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BONN, Germany, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading telecommunications provider Deutsche Telekom Global Carrier has announced the implementation of a superior network monitoring solution.
The new service is the result of the wholesale supplier's partnership with BENOCS and autonomous business monitoring company Anodot. Powered by AI, the service not only monitors the data on the network but also recognizes changes in traffic behavior and flow. It has significantly reduced costs and effort by allowing only relevant anomaly alerts to be received. At the same time, unnecessary alert noise has been eliminated.
Carsten Bruns, Vice President Internet & Content Services from Deutsche Telekom Global Carrier, said, "Having been a satisfied BENOCS customer for a number of years now, we decided it was time to take the next monitoring step. The integration of Anodot's anomaly detection technology with BENOCS' comprehensive Flow Analytics has already saved us valuable time in identifying irregularities and rectifying network issues."
"Telco service providers must process an immense amount of data from multiple sources to ensure optimal service across their complex network environments. By monitoring granular performance and fault data in real-time and providing automated insights, Anodot enables communications services providers to identify and resolve issues quicker. Alert noise will now be a thing of the past for Deutsche Telekom Global Carrier," said David Drai, CEO, Anodot.
Stephan Schröder, CEO of BENOCS, added, "We are happy to have our biggest customer, Deutsche Telekom Global Carrier, on board to really put Anodot's anomaly detection to the test. We look forward to discovering just how much they benefit from its integration into their BENOCS analytics capabilities."
Anodot's automated insights combine performance and fault monitoring to give communications service providers an end-to-end view for real-time detection of service-impacting incidents. Anodot autonomously learns the normal behavior of all business metrics and constantly monitors each metric in real-time. Its correlation engine connects anomalies across all data stacks, identifies events and contributing factors, and slashes time to detection and remediation of incidents. Deutsche Telekom Global Carrier is the first customer worldwide to install the joint BENOCS-Anodot solution for AI-powered anomaly detection into its IP-network monitoring system.
About Deutsche Telekom Global Carrier
Deutsche Telekom Global Carrier is the international wholesale division of Deutsche Telekom. We offer a comprehensive portfolio for all the needs of a rapidly transforming telco industry. One that is continually updated to provide fast, innovative solutions for future technologies and challenges. As one of the world's leading carriers, we are able to satisfy the requirements of Deutsche Telekom Group's international affiliates and more than 900 external customers worldwide. With more than 25 years of experience in the international wholesale communication market, Deutsche Telekom Global Carrier offers next-generation platforms, extensive networks, a global backbone, 360 degrees of security, tailor-made solutions, worldwide connectivity, and much more. For more information, please visit: globalcarrier.telekom.com or https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/deutsche-telekom-global-carrier/
About Deutsche Telekom: https://www.telekom.com/companyprofile
About Anodot
Anodot is the business monitoring company that eliminates business blind spots by proactively monitoring business metrics, enabling companies to protect revenue and manage cost. Leveraging AI and ML, Anodot's augmented analytics proactively alert companies to revenue-critical business incidents and automates their remediation in real time. Anodot's Cloud Cost Management solution helps FinOps teams reduce cloud waste and manage costs in multi-cloud and Kubernetes environments, providing actionable recommendations that can cut up to 40% on annual cloud spend. Anodot is trusted by numerous Fortune 500 companies to help slash time to detection and resolution for revenue-critical issues by as much as 80%.
About BENOCS
BENOCS GmbH – a spin-off of Deutsche Telekom – is a small company with big plans to revolutionize the way network traffic is managed. Their intelligent and fully automated solutions fit networks of any size and provide ISPs as well as CDNs strategic ways of coping with growing network traffic. With BENOCS Analytics, network operators, transit and wholesale carriers, Hosting and CDNs gain end-to-end visibility of their entire traffic flows. More information at www.benocs.com and on LinkedIn.
Media Contacts
Deutsche Telekom AG
Corporate Communications
Tel.: +49 228 181 – 49494
E-Mail: media@telekom.de
Further information for the media at:
www.telekom.com/media
www.telekom.com/photos
www.twitter.com/telekom_group
www.instagram.com/deutschetelekom
Anodot
Allison Grey
anodot@headline.media
+1 323 283 8176
+44 203 807 4482
BENOCS
Rebecca Maschke
rmaschke@benocs.com
View original content:
SOURCE Anodot and BENOCS | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/deutsche-telekom-network-monitored-by-ai-solution-benocs-anodot/ | 2022-06-15T10:06:18Z |
On national holiday, American Legion Post 400 hosts ceremony for the fallen
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - As families and friends gather nationwide to commemorate fallen soldiers Memorial Day, American Legion Post 400 in Topeka held its annual ceremony to remember.
A 21 gun salute punctuated the American Legion Post 400′s Memorial Day service in North Topeka. It was followed by taps and a moment of silence inside the post.
13 NEWS spoke with the Commander of the Legion Post Steve Christenberry.
“The legion is all about our veterans,” Christenberry said. “The legion was created in World War I, 1919, and has been going strong for 108 years now.”
Christenberry said the ceremony is crucial to teach the younger generation why we recognize the soldiers who gave their lives for freedom.
“The veteran community is an aging community I’m afraid,” said Christenberry. “We want to make sure that the younger people in the United States, and in the world, they celebrate this in other countries as well, recognize that the reason we have the freedoms we do is because of the veterans in the military that served, lost their lives for the United States of America, and for the free countries.”
If you wish to visit the American Legion Post 400, it is located at 3029 NW U.S. Hwy 24.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/30/national-holiday-american-legion-post-400-hosts-ceremony-fallen/ | 2022-05-31T00:05:26Z |
Atlantic hurricane season oddly quiet despite forecasts
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - It’s been quiet — too quiet — this Atlantic hurricane season, meteorologists and residents of storm-prone areas whisper almost as if not to tempt fate.
A record-tying inactive August is drawing to a close and no storms have formed, even though it is peak hurricane season and all experts’ pre-season forecasts warned of an above normal season. Nearly all the factors that meteorologists look for in a busy season are there.
Warm ocean water for fuel? Check.
Not a lot of wind shear that decapitates storms? Check.
La Nina, the natural cooling of the central Pacific that changes weather patterns worldwide and increases Atlantic storm activity? Check.
Yet zero storms formed. Surprised experts point to unusual persistent dry air and a few other factors. But each time they and computer simulations think something is brewing, nothing comes of it.
“It has been surprisingly and freakishly quiet in the Atlantic,” University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said, pointing out that weak Tropical Storm Colin fizzled out on July 2 and there’s been nothing since.
It’ll be the first time since 1941 that the Atlantic has gone from July 3 to the end of August with no named storm, Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach said. Since 1950, only 1997 and 1961 had no named storms in August and 1961 then went hyperactive in September, including deadly Carla, he said.
In Lake Charles, Louisiana, one of the more weather-battered cities in the past decade, residents have noticed how quiet the hurricane season is so far and it’s almost “testing fate” to bring it up, Mayor Nic Hunter said. From August 2020 to August 2021, the city was hammered by two hurricanes — Laura and Delta — only six weeks apart, a deep freeze and spring flooding. Residents still have blue tarps on their roofs.
“I think there’s a lot of knocking on wood. There’s a lot of prayers,” Hunter said. “Until the season is over, I don’t think anybody’s going to have any sighs of relief.”
Certainly not 74-year-old Shirley Verdin, who lives about 200 miles (320 kilometers) away in Bayou Point-Au-Chien, where Hurricane Ida ripped through on Aug. 29 last year. She now lives in a Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer next to her gutted home that will be demolished down to the pilings this weekend so it can be rebuilt.
There are wisps of potential storm systems swirling in the Atlantic that meteorologists are following and so is Verdin. Closely.
“I know there’s something out there right now,” she said.
The National Hurricane Center is watching three thunderstorm systems in the Atlantic and gives them all at least a 50% chance of becoming a named tropical storm, with one of them a likely sounding 80%. But Colorado State’s Klotzbach has seen this before this year and isn’t counting on them.
Just late last week, the computer forecast models predicted three maybe four storms forming, including one becoming a major hurricane with winds of more than 110 mph (177 km/h), Klotzbach said.
Then nothing.
For the past month and a half, thunderstorms that could be seeds of hurricanes power off Africa looking strong enough “but then they encounter a lot of dry air that’s just sitting over the Atlantic,” University of Albany atmospheric scientist Kristen Corbosiero said. “The dry air has really been the main thing that’s been stopping storms from really getting going.”
Relative humidity is about 15% below normal and there’s been Saharan dust in there making it drier, McNoldy and Klotzbach said.
The dry air does a couple things, Corbosiero said. Those thunderstorms become more potent and get their energy as warm moist air rises off the ocean. The ocean is warm enough, but the dry air causes that water to evaporate, cool and go down, not up, she said.
That dry air also helps create cross winds about 2 miles up (3 to 4 kilometers) “that can really do damage to a storm trying to form,” Corbosiero said.
Matthew Rosencrans, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s lead hurricane outlook forecaster, said he sees signs that the dry air is ending and normal moisture will be returning, which could mean more storms. Rosencrans also says crosswinds at other heights, especially in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico also were a factor in dampening storm activity until now.
Other factors include a patch of sinking air over the Atlantic, a poorly located high pressure system also connected to the European heat wave and dust, the scientists said.
It’s been weird in the tropics, too, but in a different way, Klotzbach said. Before this year, the north Indian Ocean has had only one named storm in August; this year there are two, he said. And in the Pacific, Supertyphoon Hinnamnor is not only the most powerful storm on Earth this year, but it’s moving southwest when these type storms usually move west to east, Klotzbach said.
“There’s some odd stuff going on,” Klotzbach said.
But in the Atlantic nothing’s really going on and victims of past years’ storms don’t want to jinx it.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful?” Louisiana resident Thomas Halko asked about whether the so-far quiet hurricane season will continue. Halko lives in southeastern Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish, in an area hammered by Hurricane Ida last year. A house on his property shifted clear off its foundation and had to be demolished.
“We made it through the week and it looks like we’re in relatively good shape for the next five days or so,” he said of the upcoming weather report.
But it’s hard to appreciate the quiet when he feels a “nervous anticipation of doom” thinking about the ongoing hurricane season.
“There is this foreboding that really won’t go away,” he said.
Hurricane season peaks around Sept. 10 and stretches through Nov. 30.
“It is important to remember the lessons of Hurricane Andrew, which devastated South Florida and Louisiana in an otherwise quiet year,” National Hurricane Center acting Director Jamie Rhome said in an email. “It only takes one landfalling hurricane to make it a bad season for you, and we still have many months to go in the hurricane season.”
___
Borenstein reported from Washington.
Follow Santana on Twitter at @ruskygal and Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/09/01/atlantic-hurricane-season-oddly-quiet-despite-forecasts/ | 2022-09-01T04:25:19Z |
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Shortly after Riley Briones Jr. arrived in federal prison, he cut his long, braided hair in a symbolic death of his old self.
As the leader of a violent gang and just shy of 18, Briones drove the getaway car in a robbery turned deadly on the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community outside Phoenix in 1994. He was convicted of murder and given a mandatory sentence of life without parole.
In prison, he has been baptized a Christian, ministers to other inmates who call him Brother Briones, got his GED and has a spotless disciplinary record, his attorneys say in their latest bid to get the now 45-year-old’s sentence cut short.
“He’s clearly on the side of the line where he should be walking free,” said his attorney, Easha Anand.
The U.S. Supreme Court opened the door for that possibility with a 2012 ruling that said only the rare, irredeemable juvenile offender should serve life in prison. Over the past decade, most of the 39 defendants in federal cases who received that sentence have gotten a reprieve and are serving far fewer years behind bars.
Meanwhile, more than 60 legal experts and scholars have asked the federal government to cap sentences for juvenile offenders at 30 years, create a committee to review life sentences in the future and reconsider its stance in Briones’ case.
But the move toward greater leniency has been gradual and not without resistance.
Briones is among those whose life sentences have been upheld in recent years, though he still has another chance.
Prosecutors in his case have staunchly opposed a reduced term. They argue despite Briones’ improvements, he minimized his role in the gang and its crimes that terrorized Salt River amid an explosion of gang violence on Native American reservations in the 1990s.
___
Briones began serving prison time in 1997 for the death of Brian Patrick Lindsay, a Northern Arizona University honors student who was home for the summer and had picked up a solo shift at a Subway sandwich shop.
Briones drove four others from the notorious “Eastside Crips Rolling 30s” gang to the restaurant on May 15, 1994, one of whom was armed with a 9 mm pistol. Lindsay was preparing food they ordered when one of the gang members went outside to talk to Briones, came back inside and suddenly shot Lindsay in the face. He pumped more bullets into Lindsay as he lay bleeding on the floor.
They had planned the robbery to get cash for guns, prosecutors wrote in court documents. They weren’t able to open the cash register but took a bank bag with $100 and the food the dying clerk had prepared.
Briones instructed another gang member to kill a maintenance man whom they saw earlier clearing the sidewalk, but they couldn’t find him, court documents state.
Prosecutors said the murder was the most egregious of the violent crimes that Briones helped plot and carry out on the reservation about 15 miles (24 kilometers) from Phoenix. But there were others that demonstrated a “murderous, unrepentant and unapologetic attitude,” prosecutors said.
The gang members set diversionary fires while they firebombed a rival’s house and did drive-by shootings. They stole cars and firearms to carry out the crimes. They also hatched plans to kill a tribal judge, federal prosecutors and tribal police investigators but didn’t follow through, according to court documents.
Briones was arrested at his home in 1995. Along with murder, he was convicted of arson, tampering with a witness and assault with a dangerous weapon. Three of his co-defendants were sentenced to life. One cooperated with prosecutors and received a lesser term.
___
Bennit Hayes can’t imagine that version of Briones, whom he served time with at the federal prison in Beaumont, Texas. Hayes said he learned about Sunday chapel services and a Bible study group that gathered on the prison yard, and Briones welcomed him with a big smile and a hug.
Hayes said he respected Briones because he never talked over others, he studied intently, and he worked hard and encouraged others to lead better lives. Briones prayed for anyone who asked, Hayes said.
“God blessed me not only to have the camaraderie and the brotherhood but to see genuine change,” said Hayes, whose sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama in 2016. “He was the light in the candle that I put up against everything else going forward.”
By then, Briones had cut his hair that fell past his waist, abstained from food for 40 days and surrendered to God, said his wife, Carmen Briones.
“Riley made that decision,” said Carmen Briones, who is enrolled Pascua Yaqui. “He said, ‘I have to have a different life. I can’t have the same life I had before.’”
The couple met while they were teenagers attending a youth camp at Arizona State University. They had a daughter who is now 30 and got married in 1999 while Briones, who is San Carlos Apache and Salt River Pima-Maricopa, was in prison.
___
Briones’ case became eligible for resentencing after the Supreme Court’s 2012 decision in Miller v. Alabama. It was part of a series of cases in which the court found minors should be treated differently from adults, partly because of a lack of maturity. The court previously eliminated the death penalty for juveniles and barred life-without-parole sentences for juveniles except in cases of murder.
A handful of the defendants in the 39 federal cases — most of whom are minorities — have been released from prison.
The Feb. 17 letter seeking reform from the Justice Department pointed to statistics that show the median sentence for adults convicted of murder in the federal system is 20 years — nearly half the median for the juvenile offenders.
“Taking a life is really, really serious, and I don’t belittle that at all,” said Mary McCord, executive director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at the Georgetown University Law Center, one of the signatories. “But a full life in prison when you’re a juvenile and you’re talking about 40, 50, 60 years in prison is exceedingly excessive probably in almost every case and not consistent with typical sentences for homicides, even adults.”
The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
A decision in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2019 gave Briones an opportunity to plead again before a district court judge to lower his sentence. But before he got the chance, the U.S. Department of Justice asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hold the case until it decided another one, Jones v. Mississippi, meant to clarify rulings in two other cases regarding juvenile offenders.
From there, Briones’ case went back to the 9th Circuit.
A three-judge panel ruled against Briones, and now his attorneys are asking the full court to reconsider. The federal government’s response is due in May.
The California-based Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, a victims rights group, said changes in the law that continually allow juvenile offenders to get another shot at freedom are damaging for the families, communities and the criminal justice system.
“Some of these crimes are just very horrible, and the impacts on the families are substantial, and they never go away,” said the group’s president, Michael Rushford.
The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth has long argued the changes a person makes once they’ve entered prison should matter, and juveniles offenders should be able to live as adults outside prison walls.
“If the facts of the crime are always going to be the overpowering force, then Miller isn’t going to be meaningfully interpreted to outweigh all this positive growth,” said Rebecca Turner, who tracks the federal cases for the group.
___
The federal court in Arizona has resentenced more of the juvenile offenders to life in prison than any other state. Texas has two juvenile offenders who are serving life but weren’t able to be resentenced because of how courts interpreted Miller v. Alabama. South Carolina resentenced one inmate to life.
All three federal cases in Arizona were from Native American reservations, where the federal government has jurisdiction when the suspect, victim or both are Native American for a set of major crimes, including homicide. The penalties, in general, are stricter than if the crimes happened off the reservation and the cases ended up in state court.
Branden Pete, who is Navajo, got a mandatory life sentence for raping and then killing a woman by throwing rocks at her head on the Navajo Nation in 2002. A judge considered his dysfunctional upbringing, substance abuse issues, prison disciplinary record and the brutality of the crime in resentencing him to 54 years in prison in 2017.
It’s the third-longest resentence among defendants, not including those whose life sentences were reaffirmed or didn’t get a chance to plead for less time. The resentences range from 15 years to 70 years.
The other Arizona defendant, Johnny Orsinger, is serving life for the deaths of four people in two incidents when he was 16. Orsinger, who is Ute and Mexican, also committed the crimes on the Navajo Nation, which spans parts of New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. A co-defendant in one of the cases, Lezmond Mitchell, was executed in 2020. He was the only Native American on federal death row at the time.
___
Prosecutors in Briones’ case acknowledged he’s changed for the better but argued he should remain imprisoned for life because he hasn’t accepted responsibility for Lindsay’s death and minimized his role as a founder and leader of the gang that spanned other tribal reservations.
The U.S. District Court judge who resentenced Briones in 2016 said he considered Briones’ troubled childhood that included abuse at the hands of his father, along with Briones’ alcohol and drug use, and immaturity. He also noted Briones had been a model inmate.
“However, some decisions have lifelong consequences,” the judge wrote.
The trial for Briones and his co-defendants was the first prosecution in Indian Country under a federal law meant to enhance sentencing for organized crime. During the trial, prosecutors played the 911 recording in which Lindsay told dispatchers through a mouthful of blood that he had been shot. His parents were in the courtroom.
“I can still almost hear that tape,” Paul Charlton, one of the prosecutors at the time, recently told The Associated Press. “And if you had been through that trial, if you had seen the callous and remorseless way in which these individuals faced the evidence against them and their lack of remorse at that time, most people would be as I remain today, unsympathetic to Mr. Briones’ arguments.”
The Salt River Police Department declined to comment. Emails and phone messages left at a number listed for Lindsay’s parents were not returned.
In a letter to the court during Briones’ 2016 resentencing, Sharyn and Brian Lindsay said the passing of time hadn’t made their lives easier or mended their hearts.
“Isn’t a lifetime without our son enough without having to go through another court proceeding?” they wrote.
They established an engineering scholarship in their son’s name at Northern Arizona University.
Briones now is at the federal prison in metropolitan Phoenix, about a 50 minute drive from Carmen Briones’ home on the Salt River reservation. She hasn’t seen him since last May because of pandemic restrictions, but they keep in contact through email and phone calls.
She said releasing Riley Briones from prison would mean they could be a family in a more meaningful way. But whatever the 9th Circuit decides won’t change who her husband has become, she said.
“He’s still going to continue wherever he’s at to minister, to mentor, to be a positive example and give guidance to those who he has contact with,” she said. “We’ve had enough appeals come and go that … wisdom would tell you just pray and see what happens.”
___
Fonseca covers Indigenous communities on the AP’s Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FonsecaAP | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-u-s-headlines/juvenile-lifer-seeks-reprieve-amid-broader-push-for-leniency/ | 2022-04-09T19:05:04Z |
New scam asks residents to download app allowing remote access to devices
Published: Sep. 14, 2022 at 12:07 PM CDT|Updated: 11 minutes ago
MARYSVILLE, Kan. (WIBW) - The Marysville Police Department says it has been notified by a local bank that a scam has been circulating the area with a new twist.
MPD said that residents have reported getting a fraud alert that asks them to download the app AnyDesk. However, the app is essentially a remote desktop software that allows the scammer complete access to your phone or computer.
If ever in doubt about a scam, MPD said residents should call local law enforcement or their financial institution.
MPD also provided the following scam reminders:
- If it is too good to be true, it is a scam.
- No company or police department will ever ask for iTunes gift cards from Walmart as payment to avoid being arrested.
- Credit card companies do not need to call the account owner to verify a card number.
MPD asked residents to be extra cautious when providing any personal information over the phone without verifying who the caller is.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/09/14/new-scam-asks-residents-download-app-allowing-remote-access-devices/ | 2022-09-14T17:18:40Z |
CMS Energy Announces Strong First Quarter Results, Reaffirms 2022 Adjusted EPS Guidance
Published: May. 3, 2022 at 7:30 AM EDT|Updated: 46 minutes ago
JACKSON, Mich., May 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CMS Energy announced today reported earnings per share of $1.21 for the first quarter of 2022, compared to $1.21 per share for the same quarter in 2021. The company's adjusted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2022 were $1.20, compared to $1.09 per share for the same quarter in 2021.
CMS Energy reaffirmed its 2022 adjusted earnings guidance of $2.85 to $2.89* per share (*See below for important information about non-GAAP measures) and reaffirmed long-term adjusted EPS growth of 6 to 8 percent, with continued confidence toward the high end of the adjusted EPS growth range.
"The settlement agreement recently filed for our 2021 Integrated Resource Plan strengthens our financial outlook and serves as a proof point of our plan for net zero carbon emissions by 2040 in our electric business. As one of the first utilities in the country to eliminate coal generation by 2025, we are leading the clean energy transformation," said Garrick Rochow, President and CEO of CMS Energy and Consumers Energy.
CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) is a Michigan-based energy provider featuring Consumers Energy as its primary business. It also owns and operates independent power generation businesses.
CMS Energy will hold a webcast to discuss its 2022 first quarter results and provide a business and financial outlook on Tuesday, May 3 at 9:00 a.m. (EDT). To participate in the webcast, go to CMS Energy's homepage (cmsenergy.com) and select "Events and Presentations."
Important information for investors about non-GAAP measures and other disclosures.
This news release contains non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (non-GAAP) measures, such as adjusted earnings. All references to net income refer to net income available to common stockholders and references to earnings per share are on a diluted basis. Adjustments could include items such as discontinued operations, asset sales, impairments, restructuring costs, changes in accounting principles, changes in federal tax policy, regulatory items from prior years, unrealized gains or losses from mark-to-market adjustments recognized in net income related to CMS Enterprises' interest expense, or other items. Management views adjusted earnings as a key measure of the company's present operating financial performance and uses adjusted earnings for external communications with analysts and investors. Internally, the company uses adjusted earnings to measure and assess performance. Because the company is not able to estimate the impact of specific line items, which have the potential to significantly impact, favorably or unfavorably, the company's reported earnings in future periods, the company is not providing reported earnings guidance nor is it providing a reconciliation for the comparable future period earnings. The company's adjusted earnings should be considered supplemental information to assist in understanding our business results, rather than as a substitute for the reported earnings.
This news release contains "forward-looking statements." The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause CMS Energy's and Consumers Energy's results to differ materially. All forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of the risk and other factors detailed from time to time in CMS Energy's and Consumers Energy's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Investors and others should note that CMS Energy routinely posts important information on its website and considers the Investor Relations section, www.cmsenergy.com/investor-relations, a channel of distribution.
For more information on CMS Energy, please visit our website at cmsenergy.com. To sign up for email alert notifications, please visit the Investor Relations section of our website.
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/03/cms-energy-announces-strong-first-quarter-results-reaffirms-2022-adjusted-eps-guidance/ | 2022-05-03T12:16:31Z |
Robert Krueger, ex-Texas congressman and diplomat, dies at 86
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (AP) — Robert C. Krueger, who followed two U.S. House terms with a brief interim appointment to the Senate before launching a sometimes-hazardous diplomatic career, has died at age 86, his family said Sunday.
Krueger died Saturday morning in his New Braunfels home with his wife by his side after suffering from congestive heart failure, daughter Sarah Krueger said.
Funeral arrangements were pending.
Most of Krueger’s career was as an academic at Duke University, the University of Texas at Austin, Rice University, Oxford University and Texas State University.
Even while pursuing that career, Krueger, a Democrat, ventured into politics in 1974 with his first election to the U.S. House. After two House terms, President Jimmy Carter appointed him as a U.S. ambassador at large and coordinator for Mexican affairs. He served in that capacity until the end of the Carter administration in 1981.
Krueger returned to elective politics when he won a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission in 1990. He served from January 1991 until Texas Gov. Ann Richards tapped him to complete Lloyd Bentsen’s unexpired U.S. Senate term in January 1993 when Bentsen left to become President Bill Clinton’s Treasury secretary. However, Krueger lost to Republican Kay Baily Hutchison in a June 1993 special election.
Krueger returned to diplomacy when Clinton named him U.S. ambassador to Burundi in 1994. The eastern African country was embroiled in civil strife at the time. Krueger had to be airlifted when his convoy was attacked by unidentified gunmen in June 1995, killing one convoy member and injuring several others, and was recalled from the post for his safety.
Krueger was U.S. ambassador to Botswana in 1996-99 and a special U.S. representative to the 14-nation Southern African Development Community in 1998-2000. He then returned to academia as a visiting fellow at Merton College, Oxford, and continued his academic pursuits until his 2017 retirement from a lectureship position at Texas Tech University.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/01/robert-krueger-ex-texas-congressman-diplomat-dies-86/ | 2022-05-01T21:52:08Z |
LAS VEGAS, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GBank Financial Holdings Inc. ("GBank" or the "Company") (OTCQX: GBFH), the parent company for Bank of George (the "Bank"), is pleased to share the press release by BankCard Services, LLC ("BCS"), a Technology Company that enables Financial Institutions to participate in cashless gaming, announcing that on April 1, 2022, BCS received its Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the patent application of BCS's PIMSTM proprietary bank solution. A Pooled Player Account ("PPA") Powered by PIMSTM provides individual ledger account management for a Gaming Operators customer.
The full press release from BankCard Services, LLC, can be found here:
Through its contract with BankCard Services, LLC, Bank of George has been providing the banking solutions for Sightline Payments since 2016.
BankCard Services, LLC, was formed in 2014 and entered into an Agreement with Sightline Payments to provide a BCS Sponsor Bank to issue a Discover Prepaid Reloadable Card to empower Sightline's Play+ cashless solution for the gaming industry. BCS entered into an agreement with Bank of George, in Nevada, as the Sightline Sponsor Bank. To date, the Sightline / BCS / Bank partnership services over 600,000 accounts with over $1.5 billion in transactions.
BCS and the Bank, a subsidiary of GBank, also launched the Oregon State Lottery online sports wagering program with SB Tech, World Pay (FIS) and Sightline Payments in 2018 with the development of BankCard Services, LLC's proprietary Pooled Player Account ("PPA") Powered by PIMSTM". PIMSTM expanded the PPA structure with FDIC-insured individual player ledger accounts that enable digital cashless transactions.
BCS recently announced its contract with Wagr as the latest cashless gaming client utilizing BCS's Pooled Player Account Powered by PIMSTM at Bank of George.
GBank Financial Holdings Inc. ("GBank" or the "Company") (GBFH), a bank holding company with approximately $618 million in assets at December 31, 2021, conducts business through its wholly owned subsidiary, Bank of George (named in honor of George Washington). Founded in 2007, the Bank operates two full-service commercial branches in Las Vegas, Nevada, with primary lending activities focused on engaging clients in Nevada, California, Utah, and Arizona. Bank of George has key businesses in three prominent divisions: SBA Lending, Gaming FinTech, and Commercial Lending. The Bank conducts business nationally through its SBA lending activities (ranked 19th in the nation by the U.S. Small Business Administration for SBA 7(a) dollar loan volume through September 30, 2021) and its partnership. Launched in 2016, the Bank's Gaming FinTech Division, through its contract with BankCard Services, LLC ("BCS") is empowering Sightline Payments Play+ Solution (Sightline Payments) for seamless and secure pay-and-play that is enabling cashless, mobile commerce solutions for gaming, lottery, and sports betting ecosystems – positioning GBank as a financial leader in this new payments world. The Bank also provides general commercial banking services with an emphasis on serving the needs of small- and medium-sized businesses, high net worth individuals, professionals, and investors. The Bank offers a full complement of consumer deposit products and is focused on delivering a premium level of service. Bank of George has been recognized every year for each of the past five years by S&P Global Market Intelligence as a top 100 U.S. community bank under $3 billion in assets. For more information about Bank of George, please visit its website at https://www.bankofgeorge.com. GBank's Common Stock is quoted on the US OTCQX Market under the symbol GBFH.
GBank has made forward-looking statements in this Press Release. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. When words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," or similar expressions occur in this Press Release, the Company is making forward-looking statements. Note that many factors could affect the future financial results of the Company and its subsidiaries, both individually and collectively, and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this Press Release. Those factors include, but are not limited to: the recent and continuing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which poses risks and may harm the Company's business and results of operations in future quarters, credit risk, changes in market interest rates, inability to achieve merger-related synergies, competition, economic downturn or recession, and government regulation and supervision. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
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SOURCE GBank Financial Holdings Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/gbank-financial-holdings-inc-pleased-share-press-release-bankcard-services-llc-bcs-regarding-bcss-patent-application-allowed-by-us-patent-trademark-office/ | 2022-04-12T01:13:01Z |
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nasara resort is our brand new environmentally friendly resort. Nasara is conceived as an iconic recreation destination. As a surfing destination, few places on earth offer diverse, reliable waves on offer across the entire island group throughout the year. CEO and CFO Rudi Khelces stated, "We are excited to have our Stage 1 ready and open for business ahead of schedule. In addition to our overall growth, Nasara will be the cornerstone of our plan to build and construct a 37 Villa tourism resort. Our facilities and surroundings are outstanding on a world-class scale." The development objective is to create a 4.5-star destination to be enjoyed by locals and foreigners alike. Website for more information https://nasararesort.com/the-resort/#nasara
ABOUT GGSM CORPORATION
GGSM is a publicly-traded company engaged in the charter boat business in the Mentawai Islands and Beyond. The Kuda Laut's charter vessel is a Mentawai Surf Charter vessel to the World-Famous Mentawai Islands. The Kuda Laut has been chartering to the Mentawai, Telos, Nias, and Banyak Islands for over 25 seasons. From the Lagundri Bay in Nias, the Hinakos, the Bay of Plenty in the Banyaks, the Telos long rights, and the famous waves in the Mentawai, such as Rifles. No Kandui, Ebay, etc., in the Playground, to telescopes, Bintang, Lances Right.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
This press release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "expects," "potential," "plans," "suggests," "may," "should," "could," "intends," or similar expressions. Many forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results implied by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to continue to enhance our products and systems to address industry changes, our ability to expand our customer base and retain existing customers, our ability to effectively compete in our market segment, the lack of public information on our Company, our ability to raise sufficient capital to fund our business, operations, our ability to continue as a going concern, and a limited public market for our common stock, among other risks. Many factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.
For More Information, visit https://ggsmglobal.com
Gold and Gemstone Mining, Inc., Investor Relations
Website: https://ggsmglobal.com
Email: ir@ggsmglobal.com
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SOURCE Gold and Gemstone Mining, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/gold-gemstone-mining-inc-is-pleased-announce-opening-phase-1-its-brand-new-resort-mentawai-islands/ | 2022-08-03T16:13:46Z |
LAREDO, Texas (KVEOl) — A man in Laredo, Texas, was arrested after saying he had plans to go “human hunting” while buying a firearm accessory from an online seller, police said.
The Laredo Police Department received information regarding the threat on May 25, after the online seller contacted police to report the concerning statement, according to Laredo PD.
The seller had used social media to offer a firearm optic — or a scope — for sale. Upon meeting with the buyer to complete the transaction, the seller told police that the suspect stated his intentions to go “human hunting.”
The seller reported the statement to authorities. Police launched an investigation and identified the buyer as 37-year-old Javier Torres.
During a search of Torres’ home, officials found “several handguns, extended magazines, long rifles, a bulletproof vest with armor plates, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition,” police said.
Torres was arrested on a charge of Terroristic Threats Felony-3.
Torres’ home was also less than 1,000 feet from an elementary school, though police said there was no evidence of direct threats to the school, the faculty or the students. Law enforcement officials for the school district will be updated on the case, the Laredo Police said.
“We would like to specifically thank the actions of the caring citizen who took the time to inform law enforcement authorities about the concerns regarding this threatening statement made,” Laredo Police said. “We encourage anyone in the community to communicate any information that may pose a threat to anyone’s safety. If you see something, say something.”
The case remains ongoing. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/texas-man-wanting-to-go-human-hunting-arrested-for-terroristic-threat-2/ | 2022-06-01T16:46:42Z |
St. Charles County to name new park after Black Civil War veteran
By Alexis Zotos
Click here for updates on this story
ST. LOUIS, Missouri (KMOV) — The piece of land off West Meyer Road and Highway W in Foristell will be the future home of St. Charles County’s newest park. But it’s the history of the land where it will get it’s name.
The park will be named Oglesby Park after Benjamin Oglesby, an enslaved man who was brought to the area from Virginia in 1837. In 1864, he ran away and enlisted in the Union Army, training at Benton Barracks in St. Louis and served in the 56th Colored Infantry. After the Civil War, he was able to purchase the land in Foristell.
“When I read about Benjamin’s story, he kept fighting. He wanted to do something, not just for him, but for family,” said Barbara Love, his great-great-granddaughter.
Love learned the history when St. Charles County reached out looking for relatives. Her uncle Stanley Luckett grew up on the farm. It was in the family until the mid-1900s.
St. Charles County purchased the land and will honor the Oglesby legacy and history. About a mile away, Oglesby is buried in Smith Chapel Cemetery. On the cemetery property is a one-room schoolhouse where Luckett and others in the area attended school before desegregation happened.
Now the county plans to relocate the structure to the new park.
‘We’re going to move or rebuild that schoolhouse in the park, we’re going to have the history of Benjamin Oglesby but also the history of black education in that area,” said County Executive Steve Ehlmann.
He says the 199-acre park will open in July and will feature trails, structures and eventually a playground. Barbara Love says she can’t wait to take her grandkids to Oglesby Park.
“To have someone who has done so much, someone who was a slave and to come out and purchase his own land, the opportunity to live off the land, and the leave the legacy to his family,” said Love. “To say I’m a descendant of Benjamin Oglesby is a blessing.”
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. | https://localnews8.com/cnn-regional/2022/04/12/st-charles-county-to-name-new-park-after-black-civil-war-veteran/ | 2022-04-12T16:41:24Z |
There are less than two months left before the midterm elections.
Lately, Democrats have become more hopeful and Republicans more nervous as the polling lead the GOP enjoyed earlier in the year has eroded.
The battle for the Senate looks, for now, to be balanced on a knife-edge, even as the GOP remains favored to take over the House.
Candidates and local issues will clearly be vital in many races. But this is a national election too.
Here are the five biggest issues that will determine the outcome.
Inflation
A man shops at a supermarket on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in New York. An inflation gauge that is closely tracked by the Federal Reserve, Friday, July 29, jumped 6.8% in June from a year ago, the biggest increase in four decades, and leaving Americans with no relief from surging costs. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Inflation is the single biggest political liability the Democrats face.
President Biden polls worse on inflation than on any other issue. In an ABC News-Ipsos poll last month, for example, just 29 percent of adults approved of Biden’s handling of inflation.
The low marks are hardly surprising given that inflation hit a 40-year high in June, at 9.1 percent.
The latest figures, for July, saw the headline number taper off to 8.5 percent. But the slight reduction is cold comfort to millions of struggling Americans.
Inflation can be a devastating political issue because, unlike many other topics, it affects every voter — including those who do not follow every twist and turn in politics — in ways that cannot be ignored.
Democrats hope that inflation will continue to fall as supply chains return to normal after the massive disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also point to the Inflation Reduction Act as a new weapon in the battle, especially when it comes to its capacity to bend the cost of prescription drugs downward. The law allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices for the first time ever.
Still, there is no real question that inflation will weigh Democrats down in November.
The question is, by how much?
Abortion
FILE- Demonstrators gather at the federal courthouse in Austin, Texas. following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, on June 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
If inflation is a headwind for Democrats, the same is true for Republicans and abortion.
The catalyst for these troubles is the June decision by the Supreme Court to strike down Roe v. Wade.
The GOP’s edge in opinion polls has been declining since that day. And while other factors may have also played their part, such as gas prices ticking down at roughly the same time, abortion clearly plays a key role.
Several opinion polls have indicated that around 60 percent of the population supports Roe, the 1973 decision that enshrined a constitutional right to abortion.
There have been even more concrete examples of the political potency of the issue, too.
An August ballot initiative in Kansas, a conservative state, was won by the pro-abortion rights side by almost 20 points.
A special House election in New York’s 19th District — a classic bellwether — was won by a Democrat who put abortion rights at the heart of his campaign.
Some Republicans, including Blake Masters, the party’s Senate candidate in Arizona, have deleted references to their own anti-abortion positions from their websites.
But that might not be enough to neutralize the issue.
Right now, it looks like the GOP could have real trouble, especially with female voters, in November.
Former President Trump, Mar-a-Lago and “ultra-MAGA Republicans”
Trump is hitting back hard against the Mar-a-Lago probe. (AP Photo)
Former President Trump was never going to retire to the sidelines of American political life. But the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago on Aug. 8 has injected him right back into the center of the midterms campaign.
The investigation adds to legal challenges the former president already faces.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, and a Georgia probe is looking into efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election results in that state.
Trump, meanwhile, is hitting back hard against the Mar-a-Lago probe. In a speech in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., last weekend, the former president described his enemies as “tyrants” and the DOJ and FBI as “vicious monsters.”
The broader picture is one in which Trump and Biden are battling each other once again, almost two years on from their presidential contest.
Biden, who was reluctant to attack Trump frontally for much of the early phase of his presidency — he would sometimes obliquely refer to Trump as “the former guy” — has changed tack.
In recent weeks, he has blasted “ultra-MAGA Republicans” as a danger to American democracy and branded elements of current conservative ideology “semi-fascism.”
Trump, for his part, has called Biden an “enemy of the state.”
Opinions about Trump are so fixed that the whole debate might not shift many voters from one column to the other.
But it has certainly affected the framing of the contest, which could have a direct impact on turnout.
Immigration
FILE – A group of Brazilian migrants make their way around a gap in the U.S.-Mexico border in Yuma, Ariz., seeking asylum in the U.S. after crossing over from Mexico, June 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia, File)
Illegal immigration remains a huge issue with conservative voters and in right-leaning media, even as it is not seen as so big a problem among liberals.
Concerns about border security often get portrayed as xenophobic or racist. But many voters who don’t fit into either of those categories clearly have concerns about the huge numbers of unauthorized border crossings that are taking place.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Border Patrol agents had made more than 1.8 million arrests at the southern border during the current fiscal year. By the time the fiscal year ends at the end of this month, that number is expected to have surpassed 2 million for the first time ever.
In an Economist-YouGov poll last month, Biden’s ratings on immigration were dismal. Overall, 49 percent of adults disapproved of his handling of the issue while just 30 percent approved.
Republican voters, as expected, were overwhelmingly negative. But they were joined in that opinion by self-described independents, a mere 17 percent of whom backed Biden’s performance on the issue.
Democrats ignore figures like those at their peril.
Biden’s performance
FILE – President Joe Biden speaks outside Independence Hall, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
Midterm elections are always, at some level, a referendum on the party in power.
Biden and the Democrats also have to contend with the historical pattern in which a president’s party almost always loses seats in the first midterms of his tenure.
Biden has had some success in broadening the focus in this year’s campaign. But voters will still be rendering a verdict on him in November.
That doesn’t augur well for Democrats. Biden’s approval ratings have bounced back to some degree from a low point at the height of summer — but they’re still nothing to write home about.
In the average maintained by data and polling site FiveThirtyEight, Biden was 11 points under water — 53 percent disapproval against 42 percent approval — as of Thursday evening.
The president has, to be sure, hit a hot streak recently. In addition to passing the Inflation Reduction Act, he has also enacted the CHIPS bill, to boost the semiconductor industry. He has expanded health care to better cover veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. And he has announced executive action to lighten the burden of student loan debt.
In the final stretch of the campaign, Democrats will also try to remind voters of earlier or broader successes, such as prodigious job creation, the passage of the 2021 American Rescue Plan and the infrastructure bill Biden signed into law late last year.
Right now, though, it’s very hard to see Biden’s popularity surging between now and November.
If he dooms his party to the loss of even one chamber of Congress, he will likely be hamstrung from further significant action for the rest of his first term.
If that happens, all 2024 bets are off. | https://cw33.com/hill-politics/the-five-issues-that-will-decide-the-midterm-elections/ | 2022-09-12T16:08:04Z |
MONTREAL, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday evening, WowWee, a family-owned toymaker responsible for the award-winning Fingerlings line, was made aware that Roblox Corporation filed a lawsuit against our company. WowWee believes that Roblox's allegations are completely meritless and looks forward to vigorously defending its position, product, and brand.
WowWee created My Avastars dolls to bring kids offline in a hybrid model that uses the digital attributes of the increasingly popular metaverse and avatar customization into physical play. WowWee specifically designed the dolls to appeal to 7–12-year-old girls, a demographic that is far too often overlooked and excluded from the metaverse. Since Roblox began as a platform that encouraged collaboration with its users (to Roblox's benefit), WowWee believed My Avastars would be a welcome addition to the Roblox platform. However, in June 2022, a week after WowWee publicly announced the creation of its My Avastars dolls, Roblox changed its terms of use to the detriment of the creative community.
A week later, Roblox sent a cease-and-desist letter to WowWee threatening legal action if the company continued with the launch of My Avastars dolls. WowWee has spent several weeks trying to resolve this disagreement amicably and in good faith and without needing to resort to contentious litigation. Following the cease-and-desist letter, WowWee voluntarily disassociated My Avastars from Roblox.
WowWee is a company that is focused on designing and developing toys to astonish our costumers' imaginations, whereas Roblox's actions today show that it is an organization driven by profit and power. Roblox's lawsuit stands in stark contrast to the values of creativity, community, and companionship that our My Avastars dolls are designed to promote. WowWee's focus remains on kids rather than courts.
Unfortunately, Roblox's actions are another example of a company using litigation as a growth strategy. Despite being a publicly traded corporate giant with a multi-billion-dollar revenue stream, it is targeting a family business whose goal is to provide children with another way to express their individuality through play. Yet, as parents have been teaching their children for generations, giving into a bully encourages them to bully again. Today, WowWee intends to take a stand for the creative community. WowWee hopes you join us.
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SOURCE WowWee | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/wowwee-media-statement-response-roblox-corporation-lawsuit/ | 2022-08-04T00:25:02Z |
– Agreement to result in positive non-cash accounting adjustment of approximately $15.8 million –
OAKLAND, Calif. and TORONTO, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - StateHouse Holdings Inc. ("StateHouse" or the "Company") (CSE: STHZ) (OTCQX: STHZF), a California-focused, vertically integrated cannabis enterprise, is pleased to announce that it has reached a Partial Payment Installment Agreement (the "Agreement") with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") related to the federal tax returns of its wholly-owned subsidiary Patients Mutual Assistance Collective Corporation ("PMACC") for the 2007 to 2012 fiscal years and the 2020 fiscal year.
At issue were federal taxes owed of approximately $22.1 million. Under the Agreement, StateHouse is resolving this liability through the payment of approximately $5.8 million, to be made through $50,000 per-month payments over an expected period of 116 months, beginning in August 2022. The monthly payment amount is subject to IRS review every two years. With each review, the payments may adjust up or down depending on PMACC's ability to pay at that time. The Company does not anticipate that these biennial reviews will result in a material increase to the payment plan.
The Company has maintained a provision on its balance sheet related to the taxes owed. This provision was approximately $21.6 million as at March 31, 2022 (the "Provision"). Given that the Provision is significantly higher than the anticipated repayments under the Agreement, the Company expects to record a positive non-cash accounting adjustment of approximately $15.8 million to reverse previous accruals in its financial results relating to the Provision. It is anticipated that the adjustment will be reflected in the Company's financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
In addition, the Agreement allows the Company to recategorize the majority of the related liability as a non-current liability, materially reducing the short-term obligations on its balance sheet.
"This is a landmark agreement for our Company," said Ed Schmults, StateHouse Chief Executive Officer. "By resolving this longstanding 280E obligation, and more recent federal tax obligations, in a satisfactory manner, StateHouse has demonstrated its leadership in the U.S. cannabis sector. This result provides significant clarity for investors on an issue of critical importance, and puts StateHouse in a much stronger competitive position. It is an important step on our path to building a flagship California cannabis company."
"We are grateful to the IRS for working with us to resolve this issue," Mr. Schmults continued. "The federal tax burden on legal cannabis businesses is highly punitive and very difficult to navigate while trying to achieve profitability. The Agreement demonstrates that we can successfully manage the challenging taxation issues arising from the IRS 280E Tax Code, until there is reform at the federal level. We believe the case for this reform is very strong, as it would create tax fairness for legal cannabis businesses and significantly weaken the illicit market, which would result in stronger tax collections for the federal government over the long term."
The Agreement primarily relates to PMACC's allocation of certain expenses to cost of goods sold in certain of its corporate tax returns. PMACC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Harborside Inc. prior to Harborside's name change to StateHouse, was among the first cannabis companies to challenge the federal tax rule against such allocations and the historic litigation was closely followed by the industry in the hope that the U.S. Tax Court (the "Court") would find in favor of the Company and the resolution would pave the way for future tax relief for state licensed operators. On November 29, 2018, the Court disallowed these allocations, holding that they were instead deductions barred by the IRS 280E Tax Code.
StateHouse, a vertically integrated enterprise with cannabis licenses covering retail, major brands, distribution, cultivation, nursery and manufacturing, is one of the oldest and most respected cannabis companies in California. The Company was awarded one of the first six medical cannabis licenses granted in the United States. Today, the Company operates 14 dispensaries covering Northern and Southern California and one in Oregon, distribution facilities in San Jose and Los Angeles, California and integrated cultivation/production facilities in Salinas and Greenfield, California. StateHouse is a publicly listed company, currently trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the ticker symbol "STHZ" and the OTCQX under the ticker symbol "STHZF". The Company continues to play an instrumental role in making cannabis safe and accessible to a broad and diverse community of California and Oregon consumers.
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. To the extent any forward-looking information in this news release constitutes "financial outlooks" or "future-oriented financial information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to the amount of taxes to ultimately be paid under the Agreement, the amounts and timing of the monthly payments to be made under the Agreement, the outcomes of any subsequent IRS review of payments to be made under the Agreement, the impact of the Agreement on the Company's financial position, the competitive position of the Company following this resolution, the impact that the decision of the IRS will have on the Company and the cannabis sector as a whole, and the Company's future business prospects.
These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the cannabis markets where the Company operates; changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion and acquisitions; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; employee relations; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution, and sale of cannabis and cannabis-related products in the markets where the Company operates; and the risk factors set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the period ended March 31, 2022 and the Company's listing statement dated May 30, 2019, which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.
The Company, through several of its subsidiaries, is directly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where the Company operates permit such activities however, investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the United States Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable United States federal money laundering legislation.
While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with recreational and medicinal cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under United States federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The Company's securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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SOURCE StateHouse Holdings Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/statehouse-holdings-inc-formerly-harborside-inc-announces-agreement-with-irs-resolve-reduce-legacy-280e-federal-tax-obligations-related-harborside/ | 2022-07-28T17:38:22Z |
VANCOUVER, BC, April 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Callinex Mines Inc. (the "Company" or "Callinex") (TSXV: CNX) (OTCQX: CLLXF) is pleased to announce that it has closed its fully subscribed non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of C$6.24 million (the "Offering"). The Offering will be used to fund the ongoing drill campaign at the Rainbow Deposit, Pine Bay, Manitoba.
Max Porterfield, President and CEO stated, "The Company is now fully funded and focused on the continued expansion and publication of a 43-101 resource estimate on the high-grade copper, gold, silver and zinc rich Rainbow Deposit at the Company's Pine Bay Project in Manitoba. We are grateful for the support from the new and existing shareholders in this financing which allows us to continue to execute on our long-term objectives."
The Offering consisted of (i) 453,446 hard dollar units (the "HD Units") at a price of C$3.11 per HD Unit (the "HD Offering Price") for gross proceeds of C$1,410,217; and (ii) 966,000 Manitoba flow-through units (the "FT Units") at a price of C$5.00 per FT Unit (the "MB FT Offering Price") for gross proceeds of $4,830,000.
Each HD Unit consists of one common share and one-half of one transferable common share purchase warrant (each whole such common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each FT Unit consists of one flow-through common share and one-half of one transferrable Warrant to be issued on a non-flow-through basis. Each Warrant shall be exercisable into one additional common share (a "Warrant Share") for two (2) years from closing at an exercise price of C$4.75 per Warrant Share.
The Warrants will be subject to an acceleration clause whereby if at any time the volume-weighted average trading price of the common shares exceeds C$6.25 for a period of 15 consecutive trading days, the Company is entitled, as its option, to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by delivering written notice to the holders of the Warrants, to a date that is not less than 30 days after such notice is given.
The securities issued under the Offering are subject to restrictions on resale expiring on August 22, 2022. The Company paid finders a fee totaling $167,165.
The gross proceeds from the sale of FT Units will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Pine Bay Project, Manitoba. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the Flow-Through Shares effective December 31, 2022. The net proceeds from the sale of the HD Units will be used by the Company for working capital and general corporate purposes.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
Callinex Mines Inc. (TSXV: CNX) (OTC: CLLXF) is advancing its portfolio of base and precious metals rich deposits located in established Canadian mining jurisdictions. The focus of the portfolio is highlighted by the rapidly expanding Rainbow Discovery at its rich VMS Pine Bay Project located near existing infrastructure in the Flin Flon Mining District. The second asset in the portfolio is the Nash Creek Project located in the VMS rich Bathurst Mining District of New Brunswick. A 2018 PEA generates a strong economic return with a pre-tax IRR of 34.1% (25.2% post-tax) and NPV8% of $230 million ($128 million post-tax) at $1.25 Zinc. The third asset, 100% owned Point Leamington Deposit in Newfoundland, is located in one of the richest VMS and Gold Districts in Canada. Callinex prepared a pit constrained Indicated Mineral Resource of 5.0 Mt grading 2.5 g/t AuEq for 402 koz AuEq (145.7 koz gold, 60.0 Mlb copper, 153.5 Mlb zinc, 2.0 Moz silver, 1.5 Mlb lead), an pit constrained Inferred Mineral Resource of 13.7 Mt grading 2.24 g/t AuEq for 986.5 koz AuEq (354.8 koz gold, 110.2 Mlb copper, 527.3 Mlb zinc, 6.2 Moz silver, 7.0 Mlb lead) and an out-of-pit Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.7 Mt grading 3.06 g/t AuEq for 168.5 koz AuEq (65.4 koz gold, 13.3 Mlb copper, 102.9 Mlb zinc, 1.4 Moz Ag, 2.6 Mlb lead).
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future expenditures. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, among others, the ability to complete the proposed drill program and the timing and amount of expenditures. Except as required under applicable securities laws, Callinex does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
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SOURCE Callinex Mines Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/22/callinex-closes-624-million-private-placement-financing/ | 2022-04-22T13:15:48Z |
NEW YORK, June 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of Oscar Health, Inc. (NYSE: OSCR).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/oscar-health-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=28024&from=4
This lawsuit is on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Oscar Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus issued in connection with the Company's March 2021 initial public offering.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until July 11, 2022 to petition the court. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
According to a filed complaint, Oscar Health, Inc. issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Oscar was experiencing growing COVID-19 testing and treatment costs; (2) Oscar was experiencing growing net COVID costs; (3) Oscar would be negatively impacted by an unfavorable prior year Risk Adjustment Data Validation result relating to 2019 and 2020; (4) Oscar was on track to be negatively impacted by significant SEP membership growth; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
JAKUBOWITZ LAW
1140 Avenue of the Americas
9th Floor
New York, New York 10036
T: (212) 867-4490
F: (212) 537-5887
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SOURCE Jakubowitz Law | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/03/oscr-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-oscar-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-july-11-2022/ | 2022-06-03T10:05:33Z |
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — On Thursday, both Democrat and Republican senators came down on the FDA.
“It’s time we held the FDA accountable,” Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said.
“You’ve got to up your game,” Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.) said.
Lawmakers blame the FDA for allowing a nationwide shortage of baby formula.
“Right now we have three companies, Abbott, Mead and Nestle, who dominate the entire market,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said.
Sanders says there isn’t enough competition in the formula market.
“Many more foreign manufacturers can import … and they’re going to help out quite a bit, they’re very capable,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said.
“I hope you will focus on increasing the number of companies who are producing so we don’t run into this problem,” Sanders said.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) agrees and doesn’t see the point in making it difficult to import formula from Europe and Asia.
“Are we waiving any of the requirements to try and fix the shortage?” Paul asked.
“We’re not waiving basic nutritional requirements or safety requirements. We’re waiving some of the labeling requirements that are time-consuming to get exactly right,” Califf said.
Despite the problems it caused, the FDA stands by its decision to shut down the Abbott baby formula factory due to the poor conditions.
“They had to replace the roofs, replace the floors, they’re still not done… And you just can’t open a plant with bacteria growing in it,” Califf said.
And the FDA says there are steps the country can take to make sure a shortage doesn’t happen again.
“How can we ensure that this doesn’t happen again?” Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) asked.
“I think we’re going to have to have a surplus,” Califf said. | https://cw33.com/news/washington-dc-bureau/senators-grill-fda-commissioner-as-us-continues-to-face-baby-formula-shortage/ | 2022-05-26T23:56:52Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Smartfluence, the leading SaaS influencer marketing platform, announced a seed round investment of $2.15 million led by PACA Ventures. Ira Lubert and Jo Webber, both principals at PACA Ventures, will be joining Smartfluence's board of directors.
Smartfluence, founded in 2018, is changing the way brands and social media influencers engage with each other by utilizing a quantitative analytical approach. Its platform enables brands to automate and scale their influencer marketing programs through its proprietary data-driven algorithms which enable brands to understand influencer audiences by providing metrics like audience credibility scores, brand and interest affinities, audience demographics, and estimated pricing. Its influencer discovery engine helps brands identify relevant influencers for their campaigns, customize and automate outreach in order to build and nurture influencer relationships, and utilize campaign results to refine search and double down on high-ROI relationships.
The funding will be used to accelerate customer expansion and enhance Smartfluence's proprietary influencer automation software – building integrated influencer relationship management and e-commerce platform support.
"Smartfluence being added to PACA Ventures' portfolio of innovative technology brands is a great honor as we continue the rapid growth of our SaaS influencer marketing platform," said David Ko, CEO & co-founder of Smartfluence. "Ira, Jo and the rest of team are the perfect partners as they have insight into the market segment and deep experience with visionary companies transforming in this space. With this funding round, we are in a position to further help customers automate influencer relationships and expand reach across all advertising channels at-scale."
Smartfluence is positioned as the leading player in key industries including luxury apparel, pets, and beauty & cosmetics. Smartfluence's customers range from e-commerce stores to enterprises looking to scale their influencer discovery.
"From our first meeting with Smartfluence, we were impressed with the company's innovation and leadership team, and knew we wanted to play a role at the ground floor of their acceleration," said Ira Lubert, PACA Ventures. "The social media influencer industry is exploding right now, and Smartfluence has a tremendous opportunity to meet brands' needs for a platform that scales influencer marketing programs."
For more information about Smartfluence, visit smartfluence.io and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Smartfluence is a creator discovery and management platform that enables brands to find the right influencers for their brand. Smartfluence's influencer analytics and predictive campaign statistics help brands automate their influencer marketing programs. For more information, visit smartfluence.io and schedule a demo.
PACA Ventures partners with visionary founders to build exceptional high-growth tech companies from Seed through Series B. Bringing decades of experience to venture capital funding, management and tech company creation, PACA Ventures operates out of Philadelphia, PA and Los Angeles, CA.
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SOURCE Smartfluence | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/smartfluence-fastest-growing-saas-influencer-marketing-platform-closes-215-million-seed-round-led-by-paca-ventures/ | 2022-08-09T18:19:09Z |
The Mexican-inspired cocktail brand is giving away free mariachi performances to ten lucky winners across the US
CHICAGO, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15), Sauza® Agave Cocktails is looking to encourage people to get busy living by spending valuable time with family and friends over flavorful drinks and music. To honor Sauza's Mexican heritage and Jalisco roots, Sauza Agave Cocktails is giving ten lucky winners a free mariachi booking during Hispanic Heritage Month through its Que Viva el Mariachi (or Long Live Mariachi) contest.
Sauza Agave Cocktail fans in big cities across the country – Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and New York City – can visit www.sauzaagavecocktailsmariachi.splashthat.com between August 17 - August 26 to enter to win a two-hour mariachi booking during Hispanic Heritage Month, along with a branded cooler and a $100 gift card. To submit, applicants will be asked to explain how and why they would like to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a mariachi band and enjoy the performance with family and friends. The contest will be open to residents of participating cities who are 21 years of age or older and prize redemption must be within city limits on assigned date and time. Alcohol will not be awarded as part of the prize.
"Sauza took inspiration from its Mexican heritage to craft these bold, indulgent cocktails meant to be enjoyed with family and friends" said Stephanie Kang, Senior Director of RTD Strategic Ventures at Beam Suntory. "The Que Viva el Mariachi contest allows us to showcase Sauza's Mexican heritage in a new way, a way that inspires everyone to enjoy delicious drinks along with music that is emblematic of the rich Mexican culture."
Sauza introduced the newly released canned cocktails this spring in partnership with Boston Beer Company. Crafted with agave nectar and real fruit flavor, Sauza Agave Cocktails boast bold flavors in four varieties inspired by the tastes of Mexico: Lime Crush, Tropical Twist Strawberry Breeze and Black Cherry Smash. These are the perfect complement to listening to mariachi music with friends and family.
For more information about the contest and Sauza Agave Cocktails, follow the brand on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, or visit www.sauzatequila.com.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Must be 21 years or older and a legal resident of Chicago, Illinois, Los Angeles, California, Dallas, Texas, Miami, Florida or New York City, New York to enter. Void outside Chicago, Illinois, Los Angeles, California, Dallas, Texas, Miami, Florida, New York City, New York and where prohibited. Contest begins August 17, 2022 and ends August 26, 2022. You may enter online by accessing www.sauzaagavecocktailsmariachi.splashthat.com and completing all required information on the entry page. To view our Privacy Policy, visit https://www.beamsuntory.com/en/privacy-policy. FOR OFFICIAL RULES GO TO https://bit.ly/sauzaagavemariachirules.
As part of one of the largest tequila houses, Sauza® Tequila has been at the forefront of pioneering tequila and a true champion of Mexican culture and its people since 1873. Each bottle of Sauza® Tequila is carefully crafted with the freshest blue weber agave from the storied "La Perseverancia" distillery in Jalisco, Mexico using a process deeply rooted in tradition. Built on the spirit of connections, Sauza® believes that something extraordinary happens when people come together. Sauza® offers a full line of refreshingly real tequila including Sauza® Hacienda Silver, Sauza® Hacienda Gold, Sauza® Conmemorativo Añejo, and ready-to-drink Sauza Agave Cocktails.
As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company's brands, including the iconic Jim Beam® and Maker's Mark® bourbon brands and Courvoisier® cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Basil Hayden®, Knob Creek®, and Legent™ bourbon; Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™ Japanese whisky; Teacher's, Laphroaig® and Bowmore® Scotch whisky; Canadian Club® whisky; Hornitos® and Sauza® tequila; EFFEN®, Haku® and Pinnacle® vodka; Sipsmith® and Roku™ gin; and On The Rocks Premium Cocktails.
Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.
The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM) began in 1984 brewing Samuel Adams beer and the Samuel Adams brand is currently recognized as one of the largest and most respected craft beer brands. Our portfolio of brands also includes Truly Hard Seltzer, Twisted Tea, Angry Orchard Hard Cider, Dogfish Head Brewery and Bevy Long Drink as well as other craft beer brands such as Angel City Brewery and Coney Island Brewing. For more information, please visit our investor relations website at www.bostonbeer.com, which includes links to all of our respective brand websites.
Drink Smart®
Sauza® Agave Cocktails, Premium Malt Beverage with Natural Flavors, 8% alc./vol. ©2022 Sauza Tequila Import Company, Chicago, IL
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SOURCE Sauza Agave Cocktails | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/sauza-agave-cocktails-launches-its-que-viva-el-mariachi-contest-celebration-hispanic-heritage-month/ | 2022-08-15T16:49:36Z |
NEW YORK, April 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Synopsys, Inc. ("Synopsys" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: SNPS). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether Synopsys and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
On April 13, 2022, Bloomberg published an article reporting that Synopsys "is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Commerce for possibly passing key technology to banned Chinese companies". Citing "people familiar with the matter", the article reported that "[i]nvestigators are looking into allegations that Synopsys, working with affiliates in China, provided chip designs and software to Huawei Technologies Co.'s HiSilicon unit for manufacture at Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp." As the article noted, "U.S. companies are barred from selling some types of technology to Huawei and SMIC because they've been designated as threats to national security by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security." On this news, Synopsys's stock price fell sharply over the following two trading sessions.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980
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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/23/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-behalf-investors-synopsys-inc-snps/ | 2022-04-23T20:04:35Z |
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota judge ruled Thursday that there’s no basis to keep sealed documents related to a child pornography investigation of billionaire banker and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford.
Judge James Power wrote that affidavits supporting search warrants should be made public under South Dakota law. But he said they would remain sealed until Sanford and his attorneys decide whether to appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court.
Sanford attorney Stacy Hegge asked Power in an email last month to keep the affidavits sealed or at least be given additional time in order to seek relief from the Supreme Court. Hegge didn’t immediately reply to an email Thursday.
The South Dakota attorney general’s office declined to file charges against Sanford following the investigation, saying it found no “prosecutable offenses” within the state’s jurisdiction, according to a court document filed last month.
South Dakota investigators in 2019 began searching Sanford’s email account, as well as his cellular and internet service providers, for possible possession of child pornography after his accounts were flagged by a technology firm.
The investigation was first reported in 2020 by ProPublica and the Argus Leader. Both news outlets went to court for access to affidavits.
The 86-year-old Sanford is the state’s richest man, worth an estimated $3.4 billion. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/judge-documents-in-sanford-investigation-should-be-public/ | 2022-06-16T22:21:00Z |
Kellogg to split into 3 companies
(AP) - Kellogg Co., the maker of Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies and Eggo, will split into three companies focused on cereals, snacks and plant-based foods.
Kellogg, which also owns MorningStar Farms, the plant-based food maker, said Tuesday that the spinoff of the yet-to-be-named cereal and plant-based foods companies should be completed by the end of next year.
Kellogg had net sales of $14.2 billion in 2021, with $11.4 billion generated by its its snack division. Cereal accounted for another $2.4 billion in sales last year while plant-based sales totaled around $340 million.
“These businesses all have significant standalone potential, and an enhanced focus will enable them to better direct their resources toward their distinct strategic priorities,” said CEO Steve Cahillane.
Shareholders will receive shares in the two spin-offs on a pro-rata basis relative to their Kellogg holdings.
The company’s corporate headquarters will move from Battle Creek, Michigan, to Chicago, but it will maintain dual headquarters in both cities for its snack company, which makes up about 80% of current sales. Kellogg’s three international headquarters in Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, or AMEA, will remain in their current locations.
Companies have begun to split up at an accelerated pace, including General Electric, IBM and Johnson & Johnson, but such splits are more rare for food producers. The last major split in the sector was in in 2012, when Kraft split to create Mondelez.
Shares of Kellogg Co. jumped 8% to $73.29 before the opening bell Tuesday.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/21/kellogg-split-into-3-companies/ | 2022-06-21T12:05:07Z |
3 people shot at Korean-owned hair salon
Published: May. 12, 2022 at 7:19 AM CDT|Updated: 37 minutes ago
DALLAS (KTVT) - Dallas police are investigating a shooting at a Korean-owned hair salon Wednesday afternoon.
Three people were shot but detectives say their injuries are not life-threatening.
According to investigators, a man entered the store, yelled something unintelligible, and opened fire.
The suspect was seen getting into a dark-colored van as he fled the scene.
Dallas police do not believe it was a hate crime incident, but the investigation is continuing.
Copyright 2022 KTVT via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/12/3-people-shot-korean-owned-hair-salon/ | 2022-05-12T12:57:44Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for ANTX, AMTD, DVAX, YELP, and HNST.
To see how InvestorsObserver's proprietary scoring system rates these stocks, view the InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alert by selecting the corresponding link.
- ANTX: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=ANTX&prnumber=080520222
- AMTD: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=AMTD&prnumber=080520222
- DVAX: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=DVAX&prnumber=080520222
- YELP: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=YELP&prnumber=080520222
- HNST: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=HNST&prnumber=080520222
(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alerts are based on our proprietary scoring methodology. Each stock is evaluated based on short-term technical, long-term technical and fundamental factors. Each of those scores is then combined into an overall score that determines a stock's overall suitability for investment.
InvestorsObserver provides patented technology to some of the biggest names on Wall Street and creates world-class investing tools for the self-directed investor on Main Street. We have a wide range of tools to help investors make smarter decisions when investing in stocks or options.
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SOURCE InvestorsObserver | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/05/thinking-about-buying-stock-an2-therapeutics-amtd-idea-group-dynavax-technologies-yelp-or-honest-company/ | 2022-08-05T14:33:23Z |
The battle of Donbas could prove decisive in Ukraine war
(AP) - Day after day, Russia is pounding the Donbas region of Ukraine with relentless artillery and air raids, making slow but steady progress to seize the industrial heartland of its neighbor.
With the conflict now in its fourth month, it’s a high-stakes campaign that could dictate the course of the entire war.
If Russia prevails in the battle of Donbas, it will mean that Ukraine loses not only land but perhaps the bulk of its most capable military forces, opening the way for Moscow to grab more territory and dictate its terms to Kyiv. A Russian failure could lay the grounds for a Ukrainian counteroffensive — and possibly lead to political upheaval for the Kremlin.
Following botched early attempts in the invasion to capture Kyiv and the second-largest city of Kharkiv without proper planning and coordination, Russia turned its attention to the Donbas, a region of mines and factories where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014.
Learning from its earlier missteps, Russia is treading more carefully there, relying on longer-range bombardments to soften Ukrainian defenses.
It seems to be working: The better-equipped Russian forces have made gains in both the Luhansk and Donetsk regions that make up the Donbas, controlling over 95% of the former and about half of the latter.
Ukraine is losing between 100 and 200 soldiers a day, presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told the BBC, as Russia has “thrown pretty much everything non-nuclear at the front.” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier put the daily death toll at up to 100.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov described the combat situation as “extremely difficult,” using a reference to an ancient deity of sacrifice by saying: “The Russian Moloch has plenty of means to devour human lives to satisfy its imperial ego.”
When the war was going badly for Russia, many thought President Vladimir Putin might claim victory after some gains in Donbas and then exit a conflict that has seriously bruised the economy and stretched its resources. But the Kremlin has made clear it expects Ukraine to recognize all the gains Russia has made since the start of the invasion — something Kyiv has ruled out.
Russian forces control the entire Sea of Azov coast, including the strategic port of Mariupol, the entire Kherson region — a key gateway to Crimea — and a large chunk of the Zaporizhzhia region that could aid a further push deeper into Ukraine, and few expect that Putin will stop.
On Thursday, he drew parallels between the Ukrainian conflict and the 18th century wars with Sweden waged by Peter the Great. Now, as in those czarist times, “our lot is to take back and consolidate” historic Russian lands, Putin said. Moscow has long regarded Ukraine as part of its sphere of influence.
Unlike earlier battlefield failures, Russia appears to be using more conservative tactics. Many had expected it to try to encircle Ukrainian forces with a massive pincer movement from the north and south, but instead it has used a series of smaller moves to force a retreat and not overextend its supply lines.
Keir Giles, a Russia expert at London’s Chatham House think-tank, said Russia was “concentrating all of its artillery on a single section of the front line in order to grind its way forward by flattening everything in its path.”
Western officials still praise the ability of Ukrainian forces to defend their country, fighting back fiercely and similarly relying on artillery and retreating in some sections while launching frequent counterattacks.
“Ukraine has been pursuing a policy of flexible defense, giving ground where it makes sense to do so instead of holding on to every inch of the territory,” Giles said.
A senior Western official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to discuss the sensitive issue in public said the Russian campaign “continues to be deeply troubled at all levels,” noting that Moscow’s forces are taking “weeks to achieve even modest tactical goals such as taking individual villages.”
Last month, the Russians lost nearly an entire battalion in a botched attempt to cross the Siverskyi Donets River and set up a bridgehead. Hundreds were killed and dozens of armored vehicles were destroyed.
“There is a sense of strategic improvisation or muddling through,” the official said, predicting that over the summer the Russian military could reach a “point where they can no longer effectively generate offensive combat power.”
Russia has a clear edge in artillery in the battle for Donbas, thanks to a bigger number of heavy howitzers and rocket launchers and abundant ammunition. The Ukrainians have had to be economical in using their artillery, with the Russians constantly targeting their supply lines.
Ukraine has begun to receive more heavy weapons from Western allies, who have provided dozens of howitzers and are now planning to start delivering multiple rocket launchers.
Putin has warned that if the West gives Kyiv longer-range rockets that could hit Russian territory, Moscow could hit targets in Ukraine that it has spared until now. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also said that Russia could respond by seizing more land as a buffer zone from such weapons.
Moscow’s earlier territorial gains in the south, including the Kherson region and a large part of the neighboring Zaporizhzhia region, have prompted Russian officials and their local appointees to ponder plans to fold those areas into Russia or declare them to be independent, like the so-called “people’s republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Ukrainian officials and Western analysts voiced concern that Moscow could try to press its offensive into the heavily populated and industrialized Dnipro region farther north, an advance that could potentially slice Ukraine in two and raise a new threat for Kyiv.
“Russian objectives in the context of this war are shifting in relation to the situation on the ground,” said Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti, an analyst with the Milan-based Italian Institute for International Political Studies.
“Their goals are sort of flexible enough to be adaptive to context on the ground,” she said, noting that Russia could try to damage Ukraine’s economy by seizing the entire coastline to deny access to shipping.
A top Russian general already has spoken of plans to cut off Ukraine from the Black Sea by seizing the Mykolaiv and Odesa regions all the way to the border with Romania, a move that would also allow Moscow to build a land corridor to Moldova’s separatist region of Transnistria that hosts a Russian military base.
Such ambitions all hinge on Moscow’s success in the east. A defeat in the Donbas would put Kyiv in a precarious position, with new recruits lacking the skills of battle-hardened soldiers now fighting in the east and supplies of Western weapons insufficient to fend off a potentially deeper Russian push.
Ukrainian officials brushed off such fears, voicing confidence that its military can hold out to stem the Russian advances and even launch a counterattack.
“Ukraine’s plan is clear: Kyiv is wearing the Russian army out, trying to win time for more deliveries of Western weapons, including air defense systems, in the hope of launching an efficient counteroffensive,” said analyst Mykola Sunhurovsky of the Razumkov Center, a Kyiv-based think tank.
Philip Breedlove, a retired U.S. Air Force general who was NATO’s top commander from 2013 to 2016, warned against any cease-fire that would codify Russia’s battlefield gains.
“This is like raising a 2-year-old,” he said. “If you allow bad behavior to stand, or worse if you reward bad behavior, you’re going to get more bad behavior.”
When Russia invaded Georgia in 2008, Washington’s response was inadequate, and when Moscow seized Crimea in 2014, “the West and the United States response to that was inadequate to task,” Breedlove added.
Now that Russia has come back for more, the West gets another chance to respond. “How we finish this war will decide, in my opinion, whether we are going to see more of this in the future,” he added.
___
Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor in Washington, Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Ukraine, Jill Lawless and Sylvia Hui in London and Frances D’Emilio in Rome contributed.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/13/battle-donbas-could-prove-decisive-ukraine-war/ | 2022-06-13T09:36:23Z |
It is pretty clear that Essence Wilmington CAN dance.
The 20-year-old Davenport native has been a dazzling star on the TV competition, “So You Think You Can Dance” on FOX, and is now in the top 6 contestants as the series will broadcast its final three episodes, Wednesday nights at 8 p.m.
“What made Essence stand out, she’s a fabulous hip-hop dancer,” Jeff Thacker, executive producer of the show, said this week. “If you look at Essence, first and foremost, she has an amazing smile and she has a great personality.”
Thacker personally reviewed the 1,400 video auditions the network received for the 17th season of “So You Think You Can Dance.” About half of those (judged on their uniqueness and talent) were asked to come to live auditions this spring in New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans.
A 2019 Davenport North graduate, Wilmington first sent in a video audition in early 2020, and the season was canceled due to COVID.
She faithfully watched the 16th season in 2021, to prepare to audition again this past March. Wilmington was picked to do a live audition in L.A. in late March.
“The first one was the producer round, and they let us know if we got a gold ticket, to go through the next round,” she told Local 4 on Tuesday. “That was the judges’ round that they showed on TV.”
About 75 dancers made the judges’ round, and 42 made it to the choreography round – to learn varied styles of dance, Wilmington said.
“It’s scary. I don’t know, I was just nervous all the time, palms were sweating all the time,” she said. “Especially the dance styles I wasn’t used to.”
When the show premiered May 18, there were 12 dancers competing for the three judges — Leah Remini, Stephen “tWitch” Boss and JoJo Siwa. Episodes are pre-recorded in L.A., and Wilmington’s parents were in the audience for each one.
Thrill of a lifetime
Essence said she cried when she found out she made it on the show.
“I cried because that was the biggest thing I ever got in my life,” she said. “I had gone to a lot of auditions for dance, to get an agent – never got it, always got cut. So this was the first big deal, because I didn’t get cut.”
“It was crazy that I got picked; I didn’t know it would happen,” Wilmington said. She had auditioned in L.A. for a few years as a teenager.
After watching last season’s “So You Think,” she said she learned to stretch as a dancer stylistically.
“I hadn’t really done other styles of dance on the level these amazing people are on,” she said. “I tried to copy and do the best I could do. So I know if made the show at the time, I would have to put myself in that position.”
Wilmington started teaching dance when she was 12, in her basement.
“When I was 11 and I tried out for the Chicago Bulls to be a Bulls Kid, at halftime during the NBA games, my mom posted it and made a fan page for me,” she said. “She posted everything I did and a lady messaged my mom.”
That’s how Essence started teaching other kids to dance. She did one season of dancing at Bulls’ halftime in Chicago when she was 12.
Wilmington also returned to choreograph students who were on the United Center court. When she graduated from North, she was in the Scott Community College dual-enrollment program, and earned her associate’s degree at the same time.
Pursuing dance dreams
Wilmington decided to pursue her dance dreams – training, teaching and auditioning – instead of a traditional four-year college degree.
Gaining all this national exposure will help her career, she said.
For last week’s show, Wilmington only had four hours to learn and polish an emotional contemporary dance with All-Star Koine Iwasaki. That dance reflected the challenges of anxiety and depression (Watch it HERE).
“You guys are both struggling, doing this together,” Wilmington recalled. She was super excited to be on the show overall.
“It was crazy, being in the limelight,” she said. “It was crazy being on TV; everyone’s seeing me and I’m so happy. Also the fact that, no matter where you come from – whether it’s a small city or town – you can do whatever you put your mind to.”
The best highlights of SYTYCD have been all the friends Wilmington has made.
“All the contestants, we’re so close. We have a great chemistry,” she said. “Another highlight is putting myself in uncomfortable positions, and making myself feel comfortable.”
Putting her best foot forward
Wilmington never thought she’d make it this far on the show.
“I just prayed every day, just hoping I would put my best foot forward,” she said. “Every week was crazy and insane. I just thank God for everything. I just kept going and kept trying to rise to the occasion.”
“It’s like an indescribable feeling,” her mother, Ebonie Wilmington, said Tuesday. I’m obviously overwhelmingly proud.”
Essence did her first public dance for a variety show at age 9 at Davenport’s Washington Elementary.
“She was nervous, but she did it,” Ebonie said. “She was a shy kid, so to see her do that, it was like, ‘Wow.’ You could just see the love she had for it.”
Seeing her in SYTYCD, Essence is “definitely a different person,” her mom said. Hearing the judges’ praise was enlightening.
“It was nice to hear things from other people, their thought and perspective of what she is as a dancer,” Ebonie said.
Essence may now split her time between L.A. and the QC.
“Right now, I have some friends I’ve met in the industry and would like to collab with,” she said. “Going back and forth, and also having my dance team here, I don’t want to let that go.”
Wilmington worked with Rock Island High alum JUNO, choreographing her music video “Nobody Cares,” with the Essence W. troupe last summer. JUNO actually was a babysitter for Essence when she was little.
“She is so inspiring; she’s the best,” she said. There are three SYTYCD episodes left, Wednesday nights, at 8 p.m. on FOX 18. The winner will get $100,000.
For more information on Wilmington, visit her website. For more on “So You Think You Can Dance,” click HERE. | https://cw33.com/news/20-year-old-qc-dancer-is-in-the-finals-on-national-fox-series/ | 2022-07-26T19:13:24Z |
Scammers offering ‘free gifts’ in exchange for information
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - If you get a text offering you a free gift as a reward in exchange for personal information, Attorney General Ashley Moody is urging you to be wary.
Floridians have reported receiving a text message offering a ‘free gift’ for paying a bill on time.
The Better Business Bureau details recent reports of this scheme that entices text recipients with the promise of a present to click on a link to an unfamiliar website requesting personal information. It’s best to remains suspicious of businesses offering free gifts and money via text or email.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Scammers will try anything to steal your personal information. Their latest trick is simple, but effective—the promise of a gift in exchange for personal information. Don’t fall for it. Never provide personal information in response to a solicitation or click on links contained in a suspicious message. Remember that if something seems too good to be true, then it’s probably a scam.”
To avoid falling for ‘free gift’ text scams, Attorney General Moody recommends the following:
- If a company is mentioned in the message, check if the text is legitimate by looking up the company’s official website and contacting them at their listed phone number;
- Refrain from responding, as replying alerts the scammer that the number is active and may lead to more texts or calls;
- Block the phone number and delete the message; and
- Never send personal or financial information in response to an unsolicited text.
The BBB provides further details on how to spot red flags of scams involving text messages. For more information, click here.
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/09/scammers-offering-free-gifts-exchange-information/ | 2022-06-09T15:39:07Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Tuya Inc. (NYSE: TUYA) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
This lawsuit is on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased Tuya American Depositary Shares in or traceable to the Company's March 2021 initial public offering.
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 11, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in TUYA:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/tuya-class-action-submission-form?id=31230&from=4
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Tuya Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (a) a material portion of Tuya's China-based customers were engaged in the widespread and systematic manipulation of reviews and product offerings in violation of Amazon.com's terms of use; (b) prior to the initial public offering, a consumer investigation and data breach had exposed an illicit fake review scheme being perpetrated by many of Tuya's clients, among others, which included, inter alia, the exposure of 13 million records of organized fake review scams linked to over 200,000 Amazon account profiles; (c) as a result of (a) and (b) above, there was a substantial risk that a material portion of Tuya's significant customers would be barred from using Amazon.com's platform, negatively impacting Tuya's business, revenue, earnings, and prospects; and (d) as a result of (a)-(c) above, the registration statement's representations regarding Tuya's historical financial and operational metrics and purported market opportunities and expected growth did not accurately reflect the actual business, operations, financial results, and trajectory of the Company at the time of the initial public offering, and such statements were materially false and misleading and lacked a reasonable factual basis.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Tuya you have until October 11, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Tuya securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the TUYA lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/tuya-class-action-submission-form?id=31230&from=4.
J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
J. Klein, Esq.
Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
59th Floor
New York, NY 10118
jk@kleinstocklaw.com
Telephone: (212) 616-4899
www.kleinstocklaw.com
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SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/tuya-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-october-11-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-tuya-inc-shareholders/ | 2022-08-30T10:19:45Z |
The recommendation from NICE last week means that doctors in the UK's National Health Service can prescribe the Sleepio app, which uses artificial intelligence to provide people with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia instead of sleep medications like zolpidem and zopiclone that can be dependency forming and aren't intended for long-term use.
Up to 800,000 people could benefit from using Sleepio in England, NICE said. The app provides a digital six-week self-help program involving a sleep test, weekly interactive CBT-I sessions and keeping a diary about sleep patterns.
The institute said that the app-based program, which costs NHS £45 ($56) per person, was more cost effective for the health care system because, based on a year of use, it led to fewer doctor's appointments and prescriptions of sleeping pills.
"Our rigorous, transparent and evidence-based analysis has found that Sleepio is cost saving for the NHS in primary care compared with sleeping pills and sleep hygiene. It will also reduce people with insomnia's reliance on dependence forming drugs such as zolpidem and zopiclone," said Jeanette Kusel, acting director for MedTech and digital at NICE, in a statement.
Twelve randomized controlled trials, the gold standard for medical research, showed that Sleepio is more effective at reducing insomnia than sleep hygiene and sleeping pills, the statement said.
The Sleepio program is designed to be completed in six weeks, but people have full access for 12 months from when they start using the app. This accessibility allows people to complete sessions at their own pace and revisit sessions if they wish, NICE said.
The sessions focus on identifying thoughts, feelings and behavior that contribute to the symptoms of insomnia. Cognitive interventions aim to improve the way a person thinks about sleep and the behavioral interventions are designed to promote a healthy sleep routine.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/features/health/insomnia-sufferers-in-england-now-have-a-prescription-alternative-to-pills/article_0add7419-6d5e-5278-bc39-b9af1d7a74c8.html | 2022-05-26T09:56:11Z |
US Transportation Dept. lifts restrictions on Cuba flights
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Transportation Department on Wednesday made it easier for Americans to travel to Cuba, lifting flight restrictions that were established during the Trump administration.
The restrictions had prevented U.S. airline flights and chartered flights from going to Cuban cities other than Havana. Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent a letter to the Transportation Department on Tuesday asking it to revoke the restrictions, and the agency followed through Wednesday.
Blinken said opening up flights to Cuba was “in support of the Cuban people and in the foreign policy interests of the United States.” He said that once the Transportation Department followed through on his request, “scheduled and charter air services between the United States and Cuban airports may resume effective immediately.”
The Biden administration announced last month that it would expand flights to Cuba, take steps to loosen restrictions on U.S. travelers to the island, and lift restrictions on money that immigrants can send to people on the island.
The administration said it would also move to reinstate the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program, which has a backlog of more than 20,000 applications, and increase consular services and visa processing.
“With these actions, we aim to support Cubans’ aspirations for freedom and for greater economic opportunities so that they can lead successful lives at home,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said last month.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/02/us-transportation-dept-lifts-restrictions-cuba-flights/ | 2022-06-02T05:16:01Z |
Child critically injured after shooting himself in head with gun, police say
Published: May. 5, 2022 at 4:25 PM EDT|Updated: 4 hours ago
ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) - Police in St. Louis are investigating a critical shooting that involved a child Wednesday afternoon.
KMOV reports a 3-year-old found a gun from a mattress and shot himself in the head while at a residence north of downtown, according to authorities.
Police said the child was taken to a local hospital and was listed in critical condition.
A 22-year-old man was later arrested in connection with the incident, and police said the child abuse unit was also investigating.
Copyright 2022 KMOV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/05/child-critically-injured-after-shooting-himself-head-with-gun-police-say/ | 2022-05-06T00:26:17Z |
CHANDLER, Ariz., April 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) 2022 Teaching and Learning Conference (TLC) – A CULTURE OF CARE: Empathy, Advocacy, and Non-Traditional Student Success – takes place November 1-3, 2022.
The UAGC TLC is an online event that provides faculty, staff, students, researchers, and practitioners a platform to share their knowledge and experiences of critical issues in online higher education. This year, TLC aims to broaden the concept of access to higher education through a discussion of the role of institutional empathy and advocacy in student success.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
We invite all educators, staff, researchers, and UAGC alumni to learn more about the 2022 TLC and to submit their proposals via the TLC website. Proposals are due by June 15, 2022.
For non-traditional students, empathy and advocacy can ensure that institutional practices do not unnecessarily obstruct access to learning opportunities on a day-to-day basis. They also can help ensure that students have the skills necessary to advocate for themselves, both in academics and in the workforce, which is crucial to their continued success.
An annual community of learning event, the UAGC TLC facilitates collaborative discussion of issues pertaining to online learning, including diversity, equity, inclusion, instructional practices, learning technology, and institutional policies that support the contemporary learner. TLC connects, educates, and inspires faculty, staff, researchers, and students by offering a platform for interdisciplinary and inter-institutional work.
"The UAGC Teaching and Learning Conference 2022 explores new ways to address the issue of equitable access to higher education," said Dr. Sarah Steinberg, provost and senior vice president at UAGC. "Our exploration does not end at enrollment but persists to support students' continued access to meaningful learning opportunities throughout their higher-ed careers, regardless of their backgrounds and circumstances. We look forward to learning from each other about how to give all students supportive, empathetic, and assuring learning spaces along their educational journeys."
During the 2022 TLC Conference, November 1-3, 2022, live TLC sessions will occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. MST each day, and asynchronous sessions and engagement opportunities will be available on the TLC conference app. To learn more, visit the TLC website.
About University of Arizona Global Campus
The University of Arizona Global Campus ("Global Campus" or "UAGC") is an independent university that is operated in affiliation with the University of Arizona. Global Campus is designed to provide flexible opportunities for working students from diverse backgrounds who seek to gain knowledge and skills that will help them to achieve their life and career goals. Global Campus is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and is one of the nation's most innovative online universities with approximately 35,000 students. UAGC offers more than 50 degrees at the associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. For more information visit uagc.edu.
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SOURCE University of Arizona Global Campus | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/20/call-proposals-university-arizona-global-campus-2022-teaching-learning-conference-november-1-3-2022/ | 2022-04-20T20:32:15Z |
A 4th of July cookout will cost you 17% more this year, survey finds
(CNN) - Americans will have to dig even deeper into their pockets to celebrate this Fourth of July.
The American Farm Bureau Federation released a new survey Monday that found an Independence Day cookout will cost Americans 17% more on average than it did a year ago.
They report says feeding 10 guests, on average, will cost nearly $70 this year, an increase of about $10 from 2021.
The biggest price jumps come from beef products. Two pounds of beef can cost 36% more than they did last year.
Chicken, lemonade and potato salad have also seen an incline in prices.
Experts blame inflation, supply chain issues, and the war on Ukraine for the increased costs.
But not everything costs more – the prices for potato chips, cheese, and strawberries have actually gone down.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/27/4th-july-cookout-will-cost-you-17-more-this-year-survey-finds/ | 2022-06-27T21:30:59Z |
Our view: Work hard to keep each other safe this Labor Day
A recent “Memorial Checkpoint” event remembered lives lost last summer in Nimishillen Township.
Diane Clark, her brother Dave Miller, and her boyfriend Charles Neff were all killed on July 15, 2021, after the vehicle they were in was struck by a drunken driver, according to a Review story. The driver of the second car also died.
The event is a reminder this Labor Day weekend of the dangers of impaired driving. Despite warnings at the national, state and local levels, far too many drivers still climb behind the wheel when they have no business being there.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 28 people every day in the United States die in crashes involving drunken driving. This is one death every 52 minutes.
Annually, then, the nation loses more than 10,000 people because of a situation that is entirely preventable.
Disappointingly, alcohol traffic fatalities in 2020 were up 9% even though Americans that year drove 13% fewer miles.
This Labor Day weekend is the culmination of the recent “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. But it’s not the end of the pain and suffering felt by family members who have lost a loved one to an alcohol-related traffic accident or to the problems that drunken driving causes for those who engage in the behavior.
In addition to the fines and court costs, impaired drivers also have to deal with missed days of work, jail time and the shame that comes from other people in the community knowing what they’ve done. All of which pales in comparison to the realization that one’s reckless actions may have harmed or killed other people.
If you are celebrating with alcohol this Labor Day weekend, don’t drive. Designate a driver beforehand. If you are hosting a party, don’t serve alcohol to anybody who is already impaired, and don’t let them try to drive home when they leave.
It’s not worth it. The families and friends of Diane Clark, Dave Miller and Charles Neff know this all too well. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/opinion/2022/08/31/dont-drink-and-drive-this-labor-day/65463631007/ | 2022-08-31T10:11:39Z |
OKLAHOMA CITY, June 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
TO: ALL PERSONS AND ENTITIES THAT PURCHASED OR ACQUIRED SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC. ("SANDRIDGE") COMMON STOCK DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN FEBRUARY 24, 2011 AND NOVEMBER 8, 2012, INCLUSIVE (THE "CLASS PERIOD")
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to an Order of the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, that a hearing, which the Court may require or permit to be conducted as a telephonic hearing, will be held on October 6, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., before the Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, 200 NW 4th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, for the purpose of determining: (1) whether the proposed Settlement of the above-captioned litigation (the "Litigation"), as set forth in the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement ("Stipulation") reached between the parties, consisting of Twenty-One Million Eight Hundred Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($21,807,500) in cash, should be approved as fair, reasonable, and adequate to the Members of the Class; (2) whether the release by Class Members of claims as set forth in the Stipulation should be authorized; (3) whether the proposed plan to distribute the settlement proceeds (the "Plan of Allocation") is fair, reasonable, and adequate; (4) whether the application by Lead Counsel for an award of attorneys' fees, charges, and expenses and the award to Plaintiffs pursuant to 15 U.S.C. §78u-4(a)(4) in connection with their representation of the Class should be approved; and (5) whether the Judgment, in the form attached to the Stipulation, should be entered.
Please note that the date, time and location of the Settlement Hearing are subject to change without further notice. The Court may require or permit attendance at the Settlement Hearing by telephone. If the Court requires or permits telephonic participation in the Settlement Hearing, the dial-in number for the Settlement Hearing will be posted on www.SandRidgeSecuritiesSettlement.com. Class Members who intend to appear at the Settlement Hearing are advised to visit www.SandRidgeSecuritiesSettlement.com for updates.
IF YOU PURCHASED OR ACQUIRED ANY OF THE COMMON STOCK OF SANDRIDGE DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN FEBRUARY 24, 2011 AND NOVEMBER 8, 2012, INCLUSIVE, YOUR RIGHTS WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE SETTLEMENT OF THIS LITIGATION.
If you have not received a detailed Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Class Action ("Notice") and a copy of the Proof of Claim and Release form ("Proof of Claim"), you may obtain copies by writing to SandRidge Securities Settlement, c/o Epiq, P.O. Box 6909, Portland, OR 97228-6909, or on the internet at www.SandRidgeSecuritiesSettlement.com.
If you are a Class Member, in order to share in the distribution of the Net Settlement Fund, you must submit a Proof of Claim by mail (postmarked no later than August 19, 2022) or if submitted electronically no later than August 19, 2022, establishing that you are entitled to recovery. Unless the deadline is extended, your failure to submit your Proof of Claim by the above deadline will preclude you from receiving any payment from the Settlement.
If you are a Class Member and you desire to be excluded from the Class, you must submit a request for exclusion such that it is received no later than September 15, 2022, in the manner and form explained in the detailed Notice, referred to above. All Members of the Class who do not timely and validly request exclusion from the Class will be bound by any judgment entered in the Litigation pursuant to the Stipulation.
Any objection to the Settlement, the Plan of Allocation, or the fee and expense application must be mailed to each of the following recipients, received no later than September 22, 2022:
CLERK OF THE COURT
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
200 NW 4th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Lead Counsel:
ROBBINS GELLER RUDMAN & DOWD LLP
EVAN J. KAUFMAN
58 South Service Road, Suite 200
Melville, NY 11747
Counsel for Settling Defendants:
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
STEVEN M. BAUER
505 Montgomery Street, Suite 2000
San Francisco, CA 94111
COVINGTON & BURLING LLP
MARK P. GIMBEL
620 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10018
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT, THE CLERK'S OFFICE OR SETTLING DEFENDANTS REGARDING THIS NOTICE. If you have any questions about the Settlement, you may contact Lead Counsel at the address listed above.
DATED: June 3, 2022
BY ORDER OF THE COURT
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
SOURCE// Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
URL// www.SandRidgeSecuritiesSettlement.com
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SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/03/robbins-geller-rudman-amp-dowd-llp-announces-settlement-class-action-involving-purchasers-sandridge-energy-inc-common-stock/ | 2022-06-03T13:09:04Z |
Opportunity brings highly skilled aerospace manufacturing work to Arkansas
BETHESDA, Md., May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Airbus leaders announced today the aerial refueling boom system for the LMXT strategic tanker aircraft will be manufactured by Airbus in western Arkansas. Introduced in September 2021, the LMXT is Lockheed Martin's offering for the U.S. Air Force's KC-Y strategic tanker program.
"Given the undisputed importance of the U.S. Air Force's strategic refueling mission, ensuring the LMXT is equipped with critical and relevant technologies for its refueling system is of paramount importance. Like the LMXT airframe, this refueling system is proven and low-risk, translating to known and added capabilities for the U.S. Air Force," said Lockheed Martin Chairman, President, and CEO James Taiclet. "With this commitment, Arkansas' manufacturing community has the opportunity to contribute to building America's next strategic tanker."
The LMXT is built on the combat-proven design of the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), which is the strategic tanking choice of 14 nations around the world. Offering several distinct U.S. Air Force-only capabilities designed to meet operator requirements, the LMXT offers advantages like an established fly-by-wire aerial refueling boom. Currently certified and used by allies to refuel U.S. Air Force aircraft in operations globally, the world's first fully automatic air-to-air refueling (A3R) system is a discrete asset.
"We are excited to continue expanding our U.S. footprint by partnering with the state of Arkansas to create the LMXT refueling boom production site and center of excellence. It is an honor to bring Airbus innovation to the state for this and future manufacturing opportunities," said C. Jeffrey Knittel, chairman and CEO of Airbus Americas. "The state-of-the-art boom system is a vital aspect of the overall LMXT offering, and we are proud to be working with Arkansans to build this best-in-class solution for the U.S. Air Force."
While the exact location of the manufacturing facility has yet to be determined, it will expand Airbus' footprint into "The Natural State." Manufacturing plays a significant role in the Arkansas economy, accounting for about 15% of the state's economic output. More than 12% of all Arkansas residents are employed by the manufacturing industry, according to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
"Lockheed Martin consistently sets the standard for aerospace and defense worldwide and significantly contributes to Arkansas' robust aerospace and defense industry," said Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. "Arkansas has the tools in place to help high-tech manufacturing succeed, and I'm pleased that Lockheed Martin and Airbus see themselves growing here in our state as they look to the future in the defense industry."
Lockheed Martin's manufacturing presence in Arkansas dates back to 1978 with its Camden Operations facility. This facility is a manufacturing, final assembly, test and storage operation for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) programs. Approximately 1,030 employees work in the facility's manufacturing and support buildings.
"I am thrilled Arkansas has been selected to manufacture the LMXT's boom, bringing well-paying jobs to our state and strengthening our economy. Most importantly, I'm proud Arkansas will continue to increase our contributions in support of America's men and women in uniform and our national defense," said U.S. Sen. John Boozman, who serves as the senior senator from Arkansas.
The LMXT aerial refueling system work is the first manufacturing opportunity for Airbus in Arkansas, but builds on an extensive manufacturing presence across the southeastern United States. Airbus builds the A320 and A220 airliners in Alabama, H125 and UH-72 Lakota helicopters in Mississippi, and satellites in Florida. The workforce across these facilities is more than 30% U.S. military veterans.
"Flights of freedom will be sustained by equipment made right here in Arkansas! This announcement further strengthens the Third District's role in our nation's defense, and our community's strong workforce and infrastructure are ready to support the manufacturing of the state-of-the-art LMXT system," said U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, who represents Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District. "Arkansans are proud knowing the leading role they'll have in building the next generation of the Air Force's capabilities. I look forward to a fair and open competition that I'm sure the LMXT will win."
This announcement follows Lockheed Martin's and Airbus' recently publicized plan to expand their footprints in Georgia and Alabama to support future LMXT assembly and configuration. The LMXT will be built in two phases:
- Phase 1: The LMXT is first produced as an A330 airliner at Airbus' Mobile, Alabama, facility, which is where Airbus A320 and A220 commercial airliners are built.
- Phase 2: The second phase of the manufacturing process includes converting the commercial aircraft into the LMXT tanker at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics' Marietta, Georgia, facility, which is currently home to the C-130J Super Hercules final production and F-35 Lightning II center wing assembly lines.
Integration of the Arkansas-built boom will be included in Phase 2 of the assembly and configuration process.
The LMXT complements the U.S. Air Force's tanker capabilities by providing the most advanced aerial refueler to meet America's immediate and long-term mission requirements. The LMXT strengthens and expands the U.S. aerospace industrial base by working with existing and new American suppliers.
"Arkansans are proud of the men and women who fight for our freedoms and the civilian workers who support them," Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston said. "The LMXT tanker will be built in America, by Americans, for Americans — a mission that Arkansas encourages all manufacturers to embrace as we seek to bring quality jobs back to the U.S.A. and increase economic opportunities for American workers and American communities."
The LMXT offers a proven airframe with distinct U.S. Air Force-only capabilities designed to meet operator requirements, with advantages that also include:
- Significantly improved range and fuel offload capacity over current tankers
- Operational and combat proven advanced camera and rear vision system
- Open system architecture JADC2/NC3 systems
- Established allied interoperability and resilient global supply chain
- A multi-domain operations node that connects the LMXT to the larger battlespace, increasing onboard situational awareness to provide resilient communications and datalink for assets across the force
- A permanently installed aeromedevac suite enabling world-class medical care with intercontinental reach
- Forklift accessible cargo capacity for six military pallets with weights of up to 70 k/lbs. for austere base support
- Unrivaled persistence in the battlespace and operational performance enabling greater access to non-traditional bases
As the prime contractor, Lockheed Martin works directly to implement U.S. Air Force-specific requirements within the LMXT. For additional information, visit the LMXT website: www.lockheedmartin.com/lmxt.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 114,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
Please follow @LMNews on Twitter for the latest announcements and news across Lockheed Martin.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/built-arkansas-lmxt-strategic-tanker-boom-refueling-system-be-produced-western-arkansas/ | 2022-05-18T18:16:52Z |
Thousands of tomatoes were left covering the highway after a tomato truck crashed on California's Interstate 80 on Monday, leaving three people injured, according to officials.
The tomato truck driver lost control and hit another car before crashing into the center median, according to CNN affiliate KOVR. A chain reaction of crashes occurred after another car became stuck in the spill. A total of four cars were involved, with one major injury and two minor injuries, says KOVR.
The California Department of Transportation, also known as Caltrans, responded to the crash to clean up the area, said California Highway Patrol. Several lanes were closed for hours as they worked to clear the tomatoes.
TravelPerk ranked the countries that spend the most on domestic and international business travel, as well as their future outlook as they recover from pandemic-induced loss of business. Click for more.
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NEW YORK and MIAMI, July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Parkinson's Foundation today announced the recipients of more than $2 million in community grants for Parkinson's disease (PD) programs across the U.S. The Foundation invests in community programs that make an impact in local communities and help people live better with PD by providing support for unmet health, wellness and educational needs.
"Investing in community-based organizations allows the Foundation to direct resources to meaningful PD programs and services locally," said Parkinson's Foundation President and CEO John L. Lehr. "The community grants program has grown considerably over the last few years, allowing the Foundation to reach even more people with PD and to have a lasting impact on their lives."
Of the $2 million awarded, community grants range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $25,000 per recipient. The 2022 grant cycle focuses on programs that educate and deliver exercise specifically designed for people with PD, reach those who are newly diagnosed, and address the intersection of mental health and PD. The programs funded by the Foundation will benefit people with PD in 42 states in the U.S.
"The support we've received from the Parkinson's Foundation for our What's Up, Doc? Program has enabled us to have high touch opportunities within the first year following diagnosis," said Gil Kim of the Metro-Jackson Parkinson's Group in Jackson, MS. "Early intervention, education and inclusion in our community will enable those who are newly diagnosed to live a better life with the disease."
Since 2011, the Foundation has invested more than $9.4 million in 716 community-based programs. To see the full list of the 2022 community grant recipients, visit Parkinson.org/2022grants.
The Parkinson's Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson's disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson's community. Since 1957, the Parkinson's Foundation has invested more than $400 million in Parkinson's research and clinical care. Connect with us on Parkinson.org, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or call (800) 4PD-INFO (473-4636).
Affecting an estimated one million Americans and 10 million worldwide, Parkinson's disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the U.S. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression), as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for Parkinson's and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S. alone.
Contact
Marissa Cruz
Parkinson's Foundation
mcruz@parkinson.org
305-537-9926
Parkinson.org
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SOURCE Parkinson's Foundation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/parkinsons-foundation-grants-more-than-2-million-local-communities-parkinsons-programs/ | 2022-07-21T15:47:36Z |
NASCAR driver makes pit stop in Topeka ahead of race at Kansas Speedway
Published: Sep. 9, 2022 at 4:52 PM CDT|Updated: 18 minutes ago
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Topekans were able to get a taste of NASCAR before this weekend’s race.
Ricky Stenhouse Junior signed autographs and spent some time with fans this afternoon at the North Topeka Dillons.
Stenhouse was part of an entire slate of activities at the store ahead of the Hollywood Casino 400, including community booths and some prize giveaways.
The Hollywood Casino 400 kicks off at the Kansas Speedway this Sunday, at 2 p.m.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/09/09/nascar-driver-stops-by-topeka-ahead-race-kansas-speedway/ | 2022-09-09T22:11:43Z |
EXPLAINER: Why Finland, Sweden joining NATO will be big deal
By LORNE COOK
Associated Press
BRUSSELS (AP) — It’s likely to be the quickest NATO enlargement ever and one that would redraw Europe’s security map. Finnish leaders announced Thursday their belief that Finland should join the world’s biggest military organization because of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Sweden could soon follow suit.
Should they apply for membership, the move would have far-reaching ramifications for Northern Europe and trans-Atlantic security.
No doubt, it will also anger their large neighbor Russia, which blames, at least in part, its war in Ukraine on NATO’s continued expansion closer to its borders. It’s unclear how Russian President Vladimir Putin might retaliate. The Kremlin said Thursday that it certainly won’t improve European security.
The following is a brief look at what Finland and Sweden’s membership in the 30-country NATO alliance could mean, with the Nordic partners expected to announce their intention to join within days.
FINLAND AND SWEDEN
Not neutral like Switzerland, Finland and Sweden traditionally think of themselves as militarily “nonaligned.”
But Russia’s war in Ukraine and Putin’s apparent desire to establish a Moscow-centered “sphere of influence” has shaken their security notions to the core. Just days after he ordered the Feb. 24 invasion, public opinion shifted dramatically.
Support in Finland for NATO membership has hovered around 20-30% for years. It now stands at over 70%. The two are NATO’s closest partners but maintaining good ties with Russia has been an important part of their foreign policy, particularly for Finland.
Now they hope for security support from NATO states — primarily the United States — in case Moscow retaliates. Britain pledged on Wednesday to come to their aid.
THE NORDIC REGION
NATO membership for the two, joining regional neighbors Denmark, Norway and Iceland, would formalize their joint security and defense work in ways that their Nordic Defense Cooperation pact hasn’t.
NORDEFCO, as it’s known, focuses on cooperation. Working within NATO means putting forces under joint command.
Accession would tighten the strategic Nordic grip on the Baltic Sea — Russia’s maritime point of access to the city of St. Petersburg and its Kaliningrad exclave.
Finland and Sweden also join them, along with Iceland, at the heart of the triangle formed with the North Atlantic and maritime areas in the Arctic, to where Russia projects its military might from the northern Kola Peninsula. Integrated NATO military planning will become a lot simpler, making the region easier to defend.
NATO
Finland and Sweden are NATO’s closest partners. They contribute to the alliance’s operations and air policing.
Most importantly, they already meet NATO’s membership criteria, on functioning democracies, good neighborly relations, clear borders and armed forces that are in lock-step with the allies. After the invasion, they formally boosted information exchanges with NATO and sit in on every meeting on war issues.
Both are modernizing their armed forces and investing in new equipment. Finland is purchasing dozens of high-end F-35 warplanes. Sweden has top quality fighter jets, the Gripen.
Finland says it’s already hit NATO’s defense spending guideline of 2% of gross domestic product. Sweden too is ramping up its military budget and expects to reach the target by 2028. The NATO average was estimated at 1.6% last year.
RUSSIA
Putin has demanded that NATO stop expanding and in his May 9 speech blamed the West for the war.
But public opinion in Finland and Sweden suggests that he has driven them into NATO’s arms.
If Finland joins, it would double the length of the alliance’s border with Russia, adding a further 1,300 kilometers (830 miles) for Moscow to defend.
Putin has promised a “military, technical” response if they join. But many troops from Russia’s western district near Finland were sent to Ukraine, and those units suffered heavy casualties, Western military officers say.
So far, Moscow is doing nothing obvious to dissuade the two — apart perhaps from a couple of incidents where Russian planes entered their airspace. The Kremlin said Thursday that its response could depend on how close NATO infrastructure moves toward Russia’s borders.
Some at NATO worry that the Russians might deploy nuclear weapons or more hypersonic missiles to the Kaliningrad exclave, across the Baltic Sea wedged between allies Poland and Lithuania.
___
Karl Ritter in Stockholm, and Jari Tanner in Helsinki, contributed to this report. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/05/12/explainer-why-finland-sweden-joining-nato-will-be-big-deal/ | 2022-05-12T11:58:19Z |
KCK police plan several initiatives this summer to keep kids out of trouble
By Brian Johnson
Click here for updates on this story
KANSAS CITY, Kansas (KMBC) — Kansas City, Kansas, police are launching several initiatives this summer in an effort to keep kids out of trouble.
Data shows violent crime increases in the summer when teens are out of school.
Police will host an open house on June 1.
“We just want as many kids as we can to come out so that we can engage with them,” said Kansas City, Kansas, police Chief Karl Oakman.
The chief said he is passionate about “Tackling Conflict Together.” There is a football camp at Bishop Ward for kids 8 to 18. They’ll learn the fundamentals of the sport and anger management.
“Because we’re great at talking. But this camp, as well as our other things this summer, is action. We’re putting action to what we are saying,” Oakman said.
Officers will hire police cadets, paying $15 an hour. They’ll also host three youth academies, so teens better understand law enforcement.
“Because so many of our young people, some of their first encounters with the police is in negative situations, we’re trying to change that all around,” Oakman said.
This effort is in addition to the police athletic league. The chief said that people’s inability to deal with their emotions drives crime.
“It’s time we go over the top for our young people and that’s what we’re doing,” Oakman said.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/05/19/kck-police-plan-several-initiatives-this-summer-to-keep-kids-out-of-trouble/ | 2022-05-19T22:08:30Z |
OpenWeb's second acquisition of 2022 will connect engaged communities with social advertising experiences across the open internet by equipping publishers and brands with privacy-first tools.
NEW YORK and PARIS, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OpenWeb, the premium audience relationship platform, today announced it has acquired ADYOULIKE, a global advertising platform.
This acquisition connects OpenWeb's network of more than 1,000 top-tier publishers, including Forbes, Newsweek, and Refinery29, with ADYOULIKE's technology, delivering brand placements to engaged communities through innovative social advertising experiences. This acquisition will bolster OpenWeb's positioning as a complete, end-to-end operating system (OS) for the open internet.
ADYOULIKE was launched in Paris in 2011 by Julien Verdier, Yohan Elmaalem, Francis Turner, and Dale Lovell, and today works with over 4,000 brands, agencies, and publishers including The Guardian, Reach, Prisma Media and Groupe Marie-Claire. The acquisition of ADYOULIKE was made by OpenWeb for a mix of cash and stock with a total value of $100M.
"Over the last seven years, OpenWeb has partnered with top-tier media to build thousands of healthy, engaged, loyal communities," said Nadav Shoval, CEO and co-founder of OpenWeb. "Our acquisition of ADYOULIKE will allow us to leverage consent-based, first-party data and connect the most engaged communities on the web with brands, powering a more sustainable web."
ADYOULIKE's established reputation in the European market, and their experienced leadership team, will further propel OpenWeb's scale, providing another entrypoint into the global marketplace. Following the acquisition, Julien Verdier will join OpenWeb's executive team as the company's General Manager of Advertising. ADYOULIKE's more than 70 employees will also join OpenWeb, bringing global headcount to nearly 300, with new offices in Paris and London.
"It's been an incredible experience building ADYOULIKE from the ground up with my co-founders," said Julien Verdier. "Today, we start a new chapter. We are thrilled to join OpenWeb—a company with a powerful and important mission—and our team is excited to find innovative ways to power solutions for the open internet."
To learn more about the acquisition and OpenWeb, please visit OpenWeb's blog here.
About OpenWeb
OpenWeb's mission is to improve online conversation. As a product company, OpenWeb partners with publishers and brands to build strong, direct relationships with their audiences. OpenWeb's technology empowers its partners to build vibrant communities rooted in healthy conversations and robust social experiences. OpenWeb works with more than 1,000 top-tier publishers, hosting more than 100 million active users each month.
Founded in 2012, OpenWeb has over 295 employees in New York City, Tel Aviv, Kiev, San Diego, Canada, London and Paris and is backed by world-class investors including Insight Partners, Georgian, Entrée Capital, The New York Times, Samsung Next, Dentsu, and ScaleUp. To date, the company has raised $223 million in funding and is currently valued at over $1 billion. To learn more about OpenWeb's platform visit OpenWeb.com, or follow @OpenWebHQ on LinkedIn and Twitter.
About ADYOULIKE:
ADYOULIKE is an omnichannel digital advertising marketplace bringing together top-tier media, unique formats, and inspiring ads, working with more than 4,000 publishers and 20,000 active advertisers. With locations in Paris, London, and New York and a team of over 70 people, ADYOULIKE has been reinventing advertising and empowering the open internet ecosystem since 2011.
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SOURCE OpenWeb | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/12/openweb-aims-power-social-open-internet-with-100m-acquisition-adyoulike/ | 2022-04-12T14:48:15Z |
- Baidu has become the first and only company to offer fully driverless robotaxi services to the public in China, without human drivers in the car.
- The new permits will also allow Baidu to put fully driverless robotaxis on open roads in Chongqing and Wuhan during the daytime.
- China is the first country in the world that allows fared fully driverless robotaxi operation in two megacities. China's autonomous driving industry has reached an inflection point of accelerated growth.
BEIJING, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888) ("Baidu" or the "Company"), a leading AI company with strong internet foundation, today announced that the company has secured the first permits in China to offer commercial fully driverless robotaxi services to the public on open roads. Apollo Go, Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing service, is now authorized to collect fares for robotaxi rides - completely without human drivers in the car - in Chongqing and Wuhan, two of China's largest megacities. Amid increasing regulatory approval of the expansion of autonomous vehicles (AVs), the permits reflect regulatory authorities' strong recognition and trust in the strength of Baidu's autonomous driving technology. They also mark a key turning point for the future of mobility in China, leading to an eventual expansion of driverless ride-hailing services to paying users across the country.
"This is a tremendous qualitative change," said Wei Dong, Vice President and Chief Safety Operation Officer of Baidu's Intelligent Driving Group. "Fully driverless cars providing rides on open roads to paying customers means we have finally come to the moment that the industry has been longing for. We believe these permits are a key milestone on the path to the inflection point when the industry can finally roll out fully autonomous driving services at scale."
The permits were granted to Baidu by government agencies in Wuhan and Chongqing's Yongchuan District. Both cities have been pioneering new approaches to intelligent transportation in recent years, from developing infrastructure [1] to updating new regulations for AVs. Having received the permits, Baidu will begin to provide fully driverless robotaxi services in the designated areas in Wuhan from 9 am to 5 pm, and Chongqing from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, with five Apollo 5th gen robotaxis operating in each city. The areas of service cover 13 square kilometers in the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone, and 30 square kilometers in Chongqing's Yongchuan District.
To receive the permits, Baidu's robotaxis have undergone multiple steps of testing and licensing, starting from testing with a safety operator in the driving seat, to testing with a safety operator in the passenger seat, before finally receiving authorization to operate with no human driver or operator in the vehicle.
As the only company granted such permits from two Chinese megacities, Baidu's robotaxis come with multi-layer mechanisms to ensure ultimate safety, including the autonomous driving system, monitoring redundancy, remote driving capability and a robust safety operation system, all of which are backed by a massive trove of real-world data including a total test mileage of over 32 million kilometers (~20 million miles) driven by Baidu's AVs to date.
By the end of March 2022, Baidu has ranked No.1 in the accumulative number of autonomous driving patent applications in China, totaling 4,000; among them, the number of global patent families for high-level autonomous driving has exceeded 1,500, ranking first worldwide. Having already expanded to all first-tier cities in China, covering Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, Apollo Go has now surfaced to become the world's largest robotaxi service provider, recently reaching the milestone of more than one million orders.
Note:
[1]: The Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WHDZ) has revamped 321 kilometers of roads for testing of AVs since 2021, of which 106 kilometers are covered by the 5G-powered V2X infrastructure. Chongqing has designated an area in the Yongchuan District as a pilot zone for autonomous driving, in which 30 robotaxis have accumulated a test mileage of 1 million kilometers.
About Baidu
Founded in 2000, Baidu's mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, trading on the NASDAQ under "BIDU" and HKEX under "9888." One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.
Media Contact
Intlcomm@baidu.com
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SOURCE Baidu, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/baidu-granted-chinas-first-ever-permits-commercial-fully-driverless-ride-hailing-services/ | 2022-08-08T05:34:40Z |
South Korea launched its first moon mission on Thursday as its homegrown lunar orbiter took off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard a SpaceX rocket.
A live broadcast of the launch on Friday morning in South Korea showed the orbiter "Danuri" -- which means "enjoy the moon" -- successfully separating from the Falcon 9 rocket.
Developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), the 678-kilogram (about 1,500 pounds) craft has six payloads, including Korean-made equipment.
It is expected to enter the moon's orbit in December before starting a yearlong observation mission where it will search for possible landing sites for future missions, conduct scientific research of the lunar environment and test space internet technology, South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT said in a statement.
If it succeeds, South Korea will become the world's seventh lunar explorer, and the fourth in Asia, behind China, Japan and India.
Friday's launch comes as South Korea accelerates its burgeoning space program and seeks to send a probe to the moon by 2030.
In June, the country successfully launched satellites into orbit with its homegrown Nuri rocket in a significant step for its space program.
Space launches have long been a sensitive issue on the Korean peninsula, where North Korea faces international sanctions over its nuclear-armed ballistic missile program.
In March, North Korea called for expanding its space rocket launch site to advance its space ambitions, after South Korea and the United States accused it of testing a new intercontinental ballistic missile under the guise of launching a space vehicle.
South Korea says its space program is for peaceful and scientific purposes and any military use of the technology, such as in spy satellites, is for its defense.
Live music, from country to R&B to 80s rock is on tap this weekend in Albany, kicking off with a live concert outdoors for the monthly Fridays on the Flint series. Other events include an outdoor movie for kids and "Meet the City," which will introduce Albany residents to the workings of… Click for more.
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Herbert "Skip" Virgin will lead work on translatability of scientific discoveries and translation to new medicines in collaboration with the three Institutes of Science at Altos
SAN FRANCISCO, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Altos Labs (Altos) today announced that Herbert "Skip" Virgin, MD, PhD, will join the company as Chief Medical Officer and Head of the Altos Institute of Medicine, effective September 1, 2022. In his role, Dr. Virgin will lead work on the translatability of scientific discoveries and the translation to transformative medicines in collaboration with the company's three Institutes of Science with the aim to restore cell health and reverse disease.
"Skip is a devoted, innovative scientist with an exceptional background in translational medicine, making him an ideal fit for Altos as we seek to reverse disease, injury, and disabilities using new approaches," said Altos Chief Scientist and Founder Rick Klausner. "As we unravel the deep biology of cellular rejuvenation programming, we also need to develop the means of translating that new understanding into medicines. We are honored that Skip has agreed to take on this challenge by leading the Altos Institute of Medicine."
Dr. Virgin currently serves as Executive Vice President, Research and Chief Scientific Officer at Vir Biotechnology, where he directed a team of more than 150 scientists focused on immune approaches to prevention and treatment of severe infectious disease. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Pathology and Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
"Altos is home to some of the most accomplished scientists in the fields of cell health and cellular rejuvenation programming, and I am excited by the opportunity to lead the Institute of Medicine to help translate this knowledge into transformative medicines," said Dr. Virgin. "Over my career, I've repeatedly encountered one of science's great mysteries: how and why different individuals facing the same disease experience widely variable severity and recovery. Understanding this process at the cellular level – and realizing the potential of that understanding to benefit humanity – is one of many reasons I decided to join Altos to support its efforts to harness cellular resilience."
Dr. Virgin has previously served as the Edward Mallinckrodt Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathology and Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine, the Director and Principal Investigator of the NIH-funded Midwest Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research, and Director and Principal Investigator of an NIH-funded Center for Excellence in Translational Research. He is also an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences.
He holds AB, MD and PhD degrees from Harvard University and Harvard Medical School and trained clinically at Brigham and Women's Hospital and at Barnes Hospital.
About Altos Labs
Altos Labs is a new life sciences company focused on restoring cell health and resilience through cellular rejuvenation programming to reverse disease, injury, and the disabilities that occur throughout life. The company comprises a community of leading scientists, clinicians, and leaders from both academia and industry working together towards this common mission. Altos has operations in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and in Cambridge, UK, with significant collaborations in Japan.
To learn more visit www.altoslabs.com and follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.
Media Contacts
Morgan Warners
FGS Global
morgan.warners@fgsglobal.com
Kim James
FGS Global
kim.james@fgsglobal.com
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SOURCE Altos Labs | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/altos-labs-announces-skip-virgin-chief-medical-officer-head-altos-institute-medicine/ | 2022-07-14T13:22:04Z |
Robert "Bob" LuPone, the Tony and Emmy nominated actor arguably best known for his role in hit TV show "The Sopranos," has died at the age of 76.
He died on Saturday following a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer, said the Manhattan Class Company (MCC) Theater, the influential off-Broadway theater company which LuPone co-founded and served as a co-artistic director.
"He is survived by his wife, Virginia, his son Orlando, sister Patti, and brother William. He is also survived by the profound impact he had on us," the MCC said. His sister, Patti LuPone, is a Tony award-winning actress and Broadway star.
Born in 1946 in Brooklyn, LuPone studied at the Juilliard School before he landed his first professional job in 1966, in the ensemble of the Westbury Music Fair's production of "The Pajama Game" starring Liza Minnelli, the MCC said.
Two years later, he made his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's "Sweet Potato." He went on to become a small screen favorite with roles on TV shows including "Ally McBeal," "Law & Order," and "Sex and the City."
But his most notable television role came in 1999 when he was cast as Dr. Bruce Cusamano, the neighbor and family doctor of mobster Tony Soprano (played James Gandolfini) on the HBO hit "The Sopranos."
Last August, he revealed during an appearance on the "Talking Sopranos" podcast that he based the Cusamano character on a doctor he previously played in a theater production and simply aged him.
"I had always been playing a bad Italian character if you will and I had that in my soul," he said.
The TV veteran was nominated for a Daytime Emmy award for his work on "All My Children," and received a Tony nomination for his performance as Zach in the original run of "A Chorus Line."
LuPone spent much of his later career focused on theater development and education, opening the MCC Theater alongside Bernard Telsey and William Cantler.
Under his leadership, the MCC Theater produced shows including "School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play," "Frozen" and the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Wit," the theater said.
Paying tribute to Lupone in a statement shared on the MCC website, co-artistic directors Telsey and Cantler remembered him as "a force, an advocate, complex in the richest ways, overflowing with a youthful enthusiasm, and deeply wise as he looked in to our souls. He was our best friend."
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Expert: School shooter’s mother drank heavily in pregnancy
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - One of the nation’s leading fetal alcohol researchers testified Tuesday that Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz’s birth mother drank more during her pregnancy than any woman he’s ever seen documented.
Dr. Kenneth Jones said medical and other records show Brenda Woodard well exceeded the standards that grossly endanger a fetus: six drinks per week for two weeks or three drinks in a sitting twice. A friend also testified earlier that Woodard, a Fort Lauderdale prostitute, heavily drank fortified wine and malt liquor during her pregnancy with Cruz before putting him up for adoption. She died last year.
“I know I have never seen so much alcohol consumed by a pregnant woman,” said Jones, a former University of California, San Diego, medical school professor who did some of the pioneering research on fetal alcohol abuse 50 years ago.
Cruz, 23, pleaded guilty last October to murdering 14 students and three staff members on Feb. 14, 2018, at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. His trial, now ending its second month, is only to determine whether he is sentenced to death or life without parole.
His attorneys are trying to show that Woodard’s alcohol abuse during pregnancy put Cruz onto a lifelong path of erratic, bizarre and often violent behavior that culminated in the shootings.
Jones told the jury that while there is disagreement over whether Woodard abused cocaine during her pregnancy — witnesses said she did, tests indicate she didn’t — that wouldn’t have made a significant difference given her alcohol abuse.
“You can take all of the illicit drugs you can think of — heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine — and wrap them up in a single bag and they don’t hold a candle to alcohol for its effect on a developing baby,” Jones said.
He said his examination shows Cruz falls into fetal alcohol spectrum disorder — a broad category — but does not have the more narrowly defined fetal alcohol syndrome. He said the latter has certain physical traits that pediatricians can recognize such as thin lips, narrow eyelid openings and a smooth philtrum — the ridge between the nose and mouth.
He said that lack of physical characteristics can actually be detrimental as the child won’t get the proper early treatment for the damage the alcohol has done to the brain. He said adoptive mothers like Lynda Cruz might also be afraid to report to doctors what they know about a birth mother’s alcohol abuse because of the stigma it can attach to their child.
Jones said signs of fetal alcohol damage to a child include irritability, serious temper tantrums and significant behavioral problems. He said like Cruz, they are often diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, lack control at school and are aggressive toward their mothers and teachers. Earlier testimony has shown Cruz demonstrating all those issues. He also said such patients often have difficulty organizing and planning their activities.
Under cross-examination, however, prosecutors showed that Cruz spent months mapping out the massacre.
Jones conceded during questioning by lead prosecutor Mike Satz that he was not aware that Cruz spent months researching other mass shootings, how long it takes police to respond to a school shooting, what kind of gun to use and how he could hide it while entering the school.
Jones’ testimony followed neuropsychologist Paul Connor, who said Cruz through his life has shown indications on tests that he has alcohol-related mental issues.
Cruz’s public defenders are trying to convince at least one of the 12 jurors to vote for life — a death verdict must be unanimous.
They are trying to overcome the prosecution’s case, which focused on Cruz’s massacre as he stalked a three-story classroom building for seven minutes with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle. Lead prosecutor Mike Satz played security videos of the shooting and showed the rifle Cruz used. Teachers and students testified about watching others die.
Satz showed graphic autopsy and crime scene photos and took jurors to the fenced-off building, which remains blood-stained and bullet-pocked. Parents and spouses gave tearful and angry statements about their loss.
After the defense concludes its case in the coming weeks, the prosecution will present a rebuttal case before the jury’s deliberations begin.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/09/14/expert-school-shooters-mother-drank-heavily-pregnancy/ | 2022-09-14T05:46:28Z |
Recent Product Launches Include Fractional Shares Trading in U.S. Securities
JERSEY CITY, N.J., June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ViewTrade Holding Corp. ("ViewTrade") and Taiwan-based SinoPac Securities ("SinoPac"), which have been partners for nearly two decades, announced that tens of thousands of investors in Taiwan have now benefitted from the fractional shares capability through SinoPac's Stock Savings Plan. The integration of the trading system from SinoPac, with technology from Orbis Systems, and market connectivity from ViewTrade Securities (both subsidiaries of ViewTrade Holding), made the purchase of fractional shares in U.S. securities in Taiwan a reality.
"We are honored to have helped SinoPac become the first broker in Taiwan to offer clients the ability to fractionally invest in U.S.-listed securities online," said Kenneth J. Chan, Managing Director at ViewTrade Holding. "This is a notable example of ViewTrade's collaborative approach with our clients. SinoPac came to us with the request, and we worked side-by-side through a few regulatory hurdles and time experimenting with the new offering within a FinTech Regulatory Sandbox. Today, we remain committed to supporting SinoPac as the firm continues to leverage our partnership to be able to further democratize investing for its customers in Taiwan, while offering them seamless and cost-efficient access to U.S. securities."
It is through SinoPac's trading app DAWHO "大戶投," that customers are able to select from 36 U.S. equities and 48 exchange traded funds (ETFs) to invest in periodically, choosing the same date each month. To further their retail trading innovation and enhance their periodic investing offering, SinoPac Securities wanted to make it possible for individual investors to invest a fixed amount each month in fractional shares of U.S. securities to take advantage of dollar-cost averaging.
About SinoPac Securities
SinoPac Securities (the Company), established in 1988 and the first among its peers to list on Taiwan's TPEx market, is a fully-owned subsidiary of SinoPac Financial Holdings Company Limited (SinoPac FHC).
SinoPac Securities service scope spans brokering, proprietary trading, underwriting, international business, fixed income, new financial products, etc. The Company is a major integrated securities firm in Taiwan with a paid-in capital of NT$16.212 billion and 47 service locations, and the Company's business rankings are among the leading positions in the industry. The Company merged with Pacific Securities in 2012 to increase its brokerage market share and overall competitiveness. In 2016, the Company merged BEA Wealth Management Services (Taiwan) Limited, and the Company's subsidiary SinoPac Securities (Cayman) Holdings Limited acquired Hong Kong-based Tung Shing Holdings Company Limited to strengthen the Company's wealth management business and its competitive position in Hong Kong. SinoPac Securities accepted the brokerage business, business equipment, and net assets of margin trading and short selling accounts of eight IBT Securities branches, providing a catalyst to improve the Company's brokerage market share and profitability, and positively benefiting shareholders' equity.
Aside from the domestic market, SinoPac Securities has also been aggressively deploying overseas with business locations in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and London to provide an optimized financial services integration platform. As an innovator in the industry, SinoPac Securities fully embraces the digital finance revolution. Through effective branding and development strategies, the Company aims to be a digital leader in the securities industry and the first choice for seamless wealth management services, in accordance with the mission to be a premier integrated financial services provider.
SinoPac's trading app DAWHO "大戶投" enables customers in Taiwan to open accounts online, access real-time market data, Fintech content and seamlessly invest in U.S. securities.
About ViewTrade Holding Corporation
ViewTrade Holding Corp. ("ViewTrade"), through its subsidiaries ViewTrade Securities, Inc. and Orbis Systems, Inc., is leading the industry in the digital shift to embedded finance and helping to democratize investing across the globe. ViewTrade offers clients – ranging from broker dealers to fintech disruptors and financial institutions -- a competitive edge by providing a direct and cost-efficient connection to U.S. markets, which includes facilitating fractional trading in 2,900 equity securities and 100 ETFs.
Today, ViewTrade serves clients in more than 20 countries across four continents, representing millions of individual investors. Our offerings translate into multiple languages and provide client service in more than a dozen languages. As a B2B firm, we never compete with our clients for business.
ViewTrade Securities' products run on Orbis Systems' innovative technology. The firm has more than 20 years of experience operating in financial markets. In addition to powering ViewTrade platforms, Orbis Systems provides other fintech disruptors and innovators game-changing APIs and seamless integration to broker-dealers, clearing and custodian providers, market data and information content providers, as well as AML and KYC vendors.
For more information, visit the ViewTrade Securities, Inc. (Member FINRA and SIPC) and Orbis Systems, Inc. websites, and follow ViewTrade Holding Corporation on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Media Contact
Alex Shafer
viewtradepr@jconnelly.com
973-934-5100
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SOURCE ViewTrade Holding Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/viewtrade-holding-corporation-sinopac-securities-celebrate-nearly-20-years-partnership-bringing-access-us-securities-trading-innovation-tens-thousands-investors-taiwan/ | 2022-06-15T13:18:19Z |
The Global Outreach ministry — a University of Mary Hardin-Baylor program that helps students cultivate a love for other cultures through education, connections and opportunities — has not been idle this summer.
Its teams of students and faculty members were sent on five domestic and international missions: May 8-14 in Guatemala, May 29 to June 4 in Alaska, June 4-10 in Costa Rica and June 19 to July 1 in Washington.
During the trips to Guatemala and Costa Rica, health sciences and medical students worked with One More Child, a Florida-based nonprofit organization, to supply medical supplies, work in medical clinics, teach basic hygiene and make home visits.
“Each team reached more than 150 individuals through physical exams, first-aid and dental education, UMHB spokeswoman Ashley Smith said in a news release.
Meanwhile, the four students and two sponsors with the Alaska team traveled to Anchorage and worked through GraceWorks — a nonprofit organization that impacts unchurched children, youth and adults in local parks and communities — to host a Bible camp for children.
“We’d like to thank our partners and our amazing staff for such a great week. We worked in nine park locations, and houses in two different locations,” GraceWorks said in a Facebook post. “We had several accept Jesus Christ as Savior and a couple of people interested in Baptism. Thank you for your continued prayers for our ministry.”
Now, the Washington team is working with Epic Life Church in Seattle until Friday, July 1.
“For two weeks, students will pass out coffee at bus stops, volunteer at a food bank, and participate in various other aspects of community development,” Smith said.
These experiences are certainly meaningful to the participants, as Tiffany Horton, Global Outreach’s director, emphasized their eagerness to help the residents of the regions they visit.
“For some of our students serving, they have never left Texas and never flown on a plane,” she said. “This is their first mission experience, and most have reported this opportunity was life-changing for them.”
Emily Nixon, who graduated from UMHB in 2021, is one of those people.
“Before going, I felt like I wasn’t good enough for God to use me in such a big way,” she said following her trip. “If you’re thinking about going, go. Do it. If it brings God glory, you do not need a sign … and if you feel like you do, this is it. Don’t let money or a feeling or fear hold you back. Pray about it, and if the doors are open, go. Walking through the open doors was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Students can learn more about the Global Outreach program and its ministry online at umhb.edu/students/spiritual-life/global-outreach. | https://www.tdtnews.com/life/faith/article_19c60c78-f3d2-11ec-86d3-b794cd518182.html | 2022-06-25T09:25:02Z |
Bright Pattern is named runner-up for "Cloud-Based CX Solution of the Year" award at Customer Contact Week for its innovative cloud-based call center software.
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bright Pattern is excited to announce that its cloud-based contact center platform has been named runner-up for the 2022 Cloud-Based CX Solution of the Year award. Announced as part of last week's Customer Contact Week Excellence Awards at Customer Contact Week in Las Vegas, this designation confirms Bright Pattern position as the premier AI-powered omnichannel contact center software platform.
"Bright Pattern came out ahead of every bigger legacy player in this space," beams Ted Hunting, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Bright Pattern and CCW Europe Advisory Board Member. "The Cloud-Based CX Solution of the Year is a major award for contact center vendors—we're thrilled to be considered. Thank you to our team, the judges, and our customers!"
This is the third time CCW, the largest customer contact center event in the world, has recognized Bright Pattern as an innovative and noteworthy cloud-based call center software vendor. Previous nominations include "Disruptive Technology of the Year" and "Omnichannel Solution of the Year."
Bright Pattern is driven to develop solutions that rise above the rest, focusing on both innovation and ease of use. At CCW, Bright Pattern hosted a workshop called "The Future of CX—What's Next?" The nearly 200 attendees enjoyed an expert customer panel, shared ideas, watched visionary videos, and participated in open-mic conversations. Bright Pattern will deliver the keynote presentation at the upcoming CCW Europe in October.
Providing high-quality customer service continues to be a top priority for corporations, and Bright Pattern continues to excel. "As customers expect more and technology advances, solutions evolve," said Ted Hunting. "We're proud to help lead these conversations. And to be the runner-up in the most important category for contact center vendors shows we're on the right path."
Bright Pattern's CX solution is a cloud-based call center software solution with natively-built omnichannel capabilities. Bright Pattern is the only cloud contact center vendor that provides omnichannel conversations, omnichannel quality management, and omnichannel mobile capabilities.
Based on customer reviews and industry analysts, Bright Pattern has the highest ROI and fastest time to deploy. The Bright Platform deploys in half the industry's average time.
Bright Pattern provides the simplest and most powerful AI-powered omnichannel contact center software for innovative midsize and enterprise companies. With the purpose of making customer service brighter, easier, and faster than ever before, Bright Pattern offers the only true omnichannel cloud platform with embedded AI that can be deployed quickly and nimbly by business users—without costly professional services. Bright Pattern allows companies to offer an effortless and personal customer experience across channels like voice, text, chat, email, video, messengers, and bots. Bright Pattern also allows companies to measure and act on every interaction on every channel with embedded AI omnichannel quality management. The company was founded by a team of industry veterans who pioneered the leading contact center solutions and are now delivering an architecture for the future with an advanced cloud-first approach. Bright Pattern's cloud contact center solution is used globally in over 26 countries and 12 languages.
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SOURCE Bright Pattern | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/bright-pattern-named-runner-up-cloud-based-cx-solution-year-customer-contact-week-ccw-excellence-awards/ | 2022-07-19T16:33:39Z |
The idea of waiving college tuition falls in and out of vogue.
Last year, President Joe Biden's plan to make tuition free at community colleges was cut from the Build Back Better plan, once again placing the concept of a nationwide tuition-free college program just out of reach.
Before that effort, former President Barack Obama tried (and failed) to waive the first two years of community college nationwide. After that, former Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders both had platforms advocating for tuition-free college nationwide during their respective runs.
Efforts to waive college tuition have seen greater success at the state level. Most notably, lawmakers in New Mexico passed a bill earlier this year that would waive tuition for any student attending in-state public schools or tribal colleges -- joining a growing list of tuition-free state programs.
As the country continues to grapple with the student debt crisis, here's why a free college system continues to be so elusive and how it may still be attainable.
Even at a local level, 'free college' is easier said than done
Though many states have made recent pushes to waive college tuition for certain groups, subsidizing college education isn't new.
The GI Bill, enacted in 1944, provided veterans returning from World War II with tuition, books and supplies, equipment, counseling services, and "subsistence" for those wishing to continue their education, according to the National Archives.
About 20 years later, in 1965, Pell Grants were first created -- and now represent the largest federal aid source for students pursuing post-secondary education.
There have been other pushes on the state level, like Georgia's Hope Scholarship, a merit-based award that launched in 1993 for students who sustain a 3.0 grade point average.
When city or state officials attempt to waive tuition in some way -- whether for public four-year universities or two-year community colleges -- they're thinking about avoiding brain drain, said Elizabeth Bell, an assistant professor at Florida State University who researches higher education policy.
The goal, ultimately, is to preserve educational attainment and therefore enhance the economy, she said. That's why programs, like New York's Excelsior Scholarship, require those who participate to stay in-state after graduating.
But actually creating these programs is easier said than done. The issue of college affordability and making college as accessible as possible is one that actually has bipartisan support, Bell said -- but the pushback comes in the details.
When it comes to universal programs -- that is, programs that unequivocally waive tuition and fees -- there can be pushback against giving money to families who could afford college without assistance, Bell said. Others worry that colleges could raise costs to capture more funding from the state, since most people wouldn't be paying the sticker price.
There are also arguments over whether to create first-dollar programs, where funding is given to students before any other aid or award-based funding, or to create last-dollar programs, which fill the gaps that aid and other financial awards don't cover. The issue with last-dollar programs is most of the money actually goes to higher-income families, who may not receive aid from other areas, Bell said.
Most first-dollar programs actually exist at the local level, she said, since they support fewer students, making those programs easier to finance. On the other hand, a lot of state programs are last-dollar.
An exception to this rule is the Oklahoma Promise, a first-dollar state program that takes a more targeted approach. The scholarship primarily awards aid to families making less than $60,000 a year, and students who apply must also pass certain merit requirements.
Politically, it's complicated. If you're putting forth a program proposal that's first-dollar, but only benefits a select number of students, you're limiting the political support you could receive by excluding many middle-income families, who still struggle with the cost of higher education, Bell said.
"Across these different programs, it's really a matter of balancing politics, finances and equity," Bell said. "And a lot of these programs have come under scrutiny because one of these things is out of balance."
There's also more to paying for college than just tuition -- such as housing, food, transportation and numerous other costs. The best programs, Bell said, are simple for students to understand and apply to, generous in what they cover, and include those wraparound services.
She used the Kalamazoo Promise in Michigan as an example -- a program that pays up to 100% of tuition and fees for four years for students who graduate from Kalamazoo Public Schools. Though the funds cannot be transferred to things like room and board, the program provides access to coaches at both the high school and college level to help students in their transition to college.
Not every program is created equal
Even in places where free tuition programs are enacted, the benefits aren't always impactful.
The Urban Institute found that New York's Excelsior Scholarship, announced in 2017, sent 68% of its funds to families with incomes at or above $70,000 -- meaning that the lowest income students didn't receive the funds. Meanwhile, lower-income students still face other financial barriers, like the costs of books, meals plans, transportation and other categories that fall outside of tuition.
That's not all: Only about half of the students who received the scholarship in fall of 2018 actually kept the scholarship going into the following year -- a trend the researchers attributed in part to the amount of paperwork the scholarship requires, as well as some of the enrollment and credit completion criteria.
The complexity inherent in the scholarship and financial aid process is actually a huge barrier to students applying to college and their families, said Stephanie Owen, an assistant professor at Colby College who studies the economics of education.
It can be difficult for some families to even find out what scholarships and aid programs they are actually eligible for, before even getting to the arduous application processes each may require. Though there's often a large distinction between the sticker price of the college and what families actually pay, Owen said colleges don't give out financial aid offers until after the student is accepted.
That means that students have no idea how much they'll actually be required to pay until much later in the process, after they've decided where to apply, said Owen. And if you don't know how much help you'll get, that initial sticker price can discourage applicants, especially low-income ones.
"That's kind of odd, right?" Owen said. "Most things we buy, we know what the price is before we commit to them."
Larger four-year universities often already have money set aside specifically for low-income students. Stanford University expanded its financial aid in 2021 -- guaranteeing that undergraduate students from families with annual incomes below $75,000 will not pay tuition, room or board. Ivy League schools like Harvard University and Cornell University have similar programs, as does the University of California.
Other large public schools, like the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Michigan, also have similar programs -- but UNC-Chapel Hill's program isn't guaranteed, and Michigan's requires students to maintain a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Even with access to college-specific financial aid, there are still hurdles. Navigating the FAFSA process or other paperwork hurdles isn't easy, and neither is getting into a top school with these kinds of financial resources.
Local, state and federal programs are all necessary for an equitable system
Smaller, local and state programs for waiving tuition exist -- but they can be imperfect or temporary, in place for a few years and then gone. Colleges have financial aid, but eliminating full costs of tuition isn't always possible, and not every college has the resources to waive tuition for large groups.
And a federal universal program, despite some efforts, seems elusive.
None of this means that equitable college access is completely out of our reach, though. There are intermediate steps being taken going in the right direction, Owen said.
She used the College Scorecard as an example, a tool through the US Department of Education that allows students to see how much people from different income levels pay on average, as well as other information like graduation rates and typical earnings after graduation.
Having that information in a clear and concise way is helpful, Owen said. But it does have its limits -- the average cost is not the exact cost, after all.
There are other bright spots: The FAFSA Simplification Act, which passed Congress in 2020, is expected to ease the FAFSA process for students. The HAIL Scholarship at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor provides full tuition and fees for certain low-income undergraduates, and lets students know of their scholarship acceptance before the admissions process, which limits financial uncertainty.
The expansion of the Pell Grant is another effort many are advocating for, particularly as moves for universal community college have failed at the federal level.
"It's not going to come from one program," Bell said, of creating a financially equitable universal college system. "It's going to come from the interaction of the federal and the state programs trying to make college more affordable for all kids. And right now we're still not there."
That doesn't mean things are stuck where they are now, she said. It just means we're still at the beginning.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/why-free-college-is-so-elusive----and-how-we-can-get-closer/article_9957c1be-5267-555e-a632-2aa5352b923b.html | 2022-06-05T08:03:40Z |
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) declared the regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share on Nucor's common stock. This cash dividend is payable on November 10, 2022 to stockholders of record on September 30, 2022 and is Nucor's 198th consecutive quarterly cash dividend.
Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel and steel products, with operating facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Products produced include: carbon and alloy steel -- in bars, beams, sheet and plate; hollow structural section tubing; electrical conduit; steel racking; steel piling; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; precision castings; steel fasteners; metal building systems; insulated metal panels; overhead doors; steel grating; and wire and wire mesh. Nucor, through The David J. Joseph Company, also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron and hot briquetted iron / direct reduced iron; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Nucor is North America's largest recycler.
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SOURCE Nucor Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/15/nucor-announces-198th-consecutive-cash-dividend/ | 2022-09-15T18:16:16Z |
MOUNT KISCO, N.Y., June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Edenbrook Capital, LLC (together with its affiliates, "Edenbrook"), one of the largest public shareholders of Hemisphere Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HMTV) ("Hemisphere" or "the Company"), with ownership of approximately 14.94% of the publicly traded A shares and 7.65% of the total company, including the privately held, super-voting B shares, today announced that it has delivered the following letter to the Members of the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Hemisphere.
Sonia Dulá
Rick Neuman
John Engelman
The Members of the Special Committee of the Board of Directors
Hemisphere Media Group, Inc.
Dear Sonia, Rick and John:
Our firm, Edenbrook Capital, LLC, is writing this letter as a follow-up to the one we sent to Chairman Peter Kern on May 16, 2022 ("May 16 letter"). We are addressing this letter to you, the independent members of the Board of Directors who sat on the Special Committee that blessed the proposed transaction for Hemisphere Media Group, Inc. ("the Company" or "Hemisphere") to be taken private by insiders (the "Insider Takeover"). In the May 16 letter, we discussed our view that the Insider Takeover "undervalues the Company and allows insiders to disproportionately benefit from the very share price erosion they are responsible for." We wrote that a deal to take the Company private at anything less than $12 per share was indefensible, as opposed to the $7.00 being offered. But after reading the additional financial disclosures in the Company's Pre-Marketing Lender Presentation ("the Presentation") filed as an exhibit to a Form 8-K on June 3, 2022, we now realize that our estimates were too conservative, and that the equity value for public shareholders should be at least $16-23 per share, as we'll demonstrate, and that this Insider Takeover dramatically disadvantages public shareholders, is rife with conflicts of interest and is borne out of a flawed, unfair process that benefits insiders at the expense of public shareholders.
Updated Valuation
On page 34 of the Presentation, on a slide titled, "Compelling Financial Profile," the Company details its pro forma free cash flow calculation for the 12 months ended March 31, 2022. The total of that free cash flow is $70.5 million, and the footnote highlights that this is unlevered free cash flow.
To calculate the levered free cash flow that would actually flow to public equity holders, were they allowed to participate as shareholders in an ongoing entity, we account for the interest owed. As per the Company's most recent Form 10-Q, filed on May 10, the Company had net debt of approximately $212 million at its most recent quarter end, the same end date for the last 12 months calculation for the free cash flow. But this number overstates the pro forma net debt, because the May 9 press release announcing the Insider Takeover states that "Hemisphere contemplates using the net cash proceeds from the TelevisaUnivision transaction to promptly prepay Hemisphere's outstanding senior secured term loans." Recall, this TelevisaUnivision transaction involves the acquisition of Pantaya, Hemisphere's streaming platform. As we wrote in our May 16 letter, Hemisphere has significant private shareholders who are also significant shareholders of TelevisaUnivision, making that deal highly problematic, as we will demonstrate. On a Form 8-K, dated May 9, and filed May 10 ("the May 8-K"), the Company notes that it will be receiving $115 million in cash for selling Pantaya plus a promissory note for $10 million (as well as some radio stations in Puerto Rico). If we thus reduce the net debt of the company by the $125 million coming from TelevisaUnivision, net debt would decrease to $87 million. As of this writing, the interest rate on that debt is approximately 5.165%1, making the annual interest payment on the remaining net debt approximately $4.5 million. Subtracting that interest payment from the $70.5 yields levered free cash flow of $66 million. Modest changes in interest rates or levels of net debt will not have meaningful impacts on the equity value calculations that follow.
Comparable companies trade at free cash flow yields of 7-10%. The price/free cash flow multiple, the inverse of the free cash flow yield, is thus 10-14.3X free cash flow. Applying that multiple range to the $66 million of free cash flow yields an equity value of $660-$943.8 million. As Hemisphere has approximately 40.4 million shares outstanding, that yields an equity price per share of $16.34-$23.36. Note that the low end of this valuation range is more than double the $7.00 per share offer of the Insider Takeover, and the high end is more than triple that price.
The Insider Takeover appears to be a brazen attempt to buy Hemisphere for just 4.3x free cash flow (40.4 million shares at $7.00 is $282.8 million of equity value, divided by $66 million of pro forma levered free cash flow, as described above, equals 4.3x). Further, this valuation is based on today's free cash flow per share, and as we'll show shortly, the Company is expecting strong growth in these numbers. This low valuation being offered, 4.3x free cash flow, is one you might see for an over-levered, distressed company, not one with the following characteristics: 1) conservative financial profile; 2) strong organic growth and with demographic and industry trends in Hemisphere's favor; 3) stable, predictable revenue streams; 4) strong cash flow generation; and 5) ability to de-lever quickly. Those aren't our characterizations of the Company, they come from page 39 of the Presentation, where the Company describes itself to the lending community. Sounds like a great business to own! If only insiders weren't trying to wrest it from public shareholders for a song.
Given the high quality of the Company's remaining assets after the sale of Pantaya, and its industry leading margins, per page 33 of the Presentation, we think the valuation should be at the higher end. Further this valuation excludes any value for Canal Uno, which as we mentioned in the May 16 Letter, is the Company's joint venture in a Colombian broadcast network, into which Hemisphere has invested approximately $130 million in recent years. There is only an oblique reference on the final page of the Presentation, in an organizational chart, to an entity called HMTV Uno S.A.S. (Colombia). Is the Company saying that it has frittered away $130 million of value, or are public shareholders also being deprived of the rights to an asset for which they invested approximately $3.22 per share? And the other assets, including equity stakes in Snap Media, a content distribution business, and Remezcla, a Latin American cultural media company, what of their value? They are also part of the Insider Takeover, with no value being given to public shareholders.
Robbing Peter to Pay Paul
Per the May 8-K, the entity proposing to acquire Hemisphere is HWK Parent, LLC, which is a subsidiary of Gato Investments LP ("Gato"). Gato is itself a portfolio investment of Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. ("Searchlight"). Notably, per a December 29, 2020 press release, Searchlight, along with another entity, became majority owners of Univision, now TelevisaUnivision. As we mentioned in the May 16 Letter, per the May 9 transaction press release, Hemisphere intends to sell Pantaya to TelevisaUnivision at a discount to the value Hemisphere itself ascribed to the business in 2021, just as TelevisaUnivision is getting into the streaming business itself and searching for scale. The same TelevisaUnivision in which Searchlight is part of the ownership group. The same Searchlight that is also the controlling shareholder of Hemisphere. Instead of entertaining a full search process for a buyer of Pantaya, Searchlight is moving Pantaya from its right pocket to its left. Are public shareholders to believe that Hemisphere is getting a fair deal for Pantaya, when the proposed buyer is also the seller?
What's more, we argue that the $7.00 being offered to public shareholders has effectively cost Searchlight, the sole investor in Gato, nothing. A little history here is instructive. In 2016, InterMedia Partners, LP, an investor in Hemisphere, sought to provide liquidity to its limited partners as the fund through which it invested in Hemisphere was near the end of its term, per a Company press release on September 7, 2016. Searchlight offered $9.75 in cash for those shares, at a time when the stock was trading at $12.85, a $3.00+ discount. Were public shareholders offered this deal to participate in the equity at a lower price? They were not. And when the deal concluded, Searchlight had purchased approximately 16.5 million of the privately held, super-voting B shares, per a Company press release on October 24, 2016, which represents approximately 84% of the outstanding B shares, a 41% economic interest and a commanding 76% of the voting interest in the Company. Did public shareholders have the option to buy shares with 10 votes per share? They did not, meaning this $3.00+ discount significantly understates the discount Searchlight received on these shares at the expense of public shareholders, as they came with substantially more rights, at substantially less cost.
Further, as we noted in our May 16 letter, the Company was purchasing its own stock in September 2021 for $11.00 per share. But now the Insider Takeover has insiders only offering $7.00 per share to public shareholders, a $4.00 discount to the price the Company itself paid in September. Quick math here suggests that $3.00 plus $4.00 equals $7.00, meaning that insiders have already enjoyed a $7.00 benefit relative to public shareholders. Public shareholders are not only being stiffed on the valuation, they are effectively being done so with found money.
All Wrong
The English translation of the hit movie "Todo Mal," streaming on Pantaya, is "All Wrong." A rather apt description of all sides of these transactions, the insider sale of Pantaya and the Insider Takeover, or take under, of Hemisphere at the expense of public shareholders. If selling Pantaya is really the right strategic decision, why not just do so through a robust, open process and allow public shareholders to own the remaining business as a public entity? A business with the characteristics the Company described on page 39 of the Presentation, being scooped for a valuation of 4.3x free cash flow, with effectively found money, sounds like a steal. But it is the public shareholders who are being robbed (at least those who aren't also holders of the super-voting B shares, including various insiders and participants in the Insider Takeover).
As the Special Committee of the Board overseeing this transaction, you have a duty to treat public shareholders fairly and to not allow the Company to be taken private at such a low price and in such a conflicted series of transactions. Will we learn more when you file the Proxy Statement detailing the history of these transactions? Here's betting that the history the Company will show flatters the case on behalf of the Insider Takeover. Unfortunately the Presentation you already filed will likely give lie to any attempt to suggest that the remaining assets ex-Pantaya are distressed and that the offer for Hemisphere is fair. Will you allow this to take place on your watch? The world is watching.
Sincerely,
Founder and Managing Partner
About Edenbrook Capital
Edenbrook Capital, based in Mount Kisco, NY, takes a private equity approach to public markets, principally through concentrated, long-term investments in small and mid-cap companies.
Disclaimer
This material does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in any state to any person. In addition, the discussions and opinions in this letter and the material contained herein are for general information only, and are not intended to provide investment advice. All statements contained in this letter that are not clearly historical in nature or that necessarily depend on future events are "forward-looking statements," which are not guarantees of future performance or results, and the words "will," "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "potential," "could," "opportunity," "estimate," and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. The projected results and statements contained in this letter and the material contained herein that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, speak only as of the date of this letter and involve risks that may cause the actual results to be materially different. Certain information included in this material is based on data obtained from sources considered to be reliable. No representation is made with respect to the accuracy or completeness of such data, and any analyses provided to assist the recipient of this material in evaluating the matters described herein may be based on subjective assessments and assumptions and may use one among alternative methodologies that produce different results. Accordingly, any analyses should also not be viewed as factual and also should not be relied upon as an accurate prediction of future results. All figures are unaudited estimates and subject to revision without notice. Edenbrook disclaims any obligation to update the information herein and reserves the right to change any of its opinions expressed herein at any time as it deems appropriate.
1 The interest rate the Company pays is a floating rate of US 3-month LIBOR + 350 basis points on one tranche and a slightly lower rate on the other tranche, but to be conservative, we have used the more expensive debt for this calculation.
Contact: Mike Goodwin, Mgoodwin@stantonprm.com, 646-502-3595
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SOURCE Edenbrook Capital | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/edenbrook-capital-sends-letter-hemisphere-media-group-special-committee/ | 2022-06-08T21:19:26Z |
Boise man sentenced to 8 years for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) - A Boise man was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court records, Craig Joel Curtis, 42, was pulled over on July 31, 2021, for failing to maintain his lane. While officers were conducting a records check, a K-9 positively alerted to the odor of a controlled substance in the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered approximately 358 grams of methamphetamine, 1.5 grams of heroin, several fentanyl pills, a digital scale, several empty zip lock baggies, two smoking devices and approximately $600.
Curtis has a criminal history spanning 28 years with prior state convictions for petit theft, forgery, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, manufacture of a controlled substance, grand theft, and injury to child.
U.S. Chief District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Curtis to pay a $700.00 fine and to serve four years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Curtis pled guilty to the charge on January 22, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez Jr., of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the investigation by the Boise City Police Department, which led to the charges. | https://localnews8.com/news/crime-tracker/2022/04/29/boise-man-sentenced-to-8-years-for-possession-with-intent-to-distribute-methamphetamine/ | 2022-04-29T21:11:22Z |
YOKNEAM, Israel, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InMode Ltd. (NASDAQ: INMD), a leading global provider of innovative medical technologies, today announced that senior management including Moshe Mizrahy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Yair Malca, Chief Financial Officer, will participate at the 7th Annual Needham Virtual Med Tech & Diagnostics one-on-one Conference on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022.
The company will hold one-on-one investor meetings that same day. To schedule a meeting, please contact your Needham representative.
For more information about the event, visit InMode's investor relations site here.
About InMode
InMode is a leading global provider of innovative medical technologies. InMode develops, manufactures, and markets devices harnessing novel radiofrequency ("RF") technology. InMode strives to enable new emerging surgical procedures as well as improve existing treatments. InMode has leveraged its medically accepted minimally invasive RF technologies to offer a comprehensive line of products across several categories for plastic surgery, gynecology, dermatology, otolaryngology, and ophthalmology. For more information about InMode, please visit www.inmodemd.com.
Investor Relations Contact:
Miri Segal-Scharia
MS-IR LLC
ir@inmodemd.com
917-607-8654
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1064477/InMode_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE InMode Ltd. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/inmode-participate-7th-annual-needham-virtual-med-tech-amp-diagnostics-1-on-1-conference/ | 2022-08-08T12:37:33Z |
Russia’s FSB blames Ukrainian intelligence for car bombing that killed nationalist’s daughter
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s top counterintelligence agency on Monday blamed Ukrainian spy services for organizing the killing of the daughter of a leading Russian nationalist ideologue in a car bombing just outside Moscow.
Daria Dugina, the 29-year-old daughter of Alexander Dugin, a philosopher, writer and political theorist whom some in the West described as “Putin’s brain,” died when an explosive planted in her SUV exploded as she was driving Saturday night.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the main KGB successor agency, said that Dugina’s killing had been “prepared and perpetrated by the Ukrainian special services.”
On Sunday, Ukraine’s presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak denied any Ukrainian involvement in the killing.
In Monday’s statement, the FSB accused a Ukrainian citizen, Natalya Vovk, of perpetrating the killing and then fleeing from Russia to Estonia.
The FSB said that the suspect, Natalya Vovk, arrived in Russia in July with her 12-year-old daughter and rented an apartment in the building where Dugina lived to shadow her. It said that Vovk and her daughter were at a nationalist festival, which Alexander Dugin and his daughter attended just before the killing.
The agency said that Vovk and her daughter left Russia for Estonia after Dugina’s killing, using a different vehicle license plate on their way out of the country.
Dugin has been a prominent proponent of the “Russian world” concept, a spiritual and political ideology that emphasizes traditional values, the restoration of Russia’s global clout and the unity of all ethnic Russians throughout the world. He has been vehemently supported Russian President Vladimir Putin’s move to send troops into Ukraine and urged the Kremlin to step up its operations in the country.
The explosion took place as Dugin’s daughter was returning from a cultural festival she had attended with him. Russian media reports cited witnesses as saying the SUV belonged to Dugin and that he had decided at the last minute to travel in another vehicle.
The car bombing, unusual for Moscow since the turbulent 1990s, is likely to aggravate tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
On Sunday, Denis Pushilin, head of the Russia-backed separatist “Donetsk People’s Republic” in Ukraine’s east, quickly blamed the blast on “terrorists of the Ukrainian regime, trying to kill Alexander Dugin.”
While Dugin’s exact ties to Putin are unclear, the Kremlin frequently echoes rhetoric from his writings and appearances on Russian state television. He helped popularize the “Novorossiya,” or “New Russia” concept that Russia used to justify the 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and its support of separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.
Dugin, who has been slapped with U.S. and European Union sanctions, has promoted Russia as a country of piety, traditional values and authoritarian leadership, and spoken with disdain about Western liberal values.
His daughter expressed similar views and had appeared as a commentator on nationalist TV channel Tsargrad, where Dugin had served as chief editor.
Dugina herself was sanctioned by the United States in March for her work as chief editor of United World International, a website that the U.S. described as a disinformation source. The sanctions announcement cited a United World article this year that contended Ukraine would “perish” if it were admitted to NATO.
In an appearance on Russian television just Thursday, Dugina said, “People in the West are living in a dream, in a dream given to them by global hegemony.” She called America “a zombie society” in which people opposed Russia but couldn’t find it on a map.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/22/russias-fsb-blames-ukrainian-intelligence-car-bombing/ | 2022-08-22T13:05:25Z |
NEW YORK, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE: WM) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
This lawsuit is on behalf of all purchasers of certain Waste Management redeemable senior notes between February 13, 2020 and June 23, 2020.
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: August 8, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in WM:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/waste-management-inc-loss-submission-form?id=29225&from=4
Waste Management, Inc. NEWS - WM NEWS
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Waste Management, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the U.S. Department of Justice had indicated to Waste Management that it would require Waste Management to divest significantly more assets than the $200 million indicated in the merger agreement between the Company and Advanced Disposal Services; (ii) as a result, the merger would not be completed by July 14, 2020, the end date under the merger agreement; and (iii) the Waste Management redeemable senior notes would be subject to mandatory redemption at 101% of par.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Waste Management you have until August 8, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Waste Management securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the WM lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/waste-management-inc-loss-submission-form?id=29225&from=4.
ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM
J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
J. Klein, Esq.
Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
59th Floor
New York, NY 10118
jk@kleinstocklaw.com
Telephone: (212) 616-4899
www.kleinstocklaw.com
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SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/wm-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-august-8-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-waste-management-inc-shareholders/ | 2022-06-28T10:27:16Z |
Funding to Help Provide Financial Education to 39,000+ Students in Miami-Dade
MIAMI, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Junior Achievement of Greater Miami, Inc. has accepted a generous gift of $900,000, made by author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This contribution is the largest gift from a single donor since the organization was founded 65 years ago. Junior Achievement of Greater Miami intends to utilize Ms. Scott's generous investment to increase their capacity to serve children in grades K-12 with innovative lessons focused on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship.
"We greatly appreciate the incredible generosity of MacKenzie Scott for this amazing gift to our organization," said, Troy Templeton, Managing Partner, Trivest Partners, and Junior Achievement Board Chairman. "We are honored to have been selected and see this transformative investment into the South Florida community as recognition for the great work taking place as a result of the passion and commitment of the business community, educators, volunteers, and other partners who support Junior Achievement. We will use this gift as a catalyst to help accelerate the growth of JA programs to our at-risk K-12 students."
Recognizing the unique need in the community, Junior Achievement implements several different programs throughout the year that not only serve students ranging from kindergarten through high school, but the dedicated staff and volunteers have sought to lighten the burden on our valued educators. For example, Junior Achievement of Miami has been a model for other chapters around the country with the Stock Market Challenge, which is a three-arc course for high school students that teaches the basics of stocks and trading and culminates in a county-wide trading competition. Sponsors of the program experience the thrill of the student program at their own event, on the evening of the student competition. The 7th annual event will be taking place on October 20, 2022 at Akerman, LLP in Brickell. More information about getting involved can be found here.
For middle school students, JA Inspire has shown great success with both in-person and virtual programming to not only give Miami's growing industries the opportunity to showcase their expertise, but to also give students the chance to identify potential career paths within their own community, and then choose classes accordingly.
Catherine Haga, President of Junior Achievement said, "We are thrilled to have been selected and grateful for Ms. Scott's acknowledgement in the important work done by Junior Achievement. We have experienced tremendous growth over the last four years, and the gift will boost JA's plan to play a key role as a solution provider for Florida's new financial literacy and money management half semester course. Additional local priorities include expansion of JA's high school entrepreneurship programs, rolling out entrepreneurship programs and opportunities to the 18-25 age group, and continuing to build a bridge between education and the South Florida business community by focusing on local career opportunities and exploration."
Generous investments like Ms. Scott's allow Junior Achievement to continue providing life changing learning experiences to children in Miami and around the world, empowering them to develop the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities. Gifts of this size can yield incredible returns, especially when it comes to empowering youth; for today's children are tomorrow's leaders, workers, creators, and innovators and it is our responsibility to prepare them for whatever lies ahead.
Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that provide 38,000 students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA USA reaches more than 2.5 million students per year in 102 markets across the United States, as part of 10 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.jamiami.org for more information.
Contact: Tara Templeton, Director of Communications, Junior Achievement of Greater Miami, Inc. ttempleton@jamiami.org
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SOURCE Junior Achievement of Greater Miami, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/junior-achievement-greater-miami-inc-receives-gift-philanthropist-mackenzie-scott/ | 2022-08-17T21:19:44Z |
Teens cause $100,000 in damages to middle school, authorities say
PALATKA, Fla. (Gray News) - Three teens are accused of burglarizing and causing extensive damage to a Florida middle school.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the teens burglarized the Jenkins Middle School campus on Aug. 28 and caused an estimated $100,000 in damages.
The Palatka Fire Department responded to a call of smoke in the area of the middle school campus at about 4 p.m. Crews reportedly saw three teenagers running from the campus when they arrived.
Deputies and Palatka police officers said they found extensive damage to most of the buildings and the city-owned gym on campus.
According to the sheriff’s office, numerous windows were broken, toilets were damaged, sinks overflowed, security cameras were destroyed and 17 fire extinguishers were discharged.
Authorities said security cameras caught some of the destruction on video before they were damaged, and a deputy was able to identify one of the teens involved from Palatka Junior-Senior High School.
First responders said the campus was equipped with an alarm system, but the incident did not trigger the alarms.
The sheriff’s office said the teens involved were 14 years old. They are facing charges that include first-degree felony burglary and third-degree felony criminal mischief.
Officials said the city of Palatka owns the gym portion of the campus and is investigating the damages to that building as a separate case.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/09/01/teens-cause-100000-damages-middle-school-authorities-say/ | 2022-09-01T02:18:23Z |
NEW YORK, July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Molecular Partners AG ("Molecular Partners" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: MOLN) and certain of its officers and directors. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and docketed under 22-cv-05925, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired: (a) Molecular Partners American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") pursuant and/or traceable to the Offering Documents (defined below) issued in connection with the Company's initial public offering conducted on or about June 16, 2021 (the "IPO"); and/or (b) Molecular Partners securities between June 16, 2021 and April 26, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Plaintiff pursues claims against the Defendants under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").
If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Molecular Partners ADSs pursuant and/or traceable to the Offering Documents (defined below) issued in connection with the Company's IPO, and/or Molecular Partners securities during the Class Period, you have until September 12, 2022 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.
Molecular Partners operates as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutic proteins. Leading up to and following the IPO, the Company repeatedly touted the clinical and commercial prospects of certain of its product candidates under development in collaboration with other companies.
Among other product candidates, Molecular Partners is developing ensovibep as a treatment for COVID-19 in collaboration with Novartis AG ("Novartis"). One of the Company's most important development strategies for ensovibep includes securing Emergency Use Authorization ("EUA") for ensovibep from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA").
In addition, Molecular Partners is developing MP0310 (AMG 506) for the treatment of certain types of cancer in collaboration with Amgen Inc. ("Amgen"). The Company granted Amgen, among other licenses, the right to progress MP0310's development program into later stage development, including into combination trials, following Phase 1 data.
On April 22, 2021, Molecular Partners filed a registration statement on Form F-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in connection with the IPO, which, after several amendments, was declared effective by the SEC on June 15, 2021 (the "Registration Statement").
On June 16, 2021, Molecular Partners filed a prospectus on Form 424B4 with the SEC in connection with the IPO, which incorporated and formed part of the Registration Statement (collectively, the "Offering Documents").
Pursuant to the Offering Documents, Molecular Partners conducted the IPO, issuing 3 million of its ADSs to the public at the IPO price $21.25 per ADS, for proceeds to the Company of over $59 million, after underwriting discounts and commissions, and before expenses.
The complaint alleges that the Offering Documents were negligently prepared and, as a result, contained untrue statements of material fact or omitted to state other facts necessary to make the statements made not misleading and were not prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations governing their preparation. Additionally, the complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, the Offering Documents and Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) ensovibep was less effective at treating COVID-19 than Defendants had led investors to believe; (ii) accordingly, the FDA was reasonably likely to require an additional Phase 3 study of ensovibep before granting the drug EUA; (iii) waning global rates of COVID-19 significantly reduced the Company's chances of securing EUA for ensovibep; (iv) as a product candidate, MP0310 was less attractive to Amgen than Defendants had led investors to believe; (v) accordingly, there was a significant likelihood that Amgen would return global rights of MP0310 to Molecular Partners; (vi) as a result of all the foregoing, the clinical and commercial prospects of ensovibep and MP0310 were overstated; and (vii) as a result, the Offering Documents and Defendants' public statements throughout the Class Period were materially false and/or misleading and failed to state information required to be stated therein.
On November 16, 2021, Molecular Partners disclosed that "a planned futility analysis of ensovibep in [an] ongoing [Phase 3] clinical study . . . has not met the thresholds required to continue enrollment of adults with COVID-19 in the hospitalized setting."
On this news, Molecular Partners' ADS price fell $4.64 per ADS, or 31.37%, to close at $10.15 per ADS on November 16, 2021.
On April 26, 2022, months after applying for EUA from the FDA for ensovibep, Novartis' Chief Executive Officer, Vas Narasimhan, disclosed that "given the latest feedback . . . in our discussions with the [FDA], we would expect the agency to require a Phase 3 study before granting an EUA approval or a general approval" for ensovibep, and that "we need to make a kind of sober evaluation as to is it a doable study in light of the waning rates of COVID around the world[.]"
On this news, Molecular Partners' ADS price fell $2.68 per ADS, or 16.17%, to close at $13.89 per ADS on April 26, 2022.
Then, also on April 26, 2022, during after-market hours, Molecular Partners "announced that Amgen . . . has informed the Company of their decision to return global rights of MP0310 to Molecular Partners following a strategic pipeline review."
On this news, Molecular Partners' ADS price fell $5.19 per ADS, or 37.37%, to close at $8.70 per ADS on April 27, 2022—a total decline of $7.87 per ADS, or 47.5%, over two consecutive trading days, and 59.06% below the $21.25 per ADS IPO price.
As of the time the complaint was filed, the price of Molecular Partners' ADSs continued to trade below the $21.25 per ADS IPO price, damaging investors.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980
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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-reminds-shareholders-with-losses-their-investment-molecular-partners-ag-class-action-lawsuit-upcoming-deadline-directors-moln/ | 2022-07-21T22:06:05Z |
Colombians to vote for president amid generalized discontent
By ASTRID SUAREZ and REGINA GARCIA CANO
Associated Press
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — As Colombians emerge from the pandemic to find increasing inequality, inflation and violence, they will pick their next president Sunday from a pool of six men who are all promising various degrees of change amid a generalized sense that the country is headed in the wrong direction. The ballot includes a former rebel who could become the country’s first leftist head of state. The contest also features a populist real estate tycoon promising monetary who promises rewards for tips on corrupt officials and a right-wing candidate who has tried to distance himself from the widely disliked conservative current president, Iván Duque. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national/2022/05/28/colombians-to-vote-for-president-amid-generalized-discontent/ | 2022-05-29T04:44:41Z |
NEW YORK, May 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholder rights law firm Julie & Holleman has launched an investigation into the proposed acquisition of Hemisphere Media Group, Inc. by Gato Investments LP, a portfolio investment of private equity firm Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. Gato has agreed to buy Hemisphere for $7.00 per share, which is less than half of the company's 52-week high trading price.
To learn more about the investigation, click here.
Gato is already Hemisphere's controlling shareholder, owning 72.3% of Hemisphere's voting power. On May 9, 2020, Hemisphere announced that it had entered into an agreement under which Gato would acquire the remaining shares of the company.
Julie & Holleman is investigating potential legal claims available to Hemisphere shareholders regarding the proposed acquisition, including claims relating to Gato's conflicts of interest and the adequacy of the $7.00 per share acquisition price.
If you would like more information about Julie & Holleman's investigation, or about the acquisition in general, please contact W. Scott Holleman by email at scott@julieholleman.com or by telephone at (929) 415-1020. You may also visit the firm's website by clicking here.
Julie & Holleman is a boutique law firm that focuses on shareholder litigation, including derivative actions, mergers and acquisitions cases, securities fraud class actions, and corporate investigations. The firm's attorneys litigate in state and federal courts across the nation. For more information about the firm, please visit www.julieholleman.com. This notice may constitute attorney advertising.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Julie & Holleman LLP
W. Scott Holleman, Esq.
157 East 86th Street
4th Floor
New York, NY 10028
(929) 415-1020
www.julieholleman.com
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SOURCE Julie & Holleman LLP | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/21/hmtv-alert-julie-amp-holleman-investigates-potential-legal-claims-related-proposed-acquisition-hemisphere-media-group-inc/ | 2022-05-21T13:21:31Z |
Millions of students and educators worldwide can now access Kahoot! easily through the Google Classroom add-on.
OSLO, Norway, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahoot!, the global learning and engagement platform company, today announced that it has launched the Kahoot! add-on for Google Classroom, making it possible for educators and learners around the world to discover, create, assign and host interactive learning sessions without ever leaving Google Classroom. As a Google Classroom add-ons early access partner, Kahoot! is one of the first digital learning platforms to be available as a Google Classroom add-on.
As shared on the Google for Education blog, "Add-ons provide a better end-to-end experience to not only save time for educators, but also simplify the digital classroom experience for students, too."
"Both Kahoot! and Google Classroom are used by millions of educators and students worldwide to support and enrich learning," said Melissa Mills, Product Director at Kahoot!. "With Kahoot! now offering a Google Classroom add-on, teachers and learners can access, explore and share engaging Kahoot! content directly from Google Classroom, boosting engagement at school and supporting students' independent learning at home."
Administrators can set up the Kahoot! add-on for schools across their district from the Google Workspace Marketplace in just a few clicks. Once enabled, educators and students can access Kahoot! on any device within Google Classroom, without needing to navigate to an external website or use an additional login. Classroom add-ons are available for all Google Workspace for Education users with the Teaching and Learning Upgrade or Google Workspace for Education Plus editions.
Through the add-on, teachers can search for or create their own kahoots, as well as discover the millions of ready-to-use learning sessions on Kahoot!, which educators can then assign for students to complete directly within Google Classroom. The Kahoot! EDU offering for schools and school districts also enables educators to access a school library of kahoots, where they can find and share learning content with other teachers throughout the school or district.
This integration marks Kahoot!'s latest collaboration with Google, beginning in 2019 when Kahoot! was selected to become a Google for Education Partner, followed by working together to launch Google Search Practice Problems and an integration with the upcoming live sharing feature on Google Meet.
For more information, read our blog post to learn how to use the Kahoot! add-on for Google Classroom.
Visit Kahoot! News to stay up to date on company news and updates.
Kahoot! is on a mission to make learning awesome! We want to empower everyone, including children, students, and employees to unlock their full learning potential. Our learning platform makes it easy for any individual or corporation to create, share, and host learning sessions that drive compelling engagement. Launched in 2013, Kahoot!'s vision is to build the leading learning platform in the world. Since launch, Kahoot! has hosted hundreds of millions of learning sessions with 8 billion participants (non-unique) in more than 200 countries and regions. The Kahoot! Group includes Clever, the leading US K-12 EdTech learning platform, together with the learning apps DragonBox, Poio, Drops, Actimo, Motimate, and Whiteboard.fi. The Kahoot! Group is headquartered in Oslo, Norway with offices in the US, the UK, France, Finland, Estonia, Denmark, Spain and Poland. Kahoot! is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker KAHOT. To learn more, visit us at kahoot.com. Let's play!
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SOURCE Kahoot! | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/kahoot-launches-kahoot-add-on-google-classroom/ | 2022-08-01T23:02:40Z |
Exclusive: Putin ‘has recognized he has no victory to celebrate,’ US ambassador to UN says
By Kylie Atwood and Jennifer Hansler, CNN
Vladimir Putin “has recognized he has no victory to celebrate,” US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told CNN in response to the lack of a major escalatory announcement in the Russian President’s “Victory Day” speech Monday.
But the Russian leader also gave no indication that he plans to end the war in Ukraine, she cautioned.
In the first reaction from a Biden administration official to Putin’s speech, Thomas-Greenfield noted to CNN that Putin did not use his remarks to announce a withdrawal from Ukraine — which would have been welcomed by the United States — which signals that Putin’s war will continue.
“There was no reason for (Putin) to either declare victory or declare a war that he has already been carrying on for more than two months,” Thomas-Greenfield said.
“His efforts in Ukraine have not succeeded,” she added. “He was not able to go into Ukraine and bring them to their knees in a few days and have them surrender.”
During a speech commemorating Russia’s defeat of Nazi Germany at the end of World War II, Putin reiterated his baseless accusation that the West left him no choice but to invade Ukraine. Planned Victory Day air shows across Russia were canceled, raising questions as to why.
In a separate interview on CNN’s “Connect the World” Monday, US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said Putin’s speech “wasn’t that surprising” and “completely detached from reality.”
“It’s sad that on this day, on Victory Day, that he’s celebrating aggression and oppression at the same time,” she added.
‘The conflict is not over’
Putin’s speech provided little detail on how Russia plans to proceed in Ukraine. It followed days of speculation that the Russian leader would use the event to formally declare war on Ukraine, or order a mass mobilization of Russian forces to prosecute a war that has now stretched into its third month, with heavy Russian losses.
Although Putin did not announce the speculated escalation plans, Thomas-Greenfield noted that the “the conflict is not over, for sure.”
“He didn’t announce a withdrawal. He didn’t announce a deal with the Ukrainians,” she told CNN. “So I suspect and we all assess that this could be a long-term conflict that could carry on for additional months.”
Moreover, it would be too strong to say the United States “welcomed” Putin’s remarks on Monday, Thomas-Greenfield told CNN, because the “unconscionable war on the Ukrainian people” continues.
“So what we would see as a positive sign is for Putin to pull his troops out of Ukraine and bring this unconscionable war to an end,” she said.
Thomas-Greenfield, who was in Brussels for a major conference to support Syria, said Moscow’s appointment of the “Butcher of Syria” Alexander Dvornikov to command Russia’s offensive in Ukraine is “just another example of Russian brutality, Russia’s lack of consciousness about humanity, the human rights violations and atrocities that they have committed and they are prepared to continue to carry out in Ukraine.”
“It just shows to the world that there are no limits, as far as the Russians are concerned, to their willingness to use every single tool to bring the Ukrainian people down,” she told CNN.
The fact that Dvornikov oversaw Russia forces accused of committing atrocities in Syria and still remains in power to command forces accused of committing war crimes in Ukraine “is certainly something that the world has to address moving forward,” Thomas-Greenfield acknowledged.
“We can’t continue to allow individuals like this individual to carry out these acts and they absolutely can expect to be held accountable,” she said, noting that the United States is working with Ukraine, the International Criminal Court, and the International Court of Justice “to ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
‘Demeanor changed significantly’
Thomas-Greenfield is among the Biden administration officials who has had the most interaction with Russia officials in the wake of the war given their seat on the UN Security Council.
She told CNN the behavior of the Russian diplomats she works with in New York has “absolutely” changed since Russia began its war in Ukraine, and that the seem “uncomfortable” in “the way they carry themselves, the demeanor.”
She said she sees her Russian counterpart appear at the UN Security Council less frequently than before the war — now he often sends his deputy or his experts in his place.
“From day one, the 24th of February, when we were sitting in an emergency meeting of Security Council and the Russians were president of the Security Council, we saw their demeanor changed significantly in the council,” Thomas-Greenfield said, adding that she believes the Russians at the meeting “were taken by surprise by the attack” that evening that launched Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Thomas-Greenfield said the Russian diplomats at the United Nations “certainly” are “reading off of prepared remarks.”
“We know and expect when they will respond to things we say, but I suspect that everything is very much laid out for them and scripted,” she said.
Thomas-Greenfield also told CNN her Ukrainian counterpart at the UN told her about Russians stealing grain from Ukraine, and although the United States has not confirmed the details, “there is some evidence that Russia, not only have they been attacking farmers’ fields, they’ve been taking equipment, but also that they have removed grain from silos and taken that grain into Russia.”
“I absolutely think it’s credible,” she said.
Concerns have loomed about the potential impact the war in Ukraine will have on its role as the “breadbasket of Europe.” Multiple sources have told CNN that Russian forces are stealing farm equipment and thousands of tons of grain from Ukrainian farmers in areas they have occupied, as well as targeting food storage sites with artillery.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said last week that an estimated 400,000 tons of grain had been stolen to date.
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CNN’s Tim Lister and Sanyo Fylyppov contributed to this report. | https://localnews8.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2022/05/11/exclusive-putin-has-recognized-he-has-no-victory-to-celebrate-us-ambassador-to-un-says-3/ | 2022-05-11T19:32:42Z |
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The toxic chemical methanol has been identified as a possible cause of the deaths of 21 teenagers at a bar in the South African city of East London last month.
Methanol was found in all of their bodies and investigations are continuing to determine whether the levels of the toxic chemical were enough to have killed them.
“Methanol has been detected in all the 21 individuals that were there, however there is still progressive analysis of the quantitative levels of methanol and whether it could have been the final cause of death,” Dr. Litha Matiwane, Eastern Cape provincial deputy director for clinical service, said at press conference in East London Tuesday.
Authorities are still awaiting the conclusive results which are being conducted at a laboratory in the city of Cape Town, he said.
Methanol is a toxic form of alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide or an alternative source of fuel. It is not used in the production of alcohol sold for human consumption.
It is yet not known how the youngsters ingested the methanol.
Alcohol poisoning and inhalation of carbon monoxide have both been ruled out as possible causes of death although traces of both were detected in the bodies of all 21 victims, said Matiwane.
The teenagers died at the Enyobeni tavern in East London’s Scenery Park township in the early hours of June 26, shocking the country and resulting in several investigations by the police and liquor license authorities.
Many of the teens, ranging in age between 13 and 17, were found dead in the tavern, with their bodies strewn across tables and couches. Others died after they were rushed to nearby health facilities.
South Africa’s police will be guided by the final results of the toxicology analysis to determine whether anyone will face criminal charges for the 21 deaths, national police minister Bheki Cele has said.
The owner of Enyobeni tavern and some employees were arrested and are currently out on bail as they face charges related to the violation of liquor trading laws, including the sale of liquor to children.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke at a mass funera l for the teens and vowed his government would take action to prevent alcohol from being served to children under the legal drinking age of 18.
The deaths of the young people at the bar in East London are separate from the shootings at three bars in South Africa earlier this month in which a total of 22 people were killed. In all three incidents, the suspects opened fire on patrons before speeding off in their vehicles and notably the attackers did not rob the victims. In the worst incident, gunmen burst into a bar in Johannesburg’s Soweto township and opened fire, killing 16 people. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/methanol-in-blood-of-teens-who-died-in-south-african-tavern/ | 2022-07-19T16:23:04Z |
Washington police say drivers aren’t stopping for them
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington State Patrol says drivers are increasingly refusing to stop for troopers – and other law enforcement agencies also say this is becoming a common occurrence.
The Northwest News Network reports that from January 1 to May 17 of this year, the agency logged 934 failure-to-yield incidents. While the patrol didn’t track this in the past, veteran troopers say there’s been a dramatic uptick in drivers fleeing traffic stops.
“Something’s changed. People are not stopping right now,” said Sgt. Darren Wright, a WSP spokesperson with 31 years on the job. “It’s happening three to five times a shift on some nights and then a couple times a week on day shift.”
Local police departments are also seeing this behavior. The Puyallup Police Department logged 148 instances of drivers fleeing from officers from July 26, 2021 to May 18, 2022.
Asked if that represents a significant increase, Chief Scott Engle wrote in an email, “I could 1,000,000% say this is completely absolutely emphatically totally unusual.”
In Lakewood, another small city in Pierce County, Chief Mike Zaro said drivers are refusing to stop for his officers on average once a day.
“A lot of times they’re stolen cars; sometimes we don’t know what the deal is,” Zaro said.
Steve Strachan, the executive director of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and others in law enforcement connect the increase in failures-to-yield to passage last year of House Bill 1054, a sweeping police tactics law that, among other things, barred high-speed pursuits except in very limited circumstances.
The law was part of a package of police reforms majority Democrats passed in response to the murder by police of George Floyd in Minneapolis and other high-profile police killings — reforms aimed at addressing racial disproportionality in policing.
Minority Republicans in the Legislature criticized many of the changes, including the pursuit law, and said they jeopardized public safety.
Strachan said he doesn’t dispute the need for statewide rules governing police pursuits, but thinks the new law went too far.
Under the new law, police officers can’t give chase unless there’s reasonable suspicion to believe the driver is impaired or the higher standard of probable cause to believe they’re an escaped felon or have committed a violent crime or a sex crime.
Even then there are restrictions on when officers can pursue. Officers must balance whether the person poses an “imminent threat” and whether the safety risks of the person getting away outweigh the danger of engaging in a high-speed chase.
This year both the Washington House and Senate passed a bill with bipartisan votes that would have amended the new pursuit law in response to concerns from police that it was too restrictive. But a final version of the measure died in the state Senate. Advocates for police reform opposed the change.
“Why is it we are so concerned about hot pursuits,” asked Martina Morris with the group Next Steps Washington at a February rally at the Capitol. “Because they are dangerous. They are the number two cause of deaths during encounters with police.”
The prime sponsor of House Bill 1054, Democratic state Rep. Jesse Johnson, also opposed lowering the threshold for pursuits.
“I just do not believe pursuits in a 21st century policing system are needed,” Johnson said in a March interview on TVW’s “Inside Olympia” program. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-idaho/2022/05/30/washington-police-say-drivers-arent-stopping-for-them/ | 2022-05-30T17:40:03Z |
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that he wants Mississippi’s capital city to receive “its fair share” of federal money to repair a troubled water system that left homes and businesses without running water for several days.
Even with water flowing from taps and people again able to flush toilets this week, Jackson lacks safe drinking water. The city of 150,000 is in the sixth week of a boil-water advisory from the state health department because of concerns that low pressure could allow contaminants into the water.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan was in Jackson to meet with residents and state and local elected officials Wednesday. He touted the $1 trillion federal infrastructure law that President Joe Biden signed in November.
Mississippi is set to receive more than $4 billion from the law, with most of the money designated for highways and bridges, the White House said. The state’s allocation includes $429 million over five years to improve water systems.
“It’s our desire that the city of Jackson gets its fair share,” Regan said during a meeting with community leaders. “It’s our desire that the city of Jackson doesn’t have to live with what you all have lived with for far too long.”
Jackson’s main water-treatment plant malfunctioned in late August after torrential rain caused flooding along the Pearl River. The influx altered the quality of the raw water entering the plant from a reservoir. That slowed the treatment process, depleted supplies in water tanks and caused a dangerous drop in pressure.
But even before the rainfall, officials said some water pumps had failed and a treatment plant was using backup pumps. A rental pump was installed last week, and the system’s water pressure is back to normal.
Groups are distributing bottled water at drive-thru sites, and restaurants are bringing tanks of clean water from suburbs.
About 25% of Jackson’s residents live in poverty, and the city’s tax base has declined with a sharp decrease in population since 1980 — a change that happened along with mostly white flight that started about a decade after public schools began integrating in 1970.
Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson sat with Regan at the community meeting and toured Jackson’s main water plant with the administrator, Gov. Tate Reeves and Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba. Other members of Mississippi’s congressional delegation also participated in meetings with them about short-term and long-term solutions for the city’s water problems.
“We do know that will require all of us working together to cut through the bureaucracy,” Regan said during a news conference at Jackson State University.
Thompson pointed out during the community meeting that Regan is from North Carolina, which also has a large Black population.
“He understands the challenges, especially (for) communities of color,” said Thompson, the only Black member of Mississippi’s congressional delegation. “Under this current administration, they have taken the fact that many of these communities have been underserved by its government and tried to right the ship.”
Jackson’s water system has been fragile for years, with officials warning that widespread loss of service was possible. A cold snap in 2021 froze pipes and some water treatment equipment, leaving tens of thousands of people without running water. Similar problems happened again early this year, on a smaller scale. The EPA also told Jackson months ago that its water system violates the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. | https://cw33.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-epa-leader-jackson-needs-fair-share-of-money-to-fix-water/ | 2022-09-08T17:02:54Z |
Biggest sources of excess food waste across America
Candle photo // Shutterstock
Biggest sources of excess food waste across America
Americans waste about 40% of the food we purchase, statistically equivalent to an average consumer buying five bags of groceries and immediately dumping two bags in the trash upon leaving the store.
Pela identified the 13 industrial and business sectors that contribute most to excess food waste by looking at the 2018 Wasted Food Report from the Environmental Protection Agency, released in the fall of 2020. The EPA measures per capita metrics specific to each type of facility and are included for context but cannot be compared across each sector. Although the COVID-19 pandemic impacted each of these sectors’ contributions to food waste, this data examines how these industries contribute to food waste when operating at normal capacity.
The United States represents the single-largest countrywide source of discarded food, to the tune of about 80 billion pounds each year, or 30-40% of the food supply. Food waste that decomposes in landfills releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas up to 36 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
It’s not just individual consumers who are to blame. At every stage of the supply chain, food waste is rampant. In leisure or entertainment spaces where food is sold, it’s a practical certainty food is also wasted. In some cases, it’s more cost-efficient to waste food than to address a process inefficiency.
But waste diversion efforts are being adopted across many industries. Correctional facilities and sports venues are doing exciting work to reduce food waste while also redistributing food to local communities. At larger institutions, such as health care facilities and military bases, technology and tracking are used to identify waste sources and implement reduction efforts.
Using 2010 numbers as a baseline, the 2030 Food Loss and Waste reduction goal aims to reduce food waste going to landfills by 50% to 109.4 pounds per person. Better eating habits, a stronger understanding of expiration dates on perishables, and backyard composting can all help to reduce food waste.
Paula Cobleigh // Shutterstock
Manufacturing and processing
– Annual generation: 39.8 million tons (38.7% of total)
– 0.1 pounds per dollar in annual sales
Production snafus and inefficiencies can lead to huge quantities of food waste in manufacturing plants.
Assembly line breakdowns, for example, don’t result in a complete shutdown of the system. Food keeps coming, getting redirected as waste until the problem is fixed and the line resumes its normal flow. The trials and errors of new product development and assembly produce large amounts of waste as machines and quantities get calibrated.
While food surplus distribution from manufacturing facilities is possible, it is experimental at present and riddled with operational problems that must be addressed before it becomes a more viable waste diversion option.
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
Residential
– Annual generation: 25.0 million tons (24.2% of total, 39.5% of non-manufacturing total)
– 338.0 annual pounds per household
Food occupies more landfill waste than any other single item. With more people working from home and avoiding restaurants during the pandemic, a huge amount of food was consumed—and wasted—in recent years. A massive source of residential food waste—more than 80%, according to Feeding America—comes from American consumers misunderstanding expiration dates on perishable food items.
“Best if Used By” labels actually indicate the last day food is considered at its peak flavor and quality; it is not an indicator of the last safe day to consume the item. Infant formula is the only product for which a date points to the safety of a food product.
Yulia Grigoryeva // Shutterstock
Restaurants and food services
– Annual generation: 17.1 million tons (16.6% of total, 27.1% of non-manufacturing total)
— Full-service restaurants: 78,260.0 annual pounds per facility
— Limited-service restaurants: 81,820.0 annual pounds per facility
Even at restaurants, more is not always better. Large portions, extensive menus, over-production and preparation, and poor storage all contribute to the massive amount of waste seen in the food services industry.
Over the last several decades, portion sizes have increased dramatically and are, on average, two to eight times larger than recommended serving sizes as laid out by the USDA or Food and Drug Administration. On average, a diner leaves about one-fifth of their meal uneaten on their plate, an obvious indicator of excess.
Extarz // Shutterstock
Supermarkets and supercenters
– Annual generation: 8.7 million tons (8.4% of total, 13.8% of non-manufacturing total)
— Supermarkets: 209,760.0 annual pounds per establishment
— Supercenters: 10.0 pounds per dollar in annual sales
Many consumers perceive misshapen or blemished food as inedible. Products close to a sell-by date are passed over for “fresher” items. These superficial imperfections mean millions of pounds of perfectly edible grocery items end up in the trash.
Stores are constantly culling and rotating produce to maintain the illusion of perfect because it’s better for business. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are assisting this stage and earlier stages along the supply chain to cut back on food waste. The precision of algorithmic forecasting and stock replenishment can significantly decrease the amount of excess food ordered. Automated scanning and inspections of items determine what can go to grocery stores and what should be distributed elsewhere.
romeovip_md // Shutterstock
Office buildings
– Annual generation: 4.1 million tons (4.0% of total, 6.4% of non-manufacturing total)
– 169.9 annual pounds per employee
If you’ve ever worked in an office and been tasked with fridge cleanout duty in the shared kitchen, you’re familiar with how much food can pile up in a week. Not to mention how much ends up wasted. Leftovers from home, business meetings, or food from catered events all ultimately end up in the trash. Establishing a composting program in the office and donating untouched food from events are good diversion strategies for food waste.
Nanderdewijk // Shutterstock
Food wholesale
– Annual generation: 4.0 million tons (3.9% of total, 6.3% of non-manufacturing total)
– 241,360.0 annual pounds per facility
Poor shelf-life predictions and consumer standards contribute to food waste among wholesalers. Additionally, the disposal of large quantities of a particular item during an outbreak like e.coli, for example, results in a tremendous waste of unaffected products.
To mitigate waste, new products and smart technologies promise to help divert food waste in the wholesale sector for animal feed or collect data to help suppliers more precisely balance supply and demand.
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
K-12 schools
– Annual generation: 1.2 million tons (1.2% of total, 2.0% of non-manufacturing total)
– 0.4 pounds per meal
To ensure students get the most nutrition out of their school meals, it’s essential they actually eat what gets packed at home or served at the school cafeteria. Yet many schools have severely limited lunchtimes—in about 20% of schools, just 15 minutes—which is cited as a huge barrier to a student’s ability to finish an entire meal.
School nutrition programs offer myriad opportunities to reduce food waste, from planning menus and lengthening lunchtime to rethinking how food is prepared and served. Schools can streamline orders to prevent over-purchasing, plan for proper storage, and better train kitchen staff to reduce waste while cutting produce items. It can also help plan meals that students actually like and will readily consume, helping to reduce the likelihood that they’ll throw away partially eaten meals.
BAZA Production // Shutterstock
Hotels
– Annual generation: 1.2 million tons (1.2% of total, 1.9% of non-manufacturing total)
– 1,137.8 annual pounds per employee
Buffets are one of the largest sources of food waste at hotels. Overproduction, guests taking more than they can consume, and the fact that many hotels keep buffets fully stocked for the duration of the meal service all contribute to significant volumes of food being thrown away.
A 2017 study from global design firm Ideo, first reported by the New York Times, found that roughly half of all buffet food in hotels was actually consumed. In recent years, hotels like Hilton began partnering with local food rescue organizations to donate unused food and serve their communities.
Chayantorn Tongmorn // Shutterstock
Colleges and universities
– Annual generation: 613,106 tons (0.6% of total, 1.0% of non-manufacturing total)
– 20.0 annual pounds per student
Not only do colleges waste huge amounts of food due to overproduction and extensive menus, but their students pay dearly for it.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a single person spends $11 on food each day, but an average undergraduate pays $18.75 per day via their school meal plan. College students pay nearly 70% more per day to eat on campus than they would likely pay buy and cook their own food. Waste diversion efforts on college campuses can include composting and partnering with local food waste recovery organizations.
Harvard, for instance, donates roughly 30,000 meals each year to local programs.
Elena.Katkova // Shutterstock
Nursing homes
– Annual generation: 451,124 tons (0.4% of total, 0.7% of non-manufacturing total)
– 657.0 annual pounds per bed
Nursing homes are mandated to provide all residents with three meals each day whether they want them or not. They are also required to provide a variety of menu options.
This amount of food, coupled with the fact that appetites tend to decrease with age, produces a tremendous amount of daily food waste. Senior living centers that have switched to made-to-order menus, like Mount Baker Care Center in Bellingham, Washington, have seen a reduction in institutional food costs and overall plate waste. This type of dining offering has also increased family visits.
Stefan Redel // Shutterstock
Correctional facilities
– Annual generation: 440,679 tons (0.4% of total, 0.7% of non-manufacturing total)
– 1.1 daily pounds per inmate
A number of correctional facilities across the country have begun composting to divert food waste. In 2019, Vermont’s correctional facilities composted roughly 11,000 pounds of food each week, preventing 572,000 pounds of food waste from ending up in the trash that year. Farms at prisons in Washington and Pennsylvania compost food waste while also teaching inmates about sustainable farming. Washington Corrections Center’s Hope Garden donated nearly 74,000 pounds of harvested food to local food banks in 2020.
Aleksandar Malivuk // Shutterstock
Food banks
– Annual generation: 426,057 tons (0.4% of total, 0.7% of non-manufacturing total)
– 654,000.0 annual pounds per establishment
Food banks themselves can serve as a waste diversion and redistribution strategy. In 2019, the world’s three largest food bank networks recovered 3.75 million metric tons of food and fed 66.5 million people. But not all food diverted to a food bank is distributable. A survey of food banks in Massachusetts published in 2016 found that many canned goods past their expiration date were discarded, ultimately ending up as waste despite still being safe for consumption most of the time.
Kzenon // Shutterstock
Hospitals
– Annual generation: 301,576 tons (0.3% of total, 0.5% of non-manufacturing total)
– 653.1 annual pounds per bed
Several factors contribute to food waste at hospitals, including overproduction, the reduced appetite of patients, and bad-tasting options. More than half of all hospital patients leave their meals uneaten, according to a 2019 study by nutritionDay, leading to large amounts of waste as well as malnutrition among patients.
To divert uneaten food from landfills, some hospitals donate meals to the local community. In less than a year, Sutter Health was able to donate 55,000 meals to 20 non-profit organizations that feed food-insecure residents of Northern California. Room service models, where patients can order from a limited but flexible menu, have been shown to reduce plate waste from 30% to 17%.
Collin Quinn Lomax // Shutterstock
Military installations
– Annual generation: 61,373 tons (0.1% of total, 0.1% of non-manufacturing total)
– 105.3 annual pounds per active duty member
A U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center study published in 2016 estimated the annual cost for simply managing food waste at military installations was about $14,750. To combat waste and costs, many military bases have implemented food digesters and detailed tracking to identify wasteful habits and areas for waste reduction.
A 2017 study at Fort Jackson (published in 2019) on food waste in military kitchens revealed that overproduction accounted for 83% of food waste on the base. Calorie restrictions, for example—sometimes implemented for entire units by Army nutritionists—are not consistently communicated to base cooks. As a result, a wide range of food is prepared to meet various dietary needs and subsequently wasted. The timing of field exercises, or more specifically the lack of communication about field exercises that conflict with meal times, also contributes to large amounts of waste.
Desmond Adkins // Shutterstock
Sports venues
– Annual generation: 38,154 tons (0.0% of total, 0.1% of non-manufacturing total)
– 0.3 annual pounds per visitor
Sports venues and franchises have made significant gains in working toward hosting zero-waste events.
Just three years ago, State Farm Arena—home to the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks— only diverted between 10 and 20% of waste from landfills. The venue in 2021 held its first zero-waste event during the playoffs and, less than a year later, became the first certified zero-waste sports venue.
More than 340 teams across the U.S., from college programs to professional leagues, are working with Green Sports Alliance to reduce food waste by implementing meat and plastic replacements, reusable or recyclable packaging, composting, and donations of unsold items.
This story originally appeared on Pela
and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. | https://localnews8.com/stacker-news/2022/05/07/biggest-sources-of-excess-food-waste-across-america/ | 2022-05-07T19:00:51Z |
Which high heel pumps are best?
High heel pumps get a bad rap for how uncomfortable they are, but there’s no denying that they’re often the perfect finishing touch to an outfit. The trick is finding a pair that combines form and function, so they feel as good as they look on your feet.
Pumps are typically shoes with a closed toe, but there’s plenty of variation in other style details, such as the toe shape, heel type and height. For pairs with high heels, though, that usually means pumps with heels that are 2 inches or taller. So if you’re looking for a striking pair of leather pumps that offer surprising comfort despite their 4-inch heels, the Jessica Simpson Claudette D’Orsay Pump is worth checking out.
What to know before you buy high heel pumps
Heel type
Pumps are available with several types of high heels. Some styles are easier to walk in than others, especially if you’re new to wearing heels.
- Stilettos are one of the most popular types of pumps. They feature long, thin heels that resemble a stiletto dagger. They’re typically the highest style of heel you can find, so they can be difficult to walk in if you’re not used to wearing heels.
- Tapered heels are wide at the top but narrow to a slim point. The design gives them a sturdy base, so they’re typically easier to walk in than stilettos. Tapered heels are also known as cone heels.
- Continental heels are similar to stilettos, but the back of the heels features a slight curve. The front of the heels is straight. They can be somewhat difficult to walk in for beginners.
- Block heels have a square shape that offers excellent stability. They help balance your weight and lessen the pressure on the front of your feet, too. They’re ideal if you’re new to wearing pumps.
- Flare heels feature the opposite design to tapered heels. The heels are thinner at the base and widen toward the bottom. They usually have a curved shape, too. They provide greater stability than thinner heels, so they can be a good style if you’re not used to wearing pumps.
- Kitten heels are usually shorter than other heels, coming in at below 3 inches. That makes them easier to walk in, so they’re sometimes referred to as training heels.
Heel height
Pumps are generally considered high heels if they have 2-inch heels or higher. If you’re not used to wearing heels, stick to pairs with 2- to 3-inch heels.
Other common heel heights include:
- 3-inch heels are one of the most common heights for pumps. They’re easier to wear and balance in than higher heels but still offer some height.
- 4-inch heels offer good height but require more balance to wear than shorter heels.
- 5-inch heels require significant balance to wear, so they’re not for the faint of heart. They do make a bold statement, though.
You can find pumps with heels higher than 5 inches, but they’re usually extremely challenging to walk and balance in. They’re best saved for occasions when you won’t be standing much.
What to look for in a quality pair of high heel pumps
Material
Pumps are available in a wide range of materials, but common options include:
- Leather is the most common material for high heels. It’s highly durable and stretches over time, making it highly comfortable. Leather pumps are also versatile, so they can work for many occasions.
- Faux leather is an ideal alternative to leather if you prefer a cruelty-free pair of heels. They look just like leather pumps, so they can work in the same settings. However, faux or vegan leather pumps aren’t as durable as leather pairs.
- Suede is a type of leather, but it has a soft, fuzzy finish. Suede pumps work well in colder weather.
- Patent leather has a shiny, mirror-like finish that helps your high heels stand out.
- Satin has a sheen that works well for heels worn for formal occasions.
Toe style
Pumps typically feature a closed-toe design, but you can choose from several styles or shapes.
- Round-toe pumps are extremely popular and provide plenty of space for your toes to spread out.
- Pointed-toe pumps are another common style and help your legs look longer. They’re not the most comfortable style for wide feet, though.
- Almond toe pumps fall somewhere between round-toe and pointed-toe heels. They can fit both narrow and wide feet comfortably.
- Square toe pumps work well for wide feet because they offer plenty of space for your toes.
- Peep-toe pumps feature a small cutout at the front of the shoes to provide a peek at your toes.
Nonslip bottom
Since it can be tricky to walk in high heel pumps, it’s a good idea to choose a pair with a nonslip bottom. Some shoes feature a rubberized sole and heel cap that provides effective traction on most surfaces.
Color or pattern
Pumps come in nearly every color. You can often choose from plenty of fun patterns, too, including animal print, polka dots and floral print.
For a basic everyday pair, stick to neutrals, such as black, gray or nude. You may want a pair of statement heels for evenings out, though. Red, pink, white or purple pumps are ideal for helping you stand out.
How much you can expect to spend on high heel pumps
High heel pumps generally cost $20-$1,000. You can find budget-friendly pairs that cost $20-$50, but you’ll usually pay $50 to $250 for high-end, durable pumps or embellished heels. Designer pumps can cost as much as $1,000, though.
High heel pumps FAQ
Are high heels bad for your feet?
A. Pumps and other high heel shoes can cause issues for your feet, including bunions and hammertoe. They can also lead to back, knee and ankle pain. That’s why it’s crucial to choose the right size, so they don’t put undue pressure on your feet. It’s also a good idea not to wear them every day and save your high heels for special occasions.
What type of pumps should I choose if I want my legs to look longer?
A. Pointy toe heels are the most flattering style if you want your legs to look long and lean. It also helps to choose a pair in a nude color to give the illusion that your legs extend a bit farther.
What are the best high heel pumps to buy?
Top high heel pumps
Jessica Simpson Claudette D’Orsay Pump
What you need to know: These simple, elegant heels work well for many occasions and add the perfect feminine touch to any outfit.
What you’ll love: The uppers feature 100% leather construction. They’re available in a wide range of colors and patterns. The 4-inch heel is still comfortable. The lightly cushioned insole provides effective shock absorption.
What you should consider: Sizes can run somewhat small. Light-colored pairs can scuff easily, too.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top high heel pumps for the money
What you need to know: These stylish, affordable pumps are easy to wear for even those new to high heels, but they still provide excellent height.
What you’ll love: The platform design and block heel offer excellent balance and comfort. The heels are 3 3/4 inches for flattering height. The almond toe is comfortable for both wide and narrow feet. They feature faux leather if you want a vegan option.
What you should consider: Some buyers report that they run somewhat big, so it may be difficult to find the right size.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Macy’s
Worth checking out
What you need to know: These classic pumps offer a stylish look but still boast plenty of comfortable features to allow for all-day wear.
What you’ll love: The 3-inch stiletto heels offer a striking look. The pointed toe helps elongate the look of your legs. The shoes feature gel pod inserts for comfortable cushioning. The soles have a nonslip, weatherproof design that helps with shock absorption.
What you should consider: The sizes can run small, so you may need to size up if you have wide feet.
Where to buy: Sold by Macy’s and Amazon
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Jennifer Blair 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. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/footwear-br/best-high-heel-pumps/ | 2022-04-23T12:17:48Z |
7 arrested in House office building linked to Colbert show
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Capitol Police said Friday that officers arrested seven unauthorized people in a congressional office building Thursday night and charged them with unlawful entry.
The people identified themselves as being affiliated with CBS’ “Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
Another person familiar with the matter provided the AP with a list of nine people who had been stopped by Capitol Police. They included several producers, along with Robert Smigel, the voice behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
The two people who spoke with the AP could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The incident Thursday night followed the third public hearing by the House panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.
Capitol Police said they received a call about a disturbance in the Longworth House Office Building around 8:30 p.m. “Responding officers observed seven individuals, unescorted and without Congressional ID, in a sixth-floor hallway,” the agency said in a statement. “The building was closed to visitors, and these individuals were determined to be a part of a group that had been directed by the USCP to leave the building earlier in the day.”
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS said the production team was at the Capitol Wednesday and Thursday to record a comedy segment featuring Triumph.
“Their interviews at the Capitol were authorized and pre-arranged through Congressional aides of the members interviewed,” the network said. “After leaving the members’ offices on their last interview of the day, the production team stayed to film stand-ups and other final comedy elements in the halls when they were detained by Capitol Police.”
The USCP statement said the case remains “an active criminal investigation, and may result in additional criminal charges.” Capitol Police, departing from standard practice, refused to provide the names of the people who were arrested.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/18/7-arrested-house-office-building-linked-colbert-show/ | 2022-06-18T02:04:21Z |
Frustrated and anxious, climate advocates are turning to legal action. The latest petitioners: College students
By Pooja Salhotra, CNN
College campuses have for years been at the center of climate change activism. But now, frustrated and anxious by what they see as slow action alongside growing climate damages, students are engaging a new tactic: legal action.
A coalition of students from Yale, MIT, Princeton, Stanford and Vanderbilt working with the nonprofit Climate Defense Project filed legal complaints in February to compel their universities to end their financial relationships with the fossil fuel industry.
In the complaints, students alleged their schools are violating the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Acts, a state law which states a nonprofit’s investments must align with its “charitable purpose.”
The complaints, all filed with their state attorneys general on the same day, contend fossil fuel companies, by polluting the environment and engaging in public relations campaigns to undermine climate science, stand in conflict to the missions of their universities.
Students also argued fossil fuel investments are inherently risky, violating their institutions’ legal duty to invest prudently. Climate scientists reported Monday new fossil fuel projects risk becoming “stranded assets,” or being abandoned. The estimated losses from stranded fossil fuel infrastructure between 2015 and 2050 is anywhere from $1 trillion and $4 trillion, assuming the world takes action to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.
The students’ filings are part of a global surge in legal action to address the climate crisis. A recent report from Grantham Research Institute of the London School of Economics showed worldwide, the number of climate-change related legal cases more than doubled between 2015 and 2021. Around 800 such cases were filed between 1986 and 2014, while more than 1,000 were brought over the following six years, the report found.
“We’re witnessing this unprecedented wave of litigation, where individuals are going to court to hold certain actors to account for the damages they are suffering and the damages they will suffer,” said Karen Sokol, distinguished professor of law at Loyola University New Orleans.
Sokol attributed the rise in climate cases to the increasing harms of global warming — including severe weather disasters and the resulting destruction — along with the public’s growing awareness of the problem.
“Whenever harms and damages mount simultaneously with an increase in public awareness, people tend to seek redress in the courts,” Sokol told CNN. “That’s what we’re seeing.”
The endowments of the five universities total more than $150 billion, according to the legal filings. CNN was unable to independently confirm the amount, or how much each university is investing in fossil fuels.
CNN reached out to the respective attorneys general offices, two of which — Massachusetts’ and Connecticut’s — confirmed they received and are reviewing the student complaints. New Jersey’s Attorney General’s office declined to comment, and the offices of Tennessee and California did not respond.
None of the universities have directly responded to the complaints, the students told CNN. In emails to CNN, representatives from Stanford, Princeton, Yale and MIT pointed to their universities’ recent efforts to mitigate climate change. Vanderbilt did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.
Each of the universities has also released detailed plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions on their campuses by a target date, by 2050. Some are also seeking net-zero emissions in their investment portfolios, or have ethical investment principles rendering certain fossil fuel companies ineligible for investment.
Stanford is seeking to reach net-zero emissions in both operations and investments by 2050, according to university communications executive Dee Mostofi, who also told CNN the university’s investments “fully comply with all applicable laws regulating charities in California.” Mostofi also highlighted the university’s investments in clean energy and transportation.
For the Stanford students, the promises and policies are not enough.
“‘Net-zero’ means Stanford could still be invested in fossil fuels and just be offsetting it in ways that aren’t really sufficient,” said Miriam Wallstrom, a junior at Stanford and an organizer with Fossil Free Stanford. “As a member of the generation that both has to do the most to fight the climate crisis and will also suffer the most in terms of severe weather events, it’s terrifying and frustrating that the institution I go to hasn’t divested, especially when so many peer institutions have.”
Carbon offsetting is the practice of using renewable energy, planting trees, or supporting other forms of conservation in an attempt to offset fossil fuel emissions. But many experts have cast doubts on the efficacy of the schemes, which could allow people, countries, companies or organizations to continue to emit carbon dioxide unabated.
Other institutions of higher education that have moved away from fossil fuels, or have announced plans to do so, include Brown University, Boston University, Georgetown University and Middlebury College. Harvard University and Cornell University also committed to divesting soon after their students filed legal complaints with the help of attorneys at Climate Defense Project, the same organization assisting the current coalition of students.
Students also emphasized their universities may have conflicts of interest preventing them from fairly responding to student climate demands.
Vanderbilt students allege university Chancellor Daniel Diermeier’s ties to the fossil fuel industry are a conflict of interest. Diermeier has previously advised companies including Shell, ExxonMobil and BP, among others, according to his CV, which is hosted by a Vanderbilt web address. Students filed a complaint with the University, and the committee responsible for investigating conflicts of interest found it to be “without merit,” according to a university news release. The Chancellor did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.
Yale students similarly note four trustees of Yale Corporation — the charitable corporate entity managing the school’s roughly $42 billion endowment — have ties to the fossil fuel industry. Three current or former trustees serve, or have recently served, as board members for oil and gas companies, while one was the CEO of a prominent energy company.
Neither the Yale Corporation nor Yale’s Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility responded to CNN’s requests for comment.
“The core part of our campaign has been saying that investing in fossil fuels is immoral,” said Molly Weiner, a Yale freshman and an organizer with Yale’s Endowment Justice Coalition. “But the moral argument is only going to get us so far given that the people who make these investment decisions personally benefit.”
Weiner also pointed to a discrepancy between where Yale spends research funds and how it allocates part of its endowment.
“Yale is putting a lot of money into climate research,” said Weiner, an environmental studies major. “But that is rendered moot by the fact that the university has $800 million in the fossil fuel industry. They basically cancel each other out.”
Ted Hamilton, co-founder of Climate Defense Project, is hopeful Yale and the other universities will decide to divest on their own volition. Alternatively, he said, the state attorneys general could issue enforcement orders mandating universities to stop investing in the fossil fuel industry. Such action would be unprecedented.
Globally, climate litigation largely remains unsettled, as many cases continue to move through the court system. Nearly two dozen lawsuits in the US, all pending in the courts, seek monetary damages from fossil fuel companies, claiming the companies have lied to the public by misrepresenting or denying the harmful effects of fossil fuels, according to the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University.
Some cases have been successful.
One lawsuit resulted in a German court issuing a ruling requiring the government to create more ambitious greenhouse gas emission reductions.
A case in the Netherlands created a new “duty of care” for the government to protect the public from climate change. And more recently, a Netherlands court reached a groundbreaking decision mandating Shell to reduce its global worldwide emissions by 45% by 2030 from 2019 levels.
“There’s this momentum,” said Sokol, speaking of the successful international cases. “Courts are carving out their role in our new climate reality.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2022/04/09/frustrated-and-anxious-climate-advocates-are-turning-to-legal-action-the-latest-petitioners-college-students/ | 2022-04-09T07:35:20Z |
LEHI, Utah, Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Project Solar, the leading e-commerce brand for solar installations, today announced the close of a $23M Series A financing round led by Left Lane Capital, with additional support from strategics within the industry.
The investment represents the first institutional capital for the company and will help them scale their digital-first, direct-to-consumer offering in additional markets. The company will also further invest in the development of its solar installation technology stack that sits across the entire solar process - from automated quoting to project management.
Founders Trevor Hiltbrand and Matthew Smith, with backgrounds in e-commerce and tech startups, set out to disrupt the solar industry by cutting out commissioned sales reps from the solar business model and increasing transparency and efficiency in the process. With just a few inputs from customers, Project Solar instantly calculates your needed system size and corresponding price for your home's current electrical usage, all without talking to a sales rep.
Back in 2021 when the company launched, Project Solar targeted do-it-yourselfers with their DIY solar kits, but quickly pivoted their focus to full installation by creating an installer network covering 20 solar-friendly states. The installers within the network are vetted and fully managed by Project Solar, offering the customer the benefit of local labor and serviceability, while maintaining the warranty benefits, scale, and pricing advantages of a large national brand.
"At our pricing, solar is an amazing investment for nearly every homeowner in the United States. Nationally, our customers see an average ROI of 18% in the first year," says Trevor Hiltbrand, CEO and Co-Founder of Project Solar.
By cutting out the commissioned sales representatives, who often make anywhere from $0.30-$1.00/watt, Project Solar is able to offer dramatically lower prices to consumers in a transparent and upfront manner. Project Solar sells at an average of $2.20/watt while the national average sale price for residential solar hovers around $3.90/watt (source NREL).
The Series A funding follows the recent announcement from President Biden about a two year pause on panel import tariffs from Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, which is a huge win for the solar industry and solar shoppers alike. Federal incentives further drive down the cost of going solar with a current 2022 federal tax credit equal to 26% of the project cost.
"Solar has never been more attractive from an investment perspective, nor more needed from an environmental perspective," says Matthew Smith, President and Co-Founder of Project Solar. "Our online model allows us to offer top tier equipment, with warrantied professional installation, for industry leading low prices," Smith adds.
"We are thrilled to partner with the entire Project Solar team. The company's growth over the last year speaks for itself. With rising energy costs and more awareness of our climate impact, it has never been better for the consumer to consider solar as a complete energy solution for their home. Project Solar has adopted technology across the entire organization which has allowed the business to scale rapidly across the entire country," says Derek Urben, investor at Left Lane Capital.
Project Solar is on track to having 30 megawatts of solar installed this year, with the goal of installing 150 megawatts during 2023. With this additional funding and the continued trust that customers put into the brand, Project Solar is on its way to becoming the most trusted household brand in solar energy.
About Project Solar: Project Solar is a commission free solar sales, design, permitting and procurement company offering a digitally powered automated solar quoting and checkout experience, paired with full installation services through their proprietary network of contractors. With a mission to drive green energy adoption through substantial homeowner financial savings, Project Solar offers top tier solar equipment and installation directly to consumers at a fraction of the average cost. For more information, please visit https://projectsolar.io/.
About Left Lane Capital: Left Lane Capital is a leading New York-based global venture capital firm investing in high-growth internet and consumer technology companies. Left Lane's mission is to partner with extraordinary entrepreneurs creating category-defining businesses fundamental to the human condition and spirit. Previous investments include GoStudent, Masterworks, M1 Finance, Tovala, FightCamp, Wayflyer, Blank Street, and more. For more information, please visit www.leftlanecap.com.
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SOURCE Project Solar | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/05/project-solar-raises-23-million-series-expand-its-low-cost-digital-solar-offering/ | 2022-08-06T00:24:18Z |
“Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened.”
Those are the clever words of British humorist Terry Pratchett, who couldn’t have explained the aging process more succinctly. I know his words are true because I turned 60 this week. It’s a heck of a thing to have burned through six decades already. If I’d known 60 years would go by so fast, I would have taken worse care of myself.
Time is a humbling thing.
I know now my greatest accomplishment — aside from an uncanny ability to catch grapes in my mouth no matter how far or high my friends throw them — was becoming a bouncer at the legendary Rathskeller pub at Penn State.
When I was half this age, I was certain I knew everything. I was cocky and brash and incredibly wrong. Now, I realize I know very little, but the things I do know, I know well.
I know that fame is a waste of time — and excess wealth, too — as they bring with them more problems than either are worth. You don’t know who your friends really are until your money is gone. And if you ever do anything stupid as a famous person, social media will broadcast it all over the world.
Several studies have been done on the subject of happiness. Having just enough money to save a little for a rainy day and go out with the love of your life a few times a month is all the money you really need.
It’s friends and loved ones that bring us real wealth. It’s the laughter we can only enjoy with our closest friends — people we know we can count on no matter how difficult our lot becomes. It’s the love we enjoy from our closest family members, friends, and lifelong spouses and partners — the people we attend weddings, holiday events and special occasions with — all of our most memorable experiences.
And it’s not just people.
Why I waited until the age of 59 to get another dog — last having one as a child so many years ago — is possibly the most bone-headed decision I ever made. Somebody said God removed the wings from pets like my best buddy Thurber, so that nobody would know they are angels. This guy makes me laugh out loud every single day — something I didn’t realize I was failing to do until he entered my life.
When we are young, we dream of big houses, and we hope to impress total strangers. As we grow older and wiser, we realize none of that matters. We realize that time is going by way too fast and that every single moment is precious.
I was sick as a dog with a nasty flu weeks ago and, brought to my knees, I went through a paradigm shift. I decided I never want to waste another healthy moment. I started eating healthier than ever. I exercise daily. I go for walks with Thurber. I turn in at a decent hour, so I wake refreshed at 5:40 every morning ready to dive into the new day.
All I want to do now is write well, read great literature and learn how to love better, give back more, laugh harder and spend every moment with people I love as though it were the last moment I had to live.
Maybe it’s time to alter Pratchett’s clever quote:
“Inside every old person is a wiser person trying to make great things happen with whatever God-given time he has left.” | https://www.albanyherald.com/opinion/tom-purcell-the-passage-of-time-is-a-humbling-thing/article_4908d5b2-c7c5-11ec-b353-9370dadc0c36.html | 2022-04-30T23:46:37Z |
Ward, Detmers propel Angels to 4-1 win, sweep of Guardians
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Taylor Ward drove in two runs, Brandon Marsh had three hits and an RBI, and the Los Angeles Angels completed a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Guardians with a 4-1 victory. Reid Detmers pitched five innings of two-hit ball to earn his second career major league victory. Ward and Marsh had RBI singles in the third inning to help the Angels win the final five games of their homestand. Orange County native Austin Hedges homered and had two hits for the Guardians, who have lost the first seven games of their 10-game road trip. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/04/28/ward-detmers-propel-angels-to-4-1-win-sweep-of-guardians/ | 2022-04-29T00:13:04Z |
Steripath® Initial Specimen Diversion Device®, a clinically proven solution, enables hospitals to meet the new goal of 1% blood culture contamination as published in CLSI's M47 Principles and Procedures for Blood Cultures, 2nd Edition 2022
SEATTLE, May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Magnolia Medical Technologies, Inc., commends Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) for establishing a goal of 1% blood culture contamination with best practices in its M47 Principles and Procedures for Blood Cultures, 2nd Edition 2022.
This new 1% goal for blood culture contamination represents a 66% reduction to the long-standing national standard of care target. Additionally, CLSI is recognizing for the first time, based on clinical studies conducted using Steripath, the critical role that diversion technology can play in diagnostic testing accuracy for sepsis.
Magnolia Medical's flagship product family, Steripath, was designed and developed to enable hospitals to dramatically reduce blood culture contamination. Steripath is supported by extensive clinical evidence including 20 clinical and cost-effectiveness studies all citing sustained contamination rates of 1% or below. This performance profile with Steripath aligns with CLSI's new best practice guidelines. Steripath is the only commercially available device platform with the specific FDA 510(k)-cleared indication to reduce blood culture contamination.1
CLSI, a non-profit member organization, develops and establishes standards for laboratory quality and performance. CLSI employs a rigorous evidence-based process to set medical laboratory standards and guidelines that help laboratories fulfill their responsibilities with testing quality, effectiveness, and accuracy.
The new CLSI M47 Principles and Procedures for Blood Cultures, 2nd Edition 2022 includes recommendations for collecting, transporting, and processing specimens for blood culture, the standard of care test used to diagnose blood stream infections including sepsis. The guidelines are intended to help inform standards for laboratorians and other healthcare providers including administrators who develop institutional best practices.
The new M47 guidelines state, "Even when optimal blood specimen collection protocols are used, completely eliminating blood culture contamination may be impossible. However, laboratories should still be able to achieve blood culture contamination rates substantially lower than 3%. When best practices are followed, a target contamination rate of 1% is achievable".2
The new guidelines include a QA Indicator for Specimen Collection, "The benchmark for blood culture contamination rate is less than 3%, with a goal of 1% when best practices are followed".2
The guidelines conclude with, "Recently, self-contained devices that achieve initial specimen diversion without extra collection tubes have become available. Studies have also demonstrated reduced blood culture contamination rates when these devices are used91-96".2
Of note, all six studies cited in CLSI's new guidelines examined the clinical efficacy of Steripath and/or referenced Steripath-specific studies and reported a sustained 1% or lower contamination rate.3-8
"CLSI's newly established best practice goal of 1% blood culture contamination represents a major step forward for patient safety and quality outcomes in the suspected sepsis population," said Greg Bullington, CEO of Magnolia Medical. "We are proud to partner with hospitals using Steripath, a clinically proven technology platform, to achieve this new goal for sepsis testing accuracy and to support their diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship initiatives."
To date, 20 clinical studies have reported sustained contamination rates of 1% or less using Steripath. Additional results reported within these studies utilizing Steripath include up to a 31% reduction in vancomycin days of therapy, and as much as a 12-fold decrease in false-positive central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) over extended periods of time.9,10,11
Thirteen of the 20 studies evaluated Steripath's effectiveness in reducing blood culture contamination via both venipuncture and peripheral IV starts. All 13 studies reported sustained contamination rates of 1% or below when Steripath was used in the emergency department, inpatient departments, and hospital wide. 3,4,8,9,11
These studies with Steripath have been conducted at all types of acute care hospitals, including major academic teaching institutions, government military and VA medical centers, and large and small community hospitals, and demonstrate improved sepsis testing accuracy.11
Steripath has been adopted by hundreds of U.S. hospitals and healthcare systems to address the problem of blood culture contamination, which can lead to sepsis misdiagnosis resulting in unnecessary, prolonged, and harmful antibiotic treatment, extended length of hospital stay, false-positive CLABSIs, and wasted healthcare resources.
About Magnolia Medical Technologies
Magnolia Medical Technologies develops, manufactures, and markets innovative blood and bodily fluid collection devices to facilitate significant improvements in the accuracy, consistency, and predictability of critical laboratory tests. Magnolia Medical invented and patented the Initial Specimen Diversion Technique® (ISDT®) and Device (ISDD®) for blood culture collection and contamination prevention. The company has amassed an intellectual property portfolio, including more than 100 issued method, apparatus, and design patents with more than 70 additional patent applications pending. For more information, visit www.magnolia-medical.com.
- Indicated to reduce the frequency of blood culture contamination when contaminants are present, compared to standard method controls without diversion.
- CLSI. Principles and Procedures for Blood Cultures. 2nd Ed. CLSI Guideline M47. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute; 2022.
- Arenas M, Boseman GM, Coppin JD, Lukey J, Jinadatha C, Navarathna DH. Asynchronous testing of 2 specimen-diversion devices to reduce blood culture contamination: a single-site product supply quality improvement project. J Emerg Nurs. 2021;47(2):256-264.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jen.2020.11.008.
- Bell M, Bogar C, Plante J, Rasmussen K, Winters S. Effectiveness of a novel specimen collection system in reducing blood culture contamination rates. J Emerg Nurs. 2018;44(6):570-575. doi:10.1016/j.jen.2018.03.007.
- Geisler BP, Jilg N, Patton RG, Pietzsch JB. Model to evaluate the impact of hospital-based interventions targeting false-positive blood cultures on economic and clinical outcomes. J Hosp Infect. 2019;102(4):438-444. doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2019.03.012.
- Rupp ME, Cavalieri RJ, Marolf C, Lyden E. Reduction in blood culture contamination through use of Initial Specimen Diversion Device. Clin Infect Dis. 2017;65(2):201-205. doi:10.1093/cid/cix304.
- Skoglund E, Dempsey CJ, Chen H, Garey KW. Estimated clinical and economic impact through use of a novel blood collection device to reduce blood culture contamination in the emergency department: a cost-benefit analysis. J Clin Microbiol. 2019;57(1):e01015-18. doi:10.1128/JCM.01015-18.
- Zimmerman FS, Assous MV, Zevin S, Wiener-Well Y. Reducing blood culture contamination using an Initial Specimen Diversion Device. Am J Infect Control. 2019;47(7):822-826. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2018.12.004.
- Nielsen LE, Nguyen K, Wahl CK, et al. Initial Specimen Diversion Device® reduces blood culture contamination and vancomycin use in academic medical center. J Hosp Infect. 2021;117. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2021.10.017.
- Tompkins LS, et al. Getting to zero: impact of a device to reduce blood culture contamination and false-positive central line-associated blood stream infections. Submitting to ICHE in 2022.
- Date on file.
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SOURCE Magnolia Medical Technologies | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/05/newly-released-clsi-national-blood-culture-guidelines-identify-best-practices-evidence-based-technology-solutions-such-steripath-improve-patient-safety-outcomes/ | 2022-05-05T18:40:13Z |
Jackson County law enforcement hosts 2nd Annual National Night Out
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) -Holton law enforcement invited the community for a night of fun in honor of National Night Out, it’s an opportunity for both law enforcement and the people.
“We actually work for this community, we serve them. To even solve a crime it takes help from the public and the police can’t do everything and we need those relationship with the community where we build trust so at their time of need, they know who to call and it’s better to have a relationship before something bad happens,” Sheriff Tim Morse said.
“It’s nice to actually see faces and to see who is patrolling your city and your town,” said attendee Jennifer Warren.
This family friendly event had free snow cones, a rock climbing wall, food and many activities to engage the kids.
“We just watched the K-9 unit over there, they gave a demonstration and that was really informational and my 6-year-old liked it, so that’s awesome,” said Warren.
“They get to see some of our tools, they get to meet some of the individuals that serve them. I think when they leave here, everyone will feel better from when they first walked in,” said Morse.
Last year, was Holton’s first year having a National Night Out and Morse says this years turnout may have been bigger.
“It’s great, it’s hard to really tell, I think it’s at least where it was last year and it hasn’t become an old hat yet, people are still interested,” he said.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/10/jackson-county-law-enforcement-hosts-2nd-annual-national-night-out/ | 2022-08-10T04:07:18Z |
TORONTO, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - SoftwareReviews, a leading source for insights on the software provider landscape, has published its 2022 Enterprise Architecture (EA) Emotional Footprint. Four providers have been identified as Champions.
Often, individual departments within an organization view enterprise architecture (EA) differently. For instance, IT professionals view EA from the perspective of infrastructure, while operations and functional leaders view EA from a business process standpoint. Using an EA framework allows IT leaders to visualize and model the current state of their organization holistically so they can strategize and plan for the future state.
"Current digital transformation trends bring business and technology increasingly closer," says Milena Litoiu, principal research director and EA category analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. "As the two become increasingly intertwined, the enterprise architecture role grows in importance and relies on tools-supported modeling, automation, and artificial intelligence for tasks like whiteboard drawings, model conversion, pattern recognition, and optimization."
Adopting the right enterprise architecture software can bring more agility into practice and increase smoothness in planning, analysis, design, and execution. The best EA software includes features like project and document management, analytics and reporting, and process architecture.
End users have identified the top EA providers through reviews on SoftwareReviews. The firm has analyzed the data to identify the best options for the year, based on user feedback.
The Net Emotional Footprint (NEF) of each software provider is a result of aggregated emotional response ratings across the areas of service, negotiation, product impact, conflict resolution, strategy, and innovation. The NEF is a powerful indicator of overall user sentiment toward the provider and its product from the software user's point of view.
The 2022 Enterprise Architecture Software Champions are as follows:
- Mega Hopex EA Suite, +96 NEF, ranked high for being respectful.
- Capsifi Jalapeno, +93 NEF, ranked high for being effective.
- Essential Project, +92 NEF, ranked high for being transparent.
- Atoll SAMU EA Tool, +94 NEF, ranked high for saving time.
SoftwareReviews' comprehensive software reviews provide the most accurate and detailed view of a complicated and ever-changing market. The data comes from real end users who use the software day in and day out and IT professionals who have worked with it intimately through procurement, implementation, and maintenance.
To compare and evaluate enterprise architecture software providers using the most in-depth and unbiased analyst reports available, visit SoftwareReviews' dedicated EA category page.
For more information about SoftwareReviews, the Data Quadrant, or Emotional Footprint, or to access resources to support the software selection process, visit softwarereviews.com and connect via LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
SoftwareReviews is the most in-depth source of buyer data and insights for the enterprise software market. By collecting customer experience data from business and IT professionals, the SoftwareReviews methodology produces detailed and authentic insights into the experience of evaluating and purchasing enterprise software.
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SOURCE SoftwareReviews | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/these-top-enterprise-architecture-tools-will-help-it-leaders-bring-agility-into-practice-2022-beyond-according-softwarereviews-user-data/ | 2022-07-19T19:34:04Z |
SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ampere® Computing announced that it has submitted a draft registration statement on a confidential basis to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for a proposed initial public offering of common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. Ampere expects to complete the public offering following the SEC review process, subject to market and other conditions.
This announcement is being made pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). As required by Rule 135, this press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction. Any offers, solicitations or offers to buy, or any sales of securities will be made in accordance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Contact:
Brooke Wells
bwells@amperecomputing.com
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SOURCE Ampere | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/ampere-announces-confidential-submission-draft-registration-statement-proposed-initial-public-offering/ | 2022-04-11T14:35:49Z |
Dr. Stefanie Johns, Chief Scientific Officer, will present updates on the Hoth Therapeutics Pipeline, including new proof-of-concept data for HT-ALZ, a novel Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutic
NEW YORK, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOTH), a patient-focused biopharmaceutical company, today announced the company will be presenting at the BIO International Convention taking place June 13 - 16, 2022 in San Diego, California.
Dr. Stefanie Johns, Chief Scientific Officer, will be presenting an overview of the Hoth Therapeutics pipeline, including new proof-of-concept data for HT-ALZ, a novel Alzheimer's disease therapeutic under development.
To learn more about the BIO International Convention or register to attend, visit the conference website. To attend Dr. Johns' session, please check our website for the presentation time closer to the conference date.
About Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.
Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing new generation therapies for unmet medical needs. Hoth's pipeline development is focused to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from skin toxicities associated with cancer therapy, mast-cell derived cancers and anaphylaxis, Alzheimer's Disease, atopic dermatitis, and other indications. To learn more, please visit https://ir.hoththerapeutics.com/.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements based upon Hoth's current expectations which may constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws, and are subject to substantial risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These statements concern Hoth's business strategies; the timing of regulatory submissions; the ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of existing product candidates and any other product candidates Hoth may develop, and the labeling under any approval Hoth may obtain; the timing and costs of clinical trials, the timing and costs of other expenses; market acceptance of Hoth's products; the ultimate impact of the current Coronavirus pandemic, or any other health epidemic, on Hoth's business, its clinical trials, its research programs, healthcare systems or the global economy as a whole; Hoth's intellectual property; Hoth's reliance on third party organizations; Hoth's competitive position; Hoth's industry environment; Hoth's anticipated financial and operating results, including anticipated sources of revenues; Hoth's assumptions regarding the size of the available market, benefits of Hoth's products, product pricing, timing of product launches; management's expectation with respect to future acquisitions; statements regarding Hoth's goals, intentions, plans and expectations, including the introduction of new products and markets; and Hoth's cash needs and financing plans. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which include words such as "could," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "may," "continue," "predict," "potential," "project" or similar terms, variations of such terms or the negative of those terms. Although Hoth believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, Hoth cannot guarantee such outcomes. Hoth may not realize its expectations, and its beliefs may not prove correct. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, without limitation, market conditions and the factors described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Hoth's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Hoth's other filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All such statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Consequently, forward-looking statements should be regarded solely as Hoth's current plans, estimates, and beliefs. Hoth cannot guarantee future results, events, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Hoth does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrences of unanticipated events, except as may be required by applicable law.
Investor Contact:
LR Advisors LLC
Email: investorrelations@hoththerapeutics.com
www.hoththerapeutics.com
Phone: (678) 570-6791
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SOURCE Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/01/hoth-therapeutics-announces-pipeline-presentation-2022-bio-international-convention/ | 2022-04-01T13:57:12Z |
SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For every download of the free Pyvott app, Pyvott will donate one dollar to the non-profit charity Good Deed Revolution to support their live stream suicide prevention event, that will provide hope, help, healing and resources, LiveLIVE.
Pyvott, a Utah-based and user-friendly social media app, has partnered with Good Deed Revolution to raise money and awareness to help those struggling with mental illness, suicide, or addiction. For every download of the free social media app, Pyvott will donate $1 to support Good Deed Revolution's history-making event: LiveLIVE. LiveLIVE is the world's largest annual live stream suicide prevention event — bringing together singers, dancers, speakers, and celebrities in a modern-day Live Aid 1985 for suicide awareness, prevention, and support.
Founder and CEO of Pyvott, Josh Jackman, said about the collaboration, "Other social platforms do very little to prevent suicide among their users, and we want to be different. Through partnerships with organizations like Good Deed Revolution and the LiveLIVE event, we can create initiatives and build our app to prevent the harmful effects of suicide. Together, we can change the face of social media, give back, and actively support a great cause."
Brandy Vega, the founder of Good Deed Revolution, shares her excitement about the Dollar Per Download Campaign, "The momentum and support that the LiveLIVE event has received from companies like Pyvott has been phenomenal. Through campaigns like the dollar per download and events like LiveLIVE, we can do something to help end the mental health crisis sweeping our youth and save lives. Additionally, we look forward to working with Pyvott as they build a backend algorithm into the app to provide support to anyone suffering from suicidal thoughts."
Pyvott will donate a dollar for each download of their free social app between August 20, 2022, and September 11th, 2022. The app is available in the United States and on both Apple and Android devices.
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Good Deed Revolution is a Utah-based, non-profit organization that promotes good deeds worldwide. They are hosting a MASSIVE Live Stream Event for Suicide Prevention called LiveLIVE 2022. Celebrities, influencers, & activists will join the event to bring awareness to suicide prevention, education and provide a fundraising opportunity for Suicide Prevention efforts.
Pyvott is a new social media platform launched in September of 2021 out of Orem, Utah. With innovative features like customizable and deletable feeds for user privacy and auto-follow personal links, Pyvott is transforming the social media landscape. The free social app is available in the United States of America and on both the GooglePlay and Apple app stores.
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SOURCE Pyvott | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/23/pyvott-utah-social-media-platform-is-donating-dollar-every-free-download-their-app-support-livelive-suicide-prevention-event-september-10th-2022/ | 2022-08-23T10:33:40Z |
NEW YORK, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bulldog Reporter has announced the winners of 2022 Bulldog Awards, which recognize the remarkable work of individual and agency contributions to the PR and communications industry. Kathy Bloomgarden and Ruder Finn are honored to be recognized with the following awards:
- PR Star of 2021: Kathy Bloomgarden [Grand Prize]
- Public Relations Professional of the Year: Kathy Bloomgarden [Gold]
- Leader of the Year: Kathy Bloomgarden (Agency) [Gold]
- Most Innovative Agency: Ruder Finn [Gold]
- Large Agency of the Year: Ruder Finn [Silver]
"I am honored to be awarded with these distinguished recognitions, especially to be named the PR Star of 2021! I'm so thankful to the global Ruder Finn community as well as our clients, who entrust me with their leadership. I'm also very proud to have Ruder Finn recognized for our innovation. Thank you to Bulldog PR for these accolades," said Bloomgarden.
This last year, Kathy has played a key role in building Ruder Finn's strategic footprint by executing several acquisitions including Peppercomm, a leading integrated communications and marketing firm, Comunicad, a DC-based multicultural agency, and Mantis PR, a UK-based public sector tech specialist. She has also been instrumental in driving the expansion of the agency's digital capabilities and RF TechLab, which explores emerging tech in AI, voice, VR/AR and robotics, and develops AI-driven apps, analytics tools and voice skills.
Christopher Elliott, a long-time Bulldog Awards judge, and an award-winning journalist, author, consumer advocate, said of this year's awards "This year's entries were the most impressive I've ever seen. They showed PR pros at their best—helping clients overcome seemingly impossible business challenges, navigating the treacherous waters of an unpredictable pandemic, or offering to assist the neediest in society. It's a defining moment for the industry."
The full list of winners for the 2022 Bulldog PR Awards can be found here.
About Ruder Finn
Ruder Finn is one of the world's largest independent global communications and creative agencies. Founded in 1948, Ruder Finn has defined and redefined PR for more than 70 years, shaping communications that help move industry-defining brands, companies, and leaders from what's now to what's next. Headquartered in New York, Ruder Finn provides clients with bold communications strategies based on a global perspective and localized market knowledge that redefine leadership, reimagine the marketplace, and rethink customer experiences around a shared sense of purpose. The agency is organized around four core areas of expertise: Health & Wellness, Corporate Reputation, Technology & Innovation and Consumer Connection. Specialty practices include RF Relate, RFx Studios, ICX and RF TechLab. Ruder Finn has offices across 4 continents including the U.S., Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Wholly owned agencies within Ruder Finn Group include: Ruder Finn Inc., Peppercomm, Comunicad, Mantis PR, RLA Collective, SPI Group, Osmosis Films, jacobstahl, RF Bloom and Bloom Health. For more information visit www.ruderfinn.com.
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SOURCE Ruder Finn | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/2022-bulldog-pr-awards-names-kathy-bloomgarden-pr-star-2021-pr-professional-year-amp-leader-year-names-ruder-finn-most-innovative-agency/ | 2022-06-30T14:00:41Z |
Unlimited Sip Club includes all self-serve coffee and tea, NEW Panera Charged Lemonades, and Pepsi-Cola® products
ST. LOUIS, April 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Panera announces the launch of Unlimited Sip Club, the first-ever nationwide unlimited beverage subscription for all self-serve beverages. For $10.99 per month (plus tax), Panera is expanding its industry-disrupting unlimited coffee subscription to incorporate the entire Panera portfolio of self-serve beverages, including hot and iced coffee, hot and iced teas (regular, Sweet Tea* and Passion Papaya Green Iced Tea), Agave Lemonade, Pepsi-Cola fountain beverages, and Panera's newly launched Charged Lemonades**. Guests who sign up for the Unlimited Sip Club from today through May 6 will receive a free subscription through July 4**.
"At Panera, we believe in making great food experiences accessible to all—we're disrupting fast casual once again, providing unlimited access to high-quality beverages at tremendous value—just $10.99 a month," said Niren Chaudhary, CEO, Panera Bread. "Our guests have loved the subscription model and the convenience and value it brings to their daily lives. From our new Charged Lemonades to our fan favorite Passion Papaya Green Iced Tea to bubly™ Lime from PepsiCo, we're excited to give our guests even more choice and more beverage options to fuel their day."
Unlimited Sip Club is available to members of MyPanera®, Panera's free loyalty program. MyPanera members can register today for the subscription via the Panera website, mobile app and kiosk and unlimited self-serve beverages are just an order away. In total, 26 beverages are now part of Unlimited Sip Club, including:
- Drip Hot Coffee (100% Colombian Light Roast & Dark Roast, Decaf, Hazelnut)
- Iced Coffee (100% Colombian Dark Roast)
- Hot Tea (The Republic of Tea premium teas and herbs, including: British Breakfast, Earl Greyer, Mango Ceylon, Ginger Peach, Honey Ginseng Green, and Orange Ginger Mint Herb)
- Iced Tea & Lemonade (Black Iced Tea, Sweet Tea*, Passion Papaya Green Tea, Agave Lemonade)
- Fountain Soda (Pepsi®, Diet Pepsi®, Mountain Dew®, Sierra Mist®, bubly™ Lime, Brisk® Raspberry Tea, Dr Pepper®, and Canada Dry® Ginger Ale)
- Charged Lemonades (Fuji Apple Cranberry, Mango Citrus Yuzu, and Strawberry Lemon Mint)
New Panera Charged Lemonades
Launching alongside Unlimited Sip Club are new Panera Charged Lemonades, a thirst-quenching beverage that brings energizing lift in bold, bright flavors. Fueled by Clean caffeine from Guarana and green coffee extract, Charged Lemonades come in three inspired and vibrant flavor combinations: Strawberry Lemon Mint, Fuji Apple Cranberry and Mango Yuzu Citrus. Each beverage strikes the perfect balance of flavor and energy, mixing Panera's signature Agave Lemonade with delicious flavors and enhancing the beverage with a caffeinated boost. In fact, a 20 fl. oz. Charged Lemonade without ice has about the same amount of caffeine as a Panera 20 fl. oz. hot Dark Roast coffee.
"Our three new Charged Lemonades are a refreshing new way to get your energy boost in true Panera fashion - with delicious flavors, powered by Clean plant-based caffeine from guarana and green coffee extract. Using our iconic Agave Lemonade as the base, our chefs added bold flavors like Mango Yuzu and Fuji Apple," said Eduardo Luz, Chief Brand & Concept Officer, Panera Bread. "These Charged Lemonades reach a new guest looking for an alternative to traditional energy drinks, and are great examples of our culinary principle, The Familiar, Made FantasticTM. With the addition of Charged Lemonades, the Unlimited Sip Club has a distinctive portfolio of drinks that can satisfy all our guests."
"PepsiCo is excited to partner with Panera to reshape the way beverages are served with The Unlimited Sip Club," said Scott Finlow, Global CMO Foodservice, PepsiCo. "We are continuously innovating our portfolio of beverages to meet the complex and ever-evolving needs of consumers and this first-of-its-kind subscription program provides Panera customers with beverage options for every occasion throughout the day."
Panera self-serve beverages are available nationwide in Panera bakery-cafes, on Panera's e-commerce site, and via the Panera app. The new Unlimited Sip Club subscription is available for $10.99 per month plus tax and includes one self-serve beverage every two hours during regular bakery-cafe hours, including free refills at participating U.S. Panera Bread bakery-cafes. Guests who sign up for the Unlimited Sip Club from today through May 6 will receive a free subscription through July 4.
For more information, or to sign up for the Unlimited Sip Club, visit www.panerabread.com/unlimitedsipclub or download the Panera app.
*Available only in select markets
**New and lapsed subscribers that sign up for an Unlimited Sip Club Subscription from 4/19/2022 through 5/6/2022 will receive free Unlimited Sip Club Subscription through July 4, 2022. The Unlimited Sip Club Subscription ("Beverage Subscription") is available for registration and redemption in participating U.S. Panera Bread bakery-cafes. Must be a MyPanera member and at least 18 years of age or older to register. Registration available online only including Kiosk. You may cancel at any time. If you do not cancel either before your renewal date or after the expiration of any free trial or discounted offer, your credit card will automatically be charged $10.99 plus tax for the monthly subscription and will be charged on a recurring monthly basis every thirty (30) days thereafter until you cancel your subscription. To cancel your subscription online, visit the Cancellation section at www.panerabread.com/UnlimitedSipClub or on the Panera Bread app. The Beverage Subscription entitles eligible subscribers to the following Subscription benefits: drip hot coffee, iced coffee, hot tea, fountain soda beverages, bubbler drinks (Regular, Sweet, and Passion Papaya Green iced teas, and Agave lemonade) and Charged Lemonade beverages (Fuji Apple Cranberry, Mango Citrus Yuzu and Strawberry Lemon Mint) once every two hours plus unlimited refills. Excludes all other beverages, including without limitation, cold brew iced coffee and espresso and cappuccino beverages. Customizations including but not limited to added Espresso and Syrups are not included in the Beverage Subscription monthly price. Upcharges apply. Other additions such as Milk, Skim Milk, Almond Milk, Half & Half, Sweeteners are included in the monthly subscription price. Excludes catering orders and orders placed on third party delivery sites. One subscription per person. Visit here for complete terms www.panerabread.com/UnlimitedSipClub. No cash back unless required by law. Not valid with any other coupon or offer. Offer may expire without notice due to error, fraud or other unforeseen circumstances. Cannot be combined with other promotions.
About Panera Bread
30 years ago, at a time when quick service meant low quality, Panera set out to challenge this expectation. We believed that food that was good and that you could feel good about, served in a warm and welcoming environment by people who cared, could bring out the best in all of us. To us, that is food as it should be and that is why we exist.
So, we began with a simple commitment: to bake bread fresh every day in our bakery-cafes. No short cuts, just bakers with simple ingredients and hot ovens. Each night, any unsold bread and baked goods were shared with neighbors in need.
These traditions carry on today, as we have continued to find ways to be an ally for wellness to our guests. That means crafting a menu of soups, salads, and sandwiches that we are proud to feed our families. Like poultry and pork raised without antibiotics on our salads and sandwiches. A commitment to transparency and options that empower our guests to eat the way they want. Seasonal flavors and whole grains. And a commitment to Clean food, which is food that does not contain the artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors from artificial sources set forth on our No-No list in the food in our U.S. bakery-cafes. Why? Because we think that simpler is better and we believe in serving food as it should be. Because when you don't have to compromise to eat well, all that is left is the joy of eating.
We're also focused on improving quality and convenience. With investments in technology and operations, we now offer new ways to enjoy your Panera favorites – like mobile ordering and Rapid Pick-Up® for to-go orders and delivery – all designed to make things easier for our guests.
As of March 29, 2022, there were 2,117 bakery-cafes in 48 states and in Ontario, Canada, operating under the Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co.® names. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast casual restaurant companies in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros.® Bagels. For more information, visit panerabread.com or find us on Twitter (@panerabread), Facebook (facebook.com/panerabread) or Instagram (@panerabread).
Media Contacts
ALISON BROD MARKETING + COMMUNICATIONS
panera@abmc-us.com
SLOANE PR
panera-sloane@sloanepr.com
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SOURCE Panera Bread | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/19/panera-is-first-national-restaurant-company-offer-an-unlimited-self-serve-beverage-subscription-introducing-unlimited-sip-club/ | 2022-04-19T10:40:03Z |
- The League will be called 'International League T20' or 'ILT20'
- ILT20 is Emirates Cricket Board's sanctioned, exclusive flagship professional T20 League -
- The franchise-style tournament will boast six teams competing in 34 matches across venues in UAE, commencing January - February 2023
DUBAI, UAE, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Emirates Cricket Board has today confirmed that the inaugural ILT20 League will be played between the window of 6th January to 12th February 2023. The new League will be called 'International League T20' or 'ILT20'.
Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board, His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan said, "Emirates Cricket Board is delighted to welcome Reliance Industries, Kolkata Knight Riders, Capri Global, GMR, Lancer Capital, Adani Sportsline, broadcaster ZEE and all other stakeholders to the newly established T20 League of UAE. Such illustrious, experienced names and entites as partners bodes well for the UAE T20 League. Through the commitment of these partners, they have demonstrated confidence in the Emirates Cricket Board as we take the game into the future".
"As we begin this long journey, I am confident that together we will achieve new heights and in the process provide entertainment and excitement to the millions of fans around the globe who are waiting for the first ball of the UAE T20 League to be bowled."
"On behalf of ECB let me assure everyone that whilst being entertained on field with cricket, you will also be entertained by our traditional UAE hospitality off the field."
The six-team franchise-style League will be played over a 34-match schedule at world-renowned, world-class venues of UAE. The first event is scheduled to be played between the window of 6th January and 12th February 2023.The tournament will also provide a valuable platform for Emirates Cricket to take developing their local talent to a higher level, where UAE-based players currently integrated in the Board's program, as well as those identified by the High Performance Coaching and Selection Committee teams, will be given the opportunity to train and play alongside some of the world's best minds of today's game.
Khalid Al Zarooni, Chairman, ILT20 said, "Emirates Cricket, and the UAE, has a proven history of identifying and embracing initiatives that underpin the success of the game. It is vitally important, that through this tournament UAE-based players continue to flourish which is one of the objective of this League."
"The ILT20 wishes to thank His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Chairman of ECB for his unstinting support to UAE cricket which, under his guidance, has been growing from strength to strength. We look forward to introducing to the world a T20 event that will provide unmatched competition and entertainment to the ardent followers of this game."
Dr. Tayeb Kamali, Chairman, Selection Committee - Emirates Cricket Board said, "The annual ILT20 event presents an excellent exposure for our players given the highly intense and competitive nature of the league. Each of the six teams in the 34-match tournament provide a wonderful opportunity for our young cricketers to play competitive cricket with world-class players."
"Further, such a unique international league would play a big role in attracting and nurturing a larger pool of players who will go on to represent the UAE in the years to come. We look forward to the inaugural event and our players taking full advantage of the opportunity."
FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT
Email: pr@ilt20.ae
About ILT20:
International League T20 or ILT20 is a professional franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament with 6 franchise teams competing in a 34-match event. ILT20 combines two of the most compelling aspects of global sport - world class infrastructure coupled with the most favorable time zone catering to cricket fans around the world. Reliance Industries Limited, Lancer Capital, the GMR Group, Adani Sportsline, Kolkata Knight Riders and Capri Global have acquired a team each in UAE's T20 League. ZEE is the global media right partner of the ILT20.
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SOURCE UAE T20 League | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/uaes-international-league-t20-locked-in-january-february-2023/ | 2022-06-06T14:20:03Z |
Nuclear leaders partner to drive SMR research, innovation and training
OTTAWA, ON, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - As Canada looks toward a low-carbon future, McMaster University, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), and Global First Power (GFP) have embarked on a new partnership to advance research in small modular reactors (SMRs) – a clean energy technology that will play an essential role in Canada's Net Zero by 2050 goal.
The three partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further examine the feasibility of deploying a Micro Modular Reactor (MMR®) at McMaster University or an affiliated site. The partnership is expected to pave the way for Canadian communities considering the adoption of this new approach to greenhouse gas-free energy.
The MMR is a new class of nuclear reactor, much smaller in size and power than traditional nuclear reactors, with enhanced safety features. Factory constructed with a far smaller footprint and expected economies from fleet operation, the MMR is suitable for powering remote communities and providing process heat to industry, and is expected to be operational in Canada later this decade.
Seattle-based USNC has developed the MMR technology for worldwide deployment. GFP is the partnership between USNC and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) that is deploying USNC's MMR technology in Canada. Both USNC and OPG are contributors to Canada's SMR Action Plan.
Dave Tucker, McMaster's assistant vice-president, research (nuclear) said the partnership builds on McMaster's rich nuclear expertise and follows on the University's contributions to Canada's SMR Action Plan.
"McMaster is a global leader in nuclear R&D and a recognized centre of excellence for training," he said, noting the partners are frontrunners in this field.
"Combining our capabilities with those of USNC and GFP will allow us to conduct life-cycle studies on the optimal utilization of SMRs and train the next generation of experts that will build, operate, maintain, monitor and regulate these facilities."
GFP is developing Canada's first commercial demonstration SMR at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratory's (CNL) Chalk River site, where much of the research and training will take place, according to Dominique Minière, GFP's president and CEO.
"It's the most advanced SMR project in the country and, arguably, the Western world," said Minière. "Tapping into McMaster's talent pool of experts, building research collaborations and fostering student training initiatives will strengthen the position of Canada as a global leader in SMR deployment which is critical for addressing the global climate emergency," he said, adding that GFP's MMR Project at Chalk River is expected to be operational in 2027.
It's a sentiment echoed by USNC's CEO Francesco Venneri, who said the GFP MMR project is a market-ready design, specifically designed for Canadian climates, and similar in size and power to McMaster's five-megawatt reactor.
"Partnering with McMaster at this stage will be instrumental for training the next generation of leaders as we collectively investigate enhanced safety measures, cost structures, power utilization, and waste management options," he said. "We're excited at this opportunity and keen to begin our collaborations to ensure Canada has the requisite talent and infrastructure moving forward."
Tucker said the partnership is an important step in the launch of the University's SMR feasibility study – an estimated 18-month initiative in consultation with community, business, and government stakeholders, including Indigenous communities and municipal councils. Based on those findings and McMaster's decision to pursue SMR deployment, the process of seeking the necessary licenses from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission will begin.
"We have over 60 years of experience operating a community-based nuclear reactor safely and efficiently, and the subsequent health, research and economic benefits continue to advance the health and well-being of society," he said. "It's incumbent upon us to use our knowledge and expertise to help Canada meet its Net-Zero target."
About Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation
Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) is the Seattle-based global leader in the deployment of micro reactors, with its Canadian operations headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario. It is a strong vertical integrator of nuclear power technologies, entirely committed to bringing safe, commercially competitive, clean and reliable nuclear energy to markets throughout the world. USNC's proprietary Micro Modular Reactor (MMR®) Energy System can provide electricity or process heat to heavy industry and remote communities. The company adheres to strict inherent and intrinsic safety principles through technological innovation in fuels, materials and design.
About McMaster University
McMaster University – home to Canada's most powerful nuclear research reactor – is among the country's most research-intensive universities and is consistently ranked as one of the world's Top 100 universities. Together, our researchers, students and staff advance human and societal health and well-being, creating a Brighter World.
About Global First Power
GFP is a Canadian energy company, jointly owned by Ontario Power Generation and USNC-Power Ltd. Our vision is to contribute to a world where small modular reactors (SMRs) are an inherently safe, low-carbon and cost-effective generation option to provide the energy people need, regardless of their location. Our mission is to contribute to the global transition to sustainable, inclusive, accessible energy, by being among the first developers to successfully generate power using innovative micro modular reactor technology.
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SOURCE Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/mcmaster-university-ultra-safe-nuclear-corporation-global-first-power-sign-mou-study-deployment-micro-modular-reactor-mmr/ | 2022-05-18T16:49:15Z |
Three Of Carbone's Best-selling Sauces; Marinara, Arrabbiata, and Tomato Basil; Will Be Now be Sold in Whole Foods Market Stores
NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Carbone Fine Food, the sauce line created by famed Chefs Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi, is now available at select Whole Foods Market stores across the United States, thus expanding their footprint into several new areas.
"As one of the fastest growing food brands in the United States, Carbone is thrilled to broaden our reach with Whole Foods Market," said Carbone Fine Food CEO, Eric Skae. "As grocery sales continue to rise and consumers continue to eat at home more and more, Carbone offers restaurant quality products for the home cook."
Carbone Fine Food sauces feature the same fresh, quality ingredients found in the brand's iconic restaurants, including some of the world's best-tasting tomatoes, grown in volcanic ash and handpicked in Italy. Starting in August, three of the brand's best-selling sauces will be available for purchase at Whole Foods Market:
- Marinara: Using only the finest imported Italian tomatoes and fresh ingredients, this classic sauce is cooked slowly in small batches.
- Arrabbiata: This "angry" sauce is made with fresh garlic, onions, and a sprinkling of crushed red pepper flakes to create the perfect level of heat.
- Tomato Basil: This sauce is crafted to deliver just the right balance of garlic, oregano, and onions to make the fresh basil erupt when you crack open a jar.
"We are excited to see our sauces alongside some of the finest brands in grocery," said Chef Mario Carbone. "We take extreme care in choosing who we work with, from the farms in Italy to the teams that cook each jar of sauce, and we are honored to add Whole Foods Market to the fold."
Carbone Fine Food sauces feature the same fresh, quality ingredients found in the brand's iconic restaurants, including some of the world's best-tasting tomatoes, grown in volcanic ash and handpicked in Italy. Using a traditional technique, the sauces are slow cooked in small batches. Chefs Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi oversee the entire sauce process from start to finish, from choosing the farms that the ingredients are sourced from to testing hundreds of batches to ensure that the quality of the jarred sauce is second to none. Learn more at www.carbonefinefood.com or follow along on Instagram or TikTok at @carbonefinefood.
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SOURCE Carbone Fine Food | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/carbone-fine-food-pasta-sauce-now-available-whole-foods-market-stores/ | 2022-08-22T14:19:54Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Advertising -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Humanigen, Inc. ("Humanigen" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: HGEN) and certain of its officers on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased, or otherwise acquired Humanigen securities between May 28, 2021, and July 12, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/hgen.
This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws.
The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) lenzilumab was less effective in treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients than Defendants had represented; (2) as a result, the FDA was unlikely to approve the lenzilumab EUA and the ACTIV-5/BET-B study was unlikely to meet its primary endpoint; (3) accordingly, lenzilumab's clinical and commercial prospects were overstated; and (4) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/hgen or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss in Humanigen, you have until October 25, 2022, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Contact:
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Peretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson
212-697-6484 | info@bgandg.com
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SOURCE Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/investor-alert-bronstein-gewirtz-amp-grossman-llc-notifies-humanigen-inc-hgen-investors-class-action-encourages-investors-actively-participate/ | 2022-08-31T15:00:03Z |
ATLANTA, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Witherite Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck are partnering with Hot 107.9 and Majic 107.5/97.5 to present the 2nd annual Great Atlanta Band Challenge. The Great Atlanta Band Challenge is a contest that gives Atlanta-area high school bands the opportunity to showcase their talents and a chance to win $10,000 for their band programs.
Atlanta-area high schools are encouraged to enter their band by visiting www.greatbandchallenge.com starting at 10 a.m. EST on June 27, 2022, through 11:59 p.m. EST on July 22, 2022. To enter, participants must submit a video, five minutes or less, of their school band playing a musical composition. Parental permission is required for all students featured.
On August 1, 2022, entrants will be narrowed to the top ten finalists. The finalists' videos will be available for public viewing and voting on www.greatbandchallenge.com starting at 10 a.m. EST. Voting will end on August 11 at 5 p.m. EST. The three bands with the most views will each win $10,000 for their band program, courtesy of Witherite Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck.
Winners will be notified via phone and email after voting has ended between August 12, 2022, and August 15, 2022.
Musical education positively impacts students' academic performance, assists in the development of social skills and provides an outlet for creativity that is crucial to development. Though, despite the benefits, schools around the U.S. have decreased students' exposure to music due to increased emphasis on standardized evaluations and a lack of resources and support.
"We often applaud students who excel in subjects like science or math, but it's equally as important to support and stimulate those who express creativity through performing arts," said Amy Witherite, founder of Witherite Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck. "With art and music programs being removed from academic curriculums around the nation, I'm encouraged that Atlanta has sustained its program and am excited to reward these bands for their hard work."
Witherite Law Group is a personal injury law firm founded in 2001 with offices in Atlanta (also serving Columbus and Macon), Dallas, and Fort Worth. The firm's attorneys specialize in helping those injured in a car or truck accident and can be reached by calling 1-800-TruckWreck or 1-800-CarWreck, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The following spokespeople are available for virtual or onsite interviews:
- Amy Witherite - founder, Witherite Law Group
- Band winners at local Atlanta schools
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Witherite Law Group Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WitheriteLaw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/witheritelaw/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WitheriteLaw
1-800-TruckWreck Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1800TruckWreck/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1800truckwreck/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/1800truckwreck
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SOURCE Witherite Law Group | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/witherite-law-group-award-30000-atlanta-area-high-school-bands-through-2nd-annual-great-atlanta-band-challenge/ | 2022-06-27T16:15:49Z |
Global data network and edge computing service company reaches milestone for data privacy and security
SAN MATEO, Calif., July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Macrometa Corporation, the first-of-its-kind edge computing cloud and Global Data Network (GDN), today announced it has successfully completed System and Organization Controls (SOC 2) Type 2 Certification, which ensures the company upholds the highest industry standards for data security. The certification enables Macrometa customers to comply with its Information Security programs and requires vendors to demonstrate adherence to industry-standard security certifications.
Security is of utmost importance when it comes to managing the data of global enterprises, especially during a time of increased cybersecurity attacks and data breaches. The SOC 2 Type 2 Certification reports on various organizational controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy, validating Macrometa's commitment to ensuring its customers' sensitive information is protected and secure on the Macrometa Platform. Frank Rimerman conducted Macrometa's audit and awarded the company with the certification.
"This certification is a huge milestone for Macrometa and the culmination of hard work and dedication toward the security of our platform," said Eddie Garcia, Chief Information Security Officer at Macrometa. "Our customers need to be able to trust us with their data, and we recognize that in our industry, trust is earned with third parties testing the controls and procedures put in place to reduce the associated risks with running a hybrid edge cloud data platform."
Macrometa enables developers to build real-time applications and APIs without any limitations of time, space, and cloud architectures. The platform makes globally-distributed application development and deployment simple and instantaneous, and provides a full-stack experience for building and running cloud and edge native apps.
Achieving SOC 2 compliance propels Macrometa further in fulfilling its vision of creating a world where ideas can be expressed instantly on a smart, reliable, and secure edge cloud platform that delivers enterprises' applications and data across cloud and edge anywhere in the world.
This official SOC 2 Type 2 report contains the findings of an independent audit of Macrometa's ISMS and controls on the SSAE-18 Trust Service Controls of Security and Availability. The executive report is available upon request under NDA by contacting sales@macrometa.com.
For more information about Macrometa, visit macrometa.com.
Macrometa is a NoSQL database, pub/sub, event processing, and full-stack global data platform. Macrometa's Global Data Network (GDN) helps enterprises and developers build real-time apps and APIs in minutes – not months. Organizations can tier, cache, process, and serve data with a global P90 roundtrip response time of 50ms. With over 175 points of presence (PoPs) around the world, Macrometa brings data and consistency closer to users while maintaining a coordination-free architecture.
Macrometa was founded in 2017 and raised a $20M Series A in June 2021. Macrometa is headquartered in San Mateo, California with teams in 14 countries around the world. To learn more please visit macrometa.com.
Media Contact
BAM for Macrometa
macrometa@bamtheagency.com
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SOURCE Macrometa | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/macrometa-achieves-soc-2-type-ii-certification-edge-cloud-data-platform/ | 2022-07-21T14:17:28Z |
LOS ANGELES, May 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BuildOps, the only all-in-one management software built specifically for the modern commercial contractor, today announced $43 million in Series A funding, led by Next47, a global venture capital firm backed by Siemens specializing in building category defining B2B technology businesses, to further augment their growth as the market leader revolutionizing the world of specialty contractors. Founders Fund, StepStone Group, Fika Ventures, Global Founders Capital, MetaProp VC, 1984 Ventures, L2 Ventures, NBA all-star Metta World Peace, Boost Mobile CEO Stephen Stokols, and others also participated in the financing to be used to support the company's continued growth.
BuildOps is a purpose-built technology platform that integrates scheduling, dispatching, inventory management, contracts, workflow, and accounting into a single software suite for commercial contractors with staff ranging from a dozen to thousands of employees.
"At BuildOps, we are on a mission to bring a true all-in-one solution on the latest technology to the people who keep America's hospitals, power plants and commercial real estate running," said former United States Army Captain and serial entrepreneur Alok Chanani, BuildOps Co-founder and CEO. "We are privileged to be working closely with some of the country's top commercial contractors."
The company has been fueled by triple-digit growth rates over the past several years and expects that its software will serve as an indispensable tool to drive massive efficiencies for commercial service and project-oriented trade contractors for years to come.
"I have witnessed the construction and commercial contractor industry transform as a result of emerging technologies, just as I did at Microsoft when I helped lead cloud strategy for Outlook & Exchange," commented Steve Chew, BuildOps Co-founder and COO. "BuildOps is leading a new revolution in cloud-based technology meeting the unique needs of specialty contractors and I am excited to be a part of it."
This sentiment is echoed by Liquid 2 Ventures managing partner and former National Football League superstar, Joe Montana.
"Liquid 2 Ventures has an investment thesis in supporting America's working class and I just love the idea of making their lives far easier and better," said Montana. "You have one solution that does it all and talks seamlessly to every single part of their business from parts to ordering to inventory and more. There are very few world-class technology solutions for commercial subcontractors like BuildOps and we believe in the leadership."
"BuildOps' exponential trajectory validates the extraordinary need for a modern, cloud-based solution built for the commercial contractor," said Next47's General Partner Matthew Cowan. "Before BuildOps, commercial contractors didn't have great options for software to run the entirety of their business in a robust manner. We are beyond excited to have an opportunity to work with and serve those that keep this country running through BuildOps' best-in-class technology. Alok, Steve, and the incredible team at BuildOps are truly solving large-scale, real-world challenges and we could not be prouder to be supporting them in this extraordinary endeavor."
About BuildOps
BuildOps is the only all-in-one management software built specifically for the modern commercial specialty contractor. Focusing on trade contractors, BuildOps combines service, project management, and more into a single SaaS platform. Privately held, and veteran-owned, BuildOps is backed by large institutional firms including Founders Fund, Next47 (Siemens), Global Founders Capital, and other world-class institutional investors. BuildOps was founded in 2018 by its three co-founders Alok Chanani, Steve Chew, and Neeraj Mittal. BuildOps has gone on to transform the lives of commercial contractors across the industry. Visit BuildOps.com to learn more.
Media contact: Catalin Kreis cat@buildops.com
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SOURCE BuildOps | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/24/buildops-raises-43-million-series-funding-revolutionize-commercial-contracting/ | 2022-05-24T18:49:43Z |
Company to Host Conference Call and Webcast on August 10
LOS ANGELES, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aadi Bioscience, Inc. (Nasdaq: AADI), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing precision therapies for genetically defined cancers with alterations in mTOR pathway genes, today announced that it will host a conference call and live webcast on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 8:30 am EDT (5:30 am PDT) to report second quarter 2022 financial results and provide recent corporate updates.
Participants may access a live webcast of the call on the "Investors & News" page of the Aadi Bioscience website at aadibio.com. To participate via telephone, please register in advance at this link. Upon registration, all telephone participants will receive a confirmation email detailing how to join the conference call, including the dial-in number along with a unique passcode and registrant ID that can be used to access the call. A replay of the conference call and webcast will be archived on the website for at least 30 days.
Aadi is a biopharmaceutical company focused on precision therapies for genetically defined cancers. Aadi's primary goal is to bring transformational therapies to cancer patients with mTOR pathway driver alterations where other mTOR inhibitors have not or cannot be effectively exploited due to problems of pharmacology, effective drug delivery, safety, or effective targeting to the disease site. In November 2021, Aadi received FDA approval for FYARRO™ for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa), and in February 2022 Aadi announced the commercial launch of FYARRO in this indication.
Based on exploratory data from AMPECT, Aadi's registrational study supporting approval in malignant PEComa, and following a pre-IND meeting with the FDA, Aadi has initiated PRECISION 1, a Phase 2 tumor-agnostic registration-intended trial in mTOR inhibitor-naïve malignant solid tumors harboring TSC1 or TSC2 inactivating alterations. More information on Aadi's development pipeline is available on the Aadi website at www.aadibio.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Contact:
Marcy Graham
IR@aadibio.com
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SOURCE Aadi Bioscience | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/aadi-bioscience-report-second-quarter-2022-results-corporate-update/ | 2022-07-28T12:57:23Z |
STOCKHOLM, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RaySearch Laboratories AB (publ) announces that Harris Health System in Texas, USA, has placed an order for the treatment planning system RayStation®* for its Smith Clinic location.
Harris Health's Smith Clinic is located in Houston, Texas. The center has three linear accelerators and treats approximately 1,000 patients annually. RayStation will replace the center's current treatment planning system and the order includes new and advanced technology, such as multi-criteria optimization, adaptive planning and machine learning techniques for automated contouring.
Johan Löf, founder and CEO, RaySearch, says: "We are happy to welcome reputable Smith Clinic at Harris Health as our customer and look forward to a rewarding collaboration and the opportunity to contribute to improved care for the center's patients."
For more information, please contact:
Johan Löf, founder and CEO, RaySearch Laboratories AB (publ)
Telephone: +46 (0) 8 510 530 00
johan.lof@raysearchlabs.com
Björn Hårdemark, interim CFO, RaySearch Laboratories AB (publ)
Telephone: +46 (0) 709 564 217
bjorn.hardemark@raysearchlabs.com
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE RaySearch Laboratories | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/harris-health-system-selects-raystation-raysearch-laboratories/ | 2022-07-06T11:58:45Z |
A Newly Established Utility Strategic Advisory Board, Comprised of Senior Utility Executives, Will Help Identify and Prioritize Platform Initiatives
WOODLAND PARK, N.J., May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Anterix (NASDAQ: ATEX) today announced the launch of an integrated platform to accelerate the scale benefits of a "network" of individual private broadband networks. At the center of this integrated platform will be a cloud-based 4G/5G core, enabling greater resilience and enhanced services between participating networks, including mutual aid, cybersecurity, shared infrastructure, and integration of distributed energy sources. The platform will also offer a development and innovation environment for the more than seventy-five leading technology companies in the Anterix Active Ecosystem, to drive products and services directly to utility network operators. A newly formed Utility Strategic Advisory Board (USAB), made up of senior utility executives, will help identify industry priorities and bring the benefits of collective action.
The initial platform initiatives will include:
- Deployment of a 4G/5G cloud core to extend the capabilities of utilities own private broadband networks by bringing solutions such as private roaming to enable mutual aid, private to public roaming for increased resiliency and failover, and spectrum coordination.
- Development of an enhanced multiband communications module to enable numerous members of our Active Ecosystem Program to provide lower cost and higher functionality products.
- Integration of leading cybersecurity offerings to further enhance the existing private broadband security capabilities.
- Launch of a connected lab environment, supported by utilities and vendors, which will provide collective utility-grade device testing and accelerate the integration of utility solutions.
- Delivery of a public network roaming management solution that will make utility connectivity and management of devices simple, secure and flexible.
The initial Utility Strategic Advisory Board members that will play the lead role as the architects and the facilitators of this future are senior executives from Ameren, Dominion, Evergy, Exelon, Southern Linc, and the Utility Broadband Alliance. Whether it be the macro issues of resiliency, cybersecurity and decarbonization, or the sharing of infrastructure, talent, knowledge, and technology, the recognition that this "network" of individual networks can drive enhanced innovation and value to each utility and Anterix Active Ecosystem member is the goal of this effort.
"While the core of our offering remains focused on providing the spectrum needed to enable utility private broadband networks, this transition to a broader suite of solutions is in response to our customers' needs. The premise of this effort is that we all are stronger together. This platform capitalizes on the utility industry's well-established culture of collaboration, providing our more than seventy-five Active Ecosystem members with the collective voice of their utility customers. As the USAB identifies the industry's needs, Anterix and the Active Ecosystem community are there to deliver," said Rob Schwartz, President & CEO of Anterix.
Ameren quote: "Ameren sees tremendous value for our customers in collaborating with others in the industry to drive innovation and scale in 900 MHz private LTE," said Bhavani Amirthalingam, Chief Digital Information Officer for Ameren. "When we work together, it will benefit individual companies and the sector as a whole. This includes enabling distributed energy through a smarter grid, including leading cyber capabilities, and creatively accessing talented resources."
Dominion Quote: "It's always beneficial to work with other utilities to address matters of industry-wide importance, and the adoption of private broadband and the solutions it can fuel is a great fit to apply this collaboration," said Dominion Energy's Steve Wooten, Vice President & Chief Information Officer. "Through the new Utility Strategic Advisory Board, we will help support a vibrant ecosystem of utility-centric innovations and solutions that are valuable to each utility individually and to the broader utility community as a collective."
Evergy quote: "The electric utility industry is known for its collaborative spirit, and adding a solutions platform informed by utility executives is a natural fit for that inclination," said Charles King, Chief Technology Officer of Evergy. "When our 900 MHz private LTE network is deployed, we clearly will benefit from working with other utilities, including our neighbor Ameren, where we share 25 counties, to identify and prioritize issues that will impact all of us."
Southern Linc quote: "We are ready to share the knowledge and experience we have gained operating a utility-focused private LTE network over the last several years. In the spirit of the industry's commitment to mutual aid, we look forward to working with Anterix and the utilities and technology developers they have gathered. We believe this integrated approach will drive benefits throughout the utility ecosystem," said Tami M. Barron, Southern Linc CEO.
About Anterix
At Anterix, we are focused on delivering transformative private broadband that enables the modernization of critical infrastructure for the energy, transportation, logistics and other sectors of our economy. As the largest holder of licensed spectrum in the 900 MHz band (896-901/935-940 MHz) throughout the contiguous United States, plus Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico, we are uniquely positioned to enable the private LTE solutions that support secure, sustainable, resilient and customer-controlled operations. www.anterix.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts constitute forward-looking statements as defined under the Federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the potential use cases and benefits to utilities of deploying private 900 MHz LTE broadband networks. Any such forward-looking statements are based on Anterix's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause its actual future results to differ materially from its current expectations or those implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) Anterix may not be successful in commercializing its spectrum assets to its targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers, on a timely basis and on favorable terms; (ii) Anterix may be unable to secure broadband licenses from the FCC on a timely and cost-effective basis; and (iii) the value of Anterix's spectrum assets may fluctuate significantly based on supply and demand, as well as technical and regulatory changes. These and other risk factors that may affect Anterix's future results of operations are identified and described in more detail in its filings with the SEC, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2022. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events or results. Except as required by applicable law, Anterix undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of any new information, changed circumstances or otherwise.
Contacts
Anterix
Natasha Vecchiarelli
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Anterix
973-531-4397
nvecchiarelli@anterix.com
James Fuller
Executive Vice President
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
240-393-1369
James.Fuller@hkstrategies.com
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SOURCE Anterix Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/anterix-announces-launch-new-integrated-platform-drive-industrywide-900-mhz-private-broadband-innovation-solutions/ | 2022-05-19T11:24:59Z |
Spectrum Dynamics installs the cutting-edge methodology for attenuation correction for its D-SPECT® Series digital camera that eliminates need for CT transmission scan and multiple-positions scans.
SARASOTA, Fla. , April 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Spectrum Dynamics today announced the worldwide deployment of its TruCorr Attenuation Correction software across the United States, Europe, and Asia. The Deep Learning-based application, which works on Spectrum Dynamics' D-SPECT® digital cameras, is revolutionary in its ability to generate artifact corrected myocardial perfusion images without requiring additional scanning sessions for the patient.
Studies have shown that attenuation correction of SPECT images improves image quality and increases the accuracy of image interpretation. Until now, the most common way to visually address attenuation artifacts has been to scan the patient twice, using different positions. For others, an alternative option to implement correction has been to obtain a corresponding computed tomography (CT) transmission scan.
"Our initial experience with TruCorr attenuation correction has been encouraging", said Marvin W. Kronenberg, M.D., Director Heart Station and Nuclear Cardiology, Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute. "We have obtained marked improvement in image quality compared to uncorrected images."
TruCorr performs attenuation correction using a Deep Learning approach with data from the patient's SPECT scan. The application eliminates the need to scan the patient in two different positions, such as upright and supine or prone. TruCorr benefits sites where there is no CT scanner available. It can also free up CT scanners and staff. TruCorr averts the need for the patient to incur additional radiation dose and longer or multiple appointments.
"Many of Spectrum's unique design ideas have proven key in the development and optimization of digital SPECT cameras and have become industry standards in SPECT imaging," said Spectrum Dynamics' CEO, Gilad Yoeli. "It is our fierce spirit of innovation and agility that drives us to develop solutions that increase diagnostic confidence, increase scanner efficiency and throughput, and lower dose to the patient."
For more information, contact Nilda Rivera at (941) 441-6224 or NildaR@spectrum-dynamics.com
About Spectrum Dynamics Medical
Spectrum Dynamics Medical Group Limited and its subsidiaries ("Spectrum Dynamics") are engaged in the development, manufacturing, sales, and service of state-of-the-art nuclear medicine imaging systems. Spectrum Dynamics is spearheading the transformation of SPECT imaging systems from analog to digital detection technology, enabling hospitals and clinicians to provide superior healthcare services with improved image quality, efficiency, and access to advanced clinical applications. Spectrum Dynamics launched the world first digital cardiac dedicated SPECT system – the D-SPECT® CARDIO – in 2007. Since then, the D-SPECT has become the system of choice for functional cardiac imaging with hundreds of systems sold worldwide. In 2018, Spectrum Dynamics launched its multipurpose VERITON® and the VERITON-CT® SPECT/CT, first ring-based 360 CZT digital SPECT/CT scanner.
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SOURCE Spectrum Dynamics Medical, Inc | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/22/centers-across-world-improve-accuracy-ease-myocardial-perfusion-imaging-with-digital-spect-deep-learning-technologies/ | 2022-04-22T02:33:22Z |
As inflation continues to surge and with the chatter of an impending economic downturn in the air, mortgage rates are growing at the quickest speed in 40 years with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage last week reaching the highest point since 2009 at 5.53%.
Consumers are being stretched thin due to inflation—from the gas pump to the grocery store—and are starting to decelerate their spending from last year. Experts expect a real estate slow down in the next couple of quarters: There are 70 regional housing markets with a more than 40% chance of seeing prices for homes dip in the next year, according to CoreLogic assessment of the biggest regional housing markets in the U.S.
To help you stay current on the market, ZeroDown compiled a weekly real estate market report using data from Redfin. Statistics are as of the four weeks ending May 15, 2022. Metros with more than 50 homes sold during this time period were considered for metro-level rankings for each statistic.
Median sales price
Dallas, TX metro area:
– Median sales price: $456,180
– One-year change: +25.0%
Metros with highest median sales price
#1. San Francisco, CA metro area: $1.7 million
#2. San Jose, CA metro area: $1.6 million
#3. Santa Cruz, CA metro area: $1.3 million
Metros with lowest median sales price
#1. Saginaw, MI metro area: $118,475
#2. Carbondale, IL metro area: $127,150
#3. Cumberland, MD metro area: $127,825
Median sales price per square foot
Dallas, TX metro area:
– Median sales price per square foot: $216
– One-year change: +27.2%
Metros with highest median sales price per square foot
#1. San Francisco, CA metro area: $1,106
#2. San Jose, CA metro area: $974
#3. Kahului, HI metro area: $934
Metros with lowest median sales price per square foot
#1. Carbondale, IL metro area: $79
#2. Cumberland, MD metro area: $87
#3. Peoria, IL metro area: $87
Sales to list price ratio
Dallas, TX metro area:
– Average sales to list price ratio: 1.06
– One-year change: +0.03
Metros with highest sales to list price ratio
#1. Rochester, NY metro area: 1.15
#2. Oakland, CA metro area: 1.14
#3. San Jose, CA metro area: 1.13
Metros with lowest sales to list price ratio
#1. Carbondale, IL metro area: 0.97
#2. Utica, NY metro area: 0.97
#3. Gadsden, AL metro area: 0.97
Homes sold with price drops
Dallas, TX metro area:
– Homes sold with price drops: 7.7%
– One-year change: -1.8%
Metros with most homes sold with price drops
#1. The Villages, FL metro area: 28.0%
#2. Beaumont, TX metro area: 27.9%
#3. New York, NY metro area: 26.6%
Metros with least homes sold with price drop
#1. Carbondale, IL metro area: 0.0%
#2. Springfield, IL metro area: 0.0%
#3. Hanford, CA metro area: 0.0%
Off market in two weeks
Dallas, TX metro area:
– Off market in two weeks: nan%
– One-year change: +nan%
Metros with the most homes off market in two weeks
#1. Rochester, NY metro area: 88.0%
#2. Olympia, WA metro area: 87.8%
#3. Seattle, WA metro area: 87.3%
Metros with the least homes off market in two weeks
#1. Oshkosh, WI metro area: 1.9%
#2. Urban Honolulu, HI metro area: 2.7%
#3. Morristown, TN metro area: 3.1%
Months of supply
Dallas, TX metro area:
– Months of supply: 5.5 months
– One-year change: -0.3 months
Metros with the most months of supply
#1. Brownsville, TX metro area: 35.7 months
#2. New York, NY metro area: 19.4 months
#3. Atlantic City, NJ metro area: 18.4 months
Metros with least months of supply
#1. Portland, ME metro area: 3.2 months
#2. Lewiston, ME metro area: 3.6 months
#3. Jacksonville, NC metro area: 3.7 months
This story originally appeared on ZeroDown and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. | https://cw33.com/news/local/dallas-weekly-real-estate-update-6/ | 2022-05-23T18:43:20Z |
Suzuki, Marsh help Angels to 7-2 win over Houston Astros
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) — Jo Adell tied a career-high with three hits and Kurt Suzuki and Brandon Marsh drove in two runs each as the Los Angeles Angels used a big fifth inning to break open the game and cruise to an 7-2 win over the Houston Astros Tuesday night. Both teams were missing stars Tuesday night with Los Angeles center fielder Mike Trout out for a second game with a bruised left hand and Houston second baseman Jose Altuve out after straining his left hamstring Monday. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/04/19/suzuki-marsh-help-angels-to-7-2-win-over-houston-astros/ | 2022-04-20T04:34:35Z |
Sherman man sentenced to 50 years in prison for murder
SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) - A Sherman man will spend 50 years in prison after murdering a man back in September of 2019.
39-year-old Gregory Cheatham, II, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the offense of murder. The sentence resulted from a plea agreement with the Grayson County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.
According to a Grayson County Criminal D.A.’s Office, on September 24, 2019, Sherman Police were called to a residence on a complaint that Cheatham was pointing a gun at a man.
Police said they were notified by a family member of Cheatham’s girlfriend that he was threatening to shoot the victim if the girlfriend did not respond to his messages. Cheatham even sent photo messages of a gun trained on the victim, who was lying in bed.
Cheatham shot his victim in the stomach before officers were able to arrive.
Sherman Police said when they arrived at the house, the victim jumped through a window attempting to escape Cheatham. He was then taken to TMC for treatment and eventually air lifted to Medical Center Plano, but died after surgery.
Cheatham must serve a minimum of 25 years in prison before being considered for parole.
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/04/26/sherman-man-sentenced-50-years-prison-murder/ | 2022-04-28T13:40:23Z |
Stockholders approve increase in authorized number of shares from 600M to 800M
PHOENIX, Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nikola Corporation (Nasdaq: NKLA), a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy infrastructure solutions, today announced that stockholders have voted to approve Proposal 2 at the Company's 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. This proposal will allow Nikola to increase the number of authorized shares from 600 million to 800 million.
"We are grateful for the support of Nikola's enthusiastic, diverse stockholder base, and the dedication of the diligent Nikola team who has continued to deliver for our customers as we worked to ensure we have more flexibility to drive Nikola's continued growth," said Mark Russell, Nikola's Chief Executive Officer. "We're excited about the strong momentum we have generated heading into this critical period as we move forward on the production and delivery of battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks and the energy infrastructure to support them."
At the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on August 2, a majority of all outstanding common stock voted to approve Proposal 2, the Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to Increase the Authorized Number of Shares of Common Stock. More than 66 percent of votes cast, or more than 211 million shares, were in favor of Proposal 2.
After initially adjourning its annual meeting on June 1, 2022, Nikola had received the necessary number of votes from stockholders to approve Proposals 1, 3, and 4. These proposals were related to election of directors, a non-binding advisory vote on compensation of named executive officers, and ratification of Nikola's independent registered public accounting firm.
Final results of the vote will be certified and reported on a Form 8-K that Nikola will file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
About Nikola Corporation
Nikola Corporation is globally transforming the transportation industry. As a designer and manufacturer of zero-emission battery-electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and hydrogen station infrastructure, Nikola is driven to revolutionize the economic and environmental impact of commerce as we know it today. Founded in 2015, Nikola Corporation is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.nikolamotor.com or Twitter @nikolamotor.
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SOURCE Nikola Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/nikola-stockholder-meeting-proposal-2-passes/ | 2022-08-02T23:22:41Z |
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the United States Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and following the vote, U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran issued this statement:
"With today's vote, the Senate has begun to solve some of the biggest challenges facing American cities, including rising costs and dangerous climate change. The Inflation Reduction Act will save Americans on their prescription drugs and other health care costs, ensure our nation's tax system is more just, and make the largest investment the United States has ever made to fight the climate crisis. This bill is a huge win for our cities, and America's mayors urge the House of Representatives to swiftly approve and send it to the president's desk for his signature."
About the United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
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SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/07/nations-mayors-applaud-senate-passage-inflation-reduction-act/ | 2022-08-07T21:20:36Z |
$1,000,000 donation continues to move 22-year collaboration forward
CASCO, Maine, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Camp Sunshine is pleased to announce a $1,000,000 gift from the New Balance Foundation. This donation will endow one entire session at Camp Sunshine in perpetuity. The funds will forever provide families with the opportunity to meet others on similar journeys and to re-group, re-energize and restore hope for the future. Camp Sunshine is a free, year-round retreat in Casco, Maine for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Each New Balance Foundation session will host as many as 40 families, which equates to approximately 80-100 children and 150-170 total family members. This year's New Balance Foundation session at Camp Sunshine was hosted September 2-5.
This generous gift is the latest in what has been a longstanding relationship between Camp Sunshine and the New Balance Foundation that began two decades ago. "This is one of Camp Sunshine's longest-standing collaborative efforts and it continues to be a motivator for all of us here at Camp to be aligned with a corporate foundation that is so invested in giving back," said Anna Gould, Camp Sunshine's Founder & Board Chair.
The Foundation's support of Camp Sunshine began in 2000 when it sponsored two families to attend the program as part of the Miracle Marathon and grand opening of Camp Sunshine's Anna & Larry Gould Campus. Soon after, factory and outlet store associates began to volunteer at Camp on an annual basis. In 2006, the Foundation committed $250,000 to Camp Sunshine's Endowment and in 2009, an additional $250,000 Brick Walkway Matching Challenge was completed, and the walkway named in the New Balance Foundation's honor. The New Balance Foundation later matched donations up to $300,000 to celebrate Camp Sunshine's 30th Anniversary in 2014. To date, the New Balance Foundation has donated nearly $2,000,000 to Camp Sunshine.
"Our goal at Camp Sunshine is to create communities of support for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, and the continued support of the New Balance Foundation ensures that families will be able to experience the magic of Camp Sunshine for years to come," said Michael Katz, Camp Sunshine's Executive Director.
"Camp Sunshine is a pillar of strength in our Maine communities. The Camp's commitment to families, patients and communities is unprecedented and New Balance and New Balance Foundation is proud to stand by Camp Sunshine's vision. The Camp's programs continue to grow, and their ability to host families facing a wide range of serious illnesses is tremendous. New Balance Foundation is proud to invest in Camp Sunshine's future with a meaningful gift that will benefit families for years to come," said Anne Davis, managing trustee, New Balance Foundation.
Founded in 1984, Camp Sunshine provides retreats combining respite, recreation and support, while enabling hope and promoting joy, for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families through the various stages of a child's illness. www.campsunshine.org
The New Balance Foundation mission is to drive change in our global communities with an enduring commitment to preventing childhood obesity and championing the future success of today's youth. Since 1981, New Balance Foundation has granted more than $120M to charity, investing in research, and clinical, educational and community programs that promote healthy lifestyles, children's fitness and nutrition, and overall community wellness. www.newbalancefoundation.org
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SOURCE Camp Sunshine at Sebago Lake, Inc | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/new-balance-foundation-provides-one-million-reasons-celebrate/ | 2022-09-14T11:31:26Z |
NEW YORK, July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP notifies investors in Wells Fargo & Company ("Wells Fargo" or the "Company") (NYSE: WFC) of a class action securities lawsuit.
CLASS DEFINITION: The lawsuit seeks to recover losses on behalf of Wells Fargo investors who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud. This lawsuit is on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Wells Fargo common stock between February 24, 2021 and June 9, 2022. Follow the link below to get more information and be contacted by a member of our team:
WFC investors may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500.
CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that defendants made false statements and/or concealed that: (i) Wells Fargo had misrepresented its commitment to diversity in the Company's workplace; (ii) Wells Fargo conducted fake job interviews in order to meet its Diverse Search Requirement; (iii) the foregoing conduct subjected Wells Fargo to an increased risk of regulatory and/or governmental scrutiny and enforcement action, including criminal charges; (iv) all of the foregoing, once revealed, was likely to negatively impact Wells Fargo's reputation; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Wells Fargo during the relevant time frame, you have until August 29, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you are a class member, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket costs or fees. There is no cost or obligation to participate.
WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, the team at Levi & Korsinsky has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. Our firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States.
CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
55 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10006
jlevi@levikorsinsky.com
Tel: (212) 363-7500
Fax: (212) 363-7171
www.zlk.com
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SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/wfc-lawsuit-alert-levi-amp-korsinsky-notifies-wells-fargo-amp-company-investors-class-action-lawsuit-upcoming-deadline/ | 2022-07-21T11:13:01Z |
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