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A bipartisan group of lawmakers is reintroducing legislation Tuesday that would extend full military benefits to an estimated 42,000 combat-injured veterans.
This is lawmakers’ second attempt to pass the legislation. The bill was originally introduced in 2021, but the bill failed to get a congressional hearing.
What the bill provides
According to a joint press release, the government would provide full military benefits to combat-injured veterans with less than 20 years of military service. Lawmakers say that only veterans with disability ratings above 50% and more than 20 years of service are currently eligible to receive the full amount of their disability payments.
“The Major Richard Star Act will fix this policy for medically retired combat veterans by providing them with their full VA disability and DoD retirement payments,” lawmakers said in a press release. According to the Wounded Warriors Project, current law “requires a dollar for dollar offset of these two benefits, meaning they have to forfeit a portion of the benefits they earned in service.”
Who supports this legislation?
In the previous Congress, 335 out of the 435 members of the House cosponsored the legislation. To say the least, it would have had broad bipartisan support.
It also has the support of groups like Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Wounded Warriors Project.
"The Veterans of Foreign Wars is urging Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act to help put money back in the pockets of Veterans who were forced to retire early from military service because of battlefield injury or illness," Steve Kjonaas, Veterans of Foreign Wars Colorado legislative director, said in a statement.
Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Mike Crapo, D-Del., along with Reps. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., and Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., are expected to unveil the legislation at a news conference on Tuesday. Other lawmakers have released statements expressing support for the bill.
“We owe America’s wounded veterans more than just a debt of gratitude — we owe them the benefits they need to live and support their family after serving our nation in combat,” said Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. “This bill makes good on our promise to service members and veterans, and ensures that their retirement payments are not cut as a result of their sacrifices for our country.”
Who is Maj. Richard Star?
U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Richard Star served in Afghanistan and Iraq but was forced to retire before reaching the 20-year mark for service. In 2018, he discovered he had lung cancer.
According to the Military Officers Association of America, Star’s cancer diagnosis may have been caused by exposure to toxic burn pits while overseas.
When he learned that he would not earn full benefits, he advocated to members of Congress for himself and other service members who became disabled while serving.
In February 2021, Star died from Stage 4 lung cancer. Lawmakers have named the benefits bill in his honor.
NOTE: This version fixes the spelling of Sen. Jon Tester's first name. | https://www.ksby.com/news/national/how-legislation-would-provide-benefits-for-42-000-disabled-soldiers | 2023-02-28 21:10:58 | 1 | https://www.ksby.com/news/national/how-legislation-would-provide-benefits-for-42-000-disabled-soldiers |
The House committee investigating last year's attack at the Capitol shared a draft tweet in which Donald Trump planned on explicitly telling his supporters to march to the Capitol on Jan. 6, suggesting his comments during a speech outside the White House were not "spontaneous," but in fact pre-meditated and "deliberate."
“I will be making a Big Speech at 10AM on January 6th at the Ellipse (South of the White House),” the draft tweet says. “Please arrive early, massive crowds expected. March to the Capitol after. Stop the Steal!!”
The draft tweet, which was obtained by the Jan. 6 committee from the National Archives, was not dated and it was not clear when it was crafted, but it was stamped with the words “PRESIDENT HAS SEEN."
“The evidence confirms that this was not a spontaneous call to action, but rather a deliberate strategy decided upon in advance by the president,” said Rep. Stephanie Murphy, a committee member.
The committee also showed messages they obtained from Jan. 6 rally organizers, indicating that they knew of plans to march to the U.S. Capitol days in advance and before Trump's speech on the Ellipse.
The message from Kylie Jane Kremer to Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow and a Trump ally, outlines details of the rally and notes that Trump would call for the march to the Capitol “unexpectedly.”
"It can also not get out about the march because I will be in trouble with the national park service and all the agencies but POTUS is going to just call for it 'unexpectedly,'" Kremer wrote in an email, the House committee showed.
This is a live update. Click here for complete coverage of the Jan. 6 hearings. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/not-a-spontaneous-call-trump-planned-to-direct-crowd-to-march-on-capitol-draft-tweet-shows/3771340/ | 2022-07-12 20:29:19 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/not-a-spontaneous-call-trump-planned-to-direct-crowd-to-march-on-capitol-draft-tweet-shows/3771340/ |
This story is part of AL.com’s series “22 Alabamians who made a difference in 2022,” highlighting people who have made our state a better place to live this year. Stories in this series will publish each weekday during December. Find all stories in the series as they publish here, and read about the Alabamians who made a difference in 2021 by clicking here.
Charles Barkley - as a spokesperson for Nike at the time - declared almost 30 years in an iconic commercial, “I am not a role model.”
While the Nike spot opened a dialogue, which Barkley contends was the goal, you won’t find people in and around his home state of Alabama who agree with those six words he defiantly stated almost three decades ago.
Barkley’s continued philanthropic endeavors in and around the state have landed the former Auburn basketball star on AL.com’s 22 Alabamians of 2022.
The inclusion on the list makes the Leeds, Alabama native the first - and only - three-time honoree.
“I’ve been lucky and blessed, foremost,” Barkley told AL.com earlier this month. “I made an amazing run, and Alabama means a lot to me. I want to keep trying to give back to it, to be honest with you.”
Naming Barkley to the list again in 2022 is a no-brainer after the NBA legend continued his selfless giving over the past year.
In July, the NBA Hall of Famer donated $1 million to Spelman College in Atlanta. The gift was the sixth significant donation he has made to a historically Black college or university.
Barkley told AL.com in July he chose Spelman after seeing the impact the prestigious institution is having on the daughter of his friend and business partner John Hudson.
“John has been a great mentor, a great friend, and a great business partner,” Barkley told AL.com at the time. “I was ready to do another HBCU and with his daughter doing great things at Spelman, so I told him, ‘Why not there?’”
Earlier this month, Barkley told AL.com his intention to donate $1 million each to ALS research in Alabama in the name of former Auburn teammate Gary Godfrey, who was diagnosed with the disease in January 2019; and two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Bethune-Cookman and Jackson State.
The kid from Leeds has done it all on the basketball court. Whether representing Auburn on the hardwood or the country as a member of the U.S. Olympic “Dream Team,” “the Round Mound of Rebound” has always been larger than life.
That personality is genuine, and it shows in his desire to give for the greater good. Barkley has never forgotten where he came from and has always made it a point to give back to state of Alabama. In fact, he has his favorite spots in his home state he tries to visit when he returns.
His donation to Spelman is the latest in a string of generous donations.
In the summer of 2021, the 1981 Leeds High School graduate gifted $1,000 to each Leeds City Schools employee. He also arranged for students to receive 200 computers and free Internet service for a year. In the same year, Barkley returned to Alabama to encourage people to get vaccinated during the COVID pandemic.
In 2020, he pledged $1 million each to Miles College in Birmingham and Tuskegee University. In 2017, he pledged $1 million to Morehouse College in Atlanta. In 2016, Barkley pledged $1 million each to Alabama A&M in Huntsville and Clark Atlanta University.
He paused when he was asked what it felt like to change people’s lives.
“I hope that’s what is happening,” Barkley said. “It’s a great feeling. Like I said, I’ve been blessed beyond my wildest expectations. When you’re growing up in Leeds, Alabama, I never thought my life was going to turn out like it is now.
“It’s been an amazing journey for me. I’m realistic. I’m almost 60 years old. I know I’m on the back 9 of life. I just want to help as many people as I can along the way.”
Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. | https://www.al.com/news/2022/12/charles-barkley-wants-to-help-as-many-as-he-can-while-he-is-on-the-back-9-of-life.html | 2022-12-31 13:58:49 | 1 | https://www.al.com/news/2022/12/charles-barkley-wants-to-help-as-many-as-he-can-while-he-is-on-the-back-9-of-life.html |
(AP) — Three doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine offer strong protection for children younger than 5, the company announced Monday. Pfizer plans to give the data to U.S. regulators later this week in a step toward letting the littlest kids get the shots.
The news comes after months of anxious waiting by parents desperate to vaccinate their babies, toddlers and preschoolers, especially as COVID-19 cases once again are rising. The 18 million tots under 5 are the only group in the U.S. not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
The Food and Drug Administration has begun evaluating data from rival Moderna, which hopes to begin offering two kid-sized shots by summer.
Pfizer has had a bumpier time figuring out its approach. It aims to give tots an even lower dose — just one-tenth of the amount adults receive — but discovered during its trial that two shots didn’t seem quite strong enough for preschoolers. So researchers gave a third shot to more than 1,600 youngsters — from age 6 months to 4 years — during the winter surge of the omicron variant.
In a press release, Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said the extra shot did the trick, revving up tots’ levels of virus-fighting antibodies enough to meet FDA criteria for emergency use of the vaccine with no safety problems.
Preliminary data suggested the three-dose series is 80% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, the companies said, but they cautioned the calculation is based on just 10 cases diagnosed among study participants by the end of April. The study rules state that at least 21 cases are needed to formally determine effectiveness, and Pfizer promised an update as soon as more data is available.
The companies already had submitted data on the first two doses to the FDA, and BioNTech’s CEO, Dr. Ugur Sahin, said the final third-shot data would be submitted this week.
“The study suggests that a low, 3-microgram dose of our vaccine, carefully selected based on tolerability data, provides young children with a high level of protection against the recent COVID-19 strains,” he said in a statement.
What’s next? FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks has pledged the agency will “move quickly without sacrificing our standards” in evaluating tot-sized doses from both Pfizer and Moderna.
The agency has set tentative dates next month for its scientific advisers to publicly debate data from each company.
Moderna is seeking to be the first to vaccinate the littlest kids. It submitted data to the FDA saying tots develop high levels of virus-fighting antibodies after two shots that contain a quarter of the dose given to adults. The Moderna study found effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 was 40% to 50% during the omicon surge, much like for adults who’ve only had two vaccine doses.
Complicating Moderna’s progress, the FDA so far has allowed its vaccine to be used only in adults.
The FDA is expected to review Moderna’s data on both the youngest age group, plus its study of teens and elementary-age children. Other countries already have expanded Moderna’s shot to kids as young as 6.
While COVID-19 generally isn’t as dangerous to youngsters as to adults, some children do become severely ill or even die. And the omicron variant hit children especially hard, with those under 5 hospitalized at higher rates than at the peak of the previous delta surge.
It’s not clear how much demand there will be to vaccinate the youngest kids. Pfizer shots for 5- to 11-year-olds opened in November, but only about 30% of that age group have gotten the recommended initial two doses. Last week, U.S. health authorities said elementary-age children should get a booster shot just like everyone 12 and older is supposed to get, for the best protection against the latest coronavirus variants. | https://www.wishtv.com/news/coronavirus/pfizer-says-3-covid-shots-protect-children-under-5/ | 2022-05-23 12:51:42 | 0 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/coronavirus/pfizer-says-3-covid-shots-protect-children-under-5/ |
Coast Guard save person who capsized in Mill Creek Picnic Area Beach
BIG SUR, Calif. (KION-TV) UPDATE Sept 19, 2022, at 1:11 p.m.- The U.S. Coast Guard Station Monterey said they rescued the person who capsized near the Mill Creek Day Use Area.
He was found on the rocks in stable condition. The Coast Guard says the patient was alone in the 25-foot fiberglass hold boat.
---
The U.S. Coast Guard Station Monterey said they are responding to calls of a capsized boat in the Mill Creek Day Use Area Monday.
They told KION that this incident was reported sometime after 11:20 a.m. A man is currently clinging to a boat that has flipped at the beach located in Los Padres National Forest.
No other information is available at this time.
Stay with KION for future details. | https://kion546.com/news/2022/09/19/coast-guard-save-person-who-capsized-in-mill-creek-picnic-area-beach/ | 2022-09-19 21:17:20 | 1 | https://kion546.com/news/2022/09/19/coast-guard-save-person-who-capsized-in-mill-creek-picnic-area-beach/ |
HOUSTON, June 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SkillGigs, Inc., an ecommerce talent marketplace that pairs skilled healthcare and technology job seekers with AI-matched work opportunities, today announced the launch of a new employer of record program. This new capability will make it easier for U.S. employers to hire remote international workers amid surging demand for IT professionals and the rising cost of domestic talent. SkillGigs will be the employer of record for a global pool of top tech workers, allowing employers to save money, scale quickly, and access more specific skillsets for their projects.
"SkillGigs is a true marketplace that is built for users to explore, bid and exchange, and we are making it easier than ever to hire without borders," said Brad Hill, digital division president at SkillGigs. "Functionalities like this new employer of record program are what make SkillGigs a game-changer in the staffing industry. We connect companies to the best talent, no matter where they are."
Hiring offshore IT professionals is an increasingly common practice among U.S. companies looking to scale, but many run into hurdles with traditional staffing routes. Established third-party staffing companies often upcharge employers at least 20-25% to hire offshore IT roles, essentially the same as any domestic hire, and companies otherwise often lose track of offshore candidates in an ATS or standard job board.
SkillGigs' employer of record program mitigates many of the risks associated with offshore hiring for U.S. companies. Employers who hire international tech workers through SkillGigs can save up to 40% in talent acquisition costs while having access to total talent management services that track and document project milestones.
The SkillGigs employer of record program for technology workers is a service the platform offers in addition to their international travel nurse program for healthcare companies.
To get started, U.S.-based employers can now post their jobs for free on SkillGigs' talent marketplace.
For more information, please visit: https://skillgigs.com/employers/global-it-talent/
ABOUT SKILLGIGS
Launched in 2017 on the belief that companies and talent should be able to interact seamlessly, SkillGigs is dedicated to empowering the users. SkillGigs elevates and maximizes the hiring process by removing traditional barriers. The company's patented AI software matches talent with jobs tailored to their skills, while giving companies with open positions strong candidates who are ready to work. Learn more: https://skillgigs.com
Contact
Amanda Betts
press@skillgigs.com
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SOURCE Skillgigs | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2023/06/23/skillgigs-talent-marketplace-debuts-international-hiring-channel-us-companies/ | 2023-06-23 14:20:42 | 1 | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2023/06/23/skillgigs-talent-marketplace-debuts-international-hiring-channel-us-companies/ |
SEATTLE (AP) — An undefeated South Carolina team led by star Aliyah Boston and guided by vaunted Dawn Staley, an Iowa squad that features high-scoring Caitlin Clark and the return of LSU and flashy coach Kim Mulkey headline the women’s Final Four this weekend.
Virginia Tech is the newcomer to the group as the Hokies are making their first appearance in the national semifinals. Hokies coach Kenny Brooks became the third Black male coach to take a team to the Final Four in women’s basketball history.
All of the women’s basketball world will descend on Dallas this week as the Division I, II and III championships will be held there. It’s only the second time that all three divisions will have their title games in the same place.
Staley and the Gamecocks are looking to become the 10th team to go through a season unbeaten and the first to repeat as champions since UConn won four in a row from 2013-16. South Carolina advanced to its third consecutive national semifinals and fifth since 2015 thanks to another superb effort by Boston, the reigning AP Player of the Year. The three-time All-American had 22 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Maryland on Monday night.
Next up for the Gamecocks is Iowa and the sensational Clark. She helped the Hawkeyes reach their first Final Four in 30 years with a game for the ages in the regional semifinals on Sunday night. The junior guard had the first 40-point triple-double in NCAA history in the win over Louisville.
The Gamecocks have the experience edge having reached the Final Four so often with this group. No one on Iowa’s roster was alive the last time the team advanced to the game’s biggest stage. C. Vivian Stringer was the coach of that team in 1993 that reached the Final Four before losing to Ohio State in overtime.
“It is like a storybook, but it’s kind of been like that for us all year long,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “I mean, we have had — honestly, we keep talking about destiny and how it’s supposed to happen and it is happening. But I’m so happy for Caitlin. I can remember sitting in her living room and her saying, I want to go to a Final Four. And I’m saying, We can do it together. And she believed me. And so I’m very thankful for that.”
The other game will pit LSU against Virginia Tech. The Tigers are making their first trip to the national semifinals since 2008 when Sylvia Fowles dominated the paint. Now LSU is led by another stellar post player in Angel Reese.
She broke Fowles’ record for double-doubles in a season earlier this year and was key in the Tigers win over Miami in the Elite Eight.
Reese, who transferred in this season from Maryland, has made Mulkey’s second season at the school a special one. She came to LSU with a resume headlined by three NCAA titles from her time at Baylor along with some flamboyant sideline looks such as her silver-shimmering jacket with white pants that she wore in the Elite Eight game Sunday.
“What really makes me smile is not cutting that net down,” Mulkey said. “It’s looking around out there at all those LSU people, looking at that team I get to coach experience it for the first time.”
LSU’s opponent is also making its first appearance at the Final Four. The Hokies have had the best season in school history, winning the ACC crown as well under Brooks. He joined former Syracuse Quentin Hillsman and Cheyney State’s Winthrop “Windy” McGriff.
The significance has not been lost on Brooks, who hopes he can inspire other Black male coaches to get more opportunities.
The Hokies run to the national semifinals has been led by star post Elizabeth Kitley and sharpshooter Georgia Amoore. The pair combined for 49 points in the win over Ohio State in the Elite Eight.
___
AP March Madness coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://www.localsyr.com/sports-news/unbeaten-gamecocks-iowas-clark-star-in-womens-final-four/ | 2023-03-28 20:40:31 | 1 | https://www.localsyr.com/sports-news/unbeaten-gamecocks-iowas-clark-star-in-womens-final-four/ |
Growing ecosystem of solutions underscores importance of martech stack strategy for FIs
PLANO, Texas, Dec. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alkami Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKT) ("Alkami"), a leading cloud-based digital banking solutions provider for banks and credit unions in the U.S., today announced its data analytics and engagement solution, Segmint, was featured in the marketing technology (martech) industry's foremost annual Martech Map, which validates and categorizes thousands of martech tools to provide a bird's-eye view of the solutions landscape. This marks the second year Segmint has been listed.
The Martech Map was established in 2011 by Scott Brinker of Chiefmartec.com and has grown in the number of featured solutions by 6,521% as of May 2022, reflecting the massive scale and rapid rate of change of the martech industry. "Our financial institution (FI) clients are particularly impacted by this rapid growth as they seek to build viable tech stacks that will endure and drive growth for years to come," said Nate Shahan, vice president of product management for Alkami. "With 10,000+ solutions listed, the map is an eye-opening illustration of the importance of having a comprehensive martech stack strategy that works together to drive revenue from digital banking."
Shahan added, "Data is foundational to evolving the digital banking platform from a cost center to a revenue contributor. Without integrated account holder data and insights, the success of all other martech solutions will be limited. Including marketing success signals, like an account opened or debit card swiped, can validate the ROI of all martech investments."
Leveraging marketing technology is one of the strategies Segmint outlines in its recent strategy guide, Navigating the Economic Impact: 2023 Financial Institution Budgeting & Data Strategies. The guide provides FIs with actionable strategies they can employ now to deepen and grow account holder relationships and drive revenue growth in 2023. Download the 2023 Strategy Guide here.
Alkami Technology, Inc. is a leading cloud-based digital banking solutions provider for financial institutions in the United States that enables clients to grow confidently, adapt quickly and build thriving digital communities. Alkami helps clients transform through retail and business banking, digital account opening and digital loan origination, multi-payment fraud prevention, and data analytics and engagement solutions. To learn more, visit www.alkami.com.
Media Relations Contact
Jennifer Cortez
jennifer.cortez@alkami.com
Katie Schimmel
katie@outlookmarketingsrv.com
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SOURCE Alkami Technology, Inc. | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/12/14/alkamis-segmint-featured-prominent-industry-martech-lineup/ | 2022-12-14 16:56:18 | 0 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/12/14/alkamis-segmint-featured-prominent-industry-martech-lineup/ |
- ProLogium will attend ees Europe in Munich from June 14–16.
- The new design can nearly double the energy density of an EV pack while significantly reducing its weight and the number of cells in pack with increased cell energy.
- LLCB samples are targeted to be delivered to European car OEMs for testing as early as the end of 2023.
MUNICH, June 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- From June 14–16, energy innovation company ProLogium will be attending ees Europe in Munich, Germany. While at Europe's largest battery and energy storage technology event, ProLogium will share its next-generation solid-state battery and manufacturing technologies with industry experts. The show will also mark the occasion for the world premiere of ProLogium's latest breakthrough innovation, a brand new next-generation solid-state battery product called large-footprint lithium ceramic battery, or LLCB. ProLogium is set to showcase LLCB's advantages in safety, performance, and sustainability on the show floor.
ProLogium announced its plan to set up its first overseas solid-state battery gigafactory in Dunkirk, France in mid-May. With a total €5.2 billion in investment and a total planned capacity of 48 GWh to be deployed in phases, the Dunkirk gigafactory will serve as a manufacturing base to supply the European EV market, enabling ProLogium to mass produce its next-generation solid-state batteries and localize its R&D and supply chain ahead of its competitors.
"With a clear roadmap for capacity ramp-up and technology development, we are making an all-out effort to accelerate the electrification revolution by providing improved energy solutions to our partners." said Vincent Yang, CEO and founder of ProLogium Technology.
"Last year, we announced the first solid-state battery with 100% silicon oxide anode designed to enable higher energy density at the cell level. Now, we are pleased to present the LLCB, another pioneering battery concept that will take EV battery design to the next level in terms of long range, light weight and design flexibility."
Brand New Cell Design for Optimized Range, Performance, and Sustainability
Increasing the battery size to reduce the number of cells in a pack is an effective way to optimize the configuration of battery pack. A case in point is the current trend of cylindrical battery dimension transitioning from 21 x 70 mm to 46 x 80 mm.
The same concept can be applied to solid-state battery. Taking advantage of the solid-state battery's unique structure and manufacturing process, ProLogium has surpassed the limits of liquid type batteries in terms of surface area and capacity, and has succeeded in developing a large-footprint, high-capacity battery product — LLCB, which allows for a reduced number of cells and the omission of parallel connections inside the battery pack. The simplified pack structure can in turn facilitate ease of maintenance and reduction of ownership cost.
Moreover, the LLCB's flat shape and the excellent thermal conductivity of the solid-state ceramic electrolyte combined can make the design of pack cooling system much less complex, thereby optimizing space utilization.
"In other words, the LLCB will enable greater design flexibility for EVs," remarked Simon Wu, Assistant Vice President of ProLogium Technology Product Center. "For the same space as the mainstream 2170 EV battery pack, the LLCB pack's volumetric energy density can be nearly doubled, and for the same total energy, the LLCB pack's weight can be cut by up to 115 kg. More importantly, the LLCB production processes will produce less waste in terms of substrate materials, and the reduced number of cells will require less raw materials, which means increased sustainability and affordability."
Polun Cheng, Global Project Management AVP of ProLogium Technology, said "ProLogium is currently cooperating with FEV, a globally leading engineering provider in the automotive industry and internationally recognized leader of innovation across different sectors and industries, to carry out verification tests of the LLCB and design applicable solutions. Samples are targeted to be delivered to European car OEMs for testing as early as the end of 2023."
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SOURCE ProLogium | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/06/13/prologium-ees-europe-with-world-premiere-its-latest-solid-state-battery-innovation-large-footprint-lithium-ceramic-battery-llcb/ | 2023-06-13 09:24:03 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/06/13/prologium-ees-europe-with-world-premiere-its-latest-solid-state-battery-innovation-large-footprint-lithium-ceramic-battery-llcb/ |
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Poseida Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company utilizing proprietary genetic engineering platform technologies to create cell and gene therapeutics with the capacity to cure, today announced that the Company's Chief Financial Officer, Johanna Mylet, will present virtually at the H.C. Wainwright 24th Annual Global Investment Conference being held in New York, NY from September 12-14, 2022. The on-demand session will become available at 7:00am ET on September 12, 2022.
A webcast of the presentation will be available on the Investors & Media Section of Poseida's website, www.poseida.com. A replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days following the presentation.
About Poseida Therapeutics, Inc.
Poseida Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to utilizing our proprietary genetic engineering platform technologies to create next generation cell and gene therapeutics with the capacity to cure. We have discovered and are developing a broad portfolio of product candidates in a variety of indications based on our core proprietary platforms, including our non-viral piggyBac® DNA Delivery System, Cas-CLOVER™ Site-specific Gene Editing System and nanoparticle- and AAV-based gene delivery technologies. Our core platform technologies have utility, either alone or in combination, across many cell and gene therapeutic modalities and enable us to engineer our portfolio of product candidates that are designed to overcome the primary limitations of current generation cell and gene therapeutics. To learn more, visit www.poseida.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Investor contact:
Alex Lobo
Stern Investor Relations
Alex.lobo@sternir.com
Media contact:
Sarah Thailing
Senior Director, Corporate Communications and IR
Poseida Therapeutics, Inc.
858-605-3717
sthailing@poseida.com
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SOURCE Poseida Therapeutics, Inc. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/poseida-therapeutics-present-hc-wainwright-24th-annual-global-investment-conference/ | 2022-09-07 20:36:17 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/poseida-therapeutics-present-hc-wainwright-24th-annual-global-investment-conference/ |
ELMO, Montana (AP) — A wildfire burning in western Montana spread to 2,000 acres on Friday night, forcing evacuations and road closures.
The fire broke out Friday near the town of Elmo near Flathead Lake, Montana Right Now reported.
CSKT Fire Officer C.T. Camel told the station that three dozen homes near Elmo were being evacuated.
A report from the Montana Department of Transportation said there was zero viability in the area and Highway 28 between Hot Springs and Elmo was closed.
NBC Montana reported the fire was burning in grass but moving fast toward timber. It said air tankers and helicopters were making drops on the fire. | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Wildfire-burning-in-western-Montana-forces-17339745.php | 2022-07-30 04:50:11 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Wildfire-burning-in-western-Montana-forces-17339745.php |
Review: A crowdpleasing whodunnit in Netflix’s ‘Glass Onion’
The business of making original movie sequels is often a thankless job. You can’t just do the same thing again, but you also can’t be too different either. And many watching will have their guard up from the outset, suspicious that it is ultimately just a shameless cash grab.
In the case of “Knives Out,” Rian Johnson’s love letter to and send-up of Agatha Christie-style whodunnits, the cash was right there in the headlines: Netflix paid $450 million for two follow-ups to his fresh, funny film about a wealthy family and the southern gentleman detective who solves the case of the murder of their patriarch.
But you can put those worries aside: “ Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery ” proves that Johnson was more than up to the task. He sends the audience off to tackle a new puzzle with Daniel Craig’s shrewd, honey-voiced detective Benoit Blanc. This time, Blanc is summoned to a private island in Greece with another group of very wealthy, very suspicious dirtbags, self-styled disruptors in the antsy, isolated days of pandemic lockdowns.
There’s the eccentric tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton), who has gathered everyone to his opulent Grecian oasis; his estranged business partner, Cassandra “Andi” Brand (Janelle Monáe); a politician, Claire (Kathryn Hahn); a scientist, Lionel (Leslie Odom Jr.); a model and sweatpants line founder Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson); a men’s rights YouTuber Duke Cody (Dave Bautista); and his girlfriend Whiskey (Madelyn Cline). Jessica Henwick, as Birdie’s assistant/handler Peg, is a standout among the starry ensemble.
Most of them are pretty terrible, though some are less self-aware than others. Claire, for instance, seems particularly tormented about the compromises she’s made to rise in politics while Birdie just breezes through life and various social media scandals mostly unfazed. But all of them are indebted in some way to the blustery egomaniac Miles, who dreams of being spoken of in the same breath as the Mona Lisa and exclusively communicates via fax machine.
Johnson could not have predicted that his movie would be coming out while we watched another tech billionaire attempt to run Twitter, but Miles’ bravado may sound familiar to anyone listening. Perhaps these disruptors aren’t as unpredictable as they think they are.
It’s Miles who gets the gang together, promising that they’ll play a game to solve his murder designed by none other than “Gone Girl” author Gillian Flynn. Blanc, who has been bored out of his mind and mostly relegated to the bathtub in his New York apartment with a boyfriend played by a very famous face that will go unspoiled, is quite excited to ditch the tub and bring out his colorful linens and silk cravats to take a closer look at this group.
If the WASPy, New England style of “Knives Out” became as much of a talking point as the movie itself, one can only imagine how audiences will take to Jenny Eagan’s costuming efforts in “Glass Onion,” from Blanc’s modestly chic matching bathing costume to Birdie’s disco-glam halter dress. The set designer also has fun with the ’80s coke-den aesthetic of one of the key rooms.
As the title suggests, there are layers and layers to this mystery — even the central murder isn’t revealed until deep into the film, when Johnson rewinds and reframes much of what we’ve just seen. And it’s bigger, wilder and funnier than its predecessor.
The film will be in theaters this week, for a week, before streaming on Netflix on Dec. 23, which almost guarantees that the many, many cameos will be spoiled by the time it hits your home theater (IMDB will also spoil that, FYI). But hopefully the theatergoing audiences will be kind enough to keep the real mystery under wraps.
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for “strong language, some violence, sexual material and drug content.” Running time: 139 minutes. Three stars out of four.
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MPAA Definition of PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
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Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/review-a-crowdpleasing-whodunnit-in-netflixs-glass-onion/ | 2022-11-24 17:02:27 | 0 | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/review-a-crowdpleasing-whodunnit-in-netflixs-glass-onion/ |
St. Louis artist creates banned book mural
By Shoshana Stahl
Click here for updates on this story
ST. LOUIS, Missouri (KMOV) — A local artist is drawing more attention to banned books in Missouri.
After a new law took effect in August, some books are no longer allowed at schools in the state. David Ruggeri is taking the topic of banned books into his own hands, painting a mural outside Dunaway Books on S. Grand Blvd.
“I’m very concerned when a small group of people gets to decide who has access to what,” Ruggeri said. “Books are a powerful tool. They are able to educate and inform. By banning books, you can take a marginalized community and you can make it worse off.”
As of August, books containing sexually explicit material are not allowed on public or private school campuses in Missouri. Ruggeri is encouraging people to stay informed on what’s going on in the community.
“These are some uncomfortable topics that are being discussed,” He said. “But they’re important topics that people need to know exist in our society. This is a good opportunity to talk to your kids about what’s going on and talk about some of these topics. Then parents can guide the conversation.”
Dunaway Books employee Dan Wright told News 4 he doesn’t understand why books are being targeted.
“I’m sure they think they have good intentions but that’s a very slippery slope,” Wright said. “Once you start banning things, as history has proven, where does it stop?”
Wright is encouraging people to read some of the banned books before deciding their kids shouldn’t be reading them.
“Think for yourself and look things up for yourself before falling on either side of the fence because when you think for yourself and have your own opinion, opposed to what a group of people are saying, you’re better informed,” Wright said.
Ruggeri said the next step is to pick six book titles from the list of banned books to add to the mural. His goal is to have the mural completed by next week.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/12/15/st-louis-artist-creates-banned-book-mural/ | 2022-12-15 16:03:50 | 1 | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/12/15/st-louis-artist-creates-banned-book-mural/ |
Compliance achieved in six core areas highlights its position as a leader in pediatric-specific technology solutions
FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., Feb. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Office Practicum (OP), a national provider of pediatric-specific EHR, practice management, and RCM solutions, announced today that they are the first company to achieve the Drummond Pediatric Health IT Certification.
This voluntary certification was developed based on recommended criteria established by the Office of the National Coordinator by the 21st Century Cures Act that recognizes the unique needs of pediatric patients and their providers and the need for EHR vendors to provide systems designed for pediatric use cases.
Specifically, OP achieved Drummond's Pediatric EHR certification for the ambulatory clinical setting along with Advanced Achievements in Care Team/Planning, Data Exchange & Interoperability, Immunization, Medication Management, Quality Reporting, and Well Child Care. These core competencies are foundational to OP's pediatric-specialty platform developed precisely for the care needs of young patients and to support pediatric providers who need tools such as multiple growth charts, weight-based dosing, immunization tracking and forecasting, vaccine inventory management, behavioral and mental health capabilities, and to flag special health care needs, to name a few.
"OP is and has always been developed by pediatricians for pediatricians and continues to be a pioneer in meeting the needs of the pediatric community," said Kraig Brown, Office Practicum CEO. "Being the first pediatric-specialty EHR to receive Drummond's Pediatric Health IT Certification with advanced achievement in six core areas is a testament to our commitment to building technology solutions uniquely for pediatric needs."
The Drummond certification was followed by OP being awarded the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC-Health IT) 2015 Edition Health IT certification in December 2022. This foundational stamp of approval designates that the software delivers the required functionality to support eligible providers and hospitals to meet the requirements of various regulatory programs that involve using certified electronic health records (EHR) technology. To this end, OP has launched its Certified FHIR APIs to empower its customers with new ways to access and send information securely per the 21st Century Cures Act.
"As a pediatric-specialty EHR, everything we do is for the pediatric community. Our software functions exclusively to support the care needs of kids - something we know is missing from generic EHRs," said Dr. Dan Feiten, pediatrician and OP's Medical Director. "The support we offer isn't limited to our software functionality. We also know the complexity and nuances for pediatricians when it comes to sharing health data and maintaining an accessible central record of pertinent information and confidentiality. Meeting and exceeding ONC compliance as a certified EHR is one way we go the distance to support the providers who depend on us to stay on track with industry change."
About Office Practicum
Office Practicum has always been a champion for pediatricians and the children, families and caregivers they serve. Committed to reducing the complexity of running a pediatric practice, OP's pediatric-certified EHR and practice management platform is designed to support the integrated physical, emotional and mental healthcare needs of pediatric patients at all stages of their growth. OP's pediatric EHR, practice management and revenue cycle management services are offered alongside telehealth, 24/7 answering services, website design and SEO services, and other practice marketing tools. Together, they provide a full suite of solutions that pediatricians need to grow and support their practice. As a certified EHR vendor, we are committed to updating all of our policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the 21st Century Cures Act. Today, Office Practicum supports 6,500 pediatricians serving 15 million kids across 48 states. For more information, visit us at www.officepracticum.com
Media Contact:
Kate Lunt
klunt@officepracticum.com
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SOURCE Office Practicum | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/02/03/office-practicum-is-first-pediatric-ehr-company-achieve-drummond-pediatric-health-it-certification/ | 2023-02-03 15:27:13 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/02/03/office-practicum-is-first-pediatric-ehr-company-achieve-drummond-pediatric-health-it-certification/ |
23-year-old chihuahua named Spike is world’s oldest living dog: Guinness World Records
Published: Jan. 20, 2023 at 6:18 PM EST|Updated: 30 minutes ago
(CNN) - A dog in Ohio is setting records at 23 years old.
According to Guinness World Records, Spike, a 23-year-old chihuahua mix, has recently been given the title of the world’s oldest living dog.
A spokesperson for Guinness said Spike was certified in December 2022 to have been born at least 23 years ago and weighs about 13 pounds.
Spike’s owner said she found him roughly 14 years ago in a parking lot and named him after a dog that was a character in “Tom & Jerry” cartoons.
Spike is nearly blind and hard of hearing but according to his owner, he still enjoys spending time with other animals on their farm and with people he knows.
Copyright 2023 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2023/01/20/23-year-old-chihuahua-named-spike-is-worlds-oldest-living-dog-guinness-world-records/ | 2023-01-20 23:49:30 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2023/01/20/23-year-old-chihuahua-named-spike-is-worlds-oldest-living-dog-guinness-world-records/ |
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Taylor Morrison Home Corporation (NYSE: TMHC), a leading national land developer and homebuilder, announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022. Reported net income of $310 million, or $2.72 per diluted share, was up 84 percent and 103 percent, respectively, from the third quarter of 2021.
Third quarter highlights included the following, as compared to the prior-year quarter:
- Home closings revenue increased 12 percent to $2.0 billion.
- Home closings gross margin improved 630 basis points to 27.5 percent.
- SG&A as a percentage of home closings revenue improved 210 basis points to 7.4 percent.
- Homebuilding lot supply increased three percent to approximately 80,000 owned and controlled homesites.
- Controlled lots as a percentage of total lot supply increased approximately 600 basis points to 42 percent.
- Repurchased 4.2 million shares outstanding for $105 million.
- Return on equity improved 1,300 basis points to 25.8 percent.
"Our team once again generated record quarterly profitability metrics, including new highs for home closings gross margin, earnings per share and return on equity, despite the continued affordability and supply chain challenges facing our industry and the significant impact from Hurricane Ian on our Florida and Carolinas markets. While these headwinds, particularly the production-related delays from the storm, impacted our volume of home closings and sales, we still generated a record home closings gross margin of 27.5% and an all-time low SG&A ratio of 7.4%. These results drove a 103 percent increase in our earnings per diluted share and a doubling of our return on equity to 26 percent," said Sheryl Palmer, Taylor Morrison Chairman and CEO.
"The significant improvement in our earnings reflect the enhanced profitability and overall business effectiveness that we have achieved through our focus on operational excellence, scale synergies and disciplined land investment. These internal initiatives and our successful M&A integrations have positioned our company to be resilient as we navigate the current economic uncertainty and recalibration of housing market conditions to the sharply higher interest rate environment."
Recognizing changing consumer demands, Palmer also shared that the Company recently unveiled an enhanced end-to-end digital reservation system for to-be-built homes, an evolution of the technology that was first introduced in March 2021. The first-to-market technology gives Taylor Morrison home shoppers the ability to build a new home entirely online—and see it come to life through an interactive visualizer—by selecting their floor plan, lot, the home's exterior design, structural options, interior finishes, and then reserve the configuration online with a small deposit, all with the transparency of pricing along the way. In the third quarter, total spec and to-be-built online reservations had a conversion rate of approximately 40 percent, accounting for 13 percent of company sales.
"As the market evolves, we will continue to prioritize the health of our balance sheet and position ourselves to be opportunistic by balancing pace and price, managing inventory levels and preserving our capital. Our homebuilding and mortgage teams are focused on working closely with our customers to provide compelling incentives to address each buyers' unique circumstances, as well as adjusting pricing as needed on an asset-by-asset basis, appreciating each community's inventory, duration, competitive dynamics and targeted consumer group. While we remain positive on the long-term opportunity for housing, we expect the market to remain highly sensitive to interest rates and are therefore emphasizing a disciplined and prudent approach across our business," continued Palmer.
Lou Steffens, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, said "our capital position is strong with approximately $1.4 billion of liquidity, and we are focused on further strengthening our balance sheet and driving strong cash flow generation. Accordingly, we increased our total revolving credit facility capacity to $1.1 billion and are taking steps to reduce gross debt outstanding through the early redemption of $350 million of senior notes on October 31st."
"We also significantly slowed our investment in new land acquisitions and moderated our starts pace. At the same time, given the compelling opportunity we continue to see in our equity, we continued to invest in share repurchases, which totaled $105 million during the quarter. Based on our healthy cashflow outlook, we remain on track to reduce our net debt-to-capitalization ratio to the mid-20 percent range by year end. However, due to the significant level of uncertainty in the current housing market, ongoing material and labor supply issues as well as the added complexity and production delays stemming from Hurricane Ian, we are not providing fourth quarter operational guidance," said Steffens.
Business Highlights (All comparisons are of the current quarter to the prior-year quarter, unless indicated.)
Homebuilding
- Home closings revenue increased 12 percent to $2.0 billion, driven by a 22 percent increase in average closing price to $650,000, which more than offset an eight percent decline in home closings to 3,050.
- Home closings gross margin improved 630 basis points to 27.5 percent, a Company high. The improvement was driven by robust pricing power, improved operating efficiencies and acquisition synergies.
- SG&A as a percentage of home closings revenue declined 210 basis points to 7.4 percent, an all-time low, driven by revenue growth, cost discipline and sales efficiencies.
- Net sales orders of 2,069 were down 39 percent due primarily to a decline in the monthly absorption pace to 2.1 net sales orders per community as sharply higher mortgage interest rates and economic uncertainty have dampened homebuyer confidence. The preparation and recovery surrounding Hurricane Ian also impacted sales activity.
- Cancellations increased to 4.3% of beginning backlog from 3.3% in the prior quarter and 2.4% a year ago, although this remains below the long-term average of 7.1% since 2014. As a percentage of gross orders, cancellations increased to 15.6% from 10.8% in the prior quarter and 6.7% a year ago.
- Average net sales order price decreased three percent to $619,000, driven primarily by a mix impact from a decline in the penetration of resort lifestyle transactions compared to a year ago as well as pricing adjustments to reflect the softer demand environment.
- Ending backlog was 7,941 sold homes, down 23 percent, with a sales value of $5.4 billion, down 12 percent.
Land Portfolio
- Investment in homebuilding land acquisition and development totaled $377 million, down 21 percent from $478 million a year ago. Development-related spend accounted for 73 percent of the total versus 32 percent a year ago as the Company has significantly reduced spend for new lots and is working to monetize its well-vintaged land portfolio.
- Homebuilding lot supply was approximately 80,000 owned and controlled homesites, up three percent.
- Controlled homebuilding lots as a percentage of total lot supply was 42 percent, up from 36 percent.
- Based on trailing twelve-month home closings, total homebuilding lots represented 3.5 years of owned supply and 6.1 years of total supply.
Financial Services
- The mortgage capture rate equaled 68 percent.
- Borrowers had an average credit score of 752 and debt-to-income ratio of 39 percent.
Balance Sheet
- At quarter end, total available liquidity was approximately $1.4 billion, including $329 million of unrestricted cash and $1.1 billion of capacity on the Company's revolving credit facilities, which were undrawn outside of normal letters of credit.
- Net homebuilding debt-to-capital equaled 34.0 percent, down from 41.1 percent a year ago.
- The Company repurchased 4.2 million of its outstanding shares, or approximately four percent of prior diluted shares outstanding, for $105 million at an average share price of $24.92. At quarter end, the Company had $320 million remaining on its $500 million share repurchase authorization.
Business Outlook
Full Year 2022
- Effective tax rate is now expected to be approximately 24.5 percent
- Diluted share count is now expected to be approximately 116 million
- Homebuilding land and development spend is now expected to be approximately $1.8 billion
Earnings Conference Call Webcast
A public webcast to discuss the Company's third quarter 2022 earnings will be held later today at 8:30 a.m. EST. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on Taylor Morrison's website at investors.taylormorrison.com under the Events & Presentations tab. For call participants, the dial-in number is (844) 200-6205 and conference ID is 205344. The call will be recorded and available for replay on the Company's website later today and will be available for one year from the date of the original earnings call.
About Taylor Morrison
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Taylor Morrison is one of the nation's leading homebuilders and developers. We serve a wide array of consumers from coast to coast, including first-time, move-up, luxury and resort lifestyle homebuyers under our family of brands—including Taylor Morrison, Esplanade and Darling Homes Collection by Taylor Morrison. From 2016-2022, Taylor Morrison has been recognized as America's Most Trusted® Builder by Lifestory Research. Our strong commitment to sustainability, our communities, and our team is highlighted in our latest Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report on our website.
Forward-Looking Statements
This earnings summary includes "forward-looking statements." These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities, as well as those of the markets we serve or intend to serve, to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate to matters of a strictly factual or historical nature and generally discuss or relate to forecasts, estimates or other expectations regarding future events. Generally, the words ""anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "may," "will," "can," "could," "might," "should" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, including statements related to expected financial, operating and performance results, planned transactions, planned objectives of management, future developments or conditions in the industries in which we participate and other trends, developments and uncertainties that may affect our business in the future.
Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among other things: inflation or deflation; changes in general and local economic conditions; slowdowns or severe downturns in the housing market; homebuyers' ability to obtain suitable financing; increases in interest rates, taxes or government fees; shortages in, disruptions of and cost of labor; higher cancellation rates of existing agreements of sale; competition in our industry; any increase in unemployment or underemployment; the scale and scope of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; the seasonality of our business; the physical impacts of climate change and the increased focus by third-parties on sustainability issues; our ability to obtain additional performance, payment and completion surety bonds and letters of credit; significant home warranty and construction defect claims; our reliance on subcontractors; failure to manage land acquisitions, inventory and development and construction processes; availability of land and lots at competitive prices; decreases in the market value of our land inventory; new or changing government regulations and legal challenges; our compliance with environmental laws and regulations regarding climate change; our ability to sell mortgages we originate and claims on loans sold to third parties; governmental regulation applicable to our financial services and title services business; the loss of any of our important commercial lender relationships; our ability to use deferred tax assets; raw materials and building supply shortages and price fluctuations; our concentration of significant operations in certain geographic areas; risks associated with our unconsolidated joint venture arrangements; information technology failures and data security breaches; costs to engage in and the success of future growth or expansion of our operations or acquisitions or disposals of businesses; costs associated with our defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes; damages associated with any major health and safety incident; our ownership, leasing or occupation of land and the use of hazardous materials; existing or future litigation, arbitration or other claims; negative publicity or poor relations with the residents of our communities; failure to recruit, retain and develop highly skilled, competent people; utility and resource shortages or rate fluctuations; constriction of the capital markets; risks related to our substantial debt and the agreements governing such debt, including restrictive covenants contained in such agreements; our ability to access the capital markets; the risks associated with maintaining effective internal controls over financial reporting; provisions in our charter and bylaws that may delay or prevent an acquisition by a third party; and our ability to effectively manage our expanded operations.
In addition, other such risks and uncertainties may be found in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our subsequent quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as such factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC. We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or changes in our expectations, except as required by applicable law.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to the results reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), we have provided information in this press release relating to: (i) adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per common share, (ii) adjusted income before income taxes and related margin, (iii) EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA and (iv) net homebuilding debt to capitalization ratio.
Adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per common share and adjusted income before income taxes and related margin are non-GAAP financial measures that reflect the net income/(loss) available to the Company excluding the impact of gains on land transfers and extinguishment of debt, net, and in the case of adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per common share, the tax impact due to such items. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures that measure performance by adjusting net income before allocation to non-controlling interests to exclude interest expense/(income), net, amortization of capitalized interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), non-cash compensation expense, if any, gains on land transfers and extinguishment of debt, net. Net homebuilding debt to capitalization ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure we calculate by dividing (i) total debt, plus unamortized debt issuance cost/(premium), net, and less mortgage warehouse borrowings, net of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, by (ii) total capitalization (the sum of net homebuilding debt and total stockholders' equity).
Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our performance on a consolidated basis, as well as the performance of our regions, and to set targets for performance-based compensation. We also use the ratio of net homebuilding debt to total capitalization as an indicator of overall leverage and to evaluate our performance against other companies in the homebuilding industry. In the future, we may include additional adjustments in the above-described non-GAAP financial measures to the extent we deem them appropriate and useful to management and investors.
We believe that adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per common share, adjusted income before income taxes and related margin, as well as EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, are useful for investors in order to allow them to evaluate our operations without the effects of various items we do not believe are characteristic of our ongoing operations or performance and also because such metrics assist both investors and management in analyzing and benchmarking the performance and value of our business. Adjusted EBITDA also provides an indicator of general economic performance that is not affected by fluctuations in interest rates or effective tax rates, levels of depreciation or amortization, or unusual items. Because we use the ratio of net homebuilding debt to total capitalization to evaluate our performance against other companies in the homebuilding industry, we believe this measure is also relevant and useful to investors for that reason.
These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, the comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures of our operating performance or liquidity. Although other companies in the homebuilding industry may report similar information, their definitions may differ. We urge investors to understand the methods used by other companies to calculate similarly-titled non-GAAP financial measures before comparing their measures to ours.
CONTACT:
Mackenzie Aron, VP Investor Relations
(480) 734-2060
investor@taylormorrison.com
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SOURCE Taylor Morrison | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2022/10/26/taylor-morrison-reports-third-quarter-2022-results-including-record-earnings-per-diluted-share-272/ | 2022-10-26 10:54:28 | 0 | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2022/10/26/taylor-morrison-reports-third-quarter-2022-results-including-record-earnings-per-diluted-share-272/ |
Updated December 14, 2022 at 7:44 PM ET
KEITHVILLE, La. — A volatile storm ripping across the U.S. spawned tornadoes blamed for killing at least three people in Louisiana, and the line of punishing weather threatened neighboring Southern states into the nighttime hours Wednesday.
To the north, the huge storm system delivered blizzard-like conditions to the Great Plains and was expected to push more snow and ice into Appalachia and New England. The wintery blast dumped more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow in parts of South Dakota.
Authorities in St. Charles Parish west of New Orleans said eight people were taken to hospitals with injuries Wednesday afternoon and one woman was found dead outdoors after a suspected tornado struck the community of Killona along the Mississippi River, damaging homes and flinging debris.
"She was outside the residence, so we don't know exactly what happened," St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said of the woman killed. He added. "There was debris everywhere. She could have been struck. We don't know for sure. But this was a horrific and a very violent tornado."
About 280 miles (450 kilometers) away in northern Louisiana, it took hours for authorities to find the bodies of a mother and child reported missing after a tornado swept away their mobile home Tuesday in Keithville, a rural community near Shreveport.
"You go to search a house and the house isn't even there, so where do you search?" Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards told reporters, noting the challenge faced by emergency responders as he toured a mile-long (1.6-kilometer) path of destruction in Keithville.
The Caddo Parish Coroner's Office said the body of 8-year-old Nikolus Little was found around 11 p.m. Tuesday in a wooded area. His mother, Yoshiko A. Smith, 30, was found dead under storm debris around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Smith's body was discovered one street over from where their home had been. Her son was found dead as far as a half-mile away, said Caddo Parish Sheriff's Sgt. Casey Jones. He said the boy's father had left to buy groceries before the storm hit.
"He just went to go shopping for his family, came home and the house was gone," said Jones. When deputies arrived, they found nothing but a concrete slab.
Wednesday's forecast called for more severe storms with additional tornadoes expected across an area of the Gulf Coast region populated by nearly 3 million people from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama. More damaging weather also was possible in the Florida panhandle.
A steady stream of tornado warnings was issued Wednesday across portions of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
In Union Parish, in northern Louisiana near the Arkansas line, Farmerville Mayor John Crow said a tornado Tuesday night badly damaged an apartment complex where 50 families lived, wiping out a neighboring trailer park with about 10 homes. "It happened quick," Crow said Wednesday, adding that about 30 homes were damaged along nearby Lake D'Arbonne.
Shannon Futch, Union Parish's emergency director, said there were reports of numerous people treated for cuts and bruises and at least two people hospitalized after a twister cut a swath of damage about 5 miles (8 kilometers) long, toppling trees onto about a dozen houses.
"Some people even stayed the night in their houses that had big pine trees on them," Futch said. "They didn't have anywhere to go."
A suspected tornado reported in New Iberia in southwest Louisiana damaged several buildings on the campus of New Iberia Medical Center, hospital officials said, with five people reporting minor injuries.
In neighboring Mississippi, a suspected tornado destroyed four large chicken houses — one containing 5,000 roosters — in Rankin County, Mississippi, Sheriff Bryan Bailey said. Mobile homes at a park in Sharkey County, Mississppi, were reduced to piles of shredded debris. Resident Leslie Jackson told WLBT-TV her home was one of only a few left standing.
A line of thunderstorms sweeping through Texas spawned tornadoes Tuesday that damaged dozens of homes and businesses. At least five people were injured In the Dallas suburb of Grapevine, police spokesperson Amanda McNew said. A possible tornado blew the roof off the city's municipal service center, leaving debris dangling from powerlines.
Icy weather from the huge storm was expected to affect the U.S. from coast to coast. It began by dumping heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada and was predicted to bring ice and snow to the eastern U.S. in coming days.
"This system is notable for the fact that it's going impact areas all the way from California to eventually the Northeast," said Frank Pereira, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland.
Forecasters expect the storm system to hobble the upper Midwest with ice, rain and snow for days, as well as move into the central Appalachians and Northeast. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch from Wednesday night through Friday afternoon, depending on the timing of the storm. Residents from West Virginia to Vermont were told to watch for a possible significant mix of snow, ice and sleet.
In the Black Hills of western South Dakota, snow piled up to nearly 2 feet (60 centimeters) in some mountainous communities.
"They shovel for hours on end," said Vicki Weekly, who manages a historic hotel in the tourist and gambling city of Deadwood. A few visitors were still venturing out to hit the casinos.
A roughly 320-mile (520-kilometer) span of Interstate 90 in South Dakota was closed Wednesday, and state officials warned drivers to stay off most highways. The state also planned to close Interstate 29 in the northeast corner of the state on Wednesday night.
Wet, heavy snow left tree limbs sagging and made driving treacherous Wednesday in northern Minnesota. Weather Service meteorologist Ketzel Levens in Duluth said snow had reached 6 to 8 inches (15-20 centimeters) in some areas.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wvasfm.org/2022-12-14/3-are-dead-in-louisiana-as-a-massive-winter-storm-spawns-tornadoes-across-the-south | 2022-12-15 01:30:34 | 0 | https://www.wvasfm.org/2022-12-14/3-are-dead-in-louisiana-as-a-massive-winter-storm-spawns-tornadoes-across-the-south |
Feds reveal alleged motive behind Washington state power grid attacks
TACOMA, Wash. (KPTV/Gray News) - Federal law enforcement authorities have revealed the alleged motives behind attacks on four power substations in Washington state on Christmas Day that left thousands of people without electricity.
The four substations that were targeted were the Graham and Elk Plain substations operated by Tacoma Power and the Kapowsin and Hemlock substations operated by Puget Sound Energy. The damage to just the Tacoma Power substations was estimated to cost at least $3 million.
On Tuesday, the FBI identified 32-year-old Matthew Greenwood and 40-year-old Jeremy Crahan as the perpetrators of the attacks after analyzing their phone records.
One of the Tacoma Power substations caught images of one of the suspects and a pickup truck that was tied to the two men. When law enforcement arrested Greenwood and Crahan, they found the same clothing caught on camera and seized two unregistered guns, one with a makeshift silencer.
The two men were charged with conspiracy to damage energy facilities and possession of an unregistered firearm. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, conspiracy to attack energy facilities is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and possession of an unregistered firearm is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors will ask that both men remain detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac.
According to the criminal complaint, the reason for the attacks, which occurred over a 12-hour period and hundreds of miles apart, was to burglarize a nearby business while the power was out for nearly 15,000 customers in the area.
The outer chain-link fence around the Hemlock substation, which is run by Puget Sound Energy, was cut early on Christmas Day, court documents said. A “bank high side switch” was tampered with, leading to an outage that affected about 8,000 users.
The next target was the substation in Elk Plain. In order to enter the substation, padlocks on the pedestrian gates had to be removed, the criminal complaint said. Once inside, high side breakers were altered, which resulted in an outage. The Graham substation was the scene of the third attack, which involved the manipulation of high side breakers and the cutting of a chain-link fence.
According to court documents, 7,500 consumers experienced power interruptions as a result of the damage to those two Tacoma Power substations. According to the lawsuit, replacing both “de-energizer taps” for each affected transformer that have been damaged will take up to 36 months.
The fourth attack took place at the Puget Sound Energy-run Kapowsin substation later that evening. To obtain access, a chain-link fence was cut. The substation began to arc and spark after the suspects allegedly interfered with the bank high side switch and attempted to pry the linkage open.
Greenwood admitted, after being informed of his Miranda rights, that he and Crahan “have been preparing to disrupt power to commit a burglary,” according to a probable cause summary by FBI Special Agent Mark Tucher.
Crahan is accused of going inside the fourth substation. After the Graham and South Hill attacks, the two went to a nearby company where Crahan drilled out a lock and Greenwood entered to steal from the cash register while the electricity was off, according to Tucher. That company is not mentioned in the complaint.
Copyright 2023 KPTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kbtx.com/2023/01/05/feds-reveal-alleged-motive-behind-washington-state-power-grid-attacks/ | 2023-01-05 15:01:45 | 1 | https://www.kbtx.com/2023/01/05/feds-reveal-alleged-motive-behind-washington-state-power-grid-attacks/ |
MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) – Officers say that in recent weeks, a man has stolen high dollar-value merchandise from various Walgreens locations across the west side of Madison and Middleton, Wisconsin.
According to a report, the Madison Police Department is working with the Middleton Police Department in attempting to identify the suspect.
Officers say that the man has stolen over $2,300 in merchandise by filling ‘numerous bags with high dollar-value merchandise from the store and leaving.’
The suspect typically steals items that include Rogaine, teeth whitening strips, over-the-counter allergy medications, and more.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Madison Area Crime Stoppers at (608) 266-6014, or by submitting a tip anonymously online at p3tips.com. | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/serial-wisconsin-walgreens-thief-tallies-2k-plus-in-stolen-merchandise-officers-seek-info/ | 2022-09-18 18:03:44 | 0 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/serial-wisconsin-walgreens-thief-tallies-2k-plus-in-stolen-merchandise-officers-seek-info/ |
Tom Hanks knows that the future of artificial intelligence, known as AI, can be quite troubling.
During a recent appearance on the "Adam Buxton Podcast," Hanks said that AI could allow actors to "recreate themselves at any age" and called movies featuring AI or deepfake-created stars "a bona fide possibility" in the future.
He imagined a scenario where he starred in a series of seven movies as his 32-year-old self.
“I could be hit by a bus tomorrow and that’s it, but my performances can go on and on and on," he said.
“And outside of the understanding that it’s been done by AI or deepfake, there’ll be nothing to tell you that it’s not me and me alone. And it’s going to have some degree of lifelike quality. And that is certainly an artistic challenge, but it's also a legal one."
Buxton, a British actor and comedian, acknowledged that this could be the way of the future, but he told Hanks that fans would likely prefer to watch human performances, not AI ones.
“Without a doubt, people will be able to tell, but the question is, will they care?” Hanks replied.
Entertainment News
“There are some people that won’t care, that won’t make that delineation," he added.
Hanks also said there were discussions "going on in all of the guilds, all of the agencies, and all of the legal firms in order to come up with the legal ramifications of my face and my voice — and everybody else’s — being our intellectual property."
Earlier in the interview, he noted that his 2004 Christmas movie, “The Polar Express," was created with AI-like technology that relied on his voice and face to create an animated likeness.
"And we saw this coming, we saw that there was going to be this ability in order to take zeros and ones inside a computer and turn it into a face and a character," he said.
"Now, that has only grown a billionfold since then, and we see it everywhere.”
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY: | https://www.nbcdfw.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/tom-hanks-says-ai-could-allow-him-to-appear-in-movies-after-his-death/3260005/ | 2023-05-17 21:04:26 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/tom-hanks-says-ai-could-allow-him-to-appear-in-movies-after-his-death/3260005/ |
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DePay will provide Shopify merchants the ability to allow buyers to send direct payments to store owner wallets with tens of thousands of accepted tokens on supported blockchains.
ZUG, Switzerland, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Swiss Web3 payment startup DePay announced today their official integration into omnichannel commerce platform Shopify, allowing for the very first integration of a wallet-to-wallet (P2P) payment solution for eligible Shopify merchants. DePay's multichain Web3 payments will unlock the ability for merchants to receive any preferred tokens with blockchain-based asset conversion of incoming payments in real-time.
The mechanism of blockchain transactions is inherently peer-to-peer and decentralized. Nevertheless, most of today's established Crypto Payment solutions manage wallets for their customers, embedding a decentralized technology into centralized structures. As a result, the buyers pay middlemen who credit the merchant's account.
Aiming for a paradigm shift, DePay establishes a new model by using decentralized finance (DeFi) to enable any-to-anything payment conversions.
"We're happy to welcome DePay to provide the very first integration of a wallet-to-wallet (P2P) payment solution for Shopify merchants," said Ashley Fulks, Product Partner Manager at Shopify. "Our growing blockchain ecosystem demonstrates our commitment to supporting merchants with alternative payment methods on their storefronts, helping to further expand what's possible in commerce."
"Shopify was our biggest integration target to date. It's amazing to be at the forefront of pushing the entire Web3 industry forward," said Sebastian Pape, Founder of DePay.
The benefits for merchants include:
- Instant Cashflow: Received payments are settled and available for the merchants in real-time.
- Automatic Conversion: Tokens are automatically converted (e.g. to stablecoins) as part of the payment transaction.
- Unmatched token acceptance: By using DeFi, DePay grows the amount of accepted tokens by a hundredfold.
DePay will continue to drive the expansion of supported blockchain networks in order to unlock all major blockchains and Layer-2 solutions in near future.
In addition to the overall growth of ecommerce, the adoption of cryptocurrency payments is also advancing rapidly. Recently, a study found that 40% of 18- to 35-year-olds are willing to pay with crypto (source: https://www.checkout.com/campaigns/demystifying-crypto ). Governments are also starting to engage through the planned development of their own "central bank digital currencies" (CBDCs).
About DePay
DePay pioneers Web3 Payments with the power of DeFi.
Driving mass adoption of blockchain based payments, DePay merges the core ideas of decentralization and interoperability with state-of-the-art Web3 technologies.
Contacts:
Alexander Paul / marketing@depay.fi / +41797503270
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SOURCE DePay AG | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/depay-brings-their-web3-p2p-payment-gateway-eligible-shopify-merchants/ | 2022-06-02 11:39:54 | 1 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/depay-brings-their-web3-p2p-payment-gateway-eligible-shopify-merchants/ |
Paper trail points out questions regarding jailed Smith County constable
KLTV Open records request reveals questions prior to November arrest
TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - The conduct of Smith County Pct. 1 Constable, Curtis Traylor-Harris, was first drawn into public scrutiny on Nov. 11, 2021. On that date, Traylor-Harris and two of his leading law enforcement officers within the department were arrested, accused of stealing makeup, ammunition, an Apple AirPods box, sunglasses , cash and other items from a home where they were serving eviction papers. They were charged with Official Oppression and Abuse of Official Capacity. The incident came to light when one of the three appeared to mistakenly turn her body camera on, while thinking she was turning it off at the time when the thefts were allegedly being committed. The cameras were later handed over to a separate law enforcement agency where the discovery was made.
In the six months since, Traylor-Harris has remained in office, collecting a $74,000 per year salary, while criminal charges remain active against him. Since May 13, Traylor-Harris has been in the Gregg County jail for violating bond conditions after the initial arrest. Traylor-Harris even fired his own chief deputy (LaQuenda Banks, who is not an elected official) over the identical charges he faces. In a memo KLTV obtained from an open records request, on Dec. 3, 2021, Traylor Harris informed Banks, “it is in the best interest of this office that you are terminated effective immediately.”
Questions over residency
Traylor-Harris assumed the office of Constable Pct. 1 in Jan. 2021. He finished in third place in the 2020 primary election. However, at the time courts found the winner, Willie Mims, ineligible for office, due to concerns over the validity of petition signatures. A runoff was held between Traylor-Harris and incumbent Bobby Garmon. Traylor-Harris won that race. There was no Republican challenger for the office. A constable-elect is required to have been a resident of the district they are serving for six months prior to the start of their elected term. State statutes are not clear as to whether simply declaring an address within the district meets that requirement, or if one must physically reside within the district. On his candidate finance report filed in Feb. 2020, Traylor- Harris listed both a mailing address and treasurer address at a home on Baldwin Drive in Tyler. Prior to becoming Pct. 1 constable, Traylor- Harris was employed as a juvenile detention officer in Dallas. He also ran, and lost, races for a Dallas city council seat (May 2019) and a constable position in North Texas (Nov. 2018). The Dallas Morning News reported in 2019 that Harris, making less than $40,000 a year in his (juvenile detention officer) job, “can barely afford his unit in a luxury complex off the Dallas North Tollway”.
In August 2021, after Traylor-Harris was in his position for more than seven months, the question over residency caught the attention of the Smith County Personnel Department. In emails KLTV obtained through an open records request, on Aug. 24 2021, Constable Traylor-Harris wrote Smith County Human Resources Director, Esmeralda Delmas, over concerns regarding a negative exit interview given by a former deputy in his department. Traylor-Harris writing,
“I just want to reiterate that I maintain a great professional and personal relationship with all of my employees, whether their employment for me works out or not. The alarming thing that came up during the exit interview according to Deputy King, that was completely irrelevant to anything during that meeting was personal information about me. Why was Deputy King questioned about where I live when you have access to that information in your files? Second, why was Deputy King questioned about whether I work every day or what my schedule is? If this is true, I would like an explanation as to why those questions were relevant. Also if it is true, I am asking that the subtle nit picking of me and my office ceases immediately from the County Judge, the Counties [sic] Civil Attorney, and anyone else in purview of the County Annex or I will be forced to fill [sic] a Civil Rights and harassment suit against the county.”
In response, Delmas replied to Traylor-Harris, indicating Deputy Darrell King had complained about professionalism within Pct. 1 numerous times, requesting an in-person exit interview. On the matters that were complained about, Delmas said the issues were best directed to Traylor-Harris himself. It was at that point, Delmas says King indicated he had not seen Traylor-Harris at work, and he was not in the office any time King attempted to see him. Delmas told Traylor-Harris in the same email the county’s human resources office had reason for concern after King was seen performing duties in full uniform six days after his position had been terminated by Traylor-Harris via a text message. “He made a comment that implied you lived in Dallas. As a follow up question, I inquired about your residency, as this is relevant to your alleged absence from the office and would be contrary to the information we have on file for you,” Delmas replied on Aug. 24, 2021.
King made those series of residency complaints to Smith County Human Resources from Aug. 2 to Aug. 11, 2021. On Aug. 17, 2021 Traylor -Harris made an application to rent an apartment on Kinsey Drive in Tyler. Traylor-Harris had emailed the completed apartment rental application to himself, and that email was obtained by KLTV via an open records request. Traylor- Harris indicated his prior residences as living with his mother from 4/1/2010 – 5/1/2019 and living with another family member from 5/1/2019 to the date of application as well. The open records request also revealed that Traylor-Harris had emailed himself, with the subject line of “bills,” -- copies of utility statements from Direct Energy from late Jan. 2021, with an address to an apartment at The Towers of Mercer Crossing, in Farmers Branch, in North Dallas.
Reserve Deputy arrested, TCOLE investigation
In an incident separate to the Official Oppression and Abuse of Official Capacity, an employee of the Pct. 1 Constable’s office was booked into jail on July 7, 2021. Demondre Montgomery was charged with Impersonating a Public Servant. According to Smith County administration, Montgomery’s position within Pct. 1 had been defined as part-time clerk and reserve deputy. KLTV 7 also obtained body camera video from within the Pct. 1 department showing Montgomery from inside the Pct. 1 Constable’s office in full uniform. Montgomery appeared to be experimenting with the camera itself at the time. A receipt as part of the open records request showed Curtis Traylor-Harris personally paid $1,440 toward Montgomery’s bond, using AAA Atlas Bail Bonds of Farmers Branch. That payment was also made July 7, 2021, at 11:38am. According to the receipt, Traylor- Harris listed his billing address of Turtle Creek Boulevard in the Design District of Dallas.
Prior to Montgomery’s arrest, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement launched an investigation into Traylor-Harris over an alleged improper appointment (of a law enforcement officer). On July 21, Traylor- Harris filed a formal complaint against TCOLE, alleging his 4th Amendment rights were violated and that neither he, nor his office, were presented with allegations surrounding the incident. Traylor-Harris writing, “On March 23, 2021, I recieved [sic] a call from my assistant stating that Tcole personnel were at my office to conduct an audit of records. That was strange to me because after I took office, I was told my field agent would come out and show me the way tcole likes our records kept and he would schedule ahead of time. That never happened. When Investigator Shane Norie arrived, I talked to him by phone and he told me I did not need to be there, that it was just a quick audit so he was allowed access to my office’ [sic] secured records under a false pretense. I arrived at the office an hour later to find investigator Shane Norie another investigator and a Texas Ranger asking lots of questions. At no point did Investigator Norie mention he was conducting an investigation. If so, I would have invoked my 4th amendment rights. Investigator Norie never informed myself or any member of my staff of their ‘Miranda Rights’ before questioning anyone or gaining permission to records. I was never presented with the allegation against me, or any member of my staff. Investigator Norie continuously threw out laws/rules that I had allegedly broken, and once disproved continued to search for something wrong as if he was on a fishing expedition to find something no matter what. He even went as far as for to tell me that he would recommend charges against me for Impersonating a public servant even though I am an elected official and a full time fully licensed police officer. Shane Norie returned to my office in mid April with a search warrant for “possible impersonating public servant” is what the warrant read and stated that he did not know why he got the warrant or what he was looking for, but proceeded to confiscate all of my office’ [sic] bodycam video and storage equipment leaving us with no way to review new materials for court and training purposes. Today, 07/20/2021 I recieved [sic] a call from a local news reporter stating Norie has informed her that this office is under investigation by TCOLE. I have not been informed of any such investigation. When Shane Norie arrived on 03/23/2021 , he would not inform me of what allegation brought him here or what he was looking for and to this day I do not know what I am being investigated for or if im even under investigation. Investigation Shane Norie deprived myself and staff members of the right to not incriminate ourself or any member of this office by falsely stating his reason for being at my office and not giving anyone their miranda warning. This is a violation of my 4th Amendment rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States. Investigator Norie also proceeded to charge D. Montgomery with a F3 (third degree Felony) and had an excessively high bond amount set at $75,000 in violation of Montgomery’s 8th amendment rights to be free from excess bail and added conditions that prevents him from his lively hood [sic] and unecessary [sic] drug and alcohol tests on a weekly basis.” Traylor-Harris’ complaint was filed after TCOLE investigators arrived unannounced to the precinct 1 office to review records in early 2021. Traylor-Harris had been in office for just under three months at that time.
Driving without insurance
Through another open records request , KLTV 7 learned of an incident involving Constable Traylor-Harris along Highway 69, within the boundary of Pct. 5. On May 20, 2021, at 1:05pm Traylor-Harris was pulled over for speeding while driving his personal vehicle, a 2013 BMW 535. According to a citation a Pct. 5 constable deputy clocked Traylor-Harris driving 80 mph, in a 65 mph zone.
A check of Traylor- Harris’ insurance during the stop revealed his insurance had lapsed three months prior. During the stop, bodycam video shows Traylor-Harris in uniform. When asked by the deputy during the stop if Traylor-Harris was conducting official business, the audio from the video indicates Traylor-Harris gestured to the Constable uniform he was wearing, but he did not affirm he was conducting official business. After being cited at the scene, Traylor-Harris emailed Pct. 5 Constable Jeff McClenny the next day, stating, " I didn’t know if you were aware of the traffic stop conducted by one of your officers, Deputy Kevin Petty on Thursday. He stopped me southbound on 69 and issued me a speeding/no insurance ticket on my way into the office while in uniform. The no insurance ticket is understandable, I didn’t know it had lapsed but I didn’t know we gave each other speeding tickets. He had my credentials and knew who I was. No ill feeling just making you aware of it.” Traylor-Harris was fined $230 for speeding and $324 for failure to maintain financial responsibility. He pleaded no contest and paid the fines.
Past employment troubles within law enforcement.
In addition to getting elected, the state of Texas requires the following of constables:
-Must be U.S. Citizen
-Must have been a Texas resident for at least 12 consecutive months
-Must have been a resident of the district where one is serving for at least 6 consecutive months
-Must be registered to vote in the area of office sought
-Must be at least 18 years of age
-Must have no felony convictions
-Must have not been determined by a court to be totally or partially mentally incapacitated
-Must be an active or inactive licensed peace officer, or be eligible for to be licensed.
As an elected position, barring certain criminal convictions, prior employment history is not relevant when it comes to eligibility for the Constable office.
According to Smith County human resources records obtained by KLTV 7 through an open records request , Traylor-Harris had previously been employed by Smith County as a jailer from March 2009 to February 2010. He was involuntarily terminated for “conduct unbecoming of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office”. A memo from his supervising lieutenant to his chief indicated that after being locked out of his apartment for not paying rent. Traylor-Harris admitted to breaking down the door . Lt. Carolyn Brown writing at the time, “Officer Traylor admitted to kicking in the door of his apartment of which he was locked out for non-payment of rent instead of calling the courtesy officer who would have let him in is not only criminal in nature, but is also conduct unbecoming of an officer.” During his short tenure as a jailer, Traylor-Harris had previously also been suspended twice for not reporting to work, and for dishonesty over calling out from work.
Who is in charge?
As Traylor-Harris sits in a Gregg County jail cell, he continues to draw his $74,000 salary, a salary funded by taxpayers. In a call placed Monday May 23 to the Pct. 1 office, a KLTV reporter asked who was in charge of running the office while Traylor-Harris was in jail. The Pct. 1 employee replied that they were waiting for Traylor-Harris to call them from jail to tell them who was in charge. In another call on Tuesday May 24, a Pct. 1 employee answered the same question stating, no one was in charge “we are all just running things ourselves.” When asked who was in charge, a spokesperson for Smith County Commissioners Court told us “Smith County Commissioners Court has no authority to designate anyone in charge of that office in Constable Harris’ absence”. Later that same day, the county spokesperson clarified that it was understood Pct. 1 Chief Deputy Roy Logan was handling office matters during Traylor-Harris’ absence.
Removing an elected official before a conviction is complicated process.
Texas state law sets forth some guidelines for removing a Constable from an elected office. State statutes cite “General Grounds for Removal” include “incompetency and official misconduct.” However, getting an elected official removed from office prior to any conviction is a process. State law defines the process of removal as beginning with a written petition filed by a citizen in the district court where the officer resides, or where the alleged cause of removal occurred. As of this publication, no such citizen complaint has been filed in Smith County. From that point, the officer being complained about must be given a citation from a district judge. A jury trial would ensue -with options for the officer to be suspended and also having the ability to appeal any verdict.
A criminal conviction fast tracks the above process. Specifically, a district judge may order immediate remove after a conviction on official misconduct. Traylor-Harris is still awaiting trial and has not been convicted of any of the charges at this time. Until one of the two scenarios happens, he will continue to collect his $74,000 dollar salary. Traylor-Harris’ official bio on the Smith County website states, “Harris’ goal for the office is to professionalize the department and build a reputation the community can be proud of.”
Copyright 2022 KLTV. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/2022/06/09/paper-trail-points-out-questions-regarding-jailed-smith-county-constable/ | 2022-06-09 22:30:42 | 1 | https://www.ktre.com/2022/06/09/paper-trail-points-out-questions-regarding-jailed-smith-county-constable/ |
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Editor's Note: The video in this story is from a previous report.
A Gwinnett County principal sent a letter home to parents last week letting them know about a loaded gun found on campus.
Britt Elementary School principal Melissa Madsen said a teacher found the weapon in a box of donated school supplies on Aug. 3.
She said it was found at the end of the day after students were already dismissed from the Snellville school. She added that no one was injured.
"Britt Elementary School and Gwinnett County Public Schools take this situation seriously," Madsen wrote in the letter. "Safety is a focus on our campus for administrators, staff, and students."
The district did not say where the box of donated supplies came from or if anyone will be charged in the incident.
News happens fast. Download our 11Alive News app for all the latest breaking updates, and sign up for our Speed Feed newsletter to get a rundown of the latest headlines across north Georgia. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/loaded-gun-britt-elementary-school-gwinnett/85-be4491a9-736b-40d7-8378-22b18883bf3f | 2022-08-08 12:53:50 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/loaded-gun-britt-elementary-school-gwinnett/85-be4491a9-736b-40d7-8378-22b18883bf3f |
A Majority of Americans Have Traveled in the Last Year and Confidence in Taking an Annual Vacation Hits Record Levels
RICHMOND, Va., July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Now more than ever, Americans are claiming their vacation days and making time to travel a priority. According to Allianz Partners USA's 14th Annual Vacation Confidence Index*, a majority of Americans have taken a vacation in the last year, marking a significant milestone in the survey's decade-plus-long history. In fact, they have never been as steadfast about the importance of taking an annual vacation, or more confident in using their hard-earned PTO days.
Link to download graphic 1: HERE.
Link to download graphic 2: HERE.
Link to download graphic 3: HERE.
Defining a vacation as leisure travel of at least a week to a destination 100 miles or more away from home, the survey revealed that 57% of Americans have taken a vacation in the last year. Up from 44% last year, 2022 marks the highest percentage of Americans who reported traveling in the last year since 2009, when the survey was first conducted. Of the respondents who have traveled in the last year, two in 10 (22%) traveled in the three months leading up to the survey, with the 18-34 year old demographic (29%) leading this trend.
Signifying a new norm of Americans prioritizing vacationing, Allianz's survey also found that three-quarters of Americans (74%) consider an annual vacation important, a huge leap from 60% in 2019 and one point higher than last year. Mirroring this trend, confidence in taking a vacation this year also has never been higher, with 65% of Americans expressing positive intentions to vacation, up two points from last year and a stunning 13 points over the highest prior year surveyed (52% in 2014).
Allianz Partners USA also defined a "vacation deficit" as the percentage of Americans who say an annual vacation is important to them, but are not confident they will take one this year. In 2022, the percentage of Americans who are experiencing a vacation deficit returns to 19% compared to 44% in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. With more Americans back to traveling, and with vacation intentions remaining strong, the vacation deficit is nearing an all-time low.
Looking at those who have been waiting longer to travel (43% of Americans have not taken a vacation in a year or more, down 13 points from last year), older Americans ages 55+ are demonstrating more hesitancy (55%) than their younger counterparts (41% for ages 35-54 and 31% for ages 18-34), as are lower-income Americans (56% of those making less than $50,000/year versus 34% who make more than $100,000).
"Our latest Vacation Confidence Index proves that taking an annual vacation has never been more important to Americans, and we're seeing record levels of confidence that they'll travel between now and the end of the year," said Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA. "Instead of banking those PTO days, Americans are viewing their vacation time as a much-needed getaway to support their mental health."
The Vacation Confidence Index has been conducted each summer since 2009 by national polling firm Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of Allianz Partners USA.
In March 2021, Allianz Partners announced enhancements** to many of its travel insurance products in most states through an Epidemic Coverage Endorsement. Products that include this endorsement may provide coverage to customers who become ill with COVID-19 or a future epidemic, are individually ordered to quarantine, or are denied boarding due to a suspected illness. These products also may cover emergency medical care and transportation or provide reimbursement for change fees and loyalty points deposit fees if the customer becomes ill with an epidemic disease. Availability of the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, and specific covered reasons under that endorsement, varies by product and by state. See your plan for details.
Allianz Partners offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies, hotel companies, cruise lines and directly to consumers. For more information on Allianz and available travel policies, please visit http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/.
*Methodology: These are the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Allianz Partners USA. For this survey, a sample of 2,011 Americans aged 18+ was interviewed from May 2 to 4, 2022, via the Ipsos Online Omnibus. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the results are accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had all American adults been polled. Quota sampling and weighting were employed in order to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the actual U.S. population, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Credibility intervals are wider among subsets
About Allianz Partners
In the United States, Allianz Partners USA (AGA Service Company) offers Allianz Travel-branded travel protection plans and serves millions of customers each year. In addition to travel protection, the company offers event ticket protection, registration protection for endurance events and unique travel assistance services such as international medical assistance and concierge services. AGA Service Company is doing business as Allianz Global Assistance Insurance Agency in California (License # 0B01400) and Massachusetts. Allianz Partners USA is part of the Allianz Partners group. Allianz Partners is a world leader in B2B2C insurance and assistance, offering global solutions that span international health and life, travel insurance, mobility and assistance. Customer driven, our innovative experts are redefining insurance services by delivering future-ready, high-tech, high-touch products and solutions that go beyond traditional insurance. Present in over 75 countries, our 19,400 employees speak 70 languages, handle over 58 million cases each year, and are motivated to go the extra mile to offer peace of mind to our customers around the world.
** While the new Epidemic Coverage Endorsement adds certain covered reasons that apply to specific epidemic-related situations, products otherwise generally do not cover claims due to known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, government prohibitions, warnings, or travel advisories, or fear of travel, and coverage can vary by state. Please see our Coverage Alert for information about other temporary accommodations that may be available. Benefits for quarantines only apply when an eligible traveler is specifically named and individually ordered to quarantine by order or official directive of a government, public regulatory authority, or the captain of a commercial vessel on which that eligible traveler is booked to travel during the covered trip, based on that eligible traveler's exposure to COVID-19. The benefit does not cover travel restrictions (whether or not they are referred to as "quarantine") that apply generally or broadly (a) to some segment or all of a population, geographical area, building, or vessel (including without limitation shelter-in-place, stay-at-home, safer-at-home, or other similar restriction), or (b) based on to, from, or through where the person is traveling. Coverage may not cover the full cost of your quarantine and is subject to applicable benefit limits. See your plan for details.
For Allianz Partners USA products offered and sold in the U.S.: Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply to all plans. Plans are available only to U.S. residents. Not all plans are available in all jurisdictions. Availability of Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, including specific benefits and covered reasons described here, varies by product and by state. Products may not include all benefits or covered reasons described here. All benefits are subject to maximum limits of liability, which may in some cases be subject to sublimits and daily maximums. Benefits and limits vary by plan. For a complete description of the coverage and benefit limits offered under your specific plan, carefully review your plan's Letter of Confirmation/Declarations and Certificate of Insurance/Policy. Insurance coverage is underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: Oakbrook Terrace, IL), rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: Richmond, VA), rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101‐C series or 101‐P series, depending on state of residence. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Except as otherwise specified, AGA Service Company d/b/a Allianz Global Assistance is the licensed producer and administrator of Allianz Travel-branded travel protection plans in the U.S. and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. Allianz Global Assistance, TravelSmart, and AgentSmart are marks of AGA Service Company or its affiliates. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between Allianz Global Assistance and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance and assistance services. Noninsurance benefits/products are provided and serviced by Allianz Global Assistance. SmartBenefits proactive payments and "no receipts" payments available only on certain plans. For plans that include proactive payments: when you opt in and provide flight information, Allianz Global Assistance will monitor flights and send flight status and benefit alerts, including alerts about flight delays that qualify for automated travel delay payments. Standard message/data rates apply to SMS alerts. Automated claims and payment system availability is not guaranteed and is subject to our sole discretion. All claims subject to policy terms, conditions, and exclusions.
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SOURCE Allianz Partners | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/travel-kicks-into-overdrive-americans-use-their-vacation-days-with-vengeance/ | 2022-07-26 15:12:50 | 1 | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/travel-kicks-into-overdrive-americans-use-their-vacation-days-with-vengeance/ |
Houston police have arrested a man accused of fatally shooting San Antonio rapper BTB Savage.
Montrel Lenard Burley, 40, was charged with murder in connection with the death of the 26-year-old rapper, whose name is Darrell Gentry. Burley turned himself into authorities Tuesday morning, Houston police said.
Gentry was killed in a drive-by shooting on March 30 in the affluent River Oaks neighborhood. Houston police were called at 6:10 p.m. to a parking garage in the 2100 block of Mid Lane, where they found Gentry with at least one gunshot wound.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said the shooting appeared to have been a targeted attack. Gentry’s family said they belive the shooting was retaliation for another fatal shooting that occurred at Gentry’s downtown San Antonio apartment in February.
San Antonio police ruled the Feb. 3 shooting that killed 34-year-old Omar Richardson an act of self-defense.
Gentry’s girlfriend shot and killed Richardson after the man allegedly tried to rob the couple at gunpoint in their home. Gentry showed no remorse in the aftermath to the shooting, appearing in a YouTube interview where he described the shooting in graphic and profanity-laced detail.
In the roughly 30-minute video, Gentry recalled that he told Richardson “I hope you die” as he left the man bleeding on the floor.
“I went to sleep good as hell the next day,” Gentry said. “I didn’t care.”
The San Antonio-rapper also posted photos on social media of himself in his still blood-soaked apartment with the bullet-ridden door in view after Richardson’s body was removed.
Gentry’s mother, Bernita Ward, said on social media that she had warned her son not to speak publicly about Richardson’s shooting and asked that Gentry let the dead man’s family “mourn in peace.”
It’s not known how — or whether — Burley, the man arrested in Gentry’s killing, is associated with the people involved in the shooting at Gentry’s apartment. Police also said at least one other unknown person is wanted in connection with Gentry’s killing.
taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/montrel-burley-arrested-fatal-shooting-btb-savage-17891405.php | 2023-04-11 23:01:26 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/montrel-burley-arrested-fatal-shooting-btb-savage-17891405.php |
NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE NOTI
NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE: April 17, 2013 ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $75,000.00 MORTGAGOR(S): Michael A. Anderson, a single man MORTGAGEE: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as mortgagee, as nominee for Quicken Loans, Inc., its successors and assigns DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded: May 7, 2013 St. Louis County Registrar of Titles Document Number: 930353.0 LOAN MODIFICATION: Dated: June 22, 2017 Recorded: August 10, 2017 Document Number: 988471.0 ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: And assigned to: Quicken Loans, Inc. Dated: February 17, 2017 Recorded: February 22, 2017 St. Louis County Registrar of Titles Document Number: 982382.0 Transaction Agent: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. Transaction Agent Mortgage Identification Number: 100039033153970003 Lender/Broker/Mortgage Originator: Quicken Loans, Inc. Residential Mortgage Servicer: Rocket Mortgage, LLC CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NUMBER: 289763 COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: St. Louis Property Address: 201 Arlington Rd, Hoyt Lakes, MN 55750-1115 Tax Parcel ID Number: 142-0022-00310 LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: Lot Twenty (20), Block Seventeen (17), Hoyt Lakes Subdivision No. 3 AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE: $77,314.42 THAT all pre-foreclosure requirements have been complied with; that no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof; that this is registered property; PURSUANT to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above-described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: April 26, 2023 at 10:00 AM PLACE OF SALE: County Sheriff`s office, 100 North Fifth Avenue West, Room 103, Duluth, Minnesota to pay the debt secured by said mortgage and taxes, if any, on said premises and the costs and disbursements, including attorney fees allowed by law, subject to redemption within six (6) months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns. If the Mortgage is not reinstated under Minn. Stat. §580.30 or the property is not redeemed under Minn. Stat. §580.23, the Mortgagor must vacate the property on or before 11:59 p.m. on October 26, 2023, or the next business day if October 26, 2023 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. Mortgagor(s) released from financial obligation: NONE THIS COMMUNICATION IS FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION. THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED. DATED: March 6, 2023 MORTGAGEE: Rocket Mortgage, LLC f/k/a Quicken Loans, LLC f/k/a Quicken Loans Inc. Wilford, Geske & Cook, P.A. Attorneys for Mortgagee 7616 Currell Boulevard, Suite 200 Woodbury, MN 55125 (651) 209-3300 File Number: 052386-F1 (March 8, 15, 22 & 29; April 5 & 12, 2023) 201354 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/legal-notices/notice-of-mortgage-foreclosure-sale-noti-stratica-legals-201354 | 2023-03-08 09:03:27 | 0 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/legal-notices/notice-of-mortgage-foreclosure-sale-noti-stratica-legals-201354 |
DELHI, La. (AP) — A space heater may have touched off a blaze that killed a Louisiana couple in their 70s, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office said Friday.
Bodies believed to be those of the 77-year-old woman and 78-year-old man who owned the house in Delhi were found in separate bedrooms early Wednesday, a news release said.
State Fire Marshal Dan Wallis says it’s alarming that the fire occurred so soon after nighttime temperatures dropped even a bit.
Early-morning lows in nearby Monroe fell from 61 degrees Fahrenheit (16.1 degrees Celsius) on Monday to 57 degrees Fahrenheit (13.9 degrees Celsius) on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to National Weather Service data from nearby Monroe.
The Richland Parish Coroner’s Office will make official identifications and determine the causes of death.
The fire's precise cause is still undetermined, with possibilities including a space heater or a separate electrical malfunction.
“We all have to make it our mission as we head into the fall and winter seasons to commit to being more aware of the fire dangers in our homes, especially as it relates to heating," Wallis said. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Fire-kills-couple-ages-77-and-78-space-heater-17446729.php | 2022-09-16 18:34:58 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Fire-kills-couple-ages-77-and-78-space-heater-17446729.php |
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — An asteroid the size of a delivery truck will whip past Earth on Thursday night, one of the closest such encounters ever recorded.
NASA insists it will be a near miss with no chance of the asteroid hitting Earth.
NASA said Wednesday that this newly discovered asteroid will zoom 2,200 miles (3,600 kilometers) above the southern tip of South America. That's 10 times closer than the bevy of communication satellites circling overhead.
The closest approach will occur at 7:27 p.m. EST (9:27 p.m. local.)
Even if the space rock came a lot closer, scientists said most of it would burn up in the atmosphere, with some of the bigger pieces possibly falling as meteorites.
NASA's impact hazard assessment system, called Scout, quickly ruled out a strike, said its developer, Davide Farnocchia, an engineer at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
"But despite the very few observations, it was nonetheless able to predict that the asteroid would make an extraordinarily close approach with Earth,” Farnocchia said in a statement. “In fact, this is one of the closest approaches by a known near-Earth object ever recorded.”
Discovered Saturday, the asteroid known as 2023 BU is believed to be between 11 feet (3.5 meters) and 28 feet (8.5 meters) feet across. It was first spotted by the same amateur astronomer in Crimea, Gennady Borisov, who discovered an interstellar comet in 2019. Within a few days, dozens of observations were made by astronomers around the world, allowing them to refine the asteroid's orbit.
The asteroid's path drastically will be altered by Earth's gravity once it zips by. Instead of circling the sun every 359 days, it will move into an oval orbit lasting 425 days, according to NASA. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/nation-world/asteroid-close-to-earth-near-miss/507-219d2b34-b0a7-42fa-a87a-1a5c00ab6479 | 2023-01-26 01:07:22 | 1 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/nation-world/asteroid-close-to-earth-near-miss/507-219d2b34-b0a7-42fa-a87a-1a5c00ab6479 |
Justin Verlander noncommittal on future following third CY Young award: ‘Market will dictate itself’
Verlander is a free agent after declining his player option
Justin Verlander is coming off a career year, winning his third CY Young award Wednesday night two weeks after helping bring another World Series to Houston.
Following a season that saw Verlander lead Major League Baseball in ERA (1.75) and have the second most wins in the majors (18), it’s hard to believe that he won’t be in an Astros uniform next season.
But last week, Verlander opted out of his contract, declining his $25 million player option and making him a free agent after he threw over 130 innings during the 2022 MLB season.
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"I don’t know what the future holds," Verlander said, according to USA Today. "I don’t want to sit here and say I won’t be back. I’m not going to sit here and pretend to know. The market will dictate itself. Jim [Crane] understands that.
"There’s a lot of people interested in my services, including the Astros, and we’ll see what happens."
The Astros have stated that they would like to bring Verlander back, but they will have to compete with 29 other teams for the soon-to-be 40-year-old.
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"Justin really had a great year," owner Jim Crane said last week, according to MLB.com. "We have a good relationship with him, [manager] Dusty [Baker] and I and [general manager] James [Click]. I think we have [until] about four o'clock [Thursday] to talk to him. We've been talking to him and we're working on it. We're gonna do our best to try to keep him."
Verlander, who missed the entire 2021 season following Tommy John surgery, remarked that his third CY Young will always have a special meaning.
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"It shows I am at a different point in my life," Verlander said Wednesday night. "I will always remember this Cy Young looking back at the growth of me as a father, as a person, as well as all the rehab and that I was so committed that it was going to go well and I was going to come back and be me.
"To have that actually happen - positive affirmations only take you so far. I don’t think I’ll be able to look at this award without recalling all of that."
Houston is going through organizational changes following their World Series victory, with Crane firing general manager James Click days after taking home the championship. | https://www.foxnews.com/sports/justin-verlander-noncommittal-future-following-third-cy-young-award-market-will-dictate-itself | 2022-11-17 18:08:14 | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/sports/justin-verlander-noncommittal-future-following-third-cy-young-award-market-will-dictate-itself |
The data and imagery will enable the island nation and SPC to mitigate risk and improve disaster resilience.
VANUATU, May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Woolpert has been contracted by the Pacific Community (SPC) to acquire, process and deliver topographic and bathymetric lidar data and aerial imagery for Vanuatu, a nation of multiple islands in the South Pacific. The project, funded by The World Bank, will help Vanuatu and SPC improve disaster resilience and response, conduct infrastructure planning, monitor the impact of climate change, and develop tools and systems to support coastal and hydrologic analysis throughout the islands.
SPC is a scientific and technical organization, owned and governed by 27 country and territory members in the Pacific, that supports a people-centered approach to sustainable development. Woolpert and its family of companies, most recently AAM and eTrac, have conducted multiple high-accuracy and high-resolution topo-bathy lidar data surveys internationally to support this same directive.
By integrating past and present data and imagery from multiple sources, Woolpert will develop digital elevation models and other derived products that will contribute to risk-informed decision-making to improve preparedness and mitigate risks to vulnerable communities and enhance resilient development planning throughout the Pacific.
Woolpert Geospatial Project Manager Constance Solemani noted that this project is part of the SPC-implemented and World Bank-funded Pacific Resilience Program, whose goal is to strengthen early warning and disaster preparedness and increase resilience of these island nations.
"Vanuatu is located in the 'Ring of Fire,' making it extremely vulnerable to volcanic eruptions, tropical cyclones, storm surges, flooding and coastal inundation," Solemani said. "The nation is doing everything it can to protect its people and infrastructure, using accurate, up-to-date data to make informed decisions. We are honored to support the nation's great work."
About Woolpert
Woolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and strategic consulting firm, with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. We innovate within and across markets to effectively serve public, private and government clients worldwide. Woolpert is an ENR Top 150 Global Design Firm, has earned six straight Great Place to Work certifications and actively nurtures a culture of growth, inclusion, diversity and respect. Founded in 1911 in Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert has been America's fastest-growing AEG firm since 2015. The firm has 1,900 employees and more than 60 offices on four continents. For more, visit woolpert.com.
Media Contact: Jill Kelley; 937.531.1258; jill.kelley@woolpert.com
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SOURCE Woolpert | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/05/23/woolpert-selected-by-pacific-community-spc-topo-bathy-lidar-aerial-imagery-vanuatu/ | 2022-05-23 14:44:44 | 1 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/05/23/woolpert-selected-by-pacific-community-spc-topo-bathy-lidar-aerial-imagery-vanuatu/ |
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.yourcentralvalley.com/hill-politics/musk-says-biden-may-try-to-weaponize-government-against-twitter-if-trump-returns/ | 2023-01-18 22:07:47 | 1 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/hill-politics/musk-says-biden-may-try-to-weaponize-government-against-twitter-if-trump-returns/ |
‘Black Panther’ cast pushes Wakanda forward after Boseman
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr.
AP Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Letitia Wright hit the Marvel Cinematic Universe scene as King T’Challa’s joyfully witty younger sister in 2018’s blockbuster “Black Panther.” But in the new sequel, the actor’s usual easygoing character delivers a more serious tone while dealing with grief.
Wright’s character takes center stage as Shuri who ventures into womanhood after the death of T’Challa. She’ll be looked upon to take the iconic Black Panther mantle in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” which releases in theaters Friday. Chadwick Boseman, who played T’Challa died in August 2020.
In between “Panther” films, Wright took on a few movie projects that exercised her dramatic acting chops.
“I always try to do things that are outside the box and what people wouldn’t expect,” said Wright, who starred in dramas “The Silent Twins” and “Aisha.” She also stars in “Surrounded,” which releases next year. The actor said each of those projects challenged her enough to “stretch me as an artist.”
“That naturally helped me grow a lot more,” said the actor, whose Shuri character also appeared in “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame” as Wakanda’s princess and chief scientist. “We know Shuri as the fun, vibrant sister of the first film. … But in the film, we really followed that journey of womanhood for her.”
Wright credits director Ryan Coogler for ushering Shuri’s maturation along in his rewritten script following Boseman’s unexpected death from colon cancer. The director carried an even heavier burden to deliver a strong script — especially after “Black Panther” broke box office records, earned $700 million domestically during its theatrical run and became the first superhero film nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards.
For the “Black Panther” follow, Coogler had developed a screenplay centered around T’Challa grieving lost time following Thanos’ snap in “Avengers: Infinity War,” which caused a five-year “blip.” But after Boseman’s death, Coogler and filmmaker Joe Robert Cole went back to the drawing board. They worked up a script that delved more into the concept of Wakanda’s grief in the wake of T’Challa’s death.
Coogler said Boseman’s family signed off on his character’s “respectful” death in “Wakanda Forever.” In the new film, the Wakandans are put in a peculiar spot to protect their nation without T’Challa against a new nemesis, Namor, a sub-marine Talocan leader who has extraordinary mutant-like abilities and can fly with the aid of tiny wings on his ankles. Namor is played by Tenoch Huert.
“This script was born of the truth in our lives that we had lost Chadwick Boseman,” said Lupita Nyong’o, who plays Nakia, a war spy and T’Challa’s lover. She said the characters dealt with T’Challa’s loss differently in the film.
“For me personally, I was relieved that we got to speak our truth,” Nyong’o said. “We got to express the grief that we were feeling and put it to good use.”
Wright and Nyong’o said they used their grief over Boseman to fuel their performances, while Coogler said his mournful remembrance of the late actor helped motivate him through his writing and directing process. The director said several photos of Boseman were posted on set, and a prop master put inside Coogler’s trailer a shield and spear that T’Challa held during a duel with Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger at Warrior Falls in “Black Panther.”
Before filming the project, the entire cast — including the newcomers — visited Boseman’s burial site. It turned into a bonding moment.
“We tried to make a movie to honor the legacy of Chadwick,” Huerta said. “The movie is about grieving. It was happening at the same time as reality. They were able to integrate what was happening in real life into fiction. Art is kind of therapy. It helped us deal with the reality and things we can’t understand.”
The cast leaned on each other during the filming process, which had several setbacks and obstacles. Production took longer than expected after Wright was injured while filming a stunt, and several cast and crew members tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Wright was attacked for sharing an anti-vaccination video, and Coogler was briefly handcuffed by Atlanta police after being mistaken for a bank robber earlier this year.
“We certainly had bumps in the road, but people pulled together,” said Nate Moore, the vice president of production and development at Marvel Studios. He was a producer on the “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Eternals” and executive producer on “Black Panther.”
Moore said the filming experience of “Wakanda Forever” was the toughest, but he said the whole cast and crew showed resilience through adversity.
“They didn’t pull apart,” Moore said. “If it were a different filmmaker, who didn’t have such great relationships with everybody, we would’ve seen a lot more partition from the crew, which we didn’t really. The cast could’ve gotten frustrated with the stopping and starting that we were forced to do, but they didn’t. They believe in what this movie was about and Ryan’s vision. As hard as it was, we had each other.”
Nyong’o said cast members comforted each other in grieving Boseman while attempting to keep the kingdom of Wakanda moving forward.
“It was joyful and sometimes it was hard,” she said. “But there was a lot of levity as well, because we had so many powerful, joyful memories of Chadwick to share with one another.” | https://kion546.com/news/2022/11/07/black-panther-cast-pushes-wakanda-forward-after-boseman/ | 2022-11-07 22:31:34 | 1 | https://kion546.com/news/2022/11/07/black-panther-cast-pushes-wakanda-forward-after-boseman/ |
Two sophomores will lead their teams in high school girls soccer this season
You couldn’t set the bar much higher than Emma Kucal and Ryann Denecour did last fall.
The pair of first-year girls soccer players at Cumberland and Chariho, respectively, stormed to All-State honors in their debut seasons. Scoring goals, driving the attack forward, starring deep into the Interscholastic League playoffs — Kucal and Denecour performed well beyond the ages on their birth certificates.
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What can they do for an encore? We’re about to find out a couple of short weeks from now — and they’ll face off head-to-head. Kucal and the Clippers have been joined in Division I-B by Denecour and the Chargers, who moved to the top level after capturing a Division II crown in 2021.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Kucal said. “But it was a really good year. I liked it.”
“I’m trying to get better every single season,” Denecour said. “That’s what I’ve been trying to do since I was little.”
Emma Kucal, Cumberland
Kucal was a standout in her town league but didn’t play on her middle school team in eighth grade due to injury. That made her something of a surprise when she came out for summer practices leading into last season. She wasted no time dominating opposing defenders thanks to her combination of power, balance and skill.
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“You don’t see a freshman striker come in, be first-team All-State, be all-region, lead the league in scoring,” Cumberland coach John Hoxsie said. “She’s a phenomenal player.”
Supportive teammates allowed Kucal to blend seamlessly into the lineup. She fought the natural urge to defer at times — one of those came in a matchup with Barrington. Kucal hadn’t scored in the previous game and was blanked through the first 30 minutes against the Eagles before Hoxsie asked her to be more selfish.
“She scored two goals in 10 minutes,” Hoxsie said. “You want to please the seniors. You’re the new kid on the block. There are definitely some adjustments and some growing pains for all freshmen who come in.”
Kucal played against national opponents at a pair of notable tournaments this summer with the Rhode Island Surf. They reached the semifinals at an event in Texas and also traveled to San Diego for the chance to take on top U16 competition. Those tests against club opponents have Kucal primed to face in-state players again this season.
“I understood that I was good, but I didn’t really feel like I was good until the past couple of years,” Kucal said. “I really wanted to bring this to the next level. I never really thought about it as a career until middle school, and then I started pushing myself harder and harder.”
Ryann Denecour, Chariho
Denecour has the game in her blood through her father, Matt, who was a college standout at Hartford before signing a professional contract. Her older sister, Brianna, gave Denecour a natural measuring stick as a youth player. Ryann Denecour was always playing up an age level or two — she had no choice but to compete and develop quickly.
“It wasn’t just her skill level,” Chariho coach Brittney Godbout said. “It was that leadership that she owned. All the upperclassmen — even the captains — turned to Ryann and looked up to Ryann.
“She demands that respect, which I love.”
Denecour plays as a striker at the club level with NEFC but can do a little bit of everything for Chariho. Attacking midfielder, holding midfielder — Denecour even slipped on the goalkeeper’s gloves during a penalty shootout victory against Prout in last year’s final. Chariho will need that all-around contribution while playing against the likes of defending champion North Kingstown, La Salle, South Kingstown and Pilgrim among others.
“It definitely bumps up the confidence of her teammates,” Godbout said. “We have Ryann — she's a great kid. And she’s not just great on the field. She’s a morale booster.”
Denecour worked on the little things in her game this offseason. Improving her left foot and first touch were primary among them. The rest has been more than good enough to date, and that should stay the same regardless of level.
“I personally think our team is great,” Denecour said. “We’ll be fine. It’s going to be physicality and speed of play that will set the bar differently for us. I think we can adjust quickly to it.”
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @BillKoch25 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/sports/high-school/2022/08/30/emma-kucal-and-ryann-denecour-ri-high-school-girls-soccer/7886358001/ | 2022-08-30 12:27:52 | 0 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/sports/high-school/2022/08/30/emma-kucal-and-ryann-denecour-ri-high-school-girls-soccer/7886358001/ |
June 21, 1928 - Dec. 23, 2022
CROWN POINT, IN - Albert J. Horvat, age 94, of Crown Point, IN, passed away on December 23, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was born on June 21, 1928 to the late John and Helen Horvat (Stastny). His wife and soulmate of 72 years, Rosemary "Babe" Horvat (Feczko) preceded him one month earlier.
Al was a Korean war Veteran, a realtor and a nationally recognized acrylic artist.
Albert is survived by his son, Mark (Kathy nee Candiano); daughters: Karen (late Bill Cox), Dee-Dee Allemon (Bernie) and Tina Sopher. Also surviving are his grandchildren: Lindsay Cox (late David Biernacki), Bill Cox, Craig Horvat (Amy), Christina Maple (Jeremy), Ben Allemon, Allie O'Connell (Collin), Lexi Sopher (Jordan Goodwin), Gabby Sopher; and many great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2022, from 3:00 p.m. until time of funeral at 7:00 p.m. at BURNS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point, IN. Pastor John Starr officiating. www.burnsfuneral.com | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/albert-j-horvat/article_09efe429-c979-5338-81d1-81dd50d9208a.html | 2022-12-28 07:02:49 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/albert-j-horvat/article_09efe429-c979-5338-81d1-81dd50d9208a.html |
Early on a Monday morning, a group of young obstetrics and gynecology residents gathered for a daily meeting. The young doctors, dressed in blue scrubs and white coats, sat in the auditorium of Indiana’s largest teaching hospital.
The morning meeting was a chance to share updates and make announcements. During this meeting, they also had to address the elephant in the room.
“Any more abortion care questions?” Dr. Nicole Scott, the residency program director, asked the trainees.
One of the residents spoke after a few harsh moments of silence: “How’s Dr. Bernard doing?”
“Bernard is actually in really good spirits. I mean, relatively,” Scott answered. “She has 24/7 security, has her own lawyer.”
They’re referring to Dr. Caitlin Bernard, an Indiana abortion provider and one of the physicians who trains residents at this university hospital. Bernard was recently caught in a political whirlwind after she spoke to a reporter about an abortion she provided to a 10-year-old rape victim who crossed state lines from Ohio. She was the target of attacks from pundits and political leaders on national television, including Indiana’s attorney general.
The vitriol hit home for this group of residents. Bernard has been a mentor for most of them for years. Many of these young doctors were certain they wanted to practice in Indiana after training. Lately, some have felt more ambivalent.
“Watching what [Dr. Bernard] went through was scary,” said Dr. Beatrice Soderholm, a fourth year OB-GYN resident and one of Bernard’s mentees. “I think that was part of the point for those who were putting her through that. [It] was to scare other people out of doing the work that she does.”
Indiana abortion law is still being debated in the Statehouse. A new law is expected to ban all abortions with few exceptions. Thousands of Indiana providers voiced concerns that outcomes will likely get worse for their patients. It’s unclear what this will mean for providers too.
And that’s worrying medical residents – the early career doctors who spend four years training to become OB-GYNs.
Unsafe and frustrated, doctors weigh their options
These days, Scott, the residency program director, has found that the scope of her job has expanded beyond clinical and academic responsibilities. Her meetings with her residents include political updates, and she tells them there are mental health services available if they need them.
“I mean, our residents are devastated,” Scott said, holding back tears. “They signed up to provide comprehensive health care to women. And they are being told that they can't do that.”
She expects this will “deeply impact” how Indiana hospitals recruit and retain medical professionals.
Indiana, like many Republican-led states, has a shortage of providers. A 2018 report from the March of Dimes found 27 percent of Indiana counties are considered maternal care deserts, with no or limited access to maternity care. The state has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country.
Scott said new laws restricting abortion will only make these statistics worse.
Dr. Wendy Tian, a third year resident, said lately she is scared and worried about her safety. Tian grew up and went to school in Chicago and chose to come to Indiana for residency because the program has a strong family planning focus. She was also open to practicing in Indiana once she completes her training.
But that’s changed.
“I always thought I wanted to do family planning. I'm now thinking about doing something else,” she said. “I know I still want to incorporate it. But I, for sure, don't know if I would be able to stay in Indiana postgraduation with what's going on.”
Still, she feels “guilty for giving up” on some of the most vulnerable patients in Indiana.
Even before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Tian said the medical climate in Indiana could be hostile and frustrating. Indiana, like other states with abortion restrictions, allows nearly all health care providers to opt-out of providing care for abortion patients.
“We encounter other people who we work with on a daily basis who are opposed to what we do,” Tian said.
Tian said sometimes she and her colleagues have to cancel scheduled procedures because the nursing staff on-call are not comfortable helping a patient having an abortion.
“Frequently, we have to call anesthesia ahead of time, because there's only certain providers that are willing to provide anesthesia [for abortion patients],” Tian said.
Abortion training in peril
Still, the OB-GYN program in Indiana has been able to provide residents with comprehensive training, which includes abortion care and family planning. This is important for more than for abortion cases.
“Miscarriages are managed the exact same way as first trimester termination procedures,” residency director Scott said. “But what termination procedures allow you to do is that kind of repetition and that understanding of the female anatomy and how to manage complications that may happen with miscarriages.”
If proposed changes to state law are passed, this is likely to change soon. And that concerns Scott because taking away abortion dramatically reduces the of hands-on experience OB-GYN residents can get in her hospital.
Scott’s program is exploring ways to make up for that. They could send residents out of state to learn in places without abortion restrictions. But Scott said this would be a logistical nightmare.
“This is not as simple as just showing up to an office and saying, ‘Can I observe?’ This includes getting a medical license for out-of-state trainees. This includes funding for travel and lodging,” Scott said. “It adds a lot to what we already do to educate future OB-GYNs.”
Nearly half of all OB-GYN residents in the U.S. are in states where abortion is banned or likely to be banned. This means that there will be an influx of residents looking to go out of state to make up for lost training opportunities. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the body that accredits residency programs, proposed modifications to the graduation requirements for OB-GYN residents to account for this changing landscape.
The difficult choice to stay or leave
For some residents, like first-year Veronica Santana, these political hurdles are actually a welcome challenge. Santana is Latina, grew up in Seattle, and has been involved in community organizing since she was a teenager. Part of why she chose obstetrics and gynecology was because of how the field of medicine intersects with social justice.
“It's political. It always has been and it continues to be. And obviously, especially now,” she said.
After Roe was overturned, Santana took to the streets of Indianapolis to participate in pro-abortion rights rallies. So did many of her co-residents and mentors.
Most of them, including the program director, have asked not to name the school of medicine or hospital system they work for because they fear backlash. Some said their employer remains timid in supporting the staff when it comes to the abortion debate in Indiana.
In a way, Indiana could be the perfect battleground to quench Santana’s zest for advocacy and social activism. But lately, she said she is “very unsure” if staying in to practice after residency makes sense as a physician who wants to provide the entire scope of health services.
Soderholm, a fourth year medical resident, said it’s a lot to think about.
Soderholm will complete her training in a few months and start to practice soon. She grew up in Minnesota, but over the past few years has felt a strong connection to patients at the county hospital in Indianapolis. She was so certain she wanted to practice in Indiana. But lately, her family in Minnesota – where abortion remains largely protected – questioned why she would stay to practice in a hostile medical climate like Indiana’s.
“There’s been a lot of hesitation. But the women [and] the childbearing people that we've taken care of, especially at our county hospital, [make it] really hard to leave. Sorry,” she said, starting to cry.
It’s for those patients that Soderholm decided she’ll likely stay. The same can’t be said for many other future doctors.
This story comes from a reporting collaboration that includes the Indianapolis Recorder and Side Effects Public Media, a public health news initiative based at WFYI. Contact Farah at fyousry@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @Farah_Yousrym.
Copyright 2022 Side Effects Public Media. To see more, visit Side Effects Public Media. | https://www.wbaa.org/2022-08-05/their-mentor-was-attacked-now-young-ob-gyns-may-leave-indiana | 2022-08-05 17:02:51 | 1 | https://www.wbaa.org/2022-08-05/their-mentor-was-attacked-now-young-ob-gyns-may-leave-indiana |
BANGKOK, May 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For quite some years, the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model has been key to Thailand's development strategy. In a nutshell, it espouses sustainability in all its forms, strengthening resilience for communities and the grassroots economy and enhancing the competitiveness of industries in a sustainable and holistic manner.
At the APEC Economic Leaders Week last year in Bangkok, the BCG Economy Model witnessed its crowning moment as it garnered APEC-wide regional commitment in one of the key outcome documents from APEC Thailand 2022, namely the Bangkok Goals on Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy. In essence, the groundwork was laid then, for Thailand to witness the transformative ways in which the country and the region would become greener, more inclusive and more sustainable. This transformation has already started.
Indeed, the path towards full-fledged sustainability is lengthy. It requires a whole-of-society approach. It is also not a final destination, but an ongoing commitment to nurture, further innovate and develop our planet and resources. In any event, 2030 will represent a watershed moment in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As such, Thailand has incorporated the BCG Economy Model into all roadmaps toward sustainability – national policy agendas, public-private partnerships and international conferences and events, including APEC 2022, BIMSTEC 2022-2023, and Phuket Expo 2028 – to reenergize the pathway towards achieving the SDGs.
At the policy level, the key deliverables from APEC Thailand 2022 and later on BIMSTEC 2022-2023, will reinforce Thailand's whole-of-society approach towards sustainability through the BCG Economy Model. This has been supported by clear commitments from the private sector. But real transformation, requires buy-in from the people and local communities. The bid for Expo 2028 in Phuket, Thailand, is one such initiative aimed at bringing green and sustainability concepts closer to the people and their communities. Built on a 22.5-hectare area in Phuket, the bio-ecological Expo site will be a prime and tangible example of localizing sustainable development efforts to yield long-term benefits, for people and community.
Phuket Expo 2028 intends to do all of this through its application of the BCG Economy Model on the 3Ps of people, planet and prosperity, which is not coincidentally part and parcel of the 5Ps of the SDGs. For example, efforts to advance on people includes scaling up local sustainability projects and developing health and wellness infrastructures as part of Phuket's five-year development plan (2023-2027) aimed at turning Phuket into a global medical hub, with an eye to medical tourism. Efforts to advance on planet, include designing the Expo building for post-use plan as a quality medical center and ecological park for the public and ensuring all marinas in Phuket adopt environmentally-friendly technologies in their business operations to make local tourism more sustainable, green and resilient. Efforts to advance on prosperity include work to drive forward a green transformation that will create jobs, bridge wealth gaps and stimulate the local economy, while promoting living in harmony with nature in different sectors.
This green expansion and development of Phuket – in preparation for Phuket Expo 2028 – has drummed up a lot of excitement in the province. But more importantly, it will allow Phuket to position itself to ultimately serve as a scalable regional best practice in bringing the BCG Economy Model to life. So whether Phuket wins its bid for Expo 2028 or not, the work is already underway. Winning the Expo then, will only help to further unleash the full potential of the city, whose success story will hopefully inspire a much larger audience around the world to follow suit in its quest for sustainability.
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SOURCE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/05/02/phuket-2028-it-is-not-just-about-an-expo-its-about-sustainability/ | 2023-05-02 09:10:50 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/05/02/phuket-2028-it-is-not-just-about-an-expo-its-about-sustainability/ |
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the Texas Lottery's "All or Nothing Night" game were:
01-03-05-08-11-12-14-18-19-21-22-23
(one, three, five, eight, eleven, twelve, fourteen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three) | https://www.seattlepi.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-All-or-Nothing-Night-17303994.php | 2022-07-14 04:11:32 | 0 | https://www.seattlepi.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-All-or-Nothing-Night-17303994.php |
Twitter's blue check: A history of the platform's verification system
The story of Twitter's blue checkmarks — a simple verification system that's come to be viewed as an elite status symbol — began with some high-profile impersonations, just as the site began taking off in 2008 and '09.
Celebrities who saw their likeness spoofed included Kanye West, now Ye, the basketball star Shaquille O’Neil and the actor Ewan McGregor, who was also impersonated on a wildly popular website called ... MySpace.
Then, in June 2009, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa sued Twitter, claiming that a fake account, using his name to make light of drunken driving and two Cardinals pitchers who died, damaged his reputation and caused emotional distress.
LaRussa eventually dropped his lawsuit. But in June of that year, Twitter's then-CEO Biz Stone introduced a verification system to sort out authentic accounts from impostors. The benefit would be to the holders of the accounts, but also to everyone else on Twitter. They could be sure, if they saw the blue check next to a name, that what they were reading was authentic.
What price verification?
Fast-forward to 2022. Twitter's new owner and ruler, billionaire Elon Musk, wants to turn this verification system into a revenue source for the company he paid $44 billion to purchase. It's a 180-degree turn from the stance he took earlier this year, before his buyout closed, when he said he wanted to "verify all humans" on Twitter.
After floating the idea of charging users $20 a month for the "blue check" and some extra features, he appeared to quickly scale it back in a Twitter exchange with author Stephen King, who posted "If that gets instituted, I’m gone like Enron."
"We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?" Musk replied.
Whatever the price, the idea of a paid verification system is raising some complex questions and concerns — beyond the customary cheers and jeers that have accompanied Musk's every move since he took ownership of the social media company last week.
"Tapping into Twitter users to make more money may be the right strategy, but verification isn’t the right feature to charge for," said Insider Intelligence analyst Jasmine Enberg. "Verification is intended to ensure the integrity of accounts and conversations on the platform, rather than a premium feature meant to elevate the experience. There is a growing appetite among some social users to pay for features that add value to their experiences."
Instead of charging for authentication, though, Enberg said Musk should be looking at adding features to Twitter that get people to use it more and help them grow their follower base and find a way to make money from those.
"Turning users into customers isn’t an easy sell, and the value exchange has to be right in order for it to pay off," she said.
In this photo illustration, the Elon Musk’s Twitter account is displayed on the screen of an iPhone on April 26, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo illustration by Chesnot/Getty Images)
Other revenue streams
Twitter already has a subscription plan, Twitter Blue, that for $5 a month lets users access extra features, such as the ability to undo a tweet and read ad-free articles. Musk's plan, as it appears from his tweets, seems to be expanding it to charge more money for more features — including the verification badge — and spread it to more users.
"Of roughly 300,000 verified accounts on Twitter we would estimate only about 25% would go down this path ultimately and pay the $8 per month fee," Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said.
That would mean only $7.2 million a year in extra revenue for Twitter — not enough to move the dial for a company whose last reported quarterly revenue was $1.18 billion.
Ives expects Musk to first go after users who already have the check to charge them to keep it, then likely introduce other tiered pricing plans for other accounts.
"The problem is with many athletes and celebrities willing to lose their coveted blue check and refusing to pay the monthly fee it would be an ominous black eye moment for Musk on his first strategic move with Twitter," he said.
While Musk’s exact plans are not clear, experts are raising concerns about the consequences of having a paid verification system that leaves anyone unwilling to pay vulnerable to impersonation — and anyone who does pay the ability to have their Twitter presence boosted by the platform’s algorithms.
Who's really verified?
While many verified users on Twitter are famous, there are also community activists, journalists at small newspapers and outlets inside and outside of the U.S. — and regular people who simply find themselves in the news. For this subset, $8 a month may not be worth it, no matter how many memes Musk posts about the cost of a cup of coffee.
The idea behind verification — which other social networks later copied — was to ensure that public figures, politicians and businesses were who they say they are. It began small at first, as things do when tech companies test out new features and functions.
"The experiment will begin with public officials, public agencies, famous artists, athletes, and other well known individuals at risk of impersonation," Stone wrote in 2009. He suggested that those who can't be immediately verified put their official website in their Twitter bio to show that they are who they say they are.
Business accounts — such as brand pages for Coca-Cola or McDonald's — were not included in the initial verification system, nor were rank-and-file journalists. Those were added later, as misinformation from fake sites and accounts became a bigger problem on social media.
While the "blue check" (which is actually a white checkmark in a blue frame, or black checkmark in a white frame if you are using Twitter in dark mode) has come to be viewed in some circles as an elite status symbol for the rich and famous, its purpose has always been to ensure that the people and accounts tweeting are who they say they are. As such, it benefited Twitter as much — if not more — as it benefitted the accounts that were verified, by clamping down on impersonations.
Kelly McBride, an expert on journalism ethics for the Poynter Institute think tank, said she suspected the blue check would become less valuable if people know that it could be bought. Currently, it signifies a person with a particular position or public stature whose identity has been verified.
"Twitter may end up being a similar story," she said. "It may become less valuable to journalists. And that wouldn’t be a bad thing."
___
Associated Media Writer David Bauder in New York contributed to this story. | https://www.fox29.com/news/twitters-blue-check-history-verification-system | 2022-11-03 23:41:52 | 0 | https://www.fox29.com/news/twitters-blue-check-history-verification-system |
How can car owners protect themselves from the wave of catalytic converter theft that has swept the country?
Claims for stolen catalytic converters doubled in the year ending June 2022, according to State Farm, the largest auto insurer in the U.S., whose customers reported more than 43,200 stolen converters that year.
And since 2019, converter theft has risen 1,215%, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, an industry group that tracks insurance-related crimes.
On Wednesday, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of 21 people in connection with a crime ring accused of making $545 million by trafficking stolen catalytic converters.
Catalytic converters – which helps a car clean its exhaust – have become a target for theft in large part because of the price of precious metals, like palladium and platinum, that are used in the parts.
And, crucially, their location on the exterior of a car's underside makes them easy to steal, David Glawe of the NCIB told NPR earlier this year.
Stealing a converter takes just a few minutes and a battery-operated saw. "You slide under the car, slice through your exhaust system, and you're in and out usually within 30 seconds to a minute," Glawe said.
Especially at risk are cars with enough tire clearance for a thief to easily slide underneath, like SUVs and pickup trucks. Hybrids are also attractive targets because their converters contain even more precious metals.
Replacing a stolen converter can cost thousands. Here are some precautions you can take:
How can I protect my car from catalytic converter theft?
Insurance companies, mechanics and police departments have recommended a wide range of anti-theft measures designed to deter a would-be thief. "It's a holistic approach," said Glawe.
The simplest solution is to keep your car away from public access when you're not using it. If you have access to a garage, keep your car there. Those without a garage should try to park their car in a well-lit area, or somewhere you can install a security camera.
But even a garage might not be enough to protect your car. Public parking lots have become a target for daytime theft, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, a recycling industry trade group, has warned.
"They're pulling on major highways, driving down the highway. When they see a truck parked on the side of the road, they pull off, climb under it, cut it off, leave, and then they're gone," said Todd Foreman, the group's director of law enforcement outreach, at a conference earlier this year.
Some cities have hosted workshops in which car owners can get their vehicle identification numbers engraved on their catalytic converter for free – an indication to would-be buyers that the converter has been stolen.
Other solutions might cost a bit of money: On the cheap end, brightly colored high-temperature paint can put off a thief who'd have to scrape it all off before selling. Owners can also attach alarm systems that are triggered by the vibration of a thief's saw.
Other, more expensive anti-theft devices are designed to attach to a converter to make it more cumbersome to remove. Mechanics can also weld on metal plates or rebar to shield the converter.
What should I do if it's been stolen?
If your converter has been stolen, you're likely to notice right away: Without the converter, your car will be much noisier than usual.
Most cars will run without a catalytic converter, though it's inadvisable to do so for longer than necessary. Because the purpose of a catalytic converter is to reduce harmful emissions, cars without one will pollute much more heavily than an intact car, and you could fail an emissions inspection in states that require them.
When thieves use a saw to remove a catalytic converter, they can also cause damage to nearby parts of your car, like the alternator or fuel lines. It's best to get your car checked out by a mechanic as soon as possible.
And check your car insurance. Comprehensive coverage on an auto insurance policy will cover damage to your car that occurs outside of a collision – including theft.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.knau.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-11-04/how-to-protect-your-car-from-catalytic-converter-theft-and-what-to-do-if-it-happens | 2022-11-04 14:35:07 | 0 | https://www.knau.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-11-04/how-to-protect-your-car-from-catalytic-converter-theft-and-what-to-do-if-it-happens |
Home cooks rejoice!
NEW YORK, June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New York City-based, women-run company Great Jones, a rapidly rising leader in premium cooking products, has been acquired by global cookware powerhouse Meyer Corporation. The partnership aims to bring together Meyer's innovative and high-quality product and operational expertise with Great Jones's passion for equipping and empowering home cooks.
Great Jones, founded in late 2018, is best known for its beloved, patented designs, like its enameled cast-iron Dutch oven, The Dutchess, as well as its colorful bakeware and glassware. Great Jones thrives at the intersection of the culinary and cultural zeitgeists, bridging the gap between professional chefs and home cooks. The company's name is inspired by cookbook editor Judith Jones and pays homage to New York City, where it is, and will remain, headquartered.
Meyer, a global cookware and kitchen appliance leader with (now) 16 brands under its umbrella, produces over 125 product collections distributed in over 30 countries. The still-family-run business boasts over 300 patents and a long history of premium and innovative kitchen brands such as Hestan, Ruffoni, Farberware, Anolon, Circulon, KitchenAid, Rachael Ray, and Anyday.
Great Jones CEO and co-founder Sierra Tishgart, a James Beard-winning former journalist, has led the company through retail expansion, product diversification and the entry into appliances, strategic partnerships (including a new ingredients marketplace), and fundraising, including from Meyer, who has partnered with Great Jones as both a supplier and minority investor in the company's previous fundraising.
"I have long admired Meyer's expertise in our category, and I've had the personal pleasure of getting to know the Meyer family and team over several years," Tishgart says. "I am ecstatic about the opportunities their support will unlock for Great Jones. We've operated as a small team of less than 10 throughout the company's four-year history, and this collaboration will strengthen our technical capabilities and secure our reach for many, many years to come."
The acquisition promises continued growth for Great Jones as a subsidiary of Meyer, with Tishgart remaining CEO and taking on the expanded role of Meyer's Executive Creative Director. The entire Great Jones team will stay on board, leveraging Meyer's operational support for product expansion and international retail development.
Stanley Cheng, founder and CEO of Meyer Corporation, expressed the value that both Great Jones and Tishgart bring to Meyer. "Meyer is founded on product innovation that makes cooking more enjoyable. With the addition of Great Jones and its distinctive product portfolio, Meyer continues this culture of innovation and delight for our consumers. We are also pleased to have Sierra's creative leadership across the Meyer portfolio and are energized by the opportunities ahead."
About Meyer:
Meyer is an international powerhouse and bar-setter in cookware and kitchenware, with offices, factories, and warehouses across five continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and North America.
About Great Jones:
Great Jones is the next-generation home-cooking heritage brand, known for its award-winning products, community-driven content, and innovative services.
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SOURCE Meyer Corporation, U.S. | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2023/06/05/kitchenware-groundbreaker-great-jones-acquired-by-global-industry-vet-meyer/ | 2023-06-05 17:12:41 | 1 | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2023/06/05/kitchenware-groundbreaker-great-jones-acquired-by-global-industry-vet-meyer/ |
Selected from over 2,000 submissions, these papers will be featured at KDD 2022 in Washington, D.C. from August 16-18, 2022
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KDD 2022, the premier interdisciplinary conference in data science, today announced the official lineup of research and applied data science papers that will be presented at the conference. Registration is open for KDD 2022, to be held in Washington, D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center starting August 14, 2022.
"The annual KDD conference showcases the most innovative research and applied data science being conducted today," said Wei Wang, SIGKDD chair, Leonard Kleinrock chair professor in computer science, and director of the Scalable Analytics Institute at University of California, Los Angeles. "Collectively, these papers represent the future and promise of data science. We encourage everyone interested in science to attend this year's conference."
KDD 2022 welcomes submissions on all aspects of knowledge discovery and data mining, from theoretical research on emerging science to papers assessing. This year's papers were selected from over 2,000 papers initially submitted for consideration at KDD 2022. Topics of focus for this year's papers include adversarial learning, anomaly detection, deep learning, text mining, and data ethics.
The full KDD 2022 program entails keynote presentations and workshops, in addition to academic and industry led sessions. KDD 2022 is a dual-track conference that provides distinct programming in research and applied data science. Both the research papers track and the applied data science papers track will take place August 16-18, 2022.
The schedule of this year's research papers track can be found at: https://kdd.org/kdd2022/paperRT.html.
The schedule of this year's applied science papers track can be found at: https://kdd.org/kdd2022/paperADS.html.
For the conference's complete program agenda and schedule, please visit: https://kdd.org/kdd2022/programAgenda.html.
For more information on this year's event, please visit: www.kdd.org/kdd2022/.
ACM is the premier global professional organization for researchers and professionals dedicated to the advancement of the science and practice of knowledge discovery and data mining. SIGKDD is ACM's Special Interest Group on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining. The annual KDD International Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining is the premier interdisciplinary conference for data mining, data science and analytics.
For more information on KDD, please visit: https://www.kdd.org/.
Follow KDD on:
Facebook— https://www.facebook.com/SIGKDD
Twitter— https://twitter.com/kdd_news
LinkedIn— https://www.linkedin.com/groups/160888/
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SOURCE ACM SIGKDD | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/kdd-2022-reveals-schedule-data-mining-knowledge-discovery-papers-chosen-conference/ | 2022-08-10 19:25:35 | 1 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/kdd-2022-reveals-schedule-data-mining-knowledge-discovery-papers-chosen-conference/ |
PHILADELPHIA, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC), a leading global agricultural sciences company, today announced the election of Dr. Patricia Verduin to the company's Board of Directors, effective July 17, 2023. She will serve on the Compensation and Organization Committee and the Sustainability Committee.
Verduin has spent her career advancing research and innovation that improves the health and wellbeing of people, their pets and the planet. She has extensive experience in regulatory, supply chain, quality and compliance, making her an astute navigator of global regulatory environments which will provide valuable perspectives to the Board and to FMC. She most recently served as Chief Technology & Science Officer of Colgate Palmolive Company from 2009 to 2023, where she led a global team of over 2,000 scientists, engineers, designers, regulatory and compliance specialists. Prior to her role at Colgate Palmolive, she held leadership positions at Conagra, Nabisco and the Consumer Brands Association. Verduin currently sits on the boards of Ingredion Corporation and Avient Corporation, as well as The Valley Hospital of Ridgewood, NJ. She previously was a director of Monsanto Company, through the closing of its acquisition by Bayer. She holds a PhD in Food Chemistry from Rutgers University and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
"We are honored to welcome Pat to the FMC Board of Directors," said Mark Douglas, FMC president and chief executive officer. "She brings extensive experience driving innovation and a broad skillset in research and development, pipeline growth and plant science. The Board looks forward to her engagement and insight."
Verduin commented, "I am honored to join the FMC Board. The company has shown itself to be a leading driver of innovation in crop protection. I look forward to working with the CEO, Mark Douglas, the directors and management team in supporting growth and building long-term shareholder value."
About FMC
FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. FMC's innovative crop protection solutions – including biologicals, crop nutrition, digital and precision agriculture – enable growers, crop advisers and turf and pest management professionals to address their toughest challenges economically while protecting the environment. With approximately 6,600 employees at more than 100 sites worldwide, FMC is committed to discovering new herbicide, insecticide and fungicide active ingredients, product formulations and pioneering technologies that are consistently better for the planet. Visit fmc.com to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn®.
Statement under the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on management's current views and assumptions regarding future events, future business conditions and the outlook for the company based on currently available information. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. These factors include, among other things, the risk factors and other cautionary statements included within FMC's 2022 Form 10-K filed with the SEC as well as other SEC filings and public communications. FMC cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the above cautionary statement. FMC undertakes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any duty, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which they were made, except as otherwise required by law.
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SOURCE FMC Corporation | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/17/fmc-corporation-announces-election-patricia-verduin-board-directors/ | 2023-07-17 22:08:05 | 1 | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/17/fmc-corporation-announces-election-patricia-verduin-board-directors/ |
Disney World reaches union deal with minimum $18 hourly wage
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Unions for service workers at Walt Disney World reached a tentative deal with the company on Thursday that would raise the starting minimum wage from $15 to $18 an hour in a pact that could set the basement for starting pay throughout central Florida’s sprawling tourism industry.
Disney World service workers who are in the six unions that make up the Service Trades Council Union coalition planned to vote next Wednesday on the contract proposal after rejecting an earlier offer that fell short of the $18 hourly minimum wage last month. The agreement covers around 45,000 service workers at the Disney theme park resort outside Orlando. Workers could see their hourly wages rise between $5.50 and $8.60 by the end of the five-year contract if it’s approved, union leaders said.
“Securing an $18 minimum hourly rate this year, increasing the overall economic value of Disney’s original offer, and ensuring full back pay for every worker are the priorities union members were determined to fight for,” said Matt Hollis, head of the coalition of unions. “Today, we won that fight.”
Disney officials said they planned to release a statement later Thursday.
The contract with the service workers covers the costumed performers who perform as Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters, bus drivers, culinary workers, lifeguards, theatrical workers and hotel housekeepers, representing more than half of the 70,000-plus workforce at Disney World. The contract approved five years ago made Disney the first major employer in central Florida to agree to a minimum hourly wage of $15, setting the trend for other workers in the region dominated by hospitality jobs.
The contract proposal with the largest group of workers at the resort comes at a precarious time for Disney World. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature recently passed legislation giving the Republican governor the power to appoint the governing board of the district that oversees government services for the 27,000-acre (11,000-hectare) resort. The board previously had been controlled by Disney.
The takeover of the Disney district began last year when the entertainment giant, facing intense pressure, publicly opposed the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, which bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade and lessons deemed not age-appropriate.
DeSantis has built a national reputation as a culture warrior ahead of an expected GOP presidential run.
___
Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at @MikeSchneiderAP
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kob.com/news/business-money/disney-world-reaches-union-deal-with-minimum-18-hourly-wage/ | 2023-03-23 22:08:45 | 0 | https://www.kob.com/news/business-money/disney-world-reaches-union-deal-with-minimum-18-hourly-wage/ |
The Nomination Committee in Hansa Biopharma has completed its nomination work for the Annual General Meeting 2022. It proposes to the Annual General Meeting 2022 for Peter Nicklin to be elected new chair of the Board of Directors of Hansa Biopharma. The current chair Ulf Wiinberg has chosen to not stand for re-election.
LUND, Sweden, May 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hansa Biopharma AB, "Hansa", (Nasdaq Stockholm: HNSA), pioneer in enzyme technology for rare immunological conditions, today announces that Peter Nicklin has been proposed as new Chairman of the Board at Hansa Biopharma.
Ulf Wiinberg has been chair of the Board of Directors since 2016 and the Nomination Committee would like to thank Ulf for his great contributions and strong engagement during his extensive tenure as board member and chair of the Board of Directors. His role in the development of the company over the past years cannot be overstated.
"Hansa is on a journey to become a global leader in rare diseases. An exciting future lies ahead as Hansa expands across multiple broad therapeutic areas with new transformative therapies for patients who need them. I have decided to leave the board because I spend most of my time living and working in the United States. I look forward to follow the company as new transformative drugs are being developed from Hansa's antibody cleaving enzyme technology platform. Drugs, that potentially can be life altering for patients suffering from rare immunologic diseases", comments Ulf Wiinberg, current chair of Hansa.
The Nomination Committee has dedicated considerable time to find a suitable successor for the role as chair of the Board of Directors. In this process, the Nomination Committee has found that Peter Nicklin has extensive experience and background in the life science industry and significant experience in leading global teams. The Nomination Committee believes that Peter Nicklin is well suited to assume the role as chair of the Board of Directors.
"I am very pleased that Peter Nicklin has accepted the proposal to join the Board of Directors of Hansa as Chair. Peter has the experience and background that is needed to continue and develop the foundation that Ulf Wiinberg has laid. Together with his energy and positive spirit we believe Peter Nicklin is the right person to lead Hansa to the next steps", comments Jannis Kitsakis (representing AP4), chair of the Nomination Committee.
The Nomination Committee's proposals will be presented in the notice convening the Annual General Meeting. Hansa Biopharma's Annual General Meeting will be held on June 30, 2022.
For further information, please contact:
Klaus Sindahl, Head of Investor Relations
Hansa Biopharma
Mobile: +46 (0) 709-298 269
E-mail: klaus.sindahl@hansabiopharma.com
Katja Margell
Head of Corporate Communications
Hansa Biopharma
Mobile: +46 (0) 768-198 326
E-mail: katja.margell@hansabiopharma.com
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SOURCE Hansa Biopharma AB | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/05/30/nomination-committee-hansa-biopharma-proposes-peter-nicklin-new-chair-board-directors-annual-general-meeting-2022/ | 2022-05-30 15:08:43 | 0 | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/05/30/nomination-committee-hansa-biopharma-proposes-peter-nicklin-new-chair-board-directors-annual-general-meeting-2022/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles police on Thursday arrested two teenage boys in connection with the death of a 15-year-old girl who overdosed in a restroom at her high school after buying pills possibly laced with fentanyl on campus, authorities said.
Police served a search warrant around 8:30 a.m. as part of an investigation into the overdose death of a girl a day earlier at Bernstein High School in Hollywood, police Chief Michel Moore said.
A 15-year-old boy who lives with his grandmother was taken into custody on suspicion of manslaughter, Moore said. Investigators believe he sold pills touted as Percocet to two 15-year-old friends around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday who later crushed and snorted the narcotics in the restroom at their school.
The Los Angeles County Coroner identified the student who died as Melanie Ramos, 15. Her unidentified friend who also overdosed remained hospitalized and was expected to recover.
Moore said police also arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of selling fentanyl-laced pills to two other high school students who suffered overdoses after buying the drugs at nearby Lexington Park. He could face narcotics-related charges, the chief said.
Police will work with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to find the distributors who provided the 15- and 16-year-old boys with the pills, Moore said.
“There is a drug organization behind this,” he said.
The teen suspects knew each other, and both attend Apex Academy, an independent charter school that shares a campus with Bernstein.
Dealers lacing common painkillers with fentanyl is an increasingly common practice, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said at a news conference.
“These are not overdoses. These are people who have been poisoned,” Garcetti said. “One pill can kill.”
Officers were called to Bernstein High Tuesday night after a man said his 15-year-old stepdaughter had overdosed on campus, police said.
The girl and her friend had not come home from school in the afternoon and the man began driving around town looking for the pair. He found his stepdaughter around 8 p.m. in a school courtyard, said police Lt. John Radke.
She had suffered an overdose but managed to tell her stepfather that her friend was in a girls’ restroom on campus, Radke said Wednesday.
The man and a school employee found the other girl unresponsive in the restroom at the school where students and parents had gathered for evening athletic events. The man administered aid until paramedics arrived and pronounced her dead, police said. His stepdaughter was hospitalized.
Earlier in the day, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to separate calls reporting possible overdoses of two teens in the area of Lexington Park, a few blocks from Bernstein High and a cluster of other schools, according to police.
“It is believed that the overdose victims are students of Bernstein and local high schools,” a police statement said.
One of the victims was a 17-year-old student at nearby Hollywood High School, said Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.
Including the latest victims, there have been a total of six cases of drug-related incidents including overdoses stemming from illicit narcotics purchased in recent at Lexington Park in a residential area of East Hollywood near the U.S. 101 freeway, Carvalho said.
“It is a park well known for allowing individuals to sell drugs to provide drugs to some of our students,” the superintendent told reporters Wednesday.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, who represents the area, ordered the park closed Wednesday, Carvalho said.
Grief and crisis counselors were on hand at Bernstein High, LA Unified said in a statement.
Law enforcement officials nationwide have for months warned about the dangers of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine. It’s frequently mixed into illicit pills made to look like prescription painkillers or other medicines. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/ap-police-arrest-after-teen-ods-and-dies-in-school-bathroom/ | 2022-09-16 20:21:58 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/ap-police-arrest-after-teen-ods-and-dies-in-school-bathroom/ |
The Sugar Bowl has been moved off its usual primetime spot to noon EST Dec. 31 to avoid a conflict with a Monday night NFL game.
The bowl schedule for the upcoming season was released Thursday.
The games begin on Dec. 16 with the Bahamas Bowl and The Cure Bowl in Orlando, Florida, and ends with College Football Playoff championship on Jan 9 at the NFL stadium in Englewood, California.
The CFP semifinals will be held Dec. 31, a Saturday, at the Peach and Fiesta bowls.
With Jan. 1 falling on Sunday, the games usually played on New Year’s Day were moved to Jan. 2, when the national holiday is observed. The move to Monday, Jan. 2 is common in college football to avoid conflicting with the NFL.
But ESPN found itself with a conflict that day: The NFL has scheduled the final Monday regular-season game for that night, which forced a relocation by the New Orleans-based Sugar Bowl on the schedule.
The Rose Bowl is scheduled for a 5 p.m. EST start Jan. 2 on ESPN, and will precede the Bills at Bengals game.
The last time the Sugar Bowl was played before Jan. 1 was 1995 when it was a Dec. 31 game between Virginia Tech and Texas.
The Orange Bowl will be played the night of Dec. 30 and the Cotton Bowl will also be played on Jan. 2, with at 1 p.m. EST kickoff scheduled. | https://phl17.com/sports/sugar-bowl-moved-to-dec-31-to-avoid-conflict-with-nfl-game/ | 2022-05-26 21:30:16 | 0 | https://phl17.com/sports/sugar-bowl-moved-to-dec-31-to-avoid-conflict-with-nfl-game/ |
IRVINE, Calif., April 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For years, as a contractor, you may have thought it was a victimless crime to "play" with the numbers to illegally reduce your income, payroll, or California sales tax obligations. You may have assumed that considering the billions—or the more than $3 trillion in the fiscal year 2019—of dollars in tax revenues collected by the IRS or State of California, they wouldn't miss a portion of your income, payroll, or sales tax contributions. Out of the blue, you receive a letter from the IRS or state of California, beginning, as it always does, with those ominous words: "Dear Taxpayer." The letter explains that you were one of the unlucky contractors to be selected for audit for the IRS, California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), California Employment Development Department (EDD) or California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA).
While most contractors are concerned about audits because it could result in owing significantly more in taxes, you may be particularly worried about the potential for a federal or California prison sentence due to tax evasion. If you cheated in the years selected for audit and in multiple previous or subsequent years, your federal or State criminal tax exposure only increases because multiple years of noncompliance can show a pattern of compliance behavior that can trigger the taxing authorities to look for the telltale signs or "red flags" for tax evasion called badges of fraud.
This article discusses what to do when you are NOT entitled to certain deductions you took, or you under-stated (or failed to report) your income, or you claimed credits that you were not entitled to and you receive a letter from the IRS, FTB, CDTFA or EDD addressing you as "Dear Taxpayer." In short, this post discusses what to do when you cheated on your taxes, you know it, and your returns are selected for audit.
If you are a contractor and find yourself in the unfortunate situation of receiving a federal or California audit notice, and know for a fact that you cheated on the returns under audit do not contact the original preparer thinking they will take one on the chin and take responsibility for the problem even if they painstakingly instructed you how to go about cheating. To the contrary, they are likely to become government witness number one against you if the government even hints at seeking criminal tax charges. No matter how long you have been using them, or how much you believe you can trust them, the preparer will burn you in a heartbeat rather than face criminal tax prosecution or preparer sanctions themselves for aiding and abetting income, sales, or payroll tax evasion. In addition, anything you say to them can be compelled from them when they are forced to take the witness stand against you under the federal or California judge's contempt of court powers.
Preparers are also keenly aware that they are a much desirable criminal or civil target than you are if they indeed aided and abetted your income, sales, or payroll tax evasion which surprisingly many prepares are perfectly willing to do thinking they will secure a competitive advantage against other more reputable and ethical tax preparers in the same field. Moreover, it is common knowledge that the federal or California taxing authorities are ordinarily much more interested in taking a dirty tax preparer out of the game than one of their clients as it scares other preparers into playing by the rules which does more to promote tax compliance than merely focusing on the individual taxpayer at issue. Matter of fact, one of the highest risk audits you can face is an eggshell or reverse eggshell audit where your preparer is under criminal tax investigation.
We advise you to seek legal guidance from a dually California licensed Tax Attorney and CPA immediately if you or your business entity (S Corp, C Corp, LLC, Partnership etc.) has received an audit notice from the IRS, California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), Employment Development Department (EDD), or California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) concerning a tax audit. Depending on what the federal or California auditor finds, an examination of your business and personal tax filings could lead to devastating outcomes, including an unexpected tax assessment, costly accumulated interest, and/or substantial civil penalties—none of which even begins to approach the danger involved in an IRS or California criminal tax investigation. If the government believes there is strong enough evidence to prosecute you for tax evasion or related offenses successfully, you will be at risk of jail time, loss of your contractor's license if convicted in addition to much higher financial fines and criminal restitution.
Why Was I Audited?
Why were you chosen for an IRS audit? Well, the IRS selects returns to audit not "at random" but (often) according to a well-defined scoring system. Every tax return is "scored" using the IRS's "Discriminant Function System" (DIF). There is an array of reasons as to why contractors get audited. Some of the most common issues that get audited include the following: the total amount of gross income reported; the trade or business deductions taken; bad debts; net operating losses; capital loss carryforwards; depreciation; and capital expenditures.
One reason could be that you may have improperly included estimates that are overstated, nondeductible costs, or allowances for contingencies in the total estimated costs figure that reduced the percentage of completion. This may have resulted in the understatement of the corresponding income to be reported on the contract.
Or you may have improperly allocated costs from contracts that are still in progress to completed contracts that accelerated the expense recognition. An unusually low gross profit on a job could have indicated an improper job allocation to the IRS.
What Sorts of Issues Does the IRS Look for During a Construction Industry Tax Audit?
The IRS leaves no stone unturned when scrutinizing business books and tax returns. During an audit of your construction company, issues the IRS may focus on / include:
- Delinquent tax filings
- Improperly claimed tax credits
- Inflated business deductions
- Misclassified workers
- Missing or mismatched books and records
- Unfiled tax returns
- Unpaid tax liabilities
The IRS audits construction companies so frequently that it has even developed a construction tax guide strictly for examinations within this industry. The IRS is extremely meticulous in its approach and has a deep understanding of all vulnerable areas.
For instance, the IRS agrees that small construction contractors have more flexibility in electing accounting methods for their long-term contracts. However, the IRS may still subject small contractors to alternative minimum tax for those contracts that are not computed on the percentage of completion method. The IRS warns that the choice of a proper accounting method, the appropriate computation of each accounting method, and the alternative minimum tax consequences must be considered by each contractor.
You must accept the fact that the IRS knows all the tricks of the trade. It is aware that contractors may improperly be using the cash method of accounting or using an improper method of accounting if gross receipts have already been offset with expenses other than returns and allowances so that only the net amount is reported as gross receipts on the tax return. If, for example, a contractor delayed his billings or structured the billing entitlement in the contract in an attempt to defer reporting of gross receipts, you can rest assured that the IRS will catch it.
What if I Know I Cheated on My Taxes and the IRS Wants to Speak with Me?
If you know that you made misstatements or engaged in inaccurate reporting methods on your taxes and have been contacted by any federal or California taxing authority, including the IRS, FTB, California Department of Tax and Feed Administration (CDTFA), or EDD, do not face the audit alone. The first advice is simple and well-known: Recognize that "Anything you say can and will be used against you . . ." — not necessarily in a court of law, but by the IRS and California taxing authorities. You are not under arrest, even though it may feel that way. You do not want to "go it alone" when you face an audit under these circumstances. It is best to utilize an intermediary—namely, an experienced dually California licensed Tax Audit Attorney and CPA.
All too often, contractors think they can fix their tax problems by making additional inaccurate or implausible statements to the examining tax agency. Contractors may believe that they can talk their way out of a situation. Unfortunately, in our experience, contractors often forget that the auditor does this for a living and have often received training in fraud detection and investigation. Implausible statements delivered with tons of charisma or confidence won't carry the day. Instead, a contractor is more likely to compound their civil liability and or trigger a criminal tax investigation due to the presence of one or more badges of fraud in their fact pattern that they try and explain away only to create greater suspicion with the auditor because their explanations that do not make logical sense when viewed with a grain of salt within the big picture.
Suppose you know that there are tax filing errors and potential improprieties on your federal or California income, payroll, or sales tax returns. In that case, the most prudent thing you can do is to establish a layer of separation between yourself and the federal or California tax auditor. We have decades of experience and specialized training enabling us to serve as a buffer and prevent the examining agent from obtaining criminal admissions from your conduct, 70% of communication is nonverbal, and verbal or written statements. Since the most challenging element to prove in any criminal tax prosecution brought by the IRS or California taxing authorities is intent, potentially taking you, your spouse, your business partner and your staff out of the equation (without engaging in witness tampering) eliminates the possibility that you, or they, may provide the evidence on intent their audit is designed to uncover. Aside from circumstantial evidence of intent, the only direct evidence they can obtain that you intentionally cheated will come from your own mouth or the testimony of others.
Gathering circumstantial evidence is then the only available means the IRS and California tax agencies have available to attempt to prove your criminal tax intent. Circumstantial evidence includes the information contained in your tax records and books, things your employees may say, and evidence that may arise from a third party. Luckily, circumstantial evidence is typically seen as less persuasive than direct evidence. While you cannot control the circumstantial evidence the IRS or California taxing authorities may uncover, you can prevent providing direct evidence to the auditors. Remember, no matter how smart you are, you are outgunned and fighting against the resources of a well-trained and experienced federal or state taxing authority that has a deep bench and practically unlimited access to their own specially trained and experienced legal counsel.
Discerning What Sort of Audit You Are Dealing With
There are three basic kinds of tax audits: Correspondence Audits, Office Audits, and Field Audits.
A Correspondence Audit is where the IRS's or California's computer system has flagged something in your return that it deems an error, and they send you a letter about it. Maybe the computer thinks you underreported your income (thus understating your tax liability). Perhaps the IRS or California is correct about the issues raised, but maybe it is not. These computers generating these reports are not perfect. Most correspondence audits are generated by an IRS or California computer trying to match information it receives from third parties against the income and deductions you report. For example, the IRS and California gets K-1's from the flow-through entities you have investments in (S-Corps, Partnerships & LLC's), 1099K's that report the amount of debit and credit card payments to your business, 1099-Misc income, and 1098 mortgage interest statements. If the IRS or California computer cannot determine that you have correctly reported these items of income or deductions, a correspondence audit will often result.
An IRS or California FTB, CDTFA or EDD Office Audit is much more serious than a correspondence audit. In part, this is because of the increased exposure to interviews and six-year statute of limitations if a 25% understatement of income or open-ended dawn of time statute of limitations if fraud is discovered or admitted by the taxpayer. Anytime the IRS or California wants to meet with you to discuss certain irregularities in your tax return(s), the exposure for tax crimes goes up exponentially. The IRS or California taxing authority may ask you to bring a list of specific documents to a meeting and be prepared to discuss them. The IRS, FTB or CDTFA will seek to confirm the amount of your reported gross income. They will inquire how you obtained your gross receipts figures and whether you have reconciled your bank statements and other sales records. They will ask about expenses paid in cash or income received in cash and about your payroll substantiation and 1099 reporting on independent contractors. If you took significant deductions, you should be prepared to substantiate them.
The Field Audit is by far the most extensive and intrusive of the three types of audits. It involves the IRS coming to your home or business to tour your business facilities and interview the taxpayer and random members of the taxpayer's business searching for unreported income or overstated deductions or credits. They will thoroughly review your business records and financial statements. The IRS, FTB, CDTFA and EDD agents are generally well-trained and can spot almost all the "common" tax fraud tactics and associated "badges of fraud." The IRS and FTB will ordinarily review each type of deduction, consider capital gains issues, and conduct a deep probe. Occasionally the IRS, FTB, CDTFA or EDD field agent will also be a licensed CPA.
What Can I Do if I am Facing an IRS, FTB, CDTFA or EDD Income, Sales or Payroll Tax Audit?
First of all, you should not discuss your current or past tax reporting behavior with anyone. Do not tell your neighbor, best friend, employees, business partner or even your priest that you think you may get caught cheating on your income, employment, or sales taxes. These individuals have a financial incentive, hidden motive, or conflict of interest that may cause them to report you and serve as government witnesses through the various voluntary disclosure or whistleblower bounty programs and can be compensated up to 25% of whatever the taxing authority dings you for. They can also potentially be forced to testify against you.
Furthermore, the type of tax professional you seek assistance from is critical. Some taxpayers and business owners are tempted to return to their original accountant. Others may consider speaking to a CPA that was not involved in preparing the returns at issue. However, this decision is fraught with consequences that can exacerbate your situation further should the IRS or state tax agency decide to subpoena your accountant or CPA and compel them to testify under the threatened penalty of contempt of court. In other words, what you tell an accountant, or a CPA is generally unprivileged and subject to discovery in court. That means anything you disclose to these individuals regarding possible criminal intent can come out in court. You must take a different approach since you do not want to create government witness #1 against you in a criminal tax matter.
In contrast to the weak and jurisdictionally dependent, unevenly recognized accountant-client privilege, the attorney-client privilege is robust and recognized in all state and federal courts. Nearly anything that you disclose to a Tax Lawyer, or the Kovel accountants he works with, are protected and confidential and cannot be used against you, provided that the attorney-client privilege is maintained and protected. The attorney-client privilege permits a taxpayer to speak frankly regarding mistakes, errors, and other intentional acts so that the Tax Attorney can prepare a defense to the audit or criminal tax investigation techniques and other tactics you are likely to face. Furthermore, if you work through a tax attorney, consulting accountants can receive derivative attorney-client privilege and confidentiality through what is known as a Kovel letter.
The CPAs and CPA candidates that the Tax Law Office of David W. Klasing employs are all Kovel Accountants that receive extensive on the job training and supervision in effectively fulfilling that roll to provide you the highest levels of protection.
Why Do I Need an Experienced Dually California Licensed Tax Lawyer and CPA to Protect Me?
At the Tax Law Office of David W. Klasing, we represent commercial contractors, construction lenders, construction managers, heavy construction contractors, highway contractors, materials suppliers, residential construction developers, subcontractors and surety companies. We also represent parties that build, design, or fund construction projects in California. If you are concerned about an upcoming federal or California income, employment, or sales tax audit, we are here to provide answers while shielding you and your business from life altering assessments of tax, penalties and interest and any effectively mitigating any related criminal tax exposure.
We are conveniently positioned across California to serve builders, suppliers, and developers statewide with satellite tax offices conveniently located throughout Northern and Southern California. To arrange a reduced-rate initial consultation regarding a civil, criminal, California, or federal tax matter, contact our tax firm online or call the Tax Law Office of David W. Klasing 24 hours, seven days a week, at (800) 681-1295.
If you have failed to file a tax return for one or more years or have taken a position on a tax return that could not be supported upon an IRS or state tax authority audit, eggshell audit, reverse eggshell audit, or criminal tax investigation, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced tax defense attorney to determine your best route back into federal or state tax compliance without facing criminal prosecution.
Note:
As long as a taxpayer that has willfully committed tax crimes (potentially including non-filed foreign information returns coupled with affirmative evasion of U.S. income tax on offshore income) self-reports the tax fraud (including a pattern of non-filed returns) through a domestic or offshore voluntary disclosure before the IRS has started an audit or criminal tax investigation / prosecution, the taxpayer can ordinarily be successfully brought back into tax compliance and receive a nearly guaranteed pass on criminal tax prosecution and simultaneously often receive a break on the civil penalties that would otherwise apply.
It is imperative that you hire an experienced and reputable criminal tax defense attorney to take you through the voluntary disclosure process. Only an Attorney has the Attorney Client Privilege and Work Product Privileges that will prevent the very professional that you hire from being potentially being forced to become a witness against you, especially where they prepared the returns that need to be amended, in a subsequent criminal tax audit, investigation or prosecution.
Moreover, only an Attorney can enter you into a voluntary disclosure without engaging in the unauthorized practice of law (a crime in itself). Only an Attorney trained in Criminal Tax Defense fully understands the risks and rewards involved in voluntary disclosures and how to protect you if you do not qualify for a voluntary disclosure.
As uniquely qualified and extensively experienced Criminal Tax Defense Tax Attorneys, Kovel CPAs and EAs, our firm provides a one stop shop to efficiently achieve the optimal and predictable results that simultaneously protect your liberty and your net worth. See our Testimonials to see what our clients have to say about us!
More Commonly Asked Tax Audit Questions
- How should Tax Audits be Handled by Criminal Tax Counsel?
- How to survive audit when I cheated on return being audited
- What is an eggshell audit?
- What is a reverse egg shell audit?
- Why is a reverse egg shell audit dangerous for a taxpayer?
- Warning signs of a criminal referral from an IRS audit
- Effective tax defense counsels goals in an egg shell audit?
- How are the 4 goals and outcomes 1 and 2 best obtained?
- What are the possible outcomes of an egg shell audit?
- Is it my right to know why I was selected for examination?
- What can I do to prepare for an audit?
- What is an IRS civil examination?
- How IRS decides which tax returns are audited
- What are my appeal options if I disagree with IRS?
- What are my basic taxpayer rights if the IRS audits me?
- Options if I am unable to pay at the conclusion of audit
- What a 30 or 90-Day Letter from the IRS means
- What is involved with appealing disagreements?
- Rights to disagree with IRS tax auditor's findings
- Can I stop the IRS from repeatedly auditing me?
- Can I have the examination transferred to another area?
- Can I record my IRS interview and is it a good idea?
- How many years of returns are at risk during an audit?
- Common reasons for the IRS to conduct a tax audit
- How to avoid negative consequences from an IRS interview
- Have to agree to interview by taxing authority directly?
- Are all audits the same?
- What should I do if the IRS is investigating me?
- What if I don't respond to a taxing authority audit notice
- Your rights during an IRS tax audit
- Risks of attending an IRS audit without a tax lawyer
- Most common audit technique used by taxing authorities
- Don't go into an IRS audit without representation
- Why hire an attorney to represent me in an audit?
- Why hire David W. Klasing to represent me in an audit
California Sales Tax Questions and Answers
- Common issues encountered during sales tax audit
- What is a sales tax audit?
- Disagreeing with business audit conclusions
- Timeline to file Petition for Redetermination?
- What should Petition for Redetermination contain?
- Is the appeals conference formal or informal?
- Appeals Division's Decision and Recommendation
- Are a mark-up percentage and a profit margin the same?
- Problems with the mark up audit
- Can State Board of Equalization ignore my business records
- What is a sales tax deficiency determination?
- Business being audited for sales tax. Should I be worried?
- Audit determined fraud to avoid sales and use tax
- Definition of "sale" for California Sales Tax
- What do California sellers need to know about sales tax?
- How do I apply for a sellers permit?
- What are my obligations as a permit holder?
- What is sales tax?
- What is tangible personal property?
- What is a sale?
- What are total gross receipts?
- What is use tax?
- Who is responsible for paying the use tax?
- Who is a retailer engaged in business in California?
- Who is a qualified purchaser?
- Do I need a Certificate of Registration Use tax?
- Do I need a Use Tax Direct Payment Permit?
- What types of sales are exempt from sales tax?
- How are Internet Transactions Taxed?
- How is California sales or use tax determined?
- What is the statewide sales and use tax rate?
- Are there other local and district sales and use taxes?
- Total sales and use tax rate calculation
- How to protect against successor liability in California
- Recourse when issued California sales tax liability notice
- CA Sales Tax liability extend to purchasers/successors?
- Waiting Until Audited to Take Action on Tax Matters
- Sales tax records needed in California
- What are California's sales and use taxes?
- Why does the State of California audit businesses to ensure compliance with sales and use taxes? How does the State determine whether to audit my business?
- The BOE reviews the purchase invoices of my business
Questions and Answers for Criminal Tax Representation
- When tax defense counsel parallels tax crime investigation
- Guilty of tax obstruction by backdating documents?
- To be found guilty of tax obstruction must a person actually be successful in impeding the IRS's functions?
- Help! The Document I Gave the IRS Had False Information
- Tax crime aiding or assisting false return IRC §7206(2)
- What is the crime known as tax obstruction § 7212?
- What is the difference between tax perjury and tax evasion?
- What is the tax crime commonly known as tax perjury?
- What is a Klein Conspiracy?
- Increased possibility of civil action in IRS investigation
- Am I Guilty of Tax Evasion if the Law is Vague?
- What happens if the IRS thinks I committed tax crimes?
- What are ways to defend against a tax evasion charge?
- Difference between criminal tax evasion and civil tax fraud
- What accounting method does the IRS use for tax fraud
- Can I Change Accounting Method to the Accrual Method
- What is the willfulness requirement for tax evasion?
- I didn't know I committed tax fraud. Can I get off?
- Concealed assets from IRS. Can I avoid tax evasion charges
- How government proves I willfully engaged in tax evasion
- What is the venue or court where a tax crime case is heard?
- Must the IRS prove tax crimes beyond a reasonable doubt?
- Is it a crime to make false statements to the IRS?
- Will the IRS overlook my tax evasion if it's minor?
- Failed to tell IRS about my nominee account
- Audit risk with cash based business transactions
- How to defend a client charged with tax evasion
- Is it tax evasion if I didn't file income tax return?
- Government says I attempted to evade my taxes. Now what?
- I forgot to pay my taxes or estimated tax. Is this a crime?
- Government proof I "willfully" failed to pay taxes
- 5 Ways to Respond to Tax Evasion Charges
- Being audited after using a tax professional
- Rules for what an IRS agent can do while investigating me
- How tax preparers, attorneys and accountants are punished
- How the IRS selects tax crime lead for investigation
- How does the IRS prosecute suspected tax crimes?
- Does IRS reward informant leads for suspected tax crimes?
- How the government proves deficiency in a tax evasion case
- Do prior tax crimes factor into new IRS tax convictions?
- Requesting conference before investigative report is done
- Requesting conference after IRS Special Agent Report
- What are my rights during an IRS criminal investigation?
- Avoid prosecution for tax crime with voluntary disclosure?
- Defense tactics that make it hard for to prove willfulness
- How a tax attorney can stop your criminal tax case?
- What can you generally tell me about tax crimes?
- Continuing filing requirement with investigation pending
- Federal criminal code crimes that apply to tax issues
- Penalty for making, subscribing, and filing a false return
- CID special agent's report for criminal prosecution
- What is the discovery process in a criminal tax case?
- What the IRS includes in indictment for tax case
- What is the hardest element of a tax crime to prove?
- IRS methods of gathering evidence to prove tax crime
- What does a grand jury do in IRS tax crime prosecution?
- Failure to keep records or supply information
- Failure to make a return, supply information, or pay tax
- What is attempting to evade payment of taxes?
- What is income tax evasion and how is it punished?
- What is attempted income tax evasion?
- What is the crime of failure to pay tax? What is punishment
- Crime of making or subscribing false return or document
- Criminal Investigation Division investigation tactics
- Tax crimes related to employment tax forms and trust funds
- Tactics to defend or mitigate IRS criminal tax charges
- How the IRS generates leads about suspected tax crimes
- What is the crime "evasion of assessment" of tax?
- Specific examples of "attempting" to evade tax assessment
- What is the so-called Spies evasion doctrine?
- Does overstating deductions constitute tax evasion?
- Is it tax evasion if my W-4 contains false statements?
- IRC §7201 attempt to evade vs. common-law crime of attempt
- What are the penalties for Spies tax evasion?
- How government proves a taxpayer attempted tax fraud
- What is a tax that was "due and owing."
- What is evasion of assessment for tax liability?
- Is evasion of assessment different from evasion of payment
- Does the IRS have a dollar threshold for tax fraud?
- What is the IRS burden of proof for tax fraud convictions?
- Are Tax Laws Constitutional?
- What is the source of law that defines tax evasion?
- Does section 7201 create two distinct criminal offenses?
- Does tax evasion definition include partnership LLC
- What if I helped someone else evade taxes?
- Is it illegal to overstate deductions on my tax return?
- Is it illegal to conceal bank accounts from the IRS?
- Do later losses justify prior deductions?
- Common reasons the IRS and DOJ start investigations
- What is the Mens Rea component of tax crimes?
- What is a proffer agreement and what are the risks?
- Why to have an attorney to review a proffer agreement
- Why enter into a proffer agreement?
- Limited use immunity from proffer agreements
- Difference between civil and criminal fraud allegation
Questions about delinquent payroll taxes and trust fund recovery penalty
- What happens if an employer continues to incur new payroll tax liabilities?
- California Employment Taxes Basics
- How Does the IRS Develop an Employment Tax Fraud Case from the First Indication of Fraud to a Criminal Indictment?
- Can more than one person be considered responsible by IRS
- How unpaid employment tax payments are allocated
- When a corporate officer is considered a responsible party
- Examples of trust fund recovery penalty determinations
- Failing to pay employment taxes after notice is given
- How to determine responsible person for trust fund recovery
- Assessing trust fund recovery penalty and option to appeal
- What is the trust fund recovery penalty?
- What are the penalties for failure to pay employment taxes
- When am I considered liable for company's employment taxes
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Public Contact: Dave Klasing Esq. M.S.-Tax CPA, dave@taxesqcpa.net
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SOURCE Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing, PC | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2023/04/17/tax-law-offices-david-w-klasing-how-survive-tax-audit-contractor-when-you-cheated-your-federal-irs-or-california-income-ftb-payroll-irsedd-or-sales-taxes-cdtfa/ | 2023-04-17 11:15:21 | 0 | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2023/04/17/tax-law-offices-david-w-klasing-how-survive-tax-audit-contractor-when-you-cheated-your-federal-irs-or-california-income-ftb-payroll-irsedd-or-sales-taxes-cdtfa/ |
CHICAGO (AP) — Two people who wish to remain anonymous have claimed a $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot after a single ticket to the late July drawing was sold in a Chicago suburb, opting to take a lump sum payment of $780.5 million, lottery officials said Wednesday.
The Illinois Lottery said the prize for the July 29 drawing, which was the nation’s third-largest lottery prize, was claimed by two individuals who had agreed to split the prize if they won. The two, who followed the lead of the vast majority of winners who choose to remain anonymous, had until Sept. 27 to opt in favor of the lump sum payment, said Emilia Mazur, spokeswoman for Camelot Illinois, the private manager of the Illinois Lottery.
The Illinois Lottery said it was unable to share any information about the winners except to say that they must be absolutely “over the moon” with their Mega Millions win. Illinois is one of at least 16 states where winners can remain anonymous.
Lottery officials said the two people have spent the past few weeks working with professional legal and financial advisors to support the claim process — something experts recommend lottery winners do.
“These winners are now in the enviable position of deciding what to do with their newfound fortune,” said Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays.
According to megamillions.com, one jackpot-winning ticket was bought at a Speedway gas station and convenience store in Des Plaines.
The winning numbers were: 13-36-45-57-67, Mega Ball: 14.
The jackpot grew so large because no one had matched the game’s six selected numbers since April 15. That’s 29 consecutive draws without a jackpot winner. Because nobody has won the Mega Millions jackpot since the July 29 drawing, the jackpot now stands at an estimated $301 million. | https://www.krqe.com/news/top-stories/ap-top-headlines/ap-2-claim-1-337b-mega-millions-prize-3rd-largest-us-jackpot/ | 2022-09-21 17:53:58 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/news/top-stories/ap-top-headlines/ap-2-claim-1-337b-mega-millions-prize-3rd-largest-us-jackpot/ |
By ALANIS THAMES
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is still showing no concussion symptoms after a hit against the Jets on Sunday caused him to leave the game, but he remains in the concussion protocol after the NFL’s revised concussion rules.
Bridgewater has to clear the NFL’s five-step process to return to football activities. Although there is no definitive timeframe for his return, coach Mike McDaniel said the earliest Bridgewater could return to practice would be Thursday.
Starter Tua Tagovailoa is still in the concussion protocol and is “not ready to take the step to do football stuff,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel also did not commit to rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson, who entered Sunday’s game after Bridgewater left, as the Dolphins starter Sunday against the Vikings.
“It’s too soon for me to really pinpoint that,” McDaniel said, “I kind of have to wait and assess the whole situation, which I do not have in scope.”
So the Dolphins will enter this week’s preparation for the Vikings in a precarious situation as their quarterbacks have taken big hits in three consecutive games.
“It’s a nice challenge,” McDaniel said. “But nothing that myself and the rest of the coaching staff isn’t paid to do. No one really cares how hard it is.”
Bridgewater took a hard hit from Jets cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner on the Dolphins first offensive snap. The veteran quarterback was listed with a head and elbow injury and was immediately taken to the locker room and evaluated for a concussion.
McDaniel said after the game that Bridgewater didn’t show any concussion symptoms and passed tests, but a spotter saw Bridgewater stumble after the play.
Bridgewater was ruled ineligible to return because of the NFL’s revised protocols put into place after Tagovailoa took a hit against Buffalo last month.
When asked what exactly was observed from Bridgewater that triggered the “no-go” rule, McDaniel said he didn’t see it.
“I was there at the game. I was watching him intently. I didn’t see him stumble,” McDaniel said. “I’m also not really in the business of grading and coaching spotters.”
Against the Bills, Tagovailoa wobbled when he got up after slamming hard to the turf, but he was cleared to return at the start of the third quarter, to the surprise of many. Tagovailoa was later found to have a back injury, not a concussion.
On Saturday, the NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to make changes to the league’s concussion protocol following a joint investigation into the handling of Tagovailoa’s injury. The league and players’ union said in a joint statement that while the Dolphins followed protocol after the injury, the outcome of the Tagovailoa case “was not what was intended when the Protocol was drafted.”
As a result, they added language addressing abnormality of balance/stability to the league’s list of symptoms that would keep a player from returning to the game.
Bridgewater’s perceived stumble triggered the “ataxia” term, causing him to immediately be put in the concussion protocol.
Bridgewater started Sunday in place of Tagovailoa, who suffered a concussion in Miami’s Sept. 29 game against Cincinnati, four days after taking the hit against Buffalo. He was stretchered off the field and taken to a hospital and remains in the concussion protocol.
Thompson finished 19 of 33 for 166 yards and an interception in his NFL debut.
___
More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/sports/2022/10/10/dolphins-bridgewater-still-in-concussion-protocol-4/ | 2022-10-11 02:05:22 | 1 | https://wtmj.com/sports/2022/10/10/dolphins-bridgewater-still-in-concussion-protocol-4/ |
BRAINTREE, Mass. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Tuesday afternoon's drawing of the Massachusetts Lottery's "Numbers Midday" game were:
6-5-4-6
(six, five, four, six)
BRAINTREE, Mass. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Tuesday afternoon's drawing of the Massachusetts Lottery's "Numbers Midday" game were:
6-5-4-6
(six, five, four, six) | https://www.expressnews.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Numbers-Midday-game-17618800.php | 2022-11-29 20:11:40 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Numbers-Midday-game-17618800.php |
U.S. regulators on Friday authorized the first COVID-19 shots for infants and preschoolers, paving the way for vaccinations to begin next week.
The Food and Drug Administration’s action follows its advisory panel’s unanimous recommendation for the shots from Moderna and Pfizer. That means U.S. kids under 5 — roughly 18 million youngsters — are eligible for the shots, about 1 1/2 years after the vaccines first became available in the U.S. for adults, who have been hit the hardest during the pandemic.
The FDA also authorized Moderna’s vaccine for school-aged children and teens. Pfizer’s shots had previously been the only ones available for those ages.
There’s one step left: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends how to use vaccines and its vaccine advisers are set to discuss the shots for the youngest kids Friday and vote on Saturday. A final signoff would come from CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
At a Senate hearing Thursday, Walensky said her staff was working over the Juneteenth federal holiday weekend “because we understand the urgency of this for American parents.”
She said pediatric deaths from COVID-19 have been higher than what is generally seen from the flu each year.
“So I actually think we need to protect young children, as well as protect everyone with the vaccine and especially protect elders,” she said.
For weeks, the Biden administration has been preparing to roll out the vaccines. States, tribes, community health centers and pharmacies preordered millions of doses. FDA’s emergency use authorization allows manufacturers to begin shipping vaccine across the country. Vaccinations could begin as early as Monday or Tuesday.
Some parents have been anxiously awaiting the chance to protect their little ones.
While young children generally don’t get as sick from COVID-19 as older kids and adults, their hospitalizations surged during the omicron wave and FDA’s advisers determined that benefits from vaccination outweighed the minimal risks. Studies from Moderna and Pfizer showed side effects, including fever and fatigue, were mostly minor.
The two brands use the same technology but there are differences.
Pfizer’s vaccine for kids younger than 5 is one-tenth of the adult dose. Three shots are needed: the first two given three weeks apart and the last at least two months later.
Moderna’s is two shots, each a quarter of its adult dose, given about four weeks apart for kids under 6.
The vaccines are for children as young as 6 months. Moderna next plans to study its shots for babies as young as 3-months-old. Pfizer has not finalized plans for shots in younger infants. A dozen countries, including China, already vaccinate kids under 5.
Dr. Beth Ebel, professor of pediatrics at University of Washington in Seattle, said the tot-sized vaccines would be especially welcomed by U.S. parents with children in daycare where outbreaks can sideline parents from jobs, adding to financial strain.
“A lot of people are going to be happy and a lot of grandparents are going to be happy, too, because we’ve missed those babies who grew up when you weren’t able to see them,” Ebel said.
___
AP Medical Writers Laura Ungar and Carla K. Johnson contributed. | https://www.twincities.com/2022/06/17/fda-authorizes-1st-covid-19-shots-for-infants-preschoolers/ | 2022-06-17 14:21:48 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/06/17/fda-authorizes-1st-covid-19-shots-for-infants-preschoolers/ |
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tecum Capital Management, Inc. ("Tecum" or "Tecum Capital"), a middle-market private equity firm, is proud to announce its partnership with J&D Home Improvement, Inc. d/b/a The Basement Doctor and its related entities ("Basement Doctor" or the "Company"). The investment represents Tecum Capital's first platform investment out of its recently relaunched control equity strategy, Team Equity Alpha Management ("TEAM" or "Tecum Equity").
Founded in 1987, Basement Doctor is a vertically integrated provider of residential water displacement management services, including basement and crawlspace waterproofing, foundation repair, and mold remediation focused on preserving home value, safety, and structural integrity. In recent years, the Company's experienced management team has been focused on growing its service footprint in the region, while also focusing on growing out its national distribution capabilities of best-in-class products to better serve the independent installers throughout the country.
"I am very proud of what we have built here at the Basement Doctor over the last 35 years, and we are excited to build upon this foundation to grow the platform into a national player," said the Company's founder, Ron Greenbaum. "Tecum made it a priority to listen and understand my family's goals and had an aligned vision, centralized around the capabilities of my people and the platform we had built since 1987, which made them the partner of choice for me and my team."
"We could not be more excited to work with The Basement Doctor team and welcome them to the Tecum family. We have aggressive goals of expanding the platform through both organic and inorganic initiatives, while continuing to professionalize the industry and the broader home services environment," said Tecum Vice President, Sean Edmonson. "It all starts with the people," said Director, Dave Bonvenuto. "Ron and his team have a centralized focus around the Company's culture and investing in its talent. In this industry, our people are critical to the growth of the platform, and we plan to leverage this differentiated approach as we grow the business in partnership with the team."
Footprint Capital acted as financial advisor to The Basement Doctor. Tecum Equity was advised by Clark Hill in completing the transaction.
The Deal Team from Tecum Equity consisted of Matt Harnett, Dave Bonvenuto, Sean Edmonson, and Ian Frazier.
Tecum Capital Management, Inc. ("Tecum") is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based private investment firm with a multi-strategy approach to deploying capital in lower middle market companies. Tecum focuses on businesses with EBITDA between $3 to $10 million. Tecum manages a licensed Small Business Investment Company ("SBIC") and is currently investing out of Tecum Capital Partners III, L.P, a $305 million fund launched in August 2021. Tecum Equity is a separate control equity strategy specializing in partnering with family- and founder-owned business. Since 2006, the team has collectively invested over $1.0 billion in over 135 platform and add-on acquisitions on behalf of institutional investors. For more information, please visit www.tecum.com.
Media Contacts
Lynn McDonald, Tecum Marketing Coordinator
P: +1 (724) 257-1771
E: lmcdonald@tecum.com
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SOURCE Tecum Capital | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/10/20/tecum-capital-announces-partnership-with-basement-doctor/ | 2022-10-20 14:23:11 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/10/20/tecum-capital-announces-partnership-with-basement-doctor/ |
Miles Vance from Moe’s Southwest Grill, shares with us all of the great options they can offer when it comes to catering for any size group, and he also tells us about some new wraps and sauces they have available!
For more information call 423-573-6637 or go to moes.com | https://www.wjhl.com/daytime-tri-cities/delicious-catering-options-from-moes-southwest-grill/ | 2023-05-10 18:09:27 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/daytime-tri-cities/delicious-catering-options-from-moes-southwest-grill/ |
OSLO, Norway — Two people were killed and more than a dozen injured early Saturday in a mass shooting in Oslo, Norwegian police said, as the city was gearing up for an annual Pride parade.
The shooting happened outside a bar in the downtown area of the Norwegian capital, police said.
A suspect was arrested and police don't believe any other people were involved, police spokesman Tore Barstad said.
Barstad said the motive was not immediately known and that it wasn't clear whether the shooting had any connection to the Pride parade that was to be held Saturday in Oslo.
"Police are in contact with the organizers of the Pride event this Saturday. There will be a continuous assessment of what measures police should take to protect that event and whether this incident has a connection to Pride at all," Barstad told reporters.
He said 14 people were receiving medical treatment, eight of whom have been hospitalized.
Olav Roenneberg, a journalist from Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, said he witnessed the shooting.
"I saw a man arrive at the site with a bag. He picked up a weapon and started shooting," Roenneberg told NRK. "First I thought it was an air gun. Then the glass of the bar next door was shattered and I understood I had to run for cover."
Norwegian broadcaster TV2 showed footage of people running down Oslo streets in panic as shots rang out in the background.
Oslo Pride organizers said they were in close contact with the police.
"We are shocked and saddened by the tragic incident, and we are following it closely," Oslo Pride said in a Facebook statement. "Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones."
Norway is a relatively safe country but has experienced violent attacks by right-wing extremists, including one of the worst mass shootings in Europe in 2011, when a right-wing extremist killed 69 people on the island of Utoya after setting off a bomb in Oslo that left eight dead.
In 2019, another right-wing extremist killed his stepsister and then opened fire in a mosque but was overpowered before anyone there was injured.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wbaa.org/2022-06-25/norwegian-police-say-2-were-killed-and-at-least-a-dozen-hurt-in-an-oslo-mass-shooting | 2022-06-25 05:41:05 | 0 | https://www.wbaa.org/2022-06-25/norwegian-police-say-2-were-killed-and-at-least-a-dozen-hurt-in-an-oslo-mass-shooting |
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LAS VEGAS , June 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Realty ONE Group, a modern, purpose-driven lifestyle brand and ONE of the fastest growing franchisors in the world, has sold the franchise rights to a new owner in Portugal who's excited to bring the company's dynamic COOLTURE, branding, business coaching and unique business model to the southern European country.
New owner João Oliveira has worked in the Portuguese real estate market for more than 20 years and has 100 real estate professionals in his office.
"We're so pleased to have found a smart and successful partner in João who is just as passionate about opening doors for his professionals and customers as we are," said Kuba Jewgieniew, CEO and Founder of Realty ONE Group. "He's a family man who will bring our strong sense of family and love for each other to his office and community."
"We want to become better and do more for our customers, focusing on their interests and needs," said Oliveira, who has two children with his partner Raquel Silva. "Now is the time and Realty ONE Group is the brand."
This year, Realty ONE Group was ranked a Top 100 Recession-Proof franchise by Franchise Business Review and the company claimed the No.1 spot for real estate franchisors on Entrepreneur's highly competitive 2022 Franchise 500(R) List.
The UNBrokerage, as it's known in the industry, now has more than 18,000 real estate professionals in more than 400 offices in 49 states, Washington D.C. and Canada and will be opening in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Italy, Singapore and Spain, in addition to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.
Learn more at www.OwnAOne.com.
Founded in 2005, Realty ONE Group is an industry disruptor, radically changing the face of real estate franchising with its unique business model, fun coolture, technology infrastructure and superior support for its real estate professionals. The company has rapidly evolved to include more than 18,000 real estate professionals in over 400+ offices across 49 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, Italy, Spain, Singapore and Costa Rica. Realty ONE Group ranks in the top one percent in the nation by REAL Trends, has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top 5 Real Estate Franchise and has been on Inc. 500's list of the Fastest-Growing Companies for seven consecutive years. Realty ONE Group is surging ahead, opening doors, not only for its clients but for real estate professionals and franchise owners. To learn more, visit www.RealtyONEGroup.com.
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SOURCE Realty ONE Group | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/17/realty-one-group-open-portugal/ | 2022-06-17 15:19:36 | 1 | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/17/realty-one-group-open-portugal/ |
LOS ANGELES — Chris Evans may have put down Captain America's shield but he's got a new badge of honor: he's been named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.
People's selection was announced Monday night on Stephen Colbert's late night show and on the magazine's website. Evans, who for nearly a decade played Captain America in Marvel's sprawling superhero films, takes the baton from another Avenger, Paul Rudd.
“My mom will be so happy,” he told the magazine for its cover story, which hits newsstands on Friday. “She’s proud of everything I do but this is something she can really brag about.”
He also knows that he's likely to be teased by close friends. “Really this will just be a point of bullying,” he joked in an interview. “It’s ripe for harassment.”
Among those likely to heckle him are co-stars and previous Sexiest Man Alive winners like Rudd, Ryan Reynolds and Chris Hemsworth. (Hemsworth, who plays Thor in the Marvel films, was the first Avenger to win People's annual honor, which was first handed out to Mel Gibson in 1985.)
Other past honorees include John Legend, Dwayne Johnson, Idris Elba, Adam Levine, Richard Gere, Channing Tatum and David Beckham.
People interviewed Evans, 41, at a Georgia farmhouse, where the actor talked about finding a better work-life balance. “The most enjoyable aspect of my career right now is feeling secure enough to take my foot off the gas,” he said.
Evans' first film role came in 2000's “The New Comers” and he played superhero Johnny Storm in two “Fantastic Four” films released in 2005 and 2007. But he gained widespread fame in 2011 with the release of “Captain America: The First Avenger."
Since then, he's played the wholesome superhero in 10 Marvel films, laying down his shield after saving the universe in “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019.
Evans has become a highly bankable star, voicing the Buzz Lightyear character in Pixar's “Lightyear” film and playing a sadistic assassin trying to kill Reynolds in Nextflix's “The Gray Man” — both released this year.
The actor told People he's thinking about marriage and having a family, saying, “That’s absolutely something I want.”
He said he didn't expect to talk publicly much about his private life though. “Some things you want just for you, or just for my family and my friends.”
The Boston native also continues his involvement with the civic engagement site A Starting Point, which he co-founded in 2020.
As Evans charts the next part of his life and career, he fully expects People's honor will be a milestone.
“It’s something that as I become old and saggy I can look back on and say ‘I remember then…’” Evans said. “I’m lucky to be in the discussion in any capacity.” | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/nation-world/chris-evans-sexiest-man-alive-2022/507-2e7b1379-54fd-4269-9309-c00fc62fca08 | 2022-11-08 06:21:11 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/nation-world/chris-evans-sexiest-man-alive-2022/507-2e7b1379-54fd-4269-9309-c00fc62fca08 |
Wheat for May was down 12.50 cents at $6.9225 a bushel; May corn was off 1 cent at $6.4950 a bushel, May oats lost 3.25 cents at $3.7275 a bushel; while May soybeans fell 2.75 cents at $14.7450 a bushel.
Beef was higher and pork was lower on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Apr. live cattle rose 1.73 cents at $1.6755 a pound; Mar. cattle was up .95 cent at $1.9240 a pound; while Apr. lean hogs was off .32 cent at $.7645 a pound. | https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/grains-lower-livestock-mixed-17869641.php | 2023-03-30 21:25:01 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/grains-lower-livestock-mixed-17869641.php |
STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE: TROX), the world's leading integrated manufacturer of titanium dioxide pigment, announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share. The dividend is payable on September 16, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 15, 2022.
About Tronox
Tronox Holdings plc is one of the world's leading producers of high-quality titanium products, including titanium dioxide pigment, specialty-grade titanium dioxide products and high-purity titanium chemicals, and zircon. We mine titanium-bearing mineral sands and operate upgrading facilities that produce high-grade titanium feedstock materials, pig iron and other minerals. With approximately 6,500 employees across six continents, our rich diversity, unmatched vertical integration model, and unparalleled operational and technical expertise across the value chain, position Tronox as the preeminent titanium dioxide producer in the world. For more information about how our products add brightness and durability to paints, plastics, paper and other everyday products, visit tronox.com.
Media Contact: Melissa Zona +1.636.751.4057
Investor Contact: Jennifer Guenther +1.646.960.6598
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SOURCE Tronox Holdings plc | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/tronox-declares-quarterly-dividend/ | 2022-08-03 13:33:42 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/tronox-declares-quarterly-dividend/ |
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez homered in his first three at-bats on Thursday night against the Boston Red Sox.
Ramírez connected for a solo shot in the first, a two-run homer — the 200th of his career — in the third and added another solo homer in the sixth.
The switch-hitter hit two of the homers right-handed, and the other from the left side of the plate.
Ramírez’s homer in the sixth came off former teammate Corey Kluber and gave the All-Star nine this season and moved him past Travis Hafner for ninth place on the club’s career homer list with 201.
Ramírez came up again in the sixth as the Guardians sent 10 men to the plate and struck out to end the inning.
His three-homer game is the fourth in the majors this season, following Texas’ Adolis García on April 22, St. Louis’ Paul Goldschmidt on May 7 and Oakland’s Jordan Diaz on May 9.
Cleveland has one four-homer game, by Rocky Colavito on June 10, 1959. The last four-homer game in the majors came from Arizona’s J.D. Martinez on Sept. 4, 2017.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.kark.com/sports/ap-sports/guardians-jose-ramirez-homers-in-first-3-at-bats-against-red-sox/ | 2023-06-09 14:41:51 | 1 | https://www.kark.com/sports/ap-sports/guardians-jose-ramirez-homers-in-first-3-at-bats-against-red-sox/ |
Missouri woman acquitted of killing daughter to be free soon
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri woman who was acquitted in July of killing her teenage daughter but convicted of abandoning the girl’s corpse was sentenced Thursday but will be released from prison soon.
Rebecca Ruud was acquitted in the death of 16-year-old Savannah Leckie, who moved to Ruud’s farm after leaving her adoptive home in Minnesota. Ruud gave the girl up for adoption as a baby.
But Ruud was convicted of abandoning the girl’s corpse, which was found on a burn pile at Ruud’s property on the Arkansas-Missouri border in July 2017.
She was sentenced to four years in prison Thursday and fined $5,000. But she will be given credit for the five years she has been in prison since her arrest, meaning she will be freed after prison officials process her release, the Springfield News-Leader reported.
During her trial, Ruud’s attorneys argued that Leckie died by suicide and Ruud panicked and burned her body after finding her dead.
After the bench trial, Greene County Circuit Court Judge Calvin Holden ruled that the state did not present enough evidence to support a murder charge.
Murder charges against Ruud’s husband, Robert Peat Jr., were dismissed Thursday shortly before Ruud’s sentencing.
Leckie’s adoptive mother, Tamile Leckie-Montague, has said the girl went to live with Ruud in 2016 because she was having behavioral problems.
For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Springfield News-Leader. | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/missouri-woman-acquitted-of-killing-daughter-to-be-free-soon/ | 2022-09-15 22:53:30 | 0 | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/missouri-woman-acquitted-of-killing-daughter-to-be-free-soon/ |
BERLIN (AP) — Germany will soon drop a mask mandate on long-distance trains and buses, one of the country's last remaining COVID-19 restrictions, the health minister said Friday.
The mandate will be dropped on Feb. 2, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach announced in Berlin.
Other European countries already have scrapped mask mandates in public transport, and Lauterbach faced increasing pressure to follow suit in recent weeks. Masks remain mandatory in doctors’ practices, while masks and negative tests are still required to enter hospitals and nursing homes.
Rules for local transportation are a matter for Germany’s 16 state governments, and an increasing number have dropped or are dropping their mask mandates. Some also have scrapped rules requiring infected people to isolate at home.
The long-distance transportation rules were scheduled to end on April 7, though legislation allows for them to be suspended earlier if the situation is better than expected.
After one of Germany's top virologists said shortly after Christmas that the pandemic is over, Lauterbach — who has long taken a cautious stance — faced mounting calls from inside and outside the governing coalition to do away with them.
“The pandemic situation has stabilized,” the minister said Friday, with the number of known or suspected infections stagnating or falling, and the number of people hospitalized continuing to decline.
“The population has built up high immunity, and the experts who advise us no longer believe there will be another big, serious winter wave,” he added. “At this point, we also don't foresee particularly dangerous variants reaching us in the coming weeks and months.”
Lauterbach appealed to people who want to continue protecting themselves and others to continue wearing masks voluntarily when indoors and on trains.
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/2023/01/13/germany-to-scrap-mask-mandate-in-long-distance-transport | 2023-01-16 02:29:00 | 1 | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/ap-top-news/2023/01/13/germany-to-scrap-mask-mandate-in-long-distance-transport |
INDIANAPOLIS – An early morning shooting in the 2300 block of N. Ritter Avenue has left a teen boy dead.
On Monday at about 4:30 a.m., IMPD officers responded to a report of a person shot. Upon arrival, they located a teenage male inside a vehicle suffering from apparent gunshot wound(s).
The teen was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Several hours later, he was pronounced dead.
He was identified as Cortez Glass, 17, the Marion County Coroner's Office said Tuesday.
IMPD detectives are investigating the shooting as a homicide.
They ask anyone with information about this incident should contact Detective Gregory Shue at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or by e-mail at Gregory.Shue@indy.gov.
TOP STORIES: Indiana taxpayer direct deposit refunds begin, checks should begin arriving this week | School bus carrying 32 students crashes into Indiana home | 'A hero': Woman dies after going into Brownsburg creek to save granddaughters who went in after puppy | Sheriff: Indiana University student found dead at home outside of Bloomington | 11-year-old girl sexually assaulted at Forest Manor Park in Indianapolis, 51-year-old man arrested | https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/crime/17-year-old-boy-dead-following-early-morning-shooting-on-east-side | 2022-08-30 12:54:58 | 0 | https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/crime/17-year-old-boy-dead-following-early-morning-shooting-on-east-side |
- Keynotes and interactive sessions with HR leaders from LEGO, Chevron, Microsoft, IBM, L'Oréal USA, Bon Secours Mercy Health, Cedars-Sinai, and more, now announced for the May 23-25 event
- Visionary "TED Talk" style keynotes, panel discussions, fireside chats, and hands-on workshops, on how to build an "irresistible" organization that attracts and amplifies talent
OAKLAND, Calif., April 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Josh Bersin Company, a research and advisory company focused on HR and workforce strategies, has released further details about its upcoming global HR event, Irresistible: a first of its kind, three-day conference, which will bring together pioneering HR executives from the world's top brands to share their challenges and successes, equipping delegates with the tools and methods to build an Irresistible Organization.
Keynote and major session highlights of the inaugural event, Irresistible 2022, announced to date:
- Felicia Washington, CHRO at the University of Southern California (USC), and Josh Bersin, global HR research analyst and CEO of The Josh Bersin Company, opening the event with their vision of The Future of HR and The Irresistible Organization, drawing on the latest research findings.
- Highlighting the new ground now being broken in workplaces around the world, a much-anticipated keynote on the Reinvention of Work – featuring Kathleen Hogan, Chief People Officer at Microsoft; Nickle LaMoreaux, Chief Human Resources Officer at IBM; Rhonda Morris, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Chevron; and Patricia Frost, CHRO at Seagate Technology. It will examine the environment and experience for employees is in the post-Covid era. Speakers will talk candidly about how the pandemic disrupted and forced change in organizations, and their most critical takeaways as they adapted and innovated during this process.
- Ray Narine, Head of Employee Experience & Deputy Diversity Officer at Consumer Reports, will present her predictions for Human-Centered HR in the context of the deep impact of the pandemic, societal shifts, and constant transformation which have disrupted traditional working patterns and previously relied-upon sources of motivation and wellbeing.
- On the timely theme of The Future of Inclusion & Belonging, Josh Bersin will introduce Loren Shuster, Chief People Officer at The LEGO Group; Stephané Charbonnier, CHRO at L'Oréal USA; Joe Gage, Chief Human Resources Officer at Bon Secours Mercy Health; and Andy Ortiz, SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer at Cedars-Sinai, for a keynote examining emerging best practice around equity and inclusion in the workplace, and new approaches to workplace community as remote and hybrid working models persist beyond the pandemic.
- Sarah Townsend, Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Associate Professor of Management and Organization at USC Marshall School of Business, will lead a session on what it means in practice to Foster a Culture of Inclusion in the modern age.
- A prestigious panel of thought leaders, including Alexandra Badenoch, Group Executive Transformation, Communications & People CHRO at Telstra; Chris Bedi, CIO, ServiceNow; Tamara Bray, CHRO DCP at Midstream, Jacqui Canney, Chief People Officer at ServiceNow; and Bevin Desmond, Chief Talent & Culture Officer at Morningstar will explore and discuss Digital Disruption & The Future of Work.
- Florenta Teodoridis, Assistant Professor of Management and Organization, USC Marshall School of Business, will consider the potential for applying Artificial Intelligence in Human Resource Management and how HR leaders can navigate people's fears as they harness the latest smart tech-based opportunities for enhancing employees' experiences and the way they work.
- Donna Morris, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer of Walmart and Amy Coleman, Corporate Vice President, Human Resources & Corporate Functions at Microsoft will share exclusive insights during a special event hosted by Josh Bersin at the California Science Center
Irresistible 2022 takes place May 23-25 at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. Hosted in partnership with USC Marshall School of Business Executive Education, it will bring together an unprecedented number of industry-leading CHROs, including Cynthia Burks, former CHRO, Genentech and Joyce Westerdahl, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Oracle. As well as those giving keynotes, practitioner leaders from Amazon.com, Babson College Prudential, Uber and Walmart will also play an active role in sessions at the event.
Six hands-on conference tracks and 20 individual breakout sessions will deep-dive into:
- The HR Organization of the Future
- The Irresistible Employee Experience
- Becoming a Healthy Organization
- Learning and Development at Scale
- Recruiting and Retaining the Best
- HR Technology Excellence.
Josh Bersin, global HR research analyst and CEO of The Josh Bersin Company, said:
"Irresistible 2022 is ground-breaking in every way, and this is reflected in the caliber of speakers who have sought out this event as a platform to share first-hand experiences, lessons, fears and ideas as we all play our own part in reimagining the workplace and the role of HR. We're thrilled with the line-up, and there's more to be announced as further sessions and speakers are confirmed – so we encourage people to keep checking back for the latest announcements.
"This is the ultimate HR networking and educational event—not to be missed in the midst of one of the most difficult and challenging labor markets in many decades. Once and for all, the power has shifted to employees who are looking for irresistible employers and work experiences. This unprecedented forum that is Irresistible 2022 will equip attendees with all of the fresh inspiration and tools they need to create and keep building that environment, so that the best talent comes—and stays. Best of all—it's in person. See you there!"
Register here. More information can be found here.
About The Josh Bersin Company
The Josh Bersin Company provides a wide range of research and advisory services as well as a corporate membership program, to help HR leaders and professionals tackle the ever-evolving challenges and needs of today's workforce. We cover all topics in HR, talent, and L&D, including diversity, equity, and inclusion; employee experience; remote and hybrid work; wellbeing; HR strategy and capabilities; learning and career mobility; HR technology; organization design and development; and talent acquisition and mobility. With the Global Workforce Intelligence (GWI) Project, The Josh Bersin Company expands its support of market-leading businesses by helping them navigate the challenges of industry convergence while remaining future-focused.
Under the company's umbrella is the Josh Bersin Academy, the world's first global development academy for HR and talent professionals and a transformation agent for HR organizations. The Academy, which has seen more than 50,000 program enrollments since its 2019 launch, offers content-rich online courses, a carefully curated library of tools and resources, and a global community that helps HR and talent professionals stay current on the trends and practices needed to drive organizational success in the modern world of work.
For more information, visit www.joshbersin.com or email info@bersinpartners.com.
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SOURCE The Josh Bersin Company | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/27/irresistible-2022-global-hr-event-josh-bersin-company-unveils-its-high-caliber-chro-speaker-line-up-more/ | 2022-04-27 18:34:59 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/27/irresistible-2022-global-hr-event-josh-bersin-company-unveils-its-high-caliber-chro-speaker-line-up-more/ |
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s former President Ilir Meta on Monday took over the leadership of his old political party and pledged to fight government corruption through referendums.
Meta, 53, who was replaced Sunday by new President Bajram Begaj, was elected Monday as leader of a committee that would re-organize his old left-wing Socialist Movement for Integration party, or LSI, into a re-named the Party of Freedom.
After he was elected as the country’s president in 2017, Meta left the party’s post, which was taken over by his wife, Monika Kryemadhi. She resigned five years later.
Following Meta’s passionate speech against the Socialist-led government of Prime Minister Edi Rama, the LSI convention decided to change the party’s name and reorganize.
The former president started his political career with the left-wing Socialist Party, but in 2004 left it to form the smaller LSI. During his presidency, Meta often clashed with the Socialists government, blocking the nominations of ministers and vetoing legislation. | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/ap-international/albanias-ex-president-takes-over-his-old-political-party/ | 2022-07-25 21:17:32 | 0 | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/ap-international/albanias-ex-president-takes-over-his-old-political-party/ |
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese police said Monday that they have arrested a man on suspicion of slashing three people on a train in western Japan.
The 37-year-old suspect was carrying three knives, including two in each hand, when he was arrested on the platform of Rinku Town station in Osaka, western Japan, immediately after the alleged attack Sunday, according to police in Izumisano City.
The injured — a train conductor in his 20s and two male passengers aged 23 and 79 — were taken to nearby hospital for treatment. Their injuries were not life-threatening, police said.
After an emergency call from another passenger, four police rushed to the station just after the train arrived and the suspect holding the knives got off.
The suspect ignored police order to drop the knives. One officer knocked down the weapons with a stick and officers seized him, police said.
The suspect told investigators that he had “trouble” with passengers. Victims said they were suddenly attacked, police said, adding that they are still investigationg the motives.
Violent crimes are rare in Japan. The country has strict gun control laws and only a handful of gun-related crimes annually. But in recent years, there have been some high-profile cases involving random knifings on subways and arson attacks, and there is growing concern about homemade guns and explosives.
Train operators in major cities have been stepping up safety measures, including installing security cameras on train cars and conducting more frequent drills among station staff. | https://www.wfla.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-police-arrest-suspect-in-knife-attack-on-a-train-in-western-japan-3-were-slashed-and-injured/ | 2023-07-25 05:59:53 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-police-arrest-suspect-in-knife-attack-on-a-train-in-western-japan-3-were-slashed-and-injured/ |
Updated March 21, 2023 at 3:36 PM ET
Hundreds of thousands of students were out of school today in Los Angeles as the country's second largest district ground to a halt. The union representing bus drivers, maintenance workers and other support staff began a three-day walkout, and the union representing the city's teachers joined the strike in solidarity.
The protests began early as drivers and supporters gathered before dawn at the Van Nuys school bus depot.
"I love that everybody came out, even in the rain, to support this," said Maria Betancourt, a bus driver. "We need everybody to come out."
The strike comes after more than a year of negotiations with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and its superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, over pay and health benefits.
"We understand the plight, the frustration and the realities faced by our workforce members," Carvalho said Monday evening. "We're willing to work with them, but the way we find a solution is by having a partner at the table to actually negotiate possible results."
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 99 represents traditional service employees like custodians and cafeteria workers, along with more specialized positions such as special education assistants. Despite the critical roles these workers play in the operation of a school, the union says the average salary of its members in the district is $25,000 per year, with many of these employees working part time.
The SEIU is demanding a 30% increase in base salary over four years. The district administration has agreed to a 23% raise over a five year period, along with bonuses, but the union has not responded to the past three offers.
Many of its members feel a lack of respect from the district's leadership. "I don't think they want to listen to us ... to our needs," said Betancourt.
A few hours later, the union's Executive Director Max Arias, echoed those concerns at a demonstration outside Robert F Kennedy Community School in Koreatown. "If LAUSD truly values and is serious about reaching an agreement," he said, "they must show workers the respect they deserve."
Yolanda Mimes Reed, a special education assistant who attended the rally in Koreatown, says she works four jobs in order to afford to live in Los Angeles. "I work for in-home support services, I do hair, and I also have an online boutique," she said.
To her, the pay increase in the union's demands would make a huge difference. "It means being out of below the poverty line. And it means letting go of one of those jobs so I don't have to be working all the time. I can spend some time with my family."
The majority of LAUSD's 420,000 students are from families who live at or below the poverty line, and depend on schools for far more than just classroom instruction. District officials are working with the city and local volunteers to provide students with breakfasts and lunches, as well as to help families with child care for working parents during the planned three-day walkout.
This is the second strike in the school district in four years. In 2019, the United Teachers of Los Angeles, or UTLA, went on strike for six days before reaching an agreement. The union says it is standing in solidarity with SEIU this week, while also continuing its own contract negotiations with the district.
Among the teachers' demands is a similar wage increase and a cap on class sizes. So far, the district has not given much – citing concerns over its finances.
Carvalho, the former Miami-Dade superintendent who came to Los Angeles 13 months ago, says the district, with its $14.8 billion operating budget – is existing in a financial bubble right now. Enrollment is declining, it's hard to keep teachers' positions filled, and in a few years the padding of COVID relief money will be rolled back.
Carvalho says he's fighting to protect the district's financial security. union leaders say they're protecting their members who, in many cases, struggle to make ends meet despite working jobs that clearly keep LAUSD running.
And, stuck in the middle are the students and parents who'll be scrambling today.
Produced by: Liz Baker
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wboi.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-03-21/demonstrations-protests-mark-first-day-of-la-school-strike | 2023-04-18 05:32:35 | 1 | https://www.wboi.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-03-21/demonstrations-protests-mark-first-day-of-la-school-strike |
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa hailed “excellent” relations with China as he delivered for the first time a State of the Nation address at a new multimillion-dollar parliament building gifted by the Asian economic giant.
China funded and constructed the imposing and spacious $200 million, six-story parliament building in Mt. Hampden, about 18 kilometers (11 miles) west of the capital, Harare, as a “gift” — signifying its growing influence on the former British colony.
The address, which also served to officially open the last session of the current parliament before elections next year, marks the move from the colonial-era Victorian-style parliament building in central Harare. Zimbabwe says it plans to establish a new “smart” capital city in Mt. Hampden where government offices will be located, away from the congested Harare.
In his speech, Mnangagwa described the mountaintop chamber that sits on 3.3 hectares (8 acres) of land as “majestic.” He said the building is a “testimony of the strategic and comprehensive partnership and excellent fraternal relations” between Zimbabwe and China. The government says Wednesday’s event did not mark the official opening or handover of the building, which would be done on a yet-to-be-announced date.
The countries’ links date back to the 1960s, when China helped train and supply guerrilla fighters in the fight against white minority rule. The country, however, retained close relations with Britain and other Western countries after independence in 1980.
Since 2003, Zimbabwe has looked to China, and also Russia, for friendship and assistance after falling out with Western countries that imposed sanctions following allegations of human rights abuses and vote-rigging perpetrated by then-President Robert Mugabe, who lost power in 2017 and died in 2019.
China is also massively involved in building and financing big-budget infrastructure projects in Zimbabwe that include revamping major airports. A Chinese company built the National Defense College in Harare, which opened in 2014 and was financed with an interest-free $98 million loan from China. Further Chinese involvement spans almost every sector of the Zimbabwean economy — from energy to mining and agriculture
However, unlike his predecessor Mugabe, Mnangagwa has sought to thaw icy relations with the West through an engagement drive that includes applying to rejoin the Commonwealth, a club of mainly former British colonies that Mugabe left in 2003.
Calling Zimbabwe a “friend to all and an enemy to none,” Mnangagwa called for “unconditional” and “urgent” lifting of Western-imposed sanctions and welcomed an invitation to attend the U.S.-Africa Summit next month. The U.S previously did not invite Zimbabwe to the summit during Mugabe’s time. | https://pix11.com/ap-international/ap-zimbabwes-imposing-new-chinese-funded-parliament-opens/ | 2022-11-23 19:02:00 | 0 | https://pix11.com/ap-international/ap-zimbabwes-imposing-new-chinese-funded-parliament-opens/ |
SACRAMENTO, Calif (KTXL) — In recent years, Top Trumps USA has produced official Monopoly games based on California cities or areas, such as Napa Valley, Manhattan Beach in Southern California and Palm Springs.
Sacramento became the most recent city depicted in a Monopoly game when it went on sale in November.
The Sacramento monopoly game has several city landmarks that residents would recognize. It’s the latest of several California cities to have an officially licensed game.
The Sacramento game was produced by Top Trumps USA, one of Hasbro’s largest licensing companies, which has the rights to make different types of Monopoly games.
According to the Top Trumps USA website, the company has also made games based on the following cities or regions: Kansas City, Missouri; Corpus Christi, Texas; Main Line, Pennsylvania; the Hamptons; Texas Hill Country; San Antonio, Texas; Brooklyn; Worcester, Massachusetts; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Greenwich, Connecticut.
When selecting what goes on the game boards for these city-specific games, Top Trumps USA sales executive Jennifer Tripsea said they have suggestions come from the communities, but also conduct a little research on the cities.
“We really turn to the people of each city to what they want to see on the board,” Tripsea told FOX 40 News in a phone interview. “A lot of it comes from suggestions. It also comes from research and learning about these cities and all the local landmarks that are just true and dear to people’s hearts.”
Sacramento
When players make their way through the property squares, they’ll pass by other landmarks including the Tower Bridge, the Ziggurat, the California State Capitol, the Golden 1 Center — home of the Sacramento Kings — the American and Sacramento rivers, and the city of Sacramento Water Tower.
Other property squares Sacramentans may recognize are the Crocker Art Museum, Land Park, SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity, the Railroad Museum, the Sacramento skyline, and Old Sacramento, which is labeled as “Old Town.”
“I think we did a really great representation of trying to incorporate a little bit of everything from Sacramento,” Tripsea said.“ There’s only so many property squares and there are so many spaces we can put, so we did the best we could to make sure everything was represented.”
Palm Springs
For those who have come upon the Palm Springs game, the cover shows a pool filled with floaties with a golf course, windmills, and the desert in the background.
The property squares included on the game board are the statues of Sonny Bono, Gene Autry, and Lucille Ball, the Agua Caliente Women sculpture, and the Frey House II.
Players can buy a pool floaty or rent a sun lounger while making their way through the property squares. The NBC Palm Springs station is also placed on a community chest property square. Palm Spring’s windmills, Palm Canyon Drive, and Tahquitz Canyon Trail are also placed as a square on the board.
The Palm Springs edition of the has been on sale since March, according to Tripsea.
Napa Valley
For those who’ve spent time in wine country in Napa Valley, there are several landmarks that either residents or visitors might recognize.
On the game board for Napa Valley, the area’s sites on the property squares include wineries such as Sterling Vineyards, Beringer, Frank Family Vineyards, Hall Wines, JaM Cellars, and Napa Cellars.
Along with the “Welcome to Napa Valley” sign, cities within the area appear on the property squares including Calistoga, St. Helena, Yountville, and American Canyon.
When players make their way through the property squares, they may come across a “wine tax,” a hot air balloon ride, or the Silverado Resort and Senza Hotel in Napa. The Napa Valley edition was released in October, Tripsea said.
Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach is one of three beach cities that is within the South Bay region of Los Angeles County. The other two beach cities in the region are Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach.
The cover features a silhouette of a surfer in front of the beach near the Manhattan Beach pier, mansions near the pier, and the Strand House, a restaurant in the city.
The property squares included in this game include the Manhattan Beach pier, the Roundhouse Aquarium, and the Botanical Garden. Players can also purchase skateboards, rollerblades, surfboards, and bicycles on property squares.
The Manhattan Beach edition of the game is the oldest of the bunch, released in 2021, according to Tripsea. | https://www.kron4.com/news/the-california-cities-with-their-own-monopoly-games/ | 2022-12-23 16:13:15 | 1 | https://www.kron4.com/news/the-california-cities-with-their-own-monopoly-games/ |
TOKYO (AP) — US announces 12 countries join Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a pact designed to bolster trade with Asian economies.
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- Man kills wife and 2 teens in Alabama home, then kills self | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Alert-US-announces-12-countries-join-17191539.php | 2022-05-23 08:48:56 | 1 | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Alert-US-announces-12-countries-join-17191539.php |
Acquisition improves Lear's manufacturing processes for surface material seating applications with scalable Industry 4.0 software and hardware
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA), a global automotive technology leader in Seating and E-Systems, today announced it has acquired Thagora Technology SRL, a privately held company specializing in material utilization hardware and software technologies based in Iasi, Romania.
Thagora's proprietary solutions will complement Lear's sustainable manufacturing processes by reducing scrap and lowering energy usage during production. In addition, Thagora's Industry 4.0 technology brings significant advances to manufacturing operations through engineering and logistics, including improved material traceability, and facility footprint utilization.
"Thagora offers Lear access to scalable, smart-manufacturing tools that will be a valuable addition to our business," said Frank Orsini, Lear Executive Vice President and President, Seating. "We welcome Thagora's talented employees to the Lear family. Together, we share the same professional commitment to safety, quality, innovation and support for the communities where we live and work."
"This transaction provides Thagora with a unique opportunity to maintain the strong relationships we have built with our current automotive and non-automotive customers while improving our geographic reach through Lear's global footprint to win new business from OEMs around the world," said Mihai Mitrica, Thagora's owner. "We are excited to join the Lear family and looking forward to continuing to deliver new product innovations that leverage our consumer-centric mindset."
Lear, a global automotive technology leader in Seating and E-Systems, enables superior in-vehicle experiences for consumers around the world. Lear's diverse team of talented employees in 38 countries is driven by a commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability. Lear is Making every drive better™ by providing the technology for safer, smarter, and more comfortable journeys. Lear, headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, serves every major automaker in the world and ranks 179 on the Fortune 500. Further information about Lear is available at lear.com or on Twitter @LearCorporation.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lear-acquires-leading-seating-materials-specialist-thagora-301551492.html
SOURCE Lear Corporation | https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_technology/lear-acquires-leading-seating-materials-specialist-thagora/article_8cf8d7ea-fb74-5d47-9c1d-f129188ee3fe.html | 2022-05-19 18:50:39 | 0 | https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_technology/lear-acquires-leading-seating-materials-specialist-thagora/article_8cf8d7ea-fb74-5d47-9c1d-f129188ee3fe.html |
Which dog dental chew is best?
Good oral hygiene is central to the overall health in your dog. A lack of proper dental care can lead to problems with teeth and gums that spread to the rest of the body, resulting in painful, costly and potentially fatal consequences.
Fortunately, dog dental chews are an easy, effective way to aid in teeth and gum care. The best dental treats, like these Greenies Original Dental Dog Treats, help clean teeth while also freshening breath.
What to know before you buy a dog dental chew
Dental care importance
Cleaning your dog’s teeth and gums goes beyond simply improving breath. Just like humans, poor oral care can lead to a number of ailments, including chipped, rotting or broken teeth as well as sore and bleeding gums.
Bacteria residing in the mouth can travel to other parts of the body via the bloodstream, disrupting other organs and leading to serious and potentially deadly illnesses. At this point, solutions are likely costly and invasive, sometimes requiring surgery. Older dogs in particular may not be suited for such intense procedures.
It’s important to prevent such situations through regular teeth cleaning and maintenance.
How dental chews work
Dental chews are a type of dental supplement designed to maintain and improve oral health. They do this through the continuous chewing action that helps break up plaque from a dog’s teeth. Chews are made to take a while to break apart to increase effectiveness, brushing up against teeth and gums to disturb the surface.
Natural vs. synthetic chews
There are two types of dog dental chews: natural and synthetic.
- Natural chews are made from natural animal products, such as cowhides and bones. While they lack common allergens and tend to be high in nutritional value, they can break apart in ways that can cause obstruction in your dog’s digestive tract. It’s important that your dog chew thoroughly to break the chews into small, manageable pieces.
- Synthetic chews meanwhile, are constructed with a slightly ridged texture to help increase brushing against teeth. They are often infused with enticing aromas and supplemented with vitamins and minerals. These tend to cost more money, and some dog’s aren’t interested in the manufactured look, taste and smell. They may also contain ingredients some dogs are allergic to.
What to look for in a quality dog dental chew
Flavor
Both natural and synthetic dog chews may come in flavors to increase your dog’s interest or improve their breath. For example, bacon or peanut butter chews are more attractive to your dog, and they will likely associate the chew as a reward. Other flavors, such as mint, will improve breath.
Hardness
Some chews are soft and easy to break down while others, such as bully sticks, are harder and require more intensive chewing. Consider your dog’s age and the current quality of their teeth and gums. For older dogs or those with sensitivity, you should opt for softer chews to avoid hurting their mouths. Younger and stronger dogs will be well served by more challenging and engaging chews.
Size
The size of the chew should match the size of the dog in order to be effective. A chew that’s too small may be quickly eaten and swallowed, resulting in no brushing against the teeth. A chew that’s too large, however, may be harder to enjoy could cause obstructions if not fully broken down before consumed.
VOHC seal
The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) tests products for their efficacy. A VOHC seal on a dental chew affirms it reduces tartar buildup by at least 10%.
How much you can expect to spend on dog dental chews
Quality dental chews cost $15-$30 depending on the size and number included.
Dog dental chew FAQ
What’s the difference between plaque and tartar?
A. Plaque is what will first appear on teeth. Plaque is characterized by a yellow film; while it’s unattractive, it can be removed by disturbing it through brushing. However, if plaque sits for too long, it can build into tartar, which is darker in color and more difficult to remove. Tartar may be on the teeth but it can also form below the gum line and lead to serious health problems.
Are dental chews enough to keep teeth and gums healthy?
A. While dental chews are useful in an oral hygiene regimen, they should not be the only means to keep your dog’s mouth and gums healthy. Dental chews should be paired with daily brushing. Dog-specific toothpaste helps keep teeth healthy; while some dogs won’t like brushing at first, they can grow accustomed to it by practicing regularly and rewarding them afterwards. Additional supplements such as pills, powders or liquids may also be worth investing in.
What’s the best dog dental chew to buy?
Top dog dental chew
Greenies Original Dental Dog Treats
What you need to know: These popular and tasty treats clean teeth while improving breath.
What you’ll love: This brand is beloved by owners and dogs alike, as these soft, toothbrush-shaped treats freshen breath and fight plaque. Greenies are offered in different sizes and are suitable for dogs of all ages and lifestyles.
What you should consider: With one recommended per day, you’ll go through these pricey treats quickly.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy
Top dog dental chew for the money
What you need to know: These flavorful and aromatic treats disturb plaque while freshening breath in strong adult dogs.
What you’ll love: The hard, textured treats in this value bag disrupt plaque and clean to the gum line. They are offered in bacon, chicken or beef flavors and contain no added sugars or fillers.
What you should consider: The chews are designed for large, adult dogs.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy
Worth checking out
Virbac C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Chews
What you need to know: These rawhides feature a patented Dual Enzyme System to improve effectiveness at reducing plaque and improving breath.
What you’ll love: These hard chews are coated with chlorhexidine to reduce plaque and even tartar. A rigid texture helps clean teeth and prevent dogs from breaking down the treat too quickly. Different sizes are available to match your dog’s needs.
What you should consider: These treats are expensive and not suitable for dogs with weak teeth.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxnet.com/reviews/br/pets-br/health-br/best-dog-dental-chew/ | 2022-08-27 20:52:09 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/reviews/br/pets-br/health-br/best-dog-dental-chew/ |
The New England Region Little League baseball championship game between Bangor and Middleboro, Massachusetts, will be broadcast by ESPN-TV on Thursday at 5 p.m. from the A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Connecticut.
The game will also be streamed on DirecTV Stream, Fubo TV and Sling.
Bangor has beaten Brattleboro, Vermont, 3-0 and Middleboro, 10-4, to reach the final.
Middleboro sandwiched two wins over Concord, New Hampshire, 1-0 and 11-0 in five innings, to earn a spot in the championship game.
It will be a winner-take-all game unlike a normal double-elimination tournament, which would have forced Middleboro to beat Bangor twice.
Bangor is seeking to become just the fourth team from Maine to win a regional and advance to the Little League World Series and the first since the 2005 Westbrook team. | https://www.bangordailynews.com/2022/08/11/sports/how-to-watch-bangor-play-in-tonights-new-england-little-league-championship-game/ | 2022-08-13 16:50:09 | 0 | https://www.bangordailynews.com/2022/08/11/sports/how-to-watch-bangor-play-in-tonights-new-england-little-league-championship-game/ |
BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TransMedia Group to launch PR campaign for Beatoven.ai's artificial intelligence music generator that will help professional and recreational content creators compose custom, mood-based music that suits every part of a video or podcast royalty-free.
TransMedia Group will compose and distribute Beatoven.ai's messages to both trade and consumer media who will want to share this breakthrough with their respective communities," said TransMedia Group President Adrienne Mazzone.
"Artificial intelligence is now a one-of-its-kind composer from whom artists, digital marketing professionals, influencers and social media mavens will love extracting a quick royalty-free musical accompaniment for their creations," she said.
TransMedia said it's publicity will show how content creators will now be able to compose for their creation's original music in a few simple steps:
"First, they can pick a music genre or style from a vast library, then make it your own as easy-to-follow keystrokes will help them to make custom cuts, change the mood, and after hitting compose, Beatoven.ai's composer delivers multiple options for securing a royalty free track just for them," said Mazzone.
"Our campaign will show how Beathoven.ai, literally gives subscribers creative license to easily find the perfect music online to insert into their content."
TransMedia said it will also introduce Mansoor, the founder of Beatoven.ai, who was born in an illustrious family of sitar players in India credited with designing the modern sitar.
Mansoor is a 7th generation musician and son of world-renowned sitar player Ustad Chhote Rahimat Khan.
During his 17- year career as a recording artist & live performer, Mansoor built his music technology business, Beatoven.ai, with co-founder Siddharth Bhardwaj and has performed worldwide, including at prestigious festivals in India and the US. He also has several releases to his credit on various streaming platforms.
TransMedia Group plans to raise media traction for Beatoven.ai to help Mansoor reach more social media and productions using his royalty free, easy to edit music.
Beatoven.ai's mission is to provide a library of music and creative tool with unique musical content that is user friendly for creators to enhance their videos or moving images and graphics.
TransMedia will pitch Beatoven.ai to media alerting Mansoor will be attending Expos in Los Angeles & San Mateo in September, then afterward in NYC, Atlanta; and November in San Francisco.
Media contact: Adrienne Mazzone 561-908-1683; amazzone@transmediagroup.com.
View original content:
SOURCE TransMedia Group | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/29/transmedia-group-raise-volume-beatovenai-first-its-kind-royalty-free-music-platform-content-creators/ | 2022-08-29 12:25:23 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/29/transmedia-group-raise-volume-beatovenai-first-its-kind-royalty-free-music-platform-content-creators/ |
Noem releases report from DOE on Critical Race Theory and Divisive Concepts
PIERRE, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - In April, Noem issued an Executive Order that directed the Department of Education to discontinue any “divisive concepts” in the curriculum taught to K-12 students in South Dakota.
The Department of Education said in their report, available here, of the thousands of items reviewed, “Existing policies, resources, and other materials reviewed were largely in line with the EO.” Only one course which is not currently offered and is usually reserved for higher-education classrooms had two standards that were found to be “potentially problematic” regarding Noem’s EO.
“Out of the thousands of items reviewed, a very small number were deemed to be out of alignment with Governor Noem’s executive order,” said Tiffany Sanderson, Secretary of the Department of Education. “The department is taking action to modify or discontinue those items. I am proud of the department’s work, and we will continue working to ensure that South Dakota students have the opportunity to receive a robust and honest social studies education.”
The “potentially problematic” course
That course titled, Introduction to Law and Public Safety II, is not frequently taught in K-12 classes. The course, according to the DOE, is intended for “postsecondary and industry expectations for law enforcement training,” but could be considered potentially problematic with the new executive order.
According to the DOE report, there were two standards of the course related to “Extended Thinking,” that asked students to:
• “Analyze differences in power and privilege related to people of culturally diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and practices.”
• “Analyze issues of cultural assimilation and cultural preservation among ethnic and racial groups in South Dakota and the United States.”
The report from the DOE says all future revisions will be conducted to make sure the state’s curriculum aligns with Noem’s executive order.
Noem’s statement on the DOE’s latest actions
“We are proactively removing Critical Race Theory before it has any opportunity to take hold in our schools,” said Noem. “We are taking action to promote America’s true and honest history, including the history and culture of our Native American tribes, without any influence of Critical Race Theory or other divisive concepts.”
Earlier this year, Governor Noem also signed HB 1012, which bans mandatory college training and orientations based on Critical Race Theory and other divisive concepts.
Copyright 2022 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved. | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2022/08/15/noem-releases-report-doe-critical-race-theory-divisive-concepts/ | 2022-08-15 22:24:08 | 0 | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2022/08/15/noem-releases-report-doe-critical-race-theory-divisive-concepts/ |
Not even Sabrina could cast a spell this good.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart put down her wand for good when the beloved sitcom ended after seven seasons in 2003—and she's not exactly eager to cook up another brew for a potential reboot.
"I just don't think it would be as great as the original," Melissa exclusively told E! News at ChristmasCon Dec. 10. "I just don't think there's any way. People are nostalgic for what they had. Trying to recreate that can be really difficult, as we've seen."
While it's certainly true that not every reboot or spinoff is equally successful, Melissa did remind us that a Sabrina re-imagining has "already been done with Netflix" in the form of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which starred Kiernan Shipka as the titular teenage witch and ran for two seasons on Netflix from 2018 to 2020.
Melissa insisted that she "always likes to move forward," but that doesn't mean that she hasn't heard Sabrina fans clamoring for more witchy goodness over the years—especially when it comes to Harvey (Nate Richert), who Sabrina ran off with at the end of the series.
"Everybody talks about her and Harvey have a baby," she said, "and the baby finds out she's got powers or something."
However, if that sounds familiar—it's because it is.
"That was done with [Bewitched spinoff] Tabitha," Melissa recalled. "That's been done a lot. If someone can figure out a different way in, that'd be great."
While a Sabrina the Teenage Witch reboot doesn't exactly sound promising, keep scrolling for the latest updates on other potential reboots, revivals and remakes. | https://www.eonline.com/news/1358329/melissa-joan-hart-explains-why-she-doesn't-think-a-lessigreatersabrinalessigreater-reboot-would-be-successful?cmpid=rss-syndicate-genericrss-us-top_stories | 2022-12-15 00:32:05 | 0 | https://www.eonline.com/news/1358329/melissa-joan-hart-explains-why-she-doesn't-think-a-lessigreatersabrinalessigreater-reboot-would-be-successful?cmpid=rss-syndicate-genericrss-us-top_stories |
Phillies first. Kyle Schwarber lines out to deep center field to Bryan Reynolds. Rhys Hoskins hit by pitch. Alec Bohm singles to center field. Rhys Hoskins to second. Bryce Harper singles to right field. Alec Bohm to second. Rhys Hoskins to third. J.T. Realmuto doubles to shallow left field. Bryce Harper scores. Alec Bohm scores. Rhys Hoskins scores. Nick Castellanos called out on strikes. Bryson Stott grounds out to shallow infield to Bligh Madris.
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Phillies 3, Pirates 0.
Phillies second. Jean Segura walks. Brandon Marsh strikes out swinging. Kyle Schwarber walks. Jean Segura to second. Rhys Hoskins singles to center field. Kyle Schwarber to third. Jean Segura scores. Alec Bohm grounds out to shallow infield, Ke'Bryan Hayes to Bligh Madris. Rhys Hoskins to second. Kyle Schwarber scores. Bryce Harper is intentionally walked. J.T. Realmuto strikes out swinging.
2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Phillies 5, Pirates 0.
Phillies third. Nick Castellanos homers to center field. Bryson Stott flies out to deep center field to Bryan Reynolds. Jean Segura hit by pitch. Brandon Marsh strikes out swinging. Kyle Schwarber strikes out swinging.
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Phillies 6, Pirates 0. | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/Pittsburgh-Philadelphia-Runs-17402779.php | 2022-08-28 01:42:15 | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/Pittsburgh-Philadelphia-Runs-17402779.php |
VAIL, Colo., Nov. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sebastian-Vail is pleased to announce the inaugural Sebastian Vail Road Cycling Camp, June 4-9, 2023. Starting at $6,000 per rider, The Sebastian-Vail has partnered with Venture Sports to provide a one-of-a-kind, four-day cycling experience for only 15 participants.
"Vail is a cyclists' haven with bike routes filled with amazing climbs, breathtaking scenery, and exhilarating descents. We are excited to partner with Venture Sports to provide our Owners and guests with such an incredible experience led by Vail's top cycling experts," said Bryan Austin, General Manager at The Sebastian – Vail.
Participants of the Road Cycling Camp will cycle, summit, and descend some of the most iconic passes in the state. Averaging 50 miles per day and climbing up to 7,000 ft., these rides include notable routes such as the Vail Pass, hills of Avon and the Copper Triangle. For the comfort and safety of the cyclists all rides will be escorted by expert cyclists and supported by a fully-stocked sag wagon.
Included in the experience package are five nights in a luxury plaza hotel room, three meals a day, a daily ride briefing, fully supported daily rides, a swag bag and one 60-minute massage.
Sebastian Vail Road Cycling Camp participants must stay in hotel or residential accommodations at The Sebastian and will receive a special discounted rate.
For more information or camp related questions, call 970.343.2141 or visit thesebastianvail.com/Sebastian-cycle-camp or to reserve a spot, call 855.208.7510.
About The Sebastian - Vail:
Vail Valley's exclusive boutique resort, The Sebastian – Vail serves as a unique and chic social hub for Owners, hotel guests and the local community. The property is an eclectic confluence of playful sophistication and high mountain comfort with a cozy, residential atmosphere filled with views of the ski mountain and the entire valley. The Residences at The Sebastian Vail offers the exclusive opportunity to live right in the heart of Vail Village. With all the five-star amenities and services, owning or vacation at The Sebastian – Vail is an effortless, authentic, and unparalleled opportunity.
About Venture Sports:
Venture Sports is the friendliest ski and bike shop in Vail Valley. They are independently owned with 3 locations and voted best in the Vail Valley for over 33 years. The Venture Sports team provides professional team-style support, including mechanics for rental bike maintenance, personal bike assembly, support vehicles and professional guides.
For Media Information:
The Zimmerman Agency • 850.668.2222
timberspr@zimmerman.com
View original content:
SOURCE The Sebastian-Vail | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/11/07/sebastian-vail-announces-inaugural-sebastian-vail-road-cycling-camp/ | 2022-11-07 14:37:12 | 0 | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/11/07/sebastian-vail-announces-inaugural-sebastian-vail-road-cycling-camp/ |
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Two U.N. peacekeepers were killed Friday when their armored personnel carrier hit an improvised explosive device in central Mali in the sixth incident in less than two weeks targeting the U.N. mission in the West African nation that has faced a decade-long Islamic insurgency.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the device that killed the Egyptian peacekeepers and wounded one other was planted on a road outside the town of Douentza in the Mopti region.
Their APC was escorting a civilian convoy and was on its way from Douentza to Timbuktu when it hit the device, he said.
“The intent is to disrupt the lives of the Malian people, to disrupt transport, to disrupt security,” Dujarric said. “These roads are used by civilians, civilian trucks, civilian buses, but also by the security forces, whether it’s the Malian army or U.N. peacekeepers … (who) have been victims over and over again of improvised explosive devices.”
It was the sixth incident in which a U.N. peacekeeping mission convoy was hit since May 22 and the second fatal attack on a convoy this week, the U.N. spokesman said.
A U.N. peacekeeping convoy was attacked by suspected terrorists in the northern Kidal region on Wednesday and a Jordanian peacekeeper was killed and three other Jordanians were wounded. Dujarric said the supply convoy came under sustained fire for about an hour from attackers who used small arms and rocket launchers.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the latest attack against the 18,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali whose primary mandate is to protect civilians.
Mali has struggled to contain an Islamic extremist insurgency since 2012. Extremist rebels were forced from power in Mali’s northern cities with the help of a French-led military operation, but they regrouped in the desert and began launching attacks on the Malian army and its allies. Insecurity has worsened with attacks in the northern and central regions on civilians and U.N. peacekeepers.
The U.N. mission says over 255 of its peacekeepers and personnel have died since 2013, making Mali the deadliest of the U.N.’s dozen peacekeeping missions worldwide.
“The word grateful isn’t strong enough to express how we feel towards those member states which continue to provide many peacekeepers around the world,” Dujarric said. “Egyptians, Jordanians, Chadians and others have given their lives for the people of Mali for the cause of peace and we’re eternally grateful for their continued support.”
The head of the U.N. mission in Mali, El Ghassim Wane, condemned Friday’s attack on the U.N. convoy, saying such attacks can constitute war crimes.
He also condemned an attack Wednesday near Kayes in western Mali on Wednesday by gunmen riding motorcycles against a vehicle marked with the Red Cross emblem that killed a worker for the Dutch Red Cross and the car’s driver. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/international/2-un-peacekeepers-killed-in-6th-incident-in-mali-in-2-weeks/ | 2022-06-04 00:17:48 | 0 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/international/2-un-peacekeepers-killed-in-6th-incident-in-mali-in-2-weeks/ |
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president slammed NATO’s policy on the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Monday, calling it “immoral.”
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s did not mention NATO or the United States by name, but his comments were the latest example of his party's ambiguous stance on the invasion.
Mexico has voted to condemn the invasion, but refused to join in sanctions on Russia.
López Obrador said Monday that the allies’ policy was equivalent to saying “I’ll supply the weapons, and you supply the dead. It is immoral.”
“How easy it is to say, ‘Here, I’ll send you this much money for weapons,” Lopez Obrador said. “Couldn't the war in Ukraine have been avoided? Of course it could.”
In March, a half-dozen legislators from López Obrador’s Morena party helped create a congressional “Mexico-Russia Friendship Committee.”
The Morena party said “we respect the freedom of thought of our members” after a youth group apparently affiliated with the party sent an open letter to the Russian ambassador supporting the invasion. | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Mexican-president-slams-NATO-policy-in-Ukraine-17238046.php | 2022-06-13 16:40:40 | 0 | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Mexican-president-slams-NATO-policy-in-Ukraine-17238046.php |
TORONTO (AP) _ Kinross Gold Corp. (KGC) on Wednesday reported a second-quarter loss of $40.3 million, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier.
On a per-share basis, the Toronto-based company said it had a loss of 3 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and to account for discontinued operations, came to 3 cents per share.
The results did not meet Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 8 cents per share.
The gold mining company posted revenue of $821.5 million in the period.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on KGC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/KGC | https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/Kinross-Gold-Q2-Earnings-Snapshot-17333451.php | 2022-07-27 22:14:14 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/Kinross-Gold-Q2-Earnings-Snapshot-17333451.php |
Gov. Tina Kotek today sent a letter to legislative leaders and the co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Transportation memorializing her direction to the Oregon Department of Transportation to pause planned tolling until January 2026.
Until earlier this week, ODOT had hoped to start tolling Interstate 205 as early as next year. The agency is currently pursuing, at legislative direction, two separate tolling programs for I-205 and I-5 in the metro area.
Although those programs have been under discussion for years (lawmakers directed ODOT to start working on tolling in 2017) pressures have come to a head in recent months, particularly in communities along I-205. A bipartisan group of 31 lawmakers, including many from the metro area, introduced a bill last week to pause tolling on I-205. That got the attention of legislative leadership, who quickly decided to form a what’s being called the Special Subcommittee on Transportation Planning of the Joint Committee on Transportation.
When Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) and House Speaker Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis) announced that step earlier this week, they said Kotek was on board but the governor had not yet said anything publicly to that effect.
Now, she has. That’s important, for while the Legislature sets ODOT’s budget, the agency reports to the governor. And, although the agency, which depends heavily on imperiled gas tax collections for funding, is in increasingly tough financial shape, Democrats can sense the political backlash that tolling could bring.
“Since taking office, I have heard consistently from stakeholders and residents that they need to understand more of the impacts and tradeoffs of tolling I-205 and I-5 before these tolls take effect,” Kotek wrote to legislative leaders today.
“While tolling must remain a critical component of how our state moves forward with funding transportation infrastructure, I see value in taking the time necessary to ensure we are doing it right. To that end, I have directed the Oregon Department of Transportation to delay all toll collection until January 1, 2026.” | https://www.wweek.com/news/2023/05/04/kotek-makes-it-official-shes-ordered-odot-to-pause-tolling-until-2026/ | 2023-05-05 00:32:49 | 0 | https://www.wweek.com/news/2023/05/04/kotek-makes-it-official-shes-ordered-odot-to-pause-tolling-until-2026/ |
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Tyarra Williams vanished. The 5-foot-5, 120-pound Dudley High School graduate dressed in blue Levis, a black jacket, a pink shirt and a royal … | https://greensboro.com/chic/article_57dcecb1-ae02-5ef7-8295-7f1f4039983f.html | 2023-07-16 03:02:45 | 0 | https://greensboro.com/chic/article_57dcecb1-ae02-5ef7-8295-7f1f4039983f.html |
MN regent criticized for asking if campus is ‘too diverse’
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The vice chairman of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents is publicly questioning whether enrollment declines at one campus are because it’s “too diverse,” a question that has drawn criticism and calls for his resignation. At a meeting of the board that oversees the university system last week, Vice Chairman Steve Sviggum, a former Minnesota House speaker, asked the current Morris chancellor whether it was “possible at all from a marketing standpoint” that the campus had become “too diverse.” Sviggum says he has received a couple of letters from parents whose children aren’t going to go to Morris because it’s too diverse and wouldn’t “feel comfortable there.” | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2022/10/18/mn-regent-questions-diversity-enrollment-at-morris-campus/ | 2022-10-18 17:56:47 | 1 | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2022/10/18/mn-regent-questions-diversity-enrollment-at-morris-campus/ |
San Antonio’s official chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans has commissioned a statue to honor Tejano Confederate soldiers.
The Alamo City Guards Camp #1325 posted the news on its Facebook page. The mission of the nonprofit, established in 1975, is to honor Confederate ancestors through community service and education.
READ MORE: Texas Independence led to clashes between Anglos and Tejanos
According to the chapter’s website, the 8-foot-tall bronze statue would be erected at the Ruiz-Herrera Cemetery, 15190 Quesenberry Road in Von Ormy. The camp is working with Monuments Across Dixie to build the monument.
The website states Jose Francisco Ruiz and Jose Navarro, two signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, are buried at the cemetery. Francisco “Don Pancho” Ruiz, alcade or acting mayor during the Alamo, is also interred there. Among the graves is Blas Herrera, “who alerted Alamo defenders when Santa Anna’s troops approached San Antonio.”
RELATED: San Antonio’s complicated history as a Confederate supply depot
The site states nine Confederate Tejano soldiers have been identified at the cemetery. According to the Texas State Historical Association, 2,500 Mexican Texans joined the Confederate Army. Tejanos from San Antonio fought with the Sixth Texas Infantry in Eastern campaigns, including battles of Atlanta, Chattanooga, Chickamauga and Nashville. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/tejano-san-antonio-confederate-monument-17895243.php | 2023-04-13 18:12:20 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/tejano-san-antonio-confederate-monument-17895243.php |
Students in Jasper ISD will be able to eat breakfast and lunch for free this upcoming school year.
Jasper is a Community Eligibility Provision district under the National School Lunch Program which allows its schools to "eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price and paid student meals," according to a news release.
RELATED: Jasper schools superintendent addresses 4-day school week concerns
With this program, students will be able to receive at least two nutritious meals a day without the financial burden falling to families and school administrators.
Jasper ISD returns to school Aug. 10.
For more information, contact district Director of Child Nutrition Kim Dean at 409-384-2551 or kdean@jasperisd.net.
olivia.malick@hearst.com
twitter.com/OliviaMalick | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Jasper-schools-to-offer-free-breakfast-lunch-for-17354317.php | 2022-08-05 21:14:52 | 0 | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Jasper-schools-to-offer-free-breakfast-lunch-for-17354317.php |
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Buffalo built a lead with Cole Snyder’s passing and Alex McNulty’s kicking.
The Bulls put the Camellia Bowl away with an unrelenting barrage of fourth-quarter runs by Tajay Ahmed for a 23-21 victory over Georgia Southern on Tuesday.
Snyder passed for 265 yards and Ahmed took over the final quarter with 14 carries.
“This was kind of a small episode of kind of who we’ve been and what our season looked like,” Buffalo coach Maurice Linguist said. “Just tough yards, grind out play after play. And kind of throw a blanket over the scoreboard and just pound the rock, is what we say.”
The Bulls (7-6) chewed up the clock with runs from Ahmed on 11 consecutive plays and one pile-pushing final first down. The former walk-on, who was awarded a scholarship in the spring, finished with 27 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown.
That last first down meant quarterback Kyle Vantrease and Georgia Southern (6-7) couldn’t get the ball back for a final chance against Vantrease’s former team, with whom he spent five years and started 26 games before transferring.
“I’ve always believed great quarterbacks provide hope and every game we walked into he provides hope,” first-year Eagles coach Clay Helton said. “If we got that ball back one more time, you just knew that that hope was there.”
Snyder, a Rutgers transfer, completed 21 of 38 passes, including a 32-yard touchdown to game MVP Justin Marshall to outduel his predecessor.
Quian Williams gained 100 yards on five catches, and Marshall caught 11 passes for 127 yards in what the graduate transfer from Louisville called his best college game. The last catch was Marshall’s biggest, and a replay upheld the on-field call that Marshall’s right foot stayed in bounds.
“We all were talking amongst the offense,” he said. “We looked at it one time and I saw it and said that’s definitely a catch. They’re wasting time reviewing it.”
Vantrease completed 28 of 45 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Beau Johnson had five catches for 118 yards.
It was Buffalo’s third straight bowl win after going 0-3 in bowls. And the victory came after an 0-3 start this season.
“They wrote us off. They questioned,” Linguist said. “They weren’t sure if we were going to finish, and then here we are at the end. We got a ring. We’re (bowl) champions.”
Buffalo had a cushion thanks to Dylan Powell’s interception and return across midfield in the fourth quarter. Ahmed then carried nine straight times but was stopped on three runs starting from the 2.
The Bulls had to settle for a 23-14 lead with McNulty’s third field goal of the second half with 8:38 left. That FG was a school record, No. 49 of his career.
Vantrease and Georgia Southern stayed alive with a 13-play, 90-yard drive. On fourth-and-7 from his own territory, Vantrease hit Johnson for a 42-yard gain. Then Jjay McAfee made a grab in the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown with 3:38 left.
Georgia Southern needed only 26 seconds in the second half to wipe out a 14-6 deficit, thanks to a fumble, Vantrease’s 79-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Thompson and a two-point conversion.
“It has been a wonderful ride this season, and I can’t thank our seniors enough for the foundation that they’ve led and laid for this team,” Helton said. “In my opinion, the best is yet to be. Sometimes you fight your guts out and it just doesn’t go your way at the end, and that’s what this team did.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Georgia Southern: Once known for the triple option and loads of runs, Helton implemented a pass-oriented offense. Vantrease broke the Eagles’ bowl record with his 11th completion — on the opening drive of the second quarter.
Buffalo: Held onto the ball for more than 38 minutes in the game, and converted 12 of 19 third-down plays, largely on Snyder passes. The last was a 9-yarder to Marshall on the sideline to keep the final drive going.
SNOWED IN
Buffalo’s band, cheerleaders, and radio crew weren’t able to make the bowl game because flights were canceled out of their city, which saw a massive winter storm and at least 27 storm-related deaths.
Linguist said the team flew out 12 hours earlier than expected.
“If we did not do that, I’m not sure we would have even made it down here in time to play the game,” he said.
UP NEXT
Georgia Southern: Must replace Vantrease and most of the offensive and defensive line starters before opening the 2023 season at home against The Citadel.
Buffalo: Opens the 2023 season at Wisconsin on Sept. 2 with Snyder, safety Marcus Fuqua and tailback Mike Washington expected back.
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap_top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/mrxhe6f2 | https://phl17.com/sports/ap-snyder-buffalo-top-georgia-southern-23-21-in-camellia-bowl/ | 2022-12-28 13:34:02 | 1 | https://phl17.com/sports/ap-snyder-buffalo-top-georgia-southern-23-21-in-camellia-bowl/ |
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ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's government plans to provide 1.9 billion euros ($1.89 billion dollars) in subsidies next month to help households and businesses cope with increasing electricity prices, the environment and energy minister announced on Tuesday.
Greece is one of several European countries using subsidies to help businesses and residents meet soaring energy costs triggered by Russia’s war in Ukraine. The amount the Greek government plans for September offsets is up from 1.1 billion euros in August.
“We are going to have a winter full of challenges and difficulties regarding supply adequacy and energy prices,” Kostas Skrekas said in a televised statement announcing the September subsidy.
Citing spiraling power prices triggered by the Ukraine war, Skrekas said the subsidy would apply to roughly 6 million households, regardless of income level or whether the energy supplied is for a main residence or secondary home.
The subsidy will absorb 94% of power bill hikes for households, 89% of the price increase for small and medium-sized businesses, and 90% of the increase for farmers, he said.
“We are going through a period of international crisis which has sent energy prices soaring across Europe to unprecedented levels, threatening the social cohesion of European countries and of our country,” Skrekas said, adding that the government was committed to providing a safety net for consumers to cope with “these extraordinary circumstances.”
Greece only recently emerged from a prolonged and brutal financial crisis that saw it nearly crash out of Europe’s joint currency, the euro, roiled international markets and sent poverty in the country spiraling.
On Saturday, the country’s economy formally stopped being under “enhanced surveillance” by its European creditors, one of the vestiges of its financial crisis. The milestone means Greece no longer is subjected to quarterly scrutiny of its public finances, giving the government greater freedom over its budget.
___
Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Greece-1-9-billion-euro-subsidy-for-September-17391596.php | 2022-08-23 13:24:10 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Greece-1-9-billion-euro-subsidy-for-September-17391596.php |
When a Chinese spy balloon was spotted over the U.S. and eventually shot down earlier this year, the Biden administration downplayed its ability to gather sensitive information. That is increasingly looking like hot air.
“The Chinese spy balloon that flew across the U.S. was able to gather intelligence from several sensitive American military sites, despite the Biden administration’s efforts to block it from doing so, according to two current senior U.S. officials and one former senior administration official,” NBC News reporters Courtney Kube and Carol E. Lee wrote on April 3.
This despite the administration’s repeated public assurances that the balloon’s intelligence collection had “limited additive value” for China compared with what it can glean from satellites.
The newest reports stress the importance of Congress continuing to press the administration for answers about this incident and spy balloons generally. And the Biden administration must take care not to emulate the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to control information and control the narrative, and instead provide clear answers to lawmakers and the public.
The situation raises concerning questions, not just about how the Biden administration responded in this specific instance but also about America’s tracking and general preparedness for other incursions from spy balloons or other unauthorized and unidentified objects in our airspace. Congress must keep at it, not to make political hay, but to ensure there is a clear understanding of what happened and how it can be prevented moving forward.
Asking questions about this sensitive topic and pushing to ensure better planning is not counter to national security, it is a critical part of furthering national security. Accountability is a vital part of democracy. Those in power must be responsive to the people who have temporarily given them that power.
As Politico reported in late March, Congress has had some difficulty getting answers from the administration about spy balloons and other foreign objects floating in our airspace. This itself is a problem that must be rectified.
“What is our capability to observe what’s in our airspace? There’s holes in it. We should understand what we can and cannot observe and understand what we need to do to be able to fill those gaps,” Tim Gallaudet, the former administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under former President Donald Trump, told Politico. “The balloon surprising us — it was a big wake up call.”
As Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has said following the balloon incident, it appeared “we didn’t have, at that point, a clear policy on what to do.” Pentagon officials have acknowledged a “domain awareness gap” but many specifics have been hard to come by publicly. That must change.
“We have consistently learned more from press reports about the Chinese surveillance balloon than we have from administration officials,” Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said last week. The frustration is understandable, and the difficulty getting answers is unacceptable.
In a recent call with reporters, John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, did not inspire much confidence that the administration will improve its information sharing about the balloon’s reported movements and intelligence collection.
“It’s entirely likely that we will not be able to, for understandable reasons, share with you or with the public much of the detail of what we learn,” Kirby said, as reported by the Washington Examiner. “But I don’t want to get ahead of where we are in that process. That analysis is still ongoing.”
We understand that there is a balance here in terms of transparency and safeguarding sensitive national security information from adversaries abroad. But this very public incident requires a more detailed public explanation to provide answers here at home.
—Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine) | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/04/12/editorial-biden-administration-needs-to-provide-answers-not-hot-air-on-spy-balloons/ | 2023-04-12 14:50:17 | 0 | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/04/12/editorial-biden-administration-needs-to-provide-answers-not-hot-air-on-spy-balloons/ |
More than 80 Percent of Shoppers Expect Hyper-Curated In-Store Experiences by 2030
Retailers Must Find Appropriate Balance of Online and In-Store Experience and Integrated Technologies to Attract Loyal Customers
STAMFORD, Conn., March 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Synchrony (NYSE: SYF), a premier consumer financial services company, today announced that its new Future of Shopping study reveals that consumers seek highly personalized experiences that simplify choice and flexibility, where more than 80 percent of shoppers will expect experiences curated just for them by 2030. The research determined that retailers who prioritize an experience-driven shopping strategy will prevail if they continue to innovate and differentiate themselves with new technologies.
Meaningful Shopping Experiences
Based on Synchrony's survey of 1,000 U.S.-based consumers, the study indicates that the proliferation of retail channels, formats, platforms, and intermediaries has fragmented the shopping landscape over the past few years, creating stress for both shoppers and retail strategists. Moving forward, the focus will be on developing more connected experiences across channels, brands, online and in-store. Outstanding customer service and brand ambassadors are key to helping consumers gain insights and drive loyalty.
Of the shoppers surveyed by Synchrony:
- 67 percent believed a world where multiple brands created joint offers would enhance their experiences across channels
- 42 percent of shoppers would be likely to register or participate in future experiences, where brands offer a range of connected shopping options such as an app that connects a concert ticket purchase to customer's calendar and suggests an outfit for the event and where to buy it
- 52 percent of shoppers said they would be interested in an in-store engagement where the associate leverages crowd-sourced ratings combined with customer preferences to deliver recommendations in real time to their phone
Curation Beats out Competition
While providing a range of options to customers has always been a hallmark of best-in-class retail brands, the explosion of choice and increased opportunity has led to a heightened need for more curation and customization. Shoppers are more frequently turning to intermediaries to help guide their purchase decisions and narrow down their choices, which can have a major impact when brands don't make it through these filters.
Synchrony's research found that, in the future, shoppers would like to reduce the range of available products presented to them.
- 62 percent of shoppers surveyed believe that their shopping experience would be simpler if stores offered fewer choices
- 81 percent expect to see a world where hyper personalization or "just for me" is rolled out by 2030
- 55 percent expressed an intent to use on-site personalization services if they were available
Retailers need to focus on specific categories, needs, and consumer trends to create engaging experiences that promote customer loyalty among shoppers and maintain repeat sales, the study implies.
Convenience On The Go
Another major finding: while shoppers have always cared about convenience, today's shoppers are more concerned with the flexibility, access, and speed of their shopping experience. The act of shopping has become and will continue to move away from being an isolated activity, instead being embedded into other activities such as scrolling through social media, gaming, or going for a walk.
- 64 percent of the shoppers surveyed believe that in the future shopping will not be an isolated activity, rather brands will reach them through separate but linked activities (e.g., social media activity linked to geo-location recommendations while out on a walk, metaverse brand interaction directs shopper to nearest physical location with tailored recommendations)
- Utilizing smart carts that integrate seamless shopping and checkouts can deliver enhanced value to shoppers. Sixty-seven percent of shoppers agreed that smart carts would enhance their lives, while 75 percent of those sampled believe that smart carts would be a possibility and popular over the next seven years.
"Our study found that shopping does not happen in isolation, but rather with connected ecosystems driven by unique technologies that play a critical role for retailers seeking to meet these consumer demands." said Florin Arghirescu, Synchrony's senior vice president and chief product officer. "Synchrony is working with partners to offer curated, convenient consumer experiences whether that's enabling choice and flexibility in financing in store or online or mobile wallet provisioning for purchases on the go."
Synchrony has provided financing options to retailers for over 90 years. With more than 460,000 merchant provider locations and 71 million active customers, Synchrony's retail shopping and payment innovations enable retailers to improve their sales and maintain customer loyalty while providing shoppers with secure, convenient, and personalized shopping experiences.
To download a copy of Synchrony's Future of Shopping study, please visit here.
About Synchrony
Synchrony (NYSE: SYF) is a premier consumer financial services company delivering one of the industry's most complete digitally enabled product suites. Our experience, expertise, and scale encompass a broad spectrum of industries, including digital, health and wellness, retail, telecommunications, home, auto, outdoor, pet, and more. We have an established and diverse group of national and regional retailers, local merchants, manufacturers, buying groups, industry associations, and healthcare service providers, which we refer to as our "partners." We connect our partners and consumers through our dynamic financial ecosystem and provide them with a diverse set of financing solutions and innovative digital capabilities to address their specific needs and deliver seamless, omnichannel experiences. We offer the right financing products to the right customers in their channel of choice. For more information, visit www.synchrony.com and Twitter @Synchrony.
###
Contact:
Tyler Allen
Synchrony
Tyler.Allen@syf.com
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SOURCE Synchrony Financial | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/03/27/synchrony-study-reveals-future-shoppers-seek-connected-curated-convenient-shopping-experiences/ | 2023-03-27 13:47:31 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/03/27/synchrony-study-reveals-future-shoppers-seek-connected-curated-convenient-shopping-experiences/ |
In global rush to regulate AI, Europe set to be trailblazer
By KELVIN CHAN
AP Business Writer
LONDON (AP) — European lawmakers have rushed to add language on general artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT as they put the finishing touches on the Western world’s first AI rules. The emerging technology has captured attention by composing music, creating images and writing essays but also raised fears about its implications. Authorities worldwide are scrambling to figure out how to control rapidly evolving AI to ensure that it improves people’s lives without threatening their rights or safety. The EU’s AI Act could become the de facto global standard, with companies and organizations potentially deciding that it would be easier to comply than to develop different products for different regions. A European Parliament committee is expected to approve the rules Thursday. | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/05/08/in-global-rush-to-regulate-ai-europe-set-to-be-trailblazer/ | 2023-05-10 05:38:57 | 0 | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/05/08/in-global-rush-to-regulate-ai-europe-set-to-be-trailblazer/ |
NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd..
Shareholders who purchased shares of ARGO during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
CONTACT US HERE:
CLASS PERIOD: This lawsuit is on behalf of investors that purchased or otherwise acquired Argo common stock between February 13, 2018 and August 9, 2022.
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Argo's reserves were wholly inadequate and its underwriting standards were not prudent as was represented; (ii) Argo had dramatically changed its underwriting policies on certain U.S. construction contracts as far back as 2018; and (iii) these policies were underwritten outside of the Company's "core" business including in certain states and for certain exposures that were far riskier than investors understood and that the Company no longer would service moving forward.
DEADLINE: December 20, 2022 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/argo-group-class-action-form/?id=34530&from=4
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of ARGO during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is December 20, 2022. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
The Gross Law Firm
15 West 38th Street, 12th floor
New York, NY, 10018
Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com
Phone: (646) 453-8903
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SOURCE The Gross Law Firm | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/12/14/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-argo-group-international-holdings-ltd-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-december-20-2022-nyse-argo/ | 2022-12-14 11:33:30 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/12/14/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-argo-group-international-holdings-ltd-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-december-20-2022-nyse-argo/ |
NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) today announced The Lancet published results from three pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials – ADVANCE, MOTIVATE (induction studies) and FORTIFY (maintenance study) – evaluating risankizumab (SKYRIZI®) in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease who have had inadequate response, lost response or were intolerant to conventional or biologic therapy.
Data from the three studies formed the basis of the company's application for approval by the global health authorities. The publication of ADVANCE and MOTIVATE reports the efficacy and safety results of the two induction studies evaluating clinical remission and endoscopic response with intravenous (IV) risankizumab versus placebo over 12 weeks.1 The publication of FORTIFY shares the results of the maintenance study evaluating the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous (SC) risankizumab versus placebo (the withdrawal from IV risankizumab) over 52 weeks in patients who achieved clinical response during the ADVANCE and MOTIVATE studies.2
The use of risankizumab for Crohn's disease is not approved and its safety and efficacy remain under regulatory review.
About Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic disease that manifests as inflammation within the gastrointestinal (or digestive) tract, causing persistent diarrhea and abdominal pain.3,4,5 It is a progressive disease, meaning it gets worse over time in a substantial proportion of patients.2,3 Because the signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease are unpredictable, it causes a significant burden on people living with the disease—not only physically, but also emotionally and economically.6
About the ADVANCE and MOTIVATE Studies7,8,9,10
The ADVANCE and MOTIVATE studies are Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled induction studies designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two doses of risankizumab, 600 mg and 1200 mg, in adults with moderate to severe Crohn's disease, compared to placebo. Both studies included different sets of primary and secondary endpoints for outside U.S. (OUS) protocol and U.S. protocol. The primary endpoints were achievement of clinical remission (per PRO-2 for the OUS protocol, which was measured by daily stool frequency and abdominal pain score, and per CDAI for the U.S. protocol, which was measured by a CDAI score less than 150) and endoscopic response (for both protocols) at week 12. Endoscopic response is defined as a decrease in SES-CD of greater than 50 percent from baseline (or at least a greater than or equal to 50 percent decrease from baseline in patients with isolated ileal disease and a baseline SES-CD of 4), as scored by a central reviewer.
The ADVANCE study included a mixed population of patients who had responded inadequately or were intolerant to conventional and/or biologic therapy. The MOTIVATE study evaluated patients who had responded inadequately or were intolerant to biologic therapy. Topline results of the studies were shared in January 2021. More information can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov (ADVANCE: NCT03105128; MOTIVATE: NCT03104413).
About the FORTIFY Study11,12
The FORTIFY study is a Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, control group, 52-week maintenance study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of risankizumab 180 mg and 360 mg as maintenance therapy versus withdrawal in patients who responded to risankizumab induction treatment in the ADVANCE and MOTIVATE studies. This study included different sets of primary and secondary endpoints for the OUS analysis plan and U.S. analysis plan due to regulatory requirements in the different regions. The co-primary endpoints were achievement of endoscopic response and clinical remission at week 52. Endoscopic response is defined as a decrease in SES-CD of greater than 50 percent from baseline (or at least a greater than or equal to 50 percent decrease from baseline in patients with isolated ileal disease and a baseline SES-CD of 4), as scored by a central reviewer. Clinical remission is defined by SF/AP, which was measured by daily stool frequency and abdominal pain score, in the OUS analysis plan and defined by CDAI, which was measured by a CDAI score less than 150, in the U.S. analysis plan.
Topline results were announced in June 2021. An open label extension of FORTIFY will continue to assess the long-term safety of risankizumab in subjects who completed participation in FORTIFY. More information can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03105102).
About SKYRIZI® (Risankizumab)
SKYRIZI is an interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor that selectively blocks IL-23 by binding to its p19 subunit.13,14 IL-23, a cytokine involved in inflammatory processes, is thought to be linked to a number of chronic immune-mediated diseases, including Crohn's disease.7 The approved dose for SKYRIZI for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis in the European Union is 150 mg (either as two 75 mg pre-filled syringe injections or one 150 mg prefilled pen or pre-filled injection) administered by subcutaneous injections at week 0 and 4 and every 12 weeks thereafter. The use of risankizumab in Crohn's disease is not approved and its safety and efficacy have not been established by regulatory authorities. Phase 3 trials of SKYRIZI in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are ongoing.7,9,15,16,17
EU Indications and Important Safety Information about SKYRIZI® (Risankizumab)7
SKYRIZI is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy. SKYRIZI, alone or in combination with methotrexate (MTX), is indicated for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in adults who have had an inadequate response or who have been intolerant to one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
SKYRIZI is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients. SKYRIZI may increase the risk of infection. In patients with a chronic infection, a history of recurrent infection, or known risk factors for infection, SKYRIZI should be used with caution. Treatment with SKYRIZI should not be initiated in patients with any clinically important active infection until the infection resolves or is adequately treated.
Prior to initiating treatment with SKYRIZI, patients should be evaluated for tuberculosis (TB) infection. Patients receiving SKYRIZI should be monitored for signs and symptoms of active TB. Anti-TB therapy should be considered prior to initiating SKYRIZI in patients with a history of latent or active TB in whom an adequate course of treatment cannot be confirmed.
Prior to initiating therapy with SKYRIZI, completion of all appropriate immunizations should be considered according to current immunization guidelines. If a patient has received live vaccination (viral or bacterial), it is recommended to wait at least 4 weeks prior to starting treatment with SKYRIZI. Patients treated with SKYRIZI should not receive live vaccines during treatment and for at least 21 weeks after treatment.
The most frequently reported adverse reactions were upper respiratory infections. Commonly (greater than or equal to 1/100 to less than 1/10) reported adverse reactions included tinea infections, headache, pruritus, fatigue and injection site reactions.
This is not a complete summary of all safety information.
See SKYRIZI full summary of product characteristics (SmPC) at www.ema.europa.eu.
Globally, prescribing information varies; refer to the individual country product label for complete information.
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some statements in this news release are, or may be considered, forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. AbbVie cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, failure to realize the expected benefits from AbbVie's acquisition of Allergan plc ("Allergan"), failure to promptly and effectively integrate Allergan's businesses, competition from other products, challenges to intellectual property, difficulties inherent in the research and development process, adverse litigation or government action, changes to laws and regulations applicable to our industry and the impact of public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, such as COVID-19. Additional information about the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect AbbVie's operations is set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of AbbVie's 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as updated by its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. AbbVie undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law.
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SOURCE AbbVie | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/05/27/lancet-publishes-results-phase-3-induction-maintenance-programs-evaluating-risankizumab-skyrizi-crohns-disease/ | 2022-05-27 07:23:48 | 0 | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/05/27/lancet-publishes-results-phase-3-induction-maintenance-programs-evaluating-risankizumab-skyrizi-crohns-disease/ |
AP-NORC Poll: Americans say holiday gifts harder to afford
(AP) - More than half of U.S. adults say it’s harder to afford the holiday gifts they want to give this year.
Sixty-nine percent of them say they have seen higher prices for holiday gifts in recent months, up from 58% last year, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
And 57% say it has been harder to afford the things they want to give, a dramatic increase from 40% one year ago. The vast majority of those finding it harder to afford gifts say they’ve cut back on giving as a result.
Last year, 89-year-old Darlene Huffman used some of her government stimulus money to buy KitchenAid food choppers — which cost around $40 — for her six children. But this year, with the price of gas, groceries and other basics eating into her limited income, Huffman is downsizing. She plans to buy them each a $10 trash can that attaches to the backseat of a car.
“I have to watch my p’s and q’s. But God has supplied all my needs and I’m not complaining,” said Huffman, who will spend much of the season volunteering at food and clothing banks in her hometown of Greenville, Ohio.
U.S. inflation appears to be cooling; consumer prices fell for the fifth straight month in November, the government said Tuesday. But prices were still 7.1% higher than a year earlier, an increase felt most acutely by low-income households.
About two-thirds of Americans in households earning less than $50,000 annually say they’ve had a harder time affording gifts and food for holiday meals this year, according to the AP-NORC poll. About 6 in 10 of those in households earning between $50,000 and $99,999 found it harder to afford gifts and food, along with half of higher-income households.
Roslyn Coble doesn’t plan to buy holiday gifts this year. Coble, 63, lives on monthly disability checks and has struggled with higher prices for food and other necessities this year.
“I’m less interested in going out and trying to buy things,” said Coble, of Oakboro, North Carolina. “I’m not as much into it this year.”
Coble is looking forward to spending the holidays with family. And she’s expecting a small raise in her disability payments in January.
“Next Christmas I’ll be able to do more,” she said.
The poll shows nearly all Americans — 95% — have seen higher-than-usual prices for groceries in recent months, up from 85% last year, according to the poll. The U.S. government estimates food prices will be up 9.5% to 10.5% this year; historically, they’ve risen only 2% annually.
Eighty-three percent said they had experienced inflationary gas prices, about the same number as last year. Seventy-four percent reported higher electricity bills, up from 57% last year.
As a result, many buyers may be looking for discounts this year, and retailers are likely to respond. The average discount rate across all categories online was 31% on Thanksgiving, up from 27% last year, according to Salesforce.
Tierra Tucker, a 34-year-old day care worker in Chicago, said she’s been shopping since Black Friday for her twin 13-year-old daughters and has found deals on many of the gifts they’re getting, including iPads, purses, clothes and bracelet-making kits.
Tucker hasn’t cut back on gifts for her daughters this year, but she won’t be spending as much on others. Tucker recently moved and said she has had to focus on getting things for her new house. So her seven nieces and nephews will get gift cards instead of toys.
Overall U.S. holiday sales are expected to grow at a slower pace than last year. The National Retail Federation, the largest retail trade group, expects holiday sales to grow 6% to 8% this year, down from 13.5% in 2021.
Daniel Reyes, a postal worker from Midland, Texas, said he made more money than usual this year thanks to overtime. But he’s still thinking twice about what he buys in the face of steep price increases and losses to his 401(k) plan.
“I do give it a beat. If I need it, I need it, so I will get it,” he said. “But some of the luxuries, like beer or wine, maybe I’m not going to buy because everything is more expensive.”
Reyes, 51, spent $1,200 last Christmas buying handguns for his two adult children. But this year he has already warned them not to expect high-end gifts.
“I’d rather spend $200 and buy steaks and all the fixings,” Reyes said. “We’ll make it more about family than about material items.”
___
The poll of 1,124 adults was conducted Dec. 1-5 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/12/14/ap-norc-poll-americans-say-holiday-gifts-harder-afford/ | 2022-12-14 17:27:42 | 0 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/12/14/ap-norc-poll-americans-say-holiday-gifts-harder-afford/ |
WASHINGTON (AP)The Supreme Court on Monday rejected Oakland’s last-ditch effort to revive an antitrust lawsuit against the National Football League over the Raiders’ move to Las Vegas in 2020.
The city had been seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in its claim that the league violated federal antitrust law by acting like a ”cartel” that sent the Raiders away when Oakland refused to meet the NFL’s ”increasingly exorbitant” demand for public money to build a new stadium.
The federal appeals court in San Francisco rejected the lawsuit, and the justices said Monday they would not intervene.
The Raiders were involved in an earlier antitrust suit against the NFL, when owner Al Davis wanted to move the team from Oakland to Los Angeles.
Davis eventually won his lawsuit and the Raiders moved south in 1982, only to return to Oakland in 1995. | https://www.kark.com/nfl/justices-wont-revive-oaklands-lawsuit-over-loss-of-raiders/ | 2022-10-04 20:00:08 | 1 | https://www.kark.com/nfl/justices-wont-revive-oaklands-lawsuit-over-loss-of-raiders/ |
US border agency leader resigns amid wave of migrants
By MIKE BALSAMO, COLLEEN LONG and ELLIOT SPAGAT
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection has resigned from his job leading the nation’s largest law enforcement agency as agents encounter record numbers of migrants entering the U.S. from Mexico.
Chris Magnus submitted his resignation to President Joe Biden on Saturday, saying it had been “a privilege and honor” to be part of the administration.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden had accepted Magnus’ resignation. “President Biden appreciates Commissioner Magnus’ nearly forty years of service and the contributions he made to police reform during his tenure as police chief in three U.S. cities,” she said.
Two people who were briefed on the matter told The Associated Press on Friday that Magnus was told to resign or be fired less than a year after he was confirmed. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to address the matter publicly.
Magnus’s removal is part of a larger shakeup expected at Homeland Security as it struggles to manage migrants coming from a wider range of countries, including Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. This comes as Republicans are likely to take control of the House in January and are expected to launch investigations into the border.
Migrants were stopped 2.38 million times at the Mexican border in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, up 37% from the year before. The annual total surpassed 2 million for the first time in August and is more than twice the highest level during Donald Trump’s presidency, in 2019.
The Los Angeles Times was first to report on the ultimatum. In a statement to the newspaper, Magnus said he was asked by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to step down or be fired. | https://kion546.com/news/ap-arizona/2022/11/12/us-border-agency-leader-resigns-amid-wave-of-migrants-2/ | 2022-11-13 01:53:52 | 1 | https://kion546.com/news/ap-arizona/2022/11/12/us-border-agency-leader-resigns-amid-wave-of-migrants-2/ |
A warming world is transforming some major snowfalls into extreme rain over mountains instead, somehow worsening both dangerous flooding like the type that devastated Pakistan last year as well as long-term water shortages, a new study found.
Using rain and snow measurements since 1950 and computer simulations for future climate, scientists calculated that for every degree Fahrenheit the world warms, extreme rainfall at higher elevation increases by 8.3% (15% for every degree Celsius), according to a study in Wednesday’s journal Nature.
Heavy rain in mountains causes a lot more problems than big snow, including flooding, landslides and erosion, scientists said. And the rain isn’t conveniently stored away like snowpack that can recharge reservoirs in spring and summer.
“It is not just a far-off problem that is projected to occur in the future, but the data is actually telling us that it’s already happening and we see that in the data over the past few decades,” said lead author Mohammed Ombadi, a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory hydrologist and climate scientist.
As the world has warmed to the brink of the 1.5 degree Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) internationally agreed threshold to stem the worst effects of climate change, this study shows “every degree (Celsius) matters because it comes with an additional 15% increase” in extreme rain over mountains, Ombadi said. That per-degree rainfall boost in the mountains is more than twice the increase the rest of the world gets from warming air holding more water.
The study looked at only the heaviest rains each year over six decades in the Northern Hemisphere, finding that as altitude rose, so did the turbocharging of rain. The biggest increase in rains were noticed at about 10,000 feet (3,000 meters). That includes much of the American West, where Ombadi said “it’s very pronounced,” as well as parts of the Appalachian Mountains. Another big hotspot in Asia is the Himalayas, Tian Shan and Hindu Kush mountains, with the Alps also affected.
About one in four people on Earth live in an area close enough to the mountains or downhill that extreme rain and flooding would hit them, Ombadi said.
It means more of the type of flooding off the mountains like the one that killed more than 1,700 people in Pakistan and put one-third of the country underwater, Ombadi said. But he noted that they haven’t studied Pakistan’s 2022 floods precisely so there may be some small differences.
The study makes sense and “the implications are serious,” said UCLA climate hydrologist Park Williams, who wasn’t part of the research. Scientists expect more precipitation with warmer temperatures, but heavy snow’s flooding impact is lessened because it takes time to melt and it’s easier to monitor snowpack to see what’s happening, he said.
“But as the proportion of mountain precipitation falling as snow decreases, flood hazards may enhance especially rapidly,” Williams said.
In the American West it hits hard in different ways, said study co-author Charuleka Varadharajan, a hydrologist.
“This kind of extreme rainfall is going to make the floods worse. And then you’ve got to figure out where is that water going?” she said, noting some of the flooding woes the West already dealt with this year in the wake of a series of atmospheric rivers and melting snowpack.
The flooding also can hurt food production, Ombadi said. He pointed to California Department of Agriculture estimates of $89 million in crop and livestock losses from torrential rains in 1997.
But in the long term, another problem is water supply. When the West gets heavy snowfall in the winter, that snow melts slowly in spring and summer, filling reservoirs where it can be useful when it’s needed later.
“It’s going to decrease your snow, your water supply in the future,” Varadharajan said. “You’re going to have more short-term runoff leading to more floods and less snowpack that recharges the groundwater and the groundwater is ultimately what helps maintain stream flows.”
“These mountainous systems are supplying most of the water in the West so any decreases in water supply would be pretty significant in terms of water management,” she said.
In times of drought – and much of the West is coping with a more than 20 year-long megadrought – water managers like to keep water levels high in reservoirs, which they can do with heavy snowpacks because it melts slowly, Williams said. But they can’t do that with heavy rainfall.
So as warming causes rainier extremes, society is going to have to choose between cutting water use because of low water levels in reservoirs to absorb a possible large sudden mountain runoff event or build expensive new reservoirs, Williams said.
___
This story has corrected the mention of $89 million in crop and livestock losses due to heavy rains in California to 1997, not this year.
___
Follow AP’s climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
___
Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears
___
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://www.cenlanow.com/national/warming-causes-more-extreme-rain-not-snow-over-mountains-and-scientists-say-thats-a-problem/ | 2023-06-29 14:39:50 | 1 | https://www.cenlanow.com/national/warming-causes-more-extreme-rain-not-snow-over-mountains-and-scientists-say-thats-a-problem/ |
Tech talent developers GA and Interapt expand learn-and-earn model to help employers address critical talent shortages; prepare early talent for in-demand technical jobs
NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- General Assembly (GA) today announced the launch of GA Apprenticeships, Powered by Interapt, a tech apprenticeship solution designed to fast-track high-potential, overlooked talent into careers in software engineering, data, and cybersecurity. In light of growing labor market challenges and ongoing skill shortages across a range of industries, this new model will provide employers with a derisked opportunity to onboard entry-level tech talent while also enabling apprentices to earn a salary as they learn alongside senior-level developers.
In partnership with Interapt – a skills development firm that is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor to deploy registered apprenticeship programs – GA Apprenticeships will provide candidates with GA's industry-leading training along with Interapt's one-on-one coaching, mentorship from experienced technical managers, and a growing virtual community of peers and mentors for future job opportunities. Apprentices not only develop foundational tech skills and gain experience working in teams with more experienced colleagues, but also build a support network that enables relationship building, long-term job satisfaction, and career mobility — all without the outsized financial burden of other training models or degree programs.
For employers, the General Assembly model presents an opportunity to hire newly trained workers into full-time roles at the end of their apprenticeship, creating a stronger and more diverse talent pipeline at a time when demand for tech talent continues to grow. Companies also have the added benefit of knowing that apprentices were trained on-site for the specific functions and roles they need, reducing onboarding time and boosting retention.
"Business leaders consistently tell us that tech talent shortages are one of the greatest threats they face today, limiting growth and innovation. This talent crisis results in companies prioritizing speed in filling these roles, at the expense of thoughtful hiring and onboarding practices," said Lisa Lewin, CEO of General Assembly. "Our take on apprenticeships is designed to give companies access to the talent they need in order to maintain their competitive edge - without sacrificing diversity, training, and culture development. By marrying sourcing, hiring, and training into a single model with Interapt, we can save companies valuable time, while also creating a much more robust and integrated employee experience."
Having already produced more job-ready graduates than any other bootcamp, GA is an established, trusted educational partner for consumers, employers, higher education institutions, and local governments. The company's proven approach to training has been key to enabling industry leaders such as Accenture, ServiceNow, and Adobe to fuel their own apprenticeship programs in-house. By expanding its partnership with Interapt, GA will be able to further accelerate apprenticeship pipelines for companies across industries, helping employers like Humana, CVS, and Merck – who have already adopted this model – build internal mobility and improve retention through a commitment to on-the-job learning experiences.
"Interapt has been working with General Assembly since 2018 to create programming and learn-to-earn opportunities that can have a significant impact on both employers and apprentices who have built meaningful careers during and post-program. We are incredibly proud of the work that has already been done, but also know that we have just scratched the surface when it comes to creating equitable access to tech careers and improving diversity in tech overall," said Ankur Gopal, CEO and Founder of Interapt. "This new breed of tech apprenticeships will have a massive impact on both employers and jobseekers, and we could not be more excited to work with employers who are ready to attract, invest in and retain diverse tech talent through this scalable solution."
For more information, please download GA's white paper, published today: "Putting Apprenticeships to Work: How work-based learning is helping to close the digital talent gap."
About General Assembly:
Since 2011, General Assembly (GA) has launched the technology careers of tens of thousands of diverse individuals and cultivated emerging tech talent pipelines for hundreds of the world's leading employers. As featured in The Economist, Wired, and The New York Times, GA offers bootcamps, digital upskilling, apprenticeships, and other career onramps into today's most in-demand jobs in web development, data, design, and more. Part of global HR solutions giant The Adecco Group, GA has become a leading provider of world-class technical training, equitable job opportunity, and social impact. GA has been recognized as one of Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, and a Fast Company World-Changing Idea, as well as the #1 Most Innovative Company in Education. To learn more, visit https://generalassemb.ly.
About Interapt
Interapt, based in Louisville, KY, offers enterprise solutions that bridge the gap between business, technology and the people who make it happen - with expertise in business innovation, digital transformation, and IT apprenticeships, Interapt helps companies develop a more robust and diverse talent pipeline in Software Engineering, UX & Design, Cybersecurity, and others.
Interapt's innovative training and apprenticeship program provides world-class training to the unemployed, underemployed, and Veterans and their spouses, providing them an opportunity to launch promising new careers in the tech industry. Interapt has been recognized as a OneTen Talent Development Partner, NMSDC Corporate Plus, and EY Entrepreneur of The Year in Technology. To learn more about Interapt and their training programs, visit https://interapt.com.
CONTACT: Tori McKnight, tori.mcknight@berlinrosen.com
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SOURCE General Assembly (GA) | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/02/07/general-assembly-launches-apprenticeship-solution-help-employers-source-deploy-retain-hard-to-find-tech-talent/ | 2023-02-07 14:45:03 | 0 | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/02/07/general-assembly-launches-apprenticeship-solution-help-employers-source-deploy-retain-hard-to-find-tech-talent/ |
'My heart is completely filled': Months after dognapping, Phoenix woman and service dog reunited
A Phoenix woman and her service dog have been reunited following six months of separation after the pooch was dognapped during a park visit.
Mya, a female American Bully who aides Lindsay Deyo, 35, with her seizures, went missing the morning of Nov. 9 at a dog park off Interstate 17 and West Northern Avenue. An animal search and rescue volunteer leading the missing dog case found Mya on May 16, some miles from where she disappeared.
Dog and owner were reunited that same day.
“The hole in my heart is completely filled right now,” Deyo told The Arizona Republic about having Mya by her side again.
On the day of the reunion, Deyo woke up to a knock at the door with two volunteers for the Phoenix-based nonprofit Humane Animal Rescue & Trapping Team (HARTT) telling her they had a surprise for her.
“I kind of freaked out because I kind of knew what it was, you know? And then they brought Mya out of the car and I just started crying,” Deyo said. “I've always had hope that one day soon we’d be reunited. I wasn't thinking it was gonna be this soon.”
After being briefly distracted by a cat at the doorstep, Mya licked Deyo’s face as she wagged her tail. Mya appeared to have lost some weight, Deyo said, mentioning she planned to get a full veterinary checkup on her this week.
“We've just been hanging out and it's been awesome,” Deyo said.
Spotting Mya on the road
According to HARTT President Cheryl Naumann, a volunteer spotted a dog that resembled Mya being walked by a man when driving on Indian School Road near Seventh Avenue.
The volunteer had been helping search for Mya since Deyo reported her missing.
Deyo quit her part-time waitressing job to look for Mya, who would warn her of seizures and get her medication while she experienced a seizure. The woman would think back to her dog to hold back on seizures. The stress led to Deyo suffering a miscarriage, she told The Republic in April.
Deyo looked away briefly while at the dog park and then Mya was gone. Six months later, just as suddenly, the volunteer found Mya on the side of the road.
According to Naumann, the man walking the dog did not fit the description of the man seen with Mya after being dognapped.
Approaching the man and dog with dog food, the volunteer asked about how the pup came into his life, the man said he had bought her a few months earlier.
The volunteer "was pretty excited by this. This could actually be this missing dog," Naumann said.
With the use of the microchip scanner, the volunteer was able to confirm the dog was in fact Mya. "Like a lot of our volunteers she always has dog supplies in her car," Naumann said about the microchip scanner.
But parting with Mya did not come easy for the man."He said, 'Please just take her back to her family and get her out of here before I start crying,' and (the volunteer) said his eyes started tearing up" as she took Mya, Naumann said.
How to keep dogs safe and from going missing
Dogs should wear a snug-fitting collar with updated contact information on the tag, especially when traveling, Naumann said.
"Sometimes they get away. Someone can quickly reunite you with your furry family member," Naumann said.
Also, teenagers and adults should walk dogs as they will be able to hold onto a leash tighter than a small child can, Naumann said.
To avoid pets running away, Naumann explained that owners should keep their homes secure. Naumann mentioned how some circumstances like parties or family get-togethers may make pet dogs and pet cats nervous and cause them to flee. Visitors, she pointed out, may not be careful with closing doors.
"Anytime the environment as a whole changes, it's important to be vigilant," Naumann said.
Owners, she said, should regularly check for broken fence panels where a pet may dig themselves out or for nearby objects which a pet may jump over.
"Never take your eyes off" your dog at a park or other public space, Naumann said. "It's really easy to become distracted and talk to people around you and watch other pets playing."
If someone appears to be approaching your dog, then immediately go to them and ensure the pet is secured in place, Naumann advised. And pets should never be off leash anywhere but their own yard with locked gates, she added.
"A good-meaning person might assume this is a stray that needs help or needs a home because the dog is not in the vicinity of an owner," she said.
Over 120 volunteers on the lookout
Naumann said the organization's volunteers are always on the lookout for a stray while driving down a street or browsing online for found pets.
HARTT has more than 120 active volunteers in Maricopa County and in Arizona’s Rim Country, according to Naumann. Volunteers reunite pets with owners, they rescue dogs and cats and their work has led to a yearly recovery of 800 at-risk animals, Naumann reported.
Deyo said HARTT’s continued efforts to find Mya kept her optimistic throughout the ordeal of having the service dog away. And Deyo is striving to keep Mya from going missing again.
“I always have my eyes on her at all times,” Deyo said of Mya.
For owners who have lost a pet, “my advice would be just to stay positive. Just spread the word as much as possible on Facebook groups, and just try to get the word out there,” Deyo said. “Contact HARTT because they are awesome.”
Those interested in learning how to help HARTT’s mission through education, volunteering, animal adoption or donations can visit azhartt.org.
Reach breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at jose.gonzalez@gannett.com or on Twitter @jrgzztx.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/05/27/phoenix-woman-reunites-with-stolen-dog-following-months-of-separation/70254495007/ | 2023-05-27 16:54:19 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/05/27/phoenix-woman-reunites-with-stolen-dog-following-months-of-separation/70254495007/ |
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