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Announces Veteran Real Estate Investment Executive Michael Hawkins Joins Cove as Chief Investment Officer
PHOENIX, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cove Communities ('Cove') is pleased to announce and welcome Michael Hawkins as Chief Investment Officer. Michael will oversee acquisitions, capital transactions, sourcing of debt capital, and equity partner relations for Cove Communities.
Most recently, Mr. Hawkins served as Managing Director in the Real Estate Investment Banking group for KeyBanc Capital Markets, where he oversaw the successful execution of transaction volume in excess of $50 billion including capital markets, mergers and acquisitions.
Before working with KeyBanc, he held banking roles for a boutique investment bank in New York, Wachovia Securities, and RBC Capital Markets.
"We are extremely pleased to have Michael join our leadership team. I've had the privilege of working with Michael for over a decade and value his extensive capital markets and transaction advisory experience," said David Napp, Cove's Chairman of the Board. "Over the course of his career, Michael has established himself as a very effective and strategic thought leader who brings a breadth of experience and deep set of relationships which will be immediately valuable to Cove Communities," added Colleen Edwards, Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Hawkins earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia and a Masters of Business Administration from Emory University's Goizueta Business School.
Cove Communities, a real estate investment trust (REIT) founded in 2017, currently owns and operates 45 manufactured home communities and RV resorts with 15,401 developed sites in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. Cove's Chairman Dave Napp and CEO Colleen Edwards have 26-year track records of fair and professional dealings with sellers and reputations as buyers of choice in the MH and RV industry. Napp and Edwards previously founded both Encore Communities and Carefree Communities, purchasing over 185 communities with over 55,000 sites during their ownership, establishing themselves among the most active owner/operators in the business.
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SOURCE Cove Communities | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/cove-communities-poised-market-growth/ | 2022-06-22T18:49:46Z |
BEIJING, May 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On International Mother's Day, which falls on the second Sunday of May every year, people across the world share stories about their mothers and express their love and gratitude to the person who brought them to this world.
Parents serve as role models for children, and it's no exception for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He recalled stories about how his mother Qi Xin has influenced him through his life.
Born in 1926, Qi joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 1943 at the age of 17 and became a staunch supporter of the Party's values and beliefs.
"Parents and seniors should pass on good morals to their children when they are young, helping them build moral integrity and a sense of goodwill, so that they can grow into people who can contribute to the country and the general public," Qi once said.
'Serve the country with the utmost loyalty'
When Xi was around five or six years old, his mother bought him picture books and told him the story about Yue Fei, a legendary general who fought battles to defend his nation with utmost loyalty during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).
The mother told the boy how Yue Fei's mother tattooed four Chinese characters, which literally translate as "serve the country with the utmost loyalty," on the back of her son.
"I said it must have been a great pain to have those words tattooed on the back," Xi recalled. "But my mother said that although it was painful, he remembered it by heart."
Xi has since used those words as a goal to pursue in life.
The greatest filial piety
As a filial son, Xi chats with his mother and takes a walk with her whenever he has time. A photo of him walking hand in hand with his mother is placed on his bookshelves.
During the Spring Festival of 2001, Xi, then governor of southeast China's Fujian Province, could not get together with his parents because of work.
Qi called her son, saying that as long as he did his best on the job, he would be showing the greatest filial piety to her and his father.
Her words of support have greatly inspired Xi to serve the public with the goal of achieving a good life for Chinese families.
Xi has repeatedly said that he "loves the people just like loving his parents."
Passing down family tradition
Qi led a simple life, which became a tradition for the family. Her lifestyle and the family atmosphere guided Xi's values.
"A person who failed to be incorruptible and self-disciplined will become a person with no guts. Keep in mind that honesty is a blessing and greed is a curse, while establishing a correct view of power, status and interests," Qi once wrote in a letter to Xi, reminding him of self-discipline.
Xi has incorporated these beliefs into his ideology and governance practices.
In 2000, Qi spent 40 days visiting the CPC's old revolutionary base area of Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia. In Zhaojin, the center of the area, she saw shabby classrooms of a local primary school and mobilized her family to donate 150,000 yuan to rebuild the school.
In May 2018, the students of the school wrote a letter to Xi, reporting their study and the development of the school. One week later, the president wrote back, encouraging them to inherit and pass on the spirit of the CPC with concrete actions.
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SOURCE CGTN | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/08/cgtn-mothers-day-stories-xi-jinping-his-mother/ | 2022-05-09T09:57:48Z |
Accomplished Marketing Professional Continues Leading Safelite's Brand and Customer Experience Strategies
COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Safelite, the nation's leading vehicle glass services and recalibration company, today announced the appointment of Christina Pletnewski to Chief Marketing Officer.
"Christina's journey since joining our business in 2016 as Vice President of Marketing demonstrates her vast talent and ability to manage multiple key areas of our business successfully," said Renee Cacchillo, Safelite's President and CEO.
As Vice President, Pletnewski led TV creative and media, market research, B2B marketing, corporate communications, internal creative and ancillary products and services. Under her leadership, Safelite experienced substantial growth in top-of-mind awareness, brand visibility and brand recognition.
Pletnewski expanded her role by building a new customer experience team in 2020, focusing on creating meaningful experiences for customers, clients and associates, resulting in additional business value and results.
Cacchillo added, "Christina is a seasoned marketer, and through her new role as CMO, she will continue to lead Safelite's marketing vision through new and innovative brand and customer experience strategies."
Before joining Safelite, Pletnewski held marketing leadership roles for leading companies, including Abbott, Nestle, SC Johnson and L Brands. She earned her bachelor's degree in business administration and MBA at The Ohio State University.
Safelite is a multi-faceted vehicle glass and claims management service organization based in Columbus, Ohio, and operating company-owned facilities in 50 states. The company, which has been in business since 1947, is comprised of two major business operations: Safelite AutoGlass®, a vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration services provider and Safelite® Solutions, which offers fleet and insurance claims management services for vehicle glass and other claims. The company employs nearly 16,000 people throughout the United States. Safelite is a subsidiary of Belron®. Safelite AutoGlass is the largest vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration company under one brand in the world.
Media Contact: To connect with a Safelite spokesperson, email mediarelations@safelite.com.
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SOURCE Safelite | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/safelite-appoints-christina-pletnewski-chief-marketing-officer/ | 2022-06-23T17:30:53Z |
STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) announced that Franklin Templeton, a global investment management organization, renewed its lease for 79,059 square feet at 100 First Stamford Place, which represents about 10% of building square footage.
Located in one of Connecticut's premier business districts, the award-winning office campus at First Stamford Place consists of 777,174 rentable square feet within three buildings. The complex is a short walk from the Stamford Transportation Center (STC) at I-95's Exit 7.
First Stamford Place features a full suite of amenities which include new fitness and conference centers, new dining and coffee lounge, renovated lobbies, on-site daycare, beautifully landscaped grounds, covered parking, shuttle to the Stamford Transportation Center, and an on-site car wash.
"ESRT provides exceptional value with healthy, modernized workplaces and industry-leading sustainability practices to serve the market flight to quality," said Jeff Newman, senior vice president, leasing at Empire State Realty Trust. "Franklin Templeton's long-term renewal and consolidated relocation of its entire Stamford office space to First Stamford Place is a testament to the property's ideal location for companies to recruit and retain employees from across the tri-state area, and to our successful tenant partnerships and industry leadership in indoor environmental quality and energy efficiency."
Jay Hruska, Rob Lowe, Jeff Cushman and John C. Cushman III of Cushman and Wakefield represented Franklin Templeton in the lease negotiations. Jeffrey Newman and Kimberly Zaccagnino of ESRT represented the property owner.
More information about First Stamford Place, and current availabilities, can be found online.
About Empire State Realty Trust
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) is a REIT that owns and manages office, retail and multifamily assets in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area. ESRT owns the Empire State Building, the World's Most Famous Building, and Tripadvisor's 2022 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Awards #1 attraction in the U.S. and #3 attraction in the world, the newly reimagined and iconic Empire State Building Observatory. The company is a leader in healthy buildings, energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality and has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per square foot of any publicly traded REIT portfolio in New York City. As of June 30, 2022, ESRT's portfolio is comprised of approximately 9.2 million rentable square feet of office space, 700,000 rentable square feet of retail space and 625 residential units across two multifamily properties. More information about Empire State Realty Trust can be found at esrtreit.com and by following ESRT on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal securities laws. You can identify these statements by our use of words such as "assumes," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects" or the negative of these words or similar words or expressions that do not relate to historical matters. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements, because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond ESRT's control and could materially affect actual results, performance or achievements. Such factors and risks include, without limitation, the current public health crisis and economic disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, a failure of conditions or performance regarding any event or transaction described above, regulatory changes, and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in ESRT's and ESROP's filings with the SEC, including those set forth in each of ESRT's and ESROP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 under the heading "Risk Factors." Except as may be required by law, ESRT and ESROP do not undertake a duty to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Source: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.
Category: Leasing
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SOURCE Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/franklin-templeton-inc-renews-with-empire-state-realty-trust-79k-square-feet-100-first-stamford-place/ | 2022-08-03T22:01:22Z |
NEW YORK, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLP, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws and/or breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to:
PS Business Parks, Inc. (NYSE: PSB)'s sale to affiliates of Blackstone Real Estate for $187.50 per share in cash. If you are a PS Business Parks shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Emclaire Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: EMCF)'s sale to Farmers National Banc Corp. Pursuant to the agreement, Emclaire shareholders may elect to receive either $40.00 per share in cash or 2.15 shares of Farmers' common stock, subject to an overall limitation of 70% of the shares being exchanged for Farmers' shares and 30% for cash. If you are an Emclaire shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW)'s sale to Broadcom Inc. Under the terms of the merger, VMware shareholders may elect to receive either $142.50 in cash or 0.2520 shares of Broadcom common stock for each share of VMware they own. The shareholder election is subject to proration. If you are a VMware shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Flexible Solutions International, Inc. (NYSE: FSI)'s merger with Lygos, Inc. If you are a Flexible Solutions shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Manning & Napier, Inc. (NYSE: MN)'s sale to Callodine Group, LLC for $12.85 per share. If you are a Manning & Napier shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Halper Sadeh LLP may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits on behalf of shareholders.
Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm free of charge to discuss their legal rights and options. Please call Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or email sadeh@halpersadeh.com or zhalper@halpersadeh.com.
Halper Sadeh LLP represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Halper Sadeh LLP
Daniel Sadeh, Esq.
Zachary Halper, Esq.
(212) 763-0060
sadeh@halpersadeh.com
zhalper@halpersadeh.com
https://www.halpersadeh.com
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SOURCE Halper Sadeh LLP | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/20/shareholder-investigation-alert-halper-sadeh-llp-investigates-psb-emcf-vmw-fsi-mn/ | 2022-06-20T13:34:58Z |
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Five people affiliated with a Nazi prison gang, including one who legally changed his name to Filthy Fuhrer, have been convicted in the grisly death of a member whose gang tattoo was cut off his rib cage with a hot knife before he was shot and his body was burned, a federal jury in Alaska decided Monday.
Fuhrer, 45, the gang leader who legally changed his name from Timothy Lobdell, and the others were convicted of murder, racketeering, kidnapping and assault charges.
All face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole on the murder charge when they are sentenced in federal court in Anchorage. Sentencing hearings are scheduled for October.
“Violent gangs, especially those based upon racial hatred, are a plague to our society,” U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska said in a statement.
“As this case demonstrates, the crimes of organized prison gangs often go beyond the prison walls bringing violence into our communities. Today’s convictions are a major disruption to the operation of the 1488 prison gang and hold accountable those who order or commit brutal and heinous crimes,” Tucker said.
According to federal prosecutors, Fuhrer founded the 1488 prison gang, which operated in prisons throughout Alaska and on the outside, or the “free world,” as members called it. Full membership is given to those committing acts of violence on behalf of the gang, and these “made” members receive the 1488 “patch,” a tattoo depicting an Iron Cross superimposed over a swastika.
The name of the gang, 1488, refers to different tenets of white supremacy, according to court documents. The “14” refers to the 14 words in a white nationalist creed: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.”
There are two possible meanings for the last part of the gang’s name: The double eights could reference the 88 precepts outlined by white supremacist David Lane, or they could stand for “Heil Hitler,” since H is the eighth letter of the alphabet.
The gang requires all members to “be white, look white and act white.”
Fuhrer, who is serving a 19-year sentence for the attempted murder of an Alaska State Trooper, believed some members were defying the gang’s code of conduct, which includes the creed that “the only currency we recognize is violence and unquestionable loyalty.” According to prosecutors, Fuhrer believed the conduct of some was diminishing the power and influence of the gang.
From behind bars, Fuhrer sent out a trusted member with a list of directives, which included the kidnapping and assault of two low-level members and then the kidnapping, assault and murder of Staton on Aug. 3, 2017, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said 1488 members Roy Naughton, Glen Baldwin and Colter O’Dell worked with Craig King, a Hells Angel Motorcycle Club member, to kill Staton as retaliation for stealing from both King and the 1488s.
With hands and feet bound, Staton was delivered to a duplex in Wasilla, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Anchorage. King and his wife lived on one side. The other side was vacant but prepared for the beating with walls and floor covered with painter’s plastic, court documents say.
Inside, Staton was beaten and tortured and the 1488 patch was cut off his rib cage with a knife that had been heated with a propane torch.
Staton was still alive when Baldwin and O’Dell took him into the woods, where he was shot and his body burned, prosecutors and court documents said.
Two others, Nicholas Kozorra and Dustin Clowers, previously pleaded guilty to murder charges in Staton’s death. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-u-s-headlines/alaska-nazi-prison-gang-members-convicted-in-grisly-death/ | 2022-05-03T11:11:20Z |
Russian missiles strike Kyiv, shattering sense of calm
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Russia’s defense ministry said a barrage of airstrikes on Ukraine’s capital destroyed tanks donated by the West and other armor in an attack on Sunday that shattered five weeks of eerie calm in Kyiv, as President Vladimir Putin warned the West about supplying long-range rocket systems to Ukraine.
Putin said that Moscow would hit targets “we haven’t yet struck” if it went ahead with such deliveries. It wasn’t immediately clear if Putin was referring to new targets within or outside Ukraine’s borders.
Russian forces pounded railway facilities and other infrastructure early Sunday in the capital, Kyiv. Ukraine’s nuclear plant operator, Energoatom, said one cruise missile buzzed the Pivdennoukrainsk nuclear plant, about 350 kilometers (220 miles) to the south, on its way to the capital — citing the dangers of such a near miss.
There was no immediate confirmation from Ukraine that the Russian airstrikes had destroyed tanks.
Kyiv hadn’t faced any such strikes since the April 28 visit of U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres. The early morning attack triggered air raid alarms and showed that Russia still had the capability and willingness to hit at Ukraine’s heart since abandoning its wider offensive across the country to instead focus its efforts in the east.
The strikes appeared aimed at thwarting the resupplying of Ukrainian fighters, a rising concern in Moscow.
In a posting on the Telegram app, the Russian Defense Ministry said high-precision, long-range air-launched missiles were used. It said the strikes destroyed on the outskirts of Kyiv destroyed T-72 tanks supplied by Eastern European countries and other armored vehicles located in buildings of a car-repair business.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 has led to untold tens of thousands of civilian and troop deaths, driven millions from their homes, sparked vast sanctions against Putin’s government and allies, and strangled exports of critical wheat and other grains from Ukraine through Black Sea ports — limiting access to bread and other products in Africa, the Middle East and beyond.
In a television interview on Sunday, Putin lashed out at Western deliveries of weapons to Ukraine, saying they aim to prolong the conflict.
“All this fuss around additional deliveries of weapons, in my opinion, has only one goal: To drag out the armed conflict as much as possible,” Putin said, alluding to U.S. plans to supply multiple launch rocket systems to Kyiv. He insisted such supplies were unlikely to change much for the Ukrainian government, which he said was merely making up for losses of rockets of similar range that they already had.
If Kyiv gets longer-range rockets, he added, Moscow will “draw appropriate conclusions and use our means of destruction, which we have plenty of, in order to strike at those objects that we have not yet struck.”
The missiles hit Kyiv’s Darnytski and Dniprovski districts, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app, punctuating the Kremlin’s recently reduced goal of seizing the entire Donbas region in the east. Moscow-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian forces for eight years in the Donbas and established self-proclaimed republics.
In recent days, Russian forces have focused on capturing the city of Sievierodonetsk.
A billowing pillar of smoke filled the air with an acrid odor in Kyiv’s eastern Darnystki district, and the charred, blackened wreckage of a warehouse-type structure was smoldering. Police near the site told an Associated Press reporter that military authorities had banned the taking of images. Soldiers also blocked off a road in a nearby area leading toward a large railway yard.
The sites struck included facilities for the state rail company, Ukrzaliznytsia, said Serhiy Leshchenko, an adviser in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, on Telegram.
Energoatom said a Russian cruise missile came dangerously close to the Pivdennoukrainsk nuclear power plant at 5:30 a.m., seemingly tearing toward Kyiv. It said the missile “flew critically low” and that Russian targeters “still do not understand that even the smallest fragment of a missile that can hit a working power unit can cause a nuclear catastrophe and radiation leak.”
Russian strikes have repeatedly targeted railway facilities, seemingly aimed at slowing the provision of weapons to Ukrainian forces on the front lines. The cruise missiles appeared to have been launched from a Tu-95 bomber flying over the Caspian Sea, the Air Force Command said on Facebook. It said air defense units shot down one missile.
Elsewhere, Russian forces continued their push to take ground in eastern Ukraine, with missile and airstrikes carried out on cities and villages of the Luhansk region, with the war now past the 100-day mark.
Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai said on Telegram that “airstrikes by Russian Ka-52 helicopters were carried out in the areas of Girske and Myrna Dolyna, by Su-25 aircraft - on Ustynivka,” while Lysychansk was hit by a missile from the Tochka-U complex.
A total of 13 houses were damaged in Girske, and five in Lysychansk. Another airstrike was reported in the eastern city of Kramatorsk by its mayor Oleksandr Goncharenko. No one was killed in the attack, he said, but two of the city’s enterprises sustained “significant damage.”
On Sunday morning, Ukraine’s General Staff accused Russian forces of using phosphorus munitions in the village of Cherkaski Tyshky in the Kharkiv region. The claim couldn’t be independently verified.
The update also confirmed strikes on Kyiv, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday. It wasn’t immediately clear from the statement which infrastructure facilities in Kyiv were hit.
The General Staff said Russian forces continue assault operations in Sievierodonetsk, one of two key cities left to be captured in the Luhansk region of the Donbas. The Russians control the eastern part of the city, the update said, and are focusing on trying to encircle Ukrainian forces in the area and “blocking off main logistical routes.”
The U.K. military said in its daily intelligence update that Ukrainian counterattacks in Sieverodonetsk were “likely blunting the operational momentum Russian forces previously gained through concentrating combat units and firepower.” Russian forces previously had been making a string of advances in the city, but Ukrainian fighters have pushed back in recent days.
The statement also said Russia’s military was partly relying on reserve forces of the Luhansk region.
“These troops are poorly equipped and trained, and lack heavy equipment in comparison to regular Russian units,” the intelligence update said, adding that “this approach likely indicates a desire to limit casualties suffered by regular Russian forces.”
Far from the battlefield, Ukraine’s national soccer players are hoping to secure a World Cup spot when the team takes on Wales later Sunday in Cardiff.
On the diplomatic front, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was heading to Serbia for talks with President Aleksandar Vucic early this week, followed by a visit to Turkey on Tuesday, where the Russian envoy is expected to discuss Ukraine with his Turkish counterpart.
Turkey has been trying to work with U.N. and the warring countries to help clear the way for Ukrainian grain to be exported to Turkish ports, though no deal on the issue appeared imminent.
A Ukrainian presidential adviser urged European nations to respond with “more sanctions, more weapons” to Sunday’s missile attacks.
Mykhailo Podolyak referenced remarks Friday by French President Emmanuel Macron, who said Putin had made a “historic error” by invading Ukraine, but that world powers shouldn’t “humiliate Russia” so that a diplomatic exit could be found when the fighting stops.
“While someone asks not to humiliate, the Kremlin resorts to new insidious attacks,” Podolyak tweeted. “Each of such terrorist attacks must face a tough response from European capitals: more sanctions, more weapons.”
Ukrainian officials have denounced the remark, and have criticized France and some other European countries for continuing to speak to Putin and talking about diplomatic solutions instead of working to push Russia out of Ukraine militarily.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/05/russian-missiles-strike-kyiv-shattering-sense-calm/ | 2022-06-05T10:42:58Z |
The country's top 15 bartenders faced off in Nashville, TN in search of one winner who will represent the U.S. at the World Class Global Finals in Sydney, Australia
NEW YORK, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After two exhilarating days with 15 of the top U.S. bartenders competing in four individual challenges, USBG and Diageo have announced Jessi Pollak as the 2022 U.S. Bartender of the Year. Hosted for the first time in Nashville, TN, the prestigious competition brought together the best bartenders across the country to elevate the art of cocktail creation, and Jessi awed judges with her expansive knowledge, engaging presentation, and innovative craftsmanship to ultimately represent the U.S. at the World Class Global Finals held in Sydney, Australia this fall.
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9061251-usbg-diageo-announce-2022-bartender-of-the-year/
"As a first-time competitor in the USBG Presents World Class Sponsored by Diageo, I am completely stunned to be named this year's U.S. Bartender of the Year," says Jessi Pollak. "There were so many people who inspired me and guided me along the way that helped make it such a rewarding and unforgettable experience. I am truly honored to be able to continue my journey and represent the U.S. at the Global Finals in Sydney!"
The tenth year of the USBG Presents World Class Sponsored by Diageo competition saw thousands of applicants from across the country for a series of rigorous regional competitions to narrow down the Top 15 bartenders in the U.S. who advanced to the national competition in Nashville, TN from June 20-21. There, the competitors demonstrated their knowledge, skill, and creativity in four ambitious bartending challenges to determine the U.S. Bartender of the Year.
Day one of challenges kicked off with Spirit of Don Julio where competitors developed unique serves paying homage to the brand and its founder, followed by Taste the City where finalists created a signature cocktail pairing with an iconic Nashville dish. The second day pushed the mixologists in a Home Brew challenge where they created two cocktail styles using Ketel One Family Made Vodka, inspired by a unique type of brew, in addition to The Showdown where competitors raced against the clock to create eight different cocktails in eight minutes.
"It's incredible that we're now in our tenth season of the USBG Presents World Class Sponsored by Diageo program," shares USBG Executive Director Aaron Gregory Smith. "The resounding excitement from the bartending community to participate in this acclaimed competition demonstrates that the skill and desire to grow in this industry remains strong, and we are extremely proud to contribute to the transformative opportunity this program provides for bartenders."
Cassandra Ericson, Manager of On Premise Channel Marketing at Diageo North America adds, "Each and every year of this renowned program, we have the privilege of witnessing an unparalleled level of passion and skill that is truly inspiring. World Class has been an incredible journey since I was a bartender competing in the program myself in 2017, and it's incredible to see how it has evolved into a community that elevates the craft and puts Diageo's Reserve Portfolio at the forefront of cocktail culture."
Wondering what it takes to be crowned the U.S. Bartender of the Year? Applications will be open July-December for the 2023 USBG Presents World Class Sponsored by Diageo. Follow @WorldClassUS on Instagram to learn more and see if you can shake and stir your way to the top. In the meantime, see below for some of Jessi Pollak's recipes created during the National Finals that helped her win.
The FFFFlip
Created by 2022 U.S. Bartender of the Year Jessi Pollak
Ingredients:
- 1.25 oz Ketel One Family-Made Vodka
- .5 oz Amontillado Sherry
- 1 Whole Egg
- 1 oz Apple Spiced Cordial
- 2 oz Apple Cider
- Garnish: Apple Flavored Sprinkles
Preparation:
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Once emulsified, add ice to cocktail shaker and shake thoroughly. Strain into a teacup and garnish with apple flavored sprinkles.
Jungle Bird
Created by 2022 U.S. Bartender of the Year Jessi Pollak
Ingredients:
- 1.25 oz Tequila Don Julio Reposado
- .5 oz Italian Bitter Aperitif
- .75 oz Pineapple Juice
- .75 oz Lime Juice
- .5 oz Bell Pepper Infused Simple Syrup
- Garnish: Pineapple Fronds
Preparation:
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake thoroughly. Strain over ice into a Collins glass. Garnish with pineapple fronds.
Cocktails created for the duration of this year's competition can be found on Instagram using the handle @WorldClassUS. When showcasing your own mixology or sampling award-winning recipes from this year's competitors, USBG and Diageo remind you to do so responsibly.
For additional information about the program and for details on the upcoming global competition, follow hashtags #worldclassus, #worldclass2022 and #roadtosydney on Twitter and Instagram, and check us out online at https://worldclass.usbg.org and https://www.usbg.org/.
About USBG
Founded in 1948, the United States Bartenders' Guild® (USBG) is a nationwide nonprofit association of bartenders and other hospitality professionals that unites and elevates the bar industry through education, community, and advocacy. The USBG believes that bartending is a respected and fun occupation in a healthy environment that builds a hub for community. Through our network of over 40 communities nationwide, the USBG connects members with peer-to-peer mentorship, expert instruction, community service projects, and skills-based competition.
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 (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our 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 us on Twitter and Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.
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SOURCE Diageo | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/jessi-pollak-named-2022-us-bartender-year-usbg-presents-world-class-sponsored-by-diageo-national-finals/ | 2022-06-22T18:32:43Z |
Only a fourth of respondents are satisfied with their current quality of life;
84% have never connected with other people living with chronic hives
PHILADELPHIA, July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Living with chronic hives can often be impacted by various obstacles throughout the patient journey, including diagnosis, treatment-related condition control and affordability and quality of life, according to a recent survey conducted by Health Union, the leader in social health. The inaugural Chronic Hives In America survey illuminates the perspectives and experiences of people living with chronic hives.
These findings also support and fuel content and engagement for the recent launch of Chronic-Hives.com, Health Union's 40th condition-specific online health community.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology defines hives as a skin reaction leading to red or skin-colored bumps, caused by an array of triggers, including food, medications, insect stings or bites and exposure to heat or cold. When an individual's hives occur almost daily for more than six weeks, this is known as chronic hives, or chronic spontaneous urticaria.
Potentially due to a similarity in symptoms and triggers to allergies and a number of skin conditions, diagnosis can often be a journey for people living with chronic hives. More than six in 10 respondents said they had to see at least three healthcare professionals before receiving their chronic hives diagnosis. Chronic-Hives.com patient leader Christy Amos is one of those individuals.
"I ended up seeing three different allergy specialists before I was told that I have chronic hives," Amos said. "I'm glad to be a part of a community where I can share my experience and help support others who are also dealing with chronic hives."
Access to treatment can be a particular pain point for people with chronic hives. Nearly three in 10 respondents said they are unable to afford the cost of chronic hives treatment. Only 18% of respondents have ever used injection medications, which are among the most expensive treatments and often used for severe cases of chronic hives.
Affordability is one of multiple factors that could contribute to low condition control. Three in 10 respondents said they considered their chronic hives to be controlled on their current treatment plan. An even lower amount - 15% - said they feel in control of their overall health.
This negative view of overall health could be related to the significant impact the condition can have on mental health and other aspects of quality of life. Only a quarter of respondents said they are satisfied with their current quality of life. Specifically, more than half said their chronic hives have had a negative impact on their ability to sleep, four in 10 said it has negatively impacted their mental health and one-third said their condition has negatively affected both their self-esteem and their social life.
Moreover, half of respondents said they feel alone in their struggle with the condition. For many, this could be related to not knowing others who are also living with the condition. In fact, 84% of respondents said they have never connected with other people living with chronic hives, while only 8% currently keep in touch or engage with other chronic hives patients.
"People with chronic or complex health conditions are constantly looking for meaningful connections throughout their health journeys, whether to obtain information or find and share support," said Olivier Chateau, Health Union's co-founder and CEO. "With a condition like chronic hives, for which so few people know or have the opportunity to engage with others who share their experiences, Chronic-Hives.com will be a much-needed resource for many."
The inaugural Chronic Hives In America survey, which was fielded from Jan. 10 to March 18, 2022, included responses from 201 people living with chronic hives. Additional survey results may be available upon request. More information about living with chronic hives can be found on Chronic-Hives.com.
About Health Union
Health Union is the proven industry leader driving and amplifying social health. As the premier social health company, only Health Union encourages the dynamic, real-time action people take to find meaningful connections and share information that impact their health journey. The company reaches millions of people through the largest portfolio of condition-specific online health communities (e.g., Migraine.com, MultipleSclerosis.net, LungCancer.net) and health leaders - addressing virtually every condition and providing the information, connection and support they need.
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SOURCE Health Union | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/health-union-survey-reveals-diagnosis-treatment-obstacles-experienced-by-people-with-chronic-hives/ | 2022-07-18T14:45:20Z |
Federal agency sends team to probe Tesla crash that killed 3
By TOM KRISHER
AP Auto Writer
DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government’s road safety agency has dispatched a team to investigate the possibility that a Tesla involved in a California crash that killed three people was operating on a partially automated driving system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Wednesday confirmed that it had sent a special crash investigation team to probe the May 12 crash on the Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. The investigation is part of a larger inquiry by the agency into crashes involving advanced driver assistance systems such as Tesla’s Autopilot. Since 2016, the agency has sent teams to 34 crashes in which the systems were either in use or suspected of operating. According to a NHTSA document released Wednesday, of the 34, 28 involved Teslas. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/05/18/federal-agency-sends-team-to-probe-tesla-crash-that-killed-3/ | 2022-05-18T21:22:08Z |
VALCOURT, QC, Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - BRP Inc. (TSX: DOO) (NASDAQ: DOOO) reports that, following the recent cyberattack, information on certain employees and suppliers accessed by an unauthorized third party has been leaked on the dark web.
While the investigation is still ongoing, the evidence collected so far allows BRP to believe that the impact of this incident from a data privacy perspective should be limited, as mentioned in the press release issued on August 15, 2022.
BRP confirms that it has already contacted the very few employees who may have been impacted by the incident. The appropriate resources have been made available to them, including credit monitoring services. Based on the current status of its investigation, BRP also believes that the compromised information relating to certain of its suppliers is limited in quantity and sensitivity, and is in the process of contacting them.
At this time, the Company has no evidence that its clients' personal information would have been affected by the attack. Should the circumstances change, BRP would directly contact individuals or corporations impacted.
Certain information included in this release, including, but not limited to, the statements on the fact that the impact from this cyberattack was limited from a data privacy and confidentiality perspective and other statements that are not historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities laws. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the use of terminology such as "may", "will", "would", "should", "could", "expects", "forecasts", "plans", "intends", "trends", "indications", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "outlook", "predicts", "projects", "likely" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words or other comparable words or phrases. Forward looking statements, by their very nature, involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific. BRP cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results or performance of BRP to be materially different from the outlook or any future results or performance implied by such statements. Further details and descriptions of these and other factors are disclosed in BRP's annual information form dated March 24, 2022.
We are a global leader in the world of powersports products, propulsion systems and boats built on 80 years of ingenuity and intensive consumer focus. Our portfolio of industry-leading and distinctive products includes Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and pontoons, Can-Am on and off-road vehicles, Alumacraft and Quintrex boats, Manitou pontoons and Rotax marine propulsion systems as well as Rotax engines for karts and recreational aircraft. We complete our lines of products with a dedicated parts, accessories and apparel portfolio to fully enhance the riding experience. With annual sales of CA$7.6 billion from over 120 countries, our global workforce includes close to 20,000 driven, resourceful people.
Ski-Doo, Lynx, Sea-Doo, Can-Am, Rotax, Alumacraft, Manitou, Quintrex, and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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SOURCE BRP Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/brp-provides-information-data-leak/ | 2022-08-24T04:15:25Z |
Now in its Fourth Year, the Three-Day Event, to be Held in Detroit, Celebrates and Analyzes Diversity in the Footwear Industry
DETROIT, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Black Footwear Forum (BFF) today announces featured speakers and panels for this year's event, to be held at Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design (PLC) in Detroit, September 16-18, in partnership with the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA).
"Since its first year, the Black Footwear Forum has evolved into a major industry gathering to celebrate, inspire and acknowledge Black creatives globally who are responsible for the culture of our industry," PLC Founder and President D'Wayne Edwards said. "This year it's happening in the only city in the US designated a UNESCO City of Design—Detroit, Michigan."
At the 2022 BFF, attendees, executives, industry leaders and the community of Detroit will gather for three-day FREE event of celebrations, conversations, and networking as BFF continues to highlight, strengthen, and support Black professionals globally in the footwear industry.
"I can't think of a better city than Detroit, a better place than the Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design, and a better time than now for the BFF to reconvene in-person after a multi-year hiatus," said FDRA President & CEO Matt Priest. "Excitement for this event has been off-the-charts as registrations and corporate support continue to roll in. BFF Detroit will be the highlight of our year."
Thursday, September 15 officially kicks off BFF with the first of many community activations for Detroit residents. A collaborative partnership between MERIT's FATE Program and PENSOLE alumni, who are designers for some of the top brands in the industry, will conduct a PLC footwear design workshop at the PLC | FDRA | BFF Lounge by StockX in downtown Detroit. This workshop will also be open to the public, who can meet with other Black design leaders from the top brands.
Friday, September 16 will start at University Prep Elementary School for a session called "Kids Are Ready For Design" by A Kids Company About and will feature College of Creative Studies graduate and award-winning designer, entrepreneur and educator Jason Mayden (https://akidsco.com/products/a-kids-book-about-design). Following will be the BFF VIP dinner for staff, speakers, and sponsors, at the Detroit Pistons Performance Center, overlooking the Pistons' practice facilities. And the evening will close with a mixer for all attendees at the PLC|FDRA|BFF Lounge by StockX in downtown Detroit.
Saturday, September 17, BFF will begin with opening remarks from PLC President and founder D'Wayne Edwards and Terrence Floyd, activist founder of We Are Floyd and brother of George Floyd, followed by a variety of talks and panel discussions. A schedule of featured panels and speakers, with more to be added in the weeks leading up to the event, is as follows:
Tappedin: Speaking about the new roads that have been paved for women in the footwear industry
- Jazerai Allen-Lord, award-winning and internationally acclaimed sneaker strategist and designer
Additional speakers TBA
Blacklight: Role Models / Hometown Hero
- Cheresse Thornhill-Goldson, Design Director, Adidas S.E.E.D.
Additional speakers TBA
Black Genius: The importance of role models
- Kevin Carroll, author, speaker, performance coach, founder of Katalyst
Storytellers: Speakers share personal projects, or projects of which they are most proud
- Tyrel Kirkham ,Vice President, Brand & Marketing Strategy for the Detroit Pistons
Additional speakers TBA
Tappedin: Career Pathways + storytelling
- Garry Thaniel, General Manager, Sneakers, eBay
Additional speakers TBA
Blacklight the Industry: A Conversation about protecting your IP
- Jason Mayden, designer, educator, and entrepreneur author of "A Kids Book About Design"
Additional speakers TBA
Free Game Topic TBD
- Hosted by James Whitner, American fashion entrepreneur; owner of streetwear boutiques Social Status, A Ma Maniere, and A.P.B.
Additional speakers TBA
Dinner and Mixer
- Downtown at the PLC|FDRA|BBF Lounge by StockX
Sunday, September 18th the forum will close with the BFF Black Women's Brunch and Adidas S.E.E.D Creator camp downtown at the PLC|FDRA|BBF Lounge by StockX, downtown Detroit.
All downtown events are free and open to the public all four days.
Other guests scheduled are:
- Matt Priest, President & CEO, FDRA
- April Walker, fashion icon, creator, author, educator
- Jeffrey Henderson, footwear designer and founder of AndThem
- Portia Blount, VP of Apparel, Reebok
- Scoop Jackson, author, and award-winning journalist, for ESPN
- Sydney James, interdisciplinary artist
- Jessica Smith, Director of Strategy, Adidas
- Alexander John, International footwear designer
- Lauren Guthrie, VP Global Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Action, VF Corporation
- E. Scott Morris, Chair of Footwear, Pensole Lewis College
- Ashley Comeaux, VP of Product Design, Allbirds
- Damien Hooper-Campbell, Chief Impact Officer, StockX
- Liz Connelly, Sr Manager, Design Education & Growth, Adidas
- Che Pope, Grammy-winning producer, WRKSHP
Additional speakers TBA
The 2022 Annual Black Footwear Forum (BFF) in Detroit is a free event thanks to corporate partners including The Athlete's Foot, Caleres, Carhartt, College for creative Studies, Detroit Pistons, Designer Brands, Foot Locker, Gilbert Family Foundation, Logitech, MillerKnoll, NIKE, Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, Rack Room Shoes, RG Barry Brands, Target, Steve Madden, Bedrock, Wolverine Worldwide, GM, Adidas, VF Corp, StockX, Ford, PEPSICO, and more.
Register to attend at: www.blackfootwearforum.com or follow us on Instagram @pensolelewis for updates and event coverage.
About the Black Footwear Forum (BFF): The Black Footwear Forum, formally known as the African American Footwear Forum (AAFF), invites footwear industry professionals and supporters to share stories and ideas and to create a dialog around the influence, leadership, and passion provided by blacks in the global footwear industry. This forum encourages collaboration to establish industry goals in the development of black talent at all levels. Surrounding the Forum are regional and national events that provide connecting conversations for black footwear professional brands to share concerns and solutions to help shape the conversation while bridging the gaps across the industry.
About PLC: Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design is the pipeline for career education and professional development in the creative industry. We bear the torch, leading the way to creative vision and progress. At Pensole Lewis College, we work at the crossroads of making the industry better, developing unconventional educational experiences and creating ingenious products. Offering a new path to break into the world of product creation, we prepare and empower the largest talent pool of creatives to enter the industry to make it better for the next generation.
About FDRA: Founded in 1944, FDRA is governed and directed by footwear executives and is the only trade organization focused solely on the footwear industry. It serves the full footwear supply chain and boosts the bottom lines of its members through innovative products, training and consulting on footwear design and development, sourcing and compliance, trade and customs, advocacy, and consumer and sales trend analysis for retailers selling shoes around the world. FDRA also runs the footwear industry's weekly podcast Shoe-In Show featuring leading footwear executives and experts discussing key business trends. In all, FDRA supports nearly 500 companies and brands worldwide, representing 95% of total U.S. footwear sales, making it by far the largest and most respected American footwear trade and business association.
Contact:
John McIsaac
john@mcisaacpr.com
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SOURCE Pensole Lewis College | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/2022-black-footwear-forum-announces-agenda-speakers-new-sponsors/ | 2022-08-24T18:47:01Z |
Led and backed by noteworthy Badger athletes and alumni, the collective combines NIL support with Life Currency™ and Rep Yourself programming to empower the whole of the student-athlete
MADISON, Wis., Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The landscape of college sports was fundamentally changed with the institution of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rules in 2021. Officially launched at a press conference in Madison, The Varsity Collective Charitable Fund, Inc. (The Varsity Collective) aims to write the definitive playbook on how Wisconsin student-athletes deserve to be supported in the NIL era to earn their value while bringing out their Badger best in the classroom, in the community, on the field and in the game of life.
As the first and only donor- and alumni-led NIL collective working on behalf of University of Wisconsin student-athletes, The Varsity Collective offers donation opportunities to a broad Badger community that includes organizations, donors and fans. Anyone interested in supporting Badger student-athletes can contribute by visiting www.thevarsitycollective.com.
The Varsity Collective is anchored in two purposes:
- Help student-athletes maximize their NIL through education, support and partnerships with community organizations.
- Equip student-athletes with lifelong insights and mentorship provided by Wisconsin alumni and former athletes at the top of professional fields like sports, finance, entrepreneurship, entertainment, marketing and communications and more.
In addition to its unmatched Life Currency™* and Rep Yourself programming, what sets The Varsity Collective apart from other donor-led collectives is its commitment to equitable access to NIL support and development programming for Badger student-athletes – regardless of gender or sport.
To bring this idea to life, The Varsity Collective will be guided by a Four Pillar Playbook that ensures sustainability, excellence and, most importantly, student-athlete empowerment:
"The Varsity Collective is far more than just an avenue for Badger student-athletes to benefit from their name, image and likeness," said Executive Chair and Wisconsin graduate Rob Master (c/o 1993). "It's an entire Badger community ready to rally behind them, lift them up and guide them as they become the best versions of themselves – during and after their playing careers."
NIL: Supporting Community and Charitable Organizations
The Varsity Collective's support for student-athletes will focus on bringing to life opportunities for donors and companies to sponsor charity events and philanthropic partnerships in collaboration with student-athletes. The Varsity Collective will work with the UW Athletic Department's internal NIL staff to maintain compliance with the text and spirit of NCAA guidelines and, above all, ensure all parties are acting in the best interest of Badger student-athletes.
NIL Branding Support Helps Badgers Rep Themselves
The Varsity Collective is about much more than sponsorships – it's about creating a personal brand that can translate to broader opportunities in life after college. The Rep Yourself program will feature a lineup of resources designed to help Badgers navigate NIL contracts and maximize their profile to unlock new arenas with a focus on personal branding. Notable alumni participating in the program include:
- DJ Hines, CEO of Hines Enterprises (c/o 2003)
- Rachel Goldflam, vice president of marketing & communications at David Yurman (c/o 2002)
- Kevin Hein, director – head of agency at Meta (c/o 1993)
Life Currency™ Programs to Bring Out the Badger Best
While Badger student-athletes excel in their sport, fewer than 2% of college athletes go on to play professionally – and a holistic collegiate experience will help prepare them all for life after sports. The Life Currency™ program will provide the framework for The Varsity Collective to transcend the popular concept of an NIL collective and venture into programming that will empower the whole of each Badger.
A number of superstar former Badgers who have gone on to find professional success have committed to acting as Life Currency™ speakers to mentor current student-athletes, including:
- Russell Wilson (Football, c/o 2012)
- JJ Watt (Football, 2008-10)
- Sarah Nurse (Women's Hockey, c/o 2017)
- Michael Finley (Men's Basketball 1991-94; c/o 2014)
- Craig Smith (Men's Hockey, 2009-11)
- Meghan Duggan (Women's Hockey, c/o 2011)
- Dana Rettke (Women's Volleyball, c/o 2021)
Additional Life Currency™ programming will be guided by Wisconsin alumni who have gone on to hold executive positions in major companies across a wide variety of industries, including:
- Ricky Sandler, Eminence Capital founder & CEO/CIO (c/o 1991)
- Wendy Straker Hauser, showrunner and executive producer (c/o 1997)
- Pete Marino, Molson Coors president of emerging growth (c/o 1994)
The collective will also invest in building a brand of its own, developing unique, sustainable opportunities to showcase current and former student-athletes alike through a variety of creative avenues. Two Varsity Collective podcasts hosted by former Badgers will lead the way in this effort:
- "The Varsity Beat," hosted by former Badger basketball star Sam Dekker (2012-15)
- "Badger Bigs," hosted by Badger football legend Joe Thomas (c/o 2007) and his wife, former Wisconsin women's basketball player Annie (Nelson) Thomas (c/o 2006)
VC Connect
The Varsity Collective's activity will be in the form of 501(c)(3) charitable engagements and direct work with student athletes. The Varsity Collective created a wholly owned LLC subsidiary, VC Connect, to facilitate businesses and organizations in connecting with Badger student-athletes and creating unique branding opportunities. For businesses and organizations interested in pursuing a branded sponsorship with Badger student-athletes, VC Connect will provide a simple, turnkey framework that facilitates aspects from offer coordination and tax document filing to supporting marketing and program management.
Led by Many of Wisconsin's Finest
Master, a marketing and media executive, led Unilever's integrated marketing and media efforts for two decades both globally and in the U.S. for iconic brands like Dove, AXE and Klondike. Additionally, he oversaw Unilever's NCAA partnership and launched their pioneering, purpose-led approach to NIL that includes mentoring and community programming.
- Leadership team members include:
Additional members of The Varsity Collective's leadership team will be added during the remainder of 2022 and throughout 2023.
Community-Driven Funding
The Varsity Collective's sustainability lies in not a single source of funding, but a community-wide approach. Over 400,000 living alumni, a vibrant business and non-profit community, and millions of fans across the country are ready to rally around our student-athletes with numerous options to get involved – from partnerships to one-time gifts and recurring contributions. Benefits for giving include access to events, meet-and-greets with Badger athletes and more.
To learn more about The Varsity Collective's vision to elevate Badger student-athletes today and for generations to come, support the collective with a contribution and stay up to date with breaking news, visit www.thevarsitycollective.com.
About The Varsity Collective Charitable Fund, Inc.:
Formed in 2022 by University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni and supporters, The Varsity Collective is the first and only donor- and alumni-led NIL Collective working on behalf of Wisconsin Badgers student-athletes. Through support for student-athletes with Life Currency™ and Rep Yourself programming, The Varsity Collective helps student-athletes maximize the NIL opportunity both during and after their playing careers. As a registered 501(c)(3), The Varsity Collective connects donors, student-athletes and nonprofits for charitable engagements. For the latest news and announcements, visit www.thevarsitycollective.com or connect with The Varsity Collective on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
About VC Connect:
A wholly owned LLC subsidiary of The Varsity Collective Charitable Fund, Inc., VC Connect facilitates brand deals and partnerships between Wisconsin Badger student-athletes. VC Connect works to create unique branding opportunities that elevate all parties involved.
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SOURCE The Varsity Collective Charitable Fund, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/varsity-collective-launches-wisconsins-first-donor-led-nil-organization-creates-new-model-student-athlete-support/ | 2022-09-09T18:42:20Z |
SINGAPORE, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
To all Shareholders
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") of CHINA YUCHAI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (NYSE: CYD) (the "Company") will be held on Friday, July 22, 2022 at 8:00 A.M. New York Time (8:00 P.M. Singapore Time). In light of the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and to enable greater shareholder attendance and participation from any location around the world, the Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only, via a live webcast, with no physical attendance at the Meeting.
Members entered in the Register of Members of the Company at the close of business on May 31, 2022 (the "Record Date") are entitled to receive notice of the Meeting and to attend the Meeting online, vote electronically and submit questions prior to and during the Meeting.
The Meeting will be accessible by visiting www.meetnow.global/MKFPQ7U and using the unique Control Number included on the proxy card or on the instructions that accompany the proxy materials.
The Meeting will be held for the following purposes:
As Ordinary Business
1. To receive and adopt the audited financial statements and independent auditors' report for the financial year ended December 31, 2021.
2. To approve an increase in the limit of the Directors' fees as set out in Bye-law 10(11) of the Bye-laws of the Company from US$250,000 to US$538,493 for the financial year 2021 (Directors' fees paid for the financial year 2020 was US$556,229).
3. To re-elect the following Directors retiring pursuant to Bye-law 4(2) of the Bye-laws of the Company to hold office until the next annual general meeting of the Company:
(i) Mr Kwek Leng Peck
(ii) Mr Gan Khai Choon
(iii) Mr Hoh Weng Ming
(iv) Mr Neo Poh Kiat
(v) Mr Ho Raymond Chi-Keung
(vi) Mr Xie Tao
(vii) Mr Stephen Ho Kiam Kong
(viii) Mr Li Hanyang
(ix) Mr Wu Qiwei
4. To authorize the Board of Directors (the "Board") to appoint up to the maximum of 11 Directors or such maximum number as determined from time to time by the shareholders in general meeting to fill any vacancies on the Board.
5. To re-appoint Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors of the Company and to authorize the Audit Committee to fix their remuneration.
6. To transact any other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
By Order of the Board
Hoh Weng Ming
President
Date: June 21, 2022
Important Notes:
1. To be admitted to attend, vote and submit questions at the Meeting, Members as of the Record Date will need to follow the instructions included on the notice of the Meeting or on the proxy card.
2. A Member may appoint a proxy who need not be a Member of the Company by inserting the proxy's name on the proxy card in the space provided. If no name is entered in the space provided, the Chairman of the Meeting or such other person as he may designate will be authorized to act as the proxy of the said Member.
3. Members are encouraged to vote and submit their proxy in advance by internet or telephone per the instructions as outlined in the proxy card, no less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the Meeting, that is no later than 8:00 A.M. New York Time or 8:00 P.M. Singapore Time on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Beneficial owners of shares held through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, will need to follow the instructions provided by their broker, bank or other nominee that holds their shares.
4. Beneficial owners of shares held through an intermediary will need to register in advance to attend the Meeting virtually, by submitting Computershare proof of their proxy power (legal proxy) reflecting their holdings of the Company's shares along with their names and email addresses. Requests for registration should be labeled as "Legal Proxy" and be received by Computershare no later than 8:00 A.M. New York Time or 8:00 P.M. Singapore Time on July 19, 2022.
Requests for registration should be directed to Computershare at the following:
By email
Forward the email from the broker, or attach an image of the legal proxy, to legalproxy@computershare.com
By mail
Computershare
COMPANY Legal Proxy
P.O. Box 43001
Providence, RI 02940-3001
5. As the Members will not be able to attend the Meeting in person and will be participating virtually in the Meeting, each resolution to be considered at the Meeting will be voted on by way of a poll. The Board believes voting by poll to be in the interests of the Members as a whole and ensures that the views of as many Members as possible are represented at the Meeting.
6. Pursuant to the Bye-laws of the Company, no resolution of Members may be passed without the affirmative vote of the Special Share cast by the holder of the Special Share.
7. All questions submitted at the Meeting should be relevant to the business of the Meeting.
8. The virtual meeting platform is fully supported across browsers (MS Edge, Firefox, Chrome and Safari) and devices (desktops, laptops, tablets and cell phones) running the most up-to-date version of applicable software and plugins. Note: Internet Explorer is not a supported browser.
For more information:
Investor Relations
Kevin Theiss
Tel: +1-212-510-8922 (new)
Tel: +1-212-521-4050 (old)
Email: cyd@bluefocus.com
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SOURCE China Yuchai International Limited | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/china-yuchai-international-limited-notice-annual-general-meeting/ | 2022-06-21T11:47:16Z |
BEAVERCREEK, Ohio, April 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Apogee Engineering announced today that it plans growth in its Dayton area offices, with expansion to hire 150 additional personnel to support its work with its defense and civilian customers through 2025.
The drivers for its recent and projected growth include the continuation and expansion of the current contracts it has secured in the Dayton area. "As part of this growth, Apogee plans to hire 150 corporate and technical team members by 2025, an estimated $15 million in local payroll. The Dayton Development Coalition (DDC) and JobsOhio have been instrumental in navigating our expansion options and we are excited to grow in Greene County with an initial 20,000 square foot facility to include our state-of-the-art lab space. As an Ohio native, I'm proud to expand this culture-based company that focuses on its employees and the mission," said Amber Scott, Apogee Vice President of Corporate Operations.
The company's rapid growth allowed them to seek assistance through the DDC, JobsOhio, and the State of Ohio. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved Apogee a Job Creation Tax Credit. JobsOhio plans to provide assistance for the project, which will be made public after a final agreement is executed. "For 12 years, Apogee has delivered creative and adaptive engineering services to the Dayton region, centered around Wright Patterson Air Force Base. The awarded economic funds will allow us to commit additional infrastructure and personnel to the expanding challenges of National Defense, including big data intelligence analysis, applying AI and ML sciences, and employing offensive and defensive cybersecurity measures," said Frank Varga, Apogee Vice President of Operations.
Apogee worked closely with the Dayton Development Coalition and JobsOhio on the project, which is being supported with Job Creation Tax Credits from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority. "Apogee Engineering is a critical part of our region's defense ecosystem and we're thrilled they will continue to grow in the Dayton Region," said Julie Sullivan, the Dayton Development Coalition's Executive Vice President for Regional Development. "Their expansion will provide excellent opportunities for our IT and cyber workforce to continue to support our national security. We believe they have a bright future in the Dayton Region."
Founded in 2004, Apogee is a private, minority-owned firm, headquartered in Colorado with regional offices in Ohio, Florida, and Virginia. Apogee provides both defense and civilian customers with engineering & science, IT, software solutions, mission support, management, and cyber security services. Candidates seeking employment with Apogee are asked to visit their website at www.apogeeusa.com/careers to see a full list of open positions, including the ability for external individuals to receive up to $20K for referring qualified and hired candidates.
About Apogee Engineering
Apogee leads the advancement of national security and defense solutions with premier teams of empowered professionals. They value visionary leadership, family-oriented engagement, and a passion for excellence. Apogee specializes in identifying, mitigating, and resolving customers' most complex challenges. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO, with management offices in Dayton, OH, Suffolk, VA, and Tampa, FL, Apogee provides expertise in the following functional areas: Engineering & Science, Research, Training, Tech & Management Services, Cyber, and Analysis with Domains across Air, Cyber, Intel, Space, Science & Technology, and Land & Sea. Learn more at www.ApogeeUSA.com
Press Contact: Rhea Phaneuf, PR & Communications Specialist
Telephone: 719-229-7815
Email: Rhea.Phaneuf@ApogeeUSA.com
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SOURCE Apogee Engineering LLC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/25/ohio-economic-funds-approved-apogee-engineering-bringing-150-new-jobs-dayton-oh/ | 2022-04-25T18:08:33Z |
Wayfinder Family Services recreation program champions accessibility and inclusion
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Youth ages 11-17 will ride tandem bicycles from Culver City to Manhattan Beach on Sunday, September 18th at 8:00 a.m., as part of Wayfinder Family Services' recreation program for youth and adults who are blind or visually impaired.
Children, teens and adults who are blind or visually impaired enjoy empowering experiences at no cost as part of Wayfinder's recreation program. In addition to the tandem bike ride, adventures throughout the year include deep sea fishing, surfing, skiing, paralympic sports like goalball and an overnight camp experience. These experiences build confidence, trust, leadership and build a sense of community.
"Wayfinder's recreation program advances equity for those with disabilities. This was the bedrock of our founder Norm Kaplan's goal: create the same opportunities for children and youth who are blind as their sighted peers. Nearly 70 years later, we have continued his inclusive mission and have expanded our services as a statewide organization," said Wayfinder president and chief operating officer Jay Allen.
Tandem bike ride participants will gather at Syd Kronenthaler Park in Culver City and partner with a sighted volunteer or staff from Wayfinder's recreation program who have been specially trained to pilot the bicycles. Cyclists will use the bike path to make their way to the Manhattan Beach pier where they will enjoy lunch, then return to Culver City on the same trail.
"Getting outdoors and doing something physical is critical for mental health, especially since the pandemic. I'm grateful that we can provide these opportunities for those with disabilities because they can often be excluded. Now more than ever, inclusion matters and I'm proud that Wayfinder continues to champion people of all abilities," said Allen.
Formerly known as Junior Blind, Wayfinder Family Services is the place to turn for people facing the greatest challenges. The organization provides expert, individualized support and services to children, youth, adults and families—from people with vision impairment and developmental disabilities to children in need of temporary shelter and foster care and adoption.
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SOURCE Wayfinder Family Services | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/visually-impaired-youth-ride-tandem-bicycles-manhattan-beach-pier/ | 2022-09-14T11:59:54Z |
Commuting costs put strain on Americans returning to work
(CNN) - As inflation fuels the cost of transportation, a simple commute to work every day can take a big bite out of your wallet, and with more Americans heading into the office, they are feeling the pinch every time they fill their gas tanks.
It seems twisted that getting to work is financially crushing Liz and Scott Angstadt. Their commute is more than 500 miles each week through New Jersey with Scott Angstadt paying more than $6 a gallon for his diesel-powered truck.
Their monthly gas bill has nearly doubled in a year and is now over $1,000.
“We’ve cut back in our groceries and what we eat. We’ve cut back more than half of what we’re gonna travel this summer. You wouldn’t think that we’d be talking about money every single day,” Liz Angstadt said.
While this couple’s commute is longer than most, as more workers get called back to the office, millions are feeling the squeeze with the national average gas price more than $4.60 a gallon.
At some California stations, the price is higher than the federal minimum wage.
“It’s already bad. It could get worse, and it’s definitely not going to get much better,” Patrick DeHaan with GasBuddy said.
The average U.S. commute now costs an extra $35 a month compared to pre-COVID and it’s+ far more in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York.
“I’m not able to work from home,” commuter Spencer Jewell said.
Jewell says he is paying an extra $50 a month to get to work in Greenville, North Carolina.
In Atlanta, Kiersten Ashley says gas is too pricey for her to take a job.
“It’s not worth it almost because I’m getting paid maybe $10, $12 an hour,” she said.
An international survey conducted last November found 64% of workers would consider looking for a new job if they were forced to return full time.
In Washington state, more than 100 contracted Google Maps workers signed a petition refusing to return to the office.
“It’s a huge additional expense,” Tyler Brown said.
He would have to drive 74 miles each way.
“It doesn’t make sense for me to come all that way for $19 an hour, so I’m going to have to look for a different job,” he said.
“Workers are looking at it from a standpoint of, ‘Can I afford to take that new opportunity or can I afford to stay if required to go back to the office?’” Paul McDonald with Robert Half said.
Many workers do not have easy options.
“It’s very frustrating, but there’s nothing I can do about it,” Scott Angstadt said.
He is eight years from his pension as a railroad engineer.
“To throw that away, that’s throwing away a lot,” he said.
There is no plan to change direction even as they pump the brakes on long-term plans.
“That picture has kind of altered. We might not be retiring in eight years,” Liz Angstadt said.
Some businesses are now offering gas stipends or pay bumps, while some employees push back about returning to work.
The U.S. government predicts the average household will spend hundreds of dollars more on gas this year.
For a lot of families, especially lower income, that could be a big chunk of their annual savings and some workers have no choice but to eat that cost.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/31/commuting-costs-put-strain-americans-returning-work/ | 2022-05-31T15:22:26Z |
LOS ANGELES, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Musick, Peeler & Garett LLP announced that Partners Jane Usher, Kristine Kwong, Lisa Hsiao, and Citadelle Piragula have been selected as nominees for the Los Angeles Business Journal's "Women's Leadership Awards," honoring the accomplishments and impact ofl women business leaders in the Los Angeles community.
"We have a great team of lawyers and Jane, Kristine, Lisa and Citadelle are among some of our finest examples of women leaders," said the firm's Managing Partner R. Joseph De Briyn. "This recognition speaks to their commitment to the firm, our clients and the greater business and legal community."
Usher, a Partner in the firm's Environmental and Public Law, Real Estate and Litigation practices, has been selected as a nominee in the "Community Impact Advocate" category. This award recognizes women who, outside of their day jobs, have made significant contributions to the communities in which they serve. In her 30+ year law practice, Usher represents private, public and nonprofit entities in the resolution of their government and regulatory affairs. She handles matters involving land use, planning, zoning, environmental, real estate development, CEQA, Brown Act, Public Records Act, ethics, ordinances, legislation, municipal and administrative law.
Kwong, a Partner in the firm's Labor and Employment practice, has been selected as a nominee in the "Champion of Women" category, which recognizes her day-to-day efforts to empower women. As an employment attorney, she represents employers on current employment law issues, particularly in the area of government-mandated programs such as the FMLA, FEHA, CFRA, PDL, and ADA. Her training programs also include business and operational compliance matters. Kwong was recently elected to Pasadena City College's Board of Trustees.
Priagula, also a Partner in the firm's Labor and Employment practice, was selected as a nominee for the "Women to Watch" category. Her law practice focuses on representing employers in a broad range of employment matters, including claims for wrongful termination, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate claims, breach of contract claims, and wage and hour claims, including the defense of class actions and PAGA actions. She has conducted pre-litigation investigations, developed case strategy, argued motions, taken and defended depositions, propounded and responded to written discovery, interviewed witnesses, and successfully negotiated the resolution of these matters in mediation and informally.
Hsiao, a Partner in the firm's Litiation practice, has been selected as a nominee in the "Women to Watch" category, recognizing emerging leaders who early in their careers have made noteworthy contributions in the business community. She is an experienced trial attorney and focuses her practice on transportation, product liability, premises liability, real estate, and employment. She represents Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and individuals in tort-based litigation with an emphasis on products liability, business litigation and transportation law.
Founded in 1954, Musick Peeler has offices in five major commercial centers across California, with over 100 attorneys practicing in 16 disciplines. For more information, visit MusickPeeler.com.
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SOURCE MusickPeeler | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/four-musick-peeler-partners-recognized-top-business-leaders-los-angeles/ | 2022-07-07T01:38:42Z |
BEIJING, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VNET Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: VNET) ("VNET" or the "Company"), a leading carrier- and cloud-neutral Internet data center services provider in China, today announced that its board of directors (the "Board") has appointed Mr. Changqing Ye as a new director of the Company and a member of the audit committee of the Board, effective August 9, 2022. The Board has reviewed the independence of Mr. Ye and determined that he satisfies the "independence" requirements under Rule 10A-3 of the United States Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 5605 of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules.
Mr. Changqing Ye has served as an independent director of Baozun Inc. (a company listed on Nasdaq) since May 2016 and Niu Technologies (a company listed on Nasdaq) since October 2018. Mr. Ye has also served as an independent non-executive director of Luzhou Bank Co., Ltd. (a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange) since December 2018, Ascentage Pharma Group International (a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange) since June 2019, Jinxin Fertility Group Limited (a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange) since June 2019 and Hygeia Healthcare Holdings Co., Limited (a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange) since September 2019. From February 2011 to December 2015, Mr. Ye served as an investment committee member, group chief financial officer and a managing director of CITICPE Group. Prior to that, Mr. Ye worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP from April 1993 to January 2011. Mr. Ye received a bachelor's degree in journalism from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China and a master's degree in business administration from Warwick University in the United Kingdom. Mr. Ye is a certified public accountant in China.
In addition, the Company announced the following changes to the committees of the Board:
- The Board appointed Mr. Sheng Chen as a member of the compensation committee of the Board and a member of the nominating and corporate governance committee of the Board.
- The Board also approved that Mr. Kenneth Chung-Hou Tai will no longer serve as a member of the audit committee of the Board and Mr. Erhfei Liu will no longer serve as a member of the compensation committee of the Board. Both Mr. Kenneth Chung-Hou Tai and Mr. Erhfei Liu will continue serving as directors of the Company.
- These changes to the committees of the Board became effective August 9, 2022. The following table sets forth the composition of the committees of the Board immediately following the appointment of the new director and the changes to the committee members.
About VNET
VNET Group, Inc. is a leading carrier- and cloud-neutral Internet data center services provider in China. VNET provides hosting and related services, including IDC services, cloud services, and business VPN services to improve the reliability, security, and speed of its customers' internet infrastructure. Customers may locate their servers and equipment in VNET's data centers and connect to China's internet backbone. VNET operates in more than 30 cities throughout China, servicing a diversified and loyal base of over 6,500 hosting and related enterprise customers that span numerous industries ranging from internet companies to government entities and blue-chip enterprises to small- to mid-sized enterprises.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "target," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, quotations from management in this announcement as well as VNET's strategic and operational plans contain forward-looking statements. VNET may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about VNET's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: VNET's goals and strategies; VNET's future business development and expansion plans; the expected growth of the data center and cloud services market; expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, VNET's services; VNET's expectations regarding maintaining and strengthening its relationships with customers; VNET's plans to invest in research and development to enhance and complement its solution and service offerings; international trade policies, protectionist policies and other policies that could place restrictions on economic and commercial activity; and general economic and business conditions in the regions where VNET provides solutions and services. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in VNET's reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and VNET undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
Investor Relations Contact:
Xinyuan Liu
Tel: +86 10 8456 2121
Email: ir@vnet.com
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SOURCE VNET Group, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/vnet-announces-changes-board-committees-composition/ | 2022-08-09T13:06:47Z |
NASA’s third attempt at crucial moon mission test delayed to Tuesday due to malfunctioning valve
By Zoe Sottile and Ross Levitt, CNN
NASA announced Saturday that a crucial moon mission test has again been delayed and is now scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
The space agency was scheduled to begin a prelaunch test for NASA’s Artemis I mission to the moon. The Artemis program is NASA’s first mission to the moon since 1972.
On the NASA blog, the agency said the test was pushed due to a malfunctioning valve.
“Engineers have identified a helium check valve that is not functioning as expected, requiring these changes to ensure safety of the flight hardware,” the agency said. Engineers at the Kennedy Space Center will evaluate the valve and replace it if needed, the agency added.
The critical prelaunch test is known as a “wet dress rehearsal” and simulates every stage of launch without the rocket actually leaving the launchpad. The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft will be powered on, supercold propellant will be loaded into the rocket’s tanks (the “wet” in wet dress rehearsal), and NASA’s team will go through a full countdown simulating the launch.
This is the third time the wet dress rehearsal has been delayed. Originally scheduled for February, the rehearsal was delayed once for further testing and then again for issues involving propellant loading. The test is essential to determining when exactly NASA will conduct its Artemis I mission, in which an uncrewed spacecraft will reach the moon and then travel thousands of miles beyond it.
NASA has said that it plans to launch the mission in June or July, depending on the results of the wet dress rehearsal. The first step will be an uncrewed mission — Artemis I. Then, Artemis II will take astronauts on a crewed flyby of the moon, and Artemis III will bring NASA astronauts to land on the lunar surface for the first time in fifty years.
The agency hopes to land the first woman and the first person of color on the lunar surface by 2025.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
CNN’s Madeline Holcombe and Ashley Strickland contributed to this report. | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-world/2022/04/09/nasas-third-attempt-at-crucial-moon-mission-test-delayed-to-tuesday-due-to-malfunctioning-valve/ | 2022-04-09T16:18:34Z |
OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — The Scripps National Spelling Bee was rolling smoothly through the second day of its first fully in-person competition in three years. Then it transformed into the SAT.
An onstage vocabulary round during Wednesday’s semifinals introduced an element of randomness into the venerable bee, forcing spellers to demonstrate a different skill set and knocking out some of the bee’s most accomplished competitors.
Vivinsha Veduru and Roy Seligman, who tied for fourth place in last year’s bee: gone. Deetya Vuppala and Yash Shelar, the co-champions of this year’s expert-level SpellPundit online bee: also gone. All denied a shot at Thursday’s finals without spelling a word incorrectly.
“I thought it was tragic,” said Grace Walters, a coach to multiple previous Scripps champions.
Walters’ only pupil this year, four-time bee participant Harini Logan, made it through the vocabulary round and was one of a dozen finalists. She’ll be joined on stage Thursday night by Sahasrad Satish, Ekansh Rastogi, Vikram Raju, Aliyah Alpert, Abhilash Patel, Sahana Srikath, Kirsten Santos, Nitya Kathiravan, Vihaan Sibal, Shijay Sivakumar and Saharsh Vuppala — Deetya’s twin brother.
For many spellers, the multiple-choice vocabulary questions took away their opportunity to use the skills they’ve honed over years of study: asking questions of the judges to help piece a word together; identifying roots; deducing which vowel makes the dreaded “uh” sound known as a schwa.
“The words that are sometimes asked may not necessarily be based on roots or easily decipherable, and so in that case it becomes a case of which kids are natural readers and have a lot of cultural capital, and which kids aren’t as culturally sophisticated,” said Scott Remer, a former speller who coached 21 competitors this year, including Saharsh and Deetya. “Some words you’re only going to pick up by reading newspapers, by reading certain books, and are not necessarily guessable.”
Yash was knocked out on “Stockholm syndrome,” a phrase that can’t be parsed via a speller’s expert knowledge of how sounds are constructed in various languages. Vivinsha didn’t know “ragout” was a stew. Deetya was given “ergogenic,” and Roy’s bid to become the first champion from The Bahamas ended when he was asked to define “rumbustical.”
“With the word meaning, it’s a crapshoot,” said Arthur Seligman, Roy’s father. “You and I know what ‘Stockholm syndrome’ means, but an 11- or 12-year-old?”
Chris Dominick, an excitable 14-year-old from Struthers, Ohio, illustrated the grab-bag quality of the vocabulary round when he was given “leitmotif” and exclaimed, “I know what this is!”
A reliable narrator, Chris didn’t make it through the next spelling round. He was given “sirtaki” — a Greek dance — and said, “OK, I think I’m going to get out on this one.” And he did, after guessing the word started with a “c.”
“Goodbye, cruel world,” Chris said after hearing the bell.
Vocabulary has long been part of the bee, but only on written tests. The bee’s new executive director, J. Michael Durnil, who took over in 2021, added it to the live spelling rounds when a test became impractical during last year’s mostly virtual, pandemic-altered competition.
“This is Scripps’ way of ensuring that the competition does not become about memorizing words like code,” Walters said. “Putting in a vocab segment, it almost forces intimacy with language because you have to know what those words mean.”
Although spellers had to answer a vocabulary question during Tuesday’s preliminary rounds, it was sandwiched between two words they had to spell. The semifinals, then, were the first time that so many spellers — 31 at the start of the vocabulary round — had to stand in front of the microphone and pick one of three possible answers on a screen in front of them.
Some knew the answers right away. Some didn’t, and had to guess — A, B or C. And that was that.
Vihaan, a 13-year-old from McGregor, Texas, who’s in the finals for the second time, was asked to define “vermilion” and noted that every multiple-choice option he was given was a color. He was shocked to see Roy knocked out.
“I know he’s a really strong speller. Probably stronger than me,” Vihaan said.
Harini, a 14-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, was one speller who kept her cool throughout, even when pronouncer Jacques Bailly made a rare flub, initially leaving a syllable out of “quinquefoliolate,” the word that got her into the finals.
Much like her mastery of language, Harini puts plenty of work into her onstage sangfroid.
“Even though I am stressed in the moments leading up to getting my word, as soon as I get my word, I just try to put myself into a thinking process where I can really feel calm,” she said.
___
Follow Ben Nuckols at https://twitter.com/APBenNuckols | https://cw33.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/vocab-questions-reduce-spelling-bee-to-3-letters-a-b-or-c/ | 2022-06-02T16:47:15Z |
More than just another new software
NEW YORK, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Picsello, an all-in-one photography management software designed to help photographers manage, market, and monetize their business, announced its launch today.
The new company based in New York, New York, is more than a software management platform. Picsello provides intuitive business tools, data, and coaching via a fully integrated platform with a smart user experience designed to help photographers become more savvy and confident running their businesses; all with photographers' unique business challenges in mind.
"After working in the photography business for over a decade I've seen how increasingly difficult it is to have a successful business," said Founder Jane Goodrich. "I was determined to create a platform that would simplify photographers' lives as well as help them run a successful, long-term business. Picsello exists to make that happen."
Picsello shares actionable advice and guidance for every phase of business. Created by a team of veteran photographers, small-business advocates, and technology experts, this easy-to-use, mobile-friendly SaaS photography management platform includes your booking, billing, marketing, client sharing, client galleries, online store, and more in one place.
"I am thrilled to be a part of this groundbreaking software revolution that will without a doubt change the photography industry," co-founder Shane Emmons said. "We look forward to empowering photographers with the ability to better market, manage, and monetize businesses with Picsello's seamless, all-in-one platform."
"What separates us from the other software companies is simplicity and approach. Picsello truly exists to help photographers run a successful business, nothing else. Our goal is to be the voice of all photographers so they can feel empowered, supported, and listened to," explained Goodrich.
Picsello is offering monthly and yearly subscriptions at the Founders Rate of $20/month or $200/year. Visit www.picsello.com to learn more.
About Picsello: Founded in 2021 and headquartered in New York, Picsello is an all-in-one, mobile-friendly SaaS photography platform on a mission to help photographers launch and maintain sustainable businesses through offering a range of solutions including CRM tools, client galleries, an online store, marketing, unlimited storage, and expert guidance to help photographers manage their business.
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SOURCE Picsello | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/announcing-picsello-revolutionary-all-in-one-software-set-change-photography-industry/ | 2022-06-15T17:43:51Z |
GOP directs culture war fury toward green investing trend
By SAM METZ
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Republicans are coming out swinging against Wall Street’s growing efforts to consider factors like long-term environmental risk in investment decisions, the latest indication that the GOP is willing to damage its relationship with big business to score culture war points.
Many are targeting a concept known as ESG — which stands for environmental, social and governance — a sustainable investment trend sweeping the financial world. Red state officials deride it as politically correct and woke and are trying to stop investors who contract with states from adopting it on any level.
For right-wing activists who previously brought criticisms of critical race theory (CRT), diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and social emotional learning (SEL) to the forefront, it’s the latest acronym-based source of outrage to find a home at rallies, in conservative media and in legislatures.
ESG has yet to take hold as mainstream political messaging, but backlash against it is gaining steam. This week, former Vice President Mike Pence attacked the concept during a speech in Houston. And on Wednesday, the same day he said on Twitter he planned to vote Republican, Elon Musk attacked it after Tesla lost its place on the S&P 500′s ESG Index. He called it a scam “weaponized by phony social justice warriors.”
The concept calls on investors to consider criteria such as environmental risk, pay equity or how transparent companies are in their accounting practices. Aided by recently proposed disclosure requirements and analysis from ratings agencies, they have adopted the principles to such an extent that those who use them control $16.6 trillion in investments held in the U.S.
In response, Republicans — historically known for supporting fewer regulations — are in many places attempting to impose new rules on investors. Their efforts reflect how members of the party are willing to distance themselves from big business to push back against those they see as ideological foes.
“I don’t think we’re the party of big business anymore. We’re the party of people — more specifically, we’re the party of working people. And the problem that we have is with big banks and corporations right now trying to dictate how we’re going to live our lives,” West Virginia Treasurer Riley Moore said.
Opponents criticize ESG as politicized and a potentially costly diversion from purely financial investment principles, while advocates say considering the criteria more accurately accounts for risk and promises steadier returns.
“We focus on sustainability not because we’re environmentalists, but because we are capitalists and fiduciaries to our clients,” Larry Fink, CEO of investment firm BlackRock and a leading proponent, told clients in a letter this year.
But Moore and others including Utah’s Republican state treasurer Marlo Oaks argue favoring green investment over fossil fuels denies key industries access to the financial system and capital. They have targeted S&P Global Ratings for appending ESG scores to their traditional state credit ratings. They worry that without changes, their scores could make borrowing for projects like schools or roads costlier.
In an April letter, Oaks demanded S&P retract analysis that rated Utah as “moderately negative” in terms of environmental risk due to “long-term challenges regarding water supply, which could remain a constraint for its economy … given pervasive drought conditions in the western U.S.”
The letter was co-signed by the governor, legislative leaders and the state’s congressional delegation, including Sen. Mitt Romney, whose former firm Bain Capital calls ESG factors “strategic, fact-based and diligence-driven.” It said ratings system “attempts to legitimize a dubious and unproven exercise” and attacks the “unreliability and inherently political nature of ESG factors in investment decisions.”
Though he likened ESG to critical race theory, Oaks said he was mostly concerned with capital markets and what he called attempts by fossil fuel opponents to manipulate them by pressuring investors to pick businesses with high ESG scores.
“DEI, CRT, SEL. It can be hard to keep up with the acronyms,” he wrote on an economics blog last month, “but there’s a relatively new one you need to know: ESG.”
Investors making carbon neutral or net zero criteria common were, in effect, Oaks said, limiting access to capital for oil and gas businesses, hurting their returns and potentially contributing to gas price spikes.
In more than a dozen red states, officials dispute the idea that the energy transition underway could make fossil fuel-related investments riskier in the long term. They argue employing asset managers with a preference for green investments uses state funds to further agendas out of sync with constituents.
In statehouses, anti-green investing efforts are backed by conservative groups such as the American Legislative Exchange Council and the Heartland Institute, a think-tank skeptical of scientific consensus on human-caused climate change that has backed bills that either divest state funds from financial institutions that use ESG or forbid them from using it to score businesses or individuals.
In Texas, West Virginia and Kentucky, lawmakers have passed bills requiring state funds limit transactions with companies that shun fossil fuels. Wyoming considered banning “social credit scores” that evaluate businesses using criteria that differ from accounting and other financial metrics, like ESG
After conservative talk show host Glenn Beck visited the Idaho Statehouse and referred to ESG as critical race theory “on steroids,” the Legislature passed a law in March prohibiting investment of state funds in companies that prioritize commitments to ESG over returns.
The American Legislative Exchange Council recently published model policy that would subject banks managing state pensions to new regulations limiting investments driven by what it calls “social, political and ideological” goals.
Though the policy doesn’t mention it outright, Jonathan Williams, the group’s chief economist, said ESG’s mainstreaming amid broader trends of political correctness was a driving force. He said his research shows that incorporating factors beyond traditional financial metrics can lower the rate of return for already underfunded state pensions.
Sustainable investing advocates deny that charge and say considering the risks and realities of climate change amounts to responsible investing.
West Virginia and Arkansas recently divested their pension funds from BlackRock in response to the asset manager adding businesses with smaller carbon footprints to its portfolios. Moore, West Virginia’s treasurer, hopes more will follow.
Though it’s drawing enthusiasm, the green investment discourse differs from recurring debates over gender and sexuality or how history is taught. Both proponents and detractors acknowledged they’re surprised pensions, credit ratings and investment decisions have become campaign rally fodder.
Last month at the Utah state party’s convention, thousands of Republicans roared when Sen. Mike Lee described green investment in similar terms to critical race theory — another acronym-based foil: “Between CRT and ESG and MSNBC, we get way too much B.S.,” Lee said.
Bryan McGannon, a lobbyist with US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, said opponents were wrong in framing sustainable investing trends as political. If states refuse to reckon with how the future will likely rely less on fossil fuels and limit how environmental risk can be considered, he said, they’re making decisions with incomplete information.
“If a state’s not considering those risks, it may be a signal to an investor that this might not be a wise government to be putting our money with,” McGannon said. “Investors use a huge swath of information, and ESG is a piece of that mosaic.”
___
Associated Press writers Stan Choe in New York and Lindsay Whitehurst in Salt Lake City contributed to this report. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/05/19/gop-directs-culture-war-outrage-toward-green-investing-craze-2/ | 2022-05-19T19:01:59Z |
Patient-Focused Health Network, VIPcare, Joins Forces with Local Provider for Better Health to the Medicare Advantage Community
TAMPA, Fla., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VIPcare, a patient-focused primary care network based in Florida, is excited to be teaming up with Dr. Margaret Yee for Better Health with the opening of VIPcare's new local clinic in Davenport.
Dr. Yee, previously of MDY Primary Care Medicine, will be the primary care physician at VIPcare's newest location. She is board-certified in family medicine and brings extensive clinical experience in providing care to the residents of Davenport.
VIPcare is excited to be partnering with Dr. Yee, and together they look forward to transforming primary care and offering quality healthcare to Medicare beneficiaries.
With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community health resulting in a national epidemic of delayed health screenings and worsened chronic conditions, VIPcare has adapted to the risks and has remained committed to delivering the first line of care in communities. In addition, they have successfully and safely maintained continuity of care to their patients with both preventive and routine care.
"I'm excited to be joining VIPcare and being part of a team that shares my mission to provide 5-star care," Dr. Yee of VIPcare Davenport said. "It's been rewarding serving the Davenport community for the last 23 years and I look forward to continuing to help the Medicare Advantage population in our area to obtain better health with the support of VIPcare."
VIPcare uses a model that puts quality time spent between a doctor and patient at the forefront. By spending more time with the physician, VIPcare believes patients will get more thorough diagnoses and treatments, leading to a better quality of life and less time spent in the hospital.
Unlike other healthcare providers, VIPcare encourages patients to see their physicians often where highly specialized care is created just for them and their specific needs.
In efforts to guide patients to Better Health, VIPcare helps to eliminate potential health care burdens by offering services including same-day appointments, transportation assistance to and from clinics, and virtual visits when needed. VIPcare physicians are dedicated to always doing what needs to be done to provide a better experience and the highest quality of care to their patients. They believe in quality, not quantity.
VIPcare primary care physicians walk side-by-side with their patients, providing them with access to comprehensive health care services, which allows them to take a proactive role in their health care journey.
The new VIPcare clinic, located at 102 Park Place Blvd, Davenport, is now accepting patients who receive Medicare Advantage plan benefits. Those interested can call the office at 863-216-1912 or visit www.getvipcare.com to learn more.
About VIPcare
Serving communities for more than 15 years, VIPcare operates over 40 clinics throughout Florida. With 65+ providers, VIPcare cares for more than 23,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries utilizing a high-touch population health management approach that prioritizes spending quality time with the physician. By focusing on a senior care model and increasing access to high-quality care, VIPcare's model is at the forefront of the future of healthcare, as opposed to the current system the healthcare organization refers to as "sick care." VIPcare patients are encouraged to see the doctor often instead of only when they are sick, contributing to their success towards patient outcomes.
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SOURCE VIPcare | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/26/new-65-primary-care-clinic-raising-standard-healthcare-davenport/ | 2022-05-26T16:50:00Z |
Asurion® Repair Experts Provide Fast Fixes on Phones, Tablets, Laptops, and More
HYANNIS, Mass., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new electronics repair shop, Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions™, has opened in Cape Cod at 769 Iyannough Road. 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.
"Cape Cod is a great location overflowing with culture and community," said Karen Thomas, Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions District Manager. "We're looking forward to bringing convenient and affordable device repairs to this lively area and ensuring Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions is the top-of-mind tech repair service for customers here."
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. Customers 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.
"We are excited to serve people in Cape Cod with fast and affordable tech repair," said Dave Barbuto, CEO of Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions. "We all rely on our phones and laptops more than ever before, and our mission is bigger than repairing shattered screens and broken charge ports. We fix tech because people depend on it to stay connected to things that are important to them. I look forward to serving this community through our new location."
The new store is located at:
Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions
769 Iyannough Rd #19, Hyannis, MA 02601
(508) 827-3000
About Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions™
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.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/asurion-tech-repair-amp-solutions-opens-cape-cod/ | 2022-08-03T22:13:39Z |
Blockware Solutions, a Bitcoin mining leader, is set to begin construction of a 150-megawatt facility bringing a new form of mining to West Virginia
FAIRMONT, W.Va., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockware Solutions (BWS), an industry leader in blockchain infrastructure and Bitcoin mining, is pleased to announce a new partnership with SEVA. Blockware Solutions has initiated a large-scale 150-megawatt development to expand its Bitcoin mining operations in SunPark, an extension of Rock Creek Development as referenced by previous and current administrations in Boone and Lincoln counties, West Virginia.
Blockware Solutions will invest $10 million in the first phase of construction, as part of a multi-year, multi-phase project. The first phase will be a 60 megawatt facility on a 20-acre site, which will feature immersion-cooled mining and hosting operations. The project is expected to commence by the fourth quarter of 2022. The facility will create dozens of high-paying jobs, with estimated average wages for Blockware Solutions technicians starting at $23/hour.
"Today's announcement is a testimony to working collaboratively with the State of West Virginia to diversify the economy of southern WV," said Devanna Corley, President of SEVA WV. She added "The courtship with Blockware and Cyber Innovation began in early April. The Seva team has worked hard to gain the trust of both constituents, and I believe this announcement will be a catalyst to drawing additional tenants. The SunPark project is taking shape, there is a tremendous amount of interest from a variety of markets and there most definitely is a new light shining in Boone and Lincoln Counties."
SEVA WV announced its plans earlier this year to develop SunPark, a 3,000-acre solar park that includes industrial and commercial development, an educational experience, tourism, and hospitality venues. SunPark will create new high-paying jobs and improve the quality of life for all West Virginians, working together to make this project an epicenter for economic empowerment.
"Off the heels of our 20-megawatt data center in Belfry, KY, we are excited to announce our next mining location in SunPark. We are thrilled to bring a new form of mining to the people of West Virginia, boost job growth, and add to the development of the region," said Warren Rogers, Chief Financial Officer of Blockware Solutions. "The plans outlined by SEVA and the support of the State of West Virginia in those efforts made our selection of SunPark easy. With a focus on solar energy, we intend to harness sustainable power for our project and provide energy efficient mining for our customers, a positive next step for the industry."
"Bitcoin mining is another form of mining for southern West Virginia. Blockware Solution's investment will lead to job creation and will go a long way to contribute to West Virginia's economy," said Zach Staton, President of Cyber Innovation Group, a subsidiary of Blockware Solutions.
"Any time that we're able to announce a new development project in West Virginia, it's a good day for our people," said West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice. "Since I walked in the door as Governor, my administration and I have worked nonstop to make West Virginia the best place in the nation to locate a business. Our state is truly on a roll."
"We are not surprised by the level of interest in SunPark. Our vision is taking shape and there are eager partners seeking to build operations and employ our workforce in Southern West Virginia. We are grateful for Blockware Solutions and their team for selecting our site," said Devanna Corley, President of SEVA.
Kris Mitchell, Executive Director of the Boone County Community Development Authority said, "This announcement is a key example of the positive impact that SunPark will have on our region. I would like to welcome Blockware Solutions and thank them for their commitment to supporting local communities. I know Mrs. Corley and the SEVA team are working hard to bring business to the region."
About SEVA WV
SEVA WV is the developer of the 5,800 acre site formerly known as Hobet mining site located in Boone and Lincoln Counties in WV. SunPark will utilize 3,000 acres anchored by the state's largest solar farm. The multi-phase plan includes industrial and commercial development, an educational experience, tourism & hospitality venues that work together to make this project an epicenter for economic development creating new high-paying jobs and improving the quality of life for all West Virginians. Savion Energy is an important part of the SunPark development. For more information, visit: https://www.sevaworks.net
About Blockware Solutions
Blockware Solutions is a first of its kind operation that gives global Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency miners a turnkey solution to access an emerging and fast-growing market. Blockware offers mining rig hardware procurement, mining rig colocation services (owned and operated by the firm), professional mining, pool operation, and staking / validator / master node operations. The company has sold over 250,000 mining rigs since its launch in 2017, placed over 250 MW's of hosting clients, mined thousands of Bitcoin, and publishes Proprietary Research through its research arm Blockware Intelligence, which has been translated in over 15 languages and has garnished millions of views. For more information, visit: https://www.blockwaresolutions.com/.
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SOURCE Blockware Solutions | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/26/seva-announces-bitcoin-mining-partnership-help-advance-development-sunpark/ | 2022-05-26T18:03:00Z |
WASHINGTON, May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Public records belong to the public. So where do we get started tracking them down?
Join the National Press Club Journalism Institute for "My First FOIA: Open records are for everyone" to learn what government records you have a right to and how to request them. Whether you're a journalist, student, parent, community activist, teacher, business owner, or taxpayer, you will learn how to request public records that can help you in your personal and professional life.
Registration is open for this program, which will take place on Friday, May 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.
This virtual webinar is designed to help individuals file their first open records request with a local, state, or federal government agency. The Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, provides the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency. Federal agencies are required to disclose any information requested unless it falls under one of nine exemptions. State and local agencies also have open record laws governing documents produced by government agencies including lawmakers, law enforcement agencies, courts, and school districts, among others. These laws help keep citizens in the know about their government.
During this program, participants will learn:
- Why an individual might file a FOIA or open records request
- The types of public records that exist
- When you should rely on a FOIA or open records request, and other ways to find information
- How to file an open records request
- How to interpret the information you receive
Participants will hear from:
- Kirsten Mitchell, compliance team lead for the U.S. Office of Government Information Services and designated federal officer for the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's FOIA Advisory Committee
- Lulu Ramadan, an investigative reporter at The Seattle Times and a distinguished fellow with ProPublica's Local Reporting Network
- Mark Walker, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, where he previously was its FOIA coordinator, and the president of Investigative Reporters & Editors
We invite journalists to share this program with people in their lives who might benefit from learning about open records requests.
About the Institute
The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. As the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest.
The National Press Club Journalism Institute serves thousands of people daily with our newsletter, online programming, writing group, and other support. The Institute depends on grants, foundation funds, and contributions from individuals like you. Your donation today allows the Institute to offer the majority of its programming at no cost. If you value the Institute's services, please donate today. Any amount helps.
Press contact: Julie Moos, Executive Director, National Press Club Journalism Institute, jmoos@press.org
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SOURCE National Press Club Journalism Institute | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/open-records-everything-you-need-know-before-filing-your-first-foia-request/ | 2022-05-04T20:00:56Z |
POKROVSK, Ukraine (AP) — Russia’s claimed seizure of a Mariupol steel plant that became a symbol of Ukrainian tenacity gives Russian President Vladimir Putin a badly wanted victory in the war he began, capping a nearly three-month siege that left city in ruins and more than 20,000 residents feared dead.
After the Russian Defense Ministry announced late Friday that its forces had removed the last Ukrainian fighters from the plant’s miles of underground tunnels, concern mounted for the Ukrainian defenders who now are prisoners in Russian hands.
Denis Pushilin, the head of an area of eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, said Saturday that the Ukrainians, considered heroes by their fellow citizens, were sure to face a tribunal for their wartime actions.
“I believe that justice must be restored. There is a request for this from ordinary people, society, and, probably, the sane part of the world community,” Russian state news agency Tass quoted Pushilin as saying.
Russian officials and state media repeatedly have tried to characterize the fighters who holed up in the Azovstal steel plant as neo-Nazis and criminals. Among the plant’s more than 2,400 defenders were members of the Azov Regiment, whose far-right origins have been seized on by the Kremlin as part of an effort to cast its invasion as a battle against Nazi influence in Ukraine
The Ukrainian government has not commented on Russia’s claim of capturing Azovstal, which for weeks remained Mariupol’s last holdout of Ukrainian resistance, and with it completing Moscow’s long-sought goal of controlling the strategic port city.
Ukraine’s military this week told the fighters holed up in the plant, hundreds of them wounded, that their mission was complete and they could come out. It described their extraction as an evacuation, not a mass surrender.
The end of the battle for Mariupol would help Putin offset some stinging setbacks, including the failure of Russian troops to take over Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, the sinking of the Russian Navy’s flagship in the Black Sea and the continued resistance that has stalled an offensive in eastern Ukraine.
The impact of Russia’s declared victory on the broader war remained unclear. Many Russian troops already had been redeployed from Mariupol to elsewhere in the conflict, which began when Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov reported Saturday that Russia destroyed a Ukrainian special-operations base in the Black Sea region of Odesa as well as a significant cache of Western-supplied weapons in northern Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region. There was no confirmation from the Ukrainian side.
In its morning operational report, the Ukrainian military general staff reported heavy fighting in much of eastern Ukraine, including the areas of Sievierodonetsk, Bakhmut and Avdiivka.
After failing to capture Kyiv, Russia focused its offensive on the country’s eastern industrial heartland. The Russia-backed separatists have controlled parts of the Donbas region since 2014, and Moscow wants to expand the territory under its control.
The seizure of Mariupol furthers Russia’s quest to essentially create a land bridge from Russia stretching through the Donbas region to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said Saturday that Russia was working to restore the port and remove mines.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said he would not launch a counterattack into Russian territory but emphasized that the Donbas region remains sovereign to Ukraine.
Speaking at a joint media conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Zelenskyy said his forces were fighting to “liberate our territory” and the price of “tens or hundreds of thousands of lives” was too high to surrender it.
He pressed Western countries for multiple launch rocket systems, which he said “just stand still” in other countries yet are “key” to Ukraine’s success. U.S. President Joe Biden signed off Saturday on a fresh, $40 billion infusion of aid for Ukraine, with half for military assistance.
Mariupol, which is part of the Donbas, was blockaded early in the war and became a frightening example to people elsewhere in the country of the hunger, terror and death they might face if the Russians surrounded their communities.
The seaside steelworks, occupying some 11 square kilometers (4 square miles), had been a battleground for weeks. Drawing Russian airstrikes, artillery and tank fire, the dwindling group of outgunned Ukrainian fighters held out with the help of airdrops before their government ordered them to abandon the plant.
Zelenskyy revealed in an interview published Friday that Ukrainian helicopter pilots braved Russian anti-aircraft fire to ferry in medicine, food and water to the steel mill as well as to retrieve bodies and rescue wounded fighters.
A “very large” number of the pilots died on the missions, he said. “They are absolutely heroic people, who knew that it would be difficult, knew that to fly would be almost impossible,” Zelenskyy said.
Russia claimed that the Azov Regiment’s commander was taken from the plant in an armored vehicle because of local residents’ alleged hatred for him, but no evidence of Ukrainian antipathy toward the nationalist regiment has emerged.
With Russia controlling the city, Ukrainian authorities are likely to face delays in documenting evidence of alleged Russian atrocities in Mariupol, including the bombings of a maternity hospital and a theater where hundreds of civilians had taken cover.
Satellite images in April showed what appeared to be mass graves just outside Mariupol, where local officials accused Russia of concealing the slaughter by burying up to 9,000 civilians.
Earlier this month, hundreds of civilians were evacuated from the plant during humanitarian cease-fires and spoke of the terror of ceaseless bombardment and dank conditions underground.
An estimated 100,000 of the 450,000 people who resided there before the war remain. Many, trapped by Russia’s siege, were left without food, water and electricity.
An aide to Mariupol’s mayor alleged Saturday that Russian forces were blocking all routes from the city and warned displaced residents not to return to retrieve personal belongings.
“As of today, any evacuation from the city becomes impossible until the opening of separate corridors,” Pedro Andryushchenko wrote on Telegram.
The chief executive of Metinvest, a multinational company that owns the Azovstal plant and another steel mill, Ilyich, in Mariupol, spoke of the city’s devastation in an interview published Saturday in Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
“The Russians are trying to clean it (the city) up to hide their crimes,” the newspaper quoted Metinvest CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov as saying. ”The inhabitants are trying to make the city function, to make water supplies work again.”
“But the sewer system is damaged, there has been flooding, and infections are feared” from drinking the water, he said.
The Ilyich steelworks still has some intact infrastructure, but if the Russians try to get it running, Ukrainians will refuse to return to their jobs there, Ryzhenkov said.
“We will never work under Russian occupation,” he said.
___
McQuillan reported from Lviv. Stashevskyi reported from Kyiv. Associated Press journalists Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Andrea Rosa in Kharkiv, Frances D’Emilio in Rome, and other AP staffers around the world contributed.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/in-biggest-victory-yet-russia-claims-to-capture-mariupol/ | 2022-05-21T17:02:42Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Unity Software Inc..
Shareholders who purchased shares of U during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
CONTACT US HERE:
CLASS PERIOD: March 5, 2021 to May 10, 2022
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) deficiencies in Unity's product platform reduced the accuracy of the Company's machine learning technology; (ii) the foregoing was likely to have a material negative impact on the Company's revenues; (iii) accordingly, Unity had overstated the Company's commercial and/or financial prospects for 2022; (iv) as a result, the Company was likely to have to reduce its fiscal 2022 guidance; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
DEADLINE: September 6, 2022 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/unity-software-u-lawsuit-form/?id=30481&from=4
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of U 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 6, 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/2022/08/03/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-unity-software-inc-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-6-2022-nyse-u/ | 2022-08-03T10:41:04Z |
NEW YORK, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Athletes need legal counsel at all stages of their careers, from before they turn pro all the way through retirement. A new treatise published by PLI Press, Sports Law: A Practical Guide to Protecting the Interests of Athletes, provides real-world, practical insights on how to provide legal protections to athletes at all levels in a meaningful and impactful way.
Authored by Luke A. Fedlam, an attorney with nearly 20 years of experience working with athletes, the book serves as a "how-to" guide for anyone who counsels or represents athletes.
"The athlete empowerment movement has made significant strides over the past decade. From name, image, and likeness (NIL) issues at the college level to pro athletes getting involved in private business investments, this book highlights the need for the legal protection of all athletes at all levels," says Fedlam, who heads Porter Wright's Sports Law practice.
Sports Law contains practice tips, sample forms, and first-hand insights to help legal practitioners as they work to support and protect athletes. Chapters cover an array of topics including personal branding and intellectual property protection; marketing and endorsement opportunities and contracts; due diligence on investment opportunities, including real estate development; entity formation (for-profit and nonprofit); counseling on estate planning, wealth preservation, and asset protection; and the emerging world of eSports.
The book is designed to be useful for attorneys representing athletes at firms, in marketing, or at player agencies, as well as law students and others studying the business of sports. Those on athletes' management or advisory teams will find the book to be a helpful resource. For athletes, this book is an easily digestible way to understand how to protect themselves and navigate life outside of their sport.
Luke A. Fedlam is a partner in Porter Wright's Corporate Department leading the Sports Law Practice Group. He regularly advises a range of clients — from student-athletes transitioning into professional sports, to professional athletes navigating life on a team, to retiring athletes creating the game plan for their life after sports — on matters including marketing contract analysis, agent and advisor selection due diligence, investment opportunity due diligence, asset protection, real estate development, brand and mark protection, and trust and estates.
Prior to joining Porter Wright, Luke served as a legal manager in the mergers & acquisitions area and director of business development at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. He leads the advisory firm Anomaly Sports Group — a consulting company that works to provide professional development and life skills education to college sports teams, athletic departments, and professional sports teams.
Practising Law Institute is a nonprofit learning organization dedicated to keeping attorneys and other professionals at the forefront of knowledge and expertise. PLI is chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, and was founded in 1933 by Harold P. Seligson. PLI provides the highest quality, accredited, continuing legal and professional education programs in a variety of formats. This content is delivered by more than 4,000 volunteer faculty, including prominent lawyers, judges, investment bankers, accountants, corporate counsel, and U.S. and international government regulators. PLI publishes a comprehensive library of treatises, course handbooks, answer books, and journals, also available through the PLI PLUS online platform. The essence of PLI's mission is its commitment to the pro bono community.
Please visit www.pli.edu to learn more.
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SOURCE Practising Law Institute | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/new-sports-law-treatise-provides-practical-guidance-protect-athletes/ | 2022-06-29T16:55:40Z |
STOCKHOLM, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
Second quarter highlights
- Group organic sales grew by 5% YoY driven primarily by Networks in North America and Europe. Reported sales were SEK 62.5 (54.9) b.
- Reported gross income increased to SEK 26.3 (23.9) b. driven by higher sales. Gross margin was 42.1% (43.4%) impacted by lower IPR revenues of SEK 0.9 b YoY and supply chain cost, partly offset by timing of software sales in a large contract and underlying improvements.
- Reported EBIT amounted to SEK 7.3 (5.8) b. as a result of higher sales and higher gross income. EBIT margin was 11.7% (10.6%).
- Reported EBITA amounted to SEK 7.5 (6.1) b. with an EBITA margin of 12.0% (11.1%). EBITA margin rolling four quarters was 14%.
- Networks reported EBIT margin was 19.2% (21.7%) impacted by lower IPR revenues, increased component and logistics costs, and proactive investments in supply chain resilience, partly offset by timing of software sales in a large contract.
- Reported net income was SEK 4.7 (3.9) b.
- Free cash flow before M&A was SEK 4.4 (4.1) b. Net cash on June 30, 2022, was SEK 70.3 b. compared with SEK 43.7 b. on June 30, 2021.
- Planning for a Capital Markets Day December 15, 2022.
[1] Non-IFRS financial measures are reconciled at the end of this report to the most directly reconcilable line items in the financial statements.
Comments from Börje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC)
Strong business momentum continued during the second quarter. Rollout of 5G networks and market share gains resulted in a 5% organic sales[1] growth in the quarter. We have adjusted our group structure to strengthen execution of our strategy to be a leading mobile infrastructure provider and to establish a focused enterprise business. Consumers, enterprises, and society will be digitalized through 5G in a way we have not seen before. With our strategy, we are in a position to capture these opportunities to enable further growth.
Technology leadership is a foundation for our growth strategy. Since 2017, our increased R&D investments have created significant value. The geopolitical situation has also required proactive investments to de-risk our supply chain and ensure that we can deliver on our strategy to gain footprint. The global supply chain situation remains challenging and inflationary pressures are strong. Combined, this results in cost increases which we work hard to mitigate as far as possible. As contracts expire, we aim to adjust pricing. However, we believe the best way to compensate for cost increases is the continued investment in technology to increase the cadence of bringing new innovative solutions to the market.
Fulfilling customer commitments under current challenging conditions, comes at a cost which dilutes gross margin. The increased costs have been largely absorbed through our investments in innovation and continuous improvements. Increased sales resulted in a gross income improvement in absolute terms of SEK 2.4 b. compared with Q2 last year, despite lower IPR revenues of SEK 0.9 b. YoY.
While 5G is the fastest scaling mobile technology, global penetration is still in an early phase. We foresee that the global 5G build-out will be larger and continue for longer than previous mobile generations. The build-out will include evolving consumer use cases, such as Fixed Wireless Access, mobile gaming and XR applications, in addition to new areas, such as enterprise and first responders.
Networks sales[1] grew organically by 6% in Q2 underpinned by market share gains. Gross margin was 45.1% (47.9%), impacted by lower IPR revenues, increased component and logistics costs, and proactive investments in supply chain resilience, which enabled continued delivery performance in the quarter. We continue to invest in enhancing and expanding our offerings, and we increased R&D in the quarter primarily for Cloud RAN and acceleration of the next-generation Ericsson Silicon (ASICs).
Digital Services sales[1] grew organically by 2% YoY with strong growth in cloud native 5G Core, and an EBIT of SEK -1.3 (-1.6) b. The accelerated 5G Core projects with initial deployment costs partly offset the margin improvement from increased software sales.
Managed Services sales[1] were flat YoY with an EBIT margin of 11.2% (8.1%). With a 4Q rolling EBIT margin[2] of 9.5%, we achieved our 2022 target two quarters ahead of plan.
The new group structure, to be reported from Q3, positions us well to execute on our strategy. Segment Cloud Software and Services is formed by merging Digital Services and Managed Services to create stronger customer propositions as our customers are moving towards 5G using cloud technologies and intelligent automation. The Digital Services business will leverage our technology leadership to accelerate customers' transformation to cloud native networks. We are committed to turning around the business in support of the Group reaching the long-term targets.
Segment Enterprise includes Enterprise Wireless Solutions, combining Cradlepoint with Dedicated Networks to capture the growing needs for enterprise solutions. The Enterprise segment will also include the Global Network Platform, which we believe will create a paradigm shift in the industry as the full capabilities of the network will be exposed to the global developer communities and enterprises. This will inspire innovation with new opportunities for the operators to monetize network investments. The intended acquisition of Vonage is an important building block, and we are working to secure approval and close the transaction before end of July. The third element of the Enterprise segment is Technologies & New Businesses, previously within segment Emerging Business and Other.
IPR licensing revenues were affected by several expiring patent license agreements pending renewal and by 5G license negotiations in the quarter. We are confident in our strong 5G position and leading patent portfolio, positioning us well to conclude pending and future license renewals. With current contracts, revenues from IPR are estimated to be SEK 1.0–1.5 b. in Q3.
To secure deliveries we have pro-actively increased our buffer inventories. Additionally, unpredictable deliveries of components and site material led to increased inventory levels across our business. We were, however, able to partly offset the inventory increases with other working capital improvements, thereby delivering an improved free cash flow before M&A amounting to SEK 4.4 (4.1) b. Based on current visibility, we expect a gradual reduction in inventory towards the end of the year.
We continue to strengthen our governance, risk management, and compliance across the group and are fully committed to operating with integrity. We continue to engage with the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission in relation to the 2019 Iraq investigation report and the DPA breach notices. The outcome of these matters cannot be assessed at this point in time. We are fully committed to cooperating with the US authorities.
Our strategy targets a higher growth trajectory as we aim to grow our core mobile infrastructure business and capitalize on the fast-growing enterprise market. With 5G, the world is experiencing the largest innovation platform to date, where anything that can go wireless, will go wireless. Ericsson is at the epicenter of this powerful trend, and we will continue to invest in technology leadership to ensure we capitalize on this position. EBITA margin[2] rolling four quarters was 14% and we remain determined to reach our long-term target of an EBITA margin[2] of 15–18% no later than in 2–3 years.
Börje Ekholm
President and CEO
[1] Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency
[2] Excluding restructuring charges
NOTES TO EDITORS
You find the complete report with tables in the attached PDF or on www.ericsson.com/investors
Video webcast for analysts, investors and journalists
President and CEO Börje Ekholm and CFO Carl Mellander will comment on the report and take questions at a video webcast at 9:00 AM CEST (8:00 AM BST London, 3:00 AM EDT New York).
To join the webcast, please go to www.ericsson.com/investors
To ask a question, please call:
Sweden: +46 (0)8 566 426 51 (Toll-free Sweden: 0200 883 685)
International/UK: +44 (0)333 300 0804 (Toll-free UK: 0800 358 9473)
US: +1 631 913 1422 (Toll-free US: +1 855 85 70686)
PIN code: 34742898#
Please call in at least 15 minutes before the webcast starts.
The webcast will be available on-demand after the event and can be viewed at www.ericsson.com/investors.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Contact person
Peter Nyquist, Head of Investor Relations
Phone: +46 705 75 29 06
E-mail: peter.nyquist@ericsson.com
Additional contacts
Stella Medlicott, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Relations
Phone: +46 730 95 65 39
E-mail: media.relations@ericsson.com
Investors
Lena Häggblom, Director, Investor Relations
Phone: +46 72 593 27 78
E-mail: lena.haggblom@ericsson.com
Stefan Jelvin, Director, Investor Relations
Phone: +46 709 86 02 27
E-mail: stefan.jelvin@ericsson.com
Media
Kristoffer Edshage, Director Corporate Media
Phone: +46 722 20 44 46
E-mail: media.relations@ericsson.com
Corporate Communications
Phone: +46 10 719 69 92
E-mail: media.relations@ericsson.com
This is information that Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Swedish Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 07:00 CEST on July 14, 2022.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE Ericsson | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/ericsson-reports-second-quarter-results-2022/ | 2022-07-14T06:50:06Z |
Which high-end bladeless desk fan is best?
Characterized by sleek design, powerful airflow and ease of use, high-end bladeless desk fans are perfect accessories for any desk, whether it be professional or casual. However, with so many fans on the market, choosing the right one for your needs can be a challenge. If you’re in the market for a high-end desk fan that keeps you cool and starts conversations, check out the Dyson Pure Cool.
What to know before you buy a high-end bladeless desk fan
Size
If you have an expansive office with a second table to put your fan on, size may not be as important. If you’re short on space, consider something with a compact design, such as a tower fan. If you plan to use your fan as a heater during the colder months, you’re likely going to keep it under your desk and size may not be a big factor.
Built-in purification
While most high-end bladeless fans offer on-board purification technology, you may not need to pay the premium for this technology. If you plan to use your fan in an office space, it’s possible your office building is outfitted with the latest filtration technology. Alternatively, you may already own an air purifier or want something more powerful than a desk-appropriate model.
Noise level
Higher-end models tend to be equipped with additional noise-dampening technology that enables individual modes such as “sleep” or “work.” If you want your new fan to produce white noise to help keep you focused and drown out distractions, look for a fan that prioritizes output rather than reducing the noise level.
What to look for in a quality high-end bladeless desk fan
Remote control
The last thing you want to do when you’re comfortable on the couch or focusing on work is interrupt your mood because you have to get up to change the fan setting. Quality bladeless desk fans come with remote controls or apps that allow you to control your fan from anywhere in the house.
Multi-purpose technology
Top-tier bladeless desk fans offer more than just air circulation. Be on the lookout for models that have built-in purification, heating or both.
Oscillation range
Look for fans that have at least 180 degrees of oscillation, keeping in mind that industry leaders have fans that rotate up to 350 degrees.
How much you can expect to spend on a high-end bladeless desk fan
Entry level high-end bladeless desk fans cost about $150, while luxury models from well-known brands can cost more than $500.
High-end bladeless desk fan FAQ
How do you clean a bladeless fan?
A. Simply unplug the fan and take a moist wipe to the interior and exterior of the wind tunnel. Avoid spraying any cleaning product directly onto the fan. Use a small vacuum attachment, ideally with soft bristles, to get dust out of the venting. Finally, wipe down any remaining dust with a fibrous cloth such as a paper towel.
What size replacement HEPA filter should you get?
A. To make sure you purchase the right replacement HEPA filter, check the model number of your fan and cross-reference it with the compatible models listed for certain filters. If you purchase a fan from a well-known brand such as Dyson, check the company website for replacement product guidelines.
What’s the best high-end bladeless desk fan to buy?
Top high-end bladeless desk fan
What you need to know: Dyson is known for manufacturing products that are as beautiful as they are functionally powerful, and the Pure Cool fan doesn’t disappoint in either category.
What you’ll love: The Dyson Pure Cool offers more than a nice breeze; complete with patented air-purification technology, this fan ensures the air you breathe is as clean as possible. Dyson’s purifying technology senses pollutants in real time so you don’t have to worry about turning it on and off throughout the day. It’s sleek design and small construction make this the perfect fan for small spaces.
What you should consider: This purifying fan has a high price tag.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top high-end bladeless desk fan for the money
What you need to know: This fan boasts an eye-catching design and is packed with high-end features that pump out clean, purified air at a fraction of the cost of brand-name competitors.
What you’ll love: With three modes and nine speed settings, this fan has all the technology you need to find the perfect breeze. It has a remote control and built-in LED touch screen. This fan is equipped with a HEPA filter that filters out bacteria, fumes, smoke, dust, pollen and airborne droplets.
What you should consider: This fan has slightly larger dimensions than comparable models and doesn’t oscillate as widely either.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: The HP01 from Dyson is a top-of-the-line product that combines the best of Dyson’s innovative purifying, air multiplying and space-heater technology in one well-designed unit.
What you’ll love: The HP01 is capable of purifying a 300-square-foot room with its built-in, fully sealed, HEPA and activated carbon filter. Plus, with Dyson’s backward airflow mode, you can use the purifier without turning on the heater or fan. Whether you’re using it as a space heater or fan, the HP01 pushes out a whopping 77 gallons of air per second. Although the HP01 features an incredibly minimalist, modern design, it still delivers industry leading practicality features such as 350 degrees of oscillation.
What you should consider: It may be too large to go on top of a small desk, although it will easily fit under most desks.
Where to buy: Sold by Bed Bath & Beyond and Amazon
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William Briskin writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/office-br/office-furniture-br/best-high-end-bladeless-desk-fan/ | 2022-06-04T13:38:48Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — We all love brunch on the weekend or even during the week if you’re feeling frisky. How about we take you on an inside look at a Dallas brunch spot with a french twist and even a chef’s secret recipe?
Let’s take a quick trip back in time… Do you remember growing up with the nostalgia of maybe Saturday or Sunday morning waking up to someone in the house making pancakes?
Hopefully, that unlocked some core sweet family memories of the past and even a reminder to ask for the chef in your family’s pancake recipe. We got to have a first-hand look at a family recipe from chef Shaun Hinson that’s actually made at the Renaissance Dallas at Toussaint.
Over at Toussaint, you can expect brunch, French Colonial meets Texas Comfort food, cocktails and even a market place. “Approachable French sophistication meets urban Dallas culture in an austere juxtaposition of soothing colors, lively sounds, and understated Texas flair. Find your joie de vive in Toussaint’s relaxed brasserie atmosphere with punches of brass, marble, and natural wood.”
Every day from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., “Toussaint Marketplace is your go-to for gourmet coffee, French comfort food, light bites, and late night cocktails to go. Illy coffee is on offer all day alongside traditional favorites les viennoiseries, la tartine, Le pain au chocolat, and hearty handhelds. All day lunch features will include Tuna Nicoise and Jambon Beurre.” | https://cw33.com/news/inside-dfw/inside-look-at-dallas-brunch-spot-with-a-french-twist-chefs-secret-recipe/ | 2022-05-18T18:17:50Z |
MARIPOSA, Calif. (AP) — A tourist from Michigan who tried to retrace the steps of a family who died during a grueling summer hike in Northern California had to be rescued last week after getting lost, a frustrated sheriff said.
The man, who has not been identified, was reported missing near the trail in Mariposa County where officials last year found the bodies of Jonathan Gerrish, his wife, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter Aurelia “Miju” Chung-Gerrish and their dog Oski, Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said in a statement posted on social media.
The mysterious deaths grabbed international headlines. More than 30 law enforcement agencies painstakingly reviewed — and ruled out — causes of deaths such as murder, lightning strikes, poisoning, illegal drugs and suicide.
After a two-month investigation, authorities determined the family and their dog died of extreme heat exhaustion after running out of water while hiking last year on a sunny August afternoon when temperatures reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius) in the steep mountain terrain.
On June 29, a hiker called authorities after noticing the man’s car was still parked at the trailhead. The caller had met the tourist from Michigan a day earlier when he told him he was investigating the family’s deaths because he found the cause of death “odd,” Briese said.
A search and rescue crew with the help of a helicopter from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office found the man later that day.
The tourist was described as being in his mid-60’s, approximately 5’6” (1.68 meters) and 200 pounds (90 kilograms), and wearing sweatpants “on some of the hottest days we have seen this year,” Briese said.
The man began his hike in an area with a closed gate and marked with a “CLOSED” sign. He had finished the water from the two one-gallon water containers he was carrying and had to drink water from the nearby river, he said.
After rescuers found him, the man wanted to know if there had been updated algae testing on the water, Briese said.
He was treated for dehydration and badly blistered feet before he left the area in his rental car against medical advice, Briese said.
“It is hard not to be angry about this particular rescue mission, I want people to come here and enjoy all the amazing nature Mariposa County has to offer,” Briese said.
“To have someone purposely put themselves in danger, using vital resources and potentially putting the safety of our staff in danger all to try and prove us wrong is maddening and quite frankly sickening,” he added. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/michigan-man-rescued-from-california-trail-where-family-died/ | 2022-07-08T07:18:32Z |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jimmie Johnson posted the fastest lap of his career Thursday as IndyCar drivers got back to work Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
This time, there were no spins, no crashes and not as much talk about the slick warmup lane.
Instead, drivers raced toward the top of the speed chart on a busy second and final day of testing on the historic 2.5-mile oval. Thirty-one of the 32 drivers entered in the Indianapolis 500 next month participated with speeds topping out above 229 mph.
And once the rain cleared, warm, sunny, calm conditions created a tamer environment than Wednesday as hundreds of fans watched from the mounds near the speedway’s museum.
“Things feel really good on the No. 2 car. It’s not like two steps forward and one back or vice versa,” two-time series champ Josef Newgarden said after posting the best lap at 229.519. “I feel really confident with what we’ve got and feel good about showing up anywhere.”
He should. Newgarden has won two straight.
Takuma Sato of Japan, a two-time Indy winner, had the second-best lap at 229.427. Tony Kanaan, the Brazilian who won the 500 in 2013, was third at 228.767 and seven-time NASCAR champJohnson was eighth at 227.900 as Chip Ganassi Racing claimed five of the top 10 spots.
But the lingering question was never about speed.
Everyone wanted to see whether track officials solved the warmup lane problem that caused three race winners to spin and led to two crashes Wednesday. The results kept Kanaan on the phone with speedway president Doug Boles late into Wednesday night, and before the track opened after a four-hour rain delay, Kanaan advised colleagues to take it slowly and use common sense.
Boles said track workers spent five hours dragging tires through the apron in hopes of providing more grip. An inspection revealed the historic 2.5-mile oval had 25% more grip than the exit to pit road, believed to be at least in part because there was more traffic on the actual course since Rapid Penetrating Emulsion was added to the surface last fall.
The substance helps the track dry quicker, which helped everyone get back to work Thursday, and Kanaan thought the late-night work made a difference.
“It was better in lane one today, but they know they have a lot of work to do,” Kanaan said. “If there’s a track that’s going to get it done, it’s this one.”
Kanaan said he’s been assured track officials will grind the track, if needed, before the May 29 race.
Ideal weather conditions kept most cars on the track for the entire session but even when cars did pit, none spun, a welcome reprieve.
Will Power, the 2018 Indy winner, said it felt like he was driving through water Wednesday when his car did a 360-degree spin that sent him dangerously close to traffic near the first turn. Power’s car forced promising 22-year-old Colton Herta to take a higher line, which sent Herta into the wall.
Herta’s crash, the second in less than an hour, prompted series officials to end Wednesday’s testing early so a more thorough inspection could be conducted.
“The eye test tells you the grip level will be back up, the tennis shoe test tells you it will be,” Boles said Thursday morning.
It’s not the first time the 113-year-old speedway has faced worries from drivers.
Only six Formula One cars started the 2005 U.S. Grand Prix because of worries over Michelin’s tires lasting no longer than 10 laps. Three years later, NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 was marred by a similar situation with Goodyear tires. Both races were held on the oval.
Last year, Cup drivers used Indy’s road course for the first time and the race was marred by deteriorating curbing that sent some cars airborne and damaged others. NASCAR officials red-flagged the race so track workers could remove the curbing before the 200-mile race was completed.
Then came Wednesday.
Before a single lap was turned, Alexander Rossi, the 2016 Indy winner, spun on the warmup lane. Then with about 80 minutes left in the day’s third and final two-hour test session, Brazil’s Helio Castroneves was sent sliding through a grass strip and hard into the second turn wall.
Castroneves and Herta were both examined at the track’s infield medical center and released shortly after they hit the wall.
Both were cleared to drive for Thursday, but the damage to Castroneves’ car was too severe.
Boles said he called Castroneves to apologize.
“I take this so personally because you want this to be the most special racetrack in the world,” Boles said. “What I want and, I’m sure we can solve by race day, is to get in and out of the pits as fast as you can go.”
But the biggest winner may have been Johnson.
“It’s a very cool sensation and now I understand why when I ask the guys what it’s like to go fast around here they just smile,” Johnson said. “I’m starting to get that grin and I’m looking forward to having that smile.” | https://cw33.com/sports/indy-500/pit-concerns-dissipate-as-indycar-drivers-crank-up-speed/ | 2022-04-29T16:31:45Z |
New read-write capabilities will allow independent insurance agents to build & nurture relationships more seamlessly.
RALEIGH, N.C., June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Levitate and HawkSoft are proud to announce the second major milestone in their partnership – the launch of their two-way API integration for users of both platforms. This highly-anticipated update to the existing read-only integration allows Levitate to write back emails, texts, and notes to HawkSoft, creating a comprehensive and streamlined user experience.
"We're excited to take our integration with HawkSoft to the next level," says Jesse Lipson, CEO of Levitate. "Levitate and HawkSoft share hundreds of customers, and the ability to automatically write data back into HawkSoft's agency management system makes a great integration even more valuable to our joint customers."
"Levitate is one of HawkSoft's most popular API Partners," reports Paul Hawkins, CEO of HawkSoft. "It is very clear why – Levitate is a force multiplier to an agent's ability to maintain strong, personal relationships with their clients. Two-way API integration will further simplify the process and free more time for our mutual agency partners to focus on protecting their clients."
It's this shared philosophy of authentic and genuine relationship marketing that makes the partnership between Levitate and HawkSoft a natural fit – and the results they share speak for themselves. Since launching the initial integration in March 2020, nearly 300 small businesses using both platforms have seen outstanding results from the 2.2 million emails sent through Levitate, garnering an average email open rate of over 62% – a 210% higher average rate than the 20% average open rate normally seen with mass-blast providers. More importantly, Levitate emails have started over 176,000 conversations between agents and their customers, creating opportunities for new policies, additional coverage, and the chance to encourage happy clients to become vocal advocates for their business.
The time-saving two-way integration feature is now available to all users of HawkSoft and Levitate. Once enabled, data will sync in real-time, keeping client communication histories up to date and accurate in HawkSoft. Alleviating the need to enter data into both platforms will provide more accurate records for users, making this partnership more powerful than ever.
Levitate is a keep-in-touch marketing and client happiness tool designed to help independent insurance agents build & maintain authentic relationships with their clients. Levitate's platform allows users to send personal emails at scale, keep in touch with clients via text, send surveys, schedule meetings, automate communication, remember key facts about their contacts, and accomplish business goals with a personalized approach. For more information about Levitate, visit www.levitate.ai.
Since 1995, HawkSoft is a leader in management systems for independent insurance agencies that want effective workflows and a delightful experience for staff and policyholders. Created by independent agents, HawkSoft continues to evolve as a cutting-edge system that powers thousands of agencies. HawkSoft offers the following promise to insurance agents: your investment in HawkSoft will pay for itself in the first year. Learn more about HawkSoft's unique father-and-son story at www.hawksoft.com/story.
Media Contact: Meghan Hardy, meghan.hardy@levitateapp.com
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SOURCE Levitate | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/levitate-hawksoft-launch-two-way-api-integration-between-platforms/ | 2022-06-23T16:12:19Z |
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Strategic Resources Inc. (TSXV: SR) (the "Company" or "Strategic) is pleased to announce that it has been granted an extension to a previously issued water permit that was set to expire in July 2022. An application to extend the existing water permit allowing for future construction of mining operations at Mustavaara was delivered to the Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland ("PSAVI") in February 2022. On June 21, 2022, PSAVI approved the application to extend the permit for three years until July 2025. The approval was open for public appeals to the Regional Court until July 28, 2022. No appeals were made, and the permit is now legally binding.
Strategic Resources Inc. (TSXV: SR) is a Vancouver, Canada-based mineral exploration and development company focused on vanadium projects in Finland. The Company is primarily focused on its flagship Mustavaara vanadium-iron-titanium project in Finland. The Company continues to evaluate new opportunities that are related to the electrification of the economy.
Further details are available on the Company's website at https://strategic-res.com/.
To follow future news releases, please sign up at https://strategic-res.com/contact/.
STRATEGIC RESOURCES INC.
Signed: "Scott Hicks"
Scott Hicks, CEO
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
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SOURCE Strategic Resources Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/strategic-resources-successfully-extends-key-mustavaara-permit/ | 2022-08-04T11:52:02Z |
Leading national builder services provider for new home construction expands capabilities to service the existing homes market.
HOUSTON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ARCXIS, announced that it has acquired iPermit. Headquartered in Westlake Village, California, iPermit is the largest permit and HERS rating company serving existing homes in California, offering an end-to-end solution that includes permit expediting, Title 24 HERS verification, and California energy upgrade rebate processing. The acquisition introduces ARCXIS into the existing homes market and further solidifies the company's standing as the largest company of its kind in California, and across the United States.
"California is leading the nation in sustainability and building performance efforts. Bringing together ARCXIS, the largest HERS testing company for new homes in California, and the United States, with the largest permitting and HERS testing company for existing homes in the state, was a logical fit with our strategic objectives and further solidifies our position in California. Acquiring iPermit also positions us for growth in new services and new markets as we look to layer its experience and capabilities on our national platform," said Jonathan Risch, CEO of ARCXIS.
Ian Jacoby, former owner of iPermit says, "Joining the ARCXIS family of businesses is an exciting development for our customers who will benefit from expanded capacity, geographic coverage, and services. Our combination more than doubles the number of HERS inspectors we have available in California and allows us to accelerate our expansion into other markets across the U.S., now being a part of the largest HERS rating provider in the nation." Says Ian, "I am also pleased that our full staff is continuing the journey with ARCXIS. Our team is excited about the many benefits and opportunities available to them being a part of ARCXIS and is looking forward to continuing to grow our business and relationships."
iPermit will continue to operate under the iPermit brand as an ARCXIS company and will be managed by the existing team to ensure continued consistency and uninterrupted business. Visit iPermit online at www.iPermitCA.com.
About ARCXIS
ARCXIS (Houston, Texas), is the largest provider of inspection, design, engineering, and quality assurance services for the U.S. residential construction industry. Formerly known as DPIS Builder Services, Ei Companies, Post-Tension Solutions, Ensign Building Solutions Home Energy Division, and Building Energy, ARCXIS brings together hundreds of years of expertise and experience under a single brand serving builders in over half of the states spanning the continental United States.
ARCXIS operates several regional offices with teams of local area operations managers, sales staff, and a network of inspectors and engineers working in dozens of markets from coast to coast. Over the past 35 years of partnering with Builders, we have certified more Energy Star homes than anyone on the globe, consistently responsible for certifying a quarter of all Energy Star homes annually. We are the largest HERS rater in the United States, touching over 150,000 homes annually and were the first company to be recognized by RESNET for performing 250,000 HERS ratings. We are the largest energy rater in California, certifying more Title 24 homes than any company in the state.
The ARCXIS group of companies also includes ABCO Construction Services, LLC (Centennial, Colorado) and structural engineering firm United Structural Consultants (Houston, Texas). Both ABCO and USC service the multi-family, multi-use, and commercial sectors of the construction industry. The addition of iPermit (Westlake Village, California) expands the ARCXIS suite of services to include HERS testing and permitting for existing homes.
ARCXIS is majority owned by Saw Mill Capital, LLC (Briarcliff Manor, New York). Visit us online at www.arcxis.com.
Contact:
Carole Firth, Marketing Manager
Cell: (725) 502-4004
Email: cfirth@eicompanies.com
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SOURCE ARCXIS | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/12/arcxis-acquires-california-based-ipermit/ | 2022-04-12T19:15:16Z |
Located on the Innovation Campus of Wichita State University, The Smart Factory @ Wichita aims to advance the future of manufacturing, spur innovation through digital transformation
WICHITA, Kan., June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
Key takeaways
- The Smart Factory @ Wichita assembles a first-of-its-kind ecosystem of more than 20 world-renowned solution providers, technology innovators and futurists to help solve the toughest challenges in manufacturing.
- Features a fully functioning manufacturing production line that combines cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, cloud and edge applications, robotics, vision solutions and more.
- Supports STEM education: Plans to manufacture and donate Smart Rover STEM education kits that aim to impact 800,000 students over four years, with initial donations in Wichita, Metro Detroit and Philadelphia in 2022.
- Completely sustainable, The Smart Factory is powered by renewable resources and is net-zero impact.
- Facility is anticipated to draw more than 5,000 visitors to the local area over the next 12 months, including leaders from world-renowned companies.
Deloitte today announced the grand opening of The Smart Factory @ Wichita. This new experience center marries an ecosystem of world-leading, innovative collaborators, including founders: AWS, Dragos, Infor, SAP, Siemens, and Wichita State University, and builders: Check Point, HPE, Tenable, ServiceNow, UiPath, Verizon, and more with strategy and cutting-edge technology to showcase the power of smart factory technologies.
Why this matters
As organizations continue to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing demand for products amid a volatile supply chain, labor shortages and a fluctuating global economy, many manufacturers find themselves relying on outdated legacy systems to power their operations. Organizations that engineer an end-to-end smart manufacturing operation can increase efficiency, sustainability and cyber security, build resilience and create new levels of growth and competitive advantage.
Key quotes
"Manufacturers must evolve in response to unprecedented levels of supply chain and workforce disruption by reassessing the capacity and agility of their manufacturing operations. The Smart Factory @ Wichita showcases how Deloitte and our strong ecosystem of collaborators is bringing this innovation to life and helping deliver a combination of strategy and end-to-end technology to help organizations better navigate the challenges of today and tomorrow with a tech-forward approach."
- Dan Helfrich, chair and CEO, Deloitte Consulting LLP
"The Smart Factory @ Wichita showcases the power and potential of bringing together some of the world's greatest minds and solutions in a comprehensive ecosystem to demonstrate practical manufacturing applications. Through the strength of this collaborative approach, we are helping organizations accelerate innovation and make Industry 4.0 a reality."
- Stephen Laaper, principal and Smart Factory leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP
"As a manufacturing and technology hub, we continue to draw top talent and businesses to Wichita, and Wichita State University's collaboration with Deloitte deepens opportunities for our students and community with access to the world's top innovators and futurists coming through The Smart Factory @ Wichita as they explore how to transform their own business operations."
- Dr. Rick Muma, president, Wichita State University
Experience Industry 4.0 in action
The Smart Factory @ Wichita showcases advanced manufacturing techniques in a variety of applications on a shop floor to help organizations navigate their biggest challenges. Visitors to the new, immersive facility will experience smart factory concepts that bring together the Internet of Things, cloud, artificial intelligence, computer vision and more to create interconnected systems that use data to drive intelligent actions. They will also be involved in real-world demonstrations, hands-on workshops and see practical applications brought to life that are designed to help their organizations build a road map to accelerate growth.
The Smart Factory @ Wichita also serves as a catalyst for operational transformations and improved business results. For example, Deloitte has created a technology platform, Smart Factory Accelerator, with a suite of managed services that enable manufacturers navigating the complex digital transformation landscape to optimally achieve their operational performance objectives. The new, cloud-based, turnkey set of solutions with advanced analytics, coupled with Deloitte's network of ecosystem relationships, solves for today's most important operational challenges, such as visibility into end-to-end operations at scale, provides proactive, predictive operational insights, and helps achieve step-change performance objectives.
Sustainably smart
Housed in a net-zero building, the 60,000-square-foot Smart Factory @ Wichita is powered by a renewable energy smart grid and is outfitted with wind trees, solar assets and smart lighting. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) kits produced at the factory use 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) collected from the local recycling stream as the primary raw material, bringing the circular economy to life.
STEM education: The Smart Factory @ Wichita enables the next generation of innovators
In line with its commitment to philanthropy and STEM education, The Smart Factory @ Wichita joined forces with Elenco Electronics and AWS to help produce and distribute a new STEM education product: the Smart Rover kit – a STEM-forward 21st century learning experience. Produced on the factory's state-of-the-art production line, the Smart Rover kit incorporates one of Elenco's award-winning Snap Circuits kits, the Snap Rover, with a Raspberry Pi microcomputer and camera module to educate middle school students on product design, coding and engineering. The program's mission is to inspire the next generation of diverse innovators to fill the growing talent gap in critical STEM-focused areas. With initial donations impacting 1,000 middle school students in Metro Detroit, Philadelphia and Wichita in 2022, Deloitte aims to reach 800,000 students in the U.S. over four years to foster long-term systemic impact in STEM education.
Wichita: A center of precision manufacturing and technology
In support of a community that is known for its deep roots in manufacturing, The Smart Factory @ Wichita is working with Wichita State University, which hosts the factory on its Innovation Campus, to bring together Deloitte's technology experience with the university's research, educational and innovation capabilities. Wichita State University is also using the factory in its curriculum as an applied learning experience to enrich its students' experiences and help inspire the next generation of STEM manufacturing talent.
The factory is anticipated to draw over 5,000 visitors, including leaders of globally renowned companies, to the local area over the next year, with growth anticipated in the future. The Smart Factory @ Wichita also engages many parts of the community including local vendors, suppliers and businesses.
To learn more, visit www.thesmartfactory.io.
About Deloitte
Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500® and more than 7,000 private companies. Our people come together for the greater good and work across the industry sectors that drive and shape today's marketplace — delivering measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in our capital markets, inspire clients to see challenges as opportunities to transform and thrive, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthier society. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Building on more than 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's more than 345,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com.
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.
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SOURCE Deloitte Consulting LLP | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/deloitte-opens-new-us-smart-factory-wichita-kansas-convenes-ecosystem-innovators-make-industry-40-reality/ | 2022-06-07T19:19:13Z |
TORONTO, Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - SoftwareReviews, a leading source for insights on the software provider landscape, has published its 2022 IT Service Management (ITSM) Emotional Footprint, with seven top software providers identified as Champions in the Enterprise and Midmarket spaces.
ITSM software supports the various processes carried out by an IT department's service desk, such as service request fulfillment, incident management, and problem management. As many employees around the world continue to work remotely, organizations are rapidly increasing their digital transformation efforts with a focus on hyperautomation and AI-powered service management to help resolve service tickets faster, saving both time and money.
To support organizations searching for the right ITSM software for their unique needs, SoftwareReviews has identified the top ITSM software providers for the year based on verified survey data collected from 1,475 end-user reviews. These providers have received high scores on SoftwareReviews' Emotional Footprint.
The Net Emotional Footprint (NEF) of each software provider is a result of aggregated emotional response ratings across the areas of service, negotiation, product impact, conflict resolution, strategy, and innovation. The NEF is a powerful indicator of overall user sentiment toward the provider and its product from the software user's point of view.
The 2022 Enterprise IT Service Management Software Champions are as follows:
- TeamDynamix ITSM, 87 NEF, ranked high for being reliable.
- Ivanti Neurons for ITSM, 85 NEF, ranked high for unique features.
- OMNITRACKER, 87 NEF, ranked high for being respectful.
The 2022 Midmarket IT Service Management Software Champions are as follows:
- Freshservice, 90 NEF, ranked high for being efficient.
- TeamDynamix ITSM, 87 NEF, ranked high for having integrity.
- TOPdesk ITSM, 88 NEF, ranked high for including product enhancement.
- C2 ATOM, 88 NEF, ranked high for continually improving.
SoftwareReviews' comprehensive software reviews provide the most accurate and detailed view of a complicated and ever-changing market. The data comes from real end users who use the software day in and day out and IT professionals who have worked with it intimately through procurement, implementation, and maintenance.
To compare and evaluate ITSM providers using the most in-depth and unbiased analyst reports available, visit SoftwareReviews' IT Service Management dedicated category page.
For more information about SoftwareReviews, the Data Quadrant, or Emotional Footprint, or to access resources to support the software selection process, visit softwarereviews.com and connect via LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
SoftwareReviews is the most in-depth source of buyer data and insights for the enterprise software market. By collecting customer experience data from business and IT professionals, the SoftwareReviews methodology produces detailed and authentic insights into the experience of evaluating and purchasing enterprise software.
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SOURCE SoftwareReviews | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/softwarereviews-latest-report-reveals-best-it-service-management-solutions-improve-service-ticket-resolution/ | 2022-08-04T19:34:59Z |
TORONTO, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Nulogy's flexible cloud-based software has been chosen by leading contract packer Glowcroft as the platform to enhance the business's agility and responsiveness to its fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) customers.
Established in 1990, Glowcroft has grown from initially providing packing services to the horticultural sector to delivering specialised solutions for over 100 leading brands across a wide variety of industries. Its dedicated in-house design team provides a complete packaging solution, with investment in machinery and technology at the heart of driving the quality of service delivered to customers.
As a forward-thinking business, Glowcroft identified that digitalisation was central to meeting the unique demands of its co-packing services and sought solutions to evaluate to meet its growth plans. Glowcroft selected Nulogy's Shop Floor platform because of its strong alignment with the specifics of co-packing workflows, its ability to provide visibility and traceability of materials and inventory, as well as enhanced insight into labour productivity and costs across the business.
Replacing a previous combination of customised ERP and homegrown and manual systems, Nulogy's software will allow Glowcroft to manage its production flow and materials more efficiently and perform all necessary quality checks in a faster, more accurate manner. Connecting with financial and CRM systems, the platform will provide the scalable, innovative technology solution the company needs to accelerate and support its next phase of growth.
Jayne Tarrant, Managing Director at Glowcroft, said; "We pride ourselves on the quality and service we provide and investing in the latest technology is key to ensuring we continue to meet and exceed our brand customers' expectations.
"Digitalisation of contract packing is essential to ensure we can keep pace with growth and it was clear we had a strategic opportunity to leverage Nulogy's cloud-based software, which has been purpose-built specifically for our industry.
"We're excited about the future and look forward to further optimising our contract packing operations and ultimately delivering a more agile and responsive service to our customers."
Josephine Coombe, Managing Director for Nulogy in Europe, said, "We are thrilled that Glowcroft has selected Nulogy as their contract packing software solution partner. Innovators like Glowcroft recognise the powerful benefits that digitalisation brings to their co-packing businesses, enabling faster, higher quality and responsive service to customer needs.
"As brands' expectations have evolved, our customers enjoy significant competitive advantage in the market because of the customer service, quality and traceability benefits Nulogy delivers."
Nulogy, a leading supplier of digital supply chain solutions, enables customers and their supplier communities to collaborate on a multi-enterprise platform in order to deliver with excellence to an ever-changing consumer market.
The Nulogy Multi-Enterprise Supply Chain Business Network Platform optimises upstream supply ecosystems composed of brand manufacturers, contract manufacturers and packagers, third party logistics providers, raw material and packaging suppliers to accelerate supply chain responsiveness and collaborate at the speed of today's market.
Visit Nulogy online at www.nulogy.com
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SOURCE Nulogy Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/glowcroft-selects-nulogys-shop-floor-software-enable-contract-packing-growth/ | 2022-06-30T16:04:43Z |
Social media nail technicians are pushing boundaries, causing a wave of nail inspiration that the Beetles brand is proud to facilitate
SAN DIEGO, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In May 2022, Beetles Gel Polish saw more engagement than ever with over 10,000 positive reviews on Amazon, where it has become a go-to brand for shoppers. In particular the UV Nail Series is popular for its durability and versatility, as the canvas on which at-home manicure enthusiasts can unleash their wildest ideas.
Beetles Gel Polish - the online brand offering a wide variety of professional grade nail art products - is proud to be a part of the at-home manicure movement that is seeing people of all ages take up nail art as a creative hobby.
Nail art nowadays is getting weird in the best way possible. Beauty trends have always moved fast but social media platforms such as TikTok now move at lightning speed, bubbling over with new ideas every single day. Experimental techniques see the involvement of unconventional tools and materials such as floss sticks, bubble wrap, and even peanut butter. There are also plenty of more functional designs, such as those featured on the Beetles TikTok account. The pandemic certainly helped accelerate the rise of the at-home manicure and the market is expected to grow almost 7% annually, to a value of $25.8 billion by 2030.
Beetles Gel Polish is answering the need for accessibility and variety that such a trend-driven industry demands. As a brand, it is unmatched in the breadth of products it offers, including nail color gels, builder gels, nail tips, and accessories. The brand has been featured by publications such as Elle and Popsugar, commended for its quality and affordability. Now in honor of 4th of July, Beetles Gel Polish offers 30% off discount with every purchase!
About Beetles Gel Polish
Founded in 2017, the Beetles brand provides a broad, high-quality selection of nail products at affordable prices. Their slogan "Be Bold, Be You, Be Beetles" captures the brand's values and commitment to inclusivity, empowering customers to be playful and confident.
To learn more about Beetles Gel Polish and their line of nail products, click here.
Connect with Beetles Gel Polish
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
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SOURCE Beetles Gel Polish | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/amazon-best-seller-beetles-gel-polish-encourages-weird-wonderful/ | 2022-07-06T08:52:18Z |
RED BANK, N.J., June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Provention Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRVB) (the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to intercepting and preventing immune-mediated diseases, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended its review period by three months for the Biologics License Application (BLA) for teplizumab. The extended User Fee Goal date is November 17, 2022.
The Company was also informed that if no major deficiencies are identified during the review period, the FDA plans to communicate proposed labeling and, if necessary, any post-marketing requirement or commitment requests by October 17, 2022.
As part of its ongoing review and communications, the FDA informed the Company yesterday that it considers a timely response to an information request made earlier this month to be a Major Amendment to the BLA resubmission, requiring additional time for the Agency's review.
"We are committed to collaborating closely with the Agency as it completes its review," said Ashleigh Palmer, Co-Founder and CEO of Provention Bio. "We want to thank the FDA for its continued diligence as we continue to work towards bringing this potential first disease modifying therapy to patients with type 1 diabetes in the United States, for whom there is currently no approved treatment other than a life-time of exogenous insulin therapy."
Provention Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRVB) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing the development of investigational therapies that may intercept and prevent debilitating and life-threatening immune-mediated diseases. The BLA for teplizumab, its lead investigational drug candidate, for the delay of progression to Stage 3 clinical type 1 diabetes in at-risk individuals has been filed by the FDA. The Company's pipeline includes additional clinical-stage product candidates that have demonstrated in pre-clinical or clinical studies proof-of-mechanism and/or proof-of-concept in other autoimmune diseases, including celiac disease and lupus. Visit www.ProventionBio.com for more information and follow us on Twitter: @ProventionBio.
Provention Bio, Inc. uses its website, www.proventionbio.com, as a means of disclosing material nonpublic information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation F.D. Such disclosures will be included on the Company's website in the "News" section. Accordingly, investors should monitor this portion of the Company's website, in addition to following its press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking, including but not limited to, statements relating to the medical need in T1D at-risk patients, the potential therapeutic effects and safety of teplizumab in at-risk T1D patients, FDA's review of the BLA resubmission, including label negotiations, and potential for approval of teplizumab and potential regulatory and commercialization timelines. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may," among others. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks related to FDA disagreeing with the Company's interpretation of data and analysis and information in the BLA resubmission; delays in or failure to obtain FDA approvals for teplizumab or other Company product candidates and the potential for noncompliance with FDA regulations; any inability to successfully work with FDA to address its concerns and requests in a timely manner or at all during the review process for teplizumab, including any inability to provide the FDA with data, analysis or other information sufficient to support an approval of the BLA for teplizumab; any inability to satisfactorily address matters PK comparability, product quality, safety or any other FDA requirements during the BLA review process to obtain an approval of teplizumab; the potential impacts of COVID-19 on our business and financial results; changes in law, regulations, or interpretations and enforcement of regulatory guidance; uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; the Company's dependence upon third parties; substantial competition; the Company's need for additional financing and the risks listed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and any subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As with any pharmaceutical under development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of new products. Provention does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof.
Investor Contact:
Robert Doody, VP of Investor Relations rdoody@proventionbio.com
484-639-7235
Media Contact:
Kaelan Hollon, VP of Communications khollon@proventionbio.com
202-421-4921
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SOURCE Provention Bio, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/provention-bio-announces-extension-fda-user-fee-goal-date-teplizumab-november-17-2022/ | 2022-06-30T21:44:04Z |
CHICAGO, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Glen-Gery, a brand of Brickworks and premiere brick manufacturer in North America, will showcase its newest brick and stone colors, international collections, and popular wall system products at A'22, the AIA Conference on Architecture 2022, in Chicago, Illinois on June 22-25, 2022.
"We're incredibly excited to return to an in-person exhibition where we can provide a personalized experience for each visitor to our booth," said Tim Leese, director of marketing for Glen-Gery. "Our new products are nothing short of inspiring. Add to that the ability to experience a taste of the sophistication, luxury and style that is reflective of our brick and stone products as well as the exclusive experience offered through our Design Studios. We look forward to collaborating on upcoming projects and finding new and unique ways to bring a design's story to life."
New for 2022, Glen-Gery's G21 product collection features an assortment of new products from range extensions and new brick series, to unique international products sourced from around the globe, including:
- Metallix Series: A brick face that glimmers, sparks immediate interest and which possesses great subtlety. Currently available in Platinum, Titanium and Cuprum colors. With its depth of color, the Metallix range reflects light on finished brickwork, creating a satin metallic sheen that will lend depth and sophistication to every project.
- Aviator Series: Consists of several distinct monochromatic tone bricks with sharp contrasts that resemble those of early aircraft and aviation equipment. The colors are unique and versatile, creating an architectural feel that will surely stand out on the block, available in Charter White, Pilot Gray and Jet Black colors.
- Kite Breeze (International): With its combination of geometric design and livable functionality, every aspect of the breeze block Kite Breeze has been carefully considered. Available in three iconic colors: Dune, Terracotta and White Glaze.
From interior feature walls to exterior facades, Venetian glass bricks are shaped by Italian artisans and offer a natural centerpiece in any architectural landscape. The collection features four finishes - natural, frosted, polished or satin.
Featuring a length longer than any brick made in North America, the Roman Maximus evokes feelings of sophistication, exclusivity and prestige inspired by the grandiose buildings of the Romans. The collection features earthy tones coupled with European style.
Design is in the details as Glen-Gery's molded brick offers irregularly softened edges to build character and a sense of timelessness. Depending on the need of the project, customizable shapes are available to provide further specialization via the exterior corner, watertable, coping, bullnose, radial and custom shape options. The collection reflects Glen-Gery's commitment to new technology that increases customizable design while honoring artisanal brickmaking methods of the past.
No two handmade bricks look the same, which is why the Handmade Collection remains one of the most premium and sought-after brick products available. Variation and character are the result of handcrafted artisanship and are fundamental to this collection.
Designed with architects, designers and ultimately builders in mind, Glen-Gery's wall system products help to overcome limitations of space, time and budget while making installation easier and more efficient. Included within this collection is the popular Terraçade™ Façade System, a ceramic façade system designed and crafted to appeal to both creative and practical applications while complementing a range of architectural styles. The complete Terraçade collection is prefinished and colorfast, meaning it will look as vibrant in 100 years as it does upon installation.
To learn more about Glen-Gery and explore design inspirational content curated for the architectural and design community, visit the Glen-Gery Design Channel, which features project spotlights, the techniques and artistry of masonry, product discoveries, and recorded speaker events. Architects and designers are further invited to explore FOLIO, an exclusive Glen-Gery publication that celebrates the work of some of today's most inspiring architectural and design firms nationwide while exploring the architectural process and beauty of brick in an array of designs. The second edition of FOLIO is expected to release in Fall 2022.
Media Contact:
Stacey Bollinger
443-789-7153
sbollinger@planitagency.com
Glen-Gery Corporation, part of Brickworks Limited of Australia, is a premier brick and stone manufacturer offering the most diverse product portfolio of more than 600 brick and stone products. For more than a century, Glen-Gery has provided high quality building products that meet both innovative design challenges and demanding construction specifications. Through technology advancements and product innovations, Glen-Gery delivers a premium product line that caters to the high-style needs of today's architects, designers and homeowners. Founded in 1890, Glen-Gery is headquartered in Wyomissing, PA. www.glengery.com
Brickworks has been building the Australian dream for over a century. Today, Brickworks is more than Australia's largest and most trusted brick manufacturer. It comprises a diversified portfolio of attractive assets, offering shareholders stability and long-term growth. The Company has a proud track record, having paid a dividend every year since listing on the ASX in 1962. Brickworks comprises four divisions – Building Products Australia, Building Products North America, Industrial Property, and Investments.
Building Products Australia includes Austral Bricks, the country's largest bricks producer, and other leading brands such as Austral Masonry, Austral Precast and Bristile Roofing. Building Products North America is the leading brick producer in the Northeast of the United States and includes the flagship brand of Glen-Gery. www.brickworks.com.au
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SOURCE Glen-Gery | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/glen-gery-brings-internationally-inspired-innovation-with-new-products-amp-colors-aia-conference-architecture-2022/ | 2022-06-22T22:00:37Z |
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The white gunman accused of committing a racist massacre at a Buffalo supermarketmade threatening comments that brought police to his high school last spring, but he was never charged with a crime and had no further contact with law enforcement after his release from a hospital, officials said.
The revelation raised questions about whether his encounter with police and the mental health system was yet another missed opportunity to put a potential mass shooter under closer law enforcement scrutiny, get him help, or make sure he didn’t have access to deadly firearms.
Authorities said they were investigating the attackon predominantly Black shoppers and workersat the Tops Friendly Market as a potential federal hate crime or act of domestic terrorism. Saturday’s mass violence in Buffalo was the deadliest of a wave of fatal weekend shootings, including at a California churchand a Texas flea market.
Payton Gendron, 18, traveled about 200 miles (320 kilometers) from his home in Conklin, New York, to Buffalo to commit the attack, police said.
Federal authorities were still working to confirm the authenticity of a racist 180-page document, purportedly written by Gendron, that said the assault was intended to terrorize all nonwhite, non-Christian people and get them to leave the country.
Law enforcement officials revealed Sunday that New York State Police troopers had been called to Gendron’s high school last June for a report that the then-17-year-old had made threatening statements.
Gendron had threatened to carry out a shooting at Susquehanna Valley High School in Conklin around graduation, a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity said. The official was not authorized to speak publicly on the investigation.
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said Gendron had no further contact with law enforcement after a mental health evaluation that put him in a hospital for a day and a half.
“Nobody called in,” he said. “Nobody called any complaints,” Gramaglia said. The threat was “general” in nature, he said, and not related to race.
New York is one of several states that have enacted “red flag” laws in recent years that were intended to try and prevent mass shootings committed by people who show signs that they might be a threat to themselves or others.
Those laws allow law enforcement officers, a person’s family, or in some cases, medical professionals or school officials to petition courts to temporarily seize the person’s firearms, or prevent them from buying guns.
Federal law bars people from owning guns if a judge has determined they have a “mental defect” or they have been forced into a mental institution — but an evaluation alone would not trigger the prohibition.
It is unclear whether officials could have invoked the “red flag” regulation after the high school incident. Police and prosecutors wouldn’t provide details on the incident, or say when Gendron had purchased the weapons used in the assault.
The long list of mass shootings in the U.S. involving missed opportunities to intervene includes the 2018 massacre of 17 students at a high school in Parkland, Florida, where law enforcement officials had received numerous complaints about the gunman’s threatening statements, and the killings of more than two dozen people at a Texas church in 2017 by a former U.S. Air Force serviceman who was able to buy a gun despite a violent history.
The victims of Saturday’s attack in Buffalo included an 86-year-old woman who had just visited her husband in a nursing home, a man buying a cake for his grandson, a church deacon helping people get home with their groceries and a supermarket security guard.
The shooter livestreamed the attack on Twitch, prompting scrutiny of how fast social platforms react to violent videos.
President Joe Biden planned to visit Buffalo on Tuesday.
Gendron surrendered to police who confronted him in the supermarket’s vestibule. He was arraigned later Saturday on a murder charge. Relatives didn’t respond to messages.
A lengthy statement circulating online, attributed to Gendron, outlined a racist ideology rooted in a belief that the United States should belong only to white people.
Portions of the Twitch video circulating online showed the gunman killing multiple shoppers in less than a minute. At one point, he trains his weapon on a white person cowering behind a checkout counter, but says “Sorry!” and doesn’t shoot. Screenshots purporting to be from the broadcast appear to show a racial slur targeting Black people scrawled on his rifle.
Authorities said Gendron shot, in total, 11 Black people and two white people after he researched neighborhood demographics and conducted reconnaissanceto inflict the most damage.
“This individual came here with the express purpose of taking as many Black lives as he possibly could,” Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said Sunday.
___
Associated Press reporters Robert Bumsted in Buffalo, Michael Hill in Albany, New York, Travis Loller in Nashville and Jake Bleiberg in Dallas contributed reporting. Balsamo reported from Washington. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-u-s-headlines/buffalo-shooters-prior-threat-hospital-stay-face-scrutiny/ | 2022-05-16T14:25:16Z |
Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital identified proteins that help decide T cell fate and used the finding to improve CAR-T cell therapy in a solid tumor model.
MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital identified a molecular mechanism that in a preclinical study unlocked the promise of CAR T–cell therapy for treatment of solid tumors. The results were published today in the journal Nature.
"Our work extends from the basic biology of T lymphocytes to a possible application in the clinic, with an exploration of deep molecular mechanisms along the way," said co-corresponding author Doug Green, Ph.D., St. Jude Department of Immunology chair. "We found that just like many of us, if you are an activated T cell, things that happen early in your life can impact your later development. We identified that an interaction between the protein c-Myc and the complex cBAF early in T-cell activation influences cell fate trajectory."
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are a type of immunotherapy that modifies a patient's immune cells to target cancer cells. This type of therapy has had remarkable success in treating children and adults with leukemia and lymphoma, particularly in relapsed patients. However, CAR T cells have not had the same success against solid tumors, with problems involving persistence and function.
Currently too many CAR T cells become effector cells, those that directly kill infected or cancerous cells. Too few become memory cells that persist and create more T cells over the long term. The researchers believed that if they created more memory cells, they could improve CAR T–cell therapy.
"Effector cells do a job and then die," Green said. "Memory cells stick around and can generate effector cells (while maintaining the memory cell pool) and therefore they can launch continued attacks. So, we think that memory cells likely do a better job of getting rid of tumors."
A molecular mystery
The researchers needed to find what guides T cells to become effector or memory types and then use that knowledge to modify the process. The process begins when a T cell is activated by an antigen, such as a piece of virus or cancer-related molecule. That parental T cell divides into two daughter cells, which can become effector or memory cells.
Green's group recently showed that the distribution of the protein c-Myc in a parental T cell can be important for this process. Researchers knew that a daughter cell with more c-Myc becomes an effector cell. In this study, the team found that the protein complex cBAF (canonical Brg1/Brg-associated factor) interacted with c-Myc. Daughter cells with high cBAF and c-Myc concentrations became effector T cells.
cBAF binds certain regions of chromatin, proteins on DNA. The finding suggests it may guide cell fate, what type of T cell they become, by controlling expression of effector cell related genes.
The distribution of cBAF occurs in the first activated T cell that begins the adaptive immune response; therefore, the researchers realized that cell fate is decided early in the immune response.
A fortuitous finding and collaboration
While Dr. Green's group was studying T cell divisions, co-corresponding author Hongbo Chi, Ph.D., St. Jude Department of Immunology, was studying how a T cell becomes a memory cell. Chi's laboratory used the genetic screening tool CRISPR to knockout genes and observe the impact on T-cell fate.
"T cells represent a cornerstone for cancer immunotherapy," Chi said. "There is a continuing interest in improving T-cell function for better cancer treatment. As such, my lab is interested in identifying metabolic drivers in T-cell memory responses. Given the crosstalk between metabolic and epigenetic pathways, we did an in vivo CRISPR screen of epigenetic regulators of T-cell memory. That led us to cBAF."
"We were looking at what happens to components of the cBAF complex in activated T cells," Green said. "At the same time, the Chi lab had been fishing in a pond filled with molecules that might influence the cell fate to generate effector versus memory T cells. When we compared notes, we realized that our independent findings were telling us something interesting, so we joined forces."
The groups worked together to confirm that targeting multiple parts of the cBAF complex affects memory T-cell generation. The researchers also found the exact locations in the genome where cBAF components bind and found that cBAF promoted the expression of genes associated with effector cell function.
Together against tumors
The collaborators used the molecular information they discovered to increase CAR T–cell efficacy. They applied a cBAF inhibitor during CAR T–cell activation to generate more memory T cells. In a preclinical model, the inhibitor-treated T cells controlled tumor growth better than untreated cells. The treated cells also survived longer and in larger numbers. The researchers replicated the promising results in multiple solid tumor types. The study is one of the first to show that CAR T cells can be modified transiently to more effectively kill solid tumors.
"cBAF factors are a potential target to boost CAR-T therapeutic effects against cancer," Chi said, "but our work also demonstrates that by better understanding basic immunobiology and T cell function, we can develop better therapeutics for cancer and other diseases."
Authors and funding
The study's first authors are Ao Guo, of St. Jude, and Hongling Huang, formerly of St. Jude. The study's other authors are Zhexin Zhu, Mark J. Chen, Hao Shi, Sujing Yuan, Piyush Sharma, Jon P. Connelly, Swantje Liedmann, Yogesh Dhungana, Zhenrui Li, Dalia Haydar, Mao Yang, Helen Beere, Christopher DeRenzo, Shondra M. Pruett-Miller, Jeremy Chase Crawford, Giedre Krenciute and Charles W.M. Roberts, all of St. Jude; and Jason T. Yustein, Baylor College of Medicine.
The study was supported by grants from by the National Institutes of Health (AI123322, CA231620 and CA253188); the National Cancer Institute (K99CA256262 and P30CA021765); and ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization of St. Jude.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to 80% since the hospital opened more than 60 years ago. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. To learn more, visit stjude.org or follow St. Jude on social media at @stjuderesearch.
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SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/pushing-t-cells-down-memory-lane-may-improve-cancer-therapy/ | 2022-06-22T17:00:25Z |
Full-featured debit card will support wide range of employee benefits programs
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DataPath, Inc., a leading developer of technology solutions for employee benefits administration, announced today the highly-customizable COMPASS™ debit card.
COMPASS enables third-party administrators (TPAs) to utilize a full-featured debit card in support of almost any type of benefits program. DataPath will provide end-to-end processing services for COMPASS card transactions.
"The employee benefits industry has experienced unprecedented change over the last few years," said Bo Armstrong, chief marketing officer for DataPath. "As employers look to attract and retain employees with the help of creative benefit programs, the COMPASS card will enable TPAs to innovate and serve the needs of their employer groups."
The COMPASS card is designed for use with lifestyle spending accounts (LSAs), employee perks and bonus plans, qualified disaster relief payments under IRS Section 139, and similar employee benefit programs. COMPASS™ will also support Medicare Advantage and Medigap/Medicare Supplement reimbursement plans for active employees and retirees.
Backed by DataPath's decade-plus of experience in debit card processing, COMPASS will address employer-specific plan parameters, usage restrictions, and supported benefit accounts while delivering a first-class customer experience.
COMPASS card can be used with the DataPath Summit cloud-based all-in-one benefits administration system.
About DataPath
Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, DataPath, Inc. was founded in 1984 and is a leading provider of technology solutions for the benefits administration industry. DataPath's Summit platform is the only cloud-based solution designed specifically for all-in-one, seamless administration of CDH, HSA, and COBRA accounts. The company holds several product patents as well as multiple national awards for its Captain Contributor™ employee education and engagement program. Learn more at dpath.com.
Media Contact:
Erin Carlile
erin@marketingworks360.com 614.736.0538
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SOURCE DataPath, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/datapath-announces-compass-card/ | 2022-05-04T12:52:15Z |
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For one educator, creating strong reading habits among her students has become her passion. Academic Specialist Nancy Green, who teaches at Grand River Academy in Livonia, Mich., said when she was growing up, nobody really introduced her to reading.
"It wasn't until I was working on my undergrad (degree). I had two dynamic female professors that just opened my eyes," she said. "I made it my quest right from the start of my teaching career to really work with kids and build a reading program like no other."
Green, who is involved with intervention services at the school, one of 98 in the National Heritage Academies (NHA) network, just wants her students to read. "I know the research shows, reading is the root of it all. If you can be a successful reader, you have got the world in your hands."
This is the main reason Green organized a two-week March is Reading Month challenge, where 484 scholars tracked 135,529 minutes of reading, nearly 2,259 hours. Those students then turned their love of reading into funds, donated by family and friends, that will help them buy more books or participate in other special reading programs.
Across the country, students in Karsten Dommermuth's kindergarten class at Landmark Academy at Reunion in Commerce City, Co., practiced their reading skills with a special visitor on March 30. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis reversed roles having students read their favorite book to him.
Beginning in kindergarten, reading instruction focuses on creating building blocks – phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency, Dommermuth said, adding she hopes the reading experiences students have in her class help them engage in the joys of reading. "It plays an integral role in shaping their school life as well as at home."
Establishing a strong reading foundation is a key component NHA teachers use with students.
Cassie Blanchard is considered to be the unofficial book club president of Vanguard Charter Academy, Wyoming, Mich. If a scholar is looking for a book suggestion, the fourth-grade teacher, working at Vanguard since 2004, is the person to ask. If a student doesn't like reading, Blanchard will find a book that gets them hooked. Even if a scholar has given up on a book, she encourages them to push forward and find another author or genre that forges a lasting connection.
"I usually have kids who come back years later, who are either still in the building or even high school students who will say, 'Hey, I hated to read until I was in your class, and you got me hooked," Blanchard said. "That, to me, is way better than test scores."
About National Heritage Academies:
National Heritage Academies (NHA) is a network of 98 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 60,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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SOURCE National Heritage Academies | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/01/teachers-instill-their-passion-reading-help-students-love-it-too/ | 2022-04-01T16:17:23Z |
TechForce Foundation Details Solutions to Address Transportation Industry's Technician Problem
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TechForce Foundation, the only nonprofit 501(c)(3) committed exclusively to career exploration and workforce development for technician professionals across all transportation industry sectors, today released a critical new whitepaper addressing the role that women techs can play in solving the ongoing technician workforce shortage.
Women Techs: Solving the Tech Shortage Problem goes into detail on how the automotive, aviation, diesel, collision, motorsports and other transportation industry sectors can recruit and retain women technicians and offer professional growth opportunities throughout every phase of their careers. TechForce Foundation interviewed women technicians across multiple sectors from the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK. The interview group spanned every career stage, ranging in age from 19 years old to 60.
"Women make up more than half the population but account for less than 3% of the technician workforce," said Jennifer Maher, CEO of TechForce Foundation. "The women techs we spoke to are thriving, and with demand for qualified technicians across the service and maintenance sector greatly outpacing supply, there is a huge opportunity for the industry to recruit women into these important 'new collar,' STEM careers."
"Today's technician role has transformed to meet the increasing complexity and advancements in automotive technology and with that the need for qualified and diverse talent is great," said John Roth, GM global vice president, Customer Care and Aftersales. "At GM, we are committed to being the most inclusive company in the world. We invest everyday in a culture that allows everyone to bring their whole self to work which includes steps to support and attract more women to consider the skilled trades as an attractive career option."
In addition to collecting and sharing the real-world experience and insights of women techs today, TechForce articulates key steps that employers can take to enhance their ongoing recruitment, retention, and growth strategies.
"It's clear that women seeking technician careers will play a vital part in the service and maintenance industry, where the need for talent at all levels is enormous," said Dana Rapoport, TechForce's Chief Consultant, DE&I. "We hope employers take full advantage of this opportunity, and implement the findings in this whitepaper to welcome this growing pool of diverse, skilled workers eager to contribute to the technician workforce."
Women Techs: Solving the Tech Shortage Problem can be downloaded here TechForce.org/WIT.
About TechForce Foundation
TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion all students to and through their education and into careers as professional technicians. TechForce powers the technician workforce by awarding more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants annually to financially-disadvantaged students; changes perceptions towards this evolving, 'new collar' STEM career; and provides local career exploration and workforce development programming. TechForce's online, social network of students, working technicians, instructors, employers, industry professionals and enthusiasts committed to championing the technician workforce is the conduit through which the charity delivers its free resources, programs and career hub for the benefit of aspiring technicians. For more information, visit www.techforce.org. Follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin.
Resources for News Media Only:
Graphics:
https://adobe.ly/3A6jBY0
Videos of White Paper participants:
techforce.org/wtr
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SOURCE TechForce Foundation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/women-techs-solving-tech-shortage/ | 2022-06-29T18:29:54Z |
-- AYVAKIT showed a superior mean change in total symptom score (p=0.003), compared to placebo plus best available care --
-- Highly significant reductions across all objective measures of mast cell burden reinforce the disease modifying activity of AYVAKIT --
-- AYVAKIT had a favorable safety profile compared to the control arm, supporting potential for long-term treatment --
-- Plan to submit supplemental new drug application to FDA in fourth quarter of 2022 --
-- Blueprint Medicines to host investor conference call and webcast today at 8:00 a.m. ET --
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blueprint Medicines Corporation (NASDAQ: BPMC) today announced positive top-line results from the registrational Part 2 of the PIONEER clinical trial of AYVAKIT® (avapritinib) in patients with non-advanced systemic mastocytosis (SM) demonstrating clinically meaningful and highly significant improvements across the primary and all key secondary endpoints, including patient-reported symptoms and objective measures of mast cell burden. Based on these top-line data, Blueprint Medicines plans to submit a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for AYVAKIT in non-advanced SM in the fourth quarter of 2022, with a subsequent submission of a type II variation marketing authorization application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) anticipated in 2023. In addition, Blueprint Medicines plans to present detailed data from the PIONEER trial at an upcoming medical meeting.
The trial, which was designed to assess AYVAKIT plus best available care versus placebo plus best available care (control arm), achieved its primary endpoint with a highly significant difference in the mean change in total symptom score (TSS) at 24 weeks (p=0.003). TSS was assessed by the Indolent SM Symptom Assessment Form (ISM-SAF). The AYVAKIT arm had a reduction of 15.6 points in mean TSS at 24 weeks, which continued to deepen to 20.2 points at 48 weeks in patients who rolled over to the Part 3 open-label extension study. At 24 weeks, the control arm had a reduction of 9.2 points in mean TSS. In addition, the PIONEER trial met all key secondary endpoints, including significant improvements across all measures of mast cell burden. More than half of AYVAKIT-treated patients had a ≥50 percent reduction of serum tryptase, compared to no patients in the control arm (53.9% vs. 0%; p<0.0001). AYVAKIT was well-tolerated and had a favorable safety profile, and 96.5 percent of AYVAKIT-treated patients completed 24 weeks of therapy, compared to 93.0 percent for the control arm. Overall, 0.7 percent of patients in the AYVAKIT arm and no patients in the control arm discontinued due to treatment-related adverse events.
"As a physician and clinical researcher who has been treating non-advanced systemic mastocytosis patients for over 25 years, I have been awaiting a therapy that decreases the abnormal mast cell burden and activation, improves a wide range of symptoms, and ultimately provides an improved quality of life to patients," said Mariana Castells, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Mastocytosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and an investigator on the PIONEER trial. "For patients with non-advanced SM, PIONEER is the first study to show significant clinical improvements over best available care across patient-reported symptoms and objective measures of disease, with a safety and tolerability profile supporting chronic treatment. The trial results suggest that if approved, AYVAKIT would represent a practice-changing treatment, enabling important clinical benefits for a broad range of patients with non-advanced SM."
"The PIONEER results showcase Blueprint Medicines' dedication to advancing the promise of precision therapy for patients with significant medical needs," said Becker Hewes, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Blueprint Medicines. "AYVAKIT has the potential to be the first approved medicine for non-advanced SM, and the only treatment that would address the genetic root cause across advanced and non-advanced forms of the disease. Today's milestone represents a watershed moment for the systemic mastocytosis community and Blueprint Medicines, capping a decade of collaboration with clinicians, advocates and patients to transform standards of care, and to deepen the understanding of this disease and its impact on various aspects of patients' lives."
AYVAKIT was designed to potently and selectively inhibit D816V mutant KIT, the driver of SM in about 95 percent of cases. SM often leads to debilitating skin, gastrointestinal, neurocognitive and other systemic symptoms, such as life-threatening anaphylaxis.
"Non-advanced systemic mastocytosis is a lifelong disease with severe physical, emotional and social impacts that profoundly reduce patients' quality of life," said Lauren Denton, Executive Director of The Mast Cell Disease Society. "Patients with SM continue to be challenged by efforts to avoid various triggers of everyday life while also managing complex therapies. The PIONEER clinical trial results offer hope to these patients and help pave the way for new innovation in treatment."
"These new data are the culmination of a dedicated long-term collaboration and shared 'patients first' core value between Blueprint Medicines and The Mast Cell Disease Society. We are excited by these results and further energized to work together with these exceptional investigators to transform the lives of patients, offering them a better quality of life and the gift of time," said Valerie Slee, Board Chair of The Mast Cell Disease Society.
Top-line Data from the PIONEER Trial
Part 2 of the registrational PIONEER trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of AYVAKIT (25 mg once-daily dosing; N=141) versus control (N=71) over 24 weeks of treatment. Eligibility criteria include an indolent SM diagnosis confirmed by central pathology review, and moderate-to-severe symptom burden despite an optimized regimen of best available care. Patients were able to continue symptom-directed therapies while receiving AYVAKIT or placebo. Results were reported as of a data cutoff date of June 23, 2022.
Baseline data, including mean TSS, were consistent with Part 1 of the trial. The PIONEER study achieved its primary endpoint and all key secondary endpoints, with AYVAKIT showing highly significant improvements in patient-reported symptoms and objective measures of disease burden.
AYVAKIT had a favorable safety profile compared to the control arm. The rate of adverse events (AEs) was 90.8 percent in the AYVAKIT arm and 93.0 percent in the control arm. Serious AEs occurred in 5.0 percent of AYVAKIT-treated patients, compared to 11.3 percent of patients in the control arm. Discontinuations due to treatment-related AEs occurred in 0.7 percent of AYVAKIT-treated patients and 0 percent of patients in the placebo arm. The AYVAKIT arm had a lower rate of cognitive AEs than the control arm (2.8% AYVAKIT vs. 4.2% control), and there were no intracranial bleeding events. Treatment-related AEs reported in at least three patients in either arm and at least 5 percent of AYVAKIT-treated patients included headache (7.8% AYVAKIT vs. 9.9% control), nausea (6.4% AYVAKIT vs 8.5% control), peripheral edema (6.4% AYVAKIT vs. 1.4% control) and periorbital edema (6.4% AYVAKIT vs. 2.8% control). In the AYVAKIT arm, 93.0 percent of edema AEs were Grade 1 and the remainder were Grade 2.
Conference Call Information
Blueprint Medicines will host a live conference call and webcast at 8:00 a.m. ET today to discuss the top-line data from the PIONEER trial. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 844-200-6205 (domestic) or 929-526-1599 (international), and referring to conference ID 806215. A webcast of the call will also be available under "Events and Presentations" in the Investors & Media section of the Blueprint Medicines website at http://ir.blueprintmedicines.com/. The archived webcast will be available on the Blueprint Medicines website approximately two hours after the conference call and will be available for 30 days following the call.
About AYVAKIT (avapritinib)
AYVAKIT (avapritinib) is a kinase inhibitor approved by the FDA for the treatment of adults with Advanced SM, including aggressive SM (ASM), SM with an associated hematological neoplasm (SM-AHN) and mast cell leukemia (MCL), and adults with unresectable or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) harboring a PDGFRA exon 18 mutation, including PDGFRA D842V mutations. For more information, visit AYVAKIT.com. This medicine is approved in Europe (AYVAKYT®) for the treatment of adults with ASM, SM-AHN or MCL, after at least one systemic therapy, and adults with unresectable or metastatic GIST harboring the PDGFRA D842V mutation. Please click here to see the full U.S. Prescribing Information for AYVAKIT, and click here to see the European Summary of Product Characteristics for AYVAKYT.
AYVAKIT/AYVAKYT is not approved for the treatment of any other indication in the U.S. or Europe. The FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation to AYVAKIT for the treatment of moderate to severe indolent SM.
To learn about ongoing or planned clinical trials, contact Blueprint Medicines at medinfo@blueprintmedicines.com or 1-888-BLU-PRNT (1-888-258-7768). Additional information is available at blueprintclinicaltrials.com or clinicaltrials.gov.
About Systemic Mastocytosis
Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a rare disease primarily driven by the KIT D816V mutation. Uncontrolled proliferation and activation of mast cells result in chronic, severe and often unpredictable symptoms for patients across the spectrum of SM. The vast majority of those affected have non-advanced (indolent or smoldering) SM, with debilitating symptoms that lead to a profound, negative impact on quality of life. A minority of patients have advanced SM, which encompasses a group of high-risk SM subtypes including ASM, SM-AHN and MCL. In addition to mast cell activation symptoms, advanced SM is associated with organ damage due to mast cell infiltration and poor survival. Across advanced SM subtypes, the median overall survival is approximately 3.5 years in ASM, approximately two years in SM-AHN and less than six months in MCL.
Debilitating symptoms, including anaphylaxis, maculopapular rash, pruritis, diarrhea, brain fog, fatigue and bone pain, often persist across all forms of SM despite treatment with a number of symptom-directed therapies. Patients often live in fear of severe, unexpected symptoms, have limited ability to work or perform daily activities, and isolate themselves to protect against unpredictable triggers. Historically, there had been no approved therapies for the treatment of SM that selectively inhibit D816V mutant KIT.
About the PIONEER Trial
PIONEER is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, registrational trial evaluating AYVAKIT in patients with non-advanced SM. The trial includes three parts: dose-finding Part 1, registrational Part 2 and long-term treatment Part 3. Key trial endpoints include the change in patient-reported disease symptoms as measured by the ISM-SAF TSS, patient-reported quality of life, quantitative measures of mast cell burden and safety. Patients who completed Part 1 or 2 were eligible to participate in Part 3. All patients receive AYVAKIT treatment during Part 3, including those rolling over from the control arm. For more information about the PIONEER trial, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03731260).
About Blueprint Medicines
Blueprint Medicines is a global precision therapy company that invents life-changing therapies for people with cancer and blood disorders. Applying an approach that is both precise and agile, we create medicines that selectively target genetic drivers, with the goal of staying one step ahead across stages of disease. Since 2011, we have leveraged our research platform, including expertise in molecular targeting and world-class drug design capabilities, to rapidly and reproducibly translate science into a broad pipeline of precision therapies. Today, we are delivering approved medicines directly to patients in the United States and Europe, and we are globally advancing multiple programs for systemic mastocytosis, lung cancer and other genomically defined cancers, and cancer immunotherapy. For more information, visit www.BlueprintMedicines.com and follow us on Twitter (@BlueprintMeds) and LinkedIn.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, statements regarding plans to submit a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for AYVAKIT in patients with non-advanced SM, with a subsequent submission of a type II variation marketing authorization application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), plans and timing for presenting detailed data from the PIONEER trial of AYVAKIT in patients with non-advanced SM, and expectations regarding the potential benefits of AYVAKIT in treating patients with non-advanced SM. The words "aim," "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "project," "potential," "continue," "target" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to Blueprint Medicines' business, operations, strategy, goals and anticipated milestones, including Blueprint Medicines' ongoing and planned research and discovery activities, ability to conduct ongoing and planned clinical trials, clinical supply of current or future drug candidates, commercial supply of current or future approved products, and launching, marketing and selling current or future approved products; Blueprint Medicines' ability and plans in continuing to establish and expand a commercial infrastructure, and successfully launching, marketing and selling current or future approved products; Blueprint Medicines' ability to successfully expand the approved indications for AYVAKIT/AYVAKYT or obtain marketing approval for AYVAKIT/AYVAKYT in additional geographies in the future; the delay of any current or planned clinical trials or the development of Blueprint Medicines' current or future drug candidates; Blueprint Medicines' advancement of multiple early-stage efforts; Blueprint Medicines' ability to successfully demonstrate the safety and efficacy of its drug candidates and gain approval of its drug candidates or of an approved product in an additional indication on a timely basis, if at all; the preclinical and clinical results for Blueprint Medicines' drug candidates, which may not support further development of such drug candidates either as monotherapies or in combination with other agents or may impact the anticipated timing of data or regulatory submissions; the risk that "topline" data from our clinical trials that we announce or publish from time to time may change as more patient data become available and are subject to confirmation, audit, and verification procedures that could result in material changes in the final data; the timing of the initiation of clinical trials and trial cohorts at clinical trial sites and patient enrollment rates; actions of regulatory agencies, which may affect the initiation, timing and progress of clinical trials; Blueprint Medicines' ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for AYVAKIT/AYVAKYT; Blueprint Medicines' ability to develop and commercialize companion diagnostic tests for AYVAKIT/AYVAKYT; Blueprint Medicines' ability to successfully expand its operations, research platform and portfolio of therapeutic candidates, and the timing and costs thereof; and the success of Blueprint Medicines' current and future collaborations, financing arrangements, partnerships or licensing arrangements. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Blueprint Medicines' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Blueprint Medicines' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any other filings that Blueprint Medicines has made or may make with the SEC in the future. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent Blueprint Medicines' views only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Except as required by law, Blueprint Medicines explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Trademarks
Blueprint Medicines, AYVAKIT, AYVAKYT and associated logos are trademarks of Blueprint Medicines Corporation.
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HELSINKI (AP) — Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, who was Denmark’s foreign minister for more than 10 years from the early 1980s and was considered one of the Nordic region’s key politicians in the end phase of the Cold War, has died. He was 80.
The conservative-liberal Venstre party, which Ellemann-Jensen led from 1984-1998, said in a brief statement on Sunday that he died overnight “after a long illness.” The cause of death wasn’t immediately given.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a statement that Ellemann-Jensen, Denmark’s foreign minister from 1982 until 1993, was “a sharp politician”, a great personality and “a man with great courage.”
“He skilfully represented our country during the Cold War,” Frederiksen said, stressing that Ellemann-Jensen insisted Denmark should remain committed to NATO’s common policies, and he called for maintaining close trans-Atlantic ties between Europe and the United States.
“Now that war is back on the European continent, his voice for a strong, secure and democratic Europe seems clearer than ever,” she added.
Ellemann-Jensen, born in 1941, was very close to becoming Denmark’s prime minister in 1998 after his party lost the general election and a role as the leader of government formation talks with less than 100 votes. The bitter defeat prompted him to abandon the leadership of his party and leave Danish politics.
On the international arena in the late 1980s, as the Cold War was drawing to a close, he profiled as a strong European advocate for the independence of the Baltic states and then Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
He also succeeded in convincing a majority in the Danish parliament to actively support the U.S.-led coalition during the Gulf War in 1991.
His active foreign policy measures and push to promote the interests of Denmark, a nation of 5.8 million people, led to his policies being called the Ellemann–Jensen doctrine which reflected the idea of promoting small countries’ ability to gain influence in the world order.
In 1995, Ellemann-Jensen was a candidate for the post of NATO secretary-general. He got the support of the U.S. government, but France blocked his candidacy, preferring the Spanish candidate, Javier Solana, reportedly causing the biggest disappointment and defeat in the Danish politician’s career.
Ellemann-Jensen is survived by his wife, Alice Vestergaard, their four children and 10 grandchildren.
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This story has been corrected to show that his last name is Ellemann-Jensen, not Elleman-Jensen. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/danish-ex-foreign-minister-uffe-ellemann-jensen-dies-at-80/ | 2022-06-20T08:42:56Z |
Leeds Equity Partners, in partnership with Exterro management, closes its third continuation vehicle as part of this transaction
PORTLAND, Ore., July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Exterro, Inc., a portfolio company of Leeds Equity Partners ("Leeds Equity"), announced today that it has completed a strategic recapitalization and secured additional committed equity capital as part of a continuation vehicle transaction valuing Exterro at more than $1 billion (USD). With the support of a group of leading global institutional investors co-led by Coller Capital and Glendower Capital, this transaction will enable Exterro to devote more resources to the growth of its Legal GRC portfolio of products through M&A and product development. Exterro will continue to develop new initiatives for law firms and service providers, drive accelerated growth of its digital forensics product set and reinvest in its first-class global Training Academy, as it delivers new products to new geographies. As part of the recapitalization, Leeds Equity has made a significant new equity commitment from its latest flagship fund, Leeds Equity Partners VII, L.P., alongside the continuation vehicle and management.
Exterro is a leading provider of Legal Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) software, which provides deep data insights, workflow efficiencies, and process orchestration across e-discovery, digital forensics, data privacy, and cybersecurity use cases. The company operates in a large, fast-growing market with significant macro drivers, including increasing litigation volumes, the proliferation of corporate data, an increasingly complex regulatory environment, the convergence of data risks and the ubiquity of digital evidence in crime and terrorist activities.
"Since our last funding with Leeds Equity, global demand for Exterro's Legal GRC platform has grown exponentially, fueling our product innovation as we've continued building best-in-class e-discovery, data privacy, forensics, risk, and compliance technologies," said Bobby Balachandran, founder and CEO of Exterro. "As the lines between legal, finance, IT, and security departments blur, Exterro is in a unique position, offering the only platform that can effectively unify and address the data and the legal requirements of those disparate business silos. Leeds Equity has been an incredible partner in Exterro's growth, and we are thrilled to continue our partnership with them as Exterro enters this new phase of growth."
Since Leeds Equity's initial investment in 2018, Exterro has more than quadrupled its revenue, and now serves more than 3,000 customers across the world. Exterro's concerted growth strategy has focused on organic product innovation, geographic expansion, and strategic M&A, including the acquisition and integration of Jordan Lawrence and AccessData. It has also included significant R&D investments in e-discovery, privacy, digital forensics, and incident management as well as investments in the Exterro team. These business-critical activities are integrated into Exterro's leading Legal GRC platform, which was designed specifically to manage the convergence between legal operations, litigation support, compliance, breach response, and internal investigations. In addition to Exterro's corporate markets, the company has also increasingly served law enforcement forensics departments, providing enhanced efficiencies to those agencies that are experiencing budgetary and staffing constraints, most recently with the United Kingdom's West Midlands Police Department.
"Bobby Balachandran and the entire Exterro team have built an industry-leading business uniquely positioned to help enterprises manage and analyze data and drive actionable business intelligence. These are critical requirements to operating in the face of challenges across e-discovery, data privacy, cybersecurity, and forensic investigations," said Jacques Galante, Partner at Leeds Equity Partners. "We look forward to building on this great partnership as Exterro continues to capture the immense growth opportunity across its global markets."
Mr. Balachandran originally founded Exterro in 2008 with the conviction that the legal industry would benefit from, and that there was enormous demand for, process improvements that could be derived from lessons learned in other industries. Today, Exterro offers the only Legal GRC platform for corporations – which include global businesses including Boeing, United Healthcare, American Express, Aflac, and Oracle – to mitigate risks, control costs, and have complete end-to-end visibility into their legal processes. Exterro has won numerous industry awards and accolades, including the Global InfoSec Awards, Best Forensics Product (2022), KM World Reader's Choice Awards, Best E-Discovery (2021), LegalTech Breakthrough, LegalTech CEO of Year (2021), and more. The company also contributes to numerous civic causes that are spearheaded by its Exterro Gives Back initiative, which supports several organizations, including Women Entrepreneurs of India, Operation Child in the US, the Safe Escape refuge in the UK, and the founding of the LifeRay Foundation, to mention a few.
"The Legal GRC industry continues to be highly attractive given favorable macro tailwinds, and we are proud to continue our strong partnership with Exterro to build on its premier market position. We are excited to continue to support the business through organic investment and strategic M&A," said Kevin Malone, Principal at Leeds Equity Partners.
Jefferies Financial Group, Inc. acted as the financial advisor, while Kirkland & Ellis and Reed Smith served as legal counsel on the transaction.
Exterro empowers legal teams to proactively and defensibly manage their Legal Governance, Risk and Compliance (Legal GRC) requirements. Our Legal GRC software is the only comprehensive platform that automates the complex interconnections of privacy, legal operations, digital investigations, cybersecurity response, compliance, and information governance. Thousands of legal teams around the world in corporations, law firms, managed services providers and government and law enforcement agencies trust our integrated Legal GRC platform to manage their risks and drive successful outcomes at a lower cost. For more information, visit www.exterro.com
Leeds Equity Partners is a private equity firm dedicated exclusively to partnering with management teams in the education, training and information services industries (the "Knowledge Industries"). The firm was founded in 1993 and has managed over $4.5 billion of capital across a broad spectrum of companies within the Knowledge Industries. Leeds Equity seeks to leverage its sector-focused expertise and market insights to create long-term value for its partner companies. For more information, visit www.leedsequity.com
For More Information:
Leeds Equity Partners
Tel. 212-835-2000
Fax: 212-835-2020
www.leedsequity.com
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SOURCE LEEDS EQUITY PARTNERS | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/exterro-completes-significant-strategic-recapitalization-excess-1-billion/ | 2022-07-26T12:19:53Z |
The two auctions attracted a combined 23,000+ registered bidders from around the world
VANCOUVER, BC, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Last week Ritchie Bros. conducted 24 online auctions across the globe, selling more than 34,000 equipment items over six days. The two largest of these events took place in Alberta & Texas, where Ritchie Bros. sold a combined US$114 million of equipment online for approximately 1,800 consignors.
The Houston, TX auction on June 21 – 23 attracted more than 10,000 online bidders for the 5,900+ items consigned, with buyers from Texas purchasing approximately 48% of the equipment. Specific sales highlights included a 2013 Link-Belt RTC80110 110-ton rough terrain crane that sold for US$305,000; a 2018 Caterpillar D6T dozer that sold for US$255,000; and two 2020 Peterbilt 567 6x4 truck tractors that sold for US$240,000 each. All items were sold without minimum bids or reserve prices.
"Our Houston yard was very busy leading up to the auction with customers inspecting, testing, and comparing items prior to bidding online," said Chuck Roberson, Regional Sales Manager, Ritchie Bros. "As expected, we continue to drive strong pricing for late-model, low-hour equipment and trucks, resulting in a lot of happy consignors."
Approximately 700 companies sold equipment in the three-day Houston auction, including a complete dispersal for MDS Boring & Drilling Inc.
"When you work with Ritchie Bros. everything is first class," said Cortney Laney, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer for MDS Boring & Drilling. "They have the best marketing, reach the most buyers, and will get you the most money for your equipment. We sold more than 450 items in last week's Houston auction and were extremely happy with the results. I'd like to thank Ritchie Bros. and its employees for their professionalism throughout the entire consignment process—they were so friendly, polite, and respectful."
On June 22 – 24, Ritchie Bros. sold approximately 7,000 items from its Edmonton, AB auction site and attracted more than 12,300 online bidders from 43 countries. Approximately 60% of the equipment in the CA$65+ million (US$51+ million) auction was sold to Alberta buyers, while the remaining 40% was sold to buyers from as far away Australia, Belize, and Morocco.
"Our June Edmonton auction is a quick turnaround from our May event, as we empty and refill the yard in just six weeks," said Andrew Lutic, Regional Sales Manager, Ritchie Bros. "Our operations team has done an absolutely amazing job coordinating the event, while our auctioneers dug for every last dollar, resulting in strong pricing for dozers, excavators, articulated dump trucks, and most other equipment categories."
Sales highlights from Edmonton included a 2015 Caterpillar 988K wheel loader that sold for CA$605,000 (US$468,000+); a 2009 Caterpillar D8T that sold for CA$550,000 (US$429,000+); and five 2018 Caterpillar 745 articulated dump trucks that sold for CA$355,000 each (US$274,000+).
Ritchie Bros. has dozens of upcoming events on its auction calendar at rbauction.com, including a Northeast Regional Event on June 28 – 30 with 6,800+ items; a three-day Toronto, ON auction on July 12 – 14 with 2,400+ items; and a Fort Worth auction on July 19 – 21 that will feature onsite events and bidding. The company also sells items weekly through its online marketplaces at IronPlanet.com, GovPlanet.com, Marketplace-E, and Ritchie List.
Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE: RBA) (TSX: RBA) is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offering live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with weekly featured auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance® equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; Ritchie List, a self-serve listing service for North America; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; Ritchie Bros. Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales; and sector-specific solutions GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Ritchie Bros. Energy. The Company's suite of solutions also includes Ritchie Bros. Asset Solutions and Rouse Services LLC, which together provides a complete end-to-end asset management, data-driven intelligence and performance benchmarking system; SmartEquip, an innovative technology platform that supports customers' management of the equipment lifecycle and integrates parts procurement with both OEMs and dealers; plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services. For more information about Ritchie Bros., visit RitchieBros.com.
Photos and video for embedding in media stories are available at rbauction.com/media.
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SOURCE Ritchie Bros. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/ritchie-bros-sells-13000-items-us114-million-big-houston-amp-edmonton-june-auctions/ | 2022-06-27T12:28:49Z |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Jeopardy!” is giving itself two answers to the question of who gets to host the quiz show — Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings.
Bialik and Jennings have been serving as rotating hosts since Mike Richards exited the show amid controversy after a short tenure as the late Alex Trebek’s replacement.
Executive producer Michael Davies said in an announcement posted online Wednesday that deals were signed with Bialik and Jennings “to be the hosts of Jeopardy! moving forward.”
“In Mayim and Ken, we have two outstanding hosts at the beginning of their Jeopardy! hosting careers who connect with their own unique fanbases, new fans, and the traditional Jeopardy! viewer,” Davies said in the statement.
Jennings, an all-time “Jeopardy!” champion, and actor Bialik (“Call Me Kat,” “The Big Bang Theory”) were among the guest hosts who filled in after Trebek’s death from cancer in 2020. While the stints were seen as tryouts, the job unexpectedly went to then-executive producer Richards last summer.
At the same time, Bialik was given a role by “Jeopardy!” studio Sony as emcee for the show’s prime-time and spinoff series, including a new college championship. It was viewed in part as an effort to placate fans who complained that the succession of guest hosts seemed like a publicity stunt and that the job was Richards’ all along.
But Richards was quickly gone from the show following a report of his past unguarded and offensive comments on a podcast. Jennings and Bialik stepped in to share hosting duties as their schedules allowed.
Davies laid out details of how the job-sharing plan would work when the show begins its new season in September.
Jennings, who is also a “Jeopardy!” consulting producer, will kick off the season and host the Tournament of Champions with past winners including Amy Schneider, Matt Amodio, Mattea Roach and Ryan Long. During that period, Bialik will host “Celebrity Jeopardy!” on ABC in prime time.
“When she takes over from Ken in January, the current plan is to have her host a couple of new tournaments as well as the Jeopardy! National College Championship” and whatever else her commitment to “Call Me Kat” will allow for with “Jeopardy!” Davies said.
“We know you value consistency, so we will not flip flop the hosts constantly and will keep you informed about the hosting schedule,” he said.
“Jeopardy!” had enjoyed remarkable stability under Trebek, who hosted the show for 37 seasons. Davies said that Bialik and Jennings “love and and respect this institution of a television program.” | https://cw33.com/entertainment-news/mayim-bialik-ken-jennings-to-share-job-as-jeopardy-host/ | 2022-07-28T20:14:05Z |
Three men who served decades in prison for the arson murder of a New York City subway clerk, a murder that resembled a scene from the 1995 movie "Money Train," have had their convictions overturned.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said on Friday that he would move to vacate the convictions of James Irons, Thomas Malik and Vincent Ellerbe for the 1995 murder of token booth clerk Harry Kaufman, who was 50 years old at the time. Following an investigation, the DA said there were "problematic identifications and false and contradictory confessions" involved in the case.
Gonzalez said that on November 26, 1995, at about 1:40 a.m. inside a Brooklyn subway station, two men approached the token booth where Kaufman was working. One of the men poured gasoline from a clear plastic soda bottle into the coin slot, then he or his accomplice lit a book of matches, igniting the gasoline and causing the token booth to explode.
Kaufman was "blown out of the booth" and suffered burns to more than 80 percent of his body. He died of his injuries two weeks later.
CNN reported at the time the attack was a virtual replay of a scene from the movie "Money Train," where a pyromaniac squirts gasoline into a token booth and lights it up. Following the killing, then-Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and police placed some of the blame for the Brooklyn attack on the movie. But transit officials said there were at least nine such attacks in the five years before the movie's release.
Each of the defendants was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Malik and Irons remained incarcerated, and Ellerbe was paroled in late 2020. CNN is attempting to reach all three men for comment.
Gonzalez said in a statement on Friday, "The horrific murder of Harry Kaufman shocked our city and devastated a loving family, but the findings of an exhaustive, years long reinvestigation of this case leave us unable to stand by the convictions of those charged."
In vacating the convictions of the three men, the district attorney pointed to doubts over their confessions and problems with witness identifications and case evidence. Gonzalez said, "Above all, my obligation is to do justice, and because of the serious problems with the evidence on which these convictions are based, we must move to vacate them and acknowledge the harm done to these men by this failure of our system."
"My heart aches for the Kaufman family and my office remains resolute in our commitment to seek justice for victims, while ensuring fairness to all," his statement continued.
Gonzalez said reviews of the case more than 25 years after the attack found that lead case detectives Stephen Chmil and Louis Scarcella fed critical details of the case to Irons, who was 18 at the time, ahead of his confession. CNN is attempting to reach Chmil and Scarcella for their response.
The DA said reviews also found inconsistent witness testimony relating to the identification of Malik, also aged 18. He said that the jury never heard that a witness who identified Malik made numerous inconsistent pretrial statements which would have undermined her credibility about what she claimed to have seen.
The reviews also determined that Ellerbe, 17 years old at the time, made a confession inconsistent with the facts and the evidence.
Gonzalez said the Conviction Review Unit, which investigated the men's convictions, has helped vacate 33 other convictions since 2014. Currently, the unit has approximately 50 open investigations.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/murder-convictions-overturned-decades-after-3-men-were-convicted-in-a-new-york-attack-that/article_bd57391f-3fff-5708-a751-0d624c5df7de.html | 2022-07-16T20:23:11Z |
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States Space Force Space Systems Command's Geosynchronous Earth Orbit Wide Field of View Testbed is online and the bus checkout is complete.
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's Blossom Point Tracking Facility successfully acquired WFOV and is operating the satellite. Data is processed through Blossom Point and coordinated with Space Control Network.
"First acquisition was right on time utilizing the Space Force's Satellite Control Network," said Lisa Anderson, NRL's lead for the mission. "We look forward to getting WFOV to its operational location and conducting checkout with the dedicated WFOV antenna located in Geraldton, Australia."
SSC's GEO WFOV space vehicle was designed, built and integrated by Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, including the integration of the Space Force's sensor built by L3Harris.
"With WFOV online, we're going to see critical data that will inform the future Overhead Persistent Infrared architecture," said Jason Kim, chief executive officer, Millennium Space Systems. "We're excited for what's next! Thank you to Space Force Satellite Control Network and United Launch Alliance for a great ride."
Sponsored by SSC and managed by the NASA Ames Research Center, the mid-sized GEO spacecraft launched aboard USSF-12, a ULA rocket, July 1.
Media Contact:
Dana Carroll, vice president, Marketing
Millennium Space Systems
dana.carroll@millennium-space.com
Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, delivers high-performing prototype and constellation solutions across advanced national security and environmental observation missions. Founded in 2001, the company's small satellite missions support government, civil and commercial space customers' needs across orbits.
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SOURCE Millennium Space Systems | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/us-space-force-sscs-geo-wide-field-view-orbit/ | 2022-08-22T16:18:02Z |
Nine years ago, Cade DeSpain messaged a friend about a cute girl he saw on her Facebook feed.
The friend introduced him to Kailee Lingo, her sorority sister at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. Kailee remembers that when she and Cade met, it was "a connection at first sight."
A month after college graduation, Kailee and Cade married in Marble Falls, Texas. They're both proud to be native Texans -- Kailee's family has lived there for generations and Cade's ancestors are among Texas' "Old Three Hundred," the original families that joined Stephen Austin to settle the area in the 1800s.
At the time, the DeSpains were both passionately anti-abortion.
"I was just your quintessential pro-life Texan," Kailee, 29, told CNN in a recent interview.
"I was raised in central Texas by extremely Republican parents and grandparents," Cade, 31, said. "One hundred percent pro-life."
A year after they were married, Kailee miscarried at 16 weeks and was hospitalized for severe complications, including blood clots and infection. It was one of three miscarriages she had in the early years of marriage.
"It made me realize that pregnancy can be dangerous," she said. "It made me think of my little sisters, and I wanted them to be able to have a choice if they ever had to go through something like that."
Last September, when a restrictive anti-abortion law took effect in Texas, Kailee pled on Facebook for people to contact their elected representatives to protect abortion rights.
In November, Kailee and Cade were overjoyed to learn she was pregnant. Full of hope, they posted ultrasound pictures and a gender reveal video of a cannon shooting out blue confetti. They named their baby boy Finley.
Then about three months later, they learned Finley had heart, lung, brain, kidney, and genetic defects and would either be stillborn or die within minutes of birth. Carrying him to term put Kailee at high risk for severe pregnancy complications, including blood clots, preeclampsia and cancer.
Even so, they could not get an abortion in Texas and fled to New Mexico.
"I've never felt more betrayed by a place I was once so proud to be from," Kailee said through tears.
"How could you be so cruel as to pass a law that you know will hurt women and that you know will cause babies to be born in pain?" she added. "How is that humane? How is that saving anybody?"
CNN emailed Texas lawmakers who authored or sponsored the state's anti-abortion laws. None of them responded to CNN's questions.
A grim prognosis for their baby
When Kailee and Cade found out she was pregnant, they desperately hoped for a "sticky baby" -- a pregnancy that would stick -- after her three miscarriages.
But after multiple ultrasounds, the doctors' prognosis was grim: his heart, lung, kidney, and brain problems were severe, and his genetic disorder, called triploidy, meant he had an extra set of chromosomes. The doctors said Finley would either die before birth, or if he did make it to term, he would die a few minutes or at most an hour after birth.
One of their doctors told them, "Some of these things could be fixed, but all of these things together -- this cannot be fixed," Kailee remembers.
She says the doctor told them that before Texas' six-week abortion ban went into effect in September of last year, she would have advised abortion as "the safest course for you [and] the most humane course of action for him."
But the doctor said she could not offer them an abortion in Texas. She said the only option to get one was to travel out of state.
Risk to Kailee's life
Staying pregnant with Finley could have put Kailee's life in danger.
She has two blood clotting disorders, which put her at a higher risk for having dangerous blood clots during pregnancy. Plus, mothers of babies with triploidy are more likely to get preeclampsia, a potentially deadly pregnancy disorder. Also, there was an increased risk for a placental abnormality associated with cancer.
Kailee said she considered risking her own life to carry Finley to term.
"I [wanted] to say goodbye," she said. "I [wanted] a chance to hold him."
But then she thought about how Finley would suffer as he struggled to breathe.
"He's going to suffocate, he's going to die, and I'm going to watch him do it," she said.
For Cade, there was only one option: It made no sense to him to risk his wife's life to have a baby who was certain to die quickly.
Cade told Kailee " 'I will support you whatever decision that you make, but I really don't want to lose both of you, ' " Kailee remembers.
The couple opted for abortion, driving 10 hours to a clinic in New Mexico. The procedure and travel cost $3,500. They hoped their insurance would cover the procedure, but Texas law strictly limits abortion coverage, and the clinic told them their insurance company declined to pay.
The DeSpains didn't have enough money -- Kailee said she was docked pay at work because she'd had too many sick days -- so Cade asked a relative he describes as "the epitome of the Trump fanboy" to give them the $3,500. The relative relented when Cade said without the abortion, he could end up a widower at age 30.
Cade said he didn't like asking for the money, but "my job as a husband is to protect and love my wife. If I'm not fighting to keep her here, then I failed."
Kailee had the abortion in March when she was 19 weeks pregnant.
'I'm still so angry and hurt'
While legislators did not respond to CNN's questions about Kailee's case, the president of Texas Right to Life did.
John Seago said that "Texas law is very clear about what circumstances that an abortion could be performed" and "what happened to [Kailee] and the response of her physicians was absolutely a misrepresentation of the law. And this should never have happened."
But Katie Keith, director of the Health Policy and the Law Initiative at Georgetown University Law Center, said Texas' abortion laws -- the one that took effect last year and another one that went into effect last month -- are not at all clear and are "designed to be purposely vague and broad."
The more recent law, for example, says an abortion can be performed if the mother "has a life-threatening physical condition aggravated, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy that places the female at risk of death or poses a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function."
"They don't spell out exactly the situations when an abortion can be provided," Keith said.
Kailee said her doctors told her they could only give her an abortion if she were at imminent risk of dying -- essentially if she were " 'dying on the table.' "
If a physician is found in violation of the law, the punishments can be severe: heavy fines, loss of their medical license and a possible life sentence in prison.
Plus, citizens can file lawsuits against physicians they think have performed an illegal abortion, and if they win, they can get a $10,000 reward. If the citizen is wrong and the doctor wins the lawsuit, the doctor still has to pay their own legal fees, as Texas law specifically forbids doctors from recouping fees from plaintiffs.
"Facing the potential to become a felon and face life in prison for simply trying to take care of patients has been horrifying and I'd be lying if I said that I haven't considered leaving the state," said Dr. Leah Tatum, a spokesperson for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists who practices in Austin, Texas, and has treated patients in similar situations to Kailee's since the Texas anti-abortion laws passed.
The Texas law that went into effect last year barred most abortions at the onset of a fetal heartbeat, which can occur as early as six weeks into pregnancy and before many people know they are pregnant. It was one of the earliest and most restrictive abortion laws. Laws that ban abortion or severely restrict the procedure have gone into effect in about a dozen states after the US Supreme Court ended a constitutional right to abortion on June 24.
Kailee says the last time she saw her obstetrician, she advised her not to get pregnant in Texas.
"She said 'this is not safe,' " Kailee remembers. " 'She said, I need you to look at me. I need you to understand that if you get pregnant in Texas and that if you have complications, that I cannot intervene until I can prove that you're going to die.' "
The DeSpains say they are thinking about leaving Texas, but it would be difficult to leave their work and their families.
Kailee said they're sharing their story in hopes of increasing awareness so "that stories like mine can change enough voters' perspectives."
"I'm still so angry and hurt about it that I can hardly see straight," she wrote on Facebook the day after the abortion. "Finley and I were simply collateral damage in a much bigger picture. It's hard for me to wrap my head around the thought process of lawmakers that would rather a full-term baby suffocate to death than allow a mother to make a decision that spares her child that pain."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/features/health/once-a-quintessential-pro-life-texan-she-had-to-flee-her-home-state-to-get/article_abab5e2b-b72b-57d5-8e22-ca2b529cad25.html | 2022-09-09T15:45:29Z |
Actress and singer Chanel Haynes says she was fired as the lead in the West End production of "Tina" after she performed with the Rolling Stones in Italy.
Haynes, who for the past few months had been portraying the legendary Tina Turner in the musical based on her life, told Rolling Stone magazine that she was canned after agreeing to perform "Gimme Shelter" with the band.
The show, in Milan on June 21, was the first performance for the Rolling Stones since lead singer Mick Jagger had recovered from Covid-19.
Haynes told the magazine she was flown with little notice from London to Milan to replace backup singer, Sasha Allen, who was unable to perform due to an unspecified reason.
"I can't say exactly when I got the call because I don't want to give timelines," Haynes said. "But I'll tell you that there was very little notice. Very little. Everybody was biting their nails. 'How are we going to pull this off' But I tell you the machine the Stones have is like Buckingham Palace or the White House. They have the same level of personnel. Next thing I knew, I was on a plane to Milan."
She and Jagger rehearsed the song once before the show she said and video of the performance was shared on YouTube.
Haynes posted on Instagram an email she said she later received from the "Tina" general manager that informed her she had been suspended from the production.
"The theater will be informed that you are not permitted to enter," the email reads.
According to Rolling Stone magazine, Haynes declined to give specifics regarding her suspension, but insisted it was because of her Rolling Stones performance, which occurred on a night that "Tina" was also occurring.
Her "biggest heartbreak," she said, was that friends and family, including a domestic violence survivor who helped her prepare for playing Turner, who was famously abused by her then-husband Ike Turner, were flying in for what was to have been her final performance with "Tina."
"She was my muse. She was the person that helped me properly tell that story from her perspective," Haynes said. "I also wasn't able to say goodbye to the children in the cast. That was hard."
A rep for the production told Rolling Stone magazine in a statement: "This concerns an employee-related matter, and as a company policy, we do not comment on personnel-related individual cases."
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SAN FRANCISCO, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Prologis, Inc. (NYSE: PLD), the global leader in logistics real estate, will host a webcast and conference call with senior management to discuss second quarter results, current market conditions and future outlook on Monday, July 18, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. PT/12:00 p.m. ET.
To access a live broadcast of the call, please dial +1 (877) 897-2615 (toll-free from the United States and Canada) or +1 (201) 689-8514 (from all other countries). A live webcast can be accessed from the Investor Relations section of www.prologis.com.
A telephonic replay will be available July 18 – August 1 at +1 (877) 660-6853 (from the United States and Canada) or +1 (201) 612-7415 (from all other countries) using access code 13731159. The webcast replay will be posted in the Investor Relations section of www.prologis.com under "Events & Presentations."
About Prologis
Prologis, Inc. is the global leader in logistics real estate with a focus on high-barrier, high-growth markets. As of March 31, 2022, the company owned or had investments in, on a wholly owned basis or through co-investment ventures, properties and development projects expected to total approximately 1.0 billion square feet (93 million square meters) in 19 countries. Prologis leases modern logistics facilities to a diverse base of approximately 5,800 customers principally across two major categories: business-to-business and retail/online fulfillment.
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate as well as management's beliefs and assumptions. Such statements involve uncertainties that could significantly impact our financial results. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," and "estimates," including variations of such words and similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future—including statements relating to rent and occupancy growth, development activity, contribution and disposition activity, general conditions in the geographic areas where we operate, our debt, capital structure and financial position, our ability to form new co-investment ventures and the availability of capital in existing or new co-investment ventures—are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained and, therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may affect outcomes and results include, but are not limited to: (i) national, international, regional and local economic and political climates; (ii) changes in global financial markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; (iii) increased or unanticipated competition for our properties; (iv) risks associated with acquisitions, dispositions and development of properties; (v) maintenance of real estate investment trust status, tax structuring and changes in income tax laws and rates; (vi) availability of financing and capital, the levels of debt that we maintain and our credit ratings; (vii) risks related to our investments in our co-investment ventures, including our ability to establish new co-investment ventures; (viii) risks of doing business internationally, including currency risks; (ix) environmental uncertainties, including risks of natural disasters; (x) risks related to the current coronavirus pandemic; and (xi) those additional factors discussed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by us under the heading "Risk Factors." We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statements appearing in this document except as may be required by law.
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SOURCE Prologis, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/prologis-announce-second-quarter-2022-results-july-18/ | 2022-06-28T21:12:18Z |
Fitness startup adds new capabilities as it prepares for fall 2022 launch
CHICAGO, June 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Speede Fitness, a Chicago-area strength training startup, announced a new partnership with technology company ASENSEI to incorporate advanced movement tracking and understanding on its Speede Challenger machine, which is scheduled to ship in fall 2022. ASENSEI is highly renowned in the fitness industry for its pioneering work in form-tracking and form-tracking powered experiences using computer vision and connected apparel.
"With four training modes including powerful isokinetic and eccentric training, the Speede Challenger was already going to be a gamechanger for professional athletes and at-home users," said Dan Mooney, co-founder of Speede. "Now, with 3D computer vision, exercise recognition and understanding and form-tracking powered experiences offered by ASENSEI's technology, we're unlocking new capabilities for physical therapy, recovery and health diagnostics."
"We're proud to be partnering with Speede to help create a first-of-its-kind strength training experience," says Steven Webster, CEO of ASENSEI. "Never before has a machine offered the kind of training you'll find on Speede—and now combining that with advanced 3D range of motion measurement, assessment and recommendations will truly separate Speede from the rest. Utilizing ASENSEI's technology, Speede can deliver breakthrough experiences for athletes, trainers, therapists, and anyone who's serious about getting stronger."
Speede's announcement comes on the heels of other higher-profile moments for the company, including oversubscribing its recent seed round and signing UFC fighter Michael Chandler as Chief Athletic Officer. As the first connected fitness machine to combine isotonic, isokinetic, and max eccentric training for faster strength gains, Speede has drawn the attention of fitness investors and a host of professional athletes. Equity holders in the company include Justin Fields, Cole Kmet, Jaylon Johnson and DeAndre Houston-Carson of the Chicago Bears, Justin Simmons of the Denver Broncos, Marquez Valdes-Scantling of the Kansas City Chiefs, Elijah Wilkinson of the Atlanta Falcons, pro soccer player Lauren Sesselman, Mason Plumlee of the Charlotte Hornets, and 2x NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer.
ASENSEI will preview its work for Speede at the upcoming IHRSA Convention in Miami on June 23-24. Visitors will have the chance to try the Speede Challenger for themselves, meet Speede Pro Athletes, and hear from the ASENSEI team directly.
To learn more, visit Speede.fit or contact co-founder Dan Mooney at dan@speede.fit.
Speede Fitness is a strength training startup that helps people get stronger faster. Backed by artificial intelligence and the latest muscle science, their new machine, the Speede Challenger, will offer isokinetic, eccentric and isotonic training to commercial and at-home users. Speede is backed by equity holders from the NFL, NBA, UFC and NCAA. Learn more at http://speede.fit
ASENSEI is the easiest way to add form-tracking and form-tracking experiences to a Connected Fitness product.
- ASENSEI provides the sensor harnesses for connected apparel, as well as 3D computer vision for camera-based products.
- ASENSEI provides a cross-platform software development kit that allows developers to add form-tracking and coaching to their products in under an hour.
- ASENSEI provides an ever growing technique library of exercises in strength, mobility, yoga, Pilates, boxing, rowing, TRX and more
- ASENSEI provides blueprint experiences that accelerate time to market for form-tracking powered experiences including movement screens, new customer onboarding, instructional learning, real-time coaching cues, post workout analysis, room-scale tracking and leaderboards and skill-based learning paths.
ASENSEI: Practice. Perfected. Learn more at http://asensei.ai
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SOURCE Speede | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/17/speede-fitness-partners-with-asensei-create-groundbreaking-movement-tracking-experience/ | 2022-06-17T16:06:45Z |
Vendavo strengthens commercial excellence offering with acquisition of cloud-based rebate and channel management provider, Market Medium, empowering manufacturers and distributors to better plan, accrue, track, and distribute channel incentives across the partner ecosystem.
DENVER, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vendavo, the global market leader in B2B price management and commercial excellence solutions, has acquired cloud rebate and channel management solution provider, Market Medium. The acquisition significantly accelerates Vendavo's roadmap to enable manufacturing and distribution organizations as they optimize revenue growth and profitability.
The addition of Market Medium brings deeper and more robust channel incentive management capabilities to Vendavo's market-leading price optimization and CPQ solutions that will empower customers to maximize their revenue and profitability through intelligent supplier programs, pricing, sales intelligence, sales quoting and agreements, and channel revenue management.
"For more than two decades, we've been empowering enterprise B2B companies to unlock commercial growth and profitability," said Bruno Slosse, President and Chief Executive of Vendavo. "The breakthrough combination of Vendavo and Market Medium sets a new standard for price and channel management solutions and provides our customers with key new capabilities in managing commercial excellence and unlocking profitability."
Today's commercial excellence leaders are consistently looking for more ways to uncover additional revenue, improve margins, and reduce financial risks. Challenged by hyperinflation, supply chain issues, global crises, and economic uncertainties, it has never been more important for B2B enterprises to have complete control and visibility across the entire commercial landscape, sales channels, and partner ecosystems.
As Vendavo and Market Medium join forces, manufacturers will be able to more seamlessly manage manufacturer, distributor, and wholesaler rebate programs, build and scale sophisticated incentives, and nurture partner engagement all while boosting sales, and preserving margins.
The combination further empowers businesses to more efficiently track supplier and vendor rebate programs, meet margin guidelines on sales, and pass-through promotions to B2B partners and customers without revenue leakage.
"Managing and optimizing channel management programs can be complex. Over the years, the team at Market Medium has taken strides to help our customers simplify through innovation, automation, and channel integration," said Saravanan Krishnakumar, Co-Founder of Market Medium. "Joining forces with Vendavo is a transformative step in our pursuit of partner experience excellence. We look forward to continuing to streamline rebate and pricing processes between suppliers, distributors, and retailers as part of the Vendavo family."
Vendavo's AI-embedded solutions have driven – on average – $26 million in annual incremental profit for B2B enterprises. Vendavo welcomes Market Medium customers like Genpak, McLane, and C&S Wholesale Grocers and is now poised to process billions of dollars in rebates and make deal management simpler.
This acquisition expands Vendavo's vertical expertise in the manufacturing, high tech, wholesale distribution, and life sciences industries, strengthens rebate management capabilities for current customers, and reinforces Vendavo's commercial excellence leadership position in the market.
About Vendavo – Vendavo's AI-embedded pricing and sales solutions power the shift to digital commerce for B2B companies, unlocking value, growing margin, and accelerating revenue. With the Vendavo SaaS commercial excellence platform and our best-in-class CPQ and price optimization solutions, our customers develop dynamic customer insights and execute optimal pricing strategies that maximize margin, boost sales effectiveness and improve customer experience. Vendavo has offices in Denver, Düsseldorf, Prague, and Stockholm. For more information, please visit http://www.vendavo.com
About Market Medium – Market Medium provides channel incentive management solutions in the cloud for manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers. It handles the end-to-end lifecycle for rebate calculation, processing and settlements with seamless integrations to a wide range of ERP applications.
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SOURCE Vendavo | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/vendavo-acquires-market-medium-cloud-based-rebate-channel-management-solution-provider/ | 2022-07-19T16:49:21Z |
HOUSTON, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: AE) ("Adams" or the "Company") today announced operational and financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per common share.
- Reported net earnings of $6.1 million, or $1.39 per diluted common share, on revenues of $774.2 million for the first quarter of 2022, compared to net earnings of $2.8 million, or $0.66 per diluted common share, on revenues of $325.5 million for the first quarter of 2021.
- Generated net cash provided by operating activities of $5.9 million for the first quarter of 2022, versus $23.0 million for the first quarter of 2021. The decrease was primarily driven by changes in working capital, partially offset by an increase in the market price of crude oil.
- Reported adjusted net loss of $1.0 million, or a loss of $0.24 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2022, compared to an adjusted net loss of $2.6 million, or a loss of $0.61 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2021.
- Produced adjusted cash flow for the first quarter of 2022 of $4.0 million versus $2.0 million for the first quarter of 2021.
Adjusted net earnings (losses), adjusted earnings (losses) per diluted common share and adjusted cash flow are non-generally accepted accounting principle ("non-GAAP") financial measures that are defined and reconciled in the financial tables later in this release.
Additional Highlights for Q1 2022
- Grew its cash and cash equivalents position to $99.3 million at March 31, 2022, which represented a 2% increase from $97.8 million at December 31, 2021.
- Increased its financial flexibility with liquidity of $133.2 million at March 31, 2022, including cash and cash equivalents and $33.9 million available under the Company's $40.0 million Credit Agreement.
- Adam's crude oil marketing subsidiary, GulfMark Energy, Inc. ("GulfMark"), marketed 90,385 barrels per day ("bpd") of crude oil during the first quarter of 2022, compared to 82,889 bpd during the first quarter of 2021 and 91,640 bpd during the fourth quarter of 2021. GulfMark held 404,636 barrels of crude oil inventory at March 31, 2022, compared to 259,489 barrels at December 31, 2021.
- The collective fleet of Service Transport Company ("Service Transport"), Adams' liquid chemicals, pressurized gases, asphalt and dry bulk transportation subsidiary, traveled 6.80 million miles during the first quarter of 2022, versus 6.93 million miles during the first quarter of 2021 and 6.79 million miles during the fourth quarter of 2021.
- Adams' crude oil pipeline and storage segment, which was established following the purchase of the Victoria Express Pipeline System ("VEX Pipeline System") in October 2020, further expanded its scope of operations during the first quarter of 2022. Pipeline throughput increased to 10,486 bpd for the first quarter of 2022 from 2,956 bpd for the first quarter of 2021 and 9,988 bpd for the fourth quarter of 2021, and terminalling volumes grew to 10,948 bpd for the first quarter of 2022 from 4,912 bpd in the first quarter of 2021 and 10,282 bpd for the fourth quarter of 2021.
Kevin J. Roycraft, Adams' Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We were pleased with our strong start to 2022 - both operationally and on the financial front. All three of our segments made important progress on the execution of targeted initiatives designed to profitably sustain and grow their respective businesses for the long-term benefit of our shareholders, and I want to thank all of our team members for their steadfast dedication to providing our customers with a safe, efficient and best-in-class service offering."
Capital Investments and Dividends
During the first quarter of 2022, the Company spent capital of $3.7 million for tractors and other field equipment. In addition, Adams paid dividends of $1.1 million, or $0.24 per common share.
Adams' Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend for the first quarter of 2022 of $0.24 per common share, payable on June 17, 2022, to shareholders of record as of June 3, 2022. Adams' has consistently paid a dividend since 1994.
Outlook
Mr. Roycraft concluded, "We look forward to further executing our plan to drive increased efficiencies across the organization. Supporting our efforts remains our well-established and continued strong financial position, which included a liquidity position of more than $140 million at the end of this year's first quarter. As in the past, we will continue to leverage our significant operational expertise and financial flexibility to execute on opportunities designed to prudently grow our business. We also remain squarely focused on providing significant value for our shareholders, including providing a regular return on capital through the consistent payment of our quarterly cash dividend."
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release and accompanying schedules includes the non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted cash flow, adjusted net earnings (losses) and adjusted earnings (losses) per common share. The accompanying schedules provide definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to their most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Company management believes these measures are useful indicators of the financial performance of our business and uses these measurements as aids in monitoring the Company's ongoing financial performance from quarter to quarter and year to year on a regular basis and for benchmarking against peer companies. Our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP measures such as net income, operating income, net cash flow provided by operating activities, earnings per share or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies because they may not calculate such measures in the same manner as we do. The non-GAAP financial measures are defined and reconciled in the financial tables below.
About Adams Resources & Energy, Inc.
Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. is engaged in crude oil marketing, transportation, terminalling and storage and tank truck transportation of liquid chemicals and dry bulk through its subsidiaries, GulfMark Energy, Inc., Service Transport Company, Victoria Express Pipeline, LLC and GulfMark Terminals, LLC. For more information, visit www.adamsresources.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to future events and anticipated results of operations, business strategies, and other aspects of our operations or operating results. In many cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "project," "estimate," "continue," "potential," "should," "could," "may," "will," "objective," "guidance," "outlook," "effort," "expect," "believe," "predict," "budget," "projection," "goal," "forecast," "target" or similar words. Statements may be forward looking even in the absence of these particular words. Where, in any forward-looking statement, the Company expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, and any other risk factors included in Adams' reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, there can be no assurance that such expectation or belief will result or be achieved. Unless legally required, Adams undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact
Tracy E. Ohmart
EVP, Chief Financial Officer
tohmart@adamsresources.com
(713) 881-3609
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SOURCE Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/adams-resources-amp-energy-inc-announces-results-first-quarter-2022-declares-quarterly-dividend/ | 2022-05-16T20:46:49Z |
Recent technology alliances, product innovations, and major customer additions underscore the company's emergence as the de facto cloud identity security platform for enterprise
LOS ANGELES, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Britive, the cloud identity security platform, today announced record-breaking momentum led by new technology alliances, major customers, and breakthrough product innovations.
"Our growth trajectory is a testament to Britive's market leadership in the cloud identity and privilege management space,'' said Art Poghosyan, CEO, Britive. "We're proud of the vital role we play in helping companies protect their ever-growing attack surfaces. We are committed to continuing this growth by establishing key technology alliances and expanding our product to meet the urgent needs of enterprise security teams worldwide."
Momentum highlights:
- Launched Key Product Innovations. Britive now offers Just-in-Time (JIT) temporary access for Snowflake administrative roles and databases. Britive also recently announced policy-driven workflow approvals to streamline privilege request and authorization process for users. Additionally, the company released new functionality to support management of powerful admin users in Google Workspace and Okta via Britive's ephemeral privileged access profiles.
- Signed industry-leading customers. Britive acquired several new companies as customers. This includes a who's who of retail, financial, technology and media, manufacturing, and consumer wholesale organizations across the globe.
- Technology Alliances. Britive established key partnership and technology alliances with such industry leaders as Snowflake, Lacework, and Torq to minimize an organization's attack surfaces.
- Channel Partners. The Britive cloud identity security platform is now available on Amazon Marketplace and Microsoft's Azure AD (Active Directory) Library, as well as through TD Synnex, which distributes to a large group of distinguished security partners.
- Received Key Industry Recognitions. Global InfoSec Awards named Britive 'Hot Company in Identity & Access Management'.
Britive's updated platform capabilities also align with a recent Gartner report that recommends organizations reduce risk through a Just-In-Time (JIT) approach to Privileged Access Management (PAM).
According to Gartner, "Privileged access carries significant risk. Even with PAM tools in place, the residual risk of users with standing privileges remains high. IAM leaders must implement just-in-time strategies to pursue zero standing privileges."
Britive recognizes the security challenges organizations face in cloud environments. Its newly formed alliances and key product innovations ensure teams have the tools they need to securely deliver desired business outcomes.
About Britive
Britive (www.britive.com) is a cloud-native security solution built for the most demanding cloud-forward enterprises. The Britive platform empowers teams across cloud infrastructure, DevOps, and security functions with dynamic and intelligent privileged access administration solutions for multi-cloud environments. Using deep API-based integrations, our patent-pending technology orchestrates permissioning for the modern enterprise cloud infrastructure and applications. The Britive platform helps organizations implement cloud security best practices like Just-In-Time (JIT) access and zero standing privileges (ZSP) to prevent security breaches and operational disruptions, while increasing efficiency and user productivity. Customers include medium to large businesses and Fortune 500 enterprises across healthcare, automotive, retail, media & entertainment, and other industries. Britive was founded by security industry veterans with a track record as successful entrepreneurs and innovators.
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SOURCE Britive | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/britive-announces-record-breaking-partnership-product-customer-growth/ | 2022-07-06T13:37:15Z |
NEW YORK, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (NYSE: IIPR) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
Class Period: May 7, 2020 to April 13, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: June 24, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in IIPR:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/innovative-industrial-properties-inc-loss-submission-form?id=27810&from=4
Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. NEWS - IIPR NEWS
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Innovative Industrial Properties' focus is to be a cannabis company lender rather than a REIT; (2) that the true values of the Company's properties are significantly lower than Innovative Industrial Properties represents; (3) there are existential issues in its top customers; (4) as a result, its top customers may not be able to continue making payments to Innovative Industrial Properties and the Company would face significant issues replacing these customers; and (5) as a result, defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Innovative Industrial Properties you have until June 24, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Innovative Industrial Properties securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the IIPR lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/innovative-industrial-properties-inc-loss-submission-form?id=27810&from=4.
ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM
J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
J. Klein, Esq.
Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
59th Floor
New York, NY 10118
jk@kleinstocklaw.com
Telephone: (212) 616-4899
www.kleinstocklaw.com
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SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/iipr-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-june-24-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-innovative-industrial-properties-inc-shareholders/ | 2022-05-31T19:40:29Z |
NEW YORK , June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXSM) between December 30, 2019 and April 22, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important July 12, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Axsome securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Axsome class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=2221 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than July 12, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Axsome's chemistry, manufacturing, and control ("CMC") practices were deficient with respect to AXS-07 and its manufacturing process; (2) as a result, Axsome was unlikely to submit the AXS-07 New Drug Application ("NDA") on its initially represented timeline; (3) the foregoing CMC issues remained unresolved at the time that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") reviewed the AXS-07 NDA; (4) accordingly, the FDA was unlikely to approve the AXS-07 NDA; (5) as a result of all the foregoing, Axsome had overstated AXS-07's regulatory and commercial prospects; and (6) as a result, Axsome's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Axsome class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=2221 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/axsm-shareholder-alert-rosen-trusted-investor-counsel-encourages-axsome-therapeutics-inc-investors-with-losses-excess-100k-secure-counsel-before-important-deadline-securities-class-action-axsm/ | 2022-06-14T19:33:07Z |
DAS42 helps joint customers leverage the full power of the Snowflake Media Data Cloud
NEW YORK, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DAS42 today announced that it has been awarded the Snowflake Media Competency badge for its data analytics solutions in the Snowflake Media Data Cloud. We are extending the depth of our modern data stack advisory and implementation services, unlocking new ways to transform the industry and accelerate data-driven outcomes for customers.
DAS42 and Snowflake can help joint customers build Snowflake-based data platforms that deliver industry best practices in data management, business intelligence, and analytics. As a Snowflake Elite Services Partner and Media Data Cloud Launch Partner, we have worked closely with Snowflake for years to empower enterprises with the Snowflake Data Cloud.
The Snowflake Partner Network Competency Program, unveiled at Snowflake Summit 2022, validates Snowflake partners for the depth of their Snowflake expertise and commitment to driving customer impact across the Data Cloud ecosystem. DAS42 has been a leader in helping organizations leverage the power of Snowflake's platform and the Snowflake Media Data Cloud to transform the way enterprises in the Media industry store and access data.
"We're proud to receive this recognition for our years of work bringing the power of Snowflake to the Media industry," said DAS42 CEO Nick Amabile. "Media is one of the core industries we serve, and one that is especially reliant on high-quality, up-to-the-minute data. Snowflake and its groundbreaking innovations, like the Snowflake Media Data Cloud, make it possible for us to deliver the kind of exceptional data analytics platforms today's Media companies need. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with Snowflake in the months and years ahead."
"DAS42 has delivered amazing support and accomplishments in their work for us," said Glen MacKay, Director of Data Engineering at Big Fish Games. "They've been highly valued members of our Data Engineering organization, and a key strategic partner."
"Snowflake and DAS42 continue to reimagine what's possible with data in the Media industry by helping joint customers enable data connectivity and collaboration in a privacy compliant manner for transparent and secure advertising capabilities," said Bill Stratton, Global Industry GTM Lead, Media, Entertainment and Advertising, Snowflake. "DAS42's Media Competency badge underscores the company's continued innovation in the Data Cloud, and their alignment with Snowflake's mission to mobilize the world's data to transform the advertising ecosystem. We look forward to our bright future together."
DAS42 is a leading provider of cloud-based data analytics consulting and professional services. Based in New York and with offices across the United States, our clients include some of the world's largest companies. We work with cutting-edge technology partners to help organizations use data to improve their operations, reduce the time to actionable insights, and empower them to make better decisions, faster. Learn more at das42.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter.
To become a Snowflake partner, get access to Snowflake's self-service partner resources, and apply for the Powered by Snowflake program, please visit www.snowflake.com/partners/poweredbysnowflake.
Contact:
Taylor Pearson
202-235-3482
tpearson@tridentdmg.com
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SOURCE DAS42 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/das42-awarded-snowflake-media-competency-badge-accelerating-innovation-snowflake-media-data-cloud/ | 2022-06-16T15:04:42Z |
The Pac-12 announced Wednesday it was scrapping its divisional format for the upcoming football season moments after the NCAA Division I Council tossed out requirements that dictate how conferences can determine a champion.
The Pac-12 will now pair the teams with the highest conference winning percentages in its title game after 11 seasons of matching winners of the North and South divisions.
Other conferences are expected to follow, most notably the 14-team Atlantic Coast Conference. The ACC is looking to implement a new scheduling model as soon as 2023.
Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack said it was unlikely the ACC would follow the Pac-12 and get rid of its divisions this year.
“I don’t think you’d see it. We’ve already released our schedule for 2022. But we could do it with 2023,” said Wildhack, who’s on a subcommittee trying to figure out the best format for the conference schedule. “No reason we couldn’t do it in 2023.”
To have a conference title game, NCAA rules previously required leagues to split into divisions if they could not play a full round-robin schedule. The 10-member Big 12 wound up deciding to resume its title game even without divisions in part to raise the profile of the winner for playoff consideration.
That was clearly on the minds of Pac-12 executives, too.
“Our goal is to place our two best teams in our Pac-12 football championship game, which we believe will provide our conference with the best opportunity to optimize CFP invitations and ultimately win national championships,” Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff said. “Today’s decision is an important step towards that goal and immediately increases both fan interest in, and the media value of, our football championship game.”
The D-I Council also approved a Football Oversight Committee recommendation meant to aid with roster management, lifting the yearly scholarship cap of 25.
While the maximum of 25 so-called initial counters will be waived for the next two years, the overall scholarship limit of 85 per team in the Bowl Subdivision and 63 in the Championship Subdivision will remain in place. The change, backed by the American Football Coaches’ Association, is aimed at helping teams replenish rosters that have been thinned by transfers.
Still pending is a proposal to set designated periods when players can enter the transfer portal and be immediately eligible at a new school. Football coaches proposed two, multiweek dates, starting after the regular season in late fall and again after spring practices typically end in late April.
Because similar windows would likely be needed for other sports that proposal is being handled by the NCAA’s Division I transformation committee, which is expected to hand down recommendations this summer.
The Pac-12 said its the nine-game conference schedule based on divisions in place for this season will be unchanged, but models for future seasons will be reviewed.
The ACC is considering a 3-5-5 model for football scheduling that would have teams playing three opponents as permanent scheduling partners annually, then rotating the other 10 teams over two seasons in the eight-game schedule (five one year, five the next).
The change addresses two issues with the current seven-team divisions and one permanent cross-over rival set-up: Conference members going years without playing each other and imbalanced divisions that have at times created lopsided matchups in the league title game.
Without divisions, a conference would be more likely to have its two most accomplished teams in its championship game and improve its chances of having a team or two selected to the College Football Playoff.
The Pac-12 noted that five of its 11 championship game matchups would have been different if the conference had matched its two best teams instead of division winners.
The Big Ten and Southeastern Conference are also considering future scheduling models and whether to stick with divisions.
The Big 12 is pondering a return to a divisional setup as it prepares to welcome four new members in 2023, which could increase the number of teams in the conference to 14, at least temporarily.
Texas and Oklahoma are set to leave the Big 12 after the 2024 season and join the Southeastern Conference. Incoming Big 12 members BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF are expected to join the conference by 2023.
___
AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard contributed to this report.
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com.AP_Top25 | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/pac-12-scraps-divisions-moments-after-ncaa-paves-way/ | 2022-05-19T08:54:38Z |
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Las Vegas Raiders introduced a former Nevada gambling regulator Thursday as the franchise’s new president, the first Black woman to hold the title with an NFL team.
Team owner Mark Davis said Sandra Douglass Morgan topped his list every time after he spoke to candidates.
“Her experience, integrity and passion for this community will be invaluable to our organization,” Davis said. “From the moment I met Sandra, I knew she was a force to be reckoned with. We are extremely lucky to have her at the helm.”
Morgan, the former chairwoman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, is the third woman and third African-American to become president of an NFL team.
She is also the latest Raiders hire to break barriers. Former Raiders coach Tom Flores was the first Hispanic head coach to win a Super Bowl title and former coach Art Shell was the first Black head coach of the NFL’s Super Bowl era.
Morgan, who spent eight years with the city of North Las Vegas, was also the first Black city attorney in the state of Nevada when she served in that role from 2013 to 2016.
“I definitely never want to be the last,” Morgan said, “and I want to get to a point where there is no more firsts.”
Morgan emphasized leadership and full transparency during her introductory press conference at Allegiant Stadium.
“We have so much more to do, and I’m excited to be at the helm of that growth and look forward to ushering in the new chapter for the Raiders,” said Morgan. “The fact is I have accepted this role because I believe in the promise of the Raiders, I believe in the future of the Raiders, and I believe in this organization’s tenets of community, integrity, and most of all, commitment to excellence.”
She takes over a team that has endured tumultuous times in its front office, with two presidents and several longtime executives leaving the organization in less than a year.
After Marc Badain resigned as president last summer, Dan Ventrelle took over in July 2021 on an interim basis and was promoted to the full-time role in January.
But Ventrelle was gone less than a year after joining the organization. In a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Ventrelle said he was fired in retaliation for bringing concerns from multiple employees to the NFL about a “hostile work environment.”
“It’s no secret that this organization has faced some recent challenges, but I want to be clear, I am not here to sweep anything under the rug or avoid problems or concerns that need to be addressed,” said Morgan. “It is not lost on me that this is a critical and defining moment in the NFL. It’s important to me and it is my intention to make a meaningful contribution well beyond the Raiders family.”
Star defensive end Maxx Crosby, who attended Morgan’s introduction, said Raiders players are excited to start a new chapter.
“It’s incredible,” Crosby said. “First off, just breaking barriers and Mark has done an incredible job and it started with his father. You know, just being transparent and giving everyone an equal opportunity. She’s honestly the best for the job and it’s going to be awesome, we’re excited for the future.”
Coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler welcomed Morgan in a prepared statement.
“We congratulate Sandra Douglass Morgan on her historic hiring as team president and are excited to welcome her into the Raiders family. Sandra brings impressive leadership experience to the organization and we are thrilled to work with her as we continue to build a championship-caliber culture and team,” the statement said.
Morgan’s husband, Don, played with the Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals between 1999 and 2002
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AP freelance writer Poppy Cartledge contributed to this story.
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More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/raiders-morgan-is-nfls-first-black-female-team-president/ | 2022-07-08T07:24:08Z |
California forest fire burns out of control near Yosemite
MIDPINES, Calif. (AP) — A destructive wildfire near Yosemite National Park burned out of control Sunday and has grown into one of California’s biggest blazes of the year, forcing thousands of residents to flee remote mountain communities.
Some 2,000 firefighters were battling the Oak Fire, along with aircraft and bulldozers, facing tough conditions that included steep terrain and spiking temperatures, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
“Today the weather is expected to remain hot with minimum humidity between 5 and 10%, which will hamper firefighting efforts,” said a Sunday morning incident report.
The blaze erupted Friday southwest of the park near the town of Midpines in Mariposa County. Officials described “explosive fire behavior” on Saturday as flames made runs through bone-dry vegetation caused by the worst drought in decades.
By Sunday the blaze had consumed more than 22 square miles (56 square km) of forest land, with no containment, Cal Fire said. The cause was under investigation.
Evacuation orders were in place for over 6,000 people living across a several-mile span of the sparsely populated area in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for Mariposa County due to the fire’s effects.
Flames destroyed 10 residential and commercial structures and damaged five others, Cal Fire said. Numerous roads were closed, including State Route 140 between Carstens Road and Allred Road — one of the main routes into Yosemite.
California has experienced increasingly larger and deadlier wildfires in recent years as climate change has made the West much warmer and drier over the past 30 years. Scientists have said weather will continue to be more extreme and wildfires more frequent, destructive and unpredictable.
Pacific Gas & Electric said on its website that more than 3,100 homes and businesses in the area had lost power as of Sunday and there was no indication when it would be restored. “PG&E is unable to access the affected equipment,” the utility said as flames roared Friday.
The Oak Fire was sparked as firefighters made progress against an earlier blaze, the Washburn Fire, that burned to the edge of a grove of giant sequoias in the southernmost part of Yosemite National Park. The 7.5-square-mile (19-square-km) fire was nearly 80% contained after burning for two weeks and moving into the the Sierra National Forest.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/24/california-forest-fire-burns-out-control-near-yosemite/ | 2022-07-24T17:01:46Z |
Suncoast rain chances go up as we move into the weekend
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Dry air remains in place today and will again limit the number of storms that form this afternoon.
Like yesterday, a few of the inland storms could be strong and slow-moving, producing a lot of rain. These storms will generally form east of the interstate in the late afternoon. The coast will again today stay mostly dry with only an isolated shower or storm forming in the late morning or early afternoon. The majority of the day will be mostly sunny and warm, with “feels-like” temperatures approaching 105.
Late in the day moisture will start to return and Friday’s forecast calls for a rapid increase in rain chances. Winds will shift to the southeast and drive storms from inland areas back to the coast, in a typical summer fashion. There will be a few thunderstorms and holiday beachgoers are reminded of the old saying, “when thunder roars, go indoors.”
The tropics remain active but no system will impact Florida over the holiday weekend.
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/09/01/suncoast-rain-chances-go-up-we-move-into-weekend/ | 2022-09-01T12:03:17Z |
Makeshift boat washes ashore after Tropical Storm Colin
CASWELL BEACH, N.C. (WECT/Gray News) - Storms often lead to neat finds on the beach after they pass, but Tropical Storm Colin washed up something unique: a makeshift boat.
“On this beach alone, I’ve found so many whole sand dollars. I’m always looking for something, but I was never looking for that,” Caswell Beach resident Penny Tindall told WECT.
Penny Tindall, Addison Tindall and Kalaya Johnson went to the beach on Sunday in hopes of getting a tan and maybe seeing a sea turtle. What they didn’t expect to see was a boat washed ashore.
“It was made of heavy Styrofoam. It looked like a car engine inside,” Penny Tindall said. “Maybe six homemade oars, maybe four. If there’s that many oars, then how many people were using them to get away from where they were?”
She said Caswell Beach Police and the Coast Guard hauled away the makeshift boat the same day the discovery was made.
Bags inside the boat labeled “Made in Cuba” lead the girls to believe the boat belonged to someone traveling from Cuba.
“What if they jumped off the boat and drowned? Did something really bad happen to them?” Addison Tindall questioned. “I hope they made it somewhere they needed to be, and they’re not injured or anything like that.”
Investigators are looking into these same questions.
Immigration policy said Cuban refugees can stay in the U.S. if they made it to shore. If they’re caught at sea, however, they’re sent back to Cuba.
Copyright 2022 WECT via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/06/makeshift-boat-washes-ashore-after-tropical-storm-colin/ | 2022-07-06T12:58:38Z |
Company to Debut Ornaments from The Molson Coors Beverage Company, PepsiCo's Frito Lay, Inc., The Tetris Company, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer this Fall
SPOKANE, Wash., May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Old World Christmas®, the premier brand of Christmas ornaments in the country, today announced four new licensing partnerships for the creation of hand-glittered blown glass ornaments. The Molson Coors Beverage Company, PepsiCo's Frito Lay, Inc., The Tetris Company, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer(R) will each have a line of delicately hand-painted, hand-glittered ornaments created to capture the spirit of the brands to be released later this year.
"We are excited to add these four licensees to our portfolio this year," said Neal Applefeld, President & CEO, Old World Christmas. "These time-honored brands are beloved by so many and we're thrilled to introduce them to fans to hang on their Christmas trees for years to come."
Molson Coors, parent company of the Miller and Coors brands, will have several figurative ornaments created for beer enthusiasts. New designs will include a Miller beer glass bottle ornament, a 6 pack of Coors beer and a Miller baseball cap.
Chester Cheetah, the sly, sunglass-wearing mascot of Frito Lay's Cheetos brand snacks, will join other company favorites this year as a Christmas ornament. Additional ornaments include popular Frito Lay snacks, such as a Nacho Cheese Dorito Bag, Cool Ranch Dorito Bag and a Flaming Hot Cheetos Melting Snowman Ornament.
Puzzle gaming fans will feel a wave of nostalgia this Christmas with an ornament that features the iconic Tetris® video game. The memorable design highlights a gameplay scene with colorful Tetriminos on a handheld gaming device.
Celebrate Christmas this year with the most famous reindeer of all. Beloved characters from the TV classic, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, will make their way to Christmas trees across the country. New ornaments will include Rudolph, Clarice, prospector Yukon Cornelius, Hermey the Elf and the Abominable Snow Monster.
Once released, all of the newly licensed ornaments will be available at www.oldworldchristmas.com or in retail stores across the US. Stay up to date on all Old World Christmas news by following us on Instagram and Facebook.
About Old World Christmas
Founded in 1979, Old World Christmas offers the most extensive and best-loved collection with over 1,400 proprietary designs in styles ranging from traditional to whimsical. The vast selection of heirloom quality and affordable ornaments offers many choices to fit an array of personality or style. For more information, visit www.oldworldchristmas.com.
About the Tetris® Brand
The Tetris® brand is one of the leading and most distinctive video game brands and franchises in the world. Now after more than 35 years, the brand continues to be loved globally by people of all ages and all cultures. Billions of Tetris games are played online every year, and over 590 million Tetris mobile games have been downloaded to date. The Tetris brand's global licensee network includes major video game publishers, including Nintendo and Sega, as well as many partners in electronics, toys, apparel, lifestyle goods, entertainment and more. Tetris Holding, LLC, is the owner of Tetris rights worldwide, and The Tetris Company, Inc. is its exclusive licensee. For the latest information about the Tetris brand and Tetris products, visit www.tetris.com. Become a fan of Tetris on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Tetris) and follow Tetris on Twitter (@Tetris_Official) and Instagram (@Tetris_Official).
Media Contact:
Julie Stern/Brilliant PR & Marketing/julies@brilliantprm.com
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SOURCE Old World Christmas | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/old-world-christmas-introduces-four-new-partnerships/ | 2022-05-19T15:36:51Z |
SEI Reports Second-Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Published: Jul. 20, 2022 at 3:01 PM CDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
OAKS, Pa., July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SEI Investments Company (NASDAQ:SEIC) today announced financial results for the second-quarter 2022. Diluted earnings per share were $0.81 in second-quarter 2022 compared to $0.93 in second-quarter 2021.
"Our second-quarter financial results reflect our business' resilience as we navigate the state of the capital markets, inflation's continued impact, and change. While we expect these challenges to continue, we remain steadfast in our conviction that our company is moving in the right direction," said CEO Ryan Hicke.
"We've made progress as a business in three strategic areas of focus: growth, talent, and culture. Our expertise in asset management, technology, and operations is the foundation for driving short- and long-term revenue growth. We are seizing opportunities globally to provide existing and new solutions to our markets, enhance our talent, and reignite our culture. We will continue to diligently assess and allocate our investments in order to push our company forward in these areas, further position us for growth, and deliver value to our employees, clients, and shareholders."
Second-Quarter Business Highlights:
- Revenues from Information processing and software servicing fees increased from new client conversions and growth from existing SEI Wealth PlatformSM (SWP) clients. Additional revenues from our acquisition of SEI Novus during the fourth-quarter 2021 also contributed to the increase.
- Revenues from Assets under management, administration, and distribution fees were flat. Revenues from Assets under management decreased due to the significant decline in market conditions during the second quarter and client shifts into lower fee investment products. This decline was offset by increased revenues from assets under administration.
- Our average assets under management in equity and fixed income programs, excluding LSV, decreased $21.1 billion, or 11%, to $177.1 billion in the second-quarter 2022, as compared to $198.2 billion during the second-quarter 2021 (see attached Average Asset Balances schedules for further details).
- Our average assets under administration increased $39.3 billion, or 5%, to $897.5 billion in the second-quarter 2022, as compared to $858.2 billion during the second-quarter 2021 (see attached Average Asset Balances schedules for further details).
- Net sales events in the Private Banks and Investment Managers segments during second-quarter 2022 were $7.9 million and are expected to generate net annualized recurring revenues of approximately $5.6 million when contract values are completely realized.
- Net sales events in asset management-related businesses of the Investment Advisors and Institutional Investors segments and the Asset Management Distribution (AMD) business in the Private Banks segment during second-quarter 2022 were $934.0 thousand.
- The increase in operational expenses was primarily due to increased personnel costs due to business growth, competitive labor markets, and the impact of inflation on wages and services. The increase was partially offset by lower direct costs related to asset management revenues.
- In June, we initiated an enhanced voluntary separation program to long-tenured employees as part of our commitment to professional development and expanded responsibilities for current and new talent by increasing advancement opportunities. We expect this program to be finalized in July 2022. The program's total cost is currently estimated to be between $54.0 million and $58.0 million, which will be recorded as part of third-quarter 2022 results.
- Earnings from LSV decreased to $29.8 million in the second-quarter 2022 as compared to $35.1 million in the second-quarter 2021 due to negative cash flows from existing clients, market depreciation and client losses.
- We capitalized $6.1 million of software development costs in second-quarter 2022 for continued enhancements to SWP. Amortization expense related to SWP was $11.8 million in second-quarter 2022.
- Our effective tax rates were 23.1% in second-quarter 2022 and 22.3% in second-quarter 2021. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to decreased tax benefits associated with a lower volume of stock option exercises.
- We repurchased 2.0 million shares of our common stock for $109.3 million during the second-quarter 2022 at an average price of $55.48 per share.
- Cash flow from operations was $70.2 million, or $0.51 per share, and free cash flow was $52.4 million during the second-quarter 2022.
Earnings Conference Call
A conference call to review earnings is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Eastern time on July 20, 2022. Investors may listen to the call at seic.com/ir-events. Investors may also listen to a replay by telephone at (USA) 866-207-1041; (International) 402-970-0847; Access Code: 4384485.
About SEI®
SEI (NASDAQ:SEIC) delivers technology and investment solutions that connect the financial services industry. With capabilities across investment processing, operations, and asset management, SEI works with corporations, financial institutions and professionals, and ultra-high-net-worth families to solve problems, manage change, and help protect assets—for growth today and in the future. As of June 30, 2022, SEI manages, advises, or administers approximately $1.3 trillion in assets. For more information, visit seic.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology, such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe" and "continue" or "appear." Our forward-looking statements include our current expectations as to:
- the extent to which current market conditions will persist,
- revenue that we believe will be generated by sales events that occurred during the quarter and the timing of the realization of such revenue, if any,
- whether we will diligently assess and allocate our investments,
- whether we positioned for growth, and to deliver value to our employees, clients, and shareholders, and
- when our enhanced voluntary separation program will close and the amount of the cost of such program.
We anticipate that we may deliver forward-looking statements during today's earnings call that include our current expectations as to the matters in this release and set forth above as well as:
- the timing and success of client migrations, implementations and conversions,
- our ability to expand our relationships and revenue opportunities with new and existing clients,
- whether our investments will create growth opportunities,
- whether we are positioned for sustainable growth and to take advantage of opportunities,
- the margins that out businesses may generate,
- the degree to which one-time and transaction-based revenues during the quarter will be repeated,
- the competition for and cost of talent and the effect of these factors on our business,
- the headwinds we will face and our strategies for how we may respond to these headwinds,
- how we will manage our expenses,
- the degree to which our reported margins will decline, increase or normalize,
- the strategic initiatives and business segments that we will pursue and those in which we will invest,
- whether we have laid the groundwork for our future growth plans,
- the degree to which we will align our talent and spending to capitalize on market opportunities for both the short and medium term,
- whether our voluntary separation program will create space for internal mobility, fresh perspectives, diversity and external experience, and the degree to which this will position us for or accelerate our growth,
- the degree to which we will reset our capital investments to sustain the growth we create,
- the success, if any, of the sales and strategic initiatives we pursue,
- whether our culture will enable us to be more nimble, while maintaining focus and attention on our clients and opportunities,
- the timing of when new clients will be on-boarded directly to new technology platforms and when our entire existing client base will be live on such platforms,
- the value of our backlog and the strength of our pipelines,
- whether we will be able to drive cross-selling opportunities,
- whether we will focus on maintaining and accelerating growth in existing businesses, expanding our focus on new growth engines, or reinvigorating our culture and talent strategies across the company,
- our growth prospects,
- the timing of and our ability to integrate any acquisition targets that we may pursue, if any,
- the potential benefits we may derive from any of our acquisitions,
- the organic and inorganic opportunities that will drive our growth,
- the investments we may make in our technologies and personnel, and
- the success and benefits of our strategic investments.
You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, as they are based on the current beliefs and expectations of our management and subject to significant risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control or are subject to change. Although we believe the assumptions upon which we base our forward-looking statements are reasonable, they could be inaccurate. Some of the risks and important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those described in our forward-looking statements can be found in the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/sei-reports-second-quarter-2022-financial-results/ | 2022-07-20T21:43:00Z |
TORONTO and MONTREAL, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - A brighter future for commercial occupiers is here, as Landmark Advisory Services and ENCOR Advisors have announced their new strategic partnership. Leveraging their proven client-centered service model, over 80 years' of combined experience and a larger platform with national coverage, the collaboration fills an important void in the market for Canadian businesses.
Rob Renaud, ENCOR President said, "With our shared values of prioritizing client services while striving for constant innovation, coupled with our dedicated team of diverse real estate experts, this meaningful partnership will propel our combined efforts as industry changemakers."
Jacob Cowles, Landmark Managing Partner, added, "We have already received significant enthusiastic feedback, from current clients to other like-minded brokerages who see real value in partnering with us. Our collective history and broader suite of services will reinforce our clients' best interests, improve the corporate leasing landscape for all stakeholders, and leverage our unique, integrated platform to a wider base."
The tactical union will underpin Landmark and ENCOR's services in hundreds of markets Canada-wide and internationally, fortifying their expertise in market intelligence, transaction management, legal services, account management, lease administration and audits, facility management, and project management. It will launch from their current offices in Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal.
Championing the occupier is critical in Canada's rapidly-shifting commercial real estate market. Protecting client interests is paramount to both Landmark and ENCOR, especially at a time when there is so much pressure on workplace strategies and industrial supply chains. With accredited processes, expertise, technology and resources, this platform aims to drive value for occupiers through the reduction of occupancy costs and risk.
The promises to be a catalyst for positive change in the commercial real estate landscape, in the absence of dedicated, national tenant representation firms. As independent firms are increasingly absorbed by larger international players, the nimble Landmark/ENCOR model presents a rich opportunity to partner with an accountable and authentic service that provides unparalleled expertise to occupiers exclusively.
As an ally to other occupier-focused brokerages, the Landmark/ENCOR partnership paves the way for other firms to maintain their independence while using their platform to build and service more multi-market clients. Both firms are excited by the opportunity to scale the client partnership model that is coveted by major space occupiers whose core business is not real estate.
Having the right expertise at the table is vital. This strategic partnership provides the flexibility to attract the best and brightest advisors to its platform, while spearheading much-needed change in today's commercial real estate market. Tenants will receive a transparent and sophisticated suite of services that puts their needs first.
ENCOR Advisors™, backed by 50 years of commercial real estate legacy, is the evolution of a top-performing team under a new generation of leadership with a passion for delivering even better value for their clients. Occupier-focused, employee-owned, and results-driven, ENCOR goes the extra mile for clients.
Landmark Advisory Services Inc. is a commercial real estate advisory services firm whose purpose is to be an industry disruptor and driver of change using a relationship-driven model in a transactional structured industry. This national firm's foundation is built on creating dedicated partnerships with clients. Partner smarter.
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SOURCE Encor Advisors Canada Ltd., Brokerage | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/landmark-encor-join-forces-with-goal-creating-canadas-largest-commercial-occupier-focused-platform/ | 2022-09-14T19:33:34Z |
Canned Cocktails, Hibiscus, and New Twists on Ice Cream Make the List
NEW YORK, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dotdash Meredith's EatingWell, the ultimate source for people passionate about food, health and wellness, today announced the 2022 Summer Food Trends, selected by its editors.
"Summer is right around the corner and with the new season comes lots of delicious things to eat and drink. Trending flavors and ingredients highlight fresh, seasonal produce. When it comes to popular beverage trends, the perfect thing to throw in the cooler is a canned cocktail. Here are the popular food and beverage trends we think will be big this summer, plus recipes to try at home," said Penelope Wall, Senior Editorial Director of EatingWell.
EatingWell's editors, along with their team of registered dietitians and culinary experts, used consumer data and editorial insights to predict the top 10 seasonal trends that will resonate most with the EatingWell audience in the coming months from timely topics, products, and ingredients such as low-ABV and nonalcoholic beverages and new canned cocktails to drink at the beach or cook-out, Increasingly popular food trends draw inspiration from the garden, with recipes using fresh fruit and vegetables, herbs and edible flowers.
EatingWell's list of the Top 10 Summer Food Trends of 2022 is as follows:
- Passion Fruit
- Cucumber Everything
- Baby Bok Choy
- Matcha
- Lavender
- Hibiscus
- Ice Cream, Reinvented
- Edamame
- Canned Cocktails
- Low ABV & Nonalcoholic
To learn more about all the trends on the list, read the complete writeup here.
ABOUT EATINGWELL
EatingWell has been publishing award-winning journalism about food, nutrition and sustainability for more than 30 years. Our mission is to share flavor-packed recipes from around the world, celebrating fresh ingredients and the farmers, artisans and chefs who bring them to our table. Through science-backed wellness advice and smart stories about sustainability, we help readers live their best lives. We are about moderation and balance—not strict rules or fad diets—because for eating well to become a way of life, it should be accessible, sustainable, inspiring and—above all—delicious. Additional information is available at www.eatingwell.com. EatingWell is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
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SOURCE Dotdash Meredith | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/eatingwell-announces-top-10-summer-food-trends-2022/ | 2022-05-18T15:04:01Z |
Police arrest man accused of shooting inside Mall of America
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say a man accused of firing shots inside the Mall of America before fleeing the suburban Minneapolis shopping complex with the help of several accomplices has been arrested in Chicago.
The Bloomington Police Department says 21-year-old Shamar Alon Lark, of Minneapolis, was arrested Thursday along with another man who had been sought following the Aug. 4 shooting.
Court documents say Lark faces charges including second-degree assault. It wasn’t immediately known whether he had a lawyer Friday who could speak on his behalf.
Police earlier said that Lark fired three rounds in front of a Nike store following a fight involving a half-dozen people.
The shooting sent some shoppers running for cover and led officials to lock down the mall.
No injuries were reported.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/12/police-arrest-man-accused-shooting-inside-mall-america/ | 2022-08-12T12:33:34Z |
Columbia Hospital Becomes Latest Covered by Tele-ICU Partnership
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hicuity Health, the nation's leading provider of high-acuity telemedicine services, announced the launch of tele-ICU services at MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown in Columbia, South Carolina. The new service launch draws upon MUSC Health's long-standing collaboration with Hicuity Health which delivers 24/7/365 telemedicine services to hospitals across the state.
Since 2014, MUSC Health and Hicuity Health have worked together to ensure the citizens of South Carolina have access to state-of-the-art critical care regardless of location. The two organizations currently partner to ensure critical care access across the state, collaborating on tele-ICU programs in hospitals across a variety of geographic markets.
Hicuity Health services combine the expertise and experience of its clinical team and the enabling technology of its customized HUB platform to provide advanced tele-ICU support for the patients and bedside teams of its hospital partners. With the addition of Hicuity's tele-ICU care, Columbia Medical Center Downtown will have the tools and support to provide care to higher-acuity patients while keeping them in their community.
"MUSC Health is proud to collaborate with Hicuity Health to address acute care needs for patients in the Midlands," said Tallulah Holmstrom, MD, Regional CMO, MUSC Health. "We've experienced the improved care and outcomes for patients at other South Carolina hospitals and appreciate the opportunity to extend that care to Columbia."
"Hicuity Health is pleased to further expand our MUSC Health collaboration with the introduction of tele-ICU care at MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center," said Lou Silverman, CEO, Hicuity Health. "We look forward to partnering with the hospital's clinical team to provide the highest quality acute care within the community."
Hicuity Health is currently contracted to serve more than 130 facilities in 30 states. Hicuity Health's team of US board-certified providers and other clinicians conducts 1.2 million patient interactions annually while caring for 120,000 patients.
About Hicuity Health
For more than 16 years, Hicuity Health has pioneered telemedicine innovations. Serving a diverse range of clients and care venues – including health systems, hospitals, and post-acute care facilities – with its expanding line of services that includes tele-ICU, remote inpatient telemetry, virtual nursing, virtual sitter, smart device monitoring, and shared services, the company is the leader in delivering expert care on a 24 x 7 x 365 basis to high-acuity patients in high-acuity environments. Our innovation is highlighted by our proprietary HUB workflow management technology platform, which enables seamless care delivery and informs patient management across our 12 clinical care centers that serve our more than 130 hospital partners located in 30 states nationwide. Hicuity Health cares for 120,000 patients per year, delivering enhanced patient outcomes, tangible ROI, and expert clinical support for the bedside teams at our partner hospitals.
Caring Edge Insights | LinkedIn |Twitter
About Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC Health)
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state's only comprehensive academic health system, with a unique mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,000 students in six colleges – Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy – and trains more than 850 residents and fellows in its health system. MUSC brought in more than $327.6 million in research funds in fiscal year 2021, leading the state overall in research funding. MUSC also leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health funding, with more than $220 million. For information on academic programs, visit musc.edu.
As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Patient care is provided at 14 hospitals with approximately 2,500 beds and five additional hospital locations in development; more than 350 telehealth sites, with connectivity to patients' homes; and nearly 750 care locations situated in all regions of South Carolina. In 2021, for the seventh consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.
MUSC and its affiliates have collective annual budgets totaling $4.4 billion. The nearly 25,000 MUSC team members include a world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, students, affiliates and care team members who deliver and support groundbreaking education, research and patient care.
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SOURCE Hicuity Health | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/musc-health-expands-telemedicine-partnership-with-hicuity-health/ | 2022-08-17T13:45:37Z |
ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) — Russia pummeled the vital port of Odesa, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday, in an apparent effort to disrupt supply lines and Western weapons shipments as Ukraine’s foreign minister appeared to suggest the country could expand its war aims.
With the war now in its 11th week and Kyiv bogging down Russian forces and even staging a counteroffensive, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba seemed to indicate that the country could go beyond merely pushing Russia back to areas it or its allies held on the day of the Feb. 24 invasion.
The idea reflected Ukraine’s ability to stymie a larger, better-armed Russian military, which has surprised many who had anticipated a much quicker end to the conflict.
One of the most dramatic examples of Ukraine’s ability to prevent easy victories is in Mariupol, where Ukrainian fighters remained holed up at a steel plant, denying Russia’s full control of the city. The regiment defending the plant said Russian warplanes continued bombarding it.
In recent days, the United Nations and Red Cross organized a rescue of what some officials said were the last civilians trapped at the plant. But two officials said Tuesday that about 100 were believed to still be in the complex’s underground tunnels. Others said that was impossible to confirm.
In another example of the grisly toll of the war, Ukrainian officials said they found the bodies of 44 civilians in the rubble of a building destroyed weeks ago in the northeastern city of Izyum.
New U.N. figures, meanwhile, said that 14 million Ukrainians were forced from their homes by the end of April, including more than 5.9 million who have left the country.
In Washington, a top U.S. intelligence official testified Tuesday that eight to 10 Russian generals have been killed in the war. Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, who leads the Defense Intelligence Agency, told a Senate committee that because Russia lacks a noncommissioned officer corps, its generals have to go into combat zones and end up in dangerous positions.
Ukraine said Russian forces fired seven missiles Monday at Odesa, hitting a shopping center and a warehouse in the country’s largest port. One person was killed and five wounded, the military said.
Images showed a burning building and debris — including a tennis shoe — in a heap of destruction in the city on the Black Sea. Mayor Gennady Trukhanov later visited the warehouse and said it “had nothing in common with military infrastructure or military objects.”
Ukraine alleged at least some of the munitions used dated to the Soviet era, making them unreliable in targeting. Ukrainian, British and U.S. officials say Russia is rapidly using up its stock of precision weapons, raising the risk of more imprecise rockets being used as the conflict grinds on.
Since President Vladimir Putin’s forces failed to take Kyivearly in the war, his focus has shifted to the eastern industrial heartland of the Donbas — but one general has suggested Moscow’s aims also include cutting Ukraine’s maritime access to both the Black and Azov seas.
That would also give it a swath of territory linking Russia to both the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized in 2014, and Transnistria, a pro-Moscow region of Moldova.
Even if it falls short of severing Ukraine from the coast — and it appears to lack the forces to do so — continuing missile strikes on Odesa reflect the city’s strategic importance. The Russian military has repeatedly targeted its airport and claimed it destroyed several batches of Western weapons.
Odesa is also a major gateway for grain shipments, and its blockade by Russia already threatens global food supplies. Beyond that, the city is a cultural jewel, dear to Ukrainians and Russians alike, and targeting it carries symbolic significance as well.
In Mariupol, Russians also bombarded the Azovstal steel mill, the Azov regiment said, targeting the sprawling complex 34 times in the past 24 hours. Attempts to storm the plant also continued, it said.
Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to Mariupol’s mayor, estimated on social media that at least 100 civilians are trapped in the plant. Donetsk regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said those who remain are people “that the Russians have not selected” for evacuation.
The two officials did not say how they knew civilians were still in the complex — a warren of tunnels and bunkers spread over 11 square kilometers (4 square miles).
Fighters with the Azov regimentreleased photos of their wounded comrades inside the plant, including some with amputated limbs. They said the wounded were living in unsanitary conditions “with open wounds bandaged with non-sterile remnants of bandages, without the necessary medication and even food.”
In its statement on Telegram, the regiment appealed to the U.N and Red Cross to evacuate the wounded servicemen to Ukrainian-controlled territories.
The photos could not be independently verified.
With Russian forces struggling to gain ground in the Donbas, military analysts suggest that hitting Odesa might serve to stoke concern about southwestern Ukraine, thus forcing Kyiv to put more forces there. That would pull them away from the eastern front as Ukraine’s military stages counteroffensives near the northeastern city of Kharkiv, aiming to push the Russians back across the border there.
Kharkiv and the surrounding area has been under sustained Russian attack since the early in the war. In recent weeks, grisly pictures testified to the horrorsof those battles, with charred and mangled bodies strewn in one street.
Dozens of bodies were found in a five-story building that collapsed in March in Izyum, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Kharkiv, said Oleh Synehubov, the head of the regional administration.
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that the military was gradually pushing Russian troops away from Kharkiv. The Ukrainian military’s general staff said its forces drove the Russians out of four villages to the northeast of Kharkiv as it tries to push them back toward the Russian border.
Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister, meanwhile, appeared to voice increasing confidence — and expanded goals — amid Russia’s stalled offensive.
“In the first months of the war, the victory for us looked like withdrawal of Russian forces to the positions they occupied before Feb. 24 and payment for inflicted damage,” Kuleba said in an interview with the Financial Times. “Now if we are strong enough on the military front, and we win the battle for Donbas, which will be crucial for the following dynamics of the war, of course the victory for us in this war will be the liberation of the rest of our territories.”
The comments seemed to reflect political ambitions more than battlefield realities: Many analysts acknowledge that although Russia isn’t capable of making quick gains, the Ukrainian military isn’t strong enough to drive the Russians back.
Zelenskyy used his nightly address to pay tribute to Leonid Kravchuk, the first president of an independent Ukraine, who died Tuesday at 88. Zelenskyy said Kravchuk showed courage and knew how to get the country to listen to him.
That was particularly important in “crisis moments, when the future of the whole country may depend on the courage of one man,” said Zelenskyy, whose own communication skills and decision to remain in Kyiv when it came under Russian attack have helped make him a strong wartime leader.
In the U.S., President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan measure Monday to reboot the World War II-era “lend-lease” program, which helped defeat Nazi Germany, to bolster Kyiv and its allies.
___
Gambrell reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Bakhmut, David Keyton in Kyiv, Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington, Kelvin Chan in London and AP’s worldwide staff contributed.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/putin-marks-victory-day-with-little-to-show-for-11-week-war/ | 2022-05-11T01:07:05Z |
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Missfresh Limited ("Missfresh" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: MF).
Class Period: June 2021 IPO
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 12, 2022
If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.
The complaint filed alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Missfresh provided false financial figures in its Registration Statement; (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' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to info@frankcruzlaw.com, or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
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SOURCE The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/19/mf-investors-have-opportunity-lead-missfresh-limited-securities-fraud-lawsuit/ | 2022-08-19T18:17:20Z |
NEW ORLEANS, June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until July 5, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Arqit Quantum Inc. f/k/a Centricus Acquisition Corp. (NasdaqCM: ARQQ) (NasdaqCM: ARQQW) (NasdaqCM: CENH) (NasdaqCM: CENHU) (NasdaqCM: CENHW), if they purchased the Company's securities between September 7, 2021 and April 18, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period") and/or held Centricus securities as of August 31, 2021 and were eligible to vote at the special meeting on the merger between Arqit and Centricus. This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
What You May Do
If you purchased securities of Arqit or held Centricus as above and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqcm-arqq/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by July 5, 2022.
About the Lawsuit
Arqit and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period and/or in the Proxy Statement issued in connection to the Merger, violating federal securities laws.
The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) the Company's proposed encryption technology would require widespread adoption of new protocols and standards of for telecommunications (ii) British cybersecurity officials questioned the viability of the Company's proposed encryption technology in a meeting in 2020; (iii) the British government was not a customer of the Company but, rather, provided grants to it; (iv) the Company had little more than an early-stage prototype of its encryption system at the time of the Merger; and (v) as a result of the foregoing, the Company's statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
The case is Glick v. Arqit Quantum Inc., et al., 22-cv-2604.
About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients – including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors – in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.
To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.
Contact:
Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner
lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com
1-877-515-1850
1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200
New Orleans, LA 70163
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SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/25/arqit-shareholder-alert-by-former-louisiana-attorney-general-kahn-swick-amp-foti-llc-reminds-investors-with-losses-excess-100000-lead-plaintiff-deadline-class-action-lawsuit-against-arqit-quantum-inc-fka-centricus-acquisition-corp-arqq/ | 2022-06-25T03:37:23Z |
Versatile Kapler, Giants set to defend NL West title
By JACK MAGRUDER
Associated Press
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The San Francisco Giants will open defense of their NL West title without two key components. It’s a situation they managed well a year ago. Third baseman Evan Longoria and outfielder/first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. will begin the season on the injured list, although the Giants played through a host of absences while posting a franchise-record 107 wins last year. Longoria underwent surgery for ligament damage in his right index finger last week and no timeline has been set for his return. Wade has a bone bruise in his left knee it’s uncertain how long he’ll be out. The Giants are optimistic that first baseman Brandon Belt will be ready to start of the season Friday at home against Miami. He reported to camp with swelling in his right knee. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/04/05/versatile-kapler-giants-set-to-defend-nl-west-title/ | 2022-04-05T20:34:25Z |
Workers’ advocates turned away at Dollar General meeting
By JONATHAN MATTISE
Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A civil rights advocate says he and two Dollar General store workers were denied access to the company’s shareholder meeting in Tennessee where they had been outside protesting for better pay and workplace safety improvements. The Rev. William Barber II told The Associated Press he and the two workers sought to enter the meeting Wednesday inside Goodlettsville City Hall with their proxy paperwork, but were told they could not go in after the meeting’s start time. In a statement, Tennessee-based Dollar General said the meeting began “promptly” at its start time and no one was denied who showed up early or at the start time. Barber said he saw nothing ahead of time that made entering late unallowable. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/05/25/workers-advocates-turned-away-at-dollar-general-meeting/ | 2022-05-26T03:10:13Z |
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Delinea, a leading provider of privileged access management (PAM) solutions for seamless security, today announced that Chief Security Scientist and Advisory CISO Joseph Carson has been recognized as a Top 50 Information Security Professional in the 2022 OnCon Icon Awards.
The awards recognize the top 100 Information Security professionals who have made a considerable impact on their organization and/or previous organizations, made strong contributions to their professional community through thought leadership, innovate in their role/career, and exhibit exceptional leadership. The OnConferences team determines finalists based on the applications and nominations, and public voting determines the recipients of the Icon Awards. Winners represent some of the top information security professionals in the entire world.
"I'm very grateful to receive this Icon Award recognition, especially since nominations come from Information Security professionals and are determined by peer observation," said Carson. "I'm honored to be placed among such an amazing and respected list of leaders who are all working toward a common goal of making our digital and physical worlds safer and more secure."
Carson is an active member of the cybersecurity community and a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). He is also a cybersecurity adviser to several governments, critical infrastructure organizations, and financial and transportation industries. He speaks frequently at industry and government events all around the world and is often quoted as an expert resource in global cybersecurity, technology, and business publications. He is also host of 401 Access Denied, an award-winning cybersecurity podcast with Cybrary which recently surpassed 100,000 listens.
To learn more about Delinea, visit https://delinea.com/
About Delinea
Delinea is a leading provider of privileged access management (PAM) solutions that make security seamless for the modern, hybrid enterprise. Our solutions empower organizations to secure critical data, devices, code, and cloud infrastructure to help reduce risk, ensure compliance, and simplify security. Delinea removes complexity and defines the boundaries of access for thousands of customers worldwide. Our customers range from small businesses to the world's largest financial institutions, intelligence agencies, and critical infrastructure companies. Learn more about Delinea on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
© Delinea Inc. (formerly Centrify Corporation) 2022. Delinea™ is a trademark of Delinea Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Contacts:
Brad Shewmake
Delinea
brad.shewmake@delinea.com
+1-408-625-4191
John Kreuzer
Lumina Communications
delinea@luminapr.com
+1-408-963-6418
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SOURCE Delinea | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/delineas-joseph-carson-receives-2022-oncon-icon-award-recognizing-top-100-information-security-professionals/ | 2022-06-30T12:42:39Z |
LOS ANGELES, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- System 9 Inc ("System 9"), a digital asset market-making firm focused on the alt-coin market announced today the closing of an equity financing round. Proceeds from the equity raise will be used to further scale the technology infrastructure & business operations supporting its proprietary market-making, and to expand its service offerings.
Equity investors include lead investor Capital6 Eagle (C6E), a venture firm focused on blockchain infrastructure. Additional investors include: Kronos Asset Management, C2 Ventures, Gate Ventures, Ascendex Ventures, as well as several well-established blockchain investors.
The System 9 team has deep experience and expertise across both the traditional finance and digital asset sectors.
Peter Sokolow is the Co-Founder and CEO of System 9. He began his career as a clerk on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade (now Chicago Mercantile Exchange), before becoming a floor trader and Options Market Maker. He began trading and mining crypto currencies in 2011 and has remained in the space, most recently founding System 9 in 2018.
Marc Orenstein, CFO of System 9, was previously CIO at Blockweather Holdings, a long/short volatility crypto fund. He also founded Observa Capital, a systematic long/short equity fund backed by an ex-Partner of Goldman Sachs, as well as being a portfolio manager at Davis Capital Management. His career began at Bear Stearns in Convertible Bonds, and at JP Morgan as a listed equity trader.
Joshua Baker, COO of System 9 co-founded Verd Steel, a material science research firm.
System 9 is a digital asset market making firm providing software-based trading services to token issuers and digital asset exchanges to build liquidity, increase stability, and augment price discovery. With offices in the US, London, and Singapore, System 9 has achieved impressive growth over the past two years and is now servicing more than 80 clients.
For more information, visit: https://www.system9.io/
Contact:
Investor Relations
646-745-5353
team@system9.io
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SOURCE System 9 Inc | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/system-9-closes-57m-series-funding-round-expand-operations/ | 2022-06-23T17:31:35Z |
Lawyer who advised Trump says federal agents seized phone
WASHINGTON (AP) — A conservative lawyer who aided former President Donald Trump’s efforts to undo the 2020 election results and who has been repeatedly referenced in House hearings on the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol said Monday that federal agents seized his cell phone last week.
John Eastman said the agents took his phone as he left a restaurant last Wednesday evening, the same day law enforcement officials conducted similar activity around the country as part of broadening investigations into efforts by Trump allies to overturn the election results in an unsuccessful bid to keep the Republican president in power.
Eastman said the agents who approached him identified themselves as from the FBI but appeared to be serving a warrant on behalf of the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General, which he contends has no jurisdiction to investigate him since he has never worked for the department.
The action was disclosed in a filing in federal court in New Mexico in which Eastman challenges the legitimacy of the warrant, calling it overly broad, and asks that a court force the federal government to return his phone. The filing does not specify where exactly agents seized his phone, and a lawyer for Eastman did not immediately return an email seeking comment.
Federal agents last week served a raft of subpoenas related to a scheme by Trump allies to put forward alternate, or fake, slates of electors in hopes of invalidating the election won by Democrat Joe Biden. Also that day, agents searched the Virginia home of Jeffrey Clark, a Trump Justice Department official who encouraged Trump’s challenges of the election results.
A spokeswoman for the inspector general’s office declined to comment.
Eastman, who last year resigned his position as a law professor at Chapman University, has been a central figure in the ongoing hearings by the House committee investigating the riot at the Capitol, though he has not been among the witnesses to testify.
The committee has heard testimony about how Eastman put forward a last-ditch, unorthodox proposal challenging the workings of the 130-year-old Electoral Count Act, which governs the process for tallying the election results in Congress.
The committee has heard testimony about how Eastman pushed for Vice President Mike Pence to deviate from his ceremonial role and halt the certification of the electoral votes, a step Pence had no legal power to take and refused to attempt. Eastman’s plan was to have the states send alternative slates of electors from states Trump was disputing, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
With competing slates for Trump or Biden, Pence would be forced to reject them, returning them to the states to sort it out, under the plan.
A lawyer for Pence, Greg Jacob, detailed for the committee at a hearing earlier this month how he had fended off Eastman’s pressure. The panel played video showing Eastman repeatedly invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination while being interviewed by the committee.
Eastman later sought to be “on the pardon list,” according to an email he sent to Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, shared by the committee.
___
Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/27/lawyer-who-advised-trump-says-federal-agents-seized-phone/ | 2022-06-27T23:41:11Z |
The Suncoast will see thunderstorms every day this holiday weekend
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - On this holiday weekend we will need to be weather aware. Beaches will be crowded, boaters will be taking advantage of great boating weather, outdoor festivities will be underway, and lightning storms are in the forecast.
Every summer holiday it seems there is a lightning injury or death. The leading activities associated with lightning deaths are fishing, golf, boating and camping. Remember that if you hear thunder you are close enough to be struck by lightning, even if you are not in the rain. Safety experts say go indoors or inside a car if you hear the thunder and stay inside for 20 minutes after the thunder stops. Have a happy and safe holiday.
The forecast is for a 50% to 60% chance for storms each afternoon and early evening between 2-5 p.m. Most of the storms will avoid the fireworks displays and morning and early afternoons will be mostly sunny.
There is a possibility of a tropical wave approaching Florida next week and bringing higher rain chances Tuesday and Wednesday.
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/01/suncoast-will-see-thunderstorms-every-day-this-holiday-weekend/ | 2022-07-01T11:46:53Z |
CORAL GABLES, Fla., Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MasTec, Inc. (NYSE: MTZ) (the "Company") today announced its amendment of the terms of its private exchange offer to certain Eligible Holders (as defined herein) (the "Exchange Offer") for any and all outstanding 6.625% Senior Notes due August 15, 2029 (the "IEA Existing Notes") issued by IEA Energy Services LLC (the "IEA Issuer"), a subsidiary of Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives, Inc. ("IEA"), for up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000 of new 6.625% MasTec Senior Notes due August 15, 2029 issued by the Company (the "MTZ Exchange Notes"). As described in more detail below, the Company has amended the Exchange Offer to (i) extend the deadline for the delivery of consents in the Consent Solicitation (as defined herein), (ii) extend the Early Tender Date (as defined herein) and (iii) modify the Consent Payment and the Total Consideration (each as defined herein). In addition, notwithstanding the extension of the deadline for delivery of consents in the Consent Solicitation, consents delivered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 19, 2022 may not be revoked, and any consent delivered after such time may not be revoked. Except as otherwise described in this press release, the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer set forth in the Offering Memorandum (as defined herein) remain unchanged.
The Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation are being conducted in connection with, and are conditioned upon the completion of, the previously announced merger in which IEA would become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the "Merger"), which is currently expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions, regulatory approvals and approval by the stockholders of IEA.
The following table sets forth the Consent Payment, the Exchange Consideration (as defined herein), the Early Tender Premium and the Total Consideration for the MTZ Exchange Notes:
As part of the Exchange Offer, the Company is soliciting consents (the "Consent Solicitation") with respect to the IEA Existing Notes, to eliminate or modify certain of the covenants, restrictive provisions and events of default (the "Proposed Amendments") in the indenture, dated as of August 17, 2021, governing the IEA Existing Notes (the "IEA Existing Indenture"). The Proposed Amendments require the valid consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of IEA Existing Notes, excluding IEA Existing Notes held by certain affiliated holders of IEA (the "Requisite Consents"). The Company has amended the Consent Payment as follows:
- For each $1,000 principal amount of IEA Existing Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Consent Deadline, Eligible Holders of IEA Existing Notes will be eligible to receive a consent payment of either (i) $2.50 in cash or (ii) if the Requisite Consents are obtained, the Success Fee in cash (the "Consent Payment"); provided that the Consent Payment will not be paid with respect to any IEA Existing Notes validly withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 19, 2022.
- If the Requisite Consents are obtained at or prior to the Consent Deadline, the Company will pay a fee in an aggregate amount of $750,000 (the "Total Amount") to all Eligible Holders that validly delivered their consents at or prior to the Consent Deadline (including all Eligible Holders that validly delivered (and did not validly revoke) their consents prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time on August 19, 2022), and for each $1,000 principal amount of IEA Existing Notes with respect to which an Eligible Holder validly delivered their consent at or prior to the Consent Deadline, such Eligible Holder will be entitled to receive their pro rata portion of the Total Amount (the "Success Fee"). Therefore, the Success Fee will be an amount, per $1,000 principal amount of IEA Existing Notes for which Eligible Holders have validly delivered consents prior to the Consent Deadline, equal to the product of $2.50 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate principal amount of IEA Existing Notes outstanding as of the Consent Deadline and the denominator of which is the aggregate principal amount of IEA Existing Notes for which Eligible Holders have validly delivered consents prior to the Consent Deadline. As a result, the Success Fee for the IEA Existing Notes will range from $2.50 per $1,000 (if all holders consent) to approximately $5.00 per $1,000 (if holders of a simple majority of the aggregate principal amount of the IEA Existing Notes consent).
- For the avoidance of doubt, if the Requisite Consents are obtained, the Success Fee to be received by each Eligible Holder that validly delivers their consent at or prior to the Consent Deadline includes, and is not in addition to, the $2.50 in cash for each $1,000 principal amount of IEA Existing Notes that an Eligible Holder that validly delivers their consent at or prior to the Consent Deadline would have received if the Requisite Consents were not obtained at or prior to the Consent Deadline. In addition, notwithstanding the extension of the deadline for the delivery of consents to the Consent Deadline, consents delivered (and not validly revoked) at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 19, 2022 may not be revoked, and any consent delivered after that date may not be revoked.
- For the avoidance of doubt, the Success Fee will not be paid if the Requisite Consents are not obtained at or prior to the Consent Deadline (in which case, the Consent Payment will be $2.50 in cash for each $1,000 principal amount of IEA Existing Notes for which Eligible Holders have validly delivered consents prior to the Consent Deadline, as described above).
In addition, the Company has amended the Early Tender Date to be 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 24, 2022 (such date and time, as the same may be further extended, the "Early Tender Date"). Subject to applicable law, the Company expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation in any respect, including to (i) extend the Early Tender Date without extending the Consent Deadline, (ii) extend the Consent Deadline or (iii) provide that the Early Tender Premium will be payable only to Eligible Holders who validly tender and do not validly withdraw IEA Existing Notes at or prior to the Consent Deadline.
At any time before the Expiration Date, if the Company receives the Requisite Consents, the IEA Issuer has agreed that the IEA Issuer, IEA and the trustee of the IEA Existing Notes will execute and deliver a supplemental indenture relating to the Proposed Amendments (the "IEA Supplemental Indenture"), which will be effective upon execution but will only become operative upon the settlement date of the Exchange Offer (the "Settlement Date"). An Eligible Holder that validly tenders (and does not validly withdraw) its IEA Existing Notes and validly delivers a consent prior to the Consent Deadline (including all Eligible Holders that validly delivered (and did not validly revoke) their consents prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time on August 19, 2022), but validly withdraws such IEA Existing Notes after the Consent Deadline but prior to the Expiration Date, will receive the Consent Payment, even if such Eligible Holder is no longer the beneficial owner of such IEA Existing Notes at the Expiration Date, but will not receive the Early Tender Premium or the Exchange Consideration.
The Company, at its option, may complete the Exchange Offer even if the Requisite Consents are not received. Any amendment or waiver of the terms of or conditions with respect to the Exchange Offer by the Company will automatically amend or waive such terms or conditions with respect to the Consent Solicitation unless expressly stated otherwise.
The Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation are being made pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offering memorandum, dated August 8, 2022, as amended by the Offering Memorandum Supplement, dated August 22, 2022 (as so amended, the "Offering Memorandum"), and are conditioned upon the closing of the Merger, which condition may not be waived by the Company, and certain other conditions that may be waived by the Company. The Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on September 30, 2022, unless extended or terminated (such date and time with respect to the Exchange Offer, as may be extended for such Exchange Offer, the "Expiration Date").
For each $1,000 principal amount of IEA Existing Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Consent Deadline and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Date, Eligible Holders of IEA Existing Notes will be eligible to receive the total consideration set out in the table above (the "Total Consideration"), which consists of the Exchange Consideration, the Consent Payment and an early tender premium, payable in MTZ Exchange Notes, equal to $50.00 (the "Early Tender Premium"). To be eligible to receive the Total Consideration, Eligible Holders must (i) validly tender (and not validly withdraw) their IEA Existing Notes at or prior to the Early Tender Date, (ii) validly deliver their consent in the Consent Solicitation at or prior to the Consent Deadline (including all Eligible Holders that validly delivered (and did not validly revoke) their consents prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time on August 19, 2022) and (iii) beneficially own such IEA Existing Notes at the Expiration Date.
The principal amount of MTZ Exchange Notes to be received by an Eligible Holder in the Exchange Offer for each $1,000 principal amount of IEA Existing Notes will in no event exceed $1,000, unless the Exchange Offer is amended.
For each $1,000 principal amount of IEA Existing Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date, Eligible Holders of IEA Existing Notes will be eligible to receive $950 principal amount of MTZ Exchange Notes (the "Exchange Consideration").
Tenders of IEA Existing Notes may be validly withdrawn by Eligible Holders at any time prior to the Expiration Date; however, a valid withdrawal of tendered IEA Existing Notes before the Expiration Date (including any valid withdrawal after 5:00 p.m., New York City time on August 19, 2022) will not be deemed a valid revocation of the related consent delivered by such Eligible Holder (including any consent delivered (and not validly revoked) prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time on August 19, 2022), and such consent will continue to be deemed delivered.
No accrued and unpaid interest is payable upon acceptance of the IEA Existing Notes in the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation, including, for the avoidance of doubt, if the Settlement Date falls between a regular record date and interest payment date under the IEA Existing Indenture. The first interest payment on the MTZ Exchange Notes will include the accrued and unpaid interest on the IEA Existing Notes tendered in exchange therefor, such that a tendering Eligible Holder will receive the same interest payment it would have received had its IEA Existing Notes not been tendered in the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation; provided that for any portion of an interest period after the Settlement Date, interest will only accrue with respect to the aggregate principal amount of MTZ Exchange Notes an Eligible Holder receives, which will be less than the principal amount of the IEA Existing Notes tendered for exchange if such Eligible Holder validly tenders (and does not validly withdraw) its IEA Existing Notes after the Early Tender Date. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent an interest payment date occurs prior to the Settlement Date, Eligible Holders who validly tendered and did not validly withdraw IEA Existing Notes in the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation will receive accrued and unpaid interest on such interest payment date as required by the terms of the IEA Existing Indenture.
The MTZ Exchange Notes will be the general senior unsecured obligations of the Company and rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company's existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness.
Documents relating to the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation will only be distributed to persons who certify that they are (a) a "Qualified Institutional Buyer," as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or (b) a person that is not a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) (such persons, "Eligible Holders"). The complete terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation are described in the Offering Memorandum, copies of which may be obtained by contacting D.F. King & Co., Inc., the exchange agent and information agent in connection with the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation, by telephone at (800) 549-6864 (U.S. toll-free) or (212) 269-5550 (banks and brokers), or by email at mastec@dfking.com. The eligibility certification may be completed at www.dfking.com/mastec or is also available by contacting D.F. King & Co., Inc. using the information above.
The MTZ Exchange Notes have not been, and will not be, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act, or any state or foreign securities laws. The MTZ Exchange Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. person except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
This press release is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase, or the solicitation of tenders or consents with respect to, any security. No offer, solicitation, purchase or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation are being made solely pursuant to the Offering Memorandum and only to such persons and in such jurisdictions as are permitted under applicable law.
About MasTec, Inc.
MasTec is a leading infrastructure construction company operating mainly throughout North America across a range of industries. MasTec's primary activities include the engineering, building, installation, maintenance and upgrade of communications, energy, utility and other infrastructure, such as: power delivery services, including transmission and distribution, wireless, wireline/fiber and customer fulfillment activities; power generation, primarily from clean energy and renewable sources; pipeline infrastructure, including natural gas pipeline and distribution infrastructure; heavy civil; and industrial infrastructure. MasTec's customers are primarily in these industries. The information contained on the Company's website is not incorporated into this press release.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the anticipated results and execution of the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation and the actions that the Company may take with respect thereto; statements relating to expectations regarding the future financial and operational performance of the Company or IEA; the projected impact and benefits of IEA on the Company's operating or financial results; expectations regarding the Company's or IEA's business or financial outlook; expectations regarding the Company's plans, strategies and opportunities; expectations regarding opportunities, technological developments, competitive positioning, future economic conditions and other trends in particular markets or industries; the potential strategic benefits and synergies expected from the acquisition of IEA; the development of and opportunities with respect to future projects, including renewable and other projects designed to support transition to a carbon-neutral economy; the Company's ability to successfully integrate the operations of IEA; the expected closing of, and financing sources for, the acquisition of IEA; the impact of inflation on the Company's costs and the ability to recover increased costs, as well as other statements reflecting expectations, intentions, assumptions or beliefs about future events and other statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements are based on currently available operating, financial, economic and other information, and are subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors in addition to those mentioned above, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual future results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Other factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: risks related to completed or potential acquisitions, including the acquisition of Henkels & McCoy Group, Inc., as well as the ability to identify suitable acquisition or strategic investment opportunities, to integrate acquired businesses within expected timeframes and to achieve the revenue, cost savings and earnings levels from such acquisitions at or above the levels projected, including the risk of potential asset impairment charges and write-downs of goodwill; risks related to timely completion, or completion at all, of the Exchange Offer; risks related to the Company's ability to obtain consents under the Consent Solicitation; risks that conditions to the closing of the proposed transaction are not satisfied or waived at all or on the anticipated timeline; risks related to the impact of inflation on costs as well as economic activity, customer demand and interest rates, risks related to adverse effects of health epidemics and pandemics or other outbreaks of communicable diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, including its effect on supply chain or inflationary issues, as well as, the potential effects of related health mandates and recommendations; market conditions, technological developments, regulatory or policy changes, including permitting processes and tax incentives that affect us or our customers' industries; the effect of federal, local, state, foreign or tax legislation and other regulations affecting the industries we serve and related projects and expenditures; the effect on demand for our services of changes in the amount of capital expenditures by our customers due to, among other things, economic conditions, including potential adverse effects of public health issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic on economic activity generally, the availability and cost of financing, and customer consolidation in the industries we serve; activity in the industries we serve and the impact on our customers' expenditure levels caused by fluctuations in commodity prices, including for oil, natural gas, electricity and other energy sources; our ability to manage projects effectively and in accordance with our estimates, as well as our ability to accurately estimate the costs associated with our fixed price and other contracts, including any material changes in estimates for completion of projects and estimates of the recoverability of change orders; the timing and extent of fluctuations in operational, geographic and weather factors affecting our customers, projects and the industries in which we operate; the highly competitive nature of our industry and the ability of our customers, including our largest customers, to terminate or reduce the amount of work, or in some cases, the prices paid for services, on short or no notice under our contracts, and/or customer disputes related to our performance of services and the resolution of unapproved change orders; our dependence on a limited number of customers and our ability to replace non-recurring projects with new projects; the effect of state and federal regulatory initiatives, including costs of compliance with existing and potential future safety and environmental requirements, including with respect to climate change; risks associated with potential environmental issues and other hazards from our operations; disputes with, or failures of, our subcontractors to deliver agreed-upon supplies or services in a timely fashion, and the risk of being required to pay our subcontractors even if our customers do not pay us; risks related to our strategic arrangements, including our equity investments; any exposure resulting from system or information technology interruptions or data security breaches; any material changes in estimates for legal costs or case settlements or adverse determinations on any claim, lawsuit or proceeding; the adequacy of our insurance, legal and other reserves; the outcome of our plans for future operations, growth and services, including business development efforts, backlog, acquisitions and dispositions; our ability to maintain a workforce based upon current and anticipated workloads; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, key management and skilled employees, including from acquired businesses, and our ability to enforce any noncompetition agreements; fluctuations in fuel, maintenance, materials, labor and other costs; risks associated with volatility of our stock price or any dilution or stock price volatility that shareholders may experience in connection with shares we may issue as consideration for earn-out obligations or as purchase consideration in connection with past or future acquisitions, or as a result of other stock issuances; restrictions imposed by our credit facility, senior notes and any future loans or securities; our ability to obtain performance and surety bonds; risks related to our operations that employ a unionized workforce, including labor availability, productivity and relations, as well as risks associated with multiemployer union pension plans, including underfunding and withdrawal liabilities; risks associated with operating in or expanding into additional international markets, including risks from fluctuations in foreign currencies, foreign labor and general business conditions and risks from failure to comply with laws applicable to our foreign activities and/or governmental policy uncertainty; as well as a small number of our existing shareholders have the ability to influence major corporate decisions. We believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. Furthermore, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any of our underlying assumptions are incorrect, our actual results may differ significantly from the results that we express in, or imply by, any of our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to reflect future events or circumstances, except as required by applicable law. We qualify any and all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary factors.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the Merger, the Company intends to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a Registration Statement on Form S-4 to be filed by the Company that will include a preliminary proxy statement of the Company and also constitute a prospectus with respect to the shares of common stock of the Company to be issued in the Merger.
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
These materials (when they are available) and other documents filed with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by the Company (when they become available) may be obtained free of charge at MasTec's website at MasTec.com or (305) 406-1815. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by IEA (when they become available) may be obtained free of charge on IEA's website at iea.net or (765) 828-2653.
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SOURCE MasTec, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/mastec-inc-announces-amendment-exchange-offer-consent-solicitation/ | 2022-08-22T11:48:37Z |
Callisburg’s Bullock signs with Murray State golf
Published: Apr. 12, 2022 at 11:15 PM CDT|Updated: 32 minutes ago
CALLISBURG, Texas (KXII) - Callisburg golfer Kaden Bullock is headed to Murray State College to continue his playing career.
Kaden was a member of the Wildcats state-runner-up team in 2021, and is excited to get to the next level.
“It’s going to be a lot tougher,” Bullock said. “It’s going to get me prepared to go D-1 afterwards. It feels great. I worked really hard all four years. We had a great coach, helped me get to where I need to be.”
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/04/13/callisburgs-bullock-signs-with-murray-state-golf/ | 2022-04-13T04:47:59Z |
— Consolidated Comparable Sales Decreased 0.3%; U.S. Comparable Sales Increased 0.2% —
— Second Quarter Diluted EPS of $4.67 —
MOORESVILLE, N.C., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) today reported net earnings of $3.0 billion, in line with prior-year results, and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.67 for the quarter ended July 29, 2022, compared to diluted EPS of $4.25 in the second quarter of 2021.
Total sales for the second quarter were $27.5 billion compared to $27.6 billion in the second quarter of 2021, and comparable sales decreased 0.3%. Comparable sales for the U.S. home improvement business increased 0.2% for the second quarter. DIY sales were impacted by the shortened spring and lower demand in certain discretionary categories, which was partially offset by a 13% increase in Pro customer sales.
"I am pleased that our team drove operating margin improvement and effectively managed inventory despite lower-than-expected sales – a clear reflection of our relentless focus on operating discipline and productivity," commented Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe's chairman, president and CEO. "Our results in the first half were disproportionately impacted by our 75% DIY customer mix, which was partially offset by our double-digit Pro growth for the ninth consecutive quarter. Despite continued macro uncertainty, we remain confident in the long-term strength of the home improvement market and our ability to take share. To help our hourly front-line associates during this period of high inflation, we are awarding an incremental bonus of $55 million. I'd like to thank our associates for their continued hard work and dedication."
Capital Allocation
With a disciplined focus on its best-in-class capital allocation program, the company continues to create sustainable value for its shareholders. During the quarter, the company repurchased approximately 21.6 million shares for $4.0 billion, and it paid $524 million in dividends.
As of July 29, 2022, Lowe's operated 1,969 home improvement and hardware stores in the U.S. and Canada representing 208 million square feet of retail selling space, and it serviced approximately 212 dealer-owned stores.
The company now expects full year 2022 total and comparable sales toward the bottom end of its outlook range, and expects operating income and diluted EPS toward the top end of its outlook range. This reflects first half sales performance and expectations for continued Pro strength and improving DIY trends. It also reflects the company's disciplined expense management and benefits of its productivity initiatives.
Full Year 2022 Outlook -- a 53-week Year (comparisons to full year 2021 -- a 52-week year)
- Total sales of $97 billion to $99 billion, including the 53rd week
- 53rd week expected to increase total sales by approximately $1.0 billion to $1.5 billion
- Comparable sales expected to range from a decline of -1% to an increase of 1%
- Gross margin rate up slightly compared to prior year
- Depreciation and amortization of approximately $1.75 billion
- Operating income as a percentage of sales (operating margin) of 12.8% to 13.0%
- Interest expense of $1.1 to $1.2 billion (previously $1.0 to $1.1 billion)
- Effective income tax rate of approximately 25%
- Diluted earnings per share of $13.10 to $13.60
- Total share repurchases of approximately $12 billion
- ROIC1 of over 36%
- Capital expenditures of approximately $2 billion
A conference call to discuss second quarter 2022 operating results is scheduled for today, Wednesday, August 17, at 9 a.m. ET. The conference call will be available by webcast and can be accessed by visiting Lowe's website at ir.lowes.com and clicking on Lowe's Second Quarter 2022 Earnings Conference Call Webcast. Supplemental slides will be available approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the conference call. A replay of the call will be archived at ir.lowes.com.
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 19 million customer transactions a week in the United States and Canada. With fiscal year 2021 sales of over $96 billion, Lowe's and its related businesses operate or service nearly 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements including words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "plan", "desire", "project", "estimate", "intend", "will", "should", "could", "would", "may", "strategy", "potential", "opportunity", "outlook", "scenario", "guidance", and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve, among other things, expectations, projections, and assumptions about future financial and operating results, objectives, business outlook, priorities, sales growth, shareholder value, capital expenditures, cash flows, the housing market, the home improvement industry, demand for products and services, share repurchases, Lowe's strategic initiatives, including those relating to acquisitions and dispositions and the impact of such transactions on our strategic and operational plans and financial results. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties and we can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.
A wide variety of potential risks, uncertainties, and other factors could materially affect our ability to achieve the results either expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, changes in general economic conditions, such as volatility and/or lack of liquidity from time to time in U.S. and world financial markets and the consequent reduced availability and/or higher cost of borrowing to Lowe's and its customers, slower rates of growth in real disposable personal income that could affect the rate of growth in consumer spending, inflation and its impacts on discretionary spending and on our costs, shortages, and other disruptions in the labor supply, interest rate and currency fluctuations, home price appreciation or decreasing housing turnover, the availability of consumer credit and of mortgage financing, trade policy changes or additional tariffs, outbreaks of pandemics, fluctuations in fuel and energy costs, inflation or deflation of commodity prices, natural disasters, armed conflicts, acts of both domestic and international terrorism, and other factors that can negatively affect our customers.
Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties, risks and potential events including, but not limited to, those described in "Item 1A - Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and as may be updated from time to time in Item 1A in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or other subsequent filings with the SEC. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update these statements other than as required by law.
LOW-IR
1 Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) is calculated using a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company does not provide a reconciliation for non-GAAP estimates on a forward-looking basis where it is unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort.
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SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/lowes-reports-second-quarter-2022-sales-earnings-results/ | 2022-08-17T10:34:17Z |
Aetna CVS Health Individual and Family Plans combine the quality health insurance coverage of Aetna®, with convenient, affordable care options such as walk-in clinic care at MinuteClinic® and other participating walk-in clinics, to help members achieve their best health.
WOONSOCKET, R.I., Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aetna, a CVS Health® company (NYSE: CVS), will offer Aetna CVS Health hybrid-branded insurance through the individual insurance exchange marketplace in Georgia (in select counties), to meet consumer health needs, simply and affordably.
"With millions of Americans being uninsured or underinsured, our plans provide quality care, at an affordable price and the ability to conveniently access this care using virtual technology and in-person care in their communities," said Sandra Levy, Sr. Medical Director, Georgia, Aetna. "By bridging the gap between people and the support and services they need, we can offer a human-centered approach where, when and how they need us."
With the launch of these plans, members will have access to Aetna's comprehensive network of primary care doctors, mental health providers, specialists and hospitals. Plus, convenient and affordable care options through telehealth and participating walk-in clinics, such as MinuteClinic® – removing more barriers to accessing care.
Aetna CVS Health ACA exchange products bring together the coverage of Aetna and convenient local care options. It's health insurance done differently and features:
- Quality care with Aetna's comprehensive network of primary care doctors, specialists and hospitals
- Affordable care with plans that include in-network $0 virtual* and walk-in clinic care**
- Care on your schedule with 24/7 access to virtual care, plus nationwide access to participating walk-in clinics, including 1,100 MinuteClinic® locations
"We understand that everyone has their own unique circumstances and making health care simple, easy and affordable is how we are meeting them where they are on their journey," said Cindy Follmer, Georgia/Gulf States Market President, Aetna. "We're ensuring more Georgians – and Americans – can get access to Aetna's quality care. We are uniquely positioned to work with consumers to achieve better outcomes across our local provider and pharmacy networks along with MinuteClinic locations, and our virtual care options."
The Aetna CVS Health ACA plans are comprehensive health care plans that provide care and coverage for:
- Pediatric services, including oral and vision care
- Ambulatory patient services (outpatient services)
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Maternity and newborn care
- Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services (those that help patients acquire, maintain, or improve skills necessary for daily functioning) and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
This offering is available in select Georgia counties, including: Appling, Baker, Bartow, Bryan, Butts, Calhoun, Candler, Chatham, Clay, Clayton, Coweta, Crisp, DeKalb, Dougherty, Effingham, Evans, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Jasper, Lee, Liberty, Long, Newton, Randolph, Rockdale, Schley, Screven, Sumter, Tattnall, Terrell, Walton and Worth.
*Members may be required to pay a cost-share based on what medical services were received and the type of provider a member visits. Please consult benefit documents for more details. Includes select services. Members enrolled in qualified high-deductible health plans must meet their deductible before receiving covered non-preventative services at no cost-share. However, such services are covered at negotiated contract rates.
** Includes select walk-in clinic services. Not all walk-in clinic services are covered. Please consult benefit documents to confirm which services are included. Members enrolled in qualified high-deductible health plans must meet their deductible before receiving covered non-preventative walk-in clinic services at no cost-share. However, such services are covered at negotiated contract rates. This benefit is not available in all states. Access to MinuteClinic and other in-network walk-in clinics may vary by geography. For a complete list of participating walk-in clinics, log in to Aetna.com and use our provider search tool.
About Aetna
Aetna, a CVS Health business, serves an estimated 34 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental and behavioral health plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, visit www.aetna.com and explore how Aetna is helping to build a healthier world.
About CVS Health
CVS Health® is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues – including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health – whether that's managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system – and their personal health care – by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social media.
Media contact
Jeff Swallow
401-601-4116
swallowj@cvshealth.com
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SOURCE CVS Health | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/aetna-cvs-health-individual-family-plans-offer-better-care-access-value-georgians/ | 2022-09-08T13:42:39Z |
CEDARHURST, N.Y. , June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The securities litigation law firm of Kuznicki Law PLLC issues this alert to shareholders of Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (NYSE: IIPR, IIPR-PA), if they purchased the Company's securities between May 7, 2020 and April 13, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Shareholders have until June 24, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in the securities class action lawsuit.
Shareholders are encouraged to contact us at https://kclasslaw.com/cases/securities/nyse-iipr/https://kclasslaw.com/cases/securities/nyse-hmlp/, by calling toll-free at 1-833-835-1495 or by email (dk@kclasslaw.com).
Kuznicki Law PLLC 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:
Kuznicki Law PLLC
Daniel Kuznicki, Esq.
445 Central Avenue, Suite 344
Cedarhurst, NY 11516
Email: dk@kclasslaw.com
Phone: (347) 696-1134
Cell: (347) 690-0692
Fax: (347) 348-0967
https://kclasslaw.com
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SOURCE Kuznicki Law PLLC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/filing-deadline-kuznicki-law-pllc-announces-class-action-behalf-shareholders-innovative-industrial-properties-inc-iipr-iipr-pa/ | 2022-06-02T03:32:18Z |
Mountain West to eliminate 2-division format in football
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The Mountain West Conference will eliminate its two-division format in football for the 2023 season.
The conference announced Friday that the two teams with the highest winning percentage will compete in the league championship game. The decision came two days after the NCAA threw out requirements dictating how conferences can determine their champions and the Pac-12 scrapped its two-division format.
The two-division format will remain in place for the 2022 season.
A scheduling model and tiebreaking procedures are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Other conferences are expected to follow, most notably the 14-team Atlantic Coast Conference. The ACC is looking to implement a new scheduling model as soon as 2023.
To have a conference title game, NCAA rules previously required leagues to split into divisions if they could not play a full round-robin schedule. But those rules were scrapped by the NCAA Division I Council. The 10-member Big 12 wound up deciding to resume its title game even without divisions in part to raise the profile of the winner for playoff consideration.
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More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com.AP_Top25 | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/20/mountain-west-to-eliminate-2-division-format-in-football-2/ | 2022-05-20T21:02:14Z |
TORONTO (AP) — Jacob Hoggard, the frontman for the Canadian band Hedley, was convicted Sunday of sexual assault causing bodily harm to an Ottawa woman but acquitted of the same charge involving a teenage fan.
Hoggard, 37, was also found not guilty of sexual interference, a charge alleging the sexual touching of someone under 16, in an incident involving the same teen fan when she was 15.
The singer hugged his wife in the courtroom after the jury’s verdict was read.
Prosecutors alleged Hoggard groped the teen after a Hedley show in Toronto in April 2016, and then raped her in a Toronto-area hotel room later that year after she turned 16. They alleged he raped the Ottawa woman in a Toronto hotel in November 2016.
Both complainants testified they were left bleeding and bruised. They each said that among other things, Hoggard slapped them, spit in their mouths and called them derogatory names, and that he restricted their breathing at one point.
During the roughly month-long trial, Hoggard testified his memory of the encounters wasn’t clear, but he said that he had consensual, “passionate” sex with the complainants and that he didn’t touch the teen sexually until after she turned 16.
“I knew when she turned 16,” Hoggard testified, adding he made sure “to be responsible and not break the law. ”
He denied choking or restricting the complainants’ breathing, but said some of the other things they described were among his sexual preferences and therefore could have happened.
The jury began deliberating Tuesday and twice indicated it was deadlocked on “some” counts. Each time, jurors were asked to keep trying. They went on to replay the bulk of the testimony given by the two complainants and Hoggard and also asked several questions on legal issues, including the definition of consent.
Hoggard’s band, Hedley, rose to fame after he came in third on the reality show “Canadian Idol” in 2004. | https://cw33.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/canadian-singer-jacob-hoggard-convicted-of-sexual-assault/ | 2022-06-06T08:43:26Z |
TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Think Research Corporation (TSXV: THNK) (OTCQB: THKKF) ("Think" or the "Company") a healthcare technology company focused on transforming healthcare through knowledge-based digital health software solutions today announced the results of its August 2, 2022 Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") of shareholders.
The Company is pleased to announce the following 7 directors have been re-elected to Think's Board of Directors: Sachin Aggarwal, Cindy Gray, Eric Hoskins, Barry Reiter, Abe Schwartz, Kirstine Stewart and Richard Wells.
At the Meeting, Think's shareholders also voted in favour of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP, Chartered Accountants, as Think's auditor.
Think's shareholders ratified and approved the amendment of the Company's omnibus long-term incentive plan (the "Plan") as described in Think's management information circular dated June 22, 2022. The Plan is a rolling 10% plan, which as of August 2, 2022 has a total of 6,022,128 issuable under the Plan, of which 4,707,091 are subject to existing awards under the Plan. Final acceptance of the Plan by the TSX Venture Exchange is pending.
Think is an industry leader in delivering knowledge-based digital healthcare software solutions. The Company's focused mission is to organize the world's health knowledge so everyone gets the best care. Its evidence-based healthcare technology solutions support the clinical decision-making process, standardize care, and improve patient outcomes. For over a decade, Think's cloud-based, EMR-agnostic digital tools have empowered clinicians around the world and positively impacted millions of patients across the continuum of care – including primary physician care, acute care hospitals and surgical suites as well as community and seniors' care. Think is proud to serve as a trusted health system partner to a rapidly growing, global client base that spans five continents across more than 13,000 healthcare facilities, with a clinical audience of over 300,000 doctors, nurses and pharmacists. Visit: www.thinkresearch.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For more information: https://www.thinkresearch.com/ca/investors/
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SOURCE Think Research Corporation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/think-research-announces-results-annual-general-meeting-shareholders/ | 2022-08-10T13:23:15Z |
UK opens criminal probe into P&O Ferries over crew firings
LONDON (AP) — Britain has launched a criminal investigation has begun into P&O Ferries after the company fired almost 800 U.K.-based crew without warning so they could be replaced by cheaper contract staff. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said Friday that the Insolvency Service had opened ”formal criminal and civil investigations.” The Dubai-owned company has acknowledged it broke the law by not consulting unions before the mass firings on March 17. But it says there was no other way to stop the ferry operator from going under. The British government has vowed to reverse the sackings. It says it will introduce legislation that would force companies like P&O Ferries to pay the U.K. minimum wage at sea. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/04/01/uk-opens-criminal-probe-into-po-ferries-over-crew-firings/ | 2022-04-01T18:06:25Z |
NEW YORK, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for XELA, HOOD, NIO, AFRM, and BTU.
To see how InvestorsObserver's proprietary scoring system rates these stocks, view the InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alert by selecting the corresponding link.
- XELA: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=XELA&prnumber=060720225
- HOOD: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=HOOD&prnumber=060720225
- NIO: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=NIO&prnumber=060720225
- AFRM: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=AFRM&prnumber=060720225
- BTU: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=BTU&prnumber=060720225
(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alerts are based on our proprietary scoring methodology. Each stock is evaluated based on short-term technical, long-term technical and fundamental factors. Each of those scores is then combined into an overall score that determines a stock's overall suitability for investment.
InvestorsObserver provides patented technology to some of the biggest names on Wall Street and creates world-class investing tools for the self-directed investor on Main Street. We have a wide range of tools to help investors make smarter decisions when investing in stocks or options.
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SOURCE InvestorsObserver | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/thinking-about-buying-stock-exela-technologies-robinhood-markets-nio-affirm-or-peabody-energy/ | 2022-06-07T16:20:27Z |
R Kelly trial on whether he fixed 2008 trial set to start
CHICAGO (AP) — Jury selection begins Monday at R. Kelly’s federal trial in his hometown of Chicago, where the R&B singer faces charges that he rigged his 2008 state child pornography trial by threatening and paying off a girl who he allegedly filmed himself having sex with when he was around 30 and she was no older than 14.
Jurors acquitted Kelly on all charges in that 2008 trial, some explaining later that they felt they had no choice because the girl did not testify. The woman, now in her 30s and referred to in filings only as “Minor 1,” will be the government’s star witness in the upcoming federal trial.
Kelly, 55, goes into Chicago federal court Monday already sentenced by a New York federal judge to a 30-year prison term for a 2021 conviction on charges he used his fame to sexually abuse other young fans.
Kelly, who rose from poverty on Chicago’s South Side to become a star singer, songwriter and producer, faces multiple charges at the federal trial. They include four counts of enticement of minors for sex — one each for four other accusers. They, too, are slated to testify.
Convictions in Chicago could add decades to Kelly’s New York sentence, which he is appealing. With the New York sentence alone, Kelly will be around 80 before qualifying for early release.
Two Kelly associates, Derrel McDavid and Milton Brown, are co-defendants at the Chicago trial. McDavid is accused of helping Kelly fix the 2008 trial, while Brown is charged with receiving child pornography. Like Kelly, they have also denied any wrongdoing.
Two state cases are also still pending. One is a multiple count sex-abuse case out of Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago. The other is a solicitation case in Minnesota. No trial dates are set for either.
Minor 1 is expected to testify that she was on video having sex with Kelly. The recording was at the heart of the monthlong 2008 trial and was played for jurors almost every day.
Minor 1 first met Kelly in the late 1990s when she was in junior high school. She had tagged along to Kelly’s Chicago recording studio with her aunt, a professional singer working with Kelly. Soon after, Minor 1 told her parents Kelly was going to become her godfather.
Prosecutors say Kelly later threatened and sought to pay off Minor 1 and her parents so they wouldn’t testify at the 2008 trial. None of them did.
Double jeopardy rules bar the prosecution of someone for the same crimes they were acquitted of earlier. That doesn’t apply to the Chicago federal trial because prosecutors are alleging different crimes related to Minor 1, including obstruction of justice.
___
Follow Michael Tarm on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mtarm
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/15/r-kelly-trial-whether-he-fixed-2008-trial-set-start/ | 2022-08-15T10:38:42Z |
ATLANTA, April 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 13, 2022, Practolytics LLC ("Practolytics") provided a media statement related to a data security incident it learned of in November 2021. This subsequent statement provides additional information related to the incident.
Around November 30, 2021, Practolytics discovered that a report generated by a client containing information related to COVID testing conducted by Priority MedExpress, which would normally be deactivated following initial download, remained active. Upon discovery, Practolytics took immediate steps to deactivate and delete the download link to prevent further access or dissemination. Since the discovery of the incident, Practolytics engaged cybersecurity experts to conduct an investigation to determine the source and scope of the incident and ensure a similar incident will not occur in the future.
As part of the investigation, Practolytics confirmed that minor and adult information was accessible in the report, which may have included name, age, gender, address, date of birth, Social Security number, email address, appointment date and type, provider name, and insurance information. Between January 13 and January 18, 2022, 1,125 individuals were notified by USPS first-class mail of the incident and provided with information on how to protect their personal information. A call center has been set up with IDX to answer any questions that individuals may have about the incident and can be reached at 1-800-939-4170 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Eastern Time from Monday to Friday.
The security of information is our top priority at Practolytics, and we are committed to safeguarding data and privacy. We deeply regret any worry or inconvenience that this matter may cause.
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SOURCE Practolytics LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/06/practolytics-notice-data-security-incident/ | 2022-04-06T23:48:10Z |
Grand jury indicts man in Buffalo supermarket shooting
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Relatives of the 10 Black people massacred in a Buffalo supermarket pleaded with the nation Thursday to confront and stop racist violence, their agony pouring out in the tears of a 12-year-old child, hours after the white man accused in the killings silently faced a murder indictment in court.
Jaques “Jake” Patterson, who lost his father, covered his face with his hands as his mother spoke at a news conference. Once she finished, Jake collapsed into the arms of Rev. Al Sharpton, the veteran civil rights activist, and cried silently, using his T-shirt to wipe his tears.
WARNING: Videos used may contain graphic content.
“His heart is broken,” said his mother, Tirzah Patterson, adding that her son was having trouble sleeping and eating.
“As a mother, what am I supposed to do to help him get through this?” she said.
Her ex-husband, Heyward Patterson, a 67-year-old church deacon, was gunned down Saturday at Tops Friendly Market. So was Robin Harris’s 86-year-old mother and best friend, Ruth Whitfield, on a day when they were supposed to go see the touring Broadway show “Ain’t Too Proud.”
“That racist young man took my mother away,” Harris said, trembling and stomping her feet as she spoke.
“How dare you!” Harris shouted viscerally.
“I need this violence to stop,” she added. “We need to fix this, and we need to fix it now.”
Earlier in the day in another part of town, accused gunman Payton Gendron, 18, appeared briefly in court to hear that he was indicted in the killings.
“Payton, you’re a coward!” someone shouted the courtroom gallery as he was led away.
Gendron, whose lawyer entered a not guilty plea for him at an earlier court appearance, didn’t speak. His attorneys later declined to comment. He is being held without bail and is due back in court June 9.
Authorities are investigating the possibility of hate crime and terrorism charges against Gendron, who apparently detailed his plans for the assault and his racist motivation in hundreds of pages of writings he posted online shortly before the shooting. It was livestreamed from a helmet-mounted camera.
“We need to hold all that have aided and abetted the hate in this country accountable,” Sharpton said at the news conference outside Buffalo’s Antioch Baptist Church. The civil rights activist’s group, the National Action Network, plans to cover funeral expenses for those killed.
The carnage at the Tops supermarket was unsettling even in a nation that has become almost numb to mass shootings. Thirteen people were shot in total, all but two of them Black. Gendron’s online writings said he planned the assault after becoming infatuated with white supremacist ideology he encountered online.
“I constantly think about what could have been done,” Mark Talley said at the families’ news conference, holding a photo of his slain mother, Geraldine Talley, 62. Her fiancé, who survived the shooting, saw her get shot to death, her son said.
Inaction on the threat of white supremacist violence, Talley said, led to last weekend’s bloodshed.
“It’s like Groundhog’s Day. We’ve seen this over and over again,” he said.
Stephen Belongia, the FBI’s lead agent in Buffalo, said at a news briefing that agents were still working to piece together Gendron’s motives and how he came to his extremist views. Investigators have been examining the online documents, which included a private diary on the chat platform Discord.
The diary said Gendron planned his attack in secret, with no outside help. A half-hour before opening fire, he invited a small group of people to see his writings, Discord said.
Fifteen Discord users accepted, according to a person familiar with the investigation who was not authorized to speak about it publicly.
It wasn’t clear how quickly those people saw what he’d written or whether any tried to alert law enforcement.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has authorized the state’s attorney general, Letitia James, to investigate whether social media companies that Gendron used were liable for “providing a platform to plan and promote violence.”
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said Thursday that social media users can also play a role by speaking up when they see people posting violent or threatening content.
“You need to out these people,” he said at a briefing. “Expose those that are putting out those types of extreme views, and let us root them out.”
At the families’ news conference, Tirzah Patterson had another request.
“I need the village to help me raise and be here for my son,” she said, asking people to pray “that God gives us strength to go through this.”
“We are the village,” civil rights attorney Ben Crump chanted, encouraging the other victims’ family members to join in.
___
Associated Press writers Michael Hill in Albany, Matt O’Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, and Jennifer Peltz in New York contributed.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/20/grand-jury-indicts-man-buffalo-supermarket-shooting/ | 2022-05-20T08:22:44Z |
The new SpinWave® R5 maps homes, vacuums and mops at the same time and features edge cleaning, making life easier for busy families and pet parents
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BISSELL, a leader in cleaning solutions for your home's floor and air care, introduces the SpinWave® R5, a new intelligent robotic cleaning machine that vacuums and mops at the same time for a 2-in-1 clean.
This latest innovation from BISSELL® is a must-have for busy households, delivering a hands-free, powerful and smart clean. New to the SpinWave® family, the R5 robot has been engineered to utilize 360-degree LiDAR technology, allowing for advanced home mapping and navigation. Complete with strong suction to remove dust and debris from carpets and hard floors and spinning mop pads that scrub sealed hard floors, BISSELL® is ensuring this new tech-forward robot provides a true clean. The SpinWave® R5 also includes a specially designed edge cleaning brush that grabs debris like hair and fine dust from along baseboards.
For a true hands-free cleaning experience, the SpinWave® R5 – which is equipped with a powerful lithium-ion battery that can last up to 110 minutes* – can be paired with the BISSELL Connect App so you can start and stop cleaning anytime, from anywhere. The soft surface avoidance sensor also ensures that when in mop mode, the robot will automatically avoid carpeting to ensure rugs stay dry.
"With its two-in-one functionality and advanced technology enhancements, the SpinWave® R5 is a daily cleaning powerhouse that offers a versatile and efficient way to clean multiple floor types in your home," said Carolyn Pearson, robotics brand manager at BISSELL. "With no supervision necessary, this intelligent robotic machine produces a thorough cleaning, allowing more time to focus on other things in life."
With the SpinWave® R5, you can clean smarter and feel good about it, as every purchase of a BISSELL® product saves pets through its support of BISSELL Pet Foundation® and its mission to help homeless pets.
*In low mode on hard floors
BISSELL is committed to helping people and their pets share happy, healthy homes. From patenting the improved carpet sweeper in 1876 to debuting the revolutionary CrossWave® wet-dry cleaning machine 140 years later, BISSELL continues to thoughtfully innovate pet-inspired products for every type of home, delivering a true clean you can see, feel and smell. Family-owned with a unique dedication to and love for pets, BISSELL® is the pet-inspired homecare brand you can feel good about purchasing. Through its support of BISSELL Pet Foundation®, every purchase of a BISSELL® product helps save a homeless pet in need. Find us on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
Media Contact:
pr@bissell.com
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SOURCE BISSELL Homecare, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/new-bissell-robot-combines-true-clean-with-ultimate-convenience/ | 2022-09-12T17:16:48Z |
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