text stringlengths 102 99.6k | url stringlengths 31 426 | crawl_date timestamp[us, tz=UTC]date 2022-04-01 00:29:49 2022-09-19 04:34:15 |
|---|---|---|
Millions of inaccurate Equifax credit scores sent to lenders
(Gray News) - A tech issue is to blame for millions of faulty credit scores being served up to Americans looking for a loan.
Equifax admits inaccurate data was sent out during a three-week period earlier this year, between March 17 and April 6.
These false credit scores resulted in some people getting higher interest rates and others being denied.
Officials at Equifax said the coding issue that caused the problem is now resolved.
In a press release, Equifax claimed the bad information only resulted in a “small number” receiving a different credit decision.
“Our data shows that less than 300,000 consumers experienced a score shift of 25 points or more. While the score may have shifted, a score shift does not necessarily mean that a consumer’s credit decision was negatively impacted. We are collaborating with our customers to determine the actual impact to consumers,” the company said.
Equifax handles credit information for more than 200 million consumers in the U.S.
In 2017 Equifax was hacked, resulting in the leak of sensitive data for close to 150 million Americans.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. CNN Newsource contributed to this report. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/03/millions-inaccurate-equifax-credit-scores-sent-lenders/ | 2022-08-03T17:39:17Z |
NEW YORK, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lument Securities (Lument) recently advised Stonerise Healthcare (Stonerise), the leading skilled nursing and transitional care provider in West Virginia, on its sale to a group consisting of a New York-based real estate investment firm and an operating partner —CommuniCare Health Services.
Stonerise was founded in 2009. Its integrated network of care includes transitional and skilled nursing care, therapy, home health, and hospice services, which it provides throughout West Virginia and in Southeast Ohio. The skilled nursing portfolio of 18 owned and operated facilities across West Virginia totals 1,955 licensed beds, including a new 90-private-bed facility set to open in late 2022.
The sale of Stonerise's businesses in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and a therapy company closed on June 30. The sale of the home health and hospice agencies, institutional special needs plan, and development project is expected to close upon receipt of customary regulatory approvals.
Managing Director Laca Wong-Hammond and Associate Director Dominic Porretta led the transaction for Lument Securities, which served as exclusive financial advisor to Stonerise. The transaction is the capstone of a decade-long U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA) financing relationship between Lument and Stonerise, which was led by Managing Director Thomas Gale.
"As we assessed our strategic alternatives, we gained confidence that Lument's M&A team had the depth of experience and proven track record to continue serving our company as we scripted the next chapter," said Larry Pack, co-founder and CEO of Stonerise. "This transaction achieved all of our objectives including a confidential process, stability for ongoing operations, and a solution for many ancillary businesses. We knew the magnitude of our statewide franchise, coupled with our expectations on value and a smooth transition for our workforce, required superior execution – our investment bankers delivered."
"This transaction is an ideal example of our ability to bring the full array of expertise for closely-held businesses, including creating tax-advantaged exit structures, leveraging our buyer relationships, and delivering results in-spite of volatile capital markets and operating environments," said Wong-Hammond. "Together, we pushed the limits to achieve an extremely strong outcome for Stonerise."
ORIX Real Estate Capital Holdings, LLC, d/b/a Lument, is a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation USA. Lument is a national leader in commercial real estate finance. As the combined organization of legacy industry experts Hunt Real Estate Capital, Lancaster Pollard, and RED Capital Group, Lument delivers a comprehensive set of capital solutions customized for investors in multifamily, affordable housing, and seniors housing and healthcare real estate. Lument is a Fannie Mae DUS®, Freddie Mac Optigo®, FHA, and USDA lender. In addition, Lument offers a suite of proprietary commercial lending, real estate investment sales, investment banking, and investment management solutions. Lument has approximately 600 employees in over 25 offices across the United States. Securities, investment banking, and advisory services are provided through OREC Securities, LLC, d/b/a Lument Securities, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are provided by OREC Investment Management, LLC, d/b/a Lument Investment Management. OREC Investment Management is registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information, visit www.lument.com.
Tyler Howard | Associate Director
513-403-1911 | tyler.howard@lument.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Lument | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/lument-securities-advises-stonerise-healthcare-sale/ | 2022-07-19T19:32:50Z |
The trial over Vanessa Bryant's lawsuit against Los Angeles County officials over photos of Kobe Bryant's fatal helicopter crash is set to begin on August 10. Bryant is pictured here in Hollywood in June 2021.
A jury of six women and four men was selected Wednesday in Vanessa Bryant's lawsuit against Los Angeles County over gruesome photos taken of the fatal helicopter crash that killed her husband Kobe, daughter Gianna and seven others.
Opening statements are set to begin in the trial Wednesday afternoon. The trial is expected to last about two weeks, and witnesses are likely to include Vanessa Bryant and LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
The jurors selected include a nun, someone who works in TV production for NBC Universal, a college student, a real estate investor, a pharmaceutical researcher, a computer science professor and a restaurant host.
Of the 22 total potential jurors questioned, some mentioned having "strong feelings" about Vanessa and/or Kobe Bryant. At least one potential juror mentioned "strong feelings" about Villanueva. None of these people were selected.
The trial comes more than two years after the retired NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
In the federal lawsuit, Vanessa Bryant claimed that photos of the January 2020 crash were shared by county fire and sheriff's department employees in settings irrelevant to the investigation, including at a bar. Filed in September 2020, the lawsuit seeks undisclosed damages, claiming civil rights violations, negligence, emotional distress and violation of privacy.
However, the county has argued that the "severe emotional and mental injuries" were not caused by the county or the photos, but by the fatal crash itself. The plaintiffs have not seen the crash site photos, which "were never publicly disseminated," the county argued.
In March 2020, LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said all of those photos had been deleted and that eight sheriff's deputies were facing administrative action.
The helicopter passengers were heading from Orange County to the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks for a youth basketball game in which Bryant was to coach and Gianna and two others aboard were to play.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the helicopter pilot pushed the limits of bad weather flying rules, climbed into clouds, became disoriented about the helicopter's position relative to the horizon and made a descending left turn into a cloud-obscured hillside.
Bryant played his entire professional career with the Los Angeles Lakers and won five NBA championships before his retirement in April 2016.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an invasion-of-privacy bill called the "Kobe Bryant Act" in September 2020 that makes it illegal for first responders to share photos of a dead person at a crime scene "for any purpose other than an official law enforcement purpose." The misdemeanor crime is punishable by up to $1,000 per violation.
Woodstock was a legendary festival providing three days of peace and music. Stacker breaks down all the elements that made up the summer festival of '69, from the number of porta-potties to the total injuries sustained from guitars. Click for more.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/jury-selected-in-vanessa-bryants-case-against-la-county-over-photos-of-kobes-helicopter-crash/article_24e90560-2581-5476-90e8-1e77ef4e4e93.html | 2022-08-10T20:32:43Z |
CAMERON — Two people received minor injuries after a helicopter crashed Tuesday afternoon at Cameron Municipal Airport, police said.
The incident occurred at about 2:55 p.m. at the airport, about two miles north of the Milam County seat.
A pilot and a passenger were injured, Cameron Police said.
After the crash, a man rushed to the helicopter to extinguish a small grass fire as fuel leaked from the damaged helicopter.
Texas Department of Public Safety is investigation as well as the Federal Aviation Agency, officials said.
Responding agencies included Cameron Police Department, the Cameron Volunteer Fire Department, and the Milam County Sheriff’s Office. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_e3d22d62-e1f3-11ec-b0ae-83cdef1d9793.html | 2022-06-01T22:36:28Z |
Which Green Goblin action figure is best?
Green Goblin is the arch-nemesis of Spider-Man. If you’ve watched a Spider-Man movie in the past decade, you’ll recognize his green face and fast-moving glider. He’s best known as the Halloween supervillain for his use of pumpkin bombs and other spooky-themed weapons. Of all of Spider-Man’s nemeses, Green Goblin seems to be the one fans have feared the most. As you can imagine, many of the Spider-Man action figure sets include one of the Green Goblin and his pumpkin friends.
The best Green Goblin action figure is this one from Marvel Comics and Hasbro. It includes a very detailed look at the green villain and includes his iconic steel glider. All of the colors and costume accessories are exact replicas of the original Green Goblin suit.
What to know before you buy a Green Goblin action figure
Green Goblin
Green Goblin and Spider-Man go way back. In fact, Norman Osborn, Green Goblin’s real-life persona, is the father of Peter Parker’s best friend, Harry Osborn. He had the original goal to rule the crime world of New York City, Spider-Man’s hometown. During one of his antics, he got into an epic battle with Spider-Man which resulted in the death of Gwen Stacy, Spider-Man’s love interest. From then on, the two would become mortal enemies. There are also some elements of jealousy and envy from Green Goblin, as he looks at Spider-Man as a successful superhero and deep down knows he will never achieve such fame.
Spidey and His Amazing Friends
“Spidey and His Amazing Friends” is a unique take on the Spider-Man franchise. This children’s TV show airs on the Disney Junior channel and follows a younger version of the superhero. Spidey and his friends go on adventures throughout New York City and battle all the classic villains, such as Doc Ock, Rhino and, of course, Green Goblin. Spidey’s friends include Miles Morales as Spin and Gwen Stacy as Ghost Spider.
Bend and Flex
Bend and Flex is a series of toys released by Hasbro in partnership with Marvel Comics. They feature a slew of comic book characters, such as Captain Marvel, Captain America, Thor, Hulk and Black Panther. All in all, there are over 25 different Marvel superheroes included in this series. In the Spider-Man universe you can find Spidey himself, along with Miles Morales, Ghost Spider, Dock Ock and Green Goblin. These toys are designed with rubber pieces at each articulation point, which allow you to create unique poses for your character.
What to look for in a quality Green Goblin action figure
Pumpkins
Green Goblin has a penchant for Halloween. All of his weapons are based around this scary holiday including his weapons of choice, pumpkin bombs. It’s unclear why Green Goblin has such an affinity for Halloween, but nonetheless, it’s stuck with him to this day. His infamous pumpkin bombs have been used on many different occasions to fight his superhero enemies. These small pumpkins can fit in his hand to be thrown at Spider-Man. He’s even created upgraded versions, which have wings and fly remotely. If you’re looking for the best-quality Green Goblin action figure, be sure that it comes with pumpkin accessories.
Goblin Glider
Another accessory Green Goblin can’t fight without is his Goblin Glider. This steel device requires him to stand up and ride it like a surfboard, although instead of standing sideways, he’s facing forward. The glider is capable of reaching speeds of 90 mph. Suffice it to say, Spider-Man has had a difficult time keeping up with it over the years. The Goblin Glider can be found in several sets of action figures, which also act as a stand to keep him upright.
Different faces
The Green Goblin isn’t always wearing a spooky green mask and terrorizing Spider-Man. At times, he can be found trying to blend in with regular society as Norman Osborn. Some Green Goblin action figures will come with a swappable head piece which shows the human face of Osborn. With these accessories you can easily switch between roles. Remember, Green Goblin and Spider-Man both know each other outside of their super personas.
How much you can expect to spend on a Green Goblin action figure
Green Goblin action figures cost between $20-$88.
Green Goblin action figure FAQ
Which stores sell Green Goblin action figures?
A. Hasbro toys are sold in several brick-and-mortar stores, such as Target, Walmart, BestBuy and JCPenny. Be sure to check with your local store to ensure they have the Marvel Legends Green Goblin action figure in stock.
Should you keep your Green Goblin action figures in their original packaging?
A. Keeping your Green Goblin action figure in its original packaging is very important if you are a collector. Many collectors won’t find much value in a toy that’s been played with and could potentially have scuffs or broken pieces. Keeping your figure in its package shows that it’s in perfect condition for resale.
What’s the best Green Goblin action figure to buy?
Top Green Goblin action figure
Marvel Comics Green Goblin Action Figure
What you need to know: This is a highly detailed Green Goblin action figure that comes straight from Hasbro and Marvel Comics
What you’ll love: This officially licensed Green Goblin figure stands 6 inches tall and features several points of articulation on the elbows, shoulders, waist and legs. It comes with a swappable face of his alter ego, Norman Osborn. There’s also a glider and pumpkin bomb accessories are included.
What you should consider: This is part of a series of Marvel Legends, which are each sold separately.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Green Goblin action figure for the money
Hasbro Bend and Flex Green Goblin
What you need to know: This action figure is made to be bent in different directions for fun action poses.
What you’ll love: This toy takes articulation to the next level with a series of bendable pieces at the legs and arms. These rubber pieces let you adjust Green Goblin in a nearly unlimited number of poses for the ultimate play experience. There are also three orange pumpkin bombs and a transparent yellow platform for him to stand on.
What you should consider: This set does not come with the Green Goblin’s glider.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Spidey and His Amazing Friends Green Goblin Toy
What you need to know: This adorable Green Goblin toy comes from the Disney TV series “Spidey and His Amazing Friends.”
What you’ll love: Green Goblin is less intimidating in this children’s action figure, which shows Spidey’s nemesis smiling and holding a single orange pumpkin. He comes with a purple glider, which matches his purple suit and he stands 4 inches tall.
What you should consider: This figure is best for small children between 3 and 5 years old.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Jordan Beliles 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/toys-games-br/action-figures-playsets-br/best-green-goblin-action-figure/ | 2022-06-08T23:44:34Z |
Scott to Take the Stage at the Premier Nightclub Starting Sept. 17
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Travis Scott announces "Road to Utopia" – a mind-bending, first-of-its-kind nightclub residency experience with Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World Las Vegas. Travis brings an unmatched energy and singular creative force to the property's list of iconic residents on what promises to be a spectacle only suited for Las Vegas. The first of seven shows begin on September 17, 2022.
Scott has quickly become a cultural phenomenon as he changed the course of hip-hop with a procession of groundbreaking albums. The residency at Zouk Nightclub will feature top hits guests know and love – and just may feature some previews of upcoming tracks. As Zouk Group continues to change the face of Las Vegas nightlife, Scott was an obvious choice to elevate the experience and offer something guests have not yet seen.
Zouk Nightclub pushes the boundaries of live music as the most technologically advanced nightlife venue in Las Vegas. The venue features an unrivaled, high-technology experience that transforms based on the evening's performing artist, including the venue's LED Mothership and shifting ceiling. Zouk Group and Resorts World Las Vegas previously announced their partnership in November 2020, bringing multiple entertainment and lifestyle concepts to the over 3,500-room integrated resort, the first ground-up property to open on the Las Vegas Strip in over a decade.
"Travis Scott was a seamless fit for the Zouk Nightclub roster," said Andrew Li, CEO of Zouk Group. "His electric performances will pair perfectly with our immersive atmosphere, bringing our guests an unmatched show unlike anything else they can find in Las Vegas. We can't wait to kick off his residency and continue to amplify our talent lineup."
"From his music and fashion to unprecedented brand collaborations, Travis Scott is a one-of-a-kind, multi-talented artist. His residency will bring a new level of energy to Resorts World Las Vegas and add to the property's diverse list of entertainment and nightlife offerings," said Ronn Nicolli, Chief Marketing Officer of Resorts World Las Vegas.
Current dates on sale to the public are:
- Sept. 17 and Oct. 15
Additional performance dates and ticket information to be announced soon. For updates, visit zoukgrouplv.com or follow Zouk Group Las Vegas on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.
The future depends on Travis Scott. Never one to follow, the Houston native asserts himself as not only a leader in music, but also in fashion, culture, and beyond. The diamond-certified eight-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist, designer, style icon, actor, producer, and Cactus Jack record label founder has changed the course of hip-hop with a procession of groundbreaking albums and conversation-starting moves. Indicative of his impact, he has ignited the Super Bowl, starred in his own NETFLIX documentary LOOK MOM I CAN FLY, and even scored a place on President Barack Obama's Playlist. So far, Travis has collected 40 billion total streams and counting in addition dozens of gold, platinum, and multiplatinum certifications around the globe. Following 2015's platinum-selling Rodeo, he has notched three #1 debuts on the Billboard Top 200, including the platinum Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight [2016], quadruple-platinum ASTROWORLD [2018], and JACKBOYS [2019]. He has also ignited four #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including the RIAA diamond-selling "SICKO MODE." He set the precedent for online performances with his Fortnite event ASTRONOMICAL, breaking records, making history, and drawing an audience of tens of millions. Giving back, Travis launched the Cactus Jack Foundation as a 501(c)3 with a mission to uplift Houston youth through toy drives, scholarship programs to HBCU college students, and fulfilling expenses for education and creative endeavors.
Zouk Group is a global lifestyle company with establishments that span across nightlife, entertainment, and dining sectors. Its namesake, Zouk, is a 29-year-old nightlife brand known for pushing boundaries of dance music and propelling Singapore on the global map. Ranked Asia's best club on DJ Mag's annual Top 100 Clubs list since 2017 and top globally since 2010, Zouk is Singapore's foremost clubbing institution, delivering the freshest in dance music across genres, state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, a constant roster of stellar international, regional and local residents, and top-notch service and hospitality.
Zouk has since evolved into an all-encompassing global lifestyle brand that has expanded into the food & beverage sector with new brands like social gaming bar RedTail, vibe dining restaurant FUHU, and more concepts in the pipeline. Aside from club offerings, Zouk Group also owns ZoukOut, Asia's premier dawn-to-dusk music festival featuring world class DJs, which attracts a cosmopolitan mix of locals and tourists within and beyond Asia to the beachfront of Singapore. Zouk Group oversees club and lifestyle entities in Singapore, Genting Highlands in Malaysia, on board the Genting-owned cruise ship and Las Vegas. The company also owns the franchise to Five Guys in Singapore and Malaysia.
Resorts World Las Vegas was developed by Genting Berhad, a publicly traded Malaysian corporation registered with the Nevada Gaming Commission. The company has affiliated operations in the Americas, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the Bahamas. In partnership with Hilton, Resorts World Las Vegas integrates three of Hilton's premium brands into its resort campus, including Las Vegas Hilton, the resort's full-service brand; Conrad Las Vegas, Hilton's lifestyle luxury brand; and LXR, Hilton's network of independent luxury properties, which operates as Crockfords Las Vegas, Genting's internationally renowned ultra-luxury brand. Resorts World Las Vegas features 3,506 guest rooms and suites, an innovative, next-generation gaming floor, world-class food and beverage options, a 5,000-capacity theatre, distinct nightlife venues, a curated retail collection of designer and boutique shops and more. The integrated resort weaves time-honored traditions of the international Resorts World brand into the fabric of Las Vegas, introducing a bold, fresh take on hospitality to the city with stunning design, progressive technology and world-class guest service. Resorts World Las Vegas is Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED™ with Forbes Travel Guide, a verification that ensures the resort has appropriate health safety procedures in place. For more information, visit rwlasvegas.com or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
CONTACT: Emily Kjesbo, resortsworld@abmc-us.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Resorts World Las Vegas | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/travis-scott-announces-road-utopia-residency-with-zouk-nightclub-resorts-world-las-vegas/ | 2022-08-01T16:04:32Z |
Sarah Cossa and Diane Gallagher will serve as senior vice presidents and co-chief people officers
KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- American Century Investments has promoted Sarah Cossa and Diane Gallagher to senior vice presidents and co-chief people officers of the firm. Working from American Century's New York City office, Cossa will serve as the HR representative on the Management Committee and lead talent acquisition, HR business partnerships, HR operations and analytics and compensation and benefits. Gallagher, based at the firm's global headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., will be a member of the Expanded Management Committee and lead employee experience and relations, learning and development and community engagement. Together, Cossa and Gallagher will lead the HR strategy as the firm attracts, retains and energizes its world-class talent and supports the development of strong workplace practices designed to further the global asset management firm's client-centric and impact-driven culture.
"Sarah and Diane are complementary leaders, independently respected and admired among our colleagues and throughout the industry. Together, their unique backgrounds and breadth and depth of professional experience make them the ideal partners to move our culture forward," said Jonathan Thomas, president and chief executive officer. "After our lengthy interview and selection process with members of our executive and investment leadership, Board of Director representatives, and our external search firm, we came to a resounding, unanimous decision to appoint Sarah and Diane."
Over the last several months, Cossa and Gallagher navigated the firm and its employees through several major milestones, including the reopening of the firm's facilities, the launch of its hybrid "connected workplace" model and the reimagination of the James E. Stowers Award and recognition event for employees.
Sarah Cossa, senior vice president and co-chief people officer
Cossa joined American Century Investments in 2021 as vice president, head of human resources business partnerships. Her 20 years of business and human resources experience in the financial services and investment management industries have included roles at Citigroup, Capital Group, Knight Capital Group and Allianz Global Investors.
Cossa earned her bachelor's in economics from Drew University and holds HR data and finance management certificates from Cornell University. She has held FINRA series 7, 9, 10, 63, 65 licenses and a NJ life insurance license.
Diane Gallagher, senior vice president and co-chief people officer
Gallagher originally joined American Century Investments in 1995, most recently serving as vice president, head of employee experience. Previously, she led product marketing and participant communications and education for J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services.
She holds a bachelor's in communication studies from University of Detroit Mercy, where she graduated magna cum laude. She is a Board member of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Children's Mercy Hospital and the Center for Practical Bioethics. She holds FINRA series 7, 63 and 24 licenses.
About American Century Investments
American Century Investments is a leading global asset manager focused on delivering investment results and building long-term client relationships while supporting breakthrough medical research. Founded in 1958, American Century Investments' 1,400 employees serve financial professionals, institutions, corporations and individual investors from offices in New York; London; Frankfurt; Hong Kong; Sydney; Santa Clara, Calif.; and Kansas City, Mo. Jonathan S. Thomas is president and chief executive officer, and Victor Zhang serves as chief investment officer. Delivering investment results to clients enables American Century Investments to distribute over 40% of its dividends to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, a 500-person, nonprofit basic biomedical research organization. The Institute owns more than 40% of American Century Investments and has received dividend payments of $1.87 billion since 2000. For more information about American Century Investments, visit www.americancentury.com.
©2022 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE American Century Investments | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/american-century-names-co-chief-people-officers/ | 2022-07-20T15:33:04Z |
The first billionaire ever is thought to be Standard Oil magnate John D. Rockefeller back in 1916, or perhaps Henry Ford in 1925. Fast forward some 100 years to 2021: as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to rage, a record-breaking 660 people became billionaires globally, growing the previous year’s number by 30%. While the U.S. is home to the most billionaires out of any other country, Americans are somewhat split in their feelings on the billionaire class. According to Pew Research Center data, people in the U.S. became somewhat more critical of billionaires between 2020 and 2021. Although support for individual billionaires like Elon Musk or Bill Gates is relatively strong, many Americans view the ultra-rich—as a group rather than as individuals—negatively. Meanwhile, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is projected to become the world’s first trillionaire by 2026.
The U.S.’s wealthiest billionaires are mostly concentrated within just a couple of industries: finance and investments, and technology. Other wealthy sectors include food and drink, fashion and retail, and media and entertainment. Stacker compiled a list of the richest billionaires that are residents of Texas, using data from Forbes. Billionaires are ranked by net worth as of May 31. Forbes lists 67 billionaires in Texas.
#20. Bert Beveridge
– Net worth: $5.0 billion (#533 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Austin, Texas
– Source of wealth: vodka, Self Made
#19. W. Herbert Hunt
– Net worth: $5.2 billion (#513 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Dallas, Texas
– Source of wealth: oil
#18. Robert Bass
– Net worth: $5.2 billion (#511 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Fort Worth, Texas
– Source of wealth: oil, investments
#17. Ken Fisher
– Net worth: $5.3 billion (#502 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Dallas, Texas
– Source of wealth: money management, Self Made
#16. Tilman Fertitta
– Net worth: $5.7 billion (#454 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Houston, Texas
– Source of wealth: Houston Rockets, entertainment, Self Made
#15. Robert F. Smith
– Net worth: $6.7 billion (#366 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Austin, Texas
– Source of wealth: private equity, Self Made
#14. Ray Lee Hunt
– Net worth: $6.9 billion (#346 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Dallas, Texas
– Source of wealth: oil, real estate
#13. Milane Frantz
– Net worth: $7.0 billion (#341 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Houston, Texas
– Source of wealth: pipelines
#12. Scott Duncan
– Net worth: $7.0 billion (#341 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Houston, Texas
– Source of wealth: pipelines
#11. Dannine Avara
– Net worth: $7.0 billion (#341 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Houston, Texas
– Source of wealth: pipelines
#10. Randa Duncan Williams
– Net worth: $7.0 billion (#340 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Houston, Texas
– Source of wealth: pipelines
#9. Richard Kinder
– Net worth: $7.9 billion (#281 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Houston, Texas
– Source of wealth: pipelines, Self Made
#8. Ann Walton Kroenke
– Net worth: $8.4 billion (#244 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Electra, Texas
– Source of wealth: Walmart
#7. Jeffery Hildebrand
– Net worth: $9.2 billion (#217 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Houston, Texas
– Source of wealth: oil, Self Made
#6. Andrew Beal
– Net worth: $9.6 billion (#207 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Dallas, Texas
– Source of wealth: banks, real estate, Self Made
#5. Stanley Kroenke
– Net worth: $10.7 billion (#182 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Electra, Texas
– Source of wealth: sports, real estate, Self Made
#4. Jerry Jones
– Net worth: $12.4 billion (#153 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Dallas, Texas
– Source of wealth: Dallas Cowboys, Self Made
#3. Michael Dell
– Net worth: $57.2 billion (#23 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Austin, Texas
– Source of wealth: Dell computers, Self Made
#2. Alice Walton
– Net worth: $60.4 billion (#20 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Fort Worth, Texas
– Source of wealth: Walmart
#1. Elon Musk
– Net worth: $229.7 billion (#1 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Austin, Texas
– Source of wealth: Tesla, SpaceX, Self Made
You may also like: Where people in Texas are moving to most | https://cw33.com/news/local/richest-billionaires-in-texas-2/ | 2022-06-01T21:32:17Z |
Gallery: Blood Moon captured by Suncoast viewers
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Suncoast residents were treated to a rare lunar event Sunday night -- a total eclipse.
The celestial action unfolded Sunday night into early Monday morning, with the moon bathed in the reflected red and orange hues of Earth’s sunsets and sunrises for about 90 minutes, one of the longest totalities of the decade. It was the first so-called blood moon in a year.
A total eclipse occurs when Earth passes directly between the moon and the sun, and casts a shadow on our constant, cosmic companion. The moon was 225,000 miles away at the peak of the eclipse — around midnight on the Suncoast.
There’ll be another lengthy total lunar eclipse in November, but won’t be visible in North America. The next one for us to view won’t occur until 2025.
Here are some images captured by viewers:
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/16/gallery-blood-moon-captured-by-suncoast-viewers/ | 2022-05-16T12:43:42Z |
Tight Pennsylvania GOP Senate race still too close to call; Mastriano wins gov nod
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Donald Trump’s preferred candidate in Pennsylvania’s Senate Republican primary was essentially tied with a more traditional rival, while his pick for governor notched a commanding victory Tuesday as the former president worked to expand his hold on the GOP.
Doug Mastriano was already surging in the governor’s race when Trump issued an endorsement over the weekend supporting the far-right state senator. But Mehmet Oz, the celebrity heart surgeon endorsed by Trump, was locked with former hedge fund manager David McCormick in a race that was too early to call Wednesday morning.
Pennsylvania law requires recounts when the margin between the top two candidates is 0.5 percentage points or less. With just a few hundred votes separating Oz and McCormick, the result may not be clear for several days.
Tuesday marked the busiest night of the nascent primary season, with contests also being waged in North Carolina, Kentucky, Oregon and Idaho. Both parties are choosing candidates to enter the fall general election, when control of Congress, governor’s mansions and key elections posts are up for grabs.
In the perennial battleground of Pennsylvania, Mastriano’s victory was notable for what it signaled about the direction of the GOP. With the future of abortion rights in question at the U.S. Supreme Court, Mastriano has said he supports banning the procedure from conception, with no exceptions.
He has also promoted Trump’s lies about nonexistent, widespread voter fraud costing him the 2020 election and was outside the U.S. Capitol when a mob overran it during the deadly 2021 insurrection. He’s also been subpoenaed by the House committee investigating the Capitol riot following his efforts to name a slate of alternate Electoral College electors in Trump’s favor.
If Mastriano were to win in the fall, he would shape how elections are conducted in Pennsylvania — where the governor appoints the secretary of state, who oversees how elections are run. He has pledged to take the extraordinary step of requiring voters to “re-register” to vote, a move that would almost certainly encounter legal hurdles.
Such positions could repel critical moderate voters in the general election. But speaking to his supporters on Tuesday, Mastriano denied he was an extremist.
“They like to call people who stand on the Constitution far right and extreme. I repudiate that. That is crap. That is absolutely not true,” Mastriano said, adding that it was Democrats who have “gone extreme.”
Such rhetoric was appealing to some Republican voters. In the town of Hamburg, Pennsylvania, Stacy Steinly, a 51-year-old school bus assistant, said she chose Mastriano because “he was sticking by President Trump and saying that everything was fraudulent.”
“Everything he was talking about was making sense,” said Steinly, who wore a black T-shirt that said “Biden is not my president (or anyone else’s) based on legal votes.”
Mastriano, a retired Army colonel, will face Democratic state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who was unopposed in his primary.
Trump scored an easier victory early in the night when U.S. Rep. Ted Budd clinched the GOP nomination for Senate in North Carolina. Trump’s surprise endorsement last year lifted Budd, a little known congressman, over better-known rivals, including a former governor. He quickly pivoted to a general election message focused on breaking Democratic control of Washington.
“Under Joe Biden, America is woke and broke,” he said at a victory rally. “We need to put the brakes on this agenda for the sake of hardworking North Carolinians.”
Budd voted against certifying of the results of the 2020 election. He will face Democratic former state supreme court justice Cheri Beasley, who is aiming to become North Carolina’s first Black senator. She declared at a victory party that “this is our moment.”
“We have the power to restore our values to our government in Washington,” she said. “In this moment, we have the power to protect our rights.”
In another of the night’s closely watched races, progressive John Fetterman easily won Pennsylvania’s Democratic Senate primary, just days after a stroke sent him to the hospital.
The 52-year-old Fetterman is known for his hulking, 6-foot-8 stature and his tattoos that helped him build a political persona as an outsider. That, combined with his support of top progressive causes such as universal, government-funded health care, was key in his easily dispatching Democratic rival U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, a moderate in the mold of President Joe Biden.
“Fetterman’s victory shows that voters are fed up and want fighters. This should be a wake up call to the entire Democratic Party establishment to fight harder against the fascists and those who obstruct a popular agenda,” Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said in a statement.
Fetterman’s win was a positive for progressives after a series of losses in top races around the country. But Biden downplayed any coming squabbles between his party’s left flank and traditional establishment, tweeting that electing Fetterman to the Senate “would be a big step forward for Pennsylvania’s working people.”
Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor, Fetterman could enter the general election campaign facing questions about his health. Following his stroke, he cast an emergency ballot from the hospital and tweeted Tuesday that he’d successfully undergone surgery to install a pacemaker. He said he was “on track for a full recovery.”
And Fetterman will likely face scrutiny over a 2013 incident when, shotgun in hand, he confronted a Black man because he suspected the man was involved in gunfire nearby. The man, Christopher Miyares, was unarmed and said in a TV interview that he had been jogging when Fetterman, who is white, pulled up in his pickup and pointed the shotgun at him. Fetterman has maintained he didn’t know Miyares’ race at the time of the pursuit, denied pointing the shotgun at him and said it wasn’t loaded.
Fetterman’s opponent in the fall wasn’t yet clear. Oz, the celebrity surgeon, and McCormick, who resigned in January as the CEO of Bridgewater Associates, one of the largest hedge funds in the world, were in an exceptionally tight race. Commentator Kathy Barnette, who had appeared to be gaining late momentum in the race, was trailing.
“We’re not gonna have a result tonight,” Oz said shortly before midnight, before vowing to Trump, “I will make you proud.”
McCormick struck a similar tone, saying mail-in ballots have yet to be counted: “We’re not going to have resolution tonight.”
Barnette, meanwhile, may have had her rise blunted by criticism from Trump. In a statement going into the election, he said, “Kathy Barnette will never be able to win the general election against the radical left Democrats.’
Elsewhere, one setback for Trump came when North Carolina Republican incumbent Rep. Madison Cawthorn, who was dogged by a series of high-profile blunders, lost to state Sen. Chuck Edwards. Trump posted this week that Cawthorn “made some foolish mistakes, which I don’t believe he’ll make again” and added, “let’s give Madison a second chance!”
Idaho Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, whose bid to unseat Gov. Brad Little in that state’s Republican primary was backed by Trump, also faltered.
Trump-endorsed candidates have won most Republican primaries around the U.S., but the former president’s record is not perfect. In addition to Tuesday’s defeats, last week saw Trump’s choice for Nebraska governor, Charles Herbster, lose to traditional GOP establishment choice Jim Pillen.
___
Associated Press writer Michael Rubinkam contributed from Hamburg, Pennsylvania.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/18/tight-pennsylvania-gop-senate-race-still-too-close-call-mastriano-wins-gov-nod/ | 2022-05-18T13:30:00Z |
BEIJING, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday inspected the city of Meishan, southwest China's Sichuan Province.
In the morning, he visited the village of Yongfeng and San Su Ci, the memorial temple and former residence of Su Xun and his two sons Su Shi and Su Zhe, three literary masters of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).
Xi learnt about local efforts in advancing high-standard farmland development, boosting grain production, promoting rural revitalization, maintaining effective COVID-19 prevention and control, and protecting historical and cultural heritage.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE CCTV+ | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/cctv-xi-inspects-southwestern-chinese-city-meishan/ | 2022-06-09T10:34:52Z |
Schaffner Will Oversee G1 2022 Drilling Program & Feasibility Study Field Season
PFS on track for completion in 2Q 2022
VANCOUVER, BC, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Graphite One Inc. (TSXV: GPH) (OTCQX: GPHOF) ("Graphite One", "G1" or the "Company"), developing a complete domestic U.S. supply chain for advanced graphite materials, is pleased to announce the appointment of mining veteran Mike Schaffner as Senior Vice President, Mining of the Company's wholly–owned Alaskan subsidiary, Graphite One (Alaska) Inc.,effective July 1, 2022.
Prior to joining G1, Mr. Schaffner worked at Ambler Mining, where he oversaw engineering work for the Arctic pre-feasibility study and managed the metallurgical test work program for the company's drilling program. He joined Ambler after 15 years with Newmont Mining, rising through positions of increasing responsibility to the level of General Manager at the Carlin Gold Mine, Cripple Creek and Victor Mines, managing operating budgets in excess of $750 million and a workforce of 1200 employees. Mr. Schaffner began his mining career with Echo Bay Mining and Coeur Mining at operations in Nevada.
Mr. Schaffner's operations are three-time winners of the National Mining Association's Sentinels of Safety award, recognizing the U.S.'s safest mines for continuous injury-free operations. He holds two patents related to bio-oxidation heap leaching. He received his bachelor's degree in Geologic Engineering from the Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology.
"G1 will benefit greatly from Mike's long record of superior performance in mining operations," said Anthony Huston, CEO of Graphite One. "Mike's hallmark has been operational excellence, while maintaining a strong working relationship within local communities and regulatory agencies. He's the right addition to our team as we step up to the next level."
"I'm excited to join the Graphite One team as the company moves into its next phase of development," Mr. Schaffner said. "I've been involved at every stage in the development process, from design to start-up, into operation and closure. I'm ready to help the team realize G1's tremendous potential of becoming America's first US graphite mining operation since 1990."
The Company also announces that Stan Foo, COO of Graphite One (Alaska) Inc., will retire, effective July 1, 2022. "The Board of Directors sincerely thanks Stan for his dedication to Graphite One," said Doug Smith, Executive Chair of Graphite One. "His sound guidance – and particularly his commitment to making Graphite One a good neighbor of our local communities – is a testament to his leadership these past four years. We wish him the best in his well-earned retirement."
With the United States currently 100 per cent import dependent for natural graphite, Graphite One is planning a complete U.S.-based, advanced graphite supply chain solution. The Graphite One project plan includes an advanced graphite material and battery anode manufacturing plant expected to be located in Washington State and anchored by the development of the Graphite Creek resource near Nome, Alaska. Also included is the third link in Graphite One's circular economy strategy - a recycling facility to reclaim graphite and other battery materials, to be co-located at the Washington State site.
As announced on March 7th 1, Graphite One Inc.'s Graphite Creek resource in Alaska has been cited as the largest known graphite deposit in the United States by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in its updated U.S. Mineral Deposit Database (USMIN).
The USGS report confirms Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy's statement in support of Graphite One's designation as a U.S. government high-priority infrastructure project, stating, "Graphite Creek is the largest deposit of graphite in the nation and would be a superior domestic supply of this critical mineral.
GRAPHITE ONE INC. (GPH: TSX–V; GPHOF: OTCQB) continues to develop its Graphite One Project (the "Project"), whereby the Company could potentially become an American producer of high grade anode materials that is integrated with a domestic graphite resource. The Project is proposed as a vertically integrated enterprise to mine, process and manufacture high grade anode materials primarily for the lithium–ion electric vehicle battery market. As set forth in the Company's Preliminary Economic Assessment, potential graphite mineralization mined from the Company's Graphite Creek Property, is expected to be processed into concentrate at a graphite processing plant. The proposed processing plant would be located on the Graphite Creek Property situated on the Seward Peninsula about 60 kilometers north of Nome, Alaska. Graphite anodes and other value–added graphite products would be manufactured from the concentrate and other materials at the Company's proposed advanced graphite materials manufacturing facility, the location of which is the subject of further study and analysis. The Company intends to make a production decision on the Project once a feasibility study is completed.
"Anthony Huston" (signed)
For more information on Graphite One Inc., please visit the Company's website, www.GraphiteOneInc.com.
On Twitter @GraphiteOne
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.
All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, including those related to the timing and completion of the anticipated Preliminary Feasibility Study, future production, establishment of a processing plant and a graphite manufacturing plant, establishment of a battery materials recycling facility, and events or developments that the Company intends, expects, plans, or proposes are forward-looking statements Generally, forward–looking information can be identified by the use of forward–looking terminology such as "proposes", "expects", "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "projects", "plans", "is planning", "intends", "assumes", "believes", "indicates", "to be" or variations of such words and phrases that state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The Company cautions that there is no certainty that tests of the Company's material will be successful or that such tests will result in the development of successful products. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedar.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Graphite One Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/graphite-one-names-award-winning-geologic-engineer-operator-mike-schaffner-senior-vice-president-mining/ | 2022-06-01T14:02:24Z |
Fiona the hippo is going to be a (very) big sister
CINCINNATI (Gray News) – The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden announced Monday that hippo Fiona’s mother, Bibi, is pregnant again.
“The hippo team is excited and also nervous,” said Eric Byrd, manager of Cincinnati Zoo’s Africa team. “As most people know, Bibi’s first baby, Fiona, was born six weeks premature and wouldn’t have survived without the intervention of her human caregivers. We are hoping for a full-term pregnancy and will be doing everything we can to support Bibi.”
According to the zoo, Bibi is on hormone supplements and will receive regular ultrasounds to monitor the growth and health of her fetus.
The zoo’s director of animal care, Christina Gorsuch, said they weren’t planning to welcome another baby hippo this soon, but nature found a way.
“Most forms of contraception, in hippos or humans, is not 100% reliable,” Gorsuch said. The dose that was previously effective for Bibi did not prevent pregnancy this time.”
The soon-to-be father, Tucker, arrived at the zoo in September 2021 and “was enamored with 23-year-old Bibi right away,” the zoo said.
The zoo will be sharing updates on Bibi and baby preparations in the months leading up to the birth.
Bibi’s big bundle of joy is expected to arrive in late summer 2022.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/04/11/fiona-hippo-is-going-be-very-big-sister/ | 2022-04-11T17:04:16Z |
Tiger Woods says ‘it will be a game-time decision’ on whether he plays at next week’s Masters
By Wayne Sterling, CNN
Five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods said “it will be a game-time decision” on whether he will compete at the 2022 Masters, which begins Thursday at Augusta National in Georgia.
“I will be heading up to Augusta today to continue my preparation and practice,” Woods wrote on Twitter Sunday. “It will be a game-time decision on whether I compete.”
The 15-time major winner, who suffered serious leg injuries in a single-vehicle crash in February 2021, has not played an official tournament since the 2020 Masters in November of that year.
Woods’ only appearance in competitive golf since the crash was in December 2021 alongside son Charlie at the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, Grande Lakes in Florida, where Woods and his son finished second.
The 46-year-old told Golf Digest in November last year he would “never” again compete on the PGA Tour full time, but would instead “pick and choose” events.
“You practice around that, and you gear yourself up for that,” he said. “And you play. I think that’s how I’m going to have to play it from now on.
“It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/sports/cnn-sports/2022/04/03/tiger-woods-says-it-will-be-a-game-time-decision-on-whether-he-plays-at-next-weeks-masters/ | 2022-04-03T18:33:21Z |
SINGAPORE, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Marrtin Hoon, CEO of MetaOne shares his thoughts on how gaming industry has always been evergreen as gamers will always play games regardless of the global economic situation. In fact, more will find solace through the world of gaming. The hottest topic in town would be the evolution of GameFi, the fusion of the words "game" and "finance" which stands for monetization of the gaming experience. Making money playing online games has been around for some time, but with the emergence of GameFi since the 2020s, people are actually making a living by playing these games.
Despite all the hype, there is still a huge potential for community growth as making the switch from traditional gaming to GameFi requires effort, knowledge building, or in certain cases, cash.
Created by Gamers, MetaOne project is committed to reach out to this untapped community to shed the path towards GameFi by neutralising the transition barriers with their single interface platform.
The MetaOne platform highlights effortless onboarding with its one-stop guild management system that facilitates sign ups from all gamers and followers. Their integration with GameFi partners make BigData analysis possible with in-game insights that empower decision makers to execute secure cross-chain NFT activities via their Smart Contract protocol. The ecosystem within is looking forward to bringing tremendous benefit to all stakeholders while contributing to the GameFi space expansion.
"The market now is very turbulent but also gave us an opportunity to prove some key points. MetaOne's key strategy has always been to convert this massive group of gamers to enter into GameFi through a credible platform that provides science and data clearly to them for making right choices. This will have material impacts to GameFi studios and ultimately the blockchain community," said Marrtin, CEO of MetaOne, "We are so excited about communicating this vision to all geographical regions and realizing it into real executable plans where guilds, gamers, GameFi studios and users can see and feel the tangibles."
Fundamentally, Metaone does not compete with Guilds, games, and online ecosystems but rather is a comprehensive enabler and force multiplier for the Gamefi space, integrating analytics, guild management, NFT asset management, and Game NFT activities that can be harnessed to empower these spaces plus changing how the industry operates.
More about MetaOne: https://metaone.gg/
Twitter: twitter.com/metaonegg
Discord: discord.gg/ffFkuEwdzc
Telegram: https://t.me/metaonegg
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE MetaOne | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/metaone-gamefi-is-an-untapped-jewel-making/ | 2022-05-17T08:26:51Z |
Dry air and no storms Thursday!
Published: Jul. 27, 2022 at 3:48 PM EDT|Updated: 41 minutes ago
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Much drier air moves over the Suncoast Thursday, associated with dry Sarahan dust that has crossed the Atlantic. This will keep our daily thunderstorms down, and also keeps tropical storms from developing. There’s more dust where that came from, with another round to move overhead next week. Perfect beach and boating weather to end the week. Sunsets could be very special as the dust pushes over the western Gulf of Mexico.
Thunderstorms will pick back up eventually next week. But the tropics look pretty quiet through at least the first week of August!
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/27/dry-air-no-storms-thursday/ | 2022-07-27T20:31:06Z |
Corporate giving leader will ensure foundation supports all M&T communities,focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion
BUFFALO, N.Y., July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- M&T Bank has appointed Dominique Goss to the new role of executive director of the M&T Charitable Foundation. She will steer the bank's corporate giving strategy and ensure the foundation's community impact remains inclusive, equitable and diverse throughout its 12-state footprint.
As its new executive director, Goss will oversee management for the daily operations of the M&T Charitable Foundation, including strategic direction, program development, operations, financial management, talent development and community relations. She will report to Mike Keegan, M&T Bank's senior executive vice president and head of community banking, and be based in Buffalo.
Goss, who joined M&T on July 6, spent the past four years as senior group manager for corporate citizenship at TD Bank's charitable foundation, where she was responsible for aligning the bank's corporate giving goals to its broader strategic priorities and deploying $26 million in charitable investments and sponsorships from Maine to Florida. Before that, Goss served as charitable relationship manager and community relations manager for TD from 2013 to 2018.
"Dominique is a progressive philanthropic leader whose extensive experience in community development and charitable grants administration will help refine the way we think about corporate citizenship," Keegan said. "Her passion and commitment to underserved communities will play an instrumental role in how the M&T Charitable Foundation operates and supports our communities throughout the bank's Northeast and mid-Atlantic footprint."
Established in 1993, the M&T Charitable Foundation supports thousands of nonprofit organizations focused on improving the quality of life for M&T's customers, employees and neighbors in the communities the bank serves. The foundation offers financial support and other resources to a diverse range of organizations, including those that represent civic affairs, human services, education, arts and culture and health care.
The work of the M&T Charitable Foundation is conducted by regional committees comprised of M&T employees who live and work in those communities. The regional committees make local funding decisions that help ensure the bank's philanthropy addresses specific community needs. Local decision-making is a cornerstone of M&T's community bank model and distinguishes the bank among other corporate givers.
In 2021, M&T and the M&T Charitable Foundation together donated $33.9 million to more than 3,000 nonprofit organizations. Over the past decade, M&T and the M&T Charitable Foundation contributed nearly $300 million to more than 7,500 nonprofit organizations.
"M&T's commitment to the communities it serves is remarkable and inspires me to help strengthen the bank's mission to make a difference in people's lives through the work of the M&T Charitable Foundation," Goss said. "I look forward to the opportunities to build upon the many strong partnerships M&T has with its community partners to further elevate the bank's philanthropic impact and fully realize its corporate citizenship."
Goss replaces Shelley Drake as the foundation's strategic leader. Drake, who also served as the bank's Western New York regional president, retired in March 2022 after a 50-year career with M&T.
Goss graduated Temple University with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2008 and earned an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2018. She serves on the boards of the Nonprofit Repositioning Fund, Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance and Mural Arts Advocates. Goss also is a 2019-2020 Connecting Leaders Fellow with the Association for Black Foundation Executives and founding partner of the Philadelphia Black Giving Circle.
About M&T
M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the northeastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information about M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com.
© 2022 M&T Bank. Member FDIC.
Media Contacts:
National Media, Trade Publications and Buffalo, NY:
Julia Berchou
(716) 842-5385
jberchou@mtb.com
Upstate New York (Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Southern tier, Hudson Valley)
David Lanzillo
(716) 842-5139
dlanzilo@mtb.com
Downstate New York (Westchester, Rockland, NYC and Long Island), New Jersey, and New England:
David Samberg
(201) 368-4515
dsamberg@mtb.com
Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, DC:
Scott Graham
(410) 244-4097
sgraham1@mtb.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE M&T Bank | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/mampt-bank-names-dominique-goss-executive-director-mampt-charitable-foundation/ | 2022-07-18T14:47:05Z |
SINGAPORE, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- XT.com, the world's first social infused digital assets trading platform, is delighted to announce that it has listed Mammoth (MMT) token on its platform. For all traders, MMT/USDT is the available trading pair onboarded on top of the XT.com Main Zone (Metaverse).
Mammoth (MMT) is a decentralized market-based ecosystem that enables production of goods and services and exchange among the platform participants by the exchange of its native token, MMT. The Mammoth token, MMT, operates by using the rewards of the Mammoth economy and the inherent misalignment of incentives that centralized economies create. Moreover, MMT token adopts Proof-of-Stake (MPoSA) consensus mechanism as its backbone technology to operate.
As the listing has gone live, MMT token is expected to see an upward momentum as it is traded on XT.com. The platform officially encourages crypto enthusiasts to proceed with depositing crypto assets. Furthermore, traders can fully participate and capitalize substantially on Mammoth (MMT) by trading it. XT.com has opened an MMT/USDT withdrawal option for traders. Regardless of traders' level in crypto, the XT platform has made trading MMT/USDT easy and efficient.
The XT team highlights that the secret behind their continuous token listing overnight forms part of XT.com's ambition to become the ultimate marketplace for crypto listing. Meanwhile, this moment represents the first time that MMT Token has been listed on the exchange.
About Mammoth Token (MMT)
Mammoth is a project to build an integrated infrastructure based on ecosystem resources. Mammoth is committed to being the actual birthplace of innovative technologies for innovative businesses, building a complete ecosystem of technology development, application promotion and trading. It allows for more efficient deployment of distributed applications and provides comprehensive authorization for traffic and resources. In addition, Mammoth caters to provide a variety of innovative services to global developers. The company's ultimate goal is to establish an ecosystem so that transactions and economic activities between users can actively occur within it.
Website: https://mmtchain.io/
About XT.com
By consistently expanding its ecosystem, XT.com is dedicated to providing users with the most secure, trusted, and hassle-free digital asset trading services. Our exchange is built from a desire to give everyone access to digital assets regardless where you are.
Founded in 2018, XT.com now serves more than 4.5 million registered users, over 500,000+ monthly active users and 30+ million users in the ecosystem. Covering a rich variety of trading categories together with a NFT aggregated marketplace, our platform strives to cater to its large user base by providing a secure, trusted and intuitive trading experience.
As the world's first social infused digital assets trading platform, XT.com also supports social networking platform based transactions to make our crypto services more accessible to users all over the world. Furthermore, to ensure optimal data integrity and security, we see user security as our top priority at XT.com.
Website: https://www.xt.com/
Telegram: https://t.me/XTsupport_EN
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XTexchange
View original content:
SOURCE XT.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/mammoth-mmt-gets-listed-xtcom/ | 2022-07-19T08:51:12Z |
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NearU Services ("NearU" or the "Company"), a founder-led premier home services platform company, today announced its partnership with Freeman Spogli & Co. ("Freeman Spogli"), a leading strategic growth investor in the consumer services industry. This partnership will enable NearU to expand into new markets across the United States through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, and to further strengthen its operational capabilities, including making additional investments in its team members, training, and technology. NearU's Founder and CEO, Ashish Achlerkar, and the Company's existing investor, SkyKnight Capital, L.P. ("SkyKnight"), will remain significant shareholders alongside Freeman Spogli. NearU's existing management team will continue to lead the Company as it embarks on its next phase of growth. Specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, NearU has quickly become a leading multi-regional provider of essential home services, including HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. The Company is revolutionizing the skilled trades industry through its approach to being the preferred service provider to its customers, the preferred employer to its team members, the preferred acquiror to business owners, and the preferred partner to its vendors. NearU has a disciplined focus on core business practices, including the adoption of cutting-edge technology, the build-out of in-house training opportunities, and a laser focus on fostering a people-centric culture. NearU currently owns and operates 22 longstanding, market-leading brands across nine states in the U.S.
"NearU's partnership with Freeman Spogli represents a seminal and thrilling moment in the company's journey," said Ashish Achlerkar, NearU's Founder and CEO. "Since day one, our team has chased sustainable enterprise growth: focusing on providing dependable service to our customers, building a long-term career home for our employees, and enriching the lives of our communities. As we looked ahead to the next phase of our journey, our top priority was to partner with a firm that was culturally aligned with our mission and vision, with a proven track record of building and scaling exceptional companies. Freeman Spogli checked both of these boxes. This partnership—along with continued commitment from our inaugural and instrumental investor, SkyKnight—will allow us to continue executing on our vision. With the backing of these two culturally aligned best-in-class investors, the unwavering support of our talented team members, and the continued loyalty of our customers, I am supremely confident that NearU will soon realize its potential to be the long-term industry leader, setting the standard for innovation, culture, training, and technology in the trades."
"NearU has differentiated itself in the large, attractive, and highly fragmented home services market through its purpose, mission and approach to customers, employees, vendors and acquired companies," said Jordan Hathaway, Partner at Freeman Spogli. "We are beyond excited to be partnering with Ashish, the high-caliber management team at NearU, and SkyKnight to accelerate growth in the Company's existing footprint as well as in new geographies."
"NearU has always been about one thing: revolutionizing the skilled trades through improving technician compensation, training, and technology," said Jordan Milich, Partner at SkyKnight. "It has been our honor to support Ashish and his team in building a business with purpose and focused on sustained excellence. We are incredibly proud to continue our partnership with NearU as it enters its next phase of growth."
Jefferies served as exclusive financial advisor and Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP served as legal advisor to NearU and SkyKnight. Solomon Partners served as financial advisor and Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP served as legal advisor to Freeman Spogli. Carlyle Global Credit and Churchill Asset Management led the debt financing to support the transaction with participation from Jefferies Credit Partners and Varagon Capital Partners.
Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, NearU is an employee- and customer-centric provider of essential home services with a focus on HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services. NearU's brand portfolio has grown to include 22 longstanding and market-leading brands across nine states in the U.S. on both the East and West Coasts. The Company has quickly become the preferred home services provider, employer, and partner to owners seeking to transition their businesses. NearU is well-capitalized and seeks to grow organically and through partnerships with leading HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other skilled trade contractors. For more information, please visit www.nearu-services.com.
Freeman Spogli & Co. is a private equity firm dedicated exclusively to investing in and partnering with management in consumer and distribution companies in the United States. Since its founding in 1983, Freeman Spogli has invested over $5.5 billion in 69 portfolio companies with an aggregate transaction value of over $27 billion and has completed over 140 add-on acquisitions with its portfolio companies. Freeman Spogli is currently making investments from FS Equity Partners VIII, L.P. and has offices in Los Angeles and New York. For additional information, please visit www.freemanspogli.com.
Founded in 2015, SkyKnight Capital manages over $2.5 billion in private equity capital on behalf of leading institutional family offices, foundations, endowments, and pensions. SkyKnight makes long-term investments into high quality businesses in acyclical growth sectors alongside exceptional management teams. More information is available at www.skyknightcapital.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Freeman Spogli & Co. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/nearu-partners-with-freeman-spogli-amp-co-next-phase-growth/ | 2022-08-17T21:20:25Z |
NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Co-Diagnostics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CODX) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
This lawsuit is on behalf of a class of all persons and entities who purchased the publicly traded securities of Co-Dx during the period of May 12, 2022 through the close of the market on August 11, 2022 (4:00 p.m. ET).
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 17, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in CODX:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/co-dx-class-action-loss-submission-form?id=31572&from=4
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Co-Diagnostics, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) demand for the Company's Logix Smart™ COVID-19 test had plummeted throughout the quarter ended June 30, 2022, and (ii) as a result, defendants' positive statements about the demand for its Logix Smart™ COVID-19 test lacked a reasonable basis.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Co-Dx you have until October 17, 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 Co-Dx 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 CODX lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/co-dx-class-action-loss-submission-form?id=31572&from=4.
J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
J. Klein, Esq.
535 Fifth Avenue
4th Floor
New York City, NY 10017
jk@kleinstocklaw.com
Telephone: (212) 616-4899
www.kleinstocklaw.com
View original content:
SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/13/codx-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-october-17-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-co-diagnostics-inc-shareholders/ | 2022-09-13T09:58:54Z |
AP source: Giuliani interviewed for hours by 1/6 committee
WASHINGTON (AP) - Rudy Giuliani, who as a lawyer for then-President Donald Trump pushed bogus legal challenges to the 2020 election, met for hours with the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, a person familiar with the interview said Saturday.
The interview with Giuliani took place virtually and lasted for much of the day on Friday, according to the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting. A spokesperson for the committee declined to comment.
Giuliani had been scheduled to meet with the committee earlier this month, but a spokesperson for the panel said that meeting was rescheduled.
The former New York mayor is seen as a critical aide for the committee, which has interviewed nearly 1,000 witnesses, including family members of Trump and advisers in his inner circle. The panel plans a series of hearings in June.
In January, the committee subpoenaed Giuliani and other members of the Trump legal team who sought to overturn election results in battleground states through lawsuits that made unsupported claims of vast election fraud. Trump’s own attorney general, William Barr, has said there were no widespread irregularities that could have affected the outcome of the race won by President Joe Biden, and judges across the country have dismissed the allegations.
At the time of the subpoena, the committee said it was seeking records and an interview with Giuliani, and that it wanted information about Giuliani’s reported encouragement of Trump to direct the seizure of voting machines and his efforts to persuade state legislators to take steps to overturn the election results.
Giuliani also spoke at the rally in front of the White House that preceded the Jan. 6 insurrection.
CNN first reported Friday’s interview with Giuliani.
____
Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri in Washington contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/22/ap-source-giuliani-interviewed-hours-by-16-committee/ | 2022-05-22T07:39:31Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — It’s a period of your life you either look forward to or you dread: retirement. If you are looking to retire soon, but you don’t know where to retire, Texas has tons of options.
According to a new report from GOBankingRates.com, eight cities in Texas rank as some of the best cities to retire on just $3,000 per month.
“In addition to looking at the cost of living for each city, GOBankingRates used only cities that scored well for livability and had at least 10% of the population over the age of 65,” as their report states.
Here are the Texas cities that made the ranking:
- Fort Worth – 28th
- Houston – 27th
- Arlington – 14th
- San Antonio – 13th
- Corpus Christi – 9th
- Laredo – 5th
- El Paso – 3rd
- Lubbock – 2nd
For the full report, visit GOBankingRates.com. | https://cw33.com/news/local/these-texas-cities-among-best-places-to-retire-on-3000-per-month-report-says/ | 2022-07-08T19:44:48Z |
Eugene-North at 65 Division Ave., Suite T
EUGENE, Ore., June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BenchMark Physical Therapy's sixth area clinic opened today at 65 Division Ave., Suite T.
The Eugene-North clinic is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. To make an appointment, call 541-418-4590 or visit benchmarkpt.com.
BenchMark offers in-clinic and telehealth options for outpatient orthopedic physical therapy, including manual therapy, injury prevention, return to performance, total joint replacement, concussion management and vestibular rehabilitation programs.
Clinic director Morgan Parkerson earned a bachelor's degree in exercises and sports science from Western Washington University and a doctor of physical therapy degree from Sacred Heart University.
Parkerson is certified in functional capacity evaluations and Graston/IASTM soft-tissue techniques. Her clinical interests include work conditioning, strength and conditioning, return to sport rehabilitation and post-operative care.
BenchMark's other area clinics are Eugene, Eugene-Coburg Place, Eugene-West, Springfield and Springfield-Thurston, among nearly 40 clinics the company operates in Oregon.
BenchMark, part of the Upstream Rehabilitation family of clinical care, offers access to care within 24 hours and works with all insurance types.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Upstream Rehabilitation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/20/benchmark-physical-therapy-opens-sixth-outpatient-clinic-eugene-ore-area/ | 2022-06-20T16:31:32Z |
A gunman carrying a rifle and a handgun killed four people at a Tulsa medical building on a hospital campus, police said, the latest in a series of deadly mass shootings across the country in recent weeks.
The shooting occurred Wednesday on the campus of Saint Francis Health System.
The victims and gunman were found on the second floor of a medical office where an orthopedic clinic is located, police said. The shooter, whose name has not been released, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Tulsa Police Department Deputy Chief Eric Dalgleish said.
All appointments at the orthopedic clinic were canceled through Friday.
It was unclear what prompted the deadly assault in Tulsa, Dalgleish said. Authorities later executed a search warrant at a home in Muskogee, about 45 miles southeast of Tulsa, in connection with the investigation, police said.
"It appears both weapons at one point or another were fired on the scene," Dalgleish said. "The officers who arrived were hearing shots in the building, and that's what led them to the second floor."
Police responded to the call about three minutes after dispatchers received the report at 4:52 p.m. and made contact with the gunman roughly five minutes later, at 5:01 p.m. Dalgleish said.
Police and hospital officials said they were not ready to identify the dead.
St. Francis Health System locked down its campus Wednesday afternoon because of the situation at the Natalie Medical Building, which houses outpatient clinics and other medical offices.
"This campus is sacred ground for our community," said Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum. "For decades, this campus has been a place where heroes come to work every day to save the lives of people in our community."
Bynum added: "Right now, my thoughts are with the victims. If we want to have a policy discussion, that is something to be had in the future, but not tonight." | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/article_441821e2-e274-11ec-bdfe-4723158ae005.html | 2022-06-02T14:53:52Z |
Ukrainian-born GOP lawmaker urges State Department to restore diplomatic presence in Ukraine
By Kylie Atwood, Jeremy Herb and Jennifer Hansler, CNN
Rep. Victoria Spartz, the first Ukrainian-born member of Congress, is urging the State Department to send its diplomats back into Ukraine.
Spartz, an Indiana Republican, sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, saying that the US should consider redeploying US diplomats to Lviv in Western Ukraine to provide better coordination with the Ukrainian government. Spartz pointed to the actions of the European Union, which returned its diplomatic corps to Kyiv.
“As the single largest provider of military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, it is past time that the United States follow our European allies in kind,” Spartz wrote.
The US and other countries pulled their diplomats and evacuated embassies and consulates from Kyiv in the days leading up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, shifting them to the western city of Lviv. Those officials were soon moved to Poland, commuting into Lviv, and the State Department suspended all diplomatic services in Lviv just before Russia’s invasion began.
In recent days, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged more countries to restore their diplomatic presence in the country.
“We need your support, even at the level of symbols and diplomatic gestures. Please come back, everybody who is brave, please come back to our capital and continue working,” Zelensky said last week.
In the opening days of Russia’s war, the Kremlin had sought to take Kyiv and overrun the entire country. But after failing to advance on Kyiv, Moscow has shifted its focus in the war away from the capital toward the eastern and southern regions.
But given the ongoing fighting and the concerns about renewed Russian aggressions in Eastern Ukraine, the Biden administration is not making moves to open their embassy in Ukraine in the near term despite other countries beginning to do so, according to two US officials familiar with the matter.
Spartz’s letter marks a public push for the US to reconsider that position. One Democratic lawmaker who supports re-establishing a diplomatic presence in Ukraine said there have been questions from the region about why the Americans aren’t there as other countries have gone back in.
Another Democrat, however, said the State Department has good reason to be cautious about moving Americans back onto Ukraine soil. While Russia has refocused its war efforts into the east and southern regions of the country, Russia’s air power can still strike Kyiv and Lviv. While any civilian deaths from NATO countries in Ukraine could threaten to escalate the conflict with Russia, there are significantly different implications for the United States, the lawmaker said: “It’s a very different security situation and escalatory posture.”
Ukrainian officials and activists are watching other countries move to re-open their embassies and they are frustrated by the tentative US posture. The European Union announced last week that it would resume its diplomatic presence in the Ukrainian capital.
Daria Kaleniuk, the co-founder and executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, are also urging the US to re-open its embassy “urgently.” Kaleniuk believes that the embassy is symbolically significant but it is also important because it enables congressional visits and incoming shipments to occur more easily.
“What I learned that part of the reason why politicians are not coming because there is no embassy. So the embassy cannot provide them support in coming,” Kaleniuk said after spending last week on Capitol Hill meeting with lawmakers. “The lack of — an American Embassy in Ukraine also has negative impact on the possibility to purchase advanced weapons. Contractors who are building these advanced weapons, they see that there is not even an embassy in Ukraine and they are not able to work on the contracts with Ukraine.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2022/04/12/ukrainian-born-gop-lawmaker-urges-state-department-to-restore-diplomatic-presence-in-ukraine/ | 2022-04-12T21:20:38Z |
Assessment in the experience allow for individuals and leaders to upskill and protect against vulnerabilities.
TAMPA, Fla., June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- New Horizons IT and Business Training Solutions, a leading global provider of cutting-edge IT training to corporate learners and administrators, has expanded their partnership with EC-Council, a world leader in Cybersecurity Education, that will make EC-Council's world class cyber range available to New Horizons learners. The first offering on the cyber range will be a Capture the Flag (CTF) experience called "Hack the Power Grid."
"We have a desperate need for information security professionals who have been trained to know what they don't know," said Bill Jones, Vice-President of Business Operating Systems for New Horizons. "Knowledge is critical, but it's not enough. Experience is crucial and it's far better to get it in a world-class cyber range where competitors race to be the first to find a weakness in the network. I'm very excited about this event because it will allow participants to demonstrate what they are good at, in an entertaining environment, while they discover where they need additional training."
Hack The Power Grid is an individual based CTF event where players compete to acquire flags off a fictional power grid network within a 4-hour time period. Each player has their own set of flags and will compete in their own lanes. Players will apply real life attack sequences in a well thought out power grid environment created by battle-hardened and seasoned professionals.
This kind of experiential training is critically important in a world where data breaches and cyberattacks have become commonplace. While global tensions are currently heightened due to conflict in Eastern Europe, Steve Graham, Senior Vice-President for EC-Council Global, says cybersecurity professionals have been competing with attackers for years.
"I expect our newly enhanced partnership with New Horizons to be one of our most impactful relationships," Graham said. "We routinely hold individual training events for government agencies and corporations, but with New Horizons we can offer this type of experience thousands of times each year. By continuing to invest in our platform and our partnership with New Horizons, we can bring this level of technological sophistication to training for any learner."
Jones says anyone involved in information security, regardless of their current skill level, should consider attending this event. His hope is that corporations will send their professionals to evaluate their future training needs and then act to provide them.
"When I consider all the things that an information security expert could spend their time doing, this is a minimum basic requirement," Jones said. "This is an opportunity to enjoy a learning experience. Regardless of your skill set, you're going to learn something through this event."
To find out more about this event, visit www.newhorizons.com/CTF
EC-Council's core mission is to help organizations, educators, governments, and individuals address global workforce problems by developing and curating world-class cybersecurity education programs and certifications while providing cybersecurity services to some of the largest businesses around the world. EC-Council is trusted by seven of the Fortune 10; 47 of the Fortune 100; the Department of Defense; global intelligence communities; NATO; and more than 2,000 of the best universities, colleges, and training companies. EC-Council programs are available in more than 140 countries and set the bar in cybersecurity education.
Learn more at www.eccouncil.org
To be effective in today's fast-changing marketplace, organizations must stay current with technology, professional, and business skills. For 40 years, New Horizons IT and Business Training has been the technology partner guiding firms into the future through a global franchise network that spans six continents and over 30 countries. New Horizons is certified as an AWS Training Partner, Citrix Authorized Learning Center, Cisco Partner for Platinum Learning Solutions, CompTIA Authorized Platinum Partner, Microsoft Partner with a Gold Learning competency, RedHat Business Partner, and VMware Authorized Training Center. Grow your team and your business with effective technology and leadership skill development. For more information, visit www.newhorizons.com.
View original content:
SOURCE New Horizons | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/new-horizons-ec-council-partner-bring-gamified-training-cybersecurity-penetration-testing/ | 2022-06-16T13:34:30Z |
New facility will meet growing demand for quality healthcare services in Sydney, Australia
DALLAS, July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs (NYSE:J) was named by New South Wales (NSW) Health Infrastructure as lead architect and principal design consultant for stage three of the St George Hospital and Community Health Services campus redevelopment. This work will deliver a new Integrated Ambulatory Care Precinct, providing improved capacity and capability to treat a growing and aging multicultural population managing chronic and complex diseases.
The NSW government is investing $282 million (AU $411 million) to build the new precinct and improve parking facilities on site. On track to be completed in 2025, the precinct improves clinical integration and care coordination by bringing together a range of ambulatory, outpatient and community services that are dispersed throughout the health campus.
"The COVID-19 pandemic is driving rapid adaptation and change in healthcare design," said Jacobs People & Places Solutions Senior Vice President and General Manager Asia Pacific & Middle East Keith Lawson. "This is a great opportunity for Jacobs to help NSW reimagine the health services of tomorrow by incorporating innovative digital and virtual technologies into their design."
Jacobs has worked with NSW Health Infrastructure to deliver award-winning healthcare facilities for more than 15 years and is currently helping deliver more than $2.45 billion (AU $3.5 billion) in projects across a variety of roles, including the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital stage one redevelopment project. Earlier as lead architect for stage two of the St George Hospital Redevelopment project, Jacobs delivered a new acute services building with enhanced critical care services, including a new birthing unit and two refurbished theaters.
At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $14 billion in revenue and a talent force of approximately 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector. Visit jacobs.com and connect with Jacobs on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used herein, words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "plans," "intends," "future," "will," "would," "could," "can," "may," and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the timing of the award of projects and funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as well as general economic conditions, including inflation, changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and changes in capital markets, geopolitical events and conflicts, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the related reaction of governments on global and regional market conditions and the company's business, among others. For a description of some additional factors that may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements, see the discussions contained under Item 1 - Business; Item 1A - Risk Factors; Item 3 - Legal Proceedings; and Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, ,and Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; Item 1 - Legal Proceedings; and Item 1A - Risk Factors in our most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company is not under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform to actual results, except as required by applicable law.
For press/media inquiries:
Kerrie Sparks
214.583.8433
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Jacobs | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/jacobs-deliver-major-redevelopment-hospital-health-precinct/ | 2022-07-21T12:54:32Z |
Tens of thousands of flyers had their travel plans upended Friday after airlines canceled more than 1,100 flights for a second straight day because of thunderstorms hitting the East Coast.
The New York City area’s three major airports and Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C., recorded the most cancellations by Friday afternoon, according to tracking service FlightAware.
American Airlines scrubbed more than 200 flights, or 6% of its schedule. Republic Airways, which operates smaller planes for American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express, also canceled more than 200 flights, about 20% of its schedule.
Another 3,700 flights were delayed by midafternoon.
Thunderstorms were causing delays averaging more than 90 minutes at LaGuardia Airport in New York and Newark Liberty International in New Jersey, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA said storms also could cause delays at major airports from Florida to Boston.
About 1,200 U.S. flights were canceled Thursday – 4.6% of all scheduled flights, and the highest number since July 25, according to FlightAware.
Travelers have been hit with widespread cancellations and delays this summer. Travel bounced back faster than expected — to about 88% of pre-pandemic levels in July — and airlines weren’t able to increase staffing fast enough. They have been cutting back on schedules in an attempt to make remaining flights more reliable.
Airlines flying in the U.S. had a bad June, canceling more than 21,000 flights or 2.7%, up from 1.8% in June 2019, before airlines pushed workers to quit during the pandemic. The airlines did better in July, however, canceling about 14,000 flights, or 1.8%.
Delays have been more persistent — above 23% in both June and July. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/storms-ground-us-air-travelers-as-airlines-cancel-flights/ | 2022-08-05T20:21:40Z |
- Clarke Energy has secured a project to build and supply a 280kW combined heat and power (CHP) system to support the operation of a biogas plant treating dairy farm waste in Maine, USA.
- A CoEnergy 280NC combined heat and powered system with black start capability and a 500kW KOHLER natural gas fired back up generator will help support Peaks Renewables' biogas plant's energy sufficiency and resiliency.
CLINTON, Maine, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarke Energy USA, Inc., a KOHLER Company, has secured a project to supply Peaks Renewables, LLC, a subsidiary of Summit Utilities, Inc., with a new natural gas fired combined heat and power (CHP) system, as well as a KOHLER back-up gas-fuelled generator.
Peaks Renewables is partnering with Maine's dairy industry to develop locally produced renewable natural gas at an anaerobic digestion facility in Clinton, Maine.
Cow manure will be collected and processed through the anaerobic digester owned and operated by Peaks. Once in the digester, the manure will be heated and decomposed, creating biogas. The gas then will be cleaned to make it pipeline quality. From there, Peaks will sell the renewable energy credits to third parties who need them for their own decarbonization requirements. The natural gas itself will be purchased by Peaks' affiliate company, Summit Natural Gas of Maine, and will be used to provide reliable gas service to its thousands of customers throughout the state.
Clarke Energy's CoEnergy products include CHP engines working in the sub 500kW range. These engines are assembled and containerized in an Upton, Massachusetts facility. The CHP system will deliver 280kW of electricity to support the operations and approximately 1.5 MMBtu of thermal energy which will be used to process hot water for the biogas plant. This is done at high efficiency - helping to reduce carbon emissions and save on fuel costs.
The CHP also has black start capability, meaning the facility can restore electric power without having to rely on the external electric power transmission network. In addition, Clarke Energy is supplying a 500kW KOHLER Power back up gas-fuelled generator. Both units will ensure energy efficiency and resilience for the project in the event of unexpected occurrences.
Ryan Morris, Peaks Renewables said:
"Our anaerobic digestion facility will enable us to treat farm waste sustainably and in parallel generate renewable natural gas which will help to reduce carbon emissions. We selected Clarke Energy to supply both our CHP plant and back up gas generator to deliver fuel efficiency and resilience to our operations."
Clarke Energy USA's Sales Director Alan Howard commented:
"We are delighted to be supplying a high efficiency CHP unit at Peaks Renewables anaerobic digestion facility in Maine. This CHP plant will reduce operational costs and carbon emissions for the site which is producing renewable natural gas."
Notes to editor
About Peaks Renewables, LLC
Peaks Renewables is a renewable energy development company specializing in the development of low carbon, carbon-neutral, and carbon-negative fuels like renewable natural gas and green hydrogen. Our goal is to help states, communities, utilities, homeowners, and industries reduce emissions while creating economic growth and providing access to clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy solutions.
Peaks is a subsidiary of Summit Utilities, Inc.
To learn more, visit: www.peaksrenewables.com
About Summit Utilities, Inc
Summit Utilities, Inc. owns natural gas distribution and transmission subsidiaries that operate in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. The company provides safe, clean and affordable natural gas to businesses and residents in six states through Arkansas Oklahoma Gas, Colorado Natural Gas, Summit Natural Gas of Maine, Summit Natural Gas of Missouri, Summit Utilities of Arkansas, and Summit Utilities of Oklahoma. Each of Summit's natural gas distribution and transmission subsidiaries constructs and installs natural gas distribution systems with the goal of supporting economic development by providing clean-burning, safe and reliable natural gas to residential and commercial customers through exceptional customer service and commitment to community. Overall, Summit entities serve approximately 625,000 customers and operate more than 23,400 miles of pipeline.
About Clarke Energy
Clarke Energy, a KOHLER Company, is a leader in the engineering, design, installation and long-term maintenance of gas engine-based power plants. Clarke Energy employs over 1,300 staff and has over 7.4 GW of gas engines installed globally, 1.4GW of which is from biogas, a renewable fuel.
Clarke Energy USA, Inc. is an authorised distributor of INNIO's Jenbacher gas engines in the USA and a supplier of TPI's membrane-based biogas upgrading facilities. Clarke Energy's USA business supplies gas engines into a range of applications, including sub 500kW units assembled in Massachusetts by CoEnergy. These engines have a multitude of applications including- combined heat and power plants at industrial and commercial facilities, grid firming stations, CHP units for greenhouses, and hybrid solutions integrating energy storage and other forms of renewable power generation.
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1806355/Clarke_Energy_Logo.jpg
www.clarke-energy.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/clarke-energy
https://twitter.com/clarkeenergyusa
https://www.facebook.com/ClarkeEnergyUSA/
View original content:
SOURCE Clarke Energy | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/summit-utilities-support-rng-biogas-plant-resilience-with-chp/ | 2022-08-30T11:52:33Z |
BRONX, N.Y., June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Albert Einstein College of Medicine researchers have been awarded a five-year, $3.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the effects of COVID-19 on the brains of adults who had mild or asymptomatic infection. Using neuroimaging, cognitive, and immunological tests, the investigators will examine if SARS-CoV-2 infection induces lasting changes in the brain and affects neurocognitive function.
"It's well-accepted that the brain is affected by the novel coronavirus, but most studies on long COVID have focused on older people who have had severe disease," said Michael L. Lipton, M.D., Ph.D., co-principal investigator on the grant, professor of radiology and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and associate professor in the Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience at Einstein. "Our study is different because we have access to pre-pandemic brain imaging and in-depth cognitive assessments from hundreds of previously healthy, racially and ethnically diverse young men and women in their 20s and 30s who have participated in other Einstein studies."
Watch video of Drs. Michael Lipton and Johanna Daily discussing their new NIH grant
Dr. Lipton noted, "This baseline data will allow us to discover if and how SARS-CoV-2 infection—even if mild or asymptomatic—causes changes in brain structure and function that contribute to long COVID symptoms." Dr. Lipton is also associate director of Einstein's Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, and medical director of MRI Services at Montefiore Health System.
A "Natural History" of Brain Changes
The researchers will divide 140 study participants into three groups: 70 people who were never infected with SARS-CoV-2; 35 people who, based on laboratory tests, were infected but who were not symptomatic; and 35 people who were infected and had mild COVID-19 symptoms and did not require hospitalization. Participants will undergo physical and neurological examinations, cognitive and psychiatric assessments, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests. They will also provide blood samples at several points during the three-year study.
"By looking at participants' blood serum and immune cells, we will attempt to identify the cellular mechanisms related to their immune response and determine their association with brain changes or cognitive issues," said Johanna Daily, M.D., M.S., co-principal investigator on the grant, professor of medicine and of microbiology & immunology at Einstein and an infectious disease physician at Montefiore. "We hope this leads to the discovery of biomarkers that can diagnose long COVID and inform treatment approaches."
Pandemic Stress and Long-Term Impact of COVID-19
The researchers also will study whether the stress of the pandemic itself contributed to changes in the brain or cognition in all study participants, whether or not they were infected. "We're going to home in on things like loneliness, social support, mood, anxiety, and changes in socioeconomic status," said Dr. Lipton. "The goal is to tease out the effects of the pandemic from the effects of a SARS-CoV-2 infection."
Dr. Lipton added that identifying subtle effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the brain that are undetectable by physicians or patients themselves may help clinicians predict what may be a looming public health issue. "SARS-CoV-2 infection may negatively affect current brain functioning and presage future neurodegeneration and dysfunction," Dr. Lipton said. "Understanding the mechanisms and potentially developing targeted treatment could head off future problems."
The grant, titled, "Characterizing persistent subclinical neurobehavioral effects of COVID-19 in a diverse urban population," is funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health (1R01NS123445).
About Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2021-22 academic year, Einstein is home to 732 M.D. students, 190 Ph.D. students, 120 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and approximately 250 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 1,900 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2021, Einstein received more than $185 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health. This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in cancer, aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. For more information, please visit einsteinmed.org, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and view us on YouTube.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Albert Einstein College of Medicine | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/einstein-researchers-awarded-35-million-nih-grant-study-brain-changes-caused-by-covid-19/ | 2022-06-08T16:10:07Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Moore Kuehn, PLLC, a securities and shareholder law firm located on Wall Street, is investigating potential claims against:
- Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY)
***Contact fmoore@moorekuehn.com only if you acquired shares before March 25, 2022
Moore Kuehn is investigating Bed Bath & Beyond insiders after insiders profited at least $110 million from their Insider stock sales from August 16 to August 17, 2022.
On March 6, 2022, through his investment firm RC Ventures LLC, Ryan Cohen sent a letter to Bed Bath & Beyond's board which announced that he owned a 9.8% stake in Bed Bath & Beyond and in which he criticized the Company's management. On March 25, 2022, Bed Bath & Beyond added three new directors appointed by Ryan Cohen's investment firm, RC Ventures LLC.
On August 15, 2022, Ryan Cohen, through RC Ventures LLC, announced in an SEC filing purchases of over one million January 2023 call options with exercise prices at $60, $75, and $80—significantly higher than Bed Bath & Beyond shares were trading. On August 18, 2022, Ryan Cohen, through RC Ventures LLC, announced that he would sell his entire stake in Bed Bath & Beyond.
On this news, Bed Bath & Beyond shares fell $4.53 per share, or 19%, to close at $18.55 per share on August 18, 2022. Bed Bath & Beyond shares continued to drop on August 19, 2022, falling $7.52 per share, or 40%, from its August 18, 2022 close, to close at $11.03 per share. On August 19, 2022, Bed Bath & Beyond stock plunged to a new low of $9.68.
The stock price continued to decline over the next two trading days, falling an additional 16.23% on August 22, 2022, and falling another 4.98% on August 23, 2022, dropping over 70% from August 17's high price in five trading days after the insider stock sales.
If you still own Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. or BBBY please contact Fletcher Moore, Esq. by email at fmoore@moorekuehn.com or telephone at (212) 709-8245.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Moore Kuehn, PLLC
Fletcher Moore, Esq.
30 Wall Street, 8th Floor
New York, New York 10005
fmoore@moorekuehn.com
(212) 709-8245
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Moore Kuehn, PLLC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/moore-kuehn-encourages-investors-bed-bath-amp-beyond-inc-contact-law-firm/ | 2022-08-31T08:47:40Z |
NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Initial study results show that an experimental drug, called nemvaleukin alfa, when used alone or in combination with another anticancer drug (pembrolizumab) may be effective in treating several types of late-stage cancers in some patients.
Both drugs are immunotherapies, medications designed to help the body's immune defense system detect and kill cancer cells, much like it would an invading virus. They work by boosting the action of immune cells that both directly attack the cancer and prevent cancer cells from evading immune system surveillance.
New generations and combinations of immunotherapies are needed, researchers say, because existing treatments do not work for all patients, especially those whose cancer has (after standard treatment) returned after remission or spread to other parts of the body.
The latest international Phase I/II study, led by a researcher at NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center, showed that a series of injections of nemvaleukin alfa stopped tumor growth or resulted in some shrinkage for at least six months in four out of 22 (18%) men and women with advanced kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma). Some tumor shrinkage was also observed in four of 46 (8%) patients with various forms of melanoma (skin cancer). All had cancer that had previously failed to respond to other immunotherapies. Side effects were minimal, although some patients experienced chills and anemia (temporarily low blood counts).
The study findings, to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago on June 4, also showed that nemvaleukin alfa demonstrated anticancer activity when used in combination with injections of another, more widely used immunotherapy, pembrolizumab.
Researchers found that the drug combination led to a sustained and tenfold increase in the production of CD8 T cells and natural killer cells, highly specialized immune cells known to fight cancer. This occurred in 22 of 137 patients (16%) of study participants with all kinds of cancer, over half of whom (59%) experienced a total stall in their cancers' progression. Similar anticancer immune cell activity was observed in four of 14 (28%) women with ovarian cancer whose disease did not respond to initial drug chemotherapy.
"Our early results demonstrate that nemvaleukin alfa is a generally safe, tolerable, and potentially effective therapy for several different cancers," says study senior investigator and oncologist Vamsidhar Velcheti, MD. "If further trial results prove successful, then nemvaleukin alfa, when prescribed on its own or in combination with other anticancer medications, could serve as a valuable option for people with advanced-stage cancer in which other therapies have not worked and for whom there are few remaining treatment options," says Velcheti, an associate professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and a member of Perlmutter Cancer Center.
Velcheti, who also serves as director of Perlmutter's thoracic medical oncology program, cautions that further results from the ongoing study would have to demonstrate similar benefits before nemvaleukin alfa treatment could become a "standard of care," or go-to therapy, for patients with advanced cancers.
The current study, known as ARTISTRY-1, was funded by Alkermes Inc. of Waltham, Mass., the manufacturer of the nemvaleukin alfa drug used in the experiments. Study participants, who range in age from 18 to 83, are being treated at more than a dozen cancer centers in the United States, Canada, and Europe. More information about the trial can be found online at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02799095.
Nemvaleukin alfa helps anticancer immune cells grow and multiply. The drug is an engineered version of a naturally occurring signaling protein called interleukin-2, which attaches to immune cells at a site called the interleukin-2 alpha receptor. This in turn triggers the action of CD8 T cells and natural killer cells.
Because of its specificity, the drug does not target binding sites that increase the action of regulatory T cells, which cancer cells use to dial down immune responses against them. Nemvaleukin alfa has already been granted fast-track status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer, based in part on earlier ARTISTRY-1 findings.
Pembrolizumab is a well-tolerated immunotherapy drug known as pembro or Keytruda that has been in widespread use against a variety of cancers for the last decade. Known as a checkpoint inhibitor, the drug blocks the PD-1 receptor site on certain immune cells that help cancer cells avoid detection and attack by other immune cells.
Besides Velcheti, Marc Ernstoff, at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, N.Y., also serves as study co-senior investigator. Other study investigators are Ulka Vaishampayan, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; Piotr Tomczak, at Klinika Onkologii Oddizial Chemiotrerapii in Poznan, Poland; Jameel Muzaffar, at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla.; Ira Winer, at Wayne State University in Detroit; Seth Rosen, at the Hematology Oncology Association of the Treasure Coast in Port St. Lucie, Fla.; Christopher Holmes, at Duke University in Durham, N.C.; Aman Chauhan, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington; Anna Spreafico, at Princess Margaret Cancer Center in Toronto, Canada; Karl Lewis, at the University of Colorado in Aurora; Debora Bruno, at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio; Olivier Dumas, at Laval University in Quebec City, Canada; David McDermott, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Mass.; James Strauss, at Mary Crowley Cancer Research in Dallas; Quincy Chu, at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada; Lucy Gilbert, at McGill University in Montreal, Canada; Arvind Chaudry, at Summit Cancer Centers in Spokane, Wash.; Julie Graham, at Alkermes Inc.; and Valentina Boni, at Madrid University in Spain.
Velcheti has previously been compensated by Alkermes for consulting and scientific activities unrelated to the current study. Questions regarding disclosures may be directed to the investigators, ASCO, and NYU Langone Health.
Note: This abstract 2500 is titled "Nemvaleukin Alfa Monotherapy and in Combination with Pembrolizumab in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors: ARTISTRY-1," and is scheduled to be presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting at 8:30 am EDT, Saturday, June 4, at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.
Media Inquiries:
Jeffrey Molter
347-920-1471
Jeffrey.molter@nyulangone.org
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE NYU Langone Health | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/26/next-generation-immunotherapy-drug-shows-continued-promise-several-advanced-stage-cancers/ | 2022-05-27T00:07:32Z |
Leading V1C companies, investors, payors, patients, and actuaries create a one-stop-shop of essential resources designed to help integrate virtual and "brick and mortar" healthcare
BOSTON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, IMPACT - the virtual-first care (V1C) initiative hosted by the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) and the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) - launched the Effective V1C Care Transitions Toolkit, a robust set of resources that shows the field what effective V1C care transitions look like and how to successfully integrate them into our current health care system. A free launch event is open to the public tomorrow, June 28, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. ET, to learn more about the toolkit and how leaders in the field are already using its resources to manage patient care.
The global pandemic prompted millions of healthcare professionals to utilize virtual care options, and while life may be trending back to normal, patients are demanding more accessible care options. Telehealth usage is currently 38 times pre-pandemic levels and some estimates predict that 70.6 million Americans will use remote patient monitoring tools by 2025.
"V1C is likely the greatest opportunity of our lifetimes to redefine healthcare and improve lives," said Jennifer Goldsack, CEO at DiMe. "However, this opportunity will be squandered if it remains separate from the traditional health care system. IMPACT focused on developing resources to enable efficient care transitions to, from, and between V1C providers to ensure that V1C is not just another silo of healthcare. By weaving virtual care into established and new venues of care we will enhance care coordination and user experience across the board as well as drive improvements in access, equity, effectiveness, and efficiency."
As defined by IMPACT's inaugural project in 2021, V1C is medical care for an individual or a community accessed through digital interactions, guided by a clinician, and integrated into a person's everyday life. It's not "virtual only;" it's about considering and incorporating virtual options when they benefit a patient and his, her, or their care team. The new IMPACT Effective V1C Care Transitions Toolkit accounts for this notion and provides a foundation for building a relationship between V1C and the rest of the healthcare system. The suite of resources walks users through foundational care activities along a patient journey, including the referral and intake of new patients into V1C, ongoing co-management of patients by multiple providers, and downstream referral for necessary services and procedures. The resources include:
- A Guide to Effective V1C Care Transitions
- Principles for engaging informal care partners and using a tech stack for effective V1C care transitions
- Quickstart guides for V1C providers, as well as their brick-and-mortar and payor partners
- Over a dozen case studies showing examples of how V1C care transitions are done well and can be integrated today
"The pandemic shone a light on the benefits of health tech to facilitate virtual care. This catalyzed momentum and acceptance, both from the population at large but also public regulators," said CareHive CEO Ronald Dixon. "But there is a full continuum of technology-enabled, data- and AI-driven health tech on our horizon which can position V1C to effectively address chronic, long-term, and post-acute care, while streamlining processes and reducing costs. I'm happy to be partnering with IMPACT to develop, organize, and distribute resources for providers, funders, policymakers, and more to improve care."
This work is a critically important first step to unlocking the promises of V1C to transform health care – and there is still much more to be done. IMPACT welcomes new members to its community annually through an open call period beginning in July 2022. Interested organizations can sign up for an information session.
About IMPACT: Hosted by the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) and the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), vIrtual first Medical PrActice CollaboraTion ("IMPACT") is a pre-competitive collaboration of leading digital health companies, investors, payors, and consultants dedicated to supporting virtual-first medical organizations and their commitment to patient-centric care. To become a member, visit impact.dimesociety.org to learn more and inquire today.
About the Digital Medicine Society: DiMe is a global non-profit and the professional home for all members of the digital medicine community. Together, we tackle the toughest digital medicine challenges, develop clinical-quality resources on a technology timeline, and deliver these actionable resources to the field via open-source channels and educational programs. Join us to advance the ethical, effective, equitable, and safe use of digital medicine to redefine healthcare and improve lives.
Media Contact: Carla English, press@dimesociety.org
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/dime-atas-impact-initiative-launches-toolkit-enable-effective-v1c-care-transitions/ | 2022-06-27T10:51:57Z |
ATLANTA, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IHG Hotels & Resorts is reminding the world what it feels like to be a guest. The company's newest global marketing campaign, Guest How You Guest, is a celebration of hotels and taking a break from having to do it all. IHG is passionate in its belief that when people are taken care of – they feel free to be themselves and live their best lives. With Guest How You Guest, the company is sharing that message loudly through vibrant images and fresh storytelling.
Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8990151-ihg-hotels-resorts-guest-how-you-guest/
As one of the world's largest hospitality companies, IHG has been busy expanding its portfolio and growing its brands over the last several years. The company surpassed 6,000 hotels around the world this year, launched a stronger, reimagined loyalty program with IHG One Rewards, and released a sleek new mobile app that brings it all to life for guests. Now it's time to put that progress to work, doing what IHG has always done best, making guests feel special and welcome.
Officially launching in the US and UK on August 3, 2022, and globally later this year, the multimillion-dollar Guest How You Guest campaign amplifies true-to-life travel moments and shows how guests can define their own journey at IHG hotels. Whether it's sports fans staying at a Holiday Inn Express to support their team on the road, a Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants guest taking their work calls poolside, or a couple celebrating with all the room service at an InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property – they all experience the heartfelt care IHG hotels provide. It goes beyond all are welcome; it's that all are welcomed to be cared for.
Claire Bennett, Global Chief Customer Officer for IHG, said: "When you look around, it's hard not to notice that travelers are increasingly left to fend for themselves, and that's simply not what being a guest should feel like. We have a mantra we say at IHG – we're real people taking care of real people, and Guest How You Guest embodies that. The images and content are engaging and beautiful, but they are also authentic and send a message that you don't always have to do everything. We're here to take care of all of you."
Backed by the most extensive media campaign investment IHG has ever made for loyalty, Guest How You Guest reflects a playful perspective of a personalized stay at an IHG hotel. It evokes a desire to travel, explore and indulge. The images and videos will appear online, in television ads, magazines, billboards, murals and even subway stations. It's designed to inspire the next generation of travelers while engaging with current IHG One Rewards members.
Armando Flores, Executive Creative Director, Grey New York, said: "When you are a guest at IHG Hotels & Resorts, you are not just staying somewhere, you're actually being looked after and able to guest in whatever way that works for you – and that's the story we are telling with this campaign. We turned to New York photographer Meredith Jenks, known for her bold, vibrant photography from the fashion and editorial world. The vivid imagery along with an aesthetic that embraces the messy moments make Guest How You Guest stand out."
Further Campaign Details:
- Vignettes: The vignettes in each spot showcase various ways to guest at IHG properties and feature groups of diverse characters. This not only shows that IHG Hotels & Resorts can accommodate a variety of travel needs, but that IHG celebrates all of you.
- Advertising: There are a variety of spots, including the following:
- Social: Guest How You Guest is coming to life on social through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok. Customized stop motion and triptic assets were created to stand-out amongst live video and static carousels present in most feeds.
- Media: In addition to video and social, the Guest How You Guest campaign can be seen in city takeovers in the US (New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles) and UK (London), as well as print publications across the US and UK.
For more information on IHG One Rewards, visit IHGOneRewards.com.
About IHG Hotels & Resorts
IHG Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.
With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in over 100 countries, and more than 1,800 in the development pipeline.
- Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo
- Premium: voco hotels, HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels
- Essentials: Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, avid hotels
- Suites: Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 325,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally.
Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG One Rewards. To download the new IHG One Rewards app, visit the Apple App or Google Play stores.
For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
View original content:
SOURCE IHG Hotels & Resorts | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/ihg-hotels-amp-resorts-debuts-trailblazing-new-global-campaign-guest-how-you-guest-inviting-all-travelers-be-their-authentic-selves/ | 2022-08-03T15:58:37Z |
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- At the beginning of August 2022, Stena Polaris participated in US Air Force's annual re-supply mission Pacer Goose. The purpose of the mission is to re-supply the US Thule Air Base in the northwest corner of Greenland with life-sustaining supplies, i.e. fuels, building materials, vehicles and other types of heavier supplies. The operation is carried out every year in July or August, the only time of year weather conditions permit and when the ice is at its thinnest.
The Thule Air Base is operated by the US Air Force Space Command. The base was established in the 1940s and houses around 600 military personnel.
The Stena Polaris was used for the transport of 230,000 barrels of jet fuel. The journey from the port in Athens, Greece, through the Mediterranean, across the Atlantic and up through the Labrador Sea went well. The weather was good and the sea mostly ice-free. Stena Polaris was escorted into port by the two icebreakers Des Groseilliers and Ocean Gladiator.
Stena Polaris is since the beginning of 2022 contracted by Crowley Government Services Inc. Crowley in turn leases the vessel to the US Military Sealift Command, who use her for transportation of fuels to bases around the globe.
The Stena Polaris has been converted to meet requirements posed by the U.S. Department of Defense. Among other things, the ship has received equipment for bunkering military ships while at sea. Stena Polaris sails under the flag of United States and is manned by an American crew.
About Stena Polaris
Behind the concept, which was developed together with close partners Stena Bulk and Stena Teknik, is a need to operate in shallow waters and ports with more cargo than corresponding vessels of the same size class. To make this possible, the P-MAX tankers are considerably wider than traditional MR tankers. The increased volume means that they are able to transport up to 30 percent more cargo.
The P-MAX concept takes safety into a new dimension. The vessels are built with double systems for propulsion and manoeuvring, engines, shafts, generators, control and fuel systems, rudders and propellers. The engine rooms are separated by fireproof and watertight bulkheads and the bridge is equipped with a co-pilot system.
Stena Polaris is built with the second highest ice classification, 1A. The enhanced ice capacity enables transport in seas with difficult ice conditions. In 2013, for example, she sailed the Northeast Passage, the sea route north of Europe and Asia.
Technical facts:
183 m LOA, 40 m beam, Ice class 1A, buildt 2010 Split, DWT 65,200
For more information, please contact:
Erik Lewenhaupt CEO, Concordia Maritime AB
+46 704 855 188
erik.lewenhaupt@concordiamaritime.com
Concordia Maritime is an international tanker shipping company. We focus on safe, sustainable, and reliable transportation of refined oil products, chemicals, and vegetable oils. The Company's B shares were first listed on Nasdaq Stockholm in 1984.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
The following files are available for download:
View original content:
SOURCE Concordia Maritime | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/concordia-maritimes-stena-polaris-supports-operation-pacer-goose-greenland/ | 2022-08-31T16:44:25Z |
Portable gaming levels up with the new wireless mobile gaming controller, featuring two mappable buttons, wireless battery boost, and more.
WOODINVILLE, Wash., July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PowerA, a leader in enhancing interactive entertainment with officially licensed gaming accessories, today announced the availability of the MOGA XP7-X Plus, the newest controller in their popular mobile and cloud gaming line. The XP7-X Plus delivers precision gameplay on PC and mobile devices. Featuring an integrated charge-while-you-play wireless power bank, two mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons, and a detachable playstand for Tabletop mode, the versatile XP7-X Plus is now the preeminent controller for serious gamers-on-the-go. Designed for Xbox, the XP7-X Plus is engineered to extend and expand the Game Pass Ultimate experience on Mobile and PC platforms.
The MOGA XP7-X Plus is available for purchase now at PowerA.com and Amazon.
Play Your Way™
Staying true to PowerA's mantra of "Play Your Way", the MOGA XP7-X Plus boasts an ergonomic design, allowing users to game in comfort while playing in one of two ways. Handheld mode puts a cinematic gaming experience in users' hands. The telescoping center section is compatible with phones as large as 7.13in. (18.1cm). In Tabletop mode, a thoughtfully integrated playstand that supports phones and tablets lets users sit back and play anywhere. The XP7-X Plus connects wirelessly to compatible Bluetooth devices and features a USB port for wired PC play. Perhaps best of all, the controller features a 2000mAh rechargeable power bank, letting users wirelessly charge their phone while gaming with the flip of a switch.
Giving Gamers a Level Up
The MOGA XP7-X Plus gives gamers a competitive edge thanks to two mappable advanced gaming buttons. Users can effortlessly program each advanced gaming button on the back of the XP7-X Plus on-the-fly, even mid-game, giving competitive gamers an edge. Whether it's quick access to items in an RPG, or an easy-to-reach handbrake in a racing title, gamers can gain an advantage in nearly any title.
PowerA Warranty
All PowerA products, including the MOGA XP7-X Plus, are backed by a two-year limited warranty.
About PowerA
PowerA creates innovative accessory products that enhance the world's best video game and mobile technology experiences. A brand that has become known for high standards and quality manufacturing, PowerA delivers officially licensed products, including game controllers, cases, starter kits and a wide collection of other accessories. PowerA products are available across the globe at major retailers including North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America. To learn more, visit PowerA.com.
Find PowerA on Social
Facebook: PowerAExperience
Twitter: @PowerA
Instagram: @powera_gaming
YouTube: PowerAVideos
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE PowerA | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/powera-amplifies-mobile-gaming-with-moga-xp7-x-plus/ | 2022-07-07T18:43:24Z |
NEW YORK, July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This press release provides shareholders of Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (NYSE: UTF) (the "Fund") with information regarding the sources of the distribution to be paid on July 29, 2022 and cumulative distributions paid fiscal year-to-date.
In March 2015, the Fund implemented a managed distribution policy in accordance with exemptive relief issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The managed distribution policy seeks to deliver the Fund's long-term total return potential through regular monthly distributions declared at a fixed rate per common share. This policy gives the Fund greater flexibility to realize long-term capital gains throughout the year and to distribute those gains on a regular monthly basis to shareholders. The Board of Directors of the Fund may amend, terminate or suspend the managed distribution policy at any time, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund's shares.
The Fund's monthly distributions may include long-term capital gains, short-term capital gains, net investment income and/or return of capital for federal income tax purposes. Return of capital includes distributions paid by the Fund in excess of its net investment income and net realized capital gains and such excess is distributed from the Fund's assets. A return of capital is not taxable; rather, it reduces a shareholder's tax basis in his or her shares of the Fund. In addition, distributions from the Fund's investments in MLPs are attributed to various sources, including net investment income and return of capital. The amount of monthly distributions may vary depending on a number of factors, including changes in portfolio and market conditions.
At the time of each monthly distribution, information will be posted to cohenandsteers.com and mailed to shareholders in a concurrent notice. However, this information may change at the end of the year because the final tax characteristics of the Fund's distributions cannot be determined with certainty until after the end of the calendar year. Final tax characteristics of all of the Fund's distributions will be provided on Form 1099-DIV, which is mailed after the close of the calendar year.
The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year-to-date from the sources indicated. All amounts are expressed per common share.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution policy. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates, are likely to change over time, and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for accounting and tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The amounts and sources of distributions year-to-date may be subject to additional adjustments.
*THE FUND WILL SEND YOU A FORM 1099-DIV FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR THAT WILL TELL YOU HOW TO REPORT THESE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES.
The Fund's Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return for fiscal year 2022 (January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022) is set forth below. Shareholders should take note of the relationship between the Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return with the Fund's Cumulative Distribution Rate for 2022. In addition, the Fund's Average Annual Total Return for the five-year period ending June 30, 2022 is set forth below. Shareholders should note the relationship between the Average Annual Total Return with the Fund's Current Annualized Distribution Rate for 2022. The performance and distribution rate information disclosed in the table is based on the Fund's net asset value per share (NAV). The Fund's NAV is calculated as the total market value of all the securities and other assets held by the Fund minus the total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding. While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's individual investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.
Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information:
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expense of the Fund carefully before investing. You can obtain the Fund's most recent periodic reports, when available, and other regulatory filings by contacting your financial advisor or visiting cohenandsteers.com. These reports and other filings can be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR Database. You should read these reports and other filings carefully before investing.
Shareholders should not use the information provided here in preparing their tax returns. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year indicating how to report Fund distributions for federal income tax purposes.
Website: https://www.cohenandsteers.com
Symbol: (NYSE: CNS)
About Cohen & Steers. Cohen & Steers is a leading global investment manager specializing in real assets and alternative income, including real estate, preferred securities, infrastructure, resource equities, commodities, as well as multi-strategy solutions. Founded in 1986, the firm is headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Dublin, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and other statements that Cohen & Steers may make may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reflect the company's current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and financial performance. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates," or the negative versions of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties.
Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
View original content:
SOURCE Cohen & Steers, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/cohen-amp-steers-infrastructure-fund-inc-utf-notification-sources-distribution-under-section-19a/ | 2022-07-21T00:39:22Z |
Which fertilizer for succulents is best?
Succulents have a reputation for being hands-off plants that are easy to grow. However, if you want to give them a boost, help them maintain healthy leaves and see wildly vivid flower spikes, a bit of fertilizer is all it takes.
Succulent fertilizer varies by type, composition and quantity. For the best results, choose the fertilizer that complements your maintenance schedule and budget to make caring for your plants as simple as possible.
For an easy-to-use and affordable succulent fertilizer, The Grow Co Succulent And Cactus Plant Food is ideal for maintaining plant health, color and hardiness with little maintenance.
What to know before you buy fertilizer for succulents
Before you pick out fertilizer, get to know the types and quantities you’ll need to take care of your succulents.
Type of fertilizer
There are two main fertilizers for succulents: granular and liquid fertilizer.
Granular fertilizer refers to a pebble-like mixture of small granules. These are powerful and only need one application per growing season. They slowly release their contents during each watering, letting the plant soak up a little fertilizer with each drink. Application is generally simple, and bags of fertilizer are stored easily in a cool, dry place.
Liquid fertilizer is a bottled mixture of the same chemicals in granular fertilizer. Most liquid fertilizers need to be diluted with water and will have clear instructions on the label. The roots quickly absorb them, so they require frequent application.
Quantity
How many succulents you have and which type of fertilizer you use determines the quantity of fertilizer you need. If you’re using liquid fertilizer, you may need to stock up to ensure you have enough to use every few weeks.
However, if you use granular fertilizer, you only need a small amount to fertilize all your succulents for up to a year.
What to look for in a quality fertilizer for succulents
Whether your fertilizer is organic or inorganic, look for one that is easy for you to apply within your plant care regimen. Some need to be diluted, while others can be mixed directly into the soil.
Organic vs. inorganic
Fertilizers for succulents can be either organic or synthetic. Synthetic fertilizers are more common and easier to find, but the choice is up to you.
Organic fertilizer comprises only natural ingredients. It may come from other plant sources like seaweed or be a mixture of other natural ingredients.
Inorganic fertilizer comes from purely chemical components. These are the most common and easy to apply. Each label includes information about the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium mixture inside. However, since these mixtures are more pungent, they can harm your plants if not used as directed.
NPK ratio
The NPK rating on a fertilizer container refers to the fertilizer’s nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium proportion. These components are essential for growing healthy plants, but the ratios differ depending on the type of plant.
Succulents need much less nitrogen than other household and lawn plants. The fertilizer includes a label with numbers formatted as 5-5-5, indicating the fertilizer is evenly distributed between the three elements. Each fertilizer has a unique mixture, but as long as you follow the instructions exactly, your succulents will grow happily.
How much you can expect to spend on fertilizer for succulents
Expect to spend $1-$2 per ounce of fertilizer regardless of whether it’s a liquid or granular formula.
Fertilizer for succulents FAQ
Do succulent plants need fertilizer?
A. It depends. Succulents, in general, are accustomed to intermittent periods without water followed by periods of heavy rain that deliver the water and nutrients they need. Some succulents never need fertilizer but will perform better, grow faster and produce more luscious leaves and vibrant blooms with the help of a bit of fertilizer. The right fertilizer will help your plants look better and stay healthier for longer.
Can I use any kind of fertilizer for succulents?
A. No. Though some other types of specialty fertilizers are acceptable, such as fertilizers for cacti or orchids, you can never use a fertilizer developed for lawn care on your succulent plants. Those fertilizers use different nitrogen ratios formulated to enhance the growth of plants like grasses and can severely damage succulents.
How do I know when to fertilize my succulents?
A. Before you fertilize, read the instructions on your fertilizer. For liquid fertilizers, you’ll likely apply it every few waterings. For most slow-release fertilizers, you’ll apply it based on their growing season. If your succulent’s growing season is in the summer, fertilize in late spring. If your succulent’s growing season is in the winter, fertilize in late fall.
What’s the best fertilizer for succulents to buy?
Top fertilizer for succulents
The Grow Co Succulent And Cactus Plant Food
What you need to know: This bag of granular fertilizer helps succulents regain their health, color and hardiness with just one application a year.
What you’ll love: The granular formula works during each watering, so you only need to add it once per growing season. It’s safe to use both indoors and outdoors, as well as in a terrarium.
What you should consider: Some customers note that results can take up to six months to show improved growth.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top fertilizer for succulents for the money
Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food, Pack Of 2
What you need to know: This fertilizer is easy to use every few weeks and gives instant results at an affordable price.
What you’ll love: The pump bottle is easy to direct into any pot. You can easily feed your succulents every two weeks. The formula is easy to dilute if needed and is perfectly balanced for use with succulents. It comes in a pack of two.
What you should consider: Since it gives instant results, you need to apply it frequently.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Perfect Plants Store Succulent And Cactus Fertilizer
What you need to know: These high-quality granules last for a whole growing season.
What you’ll love: The granule fertilizer is professional-grade and comes in a resealable pouch for easy use. The slow-release formula breaks down during each watering over a year, so you don’t need to reapply that often. It is easily mixed with any substrate such as pebbles, gritty mix, pumice, perlite-based mixes and soil.
What you should consider: This is intense, and you must use it exactly as directed to avoid burning succulent roots.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Katy Palmer 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/lawn-garden-br/flowers-plants-br/best-fertilizer-for-succulents/ | 2022-04-19T10:57:38Z |
New leaders aim to elevate innovation in audience targeting solutions
NEW YORK, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dstillery, the custom audience solutions company, is taking steps to drive growth by promoting two integral team members. Amelia White, Ph.D., will assume the role of Vice President of Data Science Research, and Patti Boyle, Ed.D., will serve as Chief Marketing Officer. The promotions strengthen the company's ability to improve its artificial-intelligence-powered advertising solutions and win the cookieless future.
White joined Dstillery as a data scientist in 2015 and began leading the Data Science Research team in 2018. To date, White has invented two of Dstillery's 16 patented technologies. She created Dstillery's cookieless solution, ID-free Custom AI™, and is the lead inventor on the patent describing this approach. She also developed Dstillery's Map of the Internet (MOTI), a foundational technology powering ID-free and other Dstillery products.
"Amelia brings innovative and impactful machine learning solutions through her research and leadership," said Melinda Han Williams, Ph.D., Chief Data Scientist at Dstillery. "She has developed countless improvements to Dstillery's products and supervised the development of countless more. Amelia keeps Dstillery's solutions on the cutting edge of applied machine learning."
Boyle has been a strategic marketing leader at Dstillery since 2019, most recently as Head of Marketing. Responsible for advancing brand positioning, digital marketing and lead generation, she drives results by developing and executing growth plans, fostering client and partner relationships and overseeing integrated marketing programs. Boyle built a marketing team from the ground up, created a new marketing strategy and managed a brand refresh. She has raised the brand profile, ramped up qualified leads built on account-based marketing and a focused paid media strategy and enhanced the company's thought leadership through a purposeful PR, event and content marketing program.
"Since the start of her time with Dstillery, Patti has positioned the company for success," said Michael Beebe, Dstillery CEO. "She has hired a stellar team, and together that team reconstituted the company's marketing around a clear strategy that supports our mission. Patti is a maximizer, a strategist, a learner and an achiever. In the role as CMO, her inspired and inspiring leadership will take our marketing to the next level."
In addition to Boyle and White's recent promotions, Dstillery continues improving its ID-free Custom AI solution.
"These ID-free targeting solutions allow advertisers to respect consumers' privacy while also delivering campaign results," said Beebe. "The promotions of Amelia and Patti strengthen our position and set us up for greater innovation as agencies and advertisers prepare for the sunsetting of third-party cookies."
For more information about Dstillery, please visit https://dstillery.com.
About Dstillery
Dstillery, the custom audience solutions company, empowers brands and agencies to reach their best customers across the programmatic web. Backed by our award-winning data science, Dstillery has earned 16 patents for the AI technology that powers our precise, scalable solutions. Our newest innovation, ID-free Custom AI, is a privacy-by-design behavioral targeting solution that performs on par with cookies — without user tracking. Our ID-based premier product, Custom AI Audiences, is a just-for-your-brand targeting solution that continuously scores hundreds of millions of users to deliver the best audiences for your brand. To learn more, visit us at www.dstillery.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
Media Contact
Raven Carpenter
BLASTmedia for Dstillery
dstillery@blastmedia.com
317-806-1900 ext. 171
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Dstillery | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/dstillery-accelerates-growth-with-two-key-executive-promotions/ | 2022-06-23T13:20:59Z |
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Aug. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ivy Rehab, a national leader in outpatient rehabilitation and pediatric services, has been recognized by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for providing "exceptional" clinical care. Ivy Rehab voluntarily participated in CMS' 2021 Quality Payment Program, QPP, resulting in its clinicians being recognized as top-tier providers.
The CMS QPP Merit-based Incentive Payment System, MIPS, rewards companies who have proven to provide exceptional clinical care, high-value patient experiences, and notable patient outcomes. Across a network of more than 220 eligible clinics and 900 clinicians, Ivy Rehab's average score exceeded 97 points on a scale of 1-100, 12 points above the threshold for achieving the designation of exceptional performance. Furthermore, Ivy Rehab's performance and top-tier designation is primarily based on patient outcomes rather than process measures, supporting Ivy Rehab's designation as an exceptionally performing provider.
"At Ivy Rehab, we drive to recruit the best-in-class clinicians, as evidenced by our score exceeding the exceptional performance threshold established by CMS. We knew voluntarily submitting for this review was the best avenue to objectively prove the high-quality care we know we provide. Ivy Rehab is committed to providing best-in-class clinical and professional education and support to our network of providers and continues to make deep investments in supporting our clinical providers' professional development," said Jeremy VanDevender, PT, Chief Revenue Officer. "This phenomenal score affirms and demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest quality clinical care for our communities."
"We know patients and families trust us for critical treatment, often when they need exceptional care the most, after a catastrophic car wreck or to preemptively strengthen their core to prevent a devastating fall," said Laura DiGioia, PT, DPT, Regional Director and Outcomes Champion at Ivy Rehab. "Every day we strive to uphold our mission to 'inspire and enable people to live life to the fullest' by providing exceptional care. This noteworthy score proves we are providing our patients with excellence on their road to recovery."
As a catalyst for exceptional outcomes, Ivy Rehab heavily invests in teammates' clinical skills and professional growth by providing opportunities for paid in-house residencies, mentorship, teaching, leadership development, and continuing education, all while focusing on creating an inclusive, supportive culture. Ivy Rehab believes that exceptional patient outcomes are the intentional result of educated and well-equipped clinicians.
About Ivy Rehab
Founded in 2003, Ivy Rehab is a rapidly growing network of best-in-class outpatient physical, occupational, speech therapy, and ABA clinics throughout the United States. The Ivy Rehab Network is comprised of multiple brands dedicated to providing exceptional care, personalized treatment, and unparalleled outcomes. With the support of leading middle-market private equity firm Waud Capital Partners, Ivy Rehab will continue its strategic growth via the ongoing investment in new partners who embrace a shared mission, vision, and values, and a culture of being "All About the People."
Contact Information:
Ivy Rehab Network
Jeremy VanDevender
jvandevender@ivyrehab.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Ivy Rehab Network | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/25/ivy-rehab-clinicians-achieve-cms-highest-ranking-mips-performance-tier/ | 2022-08-25T19:04:07Z |
Acquisition Bolsters FINN's CPG Expertise and Growing West Coast Footprint
NEW YORK, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global independent marketing and communications firm, FINN Partners, announced today that it has acquired Rachel Kay Public Relations (RKPR), a 19-person, bicoastal boutique agency headquartered in San Diego and specializing in strategic, integrated communications for food and beverage brands. Rachel Kay, Founder and CEO of RKPR, will join FINN's West Coast team as Managing Partner reporting to Howard Solomon and become part of the agency's Global Consumer Practice leadership team.
"RKPR is one of the most respected firms specializing in consumer packaged food, beverage, and wellness brands. Building on the momentum of our rapidly growing Global Consumer Practice, the firm adds deep packaged food and beverage expertise spanning established leaders to disruptive food and beverage innovators. With the addition of RKPR, our Global Consumer Practice will have annual fees of almost $25 million, adding it to the ranks of the largest FINN Partners practices along with health, tech and travel," said Peter Finn, Founding Managing Partner and CEO, FINN Partners.
The addition of RKPR will also enhance FINN Partners' West Coast operations, expanding the firm's staff to 165 people spread across offices in Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, Washington, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, and now San Diego.
Current RKPR clients include leading food and beverage brands such as Simple Mills, NotCo, Koe Organic Kombucha, Forager Project, Brazi Bites, Elmhurst 1925, Country Archer Provisions, Bubbies Ice Cream, Catalina Crunch, and Tofurky.
In joining FINN Partners, RKPR will significantly enhance the firm's existing work in the food and beverage space, which currently includes clients such as Bolthouse Farms, Filippo Berio, Jack Daniel's, USA Pears, Northwest Cherries, Berry Bros. & Rudd, The World's 50 Best Restaurants and many more.
"We're excited to welcome RKPR as the newest member of our Global Consumer Practice. Our work with food and beverage brands is a core area of strength, and the addition of RKPR will enable us to considerably expand our portfolio in this space. Their reputation, expertise and deep understanding of modern food and beverage trends will play a key role in the next wave of our growth," said Kyle Farnham, FINN Global Consumer Practice Lead and Managing Partner.
Said Rachel Kay, Managing Partner, "FINN is an independent powerhouse and leader in the Consumer and Lifestyle space, as well as many other diverse practice areas. I'm excited to join a firm that shares my values, and champions and empowers entrepreneurs to make an impact as part of a collaborative global community. My focus will be to ignite the firm's presence in the consumable goods space and expand our offering to help clients navigate the current market volatility in pricing, supply chain, and consumer buying habits at retail and direct-to-consumer. By joining forces, we are uniquely positioned to lead the way as a trusted partner for both new and established CPG brands."
Rick Gould of Gould+Partners made the introduction between FINN Partners and RKPR and helped facilitate the transaction.
About FINN Partners, Inc.
Founded in 2011 on the core principles of innovation and collaborative partnership, FINN Partners has grown from about $24 million in fees to almost $170 million in fees over ten years, becoming one of the fastest growing independent public relations agencies in the world. The full-service marketing and communications company's record setting pace is a result of organic growth and integrating new companies and new people into the FINN world through a common philosophy. With more than 1,300 professionals across 33 offices, FINN provides clients with global access and capabilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. FINN Partners clients are also supported through longstanding partner agencies and its membership in the PROI network of leading agencies around the world. Headquartered in New York, FINN has offices in: Atlanta, Bangalore, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Delhi, Denver, Detroit, Dublin, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Guam, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Jerusalem, Kuala Lumpur, London, Los Angeles, Manila, Mumbai, Munich, Nashville, Orange County, Paris, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, Vancouver and Washington D.C. Find us at finnpartners.com and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @finnpartners.
About Rachel Kay Public Relations
Founded in 2007 by Rachel Kay, Rachel Kay Public Relations (RKPR) is an award winning, full-service communications agency for emerging and established consumer brands. Headquartered in San Diego with an office in New York, the bicoastal team offers unrivaled experience driving growth for challenger brands and Fortune 500 companies through integrated PR, social media, and influencer programs that deliver extraordinary results and generate game changing awareness. The WBENC Certified Woman Owned Business has received numerous accolades including a 2021 Silver Stevie Award for Women-Run Workplace of the Year. Learn more at www.rachelkaypr.com.
Contacts:
FINN Partners:
Celia Jones, Global Director of Marketing Communications
celia.jones@finnpartners.com
773.885.9781 (Chicago)
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE FINN Partners | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/finn-partners-expands-its-global-consumer-practice-with-acquisition-rachel-kay-public-relations/ | 2022-09-06T20:37:02Z |
Detailed ‘open source’ news investigations are catching on
By DAVID BAUDER
AP Media Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — One of the more striking pieces of journalism from the Ukraine war featured intercepted radio transmissions from Russian soldiers indicating an invasion in disarray, their conversations even interrupted by a hacker literally whistling “Dixie.”
It was the work of an investigations unit at The New York Times that specializes in open-source reporting, using publicly available material like satellite images, mobile phone or security camera recordings, geolocation and other internet tools to tell stories.
The field is in its infancy but rapidly catching on. The Washington Post announced last month it was adding six people to its video forensics team, doubling its size. The University of California at Berkeley last fall became the first college to offer an investigative reporting class that focuses specifically on these techniques.
Two video reports from open-source teams — The Times’ “Day of Rage” reconstruction of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and the Post’s look at how a 2020 racial protest in Washington’s Lafayette Square was cleared out — won duPont-Columbia awards for excellence in digital and broadcast journalism.
The Ukraine radio transmissions, where soldiers complained about a lack of supplies and faulty equipment, were verified and brought to life with video and eyewitness reports from the town where they were operating.
At one point, what appears to be a Ukrainian interloper breaks in.
“Go home,” he advised in Russian. “It’s better to be a deserter than fertilizer.”
The Times’ visual investigations unit, founded in 2017 and now numbering 17 staff members, “is absolutely one of the most exciting areas of growth that we have,” said Joe Kahn, incoming executive editor.
The work is meticulous. “Day of Rage” is composed mostly of video shot by protesters themselves, in the heady days before they realized posting them online could get them into trouble, along with material from law enforcement and journalists. It outlines specifically how the attack began, who the ringleaders were and how people were killed.
Video sleuthing also contradicted an initial Pentagon story about an American drone strike that killed civilians in Afghanistan last year. “Looking to us for protection, they instead became some of the last victims in America’s longest war,” the report said.
“There’s just this overwhelming amount of evidence out there on the open web that if you know how to turn over the rocks and uncover that information, you can connect the dots between all these factoids to arrive at the indisputable truth around an event,” said Malachy Browne, senior story producer on the Times’ team.
“Day of Rage” has been viewed nearly 7.3 million times on YouTube. A Post probe into the deaths at a 2021 Travis Scott concert in Houston has been seen more than 2 million times, and its story on George Floyd’s last moments logged nearly 6.5 million views.
The Post team is an outgrowth of efforts begun in 2019 to verify the authenticity of potentially newsworthy video. There are many ways to smoke out fakes, including examining shadows to determine if the apparent time of day in the video corresponds to when the activity supposedly captured actually took place.
“The Post has seen the kind of impact that this kind of storytelling can have,” said Nadine Ajaka, leader of its visual forensics team. “It’s another tool in our reporting mechanisms. It’s really nice because it’s transparent. It allows readers to understand what we know and what we don’t know, by plainly showing it.”
Still new, the open-source storytelling isn’t bound by rules that govern story length or form. A video can last a few minutes or, in the case of “Day of Rage,” 40 minutes. Work can stand alone or be embedded in text stories. They can be investigations or experiences; The Times used security and cellphone video, along with interviews, to tell the story of one Ukraine apartment house as Russians invaded.
Leaders in the field cite the work of the website Storyful, which calls itself a social media intelligence agency, and Bellingcat as pioneers. Bellingcat, an investigative news website, and its leader, Eliot Higgins, are best known for covering the Syrian civil war and investigating alleged Russian involvement in shooting down a Malaysian Airlines flight over Ukraine in 2014.
The Arab Spring in the early 2010s was another key moment. Many of the protests were coordinated in a digital space and journalists who could navigate this had access to a world of information, said Alexa Koenig, executive director of the Human Rights Center at the University of California at Berkeley’s law school.
The commercial availability of satellite images was a landmark, too. The Times used satellite images to quickly disprove Russian claims that atrocities committed in Ukraine had been staged.
Other technology, including artificial intelligence, is helping journalists who seek information about how something happened when they couldn’t be on the scene. The Times, in 2018, worked with a London company to artificially reconstruct a building in Syria that helped contradict official denials about the use of chemical weapons.
Similarly, The Associated Press constructed a 3D model of a theater in Mariupol bombed by the Russians and, combining it with video and interviews with survivors, produced an investigative report that concluded more people died there than was previously believed.
AP has also worked with Koenig’s team on an investigation into terror tactics by Myanmar’s military rulership, and used modeling for an examination on the toll of war in a neighborhood in Gaza. It is collaborating with PBS’ Frontline to gather evidence of war crimes in Ukraine and is further looking to expand its digital efforts. Experts cite BBC’s “Africa Eye” as another notable effort in the field.
As efforts expand, Koenig said journalists need to make sure their stories drive the tools that are used, instead of the other way around. She hears regularly now from news organizations looking to build their own investigate units and need her advice — or students. Berkeley grad Haley Willis is on the team at The Times.
It feels, Koenig said, like a major shift has happened in the past year.
Browne said the goal of his unit’s reporting is to create stories with impact that touch upon broader truths. A probe about a Palestinian medic shot by an Israeli soldier on the Gaza strip was as much about the conflict in general than her death, for example.
“We have similar mandates,” the Post’s Ajaka said, “which is to help make sense of some of the most urgent news of the day.” | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/05/08/detailed-open-source-news-investigations-are-catching-on/ | 2022-05-08T17:46:12Z |
SHANGRAO, China, Aug. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. ("JinkoSolar" or the "Company") (NYSE: JKS), one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
Second Quarter 2022 Business Highlights
- Significant year-over-year growth in revenues and module shipments.
- Demand in European markets remained strong; shipments to China market increased significantly year-over-year and sequentially.
- Product mix was further optimized with the shipments of large-size products increasing to nearly 90% of total shipments.
- The first phase of 16 GW N-type cells reached full capacity with mass production efficiency exceeding 24.8%.
- We have high visibility for the order book of our premium N-type modules.
Second Quarter 2022 Operational and Financial Highlights
- Quarterly shipments were 10,532 MW (10,183 MW for solar modules, and 349 MW for cells and wafers), up 25.5% sequentially, and up 102.4% year-over-year.
- Total revenues were RMB18.84 billion (US$2.81 billion), up 27.6% sequentially and up 137.6% year-over-year. The sequential and year-over-year increases were mainly attributable to an increase in the shipment of solar modules.
- Gross profit was RMB2.77 billion (US$413.8 million), up 24.5% sequentially and up 103.9% year-over-year.
- Gross margin was 14.7%, compared with 15.1% in Q1 2022 and 17.1% in Q2 2021. The sequential change was relatively flat and the year-over-year decrease was mainly due to an increase in the material cost of solar modules.
- Adjusted net income attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd's ordinary shareholders, which excludes the impact from a change in fair value of the convertible senior notes (the "Notes") and the share based compensations expenses, was RMB368.4 million (US$55.0 million), compared with RMB328.4 million in Q1 2022 and RMB264.1 million in Q2 2021. Due to the increase in the Company's stock price in Q2 2022, the Company recognized a loss from a change in fair value of the Notes of RMB536.9 million (US$80.2 million) in Q2 2022.
- Net loss attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd's ordinary shareholders was RMB623.3 million (US$93.1 million), compared with net income attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd's ordinary shareholders of RMB28.9 million in Q1 2022 and RMB66.2 million in Q2 2021.
- Basic and diluted losses per ordinary share were RMB3.15 (US$0.47) and RMB3.15 (US$0.47), respectively. This translates into basic and diluted losses per ADS of RMB12.60 (US$1.88) and RMB12.60 (US$1.88), respectively.
Mr. Xiande Li, JinkoSolar's Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We had a good quarter despite difficult market conditions. Total module shipments in the second quarter were approximately 10.2GW, up 26.8% sequentially, and total revenues reached US$2.81 billion, up 27.6% sequentially. As polysilicon prices continued to rise, we actively worked to control internal costs through technical advancement and process improvement, partially offsetting the impact of higher upstream costs. Gross margin in the second quarter was 14.7%, remaining relatively flat compared with the first quarter. Excluding the impact of the convertible senior notes and share based compensations expenses, net income in the second quarter was US$55.0 million, improving sequentially.
Driven by the accelerating energy transition in several countries and businesses, as well as the energy crisis caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, demand for solar products continued to grow in many markets. In the first half of 2022, Europe imported a total of 42.4GW of PV modules, a year-on-year increase of 137%, and China achieved solar PV installations of 30.9 GW, a year-over-year increase of 136%. Given this better-than-expected growth in demand, released polysilicon production came up short and was further aggravated by annual maintenance programs, and power rationing and anti-pandemic restrictions in certain regions of China. As a result, polysilicon prices rose continuously, reaching a recent high of RMB310/kg, further increasing module prices. Higher module prices negatively affected project yields, causing the demand to deduce to some extent. We believe polysilicon prices will continue to increase and reach their peak in the third quarter. As polysilicon production gradually ramps up in the fourth quarter, polysilicon price increases are expected to moderate, driving a recovery of downstream demand.
Recently,the local government of Sichuan province has imposed province-wide power rationing measures and the production capacity of our manufacturing facilities in Sichuan province has been temporarily affected. We are currently unable to evaluate the extent to which our business operation and financial performance for full year 2022 will be affected by the power rationing measures in Sichuan Province, as it remains uncertain how long the power rationing measures will persist and when our Sichuan manufacturing facilities can resume full production. We are actively monitoring the situation and have implemented various measures to minimize the adverse impact from the power rationing on our business operations and financial performance.
During the second quarter, the proportion of large-size capacity increased sequentially, further improving our integrated structure. At the end of the quarter, our 16 GW of TOPCon cell capacity reached full production with a mass-production efficiency of over 24.8%, and yield rate and integrated cost were in line with our expectations. We recently started production at an additional 8 GW of N-type cell capacity in Hefei and commenced construction of another production project with 11 GW of N-type cell capacity in Haining.
As an industry pioneer embracing the TOPCon technology, we have recently achieved key technology breakthroughs in the currently selected TOPCon technology route that we believe we have created an entry-barrier related to core process and technology with industry-leading mass production efficiency, yield rate and cost levels. Our N-type products continue to be well-received by global customers and, so far, we have high visibility in our orderbook. Compared with P-type products, N-type products command a competitive premium as a result of improved technical parameters and additional power generation gain. We are confident that we will complete our full year N-type shipment goal. In addition, considering the release of new capacity in 2023 and increasing market penetration, we expect the proportion of N-type shipments to further increase.
In view of the current and expected supply chain and market conditions, we have adjusted our capacity expansion pace for mono wafer, cell, and modules for the rest of 2022, and as a result, we are currently expecting the annual production capacity for mono wafers, cells, and modules to reach 60 GW, 55 GW and 65 GW, respectively, by the end of 2022."
Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Total Revenues
Total revenues in the second quarter of 2022 were RMB18.84 billion (US$2.81 billion), an increase of 27.6% from RMB14.76 billion in the first quarter of 2022 and an increase of 137.6% from RMB7.93 billion in the second quarter of 2021. The sequential and year-over-year increases were mainly attributable to an increase in the shipment of solar modules due to the increasing demand of global market.
Gross Profit and Gross Margin
Gross profit in the second quarter of 2022 was RMB2.77 billion (US$413.8 million), compared with RMB2.23 billion in the first quarter of 2022 and RMB1.36 billion in the second quarter of 2021.
Gross margin was 14.7% in the second quarter of 2022, compared with 15.1% in the first quarter of 2022 and 17.1% in the second quarter of 2021. The sequential change was relatively flat and the year-over-year decrease was mainly due to an increase in the material cost of solar modules.
(Loss) /Income from Operations and Operating Margin
Loss from operations in the second quarter of 2022 was RMB 289.1 million (US$43.2 million), compared with income from operations of RMB40.8 million in the first quarter of 2022 and RMB356.4 million in the second quarter of 2021. The sequential and year-over-year decreases were mainly due to an increase in disposal and impairment loss on property, plant and equipment.
Operating loss margin was 1.5% in the second quarter of 2022, compared with operating profit margin of 0.3% in the first quarter of 2022 and 4.5% in the second quarter of 2021.
Total operating expenses in the second quarter of 2022 were RMB3.06 billion (US$457.0 million), an increase of 40.0% from RMB2.19 billion in the first quarter of 2022 and an increase of 205.2% from RMB1.00 billion in the second quarter of 2021. The sequential and year-over-year increases were mainly attributable to (i) an increase in shipping costs for solar modules (ii) an increase in disposal and impairment loss on property, plant and equipment, and (iii) an increase in share based compensations expenses in the second quarter of 2022.
Total operating expenses accounted for 16.2% of total revenues in the second quarter of 2022, compared to 14.8% in the first quarter of 2022 and 12.6% in the second quarter of 2021.
Interest Expenses, Net
Net interest expenses in the second quarter of 2022 were RMB88.0 million (US$13.1 million), a decrease of 45.7% from RMB162.2 million in the first quarter of 2022 and a decrease of 44.1% from RMB157.5 million in the second quarter of 2021. The sequential and year-over-year decreases were mainly due to a decrease in the Company's interest-bearing debts and an increase in interest income of bank deposits.
Subsidy Income
Subsidy income in the second quarter of 2022 was RMB464.8 million (US$69.4 million), compared with RMB305.3 million in the first quarter of 2022 and RMB162.2 million in the second quarter of 2021. The sequential and year over year increases were mainly attributable to an increase in the cash receipt of subsidies from local governments in China which are non-recurring, not refundable and with no conditions.
Exchange Gain/Loss and Change in Fair Value of Foreign Exchange Derivatives
The Company recorded a net exchange gain (including change in fair value of foreign exchange derivatives) of RMB225.7 million (US$33.7 million) in the second quarter of 2022, compared to a net exchange gain of RMB76.4 million in the first quarter of 2022 and a net exchange loss of RMB4.4 million in the second quarter of 2021. The sequential and year-over-year changes were mainly attributable to the exchange rate fluctuation of the US dollars against the RMB in the second quarter of 2022.
Change in Fair Value of Convertible Senior Notes and Call Option
The Company issued US$85.0 million of 4.5% convertible senior notes due 2024 in May 2019 and has elected to measure the Notes at fair value derived by valuation model, i.e. Binomial Model.
The Company recognized a loss from a change in fair value of the Notes of RMB536.9 million (US$80.2 million) in the second quarter of 2022, compared to a loss of RMB104.9 million in the first quarter of 2022 and RMB335.7 million in the second quarter of 2021. The change was primarily due to an increase in the Company's stock price in the second quarter of 2022.
Equity in Earnings/ (Loss) of Affiliated Companies
The Company indirectly holds a 20% equity interest in Sweihan PV Power Company P.J.S.C, a developer and operator of solar power projects in Dubai, and accounts for its investment using the equity method. The Company recorded equity in loss of affiliated companies of RMB0.1 million in the second quarter of 2022, compared with earnings of RMB6.4 million in the first quarter of 2022 and loss of RMB0.3 million in the second quarter of 2021. The fluctuation of equity in loss of affiliated companies primarily arose from the net loss incurred by an affiliate company. The affiliated company terminated its interest swap arrangements in the first quarter of 2022. Hedge accounting was not applied for the derivative.
Income Tax Expense/ (Benefit)
The Company recorded an income tax expense of RMB118.1 million (US$17.6 million) in the second quarter of 2022, compared with an income tax expense of RMB71.0 million in the first quarter of 2022 and an income tax benefit of RMB6.9 million in the second quarter of 2021. The sequential increase in income tax expense was mainly due to higher profit (excluding the impact of a loss from change in fair value of the Notes of RMB536.9 million in the second quarter of 2022, compared with a loss of RMB104.9 million in the first quarter of 2022) generated compared to the first quarter of 2022.
Non-Controlling Interests
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests amounted to RMB276.8 million (US$41.3 million) in the second quarter of 2022, compared with RMB75.3 million in the first quarter of 2022 and RMB100.7 million in the second quarter of 2021. The sequential increase was mainly attributable to the increase of net income of the Company's major subsidiary, Jinko Solar Co., Ltd ("Jiangxi Jinko"), and year-over-year increase was mainly attributable to the increase of non-controlling interests after Jiangxi Jinko completed its initial public offering ("IPO") and started trading on Shanghai Stock Exchange's Sci-Tech innovation board on January 26, 2022. After the IPO, the Company holds approximately 58.62% equity interest in Jiangxi Jinko. Ownership of non-controlling interests in Jiangxi Jinko increased from 26.72% to 41.38% due to the IPO.
Net Income/ (loss) and Earnings per Share
Excluding the impact from a change in fair value of the Notes and the share based compensations expenses ,the adjusted net income attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd's ordinary shareholders was RMB368.4 million (US$55.0 million), compared with RMB328.4 million in the first quarter of 2022 and RMB264.1 million in the second quarter of 2021.Net loss attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders was RMB 623.3 million (US$93.1 million) in the second quarter of 2022, compared with net income attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders of RMB28.9 million in the first quarter of 2022 and net income attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders of RMB66.2 million in the second quarter of 2021.
Basic and diluted losses per ordinary share were RMB3.15 (US$0.47) and RMB3.15(US$0.47), respectively, during the second quarter of 2022, compared to basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share were RMB0.15 and RMB0.15, respectively, in the first quarter of 2022, and basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share were RMB0.35 and RMB0.35, respectively, in the second quarter of 2021. As each ADS represents four ordinary shares, this translates into basic and diluted losses per ADS of RMB 12.60(US$1.88) and RMB12.60(US$1.88), respectively in the second quarter of 2022; basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB0.60 and RMB0.60, respectively, in the first quarter of 2022; and basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB1.39 and RMB1.38, respectively, in the second quarter of 2021.
Financial Position
As of June 30, 2022, the Company had RMB14.39 billion (US$2.15 billion) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, compared with RMB16.87 billion as of March 31, 2022.
As of June 30, 2022, the Company's accounts receivables due from third parties were RMB11.13 billion (US$1.66 billion), compared with RMB8.56 billion as of March 31, 2022.
As of June 30, 2022, the Company's inventories were RMB18.50 billion (US$2.76 billion), compared with RMB15.95 billion as of March 31, 2022.
As of June 30, 2022, the Company's total interest-bearing debts were RMB25.70 billion (US$3.84 billion), compared with RMB27.46 billion as of March 31, 2022.
Second Quarter 2022 Operational Highlights
Solar Module, Cell and Wafer Shipments
Total shipments were 10,532 MW in the second quarter of 2022, including 10,183 MW for solar module shipments and 349 MW for cell and wafer shipments.
Solar Products Production Capacity
As of June 30, 2022, the Company's annual production capacity for mono wafer, solar cell and solar module was 43.0 GW, 42.0 GW and 50.0 GW, respectively.
Operations and Business Outlook Highlights
With continuous investments in R&D and technological innovation, we expect to continuously improve the mass production efficiency of N-type cells and integrated cost of N-type products by the end of 2022.
With more N-type production capacity being released in 2023 and the penetration ratio of N-type products increasing across the industry, we expect the proportion of N-type shipments in our total shipments to further increase.
Third Quarter and Full Year 2022 Guidance
The Company's business outlook is based on management's current views and estimates with respect to market conditions, production capacity, the Company's order book and the global economic environment. This outlook is subject to uncertainty on final customer demand and sale schedules. Management's views and estimates are subject to change without notice.
For the third quarter of 2022, the Company expects its total shipments to be in the range of 9.0 GW to 10.0 GW.
For full year 2022, the Company estimates its total shipments (including solar modules, cells and wafers) to be in the range of 35.0 GW to 40.0 GW.
Solar Products Production Capacity
JinkoSolar expects its annual production capacity for mono wafer, solar cell and solar module to reach 60.0 GW, 55.0 GW and 65.0 GW, respectively, by the end of 2022.
Recent Business Developments
- In April 2022, JinkoSolar achieved a major technical breakthrough for its 182 mm high-efficiency N-type monocrystalline silicon solar cell, setting a new world record again with the maximum solar conversion efficiency of 25.7% for its large-size monocrystalline silicon TOPCon solar cell.
- In May 2022, JinkoSolar signed its first European Energy Storage Solution (ESS) Agreement with Memodo GmbH.
- In May 2022, JinkoSolar was recognized as a Top Performer in the 2022 PV Module Reliability Scorecard published by PV Evolution Labs (PVEL).
- In May 2022, JinkoSolar's principal operating subsidiary, Jiangxi Jinko signed a new distribution agreement in Latin America with Aldo Solar for the distribution of 600 MW N-type Tiger Neo Modules.
- In June 2022, JinkoSolar's Malaysia factory became its first overseas "RE100 factory" fully powered by renewables.
- In July 2022, JinkoSolar's board of directors approved a share repurchase program, which authorized the Company to repurchase up to US$200 million of its ordinary shares represented by ADSs during an 18-month period.
- In July 2022, JinkoSolar was recognized for "Overall High Achievement in Manufacturing" in the 2022 edition of the Renewable Energy Testing Center's PV Module Index Report.
- In July 2022, JinkoSolar's principal operating subsidiary, Jiangxi Jinko, intends to issue convertible bonds in the principal amount of up to RMB10 billion.
Conference Call Information
JinkoSolar's management will host an earnings conference call on Friday, August 26, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 p.m. Beijing / Hong Kong the same day).
Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:
Hong Kong / International: +852 3027 6500
U.S. Toll Free: +1 855-824-5644
Passcode: 19267538#
Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call.
A telephone replay of the call will be available 2 hours after the conclusion of the conference call through 23:59 U.S. Eastern Time, September 2, 2022. The dial-in details for the replay are as follows:
International: +61 2 8325 2405
U.S.: +1 646 982 0473
Passcode: 520003860#
Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of JinkoSolar's website at http://www.jinkosolar.com.
About JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. JinkoSolar distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, and other countries and regions. JinkoSolar has built a vertically integrated solar product value chain, with an integrated annual capacity of 43.0 GW for mono wafers, 42.0 GW for solar cells, and 50.0 GW for solar modules, as of June 30, 2022.
JinkoSolar has 13 productions facilities globally, 21 overseas subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, UAE, and Denmark, and global sales teams in China, the United States, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, Australia, Korea, India, Turkey, Chile, Brazil, Mexico and Hong Kong, as of June 30, 2022.
To find out more, please see: www.jinkosolar.com
Currency Convenience Translation
The conversion of Renminbi into U.S. dollars in this release, made solely for the convenience of the readers, is based on the noon buying rate in the city of New York for cable transfers of Renminbi as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of June 30, 2022, which was RMB6.6981 to US$1.00. No representation is intended to imply that the Renminbi amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized, or settled into U.S. dollars at that rate or any other rate. The percentages stated in this press release are calculated based on Renminbi.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "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, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends, "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Company's operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in JinkoSolar's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
In China:
Ms. Stella Wang
JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
Tel: +86 21-5180-8777 ext.7806
Email: ir@jinkosolar.com
Mr. Rene Vanguestaine
Christensen
Tel: +86 178 1749 0483
Email: rvanguestaine@ChristensenIR.com
In the U.S.:
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Christensen, Scottsdale, Arizona
Tel: +1-480-614-3004
Email: lbergkamp@ChristensenIR.com
View original content:
SOURCE JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/26/jinkosolar-announces-second-quarter-2022-financial-results/ | 2022-08-26T11:47:07Z |
The funds will be used to power a learn-to-earn model in a legendary game world for Web2 developers transitioning to Web3
AUSTIN, Texas, June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Metacrafters.io, a collaborative Web3 developer curriculum that lives within a multiplayer, learn-to-earn game, announced today it has raised a $4.5M multichain grant from Solana, Flow, Avalanche, and Polygon Foundations.
Metacrafters.io is the first project launched by Proof of Learn, Inc., a Web3 education platform with a mission to unlock accessible, high-quality education across the world through blockchain and a learn-to-earn protocol. Proof of Learn raised a seed round in Q1'2022 of approximately $17M, led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and joined by Animoca Brands, GoldenTree Asset Management, gumi Cryptos Capital, Infinity Ventures Crypto, Arca, Wavemaker Ventures, Learn Capital, and Rethink Education.
Co-founder and CEO of Proof of Learn and Metacrafters, Sheila Lirio Marcelo, founded her previous company, Care.com in 2006, revolutionizing care services in Web2 by connecting skilled workers with fair-paying jobs in the care industry. Like Care.com, Proof of Learn's Metacrafters is designed with accessibility and equity as two of its key values, making high-quality education accessible to the 32 million developers around the globe for whom these new skills may open up life-changing employment opportunities.
Metacrafters students will pay tuition for courses in cryptocurrency, but upon completion will earn back their tuition plus additional rewards. The grant money will be used to fund cryptocurrency rewards and incentivize students to take developer courses and learn Web3 coding skills. Course completion will also be rewarded with a Proof of Learn NFT minted as a permanent, public credential on the blockchain as well as a Treasure NFT that can be used in the game world or sold to another player in the marketplace.
With multichain grants a rarity in Web3, Proof of Learn is thrilled in not only the size of the investment but also in the foundations' commitment to joining the Metacrafter vision and mission to support the developers of the future. Metacrafters will use the grants to bring together a community of developers who want to expand their skills from Web2 into Web3 and to help support the learn-to-earn model. A majority of the grant will go toward funding financial rewards for over 12,000 Solana, Flow, Avalanche, and Polygon course completions.
See below for exclusive quotes from Sheila Lirio Marcelo, Solana, Flow, Avalanche, and Polygon Foundations.
"There is an extreme shortage of blockchain and crypto developers in Web3. Proof of Learn's Metacrafters won't just educate developers in this new realm — we will also provide potential employers with on-chain, guaranteed credentials for our job-ready students. Companies and projects will be able to go to Metacrafters to access and verify student skills in real time, virtually instantly finding the exact talent they seek," says Proof of Learn's Sheila Lirio Marcelo.
"The internet enabled anyone, anywhere to create a company that can change the world," said Raj Gokal, Co-Founder of Solana. "Blockchain developers are in high demand, and projects like Metacrafters will not only teach developers to become fluent in the skills they need to build for blockchain, but also advance the overall growth and development of the Web3 ecosystem."
"The potential of blockchain technology can only be fully realized if it's widely accessible, which is why supporting and empowering today and tomorrow's developers is so important," said Roham Gharegozlou, Founder of Dapper Labs. "We are proud to support Proof of Learn and share their vision that when high-quality education is attainable and equitable, it has the opportunity to be a force multiplier for our entire industry."
"We've seen an amazing influx of talent entering Web3 over the last two years, as experts exit the known commodity of Web2 to embark on new projects without a known horizon. That is undoubtedly a win for the Web3 community, but we can't stop there," said John Wu, President of Ava Labs. "We need to scale impact contributors even faster to keep pace with mainstream demand, and Proof of Learn is positioned to breakthrough by empowering the next generation to go from beginning to builders."
Ryan Wyatt, CEO of Polygon Studios, said: "We're immensely proud to be supporting Proof of Learn in their efforts to build a more robust and innovative Web3 environment. Merging gameplay and education within a 'learn-to-earn' framework promises to bridge blockchain's vast talent gap and incentivize a new generation of native Web3 developers."
Proof of Learn, Inc is a Web3 education platform with a mission to unlock accessible, high-quality education worldwide through blockchain and a learn-to-earn protocol. With a focus on addressing the skills shortage in the Web3 economy, the platform will facilitate learning in the metaverse with cryptocurrency rewards and collectible NFT credentials earned as on-chain representation of skills advancement. The company's vision is to ensure that anyone with an internet connection can gain a world-class online education, as well as direct access to income earning opportunities and employment via its careers marketplace.
Metacrafters is a multichain learn-to-earn game that teaches users to write smart contracts and build on-chain. Metacrafters invites crafters to a world of wonder, growth, and possibility where developers can access a world-class Web3 education with immediate earning and employment opportunities in the metaverse. It bridges education and an immersive gaming experience that brings the history and lore of blockchain to life. With a learn-to-earn model, developers and engineers are offered grant-funded financial incentives to complete courses as they upskill from Web2 to Web3. Metacrafters is available to the 32 million developers around the globe for whom these new skills may be life-changing and serve to close the significant pay gap between engineers in developed nations and those in emerging markets.
Press Contact
Skai Blue Media
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Proof of Learn | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/metacraftersio-raises-45m-web3-developers-with-multichain-grants-solana-flow-avalanche-polygon-foundations/ | 2022-06-10T19:11:52Z |
Customers Leverage AI-Powered Solutions to Elevate Product Delivery
MONROVIA, Calif., Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Parasoft, a global leader in automated software testing for over 35 years, today shared the latest updates on its artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities for UI, API, functional, and static analysis testing that span across the entire SDLC. It's critical to leverage AI/ML to reach higher levels of software test automation. Parasoft has done exactly that by optimizing its solutions with innovative AI/ML features that accelerate test creation, maintenance, and execution.
Read Caesars Entertainment's success story showing the measurable benefits that AI provides to software testing. The global leader in gaming and hospitality says that they accelerated testing and delivery by automating testing for both UI and API tests with Parasoft solutions. They improved UI test automation by more than 96% and reduced API test execution time by 97%.
Companies in all industries that develop software can benefit from the power of AI integrated with Parasoft Smart Testing for Java, Selenium, and API applications. According to IDC MarketScape's Worldwide Cloud Testing 2022 Vendor Assessment,1 "Parasoft has added AI/ML capabilities across a number of testing practices, including UI testing, API testing, functional testing, and static analysis, seeking to make it easier for developers to create, maintain, and execute tests and remediate the findings."
Smart test execution with test impact analysis augments testing, making it more intelligent, more effective, and better with each release. By tracking the code that each test covers and correlating that with the changes in the code base, Parasoft prioritizes the subset of tests that need to be executed to validate the code changes. As a result, test impact analysis helps teams save valuable time and get quicker feedback from their CI/CD pipeline.
Additionally, Parasoft uses AI to create tests automatically from the recording of manual UI testing, which simplifies the development of API test suites. These tests can then be reused for load, performance, and security testing. Watch this video to see how the Smart API Test Generator works.
"AI/ML capabilities have greatly improved the challenges facing today's testing organizations from creation through execution, maintenance, and optimization. Organizations that aren't deploying testing with AI/ML capabilities are at a serious disadvantage," said Arthur Hicken, evangelist at Parasoft.
Working with this technology for over five years, Parasoft continues to take the lead on expanding AI/ML across multiple solutions and techniques within the Continuous Quality Platform. Following are real ways that Parasoft puts AI/ML to work:
- Automate unit test generation and parameterization for Java.
- Automate API test generation and maintenance.
- Self-heal the execution of Selenium tests.
- Improve the adoption of static analysis efficiency through prioritization and risk models.
- Predict the impact of coding violations and patterns in analytics/reporting to determine best developer match to fix a specific violation.
Contact Parasoft today to find out how your development team can benefit from AI-powered, ML-driven software testing solutions.
1. "IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Cloud Testing 2022 Vendor Assessment — Empowering Business Velocity," March 2022 | Doc #US47097221.
Parasoft helps organizations continuously deliver quality software with its market-proven, integrated suite of automated software testing tools. Supporting the embedded, enterprise, and IoT markets, Parasoft's technologies reduce the time, effort, and cost of delivering secure, reliable, and compliant software by integrating everything from deep code analysis and unit testing to web UI and API testing, plus service virtualization and complete code coverage, into the delivery pipeline. Bringing all this together, Parasoft's award winning reporting and analytics dashboard delivers a centralized view of quality enabling organizations to deliver with confidence and succeed in today's most strategic ecosystems and development initiatives — security, safety-critical, Agile, DevOps, and continuous testing.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Parasoft | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/parasoft-artificial-intelligence-catapults-software-testing-next-level/ | 2022-08-30T17:25:36Z |
The programmatic joint venture between Good + West and Dallas-based private equity fund will comprise at least four BFR developments throughout Texas
BETHESDA, Md., July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. announced today that it structured a programmatic joint venture partnership for Perch, a portfolio of build-for-rent (BFR) housing developments.
Walker & Dunlop's team, led by Heather McClure, advised its client, Good + West, in identifying a co-general partner that will provide both funds and support as they execute this business plan. Good + West currently has a construction pipeline of more than $150,000,000 and plans to complete approximately $400,000,000 worth of Perch developments within the next four years. The Walker & Dunlop team identified a Dallas-based private equity fund as the ideal capital partner for Good + West.
BFRs are purpose-built housing to be operated as single-family rental investments within a contiguous community, much like traditional multifamily properties. This relatively new asset class is emerging as one of the strongest growth sectors in commercial real estate, and it is estimated the 5-10% of new build homes are BFR. The product has been steadily increasing in popularity due to current demographic trends related to Gen-Y and baby boomers. As more young couples, people with children, and retirees look to rent single-family homes with yards and upscale amenities on a long-term basis, migration patterns related to COVID-19 have accelerated demand. In addition, as the demand for BFR properties grows, an increasing number of larger investors are expanding their investment strategy to include the product.
In lockstep with the growing popularity of BFR properties, the Perch portfolio will comprise multiple dedicated rental communities, delivering a best-in-class product with outdoor spaces, outstanding design, and family-friendliness. Initially breaking ground in Texas' Dallas-Fort Worth and the Austin metro areas, the new partnership will cater to each city's increased migration and quickly growing workforce. Austin, in particular, was recently dubbed "Silicon Hills", as large tech companies including Hewlett Packard Enterprises, Oracle, and Tesla establish a presence in the area. With job growth outpacing the supply of housing inventory, the regions are a perfect fit for BFR development.
"Walker & Dunlop's team brought acuity and skill to this transaction," stated Elizabeth Good, partner at Good + West. "The team met and exceeded the requirements of this complex, highly nuanced development concept. Their local market knowledge and advisory role were critical in helping us find the ideal co-GP, allowing us to break ground on the first of several projects financed by the venture."
Ms. McClure commented, "Good + West has more than 30 combined years of multifamily development, asset management, and finance experience. They are perfectly poised to deliver unique, well designed projects that are perfectly suited to the BFR market." She added, "This transaction is a testament to our dedicated BFR practice group and Walker & Dunlop's outstanding platform, which is constantly innovating to meet the market's evolving needs."
Good + West has recently broken ground on the venture's first project, Perch Denton, a 195-Unit property to be delivered in 2023. Visit the new Perch website to learn more.
Walker & Dunlop and its dedicated BFR & SFR Practice Group are strategically positioned across the business to finance and sell these specialty communities. Our national team provides expert guidance on property sales, debt origination, and the structuring of equity to generate optimal returns and strategic relationships for our clients. The team has closed over $1 billion in this burgeoning sector and is active with over fifty groups in the space, ranging from institutional clients, homebuilders, multifamily developers, and individual investors. For information on lending, capital brokerage, or investment sales opportunities, contact our SFR & BFR Group at BFRSFR@walkerdunlop.com. To learn more about Walker & Dunlop's view on the SFR and BFR market, download our whitepaper here.
About Walker & Dunlop
Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD) is one of the largest providers of capital to the commercial real estate industry, enabling real estate owners and operators to bring their visions of communities — where Americans live, work, shop and play — to life. The power of our people, premier brand, and industry-leading technology makes us more insightful and valuable to our clients, providing an unmatched experience every step of the way. With more than 1,400 employees across every major U.S. market, Walker & Dunlop has consistently been named one of Fortune's Great Places to Work® and is committed to making the commercial real estate industry more inclusive and diverse while creating meaningful social, environmental, and economic change in our communities.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/walker-amp-dunlop-structures-co-gp-venture-build-for-rent-development-portfolio/ | 2022-07-21T11:12:48Z |
US ‘troubled’ as UN rights chief urges China to review counter-terrorism policies
Story by Reuters
UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, whose rare visit to China was criticized by rights groups and Western countries, said she urged Beijing to review its counter-terrorism policies to ensure they comply with international human rights standards.
Bachelet reiterated, however, that her six-day trip, which ended on Saturday and included a visit to the western region of Xinjiang, was not an investigation into China’s human rights policies but an opportunity to engage with the government.
Washington, meanwhile, said it “remains concerned” about Bachelet’s trip — which it believes China could use for propaganda purposes.
Bachelet started her China trip, the first by a UN Human Rights High Commissioner in 17 years, on Monday in the southern city of Guangzhou before heading to Xinjiang.
Her office said last year it believed Uyghurs in Xinjiang had been unlawfully detained, mistreated and forced to work.
“I have raised questions and concerns about the application of counter-terrorism and deradicalisation measures under broad application, particularly the impact on the rights of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities,” she said during an online press briefing on Saturday.
China denies all accusations of abuse in Xinjiang.
Bachelet’s access was limited as China arranged for her to travel in a “closed loop” — isolating people within a virtual bubble to prevent the spread of Covid-19 — with no foreign press.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington “remains concerned” about Bachelet’s trip to China.
“We are concerned the conditions Beijing authorities imposed on the visit did not enable a complete and independent assessment of the human rights environment in (China), including in Xinjiang, where genocide and crimes against humanity are ongoing,” Blinken said in a statement late on Saturday.
The United States was “further troubled” by reports Xinjiang residents were pressured not to complain about conditions in the area.
“The High Commissioner should have been allowed confidential meetings with family members of Uyghur and other ethnic minority diaspora communities in Xinjiang who are not in detention facilities but are forbidden from traveling out of the region,” he said.
Rights groups and Western countries worry that China will use her trip as an endorsement of its rights record. US State Department spokesman Ned Price had said on Tuesday it was “a mistake to agree to a visit under the circumstances.”
China initially denied the existence of any detention camps in Xinjiang but in 2018 said it had set up “vocational training centers” necessary to curb what it said was terrorism, separatism and religious radicalism in the region.
Bachelet said she raised with the Chinese government the lack of independent judicial oversight on the operation of the centers and allegations of the use of force, ill-treatment and severe restrictions on religious practice.
In 2019, Xinjiang Governor Shohrat Zakir said all trainees had “graduated.”
During the media briefing, Bachelet also described as “deeply worrying” the detention in Hong Kong of activists, lawyers and journalists.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/05/28/us-troubled-as-un-rights-chief-urges-china-to-review-counter-terrorism-policies/ | 2022-05-29T06:58:59Z |
Police: Child left in hot car by father dies in N. Carolina
Published: Jul. 4, 2022 at 12:28 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
MEBANE, N.C. (AP) - Police say a 1-year-old infant has died in North Carolina after being left inside a hot car by the father after he went to work.
Police in the community of Mebane told local media outlets officers got a call shortly after midday Friday about a child in a car at a manufacturing plant.
Police say that when the officers arrived, CPR was being administered, but the child couldn’t be revived.
Police say the child’s father worked at the plant and had left the baby in the vehicle. Investigators have not determined how long the child was in the car.
No charges had been filed as of Friday afternoon and the investigation was continuing.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/04/police-child-left-hot-car-by-father-dies-n-carolina/ | 2022-07-04T06:34:33Z |
Honor reflects Sidi's cumulative work and dedication as a leader in the Real estate lending and fintech industries
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif., Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zeenat Sidi, loanDepot Inc.'s president of Digital Products and Services, will receive the Asian American Business Development Center's (AABDC) 2022 "Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business" award recognizing excellence in corporate professionals and entrepreneurs.
Each year, the Outstanding 50 award committee identifies and selects remarkable leaders who have built a successful business or distinguished themselves in their community. The AABDC has to-date conferred the premier award to over 1,000 Asian American corporate executives and entrepreneurs, representing scores of industries nationwide.
loanDepot President and CEO Frank Martell said, "Zeenat's recognition as one of the 50 outstanding Asian Americans in business reflects her considerable accomplishments and dedication as a leader in the real estate lending and financial services industries and shines a light on loanDepot's efforts to ensure our company, at all levels, represents the customers we serve across the country. Congratulations to Zeenat for this well-deserved honor."
"It is truly an honor to be recognized by the AABDC and our community," said Sidi. "As an immigrant coming to the US to pursue higher education, the support I received from the community and my colleagues in the business world who embraced my diverse background and experiences, was instrumental in shaping my career and my passion for financial inclusion. This award comes as loanDepot continues to be an increasingly purpose-driven organization, and I'm proud to continue to advance ways to leverage financial services technology to help those who need it the most in our diverse communities. Congratulations to all the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Award recipients. It is humbling to be amongst this esteemed group."
Sidi joined loanDepot in March 2022 to lead LDI Digital Products and Services. With a 25-year track record of accomplishments in fintech and financial services, she's built a reputation for driving important digital transformation initiatives with some of the most recognized companies in the industry. She is also the chair of the Audit Committee of the Texas Women's Foundation, one of the largest regional non-profit organizations dedicated to the empowerment of girls and women, advancing their economic security and leadership through research, advocacy, grants and programs.
Sidi will receive the honor at the 2022 Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business dinner gala, September 22. As an industry innovator, she spoke earlier today at National Mortgage News' Digital Mortgage Conference in Las Vegas, Nev. about the future of future of one-shop homeownership.
About loanDepot
loanDepot (NYSE: LDI) is a digital commerce company committed to serving its customers throughout the home ownership journey. Since its launch in 2010, loanDepot has revolutionized the mortgage industry with a digital-first approach that makes it easier, faster and less stressful to purchase or refinance a home. Today, as one of the nation's largest non-bank retail mortgage lenders, loanDepot enables customers to achieve the American dream of homeownership through a broad suite of lending and real estate services that simplify one of life's most complex transactions. With headquarters in Southern California and offices nationwide, loanDepot is committed to serving the communities in which its team lives and works through a variety of local, regional and national philanthropic efforts.
Media Contact:
Jonathan Fine
VP, Public Relations
(781) 248-3963
jfine@loandepot.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE loanDepot, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/13/loandepots-zeenat-sidi-receive-outstanding-50-asian-americans-business-award/ | 2022-09-13T19:10:43Z |
Kim warns N. Korea would ‘preemptively’ use nuclear weapons
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned yet again that the North could preemptively use its nuclear weapons if threatened, as he praised his top military officials over the staging of a massive military parade in the capital, Pyongyang, this week.
Kim expressed “firm will” to continue developing his nuclear-armed military so that it could “preemptively and thoroughly contain and frustrate all dangerous attempts and threatening moves, including ever-escalating nuclear threats from hostile forces, if necessary,” the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said Saturday.
KCNA said Kim called his military officials to praise their work on Monday’s parade, where the North showcased the biggest weapons in its military’s nuclear program, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that could potentially reach the U.S. homeland and a variety of shorter-range solid-fuel missiles that pose a growing threat to South Korea and Japan. KCNA didn’t say when the meeting took place.
The parade marking the 90th anniversary of North Korea’s army came as Kim revives nuclear brinkmanship aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of his country as a nuclear power and remove crippling economic sanctions.
Speaking to thousands of troops and spectators mobilized for the event, Kim vowed to develop his nuclear forces at the “fastest possible speed” and threatened to use them if provoked. He said his nukes would “never be confined to the single mission of war deterrent” in situations where the North faces external threats to its unspecified “fundamental interests.”
Kim’s comments suggested he would continue a provocative run in weapons testing to dial up the pressure on Washington and Seoul. South Korea will inaugurate a new conservative government in May that could take a harder line on Pyongyang following the derailed engagement polices of current liberal President Moon Jae-in.
Kim’s threat to use his nuclear forces to protect the ambiguously defined “fundamental interests” of his country possibly portends an escalatory nuclear doctrine that could pose greater concern for South Korea, Japan and the United States, experts say.
North Korea has conducted 13 rounds of weapons launches in 2022 alone, including its first full-range test of an ICBM since 2017, as Kim exploits a favorable environment to push forward its weapons program as the U.N. Security Council remains divided and effectively paralyzed over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
There are also signs that North Korea is rebuilding tunnels at a nuclear testing ground that was last active in 2017 in possible preparations for a nuclear explosive test. Some experts say the North may try to conduct the test sometime between the inauguration of South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol on May 10 and his planned summit with U.S. President Joe Biden on May 21 to maximize its political effect.
Kim’s recent remarks followed a fiery statement released by his powerful sister earlier this month in which she blasted South Korea’s defense minister for touting preemptive strike capabilities against the North and said her country’s nuclear forces would annihilate the South’s conventional forces if provoked.
Yoon during his campaign also talked about enhancing the South’s preemptive strike capabilities and missile defenses as he vowed to strengthen the South’s defense in conjunction with its alliance with the United States.
While Kim’s collection of ICBMs has grabbed much international attention, North Korea since 2019 has also been expanding its arsenal of short-range solid-fuel missiles threatening South Korea.
The North describes some of those missiles as “tactical” weapons, which experts say communicate a threat to arm them with smaller battlefield nukes and use them during conventional warfare to overcome the stronger conventional forces of South Korea and the United States, which stations about 28,500 troops in the South.
North Korea may use its next nuclear test to claim it has created a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on those missiles or other weapons it tested this year, including a purported hypersonic missile, analysts say.
“Solid-fueled missiles are easier to hide, move and launch quickly, making them less vulnerable to a preemptive strike,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Seoul’s Ewha Womans University.
“Taken together with ambitions for tactical nuclear warheads, submarine-based launch capabilities, and more sophisticated ICBMs, Pyongyang is not simply looking to deter an attack. Its goals extend to outrunning South Korea in an arms race and coercing the United States to reduce sanctions enforcement and security cooperation with Seoul,” Easley added.
Nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have been stalled since 2019 because of disagreements over a potential easing of U.S.-led sanctions in exchange for North Korean disarmament steps.
Kim has stuck to his goals of simultaneously developing nuclear weapons and the country’s dismal economy in the face of international pressure and has shown no willingness to fully surrender a nuclear arsenal he sees as his biggest guarantee of survival.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/04/30/kim-warns-n-korea-would-preemptively-use-nuclear-weapons/ | 2022-05-01T05:46:24Z |
NEW ORLEANS, July 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until August 15, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Unilever PLC (NYSE: UL), if they purchased the Company's American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") between September 2, 2020 and July 21, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Get Help
Unilever investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-ul/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.
About the Lawsuit
Unilever and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.
On July 19, 2021, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Ben & Jerry's, announced a resolution to end sales of its ice cream in "Occupied Palestinian Territory" upon the expiration of the current licensing agreement by which its products had been distributed in Israel for decades. Then, on July 22, 2021, media sources reported that the states of Texas and Florida were investigating Ben & Jerry's actions for possible violations of the states' Anti-BDS (boycotts, divestment, and sanctions of Israel) legislation.
On this news, ADRs of Unilever fell $3.19 per share, or approximately 5.4%.
The case is City of St. Clair Shores Police and Fire Retirement System v. Unilever PLC, et al., No. 22-cv-05011.
About ClaimsFiler
ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.
To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.
View original content:
SOURCE ClaimsFiler | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/30/unilever-shareholder-alert-claimsfiler-reminds-investors-with-losses-excess-100000-lead-plaintiff-deadline-class-action-lawsuit-against-unilever-plc-ul/ | 2022-07-30T03:04:01Z |
NWS confirms EF1 tornado had max winds of 100mph, tracked 14 miles
Published: Jun. 8, 2022 at 12:47 PM CDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Severe storms that struck parts of the Kansas City area Wednesday morning have been confirmed as a tornado.
The National Weather Service reported that an EF1 tornado hit Johnson County, Kansas, and Jackson County, Missouri.
The Weather Service stated the tornado had maximum winds of 100mph and a track of 14 miles long. The twister had a maximum width of 125 yards.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Copyright 2022 KCTV. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/08/nws-confirms-ef1-tornado-had-max-winds-100mph-tracked-14-miles/ | 2022-06-08T20:35:18Z |
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Meetings Today has released its 2022 class of Meetings Trendsetters, representing some off the most innovative and engaged professionals in the meetings and events industry.
"Since 2015, Meetings Today has selected its class of Meetings Trendsetters, garnered from online voting from its readers, the opinions of past winners and industry veterans, and finally decided upon by its content team," said Tyler Davidson, vice president and chief content director of Meetings Today. "Every year, we strive to present an 'outside of the box' crop of meetings and events innovators who stand out through their engagement in the industry and because of any unique efforts and accomplishments during the previous year. We typically try to wait at least five years before repeating Trendsetters, too—unless there is truly a standout justification—just to make sure we have a diversity of people recognized.
All 20 2022 Meetings Trendsetters are showcased in the July/August issue of Meetings Today, in Meetings Today's Newswire eNewsletter and via its social media channels. A story profiling the 2022 Meetings Trendsetters is also available on Meetings Today's website, at www.meetingstoday.com/articles/143448/2022-meetings-trendsetters.
Meetings Today is a business-to-business brand of Stamats, a leading marketing and research company providing a complete range of services, including websites, mobile, PPC, SEO/SEM, content marketing, email, magazines, video, research, traditional media, live events and audience data and marketing. Stamats focuses on distinct markets to gain unique category knowledge and experience that it brings to bear for the benefit of Stamats' clients. These markets are higher education, professional meetings and events planning, and healthcare and consumer marketing. Stamats was founded in 1923 and maintains offices in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (headquarters).
Associate Vice President, Marketing
Stamats
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Meetings Today | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/05/meetings-today-announces-its-2022-class-meetings-trendsetters/ | 2022-08-05T13:47:42Z |
Sarasota first responders now have high-tech training tool
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has a new tool to train first responders to be safer on the road -- two state-of-the-art driving simulators.
The simulators are replicas of actual commercial vehicle compartments, and the size, weight, turning radius, tire, and suspension characteristics can be programmed to simulate any emergency vehicle.
They’re able to present drivers with changing weather conditions, traffic densities, lighting parameters, and several other external factors to give the most realistic experience possible.
The purchase of the simulators was made possible through a $240,000 grant from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation.
“The simulators will better prepare our emergency first responders to anticipate and avoid potential hazards when responding to calls,” said Sheriff Kurt Hoffman.
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/25/sarasota-first-responders-now-have-high-tech-training-tool/ | 2022-07-25T18:41:30Z |
Jackass's Zach Holmes Stars in Show Premiering on FailArmy's Streaming Channel
LOS ANGELES, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TMB, the leading community-driven entertainment company with a global audience of over 200 million consumers, has announced the premiere of "Your Pranks, Our Show," an original, unscripted series starring self-made stunt performer Zach Holmes (Jackass Forever, Don't Look Up). "Your Pranks, Our Show" will premiere on Friday, June 10, 2022 on TMB's FailArmy streaming channel – the worldwide leader in funny fail videos and compilations.
"Your Pranks, Our Show" follows Holmes as he and his friends take viral videos from FailArmy's catalog of humor-driven content and up the ante by re-enacting them with next-level twists and higher stakes. The seven-episode series follows the prank squad as they experience what it's like to wear impairment goggles, navigate a horror-filled sleepover, perform outrageous fitness-related pranks, and many other ridiculous scenarios primed to evoke fits of laughter.
Members of the prank squad include YouTube and social media sensation and former professional skateboarder Chad Tepper, LA-based director and editor Sean Barrett, musician and lead singer Kevin Zubin, tattoo artist and stuntman Joe Killmeister, and award-winning social media influencer, surfer and stunt performer Danny Berk.
"We're thrilled to partner with Zach who has been a hero for amateur stunt performers for over a decade," said JIll Goldfarb, SVP Streaming at TMB. "This show is perfectly tailored for the FailArmy audience as it brings together viral prank videos and some of the most recognizable faces in physical comedy and stunts."
The 30-minute episode series will air every Friday on FailArmy's streaming TV channel at 10 pm ET. FailArmy currently boasts more than 60+ million followers across social media, and more than six million monthly hours of viewership on the FailArmy streaming TV channel, which is distributed on top streaming TV platforms including Roku, Pluto TV, Xumo, Samsung TV Plus, Peacock, Sling TV, Stirr, Plex, Comcast, Apple TV and Fire TV.
"Just like FailArmy's fanbase, I'm game for any prank no matter how outrageous it may seem," said Holmes. "This show was so much fun to make, and I think the FailArmy audience is going to have a lot of fun watching it each week and following along."
Your Pranks Our Show is executive produced by Jonathan Skogmo and Colin Goheen and directed by Colin Goheen and Ori Guendelman.
FailArmy is a leading humor brand and one of the most-watched online video properties in the world, with a predominately Gen-Z and Millennial audience totaling more than 30 million fans. FailArmyTV is the brand's linear comedy channel that streams 24/7 on global ad-supported and subscription video providers. The brand has also spawned a 30-minute syndicated international TV series that airs in 221 territories worldwide. FailArmy is owned and operated by Jukin Media. For more information, visit http://failarmy.com.
TMB (Trusted Media Brands) is the world's leading community-driven entertainment company engaging more than 200 million consumers worldwide across streaming TV, social media, web and print. Our portfolio of brands including FailArmy, Family Handyman, People Are Awesome, Reader's Digest, Taste of Home, The Healthy, and The Pet Collective, is powered by content that's inspired and created by our fans. Together our community sparks curiosity, fuels laughter, and inspires people to live big, full, fantastic lives. Learn more about our brands, our data-driven marketing solutions, our award-winning licensing services, and much more at www.tmbi.com.
Media Contact: Michael Kocher, tmbi@kitehillpr.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE TMB | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/tmb-announces-premiere-new-unscripted-show-your-pranks-our-show/ | 2022-06-09T14:21:01Z |
Fannie Mae Now Accepting Proposals for Innovative, Scalable Ideas that Address Barriers in the Home Rental and Buying Experience
WASHINGTON, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fannie Mae today announced the launch of its 2022 Sustainable Communities Innovation Challenge (IC22), the company's second such initiative, committing $5 million to attract innovative ideas that will help advance racial equity in housing. The company expects to receive proposals from across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors and from individuals and teams focused on addressing supply, funding, and credit barriers.
"Fannie Mae is proud to launch the next iteration of the Innovation Challenge and support innovative projects that promote racial equity in housing in the United States," said Maria Evans, Vice President of Community Impact, Fannie Mae. "The housing journey varies depending on who you are, with some people experiencing multiple obstacles as they try to access housing. The Innovation Challenge aims to address those barriers. Advancing greater equity in housing is rooted in Fannie Mae's mission and integral to our environmental, social, and governance strategy. We are excited to collaborate with new partners to source innovative ideas that help underrepresented populations find quality, affordable, stable places to call home."
The Innovation Challenge is part of Fannie Mae's Sustainable Communities Partnership and Innovation initiative, which focuses on developing collaborative, cross-sector approaches to advancing sustainable communities. IC22 will award contracts to organizations, companies, and individuals implementing or scaling projects that remove barriers currently preventing many households, including Black households, from purchasing or renting a home.
The Call for Ideas window will be open through June 17, 2022. Fannie Mae encourages proposals that respond to the following questions:
- How will you address the insufficient supply of quality affordable housing options by creating, preserving, or increasing the availability of affordable homes to purchase or rent in sustainable communities for very low-, low-, and moderate-income borrowers and renters?
- How will you address insufficient funds for security deposits, down payments, closing costs, and reserves for unexpected costs related to renting or purchasing a home?
- How will you address the obstacles faced by many households, including Black households, of low credit scores and credit invisibility?
Proposals will be evaluated against a predetermined set of criteria set forth in the Call for Ideas and will go through multiple rounds of review, including a semi-final review by an Expert Advisory Panel comprised of leaders from public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Fannie Mae will make final contract decisions.
To learn more about IC22, including eligibility requirements, or to submit an idea, please visit fanniemae.com/thechallenge.
About Fannie Mae
Fannie Mae advances equitable and sustainable access to homeownership and quality, affordable rental housing for millions of people across America. We enable the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and drive responsible innovation to make homebuying and renting easier, fairer, and more accessible. To learn more, visit:
fanniemae.com | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Blog
Fannie Mae Newsroom
https://www.fanniemae.com/news
Photo of Fannie Mae
https://www.fanniemae.com/resources/img/about-fm/fm-building.tif
Fannie Mae Resource Center
1-800-2FANNIE (800-232-6643)
View original content:
SOURCE Fannie Mae | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/fannie-mae-issues-5-million-innovation-challenge-help-advance-racial-equity-housing/ | 2022-05-16T13:11:24Z |
Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline announces new name
BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline name has been updated, but the mission remains the same – to support Idahoans in emotional crisis.
Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline, a member of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s national network of over 200 call centers, is now the Idaho Crisis & Suicide Hotline (ICSH).
To reach the hotline, you can call (800) 273-8255 or text (208) 398-4357.
Since the phones started ringing in 2012, the hotline has been an entry point into the state’s behavioral health system and a source of support for Idahoans experiencing suicidal feelings and other types of emotional distress. For the past 10 years, individuals have reached out to ICSH for many different reasons including:
- Suicidal thoughts
- Mental health
- Relationship issues
- Loneliness/isolation
- Addiction/substance use
- Physical health
- Financial troubles
When a person contacts ICSH a trained crisis responder helps the caller reduce stress, conducts a safety assessment, and works with the help-seeker to identify personal supports and a plan to stay safe. By providing support at the moment of crisis, ICSH helps reduce the undue burden and stress of unnecessary emergency department visits and the need for local law enforcement response.
“Our updated name reflects the type of support the Hotline has always provided and our ongoing commitment to Idahoans – regardless of the type of crisis a person may be experiencing. Idaho Crisis & Suicide Hotline is always here and ready to listen,” ICSH Director Lee Flinn said.
Founded in 2012, ICSH has responded to over 95,000 contacts —combined calls, texts, and web chats. For the past ten years, ISCH has supported individuals in emotional distress from every Idaho county and in every stage of life. To date, the youngest caller was 8 years old and the oldest caller was 93 years old. | https://localnews8.com/news/idaho/2022/05/25/idaho-suicide-prevention-hotline-announces-new-name/ | 2022-05-25T19:59:45Z |
Pushpraj Shukla to lead enterprise AI platform development and innovation of next-gen applications as company growth continues
PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SymphonyAI, a leader in high-value enterprise AI SaaS for strategic industries, announced today that Pushpraj (Raj) Shukla has joined the company as vice president of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) and head of incubation.
Shukla will lead the advancement of the enterprise AI platform, Eureka, that supports SymphonyAI's applications in key vertical industries. These include retail, CPG, financial crime, manufacturing, media, IT, and the public sector. Shukla will also lead the incubation of next-gen applications providing predictive AI analytics and insights to new use cases and business processes.
"Raj brings more than 15 years of leadership in applied AI/ML engineering for enterprise AI and ML-focused SaaS offerings at a global scale," said SymphonyAI CTO Vijay Raghavendra. "Our strong combination of technologies, capabilities, and heritage of innovation and recent advances collectively put us at the forefront of enterprise AI. Raj's expertise will further accelerate our leadership position in applied AI/ML and our unique underlying AI platform."
"SymphonyAI is the leader in enterprise AI," said Shukla. "The intersection of advanced AI and deep, vertical industry domain expertise is a unique combination in the industry today and is one of the things that most excites me about this role. The AI/ML platform also accelerates the incubation of 'startup' capabilities within SymphonyAI so we can deliver tangible impacts in complex businesses and strategic industries faster."
Shukla joins SymphonyAI from Microsoft, where he served as partner director of AI and ML for business applications and platforms. He led one of the most extensive applied AI and ML groups for Azure, including developing ML models to power low- or no-code elements for the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform suite of products. Shukla's work included developing "prediction startups" within Microsoft for business, media, and entertainment.
Shukla's appointment comes on the heels of multiple executive announcements. To see recent executive announcements, please refer to https://www.symphonyai.com/news/.
SymphonyAI is building the leading enterprise AI SaaS company for digital transformation across the most critical and resilient growth industries, including retail, consumer packaged goods, finance, manufacturing, media, IT/enterprise service management, and the public sector. SymphonyAI has many leading enterprise customers in each of these industries. Since its founding in 2017, SymphonyAI has grown rapidly, thanks to the work of 2,000 talented leaders, data scientists, and other professionals. SymphonyAI is a SAIGroup company, backed by a $1 billion commitment from successful entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Romesh Wadhwani.
Media Contact: Megan Duero, megan@galestrategies.com
View original content:
SOURCE SymphonyAI | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/symphonyai-appoints-vice-president-artificial-intelligence-machine-learning/ | 2022-08-02T11:55:25Z |
PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "The effect of the pandemic on travel and lodging probably hit Las Vegas harder than any other city in the country, and we learned fast how to cope with the unforeseen and frankly, unthinkable," says Stavros S. Anthony, 4th Ward Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem of Las Vegas. Anthony will be presenting on "lessons learned during the pandemic" at Springbrook's annual Activate event, September 14-16, 2022, at the Virgin Resort in Las Vegas. Register here for the event's early bird special.
The pandemic influenced local government agencies across the country, requiring fast and nimble responses to maintain delivery of services. With an economy based largely on hospitality and entertainment, the challenges were multiplied exponentially for Las Vegas.
"The gaming industry is a major employer in the state and tourism drives that engine. When we shut down during the pandemic, the city had to keep going despite the domino effect of revenue shortfalls. In March 2020 the state of Nevada put an emergency COVID 19 declaration into place, effectively closing the doors to Las Vegas commerce," observes Anthony.
Las Vegas was the recipient of CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act), ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) and CHAP funding, to assist with mortgage, rent and utility costs.
"We went through a challenging and phased commercial reopening process while managing a city general fund budget that shrank 7.1% from fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2021. We have been forced to address multiple issues including paid leave policies, remote work policies, training, education and assessing public response to emergency procedures. Some of these exercises have produced lasting effects," adds Anthony.
Springbrook's Activate event is September 14-16, 2022 at the Virgin Resort in Las Vegas. It is open to all representatives from local government agencies: register here. The event features advanced training, keynote presentations, workshops, and incredible networking opportunities. A complete agenda can be found here. Stavros S. Anthony will be delivering the event's keynote address on the morning of September 15th.
Springbrook Software is the country's leading cloud-based finance and administration software provider designing solutions specifically for small to medium sized local government agencies. Nearly 2000 cities, towns and districts from coast to coast use our suite of modern, high-performance solutions to manage their finances, payroll, utility billing and collect citizen payments. Springbrook is headquartered in Portland, Oregon with regional presence in over 40 states, and seven countries internationally. https://springbrooksoftware.com
MEDIA CONTACT: steve.lundin@sprbrk.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Springbrook Software | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/las-vegas-mayor-pro-tem-stavros-s-anthony-keynote-springbrooks-activate-2022-customer-conference/ | 2022-08-18T15:44:00Z |
Police help groom who nearly missed his wedding
BOSTON (WVCB) - A Boston groom was stranded on his wedding day with his groomsmen while the bride was left waiting, but the Boston Police Harbor Patrol saved the day.
Patrick and Hannah Mahony’s big day almost never happened after mechanical issues put the harbor between the bride and groom.
“I was in a little bit of a panic,” Patrick Mahony said.
The couple’s wedding was to take place on Thompson Island, and the boat the groom was supposed to take broke down. He was left stranded at the dock.
“It was our florist, our DJ, all of the groomsmen, the groom. So I think it would have just been a bunch of girls sitting on the island waiting around if that happens,” Hannah Mahony said.
This is when authorities stepped in to help.
The replacement ferry ended up leaving about 40 minutes late from the harbor, but the officers were able to make up time on the water.
Officers Joseph Matthews and Stefani McGrath were able to get everyone to the island safely, and Matthews said he hopes the police escort will be a fun memory to look back on.
“We had six minutes to spare,” Matthews said. “It will give them something to remember. Getting a ride on a police boat is kind of special for their big night.”
Despite the rocky start to the day, Patrick Mahony said nothing would have stopped him from tying the knot with his bride.
Copyright 2022 WVCB via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/15/police-help-groom-who-nearly-missed-his-wedding/ | 2022-08-15T12:32:19Z |
DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — After William Byron squeezed him against the wall on a final restart, Joey Logano knew what he’d do if he got the chance to regain the lead.
Logano bumped Byron from behind on the next-to-last lap to win at Darlington Raceway on Sunday. Byron hit the wall in turn three and Logano went on to his first win of the season and first at the track “Too Tough To Tame.”
“There’s something to be said for an angry race car driver,” said Logano, who broke a 40-race winless drought.
Logano, who started from the pole, had one of the strongest cars all day and was in front coming out of the pits before a restart with 25 laps left. But Byron, who started low, forced Logano into the wall and out of the lead.
“If someone’s going to be willing to do that to you, then the gloves are off,” Logano said.
Byron was not happy with the maneuver, calling Logano an “idiot” and a ”moron” who has raced others questionably throughout his career.
The fans at Darlington let the Team Penske driver know what they thought, booing the 2018 NASCAR champion when he got out of his car.
“I’ve been called a lot of things, a lot worse than moron,” Logano said.
Byron, who signed a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports, seemed as if he’d keep up his team’s dominant season over the final laps. Instead, Logano broke a 40-race winless drought.
Tyler Reddick was second followed by Justin Haley, Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Michael McDowell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon and Daniel Suarez.
Byron fell to 13th. He said the restart was just close racing and Byron didn’t deserve a hard hit on the rear bumper so close to the end.
“He slammed me so hard, it knocked all the right side off the car and sent me into the corner,” Byron said. “He’s just a moron. He can’t win a race, so he does it that way.”
Logano led 108 of the 293 laps and reached victory lane for the first time since winning on the dirt at Bristol in 2021.
It was the first time the new Next Gen car took on NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway and the results were mixed. The racing was strong, although several of the top competitors didn’t last to the end.
Reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson was out with engine failure after 112 laps. Past champions Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski were also out well before the finish.
ODDS ON FAVORITE?
Larson was the betting favorite to win for the first time at Darlington. But the defending Cup series champion continued his tough luck at NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway. Larson, starting second, led 30 of the first 32 laps before spinning out on lap 54 and falling to 29th.
Larson had worked his way into the top 10 early in stage two before returning to the pits where his crew popped the hood. They couldn’t get the car refired — “I’ve got, like, no power,” Larson told them — and rolled him into the garage.
It’s been that kind of stretch for Larson, who was second in his past three races at Darlington. At a tire test here last month, Larson hit the wall twice early on.
It’s the fourth time in 12 races this season Larson was out before the end.
“Bummer,” Larson said. “But the positive is we were really fast.”
PARKING SPOT
Kyle Busch’s day ended after he couldn’t avoid running into Brad Keselowski after the Roush Fenway racer tagged the wall right in front of Busch. A frustrated Busch rode his No. 18 car to pit road and left it there, walking off into his trailer.
A tow truck had to hook up the Joe Gibbs Racing machine and move it to the garage. Busch had led 19 laps early in the race.
Last year, Busch was fined $50,000 by NASCAR when at the Southern 500 here he drove his damaged machine into the garage, knocking over several cones and causing people in the path to scatter quickly.
Busch was asked why he stopped where he did. “Just couldn’t make the corner,” he countered.
UP NEXT: The series moves to Kansas Speedway, where Kyle Busch is the event’s defending champion. Kyle Larson won the October race in Kansas.
___
More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/logano-bumps-byron-on-last-lap-for-first-darlington-win/ | 2022-05-09T07:25:36Z |
Moran hits grand slam, 2-run homer as Reds beat Pirates 7-3
By MITCH STACY
AP Sports Writer
CINCINNATI (AP) — Colin Moran hit a grand slam and a two-run homer against his former team, powering the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tyler Mahle pitched five solid innings and the Reds rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the sixth. Cincinnati took two of three against Pittsburgh to win a series for the first time this season, improving the majors’ worst record to 5-23. Moran’s bases-loaded drive to right field in the sixth gave Cincinnati a 5-2 lead. He homered to center with Kyle Farmer on first base in the eighth, giving him six RBIs in a game for the first time in his career. They were his first two home runs this season. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/08/moran-hits-grand-slam-2-run-homer-as-reds-beat-pirates-7-3/ | 2022-05-09T02:13:43Z |
Both executives bring deep industry & leadership expertise to a unique platform for fans to invest in celebrity business' like never before.
NEW YORK, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FanVestor today announced that Russell Redeaux of Stampede Management [Previous: Cashmere Agency, Merry Jane Media] and Alex Luke of Decentralized Music [Previous: SiriusXM/Pandora, Amazon, Apple] will join the company as Chief Business Officer and as Managing Director respectively. This onboarding was a strategic move by Michael Golomb, the founder & CEO of FanVestor, who has successfully exited four companies, two IPOs, and five publicly traded companies–he will be continuing his role amongst his powerhouse team composed of disciplines across finance and compliance, technology, and entertainment. Similar to FanVestor's partners and investors, the company hopes to disrupt the aforementioned industries through its unique benefits. This includes offering non-accredited investors to enter capital markets, Web3 implementations to remove gatekeeping, giving fans new levels of direct access to their favorite creators, celebrities, athletes, and more.
The timing of Russ and Alex assuming this venture [in addition to their other successful businesses] was crucial to position FanVestor for long-term success. Golomb stated, "Humbly and with great pleasure we welcome Russ and Alex to our FanVestor family. As we have been building the business, we realized that this must be a three-legged stool: 1. compliance/capital markets, 2. scalable fin-tech, 3. understanding the food-chain in music, sports, and entertainment. Russ and Alex re-enforce our team expertise and focus on serving our customers."
With two decades in A&R, talent management, marketing and brand development, Russ has extensive experience leading and innovating the entertainment industry through co-founding renowned management company, Stampede Management, as well as being a Senior Leadership Consultant for award-winning advertising company, Cashmere Agency. Through these endeavors, Russ has built a network of noteworthy clientele including Snoop Doog, Macy Gray, YG, Ty Dolla $ign, Far East Movement, Busta Rhymes, and others. Russ has developed large scale marketing campaigns for brands like Heineken, LG, Adidas, and Doritos to name a few.
He has also had his hand in the lm industry, producing a theatrical stage play "Redemption of a Dogg" starring Snoop himself. Prior to the above, Russ was a Creative Marketing Consultant for Merry Jane Media, a global multi-media company, producing scripted and non-scripted television shows including the Emmy-nominated hit series "Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party," now in its third season on VH1. Russ is excited to bring the knowledge he's gained over the course of his impressive career to FanVestor,
"FanVestor should be the true disrupter by bringing capital markets to the Web3 space in a fully compliant way that will protect creators and fans while empowering ownership for both."
Alex Luke brings an immense amount of expertise as an accomplished Media & Music Executive, with over twenty years in digital music, Venture Capital, A&R, and radio broadcasting. Alex has spearheaded projects and developed strategy for some of the most reputable brands in the music industry. While taking on this new role as Managing Director for FanVestor, he has simultaneously co-founded Decentralized Music, the music arm of the company for Web3 funding and Web2 artist development, as well as being a Board Advisor for SpokenLayer, a leader in short-form audio creation and production. Previous to his current roles, Alex's career spans an impressive resume including being the Senior Vice President of Digital Content for SiriusXM, Head of Global Programming & Content Strategy for Amazon Music, Head of Worldwide Music Programming & Label Relations at Apple, and Vice President of Music Programming at Napter Group. His first introduction to music started in radio programming, leading him into A&R where he worked with the likes of Katy Perry, David Guetta, The Beastie Boys, and many others, as well as overseeing all customer-facing editorial and original content initiatives. Alex will take on this new position at FanVestor confidently, with his proven track record of leading companies and passion for the space,
"Web3 offers incredible opportunities to redefine the relationship between artists and their fans and FanVestor's architecture brings transparency for artists and compliance for investors. The opportunity, particularly in music, is tremendous, and I'm psyched to be part of the team."
FanVestor is a single platform for fan-funded business ventures. We specialize in creator-driven securities and NFTs, giving fans the means to invest or participate in the business ventures of content creators in music, entertainment and sports. As a set of additional services for our creators, we offer the mechanics to power e-commerce, charitable initiatives and sweepstakes to further support their ventures. Founded by Michael Golomb, an innovator in the world of business and fintech, FanVestor was designed to give athletes, actors, artists, music celebrities, fashion icons, and all creators a safe space alongside their peers, to leverage influence and offer fans an opportunity to participate financially in key projects. For more information, please visit www.fanvestor.com | @fanvestor
MEDIA CONTACT
NOISE
Maria Riordan
maria@noise.com
631.339.1281
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE FanVestor | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/fanvestor-announces-appointment-russell-redeaux-chief-business-officer-amp-alex-luke-managing-director/ | 2022-08-01T20:01:08Z |
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria’s leader says he will move forward with a minority government following the withdrawal of one of the four parties from the country’s centrist coalition government.
“A minority government is better than one that is under constant pressure and extortion (from a coalition partner),” Prime Minister Kiril Petkov told reporters on Wednesday.
Three ministers of the populist There Is Such a People party left the government, among them Foreign Minister Teodora Genchovska, putting the future of the governing coalition in jeopardy. Their party leader, Slavi Trifonov, cited disagreements with the revision of the state budget proposed by the prime minister, accusing him of leading the country toward bankruptcy by raising new debt.
Trifonov also accused the prime minister of ignoring Bulgaria’s national interests by making concessions to neighboring North Macedonia so it can start European Union accession talks.
“As of today, I am withdrawing our ministers and I am putting an end to this coalition and this agony,” Trifonov said.
The ruling four-party coalition commands 134 seats in the 240-seat National Assembly, but without the support of Trifonov’s 25 legislators it would be left short of a majority. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/bulgarias-ruling-coalition-threatened-by-defections/ | 2022-06-08T23:37:04Z |
Findings from 2020-2021 school year buck national trend of sluggish math gains caused by pandemic-related disruptions to learning.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study released today shows students who use MAP Accelerator, a personalized math tool jointly developed by Khan Academy and NWEA, achieve greater-than-projected gains in math. The initial findings suggest that the supplemental classroom tool may be an effective way to address unfinished learning from the pandemic, according to researchers.
The study was conducted in the height of the pandemic during the 2020-21 school year. The sample includes more than 180,000 students in third through eighth grades from 649 schools. Study results showed a number of benefits with 30 minutes of use:
- On average, test-score gains were 19% larger than projected.
- Scores increased across all grade levels.
- Scores increased across gender, race/ethnicity and poverty level.
"I think it's important to remember the enormous challenges students faced in the 2020-2021 school year," said Khan Academy founder Sal Khan. "Despite the circumstances, the students in this study who used MAP Accelerator as recommended made gains in math that are larger than projected, even for a pre-pandemic school year."
The study analyzed data from MAP Growth, a computer-adaptive assessment developed by NWEA, the not-for-profit research and educational services provider. MAP Growth is administered several times per year and taken by more than a quarter of U.S. students. MAP Growth scores are automatically imported into MAP Accelerator to generate a personalized, mastery-based learning plan for every student.
"Waverly Middle School adopted MAP Accelerator to respond to unfinished learning that had occurred due to the COVID-19-related school disruptions," said Elizabeth McIntosh, director of curriculum and instruction at Waverly Central School District in Waverly, New York. "The tool is a great way to support our kids in meeting them where they are instructionally. Our students find it highly engaging while helping them with core instruction, filling gaps, and putting them on a ramp to success."
The results of the study suggest a positive and significant relationship between using MAP Accelerator and score gains on the MAP Growth assessment.
A grade-level view shows student gains. The purple, horizontal lines below represent projected gains based on NWEA norms. The green bars depict gains for students who used MAP Accelerator for at least 30 minutes per week.
For example, fifth-grade students who used MAP Accelerator for 30 minutes per week grew an average 18% more than projected, gaining 1.7 points above pre-pandemic norms.
"The results of this study offer a lot of hope for addressing the impacts of this pandemic, which has disproportionately hit some of our most underserved populations," said NWEA CEO Chris Minnich. "It underscores the importance of increased opportunities for students to engage with targeted math content, and a tool like MAP Accelerator makes it possible for teachers to do that efficiently."
For an explanation of math RIT scores, please see Normative Data & RIT Scores.
For more detailed information on the research findings, please see the technical report.
A personalized learning tool for grades three through eight, MAP Accelerator reduces the manual work of differentiating math instruction by automatically integrating Clever class rosters, MAP Growth scores and Khan Academy content to generate learning pathways — complete with lessons, instructional videos and practice problems. Teachers can adjust individual student goals and learning pathways as students master new skills and concepts. District and school administrators can track usage and monitor the effectiveness of MAP Accelerator with easy-to-use reporting dashboards. MAP Accelerator is available in English and Spanish.
NWEA® (formerly known as Northwest Evaluation Association) is a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization that supports students and educators in more than 146 countries through research, assessment solutions, policy and advocacy services, professional learning and school improvement services that fight for equity, drive classroom impact and push for systemic change in our educational communities. Visit NWEA.org to learn more about how we're partnering with educators to help all kids learn. For media inquiries, please contact Simona Beattie, Sr. Manager, Public Relations, at simona.beattie@nwea.org or (971) 361-9526.
Khan Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Our platforms include more than 70,000 practice problems, videos, quizzes and articles that cover a range of preK-12 subjects, including math, science, humanities and Official SAT Practice. Khan Academy's mastery-based learning system allows students to learn key concepts at a pace that's right for them before moving on to more challenging content. Worldwide, more than 135 million registered learners have used Khan Academy in 190 countries and 51 languages. For more information, please submit a media inquiry at our press center or call (650) 429-8154.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE NWEA | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/students-who-use-math-tool-30-minutes-per-week-achieve-better-than-projected-math-gains/ | 2022-08-16T10:24:45Z |
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded GovCIO the Health Services Portfolio Technical Management and Strategic Solutioning Support contract, which has a total value of $390 million.
This contract is a follow-on effort to GovCIO's existing Health Portfolio Program Management Office and Technical Support contract, which began in 2018. Over the next five years, GovCIO will continue to provide IT program management, technical management, and strategic solutioning support for the VA Office of Information and Technology's (OIT) Health Services Portfolio, currently composed of approximately 450 products within nine product lines and two product offices.
"GovCIO is incredibly pleased to continue our partnership with VA OIT's Health Services Portfolio. Our team is committed to ensuring Veterans and their loved ones receive the best possible healthcare," said Jim Brabston, GovCIO CEO.
Using a comprehensive, scalable portfolio management approach and evidence-based, data-driven analyses, GovCIO will use modern Agile and DevSecOps practices to provide robust and seamless service delivery support that can continually meet the increasing and evolving needs of VA OIT's Health Services Portfolio. Specific work areas will include IT product line management, product management, technical management, financial management, requirements management, implementation management, release management, and schedule support.
"We are incredibly proud of the positive impact GovCIO has had on the VA OIT Health Services Portfolio over the past four years. We look forward to collaborating further with VA OIT to build on these successes and continue delivering the vital IT tools and resources that improve the accessibility, quality, and efficacy of care for Veterans," said Erin Mirsky, GovCIO Veteran and Enterprise Technology Sector Senior Vice-President.
GovCIO is a rapidly growing provider of advanced technology solutions and digital services to the federal government. In the 11 years since its founding, GovCIO has become a leading prime contractor supporting the mission of federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice, Veterans Affairs, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Government Accountability Office, and the Internal Revenue Service. GovCIO's core capabilities are in cybersecurity, digital services, data analytics, digitization, DevSecOps, and IT modernization. Visit www.govcio.com for more information.
Media Contact
Geraldene Darden
Manager, Marketing and Communications
GovCIO
geraldene.darden@govcio.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE GovCIO | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/01/govcio-awarded-390m-contract-department-veterans-affairs/ | 2022-07-01T17:26:19Z |
SHANGHAI, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc. ("Four Seasons Education" or the "Company") (NYSE: FEDU), a leading Shanghai-based education company, today announced that it filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2022, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on June 30, 2022. The annual report can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.sijiedu.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company will provide a hard copy of the annual report containing its audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2022, free of charge, to its shareholders and ADS holders upon request. Requests should be submitted to IR@fsesa.com.
About Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.
Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc. is a Shanghai-based company dedicated to offering diversified smart learning solutions and comprehensive enrichment activities in China. The Company's vision is to maximize a learner's potential by providing access to an engaging learning experience empowered by our technology and content capabilities. The Company has crafted a wide variety of learning products and services to address learners and customers' evolving needs in well-rounded development. The Company also offers learning technology and content solutions to educational institutions.
For more information, please visit http://ir.sijiedu.com.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
In China:
Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.
Olivia Li
Tel: +86-21-6317 6678
E-mail: IR@fsesa.com
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Jenny Cai
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
E-mail: fourseasons@tpg-ir.com
In the United States:
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
E-mail: fourseasons@tpg-ir.com
View original content:
SOURCE Four Seasons Education Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/four-seasons-education-files-fiscal-year-2022-annual-report-form-20-f/ | 2022-06-30T22:07:36Z |
Whale shark study finds collisions with large vessels may be factor in population decline
By Michael Lee
Click here for updates on this story
May 14, 2022 (CTV Network) — A new study out of the United Kingdom is pointing to collisions with large marine vessels as a possible reason for the years-long decline in whale shark populations. Marine biologists from the Marine Biological Association and University of Southampton led the study, started in 2019 and published earlier this month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which tracked the movements of ships and whale sharks around the world. The researchers said lethal collisions are vastly underestimated and that their work shows more than 90 per cent of whale shark movements overlapped with global fleets of cargo, tanker, passenger and fishing vessels. The team satellite-tracked the movements of 348 individual whale sharks, tagged between 2005 and 2019 in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, and mapped out their various “hotspots.” The researchers submitted the data to the Global Shark Movement Project, which is led by the Marine Biological Association. “The maritime shipping industry that allows us to source a variety of everyday products from all over the world may be causing the decline of whale sharks, which are a hugely important species in our oceans,” Freya Womersley, a University of Southampton PhD researcher who led the study as part of the Global Shark Movement Project, said in a press release. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species lists the whale shark as endangered. Described as “slow-moving ocean giants,” the researchers said whale sharks can grow up to 20 metres in length and help regulate plankton levels in the ocean by feeding on microscopic zooplankton. The researchers said whale shark numbers have been falling in recent years in many locations. However, the reasons why are not entirely clear. Since whale sharks spend a large amount of time in surface water and gather in coastal regions, experts thought collisions with ships could be causing “substantial” deaths. The study suggests that whale shark tag transmissions ended more often in busy shipping lanes than expected, even after ruling out technical failure. Of the 61 tracked tags that stopped transmitting on busy routes, more than 85 per cent were unrelated to random technical failure, the study said. The researchers suggest this is likely due to whale sharks being struck and killed, and sinking to the ocean floor. “Incredibly, some of the tags recording depth as well as location showed whale sharks moving into shipping lanes and then sinking slowly to the seafloor hundreds of metres below, which is the ‘smoking gun’ of a lethal ship strike,” said Prof. David Sims, Global Shark Movement Project founder and senior research fellow at the Marine Biological Association and University of Southampton. “It is sad to think that many deaths of these incredible animals have occurred globally due to ships without us even knowing to take preventative measures.” The research team said there are currently no international regulations to protect whale sharks against ship collisions, and that this “hidden mortality” may be occurring with other marine megafauna. “Collectively we need to put time and energy into developing strategies to protect this endangered species from commercial shipping now, before it is too late,” Womersley said, “so that the largest fish on Earth can withstand threats that are predicted to intensify in future, such as changing ocean climates.”
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
Matthew Talbotmatthew.talbot@bellmedia.ca | https://localnews8.com/cnn-regional/2022/05/15/whale-shark-study-finds-collisions-with-large-vessels-may-be-factor-in-population-decline/ | 2022-05-15T23:06:26Z |
Recognized in Nevada for Second Consecutive Year; Ten Total Top Workplaces
Awards Wins in Last Year
LAS VEGAS, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Everi Holdings Inc. (NYSE: EVRI) ("Everi" or "the Company"), a premier provider of land-based and digital casino gaming content and products, financial technology, and player loyalty solutions, today announced that the Company was recognized by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Business Press with a 2022 Nevada Top Workplaces® award.
Everi was named to the Nevada Top Workplaces list for the second consecutive year, with this most recent recognition marking a total of 10 "Top Workplaces" awards over the past year. In 2022, Everi earned four "Culture Excellence" awards from Top Workplaces and was named to the prestigious category of "Top Workplaces USA 2022." In 2021, the Company received the "Greater Austin Top Workplaces 2021" distinction from The Austin American-Statesman. It also earned national plaudits, winning two Top Workplaces 2021 Culture Excellence Awards for "Direction" and for "Remote Work". Everi's India offices also received an annual certification as a "Great Place to Work®" from the Great Place to Work Institute in India, which is based on positive employee feedback gathered through an independent employee engagement survey.
"We are honored to be recognized again for our diligent work to create a positive company culture and shared values across multiple office locations in Nevada as well as with our talented team of remote employees," said Randy Taylor, Everi President and CEO. "As these awards are based upon direct feedback from our dedicated team members, they demonstrate the view of our workforce and serve to hold us accountable to live up to our core values and make Everi a unique place to work."
Issued by Energage, the research company with more than 16 years of experience surveying over 27 million employees at 70,000 organizations, Top Workplaces awards are based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization, including: alignment, execution, and connection, among others.
"Top Workplaces is a beacon of light for organizations as well as a sign of resiliency and impressive performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business."
About Everi
Everi's mission is to lead the gaming industry through the power of people, imagination, and technology. Focused on player engagement and assisting our casino customers to operate more efficiently, the Company develops entertaining game content and gaming machines, gaming systems, and services for land-based and iGaming operators. The Company is also the preeminent provider of trusted financial technology solutions that power the casino floor while improving operational efficiencies and fulfilling regulatory compliance requirements, including products and services that facilitate convenient and secure cash and cashless financial transactions, self-service player loyalty tools and applications, and regulatory and intelligence software. For more information, please visit www.everi.com, which is updated regularly with financial and other information about the Company.
About Energage
Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 14 years of culture research and the results from 23 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.
Join Everi on Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/everi_inc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/everi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EveriHoldingsInc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everi_inc
Contacts:
Everi Media Relations
Dona Cassese
VP, Marketing
(702) 556-7133 or dona.cassese@everi.com
Mike Young
Corporate Communications Specialist
(702) 518-9179 or mike.young@everi.com
Everi Investor Relations
William Pfund
SVP, Investor Relations
702) 676-9513 or william.pfund@everi.com
JCIR
Richard Land, James Leahy
(212) 835-8500 or evri@jcir.com
"Top Workplaces" is a registered trademark of Energage, LLC. Used with permission.
"Great Place to Work" is a registered trademark of Great Place to Work Institute, Inc.
Used with permission.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Everi Holdings Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/everi-named-nevada-top-workplaces-list-by-las-vegas-review-journal-las-vegas-business-press/ | 2022-06-08T16:40:45Z |
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The easiest thing for the Florida Panthers this summer would have been to maintain the status quo, especially after posting the NHL’s best record.
The Panthers went a different way.
Matthew Tkachuk was introduced Monday as the team’s newest addition, three days after the Panthers and Calgary completed a trade that sent Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt and a conditional first-round draft pick to the Flames.
It was the latest big move for Florida, which earlier this summer hired Paul Maurice to take over for Andrew Brunette — a coach of the year finalist as an interim for the Panthers this past season — and now parts ways with both the franchise’s all-time leading scorer in Huberdeau and a defenseman in Weegar who led the team in skater minutes over the past two seasons.
“The changes we’ve made were made with the team and organization’s best interest at heart,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said. “And all for different reasons in each instance. In each instance, to be honest, we’ve acquired somebody who’s extraordinary.”
The Panthers believe extraordinary is the right word for Tkachuk, a 24-year-old coming off his first 100-point season. The organization will never speak in anything but superlatives with regard to Huberdeau — Zito made sure to laud both him and Weegar in his opening remarks Monday — but Tkachuk brings a different style, one that Florida thinks it may have been lacking.
“I bring a certain swagger,” Tkachuk said.
He had Florida at the top of his list of preferred destinations when deciding that he wouldn’t sign a long-term extension with Calgary. The Panthers were a top pick for many reasons: young core, the chance to play alongside Florida captain Aleksander Barkov (“top-two player in the NHL, and that’s a fact,” Tkachuk said), and even the chance to wear flip-flops to work most days.
Barkov is under contract for eight years. So is Tkachuk.
“I don’t think it’s a secret that obviously some of the attributes that Matthew brings are areas of the game that we could really use collectively in our group,” Zito said. “So, when that materialized as a reality, then rather quickly, we had to decide that this was something to pursue.”
Tkachuk had career bests of 42 goals, 62 assists and 104 points for Calgary. Huberdeau tied a career best with 30 goals for Florida, plus set marks with 85 assists and 115 points — both of those being franchise records for the Panthers.
The trade was agreed to Friday afternoon in principle and was completed late Friday night, leading to some surprise phone calls.
“It was a big shock for me,” Huberdeau said Monday when he and Weegar were introduced by the Flames. “It’s part of life. Now we have to go forward.”
Weegar had similar emotions: “I get the part of the hockey business and that side of it.”
Zito said the Panthers clearly understood that they had to give something — a lot, in this case — to get something. Tkachuk is five years younger than Huberdeau, which made some sense from planning out where the franchise will be years down the line.
And he immediately began making fans in Florida. With Calgary, Tkachuk embraced an all-Alberta rivalry with Edmonton. Now with the Panthers, he becomes rivals with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the team that swept Florida from the second round.
“I hate Edmonton,” Tkachuk said. “But I hate Tampa more now.”
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/panthers-welcome-tkachuk-the-latest-big-move-of-the-summer/ | 2022-07-26T11:00:10Z |
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Weber Inc. ("Weber" or the "Company") (NYSE: WEBR).
Class Period: August 2021 IPO
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 27, 2022
If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Weber lawsuit, you can submit your contact information at www.glancylaw.com/cases/weber-inc/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at shareholders@glancylaw.com to learn more about your rights.
The complaint filed alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Weber was reasonably likely to implement price increases; (2) that, as a result, consumer demand for Weber's products was reasonably likely to decrease; (3) that, due to the resulting inventory buildup, Weber was reasonably likely to run promotions to "enhance retail sell through"; (4) that the foregoing would adversely impact Weber's financial results; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects, were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
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 Charles Linehan, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to shareholders@glancylaw.com, or visit our website at www.glancylaw.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.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/webr-investors-have-opportunity-lead-weber-inc-securities-fraud-lawsuit/ | 2022-09-01T15:22:16Z |
NFT Launch Continues Orange Comet's Expansion Into International Markets; First Drop Scheduled for October 2022
LOS ANGELES, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange Comet, Inc., a premium NFT (Non-Fungible Token) creative media and Web3 experience company today announced its continued global expansion with a worldwide, multi-year partnership with Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, a leading professional wrestling organization based in Mexico City, Mexico, with fans around the world. The initial drop will take place in October 2022.
The NFT partnership coincides with the 30th anniversary of Lucha Libre AAA in 2022, with special Triplemanía XXX pay-per-view events taking place throughout the year. The first NFT drop will coincide with the final Triplemanía XXX deathmatch event of 2022 on October 15 in Mexico City where a mask will fall.
"We're honored that Orange Comet's next advancement in the global NFT marketplace is with such a deep-rooted phenomenon as Lucha Libre AAA," said Dave Broome, CEO, Orange Comet. "Luchadores are important cultural symbols with diverse, rich histories, incredible stories, and most of all passion for their sport and their fans. Our NFT collection will hold this passion and dedication as the top priority."
"Orange Comet is one of the most trusted names in sports NFTs and we're thrilled to be partnering with them on creative, vibrant new ideas for Lucha Libre AAA and our incredible fanbase," said Dorian Roldan, General Manager of Lucha Libre AAA. "Bringing luchadores to the metaverse has never been done before and we're looking forward to seeing the reaction from our audiences around the globe."
Sign up to stay informed around upcoming Lucha Libre AAA drops at http://www.OrangeComet.com/collection/lucha-libre-aaa.
ABOUT ORANGE COMET
Orange Comet is a premium content creation company focused on producing high quality and disruptive NFT digital collectibles and Web3 experiences. The Company's team brings together some of the world's leading and award-winning media creators, producers, and artists to partner with the biggest brands, IP and talent across music, sports, arts and entertainment. By blending super-creative content and game-changing technology, our mission is to create groundbreaking NFT experiences for the passionate fan bases of our clients, simultaneously unlocking new levels of interest, engagement and revenue. Co-founded by Hollywood veteran producer, Dave Broome, NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner and Grammy award-winning music icons Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Orange Comet is powered by a passionate group of people that believe the future of all entertainment and media is on the verge of major disruptive change through a variety of blockchain experiences. Dedicated to blockchain sustainability, Orange Comet runs on green servers and builds a carbon-negative solution in the NFT space, including partnering with eco-conscious blockchains. Our collective diversity in background, expertise and industries, works to help our clients shape their businesses for the emerging Metaverse of opportunities that awaits. For more information, visit us at OrangeComet.com, as well as on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
ABOUT LUCHA LIBRE AAA WORLDWIDE
Considered as the top leading Mexican company in Lucha Libre production and promotion, with a presence of 30 years in the entertainment industry, AAA was founded in 1992 by Antonio Peña Herrada. AAA produce international events in several countries including México, United States, Canada, Colombia and Japan. Among the innovative milestones of the franchise are the animated movie "Sin Límite de Tiempo"; and the videogame known as "La Lucha Libre Héroes del Ring" or its most recent partnership with Garena´s Battle Royale game "Free Fire" and Amazon´s Alexa Division for a Lucha Libre AAA Skill. AAA as a Live Touring company has more than 450 events a year, generating more than 260 hours of content for a captive and recurrent audience, with more than 400M viewers and enthusiasts tuning AAA shows on FITE, Pro Wrestling TV, TBS´s SPACE Channel, TV Azteca, MultimediosTV, Facebook Watch, Meta Quest, Oculus TV, YouTube and PLUTO TV. Bardhal, USG, Charlie Group, are blue chip sponsor brands present in Lucha Libre AAA. For more info please visit www.luchalibreaaa.com.
PR Contacts:
Orange Comet
OrangeComet@id-pr.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Orange Comet | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/orange-comet-signs-multi-year-nft-partnership-with-leading-professional-wrestling-league-lucha-libre-aaa-worldwide/ | 2022-06-22T17:20:51Z |
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcellx, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACLX), a biotechnology company reimagining cell therapy through the development of innovative immunotherapies for patients with cancer and other incurable diseases, today announced that management will participate in a fireside chat at the Morgan Stanley 20th Annual Global Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at 3:30 p.m. ET.
A live webcast of the discussion will be accessible from Arcellx's website at www.arcellx.com in the Investor section. A replay of the webcast will be archived and available for 30 days following the event.
Arcellx, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company reimagining cell therapy by engineering innovative immunotherapies for patients with cancer and other incurable diseases. Arcellx believes that cell therapies are one of the forward pillars of medicine and Arcellx's mission is to advance humanity by developing cell therapies that are safer, more effective, and more broadly accessible. Arcellx's lead product candidate, CART-ddBCMA, is being developed for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM) in an ongoing Phase 1 study. CART-ddBCMA has been granted Fast Track, Orphan Drug, and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Arcellx is also advancing its dosable and controllable CAR-T therapy, ARC-SparX, through two programs: a Phase 1 study of ACLX-001 for r/r MM, initiated in the second quarter of 2022; and ACLX-002 in relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome, expected to enter the clinic in the second half of 2022.
Visit www.arcellx.com for more information.
This press release contains 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. All statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including Arcellx's expectations regarding the timing of clinical trials for its product candidates. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based upon Arcellx's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including those set forth in Part I, Item 1A (Risk Factors) of Arcellx's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other reports, including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, that Arcellx may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Arcellx assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Investor Contact:
Myesha Lacy
Arcellx, Inc.
ir@arcellx.com
510-418-2412
Media Contact
Andrea Cohen
Sam Brown Inc.
andreacohen@sambrown.com
917-209-7163
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Arcellx, Inc | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/arcellx-announces-participation-morgan-stanley-20th-annual-global-healthcare-conference/ | 2022-09-07T21:10:53Z |
Dickson Comets
Dickson Comets Preview
ARDMORE, Okla. (KXII) - Matt Suffal and the Dickson Comets are coming off of a tough season in which they finished with just a 1-9 record. Yet, year two under Suffal is looking like a complete turnaround with the Comets ready to soar this season.
“There’s 12 seniors right now and they’re really excited about changing the culture here. We haven’t been great for a while honestly. Last time we were in the playoffs it was 2018 but, now they know the culture has changed and we’re going to be competing with everybody,” said head coach Matt Suffal.
The Comets senior class has finally embraced this change in culture too, helping the team buy-in to the vision coach Suffal has for the Dickson program.
Dickson quarterback Jzavionn Bennett said, “It’s mostly started with him coming in as our coach and with the culture that he’s set for us. We’ve started to buy into it and it’s really brought us a lot closer together. “
The culture isn’t the only change that coach Suffal has made either, as the Comets strength and conditioning program has seen an overhaul as well.
“We have a way bigger and way stronger o-line than we did last year, so we can protect the quarterback and the running back a lot better and we just feel like we’re getting better at every position. I think this year we’re more committed, bigger, stronger and ready to go,” said Dickson offensive lineman Chase Stewart.
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/17/dickson-comets/ | 2022-08-17T02:02:33Z |
HOUSTON, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) was awarded a 2022 Global Impact Award by the International Stability Operations Association (ISOA) for its role in Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and Refugee Resettlement Operations (large company category). ISOA is an organization that strategically engages both government and private sectors in support of stability and peace operations throughout the world. Ella Studer, Senior Vice President of Readiness and Sustainment for KBR Government Solutions U.S., accepted the award on behalf of KBR at ISOA's awards dinner in Tysons, VA.
The award recognizes KBR for its unprecedented contribution to the humanitarian effort, known as Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), following the collapse of the Afghanistan government in August 2021. KBR contributed to the massive effort in two indispensable ways: the rapid deployment of vital infrastructure across nine sites in the U.S. and Europe to support approximately 58,000 displaced Afghans, and the round-the-clock coordination and assistance of Afghan SIV applications.
Through its support of U.S. Northern and European Commands under the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) contract and the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Global Contingency Services Contract (GCSC), KBR constructed infrastructure equivalent to small cities on greenfield sites at military installations in the U.S. and Europe to house displaced Afghans during the resettlement process. Not only did KBR provide basic food, shelter and living assistance, but also halal meal options with appropriate cultural food preparation requirements, internet access, medical and dental services, transportation, laundry, morale and recreation services, and cultural assistance to help transition Afghans to life in the U.S.
"Even with our years of experience mobilizing at a moment's notice and deploying vital infrastructure in support of the U.S. Government, this was a colossal undertaking," shared Stuart Bradie, KBR's President and CEO. "I am extremely proud of the KBR team and our partners for their hard work and dedication to OAW. Earning the 2022 ISOA Global Impact Award is both a well-earned and much-deserved achievement. And true to our commitment to Zero Harm, we fully restored the greenfield sites at the end of the operation."
KBR also launched an immense, coordinated effort to assist with Afghan SIV applications. Internally, KBR put together a Quick Reaction Team consisting of employees from legal, human resources, records management, operations, and communications specifically to respond to requests for letters verifying employment so that former Afghan employees could apply for SIVs.
Byron Bright, President of KBR Government Solutions, led an effort with his senior counterparts at other large businesses operating in Afghanistan to help coordinate and expedite the industry's response to this humanitarian effort.
"Over the years, KBR hired thousands of Afghans, and we had an urgent responsibility to help them secure the required documentation to process their SIVs," said Bright. "I have a tremendous sense of gratitude for everyone at KBR who dedicated themselves to this effort and worked closely with the U.S. Department of Defense and State Department to provide more than 8,300 employment records to process Afghan SIVs. We know lives were saved because of this work."
We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 28,000 people performing diverse, complex and mission critical roles in 34 countries.
KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long- term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.
Visit www.kbr.com
The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the significant adverse impacts on economic and market conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the company's ability to respond to the resulting challenges and business disruption; the recent dislocation of the global energy market; the company's ability to manage its liquidity; the outcome of and the publicity surrounding audits and investigations by domestic and foreign government agencies and legislative bodies; potential adverse proceedings by such agencies and potential adverse results and consequences from such proceedings; changes in capital spending by the company's customers; the company's ability to obtain contracts from existing and new customers and perform under those contracts; structural changes in the industries in which the company operates; escalating costs associated with and the performance of fixed-fee projects and the company's ability to control its cost under its contracts; claims negotiations and contract disputes with the company's customers; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas; protection of intellectual property rights; compliance with environmental laws; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements; compliance with laws related to income taxes; unsettled political conditions, war and the effects of terrorism; foreign operations and foreign exchange rates and controls; the development and installation of financial systems; the possibility of cyber and malware attacks; increased competition for employees; the ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; and operations of joint ventures, including joint ventures that are not controlled by the company.
The company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks, and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that the company has identified that may affect its business, results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE KBR, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/kbr-wins-2022-isoa-global-impact-award-unprecedented-humanitarian-effort/ | 2022-06-16T10:30:43Z |
WAXAHACHIE, Texas, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors and management team of Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc. (NASDAQ: MEOA), the first minority-led special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market ("NASDAQ"), announced today that it had signed a definitive business combination agreement to merge with Digerati Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: DTGI) ("Digerati"), a Hispanic-led and founded provider of cloud services specializing in UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) solutions for the small to medium-sized business market.
Digerati and MEOA will merge to create a combined company listed on NASDAQ. The all-stock transaction forms a company with an initial equity value of approximately $228 million translating into an enterprise value of approximately $145 million, assuming no redemptions from MEOA's shareholders.
The current Digerati management team, led by Arthur L. Smith, will continue to run the Company. Corporate directors for the new entity are current Digerati directors and two new directors, including Shawn D. Rochester, President and CEO of MEOA.
"MEOA's merger announcement with Digerati personifies our mission, vision and purpose," Mr. Rochester said. "Digerati is a minority founded and led business with (1) a very diverse management team (with its CEO, CFO, and EVP of Sales being of Hispanic ethnicity) that has developed great products and solutions, and staked out a strong competitive position in the marketplace, (2) an employee base that is almost 50% minority and (3) a UCaaS platform that has the ability to help empower over 20 million minority and women owned small businesses through its first-class suite of communications products. In addition to our proposed business combination with Digerati, MEOA's deep commitment to equity, inclusion, diverse representation and maximizing shareholder value is further exemplified by our use of a diverse spectrum of extraordinary third-party service providers (and teams within service providers) that are owned and or led by African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Women."
"Our merger with MEOA positions Digerati for continued growth in a rapidly expanding and highly fragmented market," said Arthur L. Smith, CEO of Digerati. "We believe a business combination with MEOA will facilitate the acceleration of our M&A strategy in a market with a healthy pipeline of acquisition targets and contribute to the combined company's organic growth as we continue providing small to medium-sized businesses with solutions and superior customer service."
PGP Capital Advisors, LLC and Vaughan Capital Advisors, LLC acted as financial advisors to MEOA and Pryor Cashman LLP acted as legal counsel for MEOA. Maxim Group LLC acted as financial advisor and Lucosky Brookman acted as legal counsel to Digerati in connection with the transaction.
Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc. is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, organized under the laws of Delaware and formed to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with companies that are minority owned, led or founded.
Digerati Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: DTGI) is a provider of cloud services specializing in UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) solutions for the business market. Through its operating subsidiaries NextLevel Internet (NextLevelinternet.com), T3 Communications (T3com.com), Nexogy (Nexogy.com), and SkyNet Telecom (Skynettelecom.net), Digerati is meeting the global needs of small businesses seeking simple, flexible, reliable, and cost-effective communication and network solutions including, cloud PBX, cloud telephony, cloud WAN, cloud call center, cloud mobile, and the delivery of digital oxygen on its broadband network. Digerati has developed a robust integration platform to fuel mergers and acquisitions in a highly fragmented market. as it delivers business solutions on its carrier-grade network and Only in the Cloud™. For more information, please visit www.digerati-inc.com and follow DTGI on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
This press release is being made in respect of the proposed business combination transaction involving MEOA and Digerati. The parties intend to file a registration statement on Form S-4 (or such other form as they might determine to be applicable) with the SEC, which will include a proxy statement for MEOA and Digerati shareholders and which will also serve as a prospectus related to offers and sales of the securities of the combined entity ("Pubco"). MEOA will also file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. A definitive proxy statement/prospectus will also be sent to the stockholders of MEOA and Digerati, seeking required stockholder approval. Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and security holders of MEOA and Digerati are urged to carefully read the entire registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus, when they become available, and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to these documents, because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction. The documents filed with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
In addition, the documents filed with the SEC may be obtained free of charge from MEOA's website at https://www.meoaus.com and from Digerati's website at https://digerati-inc.com.
MEOA, Digerati and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders, in favor of the approval of the merger. Information regarding MEOA's and Digerati's directors and executive officers and other persons who may be deemed participants in the solicitation may be obtained by reading the registration statement and the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available. Free copies of these documents may be obtained as described above.
This press release includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters.
These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the terms and conditions of the proposed business combination and related transactions disclosed herein, the timing of the consummation of such transactions, assumptions regarding shareholder redemptions and the anticipated benefits and financial position of the parties resulting therefrom. These statements are based on various assumptions and/or on the current expectations of MEOA or Digerati's management. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by any investor or other person as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of MEOA and/or Digerati. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; the amount of redemption requests made by MEOA's public shareholders; NASDAQ's approval of MEOA's initial listing application; changes in the assumptions underlying Digerati's expectations regarding its future business; the effects of competition on Digerati's future business; and the outcome of judicial proceedings to which Digerati is, or may become a party.
If the risks materialize or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Digerati and MEOA presently do not know or currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect expectations, assumptions, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Digerati and MEOA anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause these assessments to change. However, while Digerati and/or MEOA may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, each of Digerati and MEOA specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Digerati's or MEOA (or their respective affiliates') assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.
View original content:
SOURCE Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/minority-equality-opportunities-acquisition-inc-announces-merger-with-hispanic-led-founded-cloud-services-company-digerati-technologies/ | 2022-09-06T11:34:57Z |
Group-IB's platform understands who your attackers are and optimizes defenses against them
SINGAPORE, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Group-IB, one of the global leaders in cybersecurity headquartered in Singapore, has today unveiled the Unified Risk Platform, an ecosystem of solutions that understands each organization's threat profile and tailors defenses against them in real time. Every product and service in Group-IB's now consolidated security suite is enriched with information from a Single Data Lake, which contains 60 types of sources of adversary intelligence. The Unified Risk Platform automatically configures your defenses with the precise insights needed to provide the best possible defense against targeted attacks on the infrastructure and endpoints, breaches, fraud, brand and IP abuse.
At the heart of the Unified Risk Platform is a Single Data Lake which has the most complete and detailed insight into threat actors. Group-IB has collected the industry's broadest range of adversary intelligence, with 60 types of sources across 15 categories. The data is gathered by and exclusive to Group-IB, providing customers with unprecedented visibility of threat actors' operations. The raw data is enriched with context, converted into actionable intelligence, and added to Group-IB's Single Data Lake. The patented technology is continuously refined by state-of-the-art research, science, and modeling conducted by Group-IB's dedicated analyst teams spanning 11 cybersecurity disciplines.
The modular architecture of the Unified Risk Platform allows additional capabilities to be easily activated, providing increased protection from cybercrime without friction. A range of out-of-the-box integrations and flexible APIs enable the Unified Risk Platform to easily enhance any existing security ecosystem. When organizations need specialist support, Group-IB's comprehensive suite of services is available for any purpose, from one-off red teaming exercises or incident response to in-life managed detection and response.
In addition to the services, every Group-IB product is powered by the platform to provide complete coverage of the Cyber Response Chain:
- Threat Intelligence provides deep insight into adversary behaviors. Threat Intelligence was independently evaluated as creating a 10% increase in team efficiency over alternative vendors and in a case study generated a 339% return on investment.
- Managed XDR enables organizations to respond 20% faster to threats, according to an analyst study.
- Digital Risk Protection allows organizations to reduce the risk of brand-impersonating scams, digital piracy, data leaks, and more with best-in-breed protection.
- Fraud Protection was calculated by consultants to reduce the rate of false-positive fraud cases by 20% and enable 10% to 20% more fraud attempts to be detected and prevented.
- Attack Surface Management continuously discovers external assets to identify shadow IT, forgotten infrastructure, misconfigurations, and other hidden risks. As part of the Unified Risk Platform, the solution provides a threat actor's view of the attack surface so that weak spots can be quickly and proactively strengthened.
- Business Email Protection defends corporate email from sophisticated attacks. The solution monitors for indicators of compromise, identifies malicious behavioral markers, and extracts artifacts to identify risky emails before they reach their destination.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Group-IB | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/unified-group-ib-meet-unified-risk-platform/ | 2022-06-30T08:06:42Z |
Missing 2-year-old’s body found in trash can; boy’s mother, her boyfriend arrested, police say
HOUMA, La. (WVUE/Gray News) - Authorities in Louisiana made a grim discovery Tuesday evening while searching for a missing 2-year-old boy.
Louisiana State Police issued an endangered and missing child alert for Ezekiel Harry Tuesday afternoon. Authorities said his mother told them that he was abducted while walking with his siblings.
WVUE reports the Houma Police Department located the boy’s body stuffed in a trash can about six hours after that initial alert.
Houma police detectives said they found information that led them to suspect foul play in the incident.
After the boy’s body was recovered, police said they arrested the boy’s mother Maya Jones, 28, and Jermaine Robinson, 37, described as her live-in boyfriend.
“Both suspects are facing charges relative to first-degree murder, obstruction of justice and other related charges,” Houma Police Department Chief Dana Coleman said in a statement. “Once the suspects are officially charged, additional information will be released.”
Police said the mother initially told them she was walking along the Bayou Terrebonne stream with her four children when someone in a gray truck snatched Ezekiel. But investigators said they quickly found that her account of what happened was inaccurate.
Copyright 2022 WVUE via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/13/missing-2-year-olds-body-found-trash-can-boys-mother-her-boyfriend-arrested-police-say/ | 2022-07-13T02:20:52Z |
RALEIGH, N.C., June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Millennia (the "Company"), a leader in patient payment and patient engagement for hospitals, health systems and medical groups, is excited to announce the addition of Eric Ingram as the new Chief Financial Officer.
Eric comes to Millennia with more than 25 years of experience in financial leadership. He came to Millennia from the same role at Logitix, a leader in the sports and live events ticketing. Prior to Logitix, Eric served as CFO at TractManager where he played a key role in building the company from one standalone healthcare tech solution to a platform of six healthcare technology offerings used in over 3,000 hospitals. Much of Eric's early career was spent in various offices and practices at PricewaterhouseCoopers. With a proven track record of success across multiple industries, Eric looks forward to helping Millennia in its next phase of growth.
"We're thrilled about the vision and growth of Millennia and that includes the addition of talented and passionate leaders," said Scott Glass, Principal at Pamlico Capital. "Eric brings extensive experience growing and scaling healthcare technology companies and will be invaluable as we continue to build out the Millennia platform for the future."
In addition to leading all aspects of finance, accounting and planning, Eric also oversees Human Resources and ensuring long-term and sustainable growth and success as an organization.
"In the short time Eric has been with Millennia, he has already proven himself to be a strategic leader and a change agent for our organization," said Tom Ormondroyd, CEO of Millennia. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team with a focus on growth as a business while innovating for our clients and their patients. We're excited to have Eric on the team as we continue our historic growth."
About Millennia: Millennia is how healthcare providers engage with their patients – from the first appointment to the final payment. It means a better experience for your patients and more revenue for your organization. Founded in 2012, Millennia provides technology-driven patient pay and engagement solutions for more than 1,700 provider locations in 43 states, supporting over 40 million patient interactions every year. Millennia supports clients across all care settings including acute care, post-acute, medical groups and specialty practices. To learn more, visit Millenniapay.com.
Media Contact: Lisa Shackelford, 336-749-3012, lshackelford@millenniapay.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Millennia | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/millennia-welcomes-eric-ingram-its-new-chief-financial-officer/ | 2022-06-16T15:48:54Z |
WOW! recognized for its ongoing commitment to its employees as the company further expands into Florida with plans to reach 150,000 new homes passed
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone (NYSE: WOW), a leading broadband services provider, was recognized by Workforce Research Group and Florida Trend as one of the top 10 Best Companies to Work For in Florida 2022 in the large company category, a particularly meaningful recognition as the company enters new markets in Central Florida. The Best Companies to Work For in Florida list honors companies operating in Florida that have demonstrated dedication to creating a great workplace where employees are eager to give their best effort every day.
WOW! currently serves Pinellas County and Panama City and earlier this year announced plans to expand into Seminole County and Orange County, bringing its reliable, state-of-the-art, all-IP fiber network to a projected 150,000 additional homes passed in Florida. The company also recently acquired a new field operations and warehouse facility in Seminole County to support its Florida expansion and fiber buildout.
"As we increase our Florida footprint with the additions of Seminole County and Orange County, we're honored to be recognized for pioneering excellent workplace practices across employee satisfaction, leadership, culture, benefits, learning opportunities and more," said David Brunick, chief human resources officer of WOW!. "We care deeply about our people and are eager to bring the WOW! culture and employee experience to Central Florida."
WOW! received this award for demonstrated success in the following areas based on an in-depth questionnaire and comprehensive employee survey: general employee experience, role satisfaction, communication and workplace culture, supervisor relationship, technology, training and development, diversity and inclusion, leadership, benefits and work-life balance. The company has been consistently recognized across its markets for its excellent human resources practices, most recently in Atlanta, Denver and Metro Detroit.
To learn more about WOW!, please visit www.wowway.com.
WOW! is one of the nation's leading broadband providers, with an efficient, high-performing network that passes 1.9 million residential, business and wholesale consumers. WOW! provides services in 14 markets, primarily in the Midwest and Southeast, including Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. With an expansive portfolio of advanced services, including high-speed Internet services, cable TV, phone, business data, voice, and cloud services, the company is dedicated to providing outstanding service at affordable prices. WOW! also serves as a leader in exceptional human resources practices, having been recognized eight times by the National Association for Business Resources as a Best & Brightest Company to Work For, winning the award for the last four consecutive years. Visit wowway.com for more information.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE WideOpenWest, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/wow-named-2022-best-company-work-florida/ | 2022-08-03T14:29:55Z |
Lexicala has already won the first deal from a leading international corporation to provide parallel corpora for its machine translation systems
TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexicala, a content provider for Language Service Providers, has launched new multilingual lexical data solutions for the Language Technology industry and academic research.
The solutions feature expert parallel corpora, domain classification, morphology, text annotation, and other premium cross-lingual resources for natural language processing (NLP) tasks.
Lexicala's methodologies and datasets enable infinite ways of extracting components and applying them for machine translation, spellchecking, speech recognition, semantic technologies, knowledge management, language learning, and online dictionaries.
Lexicala offers services for all languages, including translation, classification, annotation, alignment, and other NLP applications. Its parallel corpora have recently been integrated by one of Asia's top information technology conglomerates into its Neural Machine Translation systems.
As part of the agreement, Lexicala provided over 250,000 sentence pairs to train machine learning models and improve the translation engines' performance.
The parallel corpora consisted of usage examples from dictionary entries between the required Asian language and European ones, developed by converging human-created content with smart data generation methods, and followed by thorough human curation of each sentence pair by local language experts.
"The deal with such a leading global player demonstrates Lexicala's ability to offer highest quality cross-lingual lexical data supported by automated processes and perfected by expert linguists and translators," said Ilan Kernerman, CEO of Lexicala by K Dictionaries. "This signifies our company's transition to the world of NLP and illustrates our readiness to provide outstanding services to the Language Technology community."
Lexicala's expert parallel corpora resources contain millions of sentences across more than 20 languages, including low-resourced combinations.
The company will present its new offerings at these upcoming events:
- LITHMI WG1 Computational Linguistics Workshop, September 5-6, Luxembourg
- SEMANTiCS-LTI 2022, September 13-15, Vienna, Austria
- LLODREAM 2022, September 21-22, Vilnius, Lithuania
- TAUS Massively Multilingual Conference & Expo, October 11-13, San Jose, CA
- COLING 2022, October 12-17, Gyeongju, Korea
About Lexicala
Lexicala provides expert resources for machine translation and other NLP applications, offering multilingual lexical data solutions for 50 languages.
Lexicala is a trade name of K Dictionaries, a global leader in creating cross-lingual data resources, established in 1993.
For more information, visit: https://lexicala.com.
Contact:
Karni Berlad Cohen
Marketing Director
Lexicala
+972-524286471
karni@lexicala.com
View original content:
SOURCE Lexicala | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/05/lexicala-launches-new-multilingual-lexical-data-solutions-language-technology-industry/ | 2022-09-05T10:53:00Z |
Which Ion Bluetooth speakers are best?
Ion makes and sells audio electronics ranging from old-fashioned turntables and cassette players to cutting-edge Bluetooth speakers. Ion Bluetooth speakers are particularly popular with customers who want large, portable sound amplifiers for parties, camping trips and other social activities far from home.
The Ion Audio Block Rocker Plus Portable Bluetooth Speaker has a wide range of useful features and built-in accessories, coupled with a long-lasting rechargeable battery.
What to know before you buy an Ion Bluetooth speaker
The primary niche of Ion Bluetooth speakers
Bluetooth speakers are wireless accessories for mobile devices, letting people amplify the volume of music, podcasts and other audio being played on smartphones and tablets. Most Bluetooth speakers can connect wirelessly to other devices from about 33 feet away.
The difference between home audio and outdoor Ion Bluetooth speakers
Bluetooth speakers made for living rooms and other indoor spaces are generally small and often need to stay plugged in. Speakers designed for activities outdoors or in large halls have larger batteries that last a long time away from outlets.
The shared qualities of Ion Bluetooth speakers
Most Ion Bluetooth speakers are large, bulky and sturdy, similar to guitar amplifiers in size and shape. They often come with USB ports people can use to charge their devices, built-in accessories such as AM or FM radios, even party-focused features including flashing lights or built-in beer can openers.
What to look for in a quality Ion Bluetooth speaker
A durable, waterproof design
Most Ion Bluetooth speakers are designed to be used during parties and gatherings in parks, backyards and other outdoor spaces with varying weather conditions. For this reason, those searching for a quality Bluetooth speaker should seek out Ion products with a tough outer casing that’s resistant to water, and woofers that can play high-volume music for prolonged periods without wearing out.
A strong Bluetooth connection
Most Bluetooth speakers can connect with Bluetooth-compatible devices from a range of about 33 feet, but certain speakers vary in signal range or signal strength. When purchasing a new speaker, study its technical specifications to see if it can quickly connect to mobile devices and play their audio without any notable dip in quality.
Long battery life
Ideally, you should be able to take an outdoor Bluetooth speaker on a camping trip to the middle of nowhere, blast loud music for a few hours every night, then use it to charge your mobile devices. Search for speakers with large, efficient batteries that can power their core functions for at least a few days.
How much you can expect to spend on Ion Bluetooth speakers
Most outdoor Ion Bluetooth speakers cost $150-$335, while Ion speakers designed for indoor use can cost as little as $69.
Ion Bluetooth speakers FAQ
Q. What are woofers, subwoofers and equalizers?
A. Woofers are loudspeakers designed to play both low- and high-frequency sounds, while subwoofers are specialized woofers engineered to play bass and other low-pitched sounds. Equalizers are software filters for adjusting the loudness of the sounds produced by a speaker’s array of woofers and subwoofers, making sure no one sound drowns the other sounds out.
Q. What other functions can Ion Bluetooth speakers have?
A. Large Bluetooth speakers often double as charging stations for mobile devices, thanks to their large built-in batteries. Bluetooth speakers designed for outdoor activities also tend to have helpful features such as built-in radios, or microphones for events such as public speaking or karaoke.
What’s the best Ion Bluetooth speaker to buy?
Top Ion Bluetooth speaker
Ion Audio Block Rocker Plus Portable Bluetooth Speaker
What you need to know: This speaker has a 100-watt amplifier and a microphone accessory, making it a great choice for outdoor music and karaoke events.
What you’ll love: This large speaker has a sturdy plastic enclosure with wheels and a telescoping handle for hauling it around outdoors. It also has a rechargeable battery, a USB port for charging other devices and an auxiliary input port for plugging in devices with no Bluetooth connectivity.
What you should consider: Music played on this speaker can get a fit fuzzy when the bass boost is activated.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Ion Bluetooth speaker for the money
Ion Pathfinder 4 Bluetooth Portable Speaker
What you need to know: This speaker is both an affordable sound amplifier and a great way to charge mobile devices on the go.
What you’ll love: A full charge on this 100-watt speaker’s battery lasts for up to 100 hours. Smartphones and tablets can be charged from it using its Wireless Qi charging system. It has a water-resistant casing, a built-in radio and a side-mounted beer opener.
What you should consider: Its equalizer settings may need manual adjustment to optimize the audio quality.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Ion Bluetooth speaker worth checking out
What you need to know: The multi-color light bars on this portable Bluetooth speaker make it a stylish accessory for song- and dance-heavy parties.
What you’ll love: This speaker has a water resistant casing, a built-in radio, a robust woofer and a 100-watt amplifier. It also has two built-in cup holders and a rechargeable battery that can last for up to 75 hours.
What you should consider: Its battery sometimes takes a long time to recharge.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Coleman Gailloreto writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/best-ion-bluetooth-speaker/ | 2022-05-21T17:06:18Z |
Pa. Senate GOP primary too close to call, recount likely
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Republican primary for an open U.S. Senate seat is too close to call and is likely headed for a statewide recount to decide the winner of the contest between heart surgeon-turned-TV celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz and former hedge fund CEO David McCormick.
A recount would mean that the outcome of the race might not be known until June 8, the deadline for counties to report their results to the state.
Oz, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, led McCormick by 1,079 votes, or 0.08 percentage points, out of 1,340,248 ballots counted as of 5 p.m. Friday. The race is close enough to trigger Pennsylvania’s automatic recount law, with the separation between the candidates inside the law’s 0.5% margin. The Associated Press will not declare a winner in the race until the likely recount is complete.
Both campaigns have hired Washington-based lawyers to lead their recount efforts, and both have hired Philadelphia-based campaign strategists who helped lead the operation to observe vote-counting on Election Day for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2020.
The two campaigns already had dozens of lawyers and volunteers fanned out around the presidential battleground state as election workers and election boards toiled through the remaining ballots.
The big field of Republican candidates and their super PACs reported spending more than $70 million during the primary campaign. The winner will face Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman in November in what Democrats see as their best opportunity to pick up a seat in the closely divided Senate.
Fetterman won the Democratic nomination while in the hospital recovering from a stroke four days before the election. The incumbent, Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, is retiring after serving two terms.
Trump’s clout is again on the line, as he looked for a third straight win in Republican Senate primaries after “Hillbilly Elegy” author JD Vance prevailed in Ohio earlier this month and U.S. Rep. Ted Budd easily scored a victory in North Carolina on Tuesday.
County election boards began meeting Friday to sort out problematic or provisional ballots, even as election workers processed the last of the mail-in ballots and election-day ballot tallies from precincts.
The state’s 67 counties have until Tuesday’s deadline in state law to certify their results to the state. Then the state’s top election official has until next Thursday to issue a recount order, which is mandatory — unless the losing candidates asks in writing that it not be carried out.
Counties have until three weeks after the election — June 7 — to finish the recount and another day to report results to the state.
The initial result could change: A recount of a statewide judicial race last November ended up padding the winner’s margin by more than 5,500 votes in a race where more than 2 million ballots were cast.
Before that, there could be a flurry of lawsuits contesting the decisions of certain counties on whether to count ballots that may be difficult to read or bear some kind of irregularity.
As of yet, neither campaign has gone to court, and both candidates have expressed confidence in victory.
Oz and McCormick dominated the seven-person GOP field, blanketing the state’s TV screens with political ads for months and spending millions of their own money, before conservative activist Kathy Barnette surged in the campaign’s final days.
The fiery, hard-line pro-Trump alternative blistered both Oz and McCormick as “globalists,” pro-Trump pretenders, carpetbaggers and too wealthy to help regular people.
Oz, who is best known as the host of daytime TV’s “The Dr. Oz Show,” had to overcome misgivings among hardline Trump backers about his conservative credentials. Rivals also charged that his dual citizenship with Turkey would compromise his loyalties to the United States. If elected, Oz would be the nation’s first Muslim senator.
McCormick was virtually unknown four months ago and emphasized his credentials as a hometown success story.
He not only had to overcome Trump’s endorsement of Oz, but Trump also attacked McCormick viciously and repeatedly in the final two weeks of the race, calling him a Wall Street liberal, a sellout to China and the candidate of “special interests and globalists and the Washington establishment.”
McCormick got help from a super PAC supporting him that spent $20 million, giving him a massive cash advantage, much of it from Wall Street figures that paid for TV ads to attack Oz.
Both men reported assets of more than $100 million and moved from out of state to run — Oz from a mansion in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, above the Hudson River overlooking Manhattan, and McCormick from Connecticut’s ritzy Gold Coast.
___
Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/timelywriter.
___
This story has been corrected to show that more than 2 million ballots were cast in the November judicial contest, not 5.1 million ballots.
___
Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ap_politics.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/20/pa-senate-gop-primary-too-close-call-recount-likely/ | 2022-05-20T22:06:57Z |
Silvergrin Vodka, from Sespe Creek Distillery in Oxnard, California, was awarded "World's Best Vodka" in this year's international World Vodka Awards
OXNARD, Calif., June 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In news from the "I didn't see that coming" genre, comes the report that a vodka made in California has been named the World's Best. Hailing from the sleepy, seaside town of Oxnard, the top award in the varietal category was awarded to Silvergrin Vodka, beating out the top vodkas from 18 other countries. It is the first time that the World Vodka Awards highest honor has been won by a California brand.
Drawing on the history of vodka as a spirit with deep agricultural roots, Silvergrin is made with a triple-origin mash bill of farm grown Alturas potatoes, organic corn and Dark Red winter wheat. The vodka features a recipe developed by three-time James Beard nominated bartender, Josh Goldman and PhD biochemist, David Brandt.
"We set out to destroy the myth that vodka had to be odorless, flavorless and without distinct character," says co-creator Goldman. "I don't need something so dull in my cocktails. It's like cooking with water versus cooking with stock. Vodka done right tastes good and adds much more to the cocktail than just alcohol."
The win for Silvergrin comes fresh on the heels of the United States' recent change to the legal definition of vodka. In 2020, the Alcohol and Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) revised their requirement that vodka needed to be "without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color." Writing about the decision in April, 2020, the TTB explained: "Based on its review of the comments, TTB agrees that the requirement that vodka be without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color no longer reflects consumer expectations and should be eliminated." Silvergrin's launch in the summer of 2020 makes it among the first class of American vodkas introduced after the revision.
"America is home to some of the finest agricultural soil in the world," says Sespe Creek Distillery owner, Alfred English. "And especially on some smaller, family farms, the quality of grains and vegetables is truly extraordinary. If you're making a spirit from such delicious crops, why would you want to strip all of that flavor and character out? We thought you could make a much better vodka by honoring the base ingredients instead of hiding them."
Silvergrin is available at select retailers in California, and begins distribution in Texas later this year.
For more information, visit https://silvergrin.com/.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Sespe Creek Distillery | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/18/worlds-best-vodka-award-won-by-california-distillery/ | 2022-06-19T00:00:45Z |
NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirstie, the leading e-commerce provider for beverage alcohol brands, today announced its partnership with Benriach Single Malt Scotch Whisky through the launch of the brand's store for U.S. consumers to purchase whisky online. Benriach is the first brand within Brown-Forman's prestigious spirits portfolio to have a branded online shopping experience in the U.S.
Benriach's online shop, powered by Thirstie, will provide consumers with a seamless digital experience through Thirstie's retail integration and partnerships.
Since the launch of Thirstie's proprietary platform in 2016, the company has demonstrated a strong commitment to compliance, enabling a three-tier compliant branded e-commerce solution for beverage alcohol suppliers. The technology, built by Thirstie, has a sophisticated retail algorithm that dynamically determines product availability based on pricing set by retail partners and tax calculations based on the market. Thirstie's front-end technology delivers a unique branded experience for adult consumers.
"e-Commerce within the spirits industry is rapidly growing, as adult consumers continue to shop online," stated Laura Petry, VP Group Brand Director - Emerging Brands. "At Brown-Forman, we are the champion of consumers, shoppers, customers, and trade. They are at the heart of everything we do. When looking for a partner to deliver a branded e-commerce experience, it was critical to find a solution that delivers a compliant experience and adheres to the regulations within beverage alcohol. We are excited to partner with Thirstie to launch our Benriach branded storefront within the US."
Benriach, based in Speyside, Scotland, is part of Brown-Forman's Single Malt Scotch Whisky family crafted under the guidance of Master Blender Rachel Barrie. Its unique whisky-making heritage and extensive flavor profile attract consumers globally, especially in the U.S. market. Benriach's digital storefront will enable U.S. customers to purchase the brand's extraordinary range of whiskies delivered or shipped directly to their homes.
"We are excited for Thirstie's partnership with Benriach coming to life with the launch of the online storefront," stated Thirstie's CEO & Co-Founder, Devaraj Southworth. "We certainly share a like-minded approach in paving the way for digital transformation in the spirits industry, while respecting the foundational principles our sector was established on."
Adult consumers in CA, CT, DC, FL, IL, MN, NJ, NY, WA markets can now purchase Benriach at shop.benriachdistillery.com.
Thirstie is the leading e-commerce solution for beverage alcohol brands. Established in 2014 by Co-Founders, Devaraj Southworth and Maxim Razmakhin, Thirstie's patented technology increases online consumer interactions for the world's most iconic alcohol companies. Thirstie delivers a compliant end-to-end full customer experience with its e-commerce, retailer, data, and gift card solutions. Thirstie's national network of licensed retailers seamlessly fulfills online orders funneled through a branded webstore that are routed to them through the company's proprietary algorithm. Thirstie's suite of best-in-class data capabilities helps brands better understand and target their customers. In 2021, the company launched the industry-first alcohol branded gift card solution, enabling brands to further drive online retail revenue. For more information about Thirstie, please visit www.thirstie.com.
A Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky as intriguing and extraordinary as Benriach could not have come to be without a unique whisky-making heritage, dating from 1898, when founder John Duff built his distillery. Ruggedly beautiful, Benriach stands on the site of the old Riach farm in north Speyside, drawing water from a mineral-rich aquifer, deep beneath the distillery.
Thanks to a long-standing tradition of distilling three styles of whisky; classic unpeated, Highland peated and triple distilled, together with an eclectic selection of casks from around the world, our whisky makers are able to explore the full flavour possibilities of Single Malt, creating some of the richest, most multi-layered whiskies in Speyside.
This tradition continues today under the guidance of Master Blender, Rachel Barrie. Benriach is the story of a hidden Speyside gem, quietly revealing its treasures to be discovered and savored.
Please Drink Responsibly. Benriach is a registered trademark. ©2022 Benriach. All rights reserved. Scotch Whisky 43% Alc. by Vol. Imported by Brown-Forman Beverages, Louisville, KY.
View original content:
SOURCE THIRSTIE | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/thirstie-brown-forman-launch-benriach-single-malt-scotch-whisky-e-commerce-partnership-with-debut-digital-storefront/ | 2022-09-12T15:15:41Z |
VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL) (OTCQX: WHTCF) (the "Company" or "WELL"), a digital healthcare company focused on positively impacting health outcomes by leveraging technology to empower healthcare practitioners and their patients globally, is pleased to announce its inclusion in to the TSX30.
Founded in 2019, the TSX30 is an annual program that recognizes companies with exceptional shareholder returns over the last 3 years by driving growth in their industries, for their investors, and for the Canadian economy. WELL is proud to be among the 30 companies on this year's list who have demonstrated their ability to innovate, transform, and diversify through uncertainty and challenging economic times.
"It's a great honour for us to be recognized on the TSX30" said Hamed Shahbazi, Founder and CEO of WELL. "Our team works extremely hard to deliver for practitioners every day. To be recognized by the TSX, a body we greatly respect, is extremely encouraging, and is a testament to the growth and the progress the WELL team has achieved to deliver for health care practitioners everyday."
For more information on the TSX30, visit: www.tsx.com/tsx30.
WELL HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Per: "Hamed Shahbazi"
Hamed Shahbazi
Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director
About WELL Health Technologies Corp.
WELL is a practitioner focused digital healthcare company whose overarching objective is to positively impact health outcomes to empower and support healthcare practitioners and their patients. WELL has built an innovative practitioner enablement platform that includes comprehensive end to end practice management tools inclusive of virtual care and digital patient engagement capabilities as well as Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) and data protection services. WELL uses this platform to power healthcare practitioners both inside and outside of WELL's own omni-channel patient services offerings. As such, WELL owns and operates Canada's largest network of outpatient medical clinics serving primary and specialized healthcare services and is the provider of a leading multi-national, multi-disciplinary telehealth offering. WELL is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "WELL" and on OTCQX under the symbol "WHTCF". To learn more about the Company, please visit: www.well.company.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE WELL Health Technologies Corp. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/15/well-health-announces-inclusion-2022-tsx30/ | 2022-09-15T11:52:32Z |
BELTON — Services for Debra Grant, 67, of Belton will be held at a later date.
Mrs. Grant died Tuesday, June 21, at a local hospital.
She was born June 17, 1955, in Fort Knox, Ky. to James and Martha Chaney. She was a manager for Bell County Vehicle Registration.
Survivors include two sons, Michael Hix and John Hix, both of Belton; a brother, James Chaney of Belton; a sister, Carol Taylor of Belton; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Crotty Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Belton is in charge of arrangements. | https://www.tdtnews.com/obituaries/article_233e6516-f409-11ec-82fe-33b05f56d0fd.html | 2022-06-25T09:25:06Z |
Sherman school holds memorial for Uvalde
SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) -Since the Uvalde school shooting, communities from all over have come together to show their support and respect to the lives lost.
Sherman’s very own, Sory Elementary School came together to hold a prayer service on May 26.
Sherman ISD Superintendent Tyson Bennett says Sory held this service “to commemorate the lives lost and the tragedy at Uvalde, but also pray for the community down there cause we know how powerful prayer is”.
“We’re here for you”, Bennett adds.
Sory Elementary Principal Mindy Schoen states, “we know where there is unity, there is strength and so we thought about how we can all come together to show our united front”.
Sory placed twenty-one chairs that symbolize the nineteen lives lost of the students and two wooden chairs on each end, which represent the two teachers who also passed.
“And we pray for wisdom for them, it’s a challenging time, a lot of decisions are being made in a very stressful situation” says Bennett.
The school plans to remove the exhibition on May 26, end of day.
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/26/sherman-school-holds-memorial-uvalde/ | 2022-05-26T23:16:34Z |
DAYTON, Tenn., April 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jason Christie left Dayton Municipal Park on Championship Sunday just 6 ounces out of the lead with a crystal-clear plan for where he wanted to start.
But thick fog created by temperatures that had plunged into the 30s overnight changed that plan — and ultimately played a huge role in his eighth career victory with B.A.S.S.
To let the fog clear, Christie stopped on a bank he hadn't fished all week and quickly put a solid limit in his livewell. He culled up a few ounces throughout the day until he reached a five-bass limit of 15 pounds, 12 ounces that helped him win the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake with a four-day total of 73-7.
"The fog is why I won," said Christie, who is a little more than a month removed from winning the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk on Lake Hartwell. "I went through one fogbank at about 25 mph going to where I was going to start. But then I hit another fogbank and I saw a boat wave that I knew didn't come from one of our guys, so I just immediately peeled off to an area that I fished three or four years ago in another event."
After a warm start on Thursday, Days 2 and 3 were the polar opposite with cloudy skies, temperatures in the 40s and a spattering of rain, sleet and snow. But the low-light conditions played into the hands of Christie, who fished all week with a 1/2-ounce Booyah Covert Spinnerbait (chartreuse, white and blue with a white Yum Swim'n Dinger as a trailer), a bladed jig and the same War Eagle Jiu-Jigsu Jig (green pumpkin) he used at the Classic.
The conditions made another sharp turn Sunday, with the return of the sun, calm winds and a high temperature near 70 degrees. But Christie once again took advantage of a short window of low visibility aided by the early morning fog.
"I knew the spot I stopped at had had a lot of traffic, but I figured I would just go in there and fish until the fog lifted," Christie said. "But really it set up perfectly because it was shaded and had all the right stuff."
While much of the field was still navigating the fog, Christie caught a quick limit, taking the unofficial lead on BassTrakk by 8 a.m. and never relinquishing it.
"That was the key, just getting off to a good start," he said. "What was weird is every day those fish have been tight to cover. But the first big one I caught today was halfway back to the boat. Then the next bite was about the same — and that's how I ended up catching them.
"I think the bait would come by the cover, and they were sitting right out in front of it."
The win provided a bit of redemption for Christie, who followed his Classic victory with a 93rd-place finish at the next Elite Series event at Santee Cooper Lakes — one of the worst finishes of his career. He said the same stubbornness that cost him at Santee Cooper Lakes might have helped him to the victory on Chickamauga.
"I certainly don't like to make excuses," he said. "But during practice for Santee, I was doing every interview, every podcast about the Classic win — I didn't turn anyone down. I still thought I was on a good deal there and that I would catch them. But I was too stubborn to give up on it when it didn't work.
"That's just like today. The fishing was a lot tougher than it had been the last two days, but I stuck with what I was doing."
Like Christie, Mississippi pro Brock Mosley stayed with the program he had been using all week, alternating between a bladed jig, a jig, a Senko and a spinnerbait. But with a modest limit of 11-14, he finished second with a four-day total of 69-15.
It marked his fifth career second-place finish on the Elite Series and the third time he's finished one spot behind Christie.
"I caught plenty of fish today, but I just didn't run into any big fish," Mosley said. "I thought as good as I was catching them, everybody else was probably catching them too. So late in the day, I decided to run down the lake and try to catch a couple of big ones on a big swimbait.
"Looking back, I probably should have just stuck with what I was doing."
Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day honors went to Arizona pro Clifford Pirch for a 5-4 largemouth. Wisconsin pro Pat Schlapper won Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Week with the 10-5 he caught Thursday.
Hawaiian Matty Wong failed to make the Top 10 cut for Championship Sunday, placing 14th with 48-5. But he earned the VMC Monster Bag of the Week award for the 25-13 limit he weighed in Friday.
Christie took home $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, and Mosley earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Christie also earned $4,000 for winning while Australian Carl Jocumsen claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
Ed Loughran III won the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency award for the most accurate weight reporting.
With a 33rd-place finish, Florida pro John Cox maintained his lead in the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 353 points. Idaho pro Brandon Palaniuk moved into second with 343, followed by Pirch (338), David Mullins of Tennessee (321) and Drew Benton of Georgia (321).
Wisconsin pro Jay Przekurat leads the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 293 points, followed by Joseph Webster of Alabama (249) and Tennessee pro Jacob Foutz (200).
The tournament was hosted by Rhea County, City of Dayton, Tenn., and Fish Dayton.
2022 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2022 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2022 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Huk Performance Fishing, Marathon, Strike King, Triton Boats, VMC
2022 Bassmaster Conservation Partners: AFTCO, Yamaha Rightwaters
Media Contact: Emily Harley, B.A.S.S. Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, eharley@bassmaster.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE B.A.S.S. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/10/christie-rights-his-ship-wins-bassmaster-elite-series-event-chickamauga-lake/ | 2022-04-11T00:07:35Z |
BEIJING, Sept. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In his first trip overseas since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese President Xi Jinping went to Central Asia to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), held this year in the Uzbek city of Samarkand.
Calling it "China's most important event of head-of-state diplomacy on the eve of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China," a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that it shows the great importance China attaches to the SCO.
At the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO on Friday, President Xi noted that the SCO has been an important constructive force in international and regional affairs.
He called on the group to uphold the Shanghai Spirit, strengthen unity and cooperation, and promote the building of an even closer SCO community with a shared future.
The Shanghai Spirit carried forward
The Samarkand SCO summit takes place at a time when the world is witnessing the combined impact of a pandemic unseen in a century, a de-globalization trend and other complex factors, with the global economic governance system facing challenges.
The Shanghai Spirit, named after the Chinese city in which the group was founded and as its undergirding values and guidelines, features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and pursuit of common development.
On Friday, Xi said what can be drawn upon from the group's rich practices includes political trust, mutually beneficial cooperation, equality, openness and inclusiveness, and equity and justice, which fully embodies the Shanghai Spirit.
It has been shown that the Shanghai Spirit is the source of strength for the development of the SCO, and also the fundamental guide the SCO member states must continue to follow in the years to come, he said.
"We owe the SCO's remarkable success to the Shanghai Spirit. And we will continue to follow its guidance as we forge ahead," he pledged.
Beyond security
At a time when geopolitical conflict and nontraditional security threats such as extremism and terrorism are on the rise, the SCO plays an important role in safeguarding regional security and joint prosperity. Yet its role goes beyond security.
During his speech, Xi called for the SCO members to strengthen practical cooperation among themselves. He said that China is ready to work with all other stakeholders to pursue the Global Development Initiative proposed by China and jointly promote the Belt and Road Initiative.
At the summit, statements on safeguarding international energy and food security were also adopted. Xi pledged that China will provide developing countries in need with emergency humanitarian assistance of grain and other supplies worth 1.5 billion yuan.
The Chinese president also urged the group to fully implement the cooperation documents in such areas as trade and investment, infrastructure, supply chains, scientific and technological innovation, and artificial intelligence.
Warning against an "obsession with forming a small circle," Xi reiterated the importance of upholding true multilateralism to improve global governance and ensure that the international order is more just and equitable.
Vision for the future
Since its founding in 2001, the SCO has had an extraordinary journey. To date, the organization has eight full members, four observer countries and multiple dialogue partners.
In terms of geographic scope and population, the SCO is the world's largest regional organization, covering approximately 60 percent of the land area of Eurasia and 41 percent of the world's population. Its members accounted for 24 percent of global GDP in 2021, according to the World Bank.
And the SCO is still growing. At Friday's summit, a memorandum of obligations on Iran's full SCO membership was signed; the procedure for Belarus' accession was started; MOUs granting Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar the status of SCO dialogue partners were signed; agreements were reached on admitting Bahrain, the Maldives, the UAE, Kuwait and Myanmar as new dialogue partners.
Noting an increasing number of countries have applied to join the SCO family, the Chinese president said it fully demonstrates the power of the SCO's vision and the widely shared confidence in its future.
In conclusion of his speech, Xi called on all countries to act in the Shanghai Spirit, work for the steady development of the SCO, and jointly build the region into a peaceful, stable, prosperous and beautiful home.
View original content:
SOURCE CGTN | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/16/cgtn-samarkand-summit-what-china-has-proposed-boost-sco-unity-cooperation/ | 2022-09-16T17:12:18Z |
Delivered $81 million Operating Profit. Extraordinary efforts partly mitigated impact from profound COVID-related disruptions
Sales recovery remains gradual and uneven as COVID outbreaks persist
Full year net new store target unchanged, powered by healthy new store performance
SHANGHAI, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Yum China Holdings, Inc. (the "Company" or "Yum China") (NYSE: YUMC and HKEX: 9987) today reported unaudited results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
Impact of COVID Outbreak and Mitigation Efforts
The most severe COVID outbreaks to date in China continued to significantly affect the restaurant industry and our operations in the second quarter. According to government statistics, the restaurant industry in China experienced a revenue decline of approximately 16% year over year in the quarter.
- Nationwide, regional COVID outbreaks impacted large portions of the country. During peak outbreak periods, hundreds of millions of people were in some type of lockdown.
- During April and May, over 2,500 of our stores in China, on average, were either temporarily closed or offered only takeaway and delivery services. Of these stores, approximately 45% were temporarily closed. Same-store sales declined by more than 20% year over year.
- Shanghai was in city-wide lockdown throughout April and May. During this period, only approximately 30% of our stores in Shanghai were open and able to offer limited services. Closed stores gradually re-opened in June with dine-in services resuming at reduced capacity in late June.
- Beijing tightened COVID control measures in May, including partial lockdowns and suspension of restaurant dine-in services. Dine-in services at reduced capacity subsequently resumed in early June.
- In June, COVID-related restrictive measures began to ease across the country. The number of stores temporarily closed or offering only takeaway and delivery services reduced to approximately 800 by the end of the month. Sales performance improved sequentially with same-store sales recording a decline of approximately high single digits year over year.
Yum China demonstrated exemplary resilience in the second quarter. In cities experiencing lockdowns, we reacted quickly by innovating and introducing initiatives to sustain operations. We immediately paused all promotional activities. Leveraging community purchasing as early as mid-March and packaged food products, we captured sharply changed consumer demand despite having a limited number of open stores and significant staff shortages. Our real-time inventory visibility from logistics centers to stores helped enable us to lessen supply disruptions with timely and accurate deployment of raw materials. We continued to rebase our cost structure to be more flexible. Across the country, we took prompt actions to rationalize advertising and promotional discounts, drive productivity gains with simplified menu offerings and shortened operating hours, as well as actively secure relief from landlords and government agencies. Through these extraordinary efforts we averted an operating loss, and delivered a profitable quarter, recording $81 million in operating profit for the period.
Entering the third quarter, we are seeing a gradual recovery. However, the COVID situation remains tenuous with potential intermittent outbreaks. We continue to expect the recovery of restaurant traffic to take time and likely be uneven and nonlinear. The number of cases has increased significantly in July, compared to June, as the highly transmissible new COVID sub-variant reached more cities. Many cities across a large swath of China have tightened COVID curbs or undergone full, partial lockdowns, or district-based control measures as new clusters have emerged. Nationwide, strict COVID-related health measures continue to restrict mobility, curtail travel and dampen consumer spending. As of the third week of July, approximately 2% of our stores remained temporarily closed or offered only delivery or takeaway services. Against this backdrop we remain committed to driving customer traffic with good food at great value. Moreover, we have developed multiple scenario-based operating plans with regional focus that are ready to be deployed. Moving forward we will be sharp-eyed in capturing consumer demand and further strengthening our business model to be more nimble and agile.
Second Quarter Highlights
- Total revenues decreased 13% year over year to $2.13 billion from $2.45 billion (an 11% decrease excluding foreign currency translation ("F/X")).
- Total system sales decreased 16% year over year, with decreases of 15% at KFC and 14% at Pizza Hut, excluding F/X, primarily due to same-store sales decline and temporary store closures.
- Same-store sales decreased 16% year over year, with decreases of 16% at KFC and 15% at Pizza Hut, excluding F/X.
- Opened 53 net new stores during the quarter; total store count reached 12,170 as of June 30, 2022.
- Restaurant margin was 12.1%, compared with 15.8% in the prior year period, primarily due to sales deleveraging resulting from the most severe COVID-related disruptions to date in the quarter.
- Operating Profit decreased 65% year over year to $81 million from $233 million (a 63% decrease excluding F/X).
- Adjusted Operating Profit decreased 65% year over year to $82 million from $237 million (a 63% decrease excluding F/X).
- Effective tax rate was 26.5%.
- Net Income decreased 54% to $83 million from $181 million in the prior year period, primarily due to the decrease in Operating Profit, partially offset by the net gain from our mark-to-market investment in Meituan Dianping.
- Adjusted Net Income decreased 55% to $84 million from $185 million in the prior year period (a 62% decrease excluding the net gains of $16 million and $5 million in the second quarter of 2022 and 2021, respectively, from our mark-to-market equity investments; a 60% decrease if further excluding F/X).
- Diluted EPS decreased 52% to $0.20 from $0.42 in the prior year period.
- Adjusted Diluted EPS decreased 52% to $0.20 from $0.42 in the prior year period (a 61% decrease excluding the net gains from our mark-to-market equity investments in the second quarter of 2022 and 2021, respectively; a 59% decrease if further excluding F/X).
- Results for the current year period include the consolidation of Hangzhou KFC.
CEO and CFO Comments
Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China, commented, "We have been battling the pandemic for the past two and a half years. The second quarter was the most challenging to date. I could not be prouder of the morale and resilience demonstrated by our employees. Our dedicated teams collaborated across brands and functions. We worked around the clock to adapt to rapidly changing market conditions and quickly came up with innovative solutions. Even in the extremely difficult operating environment, we captured new opportunities and strengthened our business along the way. In cities under lockdown, we were able to sustain operations with an extremely lean work force through community purchasing, simplified menus and packaged food products. Some of these measures helped us think outside the box and provided us ideas to further grow and improve efficiency. I am also excited by the breakthroughs our emerging brands achieved during this period. By immediately launching packaged food offerings, leveraging Yum China's infrastructure and adapting business models, Taco Bell, Lavazza and Little Sheep were able to capture meaningful sales with few stores open in Shanghai during lockdown periods. More importantly, throughout the period we have been strengthening our strong emotional connection with consumers and bringing some joy into their lives through good food and exciting marketing campaigns."
Wat added, "We continue to make strides in reinforcing our RGM (Resilience-Growth-Moat) strategic framework. Our second quarter results have demonstrated business resilience. While we slowed new store openings in the second quarter, going forward we intend to expand our store network at a robust pace by focusing on small store formats, given the healthy payback and strong new unit economics. Our leading digital capabilities, in-house and tailor-made supply chain management system as well as hybrid delivery model gave us an edge in navigating the profound disruptions. We plan on further strengthening these elements of our strategic moat. We believe that these combined efforts will help enable us to maintain market leadership, drive long-term growth, and generate shareholder value in the years ahead."
Andy Yeung, CFO of Yum China, stated "Sales in the second quarter were severely impacted by the significant disruptions brought by COVID. However, we were able to generate meaningful profit in the quarter that exceeded our expectations. We achieved that through swiftly adjusting offers and promotions as well as our tremendous efforts in driving productivity gains, securing one-time relief and rebasing the cost structure. As we look into the third quarter, we remain cautious on same-store sales, given COVID uncertainties, weakening consumer sentiment, downward economic pressure and commodity price inflation. We expect sales recovery to be gradual, uneven and potentially volatile. Our focus is to drive sales recovery through innovative products and marketing, strong value propositions and greater promotional activities. We are delighted with the better than planned cost savings in the second quarter, but we are dialing back some austerity measures to sustain long term growth and operational excellence. In addition, sales deleveraging impact will likely continue to impact our margins. Undeterred by the short-term challenges, we remain confident about our long-term prospects and will continue to invest for growth while fortifying resilience."
Share Repurchases and Dividends
- During the second quarter, we repurchased approximately 4.1 million shares of Yum China common stock for $168 million at an average price of $41.37 per share. As of June 30, 2022, approximately $1.2 billion remained available for future share repurchases under the current authorization.
- The Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per share on Yum China's common stock, payable on September 15, 2022 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 25, 2022.
Digital and Delivery
- The KFC and Pizza Hut loyalty programs exceeded 385 million members combined, as of quarter-end. Member sales accounted for approximately 62% of system sales in the second quarter of 2022.
- Delivery contributed approximately 38% of KFC and Pizza Hut's Company sales in the second quarter of 2022, an increase of approximately eight percentage points from the prior year period as a result of more severe outbreaks in the quarter which significantly impacted dine-in occasions and drove strong demand for delivery.
- Digital orders, including delivery, mobile orders and kiosk orders, accounted for approximately 89% of KFC and Pizza Hut's Company sales in the second quarter of 2022.
New-Unit Development and Asset Upgrade
- The Company opened 246 gross new stores, or 53 net new stores in the second quarter of 2022, mainly driven by development of the KFC and Pizza Hut brands.
- The Company remodeled 121 stores in the second quarter of 2022.
Restaurant Margin
- Restaurant margin was 12.1% in the second quarter of 2022, compared with 15.8% in the prior year period, primarily attributable to sales deleveraging, inflation in commodity, wage and utility costs, as well as increased rider cost associated with rising delivery volume, partially offset by higher productivity as well as temporary relief provided by landlords and government agencies.
2022 Outlook
Yum China remains focused on capturing long-term opportunities in China. The Company's fiscal year 2022 targets remain unchanged from those originally disclosed on February 8, 2022:
- To open approximately 1,000 to 1,200 net new stores.
- To make capital expenditures in the range of approximately $800 million to $1 billion.
Other Updates
- In June 2022, Yum China submitted for validation the Company's near-term science-based greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets to the Science Based Target Initiative ("SBTi"). The specific targets, in line with criteria and recommendations of SBTi, are expected to be announced before the end of 2022 following official approval from SBTi. The targets will provide a clearly defined pathway for Yum China to reach its goal of net-zero value chain GHG emissions by 2050. The Company also published its 2021 Sustainability Report and its first Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures ("TCFD") report. Both reports are accessible on the Company's website at www.yumchina.com/respIndex.
- In July 2022, Yum China announced the commencement of construction of its Jiading Supply Chain Management Center in Shanghai with a total investment of approximately $90 million. This facility is Yum China's largest greenfield supply chain center project to date and will serve as the headquarters of the Company's supply chain operations. Completion is anticipated in 2024. This latest project is part of Yum China's continued effort in expanding supply chain network to support store and portfolio growth as well as enhance intelligent supply chain operations that ensure food safety and quality management throughout the value chain.
Note on Non-GAAP Adjusted Measures
Reported GAAP results include Special Items, which are excluded from non-GAAP adjusted measures. Special Items are not allocated to any segment and therefore only impact reported GAAP results of Yum China. See "Reconciliation of Reported GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Adjusted Measures" within this release.
Conference Call
Yum China's management will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Thursday, July 28, 2022 (8:00 a.m. Beijing/Hong Kong Time on Friday, July 29, 2022).
A live webcast of the call may be accessed at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/p39fxxya.
To join by phone, please register in advance of the conference through the link provided below. Upon registering, you will be provided with participant dial-in numbers, a passcode and a unique access PIN.
Pre-registration Link: https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10023458-dhsy7e.html
A replay of the conference call will be available one hour after the call ends until Thursday, August 4, 2022 and may be accessed by phone at the following numbers:
U.S.: 1 855 883 1031
Mainland China: 400 1209 216
Hong Kong: 800 930 639
U.K.: 0800 031 4295
Replay PIN: 10023458
Additionally, this earnings release, the accompanying slides, a live webcast and an archived webcast of this conference call will be available at Yum China's Investor Relations website at http://ir.yumchina.com.
For important news and information regarding Yum China, including our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, visit Yum China's Investor Relations website at http://ir.yumchina.com. Yum China uses this website as a primary channel for disclosing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including under "2022 Outlook." We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words such as "expect," "expectation," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "could," "intend," "belief," "plan," "estimate," "target," "predict," "project," "likely," "will," "continue," "should," "forecast," "outlook", "commit" or similar terminology. These statements are based on current estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances, but there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future strategies, growth, business plans, investment, dividend and share repurchase plans, earnings, performance and returns of Yum China, anticipated effects of population and macroeconomic trends, the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the anticipated effects of our innovation, digital and delivery capabilities and investments on growth and beliefs regarding the long-term drivers of Yum China's business. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by those statements. We cannot assure you that any of our expectations, estimates or assumptions will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release, and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. Numerous factors could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: whether we are able to achieve development goals at the times and in the amounts currently anticipated, if at all, the success of our marketing campaigns and product innovation, our ability to maintain food safety and quality control systems, changes in public health conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic and regional outbreaks caused by existing or new COVID-19 variants, our ability to control costs and expenses, including tax costs, as well as changes in political, economic and regulatory conditions in China. In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial could affect the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. You should consult our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the information set forth under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q) for additional detail about factors that could affect our financial and other results.
About Yum China Holdings, Inc.
Yum China Holdings, Inc. is a licensee of Yum! Brands in mainland China. It has exclusive rights in mainland China to KFC, China's leading quick-service restaurant brand, Pizza Hut, the leading casual dining restaurant brand in China, and Taco Bell, a California-based restaurant chain serving innovative Mexican-inspired food. Yum China also owns the Little Sheep, Huang Ji Huang and COFFii & JOY concepts outright. In addition, Yum China has partnered with Lavazza to explore and develop the Lavazza coffee shop concept in China. The Company had 12,170 restaurants in over 1,700 cities at the end of June 2022.
In 2021, Yum China was selected as a member of both Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI): World Index and Emerging Market Index. In 2022, Yum China ranked # 359 on the Fortune 500 list. The Company was also named to the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and was certified as a Top Employer 2022 in China by the Top Employers Institute, both for the fourth consecutive year. For more information, please visit http://ir.yumchina.com.
In this press release:
- The Company provides certain percentage changes excluding the impact of foreign currency translation ("F/X"). These amounts are derived by translating current year results at prior year average exchange rates. We believe the elimination of the F/X impact provides better year-to-year comparability without the distortion of foreign currency fluctuations.
- System sales growth reflects the results of all restaurants regardless of ownership, including Company-owned, franchise and unconsolidated affiliate restaurants that operate our restaurant concepts, except for non-Company-owned restaurants for which we do not receive a sales-based royalty. Sales of franchise and unconsolidated affiliate restaurants typically generate ongoing franchise fees for the Company at an average rate of approximately 6% of system sales. Franchise and unconsolidated affiliate restaurant sales are not included in Company sales in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income; however, the franchise fees are included in the Company's revenues. We believe system sales growth is useful to investors as a significant indicator of the overall strength of our business as it incorporates all of our revenue drivers, Company and franchise same-store sales as well as net unit growth.
- Effective January 1, 2018, the Company revised its definition of same-store sales growth to represent the estimated percentage change in sales of food of all restaurants in the Company system that have been open prior to the first day of our prior fiscal year, excluding the period during which stores are temporarily closed. We refer to these as our "base" stores. Previously, same-store sales growth represented the estimated percentage change in sales of all restaurants in the Company system that have been open for one year or more, including stores temporarily closed, and the base stores changed on a rolling basis from month to month. This revision was made to align with how management measures performance internally and focuses on trends of a more stable base of stores.
- Company sales represent revenues from Company-owned restaurants. Company Restaurant profit ("Restaurant profit") is defined as Company sales less expenses incurred directly by our Company-owned restaurants in generating Company sales. Company restaurant margin percentage is defined as Restaurant profit divided by Company sales.
Reconciliation of Reported GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Adjusted Measures
(in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)
In addition to the results provided in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") in this press release, the Company provides non-GAAP measures adjusted for Special Items, which include Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Earnings Per Common Share ("EPS"), Adjusted Effective Tax Rate and Adjusted EBITDA, which we define as net income including noncontrolling interests adjusted for equity in net earnings (losses) from equity method investments, income tax, interest income, net, investment gain or loss, certain non-cash expenses, consisting of depreciation and amortization as well as store impairment charges, and Special Items.
The following table set forth the reconciliation of the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP adjusted financial measures.
Net income, along with the reconciliation to Adjusted EBITDA, is presented below:
Details of Special Items are presented below:
(1) In February 2020, the Company granted Partner PSU Awards to select employees who were deemed critical to the Company's execution of its strategic operating plan. These PSU awards will only vest if threshold performance goals are achieved over a four-year performance period, with the payout ranging from 0% to 200% of the target number of shares subject to the PSU awards. Partner PSU Awards were granted to address increased competition for executive talent, motivate transformational performance and encourage management retention. Given the unique nature of these grants, the Compensation Committee does not intend to grant similar, special grants to the same employees during the performance period. The impact from these special awards is excluded from metrics that management uses to assess the Company's performance. The Company recognized share-based compensation expense of $1 million and $3 million associated with the Partner PSU Awards for the quarter and year to date ended June 30, 2022, respectively, and $4 million and $7 million for the quarter and year to date ended June 30, 2021.
(2) The tax expense was determined based upon the nature, as well as the jurisdiction, of each Special Item at the applicable tax rate.
The Company excludes impact from Special Items for the purpose of evaluating performance internally. Special Items are not included in any of our segment results. In addition, the Company provides Adjusted EBITDA because we believe that investors and analysts may find it useful in measuring operating performance without regard to items such as equity in net earnings (losses) from equity method investments, income tax, interest income, net, investment gain or loss, depreciation and amortization, store impairment charges, and Special Items. Store impairment charges included as an adjustment item in Adjusted EBITDA primarily resulted from our semi-annual impairment evaluation of long-lived assets of individual restaurants, and additional impairment evaluation whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. If these restaurant-level assets were not impaired, depreciation of the assets would have been recorded and included in EBITDA. Therefore, store impairment charges were a non-cash item similar to depreciation and amortization of our long-lived assets of restaurants. The Company believes that investors and analyst may find it useful in measuring operating performance without regard to such non-cash item.
These adjusted measures are not intended to replace the presentation of our financial results in accordance with GAAP. Rather, the Company believes that the presentation of these adjusted measures provides additional information to investors to facilitate the comparison of past and present results, excluding those items that the Company does not believe are indicative of our ongoing operations due to their nature.
View original content:
SOURCE Yum China Holdings, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/yum-china-reports-second-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-07-28T21:55:49Z |
There is a new music group hitting the scenes and we got the chance to talk to two of the members from Simon Fuller’s new music group, “Future X” featuring Drew Venegas and Angie Green. Drew is a dancer and Los Angeles native, while Angie is a singer who has come over from Miami and they are embarking on a new adventure together along with the other five members.
Something about the group you may not have realized is that the group was discovered entirely through the app TikTok. Since being chosen for this musical group their lives have completely changed. They were all selected in December of 2021 and then moved out to LA in January of 2022 and now six months later, they are going on their first tour.
The pair stated how their individuality was what set them apart for being selected to join this group. Green touched on how neither one of them are the same and all have brought something different to the table.
“It’s definitely different and something you’ve never seen before,” said Drew.
The 2022 Honda Civic tour presents: The Future X kicks off this Wednesday at the Roxy and tickets are free. To get your hands on some head on over to thefuturex.com/hondacivictour.
This segment aired on the KTLA 5 Morning News on July 25, 2022 | https://cw33.com/entertainment-news/simon-fuller-has-new-musical-group-future-x-and-their-future-is-looking-bright/ | 2022-07-26T13:54:16Z |
VANCOUVER, BC, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP) (TSX: BLDP) today announced results of its 2022 Annual General Meeting, which was held yesterday as a virtual event.
All nominees listed in the Management Proxy Circular dated April 11th, 2022 were elected as directors of the Company. Each of the Ballard directors was re-elected by a majority of the votes cast by shareholders present or represented by proxy. Director biographies are available in the "Our Leadership" section of the Company's website.
In addition, KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants, was appointed as auditor for the Company, an advisory vote approved the approach to executive compensation, and an amendment to the company's quorum requirements was approved. Details of each of these resolutions are included in the Company's Management Proxy Circular.
About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems' (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) vision is to deliver fuel cell power for a sustainable planet. Ballard zero-emission PEM fuel cells are enabling electrification of mobility, including buses, commercial trucks, trains, marine vessels, and stationary power. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements concerning anticipated product performance and other characteristics, product deliveries and deployments. These forward-looking statements reflect Ballard's current expectations as contemplated under section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any such forward-looking statements are based on Ballard's assumptions relating to its financial forecasts and expectations regarding its product development efforts, manufacturing capacity, and market demand.
These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause Ballard's actual results to be materially different, including general economic and regulatory changes, detrimental reliance on third parties, successfully achieving our business plans and achieving and sustaining profitability. For a detailed discussion of these and other risk factors that could affect Ballard's future performance, please refer to Ballard's most recent Annual Information Form. Readers should not place undue reliance on Ballard's forward-looking statements and Ballard assumes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements, other than as required under applicable legislation.
Further Information
Ballard Power Systems:
Kate Charlton – VP Corporate Finance & Investor Relations +1.604.453.3939 or investors@ballard.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/ballard-power-announces-results-annual-general-meeting-2022/ | 2022-06-10T03:39:48Z |
Acquisition International Recognizes Prime Trust Chief Financial Officer Rodrigo Vicuna as the Most Inspirational Financial Infrastructure Platform CFO
LAS VEGAS, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Prime Trust, the leading provider of financial infrastructure for fintech and digital asset innovators, today announced that the company's Chief Financial Officer, Rodrigo Vicuna, has been honored as the Most Inspirational Financial Infrastructure Platform CFO by Acquisition International 2022 Global CFO Excellence Awards.
The CFO Excellence Awards have been a cornerstone of Acquisition International's recognition program for the last nine years, honoring CFOs who play a crucial role in the growth and success of companies of all shapes and sizes. Acquisition International prides itself on the validity of its awards and winners. The awards are given solely on merit and are granted to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition.
"Leaders who are willing to dive into the problems head-first and inspire their team to do the same are those that we welcome at Prime Trust. Rodrigo is the pinnacle of this ideal," said Tom Pageler, Chief Executive Officer at Prime Trust. "His dedication to the company's financial growth and helping it thrive is highly-valued and we're truly grateful for his commitment."
"I'm truly honored to be selected for such a prestigious award," said Rodrigo Vicuna, Chief Financial Officer at Prime Trust. "I look forward to contributing to Prime Trust's continued success and helping the company's group of world-class leaders evolve as the underlying infrastructure that powers our ever-evolving fintech industry."
To identify the victors of the Global CFO Excellence Awards 2022, Acquisition International gathered information independently from a variety of publicly accessible sources and judges used criteria such as:
- Strategy: How well does the CFO influence the business, what do they bring to the table and how is it implemented?
- Leadership: A crucial part of the role is to influence the future of the company. A vital part of an award-worthy executive is their ability to positively impact the growth of a business, support investments, and capital market financial strategies.
- Confidence: Working to protect the vital assets of the company, an award-winning CFO will ensure compliance with financial regulations, and communicate value and risk issues effectively.
Prime Trust adds this award to a roster of recognitions in 2022 as the company continues to experience incredible growth. Prime Trust recently earned a spot on the the CB Insights second annual Blockchain 50, which showcases the 50 most promising blockchain and crypto companies in the world, Forbes list of America's Best Startup Employers 2022 for employee satisfaction and development, and has been Certified™ by Great Place to Work®.
To learn more about Prime Trust, please visit www.primetrust.com.
About Prime Trust
Prime Trust powers innovation in the digital economy by providing fintech and digital asset innovators with financial infrastructure. Through a full suite of APIs, we help clients build seamlessly, launch quickly, and scale securely. Regulated by the State of Nevada, Prime Trust processes hundreds of millions of API calls per month. Prime Trust's team has extensive regulatory and financial services backgrounds from the OCC, SEC, Federal Reserve, US Department of Justice, US Treasury/Secret Service, JPMorgan Chase, Green Dot, American Express, PNC, Bank of America, and Visa. The company is recognized by Forbes as America's Best Startup Employer 2022 and is also Great Place to Work-Certified™ 2022. Prime Trust has also been named to CB Insights Blockchain 50 for 2022. Visit us at www.primetrust.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
View original content:
SOURCE Prime Trust, LLC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/prime-trust-cfo-rodrigo-vicuna-receives-2022-global-cfo-excellence-award-outstanding-leadership/ | 2022-06-07T15:39:35Z |
Meeting scheduled to update residents on Republic Steel's lead emissions
The Repository
CANTON − The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Health and Canton City Public Health will host a public meeting Tuesday for residents around Republic Steel.
"The purpose of the meeting is to provide the community nearby Republic Steel with an update onRepublic Steel’s lead emissions and actions taken since the Nov. 16, 2021, public meeting, actionsplanned and ongoing, and to provide an opportunity to ask questions," according to a news release from Canton Health Commissioner James Adams.
More:The 'inherently dirty' process of making leaded steel in Canton
The meeting will begin 6 p.m. at the Edward "Peel" Coleman Community Center, 1400 Sherrick Road SE. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/canton/2022/09/14/oepa-canton-officials-plan-meeting-about-republic-steels-lead-issues/69493048007/ | 2022-09-14T12:16:29Z |
Ukraine sees openings as Russia fixed on besieged Mariupol
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Residents of Ukraine’s besieged southeastern coast awaited possible evacuation Sunday as the country’s president said Russia’s obsession with capturing a key port city had left its forces weakened and created opportunities for his military.
Two loud explosions were heard in Odesa on the Black Sea, and black smoke was seen rising above the city, which is where Ukraine’s navy is headquartered. It is west of Mariupol, a smaller port that has been under attack for almost the entire war and rescuers are desperate to reach.
The Odesa city council said in a brief statement that a morning airstrike set off fires in some areas. The Russian military said hours later that it used ships and aircraft-fired missiles to strike an oil processing plant and fuel depots that were supplying Ukrainian troops.
The city council said Ukraine’s air defense shot down some missiles before they hit the city. Ukrainian military spokesman Vladyslav Nazarov said there were no casualties from the attack.
In Mariupol, conditions remained dire and prospects for escape uncertain. The surrounded city, which has been brutalized by some of the war’s worst attacks, reported weeks ago that water, food, fuel and medicine were running out. About 100,000 people are believed to still be there, less than a quarter of the city’s prewar population of 430,000.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said it hoped a team it sent to help evacuate residents would reach Mariupol on Sunday. Ukrainian authorities said Russia agreed days ago to allow safe passage from the city, but similar agreements have broken down repeatedly under continued shelling.
GRAPHIC WARNING: Videos in this story may contain disturbing content.
Mariupol is in the mostly Russian-speaking Donbas region, where Moscow-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian troops for eight years. Its capture would create an unbroken land corridor from Russia to Crimea, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014.
With Mariupol squarely in Russia’s crosshairs, Ukraine insists it has gained a leg up elsewhere in the country. As his country’s troops retook territory north of the capital of Kyiv from departing Russian troops, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on all Ukrainians to do whatever they could “to foil the enemy’s tactics and weaken its capabilities.”
“Peace will not be the result of any decisions the enemy makes somewhere in Moscow. There is no need to entertain empty hopes that they will simply leave our land. We can only have peace by fighting,” Zelenskyy said late Saturday.
Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s Western allies believe Russia has shifted its forces from the capital region and the country’s north in order to build strength in the east and south. The Ukrainian leader again urged the West to supply his military with warplanes and more anti-missile systems.
“Every Russian missile that hits our cities and every bomb dropped on our people, on our children, only adds black paint to the history that will describe everyone on whom the decision depended - the decision of whether to help Ukraine with modern weapons,” Zelenskyy said.
While the geography of the battlefield morphed, little changed for many Ukrainians more than five weeks into a war that has sent more than 4 million people fleeing the country as refugees and displaced millions more from their homes.
The regional governor in Kharkiv, said Sunday that Russian artillery and tanks performed over 20 strikes on Ukraine’s second-largest city and its outskirts in the country’s northeast over the past day. Gov. Oleh Synyehubov said a missile strike on the city of Lozovo wounded four people and that Russian tanks bombarded a hospital in the town of Balakliia.
Zelenskyy alleged Saturday that Russian troops have left mines around homes, abandoned equipment and even the bodies of the dead as they withdraw from around Kyiv. Those claims could not be independently verified, but Ukrainian troops were seen heeding the warning.
In Bucha, northwest of the capital, Associated Press journalists watched as Ukrainian soldiers, backed by a column of tanks and other armored vehicles, used cables to drag bodies off of a street from a distance for fear they may have been booby-trapped. Locals said the dead — AP counted at least six — were civilians killed without provocation by departing Russian soldiers.
In towns and cities surrounding Kyiv, signs of fierce fighting were everywhere in the wake of the Russian redeployment. Destroyed armored vehicles from both armies lay in streets and fields along with scattered military gear.
Ukrainian troops were stationed at the entrance to Antonov Airport in the suburb of Hostomel, demonstrating control of the runway that Russia tried to storm in the first days of the war.
Inside the compound, the Mriya, one of the biggest planes ever built, lay wrecked underneath a hangar pockmarked with holes from the February attack.
The head of Ukraine’s delegation in talks with Russia said Moscow’s negotiators informally agreed to most of a draft proposal discussed during face-to-face talks in Istanbul this week, but no written confirmation has been provided.
The Ukrainian negotiator, Davyd Arakhamia said on Ukrainian TV that he hoped the was developed enough so that the two countries’ presidents can meet to discuss it.
Ukrainian authorities warned that Russia’s focus on eastern Ukraine did not mean Kyiv and other cities wouldn’t become targets again. In his evening address Saturday, Zelenskyy called for his people to do whatever they can to ensure the country’s survival, even by engaging in acts as simple as showing each other kindness.
“When a nation is defending itself in a war of annihilation, when it is a question of life or death of millions, there are no unimportant things. ... And everyone can contribute to a victory for all,” the president said.
___
Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Andrea Rosa in Irpin, Ukraine, and Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/04/03/ukraine-sees-openings-russia-fixed-besieged-mariupol/ | 2022-04-03T13:52:31Z |
LONDON (AP) — In a legal showdown between soccer spouses that mixed celebrity, social media and amateur sleuthing, a judge has ruled whodunnit.
Judge Karen Steyn on Friday cleared Coleen Rooney of libeling Rebekah Vardy by claiming that Vardy had leaked her private social media posts to the tabloid press.
In a devastating blow to Vardy, who launched the libel suit to defend her reputation, the judge said Rooney’s allegation was “substantially true.” Steyn said it was likely that Vardy’s agent, Caroline Watt, had passed Rooney’s private information to The Sun newspaper, and that ”Mrs. Vardy knew of and condoned this behavior.”
Vardy, who sued after Rooney accused her in 2019 of sharing private Instagram content with The Sun, said she was “extremely sad and disappointed at the decision.”
Rooney said she was pleased with the verdict, but added that “it was not a case I ever sought or wanted.”
“I never believed it should have gone to court at such expense in times of hardship for so many people when the money could have been far better spent helping others,” she said in a statement.
The case, heard at the High Court in May, was a media sensation. The women are celebrities in their own right, and both are married to famous footballers: Vardy to Leicester City and England striker Jamie Vardy, Rooney to former Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney.
Then there was the amateur detective work that led to Rooney’s accusation. Rooney, 36, has said she purposely posted fake stories on Instagram to find out who was passing her private information to the press. The stories — including one about a fictitious basement flood at the Rooneys’ house and another reporting Coleen Rooney was trying to revive her TV career — duly appeared in The Sun.
Rooney said she had blocked all accounts from seeing her Instagram stories apart from the one she suspected of being the leaker. In an October 2019 social media post to almost 2 million followers, she revealed: “It’s ……………. Rebekah Vardy’s account.”
Rooney was dubbed “Wagatha Christie,” a play on the slang term “WAG” — wives and girlfriends of soccer stars — and the name of crime author Agatha Christie.
Vardy, 40, strenuously denied leaking, and sued for libel “to establish her innocence and vindicate her reputation,” her lawyer Hugh Tomlinson said.
The case caused a media frenzy during seven days of hearings as the two women went to court, along with their husbands, despite being urged by judges and legal experts to settle. The case has reportedly cost each side more than 1 million pounds ($1.2 million) in legal fees.
Both women testified during the trial, with Vardy several times breaking down in tears. The judge was scathing about Vardy’s credibility as a witness, saying some of her evidence was “manifestly inconsistent with the contemporaneous documentary evidence, evasive or implausible.” Rooney, in contrast, was “honest and reliable,” the judge said.
Vardy’s agent did not give evidence. Vardy’s lawyers said Watt’s health was too fragile for her to take the stand. Watt’s phone, which was sought by Rooney’s lawyers as evidence, was reported to have fallen into the North Sea.
The judge noted that the chances this was an accident were “slim.”
Media lawyer Jonathan Coad told the BBC the outcome was “an absolute disaster” for Vardy, who “has been effectively branded a liar.”
Though the case was treated by the media and much of the public as an entertaining spectacle, the judge noted that it had a human cost.
She said Vardy had faced “vile abuse” from members of the public after Rooney’s post, “including messages wishing her, her family, and even her then-unborn baby, ill in the most awful terms.”
“Nothing of which Mrs. Vardy has been accused, nor any of the findings in this judgment, provide any justification or excuse for subjecting her or her family, or any other person involved in this case, to such vitriol,” Steyn said.
Vardy indicated she would not appeal.
“Please can the people who have been abusing me and my family now stop,” she said. “The case is over.” | https://cw33.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/coleen-rooney-victorious-in-wagatha-christie-court-battle/ | 2022-07-29T17:43:15Z |
Two-time Academy Award-winning director Barbara Kopple and Teleflora remind moms that the most important role in life is one they've been starring in for years
LOS ANGELES, April 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sometimes the best, most important role you could have is one you've been starring in for years. That's what Teleflora®, the world's leading floral delivery service, is showcasing in its latest ode to Mom just in time for Mother's Day, "Role of a Lifetime." Directed by two-time Academy Award-winning American film director Barbara Kopple, three working-actress moms receive an emotional surprise when they audition for a Teleflora commercial, which is actually a filmed social experiment.
In the commercial, Teleflora hosts a casting call for the role of Lilly, a mom struggling to make ends meet. Those who made it to the callbacks were asked to read a letter, which is met with teary eyes as they soon realize it's not a script, but an authentic letter written to them from their child. The spot captures the moment when the actresses realize that they are not auditioning for the part but have been living this role of a lifetime—no casting calls, callbacks, or approvals required.
"These mothers and actresses were so loving and real it moved all of us to tears. I was overjoyed to work with the Teleflora team to bring these stories to life and, after we met our moms in casting, hearing their amazing stories, we knew we were onto something really powerful," said Barbara Kopple, two-time Academy Award-Winning American film director. "Hopefully we inspire people to let their moms know how much they mean to them this Mother's Day, and other times would be nice, too."
Three unique stories of motherhood are told throughout the commercial:
- Kristin and her son Jeffrey's story is one of redemption. Kristin moved to Hollywood to teach her children to follow their dreams but found that her career kept her away from her children more than she'd like. Though she's reconnected with her kids and helped Jeffrey recover from difficult circumstances, Kristin still carries a single parent's guilt.
- Ellen and her daughter Zoe's story is one of inspiration. When Ellen lost the use of her legs after an accident as a teenager, she never thought she'd be a mother. But after facing down her own mortality, she became one—and in the process, also became an educator, author, scuba diver, bungee jumper, model, and lifelong source of pride for her daughter.
- Starla and her son Jalen's story is one of admiration. Starla's career frequently left her with little time for her children. Burning the candle at both ends, she worried that she didn't give them enough of herself. But in Starla, Jalen saw the most patient and compassionate woman he's ever known. Starla's impact on Jalen's life, and on the lives of their family, friends, and neighbors, is something he cherishes to this day.
"Moms rarely give themselves the credit they deserve and often doubt they're doing a good job. This Mother's Day, Teleflora wanted to authentically capture the impact moms have on their children and remind her of how magnificent she is," said Danielle Mason, vice president of marketing, Teleflora. "Our social experiment achieved what we wish for all moms – for their sons and daughters to genuinely recognize and celebrate the priceless role mom has played in shaping their lives."
Launching today, the ad will be featured on premium OTT content services, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram Reels, and In-Stream, and will utilize a variety of unit lengths to play to each placement's potential. The campaign was developed by The Wonderful Company's in-house Creative team at the Wonderful Agency and led by chief creative officer Margaret Keene, under guidance from Mason and Jeff Bennett, president, Teleflora.
"Role of a Lifetime" is an extension of Teleflora's ongoing brand platform encouraging everyone to "Love Out Loud" this Mother's Day by sending a stunning Teleflora floral bouquet ready to be enjoyed the moment it arrives at her door. To place an order and view the latest available floral designs, please visit www.teleflora.com.
About Teleflora
Say everything and share your Love Out Loud™ with the gift of Teleflora® flowers—all made by hand and delivered by hand by your local florist. With more than 10,000 member florists in North America alone, Teleflora offers the kind of personal touches, artistry, and expertise you expect from a trusted neighborhood florist—even if that neighborhood is across the country. No prepackaged flowers in nondescript boxes dropped on your doorstep—Teleflora's network of professional florists creates artistic arrangements personally delivered in a vase, often on the same day. Teleflora makes every day an occasion with a two-in-one gift that includes a multipurpose keepsake container for long-lasting enjoyment. For more, visit www.teleflora.com, or follow us on Instagram and Facebook and tag your own #LoveOutLoud moment.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Teleflora | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/25/telefloras-newest-mothers-day-campaign-shares-social-experiment-that-proves-motherhood-is-role-lifetime/ | 2022-04-25T13:41:30Z |
LOS ANGELES, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- X-Golf, the North American indoor golf simulator entertainment concept, today announces a partnership with Harry Higgs, the beloved PGA TOUR player, dad bod hype man and the common man's favorite golfer.
A Kansas native and Dallas resident, Higgs won the Price Cutter Charity Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019, leading him to a 5th-place finish in the regular season standings and earned him his tour card for the 2019-2020 PGA TOUR season. Higgs played in his first major tournament, the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah on the Ocean Course, shooting a bogey free round on the final day to finish tied for fourth. The placement gained him entry into the field for the 2022 Masters tournament where he finished tied for 14th in just his second major tournament. Higgs is perhaps most famously known for taking his shirt off on Hole 16 at TPC Scottsdale at the 2022 Waste Management Phoenix Open after making par, sending the massive crowds on the loudest hole in golf into a celebratory frenzy.
A strategic move for the rapidly growing brand, Higgs will join Paige Spiranac, among others, as an official ambassador representing X-Golf through a multi-platform approach, including wearing the X-Golf America brand on his left collar during tournaments, across social media platforms, collateral inclusion and special events.
"From a brand alignment perspective, the partnership with Harry is a perfect fit for X-Golf," said Ryan D'Arcy, President and CEO of X-Golf America. "He is a man of the people and our core guests love him. We look forward to a long lasting relationship, while making engaging content along the way."
"X-Golf venues are so fun and the perfect spot to play a round with friends or practice in a social setting," said PGA TOUR professional Harry Higgs. "Their technology is the most accurate I've seen and the short game and putting are so realistic, it's crazy. I'm excited to visit locations this year when I'm on the road."
X-Golf America's state-of-the-art indoor golf simulators give players unparalleled accuracy and realism through a combination of camera systems, infrared lasers, impact sensors and advanced gaming software. Their dedicated kiosks offer guests the ultimate golfing entertainment experience with virtual reality gaming, food and beverages, competitions, leagues, golf lessons, memberships, corporate outings, social events and more. Furthermore, the short game and putting capabilities allows players to fully experience a round from tees to greens with acute accuracy.
X-Golf began developing simulators in Korea in 2005, first launching its American franchise operations in 2016. Since then, they have branched nationally to multiple states in 2022 alone, including California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, llinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virgina and Washington. The company has successfully opened and maintained 58+ franchisees across the country, with year-over-year doubled growth planned for 2022 and beyond.
X-Golf is the developer of a high-end golf simulator, the centerpiece of an entertaining indoor golf and bar-restaurant concept. The technology is the most comprehensive indoor golf tracking system available, giving customers the ability to accurately replicate all golf shots, including short game. Measuring ball speed, launch, direction, and spin along with club path, impact, and speed, the X-Golf system performs over 6,000 calculations per second. Additionally, every location offers a full-service bar and restaurant serving beer, wine, liquor and a number of food options. Since first opening in 2016, X-Golf has successfully maintained over 50 open locations with another 45 in development and plans to double its footprint again in 2023. For additional information, visit www.xgolffranchise.com or call 323-400-6611.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE X-Golf America | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/x-golf-america-announces-brand-ambassador-partnership-with-pga-tour-player-harry-higgs-aka-big-beautiful/ | 2022-07-07T15:43:53Z |
2 hospitalized after argument over doughnuts leads to fight
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – Two people were taken to a hospital in South Carolina this weekend after a fight broke out at a Krispy Kreme.
Store employees told WHNS one of the victims is still in ICU, while the other has since been released.
A witness told police she was waiting in line for food when a man and woman began arguing with the employee at the drive-through window.
The employee who was arguing with the customers told officers they had initially ordered a type of doughnut the store did not have.
When he told them they didn’t have that type, he said the customers replied, “Why do you have such an attitude about it?”
Police said the employee then told the customers to “order doughnuts we have or don’t order at all.”
Shortly after, the pair came into the lobby yelling.
According to the witness, another employee came over to try and stop the two but was shoved to the ground and hit his head on the concrete floor.
A third employee tried to stop the altercation but was also pushed to the ground.
Both people injured during the fight were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/03/2-hospitalized-after-argument-over-doughnuts-leads-fight/ | 2022-05-03T14:49:50Z |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.