text stringlengths 102 99.6k | url stringlengths 31 426 | crawl_date timestamp[us, tz=UTC]date 2022-04-01 00:29:49 2022-09-19 04:34:15 |
|---|---|---|
ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As the summer vacation season comes to a close, a large share of workers say they aren't taking vacation time, often due to the high costs. Forty-two percent of U.S. workers report that they have not taken a vacation during the last 12 months. Nearly half of workers (47 percent) say the expense of taking a vacation is the biggest impediment to taking time off, according to Eagle Hill Consulting research.
These findings come as employee burnout remains alarmingly high across the U.S. workforce. About half (49 percent) of American employees say that they are feeling burnout at work.
"Employees really need time to disconnect from work, especially as we continue to see high burnout levels across the U.S. workforce," said Melissa Jezior, president and chief executive officer of Eagle Hill Consulting. "And ideally, employees should fully disengage from work rather than constantly checking email and responding to messages."
"It's not just employees who benefit from taking time off. When there is time to rest and take a break from job pressures, employers are far more likely to have an engaged workforce at its peak performance. It's incumbent upon employers to create a culture that encourages employees to both regularly take time off and fully unplug from their job while they're away," Jezior explained.
The survey also finds:
- Forty-two percent of workers have not taken time off in the last 12 months, highest among younger workers (50 percent) and lower income employees (56 percent).
- Workers say the impediments to taking a fully unplugged vacation include the expense of taking a vacation (47 percent), self-imposed pressure to stay on top of work (31 percent), a heavy workload (27 percent), no paid time off (25 percent), and no colleagues available to cover their workload (25 percent).
- Many employees are not fully unplugging during time off. While 54 percent say they fully disconnect from work during vacation, 28 percent say they check work email and messages. Six percent say they continue to work during vacation.
The findings are based up a workforce survey from Eagle Hill Consulting conducted by Ipsos from August 11 - 16, 2022. The 2022 Eagle Hill Consulting Workforce Burnout Survey included 1000 respondents from a random sample of employees across the U.S and polled respondents about issues related to burnout and vacation.
Eagle Hill Consulting LLC is a woman-owned business that provides unconventional management consulting services in the areas of Strategy & Performance, Talent, and Change. The company's expertise in delivering innovative solutions to unique challenges spans across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. A leading authority on employee sentiment, Eagle Hill is headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with employees across the U.S. and offices in Boston and Seattle. More information is available at www.eaglehillconsulting.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Eagle Hill Consulting | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/forty-two-percent-us-workforce-not-taking-vacation-new-eagle-hill-consulting-research-finds/ | 2022-08-31T18:18:10Z |
Which Bosch dishwasher is best?
Known for cutting-edge products that range from automotive components to consumer goods, Bosch is a trusted brand that uses the latest technology. It started making dishwashers in 1964, before they were common household appliances, and continues to bring these quality products to the public.
Bosch produces a range of dishwashers with a variety of features. The 300 Series Front Control Tall Tub Dishwasher is an excellent choice because it’s large, versatile and stylish.
What to know before you buy a Bosch dishwasher
Front control vs. top control
There are two types of dishwashers: front control and top control.
- Front control: This means the control panel is on the front. It’s visible and bigger than on top control dishwashers, making it easier to access and use. This style makes for a classic look.
- Top control: This means the control panel is on the top of the door and not visible when the door is closed. This style gives the dishwasher a sleek, minimal look and makes it easy to clean.
Noise level
All Bosch dishwashers are extremely quiet and operate with low decibel levels. This is perfect if you live in a small household or run the dishwasher overnight and don’t want the noise to keep you awake.
Since you can’t always hear when the cycle has finished, Bosch created the InfoLight, which shines on the floor to let you know when it’s done.
Drying technology
What sets Bosch dishwashers apart are their three energy-efficient drying technologies.
- PureDry: This closed drying system doesn’t rely on outside air or an exposed heating system. The sanitizing feature ends the cycle with an extra-hot wash to kill bacteria and whisk away moisture while dishes dry.
- AutoAir: This method opens the door at the end of the cycle, letting air circulate and uses natural condensation to dry the dishes. It’s an energy-efficient solution, perfect for those who run the dishwasher overnight.
- CrystalDry: An ideal system for plastics, this technology uses natural minerals to collect moisture and turn it into heat circulated throughout the tub.
What to look for in a quality Bosch dishwasher
Third rack
Some Bosch dishwashers offer a third rack, designed for flatware, cereal bowls, large utensils and measuring cups that don’t fit neatly in the main racks. If you want even more space, dishwasher baskets can be purchased separately.
Energy Star certified
All Bosch dishwashers are Energy Star certified. A Bosch dishwasher gets your dishes clean while using less water and energy. It’s also better for the environment and saves you money on your electric bill.
Half-load setting
If you don’t want to leave dirty dishes sitting in the dishwasher but the load is too small to run a normal cycle, the half-load setting lets you run a cycle using less water, energy and detergent, so you can clean fewer dishes when necessary.
Home Connect
This technology makes your life easier by letting you control your dishwasher settings from an app on your smartphone. You can also get alerts when the cycle is done and monitor diagnostics.
How much you can expect to spend on a Bosch dishwasher
Bosch dishwashers range from $600-$2,200 depending on their size, features and technology.
Bosch Dishwasher FAQ
How do I clean the exterior of my Bosch dishwasher?
A. To clean the stainless-steel portions of the dishwasher, soak a soft cloth in warm, soapy water and wipe along the steel grain. Avoid harsh or chlorine-based cleaners. To clean the seal along the door, use a damp cloth without soap.
What warranties come with a Bosch dishwasher?
A. It comes with a one-year limited warranty for the entire appliance, including parts and labor. From years two to five, the warranty is limited to the racks and the microprocessor. There is a limited lifetime warranty for the inner tube lining. For more details, you can visit the manufacturer’s website.
What’s the best Bosch dishwasher to buy?
Top Bosch dishwasher
300 Series Front Control Tall Tub Dishwasher
What you need to know: This attractive stainless-steel dishwasher has maximum cleaning power, yet remains quiet.
What you’ll love: Loaded with space and amenities, this three-rack dishwasher has five wash cycles, including the sanitizing feature, which reduces 99.9% of bacteria with its ultra-hot cycle. The half-cycle is ideal for smaller loads while reducing time and water consumption.
What you should consider: The front control panel is smaller than those of other dishwashers and has been difficult for some customers to read.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Top Bosch dishwasher for the price
100 Series Anti-Fingerprint Stainless Dishwasher
What you need to know: With 14 place settings and high-tech features, this dishwasher still packs a powerful cleaning punch.
What you’ll love: It features six wash cycles and remains whisper-quiet when in use. The PrecisionWash technology with intelligent sensors tracks the cleaning cycle, while the spray arms can target all items inside.
What you should consider: This dishwasher is on the smaller side, so if you have a large household, you may need to size up.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Worth checking out
800 Series Stainless Steel Top Control Tall Tub Dishwasher
What you need to know: This top-of-line dishwasher comes fitted with the latest technology to thoroughly clean and dry all dishes, even plastics.
What you’ll love: The three adjustable racks that can be moved into nine positions make this dishwasher versatile and easy to load while leaving room for oversized pots and pans. The updated detergent trays are connected to their own spray jet to provide a deeper clean and prevent detergent buildup.
What you should consider: The stainless steel on this dishwasher tends to show fingerprints more than others.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Ryan Dempsey 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/appliances-br/dishwashers-br/best-bosch-dishwasher/ | 2022-07-26T10:57:51Z |
NEW YORK, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Warner Bros. Discovery (Nasdaq: WBD) today announced that its Chief Financial Officer Gunnar Wiedenfels will present at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 12:15 p.m. ET (9:15 a.m. PT).
A link to the live webcast of the presentation will be available in the "Investor Relations" section of Warner Bros. Discovery's website at https://ir.wbd.com/. An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's Investor Relations website shortly after the conclusion of the presentation.
About Warner Bros. Discovery:
Warner Bros. Discovery (Nasdaq: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world's most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.
View original content:
SOURCE Warner Bros. Discovery | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/warner-bros-discovery-chief-financial-officer-gunnar-wiedenfels-present-goldman-sachs-communacopia-technology-conference/ | 2022-09-07T21:17:34Z |
COOKEVILLE, Tenn., May 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Nurses Week, Fortis Institute in Cookeville, Tenn., has announced it received accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) for its Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. The institute is part of a network of schools managed by Education Affiliates, Inc., one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S.
In order to receive accreditation, institutions must apply for and undergo a comprehensive review process that evaluates the quality and effectiveness of its nursing education program on multiple levels.
"Our program is committed to providing nursing students with a well-rounded education. Achieving accreditation is a testament to our nursing faculty's dedication and passion for the profession," said Fortis Institute in Cookeville Campus President James Williamson.
Fortis's ADN program educates students in response to the nation's increasingly complex healthcare needs and provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Once graduates pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX), they can pursue a career as an entry-level registered nurse in a variety of healthcare settings. The program incorporates hybrid courses and online instruction, which offers students more options when scheduling their classes.
Recognized as a primary accrediting body for nursing education in the United States by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education, ACEN recognition increases program value. Fortis Institute in Cookeville joins other Fortis campuses to have accreditation conferred by ACEN, including Fortis College in Cutler Bay, Fortis College in Orange Park, Fortis Institute in Pensacola, Fortis College in Centerville, Fortis College in Salt Lake City and Fortis Institute in Port St. Lucie.
"We are thrilled to add Fortis Institute in Cookeville to our family of nursing programs with ACEN accreditation," said Education Affiliates Vice President of Nursing Elaine Foster, PhD, MSN, RN. "Our innovative educational offerings transform students into valuable members of the nursing profession ready to impact the healthcare industry. We look forward to continuing to provide powerful learning experiences for Tennessee's nursing students."
Fortis, the leading nursing brand for Education Affiliates, is one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Together with St. Paul's School of Nursing and Denver College of Nursing, Fortis has enrolled more than 5,000 nursing students nationwide and operates 20 nursing campuses in 10 states. For more information about the Fortis nursing programs, visit www.fortis.edu.
About Fortis Colleges and Institutes
A leading post-secondary network of colleges and institutes that engages students in powerful learning and training experiences, Fortis delivers focused career education programs in nursing, dental, healthcare, and the skilled trades at more than 30 schools in 14 states. The Fortis network offers career-based certificate, diploma and degree-granting programs. Program offerings and programmatic accreditations vary by campus. Each Fortis campus is accredited by a nationally recognized body.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Fortis | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/06/fortis-institute-cookeville-receives-acen-accreditation/ | 2022-05-06T14:33:06Z |
Which self-cleaning litter box is best?
If you own cats, you know they are endlessly entertaining, interactive and occasionally finicky members of the family. Despite loving these pets, most people don’t love regularly cleaning out their dirty litter boxes.
Self-cleaning litter boxes eliminate the hassle by incorporating sensors that can detect when a litter box is being used and cleans up for you when your cat is done. The PetSafe ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Litter Box is the recommended choice because it automatically cleans waste and features great odor control.
What to know before you buy a self-cleaning litter box
How do self-cleaning litter boxes work?
When a self-cleaning litter box detects your cat’s presence, it uses a rake-like device to pull the waste into a trash receptacle, leaving behind clean litter. Once the waste bin or drawer is full, all you have to do is remove it from the litter box and dispose of the waste.
Types
There are two types of self-cleaning litter boxes: automatic and semi-automatic. Automatic self-cleaning litter boxes work by raking the waste into a receptacle that you must regularly empty. Semi-automatic self-cleaning litter boxes usually have a lever you manually turn to filter and separate the waste from the clean litter. Both types work well, but automatic litter boxes typically are more expensive.
Single cat vs. multi-cat
According to experts, a household should have at least one litter box per cat. If you choose to let multiple cats use a single self-cleaning litter box, make sure you increase your cleaning habits accordingly. A self-cleaning litter box doesn’t work miracles, so empty the waste receptacle at least three or four times a week if you have more than one cat.
What to look for in a quality self-cleaning litter box
Sensor vs. timer
Some self-cleaning litter boxes have sensors that detect when your cat is relieving itself and start the cleaning process immediately after. Others operate on an adjustable timer that cleans the litter box periodically throughout the week. If your box has a timer, monitor your cat’s bathroom habits and try not to schedule cleanings for any part of the day that your pet likes to go.
Noise level
Self-cleaning litter boxes tend to make noise during the cleaning process. Look for a manufacturer that tries to reduce generated noise, as a loud litter box can startle a cat and discourage it from using the litter box in the future.
Litter
Most pet owners know cats can be finicky about their litter. If your pet only likes one particular litter brand, make sure it’s going to work with the self-cleaning litter box you choose. Non-clumping litter, for instance, won’t work with many self-cleaning litter boxes because the raking mechanism needs clumps to properly separate the waste. Wet, unclumped litter could damage the inner workings of your litter box.
How much you can expect to spend on a self-cleaning litter box
Most semi-automatic self-cleaning litter boxes cost around $20-$80. Automatic litter boxes typically cost more, ranging from $80-$400.
Self-cleaning litter box FAQ
How do you get your cat to use its new litter box?
A. Start by placing the new litter box next to the old one, filling it with the same kind of litter you always use. After a while, your cat should begin using the new litter box more and more frequently until the old one can be removed.
How often should you empty the litter box waste bin?
A. If you only have one cat using the self-cleaning litter box, you should be emptying the waste bin at least twice a week. Double that amount for every additional cat that uses the box.
What’s the best self-cleaning litter box to buy?
Top self-cleaning litter box
PetSafe ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Litter Box
What you need to know: This automatic litter box comes with sensors and leak protection.
What you’ll love: With a straightforward assembly and streamlined design, this automatic self-cleaning litter box makes disposing your cat’s waste easy. The litter box also features an automatic health counter so you can keep track of how many times your cat goes throughout the day.
What you should consider: This model requires a particular brand of cat litter that pets and pet owners may not like.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top self-cleaning litter box for the money
Pet Zone Smart Scoop Automatic Litter Box
What you need to know: This automatic litter box is affordable and works with any brand of clumping litter.
What you’ll love: This automatic self-cleaning litter box is incredibly quiet, making it a great choice for particularly skittish cats. The box is designed with angled deflectors and fins to keep the litter area free of messes.
What you should consider: Some users report the scraper can miss clumps of litter.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Omega Paw Self-Cleaning Litter Box
What you need to know: This model is a solid, affordable and relatively versatile semi-automatic litter box.
What you’ll love: A great option for pet owners with a smaller budget, this litter box works by incorporating a filtration screen that separates waste from the litter. Users simply rotate the box to sift the litter, then remove the tray to dispose of the waste.
What you should consider: The box is smaller than comparable models, making it unappealing to certain cats.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Patrick Farmer 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/best-self-cleaning-litter-box/ | 2022-07-03T12:41:10Z |
Acknowledges Delay in Turnaround Plan
ORLANDO, Fla., May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP), a leading global consumer products company, today reported operating results for the first quarter ended March 26, 2022.
First Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights
- Net sales were $348.1 million, a decrease of 16% year over year (or 14% on a constant currency basis)
- Gross profit was $222.0 million, or 63.8% of net sales
- Income from continuing operations was $2.5 million
- Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was $0.05
- Adjusted diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP) from continuing operations was $0.12
- Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) from continuing operations was $28.7 million
- Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio (non-GAAP) of 2.88
"We exited 2021 encouraged that our Turnaround Plan was on track, however with today's results we acknowledge that this turnaround still requires a lot more work," said Miguel Fernandez, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tupperware Brands. "Results came in below our expectations due to a combination of external and internal factors. Sales were negatively impacted by the Russia/Ukraine conflict, as well as strict COVID-related lockdowns in China and internal challenges in execution, technology, and service. Profitability was significantly impacted by persisting inflationary pressures and the latency between rising input costs and our decision to increase prices. This quarter illuminated elements within our core direct selling business that still require fundamental improvement, and we are refocusing our efforts to address them. While we acknowledge the near-term delay this has on our Turnaround Plan timeline, we believe our business will become stronger as a result of the structural changes we are making. Due to the high degree of operational uncertainty we currently face, we have decided to withdraw our previously issued financial guidance for 2022. We remain confident in our ability to execute on our Turnaround Plan and growth strategy, with the end goal being to make this company as big as our iconic Tupperware brand."
First Quarter 2022 Operating Results
Total net sales were $348.1 million, a decrease of 16% (or 14% on a constant currency basis) compared to the prior year period. Net sales were down in all segments, and the decrease was primarily driven by lower recruiting and overall sales force activity, in part due to the Russia/Ukraine conflict and lockdowns caused by the Omicron variant of COVID-19, particularly in China, as well as product mix and service issues. For detailed performance by region, please refer to the segment tables in the appended exhibit.
Gross profit was $222.0 million, as compared to $293.6 million for the prior year period. Gross margin was 63.8%, as compared to 71.0% for the prior year period. The decrease was driven primarily by higher resin costs and other inflationary pressures, operational inefficiencies related to lower volumes, higher inventory reserves, and country and product mix.
Income from continuing operations was $2.5 million, as compared to $44.0 million for the prior year period. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was $0.05, as compared to $0.82 for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily driven by lower volumes and higher resin and logistics costs, as well as higher levels of investment spending.
Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (non-GAAP) was $0.12, as compared to $0.81 for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily driven by lower volumes, higher resin and logistics costs, and higher levels of investment spending, partially offset by lower interest expense from lower rates negotiated as part of the debt refinancing completed in the fourth quarter of 2021.
All figures reflect results from continuing operations only.
A reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to comparable GAAP measures can be found in the tables included in this release
Share Repurchase Authorization
During the second quarter of 2021, the Company's Board of Directors authorized share repurchases of up to $250 million of the Company's outstanding shares of common stock, enhancing the Company's capital allocation policy. During the first quarter of 2022, the Company announced a $75 million accelerated share repurchase program and immediately repurchased 3.4 million shares of its common stock. The program is expected to be completed by the end of June 2022, with the final number of shares repurchased dependent upon the volume-weighted average price across the duration of the program. At the end of the first quarter of 2022, the Company retained authorization to repurchase up to $150 million of its outstanding common stock.
Withdrawal of Full Year 2022 Continuing Operations Outlook
Due to its first quarter 2022 performance, the rapidly changing inflationary environment, uncertainty relating to the full impact of the Russia/Ukraine conflict and the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on its business, as well as the volatility relating to fundamental changes being made to its business, the Company no longer believes it will achieve its full year 2022 targets for diluted adjusted earnings per share and operating cash flow net of investing cash flow, and has therefore decided to withdraw its previously issued guidance. The Company will consider establishing a new outlook at such time that it has improved visibility.
Appointment of New Chief Financial Officer
The Company announces the appointment of Ms. Mariela Matute to the position of Chief Financial Officer, effective May 24, 2022. Ms. Matute is a seasoned finance executive who will join Tupperware with more than 20 years of experience spanning the technology, consumer, and manufacturing sectors, including in her current role as CFO of Calavo Growers, a publicly traded global leader in fresh foods processing and distribution, where she helped drive the transformation and turnaround of the 100-year old company. Ms. Matute also brings blue-chip global finance leadership and perspective to the Company, having overseen global finance teams across multiple continents.
Non-Core Assets
As previously announced, due to the sale or pending sale of certain key brands of the Company's beauty business, the Company has determined that these dispositions represent a strategic shift that will have a major effect on its results of operations. As such, the results of these beauty businesses are presented as discontinued operations, including all comparative prior period information, in the Company's financial statements. Certain costs previously allocated to the beauty business for segment reporting purposes do not qualify for classification within discontinued operations and have been reallocated to continuing operations. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company completed the sale of its Avroy Shlain business. During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company entered into a definitive purchase agreement for the sale of its House of Fuller Mexico business, and expects to close the transaction in May 2022. The Company is currently exploring the sale of its Nutrimetics and Nuvo businesses.
Earnings Conference Call
The Company will host its first quarter 2022 earnings conference call today, May 4, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. ET. A link to the live webcast can be found under the Events and Presentations section of the Company's Investor Relations page on the Company's website at https://ir.tupperwarebrands.com. A webcast replay will be made available in the same section of the Company's Investor Relations website later today.
About Tupperware Brands Corporation
Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) is a leading global consumer products company that designs innovative, functional and environmentally responsible products that people love and trust. Founded in 1946, Tupperware's signature container created the modern food storage category that revolutionized the way the world stores, serves and prepares food. Today, this iconic brand has more than 8,500 functional design and utility patents for solution-oriented kitchen and home products. With a purpose to nurture a better future, Tupperware products are an alternative to single-use items. The Company distributes its products into nearly 70 countries primarily through independent representatives around the world. For more information, visit Tupperwarebrands.com or follow Tupperware on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this release that are not historical fact and use predictive words such as "estimates", "outlook", "guidance", "expect", "believe", "intend", "designed", "target", "plans", "may", "will", "we are confident" and similar words are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements and related assumptions involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from any forward-looking statements or views expressed herein. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the continuing effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; the successful execution of the Company's Turnaround Plan; the effects of inflation on the Company's business; the sale of the Company's Nutrimetics and Nuvo businesses; the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the Company's business; the Company's ability to ship product to customers on a timely basis, including because of delays caused by its supply chain; the Company's ability to sustain the same level of growth in net sales and net income that we recorded in the prior quarters; the success of the Company's efforts to improve its profitability and liquidity position and any capital structure actions that it may take the Company's ability to comply with its financial covenants under credit agreement; cyberattacks and ransomware demands that could cause the Company to not be able to operate its systems and/or access or control its data, including private data; risks related to the ongoing SEC inquiry; the success and timing of growth and turnaround initiatives; leadership development and succession changes; impairment and other charges related to purchase accounting goodwill and restructuring actions; the risk of foreign-currency fluctuations and currency translation impacts on the Company's business associated with these fluctuations; the Company's ability to engage in hedging transactions (including, without limitation, forwards and swaps) with financial institutions to mitigate risks relating to foreign-currency fluctuations and/or interest rate fluctuations and the possibility that such hedging transactions, even if entered into, are unsuccessful; the risk of changes in cash flow resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates and hedge settlements; uncertainties related to the interpretation of, and regulations under, changes in the U.S. tax law and tax laws and regulations in other countries; the Company's future tax-planning initiatives; any prospective or retrospective increases in duties on the Company's products; any adverse results of tax audits or unfavorable changes to tax laws in the Company's various markets; risk that direct selling laws and regulations in any of the Company's markets may be modified, interpreted or enforced in a manner that results in negative changes to the Company's business models or negatively impacts its revenue, sales force or business, including through the interruption of recruiting and sales activities, loss of licenses, imposition of fines, or any other adverse actions or events; unpredictable economic and political conditions and events globally; the success of new product introductions and promotional programs to generate interest among the Company's sales force and customers and generate selling activities on a sustained basis; success of business-to-business selling arrangements and their timing; success of buyers in obtaining financing or attracting tenants for commercial and residential developments; the timing and success of closing asset sales; risks related to accurately predicting, delivering or maintaining sufficient quantities of products to support planned initiatives or launch strategies; governmental approvals of materials for use in the Company's products; continued competitive pressures for products or sales force in the Company's markets; and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic reports as filed in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The Company updates each month the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates versus the prior year, posting it on Tupperware Brands Foreign Exchange Translation Impact Update available at https://ir.tupperwarebrands.com/financial-information/foreign-exchange-impact. Other than updating for changes in foreign currency exchange rates, the Company does not intend to update forward-looking information.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company utilizes non-GAAP financial measures in this release, specifically, Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations ("Adjusted EBITDA"), Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share from continuing operations ("Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share"), Debt Covenant EBITDA, and Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio, each of which are provided to assist readers' understanding of the Company's results of operations. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share are useful as they are used by management in their capital allocation decision process and in discussions with investors, analysts, and other interested parties. These measures are based on a continuing operations basis. Debt Covenant EBITDA and Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio are useful as they reflect the Company's liquidity as required under its credit facility. These measures are based on a consolidated basis with the results of both continuing operations and discontinued operations included. These amounts exclude certain items that at times materially impact the comparability of the Company's results of operations. The adjusted information is intended to be indicative of the Company's primary operations, and to assist readers in evaluating performance and analyzing trends across periods by providing what the Company believes is a useful measure for predictive purposes. These results should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, results reported in accordance with GAAP.
The non-GAAP financial measures include comparisons related to profit that exclude:
- gains from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other real estate related operations
- insurance settlement gains or significant charges related to casualty losses caused by significant weather events, fires or similar circumstances
- exit or disposal cost obligations related to rationalizing supply chain operations and other re-engineering activities performed to wind-down or significantly restructure businesses, including cumulative translation adjustments recognized in income upon liquidation of operations in a country, asset sales or fixed asset impairments, inventory obsolescence and other operating losses incurred in conjunction with such activities
- certain asset retirement obligations
- pension settlements
- significant discrete impacts of new tax laws upon adoption, including the impact on cumulative deferred taxes from items previously recorded as cumulative translation adjustments
- amortization of definite-lived intangible assets
- non-cash impairment charges related to the carrying value of acquired intangible assets and goodwill
- infrequent costs incurred in connection with a change in capital structure
- the impact from hyper-inflationary economies on net monetary assets and other balance sheet positions that impact near term income
- non-recurring costs associated with the turnaround plan
While these types of events can and do recur periodically, they are not part of the Company's primary business operations and are excluded from indicated financial information due to their distinction from ongoing business operations, inherent volatility and impact on the comparability of earnings across periods, as amounts recognized in any given period are not indicative of amounts that may be recognized in any particular future period.
Additionally, the Company engages in business to business transactions, in which it sells products to a partner company. Since the level of these sales is volatile from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year, and is largely independent of the activities of its sales force, the Company at times, in addition to disclosing reported sales, discloses "core" sales amounts and comparisons, which excludes amounts sold under business to business transactions. This illustrates sales results and trends directly associated with activities of its independent sales force. All financial information disclosed and presented includes business to business transactions unless specifically stated as "core" sales or otherwise indicated.
Also, as the impact of changes in exchange rates is an important factor in understanding period-to-period comparisons. The Company believes the presentation of results on a constant currency basis, in addition to reported results, helps improve readers' ability to understand the Company's operating results and evaluate performance in comparison with prior periods. The Company presents constant currency information that compares results between periods as if current period exchange rates had been the exchange rates in the prior period. The Company uses results on a constant currency basis as one measure to evaluate performance and generally refers to such amounts as restated or excluding the impact of foreign currency.
These core sales and constant currency results should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, results reported in accordance with GAAP. Core sales and results on a constant currency basis may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and are not measures of performance presented in accordance with GAAP.
Information included with this release includes references to Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, and a covenant under our new credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.: Net Consolidated Leverage Ratio. The Company uses these measures in its capital allocation decision process and in discussions with investors, analysts and other interested parties, and therefore believes it is useful to disclose these measures. The Company's calculation of its Net Consolidated Leverage Ratio is in accordance with its credit agreement, and such calculation, as well as the Company's calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, is set forth in the reconciliation from GAAP amounts in an attachment to this release; however, the reader is cautioned that other companies define these measures in different ways, and consequently they may not be comparable with similarly labeled amounts disclosed by others.
Investors: Alexis Callahan, alexiscallahan@tupperware.com, 321.588.5129
Media: Cameron Klaus, cameronklaus@tupperware.com, 407.371.9784
Segment Information
The Company manufactures and distributes a broad portfolio of products, primarily through independent direct sales force members. Certain operating segments have been aggregated based upon consistency of economic substance, geography, products, production process, class of customers and distribution method.
Sales Force Statistics
Sales force statistics shown below are collected by the Company and, in some cases, provided by distributors and sales force. Active sales force is defined as the average number of sellers ordering in each cycle over the course of the quarter. Constant currency changes, or changes excluding foreign exchange impact, are measured by comparing current year results with those of the prior year, translated at the current year's foreign exchange rates.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Tupperware Brands Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/tupperware-brands-corporation-reports-first-quarter-2022-financial-results/ | 2022-05-04T12:58:39Z |
The benchmark facilities aim to take lead in manufacturing new dry-mixed mortar construction materials
CHANGSHA, China, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This July, Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. ("Zoomlion;" 1157.HK) began commercial production of its New Material Industry Park in Ji'an City and started the construction of two flagship factories for new material in Xiangyin County and Chongqing City in China. The progress land a significant strategic achievement of Zoomlion's new material business of dry-mixed mortar roadmap and a milestone in the company's new material development.
Zoomlion's new material manufacturing specializes in the R&D and production of green, energy-saving and high-efficiency new dry-mixed mortar, providing integrated solutions from formulation, production, and logistics to construction and service.
"The need for high-strength, environmental-friendly, and intelligent construction projects is expanding in recent years, which presents a huge opportunity for new construction material markets, and Zoomlion has strong advantages in technology, products and supply chains in new material manufacturing," said Chen Peiliang, vice president of Zoomlion and general manager of Zoomlion New Material Technology.
"We own over 3,000 types of formulas and techniques of building materials and have formed a system of five major product categories. We also have the complete supply chain which consists of an intelligent production line, new construction materials, construction equipment and methods," added Chen.
Currently, Zoomlion New Material Industry Park (Ji'an) has launched an RMAS4000 dry mixed mortar production line that produces mainly prefabricated mortar and lightweight mortar for mechanized construction. In near future, the company is looking to further invest in high-end special mortar production lines such as KMA and MTA following market demand.
Its new material factory in Xiangyin plans to construct 37,000 square meters of production facilities, which upon completion will be the largest and most automated manufacturing base for sustainable new materials. The company is also building a new material flagship factory in Chongqing, aiming to achieve an 800,000-ton annual production capacity of various dry mixed mortar, with an annual forecasting value of 800 million yuan (US$ 118 million).
"In recent years, Zoomlion has focused on expanding from its main business to establish three major sectors: construction machinery, intelligent agricultural machinery and intelligent farming, as well as new construction materials. The diverse business layout has unleashed the potential of the company and drove new business growth," said Chen.
View original content:
SOURCE Zoomlion | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/zoomlion-celebrates-opening-new-material-flagship-industrial-parks/ | 2022-08-16T10:07:36Z |
PITTSBURGH, May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "We wanted to create a way to deliver clean air and block bugs from entering via an HVAC register/air return vent," said one of two inventors, from Madison, Ala., "so we invented the REGISTER FILTER. Our design would help to keep bugs away without the use of harsh chemical pesticide sprays."
The invention provides an effective accessory for an HVAC register/air return vent. In doing so, it helps to filter and protect against airborne particulates. It also helps to prevent insects from entering via the air vent. As a result, it could provide a safe and clean environment. The invention features a discreet and practical design that is easy to install so it is ideal for households and businesses. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.
The original design was submitted to the Birmingham sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-BRK-4120, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/23/inventhelp-inventor-develops-effective-filter-hvac-registers-brk-4120/ | 2022-05-23T15:29:47Z |
Revenue from Travel & Tourism will make up almost 10% of U.S. economy
New National Travel and Tourism Strategy welcomed but not enough, says WTTC
Despite positive growth, falling international traveler spending leaves U.S. Travel & Tourism lagging behind other countries after pandemic
DALLAS, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest Economic Impact Report (EIR) from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, reveals that the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector is projected to contribute over $2.6 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) to the U.S. economy over the next decade.
By 2032, the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector is expected to make up 9.2% of the entire U.S. economy based on an average annual growth rate of 3.9% – nearly double the anticipated 2% growth rate of the U.S. economy overall.
According to the forecast, produced in partnership with Oxford Economics, between 2022 and 2032, jobs in the U.S. Travel & Tourism could grow at an average rate of 3.9% annually, representing a 47% increase from 2022 expected job levels.
Whilst the global tourism body welcomes the new National Travel and Tourism Strategy, which aims to ensure the future growth of Travel & Tourism in the U.S. and create new jobs, WTTC says only immediate action now can secure the long-term recovery of the sector and create more than 6.3 million jobs over the next decade.
For 2022, WTTC projects that the sector's GDP contribution will grow by more than 42% versus 2021, reaching more than $1.8 billion by the end of this year and accounting for 7.6% of the entire U.S. economy.
By year-end, the global tourism body forecasts that employment in the sector could increase as much as 28%, reaching 13.5 million jobs nationwide, from a high of 16.8 million in 2019.
"The long-term recovery of the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector looks positive, bringing more than 6 million new jobs to the U.S. economy over the next 10 years," said Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO. "But the landscape is highly competitive, and the U.S. is losing out on international visitors."
Simpson continued: "Full recovery of Travel & Tourism relies on a significant rebound of international travel. While the new National Travel and Tourism Strategy is a step in the right direction, 2021 was another difficult year for the U.S. economy and the millions of livelihoods who rely on it.
"Many countries' Travel & Tourism sector is bouncing back to pre-pandemic numbers next year, but the U.S. is not expected to recover until 2025."
Despite strong projected growth in employment and GDP contribution over the next 10 years, WTTC's data indicates that pressure created by slow international traveler spending in the U.S. will continue to drive a significant performance gap in the sector's recovery this year.
At the current pace of the recovery, the U.S. international spending would not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2025, showcasing the urgency of opening borders to international travelers.
In fact, international traveler spend to the U.S. remains far below pre-pandemic levels, resulting in a slower-than-expected recovery of international tourism revenue.
In 2021, international visitor spending grew a modest 1.4%, reaching $40.3 billion but falling far short of 2019's total of $190.9 billion.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector.
View original content:
SOURCE World Travel & Tourism Council | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/travel-amp-tourism-set-inject-over-26-billion-into-us-economy-over-next-decade/ | 2022-06-08T19:48:46Z |
SANTA CRUZ, Calif., May 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Santa Cruz County Bank (OTCQX: SCZC), today announced Maxwell Sinclair has joined the Bank as Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer.
Mr. Sinclair has a 28-year history in the banking industry with extensive executive-level experience in risk management, compliance, AML/BSA and human resource management. Most recently, Mr. Sinclair served as EVP Chief Risk, Compliance & Human Resources Officer at Pacific Mercantile Bancorp/Pacific Mercantile Bank, where he managed all aspects of risk, compliance, and regulatory matters, human resources, as well as regulatory relationships and corporate governance. He is also a founder of an Arizona-based de novo where he served in the capacity of Chief Risk Officer with responsibilities for governance, audit, compliance and human resource management. His experience includes serving as VP Compliance & BSA Manager at Zions Bancorp (California Bank & Trust). He also served as VP Compliance & BSA Officer and CRA & Security Manager at several Southern California-based financial institutions.
Mr. Sinclair obtained his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Southern California and his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from University of the Redlands. He is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School, American Bankers Association National Compliance School, and also holds a certificate in Human Resource Management from Loyola Marymount University.
Commenting on his new appointment, Mr. Sinclair stated, "It is a pleasure to be joining an institution that I have long admired for its strong ties and commitment to the local community. After working with Santa Cruz County Bank's entire team and Board of Directors, it validated and solidified my respect for the Bank's sound practices, well-managed operations and outstanding reputation in the industry. Working strategically with the team and understanding its mission and vision lead to my acceptance of this incredible opportunity to permanently lead the Bank's risk management enterprise."
Krista Snelling, President and CEO commented, "Maxwell served as an advisor in the areas of compliance and risk management. He stepped in at a crucial moment, before an FDIC Examination, which he handled smoothly and professionally, and delivered best outcomes. The vast experience and professionalism he brings to the Bank are already playing a key role in our success and growth. We're thrilled to have him on the Executive Team."
Mr. Sinclair is a current board member of AOJAH and the Wiley Center/LA Speech and Language, and a former board member of Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Los Angeles Chapter, USC Summer Leadership Program, and also served as a former Advisory Board member of Central City Lutheran Mission, San Bernardino, and Bethlehem Temple Economic Development. Mr. Sinclair currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Rosario, and will maintain an office at the Bank's 75 River Street office in downtown Santa Cruz.
ABOUT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BANK
Santa Cruz County Bank was founded in 2004. It is a top-rated, locally-owned and operated, full-service community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz, California. The bank has branches in Aptos, Capitola, Cupertino, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. Santa Cruz County Bank is distinguished from "big banks" by its relationship-based service, problem-solving focus and direct access to decision makers. The bank is a leading SBA lender in Santa Cruz County and Silicon Valley and a top USDA lender in the state of California. As a full-service bank, Santa Cruz County Bank offers competitive deposit and lending solutions for businesses and individuals; including business loans, lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, construction lending, agricultural loans, SBA and USDA government guaranteed loans, credit cards, merchant services, remote deposit capture, mobile and online banking, bill payment and treasury management. True to its community roots, Santa Cruz County Bank has supported regional well-being by actively participating in and donating to local not-for-profit organizations.
Santa Cruz County Bank stock is publicly traded on the OTCQX U.S. Premier marketplace under the symbol SCZC. Stock purchase orders may be placed online, through a brokerage firm, or through Market Makers listed in the Investor Relations section of the bank's website. For more information about Santa Cruz County Bank, visit www.sccountybank.com.
This release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, government regulations and general economic conditions, and competition within the business areas in which the Bank is conducting its operations, including the real estate market in California and other factors beyond the Bank's control. Such risks and uncertainties could cause results for subsequent interim periods or for the entire year to differ materially from those indicated. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. The Bank undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Santa Cruz County Bank | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/03/santa-cruz-county-bank-hires-chief-risk-officer-maxwell-sinclair/ | 2022-05-04T00:09:17Z |
FRISCO, Texas (KDAF) — On May 21, Frisco will be filled with music from Robert Randolph Band as they open for the Grammy award-winning Zac Brown Band for the 2022 National Soccer Hall of Fame weekend celebration.
The concert is set to take place at Frisco’s Toyota Stadium after the 2022 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. Tickets are available now, you can find them here.
Here’s a look at the schedule for the weekend of May 21-22:
- Saturday
- 12:30 p.m. Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony — Streamed Live on NationalSoccerHOF.com
- 6:30 p.m. Induction Ceremony Concert
- Sunday
- 6 p.m. FC Dallas vs Minnesota United | https://cw33.com/news/local/zac-brown-band-to-headline-national-soccer-hall-of-fame-induction-weekend/ | 2022-04-12T23:56:35Z |
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Demonstrating its continued to commitment to its partners, Logicalis US has been named Arctic Wolf's Great Lakes Regional Partner of the Year for 2022. This honor recognizes the company's commitment to improving its customers' cybersecurity posture through a strategic partnership with Arctic Wolf that focuses on joint business growth and planning, engagement and training, demand generation, and executive and security practice alignment.
"As the demand for cybersecurity expertise continues to grow in the marketplace, our strategic partnership with Arctic Wolf enables Logicalis to further serve as a trusted security advisor for our customers," said Jeff Wilms, Chief Revenue Officer, Logicalis. "Together, we work alongside Arctic Wolf to architect world class security solutions that help customers mitigate threats in their IT environments. We are honored to be named as Arctic Wolf's Partner of the Year, and look forward to continuing to design top-tier security solutions that add protection and resiliency for our customers against cyber threats."
Celebrating their fifth year, the Arctic Wolf Partner of the Year Awards honor top-performing partners for their achievements in helping organizations improve their security operations through the use of Arctic Wolf solutions and for their commitment to shared customer success through a partnership with Arctic Wolf.
Logicalis US provides technology solutions, services and expertise in the area of security, modern data center, collaboration, networking and cloud to meet today's IT challenges. The company works with its industry-leading partners to provide customers the best solutions for their businesses.
"The Arctic Wolf partner community continues to lead the way in embracing security operations and playing a transformative role in the security journey of their customers," said Will Briggs, vice president of Americas Channels and Program, Arctic Wolf. "Our Partner of the Year Awards recognize and celebrate those partners who share our mission to end cyber risk, and we congratulate the winners on their significant achievements."
Arctic Wolf is a global leader in security operations, who pioneered a cloud-native security operations platform designed to end cyber risk. Built on open XDR architecture, the Arctic Wolf Security Operations Cloud ingests and analyzes more than two trillion security events a week across endpoint, network, and cloud sources to deliver critical security outcomes and optimize an organization's disparate security solutions. Now deployed to more than 2,700 customers worldwide, the Arctic Wolf Platform delivers automated threat detection and response at scale and empowers organizations of virtually any size to establish security operations with the push of a button.
Additional Resources
- For more information about Logicalis US visit https://www.us.logicalis.com/.
- For more information about Arctic Wolf, please visit www.arcticwolf.com.
Award-winning Logicalis US works alongside our customers to recommend, plan, and implement a digital transformation strategy that aligns with their business goals. Through our consulting and managed services and with our longtime strategic partners, we then deliver custom security, network, collaboration, cloud, and data center solutions.
Logicalis employs over 6,400 people worldwide, including highly trained service specialists who design, deploy and manage complex IT infrastructures to meet the needs of over 10,000 corporate and public sector customers. To achieve this, Logicalis maintains strong partnerships with technology leaders such as Cisco, HPE, IBM, EMC, NetApp, Microsoft, VMware and ServiceNow on an international basis. It has specialized solutions for enterprise and medium-sized companies in vertical markets covering financial services, TMT (telecommunications, media and technology), education, healthcare, retail, government, manufacturing and professional services, helping customers benefit from cutting-edge technologies in a cost-effective way.
The Logicalis Group has annualized revenues of over $1.5 billion from operations in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific and is one of the leading IT and communications solution integrators specializing in the areas of advanced technologies and services.
The Logicalis Group is a division of Datatec Limited, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with revenues of over $4.1 billion.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Logicalis | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/logicalis-us-named-2022-great-lakes-regional-partner-year-by-arctic-wolf/ | 2022-06-15T20:48:56Z |
NEW YORK, July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Squarespace, Inc. (NYSE: SQSP), the all-in-one website building and ecommerce platform, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
"Squarespace achieved $213 million in revenue, growing 12% year over year in constant currency," said Anthony Casalena, Founder & CEO of Squarespace. "We continue to track well against our product roadmap as we seek to bring more value to our millions of customers worldwide. Our recent launch of Fluid Engine, a core enhancement to our page building experience, represents a major step forward in no-code web design for professionals and beginners and we are excited it is now available to customers globally."
"Our revenue and unlevered free cash flow results delivered against our plans; without the impact of FX headwinds, we would have exceeded our revenue guidance," said Marcela Martin, CFO of Squarespace.
Second Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights
- Total revenue of $212.7 million grew 9% year-over-year as reported on a GAAP basis and 12% in constant currency
- Commerce revenue grew 13% year-over-year to $66.2 million
- Annual run rate revenue ("ARRR") increased 8% year-over-year to $837.8 million
- Unique subscriptions increased 6% year-over-year to 4.2 million
- Average revenue per unique subscription ("ARPUS") increased 6% year-over-year to $204
- Net income of $64.5 million vs. net loss of $234.5 million a year ago
- Earnings per share of $0.46 based on 140,082,038 basic weighted average shares and earnings per share of $0.45 based on 142,133,303 dilutive weighted average shares
- Adjusted EBITDA was $43.6 million vs. $42.6 million a year ago
- Cash flow from operating activities was $36.4 million vs. $8.7 million a year ago
- Non-GAAP unlevered free cash flow was $36.4 million vs. $10.3 million a year ago driven primarily by a reduction in cash payments related to the direct listing in Q2 2021
- Cash and cash equivalents of $215.1 million, investments in marketable securities of $32.2 million; total debt of $520.3 million, of which $26.3 million is current
A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures has been provided in the tables included in this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."
Outlook & Guidance
For the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, Squarespace currently expects:
- Revenue of $213 million to $218 million, or year-over-year growth of 6% to 8%
- Non-GAAP unlevered free cash flow of $33.7 million to $38.7 million. This is the result of:
For the full fiscal year 2022, Squarespace currently expects:
- Revenue of $857 million to $867 million, or year-over-year growth of 9% to 11%
- Non-GAAP unlevered free cash flow of $156.5 million to $166.5 million. This is the result of:
Squarespace will host a conference call on July 25, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss its financial results. A live webcast of the event will be available in the Events & Presentations section of the Squarespace Investor Relations website. An archived replay of the webcast will be available following the conclusion of the call. Additionally, we invite you to read our shareholder letter available here.
Revenue constant currency is being provided to increase transparency and align our disclosures with companies in our industry that receive material revenues from international sources. Revenue constant currency has been adjusted to exclude the effect of year-over-year changes in foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. We believe providing this information better enables investors to understand our operating performance irrespective of currency fluctuations.
We calculate constant currency information by translating current period results from entities with foreign functional currencies using the comparable foreign currency exchange rates from the prior fiscal year. To calculate the effect of foreign currency translation, we apply the same weighted monthly average exchange rate as the comparative period. Our definition of constant currency may differ from other companies reporting similarly named measures, and these constant currency performance measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as a substitute for, our operating performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.
Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental performance measure that our management uses to assess our operating performance. We calculate adjusted EBITDA as net income/(loss) excluding interest expense, other income/(loss), net, benefit from/(provision for) income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense and other items that we do not consider indicative of our ongoing operating performance.
Unlevered free cash flow is a supplemental liquidity measure that Squarespace's management uses to evaluate its core operating business and its ability to meet its current and future financing and investing needs. Unlevered free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operating activities, including one-time expenses related to Squarespace's direct listing, less cash paid for capital expenditures increased by cash paid for interest expense net of the associated tax benefit.
Adjusted EBITDA, unlevered free cash flow and revenue constant currency are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP") and have important limitations as an analytical tool. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental, should only be used in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for such GAAP results.
Further information on these non-GAAP items and reconciliation to their closest GAAP measure is provided below under, "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures".
Annual run rate revenue ("ARRR"). We calculate ARRR as the monthly revenue from subscription fees and revenue generated in conjunction with associated fees (fees taken or assessed in conjunction with commerce transactions) in the last month of the period multiplied by 12. We believe that ARRR is a key indicator of our future revenue potential. However, ARRR should be viewed independently of revenue, and does not represent our GAAP revenue on an annualized basis, as it is an operating metric that can be impacted by subscription start and end dates and renewal rates. ARRR is not intended to be a replacement or forecast of revenue.
Unique subscriptions represent the number of unique sites, standalone scheduling subscriptions, Unfold (social) and hospitality subscriptions, as of the end of a period. A unique site represents a single subscription and/or group of related subscriptions, including a website subscription and/or a domain subscription, and other subscriptions related to a single website or domain. Every unique site contains at least one domain subscription or one website subscription. For instance, an active website subscription, a custom domain subscription and a Google Workspace subscription that represent services for a single website would count as one unique site, as all of these subscriptions work together and are in service of a single entity's online presence. Unique subscriptions do not account for one-time purchases in Unfold or for hospitality services. The total number of unique subscriptions is a key indicator of the scale of our business and is a critical factor in our ability to increase our revenue base.
Average revenue per unique subscription ("ARPUS"). We calculate ARPUS as the total revenue during the preceding 12-month period divided by the average of the number of total unique subscriptions at the beginning and end of the period. We believe ARPUS is a useful metric in evaluating our ability to sell higher-value plans and add-on subscriptions.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Squarespace's future operating results and financial position, including for its third fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2022 and its fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. The words "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "potential," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "could," "would," "project," "plan," "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations, assumptions, and projections based on information available at the time the statements were made. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including risks and uncertainties related to: Squarespace's ability to attract and retain customers and expand their use of its platform; Squarespace's ability to anticipate market needs and develop new solutions to meet those needs; Squarespace's ability to improve and enhance the functionality, performance, reliability, design, security and scalability of its existing solutions; Squarespace's ability to compete successfully in its industry against current and future competitors; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Squarespace, its customers and their users; Squarespace's ability to manage growth and maintain demand for its solutions; Squarespace's ability to protect and promote its brand; Squarespace's ability to generate new customers through its marketing and selling activities; Squarespace's ability to successfully identify, manage and integrate any existing and potential acquisitions; Squarespace's ability to hire, integrate and retain highly skilled personnel; Squarespace's ability to adapt to and comply with existing and emerging regulatory developments, technological changes and cybersecurity needs; Squarespace's compliance with privacy and data protection laws and regulations as well as contractual privacy and data protection obligations; Squarespace's ability to establish and maintain intellectual property rights; Squarespace's ability to manage expansion into international markets; and the expected timing, amount, and effect of Squarespace's share repurchases. It is not possible for Squarespace's management to predict all risks, nor can it assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements Squarespace may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, Squarespace's actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Further information on risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from forecasted results are included in Squarespace's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Squarespace assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons if actual results differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.
Squarespace is the all-in-one platform with everything to sell anything, providing customers in over 200 countries and territories with all the tools they need to sell physical products, digital content, classes, appointments, reservations and more. Powered by best-in-class design for a consistent brand experience across all touchpoints, our suite of fully integrated products enables anyone to manage their projects and businesses through websites, domains, ecommerce, marketing tools, and scheduling, along with tools for managing a social media presence with Unfold and hospitality business management via Tock. Squarespace is headquartered in downtown New York City, with offices in Dublin, Ireland, Portland, Oregon, and Chicago, Illinois. For more information, visit www.squarespace.com.
Contacts
Investors
Robert Sanders
Clare Perry
investors@squarespace.com
Media
Kaitlyn Rawlett
press@squarespace.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Squarespace, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/25/squarespace-announces-second-quarter-2022-financial-results/ | 2022-07-25T11:06:19Z |
TEMPE, Ariz., Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bierman Autism Centers recently announced that it has appointed Dr. Bryan Davey, BCBA-D, LBA as its new Chief Operating Officer. In this role he will lead the operations team and will closely partner with the clinical leadership of the company.
Dr. Davey has clinical expertise in training personnel in applying behavioral principles and procedures, functional behavior assessments, assessment and treatment of severe and complex behaviors, organizational behavior management and effective teaching practice.
He has held various executive leadership positions at both for profit and non-profit organizations. He has served as an SVP of Operations for a national behavioral health organization that operated a continuum of treatment programs for children, adolescents, adults, and families. Prior to that he served as CEO of a multi-site integrated physical and behavioral health organization, which primarily focused on children served through Medicaid. Most recently, Dr. Davey was the CEO of a telehealth platform that served members in over 40 countries.
In addition, Dr. Davey advocates for behavior analysis by supporting certification, practice standards, monitoring, developing legislation, policy at the state and national levels. Dr. Davey serves on the Arizona Governor's Autism Spectrum Disorder Committee and Telehealth Advisory Committee. He is a past Board Member and Public Policy Chair of CalABA, founding member of AZABA, a past Board Member and Past-President of APBA, and served on the National ABA CPT Code Steering Committee. He continues to serve as a subject matter expert to the BACB, CASP, health plans, and managed care organizations.
When asked about his addition to the team, Dr. Davey said "I am honored to join Bierman Autism Centers and I look forward to working alongside so many amazing clinicians and professionals as we support the families that trust us with their children's care and growth. Our mission is to Create Progress & Possibilities for Children with Autism, and I am thrilled to join a team that sets the standard in services and continues to achieve impactful outcomes for the families and individuals we serve."
By adding Dr. Davey as Chief Operating Officer, Bierman continues to focus on clinical excellence and quality of care.
Bierman Autism Centers is a place where kids up to 9 years of age acquire foundational skills they can build on such as self-advocacy and communication. To date they have graduated over 175 kids from their programs. They recognize that every kid's success is unique, and their one-on-one approach allows them to drive progress and measurable outcomes, ensuring each child is advancing on their own terms. Bierman currently has 14 centers, and is expanding in: Arizona, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Ohio. For more about Bierman Autism Centers visit www.biermanautism.com or contact marketing@biermanautism.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Bierman Autism Centers | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/bierman-autism-centers-names-dr-bryan-davey-bcba-d-lba-chief-operating-officer/ | 2022-09-06T11:25:16Z |
(The Hill) – A majority of Americans say the U.S. government is corrupt and almost a third say it may soon be necessary to take up arms against it, according to a new poll from the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics.
Two-thirds of Republicans and independents say the government is “corrupt and rigged against everyday people like me,” according to the poll, compared to 51 percent of liberal voters.
Twenty-eight percent of all voters, including 37 percent of gun owners, agreed “it may be necessary at some point soon for citizens to take up arms against the government,” a view held by around 35 percent of Republicans and around 35 percent of Independents. One in five Democrats concurred.
The findings come after a House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol wrapped up its final hearing for the summer, seeking to place former President Trump at the heart of efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The panel also said Trump readily accepted and even encouraged the attack from his supporters, watching violence play out on television for nearly three hours before finally making a statement telling them to go home.
Despite the hearings, Trump still enjoys broad support among Republicans, who are more concerned about inflation, education and crime than they are about Jan. 6.
About 56 percent of Americans say elections are fair and accurate, but that number falls to 33 percent among Republicans, according to the Chicago University poll.
The division between conservatives and liberals across the country is only growing, the poll shows, and a quarter of Americans say they have lost friends over politics.
More than 70 percent of Republicans and more than 70 percent of Democrats both agree the other side “are generally bullies who want to impose their political beliefs on those who disagree.”
And half of all Americans believe the other side is misinformed about politics because of where they get their information and news, the poll found.
The University of Chicago-Public Opinion Strategies-Benenson Strategy Group poll was conducted May 19 to May 23 among 1,000 registered voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.53 percentage points. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/nearly-1-in-3-americans-say-it-may-soon-be-necessary-to-take-up-arms-against-the-government/ | 2022-07-24T22:29:15Z |
NEW YORK, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Riverside, a leading online recording studio, announced today it was partnering with its cloud provider AWS by joining the ISV Accelerate program and AWS Marketplace.
The new go-to-market will permit the two companies to engage mutual clients and prospects together, addressing several sectors like media and entertainment, healthcare, finance, government, education, and more.
In addition, Riverside is now officially listed on the AWS Marketplace allowing vendors to license the product directly through their AWS account using credits.
Nadav Keyson, CEO and co-founder of Riverside, said the new partnership will remove barriers to adoption and simplify purchasing processes.
"We're glad to announce another milestone in our fruitful and multi-faceted partnership with AWS," he said. "This new commercial framework will facilitate the adoption of our solution by our many mutual clients, and it's another milestone on our journey as a company partnering with AWS."
Riverside continues to improve its audio and video recording platform for video and podcast creation. In addition to its latest advancements and Riverside's unique ability to record lossless audio and 4K video tracks independent of internet connection speeds, users can:
- Download separate audio and video tracks perfectly in sync with no software installation required
- Achieve lightning-fast uploads that start upon recording and continue in the background throughout the session
At the end of the recording session, both the video and audio files are automatically downloaded without contributors having to manually send files from their end. Riverside's integration with AWS allows this content to be exported to S3 buckets powered by the cloud storage company.
To learn more about Riverside on AWS Marketplace click here
To learn more about Riverside, click here.
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1595387/Riverside_logo.jpg
View original content:
SOURCE Riverside | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/riverside-joins-isv-accelerate-program-aws-broaden-its-reach/ | 2022-07-05T14:41:49Z |
State Agriculture Department warns of exotic fruit flies in Pinellas County
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WWSB) - The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has positively identified the presence of Oriental fruit flies in Pinellas County.
The scientific name for the fruit flies is Bactrocera dorsalis. A quarantine has been established in the St. Petersburg area prohibiting the movement of fruit, vegetables, and nuts without a compliance agreement from the department.
“This detection highlights the importance of our world class exotic pest surveillance system,” said FDACS Division of Plant Industry Director, Dr. Trevor Smith. “Our staff, working closely with our federal partners, has begun a treatment program to eradicate this destructive pest.”
The first discovery of these flies happened during routine trapping.
Additional flies were discovered during expanded trapping activities. State and federal agriculture inspectors monitor more than 56,000 fruit fly traps statewide as an early detection network against exotic fruit fly introductions that threaten Florida’s agricultural well-being.
The Oriental fruit fly has been trapped several times in Florida since 1964 and each time has been successfully eradicated. This species is considered one of the most serious of the world’s fruit fly pests due to its potential economic harm. It attacks more than 436 different fruits, vegetables and nuts, including fig, loquat, mango, orange, peach, plum, sapote, soursop, Surinam cherry, tangerine, tropical almond and guava.
The fruit flies lay their eggs in host fruits and vegetables. In a few days, the eggs hatch and maggots render the fruits or vegetables inedible.
Treatments are being conducted in a 1.5-square-mile area around the fly detections. The treatments consist of male annihilation technique (MAT), foliar spot treatment, soil drench treatment and fruit removal.
MAT treatment uses a bait and insecticide mixture, killing the flies when they feed on the bait. It may be applied weekly to the upper portion of utility poles, trees and other inanimate objects out of the normal reach of people and pets. Treatments are applied for a period of two life cycles of the fly (approximately 60 days) past the date of the last detection. Foliar spot treatment uses Spinosad, an insecticide derived from naturally occurring soil organisms and commonly used by organic growers, to spot treat host trees in the area. Soil drench is used on the soil under host trees with fruit known or suspected to be infested with larvae, pupae or a mated female fruit fly. Fruit removal is necessary when larvae is found in infested fruits or vegetables. Fruit from host trees is removed, placed in double bags and properly disposed so flies have no host material to lay eggs.
State and federal agencies will work with local governments and community organizations to keep the public informed. More information can be found at the department’s website at www.FDACS.gov/OFF, or by calling the Division of Plant Industry Helpline at 1-888-397-1517.
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/24/state-agriculture-department-warns-exotic-fruit-flies-pinellas-county/ | 2022-06-24T17:42:19Z |
HONG KONG, Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Great Bay Bio (hereinafter referred to as "GBB") is pleased to announce today the completion of its USD 15M Pre-series B funding led by Tiger Jade Capital (hereinafter referred to as "Tiger Jade"). The funding was oversubscribed and upsized with participation from one of the world's top life science MNCs, AEF Greater Bay Area Fund (managed by Gobi Partners GBA), and Vectr Ventures, as well as existing institutional investors. The Pre-series B round was advised by DL Securities, a boutique investment bank based in Hong Kong. Tiger Jade was seeded by TigerMed, one of the largest CROs of clinical trials in PRC and covers over 300 companies/clients in its ecosystem, all of which may require services from GBB directly or indirectly. The other strategic investor is a Fortune 500 life science MNC with a capitalization over USD 200B. Their business spans over 125 countries, thus providing an anchor for GBB's global business expansion going forward. The funds raised will mainly be used to accelerate the development of AI-empowered bioprocessing platforms, the construction of production facilities; as well as the establishment of a global commercial development team. Looking ahead, GBB will strive to develop and provide an "end-to-end" AI-enabled bioprocessing platform to satisfy the R&D and commercial demands of global customers.
Driven by growing global needs for higher R&D and bioprocessing efficiency, GBB pioneers a concept of "AI + Bioprocessing" and aims at a vision of "Global Bioprocessing Made Simpler and More Efficient". Two proprietary AI+CMC technology platforms, AlfaCell® and AlfaMedX®, have been successfully commercialized and used by multiple biopharma companies. Empowered by the AlfaCell® platform, the uncertainties of productivity and stability are eliminated in the cell line development process, thus significantly reducing the workload and improving the efficiency of upstream bioprocess development. The AlfaMedX® platform enables GBB to quickly establish a culture medium library of more than one thousand formulas and provide rapid customized culture medium development services to customers. Currently, AlfaCell®, AlfaMedX® and other AI solutions have been used to improve the CMC process of various biological drugs including fusion proteins, monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibody drugs, etc. Meanwhile, GBB's end-to-end solutions have supported R&D of synthetic biology, industrial enzyme preparations, cultured meat, and other biomanufacturing fields.
Kingsley Leung, Chairman and Co-founder of GBB, commented, "We are pleased to know that GBB's disruptive innovations in the bioprocessing field are recognized by the market and our robust forward tested data and promising commercial success are accepted by investors. With the support from Tiger Jade Capital and one of the world leading MNC, GBB can quickly integrate into the global biopharmaceutical ecosystem, and accelerate the realization of our vision of "Global Bioprocessing Made Simpler and More Efficient". In turn, GBB will help customers accelerate developmental timelines, reduce the cost and risk of biomanufacturing, ultimately, allow affordable biological drugs to patients in need."
Mr. Jasper Jiang, the partner of Tiger Jade Capital, commented, "We are excited to have GBB in our portfolio, an excellent locally built AI-driven bioprocessing startup in the Greater Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. The fact that GBB stands out in a relatively tough market environment, and receive favor from a top multinational company and other well-known venture capital speak volumes about the company's technological achievements and development prospects. There are several distinctive Hong Kong based funds also joining the funding of GBB, including the Pentepebble, a local medical incubation investment institution that we are exploring to establish an incubator together. We believe that this investment will also better meet the national strategy of vigorously developing the Greater Bay Area and bring confidence to future capital entering the biomedical industry in this area."
About Tiger Jade Capital
Tiger Jade Capital established in 2019, obtained the support and cornerstone investment of China's leading CRO Company TigerMed (300347. SZ, 03347. HK). Its investment fields include early and medium-term equity investments in global medical care fields, such as innovation drugs, CROs and medical equipment.
Since its establishment, Tiger Jade Capital has invested in a number of well-known biomedical companies, including several leading companies in the fields of mRNA vaccine and cell therapy, as well as the biotechs with globally innovative technologies and biomedical enterprises that have been listed or are in the process of listing. The latest fund of the company pays close attention to the policy dividend of the Greater Bay Area and explores the important role played by Hong Kong as an international biomedical research platform for the globalization of Chinese Biomedical enterprises, and actively incubates and looks for early-stage companies with international standards.
About Great Bay Bio
Great Bay Bio (GBB), headquartered in Hong Kong, was founded in 2019 with extensive footprint in the Greater Bay Area. Adhering to the corporate vision of "Global Bioprocessing Made Simpler and More Efficient", GBB is committed to applying AI and other cutting-edge technologies to promote bioprocessing innovations, thus solve pain points, such as long timelines, high cost and low success rate, in drug development. GBB takes improving human life, health and value as its long-term goal.
The core team of GBB is composed of global talents with expertise in medicine, pharmacy, synthetic biology and AI. With a 3000 m2 R&D center and CMC platform, GBB has successfully pushed several biological drugs into the NDA stage, including national class 1 new drugs. During the three years since its establishment, GBB has applied for more than 30 patents for its AI empowered bioprocesses solutions. The resulting AI platforms were successfully commercialized, enabling GBB to establish long-term cooperation with many domestic and foreign leading enterprises.
GBB has attained the titles of National "High-Tech Enterprise" twice in a row by the National High-Tech Enterprise Certification Management Leading Group Office, "Sprouts List Most Valuable Enterprises for Investment in China for the Year 2020 by the Zero2IPO Group, "Top 50 Innovative Biotechnology Companies in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Award 2020" by ZDVC RESEARCH and KPMG China, "Top 15 in the 2021 Merck Greater Bay Area Innovation Bootcamp" and "Spring class of Microsoft accelerator entrepreneurship acceleration plan in 2022".
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Great Bay Bio | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/gbb-lands-usd-15m-pre-series-b-funding-led-by-tiger-jade-capital/ | 2022-09-14T02:18:59Z |
Fast-growing division continues expansion and bullishness on the housing market
PORTLAND, Ore., June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Churchill Mortgage, an industry leader providing conventional, FHA, VA and USDA residential mortgages across 49 states and the District of Columbia, continues its expansion across the Pacific Northwest with the appointment of Kelly Lee as Senior Vice President of Production for the Northwest region. Lee will oversee the rapidly growing PNW division, including all production across the region's 30 branches.
With more than 20 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Lee brings a wealth of knowledge to the table through an impressive track record of continual market growth and senior positions at noteworthy companies, including EVP, Divisional Manager at PrimeLending. In this role, Lee was able to grow PrimeLending's West Coast presence over the course of seven years from $280 million to $3.1 billion, eventually leading to a role expansion that allowed him to oversee the management of $7.25 billion. Prior to PrimeLending, Lee was Vice President of Sales and EVP for a regional mortgage company and is a U.S. Army veteran.
"In addition to being a natural servant leader with a proven track record of developing profitable branches in the Pacific Northwest, Kelly has been a longtime mentor to me since I first started out in this business," said Kevin J. Hanna, President of the Churchill Mortgage Pacific Northwest Region. "He's an undeniable asset to the team with his attention to detail, knack for collaborative problem solving and dedication to a people-centric culture. We're assembling the dream team to create something that hasn't been seen or done before in the mortgage industry. Our people over profits approach, commitment to debt-free homeownership and creation of a truly revolutionary platform will propel us to the top as we keep our clients and customers top-of-mind."
The PNW division started in 2019 with just a single office in Portland and four team members. Now, the branch has grown to over 30 locations with 150 teammates across seven states, boasting a diverse mix of industry veterans and rising stars that are ingrained in their local communities. While the rest of the mortgage industry appears to be retreating, Churchill continues to move in the opposite direction, hitting record numbers and targeting high growth projections.
"Many mortgage companies are having a difficult time right now weathering market headwinds, but Churchill, especially on the West Coast, is moving in the opposite trajectory," said Jeff Miller, Vice President of the Churchill Mortgage Northwest Region. "Business is booming and we're fully invested in growing our team and our regional presence as we enhance our customer service capabilities. Prospective buyers have quickly recognized that Churchill's process-oriented approach puts them in the best position for long-term financial growth and stability. We're building something different here and we're proud of what we've been able to accomplish thus far."
Headquartered in Portland, the PNW division has branches in several markets across the region, including Astoria, Ore.; Lake Oswego, Ore.; Bend, Ore.; Spokane, Wash.; Battle Ground, Wash.; Auburn, Wash.; Tri Cities, Wash.; Boise, Idaho; Orem, Utah; Las Vegas, Nev.; Kihei, Hawaii; and Anchorage, Alaska. The company offers a debt reduction program for all employees and has partnered with charitable organizations throughout its geographic footprint, including Hunger Fighters, The Oregon Food Bank, Sackcloth & Ashes, With Love, Meg's Moments for Life Jackets, Shepherd's House Ministries and Youth Music Project.
Founded in 1992, Churchill Mortgage is a privately-owned company by its more than 800 teammates. A full-service and financially sound leader in the mortgage industry, the company provides conventional, FHA, VA and USDA residential mortgages across 49 states and the District of Columbia. As heard on personal finance expert and author Dave Ramsey's nationally syndicated radio show, the lender's mission is to help borrowers achieve debt-free homeownership and build wealth through a smarter mortgage plan, regardless of their starting point. Churchill Mortgage is a wholly owned subsidiary of Churchill Holdings, Inc.
Churchill Mortgage's notable achievements include recognitions as a "National Top Workplace", "Top Lender" by Scotsman Guide: Residential, an eight-time "Top Workplace" by The Tennessean, one of the "Best Mortgage Companies to Work For" by National Mortgage News and a "Fast 50" company, "Top 100 Private Company" and "Best in Business" by the Nashville Business Journal. For more information about Churchill Mortgage, visit churchillmortgage.com or follow the company on LinkedIn, Twitter @ChurchillMtg, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.
Media contact
Megan Hackworth
The Wilbert Group
mhackworth@thewilbertgroup.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Churchill Mortgage | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/13/churchill-mortgages-pacific-northwest-division-announces-key-senior-hire/ | 2022-06-13T15:46:49Z |
Running community honors Eliza Fletcher by finishing her last run
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) – Community members in Memphis and people across the country are honoring 34-year-old Eliza Fletcher’s life in a special way.
The teacher and mother of two is believed to have been kidnapped and killed during an early morning jog near the University of Memphis campus on Sept. 2.
Cleotha Abston, 38, is accused of forcing Fletcher into an SUV and is charged with murder in connection to her death. He is facing several other charges, like kidnapping and identity theft, as well.
Memorials filled with flowers, balloons and messages to Fletcher have formed around Memphis, from the UofM area at the site where police say she was abducted to South Memphis where her body was recovered.
A run is planned for Friday morning on Central Avenue in the UofM area where Fletcher’s run came to an abrupt stop. Organizers say this event is a way to honor and finish the run Fletcher started the day she was abducted.
Friday morning’s 8.2-mile run is set to begin at 4:20 a.m. at Central and Belvedere. According to the Facebook page for the event, more than 550 people say they are taking part.
A gym in Jonesboro, Arkansas held similar events to symbolize the end of Fletcher’s run.
“We’re going to come together as a gym family, as a local community, as a running family to finish the run for her,” Callie Talley said.
Talley says some gym members knew Fletcher and her family and wanted to put on this event to pay tribute to her life.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/09/07/running-community-honors-eliza-fletcher-by-finishing-her-last-run/ | 2022-09-07T16:26:05Z |
Extends designation as Official Marketing Partner of the PGA TOUR
ATLANTA, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The PGA TOUR today announced that Southern Company has renewed its relationship as Proud Partner of the TOUR Championship in an agreement that extends through the 2027 tournament. Southern Company remains alongside The Coca-Cola Company and new addition Accenture as the three Proud Partners of the PGA TOUR's season finale, which returns to Atlanta and historic East Lake Golf Club, August 24-28, to crown the season's FedExCup champion.
Southern Company enters its seventh year as a Proud Partner of the TOUR Championship and has supported the event since its first playing at East Lake Golf Club in 1998. Fueled by its passion for the East Lake Foundation, Drew Charter School and First Tee – Metro Atlanta, Southern Company has played an integral role in the tournament's all-time charitable contribution of more than $42 million. As a company that calls Atlanta home, Southern Company's reinforced partnership with the TOUR Championship further solidifies the event's commitment to the city and East Lake Golf Club.
As part of the agreement, Southern Company also maintains its designation as Official Marketing Partner of the PGA TOUR.
"Southern Company has been integral to the success of the TOUR Championship and its ability to give back to the local Atlanta community, but their involvement goes far beyond the season finale from its sponsorship of the illustrious Payne Stewart Award to its longstanding support of First Tee and its annual impact on youth around the country," said Brian Oliver, PGA TOUR Executive Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Partnerships. "We are grateful for Southern Company's continued commitment to the PGA TOUR and look forward to building on what has been a successful partnership."
Each year, on Tuesday evening of the TOUR Championship, Southern Company presents the PGA TOUR's annual Payne Stewart Award, which is given to a player who best exemplifies character, charity and sportsmanship, the traits that best defined the late 11-time PGA TOUR winner. Through the Payne Stewart Award, Southern Company provides a $500,000 grant, with $200,000 going to charities connected to the Stewart family and $300,000 designated by the recipient. To date, the company has contributed $8.9 million to community charities in honor of Payne Stewart and those individuals receiving his namesake award.
Tomorrow evening, Southern Company and the PGA TOUR will honor 2022 recipient Billy Andrade, who stands as the 25th PGA TOUR player to receive the award since it was first awarded in 2000. The Payne Stewart Award Ceremony will be broadcast live on Golf Channel from 7-8 p.m. from the Southern Exchange in downtown Atlanta.
To further acknowledge those who have made indelible impacts on the game, Southern Company partnered with the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021 to create the Charles Sifford Award presented by Southern Company, which honors an individual who personifies legendary African American golfer Charles Sifford's groundbreaking achievements through perseverance, confidence, respect and adaptability. Renee Powell was recognized as the inaugural recipient of the Charles Sifford Award as part of the World Golf Hall of Fame's 2022 induction ceremony on March 9. Powell – the second African American woman to ever compete on the LPGA Tour – demonstrated resilience amidst her own obstacles of racial adversity and segregation and dedicated her life to making golf a sport for all.
"Across Southern Company, we are committed to being bigger than our bottom line through a set of values and actions that create an environment where those we serve are better off because we are there," said Bryan Anderson, executive vice president and president of external affairs for Southern Company. "Our decades-long association with PGA TOUR and the Payne Stewart Award allows us to make lasting, positive impacts within our communities. We deeply value our partnership with the PGA TOUR and look forward to many more years of generating good energy into education, health and wellness, neighborhood revitalization, and other worthy causes that meet the needs of our communities."
In addition to its impact and involvement in the professional game, Southern Company has been the Education Patron of First Tee since 2012. Through their support, more than 1,400 schools have received the First Tee School Programs reaching more than 700,000 students on an annual basis. Additionally, more than 1,800 educators have received professional development training to deliver the programming.
Southern Company has also provided strong financial support to national chapters of First Tee and have supported efforts around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as well as significant technology enhancements.
For more information about the TOUR Championship, please visit TOURChampionship.com. Fans are encouraged to follow the TOUR Championship on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for tournament updates.
About the TOUR Championship
The top 30 players in FedExCup standings after the BMW Championship qualify for the 2022 TOUR Championship, the finale of the FedExCup Playoffs, and will be awarded starting strokes for round one based on their position. The player with the lowest stroke total including starting strokes in the TOUR Championship after 72 holes of competition will be named winner of the FedExCup and will be awarded an official PGA TOUR victory. The TOUR Championship is annually contested at Atlanta's renowned East Lake Golf Club, the formative home of the legendary Bobby Jones. The 2022 tournament will be played Aug. 24-28. The tournament has raised more than $42 million in charitable funds since 1998 and proudly supports the East Lake Foundation; Focused Community Strategies; the Grove Park Foundation; Purpose Built Schools Atlanta; and First Tee – Metro Atlanta. Accenture, The Coca-Cola Company and Southern Company are the exclusive Proud Partners of the TOUR Championship.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy company serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices below the national average. For more than a century, we have been building the future of energy and developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon capture technologies, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency and storage technology. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation and a net-zero future, Southern Company and its subsidiaries develop the customized energy solutions our customers and communities require to drive growth and prosperity. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and govern our business to the benefit of our world. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have been recognized nationally by the U.S. Department of Defense, G.I. Jobs magazine, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, Fortune's "World's Most Admired Companies" list, Forbes and the Women's Choice Award. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.
About Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world's largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 699,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at accenture.com.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and nearly 3,900 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our company's portfolio features 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. These brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages. More than 1.9 billion servings of our beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Southern Company | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/southern-company-renews-proud-partner-tour-championship/ | 2022-08-22T16:17:02Z |
NEW YORK, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) declared a quarterly dividend of 70 cents per outstanding share of the corporation's common stock. The dividend is payable on October 12, 2022 to Omnicom Group common shareholders of record at the close of business on September 21, 2022.
Omnicom Group (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Omnicom Group Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/omnicom-group-inc-declares-dividend/ | 2022-07-15T01:32:28Z |
BEIJING (AP) — China’s support for Russia through oil and gas purchases is irking Washington and raising the risk of U.S. retaliation, foreign observers say, though they see no sign Beijing is helping Moscow evade sanctions over its war on Ukraine.
Beijing’s importance as a lifeline to Russian President Vladimir Putin rose Monday after the 27-nation European Union, the main market for fossil fuels that supply most of Moscow’s foreign income, agreed to stop oil purchases.
President Xi Jinping’s government declared ahead of Russia’s Feb. 24 attack that it had a “no limits” friendship with Moscow and has kept the West guessing about whether it might bail Putin out.
China rejects the sanctions as illegal because the United States, Europe and Japan cut off Russia from their markets and the global banking system without working through the United Nations, where Beijing and Moscow have veto power.
The sanctions don’t prohibit China, India or other countries from buying Russian oil and gas. But President Joe Biden has warned Xi of unspecified consequences if Beijing helps Moscow evade sanctions. That leaves open the risk Chinese companies might be punished by losing access to valuable Western markets.
Beijing appears to be complying. But state-owned companies are buying more Russian oil and gas, which gives the Kremlin export income. They also are potential investors in Russian energy projects as Western companies leave.
“The Biden administration will likely become increasingly exasperated at China’s continued support for Russia,” Neil Thomas of Eurasia Group said in an email.
That increases the likelihood of “unilateral moves to punish Beijing” and “allied coordination on economic security measures aimed at countering China,” Thomas said.
The conflict adds to tension with Washington over Taiwan, Hong Kong, human rights, trade, technology and Beijing’s strategic ambitions.
China poses the “most serious long-term challenge to the international order,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a May 26 speech.
Xi’s government has tried to distance itself from Putin’s war by calling for peace talks, but it avoids criticizing Moscow.
Other governments ”must not harm China’s legitimate interests in any way” in dealing with Ukraine, warned a foreign ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian.
Monday’s decision by EU leaders will cut imports of Russian oil by 90%, according to the head of its executive branch, Ursula von der Leyen. European customers have been paying Russia as much as $1 billion per day for oil, gas and coal.
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, responded on Twitter: “Russia will find other importers.”
Moscow is tiny as a trading partner for Beijing but an ally against what both resent as U.S. dominance in global affairs.
China sees Russian oil and gas as a way to diversify supplies for its energy-hungry economy. China bought 20% of last year’s Russian crude exports, according to the International Energy Agency. The two sides announced a new 30-year gas contract on Feb. 4, three weeks ahead of Moscow’s attack on Ukraine, that the state newspaper Global Times said will increase annual supplies to China by about 25%.
While the two are friendly, China is taking advantage of the situation to get cheaper energy and favorable business deals, said Maria Shagina of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
“They would always capitalize on Russia’s isolation,” said Shagina. “But they would be very cautious not to violate sanctions outright.”
On May 24, while Biden was visiting Tokyo, Russian and Chinese warplanes carried out “strategic air patrols” above the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the western Pacific. The Japanese government said bombers flew near Japan.
Biden warned Xi during a March 18 video meeting not to give Moscow military or economic aid.
Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said in March that Washington wouldn’t tolerate China or any other country helping Moscow work around sanctions. The White House has criticized Beijing’s “rhetorical support” for Putin.
Washington is “monitoring closely” Chinese dealings with Moscow, the American Embassy said in a written response to questions.
“We have not seen the provision of military equipment,” it said. Asked about economic sanctions and possible violations, the embassy said it had nothing further.
After BP and ExxonMobil announced they were pulling out of Russian oil and gas projects, “there are rumors state-owned Chinese companies might step in and acquire stakes,” said Shagina.
China’s imports from Russia rose 56.6% over a year earlier in April to $8.9 billion, according to customs data. That helped Putin’s government record a current account surplus, the broadest measure of trade, of $96 billion for the four months ending in April.
Washington also is frustrated that India, the No. 3 global oil importer, is buying more from Russia to take advantage of low prices. The Biden administration is lobbying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to stop.
In March, the U.S. government told Asian and European allies that American intelligence had determined China indicated to Russia it would be willing to provide military support for the campaign in Ukraine and financial help to limit the impact of sanctions.
Russia has been expelled from the global SWIFT network for bank transfers.
China’s credit card processor, UnionPay, refused to work with Russian banks after Visa and MasterCard stopped serving them, the Russian news outlet RBC reported in April. It said UnionPay worried it might be hit by “secondary sanctions” and cut off from the Western-controlled global financial system.
China gave Moscow an economic lifeline following Western sanctions imposed over its 2014 seizure of Crimea from Ukraine.
Beijing agreed to buy Russian gas in a deal estimated to be worth up to $400 billion over three decades. Moscow turned to Chinese state-owned companies to help pay for oil and gas development after Crimea-related sanctions cut off Western financing.
“The help will never come for free,” Shagina said. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/chinas-russia-dealings-irk-us-but-dont-breach-sanctions/ | 2022-06-01T01:57:22Z |
HUNTINGTON, WVa., May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy Services of America Corporation (the "Company" or "Energy Services") (Nasdaq: ESOA) has completed the previously announced purchase of Tri-State Paving & Sealcoating, LLC ("Tri-State Paving"), a West Virginia corporation located in Hurricane, West Virginia.
As previously noted, Energy Services paid $7.5 million in cash, acquired a $1.0 million Promissory Note, and issued $1.0 million in Energy Services Common Stock to acquire Tri-State Paving.
David Corns will continue his role as President of Energy Services' new subsidiary and commented on the announcement. "This is the special type of business combination where everyone involved wins. Our customers, and especially our employees, will all benefit from the additional resources provided by our becoming part of the Energy Services family of companies. Over the last eighteen years TSP built our reputation around safety, quality, and customer service. We are a natural fit with Energy Services, and I am excited to see what the future holds for this new alliance."
Douglas Reynolds, President, commented on the announcement. "We are very excited to announce the completion of this acquisition. Tri-State Paving is a great company and will be an important factor in growing our water distribution services, which is a key strategic initiative for Energy Services." Reynolds continued "We are also very pleased that David Corns had agreed to stay on with us. David has a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience in the industry, and we look forward to working with him."
About Energy Services
Energy Services of America Corporation (NASDAQ: ESOA), headquartered in Huntington, WV, is a contractor and service company that operates primarily in the mid-Atlantic and Central regions of the United States and provides services to customers in the natural gas, petroleum, water distribution, automotive, chemical, and power industries. Energy Services employs 700+ employees on a regular basis. The Company's core values are safety, quality, and production.
Certain statements contained in the release including, without limitation, the words "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "expects" or words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, general economic and business conditions, changes in business strategy or development plans, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, the integration of acquired business and other factors referenced in this release. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.
Source: Energy Services of America Corporation
View original content:
SOURCE Energy Services of America Corporation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/05/energy-services-america-completes-acquisition/ | 2022-05-05T21:46:15Z |
Selection will enable accelerated product advancements
DENVER, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Engage Mobilize Inc. (ENGAGE®) was officially selected to receive a $250,000 Advanced Industries Award from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). The Advanced Industries Accelerator Grant Program targets funding the development and commercialization of advanced technologies created in Colorado. The program encourages public-private partnerships and is intended to drive innovation, accelerate commercialization, and provide access to capital in the state.
ENGAGE is proud to be among the select Colorado businesses to receive this award and is eager to deliver on the strategic product development associated with the grant. Applications were reviewed in a multi-stage process by experts in seven advanced industries, including committees of business, technical and financial experts. ENGAGE was selected out of 104 other businesses in Colorado to receive this award.
"I'm very excited about the impact this grant will have on our community, its impact on ENGAGE and the opportunity to partner with the State of Colorado," said ENGAGE CEO, Steve Foster.
ENGAGE offers an industry-leading SaaS platform that digitalizes industrial workflows, primarily in upstream energy field operations. The ENGAGE solution provides predictive dispatch, inventory optimization, data validation, and real-time tracking with geofence embedded technologies.
The Advanced Industries Accelerator Grant Program award allows ENGAGE to build on its proprietary web and mobile app, reducing time to market on new features designed to increase efficiencies and reduce waste in energy production.
According to Rama Haris, Advanced Industries Senior Manager at OEDIT, "Innovations in advanced industries have enormous potential to change the world we live in, yet the market typically underinvests in early-stage technologies. At the same time, partnerships between the private and public sector can be integral to furthering new ideas."
About ENGAGE
ENGAGE is the leading SaaS provider of digital field ticket management software. Our system synchronizes complex field workflows with authenticated business logic and financial processes, closing the data loop for supply chain, operations, and accounting teams in real-time. Our proprietary business automation processes predictively schedule work orders and tasks with embedded validation algorithms triggered by captured edge data points. By operationalizing predefined business rules, ENGAGE eliminates redundant approval and dispute processes, automating each transaction seamlessly through invoicing and payment processing. Learn more at engagemobilize.com.
Media Contacts
Samantha Reeves, VP of Marketing at ENGAGE
Marketing@engage-m.com
(303) 957-8288 (Mobile)
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Engage Mobilize Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/engage-receives-advanced-industries-award-state-colorado/ | 2022-06-01T11:16:41Z |
8-year-old killed in random shooting while on vacation, sheriff’s office says
FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (Dunham Family) - An 8-year-old boy was killed in South Carolina when a man randomly shot at passing vehicles.
The Florence County Sheriff’s Office said the incident occurred on May 28.
According to authorities, the boy’s father was driving when the shooting happened. He was shot in the leg and expected to survive, while the boy’s mother was also in the car and wasn’t injured.
Officials said the family was from New Hampshire and were on vacation in South Carolina.
The sheriff’s office said Charles Montgomery Allen was arrested in the shooting and facing several charges, including murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle.
Allen’s motive for the shooting remains unclear, according to investigators.
Copyright 2022 Dunham Family via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/04/8-year-old-killed-random-shooting-while-vacation-sheriffs-office-says/ | 2022-06-04T22:20:02Z |
CD Foundation veteran Fatih Degirmenci joins as General Manager
SAN FRANCISCO, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Continuous Delivery Foundation (CDF), the open source software foundation that seeks to improve the world's capacity to deliver software with security and speed, today announced its State of CD Report in 2022, a new project called CDEvents building a vendor-neutral specification for defining the format of event data, new members, and more. The announcement comes at the start of CDF's third annual cdCon (June 7-8, 2022). cdCon 2022 is being run as a hybrid event from Austin, TX.
State of CD Report in 2022
A key function of CDF is providing vendor-neutral data on key DevOps and development metrics showing where continuous delivery stands in 2022 and beyond. The Continuous Delivery Report Series started last year; this is the third report in the series.
Key findings include:
- As of Q1 2022, less than a quarter (23%) of developers are not involved in any DevOps-related activities, indicating continued growth in the adoption of practices that increase an organization's ability to deliver software at high velocity.
- 47% of developers use either continuous integration or deployment but only one in five use both continuous integration and deployment approaches to automate all building, testing, and deployment of code to production.
- There is an increase in DevOps adoption in every development sector. Mobile app development has now even leapfrogged desktop development, such is its shift in embracing DevOps approaches.
The full report is available for free: View the Report (PDF)
New Project CDEvents Hosted by CD Foundation
CDF recently announced it is hosting the CDEvents project, a vendor-neutral specification for defining the format of event data to provide interoperability across services, platforms and systems. Today's CI/CD systems do not talk to each other in a standardized way. Defining a standard set of specifications is critical in solving the interoperability issues across the continuous delivery (CD) ecosystem. Having a common format for events in the CD space will enable an ecosystem of tools to collect, store, visualize and analyze events across CD platforms. This will cover use cases like measuring DevOps metrics and performance and visualizing end-to-end workflows, from the initial development all the way to operations and remediation flows. The current release of the CDEvents specification is available here: https://github.com/cdevents
cdCon Kicks Off Today in Austin, TX
cdCon is a two-day virtual event running June 7-8, 2022, focusing on improving the world's capacity to deliver software with security and speed. This year's sessions are grouped into 3 channels: Technology Teams, Enterprise Leadership, and Open Source Communities. cdCon is sponsored by IBM, JFrog, Armory, CircleCI, OpsMx, Camunda, Capital One, CloudBees, Cloudsmith, Cloud Native Computing Foundation, Liquibase, Spacelift, and more.
The full cdCon schedule is available here: https://events.linuxfoundation.org/cdcon/program/schedule/
"We're excited to have our first physical event in two years. The pandemic has shown more than ever how important continuous delivery is to industries as they navigate industry and global changes. cdCon generates passionate participation and is a great platform for connecting with peers and understanding best practices," said Fatih Degirmenci, Continuous Delivery Foundation General Manager. "CDF is committed to providing a clear path for companies to participate in a vendor-neutral structure that can greatly improve organizations' abilities to deliver software securely and quickly. Come join us at cdCon, there's still time to register and participate virtually!"
Keynotes include industry experts and well-known specialists like Isaac Cory Doctorow, Science Fiction Author, Activist, and Journalist; Joe Sepi, Program Director of Open Tech, IBM; Melissa McKay, Developer Advocate, JFrog; Michael Stahnke, Vice President of Platform, CircleCI; Gopal Dommety, CEO, OpsMx; Brian Behlendorf, General Manager, Open Source Security Foundation; Grace Francisco, Vice President, Developer Relations Strategy & Experience, Cisco; Stephen Atwell, Principal Product Manager, Armory; Isaac Mosquera, Principal GTM Leader, Serverless, AWS; and Fatih Degirmenci, Continuous Delivery Foundation General Manager, The Linux Foundation.
CD Foundation Welcoming New Members
Cloudsmith, Spacelift, Stackhawk and Tenable are joining the CD Foundation as new members. They join premier members AWS, Armory, CloudBees, Fujitsu, Google Cloud, Huawei, JFrog, Netflix, and Red Hat, as well as the broader open source CI/CD community, in helping to strengthen the growth and evolution of continuous delivery models.
Cloudsmith – Cloudsmith is a cloud-native, global, universal artifact management platform for engineers looking to set up a secure artifact repository in 60 seconds. Cloudsmith is a Belfast-headquartered startup that has raised $15 million in Series A funding. This is the largest ever Series A funding round in Northern Ireland.
"We are delighted to join the CD Foundation. How companies deliver software securely and quickly is key to their success, and we believe joining will provide even more value to our customers by connecting us to the broader community of continuous delivery companies and developers around the world," said Lee Skillen, Co-Founder & CTO, Cloudsmith. "The future of cloud-native software delivery, artifact management and the whole supply chain is critical to industries everywhere, so we are excited to contribute our knowledge of continuous packaging to it."
Spacelift – Spacelift focuses on collaborative infrastructure for modern software teams to manage cloud, infrastructure, or services. Its platform uses Terraform, CloudFormation, Pulumi, and Kubernetes offering features such as runtime configuration, version management, and state management. They are backed by Insight Partners, Blossom Capital, Hoxton Ventures and Inovo Venture Partners.
"We are excited to join the CD Foundation. Spacelift provides a collaboration and automation layer for infrastructure as a code, and we focus on openness, flexibility, and customization. We believe this fits well with the CD Foundation, and by contributing to the direction of open-source CI/CD development through the CD Foundation, our customers will benefit," said Sean O'Dell, Head of Developer Relations at Spacelift. "By inviting infrastructure, security, compliance, and platform teams to collaborate on and approve workflows and policies, you can improve your infrastructure delivery platform."
StackHawk – StackHawk helps developers find and fix application security bugs as part of software delivery. StackHawk makes security part of the developer workflow by running automated security testing in CI/CD and notifying developers immediately about new security issues as they emerge. StackHawk recently announced it has raised $20.7 million as part of a series B funding round.
"With the rapid pace of software development, security teams are finding it more difficult to test for vulnerabilities on an ongoing basis. At StackHawk, we are placing the ability to resolve vulnerabilities in the hands of the developer, and we see the CD Foundation as a key partner to helping us expand our reach and more broadly address this issue of shifting security left in the development cycle," said Joni Klippert, co-founder and CEO at StackHawk. "We see the CD Foundation's ability to guide changes in software development as a strength that will help drive the reduction in security vulnerabilities that make it to deployment."
Tenable – Tenable is a cybersecurity company known as the creator of the vulnerability scanning software Nessus. Approximately 40,000 organizations around the globe rely on Tenable to understand and reduce cyber risk. Tenable customers include approximately 60 percent of the Fortune 500, approximately 40 percent of the Global 2000, and large government agencies.
"As security is a critical component of open source software development and delivery, Tenable will provide expertise and guidance to the CD Foundation," said Glen Pendley, chief technology officer, Tenable. "The CD Foundation is uniquely positioned to help steer the course of security-focused development in the continuous delivery space. Tenable looks forward to collaborating with this community to enable end users to influence better solutions that drive value for our customers."
New General Manager Lead
CI/CD open source community leader Fatih Degirmenci has joined the CDF as its new General Manager. Fatih is not new to the CD Foundation. He participated in the very first public meeting during the Open Source Leadership Summit in California in March 2019 when the CD Foundation was announced. Since then, he's been heavily involved in the community including special interest groups (SIG) like the Interoperability SIG and Software Supply Chain SIG. He also served on the Technical Oversight Committee (TOC) as an end-user representative.
Fatih will work closely with the eight CDF-hosted projects CDEvents, Jenkins, Jenkins X, Ortelius, Shipwright, Screwdriver, Spinnaker, and Tekton, and help members and the wider Continuous Delivery CI/CD community improve their software development security and speed when creating cloud-native, legacy infrastructure, mobile, IoT, and bare-metal applications.
Additional CDF Resources
The Continuous Delivery Foundation (CDF) seeks to improve the world's capacity to deliver software with security and speed. The CDF is a vendor-neutral organization that is establishing best practices of software delivery automation, propelling education and adoption of CD tools, and facilitating cross-pollination across emerging technologies. The CDF is home to many of the fastest-growing projects for CD, including Jenkins, Jenkins X, Tekton, and Spinnaker. The CDF is part of the Linux Foundation, a nonprofit organization. For more information about the CDF, please visit https://cd.foundation
The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
Media Contact
Jesse Casman, Story Changes Culture
jesse@storychangesculture.com
415-730-2793
View original content:
SOURCE CD Foundation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/cd-foundation-announces-state-cd-2022-report-opens-third-annual-cdcon-with-new-project-cdevents-new-members/ | 2022-06-07T16:17:44Z |
Suburbs are generally seeing home values grow more than urban areas, indicating more competition
- Suburban home values have been growing faster than those in urban areas since July 2021, a reversal from previous norms and from the first 15 months of the pandemic.
- With remote work now an option for more households, many buyers are prioritizing affordability over proximity to the workplace.
- Understanding which areas are most competitive can help home shoppers navigate today's hot sellers market.
SEATTLE, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time since the Great Recession, buyers may have an easier time buying a home in the city than in nearby suburbs this home shopping season. That's because homes in the suburbs recently have been appreciating faster than urban homes, a new Zillow® analysis shows, indicating stronger demand and fiercer competition.
While competition is strong in most of the country, there are pockets of opportunity for home buyers.
Home values in suburban ZIP codes have been growing faster than those in urban areas since July 2021. The typical home in the suburbs gained $66,490 in value in the past year, compared to $61,671 for the typical urban home. That is a reversal from previous norms and from the first 15 months of the pandemic. From January 2013 — about the time when home values began to recover following the housing crash — through June 2021, urban homes were generally gaining value more quickly.
"In the beginning of the pandemic, home values in urban areas generally outpaced suburban areas, counter to what many expected during the rush for more space," said Zillow economist Nicole Bachaud. "And while urban home value gains have continued to accelerate, the suburbs are even hotter, showing just how strong demand is for limited suburban inventory. That could mean competition for homes will be lighter near city centers this home shopping season, something we haven't been able to say for nearly a decade. That's not to say shopping for a home in the city will be a leisurely affair, but any sliver of opportunity for buyers is welcome in this market."
Faster home value growth in the suburbs comes as remote work has changed the U.S. housing landscape. Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research found the shift to remote work is responsible for more than half of the gain in U.S. home prices since late 2019, and that the evolution of remote work is likely to have a major impact on the future path of home values.
To be sure, urban real estate has seen incredible growth, as well. This is not a case of housing in the suburbs gaining value at the expense of urban real estate; rather, it's something akin to one world-class sprinter edging out another. And there are signs that demand may be shifting back in favor of urban homes. In each of the first three months of this year, the gap between annual home value growth in the suburbs and in urban areas has shrunk. Annual suburban home value growth outpaced urban home value growth by about $7,250 in December, but only by about $4,820 in March.
The shift has been more pronounced in a few metro areas where suburban home values grew especially fast compared to urban home values in 2021: San Francisco, Columbus, Seattle and Boston. This may reflect home buyers reacting to employers' return-to-office plans, realizing that the cost savings of a move to the suburbs are not as big as they once were, or sensing that competition may not be as stiff for homes in urban parts of the metro.
Nashville and Raleigh are two notable counterexamples. In both metros, urban home values rose more than those in the suburbs in 2021. However, after the first three months of 2022, those positions have been reversed. In the year ending March 2022, the typical suburban home in Nashville gained $7,350 more than the typical urban home, and in Raleigh, the typical suburban home gained about $9,800 more. This could signal a shift in demand in these markets, with home shoppers searching for more-affordable options in the suburbs, especially as mortgage rates keep rising.
In today's hot sellers market, buyers should consider Zillow's tips to win a competitive bid. Hiring the right local agent and embracing new real estate technology for a speed advantage can help during the home search. Securing mortgage pre-approval and using strategies such as submitting an offer before the offer review date can help an offer stand out.
About Zillow Group
Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make it easier to unlock life's next chapter. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow® and its affiliates offer customers an on-demand experience for selling, buying, renting or financing with transparency and ease.
Zillow Group's affiliates and subsidiaries include Zillow®,, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans™, Zillow Closing Services™, Trulia®, Out East®, ShowingTime®, Bridge Interactive®, dotloop®, StreetEasy® and HotPads®. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Zillow | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/home-buyers-may-find-less-competition-near-city-centers-first-time-years/ | 2022-05-18T12:38:16Z |
- Pilot Company makes a strategic investment in Kodiak and will join Kodiak's Board of Directors.
- The companies are working together to bring autonomous truck inspections, maintenance, refueling, data offloading and load pick-up and drop-offs to commercial trucking customers.
- The partnership furthers Pilot Company's commitment to providing best-in-class service to its customers both today and in the future.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pilot Company, the largest operator of travel centers in North America, announced today a strategic partnership with Kodiak Robotics, Inc., a leading self-driving trucking company. Through this partnership, Pilot Company and Kodiak are collaborating to develop autonomous truck services at Pilot and Flying J travel centers.
Pilot Company and Kodiak are in the process of creating an autonomous truckport in the Atlanta area to evaluate potential service offerings and explore scalable solutions. These services will include spaces to pick-up and drop-off autonomous trucking loads; conduct inspections; maintain and refuel trucks; and the ability to transfer data for processing, such as feature development and mapping. To strengthen the ability to work together to develop a solution that works best for its customers, Pilot Company has made a strategic investment in Kodiak and will join the company's Board of Directors.
"Pilot Company is committed to providing best in class service to its customers today and going forward," said John Tully, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Pilot Company. "In making this strategic investment, we understand that our customers have a need for real solutions that help address the growing demand to move goods and Kodiak is a strong leader in the autonomous trucking space. As we explore the future of autonomous trucks and how we can best support these customers, we will continue to be the travel center network that the trucking industry and professional drivers can count on for the services and care they need."
Combining Pilot Company's nationwide network of travel centers and services with Kodiak's technology will play a crucial role in the deployment of autonomous trucks. Kodiak will lend its expertise as Pilot Company looks to integrate autonomous truck services into its operations. The partnership will further define service and maintenance requirements, operational necessities, facilities planning, and more to meet the needs of autonomous trucks.
"Pilot Company's industry-leading network of highway-adjacent travel centers provides unprecedented geographic reach for the launch and scale of Kodiak's fast-growing network of autonomous trucking lanes," said Don Burnette, Founder and CEO of Kodiak Robotics. "Their customer first approach, with a focus on technology, scale, and infrastructure, makes Pilot Company an ideal partner to support the service and maintenance of self-driving trucks nationwide. We are honored to have Pilot Company as an investor, strategic partner, and supporter of our continued commercial footprint growth."
Kodiak entered a hyper-growth phase in 2022, significantly expanding its service footprint and partner network. In July, the company announced a partnership with 10 Roads Express, a provider of time sensitive surface transportation for the U.S. Postal Service, expanding the company's service to Florida. Earlier this year, Kodiak announced a new route between Dallas and Oklahoma City with CEVA Logistics and a route between Dallas and Atlanta with U.S. Xpress. The company has been delivering freight commercially since 2019 and currently has six routes that run regularly between Dallas and Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Atlanta, Oklahoma City and Jacksonville, Florida.
About Kodiak Robotics, Inc.
Kodiak Robotics, Inc. was founded in 2018 to develop autonomous technology that carries freight forward — so people, partners, and the planet thrive. The company is developing an industry-leading technology stack purpose-built specifically for long-haul trucks, making the freight industry safer and more efficient. Kodiak's unique modular hardware approach integrates sensors into a streamlined sensor-pod structure that optimizes for perception, scalability, and maintainability. The company delivers freight daily for its customers along six routes in Texas and Oklahoma, operating autonomously on the highway portions of the routes. Learn more about Kodiak on the web at kodiak.ai, and on LinkedIn and Twitter. You can find the company press kit HERE.
About Pilot Company
Pilot Travel Centers LLC ("Pilot Company") keeps North America's drivers moving as one of the leading suppliers of fuel and the largest operator of travel centers. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot Company has grown its network to more than 800 retail and fueling locations and supplies more than 14 billion gallons of fuel per year to the market. Pilot Company has the fourth largest tanker fleet with more than 1,600 trucks that supply DEF, bio and renewable fuels, and provides hauling and disposal services to the oil field sector. Pilot Company serves 1.3 million guests per day and provides over 70,000 fleet customers with solutions for fuel, credit, factoring, services and rewards. Its Pilot and Flying J travel center network includes over 750 locations in 44 states and six Canadian provinces with more than 790 restaurants, 75,000 truck parking spaces, 5,300 deluxe showers, 6,200 diesel lanes and offers truck maintenance and tire service with Southern Tire Mart at Pilot Flying J. The One9 Fuel Network connects a variety of fueling locations to provide smaller fleets and independent professional drivers with everyday value, convenience, credit and perks. More information on locations and rewards are available in the myRewards Plus™ app.
Pilot Company is currently ranked No. 7 on Forbes' list of America's Largest Private Companies. For additional information about Pilot Company, its 30,000 team members and commitment to giving back, visit www.pilotcompany.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Pilot Company | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/23/pilot-company-kodiak-robotics-partner-bring-self-driving-truck-services-pilot-flying-j-travel-centers/ | 2022-08-23T19:48:55Z |
MOUNT KISCO, N.Y., Sept. 12, 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 nearly 15% of the publicly traded A shares, today announced that it has delivered the following letter to the Hemisphere Board of Directors.
Peter Kern
Chairman of the Board
Hemisphere Media Group, Inc.
c/o InterMedia Advisors, LLC
228 Park Avenue South, PMB 67521
New York, NY 10003-1502
Dear Peter:
Last Thursday was a sad day for shareholder democracy. After market close on September 8, 2022, Hemisphere Media Group, Inc. ("the Company" or "Hemisphere"), for which you serve as Chairman, issued a press release with, what we believe to be, the misleading title "Hemisphere Media Group Stockholders Approve Acquisition by Gato Investments LP, a Portfolio Investment of Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P." Further, the body of that press release claims that "Hemisphere Media Group, Inc.… today announced that its stockholders approved the acquisition of the Company by a subsidiary of Gato Investments LP ("Gato"), a portfolio investment of Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. ("Searchlight")."
Why is this misleading? Because the majority of the stockholders of the Company's publicly traded Class A shares voted against the transaction for the Company to be taken private by insiders at a price that we believe (as we evidence in our prior letters, here, here and here) significantly undervalues the Company (the "Insider Takeover"). As shown in the Form 8-K filed by the Company that same afternoon, 11,884,980 shares were voted against the merger. These 'No' votes were presumably (and logically) all Class A stockholders because the privately held, super-voting Class B shares are all held by insiders who presumably supported the deal (and because that's how the math works out when you back out the B share count). Per the same document, there were 20,827,861 Class A shares outstanding as of the August 5, 2022 record date. So over 57% of the public Class A stockholders voted against the deal. But that number is even higher, because the Class A share count includes over 1,950,000 shares held by officers, directors and insiders of the Company, per Bloomberg data. Which means if you exclude those insiders who are not disinterested stockholders in the traditional sense, then it seems 63% of public stockholders likely voted against the deal.
Yet you claim that stockholders "approved the acquisition." The only reason this deal was "approved" is because you have included the Class B stockholders, with their 10 votes per privately held share, in the calculation. While it is true that your calculation excludes the shares held by insider Searchlight, the largest beneficiary of the Insider Takeover, we believe it is also true that all Class B shareholders, not just Searchlight, are interested parties who stand to benefit from the transaction and should have been excluded from the count, and had you not included the Class B shareholders in your calculation, the vote tally would have been 63% against the merger. Had the proxy advisory firms publicly opined on this Insider Takeover, which clearly benefits the few at the expense of the many, we strongly believe they would have recommended shareholders vote "No" and that, in turn, the passive public holders in the Company would have voted No as well. Because the fundamental question remains: Why would a stockholder, unless such stockholder was an interested stockholder, support a transaction with a confirmably low valuation (see our previous letters) while simultaneously ignoring or rejecting higher bids for the Company?
We believe that this transaction which you have led, and stand to benefit from disproportionately as an insider, exemplifies terrible corporate governance and an abrogation of fiduciary responsibility by the Board of Directors of the Company. As we've laid out in previous letters to you and the Special Committee, you had better paths to go down, you simply chose not to pursue them. You could have sold your streaming business Pantaya separately in a more public auction, rather than giving it to other insiders in a sweetheart deal. You could have kept the cheap, highly cash-generative remainder of the Company as a standalone public company so that all public stockholders could have benefitted from future value creation. Instead you chose the expedient and, in our view, self-serving path: after driving the stock down through a botched secondary and poor communication (see our previous letters), you allowed insiders to benefit from the very chaos they created and effectively swipe the company from the public shareholders who had financed the very businesses the insiders are getting for a song, while blocking other bidders from paying a higher price.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Brolin
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.
Media Contact:
Michael Goodwin
mgoodwin@stantonprm.com
646-502-3595
View original content:
SOURCE Edenbrook Capital, LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/edenbrook-capital-sends-letter-hemisphere-media-group-board/ | 2022-09-12T13:49:15Z |
Migrants bused from Texas arrive in Washington, DC
Published: Apr. 14, 2022 at 12:55 PM CDT|Updated: 48 minutes ago
(CNN) - The first round of migrants bused from Texas to Washington, D.C. arrived at Union Station on Wednesday, with a second arriving early Thursday.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott started this voluntary transfer of immigrants as a way to blast the Biden administration’s border policies.
Abbott, a Republican, issued a statement saying his state shouldn’t have to “bear the burden of the Biden administration’s failure to secure our border.”
Officials from Catholic Charities D.C. were on hand to meet the migrants and offered assistance, including food and medical care.
So far, there’s been no comment from either the Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/14/migrants-bused-texas-arrive-washington-dc/ | 2022-04-14T18:46:23Z |
BEIJING, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) ("Autohome" or the "Company"), the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China, today announced that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders (the "AGM") at 18th Floor Tower B, CEC Plaza, 3 Dan Ling Street, Haidian District, Beijing, The People's Republic of China on June 23, 2022 at 3 p.m. (local time).
The board of directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on May 27, 2022 (Hong Kong time) and the close of business on May 27, 2022 (New York time) as the respective record dates for determining the shareholders and holders of the Company's American depositary shares entitled to receive notice of and attend the AGM or any adjournment or postponement thereof. No proposal will be submitted for shareholder approval at the AGM.
The notice of the AGM is available on the Company's website at http://ir.autohome.com.cn.
The Company has filed its annual report on Form 20-F, including its audited financial statements, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Form 20-F can be accessed on the Company's website at http://ir.autohome.com.cn/, as well as on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
The Company has also published its annual report for Hong Kong purposes pursuant to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ("HKEX"), which can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.autohome.com.cn/, as well as the HKEX's website at http://www.hkexnews.hk.
About Autohome Inc.
Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) is the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China. Its mission is to engage, educate and inform consumers about everything auto. Autohome provides original generated content, professionally generated content, user-generated content, and AI-generated content, a comprehensive automobile library, and extensive automobile listing information to automobile consumers, covering the entire car purchase and ownership cycle. The ability to reach a large and engaged user base of automobile consumers has made Autohome a preferred platform for automakers and dealers to conduct their advertising campaigns. Further, the Company's dealer subscription and advertising services allow dealers to market their inventory and services through Autohome's platform, extending the reach of their physical showrooms to potentially millions of internet users in China and generating sales leads for them. The Company offers sales leads, data analysis, and marketing services to assist automakers and dealers with improving their efficiency and facilitating transactions. Autohome operates its "Autohome Mall," a full-service online transaction platform, to facilitate transactions for automakers and dealers. Further, through its websites and mobile applications, it also provides other value-added services, including auto financing, auto insurance, used car transactions, and aftermarket services. For further information, please visit www.autohome.com.cn.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
In China:
Autohome Inc.
Investor Relations
Tel: +86-10-5985-7483
E-mail: ir@autohome.com.cn
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Jenny Cai
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
E-mail: autohome@tpg-ir.com
In the United States:
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
E-mail: autohome@tpg-ir.com
View original content:
SOURCE Autohome Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/autohome-inc-hold-annual-general-meeting-june-23-2022/ | 2022-05-31T10:41:38Z |
The search for the 2022 Gerber Baby is on
By Zoe Sottile, CNN
Have you ever wondered if your baby is cute enough to be the face of Gerber’s baby food? This month you can find out.
The 2022 Photo Search, in which eager parents submit photos of their smiling infants for a chance to be Gerber’s “Spokesbaby,” launched on Monday, according to a press release from the company.
The lucky winner, who will earn the title of “Spokesbaby” and “Chief Growing Officer,” will be featured on the baby food company’s social media channels and in its ad campaigns throughout the year. And they will also receive a $25,000 prize.
“This year, Gerber is searching for a candidate that can help share smiles and inspire joy in parents and his/her peers,” Gerber said on their website. “An irresistible giggle is strongly preferred, as well as an undeniable lovable personality.”
Children ages 0-4 are eligible to enter the competition. Parents and guardians can submit their child’s “smiliest” photos and videos to Gerber’s portal before Thursday, April 14.
For the first time, this year Gerber will match the winner’s cash prize with a $25,000 donation to the nonprofit March of Dimes’ maternal and infant health programs.
“Babies have the power to unite us through their happiness, and we at Gerber support furthering the joy and wellbeing of all babies,” said Tarun Malkani, Gerber president and CEO, according to the company’s press release.
The 2022 winner will follow in the tiny footsteps of Zane Kahin, the 2021 Gerber baby. In the past few years, the Gerber Photo Search has seen several milestones. The 2020 winner, Magnolia, was the first adopted Gerber baby, while 2019’s Kairi was the first Gerber baby of Hmong descent.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/money/cnn-business-consumer/2022/04/10/the-search-for-the-2022-gerber-baby-is-on/ | 2022-04-10T23:05:05Z |
The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade at a time when it has an unprecedented Catholic supermajority.
That’s not a coincidence. Nor is it the whole story.
The justices who voted to overturn Roe have been shaped by a church whose catechism affirms “the moral evil of every procured abortion” and whose U.S. bishops have declared opposition to abortion their “preeminent priority” in public policy.
But that alone doesn’t explain the justices’ votes.
U.S. Catholics as a whole are far more ambivalent on abortion than their church leaders, with more than half believing it should be legal in all or most circumstances, according to the Pew Research Center.
Notable Catholics who support abortion rights include President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, both Democrats. Democratic-appointed Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a Catholic, dissented in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that overturned Roe.
But the justices in the Dobbs majority aren’t simply cradle Catholics. Several have ties to intellectual and social currents within Catholicism that, for all their differences, share a doctrinal conservatism and strong opposition to abortion.
“It’s not simply choosing Catholics,” said Steven Millies, professor of public theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and author of “Good Intentions: A History of Catholic Voters’ Road from Roe to Trump.”
“It is because they are particular kinds of Catholics, traveling in particular Catholic circles that not everyone in your local parish is identifying with,” Millies said.
In Dobbs, five justices voted to overturn Roe — Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas. A sixth, Chief Justice John Roberts, balked at overturning Roe but voted to uphold the Mississippi abortion restrictions in question.
All six were raised Catholic.
Most went to some combination of Catholic high schools, colleges or graduate schools. The one exception, Dobbs author Alito, has fondly described growing up in a home where “church and the family” were preeminent. Five of the six justices still identify as Catholic, while Gorsuch has attended an Episcopal church more recently.
The Supreme Court was dominated by Protestant justices for much of its history. The majority have been Catholic since the 1990s, and for several years in the last decade, the court had six Catholic justices, three Jews and no Protestants. ( Newly sworn-in Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson identifies as Protestant.)
But religious identity has mattered less of late than ideology, which is why conservative evangelicals have cheered on the Republican-nominated Catholics, said Nomi Stolzenberg, a University of Southern California Law School professor focusing on law and religion.
In fact, eight of the last nine Republican nominees to be confirmed to the Supreme Court, from the Reagan to the Trump presidencies, have had Catholic pedigrees.
That religious demographic may seem striking given Republicans’ loyal evangelical Protestant constituency.
But partly it’s a matter of the available talent pool: Catholic immigrants’ descendants have intensely pursued legal professions.
Catholic institutions built their own intellectually rigorous law schools to aid in social assimilation and upward mobility. Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh began as a night school for working class immigrants.
In time, Catholics were studying at Ivy League schools and reaching the judicial elite.
“It’s an immigrant story, how Catholics and Jews overcame anti-Catholic and antisemitic resistance and eventually flooded into elite schools,” Stolzenberg said. A 2017 study found 28% of federal appellate judges are Catholic, and 19% are Jewish.
Millies said some of the earlier Republican-appointed justices disappointed conservatives by voting to uphold Roe.
“Republicans were looking for an identifier in the selection process that would make them safe,” he said. “By the ’80s, it became Catholics.”
That, too, reflects the immigrant story, Millies said, as many midcentury Catholics sought to prove their American bona fides as staunchly anti-communist social conservatives.
“Catholics earned a marquee spot in American culture as being reliable, patriotic Americans,” he said.
Even the Catholic nominees weren’t all reliable. The now-retired Anthony Kennedy affirmed Roe and gay marriage. But later Republican administrations also scrutinized candidates’ judicial records and involvement in influential organizations such as the Federalist Society, Millies said.
Gorsuch, who like several in the Dobbs majority has appeared at multiple Federalist Society events, studied at Oxford University with Catholic legal philosopher John Finnis.
Finnis is a proponent of “natural law,” described in the Catholic catechism as “the original moral sense which enables man to discern by reason the good and the evil.” Gorsuch himself applied that principle in a book opposing assisted suicide.
“It may be the case that Gorsuch is no longer a practicing Catholic — we don’t know,” Stolzenberg said. “What we do know is that his legal philosophy is shaped by the conservative Catholic philosophy of natural law.”
Barrett has long been affiliated with People of Praise, an ecumenical Christian group with a significant Catholic membership. It combines a doctrinal and moral conservatism, including opposition to abortion.
Thomas was raised Catholic in a largely Protestant extended family and briefly attended Catholic seminary, later attending an Episcopal church before returning to Catholicism. He has praised the Catholic nuns who taught him and the grandfather who raised him, a Catholic who “worked hard to provide for his family” and “a deeply religious man who lived by the Christian virtues.”
Thomas, concurring on Dobbs, went further in saying the court should reconsider other rights that past courts granted based on legal theories similar to Roe. Such precedents voided state laws against contraception, gay sex and same-sex marriage.
In a speech at Notre Dame University in 2021, Thomas paid tribute to the influence of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, long the court’s conservative stalwart.
Despite their different backgrounds — Thomas grew up in segregated Georgia in an African American family with limited education, Scalia in New Jersey as the son of a doctorate-earning Italian immigrant — “we were both Catholics, attended parochial schools and … benefited from a common culture,” Thomas said.
Scalia — who regularly attended the Latin Mass, a rite that appeals to many conservative Catholics — influenced not only Thomas but other recent appointees.
“All of these people would say, ‘We are followers of Scalia,’” Stolzenberg said. “Scalia was a conservative Catholic. That very much stamped him and marked his legal philosophy.”
But with conservatives racking up win after win on the court — overturning Roe, loosening gun restrictions and expanding religious access to public forums and money — their coalition will be tested, observers said.
They long coalesced around the idea of “originalism” — that justices should interpret the Constitution based on how its writers meant or applied it.
But originalism, with its purported moral neutrality, is “not any longer going to serve the needs of the pro-life coalition,” said Bruce Ledewitz, a Duquesne University School of Law professor focused on constitutional law and religion. Some are talking about legislation declaring fetal personhood, and “originalism doesn’t get you there,” he said.
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/anti-roe-justices-a-part-of-catholicisms-conservative-wing/ | 2022-07-01T00:18:15Z |
Personal info on California gun owners wrongly made public
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The California Department of Justice on Wednesday acknowledged the agency wrongly made public the personal information of perhaps hundreds of thousands of gun owners in up to six state-operated databases, a broader exposure than the agency initially disclosed a day earlier.
Rob Bonta, the Democrat who heads the agency and is running for reelection in November, said he was “deeply disturbed and angered” by the failure to protect the information his department is entrusted to keep. He ordered an investigation and promised to fix any problems.
“This unauthorized release of personal information is unacceptable and falls far short of my expectations for this department,” he said. “We acknowledge the stress this may cause those individuals whose information was exposed.”
The California Rifle and Pistol Association noted that the release came days after the U.S. Supreme Court threw out New York’s requirement that those seeking to carry concealed weapons provide a reason. That also derailed California’s similar requirement, though state lawmakers and Bonta are working to impose new requirements.
The association said the “unconscionable” release included information on law enforcement officials including judges, as well as others who had sought permits “like rape and domestic violence victims.”
Names, dates of birth, gender, race, driver’s license numbers, addresses and criminal histories were exposed for people who were granted or denied permits to carry concealed weapons between 2011 and 2021, the department said. Social Security numbers and financial information were not disclosed.
In addition, the state’s Assault Weapon Registry, Handguns Certified for Sale, Dealer Record of Sale, Firearm Certificate Safety and Gun Violence Restraining Order dashboards were affected, the department said. Officials said were investigating the extent to which personal information was exposed in those databases.
The information on concealed carry permits was publicly available on a spreadsheet for less than 24 hours, officials said, from the time the department updated its Firearms Dashboard Portal on Monday afternoon until it shut down down the website Tuesday morning.
“It is infuriating that people who have been complying with the law have been put at risk by this breach,” said Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea, president of the California State Sheriffs’ Association. He said sheriffs are concerned about the risk it poses to permit holders.
Bonta’s office could not immediately say how many individuals are in each database, whether the data was downloaded and how often, and when the public website would be restored. California officials issued about 40,000 conceal and carry permits last year, down from more than 100,000 during the peak year of 2016, according to information on the state Department of Justice’s website.
Republican state Sen. Brian Dahle, who is running for governor against Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, said many of the women who seek to carry concealed weapons “do so because they fear for their lives and safety. Consequently, those women will now have to worry that the person they least wanted to see again may have just been given their address by this careless act of bureaucratic idiocy.”
Bonta said in a statement that the unauthorized release “is unacceptable and falls far short of my expectations for this department.” He said he immediately began an investigation into how the release occurred “and will take strong corrective measures where necessary.”
He said he is aware of the stress the release may cause, and the department will notify people whose information was exposed. It will also provide credit monitoring services for those individuals.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/30/personal-info-california-gun-owners-wrongly-made-public/ | 2022-06-30T00:25:08Z |
'There is always something we can do.' Stark civic leaders launch gun-violence campaign
CANTON – Scriptures from the Book of Leviticus have often been used to criticize, even ostracize, but two longtime friends are borrowing from it to urge people to love their neighbor by eschewing gun violence.
Ron Ponder and Temple Israel Emeritus Rabbi John Spitzer have created "Do Not Stand Idle While Your Neighbor Bleeds," a public information campaign with a theme borrowed from Leviticus 19:16.
They introduced the campaign in a Canton Repository guest editorial on June 12.
Spitzer said the goal is to display 100 "silhouette" signs, which they hope organizations and individuals will place all over Stark County. They will feature daily, updated numbers of Americans — adults and children — killed as a result of gunfire as reported by the Gun Violence Archive.
"What we're trying to do is make this as non-political as possible," he said.
As of June 21, 20,520 adults and 780 children were killed in gun-related incidents since Jan. 1.
Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reported that gun violence has replaced disease and accidents and the No. 1 cause of death for children.
Canton gun violence:As teen violence rises, Canton nonprofit to teach youths how to treat gunshot wounds
Spitzer said there are numerous factors for what seems to be an American problem.
"There are so many seeds in this weed garden, it's shocking," he said.
Spitzer said that he and Ponder, who helped to start Coming Together Stark County, have had numerous conversations about the scourge of gun violence.
'A sadly powerful word.'
"The last time we talked was after the Tops supermarket shooting," Spitzer said. "I said I was very disturbed, but he said he was despondent. I thought despondent was a powerful world. A sadly powerful word."
Spitzer said he pitched the idea to Ponder, a community activist and former radio host, about human silhouettes.
"Actually, it was almost based on the Right to Life people, who put up (thousands of) crosses," he said, "It's a very powerful symbol. When we found the National Gun Archive, it made updating simple."
The project is being accompanied by a "covenant," in which Ponder and Spitzer are asking participants to commit to displaying and maintaining the signs, including changing the numbers weekly.
Ponder, who calls Spitzer "the conscience of our county," said the problem of gun violence is being exacerbated by an absence of leadership and moral courage.
"Our political leaders can change things in a moment, if the voters were pissed enough," he said. "I have always rebelled against the idea of being paralyzed by the present situation. People always say, 'Oh, there's nothing we can do,' but I always say we can change our own lives, if not the lives of anybody else. There is always something we can do."
The men said they strongly disagree with laws that now allow Ohioans to carry guns without benefit of licensing or training, and which drastically reduced the required hours of training for public school teachers who wish to carry a gun on school property.
"You can't yell 'fire' in a crowded theater," Ponder said. "There's a social responsibility you have to maintain. It's the same with gun legislation. There are ways to impact the negative effects. The leadership is supposed to be doing this, and they ain't doing this stuff."
Spitzer agrees.
"I don't feel badly at all about saying it's a bad idea to allow concealed carry without training," he said. "We get upset when the traffic is congested. And why do we do that? Because people are going to get hurt. But we keep pushing guns."
21 chairs:Stark churches create memorials for mass shooting victims
Spitzer said that making sure that people who own guns are responsible, is not being anti-gun, adding that in too many cases personal rights have trumped responsibility.
Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun
"What I would say to the gun lobby is, if they don't modify their positions so that it makes sense, there will be a time when there will be legislation to take guns away," he said. "I think if you look at history, the framers were saying that Americans had the right to have an armed militia to stand up against (foreign) kings. Somewhere along the way, that interpretation changed to 'I have a right to have an arsenal in my house.' And it's not because of protesting liberty and so on."
Spitzer, who led Temple Israel for 27 years, was asked if there is a spiritual aspect to America's gun-violence problem.
"You start asking yourself why would people react so violently," he said. "And I think one of the things is, all this spent violence is about people's fears."
He cited educator Geoffrey Canada's memoir "Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun" about growing up in a violence-riddled neighborhood in South Bronx, New York.
"There's a feeling that everyone is out to get you," Spitzer said. "There's an obvious sense of power people think they gain by those weapons. I also think prejudice diminishes the resistance people have in using a weapon. It's such a complex thing."
Ponder said some politicians have cynically used people's fears, hatred, race, and certain social issues to their own advantage for votes, to the point that it's becoming mainstream.
"It's also social media," he said. "They're using hate as a motivator to get voters to the polls."
Spitzer said responsibility and rights go hand-in-hand, noting that if a person wishes to drive a car or fly a plane, they must possess proper licensing and training.
"I remember when seat belts were made mandatory, some Republicans objected to government mandating to manufacturers " Ponder said. "It comes down to the will of officials to do the right thing."
Spitzer said each sign will cost about $35 each. Donations are welcome. They may be sent to Temple Israel, 432 30th St. NW, Canton, Ohio 44709. Note "silhouette" in the check memo.
Spitzer said they hope to keep the signs on display through December to report a full year's worth of statistics.
To learn more, email to: dontstandidle@gmail.com.
Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: @cgoshayREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/lifestyle/2022/06/28/rabbi-john-spitzer-ron-ponder-launch-gun-violence-campaign-canton/7686906001/ | 2022-06-28T10:39:25Z |
TFD welcomes young women to annual Camp Courage
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Young women in Topeka are getting a chance to see firefighting action up close.
The Topeka Fire Department is once again conducting its annual Camp Courage, welcoming women between 14-20 years old to participate in exercises mimicking fire and rescue training. Captain Brian Box, whose daughter is in this year’s class, says Camp Courage helps encourage more women to consider firefighting as a career path.
“If they want to do this job when they get older, they’ve had an eye-opening experience,” Capt. Box said. “They’ve got to experience already, and maybe it will lead to some interest down the road.”
“It’s exhilarating just to see all these people who love doing what they do, doing what they do,” Carissa Box said.
Capt. Box says the camp also provides an opportunity for the firefighters to hone their skills while teaching the girls.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/08/tfd-welcomes-young-women-annual-camp-courage/ | 2022-06-08T22:15:41Z |
PLYMOUTH, Mass., Aug. 16, 2022 Today, Inc. revealed that FrontRunnerHC has been recognized on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America, for the 4th consecutive year. The list represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy's most dynamic segment—its independent businesses. Microsoft, Chobani, Intuit, Patagonia, Under Armour, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.
"It's such an honor to be recognized on the Inc. 5000 list for the 4th year in a row, especially after earning a spot on Inc. magazine's 2022 list of "America's Best Workplaces". Our success is a testament to the expertise and dedication of our team, our incredible lab and healthcare clients who continue to place their trust in us, and our extensive network of industry-leading partners," said John (JD) Donnelly, CEO and Founder of FrontRunnerHC.
"Our mission to help clients improve their bottom line to fuel their ability to provide mission-critical care while enhancing their patients' experience motivates us daily. We are always working to positively transform healthcare in ways that most people haven't even thought about," adds Donnelly.
The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid challenges such as labor shortages and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Together, these companies added more than 68,394 jobs over the past three years.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.
"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, Inc. editor-in-chief. "Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today."
FrontRunnerHC's data automation platform helps healthcare organizations maximize reimbursement while also enhancing their patients' experience with instantaneous access to patient demographic, insurance, and financial information as early as possible and often as needed. FrontRunnerHC finds, verifies, and fixes patient information in real-time and at any point during the care journey, leveraging its access to the largest payer network in the industry. Defining the patient experience as the clinical journey + the financial journey™, FrontRunnerHC helps address the challenges that jeopardize both the organization's ability to get paid and their patients' experience. In addition to the Inc. 5000 list of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies, FrontRunnerHC has been recognized on Inc. magazine's 2022 list of "America's Best Workplaces" and Boston Business Journal's 2022 Fast 50 list, ranking 10th among the 50 fastest-growing private companies in Massachusetts.
Contact:
John Donnelly, FrontRunnerHC
Phone: 508-746-5500
Email: information@frhc.com
Methodology
Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places.
About Inc.
The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The top 500 companies on the Inc. 5000 are featured in Inc. magazine's September issue. The entire Inc. 5000 can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.
###
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE FrontRunnerHC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/4th-consecutive-year-frontrunnerhc-appears-inc-5000-list-americas-fastest-growing-private-companies-with-three-year-revenue-growth-387/ | 2022-08-16T15:36:26Z |
TORONTO, April 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - RIV Capital Inc. (CSE: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) ("RIV Capital" or the "Company") today announced completion of the initial closing (the "Initial Closing") of its previously disclosed transaction involving Etain, LLC and Etain IP LLC, owners and operators of legally licensed cannabis cultivation and retail dispensaries in the state of New York (the "Etain Acquisition"). Pursuant to the Initial Closing, RIV Capital is acquiring the non-regulated portion of the Etain companies for approximately US$198 million through a combination of cash and newly issued Class A common shares of RIV Capital (the "Common Shares"). An additional amount of approximately US$49 million through a combination of cash and Common Shares will be paid subject to, among other things, receipt of all required regulatory approvals, including from the New York Cannabis Control Board and the New York State Office of Cannabis Management.
Concurrent with the Initial Closing, The Hawthorne Collective, Inc. ("The Hawthorne Collective"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, completed its additional US$25 million investment in RIV Capital, evidenced by a newly issued convertible note with a principal amount of approximately C$31.3 million (being the Canadian dollar equivalent of US$25 million based on the daily average exchange rate posted by the Bank of Canada on the day prior to the date of the related note purchase agreement) and a conversion price of C$1.65 per Common Share. As previously announced, the additional investment was undertaken pursuant to rights existing under The Hawthorne Collective's previous convertible note investment in RIV Capital.
Early Warning Reporting Disclosure
BrandCo HoldCo, LLC ("HoldCo") announces, pursuant to applicable requirements of Canadian securities laws that it has acquired (the "Acquisition") 21,092,335 Common Shares pursuant to the Initial Closing at a price of C$1.65 per Common Share and approximately C$34.8 million in the aggregate, representing approximately 12.9% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Prior to the Acquisition, HoldCo did not beneficially own or control any Common Shares. Upon consummation of the final closing of the Etain Acquisition, it is expected that HoldCo will, subject to customary purchase price adjustments, acquire an additional 5,273,084 Common Shares at a value of C$1.65 per Common Share.
HoldCo completed the Acquisition for investment purposes. Subject to applicable laws and the terms of the Etain Investor Rights Agreement (as defined below), HoldCo may acquire additional securities of RIV Capital or may dispose of any or all of its holdings of Common Shares, from time to time through, among other things, transactions on the open market or in private transactions or otherwise, on such terms and at such times as HoldCo may deem advisable depending upon an ongoing evaluation of the Common Shares, the Company, prevailing market conditions, the availability of Common Shares at prices that would make the purchase or sale of Common Shares desirable, other investment opportunities, liquidity requirements of HoldCo, respectively, and/or other considerations and in such manner as it deems appropriate, subject to applicable laws,
In connection with the Initial Closing, RIV Capital, HoldCo and the former beneficial owners of Etain entered into an investor rights agreement (the "Etain Investor Rights Agreement") providing HoldCo and such former beneficial owners with, among other things, registration, information and certain nomination rights.
A copy of the early warning report filed by HoldCo in connection with the above will be filed on SEDAR and made available under RIV Capital's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
HoldCo is located at 172 Prospect Hill Road, Brewster, New York, 10509. For further information, please contact Hillary Peckham at 914-482-2481.
RIV Capital is an operating and brand platform that aims to acquire, invest in and develop U.S. cannabis companies to build the cannabis industry of tomorrow, today. By bringing together people, capital and ideas, we aim to provide shareholders with exposure to exceptional cannabis companies in strategically attractive states poised for significant growth. Backed by our in-house expertise and cannabis domain knowledge, we aim to develop operators and brands who can build market share while we expand the geographic and strategic scope of our multistate platform. RIV Capital also has a strategic relationship with The Hawthorne Collective, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, pursuant to which RIV Capital is The Hawthorne Collective's preferred vehicle for investments not under the purview of other Scotts Miracle-Gro subsidiaries.
This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of RIV Capital and its portfolio companies with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding RIV Capital's investment in Etain, including the timing for completion of the final closing of the Etain Acquisition, the receipt of additional financing from The Hawthorne Collective; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.
Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical fact but instead reflects management's expectations, estimates, or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions, and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although RIV Capital believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance, or achievements of RIV Capital or its portfolio companies.
Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: the timing and likelihood for receipt of all required regulatory approvals, and satisfaction of other conditions to closing, in respect of the Etain Acquisition; RIV Capital's ability to execute its go-forward strategy; stock market volatility; changes in the business activities, focus and plans of RIV Capital and its investees and the timing associated therewith; the timing of any changes to federal laws in the U.S. to allow for the general cultivation, distribution, and possession of cannabis; regulatory and licensing risks; changes in cannabis industry growth and trends; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; the global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks and risks relating to regulatory change; risks relating to anti-money laundering laws; compliance with extensive government regulation, including RIV Capital's interpretation of such regulation; public opinion and perception of the cannabis industry; divestiture risks; and the risk factors set out in RIV Capital's management's discussion and analysis and annual information form filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available on RIV Capital's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
RIV Capital intends to invest in and/or acquire companies that are 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 such operations occur 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 RIV Capital of liability under U.S. federal law nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against RIV Capital. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of RIV Capital and any proceedings brought against RIV Capital thereunder may adversely affect RIV Capital's operations and financial performance.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated, or expected. Although RIV Capital has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties, and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. RIV Capital does not intend and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE RIV Capital Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/22/riv-capital-announces-initial-closing-etain-acquisition/ | 2022-04-22T22:33:02Z |
LONGMONT, Colo., Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 3D at Depth, the global leader in commercial subsea LiDAR laser technology, has appointed two senior staff members at their new Aberdeen base, which is officially being opened this week with a ceremony and technical sessions.
Rob Davidson and Tarry Waterson both joined this month, hitting the ground running to assist with sales and business development of the company's leading asset, Cuvier DEEP™, the World's only deep-water Subsea LiDAR™ providing end-to-end service. With previous roles in DeepOcean, Boskalis, Proserv and Technip; Rob brings over 12 years' experience in the industry, five of which in Senior and Lead roles in the capacity of Project Surveyor. Tarry has over 20 years' experience in the industry; specialising in subsea sonar technology and imaging, with previous roles representing Sulmara for Boskalis Subsea, Imagenex Technology Corp and Subsea 7.
3D at Depths Global Service Manager Ian Ellis comments, "Our unparalleled underwater data solution, Cuvier DEEP™, is a highly specialist technology which is gaining fast traction in the subsea industry due to its ability to provide an end-to-end service offering, from high data capture accuracy to data deliverables. We are pleased to welcome Rob and Tarry as their experience with subsea LiDAR's combined with their meticulous approach for detail and tenacious business acumen, will lend itself to meeting the level of interest we are experiencing."
"We're confident that this expansion will only help to deliver a new level of efficiency, transparency and data quality whilst lowering carbon and vessel time savings from crewed and un-crewed surface vessels.
Ian concludes, "The new office is based at NEO House, in Aberdeen, it's a great location for us and is well known. We're opening, officially this week with a two-day open event complete with technical sessions to showcase the Cuvier DEEP™ and answer any questions to potential partners and clients."
Issued on behalf of 3D at Depth by HHE Business. For more information please contact Martine Watker media@3datdepth.com / martine@hhebusiness.co.uk or +44 7828828216.
Notes to Editors
3D at Depth is the World's foremost commercial leader in advanced subsea LiDAR laser technology. Its advanced Subsea LiDAR laser (SL) systems and subsea survey services enable clients to extract more value from underwater 3D data. Through advanced data collection, processing, visualization, and analysis, 3D at Depth provides accurate, repeatable, millimetric 3D point clouds to help measure, map, and evaluate underwater assets and environments. The firm supports customer survey operations globally from its bases in Europe and the United States.
To learn more and gain insight into the range of solutions and services provided by 3D at Depth, visit www.3datdepth.com, LinkedIn, and 3D at Depth on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For more information visit: https://3datdepth.com/
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE 3D at Depth, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/3d-depth-announce-record-growth-first-half-2022-with-new-aberdeen-hub-two-senior-recruits/ | 2022-08-22T08:44:07Z |
Five touchdown nights and passing standouts: Vote for the Jackson Sun's boys athlete of the week
Vote now for The Jackson Sun's high school boys athlete of the week.
Fans may vote one time per hour. The poll ends at 12 p.m. on Thursday.
Jacob Arnold, Union City: Had 195 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries in a 56-19 win over TCA.
Kam Boyd, Jackson Christian: Had 11 carries for 166 yards with three touchdowns in a 56-7 win over ECS.
Noah Clayton, Scotts Hill: Had 141 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries in a 26-6 win over Gleason.
Will Dobson, Camden: Was 13-of-20 for 163 yards passing with a school-record five touchdowns against McEwen.
Sam Driggers, Peabody: Was 19-of-24 for 235 yards passing with three touchdowns in a 44-13 win over South Side. He also had 60 yards rushing with a touchdown.
Gray Eubanks, Huntingdon: Was 2-for-3 passing for 38 yards with a touchdown while also rushing for 120 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries against Riverside.
Kevin Finch, USJ: Had 139 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries against Hardin County.
Marquez Taylor, McKenzie: Ran for 177 yards and five touchdowns on 20 attempts in a 49-14 win over Obion County.
Cordero Walker, Haywood: Was 8-of-13 for 121 yards, a touchdown and also ran for 100 yards and two more touchdowns against Lexington.
Judiaz Williamson, Chester County: Ran for 196 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries against Adamsville.
Note: If the poll doesn't appear, click here.
Reach Joe Spears at jspears2@gannett.com. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @joe_spears7. | https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/sports/high-school/2022/09/12/tn-high-school-football-vote-jackson-suns-week-4-boys-athlete-week/7989252001/ | 2022-09-12T09:07:34Z |
The new and improved formula is designed to protect the heart from oxidative stress and improve cardiovascular function
SAN DIEGO, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cymbiotika, a leading nutritional supplement brand known for creating pure, clinically backed supplements, today announced the relaunch of its Heart Health. Made from an exclusive combination of Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone), Red Yeast Rice, Inositol, Careflow® (Organic Mango Fruit Powder) and Pomegranate Extract, this product aims to improve overall heart function, by protecting from oxidative stress, reducing blood pressure, and improving blood lipids. Other benefits may include better-managed cholesterol levels, stabilization in blood sugar levels, and increased metabolism.
According to 2021 CDC data, about 659,000 people in the United States die from heart disease each year. It is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people from most racial and ethnic groups across the United States. Heart Health aids in preventing heart disease by providing stress relief and improving basic functions of the cardiovascular system.
"Cardiovascular diseases affect nearly half of American adults, with heart disease being the leading cause of death for Americans across all races and genders. With these statistics in mind, we believe that heart health is paramount. We feel it is more important now, more than ever, to relaunch our Liposomal Heart Health product," said Chervin Jafarieh, Co-Founder of Cymbiotika. "With high blood pressure, obesity and poor diet on the rise, refining and expanding our heart health offerings to help our consumers take control of their lives and improve their health through healthy lifestyle choices, is a priority. We look forward to continuing to offer innovative products that our customers are in high need of."
The formula has been updated to feature a delicious organic orange cream flavor and is now sold in a thirty-pouch box, instead of one bottle. Additional ingredients include Citrus Pectin, Konjac Root, and Vitamin E (as D-Alpha Tocopherol).
"The pandemic has caused added stress on everyone over the past couple of years, which has led to poor overall physical health for many Americans. We are thrilled to offer an effective product that will help bring relief to those struggling with anxiety, and ultimately experiencing worsening heart health because of this," said Cymbiotika's CEO and Co-Founder, Shahab Elmi. "Our goal is to educate and empower our consumers into prioritizing their overall health and we are glad to be a part of their wellness journey with our easy-to-use products, made from only the best ingredients."
Cymbiotika's Heart Health retails for $56 and is available for purchase through the Cymbiotika website. Customers should take one pouch daily by squeezing directly into their mouth or stirring into their favorite beverage. To maximize heart protection, one can pair the Heart Health with Cymbiotika's Omega for even greater benefits.
Cymbiotika crafts supplements with only the highest quality bioavailable and wild-crafted ingredients. Heart Health is GMP certified and meets the criteria for keto, gluten-free, soy-free, and grain-free diets. For more details, please visit: www.cymbiotika.com.
About Cymbiotika
Cymbiotika is an innovative wellness brand based in San Diego. With the motto, "Your mind and body deserve the best", Cymbiotika is driven by the higher purpose of inspiring everyday people to achieve their optimal health. Founded in 2017, Cymbiotika uses the most advanced bioavailable absorption technology and sources only the highest quality plant-based nutrients to resolve specific nutritional deficiencies and support healthy aging, detoxification, and longevity. Cymbiotika never uses synthetics, GMOs, fillers, chemicals, preservatives, additives or sugars
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Cymbiotika | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/cymbiotika-relaunches-heart-health-support-healthy-heart-throughout-life/ | 2022-05-17T14:38:08Z |
The Venezuelan Super-Premium Rum brand received a 92 point rating, adding to their growing list of gold medals and accolades.
EL CONSEJO, Venezuela, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 2022 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, SANTA TERESA 1796 was awarded a 92 point rating (certified as an excellent and highly recommended rum) and the Tried and True award.
A product of the artisanal Solera Method, SANTA TERESA 1796 is created with a complex blend of rums aged for up to 35 years. The Solera Method, adopted from Spanish Sherry producers, ensures that every bottle of Santa Teresa 1796 features some of the very first "Ron Madre" or Mother Rum. Since the barrels were first filled in 1992, the Solera casks have never fully emptied. Instead, each time a bottle is drawn, the Solera is topped up with a slightly younger rum blend, guaranteeing that every bottle has exceptional richness and a little bit of our Mother Rum. A credit to the rum's meticulous craftsmanship, this award celebrates the product's over 220 years of production on the Hacienda Santa Teresa.
Recognized as one of the most prestigious judges of the spirits industry, the Ultimate Spirits Challenge has given SANTA TERESA 1796 its stamp of approval, noting its rich taste and aroma. Tasters were drawn in by the scent of caramel and baking spices and hooked by the bold and smooth finish. The unique flavor was another selling point, with the competition highlighting the taste of, "burnt sugar, cigar box spice, dark chocolate, and dried plantain chips."
This award comes on the heels of the announcement of several other accolades awarded to SANTA TERESA 1796. The brand was awarded several gold medals at the International Spirits Challenge, The Spirits Business Rum & Cachaca Masters, the USA Spirits Ratings, the Berlin International Spirits Competition, Virtus Lisboa, and the London Spirits Competition as well as the Chilled 100 Bartender Seal of Approval with the signature dark rum receiving a 95 point rating.
SANTA TERESA is an independent, family-owned distillery in Venezuela built on over 220 years of tradition and unexpected thinking in blended and aged rums, making it the third oldest rum producer in the world. Steeped in tradition, every SANTA TERESA product is sourced from their single-estate, the Hacienda Santa Teresa.
"We are incredibly excited to see SANTA TERESA 1796 receiving recognition by all of these wonderful agencies. As the rum market continues to expand, these accolades are a testament to our centuries long heritage, commitment to fine craftsmanship and dedication to producing only the finest rum possible. These endorsements also solidify SANTA TERESA 1796's place as both a staple spirit and a premium base for a cocktail. Throughout the past year, our consumer base has continued to grow and we're looking forward to expanding to an even larger audience in the upcoming year," said Edwin Hincapie, Brand Director, SANTA TERESA 1796.
For more information and to purchase SANTA TERESA 1796, visit https://www.santateresarum.com/.
See HERE for high-res imagery
ENJOY RESPONSIBLY.
©2022. SANTA TERESA IS A TRADEMARK.
About SANTA TERESA
SANTA TERESA is an independent, family-owned rum brand. The single-estate source of SANTA TERESA, the Hacienda Santa Teresa, has been owned by the Vollmer family for over 200 years. To celebrate the bicentennial of the Hacienda, Alberto J. Vollmer embarked on a challenge to elaborate the best crafted rum in the world, and the result was SANTA TERESA 1796. From the Solera method to the bottling system to the hand applied wax seal, every bottle of SANTA TERESA 1796 is unique. A rich, refined and unexpectedly dry rum, SANTA TERESA 1796 features notes of tobacco, leather, dark chocolate and molasses, making it the ideal spirit for those looking to discover new flavors.
For press inquiries:
Nike Communications
Zara Biggs, zbiggs@nikecomm.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Santa Teresa 1796 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/santa-teresa-1796-lauded-ultimate-spirits-challenge/ | 2022-07-19T18:15:42Z |
FORT MYERS, Fla., Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
- Delivered diluted EPS of $0.34, 62% over last year's second quarter
- Grew total year-over-year net sales 18.4% and comparable sales 19.5%
- Expanded gross margin 300 basis points over last year's second quarter to 41.4%
- Generated $58 million of operating income, a 63% increase above last year's second quarter
Chico's FAS, Inc. (NYSE: CHS) (the "Company" or "Chico's FAS") today announced its financial results for the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2022 (the "second quarter"). The Company also provided fiscal 2022 third quarter outlook and updated its full year outlook.
Molly Langenstein, Chico's FAS Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, "Our strong momentum continues. We posted another quarter of outstanding operating income and our highest-ever second quarter EPS, driven by continued robust digital and store sales growth as well as significant year-over-year gross margin rate expansion. Our consistent performance is evidence of the power of our portfolio and the successful implementation of our strategic pillars.
"Apparel was again the standout performer for the quarter, with a 32% comparable sales increase at White House Black Market®, closely followed by a 30% comparable sales gain at Chico's®. Customers continued to respond in nearly every category to our elevated fashion and product. Soma® posted a second quarter comparable sales decline of 9%, largely impacted by the continued slowdown of the lounge and cozy categories, but Soma comparable sales have grown nearly 24% compared to 2019, demonstrating the overall strength and long-term power of the brand. Year-over-year, we significantly reduced promotional activity and achieved more full-priced sales, higher average unit retail and better productivity for all three brands."
"Our strong performance and continued momentum show that our strategy is working," concluded Langenstein. "We are a customer-led, product-obsessed, digital-first, operationally-excellent company with a compelling portfolio of three unique brands, each with their own market share opportunities. Six months into our three-year strategic growth plan, we are pleased with the considerable progress to date and are confident in our ability to achieve our long-term goals."
Business Highlights
The Company's second quarter highlights include:
- Consistent strong results: Chico's FAS posted $0.34 net income per diluted share for the second quarter, driven by strong comparable sales growth and meaningful gross margin expansion. This performance was 62% over the thirteen weeks ended July 31, 2021 ("last year's second quarter") and the Company's highest-ever second quarter net income per diluted share.
- Powerful portfolio outperforming: For the second quarter, total Chico's FAS net sales grew 18.4% and comparable sales increased 19.5% versus last year's second quarter, led by the Company's apparel brands. Chico's and White House Black Market ("WHBM") comparable sales grew 29.7% and 31.9%, respectively, in the second quarter versus last year's second quarter. Compared to the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019, all three brands delivered double-digit comparable sales growth.
- Marketing drove traffic and new customers: Chico's FAS continued to elevate its marketing, focusing more resources on digital. Strategic marketing efforts continue to drive more customers to the Company's brands, with total year-over-year customer count up mid-single digits, spend per customer up over last year's second quarter and the average age of new customers continuing to trend younger.
- Newly launched loyalty programs exceeding expectations: During the second quarter, Chico's FAS launched its new loyalty programs at Chico's and WHBM. Customer sentiment and redemption rates are exceeding expectations, and the newly-launched programs are increasing shopper frequency.
- Gross margin expansion: The second quarter gross margin rate rose to 41.4%, outperforming last year's second quarter by 300 basis points. Higher average unit retail and full-price sales combined with inbound freight and occupancy leverage was partially offset by elevated raw material costs.
- Double-digit operating margin: Income from operations for the second quarter was $58.2 million, or 10.4% of net sales, driven by strong sales growth and gross margin expansion, partially offset by planned increased selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A"), including labor and marketing.
Overview of Financial Results
For the second quarter, the Company reported net income of $42.0 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, compared to net income of $26.2 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, for last year's second quarter.
Sales
For the second quarter, net sales were $558.7 million compared to $472.1 million in last year's second quarter. This 18.4% improvement primarily reflects a comparable sales increase of 19.5%, partially offset by 26 permanent net store closures since last year's second quarter. The 19.5% comparable sales improvement was driven by an increase in transaction count and higher average dollar sale.
Gross Margin
For the second quarter, gross margin was $231.5 million, or 41.4% of net sales, compared to $181.5 million, or 38.4% of net sales, in last year's second quarter. The 300 basis point improvement in gross margin rate primarily reflects higher average unit retail and full price sales combined with inbound freight and occupancy leverage, partially offset by higher raw material costs.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
For the second quarter, SG&A was $173.3 million, or 31.0% of net sales, compared to $145.8 million, or 30.9% of net sales, for last year's second quarter, primarily reflecting planned marketing investments and elevated labor costs, partially offset by ongoing expense management.
Income Taxes
For the second quarter, the effective tax rate was 26.6% compared to 22.7% for last year's second quarter. The second quarter effective tax rate of 26.6% primarily reflects the impact of losses in foreign jurisdictions on which a full valuation allowance is recorded. Last year's second quarter effective tax rate of 22.7% primarily reflects a change in the estimate from the first quarter of fiscal 2021 due to an increase in the Company's projected annual pre-tax income and an increase in annual projected deferred tax assets on which a full valuation allowance exists, partially offset by the impact of the annual loss projected during the first quarter of fiscal 2021.
Cash, Marketable Securities and Debt
At the end of the second quarter, cash and marketable securities totaled $172.5 million compared to $137.2 million at the end of last year's second quarter. Debt at the end of the second quarter totaled $99.0 million compared to $149.0 million at the end of last year's second quarter.
Inventories
At the end of the second quarter, inventories totaled $338.8 million compared to $202.1 million at the end of last year's second quarter. The $136.6 million increase over last year's second quarter primarily reflects elevated in-transit inventories and early receipts to mitigate supply chain disruptions. On-hand inventories, adjusted for early fall receipts, increased 25.0% year-over-year to more align with higher consumer demand.
Fiscal 2022 Third Quarter and Full Year Outlook
For the fiscal 2022 third quarter, the Company currently expects:
- Consolidated net sales of $495 million to $510 million;
- Gross margin rate as a percent of net sales of 38.9% to 39.4%;
- SG&A as a percent of net sales of 34.4% to 34.8%;
- Effective income tax rate of 25.0%; and
- Earnings per diluted share of $0.11 to $0.14.
For the fiscal 2022 full year, the Company currently expects:
- Consolidated net sales of $2,140 million to $2,170 million;
- Gross margin rate as a percent of net sales of 38.8% to 39.1%;
- SG&A as a percent of net sales of 32.2% to 32.5%;
- Effective income tax rate of 25.0%;
- Earnings per diluted share of $0.79 to $0.87; and
- Capital and cloud-based expenditures of approximately $65 million to $70 million.
Conference Call Information
The Company is hosting a live conference call on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 beginning at 8:00 a.m. ET to review the operating results for the second quarter. The conference call is being webcast live over the Internet, which you may access in the Investors section of the Company's corporate website, www.chicosfas.com. A replay of the webcast will remain available online for one year at http://chicosfas.com/investors/events-and-presentations.
The phone number for the call is 1-877-883-0383. International callers should use 1-412-902-6506. The Elite Entry number, 0443821, is required to join the conference call. Interested participants should call 10-15 minutes prior to the 8:00 a.m. start to be placed in queue.
ABOUT CHICO'S FAS, INC.
Chico's FAS is a Florida-based fashion company founded in 1983 on Sanibel Island, Fla. The Company reinvented the fashion retail experience by creating fashion communities anchored by service, which put the customer at the center of everything we do. As one of the leading fashion retailers in North America, Chico's FAS is a company of three unique brands - Chico's, White House Black Market and Soma - each thriving in their own white space, founded by women, led by women, providing solutions that millions of women say give them confidence and joy.
Our Company has a passion for fashion, and each day, we provide clothing, shoes and accessories, intimate apparel and expert styling in our brick-and-mortar boutiques, digital online boutiques and through StyleConnect®, the Company's customized, branded, digital styling tool that enables customers to conveniently shop wherever, whenever and however they prefer.
As of July 30, 2022, the Company operated 1,258 stores in the U.S. and sold merchandise through 58 international franchise locations in Mexico and 2 domestic franchise airport locations. The Company's merchandise is also available at www.chicos.com, www.chicosofftherack.com, www.whbm.com and www.soma.com.
To learn more about Chico's FAS, please visit our corporate website at www.chicosfas.com. The information on our corporate website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this press release or incorporated into our federal securities law filings.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
This press release contains statements concerning our current expectations, assumptions, plans, estimates, judgments and projections about our business and our industry and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements, including without limitation the quote from Ms. Langenstein and the sections captioned "Business Highlights" and "Fiscal 2022 Third Quarter and Full Year Outlook," are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In most cases, words or phrases such as "aim," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "target," "may," "will," "plans," "path," "outlook," "project," "should," "strategy," "potential," "confident" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based largely on information currently available to our management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although we believe our expectations are based on reasonable estimates and assumptions, they are not guarantees of performance. There is no assurance that our expectations will occur or that our estimates or assumptions will be correct, and we caution investors and all others not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, those described in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and, from time to time, in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the following:
The effects of the pandemic, including uncertainties about its depth and duration, new variants of COVID-19 that have emerged, the speed, efficacy and availability of vaccines and treatments, its impact on general economic conditions, human capital management, consumer behavior and discretionary spending, the effectiveness of any actions taken in response to the pandemic, and the impact of the pandemic on our manufacturing operations, shipping costs and timelines and the global supply chain; the ability of our suppliers, logistics providers, vendors and landlords, to meet their obligations to us in light of financial stress, labor shortages, liquidity challenges, bankruptcy filings by other industry participants, and supply chain and other disruptions; increases in unemployment rates and labor shortages; our ability to sufficiently staff our retail stores; changes in general economic conditions, including but not limited to, consumer confidence and consumer spending patterns; the impact of inflation on consumer spending; market disruptions including pandemics or significant health hazards, severe weather conditions, natural disasters, terrorist activities, financial crises, political crises, war and other military conflicts (such as the war in Ukraine) or other major events, or the prospect of these events, including their impact on consumer spending, inflation and the global supply chain; shifts in consumer behavior, and our ability to adapt, identify and respond to new and changing fashion trends and customer preferences, and to coordinate product development with buying and planning; changes in the general or specialty retail or apparel industries, including significant decreases in market demand and the overall level of spending for women's private branded clothing and related accessories; our ability to secure and maintain customer acceptance of in-store and online concepts and styles; increased competition in the markets in which we operate, including our ability to remain competitive with customer shipping terms and costs; decreases in customer traffic at our stores; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices; significant increases in the costs of manufacturing, raw materials, transportation, importing, distribution, labor and advertising; decreases in the quality of merchandise received from suppliers and increases in delivery times for receiving such merchandise; our ability to appropriately manage our store fleet, including the closing of underperforming stores and opening of new stores, and our ability to achieve the expected results of any such store openings or store closings; our ability to appropriately manage inventory and allocation processes and leverage targeted promotions; our ability to maintain cost saving discipline; our ability to operate our retail websites in a profitable manner; our ability to successfully identify and implement additional sales and distribution channels; our ability to successfully execute and achieve the expected results of our business, brand strategies, brand awareness programs, and merchandising and marketing programs including, but not limited to, the Company's turnaround strategy, retail fleet optimization plan, sales initiatives, multi-channel strategies and five operating priorities which are: 1) continuing our ongoing digital transformation; 2) further refining product through fit, quality, fabric and innovation in each of our brands; 3) driving increased customer engagement through marketing; 4) maintaining our operating and cost discipline; and 5) further enhancing the productivity of our real estate portfolio; our ability to utilize our distribution center and other support facilities in an efficient and effective manner; our reliance on sourcing from foreign suppliers and significant adverse economic, labor, political or other shifts (including adverse changes in tariffs, taxes or other import regulations, particularly with respect to China, or legislation prohibiting certain imports from China); U.S. and foreign governmental actions and policies and changes thereto; the continuing performance, implementation and integration of our management information systems; our ability to successfully update our information systems; the impact of any system failure, cyber security or other data security breaches, including any security breaches resulting in the theft, transfer, or unauthorized disclosure of customer, employee, or company information; our ability to comply with applicable domestic and foreign information security and privacy laws, regulations and technology platform rules or other obligations related to data privacy and security; our ability to attract, hire, train, motivate and retain qualified employees in an inclusive environment; our ability to successfully recruit leadership or transition members of our senior management team; increased public focus and opinion on environmental, social and governance ("ESG") initiatives and our ability to meet any announced ESG goals and initiatives; future unsolicited offers to buy the Company and actions of activist shareholders and others and our ability to respond effectively; our ability to secure and protect our intellectual property rights and to protect our reputation and brand images; unanticipated obligations or changes in estimates arising from new or existing litigation, income taxes and other regulatory proceedings; unanticipated adverse changes in legal, regulatory or tax laws; and our ability to comply with the terms of our credit agreement, including the restrictive provisions limiting our flexibility in operating our business and obtaining additional credit on commercially reasonable terms.
These factors should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements contained herein. All forward-looking statements that are made or attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. The forward-looking statements included herein are only made as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
(Financial Tables Follow)
Investor Relations Contact:
Tom Filandro
ICR, Inc.
(646) 277-1235
tom.filandro@icrinc.com
Chico's FAS, Inc. • 11215 Metro Parkway • Fort Myers, Florida 33966 • (239) 277-6200
Supplemental Detail on Net Income Per Common Share Calculation
In accordance with accounting guidance, unvested share-based payment awards that include non-forfeitable rights to dividends, whether paid or unpaid, are considered participating securities. As a result, such awards are required to be included in the calculation of income per common share pursuant to the "two-class" method. For the Company, participating securities are comprised entirely of unvested restricted stock awards granted prior to fiscal 2020.
Net income per share is determined using the two-class method when it is more dilutive than the treasury stock method. Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, including participating securities. Diluted net income per share reflects the dilutive effect of potential common shares from non-participating securities such as restricted stock awards granted after fiscal 2019, stock options, PSUs and restricted stock units. For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2022 and July 31, 2021, potential common shares were excluded from the computation of diluted income per common share to the extent they were antidilutive.
The following unaudited table sets forth the computation of net income per basic and diluted common share shown on the face of the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income (in thousands, except per share amounts):
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Chico's FAS, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/chicos-fas-inc-reports-record-second-quarter-eps/ | 2022-08-31T12:10:50Z |
RADNOR, Pa., June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that the firm has filed a securities class action lawsuit against Natera, Inc. ("Natera") (NASDAQ: NTRA) on behalf of all persons and entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Natera common stock between February 26, 2020, and April 19, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period").
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR NATERA LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/natera-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=natera&mktm=r
TO VIEW OUR VIDEO, PLEASE CLICK HERE
TO VIEW OUR COMPLAINT, PLEASE CLICK HERE
LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: JUNE 27, 2022
CLASS PERIOD: FEBRUARY 26, 2020 through APRIL 19, 2022
CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:
James Maro, Esq. (484) 270-1453 or Email at info@ktmc.com
Kessler Topaz is one of the world's foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field individually and our firm is both feared and respected among the defense bar and the insurance bar. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent.
Natera offers genetic testing in the areas of women's health, oncology, and organ health. Among other things, the Company produces and markets a non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT), called "Panorama," and a screening test for kidney transplant failure, called "Prospera." Throughout the Class Period, Defendants repeatedly assured investors that Panorama was reliable, that Prospera was more accurate than competing tests, and that Natera's growth was driven by its superior technology and customer experience.
The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, the Defendants misrepresented and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Panorama was not reliable and resulted in high rates of false positives; (2) Prospera did not have superior precision compared to competing tests; (3) as a result of Defendants' false and misleading claims about Natera's technology, the company was exposed to substantial legal and regulatory risks; (4) Natera relied upon deceptive sales and billing practices to drive its revenue growth; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' statements about the company's business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis.
Natera investors may, no later than June 27, 2022, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Natera investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE
A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.
CONTACT:
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
James Maro, Jr., Esq.
280 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
(484) 270-1453
info@ktmc.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/class-action-reminder-kessler-topaz-meltzer-amp-check-llp-reminds-investors-securities-fraud-class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-natera-inc/ | 2022-06-16T23:32:34Z |
The Stunning Fine Dining Restaurant and Lounge Located in Santa Clara's Westfield Valley Fair Focuses on Innovative Chinese Cuisine with High-Quality, Locally Sourced Ingredients
SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- iChina, a refined Chinese dining concept located in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, is pleased to announce the launch of it a la carte menu to be offered during dinner service. Additionally, Executive Chef Eddie Lam has created new dishes that reflect his innovative take on Chinese cuisine featuring locally sourced organic produce and humane and sustainable meats and seafood.
Due to its popularity during lunch service, guests can now partake in a grander version of iChina's a la carte menu when visiting for dinner. The menu features dishes inspired by all eight of China's culinary regions with an emphasis on Cantonese, Sichuan, and Shandong cuisine. With pricing starting at $14, guests can enjoy a wide range of flavor profiles and cooking techniques that allow for the high-quality ingredients to shine.
"My goal at iChina is to take guests on a journey to discover Chinese flavors as they've never tasted before," said Executive Chef Eddie Lam. "By restructuring the menu offerings and introducing our new dishes, we hope people feel inspired to try new cuisines and explore different cultures through our food."
Chef Lam believes in serving only the freshest and in-season ingredients such as locally sourced produce from farming partners and the most-high grade meat and seafood from purveyors across the world. Chef Lam's utilizes these stellar ingredients in his new menu items inspired by both tradition and innovation. Dishes include the Seafood Soup Dumplings, Typhoon Jumbo Soft Shell Crab, 48-hour Hong Siu Pork Belly, and Buddha's Delight with Braised Tofu.
iChina is inspired by its location in the heart of Silicon Valley where innovation is prominently ingrained in the local culture. One way Chef Lam demonstrates this is by valuing plating as well as taste, balancing artistry and authenticity to highlight the intricate flavors featured in every dish. For his new porridge dish, the base is served spread across an artist's palette with the seafood components intricately placed atop in a stunning design guaranteed to wow guests. The cuisine's thoughtfully intricate preparation contributes to the impeccable dining experience at iChina.
iChina means "love China" – a name that reflects a passion for Chinese cuisine, heritage, and culture. The restaurant offers three distinct dining options for guests: the JiuBa cocktail lounge on the first floor perfect for pre-dinner cocktails, a full-service dining room on the second floor, and four exclusive private dining spaces including a unique virtual reality room. Each setting is inspired by China's ancient imperial palaces and designed with an eye for grandeur.
iChina offers set lunch and a la carte menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and a la carte menu for lunch on weekends. For dinner service, the new a la carte dinner menu will be introduced from July 19, 2022. iChina is conveniently located at Westfield Valley Fair at 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. Ste 1891 in Santa Clara, CA. For more information on iChina, please visit www.ichinarestaurant.com.
Media Contact: iChinaPR@glodownead.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE iChina Restaurant | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/culinary-destination-ichina-expands-la-carte-offerings-include-dinner-service-debuts-innovative-new-menu-items/ | 2022-07-20T13:52:31Z |
Texas sues health secretary over emergency abortion guidance
(AP) - The state of Texas sued the federal government Thursday after the Biden administration said federal rules require hospitals to provide abortions if the procedure is necessary to save a mother’s life, even in cases where state law mostly bans the procedure.
The lawsuit, which names the Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Xavier Becerra among its defendants, says the guidance issued by the Biden administration earlier this week is unlawful, and that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act does not cover abortions.
“The Biden Administration seeks to transform every emergency room in the country into a walk-in abortion clinic,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said as he announced the lawsuit. He said the federal government isn’t authorized to require emergency healthcare providers to perform abortions.
The legal wrangling is causing concern for doctors. Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, a Dallas-based OB/GYN and former abortion provider, said emergency departments may face these situations frequently — when patients experience miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies, or when a woman’s water breaks before a fetus is viable.
“Physicians shouldn’t be forced to call a lawyer, call an ethicist, call another lawyer, call a hospital administrator while a patient is actively dying,” she said. “It is unconscionable.”
The lawsuit comes after the Biden administration told hospitals on Monday that they “must” provide abortion services if the life of the mother is at risk, saying federal law on emergency treatment guidelines preempts state laws that have near total bans on the procedure, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that abortion is not a constitutional right.
In a letter to providers, the Department of Health and Human Services said medical facilities are required to determine whether a person seeking treatment may be in labor or whether they face an emergency health situation — or one that could develop into an emergency — and to provide treatment. The letter says if abortion is the necessary treatment to stabilize the patient, it must be done.
“When a state law prohibits abortion and does not include an exception for the life of the pregnant person — or draws the exception more narrowly than EMTALA’s emergency medical condition definition — that state law is preempted,” the letter said.
The department says its guidance doesn’t reflect new policy, but reminds doctors and providers of existing obligations under EMTALA, which was adopted in 1986 and signed by President Ronald Reagan.
But Texas officials disagree, and are asking a judge to set aside the Biden administration’s guidance and declare it unlawful.
The lawsuit says Biden is “flagrantly disregarding” the legislative and democratic process, and that the guidance forces “hospitals and doctors to commit crimes and risk their licensure under Texas law.”
The lawsuit said the EMTALA does not mandate, direct or suggest providing any specific treatment, and says nothing about abortion.
“On the contrary, EMTALA contemplates that an emergency medical condition is one that threatens the life of the unborn child,” the lawsuit says. “It is obvious that abortion does not preserve the life or health of an unborn child.”
The fall of Roe put in motion Texas’ trigger law that will ban virtually all abortions in coming weeks. Clinics have tried to continue serving patients in the meantime, but court battles over whether a dormant 1925 abortion ban can be enforced for now has already stopped most doctors from performing abortions. Abortions soon will be allowed in Texas only when a mother’s life is in danger or if she is at risk of “substantial impairment of a major bodily function.”
Laura Hermer, a professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. said Texas is more interested in its own sovereignty than in protecting pregnant women.
“It is dangerous to be pregnant in Texas,” said Laura Hermer, a professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. “People who are pregnant are going to die in Texas because of the position Texas is taking on this issue. This is not pro-life. There is nothing pro-life about this.”
Jonathan Turley, a professor at George Washington University School of Law, said it was surprising that the challenge came from a state government. “It’s usually the providers that would challenge any mandate of coverage that is not clearly established in federal law,” Turley said.
Moayedi, the Dallas doctor who is also a board member with Physicians for Reproductive Health, said the federal government’s guidance wasn’t helpful — and that Texas’ lawsuit instills fear among healthcare providers statewide.
“Healthcare providers have always been very hesitant to engage in anything that could be considered an abortion in our state unless they’re abortion providers,” she said.
The lawsuit says that doctors will be forced to chose between violating Texas law — which bans nearly all abortions — or jeopardizing their ability to receive Medicare funds. The lawsuit says the federal guidelines also conflict with the Hyde Amendment, which generally bars federal dollars from being used to fund abortions unless a pregnancy is the result of rape, incest or the woman’s life is in danger.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said this is an example of an “extreme and radical” Republican elected official. She added: “It is unthinkable that this public official would sue to block women from receiving life-saving care in emergency rooms, a right protected under U.S. law.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/14/texas-sues-health-secretary-over-emergency-abortion-guidance/ | 2022-07-14T22:29:54Z |
LEBANON, Tenn. (AP) — Denny Hamlin will lead the field to green at Nashville Superspeedway while debuting a heat-combating device for the first time in his career.
The Sunday forecast calls for temperatures in the high 90s, which would raise the heat inside the race car closer to 125 degrees. It likely will be the hottest race so far this season and the first true heat test of NASCAR’s new Next Gen race car.
In his 17th full season, Hamlin has decided to try a “cool suit,” which is a fairly new trend in racing. The system stores cold water that is circulated by a small pump to move it into the shirt tubing surrounding the driver.
“I typically don’t fight heat as much as other guys do. I don’t know why. Probably because I’ve been doing it for a decade longer than most of them,” Hamlin said. “But for the first time all year, I will wear a cool suit, simply because why not take the luxury when you’ve got it. (The heat) will be a factor (Sunday) for some, for sure.”
Hamlin was awarded the pole at Nashville when a surprise rain shower washed out the second round of Saturday qualifying. The session was halted right before the fastest 10 drivers were set for their shootout.
Hamlin got the pole in his No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, alongside Joey Logano in the No. 22 Ford for Team Penske. Gibbs and Penske are two of the elite Cup organizations who have struggled some this year with the introduction of the new Next Gen stock car, an equalizer that has helped smaller teams compete.
Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing both advanced to the second round of qualifying and have a combined three wins this season.
Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott locked up third and fourth. Larson is the defending race winner and reigning Cup champion.
Suárez, who earned the first Cup win of his career at Sonoma this month, will start fifth. Ryan Blaney of Penske is sixth, followed by Chastain.
Kevin Harvick was eighth for Stewart-Haas Racing and followed by JGR teammates Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr., who announced he’s returning to the team next year.
Bubba Wallace, with team co-owner Michael Jordan watching at the track, was fastest in Friday practice but briefly wiggled during his qualifying lap and will start 30th.
“I told him (Jordan) he should have stayed in the bus,” said Hamlin, who co-owns the team with Jordan. “He agreed. It’s pressure. There’s a lot of pressure when he’s out there.”
Kyle Busch had the worst day of the four Gibbs drivers: Busch spun on his lap and hit the wall, and he’ll start at the back of the field Sunday.
HOT DAY
Drivers are concerned about the heat ahead of Sunday’s race. Logano tried a cool shirt for the first time last race “and now I’m spoiled and don’t ever not want to have it.”
Larson recently started using “Chillout Systems” and thinks he’s got the field covered when it comes to comfort in the heat.
“It works extremely good, it’s honestly cold,” said Larson, who made the change to the new system because its warmer in the Next Gen stock car than it was in the older model. Larson found the cooling system he used last year is ineffective in the Next Gen.
“I needed more out of it, I turned it on and I wouldn’t even feel anything,” Larson said. “So we went to this new system and I highly recommend it for all the teams out there. The first time I tried it was at a test and it was freezing.”
He had to cajole crew chief Cliff Daniels (who is suspended for the next four races because of a loose wheel on Larson’s car at Sonoma) to use the new system because, Larson said, it is six pounds heavier and the added weight has to be accounted for elsewhere on the car.
“He didn’t want to put it in, but it was starting to get hot and I wasn’t feeling anything out of my old system, so I was able to talk him into it,” Larson said. “And yeah, it’s great. So I should get a cut of any sales from here on out.”
Chase Elliott, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, has yet to adopt any sort of cooling system and said he’d use mental toughness to get through Sunday.
“Just be outside, embrace the heat, be the heat and tell yourself ‘It’s cold,’” Elliott said. “It’s about all you can do. There’s a lot of options but I think embracing it and telling yourself it is not hot is the best thing you can do.”
Logano wondered if physical conditioning will come into play Sunday and drivers best equipped to handle a hot day will be in contention for the win. He said sitting inside the car is “like standing in front of a blow dryer. It’s very hot.”
PINATA PARTY
When Suarez picked up his first career Cup victory, the Mexican driver celebrated by smashing a piñata shaped like a taco off the top of his Chevrolet, spilling candy all over the track surface at Sonoma Raceway.
When it came time for Trackhouse Racing to celebrate with its employees at their North Carolina shop, team co-owner Pitbull underhanded another taco piñata toward Suarez that he smashed with a bat — spilling cash all over the shop floor.
“I didn’t know that piñata had money. They told me it had something in it. I lifted it at one point and it was heavy,” Suarez said. “Thank you to Pitbull for throwing the piñata the right way because if it wasn’t for him, I was probably going to miss. But he threw it very, very good.”
Suarez teammate Chastain smashes watermelons after his wins in a tribute to his family watermelon farm, so Suarez about six week ago decided to put a piñata on his team truck for when he finally earned his first Cup victory.
“That’s a big culture thing, since I turned 1-year-old and all the way to 30, for every birthday, I’ve had a piñata,” he said.
But after smashing the piñata that Pitbull had stuffed with cash, Suarez was done reveling in his breakthrough win.
“That was the last day of celebration for me because that was the last day that I got to enjoy it with Pitbull and my team,” he said. “That night, I put it in my mind to flip the page. I enjoyed every second of it, but for me, it’s in the past. Now, it’s time to get some more.”
INSIDE NORTH WILKESBORO
Toyota has resumed its popular “Sponsafier” campaign with three new commercials that launched this weekend and gave Kyle Busch his first look inside North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina.
The former Cup track has long been defunct but Speedway Motorsports has renovations to begin later this year and hopes to at least land a Truck Series event at North Wilkesboro.
Toyota used brothers Kurt and Kyle Busch for a commercial entitled “Aliens,” and shot most of it inside North Wilkesboro, which will re-open in August for late-model races and then dirt races in October.
“It can be successful, and it can turn into something nice,” Kyle Busch said. “So I’m looking forward to it if they put something there. I think it would be sweet. It’d be nice to see that place come back to life, and whether it’s an All-Star Race or a Truck race or Xfinity, whatever, I think that we can make something happen there for sure.”
___
More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/hamlin-to-lead-field-to-green-at-hot-nashville-superspeedway/ | 2022-06-26T12:30:32Z |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Energy problems plagued Ukraine and Europe as much of the Russian-occupied region that’s home to a largely crippled nuclear power plant was reported temporarily in blackout Sunday.
Only one of six reactors at the Zaporizhzhia facility was connected to the electricity grid, and Russia’s main pipeline carrying natural gas to Germany remained shut down.
The fighting in Ukraine and related disputes over pipelines lie behind the electricity and natural gas shortfalls that have worsened as Russia’s war in Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, grinds on for a seventh month.
Both issues will take center stage this week. U.N. nuclear agency inspectors are scheduled to brief the Security Council on Tuesday about their inspection and safeguard visit to the Zaporizhzhia power plant. European Union energy ministers were slated to hold an emergency meeting Friday in Brussels to discuss the bloc’s electricity market, which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said “is no longer operating.”
Much of the Zaporizhzhia region, including the key city of Melitopol, lost power Sunday.
But electricity was gradually being restored, said Vladimir Rogov, the head of the Russia-installed local administration in Enerhodar, the city where the nuclear power plant is located. To the southwest, power was also out in several parts of the port city of Kherson, according to Russia’s Tass news agency. Rogov blamed the outages in both locations on damage to high-voltage power lines.
While Rogov said no new shelling of the area around the six-reactor Zaporizhzhia plant was reported Sunday, the effects of earlier strikes lingered.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said Saturday that the plant was disconnected from its last main external power line and one reactor was disconnected because of grid restrictions. Another reactor was still operating and producing electricity for cooling and other essential safety functions at the site, as well as externally for households, factories and others through a reserve power line, the IAEA said.
Russian forces have held the Zaporizhzhia facility, Europe’s largest nuclear plant, since early March, with its Ukrainian staff continuing to operate it.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said he will brief the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday on a mission he led to the plant last week. The 14-member delegation braved gunfire and artillery blasts to reach the plant last Thursday after months of negotiations to enable passage through the fighting’s front lines.
Without blaming either warring side, Grossi said his big concerns are the plant’s physical integrity, its power supply and the staff’s condition.
Europe’s energy picture remained clouded by the war in Ukraine.
Just hours before Russian energy company Gazprom was due to resume natural gas deliveries to Germany through a major pipeline after a three-day stoppage, it announced Friday that it couldn’t do so until oil leaks in turbines are fixed.
That is the latest development in a saga in which Gazprom has advanced technical problems as the reason for reducing gas flows through Nord Stream 1 — explanations that German officials have rejected as a cover for a political power play. Dismissing Gazprom’s latest rationale for the shutdown, Germany’s Siemens Energy — which manufactured turbines the pipeline uses —- said turbine leaks can be fixed while gas continues to flow through the pipeline.
Von der Leyen blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine for Europe’s energy crisis. Before the EU energy ministers’ meeting this coming Friday, she said electricity and natural gas prices should be decoupled and that she supports a price cap on Russian pipeline gas exported to Europe.
Natural gas is one of the main fuels used in electricity generation, and is a major source of Russia’s income, along with oil exports.
On Ukraine’s battlefield, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address Sunday, without providing specifics, that his country’s forces had retaken control of two settlements in Ukraine’s south and one in the separatist eastern Donetsk region.
Russian shelling hit the southern Ukraine port city of Mykolaiv during the night, damaging a medical treatment facility, the city’s mayor said Sunday.
Mykolaiv and its surrounding region have been hit daily for weeks. On Saturday, a child was killed and five people were wounded in rocket attacks in the region, Gov. Vitaliy Kim said.
Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych didn’t report injuries in the overnight attack, which he said also damaged residences. Mykolaiv, which is 30 kilometers (20 miles) upstream from the Black Sea on the Southern Bug River, is a significant port and shipbuilding center.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, Russian shelling late Saturday set a large wooden restaurant complex on fire, according to the region’s emergency service. One person was killed and two others were wounded in shelling in the region, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said.
Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of the eastern Donetsk region where Russian forces have been trying to take full control, said four people were killed in shelling on Saturday.
___
Andrew Katell contributed to this story from New York.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-ukrainian-port-city-kharkiv-come-under-russian-shelling/ | 2022-09-05T02:01:48Z |
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Hundreds of Sri Lankans jostled Monday to use the vast array of exercise machines in the private gym of the presidential palace, lifting weights and running on treadmills inside a facility that was, until now, the exclusive domain of the country’s beleaguered president.
For many who had traveled on overcrowded trains and buses from outside the capital, Colombo, this was the first time they had laid eyes on a residence so grand. The colonial-era structure was a staggering sight, with airy verandas, plush living rooms and spacious bedrooms, a garden swimming pool and neatly manicured lawns.
On Saturday, thousands of angry Sri Lankans descended on the residence in fury against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who they blame for an unprecedented economic meltdown that has throttled the lives of the nation’s 22 million people. They turned over barriers and then swarmed the lawns to enter the palatial residence and occupy it.
Two days later, people continued to stream in, flocking to it like a tourist attraction, marveling at the paintings inside and lounging on the beds piled high with pillows.
Alawwa Ralage Piyasena, a 67-year-old farmer who arrived by bus from outside Colombo, was stunned by the president’s gym. “I never thought I would get an opportunity to see these things,” he said, gesturing at the equipment while trying to hop onto a treadmill.
“Look at the pool and this gym. We can see how they enjoyed a life of luxury here while people struggled outside. Our families are suffering without food.”
The weekend saw the most dramatic escalation yet of the monthslong protests against the country’s worst economic crisis, with protesters not only forcing their way into the presidential palace but also storming the prime minister’s official residence and setting fire to his private home.
The charged events led to both leaders agreeing to step down — Rajapaksa, who has not been seen publicly or heard from since, said he would leave office Wednesday. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he would depart as soon as opposition parties agree on a unity government.
But protest leaders have said they will not leave the official buildings until both actually resign.
For months, demonstrators have camped outside Rajapaksa’s office, demanding he quit for severely mismanaging the economy. Many have accused him and his powerful, dynastic family, which has ruled Sri Lanka for nearly two decades, of corruption and policy blunders that tipped the island nation into crisis.
People’s patience has grown increasingly thin, with the crisis sparking shortages of fuel, medicine, food and cooking gas. Authorities have temporarily shuttered schools, while the country relies on aid from India and other nations as it tries to negotiate a bailout with the International Monetary Fund. Wickremesinghe said recently that negotiations with the IMF were complex because Sri Lanka was now a bankrupt state.
Sri Lanka announced in April that it was suspending repayment of foreign loans due to a foreign currency shortage. Its total foreign debt amounts to $51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027.
The severe fuel shortage has choked transport, forcing many to use public buses, trains and even bicycles to get around. Hundreds of people held onto the roofs of overcrowded trains to make the journey to the presidential palace.
At first, thousands stormed the residence in rage, waving the national flag and chanting “Gota Go Home!” But since Rajapaksa announced he would resign, many of those arriving now were jubilant, strolling the vast residence as sightseers. Inside and outside the complex, scores of unarmed policemen patrolled the area — but did not stop the deluge of crowds from coming in.
On Monday, the place was packed. The official residence had been forbidden to the general public, and even those invited were only allowed into certain areas.
People peered into each room, settling into beds and taking copious selfies. But no one dared to dip into the pool on Monday, after videos on social media showed crowds splashing in glee over the weekend. Now, the once clear blue water had turned a muddy brown.
In the lush green gardens outside, groups gathered with snacks, sipping on soda and tea, as though they were out on a picnic with friends and family.
“This belongs to the people,” declared Padama Gamage, a laborer, who traveled on a bus from Galle, on the country’s southwestern tip. “Now I know how these leaders enjoyed luxury at our cost.”
Not all were relaxing, however. Groups of volunteers banded together, sweeping up broken chairs and glass from damaged windows, a sign of the rage that swept through on Saturday. They tried to control the throng, saying some people were again vandalizing the property.
“If allowed, they would even take the doors and windows, so we are trying to control the crowd,” said Bulupitiyage Suresh, a 29-year-old who has been protesting against Rajapaksa for over a month.
Welihitiyawe Dhammawimala, a Buddhist monk, lamented the damage, saying public money will now be spent on refurbishing the place. “Had Rajapaksa resigned earlier, this would not have happened,” he said.
Nearby, people waited in a long line to enter the president’s office, now taken over by the protesters who had hunkered outside it for months. The line grew longer by the day, almost resembling the long queues people have been forced to wait in for months to get fuel.
A few kilometers (miles) away, the prime minister’s official residence, known as Temple Trees, was also overrun by protesters. Singing crowds gathered around a man playing a piano inside while others cluster around a Carrom board game or slept on the overstuffed sofas. Outside, people cooked rice and curry, offering it freely to passersby.
Back at Rajapaksa’s official residence, Supun Dhammika, a student, fumed over the family’s legacy in the country.
“The fall of the presidential residence into the hands of protesters and the public symbolizes the fall of the Rajapaksa dynasty,” he said.
“If they think they can come back from this, it’s only a dream. They ruined the country and they have no right to seek votes from people ever again.” | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/taking-selfies-sri-lankans-converge-on-presidential-palace/ | 2022-07-12T14:21:57Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — It sure is fun watching popular lottery games’ jackpots grow and dream of what you would do with $100 million, but we all it would be way more fun to win one, or even a smaller prize.
This isn’t some small loan of $1 million; the Texas Lottery reports a $1M winning Powerball Texas Lottery ticket was sold outside of Houston over the weekend. That ticket matched five of the winning numbers while missing the Powerball to net the seven-figure win from the August 27 drawing.
The lottery says this winning ticket was sold at a Time Mart on County Road 59 in the city of Pearland, and the ticket was a Quick Pick. “Tickets must be claimed no later than 180 days after the draw date.”
As the jackpot remains at large, the next Powerball Drawing is set for Aug. 31 with a jackpot of $134M which has a cash value of $75.3M. | https://cw33.com/news/texas/1-million-winning-powerball-texas-lottery-ticket-sold-near-houston/ | 2022-08-30T16:27:31Z |
Paragon Risk Management announces the promotion of Mike Runyan to the leadership role for Risk Management offerings.
HERNDON, Va., July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2020, Paragon announced the creation of a new Sector offering risk management solutions for its clients. Since then, Paragon Risk Management (PRM) has combined existing uniformed security services and technology with a wide range of cleared Risk Advisory, Intelligence, and Security Management offerings for its clients.
Mike Runyan will assume PRM leadership with nearly twenty years of experience within the Securitas family of companies. Beginning his career with Pinkerton, Mike served in several roles including an assignment abroad in the Jakarta, Indonesia office and ultimately as Managing Director for the Washington, DC office before joining Paragon's parent company, Securitas Critical Infrastructure Services (SCIS), in 2014. In his most recent role as the National Account Director for SCIS, Mike was responsible for managing operations countrywide for multiple large clients. This included coordinating the use of PRM solutions and expertise to enhance traditional physical security programs.
"We look forward to Mike continuing the tremendous growth Paragon Risk Management has seen since its inception two years ago. As we expand our offerings further into the commercial and federal markets, Mike's understanding and experience working in both arenas will further enhance our ability to provide comprehensive solutions for our clients," commented Paragon CEO Tony Sabatino.
Paragon employs over 12,000 professionals in specialized operations providing security, fire, investigations, inspections, cybersecurity, risk management, and mission support services to the U.S. Federal Government and other critical infrastructure clients. Paragon is Safeguarding American Assets at home, abroad, and beyond.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Paragon Systems | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/paragon-names-new-director-paragon-risk-management-solutions/ | 2022-07-19T15:15:59Z |
Positive clinical data presented in a mini-oral session at ESMO
Safety profile of the combination was generally similar to Libtayo monotherapy
TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) today announced the presentation of positive data from multiple expansion cohorts of an initial Phase 1 trial for an investigational combination of LAG-3 inhibitor fianlimab and PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo® (cemiplimab) in advanced melanoma. The results were shared in a mini-oral session at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2022 in Paris.
"After regulatory approvals of our PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo in two advanced non-melanoma skin cancers, we are expanding our efforts in dermato-oncology to address advanced melanoma," said Israel Lowy, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Translational and Clinical Sciences, Oncology at Regeneron. "Combining LAG-3 and PD-1 inhibition has shown promise in advanced melanoma but achieving response rates above 50% has been challenging. In two independent dose expansion cohorts from a Phase 1 clinical trial of patients naïve to PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors, our LAG-3 inhibitor fianlimab combined with Libtayo demonstrated greater than 60% response rates. Notably, the safety profile for this combination appears in line with Libtayo monotherapy. A Phase 3 trial in first-line metastatic melanoma is currently enrolling patients, and we look forward to opening additional trials with this combination in the near future."
Data presented at ESMO were from three dose expansion cohorts in advanced melanoma, including two that enrolled patients who had not previously been treated with a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor (PD-1/PD-L1-naïve) and one of patients who had received prior PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor therapy (PD-1/PD-L1-experienced). The objective response rate (ORR) in the PD-1/PD-L1-experienced cohort was 13%. Results from the PD-1/PD-L1-naïve cohorts were as follows:
- In updated results for one cohort (n=40), a 62.5% ORR (25 of 40 patients; 6 complete reponses [CR], 19 partial responses [PR]). Median duration of response (DOR) was not reached (range: 12 months to not evaluable [NE]) and the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 24 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4 months to NE), per Kaplan-Meier estimates.
- In a newly presented independent confirmatory cohort (n=40), a 65% ORR (26 of 40 patients; 1 CR, 25 PRs). The median DOR (range: 6 months to NE) and median PFS (95% CI, 7.5 to NE) were not reached, per Kaplan-Meier estimates.
Tumor responses were based on RECIST 1.1 criteria and per investigator assessment. AEs of any grade in the two PD-1/PD-L1-naïve cohorts (n= 80) occurred in 96% of patients, with 29% considered serious. The most common immune-mediated AEs in ≥15% patients were rash (n=19) and pruritus (n=12). AEs that were ≥grade 3 occurred in 40% of patients. The treatment discontinuation rate due to AEs was 16%, with two deaths considered possibly related to treatment (colitis and cardiac shock).
The potential use of fianlimab and Libtayo described above is investigational, and safety and efficacy of this combination have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.
About Regeneron in Oncology
At Regeneron, we're applying more than three decades of scientific innovation with the goal of developing paradigm-changing therapies for patients with cancer. Our oncology portfolio is built around two foundational approaches – our approved PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo and investigational bispecific antibodies – which are being evaluated both as monotherapies and in combination with emerging therapeutic modalities. Together, they provide us with unique combinatorial flexibility to develop potentially synergistic treatments for a wide range of solid tumors and blood cancers.
If you are interested in learning more about our clinical trials, please contact us (clinicaltrials@regeneron.com or 844-734-6643) or visit our clinical trials website.
About fianlimab
Fianlimab is a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the immune checkpoint receptor LAG-3 on T cells and was invented using Regeneron's proprietary VelocImmune® technology. In melanoma, LAG-3 expression on cancer cells is associated with therapeutic resistance to PD-1 inhibitors. Fianlimab is being investigated in combination with Regeneron's PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo to determine whether concurrent blockade of LAG-3 and PD-1 can help overcome this resistance and release the brakes on T cell activation.
About Libtayo
Libtayo is a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the immune checkpoint receptor PD-1 on T cells and was invented using Regeneron's proprietary VelocImmune technology. By binding to PD-1, Libtayo has been shown to block cancer cells from using the PD-1 pathway to suppress T-cell activation. In the U.S. and other countries Libtayo is indicated in certain patients with advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC), advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as in advanced cervical cancer in Canada and Brazil. As of July 1, 2022, Libtayo is developed and marketed globally by Regeneron.
In the U.S., the generic name for Libtayo in its approved indications is cemiplimab-rwlc, with rwlc as the suffix designated in accordance with Nonproprietary Naming of Biological Products Guidance for Industry issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Outside of the U.S. the generic name of Libtayo in its approved indication is cemiplimab.
The extensive clinical program for Libtayo is focused on difficult-to-treat cancers. Libtayo is currently being investigated in trials as a monotherapy, as well as in combination with either conventional or novel therapeutic approaches for other solid tumors and blood cancers. These potential uses are investigational, and their safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.
U.S. FDA-approved Indications Libtayo is a prescription medicine used to treat people with:
- A type of skin cancer called advanced CSCC that has spread or cannot be cured by surgery or radiation.
- A type of skin cancer called BCC:
- A type of lung cancer called NSCLC. Libtayo may be used as your first treatment when your lung cancer has not spread outside your chest (locally advanced lung cancer) and you cannot have surgery or chemotherapy with radiation, or your lung cancer has spread to other areas of your body (metastatic lung cancer), and your tumor tests positive for high "PD-L1" and your tumor does not have an abnormal "EGFR", "ALK "or "ROS1" gene.
It is not known if Libtayo is safe and effective in children.
About Regeneron's VelocImmune Technology
Regeneron's VelocImmune technology utilizes a proprietary genetically engineered mouse platform endowed with a genetically humanized immune system to produce optimized fully human antibodies. When Regeneron's co-Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer George D. Yancopoulos was a graduate student with his mentor Frederick W. Alt in 1985, they were the first to envision making such a genetically humanized mouse, and Regeneron has spent decades inventing and developing VelocImmune and related VelociSuite® technologies. Dr. Yancopoulos and his team have used VelocImmune technology to create approximately one in five of all original, FDA-approved or authorized fully human monoclonal antibodies. This includes REGEN-COV® (casirivimab and imdevimab), Dupixent® (dupilumab), Libtayo® (cemiplimab-rwlc), Praluent® (alirocumab), Kevzara® (sarilumab), Evkeeza® (evinacumab-dgnb) and Inmazeb™ (atoltivimab, maftivimab and odesivimab-ebgn).
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND INDICATION FOR U.S. PATIENTS
What is the most important information I should know about Libtayo?
Libtayo is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. Libtayo can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. You can have more than one of these problems at the same time. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended.
Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worsening signs or symptoms, including:
- Lung problems: cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
- Intestinal problems: diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than usual, stools that are black, tarry, sticky or have blood or mucus, or severe stomach area (abdomen) pain or tenderness
- Liver problems: yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, severe nausea or vomiting, pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen), dark urine (tea colored), or bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
- Hormone gland problems: headache that will not go away or unusual headaches, eye sensitivity to light, eye problems, rapid heartbeat, increased sweating, extreme tiredness, weight gain or weight loss, feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual, urinating more often than usual, hair loss, feeling cold, constipation, your voice gets deeper, dizziness or fainting, or changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness
- Kidney problems: decrease in your amount of urine, blood in your urine, swelling of your ankles, or loss of appetite
- Skin problems: rash, itching, skin blistering or peeling, painful sores or ulcers in mouth or nose, throat, or genital area, fever or flu-like symptoms, or swollen lymph nodes
- Problems can also happen in other organs and tissues. These are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen with Libtayo. Call or see your healthcare provider right away for any new or worsening signs or symptoms, which may include: chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath or swelling of ankles, confusion, sleepiness, memory problems, changes in mood or behavior, stiff neck, balance problems, tingling or numbness of the arms or legs, double vision, blurry vision, sensitivity to light, eye pain, changes in eyesight, persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps, low red blood cells, or bruising
- Infusion reactions that can sometimes be severe. Signs and symptoms of infusion reactions may include: nausea, chills or shaking, itching or rash, flushing, shortness of breath or wheezing, dizziness, feel like passing out, fever, back or neck pain, or facial swelling.
- Rejection of a transplanted organ. Your healthcare provider should tell you what signs and symptoms you should report and monitor you, depending on the type of organ transplant that you have had.
- Complications, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in people who have received a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). These complications can be serious and can lead to death. These complications may happen if you underwent transplantation either before or after being treated with Libtayo. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for these complications.
Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare provider will check you for these problems during your treatment with Libtayo. Your healthcare provider may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. Your healthcare provider may also need to delay or completely stop treatment with Libtayo if you have severe side effects.
Before you receive Libtayo, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
- have immune system problems such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus
- have received an organ transplant
- have received or plan to receive a stem cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic)
- have a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Libtayo can harm your unborn baby
Females who are able to become pregnant:
- Your healthcare provider will give you a pregnancy test before you start treatment.
- You should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for at least 4 months after your last dose of Libtayo. Talk with your healthcare provider about birth control methods that you can use during this time.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with Libtayo.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Libtayo passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 4 months after the last dose of Libtayo.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. The most common side effects of Libtayo include muscle or bone pain, tiredness, rash, and diarrhea. These are not all the possible side effects of Libtayo. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi at
1-877-542-8296.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
About Regeneron
Regeneron is a leading biotechnology company that invents, develops and commercializes life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led for nearly 35 years by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to numerous FDA-approved treatments and numerous product candidates in development, almost all of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, pain, hematologic conditions, infectious diseases and rare diseases.
Regeneron is accelerating and improving the traditional drug development process through our proprietary VelociSuite technologies, such as VelocImmune, which uses unique genetically humanized mice to produce optimized fully human antibodies and bispecific antibodies, and through ambitious research initiatives such as the Regeneron Genetics Center®, which is conducting one of the largest genetics sequencing efforts in the world.
For more information, please visit www.Regeneron.com or follow @Regeneron on Twitter.
Regeneron Forward-Looking Statements and Use of Digital Media
This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties relating to future events and the future performance of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Regeneron" or the "Company"), and actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "estimate," variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements concern, and these risks and uncertainties include, among others, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that has caused the COVID-19 pandemic) on Regeneron's business and its employees, collaborators, and suppliers and other third parties on which Regeneron relies, Regeneron's and its collaborators' ability to continue to conduct research and clinical programs, Regeneron's ability to manage its supply chain, net product sales of products marketed or otherwise commercialized by Regeneron and/or its collaborators or licensees (collectively, "Regeneron's Products"), and the global economy; the nature, timing, and possible success and therapeutic applications of Regeneron's Products and product candidates being developed by Regeneron and/or its collaborators or licensees (collectively, "Regeneron's Product Candidates") and research and clinical programs now underway or planned, including without Libtayo® (cemiplimab) in combination with fianlimab; uncertainty of the utilization, market acceptance, and commercial success of Regeneron's Products and Regeneron's Product Candidates and the impact of studies (whether conducted by Regeneron or others and whether mandated or voluntary), including the studies discussed or referenced in this press release, on any of the foregoing or any potential regulatory approval of Regeneron's Products and Regeneron's Product Candidates; the likelihood, timing, and scope of possible regulatory approval and commercial launch of Regeneron's Product Candidates and new indications for Regeneron's Products, such as Libtayo in combination with fianlimab for the treatment of advanced melanoma; safety issues resulting from the administration of Regeneron's Products (such as Libtayo) and Regeneron's Product Candidates (such as fianlimab) in patients, including serious complications or side effects in connection with the use of Regeneron's Products and Regeneron's Product Candidates in clinical trials; determinations by regulatory and administrative governmental authorities which may delay or restrict Regeneron's ability to continue to develop or commercialize Regeneron's Products and Regeneron's Product Candidates; ongoing regulatory obligations and oversight impacting Regeneron's Products, research and clinical programs, and business, including those relating to patient privacy; the availability and extent of reimbursement of Regeneron's Products (such as Libtayo) from third-party payers, including private payer healthcare and insurance programs, health maintenance organizations, pharmacy benefit management companies, and government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid; coverage and reimbursement determinations by such payers and new policies and procedures adopted by such payers; competing drugs and product candidates that may be superior to, or more cost effective than, Regeneron's Products and Regeneron's Product Candidates; the extent to which the results from the research and development programs conducted by Regeneron and/or its collaborators or licensees (including those discussed or referenced in this press release) may be replicated in other studies and/or lead to advancement of product candidates to clinical trials or therapeutic applications; the ability of Regeneron to manufacture and manage supply chains for multiple products and product candidates; the ability of Regeneron's collaborators, licensees, suppliers, or other third parties (as applicable) to perform manufacturing, filling, finishing, packaging, labeling, distribution, and other steps related to Regeneron's Products and Regeneron's Product Candidates; unanticipated expenses; the costs of developing, producing, and selling products; the ability of Regeneron to meet any of its financial projections or guidance and changes to the assumptions underlying those projections or guidance; the potential for any license or collaboration agreement, including Regeneron's agreements with Sanofi, Bayer, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (or their respective affiliated companies, as applicable), to be cancelled or terminated; and risks associated with intellectual property of other parties and pending or future litigation relating thereto (including without limitation the patent litigation and other related proceedings relating to EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection, Dupixent® (dupilumab), and Praluent® (alirocumab)), other litigation and other proceedings and government investigations relating to the Company and/or its operations, the ultimate outcome of any such proceedings and investigations, and the impact any of the foregoing may have on Regeneron's business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition. A more complete description of these and other material risks can be found in Regeneron's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and its Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022. Any forward-looking statements are made based on management's current beliefs and judgment, and the reader is cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements made by Regeneron. Regeneron does not undertake any obligation to update (publicly or otherwise) any forward-looking statement, including without limitation any financial projection or guidance, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Regeneron uses its media and investor relations website and social media outlets to publish important information about the Company, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Regeneron is routinely posted and is accessible on Regeneron's media and investor relations website (http://newsroom.regeneron.com) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/regeneron).
View original content:
SOURCE Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/fianlimab-lag-3-inhibitor-combined-with-libtayo-cemiplimab-demonstrates-greater-than-60-response-rates-two-independent-cohorts-patients-with-advanced-melanoma-nave-pd-1-or-pd-l1-inhibitors/ | 2022-09-12T07:38:35Z |
Award-winning conference for small and medium-size businesses to feature esteemed leaders from theworlds of business, public policy, science, social justice, sports, entertainment, media and more
DUBLIN, Calif., Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHAT:
The third annual, award-winning, TriNet PeopleForce conference returns September 13-15. The three-day event—live from New York and streamed virtually—will give attendees the chance to interact with each other and our outstanding lineup of speakers during live sessions, Q&As, networking opportunities and more. Through exploration of entrepreneurial passion, purpose and perseverance, leaders of small and medium-size businesses will walk away with expert info, and the most strategic, innovative ways to do business now.
WHO:
The roster of prominent speakers include:
WHEN:
September 13-15
WHERE:
The Theater at City Tech
285 Jay Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
To join the virtual event, click here.
PRESS RSVP:
Renee Brotherton
408-646-5103
renee.brotherton@trinet.com
Josh Gross
347-423-8300
josh.gross@trinet.com
About TriNet TriNet (NYSE: TNET) provides small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) with full-service HR solutions tailored by industry. To free SMBs from HR complexities, TriNet offers access to human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation and compliance, payroll, all enabled by industry leading technology capabilities. TriNet's suite of products also includes services and software-based solutions to help streamline workflows by connecting HR, Benefits, Employee Engagement, Payroll and Time & Attendance. From Main Street to Wall Street, TriNet empowers SMBs to focus on what matters most growing their business and enabling their people. TriNet, incredible starts here. For more information, visit TriNet.com or follow us on Twitter.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE TriNet Group, Inc.
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.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/trinet-peopleforce-returns-new-york-city-september-13-15/ | 2022-09-08T18:22:55Z |
Barry Stern is the former senior vice president of finance at Mandiant, and brings more than 20 years of experience in corporate finance
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BlueVoyant, a rock-solid cyber defense platform company converging internal and external security, today announced that Barry Stern has joined the company as chief financial officer.
Stern brings more than 20 years of finance experience including transforming businesses from start-up to Initial Public Offering (IPO), as well as managing large enterprises' financials. Most recently, Stern was the senior vice president of finance at Mandiant and FireEye, where he managed the company's financial planning and reporting. In addition, he was deeply involved in numerous acquisitions, the divestiture of the FireEye business, and Mandiant's pending acquisition by Google.
Before joining Mandiant, Stern helped two companies, Opower, and Shopping.com (subsequently acquired by eBay), with their IPOs. Additionally, Stern worked at Google, Intel, and Andersen Consulting.
"BlueVoyant has a proven track record of sustained high growth," said Jim Rosenthal, CEO, BlueVoyant. "Barry has the experience of growing and scaling tech-enabled companies. I am excited to welcome him to the team to maximize financial opportunities."
In his role as CFO, Stern will focus on setting and managing BlueVoyant's financial and strategic plans, establishing and managing financial and operational processes and goals, ensuring regulatory reporting requirements are met, managing investor relations, and building a world-class global finance organization to help scale the company's business.
BlueVoyant has more than 700 customers, 650 employees across five continents, and recently announced a $250 million series raise with a more than unicorn valuation. The company has a proven track record of sustained high growth.
"I understand what companies like BlueVoyant need as the team continues to transform cyber defense," Stern said. "I am excited to help take BlueVoyant to the next level with rapid growth and expansion."
About BlueVoyant
BlueVoyant converges internal and external cyber defense capabilities into an outcomes-based, cloud-native platform called BlueVoyant Elements™. Elements continuously monitors your network, endpoints, attack surface, and supply chain as well as the open, deep, and dark web for vulnerabilities, risks, and threats; and takes action to protect your business, leveraging both machine learning-driven automation and human-led expertise. Elements can be deployed as independent solutions or together as a full-spectrum cyber defense platform. BlueVoyant's approach to cyber defense revolves around three key pillars — technology, telemetry, and talent — that deliver rock-solid cyber defense capabilities to more than 700 customers across the globe.
Visit www.bluevoyant.com
BlueVoyant Press Contact:
Jennifer Schlesinger
jenny.schlesinger@bluevoyant.com
+1 201.397.4976
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE BlueVoyant | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/bluevoyant-welcomes-seasoned-finance-executive-chief-financial-officer/ | 2022-06-21T13:36:20Z |
State House Speaker has mental health discussion with local law enforcement leaders
Tennessee General Assembly Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) was in Jackson Friday morning with Julian Wiser having a conversation with law enforcement leaders from around rural West Tennessee to discuss mental health issues and truth in sentencing that was passed earlier this year in the state legislature.
The appearance was one in a series Sexton is having across the state in conversation with law enforcement leaders to get an idea of what needs to be done to help them do their job from their perspective.
Sexton said similar conversations happened last year with judges and district attorneys, and the truth in sentencing bill that was passed this past legislative session was a result of that.
Multiple counties were represented in the conversation that focused largely on mental health.
Sexton asked the group for a rough estimate of how many inmates in their jails should actually be in mental health institutions, and the answer Sexton received was about 10 percent.
Sexton said that number is consistent with the answers he’s gotten when asking that question in other places.
One of the things discussed was trying to get the Western Mental Health Institute in Bolivar back up to where it’s run in the past with more staffing and patients.
“It may be at 10 percent of what it once ran, and I have to believe it’s not because we’re doing that much better mentally as a society right now,” Sexton said. “We’ve got people in jail that should be there, and others are homeless or in bad situations that need access to that kind of help.
“It’s hard for me to go anywhere in the state and have a conversation like this and not hear from someone who’s dealt with mental health issues in the past, got the help they needed and are leading a good life now because they got straightened out.”
And changing the stigma associated with mental health issues is happening too.
“It’s been something people didn’t want to talk about or address in the past, but that seems to be going away now, which is good,” Sexton said.
Reach Brandon Shields at bjshields@jacksonsun.com. Follow him on Twitter @JSEditorBrandon or on Instagram at editorbrandon. | https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/2022/06/06/state-house-speaker-has-mental-health-discussion-local-law-enforcement-leaders/7482924001/ | 2022-06-06T12:55:18Z |
ALBANY — It took four games Monday afternoon, but the Lady Eagles of Sherwood Christian Academy picked up a volleyball victory. They defeated the Lady Mustangs of Central Georgia Arts 25-18, 28-26, 17-25 and 25-20.
The Lady Eagles jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first game behind the serves of Ivy Grace Collins. Collins led the scoring in Game 1 and Hayden Walker was second for Sherwood Christian.
In Game 2, Walker nailed five serves in a row to push the Lady Eagles out to a 16-8 lead, but the Lady Mustangs slowly, but surely battled back. Tied 22-22, the Lady Eagles actually missed a serve and gave the Lady Mustangs a 23-22 lead and the two teams continued to battle for each point. Regulation tied at 25 each, but Arabella Davidson nailed the final two serves to give SCA the 28-26 win. Walker was the leading scorer with aces and kills, while Addie Hemmings was big for the Lady Eagles with defense and had the most digs.
The Lady Mustangs finally got their win in Game 3 when they jumped out to a 5-1 lead to start the game and held off the Lady Eagles to win 25-17. The Lady Eagles made the game interesting early as Davidson served several straight times for points and had four assists. Walker was again the leading scorer.
The team effort in the fourth game pushed the Lady Eagles to victory in the match with Lucy Wright as the leading scorer, a block by Alex Collins, and five digs from Collins. The final of that game was 25-20.
The Lady Eagle JV also defeated the Lady Mustangs 25-15, 20-25, 15-10.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/sports/sherwood-christian-defeats-central-georgia-arts-in-volleyball/article_48fae184-2817-11ed-a2ac-8f4977bf363a.html | 2022-08-30T05:37:10Z |
AUSTIN, Texas, April 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For over 80 years, Capital Medical Clinic has been a leading internal medicine practice for Austin and Central Texas families. After 50 years in their Medical Park Tower location, it was time to find a new, modern facility that would carry them forward for another 50 years. In partnership with Long View Equity, the search began. One of the primary considerations for the practice was location. They had an established practice in central Austin and would not consider moving far from their patients. However, finding affordable, large, and modern space in central Austin was no easy task. Through diligent search and industry connections, the Long View team was eventually able to secure an entire floor in a planned development on the Seton Medical Center campus.
The new facility boasts over 22,000 SF of high-tech, modern space. The beautiful facility marries form with function and allows the practice to shift from primarily treating illness to proactively preventing it. Capital Medical Clinic has become a leader in wellness care. This new facility will enhance their established practice and support them and their patients well into the future.
Daniel Campbell, Managing Director at Long View Equity, commented, "This transaction is one that we will remember for a long time. We very much enjoyed guiding the physicians through the process of locating, securing, designing, and ultimately building their new home. They were in their previous location for several decades and so we took this transaction very seriously and hope that they are pleased with the result."
Long View Equity is actively pursuing acquisition and development opportunities across office, industrial, medical, multi-family and retail asset classes in major Texas markets.
Long View Equity, LLC, founded in 2010, is an Austin, Texas based investment management company that oversees investment decisions and operations of real estate investment funds and other syndicated investment vehicles. Long View Equity's core purpose is to create long-term value for its 100+ investors by making well-thought-out investment decisions, exercising diligence in management, and continually seeking out opportunities to create value. The Company pursues strategies involving the direct acquisition of core-plus and value-added investments and has a proven 10+ year track record of operating over 50 office, retail, or industrial real estate properties located primarily in metropolitan markets in Texas.
For more information about Long View Equity, please visit: www.longviewequity.com
For over 80 years, Capital Medical Clinic physicians have provided quality healthcare to Austin and Central Texas families. Capital Medical Clinic is a private medical group practice of specialists in Internal Medicine. Internists receive specialized training in the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases. All physicians have been certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. The practice emphasizes accurate and prompt diagnosis, maintains a strong commitment to individualized treatment, and supports preventive measures to improve the quality of our patients' lives.
For more information about Capital Medical Clinic, please visit: www.capitalmedicalclinic.com
Contact:
Long View Equity
Daniel Campbell
(512) 377-9395
dcampbell@longviewequity.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Long View Equity | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/21/after-50-years-one-location-capital-medical-clinic-finds-new-home-central-austins-medical-district/ | 2022-04-22T08:16:16Z |
ST. LOUIS, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, communications and data networking products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, named Paul Woodard as District Vice President for the company's Atlanta District, effective July 11, 2022. Woodard will replace Mark Adams, who will retire from Graybar on July 1, after more than 40 years with the company.
Woodard most recently served as vice president, customer operations for Incora. As District Vice President, he will lead Graybar's business operations in a territory that includes Alabama, along with portions of Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.
"We thank Mark Adams for his many contributions to the company and wish him all the best in retirement," said Graybar Senior Vice President and General Manager Dennis DeSousa. "In addition, we are excited to welcome Paul Woodard to the Graybar team. Paul is a proven leader with an extensive background in sales, operations, customer experience and business management. We are confident he will play a vital role in growing our business and serving our customers in this region."
Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, communications and data networking products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of more than 300 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR.
Media Contact:
Tim Sommer
(314) 578-7672
timothy.sommer@graybar.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Graybar | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/graybar-names-paul-woodard-district-vice-president-atlanta/ | 2022-06-30T16:04:49Z |
LAPEL, Ind. (WXIN) – A woman living in Lapel, Indiana, believes she recently fell victim to the attempted theft of her Kia automobile — and she blames TikTok with inspiring the would-be thieves.
Alissa Smart’s niece woke her up in the middle of the night on July 16 to inform her that two people had broken into her Kia and attempted to start the engine by using a USB cable. This method, which allegedly allows a driver to bypass a chip or a key when started certain Kia models, has been demonstrated on social media, Nexstar’s WXIN reported.
It’s also a known issue that police across the country have been warning Kia and Hyundai owners about.
“I was so angry when my niece woke me up to tell me,” said Smart. “I was scared, anxious and confused on how someone could see two car seats and a diaper bag and still commit such a monstrous act.”
Smart doesn’t know who the perpetrators are, but she suspects local teenagers.
“I have no idea — I’m leaning toward a teenager based on the fact they stole bicycles along the way and then Mountain Dew from my parents’ garage and ditched it all up the road to come back and try to steal my Kia Soul,” said Smart.
“The keys were in one of my parents’ vehicles on the property. If they wanted to steal a car, it would’ve been much easier to take that truck. Instead they busted out my window and tried to hotwire my Kia Soul before my niece walked outside and they took off running on foot.”
The damage to Smart’s car is estimated to cost more than she can afford. A window replacement alone will cost her $400.
“I can’t afford to fix my vehicle, which leaves me and my two children without our only mode of transportation,” said Smart. “Not to mention they stole my wallet that included my ID and my children’s medical cards with their full names and date of births. I feel violated and scared.”
Smart has filed a report with Lapel Police. She claims the police haven’t seen any similar cases.
Other departments across the country, however, have acknowledged similar break-ins and thefts, citing the lack of an immobilization device on certain Kia and Hyundai models. In Norfolk, Virginia, police have observed a 35% increase in Kia and Hyundai thefts in the first half of July alone, WAVY reported. And police in other municipalities, like Beloit, Wisconsin, and Kentwood, Michigan, are urging Kia and Hyundai owners to take extra precautions.
The problem, according to authorities, concerns a design flaw which allows a driver to start the cars after gaining access to the steering column. Thieves are exploiting this flaw, and some are posting their illegal antics online, Sgt. Eric Brunner of the Kent County Sheriff’s Department in Michigan told Nexstar’s WOOD.
Rick Ricart, of Ricart Automotive in Ohio, told WCMH that no less than 30 Kia and Hyundai cars had been towed to his shop for service during one week in June, all with damage to the steering columns.
Ricart told the station that he, too, fell victim to the theft of several Kias and Hyundais back in February, before he became aware that certain YouTube and TikTok users were describing the security flaw online. Now, he says, he no longer leaves Kia or Hyundai models on the lot at night.
Smart, the break-in victim in Indiana, also told WXIN she doesn’t think TikTok should allow the type of content that may possibly result in further break-ins.
“This trend absolutely makes me feel disgusted,” she said. “It’s really beyond me that people think it’s OK to post criminal acts, let alone participate in them after seeing them online.” | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/woman-blames-social-media-trend-after-would-be-thieves-attempt-to-steal-kia-by-exploiting-security-flaw/ | 2022-07-23T20:05:40Z |
The United States is in a maternal health crisis, Goldman Sachs wants to change that
By Nicole Goodkind, CNN Business
The United States is in a maternal health crisis.
Maternal mortality and morbidity rates across the country have increased steadily over the past 20 years, even as rates in all other developed countries have decreased significantly.
New government data shows that US maternal deaths jumped by 14% during the first years of the pandemic, to 861 in 2020 from 754 in 2019. The rate of maternal deaths for Black women in the US was nearly three times higher than it was for white women over that time frame.
Goldman Sachs wants to change that. Mahmee, a six-year-old maternal healthcare startup, has announced the closing of a $9.2 million Series A funding round led by Goldman’s Growth Equity Business.
High maternal mortality rates in the US, especially among minority groups, have “become a systemic issue and something that we’re not paying attention to,” said Mahmee founder and CEO Melissa Hanna. “But we can also turn this around.”
The investment is part of Goldman Sachs’ One Million Black Women initiative, a $10 billion commitment to narrow opportunity gaps for Black women over the next decade.
Mahmee, which has also received funding from Serena Williams and Mark Cuban, hopes to build the digital infrastructure needed to bring patients and providers together and make healthcare data widely available in an industry where it’s often siloed.
“The reality is that most of the records systems that we use to track health information on mothers and babies don’t talk to each other,” said Hanna.
Mahmee creates a unified record for each patient that shows all the health data of a mother in one place. The service also offers access to a national network of community-based health providers including in-house nurses and care coordinators who provide live support seven days a week. The coordinators monitor health needs, offer referrals to health professionals, and assist with questions and concerns from expectant mothers.
The company also works directly with institutions by selling their nurse-led coordination programs to a number of health services, medical groups and insurance companies. Mahmee currently has over 750 providers and organizations in its network in 44 states.
Well-coordinated care has been proven to lead to better health outcomes and fewer hospitalizations, according to research published in the Annals of Family Medicine, but US patients are more likely to encounter gaps in those services than patients who live in other high-income nations, the study found.
“We’ve been able to create some lifesaving interventions and point out things that other people may have just overlooked by accident or lack of experience,” Hanna said.
Since launching in 2016, Mahmee has served over 15,000 women, Hanna said, and those patients are 10% less likely to have a C-section, and 50% less likely to deliver prematurely.
“Disparities in accessing high-quality maternal and perinatal care contribute to poor health outcomes in underserved communities and substantial costs for the broader healthcare system,” said Suzanne Gauron, global head of Launch With GS, a Goldman Sachs program that aims to increase access to capital for underrepresented entrepreneurs and investors.”We believe Mahmee is well positioned to improve the lives of mothers and babies by narrowing critical opportunity gaps in care and outcomes.”
“The US has a relative undersupply of maternity care providers, especially midwives, and lacks comprehensive postpartum supports,” wrote doctoral researcher Roosa Tikkanen in a report for The Commonwealth Fund examining the disparities.
America, meanwhile, is by some accounts the most expensive country to give birth in and the only developed country without mandated paid parental leave.
But this is not a purely philanthropic work, Hanna said. Maternal and infant health care is a $160 billion industry in the United States. Failures in care coordination account for $27.2 billion to $78.2 billion in unnecessary medical fees and waste per year, according to a 2019 Journal of the American Medical Association study.
“If we even scratch the surface of solving this problem for any mothers and babies in this country,” said Hanna, “we have unlocked billions of dollars of potential here.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/money/cnn-business-consumer/2022/05/08/the-united-states-is-in-a-maternal-health-crisis-goldman-sachs-wants-to-change-that/ | 2022-05-08T17:45:00Z |
TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Charley Hoffman and Mark Hubbard each had 13 points in the modified Stableford scoring system to share the first-round lead in the Barracuda Championship.
Hoffman and Hubbard each had seven birdies and a bogey at Tahoe Mountain Club in the second of two straight U.S. events co-sanctioned by the European tour. Players receive eight points for albatross, five for eagle and two for birdie. A point is deducted for bogey and three taken away for double bogey or worse.
Hoffman closed his afternoon round with a birdie on the par-4 ninth. The 45-year-old former UNLV player has four PGA Tour victories.
“It’s just nice to be able to play golf,” said Hoffman, coming off a tie for 69th last week in the Scottish Open. “This year has been a tough year, with back issues. Back feels OK, so when it feels OK I want to play, so that’s why I’m playing. ”
The 33-year-old Hubbard is winless on the PGA Tour. He was third last week in Kentucky in the Barbasol Championship.
“I feel comfortable out here.” Hubbard said. “I’m from Colorado. I’m good with elevation, went to school (San Jose State) two hours from here, so it kind of feels like a home event, anyway.”
Brice Garnett, Sean Crocker and Aaron Cockerill were tied for third with 12 points. Maverick McNealy was at 11 with Henrik Norlander, Michael Gligic, Callum Tarren and Jim Knous.
Former Pepperdine player Joe Highsmith had seven points in his first PGA Tour start as a professional. He’s playing on a sponsor exemption. | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/hoffman-hubbard-share-lead-in-barracuda-championship/ | 2022-07-15T19:06:17Z |
STOCKHOLM, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EnginZyme, a leading developer of cell-free biomanufacturing processes, has joined forces with the global processing and packaging company Tetra Pak to bring sustainable and economically sound solutions to the food and beverage industry. In this close and enduring collaboration, the companies are leveraging their respective strengths to find new ways to improve food and beverage production by, for example, turning food waste into valuable ingredients.
EnginZyme and Tetra Pak are developing cutting-edge processes using enzymes. These are naturally occurring, non-toxic biological molecules that have the potential to replace or improve upon energy-intensive chemical catalysts in food production. Enzymes can be unstable and unpredictable and thus difficult to control. But with EnginZyme's patented, cell-free biomanufacturing platform, enzymes can be transformed into a solid heterogeneous material, making it easier to handle.
As a first project, Tetra Pak and EnginZyme are exploring transforming acid whey, a by-product from the manufacture of dairy foods like greek yoghurt or cream cheese, into valuable ingredients that can go into healthy food products.
Currently, acid whey must be disposed of carefully because it can damage ecosystems if too much of it goes into waterways. Tetra Pak and EnginZyme aim to demonstrate with acid whey the potential of enzyme technology to reduce waste streams and generate revenue from by-products.
"This collaboration really puts our two companies' strengths into play," said Karim Engelmark Cassimjee, CEO and co-founder of EnginZyme. "By combining Tetra Pak's broad food processing expertise and deep market knowledge with EnginZyme's biomanufacturing innovation, we are working to solve huge challenges while creating the food products of the future. We're creating a modern process environment that is low-energy, low-waste and truly sustainable."
Tetra Pak is working to integrate EnginZyme's biotechnology directly into product or waste-stream lines, meaning the solution could be easily scaled.
"EnginZyme's ability to control and adapt enzymes to suit our manufacturing processes has great potential for many of our food applications," said Lidia Garcia Pou, Head of Project Management and External innovation at Tetra Pak. "Together we can crack the code to maximise our use of raw ingredients, reduce industrial waste, and improve efficiencies, which we believe will be revolutionary for the food processing industry."
Instead of adding enzymes directly to food, which is expensive and results in loss of control, EnginZyme's technology fixes enzymes inside a reactor's solid support material. The food passes through the reactor, allowing just enough enzymatic reactions to happen. As the enzymes are fixed and the food goes in and out of the reactor, the enzymes can be reused – and don't end up in the finished product. This gives manufacturers better control of the production process. What is more, the technology can be used with many enzyme types, making it a versatile, transferable solution for the food industry.
"In the future we see the EnginZyme-Tetra Pak partnership being synonymous with high-tech novel food processing solutions solving key challenges across the food industry such as improving health and reducing waste," Karim Engelmark Cassimjee said. "This close collaboration has shown that efficient use of enzymes opens previously impossible avenues for the production of the foods and beverages of the future."
About EnginZyme
EnginZyme's vision is to play a key role in solving one of the fundamental challenges of our time: how to produce better, greener, and more affordable products for everyone. The company, founded in 2014, has created a patented, cell-free biomanufacturing platform that combines the breadth and power of biology with the efficiencies of the chemical industry. EnginZyme is recognised as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum and is backed by Sofinnova Partners, Industrifonden and SEB Greentech VC. To learn more, go to www.enginzyme.com.
About Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak is a world-leading food processing and packaging solutions company. Working closely with our customers and suppliers, we provide safe, innovative and environmentally sound products that each day meet the needs of hundreds of millions of people in more than 160 countries. With more than 25,000 employees around the world, we believe in responsible industry leadership and a sustainable approach to business.
Our promise, "PROTECTS WHAT'S GOOD™," reflects our vision to commit to making food safe and available, everywhere. More information about Tetra Pak is available at www.tetrapak.com
For more information, please contact:
Hanna Laurentz, Director of Communications
E: hanna@enginzyme.com; T: +46 728 902657
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
The following files are available for download:
View original content:
SOURCE EnginZyme AB | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/enginzyme-tetra-pak-join-forces-advance-sustainable-food-amp-beverage-production/ | 2022-06-02T08:39:27Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is set to meet with infant formula manufacturers as his administration works to ease nationwide shortages by importing foreign supplies and using the Defense Production Act to speed domestic production. The White House said a third round of formula shipments from overseas will begin next week, this time from producer Kendamil.
The White House said Biden would host a roundtable Wednesday with leaders of manufacturers ByHeart, Bubs Australia, Reckitt, Perrigo Co. and Gerber. The list is notable for the absence of Abbott Nutrition, whose Michigan plant was shut down in February over safety concerns, sparking the shortage in the United States.
Biden will be joined by Heath and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. The meeting is expected to provide an update on what the administration is calling “Operation Fly Formula” to import formula and to use the Korean War-era production law to require suppliers of the formula manufacturers to prioritize their orders in a bid to ease any production bottlenecks.
The White House said the latest round of shipments would bring Kendamil formula from Heathrow Airport in London to U.S. airports over a three-week period, starting June. 9. The flights will carry about 3.7 million 8-ounce bottle equivalents, shipped free of charge by United Airlines.
The first shipments will include Kendamil Classic Stage 1 and Kendamil Organic formulas, which will be available at Target stores across the United States.
The push on imports will help but will not immediately bring an end to supply shortages that have left people who depend on formula facing empty shelves or limits on purchases.
The Food and Drug Administration began focusing on Abbott’s plant last fall while tracking several bacterial infections in infants who had consumed formula from the facility. The four cases occurred between September and January, causing hospitalizations and two deaths.
After detecting positive samples of rare but dangerous bacteria in multiple parts of the plant, the FDA closed the facility and Abbott announced a massive recall of its formula on Feb. 17.
U.S. regulators and Abbott announced an agreement last month that would help pave the way for reopening the plant, though production has not restarted.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment on why Abbott was not included from Wednesday’s meeting. | https://cw33.com/health/ap-health/biden-to-meet-with-baby-formula-makers-on-easing-shortage/ | 2022-06-01T16:44:09Z |
SHANGHAI, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ) ("Daqo New Energy", the "Company" or "we"), a leading manufacturer of high-purity polysilicon for the global solar PV industry, today announced that the Company's major operational subsidiary, Xinjiang Daqo New Energy ("Xinjiang Daqo"), had successfully completed its private offering on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Xinjiang Daqo has issued 212,396,215 shares, representing approximately 9.94% of its total 2,137,396,215 shares outstanding immediately after the completion of the private offering. The shares were issued at a private offering price of RMB51.79 per share and the total gross proceeds to Xinjiang Daqo of the private offering are approximately RMB11 billion. Upon completion of the private offering, Daqo New Energy beneficially owns approximately 72.68% of Xinjiang Daqo's shares.
About Daqo New Energy Corp.
Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ) ("Daqo" or the "Company") is a leading manufacturer of high-purity polysilicon for the global solar PV industry. Founded in 2007, the Company manufactures and sells high-purity polysilicon to photovoltaic product manufactures, who further process the polysilicon into ingots, wafers, cells and modules for solar power solutions. The Company has a total polysilicon nameplate capacity of 105,000 metric tons and is one of the world's lowest cost producers of high-purity polysilicon.
For more information, please visit www.dqsolar.com
Daqo New Energy Corp.
Investor Relations
Phone: +86-187 1658 5553
Email: dqir@daqo.com
Christensen
In China
Mr. Rene Vanguestaine
Phone: +86 178 1749 0483
rvanguestaine@christensenir.com
In the U.S.
Mr. Tip Fleming
Phone: +1-917-412-3333
Email: tfleming@Christensenir.com
View original content:
SOURCE Daqo New Energy Corp. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/daqo-new-energys-subsidiary-xinjiang-daqo-successfully-completes-its-private-offering-shanghai-stock-exchange/ | 2022-07-06T13:30:31Z |
Technology entrepreneur, Tony Nicol, launches video analytics start-up VisualCortex, making video insights accessible, actionable and valuable for all video-rich industries and business functions
SYDNEY and NEW YORK, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VisualCortex – the cloud-based Video Intelligence Platform, connecting computer vision's potential to real-world business outcomes – has officially launched today worldwide. VisualCortex is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.
Watch the VisualCortex overview video here: visualcortex.com
Unlike camera-side or point solutions – which typically focus on one video analytics challenge per deployment – VisualCortex delivers a highly performant enterprise-grade platform to facilitate any real-time or historical video analytics use case. Built to work with both streaming and offline footage, the VisualCortex platform applies machine learning models to video content, enabling organizations to produce analyzable data streams about defined objects and actions. Insights from that data can then be embedded straight into customers' traditional data infrastructure.
VisualCortex is backed by its Chairman and Co-Founder, Tony Nicol, who sold Australia's largest data-focused cloud consultancy, Servian, to US-based professional services company, Cognizant, in January 2021. Nicol founded Servian in 2008, where he remained CEO of the 900-person-strong enterprise transformation business until June 2021.
Utilizing experiences building some of the largest and most complex enterprise data platforms, Nicol said that VisualCortex's purpose was to enable any complex computer vision use case without compromising robustness and reliability.
"We built VisualCortex to overcome the limitations of single-use-case solutions, without sacrificing the stability, security, scalability, flexibility and governance that naturally occurs in homegrown point solutions," said Nicol.
Commenting on VisualCortex's launch, Nicol said the company's mission was to enable any organization to become a vision aware enterprise, allowing them to solve commercially valuable challenges with video-based insights at scale.
"For the first time, we're making video data truly actionable throughout the enterprise," said Nicol. "Up until now, computer vision technology has struggled to make commercial sense and generate impactful business value. They've also been prohibitively hard-to-use and expensive in terms of cost and time-to-value, hampering the ability to be harnessed by anyone other than machine learning experts.
"VisualCortex's Video Intelligence Platform removes those barriers and provides an enterprise-grade approach and control to computer vision initiatives," said Nicol. "We're enabling any business unit to quickly and easily build and implement a video analytics use case to facilitate future ways of working, today – no matter the nature of your business, hardware or video content."
CEO and Co-Founder, Patrick Elliott, said that VisualCortex was enabling organizations – regardless of the industry or business function – to produce analyzable video-based data streams about any aspect of their operations.
"VisualCortex is making video intelligence accessible and valuable for all video-rich industries and business functions," said Elliott. "Our Video Intelligence Platform provides the AI smarts, governance and stability. Clients just need to bring their standard infrastructure, commodity hardware and video – from any stream, camera or repository. With VisualCortex, you can run multiple machine learning models, for any number of video sources, across your existing cameras and video feeds.
"We're enabling anyone to quickly connect machine learning models with a production-ready cloud-based environment, transforming video assets into analyzable and actionable streams of data at scale. VisualCortex empowers technical users, like software developers and data scientists, as well as business users – from marketing executives and business analysts, to operations teams for OHS, security, car parks and more."
Elliott added that VisualCortex had already signed a number of commercial agreements and that specific partner and customer announcements would be made in the near future.
"We've encountered strong demand for VisualCortex's approach to video analytics," said Elliott. "We're set to announce a number of partnerships in the short-term with software and hardware vendors, service providers and the public sector. In terms of customers, we've signed NDAs – and are in various stages of conducting pilots and working on long-term agreements – with organizations in transport, retail and commercial real estate. Stay tuned for further exciting announcements regarding customer success and our growing partner ecosystem."
CTO and Co-Founder, Ben Evans, said that VisualCortex facilitated both real-time action and strategic analysis for any video analytics use case.
"We're enabling organizations to easily define, detect, track and produce tangible analytics about the objects and incidents that matter to them – from vehicle and number plate recognition, to people counting and dwell analysis," said Evans. "Customers can use those analytical insights operationally, triggering real-time alerts – and pushing the video-based data into operational systems – to prompt immediate action. Users can also analyze the data derived from their video assets with in-platform reports or pipe it into third-party databases. Combining video data streams with traditional data sources can unearth powerful integrated insights."
Evans added that the VisualCortex Model Store would also play a significant role in helping more organizations realize faster, stronger returns on their video analytics initiatives.
"We know that building, training and maintaining reliable machine learning models is resource intensive," said Evans. "The VisualCortex Model Store provides a secure digital marketplace for customers, partners and independent machine learning experts to share – and generate revenue from – quality controlled computer vision models.
"At its core, the Model Store provides models-as-a-service. Anyone with appropriate security access can upload video footage into the VisualCortex platform, then define events to track, leveraging models from the Model Store, and produce data for analysis."
VisualCortex is committed to building, training and maintaining a growing set of machine learning models, available out-of-the-box with a VisualCortex subscription license.
Browse the VisualCortex Model Store here: visualcortex.com/model-store
The VisualCortex Video Intelligence Platform can be securely deployed in multiple ways to meet individual organization's needs: As a fully-managed service in the cloud, on customers' private cloud, via public cloud providers, on-premise, at the edge, or via a hybrid deployment model. VisualCortex is generally available to the market from Friday 24th June, 2022.
About VisualCortex
VisualCortex is making video data actionable in the enterprise. As the world's best Video Intelligence Platform, VisualCortex provides the stability and scalability to productionize computer vision technology for the first time. Unlike camera-side or point solutions, VisualCortex can be used for any video analytics use case in any industry. VisualCortex's production-ready cloud-based environment transforms video assets into analyzable streams of data at scale.
The VisualCortex platform delivers the artificial intelligence smarts, governance and usability, enabling organizations to connect any number of video streams, repositories and use existing commodity hardware. An intuitive user interface, out-of-the-box reporting, range of configurations and integrations empower non-technical people to produce, analyze and act on insights derived from computer vision throughout the enterprise. Organizations can easily combine these AI-generated video insights with other data sources and systems to facilitate both real-time operations and strategic analysis. The VisualCortex Model Store also provides a secure marketplace for customers, partners and independent machine learning experts to share quality controlled computer vision models.
For more information, visit www.visualcortex.com
For further media information, interviews or images, please contact:
Lachlan James, VisualCortex Chief Marketing Officer, on +61 (0)431 835 658 or lachlan.james@visualcortex.com
For regular updates, follow VisualCortex on Twitter (@VisualCortexApp), LinkedIn (VisualCortex), YouTube (VisualCortex) and Facebook (@VisualCortexApp).
For regular industry news and analysis, subscribe to VisualCortex's mailing list here: https://visualcortex.com/contact-us/
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE VisualCortex | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/servian-founder-launches-video-intelligence-platform-visualcortex/ | 2022-06-23T19:16:04Z |
HILO, Hawaii, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CARF International announced that Pacific Quest has been accredited for a period of three years for its adolescent and young adult programs.
Pacific Quest is an integrated behavioral health program that has been providing mental health care for adolescents and young adults on Hawaii Island since 2004.
By pursuing and achieving accreditation, Pacific Quest has demonstrated that it meets international standards for quality of care and is committed to pursuing excellence.
This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be given to an organization and shows an organization's substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality. Accreditation is an ongoing partnership between CARF and Pacific Quest to maintain excellence of care and best practices.
Pacific Quest's Co-Founder, Suzanne McKinney states, "PQ's accreditation with CARF reinforces and affirms our program integrity and ensures that we continue to provide excellent mental health care for our residents and their families."
CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Pacific Quest | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/pacific-quest-earns-carf-accreditation/ | 2022-07-27T20:14:02Z |
A new open-access portal for human immunology data and tools
Published: Jun. 1, 2022 at 10:15 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
The Human Immune System Explorer offers an inside view into ongoing research on human health and disease
SEATTLE, June 1, 2022/PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at the Allen Institute for Immunology have been busy. Since the division of the Allen Institute launched in late 2018, the 60-person team of immunologists, molecular and computational biologists, engineers and other staff have been setting up a new way of doing research to handle a massive trove of data that's now wending its way through experiments and analysis: long-term studies of how the immune system changes, responds or fails to respond in the course of a healthy human life or during immune-related diseases.
Open-science platform aims to catalyze new research and discoveries that will lead to new treatments for disease.
Now, the division has built a new online portal for all to explore the details of their work and, eventually, the health and disease-related human data as well.
Launched today, the Human Immune System Explorer is the Allen Institute for Immunology's data-sharing portal to the broader community. Built using de-identified and anonymized data, the site allows scientists to delve into the methods and resources the immunology team is using to analyze and manage their studies on human immunology. As the team's long-term studies of immune health and diseases are completed, those data will be deposited on the public portal as well. The researchers hope that by making their data available to the public, others in the scientific community will comb through the data to make their own insights about human immunology that could eventually lead to better, more precise therapies for immune-related diseases.
As the immunology team established a specialized process, also called a research pipeline, to carry out multi-year studies of human immune health and disease, including studies of the immune system in COVID-19, cancer, and autoimmune disease, they realized they needed to develop new methods to study the immune system and analyze the resulting data. As they are continuing to follow healthy and patient volunteers for two or more years, the first public release on the open-access platform contains data and tools related to these newly developed methods. Data from the long-term studies themselves will be released on the public portal in the years to come.
The first public release includes:
Protocols describing the team's research pipeline, which captures and integrates five different kinds of molecular data about the human immune system from the same person over time, in addition to clinical data
A new method and accompanying data visualization app called TEA-seq, which captures three types of data simultaneously from individual human immune cells: proteins present on the cells' surfaces; the set of genes switched on or expressed in each cell; and the cell's "epigenetic" landscape, which gives clues as to how its genes are regulated
Data and an accompanying interactive visualization of the team's findings that delays in processing human blood samples changes certain molecular properties of the immune cells (this finding led the team and their external collaborators to standardize rapid processing of blood samples after they're taken from study volunteers)
A new method and accompanying data visualization app dubbed PALMO (Platform for Analyzing Longitudinal Multi-Omics data) to analyze longitudinal, multi-omics data — meaning data that captures multiple kinds of information, such as genome-wide gene activity or whole-cell protein levels, from thousands or more single cells, in samples gathered from patients over several points in time.
A package of computational methods, known as BarWare, that tracks the originalsource of individual cells mixed together in the same experiment, and unmixes them for analysis.
"Since day one of the Allen Institute for Immunology, we always had a plan to share our research data openly, but perhaps more importantly, how we derive that data," said Tom Bumol, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Director of the Allen Institute for Immunology. "This first access to the Human Immune System Explorer is really a window into what we're building. Right now, it illustrates some of the techniques and computational environment we're using to tackle this big, difficult problem of understanding human immunology."
Collaboration in the cloud
The public-facing portal is the final step in an experimental and computational pipeline that includes a custom-built collaboration and data analysis space for Allen Institute for Immunology researchers and their external clinical collaborators to work together in the cloud on research projects. This environment, also part of the Human Immune System Explorer, was created by engineers at the Allen Institute for Immunology in collaboration with Google Cloud.
"Finding insights from complex biomedical research requires powerful tools," said Joe Miles, managing director, Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Solutions for Google Cloud. "The Allen Institute's biomedical platform provides a secure and collaborative environment for scientists with the leading AI platform combined with the computational power to answer the world's most complex health questions and accelerate the scientific breakthroughs that benefit us all."
This secure platform ensures patient privacy and data integrity, said Paul Meijer, Ph.D., Director of Software Development, Database and Pipelines at the Allen Institute for Immunology, and allows the researchers to work together seamlessly in preparing the data for publication in a scientific journal and for release on the public portal. All patient data are de-identified and anonymized before they are uploaded to the closed, secure platform; certain data and other resources will then be released to the public, open-access part of the website.
Meijer and the other engineers on the team had to think carefully not only about patient privacy, but about how to govern such huge amounts of different kinds of scientific data spanning multiple years in a single study. They want their results to be useful and interpretable for many years to come, which means careful annotation and tracking needed to be built into the computational environment from the beginning.
"The Human Immune System Explorer is not just our contribution to open science," Meijer said. "It is also built on the conviction that science is a collaborative activity that involves careful cooperation amongst a team of multidisciplinary scientists."
About the Allen Institute for Immunology
The Allen Institute for Immunology is a division of the Allen Institute, an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit medical research organization, and is dedicated to understanding the dynamic balancing act of the human immune system in health and disease. The Allen Institute for Immunology will advance our fundamental understanding of the human immune system and will identify new therapeutic avenues for disease by employing a multi-disciplinary team approach in collaboration with leading research organizations, generating novel insights about cellular and molecular drivers of immune health and immune-related diseases. The Allen Institute for Immunology will be launched in 2018 with a contribution from founder and philanthropist, the late Paul G. Allen. The data and tools generated by the Allen Institute for Immunology will be publicly available online. For more information visit immunology.alleninstitute.org.
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.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/new-open-access-portal-human-immunology-data-tools/ | 2022-06-01T17:02:47Z |
3 caregivers charged after person with disabilities sprayed in face with disinfectant, attorney general says
FOUNTAIN INN, S.C. (FOX Carolina/Gray News) – Three employees of a South Carolina care facility were arrested after abusing an intellectually and physically disabled person, according to the state’s attorney general.
Investigators said they found that 32-year-old Pebble Hill, a caregiver at Thrive Upstate, sprayed the victim in the face and on her body with a disinfectant in January “in order to restrict the victim’s movements inside the facility.”
Hill was charged with abuse of a vulnerable adult.
The attorney general’s office said two other caregivers, 35-year-old Tuesday Watson and 48-year-old Wanda Gary, saw the abuse but didn’t report it. Both were charged with failure to report abuse of a vulnerable adult.
All three women were booked into the Greenville County Detention Center on Friday.
The attorney general’s office did not disclose whether the victim suffered injuries.
Thrive Upstate performed a prompt internal review of the situation, the attorney general’s office said. Facility staff did not respond to a request for comment.
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/15/3-caregivers-charged-after-person-with-disabilities-sprayed-face-with-disinfectant-attorney-general-says/ | 2022-04-15T21:22:08Z |
The leading retailer will celebrate its 150th anniversary with customers across the country on Saturday, September 10th, 2022
NEW YORK, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomingdale's announced today a nationwide series of in-store events that will take place on Saturday, September 10th in honor of its 150th anniversary. All Bloomingdale's stores across the country will host an anniversary bash entitled 'Saturday's Generation,' a nod to the term endearingly attributed to Bloomingdale's clientele in the 1970s.
The Saturday's Generation celebrations will surprise and delight its current-day customers with storewide interactive experiences. Shoppers will be invited to partake in the festivities with in-store events, special shopping activations, limited edition merchandise, live entertainment and more.
"Saturday's Generation is such an iconic part of our rich heritage," stated Frank Berman, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Bloomingdale's. "As we celebrate 150 years, we're excited to revive Saturday's Generation for our next era and share it with today's contemporary generation of shoppers in a fresh, innovative way."
While Saturday's Generation events will take place at all Bloomingdale's stores, select locations will feature special experiences including photo booth activations, live DJs, and dedicated department programming such as sneaker customization stations, trunk shows, chef demos and designer appearances. Students from the Fashion Institute of Technology will be on location at select locations to personalize guest shopping bags with original designers.
All customers who shop during the event will receive a commemorative, limited-edition canvas version of the iconic Bloomingdale's brown bag, which will be customized by local artists, as a special gift with purchase of $150 or more. Additionally, some locations will also feature a mural wall where a local artist will be working live throughout the event.
SATURDAY'S GENERATION x 59th STREET FLAGSHIP
At the Bloomingdale's 59th Street flagship location, shoppers can expect a "Saturday's Generation" like no other, with innovative activations taking place across every department, on every floor. Outside the store on Lexington Avenue, a branded food truck will be serving up complimentary specialty treats that clients will receive with any 150th anniversary merchandise purchase.
Acclaimed acrobat Topher Bousquet will be on showcase in the Bloomingdale's storefront windows, where he'll perform original contortionist acts live throughout the day. Once indoors, visitors will discover a variety of specialty experiences. Along with live music, pop-up treat carts, photo booths and arcade games that shoppers can enjoy throughout the store, signature activations will include:
- Artist Caty Wooly will be on site creating a live mural installation. Wooly will be taking customer suggestions to incorporate their Bloomingdale's-themed ideas into the commemorative piece
- But Like Maybe artist Arianna Margulis will project a live drawing session of "Bloomie's Girl"
- Interactive designer pop-ups featuring special services, gifts, and merchandise personalization offerings with brands including Baccarat, Golden Goose, David Yurman, Devialet, Polo by Ralph Lauren, La Prairie, Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo and Coravin
- Surprise and delight department activations such as personalization, complimentary treatments and makeup touch ups in the beauty department; complimentary monogramming with purchase in the home department; celebratory toasts and treats in the registry department; and sneaker customization in the men's shoe department. Also in the beauty department, lipstick fortune reader Beth Bonger will be reading lip-prints for customers when they make a cosmetics purchase
- A Brown Bag Balloon Sculpture installation with balloon handbag giveaways, as well as a tote bag customization station where shoppers can get their commemorative 150th anniversary totes personalized with Bloomingdale's themed doodles
- A Bloomingdale's 150th Anniversary newsstand installation created in partnership with Fantasy Explosions featuring a capsule collection of merchandise influenced by 90's and 200's New York ephemera
- Culinary demonstrations and tastings with Magnolia at the B kitchen
Locations that will be featuring special experiences include the 59th Street flagship, Soho, Roosevelt Field Mall and White Plains locations in New York; Century City, Beverly Center, South Coast Plaza, San Francisco Centre, Sherman Oaks, Fashion Valley, Valley Fair, Newport Beach and Stanford stores in California; Boca Raton Town Center, Aventura, Palm Beach Gardens and Orlando locations in Florida; Willow Grove and King of Prussia in Pennsylvania; Chevy Chase in Maryland; Tysons Corner Center in Virginia, Chestnut Hill in Massachusetts; Short Hills, Bergen, Willowbrook and Bridgewater in New Jersey; North Michigan in Illinois; Lenox Square in Georgia; Norwalk in Connecticut; and Ala Moana Center in Hawaii.
All Saturday's Generation events will take place on September 10th from 1-5pm.
Additional 150th anniversary campaign celebrations and special programming will be activated through the holiday season. More information will be announced this fall and details can be found online at www.bloomingdales.com.
About Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's is America's only nationwide, full-line, upscale department store. A division of Macy's, Inc., it currently operates 33 Bloomingdale's stores and 21 Bloomingdale's, The Outlet Stores, in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia, along with 1 Bloomie's location in Virginia. In addition, Bloomingdale's has an international presence with a location in Dubai. Founded in 1872, the iconic retailer is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Be sure to follow @bloomingdales on social media, become a Loyallist, and for more information, or to shop any time, visit www.bloomingdales.com
Bloomingdale's Public Relations
Bloomingdales@FinnPartners.com
View original content:
SOURCE Bloomingdale's | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/bloomingdales-host-saturdays-generation-events-across-country-celebrate-its-150th-anniversary/ | 2022-09-07T13:20:07Z |
Company Moves Operations to Larger Facility to Accommodate Production Demands
PLYMOUTH, Mich., June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NuStep, LLC, a leading global provider of inclusive fitness equipment used in healthcare, senior living and wellness settings, announced the launch of the RB8 Recumbent Bike, the company's fourth new product since 2019.
The RB8 features an inclusive design — the hallmark of all NuStep products — to accommodate users of varying fitness levels and functional abilities. It is also the third NuStep product to feature integrated sensor technology and real-time biofeedback.
NuStep CEO Eric Sklar says, "After launching our first product with integrated force sensors and real-time biofeedback, it set the course for subsequent product development, opening the door to different exercise modalities like our upper body ergometer and now, our new recumbent bike."
The RB8 launch coincides with the company's recent move to a 100,000 plus square foot facility. As a vertically integrated manufacturer, NuStep's expanding product line and associated growth in production operations prompted the move to a larger facility.
"Our former manufacturing facility served us well for over 20 years," Sklar notes. "But with the introduction of four new product lines, space was at a premium, requiring line changes that affected efficiencies. We resolved that with our new location, plus we have room to grow."
About NuStep, LLC
Headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., NuStep designs and manufactures inclusive fitness equipment sold worldwide. Since 1997, NuStep products have been the brand of choice in physical therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, senior community, fitness center and home settings worldwide. www.nustep.com
NuStep LLC is a portfolio company of Main Street Capital Corporation (www.mainstcapital.com), an investment firm that provides long-term debt and equity capital to lower middle market companies and debt capital to middle market companies. Through customized capital solutions, the firm has helped over 200 private companies grow or transition by providing flexible private equity and debt capital solutions.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE NuStep, LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/nustep-continues-expand-product-line-with-launch-rb8-recumbent-bike/ | 2022-06-16T18:09:10Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is asking Congress to provide more than $47 billion in emergency dollars that would go toward the war in Ukraine, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing monkeypox outbreak and help for recent natural disasters in Kentucky and other states.
The request, which comes as lawmakers are preparing to return to Washington and fund the government, seeks $13.7 billion related to Ukraine, including money for equipment, intelligence support and direct budgetary support. Shalanda Young, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said that more than three-fourths of the $40 billion approved by Congress earlier this year has already been disbursed or committed.
“We have rallied the world to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their democracy and we cannot allow that support to Ukraine to run dry,” Young said in a blog post.
The White House request will play into congressional budget negotiations in the coming weeks as financing for federal agencies is set to run out Sept. 30. Both parties will be seeking to avoid a government shutdown in the weeks before the midterm elections, but they will have to work out differences over issues like the COVID-19 aid, which has been a sticking point for many months as the White House has said more money is needed for vaccines and testing and Republicans have pointed to the trillions that have already been approved.
In Friday’s request, the White House is seeking $7.1 billion to procure additional vaccines and for replenishing personal protective equipment in the Strategic National Stockpile, among other measures. Another $8 billion would go to accelerate research for next-generation vaccines and therapeutics.
Biden is also seeking $2 billion to continue COVID-19 testing programs, including an initiative to distribute free at-home tests that ended on Friday as the government says it is running short on funds. White House officials say they have some tests left in the stockpile, but not enough to provide free tests if cases sharply increase.
Congress has not moved forward on similar administration requests for the COVID-19 response amid the partisan stalemate.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the White House has repeatedly warned that there would be trade-offs if that money wasn’t approved, and “that is precisely what happened.” The lack of free testing kits, for example, “leaves our domestic testing capacity diminished for a potential fall surge,” she said.
The administration is also asking for $4.5 billion to bolster its efforts to fight monkeypox amid the ongoing outbreak. Officials said they have already depleted significant reserves from the national stockpile to provide over 1.1 million vials of vaccine.
The money would help ensure access to vaccinations, testing and treatment, and also help fund the global effort to fight the disease, administration officials said.
For disaster relief, the White House is asking for $6.5 billion, including money for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund, farmers affected by weather events and efforts to increase the resilience of the electric grid. As part of that request, the administration is also asking for $1.4 billion to address unmet disaster recovery needs in several states, including for recent devastating floods in Kentucky. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-white-house-seeks-13-7-billion-more-for-ukraine/ | 2022-09-03T02:55:58Z |
Customers are invited to trade in old smart watches and receive a discount on the new Amazfit GTR 4 or GTS 4
CUPERTINO, Calif., Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amazfit, a leading global smart wearables brand owned by Zepp Health (NYSE: ZEPP), a health technology company, has announced their new device Trade-In Program, inviting customers to exchange old smartwatches for a discount on the new Amazfit GTR 4 and GTS 4 smartwatches.
Those interested in the Trade-In Program are encouraged to visit Amazfit GTS 4 & GTR 4 pages and follow the Trade-in links to submit their device's make, model number, and contact information and receive its trade-in value. After mailing in their device and purchasing the GTR 4 or GTS 4, Amazfit will refund users in the amount of the trade-in value. Devices from Amazfit, Apple, Fitbit, Fossil, Garmin, and Samsung will be eligible for the trade-in program, and specific eligibility information can be found on the Amazfit website.
This month, Amazfit unveiled its two brand-new flagship smartwatches, the Amazfit GTR 4 and Amazfit GTS 4, the latest additions to the Amazfit Lifestyle Series. These new style-focused, high-performing watches feature the industry's first-ever dual-band circularly-polarized GPS antenna, 150 built-in sports modes, and the new ability to automatically track strength training exercises. The GTR 4 boasts an ultra-long 14-day battery life with typical use and lasts up to 50 days in clock-only mode, and the GTS 4 lasts an impressive 8 days with typical use. In addition to Amazfit's signature suite of 24/7 health management functions, the GTR 4 and GTS 4 debut the upgraded Zepp OS 2.0, for a truly optimized user experience. Additional highlights from the new series include:
- Built-in Amazon Alexa voice assistant
- Built-in Speaker; Live Sports Data Broadcast; Bluetooth Phone Calls; Music Storage & Playback.
- Classic Business-oriented and Fashion-focused Designs.
- Upgraded BioTracker™ 4.0 PPG Biometric Optical Sensor, with more accurate health monitoring for metrics including blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, and stress levels.
- Updated Battery Saver Mode for Continued Function Usage.
- Brand-new Sleep Schedule & Morning Update Features.
- Upgraded Zepp OS 2.0; Adjustable Layouts & Color Themes, and a Richer Mini App Ecosystem.
In addition to the GTR 4 and GTS 4 Trade-In Program, Amazfit has announced a strategic partnership with adidas Runtastic this month, which will allow the GTR 4 and GTS 4 to support syncing running workout data including distance, duration, rate, speed, start/end time, etc. to the adidas Running app via the Zepp App, after the upcoming Zepp App firmware update version 7.1.0 - with more Amazfit devices adding compatibility at a later date.
The Trade-In Program is open to residents of the U.S., and will be available until October 7, 2022. For more information or assistance, please visit Amazfit GTS 4 & GTR 4 pages or email tradein@amazfit.com. For more information about Amazfit, please visit https://www.amazfit.com/en/ and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
About Amazfit
Amazfit, a leading global smart wearable brand focused on health and fitness, is part of Zepp Health (NYSE: ZEPP), a health technology company. Offering a wide selection of smart watches and bands, Amazfit's brand essence is "Up Your Game", encouraging users to live their passions and express their active spirits freely. Amazfit is powered by Zepp Health's proprietary health management platform that delivers cloud-based 24/7 actionable insights and guidance to help users attain their wellness goals. With outstanding craftsmanship, Amazfit smartwatches have won many design awards, including the iF Design Award and the Red Dot Design Award.
Launched in 2015, Amazfit is today embraced by millions of users. Its products are available in more than 90 countries across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions. For more information about Amazfit, visit www.amazfit.com/us.
US PR contact: angela.tang@zepp.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Amazfit | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/amazfit-announces-new-device-trade-in-program/ | 2022-09-08T16:47:17Z |
Officials: Fugitive suspected of killing 5 fatally shot
(AP) - A convicted murderer on the run since escaping a prison bus after stabbing its driver on May 12 was shot dead late Thursday after he killed a family of five and stole their truck from a rural weekend cabin, a Texas prison system spokesman said.
Gonzalo Lopez, 46, was “killed by law enforcement in Atascosa County. He shot at officers who returned fire killing him,” Jason Clark, spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, said in an email to The Associated Press.
The killing site is about 220 miles (354 kilometers) southeast of Centerville, Texas, about 110 miles (180 kilometers) north of Houston, near where Clark earlier said Lopez had killed a Houston family of five at their weekend cabin and stole their pickup truck.
Lopez was thought to be hiding in the vicinity of the cabin when officers received a call from someone concerned after not hearing from an elderly relative, Clark said.
Officers went to the family’s weekend cabin along Texas Route 7 west of Centerville about 6 p.m. Thursday and found the bodies of one adult and four minors, three of them children. Identities were not released, but gone was their white pickup truck, Clark said. Lopez was believed to have driven the truck from the search area, he said. Lopez was a former member of the Mexican Mafia prison gang and had ties to South Texas, he said.
Lopez met his end in South Texas, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of San Antonio.
The family, which was from the Houston area, was thought to have arrived Thursday morning at the cabin, which they owned, Clark said. The five are believed to have been killed Thursday afternoon and had no link to Lopez, he said.
Lopez, 46, had been the subject of an intensive search since his escape from the prison bus. He was being transported in a caged area of the bus from a prison in Gatesville, more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of the place where he escaped, to one in Huntsville for a medical appointment when he escaped in Leon County, a rural area between Dallas and Houston, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has said.
Centerville is the county seat of Leon County, which has roughly 16,000 residents and is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of the state’s Huntsville prison headquarters.
The department has said Lopez somehow freed himself from his hand and leg restraints, cut through the expanded metal of the cage and crawled from the bottom. He then attacked the driver, who stopped the bus and got into an altercation with Lopez, and they both eventually got off the bus.
A second officer at the rear of the bus then exited and approached Lopez, who got back on the bus and started driving down the road, the department said.
The officers fired at Lopez and disabled the bus by shooting the rear tire, the department said. The bus then traveled a short distance before leaving the roadway, where Lopez got out and ran into the woods.
Lopez was serving a life prison sentence for a 2006 conviction of murdering a man along the Texas-Mexico border. TDCJ Inspector General Cris Love had said anyone found to be helping or harboring Lopez will face not only arrest and prosecution, but he believes is also “putting themselves in danger.”
“Lopez has a complete disregard for human life and will do what it takes to avoid capture,” Love said. “We will take this investigation wherever it leads us until Lopez is back in custody.”
At some point during the escape, Lopez stabbed the driver, whose wounds weren’t life-threatening, the department said.
A $50,000 reward for information leading to Lopez’s capture is offered.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/03/officials-fugitive-suspected-killing-5-fatally-shot/ | 2022-06-03T05:29:25Z |
PROVIDENCE, R.I., Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EpiVax, Inc. ("EpiVax") is pleased to announce the award of a two-year, $2 million grant from the FDA's Office of Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) to validate a method for immunogenicity risk assessment of host cell proteins (HCP) for improving biosimilar product development and assessing product interchangeability (# U01FD007760). The research will commence in September 2022 and conclude in August 2024.
Biosimilars are biological products, produced using a novel process, that have been demonstrated to be biosimilar with an FDA-approved biological product. No clinically meaningful differences may be present in comparison to the reference product. The number of biosimilars reaching the market is expanding rapidly as biologic products come off patent. Nearly 40 biosimilars have been approved by the FDA, lowering healthcare costs for patients.
This new grant will enable EpiVax to demonstrate the utility of in silico tools for screening and triaging HCPs for their potential to induce an unwanted immune response in patients receiving the biosimilar. Access to in silico tools that have been validated in pre-clinical studies should improve the safety of biologics and expedite the immunogenicity risk assessment process for biosimilars. This new grant funding builds on research being conducted on immunogenicity risk assessment with the FDA's Office of Generic Drugs (Contracts 75F40120C00157, HHSF223018186C). These past and present projects support the development of in silico tools and methods to assess risk of product and process-related impurities.
EpiVax has developed advanced immunogenicity risk assessment tools (ISPRI and ISPRI-HCP) that are used by top tier biologics developers around the globe. The secure, cloud based ISPRI platform can be accessed by contacting EpiVax at the following email rnolan@epivax.com.
The PANDA program for generic peptide impurities is currently used by a wide range of generic peptide sponsors from the USA, Europe, India, and Korea. Information on PANDA is available by contacting smoniz@epivax.com.
According to Dr. Amy Rosenberg, EpiVax's Senior Director of Immunology and Protein Therapeutics "Host Cell Proteins have strong potential to enhance immunogenicity of biological therapeutics. Rapid and accurate methods for identifying of higher risk and lower risk HCP will permit drug developers to improve the safety profile of their biologic products."
This project is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award [FAIN] totaling $1,999,984.00 USD with 100 percent funded by FDA/HHS. The contents of this Press Release are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
About EpiVax:
EpiVax is a biotechnology company with expertise in T cell epitope prediction, immune modulation, and rapid vaccine design. EpiVax's immunogenicity screening toolkits for therapeutics and vaccines, ISPRI and iVAX, are employed in advancing the research of a global roster of companies.
For more information about EpiVax, visit www.epivax.com.
Press Contact:
Katie Porter, Associate Director, Business Development & Marketing
EpiVax
kporter@epivax.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE EpiVax Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/epivax-secures-additional-funding-fda-immunogenicity-risk-assessment-biosimilar-products/ | 2022-09-12T11:11:01Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are set to meet Friday at the White House for talks on Russia’s war in Ukraine, climate issues, trade and more.
Ramaphosa is among African leaders who have maintained a neutral stance in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with South Africa abstaining from a United Nations vote condemning Russia’s actions and calling for a mediated settlement.
South Africa’s international relations minister, Naledi Pandor, said Ramaphosa would emphasize the need for dialogue to find an end to the conflict during his meeting with Biden and in separate talks with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Pandor added that the issue will be South Africa’s focus when it participates in the annual meeting of the U.N. General Assembly next week.
“We would want a process of diplomacy to be initiated between the two parties and we believe the U.N. must lead, the U.N secretary-general in particular,” Pandor said.
The White House meeting comes on the heels of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to South Africa last month, in which he said the Biden administration sees Africa’s 54 nations as “equal partners” in tackling global problems.
But the administration has been disappointed that South Africa and much of the continent have declined to follow the U.S. in condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
During the Blinken visit, Pandor accused the U.S. and other Western powers of focusing on the Ukraine conflict to the detriment of crises around the globe.
“We should be equally concerned at what is happening to the people of Palestine, as we are with what is happening to the people of Ukraine,” she said.
The Biden administration, meanwhile, has sought to underscore that Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports has led to scarcities in grain, cooking oil and fertilizer — resulting in disproportionate impact on Africans.
South Africa’s neutral position is largely because of the support the Soviet Union gave during the Cold War era to Ramaphosa’s African National Congress in its fight to end apartheid, South Africa’s regime of repression against the Black majority that ended in 1994. South Africa is seen as a leader of the several African countries that will not side against Russia.
Despite the differences on the war in Ukraine, the Biden administration recognizes the importance of strengthening relations in Africa as China has spent decades entrenching itself in the continent’s natural resources markets. Improving relations with South Africa — one of the continent’s biggest economies — is central to the U.S. effort.
John Stremlau, an international relations expert at the University of the Witwatersrand, said the talks underscore that the U.S. sees South Africa as having the “potential to lead Africa in a constructive way” on trade and other issues.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the two leaders would also discuss climate change and opportunities to increase trade and investment. Harris and Ramaphosa were expected discuss global health security, space cooperation, climate change, women’s empowerment and other matters, as they met over breakfast at the vice president’s residence.
In a brief exchange with reporters before his meeting with Harris, Ramaphosa said he would like to see the relationship between the two countries “strengthened.”
South Africa’s ambitious efforts to transition from coal to cleaner energy are expected to be discussed during the leaders’ talks. The U.S., Britain, France and Germany announced a plan last year to provid e $8.5 billion in loans and grants over five years to help South Africa phase out coal.
Ramaphosa could also raise with Biden the failure of the United States and other wealthier nations to make good on a more than decades-old pledge — first made in 2009 and reaffirmed at the 2015 Paris climate talks — to spend $100 billion to help developing nations deal with climate change.
___
Magome reported from Johannesburg. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-biden-s-african-leader-to-discuss-ukraine-trade-climate/ | 2022-09-16T15:07:49Z |
NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Christophers have named the top prize winners in their annual student contests -- the 32nd Annual Poster Contest for High School Students and the 34th Annual Video Contest for College Students.
The poster contest invited students in grades 9 through 12 to create a poster that interprets the timeless theme, "You Can Make a Difference." Nearly 500 entries from across the United States were received, using a wide range of media from personalized photograph collages to highly detailed paintings.
The first prize winner, a senior at Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, FL, Camila Escobar depicts herself as a young toddler in her black and white hand-drawn portrait. In the poster, young Escobar is being helped to walk by a man whose face is hidden, but whom Camila reveals in a note to the Christophers to be her late grandfather. The caption of her submission reads, "No matter how small, you can make a difference."
"My grandfather [was] always very present in my life," Escobar wrote, "from my very first steps to his last. He always told me that I impacted his life, and reminded him of his youth, which is why I wanted to use this for the theme 'anyone can make a difference.' Despite being so young while he was alive, I know I made a difference in his life."
Escobar will be minoring in art and design at the University of Michigan next fall and the prize money will go toward her education."
Second prize winner and Central High School senior Conyae Cherry's poster emphasizes the value of education in a young person's life. A photograph shows Cherry reading to children at a local YMCA in her hometown of Louisville, KY. Written across the top and bottom of the poster are the words, "You can make a difference…starting with the power of knowledge."
Third prize winner John Devereux, a senior at Kennard-Dale High School in Grove, PA, takes a more personal approach in his poster, featuring a photograph of himself and his grandmother, wheelchair bound and glowing with joy as she leans against her smiling grandson. The caption says, "The greatest gift you can give someone is your time. You can make a difference." Devereux said, "Although she was in a nursing with dementia, I realized that sometimes the intangible gifts give to others can make more of an impact. With the older population, time is very important and it is a simple thing to give."
Tony Rossi, The Christophers' Director of Communications, and Sarah E. Holinski, The Christophers' Youth Coordinator, observed, "Our winning poster entries this year continue to run the gamut on making a difference in action, from the blessing of adoption to the importance of giving of our time and talents, whether reaching out in love and friendship to the elderly, or fundraising for a worthy cause. They show how, big or small, in a group or alone, each of us possesses the ability and drive to change our world for the better."
The Christophers also announced the winners of their 34th Annual Video Contest for College Students, for film or video that communicates the belief that one person can make a difference. This year's contest drew nearly 100 entries from throughout the United States.
First prize winner is Ella Stone, of Lewisville, TX and a 16-year-old math major at Southern New Hampshire University. In her film, "One Person Can Make an Exponential Impact," Stone recalled how even as early as second grade, her teachers knew she was advanced academically and would often ask her to assist fellow classmates with their schoolwork. During high school, she earned 88 college credits, and will earn her Bachelor's in Mathematics by 17 and her Master's in Teaching at 19.
"God's love for me compels me to love others," she says in her video. "During the pandemic as many struggled, hit hardest were refugee students. I use translation software to promote tutoring in 12 languages. Tutoring refugee students is a humbling opportunity to use my gifts and I am grateful for the technologies that allow me to connect with my students."
Second prize winner Aidan O'Neill, of Chicopee, MA and a Westfield State University communications major, uses his gifts to help people who face a different kind of barrier in their everyday lives, as he describes in his film, "One Person-Big Difference." His video centers on his involvement with the Special Olympics in his hometown.
"Ever since I was a freshman in high school," Aidan recalls in the video, "I have worked alongside my family and friends in the Greater Springfield Special Olympics, which provides opportunities for children and adults with mental or physical disabilities. I support them as a 'unified athlete' —an athlete who gives support and guidance to others as well as competing alongside them in the same sport. It's helped me realize we are all the same in our hearts, talent and enjoyment of success and accomplishment of victory in sports."
In her third prize-winning video entitled "Kindness Makes a Difference," Noell Komar, of Chandler, AZ, chooses to depict, in a simple but poignant way, just how much even the smallest gesture of goodwill can have a positive impact on someone who truly needs it. A film major at Arizona State University, she opens with black and white footage highlighting different young people struggling during their daily routines at college. From a distance, several different students observe these people in need. As soon as each student makes the decision to help their peers, the video switches to a colorized format, and the instrumental background music subsequently picks up tempo as well. Noell's short video ends with a quote from the Roman philosopher Seneca -- "Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness."
Tony Rossi and Sarah E. Holinski of The Christophers said, "This year's prize-winning films showcase some truly remarkable individuals who have managed to rise above even the most insurmountable obstacles to achieve their goals in life."
To see the winning videos and posters, visit www.Christophers.org and click on "Youth."
Media Contact: David Reich
914 325-9997
reichcomm@earthlink.net
View original content:
SOURCE The Christophers | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/christophers-announce-winners-youth-poster-video-contests/ | 2022-06-27T14:41:34Z |
Led by Phil Sutliff, Head of Business Banking, in August Citadel will roll out a full suite of checking, savings, and cash management solutions for businesses across the Greater Philadelphia area.
EXTON, Pa., June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Citadel Credit Union is prepared to officially launch its new Business Banking division this August. Earlier this year, the company onboarded a team of business banking experts to build the new division and establish partnerships with clients around the region. Over the past three months, Citadel piloted its business banking offering with multiple organizations ranging from $1 million to $100 million in annual revenue.
"Citadel is proud to introduce our new business banking division to the market. We are ready to hit the ground running and partner with businesses of any size in the region," said Jeff March, President and CEO, Citadel Credit Union. "Our goal is to be the financial partner of choice for businesses looking to ensure prosperity and a stable future."
Citadel Business Banking will offer a full suite of dynamic products and services for businesses of all sizes in the Philadelphia area. With the assistance of a trusted advisor, each business client can customize a premium product mix tailored to their current needs in addition to being scalable for future growth.
Comprehensive options include a variety of flexible checking and savings accounts, certificates, business loans, commercial mortgages, online banking tools, and cash management solutions such as merchant services, remote deposit, HR, and payroll services. The team will also offer banking specialization for private medical, veterinary, and dental practices.
Currently, Citadel offers a variety of business loans and credit cards, in addition to commercial lending products, supporting businesses across the area with financial guidance. The success of its business lending arm and financial partnership to businesses has paved the way for the organization to fully expand its offering for business clients.
"The pandemic shed light on a need for businesses in this region to have a banking partner that supports their stability – and strength – no matter what," said Phil Sutliff, Head of Citadel's Business Banking. "Citadel is ready to be a trusted partner and advisor for businesses in this new economy as they face inflation, supply chain disruption, and labor market challenges. Our approach is to create a package that includes a full range of cash management and commercial lending that can be customized to fit each unique business need."
Citadel's dedicated relationship managers take the role as "financial champions" for their clients, providing a unique level of service and partnership to ensure recovery, strength, and prosperity. With decades of deep expertise in the Greater Philadelphia region and a firm commitment to the community, Citadel's relationship-based approach establishes and maintains meaningful, ongoing connections that companies can depend upon throughout the life of their business.
Phil Sutliff, Head of Business Banking
Phil has a decade of experience working directly with businesses, managing business teams, and is well versed in small business regulations, tax laws, and investments. From small start-ups, to manufacturers and medical professionals, up to large $100MM+ corporations, his track record is unparalleled. Phil guides his teams to success through strong leadership and a wealth of banking expertise. By focusing on enhancing cash flow, maximizing working capital and investment power, Phil and his team can help your business achieve strategic growth.
Kye Kreutzberger, Senior Relationship Manager
With over 25 years of experience, Kye brings a deep knowledge of the local area and its businesses and is committed to serving them. He believes strongly in community revitalization, especially those efforts that support diversity, inclusion, and equity, and an advocate for programs supporting abused women and children.
Eric Murchison, Senior Relationship Manager
Born and raised in north Philadelphia, Eric has deep ties to the local area and nearly a decade of banking experience. Connection is key for Eric, whether it's with clients, Citadel team members, or the community at large.
Anil Punjwani, Senior Relationship Manager
Most recently, Anil served as a Small Business Relationship Manager and Virtual Advisor, managing a portfolio of over 125 clients. Offering unique specialization for medical business owners, Anil understands both long-term planning and business sustainment, as well as day-to-day operations. He joined Citadel with a desire to work for a financial institution heavily involved in the community.
Brendon Robinson, Senior Relationship Manager
Brendon has a long career in the banking industry, takes pride in working with commercial real estate and property managers, real estate investors, and business owners. In addition, with the Brendon Robinson Foundation, a nonprofit for at-risk youth, he uses this platform to address racial inequalities, build relationships, and be a part of the movement that changes these disparities.
While the team has already partnered with several business clients, Citadel is on target to fully launch business banking on August 1. For more information, visit CitadelBanking.com/Business.
Citadel Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial institution that provides banking, investments, and insurance services to more than 240,000 members. At $5 billion in assets, it is one of the Greater Philadelphia area's largest credit unions, proudly serving residents of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. Citadel is recognized as a Forbes 2022 Best-in-State Credit Union and a certified 2022 Great Place to Work. In addition, Citadel has been named one of the best performing credit unions in the nation by SNL Financial. For more information, visit CitadelBanking.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Citadel Credit Union | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/citadel-credit-unions-business-banking-team-ready-august-launch/ | 2022-06-23T20:43:54Z |
Second defendant in 2019 drive-by shooting sentenced to life in prison
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Danny Kaye Williams has been sentenced to the same fate as his counterpart - life in prison - for the 2019 drive-by shooting of Joaquin McKinney.
Court records indicate that on Thursday, June 2, Williams was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 50 years. He had been convicted on two counts of Murder in the 1st Degree - one listed as intentional and premeditated, the other listed as in the commission of a felony. However, the court merged both counts to be covered by the one life sentence.
Court records also show that Williams was sentenced to 61 months - 5 years - in prison for his criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle charge. This sentence will run concurrently with the life sentence.
Williams was also ordered to register on the Kansas offender registration for 15 years.
Williams is the second person convicted for the 2019 drive-by shooting of Joaquin McKinney. He and Zachary McFall, who is currently serving a life sentence for the crime, drove through the intersection of 37th and Adams St. when they fired shots at another vehicle.
McKinney had been found unresponsive in the driver’s seat and had suffered from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead the same day.
Williams was 16-years-old at the time of the murder, however, he was tried as an adult.
Joaquin McKinney
Court gives teen life-sentence in McKinney murder case
Shawnee County District Court has imposed a life sentence on a defendant in the McKinney murder case.
Two 16-year-olds charged with murder in last Thursday's drive-by killing
A pair of juveniles, Zachary Jacob McFall and Danny Kaye Williams, face first-degree murder charges in last Thursday's drive-by shooting in southeast Topeka, the Shawnee Co. District Attorney's Office.
16-year-old pleads not guilty to murder during arraignment
A 16-year-old youth charged with murder stood silent before a Shawnee County District Court judge on Tuesday, then the judge entered "not guilty" pleas on his behalf tied to three charges.
16-year-old charged as an adult in Joaquin McKinney killing
A 16-year-old boy has been charged as an adult with alternative counts of first-degree murder and a felony firearms count in the July shooting death of another 16-year-old youth.
16-year-old to be tried as adult in murder case; journalist ejected
A 16-year-old boy will be tried as an adult in connection with the July shooting death of another teen, a Shawnee Co. District Court Judge ruled in a Tuesday hearing in which a 13 NEWS reporter was ejected.
TPD identifies Topeka teen killed in Thursday shooting
The Topeka Police Dept. has released the name of the 16-year-old killed in a southeast Topeka shooting Thursday afternoon.
Shawnee Co. jury finds second defendant guilty in 2019 drive-by murder
Danny Williams became the second person convicted in the drive-by murder of Joaquin McKinney after a jury found him guilty on Thursday.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/02/second-defendant-2019-drive-by-shooting-sentenced-life-prison/ | 2022-06-02T17:54:06Z |
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The White House said there will be consequences for Russian President Vladimir Putin, as new evidence of Russian war crimes emerged over the weekend in communities just outside the capitol of Kyiv.
Russian military forces pulled back from the suburbs of the capital of Kyiv. Ukrainian forces found bodies in crushed cars, front yards and mass graves.
President Joe Biden said Putin should face a war crimes trial.
“He is a war criminal,” Biden said. “This guy is brutal.”
On Capitol Hill, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called for more economic sanctions to stop the money that’s paying for Putin’s violent rampage.
“It’s gut wrenching,” Blumenthal said. “The banks that process his oil and gas revenue have no sanctions, they’re the ones who need to be sanctioned.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said it’s time the U.S. and NATO up the ante.
“This is a turning point for me, I think this should be a turning point for the world,” Graham said. “Putin is not a legitimate leader, he needs to be considered a pariah. He should be kicked out of the UN.”
The president of Ukraine is calling the killings an act of genocide. Biden stopped short of using that term Monday, but he promised swift action.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Monday said more sanctions are on the way this week and promised more military aid to Ukraine as Russia ramps up attacks in other parts of the country.
“To raise the pressure and raise the cost on Putin and on Russia,” Sullivan said. “We should be under no illusions that Russia will adjust its tactics.”
Sullivan said the recent actions are a shock but not a surprise. He argued the killing of civilians was always part of Putin’s plans.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned the new evidence is only a glimpse of the carnage, saying it’s “just the tip of the iceberg.”
The Russian government continues to deny allegations that their forces are targeting Ukrainian civilians.
The Biden administration said it will work with allies to determine what next steps should be taken to hold Putin accountable for war crimes on the world’s stage. | https://cw33.com/news/washington-dc-bureau/he-is-a-war-criminal-biden-promises-swift-action-for-putin/ | 2022-04-04T23:07:14Z |
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE:CARR) will release its first quarter 2022 earnings on Thursday, April 28 and host a conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The webcast and presentation will be available at ir.carrier.com. To listen to the earnings call by phone, dial (877) 742-9091 and an operator will place you on hold until the conference begins. Please allow 15 minutes before the scheduled start time to connect to the teleconference. A recording will be archived later on the site and will be available for replay by phone from 11:30 a.m. ET April 28, 2022 until 11:30 a.m. ET May 5, 2022. For a replay, dial (855) 859-2056. At the prompt for a conference ID number, enter 5684198.
About Carrier
As the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions, Carrier Global Corporation is committed to making the world safer, sustainable and more comfortable for generations to come. From the beginning, we've led in inventing new technologies and entirely new industries. Today, we continue to lead because we have a world-class, diverse workforce that puts the customer at the center of everything we do. For more information, visit www.Corporate.Carrier.com or follow us on social media at @Carrier.
CARR-IR
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Carrier Global Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/carrier-first-quarter-earnings-advisory/ | 2022-04-06T01:09:51Z |
The award marks the fifth year in a row Thought Industries has been honored by Talented Learning for its complete, enterprise-level solution.
BOSTON, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Thought Industries, the leading global enterprise learning platform for customer, partner and professional training, today announced that it has been named a Top 20 Specialist Learning System for 2022 by Talented Learning.
For the first time ever, Talented Learning has split its hotly anticipated Top 40 Learning Systems list into two: 20 top "all-purpose" systems, and 20 top "specialist" systems, specifically regarding extended enterprise learning. Specialists, according to Talented Learning, focus on supporting specific use cases, industries, or locations exceptionally well, through innovation, differentiating features, and integrations.
Thought Industries is the leader in external-facing, enterprise learning, and has been described by Talented Learning as "the best organization in the world in terms of managing the B2B2B model." In particular, one of the tools highlighted in this year's analysis is Panorama, which allows learning organizations to manage, syndicate, and distribute content easily across large audiences.
"We're incredibly grateful to be named among the top specialist learning systems in 2022," said Barry Kelly, CEO and Cofounder of Thought Industries. "Thought Industries has always been laser-focused on external-facing customer, partner, and professional training. And we wake up every single day thinking about how we can help our customers create exceptional learning experiences that will engage and delight customers, and drive growth and scale in their businesses."
According to John Leh, CEO and Lead Analyst at Talented Learning, "It was easy to award Thought Industries a spot on the Top 20 Specialist Learning System Award list. Their complete, enterprise-grade learning system is built specifically to make the most-complex, large-scale and advanced customer education, content as a business and channel partner education initiatives grow easily and profitably."
Thought Industries appearances in the Talented Learning Top 40 list date back to 2017, recognizing many years of strong performance in the highly competitive learning platform space.
Find the full list of winners on the Talented Learning website, or watch the video announcing Thought Industries as one of the 2022 Top 40 Learning Systems.
Talented Learning, LLC is an independent research and consulting firm devoted to helping organizations of all sizes choose and use LMS solutions and related technologies for their unique business needs.
Founded early in 2014 by e-learning industry veterans John Leh and Joelle Girton, they are on a mission to advance awareness and adoption of learning technology that adds business value – primarily for the extended enterprise.
Thought Industries powers the business of learning with our industry-leading learning technology. We were founded in 2014 around the core belief that online learning experiences should be modern, intuitive, engaging, and scalable. Today, our growing team builds and maintains the only learning solution with completely native tools and integrations that drive higher engagement, learner proficiency, and retention rates for our customers.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Thought Industries | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/15/thought-industries-named-top-20-specialist-learning-system-by-talented-learning/ | 2022-09-15T05:45:58Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — There is a new trend going viral on TikTok and that is; people making terrariums!
What is a terrarium?
A terrarium is a glass container with soil and plants. It can be a sealable container that can be opened so you can access the plants for maintenance or it can be open to the atmosphere.
Inside DFW host Jenny Anchondo wanted to get in on this trend and invited Plant & Sip’s Gisella Kaendler over to teach us how to make our own terrarium using succulents, dirt, rocks and moss!
With her business, Plant & Sip, she creates mobile succulent planting parties. People book her parties for teambuilding, fundraisers, wellness events, etc.
To learn more about Plant & Sip, click here. | https://cw33.com/news/inside-dfw/watch-make-your-own-terrarium-with-these-tips-from-lewisvilles-plant-sip/ | 2022-07-28T17:30:43Z |
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Whistle, the leading Employee Loyalty platform, announced today the launch of Whistle Payments, a patent pending technology giving people managers a new set of tools to manage employee payments and budgets, while eliminating the hidden fees and waste in the current gift card and incentive payment industry.
"In a hyper competitive work environment, companies are looking for new ways to improve Employee Loyalty. Giving managers an easy way to buy a remote team member lunch, set up a recurring wellness budget, or just send an ad-hoc bonus payment when someone is going through a stressful experience – these are all powerful mechanisms to help people feel more engaged in their work experience, "said Drew Carter, CEO and Co-founder of Whistle. "This is a win for employees and businesses alike because it makes the administration of employee budgets for meals, travel, bonuses, and wellness programs easy to manage, saving both time and money."
Whistle payment accounts can be set up in minutes allowing people managers to immediately start having impact with their teams. Whistle payments makes it easy to:
- Instantly send payments to employees through virtual and physical cards that integrate seamlessly with mobile wallets.
- Set up recurring employee budgets to support individual needs for wellness, learning and other employee programs.
- Create temporary budgets for travel or ad-hoc expenses that can only be used for appropriate spending categories.
- Analyze spending data to gain new insights to drive better business outcomes.
- Integrate incentive payments with other employee programs like learning, social advocacy or culture building.
- Reduce administrative and accounting headaches through an intuitive and easy-to-manage platform.
- Send payments through existing company communication tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack
"Companies are struggling with employee loyalty and Whistle Payments is one of the tools we have built that can immediately impact business outcomes such as retention," said Andrew Hrdlicka Whistle Payments Lead and company co-founder. "It's pretty clear from our research that current tools and traditional engagement strategies are not working – in part because most companies are all using the same outdated tools. Whistle is a modern tool for modern times."
Over the past few months several Whistle clients started pilots with Whistle Payments, including Room Ready, a leading AV technology and services company who gave 100 people in the organization $100 each to donate to their favorite not-for-profit so each employee could impact the cause they care most about. "Instead of a big check for one organization, our company contributed to 53 different organizations across the region. And because we have real time access to the spending data, we are aligning more of our community giving efforts to support what our employees care most about." Said Aaron McArdle, CEO of Room Ready "In a matter of days Whistle has transformed how we think about supporting our employees and community. It's a win for our employees, company and community."
Whistle Payments is already attracting media attention and was recently named by CIO Review as one of the 10 most promising payment solution providers of 2022.
For more information about Whistle and how companies are using Employee Payments, go to www.wewhistle.com or contact media@wewhistle.com. Sign up for free at app.wewhistle.com/setup.
Whistle helps companies create Employee Loyalty. From better onboarding to employee payments, remote team engagement to learning experiences - the Whistle platform integrates the key elements that create Employee Loyalty and better business outcomes.
Simple. Easy. Just Whistle.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Whistle | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/whistle-transforms-employee-payments-budgets-with-launch-new-product/ | 2022-08-17T12:17:47Z |
(NEXSTAR) – As Americans await a decision on widespread student loan forgiveness from the Biden administration, some have already been able to have some or all of their debt erased. Among those are roughly 690,000 borrowers that have had $7.9 billion in federal student loans canceled after attending schools that defrauded them.
Federal student loan borrowers who were misled by their school, or attended a school that engaged in misconduct may qualify for borrower defense to loan repayment, otherwise known as borrower defense. According to the Department of Education, this means some or all of your federal student loans would be forgiven.
While any borrower that believes they’ve met the criteria for forgiveness, the Education Department has already approved loan discharges for those who attended certain schools.
The Education Department’s most recent borrower defense discharge canceled $5.8 billion in loans for 560,000 borrowers that had attended Corinthian Colleges. All former students who attended any campus owned or operated by Corinthian Colleges Inc. since the company was founded in 1995 through its closure in 2015 are included in forgiveness.
Impacted borrowers will receive a letter from the Department of Education, if they haven’t already, with loan discharges expected in the coming months. If you are included in this group discharge, you won’t have to take any action to receive relief. Corinthian faced numerous investigations and lawsuits for defrauding students out of millions in federally backed loans.
In April, roughly 28,000 former students of Marinello Schools of Beauty had federal student loans amounting to $238 million discharged by the Education Department. Students who attended Marinello between 2009 and its closure in 2016 are included as, during those seven years, the school engaged in “pervasive and widespread misconduct.” According to the Education Department, Marinello students have struggled to pass state licensing tests. Class-action lawsuits have already been filed against Marinello in Nevada and California, accusing the school of using salons as profit centers and students as unpaid laborers.
Roughly 1,800 borrowers who attended DeVry University are expected to receive more than $71 million in loan discharge. In February, the Education Department revealed an investigation found that between 2008 and 2015, DeVry misled prospective students with a national advertising campaign claiming 90% of graduates got jobs in their field of study within six months of graduation. The actual number was about 58%.
Former students of Westwood College who attended between 2002 and its closure in 2015 – about 1,200 borrowers – will see $53.1 million in federal student loans discharged. Like DeVry, the Education Department found Westwood had “grossly inflated” its job placement rate, and didn’t follow through on a promise that if a graduate didn’t find a job within six months of graduating, they would receive help to pay their bills.
In total, the Education Department has approved about 4,100 claims for $130 million in loan discharge for students who attended Westwood. Other reviews of the school found that it misrepresented the ability for students to transfer credits and that criminal justice program students in Illinois would be able to find jobs as police officers.
Borrowers that attended the criminal justice programs at the Minnesota School of Business and Globe University have also been approved for borrower defense discharges. After a Minnesota judge found both schools misled students because the programs lacked certifications and accreditation for graduates to becoming police, parole, or probation officers in the state, the Education Department approved roughly $3 million in loan dicharges for 270 students. Another 921 students have received more than $23 million in relief as of January.
From July 2007 to its closure in 2016, the Education Department said ITT Technical Institute also misled prospective students about the school’s nursing program, which lacked accreditation necessary for students to later get a nursing job. ITT had previously been found to have lied about employment prospects and ability to transfer credits, and made false claims about employment to California students. In total, about $660 million in federal loans have been discharged for 23,000 that had attended ITT’s nursing program.
If you believe your school misled you or engaged in misconduct, you can apply for borrower defense with the Federal Student Aid office online. Borrower defense discharge will only apply to Direct Loans you have received, not any other loans from the federal government or private loans.
Last month, the Biden administration agreed as part of a lawsuit to erase roughly $6 billion for 264,000 borrowers who claim they were defrauded by their college and their applications for relief from the Department of Education were delayed for years. The proposed agreement still needs to be approved by a judge before debt relief can occur. Of those members, about 200,000 attended certain schools that the Education Department believes may have engaged in misconduct.
Alex Gangitano contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/attended-one-of-these-schools-you-may-be-eligible-for-student-loan-forgiveness/ | 2022-07-10T15:14:02Z |
MINNEAPOLIS, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP) (NYSE:CP) announced today three collective bargaining agreements have been ratified by employees of CP's Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (DM&E) South; Central Maine & Quebec (CMQ) U.S. and Central Maine & Quebec Canada subsidiaries.
The agreements, reached on CP properties in Maine, the U.S. Midwest (Iowa, Missouri and Illinois) and parts of Quebec, provide higher hourly wages for all employees. They affect a total of approximately 430 employees represented by United Steel Workers Local 1976 on the CMQ Canada, SMART Transportation Division representing all employees on the CMQ U.S. and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen representing all train and engine employees on the DM&E South.
"CP welcomes the ratification of these three recently negotiated agreements that bring wage increases to hundreds of our dedicated employees," said Mark Redd, CP Executive Vice-President Operations. "We continue to work productively with all of our union partners to achieve long-term agreements that meet the needs of CP's growing business and our industry-leading railroaders."
Major CP crew bases that fall under the agreements include Ottumwa, Davenport, Marquette and Mason City, Iowa; Kansas City, Mo.; Savanna, Ill.; Brownville Junction, Maine; and Farnham, Que. CP is hiring for various positions at all of these locations in 2022, with immediate openings.
Learn more about current CP job opportunities and joining the CP team at cpr.ca/careers.
About Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to major ports on the west and east coasts. CP provides North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of CP. CP-IR
View original content:
SOURCE Canadian Pacific | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/cp-announces-ratification-three-new-labor-agreements-bringing-higher-wages-locomotive-engineers-conductors-us-eastern-canada/ | 2022-06-29T21:14:40Z |
Royals help drive record-setting crowd attendance for 2022 IPL Final, and setting the stage for a $6bn bid for broadcast media rights.
PHOENIX, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- US Royals Consortium, a minority partner of the Rajasthan Royals, announces the team's rise to second place amongst 10 franchises in the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). In addition to an eventful season and coveted ranking, the IPL 2022 final between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad set a new record attendance for a cricket match, attracting a crowd of 104,859 at the world's largest cricket ground. The continued surge in cricket's global popularity drove broadcast rights for India's top cricket league to sell for $6.2 Billion in a three-day online auction in a deal that establishes the IPL as one of the most valuable sporting entities in the world yielding a value per game second only to the National Football League.
Champions of the inaugural edition, Rajasthan Royals, have attracted investment from US elite athletes Chris Paul and Larry Fitzgerald and Kelvin Beachum. The trio have come on board as part of the Royals US Consortium making them minority investors in the franchise and helping bring awareness to the sport. The global interest in cricket is also illustrated by the recent addition of the two new IPL teams that were sold for a cumulative ~$1.7bn.
"The team's fearless approach on the field is a true inspiration," Simer Mayo, one of the US Royal Consortium's lead investors. "The Royals' nail-biting finishes, fueled by star players Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal, provided unforgettable memories. We congratulate them on a successful IPL season and their second place ranking."
While Rajasthan Royals lost in the IPL 2022 final, its star players Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal became the third pair in IPL history to win the Orange Cap and Purple Cap, respectively from the same franchise. It is only the third time in the history of the IPL that the highest run-scorer and highest wicket-taker of a season have been from the same team.
The IPL garnered the attention of global media giants battling for a five-year contract. Disney-owned Star India acquired the TV rights for the league for $3.01 billion while the online streaming rights were acquired by Viacom18—a joint venture between Paramount and billionaire Mukesh Ambani-owned TV18 for $3.04 billion, according to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).The IPL annual multi-week tournament draws more than half-a-billion viewers, trailing only English soccer and the National Football League in popularity globally, according to BCCI.
Through the years, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has evolved into an all-encompassing entity that attracts both in-person attendance and viewership from across the globe, especially in cricket-obsessed nation of India's 1.4 billion people. The Royals added another first to their list of accolades with their IPL final with the record-setting crowd of 104,859, according to organizers at Narendra Modi Stadium. The largest crowd in one-day matches was previously listed as 100,000 in Kolkata in the 1990s and early 2000 but the highest official figure for a limited-overs match was the 87,812 people at the 1992 50-over World Cup final between Pakistan and England in Melbourne.
The Rajasthan Royals are on a mission to "Transform Society through Cricket, and Cricket through Innovation". The global sports franchise believes that royalty is not something one inherits, it is something that is to be earned. This 'Spirit of Royalty' is what sets the Royals apart resulting in a series of firsts, including the first team to lift an IPL trophy; the first player to win the MVP award in an IPL; and the first to win this award the maximum number of times in the history of the IPL, Shane Watson. This pioneering approach extends to the digital realm as well with the designated YouTube Channel in November 2008. The Rajasthan Royals are committed to driving talent at the highest level across every level of the organization, fueled with recent investment from "Moneyball" Billy Beane and Redbird Capital.
For more information, visit usroyals.net
View original content:
SOURCE US Royals Consortium | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/royals-celebrate-eventful-season-lifting-team-number-two-position-indian-premier-league-rankings/ | 2022-06-16T17:16:59Z |
One person critically injured after hitting tree in Pittsburg County
Published: Jun. 11, 2022 at 11:05 PM CDT|Updated: 15 minutes ago
PITTSBURG COUNTY, Okla. (KXII) -One person is in critical condition after striking a tree in Pittsburg County.
the crash happened around 10:06 a.m. Saturday morning on OK-31 near Quinton.
Troopers said a 2016 Kawasaki Motorcycle was traveling westbound on OK-31, when it departed the roadway to the right after making contact with loose gravel, entered a ditch, continued 663ft, and struck a group of small trees before coming to a rest.
The driver of the motorcycle,42-year-old Bobby Emberson of Porum was transported to ST. John’s in Tulsa and admitted in critical condition with internal and external injuries
Troopers said Emberson was speeding and possibly under the influence of alcohol.
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/12/one-person-critically-injured-after-hitting-tree-pittsburg-county/ | 2022-06-12T04:24:21Z |
CTO, Paw Andersen joins team as Tony Deigh moves into Chief Data Officer role
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jobcase, an online community dedicated to empowering and advocating for workers, announced the appointment of Paw Andersen as its Chief Technology Officer. In various roles, Andersen has helped build and transform several technology businesses over the last 20+ years, notably as a senior engineering leader at Uber and most recently as CTO for Metromile. He brings a wealth of experience from many different tech sectors such as GIS, fintech, and e-commerce, and in organizations of all sizes. At Jobcase, Andersen will be responsible for leading technological growth and staff, enabling the company to build innovative and empowering solutions for both members and workers.
"Jobcase supports and connects millions of workers everyday as they help one another navigate to their 'better tomorrow'. In order to continue building the world-class, go-to platform workers so rightly deserve, we need to continue scaling our best-in-class engineering team and technology stack," said Fred Goff, co-founder and CEO of Jobcase. "With the CTO baton passed to Paw, and Tony focusing his efforts on unlocking the value in data for our members, I am confident Jobcase will continue doing just that. We are humbled and proud to have Paw join our leadership team, and I am so excited for the acceleration in breadth and depth of impact we will now have in empowering workers."
Before joining Jobcase, Andersen served as CTO for Metromile, a tech disruptor in the auto insurance space, where he led their efforts with machine learning to provide usage-based cost savings and a customer-centric experience. Prior to that, he spent many years in senior leadership at various burgeoning tech companies such as Uber and Groupon. He was most notably a senior leader of engineering in Uber's Advanced Technology group, where he grew his team from 27 to 700 at a time when Uber was filling up to 10,000 new driver jobs a day.
Andersen is very passionate about missions that evolve society for the better and feels Jobcase's focus on the challenges of working people is fundamental to the health of our economy. He's proud of the role he had in creating hundreds of thousands of work opportunities with Uber and recognizes that his new role can help affect change in many other areas of the workforce.
"Jobcase's mission of 'empowerment through community' really speaks to me. I love the challenge of creating technology that can help workers achieve a better future," said Andersen. "It feels like I'm closing the circle on the journey I started at Uber. Beyond the mission, the Jobcase team itself is what sealed the deal. I've had the pleasure of meeting so many smart and passionate people from different teams at the company. The strong culture is really infectious, and I look forward to being a part of helping Jobcase make a difference on a whole new level."
Andersen will be replacing former CTO, Tony Deigh, who is transitioning into a new role as Chief Data Officer. In his new role, Diegh will bring a new level of focus to leveraging deep data in labor markets and worker dynamics to create a better experience for members and employers alike.
"I am extremely enthusiastic about my partnership with Paw," said Deigh. "His history of growing high-performance engineering organizations means great things for our members."
About Jobcase:
Founded in 2015, Jobcase is dedicated to empowering and advocating for the world's workers. As a social platform, Jobcase helps more than 130 million registered members lead better work lives – providing access to jobs, tools, resources, and a supportive community. Jobcase technology also powers a network of job sites and many nonprofit-driven activities via its Jobcase network. Emerging as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in Boston, Jobcase is a Workday Ventures Partner and an industry-affiliate of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL). Jobcase also collaborates with employers, nonprofits, and government agencies to both improve and diversify access to opportunity and participation in the workforce.
Related Links
https://www.jobcase.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Jobcase | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/jobcase-strengthens-engineering-leadership-while-further-investing-workforce-data-expertise/ | 2022-04-11T14:40:15Z |
Morale is concern as NATO chief warns war could last ‘years’
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Four months of brutal fighting in Ukraine appear to be straining the morale of troops on both sides, prompting desertions and rebellion against officers’ orders, British defense officials said Sunday. NATO’s chief warned the war could drag on for “years.”
“Combat units from both sides are committed to intense combat in the Donbas and are likely experiencing variable morale,” Britain’s defense ministry said in its daily assessment of the war.
“Ukrainian forces have likely suffered desertions in recent weeks,” the assessment said, but added that “Russian morale highly likely remains especially troubled.”
It said “cases of whole Russian units refusing orders and armed stand-offs between officers and their troops continue to occur.”
Separately, the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate released what it said were intercepted phone calls in which Russian soldiers complained about frontline conditions, poor equipment, and overall lack of personnel, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War.
In an interview published on Sunday in the German weekly Bild am Sonntag, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that “nobody knows” how long the war could last. “We need to be prepared for it to last for years,” he said.
He also urged allies “not to weaken support for Ukraine, even if the costs are high, not only in terms of military aid, but also because of the increase in energy and food goods prices.”
In recent days, Gazprom, the Russian gas company, has reduced supplies to two major European clients — Germany and Italy. In Italy’s case, energy officials are expected to huddle this week about the situation. The head of Italian energy giant ENI said on Saturday that with additional gas purchased from other sources, Italy should make it through the coming winter, but he warned Italians that “restrictions” affecting gas use might be necessary.
Germany will limit the use of gas for electricity production amid concerns about possible shortages caused by a reduction in supplies from Russia, the country’s economy minister said on Sunday. Germany has been trying to fill its gas storage facilities to capacity ahead of the cold winter months.
Economy Minister Robert Habeck said that Germany will try to compensate for the move by increasing the burning of coal, a more polluting fossil fuel. “That’s bitter, but it’s simply necessary in this situation to lower gas usage,” he said.
Stoltenberg stressed, though, that “the costs of food and fuel are nothing compared with those paid daily by the Ukrainians on the front line.”
Stoltenberg added: What’s more, if Russian President Vladimir Putin should reach his objectives in Ukraine, like when he annexed Crimea in 2014, “we would have to pay an even greater price.”
Britain’s defense ministry said that both Russia and Ukraine have continued to conduct heavy artillery bombardments on axes to the north, east and south of the Sieverodonetsk pocket, but with little change in the front line.
Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai said via Telegram on Sunday: “It is a very difficult situation in Sievierodonetsk, where the enemy in the middle of the city is conducting round-the-clock aerial reconnaissance with drones, adjusting fire, quickly adjusting to our changes.”
Russia’s defense ministry claimed on Sunday that Russian and separatist forces have taken control of Metolkine, a settlement just to the east of Sievierodonetsk.
On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a trip south from Kyiv to visit troops and hospital workers in the Mykolaiv and Odesa regions along the Black Sea. He handed out awards to dozens of people at every stop, shaking their hands and thanking them again and again for their service.\
Some time after Zelenskyy left Mykolaiv, “the enemy carried out fire damage against units of the Defense Forces with cannon and rocket artillery in the areas of the settlements of Pravdyne, Posad-Pokrovskoe and Blahodatne,” according to the Ukrainian army briefing on Sunday.
In other attacks in the south, Ukraine’s southern military operational command said on Sunday that two people were killed in shelling of the Galitsyn community in the Mykolaiv region and that shelling of the Bashtansky district is continuing.
Russia’s defense ministry said seaborne missiles destroyed a plant in Mykolaiv city where Western-supplied howitzers and armored vehicles were stored.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed concerns “that a bit of Ukraine fatigue is starting to set in around the world” and has urged support for Ukrainian efforts to try to roll back the Russian invasion.
“It would be a catastrophe if Putin won. He’d love nothing more than to say, ‘Let’s freeze this conflict, let’s have a cease-fire,’” Johnson said on Saturday, a day after a surprise visit to Kyiv, where he met with Zelenskyy and offered offer continued aid and military training.
Western-supplied heavy weapons are reaching front lines. But Ukraine’s leaders have insisted for weeks that they need more arms and they need them sooner.
On Sunday Pope Francis, despite having lamented arms build-ups, added his own admonition to those who might lose focus on Ukraine, which he has said deserves to defend itself.
“And let’s not forget the martyred Ukrainian people in this moment,” Francis told the public in St. Peter’s Square. He prodded them to ask themselves “‘What did I do today for the Ukrainian people?”
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
___
Sylvia Hui contributed from London, Frank Jordans from Berlin and Frances D’Emilio from Rome.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/19/morale-is-concern-nato-chief-warns-war-could-last-years/ | 2022-06-19T13:06:20Z |
Developed in Partnership with Berklee Music and Health Institute, Program Will Feature Original Music and Encourage Smokers to Listen During Smoke-Less Breaks.
WARREN, N.J., July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Nicorette unveils SmokeLess Break Beats – a first-of-its kind, customized music listening experience that uses the science of music therapy to address smokers' needs and motivate them towards healthier breaks. Nicorette has partnered with Berklee Music and Health Institute to enlist 30+ students and faculty to design eight original tracks, referencing scientific research about overcoming smoking addiction. These original compositions are featured in four playlists that promote relaxation, focus, confidence, and physical release, which are key benefits smokers seek in smoke breaks. Available for free on Spotify, each playlist contains the original tracks and is personalized using the listener's music history, functioning as a break-time emotional and behavioral tool to aid in smoking cessation.
Smoke breaks are ingrained in smoking culture, serving as "treasured moments" that routinely help smokers slow down and relax. On average, smokers take about three, 15-minute breaks per day.1 With stress, fatigue, and burnout at an all-time high, it is more important than ever for people to take breaks to reduce stress and restore focus2. That's why Nicorette is encouraging smokers to continue taking the breaks previously used to smoke a cigarette, but to replace the cigarette with an alternative – music.
"Music is scientifically proven to reduce cravings, and even activates the same pleasure centers in the brain that nicotine does. The music tracks composed by the students are designed to help listeners regulate the psychological and physiological functions related to smoking, such as breathing, mood, and heart rate," said Joy Allen, Ph.D., MT-BC, Director, Berklee Music and Health Institute at Berklee College of Music. "We are so proud to partner with Nicorette to offer music as an accessible tool that smokers can use in their quit journey."
The more tools someone has at their disposal on their quit journey, the better. Combining additional behavioral support tools with a Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), like Nicorette, can help increase the chances of quit success by 70% 3. When utilized during a break, the music can provide distraction, encouragement, and mindfulness, offering them immediate support to stay on their quit journey.
"For more than 20 years, Nicorette has been on a mission to help smokers break free from tobacco. Quitting is not a 'one size fits all' journey, and we know it can be incredibly challenging to get started and to stick to," said Pam Remash, Marketing Director, U.S. Smokers' Health, Haleon. "We know that there are emotional, physical, and behavioral challenges in quitting smoking. SmokeLess Break Beats is designed to help smokers keep the habit of taking breaks but replace the cigarette with listening to music instead," explained Dan Wertheim, Brand Manager, U.S. Smokers' Health, Haleon.
Visit smokelessbreak.com to take Nicorette's one question cravings quiz and unlock your personalized breaklist, musically designed to help you break better with the science of music, and stream via Spotify. To learn more about Nicorette visit Nicorette.com.
About Nicorette
For more than 20 years, Nicorette and NicoDerm CQ have helped people successfully quit smoking. Nicorette is available in gum, lozenges, and mini lozenges and helps people quit smoking by gradually stepping down exposure to nicotine. NicoDerm CQ is a nicotine patch that's designed to help people quit smoking. Studies show that nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products combined with behavioral support can improve one's chances of quitting smoking.
About Haleon US
Haleon (NYSE: HLN) is a leading global consumer health company with a portfolio of brands trusted daily by millions of people. In the United States, the organization employs more than 4,700 people who are united by Haleon's powerful purpose to deliver better everyday health with humanity. Haleon's products span five categories: Oral Health, Pain Relief, Respiratory Health, Digestive Health, and Wellness. Built on scientific expertise, innovation, and deep human understanding, Haleon's brands include Abreva, Advil, Benefiber, Centrum, ChapStick®, Emergen-C, Excedrin, Flonase, Gas-X, Natean, Nexium, Nicorette, Parodontax, Polident, Preparation H, Pronamel, Sensodyne, Robitussin, Theraflu, TUMS, Voltaren, and more.
For more information on Haleon and its brands, please visit www.haleon.com or contact USMediaRelations@haleon.com.
About Berklee Music & Health Institute
Berklee Music and Health Institute (BMHI) leverages the expertise of Berklee's Music Therapy department to engage the innovative ecosystem of academic, artistic, scientific, entrepreneurial, and technological talent, bringing together the most creative minds to help accelerate ideation and develop solutions that can improve health and wellbeing for individuals and communities.
Media Contact Information:
Sarah Miller – Haleon
sarah.l.miller@haleon.com
845-324-2491
Allison Leiser – Weber Shandwick
ALesier@webershandwick.com
248-515-6932
2. American Psychological Association. Stress in America™. 2022 Covid Survey: Covid Second Anniversary. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2022/march-2022-survival-mode.
3. Stead LF and Lancaster T (2012) Combined pharmacotherapy and behavioral interventions for smoking cessation (Review). Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews, Issue 10
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Nicorette | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/nicorette-is-motivating-smokers-take-healthier-breaks-with-customized-music-listening-experience-smokeless-break-beats/ | 2022-07-27T14:11:42Z |
Companies will work together to bring rapid antimicrobial identification and susceptibility diagnostics to more clinicians and patients worldwide
FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. and TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, and Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXDX) an innovator of rapid in-vitro diagnostics in microbiology, today announced a worldwide commercial collaboration agreement where BD will offer Accelerate's rapid testing solution for antibiotic resistance and susceptibility offering results in hours, versus one to two days with some traditional laboratory methods.
Under the agreement, BD will market and sell the Accelerate Pheno® system and Accelerate Arc™ module and associated test kits through its global sales network in territories where products have regulatory approval or registration. These solutions complement BD's existing Clinical Microbiology portfolio and advance the shared goal of both companies to address the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.
"When a patient is very sick, every minute matters," said Brooke Story, president of Integrated Diagnostic Solutions for BD. "Rapid testing can quickly determine if an antibiotic should be used for treatment, and if so, which one. Through our collaboration with Accelerate Diagnostics, we can help clinicians more quickly, efficiently and effectively treat patients, which may lead to a reduction in health care costs and help slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance."
The Accelerate PhenoTest® BC kit is the first test cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that can deliver both rapid identification and phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility results in hours direct from positive blood cultures. Recent external studies indicate this solution offers results one to two days faster than traditional laboratory methods, which can include culturing samples for 18 to 24 hours, and then performing a susceptibility test that can take eight to 24 hours to result. This enables clinicians to optimize antibiotic selection and dosage specific to the individual patient, days earlier. It is well established in peer-reviewed literature that improving time to optimal therapy benefits both patient outcomes and hospital operations.
The Accelerate Arc™ module is a simple load-and-go system that eliminates the requirement of a subculture for MALDI ID as well as the need for lengthy hands-on time by automating the direct MALDI ID workflow. It is currently US , CE-IVDR and UKCA registered for positive blood cultures.
"With BD's large installed customer base of clinical microbiology systems, this collaboration exponentially increases our global commercial reach and provides numerous ways to increase our market penetration with Pheno and Arc to reach more clinicians and patients," said Jack Phillips, president and CEO of Accelerate Diagnostics. "Beyond the immediate clinical and commercial benefits, we are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with BD as a long-term leader in clinical microbiology."
About Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc.
Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. is an in vitro diagnostics company dedicated to providing solutions for the global challenges of antibiotic resistant infections, a leading cause of sepsis. The company's first fully automated platform to provide rapid identification and antimicrobial susceptibility results remains the only solution currently cleared for use with positive blood culture samples by the U.S. FDA.
For more information about the company, its products and technology, or recent publications, visit axdx.com.
About BD
BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world and is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics, and the delivery of care. The company supports the heroes on the frontlines of health care by developing innovative technology, services and solutions that help advance both clinical therapy for patients and clinical process for health care providers. BD and its 75,000 employees have a passion and commitment to help enhance the safety and efficiency of clinicians' care delivery process, enable laboratory scientists to accurately detect disease and advance researchers' capabilities to develop the next generation of diagnostics and therapeutics. BD has a presence in virtually every country and partners with organizations around the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues. By working in close collaboration with customers, BD can help enhance outcomes, lower costs, increase efficiencies, improve safety and expand access to health care. For more information on BD, please visit bd.com or connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/bd1/ and Twitter @BDandCo.
Contacts
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/bd-accelerate-diagnostics-announce-global-commercial-collaboration/ | 2022-08-15T12:11:00Z |
A police lieutenant killed on duty in Pennsylvania was one month away from retirement when a man suspected of breaking into a family member’s home opened fire on responding officers, authorities said Friday.
Lebanon City Police Lt. William Lebo and three other uniformed officers were met with immediate gunfire when they entered the home on Forest Street, Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said at a news conference.
Two other officers were injured and remain hospitalized. The suspect, 34-year-old Travis Shaud of Lebanon, was also killed in the exchange of gunfire.
Graf said Shaud had a record of domestic assaults as well as mental health issues.
“Family attempts to intervene, to provide assistance, were met with his utter resistance,” she said.
Shaud had previously lived in the home but not for some years, she said. A man listed as a co-owner of the home declined comment when reached by phone early Friday.
Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello said the injured officers are Ryan Adams, 34, and Derek Underkoffler, 32, both with seven years on the force. Lebo, 63, had planned to retire May 1 after 40 years with the department.
A family member arrived home after work Thursday and realized Shaud had broken into the rear of his home, so he called police, Graf said.
“When police attempted to enter the residence, four officers encountered immediate gunfire,” Graf said. Shaud used a gun from the home to shoot at police, Graf said.
Officers returned fire and Shaud was pronounced dead at the scene.
A Shaud family friend, Susan Schott, told the Lebanon Daily News the Forest Street home was Travis Shaud’s childhood home.
“Travis was a wonderful person when he was OK,” Schott told the paper. “But as soon as I heard the address I knew what happened.”
Authorities have not said who shot who and did not take questions about what Graf called an ongoing investigation at news conferences Thursday and Friday.
“As one can imagine, it’s clearly a traumatic event,” Lebanon Police Chief Todd Breiner said Thursday night. “Our guys are strong, but we’re human and we have families.”
Lebanon resident Angelo Gonzalez, 17, was working at a pizzeria down the road from the shooting when he said he saw “cop car after cop car flying down the street.”
“Then we heard something and weren’t sure what it was and the street filled up with cops and ambulance in a matter of 15 min,” Gonzalez said in a text message.
___
Associated Press writer Ryan Kryska in Leonard, Michigan, contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-u-s-headlines/officer-killed-in-pennsylvania-was-1-month-from-retirement/ | 2022-04-01T19:21:12Z |
Scorching Today, Storms Possible Tonight
Scattered thunderstorms Sunday evening, may interfere with eclipse viewing
It’s a mostly sunny and very hot Sunday with record heat expected, the existing record high of 92 from 1952 stands little chance of surviving today, with highs expected to run 94 to 98 degrees. Heat Index temperatures may get over 100, pace yourself and stay hydrated in this early-season heat!
A passing upper wave and surface front will interact with the hot, humid air and it now looks like at least scattered thunderstorms are possible this evening. A few of the storms could be severe, this is heading into the evening and first half of the night. Storm chances will be greatest in northern Texoma, closer to the wave, but the entire area has a fair chance of precipitation this evening.
Quiet weather returns Monday and the coming week looks dry and hot.
Here’s your 7-Day:
Today: Mostly sunny, record heat (existing record high is 92 degrees set in 1952)
This evening/tonight: 40% Thunderstorms, isolated severe possible, ending by midnight
Monday: Sunny and hot
Tuesday: Mostly sunny and windy
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, windy, and hot
Thursday: Sunny and hot
Friday: Sunny and hot
Steve LaNore
Chief Meteorologist
News 12 / KXII-TV
Copyright 2021 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/15/scorching-today-storms-possible-tonight/ | 2022-05-15T15:49:41Z |
CARMICHAEL, Calif., Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eskaton, a nonprofit Sacramento-based senior living organization, has announced the promotion of Sheri Peifer to President as part of the first phase of a board-led CEO succession plan. In her new role, Peifer will oversee operations and strategic growth for the organization to meet the increasing demand for high-quality senior living solutions.
"I believe the most successful organizations plan ahead and cultivate and develop their next leaders," said Todd Murch, Eskaton CEO. "I fully support the board's decision to name Sheri as my successor. Sheri brings a strong set of skills in strategic planning and innovation, operational excellence and partnership development as Eskaton continues to expand and meet the needs of older adults across the region."
Peifer, who formerly served as Eskaton's Chief Strategy Officer, joined the organization in 2005 and has led Eskaton's efforts in development, management services and affiliations, joint ventures, partnerships, innovation, marketing and communications. Over her tenure, she has led Eskaton's expansion of services into the Bay area and Central Valley by managing and/or affiliating with nonprofit senior living providers who desire a strategic alliance with Eskaton. Peifer also led the expansion of Eskaton's home and community-based services across the region. As President, Peifer's short-term strategy will be focused on integrating and strengthening Eskaton's communities and services, including investing in support for Eskaton's dedicated workforce.
Peifer noted that older adults will make up one-quarter of the state's population by 2030, and she intends to ready Eskaton to meet the growing need. Her vision for the future includes positioning Eskaton as a single-point solution for older adults who desire an integrated healthy living experience through a range of innovative services and living options.
"Eskaton is well-positioned to expand our reach through diverse partnerships and continue providing the high quality of life we are known for," said Peifer. "Our future imperative will focus on understanding and delivering new customer experiences, services and ways to age well within a community. We anticipate partners will continue to be an ever-important part of our growth as we prioritize the well-being of older Californians."
Ms. Peifer serves as Vice Chair of the LeadingAge California board of directors and chairs its Planning Committee. She is a graduate of the national LeadingAge Leadership Fellow program based in Washington D.C. She holds a BA from Messiah College and a MS in Gerontology and Education from California State University, Sacramento.
About Eskaton
Since 1968, Eskaton has been serving older adults in Northern California. As a nonprofit senior living provider, our mission is to enhance the lives of older adults through innovative health, housing and social services. With five decades of experience and a national reputation for innovation, Eskaton is Transforming the Aging Experience. For more information, please call 1-866-ESKATON, or visit www.eskaton.org.
CONTACT:
Zach Melchiori
916-344-0810
Zach.Melchiori@eskaton.org
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Eskaton | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/15/newly-named-eskaton-president-peifer-focus-strategic-growth-communities-services-meet-senior-living-needs/ | 2022-09-15T21:27:53Z |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joe E. Tata, the actor known as the Peach Pit diner owner Nat Bussichio on the 1990s teen drama “Beverly Hills, 90210” has died. He was 85.
His daughter, Kelly Katherine Tata, announced in a GoFundMe page posting on Thursday that her father died Wednesday night. She previously wrote that her father had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2018.
“My father and I are forever grateful for the love and support of family, friends and fans,” said Tata’s daughter, who also wrote that the remaining funds raised from the campaign will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association. She called her father was “honest, kind, and a truly incredible father.”
Tata appeared in television shows including “Lost in Space,” “The Rockford Files,” “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” and the original “Batman” series. But he was most popular for the role he played on “Beverly Hills, 90210” for all 10 seasons of the hit series.
Tata reprised the Nat Bussichio role in the spin-off series “90210,” which aired on the CW network from 2008 to 2013.
Ian Ziering, a “90210” star, wrote in a social media post that he admired Tata as “one of the happiest people I’ve ever worked with.”
He said Tata was “generous with his wisdom as he was with his kindness.” | https://cw33.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-joe-e-tata-actor-for-beverly-hills-90210-dies-at-85/ | 2022-08-26T19:41:59Z |
5 things to know for April 14: Subway shooting, Ukraine, Covid, Groceries, South Africa
By Alexandra Meeks, CNN
Amazon says that for the first time in company history it will charge sellers a 5% fuel and inflation surcharge. So, if it seems like your favorite Amazon items are getting pricier, it could be because businesses are trying to pass along those rising expenses to customers.
Here’s what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.
(You can get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.)
1. Subway shooting
Frank James, the man arrested on suspicion of setting off smoke grenades and shooting 10 people at a Brooklyn subway station Tuesday morning, will make his first appearance in court later today, authorities said. James was charged in federal court with violating a law that prohibits terrorist and other violent attacks against a mass transportation system. If convicted, he could spend life in prison. Yesterday, James was declared a suspect in the shooting and New York City officials issued an emergency alert to residents saying he was “wanted” and asking for tips. The 62-year-old called in a tip to the Crime Stoppers hotline that led to his own capture, two law enforcement sources told CNN. The shooting left at least 29 people with injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to smoke inhalation, but none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening, officials said.
2. Ukraine
It has been 50 days since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded his neighbor Ukraine, and US officials say the strength of the Russian military appears to be waning against the Ukrainian resistance. In the latest blow against Moscow, Ukraine claims one of the Russian Navy’s most important warships has been hit by cruise missiles fired from Ukraine. Russia, however, says the ship was evacuated due to a fire. On the ground, Ukraine says the last remaining defenders of the besieged city of Mariupol were recently able to join forces, further bolstering their resistance against Russia. This comes as President Joe Biden yesterday told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the US was sending his nation an additional $800 million worth of weapons, ammunition and other security assistance.
3. Coronavirus
The mask mandate aboard planes, trains and buses in the US has been extended until May 3, the federal government confirmed yesterday. The CDC said the order will remain in place to allow the agency to “assess the potential impact the rise of cases has on severe disease, including hospitalizations and deaths, and health care system capacity.” The mandate had been set to expire on April 18. Flight crew unions initially applauded the extension for protecting staff unable to avoid close contact with passengers, but some major airline CEOs have said they want it to end. The US is now averaging 38,345 new Covid-19 cases per day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, but this daily rate is still one of the lowest since mid-July.
4. Grocery prices
In the year ending in March, food prices rose 8.8% — the biggest 12-month increase since 1981, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced this week. As for the types of foods that have become notably more expensive, flour jumped 14.2%, milk rose 13.3%, eggs went up 11.2% and fruits and vegetables went up 8.5%. Bacon increased 18.2% and butter went up 6%. Prices are spiking across the board as food supplies tighten due to several factors, including droughts impacting crops and disruptions in the market caused by the war in Ukraine. A few items did become slightly cheaper last month though. Doughnuts, peanut butter and ham all declined less than 2%.
5. South Africa floods
At least 306 people were killed in South Africa yesterday after floods washed away roads and destroyed homes along the country’s eastern coast. The regional government called it “one of the worst weather storms in the history” of the KwaZulu-Natal province. The region has experienced extreme rainfall and damaging winds this week, particularly in the city of Durban, the government said in a Facebook post. Photos of the devastation show a bridge near Durban that was swept away and several shipping containers that were toppled in deep water due to the storm system. The extreme weather comes just months after heavy rainfall and floods hit additional parts of southern Africa, killing 230 people and affecting 1 million others.
THIS JUST IN
Elon Musk has made an offer to buy Twitter. According to an SEC filing, Musk has offered to acquire all the shares in Twitter he does not own for $54.20 per share, valuing the company at $43.4 billion. That represents a 38% premium over the closing price on April 1, the last trading day before Musk disclosed that he had become Twitter’s biggest shareholder.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
Meet the people who want to spend the rest of their lives on cruise ships
Life at sea doesn’t sound too bad… especially since you wouldn’t have to deal with ridiculously high gas prices!
‘The Kardashians’ move their act to Hulu
Whether you love them, or love to hate them, the Kardashians are back — and so is the heated family drama. Are you keeping up with the new show?
‘Abbott Elementary’ earns perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes
Hundreds of TV and film critics give this series a perfect A+, making it one of the highest-rated TV shows on the site.
US military confirms an interstellar meteor collided with Earth
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… this rare meteor was floating in a completely different solar system before crash-landing on Earth.
These are the world’s top city destinations in the Covid era
If you’re looking for a sign to book a vacation, this is it. Here’s a new list of top tourist destinations based on factors like attractiveness and health and safety.
TODAY’S NUMBER
$9.5 billion
That’s how much Google said it will invest in US offices and data centers around the country this year. The big investment on office space comes as Google has called for many of its employees to work in an office three days a week after two years of being fully remote. As part of the announcement yesterday, Google said it expects to create at least 12,000 new full-time jobs at the company this year.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“I had to do something to gain his respect.”
— Alleged rioter Dustin Thompson, testifying yesterday that he believed he had received “presidential orders” from then-President Donald Trump to storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Thompson has claimed that he believed he was acting at the behest of Trump, who told the crowd at a rally that day to march to the Capitol and “fight like hell.” The trial is being seen as a major test of that defense, which dozens of riot suspects have adopted so far, and could influence how others argue in court.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Check your local forecast here>>>
AND FINALLY
Color-matching objects with paint
Pick a color, any color, and this artist can match it perfectly! (Click to view)
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2022/04/14/5-things-to-know-for-april-14-subway-shooting-ukraine-covid-groceries-south-africa/ | 2022-04-14T11:11:55Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — The National Weather Service in Fort Worth reports storm chances in North Texas will be low Friday afternoon.
With a strong cap in place, NWS Fort Worth says storms won’t be able to develop across the majority of the region in the afternoon and evening.
However, the center is monitoring an area in Northwest Texas where that cap could weaken and allow for a strong thunderstorm or two to develop. If any storms do develop, it’s likely to happen around 6 p.m. or later. | https://cw33.com/news/local/nws-fort-worth-low-chances-for-storms-friday-night/ | 2022-04-29T21:39:55Z |
PLYMOUTH, Wis., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sargento Foods Inc. is pleased to announce an official partnership with NASCAR® driver Josh Bilicki. Sargento will sponsor Bilicki during the NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Watkins Glen Raceway in Watkins Glen, New York on August 20, 2022.
During a NASCAR race on July 2 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin – where Sargento is the Official Cheese partner – an incident occurred that resulted in Bilicki's car carrying Sargento branding through the race. This unexpected collision - without injury - prompted this exciting partnership, bringing the Wisconsin-based company and racecar driver together. Bilicki and Sargento will be joining forces and surely making their home state of Wisconsin proud at the upcoming race.
"I am excited for this opportunity to partner with Sargento at Watkins Glen Raceway this August," said Bilicki. "As a native Wisconsinite, I have enjoyed Sargento products for many years. I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason, including my recent run in with the Sargento sign. I am thankful to be welcomed into the Sargento family and to represent a Wisconsin-based company in my upcoming race."
"Sargento has been a long-time partner of Road America and we are proud to have this iconic landmark in our own backyard," said Louie Gentine, CEO of Sargento. "When we saw our sign on the front of Josh's car, we had the same reaction as many others. We like to have fun so, we're excited to partner with the Wisconsin native for this upcoming race."
Sargento will be Bilicki's primary sponsor at the NASCAR Xfinity Series races in Watkins Glen, New York on August 20, where Sargento branding will be prominently featured on Bilicki's Chevrolet Camaro racecar. Fans can follow Sargento on Instagram @sargentocheese and on Twitter @SargentoCheese for behind-the-scenes content leading up to the race and for the opportunity to win an autographed photo of Bilicki.
About Sargento Foods Inc.
With over 2,000 employees and net sales of $1.5 billion, Sargento Foods is a family-owned company that has been a leader in cheese for more than 65 years. Founded in 1953 in Plymouth, Wisconsin, Sargento is proud to be the company that successfully introduced America to pre-packaged sliced and shredded natural cheeses and cheese blends. Today, Sargento Foods is still based in Wisconsin, where they manufacture and market amazing shredded, sliced and snack natural cheese products, as well as ingredients and sauces. Company leadership lives to serve local communities and employees, whom they refer to as the Sargento Family. www.sargento.com
About Josh Bilicki:
Josh Bilicki began his racing career at the early age of four when he got behind the wheel of a go-kart for the first time at Badger Kart Club in Wisconsin. After over ten years of success across multiple different karting categories, including shifter karts, Bilicki transitioned to full-size cars at age 14. After multiple years racing sportscars at an amateur rank, Bilicki made his professional racing debut in IMSA in 2015. After spending a year racing in IMSA and the Trans-Am Series, Bilicki made his NASCAR debut at his home track of Road America in 2016.
Bilicki made his first NASCAR Cup Series start at Sonoma Raceway in 2017. 2021 marked Bilicki's first season in the Cup Series. For the 2022 season, Bilicki makes the move to Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series and has also added multiple NASCAR Xfinity Series races to his schedule with Alpha Prime Racing.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Sargento Foods | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/sargento-foods-inc-teams-up-with-nascar-driver-josh-bilicki-after-he-collided-with-sargento-signage-during-recent-race-wisconsin/ | 2022-08-10T13:22:21Z |
SANTA FE, N.M., Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to growing interest for intelligent energy management at home, BayWa r.e. announced today it is working with Google Nest to distribute smart thermostats to installers through its solar and energy storage distribution arm in the U.S. The partnership is a first in the solar industry, pairing BayWa r.e. -- a leading global renewable energy developer, services and systems provider -- with one of the nation's leading smart home brands. This collaboration comes at a time when solar installers are expanding their services to fill the role of energy advisers in the residential market.
BayWa r.e. will be supplying the Nest Learning Thermostat, the flagship product for homeowners, and the Nest Thermostat E, a thermostat now exclusively available through professional installers. With usage insights and a suite of personalized solutions for the smart home, products like those from Google Nest have become strong drivers of residential energy efficiency and are propelling collective action to achieve U.S. climate goals.
"The future of energy is clean, personalized, and connected. Smart home technology enables this future by empowering customers to understand and act on their energy management, which is key to a cleaner and more reliable U.S. power grid," said David Dunlap, VP of product strategy at BayWa r.e. Solar Systems LLC. "Our partnership with Google Nest allows BayWa r.e. to take an active role in simplifying energy management at scale by providing new tools to solar installers--the direct point of contact for customers who want to prioritize efficient energy usage for lower energy bills and help with the goal of reducing grid emissions."
Smart thermostats are one of the top products for energy efficiency and demand-response initiatives, designed to allow homeowners to reduce or shift their energy usage during peak periods. By expanding the distribution of smart home tools through the burgeoning solar and storage channels, BayWa r.e. and Google Nest aim to help build out energy systems that are flexible and reliable, a critical step to modernizing the U.S. power grid and boosting the adoption of renewable energy resources in the system.
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat and the Google Nest Thermostat E are now available through BayWa r.e. Solar Systems LLC online store.
At BayWa r.e. we r.e.think energy -- how it is produced, stored and can be best used to enable the global renewable energy transition that is essential to the future of our planet. We are a leading global developer, service supplier, distributor and solutions provider and have brought over 4.5 GW of energy online and manage over 10 GW of assets. We are also an Independent Power Producer with an expanding energy trading business. BayWa r.e. works with businesses worldwide to provide tailored renewable solutions. Operating 100% carbon neutral, we are also committed to our own sustainability journey. Our shareholders are BayWa AG, a $23.5 billion global business, and Energy Infrastructure Partners, a leader in energy infrastructure investment. BayWa r.e. Solar Systems LLC is a leading U.S. distributor of top-tier solar and energy storage components and systems. For more information, visit http://solar-distribution.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE BayWa r.e. Solar Systems, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/13/baywa-re-distribute-google-nest-smart-home-technology-solar-installer-network/ | 2022-09-13T12:37:09Z |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.