’s the first triple-digit day in June and local Valley cyclists are taking precautions before hitting the road.
On Saturday morning, dozens of cyclists gathered at the Pedal Haus Brewery in downtown Tempe for the third annual bike ride that benefits a local cycling foundation.
"It's called the Devil Ride because it’s supposed to be hot,” said John Dollar.
John’s son, Rob Dollar, passed away in 2017 after being hit by a drunk driver while cycling down South Mountain. That driver was sentenced to three years in prison in 2022.
Since that crash, John and other Valley cyclists came together to create the Rob Dollar Foundation with a goal to raise awareness to cycling safety.
“When you lose somebody, all you have is memories. These rides right here, in his name, it really, it helps me right here,” John said with his hand on his heart.
Pedal Haus Brewery, whose Chief Operating Officer also sits on the board of the organization, donated all ticket purchases for the ride to the Rob Dollar Foundation.
“Besides it being fun… it’s awareness. The more people we can get involved, aware of cyclists on the road and as drivers, we all drive cars. Makes us more aware of when we see a cyclist on the road,” said Goody, a participating cyclist.
“Our main goal is to save one life,” John said, urging that drivers give cyclists a three-foot distance, which is the law.
As the weather warms up again, all the cyclists are taking precautions. They made sure they had plenty of water handy, thanks to the foundation’s pop-up hydration station, wearing sunscreen, and helmets.
John reminded riders to not push themselves too hard on hot days.
“Today is not the day to try to set a personal record. When it’s hot, that’s not the time you want to push it all the way, so have fun, but not overexert yourself and keep yourself safe,” John urged. | https://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/tempe/cyclists-head-out-for-pedal-haus-devil-ride-bringing-awareness-to-road-and-heat-safety | 2023-06-03 23:32:47 | 1 | https://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/tempe/cyclists-head-out-for-pedal-haus-devil-ride-bringing-awareness-to-road-and-heat-safety |
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