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DALLAS, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- H.W. Lochner Inc., (Lochner) announced that Phil Yerby, PE, has joined the firm as Client Service Manager and Texas Geographic Sales Lead.
Phil brings more than four decades of transportation engineering and leadership experience involving major highway, transit and rail, and airport projects and programs. He has worked extensively with the Texas Department of Transportation, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority.
Phil was previously with Jacobs/CH2M where he served as Client Account Manager and Principal-in-Charge on major transportation programs such as TEXRail, the North Tarrant Expressway, Grand Parkway, Houston Metro's Line Segment 5, and DART's North Central Corridor Line.
Prior to CH2M, Phil was a principal and founding member of the Texas-based architectural and engineering firm Chiang, Patel and Yerby (CP&Y), where he served from 1985 to 2008.
At Lochner, Phil will continue to grow Lochner's market presence in the country's fastest growing state, in collaboration with the firm's Dallas, Austin, Houston, Tyler and Waco offices. Phil will also work alongside executive leadership to identify strategic partners and potential acquisitions.
"I am happy to welcome Phil Yerby as our Texas Client Service Manager and Sales Lead. He is a highly respected transportation professional with extensive experience in highway, rail, transit, and water.", said Senior Vice President of Operations, Phil Russell, "I've known Phil for many years, and I am excited to work with him to expand our footprint across Texas."
Lochner is a leading provider of infrastructure planning, environmental, design, and construction management services within highway, bridge, transit, and aviation sectors across the United States. The company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and is ranked 125 on Engineering News Record's Top 500 Design Firms of 2022.
CONTACT: Laura White
Director of Marketing and Business Development
laura.white@hwlochner.com
737.704.3080 | 701.269.2110 (cell)
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SOURCE LOCHNER | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/phil-yerby-joins-lochner-client-service-manager-texas-geographic-sales-lead/ | 2022-08-09T17:36:01Z |
As mortgage rates rise in concert with The Fed’s rate hikes this month, fears about the American housing market pricing out tens of millions of would-be homebuyers continue to fester.
The interest rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is hovering around 6%.
And not only is it becoming more expensive to borrow money, but most real estate investors and builders have said they don’t anticipate housing prices will drop significantly but will instead grow at a slower rate.
There are signs this week, however, that the real estate market is shifting ever so slightly toward the buyer. May data shows home builders have started lowering prices for newly built homes as demand has cooled.
Home sales in May were down 8.6% year over year, according to the National Association of Realtors. It’s the fourth-straight month of declining activity. May also saw the median home price break $400,000 for the first time in history.
“We’re not going to see distressed sales, but we could see a decline in prices if the economy is hurt so bad that buyers just can’t afford the high prices that sellers want,” Redfin’s chief economist said this week in response to the release of housing data from May.
To help you stay current on the market, ZeroDown compiled a weekly real estate market report in Fort Worth, TX metro area using data from Redfin. Statistics are as of the four weeks ending June 19, 2022. Metros with more than 50 homes sold during this time period were considered for metro-level rankings for each statistic.
Median sales price
Fort Worth, TX metro area:
– Median sales price: $388,250
– One-year change: +24.3%
Metros with highest median sales price
#1. San Francisco, CA metro area: $1.6 million
#2. San Jose, CA metro area: $1.5 million
#3. Santa Cruz, CA metro area: $1.2 million
Metros with lowest median sales price
#1. Davenport, IA metro area: $127,375
#2. Bay City, MI metro area: $136,438
#3. Cumberland, MD metro area: $138,338
Median sales price per square foot
Fort Worth, TX metro area:
– Median sales price per square foot: $197
– One-year change: +25.0%
Metros with highest median sales price per square foot
#1. San Francisco, CA metro area: $1,111
#2. Kahului, HI metro area: $945
#3. San Jose, CA metro area: $917
Metros with lowest median sales price per square foot
#1. Pine Bluff, AR metro area: $86
#2. Carbondale, IL metro area: $86
#3. Peoria, IL metro area: $87
Sales to list price ratio
Fort Worth, TX metro area:
– Average sales to list price ratio: 1.04
– One-year change: +0.01
Metros with highest sales to list price ratio
#1. Rochester, NY metro area: 1.17
#2. Buffalo, NY metro area: 1.11
#3. Oakland, CA metro area: 1.10
Metros with lowest sales to list price ratio
#1. Springfield, MO metro area: 0.91
#2. Pine Bluff, AR metro area: 0.96
#3. Lake Charles, LA metro area: 0.96
Homes sold with price drops
Fort Worth, TX metro area:
– Homes sold with price drops: 11.3%
– One-year change: +3.3%
Metros with most homes sold with price drops
#1. Beaumont, TX metro area: 25.9%
#2. Grants Pass, OR metro area: 25.6%
#3. The Villages, FL metro area: 25.4%
Metros with least homes sold with price drop
#1. Springfield, MO metro area: 0.0%
#2. Elkhart, IN metro area: 0.0%
#3. Columbia, MO metro area: 0.0%
Off market in two weeks
Fort Worth, TX metro area:
– Off market in two weeks: nan%
– One-year change: +nan%
Metros with the most homes off market in two weeks
#1. Rochester, NY metro area: 87.0%
#2. Kalamazoo, MI metro area: 80.3%
#3. Wichita, KS metro area: 80.1%
Metros with the least homes off market in two weeks
#1. Urban Honolulu, HI metro area: 1.6%
#2. Oshkosh, WI metro area: 3.9%
#3. Corvallis, OR metro area: 4.0%
Months of supply
Fort Worth, TX metro area:
– Months of supply: 7.1 months
– One-year change: +1.3 months
Metros with the most months of supply
#1. Lake Charles, LA metro area: 220.1 months
#2. Springfield, MO metro area: 71.1 months
#3. Joplin, MO metro area: 47.8 months
Metros with least months of supply
#1. Greenville, NC metro area: 3.6 months
#2. Wichita, KS metro area: 4.0 months
#3. Columbus, IN metro area: 4.0 months
This story originally appeared on ZeroDown and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. | https://cw33.com/news/fort-worth-weekly-real-estate-update-11/ | 2022-06-27T16:58:48Z |
DALLAS, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Credera, a global boutique consulting firm focused on strategy, innovation, data, and technology, today announced the achievement of the Amazon Web Services DevOps Competency. The designation recognizes Credera's long history of successfully accelerating our clients' AWS infrastructure and application delivery leveraging DevOps tooling, processes, and best practices.
Credera is part of Omnicom Precision Marketing Group (OPMG), which aligns digital, data, and customer relationship management capabilities to deliver precisely targeted and meaningful customer experiences at scale leveraging the global reach of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC). Credera houses Omnicom's Amazon Center of Excellence, enriched by this DevOps Competency and recent Data & Analytics Competency and Well Architected Partner Program achievements.
"Achieving the AWS DevOps Competency represents a significant achievement and validates Credera's longstanding vision to integrate DevOps into the heart of every client solution," said Peter Kiernan, Director and AWS DevOps leader in the UK. "To date, this has already unlocked operational process efficiencies and maximized the technical capabilities of our cloud-native deployments. We look forward to continuing to architect and implement high-quality, continuously delivered solutions with AWS services."
"Credera's DevOps approach drives our culture of delivery excellence. Our deep expertise delivering industry-leading AWS development, operations, and management tooling and processes consistently unlocks efficient delivery at enterprise scale," said Mario DiMattia, Principal Architect in Credera's U.S. Cloud practice. "Achieving the DevOps Competency reinforces that we are well-equipped to help our customers create sustainable cloud success."
"At Credera, we believe that an effective DevOps approach must transcend technology and permeate every aspect of delivery," said Mike Morain, Principal Architect and Platform Engineering leader in the US. "We are thrilled to announce we have earned the AWS DevOps Competency, which demonstrates our track record of helping clients adopt a DevOps mindset and implement tools and practices to enhance their business agility."
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, today Credera has a team of more than 3,000 talented consultants around the globe. It has been honored by Fortune as a "Best Place to Work" in consulting and professional services. Credera is an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner.
ABOUT CREDERA
Credera (credera.com) is a global boutique consulting firm focused on strategy, innovation, data, and technology. As a part of Omnicom Precision Marketing Group, our over 3,000 consultants across the globe partner together with clients ranging from long-time market leaders to emerging companies delivering strategy and execution leadership to create tangible business results. Credera's deep business acumen and technical expertise, combined with a deep dedication to building trusted relationships, unlocks extraordinary business performance for our clients. Our mission is to make an extraordinary impact for our clients, people, and communities.
ABOUT OMNICOM PRECISION MARKETING GROUP
Omnicom Precision Marketing Group (OPMG) aligns Omnicom's global digital, data and CRM capabilities to deliver precisely targeted and meaningful customer experiences at scale. Using a universal framework of connected people, processes and platforms, OPMG provides services that include digital experience design and development, technology strategy and implementation, data-driven product / service design, CRM / loyalty strategy and activation, econometric and attribution modeling, technical and business consulting and change / program-management services. At the core of delivering these services is Omni, an advanced technology platform that combines advanced AI tools for content intelligence and automation with a powerful cultural insights engine and massively scaled data insights from first-, second- and third-party sources, including several proprietary Omnicom data partnerships. Omnicom Precision Marketing is a part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.
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SOURCE Credera | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/credera-achieves-aws-devops-competency-status/ | 2022-05-17T13:06:56Z |
24-year-old National Guard member shot, killed due to mistaken identity, family says
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE/Gray News) - Police are investigating a deadly shooting in New Orleans that took the life of a National Guard member.
Family members said Raymond Hill III, 24, was shot and killed while he was out on a quick DoorDash delivery and getting supplies for a family barbecue.
“That’s my baby’s heartbeat. That’s all I got,” Kendra Washington said while playing a recording of her son’s heartbeat. “I heard his heartbeat when he came into this world, and I was able to hear it on his way out of here.”
WVUE reports Washington had to do the unthinkable on Tuesday and take her son off life support 11 days after his 24th birthday.
“His brother, his sisters are hurting. You [the shooter] tore my family up,” his father, Raymond Hill II, said. “Please come forward and turn yourself in, or somebody say something.”
Washington said police found 50 shell casings at the intersection where the shooting occurred. She said they believe it may have been a case of mistaken identity because a car with a description similar to his had been reported stolen that morning.
“I know when this happened to him, he was terrified because he didn’t know why and who was doing it,” Washington said.
The National Guard member was shot four times, but his family said he was a fighter.
Washington said her son felt a strong sense of duty and was waiting for his orders from the National Guard. He was respectful, funny, and loved life and his family.
“If you think about a rainy day and the sun pops out on a rainy day, that’s him. They took my sunshine,” Washington said. “My son was just loveable to everybody.”
Washington said she was worried about his safety with his National Guard work but should have been concerned about what was happening in the city.
“I was more worried about his work at the border and overseas. I was supposed to be worried about what was going on here,” Washington said.
The family is also asking for the public’s help in identifying the shooter.
“I know you’re scared; I just need you to put yourself in our shoes and understand what we’re going through,” Washington said. “Turn around, look at your good child, and imagine if this was your child. Wouldn’t you want answers? Wouldn’t you want someone to help you?”
The 24-year-old’s family said they wouldn’t rest until his killer is caught.
“You [the shooter] took a piece of my heart from me that I’ll never get back,” Washington said. “All I can do is watch videos and listen to his heartbeat.”
The family held a balloon release in Raymond Hill III’s memory on Thursday.
Copyright 2022 WVUE via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/01/24-year-old-national-guard-member-shot-killed-due-mistaken-identity-family-says/ | 2022-07-01T23:30:23Z |
HOUSTON, May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP and The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. announce that the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas Houston Division has approved the following announcement of a proposed class action settlement that would benefit purchasers of RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RICK):
SUMMARY NOTICE OF (I) PENDENCY OF CLASS ACTION, CERTIFICATION OF SETTLEMENT CLASS, AND PROPOSED SETTLEMENT; (II) SETTLEMENT HEARING; AND (III) MOTION FOR AN AWARD OF ATTORNEYS' FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF LITIGATION EXPENSES
TO: All persons and entities who, during the period between December 13, 2016 and July 18, 2019, inclusive, purchased or otherwise acquired the common stock of RCI Hospitality Holdings Inc. and were injured thereby (the "Settlement Class"):
Please read this notice carefully, your rights will be affected by a class action lawsuit pending in this court.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and an Order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, that the above-captioned litigation (the "Action") has been certified as a class action on behalf of the Settlement Class, except for certain persons and entities who are excluded from the Settlement Class by definition as set forth in the full Notice of (I) Pendency of Class Action, Certification of Settlement Class, and Proposed Settlement; (II) Settlement Hearing; and (III) Motion for an Award of Attorneys' Fees and Reimbursement of Litigation Expenses (the "Notice").
YOU ARE ALSO NOTIFIED that Lead Plaintiffs in the Action have reached a proposed settlement of the Action for $2,200,000 in cash (the "Settlement"), that, if approved, will resolve all claims in the Action.
A hearing will be held on August 12, 2022 at 10:00 a.m., before the Honorable Alfred H. Bennett at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, United States Courthouse, Courtroom 8C, 515 Rusk Avenue, Houston, TX 77002, to determine (i) whether the proposed Settlement should be approved as fair, reasonable, and adequate; (ii) whether the Action should be dismissed with prejudice against Defendants, and the Releases specified and described in the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement dated April 14, 2022 (and in the Notice) should be granted; (iii) whether the proposed Plan of Allocation should be approved as fair and reasonable; and (iv) whether Lead Counsel's application for an award of attorneys' fees and reimbursement of expenses should be approved.
If you are a member of the Settlement Class, your rights will be affected by the pending Action and the Settlement, and you may be entitled to share in the Settlement Fund. The Notice and Proof of Claim and Release Form ("Claim Form") can be downloaded from the website maintained by the Claims Administrator, www.RCIHoldingsSecuritiesSettlement.com. You may also obtain copies of the Notice and Claim Form by contacting the Claims Administrator at In re RCI Hospitality Securities Litigation, c/o Strategic Claims Services, P.O. Box 230, 600 N. Jackson Street, Suite 205, Media, PA 19063, 1-866-274-4004.
If you are a member of the Settlement Class, in order to be eligible to receive a payment under the proposed Settlement, you must submit a Claim Form submitted online or postmarked no later than September 23, 2022 to the Claims Administrator. If you are a Settlement Class Member and do not submit a proper Claim Form, you will not be eligible to share in the distribution of the net proceeds of the Settlement but you will nevertheless be bound by any judgments or orders entered by the Court in the Action.
If you are a member of the Settlement Class and wish to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you must submit a request for exclusion such that it is received no later than July 22, 2022 to the Claims Administrator, in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Notice. If you properly exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you will not be bound by any judgments or orders entered by the Court in the Action and you will not be eligible to share in the proceeds of the Settlement.
Any objections to the proposed Settlement, the proposed Plan of Allocation, or Lead Counsel's motion for attorneys' fees and reimbursement of expenses, must be filed with the Court and delivered to Lead Counsel and Defendants' Counsel such that they are received no later than July 22, 2022, in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Notice.
Please do not contact the Court, the Clerk's office, RCI, or its counsel regarding this notice. All questions about this notice, the proposed Settlement, or your eligibility to participate in the Settlement should be directed to Lead Counsel or the Claims Administrator.
Inquiries, other than requests for the Notice and Claim Form, should be made to Lead Counsel:
Requests for the Notice and Claim Form should be made to:
In re RCI Hospitality Securities Litigation
c/o Strategic Claims Services
P.O. Box 230
600 N. Jackson Street, Suite 205
Media, PA 19063
866-274-4004
www.RCIHoldingsSecuritiesSettlement.com
By Order of the Court
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SOURCE Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP; The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/glancy-prongay-amp-murray-llp-rosen-law-firm-pa-announce-proposed-class-action-settlement-behalf-purchasers-rci-hospitality-holdings-inc-common-stock-rick/ | 2022-06-06T14:13:28Z |
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nevro Corp. (NYSE: NVRO), delivering comprehensive, life-changing solutions for the treatment of chronic pain, today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022, provided guidance for the third quarter of 2022 and updated its full-year 2022 guidance.
- Second Quarter 2022 Worldwide Revenue of $104.2 Million; Representing 2% As Reported and 4% Constant Currency Growth Compared to Prior Year and 11% As Reported and 12% Constant Currency Growth Over Second Quarter of 2019
- Painful Diabetic Neuropathy (PDN) Represented Approximately $11.0 Million in Revenue in Second Quarter 2022
- Second Quarter 2022 U.S. Trial Procedures Increased 14% Compared to Prior Year and Increased 4% Compared to Second Quarter of 2019, while U.S. PDN Trial Procedures Grew to 14% of Total U.S. Trials in the Quarter and Grew Sequentially 45% over Prior Quarter
- Second Quarter 2022 Net Loss from Operations of $23.8 Million; Second Quarter 2022 Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA Loss of $4.5 Million
- Settlement Agreement Reached in Ongoing Intellectual Property Litigations with Boston Scientific
- More Positive Payer Coverage Updates for Treatment of PDN from Several Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Insurers; Adds Nearly 23 Million Covered PDN Lives, Bringing Total Covered Lives for PDN to Approximately 48% of Addressable U.S. PDN Patients
- Clinical Data Presented at American Diabetes Association 82nd Scientific Sessions Reinforce Significant and Durable Benefits of Nevro's HFX 10 kHz Therapy in PDN Patients at 24 Months
- Newly Released Clinical Data Demonstrates Substantial Improvement in Overall Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with PDN Treated with Nevro HFX 10 kHz Therapy
- Provides Third Quarter 2022 Revenue Guidance of $97 Million to $101 Million; Updates Full-Year 2022 Revenue Guidance to $400 Million to $410 Million, Which Now Includes Increased Guidance for the Full-Year PDN Contribution of Approximately $42 Million to $45 Million
- Provides Third Quarter 2022 Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA Guidance of a Loss of $6 Million to $9 Million; Updates Full-Year 2022 Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA Guidance to a Loss of $19 Million to $25 Million
Worldwide revenue for the second quarter of 2022 was $104.2 million, an increase of 2% as reported and 4% on a constant currency basis, compared to $102.3 million in the prior year period, and an increase of 11% as reported and 12% on a constant currency basis, compared to $93.6 million in the second quarter of 2019. PDN represented approximately $11.0 Million in revenue and 11% of worldwide permanent implant procedures in the second quarter of 2022.
U.S. revenue in the second quarter of 2022 was $89.0 million, an increase of 5% compared to $85.0 million in the prior year period and an increase of 14% compared to $78.1 million in the second quarter of 2019. U.S. permanent implant procedures increased 8% compared to prior year and 13% compared to the second quarter of 2019, while U.S. trial procedures increased 14% compared to prior year and 4% compared to the second quarter of 2019. U.S. PDN trial procedures represented approximately 14% of total U.S. trial volume and grew approximately 45% over the first quarter of 2022.
International revenue in the second quarter of 2022 was $15.2 million, a decrease of 12% as reported or 3% constant currency, compared to $17.3 million in the prior year period, and a decrease of 2% as reported or flat constant currency, compared to $15.5 million in the second quarter of 2019. International revenue, particularly in the United Kingdom and Australia, continued to be impacted by COVID-related issues as well throughout the quarter.
"We were particularly pleased with our growth in the U.S., which was 14% ahead of our pre-COVID pace in 2019," said D. Keith Grossman, Chairman, CEO and President of Nevro. "We continued to see an overall trend of SCS market recovery, though the pace of that recovery has been somewhat slower than planned due to the lingering impact of customer staffing and capacity in the quarter, which affects our customer's ability to schedule both the initial trial and the conversion of those trials to permanent implants. In spite of these issues, we are extremely encouraged by the progress of our PDN launch as we are continuing to drive awareness with referring physicians and patients and have made quick strides with payers."
Mr. Grossman continued, "The recent positive payer coverage updates by several Blue Cross Blue Shield carriers to include PDN patients, which now brings our payer policy coverage to almost 50% of this U.S. patient population, will significantly increase patient access to our 10 kHz Therapy. In addition, our recent FDA approval for treating non-surgical back pain patients further differentiates our high-frequency, paresthesia-free SCS technology and uniquely positions us to deliver relief to the many patients in need of our HFX solution to free them from the burden of chronic pain. We are confident that we have laid a very strong foundation for attractive future growth, and we believe the challenges to our market will continue to subside throughout the second half of 2022."
Gross profit for the second quarter of 2022 was $72.7 million, compared to $70.0 million in the prior year period and $63.9 million in the second quarter of 2019. Gross margin was 69.8% in the second quarter of 2022, compared to 68.4% in the prior year period and 68.3% in the second quarter of 2019. "We continue to make investments in our Costa Rica manufacturing facility ahead of FDA approval of this facility, which we expect in the second half of the year," added Rod MacLeod, Chief Financial Officer.
Operating expenses for the second quarter of 2022 were $96.5 million, compared to $85.7 million in the prior year period and $90.5 million in the second quarter of 2019. Litigation-related legal expenses were $4.0 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to $6.6 million in the prior year period and $4.5 million in the second quarter of 2019. Excluding all litigation-related and PDN expenses, operating expenses would be approximately flat with the second quarter of 2019.
Net loss from operations for the second quarter of 2022 was $23.8 million, compared to a loss of $15.8 million in the prior year period and a loss of $26.6 million in the second quarter of 2019. Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2022 was a loss of $4.5 million, compared to profit of $3.0 million in the prior year period and a loss of $11.1 million in the second quarter of 2019. Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA excludes interest, taxes, and non-cash items such as stock-based compensation and depreciation and amortization, as well as litigation-related expenses and certain litigation charges. Please see the financial table below for GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliations.
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $310.8 million as of June 30, 2022, a decrease of $12.8 million from March 31, 2022. This decrease was primarily driven by funds used in operations.
As previously announced on August 1, 2022, Nevro and Boston Scientific Corp. reached a settlement agreement in their ongoing intellectual property litigations. Pursuant to the parties' settlement, Nevro will receive a payment from Boston Scientific of $85.0 million in cash, and Boston Scientific has released the $20.0 million verdict it was awarded by a Delaware jury on November 1, 2021. The release allows Nevro to reverse the liability related to the $20.0 million loss contingency that it accrued in the period ended September 30, 2021.
In addition, Nevro granted Boston Scientific a worldwide, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to practice paresthesia-free therapy at frequencies below 1,500 Hz and a covenant not to sue for any features embodied in any current Boston Scientific products for frequencies below 1,500 Hz. Boston Scientific also granted Nevro a worldwide, non-exclusive, non-transferable license under Boston Scientific's asserted patent families and a covenant not to sue for any features embodied in any current Nevro products.
Nevro continues to have exclusivity of frequency ranges between 1.5 kHz and 100 kHz, including its best-in-class 10 kHz Therapy.
During the second quarter, a number of coverage updates among Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) insurers were made to explicitly cover PDN. Combined, these BCBS updates represent nearly 23 million commercially insured covered lives with approximately 48% of the addressable U.S. PDN population now covered under a formal policy for PDN:
- Effective April 28, 2022, BCBS Idaho, the largest commercial payer in Idaho representing approximately 559 thousand covered lives, updated their policy to specifically cover PDN.
- Effective May 27, 2022, BCBS Hawaii (HMSA), the largest commercial payer in Hawaii representing approximately 786 thousand covered lives, updated their policy to specifically cover PDN.
- Effective May 29, 2022, BCBS Alabama, the largest commercial payer in Alabama representing approximately 2.5 million covered lives, updated their policy to specifically cover diabetic neuropathy and peripheral neuropathy.
- Effective July 1, 2022, Premera Blue Cross, the largest health plan in the Pacific Northwest (Washington and Alaska) representing approximately 2.5 million covered lives, updated their policy to specifically cover PDN.
- Effective August 1, 2022, Health Care Services Corporation (HCSC) updated their SCS policy to explicitly cover PDN. HCSC is an independent licensee of Blue Cross Blue Shield and the parent company of BCBS Texas, Illinois, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Montana, which represents over 16 million covered lives.
Nevro continues to monitor and evaluate the impact the global response to the COVID pandemic has had, and will continue to have, on its operations and financial results. This guidance is highly sensitive to the company's assumptions regarding the pace and sustainability of COVID recovery and its related impacts on patient willingness to seek elective care, healthcare facility restrictions and healthcare facility staffing limitations, all of which are difficult to predict. If these assumptions differ from the actual pace of COVID recovery and its impact on the company's markets, then the company may need to change or withdraw this guidance in the future.
Nevro expects third quarter of 2022 worldwide revenue of approximately $97 million to $101 million, or growth of 4% to 8% over prior year. Assuming foreign currency exchange rates hold at current levels, this guidance includes a negative currency impact of approximately $1 million or growth of 6% to 10% on a constant currency basis. In addition, this guidance range assumes that the recovery will continue to steadily improve in the quarter.
The company expects third quarter of 2022 non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA to be a loss of approximately $6 million to $9 million. Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA excludes certain litigation expenses and credits, interest, taxes and non-cash items such as stock-based compensation and depreciation and amortization. Please see financial tables for GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations.
Nevro now expects full-year 2022 worldwide revenue of approximately $400 million to $410 million, or growth of 3% to 6% over prior year, compared to previous guidance of $415 million to $430 million, and growth in the second half of the year of 6% to 11%. Assuming foreign currency exchange rates hold at current levels, this guidance includes a negative currency impact for the second half of the year of approximately $2 million or second half growth of 7% to 12% on a constant currency basis. This full-year 2022 guidance also includes approximately $42 million to $45 million of PDN revenue, an increase from previous guidance of $27 million to $32 million. This guidance assumes the remainder of 2022 will see a steady recovery, particularly in the fourth quarter, and includes no significant business impact from new COVID variants or waves and near-term improvement in healthcare facility restrictions and steady improvement in healthcare facility staffing limitations throughout the year.
The company now expects full-year 2022 non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA to be a loss of approximately $19 million to $25 million, compared to previous guidance of a loss of $8 million to $18 million and a non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA loss of $17.2 million in 2021. Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA excludes certain litigation expenses and credits, interest, taxes and non-cash items such as stock-based compensation and depreciation and amortization. Please see financial tables for GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliations.
An investor presentation for the company's second quarter 2022 financial results is available in the "Investors" section of Nevro's website at www.nevro.com.
As previously announced, Nevro management will host a conference call starting at 1:30 pm PT / 4:30 pm ET today. Investors interested in listening to the call may do so by dialing (888) 330-2443 in the U.S. or +1 (240) 789-2728 internationally, using Conference ID: 3583097. A live webcast, as well as an archived recording, will also be available in the "Investors" section of Nevro's website at: www.nevro.com.
Nevro routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the "Investor Relations" section of its website at www.nevro.com. The company encourages investors and potential investors to consult the Nevro website regularly for important information about Nevro.
Headquartered in Redwood City, California, Nevro is a global medical device company focused on delivering comprehensive, life-changing solutions that continue to set the standard for enduring patient outcomes in chronic pain treatment. The company started with a simple mission to help more patients suffering from debilitating pain and developed its proprietary 10 kHz Therapy, an evidence-based, non-pharmacologic innovation that has impacted the lives of more than 80,000 patients globally.
Nevro's comprehensive HFX™ spinal cord stimulation (SCS) platform includes a Senza SCS system and support services for the treatment of chronic trunk and limb pain and painful diabetic neuropathy. Senza®, Senza II®, and Senza Omnia™ are the only SCS systems that deliver Nevro's proprietary 10 kHz Therapy. Nevro's unique support services provide every patient with an HFX Coach™ throughout their pain relief journey and every physician with HFX Cloud™ insights for enhanced patient and practice management.
Senza, Senza II, Senza Omnia, HFX, HXF Coach, HFX Cloud, HFX Connect, Nevro and the Nevro logo are trademarks of Nevro Corp.
To learn more about Nevro, connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
In addition to historical information, this press release contains forward-looking statements reflecting the company's current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including: our third quarter and full-year 2022 financial guidance, including our expectations for PDN revenue in 2022; our belief that the recent positive payer coverage updates by several Blue Cross Blue Shield carriers to include PDN patients will significantly increase patient access to our 10 kHz Therapy; our belief that our recent FDA approval for treating NSBP patients further differentiates our high-frequency, paresthesia-free SCS technology and uniquely positions us to deliver relief to the many patients in need of our HFX solution to free them from the burden of chronic pain; our belief that we have laid a very strong foundation for attractive future growth, and the challenges to our market will continue to subside; and our belief that we will receive FDA approval of our Costa Rica facility in the second half of 2022. These forward-looking statements are based upon information that is currently available to us or our current expectations, speak only as of the date hereof, and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including our ability to successfully commercialize our products; our ability to manufacture our products to meet demand; the level and availability of third-party payor reimbursement for our products; our ability to effectively manage our anticipated growth and the costs and expenses of operating our business; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights and proprietary technologies; our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights and proprietary technology of third parties; competition in our industry; additional capital and credit availability; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; and product liability claims. These factors, together with those that are described in greater detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 23, 2022, as well as any reports that we may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future, may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation, except as required by law, or undertaking to update or revise any such forward-looking statements. Nevro's operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of our operating results for any future periods.
Management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures, most specifically Adjusted EBITDA, as a supplement to GAAP financial measures to further evaluate the company's operating performance period over period, analyze the underlying business trends, assess performance relative to competitors and establish operational objectives.
Management believes it is important to provide investors with the same non-GAAP metrics it uses to evaluate the performance and underlying trends of the company's business operations to facilitate comparisons to its historical operating results and evaluate the effectiveness of its operating strategies. Disclosure of these non-GAAP financial measures also facilitates comparisons of the company's underlying operating performance with other companies in the industry that also supplement their GAAP results with non-GAAP financial measures.
EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is calculated by adding interest income and expense, net; provision for income taxes; and depreciation and amortization to net income. In calculating non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA, the company further adjusts for the following items:
- Stock-based compensation expense – The company excludes non-cash costs related to the company's stock-based plans, which include stock options, restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock units as these expenses do not require cash settlement from the company.
- Litigation-related expenses and credits – The company excludes legal and professional fees as well as charges and credits associated with certain legal matters, which management considers not related to the underlying operating performance of the business.
Full-year guidance excludes the impact of foreign currency fluctuations.
The non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered in isolation from, or as a replacement for, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, as it is not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Amounts may not add due to rounding.
Investors and Media:
Julie Dewey, IRC
Nevro Corp.
Chief Corp Communications & Investor Relations Officer
650-433-3247 | julie.dewey@nevro.com
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SOURCE Nevro Corp. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/nevro-reports-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-provides-third-quarter-2022-guidance-updates-full-year-2022-guidance/ | 2022-08-03T20:53:29Z |
Mom raises money for students’ high school prom
By Jenna Wells
Click here for updates on this story
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (WDJT) — It’s prom season, but at Hamilton high school, there has been a rush to raise funds in a short amount of time to make the night memorable.
After some uncertainty because of the pandemic, Milwaukee Public Schools approved a prom for Hamilton High School in February, much later than normal, as the district kept an eye on COVID.
Every year, the senior class raises money for prom, but this year it has become a massive time-crunch.
“You think they fundraise all year for this stuff, but because of COVID you really couldn’t do a lot of fundraising,” said Sabrina Sedlar, a mom of a senior at Hamilton.
When she learned funding was an issue this year, Sabrina Sedlar set up a GoFundMe for the school’s prom.
Her daughter, Lily, shares her mom’s dedication. She joined Hamilton’s prom committee this year.
“I really care about mental health, and I saw that a lot of students were sad that we weren’t doing anything. We were just going to class and going home afterwards. Even some clubs got cancelled. They were like ‘we want to do something with our class before we leave,’ so I just wanted to make that happen,” Lily said.
Her friend and fellow committee member, Alyana Fells-Martin, echoes that sadness. She’s hoping to end the year on a good note.
“We didn’t even get to do a homecoming so it’s like, I really just want a prom,” Alyana said.
Sabrina Sedlar started the GoFundMe in February, raising money for the venue costs, decorations, attire and food. Meanwhile, the prom committee had a candy sale.
While many high schools rely on high-priced ticket sales to fund their prom, Hamilton serves mostly lower-income communities, so they only charge $25 per prom ticket to make sure everyone can attend.
“Prom is big business. It’s expensive,” Sedlar said.
Her goal is to help her daughter’s high school make the night memorable, after a disappointing couple of years.
“When you were in high school, what were the things that you remember? Do you remember all the classes you took, all the teachers? No, you remember the things that you did with your friends. Homecoming, high school football games, prom, a lot of those things these kids missed because they were home for two years,” Sedlar said.
With the funds rising higher and the calendar moving quickly, the Hamilton seniors are getting pumped up.
“I’m excited for being able to say I had a prom. I was able to run on prom court. I was able to do all of this at the end of my year,” Alyana said.
Sabrina’s GoFundMe has already raised over $1300 for Hamilton’s senior prom. They are also getting help from the I Owe The Youth Foundation for dresses and suits.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. | https://localnews8.com/cnn-regional/2022/05/06/mom-raises-money-for-students-high-school-prom/ | 2022-05-06T23:20:14Z |
NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for ROKU, AAPL, SPLK, XOM, and ALB.
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SOURCE InvestorsObserver | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/thinking-about-trading-options-or-stock-roku-apple-splunk-exxon-mobil-or-albemarle-corp/ | 2022-09-12T14:19:34Z |
Survey finds travelers rapidly booking cruise travel one year after the return of sailing from the United States.
WILMINGTON, Mass., July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cruiseline.com and Shipmate released the findings of their 2022 Member Survey. These results come just on the heels of the first anniversary of the return of cruising from the United States. Questions in this survey center on participants' cruise history, intent to cruise within the next year, and preferred travel booking preferences.
This survey presented a unique data set as we look ahead at cruising next year, with most major lines having all the vessels in their fleet back at sea. In addition, it provides insight into consumer confidence in cruising at this pivotal time for the industry and traveler purchase and planning habits.
The majority of participants who took this survey were frequent cruisers, with 69% percent reporting they have previously been on at least seven or more sailings, 17% with four to six cruises, 8% have taken two to three cruises, and 3.5% had taken at least one cruise. Over 60% of all participants have reported previously cruising with Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, over 40% have sailed with Norwegian Cruise Line, and over 30% with Princess Cruises. 89% of participants have cruised in the Caribbean region, with other previously-cruised destinations being Alaska, Pacific Coast (Mexico), and Europe.
Of the travelers participating in this survey, 91.4% reported they plan to take a cruise within the next year, 2.5% said they would not cruise in the next year, and 6.1% are currently undecided if they will cruise in the next year.
"The numbers from our survey clearly show that travelers are feeling comfortable in cruising once again and are taking the next steps of researching and booking upcoming voyages," said Jamie Cash, General Manager of Cruiseline.com. "Despite many obstacles, the cruise industry has come a long way in the last year, and this data provided by our community shows that the consumer demand for cruising is strong."
Of the 91.4% who marked they intend to cruise within the next year, respondents shared more data on upcoming travel plans:
- When Are Travelers Cruising? Over 34% of participants will cruise within the next two to four months, 30% will cruise in the next five to twelve months, and under 30% have cruises booked within the next 60 days. 46% of these travelers have between two and four upcoming sailings booked.
- Which Cruise Lines? 37.9% will sail with Carnival Cruise Line, 35.9% with Royal Caribbean International, 21.45% with Norwegian Cruise Line, 17.5% with Celebrity Cruises, and 17% with Princess Cruises. Coming in just behind these lines in booking/intent was Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, and Virgin Voyages.
- What Duration of Cruise Booked? 13.4% indicated they are booking four to six day cruises and 42.5% of travelers will cruise on a 7-night voyage. 31.5% will sail between 8 and 14 days, and 10% report they will cruise for 15+ days. Short cruises of 3 days or less only accounted for 2.6% of future cruises booked.
- Where Will You Cruise To? 54.6% plan to cruise in the Caribbean, 36.1% in Europe, 31% in Alaska, and 21.7% will cruise in Hawaii, other intended cruise destinations include Canada/New England, Mexico (Pacific Coast), Bermuda, and Australia/New Zealand.
- How Many Future Cruises Do These Travelers Have Booked? 46% of this group have two to four cruises booked, 28.5% have one cruise booked, 13% have zero booked, 8.6% have 5-7 booked, 3.6% have eight or more booked, and the remaining .3% responded with varying numbers booked.
This survey also studied the 6.1% of those who reported they were undecided about cruising and the 2.5% who said they would not cruise in the upcoming year. This group was labeled the 'Cruise Sideliners.'
Over 38% said the vaccine requirements stopped them from cruising this year. Additionally, 18.2% of travelers reported they were 'Not Ready to Cruise Yet (but May in the Future).' Over 16% reported that finances were limiting them from cruising at this time, 10% of travelers said that they do not feel safe cruising, and 9.5% reported time as a limiting factor for not cruising. The remaining percentage listed other health and safety protocol, finance-related, and previously booked year-plus voyages as reasons they did not intend to cruise this year.
A large majority of this group said that as an alternative to cruising, they plan on: vacationing at a hotel/resort (55.5%), flying/driving to see friends/family (50.4%), having a staycation (36%), or traveling via RV/camper (18.2%).
The growing segment of river cruising was also surveyed. 90.7% of participants reported they had never taken a river cruise; however, 61.2% said they would consider river cruising in the future. The most considered river cruise lines include Viking River Cruises (78.9%), with other line interests for AmaWaterways, Avalon, and Emerald Waterways.
Respondents were asked about cruise booking preferences to learn about travel purchasing trends. 43.8% reported they book cruises six to twelve months ahead of sailing, 29.1% book 12-18 months out, 16.5% book 3-5 months out, 7.4% book 18+ months in advance, and only 3.2% report they book less than three months out from cruising.
The bulk of responders book using a travel agent or direct with the cruise line, with 32.3% booking with a travel agency in person or via phone, and another 9.4% book via a travel agency website. For those that prefer direct with the cruise line, 26.5% prefer phone or PVP, while another 28.6% prefer online.
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Finding the right cruise is not an easy task so Cruiseline.com is here to simplify the process. Everyone from first-time cruisers to seasoned sailors can find their dream vacation using Cruiseline.com's reviews, cruise advice articles, advanced deal search features, user-submitted photos, and an authentic community ready to talk about all things cruising.
What sets Cruiseline.com apart? The 214,000+ verified reviews from community members – that means real reviews by real people. These reviews cover every aspect of their cruise experience, from onboard dining to service, entertainment, and ports. Through a partnership with major cruise agencies, Cruiseline.com is able to gather real reviews from actual cruisers who have sailed on the ships they are reviewing. For more information visit: Cruiseline.com.
Powered by Cruiseline.com, Shipmate is the #1 cruise App with over 2 million downloads. Shipmate is the only cruise app that travelers can use before, during, and after a voyage. Features of the app include the ability to meet fellow cruisers with roll calls for specific sailings, a cruise countdown clock, deck plans and photos, port tips, deck cams, ship tracking, cruise price alerts, future cruise credit trackers, and excursion booking. The forums of Shipmate are packed with fellow cruisers eager to share reviews, tips, and photos of recent voyages to help other travelers plan their future sailings. To download or learn more about Shipmate visit: Cruiseline.com/shipmate.
Media Contact
Brooke Franco
Public Relations & Community Manager, Cruiseline.com and Shipmate
bfranco@cruiseline.com
877-958-7447
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SOURCE Cruiseline.com | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/travelers-intend-cruise-upcoming-year-reports-cruiselinecom-shipmate-survey/ | 2022-07-26T07:28:47Z |
ST. PAUL, Minn., June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- JDD Studio had the great pleasure of partnering with the International Institute of Minnesota (IIMN) on the renovation of the IIMN headquarters. A leader in programs for immigrants and refugees, IIMN aims to increase their workforce trainings and educational programs in their newly renovated space. JDD Studio and IIMN look to celebrate the reopening of the renovated headquarters building where at least 3,000 New Americans will benefit each year from the Institute's expansion.
The Institute's open house, scheduled for Thursday, June 23, 12–2 p.m., welcomes students and the community to learn about various programs and services, while enjoying lunch and an ice cream truck.
"The impact of the Institute on the lives of Minnesota's refugee and immigrant population cannot be underestimated. Many of our clients say the Institute feels like a second home, where they are supported and encouraged to grow their language skills, job skills, and create community," says Jane Graupman, executive director of the Institute. "Our building is now even more welcoming to New Americans as a place to gather and learn."
The IIMN project scope included the renovation of the existing 21,000 square-foot building and the addition of a 16,000 + square-foot wing for more and better-quality classroom space, conference and meeting room spaces, and additional office space to enhance the services and classes the Institute provides. "In partnering with IIMN, our goal for the new building was to provide a shared Living Room for New Americans arriving in Minnesota with new and welcoming spaces in which to work, study, rest, and gather throughout IIMN's next 100 years," says Patrick Regan, principal of JDD Studio.
"JDD Studio helped the Institute dream up a space that honors the experiences of New Americans when they come to Minnesota. Together, the process evolved to create a space that is both a symbol of our welcome to immigrants and refugees and allows the Institute to grow its proven programs and services," said Graupman. "Along the way, Patrick and the team had provided both technical expertise and a vision for the institute that would lead us into the future. He has been a critical partner every step of the way. We are sad that James Dayton can't be here with us to celebrate the beautiful new space we now call home. His vision and legacy played a major role in its success."
The Institute's recent milestones include surpassing 25,000 refugees resettled since 1974 and assisting more than 16,000 citizenship applications being filed since 2001. As baby boomers age out of the workforce, immigrants and refugees represent a growing portion of the state's overall population, and these New Americans are essential to Minnesota's labor market and economic viability in the global marketplace.
Founded in 1997 as James Dayton Design by the late Jim Dayton, JDD Studio is led by four partners: Robert Hunter, Abby Jensen, Patrick Regan, and Angela Varpness. JDD Studio's mission is to develop thoughtful, well-crafted spaces that serve clients well and contribute positively to the community in a creative and innovative way. JDD Studio has extensive experience in concept design, programming, master planning, architectural design, interior design, and in supporting capital campaigns. The success of JDD projects across all metrics of client satisfaction and myriad building types is a testament to their design methodology.
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SOURCE JDD Studio | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/jdd-studio-renovates-international-institute-minnesota-prepares-open-house/ | 2022-06-22T14:19:28Z |
The Evansville, Indiana, house explosion that left three dead and damaged at least 39 homes has been deemed accidental, Evansville Fire Chief Michael Connelly said Thursday afternoon.
"We have multiple agencies conducting portions of the investigation, and based on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Indiana State Fire Marshal's Office, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, and the Evansville Fire Department Investigation Division, intentional ignition source has been ruled out," Connelly said.
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, Connelly said, adding that authorities do not have any people who are unaccounted for at this time, but 15 families remain displaced.
More than a dozen agencies responded to the scene, which Mayor Lloyd Winnecke previously described to CNN affiliate WFIE as "devastating," saying it would likely take time to figure out what happened.
In addition to the three people killed, at least one person was transported to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
The three people who died have been identified as 43-year-old Charles Hite, 37-year-old Martina Hite, and 29-year-old Jessica Teague, according to the Vanderburgh County Coroner. Their causes and manners of death are still pending autopsies, Chief Deputy Coroner David Anson said.
Husband and wife, Charles and Martina Hite, were identified as two of the victims of the explosion, family members told CNN. Martina's cousin, Tina Louise Hasenor, said that the couple was in their home when the explosion happened.
Charles and Martina had been married for about 3 years, according to Hasenor.
"Her husband was a really nice guy. They definitely loved each other, and we're meant to be together," Hasenor said.
Hasenor described her cousin as "a great person with a heart of gold," and said the pair will be deeply missed.
An initial survey showed 39 houses suffered "severe to minor damage," the chief added. Eleven homes were left uninhabitable, he said, adding the American Red Cross will help affected families. Evansville, home to about 116,000 people, is about a three-hours' drive southwest of Indianapolis.
Destroyed and damaged homes and piles of debris featured in photos posted on Twitter by the mayor, who said first responders and local departments will "keep residents in the Willemette Village/Wesselman Park neighborhoods safe and informed."
"I'd seen photos that have been placed online, but once I walked up to the residence itself and saw the devastation with my own eyes, it was, I mean, it was a gut punch," Winnecke said Wednesday.
"Across the street from the explosion you'll see house after house that has windows blown out, that has you know there's insulation blown out from homes," the mayor added.
A structural collapse team was called in to survey buildings and to make sure all gas and electric circuits "had integrity," the chief said Wednesday. At least eight agencies responded, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the State Fire Marshal.
"They will resume the investigation in the morning," the chief said Wednesday evening. "This is a standard operating procedure for an incident of this magnitude and of this type."
Search and rescue teams will be allowed back into the area once utilities are secured and the ATF determines its part of the investigation is over, Connelly said.
Authorities asked residents to stay away from the area.
It's been a typical rainy August week, but that doesn't have to put a damper on the weekend. So come out and see what's going on in the Albany area. Click for more.
CNN's Sara Smart, Isa Kaufman-Geballe and Tanika Gray contributed to this report.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/cause-of-indiana-house-explosion-that-killed-3-and-damaged-39-homes-deemed-accidental-authorities/article_4fe9212b-1b28-5a70-ac29-a561b4c5fd9a.html | 2022-08-12T00:14:28Z |
DES MOINES, Iowa (WHO) — Police in Iowa arrested one of the men they say was responsible for a terrifying robbery of a woman who had just won a significant amount of money at Prairie Meadows Casino.
The victim won two jackpots at the casino totaling more than $10,000, Sgt. Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department said. She was driving home early Tuesday morning when her car was forced off the road by two vehicles.
Police said 30-year-old Timothy Spencer, of Berwick, was driving one of those vehicles. Spencer allegedly had a handgun when he exited the vehicle and hit the driver-side window of the victim’s vehicle, shattering it. Parizek said Spencer then opened the door and grabbed the victim’s purse, which contained her winnings from the casino.
The other suspect was driving the second vehicle that forced the woman off the road. She told police he got out and was pounding on the passenger side window.
The woman was not hurt during the incident.
Using a description of the suspect provided by the victim, investigators were able to find Spencer on surveillance video from Prairie Meadows, according to police records. The video showed he was near the woman in the casino when she won her jackpots. Spencer also, “continued to surveil the victim and exited the casino around 3:00 a.m., which was around the same time the victim exited,” the criminal complaint reads.
Spencer was taken into custody at Prairie Meadows Casino Wednesday night. Search warrants executed in the case turned up $1,000 in cash and a bottle of oxycodone he did not have a prescription for in his vehicle, police said.
At Spencer’s home, another $2,000 in cash and a silver .38 Special revolver were recovered.
In an interview with police, Spencer denied robbing the woman and said the cash in his possession was from a $10,000 jackpot he won at Prairie Meadows several weeks ago.
Spencer was being held in the Polk County Jail on charges of first-degree burglary, first-degree theft, going armed with intent, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, and possession of a controlled substance.
Sgt. Parizek said the second suspect in the robbery had not been arrested yet. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/woman-run-off-road-robbed-after-big-casino-win/ | 2022-07-21T18:59:03Z |
Chiefs host 11-On competition for local high schools
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - In partnership with Nike, the Chiefs hosted an 11-On competition for eight local high schools at Yager Stadium on Friday.
The competition is designed to build skills and instill healthy, fun competition in a training camp style. Junction City, Center, Manhattan, Olathe West, Shawnee Heights, Topeka Hayden, Topeka Seaman, and Washburn Rural all participated.
The day consisted of 7 on 7 games between schools, and players were able to practice at drill stations around the field.
While no Chiefs players were in attendance, the 2020 Lombardi Trophy was on display for attendees to snap a picture with it.
“These kids all have the goal of getting that trophy, or getting to hold one one day,” said Donald Leven, Stadium Captain for the Kansas City Red Coaters, the Chiefs’ community outreach organization.
The event ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and was open to the public, so local Chiefs fans were more than welcome to come grab some pictures with the $50,000 hardware.
They also set up a kids camp with USA Football over on the practice field. There, kids ages 5-14 got the chance to learn about football, the importance of being active, and practice some drills.
“It’s a great event to watch the kids just enjoy the day. It was unbelievable with the kids, how they were learning team spirit and working today,” said Leven.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/24/chiefs-host-11-on-competition-local-high-schools/ | 2022-06-25T00:32:36Z |
Study: Majority of trans children who transition socially keep new identity
(CNN) - A new study has found that most transgender kids who go through a social transition tend to stick with it.
A social transition means when a child changes their name or pronoun or wear clothes aligned with their chosen gender identity.
The study followed 317 transgender youths, from the ages of 3 to 12. Five years after their initial transition, 94 percent were still living as transgender girls or boys.
A small percentage re-transitioned, either re-identifying as their birth sex or identifying as non-binary. Most often, that happened before the age of 10.
This is the first large-scale study focused on children transitioning more than once.
It was published Wednesday in the journal Pediatrics.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/05/study-majority-trans-children-who-transition-socially-keep-new-identity/ | 2022-05-05T14:06:22Z |
Love one another. A baby is to be welcomed. Loved. Nurtured. Allowed to live. Thou shall not kill.
Abortion is not healthcare nor birth control. Abortion is an affront to God as He is the Creator of the baby’s life. You cannot go against God and think you’re justified in killing a human being.
Their blood is on your hands. Don’t think you’ll escape God’s judgment for this atrocity! Murder is a sin. Period. No debate. When you suppress your conscious you are searing the very thing God gave people to let them know they’ve crossed a line into wickedness.
Abortion is evil. When you decide to abort a baby you’ve also taken on the responsibility to stand before God to give an account for the murder you committed. God’s justice overruled your depravity ever time.
Children are a gift from God. You are destroying a gift. You are in essence saying I don’t want your very best God. Rebellion is a condition of the heart. The heart is deceitful above all else and desperately wicked, who can know it? God does!
Repent and God forgives every time. Go and sin no more. Jesus loved the little children that surrounded Him. It is an offense to keep them away from the Lord. If Cain killed Abel and knew about it, don’t you think God knows when you’ve aborted your baby?
No sin is hidden from God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Adoption is the loving thing to do for your child. Please reconsider this issue at hand. God save the babies!
Marcie Anderson
Temple | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/letters_to_the_editor/article_40eddc48-ec36-11ec-8079-27fe84a3f037.html | 2022-06-15T12:49:43Z |
Archbishop: Pelosi will be denied communion over abortion
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The conservative Catholic archbishop of San Francisco said Friday that he will no longer allow U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to receive Communion because of her support for abortion rights.
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone said in he sent Pelosi a letter April 7 expressing his concerns after she vowed to codify the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision establishing a constitutional right to abortion into law because of the Texas law banning most abortions that will take effect if the high court overturns Roe. Cordileone also said Pelosi never responded.
Cordileone said he told Pelosi in the letter that she must either repudiate her support of abortion rights or stop speaking publicly about her Catholic faith and that if she didn’t, he would have no other choice but to declare she is not allowed to receive Communion.
“I am hereby notifying you that you are not to present yourself for Holy Communion and, should you do so, you are not to be admitted to Holy Communion, until such time as you publically repudiate your advocacy for the legitimacy of abortion and confess and receive absolution of this grave sin in the sacrament of Penance,” Cordileone’s letter said.
Cordileone said in a separate letter Friday to church members that he asked six times to meet with Pelosi but that her office didn’t respond or told him she was busy.
“After numerous attempts to speak with her to help her understand the grave evil she is perpetrating, the scandal she is causing, and the danger to her own soul she is risking, I have determined that the point has come in which I must make a public declaration that she is not to be admitted to Holy Communion,” Cordileone wrote.
Pelosi’s office did not immediately respond to email and phone messages seeking comment on Friday.
Cordileone over the past year has been among the most outspoken U.S. bishops advocating that Communion be denied to President Joe Biden and other politicians who support abortion rights.
However, each bishop has authority in his own diocese on this matter, and the archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Wilton Gregory, has affirmed that Biden is welcome to receive the sacrament there.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops last November overwhelmingly approved a long-anticipated document on Communion that stopped short of calling for withholding the sacrament from politicians who support abortion rights but offered justifications for individual bishops to do so.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/20/archbishop-pelosi-will-be-denied-communion-over-abortion/ | 2022-05-20T23:23:22Z |
CLEVELAND, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- An important growth segment in the $76 billion global pumps industry is solar water pumps, which are increasingly common in India and finding expanding use in sub-Saharan Africa. These products represent a promising agricultural tool in regions that lack electricity infrastructure but receive high levels of sunshine, which describes areas covering hundreds of millions of people and thus presents a massive potential market.
While solar pumps are becoming more common, suppliers have struggled to deploy them as rapidly as called for by ambitious government targets. The high upfront costs of solar water pump systems represent a barrier to adoption, as the target markets for these products tend to be very price sensitive.
However, the long-term cost savings associated with these products show a path to economic viability if effective financing strategies can be developed. For instance, firms are finding ways to expand market access by offering options like pay-as-you-go financing, with the rising prevalence of mobile banking representing an important synergistic technology.
The Freedonia Group forecasts global demand for pumps to increase 5.1% per year to $97.9 billion in 2026, driven by strong gains in the process manufacturing industries of China and other Asia/Pacific nations. Growth will also be bolstered by increasing industrialization and urbanization in a number of Asia/Pacific countries. Ongoing recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will provide further opportunities across markets in all regions.
For more information about solar pumps and the global pump industry in general, see Global Pumps, now available from The Freedonia Group. This study presents historical data (2011, 2016, and 2021) and forecasts for 2022, 2026 and 2031 for demand in the global fluid handling pumps industry by product and market in US dollars.
Products:
- Centrifugal
- positive displacement (rotary, reciprocating, diaphragm)
- specialty and other pumps, which includes pumps with designs that are uniquely specialized for specific applications, such as domestic water system pumps, turbine, drilling mud pumps, sump pumps, beverage service pumps, microfluidic laboratory pumps, and others
- associated drivers, parts, and accessories
Pump demand is also segmented by market:
- process manufacturing
- water infrastructure
- construction
- oil and gas
- electricity generation
- other, which includes healthcare, marine, mining, and other manufacturing industries
About the Freedonia Group - The Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch.com, is the premier international industrial research company, providing our clients with product analyses, market forecasts, industry trends, and market share information. From one-person consulting firms to global conglomerates, our analysts provide companies with unbiased, reliable industry market research and analysis to help them make important business decisions. With over 100 studies published annually, we support over 90% of the industrial Fortune 500 companies. Find off-the-shelf studies at https://www.freedoniagroup.com/ or contact us for custom research: +1 440.842.2400.
Press Contact:
Corinne Gangloff
+1 440.842.2400
cgangloff@freedoniagroup.com
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SOURCE The Freedonia Group | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/solar-pumps-agriculture-hold-strong-potential-developing-regions/ | 2022-06-08T15:13:11Z |
Seasoned executive brings deep experience leading human resources in high-growth technology companies
BOSTON, Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadia, a leading data analytics platform for healthcare and life sciences, has announced the appointment of Chris D'Arcy as Chief Human Resources Officer.
D'Arcy has spent his career leading human resources initiatives in high-growth technology startups and scaling mid-sized firms to great heights and successful outcomes.
In his new role at Arcadia, D'Arcy will prioritize nurturing the company's culture, promoting transparent communication, and recruiting and retaining the healthcare technology industry's top talent.
Previously, D'Arcy served as Vice President of Human Resources at Liaison International, a higher-education technology company. Prior to that, he held the role of Vice President of Human Resources at Silverlink Communications, a healthcare engagement technology firm.
"To build a foundation of data and technology that drives tangible outcomes for patients, providers, and health plans requires Arcadia to hire and retain the brightest minds in healthcare," said Sean Carroll, CEO of Arcadia. "We are delighted to welcome Chris to the team as we embrace the highly competitive talent market with fervor and creativity."
"At Arcadia, we have the opportunity to transform healthcare through data -- and it's our people that will make that happen," said D'Arcy. "My goal is to build a culture of transparent communication, team-driven recruitment, and organizational effectiveness to fuel the growth of this company through its high-performance people. Together we're going to change the face of healthcare and make it the most data-driven, digital-first industry in the world."
To search and apply for jobs at Arcadia, click here.
About Arcadia
Arcadia is dedicated to happier, healthier days for all. We transform data into powerful insights that deliver results. Through our partnerships with the nation's leading health systems, payers, and life science companies, we are growing a community of innovation to improve care, maximize value, and confront emerging challenges. For more information, visit arcadia.io.
Media Contact:
Marcia Rhodes
Amendola Communications for Arcadia
mrhodes@acmarketingpr.com
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SOURCE Arcadia | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/arcadia-appoints-chris-darcy-chief-human-resources-officer/ | 2022-08-04T14:47:53Z |
SALADO — Services for Willicene Lewis, 92, of Belton are pending with Broecker Funeral Home in Salado.
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To submit a paid obituary, please email advertiz@tdtnews.com with verbiage, along with an optional photograph. | https://www.tdtnews.com/obituaries/article_e1cf3f2c-1f3e-11ed-9040-fba353977b6c.html | 2022-08-19T09:50:15Z |
NASA’s new telescope shows star death, dancing galaxies
GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — NASA on Tuesday unveiled a new batch of images from its new powerful space telescope, including a foamy blue and orange shot of a dying star.
The first image from the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope was released Monday at the White House — a jumble of distant galaxies that went deeper into the cosmos than humanity has ever seen.
The four additional photos released Tuesday included more cosmic beauty shots.
With one exception, the latest images showed parts of the universe seen by other telescopes. But Webb’s sheer power, distant location off Earth and use of the infrared light spectrum showed them in new light.
“Every image is a new discovery and each will give humanity a view of the humanity that we’ve never seen before,’’ NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said Tuesday, rhapsodizing over images showing “the formation of stars, devouring black holes.”
Webb’s use of the infrared light spectrum allows the telescope to see through the cosmic dust and “see light from faraway light from the corners of the universe,” he said.
“We’ve really changed the understanding of our universe,” said European Space Agency director general Josef Aschbacher.
The European and Canadian space agencies joined NASA in building the powerful telescope.
On tap Tuesday:
— Southern Ring Nebula, which is sometimes called “eight-burst.” About 2,500 light-years away, it shows an expanding cloud of gas surrounding a dying star. A light-year is 5.8 trillion miles.
— Carina Nebula, one of the bright stellar nurseries in the sky, about 7,600 light-years away.
— Five galaxies in a cosmic dance, 290 million light-years away. Stephan’s Quintet was first seen 225 years ago in the constellation Pegasus.
— A blueish giant planet called WASP-96b. It’s about the size of Saturn and is 1,150 light-years away. A gas planet, it’s not a candidate for life elsewhere but a key target for astronomers.
The images were released one-by-one at an event at NASA’s Goddard Space Center that included cheerleaders with pompoms the color of the telescope’s golden mirrors.
The world’s biggest and most powerful space telescope rocketed away last December from French Guiana in South America. It reached its lookout point 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometers) from Earth in January. Then the lengthy process began to align the mirrors, get the infrared detectors cold enough to operate and calibrate the science instruments, all protected by a sunshade the size of a tennis court that keeps the telescope cool.
Webb is considered the successor to the highly successful, but aging Hubble Space Telescope.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/12/nasas-new-telescope-shows-star-death-dancing-galaxies/ | 2022-07-12T16:10:57Z |
HARTFORD, Conn., June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (NYSE: NFJ), today announced the following quarterly distribution:
The Fund previously announced the following quarterly distribution on March 7, 2022:
Under the terms of its Managed Distribution Plan, the Fund will seek to maintain a consistent distribution level that may be paid, in part or in full, from net investment income and realized capital gains, or a combination thereof. Shareholders should note, however, that if the Fund's aggregate net investment income and net realized capital gains are less than the amount of the distribution level, the difference will be distributed from the Fund's assets and will constitute a return of the shareholder's capital. 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 Plan.
The Fund provided this estimate of the sources of the distributions:
Information regarding the Fund's performance and distribution rates is set forth below. Please note that all performance figures are based on the Fund's NAV and not the market price of the Fund's shares. Performance figures are not meant to represent individual shareholder performance.
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are estimates only and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the distributions for tax purposes will depend on the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund or your broker will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you what distributions to report for federal income tax purposes.
About the Fund
Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund is a diversified closed-end fund that seeks current income and gains, with long-term capital appreciation as a secondary objective. The Fund will generally invest approximately 75% of its total assets in equity securities and approximately 25% in convertible securities. The Fund will employ an option strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on equity securities held in the Fund. The equity portion of the Fund generally invests in U.S. equities and American depositary receipts (ADRs) with attractive quality characteristics, shareholder yield, and consistent financial output. Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc. is the investment adviser to the Fund and and NFJ Investment Group and Allianz Global Investors are its subadvisers.
For more information on the Fund, contact shareholder services at (800) 254-5197, by email at closedendfunds@virtus.com, or through the Closed-End Funds section of virtus.com.
Fund Risks
An investment in a fund is subject to risk, including the risk of possible loss of principal. A fund's shares may be worth less upon their sale than what an investor paid for them. Shares of closed-end funds may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. For more information about the Fund's investment objective and risks, please see the Fund's annual report. A copy of the Fund's most recent annual report may be obtained free of charge by contacting "Shareholder Services" as set forth at the end of this press release.
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SOURCE Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/virtus-dividend-interest-amp-premium-strategy-fund-declares-distribution-discloses-sources-distribution-section-19a-notice/ | 2022-06-07T21:49:14Z |
Location now open; grand opening celebration on September 17
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Sept. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the United States, today announced the opening of its first Trulieve-branded dispensary in Tucson. Located at 4659 E. 22nd St., the new dispensary is now open, with ongoing hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
"We are excited to add a third location in Tucson, the state's second largest market," said Trulieve Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. "We look forward to expanding our reach to serve the community with our high quality products and customer centric approach to cannabis."
Grand opening festivities on Saturday, Sept. 17 will include partner giveaways, deals, DJs, food trucks, and specials and discounts. The new location will offer a wide variety of popular products including Trulieve brands such as Alchemy, Avenue, Co2lors, loveli, Modern Flower, Muse, and Roll One. Customers can also choose from a broad assortment of products from partner brands including Alien Labs, Connected, and El Blunto.
Trulieve entered the Arizona market in October 2021 as part of its acquisition of Harvest Health & Recreation, Arizona's largest cannabis retailer. Over the course of the next year, existing Harvest locations will be rebranded to Trulieve. Harvest and Trulieve-affiliated dispensaries in Arizona are located in Avondale, Casa Grande, Chandler, Cottonwood, Glendale, Guadalupe, Lake Havasu, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Tucson.
For more information on store activations and locations in Arizona, please visit www.trulieve.com/dispensaries/arizona.
Trulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S., with established hubs in the Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest, anchored by leading market positions in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth and expansion, building scale in retail and distribution in new and existing markets through its hub strategy. By providing innovative, high-quality products across its brand portfolio, Trulieve delivers optimal customer experiences and increases access to cannabis, helping patients and customers to live without limits. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. For more information, please visit Trulieve.com.
Facebook: @Trulieve
Instagram: @Trulieve_
Twitter: @Trulieve
Investor Contact
Christine Hersey, Executive Director of Investor Relations
+1 (424) 202-0210
Christine.Hersey@Trulieve.com
Media Contact
Rob Kremer, Executive Director of Corporate Communications
+1 (404) 218-3077
Robert.Kremer@Trulieve.com
The Felice Agency, Phoenix, AZ
Ania Kubicki, 602-875-5664, ania@feliceagency.com
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SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/10/trulieve-opens-its-first-branded-dispensary-tucson-arizona/ | 2022-09-10T12:57:23Z |
The experienced financial management professional supports the fast-growing National Automotive Styling Centers™ franchise development strategy
BOCA RATON, Fla., July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™, a leading auto accessory and window tinting franchise, has hired Chris Hejda to support the company's dynamic franchise development strategy with expert financial management.
As the fast-growing franchise's accounting manager, Hejda is responsible for oversight of internal and external financial reporting, financial controls, accounting, tax, and audit relations.
"Our goal at Tint World® is to continue accelerating our growth, and that depends on a foundation of solid financials," said Charles J. Bonfiglio, CEO and president of Tint World®. "Chris has demonstrated throughout his career that he has the focus and experience we need to keep driving forward."
Hejda, a graduate of the University of Alabama, is an experienced financial manager with a proven track record of delivering profitable growth and managing strategy development to drive financial and cash performance.
"Joining the Tint World® family is a fantastic opportunity," Hejda said. "The company has shown great success over the years. Its growth trajectory is leading the industry. Most of all, this team is passionate about continuing to build the Tint World® brand and supporting our hard-working franchisees."
Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™ offer sales and installation of auto accessories, mobile electronics, audio video equipment, security systems, custom wheels and tire packages, window tinting, vehicle wraps, paint protection films, detailing services, nano ceramic coatings, maintenance and repair services, and more. Tint World® is also the leading provider of residential, commercial and marine computerized window tinting and security film services with locations throughout the U.S. and abroad, with franchise opportunities available worldwide.
About Tint World®
Founded in 1982, Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™ is America's largest and fastest-growing automotive accessories and window tinting international franchise, specializing in window tinting, protective films, vehicle wraps, audio and electronics, security systems, car and truck accessories, wheels and tires, detailing and ceramic coating, and installation services.
Tint World® Mobile Services™ include marine, residential, and commercial window tinting films, solar films, decorative films, safety and security films, and protective ceramic coatings. Tint World® has locations in the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, with master franchise opportunities available worldwide. To find out more, please visit www.TintWorld.com or www.TintWorldFranchise.com.
Tint World® Contact:
Charles J. Bonfiglio, CEO
(888) 944-8648
info@tintworld.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
hripley@ripleypr.com
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SOURCE Tint World | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/tint-world-names-chris-hejda-new-accounting-manager/ | 2022-07-27T12:38:45Z |
NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DSers, the leading e-commerce solutions provider, is paving the way for a new era of digital business by helping cross-border e-commerce merchants unlock more opportunities in the wake of COVID-19. With its one-stop e-commerce solutions, DSers empowers merchants to streamline procurement, maximize revenue, and redefine the online shopping experience — all while addressing critical pain points in the post-pandemic era.
E-commerce merchants face unique supply chain challenges, many of which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. It can be difficult and complicated to select high-quality suppliers to work with, there are multiple links in the supply chain to juggle, and merchants often struggle to learn different order management systems. Procurement is also notoriously time-consuming, particularly with ongoing supply chain disruptions. As a result, merchants end up spending excessive time communicating with suppliers to fulfill orders and deliver products, rather than growing their business and brand.
Designed specifically to address challenges for e-commerce sellers, DSers is an intuitive, cost-effective platform that empowers merchants to save time, save money and maximize revenue. Advanced Supplier Optimizer technology eliminates the laborious work of comparing multiple suppliers; instead enabling one-click screening to find the best providers with low prices and high-quality products. Meanwhile, sellers can launch different BOGO (Buy One Get One offers) and bundle offers to boost revenue without installing plugins. As an official AliExpress partner, DSers also supports batch ordering, allowing merchants to place hundreds of orders to suppliers in seconds to cut down on time and labor costs.
With over one million installations, merchants around the globe have redefined their way of doing business thanks to DSers — including Laura Stalter, a 27-year-old costume designer from the U.S. Opting for the convenience of dropshipping, Ms. Stalter was able to open her women's fashion e-commerce shopfront without needing to stockpile inventory. After carefully curating the items that she wanted to sell, Laura launched her Shopify store in May 2021 and processed over one thousand orders in just two months.
Using DSers Supplier Optimizer function, Ms. Stalter sourced high-quality AliExpress suppliers that matched her exact requirements; enjoyed a fast, streamlined procurement process; and automated order processing so she could focus on curating her product selection. Moreover, the ability to instantly create sales offers meant Ms. Stalter could offer BOGO and bundle promotions that enticed customers to purchase more and increased average order value.
"DSers has been integral in the creation and continued success of my online store. It's the easiest, fastest and most reliable way to fulfill and import products, and has allowed my customers to gain confidence amidst ongoing supplier shortages and shipping delays. DSers has also been a lifesaver during shipping emergencies: thanks to round-the-clock customer support, we were able to quickly solve issues with order failures so customers received their products on time. I'd recommend DSers for any e-commerce merchant looking to minimize hassle and maximize revenue," said Stalter.
For more information on DSers, visit www.dsers.com.
About DSers
DSers is a leading company that provides tech-enabled solutions for e-commerce merchants. The company's service portfolio includes the DSers dropshipping app, the most popular and top-rated dropshipping app on the Shopify App Store; supply chain services; and e-commerce solutions such as SaaS customization. DSers boasts a highly innovative technology development team with extensive e-commerce experience, as well as 24/7 online support for merchants. Since launching in 2018, DSers has received nearly one million installations and processed 150 million orders worldwide. The DSers app has also received 6,300+ 5-star reviews, ranking it as the top app amongst competitors.
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SOURCE DSers | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/26/dsers-enables-new-cross-border-e-commerce-opportunities-merchants-post-pandemic-era/ | 2022-05-26T14:57:49Z |
McDonald’s meal from 1950’s found during house renovation, homeowners say
Published: Apr. 30, 2022 at 1:14 PM CDT|Updated: 11 hours ago
(CNN) - A couple said they found a bag of McDonald’s food they believe is from 1959 in the walls of their Chicago-area home during a renovation project.
The Joneses said the fries, which still have a good bit of color to them, are surprisingly sturdy.
The bag has the image of McDonald’s old mascot Speedee, who represented the golden arches before Ronald McDonald came on the scene.
The couple isn’t sure what they’ll do with the decades-old grub but is open to selling the preserved fast-food fries.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/04/30/mcdonalds-meal-1950s-found-during-house-renovation-homeowners-say/ | 2022-05-01T05:46:38Z |
According to an indictment filed Friday, James was indicted on one count of terrorist attack and other violence against a mass transportation system and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
The mass shooting left 10 people with gunshot wounds and 19 others injured. Authorities said the suspect put on a gas mask, deployed a gas canister and began shooting, firing at least 33 times. James was arrested the day after the shooting. Details of a possible motive have not been released.
CNN has reached out to his attorney for comment.
James, who has a lengthy criminal history, was linked to YouTube videos in which he talked about violence and mass shootings.
Many of the videos that James uploaded included references to violence, including at a set group of people who he believed had maligned him, in addition to broad societal and racial groups that he appeared to hate.
In one video posted online in February, he criticized a plan by New York City Mayor Eric Adams' administration to address safety and homelessness in the subway in part through an expanded presence of mental health professionals.
In that racist and rambling recording, James, who is Black, said the new effort was "doomed to fail" and described his own negative experience with city health workers during a previous "crisis of mental health."
In another video, James ranted about abuse in churches and racism in the workplace, using misogynistic and racist language. In his videos, he repeatedly espoused hatred toward African Americans.
If convicted on the federal counts, James would face a maximum sentence of life in prison for each count.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/suspected-brooklyn-subway-shooter-indicted-on-two-federal-counts-including-terror-charge/article_f1b047b6-29a2-5718-b04d-fe98bc32693a.html | 2022-05-08T01:43:34Z |
Georgia man 2nd Capitol rioter to plead guilty to seditious conspiracy
PHOENIX (AP) — A Georgia man affiliated with the far-right Oath Keepers militia group became the second Capitol rioter to plead guilty to seditious conspiracy for his actions leading up and through the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.
The sentencing guidelines for Brian Ulrich, who pleaded guilty on Friday, were estimated to be 5 ¼ years to 6 ½ years in prison. He also pleaded guilty to obstructing an official proceeding.
Authorities say Ulrich participated in encrypted chats with other people affiliated with the Oath Keepers in the days before the riot, rode toward the Capitol with others in golf carts on that day, marched on the grounds in a military “stack” formation, taunted police officers who were guarding the building and also entered the Capitol as hundreds of former President Donald Trump’s supporters sought to block the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory.
Asked by the judge whether he was pleading guilty because he was in fact guilty of the charges, Ulrich answered, “Yes, your honor.”
The 44-year-old from Guyton, Georgia, agreed to cooperate with authorities investigating the riot, including testifying before a grand jury.
The seditious conspiracy prosecution is the boldest publicly known attempt so far by the government to prosecute those who attacked the U.S. Capitol. The group’s founder, Stewart Rhodes, and eight others have pleaded not guilty to seditious conspiracy and other charges.
A conviction under the seditious conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years, compared with five years on the lesser conspiracy charge that others associated with the militia group are facing.
Those charged with seditious conspiracy are accused of working together to use force to stop the peaceful transfer of presidential power. Authorities say participants discussed their plans in encrypted chats, traveled to the nation’s capital from across the country, organized into teams, used military tactics, stashed weapons in case they felt they were needed and communicated with each other during the Jan. 6 riot.
While four other people connected with the Oath Keepers have pleaded guilty to obstruction of Congress and the lesser conspiracy charge, Ulrich is the second person to plead guilty to seditious conspiracy. Joshua A. James of Arab, Alabama, pleaded guilty to the charge last month.
Prosecutors say the group set up a “quick reaction force,” or QRF, that kept guns at a hotel in nearby Arlington, Virginia, and that they were prepared to bring the weapons into Washington if Rhodes or associates believed the need arose. Days before the attack, one defendant suggested getting a boat to ferry weapons across the Potomac River. In the end, the QRF teams didn’t bring guns into Washington.
More than 780 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Jan. 6 riot. Over 250 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors. About 160 of them have been sentenced.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/29/georgia-man-2nd-capitol-rioter-plead-guilty-seditious-conspiracy/ | 2022-04-29T19:46:20Z |
Chicago Heights, Ill. Manufacturer of fixtures, furniture, and graphics named to list of fastest-growing companies in Chicago and surrounding areas.
CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Ill, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Morgan Li, a custom fabricator of fixtures, furniture, and graphics for retail and hospitality brands, has today announced its inclusion to the Crain's Chicago Fast 50. Based on independent financial review, Morgan Li was found to be one of Chicagoland's fastest growing companies. This is the company's fourth appearance on the Fast 50 in the past five years.
To qualify, a candidate must meet requirements set by Crain's Chicago Business and accounting firm Plante Moran. Nearly 150 companies applied for consideration in 2022, the most in at the past decade according to Crain's Chicago Researcher Sophie Rodgers.
"After the challenges that we and many others faced in 2020, it's an honor to rejoin the ranks of Chicagoland's fastest-growing organizations," said Jonathan Rosenband, President of Morgan Li. "As one of the 50 finalists and one of the only manufacturers on the list, it's a testament to the amazing work being done to serve our partners."
The recognition from Crain's Chicago Business comes on the heels of Morgan Li's recently completed purchase of a 230,000 square foot facility minutes from the company headquarters. Paired with a redesigned MorganLi.com and the launch of the company's MORE THAN MADE branding, the company continues to invest in people, processes and equipment needed to serve its diverse base of customers.
"It's been a wild ride, and we have a whole lot of exciting things planned," said Andy Rosenband, CEO at Morgan Li. "We're thrilled to find ourselves on this list for the fourth time. And with the worlds of retail and hospitality set to evolve in the post-pandemic world, we're ready to take on our clients' boldest plans."
For more information on Morgan Li, click here.
Headquartered in Chicago Heights, Illinois, Morgan Li combines 600,000 square feet of domestic production space with 3.2 million more globally to combine wood, metal and more into unforgettable retail and hospitality experiences. Fixtures, furniture, and graphics, Morgan Li has the skill and scale to match specifications and smash expectations.
To learn more about Morgan Li, head to www.morganli.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
Contact: Steven David Kluber
sdkluber@morganli.com
630.809.2368
Morganli.com
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SOURCE Morgan Li | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/morgan-li-named-2022-crains-chicago-fast-50/ | 2022-06-16T13:39:30Z |
LAS VEGAS, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CISEVE today announced the Company's Board of Directors selected Col Michelle Gill as the inaugural intern for the newly created C-Suite Training Program. Col Gill brings with her over 22 years of active-duty experience to include numerous senior staff military headquarters positions in Engineering, Joint and International Strategy, and Cybersecurity. She is a two-time international Squadron Commander, having led organizations between 400 and 800 personnel.
CISEVE, a front-line provider of Cyber Specialists who focus on supporting, preparing, and assessing cyber security and compliance requirements, is pleased to join forces with the Department of Defense to be a SkillBridge Industry Partner at all position levels. Our offered internship program enables military personnel to work with CISEVE executives and highly skilled employees with the aim of rapidly converting military experience into desired civilian leadership and management positions. "As a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Company, we are constantly looking for ways to tap into the skills and talents of Veterans," said Michael Dempsey, CISEVE's COO. "SkillBridge is a great public-private partnership helping transitioning service members gain high quality private sector employment. We are excited to Welcome Michelle as our first C-Suite Intern. Her leadership, management, and system development skills are a tremendous asset," continued Dempsey.
"I am honored to be selected to join CISEVE via this internship," said Col Gill. "There is great fulfillment knowing the skills I bring from the military are valued in the private sector. Specifically, CISEVE provides great corporate growth opportunity as the Company is an Authorized CMMC C3PAO."
SkillBridge is a Department of Defense program which allows active-duty personnel to spend up to 180 days of permissive duty focusing solely on training full-time with approved industry partners. To learn more about the program, visit www.skillbridge.osd.mil.
CISEVE is an organization committed to servicing our clients with the highest integrity and quality. Our reliable, professional, certified, and cleared staff provide services to a variety of industries through a commitment to confidentiality and integrity. CISEVE is led by cybersecurity experts from various fields and backgrounds with over 60 years of total experience that pull together to provide the most current and secure approaches to protecting and assessing organizations. Preparation and Assessment services include CMMC, FISMA, ISO, SOC 2, 508 compliance and NIST SP800-171. For more information visit CISEVE.com.
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SOURCE CISEVE | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/colonel-michelle-gill-pe-joins-ciseve-via-dods-skillbridge-program/ | 2022-05-19T15:38:58Z |
Three-Year Follow Up Results Confirm Significant Efficacy and No Serious Adverse Effects in Patients receiving OvaStem® Procedure for Treating Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
PHOENIX, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. ("Creative Medical Technology" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: CELZ), a leading commercial stage biotechnology company focused on a regenerative approach to immunotherapy, urology, neurology, and orthopedics, today announced positive three-year follow up data for the Company's OvaStem® pilot study. The data shows significant efficacy of the OvaStem® procedure for the treatment of medical refractory Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) without any serious adverse effects and the successful birth of healthy babies.
OvaStem® is a patented outpatient clinic procedure that utilizes a patient's own bone marrow aspirate for treatment of medical refractory POI. Below is a summary of the study's three-year follow up data:
There were no safety related concerns at up to three years and the OvaStem® procedure resulted in an efficacy of 90% in the treated patients in terms of improvement in hormonal function and 70% in terms of delivery of healthy babies using their own eggs. Patients with POI usually only have a 5% to 10% chance of spontaneous pregnancy and must rely on donor eggs for conception via in vitro fertilization therapy. The company plans to submit a manuscript for publication in a peer reviewed journal and present the data at future fertility medicine conferences.
"The positive three-year data from our OvaStem® pilot study is very encouraging, and we are excited to engage with practitioners on further development and translation," said Timothy Warbington, President and CEO of the company. "To our knowledge, this pilot study is one of the first to demonstrate the clinical efficacy of injecting bone marrow aspirate into the ovaries using a minimally invasive outpatient procedure, thereby repairing, remodeling and improving the function. We believe as we further develop the OvaStem® program there is great potential to help patients with POI to conceive and deliver babies using eggs from their own ovaries without having to use surrogacy or donor eggs. Despite all on-going research, there is no FDA approved treatment for POI."
Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. is a commercial stage biotechnology company specializing in stem cell technology in the fields of immunotherapy, urology, neurology, and orthopedics. For further information about the Company, please visit www.creativemedicaltechnology.com.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming clinical trials and laboratory results, marketing efforts, funding, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and, therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. See the periodic and other reports filed by Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the Commission's website at www.sec.gov.
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SOURCE Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/creative-medical-technology-announces-positive-top-line-results-ovastem-pilot-study/ | 2022-07-28T13:00:11Z |
- Hundreds of Aspen Dental offices to open doors for annual Day of Service, honoring veterans
- Veterans and their families can call 1-844-277-3646 to schedule an appointment
CHICAGO, May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, June 11, participating Aspen Dental locations nationwide will open their doors to provide free care to military veterans across the country. Now in its 8th year, the Aspen Dental Day of Service provides much-needed dental care for veterans and their families at no cost to honor their service and break down barriers to health care.
Appointments are still available for veterans in Tennessee, at the following Aspen Dental locations:
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Cleveland, Tennessee
- Columbia, Tennessee
- Cookeville, Tennessee
- Cordova, Tennessee
- Dyersburg, Tennessee
- Gallatin, Tennessee
- Greeneville, Tennessee
- Hixson, Tennessee
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Millington, Tennessee
- Morristown, Tennessee
- Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- Sevierville, Tennessee
- Smyrna, Tennessee
- Spring Hill, Tennessee
- Springfield, Tennessee
- Tullahoma, Tennessee
Veterans and their families can call 1-844-277-3646 (1-844-ASPENHMM) to find a participating Aspen Dental office in their community and schedule an appointment. Advance appointments are required. During the Day of Service, Aspen Dental doctors and their teams focus on treating the most urgent dental needs for veterans and their families - with a focus on getting them out of pain, from fillings and extractions to dental hygiene and basic denture repairs.
Millions of Americans struggle to access dental care every year, and veterans are no exception. In fact, U.S. veterans are ineligible for dental benefits through the Veterans Administration unless they're 100% disabled, have a service-related mouth injury, or were a prisoner of war.
Visit www.HealthyMouthMovement.com to learn more.
Aspen Dental was founded in 1998 in New York by Bob Fontana with a simple goal in mind: to break down the barriers that doctors and patients face when it comes to dental care. Today, more than 20 years later, with nearly 1,000 Aspen Dental locations nationwide, the mission of the company remains the same – to bring better care to more people. Aspen Dental is the largest group of branded dental offices in the world. For more information, visit aspendental.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
TAG – The Aspen Group was built on the simple idea of bringing better health care to more people. TAG and the independent health care practices it supports operate more than 1,100 locations in 45 states through its four health care support companies: Aspen Dental®, ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers®, WellNow Urgent Care® and Chapter Aesthetic StudioSM. Combined, the companies serve more than 35,000 patients a day and more than 8 million patients each year. TAG is headquartered at 800 W. Fulton Market in Chicago. For more information, visit teamtag.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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SOURCE Aspen Dental | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/28/free-dental-care-military-veterans-their-families-saturday-june-11-with-appointments-still-available-tennessee/ | 2022-05-28T02:29:50Z |
Giannis Antetokounmpo powered his way to the rim, trying to keep the Milwaukee Bucks’ title defense alive. Again and again, the ball just wouldn’t drop.
Layups, putbacks — shots that are usually automatic for the two-time MVP and reigning NBA champion — bounced fruitlessly away. And the Bucks kept dropping further behind.
“I’d rather miss a bunch of shots and keep playing, keep coming and keep being aggressive … than go into passive mode,” the Bucks star said after the Celtics won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals 109-81 on Sunday to end Milwaukee’s hopes of back-to-back titles.
“I can live with that. I can live with giving everything for the game,” Antetokounmpo said. “Shots that I usually make weren’t going in. But that’s basketball. That’s sports. … You’ve just got to live with it.”
One year after leading Milwaukee to the NBA title and being voted finals MVP, Antetokounmpo and the Bucks wilted in the final quarter of their final game. The Greek Freak scored 25 points with 20 rebounds and nine assists in all, but he shot 10 for 26 in the game, missing six of seven shots in the fourth quarter — four of them from inside of 6 feet.
Asked if his legs were heavy after playing a season-high 43 minutes, 9 seconds — including all of the second half until the game was out of reach — Antetokounmpo said: “Legs heavy. Body heavy. Mind heavy. Everything was heavy.”
“I was just trying to be aggressive,” he added. “At the end of the day, it’s Game 7 and I’m not going to hold the ball and not look at the rim.”
Antetokounmpo still had a series for the record books, recording a triple-double in Game 1 and missing one in the finale by a single assist. He scored 40 or more points three times, and had 20 rebounds twice.
Over the seven games, he averaged 29.6 points, 14.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists. He is the first player in NBA history to record 200 points, 100 rebounds and 50 assists in a playoff series.
“The way Giannis evolved throughout this series, the way Giannis played against a very good defensive team, against a lot of good individual defenders, was like another one of those growth moments, growth opportunities,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said.
“I thought he was phenomenal. His scoring, his attacking, his playmaking, his unselfishness,” he said. “I was beyond impressed.”
After winning his first NBA title — and the Bucks’ first since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then still Lew Alcindor) led them to the championship in 1971 — Antetokounmpo averaged 29.9 points, 11.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists this season. He was second in scoring, sixth in rebounds and third in the MVP voting while leading Milwaukee to 51 wins and a No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The defending champions eliminated the Bulls in five games and opened a 3-2 lead in the second round. But the Celtics ran away with Game 6 in Milwaukee, and did it again in the clincher.
Without No. 2 scorer Khris Middleton, who missed the series with sprained left knee ligaments, Budenholzer relied heavily on his star. Antetokounmpo played 21 of 24 minutes in the first half, all of the third quarter and only came out in the fourth for garbage time.
It was his fourth straight game playing more than 40 minutes.
“We definitely played those guys out for as long and as much as we could. Maybe that had some small impact on it,” Budenholzer said. “Some nights the ball, you just can’t get it in the basket. … It would have been great if we’d make a few more, whether it’s layups or open 3’s and things like that, or shots that were in and out, but that’s the sport.”
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/tiring-giannis-bucks-fall-short-in-nba-title-repeat-bid/ | 2022-05-16T23:50:09Z |
EN-RICH-MENT Dance Company performing first show this weekend in Canton
CANTON The EN-RICH-MENT Dance Company will present its first show at Cable Recital Hall this weekend.
The dance group will perform at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at Cable Recital Hall in the Cultural Center for the Arts, 1001 Market Ave. N.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at www.tututix.com/ or at the door.
The shows originally had been planned for the EN-RICH-MENT campus on Cleveland Avenue NW, but were moved to Cable Recital Hall.
Betty Smith, executive director of the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy, and Mary Vaccani, artistic director of the EN-RICH-MENT Dance Company, are presenting the performances.
Vaccani received her bachelor's of fine arts degree at Kent State University. Some of her past students are dancing professionally in Cleveland and New York City, EN-RICH-MENT said.
She has also taught locally at the Players Guild Theatre and Canton Ballet.
This will be the dance group's first performance.
The "concert will excite audiences with current social themes and music, as well as classical works," EN-RICH-MENT said in a prepared statement. "This concert will be engaging to young and old alike."
Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com
On Twitter @ebalintREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/entertainment/2022/07/28/en-rich-ment-dance-company-performing-first-show-canton/10161791002/ | 2022-07-28T19:54:43Z |
BUFFALO, N.Y., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE: MTB)("M&T") will participate in the Barclays Global Financial Services Conference being held in New York City.
Representatives of M&T are scheduled to deliver a presentation to investors and analysts on September 14, 2022 at 9:45 a.m. (ET).
The conference takes place at the New York Hilton Midtown hotel. A live audio-webcast of the presentation, as well as the materials used in the presentation, will be available at https://ir.mtb.com/events-presentations. The presentation and webcast may contain forward-looking statements and other material information.
M&T 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 eastern 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.
Investor Contact:
Brian Klock
(716) 842-5138
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SOURCE M&T Bank Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/mampt-bank-corporation-participate-barclays-global-financial-services-conference/ | 2022-09-07T16:31:54Z |
LIVINGSTON, N.J., July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IRMS is excited to announce that Dr. Sarah M. Moustafa has joined their practice.
Dr. Moustafa is board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and board eligible in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. She is an attending physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Saint Barnabas Medical Center.
Dr. Moustafa earned her medical degree from Duke University, where she discovered her love of reproductive medicine and achieved highest honors in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut, where she was Education Chief and completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at UNC-Chapel Hill.
"A desire for family is the most human thing in the world, and I can't imagine anything more fulfilling than helping people experience the magic of having a child to love. I know that the path that leads patients to our office is often a heavy one, and I want them to know I am here to lighten that load." (Dr. Sarah M. Moustafa)
Dr. Moustafa is excited to see IRMS patients out of their Livingston, New Jersey office. She can counsel patients in both English and Arabic. Appointments can be booked via www.irms.com or by calling 973-548-9900.
IRMS is a world-class fertility center with offices throughout New Jersey & New York. Dr. Moustafa joins an experienced team of Reproductive Endocrinologists & Embryologists - pioneers in the field of infertility, who have trained at some of the nation's leading institutions including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, & NYU.
IRMS provides patients with state-of-the-art fertility treatment, supported by the latest scientific advances and laboratory techniques. Their full suite of reproductive services include IUI, IVF, PGT, Single Embryo Transfer, Egg and Embryo Freezing, Third Party Reproduction, Egg and Sperm Donation, Gestational Surrogacy, LGBTQIA Family Building, as well as, Psychological & Financial Support Services.
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SOURCE Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/institute-reproductive-medicine-amp-science-irms-welcomes-dr-sarah-m-moustafa-their-livingston-new-jersey-practice/ | 2022-07-26T12:07:58Z |
BEIJING (AP) — A large crowd of angry Chinese bank depositors faced off with police Sunday, some roughed up as they were taken away, in a case that has drawn attention because of earlier attempts to use a COVID-19 tracking app to prevent them from mobilizing.
Hundreds of people held up banners and chanted slogans on the wide steps of the entrance to a branch of China’s central bank in the city of Zhengzhou in Henan province, about 620 kilometers (380 miles) southwest of Beijing. Video taken by a protester shows plainclothes security teams being pelted with water bottles and other objects as they charge the crowd.
Later videos posted on social media show an unclear number of protesters being shoved forward individually and down stairs by security teams dressed in plain white or black T-shirts. Phone calls to Zhengzhou city and Henan province police rang unanswered.
The protesters are among thousands of customers who opened accounts at six rural banks in Henan and neighboring Anhui province that offered higher interest rates. They later found they could not withdraw their funds after media reports that the head of the banks’ parent company was on the run and wanted for financial crimes.
“We came today and wanted to get our savings back, because I have elderly people and children at home, and the inability to withdraw savings has seriously affected my life,” said a woman from Shandong province, who only gave her last name, Zhang, out of fear of retribution.
What had been a local scandal became a national incident last month because of the misuse of the COVID-19 tracking app. Many who set out for Zhengzhou to demand action from regulators found that their health status on the app had turned red, preventing them from traveling. Some reported being questioned by police after checking into their hotel about why they had come to the city. Five Zhengzhou officials were later punished.
The protesters assembled before dawn on Sunday in front of the People’s Bank of China building in Zhengzhou. Police vehicles with flashing lights can be seen in videos taken in the early morning darkness. Police closed off the street and by 8 a.m. had started massing on the other side, Zhang said.
Besides uniformed police, there were the teams of men in plain T-shirts. A banking regulator and a local government official arrived, but their attempts to talk to the crowd were shouted down. Zhang and another protester, a man from Beijing surnamed Yang, told the AP the protesters had heard from the officials before and don’t believe what they say. Yang declined to be identified by his full name, fearing pressure from authorities.
The police then announced to the protesters from a vehicle with a megaphone that they were an illegal assembly and would be detained and fined if they didn’t leave. Around 10 a.m., the men in T-shirts rushed the crowd and dispersed them. Zhang said she saw women dragged down the stairs of the bank entrance.
Zhang herself was hit, and said she asked the officer, “Why did you hit me?” According to her, he responded: “What’s wrong with beating you?”
Yang said he was hit by two security officers including one who had fallen off the stairs and mistakenly thought in the chaos that Yang had hit or pushed him.
“Although repeated protests and demonstrations don’t necessarily have a big impact, I think it is still helpful if more people get to know about us, and understand or sympathize with us,” Yang said. “Each time you do it, you might make a difference. Although you will get hit, they can’t really do anything to you, right?”
The protesters were bused to various sites where Zhang said they were forced to sign a letter guaranteeing they would not gather anymore.
Late Sunday, Henan banking regulators posted a short notice on their website saying that authorities are speeding up the verification of customer funds in four of the banks and the formulation of a plan to resolve the situation to protect the rights and interests of the public. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/chinese-bank-depositors-face-police-in-angry-protest/ | 2022-07-10T23:15:05Z |
Woman, 88, killed in alligator attack while gardening
BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - An 88-year-old woman from South Carolina is dead after she was attacked by an alligator, according to sheriff’s officials.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and other emergency services responded to the scene of an alligator attack in Sun City on Monday. They say they received a call around 11:15 a.m. reporting a large alligator near the edge of a pond in the community guarding what was believed to be a person.
Emergency services arrived and located the alligator, as well as a deceased person, WTOC reports.
According to the sheriff’s office and the South Carolina Department of Resources, the victim has been identified as 88-year-old Nancy A. Becker, of Sun City. Officials believe she was gardening near the pond and slipped into the water.
The alligator has since been removed from the pond and euthanized, according to officials.
Word of the attack spread quickly throughout the community, as some saw the large police, EMS and fire truck presence at the scene. Others said they got alerts from the sheriff’s office that there had been a fatal attack.
A sheriff’s deputy said there are around 200 lagoons and ponds in the Sun City community and that the assumption should be there are alligators in most of those bodies of water.
Several residents said they’re very aware of that constant danger and always have an eye out for alligators.
“Oh, they’re very fast, anywhere from 15 to 30 miles an hour on land, and they can climb,” Marvin Margolies said.
“You’ve got to be real careful where you walk your dogs. You don’t leave your dogs out at night,” Alan Rosenthal said.
The Department of Resources and the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office is investigating the incident.
Copyright 2022 WTOC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/16/woman-88-killed-alligator-attack-while-gardening/ | 2022-08-16T10:21:27Z |
COLUMBIA, Md., June 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After a two-year hiatus, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared ASSOFIA has returned to Christchurch, New Zealand, for a long deployment. About once a year, SOFIA temporarily moves its operating home to better observe celestial objects in the Southern Hemisphere.
To meet the high demand from the SOFIA scientific community to observe the southern skies, SOFIA has been setting out from various places in the Southern Hemisphere. This year, SOFIA already deployed once to Santiago, Chile, for a quick, two-week deployment to observe the Large Magellanic Cloud. Now, SOFIA is heading back to New Zealand for the seventh and final time.
"We are thrilled to be returning to Christchurch to continue to study and discover the infrared universe," said Naseem Rangwala, the SOFIA project scientist.
SOFIA has made 12 deployments over its operational lifetime, generally leaving Palmdale, California, to observe celestial objects and phenomena not visible from its home skies. It observed occultations in Florida and New Zealand, as well as atomic oxygen in Earth's atmosphere, stellar feedback, and magnetic fields from German soil.
Christchurch is often SOFIA's home away from home when deploying overseas. This time, SOFIA plans to conduct 32 flights to observe a wide range of celestial objects and phenomena, like cosmic magnetic fields, stellar feedback, and cosmic rays, using two instruments, HAWC+ and GREAT.
Sticking relatively close to our cosmic home, SOFIA will start by investigating our galaxy, the Milky Way. A team of researchers is mapping the magnetic fields within the Milky Way's central regions. These data will completement a previous Legacy Program that made mid-infrared images of the Milky Way. This work is similar to other cosmic magnetic field studies that map the shape and strength of this invisible force in other galaxies. SOFIA can detect cosmic magnetic fields on many scales, including star formation scales, especially along filaments.
SOFIA will also be looking at magnetic fields in filaments of material in our galaxy. These filaments are thread-like structures full of cold gas and dust. Most stars form in these dark rivers of material. A team of scientists will be investigating how magnetic fields play a role in star formation in filaments.
After HAWC+ finishes up probing the magnetic universe, SOFIA's operations team will swap the instrument for the German PI-led instrument, GREAT. GREAT does a wide variety of studies including looking at stellar feedback - the way some stars can affect the regions around them. Young, massive stars create huge winds that blow out into the surrounding dusty material, sometimes blowing celestial bubbles. As they do this, the stellar winds plow into the material and sometimes can trigger or quench star formation. Scientists want to understand when and why star formation is turned on or off.
GREAT, like the radio in your car, can be tuned to be sensitive to specific signals. During the New Zealand deployment, it will be set to register hydride molecules. These molecules are some of the first types that formed in our universe, and, even now, they are sometimes created in other environments. When scientists detect hydrides, they can use them as sensitive barometers for the presence of cosmic rays, high energy particles that travel close to the speed of light.
Hydride molecules form in very specific circumstances, and, usually, scientists can determine their production rate. At the same time, these molecules are quite delicate and can easily be destroyed by passing cosmic rays. Understanding the balance between their production and destruction can provide clues to the abundance of cosmic rays.
Scientists have measured the cosmic rays produced by our Sun and understand them very well, but do not fully understand cosmic rays that originate from outside our solar system. Using hydride molecules, researchers will investigate how abundant cosmic rays are in environments outside our solar system.
Many of the key celestial objects for astronomers, like the center of the Milky Way, are either visible only from the Southern Hemisphere or more easily observed from these latitudes. Two years after SOFIA achieved first light in 2010, the observatory made its first trip to New Zealand. Now, ten ears later and with six previous trips to Christchurch, this will be SOFIA's last international deployment.
NASA and DLR recently announced the conclusion of the SOFIA mission. SOFIA will operate for the rest of fiscal year 2022, before entering an orderly shutdown process on October 1, 2022.
"We are committed to delivering a strong finish for this unique astrophysics mission, from a place of strength and pride, by giving our scientific community as much data as possible from the Southern Hemisphere," Dr. Rangwala said. Moving forward, SOFIA's data will be available in NASA's public archives for astronomers worldwide to use.
SOFIA is a joint project of NASA and the German Space Agency at DLR. DLR provides the telescope, scheduled aircraft maintenance, and other support for the mission. NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley manages the SOFIA program, science, and mission operations in cooperation with the Universities Space Research Association, headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, and the German SOFIA Institute at the University of Stuttgart. The aircraft is maintained and operated by NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703, in Palmdale, California.
Founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), is a nonprofit corporation chartered to advance space-related science, technology and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities, and conducts other major research and educational programs. USRA engages the university community and employs in-house scientific leadership, innovative research and development, and project management expertise. More information about USRA is available at www.usra.edu.
Suraiya Farukhi, Ph.D.
sfarukhi@usra.edu
443-812-6945 (cell)
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SOURCE Universities Space Research Association | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/19/returning-new-zealand-sofia-travels-christchurch-seventh-final/ | 2022-06-19T00:55:35Z |
HR Tech Startup Lands in Top 10 on Best Places to Work In Indiana List by Indiana Chamber of Commerce; CEO Named Rising Entrepreneur of the Year by TechPoint
INDIANAPOLIS, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Qualifi, the leading phone-screening platform for high-volume recruiting, allowing teams to phone interview hundreds of candidates in minutes, today announced two prestigious local award wins as the company continues to gain momentum on a national level.
Last week, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce recognized Qualifi as one of the 2022 Best Places to Work in Indiana. The annual rankings were determined through employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys, and Qualifi landed within the top 10 of the "small companies'' (15-74 employees) category after appearing on the list for the first time.
In April, TechPoint, the nonprofit, industry-led growth accelerator for Indiana's tech ecosystem, named Darrian Mikell, co-founder and CEO of Qualifi, winner of the 2022 Rising Entrepreneur of the Year Award, part of its Mira Awards, the state's largest and longest running technology awards program recognizing the "Best of Tech" in Indiana.
The 52 independent, volunteer judges were impressed with Darrian's "hard-won success and the velocity of growth Qualifi has generated, securing $3.3 million from venture capital firms, notable funds and angels'' and "his intentional focus on building a diverse workforce and recognize Qualifi as one of the most diverse tech employers in Indianapolis, built from the ground up."
"There's an incredible team behind Qualifi contributing to our company's success, and both awards validate all our hard work in helping companies hire the best talent in the fastest way possible," said Darrian Mikell, co-founder and CEO of Qualifi. "We are truly just getting started and I can't wait to see what our team achieves in the months and years ahead."
These recognitions come at a time of significant growth for the company as more HR and talent teams look to transform their high-volume recruiting, mitigate bias and improve the candidate experience with on-demand, asynchronous phone interviews. For more information about Qualifi and to read about open positions, visit qualifi.hr.
About Qualifi
Qualifi is a platform that sends, shares, and tracks audio-based, on-demand asynchronous phone interviews for recruiters. This speeds up the hiring process, mitigates bias, and maintains a human touch while allowing recruiters to interview hundreds of candidates in minutes. With Qualifi, recruiters go from struggling to fill roles to becoming a talent engine. For more information, visit qualifi.hr.
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SOURCE Qualifi | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/qualifi-continues-momentum-with-best-places-work-rising-entrepreneur-awards/ | 2022-05-17T14:42:45Z |
Brand-new products shine with ultra-large color displays and all-round health tracking
CUPERTINO, Calif., June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amazfit, a leading global smart wearables brand of Zepp Health (NYSE: ZEPP), has officially introduced its new generation of best-value smartwatches, the Amazfit Bip 3 and Amazfit Bip 3 Pro, which feature ultra-large color displays and all-round health functions. Following the slogan "Think Big, Think Bip," the new additions to the Amazfit Bip series are designed to inspire a productive, active and practical way of living.
EMBOLDENED DESIGN
Super-large Color Display
The Amazfit Bip 3 and Bip 3 Pro both feature an incredibly large 1.69" color display. Made from 2.5D tempered glass and covered in an anti-fingerprint coating, the super-large screen allows users to see all their notifications, like incoming calls, messages, reminders, and health and fitness data in pristine clarity.
Personalize the Watch Face
The Amazfit Bip 3 Series features a massive range of over 50 watch faces, some of which are customizable with editable widgets, all available for download in the Zepp App. Users can even enjoy the option to make their display unique by uploading their own photos, to freely express their personalities.
PRACTICAL SPORTS COMPANION
14-day Battery Life
The Amazfit Bip 3 Series is designed for maximum practicality. The smartwatches pack a powerful battery, with a 280 mAh rated value capacity, into their super slim and light body – which allows them to run for 14 days straight on one charge with typical usage.
High-precision Positioning
The Amazfit Bip 3 Pro has built-in GPS, and supports a total of 4 satellite positioning systems to help users track their movements with high precision, while the Amazfit Bip 3 supports connection to mobile phone GPS.
5 ATM Water-resistance
With a 5 ATM grade, the Amazfit Bip 3 Series can resist water-pressure equivalent to a depth of up to 50 meters, so users can enjoy a splash of fun in the water. The Bip 3 Pro even has an Open Water Swimming sports mode, made possible by the built-in GPS, that enables users to track their swimming data.
60+ Sports Modes
The Amazfit Bip 3 features 60 sports modes that allow users to track data for all different kinds of sports, including indoor and outdoor walking, running and cycling, as well as strength training, yoga, and other types of freeform training. While both smartwatches feature a Target Pace[1] function which allows users to set pace goals, the Bip 3 Pro is equipped with an additional Open Water Swimming mode for extra activity tracking.
COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH MANAGEMENT
Blood-oxygen Saturation Measurement
To help users easily understand their physical condition, both the Amazfit Bip 3 and Bip 3 Pro are equipped with a blood-oxygen saturation measurement feature that can provide a result in as fast as 25 seconds. Users can track their blood-oxygen whenever they feel uncomfortable or out of breath, for a real-time health check.
Sleep Better, Stress Less
The Amazfit Bip 3 Series tracks essential health data such as heart rate, stress level, sleep quality (including sleep stages and daytime naps), and female menstrual cycles. And when it detects a high level of stress, these smartwatches can even remind the user to take the built-in breathing exercise to help calm themselves.
PAI Health Assessment
This best-value smartwatch series also features the PAI Health Assessment System, which uses smart algorithms to take conventional health and fitness data like heart rate and step count, as well as data gathered from the user's everyday activities like playing with their pet, and converts it all a single, intuitive score that's unique to the user.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The Amazfit Bip 3 is currently priced at $59.99/€59.90, and the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro is priced at $69.99/€69.90. The Amazfit Bip 3 Series will be globally available starting from June 15th, 2022.
For more information, please visit https://www.amazfit.com/en/ and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
About Amazfit
Amazfit, a leading global smart wearables brand focused on health and fitness, is part of Zepp Health (NYSE: ZEPP), a health technology company. Offering a wide selection of smartwatches and bands, Amazfit's brand essence is "Up Your Game", encouraging users to live their passions and express their active spirits freely. Amazfit is powered by Zepp Health's proprietary health management platform that delivers cloud-based 24/7 actionable insights and guidance to help users attain their wellness goals. With outstanding craftsmanship, Amazfit smartwatches have won many design awards, including the iF Design Award and the Red Dot Design Award.
Launched in 2015, Amazfit is today embraced by millions of users. Its products are available in more than 90 countries across the Americas, and EMEA and APAC regions. For more information about Amazfit, visit www.amazfit.com. For more information about Zepp Health, visit www.zepphealth.com.
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SOURCE Amazfit | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/amazfit-introduces-best-value-essential-smartwatch-additions-amazfit-bip-3-bip-3-pro/ | 2022-06-15T09:05:54Z |
MONTREAL, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - During the weekend of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières Prodigy Race, which was far from being an easy race, big chaos and several contacts between the other cars were challenging Courtemanche. Avoiding more than a dozen accidents, the driver managed to sneak in, finishing 9th in the race.
"The GP3R race is the favorite of many drivers and one of the most anticipated in the NASCAR Canada series. Since the stands are always full and the race is broadcast live, the drivers are always more aggressive, and push their limits to reach the pole position. So, you must be careful," explains Courtemanche.
Team 3 Red/Ed Hakonson Racing had four cars competing in the race and one of them was driven by Ray Junior. He was a source of pride for his team because he was the only one among the four drivers to finish the race this weekend.
Indeed, among his team, Dominic St-Cyr, making his debut into the series, was forced to abandon on the third lap after hitting the security fence. After the neutralization due to this incident, Wallace Stacey and Glenn Styres collided on lap 10, where Courtemanche narrowly avoided the incident. As for Dexter Stacey, he had to abandon the race following an oil leak.
Ray Junior qualified in 15th position, a few places behind former Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. For the businessman, finishing 9th in the race evoked a lot for him, who makes it a passion rather than a profession in the NASCAR Pinty's Series: "The amount of time that I spend to practice for the races is very short compared to the big names, like Camirand, Lacroix or Ranger. My daily time is dedicated to run the 40 businesses I own. Therefore, a 9th position is exceptional for me and makes me more than happy." explains the man behind Investissement Ray Junior.
The action will resume soon! Courtemanche will race at the ICAR circuit in Mirabel on August 27th and will then take part in the legendary race Mosport on September 4th.
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SOURCE Investissement Ray Junior | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/first-top-9-gp3r-nascar-businessman-driver-ray-junior-courtemanche/ | 2022-08-10T17:01:04Z |
SEBRING, Fla., Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- U-Haul® recently purchased the former Starpar Storage® property at 4541 Tanglewood Drive for its first Company-owned facility in Sebring to better meet the moving and self-storage demands of Highlands County.
U-Haul Moving & Storage of Sebring began operations on July 19 and is now offering self-storage with extended-hours access. Customers will also have access to truck and trailer sharing, towing equipment, moving supplies and boxes, professional hitch installation and much more.
The property currently houses 575 rental units.
"This storage property borders nearly 13 acres of bare land where we plan to offer additional drive-up storage units and a warehouse for U-Box® portable storage containers," said Dave Thompson, U-Haul Company of Western Florida president. "We are excited to save our customers time and money by providing a clean, secure location where their possessions can be stored."
Contact U-Haul Moving & Storage of Sebring at (863) 658-0390. Hours of operation are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday; 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Reserve equipment at uhaul.com or contact Reservations at 1-800-GO-UHAUL.
"Sebring is located in the center of Florida and is attracting new residents every day," Thompson added. "Demand for self-storage from a trusted name like U-Haul is increasing."
Thompson intends to hire at least 20 Team Members to staff the new store. U-Haul will look to hire locally to promote job growth within the Sebring community. U-Haul, honored as a "Best for Vets 2020" leading veteran-friendly employer by The Military Times, actively recruits veterans and gives them preference in the hiring process. Find U-Haul careers at uhauljobs.com.
Fourteen U-Haul neighborhood dealers in Sebring continue to be available to serve DIY movers. U-Haul has partnered with independent dealers to offer rental equipment since 1945. During these challenging times for small businesses, more than 21,000 dealers across the U.S. and Canada are generating supplemental income through their U-Haul partnership. When customers rent from U-Haul dealers, they are directly supporting small businesses in their community. Because no financial investment is required, dealers are not U-Haul franchises. They are simply small businesses committing their lot space for U-Haul equipment and their time to meet the mobility needs of customers. Learn more about how to partner with U-Haul by visiting uhaul.com/dealer.
About U-HAUL
Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 23,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 186,000 trucks, 128,000 trailers and 46,000 towing devices. U-Haul is the third largest self-storage operator in North America and offers 876,000 rentable storage units and 75.1 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities. U-Haul is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S., and continues to be the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul has been recognized repeatedly as a leading "Best for Vets" employer and was recently named one of the 15 Healthiest Workplaces in America.
Contact:
Andrea Batchelor
Jeff Lockridge
E-mail: publicrelations@uhaul.com
Phone: 602-263-6981
Website: uhaul.com
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SOURCE U-Haul | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/u-haul-opens-former-starpar-storage-brings-20-jobs-sebring/ | 2022-08-08T17:52:46Z |
NEW YORK, July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kyndryl (NYSE: KD), the world's largest IT infrastructure services provider, today announced a new retainer service to help customers recover from a disruptive cyber incident such as ransomware. Kyndryl's Recovery Retainer Service focuses on recovery actions that extend beyond incident response retainers available on the market today. The service is a natural complement to any incident response retainer and builds on Kyndryl's expertise in security and resiliency services.
Kyndryl's Recovery Retainer Service provides experts, either on the ground or remote, to help organizations recover from a cyber incident. This service is designed to provide on-demand qualified experts in cyber recovery, to assist the customer in proactively improving cyber recovery preparedness, as well as delivering support to recover from cybersecurity events.
Kyndryl combines deep domain expertise, recovery response, and remediation to maximize value while using industry-best practices supported by consulting and recovery expertise to support customers as they face ever increasing threats.
"We need to see a shift in this field, from simply security to one of 'cyber resilience.' The public and private sector need both because today it is no longer a question of whether cyber attackers will breach our defenses, but when will they break through and how much damage they will do," said Kris Lovejoy, Kyndryl Security and Resiliency Global Practice Leader. "The Recovery Retainer Service mitigates the impact of cyber incidents by having experts on hand," Lovejoy said.
"IT and cybersecurity teams are being tasked to demonstrate that cyber resilience does not reside solely on whiteboards anymore. Having an actual cyber recovery plan that allows for key capabilities to be brought up in a controlled and rapid manner is a key step in cyber resilience," said Craig Robinson, IDC Research Vice President, Security Services. "A logical progression involves practicing the cyber recovery plan on a regular basis to reduce the elevated stress levels that are inherent in an actual cyber recovery operation, while simultaneously smoothing out the kinks from the inevitable changes to an organization's digital footprint."
Kyndryl's Recovery Retainer Service provides global expert knowledge, assets, and delivery to perform recovery actions after an attack causes an outage. The service is intended to help customers get back up and running quickly. It goes beyond incident response retainer services that provide forensics, but typically do not address recovery-related actions such as defining recovery processes based upon forensics, redeploying applications, restoring data, cleaning systems, among other critical tasks. The Kyndryl Recovery Retainer Service complements existing incident response retainers.
About Kyndryl
Kyndryl (NYSE: KD) is the world's largest IT infrastructure services provider. The company designs, builds, manages, and modernizes the complex, mission-critical information systems that the world depends on every day. Kyndryl's more than 90,000 employees serve over 4,000 customers in more than 60 countries around the world, including 75 percent of the Fortune 100. For more information, visit www.kyndryl.com.
Kyndryl Press Contact
press@kyndryl.com
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SOURCE Kyndryl | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/25/kyndryl-announces-recovery-retainer-service-restore-customers-ability-operate-after-cyber-attacks/ | 2022-07-25T14:14:04Z |
The judge in the sentencing of the shooter who pleaded guilty to killing 17 people in 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, reversed course Wednesday, opting against starting over in selecting the jury that will decide whether Nikolas Cruz gets the death penalty or life in prison.
The back-and-forth followed an outburst Tuesday by prospective jurors inside the courtroom that separately led to more dismissals after bailiffs restrained Cruz against a wall to protect him from people "making a threat," Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Scherer told Cruz's attorney.
A potential juror was "mouthing expletives" at Cruz, prompting other jurors to become "belligerent," said Scherer, who dismissed the rest of the prospective jurors who were in the room for the incident.
The judge on Monday had said she would restart jury selection after the prosecution requested it because Scherer had excused 11 prospective jurors who said -- before attorneys for both sides got to question them -- they could not follow the law.
"A mistake was made," Assistant State Attorney Carolyn McCann said Monday, calling the situation "a miscommunication," and filed a motion asking the judge to strike the jury panels. "There's too many issues at this point. It's better to just start fresh."
Scherer initially granted the prosecution's request. "I'm going to start over," she said Monday. "As soon as the panel comes up, I'm granting the motion. We're going to start over."
Scherer, however, added a caveat: She would allow the defense to argue on Wednesday why they shouldn't start over -- and that argument prevailed, as the judge said that she instead would bring those 11 prospective jurors back Monday for more questioning rather than starting over entirely.
Jury selection for the penalty phase of Cruz's trial began April 4. The jury now being impaneled will be tasked with deciding whether to recommend the death penalty for Cruz, who pleaded guilty to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in the shooting.
Jury selection is further complicated by the fact that proceedings are expected to be especially lengthy. Both sides told Scherer the penalty phase could last four to six months.
Jurors are expected to hear aggravating factors and mitigating circumstances -- reasons why Cruz should or should not be put to death. If the jury unanimously finds at least one aggravating factor exists in the case, it must then be unanimous in recommending the death penalty. Cruz's sentence would otherwise default to life in prison.
If the jury recommends the death penalty, the judge could choose to follow the recommendation or sentence Cruz to life in prison.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/judge-in-nikolas-cruz-sentencing-reverses-course-on-jury-selection-in-parkland-high-school-shooting/article_94b44e22-8c8a-53f5-a744-46de1b2785a5.html | 2022-04-28T13:06:51Z |
- Twin Transit's second order signals the advancement of WAVE's market-leading technology with the addition of two WAVE 250kW systems at the Mellen Street e-Transit Station.
- The WAVE systems will power the new Gillig battery-electric buses to begin service in 2023.
SALT LAKE CITY, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WAVE, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ideanomics (NASDAQ: IDEX) and developer of high-power, wireless inductive charging solutions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, today announced that the Twin Transit has placed a second order for two additional WAVE 250kW wireless charging systems. The follow-on order addresses the critical need to automatically extend the range of battery-electric buses to meet the range of legacy diesel vehicles. The two WAVE 250kW systems will be installed at the Mellen Street e-Transit Station and will power new Gillig battery-electric buses scheduled to arrive in 2023.
In June of 2021, Twin Transit completed the installation of a WAVE 250kW high-power wireless charging system at their Mellen Street e-Transit Station to power its first two battery-electric buses.
"In just a few short months of running the WAVE system, it became clear to us WAVE's wireless charging solution performed well beyond plug-in and overhead charging systems," said Twin Transit's Executive Director, Joe Clark. "In addition, the system proved to be easy for our drivers to operate, and maintenance was virtually non-existent. We're confident our extended partnership with WAVE will help us reach our zero-emission goals faster and easier."
"Twin Transit's Mellen Street e-Transit Station is a model of the future for electric bus transit hubs," said WAVE Chief Technology Officer, Mike Masquelier. "Clean, elegant, free of overhead and ground-based charging infrastructure, the station design is exactly what we envisioned when we set out to solve the problem of extending the range of electric buses to match that of diesel.
Repeat orders from experienced customers substantiate the inevitable future of wireless charging. With many other charging choices on the market, Twin Transit's new order exemplifies the growing interest from transit agencies to power their clean fleet transition with WAVE.
"We could not be happier to expand our charging technology at Mellon Street," said WAVE CEO Aaron Gillmore. "Twin Transit's continued confidence in WAVE speaks volumes about the readiness of wireless charging to solve even the most difficult transit electrification challenges."
With a global-leading number of high-power, rigorously proven inductive charging systems deployed, WAVE enables commercial fleet operators with a faster, easier way to extend the range of medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles. Founded in 2011, with systems ranging from 125kW to 500kW, WAVE makes tomorrow's EV charging technology available today. Learn more at www.waveipt.com.
Ideanomics (NASDAQ: IDEX) is a global group with a simple mission: to accelerate the commercial adoption of electric vehicles. By bringing together vehicles and charging technology with design, implementation, and financial services, we provide the solutions needed for the commercial world to commit to an EV future. To keep up with Ideanomics, please follow the company on social @ideanomicshq or visit https://ideanomics.com.
Ideanomics, Inc.
Tony Sklar, SVP of Investor Relations
1441 Broadway, Suite 5116, New York, NY 10018
ir@ideanomics.com
Allison Matthews, Skyya PR for Ideanomics
allison@skyya.com
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SOURCE WAVE, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/wave-secures-follow-on-order-twin-transit-wireless-charging-systems/ | 2022-05-12T10:38:58Z |
Jan. 6 panel to share 20 transcripts with Justice Department
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Jan. 6 committee will share 20 of its interview transcripts with the Justice Department as federal prosecutors have been increasingly focused on efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the election.
A committee aide said that the panel will share the 20 transcripts but has “no plans to share additional transcripts at this time.” The person, who requested anonymity to discuss the confidential transaction, would not say which interviews the committee is sharing.
The information sharing comes after the committee had rejected a Justice Department request for transcripts in May. At the time, the committee’s chairman, Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, had said it was “premature” for the committee to share its work because the panel’s probe is ongoing.
Since then, the panel has been negotiating an agreement over the documents as the department has stepped up its probes. Several senior aides to former Vice President Mike Pence have appeared before a federal grand jury and prosecutors have seized records from a group of Republicans who served as fake electors in battleground states won by President Joe Biden. Trump and his allies pushed officials in those states to replace Biden’s duly selected electors with ones who supported him as they advanced claims that his victory had been stolen.
It remains unclear whether prosecutors might seek to bring criminal charges against Trump, who denies any wrongdoing.
Attorney General Merrick Garland, who is facing mounting pressure from congressional Democrats to bring charges against the former president, has said prosecutors will hold anyone accountable — no matter their position — if they broke the law.
In an interview with NBC News this week, Garland said the Justice Department would “bring to justice everybody who was criminally responsible for interfering with the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to another.”
The committee has not said if it plans to eventually share all of its transcripts with the Justice Department or the public. The Jan. 6 panel has done more than 1,000 interviews, but not all of those were formally transcribed.
The Justice Department declined to comment Friday on the transcripts.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/29/jan-6-panel-share-20-transcripts-with-justice-department/ | 2022-07-29T19:19:24Z |
Polanco HR gives Twins 1-0 win; A’s lose 8th straight
By BRIAN HALL
Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jorge Polanco homered in the sixth inning and four Minnesota Twins pitchers made it stand up, blanking Oakland 1-0 and sending the Athletics to their eighth straight loss. Minnesota pitchers combined to strike out 15 while allowing just three hits. The Twins won again minus manager Rocco Baldelli, who is out with COVID-19. Polanco’s third homer of the season was a towering shot to the suites above the batter’s eye in center field and traveled an estimated 451 feet. Polanco had three of Minnesota’s five hits. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/07/polanco-hr-gives-twins-1-0-win-as-lose-8th-straight/ | 2022-05-07T22:34:08Z |
(The Hill) – The House Judiciary Committee advanced a bill to ban assault weapons on Wednesday, the first time in two decades a congressional panel has moved to prohibit the sale, transfer and possession of the popular firearms.
The committee approved the Assault Weapons Ban of 2021 in a 25-18 vote following an hours-long markup.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the committee, announced last week that the panel would move on the legislation. The move comes after a spate of mass shootings in the U.S., a number of which were perpetrated by young men reportedly wielding assault-style semi-automatic rifles.
A gunman opened fire at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas in May, killing 19 students and two teachers. Earlier this month, seven people were fatally shot at a July Fourth parade in Highland Park, Ill.
In both incidents, the alleged shooter was a young man with an AR-style semi-automatic weapon, which is the main firearm the legislation aims to restrict.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), specifically seeks to prohibit the sale, manufacture, transfer or import of all semi-automatic rifles that can accept a detachable magazine and have a pistol grip; a forward grip; a folding, telescoping or detachable stock; a grenade launcher; a barrel shroud or a threaded barrel.
It also places restrictions on semi-automatic rifles with fixed magazines that can fit more than 10 rounds, bump fire stocks, high-capacity feeding devices that can hold more than 10 rounds, and semi-automatic shotguns with specific features.
The measure does not, however, apply to antique firearms, manually-operated firearms and upwards of 2,000 specific models of firearms used for hunting and sporting.
While the assault weapons ban passed through committee on Wednesday, it is unclear when — and if — it will be brought to the House floor for a vote. Nadler last week said he was looking forward to “moving this legislation through the Judiciary Committee next week and onto the House floor,” but House leadership has not yet announced a vote.
That is likely because it is unclear if the legislation has the votes to pass.
Two Democrats, Reps. Jared Golden (Maine) and Henry Cuellar (Texas), have said they will not support the bill, and a handful of others remain undecided.
On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Chris Jacobs (R-N.Y.) has said he would support an assault weapons ban if it came to the floor. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) has backed the concept of an assault weapons ban, but he has not yet said if he will support the specific bill under consideration.
During her weekly press conference last week, Pelosi said “there is great support in our Caucus for an assault weapons ban.”
Asked if he plans to bring the bill to the floor before August recess, House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters on Tuesday “I may do that.”
“Obviously, the committee’s going to be dealing with it tomorrow, and we’ll talk to the chairman about it. But I think it’s an important bill for us to consider,” he added.
Former President Clinton signed an assault weapons ban in 1994, which eventually expired in 2004.
In opening remarks at the markup on Wednesday, Nadler made the case for banning assault weapons.
“As we have learned all too well in recent years, assault weapons — especially when combined with high-capacity magazines — are the weapon of choice for mass shootings. These military-style weapons are designed to kill the most people in the shortest amount of time,” he said. “Quite simply, there is no place for them on our streets.”
The chairman said assault weapons are solely meant “to kill people efficiently,” adding “it is time to protect our communities and to ban them once more.”
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), ranking member of the committee, argued in opening remarks that the bill would “strip Americans of their right” and asserted that “it would do nothing to make our communities safer.”
“Democrats know this legislation will not reduce violent crime or reduce the likelihood of mass shootings, but they are obsessed with attacking law-abiding Americans’ Second Amendment liberties,” he added.
The Ohio Republican also said the assault weapons ban would prevent law-abiding Americans from using weapons “to defend themselves against violent intruders in their home.”
“Prevented from defending themselves, their family, their property because of this legislation. This legislation is dangerous, it doesn’t square with the Constitution, with the Second Amendment in any way, and it has failed in the past,” he added.
Last month, Congress passed and President Biden signed a gun safety bill into law. The measure bolstered background checks for firearm purchasers ages 18 to 21 and created a federal offense for people who acquired firearms through straw purchases or trafficking, among other measures.
Aside from that, the House previously passed bills to nationalize red flag laws and create an active shooter communications network, and it approved a sweeping firearm package that, among other provisions, called for raising the minimum age to purchase a semi-automatic weapon from 18 to 21.
However, those bills, like the assault weapons ban, had little chance of advancing given GOP opposition in the evenly divided Senate. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/house-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-assault-weapons/ | 2022-07-21T03:45:40Z |
Blueprint Prep Now Positioned to Help The Nation Meet Increased Demand for Nurse Practitioners
LOS ANGELES, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blueprint Prep, a premier education company focused on support for lifelong professional advancement and test preparation in the medical field, recently announced the acquisition of Sarah Michelle NP Reviews, a leading provider of courses and training resources for aspiring nurse practitioners. Through this partnership, Blueprint Prep and NP Reviews will leverage the best of both companies to improve the quality education and the support systems for students. The company's vision is to improve the lives of their learners and by extension the patients they treat.
The acquisition comes amid skyrocketing demand for nurse practitioners. As a shortage of healthcare workers continues to plague health systems, nurse practitioners and physician assistants (PAs) have seen their role expand, a trend projected to continue as healthcare facilities seek professionals other than physicians to provide high-quality care. Despite this outlook, professional preparation resources for nurse practitioners are limited and outdated. Many traditional providers still require in-person attendance for courses and do not make regular updates to their programs.
"Nurse practitioner students want and need better resources than they encounter now," says Matt Riley, CEO and Co-Founder of Blueprint Prep. "Their resources should utilize modern learning tools and delivery methods to optimize effectiveness and fit into students' busy lives. Sarah Michelle NP Reviews, since its inception, has been a bright spot in the market, and we're thrilled that we get the chance to partner with this talented team to create more innovative solutions to help students meet the challenges of this demanding career."
NP Reviews has garnered acclaim within the specialty for the resources it has developed to help students prepare for the ANCC and AANP exams, and Blueprint Prep has identified the nursing vertical as an attractive area for expansion. Adding NP Reviews to its growing portfolio of offerings, Blueprint Prep continues to help learners across the spectrum of medical and health education. With access to large pools of students who know and trust its brands, the company now has a unique position from which to provide end-to-end training to healthcare professionals.
"After two years of tremendous growth, I'm excited to work with Blueprint Prep to continue developing high-quality, engaging training programs that speak to the true wants and needs of today's nurse practitioner students," says Sarah Michelle, Founder of NP Reviews. "I founded the company to support learners in new and innovative ways, and this partnership with Blueprint Prep will allow us to continue to realize that mission."
Blueprint Prep plans to offer nurse practitioners learning tools featuring its trademark improvements on traditional lifelong learning—customization, high production value video, flexible formats, expert lecturers, personalized analytics, interactive study planners and more. The company expects these benefits will help the nurse practitioner community fulfill their potential as healthcare professionals and provide excellent service to their communities.
"Our vision at Blueprint Prep is to improve the lives of our learners through the entire course of their careers," says Riley. "We aim to provide the most personalized and innovative solutions to support those who are pursuing high-stakes roles, so they have the support they need from the day they start their journey to the day they retire."
Blueprint Prep's deal with Sarah Michelle NP Reviews comes at a time when students pursuing their dreams of becoming nurse practitioners are most in need of engaging, high-quality test prep. Through this latest acquisition, Blueprint Prep is poised to transform the world of nursing education through next-generation learning solutions and a supportive community of nursing professionals.
Founded in 2005, Blueprint Prep is the leading platform for high-stakes test prep in the U.S., offering live and self-paced online courses, private tutoring, self-study materials, and application consulting services for pre-law, pre-med, and medical school students, as well as Qbanks for residents and practicing physicians, PAs and NPs via its acquisition of Rosh Review. Blueprint Prep leverages a unique approach that combines engaging video lectures, unparalleled expertise in content creation, the latest adaptive learning technology, and personalized study planning tools. Blueprint Prep has produced unrivaled results, including industry-leading score increases for its pre-law and pre-med students taking the LSAT and MCAT. For more information, visit Blueprintprep.com.
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SOURCE Blueprint Test Preparation LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/blueprint-prep-expands-services-with-acquisition-innovative-training-platform-sarah-michelle-np-reviews/ | 2022-06-22T14:15:34Z |
BENSALEM, Pa., June 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Teladoc Health, Inc. ("Teladoc" or the "Company") (NYSE: TDOC).
Class Period: October 28, 2021 – April 27, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: August 5, 2022
Investors suffering losses on their Teladoc investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in this class action at 888-638-4847 or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com.
The complaint filed alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) increased competition, among other factors, was negatively impacting Teladoc's BetterHelp and chronic care businesses; (2) accordingly, the growth of those businesses was less sustainable than Defendants had led investors to believe; (3) as a result, Teladoc's revenue and adjusted EBITDA projections for FY 2022 were unrealistic; (4) as a result of all the foregoing, Teladoc would be forced to recognize a significant non-cash goodwill impairment charge; and (5) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
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 Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com, or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Contacts
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
Howard G. Smith, Esquire
215-638-4847
888-638-4847
howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com
www.howardsmithlaw.com
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SOURCE Law Offices of Howard G. Smith | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/17/tdoc-investors-have-opportunity-lead-teladoc-health-inc-securities-fraud-lawsuit/ | 2022-06-17T16:07:12Z |
Which outdoor toy storage is best?
If you’re lacking storage space in your home for tools, toys or other items, a durable outdoor storage option can help you optimize your living area. Whether you are looking for a small storage box for your back patio, a large unit for your sporting equipment or a versatile storage unit that can double as extra seating, you can be sure to find your ideal outdoor storage box. If you are looking for a durable outdoor toy storage option, our top choice is the Rubbermaid Horizontal Outdoor Storage Shed.
What to know before you buy outdoor toy storage
Size
When shopping for your new outdoor storage box, consider what you plan on storing in it and where you’ll be placing it. With so many options available, you can find nearly any size of outdoor storage box, from small, 22-gallon boxes to extra-large, 150-gallon containers. If you are looking to store a bunch of heavy yard tools, then a large outdoor storage container may be your best bet.
Materials and construction
Whether it’s rain, wind, snow or heat, be sure to find an outdoor storage box that can hold up under the elements while keeping your items safe and secure. Most outdoor storage boxes are constructed using wood, plastic, resin or PVC.
Wood: An outdoor storage box is a classic choice that goes with nearly any outdoor area. Typically wooden outdoor storage boxes utilize wood veneer that is slightly better suited for outdoor use. Made to protect your items from wind and rain, wood outdoor storage boxes are great for storing motorized toys, pool toys or sporting equipment.
Plastic: Although plastic outdoor storage units may not be as good-looking as wooden options, plastic is much better suited for heavy outdoor wear and tear and is lightweight enough to be easily moved. Plastic outdoor storage boxes tend to be the cheapest options.
PVC: This option is relatively new to the market, but is a great option for anyone who is looking for lightweight and portable outdoor storage options. By utilizing pole structures and a PVC sheet, PVC outdoor storage boxes are set up similarly to an outdoor tent, making them great for on-the-go storage. The portability of PVC outdoor storage boxes make them a great option for storing camping equipment or beach toys.
Resin: The most popular option, resin outdoor storage boxes are incredibly durable. These boxes are a little more expensive, but they do have a heavier weight and strong resistance to UV rays. As the most durable option, resin outdoor storage boxes are great for storing expensive outdoor toys, tools or sporting equipment.
Style
Another important aspect to consider when shopping for your outdoor toy storage is what style of box best fits your outdoor area. Typically, outdoor storage boxes come in one of three styles: bench, standard or cabinet.
Standard: A traditional look that fits nearly any outdoor setup, outdoor storage boxes are constructed to be practical, simple and effective. With a no-fuss construction, variety of color options and easy-fit shape, the standard style is sure to fit even the smallest of outdoor areas. Available in a variety of sizes, standard style outdoor storage boxes are great for storing outdoor sports balls, yard games or beach toys.
Bench: The more elegant and more expensive option to outdoor storage, bench styles incorporate padded cushions along the lid and arm rests. Typically available in large sizes, bench style outdoor storage boxes are great for storing large items such as inflatable outdoor toys, sports equipment or motorized toys.
Cabinet: Similar to a kitchen cabinet, the cabinet-style outdoor storage box provides a vertical storage space with twin cabinet doors. These options come in a variety of sizes, colors and finishes, so you can be sure to find an option that fits your outdoor area. Cabinet style outdoor storage boxes are ideal for storing smaller toy items such as costumes, jump ropes or figurines.
What to look for in quality outdoor toy storage
Versatility
To get the most bang for your buck, it may be worthwhile to invest in an outdoor toy storage box that can also be used for outdoor seating. Some options feature padded seats along the lid.
Transport
While most outdoor storage boxes are made to be assembled and left in one spot, there are some options that have easy-grip handles or wheels at the bottom. Opting for an outdoor storage box that is easy to move can save you a ton of hassle when it comes to repositioning or relocating your outdoor storage box.
If you have found an outdoor storage box that you love but it has no wheels, a great alternative for moving your outdoor toys or tools is a yard cart. While yard carts may not be the best option for storage, they are a hassle-free option when it comes to quickly moving your outdoor items.
Closures
Some outdoor storage boxes feature hydraulic pistons for a soft-close, anti-slam lid. You might also want a box that can be locked. If you are shopping for a household that has young children, then an option that has both features may be the best way to protect any curious little hands.
How much you can expect to spend on outdoor toy storage
Expect to spend anywhere from $70-$300 on an outdoor storage box.
Outdoor toy storage FAQ
Can I add a shelf in my outdoor toy storage box?
A. While some boxes come with shelves built in, many outdoor storage boxes come with shelf support units so that you can add a shelf. These shelves can usually be purchased separately from the manufacturer.
Which outdoor storage box is the most UV-resistant?
A. A resin outdoor storage box is the best option for UV resistance. While plastic and PVC are UV-resistant, they tend to succumb to warping and discoloration after long-term UV exposure.
What’s the best outdoor toy storage to buy?
Top outdoor toy storage
Rubbermaid Horizontal Outdoor Storage Shed
What you need to know: This bestselling horizontal outdoor storage box is the perfect addition to any backyard.
What you’ll love: Thanks to its double-wall construction and resin material, this outdoor storage box is rust-proof and leak-proof. With two front cabinet doors, this box makes storage simple and convenient. This box is available in a variety of sizes and colors.
What you should consider: Some users noted that this storage box can be difficult to assemble. It is recommended that you assemble this box in teams of two.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top outdoor toy storage for small spaces
Suncast 22-Gallon Outdoor Deck Box
What you need to know: This outdoor storage box is small, making it perfect for tight spaces.
What you’ll love: This box is constructed using resin, so it is sure to withstand the test of time no matter the elements. Its sleek design is offered in a variety of colors. Its reinforced lid easily doubles as extra outdoor seating.
What you should consider: While this storage box can double as an outdoor seat, it does not come with any padding.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top bench outdoor toy storage
Keter Solana 70-Gallon Storage Bench
What you need to know: This best-selling storage bench is practical and functional, making it the perfect addition for anyone looking to add more seating to their outdoor area.
What you’ll love: With its resin construction and a wood-look texture, this outdoor storage box is durable and elegant. The 70-gallon storage area offers plenty of space for all your outdoor toys and tools and comes with a lock system for added security. The bench seats can comfortably fit two to three adults.
What you should consider: Some consumers noted that this bench does seem to be relatively thin along the sides. Although this did not appear to impact the storage capabilities, some consumers were hesitant about the weight capacity when it came to seating.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Breanna Culler 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/playroom-furniture-storage-br/best-outdoor-toy-storage/ | 2022-05-26T16:35:55Z |
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican has long defended its World War II-era pope, Pius XII, against criticism that he remained silent as the Holocaust unfolded, insisting that he worked quietly behind the scenes to save lives. A new book, citing recently opened Vatican archives, suggests the lives the Vatican worked hardest to save were Jews who had converted to Catholicism or were children of Catholic-Jewish “mixed marriages.”
Documents attesting to frantic searches for baptismal certificates, lists of names of converts handed over by the Vatican to the German ambassador and heartfelt pleas from Catholics for the pope to find relatives of Jewish descent are contained in David Kertzer’s “The Pope at War,” being published Tuesday in the United States.
The book follows on the heels of Kertzer’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Pope and Mussolini,” about Pius’ predecessor, Pius XI. It uses the millions of recently released documents from the Vatican archives as well as the state archives of Italy, France, Germany, the U.S., and Britain to craft a history of World War II through the prism of the Pius XII papacy and its extensive diplomatic network with both Axis and Allied nations.
“The amount of material in these archives about searching for baptismal records for Jews that could save them is really pretty stunning,” Kertzer said in a telephone interview ahead of the release.
The 484-page book, and its nearly 100 pages of endnotes, portrays a timid pontiff who wasn’t driven by antisemitism, but rather a conviction that Vatican neutrality was the best and only way to protect the interests of the Catholic Church as the war raged on.
Kertzer, a professor of anthropology and Italian studies at Brown University, suggests Pius’ primary motivation was fear: fear for the church and Catholics in German-occupied territories if, as he believed until the very end, the Axis won; and fear of atheist Communism spreading across Christian Europe if the Axis lost.
To assuage that fear, Kertzer writes, Pius charted a paralyzingly cautious course to avoid conflict at all costs with the Nazis. Direct orders went to the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano not to write about German atrocities — and to ensure seamless cooperation with the Fascist dictatorship of Benito Mussolini in the Vatican’s backyard.
That meant never saying a word in public to explicitly denounce SS massacres, even when Jews were being rounded up right outside the Vatican walls, as they were on Oct. 16, 1943, and put on trains bound for Auschwitz.
Kertzer concludes that Pius was no “Hitler’s Pope” — the provocative title of the last Pius-era blockbuster by John Cornwell. But neither was he the champion of Jews that Pius’ supporters contend.
Marla Stone, professor of humanities at the American Academy of Rome, said the book “takes a position between the previous poles of historical interpretation.”
“Previously, the choices were either Pius XII was ‘Hitler’s Pope,’ deeply sympathetic to the Nazis, eager for a Nazi-Fascist victory, obsessed with the defeat of the Soviets at all costs, and a dedicated antisemite,” she told a panel at the academy last month. “The other historiographic position held that Pius XII did everything within his power to help those suffering under Nazi and Fascist oppression and that he was merely constrained by circumstances.”
“The Pope at War” is one of several books starting to roll out two years after Pope Francis opened the Pius XII archives ahead of schedule. That gave scholars access to the full set of documentation to resolve the outstanding questions about Pius and what he did or didn’t do as the Holocaust unfolded.
One of the first out of the gate was written in-house, by the archivist of the Vatican’s secretariat of state, Johan Ickx. Perhaps understandably, it praised Pius and the humanitarian efforts of the Vatican to care for Jews and people fleeing the war, recounting the hundreds of files of Jews who turned to him, begging for help.
“For the Jews it was obvious and clear that Pius XII was on their side and both he and his staff would have done everything in their possibility to save them,” Ickx told Vatican News.
The Rev. Peter Gumpel, the German investigator who promoted Pius’ now-stalled cause for sainthood, has argued that Pius couldn’t speak out more publicly because he knew it would enrage Adolf Hitler and result in more Jews being killed. He cites the case of a Catholic bishops in the Netherlands who spoke out against the deportation of Jews and the Gestapo’s response: deporting Jews who had converted to Catholicism.
The Vatican had already taken the extraordinary step, between 1965 and 1981, of publishing an 11-volume set of documentation, curated by a team of Jesuits, to try to rebut criticism of Pius’ silence that erupted following the 1963 play “The Deputy,” which alleged he turned a blind eye to Nazi atrocities.
But even the Vatican’s own prefect of the archives, Monsignor Sergio Pagano, said recently that the initiative, while “worthy” at the time, now needs to be revised.
During a panel discussion hosted by a Spanish research institute in Rome, Pagano acknowledged that the Jesuits “sometimes looked at half of one document, and the other half no,” and that he had learned of some “strange omissions” that are now becoming evident. But he insisted there was no attempt at the time to hide inconvenient truths, just a lack of full access to all the files and the chaos of working quickly with a disorganized archive.
Kertzer identifies two major omissions in his book: The first was the transcripts of a series of secret meetings between Pius and a personal envoy of Hitler, Prince Philipp von Hessen, that began shortly after Pius was elected and continued for two years. The secret channel gave Pius a direct line to Hitler that was previously unknown, even to high-ranking Vatican officials at the time.
The second was the full contents of the note from Pius’ top diplomatic adviser on Jewish issues, Monsignor Angelo Dell’Acqua, responding to pleas for Pius to finally say something about the roundup of Italy’s Jews that accelerated in the autumn and winter of 1943. While Dell’Acqua’s opinion — that Pius should not say anything — was previously known, Kertzer says the antisemitic slurs he used to describe Jews had been excised from the Jesuits’ 11-volume text.
L’Osservatore Romano has already come out swinging against Kertzer’s scholarship, blasting a 2020 essay he published in The Atlantic on some preliminary findings from the archives as “strong affirmations, but unproven.”
A key example of the Vatican’s priorities, Kertzer says, came during the Oct. 16, 1943, roundup of Rome’s Jews. That cold morning, 1,259 Jews were arrested and brought to a military barracks near the Vatican, bound for deportation to Auschwitz.
The day after their capture, the Vatican’s secretariat of state received permission from German authorities to send an envoy to the barracks, who ascertained that those inside “included people who had already been baptized, confirmed and celebrated a church wedding,” according to the envoy’s notes.
Over the following days, the secretariat of state drew up lists of people the church deemed Catholic and gave the names to the German ambassador asking for his intervention. In all, of the 1,259 people originally arrested, some 250 were spared deportation.
“For me, what this means, and I think this is also a novelty in the book, is that the Vatican participates in the selection of Jews,” Kertzer said in the interview. “Who is going to live and who is going to die.” | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/vaticans-pius-xii-archives-begin-to-shed-light-on-wwii-pope/ | 2022-06-07T17:30:22Z |
Feds ask probation for ex-police officer who stormed Capitol
(AP) - Federal prosecutors are recommending a sentence of six months’ probation for a former Virginia police officer who pleaded guilty to storming the U.S. Capitol with another off-duty officer.
In a court filing Tuesday, prosecutors argue that former Rocky Mount police officer Jacob Fracker deserves to avoid a prison sentence.
They cited his cooperation and trial testimony against the other officer, Thomas Robertson. Prosecutors recommended an eight-year prison sentence for Robertson, who was convicted of attacking the Capitol to obstruct Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2021.
Robertson is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday. Fracker awaits scheduled sentencing next Tuesday.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/09/feds-ask-probation-ex-police-officer-who-stormed-capitol/ | 2022-08-09T23:29:50Z |
GRAPEVINE, Tx (KDAF) — Parents, if you have ever experienced the pain of stepping on a LEGO brick barefooted, we feel your pain. That is a pain like no other.
Luckily, there is a LEGO experience to keep the kiddos satisfied away from the home. It’s called LEGOLAND Discovery Center and it’s right here in North Texas.
Located in the Grapevine Mills Mall, this LEGO experience is the ultimate indoor LEGO playground, with tons of experiences to keep the kiddos entertained for the whole day, including:
- Miniland: a jaw-dropping, interactive Dallas/Fort Worth cityscape created with more than 1 million LEGO bricks
- LEGO 4D Cinema: enjoy exciting LEGO movies with epic effects like wind, rain and even snow
- Kingdom Quest: hop aboard a family-sized chariot and zap trolls and sneaky skeletons to rescue the princess
There are tons of attractions to enjoy. For a full list of the attractions, click here. WATCH the video player above for a full overview of all the fun to be had. | https://cw33.com/news/local/the-ultimate-lego-experience-is-right-here-in-grapevine/ | 2022-08-22T15:54:49Z |
CHICAGO, July 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hxro Network ("Hxro"), a fully composable, on-chain derivatives primitive that provides core exchange, risk and settlement infrastructure, today announced it has launched the alpha version of its derivatives marketplace onto the Solana mainnet.
Hxro Network provides key primitive layer infrastructure for the exchange, risk, margin and settlement of derivatives including perps, futures and options. It is built on the Solana blockchain. The network boasts a marquee list of partners, many of whom have been key builders and active participants including principal trading firms SIG DT (a Susquehanna International Group Company), Jump Crypto, Alameda Research, Chicago Trading Company, and Pattern Research as well as venture participation from Blockchain Capital, Solana Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, Commonwealth Asset Management, CoinFund, Genesis, LedgerPrime, Mantis and Magnus Capital. Notable macro hedge fund managers Alan Howard and Louis Bacon are also part of the network's ecosystem.
At launch, the alpha sandbox will feature a BTC/USDC perpetual future and 8 consecutive expiring futures markets including 2 weeklies, 2 monthlies, and 4 quarterlies along with associated exchange-supported calendar spread markets for each tenor. During the alpha sandbox, contributing developers will also be completing the integration of Hxro's staking and rewards contracts. This alpha period will be utilized to ensure that all critical staking and rewards functionalities are deployed efficiently during mainnet integration.
Dan Gunsberg, Co-Founder of Hxro Network commented on today's news: "Today's launch represents a significant milestone for the network and is very much just the beginning. With the launch to mainnet, Hxro Network will deliver decentralized derivatives products and infrastructure to traders, user facing applications, market makers and other market participants in a way that they are familiar with from a traditional market perspective but with the benefits of DeFi. With recent events in the CeFi space, the market has exposed a need for robust, transparent and decentralized market infrastructure. This is the time to start providing alternative solutions and giving market participants a choice. The network and its community look forward to leading this effort."
During the public testing period, any Solana wallet holder will be eligible to participate in the alpha sandbox. The sandbox will have a reference UI as well as a python API to support automated trading and dApp integration. Rust and typescript API's are available as well.
At launch, network contributors have chosen to take a conservative approach and use a sandbox test token with the symbol $UXDC. This token does not hold any monetary value and will be used in place of USDC as the network moves through its alpha phase. Once network contributors feel all components of the network are hardened, the network will enter its beta phase and offer USDC collateralized markets.
Hxro Network is a fully composable, on-chain derivatives primitive that provides core exchange, risk and settlement infrastructure built on the Solana blockchain. Through a series of native protocols, Hxro Network provides the framework and infrastructure for a robust, fully-functional decentralized derivatives primitive.
Media Contact
Jay Morakis (for Hxro Network)
+1 646 859 5951
hxroplatform@mgroupsc.com
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SOURCE Hxro Network | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/01/hxro-network-launches-derivatives-alpha-solana-mainnet/ | 2022-07-01T16:25:18Z |
Growing up in mid-sized Virginia Beach, Andrew Waldholtz wanted to live in a big city so he moved to the District of Columbia for college. After four years in the comparatively expensive city, he realized he wanted a place to live that was more affordable.
Waldholtz, 35, eventually found a happy compromise in St. Louis whose Midwestern affordability and opportunities to build his career in corporate compliance had the added bonus that his sister and brother-in-law lived there.
Now living 940 miles (1,513 kilometers) away from Virginia Beach, Waldholtz is in a distinct minority among others who reached adulthood in the 21st century in that he resides a half-continent away from where he grew up, according to a new study by U.S. Census Bureau and Harvard University researchers released Monday.
The study found that by age 26 more than two-thirds of young adults in the U.S. lived in the same area where they grew up, 80% had moved less than 100 miles (161 kilometers) away and 90% resided less than 500 miles (804 kilometers) away. Migration distances were shorter for Black and Hispanic individuals, compared to white and Asian young adults, and the children of higher income parents traveled farther away from their hometowns than those of less wealthy parents, according to the study.
“For many individuals, the ‘radius of economic opportunity’ is quite narrow,” the report said.
Young adulthood is a period in life when migration is highest in the U.S. The study looked at the likelihood of people born primarily between 1984 and 1992 moving away from the commuting zone they grew up in. Commuting zones are made up of one or more counties that reflect a local labor market, and there are more than 700 commuting zones in the U.S. The birth range in the study overlaps the generation typically referred to as millennials.
It turns out that the most common destinations for young adults were concentrated near where they grew up, said the study which utilized decennial census, survey and tax data.
For instance, three quarters of people who grew up in the Chicago area stayed there. Rockford was the top destination for people who moved away and stayed in Illinois but only represented less than 1% of the young adults from Chicago. Los Angeles was the top destination for those who moved out of state but that accounted for only 1.1% of young adults from Chicago, according to an interactive data tool that accompanies the study.
Where young adults moved to varied by race.
Atlanta was the most popular destination for young Black adults moving away from their hometowns, followed by Houston and Washington. Young Black adults who grew up in high-income households were multiple times more likely to move to these cities in a “New Great Migration” than those from low-income families, according to the study.
For white adults leaving their hometowns, New York, Los Angeles, Washington and Denver were the most population destinations. Los Angeles and New York were the top two destinations for Asians and Hispanic young adults. San Antonio and Phoenix also were popular with Hispanics, while San Francisco also appealed to Asian young adults.
Despite the region’s economic woes and the prospect of job opportunities elsewhere, young adults in Appalachia were less likely to move far from their hometowns compared to those of similar incomes living elsewhere, the report said.
The reluctance of millennials to move far away is backed up by recent studies showing declines in mobility in the U.S. for the overall population. In the middle of the last century, about a fifth of U.S. residents, not just young adults, moved each year. That figure has dropped steadily since the 1950s, going from about 20% to 8.4% last year, due to an aging population, dual-income households that make it more difficult to pick up and move and, more recently, the pandemic, according to a recent report from Brookings.
A Pew Research Center survey released last week showed that a quarter of U.S. adults ages 25 to 34 resided in a multigenerational family household in 2021, up from 9% in 1971. The age groups in the Pew study and the study by the Census Bureau and Harvard University researchers overlap to some degree.
When there were wage gains in a local labor market, most of the benefits went to residents who grew up within 100 miles (161 kilometers) rather than people who had migrated to the area. Wage increases’ effect on migration to an area was rather small, and migrants likely would have moved there regardless of wage hikes. Young Black adults were less likely to move to a place because of wage hikes compared to white and Hispanic millennials, said the study released Monday.
Waldholtz, who is white, graduated into the recession in 2008 and went back to Virginia Beach for work. “Probably the worst time ever to be looking for a job,” he said. He eventually went to law school in Ohio and prioritized work opportunities when deciding where to live after graduation three years later.
“All of us need a job to pay our bills,” Waldholtz said. “That factor has to be the most important factor.”
___
Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/study-millennials-didnt-stray-far-from-where-they-grew-up/ | 2022-07-26T10:56:49Z |
The pipe organ, widely heard from its decades on the Crystal Cathedral's 'Hour of Power,' will be blessed by Bishop Kevin Vann in a special ceremony on June 10, with recital to follow from the Vatican's principal organist who is flying in from Rome for the special occasion.
GARDEN GROVE, Calif., June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Diocese of Orange, The Orange Catholic Foundation and music ministry of Christ Cathedral are pleased to announce the completed $3-million restoration of the Hazel Wright Organ, an iconic instrument made famous around the world for its association with the Rev. Robert Schuller's "Hour of Power" broadcast.
Hazel is back!
To celebrate, all in the Diocese and music lovers everywhere are invited to a free public blessing ceremony for "Hazel" — as the instrument is affectionately known — led by Bishop Kevin W. Vann on June 10 at 6:30 p.m. inside Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove. The event is expected to last one hour and includes an entrance procession, a greeting and introductory rites from Bishop Vann, biblical readings, a blessing of the organ with incense, prayers and a choral piece with 100 singers.
Hazel will also receive a special Papal blessing from Pope Francis.
No tickets are required. The event will be livestreamed and viewable by visiting HazelWrightOrgan.com and the Diocese of Orange's Facebook page.
The blessing day will give the public a chance to hear Hazel returned to her full glory as the world's fifth largest organ with more than 17,000 pipes, 300+ stops and nearly 300 ranks. The organ plays from all four corners of the cathedral, giving listeners a unique "surround sound" experience.
Coming in from Vatican City to play and make a special appearance at the blessing is Josep Solé Coll, the principal organist of St. Peter's Basilica and organist for the liturgical celebrations of Pope Francis. Coll will conclude the blessing ceremony with a festive postlude recital.
Before the blessing, invited members of the press can attend a special media day demonstration of Hazel from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. That event will include interview opportunities, an up-close look at the organ's massive console and music from Christ Cathedral organist David Ball, cathedral rector Fr. Christopher Smith and Coll.
The blessing day has been nearly a decade in the making. The $3-million restoration effort for the organ started not long after the Diocese of Orange finished its purchase of the former Crystal Cathedral campus in 2012. At the time, Diocesan leaders could see that the complex instrument needed major restoration work.
Portions of Hazel had melted in the heat and humidity, and crews even discovered dead birds and bugs inside her mazework of pipes. The scenario forced Diocesan leadership to realize that much was needed to make Hazel sound her best again.
Bishop Vann, who played piano and organ while growing up in Springfield, Ill., prioritized the project.
"To neglect Hazel or not repair her would not be a good thing," he said. "There was never any doubt in my mind that it wasn't going to get done. The organ plays an important part in the Mass. It encourages people to sing and pray, and to hear the presence of God in a way that really nothing else can do. In restoring Hazel, I wanted to show everyone that yes, the Catholic church was going to appreciate this instrument and rebuild her, to help her sing again with the glory of God."
In 2014, the instrument was carefully dismantled piece by piece and shipped to Padua, Italy, home of the Fratelli Ruffatti company, which has a strong historical connection to Hazel.
That connection dates to the 1970s, when the Rev. Schuller contracted the renowned pipe organ manufacturer to build a new organ for his Garden Grove Community Church, a building that today is known as the Arboretum. The commission was completed in 1977.
However, by that time, Rev. Schuller was already working on his expansion effort that would become the Crystal Cathedral. Schuller's glass edifice clearly needed a magnificent instrument, so, with design help from famed organist Virgil Fox, the decision was made to combine the 1977 Ruffatti with a 1962 Aeolian-Skinner organ from Philharmonic Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. These two instruments became the bulk of what would become the Hazel Wright Organ.
Hazel was dedicated in 1982, two years after the Crystal Cathedral opened. Rev. Schuller named her after Hazel C. Wright, a Chicago-area donor who loved the "Hour of Power" broadcast and wanted to donate to Schuller's ministry. Interestingly, Wright, who died in 1984, gave her initial gift unsolicited, and she fostered no strong feelings toward the Crystal Cathedral's robust music program.
"What's notable about Mrs. Wright is that she wasn't particularly devoted to the organ itself," said Dr. David Crean, an organ teacher at Wright State University in Ohio who wrote a newly published book about the history of Hazel. "However, she recognized the instrument's central and powerful role in the Schullers' ministries. She knew her gift would mean a great deal to millions of people all over the world."
For Bishop Vann, it was extremely important to have Hazel's restoration done by Fratelli Ruffatti.
"We needed to go back to the people who built it," he said, "to the people who know the instrument intimately."
In 2016, Hazel returned from her refurbishment in Italy. She was stored in an Irvine warehouse until the transformation of the Crystal Cathedral into Christ Cathedral was completed in 2019.
Unfortunately, Hazel, though reinstalled inside the building, was not quite ready in time for Christ Cathedral's July 2019 dedication, so the music ministry used a digital organ on loan from the Pennsylvania-based Walker Technical Company. For more than two years, parishioners heard digital organ music coming from speakers placed throughout the sanctuary, rather than from Hazel, whose cases were painted white from their original brown to match the new Christ Cathedral aesthetic.
In 2019, the Fratelli Ruffatti team began their work on voicing the organ. In fact, during the reinstallation process, an ex-police officer came into the cathedral with a shotgun. Using a blank round, he fired the shotgun to test the reverberation in the building. It was important not to have too much reverberation, but to maintain a balance between sound clarity and warmth, according to Piero Ruffatti, a partner at Fratelli Ruffatti and one of the organ's original builders.
The Diocese of Orange planned to celebrate the completed restoration of Hazel in 2020, but the Ruffatti team had to pause the project prematurely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This delayed Hazel's return until the project began again in late 2021, when the Ruffatti team returned to finish the voicing work.
By early 2022, with the meticulous voicing process finished and the temporary Walker digital instrument uninstalled, a nearly finished Hazel made her debut during a special ceremony on Feb. 7. On that day, in front of the organ's main console, Bishop Vann, Fr. Christopher, Dr. Frederick Swann (former organist for the Crystal Cathedral), David Ball (Christ Cathedral organist and head of music ministry), Kevin Cartwright of Rosales Organ Builders (the organ's new curator), Piero Ruffatti (the original builder of the organ) and Gabriel Ferrucci (an Orange County philanthropist, businessman and major Diocese donor who served as a liaison between the Diocese and Fratelli Ruffatti, effective due to his language skills and cultural awareness) gathered and signed a special agreement.
In effect, Dr. Swann accepted the organ's restoration work by Fratelli Ruffatti and handed it off to Cartwright's company, Los Angeles-based Rosales Organ Builders, for continued maintenance. The ceremony also included the inaugural performance of Daniel Ficarri's "Fanfare-Introduction in D," which was commissioned specifically for Hazel.
Hours after the signing ceremony, Hazel's soft opening debut for the public began with her playing during the cathedral's World Marriage Day Mass.
As vouched for by Dr. Swann, who served as the Crystal Cathedral's organist and director of music from 1982 to 1998, today's Hazel has improved acoustics thanks to Christ Cathedral's 11,000 quatrefoils. These quatrefoils, an addition within the Diocese of Orange's renovation project, resemble hanging sails, suspended from the space frame of the building's structure.
Following the February signing, Cartwright and his team began the delicate process of tuning Hazel, note by note, in the weeks leading up to the June 10 blessing.
Like a fine wine, the Hazel of today is only getting better with age, boasting several improvements from her 1980s self, including improved connectivity and back-end digital components. It is now connected to the Arvella Schuller Carillon, a 52-bell instrument inside the Crean Tower next to the cathedral. The instrument is named after the late Rev. Schuller's wife and can be played from Hazel's console.
David Ball, head of the cathedral's music ministry and a Juilliard-trained organist, compares the capabilities of Hazel to a box of crayons. A great artist can craft a beautiful picture with only 12 crayons, but if given a box of 300 — akin to Hazel's plethora of potential musical colors — the art is all the more beautiful.
"It is always an honor to sit in front of Hazel's console and play, where I'm continuously in awe of the sheer power and breadth of this amazing instrument," Ball said. "Furthermore, playing Hazel is literally sitting in the same seat as my musical heroes, people like Virgil Fox who were visionaries in the early days of Hazel to make the dream of this pipe organ a reality."
Handout pictures available here: https://rcbo.filecamp.com/s/faDHEKCPoWcB7i5p/c
What: Invite-only press preview of the restored Hazel Wright Organ. It will include a demonstration, tour of the organ and music
When: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., June 10
Where: Christ Cathedral, 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove
Interviews: Opportunities with key stakeholders of the Hazel Wright Organ will be available during Media Day, both in group settings and one on one.
Filming and photography: Television cameras and still cameras will be permitted in the cathedral and near the organ during Media Day.
RSVP: Please RSVP with the Office of Communications at bzint@rcbo.org or (714) 282-6052
What: Media and the public are invited to the blessing ceremony for the restored Hazel Wright Organ.
When: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., June 10
Where: Christ Cathedral, 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove
Interviews: Diocese leaders and other key stakeholders of the Hazel Wright Organ will not be available for interviews before or after the blessing ceremony. Please attend Media Day beforehand for interview opportunities.
Filming and photography: Television cameras will not be permitted in the cathedral during the blessing ceremony. Please obtain footage during Media Day. Still photographers are permitted to photograph the blessing ceremony but are advised to bring long lenses because they will be shooting from a distance.
Livestream: The event's livestream will be available for editorial use on the Diocese of Orange's Facebook page and HazelWrightOrgan.com.
RSVP: Please RSVP with the Office of Communications at bzint@rcbo.org or (714) 282-6052
With 1.3 million Catholics, 57 parishes, five Catholic centers and 35 schools, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange is one of the largest and most diverse faith communities in the United States. The Diocese empowers Catholics across Orange County to have an active life of faith that is integrated and woven into the fabric of their daily lives through the community and sacramental life of the Church. Under the leadership of Bishop Kevin Vann, the Diocese works to establish and support dynamic, vibrant parishes and schools welcoming all to live the Gospel with faith, joy, charity and unity. Christ Cathedral, the spiritual home of the Bishop of Orange, was dedicated in July 2019.
The Orange Catholic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation that serves the Catholic community of Orange County. As a foundation for Catholics, we assist families and individuals to leave a legacy uniquely aligned with their Catholic values and beliefs. The Foundation's primary function is to raise, grow, and steward funds and endowments. The Foundation works with donors to customize their charitable intentions for Catholic organizations throughout Orange County.
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SOURCE The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/hazel-is-back-diocese-orange-christ-cathedral-celebrate-completed-restoration-world-famous-hazel-wright-organ/ | 2022-06-02T23:33:30Z |
SAN FRANCISCO and MALLESWARAM BENGALURU, India, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LBC, the Portuguese-American-based innovation, and digital transformation company have nominated Mr. Ramesh Kumar Nanjundaiya to be its Advisor - India Market. Through Mr. Ramesh's guidance, LBC (Leadership Business Consulting) hopes to connect with various Indian innovation centers such as Bangalore and other cities in India and build connections with other recognized innovation hubs in Europe and the San Francisco Bay Area for promoting two-way business and technology sourcing.
LBC's mission is to help organizations optimize their performance and build their future through management consulting, digital transformation, and capability development. LBC runs the Global Strategic Innovation (GSI) programs which look to successfully share best practices, promote knowledge transfer, build an impactful network and identify innovation opportunities through immersion in global innovation centers, engagement with champions, and subject matter leaders.
LBC has extensive experience:
- Providing necessary assistance to organizations and public agencies to find and accelerate technology powered businesses and collaborations in California and Portugal.
- Organizing short, flexible and customized webinars and in person programs and delegations covering innovation frameworks, technology research, start-up scouting and tracking trends.
- Delivering consultancy services tailored to find specific organizations willing to invest and looking to do business in India.
The GSI program has been running for over 10 years and has connected selectively over 900 entrepreneurs, government leaders, executives from Europe, Africa, and Latin America to the San Francisco Bay Area for business development and bilateral relationships. We are now making a foray into the growing market in India.
India is a highly attractive market for LBC due to its depth of technical talent, burgeoning start-up ecosystems and digital economy scale and development. Ties between India, California, US and Portugal are strong and growing and LBC sees an opportunity to reinforce the bonds between these 3 innovation ecosystems, allowing entrepreneurs, public agencies and corporates to further develop business ties and networks and share of best practices.
* Currently based out of Bengaluru, India, Mr. Nanjundaiya Ramesh Kumar, a citizen of India, a dual Masters' degree holder in industrial economics from Brussels University, Brussels', Belgium and in business administration from Boston University, Boston, US and with network and knowledge in the local community will help us in our mission in assisting Indian executives, state government entities, entrepreneurs, start-ups and corporations forge ahead in innovation and in digital transformation. A former international banker with over 3 decades of work experience at banks in Greece, Belgium, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and India, Ramesh, inter alia, specializes in franchise development. He will assist in our mission in the life-changing power of innovation, connection and entrepreneurship. These are the strongest pillars in todays' global socioeconomic change and will represent both the best of India and Silicon Valley, the US and Europe.
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SOURCE LBC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/lbc-appoints-ramesh-kumar-nanjundaiya-be-its-advisor-india-market/ | 2022-06-08T01:24:24Z |
Election 2022: Trump endorsement flip scrambles Alabama race
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Standing in the sweltering summer heat on the steps of the Alabama Capitol earlier this month, Republican Senate candidate Mo Brooks was hailed by organizers of the Jan. 6, 2021, rally in Washington for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and keep former President Donald Trump in power.
“I was proud to stand with Mo Brooks on that stage that day,” said Amy Kremer, chair of Women for America First. “Mo has the truth on his side.”
Less than 10 hours later, Trump returned the favor by snubbing the congressman — for a second time — and instead endorsing rival Katie Britt in Tuesday’s Republican runoff election for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Britt’s former boss, retiring GOP Sen. Richard Shelby.
Alabama is one of a handful of states holding contests Tuesday at the midpoint of a primary season that has been shaped by Trump’s effort to influence the GOP. In Virginia, Republicans are choosing between Trump-aligned congressional candidates to take on some of the most vulnerable Democrats in the fall. And in Georgia, Democrats will settle several close races, including deciding which Democrat will challenge Brad Raffensperger, the Republican secretary of state who overcame a Trump-backed challenge last month.
In Washington, D.C., meanwhile, Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser is seeking reelection amid concerns over homelessness and rising crime.
But the Alabama Senate runoff has drawn particular attention both because of the drama surrounding Trump’s endorsement and the fact that the winner will likely prevail in November in a state Trump won twice by more than 25 percentage points.
Trump initially endorsed Brooks in the spring of 2021, rewarding an ardent champion of his baseless claims of a stolen election. Brooks had voted against certifying President Joe Biden’s victory and delivered a fiery speech at the rally that proceeded the U.S. Capitol insurrection, telling the crowd, “Today is the day that American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.”
But nearly a year later, Trump rescinded his support after the pair’s relationship soured and as the conservative firebrand languished in the polls. Trump blamed his decision on comments Brooks had made months earlier, at an August rally, when he said it was time for the party to move on from the 2020 presidential race — comments Trump claimed showed Brooks, one of the most conservative members of Congress, had gone “woke.”
But the move was widely seen as an effort by Trump to save face amid other losses, and Brooks alleged that it came after he informed Trump that there was no way to “rescind” the 2020 election, remove Biden from power, or hold a new special election for the presidency.
Trump’s un-endorsement was widely expected to end Brooks’ campaign. Instead, Brooks managed to finish second in the state’s May 24 primary, earning 29% of the vote to Britt’s 45% and forcing a runoff.
Brooks tried once again to get Trump to endorse him, but Trump, who has had a mixed record in backing winning candidates, instead chose Britt, Shelby’s former chief of staff, calling her a “fearless America First Warrior.”
While Brooks and Britt have similar views, their race represents a clash between two wings of the party and different generations. Shelby for decades epitomized the old-guard political style, using his clout and relationships to quietly steer federal projects and funding to his home state.
Britt, 40, has the endorsement of Shelby and other establishment Republicans, as well as deep ties to the state’s business community, reflected in her 2-1 fundraising advantage over Brooks.
Brooks, 68, is known for his bombastic oratory style. The six-term congressman was a founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and has made his opposition to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell a pillar of his campaign, embarking on a “Fire McConnell Tour” of town halls. A super PAC affiliated with McConnell contributed $2 million to a PAC opposing Brooks.
He also has the backing of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who say he would be a needed hard-line addition to the Senate.
“This is a race about conservatives versus the establishment,” Paul said Friday in north Alabama. “We need a fighter. We’re not going to get it if you send us any old Republican. We need a fighter like Mo Brooks.”
Britt, meanwhile, stresses her own social conservative beliefs and has tried to paint Brooks as a career politician, saying Alabamians want “new blood.”
“President Trump knows that Alabamians are sick and tired of failed, do-nothing career politicians. It’s time for the next generation of conservatives to step up and shake things up in Washington,” she said after Trump’s endorsement.
Brooks has disparaged Britt as a RINO — the GOP pejorative meaning “Republican in name only” — and maintained he is the only one with a proven conservative record.
Turnout in the race is expected to be low, with fewer than 15% of registered voters likely to cast ballots, according to Secretary of State John Merrill.
Elsewhere, in the nation’s capital, where Democratic primaries effectively decide winners, Bowser is trying to fend off challenges from a pair of City Council members as the city contends with a rash of crime, including a shooting Sunday in one of the city’s busiest nightlife destinations that left a 15-year-old dead and a police officer and at least two others wounded.
In Virginia, voters are set to pick Republican nominees for what is expected to be a pair of the year’s most competitive U.S. House races.
In the coastal 2nd District, state Sen. Jen Kiggans is widely seen as the GOP front-runner in the Republican race to take on Democrat Elaine Luria, a retired Naval commander and member of the House Jan. 6 committee, in the general election. In central Virginia’s 7th District, six candidates are in a competitive race to face Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer.
And in Georgia, Democratic state Rep. Bee Nguyen is trying to defeat former state Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler in the secretary of state’s race. The winner will face Republican Raffensperger, who rebuffed Trump’s efforts to “find” enough votes to overturn Biden’s win in the state’s 2020 presidential election and beat back a Trump-endorsed challenger in his May 24 primary.
In congressional runoffs, Republican Vernon Jones, a Trump-backed candidate and former Democrat, is competing against trucking company owner Mike Collins for the Republican nomination for the 10th Congressional District seat east of Atlanta.
Republicans also have high hopes of knocking off 30-year Democratic Rep. Sanford Bishop in southwest Georgia’s 2nd District. The GOP is choosing between former Army officer Jeremy Hunt and real estate developer Chris West.
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Colvin reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report.
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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.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/21/election-2022-trump-endorsement-flip-scrambles-alabama-race/ | 2022-06-21T06:24:57Z |
ARLINGTON, Texas (KDAF) — Do you struggle with finding a good background for your selfies? We want to put this Arlington studio on your radar.
Shutterbug Selfie Studio is the perfect way to up your selfie game. With tons of creative and fun installments and the perfect lighting for your perfect face, Shutterbug is a game-changer for those wanting to up their social media game.
The studio has a theme for any mood you want to pull off. Feeling edgy? Try taking a selfie in the Glam Jail exhibit. If you’re feeling energized, try out their picturesque boxing locker room theme. Or if you just want something aesthetic, they have fun wallpapers that make a perfect selfie background.
General admission tickets for adults cost $28, which gets you one hour in the studio. Children’s tickets cost $22. For more information, visit shutterbugdfw.com.
Fun on the Run’s Yolonda Williams and J-Kruz toured Shutterbug and show off all the studio has to offer. | https://cw33.com/news/fun-on-the-run-news/its-selfie-heaven-arlingtons-shutterbug-selfie-studio-helps-you-take-that-perfect-selfie/ | 2022-06-08T22:57:33Z |
LONDON — King Charles III and his three siblings have stood vigil around their mother’s coffin as it lies in state at Westminster Hall in London
Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward stood with their backs to the flag-draped coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, their heads bowed.
Members of the public who had lined up for hours to pay their last respects continued to file past as the royals stood vigil in the historic event.
On Saturday, the queen’s eight grandchildren will hold a similar vigil.
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KEY DEVELOPMENTS:
— Queen’s death is a reminder of the UK’s World War II generation
— Stories of UK’s disappearing World War II generation
— What to know about the queen’s lying in state
— Reflections from the queue to mourn the queen
— New Zealand republic debate complicated by Māori treaty
— Charles’ history with US presidents: He’s met 10 of past 14
— In Hong Kong, public grief over queen doubles as dissent
— Palace reveals details of queen’s state funeral on Monday
— Find more AP coverage here: https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii
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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
LONDON — The line organized by British authorities for people to view Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin as she lies in state has reopened after being closed for more than seven hours due to a surge in numbers.
But officials said Friday afternoon that people may have to stand in line for more than 24 hours before reaching Westminster Hall.
And they say that it will be cold during the night.
The line was about 5 miles (8 kilometers) long, snaking along the banks of the River Thames.
Authorities laid on more than 500 portable toilets, while around 1,000 stewards and marshals were on duty at any given time.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to pay their respects before Monday’s state funeral.
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ISTANBUL — Planeloads of Turkish carnations are headed to the United Kingdom for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral next Monday.
Flower producers in southern Turkey are working to meet high demand for the event in London.
Turkish Cargo said Friday that after the queen’s death last week orders for flowers shot up by 90%. Suppliers chose air transport over trucks to cope with demand and deliver on time.
The cargo company said more than 500,000 flower stems, weighing around 13 metric tons, are being sent to London.
Turkey is a major exporter of cut flowers, principally carnations, to Europe.
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CARDIFF, Wales — King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, have encountered the Royal Welsh goat.
As they left Cardiff Castle on a visit to Wales on Friday, the royal couple passed by the official mascot of the Third Battalion of The Royal Welsh.
The goat is known as Lance Corporal Shenkin IV. The furry white goat, which has metal tips on its horns, has its own Twitter account and Facebook page.
King Charles appeared to share a joke about the military mascot with his wife.
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LONDON — Soccer great David Beckham has joined the miles-long queue of people waiting to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II as she lies in state.
People spotted the former England captain in the line of mourners near Britain’s Houses of Parliament at lunchtime on Friday. He is believed to have joined the queue at 2 a.m. and to have lined up for more than 10 hours with thousands of others.
Officials temporarily halted people joining the back of the line on Friday after a park at the farthest end became full. People who arrived were directed to holding areas and slowly allowed to join the queue.
The queen is due to lie in state at Westminster Hall in Parliament until Monday morning, when her funeral will be held at nearby Westminster Abbey.
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CARDIFF, Wales — King Charles III has spoken of his late mother’s love of Wales as he addressed the Welsh parliament.
Charles is wrapping up his tour of the four nations of the U.K. with a visit to Cardiff, following previous trips to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
He told members of the parliament, or Senedd, on Friday that Wales “could not have been closer to my mother’s heart.”
He said he felt “immense gratitude for the privilege” of serving for decades as Prince of Wales, the title traditionally bestowed on the heir to the throne. Prince William now has that title.
Charles said: “I am resolved to honor that selfless example, in the spirit of the words by which I have always tried to live my own life: Ich Dien, I Serve.”
The king and Camilla, the queen consort, were greeted by cheering crowds in Cardiff — and by a handful of anti-monarchy protesters. Some carried the flag of Owain Glyndwr, a medieval leader who was Prince of Wales before the title was taken by the English Crown after the English conquest of Wales in the 14th century.
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CARDIFF, Wales — King Charles III has spoken in Welsh during a visit to Cardiff.
The new monarch addressed the Welsh parliament, called the Senedd, on Friday after receiving its condolences on the death last week of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Before acceding to the throne, Charles was the Prince of Wales and often used a smattering of Welsh in official speeches after taking lessons.
Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, received a warm welcome in Cardiff. Schoolchildren squealed with excitement and waved Welsh flags, the crowds cheered, and there were shouts of “God save the king” as the royal couple greeted well-wishers.
The events ran later as King Charles prepared to visit Cardiff’s 2000-year-old castle, where the Welsh flag hung at half-staff.
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LONDON — London police say Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday will be the largest single policing event the force has ever handled.
Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said Friday that the massive police operation surpasses even the 2012 Olympics, which were held in the British capital, and the celebrations earlier this year of the queen’s 70 years on the throne.
“As a single event this is larger than the 2012 Olympics, it is larger than the Platinum Jubilee weekend,” he said.
“The range of officers, police staff and all those supporting the operation is truly immense,” he added.
Royalty and heads of state from around the world are expected to be among the 2,000 people attending the funeral service.
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LONDON — British Prime Minister Liz Truss will hold one-on-one meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden and several other world leaders who are flying to London for the queen’s funeral.
The prime minister’s office says Truss and Biden are due to meet Sunday at the prime minister’s 10 Downing St. office. They previously met when Truss was British foreign secretary.
Truss has been prime minister for just 10 days, and the start of her term has been upended by the queen’s death last week, which has put everyday politics on hold.
The funeral on Monday will provide her first chance to meet with other leaders. Truss is also meeting Sunday at Downing St. with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Polish President Andrzej Duda.
On Saturday, she is due to meet the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand, Anthony Albanese and Jacinda Ardern, at the government’s Chevening country residence outside London.
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VATICAN CITY — The Vatican says the Holy See’s foreign minister will represent Pope Francis at the funeral in London on Monday of Queen Elizabeth II.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a brief written statement Friday that Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, who is secretary for relations with states and international organizations, would attend the funeral at Westminster Abbey.
Gallagher, a career diplomat, is a native of Liverpool in northwest England.
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CARDIFF, Wales — King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, have arrived in Wales for an official visit.
They went Friday to a service at Llandaff cathedral in Cardiff.
They were later due at the Welsh parliament and Cardiff castle.
For more than 50 years up to his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s death last week, Charles was the Prince of Wales — a title that has now passed to his son, Prince William.
The royal couple previously visited to Scotland and Northern Ireland, the other nations making up the United Kingdom, following last week’s death of Queen Elizabeth II at age 96.
Later Friday, the new king is scheduled to receive faith leaders at Buckingham Palace in London before joining his siblings for a vigil around the queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall.
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LONDON — All eight of Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren will stand vigil beside her coffin on Saturday as it lies in state at Westminster Hall.
Officials said Friday that King Charles III’s sons, Prince William and his brother Prince Harry, will attend the 15-minute vigil.
William, who is heir to the throne, will stand at the head of the coffin and Harry at the foot. Both princes, who are military veterans, will be in uniform.
Also attending will be Princes Anne’s children, Zara Tindall and Peter Philips; Prince Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie; and the children of Prince Edward, Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn.
The ceremony will follow a vigil by the queen’s four children on Friday evening.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to pay their last respects by filing past the coffin during the lying-in-state, which began Wednesday and concludes Monday, the day of the queen’s funeral.
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LONDON — People are being told not to join the line to view Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin after a surge in numbers.
British officials said Friday morning that the organized line was at capacity and no one will be allowed to join it for at least six hours.
The line stretched for 5 miles (8 kilometers) from Parliament to Southwark Park in south London.
People at the back of the line faced a 14-hour wait to reach the front.
The government says the park is now full and entry to the queue is being “paused.”
It said: “Please do not attempt to join the queue until it re-opens.”
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LONDON — Geopolitics is intruding in the somber pageantry surrounding the Queen Elizabeth II’s death amid a reported spat between British and Chinese officials.
A report Friday said that a Chinese delegation has been barred from visiting the historic hall in Parliament where the queen is lying in state.
The con text is that the Chinese ambassador to the U.K. has been banned from Parliament for a year after Beijing sanctioned seven British legislators last year for speaking out against China’s treatment of its Uyghur minority in the far-west Xinjiang region.
The office of House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle declined to comment on the report in Politico of the Chinese delegation being barred from visiting the queen’s coffin at the Houses of Parliament.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said she had not seen the report, but said that as host of the queen’s funeral, the U.K. should “follow the diplomatic protocols and proper manners to receive guests.”
A Chinese delegation is expected to attend the queen’s funeral on Monday, which is in Westminster Abbey rather than in Parliament. Organizers of the funeral have not published a guest list and it is unclear who from China might attend.
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LONDON — Thousands of mourners are standing in line for at least 14 hours to see Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin while she lies in state in London.
Authorities said Friday the designated line was about 5 miles (8 kilometers) long, snaking along the banks of the River Thames, with more than 500 portable toilets available and some 1,000 stewards and marshals working at any given time.
Preparations are continuing for the queen’s state funeral in the British capital on Monday, when royalty and heads of state from around the world are expected to be among the 2,000 people attending the service in Westminster Abbey.
King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, were due to visit Wales on Friday.
They were due in Cardiff for a service at Llandaff cathedral, later going to the Welsh parliament and Cardiff castle.
They previously visited to Scotland and Northern Ireland, the other nations making up the United Kingdom. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-live-updates-14-hour-wait-to-see-queen-lying-in-state/ | 2022-09-16T23:10:05Z |
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi is on the verge of scuttling a state song with racist roots, two years after it retired a Confederate-themed state flag.
The current song, “Go, Mississippi,” takes its tune from a 1959 campaign jingle of Democratic Gov. Ross Barnett. “Roll With Ross” included the lyrics, “For segregation, 100%. He’s not a moderate, like some of the gents.”
Barnett unsuccessfully resisted integration of the University of Mississippi in 1962, and legislators that year adopted a state song setting new words to his campaign ditty: “Go, Mississippi, keep rolling along. Go, Mississippi, you cannot go wrong.”
Some legislators have quietly sought a new song in recent years, saying the Barnett connection is an embarrassing relic of the bad old days.
The effort gained momentum when Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn opened this year’s legislative session by showing a video of “One Mississippi,” composed by country music singer and songwriter Steve Azar for the state’s 2017 bicentennial celebration.
Azar is a Mississippi native. His lyrics play on the hide-and-seek counting game (One Mississippi … two Mississippi … three Mississippi …) and incorporate familiar images: magnolia trees, fried catfish, hurricanes, kudzu.
The Republican-controlled House and Senate on Thursday passed the final version of a bill to replace the Barnett-linked song with “One Mississippi.” The bill also would create a committee to recommend that legislators designate additional state songs later. Tennesseeis among states with multiple official songs.
Asked for his opinion on the measure, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves told The Associated Press on Friday that he’s not well-versed in the song proposal because he’s been focused on other issues, including teacher pay raises and a tax cut.
Reeves also said he doesn’t know the state song and can’t recall whether he was supposed to learn it in school.
“I was focused on shooting basketballs,” Reeves deadpanned.
Two teenagers working as state Senate pages said Mississippi needs to change its song.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to take the tune of a racist song and make it for everybody,” said Karmen Owens, a 15-year-old freshman at North Pike High School in McComb.
Raniyah Younger, a 17-year-old junior at Jackson’s Callaway High, said a new state song should reflect different cultures and “equality of all races and all colors and all sexualities, of course.”
Democratic Sen. Hillman Frazier of Jackson worked for years to retire the Mississippi state flag, the last in the nation to feature the Confederate battle emblem. Frazier said Mississippi should not have a song affiliated with a segregationist governor, but he wants a committee to examine Mississippi’s deep musical heritage and come up with a new song.
“Most people don’t know the state song. They never sing it,” Frazier said Thursday. “So, six months trying to get it right wouldn’t hurt a thing.”
Republican Sen. Nicole Boyd of Oxford said it’s best to ditch the old song now.
“It’s one more thing that doesn’t portray Mississippi in its best light,” Boyd said. “We need things that represent the state and really highlight the amazing people we have.”
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This story has been corrected to show that Karmen Owens is a student at North Pike High School in McComb.
____ Follow Emily Wagster Pettus on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus. | https://cw33.com/news/ap-top-headlines/go-mississippi-state-could-ditch-song-with-racist-roots/ | 2022-04-02T19:18:19Z |
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- INVERSA Leathers, the first regenerative exotic leather is pleased to welcome designer Yotam Solomon to their Advisory Board. Yotam, previously the Creative Director and Fashion Designer behind Newlight Technologies' carbon negative fashion brand COVALENT, aims to provide strategic guidance and support to the company's continued growth. A prominent voice in sustainable fashion, his designs have been worn by celebrities including Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian, Olympic Swimmer Natalie Coughlin, Nikki Reed, Stacy Keibler, and Christian Serratos. Yotam brings high fashion expertise to the INVERSA team and will be an integral in furthering product development and innovation within INVERSA. Yotam's work explores redefining sustainability, ethics, and regeneration by calling attention to the harmful realities of synthetics and non-recyclable materials, all key aspects of INVERSA's sustainability plan.
INVERSA Leathers has created the first leather that protects biodiversity. The first product line, invasive lionfish leather, was launched with a Le Bon Marche Paris drop with Italian footwear brand P448.
Believing in continuous R&D, INVERSA will expand its portfolio with additional invasive species throughout 2022 and 2023. INVERSA is currently in discussions with various design houses to explore commercialization of its leather across multiple product categories as the industry enters the next wave of regenerative sustainability.
"Yotam's expertise and insight will accelerate the adoption of invasive leathers into luxury fashion. We are excited to bring Yotam onto our advisory board and work together in empowering the fashion consumer to protect our planet." – Aarav Chavda, Co-Founder and CEO
For more information on INVERSA please visit http://www.inversaleathers.com/.
PRESS CONTACT: Adi Shoham Michele Marie PR Adi@michelemariepr.com 646.860.5689
About INVERSA Leathers
INVERSA Leathers was founded in 2020 with a mission to develop materials that solve an environmental crisis to protect biodiversity. We create authentic leather from invasive species, empowering the fashion community to heal the planet. Our goal is to create a portfolio of invasive leathers, each one addressing a unique human-induced crisis to restore habitats around the world. Our first line of leather is created from the invasive lionfish, which has ravaged Earth's coral reefs across the Atlantic, from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean Sea. As longtime divers, our founders saw firsthand the devastation caused by the invasive lionfish and embarked upon a journey to protect and restore ecosystems through the power of material innovation and environmental education.
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SOURCE INVERSA Leathers | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/yotam-solomon-leading-sustainability-designer-join-inversa-leathers-advisory-board/ | 2022-08-11T15:22:16Z |
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
- Dodge first among mass-market brands for third consecutive year – only domestic brand ever to achieve such a streak
- Ram takes second place in mass-market segment for third straight year; reverses 2019 order of finish when it placed first, just ahead of Dodge
- Ram 1500 claims top honors for third straight year among large light-duty pickups
- All-new Grand Wagoneer, Wagoneer earn top spots in their respective segments
- Jeep® brand's 15-point surge in APEAL index largest improvement of any mass-market brand
Dodge further extends its dominance as a compelling favorite, claiming top spot among mass-market brands for the third straight year, according to the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Automotive Performance Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study™.
On the heels of identical successes in 2021 and 2020, Dodge also becomes the first domestic brand to capture the No. 1 mass-market ranking three years in a row.
Ram reprises its second-place performances in 2021 and 2020 in the mass-market segment, anchored by the Ram 1500's third consecutive win as best large light-duty pickup.
Including Ram's first-place finish ahead of Dodge in 2019, these latest results mark the fourth consecutive year the brands have owned the top two spots in the APEAL Study's mass-market rankings.
"We don't just design, engineer, build and sell function," says U.S. Head of Sales Jeff Kommor. "We instill our vehicles with character that enriches the lives of our customers every day. So, it's immensely satisfying to see our products resonate with such consistency."
APEAL rates the emotional bond between customers. This is determined from customer feedback about a range of vehicle attributes, from ingress and egress, to driving comfort, during the first three months of ownership.
The feedback is then aggregated on an overall 1,000-point APEAL index.
Dodge and Ram were rated 882 and 863, respectively. The Jeep® brand's total was 845, up 15 points from last year for the largest surge of any mass-market marque, and good for a climb to eighth position from 15th.
The Jeep brand benefited most from the all-new Grand Wagoneer, which earned top honors among large premium SUVs, and the all-new Wagoneer, which claimed first place among large SUVs.
"The reception given these stylish, tech-rich vehicles is another clear indication of the alignment between customer demands and our product-development process," Kommor says. "And we are not letting up on the throttle."
Stellantis North America
Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) is one of the world's leading automakers and a mobility provider. In North America, it's best known for producing and selling vehicles in a portfolio of iconic and award-winning brands such as Jeep®, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Powered by its diversity, Stellantis leads the way the region and the world move – aspiring to become the greatest sustainable mobility tech company, not the biggest, while creating added value for all stakeholders as well as the communities in which it operates. For more information, visit www.stellantis.com.
Follow company news and video on:
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SOURCE Stellantis | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/dodge-ram-dominate-mass-market-brand-rankings-fourth-straight-jd-power-apeal-study/ | 2022-07-21T17:27:03Z |
The Intimate Property Is Set to Welcome Guests to an Innovative Concept That Amplifies Connections to Nature
PUNTA MITA, Mexico, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Naviva®, A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, Mexico, the brand's first adult-only tented resort in the Americas, is now confirming arrivals for December 1, 2022 and beyond. A nature retreat featuring 15 luxury tents nestled amid 48 forested acres (19 hectares) on a private peninsula overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the unrivalled and unconventional Naviva experience creates an environment that fosters community, personal growth and knowledge enhancement.
"Naviva is an ambitious new resort concept that offers highly individualized service and innovative design that brings guests closer to nature than ever before," says Vince Parrotta, Four Seasons President, Hotel Operations – Americas West. "With the debut of this exceptionally personalized retreat, guests will interface one-on-one with knowledgeable guides during thoughtful experiences that embrace the culture and character of Mexico."
With only 15 luxury tents designed by Luxury Frontiers – all with private plunge pools – Naviva is one of the smallest Four Seasons resorts in the world. The Resort's transformative approach and certified Naviva guides come together to create a high-touch, yet unassuming adult-only experience inspired by biophilia, meaning "love of life or living things."
"Our location tucked in a cliffside forest creates the feeling of being disconnected in a faraway destination, when in reality, we're only a short flight away from the US," says Ronny Fernández, Resort Manager, Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort. "Our untamed natural setting organically encourages guests to embark on their own personal journeys."
Intrinsic Bond with Nature
Naviva celebrates the intrinsic bond that humans have with nature through biophilic design – an architectural approach that connects people to their natural surroundings. At Naviva, guests are immediately immersed in the outdoors upon arrival, meeting their guide on a cocoon-inspired bamboo bridge overlooking a deep forest ravine.
Guests will continue to experience direct connections to nature throughout their stay. Each stand-alone luxury tent features spacious indoor and outdoor areas that seamlessly blend together, allowing guests to take in the sun and smell the ocean breeze along with indirect connections to nature with textures and fabrics that mimic natural patterns found in the surrounding environment. Luxury Frontiers designed the spaces of each tent to engage humans' natural desire to seek prospect, refuge, mystery and thrill with an open-air living room and separate bedroom flowing to a private plunge pool and expansive deck with a hammock and outdoor shower.
Authentic Local Experiences with a Sense of Place
Daily life at Naviva sets the stage for individual transformation as guests explore their passions and discover new ones with the heartfelt support of their certified Naviva guides. Unscripted Naviva experiences such as sampling small-batch Mexican coffees, stargazing and joining in sunset rituals, are among spontaneous activities for guests to pursue at the Resort.
Guests can also enjoy Signature Naviva experiences that bring the character, heritage and expertise of local talent and tradition to the forefront, such as visiting award-winning local artist Jose Juan Esparza at his private home and studio, nocturnal forest bathing, sound therapy and breathwork.
Journeys for the Mind, Body and Soul
Deviating from traditional hotel wellness offerings, Naviva offers a series of intimate spaces including two spa pods tucked away in the lush forest, a traditional Mexican temazcal or "house of heat," an outdoor gym, a serene jungle oasis at the Alma Pool and a private 575-foot (175-metre) expanse of pristine Pacific beachfront – a calming place to practice yoga or mindfulness.
Each area promotes human connection to nature by immersing guests in tangible and intangible aspects of the environment, such as a half-day retreat in one of the cocoon-like spa pods that were inspired by the seed of the local Ceiba tree and provide cocooned refuge, allowing for shifts in internal energy. All holistic rituals at Naviva harness the healing properties of indigenous ingredients, from regenerative reishi and hydrating snow mushrooms to natural gemstones and coloured clays found throughout Mexico.
Naviva also gives guests the opportunity to focus fully on their physical wellbeing. Workouts at Naviva include cliffside yoga sessions at Risco Terrace, scenic hiking and running trails, and strength training in the outdoor open-air gym overlooking the Pacific, where guests can incorporate existing formations such as boulders and trees, connecting to nature with every stretch and every breath.
Memorable Meals and Moments Overlooking Coastal Seascapes
Rustic luxury is brought to life overlooking the coastal seascapes of the Pacific at Copal, the heart of Naviva. More than simply a restaurant, the shared space is designed to evoke the feeling of being in a living room and kitchen of a private home, inviting guests to gather for games, reading, conversation, ideas, and music. Handmade games such as backgammon and a foosball table fashioned from reclaimed wood by Mexican artisans are available for playful competition.
At Copal Cocina, guests can feel the live cooking energy of the open-air kitchen, which is at the epicentre of the space and features all natural open-fire cooking methods with traditional BBQ pits, wood-fire grill rotisseries and wood-fire ovens. Bountiful sea catches and seasonal produce are the inspiration and foundation of fresh daily offerings.
Faraway Feeling, Yet Close to Home
On Mexico's Pacific coast, within the Riviera Nayarit, Naviva is located at the northern tip of Bahía de Banderas on the same peninsula as Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita. Just 45 minutes from Puerto Vallarta International Airport, this self-contained paradise is nestled within a 48-acre (19 hectare) cliffside forest.
Luxury tents start at USD 3,950 per night and include all meals and snacks at any time of the day throughout the Resort, 24-hour in-tent dining, pool and beach service, all beverages including premium wine and spirits, one 60-minute spa treatment per guest, community activities, mind and body classes, Unscripted Naviva experiences, guide planning and in-tent amenities. Signature Naviva experiences, rare or specialty-ordered beverages, additional spa treatments, private classes or training, and airport transfers are available for an additional cost.
Naviva guests also receive full access to the adjacent Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, located just five minutes away. The Resort features ten restaurants and bars, two golf courses, three pools, two beaches and additional spa and fitness facilities.
Be among the first to experience the all-new Naviva®, A Four Seasons Resort: Reservations are now being confirmed for December 1, 2022 and beyond. Call +52 (328) 291-6100 or book online.
About Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Founded in 1960, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is dedicated to perfecting the travel experience through continual innovation and the highest standards of hospitality. Currently operating 124 hotels and resorts and 50 residential properties in major city centres and resort destinations in 47 countries, and with more than 50 projects under planning or development, Four Seasons consistently ranks among the world's best hotels and most prestigious brands in reader polls, traveller reviews and industry awards. For more information and reservations, visit fourseasons.com. For the latest news, visit press.fourseasons.com and follow @FourSeasonsPR on Twitter.
Contact:
fourseasons@kwtglobal.com
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SOURCE Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/naviva-four-seasons-resort-punta-mita-mexico-brands-first-adult-only-luxury-tented-resort-americas-now-accepting-reservations-december-2022/ | 2022-06-22T14:20:46Z |
Leader in Automotive Aftermarket Repair Facilities Completed Eight Acquisitions and Adds a Third Major Brand in First Half of 2022
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FullSpeed Automotive®, which is among the nation's largest franchisors and operators of automotive aftermarket repair facilities and home to flagship brands Grease Monkey® and SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service®, is accelerating growth with an acquisition strategy set to fuel its expansion goal of 1,000 units by the end of 2023. Most recently, the automotive brand acquired the intellectual property of Kwik Industries, Inc., including ownership of the Kwik Kar brand, and purchased from local independent operators a total of 25 more Kwik Kar related centers. The completion of this acquisition brings FullSpeed to ten acquisitions in 2022, for a total of 40 units across 6 states.
FullSpeed's most recent acquisitions include the 25 new Kwik Kars in Dallas for a total of 54 company operated Kwik Kar related centers, four Texas Express Lube centers, and units in Connecticut, Florida, New Mexico and Wisconsin.
Kwik Kar® specializes in full-service oil changes, scheduled maintenance, state inspections, and many other automotive repair services. The iconic Kwik Kar brand will add impressive strength to FullSpeed's current roster of flagship brands, which already includes Grease Monkey and SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service. In 2022, Kwik Kar was rated #2 in overall customer satisfaction for full-service maintenance and repairs by JD Power.
"We are thrilled to acquire a quality brand like Kwik Kar that has such a tremendous reputation and loyal customer base," said Kevin Kormondy, Chief Executive Officer of FullSpeed Automotive. "This acquisition further solidifies our position as one of the nation's largest automotive aftermarket services operators and franchisors. We look forward to further developing the Kwik Kar brand as well as growing the number of units that we own."
FullSpeed's franchise development is also on the fast track to growth with 25 newly awarded franchise agreements this year. With an aggressive M&A and franchise development strategy, FullSpeed plans to continue expansion efforts across the country. Since FullSpeed was acquired by MidOcean Partners in November 2020, it has completed over 30 separate acquisitions covering 110 locations, and now has over 740 franchised and company-owned locations.
"Acquisitions are a key priority of FullSpeed's aggressive growth strategy as we continue our expansion efforts," said Greg Penman, Vice President of Mergers & Acquisitions at FullSpeed Automotive. "The first half of the year has been off to a busy start with several large and successful acquisitions across the country, and we are working very hard to make strategic decisions to set FullSpeed up for success in the future."
FullSpeed Automotive is looking to bring on additional qualified and engaged individuals seeking single, multi-unit, and conversion opportunities. When franchisees invest with FullSpeed Automotive brands, they're investing in an organization with a strong culture, solid systems, and a proven business model
backed with 70+ years of experience in providing quality car care in the industry.
For more information on FullSpeed Automotive and the company's flagship brands, visit fullspeedautomotive.com or call 800-364-0352.
FullSpeed Automotive® is among the nation's largest franchisors and operators of automotive aftermarket repair facilities and home to flagship brands Grease Monkey and SpeeDee oil change and Auto Service. FullSpeed Brands offers oil changes, tire sales and rotations, brake services, car washes, and other ancillary services through multiple brand formats that target several desirable segments of the service market. The company's strategic geographic footprint of 740 -plus franchised and company-owned locations provide density in high growth markets. The company's flagship brands include Grease Monkey®, SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service®, and Kwik Kar. In 2022, both Grease Monkey and SpeeDee were included in Entrepreneur's prestigious Franchise 500 ranking. FullSpeed is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado. For more information, go to www.fullspeedautomotive.com.
MidOcean Partners is a premier New York-based alternative asset manager specializing in middle-market private equity and alternative credit investments. Since its inception in 2003, MidOcean Private Equity has targeted investments in high-quality middle-market companies in the consumer and business services sectors. MidOcean Credit was launched in 2009 and currently manages a series of alternative credit strategies, collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), and customized separately managed accounts.
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SOURCE FullSpeed Automotive | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/fullspeed-automotive-shows-major-mampa-midyear-growth-including-acquisition-kwik-kar/ | 2022-07-05T16:10:49Z |
Dad who lived in dorm convicted of abusing daughter’s friends
NEW YORK (AP) — A man who moved into his daughter’s college dorm and charmed her schoolmates with claims of influence and wisdom was convicted Wednesday of charges that he exploited the close-knit group, using threats and violence to enrich himself with millions of dollars as he ruined their lives.
Lawrence Ray, 62, was convicted at a trial where weeks of testimony chronicled his psychologically manipulative relationship with young people he met in fall 2010 at Sarah Lawrence College, a small New York liberal arts school. Ray moved into his daughter’s dorm after finishing a prison stint for a securities fraud conviction.
Sentencing was set for Sept. 16 on charges including racketeering, conspiracy, forced labor, sex trafficking and obstruction of justice. Ray, who stood with his arms at his side and faced the Manhattan jury as guilty verdicts were returned on 15 counts, could face up to life in prison. One charge carries a mandatory minimum 15-year term.
After the verdict was read, Ray was returned to custody, where he had been since his early 2020 arrest.
His lawyers declined comment outside court and did not return email messages seeking comment.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Ray had changed “a group of friends who had their whole lives ahead of them.”
“For the next decade, he used violence, threats, and psychological abuse to try to control and destroy their lives,” Williams said. “He exploited them. He terrorized them. He tortured them. Let me be very clear. Larry Ray is a predator. An evil man who did evil things. Today’s verdict finally brings him to justice.”
Jurors concluded deliberations less than a day after receiving the case following a monthlong trial that featured testimony from numerous victims who usually referred to Ray just as “Larry.” Some testified that Ray had made them believe they had poisoned or otherwise harmed him and they needed to pay him back.
One woman testified that she became a sex worker to try to pay reparations to Ray after becoming convinced that she had poisoned him. She said that, over four years, she gave Ray $2.5 million in installments that averaged between $10,000 and $50,000 per week.
Another woman who was educated at Harvard and Columbia and was about to become a medical doctor in 2012 testified that her career and life were derailed when she met Ray and became romantically involved with him. She said he sometimes demanded that she have sex with strangers and film it for him.
Ray’s lawyers maintained he was victimized by former friends who fabricated their stories.
Ray did not testify. Twice, the trial was interrupted as he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance for undisclosed illnesses.
Several students testified that they were drawn into Ray’s world as he told them stories of his past influence in New York City politics, including his role in ruining the career of former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik after serving as the best man at his wedding years earlier. Ray had, in fact, been a figure in the corruption investigation that derailed Kerik’s nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Some of the students agreed to live with Ray in the summer of 2011 at his Manhattan one-bedroom apartment, where his sinister side emerged as he started to claim that the students had poisoned and harmed him or his property.
To make amends, they testified, they did what he asked, including turning over money. One man said he gave Ray over $100,000.
Prosecutors said the money was never enough. Through threats and violence and videotaped “confessions,” Ray tightened his hold on the young people, including forcing them to do landscaping and other work at the Pinehurst, North Carolina home of his stepfather for weeks in 2013, they said.
The abuse culminated in October 2018 when Ray for hours repeatedly abused the woman who gave him her proceeds from sex work, forcing her to be tied naked to a chair while he berated her, choked her with a leash and made her fear for her life by putting a bag over her head, prosecutors said.
Ray carried out his crimes with help from his daughter and Isabella Pollok, a woman who has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges, prosecutors said. Her trial is set for later this year. The daughter has not been charged.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/04/06/dad-who-lived-dorm-convicted-abusing-daughters-friends/ | 2022-04-06T23:39:15Z |
HOUSTON, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Five attorneys from the Houston-based intellectual property and commercial litigation firm Alavi Anaipakos are being recognized among the country's top legal practitioners in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the preeminent guide to the nation's top attorneys.
Alavi Anaipakos' founding partners and experienced trial lawyers Amir Alavi and Demetrios Anaipakos earned selection as two of the top attorneys for complex commercial litigation. In addition, fellow firm partners Scott Clark and Michael McBride are included in the exclusive listing based on their expertise in intellectual property lawsuits. Mr. McBride is additionally ranked in Best Lawyers for successfully handling patent disputes.
Accomplished patent litigator Justin Chen, of counsel at Alavi Anaipakos, claimed a spot on the 2023 Best Lawyers Ones to Watch list, which includes the country's leading young attorneys. He is included in this year's list for his work in commercial litigation.
The Best Lawyers rankings are compiled each year based on a series of nominations submitted by prior honorees who are asked to identify other lawyers who they have witnessed firsthand and who they would refer one of their own cases if they were unable to do so themselves. The final list of honorees includes attorneys who earned the highest marks during the review process and who are in good standing with their state bar associations.
Earlier this year, Alavi Anaipakos became one of the rare law firms to be ranked in the prestigious Chambers USA guide only months after being launched. The firm earned selection in the ranking based on an extensive track record of successful verdicts and settlements in high-stakes intellectual property cases. In addition, the Chambers analysis described Mr. Anaipakos as a "tremendous talent" and Mr. Alavi as having a "deep understanding of the law as it relates to patent litigation" that produces winning trial strategies.
Houston-based Alavi Anaipakos is home to high-stakes trial lawyers known for solving complex problems. The firm's attorneys have handled some of the world's largest patent infringement disputes and significant commercial cases across a wide variety of industries, from oil and gas, energy, software, high-tech, financial services, and beyond. Our team members have been in the trenches in marquee legal battles across the nation and the world for nearly 30 years. For more information, visit www.aatriallaw.com.
For more information, contact Bruce Vincent at 214-763-6226 or bruce.vincent@muselegalpr.com.
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SOURCE Alavi & Anaipakos, PLLC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/alavi-anaipakos-attorneys-houston-named-among-best-lawyers-america/ | 2022-08-18T15:39:48Z |
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s leader on Friday said China and Russia are “disrupting and threatening the world order” through Beijing’s recent large-scale military exercises near the island and Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
President Tsai Ing-wen was speaking during a meeting in Taipei with U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who is on the second visit by members of Congress since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip earlier this month. That visit prompted China to launch the exercises that saw it fire numerous missiles and send dozens of warplanes and ships to virtually surround the island, including across the center line in the Taiwan Strait that has long been a buffer between the sides.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary. Beijing has also boosted relations with Russia and is seen as tacitly supporting its attack on Ukraine.
“These developments demonstrate how authoritarian countries are disrupting and threatening the world order,” Tsai said.
Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee, reaffirmed shared values between the two governments and said she “looked forward to continuing to support Taiwan as they push forward as an independent nation.”
China sees high-level foreign visits to the island as interference in its affairs and de facto recognition of Taiwanese sovereignty. China’s recent military drills were seen by some as a rehearsal of future military action against the island, which U.S. military leaders say could come within the next few years.
Along with staging the exercises, China cut off contacts with the United States on vital issues — including military matters and crucial climate cooperation — raising concerns over a lasting, more aggressive approach by Beijing. It also called in U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns to formally complain. He later said China was overreacting in order to manufacture a crisis.
Due to the separation of powers in the U.S. government, the executive branch has no authority to prevent legislators from making such foreign visits and Taiwan benefits from strong bipartisan support in Washington. China, whose ruling Communist Party wields total control over the country’s politics, refuses to acknowledge that fundamental principle.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said members of Congress and elected officials “have gone to Taiwan for decades and will continue to do so,” saying it was in line with U.S. policy to only maintain formal diplomatic ties with Beijing.
“We’re going to continue to take calm and resolute steps to uphold peace and stability in the region and to support Taiwan in line with our longstanding policy,” Patel said at a briefing Thursday.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told reporters Friday that “China’s motivation is to destroy the Taiwan Straits’ status quo, and after this they want to cut down on Taiwan’s defensive space.”
Taiwan is seeking stepped-up defense cooperation and additional weaponry from the U.S., along with closer economic ties.
In their meeting, Tsai and Blackburn underscored the importance of economic links, especially in the semiconductor sector, where Taiwan is a world leader and the U.S. is seeking greater investment at home.
Blackburn arrived in Taipei late Thursday after visiting Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea as part of a U.S. push to “expand our diplomatic footprint in the area,” her office said in a statement.
“The Indo-Pacific region is the next frontier for the new axis of evil,” Blackburn, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, was quoted as saying. “We must stand against the Chinese Communist Party.”
China has been making inroads in the western Pacific, signing a broad security agreement with the Solomons that the U.S. and allies such as Australia see as an attempt to overthrow the traditional security order in the region.
Pelosi was the highest-level member of the U.S. government to visit Taiwan in 25 years. China’s response was to announce six zones surrounding the island for military exercises that included firing missiles over the island, some of which landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
Following Pelosi’s trip, a delegation of House and Senate members visited. This week, Indiana’s governor made a visit focused on business and academic cooperation. U.S politicians have called their visits a show of support for the island.
“I just landed in Taiwan to send a message to Beijing — we will not be bullied,” said Blackburn in a tweet early morning Friday. “The United States remains steadfast in preserving freedom around the globe, and will not tolerate efforts to undermine our nation and our allies.”
During her three-day visit, Blackburn is also due to meet with the head of Taiwan’s National Security Council.
Washington has no official diplomatic ties with Taipei in deference to China, but remains the island’s biggest security guarantor, with U.S. law requiring it ensure Taiwan has the means to defend itself and to regard threats to the island as matters of “grave concern.”
Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war and have no official relations but are bound by billions of dollars of trade and investment.
China has increased its pressure on Taiwan since it elected independence-leaning Tsai as its president. When Tsai refused to endorse the concept of a single Chinese nation, China cut off contact with the Taiwanese government.
U.S. congressional visits to the island have stepped up in frequency in the past year.
On Thursday, the executive branch of Taiwan’s government laid out plans for a 12.9% increase in the Defense Ministry’s annual budget next year. The government is planning to spend an additional 47.5 billion New Taiwan dollars ($1.6 billion), for a total of 415.1 billion NTD ($13.8 billion) for the year.
The Defense Ministry said the increase is due to the “Chinese Communists’ continued expansion of targeted military activities in recent years, the normalization of their harassment of Taiwan’s nearby waters and airspace with warships and war planes.”
Also Thursday, the Defense Ministry said it tracked four Chinese naval ships and 15 warplanes in the region surrounding the island.
___
Associated Press writer Wu Huizhong contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-taiwan-china-russia-disrupting-threatening-world-order/ | 2022-08-26T11:10:31Z |
A wedding in the ICU: couple ties the knot at hospital to fulfill father’s wish
By Anjali Patel
Click here for updates on this story
ASHEVILLE, North Carolina (WLOS) — A couple said “I do” at Mission Hospital on Thursday to fulfill the wishes of the groom’s father, whose health has been failing.
Derrick Marotta and his fiancee Caylea Lautner traveled from New York to North Carolina to spend time with Marotta’s dad, Joseph, at the end of May.
“My health got worse, and I was looking at possibly not coming out of the hospital,” Joseph Marotta said.
He’s officiated weddings before and had always dreamed of doing the same for his youngest son, Derrick. But Derrick Marotta and Caylea Lautner weren’t planning on getting married until October 2023.
“They could’ve had another reverend or something, but it wouldn’t have been the same,” Joseph Marotta said.
With the patriarch’s health deteriorating, the couple decided to push up the date of the wedding — to May 26, 2022 — and take the ceremony straight to him.
“I just knew that no matter what, it couldn’t be anybody else. Dad’s been talking to us about it since we were little, and it was right,” Derrick Marotta said.
Mission Hospital staff helped make the occasion complete with cake and flowers. They even provided a big sign with the bride and groom’s names on it and well wishes for the newlyweds.
“The family had just mentioned that they wanted to get married and he wanted to officiate, could we allow extra visitors and so I went to my resources of who I knew, what could we do to make it special for them,” said Austin Jones, a clinical nurse coordinator who helped make the wedding happen.
Hospital staff turned the ICU hallway into an aisle and the hospital room into an altar.
“It’s amazing. It being in the ICU, we see a lot of very sick people and so being able to see someone get to that point of what they were hoping to do is great,” Jones said.
Joseph Marotta officiated from his bed, fulfilling a lifelong wish through an impromptu wedding.
“What would you do if you had one last wish? Well, if I had a last wish, that would be it, because I know I’ve done something before I leave to go to heaven,” Marotta said.
Despite the uncertainty that lies ahead, there were no tears of sadness during the ceremony — just tears of joy.
“It felt as if we weren’t in the room with dad in the hospital. It was more like, it felt like we kind of made him feel above feeling in the hospital,” Derrick Marotta said.
“I thought I was going to cry, but I had a big smile on my face,” Caylea Lautner said.
“It was a moment of pure happiness and bliss,” her husband echoed.
“I felt elated. I didn’t feel sad, not sad. Tears of joy, that’s what I felt,” Joseph Marotta said.
It’s a reminder, that weddings aren’t about the venue — they’re made by the people.
“God doesn’t say you can’t have a wedding in a hospital,” Joseph Marotta said.
“He’s the strongest man I know,” Derrick Marotta said.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/05/27/a-wedding-in-the-icu-couple-ties-the-knot-at-hospital-to-fulfill-fathers-wish/ | 2022-05-27T22:54:49Z |
PITTSBURGH, May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I'm a surgical and supply technician and I thought there could be a better way to move a patient's hospital bed and IV pole," said an inventor, from Daytona Beach, Fla., "so I invented the CAM CLAMP. My design ensures that patients requiring IV poles could be more easily maneuvered in their hospital beds for surgery or tests."
The patent-pending invention provides an effective way to secure a mobile IV stand to a hospital bed. In doing so, it enhances safety and maneuverability within a medical facility. It also increases control and it eliminates the need to struggle when moving the bed and pole. The invention features a versatile design that is easy to use and sanitize so it is ideal for medical facilities. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.
The original design was submitted to the Orlando sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-ORC-147, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/27/inventhelp-inventor-develops-improved-way-move-hospital-bed-amp-iv-pole-orc-147/ | 2022-05-27T18:15:36Z |
HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With sustained performance and growth, Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An" or the "Group", HKEX: 2318; SSE: 601318) ranked 25th on the 2022 Fortune Global 500 list with its revenue recorded USD199.6 billion in 2021. The Group ranked 4th among global financial enterprises, 7th among the Mainland Chinese enterprises, and maintained 1st place among mixed-ownership Mainland Chinese enterprises.
Other Mainland Chinese enterprises in the top 25 in the 2022 Fortune Global 500 list include State Grid Corporation of China (3rd), China National Petroleum (4th), Sinopec Group (5th), China State Construction Engineering (9th), Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (22nd) and China Construction Bank (24th).
The Fortune Global 500 list is regarded as the most authoritative ranking for the world's biggest companies, measured primarily by annual revenues for fiscal 2021. Given the looming COVID-19 pandemic, the global economy was struggling to recover over the year. The total revenue and the total net profit of the 500 global listed companies this year generated USD37.8 trillion and USD3.1 trillion respectively, setting new highs in the list's history. China (including Hong Kong), with 136, has the most companies on the list. Adding Taiwan, the total for Greater China is 145. For the first time, revenues from Global 5002318 companies in Greater China (including Taiwan) exceeded revenues from U.S. companies on the list, accounting for 31% of the total.
Despite the complex and difficult business environment and market challenges in 2021, Ping An adhered to the philosophy of "Expertise makes life simple" and continued to upgrade the Group's "integrated finance + healthcare" strategy. The Group accelerated the reform of the life insurance business and digital transformation of business management to enhance its capability to serve the real economy and ensure social livelihood while continuing to achieve high-quality development. For the year ending 31 December 2021, Ping An's revenue amounted to RMB1.18 trillion. Operating profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company amounted to RMB147,961 million. Total assets exceeded RMB10 trillion for the first time. In 2021, Ping An served more than 227 million retail customers and more than 647 million internet users.
Ping An maintained stable business growth with its integrated finance strategy. With the development of integrated finance business model of "one customer, multiple products, and one-stop services" and "finance+ ecosystem," Ping An's retail operating profit increased 5.7% year on year to RMB129,996 million in 2021, accounting for 87.9% of its operating profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company. As Ping An advanced its integrated financial business strategy, cross-selling continued to deepen. Nearly 33.01 million customer migrations occurred between the Group's core financial companies in 2021. 89.26 million or 39.3% of retail customers held multiple contracts with different subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021. Contracts per customer grew 1.8% from the beginning of 2021 to 2.81.
Ping An accelerated transformation to promote high quality development. The Life & Health insurance business advanced reform and transformation to pursue high-quality development. In 2021, Life & Health achieved a 32.3% operating ROE with operating profit rising 3.6% year on year to RMB97,075 million. Ping An Life advanced high-quality transformation of the agent team and improved team structure by building a team of "high-competence, high-performing, and high-quality" agents. The agent channel's NBV per agent amounted to RMB39,031 and FYP per agent grew more than 22% year on year in 2021. Ping An P&C further optimized its customer mix and enhanced risk screening with its overall combined ratio improved by 1.1 pps year on year to 98.0% in 2021. Underwriting profit grew 145.7% year on year to RMB 5,136 million. Ping An Bank furthered its strategic transformation and maintained stable business growth. Revenue grew 10.3% year on year to RMB169,383 million in 2021. Net profit rose 25.6% year on year to RMB36,336million. Ping An Bank kept asset quality stable and strengthened risk provisions.
Ping An upgraded healthcare ecosystem strategy to cultivate new growth poles. Ping An upgraded the healthcare ecosystem strategy to build "a Chinese version of UnitedHealth." The Group built a closed loop of supply, demand and payment by developing an innovative managed care model centering on "HMO + family doctor + O2O" to provide customers with worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving healthcare services. Synergies between Ping An's healthcare ecosystem and main financial businesses are emerging. Nearly 63% of Ping An's over 227 million retail customers used services from the healthcare ecosystem. These customers held 3.3 contracts and RMB40,000 in AUM per capita respectively, 1.6 times and 3.0 times those held by customers who did not use these services respectively.
Ping An comprehensively advanced its green finance initiative and promoted sustainable development as a new engine of economic growth. Ping An actively fulfilled social responsibilities to support the sustainable development of society in 2021. The Group cumulatively invested more than RMB5.9 trillion to serve the real economy as of December 31, 2021. Ping An comprehensively advanced its green finance initiative. The green investment and financing and green banking business totaled RMB224,580 million and RMB89,813 million respectively as of December 31, 2021. Environmentally sustainable insurance premium income totaled RMB44,569 million in 2021. Moreover, Ping An devoted itself to rural revitalization. The Group cumulatively provided RMB41,850 million for poverty alleviation and industrial revitalization as of December 31, 2021 by advancing the "Ping An Rural Communities Support."
About Ping An Group
Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An") strives to become a world-leading retail financial services group. With over 223 million retail customers and nearly 657 million internet users, Ping An is one of the largest financial services companies in the world. Ping An focuses on two over-arching domains of activity, "integrated finance" and "healthcare", covering the provision of financial and health care services through its integrated financial services platform and ecosystems in financial services, healthcare, auto services and smart city services. The "finance + technology" and "finance + ecosystem" strategies aim to provide customers and internet users with innovative and simple products and services using technology. As China's first joint stock insurance company, Ping An is committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate reporting and corporate governance. The Group is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Ping An ranked 17th in the Forbes Global 2000 list in 2022 and ranked 25th in the Fortune Global 500 list in 2022.
For more information, please visit www.group.pingan.com and follow us on LinkedIn - PING AN.
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SOURCE Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/ping-an-ranks-25th-fortune-global-500-list-1st-among-mixed-ownership-chinese-enterprises/ | 2022-08-03T13:47:51Z |
- Award-Winning Cannabis Product Brand Launches 1 Gram Concentrate Infused Pre-Rolls
- Item 9 Labs Ranked a Top 10 Brand in Arizona With Product in 60 Percent of State's Dispensaries
PHOENIX, Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Item 9 Labs, the premium, elevated mainstream cannabis product brand is adding a new permanent mainstay to its extensive product line-up. Following the success of its limited edition infused half-gram pre-rolls, the brand is launching 1 gram concentrate infused pre-rolls at participating dispensaries.
Item 9 Labs has been testing limited edition releases of seven half-gram infused pre-rolls in the Phoenix and Tucson markets as the trending industry category continues to maintain consistent triple digit growth throughout the state. The first limited-edition release in October 2021, Mummy Fingers, a crumble-infused pre-roll, sold out in 24 hours and inspired an entire line over the next year, including Badder Up!, Sugar Daze and the most recent Cosmic Crumble. Each release receiving rave reviews from retail partners and consumers alike.
"We are utilizing our wide range of concentrates to propel our intentionally grown flower into different experiences for our consumers and patients to enjoy by expanding their palate and introducing them to new synergistic terpene profiles," said the brand's Lab Director, Eric Eisele.
With increasing consumer demand and Item 9 Labs products sold in over 60 percent of Arizona dispensaries, Item 9 Labs is a top 10 brand in the market and one of the leaders in the category. The brand's 1 gram infused pre-rolls are crafted with award-winning flower and live resin sugar, live resin badder or crumble concentrates which are grown and extracted in-house. Each infused pre-roll is individually packaged and made with ultra-thin, unrefined French paper to ensure a superior cannabis experience.
"Creating the perfect infused pre-roll product is an extensive, yet extremely rewarding process. We strive to stay ahead of the curve and feel inspired when refining our procedures," said Chris Wolven, chief operating officer of Item 9 Labs. "The launch of our new permanent mainstay is a testament to the brand's dedication for innovation and commitment to delivering masterfully-crafted cannabis products that our consumers can truly smell, taste and feel the difference."
The Item 9 Labs infused pre-rolls offer a harmonious blend of intentionally grown flower and premium concentrates for a consistent cannabis experience in every draw. Through thorough research and development, the brand's expert extraction and cultivation teams created a proprietary process that preserves the integrity of each infused pre-roll through even distribution of concentrate powder throughout award-winning flower.
"Our team works diligently to achieve the highest quality with a rigorous process to dissect our data for terpene profiles, flavor components and certain potencies. We are meticulous in matching the notes and tones of materials with proper formulations and temperatures for what we are striving to achieve at Item 9 Labs," said the brand's Vice President of Cultivation, Cory Carter. "We are always dedicated to excellence and are confident that we took our premium flower and turned it into something even more beautiful that stands with the highest product quality."
For more information on Item 9 Labs and the brand's wide range of premium cannabis products, visit item9labs.com. To find the new 1 gram concentrate infused pre-rolls at a local dispensary, visit Item 9 Labs' Instagram @item_9_labs.
About Item 9 Labs
Item 9 Labs cultivates the highest quality cannabis products while providing transparency, consistency and well-being for an enhanced cannabis experience. With more than 20 podium finishes in Arizona marijuana competitions, Item 9 Labs is a trusted source for premium cannabis products. Starting with intentionally grown flower, the Item 9 Labs catalog spans premium products across five core categories, including several active cannabis strains, cannabis vape products, premium concentrates and Orion vape technology. Currently, Item 9 Labs is available at more than 60 percent of Arizona's dispensaries. For additional information, visit item9labs.com.
Media Contact:
Lisa Sass
Serendipit Consulting
lsass@serendipitconsulting.com
909-519-9171
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SOURCE Item 9 Labs | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/13/item-9-labs-set-transform-arizona-marijuana-market-with-new-line-infused-pre-rolls/ | 2022-09-13T14:11:10Z |
CVS Health will pay about $8 billion to expand into home care, a practice that could cut costs and keep patients happy, provided they get the help they need.
The health care giant is buying Signify Health, a technology company that sends doctors or other care providers to patient homes to assess how they are doing and what help they might need.
The deal, announced late Monday, is a way for CVS Health to provide more help to patients where and when they want it, CEO Karen Lynch told analysts Tuesday morning.
“The home is increasingly part of that choice,” she said, noting that the deal gives the company a foundation to expand further into home health care.
CVS Health runs thousands of drugstores nationally, sells insurance and manages prescription drug coverage.
Like competitors Walgreens and UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health also has been delving more into providing care and managing the health of its customers, especially those with chronic or expensive medical conditions.
Insurers and employers are pushing more for this approach to help patients stay healthy, on their medications and out of expensive hospitals.
Bill payers and care providers have recognized for years now that a patient’s health is largely affected by where they live, how they eat and other factors that happen outside any care provided during a brief doctor’s office visit.
Signify Health works with thousands of doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants nationally. They visit patients to check on their health and other factors in their home that may affect it.
That can include examining into whether the patient is eating well and can afford prescriptions. They also will look for any safety problems like tripping hazards in the home.
The company says it then connects patients after that assessment to “appropriate follow-up care and community-based resources.” A company representative said Signify shares what it learned with both the patient’s insurer and primary care doctor.
Signify Health does these annual assessments mostly for patients on Medicare Advantage plans, which are privately run versions of the government’s Medicare program for people who are age 65 and older. It also works with patients who have returned home from a hospital stay.
Care delivered at home is a trend that started growing before COVID-19 and then accelerated after the pandemic hit, said Jeff Jonas, a portfolio manager with Gabelli Funds.
“People just don’t want to go to the hospital or go to a large physician office,” he said, noting that he expects home care to continue growing.
Health care researchers say the impact of these visits and assessments on a patient’s health isn’t clear yet.
“Overall, the key question is what will happen with the assessment once it’s made,” said Gretchen Jacobson, a vice president of Medicare with the nonpartisan Commonwealth Fund.
The assessments could be helpful to patients, provided they receive the right support afterward to address any challenges that were identified, said Tricia Neuman, a senior vice president with the Kaiser Family Foundation, which also studies health care issues.
She said that some patients may have a complex prescription drug regimen to track, and they may need help managing that as well as other daily activities. If the patient has no family to help with this, then the plan or care provider has to help fill those gaps.
She noted that needs can differ by patient.
“Not everybody prefers to be at home because not everybody has the support they need at home,” she said. “This is both a challenge and an opportunity.”
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Follow Tom Murphy on Twitter: @thpmurphy | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/ap-cvs-health-moves-closer-to-home-care-with-8b-signify-deal/ | 2022-09-07T01:24:20Z |
- Rob Ramage Promoted to Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Deputy Counsel for Speedway Motorsports
- Mark Faber Named Executive Vice President and General Manager of Texas Motor Speedway
High-resolution photos to support this release can be downloaded here.
CONCORD, N.C., Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Speedway Motorsports announced executive leadership moves today that strengthen the company both at the corporate and entertainment facility levels. Texas Motor Speedway General Manager Rob Ramage has been promoted to Speedway Motorsports Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Deputy Counsel. Replacing Ramage at the helm of The Great American Speedway will be veteran AEG executive Mark Faber, who joins TMS after serving as Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Both announcements were made today by Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith at a Texas Motor Speedway team luncheon. Ramage's promotion takes place immediately, and he will continue to serve as general manager at TMS until Faber assumes the position on Aug. 22.
Rob Ramage – Speedway Motorsports SVP of Government Relations and Deputy Counsel
Ramage has worked for Speedway Motorsports since 2013, serving first as General Counsel & Director of Governmental Affairs and Senior Vice President of Finance & Compliance at Texas Motor Speedway. His efforts spanned a variety of capacities, including risk management and working with government entities, business leaders and community advocates. In August of 2021, Ramage was named Senior Vice President and General Manager of Texas Motor Speedway, where he led the TMS staff in hosting last year's Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 NASCAR Cup Series playoff race, the XPEL 375 NTT Indycar Series race (March) and the 2022 NASCAR All-Star Race (May). Before joining Speedway Motorsports, Ramage practiced law in Dallas, Texas, focusing on complex litigation, intellectual property and business transactions.
"Rob's accomplishments in government relations and the legal fields have been invaluable to our company as we continue growing our investments in the great state of Texas," said Smith.
"Now with a year of experience as a speedway general manager, Rob understands even more about building the community and fan relationships necessary for our success," Smith added. "In his new role, Rob will not only invest his energy and enthusiasm in what we are doing in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin markets, but also lend his government-relations expertise and legal support to our sports entertainment executives and venues nationwide."
Mark Faber – Texas Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager
Faber joins Speedway Motorsports after spending the last 17 years with AEG, one of the world's leading sports and live entertainment companies. As Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships for T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas since 2014, Faber led a team responsible for securing high-revenue, long-term partners for naming rights, founding partners and premium inventory such as suites, loge boxes and club seating. Under Faber's leadership, T-Mobile signed its first-ever naming rights agreement with the state-of-the-art arena which hosts more than 100 events annually and is home to the UFC and the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights. Faber was actively involved in the design phase of the arena as well as public relations, civic and charity initiatives.
Preceding his move to Las Vegas, Faber served as AEG's Senior Vice President of Business Operations and Midwest Partnerships at the T-Mobile Center (formerly Sprint Center) in Kansas City, MO from 2005 to 2013. During this time Faber consulted on sponsorships and premium seating renovations for Daytona International Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway. Before AEG, he worked as a Regional Vice President for Learfield Sports in Dallas and also held senior level positions with Host Communications, Galles Indy Racing and PSP Sports.
Faber's career in the sports industry also includes positions with the Orange Bowl and a six-year period with the Dallas Cowboys where he began as the sales and syndication coordinator for Dallas Cowboys Television Productions and was promoted to Vice President of Dallas Cowboys Training Camp Sales and Marketing. During Faber's time with America's Team, the Cowboys won back-to-back world championships and Faber was a member of the post-season advance team for NFC Championship Games and Super Bowls.
"Mark brings more than 30 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industries to Speedway Motorsports," said Smith. "Texas Motor Speedway has been hosting major races, concerts and special events for more than 25 years. With Mark's expertise in corporate sales, fan engagement and event management at premier facilities, we are well-positioned for The Great American Speedway to move into its next quarter-century.
"We welcome Mark back to Texas and to the Speedway Motorsports family, and we look forward to his leadership as our team works together toward the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 NASCAR Playoff race at TMS in October."
About Speedway Motorsports:
Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer, promoter and sponsor of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. Speedway Motorsports provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiary; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its U.S. Legend Cars International subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary. For more information, visit speedwaymotorsports.com.
About Texas Motor Speedway:
Texas Motor Speedway is among the largest sports stadiums in the United States and features an array of amenities such as the world's largest TV, making The Great American Speedway one of the world's premier sports entertainment venues. The 1.5-mile superspeedway located in Fort Worth hosts all three NASCAR national series among its various races and special events throughout the year. Since opening in 1997, Texas Motor Speedway has generated an annual economic impact of approximately $300 million to the North Texas region. Texas Motor Speedway is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For more information, please visit texasmotorspeedway.com.
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SOURCE Speedway Motorsports | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/speedway-motorsports-promotes-ramage-hires-faber-executive-leadership-positions/ | 2022-08-11T18:21:37Z |
Cat-astrophe averted: Tampa Fire Rescue, others save kitten from drain
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 2:44 PM EDT|Updated: 29 minutes ago
TAMPA, Fla. (WWSB) - Tampa Fire Rescue saved a stranded kitten from a drain Monday.
Just after 12:30 p.m. , Tampa Fire Rescue received a call of some strange noises in a drain opening. Engine 3-C arrived in the 1000-block of W. Cass Street where they could hear the cries of a kitten in distress. The kitten had somehow fallen into the drain.
The city dispatched an engineering technician and other employees to save the animal.
Firefighters toweled off the kitten who was taken to an animal shelter by two University of Tampa students.
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/04/11/cat-astrophe-averted-tampa-fire-rescue-save-kitten-drain/ | 2022-04-11T19:15:52Z |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — 1. “America’s Got Talent” (Tuesday), NBC, 6.24 million.
2. “60 Minutes Presents,” CBS, 5.93 million.
3. NFL Pre-Season Hall of Fame Game (Raiders vs. Jaguars), NBC, 5.48 million.
4. “Celebrity Family Feud,” ABC, 4.73 million.
5. NFL weather delay, NBC, 4.16 million.
6. “The $100,000 Pyramid,” ABC, 4.14 million.
7. “Big Brother” (Sunday), CBS, 3.96 million.
8. CMA Fest, ABC, 3.86 million.
9. “Big Brother” (Wednesday), CBS, 3.83 million.
10. “FBI,” CBS, 3.82 million.
11. “Press Your Luck,” ABC, 3.71 million.
12. “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” ABC, 3.71 million.
13. “Big Brother” (Thursday), CBS, 3.59 million.
14. “Generation Gap,” ABC, 3.34 million.
15. “FBI: International,” CBS, 3.31 million.
16. “The Neighborhood,” CBS, 3.22 million.
17. “Young Sheldon,” CBS, 3.20 million.
18. “Tucker Carlson Tonight” (Monday), Fox News, 3.19 million.
19. “NCIS,” CBS, 3.13 million.
20. “The Bachelorette,” ABC, 3.12 million. | https://cw33.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/prime-time-network-cable-viewership-for-the-week-of-aug-1/ | 2022-08-10T18:02:54Z |
3Phase deepens its presence in Los Angeles and Orange County, CA, adding Next Level Elevator to Specialized Elevator's and 3Phase Elevator's west coast family of IUEC independents
ORANGE, Calif., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 3Phase Elevator, a leading independent elevator and escalator services provider, has merged with Next Level Elevator, a provider of top-tier maintenance, repair, modernization and testing services for all types and brands of commercial elevators and vertical conveyance systems in the Los Angeles market. The merger deepens 3Phase's presence in California where it already has a strong foothold with Specialized Elevator from San Francisco to San Diego.
Next Level Elevator, a locally owned independent elevator company, takes pride in providing quality service and making each customer a priority. The company has achieved growth by building long-term relationships with customers and targeting specific modernization projects where it has expertise. The existing Next Level Elevator team, led by Jevon Hadley and Lance Green, will remain in place and the company will continue to serve customers under the Next Level Elevator brand.
"We have a long-standing relationship with Specialized in the Los Angeles market, and it was apparent to us that our partnership would be a powerful combination. Both companies have built their businesses based on making the right decisions for customers." said Jevon Hadley, co-owner and operator of Next Level Elevator. Hadley added "This partnership gives us access to the resources to expand geographically and take risks in the Los Angeles market that are difficult to justify as a small independent. We already have plans to expand beyond our current footprint and we are excited about the future with Specialized and 3Phase." Donovan McKeever, the President leading the West for 3Phase commented, "In addition to serving and working with Next Level's customers, we are especially excited to add Jevon and Lance to the team in Los Angeles. They've built an impressive company and we are looking forward to continuing their tradition as a strong independent elevator company in the Los Angeles market."
"Deepening our presence in the Los Angeles area has been a strategic priority for 3Phase, and Next Level boasts a stellar reputation in this market that will complement the Specialized team. When we first met Jevon and Lance, we knew they were like-minded partners," said Mike Strachan, CEO of 3Phase Elevator. "This partnership further establishes our presence as a leading provider in the West."
Founded in 1997, and headquartered in Canton, Mass., 3Phase Elevator is a leading independent provider of elevator and escalator maintenance, repair, modernization and new installation services in 20 states across the United States and the District of Columbia. The company has grown in part through 18 acquisitions of other independent elevator and escalator providers. 3Phase maintains more than 23,500 units for building owners and property managers. The company is built on a foundation of exceptional customer service. For additional information, visit www.3phaseelevator.com.
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SOURCE 3Phase Elevator | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/3phase-elevator-next-level-elevator-announce-merger/ | 2022-07-28T12:57:21Z |
ATLANTA -- The Georgia Senate has given final passage to several bills offering tax breaks to various types of businesses.
House Bill 1041, which passed unanimously, would increase the annual cap on the state's rural hospital tax credit program from the current $60 million a year to $75 million. The original version had called for raising the annual limit to $100 million.
Eight rural hospitals in Georgia have closed during the last decade for lack of operating funds, Sen. Billy Hickman, R-Statesboro, who carried the House bill in the Senate, said.
"Without a rural hospital, a community is not viable," he said. "And without being viable, a community dies."
The rural hospital tax credit offers dollar-for-dollar credits to taxpayers who donate to a rural hospital in their community.
Hickman said the $60 million cap on the tax credit last year was reached in August. This year, donations to rural hospitals are running 75% ahead of last year, he said.
Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who was instrumental in creating the tax credit in 2016 as a member of the state House of Representatives, said the key to its success has been its flexibility.
"We don't try to sit in this building and tell [rural hospitals] how to spend those dollars," said Duncan, who presides over the Senate.
The Senate also voted 48-6 to exempt from state sales taxes the purchase of tickets to nonrecurring major sporting events held in Georgia.
Sponsors of events including the Super Bowl, college basketball's Final Four, the college football playoffs and soccer's World Cup demand tax breaks on ticket sales from host states, Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, who carried House Bill 1034 in the Senate, said.
The Final Four generated more than $100 million in economic impact in 2013, the last time it was held in Atlanta, Albers said.
"We know the economic results of getting one of these," he said.
Senators also voted 50-1 to offer Georgia's timber industry the same exemption from property taxes on equipment used in timber harvesting that already goes to the purchasers of farm equipment.
"This bill is long overdue to bring equity and relief for our forestry community," Sen. Larry Walker III, R-Perry, who carried House Bill 997 in the Senate, said.
The tax break will be subject to a statewide referendum before it can take effect.
All three bills now head to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature.
(Family Features) When you envision a California getaway, you may picture scenic shorelines, crashing waves and sun-kissed skies. You can find all of that and more if you make your way to Monterey County. Click for more.
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LOS ANGELES, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VinFast announces the simultaneous opening of the first 6 VinFast Stores in California. In 2022, VinFast will continue to open more than 30 stores in California, while also exploring expansion to other states across the US.
VinFast stores will showcase and sell VinFast's premium electric vehicles while allowing customers to directly experience the company's high-end customer service. This is VinFast's strategy to expand its network of locations to build personalized relationships with customers, ensuring convenience, peace of mind and reliability throughout the process of purchasing and owning their electric vehicles.
The first six VinFast stores are located in prime locations across California. One of the first six stores – VinFast Santa Monica, where the opening ceremony will take place, is located at Santa Monica Place, one of the most modern, high-traffic shopping centers in the Los Angeles area.
VinFast Stores include footprints designated as VinFast "1S, 2S, and 3S". VinFast 1S stores are primarily located in high-visibility shopping centers and are focused on vehicle display and sales. VinFast 3S stores, the largest of the VinFast store types, merchandise vehicles, have full car and parts sales, and include service centers. VinFast 2S stores are visibly located on major thoroughfares and offer both parts and service, and also support nearby VinFast 1S stores. Additionally, these VinFast 2S stores support neighborhoods without other store types, but have high concentrations of VinFast customers.
Designed to convey the "Future of Mobility'' theme, VinFast Stores are created with a futuristic and minimalist design language and integrate interactive technology for a seamless "Online-to-Offline" experience. The spacious in-store ambience blends modern features in harmony with Eastern heritage and beauty inspired by nature that visually connects to VinFast's goal of creating a sustainable future for everyone.
At VinFast Stores, customers can explore the interior and exterior details of VinFast's electric SUVs – the VF 8 and VF 9, while experiencing the advanced technologies bundled as part of the VinFast Smart Driving package. Visitors can also learn more about VinFast's flexible and innovative sales plans and engage one-on-one with VinFast consultants on questions regarding both products and services.
Reflecting on this event, Madam Le Thi Thu Thuy, Vingroup Vice Chairwoman and VinFast Global CEO said: "The opening of the first six VinFast Stores in the US marks an important milestone in the company's global journey, as we move toward bringing premium products and services to American consumers. I believe that introducing VinFast and interacting with customers one-on-one in our corporate-owned and operated stores is the best way to build relationships with customers and to ensure quality service. We are proud to drive the global EV revolution towards a sustainable future. This future officially takes its next step today in California and will soon expand across the US and globally."
VinFast is also promoting its "VinFast Charged-Up" program for customers who reserve a VF 8 or VF 9 by September 30, 2022. This program offers: (1) a 1-year free VinFast Smart Driving package and (2) 3-years of free, unlimited charging at Electrify America's coast-to-coast charging network OR a Level 2 Home Charger with a $1,200 installation credit with our installation partner.
The VinFast Stores will be open to the public beginning at 4:00 PM, July 14th, 2022 (5:00 pm at Santa Monica Place) (6:00 AM July 15th in Vietnam).
List of VinFast Store Opening locations in California
- VinFast Santa Monica: 395 Santa Monica Place, Space 171, Santa Monica, CA (open to the public from 5 pm)
- VinFast Hillsdale: Hillsdale Shopping Center, 52 31st Ave, San Mateo, CA
- VinFast Westfield UTC: Westfield UTC, 4545 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA
- VinFast Citadel: Citadel Outlets: 100 Citadel Drive, Commerce, CA
- VinFast Berkeley: Fourth Street Shops, 1733 4th Street, Berkeley, CA
- VinFast Corte Madera: The Village, 1618 Redwood Hwy, Corte Madera, CA
VinFast - a member of Vingroup – envisioned to drive the movement of global smart electric vehicle revolution. Established in 2017, VinFast owns a state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing complex with globally leading scalability that boasts up to 90% automation in Hai Phong, Vietnam.
Strongly committed to the mission for a sustainable future for everyone, VinFast constantly innovates to bring high-quality products, advanced smart services, seamless customer experiences, and pricing strategy for all to inspire global customers to jointly create a future of smart mobility and a sustainable planet. Learn more at: https://vinfastauto.us.
Established in 1993, Vingroup is one of the leading private conglomerates in the region, with a total capitalization of $35 billion USD from three publicly traded companies (as of November 4, 2021). Vingroup currently focuses on three main areas: Technology and Industry, Services, and Social Enterprise. Find out more at: https://www.vingroup.net/en.
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SOURCE VinFast Automotive | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/vinfast-opens-six-vinfast-stores-california-usa/ | 2022-07-14T19:33:44Z |
WHO: New COVID cases, deaths keep falling nearly everywhere
GENEVA (AP) — The number of new coronavirus cases and deaths reported globally continued to fall nearly everywhere in the world in what the World Health Organization described as a “welcome decline” at a media briefing on Wednesday.
The U.N. health agency said there were 4.5 million new COVID-19 cases reported last week, a 16% drop from the previous week. Deaths were also down by 13%, with about 13,500 fatalities. WHO said COVID-19 infections dropped everywhere in the world while deaths decreased everywhere except for Southeast Asia, where they climbed by 15% and in the Western Pacific, where they rose by 3%.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that with the coming onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the possible emergence of a more dangerous new COVID-19 variant, experts expect to see a spike in hospitalizations and deaths. Tedros said vaccination rates, even in rich countries, were still too low, noting that 30% of health workers and 20% of older people remain unimmunized.
“These vaccination gaps pose a risk to all of us,” he said. “Please get vaccinated if you are not and a booster if it’s recommended that you have one.”
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration cleared its first update to COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday, booster doses that target today’s most common omicron strain. Authorities said shots could begin within days.
Until now, COVID-19 vaccines have targeted the original coronavirus strain, even as wildly different mutants emerged. The new U.S. boosters are combination, or “bivalent,” shots. They contain half that original vaccine recipe and half protection against the newest omicron versions, called BA.4 and BA.5, which are considered the most contagious yet.
Earlier this month, Britain decided it would offer adults 50 and over a different booster option from Moderna, a combo shot targeting that initial BA.1 omicron strain.
On Friday, the European Medicines Agency will consider whether to authorize the combination COVID-19 vaccine including BA.1 made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. Another version of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine incorporating the BA.5 subvariant of omicron is also under review by the EU regulator.
___
Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/31/who-new-covid-cases-deaths-keep-falling-nearly-everywhere/ | 2022-08-31T18:16:07Z |
CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America today announced the following reporting dates for quarterly financial results:
- Fourth quarter 2022 – Friday, January 13, 2023
- First quarter 2023 – Tuesday, April 18, 2023
- Second quarter 2023 – Tuesday, July 18, 2023
- Third quarter 2023 – Tuesday, October 17, 2023
The results will be released at approximately 6:45 a.m. Eastern Time. For the fourth quarter 2022 reporting date on January 13, 2023, the company will host a conference call for investors at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call for investors for the remaining quarters will be at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Details on how to participate in the conference calls will be provided closer to the scheduled quarterly results dates.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 67 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,100 retail financial centers, approximately 16,000 ATMs, and award-winning digital banking with approximately 54 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.
Investors May Contact:
Lee McEntire, Bank of America
Phone: 1.980.388.6780
lee.mcentire@bofa.com
Jonathan G. Blum, Bank of America (Fixed Income)
Phone: 1.212.449.3112
jonathan.blum@bofa.com
Reporters May Contact:
Christopher P. Feeney, Bank of America
Phone: 1.980.386.6794
christopher.feeney@bofa.com
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SOURCE Bank of America Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/20/bank-america-announces-2023-financial-reporting-dates/ | 2022-05-20T14:29:47Z |
Oklahoma woman sent to hospital after hydroplaning, hit by semi
JOHNSON CO., Kan. (WIBW) - An Oklahoma woman was sent to a Kansas City hospital on Tuesday morning after she hydroplaned and was struck by a semi.
The Kansas Highway Patrol Crash Log indicates that around 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16, officials were called to the area of mile marker 216 on southbound I-35 with reports of an injury accident.
When crews arrived, they said they found a 2014 Chrysler 200 driven by Irma Castro Castro, 54, of Muskogee, Okla., had been southbound in the first lane when it hydroplaned and spun into the second lane.
KHP noted a 2021 Freightliner semi-truck driven by Dale Alan Bolton, 72, of Gardner, had been in the second lane and did not have enough time to stop resulting in a rear-end collision with the Chrysler.
The log indicated that Castro was taken to Olathe Medical Hospital with suspected minor injuries while Bolton was released with no injuries.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/17/oklahoma-woman-sent-hospital-after-hydroplaning-hit-by-semi/ | 2022-08-17T13:32:48Z |
Reports: Actress Anne Heche critical after crashing car into house, starting fire
Published: Aug. 5, 2022 at 7:25 PM CDT|Updated: moments ago
LOS ANGELES (CNN) - A California woman, reported to be actress Anne Heche, is in critical condition after driving into a Los Angeles home Friday.
The car involved in the crash is registered to Heche, known for her roles in “The Vanished” and “Six Days and Seven Nights.”
Some media outlets are reporting she was the driver, but authorities have not confirmed that.
Officials say the car slammed into the two-story home, causing it to erupt into flames.
Firefighters extinguished the fire and rescued a woman from inside the vehicle.
She was taken to the hospital and is recovering.
The cause of the crash is still unknown.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/06/reports-actress-anne-heche-critical-after-crashing-car-into-house-starting-fire/ | 2022-08-06T00:30:13Z |
HONG KONG, April 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CNOOC Limited (the "Company", SEHK: 00883, SSE:600938) announced today that Luda 5-2 oilfield north phase I project and Kenli 6-1 oilfield 4-1 block development project have commenced production.
Luda 5-2 oilfield north phase I project is located in Liaodong Bay of Bohai Sea, with average water depth of about 32 meters. In addition to fully utilizing the existing processing facilities of Suizhong 36-1 oilfield, the project has built 1 thermal recovery wellhead platform and 1 production adjective platform. A total of 28 development wells are planned, including 26 production wells and 2 water source wells. The project is expected to reach its peak production of approximately 8,200 barrels of crude oil per day in 2024.
Kenli 6-1 oilfield 4-1 block development project is located in the south of Bohai Sea, with average water depth of about 17 meters. In addition to fully utilizing the existing processing facilities of Bozhong 34-9 oilfield, the production facility is a wellhead platform. A total of 12 development wells are planned, including 7 production wells and 5 water injection wells. The oilfield is expected to reach its peak production of approximately 4,000 barrels of crude oil per day in 2022.
CNOOC Limited holds 100% interest in Luda 5-2 oilfield north and Kenli 6-1 oilfield 4-1 block and acts as the operator.
-End-
Notes to Editors:
More information about the Company is available at http://www.cnoocltd.com.
*** *** *** ***
This press release includes forward looking information, including statements regarding the likely future developments in the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, such as expected future events, business prospects or financial results. The words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company as of this date in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the current expectations and predictions of the Company is uncertain. Actual results, performance and financial condition may differ materially from the Company's expectations, including but not limited to those associated with fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, macro-political and economic factors, changes in the tax and fiscal regimes of the host countries in which we operate, the highly competitive nature of the oil and natural gas industry, environmental responsibility and compliance requirements, the Company's price forecast, the exploration and development activities, mergers, acquisitions and divestments activities, HSSE and insurance policies and changes in anti-corruption, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering and corporate governance laws.
Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company cannot assure that the results or developments anticipated will be realised or, even if substantially realised, that they will have the expected effect on the Company, its business or operations.
*** *** *** ***
For further enquiries, please contact:
Mr. Su Yuchi
Media & Public Relations
CNOOC Limited
Tel: +86-10-8452-5897
Fax: +86-10-8452-1441
E-mail: mr@cnooc.com.cn
Mr. Bunny Lee
Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group
Tel: +852 3150 6707
Fax: +852 3150 6728
E-mail: cnooc.hk@pordahavas.com
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SOURCE CNOOC Limited | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/23/cnooc-limited-announces-2-projects-commenced-production/ | 2022-04-23T23:49:40Z |
100k Kansans could become debt-free if student loan forgiveness is passed
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - With the pause on monthly payments of federal student loans set to expire August 31, President Biden has
been reportedly considering cancelling $10,000 in student debt per borrower and is expected to make an official announcement later this summer.
According to student loan hero, more than 400,000 Kansans have debt from either private or federal student loans.
A recent analysis shows the average amount of debt per borrower in Kansas is currently $32,045 with a total $12.8 billion in outstanding student loan debt. The average monthly payment per borrower in the state is currently $255.
The state of Kansas currently offers government-funded loan repayment or forgiveness programs for borrowers working in eligible professions in the state.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/29/100k-kansans-could-become-debt-free-if-student-loan-forgiveness-is-passed/ | 2022-06-29T19:53:31Z |
Avoid financial trouble when natural disasters strike
Secure important documents and insurance coverage
InvestigateTV - We never know when disaster will strike, from flooding to hurricanes and tornados. Taking a few simple steps could help you in the event of an emergency.
Nate Johnson, a wealth management advisor with Merrill Lynch, said the first thing you should do is make sure all of your essential documents are safe from the elements. Secure these important documents in a fireproof safe:
- Wills
- Trusts
- Deeds
- Account statements
- Insurance information
- Model and serial numbers of big-ticket items
Johnson said home prices are up 20% around the country, so check in with your homeowner’s insurance and make sure your coverage is still in line with the current value of your property.
“If you’ve done a renovation of any sort, it’s a really good chance that the cost of replacement is now higher than the policy was originally written.”
Make sure you have access to cash either through a home equity line of credit or an emergency fund, Johnson added, because after an emergency it will likely take some time for homeowners’ insurance to kick in.
For more information about disaster preparedness, Ready.gov is a free resource that can help you make a plan specifically for you and your family’s needs.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/14/avoid-financial-trouble-when-natural-disasters-strike/ | 2022-07-14T19:26:59Z |
Company to Host Conference Call and Webcast August 15, 2022, at 8:30am ET
RADNOR, Pa., Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: NRXP), ("NRx Pharmaceuticals" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2022 and provided a business and clinical update.
"During our second quarter, we reactivated clinical development in our psychiatry franchise around our lead compound, NRX-101. NRX-101 has been awarded Breakthrough Therapy designation and a Special Protocol Agreement for severe bipolar depression with acute suicidal ideation and behavior (ASIB) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said Stephen Willard, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "We anticipate initiation of the study in severe bipolar depression with acute suicidal ideation and behavior (ASIB) to commence at the end of 2022 or at the beginning of 2023.
During this quarter, we commenced enrollment in our Phase 2 trial of NRX-101 in patients with Bipolar Depression and Sub-Acute Suicidal Ideation & Behavior (SSIB)", said Willard. "The purpose of this trial is to expand our potential indication from bipolar depression in patients with acute suicidality to the significantly larger population of patients with bipolar depression and sub-acute suicidality, who are being treated in the ambulatory setting. We are evaluating the adequacy of the protocol to support approval for the treatment of the larger SSIB population. We project a readout of the data from this trial by the end of the year or early Q1 of next year".
"We expect to release commercial-stage material of NRX-101 in the coming weeks. This material will be used in our phase 2b/3 trial of NRX-101 for severe bipolar depression in patients with acute suicidal ideation & behavior (ASIB) under the FDA Special Protocol Agreement, which we expect to start in Q4," said Mr. Willard.
Many approved drugs for bipolar depression have warning labels for increased risk of suicide. To our knowledge, NRX-101 is the only oral antidepressant in the bipolar segment that targets patients with active suicidality, which typically is an exclusion criterion in clinical studies of depression and PTSD. Phase 2 STABIL-B trial1 data of NRX-101 demonstrated a significant reduction in both depression and suicidality compared to standard therapy in acutely suicidal patients who were first stabilized with ketamine. We have released non-clinical findings demonstrating that, unlike ketamine, both components in NRX-101 have not shown potential for addiction and are not neurotoxic (i.e., do not cause death of brain cells in FDA-required assays).2
In Q2, we repatriated the manufacture of NRX-101 drug supply to North Carolina and are currently manufacturing clinical supplies for P3 as part of the commercial readiness program.
Our psychiatry franchise builds on a strong scientific and intellectual property foundation with 47 granted patents and 43 pending applications around the world. Our focus is to address this major unmet medical need for which the only currently approved treatment is electroshock therapy. It is estimated that 50% of individuals with bipolar disorder attempt suicide over their lifetime. We believe NRX-101 is a potentially life-saving medicine that could change the treatment paradigm for individuals with bipolar depression that are also experiencing suicidality."
We expect to evaluate the options for ZYESAMI® in COVID-19 Respiratory Failure and other lung disorders once we receive the full data set from NIH towards the end of Q3 or early Q4 and have conducted our own analysis.
Although we are not funding additional clinical trials of ZYESAMI® at this time, we have completed manufacture of phase 3/commercial ready ZYESAMI®. We also received an independent assessment of chest X-ray data from a sub-study that included a subgroup of approximately 80 patients that had survived to day 10 in our Phase 2b/3 study of ZYESAMI®. The sub-study showed a statistically significant improvement in chest X-rays using the RALES score in patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure, compared to a worsening in patients treated with placebo (P<.05). This exploratory data will further guide our assessment of future options for ZYESAMI®.
Key Business & Clinical Highlights
- Announced new leadership with the appointment of Stephen Willard, JD, as CEO and member of the Board of Directors, and Seth Van Voorhees, PhD, MBA, as CFO
- Repositioned company to focus on psychiatry franchise and our Breakthrough Therapy designated drug NRX-101 for Bipolar Depression in Patients with Suicidality. NRX-101 has additionally been awarded a Special Protocol Agreement by the FDA
- Repatriated manufacture of NRX-101 to a leading North Carolina-based manufacturer, completed technology transfer, and manufactured first batch of phase 3/commercial-ready NRX-101 capsules
- Initiated a Phase 2b trial of NRX-101 in patients with Bipolar Depression and Sub-Acute Suicidality (SSIB); 10 planned clinical sites are activated and are actively enrolling patients, with topline data readout anticipated at the end of Q4 22/Q1 23
- Received independent grading of chest x-rays from a subgroup of patients that survived to day 10 from the intravenous ZYESAMI® trial. Top line analysis shows a statistically significant change between baseline and day 10 on the RALES score (i.e., improvement in ZYESAMI®-treated patients and worsening in placebo-treated patients). Ongoing data analysis is continuing.
Financial Results for Quarter ended June 30, 2022
- Research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2022, totaled $3.0 million, compared to $4.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The decrease of $1.7 million related primarily to a decrease clinical trials and development expenses related to ZYESAMI®.
- General and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2022, totaled $6.6 million, compared to $12.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The decrease of $5.8 million was primarily related to a decrease in stock-based compensation and consultant fees, partially offset by an increase in higher insurance related expenses.
- Other income for the three months ended June 30, 2022, totaled $2.6 million, compared to $17.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The decrease of $14.4 million primarily related to a decrease in the fair value of certain Substitute Warrants and the Placement Warrants assumed pursuant to the Merger Agreement because of lower stock price levels.
- Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2022, was $7.0 million compared with a net loss of $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021.
Financial Results for Six Months ended June 30, 2022
- Research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2022, totaled $8.4 million, compared to $7.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The increase of $0.9 million related primarily to an increase in regulatory and process development expenses.
- General and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2022, totaled $16.9 million, compared to $14.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The increase of $2.3 million was primarily related to an increase in legal, professional and insurance expenses partially offset by a decrease in consultant fees and stock-based compensation expenses.
- Other Income for the six months ended June 30, 2022, totaled $4.9 million, compared to $17.1 million for the recently restated six months ended June 30, 2021. The decrease of $12.2 million primarily related to a decrease in the fair value of certain Substitute Warrants and the Placement Warrants assumed pursuant to the Merger Agreement because of lower stock price levels.
- Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2022, was $20.4 million compared with a net loss of $25.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021.
- As of June 30, 2022, cash was $24.5 million compared to $27.6 million as of December 31, 2021. We believe that we have sufficient funds and if necessary, the ability to reduce expenditures, to support operations through August 2023. The Company may also seek to reduce certain expenditures if needed to reduce cash consumption in support of operations.
Conference Call and Webcast Details
Investors and the general public are invited to listen to a live audio webcast of the conference call, which may be accessed five minutes before the start of the call by dialing (844) 826-3033 (U.S.), (412) 317-5185 (International) Conference ID: 10170239, or through the webcast link NRx Pharmaceuticals Second Quarter 2022 Earnings Call. A replay will be available from the NRx Pharmaceuticals website for thirty days following the call at www.nrxpharma.com.
About NRX-101
Up to 50% of individuals with bipolar disorder attempt suicide over their lifetime, and estimates indicate that up to 20% may succumb to suicide. The only FDA-approved treatment for patients with bipolar depression and acute suicidal ideation & behavior (ASIB) remains electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Conventional antidepressants can increase the risk of suicide in certain patients; hence their labels contain a warning to that effect. NRX-101 is a patented, fixed dose combination of D-cycloserine and lurasidone, neither of which has shown addiction potential. Based on the results of a Phase II study, NRX-101 received Breakthrough Therapy designation (BTD) from the FDA for the Treatment of Severe Bipolar Depression in Patients with ASIB after initial stabilization with ketamine or other effective therapy.
NRX-101 is one of the first oral antidepressants currently in late-stage clinical studies targeting the NMDA-receptor in the brain, which represents potentially a key new mechanism to treat depression with and without suicidality, as well as PTSD and other indications. To date, NRX-101 is the only oral NMDA investigational medicine focused on bipolar depression in patients with acute and sub-acute suicidality.
NRx Pharmaceuticals expects to begin its registration trial for NRX-101 under a SPA in 4Q 2022.
About NRx Pharmaceuticals
NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. draws upon decades of collective, scientific, and drug-development experience applying innovative science to known molecules to address very high unmet needs and bring improved health to patients. NRx Pharmaceuticals is led by executives who have held leadership roles at Lilly, Pfizer, and Novartis as well as major investment banking institutions.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement of NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our financial outlook, product development, business prospects, and market and industry trends and conditions, as well as the Company's strategies, plans, objectives, and goals. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections of, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company's management.
The Company assumes no obligation to revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, you should not place reliance on any forward-looking statement, and all forward-looking statements are herein qualified by reference to the cautionary statements set forth above.
CORPORATE CONTACT
Molly Cogan
Sr. Director, Global Communications
mcogan@nrxpharma.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Tim McCarthy
Investor Relations
tim@lifesciadvisors.com
###tables to follow###
1 NRX-101 (D-cycloserine plus lurasidone) vs. lurasidone for the maintenance of initial stabilization after ketamine in patients with severe bipolar depression with acute suicidal ideation and behavior: A randomized prospective phase 2 trial | medRxiv
2 https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.06.18.496662v1
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SOURCE NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/nrx-pharmaceuticals-provides-business-update-reports-second-quarter-2022-results-focusing-reactivation-amp-advancement-its-psychiatry-franchise/ | 2022-08-15T12:13:22Z |
HAVANA (AP) — Olga Lidia Lahera lives with her daughter and two granddaughters in a tiny 15-square-meter (160-square-foot) apartment with peeling plaster walls that has barely enough room for a shelf with pots and a rickety sofa bed. A cloth curtain separates the space they use to wash up. There is no bathroom.
A bit farther down Gloria Street in the Talla Piedra neighborhood of Old Havana, Anet Ayala and her brother Wilmedis live on the second floor of an old building with cracks in the walls and ceilings so big that air, light and even water can pass through.
The first storm of the 2022 hurricane season, which hit Cuba in mid-June, collapsed or damaged dozens of homes in the capital that were already in poor condition, tearing off pieces of roof, balconies and facades.
That highlighted one of Cuba’s main social problems: a shortage of quality housing caused by decades of inadequate maintenance, a lack of new housing and impediments facing people trying to fix up their own homes.
An official review last year found that the island of 11.3 million people had 3.9 million homes at the end of 2020, almost 40% of which were just in fair to poor condition. Cuba needed another 862,000 homes to adequately house its people — up from an officially estimated shortfall of about 500,000 in 2005.
The government announced a major national program to solve the problem in 2018, but the latest official figures show a dramatic drop in recent construction as the country has struggled with a pandemic-stricken economy and tighter US. sanctions.
In 2019, 44,000 homes were built — 35% by the state and 65% by individual families. In 2020, that number dropped to 32,000 — 43% by the state and 57% by individuals. Last year, about 18,000 units were built (47% by the state and 53% by individuals). There are no official figures for the current year.
That leaves families like Ayala’s with little option.
“When it rains here everything gets wet, furniture, the refrigerator. We have nowhere to move things to,” said Ayala, trying to control her emotion while showing the effects of the latest downpours, including a strong musty smell.
“Tomorrow a wind will come and this (roof) will fall on us and we will be two more dead,” said Ayala, 36, whose face is partially paralyzed after surgery for a brain tumor.
She and her brother Wilmedis Horta Ayala, a 39-year-old physical education teacher at a primary school, filled out all kinds of paperwork to get authorization to legally fix the place, which is about a century old, but the building permit — mandatory in Cuba — was never issued.
Lahera, 65, was a state employee until she requested sick leave. The four of them live off what the Cuban state give her daughter to take care of her and the girls.
“When it rains, the walls here pick up a current (become electrified),” she said. “They are bad, but I don’t know to what degree they would fall. They are all cracked; the building, the structure is very old.”
For decades in Cuba, residential construction was wholly controlled by the socialist government and no legal real estate market existed. People could not sell homes.
In 2011, President Raúl Castro authorized the buying and selling of homes as a way to reactivate the economy, giving more space to private enterprise. Thousands of people acquired houses or invested in fixing up the ones they had, which suddenly gained capital value.
With an increase in tourism and a rapprochement with the United States in the middle of that decade, some areas like Old Havana saw a wave of gentrification, often aided by funds from families in the U.S. That hit a wall with the pandemic and Trump-era sanctions.
Cuba’s government has long struggled to build sufficient new housing or maintain existing structures, and tried to keep a tight hand on private efforts, believing — often correctly — that building materials had been pilfered from state stocks.
In recent years it has tried to offer more credits for construction and repairs and stimulate efforts by professional and workplace groups to build apartment buildings for themselves.
But construction materials are often hard to find at low-price official outlets — which often insist on seeing permits — and private sellers demand prices far beyond what Ayala or Lahera can afford,
Now, the first rains of the new storm season have again exposed the fragility of Cuba’s housing — much of it located in coastal cities with salt-laden air.
“You just have to walk through the city to see the profound deterioration of Havana’s buildings,” architect Orlando Inclán told The Associated Press.
Inclán was part of a team that won a competition sponsoRed by his professional association to build social housing using alternative or recycled materials.
He and some of his colleagues are urging the government to lift a ban on private architecture and construction businesses and let them participate in a movement to clean up public spaces and houses for the island’s population.
“It is time to diversify the housing policy. The actors involved must be diversified, the materials must be diversified, the ways of understanding housing must be diversified,” he said. “There doesn’t have to be only one producer of housing … The only way to find a solution to this is to think creatively.”
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Andrea Rodríguez is on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ARodriguezAP | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/storms-damages-put-focus-on-cubas-dire-housing-crisis/ | 2022-06-23T00:12:02Z |
With the season open again for select days in July, consumers can now expect to find fresh, wild-caught salmon locally
SAN FRANCISCO, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After a recent season break, the 2022 commercial California King salmon season is officially back on, and California's commercial fishermen are reporting great catches.
"Now that the season is open again and the fishing area has expanded, consumers will again see fresh, local California King salmon in their favorite markets," said David Goldenberg, Chief Executive Officer of the California Salmon Council. "And if you're a salmon lover, you know there is nothing quite like wild-caught California King salmon. So we encourage everyone to run, not walk, to their local super markets and favorite restaurants and enjoy it while it's in season."
The season is currently open now and following a short break mid-month, will resume again at the end of July. Only available May through October, fresh, wild-caught, California King salmon can be found locally at select grocery stores, fish markets, fine restaurants, farmers markets and even direct from fisherman, right off the dock. Renowned for their firm texture, robust flavor and for containing higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids than other salmon varieties, California King salmon also provides consumers with a sustainable, responsible option.
For more information about California King salmon including recipes and preparation tips, visit calkingsalmon.org or follow the California Salmon Council on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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SOURCE California Salmon Council | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/11/commercial-california-king-salmon-season-officially-back-action/ | 2022-07-11T21:27:05Z |
Severe weather has forced Abbott Nutrition to pause production at a Michigan baby formula factory that had just restarted after being closed for several months, contributing to a national shortage.
Production for Abbott’s EleCare specialty formula has been suspended, but there is enough supply to meet demand until production is restarted, the company said. Abbott had prioritized ramping up production of the specialty formula for infants with severe food allergies and digestive problems who have few other options for nutrition.
Abbott says it needs to assess damage and re-sanitize the factory after severe thunderstorms and heavy rains swept through southwestern Michigan late Monday. Spokesman Jonathon Hamilton said flooding hit a few areas of the factory, but he declined to provide more specific details about damage.
The storm also brought high winds, hail and power failures to Sturgis, Michigan, where the factory is located. The company expects production and distribution to be delayed for a few weeks as it cleans the plant.
Once it restarts, the factory will begin with the production of EleCare and other specialty formulas. Abbott says it also plans to restart production of its Similac formula as soon as possible.
Abbott had initially restarted the factory on June 4 after it had been closed since February due to contamination.
Abbott recalled several leading brands of formula then, including Similac. That squeezed supplies that had already been strained by supply chain disruptions and stockpiling during COVID-19 shutdowns.
The ongoing formula shortage has been most dire for children with allergies, digestive problems and metabolic disorders who rely on specialty formulas.
President Joe Biden’s administration has since eased import rules for foreign manufacturers, airlifted formula from Europe and invoked federal emergency rules to prioritize U.S. production.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf told a Senate committee on Thursday that government work done to increase the supply means that there will be more than enough product to meet current demand. He also noted that other U.S. baby formula manufacturers are running their plants around the clock.
Califf said they hoped to have a “super supply” of formula to get shelves fully restocked in perhaps two weeks.
“But it’s too early to give an exact estimate of what the delay will be in the Sturgis plant,” Califf said at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions.
Califf called the flood at the plant “an unfortunate setback and a reminder that natural weather events can cause unforeseen disruptions in supply chains.”
Abbott is one of just four companies that produce about 90% of U.S. formula. Hamilton said Abbott has produced 8.7 million pounds of formula in June, or 95% of what it produced the month before the recall.
The Michigan factory was closed after the Food and Drug Administration began investigating four bacterial infections among infants who consumed powdered formula from the plant. Two of the babies died. The company continues to state that its products have not been directly linked to the infections, which involved different bacterial strains.
FDA inspectors eventually uncovered a host of violations at the plant, including bacterial contamination, a leaky roof and lax safety protocols.
During Thursday’s hearing, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, cited Associated Press reporting that the Food and Drug Administration skipped 15,000 inspections of baby formula plants due to COVID-19 and said inspectors should be considered “essential workers.”
Califf said he agreed with the point. “Definitely we had inspections were put on hold and there’s been a price to pay for that,” Califf said.
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AP Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/ap-top-headlines/production-at-bedeviled-baby-formula-factory-halted-by-storm/ | 2022-06-16T22:17:34Z |
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq. and the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") are investigating the proposed sale of ironSource Ltd. (NYSE: IS) to Unity Software Inc. (NYSE: U). Under the terms of the proposed transaction, shareholders of ironSource will receive 0.1089 shares of Unity for each share of ironSource that they own. KSF is seeking to determine whether this consideration and the process that led to it are adequate, or whether the consideration undervalues the Company.
If you believe that this transaction undervalues the Company and/or if you would like to discuss your legal rights regarding the proposed sale, you may, without obligation or cost to you, e-mail or call KSF Managing Partner Lewis S. Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) toll free at any time at 855-768-1857, or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-is/ to learn more.
To learn more about KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General, visit www.ksfcounsel.com.
Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200
New Orleans, LA 70163
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SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/ironsource-investor-alert-by-former-attorney-general-louisiana-kahn-swick-amp-foti-llc-investigates-adequacy-price-process-proposed-sale-ironsource-ltd-is/ | 2022-08-10T21:39:17Z |
Balenciaga selling destroyed sneakers for $1,850
Hannah Ryan, CNN
Luxury fashion house Balenciaga has unveiled a new campaign promoting a series of roughed up sneakers with an eye-watering price tag, and the internet has thoughts.
The images, shot by photographer Leopold Duchemin for the brand, of severely tattered, distressed shoes have gone viral following Monday’s launch of the couture brand’s new Paris sneaker, with outrage at the appearance of the high tops swirling online.
But the photos of the destroyed sneakers circulating on social media don’t exactly tell the whole story. While they have courted the most controversy, the images are actually of exaggerated, limited edition versions of the sneakers that Balenciaga is selling.
According to the fashion house, only 100 pairs of “extra destroyed” sneakers will be available to buy for $1,850. Meanwhile, the non-limited edition, and less roughed up versions, are being sold on the Balenciaga website for $495 and $625, depending on the specific style.
In a press release, the Paris-based brand said that the campaign photos show the shoes “extremely worn, marked up, and dirtied.”
It said the still-life portraits “suggest that Paris Sneaker are meant to be worn for a lifetime” — a point that feels especially relevant amid growing conversations around the fast fashion industry and the impact of overconsumption on the planet.
Demna is known for his disruptive flair and the Paris sneaker launch isn’t the first time his designs have been met with bemused reactions.
In 2017, Balenciaga brought out a bag that cost $2,145 which was ridiculed for its similarities to Ikea’s “Frakta” bag. At the time, the original Ikea bag could be purchased for 99 cents.
Balenciaga describes the sneaker as a “retooled classic design,” which is finished with “distressed canvas and rough edges, affecting a pre-worn look.”
Online reactions to the Paris sneaker have been mixed.
SoleSavy, a website which describes itself as a community for “real sneakerheads,” asked if the “aged sneakers trend” had gone too far.
Tora Northman, a news editor for the publication Highsnobiety, said the brand had “taken it to the next level,” adding Balenciaga is “always creating controversial items that spark conversation.”
But not everyone thinks the sneakers are worth mocking.
GQ France head of editorial content Pam Boy said in a comment on Instagram that the message of the product is clear: “Buy and keep forever. Demna (Balenciaga’s creative director) will make people who can afford luxury items purchase ‘pre-worn’ looking sneakers for 1450€. He is completely turning the essence of luxury upside down.”
The jury appears to be out on whether this latest marketing move is worthy of high praise or ridicule. Either way, Demna and Balenciaga have once again got people talking, no doubt drawing many to a brand that seems increasingly comfortable with controversy.
Top image: Campaign imagery of the Paris sneaker by Balenciaga.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/entertainment/cnn-style/2022/05/10/balenciaga-selling-destroyed-sneakers-for-1850/ | 2022-05-11T05:24:30Z |
CALGARY, AB, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Vermilion Energy Inc. ("Vermilion", "We", "Our", "Us" or the "Company") (TSX: VET) (NYSE: VET) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Myron Stadnyk to our Board of Directors.
Mr. Stadnyk brings over 35 years of business and industry knowledge, with extensive experience in senior leadership, cost management, operational effectiveness, governance, health, safety, and environment. He most recently served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of ARC Resources Ltd. where he led ARC's transformation from a royalty trust to a top-tier Montney producer demonstrating outstanding strategic leadership. Prior to ARC, Mr. Stadnyk worked at a major oil and gas company in both domestic and international operations.
He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Crescent Point Energy Corp., Prairie Sky Royalty Ltd. and the University of Saskatchewan Engineering Trust.
Mr. Stadnyk holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. He is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta and served as a Governor for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers for over 10 years.
We are excited to welcome Mr. Stadnyk to our Board of Directors, and look forward to his diverse skills, perspectives and expertise contributing to the ongoing success of Vermilion.
Vermilion is an international energy producer that seeks to create value through the acquisition, exploration, development and optimization of producing assets in North America, Europe and Australia. Our business model emphasizes free cash flow generation and returning capital to investors when economically warranted, augmented by value-adding acquisitions. Vermilion's operations are focused on the exploitation of light oil and liquids-rich natural gas conventional resource plays in North America and the exploration and development of conventional natural gas and oil opportunities in Europe and Australia.
Vermilion's priorities are health and safety, the environment, and profitability, in that order. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of the public and those who work with us, and the protection of our natural surroundings. We have been recognized by leading ESG rating agencies for our transparency on and management of key environmental, social and governance issues. In addition, we emphasize strategic community investment in each of our operating areas.
Employees and directors hold approximately 4% of our outstanding shares and are committed to delivering long-term value for all stakeholders. Vermilion trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol VET.
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SOURCE Vermilion Energy Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/vermilion-energy-inc-announces-appointment-new-board-member/ | 2022-06-01T23:27:12Z |
LOS ANGELES, July 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hahn & Hahn LLP announced today that Partner Rita Diaz and Of Counsel Todd Moore have been recognized for their accomplishments as leading attorneys within the Los Angeles business community and named to the Los Angeles Business Journal's annual list "2022 Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Lawyers." The publication notes that litigators are a "special breed of attorney" because they need to "transcend expert comprehension of the legal system."
"Rita and Todd's dedication to our clients as well as their legal accumen and ability to advocate and manage the complex to reach positive solutions through litigation is a secret weapon for our clients," said Christianne Kerns, the firm's Managing Partner. "To see them represent our firm among some of the most talented attorneys in Southern California is an honor."
Diaz is a Partner and the Chair of the firm's Litigation Department. The feature states Diaz "has significant experience handling contentious trust and estates litigation, as well as advising trustees and beneficiaries through trust administration issues. She is also skilled at advising companies on employment matters, including discrimination, leaves of absence, and wage and hour issues, and reviewing and drafting employee handbooks."
Moore is a member of the firm's Litigation Department. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, eminent domain and appellate advocacy. He is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer. Moore's litigation and appeals practice has an emphasis in real estate issues, eminent domain, business disputes and trusts and estates. The feature states he "enjoys new challenges in that many of his cases have unique and complicated facts, so his work is challenging and rewarding." The feature continues by noting, "His clients appreciate Moore's ability to distill a complicated situation into a simpler one and to give them a menu of options for resolving their problems. The hallmark of his representation is coming up with workable solutions."
Hahn & Hahn LLP has been an active member of the Southern California business and legal communities since 1899. The firm represents entrepreneurs, innovators, business owners, family offices and charitable organizations in their corporate, real estate, employment, estate planning and family law issues and in litigation. The firm is a certified majority Women & Minority Owned.
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SOURCE Hahn & Hahn LLP | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/22/hahn-amp-hahns-rita-diaz-todd-moore-named-top-litigators-los-angeles/ | 2022-07-22T20:32:45Z |
How Transnistria, a Russian-backed region in Moldova, is getting pulled into the war in Ukraine
By Rob Picheta, CNN
A series of unexplained explosions have occurred in parts of Transnistria, a breakaway territory within Moldova that has housed Russian troops for decades, sparking fears that Moscow’s war could soon stretch beyond Ukraine and create a new theater of conflict in eastern Europe.
Two radio towers in the territory were damaged by explosions in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Transnistrian Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement. On Monday, a series of explosions had been heard in Transnistria’s capital Tiraspol, near the Ministry of State Security building, according to Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti.
Ukraine described the blasts as a planned provocation by Russian security services. Ukraine has also blamed Russia for firing cruise missiles Tuesday at a bridge across the estuary of the Dniester River, suggesting Moscow is attempting to cut off the southwestern corner of Ukraine that borders Moldova.
The explosions, and a drip feed of comments by Russian officials regarding the region — including a senior Russian commander saying that the army’s plan to capture southern Ukraine would open up a land corridor stretching to Transnistria — have raised intense concern in Moldova that the disputed territory within its borders is included in Russian President Vladimir’s war strategy.
Transnistria is unrecognized by the international community, which considers it a part of Moldova. But the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, essentially has no control over the territory, which declared itself a republic more than three decades ago.
Here’s what you need to know about the territory.
A disputed land
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 resulted in the emergence of a handful of “frozen conflict” zones in eastern Europe — often-unstable regions where allegiances have been fiercely disputed since the creation of the 15 post-Soviet states.
Those regions include the breakaway statelets of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, inside the territory of Georgia, and the slither of land along Moldova’s border with Ukraine known as Transnistria.
The territory — a 1,300 square mile enclave on the eastern bank of the Dniester River — was the site of a Russian military outpost during the last years of the Cold War. It declared itself a Soviet republic in 1990, opposing any attempt by Moldova to become an independent state or to merge with Romania.
When Moldova became independent the following year, Russia quickly inserted itself as a so-called “peacekeeping force” in Transnistria, sending troops in to back pro-Moscow separatists there.
War with Moldovan forces ensued; the conflict ended in deadlock in 1992. Transnistria was not recognized internationally, even by Russia, but Moldovan forces left it a de facto breakaway state. That deadlock has left the territory and its estimated 500,000 inhabitants trapped in limbo.
Since then, Transnistria has played host to thousands of Russian troops — currently estimated at 1,500 — and developed a reputation as a land lost to time, a Soviet wormhole within a young, transitional Moldovan democracy.
It has a flag, a constitution and a national bank, and celebrates its own independence day.
The major roads of its capital Tiraspol include Lenin Street, Strada Karl Marx and 25th October Street — commemorating the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. A towering statue of Vladimir Lenin stands in the middle of the city’s main square.
Transnistria has long been powered by its industrial output, and its economy is heavily dependent on Russian subsidies. A conglomerate called Sheriff is almost omnipresent, owning many of its factories, supermarkets and gas stations and lending its name to the region’s soccer club, FC Sheriff, which competes in Moldova’s national league and last year claimed a famous Champions League victory over Real Madrid.
Ethnic Moldovans, Russians and Ukrainains all live in the region. It runs its own presidential and regional elections, though international watchdogs say opposition is suppressed and there is a lack of genuine competition at the ballot box.
The US non-governmental organization Freedom House, which tracks trends in world governments, rates the territory as “not free.”
“Impartiality and pluralism of opinion in the media is very limited, and authorities closely control civil society activity,” it said in its most recent global report.
Despite occasional negotiations with Moldova, the prospect of a resolution to the Transnistria question has remained dim.
“The break-away region persists as a challenge to a unified and developed Moldova,” the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) wrote in 2020.
“There is the risk that those without commercial, family, or personal ties on the other side of the river will increasingly feel estranged from their fellow Moldovans, fostering the kind of mistrust and misunderstanding that can further hinder the resolution of this conflict,” the agency said.
What are Russia’s plans for Transnistria?
Concerns about Russia’s long term plans for Transnistria have never faded — they only intensified after Moscow’s invasion of Crimea in 2014.
That invasion piqued longstanding concerns that Putin would seek to invade and control southern Ukraine. A Russian-backed separatist enclave at the southwestern edge of Ukraine could now present a potential bookend to any Russian assault westwards from Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.
Russia’s supposed “peacekeeping” presence in Transnistria, which has in practice seen the Kremlin prop up a puppet state that seeks to undermine Moldova’s sovereignty, has also mirrored Moscow’s pretext for invasions in Georgia and Ukraine.
Alarm bells in Moldova and the West grew louder following familiar refrains from the Kremlin that the rights of ethnic Russians were being violated in Transnistria — another argument used by Putin to justify his February invasion of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, which contained two breakaway Russian-backed statelets.
“Allegedly there, in Moldova, the rights of Russian-speakers are violated,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address last Friday. “Although, to be honest, the territory in which Russia should take care of the rights of Russian-speakers is Russia itself: Where there is no freedom of speech, no freedom of choice. Where there is simply no right to dissent. Where poverty thrives and where human life is worthless.”
After Russia invaded Ukraine, Western nations immediately watched activity in regions beyond the country, including Transnistria.
Some Ukrainian officials also suggested that Russia would at some point draw on its contingent of troops stationed in Transnistria, especially after Moscow suffered a significant number of losses of troops and equipment in the first weeks of its assault on the country.
“Of course, at some point sooner or later they will use them,” the mayor of Odesa Hennadii Trukhanov said in televised remarks this month. “It’s difficult to say in which direction, but there’s a threat. (Armed Forces of Ukraine) know this and are working on this.”
But the most direct and unambiguous statement on the region to date came from Russia’s Central Military District Maj. Gen. Rustam Minnekaev on Friday.
Russian state news agency TASS quoted the general as saying the country’s aim was to create a land corridor between Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region and Crimea, adding that control over Ukraine’s south would give Russian forces access to Transnistria — a strategy that many in Chisinau had long feared was Putin’s goal.
But the most direct and unambiguous statement on the region to date came from Russia’s Central Military District Maj. Gen. Rustam Minnekaev on Friday.
Russian state news agency TASS quoted the general as saying the country’s aim was to create a land corridor between Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region and Crimea, adding that control over Ukraine’s south would give Russian forces access to Transnistria — a strategy that many in Chisinau had long feared was Putin’s goal.
Moldova and Ukraine on alert
Two days after Minnekaev’s comments, a series of explosions were heard in the region.
A correspondent for Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti said powerful booms were heard in Tiraspol and that windows in neighboring houses were damaged.
Immediately, Ukrainian officials suggested the explosions were part of Kremlin efforts to create a narrative that could precede Russian military action.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said in a statement that three days before the incident, leaders of the breakaway region “were already preparing for it and took care to install a secure and comfortable bunker” at the Ministry of State Security, which was damaged in the explosions.
“Obviously, this case is one of a number of provocative measures organized by the FSB (the Russian security service) to instil panic and anti-Ukrainian sentiment,” it said.
Two radio towers were subsequently damaged on Tuesday morning. The site where the explosions occurred is known as the “Transnistrian radio and television center,” which was built in the 1960s and is one of 14 Soviet-era radio transmitting centers, according to the Transnistrian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Ukraine also blamed Russia for firing cruise missiles Tuesday at a bridge across the estuary of the Dniester River. The road and rail bridge links Odesa with the far southwest corner of Ukraine bordering Moldova; the damage essentially cuts the region off.
Maksym Marchenko, head of the Odesa region military administration, said Russia had used three missiles, one of which had struck the bridge. “By his actions, the enemy is trying to cut off part of the Odesa region and create tension amid the events” in Transnistria, Marchenko said. Another attack on the bridge did further damage on Wednesday.
Moldova’s President Maia Sandu on Tuesday condemned the attacks within Transnistria, calling them “provocations” aimed drawing the country into “actions that can endanger peace.”
“Our analysis shows that there are tensions between forces inside that region interested in destabilizing the situation. This makes Transnistria vulnerable and creates risks for the republic of Moldova,” she said at a press briefing following an emergency meeting of the country’s Security Council.
Sandu listed a number of events that proceeded this week’s explosions, including several bomb alerts at schools and medical facilities. She blamed “pro-war factions” attempting to “heighten tensions” in the region.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-europe-mideast-africa/2022/04/27/how-transnistria-a-russian-backed-region-in-moldova-is-getting-pulled-into-the-war-in-ukraine/ | 2022-04-27T18:59:38Z |
Visa to start categorizing gun shop sales separately
NEW YORK (AP) — Payment processor Visa Inc. said late Saturday that it plans to start separately categorizing sales at gun shops, a major win for gun control advocates who say it will help better track suspicious surges of gun sales that could be a prelude to a mass shooting.
But the decision by Visa, the world’s largest payment processor, will likely provoke the ire of gun rights advocates and gun lobbyists, who have argued that categorizing gun sales would unfairly flag an industry when most sales do not lead to mass shootings.
Visa said it would adopt the International Organization for Standardization’s new merchant code for gun sales, which was announced on Friday. Until Friday, gun store sales were considered “general merchandise.”
“Following ISO’s decision to establish a new merchant category code, Visa will proceed with next steps, while ensuring we protect all legal commerce on the Visa network in accordance with our long-standing rules,” the payment processor said in a statement.
Visa’s adoption is significant as the largest payment network, and will likely add pressure for Mastercard and American Express to adopt the code as well. Visa acts as a middleman between merchants and banks, and it will be up to banks to decide whether they will allow sales at gun stores to happen on their issued cards.
American Express and Mastercard did not immediately return requests for comment.
Gun control advocates had gained significant wins on this front in recent weeks. New York City officials and pension funds had pressured the ISO and banks to adopt this code.
Two of the country’s largest public pension funds, in California and New York, have been pressing the country’s largest credit card firms to establish sales codes specifically for firearm-related sales that could flag suspicious purchases or more easily trace how guns and ammo are sold.
Merchant Category Codes now exist for almost every kind of purchase, including those made at supermarkets, clothing stores, coffee shops and many other retailers.
“When you buy an airline ticket or pay for your groceries, your credit card company has a special code for those retailers. It’s just common sense that we have the same policies in place for gun and ammunition stores,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former police captain who blames the proliferation of guns for his city’s deadly violence.
The city’s comptroller, Brad Lander, said it made moral and financial sense as a tool to push back against gun violence.
“Unfortunately, the credit card companies have failed to support this simple, practical, potentially lifesaving tool. The time has come for them to do so,” Lander said recently, before Visa’s announcement.
The pension funds and gun control advocates argue that creating a merchant category code for standalone firearm and ammunition stores could aid in the battle against gun violence. A week before the mass shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where 49 people died after a shooter opened fire in 2016, the assailant used credit cards to purchase more than $26,000 worth of guns and ammunition, including purchases at a stand-alone gun retailer.
Lander is a trustee of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, Teachers’ Retirement System and Board of Education Retirement System — which together own 667,200 shares in American Express valued at approximately $92.49 million; 1.1 million shares in MasterCard valued at approximately $347.59 million; and 1.85 million shares in Visa valued at approximately $363.86 million.
Over the years, public pension funds have used their extensive investment portfolios to influence public policy and the market place.
The California teacher’s fund, the second largest pension fund in the country, has long taken aim on the gun industry. It has divested its holdings from gun manufacturers and has sought to persuade some retailers from selling guns.
Four years ago, the teacher’s fund made guns a key initiative. It called for background checks and called on retailers “monitor irregularities at the point of sale, to record all firearm sales, to audit firearms inventory on a regular basis, and to proactively assist law enforcement.”
The National Rifle Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
___
Associated Press writer Bobby Calvan in New York contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/09/10/visa-start-categorizing-gun-shop-sales-separately/ | 2022-09-10T23:24:10Z |
Data from the largest real-world MRD study to date in resectable colorectal cancer reinforces the findings from the recent CIRCULATE-Japan study
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRA), a global leader in cell-free DNA testing, today announced new data on its personalized and tumor-informed molecular residual disease (MRD) test, Signatera™, at the 2022 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) World Congress, taking place September 9-13 in Paris, France.
Signatera data was presented in 4 abstracts, including both oral and poster presentations. These include results from a real-world study on colorectal cancer (CRC) patients as well as an early readout from the BELLINI trial that highlights how circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamics can help inform neoadjuvant treatment decision-making in hormone receptor negative, HER2 negative (triple-negative) breast cancer (TNBC). The key highlights are below:
Abstract # 1828 | Late-Breaking Oral Presentation | Presenter: Marleen Kok
Nivolumab and ipilimumab in early stage triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs): first results from the BELLINI trial
This study evaluates the potential clinical utility of ctDNA in assessing the response to neoadjuvant immunotherapy in patients with early stage (I-II) TNBC. Thirty patients were treated with two cycles of the immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) nivolumab, alone or in combination with ipilimumab, prior to the start of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Response to ICIs was evaluated radiographically, as well as through the analysis of ctDNA dynamics. All of the patients who achieved partial response by imaging presented with 50-100% reduction in ctDNA levels compared to pretreatment, while increasing or stable ctDNA levels were observed in non-responders.
"The BELLINI trial supports MRD testing for early, reliable immunotherapy response monitoring in the neoadjuvant TNBC setting," said Dr. Minetta Liu, Natera's chief medical officer of oncology. "We are very encouraged by the data generated through our collaboration with Dr. Kok and colleagues, and we look forward to ongoing work to push the boundaries of chemotherapy de-escalation."
Abstract # 319MO | Mini Oral Presentation | Presenter: Stacey A. Cohen
Real world monitoring of circulating tumor DNA reliably predicts cancer recurrence in patients with resected stages I-III colorectal cancer
In this retrospective analysis of a real-world cohort of 16,347 patients with early stage colorectal cancer, MRD status was assessed using the Signatera test after surgery and during surveillance. Complete clinical information was available for a subset of 417 patients, and showed that postoperative MRD-positive status was significantly associated with inferior recurrence-free survival. Patients who were MRD-negative showed no significant benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy, regardless of other risk factors such as stage, age or microsatellite instability status.
"The results from this large, real-world dataset reinforce those from the CIRCULATE-Japan study presented earlier this year, and provide further evidence for the potential value of MRD testing in the clinic," said the study's principal investigator, Dr. Stacey Cohen of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. "Incorporating MRD testing into the standard of care for CRC may better identify the patients with a high risk of recurrence – enabling timely intervention, while sparing those who would not benefit from unnecessary treatment."
Abstract # 1649P | Poster Presentation | Presenter: Danica Vodopivec Kuri
A proof-of-concept study for detecting ctDNA in rare thyroid cancers
Abstract # 728O | Oral Presentation | Presenter: Omid Hamid
Results from phase I dose escalation of IMC-F106C, the first PRAME × CD3 ImmTAC bispecific protein in solid tumors
Signatera dynamics used to assess therapy response across multiple tumor types.
About Signatera
Signatera is a custom-built circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) test for treatment monitoring and molecular residual disease (MRD) assessment in patients previously diagnosed with cancer. The test is available for both clinical and research use, and has been granted three Breakthrough Device Designations by the FDA for multiple cancer types and indications. The Signatera test is personalized and tumor-informed, providing each individual with a customized blood test tailored to fit the unique signature of clonal mutations found in that individual's tumor. This maximizes Signatera's accuracy for detecting the presence or absence of residual disease in a blood sample, even at levels down to a single tumor molecule in a tube of blood. Signatera is intended to detect and assess how much cancer is left in the body, to identify recurrence earlier and to help optimize treatment decisions.
About Natera
Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA testing, dedicated to oncology, women's health, and organ health. We aim to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health, and inform earlier, more targeted interventions that help lead to longer, healthier lives. Natera's tests are validated by more than 100 peer-reviewed publications that demonstrate high accuracy. Natera operates ISO 13485-certified and CAP-accredited laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) in Austin, Texas and San Carlos, California. For more information, visit www.natera.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements and are not a representation that Natera's plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved. These forward-looking statements represent Natera's expectations as of the date of this press release, and Natera disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including with respect to whether the results of clinical or other studies will support the use of our product offerings, the impact of results of such studies, our expectations of the reliability, accuracy and performance of our tests, or of the benefits of our tests and product offerings to patients, providers and payers, or coverage and reimbursement determinations from third-party payers. Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail in "Risk Factors" in Natera's recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and in other filings Natera makes with the SEC from time to time. These documents are available at www.natera.com/investors and www.sec.gov.
Contacts
Investor Relations: Mike Brophy, CFO, Natera, Inc., 650-249-9090
Media: Brian Symmons, SVP of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Natera, Inc., pr@natera.com
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SOURCE Natera, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/natera-presents-new-colorectal-breast-cancer-data-esmo-2022-highlighting-signateras-ability-inform-treatment-decisions-adjuvant-neoadjuvant-settings/ | 2022-09-12T13:45:38Z |
SMITHS FALLS, ON, July 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Canopy Growth Corporation ("Canopy Growth" or the "Company") (TSX: WEED) (NASDAQ: CGC) will release its financial results for the first quarter fiscal year 2023 ended June 30, 2022 before financial markets open on August 5, 2022.
Following the release of its first quarter fiscal year 2023 financial results, Canopy Growth will host an audio webcast with David Klein, CEO and Judy Hong, CFO on August 5, 2022, at 10:00 AM ET.
Management will address questions during a Q&A portion of the call related to Canopy Growth's business and financial results. Additionally, verified shareholders can submit and upvote questions in advance using a platform developed by Say Technologies. Shareholders can submit questions starting on July 29, 2022, at 10:00 am ET by visiting:
https://app.saytechnologies.com/canopy-growth-corporation-2023-q1.
The platform will close on August 4, 2022, at 10:00 am ET.
A live audio webcast will be available at:
A replay will be accessible by webcast until 11:59 PM ET on November 5, 2022 at:
Canopy Growth (TSX:WEED, NASDAQ:CGC) is a world-leading diversified cannabis and cannabinoid-based consumer product company, driven by a passion to improve lives, end prohibition, and strengthen communities by unleashing the full potential of cannabis. Leveraging consumer insights and innovation, we offer product varieties in high-quality dried flower, oil, softgel capsule, infused beverage, edible, and topical formats, as well as vaporizer devices by Canopy Growth and industry-leader Storz & Bickel. Our global medical brand, Spectrum Therapeutics, sells a range of full-spectrum products using its colour-coded classification system and is a market leader in both Canada and Germany. Through our award-winning Tweed and Tokyo Smoke banners, we reach our adult-use consumers and have built a loyal following by focusing on top quality products and meaningful customer relationships. Canopy Growth has entered into the health and wellness consumer space in key markets including Canada, the United States, and Europe through BioSteel sports nutrition, and This Works skin and sleep solutions; and has introduced additional hemp derived CBD products to the United States through our First & Free and Martha Stewart CBD brands. Canopy Growth has an established partnership with Fortune 500 alcohol leader Constellation Brands. For more information visit www.canopygrowth.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable U.S. and Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), which involve certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements predict or describe our future operations, business plans, business and investment strategies and the performance of our investments. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by their use of such terms and phrases as "intend," "goal," "strategy," "estimate," "expect," "project," "projections," "forecasts," "plans," "seeks," "anticipates," "potential," "proposed," "will," "should," "could," "would," "may," "likely," "designed to," "foreseeable future," "believe," "scheduled" and other similar expressions. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. Forward‐looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks, financial results, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward‐looking statements and the forward‐looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. A discussion of some of the material factors applicable to Canopy Growth Corporation ("Canopy") can be found under the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Canopy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with applicable Canadian securities regulators, as such factors may be further updated from time to time in its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with applicable Canadian securities regulators, which can be accessed at www.sec.gov/edgar and www.sedar.com, respectively. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this press release and in the filings. Any forward‐looking statement included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and, except as required by law, Canopy disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward‐ looking statement. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on any forward‐looking statement. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
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SOURCE Canopy Growth Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/22/canopy-growth-report-first-quarter-fiscal-2023-financial-results-august-5-2022/ | 2022-07-22T13:12:28Z |
PITTSBURGH, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "Losing a cherished pet in a fire or other home emergency is devastating. I wanted to create a "smart pet door" that would prevent this tragedy from happening if the pet owner was not home,"said an inventor from Shrewsbury Mass.,"That is why I invented the "EMERGENCY ANIMAL RESCUE DOOR".
The patent-pending invention is an upgraded more modern version from the traditional doggy door. The EMERGENCY ANIMAL RESCUE DOOR provides pet owners greater peace of mind by giving their pets a chance to escape should a fire or other life-threatnening curcumstance occur even if they are not home. It also provides visual and audio communication between pet and owner. A wearable tag equipped with a GPS tracker allows pets to be easily located after fleeing the danger. The door features customizable design, easy installation, and additional accessories, including an emergency-ready crate with similar life-saving capabilities.
The original design was submitted to the Boston sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-BEC-166, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/inventhelp-inventor-develops-brake-assembly-dollies-bec-166/ | 2022-05-31T15:13:26Z |
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