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- Horizon Platform Originates Record $192 Million of New Loans in Q2, Including $137 Million of New Loans for HRZN -
- Horizon Platform Ends Quarter with Record Committed Backlog of $267 Million, Including $221 Million in HRZN Commitments -
FARMINGTON, Conn., July 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Horizon Technology Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: HRZN) ("HRZN" or the "Company"), a leading specialty finance company that provides capital in the form of secured loans to venture capital backed companies in the technology, life science, healthcare information and services, and sustainability industries, today provided its portfolio update for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022 and an update on the lending platform ("Horizon Platform") of Horizon Technology Finance Management LLC ("HTFM"), its investment adviser.
"The Horizon Platform generated another record-setting quarter of originations despite the challenging economic environment, closing $192 million of loans originated, including $137 million of loans for HRZN," said Gerald A. Michaud, President of HRZN and HTFM. "In addition, the Horizon brand continues to attract state-of-the-art companies, as the Horizon Platform's committed backlog grew to a record $267 million of debt investments, including $221 million in HRZN commitments. HRZN also received $57 million in loan prepayments during the quarter, providing additional income and further validating our predictive pricing strategy. There remains a clear need and demand for venture debt in this economic environment, and we believe the Horizon Platform and HRZN remain disciplined and well positioned to further grow and deliver additional value to HRZN's shareholders."
Second Quarter 2022 Portfolio Update
Originations
During the second quarter of 2022, a total of $192.4 million of loans funded through the Horizon Platform, including 15 loans totaling $137.2 million funded by HRZN as follows:
- $26.0 million to an existing portfolio company, Castle Creek Biosciences, Inc., a developer of gene therapies for patients with rare and serious genetic diseases, in connection with the prepayment of its existing Horizon Platform loan facility and providing it with additional debt capital.
- $15.0 million to a new portfolio company, Divergent Technologies Inc., a creator of an innovative global manufacturing infrastructure platform for the automotive industry.
- $12.5 million to a new portfolio company, a clinical-stage company focused on decoding the entire genome to identify optimal gene targets to cure oncology and autoimmune diseases.
- $12.5 million to an existing portfolio company, NextCar Holding Company, Inc. (dba Autonomy), an online platform offering automobiles to consumers on a subscription basis.
- $10.0 million to a new portfolio company, a developer of a breathalyzer test to detect recent cannabis use.
- $10.0 million to an existing portfolio company, IMV Inc. (NASDAQ: IMV), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines.
- $10.0 million to an existing portfolio company, Nexii Building Solutions Inc., a green construction company that designs and manufactures low carbon buildings and products.
- $7.5 million to a new portfolio company, Engage3, LLC, a developer of price optimization software that enables retailers and brands to profitably grow revenue and drive additional store trips.
- $7.5 million to a new portfolio company, a developer of innovative medical devices and therapies to address the evolving needs of interventional specialists.
- $7.5 million to an existing portfolio company, Soli Organic Inc., a leading grower and marketer of fresh organic culinary herbs, providing sustainable, USDA-certified organic, regionally grown produce to retailers.
- $7.0 million to a new portfolio company, Swift Health Systems, Inc. (dba InBrace), a developer of teeth straightening technology that provides an alternative to traditional braces and aligners.
- $5.0 million to an existing portfolio company, Emalex Biosciences, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for central nervous system movement disorders and fluency disorders.
- $3.75 million to a new portfolio company, a developer of next generation microbial solutions for both companion and livestock animals.
- $2.5 million to an existing portfolio company, Secure Transfusion Services, Inc., an operator of commercial blood collection centers that source and distribute vital, in-demand blood components to hospitals.
- $0.4 million to an existing company, MacuLogix, Inc., a medical device company in the optometry and ophthalmology industry.
Liquidity Events
HRZN experienced liquidity events from four portfolio companies in the second quarter of 2022, including principal prepayments of $56.8 million and $0.4 million of warrant and earnout proceeds, compared to $12.0 million of principal prepayments during the first quarter of 2022:
- In April, with the proceeds of a new loan from the Horizon Platform, Castle Creek Biosciences, Inc. prepaid its previously outstanding principal balance of $25.0 million on its venture loan facility, plus interest and end-of-term payment. HRZN continues to hold warrants in the company.
- In May, Updater, Inc. prepaid its outstanding principal balance of $19.3 million on its venture loan, plus interest, end-of-term payment and prepayment fee. HRZN continues to hold warrants in the company.
- In June, IDbyDNA, Inc. was acquired by Illumina, Inc. and prepaid its outstanding principal balance of $12.5 million on its venture loan, plus interest, end-of-term payment and prepayment fee. HRZN also received proceeds totaling $0.3 million from the redemption of warrants it held in the company.
- In June, HRZN earned a $0.1 million earnout payment related to its investment in Bardy Diagnostics, Inc.
Principal Payments Received
During the second quarter of 2022, HRZN received regularly scheduled principal payments on investments totaling $4.0 million, compared to regularly scheduled principal payments totaling $1.9 million during the first quarter of 2022.
Commitments
During the quarter ended June 30, 2022, HRZN closed new loan commitments totaling $203.4 million to 10 companies, compared to new loan commitments of $100.4 million to 11 companies in the first quarter of 2022. HTFM's other managed funds, during the quarter, closed new loan commitments totaling $80.0 million of unfunded loan approvals and commitments.
Pipeline and Term Sheets
As of June 30, 2022, HRZN's unfunded loan approvals and commitments ("Committed Backlog") were $220.5 million to 23 companies. This compares to a Committed Backlog of $150.8 million to 20 companies as of March 31, 2022. HRZN's portfolio companies have discretion whether to draw down such commitments and the right of a portfolio company to draw down its commitment is often subject to achievement of specific milestones and other conditions to borrowing. Accordingly, there is no assurance that any or all of these transactions will be funded by HRZN. HTFM's other managed funds ended the quarter with a total of $46.5 million of unfunded loan approvals and commitments.
During the quarter, HTFM received signed term sheets that are in the approval process, which may result in the Horizon Platform providing up to an aggregate of $165.0 million of new debt investments. These opportunities are subject to underwriting conditions including, but not limited to, the completion of due diligence, negotiation of definitive documentation and investment committee approval, as well as compliance with HTFM's allocation policy. Accordingly, there is no assurance that any or all of these transactions will be completed or funded by HRZN.
Warrant and Equity Portfolio
As of June 30, 2022, HRZN held a portfolio of warrant and equity positions in 90 portfolio companies, including 76 private companies, which provides the potential for future additional returns to HRZN's shareholders.
About Horizon Technology Finance
Horizon Technology Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: HRZN) is a leading specialty finance company that provides capital in the form of secured loans to venture capital backed companies in the technology, life science, healthcare information and services, and sustainability industries. The investment objective of HRZN is to maximize its investment portfolio's return by generating current income from the debt investments it makes and capital appreciation from the warrants it receives when making such debt investments. Horizon Technology Finance Management LLC is headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut, with a regional office in Pleasanton, California, and investment professionals located in Portland, Maine, Austin, Texas, and Reston, Virginia. To learn more, please visit www.horizontechfinance.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements included herein may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in Horizon's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Horizon undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.
Contacts:
Investor Relations:
ICR
Garrett Edson
ir@horizontechfinance.com
(860) 284-6450
Media Relations:
ICR
Chris Gillick
HorizonPR@icrinc.com
(646) 677-1819
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SOURCE Horizon Technology Finance Corporation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/13/horizon-technology-finance-provides-second-quarter-2022-portfolio-update/ | 2022-07-13T21:47:34Z |
Head of U.S. Air Force visits McConnell Air Force Base, meets with Airmen over weekend
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - The U.S. Air Force’s top dog visited McConnell Air Force Base and met with Kansas Airmen over the weekend.
The Kansas Adjutant General’s Office says Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall III visited the Kansas Air National Guard’s 184th Wing at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita on Sunday, April 3.
The Office said Kendall was greeted by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Kansas National Guard leadership then was given a tour of the 184th Wing and briefed on its mission.
“Every day, our Guardsmen make a difference for our state and nation,” said Maj. Gen. David Weishaar, Kansas adjutant general. “It is always an honor to showcase their great work to national leadership.”
According to the Office, Kendall was also given the chance to meet and speak with Airmen conducting missions for the 184th Cyber Operations Group, 184th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group and the 134th Air Control Squadron.
“It was an honor and a privilege to have Secretary of the Air Force Kendall visit the 184th Wing and Team McConnell,” said Col. Jason Knobbe, commander 184th Wing. “We take pride in highlighting our Fighting Jayhawks and the work they do in accomplishing our Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Cyber Operations and Command and Control missions.”
After he toured the wing, the Office said Kendall continued his tour of the Air Force Base with the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and the 931st Air Refueling Wing. It said he took a tour of a KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling aircraft and took a flight in the Air Force’s latest refueling aircraft, the KC-46 Pegasus.
As the secretary of the Air Force, the Office noted Kendall leads the Department of the Air Force, composed of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. It said he is responsible for organizing, training and equipping the forces and for the welfare of nearly 700,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian Airmen and their families.
As the department’s senior leader overseeing an annual budget of more than $168 billion, the Office indicated Kendall directs strategy, policy, acquisitions, technology, personnel, and risk management. It said he implements decisions of the President of the United States and Congress and fulfills combatant commanders’ operational requirements.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/05/head-us-air-force-visits-mcconnell-air-force-base-meets-with-airmen-over-weekend/ | 2022-04-05T21:20:25Z |
WASHINGTON, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IDenta Corp. (OTCQB: IDTA) is a worldwide leader in the development of Field Detection and Home Diagnostic Testing Kits for Narcotics, Explosives and Unique Forensic Products in the Homeland Security and Consumer Markets will hold its 2022 Annual Shareholders' meeting on Sunday, June 26, 2022, at 7:00pm (GMT +3) at its headquarters at 120 Bethlehem Road, Jerusalem 9342001, Israel.
Amichai Glattstein, CEO of IDenta Corp, said, "We are excited about the coming annual meeting and we look forward to seeing all the attendees."
About IDenta Corp.
IDenta Corp. is a global leader in the development and supply of Field Detection and Home Diagnostics Testing Kits for Drugs & Explosives and Unique Forensic Products in the Homeland Security and Consumer Markets. IDenta develops, manufactures and distributes revolutionary products for both the professional Law and Retail markets which consistently pass the highest qualifications and testing procedures of law enforcement and security agencies around the world.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain of the statements contained herein may be, within the meaning of the federal securities laws, "forward-looking statements" that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations as of the date hereof, and the company does not undertake any responsibility to update any of these statements in the future.
Company Contact Information:
Public Relations
+1-240-545-6646
pr@identa-corp.com
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SOURCE IDenta Corp. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/identa-corp-2022-annual-meeting/ | 2022-06-07T17:44:36Z |
SHANGHAI, Sept. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Boqii Holding Limited ("Boqii" or the "Company") (NYSE: BQ), a leading pet-focused platform in China, today announced that Mr. Kai Fang has resigned from his position as the Company's Chief Strategy Officer and all his roles as a director or an officer of the applicable affiliates of the Company due to personal reasons. Mr. Kai Fang has served as the Company's Chief Strategy Officer since 2021 and has been primarily responsible for our strategic planning and capital market management.
The board of directors of Boqii wishes to extend its deep gratitude to Mr. Kai Fang for his contributions to the continued growth of Boqii throughout the years. Mr. Hao Liang, Boqii's Founder, Chairman and chief Executive Officer, said: "Kai has extensive experience in capital market and strategic planning. He has helped us continually optimize our strategic direction. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors."
About Boqii Holding Limited
Boqii Holding Limited (NYSE: BQ) is a leading pet-focused platform in China. We are the leading online destination for pet products and supplies in China with our broad selection of high-quality products including global leading brands, local emerging brands, and our own private label, Yoken and Mocare, offered at competitive prices. Our online sales platforms, including Boqii Mall and our flagship stores on third-party e-commerce platforms, provide customers with convenient access to a wide selection of high-quality pet products and an engaging and personalized shopping experience. Our Boqii Community provides an informative and interactive content platform for users to share their knowledge and love for pets.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
Boqii Holding Limited
Investor Relations
Tel: +86-21-6882-6051
Email: ir@boqii.com
DLK Advisory Limited
Tel: +852-2857-7101
Email: ir@dlkadvisory.com
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SOURCE Boqii Holding Limited | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/05/boqii-announces-senior-management-change/ | 2022-09-05T12:24:29Z |
Infiniti’s Q50 has entered the 2023 model year largely unchanged from the previous year, although there’s been a small price rise from $43,125 to $43,725. Both figures include destination.
There’s added value too as all 2023 Infinitis come with the automaker’s Premium Care program, a maintenance program that covers some basics such as oil changes, brake fluid top ups, and cabin air filter replacements.
Buyers of the 2023 Q50 have three grades to choose from: Luxe, Sensory and Red Sport 400. Rear-wheel drive is standard across the range but all-wheel drive can be added on each grade for an additional $2,000.
The base Luxe grade comes well equipped with items like Apple CarPlay (wireless), Android Auto, leather trim, heated front seats and steering wheel, and Bose audio all included as standard. New for 2023 is the option of Saddle Brown for the interior color, which was previously limited to the Sensory grade.
All Q50s are powered by the same twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6. It’s rated at 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque in the Luxe and Sensory grades, and 400 hp and 350 lb-ft in the Red Sport 400. All grades use a 7-speed automatic transmission.
The Red Sport 400, which is priced from $57,575, benefits from a few extra performance upgrades beyond the powertrain. Key among these are unique 19-inch alloy wheels, uprated brakes with four-piston front and two-piston rear calipers, and adjustable dampers.
The Q50 is one of the oldest new vehicles on the market, having arrived in 2013 as a 2014 model. Some rivals, like Mercedes-Benz’s C-Class, have been redesigned twice in that time, but despite this there’s no clear successor for the Q50 in sight.
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- Bentley builds one-off Continental GT Speed convertible to benefit cancer research
- Alfa Romeo boss: We’re developing a large vehicle in US for launch in 2027 | https://cw33.com/automotive/internet-brands/2023-infiniti-q50-soldiers-on-with-small-price-rise/ | 2022-08-03T14:36:03Z |
CUTE ALERT: Nashville Zoo welcomes leopard cub twins
Published: Jul. 8, 2022 at 2:53 PM CDT|Updated: 25 minutes ago
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CNN) – The Nashville Zoo is celebrating two new additions – both one of the zoo’s signature animals.
Officials announced Wednesday the births of two clouded leopard cubs.
The male and female cubs were born June 30 to the same parents.
Each came into the world weighing about half a pound and measuring around 4 inches long.
The newborn felines are the first clouded leopard cubs born at the zoo since 2019.
The zoo’s veterinary team is currently taking care of them to ensure their best chance of survival.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/08/cute-alert-nashville-zoo-welcomes-leopard-cub-twins/ | 2022-07-08T20:18:41Z |
MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — One million Muslim pilgrims were converging on Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Mecca on Wednesday for the largest hajj since the coronavirus pandemic severely curtailed access to one of Islam’s five pillars.
Saudi Arabia’s decision to allow some 850,000 Muslims from abroad to make the annual pilgrimage, which begins on Thursday, marks a major step toward normalcy after two years of a drastically scaled-down hajj restricted to Saudi residents.
The 1 million foreign and domestic pilgrims participating is still far less than the 2.5 million Muslims who traveled in 2019 for the pilgrimage, typically one of the world’s largest gatherings. Those performing the ritual this year must be under 65, vaccinated against the coronavirus and have tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of travel. The pilgrims are chosen from millions of applicants through an online lottery system.
Saudi officials inspected the holy site on Wednesday and stressed their “readiness” to receive pilgrims with the goal of “maintaining public health.”
After the coronavirus struck in 2020, Saudi authorities allowed just 1,000 pilgrims already residing in the kingdom to attend, prompting historians to compare the disruption to the site’s storming by religious extremists and dramatic closure in 1979.
Last year, the hajj was similarly restricted to 60,000 fully vaccinated Muslims living in Saudi Arabia. The unprecedented curbs sent shock waves throughout the Muslim world, devastating many believers who had spent years saving up for the religious rite.
This year, however, Saudi authorities are keen to relax virus curbs. Religious pilgrimages brought in $12 billion before the pandemic — accounting for the largest percentage of Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product after oil.
Although virus cases have risen steadily to over 500 a day in Saudi Arabia, the government lifted the country’s indoor mask mandate and other virus precautions last month. Roughly 70% of the country has been vaccinated against the virus.
Pilgrims at the holy site this year are not required to be masked or socially distanced, as during the past two years. However, Muslims are still prohibited from kissing or touching the cube-shaped Kaaba, the metaphorical house of God at the center of Mecca that pilgrims circle as they complete the hajj.
The Quran says that all Islam’s followers who are physically and financially able should make the pilgrimage once in their lifetime. Pilgrims travel to Mecca from all over the world for five intense days of worship, carrying out a series of rituals.
The hajj follows a route the Prophet Muhammad walked nearly 1,400 years ago and is believed to trace the footsteps of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail, or Abraham and Ishmael as they are named in the Bible. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/saudi-arabia-expecting-1-million-in-largest-hajj-since-virus/ | 2022-07-06T17:31:43Z |
BOSTON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PF Flyers is bringing back a brand icon. Today, the classic American heritage sneaker brand re-released 1,000 pairs of the original 'Cousy All American' silhouette for fans of the brand and of the NBA Celtics legend, Bob Cousy.
Bob Cousy and PF Flyers made history in 1958 when they created the first athletic endorsement. Now, the NBA Hall of Famer and the iconic Boston-based footwear brand are celebrating their home team once again in honor of the Celtics' incredible 2021–22 NBA season run.
"I'm excited to bring back this style for our fans. PF Flyers has always been a big part of my career, from when we first started working together during my time with the Celtics, to creating the first Cousy All American sneaker over 10 years ago," said Bob Cousy. "This shoe celebrates the long-standing heritage of our Boston home team and the PF Flyers brand."
"When I purchased PF Flyers last year, I really wanted to evolve the brand without losing its heritage or fan favorites. It was a no-brainer choosing to bring back the Cousy All American with NBA and Celtics legend Bob Cousy, allowing us to celebrate the timeless heritage behind our brand and the Boston fandom," said Executive Chairwoman and Owner Kassia Davis.
Acquired from New Balance by Kassia Davis in July 2021, PF Flyers is continuing to make progress toward a relaunch of the brand in Spring 2023. Currently, there are key heritage styles on pfflyers.com that are available and continue to be restocked on a periodical basis.
The 'Cousy All American' will be available on https://pfflyers.com/ while supplies last for adults only at $95.
PF Flyers is an American brand of lifestyle shoes, previously owned and manufactured by New Balance. The brand draws on 85 years of tradition to create fashion-forward, everyday footwear that leads the way in comfort technology. Founded in 1937 by B.F. Goodrich, PF Flyers has been declared one of the original American sneaker brands. In July 2021, Executive Chairwoman and now owner Kassia Davis acquired the brand and relaunched it to the public in December 2021. With over ten years of experience through her career at New Balance where she held the role of Apparel Product Manager for Studio, Lifestyle, Kassia is excited to reintroduce the brand to the world while still honoring the brand's heritage.
For Press Inquiries, please contact:
Small Girls PR
pfflyers@smallgirlspr.com
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SOURCE PF Flyers | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/pf-flyers-re-releases-legendary-cousy-all-american-sneaker-honor-bob-cousy/ | 2022-06-27T18:35:00Z |
ANNAPOLIS, Md., Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Deep Water Point announced that Paul Strasser, a well-known and highly respected and experienced federal market executive, joined its consulting practice to lead its "Small Business Transitional Programs" practice.
Deep Water Point's Small Business Transitional Programs practice is focused on helping companies who are exiting federal small business classification and will be competing in a fully open competitive environment. "Many companies fail upon exiting their respective small business classification unless they are fully prepared. Sometimes that preparation is simple and other times more complex. Paul's ability as a highly skilled and experienced federal business executive, along with other select experts from our team can quickly and efficiently identify areas of vulnerability and develop the tactics and strategy necessary for success," said Mike Mullen, Deep Water Point's partner for small business.
Before joining Deep Water Point, Strasser was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brillient Corporation. Prior, he held senior positions at Data Systems Analysts' (DSA), was President and CEO of Project Performance Company, LLC (PPC), Senior Vice President at Engility Corporation, and Chief Operating Officer at Pragmatics. "Paul is the perfect person to lead this area," said Deep Water Point's CEO, Howard Seeger. "We are excited to help clients and others who have reached this stage in their growth and who need this kind of support," Seeger said.
For more information about Deep Water Point and its Small Business Transitional Programs practice visit: https://deepwaterpoint.com/services/small-business-transitional-programs
Deep Water Point is a Federal Management Consulting firm located within the Washington, D.C. National Capital Region (NCR). Its consulting team consists of over 300 subject matter executives spanning the defense, intelligence, and federal civilian markets. Deep Water Point's primary headquarters is in Annapolis, Maryland. Members of its team are geographically dispersed across the Washington, D.C. National Capital Region, and other parts of the United States.
Deep Water Point Contact:
John C. Johnson, Partner
Marketing and Communications
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SOURCE Deep Water Point, Annapolis, MD | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/paul-strasser-joins-deep-water-point-lead-its-new-small-business-transitional-programs-practice/ | 2022-08-11T15:25:07Z |
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. announces that Jim Hilton has joined the organization as its new Director-Strategic Growth.
Within this strategic role, Jim will be responsible for optimizing our IP-based products and growing an already robust portfolio of mobile-first solutions. His responsibilities will span our product portfolio, enabling us to drive value to our customers through enhanced solutions, services, and strategic partnerships.
Steven Smith, CEO of DecisionPoint, says, "I'm excited for Jim to join our leadership team. He brings a history of success and industry knowledge. He will add to an already strong leadership team at DPS. Jim has the experience and credibility to speak directly to customers, bringing them much-valued industry best practices."
Steven also stated, "Jim's experience and industry knowledge will add to our sales strategy and go-to-market activities to benefit our customers. DPS will focus on recently acquired portfolios to deliver more mobility-first IT solutions and services."
Jim brings over 40 years of experience to DPS across the industry, including as a direct mobility user and customer. For two decades, he served the industry in development, marketing, sales, and delivery of mobility solutions and services.
Jim states, "I've known and respected the combined management team at DPS for over a decade. I was excited to see Steve bring this team together under one company umbrella. Mobile Conductor, Vizitrace, and BT-Route manager all have ready-to-deploy architecture providing actionable visibility at the point of activity. The opportunity to bring that joined force to the industry is truly unique."
Contact: Jennifer Beasley, Director of Marketing, jbeasley@decisionpt.com, 314-677-0860
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SOURCE DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/decisionpoint-systems-inc-announces-that-jim-hilton-has-joined-organization-its-new-director-strategic-growth/ | 2022-08-22T21:51:05Z |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A coalition of environmental groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday over its refusal to regulate some older coal ash dumps, claiming they are polluting air and groundwater.
A lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington D.C. seeks to compel the agency to review and revise regulations it says are “inadequate to protect human health and the environment” from the solid waste produced by coal-burning power plants.
The EPA first began regulating coal ash disposal in 2015, prompted by the 2008 collapse of a six-story earthen dam outside a Tennessee Valley Authority power plant in Kingston, Tennessee. The disaster released more than a billion gallons of coal ash sludge onto 300 surrounding acres (about 121 hectares), knocking homes off their foundations and fouling the Emory River.
When EPA was crafting its coal ash regulations, many of those concerned about the possible health effects of the ash hoped the agency would declare it to be hazardous waste. That didn’t happen, but EPA did create special rules for its disposal. They included location restrictions, liner requirements to prevent groundwater contamination and groundwater monitoring to detect leaks.
Not all coal ash disposal sites were included in the new regulations, however. EPA specifically exempted landfills that stopped receiving new waste before the rule went into effect. Since then, many of the regulated landfills that require groundwater monitoring have subsequently reported unsafe levels of arsenic and other chemicals in nearby groundwater. The lawsuit posits that older, unregulated landfills must also be polluting and should be regulated.
In addition, the contamination from the older landfills could be masking problems at newer landfills that are often on the same property, the lawsuit states. That’s because the operators of the regulated landfills don’t have to address groundwater contamination if they can show that it is coming from another source.
Neither the TVA nor the EPA responded to a request for comment on Thursday morning.
The lawsuit spotlights Bull Run power plant in Clinton, Tennessee, which is also run by TVA, the nation’s largest public utility.
The site contains three separate but adjacent coal ash landfills. One closed in 1992. The second closed in 2015 — just before the EPA regulations took effect. The third opened in 2015 and is an active landfill. Even though the groundwater at the new landfill shows significantly high levels of boron, sulfate and other chemicals, TVA does not have to take action because an engineering report attributes the contamination to “pre-existing groundwater conditions.”
One of the plaintiff groups is Tennessee-based Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment. Member Todd Waterman said in a telephone interview that he has seen friends who helped clean up the Kingston coal ash spill sicken and die. Now he is worried about what the ash at the Bull Run plant could be doing to his drinking water.
“I’m deeply concerned for my community,” he said in a phone interview about the plant scheduled to shut down next year. “I don’t want TVA to just walk away from that plant and leave all that contamination in place.”
Other plaintiffs include the Hoosier Environmental Council in Indiana, the Indiana State Conference and the LaPorte County Branch of the NAACP, Clean Power Lake County in Illinois, and several national groups including the Sierra Club and Earthjustice, which filed the suit.
The EPA is required to review and, if necessary revise, regulations like those for coal ash disposal every three years, something it has failed to do, according to the lawsuit. Plaintiffs are asking the judge to order a review of the regulations, especially the exemption for older coal ash landfills. They estimate there are close to 300 landfills exempt from regulation in 38 states.
“Regulations addressing these landfills would prevent exposure to deadly coal ash constituents, protect drinking water sources and aquatic ecosystems, and lead to much needed cleanups nationwide,” the lawsuit states. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/ap-groups-sue-environmental-protection-agency-over-coal-ash/ | 2022-08-25T19:41:45Z |
Design Evaluations identify digital accessibility issues rooted in design before they make their way to live environments
TORONTO, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA), the leading Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, today announced the launch of its newest solution capability, Design Evaluations. Based on the market's first-ever design-focused Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) rule library, Design Evaluations will identify digital accessibility issues rooted in the design of a digital asset or experience, eliminating barriers well before development begins.
"With Design Evaluations, we're fundamentally changing how design teams can improve the accessibility of digital experiences," said Mark Steele, Co-Founder and CEO of eSSENTIAL Accessibility. "Helping organizations identify accessibility errors early in their creative process means teams can catch errors before they become barriers for users in a live environment. And designers will learn from this process, increasing their capacity to build inclusive designs over time."
Accessibility errors rooted in design are present on the vast majority of websites today. According to a recent WebAIM accessibility evaluation of the homepages for the top million websites, low-contrast text was the most commonly detected WCAG issue. The study reveals it's present on 84 percent of homepages. Low-contrast text is a design flaw and just one of the WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria that relate to design.
By identifying and solving accessibility issues in the design phase, teams can solve for the vast majority of accessibility errors. Of the 50 WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria, 41 criteria, or 82 percent, can be addressed, at least partially, in design. eA's Design Evaluations will flag these WCAG errors, enabling designers to correct them before their website, app, or product advances further in its development lifecycle. This reduces the costs of fixing accessibility errors downstream, and preserves team capacity for other important work.
There are two types of eA Design Evaluations:
- Digital Brand Evaluations provide design feedback on an organization's branding style guide, the foundation of its visual identity.
- Interface Design Evaluations provide feedback on any newly designed pages, screens, or product views.
Design Evaluations are supported by the multi-faceted capabilities of the integrated eA Platform. Organizations can upload designs for analysis to the platform, then monitor status, review results, and receive actionable feedback with guidance and resources, all from one convenient interface.
eSSENTIAL Accessibility is the smarter way to digital accessibility and legal compliance. As the leading Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, it enables brands to empower people by helping them deliver inclusive web, mobile, and product experiences that comply with global regulations and ensure that people of all abilities have equal access. Learn more at www.essentialaccessibility.com.
Media Contacts
Avery Nunez
BLASTmedia for eSSENTIAL Accessibility
eSSENTIALAccessibility@blastmedia.com
317.806.1900 ext. 159
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SOURCE eSSENTIAL Accessibility | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/essential-accessibility-launches-design-evaluations-based-first-ever-design-focused-wcag-rule-library/ | 2022-07-27T14:03:25Z |
ATLANTA, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ThermaMEDx, LLC, maker of the innovative EverTears® eye pad designed to aid in the treatment of dry eyes, today announced that it is preparing petitions to be filed with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) challenging the validity of patent claims owned by Ocugiene, Inc. and founder Abraham Ebbie Soroudi of Beverly Hills, California.
EverTears® eye pads were developed in collaboration with ThermaMEDx co-founder and world-renowned ocular professor and optometrist, Dr. Michel Guillon. Professor Guillon's research and clinical work to create new treatments for ocular surface issues like dry eye disease spans nearly 40 years. Professor Guillon is a named inventor on more than 50 patents worldwide, many of which are directed to technologies developed with co-inventors at the world's leading optical companies.
Professor Guillon's technology has been the subject of numerous issued patents and patent applications in the United States and around the world, including an international PCT patent application directed to products for treating eyelid disorders, such as meibomian gland dysfunction.1 ThermaMEDx has identified Ocugiene patents that were filed after Dr. Guillon's international patent application and which also issued with claims directed to products for treating eye conditions.2 ThermaMEDx will seek review of these Ocugiene patents at the USPTO.
ThermaMEDx is preparing petitions for inter partes review (IPR) directed to Ocugiene patents, including U.S. Patent Nos. 7,211,070 and 7,513,893. ThermaMEDx's IPR petitions will be filed with the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Board and will request invalidation of certain claims in these patents. The evidence accompanying ThermaMEDx's petitions will include, among other things, Dr. Guillon's international patent application.
A ThermaMEDx spokesperson shared that "ThermaMEDx values intellectual property and believes it is in the public interest to bring clarity to the patent landscape for eye treatment products. Based on the amount of evidence that we believe supports our forthcoming petitions, we look forward to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's findings regarding the Ocugiene patents."
1 International Application No. PCT/GB2003/004782 filed November 5, 2003 (published as WO 2004/041134 A1)
2 See e.g., U.S. Patent Nos. 7,211,070 (issuing from U.S. Application No. 10/799,209 filed March 12, 2004 and claiming the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/526,251 filed December 1, 2003); and 7,513,893 (issued from U.S. Application No. 11/324,848 filed on January 3, 2006 as a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application No. 10/799,209).
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SOURCE ThermaMEDx, LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/global-innovator-dry-eye-treatment-thermamedx-seek-invalidation-ocugiene-patent-claims/ | 2022-08-10T22:29:01Z |
STOCKHOLM , Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oncopeptides AB (publ) (Nasdaq: ONCO) (Stockholm: ONCO), a biotech company focused on research and development of therapies for difficult-to-treat hematological diseases, today announces that the company has received a research grant of 5 MSEK from Sweden's Innovation Agency, to develop preclinical proof of concept (PoC) for a novel synthetic small polypeptide for the treatment of multiple myeloma. The compound is a Natural Killer (NK) cell engaging immunotherapy, with superior tissue penetration and immune cell activation. The NK ENGAGE project has been qualified as a Eurostars program and will be driven by a research consortium including the department of Cancer Immunology at Oslo University Hospital, Norway, Pharmatest Services Ltd in Turku, Finland, and Oncopeptides, together with its collaborator the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, KTH, where the technology originally stems from.
"I am very proud and exhilarated that we have managed to attract world-leading expertise to our research consortium around NK-cell engagers," says Jakob Lindberg, CEO, Oncopeptides AB. "This grant makes it possible to further advance the NK Engage project, that is built on our proprietary technology platform for Small Polypeptide based Killer Engagers (SPiKE) and prepare this compound for clinical development."
"We are very excited about joining this consortium and believe that the SPiKEs have a great potential to boost NK cell targeting of multiple myeloma," says Fredrik Schjesvold, Head of Oslo Myeloma Center, Norway.
The project is supported by a research grant from Sweden's Innovation Agency. By project completion, the efficacy of the lead compound will be validated in a novel preclinical model. The data package generated in NK Engage, enables Oncopeptides to enter final preclinical studies including IND enabling studies, and subsequently start clinical development. Following a successful phase 1 trial, a strong data package will be generated to support further development of the candidate drug. The project is expected to start on October 1, 2022 and will continue for 36 months.
For further information, please contact:
Rolf Gulliksen, Global Head of Corporate Communications, Oncopeptides AB (publ)
E-post: rolf.gulliksen@oncopeptides.com
Mobile: + 46 70 262 96 28
About NK-ENGAGE research consortium
The Department of Cancer Immunology at Oslo University Hospital, Norway, Pharmatest Services Ltd in Turku, Finland, Oncopeptides and its collaborator the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden have formed a research consortium for the Eurostars project entitled Novel Synthetic Polypeptides for Natural Killer Cell-mediated Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma. The aim is to develop and provide preclinical proof of concept for a novel synthetic small polypeptide for NK cell-based immunotherapy as treatment for multiple myeloma which will be validated in a novel pre-clinical humanized model.
About Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a cancer that originates in plasma cells, a type of white blood cells which produce antibodies to help fight infection, and cause cancer cells to accumulate in the bone marrow. Multiple Myeloma is the second most common hematologic malignancy, and accounts for approximately 1-2% of all new cancer cases, with a global incidence rate of 1.7 per 100,000 and an age-standardized incidence rate of 2.1-3.4 per 100,000 in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. An estimated 35,842 patients were diagnosed in the EU27 during 2020, with an estimated 23,275 deaths due to the disease (ECIS 2020).
Patients with multiple myeloma may have symptom-free periods, but the disease always relapses, and patients may become refractory to all available treatment options due to mutations and/or clonal evolution of the tumor cells. A growing subset of patients are triple-class refractory, and develop disease refractory to immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors, and CD38- targeting monoclonal antibodies. These patients have a very short expected overall survival.
About Oncopeptides
Oncopeptides is a biotech company focused on research and development of therapies for difficult-to-treat hematological diseases. The company uses its proprietary PDC platform to develop peptide-drug conjugated compounds that rapidly and selectively deliver cytotoxic agents into cancer cells. The first drug coming from the PDC platform, Pepaxto® (INN melphalan flufenamide), also called melflufen was granted accelerated approval in the U.S., on February 26, 2021, in combination with dexamethasone, for treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The Company voluntarily withdrew the drug on October 22, 2021, and then rescinded the withdrawal on January 21, 2022, based on comprehensive analyses of additional data. Due to regulatory hurdles the product is currently not marketed in the U.S. On August 18, 2022, the European Commission granted Pepaxti® (melphalan flufenamide) in combination with dexamethasone, marketing authorization in the European Union and countries in the European Economic Area, for the treatment of adult patients with triple class refractory multiple myeloma. Oncopeptides is developing several new compounds based on its technology platforms. The company is listed in the Mid Cap segment on Nasdaq Stockholm with the ticker ONCO. More information is available on www.oncopeptides.com.
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https://mb.cision.com/Main/15404/3627029/1624278.pdf Oncopeptides receives 5 MSEK grant for NK-cell engager project in multiple myeloma
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SOURCE Oncopeptides AB | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/oncopeptides-receives-5-msek-grant-nk-cell-engager-project-multiple-myeloma/ | 2022-09-07T16:47:11Z |
Supreme Court upholds Puerto Ricans’ exclusion from benefits program
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has upheld the differential treatment of residents of Puerto Rico, ruling that Congress was within its power to exclude them from a benefits program that’s available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The court held by an 8-1 vote Thursday that making Puerto Ricans ineligible for the Supplemental Security Income program, which provides benefits to older, disabled and blind Americans, did not unconstitutionally discriminate against them.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, whose parents were born in Puerto Rico, was the lone dissenter.
Writing for the court, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said the court was bound by a pair of earlier rulings that already upheld the federal law that created SSI and excluded Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories from it. Congress later added in the Mariana Islands.
Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since the Spanish American War in 1898, and its residents are U.S. citizens, but they have no vote for president or representation in Congress. They also do not pay federal income tax.
Kavanaugh wrote that “just as not every federal tax extends to residents of Puerto Rico, so too not every federal benefits program extends to residents of Puerto Rico.”
In dissent, Sotomayor responded, “In my view, there is no rational basis for Congress to treat needy citizens living anywhere in the United States so differently from others. To hold otherwise, as the Court does, is irrational and antithetical to the very nature of the SSI program and the equal protection of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution. I respectfully dissent.”
Jose Luis Vaello-Madero, the Puerto Rico resident at the center of the case, began receiving SSI payments after he suffered a series of strokes while living in New York.
The payments continued to his bank account in New York even after he moved back to Puerto Rico. When he notified the Social Security Administration, the payments stopped and then the government sued to recover more than $28,000 to which it said he was not entitled.
Lower courts sided with Vaello-Madero, ruling that the exclusion of Puerto Rico from the SSI program is unconstitutional. In a similar case in Guam, a federal judge ruled recently that residents of that Pacific island also should be able to collect SSI.
The Justice Department first filed its appeal of a ruling by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals during the Trump administration but maintained the case even after President Joe Biden took office.
The Biden administration has said it supports changing the law to extend SSI payments to Puerto Rico. It included a provision in its Build Back Better proposal to make residents of U.S. territories eligible for SSI payments, but the legislation is stalled in Congress.
A separate program, Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled, covers residents of the territories, but it has more stringent eligibility requirements and pays less generous benefits than SSI.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/21/supreme-court-upholds-puerto-ricans-exclusion-benefits-program/ | 2022-04-21T17:15:37Z |
Company Achieves Remarkable 410% 3-Year Growth Rate to Earn National Recognition
ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rhythm Management Group is proud to announce that Inc. Magazine has recently recognized the company as one of the country's fastest-growing private companies, ranking #1,559 in the annual Inc. 5000 list.
The Inc. 5000 list is a prestigious ranking of America's most successful companies. Rhythm Management Group was recognized for their remarkable 410% 3-year growth rate, which places the company among the elite businesses within the Health Product category.
"As a proven leader in remote monitoring solutions, we have a long track record of delivering some of the most innovative technology and customer service within the industry. Every day, we are helping medical practices, hospitals and health systems provide better care and streamline their workflows." said Rhonda Bray, CEO and Founder. "Our dedication and commitment to making patient care better and more rewarding for physicians and their patients is the foundation for all that we do. It is an absolute honor for our team to be recognized for the consistent and significant growth that we are experiencing."
According to Inc. Magazine, the 2022 Inc. 5000 winners have not only been successful from a business perspective, but they have also demonstrated continued resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the significant impact of Covid-19.
"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, editor-in-chief of Inc. "We are thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today."
The Inc. 5000 award is yet another significant accomplishment for the woman-founded and minority-owned company which was founded in 2011. In addition to several new product launches, the company was previously recognized for their fast growth by Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 and continues to partner with hospitals, medical groups, and physician practices across the country.
About Rhythm Management Group.
Founded by experienced clinicians who care deeply about delivering exceptional remote monitoring services, Rhythm connects your organization to more patients, more optimal monitoring, more actionable data, and more reimbursement. For over a decade, we've helped practices and health systems create, improve, and scale their remote monitoring programs, providing compassionate services to more than 85,000 patients across the country. Whether you need a full-service solution or technology alone, we can engage more patients in your program, streamline your workflows, and deliver timely, critical insights to your physicians, so you can care for more people with fewer resources. For more information visit https://www.myrhythmnow.com/.
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. For more information, visit www.inc.com.
For More Information
John Gonda
616-309-4888
jgonda@sage-growth.com
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SOURCE Rhythm Management Group | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/rhythm-management-group-recognized-by-inc-magazine-one-americas-top-5000-fastest-growing-companies/ | 2022-09-07T13:26:31Z |
HINGGAN LEAGUE, China, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 13, the 3rd Alumni Economic Forum opened in Arxan, Hinggan League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, an expression of friendship among Hubei merchants and alumni, and a dialogue about new rural development.
With the theme of "Alumni Economy: a Dialogue between Rural Areas and Development", the forum invited over 300 famous alumni entrepreneurs and representatives of Hubei merchants to Arxan, to boost rural revitalization by means of the alumni economy and facilitate the high-quality development of Hinggan League, according to the Organizing Committee of the 3rd Alumni Economic Forum.
During the forum, Huang Li, Zhang Wenzhong and Liu Baolin gave keynote speeches on key fields. Hinggan League granted 7 representatives of alumni the "Rural Revitalization and Development Adviser Certificate", and signed agreements worth 9.2 billion RMB on 21 cooperative projects with partner enterprises in such fields as tourism, transportation and biotechnology.
In the roundtable discussion, presidents of famous universities such as Peking University and Wuhan University, experts, alumni organizations and alumni enterprises exchanged ideas, shared experience and built consensus on themes such as "deepening cooperation between universities and local areas and boosting rural revitalization", to provide support and strategies for the high-quality development of the local economy.
On the day, an opening ceremony of the 1st University Alumni Travel Season, which is aimed to fully promote the high-end tourism brand of "alumni" with alumni of universities as a bridge, and vigorously promote the high-quality development of the local economy by fostering "industrial clusters" with the strength of "circles of alumni".
Since successfully launched in Arxan in 2019, the Alumni Economic Forum has contributed a series of wise ideas and solutions to the high-quality economic development of Hinggan League and even Inner Mongolia. The alumni economy is becoming a new impetus for regional economic and urban competition, and Arxan is gradually turning into a "famous scenic spot" for the alumni economy in China.
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Caption: The 3rd Alumni Economic Forum
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SOURCE Organizing Committee of the 3rd Alumni Economic Forum | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/3rd-alumni-economic-forum-opens-arxan-inner-mongolia/ | 2022-08-16T05:41:34Z |
Did you lose money on investments in Okta? If so, please visit Okta Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com to discuss your rights.
NEW YORK, June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of Okta Inc. ("Okta" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: OKTA) between March 5, 2021 and March 22, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Okta provides identity solutions and cybersecurity products and services for enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses, universities, non-profits, and government agencies in the U.S. and internationally.
Plaintiff alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants allegedly made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Okta had inadequate cybersecurity controls; (ii) as a result, Okta's systems were vulnerable to data breaches; (iii) Okta ultimately did experience a data breach caused by a hacking group, which potentially affected hundreds of Okta customers; (iv) Okta initially did not disclose and later downplayed the severity of the data breach; (v) all the foregoing, once revealed, was likely to have a material negative impact on Okta's business, financial condition, and reputation; and (vi) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
On or around March 21, 2022, hackers known as LAPSUS$ posted screenshots on their Telegram channel showing what they claimed was Okta's internal company environment. Thereafter, on March 22, 2022, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Defendant Todd McKinnon, stated on his Twitter account that "[i]n late January 2022, Okta detected an attempt to compromise the account of a third party customer support engineer working for one of our subprocessors"; that "[t]he matter was investigated and contained by the subprocessor"; that "[w]e believe the screenshots shared online are connected to this January event"; and that "[b]ased on our investigation to date, there is no evidence of ongoing malicious activity beyond the activity detected in January. On this news, Okta's stock price fell $2.98 per share, or 1.76%, to close at $166.43 per share on March 22, 2022.
On March 22, 2022, during after-market hours, the Company's Chief Security Officer, Defendant David Bradbury, stated on Okta's website, inter alia, that "[a]fter a thorough analysis of [the LAPSUS$] claims, we have concluded that a small percentage of customers – approximately 2.5% – have potentially been impacted and whose data may have been viewed or acted upon." Okta was subsequently downgraded by Raymond James from "strong buy" to "market perform," noting, among other things, that "[w]hile partners were willing to trust Okta's track record, the handling of its latest security incident adds to our mounting concerns." After these disclosures, the Company's stock price fell $17.88 per share, or 10.74%, to close at $148.55 per share on March 23, 2022.
If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than July 19, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery does not require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.
If you purchased OKTA securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Okta Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com.
Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2022 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
Contact Information:
Peter Allocco
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
https://www.bernlieb.com
(212) 951-2030
pallocco@bernlieb.com
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SOURCE Bernstein Liebhard LLP | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/24/okta-inc-nasdaq-okta-shareholder-class-action-alert-bernstein-liebhard-llp-reminds-investors-deadline-file-lead-plaintiff-motion-securities-class-action-lawsuit-against-okta-inc-nasdaq-okta/ | 2022-06-25T00:08:43Z |
Brutal heat waves are gripping both Europe and the United States this week and are forecast to dump searing temperatures on much of China into late August.
In addition to temperatures spiking above 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), wildfires are raging across southern Europe with evacuations in towns in Italy and Greece.
The searing heat is part of a global pattern of rising temperatures, attributed by scientists to human activity.
Climate change makes heat waves hotter and more frequent. This is the case for most land regions, and has been confirmed by the UN's global panel of climate scientists (IPCC).
Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities have heated the planet by about 1.2 Celsius since pre-industrial times. That warmer baseline means higher temperatures can be reached during extreme heat events.
"Every heatwave that what we are experiencing today has been made hotter and more frequent because of climate change," said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London, who also co-leads the World Weather Attribution research collaboration.
But other conditions affect heatwaves too. In Europe, atmospheric circulation is an important factor.
A study in the journal Nature this month found that heatwaves in Europe have increased three-to-four times faster than in other northern mid-latitudes such as the United States. The authors linked this to changes in the jet stream -- a fast west-to-east air current in the northern hemisphere.
To find out exactly how much climate change affected a specific heat wave, scientists conduct "attribution studies." Since 2004, more than 400 such studies have been done for extreme weather events, including heat, floods and drought -- calculating how much of a role climate change played in each.
This involves simulating the modern climate hundreds of times and comparing it to simulations of a climate without human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
For example, scientists with World Weather Attribution determined that a record-breaking heat wave in western Europe in June 2019 was 100 times more likely to occur now in France and the Netherlands than if humans had not changed the climate.
Heatwaves will still get worse
Global warming is already driving extreme heat events.
"On average on land, heat extremes that would have happened once every 10 years without human influence on the climate are now three times more frequent," said ETH Zurich climate scientist Sonia Seneviratne.
Temperatures will only cease rising if humans stop adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Until then, heatwaves are set to worsen. A failure to tackle climate change would see heat extremes escalate even more dangerously.
Countries agreed under the global 2015 Paris Agreement to cut emissions fast enough to limit global warming to 2°C, and aim for 1.5°C, to avoid its most dangerous impacts. Current policies would not cut emissions fast enough to meet either goal.
A heat wave that occurred once per decade in the pre-industrial era would happen 4.1 times a decade at 1.5°C of warming, and 5.6 times at 2°C, the IPCC says.
Letting warming pass 1.5°C means that most years "will be affected by hot extremes in the future," Seneviratne said.
Climate change drives wildfires
Climate change increases hot and dry conditions that help fires spread faster, burn longer and rage more intensely.
In the Mediterranean, that has contributed to the fire season starting earlier and burning more land. Last year, more than half a million hectares burned in the European Union, making it the bloc's second-worst forest fire season on record after 2017.
Hotter weather also saps moisture from vegetation, turning it into dry fuel that helps fires to spread.
"The hotter, drier conditions right now, it just makes [fires] far more dangerous," Copernicus senior scientist Mark Parrington said.
Countries such as Portugal and Greece experience fires most summers, and have infrastructure to try to manage them -- though both have received emergency EU help this summer. But hotter temperatures are also pushing wildfires into regions not used to them, and thus less prepared to cope.
Forest management and ignition sources are also important factors. In Europe, more than nine out of 10 fires are ignited by human activities, like arson, disposable barbeques, electricity lines, or littered glass, according to EU data. But the climate crisis typically creates conditions that make the impacts of these fires much worse.
Countries, including Spain, face the challenge of shrinking populations in rural areas, as people move to cities, leaving smaller workforces to clear vegetation and avoid "fuel" for forest fires building up.
Some actions can help to limit severe blazes, such as setting controlled fires that mimic the low-intensity fires in natural ecosystem cycles, or introducing gaps within forests to stop blazes rapidly spreading over large areas.
But scientists concur that without steep cuts to the greenhouse gases causing climate change, heat waves, wildfires, flooding and drought will significantly worsen.
"When we look back on the current fire season in one or two decades' time, it will probably seem mild by comparison," said Victor Resco de Dios, professor of forest engineering at Spain's Lleida University.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/the-climate-crisis-is-driving-heat-waves-and-wildfires-heres-how/article_c5456f27-3d01-5442-918a-178881f5bfa6.html | 2022-07-21T10:50:46Z |
SINGAPORE, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kenon Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: KEN) (TASE: KEN) ("Kenon") announces its results for Q2 2022 and additional updates.
Q2 and Recent Highlights
Kenon
- In July 2022, Kenon distributed approximately $552 million ($10.25 per share) to shareholders.
ZIM
- In August 2022, ZIM announced a second quarter 2022 dividend of approximately $571 million, or $4.75 per ordinary share, to be paid in September 2022. Kenon expects to receive $118 million ($112 million net of tax).
- Financial results[1]:
- ZIM reported net profit in Q2 2022 of $1.3 billion, as compared to $0.9 billion in Q2 2021.
- ZIM reported Adjusted EBITDA[2] in Q2 2022 of $2.1 billion, as compared to $1.3 billion in Q2 2021.
OPC
- In July 2022, as part of a share offering, OPC raised proceeds of NIS 331 million (approximately $94 million). Kenon participated in the offering for a total investment of approximately NIS 136 million (approximately $39 million).
- In June 2022, OPC announced an agreement to purchase a power plant in the Kiryat Gat Industrial Zone for total consideration of NIS 535 million (approximately $160 million), subject to adjustments for cash balances and working capital.
- Financial results:
- OPC's revenue in Q2 2022 increased to $121 million, as compared to $105 million in Q2 2021.
- OPC's net loss in Q2 2022 was $10 million, as compared to $34 million in Q2 2021.
- OPC's Adjusted EBITDA[2] in Q2 2022 was $5 million, as compared to $2 million in Q2 2021. OPC's proportionate share in EBITDA of CPV associated companies was $21 million in Q2 2022 as compared to $26 million in Q2 2021.
Discussion of Results for the Three Months ended June 30, 2022
Kenon's consolidated results of operations from its operating companies essentially comprise the consolidated results of OPC Energy Ltd. ("OPC"). Our share of the results of ZIM Integrated Shipping Ltd. ("ZIM") are reflected under results from associated companies.
See Exhibit 99.2 of Kenon's Form 6-K dated August 31, 2022 for a summary of Kenon's consolidated financial information; a summary of OPC's consolidated financial information; a reconciliation of OPC's Adjusted EBITDA (which is a non-IFRS measure) to net profit (loss); summary of financial information of OPC's subsidiaries; and a reconciliation of ZIM's Adjusted EBITDA (which is a non-IFRS measure) to net profit.
OPC
The following discussion of OPC's results of operations is derived from OPC's consolidated financial statements, as translated into US dollars.
OPC's revenue from the sale of electricity to private customers derives from electricity sold at the generation component tariffs, as published by the Israeli Electricity Authority ("EA"), with some discount. Accordingly, changes in the generation component tariffs generally affect the prices paid under Power Purchase Agreements by customers of OPC-Rotem and OPC-Hadera. The weighted-average generation component tariff effective February 1, 2022, as published by the EA, was NIS 0.2869 per KW hour, which was approximately 13.6% higher than the weighted-average generation component tariff in 2021 of NIS 0.2526 per KW hour. In April 2022, due to a reduction in excise tax on use of coal and to combat the high cost of living, the EA published a new weighted average generation component tariff effective May 1, 2022 of NIS 0.2764 per KW hour, which is approximately 3.7% lower than the rate effected on February 1, 2022. OPC's revenue from sales of steam are linked partly to the price of gas and partly to the Israeli Consumer Price Index.
Set forth below is a discussion of changes in revenue by category between Q2 2022 and Q2 2021. OPC's revenues and costs are denominated in NIS; translation of its revenue and costs in Q2 2022 did not have a material impact on results as presented in US Dollars.
- Revenue from sale of energy to private customers – increased by $12 million in Q2 2022, as compared to Q2 2021, primarily as a result of (i) a $5 million increase reflecting the commencement of virtual supply in September 2021 and (ii) a $8 million increase due to an increase in the generation component tariff.
- Revenue from activities of Gnrgy – reflects the commencement of operations of Gnrgy, which is engaged in the business of charging services for electric vehicles, which was $1 million in Q2 2022 compared to nil in Q2 2021.
- Revenue from sale of electricity and provision of services in the U.S. – increased by $3 million in Q2 2022, as compared to Q2 2021, primarily as a result of (i) a $2 million increase due to an increase in revenue from services and (ii) a $1 million increase due to increased sales of electricity at Keenan.
- Natural gas and diesel oil consumption – decreased by $8 million in Q2 2022, as compared to Q2 2021, primarily as a result of a decrease of $10 million due to maintenance at the OPC-Rotem power plant partially offset by an increase of $2 million due to an increase in the generation component tariff.
- Expenses for acquisition of energy – increased by $28 million in Q2 2022, as compared to Q2 2021, primarily as a result of (i) a $12 million increase reflecting the commencement of virtual supply in 2021 and (ii) a $16 million increase due to maintenance at the OPC-Rotem and OPC-Hadera power plants.
- Costs from activities of Gnrgy – reflects the commencement of operations of Gnrgy, which was $1 million in Q2 2022 compared to nil in Q2 2021.
- Operating costs and cost of services in the U.S. – increased by $1 million in Q2 2022, as compared to Q2 2021, primarily as a result of an increase of $1 million due to salary expenses.
Finance Expenses, net
Finance expenses, net decreased by $38 million in Q2 2022, as compared to Q1 2022, primarily as a result of (i) a decrease of $6 million on interest expense due to the early repayment of the OPC-Rotem's project financing debt in October 2021, (ii) a decrease of $22 million due to foreign exchange rate movements on CPV's non-controlling shareholders' loan and (iii) a decrease of $12 million due to the purchase of remaining rights from the tax equity partner in CPV Keenan in April 2021.
Share of Profit of Associated Companies, net
The table below sets forth OPC's share of profit of associated companies, net, consisting of five of the six operating plants in which CPV has interests.
As at June 30, 2022, OPC's proportionate share of debt (including accrued interest) of CPV associated companies was $930 million and proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents was $5 million.
OPC's share in losses of associated companies, net increased by $6 million primarily as a result of a decline in the results of CPV Valley by $5 million. For further details of the performance of associated companies of CPV, refer to OPC's immediate report published on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange on August 25, 2022 and the convenience English translations furnished by Kenon on Form 6-K on August 25, 2022.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of June 30, 2022, OPC had cash and cash equivalents of $145 million (excluding restricted cash), restricted cash of $25 million (including debt service reserves of $14 million), and total consolidated indebtedness of $1,172 million, consisting of $55 million of short-term indebtedness and $1,117 million of long-term indebtedness. As of June 30, 2022, a substantial portion of OPC's debt was denominated in NIS.
Business Developments
Agreement to Purchase Power Plant in the Kiryat Gat Industrial Zone
On June 2, 2022, OPC announced that it had entered into an agreement with Dor Alon Energy Israel (1988) Ltd. and Dor Alone Gas Power Plants Limited Partnership to purchase a combined-cycle power plant powered by conventional energy with installed capacity of 75 MW located in the Kiryat Gat area. The consideration for the purchase is NIS 535 million (approximately $160 million), subject to adjustments for cash balances and working capital. On August 24, 2022, the Israel Competition Authority approved the acquisition. Completion of the acquisition remains subject to conditions set forth in the purchase agreement, including other regulatory approvals and third-party consents. The deadline for the completion of this acquisition, pursuant to the purchase agreement, is March 31, 2023. The details of the transaction are discussed in more detail in Kenon's Form 6-K dated June 2, 2022.
Investment Agreement with Veridis
On May 9, 2022, OPC announced that it had entered into an agreement with Veridis Power Plants Ltd. to form OPC Holdings Israel Ltd., which will hold and operate all of OPC's business activities in the energy and electricity generation and supply sectors in Israel. On August 24, 2022, the Israel Competition Authority approved the transaction. Completion of the transaction remains subject to other conditions and approvals set forth in the agreement. The details of the transaction are discussed in more detail in Kenon's Form 6-K dated May 9, 2022.
Tariff Update
On August 1, 2022, an additional update of the electricity tariffs of the EA for 2022 entered into effect, increasing the generation component by 13.6% to NIS 0.314 per KW hour.
Share offering
In July 2022, OPC issued 9,443,800 ordinary shares. The gross proceeds from the offering amounted to approximately NIS 331 million (approximately $94 million). Kenon participated in the offering and was allocated 3,898,000 ordinary shares for a total investment of approximately NIS 136 million (approximately $39 million). Kenon now holds approximately 58.0% of the outstanding shares of OPC. The details of the offering are discussed in more detail in Kenon's Form 6-K dated July 5, 2022.
ZIM
Announcement of Q2 2022 Dividend, Updated Dividend Policy and Affirmation of its 2022 Guidance
In August 2022, ZIM announced a second quarter 2022 dividend of approximately $571 million, or $4.75 per ordinary share, to be paid in September 2022. Kenon expects to receive $118 million ($112 million net of tax). ZIM also announced its updated dividend policy and affirmed its previously published full-year 2022 guidance.
Discussion of ZIM's results for Q2 2022
For the period ended June 30, 2022, ZIM's revenue increased by 44% in Q2 2022 to $3.4 billion, as compared to $2.4 billion in Q2 2021, primarily due to elevated freight rates offset by lower volumes.
ZIM's net profit was $1.3 billion, as compared to $0.9 billion in Q2 2021. ZIM's Adjusted EBITDA in Q2 2022 was $2.1 billion, as compared to $1.3 billion in Q2 2021.
ZIM carried 856,000 TEUs in Q2 2022 representing a 7% decrease as compared to Q2 2021, in which ZIM carried 921,000 TEUs. The average freight rate in Q2 2022 was $3,596 per TEU, as compared to $2,341 per TEU in Q2 2021.
Qoros
Sale of remaining 12% interest
In April 2021, Kenon's subsidiary Quantum (2007) LLC ("Quantum") entered into an agreement with the China-based investor related to the Baoneng Group, which holds 63% of Qoros (the "Majority Shareholder"), to sell its remaining 12% interest in Qoros for RMB 1.56 billion (approximately $245 million). The Majority Shareholder has failed to make required payments under this agreement. Quantum subsequently exercised its put option over its remaining stake in Qoros, which requires the Majority Shareholder to immediately purchase Quantum's remaining 12% interest in Qoros based on a similar valuation underlying the purchase price in the sale agreement. In the fourth quarter of 2021, Quantum initiated arbitral proceedings against the Majority Shareholder and Baoneng Group with China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission. The proceedings are ongoing.
For more information on our agreement to sell our remaining interest in Qoros, and on Qoros' loan agreements and our pledges and guarantees, see Kenon's most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC.
Additional Kenon Updates
Kenon's (unconsolidated) liquidity and capital resources
As of June 30, 2022, Kenon's unconsolidated cash position was $1,045 million. As of August 31, 2022, Kenon's unconsolidated cash position was $453 million following Kenon's participation in OPC's share offering described above and the capital reduction paid in July 2022. Kenon expects to receive additional cash of $112 million in September 2022 following payment of ZIM's Q2 2022 dividend.
Kenon's unconsolidated cash position includes cash and cash equivalents, and fixed income and other treasury management instruments.
Capital reduction and distribution
At its 2022 Annual General Meeting on May 19, 2022 and on June 14, 2022, Kenon received the requisite shareholder approval and the approval of the High Court of the Republic of Singapore, respectively, to return share capital amounting to approximately $552 million to Kenon's shareholders ($10.25 per share). The distribution was paid on July 5, 2022 to Kenon's shareholders of record as of the close of trading on June 27, 2022.
Following the completion of the capital reduction, Kenon's share capital is approximately $50 million.
About Kenon
Kenon is a holding company that operates dynamic, primarily growth-oriented businesses. The companies it owns, in whole or in part, are at various stages of development:
- OPC (58% interest) – a leading owner, operator and developer of power generation facilities in the Israeli and U.S. power markets;
- ZIM (21% interest) – an international shipping company; and
- Qoros (12% interest[3]) – a China-based automotive company.
For further information on Kenon's businesses and strategy, see Kenon's publicly available filings, which can be found on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Please also see http://www.kenon-holdings.com for additional information.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "likely to" or other similar expressions. These statements include (i) statements relating to OPC, including the agreement to purchase the power plant in Kiryat Gat, the Veridis transaction and tariff rates, (ii) statements relating to ZIM, including affirmation by ZIM of its previously published full-year 2022 guidance, updated dividend policy and the second quarter 2022 dividend declared by ZIM, (iii) statements relating to Kenon's agreement, exercise of put option to sell its remaining interest in Qoros, and legal disputes in respect of the foregoing and (iv) other non-historical matters. These statements are based on current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Kenon's control, which could cause the actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements. Such risks include risks relating to (i) OPC's agreement to acquire the power plant in Kiryat Gat, completion of the Veridis transaction and tariff rates, (ii) payment of the dividend declared by ZIM, and future dividend payments and results, (iii) Kenon's agreement and exercise of put option to sell its remaining interest in Qoros, including risks relating to payments required to be made to Quantum which have not been made as required and whether such payments will be received at all, risks relating to meeting the conditions to the obligations under the transaction, including risks relating to regulatory approvals, risks relating to the outcome of any related legal disputes, and other risks and (iv) those risks set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in Kenon's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC and other filings. The foregoing factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement included in this press release should not be construed as exhaustive. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this press release speak only as of the date of such statements and we caution readers of this press release not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Kenon undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
1. Represents 100% of ZIM's results. Kenon's share of ZIM's results for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was 21% (28% for three months ended June 30, 2021).
2. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure. See Exhibit 99.2 of Kenon's Form 6-K dated August 31, 2022 for the definition of ZIM's Adjusted EBITDA and OPC's and CPV's Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation to their respective net profit for the applicable period.
3. Kenon has agreed to sell its remaining 12% interest to the Majority Shareholder.
Contact Info
Mark Hasson
Chief Financial Officer
Kenon Holdings Ltd.
markh@kenon-holdings.com
+65 9726 8628
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SOURCE Kenon Holdings Ltd. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/kenon-holdings-reports-q2-2022-results-additional-updates/ | 2022-08-31T13:25:49Z |
One behind bars after chasing car out of Douglas Co., firing gun in Franklin Co.
FRANKLIN CO., Kan. (WIBW) - One man is behind bars in Franklin Co. after he chased a car out of Douglas Co. and then fired a gun at the victim early Friday morning.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office says that just after 6:30 a.m. on Friday, June 3, Devin Fuller, 22, of Baldwin City, was arrested after he allegedly fired a gun at another vehicle as he chased it.
The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation found that Fuller allegedly fired a gun from his vehicle, at another vehicle, as he sped and chased it southbound on US Highway 59.
The Sheriff’s Office noted that the incident started in Douglas Co., however, the criminal act actually happened in the 4500 block of US 59 Highway in Franklin Co.
Fuller was booked into the Franklin Co. Jail for attempted first-degree murder, endangerment, criminal discharge of a firearm, and criminal possession of a firearm. He is being held on a $1 million cash or surety bond.
The Sheriff’s Office said this was a coordinated effort between deputies, the Ottawa Police Department, Baldwin City Police Department, Douglas Co. Sheriff’s Office, and Lawrence Police Department’s tactical team.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/03/one-behind-bars-after-chasing-car-out-douglas-co-firing-gun-franklin-co/ | 2022-06-03T22:58:53Z |
O’Gene Walter Barkemeyer
O’Gene Walter Barkemeyer of Temple, TX passed away April 1, 2022, after a brief battle with cancer. He was 84 years old. O’Gene was born in the middle of a cotton field in Falls County off a rural road near the community of Wilson, TX, January 6, 1938, to George W. & Esther Becker Barkemeyer. He spent his entire youth on the family farm in this rural community where he felt his roots grounded him in faith and family growing up attending Salem Lutheran Church. He graduated from Rosebud High School in 1956 and then from Texas A&M in 1960 with a Civil Engineering degree. He served in the US Air Force, then began his exemplary 42-year career with the Soil Conservation Service in the US Department of Agriculture in Liberty, TX. He soon earned his Texas Professional Engineers License and advanced his career with a move to Temple followed by Fort Worth, TX and then to Nashville, TN. Yet, he returned to his roots in 1983 and moved his family back to Temple finishing his career as Assistant State Engineer with the Soil Conservation Service.
O’Gene was a devout Christian and long-time (39 year) member of the First United Methodist Church in Temple where he tirelessly served as a teacher and faithful 20 plus year member of the Men’s Prayer Breakfast Group. Gene served on many church boards and committees through the years and gave the church complete dedication. In his God centered life he never met a stranger and always put other’s needs ahead of his own. Whether you called him O’Gene, Gene, Dad, Brother, Uncle or Granddaddy he loved and valued you.
O’Gene, was humble, generous, and proud family man. He loved the land and was a country boy through and through who enjoyed his time on the farm, spending time with his herd and sharing a story with whoever would listen. As a Former Aggie, Class of 1960, O’Gene bled maroon! He cherished his alma mater and went back for games and visits to Aggieland often through the years. He was a proud member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets which led to his service in the US Air Force. Gene’s Cadet buddies nicknamed him “Rural” because Gene was such a country boy when he arrived as a Freshman at Texas A&M. The family would love to see guests at the Celebration of Life wearing maroon or a touch of maroon in some way.
He is preceded in death by his parents, George Walter & Esther Becker Barkemeyer. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Annette Baxter Barkemeyer. Sister Ruth Barkemeyer Anderson and husband, Don Anderson. Sister Georgia Barkemeyer Wood and husband Lee Wood. Son, George Gregory Barkemeyer, and wife Marcy. Daughter, Pamela Barkemeyer Dove, and husband Michael Dove. Grandchildren, Blake Walter Barkemeyer and wife Kristin, Allison Tollie-Adell Barkemeyer, and fiancé Sean P. Walsh. Kyle Michael Dove and Connor Austin Dove. He is also survived by many extended family including in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
Celebration of Life Service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Temple on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at 2:00 in the afternoon with a reception following. Memorial donations may be made in honor of O’Gene Barkemeyer to FUMC Temple Building Fund.
First United Methodist Church of Temple, 102 N. 2nd Street, Temple, TX 76501
254-773-5269
Paid Obituary | https://www.tdtnews.com/obituaries/article_41415bcc-b44e-11ec-a61a-53e3cffb5f7d.html | 2022-04-05T11:20:20Z |
Which space heater is best?
Even the dead of summer can be too cold if your office blasts the air conditioner. That’s where a space heater can come in handy. Some space heaters can also double as fans if you get too hot.
The best space heater is the Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater with Humidifier. It gets decently hot and the humidifier prevents health issues caused by dry heat.
What to know before you buy a space heater
Outdoor vs. indoor space heaters
Space heaters are usually designed with a location in mind, be it outdoors or indoors, though some can be used in either situation.
- Outdoor heaters tend to be on the smaller side, contrary to what you would expect. They are usually designed to be as portable as possible and focus on heating the area directly in front of them or the air in the immediate vicinity.
- Indoor heaters are more varied. They can be ultra-portable, big enough to require installation or somewhere in between. Most heat the air in front of or around them like outdoor heaters, but a few are able to heat nearby objects directly instead.
Power source
Both indoor and outdoor heaters can be powered by electricity or fossil fuels.
- Electric heaters require a nearby outlet, making the majority of them designed for use indoors. Some are still designed for outdoor use, including those meant for use on your patio. They are safer thanks to their lack of emissions.
- Fossil-fueled heaters typically run on propane, kerosene or natural gas. They are typically used outdoors as using them indoors can be dangerous without access to proper ventilation since their burning fuel emits dangerous vapors. Some are still designed for use indoors, again with proper ventilation, in case of emergency power loss.
What to look for in a quality space heater
Heat output
Space heaters denote their heating ability using either wattage or British thermal units. Bigger equals hotter, but also requires more energy. Fuel type also affects heat output. Electric heaters tend to heat quickly but won’t last if switched off. Fossil-fueled heaters are the opposite, heating up slowly but providing lasting heat once switched off.
Energy efficiency
Space heaters of any kind are one of the most energy-efficient heat sources you can use. They heat up rapidly and maintain heat well. Any heaters with some kind of help moving air, such as those with built-in fans, are even more efficient. However, this efficiency drops off the longer you use them as their fuel consumption rates eventually outpace their heat generation.
How much you can expect to spend on a space heater
Space heaters usually cost roughly $30-$150. The $30-$50 budget models still output plenty of heat for one person while the $75-$150 models can heat up small- to medium-sized rooms.
Space heater FAQ
What are the benefits of using a space heater?
A. Their biggest benefit is the ability to quickly heat a room to your preferred temperature with less energy consumption than your central heating would require. This then allows you to switch to your central heating with a minimal increase in your energy bill while continuing to use the space heater on lower settings to maintain your comfort. Space heaters are also quieter than most central heating units, and they can be moved from room to room as needed.
What are the downsides of using a space heater?
A. The biggest downside is their maximum efficacy is typically limited to small-to-medium homes. Larger spaces simply can’t be comfortably heated as most space heaters only effectively heat the areas in their immediate vicinity. Trying to use one in a large space, or using one as your central source of heating rather than a heating supplement, is energy inefficient and can noticeably raise your energy bill. Their exteriors can also become dangerously hot, even if used for a short amount of time. This makes them difficult to safely use in homes with pets and young children.
What’s the best space heater to buy?
Top space heater
Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater With Humidifier
What you need to know: This humidifier is large and in charge, and it has some great features.
What you’ll love: It has 5,200 BTU of heating power that directly heats objects rather than the air around it. The built-in humidifier adds enough moisture to the room to prevent dry-heat-related problems like nosebleeds and dehydration. Expert assembly is offered, though it can double the total cost.
What you should consider: It’s among the largest, and most expensive, space heaters. Some consumers had issues with the humidifier tank leaking. There are rare reports of melted outlets.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Top space heater for the money
Black and Decker Portable Space Heater
What you need to know: This is surprisingly effective for its small size.
What you’ll love: It’s small enough to be inconspicuous while still providing plenty of heat. Its heat comes from two power modes, 900 and 1,500 watts, plus it has a heatless fan-only mode. It has good safety features, including auto-shutoff if tipped over.
What you should consider: Some consumers had issues with overheating, which led to burning and smoking smells as well as damaged outlets. The carrying handle is uncomfortable.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Pelonis Ceramic Tower Indoor Space Heater
What you need to know: This midrange heater is powerful enough to heat a small room.
What you’ll love: It has many heating modes, including a programmable thermostat, multiple heat settings, an oscillation mode and an economy mode. It also has a timer setting and includes a remote control. It heats up to 70 degrees in three seconds and maintains a steady temperature.
What you should consider: Temperature settings can only be changed 5 degrees at a time. Some consumers were concerned with how hot the front of the heater can become.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jordan C. Woika 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-space-heater/ | 2022-04-12T00:19:04Z |
NEW YORK, June 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NHS) (the "Fund") announced today that it has successfully completed a private placement of $26,500,000 via a Floating Rate Senior Note ("Note") with a major unaffiliated financial institution. The Note pays interest based on a floating rate and matures in September 2023.
The transaction announced today increases the amount of leverage employed by the Fund in order to bring it more in line with the Fund's asset level following the Fund's recently completed transferable rights offering, which resulted in the issuance of 4,763,981 shares of common stock and gross proceeds to the Fund of approximately $40.9 million. The proceeds from the issuance of the Note will be invested by the Fund in additional portfolio securities consistent with the Fund's investment objective and primary investment strategy.
Neuberger Berman, founded in 1939, is a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager. The firm manages a range of strategies—including equity, fixed income, quantitative and multi-asset class, private equity, real estate and hedge funds—on behalf of institutions, advisors and individual investors globally. With offices in 25 countries, Neuberger Berman's diverse team has over 2,500 professionals. For eight consecutive years, the company has been named first or second in Pensions & Investments Best Places to Work in Money Management survey (among those with 1,000 employees or more). In 2020, the PRI named Neuberger Berman a Leader, a designation awarded to fewer than 1% of investment firms for excellence in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. The PRI also awarded Neuberger Berman an A+ in every eligible category for our approach to ESG integration across asset classes. The firm manages $447 billion in client assets as of March 31, 2022. For more information, please visit our website at www.nb.com.
Statements made in this release that look forward in time involve risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the adverse effect from a decline in the securities markets or a decline in the Fund's performance, a general downturn in the economy, competition from other closed-end investment companies, changes in government policy or regulation, inability of the Fund's investment adviser to attract or retain key employees, inability of the Fund to implement its investment strategy, inability of the Fund to manage rapid expansion and unforeseen costs and other effects related to legal proceedings or investigations of governmental and self-regulatory organizations.
Contact:
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
Investor Information
(877) 461-1899
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SOURCE Neuberger Berman | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/03/neuberger-berman-high-yield-strategies-fund-announces-increase-leverage/ | 2022-06-03T21:32:17Z |
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The U.S. is sending two top officials to the Solomon Islands following a visit last week by an Australian senator over concerns that China could establish a military presence in the South Pacific island nation.
The White House said Monday that later this week, Kurt Campbell, the National Security Council Indo-Pacific coordinator, and Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, will lead a delegation of U.S. government officials to the Solomon Islands, and will also visit Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Tuesday said Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Solomon Islands counterpart, Jeremiah Manele, officially signed a security agreement “the other day.” No specific date was given.
A draft of the pact, which was leaked online, said Chinese warships could stop in the Solomon Islands and China could send police and armed forces there “to assist in maintaining social order.”
Wang told reporters at a daily briefing that the agreement covers “maintaining social order,” along with protecting lives and property, providing humanitarian assistance and responding to natural disasters.
“We are committed to helping the Solomon Islands to strengthen its capacity building to maintain national security,” Wang said. He said the agreement does not seek to supersede the South Pacific nation’s security ties with other nations.
The Solomon Islands has sought to downplay the significance of the agreement and says it won’t lead to China establishing a military base there, but many neighboring countries and Western nations remain worried.
U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the agreement could destabilize the Solomon Islands and would set a concerning precedent for the wider Pacific region.
“Despite the Solomon Islands government’s comments, the broad nature of the security agreement leaves open the door for the deployment of P.R.C. (People’s Republic of China) military forces to the Solomon Islands,” Price said.
The U.S. trip comes after a visit to the Solomon Islands last week by Australian Sen. Zed Seselja, the minister for international development and the Pacific.
The Australian government said it was “deeply disappointed” by the Chinese announcement that the deal was signed.
“We are concerned about the lack of transparency with which this agreement has been developed, noting its potential to undermine stability in our region,” Seselja and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a joint statement.
“We continue to seek further clarity on the terms of the agreement, and its consequences for the Pacific region,” the statement added.
Last week, Seselja said he met with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and asked him to abandon the Chinese agreement.
“We have asked Solomon Islands respectfully to consider not signing the agreement and to consult the Pacific family in the spirit of regional openness and transparency, consistent with our region’s security frameworks,” Seselja said.
The Solomon Islands portrayed the meeting in a more positive light, saying Sogavare and Seselja held productive discussions regarding the security concerns of the Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific region.
Last week, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke with Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele about Washington’s plan to reopen an embassy in the capital, Honiara.
The announcement of the reopening of the embassy, which has been closed since 1993, came in February before the security pact came to light, but amid already growing concerns about Chinese influence in the strategically important country.
___
Associated Press reporter Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/us-officials-heading-to-solomons-over-china-pact-worries/ | 2022-04-19T16:19:59Z |
This grant allows faculty from Illinois universities and community colleges to contribute to innovative solutions that will help manufacturers navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.
PEORIA, Ill., June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) awarded eight Future of Illinois grants to faculty from Illinois universities and community colleges. IMEC's Future of Illinois Manufacturing report highlights the significant change and opportunity ahead for Illinois manufacturers. The purpose of this grant program is to engage faculty on innovative solutions that will help Illinois manufacturing prepare for the future. The total investment of these grant awards exceeds $650,000.
"We are thrilled with the innovative solutions that Illinois academia presented to help Illinois manufacturers embrace the future of manufacturing," said IMEC President David Boulay, Ph.D. "From developing our rural workforce to data analytics, to sustainability and cybersecurity, there is incredible potential in these grant awards."
The eight grant recipients and award topics are listed below:
All applications were carefully reviewed by the IMEC leadership team and Board of Directors. The eight applicants above were selected based on their expected impact on the Illinois manufacturing community and the amount of input from small and mid-sized manufacturers that will be utilized in the creation of each of these programs.
About IMEC
IMEC is a team of improvement specialists who are dedicated to changing lives and creating a positive impact on Illinois' workforce and economy. With a mission to drive growth through enterprise excellence, they help organizations become more effective and efficient by identifying issues, developing and implementing solutions, and providing the necessary support that will allow manufacturers to excel in areas of leadership, strategy, customer engagement, operations, workforce, and measurement and results. In 2021, IMEC assisted over 1,600 companies and helped create or retain over 5,679 jobs, resulting in over $450M aggregate impact to the Illinois economy. IMEC has seven offices statewide and approximately 50 full-time industry improvement specialists. For more information, visit www.imec.org.
IMEC is one of 51 MEP Centers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. MEP Centers are part of the MEP National Network, which includes the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) and over 1000 manufacturing experts at over 400 service locations, with the tools and resources to help U.S. manufacturers succeed and advance U.S. manufacturing. Being that each Center is a public-private partnership, they are able to connect manufacturers with government agencies, universities and research facilities, trade associations, and many more resources that foster growth and innovation. In 2021, the MEP National Network helped manufacturers create and retain over 125,000 jobs. Find your local MEP Center here.
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SOURCE IMEC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/imec-announces-eight-future-illinois-grant-recipients/ | 2022-06-07T14:48:07Z |
TORONTO, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Facedrive Inc. ("STEER" or "the Company") (TSXV: FD) (OTCQX: FDVRF), an integrated ESG technology platform, is pleased to announce it has successfully rolled out its Delivery as a Service ("DaaS") offering with over 200 small and medium businesses ("SMBs"), and is now marketing such services to large big box retailers. STEER's DaaS offering provides a last mile logistics solution for retailers to offer just-in-time deliveries to end-users. The Company expects the DaaS platform to be a key element of its business and a valuable driver of ESG data, reporting and analytics.
STEER's DaaS offering has demonstrated operational success, with over 200 local merchants in the Greater Toronto Area and a 99% on-time delivery rate. The Company has also seen many of its customers transition from a hybrid to a full-time arrangement with STEER. Following its success with smaller local vendors, STEER's DaaS offering is being promoted to big box retailers, some of whom have also expressed an interest for the offering. The Company feels its ESG value proposition, powered by its proprietary EcoCRED carbon offset analytics platform, sets the STEER DaaS offering apart from competitors. In particular, EcoCRED's capabilities to capture, analyse and report on key ESG data can appeal to socially-responsible brands and larger retailers, who are increasingly conscious of environmental tracking and reporting protocols.
The global Delivery as a Service market, valued at USD 18.7Bn in 2020, is expected to grow at 18.9% CAGR for the period 2021-20271, making it one of the high-growth sectors in today's global economy. This growth has been accelerated by the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and goes beyond food deliveries, spanning nearly all categories of consumer products. This megatrend presents qualified providers like STEER with a potentially-lucrative opportunity to increase market presence and significantly increase revenues.
STEER's DaaS offering leverages the assets and technology developed by the Company through its existing on-demand offerings. Specifically, introduction of DaaS enables the Company to draw on its tech stack, operational expertise, and its existing infrastructure—including drivers—to deliver a nimble, agile, cost efficient, and customizable product. STEER's tech-driven delivery management software integrates directly with the merchant's Point of Sale ("POS") solution and provides visibility, KPI controls and data processing. Moreover, STEER leverages its built-in data science algorithms to analyse daily demand cycles for each individual offering and to streamline resource allocation. In the future, this data will be utilized to identify cross-selling opportunities within the STEER platform and provide customers with analytics, metrics and data that quantify their carbon reduction efforts.
STEER's DaaS offering also capitalizes on synergies with its existing on-demand services through a shared driver fleet. For drivers, this means potentially higher earnings through an additional revenue stream, minimized idle time, and the convenience of managing fewer apps on their phone. For the Company, introduction of the DaaS functionality results in greater operational efficiencies through unified driver acquisition, training and optimized marketing spend across the platform. The Company feels these operational efficiencies will translate into economies of scale as STEER's DaaS onboards more vendors and launches operations in new geographies.
"Delivery as a Service represents a natural evolution for our Company. Having built significant assets and expertise in the mobility and food delivery segments, it is important for us to leverage our existing assets to enter a growing market space. It allows us to grow incremental revenues in the near future while not increasing costs at the same rate. We have confirmed the demand during our launch with over 200 small and medium vendors and are now focused on large retail customers. With the launch of DaaS, STEER's vision of creating a one-stop shop ecosystem for an environmentally-conscious B2C and B2B consumer has come a step closer to fulfilment", said Suman Pushparajah, Chief Executive Officer.
STEER is an integrated ESG technology platform that moves people and delivers things through subscription and on-demand services. The Company's goal is to build a one-of-a-kind system that aggregates conscientious users, through a series of connected offerings, and enables them to buy, sell, or invest with the same platform, STEER. The Company's offerings generally fall into two categories: subscription-based offerings led by its flagship electric vehicle subscription business, Steer EV, and on-demand services incorporating delivery, B2B marketplace, Delivery-as-a-Service (DaaS) and rideshare businesses. The Company's platform is also powered by EcoCRED, its big data, analytics and machine learning engine which seeks to capture, analyse, parse and report on key data points in ways that measure the Company's impact on carbon reductions and offsets.
For more about the Company, visit www.facedrive.com.
STEER
100 Consilium Pl, Unit 400
Scarborough, ON
Canada M1H 3E3
www.facedrive.com
Certain information in this press release contains forward-looking information, including with respect to the Company's business, operations and condition, management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions, and the company's forward plans to rebrand. This information is based on management's reasonable assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to us and are made as of the date of this press release. Actual results and the timing of events, such as those pertaining to the Company's next step launch with big box retailers, may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors. Information regarding our expectations of future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities or the markets in which we operate is forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances. Many factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
See "Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) for the year ended December 31, 2021 (filed on SEDAR on may 2, 2022) and its interim MD&A for the period ended September 30, 2021 (filed on SEDAR on November 29, 2021) for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements and other risks. Readers are urged to consider the uncertainties, risks and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. We have no intention and undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation and regulatory requirements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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SOURCE Facedrive Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/steer-announces-rollout-its-delivery-service-daas-offering-with-200-small-medium-businesses/ | 2022-05-16T11:41:50Z |
Sports and entertainment leaders provide first look inside revolutionary addition to gameday experience
PHOENIX, Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BetMGM, a leading sports betting and iGaming operator, and the Arizona Cardinals today debuted the first sportsbook at a National Football League (NFL) stadium. The BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium is a two-story, 17,000-square-foot entertainment destination featuring state-of-the-art sports wagering amenities, concert-hosting facilities, a gourmet grille and bar and a variety of screens to watch games.
"The BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium is one of the most revolutionary additions an NFL stadium has seen in decades and unlike anything fans have encountered on gamedays," said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. "BetMGM shares the Arizona Cardinals' vision in pursuing new ways to break barriers and entertain fans."
Located on The Great Lawn, the BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium will operate on both event and non-event days, offering guests a massive 265-square-foot video wall, 38 televisions and indoor-and-outdoor dining options. All of this can be found steps away from trading windows and user-friendly betting kiosks conveniently placed throughout the space.
Throughout the year, the BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium also will serve as an outdoor music and comedy concert amphitheater, hosting events for audiences gathered on The Great Lawn.
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said, "We are proud and thrilled to be the NFL's first team to offer its fans this type of unprecedented amenity and innovative experience. The BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium gives us a chance to engage current and potential fans on a year-round basis in a fun, entertaining and responsible way."
The BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium will open to the public Sunday, Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. before the Cardinals open the 2022 regular season against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium complements the BetMGM mobile app that launched statewide in Arizona in 2021.
As BetMGM continues to expand to new areas, responsible gaming education remains a key focus. BetMGM is proud to provide resources to help customers play responsibly. For more information on events and activities at the BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium, follow @BetMGMGrill on Instagram and @BetMGM on Twitter.
By the Numbers: BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium
- Size: 17,000squarefeet
- TVs: 265-square-foot Video Wall and 38 TVs
- Betting Kiosks: More than 25
- Capacity: 500
- Hours of Operation:
- Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Saturday – Sunday: 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Monday – Friday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Sunday: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.
About BetMGM
BetMGM is a market-leading sports betting and gaming entertainment company, pioneering the online gaming industry. Born out of a partnership between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and Entain Plc (LSE: ENT), BetMGM has exclusive access to all of MGM's U.S. land-based and online sports betting, major tournament poker, and online gaming businesses. Utilizing Entain's U.S.-licensed, state of the art technology, BetMGM offers sports betting and online gaming via market-leading brands including BetMGM, Borgata Casino, Party Casino and Party Poker. Founded in 2018, BetMGM is headquartered in New Jersey. For more information, visit http://www.betmgminc.com/.
Statements in this release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking" statements and "safe harbor statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and/or uncertainties, including those described in MGM Resorts' public filings with the SEC. Forward looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the future results of BetMGM. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include effects of economic conditions and market conditions in the markets in which MGM Resorts operates and competition with other destination travel locations throughout the United States and the world, the design, timing and costs of expansion projects, risks relating to international operations, permits, licenses, financings, approvals and other contingencies in connection with growth in new or existing jurisdictions and additional risks and uncertainties described in MGM Resorts' Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports). In providing forward-looking statements, MGM Resorts is not undertaking any duty or obligation to update these statements publicly as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If MGM Resorts updates one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those other forward looking statements.
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SOURCE BetMGM | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/betmgm-arizona-cardinals-debut-first-sportsbook-nfl-stadium/ | 2022-09-08T16:48:04Z |
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address U.S. defense contractors later this month when he headlines the annual Future Force Capabilities Conference and Exhibition hosted by the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA).
Zelensky is scheduled to speak at the event Sept. 21, according to the program for the event available on the NDIA’s website. Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraine’s minister of defense, is also scheduled to speak that day.
News of the appearances was first reported by Reuters, which noted that the officials will speak via video link. Zelensky is expected to appeal for more weapons for his country during his speech, the outlet added.
News of the Ukrainian president’s speech to the NDIA — whose membership includes defense industry giants like Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics — comes as Kyiv looks to fend off Russia’s invasion as it drags through its sixth month.
Eight defense contractors — including Raytheon, Lockheed and General Dynamics — attended a meeting at the Pentagon in April to discuss how the U.S. could speed up production to help Ukraine fend off Moscow’s war.
The U.S. has committed $15.2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration, including $14.5 billion since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.
On Thursday, the U.S. unveiled a $675 million weapons package to Ukraine, including additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, additional high-speed anti-radiation missiles and more than 5,000 anti-armor systems, among other equipment. | https://cw33.com/hill-politics/zelensky-to-headline-us-defense-industry-conference/ | 2022-09-12T22:09:49Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. Suzy Fitzgerald remembers looking out the windows as wildfire flames surrounded the hospital where she worked.
“We had fire in all three directions,” Fitzgerald recalled. “I thought, ‘Oh gosh, this is serious. We need to get these people out.’”
Fitzgerald helped with the evacuation of 122 patients from Kaiser Permanente’s Santa Rosa Medical Center on that night nearly five years ago, as the blaze gobbled up homes and buildings across Northern California. The hospital, which had filled with smoke, closed for 17 days.
Medical centers around the country say that fires, flooding, heat waves and other extreme weather are jeopardizing medical services, damaging health care facilities and forcing patients to flee their hospital beds, according to a report released Thursday by the House Ways and Means Committee.
At a hearing, Dr. Parinda Khatri, the CEO of Cherokee Health Systems, told the committee that a pediatric clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee, was forced to close for 10 days this summer during a heatwave after the air conditioning system broke down.
Nearby wildfires forced evacuations at facilities in Oregon during 2020, Elizabeth Schneck of Providence Health told the committee.
A majority of the 63 hospital systems and community health centers that responded to the committee’s questionnaire say they have experienced at least one extreme weather event at some point in the last five years, with many of those saying they had experienced more than one.
The health centers reported a wide range of economic impact from the weather events, with the emergencies they experienced costing between $28,000 to $22 million to cover building damages, closures, evacuations, overtime for employees or deferred elective procedures, for example.
The organizations are not necessarily representative of hospital systems nationwide and may overrepresent both “large health systems with more resources to implement high-cost interventions and small community-based providers on the frontline with limited supports,” according to the report.
The report indicated that medical facilities are investing more resources, staff and planning to prepare for emergency weather-related events.
Fitzgerald said officials at the Kaiser Permanente facility took a hard look at its plans after the 2017 wildfire evacuation and developed new policies, including a new information tag staff attaches to patients with details about their condition and needs during an evacuation.
“It made for a much more orderly response,” Fitzgerald said.
Paul Biddinger, the chief preparedness and continuity officer for the Mass General Brigham health care system in New England, said they had hired climate scientists and engineers to examine its 30 buildings after watching hurricanes and floods devastate hospitals in New Orleans, New York City and Kentucky over the last two decades.
“Our health care system is clearly vulnerable,” said Biddinger. “But many people, including leaders of the health care entities themselves, often do not appreciate the degree of vulnerability.”
Many of the facilities included in the report indicated that they’ve put together working groups or have staff dedicated to climate change issues.
New York’s Northwell health, the state’s largest health care provider, has an emergency command room where staff monitors the news across televisions. Two of the screens are always turned to the weather.
From flooding that’s made it difficult for ambulances navigating roads to gusty winds and snow that have threatened power, the health care system has had to deal with more than 20 weather events in the last five years, said Donna Drummond, Northwell’s chief expense and chief sustainability officer.
Extreme weather is also a consideration when Northwell constructs a new facility or hospital, she said.
“Climate change is here, it’s happening, it’s impacting us,” Drummond said. “We need to be resilient. Our facilities need to be able to withstand storms and that were prepared for these events.”
The health care system itself is a driver of climate change, accounting for an estimated 10% of the carbon dioxide emitted annually in the U.S. President Joe Biden has set a goal of cutting U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by at least half by 2030.
House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to release guidelines for health care centers to track and report those emissions.
“It’s clear more climate-related weather events and rising emissions will continue to worsen health care outcomes, and the time for action is now,” he said.
Roughly half of the facilities responding to the committee said they are tracking their carbon footprint or using programs to reduce their carbon footprint.
But many health care organizations are not doing enough to reduce pollution, Jodi Sherman, an associate professor at Yale School of Medicine told the House Ways and Means Committee.
“Voluntary measures are insufficient to transform the health care sector,” Sherman said. | https://cw33.com/health/ap-health/ap-climate-change-jeopardizes-health-care-services-report-says/ | 2022-09-16T15:04:53Z |
CHICAGO, July 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hxro Network ("Hxro"), a fully composable, on-chain derivatives primitive that provides core exchange, risk and settlement infrastructure, today announced it has launched the alpha version of its derivatives marketplace onto the Solana mainnet.
Hxro Network provides key primitive layer infrastructure for the exchange, risk, margin and settlement of derivatives including perps, futures and options. It is built on the Solana blockchain. The network boasts a marquee list of partners, many of whom have been key builders and active participants including principal trading firms SIG DT (a Susquehanna International Group Company), Jump Crypto, Alameda Research, Chicago Trading Company, and Pattern Research as well as venture participation from Blockchain Capital, Solana Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, Commonwealth Asset Management, CoinFund, Genesis, LedgerPrime, Mantis and Magnus Capital. Notable macro hedge fund managers Alan Howard and Louis Bacon are also part of the network's ecosystem.
At launch, the alpha sandbox will feature a BTC/USDC perpetual future and 8 consecutive expiring futures markets including 2 weeklies, 2 monthlies, and 4 quarterlies along with associated exchange-supported calendar spread markets for each tenor. During the alpha sandbox, contributing developers will also be completing the integration of Hxro's staking and rewards contracts. This alpha period will be utilized to ensure that all critical staking and rewards functionalities are deployed efficiently during mainnet integration.
Dan Gunsberg, Co-Founder of Hxro Network commented on today's news: "Today's launch represents a significant milestone for the network and is very much just the beginning. With the launch to mainnet, Hxro Network will deliver decentralized derivatives products and infrastructure to traders, user facing applications, market makers and other market participants in a way that they are familiar with from a traditional market perspective but with the benefits of DeFi. With recent events in the CeFi space, the market has exposed a need for robust, transparent and decentralized market infrastructure. This is the time to start providing alternative solutions and giving market participants a choice. The network and its community look forward to leading this effort."
During the public testing period, any Solana wallet holder will be eligible to participate in the alpha sandbox. The sandbox will have a reference UI as well as a python API to support automated trading and dApp integration. Rust and typescript API's are available as well.
At launch, network contributors have chosen to take a conservative approach and use a sandbox test token with the symbol $UXDC. This token does not hold any monetary value and will be used in place of USDC as the network moves through its alpha phase. Once network contributors feel all components of the network are hardened, the network will enter its beta phase and offer USDC collateralized markets.
Hxro Network is a fully composable, on-chain derivatives primitive that provides core exchange, risk and settlement infrastructure built on the Solana blockchain. Through a series of native protocols, Hxro Network provides the framework and infrastructure for a robust, fully-functional decentralized derivatives primitive.
Media Contact
Jay Morakis (for Hxro Network)
+1 646 859 5951
hxroplatform@mgroupsc.com
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SOURCE Hxro Network | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/01/hxro-network-launches-derivatives-alpha-solana-mainnet/ | 2022-07-01T17:26:33Z |
- Scott Dixon dominates the Honda Indy Toronto
- Colton Herta holds off Felix Rosenqvist to complete a 1-2 Honda result
- Graham Rahal runs fourth, teammate Christian Lundgaard leads rookie contingent with eighth-place finish
TORONTO, July 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Scott Dixon took command of the Honda Indy Toronto following the first round of scheduled pit stops in today's NTT INDYCAR SERIES event, and remained in charge for the remainder of the 85-lap contest to score his first victory of 2022, the 52nd Indy car win of his career, and lead a 1-2 result for Honda, with Colton Herta finishing second.
Starting together on the front row, pole qualifier Herta and Dixon led the 26-car field from the green in the return of INDYCAR competition to Exhibition Place in Toronto for the first time in three years, with Herta at the point of those on the primary race strategy, which include the majority of the field.
Dixon just edged out Herta as the pair exited pit lane following the first round of scheduled stops for the primary group, and from there the six-time series champion remained in command, with today's victory tying him with Mario Andretti for second (and behind only racing legend A.J. Foyt) on the all-time Indy car winners list.
For his part, Herta held off a strong challenge from Felix Rosenqvist in the closing laps to finish second, his best result since winning the Grand Prix of Indianapolis earlier this season. The Rahal Letterman Lanigan duo of Graham Rahal and Christian Lundgaard also had a strong showing for Honda, with Rahal coming from 14th on the grid to finish fourth; while Lundgaard led the five-driver rookie contingent with an eighth-place result.
Quotes
Scott Dixon (#9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) race winner, first win of 2022, 52nd career Indy car victory: "For most of the year, we've struggled with understeer, but that definitely wasn't the case today. We studied our results at the different tracks throughout this year, and made some adjustments. It was still a tough drive, but we ended our [non-winning] streak here. Having the PNC Bank #9 Honda back in the winner's circle, man it just feels so good. Massive 'thank you' to Honda to get the fuel mileage [we needed] today was so easy. I feel so lucky to be part of this [Chip Ganassi Racing] group, hopefully we're back in the title hunt now."
Colton Herta (#26 Andretti Autosport Honda) pole qualifier, finished second: "Felix [Rosenqvist] was really fast, so I'm glad we were able to keep him behind us. We struggled a little bit with tire wear at the end, but other than that, our car was amazing. Obviously congrats to Scott [Dixon] for the win, but a pole and a second-place finish, I'm happy with that. It's a podium finish and that's what we need going forward, more consistent results – and we'll be looking a lot better in the championship."
Graham Rahal (#15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda) finished fourth: "For us, fourth feels like a win, nothing was given to us today, we earned it. Even on old tires, we were one of the fastest cars on track. The guys did an unbelievable job with our pit stops today, so congrats to them. From a team standpoint, for us to stay positive this year has been hard. But this is a good kick-start to our year, with the Hy-Vee [sponsored] races coming up next week [at Iowa Speedway], that will be a big weekend for us; so hopefully we can have a great result there. For Honda, another strong day, too."
Wayne Gross (Manager, Trackside Support, Honda Performance Development) on today's Honda Indy Toronto: "It's always great to win, but even more so here today with the return of the Honda Indy Toronto, the home event for our Honda Canada partners. Full credit to everyone at HPD for keeping their focus in what has been at times a tough season for us, and congratulations to Scott Dixon and everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing for an impressive team-wide result today: including Scott's milestone victory, and top-six results to keep Marcus [Ericsson] at the top of the championship points chase and both Scott and Alex [Palou] in the thick of the title fight."
Fast Facts
- With today's victory, his fourth at the Honda Indy Toronto, Scott Dixon becomes Honda's most successful driver on the Exhibition Place street circuit. The win is the 52nd of Dixon's career, tying him with Mario Andretti on the Indy car all-time list. The six-time champion has won at least one race in each of 20 seasons, including the last 18 consecutive years.
- Honda-powered drivers and teams have a history of success at Toronto, winning 11 times in both CART and IndyCar Series competition. Honda-powered winners in Toronto include Dixon (4); Dario Franchitti (3); Michael Andretti, Adrian Fernandez, Will Power and Alex Zanardi (1 each).
- Honda has served as title sponsor of the Toronto event since it returned to the IndyCar Series schedule in 2009. The sponsorship is administered through Honda Canada, Inc., Honda Motor Company's Canadian subsidiary.
- With corporate headquarters in the Toronto suburb of Markham, Honda Canada was formed in 1969. The company's first manufacturing facility was opened in Alliston, Ontario, in 1986. A second Alliston manufacturing facility began operations in 1998 and an engine assembly plant opened in 2008.
Next
The 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES now returns to the USA for the second of four consecutive races weekends, and the only doubleheader race weekend of the year, at Iowa Speedway. The HY-VEEDeals.com 250 takes place on Saturday, July 23; with the HY-VEE Salute to Famers 300 running on Sunday, July 24.
Honda Racing social media content and video links from Toronto can be found on Instagram (www.instagram.com/hondaracing_hpd), Twitter (twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD). Additional features and long-form videos can be found on the Honda Racing/HPD YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV).
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SOURCE Honda Racing/HPD | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/hondas-dixon-herta-finish-1-2-toronto/ | 2022-07-18T02:36:44Z |
MILPITAS, Calif., June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KLA Corporation (NASDAQ: KLAC) today announced the successful closing of an inaugural $1.5 billion sustainability-linked revolving credit facility. The new five-year facility reinforces the company's commitment to its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs and goals.
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/806571/KLA_Corporation_Logo.jpg
KLA refinanced and upsized its existing $1 billion credit facility which was set to mature in November of 2023. During the five-year term of the new sustainability-linked facility, KLA will receive pricing adjustments based on its performance against two sustainability performance targets. KLA's progress will be measured on achieving its goals of increased usage of renewable electricity within the company's operations and reduction in Scope 1 & Scope 2 CO2 emissions. JPMorgan Chase is administrative agent and lead arranger on the transaction, and other joint bookrunners include Bank of America Securities, Inc., Citibank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.
"This increased credit facility will provide KLA with additional financial flexibility to pursue its growth initiatives or capital returns strategies," stated Bren Higgins, executive vice president and chief financial officer of KLA. "In addition, having a new sustainability-linked credit facility demonstrates KLA's commitment to couple its financial obligations to its environmental goals to bring additional long-term value to stakeholders. From carbon-free power sourcing and comprehensive recycling programs to supplier diversity and socially-conscious and inclusive employee resource groups, KLA is integrating its ESG philosophy into its business operations globally."
KLA has set a goal to use 100% renewable electricity across its global operations by 2030. This objective formalizes the company's commitment to support the transition to a clean energy economy by setting greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets and reporting climate-related information to stakeholders, in alignment with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). The company's renewable electricity goal will help to set the company on a projected path to achieve a 46% cumulative reduction in combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030 from its 2019 baseline.
To learn more about KLA's ESG program and read its most recent Global Impact Report, please visit the company's ESG webpage.
About KLA:
KLA Corporation ("KLA") develops industry-leading equipment and services that enable innovation throughout the electronics industry. We provide advanced process control and process-enabling solutions for manufacturing wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards and flat panel displays. In close collaboration with leading customers across the globe, our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers design solutions that move the world forward. Additional information may be found at www.kla.com. Investors and others should note that KLA announces material financial information including SEC filings, press releases, public earnings calls and conference webcasts using an investor relations website (ir.kla.com).
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
Statements in this press release, other than historical facts, including statements regarding KLA's renewable electricity commitment, goals for reduced Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and other ESG programs are forward-looking statements and subject to the Safe Harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in such statements due to various factors, including but not limited to: KLA's ability to achieve the strategic commitments, goals and programs referred to in this press release and unexpected delays, difficulties, and expenses in executing against such commitments, goals and programs. For other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected and anticipated in forward-looking statements in this press release, please refer to KLA Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2021, and other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including, but not limited to, the risk factors described therein). KLA Corporation assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update these forward-looking statements.
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SOURCE KLA Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/kla-announces-15-billion-sustainability-linked-revolving-credit-facility/ | 2022-06-08T21:20:38Z |
After two years of virtual meetings more than 400 preventive medicine experts gather for critical conversations about the future of the field and the health of our nation
DENVER, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) kicked off its annual meeting, Preventive Medicine 2022 (PM22), today in Denver, Colorado, bringing more than 400 members, guests and other leaders in preventive medicine together in person for the first time in two years. The conference, which will take place through Saturday, June 18, will focus on the science, evidence and analyses that inform preventive medicine practice.
ACPM's annual meeting brings together the brightest minds in public health and preventive medicine to share ideas on top issues impacting our nation's health. Dozens of sessions and presentations will showcase the latest evidence-based research and practices that will prepare public health for future pandemics, reduce the burden of chronic disease, prevent injuries and improve the health and wellbeing of all populations.
"As we kick off PM2022, I look forward to sparking conversations about the important role preventive medicine physicians play in improving the health and wellbeing of our patients and communities," said Dr. M. 'Tonette' Krousel-Wood, MD, MSPH, FACPM, President of the American College of Preventive Medicine. "The next several days will be filled with critical dialogue, but it's just the beginning of a larger effort to bring preventive medicine to the forefront of the healthcare conversation nationally."
This year's meeting will feature candid conversations around challenging healthcare topics - from health equity and gun violence to vaccine hesitancy and chronic disease prevention. ACPM members will also showcase their latest research and share best practices in preventive medicine.
"PM2022 is a moment for us as an organization to come together to not only share ideas but collaborate on solutions that preventive medicine physicians bring to the table to solve some of the greatest challenges in health care today," said Donna Grande, CEO, American College of Preventive Medicine. "Attendees at this year's meeting exemplify the passion of physicians dedicated to prevention, population health and the improvement of health outcomes. I look forward to the next several days of connection, conversation and collaboration to advance the ACPM mission."
For more information about PM2022, visit ACPM online, here, and follow the conversation on social media using #PM2022.
About ACPM
The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) is a professional medical society of approximately 2,000 physicians dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of individuals, families, communities and populations through disease prevention and health promotion.
For more information, visit www.acpm.org
Contact: Alicia Stanford, astanford@brgcommunications.com, Phone: 703-739-8345
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SOURCE American College of Preventive Medicine | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/american-college-preventive-medicine-kicks-off-preventive-medicine-2022-conference-denver-co/ | 2022-06-15T21:23:20Z |
Highs in the 80s for Thursday
With more rain chances before noon Thursday.
Walking out the door this Wednesday afternoon, it definitely did not feel like a cold front moved through Texoma. Many Texas counties still had temperatures in the 90s with heat index values still pushing 105 in some parts! Nevertheless, the cold front did bring a wind shift out of the north that has already been cooling off the northern Oklahoma counties. Come Thursday afternoon, all of Texoma will be enjoying normal average August temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s.
Along with the cold front have been some pop up storms. Wednesday saw some of the northern Oklahoma counties getting a steady light rain into the afternoon. The rain will start firing back up heading into the overnight hours, this time chances of rain more likely along the Red River and over many Texas counties. By Thursday afternoon, skies will still be overcast but rain chances will diminish.
Heading into the weekend, Friday and Saturday will warm up. They’ll be ideal days for any outdoor activities. Come Sunday, Texoma’s best rain chances since June kick into gear as an area of low pressure brings in moisture from a tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico. Sunday through Tuesday looks like steady rainfall with Wednesday showing signs of the rain easing.
Most of Texoma could see 3-5 inches of rainfall by this time next week. Cooler temperatures in the 80s will prevail throughout next week.
Brady Blackstock
Weekend Meteorologist
News 12 / KXII-TV
Copyright 2021 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/17/highs-80s-thursday/ | 2022-08-17T21:55:49Z |
NEW YORK, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Missfresh Limited.
Shareholders who purchased shares of MF during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
CONTACT US HERE:
https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/missfresh-lawsuit-loss-submission-form/?id=30253&from=4
CLASS PERIOD: This lawsuit is on behalf of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Missfresh securities pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus issued in connection with Missfresh's June 2021 initial public offering.
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Missfresh provided false financial figures in its registration statement and related prospectus issued in connection with the Company's June 2021 initial public offering; (2) Missfresh would need to amend its financial figures; (3) Missfresh, among other things, had lesser net revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2021; and (4) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times and negligently prepared.
DEADLINE: September 12, 2022 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/missfresh-lawsuit-loss-submission-form/?id=30253&from=4
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of MF during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is September 12, 2022. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
The Gross Law Firm
15 West 38th Street, 12th floor
New York, NY, 10018
Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com
Phone: (646) 453-8903
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SOURCE The Gross Law Firm | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-missfresh-limited-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-12-2022-nasdaq-mf/ | 2022-07-27T11:07:27Z |
Germany’s Bosch buys British automated driving startup Five
BERLIN (AP) — German auto parts and technology company Bosch says it is buying Five, a British automated driving startup, for an undisclosed amount. Bosch said Five, which is based in Cambridge and employs 140 people at six locations in the U.K., currently focuses on a cloud-based development and testing platform for the software used in self-driving cars. A Bosch director says it wants Five “to give an extra boost to our work in software development for safe automated driving, and offer our customers European-made technology.” Bosch said in a statement that Five ”gave preference to Bosch over other takeover bidders,” which it didn’t identify, and that the agreement was signed at the beginning of April. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/04/12/germanys-bosch-buys-british-automated-driving-startup-five/ | 2022-04-12T08:59:28Z |
LAS VEGAS, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) ("MGM Resorts" or the "company") today announced the closing of its transaction with Blackstone to acquire the operations of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (the "property" or "The Cosmopolitan") for cash consideration of $1.625 billion. With the closing of the transaction, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas officially joins MGM Resorts' roster of iconic brands along the Las Vegas Strip.
"This is a big moment for our company and for the Las Vegas Strip. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has already established itself as one of the Strip's premier resorts with an iconic brand, well-curated experiences and a loyal customer base. We couldn't be more excited to bring them into our portfolio of world-class operations," said MGM Resorts CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle. "We're also thrilled to have the talented group of CoStars from The Cosmopolitan joining the MGM Resorts family. We look forward to improving upon The Cosmopolitan's already strong results by offering their customers access to the extensive and exclusive amenities and other benefits only MGM Resorts can provide."
In the trailing 12 months ended March 31, 2022, The Cosmopolitan generated $1.1 billion of net revenue and $416 million of adjusted EBITDAR.1
The Cosmopolitan, a leading contemporary luxury resort and casino, opened in December 2010 and underwent significant capital improvements following Blackstone's acquisition of the property in 2014. The property features:
- 3,033 rooms and suites that were renovated in December of 2018, most of which feature terraces overlooking the famed Las Vegas Strip,
- a 110,000 square-foot casino, with high-end gaming areas for VIP guests,
- 26 on-trend food and beverage offerings, with 19 new concepts introduced in the last four years,
- a 3,200-seat theater (The Chelsea),
- Marquee nightclub and dayclub that hosts top DJs from around the world,
- 243,000 square feet of centrally located meeting space, featuring state-of-the-art technology to accommodate both large and small groups,
- 36,000 square feet of leased retail space, and
- a 43,000 square foot spa and fitness facility.
MGM Resorts entered into a 30-year lease agreement, with three 10-year renewal options, with a partnership among Stonepeak, Cherng Family Trust and Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. ("BREIT"), which acquired The Cosmopolitan's real estate assets. MGM Resorts will pay an initial annual rent of $200 million, escalating annually at 2% for the first 15 years and the greater of 2% or the CPI increase (capped at 3%) thereafter.
About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 33 unique hotel and gaming destinations globally, including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. The Company's 50/50 venture, BetMGM, LLC, offers U.S. sports betting and online gaming through market-leading brands, including BetMGM and partypoker. The Company is currently pursuing targeted expansion in Asia through the integrated resort opportunity in Japan. Through its "Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet" philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make a bigger difference in the lives of its employees, guests, and in the communities where it operates. The global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies®. For more information, please visit us at www.mgmresorts.com. Please also connect with us @MGMResortsIntl on Twitter as well as Facebook and Instagram.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and involve risks and/or uncertainties, including those described in the Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "could," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "likely," "intends," "plans," "pro forma," "projects," "estimates" or "anticipates" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. The Company has based forward-looking statements on management's current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's expectations regarding any benefits expected to be received from the acquisition. Forward-looking statements depend on assumptions, data or methods that may be incorrect or imprecise, and the Company may not be able to realize them. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include risks related to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's business, the effects of economic conditions and market conditions in the markets in which the Company operates and competition with other destination travel locations throughout the United States and the world, the design, timing and costs of expansion projects, risks relating to international operations, permits, licenses, financings, approvals and other contingencies in connection with growth in new or existing jurisdictions and additional risks and uncertainties described in the Company's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports). In providing forward-looking statements, the Company is not undertaking any duty or obligation to update these statements publicly as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If the Company updates one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those other forward-looking statements.
MGM RESORTS CONTACTS:
Investment Community:
ANDREW CHAPMAN, Director of Investor Relations
(702) 693-8711, achapman@mgmresorts.com
News Media:
BRIAN AHERN, Executive Director of Communications
media@mgmresorts.com
1 Calculated as EBITDA before rent, impairment loss and pre-opening expenses, and after corporate expenses.
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SOURCE MGM Resorts International | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/mgm-resorts-international-announces-completion-acquisition-operations-cosmopolitan-las-vegas/ | 2022-05-17T21:18:55Z |
SS&C GlobeOp Forward Redemption Indicator: June notifications 2.42%
WINDSOR, Conn., June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSNC) today announced that the SS&C GlobeOp Forward Redemption Indicator for June 2022 measured 2.42%, up from 1.97% in May.
"SS&C GlobeOp's Forward Redemption Indicator was 2.42% for June 2022, reflecting lower termination notices compared to the 2.68% reported for the same period a year ago," said Bill Stone, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SS&C Technologies. "Halfway through 2022, hedge fund asset retention continues to run at very favorable levels, supported by year-to-date returns that have comfortably outperformed both equity and fixed income markets."
The SS&C GlobeOp Forward Redemption Indicator represents the sum of forward redemption notices received from investors in hedge funds administered by SS&C GlobeOp on the SS&C GlobeOp platform, divided by the AuA at the beginning of the month for SS&C GlobeOp fund administration clients on the SS&C GlobeOp platform. Forward redemptions as a percentage of SS&C GlobeOp's assets under administration on the SS&C GlobeOp platform have trended significantly lower since reaching a high of 19.27% in November 2008. The next publication date is July 22, 2022.
Published on the 15th business day of the month, the SS&C GlobeOp Forward Redemption Indicator presents a timely and accurate view of the redemption pipeline for investors in hedge funds on the SS&C GlobeOp administration platform. Movements in the Indicator reflect investor confidence in their allocations to hedge funds. Indicator data is based on actual investor redemption notifications received. Unlike subscriptions, redemption notifications are typically received 30-90 days in advance of the redemption date. Investors may, and sometimes do, cancel redemption notices. In addition, the establishment and enforcement of redemption notices may vary from fund to fund.
SS&C GlobeOp Hedge Fund Performance Index
SS&C GlobeOp Capital Movement Index
SS&C GlobeOp Forward Redemption Indicator
About the SS&C GlobeOp Hedge Fund Index®
The SS&C GlobeOp Hedge Fund Index (the Index) is a family of indices published by SS&C GlobeOp. A unique set of indices by a hedge fund administrator, it offers clients, investors and the overall market a welcome transparency on liquidity, investor sentiment and performance. The Index is based on a significant platform of diverse and representative assets.
The SS&C GlobeOp Hedge Fund Index is available at www.sscglobeopindex.com.
The SS&C GlobeOp Capital Movement Index and the SS&C GlobeOp Forward Redemption Indicator provide monthly reports based on actual and anticipated capital movement data independently collected from all hedge fund clients for whom SS&C GlobeOp provides administration services on the SS&C GlobeOp platform.
The SS&C GlobeOp Hedge Fund Performance Index is an asset-weighted benchmark of the aggregate performance of funds for which SS&C GlobeOp provides monthly administration services on the SS&C GlobeOp platform. Flash estimate, interim and final values are provided, in each of three months respectively, following each business month-end.
While individual fund data is anonymized by aggregation, the SS&C GlobeOp Hedge Fund Index data will be based on the same reconciled fund data that SS&C GlobeOp uses to produce fund net asset values (NAV). Funds acquired through the acquisition of Citi Alternative Investor Services are integrated into the index suite starting with the January 2017 reporting periods. SS&C GlobeOp's total assets under administration on the SS&C GlobeOp platform represent approximately 10% of the estimated assets currently invested in the hedge fund sector. The investment strategies of the funds in the indices span a representative industry sample. Data for middle and back office clients who are not fund administration clients is not included in the Index, but is included in the Company's results announcement figures.
SS&C is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, and has offices around the world. Some 20,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world's largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale and technology.
Additional information about SS&C (Nasdaq: SSNC) is available at www.ssctech.com.
Follow SS&C on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
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SOURCE GlobeOp SS&C | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/ssampc-globeop-forward-redemption-indicator/ | 2022-06-22T10:52:05Z |
LINCOLN, Neb., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Heavy-duty truck values continued to trend downward in June, and latest Sandhills Global market reports focus on the underlying forces influencing the used sleeper truck market. Inventory levels for sleeper trucks have increased month-over-month since this March, and auction values have been dropping since April. Asking values, which are traditionally slower to react to market trends, have now started to descend. Amid these changes, Sandhills market reports show a widening gap between asking and auction values, which serves as another indicator suggesting a further drop in sleeper truck auction and asking values.
The key metric used in all of Sandhills' market reports is the Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI). Buyers and sellers can use the information in the Sandhills EVI to monitor equipment markets and maximize returns on acquisition, liquidation, and related business decisions. The Sandhills EVI data include equipment available in auction and retail markets, as well as model year equipment actively in use. Regional EVI data is available for the United States (and key geographic regions within) and Canada, allowing Sandhills to reflect machine values by location.
The percentage gap between asking and auction values is quantified in Sandhills market reports as EVI spread. During periods of accelerated EVI spread, such as what Sandhills is seeing now, assessing buying and selling strategies is crucial in order to mitigate risk.
Chart Takeaways
Sandhills Market Reports highlight the most significant changes in Sandhills' used heavy-duty truck, construction equipment, and farm machinery markets. Each report includes detailed analysis and charts that help readers visualize the data. The latest reports examine the EVI spread, breaking down the heavy-duty sleeper truck market by overall trends, by model year and manufacturer, and by asking values across specific model years.
U.S. Used Sleeper Trucks EVI Spread and Inventory
- Heavy-duty sleeper truck asking values were 53% higher than auction values in June 2022.
- June's EVI spread was up six percentage points from May, marking the fifth consecutive month the EVI spread has widened.
U.S. Used Sleeper Trucks EVI Spread Model Year and Manufacturer
- Sleeper truck age plays a factor in EVI spread, and older models typically have a much wider gap than newer sleeper trucks.
- Sleeper trucks produced in 2019 displayed a 35% gap between asking and auction values, while 2016 model year sleeper trucks displayed a 57% EVI spread.
U.S. Used Sleeper Trucks Asking EVI
- Although used sleeper truck asking values are still above June 2021 figures, all model years displayed M/M declines.
- The Sandhills EVI shows asking values for 2019 model year sleeper trucks were down 10% M/M with an average value of $131,000.
- Asking values for 2016 model year sleeper truck were down 7% M/M with an average value of $75,000.
Obtain the Full Report
For more information, or to receive detailed analysis from Sandhills Global, contact us at marketreports@sandhills.com.
About Sandhills Global
Sandhills Global is an information processing company headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our products and services gather, process, and distribute information in the form of trade publications, websites, and online services that connect buyers and sellers across the construction, agriculture, forestry, oil and gas, heavy equipment, commercial trucking, and aviation industries. Our integrated, industry-specific approach to hosted technologies and services offers solutions that help businesses large and small operate efficiently and grow securely, cost-effectively, and successfully. Sandhills Global—we are the cloud.
About the Sandhills Equipment Value Index
The Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI) is a principal gauge of the estimated market values of used assets—both currently and over time—across the construction, agricultural, and commercial trucking industries represented by Sandhills Global marketplaces, including AuctionTime.com, TractorHouse.com, MachineryTrader.com, TruckPaper.com, and other industry-specific equipment platforms. Powered by FleetEvaluator, Sandhills' proprietary asset valuation tool, Sandhills EVI provides useful insights into the ever-changing supply-and-demand conditions for each industry.
Contact Sandhills
www.sandhills.com/contact-us
402-479-2181
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SOURCE Sandhills Global | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/new-sandhills-global-market-report-examines-heavy-duty-sleeper-truck-value-trends-growing-gap-between-asking-auction-values/ | 2022-07-15T00:12:19Z |
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
- Most impressive lineup of Easter Jeep® Safari concepts ever from the Jeep brand and Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) by Mopar team heading to Moab, Utah, April 9-17
- Five one-of-a-kind Jeep concept vehicles take four-wheeling to the next level and prove why there's nothing quite like legendary Jeep 4x4 capability
- Two new Jeep concepts from JPP, plus three that debuted at the 2021 SEMA show, are also heading to Moab to showcase the latest prototype and production parts
- Jeep brand's mission of Zero Emission Freedom takes charge with several electrified concepts, including new Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0
Electrified power, legendary 4x4 capability and commanding performance will be front and center during this year's Easter Jeep® Safari, the Jeep brand's home away from home. The Jeep brand and Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) by Mopar team are bringing their A game with an extraordinary lineup of custom-built 4x4 and 4xe concept vehicles to conquer the iconic red-rock terrain in Moab, Utah. Thousands of off-roading enthusiasts and Jeep brand loyalists from all over the world will descend upon Moab, April 9-17, for the weeklong annual tradition of trail rides and technical off-roading.
"Easter Jeep Safari is the perfect opportunity for the Jeep brand to push the limits of four-wheel-drive development and, most importantly, to stay connected with our customers," said Jim Morrison, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America. "Moab is a rite of passage for many Jeep owners, and to own a Jeep is to truly understand the lifestyle – it's what the Jeep brand is all about. Whether it's a Jeep concept or the latest Jeep production vehicle, our customers have the chance to get up close and personal with our passion projects during this event. From a fully capable BEV off-roader to rugged and powerful terrain tacklers, every concept is a true reflection of what our customers tell us they want and give a taste of where the future of the Jeep brand and off-roading can go."
This year, 10 distinctive Jeep brand and JPP concept vehicles are equipped with an array of advanced powertrains. The notable lineup is punctuated by the triumphant return of Jeep Wrangler Magneto, the first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) concept from the Jeep brand. The even more powerful and capable Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0 and four additional Jeep 4xe concept vehicles are testament to the Jeep brand's commitment to Zero Emission Freedom. Additionally, each concept features the latest production and prototype JPP from Mopar, developed with rigorous specifications and legendary 4x4 capability in mind.
"Teaming up with the Jeep brand, there is no better place than the annual Easter Jeep Safari to show off our latest production and custom innovations to true off-road enthusiasts," said Mark Bosanac, North America vice president, Mopar service, parts & customer care. "Unlike any other aftermarket offerings, our factory-tested and factory-backed Jeep Performance Parts are specifically designed and engineered to face the toughest trails in the world."
Click here to continue reading about this year's Easter Jeep Safari concepts from the Jeep brand and JPP team.
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SOURCE Stellantis | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/08/bigger-better-faster-greener-jeep-jeep-performance-parts-by-mopar-concepts-heading-56th-annual-moab-easter-jeep-safari/ | 2022-04-08T11:42:58Z |
Designed for legal professionals, the world's leading digital platform for international arbitration research has won in the Legal Information Solution category
NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. today announced that Kluwer Arbitration, the world's leading digital solution for international arbitration research, has been recognized as a gold Stevie Award winner in the 19th Annual International Business Awards under the Legal Information Solution category.
Kluwer Arbitration provides exclusive access to arbitration resources and a streamlined research experience that supports legal professionals in selecting the right arbitrator for a case to building a winning strategy. With 6,100+ data-driven arbitrator profiles and relationships of 14,870+ arbitration professionals and experts, the solution offers practical guidance, data-driven information, a rich collection of awards, and superior deep domain expertise content that together save time, make information easily accessible, and drive efficiency in the arbitration research process.
"Kluwer Arbitration is a user-focused solution that transforms customers' workflow with extensive materials, leading to an overall efficient arbitration process," said David Bartolone, Vice President and General Manager for the International Group within Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. "We are proud of this recognition as we strive to continue solving the main challenges in international arbitration."
Developed from data-driven information, Kluwer Arbitration provides a bird's eye view to arbitrators' experience, visualized with pie charts and tables. Users can also access valuable information associated with the arbitrator, including links to publications and awards, to gain a deeper understanding of the arbitrator's views and approach. Additionally, Kluwer Arbitration users can identify connections of arbitrators to uncover potential conflicts of interest. Together, these data-driven tools empower legal professionals to find, compare, or challenge arbitrators while minimizing involved risks and increasing predictability and efficacy of arbitrator appointments for the parties.
The International Business Awards are the world's premier business awards program. More than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories across industries. Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 300 executives worldwide who participated in the judging process in June and July.
Details about the International Business Awards and the list of 2022 Stevie Award winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.
About Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.
Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk, and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services.
Wolters Kluwer reported 2021 annual revenues of €4.8 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,800 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.
Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY).
For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Linda Gharib
Director, Brand & Communications
Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.
Tel: +1 (646) 887-7962
Email: lrusmedia@wolterskluwer.com
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SOURCE Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/wolters-kluwers-kluwer-arbitration-wins-gold-stevie-2022-international-business-awards/ | 2022-08-24T15:43:30Z |
BOTHELL, Wash., May 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BioLife Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLFS), a leading supplier of class-defining bioproduction tools and services for the cell and gene therapies ("CGT") and broader biopharma markets, today announced the Company's first quarter 2022 financial results will be released after market close on Monday, May 9th. The Company will host a conference call and live webcast at 4:30pm ET (1:30pm PT) that day. Management will provide an overview of the Company's financial results and a general business update.
To access the webcast, log onto the Investor Relations page of the BioLife Solutions website at https://www.biolifesolutions.com/earnings. In addition, the conference call will be accessible by dialing toll-free (877) 270-2148 for domestic callers and (412) 902-6510 for international callers. No passcode is required for the live call. A webcast replay will be available approximately two hours after the call and will be archived on https://www.biolifesolutions.com/ for 90 days.
BioLife Solutions is a leading supplier of class-defining bioproduction tools and services for the cell and gene therapy and broader biopharma markets. Our tools portfolio includes our proprietary CryoStor® and HypoThermosol® biopreservation media for shipping and storage, the ThawSTAR® family of automated, water-free thawing products, evo® cold chain management system, high capacity cryogenic storage freezers, Stirling Ultracold mechanical freezers, SciSafe biologic storage services, and Sexton Biotechnologies cell processing tools. For more information, please visit www.biolifesolutions.com, www.scisafe.com, www.stirlingultracold.com, or www.sextonbio.com and follow BioLife on Twitter.
At the Company
Troy Wichterman
Chief Financial Officer
(425) 402-1400
twichterman@biolifesolutions.com
Investors
LHA Investor Relations
Jody Cain
(310) 691-7100
jcain@lhai.com
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SOURCE BioLife Solutions, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/02/biolife-solutions-report-first-quarter-2022-financial-results-provide-business-update-may-9-2022/ | 2022-05-03T00:44:16Z |
New Leadership Appointed to Lead Information Technology, Quality Assurance and Finance
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., May 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rinnai America Corporation, manufacturer of the number-one selling brand of tankless gas water heaters in North America, recently announced the appointment of three senior positions in efforts to drive growth and strengthen its vertical segments. Bernard Beyer joins as Vice President of Information Technology; Sean Boyer joins as Vice President of Quality Assurance; and Buster Kennett joins as Vice President of Finance.
"As we look to expand Rinnai's global footprint, our North American region promises to serve as a critical growth engine for the company," said Frank Windsor, President, North America. "As such, it is imperative to have a strong management team in place to achieve our brand promise of Creating a healthier way of living and to realize the company's full potential in the market."
Bernard Beyer, Vice President of Information Technology is a transformative leader with a broad range of experience in large, complex organizations. Most recently, he was Assistant Chief Information Officer and Director of Information Technology at Butterball LLC, leading a team of business analysts and developers to support the largest U.S. producer of turkey products. He also worked closely with Butterball's executive leadership team to identify business process improvement opportunities and implement strategic initiatives. At Rinnai, Bernard will lead the expansion of the company's IT infrastructure, application landscape and data security.
Sean Boyer, Vice President of Quality Assurance, brings Rinnai an impressive record of leading premier global organizations in various industries. His prior position was with LG Electronics as the Senior Director of Operations, where he catapulted LG's sales growth and expanded its online presence and user engagement. He was also a member of the executive management team that shaped and implemented high-priority programs to align with LG's overall business strategy. Sean will bring his expertise to Rinnai, directing world-class delivery of all customer-facing, pre-and post-sales support activities through employees in customer care, technical support, field service, technical training and quality assurance.
Buster Kennett, Vice President of Finance, has many years of finance and business transformation experience driving sustainable growth and profitability in manufacturing, logistics and branded consumer products. Having worked as CFO of CHEP, the world's largest pallet supplier, and prior to this, as CFO of Sara Lee's global coffee business, he delivered significant improvements to both forecasting and cash delivery, while maintaining a clear focus on technology to drive simplification and standardization of processes and systems. Buster will leverage his external experience to help Rinnai's finance across the business, accelerating growth to achieve the company's long-term goals.
ABOUT RINNAI
Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974 and is headquartered in Peachtree City, Ga. Rinnai Corporation manufactures gas appliances including tankless water heaters, a wide range of kitchen appliances and heating and air conditioning units. As the technology leader in its industry, Rinnai is the largest gas appliance manufacturer in Japan and is the number-one selling brand of tankless gas water heaters in the United States and Canada. Annual corporate revenues, including those of its subsidiaries, are in excess of $3.2 billion. With a global perspective to create 21st-century products for the home and business, Rinnai Corporation commits itself to safety and Creating a healthier way of living©. For more information about Rinnai's entire product line, visit www.rinnai.us.
Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. Rinnai® and Creating a healthier way of living® are the registered trademarks of Rinnai Corporation used under license by Rinnai America Corporation.
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SOURCE Rinnai America Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/02/rinnai-names-new-executive-hires-north-american-region/ | 2022-05-02T17:26:27Z |
James Avery Artisan Jewelry partners with Texas-based influencers to celebrate the day
KERRVILLE, Texas , July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- James Avery Artisan Jewelry is celebrating National French Fry Day on July 13, 2022, and it's love of Whataburger® by partnering with Texas-based social media influencers today.
"We are thrilled to celebrate what Texans love the most – James Avery and Whataburger – and, of course, French Fry Day," said James Avery Director of Customer Service and Marketing, Lindsey Avery Tognietti. "Our Customer-favorite hand-Enameled French Fry Charm is the ode to our favorite Whataburger side dish."
The two iconic Texas brands first collaborated in 2017 with the Whataburger Charm, a Texas-shaped charm engraved with the Whataburger Flying W, which sold out in 24 hours. James Avery and Whataburger have since expanded the collection, and fans can celebrate their love of Whataburger with the Enamel Whataburger® Cup Charm, Enamel Whataburger® French Fries Charm and the Enamel "Whataburger®" Heart Charm.
"Fresh, golden and crispy—there's so much to love about Whataburger French Fries and our fans love to show it!" said Whataburger Director of Retail, Rachael Jones. "Quality and customization are important to our guests and whether fans commemorate the day with a side of our famous Fancy Ketchup or treat themselves to a new addition to their jewelry collection, we're confident our fans will find ways to celebrate "just like they like it."
The partnership will include National French Fry Day celebrations and a charm giveaway on many of the influencers' social media pages.
"As the self-proclaimed French fry queen, I was stoked to be able to create content around one of America's best holidays, said social media influencer Melanie Demi, owner of the Instagram account @herboozytails. "I've worked with Whataburger in the past and what better way to celebrate your love for them/their fries than with some jewelry you can wear forever?! My audience knows I love French fries, and I'm so excited to be able to give them a little piece from James Avery."
Partnered Social Media Influencers – Check out these affiliated social media accounts for the National French Fry Day giveaway: Alejandra @nailsby.alejandra; Amy @sushigirl_atx; Briana @brianazananiri; Christina @mrs_tink; Jessica @missjessicabellexo; Marina @mommysnippets; Melanie @herboozytails; Monica @ccbucketlist; Tonya @stylemadesimple_; Tory @foodwithtory.htx; Zoie @curvesbyzo_.
About James Avery Artisan Jewelry® – James Avery is a vertically integrated, family-owned company located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. We offer finely crafted jewelry designs for men and women in sterling silver, 14K and 18K gold, gemstones and leather handbags. James Avery jewelry is designed by our own skilled artisans in Kerrville, Texas. We are a multi-channel retailer with 92 James Avery stores in five states. Our jewelry is also available in more than 220 Dillard's stores in Texas and 28 additional states, airport stores in Austin and Houston and nationwide through JamesAvery.com. James Avery crafts jewelry in Texas workshops in Comfort, Fredericksburg, Hondo and Kerrville, made of the finest materials sourced worldwide. For more information, visit JamesAvery.com or facebook.com/JamesAvery.
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SOURCE James Avery Artisan Jewelry | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/james-avery-artisan-jewelry-whataburger-make-national-french-fry-day-deliciously-charming/ | 2022-07-12T19:40:13Z |
US: N. Korea may conduct missile test as Biden visits Asia
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence shows that it’s a “genuine possibility” that North Korea will conduct another ballistic missile test or nuclear test around President Joe Biden’s visit to South Korea and Japan that begins later this week, according to the White House.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Wednesday said that the U.S. is preparing for North Korea to conduct a “long range missile test, or a nuclear test or frankly both” in the days leading up to, during, or after Biden’s trip to the region. The president is set to arrive in South Korea on Friday before heading to Japan on Sunday.
“We are preparing for all contingencies including the possibility that such a provocation would occur while we’re in Korea or in Japan,” Sullivan said. “We are coordinating closely with our allies in both Korea and Japan on this.”
North Korea in recent months has test-launched a spate of missiles in what experts call an attempt to modernize its weapons and pressure its rivals to accept the country as a nuclear state and relax their sanctions. The latest tests—the firing of three short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea—came on the same day last week that Pyongyang acknowledged its first COVID case.
Sullivan said he spoke with his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, about a potential provocation by the North during a call between the two officials earlier on Wednesday. Beijing has served as North Korea’s closest interlocutor.
The senior Biden adviser did not specify how the U.S. might react to further testing by North Korea, but said the administration would “make both short and longer term adjustments to our military posture as necessary to ensure that we are providing both defense and deterrence to our allies in the region” in response to Pyongyang.
North Korea’s recent provocative run in weapons demonstrations, including its first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile in nearly five years, is brinkmanship aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of the North as a nuclear power and negotiate economic and security concessions from a position of strength.
It also comes amid a massive COVID-19 outbreak in the North, the first time during the more than two-year-old pandemic that North Korean officials have acknowledged the virus has been detected within its borders.
The North Korean nuclear threat is expected to to be at the top of the agenda when Biden meets South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Kim Tae-hyo, Yoon’s deputy national security adviser, told reporters Wednesday that North Korea probably won’t conduct a nuclear test this week but that its preparations for another ICBM test appeared imminent.
Kim Jong Un during Tuesday’s Politburo meeting affirmed he would “arouse the whole party like (an) active volcano once again under the state emergency situation” to prove its leadership before history and time and “defend the well-being of the country and the people without fail and demonstrate to the whole world the strength and the spirit of heroic Korea once again,” KCNA said. The report did not make a direct reference to a major weapons test.
Recent commercial satellite images of the nuclear testing ground in Punggye-ri indicate refurbishment work and preparations at a yet unused tunnel on the southern part of the site, which is presumably nearing completion to host a nuclear test, according to an analysis released Tuesday by Beyond Parallel, a website run by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/18/us-n-korea-may-conduct-missile-test-biden-visits-asia/ | 2022-05-18T20:40:47Z |
As Musk buyout looms, Twitter searches for its soul
By BARBARA ORTUTAY
AP Technology Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A toxic cesspool. A lifeline. A finger on the world’s pulse. Twitter is all these things and more to its over 217 million users around the world — politicians, journalists, activists, celebrities, weirdos and normies, cat and dog lovers and just about anyone else with an internet connection.
For Elon Musk, its ultimate troll and perhaps most prolific user whose buyout of the company is on increasingly shaky ground, Twitter is a “de facto town square” in dire need of a libertarian makeover.
Whether and how the takeover will happen is anyone’s guess. On Friday, Musk announced that the deal is “on hold,” while tweeting that he was still “committed” to it. Earlier in the week, the billionaire Tesla CEO said he’d reverse the platform’s ban of President Donald Trump if his purchase goes through. The same day, he also said he supported a new European Union law aimed at protecting social media users from harmful content. Twitter’s current CEO, meanwhile, fired two top managers on Thursday.
All that said, It’s been a messy few weeks for Twitter. One thing is certain: the turmoil will continue, inside and outside of the company.
“Twitter at its highest levels has always been chaos. It has always had intrigue and it has always had drama,” says Leslie Miley, a former Twitter engineering manager. “This,” he says, “is in Twitter’s DNA.”
`WHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT’
From its 2007 start as a scrappy “microblogging service” at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, Twitter has always punched above its weight.
At a time when its rivals count their users by the billions, it has stayed small, frustrating Wall Street and making it easier for Musk to swoop in with an offer its board could not refuse.
But Twitter also wields unrivaled influence on news, politics and society thanks to its public nature, its simple, largely text-based interface and its sense of chronological immediacy.
“It’s a potluck of pithy self-expression simmering with whimsy, narcissism, voyeurism, hucksterism, tedium and sometimes useful information,” Associated Press technology writer Michael Liedtke wrote in a 2009 story about the company. Twitter had 27 employees at the time, and its most popular user was Barack Obama.
Today, the San Francisco icon employs 7,500 people. Obama is still its most popular account holder, followed by pop stars Justin Bieber and Katy Perry (Musk is No. 6). Twitter’s rise to the mainstream can be chronicled through world events, as wars, terror attacks, the Arab Spring, the #MeToo movement and other pivotal moments in our collective history played out in real time on the platform.
“Twitter often attracts thinkers. People who are thinking about things tend to be attracted to a text-based platform. And it’s full of journalists. So Twitter is both a reflection of and a driver of what people are thinking about,” says writer, editor and OnlyFans creator Cathy Reisenwitz, who’s been on Twitter since 2010 and has over 18,000 followers.
She finds it great for discovering people and ideas and having others discover her writing and thoughts. That’s why she’s stayed all these years, despite harassment and death threats she’s received on the platform.
Twitter users in academia, in niche fields, those with quirky interests, subcultures small and big, grassroots activists, researchers and a host of others flock to the platform. Why? Because at its best, it promises an open, free exchange of facts and ideas, where knowledge is shared, debated and questioned.
And those subcultures — they’re formidable. There’s Black Twitter, feminist Twitter, baseball Twitter, Japanese cat Twitter, ER nurse Twitter and so on.
“It’s enabled interest groups, especially those that are organized around social identity, whether we’re talking about gender or sexuality or race, to have really important in-group dialogues,” says Brooke Erin Duffy, a professor at Cornell University who studies social media.
THE DARK SIDE
On the flip side of Twitter’s immediacy, public, open nature and 280-character (once 140-character) limit is a perfect recipe for passions to run high — especially anger.
“The anonymity of Twitter empowers people to take shots sometimes, but it is till one of the most effective ways to communicate with people with similar interests,” says Steve Phillips, a former general manager of the New York Mets who now hosts a show on MLB Network Radio.
But there’s also the massive, dark part of Twitter. This is the Twitter of Nazis, of demented trolls, of conspiracy theorists and of nation states funding massive networks to influence elections.
Jaime Longoria, manager of research and training for the nonprofit Disinfo Defense League, says Musk’s purchase of Twitter jeopardizes a platform that many experts believe has done a better job of reining in harmful content than its competitors.
“We’re watching and waiting,” Longoria says. “The Twitter we know may be over.”
In a series of tweets in 2018, then-CEO Jack Dorsey said the company was committed to “collective health, openness, and civility of public conversation, and to hold ourselves publicly accountable towards progress.”
Twitter, led by its trust and safety team, has worked to improve things. It enacted new policies, added labels to false information, kicked off repeated violators of its rules against hate, inciting violence and other harmful activities. In fits and starts, things have started to improve, at least in the United States and Western Europe.
Outside Western democracies, though, not much has changed when it comes to clamping down on hate and misinformation.
“There’s a lot of hate on Twitter, especially directed at minorities. And so there’s always a constant battle to get Twitter to clamp down on hate speech, very often violent hate speech and fake news,” says Shoaib Daniyal, associate editor with the Indian news website Scroll.
Musk’s free speech absolutism, Daniyal says, doesn’t make much sense in India because there have not been many curbs on speech on the platform to begin with.
“It’s fairly filled with hate anyway,” he says. “And Twitter hasn’t done a lot about it. So let’s see where it goes.” Which, given Musk’s mercurial nature, could be almost any direction at all.
__
Associated Press Writer David Klepper contributed to this story from Providence, Rhode Island. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/05/14/as-musk-buyout-looms-twitter-searches-for-its-soul-2/ | 2022-05-14T17:17:39Z |
PROVO, Utah (AP) — Campaigning at a park filled with 19th-century pushcarts on a state holiday honoring Utah’s early Mormon pioneers, Evan McMullin glad hands voters as he strolls past potato sack races and beverage stands selling cold, sugary drinks under a sweltering sun.
The independent U.S. Senate candidate who won the official backing of Utah’s Democratic Party in this year’s midterm election harks back to Utah’s pioneer days as he explains his quest to unseat two-term Republican Sen. Mike Lee.
“When our ancestors arrived, the only way to make this harsh but very beautiful place work in order for them to survive and thrive was to work together,” said McMullin, who casts his candidacy as an opportunity to ”unite Americans across party lines to protect democracy.”
To defeat Lee, McMullin’s idealized call for cross-party unity will have to do a lot more than just win over Democrats and a few disgruntled conservatives. Republicans have won every U.S. Senate race in Utah since 1976.
It’s been six years since McMullin, a soft-spoken former Republican congressional staffer, emerged as a third-party candidate as a conservative alternative to Donald Trump. McMullin won 21.5% of the vote in Utah in 2016, the most of any third-party candidate in the country. Trump still breezed to victory.
McMullin warned in a New York Times op-ed after Trump’s election that he was an authoritarian who “undermined critical democratic norms including peaceful debate and transitions of power.” This year, McMullin is hitting that message even harder, denouncing his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents.
McMullin has cast both Trump and Lee as threats to democracy, noting text messages obtained by the Jan. 6 House committee that show Lee discussing legally dubious schemes to keep Trump in power, before shifting course, backing away and voting to certify the election results.
“Authoritarians serve themselves and the small cadres that surround them,” McMullin, an ex-CIA officer, said. “They never solve problems.”
As both parties jockey for control of the evenly split Senate, the peculiar Republican-versus-independent contest has transformed Utah from an electoral afterthought into a possible spoiler. Conservative groups like Club for Growth are spending millions to defend Lee.
If McMullin were to win in November, he would become the Senate’s third independent, joining Angus King of Maine and Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Both caucus with the Democrats, though McMullin has said he wouldn’t caucus with either party.
Both Lee and McMullin are vying for voters like Cindy Kemp of Lehi, who credits Trump for the country’s thriving pre-pandemic economy but was often fed up with his public persona.
“With Trump and everything, we were like, ‘What do we do?’” Kemp said after speaking to McMullin in Provo. “But he did good for the country.”
She plans to vote for McMullin.
Eighty miles (129 kilometers) north at a junior livestock auction in Ogden, Lee wears ostrich skin cowboy boots and sits cross-legged on a folding chair. Mingling with voters amid the the sound of squealing hogs after purchasing a sheep at the auction, he acknowledges the race defies traditional two-party dynamics yet hews closely to conventional Republican talking points: government spending, inflation and polling showing widespread disapproval of President Joe Biden.
In response to questions about prominent midterm election issues, Lee repeatedly prefaces his answers by circling back to a reminder that McMullin has been “embraced and endorsed and funded by the Democratic Party.”
Lee, a one-time critic of the former president who even voted for McMullin in protest of Trump in the 2016 election, dismisses McMullin’s alarm bells about extremism and says their race has less to do with Trump than Biden.
“Trump’s not on the ballot. This one is not about him,” Lee said as he walked through a cattle corral talking about the effects of inflation on feed and fuel prices.
“People in Utah feel strongly about the horrible state of affairs that Joe Biden has brought and the horrible conditions that we’re now facing with inflation and all that goes along with it.”
McMullin acknowledges issues like inflation and abortion rights are focal points in Senate races nationwide. Still, his campaign is laser-focused on what he believes are growing threats to democracy from power-hungry extremists willing to abandon it. It’s difficult to fix issues like air quality near the Great Salt Lake or buoy economically depressed coal towns in Carbon County, he said, without a functional, representative democracy.
“It’s democracy. And it’s what democracy allows us to do,” McMullin explains.
Although he says voters he speaks to largely agree having a functional government in Washington is important, McMullin is aware opinions clash within the coalition he hopes to unite behind him.
He insists voters are less polarized than people assume, yet despite that belief, offers carefully calibrated answers on polarizing topics such as abortion. He talks about “standing up to the extremes that want to criminalize women” and rejects abortion bans that don’t have exceptions for rape, but says he “doesn’t have all the answers” rather than articulating when he thinks abortion should be legal and when it shouldn’t.
Much like Lee repeatedly references McMullin’s Democratic Party support, McMullin repeatedly prefaces explanations about where he stands on issues by referencing “our coalition” — a group he says is the same one that supports Sen. Mitt Romney and includes Democrats, moderate Republicans and independents.
The “coalition,” he said, also supports investing in more modern infrastructure, but he doesn’t clarify his position on the billions in infrastructure spending approved since Democrats took control of Washington.
Back at the Weber County Fair, Lee says recently approved spending will exacerbate inflation and expand the role of government in everyday life.
“It’s pretty relevant if the party that has endorsed you and is funding you and is backing you is behind a $750 billion spending boondoggle at a time we’re in a recession and at a time we’re experiencing rampant inflation,” Lee said of McMullin.
Although Lee’s frequent “no” votes on bipartisan legislation garner criticism, they endear him to legions of Utah Republicans who call him “a fighter” and like that he isn’t afraid to disrupt Washington.
“He fights for us and takes what we say and takes it to heart. Not like other politicians, who lie to us and do different things, like Mitt Romney,” Heidi Hadley of Plain City said after meeting Lee at the fair. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-utahs-evan-mcmullin-upends-two-party-fight-for-us-senate/ | 2022-09-08T01:26:36Z |
TEXAS (KETK) – Summer officially started just one day ago, but hot car child fatalities are already an issue.
Officially called “pediatric vehicular heatstroke”, more than 900 children have died of it since 1998. Each year, an average of 38 children die in hot cars— during the summertime, that’s almost two per week.
So far this year, five children have died in hot vehicles, and two of those were in Texas exactly one month apart from one another. One child, a 10-month-old girl, died in a Houston-area hospital after being found in a hot car outside her home on May 20. Then on June 20, a 5-year-old boy died in Harris County outside his family’s home after being left in his car seat for a few hours.
Most studies report that the leading cause of leaving children in vehicles is forgetfulness by the caregiver, and most of those deaths involve children under 2 years old.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a child’s body temperature can rise three to five times faster than an adults, and heatstroke begins once the core body temperature reaches 104 degrees. A child can die when their body temperature hits 107 degrees.
The National Weather Service shared graphics depicting how temperatures rise in a car on an 80 degree day. After 10 minutes, the temperature inside the vehicle grew to 99 degrees. After half an hour, the inside temperature was 114 degrees. After an hour, the vehicle was 123 degrees.
And no, cracking or rolling down windows isn’t a sure way to keep your child safe.
“Because of the way the sun heats the car up, it’s a radiation energy, it’s almost like a greenhouse so your car just absorbs the heat from the sun,” Dr. Tiffany Turner, a pediatrician at CHRISTUS Good Shepard Medical Center in Longview, told KETK. “Tinted windows help, but they don’t do enough.”
Fore more information on hot car deaths, click here. | https://cw33.com/news/5-children-have-died-in-hot-cars-so-far-in-2022-2-of-those-were-in-texas/ | 2022-06-22T19:40:42Z |
Which giant bean-bag chair is best?
Bean-bag chairs that are large enough can act as couches and beds for those looking for a place to relax. Aside from the size of a bean-bag chair, they are often very comfortable and feature a foam fill that allows the user to sink into the item. Giant bean-bag chairs with secure closures last a long time and can be a great piece of furniture to tie a room together. When purchasing a giant bean-bag chair, consider what it is filled with, what the cover is made from, and the dimensions of the item.
If you are looking for a durable, comfortable and machine washable giant bean bag that does not require assembly, the Chill Sack bean-bag chair is the top choice.
What to know before you buy a giant bean-bag chair
Fill
Before purchasing a giant bean-bag chair, consider what it is filled with. Bean-bag chairs can be filled with an assortment of materials commonly broken up and used as the filling. The most common material is foam. Foam provides sinking comfort that cradles the user without permanently flattening. Some bean bags are filled with broken Styrofoam and soft plastic beans. Consider the fill of the bean bag before purchase to determine the level of comfort you are looking for.
Cover
A giant bean-bag chair should feature a soft cover that is machine washable. A plush cover that also is durable provides comfort and is the part of the bean bag that comes into contact with the user. The material used to cover the chair should be moderately stretched and tear-resistant. Most covers feature zippered covers. The most popular cover materials are linen, cotton and suede.
Dimensions
Before purchasing a giant bean bag, make sure it will fit inside of doorways as it is transported to a specific room. Giant bean-bag chairs that arrive assembled may not be able to fit where needed without tearing or being damaged. Look at the dimensions listed in the product description on the website to make sure the item can be properly transported.
What to look for in a quality giant bean-bag chair
Moisture-resistance
A quality bean-bag chair is resistant to moisture. This means the item has some waterproof features to make it hard for mold and bacteria to form on the fabric despite moisture in the air. Products that are moisture resistant may not need to be washed as often.
Secure closure
The best bean-bag chairs are designed with secure ways to close them so the contents stay in place. The material inside a bean bag can make a mess that is hard to clean and replace if leaked.
Color
Color does not affect the comfort or durability of the item, but it provides the user with options when designing their space.
How much you can expect to spend on a giant bean-bag chair
The best giant bean-bag chairs cost $90-$300 depending on the material used to make the chair and what it is filled with. Items that are filled and covered with quality material are priced higher.
Giant bean-bag chair FAQ
Are giant bean bags preassembled?
A. Some giant bean bags are preassembled and arrive at your door in giant, stuffed form. Some giant bean bags arrive in a smaller box with instructions to assemble them. This takes more time and requires the user to stuff the bean bags themselves. Although this process is time-consuming, those who purchase bean-bag chairs that need to be assembled will not have to worry about the bean bag being too large to fit through their door.
Why is it necessary for giant bean-bag chairs to feature handles?
A. Giant bean-bag chairs that feature handles as an added accessory for convenience allows the user to easily move the item from point A to point B without having to awkwardly hug the item to move it. This ensures the item does not slip from your hands when moving it, and allows you to see where you are going.
What’s the best giant bean-bag chair to buy?
Top giant bean-bag chair
What you need to know: This bean-bag chair comes in multiple colors and provides optimal comfort with inches of memory foam and suede fabric. It is moisture resistant and is machine washable.
What you’ll love: This item features zippered construction for the best security of the foam fill and is securely stitched for added durability. It is stain resistant.
What you should consider: Some users have noted the vent holes in the item are easily torn when transporting.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top giant bean-bag chair for the money
What you need to know: This bean-bag chair is machine washable and comes in multiple colors. There is no assembly required.
What you’ll love: This item is filled with foam and is comfortable. It is made securely with durable zippers that keep the fill enclosed. It comes with a one-year warranty.
What you should consider: Over time, the memory foam goes flat and the imprints are permanently in the chair, making for an uncomfortable lounging experience.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Big Joe Fuf Large Bean-Bag Chair and Lounger
What you need to know: This large bean-bag chair comes in four colors and is filled with comfortable foam. The cover is made with plush, soft material and is machine washable.
What you’ll love: This item is childproof and can support up to 600 pounds. It is made with durable material and will never go flat. There are handles on this item for easy transport.
What you should consider: This item requires assembly and can take up to two days for the foam to fully expand for use. This item is not lightweight and may be hard for some to transport.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/baby-kids-br/nursery-br/best-giant-bean-bag-chair/ | 2022-06-12T17:45:35Z |
National runner-up North Carolina, a strong contender for the No. 1 spot in the preseason polls with four starters returning, will play at Indiana in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Nov. 30.
The two conferences announced Friday the 14 matchups for the 24th edition of the three-day event, which the ACC leads 12-8 with three ties. The Big Ten won 8-6 last season for its third straight win. The ACC has a 144-121 advantage in all games since the genesis in 1999.
The other headliner matchup for Nov. 30 has Ohio State at Duke, which carries the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class in new coach Jon Scheyer’s first year.
The four other games on Nov. 30 are Purdue at Florida State, Boston College at Nebraska and Rutgers at Miami and Michigan State at Notre Dame. The latter two matchups feature a pair of NCAA Tournament teams from 2022.
The six-game slate on Nov. 29 features Virginia at Michigan. Syracuse at Illinois, Maryland at Louisville, Penn State at Clemson, Wake Forest at Wisconsin and Georgia Tech at Iowa are the other matchups. On Nov. 28, Minnesota plays at Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh visits Northwestern.
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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/unc-indiana-ohio-state-duke-headline-acc-big-10-challenge/ | 2022-06-24T21:33:00Z |
NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attention Yext, Inc. ("Yext") (NYSE: YEXT) shareholders:
The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that a class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of investors who purchased between March 4, 2021 and March 8, 2022.
If you suffered a loss on your investment in Yext, contact us about potential recovery by using the link below. There is no cost or obligation to you.
ABOUT THE ACTION: The class action against Yext includes allegations that the Company made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Yext's revenue and earnings were significantly deteriorating because of, among other things, poor sales execution and performance, as well as COVID-19 related disruptions; (ii) accordingly, Yext was unlikely to meet consensus estimates for its full year fiscal 2022 financial results and fiscal 2023 outlook; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
DEADLINE: August 16, 2022
Aggrieved Yext investors only have until August 16, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. You are not required to act as a lead plaintiff in order to share in any recovery.
Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
Vincent Wong, Esq.
39 East Broadway
Suite 304
New York, NY 10002
Tel. 212.425.1140
E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com
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SOURCE The Law Offices of Vincent Wong | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/class-action-alert-law-offices-vincent-wong-remind-yext-investors-lead-plaintiff-deadline-august-16-2022/ | 2022-06-27T22:14:04Z |
Angel Oak Capital Advisors securitization is first to use the Brightvine Portal to bring new efficiencies to institutional credit market
SAN FRANCISCO and ATLANTA, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Brightvine, a blockchain-powered fixed income platform that connects issuers of high-quality, real-world assets with digital investors, and Angel Oak Capital Advisors, a leader in structured credit investment solutions, today announced the successful issuance of the first-ever bank subordinated debt issuance leveraging blockchain technology with BFNS 2022-1.
BFNS 2022-1, a $147.55 million securitization of subordinated debt from community banks across the United States issued by Angel Oak, leverages Brightvine Portal, a secure management platform for conducting primary offerings of digital assets via blockchain, to easily coordinate documentation and loan information among parties and greatly increase efficiencies within the securitization and diligence processes. The issuance represents the first result of the collaboration between Brightvine and Angel Oak Ventures announced in Q2 2022.
"Our partnership with Angel Oak is based on our shared goal of fully realizing the potential of distributed ledger technology to increase efficiency and transparency throughout the securitization process, and we're excited to be involved in bringing this new blockchain-powered debt securitization product to market" said Joe Vellanikaran, Chief Executive Officer of Brightvine. "Angel Oak is known for continuously advancing their technologies and bringing new, innovative products to a demanding market, and we are proud to have the Brightvine Portal be a key element in this innovation."
As the first transaction of its kind to employ distributed ledger technology, BFNS 2022-1 demonstrates the flexibility of Brightvine's technology beyond mortgages – an area they remain focused on– while also showing a broader applicability across the fixed-income space.
"The Brightvine Portal gives us quick access to all of the latest blockchain-validated information associated with each note all in one place, we see it as a huge driver of efficiency for our team, our investors and our securitization process going forward," said Johannes Palsson, Senior Portfolio Manager of Angel Oak Capital Advisors.
BFNS 2022-1 is Angel Oak's third community bank sub-debt securitization since 2018 and the senior tranche received a Aa3 rating from Moody's. The securitization consists of 31 issuers across 20 states, all with under $10 billion in assets. Angel Oak has extensive experience analyzing community bank debt, utilizing its proprietary BankSURFTM model to assess credit quality of U.S. banks through its own database.
"We are encouraged by the success of this deal and the industry's receptivity to a new era in capital raising," said Sreeni Prabhu, Co-CEO and Managing Partner at Angel Oak. "We will continue to explore ways to leverage the efficiencies of blockchain and drive value for our investors."
Angel Oak and Brightvine will continue to collaborate on ways to use the blockchain to introduce immediate benefits to fixed income securitizations. The goal is to leverage blockchain technology to provide easier auditing, validated real-time data across parties, faster diligence, privacy and security controls, and better transparency for all parties involved.
About Brightvine
Brightvine, a blockchain-powered platform building a new financial infrastructure, is on a mission to extend access and expand wealth by enabling vetted issuers of high-quality real-world assets to create new connections with today's forward thinking digital investors. By harnessing the latest Web3 technologies, Brightvine is opening new access to capital markets and increasing liquidity for mortgages and fixed income products. Brightvine is backed by strategic investors from the financial services industry and headquartered in San Francisco with employees located across the U.S.
Learn more at www.brightvine.com; to set up a press interview with Brightvine CEO Joe Vellanikaran, please contact brightvine@finnpartners.com.
About Angel Oak Capital Advisors, LLC
Angel Oak Capital Advisors is an investment management firm focused on providing compelling fixed-income investment solutions for its clients. Backed by a value-driven approach, Angel Oak Capital Advisors seeks to deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns through a combination of stable current income and price appreciation. Its experienced investment team seeks the best opportunities in fixed income, with a specialization in mortgage-backed securities and other areas of structured credit.
For more information, please visit www.angeloakcapital.com or contact trevor@gregoryfca.com.
Disclaimers
Brightvine is not a FINRA member broker-dealer. For any activities indicated that may require FINRA membership, Brightvine is not conducting such activities until it has obtained FINRA's approval as a broker-dealer, in general, and for such activities, in particular.
Media Contact:
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SOURCE Brightvine | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/angel-oak-brightvine-announce-worlds-first-blockchain-powered-community-bank-subordinated-debt-securitization/ | 2022-08-11T12:17:49Z |
BOSTON, June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Retirement, a company of Manulife Investment Management, has released its most recent State of the Participant report, showing nearly 53% of its defined contribution (DC) retirement plan participants are positioned to replace at least 70% of their employment income in their retirement years. A common benchmark of retirement readiness, this year's income replacement data sees an increase of nearly five percentage points from 2020 and the highest income replacement John Hancock Retirement has seen in the report since the data has been available.1,2
"In the wake of historically high savings rates and substantial gains in the stock market in 2020 and 2021, we saw improvements in retirement readiness within every age group in 2022, with nearly 70% for those under age 40 on-track," said Sue Reibel, CEO, John Hancock Retirement. "We are pleased to see these results in the data, and we are optimistic about maintaining these results over the long-term. We are confident that the best way to help plan participants progress towards their retirement goals is to provide them a workplace savings plan that gives access to the information, tools and resources they need to make sound savings and investing decisions."
Additional findings from the 2022 State of the Participant study include:
As seen in past reports, the chances of achieving retirement readiness were highest when plan sponsors took advantage of both types of automatic plan features, including auto-enrollment and the auto-increase feature. In 2021, plans that auto-enrolled eligible employees and included automatic annual deferral increases of 1% a year up to 10% achieved average plan-level retirement readiness of 65%. This compares to 52% for plans without any auto features.
The data in the report also found that an increase in the auto-escalation limit has a positive impact on retirement readiness. While a 10% cap has historically been the standard, approximately 60% of plan sponsors are now selecting limits of 15% or higher, with 25% and 15% being the most popular choices.
What's more, participants are open to saving more each year through auto-escalation. With each passing year, fewer participants opt out of automatic-escalation over five years with only 5% opting out of auto increases in year four and only 3% in year five. The opt-out data suggests that communicating in the first year of enrollment is vitally important to help participants understand the importance of saving more each year and the impact it can have on reaching retirement readiness goals as the most recent report shows more than half of participants opted out of auto-escalation in the first year of enrollment.
Consistent with ongoing labor trends, the percentages of participants leaving their plans between 2019 and 2021 varied by industry and age. Plan turnover was high among those under age 30 in retail and service firms. It was low among people in their 50s working in the materials industry and in the banking, finance, and insurance sector.
All these participants were faced with extremely important decisions about what to do with their savings upon leaving their defined contribution plans. The data shows that for participants departing their DC plans in 2021, 61% elected to move their money directly to an IRA or a new employer's DC plan. However, almost four out of ten of those leaving their plan cashed out their account—which exposed them to immediate tax liability, possible tax penalties and a step backward from their retirement goals. This represents an opportunity for plan providers to provide all departing employees with estimates of the amount they would save on current taxes as well as the potential growth they would experience by making a timely rollover or electing to remain in their current plan. 3
More than one-in-ten (11%) of defined contribution open architecture plans administered by John Hancock Retirement make environmental, social, and governance (ESG) funds directly available as an option for plan participants, with a total of 80 funds represented. This number may grow in the future, as the U.S. Department of Labor proposed a change to ERISA in October 2021 that would officially allow fiduciaries to consider ESG factors in selecting funds for their DC plan lineups. The interest we've seen on ESG fund option adoption has taken place despite these rules not yet being effective. Interestingly, while some industry trends have shown that younger participants would be attracted to ESG funds, John Hancock Retirement data shows the average age of those investing in these strategies as closer to 50 years of age.4
Increasing inflation can have a negative impact on retirement plans. Investors may feel as though they're facing the difficult decision of adding money to their portfolio in the short term, decreasing their income goals in retirement or postponing retirement. However, evaluating an investment strategy, such as stable value funds, can potentially offer a hedge against inflation.
Stable value funds seek to offer a higher yield than money market funds and short to intermediate bond-like performance—all with an insurance-backed guarantee. As the U.S. continues to deal with the highest inflation in decades, the unique advantages of stable value—including their guarantees and ability to help counter inflation—make them a potentially attractive option. 5 This year's State of the Participant data shows that 12% of participants are invested in stable value funds, including over 17% of those age 50 and older.
Building a retirement portfolio takes years of planning and discipline, and as the past few years have shown, plans can come under stress by any number of factors. Understanding the impact of inflation on portfolios can be an important tool to help investors plan for retirement.
"While the data showing gains in retirement readiness across age groups is very encouraging, we understand that economic conditions and each individual's personal situation can present challenges. Our message is to stay committed to saving, consider increasing contributions when you are able and remain focused on your risk tolerance and time horizon when making investment decisions," said Scott Francolini, head of strategic relationship management and consulting, John Hancock Retirement. "We're committed to continuing to work closely with plan sponsors and financial professionals to help support Americans along their journey to retirement readiness."
For complete information about a particular investment option, please read the fund prospectus or offering memorandum/trust document. You should carefully consider the objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. The prospectus or offering memorandum/trust document contains this and other important information about the investment option and investment company. Please read the prospectus or offering memorandum/trust document carefully before you invest or send money. Prospectus or offering memorandum/trust document may only be available in English.
John Hancock Retirement is the U.S. retirement business of Manulife Investment Management. For more than 50 years, we've helped people plan and invest for retirement; today, we're one of the largest full-service providers in the United States.i We take a hands-on consultative approach based on the idea that no two plans- and no two plan participants are exactly alike. We partner with plan sponsors, financial professionals, and third-party administrators to ensure that every plan is personal to the participant and delivers results.
As of March 31, 2022, John Hancock serviced over 54,000 retirement plans with over 3.1 million participants and over $215 billion in AUMA.ii
Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 19 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.
John Hancock Investment Management Distributors LLC is the principal underwriter and wholesale distribution broker dealer for the John Hancock mutual funds. Member FINRA, SIPC.
John Hancock Retirement Plan Services LLC offers administrative or recordkeeping services to sponsors and administrators of retirement plans. John Hancock Trust Company LLC provides trust and custodial services to such plans. Group annuity contracts and recordkeeping agreements are issued by John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Boston, MA (not licensed in New York) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, Valhalla, New York. Product features and availability may differ by state. Securities offered through John Hancock Distributors LLC. Member FINRA, SIPC.
NOT FDIC INSURED. MAY LOSE VALUE. NOT BANK GUARANTEED.
© 2022 John Hancock. All rights reserved.
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SOURCE John Hancock | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/john-hancock-retirements-latest-state-participant-report-finds-more-than-half-plan-participants-are-retirement-ready-with-least-70-income-replacement/ | 2022-06-14T22:33:45Z |
Company to host conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. EDT
CARMIEL, Israel, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: PLX) (TASE: PLX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, production and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins produced by its proprietary ProCellEx® plant cell-based protein expression system, today announced that it will release its financial results for the second quarter 2022 and provide a business update on Monday, August 15, 2022.
Management will host a conference call with investors to discuss the financial results and provide an update on recent corporate and clinical developments at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
Conference Call Details:
Monday, August 15, 2022, 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Domestic: 877-423-9813
International: 201-689-8573
Conference ID: 13732027
Webcast Details:
The conference will be webcast live from the Company's website and will be available via the following links:
Company Link: https://protalixbiotherapeutics.gcs-web.com/events0
Webcast Link: Registration – https://tinyurl.com/44z7w7ex
Conference ID: 13732027
Please access the websites at least 15 minutes ahead of the conference to register, download and install any necessary audio software.
The conference call will be available for replay for two weeks on the Events Calendar of the Investors section of the Company's website, at the above link.
About Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
Protalix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell-based expression system, ProCellEx. Protalix was the first company to gain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a protein produced through plant cell-based in suspension expression system. Protalix's unique expression system represents a new method for developing recombinant proteins in an industrial-scale manner.
Protalix's first product manufactured by ProCellEx, taliglucerase alfa, was approved by the FDA in May 2012 and, subsequently, by the regulatory authorities of other countries. Protalix has licensed to Pfizer Inc. the worldwide development and commercialization rights for taliglucerase alfa, excluding Brazil, where Protalix retains full rights.
Protalix's development pipeline consists of proprietary versions of recombinant therapeutic proteins that target established pharmaceutical markets, including the following product candidates: pegunigalsidase alfa, a modified stabilized version of the recombinant human α–Galactosidase–A protein for the treatment of Fabry disease; alidornase alfa or PRX–110, for the treatment of various human respiratory diseases or conditions; PRX–115, a plant cell-expressed recombinant PEGylated uricase for the treatment of severe gout; PRX–119, a plant cell-expressed long action DNase I for the treatment of NETs-related diseases; and others. Protalix has partnered with Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., both in the United States and outside the United States, for the development and commercialization of pegunigalsidase alfa.
Investor Contact
Chuck Padala, Managing Director
LifeSci Advisors
+1-646-627-8390
chuck@lifesciadvisors.com
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/999479/Protalix_Biotherapeutics_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/protalix-biotherapeutics-announce-second-quarter-2022-financial-business-results-conference-call-august-15-2022/ | 2022-08-08T12:42:40Z |
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been diagnosed with the coronavirus Sunday and canceled his planned travels while he isolates and recuperates.
Kishida developed a slight fever and cough late Saturday and tested positive in a COVID-19 PCR test, said Noriyuki Shikata, the cabinet secretary for public affairs at the prime minister’s office.
“Prime Minister Kishida is isolated inside his residence,” he told The Associated Press on Sunday.
The 65-year-old prime minister was on summer vacation last week and was scheduled to return to work Monday. It’s not clear where or how he was infected.
Kishida won’t go in person to a conference on African development later this month in Tunisia but will participate online. He also postponed his trip to the Middle East.
Cases of coronavirus infections have been surging recently in Japan, although most people — including Kishida — have been vaccinated. Other world leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and recovered.
___
Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/reports-japan-leader-rests-after-testing-positive-for-covid/ | 2022-08-21T21:26:34Z |
Dual-Power capability allows low-power depot or home charging with high-power opportunity charging helping accelerate broader adoption of wireless charging sooner than expected
MALVERN, Pa., May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Momentum Dynamics, which has been commercializing fully automated inductive (wireless) charging for electric vehicles (EVs) since 2014, announced today a major breakthrough with enormous implications for the EV industry: a wireless system that provides the ability to charge light-duty EVs at both high (50-75kW) and low (7-22kW) power. This capability will enable automatic charging at-home or in-depot charging as well as the convenience of high-power opportunistic charging in public settings.
The so-called "dual-power" mode capability will enable cars and light duty trucks and vans to intelligently recognize and charge a vehicle battery at any power using a common inductive component on the vehicle. The achievement was led by Momentum's team of engineers at its global headquarters in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
"The ability to manage any power level with a single device represents a breakthrough that will see the broader deployment of wireless charging and accelerated adoption of EVs," said Momentum Dynamics CEO Andy Daga. "This fulfills our vision to offer a ubiquitous and fully automated charging solution in which the car is capable of charging itself without human action. Charging a car or even a truck should be an effortless 'background operation' that no one thinks about – much like electronic toll collection has become. This is the step-change advantage that has been needed to increase the adoption rate of electric vehicles. We are beginning to see demand for hands-free charging as a key element of passenger vehicle electrification."
"Perhaps it's ironic that the state that was the birthplace of the world's modern petroleum industry is now providing the long-term solution that will transition vehicles away from gasoline to make EVs ubiquitous around the world."
The breakthrough enables a highly efficient system of chargers that can provide energy to EVs in locations where there is limited power such as a home or office, but also at public charging locations where there is typically much higher power for faster charging. It is also important to consider that plug-in chargers tend to suffer from low utilization, as low as 5% or less, and are often out of service. Wireless charging encourages more frequent charging when operated in public locations, and the economics are more favorable to install higher power chargers in public locations.
For delivery vans and trucks, it means that vehicles can wirelessly charge at low power at their garage, but also pick up a substantial range-extending supplemental charge while stopped for short times at a loading dock, along a commercial loading zone, at delivery points, or at convenience markets. This is likely to be very important for delivery fleets and to postal fleets that run long suburban and rural routes. It is also the only reasonable solution to charging autonomous, self-driving EVs.
In real terms this means that a vehicle equipped with a Momentum charger can wirelessly and automatically charge in any location and make the best use of the available power. By contrast, other wireless chargers have been relegated to a single use, e.g., charging only cars and only at low power, limiting their use to home garages, or in some cases, only heavy-duty vehicles at high power.
Bob Kacergis, Momentum's Chief Commercial Officer, added that "our interactions with OEMs and light duty vehicle operators indicate that they agree with this emerging vision – enabling unattended and automatic hands-free charging anywhere offers an elegant solution for those who have a home garage and intend to charge there, and for the same vehicle to be charged rapidly while stopping at retail locations. The effect is unlimited range without having to think about it."
Kacergis also pointed out that automakers are concerned about preserves a vehicle's resale value, and this new technology preserves the ability to sell an EV to a new owner who does not have access to a garage and who must rely on fast public charging.
The technical breakthrough centers on the ability to commercialize a system of chargers for light-duty vehicles that operates with the combination of high efficiency across all power levels from 1 kW to 75 kW (comparable to any plug-in charger), and that conforms with the same electromagnetic regulatory standards that apply to all electric appliances. Momentum's technology has been engineered for the future to allow for bidirectional power flow, or "Vehicle-to-Everything" at both high- and low-power levels, as circumstances may require.
About Momentum Dynamics
Momentum Dynamics, located in Malvern, PA, is the global leader in high-power inductive charging for all types of electric vehicles, including passenger vehicles, buses, delivery trucks, and heavy trucks. The company practices world-class technology innovation through modular design and is recognized for the extraordinary accomplishments and unique expertise of its engineers and scientists. Momentum was a winner of the 2019 Emerging Technology Award from Mechanical Engineering Magazine. Please visit www.momentumdynamics.com or LinkedIn for additional information about Momentum.
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SOURCE Momentum Dynamics Corporation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/05/momentum-dynamics-announces-dual-power-breakthrough-automatic-inductive-charging/ | 2022-05-05T04:52:23Z |
LOS ANGELES , June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- If you've been following the news, it's hard to miss - we're in a tampon shortage. Gas prices, baby formula and now tampons - what a bloody convenient time to try a reusable alternative. Enter Modibodi, the #1 period and leak-proof underwear in Australia and ranked #4 globally for their life-changing apparel, a brand that's changing the game and changing lives.
This day and age, women demand a lot more from their personal hygiene products. With so many options on the market, long-gone are the days of basic functionality - menstrual products not only need to work, but also need to make an impact in women's lives and communities, so that all women can do what they love without sacrificing comfort. Modibodi offers a diverse collection of reusable period- and incontinence-proof underwear, swimwear and activewear, striving to give all bodies more confidence and comfort, as well as a more environmentally sustainable solution to disposable hygiene products.
Spend just $30 on a pair of Modibodi undies that'll absorb your period and they will keep you covered for up to 3+ years' worth of periods. A better option for your period, your wallet and the planet.
In the States specifically, these conversations are more important than ever: a year's supply of tampons and pads costs upwards of $70 and are not covered by US welfare safety nets, which negatively impacts many disadvantaged communities. In fact, 27 states still deem period products "luxury items" and not medically necessary.
To combat this major social justice issue, Modibodi actively supports social causes and organizations like Support The Girls, The Sustainable Period Project, as well as their own initiative, Give A Pair, which provides underwear to women in need around the globe.
With sizes available from 4XS-6XL, styles fitting every bodi and absorbency ranging from Super Light (one tampon) to Maxi-24hrs (10 tampons), Modibodi is ready to onboard every journey with you.
For additional information on Modibodi, please visit www.modibodi.com. For press, media & partnership requests, please contact kelly@eightsixtysouth.com.
Founded in 2013, Modibodi® is Australia's original sustainable leak-proof apparel brand, designing underwear, swimwear, active wear, reusable nappies, maternity and postpartum wear to replace disposable hygiene products and offer a sustainable solution to manage periods, incontinence, discharge, breast milk leaks and sweat.
Media Contact: Kelly Howard kelly@eightsixtysouth.com
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SOURCE Modibodi | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/24/tampon-shortage-bloody-convenient-time-try-modibodi-period-underwear/ | 2022-06-24T01:18:09Z |
- La Mega Media, Inc. has announced the launch of a new Spanish-language radio station in Pittsburgh, PA
- Music available is now on 92.9FM HD2 channel and LaMega1 app for Apple and Android devices
COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- La Mega Media and Steel City Media have partnered to bring the first Spanish language radio station to serve the growing Hispanic community in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. La Mega Media already has well-established radio stations in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio.
The company's newest station will join the print and digital products already in Pittsburgh. La Mega Nota is an award-winning monthly people's gazette in Spanish with entertainment, culture, and news. Its website, www.lamegapittsburgh.com, features national, international, and local news by the hour in Spanish, which also serves as the website for the new radio station La Mega Pittsburgh. Listeners can download the mobile app LaMega1 to access music and news.
The Hispanic population in Allegheny County has exploded over the past decade, from 19,000 to nearly 47,000 adults 18+. This fast-growing segment of the population will, for the first time ever, have a Hispanic-owned, multifaceted media company to reflect its prerogatives and serve as a bridge to businesses and institutions with the vision and savvy to reach this population of 80,000 for western Pensilvannia.
Together with existing organizations like the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, La Mega Media's goal is to be the primary resource for trusted and reliable information for the community it serves and support the development of Hispanic owned businesses.
Steel City Media is a Pittsburgh based multimedia and digital company with market leading radio stations in Kansas City and Pittsburgh.
ABOUT:
La Mega Media, Inc, headquartered in Columbus, OH, is the largest Spanish language media company in Ohio and its surrounding areas in the Midwest, that operates 3 radio stations (Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati) and newspaper with distribution throughout Ohio, Pittsburgh and North Kentucky; providing news, music, information, entertainment and education to the Spanish speaking population.
CONTACT: Ysabel Chopite ychopite@lamegamedia.com
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SOURCE La Mega Media, Inc | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/18/la-mega-media-launches-spanish-language-radio-station-pittsburgh-pa/ | 2022-04-18T21:01:38Z |
Georgia DA considers seeking Trump testimony in 2020 probe
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Georgia prosecutor investigating potential criminal interference in the 2020 presidential election is considering requesting that former President Donald Trump testify under oath to a grand jury, while several people already subpoenaed as part of the probe have received letters informing them that they’re at risk of being indicted.
The developments underscore the accelerating nature of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ investigation and the key decisions that may lie ahead for prosecutors who for more than a year have been scrutinizing efforts by Trump and his allies to undo his election loss in Georgia.
Jeff DiSantis, a spokesman for Willis, told The Associated Press that Willis is considering subpoenaing Trump to testify before a special grand jury. Such a demand would almost certainly trigger an immediate court fight, including potentially over Trump’s constitutional protections against self-incrimination. Yahoo had reported earlier Friday that Willis is considering requesting Trump’s testimony.
Meanwhile, some people who had been subpoenaed have subsequently received so-called target letters, according to a person familiar with the matter who insisted on anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. Prosecutors generally issue such letters to inform people they’ve been investigating that they have developed evidence against them and that they’re in jeopardy of being criminally charged.
The person who confirmed the issuance of the target letters, which were first reported by Yahoo, would not identify any of the recipients.
The special grand jury was seated in May at Willis’ request and has been investigating whether Trump and others illegally tried to meddle in the 2020 election in Georgia as the Republican desperately tried to cling to power after his loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump continues to insist that the election was stolen, despite the fact that numerous federal and local officials, a long list of courts, top former campaign staffers and even his own attorney general have all said there is no evidence of the fraud he alleges.
Willis has confirmed that the investigation’s scope includes a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. During that call, Trump urged Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to overturn his loss in the state.
“All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have,” Trump said during that call. “Because we won the state.”
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has repeatedly described his call to Raffensperger as “perfect.”
Willis, a Democrat, has also said that her team is looking into a November 2020 call that U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., made to Raffensperger and false claims of election fraud that were made by former New York mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and others during December 2020 legislative committee hearings at the state Capitol.
Graham and Giuliani are among the Trump associates Willis is trying to force to go to Atlanta to testify before the special grand jury.
___
Brumback reported from Atlanta.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/15/georgia-da-considers-seeking-trump-testimony-2020-probe/ | 2022-07-15T19:39:07Z |
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's leading silk brand LILYSILK is thrilled to announce that the company is celebrating its 12-year growth during which it has strengthened the brand's identity as a silk garment expert and innovator committed to creating ultra-comfortable and chic womenswear using luxurious silk fabrics.
The new milestone is marked by a reimagined logo featuring a lily crown with two floating letters "S" wrapping around the "I" that symbolizes a women figure. The new curvy icon celebrates feminine beauty illuminating with a silky elegance and heralds a new chapter for LILYSILK as it continues to make the best silk products for customers worldwide.
"It's been an amazing 12 years, thanks to the support from our customers and partners who helped us leap from one achievement to the next. We want to thank you all for being with us every step along the way," says David Wang, CEO of LILYSILK.
This year, LILYSILK built on its classic legacy design while combining upgrades to inspire a new change. The brand launched a new print, Vintage Lily, and a new "Lily White" color. For greater flexibility, LILYSILK has introduced the Silk Oversize Style (SOS) Shirt, with its design emphasizing functionality and sustainability to craft an ultimate "everyday shirt". LILYSILK also paired up with Mika Ninagawa, a filmmaker and photography icon in Japan, to launch a special summer lineup.
The new designs made an instant splash and were on the go-to fashion list of A-list celebrities, seen worn by Viola Davis. Another stunning piece Rectangular Silk Lily Scarf was also sported by Anne Hathaway at the 75th Cannes Film Festival.
Beyond its glamour under the spotlight, LILYSILK is also a purveyor of sustainable fashion, spearheading a host of initiatives to cut its carbon footprint and address the environmental challenges in the fashion sector. LILYSILK uses natural premium materials for all its products, including its patent-owned LILYÁUREA™, an extremely skin-friendly and undyed silk fabric that shines with a stunningly bright golden color.
LILYSILK's latest sustainable effort is the partnership with TerraCycle®, a world-leading recycling solution provider, to complete its first Eco-Loop for its business operation in the US. The tie-up is an extension to its Zero Waste Movement designed to recycle and reuse non-donatable fabrics, strengthening its ability to achieve on-demand manufacturing and strong biodegradability for product packaging.
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SOURCE LILYSILK | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/25/lilysilk-celebrates-12-year-milestones-growth/ | 2022-08-25T14:49:41Z |
US Soccer equalizes pay in milestone with women, men
(AP) - The U.S. Soccer Federation reached milestone agreements to pay its men’s and women’s teams equally, making the American national governing body the first in the sport to promise both sexes matching money.
The federation announced separate collective bargaining agreements through December 2028 with the unions for both national teams on Wednesday, ending years of often acrimonious negotiations.
The men have been playing under the terms of a CBA that expired in December 2018. The women’s CBA expired at the end of March, but talks continued after the federation and the players agreed to settle a gender discrimination lawsuit brought by some of the players in 2019. The settlement was contingent on the federation reaching labor contracts that equalized pay and bonuses between the two teams.
“I feel a lot of pride for the girls who are going to see this growing up, and recognize their value rather than having to fight for it. However, my dad always told me that you don’t get rewarded for doing what you’re supposed to do — and paying men and women equally is what you’re supposed to do,” U.S. forward Margaret Purce said. “So I’m not giving out any gold stars, but I’m grateful for this accomplishment and for all the people who came together to make it so.”
Perhaps the biggest sticking point was World Cup prize money, which is based on how far a team advances in the tournament. While the U.S. women have been successful on the international stage with back-to-back World Cup titles, differences in FIFA prize money meant they took home far less than the men’s winners.
The unions agreed to pool FIFA’s payments for the men’s World Cup later this year and next year’s Women’s World Cup, as well as for the 2026 and 2027 tournaments.
Each player will get matching game appearance fees in what the USSF said makes it the first federation to pool FIFA prize money in this manner.
“We saw it as an opportunity, an opportunity to be leaders in this front and join in with the women’s side and U.S. Soccer. So we’re just excited that this is how we were able to get the deal done,” said Walker Zimmerman, a defender who is part of the U.S. National Team Players Association leadership group.
The federation previously based bonuses on payments from FIFA, which earmarked $400 million for the 2018 men’s tournament, including $38 million to champion France, and $30 million for the 2019 women’s tournament, including $4 million to the champion United States.
FIFA has increased the total to $440 million for the 2022 men’s World Cup, and its president, Gianni Infantino, has proposed that FIFA double the women’s prize money to $60 million for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, in which FIFA has increased the teams to 32.
For the current World Cup cycles, the USSF will pool the FIFA funds, taking 10% off the top and then splitting the rest equally among 46 players — 23 players on the roster of each team. For the 2026-27 cycle, the USSF cut increases to 20% before the split.
After missing the 2018 World Cup, the men qualified for this year’s World Cup in Qatar starting in November. The women’s team will seek to qualify this year for the 2023 World Cup, cohosted by Australia and New Zealand.
For lesser tournaments, such as those run by the governing body of North America, players will earn identical game bonuses. And for exhibition games, players will receive matching appearance fees and performance payments based on the match result and opponent rank. Players who don’t dress will earn a fee that is the equivalent of participating in a national team training camp.
The women gave up guaranteed base salaries which had been part of their CBA since 2005. Some players had been guaranteed annual salaries of $100,000.
“I think we’ve outgrown some of the conditions that may look like we have lost something, but now our (professional) league is actually strong enough where now we don’t need as many guaranteed contracts, you know, we can be on more of a pay-to-play model,” Purce said.
Child care, covered for women for more than 25 years, will be extended to men during national team training camps and matches.
The women and men also will receive a portion of commercial revenue from tickets for matches controlled by the USSF, with bonuses for sellouts, and each team will get a portion of broadcast, partner and sponsor revenue.
Players will get a 401(k) plan and the USSF will match up to 5% of a player’s compensation, subject to IRS limits. That money will be deducted from the shares of commercial revenue.
“There were moments when I thought it was all going to fall apart and then it came back together and it’s a real credit to all the different groups coming together, negotiating at one table,” said federation President Cindy Parlow Cone, a former national team player who became head of the governing body in 2020. “I think that’s where the turning point really happened. Before, trying to negotiate a CBA with the women and then turn around and negotiate CBA terms with the men and vice versa, was really challenging. I think the real turning point was when we finally were all in the same room sitting at the same table, working together and collaborating to reach this goal.”
Women ended six years of litigation over equal pay in February in a deal calling for the USSF to pay $24 million, a deal contingent on reaching new collective bargaining agreements.
As part of the settlement, players will split $22 million, about one-third of what they had sought in damages. The USSF also agreed to establish a fund with $2 million to benefit the players in their post-soccer careers and charitable efforts aimed at growing the sport for women.
Mark Levinstein, counsel for the men’s union, said the agreement ended “more than 20 years of federation discrimination against the USWNT players.”
“Together with the USWNTPA, the USMNT players achieved what everyone said was impossible — an agreement that provides fair compensation to the USMNT players and equal pay and equal working conditions to the USWNT players,” he said. “The new federation leadership should get tremendous credit for working with the players to achieve these agreements.”
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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/18/us-soccer-equalizes-pay-milestone-with-women-men/ | 2022-05-18T13:03:43Z |
An Athens resident with a lengthy criminal history was found guilty by a federal jury of multiple charges related to an FBI Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force undercover operation into illegal gun and drug trafficking.
ATHENS – An Athens resident with a lengthy criminal history was found guilty by a federal jury of multiple charges related to an FBI middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force undercover operation into illegal gun and drug trafficking. His conviction follows a co-defendant entering a guilty plea last week in this case.
Robert Booker Sr., 44, of Atlanta was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute alprazolam, possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The verdict was reached following a two-day trial that began on Monday before U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal.
Booker is an armed career criminal and a career offender and faces a maximum lifetime of imprisonment for his crimes. Peter Deandra Lawrence, 47, of Athens, pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm on Aug. 11; as an armed career criminal and a career offender, Lawrence faces a minimum of 15 years up to a maximum lifetime in prison for his crime.
Co-defendant Gerrick Lanier Cooper, 47, of Watkinsville, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine on May 11. Cooper faces a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine. Sentencing for these defendants has not been scheduled.
“Armed career criminals trafficking weapons and dangerous controlled substances will be held accountable at the federal level for crimes that undermine the safety of our communities,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said. “Our office is working alongside federal, state and local law enforcement to bring the most violent and repeat offenders to justice for their continued criminal activities.”
“Booker refused to learn from his past mistakes and continued to possess firearms and illegal drugs," Keri Farley, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta, said. "Now that a jury has passed judgement, our citizens will be safer while he spends significant time in prison. The FBI is proud to work with our partners in the Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force to remove career criminals from our streets.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the case began when two FBI confidential informants purchased a .22 caliber rifle from Lawrence in Watkinsville on Aug. 17, 2016. Lawrence negotiated the purchase of the firearm with Cooper over his cellphone in the presence of the informants and retrieved the firearm from Cooper to give to the CIs at the close of the deal.
Lawrence has previously been convicted of aggravated battery, burglary and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base in both state and federal courts; it is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. Cooper admitted that he sold various quantities of cocaine to the CIs on three separate occasions in January 2017 at his Athens residence. Cooper, a convicted felon with a prior federal conviction for possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance, was indicted in this case on July 14, 2020, and a firearm was retrieved at this home when agents executed a search warrant.
On Sept. 22, 2019, a GSP trooper stopped a vehicle that Lawrence was driving and Booker was in the front passenger seat. Lawrence was driving on a suspended license with an outstanding warrant for his arrest from Athens-Clarke County. As the trooper was dealing with Lawrence, Booker attempted to hide a large quantity of methamphetamine and alprazolam under the vehicle. The drugs under the vehicle were noticed and seized by the trooper.
A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately two pounds of marijuana, oxycodone packaged for illegal distribution and a pistol in the glovebox. Booker has a lengthy criminal history, which includes convictions for obstruction of an officer and three prior serious drug offenses.
The case was investigated by the FBI Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force with assistance from Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Bureau of Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Morrison and Tamara Jarrett are prosecuting the case.
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OTTAWA, ON, May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Today, the Royal Canadian Mint launches the Opulence Collection, exclusive numismatic masterpieces of exceptional craftsmanship featuring some of the world's rarest precious stones: pink diamonds from the famed Argyle mine. These jewels are the crowning element of pure gold and platinum coins that truly redefine rare. This new collection, headlined by the one-of-a-kind Ultimate, a one-kilo pure platinum pink diamond coin, was unveiled today at the Ottawa Art Gallery.
"The Royal Canadian Mint's reputation for crafting coins of exceptional sophistication and artistry is known to collectors around the world," Marie Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "Celebrating the talent and imagination of our people through precious metal and fine art is our passion, as well as our trademark. We are proud that our new Opulence Collection takes our tradition of excellence to a whole new level."
To premiere this new exclusive collection, the Mint has partnered with Heffel Fine Art Auction House to sell The Ultimate, the collection's most prestigious showpiece. It will be offered at a live auction on May 31, 2022.
"Heffel is honoured to offer collectors the opportunity to acquire this rare, one-of-a-kind treasure, in partnership with the Royal Canadian Mint and Argyle mine" said David Heffel, President, Heffel Fine Art Auction House. "The Ultimate is truly a work of art, and its intricate design and mesmerizing beauty will undoubtedly capture the attention of passionate collectors and enthusiasts across the world."
Collectors interested in bidding on The Ultimate can register for the auction with Heffel.
The Opulence Collection, featuring pink diamond coins in its inaugural year, is the result of an exciting collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mint and Crossworks Manufacturing, a Canadian company and Authorized Partner of Argyle Pink Diamonds. With Rio Tinto's Argyle mine closing in 2020, the pink diamonds adorning the pure gold and platinum coins are among the rarest in the world, making the pieces truly unique.
"This limited edition collaboration is really exceptional in terms of its artistry, rarity and value, and we are very proud to be a part of this story," said Patrick Coppens, General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Rio Tinto Diamonds.
"There's a story of pride to tell here - an artisanal story of Canadian craftsmanship producing creations of extreme scarcity that will be sought after around the world," said Itay Ariel, Executive Director, Sales and Operation, Crossworks Manufacturing Ltd.
Released in very low mintages, the Pink Diamond coins consist of:
The Ultimate: One-kilo $2,500 99.95% Pure Platinum Coin - Worldwide mintage of one
Splendour: 10 oz. $1,250 99.95% Pure Platinum Coin - Worldwide mintage of five
Grandeur: 2 oz. $350 99.95% Pure Platinum Coin - Worldwide mintage of 30
Treasure: 1 oz. $200 Pure Gold Coin – Worldwide mintage of 400
The exclusive numismatic works of art from the Opulence Collection, can be directly ordered from the Mint at 1-800-267–1871 in Canada, 1-800-268–6468 in the US, or at www.mint.ca. Kunming Diamonds is the Premier Global Distributor of Opulence Collection products.
For an in-depth look at the Opulence Collection, visit www.mint.ca/opulence. Images and video of these spectacular pink diamond coins are available here.
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. The Mint is one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca. Follow the Mint on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Since 1978, Heffel has connected passionate collectors across the world with outstanding works of art, with sales totaling three quarters of a billion dollars. With offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and Calgary, Heffel has the most experienced team of fine art specialists in Canada and provides superior client service to both sellers and buyers internationally.
Rio Tinto is a mining and metals company operating in 35 countries around the world. Our purpose is to produce the materials essential to human progress. Our four product groups bring this purpose to life: Aluminium, Copper, Minerals and Iron Ore. These are complemented by our Safety, Technical and Projects, Strategy & Development, and Commercial groups, as well as our service and support functions.
Each Treasure coin is crafted of 1 oz. of 99.99% pure gold. Inspired by architectural elements, its reverse design by Canadian artist Simon Ng features a ring of Art Deco motifs that surround a central cherry blossom, whose petals are decorated with swirls. The engraved art is adorned with five Fancy Vivid Pink diamonds with a 0.06 total carat weight (tcw). Each one has been hand set into a rose gold-plated, platinum cast jewellery piece fashioned by Beverly Hills Jewellers. The obverse features a field pattern inspired by the cherry blossom petals on the reverse, and the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. Limited to a mintage of 400 coins worldwide, Treasure retails for $12,999.95.
Grandeur is crafted from 2 oz. of 99.95% pure platinum, a precious metal even more rare than gold. Designed by Simon Ng, the reverse features an exquisite cherry blossom surrounded by a ring of lush flowers and filigree vines. The engraved artwork of this 42 mm coin is enhanced with 30 Fancy Vivid Pink diamonds (0.34 tcw) that have been hand set into rose gold-plated, platinum cast jewellery enhancements fashioned by Beverly Hills Jewellers. The rare diamonds radiate from the centre of the flower toward the rose gold-plated rim. The obverse features a cherry blossom field pattern and the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. Limited to a mintage of only 30 coins worldwide, Grandeur retails for $54,999.95.
This creation designed by Simon Ng is the Mint's first-ever 10 oz. 99.95% pure platinum coin. Its reverse features a finely engraved cherry blossom surrounded by a delicate lacework of vines and framed by intricate latticework. Set into jewellery enhancements fashioned by Beverly Hills Jewellers, 64 Fancy Vivid Pink diamonds (1.2 tcw) add sparkle to the latticework decorating this 76.25 mm coin. The obverse features a vine field pattern and the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. With only five of these luxury collectibles available worldwide, Splendour retails for $253,999.95.
This one-of-a-kind masterpiece is the flagship coin of the Opulence collection. It is also the Mint's first-ever one-kilo 99.95% pure platinum coin. Polished to proof perfection, The Ultimate features a reverse design by Canadian artist Derek Wicks that brings the beauty of the cherry blossom to life on a 101.6 mm canvas. A total of 462 Fancy Vivid Pink diamonds (6.5 tcw) from the Argyle mine have been hand set into rose gold-plated, platinum cast jewellery pieces fashioned by Beverly Hills Jewellers.
These precious enhancements on the coin's reverse add sparkle to the rose gold-plated rim and the petals of more than two dozen flowers, including the central bloom, where the gem-set blossoms form an exquisite clustered bouquet. The obverse features a cherry blossom field pattern and the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
This singular showpiece will be exclusively available through a Heffel Fine Art Auction House auction on May 31, 2022.
The exclusive numismatic works of art from the Opulence collection can be directly ordered from the Mint at 1-800-267‑1871 in Canada, 1-800-268‑6468 in the US, or at www.mint.ca. Kunming Diamonds is the Premier Global Distributor of Opulence Collection products.
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SOURCE Royal Canadian Mint | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/royal-canadian-mint-redefines-rare-with-opulence-collection-featuring-exquisite-pink-diamonds-argyle-mine/ | 2022-05-04T16:49:01Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — Storm chances are expected to continue through Friday night in North Texas, according to the National Weather Service center in Fort Worth.
The center says a cluster of thunderstorms is approaching from the west during the Friday morning hours with areas west of I-35 having the highest chances for showers and thunderstorms. “Severe weather is not expected, but locally heavy rainfall will be a threat.”
Additional thunderstorms are expected to head into the region from the northwest late Friday night, which are also not expected to be severe. “Cooler weather will continue through Friday along with additional chances for showers and storms.”
“Isolated to scattered showers and storms will be possible on Saturday, but hot and dry weather will return Sunday through next week. With triple digit temperatures returning to portions of the area, be sure to practice heat safety if spending time outdoors!” | https://cw33.com/news/local/storm-chances-continue-for-dallas-north-texas-on-friday/ | 2022-06-03T17:08:47Z |
XI'AN, China, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Throughout the millennia of history and the prosperous times of Chang'an, the profound cultural accumulation rooted in Xi'an, China, is a valuable historical treasure of this ancient city. In recent years, Xi'an has been making efforts to transform its cultural resources into fashionable "cultural tourism IP" based on "Tang cultural elements" and modern technology, and bringing historical and cultural heritage to life in a modern context. Recently, Xi'an Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government held a meeting and proposed to make good use of historical and cultural heritage, promote the deep integration of cultural industry and tourism industry, in order to make Xi'an a display window of Chinese culture and civilization.
"Noblewomen'' and "ladies", "literati" and "warriors", reciting poems in the streets and imitating songs and dances of the Tang Dynasty, and the moving love story performed by ''gifted scholars and beautiful ladies of the Tang Dynasty'', etc., this is a Tang style city life neighborhood, which was derived from a historical TV drama, The Longest Day in Chang'an. The beautiful scenery of Tang dynasty clothing can be seen everywhere, and with the help of "sound, light and electricity" technology, it is like entering a "time and space feast" interwoven with literature, history, folklore and food. Through the integration of film and television IP and commercial IP, each visitor can realize the transformation from "watching the play" to "getting into the play" when entering the "The Longest Day in Chang'an", which makes people "back to Tang Dynasty in one second". The immersive experience satisfies people's new demand for experiencing Tang culture and becomes a new contact point to promote the integration of culture, tourism and business.
What's more, relying on the "Tang cultural elements" to successfully build a cultural tourism scenic spot, there is also the famous Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City. It has not only launched commercial activities such as "Tang Food Corner", "Tang Souvenir Corner" and "Tang Amusement Area", but also launched a number of immersive performances in the way of "interaction + experience", created a number of highly recognizable cultural tourism character IPs and blossomed the charm of "Tang culture" in an innovative way.
More than fourteen hundred years ago, Xi'an was known worldwide as Chang'an. It was the world's first city of one million people, including about 100,000 envoys, merchants, foreign students and monks from other countries, so Xi'an's image of openness and inclusiveness was also known to the world.
Despite the challenges of the epidemic, the ancient capital with thousands of years of history still exudes new vitality, driven by new leisure models such as market blocks, heritage exhibitions and immersive experiences. The long-standing cultural history has given consumption growth vitality and resilience, with "mystery boxes of Tang Dynasty characters", "ice cream made of images of popular landmarks such as the Terracotta Warriors and the City Wall," and "7 million netizens watching the Xi'an drum music stream", etc. All kinds of new consumption methods became the driving point for the upgrading of cultural tourism consumption. Xi'an is speeding up the integration of cultural resources and making history and culture the driving force for the development and innovation of this ancient city.
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Caption: A Tang style city life neighborhood, which was derived from a historical TV drama, The Longest Day in Chang'an.
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SOURCE Xi'an Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/xian-china-seeing-past-present-across-millennia-culture-tourism-innovation-animates-new-forms-consumption/ | 2022-06-01T06:47:54Z |
Interactive Drizly Digital Kiosks Placed in New York City and Los Angeles Will Offer Spirit Gift Recommendations through Personality Quiz Designed for Dads
NEW YORK, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Forgot a gift for Dad? Look no further than your phone with Drizly, an Uber company and a leading alcohol e-commerce and on-demand delivery platform, and Diageo, the global leader in beverage alcohol. The spirits heavyweights are partnering up to offer a premium, real-time solution for forgotten Father's Day gifts this year: a curated quiz that matches personalities to premium spirits that can be gifted and enjoyed on dad's special day.
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9059951-drizly-and-diageo-last-minute-fathers-day-gifting/
The interactive quiz will be live HERE beginning June 16. Following a short series of prompts about your father or father figure's quirks, characteristics and flavor preferences, he'll be matched to a perfectly giftable bottle, ready for delivery from local liquor retailers through the Drizly app or website, giving consumers the ability to send gifts right to dad ahead of time or on-demand in under 60 minutes. Once completed, quiz-takers will receive a QR code that links Drizly with numerous local retailers ready to sell and deliver their personalized gift and schedule delivery…it's that easy. Potential quiz outcomes include delicious, premium spirits like Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Tequila Don Julio 1942, Tequila Don Julio 70, and OBAN 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. No matter what your dad's drink, your gift won't miss this year with Drizly.
"As more and more consumers turn to Drizly as a go-to gifting destination, we are excited to team up with Diageo to make customized and tailored gifting as easy as possible this Father's Day," said Cathy Lewenberg, Chief Operating Officer at Drizly. "Now with our fun personality quiz, Drizly shoppers can celebrate the father figure in their life by gifting a high-quality bottle in a matter of minutes with the convenience of same day delivery."
What's more, Drizly and Diageo are dropping two custom digital kiosks equipped with the quiz at the Oculus at Westfield World Trade Center in New York City's Lower Manhattan and The Grove in Los Angeles from Friday, June 17th through Father's Day, Sunday, June 19th. These easy-to-use kiosks will offer a timely reminder to passers by to buy their Father's Day gifts before it's too late. Skip the cuff links and ties and get dad something he really wants; with Drizly's same-day delivery of the full Diageo portfolio of delicious, premium spirits, your last-minute gift will make Father's Day 2022 one for the books. The kiosks are available for use only by those who are above the legal drinking age (21+).
"We are thrilled to launch this activation with Drizly, giving visibility to the convenience and quality of Diageo deliveries through the Drizly platform," said Ramy Hamid, eCommerce Partnerships & Strategy Manager at Diageo. "Wherever you're located, Drizly allows you to treat the fathers in your life to something they're guaranteed to use and love right from your phone."
Drizly users who take the quiz on the Drizly website will also receive a promo code for either $5 off or free delivery* depending on their state when they complete the quiz. All kiosk users will receive a special $10 off promo code** so they can order dad a discounted bottle, so if you're in NY or LA be sure to stop by. This Father's Day, it's easier than ever to get dad the gift he truly deserves.
About Drizly
Drizly, an Uber company, is a leading alcohol e-commerce and on-demand delivery platform. The best way to browse and buy beer, wine, and spirits, Drizly connects millions of consumers of legal drinking age with retailers in nearly two thousand cities to get delivery to their door in under 60 minutes. With the ability to send gifts, connect with an event-planning concierge, and shop one of the widest selections of drinks through a transparent, personalized shopping experience, Drizly helps consumers celebrate and create moments that matter. Drizly partners with thousands of retailers and suppliers helping them to reach new customers, tap into key market and customer insights, and diversify their business to grow sales. As the industry leader, Drizly is building the best shopping experience for beverage alcohol in a regulatory compliant manner that promotes a safer drinking culture. Learn more at Drizly.com, download the Drizly app (App Store and Google Play) and follow Drizly on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About DIAGEO
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos, DeLeon and Don Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world.
For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and performance, visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow at Twitter and Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.
*Must be 21+ to order in the USA or 18+/19+ in Canada depending on provincial law. Promo code valid until June 30, 2022 at 11:59 PM PST. Codes may be applied to the delivery fees or products, depending on applicable state or provincial laws. Promos are not valid in CT, MO, OH, OK, PA or HI. Discounts are restricted to delivery fees up to $5 in GA, IN, MA, ME, MN, NC, NJ, TX, VA, WA and Alberta. Codes cannot be combined with any other offers. Code is redeemable for one time use only. Redemption towards purchases or delivery fees under $5 will not result in value or credit to be used at a later date. Not valid at all retailers. Items are subject to availability and may not be carried by all retailers. Prices are set by retailers in your area. Input your delivery address on https://drizly.com or on our apps for local inventory and pricing information.
**Must be 21+ to order in the USA or 18+/19+ in Canada depending on provincial law. Promo code valid until June 20, 2022 at 11:59 PM PST. Codes may be applied to the delivery fees or products, depending on applicable state or provincial laws. Promos are not valid in CT, MO, OH, OK, PA or HI. Discounts are restricted to delivery fees up to $10 in GA, IN, MA, ME, MN, NC, NJ, TX, VA, WA and Alberta. Codes cannot be combined with any other offers. Code is redeemable for one time use only. Redemption towards purchases or delivery fees under $10 will not result in value or credit to be used at a later date. Not valid at all retailers. Items are subject to availability and may not be carried by all retailers. Prices are set by retailers in your area. Input your delivery address on https://drizly.com or on our apps for local inventory and pricing information.
Please Drink Responsibly.
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SOURCE Diageo North America | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/drizly-diageo-level-up-last-minute-fathers-day-gifting/ | 2022-06-16T19:38:32Z |
Tournament touts new premium hospitality ticket, expanded food offerings and viewing areas for all
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give will once again welcome families, foodies, and golf fans from across the Midwest to Grand Rapids, Mich. for an elevated tournament experience June 16-19 at Blythefield Country Club. Tickets can be purchased now at meijerLPGAclassic.com.
Tournament officials shared plans to add a new ticket, offering access to an elevated hospitality experience called J Brewers, as well as expanded concessions and viewing areas across the course.
"While we're excited to bring the tournament back at the large scale that our community remembers from previous years, we've refreshed it with new elements that will further set our LPGA experience apart," said Cathy Cooper, Executive Director of the Meijer LPGA Classic. "With the introduction of our new premium hospitality experience, J Brewers, and the expansion of our Grand Taste viewing areas and concessions, this year's event will offer more than ever before, all in support of the same great cause – feeding our neighbors in need."
J Brewers Hospitality
J Brewers, named in honor of the financier who purchased the land where Blythefield now stands, will offer a one-of-a-kind hospitality experience located off the 4th fairway where the Grand Taste food pavilions were previously located. J Brewers will replace Grand Taste; it will be a more than 20,0000-square-foot pavilion that offers elevated food and beverage pairings curated and prepared by local and minority-owned restaurants.
Daily tickets for access to the J Brewers pavilion cost $75 apiece. Those tickets are day specific and are available Friday through Sunday.
J Brewers tickets will offer attendees access to:
- A terrace for live, front-row views of the on-course action
- Television viewing of both the U.S. Open and Meijer LPGA Classic
- A vibrant, fun atmosphere with upscale seating areas
- All-you-can-eat access to carefully crafted food and beverage items, featuring local vendors and premium cocktails
"The Meijer LPGA Classic offers an experience unlike any other tournament on the LPGA tour," Cooper said. "The level of premium hospitality offered by J Brewers is usually reserved only for sponsors at most tournaments, so to offer it to the public at an attainable price point is truly unique. You simply can't buy another ticket like it on the tour."
General Admission Tickets
General Admission tickets cost $10 apiece and are valid any one day, Thursday through Sunday, while weekly tickets cost $25 and are valid all week. Kids, ages 17 and under, will once again receive free admission with a ticketed adult.
General admission tickets include general grounds access to the tournament, public viewing bleacher seating and various Grand Taste viewing and concessions areas located throughout the course. The Discovery Land and Family Village will again return as a destination for kids and families and will be free and open to the public.
The Grand Taste Viewing and Concessions Areas
The Grand Taste – known as the best food experience on any tour – will return to this year's tournament week lineup in a new way to allow the general public to taste food and beverages from local restaurants, breweries and Meijer vendors at four concession areas located at the 18th tee, 18th green, 10th tee and 16th fairway.
"To better support our local restaurant partners amidst ongoing staffing shortages, we decided to transition their offerings into our concession tents at the Grand Taste viewing areas," Cooper said. "This is especially exciting because it means everyone gets to experience the fun of Grand Taste's local offerings at an affordable price without needing a special ticket."
The 2022 Meijer LPGA Classic will host a full field of 144 of the best women golfers for 72 holes of stroke play over four days of competition. Proceeds from the tournament – and each of the week's festivities – will once again benefit the Meijer Simply Give program that restocks the shelves of food pantries across the Midwest. The 2021 tournament raised $1.1 million for local food pantries through Simply Give. In total, the seven tournaments have generated more than $8.5 million for the Meijer Simply Give program. Additionally, in 2021, tournament officials introduced a separate $25,000 donation to a hunger relief organization of the champion's choice, which will continue again this year. Champion Nelly Korda chose Grand Rapids-based Kids' Food Basket for the inaugural donation.
For more information on the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, please visit meijerLPGAclassic.com. Follow the action and stay up-to-date on the latest tournament news using #ForeHunger and #MeijerCommunity.
About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 258 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer has a fundamental philosophy aimed at strengthening the communities it serves and proudly donates more than 6 percent of its net profit each year to charities throughout the Midwest. With hunger as a corporate philanthropic focus, Meijer partners with hundreds of food banks and pantries through its Simply Give and food rescue programs. Meijer also supports education, disaster relief, and health and wellness initiatives. For additional information on Meijer philanthropy, please visit www.meijercommunity.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.
About Blythefield Country Club: Located just north of Grand Rapids, Blythefield has been providing families the best golf and social experience in West Michigan since 1928. With the Rogue River flowing through, Blythefield boasts one of the most beautiful championship layouts in Michigan. Previously, Blythefield has hosted the 1953 Western Amateur, the 1961 Western Open, won by Arnold Palmer, and the 2005 Western Junior won by Rickie Fowler. Beginning in 2014, Blythefield is honored to host the Meijer LPGA Classic. Learn more about Blythefield Country Club at www.blythefieldcc.org.
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SOURCE Meijer | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/18/2022-meijer-lpga-classic-simply-give-offer-elevated-tournament-experience/ | 2022-04-18T18:18:55Z |
KnowBe4 launches a no-cost resource kit to help organizations fight the staggering impact of ransomware
TAMPA BAY, Fla., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KnowBe4, the provider of the world's largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, announced the release of a resource kit for IT managers as part of a month-long effort in July to increase awareness of ransomware, its many forms and methods used by cyber criminals to extort funds. Some of the resources for download include a Ransomware Master Class, Ransomware Rescue Manual, infographics, posters, digital signage and more.
Ransomware is a type of malicious attack where attackers encrypt an organization's data and demand payment to restore access. This has evolved to include the exfiltration and threatened exposure of valuable information, compounding the extortion. This is one of the many ways bad actors take advantage of the human element in cybersecurity, which is involved in 82% of cyber attacks according to Verizon's 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report.
Globally ransomware costs are escalating from a reported $325 million loss in 2015 to a potential of $265 billion in 2031, making it one of the most predominate and dangerous forms of cyberattacks. In 2021, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received a record number of 847,376 reported complaints with potential losses exceeding $6.9 billion. This has led to multiple warnings by government agencies, including the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) heralding ransomware as a prime threat.
"There is no question ransomware attacks will continue to be a major threat to organizations," says Stu Sjouwerman, CEO, KnowBe4. "IT teams face a critical challenge, as technology alone is not enough to prevent attacks. Humans are an easy target via phishing and other forms of social engineering and continue to dominate as a primary source of infection. A vital addition to the security stack is to strengthen users as a last line of defense."
To download the KnowBe4 Ransomware Awareness Month Resource Kit, visit https://www.knowbe4.com/ransomware-resource-kit?hs_preview=jWLYMIeR-76301550774.
About KnowBe4 KnowBe4, the provider of the world's largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, is used by more than 50,000 organizations around the globe. Founded by IT and data security specialist Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4 helps organizations address the human element of security by raising awareness about ransomware, CEO fraud and other social engineering tactics through a new-school approach to awareness training on security. Kevin Mitnick, an internationally recognized cybersecurity specialist and KnowBe4's Chief Hacking Officer, helped design the KnowBe4 training based on his well-documented social engineering tactics. Tens of thousands of organizations rely on KnowBe4 to mobilize their end users as the last line of defense.
Media Contact
Amanda Tarantino
Public Relations Officer
KnowBe4
amandat@knowbe4.com
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SOURCE KnowBe4 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/knowbe4-kicks-off-ransomware-awareness-month-with-resource-kit/ | 2022-06-27T12:25:29Z |
Academy moves up meeting to decide on Will Smith sanctions
By Chloe Melas and Lisa Respers France, CNN
The Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences has moved up it’s planned date to decide on possible sanctions against Will Smith for slapping Chris Rock at this year’s Oscars ceremony.
“I am calling a board meeting for this Friday morning, April 8, at 9:00 am PT, rather than the previously scheduled April 18 meeting, to address possible sanctions for Will Smith in response to his actions during the Oscars broadcast on March 27,” Academy president David Rubin stated in a letter obtained by CNN Wednesday.
“The April 18 date was set in accordance with California law and our Standards of Conduct because our agenda included possible suspension or expulsion of Mr. Smith from membership,” the letter reads. “We were required to provide Mr. Smith notice 15 days prior to the board meeting at which such action might be taken, and also give him the opportunity to provide the board a written statement no less than five days prior to that meeting.
According to the letter, in light of Smith resigning from the Academy last Friday, “suspension or expulsion are no longer a possibility and the legally prescribed timetable no longer applies.”
“It is in the best interest of all involved for this to be handled in a timely fashion,” Rubin wrote.
Smith slapped Rock after the comic and actor made a joke from the Oscars stage about Jada Pinkett Smith’s close-cropped hair.
“Jada I love you, ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it,” Rock said while presenting the award for best documentary.
Smith then walked on stage, struck Rock, walked back to his seat and yelled at the comic to “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth!”
Not long after, Smith won the best actor Oscar for his role in the film “King Richard.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/entertainment/cnn-entertainment/2022/04/06/academy-moves-up-meeting-to-decide-on-will-smith-sanctions/ | 2022-04-06T16:34:03Z |
CHICAGO, Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zekelman Industries announced today that it is nearing completion of its newest state-of-the-art facility constructed to produce a wide range of galvanized tubular products for the electrical, fence, solar tracker and solar foundation markets. It is located just west of Chicago in Rochelle, IL, a city known as the "Hub City," with great access to rail and major interstate routes. This facility is the company's 18th factory. It has 1 million square feet under roof, including four in-line galvanizing tube mills with capacity to exceed 300,000 tons annually and an automated hot-dip galvanizing line capable of production in excess of 100,000 tons annually. The facility will support Wheatland Tube, Western Tube and Picoma customers.
This facility utilizes cutting-edge technology for both in-line and hot-dip galvanizing operations. Barry Zekelman, chairman and CEO, said, "Our engineering efforts on the front end were focused on the goal to build a world-class facility that sets the standard for safety, quality and productivity, while ensuring sustainable manufacturing practices." When fully operational, these mills will be the fastest in the world, feeding directly into the factory's automated warehouse to deliver the highest quality products and solutions to customers.
Tom Muth, executive vice president and COO of the tube and pipe division, indicated, "While initial production has already started on two of the high-speed in-line galvanization mills, we will be working through the end of this year to complete installation and commissioning. We couldn't be prouder of our dedicated team and network of contractors who are making this happen, along with the support we have received from the City of Rochelle."
Full operations are set to commence in January of 2023. The company is currently hiring, with plans to add another 150 employees by December 2022.
Zekelman Industries includes the operating divisions of Atlas Tube, Picoma, Sharon Tube, Wheatland Tube, Western Tube and Z Modular. It is the largest independent manufacturer of hollow structural sections (HSS) and steel pipe, and the top producer of electrical conduit and elbows, couplings and nipples in North America. Zekelman Industries delivers a broad range of pipe and tube solutions that build its customers' success.
For more information, visit zekelman.com
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SOURCE Zekelman Industries | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/zekelman-industries-nears-completion-most-technically-advanced-galvanized-tube-manufacturing-facility-north-america/ | 2022-09-08T19:52:50Z |
AUSTIN, Texas, April 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- To empower its mission to deliver "economic justice for every community by providing quality financial guidance and equitable access to economic solutions," Foundation 99 has partnered with Investor Cash Management (ICM) to offer an investment cash management account (ICMA) that uniquely combines the convenience of a bank account with the investment returns of a brokerage account. The program is available immediately to all members of the F99 community and those who support its values.
The F99 Bank Card harnesses unique technology to provide clients an integrated banking, investing, and payments product that combines immediate access to both bank and brokerage assets with the higher returns of specified investment funds. By linking to PIMCO investment products – including ESG funds – the F99 Bank Card aims to provide significantly higher yields than traditional bank accounts to provide a path to financial wellness and inclusion.
"With the launch of the F99 Bank Card, we make our mission easily accessible to everyone, and we empower individuals who may have been generationally ignored by the financial system, with an investment account," said Foundation 99 Board Member Bun B. "Every swipe of the F99 bank card helps Foundation 99 further its mission of empowerment and inclusion because a portion will be donated to support individuals who are on the verge of financial freedom."
ICM's technology combines immediate access to cash and invested funds for in-store and online purchases, access to a surcharge-free ATM network, convenient bill payments, direct deposits and up to $ 5M of FDIC Insurance. Clients can manage their accounts via the F99 Apple/Android app and corresponding web portal. Additionally, F99 has also pledged that all clients will have access to its financial coaches.
Fred Phillips, CEO of Investor Cash Management, said, "Investor Cash Management is proud to provide the technology that empowers Foundation 99 to deliver actionable financial education and reduce persistent, pernicious investment gaps. Through our mission-driven partnership to democratize investment, the F99 Bank Card provides access to innovative financial services and a foundation to develop products that address important needs of the broader community."
With a seamless enrollment process, no credit checks, and no overdraft penalties, the F99 Bank Card removes barriers that otherwise may be obstacles to financial freedom: clients simply download the F99 Bank Card application on a mobile device or enroll via a web portal and follow the instructions. Soon thereafter, clients receive a Visa debit card issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and through their routine transaction activity can support the 99% on their journey to financial empowerment.
The funds that customers deposit or transfer into the F99 Bank Card account are available for use via the Visa debit card, ATM access, and online bill pay; similarly, clients may link their account to Apple Pay and Google Pay. F99 Bank Card utilizes enhanced security, data encryption, and fraud protection tools to protect customer assets and information. Upon successful enrollment, a bank account and an investment account are opened, and clients determine the amount of money to allocate among the banking and investment subaccounts.
To obtain the F99 Bank Card, download the app via Google Play or the Apple App Store or visit Foundation99.org/Bank-Card.
About Foundation 99
Foundation 99 is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on bringing economic justice to every community by providing quality financial guidance and equitable access to economic solutions. Since the organization's founding in 2019, Foundation 99 has focused primarily on education services throughout school districts, governmental employers, non-profits, and other community-based organizations. With the launch of the F99 Bank Card, this is the first time that the non-profit makes its mission easily accessible to everyone
About Investor Cash Management
Investor Cash Management (ICM) has developed unique, API-driven technology to create investor cash management accounts (ICMAs) that link directly to high-yield FDIC insured accounts and specified SEC-registered securities (e.g., government money market funds, mutual funds, and/or ETFs). All investment products contain risk and may lose value. ICM supports its distribution partners by providing them with turnkey, customized ICMAs, including a branded Apple and Android app, web portal, and Visa investment debit card. For more information, visit www.InvestorCashManagement.com.
Disclosure:
The F99 Bank Card is issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. All investment products contain risk and may lose value.
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SOURCE Foundation 99 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/13/foundation-99-releases-bank-card-collaboration-with-investor-cash-management-icm-support-economic-access-financial-empowerment-99/ | 2022-04-13T18:33:32Z |
Sheriff: Deputies raid cockfighting event; 10 men arrested, 36 roosters seized
HOUSTON COUNTY, Texas (KTRE/Gray News) - Authorities in Texas broke up a cockfighting event last week and detained nearly 20 people in the raid.
The Houston County Sheriff’s Office reports a tip came in about the cockfighting event happening on private property on May 20.
Several agencies, including the Grapeland Police Department and deputies from Houston County, responded, as reported by KTRE.
According to the sheriff’s office, about 17 men were detained, with 10 of them arrested and charged with cockfighting, which is a felony in Texas. Spectators were also charged with misdemeanors.
Authorities released the names of the men who were arrested: Leonardo Aranjo, Andrew Flores, Ignacio Garcia, Carlos Gonzalez, Jesus Jasso, Raphael Lemus, Jose Lemus, Orlando Martinez-Toledo, Juan Rocha and Patrick Wilkinson.
The sheriff’s office reports that 10 vehicles were towed from the scene, with cockfighting equipment, 36 live roosters, and a large sum of money seized.
“If you fight roosters in Houston County, you’re going to lose more than just the fight,” Houston County Sheriff Randy Hargrove shared on social media.
Copyright 2022 KTRE via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/27/sheriff-deputies-raid-cockfighting-event-10-men-arrested-36-roosters-seized/ | 2022-05-28T00:19:58Z |
ALBANY – In the aftermath of straight-line winds that tore part of the roof off the Albany Museum of Art in 2017, the initial prognosis was that the building was a total loss and rain from the weather event that struck the region had left some of the artwork damaged.
This week, the building, which was able to be salvaged, is welcoming home some 2,000 art pieces that were sent to two other museums for repair and storage.
The “Homecoming” event for the works started on Thursday for museum members, and on Friday the returned treasures will be available for view to the public at large for a three-month exhibition. The museum is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, and there is no cost for admission.
On Wednesday, museum employees were putting the finishing touch on preparations in the museum's galleries.
The works that will be on display represent some of the favorite works of members and the public, Katie Dillard, the AMA’s director of curatorial affairs, said.
The items selected for exhibition represent a small part of the total collection but feature a wide range of works and styles, from African masks to photography to works by Andy Warhol and more.
“We have everything from pop art to Renaissance art to everything in between,” Dillard said. “We also have a lot of Georgia artists. We try to support them by having them in our collection.
“There’s really no order or theme. It’s really just pieces we wanted to feature. Some of the pieces haven’t been displayed in many years, for whatever reason. We’re trying to pull out as many pieces as possible, some that our members and guests will recognize, some that are new.”
After the assessment of storm damage from Jan. 2, 2017, work began immediately with the collection initially “triaged” in a part of the building where the roof was still intact. With the museum’s climate-control system knocked out due to the loss of electricity, keeping them there long-term was out of the question.
“Most of the pieces couldn’t stay in what was basically a warehouse,” Dillard said during a Wednesday tour of two of the galleries.
During the tour, Dillard pointed out several works that suffered water damage, but said that the restoration work had nearly erased any hint of that damage.
“The heart of the institution has returned and everything is intact,” museum Executive Director Andrew J. Wulf said. “Everything is at the site. This is a true homecoming.”
The AMA is “deeply grateful” to the sister museums for their assistance with restoration and storing the collection.
While the building was repaired in about nine months, the time taken for restoration work and cataloging the collection was extensive.
“I think it’s pretty rare for a museum to have their entire collection shipped off and they don’t have a single piece or artifact,” Wulf said. “It’s actually a long period to come back from being fully out of commission to basically open.” | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/albany-museum-of-art-homecoming-exhibition-opens-friday-morning/article_2777d136-d21b-11ec-95e6-73a1ba2781a6.html | 2022-05-12T20:48:00Z |
Age Group 36 to 50 Most Likely to Be Diagnosed with Post-COVID Conditions; Females More Likely Than Males to Receive Such Diagnoses
Thirty-One Percent Had No Identified Preexisting Chronic Comorbidities
NEW YORK, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The majority (75.8 percent) of patients diagnosed with a post-COVID condition had never been hospitalized for COVID-19, according to a new study from FAIR Health. Among patients who presented with a post-COVID diagnosis, 81.6 percent of females had not had a COVID-19 hospitalization compared to 67.5 percent of males.
The study was among the first to use the official ICD-10 diagnostic code (U09.9) for post-COVID conditions that became effective October 1, 2021. Analyzing private claims data from 78,252 patients diagnosed with the U09.9 code from October 1, 2021, to January 31, 2022, the study was released today as a white paper entitled Patients Diagnosed with Post-COVID Conditions: An Analysis of Private Healthcare Claims Using the Official ICD-10 Diagnostic Code.
Also known by such terms as long COVID and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, post-COVID conditions comprise a wide range of health problems that may occur four weeks or more after infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. In the new FAIR Health study, the population of patients diagnosed with post-COVID conditions is analyzed by COVID-19 hospitalizations, age, gender, number of days from initial COVID-19 diagnosis to last post-COVID diagnosis during the study period, preexisting chronic comorbidities, co-occurring diagnoses and risk scores. Among the key findings:
- The age group 36 to 50 was the most likely to be diagnosed with U09.9 post-COVID conditions; 34.6 percent of patients with that diagnosis were in that age group.
- Females were more likely than males to be diagnosed with U09.9 post-COVID conditions. Females made up 59.8 percent of the population of patients with that diagnosis, while males made up 40.2 percent. By comparison, within the cohort of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in the FAIR Health repository, 53.8 percent of patients were female and 46.2 percent were male.
- Of patients who presented with a U09.9 post-COVID condition, 30.7 percent had no identified preexisting chronic comorbidities.
- The three diagnoses most commonly co-occurring on the same claim line with the U09.9 post-COVID diagnosis in patients across all ages and genders were abnormalities of breathing (23.2 percent of patients with post-COVID conditions), cough (18.9 percent) and malaise and fatigue (16.7 percent).
- In patients with a U09.9 post-COVID diagnosis, certain co-occurring diagnoses were more common in some age groups than across all age groups: for example, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in patients aged 0 to 12; abnormalities of heartbeat in the age group 13 to 22; generalized anxiety disorder in patients aged 23 to 35; and hypertensive diseases in the age group 65 and older.
- "Other and unspecified myopathies" (diseases that affect the muscles that control voluntary movement) occurred in patients in the post-COVID population 11.1 times more often than in the same population prior to COVID-19. Pulmonary embolism occurred 2.6 times more often. "Other disorders of brain," including post-viral fatigue syndrome and certain forms of encephalopathy, occurred two times more often.
- On average, in all age groups, patients with a U09.9 post-COVID condition had higher Department of Health & Human Services-Hierarchical Condition Category (HHS-HCC) risk scores after their diagnosis of COVID-19 than before. HHS-HCC risk scores identify which patients are likely to consume more healthcare resources and potentially incur more healthcare-related costs in the long run.
FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd stated: "Post-COVID conditions have become an issue of growing national concern. FAIR Health is pleased to shed light on this issue using the official ICD-10 diagnostic code for such conditions that became effective last fall. We hope these findings prove helpful for all individuals diagnosed with post-COVID conditions, as well as for providers, payors, policy makers and researchers."
This is the second FAIR Health study on post-COVID conditions; the first was released in June 2021, before the ICD-10 code for such conditions became effective. Other FAIR Health studies on the COVID-19 pandemic have examined projected US costs for COVID-19 patients requiring inpatient stays, the impact of the pandemic on hospitals and health systems, the impact on healthcare professionals, key characteristics of COVID-19 patients, the impact on the dental industry, risk factors for COVID-19 mortality, the impact on pediatric mental health and treatment and hospitalization costs.
For the new white paper, click here.
Follow us on Twitter @FAIRHealth
About FAIR Health
FAIR Health is a national, independent nonprofit organization that qualifies as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. It is dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through data products, consumer resources and health systems research support. FAIR Health possesses the nation's largest collection of private healthcare claims data, which includes over 36 billion claim records and is growing at a rate of over 2 billion claim records a year. FAIR Health licenses its privately billed data and data products—including benchmark modules, data visualizations, custom analytics and market indices—to commercial insurers and self-insurers, employers, providers, hospitals and healthcare systems, government agencies, researchers and others. Certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a national Qualified Entity, FAIR Health also receives data representing the experience of all individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare Parts A, B and D; FAIR Health includes among the private claims data in its database, data on Medicare Advantage enrollees. FAIR Health can produce insightful analytic reports and data products based on combined Medicare and commercial claims data for government, providers, payors and other authorized users. FAIR Health's systems for processing and storing protected health information have earned HITRUST CSF certification and achieved AICPA SOC 2 compliance by meeting the rigorous data security requirements of these standards. As a testament to the reliability and objectivity of FAIR Health data, the data have been incorporated in statutes and regulations around the country and designated as the official, neutral data source for a variety of state health programs, including workers' compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) programs. FAIR Health data serve as an official reference point in support of certain state balance billing laws that protect consumers against bills for surprise out-of-network and emergency services. FAIR Health also uses its database to power a free consumer website available in English and Spanish, which enables consumers to estimate and plan for their healthcare expenditures and offers a rich educational platform on health insurance. An English/Spanish mobile app offers the same educational platform in a concise format and links to the cost estimation tools. The website has been honored by the White House Summit on Smart Disclosure, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), URAC, the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, appPicker, Employee Benefit News and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. FAIR Health also is named a top resource for patients in Dr. Marty Makary's book The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Care—and How to Fix It and Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal's book An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back. For more information on FAIR Health, visit fairhealth.org.
Contact:
Rachel Kent
Senior Director of Marketing
FAIR Health
646-396-0795
rkent@fairhealth.org
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SOURCE FAIR Health | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/new-fair-health-study-reports-76-percent-patients-diagnosed-with-post-covid-conditions-had-never-been-hospitalized-covid-19/ | 2022-05-18T18:44:55Z |
Third quarter revenue of $31.0 million, net GAAP loss of $(29.3) million and Adjusted EBITDA of $15.2 million; Mined 964 Bitcoin and Increased Hashrate by 22%; Increases 2023 Year-end Hashrate Guidance to 22.4 EH/s
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CleanSpark, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLSK) (the "Company"), America's Bitcoin Miner™, today reported financial results for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2022.
"CleanSpark continued to grow by mining a record number of bitcoin and substantially increasing our hashrate," said Zach Bradford, Chief Executive Officer. "We are optimizing uptime and maximizing profits with our wholly owned locations. We have also made efficient use of our capital by putting new miner purchases to work quickly. Despite macroeconomic headwinds, our results demonstrate the resiliency of our strategy, and we expect to grow in what is otherwise a bear market."
Bradford continued: "In line with our strategy to make CleanSpark a top five publicly traded miner, today we announced two transformative matters. Foremost, we have entered into an asset purchase agreement for the acquisition of a third wholly owned facility, located in Washington, GA. This new facility has 86MW of total capacity, 36MW of which is online and available immediately. An additional 50MW is expected to be available in 2023. We are also announcing that CleanSpark is formally selling its energy business assets. We are now a pure play bitcoin miner. These two announcements represent the closing of one chapter and the opening of another, and I look forward to where our strategic direction is taking us."
"The importance of our Adjusted EBITDA margins is not to be overlooked," said Gary A. Vecchiarelli, CFO. "Our Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was approximately $15 million, which represents margins on revenue of 49%. These are great margins and why we are in the bitcoin mining business. Furthermore, our decision to divest energy assets will allow us to focus our time, people, and resources on our core business."
In connection with the decision to classify its energy business assets as "held for sale," the Company has met the accounting criteria for the energy business to be classified as discontinued operations. All results and comparisons for the periods reported are presented on a continuing operations basis with the energy business reported as discontinued operations in certain statements and schedules accompanying this report.
Q3 Financial Highlights
Financial Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2022
- Revenues for the quarter grew to $31.0 million, an increase of 22.0 million, or 243%, from $9.0 million for the same prior year period.
- The Company recognized a net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2022, of $(29.3) million increased 76% compared to $(16.7) million for the same prior year period.
- Adjusted EBITDA increased to $15.2 million, reversing negative Adjusted EBITDA of $(1.7) million from the same prior year period.
- The Company also saw sequential revenues decrease in the third quarter compared to the previous quarter. Revenues decreased $6.2 million, or 17%, from the second quarter. Net loss for the third quarter was $(29.3) million, increasing $29.1 million from the second quarter net loss of $(0.2). Adjusted EBITDA was $15.2 million, decreasing 30% from $21.6 million in the second quarter.
In connection with the reclassification of its energy business as discontinued operations, CleanSpark has recorded an impairment charge of ($10.6) million, which is included in the line item "loss from discontinued operations" in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Balance Sheet Highlights as of June 30, 2022
Assets
- Cash: $2.7 million
- Digital Currency: $10.5 million
- Total Current assets: $29.4 million
- Total Mining assets (including prepaid deposits & deployed miners): $357.4 million
- Total Assets: $411.1 million
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
- Current Liabilities: $20.0 million
- Total Liabilities: $34.2 million
- Total Stockholders' Equity: $376.9 million
The Company had working capital of $9.5 million and $18.3 million of debt as of June 30, 2022.
Investor Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will hold its third quarter 2022 earnings presentation and business update for investors and analysts today, August 9, 2022, at 1:30p.m. PT/4:30p.m. ET.
Webcast URL: https://www.cleanspark.com/investor-relations/clsk-earnings
The webcast will be accessible for at least 30 days on the Company's website and a transcript of the call will be available on the Company's website following the call.
About CleanSpark
CleanSpark (NASDAQ: CLSK) is America's Bitcoin Miner™. Since 2014, we've helped people achieve energy independence for their homes and businesses. In 2020, we began applying that expertise to develop sustainable infrastructure for Bitcoin, an essential tool for financial independence and inclusion. We strive to leave the planet better than we found it by sourcing and investing in low-carbon energy, like wind, solar, nuclear, and hydro. We cultivate trust and transparency among our employees, the communities we operate in, and the people around the world who depend on Bitcoin. CleanSpark is a Forbes 2022 America's Best Small Company and holds the 44th spot on the Financial Times' List of the 500 Fastest Growing Companies in the Americas. For more information about CleanSpark, please visit our website at www.cleanspark.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "targets," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "forecasts," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release, but are not limited to statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, industry and business trends, equity compensation, business strategy, plans, market growth and our objectives for future operations.
The forward-looking statements in this press release are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the success of its digital currency mining activities; the volatile and unpredictable cycles in the emerging and evolving industries in which we operate, increasing difficulty rates for bitcoin mining; bitcoin halving; new or additional governmental regulation; the anticipated delivery dates of new miners; the ability to successfully deploy new miners; the dependency on utility rate structures and government incentive programs; dependency on third-party power providers for expansion efforts; the expectations of future revenue growth may not be realized; ongoing demand for the Company's software products and related services; the impact of global pandemics (including COVID-19) on logistics and shipping and the demand for our products and services; and other risks described in the Company's prior press releases and in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to us as of the date of this press release, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
You should read this press release with the understanding that our actual future results, performance and achievements may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise.
Non-GAAP Measures
Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). Because of varying available valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions and the variety of equity instruments that can impact a company's non-cash operating expenses, CleanSpark management believes that providing a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes non-cash and non-recurring expenses allows for meaningful comparisons between the Company's core business operating results and those of other companies, as well as providing the Company with an important tool for financial and operational decision making and for evaluating its own core business operating results over different periods of time.
The Company's Adjusted EBITDA measure may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies in its industry, as other companies in its industry may calculate non-GAAP financial results differently, particularly related to non-recurring, unusual items. The Company's Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to operating income or as an indication of operating performance or any other measure of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. Our management does not consider Adjusted EBITDA to be a substitute for, or superior to, the information provided by GAAP financial results.
We are providing supplemental financial measures for (i) non-GAAP adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") that excludes the impact of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, our share-based compensation expense, and impairment of assets, unrealized gains/losses on securities, certain financing costs, other non-cash items, certain non-recurring expenses, and impacts related to discontinued operations; and (ii) non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA that excludes the impact of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, our share-based compensation expense, and impairment of assets, unrealized gains/losses on securities, certain financing costs, other non-cash items, and impacts related to discontinued operations. These supplemental financial measures are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP and, as a result, these supplemental financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally to help understand, manage, and evaluate our business performance and to help make operating decisions.
We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are also useful to investors and analysts in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis. Adjusted EBITDA excludes (i) impacts of interest, taxes, and depreciation; (ii) significant non-cash expenses such as our share-based compensation expense, unrealized gains/losses on securities, certain financing costs, other non-cash items that we believe are not reflective of our general business performance, and for which the accounting requires management judgment, and the resulting expenses could vary significantly in comparison to other companies; (iii) significant impairment losses related to long-lived and digital assets, which include our bitcoin for which the accounting requires significant estimates and judgment, and the resulting expenses could vary significantly in comparison to other companies; and (iv) and impacts related to discontinued operations that would not be applicable to our future business activities.
Non-GAAP financial measures are subject to material limitations as they are not in accordance with, or a substitute for, measurements prepared in accordance with GAAP. For example, we expect that share-based compensation expense, which is excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, will continue to be a significant recurring expense over the coming years and is an important part of the compensation provided to certain employees, officers, and directors.
We have also excluded impairment losses on assets, including impairments of our digital currency our non-GAAP financial measures, which may continue to occur in future periods as a result of our continued holdings of significant amounts of bitcoin. Our non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation and should be read only in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. We rely primarily on such Consolidated Financial Statements to understand, manage, and evaluate our business performance and use the non-GAAP financial measures only supplementally.
Investor Relations Contact
Matt Schultz, Executive Chairman
ir@cleanspark.com
Media Contacts
Isaac Holyoak
pr@cleanspark.com
BlocksBridge Consulting
Nishant Sharma
cleanspark@blocksbridge.com
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SOURCE CleanSpark, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/cleanspark-reports-third-quarter-fy2022-financial-results/ | 2022-08-09T20:35:53Z |
Foursquare Visits and Constellation's Dor Traffic Miner offer quality optimization opportunities and data-driven insights.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In a new partnership, Constellation Network will be teaming up with Foursquare to provide better insights into restaurant and retail business traffic trends.
Constellation Network is a unique Web3 framework that allows everyone to build and conduct a business on the blockchain. The platform features a free, open-source infrastructure and a robust ecosystem of products, projects, and tools designed to help individuals and businesses succeed in the emerging stakeholder economy.
"We're thrilled to partner with Constellation," said Stu Kendall, Director of Product Marketing at Foursquare. "Data privacy is one of our top priorities so it's extremely important that all of our partners share those same values. They've built a great product that clearly serves a need in the market – all while maintaining the highest level of data security for their constituents."
Central to its partnership with Foursquare is Constellation's Dor Traffic Miner (DTM), a battery-operated device that you place in a doorway to count anonymous foot traffic data. Along with the high-quality data collected by Foursquare Visits – a location-data solution for understanding target audiences, traffic patterns, competing markets, and more – the DTM data is used as an input of ground-truth data to help improve the visit methodology for accuracy and precision. The Visits platform is then used to help understand macroeconomic trends of consumer behavior and see how it may be impacting businesses.
This partnership is part of a continuing effort to strengthen customer analytics and media targeting, while maintaining a high level of privacy and data quality. Constellation and Foursquare stand out as companies with strong and similar values:
- Data quality: Measurable insights without bias help businesses create smart data models.
- Privacy: Constellation's DTM tracks foot traffic anonymously, while Foursquare Visits also anonymizes its foot traffic data.
- People first: Constellation strives to empower businesses to gain control and ownership, just as Foursquare aims to use data to build a world that works best for people and the way they move through the world.
"Constellation is pleased to partner with Foursquare to provide additional validation of their world class venue visitation data with our DTM foot traffic data," said Ben Jorgensen, CEO of Constellation Network. "Together we create incredible value for businesses who need to understand traffic flows and rewards for those who provide the data."
Learn more about Constellation Network and how to purchase your own DTM to earn rewards for your data.
For companies interested in trying out Foursquare Visits: Contact them to get started with a demo.
Constellation Network:
Website: www.constellationnetwork.io
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Conste11ation
Telegram: https://t.me/constellationcommunity
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SOURCE Constellation Network Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/constellation-network-foursquare-team-up-improve-customer-data-businesses/ | 2022-06-30T16:03:06Z |
GREENVILLE, SC (WSPA) – Police are investigating after multiple people were hit in the face with plates of whipped cream in Greenville.
According to the Greenville Police Department, officers were called to an assault around 2:30pm near the Main Street bridge in downtown.
Officers said a woman was walking on the sidewalk, pushing her child in a stroller, when a man hit her in the face with a plate of whipped cream.
Investigators said there have been multiple instances of that happening Wednesday.
Greenville Police released a photo showing the man they said is responsible.
Anyone with information on his identity is asked to call the Greenville Police Department at 864-271-5333 or call Crime Stoppers at 864-23-CRIME. | https://cw33.com/news/multiple-people-hit-with-plates-of-whipped-cream-in-greenville/ | 2022-04-14T18:40:24Z |
Asurion repair experts provide fast fixes on phones, tablets, laptops and more
FORT HOOD, Texas, July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new electronics repair shop, Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions™, has opened on Fort Hood at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service shopping center, 4250 Clear Creek Rd. The store offers professional fixes for most consumer electronics, from smartphones, tablets and computers to game consoles, smart speakers, drones and more.
While common repairs include cracked screens, battery issues and water damage, the company's repair experts have fixed millions of devices and can help with most any tech mishap, and many basic repairs can be completed in 45 minutes or less.
"We all rely on technology to keep us connected, none more than military families," said Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions CEO Dave Barbuto. "I come from an Army family myself and served as an infantry officer for eight years, so I know firsthand what a lifeline technology can be – whether you're on base here in the states or deployed overseas. At Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions, we're excited to make life just a little easier for those stationed, living and working on base, with expert tech help available where and when they need it. We make sure your tech is working, so you never have to be disconnected from the things that matter most to you."
The store's expert repair technicians fix all kinds of technology, regardless of make or model, and the store is an authorized repair provider for Samsung Galaxy® and Google Pixel™ smartphones. Soldiers and families at Fort Hood can book a repair appointment online or stop by the store for walk-in service. The store offers free, no-obligation diagnostics on all gadgets, as well as a 1-year limited warranty on all repairs. It even offers a price match guarantee on any local competitor's regularly published price for the same repair.
The new Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions store brings the company's retail footprint to more than 750 locations across the U.S. Formerly known as uBreakiFix®, all U.S. locations will rebrand as Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions throughout 2022.
The new store is located at:
Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions
Army & Air Force Exchange Service Shopping Center
4250 Clear Creek Rd, Fort Hood, TX 76544
(254) 669-6314
Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions™, formerly known as uBreakiFix®, is the retail brand operated and franchised by a subsidiary of tech care company Asurion®. As the world's leading tech care company, Asurion eliminates the fears and frustrations associated with technology to ensure its 300 million customers get the most out of their devices, appliances, and connections. Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions stores specialize in the repair of consumer technology, including smartphones, game consoles, tablets, computers, and nearly everything in between. Asurion Tech Repair and Solutions repair experts fix cracked screens, software issues, camera issues, and most other tech mishaps at more than 750 stores across the U.S. The stores provide fast, affordable fixes for nearly any device type, regardless of make or model, including authorized repairs for Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
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SOURCE Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/asurion-tech-repair-amp-solutions-opens-fort-hood/ | 2022-07-18T20:51:08Z |
Robert hits 2-run homer, White Sox top slumping Red Sox 4-2
By KEN POWTAK
Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Luis Robert hit a two-run homer over the Green Monster and Vince Velasquez halted a rough road stretch by pitching five solid innings to lead the Chicago White Sox past the struggling Boston Red Sox 4-2 for their fourth straight victory. Tim Anderson had three singles, and Reese McGuire and José Abreu each contributed a sacrifice fly for the defending AL Central champions, who moved within one win of .500 after an eight-game losing streak last month. Jackie Bradley Jr. had an RBI double for Boston, which has lost 12 of 16. After entering 0-7 with a 13.50 ERA in his last seven road starts, the 29-year-old Velasquez held Boston’s slumbering offense to three hits and a run. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/06/robert-hits-2-run-homer-white-sox-top-slumping-red-sox-4-2/ | 2022-05-07T04:51:13Z |
What’s left as Jan. 6 panel sprints to year-end finish
WASHINGTON (AP) — With only three months left in the year, the House Jan. 6 committee is eyeing a close to its work and a final report laying out its findings about the U.S. Capitol insurrection. But the investigation is not over.
The committee has already revealed much of its work at eight hearings over the summer, showing in detail how former President Donald Trump ignored many of his closest advisers and amplified his false claims of election fraud after he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden. Witnesses interviewed by the panel — some of them Trump’s closest allies — recounted in videotaped testimony how the former president declined to act when hundreds of his supporters violently attacked the Capitol as Congress certified Biden’s victory on Jan. 6, 2021.
Lawmakers say there is more to come. The nine-member panel — seven Democrats and two Republicans — interviewed witnesses through all of August, and they are planning at least one hearing this month. Members are expected to meet and discuss some of their next steps on Tuesday.
Because the Jan. 6 panel is a temporary, or “select,” committee, it expires at the end of the current Congress. If Republicans take the majority in November’s elections, as they are favored to do, they are expected to dissolve the committee in January. So the panel is planning to issue a final report by the end of December.
What’s left for the committee in 2022:
HEARINGS
The committee is expected to hold at least one hearing, maybe more, before the end of the month. Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the Republican vice chairwoman, said the committee “has far more evidence to share with the American people and more to gather.”
“Doors have opened, new subpoenas have been issued and the dam has begun to break,” Cheney said at a July 21 hearing that was held in prime time and watched by 17.7 million people. “We have considerably more to do.”
It’s unclear if the next hearings will provide a general overview of what the panel has learned or if they will be focused on new information and evidence. The committee conducted several interviews at the end of July and into August with Trump’s Cabinet secretaries, some of whom had discussed invoking the constitutional process in the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office after the insurrection.
WITNESSES
The panel has already interviewed more than 1,000 people, but lawmakers and staff are still pursuing new threads. The committee just recently spoke to several of the Cabinet secretaries, including former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in July and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao in August.
The committee also wants to get to the bottom of missing Secret Service texts from Jan. 5-6, 2021, which could shed further light on Trump’s actions during the insurrection, particularly after earlier testimony about his confrontation with security as he tried to join supporters at the Capitol.
“We anticipate talking to additional members of the president’s Cabinet,” Cheney said at the beginning of August. “We anticipate talking to additional members of his campaign. Certainly, we’re very focused as well on the Secret Service.”
The committee has also pursued an interview with conservative activist Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, who’s married to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Lawmakers want to know more about her role in trying to help Trump overturn the election. She contacted lawmakers in Arizona and Wisconsin as part of that effort.
FINAL REPORT
The committee must shut down within a month after issuing a final report, per its rules. But lawmakers could issue some smaller reports before then, perhaps even before the November elections. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the panel’s chairman, has said there may be an interim report in the fall.
The release of the final report will likely come close to the end of the year so the panel can maximize its time. While much of the findings will already be known, the report is expected to thread the story together in a definitive way that lays out the committee’s conclusions for history.
TRUMP AND PENCE
Members of the committee are still debating how aggressively to pursue testimony from Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence.
Some have have questioned whether calling Pence — he resisted Trump’s pressure to try and block Biden’s certification on Jan. 6 — is needed since many of his closest aides have already testified. His top lawyer at the White House, Greg Jacob, testified at one of the committee’s hearings in June and characterized much of Pence’s thought process during the time when Trump was pressuring him.
The panel has been in discussions with Pence’s lawyers for months, without any discernible progress. Still, the committee could invite Pence for closed-door testimony or ask him to answer written questions.
The calculation is different for the former president. Members have debated whether they need to call Trump, who is the focus of their probe but also a witness who has railed against the investigation, denied much of the evidence and who has floated the idea of presidential pardons for Jan. 6 rioters. He is also facing scrutiny in several other investigations, including at the Justice Department and over the classified documents he took to his private club.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS
Another bit of unfinished business is the committee’s subpoenas to five House Republicans, including Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
In May the panel subpoenaed McCarthy, R-Calif., and Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Andy Biggs of Arizona and Mo Brooks of Alabama. The panel has investigated McCarthy’s conversations with Trump the day of the attack and meetings the four other lawmakers had with the White House beforehand as Trump and his aides worked to overturn his election defeat.
The five Republicans, all of whom have repeatedly downplayed the investigation’s legitimacy, have simply ignored the request to testify. But the Jan. 6 committee seems unlikely to meet their defiance with contempt charges, as they have with other witnesses, in the weeks before the November elections. Not only would it be a politically risky move, but it is unclear what eventual recourse the panel would have against its own colleagues.
LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
The committee is expected to weigh in on possible legislative changes to the Electoral Count Act, which governs how a presidential election is certified by Congress.
A bipartisan group of senators released proposed changes over the summer that would clarify the way states submit electors and the vice president tallies the votes. Trump and his allies tried to find loopholes in that law ahead of Jan. 6 as the former president worked to overturn his defeat to Biden and unsuccessfully pressured Pence to go along.
The Jan. 6 panel’s final report is expected to include a larger swath of legislative recommendations.
___
Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/09/13/whats-left-jan-6-panel-sprints-year-end-finish/ | 2022-09-13T12:22:36Z |
Meets strong demand for chicken products amidst supply chain challenges
CHICAGO, May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's foremost American pioneer in premium, Halal hand-cut meat and poultry products, Crescent Foods, announced a strategic partnership with Midwest-based retailer, Meijer. Offering a robust line of chicken products in more than 258 stores throughout Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Wisconsin, products are now available in-store. Crescent Foods is well-poised to meet demand for all conscientious consumers—in addition to those seeking premium Halal hand-cut products, for which demand continues to grow. Premium attributes of Crescent Foods' fresh chicken products include no antibiotics ever, vegetable- and grain-based diet (no animal byproducts), adherence to strict animal welfare standards, all natural, and no artificial ingredients or preservatives.
"Today, the lingering effects of the pandemic are still felt as labor and other challenges impact availability for specific chicken items. This has created a perfect storm as high demand grilling season gets underway for America's favorite protein," said Huthyfah Abed, executive national sales director for Crescent Foods. "We are pleased to offer popular products for the grill, and for all Americans who seek chicken raised and processed with care, including those seeking Halal hand-cut standards," added Abed.
Crescent Foods' popular chicken selections found at Meijer include boneless skinless chicken breasts, thin-sliced chicken breasts, tenders, boneless skinless thighs, and drumsticks. All items feature a more sustainable, recyclable plastic tray, which emphasizes Crescent Foods' continued commitment to environmental stewardship.
Along with a store locator tool, the company supports retail sales with robust consumer resources such as a vast recipe library for chicken and other animal proteins such as turkey, beef, and lamb, frequent promotions and engagement through numerous social platforms, and the ability to opt-in to receive Crescent Foods' exclusive newsletter.
About Crescent Foods: American Pioneers in Halal Meat for the Last 25 Years. And for the next.
Crescent Foods was founded in 1995 to bring healthy, humanely processed Halal chicken to America's dinner tables. Today, Crescent Foods is the largest provider of premium quality Certified Hand-Cut Halal poultry and meat products across the United States. It prides itself on its ability to offer choice through a variety of meat and poultry cuts, products, and packaging options to retail stores, restaurants, and institutions. Crescent Foods' commitment to the highest Hand-Cut Halal standards, state-of-the-art production processes, use of technology, distribution, product development and service helps the company remain at the industry's forefront in North America and globally.
About Meijer:
Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates more than 258 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer pioneered the "one-stop shopping" concept and has evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive apparel departments, pet departments, garden centers, toys and electronics. For additional information on Meijer, please visit www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.
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SOURCE Crescent Foods | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/crescent-foods-announces-new-partnership-with-meijer-stores/ | 2022-05-04T17:08:56Z |
Principal accused of encouraging students to have ‘revenge sex’ instead of fighting
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC/Gray News) - A high school principal in South Carolina is being accused of racial and sexual harassment, contributing to the school’s violence problem, and encouraging students to engage in “revenge sex” as an alternative to fighting.
The accusations against Septima P. Clark Academy Principal Carolyn Anderson come via a deposition as part of an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint made against Anderson by a fellow employee, WCSC reports.
In the deposition, the employee said she was subjected to harassment by Anderson and witnessed numerous occasions of inappropriate conduct that violated the Charleston County School District’s policy on professional conduct.
Anderson was made the interim principal of Clark Academy at the beginning of the school year. She was promoted to principal on April 22 and then subsequently placed on paid administrative leave just days later on April 26.
The district would not comment on why she was placed on leave, citing a personnel matter. However, the EEOC investigation was filed months earlier on February 16 while she served as interim principal.
In the deposition, the employee claimed Anderson would talk about former male co-workers at North Charleston High School, specifically discussing their bodies and genitals. Anderson, the employee said, would also talk about her own sex life with her husband while in the front office.
“She would just tell us how she was having problems with her husband,” the employee said. “How she walked around the house naked, and he wouldn’t have sex with her.”
The employee testified she was also the target of similarly inappropriate sexual comments. On one occasion, Anderson told her, in graphic detail, that the employee needed to have sex to “straighten her out,” according to the deposition.
That specific interaction was reported to the Head of the Department of Alternative Programs Jennifer Coker in an email dated Nov. 23, according to legal documents. The employee said no action was taken.
In an even more disturbing accusation, attorney Larry Kobrovsky asked the employee about interactions she observed, in which she accused Anderson of encouraging high school girls to have “revenge sex” with each other’s boyfriends instead of engaging in physical fights.
“Let me get this straight. During school hours, you, as the [employee position], heard the principal of Septima P. Clark tell female students that they’re being wrong. That when she was their age, you’d just (have sex with) their boyfriends and get back at the girls that didn’t like her that way?” Kobrovsky asked the employee.
“Yes,” the employee responded. She later said, “It’s embarrassing actually because, like, I’ve never seen a principal talk like that or show those kinds of actions.”
Beyond sexual comments, the employee also accused the principal of exacerbating discipline problems with students. She said Anderson brought in a number of students without properly vetting them, students that would not have been accepted under the previous administration.
Septima Clark Academy is an alternative school for students with unique academic needs. Families go through an application process that involves an interview with staff.
The employee also said Anderson encouraged an atmosphere of disrespect toward adults by not cracking down on discipline issues and failing to address student referrals.
The employee said students would often use the N-word when referring to teachers and use other profanity specifically aimed at female teachers. The employee claimed Anderson failed to discipline students when those words were used in her presence.
“I do find it degrading,” the employee testified. “It makes me feel humiliated, even if it’s a Black student saying it to me. Because I feel like administration should just take over those type of things. Like, if you get no punishment, of course students will keep doing it.”
As of June 14, Anderson was still on administrative leave. The Charleston County School District said this is a personnel matter and they have no additional comments.
Copyright 2022 WCSC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/21/principal-accused-encouraging-students-have-revenge-sex-instead-fighting/ | 2022-06-21T19:56:56Z |
US Navy chief defends plan to scrap troubled warships even though some are less than 3 years old
By Oren Liebermann, Ellie Kaufman and Brad Lendon, CNN
The chief of the US Navy defended the service’s plans to scrap nine relatively new warships in the coming fiscal year even as the service tries to keep up with China’s growing fleet. Three of the littoral combat ships slated for decommissioning are less than three years old.
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday told the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday that the anti-submarine ships could not perform their primary mission.
“I refuse to put an additional dollar against a system that would not be able to track a high-end submarine in today’s environment,” Gilday told the committee. He said the main reason for the early retirement was that the anti-submarine warfare system on the ships “did not work out technically.” The decommissioning of the ships would save the Navy approximately $391 million, according to the service’s proposed FY23 budget.
But that recoups only a fraction of the cost of the nine littoral combat ships, which totaled about $3.2 billion.
The USS Indianapolis, USS Billings and USS Wichita were all commissioned in 2019, which means the Navy plans on decommissioning ships that are only a fraction of the way into their expected service life. The Navy also plans to retire six other littoral combat ships, all of the single-hull Freedom-variant, as opposed to the trimaran Independence-variant. Both variants can achieve speeds of 40+ knots.
Under a 2016 Navy plan, the Freedom-class variants were all homeported Mayport, Florida, mainly for use in Atlantic Ocean operations. The Independence-class variants were homeported in San Diego, and designated for mainly Pacific operations.
The decision amounts to an embarrassing admission that some of the Navy’s newest ships are not fit for modern warfare.
Despite the Navy’s plans to scrap the warships, Congress has the final say on the military budget and has balked at previous requests to decommission ships. Reducing the number of warships may be even more difficult as lawmakers focus on the growing size of China’s navy and the gap between the US and Chinese fleets.
Last August, Vice President Kamala Harris visited the USS Tulsa, one of the Independence-class ships, while it was operating out of Singapore. She touted the Navy’s mission of “helping to guarantee peace and security, freedom of trade and commerce, freedom of navigation” and the role the ship plays in countering an increasingly assertive China in the western Pacific Ocean.
But the embattled littoral combat ships have faced perennial problems, including repeated breakdowns and questions about their limited armament.
The ships were hailed as part of the US deterrent against China as they they were designed to operate in shallow waters like the South China Sea. But the decommissioning of so many in one year appears to be an acknowledgment that the expensive surface combatants have failed to live up to expectations.
‘We can’t use them’
Rep. Adam Smith, chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said, “We can’t use them, number one because they’re not ready to do anything. Number two, when they are, they still break down.”
“They’re incredibly expensive, and they don’t have the capabilities that we expected. So regardless of how old they are, that’s a lot of money to be spent to get pretty close to nothing,” the Washington state Democrat continued.
Republican Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined in criticizing the Navy.
“With the Chinese Navy steadily climbing to 460 ships by 2030, the unforced errors in Navy shipbuilding, like the Littoral Combat Ship, must stop. Programs that can scale up and grow our fleet must be the priority,” Inhofe tweeted Wednesday.
Many of the myriad problems facing the littoral combat ship program stem from the lack of mission focus during the design process, said Emma Salisbury, a researcher at the University of London focusing on the US military weapons manufacturers.
“The LCS was essentially counted to solve every single one of the Navy’s problems all at once and everything will be wonderful,” Salisbury told CNN with a note of irony. The missions for the ships included surface warfare, mine countermeasures, and anti-submarine warfare, based on a modular design that was supposed to allow the Navy to customize the ship for the role.
“It was basically this magical design that would solve everything,” Salisbury said. “So that was the problem — that, because it had all of these options, it never did any of them very well.”
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby defended the program and the ships at a press briefing in mid-April, saying that “they served a purpose.”
Yet even as the Navy plans on scrapping nine of the Freedom-variant ships, the newest ship in the class was just christened this past weekend. The USS Beloit marked the milestone with members of Congress and Navy officials in attendance, as well as the ceremonial breaking of a bottle of wine across the bow.
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said in a statement the ship would “be ready to respond to any mission, wherever, and whenever, there is a need.”
The Independence-variant of the LCS has faced its own problems. The Navy has identified structural cracks on six of these ships, requiring updates to inspection procedures and a redesign of the affected areas, according to a statement from Alan Baribreau, a spokesman for Naval Sea Systems Command. The cracks, first reported by Navy Times, were initially discovered in late-2019 in high-stress areas on the structure of the ship.
“The issue was identified following routine quality assurance checks and does not pose a risk to the safety of Sailors on board the ships. Similarly, the issue poses no safety risk to the ships affected nor does it hinder the ability to get underway and execute missions,” Baribeau said.
The Navy plans on retiring two of these Independence-class ships in the 2024 fiscal year.
At the same time, the Navy is working on developing a new class of ships more suited to the challenges from China’s rapidly expanding military and the threat Russia poses. These ships would have “more capability than the LCS” for the potential fights of the future, Kirby said.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2022/05/11/us-navy-chief-defends-plan-to-scrap-troubled-warships-even-though-some-are-less-than-3-years-old/ | 2022-05-12T09:46:29Z |
NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Advertising -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Sema4 Holdings Corp. ("Sema4" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: SMFR; SMFRW) and certain of its officers, on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased, or otherwise acquired Sema4 securities between March 14, 2022 and August 15, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/smfr.
This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws.
The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that there was a significant risk that Sema4 would reverse a material amount of previously recognized revenue that it could not recoup from third party payors; (2) that the Company was experiencing declining selling prices for its reproductive health segment; (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, Sema4's financial results would be adversely affected; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint you can visit the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/smfr or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss in Sema4 you have until November 7, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Contact:
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Peretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson
212-697-6484 | info@bgandg.com
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SOURCE Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/investor-alert-sema4-holdings-corp-smfr-smfrw-class-action-bronstein-gewirtz-amp-grossman-llc-prominent-firm-encourages-shareholders-actively-participate/ | 2022-09-12T15:47:20Z |
MONTREAL, May 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - (NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE) – CAE will hold a conference call on June 1st at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) to provide analysts and institutional investors with a review of CAE's fiscal year 2022 fourth quarter and full-year results and will release its results, in advance on May 31st, 2022, after market close.
Marc Parent, CAE's President and Chief Executive Officer, Sonya Branco, CAE's Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, and Andrew Arnovitz, CAE's Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Enterprise Risk Management, will participate in this call intended for financial analysts, institutional investors and the media. Please note that the media will have the opportunity to ask questions immediately following the analysts' question period.
The meeting will be webcast live on CAE's site at www.cae.com. The webcast will be archived following the event.
Event: CAE's FY2022 Q4 and full-year financial results and conference call
Date: June 1st, 2022
Time: 8:30 a.m. ET
Instant replay (available three hours after the call ends for 48 hours): 1-800-558-5253 or +1-416-626-4100
- Access code: 22019146
CAE is a high technology company, at the leading edge of digital immersion, providing solutions to make the world a safer place. Backed by a record of 75 years of industry firsts, we continue to reimagine the customer experience and revolutionize training and operational support solutions in civil aviation, defense and security, and healthcare. We are the partner of choice to customers worldwide who operate in complex, high-stakes and largely regulated environments, where successful outcomes are critical. As testament to our customers' ongoing needs for our solutions, over 60 percent of CAE's revenue is recurring in nature. We have the broadest global presence in our industry, with more than 13,000 employees, 180 sites, and training locations in over 35 countries. www.cae.com
Follow us on Twitter: @CAE_Inc
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cae.inc
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cae
Hashtags: #CAE; #CAEpilot
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SOURCE CAE INC. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/30/media-advisory-caes-fy2022-fourth-quarter-full-year-financial-results-conference-call/ | 2022-05-30T23:50:37Z |
WESTMINSTER, Colo., July 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, not-for-profit cooperative wholesale power supplier Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. (the "Company") announced that it has commenced tender offers to purchase for cash up to $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the debt securities issued by the Company listed in the table below in the acceptance priority levels listed below (collectively, the "Securities" and each a "series"). The Company expects to pay for the Securities purchased in the tender offers with available cash and commercial paper.
The tender offers consist of offers to purchase for cash, on the terms and conditions set forth in the offer to purchase, dated July 13, 2022 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Offer to Purchase"), up to $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount (the "Aggregate Tender Cap") of the Company's First Mortgage Bonds, Series 2014E-1, 3.70% due 2024, the First Mortgage Bonds, Series 2014E-2, 4.70% due 2044 and the First Mortgage Bonds, Series 2016A, 4.25% due 2046. The Securities accepted for payment on the Early Tender Deadline or the Expiration Time (as defined below), as applicable, will be accepted based on the Acceptance Priority Levels (with 1 being the highest Acceptance Priority Level and 3 being the lowest Acceptance Priority Level), set forth in the table above. The Company will only accept for purchase Securities in an aggregate principal amount up to the Aggregate Tender Cap. The Company reserves the right, but is under no obligation, to increase, decrease or eliminate the Aggregate Tender Cap at any time, subject to applicable law. All Securities validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Deadline having a higher Acceptance Priority Level will be accepted before any Securities validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Deadline having a lower Acceptance Priority Level are accepted in the Tender Offers, and all Securities validly tendered after the Early Tender Deadline having a higher Acceptance Priority Level will be accepted before any Securities validly tendered after the Early Tender Deadline having a lower Acceptance Priority Level are accepted in the Tender Offers. However, Securities validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Deadline will be accepted for purchase in priority to other Securities validly tendered after the Early Tender Deadline, even if such Securities validly tendered after the Early Tender Deadline have a higher Acceptance Priority Level than Securities validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Deadline. Subject to applicable law, the Company may increase, decrease or eliminate the Aggregate Tender Cap without extending the applicable Withdrawal Deadline for any Tender Offer. The Company refers investors to the Offer to Purchase for the complete terms and conditions of the tender offers.
The tender offers for the Securities will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on August 9, 2022, or, in each case, any other date and time to which the Company extends the applicable tender offer (such date and time, as it may be extended with respect to a tender offer, the applicable "Expiration Time"), unless earlier terminated. Holders of Securities must validly tender and not validly withdraw their Securities at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 26, 2022 (such date and time, as it may be extended with respect to a tender offer, the applicable "Early Tender Deadline"), to be eligible to receive the Total Consideration, which is inclusive of an amount in cash equal to the amount set forth in the table above under the heading "Early Tender Payment" (the "Early Tender Payment"). If a holder validly tenders Securities after the applicable Early Tender Deadline but at or prior to the applicable Expiration Time, the holder will only be eligible to receive the applicable Late Tender Offer Consideration (as defined below) plus Accrued Interest.
The applicable consideration (the "Total Consideration") offered per $1,000 principal amount of each series of Securities validly tendered, and not validly withdrawn, and accepted for purchase pursuant to the applicable tender offer will be determined in accordance with the formula set forth in the Offer to Purchase by reference to the applicable fixed spread for such series specified in the table above plus the applicable yield based on the bid-side price of the applicable U.S. Treasury Reference Security specified in the table above at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on July 27, 2022. The "Late Tender Offer Consideration" is equal to the Total Consideration minus the Early Tender Payment.
Each tender offer will expire on the applicable Expiration Time. Except as set forth below, payment for the Securities that are validly tendered at or prior to the Expiration Time will be made on a date promptly following the Expiration Time, which is currently anticipated to be August 11, 2022, the second business day after the Expiration Time. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to make payment for Securities that are validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Deadline on an earlier settlement date, which, if applicable, is currently anticipated to be July 28, 2022, the second business day after the Early Tender Deadline.
Holders will also receive accrued and unpaid interest on Securities validly tendered and accepted for purchase from the applicable last interest payment date up to, but not including, the applicable settlement date ("Accrued Interest").
Tendered Securities may be withdrawn at or prior to, but not after, 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 26, 2022, unless extended or otherwise required by applicable law (such date and time, as it may be extended with respect to a tender offer, the applicable "Withdrawal Deadline"). Subject to applicable law, the Company may extend the applicable Early Tender Deadline for one or more tender offers without extending the applicable Withdrawal Deadline for any tender offer.
The tender offers are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions as set forth in the Offer to Purchase. The tender offers are not subject to minimum tender conditions.
The Offer to Purchase is being distributed to holders beginning today. J.P. Morgan and US Bancorp are the dealer managers for the tender offers. Investors with questions regarding the tender offers may contact J.P. Morgan at (866) 834-4666 (toll-free) or (212) 834-3554 (collect) and US Bancorp at (800) 479-3441 (toll-free) or (646) 651-4233 (collect). D.F. King & Co., Inc. is the tender and information agent for the tender offers and can be contacted at (866) 828-6934 (bankers and brokers can call collect at (212) 269-5550) or by email at tristate@dfking.com.
None of the Company or its affiliates, their respective boards of directors, the dealer managers, the tender and information agent or the trustee with respect to any Securities is making any recommendation as to whether holders should tender any Securities in response to any of the tender offers, and neither the Company nor any such other person has authorized any person to make any such recommendation. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender any of their Securities, and, if so, the principal amount of Securities to tender.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities that may be issued pursuant to the transactions described above. Further, nothing contained herein shall constitute a notice of redemption of the Notes of any series. The full details of the tender offers, including complete instructions on how to tender Securities, are included in the Offer to Purchase. Holders are strongly encouraged to read carefully the Offer to Purchase, including materials incorporated by reference therein, because they will contain important information. The Offer to Purchase may be obtained from D.F. King & Co., Inc., free of charge, by calling toll-free at (866) 828-6934 (bankers and brokers can call collect at (212) 269-5550) or by email at tristate@dfking.com.
Tri-State is a wholesale power supply cooperative, operating on a not-for-profit basis, with 45 members, including 42 utility electric distribution cooperative and public power district members in four states that together deliver reliable, affordable and responsible power to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West.
Certain information contained in this press statement are forward-looking statements including statements concerning Tri-State's plans, future events, and other information that is not historical information. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described from time to time in Tri-State's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Tri-State's expectations and beliefs are expressed in good faith, and Tri-State believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, Tri-State cannot assure you that management's expectations and beliefs will be achieved. There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein.
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SOURCE Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/13/tri-state-announces-cash-tender-offers-up-100000000-aggregate-principal-amount-certain-outstanding-debt-securities/ | 2022-07-13T22:11:49Z |
What is the best portable TV for a tailgate?
Having a portable TV dedicated to the game makes tailgating so much easier and more relaxing. You could use a smartphone as a stand-in for a small portable TV at a tailgate, but then you couldn’t use it to text or call anyone.
It’s also useful to have your phone handy to manage any of your fantasy sports teams or look up stats. With a larger screen, all your family and friends can get a good view, while a phone screen is just not big enough.
Best types of portable TVs for tailgating
There are different size options depending on how big of a portable TV screen you need. Portable devices start at about 4 inches in length and can go up to almost 20 inches. If you have the space in your vehicle or the back of a truck, you may want a large screen.
Portable TVs that use batteries are best, so you don’t have to rely on outlets, however, there are also TVs that plug into your car for viewing during the road trip to your tailgating spot. Be careful not to tap into your car’s battery too much, because you don’t want to drain that power.
If you can set up a power source for a regular television monitor on the go, you might prefer a normal TV screen at whatever size you enjoy. The only trouble with a regular TV monitor is that it isn’t likely designed for use on the go, and powering it with enough electricity could be tricky. If there are power outlets at your tailgating site, using extension cords and a regular TV monitor may give you a better experience.
Another possible solution, if you don’t mind using a phone or tablet as your screen, is a power bank. There are many options for mobile power banks that can keep your smartphone or other devices powered for longer, while away from an outlet. If you already have a mobile screen to use for TV, having a larger power supply may be the solution for you.
Best portable TVs for tailgating
What you need to know: This is an affordable and compact portable design that easily transports and has reliable battery life.
What you’ll love: You can use an AC or DC adapter and the rechargeable battery for powering the device. It has two detachable stands for setting up the screen at the tailgate. It’s compatible with AV and USB inputs to connect other devices.
What you should consider: Changing out the two types of stand supports can be a bit tricky. This screen is on the smaller side.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
SuperSonic Portable Widescreen LCD
What you need to know: The portable TV comes in many sizes to better suit different tailgating setups.
What you’ll love: There are seven scale options from 4-inch screens to 16-inch screens. It uses HDMI, AV and USB connections for other devices. The portable TV comes with a built-in digital tuner to connect with all free HD television signals in North America.
What you should consider: The smaller screens can’t display full HD-picture quality. Some customers have had trouble with defective units that stopped working after a while.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Trexonic Ultra Lightweight Rechargeable LED TV
What you need to know: This portable TV is slim and lightweight, making it easy for traveling.
What you’ll love: It features HDMI, AV and USB inputs to connect your favorite devices. An indicator light on the side tells you about the current charge of the battery. The screen is on the larger side of the scale for portable TV screens.
What you should consider: The included antenna has trouble picking up channels, and users who tried other antennas still had trouble. It’s best if you only use it as a monitor.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Milanix Portable Widescreen LED TV
What you need to know: This is a sleek and simple portable TV that’s useful as a monitor for a variety of devices on the go
What you’ll love: The screen comes in a few sizes, and while the screens are larger than many portable TVs, the devices are not bulkier, since they have a slim design. You can input HDMI, AV and USB devices for a variety of connections. The internal battery is rechargeable.
What you should consider: It doesn’t come with an antenna or any method of viewing TV content, so you’ll need to plug in an antenna or device to use the monitor.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
What you need to know: The adaptable model allows for multiple methods of powering the device on the go.
What you’ll love: It has a built-in antenna, AV, USB and HDMI inputs to connect devices. This portable TV also comes with AC and car adapters for alternative power methods to the rechargeable battery. It includes a remote control for the TV.
What you should consider: Some users have had trouble with securing the included stand mount and report issues with receiving a signal using the included antenna.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
What you need to know: The portable LED TV features a 12.1-inch, 1280×800 SD resolution screen.
What you’ll love: This TV is a slim model that’s easy to transport to tailgating locations, and it has a built-in battery for the monitor. The TV takes a USB card that supports multimedia use. This portable LED TV uses HDMI or USB. The screen is 1080p.
What you should consider: Some users have had issues with inconsistent performance.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/best-portable-tv-for-tailgating/ | 2022-08-13T17:28:52Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department laid out recommendations Friday for tightening laws to guard against money laundering and illicit threats to the U.S. financial system, citing the conduct of Russians backing the invasion of Ukraine as evidence of how loopholes are being exploited.
Treasury’s 32-page strategy document outlines recommendations to close loopholes in anti-money laundering laws, combat the use of real estate for money laundering schemes and enhance information-sharing between the government and private sector financial firms.
“Illicit finance is a major national security threat and nowhere is that more apparent than in Russia’s war against Ukraine, supported by decades of corruption by Russian elites,” said Elizabeth Rosenberg, Treasury’s assistant secretary for terrorist financing.
Sanctioned individuals and entities can remove identifying information from, or simply hide, their bank accounts, the department said. They can also use cryptocurrency to a limited degree or hide behind shell companies to evade financial sanctions.
“We need to close loopholes, work efficiently with international partners, and leverage new technologies to tackle the risks posed by corruption, an increase in domestic violent extremism and the abuse of virtual assets,” Rosenberg said.
Every two years, Treasury releases a report with recommendations on how to close gaps that could facilitate terrorist and illicit finance. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “demonstrates that those seeking to undermine global security and stability are exploiting these same gaps,” the report stated.
The department pointed to the number of sanctions imposed on people and entities due to the war and the potential for sanctioned individuals to evade sanctions. Earlier this month, Treasury barred individuals in the U.S. from providing accounting, legal and consulting services to anyone located in Russia.
The U.S. has worked closely with allied governments in Europe, Asia and elsewhere to impose thousands of sanctions on Russian elites, oligarchs and banks.
Earlier this year, Treasury, the Justice Department and other agencies convened a task force known as REPO — short for Russian Elites, Proxies and Oligarchs — to work with other countries to investigate and prosecute oligarchs and individuals allied with Russian President Vladimir Putin. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/treasury-russia-war-bolsters-need-to-combat-illicit-finance/ | 2022-05-14T17:37:34Z |
Worldwide Market Trended Flat Year-over-Year in 2Q 2022
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recently published report by Dell'Oro Group, the trusted source for market information about the telecommunications, networks, and data center industries, North America led the worldwide Service Provider (SP) Router and Aggregation Switch market with double-digit revenue growth. The region's performance was driven by the ramping of 400 Gbps technology adoption in the ongoing Service Provider Router market refresh cycle. Despite North America's performance, the worldwide SP Router and Aggregation Switch market was flat year-over-year (Y/Y) in 2Q 2022, although revenues were in line with average revenues of the last five years.
"In 2Q 2022, we observed continuing strong demand for SP Routers in North America, driven by the ramping adoption of 400 Gbps technologies across Telecom- and Cloud SPs and an ongoing capacity expansions by the SPs," said Ivaylo Peev, Senior Analyst at Dell'Oro Group. "We see the flat 2Q22 Y/Y global market performance as a positive signal, as market conditions remained difficult in the second quarter. Economic uncertainty, raising inflation, China's zero-COVID-19 policy, and the war in Ukraine are depressing markets in 2022. Adverse foreign exchange rates and the comparison to a strong 1Q 2021 are adding to the factors negatively impacting the performance of the SP Router and Aggregation Switch market," added Peev.
Additional highlights from Dell'Oro Group's 2Q 2022 Service Provider Router and Switch Report:
- Double-digit market growth in North America and moderate growth in the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) regions were offset by steeply decreasing revenues in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and a market decline in Asia Pacific (APAC) and China.
- Positive growth in the SP Core Router and the Aggregation Switch segments was offset by negative performance in the SP Edge Router segment.
- The Enterprise High End Router segment grew strongly in 2Q 2022, recording double-digit growth across all regions except APAC. APAC's total growth was limited due to a decline in China.
- Adverse foreign exchange rates driven by a strengthened US dollar (USD) suppressed market results in large parts of EMEA and APAC regions, as business transactions were negatively impacted by the conversion between local currencies and the USD.
The Dell'Oro Group Service Provider Router and Switch Quarterly Report offers complete, in-depth coverage of the Service Provider Router and Switch market for future current and historical periods. The report includes qualitative analysis and detailed statistics for manufacturer revenue by region, customer type and use cases, average selling price, and unit and port shipments. To purchase these reports, please contact us by email at dgsales@delloro.com.
Dell'Oro Group is a market research firm that specializes in strategic competitive analysis in the telecommunications, enterprise network, data center infrastructure, and network security markets. Our firm provides in-depth quantitative data and qualitative analysis to facilitate critical, fact-based business decisions. For more information, contact Dell'Oro Group at +1.650.622.9400 or visit www.delloro.com.
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SOURCE Dell'Oro Group | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/400g-drove-north-americas-service-provider-router-market-double-digit-growth-1h22-according-delloro-group/ | 2022-09-14T13:23:47Z |
Reds’ Pham and Giants’ Pederson in pregame altercation
By JEFF WALLNER
Associated Press
CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Reds outfielder Tommy Pham and San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson were involved in a brief altercation before a series opener at Great American Ball Park. While the Giants were warming up in the outfield, Pham confronted Pederson in the outfield during pregame warmups. The pair quickly were separated and no punches were thrown. The incident was witnessed by reporters and occurred before fans entered the ballpark. Giants manager Gabe Kapler said he will not comment until he learns more about what happened. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/27/reds-pham-and-giants-pederson-in-pregame-altercation/ | 2022-05-27T22:58:47Z |
CHICAGO, July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- During the first day of its annual International Conference, The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) – the internal audit profession's leader in standards, certification, education, research, and technical guidance worldwide – introduced two new global reports in front of an audience of roughly 1,500 internal audit professionals from around the world.
New Research Takes Global View of Internal Audit Profession
- The IIA debuted its 2022 Premier Global Study, Internal Audit: A Global View. The extensive report collected feedback from 3,600 internal audit professionals representing 159 international locations. The study shows regional differences within a diverse profession that is broadly involved in traditional activities like risk and fraud but also demonstrates that the profession is adding ever-increasing value to stakeholders through environmental and social issues, cybersecurity engagements, and other emerging and evolving issues.
- The results offer a snapshot of the global profession and demographic trends:
IIA Partners with World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) to Issue New Guidance on Embedding ESG and Sustainability Considerations in the Three Lines Model
- The IIA has partnered with the WBCSD on new guidance aimed at helping organization's future-proof their business.
- The paper, "Embedding ESG and Sustainability Considerations into the Three Lines Model," outlines key roles and responsibilities for the governing body, management, and internal audit to build structures and processes that support the achievement of business objectives to create and protect value for the organization.
- Recent actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the creation of the new International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) underscore the importance of embedding material sustainability issues into business decision-making practices. It is also vital that governance mechanisms are in place to ensure effective oversight of risk management and controls.
- The insights in the paper are intended for corporate boards, C-suite representatives within large corporations, and senior management to provide information and understanding on the role of the respective lines in overseeing the effectiveness of risk management and internal audit processes.
2022 Professional Achievement Award Recipients Announced
Also at the first day of the conference, The IIA awarded five Professional Achievement Awards, recognizing recipients from around the world who have excelled in research, education, publishing, advocacy, and other activities in the field of internal auditing and related professions. Click here for a full list of awards, recipients, bios and photos.
Victor Z. Brink Award for Distinguished Service
- W. Charles Johnson - Senior Manager, Forvis Enterprise Risk Solutions
- Doris Yi Hsin Wang - Chairman, Accounting Research and Development Foundation, Taiwan and Professor, Department of Accountancy, National Taipei University
Bradford Cadmus Memorial Award
- Lal Balkaran - Risk, Governance, and Internal Audit Consultant, LBA Consulting
- Brian Christensen - Executive Vice President, Global Managed Solutions and Collaboration, Protiviti
William G. Bishop III, CIA Lifetime Achievement Award
- Carman L. Lapointe – International Consultant. Former Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services
About The IIA
The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is an international professional association that serves more than 215,000 global members and has awarded 180,000 Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certifications worldwide. Established in 1941, The IIA is recognized as the internal audit profession's leader in standards, certification, education, research, and technical guidance throughout the world. For more information, visit https://www.theiia.org.
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SOURCE The Institute of Internal Auditors | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/iia-debuts-new-global-research-announces-professional-achievement-awards-2022-international-conference/ | 2022-07-18T20:52:34Z |
How to know if you require computer glasses or not?
According to Nielsen, Americans spend more than half of their day in front of a screen. This behavior can lead to eye damage, back pain and low-quality sleep. Computer reading glasses can reduce blue light and glare, improving your comfort level when you’re in front of a screen.
We’ll break down what to look for when selecting a pair of computer glasses and then share a few of our favorites at the end. We found that the Prospek Blue Light Blocking Glasses are a great option, combining standard features with a sleek, lightweight and straightforward design.
What to know before you buy computer reading glasses
If several hours in front of the computer screen leave you with tired eyes, blurred vision, headaches or neck and shoulder pain, you may be experiencing eye strain. Computer reading glasses might help reduce some of your symptoms.
Eye strain and blue light protection
Blue light is simply a part of the visible light spectrum; however, excess exposure to blue light can damage the retina. Blue light is present in natural light, but you put your eyes at risk of fatigue and permanent damage when you spend too much time near your screens. Blue light can also inhibit your natural melatonin levels, which your body uses to ease you into sleep. Most computer reading glasses filter out blue light.
Prescription and magnification
If you find yourself squinting and having difficulty reading your screen, you should consider talking to an ophthalmologist or optometrist about your vision. While everyone’s eyes are different, prescription glasses can change the game for people straining to see their screens. There are computer reading glasses designed to not only negate harsh blue light but also modestly adjust the diopter — a term that measures the magnification power of a lens.
If you already wear prescription glasses and are considering computer reading glasses, you have several options. Additionally, there are clip-on glasses that snap on and accommodate your current frames at a reasonable price point.
Comfort and style
Finding a comfortable fit can be a complex process. We recommend opting for lightweight glasses, which puts less strain on the bridge of your nose. The more comfortable the glasses, the less frequently you have to adjust them.
What to look for in quality computer reading glasses
Minimal tint, glare prevention and accessories like cases are all good signals of quality. If you wear readers, glasses with magnification options are something to consider.
Yellow tint
Many computer reading glasses have a distinct yellow or orange tint. While this tint is there to filter blue light, it may be noticeable and irritating to some. This trend is more prevalent in low-quality models and varies in intensity. We prefer glasses that don’t have a noticeable tint because they tend to be more attractive and less distracting.
Anti-glare
Some lenses may reflect ambient light into your eyes, which can be distracting and irritating. The inside of the lens catches the sun, particularly if you are sitting by a window. Look for lenses that use an anti-glare coating to counteract and mitigate this effect.
Accessories
It’s a nice perk to receive a sturdy case and cleaning cloth with your glasses. Plus, if you treat your computer glasses with care, they’ll last longer.
How much can you expect to spend?
You can expect glasses with minimal magnification to cost from $10-$30. Frame quality improves near the $30-$50 range. The $50-$120 range offers more durable lenses and frames, prescription options and included accessories like glasses cases and carbon fiber cloths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many on-screen hours are too many?
A. Answers vary. But the consensus is that any amount of screen time that is uncomfortable is too much. Doctors encourage breaks every 20-30 minutes.
Do they make computer reading glasses in children’s sizes?
A. Yes! Top brands include a range of glasses to accommodate different head sizes.
What are the best computer reading glasses to buy?
Top Computer Reading Glasses Overall
Prospek Blue Light and Glare Blocking (+0.00)
What you need to know: Prospek delivers a straight-forward, sleek and slender pair of glasses that reduce strain and perform well across the board.
What you’ll love: The affordable price point is hard to pass up, particularly with the included protective case and cleaning cloth.
What you should consider: Some users reported issues with smudging.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Computer Reading Glasses for the Money
Gamma Ray Slim Anti-Reflective Anti-Glare Anti-Eyestrain
What you need to know: These glasses offer functionalities seen in higher-end models while coming in at an affordable price point.
What you’ll love: Effective at reducing strain and minimal tint.
What you should consider: The frames are fragile and can arrive misaligned. Some users detected mild distortion.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth Checking Out
What you need to know: Popular among gamers, these glasses are popular among gamers.
What you’ll love: Sleep improvements detected. Three sizes available.
What you should consider: The orange tint is very noticeable, and ambient light catches on both sides of the lens.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/computer-accessories-peripherals-br/the-best-computer-reading-glasses/ | 2022-07-11T23:14:05Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is making it easier for refugees fleeing Russia’s war on Ukraine to come to the United States from Europe while trying to shut down an informal route through northern Mexico that has emerged in recent weeks.
Under a program announced Thursday, the U.S. will streamline refugee applications for Ukrainians and others fleeing the fighting, but will no longer routinely grant entry to those who show up at the U.S.-Mexico border seeking asylum.
Volunteers, many from American churches, were shuttling Ukrainians from a shelter in Tijuana, Mexico, to the closest border crossing as news spread of plans to discourage a means of entering the U.S. taken by thousands of refugees since the invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin began almost two months ago.
“It is going to be good for people. I’m happy,” said San Diego resident Ludmilo Jaaniste, who was at the shelter to get her niece and her niece’s 12-year-old daughter after they fled Kyiv. “They (the U.S.) were taking people, so why not make it easier.”
The U.S. says it expects to admit up to 100,000 refugees from Ukraine and about 15,000 have come since the Feb. 24 invasion, mostly through Mexico. Starting Monday, that will no longer be an option except in extreme circumstances, officials said.
It’s an effort by the U.S. to uphold its commitment to help Eastern European nations contend with the 5 million refugeeswho have fled Ukraine while trying to reduce the number of migrants seeking to cross the U.S.-Mexico border.
Complicating matters, however, the U.S. plans next month to lift a public health order, known as Title 42, that enables authorities to quickly turn away migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border without giving them a chance to claim asylum. The Biden administration has been exempting Ukrainian refugees, but will do so no longer.
“We are proud to deliver on President Biden’s commitment to welcome 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russian aggression to the United States,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas said in a statement announcing the effort. “The Ukrainian people continue to suffer immense tragedy and loss as a result of Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified attack on their country.”
U.S. officials say a majority of the Ukrainian refugees want to stay in Eastern Europe because many hope eventually to return home.
Advocates have said the U.S. should take more than 100,000 refugees and further expedite the process.
Public support doesn’t seem to be an issue. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research pollshows 65% of Americans favor accepting Ukrainian refugees into the U.S., while 15% oppose. An additional 19% say they neither favor nor oppose.
To qualify for admission to the U.S. under the new program, officially known as Uniting for Ukraine, people must have been in Ukraine as of Feb. 11; have a sponsor, which could be family or an organization; meet vaccination and other public health requirements; and pass background checks.
Typically, people would start applications in their home country, but that’s no longer possible because the U.S. pulled its diplomats from Ukraine. The State Department will expand resettlement operations in Eastern Europe under the new program to compensate.
Most of those admitted will receive two years of residence and authorization to work in the United States under what’s known as humanitarian parole. Those coming to the U.S. through the formal refugee process, including members of religious minority groups, will receive permanent legal residency.
A downside of the new effort is that humanitarian parole generally does not include temporary housing support and other benefits provided through the traditional refugee program, which is only slowly recovering from Trump-era cutbacks, said Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.
Nevertheless, Vignarajah and other refugee advocates welcomed the announcement. “Families desperately seeking to bring their loved ones directly to safety in the U.S. have a glimmer of hope, where there once was exceedingly little,” she said.
Refugees will encounter a streamlined process in Europe, but they won’t be able to complete it in Mexico, senior administration officials told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the program before the public announcement.
Instead, Ukrainians who show up at the border will generally be turned away and told to apply for entry under the new program. That is the situation for most migrants under the public health order in place since the early in the pandemic in March 2020.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the use of Title 42, which has been used to turn away more than 1.7 million people, is set to end May 23. The agency is under pressure to keep it in place not to control COVID-19, as it was supposedly intended, but to help ease an increase in migrants seeking to cross the border.
Critics of the use of Title 42 at the border have pointed out that it denies people their right under U.S law and international treaty to make claims for asylum and forces migrants to return to dangerous conditions in Northern Mexico and elsewhere.
—-
Associated Press writer Elliot Spagat in Tijuana, Mexico, contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/us-to-welcome-ukraine-refugees-but-no-longer-through-mexico/ | 2022-04-21T21:53:27Z |
PHILADELPHIA and ST. LOUIS, MO and SAN DIEGO, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WuXi Advanced Therapies (WuXi ATU), a global Contract Testing, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CTDMO), and Wugen Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in St. Louis and San Diego, today announced a partnership to produce Wugen's WU-NK-101, a novel immunotherapy that harnesses the power of memory natural killer (NK) cells to treat cancers. WuXi ATU will provide manufacturing and testing services for WU-NK-101 to enable the delivery of this innovative cell therapy product to cancer patients.
Wugen aims to develop a pipeline of off-the-shelf cell therapy products to treat a broad range of hematological and solid tumor malignancies. As Wugen's first program from the company's proprietary MonetaTM platform, WU-NK-101 leverages the hyper-functional, long-lasting anti-tumor functionality of memory NK cells to manufacture next-generation, off-the-shelf cancer cell therapies at commercial scale. WU-NK-101 is currently in development to treat acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and solid tumors.
WuXi ATU's integrated CTDMO platform enables the development of WU-NK-101 by leveraging the company's Good Manufacturing Process (GMP) cell therapy manufacturing and testing capabilities to support regulatory filings and clinical trials.
"We are delighted to partner with WuXi ATU," said Dr. Dan Kemp, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wugen. "With WuXi ATU's cell therapy manufacturing expertise, integrated GMP manufacturing and testing capabilities, we can keep advancing our allogeneic WU-NK-101 program into clinical trials and accelerate the timeline for delivering convenient, effective therapeutics to patients."
"The development of allogeneic NK cell therapies is a significant step towards accelerating the progress of these innovative cancer therapeutics into the clinical pipeline," said Dr. David Chang, Chief Executive Officer of WuXi ATU. "We're delighted to partner with Wugen to help make these life-saving cancer treatments less challenging to produce and more accessible to patients in need."
About WU-NK-101
WU-NK-101 is a novel immunotherapy harnessing the power of memory natural killer (NK) cells to treat liquid and solid tumors. Memory NK cells are hyper-functional, long-lasting immune cells that exhibit enhanced anti-tumor activity and a cytokine-induced memory-like (CIML) phenotype. This rare cell population has a superior phenotype, proliferation capacity, and metabolic fitness that makes it better suited for cancer therapy than other NK cell therapies. Wugen is applying its proprietary MonetaTM platform to advance WU-NK-101 as a commercially scalable, off-the-shelf cell therapy for cancer. WU-NK-101 is currently in development for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and solid tumors.
About Wugen
Wugen, Inc., is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the next generation of off-the-shelf memory natural killer (NK) and CAR-T cell therapies for cancer. Wugen is leveraging its proprietary MonetaTM platform and deep genomic engineering expertise to pioneer a new class of memory NK cell therapies with a cytokine-induced memory-like (CIML) phenotype, uniquely designed to treat hematological and solid tumor malignancies. For more information, please visit www.wugen.com.
About WuXi Advanced Therapies (WuXi ATU)
As the advanced therapies business unit of WuXi AppTec, WuXi Advanced Therapies is a Contract Testing, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CTDMO) that offers integrated platforms to transform the discovery, development, testing, manufacturing, and commercialization of cell and gene therapies. Our services and solutions accelerate time to market and support customer programs around the world. For more information, please visit www.advancedtherapies.com.
Contact:
Wugen Inc
Elsie Yau
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
Tel: 212-698-8700
Email: elsie.yau@sternir.com
WuXi ATU
Sophie Lutter
Head of Scientific Marketing and Communications
Email: atu.info@wuxiapptec.com
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SOURCE WuXi AppTec | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/wuxi-atu-wugen-announce-manufacturing-partnership-expedite-delivery-novel-cell-cancer-immunotherapies/ | 2022-06-16T00:26:15Z |
New business offers a fleet of 45 rental cars in Acadia, seating two, four, or six passengers
BAR HARBOR, Maine, Aug. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Acadia GEM—a clean, all-electric, and fun way to explore Acadia National Park—has launched 45-car fleet, seating two, four, or six passengers per vehicle. Waev's GEM (Global Electric Motorcar) vehicles are 100 percent electric low-speed vehicles and legal on any paved road posted at 35MPH or less. They are made in the USA.
Acadia GEM began as an idea for a fun way to explore Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park in an easy-to-maneuver vehicle. Jeff Young and Eben Salvatore, co-owners of the new business, have lived on Mount Desert Island all their lives and have decades of experience accommodating visitors in Bar Harbor. They are excited with the idea of navigating through the busy summer streets of Bar Harbor and experiencing the beautiful island and Acadia National Park in a different way.
"Millions of people visit Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park every summer," said Jeff Young, co-owner of Acadia GEM. "Our fleet allows them a fully electric and fun way to explore the area. Our GEMs have a glass roof and removable doors, which really provides an amazing quiet and open-air Acadia experience."
Young added, "In order to reverse the direction our climate is heading, we all need to do our part. Acadia GEM is proud to provide our visitors the option of exploring Acadia while reducing emissions."
Those interested can book a GEM experience here. The company also offers a map of places to explore (see here).
"Since Acadia National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in our nation, it is fitting that we do our part to protect its fragile environment. By offering electric vehicles, we can allow visitors to see the beauty of the park without damaging it for future generations," said Salvatore.
Salvatore added that in recent months they have seen a massive surge of interest from visitors and are confident in GEM becoming a go-to experience for all visitors to the park.
"Our fleet recently passed 40,000 miles for the season. It's exciting to think about how much air pollution we are preventing. Acadia GEM provides a clean and fun way for visitors to enjoy the beauty of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park without leaving a carbon footprint. In fact, this may be the only EV service of its kind in any national park in the country," said Salvatore.
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SOURCE Acadia GEM | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/12/acadia-gem-clean-all-electric-fun-way-see-bar-harbor-acadia-national-park/ | 2022-08-12T19:14:31Z |
DENVER, April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RiverNorth Opportunities Fund, Inc. (NYSE: RIV) (the "Fund") today announced that it plans to offer shares of its Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") in an underwritten public offering. The completion of the proposed offering depends upon several factors, including customary closing, market and other conditions. The Fund has applied to list the Preferred Stock on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the ticker symbol "RIVPRA". If the application is approved, trading on the NYSE in the Preferred Stock is expected to begin within 30 days following the issuance date of the Preferred Stock.
The Fund plans to use the net proceeds from the offering of the Preferred Stock to invest in accordance with its investment objective and policies, repay borrowings under the Fund's credit facility and for general working capital purposes.
UBS Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC are acting as the joint book-running managers for the offering.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or constitute a solicitation of an offer to buy.
The information in the preliminary prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and this press release is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). This press release is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Investors should consider the Fund's investment objective, risks, and expenses carefully before investing. The preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund and should be read carefully before investing. Copies of the prospectus supplement (when complete) and accompanying prospectus may be obtained for no charge by calling UBS Securities LLC toll-free at 1-888-827-7275, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at 1-866-718-1649 or RBC Capital Markets, LLC at 1-866-375-6829. Copies of these documents, when finalized, and other documents the Fund has filed with the SEC may also be obtained by visiting EDGAR on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or on the Fund's website at www.rivernorthcef.com.
The investment objective of the Fund is total return consisting of capital appreciation and current income. The Fund had approximately $286 million of net assets and 17.5 million shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2021.
Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
ALPS Advisors, Inc. is the investment adviser to the Fund.
RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC is the investment sub-adviser to the Fund. RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC is not affiliated with ALPS Advisors, Inc. or any of its affiliates.
ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. is the FINRA Member firm.
NOT FDIC INSURED | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee
About SS&C Technologies
SS&C Technologies, Inc. ("SS&C") is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, and has offices around the world. Some 18,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world's largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale, and technology.
About SS&C ALPS Advisors
ALPS Advisors, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SS&C, is a leading provider of investment products for advisors and institutions. With over $17 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2021, the firm provides access to asset classes and boutique asset managers in real assets, alternatives, thematic/factor and fixed income through both ETF and open-end mutual fund structures.
About RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC
RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC is an investment management firm founded in 2000. With $5.8 billion1 in assets under management as of December 31, 2021, RiverNorth specializes in opportunistic investment strategies in niche markets where the potential to exploit inefficiencies is greatest. RiverNorth is an institutional investment manager to registered funds, private funds and separately managed accounts.
1 Firm AUM reflects Managed Assets which includes the effects of leverage and investments in affiliated funds.
This press release contains certain statements that may include "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words "may," "will," "intend," "expect," "estimate," "continue," "plan," "anticipate," and similar terms and the negatives of such terms. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Many factors that could materially affect the Fund's actual results are the performance of the portfolio of securities held by the Fund, the conditions in the U.S. and international financial and other markets, the price at which Preferred Stock trades in the public markets and other factors discussed in the Fund's preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus and to be discussed in the Fund's periodic filings with the SEC.
Although the Fund believes that the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. The Fund's future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this press release. Except for the Fund's ongoing obligations under the federal securities laws, the Fund does not intend, and the Fund undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement.
* Registered Representative of ALPS Distributors, Inc.
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SOURCE RiverNorth Opportunities Fund, Inc | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/rivernorth-opportunities-fund-inc-launches-series-perpetual-preferred-stock-offering/ | 2022-04-06T01:12:22Z |
- Additional +80 GI Genius™ units to be donated for a total of 133 to 62 facilities that primarily serve communities with low screening rates or where access to the technology is not currently available
- Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia is the first site to receive GI Genius modules through Medtronic's Health Equity Assistance Program
DUBLIN, July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), a global leader in healthcare technology, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) today announced they are expanding the Medtronic Health Equity Assistance Program for colon cancer screening in medically underserved communities across the United States, with support from Amazon Web Services's (AWS) Health Equity Initiative. The GI Genius units provided as part of the program have increased from 50 to 133 systems being placed at 62 facilities.
Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Ga. was the first to receive its donated GI Genius units last month following the launch of the program in February 2022. Gastroenterologists at Grady Memorial Hospital perform more than 7,000 colon cancer screening procedures each year among a predominantly Black community. Accounting for 80% of the specialty's patient population, Black adults are disproportionately burdened by colon cancer, at greater risk of diagnosis, worse outcome and death.
"We are excited to provide this novel technology to our patients. By utilizing GI Genius, we have the potential to increase our adenoma detection rate and reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer in a high-risk and vulnerable population," said Benjamin D. Renelus, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Grady Memorial Hospital. "The hospital's hope is that the thousands of patients receiving colonoscopy cancer screenings each year at our facility will benefit from Medtronic's GI Genius intelligent endoscopy module with the potential for earlier detection and better patient outcomes."
"This endeavor is a unique and inspiring opportunity to contribute enormously to the reduction of colorectal cancer screening disparities in communities where patients are disproportionately uninsured and have historically faced barriers accessing life-saving preventative care, including healthcare technology that can aid in detecting colorectal cancer," said Fola May, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Medicine, director of Quality Improvement in Gastroenterology, and health equity researcher at UCLA Health.
"Equity in healthcare begins with ensuring access for all to life-transforming therapies," said Geoff Martha, Medtronic chairman and chief executive officer. "It's exciting to see how our new collaboration with AWS can help clinicians detect colon cancer early among some of the highest risk individuals in our country."
The GI Genius intelligent endoscopy module, authorized by the FDA in April 2021, is the first-to-market, computer-aided polyp detection system powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to detect colorectal polyps of varying shapes and sizes automatically in real time which helps diagnose and prevent colorectal cancer. In the first U.S. trial using GI Genius, results published this spring showed a 50% reduction in missed colorectal polyps with AI technology versus standard colonoscopy.
"This initiative is so important because we know that almost half of all cases of post-colonoscopy colon cancer may be attributed to not catching polyps during the index colonoscopy,"1,2 said Dr. Austin Chiang, M.D., M.P.H., chief medical officer of the Gastrointestinal business, which is part of the Medical Surgical Portfolio at Medtronic. "We have seen the impact that AI-assisted colonoscopies can have, and this study unequivocally demonstrates that this technology helps physicians better detect polyps during colonoscopies. The impact of missed polyps could ultimately be the difference between life and death when we consider that 90% of patients with colon cancer can beat it when it's caught early."3
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, who led the submission and selection process for this program, recently released their full list of recipients for donated GI Genius units.
About ASGE
Since its founding in 1941, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has been dedicated to advancing patient care and digestive health by promoting excellence and innovation in gastrointestinal endoscopy. ASGE, with almost 15,000 members worldwide, promotes the highest standards for endoscopic training and practice, fosters endoscopic research, recognizes distinguished contributions to endoscopy, and is the foremost resource for endoscopic education. Visit Asge.org and ValueOfColonoscopy.org for more information.
About Medtronic
Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people across 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow @Medtronic on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.
1Zhao S, Wang S, Pan P, et al. Magnitude, Risk Factors, and Factors Associated With Adenoma Miss Rate of Tandem Colonoscopy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Gastroenterology 2019;156:1661-1674.e11
2Robertson, D.J.; Lieberman, D.A.; Winawer, S.J.; Ahnen, D.J.; Baron, J.A.; Schatzkin, A.; Cross, A.J.; Zauber, A.G.; Church, T.R.; Lance, P.; et al. Colorectal Cancers Soon after Colonoscopy: A Pooled Multicohort Analysis. Gut 2014, 63, 949–956.
3National Cancer Institute. Cancer stat facts: colon and rectum cancer. National Cancer Institute Website. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/colorect.html. Accessed Feb. 7, 2017.
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SOURCE Medtronic plc | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/15/medtronic-expands-health-equity-assistance-program-colon-cancer-screening-with-support-amazon-web-services-completes-first-installation-donated-gi-genius-intelligent-endoscopy-modules/ | 2022-07-15T15:16:53Z |
Aqueous botanical extracts are produced by ANGUS in the U.S. and made from sustainably sourced plant materials backed by a fully documented and traceable quality system
BUFFALO GROVE, Ill., Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ANGUS Chemical Company ("ANGUS" or "Company"), a leading global manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals for Life Sciences and Industrial markets, today announced the launch of a new portfolio of Natural Botanical Extracts for the U.S. market. The botanical extracts are produced by ANGUS in the U.S. using the traditional method of aqueous extraction and are specifically formulated for use in home and personal care products. ANGUS' botanical extracts are made from sustainably sourced plant materials backed by a fully documented and traceable quality system.
"Botanicals are widely used to enhance the luxury and performance of home and personal care products and cater to increasing consumer preferences for products that use naturally derived ingredients," said Mike Lewis, Senior Vice President, Americas, for ANGUS. "It was only natural that we expand into the fast-growing botanicals space with products produced in-house that leverage decades of manufacturing expertise and the ANGUS commitment to quality, purity and transparency."
ANGUS' portfolio of natural botanicals currently includes green tea leaf, white tea leaf and chamomile flower extracts. Additional extracts are currently under development for an expected launch in the coming months and include hibiscus flower, lemon fruit, rosemary leaf, licorice root, calendula flower, and gotu kola. In addition to naturally derived botanicals, ANGUS offers a portfolio of high-purity, multifunctional ULTRA PC™-grade amino alcohols, which deliver robust multifunctional performance and broad formulating latitude across a wide range of home, beauty, and personal care applications.
Two-ounce samples of ANGUS-produced botanical extracts are now available for customer qualification. Commercial volumes are available for purchase in 2 kg and 5 kg packaging only in the U.S. The Company plans to expand the botanicals product line to other regions in the future. Custom sourcing and extraction are available upon customer request. For additional information or to order a sample, visit angus.com/contact, or contact an ANGUS representative at info@angus.com.
ABOUT ANGUS
ANGUS is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of specialty ingredients for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, consumer and industrial applications. The Company innovates through its unique nitroalkane chemistries, including its flagship AMP™ (aminomethyl propanol) multifunctional additives and TRIS AMINO™ (tromethamine) buffers, which are produced at fully integrated, ISO 9001-certified manufacturing facilities in the United States and Germany. ANGUS serves its global customers through six regional Customer Application Centers located in Chicago, Illinois; Paris, France; São Paulo, Brazil; Singapore; Shanghai, China; and Mumbai, India. The Company is headquartered in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. For more information, visit angus.com.
Follow ANGUS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ANGUS Media Relations
Scott C. Johnson
+1 847-808-3769
scjohnson@angus.com
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SOURCE ANGUS Chemical Company | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/angus-expands-home-personal-care-product-portfolio-with-natural-botanical-extracts/ | 2022-08-09T13:40:19Z |
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has selected four mission proposals submitted to the agency's Explorers Program for further study. The proposals include missions that would study exploding stars, distant clusters of galaxies, and nearby galaxies and stars.
Two Astrophysics Medium Explorer missions and two Explorer Missions of Opportunity have been selected to conduct mission concept studies. After detailed evaluation of those studies, NASA plans to select one Mission of Opportunity and one Medium Explorer in 2024 to proceed with implementation. The selected missions will be targeted for launch in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
"NASA's Explorers Program has a proud tradition of supporting innovative approaches to exceptional science, and these selections hold that same promise," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "From studying the evolution of galaxies to explosive, high-energy events, these proposals are inspiring in their scope and creativity to explore the unknown in our universe."
NASA Explorer missions conduct focused scientific investigations and develop instruments that fill scientific gaps between the agency's larger space science missions. The proposals were competitively selected based on potential science value and feasibility of development plans.
The two Medium Explorer teams selected at this stage will each receive $3 million to conduct a nine-month mission concept study. Astrophysics Medium Explorer mission costs are capped at $300 million each, excluding the launch vehicle. The selected proposals are:
UltraViolet EXplorer (UVEX)
- UVEX would conduct a deep survey of the whole sky in two bands of ultraviolet light, to provide new insights into galaxy evolution and the lifecycle of stars. The spacecraft would have the ability to repoint rapidly to capture ultraviolet light from the explosion that follows a burst of gravitational waves caused by merging neutron stars. UVEX would carry an ultraviolet spectrograph for detailed study of massive stars and stellar explosions.
- Principal investigator: Fiona Harrison at Caltech in Pasadena, California
Survey and Time-domain Astrophysical Research Explorer (STAR-X)
- The STAR-X spacecraft would be able to turn rapidly to point a sensitive wide-field X-ray telescope and an ultraviolet telescope at transient cosmic sources, such as supernova explosions and active galaxies. Deep X-ray surveys would map hot gas trapped in distant clusters of galaxies; combined with infrared observations from NASA's upcoming Roman Space Telescope, these observations would trace how massive clusters of galaxies built up over cosmic history.
- Principal investigator: William Zhang at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland
The two Mission of Opportunity teams selected at this stage will each receive $750,000 to conduct a nine-month implementation concept study. NASA Mission of Opportunity costs are capped at $80 million each. The selected proposals are:
Moon Burst Energetics All-sky Monitor (MoonBEAM)
- In its orbit between Earth and the Moon, MoonBEAM would see almost the whole sky at any time, watching for bursts of gamma rays from distant cosmic explosions and rapidly alerting other telescopes to study the source. MoonBEAM would see gamma rays earlier or later than telescopes on Earth or in low orbit, and astronomers could use that time difference to pinpoint the gamma-ray source in the sky.
- Principal investigator: Chiumun Michelle Hui at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama
A LargE Area burst Polarimeter (LEAP)
- Mounted on the International Space Station, LEAP would study gamma-ray bursts from the energetic jets launched during the formation of a black hole after the explosive death of a massive star, or in the merger of compact objects. The high-energy gamma-ray radiation can be polarized, or vibrate in a particular direction, which can distinguish between competing theories for the nature of the jets.
- Principal investigator: Mark McConnell at the University of New Hampshire in Durham
The Explorers Program is the oldest continuous NASA program. The program is designed to provide frequent, low-cost access to space using principal investigator-led space science investigations relevant to the Science Mission Directorate's astrophysics and heliophysics programs.
Since the launch of Explorer 1 in 1958, which discovered the Earth's radiation belts, the Explorers Program has launched more than 90 missions, including the Uhuru and Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) missions that led to Nobel prizes for their investigators.
The program is managed by NASA Goddard for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, which conducts a wide variety of research and scientific exploration programs for Earth studies, space weather, the solar system, and the universe.
For more information about the Explorers Program, visit:
https://explorers.gsfc.nasa.gov
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SOURCE NASA | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/nasa-selects-proposals-study-stellar-explosions-galaxies-stars/ | 2022-08-18T21:51:08Z |
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