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DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) _ CF Industries Holdings Inc. (CF) on Monday reported second-quarter profit of $1.17 billion.
The Deerfield, Illinois-based company said it had net income of $5.58 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were $6.19 per share.
The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $6.06 per share.
The fertilizer maker posted revenue of $3.39 billion in the period, falling short of Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $3.62 billion.
CF shares have climbed 33% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P's 500 index has decreased 14%. In the final minutes of trading on Monday, shares hit $94.44, a climb of 100% in the last 12 months.
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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CF at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CF
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https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/CF-Q2-Earnings-Snapshot-17343836.php
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Leading legal funding company seeing uptick in malpractice applications in recent months; expects trend to continue
NEWARK, N.J., Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --Legal-Bay Pre Settlement Funding Company announced today that they are seeing an increase in the number of medical malpractice funding applications. More complex than a typical personal injury lawsuit, these cases are aimed specifically toward negligent medical providers such as doctors, EMTs, nurses, and/or anyone who has caused a patient physical or emotional harm. Hospitals and surgery centers can also be targeted for compensation by patients who've received less-than-exemplary service. Basically, medical malpractice is a form of lawsuit that applies when there is personal injury inflicted on a patient while receiving medical care.
Legal-Bay has vast experience with medical malpractice lawsuits, and is why they are considered one of the best lawsuit funding companies in the industry. Whether you've already filed suit or need a lawyer in order to start the process, Legal-Bay can help.
Chris Janish, CEO of Legal-Bay commented, "Resolution for malpractice cases can take years to resolve. In the meantime, these patients who've been harmed may be out of work due to their injuries, yet still need some sort of financial assistance before they can even begin to get on with their lives. Many plaintiffs frustrated with the sluggish judicial process are choosing to apply for lawsuit cash advances rather than wait indefinitely for their cases to see the inside of a courtroom."
If you require an immediate cash advance settlement loan from your medical malpractice case, please visit our website HERE or call 877.571.0405.
Legal-Bay PreSettlement Funding can offer immediate cash in advance of a plaintiff's anticipated monetary award. The non-recourse lawsuit loans —sometimes referred to as loans for lawsuit or loans on settlement—are risk-free, as the money does not need to be repaid should the recipient lose their case. Therefore, the lawsuit loan isn't really a loan, but rather a cash advance. Legal-Bay funds all types of settlement loans including personal injury, car, truck, or boat accidents, commercial litigation, and more.
If you require an immediate cash advance loan settlement from your malpractice lawsuit, please visit the company's website HERE or call 877.571.0405 where skilled agents are standing by to hear about your specific case.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Legal-Bay, LLC
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https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/legal-bay-lawsuit-pre-settlement-funding-announces-expanded-funding-medical-malpractice-cases/
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A recently opened Jersey City business was busted as an illegal cannabis dispensary and a Downtown smoke shop was also illegally selling marijuana products, authorities said.
An investigation by the Jersey City Quality of Life Task Force put an end to both unlicensed businesses, Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said.
The task force, headed by Municipal Prosecutor Jake Hudnut, determined that a business called “Lifted AF” at 3238 Kennedy Boulevard in the Heights was operating as as unauthorized and unlicensed cannabis dispensary.
The business, which was registered as an LLC late last year, was closed and all of the illegal products, including 6.5 pounds of suspected raw marijuana valued at over $28,000 as well as suspected marijuana-infused food products, were seized.
A criminal complaint for possession with intent to distribute in the second degree (more 5 pounds, but less than 25 pounds) of suspected marijuana, and the owners were cited for operating an establishment without a license and selling adulterated food products.
The use of marijuana and cannabis products are legal in New Jersey, but there currently are no licensed recreational cannabis dispensaries in Jersey City, or anywhere in Hudson County.
“For these illegal dispensaries to circumvent those regulations, they should be held accountable, and they will be held accountable, and it is really unfair to the business owners that are going about the right way,” Hudnut said.
On Monday, the Quality of Life Task Force seized approximately 8 containers filled with suspected raw marijuana, suspected marijuana-infused food products, and approximately 25 boxes of illegal flavored tobacco vape products from Smokers Paradise on Newark Avenue, Wallace-Scalcione said.
The task force was alerted to the illegal sales after officials from the city’s Office of Code Compliance uncovered suspected illegal waste dumping by the shop, Wallace-Scalcione said. Further investigation determined the store was illegally selling suspected raw marijuana.
Evidence is currently being cataloged and charges are pending, Wallace-Scalcione said.
“I hope that these two cases are an anomaly, but they do illustrate the importance of residents being our eyes and ears, which was the case with both these investigations starting,” Hudnut said. “Lawful dispensaries have aa number of regulations imposed on them by the state that they have to be compliant with to ensure quality of life in the surrounding communities.”
Jersey Journal Staff Writer Joshua Rosario contributed to this report.
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https://www.nj.com/hudson/2022/07/jersey-city-busts-illegal-cannabis-dispensary-and-seizes-marijuana-from-smoke-shop.html
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers placed left-hander Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day injured list Friday, one day after he left a start with lower back pain.
This marks the 34-year-old Kershaw’s second trip to the injured list this season. He was previously sidelined with inflammation in a pelvic joint.
Kershaw had an X-ray and an MRI on Friday, and nothing new was revealed in the MRI. Manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw was sore on Friday, and that prompted to the IL move.
“There wasn’t any new findings, so that’s a positive,” Roberts said. “This was the best-case scenario coming from the MRI.”
Kershaw’s previous back injury was on the right side, and this one is more on the left side, according to Roberts.
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner was warming up before the fifth inning of a 5-3 victory over San Francisco on Thursday when he winced and pointed to the Dodgers’ dugout. He later walked off the field with a trainer.
Kershaw, a nine-time All-Star, is 7-3 with a 2.64 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 85 1/3 innings.
Also Friday, the Dodgers activated utilityman Chris Taylor, who missed a month with a fractured left foot. He’s batting .238 with six homers and 27 RBIs in 74 games.
The Dodgers also recalled right-hander Reyes Moronta and optioned outfielder James Outman.
Moronta is 0-0 with a 4.67 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings. Outman went 6 of 13 with one homer and three RBIs in four games with the Dodgers.
The Dodgers will need to fill Kershaw’s spot in the rotation in the near future. Dustin May, who had Tommy John surgery last year, is trending toward a return soon. May has another rehab start Tuesday in Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“The world will look different then,” Roberts said. “Then we’ll make a decision on whether he should make another one, which is most likely, so now you’re looking at somebody in our system to make that (next start). (Ryan) Pepiot certainly makes sense.”
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/dodgers-kershaw-on-il-with-low-back-pain-taylor-activated/
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By JOE McDONALD
AP Business Writer
BEIJING (AP) — Asian stocks followed Wall Street lower Tuesday as fears increased that U.S. rate increases to fight inflation might stall economic growth.
Market benchmarks in Tokyo, Hong Kong, South Korea and Australia fell. Shanghai advanced. Oil prices fell more than $1 but stayed above $100 per barrel.
Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index tumbled 3.2% on Monday, hitting its lowest point in more than a year.
The Federal Reserve is trying to cool inflation that is running at a four-decade high, but investors worry that might trigger a U.S. downturn. That adds to pressure from Russia’s war on Ukraine and a Chinese slowdown.
Traders are pricing in the “impending deterioration of economic conditions,” said Yeap Jun Rong of IG in a report.
The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo lost 0.8% to 26,117.76 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 2.8% to 19,436.73.
The Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.2% to 3,009.22 after the Chinese government announced rent cuts and other aid for small businesses in a new effort to boost anemic economic growth.
The Kospi in Seoul shed 0.7% to 3,593.12 and Sydney’s S&P-ASX 200 declined 1.2% to 7,034.90.
India’s Sensex opened up 0.1% at 54,537.35. New Zealand and Southeast Asian markets retreated.
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 sank to 3,991.24. That leaves Wall Street’s benchmark down 16.8% from its Jan. 3 record.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2% to 32,245.70. The Nasdaq composite slid 4.3% to 11,623.25 as tech stocks to the brunt of the selling.
Energy stocks also fell. Marathon Oil and APA Corp. each sank more than 14%.
Stocks have declined as the Fed turns away from a strategy of pumping money into the financial system, which boosted prices.
The U.S. central bank has raised its key rate from close to zero, where it sat for much of the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, it indicated it will double the size of future increases from its usual margin.
In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude sank $1.15 to $101.94 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract plunged $6.68 to $103.09 on Monday. Brent crude, the price basis for international oil trading, lost $1.20 to $104.74 per barrel in London. It fell $6.45 the previous session to $105.94.
The dollar gained to 130.43 yen from Monday’s 130.32 yen. The euro rose to $1.0576 from $1.0566.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/05/10/asian-stocks-follow-wall-st-down-on-rate-hike-economy-fears-3/
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford will bring their combined star power to the newest addition to the “Yellowstone” TV franchise.
The pair will headline a Paramount+ series with the working title “1932,” which joins “1883” as part of what the streaming service called the “origin story” of its “Yellowstone” drama series.
Mirren and Ford are among the growing ranks of film actors who have added small-screen projects to their resume as streaming services vie for subscribers with prestige projects and big names.
The latest chapter in the Dutton family saga will be set in an early 20th century and a Mountain West beset by drought and the Great Depression, among other ills, Paramount+ said. It will debut in December.
Writer-producer Sheridan Taylor is the creative force behind the hit franchise, which began with the contemporary drama “Yellowstone," led by Kevin Costner. The “1883” prequel stars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.
Mirren is among today’s most highly regarded actors, a four-time Oscar nominee who won for her portrayal of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in 2006’s “The Queen.”
Ford’s extensive blockbuster movie credits include the “Star Wars” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” franchises. He was an Oscar nominee for the 1985 film “Witness.”
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https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Helen-Mirren-Harrison-Ford-to-star-in-17179578.php
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. Navy said Tuesday its forces had a tense encounter with Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The Navy’s Mideast-based 5th Fleet said three Guard vessels had an “unsafe and unprofessional” encounter as the USS Sirocco and USNS Choctaw County transited Monday through the strait, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
The Navy said one of three of the Guard fast crafts raced head-on at the Sirocco before changing course. The Navy said the Sirocco fired a warning flare during the encounter as well.
A short video released by the Navy showed the encounter.
Iran did not immediately acknowledge the incident in the strait, through which a fifth of all oil traded passes.
It comes as tensions remain high in the region as Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers remains in tatters as negotiations over the accord are stalled. Meanwhile, Tehran’s atomic program enriches uranium at its closest levels to weapons-grade yet.
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https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/world/us-navy-iran-have-tense-encounter-in-strait-of-hormuz/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world
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What’s a Chromebook?
A Chromebook is neither Windows or Mac; it runs Google’s Chrome OS. The operating system is built around Google’s cloud apps and is optimized for Gmail and Google Drive, making it a good choice if you need a basic machine for work and you already have a Google account. They’re often small and affordable — a good choice for children or anyone who just needs a simple computer.
The Chromebook’s reputation for having poor computing power may be a turnoff for some, but there are powerful new Chromebooks by HP and Samsung that have better performance at the same low price tag. But which of these new options has the most value? How do you know which Chromebook is best for you? Before you buy, you should consider the following factors.
Price
One major advantage of any Chromebook is the low cost. They range anywhere from $100 to $1,000, but most hover around $300. These lightweight systems easily contend with notebooks that cost twice as much.
Power
When buying your Chromebook, you’ll notice that the more affordable options mostly utilize Celeron or N4000 processors. These low-end processors are slow and unsuited for much other than basic functionality. So if you want the best performance at the best price, look for midrange laptops with Intel processors and Intel UHD GPUs.
HP Chromebook x360 Convertible Laptop
The HP Chromebook x360 is powered by an Intel Core i3 processor. Its ultra-crisp, full HD display doubles as a touch screen, making this Chromebook a versatile option for a variety of situations, from classrooms to boardrooms. The Chrome OS makes navigation simple, and there’s a built-in fingerprint scanner on the touchpad so you don’t always have to input your password.
The 8 GB of RAM makes it easier for you to open multiple windows without a lag in performance, and the 64 GB hard disk size is impressive for the price.
The Intel UHD card isn’t suitable for graphics-intensive games, but it works perfectly for basic photo editing and casual gaming. The x360, like all Chromebooks, comes with access to the Google Play store, meaning you’ll have access to all of your favorite apps and mobile games.
You can find it in the HP store.
HP Chromebook x360 pros
The 360-degree flip and fold design and touch screen offer extreme utility and ease of use. It’s got a lot of power for a Chromebook, and at 2.1 GHz speed, you’ll be breezing through your work. It also comes with a USB port, two USB-C ports and a headphone jack.
It’s no gaming laptop, but it can handle a lot, and the backlit OLED screen ensures the colors really pop and edges feel crisp. For what you’re paying, this is the best performance you can get.
HP Chromebook x360 cons
This laptop might not be compatible with software such as Photoshop. The Chrome OS is useful in its simplicity but not always versatile. The 64 GB of storage is good, but you’ll still probably need to invest in external storage.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4
The Galaxy Chromebook 4 is a steal at $240. But you don’t have to worry about the quality: It’s powered by an HD Intel Celeron processor with turbo boost, 6 GB of RAM and up to 64 GB of memory. Those are outstanding specs for a Chromebook under $300. It comes in silver-gray and has a 720p display. It’s extremely sturdy, compact and will fit into most bags for convenient transport. Smart Amp audio technology prevents your speakers from distorting at high volumes, allowing you to play music nearly twice as loud as other laptops.
You can find it on Amazon.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4 pros
The specs of this laptop are beyond impressive for something so affordable. You’ll be able to tackle most projects with this device and even do basic video or photo editing. It’s suitable for watching movies in the backseat or taking notes during a meeting. It also comes with responsive, backlit keys that make typing feel more natural and responsive. The large keys are clicky and respond fast when pressed. It also has a lightning-fast boot-up time. Turn it on and you’ll be working in as little as six seconds.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4 cons
Some people have reported having problems with the screen since it’s not that high resolution, but it gets the job done for the price. This system also tends to get hot quickly. Make sure you clean it out now and then to help the fan run smoothly.
Is the Samsung Chromebook or the HP Chromebook better?
If you want a powerful computer you can use for work and playing games, HP’s x360 is the notebook for you. It’s a good quality laptop that will last you for years and perform reliably. If you need an inexpensive computer but still want a wide range of functionality, choose the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4, whose performance is almost as good as the x360’s.
HP enjoys an advantage over Samsung in terms of better components. Samsung doesn’t skimp on quality, but HP machines work faster and perform better.
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Sam Bramlett writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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https://fox59.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/laptop-computers-br/hp-chromebook-vs-samsung-chromebook/
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CINCINNATI (AP) — Ha-Seong Kim hit a tiebreaking, three-run double in the sixth inning and the San Diego Padres beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-5 Thursday to complete a season sweep in the series.
Left fielder Tommy Pham just missed a diving catch of Kim’s two-out, sinking line drive.
Reliever Tony Santillan hit two batters, walked another and threw a wild pitch while San Diego sent nine batters to the plate. Santillan avoided further damage when center fielder Jake Fraley made a diving catch of Jake Cronenworth’s drive to the warning track.
Manny Machado had four hits, giving him seven in the last two games as San Diego improved to 6-0 against the Reds this season.
Kim had three hits, including two doubles, the second glancing off the top of the left field wall.
Eric Hosmer, who went into the game leading the majors in hitting, gave San Diego a 1-0 lead with a first-inning single to center field. Hosmer went 2 for 4 to boost his average to .415. He finished with six RBIs in the three-game series.
The Reds, a major league-worst 3-16, scored three runs — two earned — against three Padres relievers before Taylor Rogers pitched the ninth for his seventh save. The start is Cincinnati’s worst since going 3-18 to open 2018.
San Diego’s Nick Martinez (1-2) lasted five innings, allowing five hits and two runs with five strikeouts and two walks.
Reds starter Tyler Mahle (1-3) suffered his third loss in his last three starts. The Padres reached him for six hits and three runs with two walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
Mike Moustakas had two hits and drove in Cincinnati’s first run after being activated from the 10-day injured list before the game. Moustakas missed eight games with right biceps soreness.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: OF Wil Myers (right thumb contusion) was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Wednesday. ... RHP Austin Adams (right forearm tendinitis) was transferred to the 60-day IL. ... Matt Beaty was hit just above the left knee with Santillan’s first pitch in the sixth inning. Beaty stayed in the game.
Reds: LHP Nick Lodolo (lower right back strain) was placed on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Monday.
UP NEXT
Padres: RHP Yu Darvish (1-1, 4.43) is scheduled to make his fifth 2022 start on Friday in Pittsburgh.
Reds: RHP Hunter Greene (1-2, 5.27) is expected to start Friday’s series-opener in Colorado.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Kim-s-double-clears-bases-Padres-finish-sweep-of-17134528.php
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SALT LAKE CITY, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Catalyst, Inc. ("Health Catalyst," Nasdaq: HCAT), a leading provider of data and analytics technology and services to healthcare organizations, today announced an expansive, multi-year strategic partnership with Akron Children's Hospital (Akron Children's), a top-ranking pediatric health system in northeast Ohio with two hospitals and 54 urgent, primary, and specialty care locations.
"Health Catalyst will become a fundamental component of our robust analytics platform, which will bring multiple sources of data to assist in data-driven decision making," said Harun Rashid, Chief Information Officer for Akron Children's. "Using Health Catalyst's advanced analytics tools, we will be in a position to improve patient experiences and outcomes, personalize value-based care, create operational efficiency, and compete more strategically in the marketplace."
Together, Health Catalyst and Akron Children's will implement Health Catalyst's enterprise analytics and population health outcomes improvement expertise to transform clinical, operational, and financial domains for Akron Children's and the hospital's accountable care organization Akron Children's Health Collaborative (ACHC).
Akron Children's comprehensive population health solution will include Health Catalyst's Data Operating System (DOS™) platform, Pop Analyzer: Stratify Expert Data Collection™, Value Optimizer™, MeasureAble™, Health Catalyst Embedded Care Gaps™, and a team of population health and analytics experts.
This solution will provide actionable analytics and expertise at two hospitals with more than 1,300 pediatric care providers that provide care to 287,000 children annually. Over the course of this long-term relationship, the mutual commitment of Akron Children's and Health Catalyst will support ACHC, the hospital's provider-led, pediatric accountable care organization, to improve child health by empowering healthcare providers and engaging with their patients and communities.
"We are honored to partner with such an incredible, forward-thinking pediatric health system as Akron Children's and grateful for the opportunity to help further their mission," said Jason Jones, Chief Analytics and Data Science Officer, General Manager, Data and Analytics Platform at Health Catalyst. "We are excited to provide the data and analytic platform and applications to power Akron Children's Hospital's clinical, operational, and financial improvements. We aspire to support their compassionate approach to treatment that makes the hospital system truly exceptional."
About Health Catalyst
Health Catalyst is a leading provider of data and analytics technology and services to healthcare organizations committed to being the catalyst for massive, measurable, data-informed healthcare improvement. Its customers leverage the cloud-based data platform—powered by data from more than 100 million patient records and encompassing trillions of facts—as well as its analytics software and professional services expertise to make data-informed decisions and realize measurable clinical, financial, and operational improvements. Health Catalyst envisions a future in which all healthcare decisions are data informed.
About Akron Children's Hospital
Akron Children's Hospital has been caring for children since 1890, and our pediatric specialties are ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report. With two hospital campuses, regional health centers and more than 50 primary and specialty care locations throughout Ohio, we're making it easier for today's busy families to find the high-quality care they need. In 2021, our health care system provided more than 1.2 million patient encounters. We also operate neonatal and pediatric units in the hospitals of our regional health care partners. Every year, our Akron Children's Home Care nurses provide thousands of in-home visits, and our School Health nurses manage clinic visits for students from preschool through high school. With our Quick Care Online virtual visits and Akron Children's Anywhere app, we're here for families whenever and wherever they need us. Learn more at akronchildrens.org.
Media Contact:
Holly Pupino
Senior Corporate Communications Specialist
hpupino@akronchildrens.org
Tarah Neujahr Bryan
Chief Brand and Communications Officer
media@healthcatalyst.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Health Catalyst
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https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/health-catalyst-akron-childrens-hospital-team-up-advance-population-health-efforts/
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INDIANAPOLIS — Peterman Brothers, a growing Indiana business, has created a paid training program for students who want to pursue careers in the plumbing and HVAC trades.
“We started about two years ago when we realized that in order to build our workforce we would have to train them,” President and Owner Chad Peterman said.
The Peterman Top Tech Academy pays students for seven months as they learn in the classroom, the lab and the field. No experience is required, but the program is competitive. There were more than 1,900 applicants for the current class competing for 43 spots.
The deadline to apply for the next class is Friday, Aug. 12. Ideal candidates are tech savvy and enjoy working with their hands, Peterman said, but they’re also looking for people who are “hungry, humble and smart.”
To learn more about the program or apply, visit petermantoptech.com or call 317-620-0867.
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https://fox59.com/news/indy-plumbing-hvac-training/
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Monster Energy Continues Its Innovation Agenda by Launching A New Ready-To-Drink Nitrous Oxide-Infused Coffee With Longer Brew Time And Smooth Taste
CORONA, Calif., June 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As many Americans begin heading back into the office, Monster Energy Java has just the morning-pick-me-up: Cold Brew. Infused with nitrous oxide to give a rich and creamy mouthfeel, Java Monster Cold Brew is sure to impress even the most selective coffee drinkers. Along with the flavor profile, Monster Energy is committed to offering a guilt-free start to your morning with two bold new flavors - Latte and Sweet Black.
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9059151-monster-energy-java-monster-cold-brew/
"Entering the market with this convenient and great tasting coffee + energy, Java Monster Cold Brew is a unity of opposites - bold yet subtly sweet, powerful yet refined," said MONSTER SPOKESPERSON. "Monster's nitro cold brew has a full-bodied flavor without the acidic bite of traditional iced coffee, owing its sweetness to the nitrous (N2) bubbles that add that special taste."
Sweet, but not too sweet, Java Monster Cold Brew still helps you seize the day with 200mg of caffeine in every serving from the legendary and proven energy blend. With two flavors currently available, Latte and Sweet Black, Monster Cold Brew kicks like no other. Both flavors are a medium roast with zero added sugar and just a touch of sweetness and reduced fat milk, satisfying your morning coffee craving guilt-free! This ready-to-drink beverage is the perfect start to your morning, the perfect grab-and-go can that will save you time and hassle.
Available at local grocery stores near you, Java Monster Cold Brew is the best option for a stress-free morning. Stock up the weekend before, choose from Latte or Sweet Black, and start making those early morning wake-up calls with something to look forward to!
To learn more about Java Monster Cold Brew visit https://www.monsterenergy.com/us/en/products/java-monster/cold-brew-latte and https://www.monsterenergy.com/us/en/products/java-monster/cold-brew-sweet-black.
To learn more about Monster Energy visit https://www.monsterenergy.com/
ABOUT MONSTER ENERGY
Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the tradition, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it's the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more about Monster Energy, including all of its drinks, at www.monsterenergy.com.
Media contact: info@monsterenergy.com
View original content:
SOURCE Monster Energy
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https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/17/java-monster-brightens-up-your-morning-with-new-cold-brew-launch/
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BE EQUIPPED WITH ADIDAS AND VICTORINOX
IBACH-SCHWYZ, Switzerland, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Iconic, multifunctional, and stylish – these keywords perfectly describe the remarkable collaboration between adidas and Victorinox. The co-created sneaker EQT 93 Victorinox brings together the best of both brands. As a special extra, the matching Victorinox pocket knife Classic SD Solemate Limited Edition completes and equips the shoe. Adidas and Victorinox – two brands, one mission to equip the world with functionality and style for any urban adventure.
For this collaboration of the two well-known lifestyle brands, the Victorinox brand values of iconic design, functionality, quality, and innovation have been creatively combined with the expertise and knowhow of the adidas design team. The result is the co-created sneaker EQT 93 Victorinox and the special Victorinox pocket knife Classic SD Solemate Limited Edition which completes the hip street style look. "Collaborations are a strategic pillar of our marketing efforts, and we are very proud to announce this great partnership with adidas. We are thrilled with the outcome of the products which bring unique design and exciting details." explains Veronika Elsener, Chief of Marketing at Victorinox.
The Victorinox Classic SD Solemate Limited Edition is the perfect partner for life. Not only does it offer a lifetime guarantee against any defects in material and workmanship, like all Victorinox pocket knives, but this practical Classic SD Solemate also handles just about any urban adventure with multifunctionality and style.
The functional pocket knife comes with a nappa leather pouch which can be attached to the sneaker and a key hanger which perfectly matches the shoelaces of the EQT 93 Victorinox. Furthermore, the coordinates of both headquarters – Herzogenaurach, Germany, and Ibach, Switzerland – are engraved on the blade. To round off this matching accessory, one scale represents Victorinox corporate design whilst the other side shows the imprint of the famous Damascus Steel which is integral to the brand's history.
Damascus Steel has enjoyed a very popular role in the history of Victorinox. For many years, limited editions of the Swiss Army Knife and several household knives have been produced using different kinds of this fine material. The product category Travel Gear has also used the pattern in its products, so it was an obvious choice to include it in the creation of the EQT 93 Victorinox. The silver shiny Damascus pattern perfectly matches the Victorinox red used for this detail-oriented sneaker.
As loved by sneakerheads all over the world, the design for the EQT 93 Victorinox differs for the left and for the right shoe. The left shoe features various details representative of Victorinox, including the image of the popular Spartan pocket knife on the heel, the Victorinox Cross and Shield on the side, the Victorinox corporate design on the inner sole, and the coordinates of the Victorinox headquarters visible through the transparent outer sole. The right shoe displays the adidas logo on the heel, the three stripes on the side, the adidas corporate design on the inner sole and the coordinates of the adidas headquarters visible via the outer sole.
As the shoe comes with an integrated pouch, consumers who buy the shoe at adidas are invited to visit a Victorinox store to complete the set by purchasing the matching pocket knife for their unique sneaker. The EQT 93 Victorinox and the Victorinox Classic SD Solemate Limited Edition are available in selected markets only. The world can now be explored with shoes as iconic and functional as the pocket knife itself, along with innovative accessories to complete the game.
Be equipped with adidas and Victorinox
Iconic. Multifunctional. Stylish.
- blade, small
- scissors
- nail file with
- – screwdriver 2.5 mm
- key ring
- tweezers
- toothpick
- paracord pendant
- height: 9 mm
- length: 58 mm
- weight: 21 g
- Leather pouch
- Paracord pendant with snap hook
- Suggested Retail price $75 USD / $90 CAN
- The EQT 93 Victorinox is available at adidas stores and adidas online stores of the following markets:
- United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Peru, India, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Middle East, Pacific (Australia & New Zealand, Malaysia, Philippines), GCC/Iran, South Africa
- The Victorinox Classic SD Solemate including pouch and key hanger is available at Victorinox stores and Victorinox online stores of the following markets: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Peru, India, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Poland, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria
Leah Pepper
Director, Public Relations
Leah.Pepper@victorinox.com
+1 203 929-6391
Victorinox AG is a worldwide operating family business, which today is run in the fourth generation. The headquarter of the company is located in Ibach, canton Schwyz, in the heart of Switzerland. This is where the founder of the company Karl Elsener I set up his cutlery business back in 1884 and, a few years later, designed the legendary «Original Swiss Army Knife». Meanwhile, the company produces not only the world-famous pocket knives, but also high-quality household and professional knives, watches, travel gear and fragrances. In 2005, the company took over Wenger SA in Delémont. The Wenger pocket knives were integrated into the Victorinox range in 2013, so that the Wenger product portfolio today consists of watches and travel gear. Products are available online, in own stores as well as via a widespread network of subsidiaries and distributors in more than 120 countries. In 2021, the company with its more than 2100 employees generated sales of CHF 408 million.
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/iconic-multifunctional-stylish/
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ARLINGTON, Va., June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today released its annual Sustainability Report, which further defines the company's sustainability goals and includes key metrics to measure progress of core enterprise priorities. This includes employee safety and well-being; global aerospace safety; equity, diversity and inclusion; sustainable operations; innovation and clean technologies; and community engagement.
In addition, the report highlights the company's 2021 sustainability achievements, its sustainable vision for the future of flight, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts in alignment with global sustainability standards.
"We are honored to release our second sustainability report that builds on Boeing's family of reports already released this year and shares how our collective ESG efforts are contributing to our business and world," said Chief Sustainability Officer Chris Raymond. "The report is an important step in demonstrating our ambition to communicate transparently with all of our stakeholders, and in holding ourselves accountable as we protect, connect and explore our world – safely and sustainably."
The report details Boeing's environmental, social and governance milestones, including these highlights.
Environmental Stewardship
- Committed to delivering commercial airplanes capable of flying on 100% sustainable fuels by 2030.
- Supported the commercial aviation industry's commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions for global civil aviation operations by 2050.
- Joined NASA and DARPA to successfully test a fully composite, linerless cryogenic fuel tank with capacity to hold 16,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen.
- Established multiple partnerships to help advance the renewable energy transition with partners including SkyNRG, Alaska Airlines, Etihad Airways, NASA, Rolls-Royce, and United Airlines. We also joined the First Movers Coalition and continue to make progress through our joint venture, Wisk.
- Maintained net-zero carbon emissions from manufacturing and facilities again in 2021 by expanding conservation and renewable electricity use while sourcing carefully selected carbon offsets for remaining emissions.
Social Progress
- Increased representation of women and racial/ethnic minorities and saw exit rates for women, men and teammates of all races within 1 point of each other, both improvements compared to 2020.
- Enhanced workplace safety using automation and robotics, reduced employee exposure to high hazards and reduced serious injuries by 27% in 2021.
- Spent greater than $4 billion with small and diverse suppliers and invested more than $187 million to help build better communities worldwide. Introduced Seek, Speak and Listen habits to create an inclusive culture, strengthen our global team and drive stronger business outcomes.
- Speak Up reporting channel enabled people to openly report safety, quality or compliance concerns, knowing their voice will be heard and appropriate action will be taken.
Transparent Governance
- Amended Governance & Public Policy Committee of the Board of Directors to include oversight of sustainability.
- Established the independent Chief Aerospace Safety Office to align critical safety functions under one organization.
- Incorporated product safety, employee safety and quality metrics into our primary annual incentive structures.
More information on these and other sustainability accomplishments can be found in the full report. Learn more about Boeing's sustainability commitments, partnerships and efforts at https://www.boeing.com/principles/sustainability.
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. Join our team and find your purpose at boeing.com/careers.
Contact
Boeing Communications
media@boeing.com
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SOURCE Boeing
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https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/boeing-releases-2022-sustainability-report-maps-sustainable-aerospace-progress/
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New restaurant and taproom honoring sports history in the Pacific Northwest open today
SEATTLE, Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- At 4 p.m. PT today, Hatback Bar & Grille and Steelheads Alley, located across the street from T-Mobile Park, will open to the public. At the grand opening celebration, eventgoers will have the opportunity to listen to live music from Deejay Hershe, win branded gear, gift certificates and a future VIP game-day viewing experience for eight people.
"We are thrilled to welcome everyone to Hatback and Steelheads Alley today! We hope that when people step through our doors, they are immediately transported through the Pacific Northwest's rich baseball and softball history," stated Fred Rivera, Executive Vice President for the Seattle Mariners. "After these past few years, we're excited to be able to provide an opportunity for our community to come together again in one of our favorite neighborhoods."
Hatback Bar & Grille will offer an elevated menu of American classics such as burgers, steak, pizza and chicken wings, along with Pacific Northwest staples like smoked seafood dip, Beecher cheese curds, and Penn Cove mussels. On tap, Hatback will feature beers from local favorites such as Pike Brewing Co. and Georgetown Brewing Co., while at Steelheads Alley, Métier Brewing Company will provide some of their popular brews including the MBC Pale Ale, 'Double Play' (Helles) Lager and Black Stripe Coconut Porter. The one-of-a-kind taproom will offer other signature craft beers, food selections from Hatback, and specialty programming such as a "Meet the Brewer Series," beer talks, tasting parties and more. Both locations will be open from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. seven days a week and before and after all games.
Each of the spaces are heavily inspired by the rich sports history of the Pacific Northwest. In homage to Mariners history, Hatback's signature colors are royal blue and gold, representing the franchise's inaugural uniforms. Steelheads Alley features memorabilia of the 1946 Seattle Steelheads Negro League baseball team along with artwork paying tribute to several barrier-breaking athletes throughout our region's history, including a custom mural created by Seattle artist Damon Brown of Creative Lou. The mural depicts a baseball field with players from the Steelheads, as well as other regional Pacific Northwest Baseball and Softball teams such as the Seattle Owls, Mikado Baseball Club, Seattle Pilots, and more.
The space will also feature an outdoor beer garden with food trucks and select beer offerings. The beer garden will be open before and after for all Mariners, Seahawks and Sounders games, weather permitting.
To stay up to date on the new spaces, follow their social media accounts and website:
- Hatback Bar & Grille – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
- Steelheads Alley – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Located in the heart of Seattle's Sodo district, Hatback Bar & Grille and Steelheads Alley is the city's premier dining, brewing and sports entertainment destinations. In 2023, a 9,500-square-foot flexible event space will open. From weddings and company parties to community events, the new venue will offer a customizable experience to fit each occasion. For more information, visit http://www.hatback.com.
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SOURCE Seattle Mariners
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/23/hatback-bar-amp-grille-steelheads-alley-celebrate-grand-opening/
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2 semis collide on Wisconsin highway; fatalities reported
UNION GROVE, Wis. (AP) — Authorities say multiple people have been killed in a fiery head-on crash involving two semi-tractor trailers in southeastern Wisconsin. The Racine County Sheriff’s Office said an initial investigation revealed that a semi was pulling was a flatbed trailer on state Highway 11 east of Union Grove when it crossed the center line and hit a semi pulling a dry bulk tanker. Smoke from the fire was visible from several miles. Authorities say the road will be shut down for an extended period of time. Brittany Grimm, who lives in the area, tells the Racine Journal Times she heard a “huge explosion” followed by “seven or eight smaller ones” at about 10:45 a.m.
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https://kion546.com/news/2022/06/14/2-semis-collide-on-wisconsin-highway-fatalities-reported/
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BRINDISI, Italy (AP) — Film director Paul Haggis appeared in court in southern Italy on Wednesday amid a police investigation into a woman’s allegations he had sex with her without her consent over the course of two days.
Haggis, 69, made no comment as he arrived with Italian attorney Michele Laforgia at the courthouse in Brindisi, a port town in Puglia, the region that forms the “heel” of southeastern Italy. There was no sign that members of his family who were in Italy at the time joined him.
Prosecutors announced Sunday that police had detained the Canadian-born director, screenwriter and producer for investigation of alleged aggravated sexual violence and aggravated personal injuries.
State TV and other Italian media said the alleged victim is a 30-year-old Englishwoman who had known Haggis before he came to the tourist town of Ostuni to participate in an arts festival.
Haggis co-wrote, directed and produced “Crash,” which won the 2006 Academy Awards for best picture and best screenplay. He also wrote the screenplay for “Million Dollar Baby," another Oscar winner.
He has had legal problems in recent years stemming from sexual misconduct accusations by four women in the United States.
In Italy, a judge, after hearing arguments from both prosecutors and defense lawyers, is expected to rule Wednesday on whether Haggis should be freed from custody pending possible additional investigation.
The judge could also decide to order him kept jailed or under house arrest.
Haggis’ U.S.-based attorney, Priya Chaudhry, told The Associated Press on Sunday that although she could not discuss the evidence under Italian law, “I am confident that all allegations will be dismissed against Mr. Haggis. He is totally innocent, and willing to fully cooperate with the authorities so the truth comes out quickly.”
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https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Director-Haggis-appears-in-Italy-court-amid-17257342.php
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Company Strengthens International Expansion and Broadens the Availability of Continuous IV Monitoring Solutions to Strategic Markets
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, ivWatch, LLC, an innovative IV safety company working to eliminate harm caused by infiltration and extravasation events, announced three new strategic distribution partnerships internationally. Bameco in Austria, Warba Medical Supplies in Kuwait, and Mustafa Sultan Science & Industry Co, LLC in Oman have each signed exclusive agreements to promote, sell, and support ivWatch's continuous monitoring products in their markets. ivWatch's novel technologies will complement and bolster their existing portfolios of intravenous products provided to hospitals and other health care facilities.
ivWatch solutions continue to be available in more countries throughout the globe and with the addition of Austria, Kuwait, and Oman, clinicians will now be able to improve their bedside decision-making with real-time IV infiltration data. Continuous IV site monitoring provides accurate and precise insights to detect infiltrations and extravasations at their earliest stages. ivWatch's proprietary algorithm detects infiltrations promptly and notifies clinicians of adverse IV therapy events often hours before they are detectable by visual or tactile examination.1
"At ivWatch, we are on a steadfast mission to improve IV safety globally and we are extremely passionate about partnering with likeminded innovators who share that same relentless pursuit to advance patient safety," said Chuck Egress, Vice President of Business Development and Emerging Markets at ivWatch. "IV infiltrations and extravasations are a major global patient safety concern, and these new partnerships provide increased access to advanced safety solutions to help end complications and improve patient outcomes in IV therapy."
ivWatch has over 60 patents worldwide and received its first FDA clearance in 2015 for its IV site monitoring system that consists of an ivWatch Patient Monitor and a reusable optical biosensor that uses visible and near-infrared light to continuously measure changes in the optical properties of the tissue near an IV insertion site. In 2020, the company expanded its portfolio of sensor solutions and received FDA clearance for a single-use, miniaturized biosensor that is cleared for all patient age groups, sizes, and skin tones. Both sensors work seamlessly with the intuitive user interface on the Patient Monitor, which issues audible and visual "Check IV" alerts for the clinician to assess the IV site. ivWatch technology performs with high accuracy, intelligence, and low false alarm rates, which is critical to improving patient outcomes.
To learn more about ivWatch, visit www.ivWatch.com or follow the Company's social media platforms for the latest updates on new continuous monitoring innovations in IV safety.
1 Doellman, D. and Rineair, S. (2019) The use of optical detection for continuous monitoring of pediatric IV sites. Journal of the Association for Vascular Access: Summer 2019, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 44-47.
About ivWatch, LLC
ivWatch, LLC is a biosensor technology company focused on improving patient safety and the effectiveness of intravenous therapy. Our dedicated and passionate team is pioneering the use of optical sensors to detect adverse IV events early to minimize the risk of injury caused by infiltrations and extravasations. Our innovative continuous monitoring IV solutions are backed by decades of clinical research and device development. To learn more, follow us on Twitter @ivWatch, Facebook @ivWatchLLC, LinkedIn @ivWatch or visit www.ivWatch.com.
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https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/ivwatch-extends-its-global-reach-signing-three-new-distribution-partners/
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These quick-action grants aim to help communities become more livable for people of all ages
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, AARP announced it is investing $3.4 million through 260 Community Challenge grants for quick-action projects that will help communities become more livable in the long-term. These grants will improve public places; transportation; housing; diversity, equity and inclusion; digital access; and civic engagement, with an emphasis on the needs of adults age 50 and over. Many of this year's projects will help communities leverage funding under the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
"Helping adults thrive as they age has never been more important, and AARP is dedicated to working with communities to improve residents' quality of life through tangible changes," said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer. "This year, we are proud to support the largest number of projects in the Community Challenge's six-year history to help communities leverage opportunities with historic federal investments."
AARP Community Challenge grant projects will be funded in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. True to the program's quick-action nature, projects must be completed by November 30, 2022.
This year, AARP is bolstering its investment of affordable and adaptable housing solutions in response to the national housing crisis. With additional funding support from Toyota Motor North America, the program is also increasing its investment in projects that improve mobility innovation and transportation options. Examples of this year's granted projects include:
- Moro, Oregon: Creating free, pre-approved plans that encourage the development of accessory dwelling units for older adults and their families;
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Helping to reconnect a neighborhood divided and displaced by expressway construction in the 1960s through engaging older residents and creating a temporary multigenerational public space for older adults and people of all ages;
- Chelmsford, Massachusetts: Establishing informational kiosks and mini libraries to educate older residents about Chelmsford's Indigenous Peoples throughout the town near historical markers, public parks and trailheads on Indigenous lands;
- Silver City, New Mexico: Converting a dead-end road into an engaging, interactive, pedestrian space for residents – especially adults age 50 and over – to gather that will connect the park to downtown and prevent frequent flooding; and
- St. Louis, Missouri: Transforming a desolate transit stop into an interactive and engaging center with accessible seating, shade and art for older adults and their families.
The Community Challenge grant program is part of AARP's nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for people of all ages, especially those 50 and over. Including this year's projects, AARP has awarded $12.7 million through more than 1,060 grants since 2017 to nonprofit organizations and government entities across the country, many of which have led to long-term change.
View the full list of grantees and their project descriptions at aarp.org/communitychallenge and learn more about AARP's livable communities work at aarp.org/livable.
About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media.
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https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/aarp-invests-34-million-through-260-community-improvement-projects/
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Colette Peters, the director of Oregon’s prison system, has now emerged as the leading contender to run the federal prison system, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Peters, who has run the state’s corrections department since 2012, is at the top of the list of candidates to replace Bureau of Prisons Director Michael Carvajal, who submitted his resignation in January but said he would stay on until a successor was named, the person said.
She would be the 11th person to lead the Bureau of Prisons since its founding more than 90 years ago, and only the second director with no prior experience at the agency, the Justice Department’s largest. While many officials from inside the Bureau of Prisons applied for the post, the Biden administration was looking for someone who was focused on reforming an agency that has had cultural issues for decades.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco has been leading the search for Carvajal’s replacement. The leadership change comes in the wake of AP reporting that has uncovered widespread problems at the agency, including sexual abuse by correctional officers and critically low staffing levels that have hampered responses to emergencies.
The person was not authorized to discuss details of the job search and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Peters did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The development was first reported by the Oregon Capital Chronicle.
As director of Oregon’s prison system, Peters is responsible for about 4,700 employees in an agency with a $2 billion budget. There are about 14,700 inmates in the state’s 14 prisons. The state corrections department has also touted her role in the state’s efforts to reduce the prison population and reduce recidivism.
Peters has a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Colorado in Denver and a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Oregon’s prison system, like many in the U.S., had a wave of COVID-19 cases and deaths, and Peters’ agency has been criticized for not doing enough to respond to the pandemic behind bars. In Oregon, 46 people in the Department of Corrections’ custody have so far died after testing positive for COVID-19, and more than 5,400 people have tested positive for the virus while in custody.
In 2020, Peters publicly apologized for an inmate’s death as the state prison system agreed to pay a record $2.75 million to the family of the man who died from the flu. The settlement came nine months after Michael Barton’s family filed a $15 million wrongful death lawsuit accusing prison staff of failing to treat the 54-year-old man for the flu and then covering up his flu-related death.
The Bureau of Prisons similarly faced criticism over the explosion of COVID-19 in the nation’s 122 federal prisons. Carvajal, 54, was appointed director of the federal Bureau of Prisons in February 2020 by then-Attorney General William Barr, just before the COVID-19 pandemic began raging in federal prisons nationwide, leaving tens of thousands of inmates infected with the virus and resulting in 295 deaths.
An agency insider who started as a correctional officer and worked his way up the ranks, Carvajal’s tumultuous tenure as director included a failed response to the pandemic, widespread criminal activity among employees, inmate deaths and dozens of escapes.
Carvajal also oversaw an unprecedented run of federal executions in the waning months of the Trump presidency that were so poorly managed they became virus superspreader events.
The AP’s reporting exposing those problems compelled Congress to investigate and prompted increased calls from lawmakers for Carvajal to resign or be fired by Attorney General Merrick Garland.
The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Carvajal “failed to address the mounting crises in our nation’s federal prison system, including failing to fully implement the landmark First Step Act,” a bipartisan criminal justice measure passed during the Trump administration that was meant to improve prison programs and reduce sentencing disparities.
Biden administration officials had discussions about whether to remove Carvajal in spring 2021, after the AP reported that widespread correctional officer vacancies were forcing prisons to expand the use of cooks, teachers, nurses and other workers to guard inmates.
The Bureau of Prisons is the only Justice Department agency whose director isn’t subject to Senate confirmation. Currently, the attorney general can just appoint someone to the position.
A bill introduced in Congress days after Carvajal’s resignation would require Senate confirmation for future bureau directors — putting them under the same level of scrutiny as leaders of the FBI and other federal agencies — but, so far, the measure hasn’t come up for a vote.
Others being considered for the job included Gary Mohr, the former director of Ohio’s prison system. While many had pushed Mohr for the position, he never formally applied for the job and is no longer in the running.
__
On Twitter, follow Michael Balsamo at twitter.com/mikebalsamo1 and Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak. Read more of AP’s reporting on federal prisons at apnews.com and send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/
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https://who13.com/news/politics/ap-politics/oregons-prison-chief-in-lead-for-top-federal-prisons-job/
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EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) — New Mexico State Police have identified a Mexican man driving an SUV that rolled over, killing two migrants and injuring nine others on Wednesday in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
Julio Garcia Rascon, 19, of Juarez, Mexico, is charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle; 10 counts of causing great bodily injury by vehicle; and reckless driving. He, too, was injured in the crash.
NMSP also identified the two people who died as 24-year-old Jorge Garcia-Vazquez and 18-year-old Guadalupe Cruze-Vazquez, both of Mexico. State police said they were ejected from the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe and died at the scene.
The crash happened shortly after 5 a.m. July 27 on Airport Road and McNutt Road in Santa Teresa. Investigators said the SUV approached a curve in the road before driving off the road, striking a utility pole and rolling.
Investigators said U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents had attempted to stop the SUV on State Road 9, but the agents backed off when the driver sped away.
Rascon and nine other passengers were all transported by air and ambulance to an El Paso hospital. One of the passengers reportedly was uninjured.
Federal officials on Friday confirmed to Border Report that the crash involved human smuggling.
“HSI El Paso is investigating the smuggling event. It’s an ongoing investigation, and no further details are available at this time,” the agency said in an email to Border Report.
It is unknown if Garcia Rascon will face federal smuggling charges.
The Mexican consulate in El Paso also said that the nine injured passengers were Mexican citizens.
On Friday, the U.S. Border Patrol said agents arrived at the scene of a rollover crash and immediately requested assistance from Emergency Medical Services and assisted to Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department and New Mexico State Police.
Border Report has reached out to the Border Patrol for information regarding the traffic stop and is awaiting a response.
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https://phl17.com/national-news/driver-19-charged-in-rollover-that-killed-2-migrants-injured-9/
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Growth reflects success and the focus of subscription-based businesses on Customer Success during economic volatility
WASHINGTON, July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ChurnZero, a leading Customer Success platform, stands ready to help organizations fortify the foundation of their businesses: existing customers. The company announced today a continued commitment to expand internal resources and add headcount as the Customer Success industry and subscription-based companies shift focus more and more to customer retention in light of the current uncertain economic environment.
"In a downturn, new leads slow, win rates narrow, and deals take longer to close," said You Mon Tsang, CEO and co-founder, ChurnZero. "The rule of thumb is that it costs five to seven times more to win a new customer than it does to keep a current one. As that multiple expands, each dollar invested in customer retention matters more. The most agile companies are focusing on Customer Success and using customer data to get ahead of expansion opportunities and potential risk."
ChurnZero is dedicated to supporting these companies in need as well as their existing customer base. The company has more than doubled its staff in the last year, bringing on more than 100 new employees in the last six months, with nearly 30% being customer-facing or customer support roles.
The growth in the ChurnZero team includes two key executive appointments: Aaron Levine as chief financial officer and Allison Tiscornia as chief customer officer. The company is particularly proud that 40% of the team is comprised of women, ahead of the tech industry average of 33%.
Plans also include additional new hires in the sales, development, implementation, G&A and marketing departments.
Over the past three years, ChurnZero has gone from new entrant status to being recognized as a leader and one of the fastest-growing Customer Success platforms in the industry. Among the most notable of many recent accolades is being named among G2's "Best Relationship" and "Software Leader" for more than 16 consecutive quarters, underscoring ChurnZero's unique commitment to delivering both ongoing partnership and continued platform innovation for subscription businesses to deliver the best possible customer experiences.
"Companies that stand the test of time are those who are obsessed with their customers," continued Tsang. "It is these customer-centric companies that can be agile and resilient in the face of market changes and who thrive even when budgets grow tighter. ChurnZero strives to be this company and to arm other organizations with the tools to thrive as well."
Learn more about ChurnZero.
About ChurnZero
ChurnZero is a recognized leader in Customer Success dedicated to helping subscription businesses succeed at scale. The company is known for its powerful, enterprise-class Customer Success platform and its ongoing partnership with its users to ensure they get what they need to increase revenue, improve efficiency, and deliver the best possible customer experiences. Customers report achieving significant increases in net revenue retention, user adoption, customer lifetime values, and Net Promoter Scores.
Through the platform, Customer Success teams can identify and act on trends to spot potential churn risks and act on renewal and expansion opportunities. Best-in-class automation, personalization, and in-app communication make it easy to engage and lead customers to value at scale. Seamless data sharing and integrations with CRM, support, finance, NPS, LMS, and communication software help create a truly-customer centric culture. The company prides itself on being trusted partners, consultants, and coaches, so customers can focus on the work that matters to grow their businesses.
Founded in 2015, ChurnZero is a remote-first company with headquarters in Washington, D.C. and an office in Amsterdam. The company has raised more than $35 million in funding from leading investment firms including JMI Equity.
CONTACT: Heather Philbin
pr@churnzero.net
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SOURCE ChurnZero
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https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/25/churnzero-achieves-record-hiring-first-two-quarters-2022-more-than-doubles-staff-last-12-months/
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US consumer confidence slips in May amid stubborn inflation
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — U.S. consumer confidence edged lower for the second consecutive month as Americans’ view of their present and future prospects dimmed in the midst of persistent inflation.
The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index dipped to 106.4 in May — still a strong reading — from 108.6 in April,
The business research group’s present situation index, which measures consumers’ assessment of current business and labor conditions, also fell in May to 149.6 from 152.9 in April.
The expectations index, based on consumers’ six-month outlook for income, business and labor market conditions, also declined in May, to 77.5 from 79 in April. It was above 80 in February and remains a weak spot in the survey.
President Joe Biden will meet with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Tuesday as soaring inflation continues to carve up Americans’ earnings.
The meeting Tuesday will be the first since Biden renominated Powell to lead the central bank and weeks after the Senate confirmed a second term. The White House said the pair would discuss the state of the U.S. and global economy and especially four-decade high inflation, described as Biden’s “top economic priority.”
The Federal Reserve raised its main borrowing rate by a half point in early May, the main mechanism for combatting inflation. Multiple rate hikes, with the possibility of more half-point increases, are expected this year.
Inflation soared over the past year at its fastest pace in more than 40 years, with rising costs for just about everything negating Americans’ pay raises.
The Labor Department reported earlier in May that consumer prices jumped 8.3% last month from a year ago. That was below the 8.5% year-over-year surge in March, which was the highest since 1981. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.3% from March to April, the smallest rise in eight months.
U.S. producer prices soared 11% in April from a year earlier, a hefty gain that indicates high inflation will remain a burden for consumers and businesses in the months ahead.
Consumers were again slightly less optimistic about the labor market, even as U.S. employers have added at least 400,000 jobs for 12 straight months, pushing the unemployment rate down to 3.6%. That’s the lowest rate since the pandemic erupted two years ago and just above the half-century low of 3.5% that was reached two years ago.
Purchasing intentions for big-ticket items -- cars, homes and major appliances -- all cooled slightly, the Conference Board said. Rising costs remain the top concern for consumers, as their inflation expectations were mostly unchanged from April’s elevated levels.
“Looking ahead, expect surging prices and additional interest rate hikes to pose continued downside risks to consumer spending this year,” said Lynn Franco, the Conference Board’s senior director of economic indicators.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kalb.com/2022/05/31/us-consumer-confidence-slips-may-amid-stubborn-inflation/
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WFO PHOENIX Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, June 22, 2022
_____
AREAL FLOOD ADVISORY
Flood Advisory
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
522 PM PDT Wed Jun 22 2022
...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM PDT THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.
* WHERE...A portion of southern California, including the following
counties, Riverside and San Bernardino.
* WHEN...Until 830 PM PDT.
* IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
Rises in small streams and normally dry arroyos.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 522 PM PDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to
thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly in the advisory area. Between 0.5 and 1 inch of rain
has fallen.
- Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are expected
over the area. This additional rain will result in minor
flooding.
- Some locations that will experience flooding include...
mainly rural areas of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.
Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where
you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become
killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or
creeks.
...An area of strong thunderstorms will impact portions of central
San Benito and central Monterey Counties through 545 PM PDT...
At 520 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 16
miles northeast of Greenfield, or 28 miles northeast of Arroyo Seco,
moving north at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Soledad, King City, Pinnacles National Park, and San Lucas.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 3613 12104 3660 12146 3676 12096 3675 12093
3629 12071 3612 12084
TIME...MOT...LOC 0020Z 158DEG 15KT 3645 12098
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Imperial and Riverside Counties through 615 PM PDT...
At 525 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Hwy S22 Between Borrego Springs And Imperial County Line, or 8 miles
north of Hwy 78 Between Borrego Springs Rd And Ocotillo Wells, moving
north at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail.
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible. Visibility reductions in blowing dust possible.
Salton City, Salton Sea Beach, Desert Shores and Coolidge Springs.
This includes CA Route 86 between mile markers 58 and 67.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3343 11603 3350 11608 3353 11604 3352 11603
3349 11590 3315 11603 3316 11608 3342 11608
TIME...MOT...LOC 0025Z 194DEG 14KT 3327 11614
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
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https://www.mrt.com/weather/article/CA-WFO-PHOENIX-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17259474.php
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Careers on the Suncoast features a series of job experiences and opportunities in Sarasota County, Florida, as told by its residents.
Work for Sarasota County's Public Works Department
SARASOTA, Fla., Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- It's not uncommon for Sarasota natives to move back to the region and settle down. Upon seeing what other cities across the United States have to offer, the many benefits of Sarasota County continue to attract not just people from other states, but also those who originate from the area.
This is the case with Paula Wiggins. Born in Sarasota but raised between Tampa and Miami, Paula frequented Sarasota County so much to the point that she considered it a second home growing up. In 1998, upon receiving a degree in Civil Engineering from Florida State University (and before later earning an MBA from Webster University), Paula decided it was time to relocate back to Sarasota County and make it a permanent place to stay.
The summer before graduating from FSU, Paula landed an internship with the Sarasota County Government. Following the completion of her internship, she was able to join the county's Professional Engineer Development Program to support her career as an engineer.
Paula began working for the Sarasota County Government's Public Works department and has moved up the leadership ranks ever since. By 2006, after receiving her Professional Engineering license, Paula was promoted to her current role as Transportation Planning Manager leading on projects that determine the future of Sarasota County's infrastructure.
"I remember when University Parkway used to be a simple two-lane county road. Now we have a world class rowing facility," Paula tells us. "It's exciting to see where things are going. Sarasota is a slice of heaven, and it's no wonder why people want to live here."
By partnering with municipalities, regional metropolitan planning organizations, and state partners, Paula weighs in on jurisdictions for existing and future plans around the county. Given that Sarasota was ranked as number nine on U.S. News & World Report's list of Best Places to Live in the U.S., the infrastructure has to be ready to accommodate the needs of its growing, vibrant community and population.
Through her position serving Sarasota County's Public Works division, Paula plays a critical role mapping out the future of Sarasota County's infrastructure. In fact, she is one of the first to know what the community might look like years before new projects even transpire.
What's more, the sense of community is what truly keeps Paula from ever wanting to leave. While she's away from the office, you can find her with family or spending time with members of her local church.
Sarasota County Government is currently hiring across all locations, departments, and services. To view current openings, visit the job search board on their website.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Visit Sarasota County
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https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/careers-suncoast-what-its-like-work-where-you-want-live/
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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — As a sex worker and adult film actor, Roc was relieved when he was among the first Spaniards to get a monkeypox vaccine. He knew of several cases among men who have sex with men, which is the leading demographic for the disease, and feared he could be next.
“I went home and thought, ‘Phew, my God, I’m saved,’” the 29-year-old told The Associated Press.
But it was already too late. Roc, the name he uses for work, had been infected by a client a few days before. He joined Spain’s steadily increasing count of monkeypox infections that has become the highest in Europe since the disease spread beyond Africa where it has been endemic for years.
He began showing symptoms: pustules, fever, conjunctivitis and tiredness. Roc was hospitalized for treatment before getting well enough to be released.
Spanish health authorities and community groups are struggling to check an outbreak that has already claimed the lives of two young men. They reportedly died of encephalitis, or swelling of the brain, that can be caused by some viruses. Most monkeypox cases cause only mild symptoms.
Spain has had 4,942 confirmed cases in the three months since the start of the outbreak, which has been linked to two raves in Europe, where experts say the virus was likely spread through sex.
The only country with more infections than Spain is the much larger United States, which has reported 7,100 cases.
In all, the global monkeypox outbreak has seen more than 26,000 cases in nearly 90 countries since May. There have been 103 suspected deaths in Africa, mostly in Nigeria and Congo, where a more lethal form of monkeypox is spreading than in the West.
Health experts stress that this is not technically a sexually transmitted disease, even though it has been mainly spreading via sex among gay and bisexual men, who account for 98% of cases beyond Africa. The virus can be spread to anyone who has close, physical contact with an infected person, their clothing or bedsheets.
So part of the complexity of fighting monkeypox is striking a balance between not stigmatizing men who have sex with men, while also ensuring that both vaccines and pleas for greater caution reach those currently in the greatest danger.
Spain has distributed 5,000 shots of the two-shot vaccine to health clinics and expects to receive 7,000 more from the European Union in the coming days, its health ministry said. The EU has bought 160,000 doses and is donating them to member states based on need. The bloc is expecting another 70,000 shots to be available next week.
To ensure that those shots get administered wisely, community groups and sexual health associations targeting gay men, bisexuals and transgender women are taking the lead.
In Barcelona, BCN Checkpoint, which focuses on AIDS/HIV prevention in gay and trans communities, is now contacting at-risk people to offer them one of the precious vaccines.
Pep Coll, medical director of BCN Checkpoint, said the vaccine rollout is focused on people who are already at risk of contracting HIV and are on preemptive treatment, men with a high number of sexual partners and those who participate in “chemsex” (sex with the use of drugs), as well as people with suppressed immune responses.
But there are many more people who fit those categories than doses.
“If we just consider the number of people (on prophylactic HIV treatment) plus the number of people with HIV, we are talking about some 15,000 people (just in Barcelona),” Coll said.
The lack of vaccines, which is far more severe in Africa than in Europe and the U.S., makes social public health policies key, experts say.
As with the coronavirus pandemic, contact tracing to identify people who could have been infected is critical. But, while COVID-19 could spread to anyone simply through the air, the close bodily contact that serves as the leading vehicle for monkeypox makes some people hesitant to share information.
“We are having a steady stream of new cases, and it is possible that we will have more deaths. Why? Because contact tracing is very complicated because it can be a very sensitive issue for someone to identify their sexual partners,” said Amós García, epidemiologist and president of the Spanish Association of Vaccinology.
Spain says that 80% of its cases are among men who have sex with men and only 1.5% are women. But García insisted that will even out unless the entire public, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, grasps that having various sexual partners creates greater risk.
“The same thing happened with AIDS/HIV, when at one moment the group of men who had sex with men was the most affected (before spreading to other groups), and that can become the path that this takes if we are not able to send a strong message to society,” García said.
Given the dearth of vaccines and the trouble with contact tracing, more pressure is being put on encouraging prevention.
From the start, government officials ceded the leading role in the get-out-the-word campaign to community groups.
Sebastian Meyer, president of the STOP SIDA association dedicated to AIDS/HIV care in Barcelona’s LGBTQ community, said the logic was that his group and others like it would be trusted message-bearers with person-by-person knowledge of how to drive the health warning home.
Community associations that represent gay and bisexual men have bombarded social media, websites and blogs with information on monkeypox safety. Officials in Catalonia, the region including Barcelona which has over 1,500 cases, are pushing public service announcements on dating apps Tinder and Grindr warning about the disease.
But Meyer, who is on the monkeypox advisory boards for both Spain’s national government and for Catalonia, says there is still a lot to be done.
Meyer believes fatigue from the COVID-19 pandemic has played a part. Doctors advise people with monkeypox lesions to isolate until they have fully healed, which can take up to three weeks.
“When people read that they must self-isolate, they close the webpage and forget what they have read,” Meyer said. “We are just coming out of COVID, when you couldn’t do this or that, and now, here we go again … People just hate it and put their heads in the sand.”
Meyer said that his group is currently brainstorming ways to revamp and relaunch their message.
“If you haven’t been selected for a vaccine, the answer is not to desperately hope that you’ll get one,” he said. “The answer is to be more careful. That is much better than any vaccine.”
___
AP writer Raf Casert contributed from Brussels.
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https://www.yourbasin.com/health-2/ap-health/spain-leads-europe-in-monkeypox-struggles-to-check-spread/
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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan aren’t waiting until 2024 to fight over the future of the Republican Party.
Approaching the final months of his second term, Hogan is encouraging GOP voters to rally behind gubernatorial candidate Kelly Schulz, who served as labor secretary and commerce secretary in his administration. Trump, however, is backing Dan Cox, a state legislator who has said President Joe Biden’s victory shouldn’t have been certified, called former Vice President Mike Pence a “traitor” and sought to impeach Hogan for his pandemic policies.
The dynamics have turned next week’s GOP primary for governor into a proxy battle between Trump and Hogan, who are offering vastly different visions of the party’s future as they eye presidential runs in 2024. Hogan, who is prevented from seeking reelection because of term limits, is one of Trump’s most prominent GOP critics and has urged the party to move on from his divisive brand of politics. Trump, meanwhile, has spent much of his post-presidency lifting candidates who embrace his election lies.
“It’s difficult not to see this primary between Hogan-endorsed Kelly Schulz and Trump-endorsed Dan Cox in a broader context of national Republican politics,” said Mileah Kromer, an associate professor of political science at Goucher College in Towson, Maryland.
Whoever emerges from the GOP primary will face steep hurdles in a state that represents one of the best opportunities this year for a Democrat to take back a governor’s mansion. Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1 in the state, but Hogan was able to win two terms by pledging to cut taxes, emphasizing bipartisanship and not being afraid to challenge Trump.
A poll last month by the Sarah T. Hughes Center for Politics at Goucher, The Baltimore Banner and WYPR found Schulz and Cox in a close race, with Cox at 25% and Schulz at 22% — within the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 percentage points. Forty-four percent of Republican voters were undecided.
Two other Republicans are also in the race: Robin Ficker, a former state lawmaker who was a well-known sports heckler, and Joe Werner, an attorney.
The winner will take on the candidate who prevails in a crowded Democratic race that includes former U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez, bestselling author Wes Moore, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot and former U.S. Education Secretary John King.
The competing visions for the Republican Party were evident as GOP voters cast early ballots in the primary.
Republican Jeff Conley, 68, said he’s disappointed with the party’s current trajectory and voted for Schulz as a mark of his support for Hogan.
“I have been a Republican all my life, and the Trump people have hijacked the party, and I want it back,” Conley said. “Love Larry Hogan. I’d like to see him run and be president and bring a bunch of people with him who are reasonable and can get along.”
Christine Cirone, 50, however, said she voted for Cox, citing his opposition to abortion as well as an unsuccessful lawsuit he filed over Hogan’s COVID-19 policies. Trump’s endorsement, she said, was also an important factor in her vote.
“He’s an America First patriot. That’s exactly why I voted for him,” Cirone said at an early voting center in Annapolis.
Democrats have sought to meddle in the race to boost Cox’s standing in the primary, a tactic the party has used in other states this midterm season in the hopes of facing an easier opponent in the general election.
The Democratic Governors Association paid more than $1 million to broadcast an ad that emphasizes Cox’s conservative credentials, calling him “too close to Trump” and asserting that he will protect the Second Amendment “at all costs.”
“The math is easy,” Schulz said at a news conference with Hogan last month in front of Maryland’s Capitol to denounce the ad. “Spend a million now and save $5 million by not having to face me in the general election.”
She said Republican voters were “savvy” enough to recognize that “the best candidate is somebody that can win in November.”
Cox described the news conference as evidence his opponent is worried.
“It’s proof, I think, that we’re winning,” Cox told reporters. “The people of Maryland want change.”
Hogan has left open the possibility of running for the White House in 2024. He said last weekend on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he believes voters are tired of the extremes in both parties and that there’s “growing demand for exactly what we’ve done in Maryland over the last eight years.”
Hogan has criticized Cox for organizing buses to Washington for the “Stop the Steal” rally that preceded the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by a violent mob of Trump supporters. Cox has said he didn’t go to the Capitol and left before the rioting began.
In a tweet he later deleted, Cox called Pence a “traitor” for refusing to go along with Trump’s demands not to certify the 2020 election, though he later expressed regret for using the word.
Trump has offered strong support for Cox while referring to Hogan and Schulz as RINOs, or Republicans In Name Only, a term of derision for those considered insufficiently loyal to the former president.
“More importantly, Dan will end Larry Hogan’s terrible RINO reign by defeating his ‘Never Trump’ successor, another low-energy RINO, Kelly Schulz,” Trump said in a statement Tuesday.
Hogan expressed doubts about whether this year’s gubernatorial primary reflected a proxy battle between himself and the former president.
“It’s about two different candidates and two different philosophies,” Hogan said after casting a ballot for Schulz last week.
Hogan said Schulz was the only Republican candidate able to build on his accomplishments and keep a Democrat out of the governor’s mansion.
“The other candidates in the Republican primary just have no chance whatsoever to run a competitive race,” he said.
___
Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ap_politics.
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https://www.koin.com/news/ap-top-headlines/trump-hogan-fight-emerges-in-marylands-gop-governors-race/
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Fukai's 20-Plus Years of Experience to Guide WTIA Member Companies Through Dynamic Policy Landscape
SEATTLE, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a robust, equity-centered technology sector that empowers thriving communities, today announced the appointment of Kelly Fukai as the Vice President of Government and Community Affairs. A seasoned professional with more than 20 years of experience, Fukai is the member trade organization's leading subject matter expert on policy formation and will oversee all aspects of government and community affairs.
Fukai's priorities include legislative advocacy, electoral politics and regulatory issues. Her team will facilitate policy coordination among the US Blockchain Coalition sponsored by WTIA as well as continuing the integration of the recent sea.citi acquisition to bolster WTIA community affairs programs.
"Kelly has a history of learning complex policy topics and also brings a rich background in community outreach," said Michael Schutzler, WTIA CEO. "Her experience and skills will clearly strengthen our position as a partner in advocacy work, and she embodies our core values of diversity, entrepreneurial spirit, servant leadership and radical transparency. We are lucky to have her join our team."
Fukai most recently served as the Manager of Public and External Affairs at the Spokane International Airport. As the representative of the airport, she managed relationships with local, regional, state and federal policymakers, government entities, trade organizations and other community organizations.
Her impressive career in the private sector includes more than four years at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories and more than 16 years at the energy company Avista. She has a history of volunteer and community work that includes the Washington State Transportation Commission, Washington State University Spokane Advisory Board, College Success Foundation, MultiCare Inland Northwest Foundation, Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, Tree of Sharing, Spokane County United Way and Meals on Wheels.
"Joining WTIA presents a unique opportunity to drive diversity, equity and inclusion forward in the technology sector while guiding the industry's public policy engagement," said Fukai. "Working with our member organizations, government officials, and community leaders to advocate and promote good public policy which reflects the needs of the industry and the community at large will ensure our state remains the leader in technology innovation."
About WTIA
Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) is a consortium that includes a not-for-profit member trade association, a not-for-profit tech apprenticeship intermediary (Apprenti), and a for profit corporation providing business services (HRBI). The organization's mission is to foster a robust, equity-centered technology sector that empowers thriving communities. We recruit technology companies and allies that view diversity as a competitive advantage, value collaboration as essential to sustainable growth, and fully embrace the opportunity to partner with and empower the communities in which we operate.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Washington Technology Industry Association
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https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/wtia-taps-kelly-fukai-vice-president-government-community-affairs-role/
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HOUSTON, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHAT
9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
Presented by One Body Networking Inc. in partnership with NAACP Houston Branch
WHEN
Saturday, September 10, 2022 from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
WHERE
Young Women's College Preparatory Academy, 1906 Cleburne Street, Houston, TX 77004
WHO
- Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner
- U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, 18th District
- U. S. Congressman Al Green, 9th District
- HISD Superintendent Millard House
- Houston Councilwoman Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, District D
- Metro Police Chief Vera Bumpers
- Assistant HFD Chief Rodney West
- NAACP President Bishop James Dixon
- Janice Weaver, President & Founder, One Body Networking, Inc.
- Students, community leaders, and guests
VISUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Salute to First Responders
Blood Donors Giving Blood
Scholarship Presentation
Live Musical Vocalist Performances
One Body Networking Inc. is 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has built around paying it forward by hosting blood drives. The successful first annual blood drive was held at the Texas Woman Empowerment Center. Since then, One Body Networking, Inc. has continued hosting its official blood drive tour throughout Houston with various non-profit and educational institutions. Our motto is, "It's in your blood to save a life. We are many members, but One Body." For more information, visit https://onebodynetworking.org.
The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Houston Branch is to ensure the political, educational, housing, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. The Houston Branch is committed to advocating and serving our most vulnerable communities, who experiencing the brunt of food and health insecurities, during this COVID-19 Pandemic. For more information, visit https://naacphouston.org.
View original content:
SOURCE One Body Networking, Inc.
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https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/remembering-911-with-blood-drive-save-lives/
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Company's antigen rapid testing kit checks for multiple viruses with results in 10-15 minutes
CLEVELAND, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MedAir Labs President and CEO Dr. William Kedia will discuss the Solon, Ohio-based startup's innovative antigen rapid testing kit at this year's virtual Invention-Con: Inspiring and Redefining the Innovative Mindset, the United States Trademark and Patent Office's (USPTO's) annual conference for independent inventors, entrepreneurs and small business owners. Kedia will join three other innovative leaders in a panel discussion on August 11 to share how they are using technology to drive positive change.
MedAir Labs' antigen rapid testing kit checks for multiple viruses – including COVID-19 – using one nasal swab, with accuracy rivaling a PCR test and results available within 10-15 minutes. According to Kedia, the superior sensitivity and specificity of the testing kit will effectively reduce the cost of diagnosis and improve the patient experience.
"I'm grateful to have been invited to participate in such a prestigious conference and to join this exclusive inventor class recognized by the USPTO for driving innovation for humanity," said Kedia. "I believe it is a testament to the groundbreaking nature of MedAir Labs' innovative products, and I'm excited to share how we're inspiring innovation in the healthcare and life sciences fields."
The company is planning to submit an application by the end of August seeking approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the kit.
"Our antigen rapid testing kit is a game changer," said Kedia. "The way it has been developed as well as its phenomenal accuracy with results delivered in such a short timeframe makes it truly unique."
MedAir Labs plans to market the innovation as a point-of-care test administered initially at physician's offices, urgent care centers and emergency rooms, with plans to offer it over the counter in the future.
The idea to create a startup driven to develop innovative healthcare technology to improve the quality of people's lives was sparked over a firepit conversation during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.
MedAir Labs, which was co-founded by Kedia, Murthy Talasila and Sonny Verma, was created to develop more accurate, effective and less obtrusive solutions to assist in the global health crisis.
Kedia served as a primary care physician as president of Family Medical Care Plus, with offices in Hudson and Tallmadge, from March 2002 until February of this year when he sold the practice to focus on his role with MedAir Labs.
"The company was born out of my initial experiences with patients during the pandemic," said Kedia. "Our company is based on accurate diagnosis and prevention of disease. We're still in the startup phase but are excited for what's on the horizon."
MedAir Labs first garnered attention and accolades for its Serenio product. To learn more, visit Serenio.com.
For more information and to register to attend the USPTO's 2022 Invention-Con, visit uspto.gov/about-us/events. To learn more about MedAir Labs and its products, visit MedAirLabs.com.
About MedAir Labs
MedAir Labs is a life sciences startup based in Solon, Ohio, driven to inspire innovation in the healthcare and life sciences fields by improving people's experiences through a human-centered design approach. The company was founded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to develop meaningful solutions in the areas of diagnostics and therapeutics to assist in the global health crisis. As part of its mission, MedAir Labs has invested significant resources to develop Serenio, a revolutionary patented technology that neutralizes airborne and surface coronaviruses including COVID-19; antiviral personal protective equipment (PPE) solutions; and advanced triple antigen testing kits.
CONTACT:
Murthy Talasila
216-338-2674
murthy@medairlabs.com
Bhuvana Krishnan
770-317-1895
bhuvana@medairlabs.com
View original content:
SOURCE MedAir Labs
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https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/medair-labs-ceo-discuss-startups-innovative-technology-usptos-invention-con/
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Senate set to enhance benefits for vets exposed to burn pits
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is expected to approve on Thursday a large expansion of health care and disability benefits for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan in response to concerns about their exposure to toxic burn pits.
Passage of the bill will cap years of advocacy work by veterans groups and others who liken burn pits to the Agent Orange herbicide that Vietnam era veterans were exposed to in Southeast Asia.
The bill would expand the window of eligibility for free medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. That window would double for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans from five years after discharge to 10.
The legislation would also presume that certain respiratory illnesses and cancers were related to burn pit exposure, allowing the veterans to obtain disability payments to compensate for their injury without having to prove the illness was a result of their service. Currently, more than 70% of disability claims related to burn pit exposure are denied by the VA due to lack of evidence, scientific data and information from the Defense Department.
The legislation would also benefit many Vietnam War-era veterans by including high blood pressure in the list of conditions presumed to have been caused by exposure to Agent Orange. And, it would extend Agent Orange presumptions to veterans who served in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam and American Samoa.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said scores of America’s veterans went off to serve their country in perfect health only to come back and get sick from toxic exposure, and when they applied for disability benefits, oftentimes found out they didn’t qualify.
“It’s a confounding indignity for our nation’s heroes to sacrifice everything for our country only to come home, get sick and discover the VA is not there for them,” Schumer said. “They have to fend for themselves.”
The bill will increase federal spending by about $283 billion over 10 years and does not include offsetting spending cuts or tax increases to help pay for it. The House in March approved similar legislation that would have cost more than $320 billion over 10 years. The House will have to approve the Senate measure also to get it to President Joe Biden to be signed into law, and it is expected to do so.
The military routinely used open burn pits set ablaze with jet fuel to dispose of tires, batteries, medical waste and other materials during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A 2020 study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found that health studies provided insufficient evidence to determine whether exposure to burn pit emissions is linked to 27 adverse respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis and lung cancer. The authors of the study said the uncertainty doesn’t mean that there is no association — only that there was insufficient data to draw definitive conclusions.
But lawmakers said that stories from constituents tell a different and more definitive tale, and they are reluctant to wait for an irrefutable link between veterans’ maladies and their exposure to toxic burn pits.
“Whenever you have to make that connection airtight, that’s difficult on many things,” said Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind. “In this case, I think the evidence is such that there’s some causal relationship. I hear from so many that were over there and got the symptoms fairly close after their service was over. That’s not now and then. You hear it fairly often.”
Most Republicans are expected to vote for the bill. About half of the GOP senators voted no on a procedural vote to advance the legislation, miffed about the inability to vote on amendments to the bill, but some indicated they will support final passage. Some also are expected to oppose the bill because of fiscal concerns.
“That’s way too much money,” said Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., of the projected $283 billion price tag.
An expansion of health care and disability benefits could tax an already stressed VA system, which lawmakers sought to address by authorizing 31 new medical clinics in 19 states and boosting investments in computer systems for the processing of disability claims.
Most Republicans in the House voted against that chamber’s version of the legislation. The Senate version trimmed some of the costs early on by phasing in certain benefit enhancements. Sen. Jon Tester, the chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said the bill was “about righting a wrong that has been ignored too damn long.”
“There’s always cost of war,” Tester said, “and that cost is never fully paid when the war ends.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.valleynewslive.com/2022/06/16/senate-set-enhance-benefits-vets-exposed-burn-pits/
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Vince McMahon, the founder and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, announced his retirement Friday. After years of declaring he'd "die in the chair" rather than step down from his duties as CEO and chairman, McMahon said in a Friday tweet that it was "time for me to retire."
"At 77, time for me to retire. Thank you, WWE Universe. Then. Now. Forever. Together," the tweet reads, referencing the "then, now, forever, together" slogan that plays at the beginning of all WWE programming.
"I am extremely confident in the continued success of WWE," McMahon said in a subsequent public statement, "and I leave our company in the capable hands of an extraordinary group of superstars, employees and executives -- in particular, both Chairwoman and Co-CEO Stephanie McMahon and Co-CEO Nick Khan. As the majority shareholder, I will continue to support WWE in any way I can."
In a memo to talent, McMahon reportedly wrote, "I won't be with you, but I'll be watching."
Though McMahon's announcement linked his retirement with age -- he turns 77 in August -- it comes amid investigations by the company's board over alleged sexual misconduct. Recent expose pieces from The Wall Street Journal revealed that McMahon has paid more than $12 million to four different women associated with the WWE to settle four allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Journal first reported that McMahon hired a woman to the company's legal team and then, after beginning a sexual relationship with her, doubled her salary from $100,000 to $200,000. McMahon then paid a reported $3 million in hush money to the woman.
As the board of directors investigated the case for improper use of company funds -- though the $3 million in hush money was McMahon's, the salary doubling was WWE's money -- the Journal released a report detailing three more instances of McMahon paying to suppress allegations of misconduct, including $7.5 million to a former wrestler who McMahon allegedly coerced into a sexual relationship. After subsequent sexual advances were rebuffed, McMahon didn't renew her contract in 2005.
Since stepping down as CEO in June, McMahon has still retained full creative control of WWE's product. With Friday's announcement, McMahon relinquishes all official duties with the company, though he remains WWE's controlling shareholder. In his place, his daughter Stephanie McMahon will run the company as chairwoman and co-CEO along with fellow co-CEO Nick Khan.
The retirement of Vince McMahon may go down as the most historic day in professional wrestling history. McMahon is responsible for the nationalization and globalization of professional wrestling in the '80s and '90s. Before McMahon, there were popular wrestling promotions scattered all across the US. McMahon's WWF, which became WWE in 2001 after a lawsuit was filed by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) for rights to the name, became the first wrestling promotion to tackle a national US audience.
Out of that ambition came WrestleMania, the biggest annual event in the industry, and wrestling stars that reached global fame. Some, like Stone Cold Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan, became world-renowned for their pro wrestling careers, while others, like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Dave "Batista" Bautista, were able to use the company as a launchpad into successful Hollywood careers.
Stephanie McMahon opened Friday's SmackDown show after news of her father's retirement. "Since Vince had the opportunity to thank us, I think this is the opportunity that we take to thank him," she said to the Boston crowd before leading a "thank you, Vince" chant.
Industry response to McMahon's retirement has been mixed. Some have wondered if McMahon's decision presages yet more exposes from the Journal, while several wrestlers have tweeted out thanks to McMahon.
Perhaps the prevailing response has been surprise. McMahon has been synonymous with the WWE and pro wrestling for the past three decades, and on several occasions said he'd never retire. Dutch Mantell, a wrestling veteran who worked for the WWE as recently as 2016, spoke for many on his Friday podcast: "Hell has frozen over. That's basically what's happened."
WWE didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Read also: WWE SummerSlam 2022: How to Watch, Match Card and NBC Peacock
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https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/wwe-founder-ceo-vince-mcmahon-retires-what-you-need-to-know/
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HAMBURG, Germany, May 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TYAN®, an industry-leading server platform design manufacturer and MiTAC Computing Technology Corporation subsidiary, brings its latest server platforms powered by 3rd Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors optimized for HPC and AI markets at ISC 2022 from May 30th to June 1st, booth#D400 in Hamburg, Germany.
"The HPC market growth is heavily driven by new technologies and the increasing application of big data analytics. This is creating the need for better computing infrastructure to process large volumes of data available in the market", said Danny Hsu, Vice President of MiTAC Computing Technology Corporation's Server Infrastructure Business Unit. "TYAN's HPC server platforms are based on 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors which are foundational to help businesses and organizations accelerate the development of the next-generation HPC and AI system architectures."
Leading-edge HPC systems optimized to accelerate compute-intensive workloads and HPC deployments
TYAN's Thunder HX FT83A-B7129 is a 4U dual-socket supercomputer supporting up to ten high-performance GPU cards. Powered by dual 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors and 32 DDR4 DIMM slots, the FT83A-B7129 platform provides outstanding heterogeneous computing power for a variety of GPU-based scientific high performance computing, AI training, inference, and deep learning applications. The system offers twelve 3.5-inch tool-less drive bays with up to four U.2 NVMe devices.
The Thunder HX FT65T-B5642 is a 4U single-socket pedestal server built for smaller HPC workloads that need large computing power at the deskside. The system features a single 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor, eight DDR4-3200 DIMM slots, eight 3.5-inch SATA, and two NVMe U.2 hot-swap, tool-less drive bays. The FT65T-B5642 supports two double-wide PCIe 4.0 x16 slots for GPUs to accelerate HPC applications.
The Thunder SX TS65-B7126 is a 2U dual-socket hybrid storage server designed for software-defined storage applications. The system features 16 DDR4-3200 DIMM slots, twelve 3.5-inch SATA hot-swap, tool-less drive bays with support for up to four NVMe U.2 devices, and two rear 2.5-inch hot-swap, tool-less SATA drive bays for boot drive deployment.
The Tempest HX S7120 is a mainstream server motherboard in SSI EEB (12" x 13.1") form factor designed for HPC applications. The standard motherboard supports dual 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, 16 DDR4-3200 DIMM slots, dual 10GbE or GbE onboard network connections, three PCIe 4.0 x16, and two NVMe M.2 slots.
TYAN's Tempest CX S5560 is a server motherboard designed in Micro-ATX form factor supporting a single Intel® Xeon® E-2300 processor, four DDR4-3200 DIMM slots, three PCIe slots, up to eight SATA 6G ports, two NVMe M.2 slots, and dual 10GbE onboard LAN ports. The motherboard is ideal for multi-access edge computing servers in 5G networks and service access servers in a CSP environment.
Join TYAN booth at ISC 2022, booth#D400 or ISC Digital 2022 at: https://bit.ly/3FhIAYO
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE MiTAC Computing Technology Corporation
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https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/05/30/tyan-highlights-optimized-hpc-platforms-accelerate-compute-intensive-applications-isc-2022/
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NEW YORK (AP) — Last summer, Julio Carmona started the process of weaning himself off a fully remote work schedule by showing up to the office once a week.
The new hybrid schedule at his job at a state agency in Stratford, Connecticut, still enabled him to spend time cooking dinner for his family and taking his teenage daughter to basketball.
But in the next few months, he’s facing the likelihood of more mandatory days in the office. And that’s creating stress for the father of three.
Carmona, 37, whose father died from COVD-19 last year, worries about contracting the virus but he also ticks off a list of other anxieties: increased costs for lunch and gas, day care costs for his newborn baby, and his struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
“Working from home has been a lot less stressful when it comes to work-life balance,” said Carmona, who works in finance at Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families. “You are more productive because there are a lot less distractions.”
As more companies mandate a return to the office, workers must readjust to pre-pandemic rituals like long commutes, juggling child care and physically interacting with colleagues. But such routines have become more difficult two years later. Spending more time with your colleagues could increase exposure to the coronavirus, for example, while inflation has increased costs for lunch and commuting.
Among workers who were remote and have gone back at least one day a week in-person, more say things in general have gotten better than worse and that they’ve been more productive rather than less, an April poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows. But the level of stress for these workers is elevated.
Overall, among employed adults, the April AP-NORC poll shows 16% say they work remotely, 13% work both remotely and in-person and 72% say they work only in-person.
Thirty-nine percent of employees who had worked at home but have returned to the office say the way things are going generally has gotten better since returning in-person at the workplace, while 23% say things have gotten worse; 38% say things have stayed the same. Forty-five percent say the amount of work getting done has improved, while 18% say it’s worsened.
But 41% of returned workers say the amount of stress they experience has worsened; 22% say it’s gotten better and 37% say it hasn’t changed.
Even workers who have been in person throughout the pandemic are more negative than positive about the way the pandemic has impacted their work lives. Thirty-five percent say the way things are going in general has gotten worse, while 20% say it’s gotten better. Fifty percent say their stress has worsened, while just 11% say it’s gotten better; 39% say there’s no difference.
At least half of in-person workers say balancing responsibilities, potential COVID exposure at work, their commute and social interaction are sources of stress. But fewer than a third call these “major” sources of stress.
People with children were more likely to report their return was having an adverse effect, some of it stemming from concerns about keeping their families safe from COVID and maintaining a better work-life balance. Most said it could help alleviate stress if their employer provided more flexible work options and workplace safety precautions from the virus. But for some workers, a physical return — in any form — will be hard to navigate.
“A lot of people have gotten accustomed to working from home. It’s been two years,” said Jessica Edwards, national director of strategic alliances and development at the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a U.S.-based advocacy group. “For companies, it’s all about prioritizing mental health and being communicative about it. They should not be afraid of asking their employees how are they really doing.”
Companies like Vanguard are now expanding virtual wellness workshops that started in the early days of the pandemic or before. They’re also expanding benefits to include meditation apps and virtual therapy. Meanwhile, Target, which hasn’t set a mandatory return, is giving teams the flexibility of adjusting meeting times to earlier or later in the day to accommodate employees’ schedules.
A lot is at stake. Estimates show that untreated mental illness may cost companies up to $300 billion annually, largely due to impacts on productivity, absenteeism, and increases in medical and disability expenses, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Russ Glass, CEO of online mental health and wellbeing platform Headspace Health, said he has seen a fourfold spike in the use of behavioral health coaching and a fivefold spike in clinical services like therapy and psychiatric help during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic days. With apps like Ginger and Headspace, the company serves more than 100 million people and 3,500 companies. Among the top worries: anxiety over contracting COVID-19, and struggles with work-life balance.
“We haven’t seen it abate. That level of care has just stayed high,” Glass said.
The constant wave of new virus surges hasn’t helped.
Francine Yoon, a 24-year-old food scientist at Ajinomoto Health and Nutrition North America, in Itasca, Illinois, has been working mostly in person since the pandemic, including at her current job that she started last fall. Yoon said her company has helped to ease anxiety by doing things like creating huddle rooms and empty offices to create more distance for those experiencing any form of anxiety about being in close proximity to colleagues.
But moving in last year with her older parents, both in their early 60s, has led to some heightened level of anxiety because she’s worried about passing on the virus to them. She said every surge of new cases creates some anxiety.
“When cases are low, I feel comfortable and confident that I am OK and that I will be OK,” she said. ‘When surges occur, I can’t help but become cautious.”
As for Carmona, he’s trying to lower his stress and is considering participating in his office’s online meditation sessions. He’s also thinking of carpooling to reduce gas costs.
“I am one of those people that take it day by day,” he said. “You have to try to keep your stress level balanced because you will run your brain into the ground thinking about things that could go haywire.”
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The AP-NORC poll of 1,085 adults was conducted April 14-18 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 3.9 percentage points.
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AP staff writer Haleluya Hadero in New York contributed to this report.
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Follow Anne D’Innocenzio: http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio
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https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/national/workers-grapple-with-new-stresses-as-they-return-to-office/
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President Biden and his Cabinet have been directly involved in trying to broker an agreement between rail companies and worker unions, seeking to avert a strike that could severely affect commuter rail services and consumer prices.
Administration officials confirmed that Biden and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh have reached out to both sides of the dispute, hoping to broker an agreement and avoid a shutdown.
A White House official said Biden was involved Monday in outreach to unions and freight rail companies and was updated again Tuesday on the situation.
A Department of Labor spokesperson said Walsh reached out Monday night “to push the parties to reach a resolution that averts any shutdown of our rail system.”
“All parties need to stay at the table, bargain in good faith to resolve outstanding issues, and come to an agreement,” the spokesperson said. “The fact that we are already seeing some impacts of contingency planning by railways again demonstrates that a shutdown of our freight rail system is an unacceptable outcome for our economy and the American people, and all parties must work to avoid that.”
The companies that operate railways for freight trains and the unions who work those rails have until Friday to agree to a new contract. Without a deal, workers could go on strike, crippling supply chains that depend on freight trains.
A strike could also impact passenger rail service. Amtrak does not own the railways where its trains operate in certain parts of the country but instead operates on railways owned by freight companies. Amtrak on Monday canceled some long-distance routes in anticipation of a potential strike.
Biden earlier this year created a Presidential Emergency Board to try and broker a compromise between the two parties, and his involvement in the latest round of talks further heightens his political risk should talks break down.
Five of the 12 unions representing rail workers have reached tentative agreements with railroads to enact the Presidential Emergency Board recommendations, which call for 24 percent pay raises, back pay and cash bonuses.
But the bulk of rail workers belong to unions that haven’t yet struck a deal with companies.
Should the workers vote to strike, Congress could intervene to halt it.
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https://www.wfla.com/hill-politics/biden-white-house-officials-get-involved-in-railway-talks-in-bid-to-avert-strike/
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LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Conservative Party on Wednesday chose former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss — a fiscal moderate and a low-tax crusader — as the two finalists in a party election to replace departing Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The result came just after the divisive, unrepentant Johnson, who has plunged his party into turmoil, ended his final appearance in Parliament as prime minister with the words “Hasta la vista, baby.”
Sunak and Truss came first and second respectively in a secret vote by Conservative lawmakers. Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt came in third and was eliminated.
The race, which has already produced bitter Conservative infighting, pits Sunak, who steered Britain’s economy through the pandemic before quitting Johnson’s government this month, against Truss, who has led the U.K.’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The two contenders will spend the next few weeks campaigning for the votes of about 180,000 Conservative Party members around the country, who will vote by postal or online ballot. The winner of the party leadership vote will be announced Sept. 5 and will automatically become Britain’s next prime minister.
Sunak won all four rounds of elimination votes by lawmakers, but is less popular with the party’s grassroots, partly because of his previous job as Britain’s chief taxman.
Truss, who has taken a tough line against Russian President Vladimir Putin — and with the European Union — is a favorite of the Conservatives’ right wing.
Truss said if she becomes prime minister “I would hit the ground running from day one, unite the party and govern in line with Conservative values.”
Sunak’s campaign said “the choice for members is very simple: who is the best person to beat Labour at the next election? The evidence shows that’s Rishi.”
The winner of the Tory contest will not have to face British voters until 2024, unless they choose to call an early general election.
The campaign has already exposed deep divisions in the Conservative Party at the end of Johnson’s scandal-tarnished three-year reign. Truss has branded Sunak a “socialist” for raising taxes in response to the economic damage wrought by the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Sunak has hit back, saying that rivals including Truss were peddling economic “fairy tales” to British voters as the country faces soaring inflation and economic turbulence.
Johnson allies have been accused of lobbying against Sunak, whose resignation helped bring the prime minister down, and in favor of Truss, who remained loyal. That impression was cemented Wednesday when Johnson said his advice to his successor would be not always to listen to the Treasury.
All the contenders —- there were 11 to start — sought to distance themselves from Johnson, whose term in office began boldly in 2019 with a vow to “get Brexit done” and a resounding election victory, but is now ending in disgrace.
Johnson quit July 7 but remains caretaker leader until the party elects his successor.
On Wednesday, he faced derisive opposition politicians and weary Conservatives at his last Prime Minister’s Questions session in the House of Commons, which adjourns for the summer on Thursday.
It was a downbeat departure, with supportive Conservative lawmakers lobbing praise and opposition politicians offering variations on “good riddance.”
Johnson extolled what he called his accomplishments — leading Britain out of the EU and through COVID-19, and supporting Ukraine against Russia’s invasion — and declared: “Mission largely accomplished, for now,” before departing with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “hasta la vista” catchphrase from “Terminator 2.”
Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said: “I will miss the delusion.”
Johnson clung to office through months of scandals over his finances and his judgment, refusing to resign when he was fined by police over government parties that broke COVID-19 lockdown rules. He finally quit after one scandal too many — appointing a politician accused of sexual misconduct — drove his ministers to resign en masse.
Despite remaining prime minister, he has largely disappeared from the scene, even as Britain faces a summer cost-of-living crisis and labor discontent as inflation hits 9.4%.
Johnson did not attend any government emergency meetings about the heat wave that brought record temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) to Britain this week. Last week he took a ride in a Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jet, with “Top Gun”-style footage released by his office, then threw a weekend party at Chequers, the country house that comes with the prime minister’s job.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan accused Johnson of wanting to “become Tom Cruise” and urged him to resign immediately.
“We need a full-time prime minister looking after our country rather than somebody who’s checked out,” Khan said.
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Follow all of AP’s coverage of British politics at https://apnews.com/hub/boris-johnson
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https://www.koin.com/news/international/uk-conservatives-picking-final-2-in-race-to-replace-johnson/
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LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A fire tore through a downtown area of Las Vegas early Sunday morning, destroying several buildings and about two dozen vehicles, fire officials said.
Las Vegas Fire and Rescue crews battled the blaze that covered an area on Fremont and Tower streets beginning at about 1 a.m. Officials said the fire started in a building that was under construction. At least 10 buildings were either damaged or destroyed.
Nearly 100 people were evacuated from their homes as the fire burned. Only one person was reported injured. The person was treated for smoke inhalation.
According to a news release from the fire department, the fire was spotted by a crew returning to the station from a call. The firefighters noticed a large column of smoke and saw a large building that was under construction engulfed in flames, the release said.
The building on fire was inside a condominium complex off Fremont Street. The crew entered the complex and found it was letting off extreme heat, a threat to several nearby occupied condo buildings.
The crew radioed for help and then started to evacuate residents, the release said.
Ultimately, 40 units and 140 personnel were deployed to fight the fire and get people out of the area.
A power pole at the back of the building was on fire and collapsed, bringing down several power lines, which caused a large area to go dark, the release said.
At about 6 a.m. Fire & Rescue said the fire was mostly extinguished but that flare-ups and hotspots remained.
Fire & Rescue said the fire involved the most “occupied dwelling units” at the same time in the city over the past 25 years.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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https://www.ksn.com/news/fire-ravages-downtown-las-vegas-destroying-buildings/
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WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy has contracted for two straight quarters, intensifying fears that the nation is on the cusp of a recession — if not already in one — barely two years after the pandemic recession officially ended.
Six months of contraction is a long-held informal definition of a recession. Yet nothing is simple in the post-pandemic economy. Its direction has confounded Federal Reserve policymakers and many private economists since growth screeched to a halt in March 2020 as COVID-19 struck and 20 million Americans were suddenly thrown out of work.
One sector of the economy that has remained defiantly buoyant is the jobs market. On Friday, the Labor Department said America’s hiring boom continued in July as employers added a surprising 528,000 jobs despite raging inflation and rising anxiety about a recession. July’s hiring was up from 398,000 in June.
Even as the economy shrank over the first half of this year, employers added 2.7 million jobs — more than in most entire years before the pandemic struck. And the unemployment rate has sunk to 3.5%, near a half-century low. Robust hiring and exceedingly low unemployment aren’t consistent with a recession.
While most economists — and Fed Chair Jerome Powell — have said they don’t think the economy is in recession, many increasingly expect an economic downturn to begin later this year or next.
Either way, with inflation raging at its highest level in four decades, Americans’ purchasing power is eroding. The pain is being felt disproportionately by lower-income and Black and Hispanic households, many of whom are struggling to pay for higher-cost essentials like food, gas and rent. Compounding those pressures, the Fed is jacking up interest rates at the fastest pace since the early 1980s, thereby magnifying borrowing costs for homes and cars and credit card purchases.
As a result, regardless of whether a recession has officially begun, Americans have increasingly soured on the economy.
So how, exactly, do we know when an economy is in recession? Here are some answers to such questions:
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WHO DECIDES WHEN A RECESSION HAS STARTED?
Recessions are officially declared by the obscure-sounding National Bureau of Economic Research, a group of economists whose Business Cycle Dating Committee defines a recession as “a significant decline in economic activity that is spread across the economy and lasts more than a few months.”
The committee considers trends in hiring as a key measure in determining recessions. It also assesses many other data points, including gauges of income, employment, inflation-adjusted spending, retail sales and factory output. It puts heavy weight on jobs and a gauge of inflation-adjusted income that excludes government support payments such as Social Security.
Yet the NBER typically doesn’t declare a recession until well after one has begun, sometimes for up to a year. Economists consider a half-point rise in the unemployment rate, averaged over several months, as the most historically reliable sign of a downturn.
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DO TWO STRAIGHT QUARTERS OF ECONOMIC CONTRACTION EQUAL A RECESSION?
That’s a common rule of thumb, but it isn’t an official definition.
Still, in the past, it has been a useful measure. Michael Strain, an economist at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute, notes that in each of the past 10 times that the economy shrank for two consecutive quarters, a recession has resulted.
Still, even Strain isn’t sure we’re in recession now. Like many economists, he notes that the underlying drivers of the economy — consumer spending, business investment, home purchases — all grew in the first quarter.
Overall gross domestic product — the broadest measure of the nation’s output — declined at a 1.6% annual rate from January through March because of one-off factors, including a sharp jump in imports and a post-holiday season drop in businesses’ inventories. Many economists expect that when GDP is revised later this year, the first quarter may even turn out to be positive.
“The basic story is that the economy is growing but still slowing, and that slowdown really accelerated in the second quarter,” Strain said.
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DON’T A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK A RECESSION IS COMING?
Yes, because many people now feel more financially burdened. With wage gains trailing inflation for most people, higher prices for such essentials as gas, food, and rent have eroded Americans’ spending power,
This week, Walmart reported that higher gas and food costs have forced its shoppers to reduce their purchases of discretionary spending such as new clothing, a clear sign that consumer spending, a key driver of the economy, is weakening. The nation’s largest retailer, Walmart reduced its profit outlook and said it will have to discount more items like furniture and electronics.
And the Fed’s rate hikes have caused average mortgage rates to nearly double to 4.99%, causing a sharp fall in home sales and construction.
Higher rates will also likely weigh on businesses’ willingness to invest in new buildings, machinery and other equipment. If companies reduce spending and investment, they’ll also start to slow hiring. Rising caution among companies about spending freely could lead eventually to layoffs. If the economy were to lose jobs and the public were to grow more fearful, consumers would further reduce spending.
The Fed’s rapid rate hikes have raised the likelihood of recession in the next two years to nearly 50%, Goldman Sachs economists have said. And Bank of America economists now forecast a “mild” recession later this year, while Deutsche Bank expects a recession early next year.
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WHAT ARE SOME SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING RECESSION?
The clearest signal that a recession is under way, economists say, would be a steady rise in job losses and a surge in unemployment. In the past, an increase in the unemployment rate of three-tenths of a percentage point, on average over the previous three months, has meant that a recession will soon follow.
Many economists monitor the number of people who seek unemployment benefits each week, which indicates whether layoffs are worsening. Weekly applications for jobless aid, averaged over the past four weeks, have risen for eight straight weeks to nearly 250,000, the highest level since last November. While that is a potentially concerning sign, it is still a low level historically.
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ANY OTHER SIGNALS TO WATCH FOR?
Many economists also monitor changes in the interest payments, or yields, on different bonds for a recession signal known as an “inverted yield curve.” This occurs when the yield on the 10-year Treasury falls below the yield on a short-term Treasury, such as the 3-month T-bill. That is unusual. Normally, longer-term bonds pay investors a richer yield in exchange for tying up their money for a longer period.
Inverted yield curves generally mean that investors foresee a recession that will compel the Fed to slash rates. Inverted curves often predate recessions. Still, it can take 18 to 24 months for a downturn to arrive after the yield curve inverts.
For the past two weeks, the yield on the two-year Treasury has exceeded the 10-year yield, suggesting that markets expect a recession soon. Many analysts say, though, that comparing the 3-month yield to the 10-year has a better recession-forecasting track record. Those rates are not inverted now.
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WILL THE FED KEEP RAISING RATES EVEN AS THE ECONOMY SLOWS?
The economy’s flashing signals — slowing growth with strong hiring — have put the Fed in a tough spot. Chair Jerome Powell is aiming for a “soft landing,” in which the economy weakens enough to slow hiring and wage growth without causing a recession and brings inflation back to the Fed’s 2% target.
But Powell has acknowledged that such an outcome has grown more difficult to achieve. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s COVID-19 lockdowns have driven up prices for energy food, and many manufactured parts in the U.S.
Powell has also indicated that if necessary, the Fed will keep raising rates even amid a weak economy if that’s what’s needed to tame inflation.
“Is there a risk that we would go too far?” Powell asked last month. “Certainly there’s a risk, but I wouldn’t agree that’s the biggest risk to the economy. The biggest mistake to make…would be to fail to restore price stability.”
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https://www.twincities.com/2022/08/05/explainer-how-do-we-know-when-a-recession-has-begun-2/
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) _ Black Knight Inc. (BKI) on Thursday reported first-quarter net income of $364.6 million.
The Jacksonville, Florida-based company said it had net income of $2.35 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 63 cents per share.
The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 60 cents per share.
The provider of data and analytics for the mortgage and finance industries posted revenue of $387.2 million in the period, also topping Street forecasts. Seven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $380.3 million.
Black Knight shares have declined 12% since the beginning of the year. The stock has fallen slightly in the last 12 months.
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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on BKI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/BKI
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https://www.mrt.com/business/article/Black-Knight-Q1-Earnings-Snapshot-17149915.php
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MIAMI, July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- El Car Wash ("El"), the largest and fastest growing express car wash operator in South Florida, today announced that Warburg Pincus has acquired the company from affiliates of Wafra Inc. ("Wafra"), Audrose Partners, and Fireside Investments. The investment will support El's continued expansion and its commitment to offering best-in-class services to its customers. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
El Car Wash is the leading car wash operator in South Florida across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. The company currently operates 17 car wash locations with over 30 additional sites in development across Florida and plans to significantly expand its footprint through greenfield openings and future acquisitions. Today, El is a widely recognized brand known for its prime locations, high quality operations, distinctive aesthetics, and industry leading membership program. It is also the Official Car Wash of the Miami HEAT and a partner of Baptist Health.
"We have built El Car Wash into a market-leading platform by relentlessly focusing on delivering friendly customer service and a best-in-class wash experience via a dense network of clean and recognizable modern facilities. This strategy has generated a loyal, growing membership base that we hope to service more conveniently by rapidly expanding El's store footprint in partnership with Warburg Pincus," said Geoff Karas, Co-CEO of El Car Wash and Co-Founder of Audrose Partners. "El has experienced rapid growth over the past several years, and partnering with Warburg Pincus, who has a long-standing track record of cultivating world-class businesses, will allow us to accelerate our expansion efforts and help further define the industry perception of car washes as the innovative and prime retail experience that we deliver," added Justin Landau, Co-CEO of El Car Wash and Co-Founder of Audrose Partners.
"We are thrilled to partner with Justin, Geoff and the El team. They have built a company that is truly unique in its space. El has established itself as a pre-eminent car wash platform with highly skilled operators, state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated focus on customer service, all of which is highlighted by the strength of its membership program," said Jeff Goldfaden, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus. "We believe El has a unique offering and significant growth potential. El has an outstanding record of new store openings and successful acquisitions, and we are tremendously excited to support the team in their continued expansion, both in South Florida and in other attractive markets," added Zach Lazar, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus.
Adel Alderbas, Chief Investment Officer at Wafra, added, "We have enjoyed a fantastic partnership with Justin, Geoff and Fireside building El Car Wash from just 4 locations in 2019 to nearly 50 locations operating and under development as of today. Through our collective commitment to high quality real estate and best-in-class customer service, El has become one of the premier express car wash platforms in the country. We wish Warburg Pincus and the El Car Wash team great success as they continue to develop the El platform."
Jonathan Langer, Founder and CEO of Fireside Investment added, "We are proud of the world class platform we have been able to create with Justin, Geoff and Wafra and wish the entire El Car Wash team all the best going forward."
William Blair & Company, LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to El Car Wash in connection with the transaction.
About El Car Wash
El Car Wash is the leading express car wash operator in Florida with 17 operating sites and a development pipeline throughout the state. The company is the Official Car Wash of the Miami HEAT, a partner of the Miami Zoo and a partner of Baptist Health. El Car Wash strives to bring a high level of customer service with a dose of fun to Florida residents by efficiently providing a clean, dry, and shiny car, every time. Rain Doesn't Clean Cars. For more information, please visit www.elcarwash.com. Follow us on Instagram @elcarwash.
About Warburg Pincus
Warburg Pincus LLC is a leading global growth investor. The firm has more than $85 billion in assets under management. The firm's active portfolio of more than 250 companies is highly diversified by stage, sector, and geography. Warburg Pincus is an experienced partner to management teams seeking to build durable companies with sustainable value. Founded in 1966, Warburg Pincus has raised 21 private equity and 2 real estate funds, which have invested more than $106 billion in over 1,000 companies in more than 40 countries. The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Mauritius, San Francisco, São Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.warburgpincus.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.
About Wafra
Wafra is a global alternative investment manager with approximately $33 billion of assets under management. Wafra invests across a range of alternative assets, including alternative and traditional real estate, strategic partnerships, real assets and infrastructure. By providing flexible and accretive capital solutions and focusing on long-term partnerships, Wafra aligns and partners with best-in-class asset owners, companies and management teams. Headquartered in New York, Wafra has additional offices in London, Kuwait and Bermuda. For more information, please visit: www.wafra.com.
About Audrose Partners
Audrose Partners is a private investment company co-founded by Justin Landau and Geoffrey Karas focused on identifying long-term value creation opportunities in operationally-intensive, thematic businesses.
About Fireside Investments
Fireside Investments is a private investment firm that backs experienced management teams to build leading real estate operating companies and platforms. The firm has invested in and helped build businesses in a variety of industries with attractive fundamentals including permanent exhibition space, private country clubs, marinas, and experiential hospitality. Since the firm's founding five years ago, it has led investments in businesses with an aggregate enterprise value in excess of $5 billion. For more information, please visit www.firesideinvestments.com.
Contact
El Car Wash
Geoff Karas
geoff@elcarwash.com
Justin Landau
justin@elcarwash.com
Warburg Pincus
Sarah McGrath Bloom
Sarah.Bloom@warburgpincus.com
Wafra
Katrina Allen, Edelman
Katrina.Allen@edelman.com
Fireside Investments
info@firesideinvestments.com
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SOURCE El Car Wash
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https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/el-car-wash-announces-acquisition-by-warburg-pincus/
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Firefighters Extinguish Blaze at Building Being Renovated in Caribou
Firefighters from Caribou and Presque Isle quickly knocked down a blaze Tuesday morning inside a building at 1101 Presque Isle Road in Caribou.
Caribou Fire & Ambulance Department received a call at 10:24 a.m. reporting the fire at a building owned by New England Kenworth, according to Capt. Brian Lajoie.
The building was being refurbished and crews were working on the structure at the time. The fire originated on the "bravo" (left) side of the building, Lajoie said. It appears sparks from a grinder being used on the exterior wall started the blaze on the second floor.
Crews were able to extinguish the fire before it caused any significant damage. There was mostly water damage inside the building, according to Capt. Lajoie.
There were 12 firefighters on scene Tuesday morning, including a number from the Presque Isle Fire Department. Motorists were advised to avoid that area of Route 1 south of Caribou.
The scene was cleared within an hour.
There were no injuries.
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https://1019therock.com/firefighters-extinguish-blaze-at-building-being-renovated-in-caribou/
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For the drive home in Bismarck: Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers later at night. Low near 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. The forecast is showing a hot day in Bismarck Sunday. It looks like it will be a balmy 86 degrees. We'll see a low temperature of 63 degrees tomorrow. We'll see sunshine tomorrow, but also cloud cover at times. The sunshine will be intense Sunday; high UV indexes are forecasted. Be careful outside, especially during late morning through mid-afternoon. If your shadow is shorter than you, seek shade and wear protective clothing and generously apply sunscreen on exposed skin. The Bismarck area should see a light breeze, with forecast showing winds from the west, clocking in at 10 mph. This report is created automatically with weather data provided by TownNews.com. Keep an eye on bismarcktribune.com for forecast information and severe weather updates.
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When Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp overwhelmingly won the Republican primary in Georgia on May 24, his chief opponent former Sen. David Perdue was quick to admit it was over.
"Everything I said about Brian Kemp was true, but here's the other thing I said was true: he is a much better choice than Stacey Abrams," he said shortly after polls closed, referring to the matchup this fall between Kemp and Democrat Abrams. "And so we are going to get behind our governor."
But another one of his opponents felt something was off.
"I want y'all to know that I do not concede," Kandiss Taylor said in a video posted to social media. "I do not. And if the people who did this and cheated are watching, I do not concede."
Kemp won Georgia's primary with about 74% of the vote. Perdue, who had the backing of former President Donald Trump, earned about 22% of the vote.
And Taylor? Just 3.4%.
Taylor is a fringe, far-right figure in Georgia with a history of making false claims about the 2020 election, voting machines and how elections are run. In the days following her defeat, Taylor has asked followers to sign affidavits stating they voted for her to prove she won the election — despite no evidence the vote totals are incorrect and with the deadline to challenge an election already passed.
Taylor is not an outlier, but rather an indicator of a new crop of candidates who insist they won their elections, facts be damned.
Election denialism is far-reaching in the midterm elections
While Trump has most notably spent the last 18 months denying his 2020 election defeat, despite clear evidence he lost, he's not the only one. During this election cycle, candidates across the country have refused to concede – even in races that are not remotely close.
This week, a Colorado county clerk indicted on charges including election tampering finished last in the GOP Secretary of State race, refused to acknowledge her loss and accused officials of cheating.
"We didn't lose. We just found more fraud," Mesa County clerk Tina Peters told supporters at an Election Night party."
In South Carolina, a pair of Republican primary challengers said their blowout losses were tainted by serious problems. Both gubernatorial candidate Harrison Musselwhite and attorney general candidate Lauren Martel lost by double digits against popular incumbents, but sent nearly-identical letters to state officials claiming a plethora of concerns with the election.
The South Carolina Republican Party's executive committee rejected the claims.
And in Nevada, GOP gubernatorial primary runner-up Joey Gilbert told supporters in a video message he could not have been defeated.
It's not based on any facts, it's only based on my gut feeling and my own intuition, and that's all I need."
"It is impossible for me to concede under these circumstances," Gilbert said. "I owe it to my supporters. I owe it to all Nevadans of all parties to ensure that every legal vote is counted legitimately."
Gilbert, who was outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 though he denies it was for the insurrection, has paid close to $200,000 for all 17 counties to recount the governor's race that saw him lose by about 11 percentage points. State and local officials reject Gilbert's claims.
In all of these cases, there is no evidence to back up claims of fraud that could reverse defeats, and most of these elections were not remotely close. But Matthew Weil with the Bipartisan Policy Center said, unfortunately, that doesn't matter to those who push the narrative of fraud.
"There is a very strong segment of the electorate that believes strongly if their candidate had lost, and they were doing well in the polls – even if they weren't doing well in the polls – it was the election machinery that caused their loss," he said.
The real world impact of false fraud claims
The vast majority of elections end uneventfully, even in close races, but a recent incident in New Mexico shows how election denialism is impacting local election procedures.
Commissioners in rural Otero County gained national attention for initially refusing to certify the results in the Republican-heavy area. After pressure and threat of legal action, only Couy Griffin voted no.
"My vote to just remain a no isn't based on any evidence," he said at a June 17 emergency meeting. "It's not based on any facts, it's only based on my gut feeling and my own intuition, and that's all I need."
Griffin called into the meeting from Washington, D.C., where he was sentenced for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
It's not just fringe candidates making these claims, either. An NPR investigation tracked four election conspiracy influencers across hundreds of local events in 45 states and the District of Columbia, including meetings with at least 78 elected officials across all levels of government.
These sitting lawmakers can have power to shape legislation that alter voting laws and can make it harder for people to vote and easier to subvert results.
Weill, with the Bipartisan Policy Center, said you also don't have to look far to see why losing candidates could benefit from ignoring electoral reality.
"There are clearly now perverse incentives for losing candidates to keep up the fight long after the certification is complete and they've lost," he said. "And those incentives are that they can raise money for these challenges [that] often don't cost much because there's nothing to them, and they can use that money in future cycles."
The biggest example of fundraising off of a message of fraud might come from Trump himself. He raised more than $250 million to cover legal fees during his attempts to overturn the 2020 election for an election legal defense fund, according to the House committee investigating Jan. 6.
But that money, the committee said, didn't go to covering legal fees. Instead, it went to people and organizations aligned with Trump.
Voting experts and elections officials are worried this behavior will only increase in future elections, especially in battleground states where some elections aren't decided by such wide margins.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.wunc.org/2022-07-02/these-candidates-lost-badly-but-now-are-claiming-fraud
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Firework bans in place for Blaine County, Bellevue, and Ketchum
WOOD RIVER VALLEY, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — The Fourth of July is quickly approaching, but parts of Blaine County are putting a ban on fireworks this year. Hear why they are taking the fizzle and boom out of Independence Day.
In Twin Falls fireworks are big business, as it seems there is a firework stand set up on every corner.
“Business has actually been great. A lot of people come back to us every year just because they are familiar with me and my husband, like working with us,” said Desiree Romano, co-owner of Family Fun Fireworks
However, in the Wood River Valley, many places have out ban on fireworks this year due to dry conditions, including Blaine County, Bellevue, and Ketchum.
“With all the rain that we had this Spring, we have way more grass. We can see it’s already starting to dry out, starting to burn, and with all that grass we can expect fires that get big very quickly,” said Bill McLaughlin, Ketchum Fire Chief.
With different parts of Blaine County banning fireworks this year, one place people can go to for fireworks is Hailey.
“July 4th week is traditionally our biggest occupancy week of the year. Beats Christmas, Beat any other week,” Mike McKenna, executive director, Chamber – Hailey & the Wood River Valley.
Haileys Days of the Old West festival starts on July 2nd and culminates with a parade and firework show on July 4th at the high school.
“The parade usually has 8,000 to 10,000 people just to see that,” McKenna said.
The Hailey city council didn’t issue a fire ban because its fire danger is moderate, but it seems as though firework bans in Blaine County are becoming more and more prominent.
“Joke is now we have Summer, Winter, and Fire season,” McKenna said.
In the end, officials hope residents and guests act responsibly this 4th of July, and the fine for violating the firework ban is $100. People should also know in Idaho Safe and Sane fireworks are legal, but aerial fireworks are illegal.
Copyright 2022 KMVT/KSVT. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kmvt.com/2022/06/30/firework-bans-place-blaine-county-bellevue-ketchum/
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LONDON (AP) — In the latest Senate package targeted at stopping the coronavirus, U.S. lawmakers dropped nearly all funding for curbing the virus beyond American borders, a move many health experts slammed as dangerously short-sighted.
They warn the suspension of COVID-19 aid for poorer countries could ultimately allow the kind of unchecked transmission needed for the next worrisome variant to emerge and unravel much of the progress achieved so far.
The U.S. has been the biggest contributor to the global pandemic response, delivering more than 500 million vaccines, and the lack of funding will be a major setback. The money has paid for numerous interventions, including a mass vaccination campaign in the Cameroonian capital that saw hundreds of thousands of people get their first dose, as well as the construction of a COVID-19 care facility in South Africa and the donation of 1,000 ventilators to that country.
Other U.S.-funded vaccination campaigns in dozens of countries, including Uganda, Zambia, Ivory Coast and Mali, could also come to a grinding halt.
“Any stoppage of funds will affect us,” said Misaki Wayengera, a Ugandan official who heads a technical committee advising the government on the pandemic response. He said Uganda has leaned heavily on donor help — it received more than 11 million vaccines from the U.S. — and that any cuts “would make it very difficult for us to make ends meet.”
“This is a bit of a kick in the teeth to poor countries that were promised billions of vaccines and resources last year in grand pledges made by the G7 and the G20,” said Michael Head, a global health research fellow at Britain’s Southampton University.
“Given how badly we’ve failed on vaccine equity, it’s clear all of those promises have now been broken,” he said, adding that without concerted effort and money to fight COVID-19 in the coming months, the pandemic could persist for years.
While about 66% of the American population has been fully immunized against the coronavirus, fewer than 15% of people in poorer countries have received a single dose. Health officials working on COVID-19 vaccination in developing countries supported by the U.S. say they expect to see a reversal of progress once the funds disappear.
“Vaccination will stop or not even get started in some countries,” said Rachel Hall, executive director of U.S. government advocacy at the charity CARE. She cited estimates from USAID that the suspended funding would mean scrapping testing, treatment and health services for about 100 million people.
Although vaccines are more plentiful this year, many poorer countries have struggled to get shots into arms and hundreds of millions of donated vaccines have either expired, been returned or sat unused. To address those logistical hurdles, U.S. aid has financed critical services in countries across Africa, including the safe delivery of vaccines, training health workers and fighting vaccine misinformation.
For example, in November the U.S. Embassy in the Cameroonian capital set up a tent for mass vaccination: Within the first five days, more than 300,000 people received a dose. Those kinds of events will now be harder to conduct without American funds.
Hall also noted there would be consequences far beyond COVID-19, saying countries struggling with multiple disease outbreaks, like Congo and Mali, would face difficult choices.
“They will have to choose between fighting Ebola, malaria, polio, COVID and more,” she said.
Jeff Zients, the outgoing leader of the White House COVID-19 task force, expressed regret the legislation doesn’t include resources for the international pandemic fight, noting that would also compromise efforts to track the virus’ genetic evolution.
“It is a real disappointment that there’s no global funding in this bill,” he said. “This virus knows no borders, and it’s in our national interest to vaccinate the world and protect against possible new variants.”
Still, Zients announced the U.S. would be the first to donate “tens of millions” of doses for children to poorer countries and said more than 20 nations had already requested the shots.
J. Stephen Morrison, director of the Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, lamented that lawmakers were erring on the side of optimism about the pandemic precisely when another surge might be arriving.
“We’ve made that mistake several times in this pandemic. And we may be making that mistake again,” he said. In recent weeks, COVID-19 cases caused by the hugely infectious omicron subvariant BA.2 have surged across Europe, and American officials say they expect a U.S. spikesoon.
Other experts worried the suspension of U.S. global support for COVID-19 might prompt officials to drop current vaccination goals. The World Health Organization had set a target of immunizing at least 70% of people in all countries by the middle of this year, but with nearly 50 countries vaccinating fewer than 20% of their populations, hitting that target is highly unlikely.
Instead, some organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation have pushed for officials to “refocus vaccination goals away from vaccinating 70% of all adults by summer to vaccinating 90% of those most at-risk in each country,” in what some critics say is an implicit acknowledgment of the world’s repeated failures to share vaccines fairly. Others point out there shouldn’t be competing vaccine targets and that health authorities simply need to do more, rather than adjusting global goals.
In Nigeria, which has so far received at least $143 million in COVID-19 aid from the U.S, authorities dismissed suggestions their coronavirus programs would suffer as a result of lost funding. The Nigerian president’s office said help from the U.S. was mostly “in kind” via capacity building, research support and donations of laboratory equipment and vaccines. “We are confident that this will not cause any disruption of our current programs,” it said.
However, others warned the U.S. decision set an unfortunate precedent for global cooperation to end the pandemic at a time when fresh concerns like the Ukraine war are drawing more attention.
U.S. President Joe Biden originally planned to convene a virtual summit in the first quarter of this year to keep international efforts on track, but no event has been scheduled.
“In light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, we don’t yet have a final date for the summit, but we are working closely with countries and international partners to advance commitments,” said a senior Biden administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly.
As of this month, WHO said it had gotten only $1.8 billion of the $16.8 billion needed from donors to speed access to coronavirus vaccines, medicines and diagnostics.
“Nobody else is stepping up to fill the void at the moment and the U.S. decision to suspend funding may lead other donor countries to act similarly,” said Dr. Krishna Udayakumar, director of Duke University’s Global Health Innovation Center.
Keri Althoff, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, described the U.S. suspension of funding as “devastating.”
“How could this possibly be what we’re debating right now?” she asked. “It’s a moral obligation to the rest of the world to continue to contribute to this global pandemic response, not only to protect ourselves but to protect people from around the world.”
____
Megerian reported from Washington. AP writers Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala, Uganda; Mogomotsi Magome and Andrew Meldrum in Johannesburg, and Chinedu Asadu in Lagos, Nigeria, contributed to this report.
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https://www.wane.com/news/experts-say-us-suspension-of-covid-aid-will-prolong-pandemic/
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Upping the ABV and flavor, Angry Orchard's latest innovation will hit stores nationwide this month
WALDEN, N.Y., Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Angry Orchard, the nation's leading cider maker,1 today announced the launch of Angry Orchard Hardcore Dark Cherry Apple Imperial Hard Cider. Imperial higher ABV options are driving growth across beer, FMB and cider categories, so Angry Orchard's newest innovation marks the brand's first nationally available 8% ABV cider. Made with traditional bittersweet cider apples and blended with dark cherry juice from concentrate for a deliciously easy to drink cider bursting with real fruit flavor, Hardcore Dark Cherry Apple is the perfect balance of crisp apple and tart cherry sweetness. In honor of its 8% ABV, Hardcore Dark Cherry Apple will be available beginning 8/8 in six-pack 12oz cans. It will also be a featured flavor in the Angry Orchard Fall Haul Variety Packs dropping this fall.
"Through the years, Angry Orchard has been synonymous with offering deliciously bold ciders that feature real fruit," said Kelli McCusker, Head of Marketing for Angry Orchard. "As drinkers shop the increasingly crowded alcohol space, they're looking for offerings that deliver on flavor, ingredients and ABV to provide more value. Combining Angry Orchard's equity in real fruit with a higher ABV in our new Hardcore wins that shopper equation – while giving drinkers a new way to transport them to their 'happy place' that much faster."
Hardcore Dark Cherry Apple Imperial Hard Cider is hitting shelves just in time to enjoy throughout the remaining summer months at backyard barbeques, gatherings with family and friends, or simply to kick back and relax after a long day.
And to celebrate Angry Orchard's leap into Hardcore, the brand is putting the call out for drinkers to show off how "hardcore" they are. Beginning today, Angry Orchard is hosting a "Hard to the Core" contest where drinkers are encouraged to live out their hardcore dreams and the brand will foot the bill ($500 worth!). Whether it's bungee jumping, skydiving, rock climbing or hardcore chilling in the backyard, the first 40 drinkers (aged 21+) to submit a photo completing their hardcore activity via Twitter with #AOHardCore and tag @AngryOrchard will receive a $500 cash prize. The contest will be open from August 8 to September 8 and winners will be notified via direct message from the official @AngryOrchard Twitter account. Click here for the complete rules and regulations.
For more information on where to find Angry Orchard's latest innovation, please visit AngryOrchard.com and follow along @AngryOrchard on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Angry Orchard Cider Company:
The leading cider across the country, Angry Orchard's cider makers experiment with apple varieties near and far to continuously develop new cider styles and flavors. Crafted with real apples and the highest quality ingredients, Angry Orchard is balanced, refreshing, and full of flavor, with a wide variety of styles fit for all. At the home of Angry Orchard on a 60-acre apple orchard in New York's Hudson Valley, the team of cider makers create small-batch experimentation with fruit grown right on-site while offering an experience for guests to sip cider amongst the trees. To learn more about Angry Orchard, visit AngryOrchard.com
1Source: IRI MULO + Conv; L52WE 07/18/2022
© 2022 ANGRY ORCHARD CIDER COMPANY, LLC, WALDEN, NY
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY
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https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/angry-orchard-hard-cider-kicks-off-fall-season-with-new-hardcore-8-abv-imperial-cider/
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AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- National Western Life Insurance Company (National Western Life), a wholly owned subsidiary of National Western Life Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NWLI), announced the execution of an annuity reinsurance transaction with Aspida Life Re Ltd. (Aspida Re), a Bermuda based reinsurer rated "A-" (Excellent) by A. M. Best and "A-" by KBRA. The transaction was effective July 1, 2022.
The reinsurance transaction is a strategic move designed to support plans previously announced by National Western Life to grow its business by expanding its distribution footprint and creating new market opportunities. This includes bringing new products to market through exclusive, proprietary distribution channels, as well as banks. "This reinsurance relationship helps us to better strengthen our position in the market as we prepare to launch several new products offering new and innovative solutions for the financial marketplace," stated Chad J. Tope, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer at National Western Life.
National Western Life chose Aspida Re based on Aspida Re's industry leading investment expertise and strong financial strength ratings. The partnership will improve National Western Life's product competitiveness, increase financial flexibility, and provide an opportunity for incremental earnings.
"The reinsurance transaction with Aspida Re allows us to continue our growth strategy in a smart, methodical way," commented Ross R. Moody, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of National Western Life. "Ultimately, this will drive our growth strategy by providing us with the ability to offer more compelling rates in the market." Included in the transaction is reinsurance of an inforce block of National Western Life fixed-indexed annuities of $250 million. National Western Life will continue to administer and service these policies ceded to Aspida Re.
About National Western Life:
National Western Life Group, Inc. is the parent organization of National Western Life Insurance Company, which is the parent organization of Ozark National Life Insurance Company, both stock life insurance companies in aggregate offering a broad portfolio of individual universal life, whole life and term insurance plans, as well as annuity products. At June 30, 2022, the Company maintained consolidated total assets of $13.3 billion, consolidated stockholders' equity of $2.1 billion, and combined life insurance in force of $20.3 billion.
Release Contact: Brian M. Pribyl
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(512) 836-1010
bpribyl@nwlic.com
www.nationalwesternlife.com
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SOURCE National Western Life Insurance Company
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https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/national-western-life-focuses-growth-by-announcing-reinsurance-transaction/
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper is set to start for the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night, just two months after having his left thumb broken by a pitch.
Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson announced Harper’s impending return from the injured list Thursday after consulting with the star.
“One, you get a great hitter back,” Thomson said before a game against Cincinnati. “But he’s also healthy. That’s really important to us. To get another batter in that lineup makes a lot (of difference) … everyone knows how great a hitter he is.”
Harper was 5 for 8 with two home runs, two doubles and six RBIs in a two-game rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. His minor league stint was originally expected to last through the weekend, but ended after a game-winning RBI double in the ninth inning on Wednesday night.
“It all depended on how he felt seeing pitches, his timing and how comfortable he was in the box,” Thomson said.
Harper took off Thursday to recover from some soreness, but is set to be the designated hitter when the Phillies host Pittsburgh to start of a three-game weekend series.
“His body was sore just in general, so it was like fifth day in spring training which is understandable given he’s been out for two months,” Thomson said. “We told him to take a day and come here to work out. And we’ll activate him tomorrow.”
The two-time NL MVP was hitting .318 with 15 homers and 48 RBIs when the thumb was broken by a fastball from San Diego’s Blake Snell on June 25. He is likely to spend the rest of the 2022 season as Philadelphia’s designated hitter since a small tear in his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow has kept him out of right field since April.
Since his departure, Philadelphia has climbed into the second wild-card position in the NL. The Phillies have gone 30-20 without him and had a team on-base/slugging percentage (OPS) of .752 while averaging 4.5 runs per game in that stretch.
Harper projected into the third spot in the lineup surrounded by Kyle Schwarber, Rhys Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto and Nick Castellanos.
“It’s huge because (pitchers) know where he’s at all the time,” Thomson said. “The same with Schwarber. They know where that guy is at all the time. So the guys in front of them tend to get more strikes and better pitches. Not all the time, but most of the time.”
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/Phils-star-Harper-back-Friday-2-months-after-17398507.php
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By Liann Herder
diverseeducation.com
In just two months, the pause on federal student loan repayment will come to an end. Many borrowers are not financially prepared to resume payments due to the lingering effects of the pandemic, particularly women, who disproportionately shoulder two thirds of the $1.7 trillion of federal student loan debt.
That’s according to a new report released by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), a research and policy group focusing on consumer lending. Using datasets from the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey and a focus group of 33 diverse women who lost or left their jobs during the pandemic, CRL found that women today have less job security than before the pandemic, and any gains experienced by the economy in 2021 fell inequitably towards white people, in particular white men.
The report concludes that, for economic equity, student debt should be cancelled across the board, $50,000 per borrower.
Sunny Glottmann, a researcher with CRL and co-author of the report, said that she and her fellow researchers wanted to understand how student loan balance impacted the finances and financial well-being of women as they “persist through an economic hardship.”
“We find that young people, especially young women of color, are now in a position where they are less able to build a life that has all the benefits of economic prosperity” said Glottmann. “Black and Latina women are working their tuchuses off to provide for their families and have no real promise of being able to get out from debt. And that is a really, really tough burden to bear.”
Dr. Stella Flores, an associate professor of higher education and public policy at The University of Texas at Austin, said that the results of this report should not come as a surprise due to the pre-existing racial and gender wealth gap in America.
“Owning a home and the transfer of wealth tends to pay for college and homes. For generations, Black and Latinx and Native Americans missed out on that opportunity to earn any wealth because of legal discrimination. It builds up,” said Flores. “The racial wealth gap is one of our biggest problems in this nation and an uncomfortable one. Certain groups had honors imposed on them because of race, that only whites and white men could earn the wealth that ultimately pays for education, housing, and health.”
Flores added that borrowers are often told their burden of debt is due to bad personal choices, as opposed to centuries of racial wealth and class gaps.
“It’s a compounding, cumulative force which really calls for more attention,” said Flores.
Of the 33 women in CRL’s focus group, only four had paid off their student loans. Of the remaining 29, those that identified as Black or Latinx were more likely than their white counterparts to have a student loan debt greater than $50,000. Each confirmed they took full advantage of the federal repayment pause, and two-thirds either said they were not ready for loan repayment to begin, or that resuming payments would cause stress.
Women’s wages are less on average than a man’s earnings over time.
Katherine Welbeck, director of advocacy and civil rights counsel at the Student Borrower Protection Center, a nonprofit focused on alleviating student debt, said the gender wage gap speaks to the value society places on the work of women.
“It’s really a matter of equity and economic justice to fix [the loan crisis],” said Welbeck. “The gender pay gap, the costs of childcare, and so many other costs women bear, we have to put that into the ways that student debt disproportionately effects women.”
Women are more likely to engage in jobs that have high interpersonal contact, those most impacted by a pandemic that required social distancing. In February 2020, 77.4% of all jobs in education and healthcare were held by women, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The majority of jobs lost during the pandemic were held by women, according to a 2021 report from the National Women’s Law Center.
Sabrina Calazans, director of borrower outreach at the Student Debt Crisis Center, a nonprofit working to end student debt, agreed with the report’s conclusion that student debt should be cancelled. Calazans actively liaisons with student borrowers, working to share their stories with those empowered to impact policy.
“The biggest connecting thread I’ve seen [between borrowers] is shame and guilt, because people were told to go to college, that it would help them in social mobility, and they’d be in a better position because they went to school. But because of the barriers faced by students of color and women, they’re saddled with this debt—working, but they can’t pay it off,” said Calazans. “A lot of people fall into default and have their wages, social security, and even taxes garnished. It’s putting people in a worse spot than they were before.”
Flores said that while loans have an important purpose in helping people climb the ladder of social mobility, a robust public policy debate on the widening of wealth inequities is needed.
“There has to be more innovative ways of cancelling loan debt for the nation. Can there be donors, or charitable contributions? It doesn’t just to have to be government.” said Flores. “If you think about it, $50,000, $40,000, $30,000 to a low-income person, that’s still insurmountable. If you were to forgive that, what you’re doing is freeing human capital to develop their own and future generations without the heavy burden—the bricks on their back—that is debt.”
Liann Herder can be reached at lherder@diverseeducation.com.
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http://www.birminghamtimes.com/2022/07/black-and-latina-women-hold-the-most-student-debt/
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ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban announced they have arrested and will soon sentence an Afghan woman who appeared in a video on social media earlier this week and said a senior Taliban official forced her into marriage and raped her repeatedly.
In the video, the woman, who identified herself only by her first name Elaha, wept as she described being beaten and raped by former Taliban Interior Ministry spokesman Saeed Khosti. She said she was speaking from an apartment in Kabul where the Taliban had confined her after she tried to escape the country, and she pleaded for rescue.
“These may be my last words. He will kill me, but it is better to die once than to die every time,” she said.
Late Wednesday, a day after the video surfaced, the Taliban-run Supreme Court said in a tweet that Elaha had been arrested for defamation on orders of the chief justice Abdul Hakeem Haqqani. Without mentioning any trial taking place, it said she would “soon be sentenced according to Sharia law.”
“No one is allowed to harm the name of Mujahideen or defame the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the 20-years of holy jihad,” it said, referring to the Taliban and their war against U.S.-led troops and the U.S.-allied government, which the hardline insurgents toppled just over a year ago.
Since the Taliban takeover of the country in August 2021, Afghan women activists, as well as Amnesty International, have reported an increase in forced marriages of women — including cases where Taliban officials coerced women into marriage by intimidating them or their families.
In the video, Elaha identified herself as a medical student at Kabul University and the daughter of an intelligence service general under the former government. She said Khosti had forced her into marriage six months ago, when he still held the spokesman post. Khosti tried to marry her sister to another Taliban official, but her family successfully fled, she said.
“Saeed Khosti beat me a lot. Every night he raped me,” she said, breaking into tears.
She said she tried to escape to neighboring Pakistan, but the Taliban arrested her at the border crossing and brought her back to Kabul and confined her to an apartment there. After they brought her back, she heard a Taliban member telling Khosti that she had lived under the former government for 20 years and should be stoned to death as an infidel, she said.
In tweets Wednesday, Khosti confirmed that he had married Elaha, but he denied mistreating her. “I assure you that I have not done anything illegal,” he wrote. In recent months, Khosti was transferred out of his spokesman post and it is not clear what his new position is.
Khosti said he divorced her after finding she “has a problem in her faith” and he accused her of insulting Islam’s holy book, the Quran.
Elaha’s video was widely shared on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp groups, sparking a wave of calls for help and denunciations of the Taliban from women activists.
Since seizing power, the Taliban have imposed increasing restrictions on women. They have prevented many women from working, barred teenage girls from school and required women in public to cover themselves completely except for their eyes. The world has refused to recognize the Taliban’s rule, demanding it respect human rights and show tolerance for other groups.
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https://fox59.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-woman-arrested-after-accusing-taliban-official-of-rape/
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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence officials predicted two years ago that the Islamic State group would likely regain much of its former strength and global influence, particularly if American and other Western forces reduced their role in countering the extremist movement, according to a newly declassified report.
Analysts said many of the judgments in the 2020 report appear prescient today, particularly as the group is resurgent in Afghanistan following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal of American forces last year.
The Islamic State group is no longer controlling huge swaths of territory or staging attacks in the United States as it did several years ago before a major U.S.-led offensive. But it is now slowly rebuilding some core capabilities in Iraq and Syria and increasingly fighting local governments in places including Afghanistan, where an affiliate of the IS group, also known by the acronym ISIS, is fighting the ruling Taliban following the U.S. withdrawal.
“If the United States and our partners pull back or withdraw further from areas where ISIS is active, the group’s trajectory will increasingly depend on local governments’ will and capability to fill the resulting security voids,” says the report, originally published in classified form in May 2020, months after then-President Donald Trump’s administration reached an agreement with the Taliban to pull out American troops.
Biden and top national security officials have cited the recent strike killing al-Qaida head Ayman al-Zawahri as evidence that America maintains an “over-the-horizon” counterterrorism capacity in Afghanistan after the withdrawal. U.S. special forces also killed the head of the Islamic State group in a February raid in northwest Syria.
“The fact of those operations are, I think, reflective how serious this threat environment remains,” said Christy Abizaid, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, on Thursday. But she added that analysts believe the terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland is “less acute than we’ve seen it” at any time since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Analysts have recently seen growth in IS group branches around the world, particularly in Africa, said Abizaid, who spoke at the Intelligence and National Security Summit outside Washington.
“Afghanistan is a really interesting story along those lines about where the ISIS affiliate is and how we continue to be concerned about it,” she said.
Some outside analysts say al-Zawahri’s apparent presence in downtown Kabul suggests that extremist groups are more comfortable operating in Afghanistan — and that it will be tougher to counter the Islamic State group as it grows across the country.
Bruce Hoffman, senior fellow for counterterrorism at the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations, called the May 2020 report “very clear-eyed and forthright.”
“It’s very different operating against ISIS in the isolated mountain redoubts or deep valleys of Afghanistan,” he said. “The advantages that enabled us to so brilliantly take out al-Zawahri, I would guess, are absent outside of Kabul.”
While the White House last month released declassified points from an intelligence assessment saying al-Qaida had not reconstituted in Afghanistan, the points did not address the Islamic State in Khorasan, the local IS group affiliate. IS-K was responsible for killing 13 U.S. troops outside the Kabul airport during the withdrawal and has continued to mount an insurgency against the Taliban now in control of the country.
The National Security Council said in a statement that the U.S. is working to deny “ISIS-K access to financing, disrupt and deter foreign terrorist fighters from reaching Afghanistan and the region, and counter ISIS-K’s violent extremism.”
The May 2020 report was declassified this August and published online last week by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The ODNI periodically declassifies and releases older intelligence assessments. A spokesperson for the ODNI’s National Counterterrorism Center declined to answer questions about the assessment or address the intelligence community’s current view on the Islamic State group.
The report predicts that the Islamic State group’s global branches are likely to increase its “capability to conduct attacks in many regions of the world, including the West.” The U.S. would more likely face attacks from people inspired by the group’s ideology than plots directed or supported by the group, the report said.
Pressure by local governments where the IS group is active and their international partners “almost certainly will shape the scale of ISIS’ resurgence in Iraq and Syria and its expansion worldwide,” the report said.
Experts commonly agree with the report’s predictions, said Colin Clarke, an expert on counterterrorism who is director of research for The Soufan Group, an intelligence and security consultancy. But top intelligence analysts would have been involved in drafting and reviewing the assessment, formally known as a national intelligence estimate, he said.
Clarke noted several recent IS-linked attacks in Afghanistan, including an apparent suicide bombing outside the Russian embassy in Kabul that killed two diplomats, as well as ongoing fighting between militants and U.S.-backed forces at a sprawling camp in Syria.
“There are some things that have happened in the last few weeks,” he said, “that make you wonder if the situation is not more dire than is being presented.”
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Follow the AP’s coverage of the Islamic State group at https://apnews.com/hub/islamic-state-group.
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https://www.yourbasin.com/political/ap-declassified-report-shows-us-predictions-of-is-group-threat/
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SandboxAQ launches a series of strategic investments to further the AI+Quantum tech ecosystem
PALO ALTO, Calif. and KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON, Aug 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SandboxAQ, an enterprise SaaS company delivering the combined impact of AI and quantum technology (AQ), and evolutionQ, a leading quantum-safe cybersecurity company, today announced an alliance to deliver robust quantum-safe cybersecurity products to protect critical commercial and government data from quantum computer attacks. In addition, SandboxAQ announced its Strategic Investment Program and announced it has participated in evolutionQ's Series A funding – the first in a series of strategic investments for SandboxAQ in AI and quantum technology companies.
The alliance marks a significant collaboration between quantum-safe cybersecurity providers, offering their respective customers an integrated ecosystem of quantum-safe solutions and services. As part of the alliance, SandboxAQ will promote evolutionQ's BasejumpQDN, a software layer that manages and secures QKD delivery and optimizes QKD use for efficiency, adaptive network stability, and reduced latency. With this partnership, SandboxAQ benefits from cutting-edge research and talent emerging from the University of Waterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing. Similarly, evolutionQ will integrate and distribute SandboxAQ's Security Suite and services and tap into the company's business, product and technical expertise.
"As quantum threats continue to evolve, the best way for large, global enterprises to protect their data, networks and communications is through a layered security approach encompassing a range of quantum-resistant solutions. Our alliance with evolutionQ will give our respective customers a well-orchestrated ecosystem of quantum-safe cybersecurity products," said Jack Hidary, CEO of SandboxAQ. "Our investment in evolutionQ marks the first of a series of strategic investments we will be making to advance the AQ ecosystem."
Dr. Michele Mosca, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of evolutionQ, adds, "As commercial and government agencies begin re-evaluating their existing cryptography protocols and cybersecurity architectures, it makes sense for them to explore PQC and QKD technologies simultaneously. Our alliance with SandboxAQ enables us to offer complementary cybersecurity solutions to combat emerging quantum threats. We're excited to join forces with SandboxAQ and look forward to our close collaboration."
About SandboxAQ
SandboxAQ is an enterprise SaaS company providing solutions at the nexus of AI and Quantum technology (AQ) to address some of the world's most challenging problems. We leverage the power of classical computing architecture to deliver AQ solutions and technologies today – years before fault-tolerant, error-corrected quantum computers become available. Our core team and inspiration formed at Alphabet, and SandboxAQ emerged as an independent, venture-backed company in 2022. For more information, please visit https://www.sandboxaq.com. To submit business plans for consideration, please email investments@sandboxaq.com.
About evolutionQ
evolutionQ is a leading quantum-safe cybersecurity company led by world-renowned quantum computing experts Dr. Michele Mosca and Dr. Norbert Lütkenhaus. With offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada, and Aachen, Germany, evolutionQ delivers robust cybersecurity products designed to protect against quantum computers and offers quantum risk-management strategy and advisory services. For more information about evolutionQ and to view career opportunities, please visit: https://evolutionq.com.
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SOURCE SandboxAQ
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https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/sandboxaq-announces-partnership-with-evolutionq-part-its-new-strategic-investment-program/
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BLOOMINGTON — A 35-year-old man is behind bars after state investigators caught him selling methamphetamine in McLean County.
Mark A. Carter, of Normal, appeared in bond court Thursday before Judge Scott Black. The judge found probable cause to detain Carter on a Class 2 felony charge of unlawful delivery of meth.
Assistant State's Attorney Lewis Liu said Illinois State Police Task Force 6 was investigating sales of illegal drugs in McLean County, and recorded a transaction between Carter and a confidential informant.
Liu said Carter sold 2.5 grams of meth for $100 on Aug. 23, and police arrested him Wednesday. The prosecutor added he waived his Miranda rights and admitted to selling meth, receiving 2 ounces on an advanced basis and profiting $600 on each ounce.
Judge Black set Carter's bond at $100,000, with 10% to apply for release. He also ordered him to file a hearing notice for source of bail money, where Carter would have to prove his bond funds were legally obtained before being released.
Carter's arraignment hearing was set for 9 a.m. Oct. 7.
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https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/normal-man-charged-with-selling-meth/article_3d02ff90-35de-11ed-9dce-8feba39ea2cc.html
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RICHMOND, Ind. — Richmond police officer Seara Burton has been fighting for her life in an Ohio hospital, after being critically injured in a shooting a week before her wedding.
It wasn't the wedding they had planned, but on Saturday, her fiancée Sierra Neal posted a video on TikTok of her walking in a white dress toward Burton's hospital room.
In the video, "Something in the Orange" by Zach Bryan plays in the background as Neal walks toward the room, surrounded by hospital staff standing in support of her and Burton.
"This walk was supposed to look a lot different, but I will always be thankful we still got to celebrate. Even if it is not legal on paper, you are my wife. I love you Seara," Neal wrote in the caption for the video.
A photo hangs on the door of Burton's room, showing the Richmond officer and her K-9 partner Brev, who was with her when she was shot on Wednesday, Aug. 10.
The video has been viewed millions of times and has more than 260,000 likes. It's gained attention from people across the country, offering their prayers for Burton, Neal and their families.
A suspect, Phillip Lee, shot Burton at close range as Brev was checking his moped for drugs. She's been clinging to life in a Dayton, Ohio hospital ever since.
Neal continues to show her strength in the face of tragedy, posting on social media last week to publicly thank everyone for their support.
In the post she said, "Seara is the strongest person I know and she continues to prove that every single day. She is the most beautiful human inside and out and anyone who has ever been lucky enough to know her will tell you the same."
Neal ended her post with, "Seara Burton I love you more than anything in this entire world and I am so very proud of you. You are my person."
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https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/tiktok-injured-richmond-indiana-officer-seara-burton-fiancee-sierra-neal-wedding/531-3d683eec-b521-4bc3-aa17-0fa80f6fe0ca
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Company to employ 80 Albertans and add over $120 million to Alberta's economy via value-added agribusiness processing of yellow peas
CALGARY, AB, May 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Phyto Organix Foods Inc. is pleased to announce that it has executed a letter of intent to purchase 15 acres of land in the Town of Strathmore, Alberta from the Western Irrigation District as the location of its new, state-of-the-art, net zero emission plant protein processing facility. The $225 million facility will be the largest-ever capital investment in Strathmore and provide a base for Phyto Organix to innovate and grow its plant protein business. When operational in 2024, Phyto Organix will use proprietary wet fractionation technology to annually process 40,000 metric tonnes of yellow peas, grown in close proximity to the facility, into soluble and insoluble protein isolates, processed fibre and starch, and high-quality dietary pea hull fibre.
"This is an exciting time to be an Albertan," said Chris Theal, Founder, President and CEO of Phyto Organix. "Our $225 million investment will generate over $120 million of annual GDP, employ 80 Albertans and yield tangible economic diversification in the Town of Strathmore and the Province of Alberta. Our team has designed a net zero facility to produce food products that embody our core values of health, wellness and sustainability. We are energized to lead the plant protein industry in Alberta."
As part of the new facility, Phyto Organix received $1 million over two years, cost-shared by the federal and provincial governments through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, to support engineering costs and the purchase of equipment.
"Alberta's food processing sector is a key driver of our economy, and consumer demand for Canada's responsibly produced plant-based protein is rising worldwide," said the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. "This investment in Phyto Organix's new, net-zero facility supports local growers, protects the environment and increases our capacity to meet global demand for our high-quality, sustainable food."
"Plant-based protein is an emerging sub-sector with significant potential for growth and diversification of the agri-processing industry in Alberta. With demand for high-quality plant-based products increasing dramatically in recent years, Alberta's government is pleased to support companies like Phyto Organix that will work with local producers, create jobs, and help grow Alberta's economy." Nate Horner, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development
"Today's announcement is a win for Alberta's agriculture, innovation and cleantech sectors," said Rick Christiaanse, CEO of Invest Alberta. "Invest Alberta is excited to help support Phyto Organix with its high-value investment journey in Alberta, as the province continues to be a destination of choice for exciting new operations that create jobs, support sustainability, and have big economic impact."
Phyto Organix has engaged with technology, construction and engineering leaders in designing its state-of-the-art facility. The Company will employ proprietary, integrated processing technology from SiccaDania A/S and has engaged Bird Construction and GHD Engineering to lead the design and construction of the facility and 3D connectivity to the processing equipment. SiccaDania is a Denmark-based, global leader in protein extraction technologies; Bird and GHD are proven leaders in building food and protein processing facilities in Canada.
Phyto Organix's 100,000 square foot facility will be the first net zero plant protein processing facility in North America. Key attributes of the plant include:
- situating it in the yellow pea heartland of Alberta, with annual crop production of over 5 times the facility's processing capacity grown within 75 kilometres of the facility, minimizing emissions from transporting peas supplied by local farmers;
- employing industry leading water recycle/reuse technology, allowing the facility to recycle 75% of its process water;
- industry leading heat integration reducing overall energy consumption and emissions; and
- powering the facility with low emission energy sources.
Phyto Organix's plant proteins and co-products will be marketed under the brand Phyto Optimate, notable for being high in purity, distinctively white and odourless featuring G85 globulin (meat alternative) and A85 albumin (dairy alternative) protein isolates and having strong functional attributes for food applications. "Phyto Optimate harnesses the confluence of our differentiated product quality, our sustainability pedigree and the passion our team has in researching and developing processed ingredient solutions for the rapidly growing health and wellness-conscious food consumer segment," said Theal. "We are well-advanced on significant Phyto Optimate offtake agreements with consumer-packaged goods companies and global distributors and expect to finalize initial commitments in the coming months."
Phyto Organix Foods Inc. is a privately-held, independent Calgary-based innovator, processor, developer and distributor of sustainably processed plant-based proteins, starch, fibre and pea hull fibre for the food and beverage industry. Phyto Organix's wet fractionation facility in Strathmore, Alberta will produce high purity yellow pea protein isolate with optimal functionality for use in food formulations for a diverse group of alternative meat and dairy consumer packaged goods companies who share our vision of sustainably processed foods. The Company will source yellow peas from local conventional and organic farms and employ 80 people (including 60 people at its facility in Strathmore). www.phytoorganixfoods.com
Bird (TSX: BDT) is a leading Canadian construction company operating from coast-to-coast and servicing all of Canada's major markets. Bird provides a comprehensive range of construction services from new construction for industrial, commercial, institutional, and civil infrastructure markets; to industrial maintenance, repair and operations services, heavy civil construction, and mine support services; as well as vertical infrastructure including, electrical, mechanical, and specialty trades. For over 100 years, Bird has been a people-focused company with an unwavering commitment to safety and a high level of service that provides long-term value for all stakeholders. www.bird.ca
GHD is a leading professional services company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to a vision to make water, energy and urbanization sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers engineering, architecture, environmental and construction solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928 and privately owned by its people, GHD's network of 10,000+ specialists are connected across 200 offices located on five continents. www.ghd.com
SiccaDania is a Danish company based on the foundation of knowledge and many experienced engineers within industry-leading solutions for food processing. SiccaDania focuses on creating the solutions its customers want by being a full in-house process technology partner for protein alternatives and other food, starch, dairy & nutraceutical applications. Headquartered in Denmark, SiccaDania has established a global footprint with offices in France, Germany, The Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, China, Brazil, and Canada. With around 450 employees worldwide working steadily towards always creating new designs and solutions within spray drying, evaporation, mixing, filtration, freeze-drying, bag filters, cyclones, and many other technology divisions. www.siccadania.com
Established nearly 80 years ago, the Western Irrigation District (WID) provides irrigation water to 400+ farms and 96,000 acres of land, to the east of Calgary. Through innovative partnerships, the WID pursues infrastructure modernization and expansion opportunities, protects irrigation water quality, and recently opened a new head office in a facility shared with Marigold Library System in Strathmore, Alberta. www.wid.net
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3-billion commitment by Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada's agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sectors. This includes a $2-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.
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SOURCE Phyto Organix Foods Inc.
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https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/05/24/phyto-organix-announces-225-million-state-of-the-art-net-zero-plant-protein-processing-facility-strathmore-ab/
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Nitrile glove manufacturer coming to Lufkin
LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - The Lufkin Economic Development Corporation board has approved a tax abatement for a nitrile glove manufacturer which is promising to bring a $30 million facility and 100 jobs to the city.
According to a press release, the company is Francis Innovation Operations. The release said Lufkin Economic Development Director Bob Samford has been working closely with Francis Innovation Operations officials for the past year in hopes of bringing the initiative to Lufkin. The release said the company will build and operate a new state-of-the-art U.S. domestic facility for the manufacture of nitrile gloves.
“Lufkin is honored to have been selected by the company as the location of this patent-pending technology,” Samford said. “FIO has over 40 years of successful business experience and family leadership. Nitrile gloves are considered foundational devices in the medical community and are one of the most widely used PPEs when it comes to any type of disease, let alone a pandemic.”
The proposal will go before Lufkin city council this evening for final approval. The incentives approved by the EDC board included: a tax abatement of 100 percent for 10 years, $4,000 FTE up to 100, and 10 acres of land in the industrial park. FIO must invest a minimum of $30 million and hire at least 100 full-time employees in exchange for the economic incentives.
The press release said FIO is a woman-owned small business that is part of the Francis family group, whose companies have engineered and manufactured 100 percent USA made products for over 40 years, according FIO Executive Vice President Jordan Schupbach.
“We chose Lufkin because of the central location, competitive economic incentives, and unique opportunity to be located in a Foreign Trade Zone,” Schupbach said. “Bob Samford and his team did an outstanding job representing the city and we are excited about being in Lufkin.”
Copyright 2022 KTRE. All rights reserved.
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https://www.ktre.com/2022/08/16/nitrile-glove-manufacturer-coming-lufkin/
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Tuesday approved two massive arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to help them defend against Iran.
The more than $5 billion in missile defense and related sales follow President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East last month, during which he met with numerous regional leaders in Saudi Arabia. Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been hit in recent months with rocket attacks from the Iran-backed Houthi rebel movement in Yemen.
Although Tuesday’s approvals are for defensive weapons, they may be questioned by lawmakers who had supported Biden’s decision last year to cut Saudi Arabia and the UAE off from major purchases of offensive U.S. arms because of their involvement in the war in Yemen.
The new sales include $3 billion for Patriot missiles for Saudi Arabia specifically designed to protect itself from rocket attacks by the Houthis, and $2.2 billion for high-altitude missile defense for the UAE.
“The proposed sale will improve the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats by replenishing its dwindling stock of PATRIOT GEM-T missiles,” the State Department said in its notice informing Congress of the sale.
“These missiles are used to defend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s borders against persistent Houthi cross-border unmanned aerial system and ballistic missile attacks on civilian sites and critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia," the department said.
For UAE, the department said the sale would “support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of an important regional partner. The UAE is a vital U.S. partner for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.”
Early in his administration Biden had pledged to cut off or cut back weapons sales to both Saudi Arabia and the UAE because of their actions in Yemen.
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https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/US-approves-massive-arms-sale-to-Saudi-UAE-to-17346572.php
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(OAE) — I was able to spend some time in Park City, Utah for the press launch of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq. This is the first all-electric Cadillac, which is significant for several reasons.
The company has invested two billion dollars in the Spring Hill Plant, to build the Lyriq. This vehicle will actually do 312 miles on a single charge. The all-wheel-drive version will get about 500 horsepower and you can recharge it on a DC fast charger, in half an hour to get 195 miles of range.
This Cadillac Lyriq will surprise you when you see what it can do on the road. This vehicle will show you what a hundred-year-old company can actually do when it goes to an all-electric future. Let’s start with design. The design is super significant for the new Lyriq. And the reason why is because this is different from any Cadillac you’ve seen before. The front is very Cadillac because this is a depiction of the original Cadillac badge. The lines are laser-etched lights. And when you see the sequence of them lighting up, it is unique to that specific Cadillac. All the lights in the Lyriq are vertical LEDs.
And as you’ll see new versions of Cadillacs come out, this front end will look different. This is the new face of Cadillac for the years going forward. The cool thing about the back end is because of the way they’ve shaped this. There is no need for a rear windshield wiper, the rain just bounces off the back of the vehicle. To open the trunk, the Cadillac symbol just gets a push and the trunk opens in the back. You are afforded 28 cubic feet of space for all your luggage. When you take a trip and the back seats fold down, with just a clever little push of the button, that increases the rear cargo space to 68 cubic feet of space in the back. That is enough room for five dogs.
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https://www.wfla.com/automotive/here-is-the-first-electric-cadillac-the-lyriq/
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OSWEGO N.Y. (WSYR-TV)– Oswego Harborfest is back and better than ever! The event is one of New York State’s largest free music festivals and organizers expect almost 75,000 people to attend over the course of four days. The festival starts on Thursday, July 28, and lasts until Sunday, July 31, with the exception of the Midway Carnival that opens on the evening of Wednesday, July 27.
Harborfest takes place across multiple venues in Oswego and includes East Park (Washington Square), West Park (Franklin Square), Breitbeck Park, Veterans Memorial Park, and the east end of Lake Street, where the Midway will operate.
Each location will have music, food, and entertainment for the whole family. Read on to see what to check out this weekend and answers to some frequently asked questions about the event.
West Park (Franklin Square)
What: Children’s Parade
When: 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 29
The Oswego Harborfest will host a children’s parade on Friday, July 29, for kids and their parents to join! The parade will begin at West Park and travel along West Fifth Street to Lake Street. The parade will feature the Shadow Players, the Catskill Puppets, and the Super DIRT Week pace car.
The parade will end at Breitbeck Park and fesitivities will resume there. You can see what attractions will be offered below.
Breitbeck Park
What: Music, Food, Entertainment
When: Thursday to Sunday
Breitbeck Park offers serene views of Lake Ontario and scenic sunsets. The park boasts plenty of space for relaxing and entertainment and will be one of the main locations for Harborfest. The park will have music, food, and other attractions each day of the festival!
Music:
Thursday, July 28
Friday, July 29
Saturday, July 30
Sunday, July 31
Other Attractions
- Johnny Peers & the Muttville Comix – Friday through Sunday, three shows daily
This show offers “slapstick comedy like no other” as Johnny leads over a dozen dogs through challenging and hilarious tricks. The show is great for dog lovers everywhere and most of the animals have been rescued from shelters or pounds. - The Altman Science Bubble Experience – Friday after the Children’s Parade
This show offers plenty of activities for kids involving the magic of massive soap bubbles. - Catskill Puppet Theater Performance – Friday at 12:30 p.m.
The Catskill Puppet Theater provides delightful original musical productions on a variety of themes with vibrant and colorful sets. The stories address important issues for people of all ages. - The Shadow Players – Friday through Sunday
This ensemble-based theatre company has put on dozens of shows and will surely provide great entertainment each day. - Squawk: The Amazing Bird Show – Friday and Saturday only, two shows each day
This one-of-a-kind show is an hour long production filled with “amazing tricks, great talkers, and lots of fun and laughs suitable for the entire family.” - The REV Theatre Co. – Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
This group will perform The Fisherman and His Wife. - The Price Chopper “Hopper” – Saturday and Sunday
This bounce house will provide endless entertainment for the young ones. - Spectacular Fireworks Show – Saturday at 9:30 p.m.
This state-of-the-art fireworks show by Grucci will blow you out of the water.
East Park (Washington Square)
What: Jazz and Blues music, Vendors
When: Thursday to Sunday
East Park (Washington Square) is a “lovely, tree-lined setting.” This park will feature jazz and blues music all weekend, along with plenty of local vendors and food to enjoy!
Music:
Friday, July 29
Saturday, July 30
Sunday, July 31
Veterans Memorial Park
What: Music
When: Friday to Sunday
Veterans Memorial Park is home to Veterans Stage, where the Oswego Summer 2022 Concert Series is each week. The park offers a nice place to relax between events and will be a great spot to appreciate the fireworks.
Music:
Friday, July 29
Saturday, July 30
Sunday, July 31
Fireworks
Where: Over the water
When: July 30 at 9:30 p.m.
This fireworks show is a world class display of power by Grucci, who holds the Guinness World Record for “Largest Fireworks Display” and “Largest Pyrotechnic Image.” Their fireworks have been shown in famous performances, Olympic Games, and presidental inauguarations. This show won’t be one you want to miss!
Best viewing locations:
The fireworks will be simulcast on Dinosaur Radio at 103.9 FM.
The Midway
What: Carnival games and rides
When: Wednesday to Sunday
The Midway Carnival will be open throughout the festival and is stationed right by the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Lake Street. The carnival is run by Dreamland Amusements.
Hours of Operation:
Cost:
- Rides will cost either 2, 3, 4 or 5 tickets — or use an unlimited ride wristband
- Tickets are $1.50
- 20 tickets for $30
- 50 tickets for $60
Unlimited ride wristbands can be purchased for riders 3 ft. or taller on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday for $25 or for on Saturday for $30. You can buy them online. You can buy three wristbands and get one free for $75 until Wednesday, July 27 at 5 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is parking?
Since the festival is located in the City of Oswego, there are plenty of spots for parking — but you should be prepared to pay for private lot parking if you can’t find a spot on the street.
If you don’t want to pay for parking, you can park for free at the Oswego Speedway.
If you need handicap parking, you can try the parking lot in Breitbeck Park or in any of the handicap spots in the city.
Is there a shuttle service?
Shuttle buses travel between Oswego Speedway and festival venues. You can purchase a shuttle button for $5, which offers shuttle rides for the entire weekend.
Shuttle bus schedule:
Oswego Speedway is also offering NASCAR driving experiences on Saturday, July 30.
Should I bring a chair?
Yes, if you plan to sit and enjoy music.
Can I bring my pet?
The only animals allowed are guide dogs and service animals.
What’s the smoking policy?
Smoking and vaping are banned in all City of Oswego public places.
Are bikes, skateboards, and scooters allowed?
For safety reasons, bikes, skaetboards, and scooters are not allowed.
What if I want to take my boat?
Docking is limited during Harborfest because of the large amount of boat traffic, so Oswego Harborfest asks boaters to obey boating restrictions by waterfront authority. For docking information, call (315) 343-8430 or (315) 342-8167.
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https://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/oswego-harborfest-is-back-heres-what-to-expect-and-frequently-asked-questions/
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4th suspect arrested in shootings that left 2 Flagler Palm Coast High School students dead
A fourth man has been arrested for his role in a feud which led to the killing of two Flagler Palm Coast High School students who were innocent bystanders in separate shootings in south Bunnell earlier this year, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Terrell Sampson, 18, of Bunnell, was arrested on Thursday and charged with attempted second-degree murder in the killing of Noah Smith of Bunnell. The Sheriff’s Office also charged Russell Hillard, 30, with harboring a fugitive.
Smith was shot on Jan. 12 and Keymarion Hall was shot on May 3. Both were innocent bystanders, and both were 16 years old and students at Flagler Palm Coast High School.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office had been searching for Sampson since earlier this week and they found him on Thursday in a home on Wedge Lane in Palm Coast, according to a press release.
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While other occupants of the residence walked out when the Sheriff's Office arrived, Sampson remained inside, a report states. Sampson eventually exited the residence at 4:33 p.m. about 40 minutes after the Sheriff's Office began loud public address announcements, the report stated.
Hillard was arrested and charged with felony accessory after the fact and resisting officer without violence.
Besides Sampson, the Sheriff's Office has arrested three other men in the killings: Tyrese Patterson, 20, of Palm Coast; Devandre Williams, 18, whose arrest report listed Bunnell and Daytona Beach as residences, and Stephen Monroe, 23, of Oak Hill.
Patterson, Williams and Monroe are each charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Smith and were being held without bail in the Flagler County jail.
Williams was also charged with second-degree murder with a firearm and attempted second-degree murder with a firearm in the shooting of Hall.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said during a press conference on Tuesday that a group in Palm Coast, known as GSO (Get Stepped On) and a group in south Bunnell were engaged in “street justice” after Sampson and members of the Bunnell group shot at a vehicle occupied by the Palm Coast group.
Sampson was arrested May 5 on a charge of possession of a firearm but was released May 7 after posting $100,000 bail.
Noah Smith's killing
The report stated that Smith, identified as “NS,” was hanging out with five people, including Sampson, in the 400 block of South Anderson Street about 10:11 p.m. on Jan. 12.
Meanwhile, a black Kia driven by Devandre Williams and occupied by Tyrese Patterson and Stephen Monroe drove to south Bunnell from a home on Rosepetal Lane in Palm Coast.
The Kia slowed or stopped on South Anderson Street and the car’s occupants and Sampson “engaged in an antagonistic verbal exchange,” the report stated.
Another person told Sampson not to start anything in front of his residence and to leave and Sampson did, the report stated.
The Kia then headed south on South Anderson Street. But Sampson fired at the vehicle from a side yard, the report stated. The people in the vehicle drove away, the report stated.
Smith entered his home on South Anderson Street and said that Williams and Sampson were outside shooting, the report stated.
Smith then walked back outside, the report stated.
Meanwhile, the vehicle sped back east on East Booe Street and stopped at the intersection with South Anderson Street briefly, the report stated. Surveillance cameras recorded muzzle flashes coming from the right passenger side of the vehicle, the report stated. According to a report, Patterson and Monroe fired guns.
The vehicle then drove away.
Smith was struck by a single gunshot in the pelvic/hip area and died, the report stated.
Keymarion Hall's killing
Devandre Williams was a passenger in a car about 10:17 p.m. on May 3 which surveillance video recording slowing at the intersection of East Booe Street and South Pine Street in Bunnell, a report stated. Monroe was also in the car, the report stated.
About 15 muzzle flashes were seen from the passenger side of the vehicle, the report stated. Shortly after that, a camera recorded a man running and firing nine shots at the fleeing car, the report stated.
Hall suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his head and and "leg area" and died early the next morning at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach.
Another man, Nysean Giddens, suffered two gunshot wounds to a leg, which were non-life threatening, the report stated. The report does not state what Hall and Giddens were doing before the shooting before the shooting.
Williams stated in an interview with deputies that he was asleep but woke up prior to the shooting when Monroe was playing “Okay” according to the report. The song is a “diss track” created by Monroe and references an ongoing dispute or “beef” between Williams and Monroe’s associates and a separate group, the report stated.
Williams stated that when the car stopped at the intersection, he saw several people standing on South Pine Street, the report stated. Williams said that Monroe handed him a gun and Williams said he started shooting from the rear passenger window in the direction of South Pine Street, the report stated. After the shooting, they headed back to Volusia County, the report stated.
Monroe told investigators that Williams told the driver to stop the car and when the driver did, Williams started shooting, the report stated.
Staly said earlier this week that Smith and Hall had done nothing wrong and were not the intended targets. He said Sampson was the target.
“I want to emphasize again the victims of the homicides were good kids. They were innocent victims,” Staly said.
Staly said detectives worked more than 2,500 hours on the cases and served more than 40 warrants.
"These were difficult cases based on the intertwining of the suspects, relatives and friends wanting to settle disputes with street justice," Staly stated in a press release. "I'm very proud of everyone that worked so hard and their dedication to finding justice for Noah and Keymarion and their families."
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https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/crime/2022/06/17/4th-person-arrested-shootings-killed-2-fpc-students-flagler-palm-coast-bunnell/7656810001/
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AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Technology International (ATI) and TechConnect today announced 25 finalists who will pitch on September 28, 2022 at Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit for $200,000 in non-dilutive awards. These candidates receive membership from four consortia with a combined $50B in federal contracting authority including: Medical CBRN Defense Consortium (MCDC), Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Consortium (CWMD), Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), and Senior Healthcare Innovation Consortium (SHIC).
"Whether for civilian national security in facing epidemics, as we saw with consortia-led COVID-19 response, or for the warfighter on the battlefield or visiting the VA, medical innovation remains a critical priority for our nation," said Matthew Laudon, Vice President – TechConnect Division, ATI. "The Medical Innovation Challenge finalists represent top solutions, out of hundreds of innovators, that can and will change our world for the better. Thank you to our nation's four leading medtech consortia who identify, accelerate and fund breakthrough medical innovations for the protection of us all. Come meet their leadership and hear these innovators pitch this fall. We have a seat waiting for you!"
Challenge finalists represent health and biotech innovation with dual use for civilian and national security applications, especially in the areas of devices and sensors, digital and hardware, therapeutics and treatments, and materials and manufacturing. All have at least achieved prototype status and 26% have proven manufacturability.
Finalists include:
Darwin Biosciences, Inc.
Eclipxe
Ionica Sciences
Kowa, Inc.
Lab11 Therapeutics, Inc.
Limax Biosciences, Inc.
Livivos, Inc.
Luna Labs USA, LLC
Matregenix
McGill University Health Center
Nakamir, Inc.
Novaurum Bioscience
Pockit Diagnostics, Ltd
Rhaeos, Inc.
Ridgeline Therapeutics
Rubitection
SafeBeat Rx
Sana Health, Inc.
Sense Neuro Diagnostics
Sonogen Medical, Inc.
StataDX
Symphony Biosciences
Tao Treasures LLC
Teledyne FLIR Detection
XSurgical, Inc.
"Innovation without a client is just novelty, and the consortium model ensures that the nation's cutting-edge innovation finds its way into the most powerful and impactful client in the world: our federal government," said Phil Gisi, Co-Founder of Senior Healthcare Innovation Consortium (SHIC). "We eagerly await pitch presentations this fall and the chance to meet these impressive finalists who we know will have a profound impact on our world in the years to come."
"Prototype advancement of medical technology will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the capabilities that we are able to provide far forward in a military setting. Through TechConnect, the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) is able to showcase some of its innovative member companies to the broader medical ecosystem, hopefully resulting in further collaboration and investment to best serve our U.S. Warfighters," said Lauren Palestrini, Ph.D., Director of Research, MTEC.
For more information about this Challenge or to register to attend, visit: https://events.techconnect.org/DTCFall/medical_innovation_challenge/.
With 25+ years of experience connecting emerging technologies with unique funding and partnership opportunities, TechConnect boasts the most robust research and innovation network in the world. It employs a broad scope of tools to deliver top technologies, including open innovation programs, conferences, and open-access publications. Each year, TechConnect prospects, vets, and connects thousands of emerging technologies with corporate, investment, municipal, and national defense clients. TechConnect is a division of Advanced Technology International. https://techconnect.org
ATI, a public-service nonprofit based in Summerville, S.C., builds and manages collaborations that conduct research and development of new technologies to solve our nation's most pressing challenges. Fueled by a community of experts from industry, academia, and government, ATI accelerates impact by using the power of collaboration to help the federal government quickly acquire novel technologies. ATI is a subsidiary of Analytic Services, Inc. (ANSER), a public-service research institute organized as a nonprofit corporation, which is dedicated to informing decisions that shape the nation's future. ATI.org
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SOURCE ATI (Advanced Technology International)
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https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/medical-innovation-challenge-announces-contenders-200000-award/
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PORTLAND, Maine — Sen. Susan Collins was blasted Friday for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, as opponents targeted her votes to confirm two justices to the Supreme Court who were in the majority opinion allowing states to ban abortion.
Critics of the Maine senator haven’t forgotten the key role she played in confirming Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, and she was ripped anew on social media.
Some opponents took to name-calling and attacked Collins for being naive or complicit. Others called for her resignation. University of Maine professor Amy Fried said Collins “helped make this happen,” and the Maine Democratic Party said part of the blame lies at Collins’ feet.
Collins was considered a crucial vote on Kavanaugh. She waited months before announcing her decision in a 45-minute floor speech. Shortly after her speech ended, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin announced he, too, was voting for Kavanaugh.
The Senate vote was 50-48.
Mainers For Accountable Leadership, a liberal advocacy group, said Collins “must immediately apologize to these organizations who she dismissed and demeaned in her floor speech announcing her support of Kavanaugh.”
Rachel Irwin, who works for Building Back Together, which promotes President Joe Biden’s policy agenda, called Friday’s abortion news Collins’ “legacy.”
Collins, a Republican, has been a supporter of a woman’s right to an abortion. She has also crossed the aisle on key issues — including splitting with Republicans on former President Donald Trump’s ban on travel from several Muslim countries, the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and on whether to convict Trump after his impeachment following the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
The senator said in a statement Friday that she had received assurances from Kavanaugh and Gorsuch that Roe v. Wade was an established legal precedent.
“Throwing out a precedent overnight that the country has relied upon for half a century is not conservative,” she said. “It is a sudden and radical jolt to the country that will lead to political chaos, anger, and a further loss of confidence in our government.”
Collins’ statement came moments before Biden called the ruling “a tragic error.” She did not respond to a request for an interview Friday from The Associated Press.
The senator in her statement took aim at Gorsuch and Kavanaugh for their about-face from what they told her privately and said in their confirmation hearings.
“This decision is inconsistent with what Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh said in their testimony and their meetings with me, where they both were insistent on the importance of supporting long-standing precedents that the country has relied upon,” she said.
The vote to confirm Gorsuch wasn't as narrow as for Kavanaugh, whose nomination was nearly derailed by accusations of sexual assault that he denied. Senators approved Gorsuch's nomination with a 54-45 vote.
Collins voted against the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, saying that it was too late in Trump’s presidency and that his successor should’ve made a nomination to fill the vacancy.
Despite the vitriol against Collins and coat hangers mailed to her office, she easily won a fifth term in 2020.
She said she supports a bipartisan bill to codify the right to an abortion. “Our goal with this legislation is to do what the court should have done — provide the consistency in our abortion laws that Americans have relied upon for 50 years,” she said.
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https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/after-abortion-ruling-critics-renew-blasts-at-sen-collins-maine-national-politics-supreme-court/97-70c32003-f782-42c7-9365-69fb1d59bd56
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Man killed outside elementary school in officer-involved shooting in Alabama, sheriff says
GADSDEN, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - A man was shot and killed in an officer-involved shooting outside an elementary school in Alabama on Thursday, according to the county sheriff.
It happened around 10 a.m. at Walnut Park Elementary School in Gadsden. A summer literacy program for 34 children was being held there, the Associated Press reported.
According to Gadsden City Schools Superintendent Tony Reddick, a man was seen approaching a door to the school and possibly attempting to gain access. After being notified, a school resource officer came outside and confronted the man. According to the superintendent, police were called to the scene to assist.
Etowah County Sheriff Jonathan Horton said there was a physical altercation involving the SRO and the suspect. The SRO sustained minor injuries.
Several emergency agencies responded to the scene.
Officials have not confirmed exactly what transpired after police arrived or what led up to the man’s death.
Children were inside the building at the time for a summer education program, but officials say all of them are safe. The school was placed on a brief lockdown, and children were bused to the local high school and parents were called to pick them up.
People are being asked to avoid the area at this time.
Copyright 2022 WBRC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wnem.com/2022/06/09/potential-intruder-confronted-outside-elementary-school-alabama-superintendent-says/
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Bruce E. Toll, co-founder in 1967 of Fortune 500 homebuilder Toll Bros., has long since diversified his fortune from the Fort Washington-based firm. His firm BET Investments Inc. has bet on health care, medical, information technology and telecom companies. And in Pennsylvania he owns coal fields and auto dealers and is building hundreds of suburban apartments.
His grandfather emigrated from Ukraine in 1906. Toll says Russia’s two-month-old war on that sovereign country, along with U.S. price and interest rate inflation, has changed the investing map. His answers to The Inquirer’s questions have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Q: What changed this year?
I’m in shock over what’s going on in Ukraine. I can’t believe we have such a blatant war. On TV it looks like Vietnam did, when I was a kid. I never thought I’d see it in Europe.
The war in Ukraine [unavoidably] has created a lot of opportunities to start new businesses, because all the businesses in Ukraine are ruined. Volkswagen’s chairman was in the news; he was saying they got a lot of parts from Ukraine, they have to find someplace else to get them.
And now Russia can’t export hard coal or soft coal. Well, you know I own a large anthracite coal mine in the Tamaqua area. Prices have escalated because of the shortage of coal.
Q: After all those campaigns against fossil fuel, demand for your coal is up?
Yes. Anthracite is hard coal; it is used by steel manufacturers. They are our biggest customers. And now, with the Build America infrastructure program, they’ll need a lot of steel.
All those old bridges have to be widened. We have some bridges that need improvements up here in the Jenkintown area. The state is deciding which are going to be improved now that the federal government is giving away $600 or $700 billion. Even that won’t get everything done.
You know, Pennsylvania is one of the worst places for highways and bridges. So many of them haven’t been touched in 50 years. I used to go down Broad Street in Philadelphia and turn on Cayuga to get on Roosevelt Boulevard, then the Schuylkill Expressway, to get into the city. Well, in 2019, they said they were closing Cayuga, to replace utilities. I called the mayor. He told me it will take four years. I told him, for the fun of it, I don’t think Hoover Dam took four years.
» READ MORE: Hundreds of Philly-area bridges are slowly deteriorating. Should travelers be worried?
So I started turning on Hunting Park Avenue. But now they’ve been digging up Hunting Park. So I have to go all the way down Broad Street to get into town. It seems crazy, all this to put a pipe in.
Q: Will rising interest rates slow construction?
A: Interest rates have been so low, for so long, it’s been really easy to be in the real estate business. I’ve gotten loans on properties last year at rates I’d have said you were crazy. Two 35-year loans for less than 2.5% interest, from HUD. For multifamily developments, apartments.
When I went in business in 1968, mortgage rates were just going up to 6%, from 5.5%. We thought it was the end of the world. Compared to that, interest rates are still remarkably low.
But now inflation is coming. Rents have been increasing.
» READ MORE: Bruce Toll gets offers every day to invest. He sees promise in cutting-edge biotech | Industry Icons
Q: Won’t that cut demand for new apartments?
We’re building a lot more apartments. We finished four or five communities in the last three years. Everything is getting leased 100%. We have no vacancies at the Promenade, that’s 400 apartments up at Dreshertown and Welsh Roads, we built that a year and a half ago. You know how, in King of Prussia, they have added all those apartments near the shopping center? These apartments are right above the shopping.
We’re getting ready to build more in Montgomery and Delaware and Bucks Counties. We’ll open at Granite Run before the end of the year. We’re building in Lower Moreland, on a piece of ground I’ve owned for years on Philmont Avenue. And I just bought the half of the Prudential campus I didn’t already own at Welsh Road near the turnpike a couple of weeks ago.
Anybody who’s built anything in the last 10 years in Montgomery County is filled up. My biggest fear is, with shipping as it is, I won’t be able to get all the electronics — dishwashers and ovens, the ones I want. The lumber is there, but it’s expensive.
Q: Who’s moving to all these apartments?
A good portion of people 55 and over who decided to downsize from their house. And a lot of young married people. I’m amazed at all the young people.
People are staying in their apartments longer. A lot of young people are working from home, so we put WiFi throughout the buildings. I think some are never moving to houses.
Q: Is that by choice? Or are a lot of Americans priced out of the market, not sharing in the prosperity?
It is the economics. Some people don’t have the down payment, even if they can afford the monthly mortgage payment. It’s tougher [to get approved for a home loan] than 15 years ago, before (the Great Recession]. Which to me is a good thing. We were giving away mortgages to unqualified people [and speculative investors].
Q: You don’t do much in the city of Philadelphia; why not?
That’s true. When I was president at Toll Bros., we bought the land at 26th and Bainbridge [former Naval Home, now townhomes and apartments] from the federal government. The company, where I am no longer involved, is still doing a few buildings in Center City.
But I’ve mostly avoided that. I was raised in Elkins Park. Dad told me horror stories about Philadelphia government.
Q: Are the youngest Tolls attracted to business?
I have 11 grandchildren. One graduated from Wharton last year, one is graduating from Wharton this year, one is still at Wharton. My granddaughter who’s at Wharton brought five [classmates] to Passover dinner this year, and every one of them had a job already lined up. Mostly not in Philadelphia.
You can see this is a great time to become employed. All the young people I know are having no problem getting a job, so long as they have learned something they can put to work.
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https://www.inquirer.com/business/bruce-toll-bros-ukraine-investment-apartments-homes-cars-anthracite-coal-20220427.html
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The newest edition ranks 1,500 colleges and universities across the country.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in education rankings, today announced the 2022-2023 Best Colleges. Serving as a guide for prospective students and their families, the rankings evaluate 1,500 colleges and universities on up to 17 measures of academic quality.
"For nearly 40 years, the Best Colleges methodology has continuously evolved to reflect changes in the higher education landscape and the interests of prospective students," said Kim Castro, editor and chief content officer at U.S. News. "Guiding that evolution is U.S. News' mission of providing useful data and information to help with one of life's biggest decisions."
This year's rankings include:
- Update to SAT/ACT calculation: In previous editions, SAT/ACT scores were, in effect, reduced if too few students submitted scores. For this edition, U.S. News discontinued this practice. For schools that reported SAT/ACT scores for less than 50% of new entrants in consecutive years, U.S. News did not use those scores to calculate the school's rank. Instead, U.S. News increased the weights of two other ranking factors: high school class standing and average graduation rate. This change was made due to the pandemic's effects on testing in 2020, when the supply and demand for taking the SAT/ACT plummeted, particularly among students from low-income backgrounds.
- More comprehensive measure of faculty resources: The percent of faculty with a terminal degree now includes the share of part-time faculty with a terminal degree. Previously, this metric assessed only full-time faculty. This is a more comprehensive measurement that now includes highly credentialed faculty regardless of their employment contract. This change reflects the growing number of part-time instructors at schools.
- Updates to the ranking categories: About 10% of ranked schools moved into different categories this year. For example, a school ranked previously as a Regional University may now be ranked as a National University. This is due to the "2021 update" from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, which U.S. News has used since the first Best Colleges rankings in 1983 to compare schools with similar missions.
To calculate the rankings, U.S. News focuses on academic quality and places emphasis on outcome measures – including graduation rates, retention rates, graduate indebtedness and social mobility. Outcomes are the most highly weighted ranking factor, contributing 40% to each school's overall score.
Visit USNews.com/colleges for more information, and share what makes your school the best fit for you on Facebook and Twitter.
2022-2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges
1. Princeton University (NJ)
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3. Harvard University (MA) (tie)
3. Stanford University (CA) (tie)
3. Yale University (CT) (tie)
National Liberal Arts Colleges – Top 3
1. Williams College (MA)
2. Amherst College (MA)
3. Pomona College (CA)
Top Public Schools
National Universities – Top 3
1. University of California, Berkeley (tie)
1. University of California, Los Angeles (tie)
3. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor (tie)
3. University of Virginia (tie)
National Liberal Arts Colleges – Top 3
1. United States Naval Academy
2. United States Military Academy at West Point
3. United States Air Force Academy
Top Performers on Social Mobility
National Universities – Top 3
1. Keiser University (FL)
2. University of California, Riverside
3. California State University – Long Beach
National Liberal Arts Colleges – Top 3
1. Salem College (NC)
2. Lake Forest College (IL)
3. Tougaloo College (MS)
Alongside the rankings, U.S. News publishes editorial content related to the college selection experience. This includes advice on topics such as how parents should approach college visits, when to submit your college application, how to choose a major and more.
On Sept. 21, U.S. News will host a free webinar on the new edition of Best Colleges, with presentations from the lead ranking analysts. Those interested in attending can register here.
To learn more about the U.S. News College Compass, which provides access to the most complete rankings and data, or to order a copy of the "Best Colleges 2023" guidebook (ISBN 979-8-9864591-0-3), visit the online U.S. News store.
U.S. News Academic Insights is a higher education analytical tool that provides instant access to U.S. News historical rankings, tracks important metrics over time, and creates a comparative analysis of peer institutions. For more information, visit ai.usnews.com.
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, Real Estate, News and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
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https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/us-news-announces-2022-2023-best-colleges-rankings/
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Aplington-Parkersburg trailed at the end of the first quarter before rallying for a 34-17 win over Osage in an Iowa high school football matchup.
The start wasn't the problem for Osage, as it began with a 17-14 edge over Aplington-Parkersburg through the end of the first quarter.
Neither team could dent the scoreboard in the second quarter.
Aplington-Parkersburg broke in front at the beginning of the final quarter with a 27-17 lead over Osage.
The clock was the only thing that stopped the Falcons, who enjoyed the upper hand in a 7-0 fourth quarter, too.
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https://globegazette.com/sports/high-school/football/boys/aplington-parkersburg-comes-from-behind-to-stop-osage-34-17/article_f2aa6a39-5129-5a78-b404-9afd458c6ec7.html
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CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) today released the results of its annual company-run stress test, conducted in accordance with the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("Federal Reserve") and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The results are available online at https://IR.Truist.com/other-filings.
Truist announces a planned 8% increase in its regular quarterly cash dividend to $0.52 per common share from $0.48 per share following the completion of the 2022 Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review ("CCAR") process. Truist's dividends are subject to approval by its board of directors, which will consider the proposed dividend at its July meeting. If approved, the new quarterly dividend will take effect in the third quarter of 2022.
Truist also announces that the Federal Reserve is maintaining the preliminary stress capital buffer ("SCB") that applies to the company at 2.5%. The SCB will be in effect from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023 and reflects Truist's prudent risk management and sound financial performance under stressful conditions.
Truist plans to operate below its previously announced Common Equity Tier 1 ("CET1") ratio target of 9.75% reflecting the reduction of merger integration risk and its continued strong stress test results, partially offset by increased economic uncertainty.
"Truist's strong stress test results, combined with this past year's solid financial results and a successful integration means that we are well-positioned to execute on our strategy," said Truist Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Rogers. "Operating as a unified Truist across all dimensions, we're shifting our focus from merger integration to executional excellence and purposeful growth. Guided by our purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities, Truist will continue to strategically deploy capital on behalf of our clients and shareholders while also thoughtfully managing risk."
About Truist
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country, and offers a wide range of services including retail, small business and commercial banking; asset management; capital markets; commercial real estate; corporate and institutional banking; insurance; mortgage; payments; specialized lending; and wealth management. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $544 billion as of March 31, 2022. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the financial condition, results of operations, business plans and future performance of Truist, including under hypothetical regulatory stress testing scenarios. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "intends," "plans," "projects," "could," "may," "should," "will" or other similar words or expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Truist's current expectations and assumptions regarding Truist's businesses, the economy, and other future conditions or reflect theoretical performance under prescribed hypothetical scenarios and the regulatory stress testing rules. Because forward-looking statements relate to future results and occurrences, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many possible events or factors could affect Truist's future financial results and performance and could cause actual results or performance to differ materially from anticipated results or performance. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, Truist disclaims any obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments. Further information regarding Truist and factors which could affect the forward-looking statements contained herein can be found in Truist's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as updated by its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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SOURCE Truist Financial Corporation
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https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/truist-announces-planned-dividend-increase-following-release-2022-ccar-results/
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Olympic swimming champion Michael Klim is opening up about his recent health problems.
In a new blog post on his website, the former athlete revealed that over two years ago he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, a neurological disorder condition that "targets your body's nerves, especially the areas of the arms, hands, legs, and feet," he said.
Klim admitted that although he has "always been an outspoken advocate" of a healthy work-life balance, he previously "neglected my health and wasn't honest with myself about the signs and symptoms my body was telling me."
"I have been dealing with chronic ankle problems and degenerative back issues for quite some time," he said. "Initially it was just the odd cramp or pain in my joints, but over time my symptoms started to progress."
Klim explained that what began as his thighs appearing thinner than usual turned into a tingling sensation on his feet.
"As time passed I started to feel a little bit unbalanced whilst I was making sudden movements. Before I knew it, 2 years had flown by and what started as a creep had rapidly spiralled [sic] out of control," Klim said. He soon after started to experience significant leg weakness that left him "unable to stand properly."
He added, "My health began to deteriorate drastically—my strength, my athleticism—was being taken away from me and I couldn't do anything to stop it!"
As his health continued to deteriorate, the retired Olympian said that he was forced to rely on the help of his partner Michelle Owen and his three children Stella, 16, Frankie, 11 and Rocco, 14—whom he shares with his ex-wife Lindy Rama—to get around.
But Klim isn't giving up hope.
After undergoing numerous IVIG (intravenous Immunoglobulin) treatments throughout the years, he said that he is now starting "to see and feel some improvement in my everyday function and mobility."
"It's hard accepting that my identity will no longer be reliant on my athletic ability," he concluded. "Sharing my journey is another part of this healing process and I would hope that it brings awareness to CIDP and resonates with people who may be going through similar challenges."
Klim previously won a gold medal for Freestyle Relay at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
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https://www.eonline.com/news/1337885/olympic-swimmer-michael-klim-shares-his-cidp-diagnosis-and-drastically-deteriorating-health
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2 more R. Kelly accusers testify at trial in Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) - Two more accusers took the witness stand at R. Kelly’s child pornography and solicitation of minors trial Monday, bringing to three the total number of accusers to have testified to date at the federal trial in Chicago.
The first accuser, who testified two weeks ago under the pseudonym “Jane,” is critical to another of the charges — that the R&B singer successfully rigged his 2008 state child pornography trial by threating witnesses and concealing video evidence.
GRAPHIC WARNING: This story contains details that may be disturbing to some.
Kelly, 55, was handed a 30-year prison sentence by a federal judge in New York in June for convictions on racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
In all, the prosecution cited five accusers in pre-trial filings, though it is unclear if both of the remaining accusers will testify before the government rests sometime this week. The trial was expected to last a month, wrapping up in mid-September.
An accuser who used the pseudonym “Pauline,” told jurors Monday she was a middle school classmate of Jane’s and that Jane introduced her to Kelly in 1998 when they were 14 and Kelly was around 30.
When she was at Kelly’s Chicago home later that year, Pauline said she was startled to walk in on Kelly and a naked Jane in a basement area. She said Kelly told her that “we all have secrets” and that this is “our secret.”
Pauline several times told jurors she had loved Kelly. But, as a 37-year-old mom, she said she now had a different perspective.
“If somebody did something to my kids, I’m killing ‘em. Period,” she said.
Kelly sexually abused her over 100 times, starting when she was 14, and they first had intercourse when she was 15, she testified.
Under cross-examination, lead Kelly lawyer Jennifer Bonjean accused Pauline of being imprecise about how many times she had sex with Kelly when she was underage.
“Whether it is once or twice, what’s wrong is wrong,” Pauline shot back.
The second accuser to testify Monday, referred to only as Tracy, said she was introduced to Kelly when she was 16 by a boss at a record company she was interning for in 1998. Tracy told jurors she repeatedly rebuffed Kelly’s advances.
At a room in Kelly’s Chicago studio, she recalled telling him after he began pulling her close to him, “You know I’m 16?” Minutes later, when he “exposed himself… I tried to pull back but he had a hold of my shirt,” Tracy testified.
On another occasion, she described Kelly coming into a hotel room where Tracy was staying and yelling at her for having clothes on under her bathrobe.
“I told him I didn’t want to have sex,” she testified.
But she said Kelly ordered her to get into the bed with him anyway and that at several points used force to sexually abuse her. She said she first had intercourse with Kelly when she was 16, then dozens of times when she was 17 and 18.
Tracy began to cry on the stand Monday as she began to tell jurors about the day Kelly walked into a room where Tracy had been waiting. Kelly arrived with Jane.
“I was really confused and just really angry,” she recalled. “I just didn’t really think there was anyone else but me and Rob.”
Kelly’s 2008 trial revolved around a video that state prosecutors said showed Kelly abusing Jane. But after acquitting Kelly in 2008, jurors said they had no choice because the girl did not take the witness stand at that trial.
Jane did testify at the current trial, saying she was the child in the video and Kelly was the adult man.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/08/30/2-more-r-kelly-accusers-testify-trial-chicago/
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
News Advisory:
What: National Press Club Newsmaker News Conference on the recent devastating floods in Pakistan that began last month.
When: Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, at 10a.m. Eastern
Who: Ambassador Masood Khan of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Where: National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20045. 13th Floor
Details:
The world has seen shocking video of the recent record flooding in Pakistan but the impact on the country is far greater than even these videos (mostly from cities) suggest. The number of people who are displaced, missing or dead are high and climbing rapidly. Ambassador Khan will provide a briefing on what is now known of the situation and what is projected in the short and longer term. He will discuss relief efforts and how Americans can best help. And he will take questions from the press.
Ambassador Khan has just recently assumed his role in DC. He served in DC once before from 1997-2002. The Ambassador served as Pakistan's representative to the United Nation's from 2012-2015. He has had other significant postings in China and Geneva and was Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry from 2003-2005. Early in his career, the Ambassador was a journalist, working as a television host and a radio newscaster.
This event is open to credentialed news media, members of the National Press Club and their guests.
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. With 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization, the Club is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.
Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534 for the National Press Club
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SOURCE National Press Club
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https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/floods-pakistan-examined-national-press-club-newsmaker-friday-september-9/
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Arizona attorney general sues Scottsdale school district and board member Greenburg
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich filed a lawsuit against the Scottsdale Unified School District and board member Jann-Michael Greenburg, accusing them of violating Arizona's Open Meeting Law last summer.
Brnovich contends the governing board, through Greenburg, who was board president at the time, broke state law on Aug. 17 when it issued content-based restrictions on public comment, allowing people to only talk about one of the agenda items.
Board members also violated the law when they cut off speakers who tried to give input on any other topic, including a proposed mask mandate that was also on the agenda, according to the attorney general’s complaint.
The complaint also says board members were in violation of the state's Open Meeting Law on Aug. 23 when they restricted in-person access in the boardroom when COVID-19 mitigation strategies were one of the agenda items. The 39 people who addressed the board that evening had to wait outside and enter the boardroom one at a time.
Greenburg told The Arizona Republic at the time that the decision to restrict access came at the advice of police amid heightened tensions over face coverings.
The attorney general also says Greenburg broke the law when he interrupted parent Amanda Wray when she talked about a neo-Nazi propaganda comic book being distributed at a school campus. When Wray accused a district employee of distributing the material, Greenburg said that wasn’t true.
Wray “correctly explained to Greenburg that he is not allowed to interrupt public comments,” according to the complaint.
Once Wray finished her comments, Greenburg said he wanted to make clear that no district employee distributed the material. Once he was done with his statement, he was caught on the microphone whispering to his colleagues, “Jesus f------ Christ, these people.” He apologized after parents told him they had heard him.
“I did cuss on the mic and I’m very sorry about that. I apologize to our community, I apologize to my fellow board members, to staff and parents watching. These things happen,” he said. “I have to admit it was done out of frustration.”
Greenburg's father, Mark Greenburg, is suing Wray for defamation for comments she made about a leaked Google Drive folder that contained social media posts and other detailed information on parents. Wray, in turn, filed a lawsuit with other parents last month against the district and Mark Greenburg over the Google Drive.
District's response
Three complaints were filed with the Attorney General’s Office after these two meetings.
After receiving notice of the complaints in November, the district sent a response to the attorney general in December, according to SUSD spokesperson Kristine Harrington, who also said the district hadn’t received any additional information about it until it learned about the lawsuit.
Harrington said the district doesn’t comment on pending litigation but maintains it complied with the Open Meeting Law.
Attorney Jennifer MacLennan wrote SUSD’s response, saying it was the district’s position that state law allowed SUSD to limit comments, citing a 1999 attorney general opinion. Brnovich argues the district’s position ignores that at the time the opinion was issued, the state Open Meeting Law was silent on whether a public body could allow public comment.
MacLennan also wrote in the response that Wray had been permitted to finish her remarks and concluded them three seconds before her time was up. She also argued that board members are allowed to address criticism and that Greenburg didn’t break the law when he corrected Wray.
Masks, curriculum, 'communism': Scottsdale district, board face continued turmoil
The Arizona Republic reached out to Jann-Michael Greenburg for comment but did not hear back.
Brnovich is asking that a judge issue an order that:
- Prohibits the district from covering any of Greenburg’s legal fees.
- Declares SUSD and Greenburg violated state Open Meeting Law and enters a judgment requiring them to comply with the law.
- Imposes a civil penalty on Greenburg to be paid to the district in the maximum amount allowed under the law.
- Awards all other relief under the Open Meeting Law, including ordering appropriate measures to prevent violations or removing Greenburg from office.
- Awards the Attorney General's Office his attorneys' fees and costs.
Jann-Michael Greenburg's term is up in January. He already has announced he is not running for reelection.
Brnovich, who has served as attorney general since 2015, is running for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.
Greenburg, SUSD on the hot seat again
This isn't the first time the Greenburgs or the Scottsdale school district have been the topic of controversy in recent months.
In November, several parents and some of Jann-Michael Greenburg's colleagues on the board called for his resignation after news of his father's files containing information on parents who had been critical of the district came out.
The governing board doesn't have the power to oust Jann-Michael Greenburg from the board, but members did remove him as president of the board.
At the same time, Superintendent Scott Menzel announced a district investigation into the files to see if any district resources were used to create or maintain the files. In February, the district released the findings of the investigation, which concluded no school official used district computers in connection with the drive.
The Scottsdale Police Department also investigated the files and interviewed several parents, including Wray, and concluded that no criminal conduct under its jurisdiction had been committed.
Mark Greenburg, in his lawsuit against Wray, accused her of defaming him and invading his privacy by sharing a copy of his personal Google Drive folder.
Wray, on the other hand, is accusing Mark Greenburg of defamation for collecting information on a bankruptcy for someone with a similar name but who is not her. Her lawsuit argues that Mark Greenburg shared that file with his son and two others and by wrongfully associating the bankruptcy with her could harm her career as a financial adviser.
Reach the reporter at rclo@arizonarepublic.com or at 480-267-4703. Follow her on Twitter @renataclo.
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https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale-education/2022/06/22/arizona-attorney-general-sues-scottsdale-school-district-and-board-member-jann-michael-greenburg/7692208001/
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Company brings more security and reduces risk through a single unified platform with updates to renowned VMDR and Asset Management Solutions
LAS VEGAS, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Hat USA -- Qualys, Inc. (NASDAQ: QLYS), a pioneer and leading provider of disruptive cloud-based IT, security and compliance solutions, will lead several speaking sessions at Black Hat 2022 and DEF CON 30. At this year's show, Qualys continues its focus of helping organizations streamline and automate their IT, security and compliance programs via its single holistic cloud platform.
Visit us at booth 1320 to meet with Qualys experts. You will also learn how the Qualys Cloud Platform powers a range of solutions, unifying organizations' security playbooks through managing assets and vulnerabilities, automating remediation and taking a context driven approach to detect and respond to malicious attacks. Highlights include:
- VMDR 2.0 with TruRisk™: Provides the insight security and IT teams need to prioritize vulnerabilities, for remediation, that genuinely reduce risk within their organizations. Stop by the booth to learn how Vulnerability Management, Detection and Response (VMDR) customers were able to reduce risk on average by 23% and in some cases as high as 50%.
- CyberSecurity Asset Management 2.0: Experience the new enhancements that allow organizations to continuously monitor their external attack surface, and quickly remediate all from a single platform.
- The Qualys Research Team: Two PWNIE Award nominations for cutting-edge research, discovery and responsible disclosure of new and critical vulnerabilities PWNKIT and Oh Snap! More Lemmings.
Attendees are welcome to join our speaking sessions and booth presentations, including best practice presentations from customer Euronet Worldwide as well as a leading healthcare customer, highlighting how VMDR helps them reduce risk. The full schedule can be viewed here.
Qualys, Inc. (NASDAQ: QLYS) is a pioneer and leading provider of disruptive cloud-based security, compliance and IT solutions with more than 10,000 subscription customers worldwide, including a majority of the Forbes Global 100 and Fortune 100. Qualys helps organizations streamline and automate their security and compliance solutions onto a single platform for greater agility, better business outcomes, and substantial cost savings.
The Qualys Cloud Platform leverages a single agent to continuously deliver critical security intelligence while enabling enterprises to automate the full spectrum of vulnerability detection, compliance, and protection for IT systems, workloads and web applications across on premises, endpoints, servers, public and private clouds, containers, and mobile devices. Founded in 1999 as one of the first SaaS security companies, Qualys has strategic partnerships and seamlessly integrates its vulnerability management capabilities into security offerings from cloud service providers, including Amazon Web Services, the Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure, along with a number of leading managed service providers and global consulting organizations. For more information, please visit http://www.qualys.com.
Qualys, Qualys VMDR® and the Qualys logo are proprietary trademarks of Qualys, Inc. All other products or names may be trademarks of their respective companies.
Media Contact
Jackie Dutton
Qualys
+1 (707) 478-3737
jdutton@qualys.com
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SOURCE Qualys, Inc.
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https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/qualys-lead-four-sessions-black-hat-2022-def-con-30/
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A 911 dispatcher has been placed on leave and may lose her job after allegedly hanging up on an supermarket employee hiding during this weekend's shooting rampage in Buffalo, New York.
“Termination will be sought” for the dispatcher at a disciplinary hearing later this month, said Peter Anderson, spokesperson for the executive of Erie County, in an email to The Associated Press on Wednesday.
An assistant office manager at Tops Friendly Market, where 10 Black people were killed by a white gunman Saturday, told The Buffalo News that she was whispering during the 911 call because she feared the shooter would hear her.
The store employee alleges the dispatcher shouted at her, asked why she was whispering — then hung up. The employee said she had to call her boyfriend and tell him to dial 911 and report the shooting.
Anderson said it’s unclear who hung up on whom.
A message was left with the union that represents Buffalo’s 911 dispatchers.
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https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/911-dispatcher-who-took-Buffalo-shooting-call-put-17182900.php
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PARIS (AP) — Birds tweeted -- not fashionistas -- the day Chanel brought its couture guests to the calm of the Bois de Boulogne forest.
On Tuesday morning, bleary-eyed VIPs walked across tons of white sand through the Etrier de Paris equestrian center on the leafy outskirts of Paris, past lines of spinning wheels and inflatable capsules as nature, fashion and art mingled.
The dreamscape had been specially made for fall-winter by artist Xavier Veilhan, who had adorned Chanel’s indoor ring venue with a gargantuan silver mobile. It had guests — including Marion Cotillard and Keira Knightley -- gawping.
Haute couture is the age-old Parisian tradition of producing exorbitantly priced, made-to-measure garments for the world’s richest women.
Here are some highlights of the day’s fall-winter 2022 collections:
CHANEL’S SOFTNESS
With a somewhat incongruous drum rendition via video recording, Chanel ambassador Pharrell Williams rousingly kicked off proceedings before the real show began -- to soft music and even softer form.
Gentle colors, lines and shapes, punctuated by moments of dazzling buttons, floaty plumes and large hats was the simple formula for Virginie Viard. The French designer was in a soft mood for couture this season, letting subtle twists do the talking.
A loose pastel green skirt suit opened, lined with minutely sparkling crystalline buttons made by the stalwart’s world-famous atelier. It led on to fastidious embroideries and jacquards on loose coats in speckled mint and sand with often-oversize or upturned collars, laded with an air of the 80s. A-line coats with a weighty swag, dropped waists and statement pockets, meanwhile, introduced subtle tensions — alongside hems and fringing in contrasting patterns.
Yet the best looks were those that kept it minimal. A ribbed olive green gown with a clean strap across the bust flared out at the bottom -- in a clever take on a mermaid dress. It towed a perfect line between sporty and chic. There's a niggling feeling that Viard has been playing it safe, since replacing Karl Lagerfeld who died in 2019.
FRONT ROW
It’s got to be couture week when, to blasting horns of annoyed motorists in tangled traffic, paparazzi skid in the sand for a snap of the celebrity roll call.
Keira Knightley, 37, arrived at the far-flung Chanel show to cause the most commotion. The actress, who’s been a house ambassador since 21, arrived in a velvet and lace halterneck LBD by Chanel, accessorized with shades and accompanied by her husband, British musician James Righton.
French Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard rocked up in a more casual ensemble, comprising a striped Chanel shirt and black micro mini, declining interviews. Actresses Sigourney Weaver, Clemence Poesy and Maggie Gyllenhaal also joined -- applauding vigorously when the designer came out at the finale.
ALEXIS MABILLE BLOOMS
French designer Alexis Mabille was in top fall form for a timeless collection of couture that never forgot its whimsy.
Draped gowns in luxuriant pastel silks caressed the body, quivering lightly as they were showcased down the dazzling indigo fabric runway.
Flowers were never far from the Mabille design universe -- both literally and figuratively.
A pastel gray silk dress had a central curved split at the knee so that the hem cascaded down in folds like an opening flower. Its top bib was made of intricate white lace like the veins of a petal under a microscope.
Then came flashes of whimsical fashion design -- such as one enormous silken flower headdress made of multitudinous shimmering petals.
MENSWEAR REIGNS IN PARIS
Front row fashion insiders are commenting how Paris menswear week — held June 21-26 — felt as equally buzzy as this week’s VIP-filled couture. And unusually so. Couture traditionally outperforms menswear in terms of attention and celebrity presence. But could this be a thing of the past?
From Justin Timberlake to K-pop sensations BTS, the celebrity presence alone of the menswear spring summer 2023 season was enough to rival this week's couture. And that signals higher levels of attention than normal in the glossy press and online.
This change in gear -- or fashion levelling out -- comes as men’s luxury brand portfolio has been outperforming women’s wear in terms of growth more generally with more and more eyeballs on the men’s runway.
Of particular note is the proliferation of U.S. menswear brands, which are now opting to show across the pond in Paris to capitalize on the attention. After the ill-fated New York men’s fashion week -- launched in 2016 and then canceled over a dwindling presence — reports have noted how myriad U.S.-based houses such as Thom Browne, Amiri, Greg Lauren, KidSuper and Rhude have opted to showcase their designs in the City of Light.
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https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Chanel-gets-gently-geometric-in-far-flung-Paris-17285559.php
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WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — The arrest affidavit for the suspect in Tuesday morning’s homicide in Scotland Park reveals he was the one who contacted police and notified them of the shooting.
Jason Christopher Myers, 39, of Wichita Falls, is charged with the murder of Paul Matthew Day, 28, of Orange Grove, Texas.
Myers’ bonds are currently set at $1 million.
According to the arrest affidavit, the Wichita Falls Police Department was contacted on Tuesday morning, June 21, 2022, about a shooting that took place in Scotland City Park.
Officers said they were contacted by Myers stating he was attacked by another male and that Myers shot him. When first responders arrived at the scene, they discovered Day was deceased with an apparent gunshot wound.
According to the affidavit, Myers was then transported to WFPD Headquarters, where he agreed to an interview with detectives from the Crimes Against Persons Unit.
Myers told police during an interview his daughter attends daycare at Scotland Park Elementary School, and that recently his daughter was told that the kids are not allowed to play outside because there is a homeless man in the park.
The affidavit said Myers told police on June 21, he dropped his daughter off at school and saw the homeless man, later identified as Day, under the pavilion at Scotland City Park.
Myers told police he pulled into a parking spot and yelled at Day to come speak with him, and that Day walked over to Myers while he was still in the truck.
According to the affidavit, Myers then told detectives he attempted to explain to Day what his daughter told him and asked Day if he could leave the park during the day.
Myers told police Day got “agitated” and raised his arms and said something to the effect of, “Look, I’m here. There’s nothing you can do about it.”
Detectives said Myers then told them he got out of his truck and asked Day if there was somewhere else he could go, then Myers said Day balled up his fists and hit Myers on the right side of his forehead.
The affidavit said Myers told police at this point, he pulled a handgun out of his waistband, but that Day continued to “come at” him, and that’s when Myers said he fired two or three rounds at Day.
Myers told police Day staggered away and eventually fell to the ground.
When detectives asked Myers if Day had any kind of weapon on him, Myers said Day had nothing only balled up fists. When they asked Myers why he pulled a gun on day, he told them he was in shock and that he wasn’t expecting to get hit and only wanted to have a conversation with Day.
According to authorities, witnesses on the scene stated they’ve seen Myers in his truck the past few days speeding around the area and said they thought he was looking for someone.
Police said witnesses also stated they did not see a physical confrontation prior to the shooting.
Detectives noted Myers did not appear to have any injuries on his person.
Myers told police he had looked for Day on Monday, June 20, but could not find him, but that his daughter sent him a tex message a few hours later and said Day was back at the park. Myers said when he arrived at the park, Day was no longer there.
According to WFPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Charlie Eipper, this murder marks the seventh homicide investigation in Wichita Falls so far in 2022.
The murder of Day in Scotland Park is the latest in a string of homicides in Wichita Falls. Since May 20, 2022, there were five incidents reported that resulted in six murders:
- Zackary Wood — May 20, 2022, on Brown Street
- Andrew Lopez — May 22, 2022, on Covington Street
- Andrew Gable — June 1, 2022, on 23rd Street
- Kaycee Wofford and Unborn Child — June 8, 2022, on Deer Park Way
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https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/crime/crime-crime/scotland-park-murder-suspect-calls-police-on-himself-affidavit-reveals/
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More than 100 classified Trump docs recovered during Mar-a-Lago search earlier this year
Video above: FBI seized 'top secret' documents from Trump's estate
The National Archives recovered 100 documents bearing classified markings, totaling more than 700 pages, from an initial batch of 15 boxes retrieved from Mar-a-Lago earlier this year, according to newly public government correspondence with the Trump legal team.
The numbers make clear the large volume of secret government documents recovered months ago from former President Donald Trump's Florida estate, well before FBI officials returned there with a search warrant on Aug. 8 and removed an additional 11 sets of classified records. The warrant also reveals an FBI investigation into the potential unlawful retention of the records as well as obstruction of justice.
The figures on documents were included in a May 10 letter in which acting archivist Debra Steidel Wall told a lawyer for Trump, Evan Corcoran, that the Biden administration would not be honoring the former president's claims of executive privilege over the documents.
Corcoran had weeks earlier requested additional time to review the materials in the boxes before the Archives turned them over to the FBI so that he could to determine if some were subject to executive privilege and therefore exempt from disclosure, according to the letter.
The letter was made public Tuesday on the website of the National Archives and Records Administration. It was earlier released Monday night on a website launched by John Solomon, who was appointed by Trump in June to be one of his designated representatives to the Archives and who is a Trump ally and conservative journalist.
The archivist's letter says the Justice Department had found "no precedent for an assertion of executive privilege by a former President against an incumbent President to prevent the latter" from obtaining from the Archives presidential records that belong to the federal government and that are needed for current government business. As a result, the letter said, claims of executive privilege would not be honored and the FBI would be given access to the documents in a matter of days.
The Archives had asked the Justice Department to investigate after saying that it had located classified material among the 15 boxes of records it retrieved from Mar-a-Lago that it said should have been turned over by Trump at the end of his White House tenure.
In the letter, archivist Wall writes that in those boxes, the Archives had identified items marked as classified at the top secret level as well as information about special access programs.
It says the records included 100 documents with classified markings, "comprising more than 700 pages" and cites an excerpt from separate correspondence from the Justice Department's National Security Division saying that "access to the materials is not only necessary for purposes of our ongoing criminal investigation" but also for an "assessment of the potential damage" resulting from the ways in which the documents were transported and stored.
Corcoran did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the letter.
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Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.
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https://www.wmur.com/article/more-than-100-classified-trump-docs-recovered-during-mar-a-lago-search-earlier-this-year/40969914
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Tropical Smoothie will open two new shops in the Tucson market.
One Ten REI Guadalupe LLC bought a parcel at 3200 E. Valencia Road for $450,000 and a second at 7090 E. Broadway for $830,000 in the former Macayo’s Mexican restaurant.
Both sites will become drive-thru smoothie locations. Tropical Smoothie‘s first local store is in the Houghton Town Center, 10230 E. Old Vail Road.
The Atlanta chain sells smoothies, flatbread, sandwiches and quesadillas.
Jeramy Price, with Volk Co., represented the buyer.
Other local real estate transactions include:
Just Churros leased 1,304 square feet from Dev Properties LLC in Oracle Wetmore Shopping Center, at the southeast corner of Oracle and Wetmore roads. Aaron LaPrise, with Picor, handled the lease.
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The shopping center at 1991 E. Ajo Way, near Kino Parkway, will be getting a new Eegee’s and Dunkin’ Donuts. Terry Dahlstrom, with Volk Co., represented South Gate Partners II LLC in the Eegee’s transaction and Kevin Volk, with Volk Co., represented TMC Dunkin Properties LLC for the doughnut shop. Both sales were for $375,000. Rob Tomlinson and Ron Zimmerman, with Picor, represented the seller.
Hughes Federal Credit Union bought 79,072 square feet of industrial space at 3301-3321 E. Global Loop from Global Loop Tucson LLC, Mercator Properties, LLC, and RSD MT Marathon, LLC for $13.8 million. Jesse Blum and Stephen D. Cohen, with Picor, represented the seller and Brian Harpel, with Velocity Retail Group, represented the buyer.
ZFI LLC and 45th Street Senior Apartments LLC bought the 38-unit Westview Apartments at 219 W. Fort Lowell Road from 219 West Fort Lowell Owner LLC for $2.8 million. Allan Mendelsberg and Conrad Joey Martinez, with Picor, represented both parties.
And Go Concepts LLC, doing business as Salad and Go, signed a 20-year lease with Kolb Slaw LLC and 8195 N. Oracle Road LLC, for 12,300 square feet at 1302 S. Kolb Road, in the Eastpoint Marketplace Shopping Center. Greg Furrier and Dave Hammack, with Picor, handled the lease.
Oak Street Health MSO LLC, leased 10,387 square feet from MROF I SPE I-Rolling Hills LLC at 7036 E. Golf Links Road. Dave Hammack and Greg Furrier, with Picor, represented the landlord in this transaction. Ty Brewster, with LocateAI Realty Inc., represented the tenant.
Louie’s Lounge leased 2,350 square feet at Parkview Place, 8060 E. 22nd St., from 8060 E 22nd St LLC. Greg Furrier, with Picor, represented the landlord and David Dutson, with NAI Horizon, represented the tenant.
Information for Tucson Real Estate is compiled from records at the Pima County Recorder’s Office and from brokers. Send information to Gabriela Rico, grico@tucson.com
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https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/tucson-mexican-restaurant-will-become-home-to-a-smoothie-shop/article_42f07bbe-f0c2-11ec-9c49-efeaf6384a5d.html
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Construction of the new Prairieville High School officially kicked off with a groundbreaking on its 85-acre site on Parker Road, property the Ascension Parish School District bought in 1999 knowing it would need it for a new school some day.
"Our board had the wisdom to buy the property then," Superintendent David Alexander told those gathered at the future campus on Wednesday. "And for the past 10 years, we've been growing by 370 new students every year."
"This is a 30-year journey," he said.
The 320,000-square-foot high school will have the capacity to serve approximately 2,000 students, a number that takes into account future growth.
It's expected to open in the fall of 2024 to relieve overcrowding at the three other high schools on the east bank of Ascension Parish: Dutchtown, St. Amant and East Ascension.
With Donaldsonville High school on the west bank, Prairieville High will be the fifth public high school in the parish.
School attendance zones for the new high school are still to be determined and will be drawn up with the input of the public, school officials said.
"What a wonderful day it is when we can get together as a community to celebrate a brand new school," Alexander said.
Students were part of the crowd that gathered Wednesday at the groundbreaking, with cheerleaders from the district's high schools and the St. Amant High Drum Line on hand.
Prairieville High, budgeted at $79.5 million, is the largest of 14 projects made possible when voters passed a $140 million bond proposal in August 2020.
Last summer, after soaring, pandemic-related construction costs drove initial bids for the project to $100 million, the School Board moved to rebid the school as two separate, pared-down construction projects, the academic building in one deal and the site work, which includes the athletic facilities, in another.
This month, the School Board voted to accept the low bid of $69.5 million by Baton Rouge-based Milton J. Womack for construction of the academic building, a roughly two-year project.
The board also accepted the low bid of $21.9 million, again by Womack, for the school's site work, an 18-month project, and will seek other sources of funding for that work.
Architects for the school are Domain Design Architecture and RHH Architects, both of Baton Rouge.
The property where Prairieville High will stand was once a cattle farm and wooded land belonging to the Miller family. Two members of the family were at the groundbreaking, Harriet Babin Miller and her nephew Wayne Martin.
Miller said many of her family members have been involved in education in Ascension Parish over the years and one of her uncles, Larry Babin, was superintendent for the school system for 28 years.
Martin said he used to hunt on the property with his dad and grandfather. At some point, a family home was moved from the land to across the street.
"There are lots of memories here," he said.
It's the place where his mother, Norma Miller Martin, who is now 101, grew up.
"My mom was excited when I told her I was coming out here today," he said.
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https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_61af2528-d54c-11ec-8040-7b2d7b1072a6.html
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WFO BUFFALO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, August 20, 2022
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SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
659 PM EDT Sat Aug 20 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central Lewis
County through 730 PM EDT...
At 658 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles northwest of McKeever, or 14 miles west of Old Forge, moving
northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Brantingham and Sperryville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
LAT...LON 4369 7512 4363 7526 4376 7541 4394 7515
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 222DEG 16KT 4369 7525
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
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Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
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https://www.mrt.com/weather/article/NY-WFO-BUFFALO-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17387194.php
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Renowned immunology expert honored for discovering link between lupus and endogenous retroviruses
SAN FRANCISCO, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) awarded its 2022 Lupus Insight Prize (LIP) to Akiko Iwasaki, PhD, for her discovery of the link between endogenous retroviruses and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The award was presented to Dr. Iwasaki at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS 2022) by Judith James, MD, PhD, LRA Scientific Advisory Board member and Lou Kerr Chair in Biomedical Research and Chair of the Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. The $100,000 award recognizes and honors an outstanding investigator who has, within the past five years, published a novel and important research insight into lupus that advances our understanding of this disease and could open new avenues for lupus diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Iwasaki is the Sterling Professor of Immunobiology and Professor of Dermatology and of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases) at Yale School of Medicine, and an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr. Iwasaki was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2018, the National Academy of Medicine in 2019, the European Molecular Biology Organization in 2021, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2021.
"Dr. Iwasaki's research shows that endogenous retroviruses are not just silent inhabitants in the human genome but rather active players able to provoke immune cells to engage in the destruction of the body's own tissues and organs," commented Dr. James. "This finding is highly significant because endogenous retroviruses have been increasingly associated with several chronic diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative, and autoimmune rheumatic diseases, though their exact role in human diseases remains poorly understood."
"I am honored to receive this prestigious award, and I sincerely thank the Lupus Research Alliance for recognizing our research. I am eager to use this award to further understand the association between antibodies against the endogenous retroviruses and lupus-like disease in long COVID patients to ultimately improve their disease treatment outcomes," said Dr. Iwasaki.
Dr. Iwasaki's seminal discovery demonstrated that endogenous retroviruses, which are viruses that are a part of our genetic makeup or genome, make immune cells called B cells that produce autoantibodies, i.e., immune proteins that in people with SLE mistakenly target body's own tissues, causing organ damage. Dr. Iwasaki and her team also found that endogenous retroviruses force immune cells called neutrophils to release spiderweb-like structures known as NETs, which have been shown to promote inflammation in SLE. These findings further our understanding of what may cause lupus or worsen its symptoms and suggest that targeting ways that endogenous retroviruses use to fuel inflammation in SLE could provide new therapeutic options for patients with lupus.
Human endogenous retroviruses are genetic segments of retroviral origin that have become a part of the human genetic makeup which have persisted from generation to generation and today constitute approximately eight percent of the human genome. To study the role of endogenous retroviruses in human disease, Dr. Iwasaki and colleagues initially developed the human endogenous retrovirus map, called ERVMap, which included 3,220 pieces (or segments) of different endogenous retroviruses in the human genome to be able to determine which of these genes are expressed by human cells. Among these 3,220 endogenous retroviral segments, Dr. Iwasaki's group found that over 100 segments are strongly elevated in immune cells called peripheral blood mononuclear cells of lupus patients.
The researchers further found that these elevated levels of endogenous retroviral genes are associated with higher amounts of autoantibodies and increased type I interferon levels, which are considered a main driver of lupus. Her team also showed that the immune system of lupus patients produces autoantibodies that interact with a unique endogenous retroviral protein HERV-K102. The autoantibody HERV-K102 complexes stimulate neutrophils to release NETs, which worsens inflammation in SLE. This research was published last year in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Lupus is a chronic, complex autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. More than 90 percent of people with lupus are women; lupus is most often diagnosed during the childbearing years of 15-45. African Americans, Latinx, Asians and Native Americans are two to three times at greater risk than Caucasians. In lupus, the immune system, designed to protect against infection, creates antibodies that can attack any part of the body including the kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, blood, skin, and joints.
The Lupus Research Alliance, the largest nongovernmental, nonprofit research organization dedicated to lupus research worldwide, aims to transform treatment while advancing toward a cure by funding the most innovative lupus research in the world. The organization's stringent peer review grant process fosters diverse scientific talent who are driving discovery toward better diagnostics, improved treatments and ultimately a cure for lupus. Because the Lupus Research Alliance's Board of Directors funds all administrative and fundraising costs, 100 percent of all donations goes to support lupus research programs.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lupus-research-alliance-awards-2022-lupus-insight-prize-to-immunologist-dr-akiko-iwasaki-301573541.html
SOURCE Lupus Research Alliance
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https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_health/lupus-research-alliance-awards-2022-lupus-insight-prize-to-immunologist-dr-akiko-iwasaki/article_c64a34cb-178b-5b63-b72c-8fa94545280a.html
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ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Mario Draghi’s government on Wednesday staved off the immediate prospect of an early election after a key ally indicated he would remain in the coalition for now.
Draghi met with former Premier Giuseppe Conte, now the leader of the populist 5-Star Movement, for more than an hour.
Draghi, whose coalition partners range from the left to the right of the political spectrum in addition to the populists, has said publicly that his government couldn’t continue without the support of the 5-Stars.
Conte is caught between the loyalty to the coalition and pressures from the increasingly restless base of his party.
“We spoke with Draghi, we delivered a document in the name of the 5-Stars, we have tallied up a strong political discomfort” over government policy, Conte told reporters.
Conte said that Draghi will “take time to review our requests.” Those include more generous financial relief for families and businesses slammed by high energy costs and guarantees of continued funding of a guaranteed monthly salary to those unable to find work — a pledge which helped the 5-Stars sweep parliamentary seats in the underdeveloped south in 2018.
Draghi issued no immediate assessment of their talks.
“I wasn’t expecting an immediate response — that wouldn’t even be serious,” Conte said.
But Italian media indicated more meetings between the two men will be held — a further indication that for now, Conte hasn’t decided to bolt.
“We’re willing to share a responsibility of governing as we have done up to now, I stress, in a loyal and construction manner, but what’s needed is a strong signal of a break” with policies so far, Conte said.
Irritating some fellow leaders of the 5-Stars has been Draghi’s decision to send more military aid to Ukraine to defend itself from the Russian invasion. Ultimately, populist lawmakers did vote for its passage.
Conte is a mediation lawyer who got drafted by the 5-Stars as their choice for the premiership after the Movement triumphed in the last parliamentary elections in 2018, becoming the legislature’s largest single political force.
But the party’s fortunes have been unraveling since then — among lawmakers, among the public in opinion polls and among voters, who have trounced them in regional and mayoral elections in the last few years.
Dozens of Movement lawmakers have left their party to join other forces in Parliament, be independents or in the recent case of Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, the highest-ranking 5-Star in Draghi’s Cabinet, defect to form their own political entity.
Di Maio contended that the 5-Stars have been less than stalwart backers of Italy’s pro-NATO stance.
Conte led two governments before concerns arose that he wouldn’t be authoritative enough to guide Italy through the rest of the pandemic and crucially through its economic recovery.
Draghi, a former European Central Bank chief, then was tapped by Italy’s president to forge a unity coalition out of the country’s chronically squabbling parties.
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https://www.localsyr.com/news/international/italian-govt-staves-off-immediate-prospect-of-early-election/
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When was MLB’s last perfect game? A look at the history of perfectos originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Two New York Yankees pitchers came oh so close to perfection this week.
Jameson Taillon retired the first 21 Los Angeles Angels hitters he faced on Thursday night. But Jared Walsh ended the former No. 2 overall pick’s bid at history when he led off the eighth inning with a double up the middle that shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa couldn’t come up with.
The following night, ace Gerrit Cole nearly matched Taillon’s feat. Cole sat down the first 20 Detroit Tigers batters he faced before Jonathan Schoop singled up the middle past a diving DJ LeMahieu with two outs in the seventh.
The Yankees became the first team in the expansion era (since 1961) to carry a perfecto beyond the sixth inning in back-to-back games. But, while they made some history, Cole and Taillon failed to end a near-decade-long drought in Major League Baseball…
When was the most recent perfect game in MLB?
King Felix last pitched in 2019, but he still owns MLB’s most recent perfect game. On Aug. 15, 2012, Felix Hernandez tossed a perfecto against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 2010 AL Cy Young winner struck out 12, including the final batter, to record the first perfect game in Seattle Mariners history.
Hernandez’s outing was actually the last of three perfect games in the 2012 season. Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants (vs. Houston on June 13) and Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox (vs. Seattle on April 21) also threw perfectos that season. Hernandez, Cain and Humber combined for the most perfect games ever in the same season, topping the previous record of two.
How many perfect games have there been in MLB history?
Sports
In partnership with NBC Sports Philadelphia
There have been 23 perfect games in MLB history, with the first two coming just days apart all the way back in 1880 courtesy of Lee Richmond and John Ward. Twenty-one perfect games have occurred in the modern era (since 1900) and 17 have come within the last 60 years.
For context, Angels rookie Reid Detmers’ no-hitter last month was the 316th no-no in MLB history, showing just how difficult perfection is to achieve for a pitcher.
MLB is currently in the midst of the longest perfecto-less droughts in the modern era. There have been just three other times over that span where at least nine years went by without one happening.
Has an MLB pitcher ever thrown two perfect games?
MLB’s 23 perfect games were thrown by 23 different pitchers, meaning no player has ever recorded more than one and there has never been a combined perfecto.
The Yankees and White Sox are tied for the most perfect games with three apiece. Meanwhile, the Rays, who were founded in 1998, and Dodgers have each been on the wrong side of a perfect game three times, the most of any team.
Here’s a look at all the perfect games in MLB history:
Felix Hernandez, Mariners: 2012: vs. Rays
Matt Cain, Giants: 2012 vs. Astros
Philip Humber, White Sox: 2012 vs. Mariners
Roy Halladay, Phillies: 2010 vs. Marlins
Dallas Braden, A’s: 2010 vs. Rays
Mark Buehrle, White Sox: 2009 vs. Rays
Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks: 2004 vs. Braves
David Cone, Yankees: 1999 vs. Montreal Expos
David Wells, Yankees: 1998 vs. Twins
Kenny Rogers, Rangers: 1994 vs. Angels
Dennis Martinez, Montreal Expos: 1991 vs. Dodgers
Tom Browning, Reds: 1988 vs. Dodgers
Mike Witt, Angels: 1984 vs. Rangers
Len Baker, Cleveland: 1981 vs. Blue Jays
Catfish Hunter, A’s: 1968 vs. Twins
Sandy Koufax, Dodgers: 1965 vs. Cubs
Jim Bunning, Phillies: 1964 vs. Mets
Don Larsen, Yankees: 1956 World Series vs. Dodgers
Charlie Roberston, White Sox: 1922 vs. Tigers
Addie Joss, Cleveland: 1908 vs. White Sox
Cy Young, Boston: 1904 vs. A’s
John Ward, Providence Grays: 1880 vs. Buffalo Bisons
Lee Richmond, Worcester Ruby Legs: 1880 vs. Cleveland Blues
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https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/when-was-mlbs-last-perfect-game-a-look-at-the-history-of-perfectos/3261318/
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Karen Cohen Khazon, "Turpaz's double-digit growth and strong profit, profitability, and EBITDA stem from our combined growth strategy, which proves effective despite challenging macroeconomic conditions"
Company completes three acquisitions YTD, reaching a total of six acquisitions since it's IPO in May 2021
HOLON, Israel, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Turpaz Industries (Turpaz) (TASE: TRPZ), the developer, manufacturer, and marketer of fragrance and flavor extracts, intermediates for the pharma industry, specialty ingredients for the agrochemical and fine chemicals industries, as well as citrus products and aroma chemicals for the flavor and fragrance industry., reported its financial results for the second quarter of the year, today. The Q2 and H2 results set new records thanks to high growth rates in sales, gross profit, operating profit, and adjusted EBITDA.
Karen Cohen Khazon, Turpaz's CEO, commented on the results, "the record results we reported today reflect double-digit revenues and profit growth stemming from the company's growth strategy. Our strategy combines organic growth and acquisitions. The strong capital structure, low leveraging, and the experienced global management team allow Turpaz to deal effectively with challenging global macroeconomic conditions and persist with our acquisition strategy."
The double-digit growth presented by Turpaz was evident in all parameters reviewed, reflecting the management's global growth strategy. The sales in Q2 2022 grew by 50% to $30.3 million compared with $20.2 million in the same quarter of last year. The sales in the first half of 2022 grew by 46.3% to $57.7 million compared with $39.4 million in the same period last year. The growth is due to acquisitions completed during 2021 and 2022 as well as from organic growth net of currency fluctuations impact that accounted for 11% in the second quarter of 2022 and 10.3% in the first half of the year. These financial outcomes were achieved despite currency fluctuations, particularly in the markets in which the company trades in US$. These fluctuations impaired the sales in the second quarter by 7.7% and 5% in the first half of the year.
The gross profit in the first quarter of 2022 grew by 40.7% to $11.7 million, compared with $8.3 million in the same quarter of last year. The gross profit grew by 41.7% in the first half of 2022 to $22.4 million compared with $15.8 million in the same period last year. The growth in the gross profit and the stability of the gross profitability occurred despite the global increase in raw material and shipping costs.
The adjusted EBITDA grew by 34.7% in the first quarter of 2022 to $7 million, compared with $5.2 million in the same quarter of last year. The adjusted EBITDA grew to $13.3 million, compared with $9.9 million in the same period last year, an increase of 35%. The operating profit in the second quarter of 2022 has expanded by 19.8% to $5 million, as compared with $4.1 in the same quarter of last year. The operating profit in the first half of 2022 grew by 18.8% to $9.5 million, compared with $8 million in the same period of last year.
The net profit in the second quarter of 2022 grew by 32.7% to a total of $ 4.2 million, compared with $ 3.2 million in the same quarter last year. The net profit in the first half of 2022 grew by 29.8%, totaling $8.2 million, as opposed to $6.3 million in the same period of last year.
For more information about Turpaz, and the full financial report, visit ir.turpaz.co.il
Contact:
Yoni Adini
Yoni@turpaz.co.il
View original content:
SOURCE Turpaz Industries Ltd.
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/turpaz-reports-record-results-q22022-sales-grow-by-50-303-million-net-profit-increased-by-327-42-million/
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Kuba Poraj-Kuczewski brings successful growth marketing background to Senior Leadership
DALLAS, June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- New Western, the largest national private source of distressed residential investment properties, announced today that Kuba Poraj-Kuczewski joined the leadership team as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Poraj-Kuczewski will be responsible for leading all marketing efforts for the company and overseeing New Western's marketing team.
"We are thrilled to have Kuba serve our team as CMO," said Kurt Carlton, co-founder and president of New Western. "The vision we have for New Western far exceeds traditional levels of growth and requires the expertise of a leader with a proven track record of optimizing capabilities, positioning and tangible business results."
"New Western has an impressive history of building high-performing teams, and my passion lies in helping these teams drive customer awareness, demand and retention," said Kuba Poraj-Kuczewski. "I'm excited to support New Western in this next growth stage, and the challenge of moving it from stealth mode to a leading industry brand."
Poraj-Kuczewski brings more than two decades of experience in customer acquisition, engagement and marketing communication strategy. He has a keen understanding of brand awareness, product marketing and performance marketing. He has had tremendous success in growing industry-leading online products, campaigns and brands from launch to exit.
Before joining New Western, Poraj-Kuczewski led marketing at high-growth tech companies from early-stage industry leaders, including ClickBank, Quote Wizard, Redfin and Education Dynamics. He graduated from Seattle University with a degree in Marketing and International Business, where he serves on the Alumni Board.
New Western makes real estate investing more accessible for more people. Operating in most major cities, our marketplace connects more than 100,000 local investors looking to rehab houses with sellers. As the largest private source of investment properties in the nation, we buy a home every 13 minutes. New Western delivers new opportunity for all—a fresh start for sellers, exclusive inventory for investors, and affordable housing for buyers. For more information, visit www.newwestern.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE New Western
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https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/13/former-redfin-head-marketing-joins-new-western-chief-marketing-officer/
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Johnny Depp’s Popularity Actually Decreased During Defamation Trial According to Survey
A new poll suggests Johnny Depp actually lost popularity among the public during his and Amber Heard's defamation trial, despite the appearance of overwhelming support on social media.
According to a Morning Consult poll release June 8, Depp's popularity saw a decrease following the highly publicized trial, despite the appearance on platforms such as TikTok and Twitter that the general public largely supported the Pirates of the Caribbean actor.
The survey found that following the conclusion of the six-week trial, the amount of U.S. adults who view Depp as somewhat or very favorably has decreased from 68 to 56 percent.
Where Depp saw his popularity fall most was in the baby Boomer age group. In April, Depp’s favorability rating among baby boomers was 59 percent. When the trial ended in June, that number had decreased to 37 percent, making baby boomers' opinion of Depp worse than any other age group.
Moreover, Depp's favorability among men also dropped. Prior to the trial, he was at 67 percent. He has since dropped 15 percent, landing at 52 percent.
The area that saw the smallest decrease in approval was that of Gen Z. According to the poll, 70 percent of Gen Z adults held a favorable view after the trial. That number was only down 2 percent since April.
Additionally, the Millennial age group also saw a small decrease. His favorability rating among them dropped six points, to 72 percent.
As a result, younger age groups seem to find Depp much more likable than older age groups after the trial.
The survey revelation comes after Depp was awarded $10.35 million in compensatory damages and Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages at the end of the trial.
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https://newstalk1290.com/johnny-depps-popularity-decreased-during-trial/
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Actress Anne Heche, whose charismatic persona made her one of Hollywood’s biggest stars of the 1990s, died Sunday, a little more than a week after she crashed her car into a home in Los Angeles.
She was 53.
Her representative said in an email she was “peacefully taken off life support.”
“Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy,”Heche’s family said in a statement on Friday while Heche was still on life support to allow her organs to be harvested. “Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact.”
Anne Heche’s Career
The Ohio native rose to fame on the NBC soap opera “Another World” just after high school. She played the dual role of twins Vicky Hudson and Marley Love from 1987 to 1991. The role earned her a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama series in 1991.
In the late 1990s, Heche career soared on the big screen.
She received accolades for her supporting role as the wife of an undercover FBI agent in 1997’s “Donnie Brasco,” which starred Johnny Depp and Al Pacino.
Heche had supporting roles in other high-profile projects that year, including the summer blockbuster “Volcano” starring Tommy Lee Jones. While the explosive disaster film wasn’t a critical hit, it performed well at the box office.
Heche also had a smaller role in another box office winner, “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”
She capped off the year by starring opposite Robert DeNiro and Dustin Hoffman in “Wag the Dog.”
Heche’s career was moving full-steam ahead.
She booked her first starring role opposite Harrison Ford in the 1998 romantic adventure comedy “Six Days, Seven Nights.” That same year, she starred in “Return to Paradise” with Vince Vaughn and Joaquin Phoenix.
Towards the end of that year, she starred in Gus Van Sant’s “Psycho” remake. Heche’s performance earned praise, but the movie itself earned negative reviews and was a box office bomb.
Heche’s relationship with comedian Ellen DeGeneres heightened her fame, but it also came with immense public scrutiny, and backlash.
“I didn’t do a studio picture for 10 years,” she told Page Six in 2021. “I was fired from a $10 million picture deal and did not see the light of day in a studio picture.”
Heche called herself “patient zero” as she claimed she was the first big name to ever get canceled before the term “cancel culture” entered into the pop culture lexicon.
Once she split from DeGeneres, Heche was hospitalized after knocking on the door of a stranger in a rural area near Fresno, California. Authorities said she had appeared shaken and disoriented, and spoke incoherently to the residents.
In a memoir released the following year, “Call Me Crazy,” Heche talked about her lifelong struggles with mental health and a childhood of abuse.
Over the past two decades, Heche’s career pivoted several times.
In 2017, she hosted a weekly radio show on SiriusXM with Jason Ellis called “Love and Heche.”
In 2020, Heche made her way into the podcast world. She launched “Better Together” which she cohosted alongside Heather Duffy Boylston. The show was described as a way to celebrate friendship.
She also worked in smaller films, on Broadway, and on TV shows. She recently had recurring roles on the network series “Chicago P.D.,” “All Rise,” and was a contestant on Season 29 “Dancing With the Stars.”
Heche was married to camera operator Coleman Laffoon from 2001 to 2009. The two had a son, Homer, together. She had another son, named Atlas, during a relationship with actor James Tupper, her co-star on the TV series “Men In Trees.”
Heche succumbed to injuries suffered in a crash on Aug. 5 when witnesses saw Heche’s car speeding through city streets before slamming into a two-story house in L.A.’s Mar Vista neighborhood. Police believe she was intoxicated at the time.
Los Angeles Police said there would be no further investigative efforts in the case.
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https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/national-news/anne-heche-dead-at-53-actress-removed-from-life-support-after-organs-harvested/
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President Biden said fighting inflation is his "top domestic priority" in an economic speech at the White House Tuesday morning and laid out his administration's plans to lower prices on things like gas, which has hit a record-high cost.
Biden's remarks also targeted what he called "ultra-MAGA" Republicans. His sharpened attacks against the GOP are part of the administration's effort to draw a contrast with how Republicans are planning to handle inflation and rising costs, issues that are top-of-mind for voters ahead of the midterm elections this year.
"Republicans have offered plenty of blame," Biden said of gas prices, "but not a single solution to actually bring down the energy prices."
The president said that while the pandemic and Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine have contributed to inflation, lack of competition and inhibited access to materials is why prices have continued to go up.
"Capitalism without competition isn't capitalism, it's exploitation. So we're promoting competition for everything from internet services to meat processing," Biden said.
"All of my plan is focused on lowering costs for the average family in America, to give them just a little bit of breathing room," he said. The president, however, did not offer a timeline on when costs might start to go down.
Biden's remarks are part of a series of events this week where the president will continue to talk about lowering costs. On Wednesday, the president will travel to Illinois to visit a family farm and talk about food prices. He will also address the electrical workers at the IBEW convention in Chicago.
White House is targeting GOP's 'ultra-MAGA' messages
In his speech, Biden not only laid out his own agenda but repeatedly criticized Republicans', namely one from Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Sen. Rick Scott of Florida. He charged that the GOP's "ultra-MAGA" plan increases taxes on Americans and gives tax cuts to billionaires.
"They don't want to solve inflation by lowering your costs, they want to solve it by raising your taxes and lowering your income," Biden said.
He pointed specifically to Scott's plan that asks every American to pay income tax. Currently, about half of Americans do not earn enough money to pay income taxes.
"If you look at what we've been doing the last few years is we're paying people not to work," Scott told NPR in March. "We've got people that have voted for government programs that could go work and aren't working. I'm not raising the tax rate. I'm not even raising their taxes. I'm saying we got to get these people to work so they're part of the system."
Biden called Scott's plan is part of the "ultra-MAGA agenda."
"Republicans in Congress are so deeply committed to protecting big corporations and CEOs that they'd rather see taxes on working American families and try to depress their wages than to take on inflation," Biden said.
Biden also attacked Scott's proposal to allow legislation to expire every five years unless Congress renews it, which would put legislation like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid up for a vote. The president called it "outrageous."
Inflation will dominate the midterm elections
Celinda Lake, a pollster who works with Democratic candidates, tells NPR that inflation will be a major point for voters in the midterm elections, but that people will start cementing their views on it in May and June.
She said it's important for Democrats to acknowledge inflation is a problem and repeatedly give assurances that they are doing everything that can be done on multiple fronts, on the executive and legislative levels, to lower prices. She also said it's important to point out that Republicans stand in the way of those efforts.
"People have no idea what the barriers are to those policies being implemented. It's very, very important to say that one of the things that's a problem here is that Republicans are not joining us," Lake said.
Lake says that right now, voters think Republicans are better on inflation, so Democrats have to some catching up to do.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.ijpr.org/npr-news/2022-05-10/biden-names-combating-inflation-and-rising-costs-as-his-top-domestic-priority
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Coca-Cola is putting Jack & Coke in a can
Drinking a Jack and Coke is about to become, somehow, even easier.
Coca-Cola is partnering with Brown-Forman to make a new canned cocktail combining Coke and Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. The drink, which also will be available in a zero-sugar option, is hitting shelves in Mexico later this year before expanding globally.
The combination brings together "two of the world's most recognizable and valuable trademarks," the companies said in a press release, and will include "clear responsibility symbols" to indicate the beverage is for legal-aged drinkers. It will typically have 5% alcohol by volume, but that will vary depending on country.
Brown‑Forman CEO Lawson Whiting said that the partnership "brings together two classic American icons to deliver consumers a taste experience they love in a way that is consistent, convenient, and portable." He added that the new drink will "accelerate expansion and continue to grow our business around the world."
Mexico was picked as a launch market because both brands are popular there and the country has a well-developed ready-to-drink market, a Brown-Forman spokesperson told CNN Business. A U.S. launch is intended for sometime in 2023.
Coca-Cola has been aggressively expanding its alcoholic drink options as the trend grows. Jack and Coke joins Topo Chico Hard Seltzer and Simply Spiked Lemonade, both made in partnership with MolsonCoors. The company is also scheduled to launch Fresca Mixed later this year, a spirit-based cocktail created in conjunction with Corona brewer Constellation Brands.
Sales of canned cocktails have exploded as drinkers look for convenience and new flavors beyond wine and beer. The beverage category grew 53% last year and is projected to grow another 29% over the next three years, according to data from IWSR Drinks Analysis.
Punchier flavors and drinks from recognizable brand names might also help companies breakthrough in the quickly growing sector. Brown‑Forman said in a recent earnings release that Jack Daniels is experiencing a "resurgence" in sales and the company has plans to grow the whiskey even more this year.
Meanwhile, rival Pepsi is also eying the trend: HARD MTN DEW, a sugar-free canned cocktail with 5% alcohol by volume, hit shelves a few months ago.
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https://www.wgal.com/article/coca-cola-is-putting-jack-coke-in-a-can/40273657
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Police: Man killed himself after ramming US Capitol barrier
WASHINGTON (AP) — A man drove his car into a barricade near the U.S. Capitol early Sunday and then began firing gunshots in the air from the burning car before fatally shooting himself, police said.
The incident happened just before 4 a.m. at a vehicle barricade set at East Capitol Street and 2nd Street in Washington.
It comes at a time when law enforcement authorities across the country are facing an increasing number of threats and federal officials have warned about the potential of violent attacks on government buildings in the days since the FBI’s search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
The attack is reminiscent of an incident when a man drove a vehicle into two Capitol Police officers at a checkpoint in April 2021, killing an 18-year veteran of the force. And many on Capitol Hill remain on edge after supporters of the then-president stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Authorities said the man, whose identity has not been released, crashed into the barricade and that as he was getting out of the car, the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The man then opened fire, firing several shots into the air as police approached.
Capitol Police said the man shot himself as the officers neared. He was later pronounced dead.
Police said “it does not appear the man was targeting any member of Congress” and that investigators are examining the man’s background as they work to try to discern a motive. Both the House and Senate are in recess and very few staff members work in the Capitol complex at that hour.
Authorities said no other injuries were reported and police do not believe any officers returned fire.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/14/police-man-killed-himself-after-ramming-us-capitol-barrier/
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When a baby giraffe was born with an unusual joint problem in February, caretakers at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park got worried. And then they got creative.
The keepers were concerned that baby Msituni wouldn’t be able to feed or move properly. Joints in her front legs were hyperextended and bent the wrong way, putting stress on her hind legs and her entire skeletal structure.
In a flash, they reached out to folks at the Hanger Clinic, a national company that provides prosthetics and orthotics — to humans.
“It was pretty surreal when I first heard about it,” Ara Mirzaian, a Hanger employee who took the case, told the Associated Press. “Of course, all I did was go online and study giraffes for like 24/7 until we got out [to the zoo].”
Animals using prosthetics is not new, but a newborn baby giraffe presents a unique challenge. In addition to her joint issues, Msituni needed IV antibiotics for irregularities in her blood, and hoof extenders on her back legs to help compensate for the troubles in her front legs, according to a San Diego Zoo Safari Park press release.
So while Msituni’s crew at the zoo kept her stable, Mirzaian got to work. He teamed up with a company that makes braces for horses, using molds of the baby giraffe’s legs. The braces were completed in little more than a week, complete with giraffe spots!
”We put on the giraffe pattern just to make it fun,” Mirzaian said. “We do this with kids all the time.”
After spending her first weeks in the hospital, Msituni finally joined the zoo’s giraffe family under the care of Yamikani, an adult female with a baby born just days after Msituni. (Sadly, Msituni’s mom did not take her back after the calf’s extended hospital stay.)
The braces are now off Msituni’s healed legs and she’s free to frolic in the zoo’s savannah habitat. The zoo posted a sweet video of Msituni recently to celebrate her journey:
Meet Msituni. The now 3-month-old giraffe calf was born with unstable wrist joints, causing her front legs to bend improperly. Wildlife care specialists needed to intervene quickly to save her life and partnered with orthotists at the @HangerNews to design custom leg braces. pic.twitter.com/Mgd2szt05K
— San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (@sandiegozoo) May 14, 2022
Go, Msituni, go!
Excuse me, I’ve got something in my eye over here.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories.
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https://www.wrtv.com/baby-giraffes-life-saved-custom-leg-braces
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CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — As the Fourth of July approaches, many places in the Tri-State area are preparing their firework shows.
While fireworks are an American tradition to celebrate Independence Day, some with sensitive ears, such as pets or veterans, can experience high anxiety during the blasts.
To help with this anxiety, 13 News has compiled a list of ways to assist pets, dementia patients and veterans during firework celebrations.
Pets
Health communications agency Curation says loud firework noises can cause fear and anxiety in dogs, causing them to run away or hide. When a dog does this, they are experiencing noise aversion, which causes symptoms similar to a panic attack.
With this in mind, it is important to keep an eye on unusual behavior from your dog that is triggered by loud noises. During Fourth of July celebrations, there are several ways to help your dog cope with stress from firework shows.
- Keep pets secured in a quiet room during the displays.
- Talk to your veterinarian about products and medications that may help.
- Prescription medications such as Trazodone, Valium, Zoloft and more.
- Calming supplements such as CBD, homeopathic medicines and aromatherapy.
- Physical comforters such as anxiety vests or calming caps.
- Make sure your pet is microchipped in case they bolt and escape during the noise.
People with dementia and Alzheimers
According to the Alzheimers Foundation of America (AFA), firework noise can create challenges for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses.
The AFA says fireworks can be distressing for someone with dementia, especially if they are a veteran. Even when the person is inside, the noise from firework explosions can cause anxiety or agitation. Large crowds can also be overwhelming for people with dementia.
To prepare for Independence Day, the AFA has provided tips to make the holiday “dementia-friendly.”
- Consider keeping the person indoors at times when fireworks will go off.
- Adapt the fireworks tradition by watching a filmed display on TV.
- Explain to your loved one in advance that there may be loud noises and continue telling them this at different intervals.
- Put on soothing background sounds such as a white noise machine or an air conditioner.
- Have comfort items on hand like a blanket or an article of clothing.
- Occasionally check in with your loved one during the night if they live with you. If they live alone, stay overnight with them or ask a trusted friend, relative or caregiver to do so.
- Keep gatherings small and give guests name tags to help the person with dementia recall who is who.
- Host celebrations during daylight to prevent confusion as the sun sets.
- Keep the person’s routines as normal as possible, including mealtimes, naptimes and bedtimes while incorporating favorite activities throughout the day.
- Get your loved one in the Independence Day spirit with activities like creating decorations, playing patriotic music, baking holiday-themed desserts, or making a photo album with Fourth of July memories.
- Families with questions or concerns can talk to a licensed social worker by calling AFA’s Helpline at (866) 232-8484 or visiting the AFA’s website. The helpline is open seven days a week.
Veterans
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a major part of helping veterans during Independence Day is to plan ahead. Recognizing triggers in advance can prevent potential problems.
Some common triggers for veterans during the holiday include:
- Light sensitivity to fireworks and sparklers, especially at night;
- Strong reactions to sounds like fireworks, ceremonial guns and cannon fire;
- Anxiety in crowds;
- Flashbacks triggered by sounds or smell;
- Feeling distant from family during celebrations;
- Risky behaviors like excessive alcohol consumption.
Other helpful tips include:
- If throwing a celebration, ask guests in advance if they experience difficulties during fireworks;
- Use quieter alternatives to fireworks such as sparklers;
- Consider excluding alcohol or other intoxicating substances from Independence Day celebrations;
- Practice a few self-help tips or relaxation exercises;
- Find more resources for Veterans and their families on the Make The Connection website.
For a list of fireworks in the Tri-State area, click here.
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https://www.wowktv.com/news/u-s-world/tips-for-helping-sensitive-ears-cope-with-fourth-of-july-firework-blasts/
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(WSYR-TV) – Livable Communities of Oneida County is partnering up with the City of Rome for a “Pop-Up” project that will be held on Saturday June 18, from 10-2:00 p.m. The activation will not only coincide with the city of Rome’s Summer Program Registration, it will also have music, food trucks, vendors and lawn games for all ages.
The lead nonprofit for Livable Communities of Oneida County, Kelly Walters, speaks on how this activation is to improve accessibility and new options for people of all ages and abilities. She says, “Such ‘Pop-Up’ Projects are helpful to get the community involved in working with government to activate space to become more livable and age-friendly for the entire community.”
The “Pop-Up” project is a chance for the community in the City of Rome to provide feedback before construction begins for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. This activation will show how projects can impact and improve plans to excite a community, all while being the first one for Livable Communities of Oneida County.
Mayor Jacqeline M. Izzo says she is very pleased to partner with 50 Forward Mohawk Valley. She goes on to say, “the event gives the city an opportunity to showcase some of the possible future uses of the green space that was identified as a DRI priority project. We hope residents will take advantage of this
opportunity to participate and provide comments on the event.”
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https://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/first-rome-pop-up-project-on-june-18/
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Advertising Sponsors Include:
Procter & Gamble, Honda, AT&T, Stellantis, Walmart, Toyota, Bank of America, Verizon, Lexus, Meta, Allstate, Boost Mobile, Lowes, Kia, SC Johnson, UnitedHealthcare, Safelite, Macy's, Taco Bell, T.J. Maxx, Dairy Queen, Capital One, Geico, Pizza Hut, Mastercard, Target and Many More
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Byron Allen's Allen Media Group (AMG) is proud to announce it has secured numerous major Madison Avenue advertising sponsors for the launch of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) sports for HBCU GO and theGrio Television Network's 2022-23 sports programming season. Brand sponsors include: Procter & Gamble, Honda, AT&T, Stellantis, Walmart, Toyota, Bank of America, Verizon, Lexus, Meta, Allstate, Boost Mobile, Lowes, Kia, SC Johnson, UnitedHealthcare, Safelite, Macy's, Taco Bell, T.J. Maxx, Dairy Queen, Capital One, Geico, Pizza Hut, Mastercard, Target and many more.
HBCU GO is the leading media provider for the nation's 107 HBCUs, and recently announced nationwide clearance for their 2022-23 sports season as part of a new carriage deal with CBS owned-and-operated broadcast television stations in key broadcast television markets including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Tampa, Detroit, Miami, and Pittsburgh. AMG's FREE-streaming digital platform HBCU GO brings together major HBCU NCAA conferences, with major market carriage across broadcast television, cable, satellite, and digital platforms. HBCU GO's 2022-23 season began this past Saturday, September 3 with "The HBCU GO Sports Kickoff Show." The three-hour pre-season special aired LIVE on the AMG platforms HBCU GO, theGrio Television Network, theGrio Streaming App, Sports.TV, Local Now, and on broadcast television stations throughout the U.S.
HBCUs are widely known for graduating exceptional athletes, celebrities, politicians, and historical figures including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Wilma Rudolph, Althea Gibson, Walter Payton, Michael Strahan, Jerry Rice, Spike Lee, Alice Walker, Samuel L. Jackson, astronaut Ronald McNair, Alex Haley, Earl Graves, Oprah Winfrey, Chadwick Boseman, Justice Thurgood Marshall, Common, Booker T. Washington, Taraji P. Henson, Judge Kevin Ross, Langston Hughes, Katherine Johnson, Kenya Barris, and Vice President Kamala Harris, to name a few.
"The HBCU brand represents over 184 years of historic excellence, dating back to 1837, which helped cultivate some of the world's greatest minds and talent," said Byron Allen, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group. "HBCU GO and theGrio position our advertisers to speak to the heart and soul of Black America 24/7, and help our sponsors stay strongly connected with one of the most valuable, untapped audiences in the world."
For more information about HBCU GO visit HBCUGO.TV or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram.
About HBCU GO
HBCU GO is a cultural lifestyle destination and leading sports media provider that embraces and represents the voice of Black Excellence every day of the year through an all-new platform that captures the rich history, diversity, perspectives, and cultural experiences at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). HBCU GO also provides a platform for emerging creatives in media production, branding, and broadcasting. We offer our viewers the best in live sports, original series, documentaries, films, comedy, and edutainment programming produced by African-American leading producers, directors, and students from select HBCUs.
Launched in 2012, the free-streaming service HBCU GO was purchased by Byron Allen in 2021 and is part of Byron Allen's Allen Media Group (AMG). AMG is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Charleston, SC. AMG owns 27 ABC-NBC-CBS-FOX network affiliate broadcast television stations in 21 U.S. markets and twelve 24-hour HD television networks serving nearly 220 million subscribers: THE WEATHER CHANNEL, THE WEATHER CHANNEL EN ESPAÑOL, PETS.TV, COMEDY.TV, RECIPE.TV, CARS.TV, ES.TV, MYDESTINATION.TV, JUSTICECENTRAL.TV, THEGRIO, THIS TV, and PATTRN. AMG also owns the streaming platforms HBCU GO, THE GRIO STREAMING APP, SPORTS.TV, THE WEATHER CHANNEL STREAMING APP, and LOCAL NOW -- the free-streaming AVOD service powered by THE WEATHER CHANNEL and content partners, which delivers real-time, hyper-local news, weather, traffic, sports, and lifestyle information. For more information, visit www.entertainmentstudios.com and www.hbcugo.tv
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Allen Media Group
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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/byron-allens-hbcu-gothe-grio-attracts-major-fortune-500-sponsors-historically-black-colleges-universities-sports-network/
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By Abe Márquez
Marisol García Alcántara had run out of water hours earlier when she finally arrived at the white Kia SUV waiting in the desert outskirts of Nogales, Arizona, for her and the six other migrants in her group. It was a hot day in June 2021 and the group had just completed a grueling trip from Mexico to enter the U.S. undetected. García Alcántara’s left leg ached from jumping the border fence and the 37-year-old was relieved to settle into the SUV’s back seat. But within minutes, as the vehicle drove along a Nogales street, she heard sirens from a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle. García Alcántara remembers the SUV slowed down in response. No one expected what happened next. The agent fired his gun at the SUV. The bullet sailed in through the back seat and lodged into García Alcántara’s head just above her left eye.
“I felt something hit me in the head, and I lost my vision but was hearing everyone screaming for help,” García Alcántara told palabra in a recent interview from her home outside Mexico City.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection declined to respond to palabra’s inquiries about the shooting or the agency’s protocols for internal investigations or disciplinary action. Nogales police records say that a Border Patrol supervisor at the scene described the incident as a “fail to yield” and that “one shot was fired.” But even if the vehicle García Alcántara was in had failed to slow down in response to the agent’s siren, CBP’s use-of-force guidelines specify that deadly force is only justified to stop an imminent threat of serious injury or death and “would not include a moving vehicle merely fleeing from officers/agents.”
The same Nogales police records say a little-known unit within the Border Patrol, known as a Critical Incident Team, responded to the scene after the shooting, along with the FBI. But Critical Incident Teams, which for decades were used by Border Patrol to gather evidence on the scene after an agent used force, have been accused by immigrant rights advocates of covering up evidence of agent misconduct and interfering with law enforcement investigations. Furthermore, federal law designates other entities to criminally investigate agent misconduct, and it is unclear under what authority these Critical Incident Teams have to respond first and collect evidence.
In December, CBP told the Associated Press that its Office of Responsibility was still investigating the shooting and it would be reviewed by the agency’s National Use of Force Review Board. Yet García Alcántara says she has never been interviewed by anyone tasked with investigating the shooting or given an opportunity to share her account. She now lives with bullet fragments in her brain and regularly suffers from headaches.
It is still unknown whether the agent responsible for the Nogales shooting will face any consequences, but many such Border Patrol incidents happen with impunity. Border Patrol agents rarely are successfully prosecuted for using excessive force. In fact, in the agency’s 90-year history, advocates say not one agent has ever been convicted for killing someone while on duty. Although President Biden campaigned on bringing “compassion and sensitivity” to the asylum system, immigrant rights advocates say the administration has so far failed to deliver on this promise. In fact, evidence shows that certain kinds of Border Patrol misconduct have increased since Biden took office.
Earlier this month, however, the administration did take one notable step toward increasing accountability within the Border Patrol by announcing it will phase out the agency’s controversial Critical Incident Teams. Advocates have praised the move, while also calling it just a first step.
A legacy of impunity
García Alcántara’s case is one of 236 incidents of apparent Border Patrol misconduct since 2020 that the advocacy group Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) has documented in a new database, Border Oversight. The federal government’s lack of transparency over such incidents led WOLA Director for Defense Oversight Adam Isacon to compile the database.
“I hope that having everything in one place will force a conversation that we are not having enough about Border Patrol’s misconduct,” Isacson said. “The database can help create specific reforms to solve this problem.”
While García Alcántara survived her encounter with the Border Patrol, others have not. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas has tracked 218 fatal encounters since 2010 with Border Patrol agents and officers at ports of entry that were reported by the CBP or media outlets. Of those fatal encounters, 75 stemmed from vehicle pursuits of migrants attempting to enter the U.S.
“We’ve seen an increase in the number of deaths due to vehicle pursuit in the last two years,” said ACLU of Texas staff attorney Shaw Drake.
In 2021, 23 people were killed in Border Patrol vehicle pursuits of migrants, including high-speed chases, up from two in 2019, according to ACLU data. Also in 2021, the same data set shows 55 people died as a result of Border Patrol agents using lethal force with a firearm. One victim was Cuban asylum seeker Diosmani Laurencio, who was killed by a Border Patrol agent in February 2021 after crossing the Rio Grande in Hidalgo, Texas.
“They shot him more than five times in the chest from close range,” his father Raúl Laurencio told palabra. The incident is currently being investigated by the DHS Office of Inspector General, the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility and the FBI.
When García Alcántara decided to immigrate to the United States to look for work and reunite with her mother, she never imagined the possibility of getting shot by a U.S. law enforcement agent while she was riding unarmed in a vehicle. “The system is broken,” she said. “We are not criminals.”
After the shooting, García Alcántara was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Tucson. Three days later, she was transferred to an immigration detention facility in Florence, Arizona, where she was held for a few weeks. In that time, she said no U.S. government officials ever contacted her to get a statement from her about what had happened in the lead up to the moment she was shot. She was deported back to Mexico a month after the shooting.
“No one investigated,” she said. “I returned to Mexico without making a statement.”
A long fight for accountability
As recently as last November, CBP defended Border Patrol’s Critical Incident Teams that responded to García Alcántara’s shooting. “These teams consist of highly trained personnel available to respond around the clock to collect and process evidence related to CBP enforcement activities as well as critical incidents,” reads a statement the agency gave to Phoenix TV station, ABC 15 Arizona. “In the case of serious incidents involving CBP personnel, members of these teams are sometimes called upon to assist investigators from CBP OPR and other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.”
The decision to phase out the Critical Incident Teams came in early May, in the form of a memo from CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus, Biden’s pick to lead the agency. Starting in October, only the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility – without assistance from Critical Incident Teams – will respond to and process the scenes of critical incidents involving border enforcement personnel, such as those that result in use of force, death, or serious injury. “To ensure our Agency achieves the highest levels of accountability, OPR will be the CBP entity responsible for responding to critical incidents and ensuring all reviews and investigations are conducted by personnel with appropriate expertise, training, and oversight,” reads Magnus’ memo. The agency will also beef up the number of people working on investigations for OPR.
These changes are considered a victory for immigrant rights advocates and families of victims of Border Patrol misconduct who had long pushed for an end to the Critical Incident Teams and had prodded Congress to take action.
“The records generated by the Critical Incident Teams are inherently unreliable, these are investigative teams whose mandates were to protect their own and minimize their exposure to civil liability,” said ACLU of New Mexico staff attorney Rebecca Sheff.
In response to concerns raised by advocates, the House committees on Oversight and Reform and Homeland Security sent a letter last January alerting CBP that they were investigating the teams, specifically whether they had “interfered with criminal, civil, or administrative investigations of the use of force by Border Patrol agents to protect these agents from being held accountable for potentially serious misconduct.” The same day, a group of Democratic lawmakers had requested that the U.S. Government Accountability Office conduct a review of CBP’s use of Critical Incident Teams.
Since Magnus was sworn-in last December to lead CBP , immigrant rights advocates had hoped he would start enacting some of the reforms Biden had campaigned on. As Tucson Police Chief, Magnus was known for being an outspoken critic of Trump’s immigration policies and said that Tucson’s leaders “take pride in being welcoming to immigrants.”
Sheff called the new CBP policy a “welcome change” in direction for the Biden administration on Border Patrol accountability and shows “the agency is, at least, somewhat responsive to border communities, and to the families affected by this.”
“I’m delighted they did it,” said WOLA’s Isacson. “I think this was Chris Magnus’ first real test on doing something on accountability that changes the way CBP operated for 35 years.” At the same time, Isacson noted, “there is a long way to go for accountability, this is a baby step.”
Isacson said another step he would like to see would be more funding and oversight over the appropriate entities tasked with conducting Border Patrol misconduct investigations, including more monies for the DHS Office of Inspector General, the CBP Office of Public Responsibility, and the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
Immigrant rights advocates say it is also necessary to have independent investigators re-examine old cases that may have been tainted by the Critical Incident Teams and carry out new investigations to hold Border Patrol agents accountable for any misconduct.
“The elimination of cover-up teams — which engaged in obstruction of justice and acted only in the interest of agents, not the public — is an important first step towards addressing the longstanding problem of Border Patrol impunity,” Vicki B. Gaubeca, director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition said in a press release. “Not a single on-duty agent has been held accountable for taking the lives of hundreds since 2010. Independent investigators should now consider reopening these cases to ensure that families harmed find closure and justice.”
Living through pain
Late last year, García Alcántara filed a claim against the Border Patrol’s Nogales station, a first step in filing a federal lawsuit. The claim says the bullet wound resulted in permanent life-long consequences, including injuries such as “intracranial hemorrhage, orbital fracture, skull fracture, with bullet and broken bone fragments entering her left frontal lobe.” Doctors have also told García Alcántara that she is at risk of suffering from facial paralysis or becoming epileptic. “I don’t know if I will wake up blind or with no memory one day, which makes me sad,” she said.
In the meantime, she is still waiting to learn whether the Border Patrol agent who shot her received any discipline.
“I am asking for justice, so they don’t keep doing this,” said García Alcántara. “I am also asking for a public apology from the person who did this. I’d like to know why he did this to me since I didn’t do anything to him.”
- - -
Abraham Márquez is a freelance writer from Inglewood, California, focusing on immigration and politics.
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https://www.al.com/palabra/2022/05/can-border-patrols-pattern-of-mistreating-migrants-without-recourse-be-reversed.html
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The new “Minions” movie is critic-proof. If you have young kids, there’s nothing I can say to keep you from seeing “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” which opens in theaters beginning this weekend.
Fortunately, I have no intention of maligning this fifth “Despicable Me” spin off movie. I won’t be calling it great cinema anytime soon, but the film certainly works because it is over-stuffed with funny characters, it’s fast-paced, and most importantly, it has some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments. Young kids will love it, and mom and dad will enjoy a chuckle or two.
This latest film is a prequel that rewinds to the days when a bad boy named Gru (Steve Carell) wanted to join a group of San Francisco supervillains known as the Vicious 6. These are the crème de la crème of 1970s antiheroes, featuring Belle Bottom (Taraji P. Henson), Jean Clawed (Jean-Claude Van Damme), Stronghold (Danny Trejo), the roller-skating Svengeance (Dolph Lungren) and Nunchuck (Lucy Lawless), a martial arts expert who wears a nun’s habit.
The main story finds Gru trying to join the group, stealing a magical stone and then trying to survive the Vicious 6’s retaliations with the help of Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand), a kung fu acupuncturist (Michelle Yeah), and of course, those yellow bundles of chaos known collectively as the Minions. With apologies to Carell and this impressive cast of actors in this movie, it’s the minions and their mayhem that make these films so much fun.
Indeed, perhaps the biggest problem with “Minions: The Rise of Gru” is that there is too much Gru, leaving the Minions to play in unconnected sequences that are still very funny, but not always connected to the main plot. I enjoy the energy and laughs from these side bits of chaos and wish that there was more.
Credit much of this to French animator/director/producer Pierre Coffin, who provides the vocal babbling for all of the minions. He continues to give superb comic performances that are accessible to audiences of all ages. Despite directing the original “Despicable Me” movies, he does not get enough credit for the success of this franchise.
And dear heavens, his latest creation, Otto, may be the funniest/dumbest minion yet.
I do appreciate that the film clocks in at just under an hour and a half, and I certainly enjoy the retro animation and classic music in the film’s soundtrack. If you’re making a family animation movie, it’s important to add moments that will appeal to parents in the audience.
All of that being said, “Minions: The Rise of Gru” succeeds because it panders so effectively to its elementary school fan base. The story may be mediocre, but it doesn’t matter. As long as the Minions make the kids laugh, then the movie is a success.
The kids laughed a lot at my screening.
And so did I.
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https://www.idahopress.com/community/life/movie-guy-minions-rise-up-for-laughs/article_7cc3916b-6818-5a40-be9f-99286c99a6d4.html
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Which Jansport backpack is best?
Jansport is the world’s largest maker of backpacks and one of the most trusted brands in the industry. Jansport backpacks have long been the envy of the schoolyard, but their backpacks are versatile enough for use at the office, the gym, traveling and just about any other situation in which you’d need to carry around your things. Jansport’s iconic style and signature quality are what make this brand stand apart from the competition.
The Jansport Right Pack is the top pick. It’s a laptop backpack that’s great for both students and office workers.
What to know before you buy a Jansport backpack
Jansport’s lifetime warranty
Jansport stands by its quality by offering a lifetime warranty that covers any manufacturer defects, so if you receive a damaged or broken bag, you can rest easy knowing that it will be repaired or replaced.
Remember that Jansport’s lifetime warranty does not cover damage caused by accidents, natural wear and tear, or improper care. Jansport also does not cover products that have been modified or altered in any way with their warranty.
Which type of Jansport backpack is right for me?
Since Jansport is a leading brand in backpacks, it’s only natural that they offer a wide array of options to choose from.
The most classic Jansport backpack is the Jansport SuperBreak. This bag is perfect for use as a school bag, day bag or even as a piece of carry-on luggage for flights. It comes in a variety of fun colors and designs.
The Jansport Right Pack is great for carrying around your laptop, thanks to the fact that it sits upright when placed on the floor.
The Jansport Half Pint Mini Backpack is a great option for those that are looking for a daypack to carry for a day out on the town or while hiking.
Style and aesthetic
One thing that you won’t have to worry about when buying a bag from Jansport is not having color or design options. Jansport is known for their backpacks with bold designs and colors. Choose a color or print that works with your personal aesthetic and your needs.
What to look for in a quality Jansport backpack
Laptop compartment
Even if you already have a designated laptop bag, it’s always good to look for a backpack that can be as versatile as possible. A lot of Jansport backpacks have an internal laptop compartment that can fit laptops up to 15 inches. If you don’t carry around your laptop a lot, you won’t have to worry about this feature too much.
Pockets and organization
As with any backpack, the key thing to look for in a quality Jansport backpack is the organization and layout of the bag. Jansport’s backpacks are known for offering a lot of pockets, both inside and outside the backpack, without offering too many to the point where it feels overwhelming or distracts from the overall look of the bag. Find a Jansport backpack that works best for your needs.
Extra features
Some Jansport backpacks have extra features that may be appealing to different types of people. For example, some are designed to sit upright when sat on the floor and others have a wheeled-backpack option that may be appealing to younger students.
How much you can expect to spend on a Jansport backpack
Jansport backpacks normally range from about $40-$100, depending on the model and style.
Jansport backpack FAQ
Does Jansport’s warranty include fading designs or colors?
A. No. This issue would fall under normal wear and tear, as backpacks will naturally lose their color or fade over time as the dyes break down. This is not a common problem with Jansport backpacks, though.
Are Jansport backpacks comfortable?
A. Jansport backpacks are designed with comfort in mind and most models are adjustable for added ergonomics.
What’s the best Jansport backpack to buy?
Top Jansport backpack
What you need to know: This laptop backpack is great for students and office workers.
What you’ll love: Aside from being a sturdy, durable and stylish laptop backpack, this pack’s main feature is that it is designed to sit upright when sat on the floor.
What you should consider: Some users have reported that the bag will begin to tear along the straps if it is routinely overloaded.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Jansport backpack for the money
Jansport Half Pint Mini Backpack
What you need to know: This mini backpack from Jansport is the perfect daypack for everyday life. It’s also ideal for a night out or to bring along on a hike.
What you’ll love: This mini backpack is stylish and comes in a few different color and design options.
What you should consider: The straps on this backpack aren’t padded, but because it’s a small pack, it should never be heavy enough to cause any discomfort.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Jansport SuperBreak One Backpack
What you need to know: This is Jansport’s iconic flagship backpack. It’s great for just about anyone needing to get things from point A to point B.
What you’ll love: The SuperBreak comes in a variety of color options and designs. Its comfortable to wear and looks as good as it feels. It’s 25-liter size is perfect for carrying around life’s necessities.
What you should consider: Some users had issues with the zipper getting stuck.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Addison Hoggard writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.localsyr.com/reviews/br-reviews/travel-br/small-travel-bags-br/best-jansport-backpack/
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Which CBD balms are best?
CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a sought-after therapy for a variety of health concerns, including chronic pain and even some skin conditions. While many consumers are wary of the tetrahydrocannabinol contained in cannabis and its psychoactive effects, rest assured that quality topical CBD products aren’t composed of THC.
If you’re new to the realm of CBD products or topicals, consider our top choice, Try The CBD – CBD Cream, for a natural introduction to the highest-quality CBD products and their health benefits.
What to know before you buy a CBD balm
Concentration matters
Similar to ingestible CBD products like gummies, the concentration of CBD in a balm determines its efficacy. The potency doesn’t need to be quite as high in a topical product as an oral product to make an impact, but a highly concentrated CBD balm will be more effective than one with a low concentration. For soothing pain, try to find a balm with at least 200 milligrams of CBD. Alternatively, if you are using a CBD balm as part of your normal skincare routine, anything between 25-200 milligrams is satisfactory.
Sources and types make a difference
The source of the CBD greatly determines the quality of the final product. The United States has some of the best soil for growing hemp, so an American-grown CBD formula is usually high-quality.
The type of CBD—isolate, broad-spectrum, or full-spectrum—also influences its quality. Isolate CBD formulas completely isolate the CBD, meaning they contain nothing but CBD. Expect broad-spectrum formulas to have a variety of CBD and other cannabinoids, but all the THC will be removed. When it comes to full-spectrum, this has the widest range of cannabinoids and can contain trace amounts of THC. If you need to take a drug test, note that full-spectrum CBD formulas may trigger false positives.
There’s no THC
If you’re worried about CBD products getting you high, put that worry to rest. Except for trace amounts found in full-spectrum formulas, CBD products don’t contain THC, which is the main cannabinoid in marijuana causing psychoactive effects. Additionally, a CBD balm applied topically is less likely to enter the bloodstream while it targets areas of pain and inflammation.
What to look for in a quality CBD balm
Third-party testing
Companies boasting the highest quality CBD balms verify their formulas through third-party testing. Rather than simply meeting personal standards, a choice CBD brand will ensure they are offering the best, most potent balms that provide real results by opening their formula up to scrutiny. Any CBD balm you consider should supply third-party lab test results proving the safety and effectiveness of the product.
Multipurpose qualities
Most CBD balms are suitable for use on the entire body, even the face. A CBD balm should be effective on the tough skin of your elbows and knees while being safe for your joint pain, inflammation and even facial acne. Some CBD balms are area-specific, such as lip balms or under-eye balms. Consider your needs and choose the balm that suits you.
Organic
The best CBD balm comes from organic ingredients. They will be free of pesticides and harmful chemicals, allowing you to use your CBD balm worry-free about toxins in your skincare routine.
Quality ingredient list
Choice ingredients comprise the best CBD balms. While CBD should be the most essential ingredient, other ingredients will be included. Check for natural, quality ingredients like beeswax, vegetable wax, essential oils and aloe vera. Avoid harmful ingredients found in some topical products, including, but not limited to, EDTAs (calcium disodium EDTA, disodium EDTA, tetrasodium EDTA, trisodium EDTA), solvents and cyclic silicones.
Scent
CBD typically doesn’t smell amazing on its own, so many CBD balms include a fragrance to allow for a more relaxing user experience. Natural fragrances like essential oils are popular among high-quality CBD balms, but it is possible to find fragrance chemicals. Check for fragrance chemicals if you have sensitive skin or want to avoid unnatural ingredients.
How much you can expect to spend on CBD balm
Expect CBD balms to vary in price depending on potency, source, type and quantity. Anything between $6-$75 is a normal price for a CBD balm.
CBD balm FAQ
How long will the effects of my CBD balm last?
A. Results vary between users and are largely influenced by the potency of your product and the amount applied. The severity of your health issue, such as joint pain, also impacts the results.
How do I use a CBD balm?
A. Make sure the area where you want to apply your balm is clean and dry. Beginning with a small amount of product, gently massage in a circular motion until it’s absorbed. Allow yourself to adjust to the dosage before increasing it or upgrading to a formula with a higher potency.
What’s the best CBD balm to buy?
Top CBD balm
What you need to know: Made of natural, organic ingredients, this therapeutic CBD package comes with three balms to suit a variety of topical purposes.
What you’ll love: Get the most out of this product with its flexible uses. Great for multiple skin types and everyday use, you can treat yourself with the confidence that you’re using the purest products.
What you should consider: Some users find the potency of this product lower than their preference.
Where to buy: Sold by Try The CBD
Top CBD balm for the money
Plant People – Soothe+ Restorative CBD Body Balm
What you need to know: This soothing, full-spectrum salve is all-purpose, so apply it to any sore or swollen areas for relief.
What you’ll love: A little goes a long way with this CBD balm. Designed to ease aches and pains, you can apply this balm to a variety of locations on the body. It’s especially helpful for anyone dealing with effects from surgery or allergies.
What you should consider: This balm can be a bit messy to spread effectively.
Where to buy: Sold by Plant People
Worth checking out
Cornbread – USDA Organic CBD Balm
What you need to know: With no-mess application, manufacturers created this highly durable balm to keep up with your active lifestyle.
What you’ll love: This CBD balm offers a clean ingredient list, refreshing smell and healing effects with no preservatives. Composed entirely of plant products, this balm works hard to deliver pain relief and relaxation.
What you should consider: This CBD balm is pricier than many of its alternatives.
Where to buy: Sold by Cornbread
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Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Abbey Ryan writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.myarklamiss.com/reviews/best-cbd-balm/
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Many baby formula plants weren’t inspected because of COVID
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators have historically inspected baby formula plants at least once a year, but they did not inspect any of the three biggest manufacturers in 2020, according to federal records reviewed by The Associated Press.
When they finally did get inside an Abbott Nutrition formula plant in Michigan after a two-year gap, they found standing water and lax sanitation procedures. But inspectors offered only voluntary suggestions for fixing the problems, and issued no formal warning.
Inspectors would return five months later after four infants who consumed powdered formula from the plant suffered bacterial infections. They found bacterial contamination inside the factory, leading to a four-month shutdown and turning a festering supply shortage into a full-blown crisis that sent parents scrambling to find formula and forced the U.S. to airlift products from overseas.
The gap in baby formula plant inspections, brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, is getting new scrutiny from Congress and government watchdogs investigating the series of missteps that led to the crisis. A recent bill would require the Food and Drug Administration to inspect infant formula facilities every six months. And the government’s inspector general for health has launched an inquiry into the FDA’s handling of Abbott’s facility, the largest in the U.S.
Abbott resumed production at the plant early this month under a legally binding agreement with the FDA, but the shutdown and nationwide shortage exposed how concentrated the industry has become in the U.S., with a handful of companies accounting for roughly 90% of the market.
As COVID-19 swept across the U.S. in early 2020, the FDA pulled most of its safety inspectors from the field, skipping thousands of routine plant inspections.
The FDA did conduct more than 800 “mission critical” inspections during the first year of the pandemic, the agency said in a statement. Regulators selected facilities for inspections based on whether they carried a specific safety risk or were needed to produce an important medical therapy.
Only three of the nation’s 23 facilities that make, package or distribute formula made the cut. The FDA resumed routine inspections in July 2021.
The inspection records reviewed by the AP show gaps as large as 2 1/2 years between FDA’s 2019 inspections and when regulators returned to plants owned by the three leading formula manufacturers: Abbott, Reckitt and Gerber.
In fact, the FDA still has yet to return to one key plant owned by Reckitt and two owned by Gerber, according to agency records. All those facilities are operating around the clock to boost U.S. formula production.
“The FDA would have had more chances to catch these issues if they’d been inspecting during the pandemic,” said Sarah Sorscher, a food safety specialist with the Center for Science in the Public Interest. She acknowledged the difficult trade-off the FDA faced in pulling its inspectors to reduce their exposure to COVID-19. “Certainly there was a price to pay for protecting their workers during that time.”
Baby formula manufacturers were “consistently identified as a high priority during the pandemic,” and there is currently no backlog of inspections, the agency told the AP in response to inquiries about the gaps. The agency said it skipped about 15,000 U.S. inspections due to COVID, but it has already made up about 5,000 of those, exceeding its own goals.
Under current law, the FDA is only required to inspect formula facilities every three to five years, but the agency has consistently inspected facilities annually — until the pandemic.
“Our top priority now is addressing the urgent need for infant formula in the U.S. market, and our teams are working night and day to help make that happen,” FDA stated.
But outside experts say the gap in inspections speaks to a blind spot in the government’s response effort, which was successful at preventing shortages of drugs and other medical supplies.
FDA Commissioner Robert Califf says regulators knew shutting down Abbott’s plant would create supply problems, but there was little evidence of urgency between when inspectors shuttered the plant in February and recent emergency measures to allow more imports from abroad.
Longtime food safety specialists see a deeper problem at the highest levels of the FDA, where physicians and medical scientists for decades have prioritized oversight of drugs and medical products over food.
“It’s very challenging for them to get engaged at all in this area because they don’t have the background, the knowledge and the experience in it,” said Steven Mandernach, executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials, which represents state-level inspectors.
The FDA shares oversight of food production and safety with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. FDA inspections of food facilities peaked in 2011 and have declined most years since, despite increased funds and powers by Congress. The FDA said that while U.S. inspections have declined, foreign facility inspections have increased.
There’s no certainty that extra inspections during COVID-19 would have prevented the contamination problems at the Sturgis, Michigan, plant that was shut down. And Abbott says that its products have not been directly linked to the infections, two of which were fatal.
But the plant did have earlier problems, including a 2010 formula recall due to possible contamination with insect parts.
“I think facilities that had known problems that could cause a food safety risk should have been part of FDA’s mission critical work,” Mandernach said. “And this facility would have been among those.”
Not having regular inspections — or even the threat of them — can lead to changes in culture at plants like Abbott’s, Mandernach noted.
“If you’re driving down the highway and you know the state troopers have been furloughed, might you go a little faster than if you knew there was a trooper on duty?” Mandernach asked.
___
Follow Matthew Perrone on Twitter: @AP_FDAwriter.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kttc.com/2022/06/13/many-baby-formula-plants-werent-inspected-because-covid/
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No-code platform speeds up service delivery and significantly enhances customer experience for insurance, banking and other financial institutions
TOKYO, June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EasySend Ltd. (Headquarters: Israel, CEO & Co-Founder: Tal Daskal, "EasySend"), an InsurTech company supporting the digitalization of the insurance and financial industries, has established a Japanese entity, EasySend Godo Kaisha in Tokyo. With Kazuyo, Yamashita as Director of Business Development in Japan, EasySend will further expand its customer base and partner companies in Japan and promote the digitalization of the financial industry in Japan including insurance companies and banks by leveraging its knowledge and experience in the global market, while addressing Japanese laws and market needs such as privacy data and security.
The importance of digitalization is widely recognized in the insurance and financial industries, with strategies to simplify, accelerate, and automate business processes. Driven by Covid 19, the industry has also been rapidly strengthening non-face-to-face channels and digitizing and automating administrative procedures of various forms in paper and PDF, contract processing and payment claims.
EasySend meets the needs of these insurance companies and financial institutions by providing a no-code development platform that does not require programming expertise. In particular, EasySend supports digitization by streamlining customer data intake and automating workflows that previously required paper forms into web forms and workflows in a short period of time and at a low cost. EasySend's platform has already been implemented by dozens of insurance companies and banks in Europe, the U.S., and Israel. In Japan, EasySend's platform has been implemented by Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. Toppan Forms Co., Ltd. has also signed a distributor agreement.
EasySend's platform allows non-system developers to quickly and easily develop systems with intuitive drag-and-drop operations and simple configuration, reducing a company's five-year digital transformation plan to just three months, speeding service delivery, reducing system development and operations costs and improving customer services, resulting in the increase in the revenue. It also leverages a cloud-based, no-code builder that leverages third-party integrations, and analytics to address increasingly diverse and complex customer needs, giving it a competitive advantage over its competitors. EasySend also connects to Salesforce CRM to pre-populate fields, collect electronic signatures, initiate journeys, and optimize results. Enterprises can initiate the digital process through their website, email, SMS or CRM and the customers can start the process from any device, at any place or time. EasySend's platform keeps personal and corporate information secure with strict security measures that comply with Japanese and international standards.
Tal Daskal, EasySend's CEO stated, "The establishment of EasySend's presence in the important Japanese market will allow us to build relationships with many companies, including Japanese insurance companies and financial institutions. EasySend is a digitalization expert in the insurance and financial industries. EasySend shortens sales cycles, reduces manual work, and increases brand loyalty."
Akiyuki Matsuda, Data Business Group, DX Promotion Department, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. said, "By using EasySend, we are smoothly digitizing our traditional paper-based operations without major changes to our workflow. The file upload function, check boxes, electronic signatures, and other useful tools have made implementation easy. We also feel that intuitive operations such as copy and paste and drag and drop allow us to develop sophisticatedly designed web flows without advanced digital skills," he said.
【Reference】
Demo video for the solutions:https://ja.easysend.io/demo-video
Customer case-study :
- Real Garant by Zurich - Changing a complex process into a streamlined digital journey, impacting the revenue https://ja.easysend.io/customer-stories/real-garant
- VGM - Achieved 5-year digitalization plan in 3 months
https://ja.easysend.io/customer-stories/vgm - Nürnberger -Built a digital journey in just 6 weeks and increase customer satisfaction https://ja.easysend.io/customer-stories/nurnberger
Partner program:https://ja.easysend.io/partner-program
【About EasySend】
EasySend is a no-code platform that empowers organizations to transform complex forms, customer data intake and signature collection processes into easy digital experiences.
By collecting customer data and signatures in a way that seamlessly integrates into internal systems and processes, EasySend empowers organizations to automate workflows and streamline customer interactions. Learn more at easysend.io.
Press Contact
Name: Elyssa Bloom
Email: e.bloom@easysend.io
+972-54-320-9898
View original content:
SOURCE EasySend
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https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/insurtech-easysend-strengthens-japan-by-establishing-japanese-entity-order-accelerate-digitization-within-japanese-financial-industry/
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This news release constitutes a "designated news release" for the purposes of the Company's prospectus supplement dated December 10, 2021 to its short form base shelf prospectus dated October 27, 2021.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - GoldMining Inc. (the "Company" or "GoldMining") (TSX: GOLD) (NYSE: GLDG) is pleased to announce initial assay results from the first two holes of a six hole 3,600 metre (m) drilling program on the La Garrucha target, located less than one kilometre to the east and immediately adjacent to existing mineral resources on the Company's 100% owned La Mina project ("La Mina"), located in Antioquia, Colombia.
The assays presented herein are for the first step-out drill section located 100 metres along strike of previously identified porphyry-style mineralization at La Garrucha.
Alastair Still, CEO of GoldMining, commented, "This is a great start for our 2022 La Garrucha drilling program at the La Mina Project in Colombia and our broader strategy to unlock value from our portfolio of gold and gold-copper projects located throughout the Americas. This also builds upon the La Mina Preliminary Economic Assessment* announced earlier this year that focused on the La Cantera and Middle Zone deposits of the project which are located 1 kilometre to the west of La Garrucha. Our team believes that the La Garrucha target remains open for expansion and is shaping up as a third possible porphyry deposit which could contribute potential additional resources to lead the growth of the La Mina Project."
Tim Smith, VP Exploration of GoldMining, commented, "These results from the first two holes of our 3,600 metre drilling program (announced April 12, 2022) confirm that the La Garrucha porphyry mineralization extends to the southeast along strike as modelled from our geophysical dataset and interpreted by our technical team. Drilling is continuing on the next two drill fences located on 100 metre step outs southeast along strike. We expect that those assay results will be released in the coming months as they become available. With the association between bedrock magnetic highs and porphyry-style mineralization now confirmed, we are further encouraged by the presence of additional magnetic targets located within the broader La Mina property which will be systematically explored for additional Au-Cu porphyry mineralization."
*The Preliminary Economic Assessment referenced above, announced January 12, 2022, is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized.
The ongoing La Garrucha drilling program is targeting a large (1km x 1km) magnetic high associated with a granodiorite porphyry intrusive complex that hosts gold and copper mineralization at La Garrucha (see Figure 1). A smaller discrete magnetic high is also coincident with the nearby La Cantera Au-Cu porphyry deposit. Previous La Garrucha drilling completed in 2011 by Bellhaven Copper & Gold Inc. ('Bellhaven'; prior to acquisition by GoldMining) returned gold-copper porphyry intercepts of 216.80 metres at 1.31 g/t Au and 0.15% Cu from 143.0 to 359.80 metres depth in LME1100; 158.12 metres at 1.01 g/t Au and 0.17% Cu from 66.50 to 224.62 metres depth in LME1102; and 71.0 metres at 1.02 g/t Au and 0.14% Cu from 355.0 to 426.0 metres depth and 106.60 metres at 0.56 g/t Au and 0.11% Cu from 485.65 to 592.25 metres depth in LME1104.
Drill holes LME1107 & 1108 were drilled on a NE-SW oriented section located 100 metres southeast of the previous Bellhaven drilling at an azimuth of 220⁰ and at hole inclination of -50⁰ and -70⁰ hole respectively (see Figure 2). Drilling has confirmed the continuation of porphyry mineralization southeast along strike. Gold and copper mineralization is coincident, and higher grades are associated with a core potassic alteration zone within the porphyry intrusive complex, quartz stockwork veining and both vein-hosted and disseminated sulphides including pyrite, chalcopyrite and lesser bornite. Detailed core logging is ongoing, including re-logging of the previous Bellhaven core, to place copper and gold mineralization in spatial and temporal context with the hosting porphyry intrusive complex. Geological 3D modelling and subsequent resource modelling will take place in the latter part of the year following conclusion of the drilling program.
The La Garrucha porphyry mineral system now extends over at least 300 metres strike, where it is open to the southeast, and over at least 200 metres width. Drilling has tested to a maximum vertical depth of 450 metres below surface where the porphyry mineral system remains open to depth.
Step-out drilling is currently ongoing on a second drill fence located 100 metres along strike to the southeast of LME1107 & 1108. A third fence is planned an additional 100 metres southeast along strike pending visual observations of the drill cores. In addition, the drill will return to the LME1107 & 1108 drill pad to re-enter and deepen LME 1108 given that core assays indicate that the hole ended in mineralization.
Additional information regarding the La Mina Project, including existing resource estimates and past work at the project, is set out in the technical report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, La Mina Project, Antioquia, Republic of Colombia" with an effective date of January 12, 2022, which is available at the Company's website at www.goldmining.com.
Table 1 – 2022 La Garrucha gold assay results for the first two holes of the drilling program received as of 22nd June 2022.
Table 2 – 2022 La Garrucha drillhole collar location coordinates.
Paulo Pereira, P. Geo., President of GoldMining, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Pereira is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.
For this program of drill core sampling, samples were taken from the NQ/HQ core by sawing the drill core in half, with one-half sent to ALS Colombia LTDA in Medellín for assaying and the other half retained for future reference. Sample lengths downhole range from a minimum of 0.50m to a maximum of 2.10m. ALS Colombia LTDA is a certified commercial laboratory located in Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia and is independent of GoldMining. GoldMining has implemented a stringent quality assurance and quality-control (QA/QC) program for the sampling and analysis of drill core which includes insertion of duplicates, mineralized standards and blank samples for each batch of 100 samples. The gold analyses were completed by ALS Au-AA23 method (fire-assay with an atomic absorption finish on 30 grams of material). Repeats were also carried out by fire-assay. Copper analyses were completed by ALS ME-ICP61 method (four acid digest with ICP analysis).
GoldMining Inc. is a public mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of gold assets in the Americas. Through its disciplined acquisition strategy, GoldMining now controls a diversified portfolio of resource-stage gold and gold-copper projects in Canada, U.S.A., Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. The Company also owns more than 20 million shares of Gold Royalty Corp. (NYSE American: GROY).
This document contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations, including statements regarding the Company's expectation, future potential and future work programs at the Company's La Mina Project. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the markets in which GoldMining operates. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including: delays to plans caused by restrictions and other future impacts of COVID-19 or any other inability of the Company to meet expected timelines for planned project activities; results of exploration programs may not confirm expectations; the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, fluctuating metal prices, unanticipated costs and expenses, risks related to government and environmental regulation, social, permitting and licensing matters, and uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future. These risks, as well as others, including those set forth in GoldMiningꞌs Annual Information Form for the year ended November 30, 2021, and other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.
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https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/goldmining-inc-discovers-extension-its-la-garrucha-target-la-mina-project-colombia-drill-results-include-34554-metres-074-gt-aueq/
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