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Texans are cranking on the air conditioning this week amid an unusually early heat wave, setting new records for electricity demand in the state, which surpassed 75 gigawatts on Sunday and smashed the 2019 record. Texas grid operator ERCOT projects it could approach that peak again on Tuesday.
But unlike previous extreme weather events in Texas which led to deadly blackouts, the grid is holding up remarkably well this week. Several experts told CNN that it's owed in large part to strong performances from wind and solar, which generated 27 gigawatts of electricity during Sunday's peak demand -- close to 40% of the total needed.
"Texas is, by rhetoric, anti-renewables. But frankly, renewables are bailing us out," said Michael Webber, an energy expert and professor at the University of Texas at Austin. "They're rocking. That really spares us a lot of heartache and a lot of money."
Despite the Texas Republican rhetoric that wind and solar are unreliable, Texas has a massive and growing fleet of renewables. Zero-carbon electricity sources (wind, solar, and nuclear) powered about 38% of the state's power in 2021, rivaling natural gas at 42%.
This is a relatively recent phenomenon for the state.
"Wind and solar would not have been available in years in the past, so the growing capacity helps to alleviate reliance on natural gas and coal," said Jonathan DeVilbiss, operations research analyst at the US Energy Information Administration.
Not only have renewables helped keep the power on during a scorching and early heatwave, they have also helped keep costs low. Prices for natural gas and coal are high amid a worldwide energy crunch, but renewables -- powered by the wind and sun -- have no fuel cost.
"Because the price of wind and sunlight hasn't doubled in the past year like other resources, they are acting as a hedge against high fuel prices," said Josh Marks, an energy researcher at UT Austin.
Peak demand during peak heat
Texas and other states have been sweltering in triple-digit temperatures and dangerous heat indices. Texas state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon told CNN that San Antonio has been a particular hot spot; it recently hit 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, setting a new pre-July record.
Texas is used to heat, but this year they're "getting August weather in May and June," Webber told CNN.
Experts said the Texas grid was built to withstand extreme heat moreso than the extreme cold brought by the deadly 2021 winter storm. But with the state now experiencing August-like temperatures in early June many questioned whether the Texas grid could withstand the longer, hotter summers fueled by climate change.
"As opposed to a winter storm, we were built for three months of 90-plus [degrees]," said Caitlin Smith, head of regulatory policy and communications at Texas-based battery storage company Jupiter Power. "Were we built for 4 months of 100-plus [degrees]? There's some uncertainty there."
If the early spikes in temperature persist this year, it could stress out the grid and power plants, Smith and Marks warned. As well as the grid is working right now, that could change if this summer continues to bring unrelenting heat.
"It's like the human body; heat stress is cumulative," Marks said. "The body has no time to recover. Power plants are like that as well, they need some time to recover."
Marks added that renewables have been a big help during this early surge by taking strain off the traditional thermal power plants that use coal and natural gas to keep the lights on.
Human-caused climate change is linked to rising global temperatures and extreme heat. And while it's too early to tell exactly how much climate change is to blame for the current heat wave, it's safe to assume it is a factor, said Andy Dessler who directs the Texas Center for Climate Studies at Texas A&M University.
"It's 100% certain that climate change is contributing to this," Dessler told CNN. "Everything's getting hotter. August is getting hotter; June is getting hotter. It is hot and this is the future."
Overcrowded transmission lines
Even though Texas is an oil and gas giant, renewables -- and particularly, wind -- have long been thriving there. Texas generates the most wind energy in the country: In 2020, it produced more wind electricity than Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma — the next three highest states — combined, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
Solar has been a smaller portion of the state's energy mix than wind, but it is growing as well. Solar generated about 4% of electricity in Texas last summer, and is expected to grow to 7.2% this summer, EIA projections show.
Building out more solar will be important to deal with heat waves in the depths of summer, when wind speeds tend to drop, experts told CNN. That's because if it's really hot out, there's a good chance the sun is beating down.
But Marks and Webber pointed to infrastructure issues limiting the potential of renewables; Texas needs more transmission lines to carry energy generated by renewables to customers. Marks pointed to ERCOT projects showing higher solar numbers than what was actually being used; a casualty of over-crowded power lines that can't let the power through to consumers.
"About half of the solar that could be produced is not being produced right now because there's no more room on the lines," Marks said. "The numbers for renewables would probably be higher if we had the transmission capacity to move them around."
Wind and solar have natural variability as well; solar can't generate energy during nighttime, and wind turbines don't turn when the wind isn't blowing. That is spurring a big focus on developing more massive batteries that can store and deploy renewable energy when the wind isn't blowing, and the sun isn't shining.
"It does keep growth of renewables strong; it allows you to firm up that renewable capacity," Smith said.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/wind-and-solar-power-are-bailing-out-texas-amid-record-heat-and-energy-demand/article_f4f613e3-2c68-5414-be73-7ce708d99446.html | 2022-06-14T16:32:47Z |
Mrs. Bosco is recognized for her innovative and impactful use of Global Burden of Disease data to empower women and improve access to rural health care in India
SEATTLE, July 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington today announced Mukteshwari "Mukti" Bosco, CEO and Founder of Healing Fields Foundation, is the recipient of the 2022 Roux Prize, the world's largest award for evidence-based public health achievement. The annual award, sponsored by IHME's founding board member David Roux and his wife, Barbara, recognizes people worldwide for their innovative and impactful use of IHME's Global Burden of Disease data.
"Mukti Bosco's lifelong commitment to improving the health and livelihood of some of the world's most vulnerable populations is an inspiring call to action for public health professionals everywhere," said IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray. "The Roux Prize recognizes creative problem-solvers like Mukti who are the driving force behind real change. Her determination to overcome daunting barriers and turn evidence into action exemplifies the spirit of the Roux Prize."
Mrs. Bosco is credited with developing one of the first micro health insurance programs in India, which inspired her creation of health awareness and prevention programs centered around women's empowerment and health education in rural communities. Since its inception in 2000, Healing Fields Foundation has trained thousands of women leaders known as Community Health Entrepreneurs (CHE), enabling them to generate income while educating their populations about preventive health care, sanitation, nutrition, and non-communicable diseases and providing access to care through facilitated telehealth. As health advocates under Mrs. Bosco's leadership, they are positioned to observe, evaluate, and intervene in the unique health challenges of their respective communities. Through strategic data collection, which has included tracking health trends through community studies and surveys conducted by mobile phone, they can quickly identify evidence-based solutions to improve access and health outcomes.
"Receiving the Roux Prize reflects the transformative power of our Community Health Entrepreneurs, their communities, and the entire Healing Fields organization," said Bosco. "We will build on this award to continue empowering women to use data and catalyze village health ecosystems."
Healing Field's preventive health education program has helped over six million families in India and is considered one of the most impactful programs of its kind. Evaluated by some of the leading research institutions worldwide, including Deloitte and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, the Healing Fields Foundation has championed gender equality while improving the health and agency of populations in resource-deficient communities in India. Mrs. Bosco is committed to expanding her life's work by deploying more health agents throughout India to improve the health and well-being of 300 million citizens by 2030.
In October, Mrs. Bosco's exceptional contributions to population health research will be celebrated at an awards dinner in London, UK, where she will receive a $100,000 award to support her ongoing work.
The Roux Prize recognizes people who have leveraged evidence-based health data to improve population health. Beginning in September, IHME will accept nominations for the 2023 Roux Prize. Nominations are accepted globally and can include, but are not limited to, staff in government agencies, researchers at academic institutions, volunteers in charitable organizations, or health providers working in the community.
Details on the nomination process for the Roux Prize are available at www.rouxprize.org. Questions about the prize can be sent to info@rouxprize.org.
About the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)
An independent population health research organization based at the University of Washington School of Medicine, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) works with collaborators around the world to develop timely, relevant, and scientifically valid evidence that illuminates the state of health everywhere. In making our research available and approachable, we aim to inform health policy and practice in pursuit of our vision: all people living long lives in full health.
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SOURCE Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/22/mukteshwari-mukti-bosco-receives-2022-roux-prize/ | 2022-07-22T12:54:22Z |
DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic got the help he and the Dallas Mavericks needed — from Jalen Brunson on offense and himself, Reggie Bullock and others on defense.
The Dallas superstar had 26 points and 13 rebounds, and the Mavericks turned up the defensive pressure to get back in their Western Conference semifinal series with Phoenix, beating the Suns 103-94 on Friday night.
The Mavericks spoiled Chris Paul’s 37th birthday, forcing the 17-year pro into his most turnovers in any half of a playoff game with seven before the break.
Dallas cut the Suns’ series lead to 2-1 and ended an 11-game losing streak against Phoenix, regular season included. Game 4 is Sunday in Dallas.
“Energy, man,” Doncic said of the best Dallas defensive showing of the series. “The crowd gets you going. The energy and the execution were better. That’s what we’ve got to do every game.”
Paul didn’t have any more turnovers after halftime, but the Suns finally struggled with their shooting when they weren’t turning it over. Phoenix shot 45%, ending a run of at least 50% shooting in the playoffs at eight games.
“It felt like all seven of ’em were back to back to back,” said Paul, whose career high for a game in the playoffs is eight turnovers. “If I don’t turn the ball over like that I feel like it’s a different game.”
Jae Crowder scored 19 for Phoenix, but the Mavericks limited the impact of Devin Booker in much the same way they did Paul. Booker scored 18 but was just 2 of 7 inside the 3-point line, and Paul had 12 on just nine shots (five made) in the Suns’ lowest-scoring game of the season.
Doncic just missed a triple-double with nine assists, while Brunson led Dallas with 28 points after struggling in the two losses in Phoenix when Doncic averaged 40 points but didn’t get enough help.
“I found a way to bounce back tonight,” Brunson said. “I just can’t be satisfied with this. Sunday’s going to be another brutal game. I have to bring the same energy, the same intensity, the same everything.”
A scrambling Dallas defense was the biggest difference, starting from the opening tip with Bullock shadowing Paul everywhere. The Mavericks stepped into passing lanes, including when Spencer Dinwiddie tiptoed along the sideline after a steal for a layup in transition.
Paul had six turnovers in the first 16 minutes, including one when he simply lost the ball out bounds trying to work his way to the basket. The only Dallas turnover before halftime was an offensive foul on Doncic, who disliked the call enough to mimic what he thought were flopping movements by Paul.
The Suns targeted Doncic’s defense when shooting 84% to pull away in the fourth quarter of a 20-point win in Game 2. The 23-year-old Slovenian dove to the court early in this one, winning a battle with Deandre Ayton for a loose ball.
“When you see your best player doing that, it kind of sets a mood,” Dorian Finney-Smith said.
Doncic had to leave with his fifth foul early in the fourth quarter, and the Suns cut an 18-point deficit earlier in the second half to nine just after he came back.
Brunson answered with free throws to get the lead back to double digits, and the Mavericks got enough stops to stay comfortably in front.
The lead was eight when Doncic kept Crowder from getting a steal near midcourt with a minute remaining, leading to a corner 3 with from Bullock, who scored 15. He and Finney-Smith, who scored 14, had four 3s apiece.
“It wasn’t like us,” Booker said. “You can credit them. They came out played hard, played desperate. That’s that. We’ve got a series.”
TIP-INS
Suns: Mikal Bridges was called for a technical foul late in the first half, and Paul got one early in the second. Both came going into timeouts. … Ayton had 16 points and 11 rebounds. … Torrey Craig was out with a right elbow contusion. He played sparingly in the first two games of the series.
Mavericks: Bullock, who spent plenty of time guarding Paul in the first half, was reported as questionable with a rib injury at halftime. … Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley, a former Dallas assistant, attended the game. Two of his players, Cole Anthony and Wendell Carter Jr., were with him.
QUICK SNAP
The Mavericks got a favorable possession call early in the second half when the ball appeared to go off them out of bounds. Officials ruled Dallas ball, and as the Suns tried to plead with officials to reconsider, Brunson inbounded quickly to Finney-Smith, who hit a 3 without a dribble.
___
More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/mavs-get-defensive-top-suns-103-94-for-2-1-series-deficit/ | 2022-05-07T13:28:51Z |
Simon Pegg stars in Peter Kosminsky’s new cyber thriller “The Undeclared War.” The film takes place in the UK and it is in a post covid world set in the year 2024 and the country sufferers a major cyber attack.
Pegg plays the part of head of operations at the facility “GCHU” and as the new intern finds her barring’s she spots a new virus that is now being discussed as a conspiracy within the company.
“It’s frightening stuff” said Pegg, “because a lot of it as they say is based on reality.”
In the movie the employees deal with what is called “troll farmers,” where people get on Twitter in other countries pretending to be, in this case Americans trolling the British trying to stir up some trouble.
“I learned stuff on this show that I think everybody should know, just for their own internet awareness” said Pegg. “But it’s also incredibly exciting and entertaining as well.”
Pegg is also apart of the “Mission Impossible” franchise with A List actor, Tom Cruise. The seventh movie has been completed and Pegg touched on the in and outs of the eighth movie that is in the works.
“The Undeclared War” premieres on Peacock Aug.18.
This segment aired on the KTLA 5 Morning News on Aug. 12, 2022. | https://cw33.com/news/simon-pegg-stars-in-new-cyber-thriller-the-undeclared-war/ | 2022-08-15T14:11:08Z |
Unique 25-year agreement; new HondaJet flight simulator installed and certified
COLUMBUS, Ohio and GREENSBORO, N.C., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Honda Aircraft Company and FlightSafety International announced a 25-year extension to their existing 15-year-old partnership that will continue the two companies' innovative relationship until 2047. The agreement builds on a partnership that combines the strengths of both parties across different sectors to provide training to HondaJet owners and operators with the highest level of safety, while setting a strong, long-term commitment to aviation.
"We are committed to providing HondaJet customers with the best training and the collaboration between Honda Aircraft Company and FlightSafety International will continue to enhance these programs," said Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Hideto Yamasaki. "As the HondaJet fleet size continues to grow globally with high aircraft utilization, it is important to expand the HondaJet training network to best accommodate customer needs."
"This is a key milestone for FlightSafety and HondaJet that emphasizes our strong long-standing partnership," said FlightSafety International President and CEO Brad Thress. "We are proud to be the Authorized Training Provider for a state-of-the art aircraft like HondaJet. It's an honor to continue providing their operators the highest fidelity training."
Honda Aircraft Company and FlightSafety International also announced that a new FAA-certified HondaJet Level D full flight simulator now is located at the company's Greensboro, N.C. (U.S.) world headquarters. This is in addition to one simulator already in use at the same location, and another available in Farnborough, England.
More than 600 pilots have completed the HA-420 Initial Pilot Course to date. Now, the new simulator in Greensboro will double training capacity, serving more customers and significantly reducing the wait time for new and returning HondaJet pilots. This enhanced training efficiency will help meet increasing demand from Honda Aircraft Company's growing customer base for top quality service.
The HondaJet cockpit is built for optimum safety based on ergonomic design and state-of-art situational awareness. It is also highly automated, while reducing pilot workload and providing additional assistance for more efficient operations, all to make flying easier, safer and more enjoyable. The cockpit is unquestionably built around the pilot to enable either single-pilot or crew operation of the HondaJet. The flight simulator delivers the same experience in which pilots will learn to fly with confidence.
Honda Aircraft Company and FlightSafety International will continue to combine their product and training programs to provide HondaJet operators with the best ownership experience and a shared commitment to safety and reliability.
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SOURCE Honda Aircraft Company | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/honda-aircraft-company-extends-partnership-with-flightsafety-international/ | 2022-06-21T18:28:00Z |
Friendly Technologies will exhibit at CommunicAsia - part of Asia Tech x Singapore.
RAMAT GAN, Israel, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Friendly Technologies, the IoT & device management company, will exhibit at CommunicAsia (Asia Tech x Singapore), as well as meet with longtime, new, and potential customers and partners.
Friendly Technologies will present its future-ready solution that enables the automatic management of all types of devices on one unified platform. The forward-thinking platform is device-agnostic and is compatible with all networks and industry verticals, including telecommunications, utilities, logistics, asset management, and others. It allows service providers to quickly and efficiently deploy, monitor, and manage devices remotely on an easy-to-use interface with cutting-edge technology.
Speaking on behalf of the company at CommunicAsia, Iael Matmor, Friendly's Distribution Manager, said, "We are excited to bring our solutions to CommunicAsia. As a global leader in IoT and device management, our presence will help enrich the event. In addition, it will be a great opportunity for us to meet with our longtime partners and clients, as well as to help guide newer and potential clients to discover our device management platform."
Friendly Technologies will be exhibiting at CommunicAsia during all three days of the conference, from June 1st to June 3rd, 2022, at booth 4D1-01.
CommunicAsia is one of the region's most important tech events. It is organized by The Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore and Informatech. At the conference, market disruptors, cloud providers, communication service providers, technology vendors, and others put forward business opportunities and technological implications for a rapidly evolving world.
About Friendly Technologies
Friendly Technologies (est. 1997) is a leading provider of operator-class platforms for IoT, Smart Home, and TR-069/TR-369 USP Device Management.
Friendly has been providing TR-069 device management solutions to operators and service providers since 2007. When IoT and Smart Home first appeared, Friendly leveraged its expertise and expanded its offering to the IoT and Smart Home markets. Today, Friendly offers a unified platform, enabling its customers to generate new revenue streams in a variety of verticals, including utilities, transportation, smart cities, and more. In line with this mission, Friendly Technology has been recognized by Frost & Sullivan as a global leader in unified device management.
Website – friendly-tech.com
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/friendly-technologies
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SOURCE Friendly Technologies | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/friendly-tech-introduce-game-changing-iot-platform-communicasia/ | 2022-05-17T11:48:22Z |
The 2023 model is Living Vehicle's most self-sufficient trailer to date. The game-changing integrated water from air system allows owners to stay off-grid longer than ever before.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After much anticipation, Living Vehicle, a luxury electric travel trailer with impressively powerful off-grid capabilities, announces its 2023 model, bringing the company closer than ever to its ultimate goal of achieving a Net-Zero offering. The Living Vehicle 2023 Travel Trailer allows owners to travel far away from campgrounds and overcrowded RV parks. The 2023 Living Vehicle is a traveling solar power plant capable of creating an endless water supply to allow its owners to remain off-grid longer than ever before.
The 2023 Living Vehicle is the first vehicle (trailer or otherwise) to produce its water with the innovative Watergen water system that uses humidity in the air to create potable water. With more solar power than most traditional homes, this technologically independent trailer is the epitome of luxury unplugged™ with a robust LVEngergy power system, offering complete energy independence to power all onboard equipment. The 2023 model makes it possible for anyone, even professionals in the most demanding creative industries, to work anywhere with the Creative Studio, a mobile office jam-packed with state-of-the-art technology from Apple.
Living Vehicle blends autonomous technology and enduring, sustainable power with stunning, functional architecture to push the limits of modern nomadic living. The 2023 model is the most powerful trailer currently on the market and boasts luxe furnishings, gourmet appliances, seemingly endless storage space, and spa-like bathing. Living Vehicle's founders, Matthew and Joanna Hofmann, created Living Vehicle from their own firsthand experiences to challenge the status quo of living, traveling, and working from the road so the modern nomad can live without compromise.
"The 2023 Living Vehicle breaks down barriers for nomadic homeowners. It is our most powerful trailer to date, thanks to our proprietary LVEnergy system. Being able to create our water from air is monumental and allows travelers not to be limited by the size of their water tanks while on the go," said Matthew Hofmann. "Conventional trailer design is fundamentally a short-term solution designed for recreation, which in the end, is why they are called recreational vehicles, or RVs. Nomadic Living Vehicle homeowners enjoy both form and function with the freedom to remain safe, healthy, and connected longer while exploring the best and most remote destinations in North America without ever having to plug into a campsite or fill up their water tanks. Our vision for Living Vehicle is to support the best possible life, literally creating the very resources we as humans need – completely free from the grid."
Watergen water-air generator is paired with Living Vehicle's oversized water tank, multiple redundant power sources, energy storage packs and off-road capabilities, allowing owners to comfortably extend their freedom on the road and in remote locations, longer than ever before. Access to 24-7 potable water is a central pillar in the ability to remain off-grid. As pioneers for the industry, Living Vehicle partnered with Watergen, leaders in sustainability, innovation, and luxury, offering the ultimate water from air technology, to fully integrate this system into the 2023 Living Vehicle structure. By partnering with Watergen and seamlessly incorporating the technology into its models, Living Vehicle has become one of just 15 companies worldwide to experience Watergen's on-the-go water generator integrated system.
The production of drinking water from humidity in the air via Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) is undeniably the best water extraction solution available today. The 2023 model units with Watergen give owners the independence and freedom to enjoy top-quality, mineral-rich water from the comfort of their Living Vehicle wherever their off-grid journeys take them, even in the most arid and remote locations. The technology also naturally reduces the vehicle owner's carbon footprint and plastic pollution by eliminating single-use plastic containers and transportation-related supply chain pollution.
Producing enough water for an entire family, the technology saves storage space, allows for ease of preparation for travel, extends the time one can spend off-grid, and eliminates the hassle of finding water sources en route. The INside system requires minor maintenance and provides up to 5 gallons of clean drinkable water per day.
"Watergen is proud to partner with Living Vehicle for the first mobile application to provide water on the go," said Michael Mirilashvili, President of Watergen. "This innovation now available in the 2023 Living Vehicle has been in the works for years and brings us closer to our vision to provide clean, safe, and sustainable drinking water around the clock, from any location."
Also made possible by Living Vehicle's energy-generating resources powered by the sun is the Living Vehicle Creative Studio, available in the 2023 model. The Living Vehicle Creative Studio is outfitted with state-of-the-art technology from Apple. These products allow modern professionals, who are heavily reliant on powerful hardware, to perform their job from anywhere. Living Vehicle is the only off-grid trailer with the power and devices to run a technology-reliant business harmoniously from the utmost remote locations without compromising on equipment or location.
Each Creative Studio comes fully loaded with a range of configurable hardware. The visual center of the Studio highlights Apple's Pro Display XDR, which features a 32-inch Retina 6K screen, or the Studio Display, an immersive 27-inch 5K Retina display. To power the Studio, options include a 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro or M1 Max, which delivers game-changing performance and battery life, and features a stunning Liquid Retina XDR display, a wide array of ports, a 1080p camera, industry-leading studio-quality mics, and a high-fidelity, six-speaker sound system.
For the ultimate dream studio experience, the Creative Studio may be configured with the Mac Studio with M1 Max or M1 Ultra, the world's most powerful chip in a personal computer. Like the mobile office, the entire Creative Studio is mounted above an 80" walnut one or two-person desk that can be effortlessly lowered without disturbing the active workspace, revealing a queen-sized Memory-Foam bed.
Now available for order at a base price of $339,995, all orders are custom manufactured with a 10–12-month lead time. The 2023 Living Vehicle is available in 3 models differentiated according to capability and amenities, including: CORE, MAX, and PRO, with the PRO being the flagship Living Vehicle.
For more information or order a 2023 Living Vehicle, please contact Living Vehicle at (805) 618-2462, or visit https://www.livingvehicle.com/ and @livingvehicle. High-resolution images are available here.
Founded in 2017, Living Vehicle blends modern architecture and technology to create the ultimate luxury travel trailer. Quality comes first in these high-end adaptable spaces that allow you to live, travel, work, and seek adventure off-grid in any environment. With a passion for freedom, wellness, and sustainability, the company works every day toward a vision of a completely self-sufficient, net-zero mobile living space. For more information, visit https://www.livingvehicle.com/.
Watergen is an Israel-based company, owned by businessman and philanthropist Michael Mirilashvili, whose mission is to provide clean, safe drinking water to anyone and everywhere in the world. Watergen's patented technology extracts water from air in a highly efficient manner. By using food-grade materials and a multi-step cleaning and filtration process, it becomes a safe and delicious source of drinking water, without extracting and filtering ground water. Various forms and solutions can be implemented, addressing a wide variety of needs and locations. The water generator can be powered by any energy source, including solar panels, to make it 100% off-grid and 100% sustainable. The advanced technology makes it possible to produce water even in extremely arid climates, with just 20% humidity. For more information, visit https://www.watergen.com/.
Contact: Hawkins International, a Finn Partners company
HIPR-livingvehicle@finnpartners.com
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SOURCE Living Vehicle | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/introducing-electric-2023-living-vehicle-with-industry-changing-solar-water-generation-technology/ | 2022-06-21T13:39:56Z |
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Perhaps the late Sam Mills would have been a blue-chip college recruit and high NFL draft pick had someone invented — as the 5-foot-9 linebacker memorably suggested –- “a computer to measure heart.”
Mills played Division III college football and was not drafted. That made his rise to stardom with the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers — and his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, this weekend — all the more remarkable.
The player nicknamed “Field Mouse” had the will to “keep pounding,” as he’d famously say. It made him an inspiration to people facing long odds in many aspects of life, whether they were undersized football prospects or cancer patients.
“I get emotional talking about him and I always have, because the darn guy was special,” said Jim Mora, who coached Mills in the USFL with the Philadelphia and Baltimore Stars, and then with the Saints. “I loved the guy.”
Former Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert was struck by how little Mills resembled an NFL player in public. Not only was Mills a bit shorter than the average guy on the street, but he wore prescription glasses and had an air of politeness and approachability.
“He was a straight-and-narrow, great guy, just down to earth,” Hebert said, noting that Mills also ran Bible study with the Saints. “Not only was he a leader, like Xs and Os, but also a spiritual leader. … Sam was as tough as they come on the field and a perfect gentleman off.”
Hebert also marveled at Mills’ ability to so thoroughly win over the fan bases of two long-time divisional rivals.
“You know, I go to the same division, from the Saints to the Falcons, and I’m a mercenary,” Hebert said. “Sam’s a hero for both” New Orleans and Carolina.
Mills was part of New Orleans’ vaunted “Dome Patrol,” which included fellow Hall-of-Famer Rickey Jackson, as well as Vaughn Johnson and Pat Swilling, and is widely cited as one of the best four-linebacker units in NFL history.
Saints players who’d gaze downward at Mills in defensive huddles “all looked up to him,” Mora said. “Maybe they felt like he was an overachiever. He wasn’t. He was just that good.”
Outside the Panthers’ home stadium stands a statue of Mills wearing his No. 51 jersey. Mills spent the last three of his 12 NFL seasons in Carolina. In 1996, his second with the Panthers, he was named All-Pro. He also went into coaching with Carolina, and was an assistant when he was diagnosed with intestinal cancer before the 2003 season.
Mills kept coaching during his treatment, and made what is known as his “keep pounding” speech on the eve of the club’s Super Bowl match-up with New England at the end of that season.
“When I found out I had cancer, there were two things I could do: quit or keep pounding,” Mills said then. “I’m a fighter. I kept pounding. You’re fighters, too. Keep pounding!”
The quarterback of that Panthers team was Louisiana native Jake Delhomme, who grew up watching Mills call the Saints’ pre-snap defensive signals, fearlessly shed blocks from offensive linemen who dwarfed him and then plant ball-carriers on their backs.
“I always kind of revered Sam Mills,” Delhomme said. “I was that young kid that was like, ‘Man, that’s the undersized guy. That’s the guy that made it. That’s the Field Mouse.’”
During the speech, “You felt that emotion,” Delhomme recalled. “It was like, ‘Oh my God, let’s put on the uniform now. Let’s play right now!’”
But Delhomme’s most poignant memory of Mills came earlier that season, a few days after a loss to Dallas. Delhomme recalled feeling sore, sluggish and uncharacteristically sorry for himself as he walked to practice. Then Mills jogged past, slapped Delhomme on the back side and said, “Let’s go get better.”
Delhomme refers to that moment as an “awakening” in which he told himself: “You need to grow up and try to be just a tenth of this guy.”
“Everybody knew he was dying,” Delhomme continued. “He was doing chemo. And he’s running out to practice … and he’s going to coach his ass off.”
Mills was just 45 when he died in April 2005. “Keep pounding” remains the Panthers’ tag line.
“He lived ‘keep pounding,’ and it resonates with people because it’s real and because it’s not just a sports thing,” said Mills’ eldest son, Washington Commanders defensive assistant coach Sam Mills III.
“I feel honored that I’ve had a chance to be around someone that’s touched so many people’s lives,” Mills III added. “You see how many people he’s affected with his story of small school or small stature. And then when you go post-cancer, you see how many other people who have nothing to do with football would come up and speak to him about their fight. I feel privileged to have been a part of that — to see what that has meant to people, to see what stopping and talking to someone for two minutes out of your day means to people.”
When Mills was playing high school football in Long Branch, New Jersey, he had little expectation of going to college until his coach persuaded him. He was good enough at Montclair State to receive training camp invitations from the Cleveland Browns and Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. Neither team kept him because of concerns about his size, and he went back to New Jersey to teach photography at East Orange High School and serve as an assistant football coach.
But when the USFL was preparing for its inaugural season in 1983, then-Brown’s coach Sam Rutigliano, never comfortable with Cleveland’s decision to cut Mills, encouraged Philadelphia Stars general manager Carl Peterson to take a serious look at him.
Mora, then the Stars’ head coach, recalled linebacker coach Vince Tobin asserting, “I don’t care how tall he is. This guy is a football player.”
When Mora started to evaluate Mills more closely, he noticed that Mills was quick, had exceptional lower body strength, and that his shorter stature could be an asset.
Linebackers are taught to get their shoulder-pad level below that of the player they’re trying to tackle because it gives them leverage. Having also been a high school wrestler, Mills knew all about leverage and taking opponents to the ground.
“In football,” Mora noted, “sometimes the low man wins.”
Mills never “loafed” during practice and always made meetings on time, Mora said. He wasn’t just a run-stuffer, either. He could cover tight ends and running backs out of the backfield, and his positional soundness and anticipation of QBs’ intentions helped him effectively cover players who were taller than he was.
When Mora was hired by the Saints in 1986, he persuade the club to sign Mills.
In 181 NFL games, Mills made 1,265 tackles, had 23 fumble recoveries, forced 22 fumbles, had 20½ sacks and intercepted 11 passes. He also was part of the first four playoff teams in New Orleans Saints history and the first in Panthers history.
“It was hard to find negatives about the guy on or off the field,” Mora said. “He probably would have had a great future as a coach. He knew the game, he studied the game and always prepared mentally. Players would have loved playing for him.”
Mora has coached other Hall-of-Fame players — household names including quarterback Peyton Manning and receiver Marvin Harrison. Seeing Mills enter the Hall will be gratifying for Mora in a different way.
Many football fans “don’t know Sam Mills unless they are astute, older football guys,” Mora said. “He’s one of the best guys I ever coached, but I always have to explain a little bit about who Sam Mills was.”
Maybe less so after Mills’ enshrinement.
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AP Sports Writer Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this story
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/hall-of-fame-welcomes-inspirational-field-mouse-sam-mills/ | 2022-08-01T23:25:32Z |
‘I was crying’: Woman’s quick stop at store turns into $777,777 lottery jackpot
Published: Sep. 9, 2022 at 9:01 PM CDT|Updated: 15 minutes ago
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (KAIT/Gray News) - A woman in Missouri will certainly not forget her recent stop at a convenience store.
KAIT says the woman, who was not immediately identified, was on her way to a friend’s house when she stopped at a Munch-N-Pump store on Highway 53.
According to the Missouri Lottery, she bought several lottery tickets. One of those tickets was a Hot 7s scratchers ticket that returned a top prize of $777,777.
“I called my husband, and I was crying,” she said. “I was like, ‘This is not real! It can’t be real.’”
According to Friday’s news release, the woman said she plans to invest the winnings.
Copyright 2022 KAIT via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/09/10/i-was-crying-womans-quick-stop-store-turns-into-777777-lottery-jackpot/ | 2022-09-10T02:16:43Z |
Flexible monthly payments through Uplift now available on all Sun Country Airlines bookings
SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Customers booking flights and vacations on Sun Country Airlines (NASDAQ: SNCY) can now spread the cost of their travel over time with simple, affordable monthly installments through Uplift. Uplift, the leading enterprise Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solution serving the world's top travel brands is an exclusive partner with Sun Country Airlines.
Headquartered in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, Sun Country Airlines serves leisure and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travelers with 96 routes and 77 airports throughout the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and Canada.
Available now, Sun Country customers can make their travel dreams an affordable reality by utilizing Uplift's pay over time monthly installments, rather than paying in full at booking. Customers will see the total cost of their trip upfront along with the surprise-free monthly payment amount and can choose from 3, 6 or 11-month installments.
"At Sun Country, we believe you shouldn't have to pass up the chance to travel because it costs too much or is too big of a pain," said Brian Davis Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Sun Country. "Partnering with Uplift to give customers flexible installment options is the latest way Sun Country Airlines is delivering on our ongoing goal to connect people to their favorite people and places. Whether it's seeing family after a long period apart or making it possible to take that much needed vacation, Sun Country is excited to deliver on our mission with this new payment option."
Uplift partners with over 200 of the world's leading airlines, cruise lines, resorts and other major travel providers to offer BNPL payment options to help more consumers make meaningful purchases and experience the travel that they deserve. With Uplift there are no fees including no late fees or prepayment penalties and travel can happen before guests complete their payments.
"Customers who use Uplift's monthly installments often share heartwarming stories about what it means to them to be able to reconnect with friends and relatives," said Tom Botts, Uplift Chief Commercial Officer. "On behalf of Uplift, we couldn't be more pleased that we can team up with Sun Country to help create those memories and experiences to even more places - ultimately making that getaway more accessible to their passengers."
Uplift's Buy Now, Pay Later flexible payment options are now available for booking on Sun Country Airlines.
*Down payment may be required. Actual terms are based on your credit score and other factors and may vary. Not everyone is eligible, and some states are not served, including IA and WV. Loans made through Uplift are offered by these lending partners: www.uplift.com/lenders.
Sun Country Airlines is a new breed of hybrid low-cost air carrier that dynamically deploys shared resources across our synergistic scheduled service, charter and cargo businesses. Based in Minnesota, we focus on serving leisure and visiting friends and relatives ("VFR") passengers and charter customers and providing CMI service to Amazon, with flights throughout the United States and to destinations in Mexico, Central America, Canada and the Caribbean.
Uplift is the leading Buy Now, Pay Later solution that empowers people to get more out of life, one thoughtful purchase at a time. Serving the world's top enterprise level travel brands, Uplift's complete range of flexible payment options drive higher conversion and loyalty for partners, while giving customers a simple, surprise-free way to pay over time with no late fees or prepayment penalties. Uplift is currently available throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit Uplift.com.
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SOURCE Uplift | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/sun-country-airlines-now-offering-buy-now-pay-later-payment-option/ | 2022-06-23T14:37:06Z |
SEATTLE , July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
SUMMARY NOTICE OF PENDENCY AND PROPOSED
SETTLEMENT OF STOCKHOLDER CLASS ACTION,
SETTLEMENT HEARING, AND RIGHT TO APPEAR
This notice is for all former record holders and beneficial owners of Class A common stock of Pivotal Software, Inc. ("Pivotal") who received $15 per share in cash in exchange for their shares of Pivotal Class A common stock in connection with the acquisition of Pivotal by VMware, Inc. (the "Class Shares"), in their capacities as record holders or beneficial owners of Class Shares, together with their heirs, assigns, transferees, and successors-in-interest, in each case in their capacity as holders of Class Shares (the "Class").
Certain persons and entities are excluded from the Class by definition, as set forth in the full Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Stockholder Class Action, Settlement Hearing, and Right to Appear (the "Notice"), available at www.PivotalSoftwareStockholdersLitigation.com. Any capitalized terms used in this Summary Notice that are not otherwise defined in this Summary Notice shall have the meanings given to them in the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement, Compromise, and Release dated June 2, 2022 (the "Stipulation"), which is also available at www.PivotalSoftwareStockholdersLitigation.com.
Please read this SUMMARY notice carefully. your rights will be affected by a class action lawsuit pending in this court.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to an Order of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the "Court"), that the above-captioned stockholder class action (the "Action") has been certified as a class action on behalf of the Class defined above.
YOU ARE ALSO NOTIFIED that (i) plaintiff Kenia Lopez ("Plaintiff"), on behalf of herself and the other members of the Court-certified Class, with the exception of HBK Master Fund L.P. and HBK Merger Strategies Master Fund L.P.; (ii) defendants VMware, Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., Michael S. Dell, and Robert C. Mee (together, "Defendants"); and (iii) Cynthia Gaylor (the "Former Defendant") have reached a proposed settlement of the Action for $42,500,000 in cash (the "Settlement"). The terms of the Settlement are stated in the Stipulation entered into between Plaintiff, Defendants, and the Former Defendant. If approved by the Court, the Settlement will resolve all claims in the Action.
A hearing (the "Settlement Hearing") will be held on October 4, 2022 at 1:30 p.m., before The Honorable Kathaleen S. McCormick, Chancellor, either in person at the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, New Castle County, Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 North King Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, or by telephone or video conference (in the discretion of the Court), to, among other things: (i) determine whether the proposed Settlement on the terms and conditions provided for in the Stipulation is fair, reasonable, and adequate to the Class, and should be approved by the Court; (ii) determine whether the Judgment, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D to the Stipulation, should be entered dismissing the Action with prejudice as against Defendants; (iii) determine whether the proposed Plan of Allocation of the Net Settlement Fund is fair and reasonable, and should therefore be approved; (iv) determine whether the application by Co-Lead Counsel for an award of attorneys' fees and expenses, including Plaintiff's application for an incentive award, should be approved; (v) hear and rule on any objections to the Settlement, the proposed Plan of Allocation, the application by Co-Lead Counsel for an award of attorneys' fees and expenses, and/or Plaintiff's application for an incentive award; and (vi) consider any other matters that may properly be brought before the Court in connection with the Settlement.
Any updates regarding the Settlement Hearing, including any changes to the date or time of the hearing or updates regarding in-person or remote appearances at the hearing, will be posted to the Settlement website, www.PivotalSoftwareStockholdersLitigation.com.
If you are a member of the Class, your rights will be affected by the pending Action and the Settlement, and you may be entitled to share in the Net Settlement Fund. If you have not yet received the Notice, you may obtain a copy of the Notice by contacting the Settlement Administrator at Pivotal Software Stockholders Litigation, c/o JND Legal Administration, P.O. Box 91321, Seattle, WA 98111, 888-681-2126, or info@PivotalSoftwareStockholdersLitigation.com. A copy of the Notice can also be downloaded from the Settlement website, www.PivotalSoftwareStockholdersLitigation.com.
If the Settlement is approved by the Court and the Effective Date occurs, the Net Settlement Fund will be distributed on a pro rata basis to Eligible Class Members in accordance with the proposed Plan of Allocation stated in the Notice or such other plan of allocation as is approved by the Court. Pursuant to the proposed Plan of Allocation, each Eligible Class Member will be eligible to receive a pro rata payment from the Net Settlement Fund equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Pivotal Class A common stock held by the Eligible Class Member at the time such shares were exchanged for the Acquisition Consideration and (ii) the "Per-Share Recovery" for the Settlement, which will be determined by dividing the total amount of the Net Settlement Fund by the total number of shares Pivotal Class A common stock held by all of the Eligible Class Members at the time such shares were exchanged for the Acquisition Consideration. As explained in further detail in the Notice at paragraphs 38-47, pursuant to the Plan of Allocation, payments from the Net Settlement Fund to Eligible Class Members will be made in the same manner in which Eligible Class Members received the Acquisition Consideration. Eligible Class Members do not have to submit a claim form to receive a payment from the Settlement.
Any objections to the proposed Settlement, the proposed Plan of Allocation, or Co-Lead Counsel's application for an award attorneys' fees and expenses, including Plaintiff's application for an incentive award, must be filed with the Register in Chancery in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and delivered to Co-Lead Counsel and Defendants' Counsel such that they are received no later than September 20, 2022, in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Notice.
Please do not contact the Court or the Office of the Register in Chancery regarding this Summary Notice. All questions about this Summary Notice, the proposed Settlement, or your eligibility to participate in the Settlement should be directed to the Settlement Administrator or Co-Lead Counsel.
Requests for the Notice should be made to the Settlement Administrator:
Pivotal Software Stockholders Litigation
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. Box 91321
Seattle, WA 98111
888-681-2126
info@PivotalSoftwareStockholdersLitigation.com
www.PivotalSoftwareStockholdersLitigation.com
Inquiries, other than requests for the Notice, should be made to Co-Lead Counsel:
Edward Timlin
Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP
1251 Avenue of the Americas, 44th Floor
New York, NY 10020
800-380-8496
settlements@blbglaw.com
Joel Fleming
Block & Leviton LLP
260 Franklin Street, Suite 1860
Boston, MA 02110
617-398‑5600
joel@blockleviton.com
BY ORDER OF THE COURT OF
CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF
DELAWARE
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SOURCE JND Legal Administration | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/25/notice-pendency-proposed-settlement-class-action-involving-former-record-holders-beneficial-owners-pivotal-software-inc-common-stock/ | 2022-07-25T14:37:02Z |
Acclaimed and trusted news outlet uplifts, strengthens, and amplifies black voices
SEATTLE, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Seattle based and Black-owned media powerhouse, Converge Media, received the coveted Governor's Award on Saturday night during the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Northwest annual ceremony.
The Governor's Award, reserved for special recognition outside of the Chapter's regular awards structure, is given to those who have greatly impacted or changed the landscape of the industry, was approved unanimously by the NATAS NW Board.
Converge Media's founder and CEO (Chief Executive Officer), Omari Salisbury, accepted the award on behalf of the company's diverse staff and talented content creators followed by a short and impassioned speech.
"You don't have to be Black to uplift Black stories," said Salisbury. "You don't need to share skin tone or lived experience; you only need to share purpose."
Converge Media is the largest and leading producer of original Black video in the Pacific Northwest. The company creates culturally compassionate content tailored for Black and urban audiences including local, community, entertainment, and sports news. The company currently produces 15 shows ranging in topics from news, The Day with Trae, hosted by TraeAnna Holiday, to love and relationships like Truly Unruly featuring former Seattle Seahawks Marcus Trufant and his wife Jessica.
"The NATAS NW Board of Governors recognizes Converge Media for its tireless work to lift under-represented communities with culturally compassionate content across the Northwest and their courageous, unflinchingly journalism," said Brian Callahan, member NATAS NW Board of Governors.
In 2021, the Washington State Association for Justice recognized Converge Media with the Journalism Award honoring a reporting organization (traditional or new media) whose reporting, commentary or editorial furthers the public understanding of the law and encourages the protection of consumers, injured people, and the civil justice system.
Salisbury, a seasoned global media executive, dedicated much of his career working in emerging markets across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East before returning to his hometown of Seattle in 2016 with a sharp vision to launch a content creation, distribution, and marketing platform to serve Black content creators across the Pacific Northwest. In 2020 Converge Media and it's Morning Update Show became household names in the Emerald City and international sensations around the world for their near 24/7 coverage of the Seattle protests.
Learn more at Converge Media | Local News & Entertainment (whereweconverge.com)
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SOURCE Converge Media | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/converge-media-recognized-with-highest-honor-nw-emmy-awards/ | 2022-06-08T23:49:51Z |
HERNDON, Va., July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Centurion Consulting Group, LLC, a Woman-Owned Small Business providing IT services for the public and private sector via agile software development, data solutions, technology support, cyber security, and infrastructure services, is pleased to announce the launch of a new tribal-owned SBA 8(a) and HUBZone certified small business now entering the GovCon marketplace called AKCENT, LLC.
AKCENT, LLC. is a partnership between two preeminent small businesses, Centurion Consulting Group, LLC and Akiak Technology, LLC. AKCENT helps government keep its digital transformation momentum with trusted and transformative enterprise IT expertise and professional services.
"We are so proud and excited to launch this new joint venture," said Theresa Zandi, Centurion Principal. "Our management consulting teams have worked in government for decades delivering collaborative and innovative solutions for government agencies. Adding a tribal-owned certified 8(a) business to our portfolio is a natural extension of who we are as servant leaders." She continued, "as a tribal-owned business, AKCENT can further help to build better economic future for the indigenous community in Akiak."
Citizen-centric services demands lower IT costs and higher expectations for better services and is often at odds for the federal government to look for new solutions and new models for value delivery. AKCENT combines over three decades of federal employee experience in curating and connecting IT ecosystems with capabilities in digital, cloud and security and understands how government works from the inside out.
"Our partnership with Centurion Consulting Group strengthens the federal government's existing digital foundation and leverages insights into data to improve the quality of services to the American people," said Kevin Hamer, CEO of Akiak Technology. "AKCENT provides a new opportunity for government to acquire IT services at speed without protests, but also allows Agencies to achieve their small business federal contracting goals for four of the five categories: Small Business, Women Owned Small Business, 8(a) Tribal-Owned Small Disadvantaged Business, and HUBZone."
A joint venture between Akiak Technology, LLC and Centurion Consulting Group, LLC. Our team works together to bring practical knowledge and professional services with capabilities in digital, cloud and security. We are an SBA 8(a) and HUBZone Certified Tribal Owned Small Business, and Woman Owned Small Business. We are appraised at CMMI-SVC/3. Together, we are creating positive, long-lasting value for government while helping to create a better economic future for the indigenous community in Akiak. www.akcentllc.com
Centurion Consulting Group, LLC is a Woman Owned Small Business that delivers information technology, business professional, and human resource services and solutions to the private and public sector, (GSA MAS 54151S & 56131 Schedule holder), in the areas of Agile Scrum and Coaching, Data Solutions, Infrastructure & Security, Software Development & Engineering, and HR & Talent Acquisition Services to support Modernization, Transformation, Development, Cyber, Cloud, DevOps, Business, Agile, and Technology support projects. Mission-driven, we serve a balanced commitment to ensuring financial success, promoting social responsibility, and strengthening our community by giving back to those in need. www.centurioncg.com
Akiak Technology, LLC is subsidiary of Akiak Holdings, LLC. We are an SBA 8(a) and HUBZone Certified Tribal-Owned Small Business. Our experts combine unmatched experience and specialized skills to accelerate the digital transformation journey for government agencies across the intelligence, space, cyber, defense, security, health, and state and local markets. Our purpose is to create a better economic future for the indigenous community in Akiak. We are headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia and have an office in Akiak, Alaska. www.akiaktechnology.com
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SOURCE Centurion Consulting Group | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/centurion-consulting-group-llc-akiak-technology-llc-form-akcent-llc-tribal-owned-8a-hubzone-joint-venture/ | 2022-07-12T18:45:32Z |
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — The mutinous soldiers who ousted Burkina Faso’s democratically elected president early this year vowed they would do a better job at stopping the jihadi violence rocking the country. Five months later, however, attacks are increasing and patience with the junta appears to be waning.
Many in Burkina Faso supported the military takeover in January, frustrated with the previous government’s inability to stem Islamic extremist violence that has killed thousands and displaced at least 2 million. Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who led the coup and was later installed as interim president, vowed to restore security.
But violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State increased nearly 7% during the junta’s first three months of rule compared with the three months prior, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.
“Beyond the immeasurable suffering, the effects of the violence and conflict — which show no signs of abating — are likely to lead to renewed popular discontent,” said Heni Nsaibia, senior researcher at ACLED.
Nearly 5,000 people have died in the last two years in Burkina Faso and conflict experts say there will be far-reaching consequences if the violence continues to worsen.
“The decline in Burkina Faso will absolutely fuel the spread of jihadist activity in the Gulf of Guinea states — Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo — where there already is jihadist recruitment and violence,” said Michael Shurkin, director of global programs at 14 North Strategies, a consultancy based in Dakar, Senegal.
Damiba has asked citizens to give him until September to see improvement. He’s promoted younger officers with field experience and created a central coordination unit for military operations. His government also has supported local dialogues with jihadis to try to convince the fighters to put down their arms and return to their homes.
Yet violence is intensifying. Since April at least 30 security forces have been killed and two foreigners kidnapped: an American nun and a Polish citizen. Last week, 11 gendarmes were killed by jihadis in Seno province in the Sahel, said the army in a statement.
The government is losing control of swaths of land, particularly in the Center North and Sahel regions, as jihadis have increased their use of roadside bombs and use more sophisticated weapons.
Government soldiers say they lack equipment and must resort to stealing guns and ammunition from jihadis they kill. Seeing so many of their colleagues die also has taken its toll, the soldiers say.
“Our situation is very difficult. Sometimes the enemy kills us because we’re regularly exhausted,” said a soldier, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he wasn’t authorized to speak to journalists.
Jihadis are changing strategy. They are targeting water sources, destroying 32 facilities this year which has reduced access to nearly 300,000 people, said a group of aid organizations operating in the country.
“The conflict is now putting at risk the very thing no one can live without: clean water,” said Rebecca Bouchet-Petersen, country director for Solidarity International in Burkina Faso.
Most of the destruction of water sources has been around Djibo in the arid Sahel region, which hosts the largest number of displaced people in the country and has been under siege for months. Last month local leaders in Djibo tried to negotiate an end to the blockade with the top jihadi in the country, Jafar Dicko, according to government officials.
It was the first time the government gave logistical support for local dialogues, which have been ongoing for years. While the talks partially succeeded in allowing freer movement in and out of Djibo, community leaders say it’s a small improvement.
”I think it’s when the government negotiates that we’ll see more significant results,” said Boubacari Dicko, the Emir of Djibo who led the talks.
But it’s unclear if Damiba’s government is prepared to take that step. The previous government was publicly against such negotiations, although it did hold some in secret around the November 2020 presidential election.
There’s also growing discontent about Damiba’s crackdown on civic freedoms. The junta has restricted political demonstrations that could “disturb public order or mobilize security forces who will be more useful for combat.”
Yet locals in hard-hit parts of Burkina Faso see few alternatives to the junta and say they’re willing to give it a little more time. In August last year, 45-year-old Awa Komi tried to return to her village to farm because her family had no food, but fled when jihadis started killing people, she said.
In a makeshift displacement camp in the northern town of Ouahigouya where she now lives, she’s hoping Damiba will restore security so she can go home.
“He said things would change in five months,” the outspoken mother of 11 said, pumping her fist for emphasis. “If it’s not better in five months, we, the women, will kick him out.” | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/jihadi-attacks-mount-in-burkina-faso-despite-juntas-efforts/ | 2022-06-14T06:57:24Z |
Column: Rating Tiger Woods’ most significant Masters wins
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Tiger Woods has won five Masters. Which was the most significant. AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson conducted a survey of 25 people from the media, including a few players and caddies. The result was resounding. This is the 25-year anniversary of his 12-shot victory in 1997 for his first green jacket. That received 60% of the votes. It was followed by his 2019 victory when he returned from four surgeries on his lower back. Coming in third was his 2001 win that gave him a clean sweep of the majors. His other wins in 2002 and 2005 received no votes. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/04/05/column-rating-tiger-woods-most-significant-masters-wins/ | 2022-04-05T15:50:48Z |
Rich Strike not entering Preakness after Kentucky Derby win
(AP) - Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike will not run in the Preakness.
Owner Rich Dawson made the stunning announcement Thursday, 10 days before the race in Maryland. It means there will not be a Triple Crown winner for a fourth consecutive year.
Dawson said he and trainer Eric Reed agreed to stick with the initial plan for Rich Strike and rest him for five weeks. Rich Strike, at 80-1, was the biggest long shot to win the Derby in more than a century. Only Donerail in 1913 paid more to win.
The plan now is to have Rich Strike ready to run in the Belmont Stakes on June 11. Dawson said it was best for the colt to get extra rest and not run back in two weeks at Pimlico.
Rich Strike was not expected to be the morning line favorite for the Preakness, with Derby runner-up Epicenter and Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath set to be part of the field. With Rich Strike’s surprise withdrawal, the Derby champion has not run in the Preakness in 2019 or 2021. The races we’re run out of order in 2020 because of the pandemic.
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/12/rich-strike-not-entering-preakness-after-kentucky-derby-win/ | 2022-05-12T18:56:51Z |
LONDON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HKA, the leading global consultancy in risk mitigation, dispute resolution, expert witness and litigation support services, has been acquired by PAI Partners, a pre-eminent private equity firm. PAI is backing HKA's management team and partners to accelerate the significant growth achieved under the ownership of international alternative asset fund management group Bridgepoint Development Capital.
Since the carve-out from Hill International in 2017, HKA has grown into a global leader in dispute avoidance, dispute resolution and litigation support for capital projects and infrastructure, while also building a broader set of multi-disciplinary expertise. Over the last three years, HKA has successfully developed complementary specialisms across both forensic technical and engineering services as well as forensic accounting and commercial damages. Today HKA employs more than 1,000 experts, consultants and advisors in 40-plus offices worldwide.
PAI is excited to support HKA's management team and partners in their ambitions of becoming the global consultancy of choice supporting and advising corporate clients and law firms with their dispute and litigation related technical and financial needs across all sectors.
Thanking Bridgepoint for its support over the last five years, Renny Borhan, CEO of HKA, commented: "We are very proud of the success we have achieved over the last five years with Bridgepoint's support. HKA has built a global team with a special collaborative culture and expertise that is unmatched in its depth and breadth. We have also created significant equity value for our investors as well as our 100+ partners, who have a material ownership interest in HKA. The next phase of our growth will be no less exciting. We are delighted to have the backing and expertise of PAI as we seize the many opportunities we see in our markets and accelerate the growth of our business."
Neil McIlroy, Partner at PAI Partners, added: "HKA is uniquely positioned for long-term growth in the large and fragmented risk mitigation and dispute resolution market. We look forward to supporting Renny and his talented team as they deliver HKA's ambitious business goals through organic growth and targeted acquisitions."
"HKA has been a very successful investment for Bridgepoint. Working closely with management, together we built significant value by establishing a strong partnership culture, focusing on strategic geographic markets and undertaking selective M&A as well as a comprehensive operational improvement programme. These initiatives mean that the business is now well positioned for further growth under new ownership," said Jeannele M'Bembath, Director at Bridgepoint Development Capital.
HKA is the world's leading consultancy of choice for multi-disciplinary expert and specialist services in risk mitigation, dispute resolution and litigation support. We employ in excess of 1,000 consultants, experts and advisors in more than 40 offices across 18 countries. For more information about HKA, visit www.hka.com
Media contacts
HKA:
Josephine Guckian, Partner, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Tel: +44 7740 421 796
josephineguckian@hka.com
John Paolin, Partner
Tel: 609-320-8276
johnpaolin@hka.com
Greenbrook Communications:
James Madsen – Fanni Bodri
Tel: +44 207 952 2000
pai@greenbrookpr.com
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SOURCE HKA | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/pai-partners-acquires-hka-bridgepoint-development-capital/ | 2022-08-10T18:32:49Z |
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's leading silk brand LILYSILK is thrilled to announce that the company is celebrating its 12-year growth during which it has strengthened the brand's identity as a silk garment expert and innovator committed to creating ultra-comfortable and chic womenswear using luxurious silk fabrics.
The new milestone is marked by a reimagined logo featuring a lily crown with two floating letters "S" wrapping around the "I" that symbolizes a women figure. The new curvy icon celebrates feminine beauty illuminating with a silky elegance and heralds a new chapter for LILYSILK as it continues to make the best silk products for customers worldwide.
"It's been an amazing 12 years, thanks to the support from our customers and partners who helped us leap from one achievement to the next. We want to thank you all for being with us every step along the way," says David Wang, CEO of LILYSILK.
This year, LILYSILK built on its classic legacy design while combining upgrades to inspire a new change. The brand launched a new print, Vintage Lily, and a new "Lily White" color. For greater flexibility, LILYSILK has introduced the Silk Oversize Style (SOS) Shirt, with its design emphasizing functionality and sustainability to craft an ultimate "everyday shirt". LILYSILK also paired up with Mika Ninagawa, a filmmaker and photography icon in Japan, to launch a special summer lineup.
The new designs made an instant splash and were on the go-to fashion list of A-list celebrities, seen worn by Viola Davis. Another stunning piece Rectangular Silk Lily Scarf was also sported by Anne Hathaway at the 75th Cannes Film Festival.
Beyond its glamour under the spotlight, LILYSILK is also a purveyor of sustainable fashion, spearheading a host of initiatives to cut its carbon footprint and address the environmental challenges in the fashion sector. LILYSILK uses natural premium materials for all its products, including its patent-owned LILYÁUREA™, an extremely skin-friendly and undyed silk fabric that shines with a stunningly bright golden color.
LILYSILK's latest sustainable effort is the partnership with TerraCycle®, a world-leading recycling solution provider, to complete its first Eco-Loop for its business operation in the US. The tie-up is an extension to its Zero Waste Movement designed to recycle and reuse non-donatable fabrics, strengthening its ability to achieve on-demand manufacturing and strong biodegradability for product packaging.
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SOURCE LILYSILK | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/25/lilysilk-celebrates-12-year-milestones-growth/ | 2022-08-25T14:31:37Z |
HELSINKI , May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Spektri Business Park in Espoo, Finland, a development managed by Trevian and CCP 5 - the core plus fund advised by Tristan Capital Partners, has been awarded a `Very Good' BREEAM certification as proof of the realisation of sustainable development from both an environmental and social perspective. BREEAM is the world's leading sustainability validation and certification system and reviews a host of components including health, well-being, energy, accessibility, water, materials, emissions, property management, land use, and ecology.
A range of initiatives have been put in place to enhance the sustainability credentials at Spektri. In recent years, the property has switched to geothermal energy and green electricity, and the combined effect of the measures leading to a 66% reduction in total emissions. Trevian Asset Management, along with Tristan, leads the work on energy efficiency and sustainability as Spektri's real estate asset manager.
Spektri engages a specialised energy manager to plan energy targets, implement actions, and report their results according to global standards. Building technology has been renewed with added automation and transition to green electricity and geothermal energy. In addition, customer satisfaction, interaction with stakeholders, and increased monitoring of the transparency and accountability of service production and contractors are prioritised.
Vesa Klemettilä, Trevian's Technical Director, said: "Effective solutions and measurable energy-saving and economic benefits prove that we have succeeded in Spektri's asset management. Furthermore, the BREEAM certification confirms the development activities' sustainability and sets the requirement for their continuous evaluation. At Trevian, we consider property sustainability certification the standard for our operations."
Kaisa Granholm from Trevian, added: "Concrete results have already been achieved. The impact on the carbon footprint is already significant in the first years: total emissions in the first quarter of 2022 were up to 450 tonnes lower than in the corresponding period in 2020. Environmental responsibility is increasingly a criterion for our customers when choosing office space. In addition, transparent monitoring of the carbon footprint on the premises is essential for companies to implement their environmental strategy. With the BREEAM certification, we can better support our customers in achieving their sustainability goals."
Spektri is owned by the CCP 5 'long-life' core-plus fund, advised by pan-European real estate investment manager Tristan Capital Partners.
Additional information:
Kaisa Granholm
Asset Manager
Trevian Asset Management
+358 50 571 8300
kaisa.granholm@trevian.fi
Vesa Klemettilä
Technical Director
Trevian Asset Management
+358 50 487 2266
vesa.klemettila@trevian.fi
Trevian Asset Management is a Finnish investment and asset management company specializing in commercial and residential properties. The company was established in 2012 and is owned by its key personnel. The company produces actively managed real estate equity funds and asset management services optimized for its customers. The services are focused especially for institutional real estate investors, banks, and other professional investors. Trevian's assets under management near 1.0B€. www.trevian.fi/en/
About Tristan Capital Partners
Tristan Capital Partners is an employee-owned real estate investment manager, specialising in value-added investment strategies across all property types in the UK and Europe. Tristan's pan-European real estate funds include core+, opportunistic and debt strategies, with total assets under management of over €14 billion and a loyal client base of institutional and private investors.
The company was founded in 2009 by Ric Lewis, together with a number of other professionals who worked together at Curzon Global Partners, the fund management group of AEW Europe, a pan-European real estate investment management business. The Firm's senior team and Investment Committee have worked together for over 20 years across 11 funds, with investments totalling €22bn of gross real estate assets (as at 30 September 2021). The Firm has an experienced team of 162 professionals located across eight offices in Europe (as at January 2022).
Tristan's headquarters are in London, and it has offices in Luxembourg, Milan, Paris, Stockholm, Frankfurt, Madrid, and Warsaw. Tristan is the portfolio manager for Core+ funds Curzon Capital Partners III, Curzon Capital Partners IV and Curzon Capital Partners 5 Long-Life; for opportunistic funds European Property Investors LP, European Property Investors Special Opportunities LP, European Property Investors Special Opportunities 3 LP, European Property Investors Special Opportunities 4 LP, European Property Investors Special Opportunities 5 SCSp and European Property Investors Special Opportunities 6 SCSp, and for real estate debt fund Tristan Income Plus One SCSp.
Please visit www.tristancap.com.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE Trevian | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/05/spektri-business-park-managed-by-trevian-certified-with-breeam-rating-very-good/ | 2022-05-05T08:33:29Z |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Luka Doncic had been dominating for most of the night, yelling in celebration and flexing his arms in Stephen Curry’s house.
Then Curry and the Golden State Warriors delivered one of those signature third-quarter flurries that have defined so many of their postseason runs — with this one sparked by Kevon Looney.
Just like that, the Warriors are two wins from getting back to another NBA Finals.
“Night night,” Curry declared as a 3-pointer went through the net in the waning moments.
Curry scored 32 points with six 3-pointers and eight more rebounds, Looney had a career-high 21 points and 12 rebounds, and the Warriors rallied past the Dallas Mavericks 126-117 on Friday for a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.
“I feel honored just to be a part of the ride,” Looney said.
Doncic scored 42 points and the Mavericks led most of the way before Golden State grabbed its first lead of the night on Otto Porter Jr.’s 3-pointer 18 seconds into the fourth. Curry could see a momentum shift at that moment.
“We have that attitude and spirit that we’re never out of it,” Curry said.
Doncic had 18 points in the first quarter, two shy of his 20-point Game 1 total. His 3-pointer with 13 seconds before halftime — the Mavs’ 15th of the first half — made it 72-58 at the break and gave him 24 points.
Doncic even got a Twitter shoutout from Oakland’s own MC Hammer: “Ok young Luka … We see you.”
But Golden State answered with a 25-13 third quarter to pull to 85-83 going into fourth — coming out of halftime with a performance reminiscent of those thrilling third quarters of past. The Warriors trailed by 19 at one point.
“We know how good they are as a third-quarter team,” Dallas forward Reggie Bullock said. “It’s just something that slipped away from us as the game continued to go on.”
Doncic shot 12 for 23 and shined in a game of brilliant shotmaking — the Warriors finished 56.1% from the floor. In the first half alone, Dallas edged Golden State 52.3% to 51.2%, including a remarkable 55.6% to 53.3% from 3-point range.
“Against someone that good you’re just trying to limit the easy stuff,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
Looney then had 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting in the third and Golden State outscored Dallas 68-45 after halftime.
“It’s the Warriors. They have a great team. They’re a championship team. We’ve got to adjust our defense,” Doncic said. ”… We were up 19, so it’s a tough situation. But we can’t look back. What happened, happened. So we’ve got to move on.”
The series shifts to Dallas for Game 3 on Sunday. Golden State is two wins from a return to the NBA Finals for the first time since making five straight trips from 2015-19.
“We’re on the road against one of the best teams in the league. It happens. They held serve,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “We’ve seen this in Phoenix so now we have to go back and just focus on Game 3.”
Jordan Poole scored 23 points off the bench, Andrew Wiggins had 16 and Klay Thompson — held scoreless in the first half of the series opener — added 15 points for a second straight game. Golden State scored 62 points in the paint.
Jalen Brunson scored eight of the first 14 Dallas points on the way to 31. The Mavericks didn’t have to see as much of Draymond Green, who picked up his fifth foul with 6:01 left in the third, then returned with 6:33 left before fouling out with 2:25 to go.
The teams tangled with 8:03 left in the second quarter in front of the Dallas bench. Warriors reserve Damion Lee closed out as Davis Bertans hit a 3-pointer from the corner and Bertans tripped Lee and sent him in a flip hard to the floor. Lee had to be held back by official Eric Lewis.
The players were issued double technicals.
In Game 1 two days earlier, Doncic faced smothering defense from Wiggins and shot just 6 for 18 and 3 of 10 from deep. Kidd expected a far better outing in Game 2.
Golden State continued to push the pace and committed 16 turnovers after 15 in the opener. At halftime, Kerr asked his team to settle down.
“I told them that if we developed some poise in the second half, that the game would come to us,” he said. “But I thought we were so scattered in the first half. Maybe emotionally more so than anything. Dallas came out and just punched us.”
RELIABLE LOONEY
Moved back into the starting lineup for the clinching Game 6 of the semifinals against Memphis, Looney shot 10 for 14 after making all five of his field goals in Game 1. He was one of five players to appear in all 82 regular-season games.
“He’s been the rock in the inside for us,” Porter said. “… When he’s down there he’s doing all the dirty work, cleaning up the rebounds.”
Looney notched his second career postseason double-double.
“Tonight was my night to make a big difference and I just stepped up,” Looney said.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: Dallas led by as many as 16 in the opening quarter. … The Mavs were outrebounded again at 43-30 after a 51-35 disadvantage in Game 1. They committed one fewer turnovers with 12 after Doncic had seven in the series opener.
Warriors: G Gary Payton II — who broke his left elbow on a hard foul when Memphis star Dillon Brooks clobbered him May 3 on a fast break for a Flagrant 2, ejection and one-game suspension — is doing light individual work on court that includes shooting with his non-dominant right hand and will be re-evaluated in a week. … F Andre Iguodala missed his ninth straight game with a disc injury in his neck is continuing his rehab with physical therapy and training in the weight room with some light on-court work. The Warriors said they will provide an update when he’s cleared to practice. … Golden State improved to 8-0 at home this postseason and is 18-5 in Game 2s dating to the 2015 title run. … Green was voted to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
___
NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/curry-warriors-rally-past-mavs-for-2-0-lead-in-west-finals/ | 2022-05-21T17:09:01Z |
Multi-unit Stretch Zone Owner and NFL veteran Drew Brees was on hand to present donation
NEW ORLEANS, April 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stretch Zone, the company that brought practitioner-assisted stretching to the public and introduced a new vertical in the health and wellness industry, in partnership with The Brees Dream Foundation, recently presented a $20,000 donation to celebrate its continued growth in Louisiana to Kids Join the Fight, a nonprofit organization that seeks to empower children to raise funds to provide care for other children fighting pediatric cancer. Stretch Zone's $10,000 portion of the donation, made through Stretch Zone's philanthropic arm, GIVZone, is a part of the company's commitment to supporting the communities Stretch Zone's growing network of franchise owners and clients call home. Stretch Zone currently has four locations in Louisiana, including a recently opened Baton Rouge studio owned by multi-unit owner Drew Brees.
"Philanthropy is core to the Stretch Zone business model and mission. As a company, we are providing a service that helps build healthy communities. Aligning with a deserving organization like Kids Join the Fight is a meaningful way to give back to the Baton Rouge community," says Tony Zaccario, Stretch Zone CEO. "Stretch Zone's patented method is tailored to support clients with an array of health issues that impact mobility, including cancer, and we are pleased to further our support of this community through championing an entrepreneurial organization like Kids Join the Fight."
Stretch Zone, creator of the renowned Stretch Zone Method®, is a pioneer in the health and wellness industry, and is the first and largest practitioner-assisted stretching company in the U.S. The company uses a patented strapping system that expertly positions, stabilizes and isolates muscles to allow for optimal stretching. Each stretch is customized to fit the specific needs and preferences of the individual, regardless of age, wellness or athletic ability.
"We are incredibly grateful that Stretch Zone presented us with a very generous gift from their GIVZone efforts," said Taylor and Angel Beery, founders of Kids Join the Fight.
Launched in 2021, GIVZone has served as a platform for the Stretch Zone organization and franchisees to support their communities through various initiatives, from volunteering and participating in special events to donating to worthy causes.
In light of COVID-19, all Stretch Zone studios are following local guidelines and recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, as well as continuing strict sanitization procedures.
For more information about Stretch Zone, visit https://www.stretchzone.com/.
About Stretch Zone:
Stretch Zone was founded in 2004 by health and wellness veteran Jorden Gold, whose grandfather had suffered from loss of function and mobility as a result of diabetes. Thus, Stretch Zone was born, pioneering the practitioner-assisted stretching industry by offering proprietary stretching methods and a patented stabilization system to improve community health and wellness. For more than 15 years, Stretch Zone has helped many clients seeking a solution to help them feel better and live life to the fullest. Stretch Zone studios offer a welcoming environment, knowledgeable staff and comfortable equipment, all of which allow clients to relax and fully benefit from our methods. Stretch Zone, which was recognized by Entrepreneur, FranchiseBusinessREVIEW and Franchising.com as a Top Multi-Unit Franchisee in 2021, continues to be the largest practitioner-assisted stretching franchise today. Learn more at www.stretchzone.com.
Contact:
Taylor Stapleton
561-523-0989
taylor.stapleton@rbbcommunications.com
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SOURCE Stretch Zone | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/25/stretch-zone-celebrates-growth-louisiana-with-donation-kids-join-fight/ | 2022-04-25T18:16:13Z |
Digital Front Door automates the true patient journey and accelerates RWE
SAN DIEGO, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Seqster PDM, Inc. ("Seqster"), the leader in patient-centric healthcare data technology announced a 3-year partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim to connect the patients to all of their health data. For patients, the Digital Front Door unlocks interoperability, patient access, data sharing, simplifies the informed consent process, boosts participant engagement leading to retention, alleviates caregiver burden, all while ensuring patient health data security and privacy. The Digital Front Door is powered by the Seqster Operating System (SeqsterOS). For researchers, real-time real world data (RWD) accelerates real world evidence (RWE), outcomes research, and drug development.
Boehringer Ingelheim's long-term agreement with Seqster secures their leadership position for RWE initiatives across therapeutic areas. SeqsterOS standardizes, harmonizes and visualizes retrospective and prospective health data, creating a comprehensive, longitudinal health record that empowers and engages patients while providing consented, de-identified data for studies in real-time.
"To truly close the Real World Evidence (RWE) gap, we must think differently about the data that we access with full patient consent and control. Simultaneously, we must provide full transparency for patients who we engage with in all of our studies and trials. With the SeqsterOS we have a ready-to-go solution. Patient-centricity delivers high fidelity and high quality data. SeqsterOS will provide patient access and engagement with longitudinal RWD unlocking such previously unthinkable possibilities for Boehringer Ingelheim and the patients we serve," states Paul Petraro, Global Head of Real World Evidence Centre of Excellence for Boehringer Ingelheim.
"The significance of our joint initiative with Boehringer Ingelheim cannot be understated. There is a natural alignment between both organizations as we seek to accelerate data-driven discoveries and impact patient lives at scale," explains Ardy Arianpour, CEO & Co-Founder of Seqster. "Empowering patients with access to the Digital Front Door allows them to connect and engage with their data, leading to improved study retention as well as a willingness to consent to future studies."
Seqster is the leading healthcare technology company that breaks down health data silos at scale. Its enterprise operating system aggregates disparate health data sources into a single, 360-degree view of a patient in real-time, solving a multitude of challenges for life sciences, patient engagement and data interoperability.
Seqster has nationwide coverage of EHRs from hospitals and medical groups, genomic DNA, wearables, pharmacy and social determinants of health data. Through its customizable white-label approach, Seqster provides accelerated access to de-identified, tokenized, real-time data and comprehensive curated data to address critical needs across the healthcare continuum.
Seqster is privately held and headquartered in San Diego.
To learn more about the Seqster Operating System for Patient Registries, Clinical Studies and the Digital Front Door, please contact us at info@seqster.com or visit www.seqster.com.
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SOURCE Seqster | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/seqster-signs-multi-year-agreement-with-boehringer-ingelheim-put-patient-center-their-clinical-data/ | 2022-07-28T12:45:58Z |
Which small dog harness is best?
Finding the proper harness is imperative for every dog owner. With the right fit, your dog can be safe whether walking on the street, hiking in the woods or riding in the car. For dogs in training or those nervous when out in the world, the harness provides better security because it’s harder for a dog to escape from than a simple collar.
There are plenty of harness options available for smaller dogs, with some that are ideal for all kinds of activity and others more specialized depending on the needs of your dog. The best small dog harness should be comfortable, secure and offer safe mobility for any outdoor adventure.
Best small dog harnesses
Best Pet Supplies Voyager Mesh Harness
This popular harness provides comfort and breathability around the chest with its lightweight mesh construction. Ideal for most weather, it can be used regularly for walks or trips in the car. A buckle adds extra security while a leash attaches to two sturdy rings in the back.
Frisco Nylon No-Pull Dog Harness
This padded harness offers added coverage to the chest and may prove more effective on longer, stout dogs. The mesh is airy, allowing your dog to feel comfortable on lengthy walks. There are three points of connection, including a front loop that can help during training to keep pups from pulling. It also comes in a few different colors.
Sold by Chewy
Star Wars Mandalorian Dog Harness
For fans of stories told in a galaxy far, far away, you (and your dog) may enjoy this cute harness inspired by The Mandalorian. It features The Child, also known as Baby Yoda, across its durable polyester straps. As there is no chest pad and only one connection point, this harness is ideal for well-trained dogs who enjoy leisurely walks.
Sold by Chewy
Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced Car Dog Harness
Although it comes at a high price, this durable harness provides quality comfort and immense safety within the car for those dogs who take frequent trips. The chest padding cushions, while the metal buckles and reinforced straps resist breaking or snapping. It’s also useful for walks because it has both a front and back loop.
PetSafe 3-in-1 Reflective Dog Harness
Available in three different colors, this reflective, light harness is ideal for casual walks around the neighborhood with your dog, any time of the day or night. It includes both a ring in the front and back, the former of which will help prevent your dog from pulling. It also comes with a seatbelt strap for safe rides in the car.
Sold by Chewy
Chai’s Choice 3M Front-Clip Dog Harness
With a variety of color options available, including teal, fuschia and chocolate, your dog can be both stylish as well as comfortable in this quality harness. It features a front clip as well as a back ring for your preference, while the 3M reflective coating helps keep your dog seen at night. There’s also a convenient handle to help hold on to your dog if needed.
Sold by Chewy
PetSafe Carelift Support Dog Harness
Some of our furry friends need a little extra help. For those with mobility issues, this support harness gives the dogs the comfort and confidence they need to move around with the assistance of their owner. With both front and rear support, it relieves tension on joints and supports the spine. It can also be washed in a machine for added convenience.
Sold by Chewy
Industrial Puppy Service Dog Harness
This high-quality harness is specifically designed for service dogs to keep them both safe and focused. Reinforced double-stitching and durable nylon material keep this harness lasting a long time, while the quick-release buckle and a back handle offer convenience. It also comes in a few reflective colors and the ‘Service Dog’ label can be removed as needed.
For those frequent adventure dogs, a harness that is breathable, durable and comfortable is required. This option by Kurgo is designed for outdoor excursions with its lightweight construction and easy adjustability. It features two points of connection and reflective trim for help with visibility after the sun goes down.
For those seeking a simple and reliable harness, this option by Frisco, a trusted name in dog accessories, offers terrific value. Nylon construction provides reliability, while the adjustable straps offer convenience. There is only a back clip, so this is best reserved for well-trained, calm dogs. It comes in a few colors.
Sold by Chewy
Industrial Puppy Emotional Support Harness
This high-quality harness provides comfort and protection for emotional support dogs so they can focus on being by their owner’s side without distraction. The mesh is durable yet breathable, while reflective straps help keep the dog seen after dusk. The buckle easily wraps around the belly and offers a quick release. A back handle also adds convenience.
PetSafe Chic Easy-Walk Dog Harness
For the small pup who wants to strut in style, these patterned harnesses by PetSafe offer eye-catching patterns and convenience. The front clip is best suited for well-trained dogs, though it can help guide some younger ones who need gentle reminders not to pull. Most notably, it’s offered in three different designs: poppies, donuts or bones.
OneTigris Beast Mojo Tactical Dog Harness
For those with active, adventurous dogs who want to take on the world, this durable dog harness will keep them protected when out in the wild. It resists water, dirt and scrapes, so it’s ideal for hikes and lengthy outdoor excursions. It’s especially durable, designed to allow you to help guide or lift your dog as needed and last for seasons to come. It also has a few handy pouches as well.
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Anthony Marcusa 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/pets-br/collars-leashes-and-harnesses-br/best-harness-for-small-dogs/ | 2022-05-08T19:00:11Z |
‘We haven’t received a dime’: New homeowners say squatters have taken over their house
LAS VEGAS (KVVU) - A Las Vegas-area family says squatters have taken over a home they recently purchased.
A four-bedroom, 2,700-square-foot home was supposed to be a dream home for Jen Larsen, her mother, Donna Edmonds, and three kids, but it has turned into nothing short of a nightmare.
“My mom and I decided to buy a house together about two months ago because both of our rents were going to go up dramatically, about $500 apiece,” Larsen said.
But someone they say isn’t paying the mortgage on their new home is inside their property and not leaving.
“We gave the seller seven days to move out because they said they needed the money from the sale of the house to move everything out,” Larsen said.
However, during that week, Larsen and her mother said somehow somebody else moved in and has lived in the home ever since.
“The two of us scrimped and scraped to get this, and we were so excited. Now, I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. It’s been really stressful,” Edmonds said.
The women have a deed for the property with a closing date of March 4, but they have never been able to occupy the home.
FOX5 reports a news crew went to the home’s front door to ask the people living inside for their side of the story, but no one answered while the crew was there.
A woman at the property later emailed FOX5, writing she has a legal lease with the home’s former owner that runs until July 2. However, a copy of the lease was not immediately shared.
“My kids and I will be homeless. Meanwhile, this woman is living in the home that we paid for and living there for free. We haven’t received a dime,” Larsen said.
Larsen and her mother did not immediately report if they have notified authorities.
Copyright 2022 KVVU via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/04/13/we-havent-received-dime-new-homeowners-say-squatters-have-taken-over-their-house/ | 2022-04-13T01:45:14Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected Bayer’s appeal to shut down thousands of lawsuits claiming that its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer.
The justices on Tuesday left in place a $25 million judgment in favor of Edwin Hardeman, a California man who says he developed cancer from using Roundup for decades to treat poison oak, overgrowth and weeds on his San Francisco Bay Area property. Hardeman’s lawsuit had served as a test case for thousands of similar lawsuits.
The high court’s action comes amid a series of court fights over Roundup that have pointed in different directions.
On Friday, a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an Environmental Protection Agency finding from 2020 that glyphosate does not pose a serious health risk and is “not likely” to cause cancer in humans. The appellate court ordered the EPA to reexamine its finding.
At the same time, Bayer has won four consecutive trials in state court against people who claimed they got cancer from their use of Roundup. The latest verdict in favor of the pharmaceutical company came last week in Oregon.
Bayer had argued that federal regulators have repeatedly determined its products are safe and that lawsuits based on claims under state laws should be dismissed.
In a statement, Bayer said it disagreed with the Supreme Court’s decision not to take up its case. “The company believes that the decision undermines the ability of companies to rely on official actions taken by expert regulatory agencies, as it permits every U.S. state to require a different product label” in conflict with federal laws, Bayer said.
Last year, Bayer set aside $4.5 billion to deal with the claims that glyphosate, the weed-killing ingredient in Roundup, causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer. The company had previously taken a charge of nearly $10 billion for earlier rounds of litigation.
Bayer also had warned that allowing these sorts of claims will damage innovation in agriculture, health and other industries.
Bayer, which is based in Leverkusen, Germany, inherited Roundup and the litigation when it acquired Monsanto in 2018.
The EPA says on its website that there is “no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer in humans.” But in 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as ”probably carcinogenic to humans.” The agency said it relied on “limited” evidence of cancer in people and “sufficient” evidence of cancer in study animals.
The Justice Department, which had sided with Bayer in the lower courts during the Trump administration, recommended that the high court not get involved.
Bayer maintains the product is safe but said that it would replace glyphosate in Roundup for residential use beginning in 2023. Products containing glyphosate will still be available for professional and farm use. | https://cw33.com/health/ap-health/supreme-court-rejects-bayer-bid-to-stop-roundup-lawsuits/ | 2022-06-21T17:44:47Z |
Speakers focus on emerging chain segment and issues facing commercial restaurant industry
FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ben E. Keith Foods hosted it's fourth Foundations Forum customer summit at the Hilton in downtown Austin, Texas, earlier this week. This two-day event focused on the emerging chain segment of the restaurant industry and more than 300 attendees heard from speakers and customers sharing their insights and learnings regarding this continuously growing market.
"My major takeaway from this year's Foundation Forum event was getting out of our four walls, and being exposed to new ideas, which helped to give me a fresh perspective on what we need to do moving forward" said Dave Saylor, the owner of Acadiana Café, San Antonio, TX.
A highlight of the Foundations Forum was a panel featuring several leading operators discussing key issues facing commercial restaurants; the panel was followed by an ideation reception of products and services.
Selected speakers included: David Morton, owner of DMK restaurants; Wade Allen, senior VP of Innovation at Brinker International, Inc; Don Fox, CEO of Firehouse Subs; Brian Choi, CEO of the Food Institute, and many more.
"It goes without saying that restaurant operators have never faced more challenges as they are right now. The open exchange of information by our speakers and operator panel was so impactful to all the attendees," Chris Lewis, Senior Vice President of Corporate Accounts, said. "Ben E. Keith appreciates the time our customers have invested these past two days, and we hope the content will help our customers run more efficient and profitable businesses."
For more information on this informative event, visit the Foundations Forum page here.
Established in Fort Worth, Texas in 1906, Ben E. Keith is the nation's fifth largest broad line foodservice distributor and operates today with nine divisions shipping to seventeen states throughout the country.
For more information about Ben E. Keith contact: www.benekeith.com/food
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SOURCE Ben E. Keith Foods | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/15/ben-e-keith-foods-concludes-fourth-foundations-forum-customer-summit/ | 2022-09-15T13:22:46Z |
First-in-class Phase 1 data presented at ESMO for ubamatamab (REGN4018; MUC16xCD3) in recurrent ovarian cancer and REGN5093 (METxMET) in MET-altered advanced non-small cell lung cancer
TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Sept. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) today announced positive early data for two novel and investigational bispecific antibodies – ubamatamab (REGN4018; MUC16xCD3) in recurrent ovarian cancer and REGN5093 (METxMET) in MET-altered advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The initial safety and efficacy results are from the dose-escalation portions of two Phase 1/2 trials and are being presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2022 in Paris.
"Bispecific antibodies are an important component of our oncology pipeline because of their flexibility to potentially address a variety of cancers," said Israel Lowy, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Translational and Clinical Sciences, Oncology at Regeneron. "At ESMO, we're showcasing this flexibility with ubamatamab and REGN5093, two novel bispecific antibodies that are initially being investigated as monotherapies for recurrent ovarian cancer and MET-altered advanced lung cancer, respectively. They were among the first in our pipeline to progress into clinical trials for solid tumors, and we're encouraged to see both showing anti-tumor activity in dose escalation. These first-in-class results give us confidence in our VelociBi® bispecific development platform, and we look forward to investigating ubamatamab and REGN5093 further."
As shared in a mini-oral at ESMO, ubamatamab is a CD3-targeting bispecific under investigation for recurrent ovarian cancer and designed to bridge MUC16 on cancer cells with CD3-expressing T cells to facilitate local T-cell activation. Dose-escalation results were presented for 78 patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who had received a median of 4.5 prior treatments, including platinum-based chemotherapy and a median duration of exposure to ubamatamab was 12 weeks (range: <1 to 145 weeks).Within 42 patients who received ≥1 full doses of ≥20 mg ubamatamab, a 14% (6 of 42 patients) overall response rate (ORR) was achieved across dose levels. The ORR increased to 21% (6 of 29 patients) in those without visceral metastases (exploratory subset) and 31% (4 of 13 patients) in those with high MUC16-expressing tumors (preliminary exploratory subset). Across dose levels, the disease control rate was 57% (24 of 42 patients), and the median duration of response was 12 months per Kaplan-Meier estimates (range: 4 to ≥24 months).
Safety was assessed in 78 ubamatamab-treated patients, with the most common adverse events (AEs) in ≥15% being cytokine release syndrome (74%, all ≤grade 2), pain (87%) and anemia (51%). AEs that were ≥grade 3 occurred in 65% of patients with those in >5% including anemia (24%), pain (23%) and neutropenia (8%). There was one instance of a dose-limiting toxicity (neutropenia) and three deaths due to AEs, none of which were considered related to treatment by sponsor assessment. Based on these efficacy and safety data, the Phase 2 portion of the trial is enrolling patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer to further investigate ubamatamab as a monotherapy and in combination with Regeneron's PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo® (cemiplimab).
Preliminary first-in-human results for REGN5093 were also published in an ESMO scientific abstract, with updated data and additional response rates to be detailed in a poster session on Monday, September 12. REGN5093 is a tumor-targeting bispecific designed to bind to the MET receptor in two places and trigger rapid internalization of this complex into cancer cells to degrade the MET receptor and block its ability to support cell proliferation. As highlighted in the abstract, among 36 patients with MET-altered advanced NSCLC who received the highest dose tested to date, 6 experienced a partial response with 5 of these responses occurring in patients who had received prior anti-PD-1 treatment. Total exposure to treatment was approximately 467 patient-weeks.
AEs that were ≥grade 3 occurred in 25% (n=11) of REGN5093-treated patients, with pneumonia and pulmonary embolism each occurring in 2 patients. One patient discontinued treatment due to increased alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. No dose-limiting toxicities or treatment-related deaths have been observed as of data cutoff. These early efficacy and safety data support further dose expansions, and a separate Phase 1/2 trial is ongoing to investigate an antibody-drug conjugate format of REGN5093 (REGN5093-M114).
The potential uses of ubamatamab, Libtayo, REGN5093 and REGN5093-M114 described above are investigational, and their safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.
About Regeneron in Oncology
At Regeneron, we're applying more than three decades of scientific innovation with the goal of developing paradigm-changing therapies for patients with cancer. Our oncology portfolio is built around two foundational approaches – our approved PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo and investigational bispecific antibodies – which are being evaluated both as monotherapies and in combination with emerging therapeutic modalities. Together, they provide us with unique combinatorial flexibility to develop potentially synergistic treatments for a wide range of solid tumors and blood cancers.
If you are interested in learning more about our clinical trials, please contact us (clinicaltrials@regeneron.com or 844-734-6643) or visit our clinical trials website.
About Regeneron's VelocImmune® Technology
Regeneron's VelocImmune technology utilizes a proprietary genetically engineered mouse platform endowed with a genetically humanized immune system to produce optimized fully human antibodies. When Regeneron's co-Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer George D. Yancopoulos was a graduate student with his mentor Frederick W. Alt in 1985, they were the first to envision making such a genetically humanized mouse, and Regeneron has spent decades inventing and developing VelocImmune and related VelociSuite® technologies. Dr. Yancopoulos and his team have used VelocImmune technology to create approximately one in five of all original, FDA-approved or authorized fully human monoclonal antibodies. This includes REGEN-COV® (casirivimab and imdevimab), Dupixent® (dupilumab), Libtayo® (cemiplimab-rwlc), Praluent® (alirocumab), Kevzara® (sarilumab), Evkeeza® (evinacumab-dgnb) and Inmazeb™ (atoltivimab, maftivimab and odesivimab-ebgn).
About Regeneron
Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents, develops and commercializes life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led for nearly 35 years by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to numerous FDA-approved treatments and product candidates in development, almost all of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, pain, hematologic conditions, infectious diseases and rare diseases.
Regeneron is accelerating and improving the traditional drug development process through our proprietary VelociSuite® technologies, such as VelocImmune®, which uses unique genetically humanized mice to produce optimized fully human antibodies and bispecific antibodies, and through ambitious research initiatives such as the Regeneron Genetics Center, which is conducting one of the largest genetics sequencing efforts in the world.
For additional information about the company, please visit www.regeneron.com or follow @Regeneron on Twitter.
Regeneron Forward-Looking Statements and Use of Digital Media
This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties relating to future events and the future performance of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Regeneron" or the "Company"), and actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "estimate," variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements concern, and these risks and uncertainties include, among others, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that has caused the COVID-19 pandemic) on Regeneron's business and its employees, collaborators, and suppliers and other third parties on which Regeneron relies, Regeneron's and its collaborators' ability to continue to conduct research and clinical programs, Regeneron's ability to manage its supply chain, net product sales of products marketed or otherwise commercialized by Regeneron and/or its collaborators or licensees (collectively, "Regeneron's Products"), and the global economy; the nature, timing, and possible success and therapeutic applications of Regeneron's Products and product candidates being developed by Regeneron and/or its collaborators or licensees (collectively, "Regeneron's Product Candidates") and research and clinical programs now underway or planned, including without limitation ubamatamab (a MUC16xCD3 bispecific antibody), REGN5093 (a METxMET bispecific antibody), and Regeneron's other investigational bispecific antibodies discussed or referenced in this press release (as monotherapy or in combination with Libtayo® (cemiplimab), as applicable); uncertainty of the utilization, market acceptance, and commercial success of Regeneron's Products and Regeneron's Product Candidates and the impact of studies (whether conducted by Regeneron or others and whether mandated or voluntary), including the studies discussed or referenced in this press release, on any of the foregoing or any potential regulatory approval of Regeneron's Products and Regeneron's Product Candidates; the likelihood, timing, and scope of possible regulatory approval and commercial launch of Regeneron's Product Candidates and new indications for Regeneron's Products, such as ubamatamab for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer and REGN5093 for the treatment of MET-altered advanced non-small cell lung cancer; safety issues resulting from the administration of Regeneron's Products (such as Libtayo) and Regeneron's Product Candidates (such as ubamatamab, REGN5093, and Regeneron's other investigational bispecific antibodies discussed or referenced in this press release) in patients, including serious complications or side effects in connection with the use of Regeneron's Products and Regeneron's Product Candidates in clinical trials; determinations by regulatory and administrative governmental authorities which may delay or restrict Regeneron's ability to continue to develop or commercialize Regeneron's Products and Regeneron's Product Candidates; ongoing regulatory obligations and oversight impacting Regeneron's Products, research and clinical programs, and business, including those relating to patient privacy; the availability and extent of reimbursement of Regeneron's Products (such as Libtayo) from third-party payers, including private payer healthcare and insurance programs, health maintenance organizations, pharmacy benefit management companies, and government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid; coverage and reimbursement determinations by such payers and new policies and procedures adopted by such payers; competing drugs and product candidates that may be superior to, or more cost effective than, Regeneron's Products and Regeneron's Product Candidates; the extent to which the results from the research and development programs conducted by Regeneron and/or its collaborators or licensees (including those discussed or referenced in this press release) may be replicated in other studies and/or lead to advancement of product candidates to clinical trials or therapeutic applications; the ability of Regeneron to manufacture and manage supply chains for multiple products and product candidates; the ability of Regeneron's collaborators, licensees, suppliers, or other third parties (as applicable) to perform manufacturing, filling, finishing, packaging, labeling, distribution, and other steps related to Regeneron's Products and Regeneron's Product Candidates; unanticipated expenses; the costs of developing, producing, and selling products; the ability of Regeneron to meet any of its financial projections or guidance and changes to the assumptions underlying those projections or guidance; the potential for any license or collaboration agreement, including Regeneron's agreements with Sanofi, Bayer, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (or their respective affiliated companies, as applicable), to be cancelled or terminated; and risks associated with intellectual property of other parties and pending or future litigation relating thereto (including without limitation the patent litigation and other related proceedings relating to EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection, Dupixent® (dupilumab), and Praluent® (alirocumab)), other litigation and other proceedings and government investigations relating to the Company and/or its operations, the ultimate outcome of any such proceedings and investigations, and the impact any of the foregoing may have on Regeneron's business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition. A more complete description of these and other material risks can be found in Regeneron's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and its Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022. Any forward-looking statements are made based on management's current beliefs and judgment, and the reader is cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements made by Regeneron. Regeneron does not undertake any obligation to update (publicly or otherwise) any forward-looking statement, including without limitation any financial projection or guidance, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Regeneron uses its media and investor relations website and social media outlets to publish important information about the Company, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Regeneron is routinely posted and is accessible on Regeneron's media and investor relations website (http://newsroom.regeneron.com) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/regeneron).
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SOURCE Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/10/novel-regeneron-bispecific-antibodies-show-encouraging-anti-tumor-activity-two-advanced-solid-tumors/ | 2022-09-10T08:15:07Z |
Shawnee Heights Road closure extended another week due to recent rainfall
Published: Jun. 3, 2022 at 10:25 AM CDT|Updated: 20 minutes ago
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Due to recent rainfall, the closure of Shawnee Heights Rd. has been extended another week.
Shawnee County says on Friday, June 3, that the Shawnee Heights Rd. project has been extended through the next week and will open Friday, June 10, weather permitting.
Due to the amount of rain received this week, the County said the project needed to be extended. It said this will affect the area between SE Pueblo and SE Tomahawk.
The closure was originally supposed to end on Friday, June 3, as the county replaced a culvert pipe between the two roads.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/03/shawnee-heights-road-closure-extended-another-week-due-recent-rainfall/ | 2022-06-03T15:46:47Z |
Which kitchen sink caddy is best?
Kitchen sink caddies help keep the counters directly around the sink clean and dry. With one, you can organize sponges, scrubbing tools, dish soaps, sink stoppers and more. This helps keep down clutter and prevents mold and mildew buildup caused by leaving wet items on the counter. Not all caddies are the same, though. Some are large with multiple compartments, while others you can mount on the wall. The best caddy for all your storage needs is the FavoThings Over-The-Kitchen-Sink Caddy.
What to know before you buy a kitchen sink caddy
Use and placement
Regardless of design, all kitchen sink caddies serve the same purpose: to store and organize items around the sink. Even the smallest ones can hold a sponge or two, but many can also hold the following:
- Steel wool
- Liquid dish soap
- Dishcloths
- Cleaning brushes
- Bottle brushes
- Sink stopper
- Extra brushes or sponges
Some caddies go on the wall, while others fit inside the sink. Both designs are ideal for kitchens with limited counter space. But for those with more space, some caddies go directly on the countertop.
Wherever you put it, the caddy can help prevent a cluttered back strip near the faucet. Putting the items that would typically go on the counter in the caddy also makes it easier to clean that area. Plus, water tends to collect around objects by the sink, which leads to mold. With a caddy, you can prevent this problem.
Storage compartments
There are two main styles of kitchen sink caddy, those with an open design and those with several compartments.
Ones with an open design are convenient for storing whatever you need inside without worrying about organizing the items. They’re also great for people who only have a few things they need to store.
Caddies with compartments are better for keeping each item separated and reducing clutter within the caddy. By default, caddies include a small section where you can place a dish sponge flat or upright. But some also have specific compartments for large or heavy items, such as dish soap or specialty brushes.
When choosing a caddy for your kitchen sink, consider what you plan to put inside of it. This can help determine the right number of compartments to get, as well as the size of each one.
Maintenance
Kitchen caddies require regular cleaning. This is because soap and water can collect around the caddy base, which could lead to mold or mildew over time. Plus, if you store a sponge in the container, it could leave debris or food particles in it, too.
To clean a caddy, run it under the faucet using warm water and liquid soap. If there’s hard water buildup, use a sponge to remove it. If needed, let the caddy soak in the water before scrubbing away any particles. Make sure you clean the underside as well. Next, rinse it thoroughly to remove any remaining suds or debris. Let it completely dry before putting anything back inside.
Some caddies come with a removable tray that catches any water that drips down into it. This tray makes maintaining a clean caddy even easier as you can remove and wipe it down every week or so.
What to look for in a quality kitchen sink caddy
Material
Most caddies for the kitchen sink consist of the following materials.
- Metal: Stainless steel and brushed stainless steel are popular options for caddies. These metals are resistant to rust and odors. They’re also easy to clean and lend a modern aesthetic to the area.
- Plastic: Many caddies use durable, flexible plastic such as a thermoplastic polymer. These last a long time, but they can also absorb odors. They come in different colors, including white, black, gray, yellow and blue. Larger caddies, such as those intended for double sinks, consist of plastic.
- Ceramic: Typically glazed matte black or white, or left natural, ceramic caddies are resistant to allergens and are fairly durable. They can, however, crack or break more easily than metal or plastic caddies when dropped.
Hanging or mounting mechanism
Some kitchen sink caddies have slightly elevated feet that let them sit on the countertop with a tray underneath. These designs are usually ventilated and can prevent sitting water from occurring.
Many caddies come with suction cups that attach to the inside of the sink. Larger caddies usually have more or bigger suction cups. If you choose one of these, make sure you don’t overfill it or the suctioning could fail.
Some caddies go over the middle part of a double sink. With these, you don’t need to worry about weight as much. However, it’s still a good idea to distribute the weight evenly across both sides.
Besides that, there are also hanging designs. Some of these caddies go on the faucet, while others go on the backsplash.
Ventilation
Ventilation is important because it lets excess water escape the caddy. This helps prevent mildew, mold or bacteria from building up in or around the caddy and kitchen tools.
Kitchen caddies often have vents in the form of holes, slats or bars with large gaps between them. These open wire basket designs are effective at letting wet sponges dry.
Size and shape
There’s no standard sizing convention for caddies for the kitchen sink. However, most are about 5 inches wide by 10 inches long. They’re also usually around 5 inches tall. Ones with a singular compartment or fit inside the sink tend to be smaller.
Most caddies are rectangular or have an oval shape. Some have a flat base with a cylindrical compartment for scrubbing brushes and dish soaps.
Removable tray
Some caddies have a removable tray that collects water and, often, is tilted to drain into the sink. This extra feature makes keeping the container clean and mold-free easy and hassle-free.
How much you can expect to spend on a kitchen sink caddy
For a reliable kitchen sink caddy, expect to spend $10-$30.
Kitchen sink caddy FAQ
How do I attach a kitchen sink caddy to my sink?
A. If you have a saddle-type caddy, make sure there’s enough clearance for it to fit on both sides of the double sink. If you’re using suction cups, add a dab of petroleum jelly to a dry surface before positioning the caddy in place. Apply firm pressure for 30 seconds before letting go.
Are caddies for the kitchen portable?
A. Freestanding caddies and those with suction cups are highly portable since they’re lightweight when empty.
What’s the best kitchen sink caddy to buy?
Top kitchen sink caddy
FavoThings Over-The-Kitchen Sink Caddy
What you need to know: This kitchen sink organizer is a great option for those looking to store soap, brushes, sponges and other kitchen supplies with ease.
What you’ll love: Made with stainless steel, this caddy can expand from 14.5 to 22 inches in width to fit across most sinks. It also has two dividers and a drying rack for a dishrag.
What you should consider: If not positioned properly, it could fall into the sink.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top kitchen sink caddy for the money
Idesign Gia Stainless Steel Organizer
What you need to know: This simple caddy is small and convenient for those with limited space and only need to store a few items.
What you’ll love: Available in metallic colors, this open sink caddy can easily hold smaller supplies. It’s made from steel and has two suction cups that keep it in place.
What you should consider: The suction cups might start to slip over time or when the caddy’s overly full.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Joseph Joseph Surface Sink Caddy
What you need to know: This freestanding stainless steel caddy can hold and organize cleaning brushes, sponges and other kitchen cleaning tools with ease.
What you’ll love: It has a minimalistic design and comes in large and small sizes. There’s also the option to get just the caddy or the caddy with a dish brush or an organizer tray.
What you should consider: It does not automatically drain.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Wayfair
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/sinks-hardware-br/best-kitchen-sink-caddy/ | 2022-06-07T02:52:57Z |
STOCKHOLM, July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sandvik has completed the previously announced acquisition of the assets of US based company Peterson Tool Company, Inc., ("PTC") a leading supplier of machine-specific custom insert tooling solutions. The product offering includes custom carbide form inserts for high-production turning and grooving applications, primarily within the general engineering and automotive segments. The company will be reported in the GWS Tool business unit in Walter, a division within the business area Sandvik Manufacturing and Machining Solutions.
In 2021 the company had revenues of 9 million USD and an EBITA margin neutral to Sandvik Manufacturing and Machining Solutions. Impact on Sandvik's earnings per share will be limited, yet slightly positive.
Sandvik AB
For further information, contact Louise Tjeder, Vice President Investor Relations, phone: +46 70 782 6374 or Johannes Hellström, Press and Media Relations Manager, phone: +46 70 721 1008.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE Sandvik | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/15/sandvik-completes-acquisition-us-based-custom-tooling-manufacturer-peterson-tool-company/ | 2022-07-15T15:17:59Z |
Voted #1 Top Litigation Valuation Firm, #2 for Forensic Accounting and Expert Witness Services
LOS ANGELES, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- B. Riley Financial (NASDAQ: RILY) today announced B. Riley Advisory Services' recognition as a top provider for litigation valuation and forensic accounting in the "Best Of 2022" survey conducted by the Daily Report (Law.com).
B. Riley Advisory Services was voted first-place as the #1 "Top Litigation Valuation Firm" for 2022, and ranked #2 in multiple categories including "Forensic Accounting Firm" and "Overall Expert Witness Services." B. Riley's J. Michael Issa was also named #2 in the "Individual Expert Witness (Economic)" category.
Ian Ratner, co-CEO of B. Riley Advisory Services and "Top Individual Expert Witness" honoree in 2021, commented: "We are extremely proud and honored to receive continued recognition from our peers across the legal community. These accolades for leadership in litigation valuation and forensic accounting are a direct testimony to the high-quality caliber of our dedicated professionals and B. Riley's unwavering commitment to deliver for our clients and partners."
The annual "Best Of" ranking was developed to help lawyers identify the finest legal products and service providers by showcasing businesses that stand out among their competitors. Each year, a ballot is crafted with categories for lawyers and firm administrators to cast their votes on several areas critical to practicing law.
B. Riley Advisory Services has earned Hall of Fame status for consistently receiving the highest ranks in the annual survey since 2017.
B. Riley Advisory Services is a financial consulting and valuation firm that works with law firms, lenders, private equity sponsors, and companies of all types on business challenges such as planning and executing a major acquisition or divestiture, pursuing a fraud investigation or corporate litigation, or managing through a business crisis or bankruptcy. The firm offers a unique mix of appraisal services including asset-based lending (ABL) valuations, restructuring and turnaround management, forensic accounting and litigation support, and transaction support services including due diligence and quality of earnings reviews. The firm is a subsidiary of B. Riley Financial.
B. Riley Financial is a diversified financial services platform that delivers tailored solutions to meet the strategic, operational, and capital needs of its clients and partners. Through its affiliated subsidiaries, B. Riley provides end-to-end, collaborative financial services across investment banking, institutional brokerage, private wealth and investment management, financial consulting, corporate restructuring, operations management, risk and compliance, due diligence, forensic accounting, litigation support, appraisal and valuation, auction, and liquidation services. For more information, please visit www.brileyfin.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Media Contact
Jo Anne McCusker
B. Riley Financial
press@brileyfin.com
(646) 885-5425
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SOURCE B. Riley Financial | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/b-riley-earns-top-honors-litigation-valuation-forensic-accounting-best-2022-survey-by-daily-report-lawcom/ | 2022-06-23T13:19:06Z |
City of Topeka to survey road conditions
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - The City of Topeka announced it will begin a project to inventory the condition of all roads maintained by the City on Wednesday, August 10th.
The City has hired Roadway Asset Services (RAS), which is a nationwide firm based out of Austin, Texas to provide asset management and mobile data collection services.
Beginning Wednesday, RAS vehicles will collect imagery on all pavement and above ground transportation-related assets located within the public-right-of-way. The vehicles will be traveling all City-maintained roads, including alleys. The data collection will occur during daylight hours and on dry roads.
The City has previously worked with RAS on a similar project. The data collection process is expected to take between four to six weeks.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/09/city-topeka-survey-road-conditions/ | 2022-08-09T21:56:08Z |
Against a historical backdrop reminiscent of Watergate, award-winning Kyyba Films Founder Tel K. Ganesan is poised to tell another true-life American hero story.
DETROIT, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kyyba Films founder and producer of the top-rated 2022 film 1"8 ½" announces they are seeking the rights to Cassidy Hutchinson's story for a feature film. Hutchinson's surprise testimony on Tuesday, June 28th proved strikingly similar to the plot of 18 ½. In fact, dialogue straight out of the movie's script could make for a perfect tagline: "One young woman in the White House has the power to bring down the President… and the courage to do it."
Hutchinson's courage, despite great inherent personal risk, pushed her instantly into the realm of an American hero, testifying to a truth so explosive that it makes Watergate seem tame by comparison. Her willingness to put the greater good of her country before her own welfare is such a compelling story that Ganesan and Kyyba Films want to be the ones to bring it to the world.
"I am so moved by this woman's bravery, I am compelled to tell her heroic story," shares Ganesan. "Much like John Dean of the Watergate era, Cassidy introduced an explosive truth, cutting through the lies that led to insurrection. Her name is in the history books now; I want to examine and share the story of how she got here. I feel it is Serendipity leading me to do so!"
Premiered on Friday, June 3rd, "18 ½" tells the historic story of the infamous 18½-minute gap in Nixon's Watergate tapes through the lens of a fictional White House transcriber. Featuring a star-studded cast that includes Willa Fitzgerald (Amazon's "Reacher") and John Magaro ("First Cow"), the film has screened at over 20 festivals, receiving a rating of 100% from Rotten Tomatoes reviewers.
Now - against an eerily similar backdrop to 1974's presidential espionage - 18 ½ Executive Producer/Kyyba Films Founder Tel K. Ganesan seeks to tell Hutchinson's story - the story of a true American patriot.
Ganesan interviews are available upon request through Jade Umbrella PR.
Contact:
Stacey Barker
stacey@jadeumbrella.com
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SOURCE Kyyba Films | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/kyyba-films-seeks-movie-rights-cassidy-hutchinsons-story-following-successful-release-top-rated-18-watergate-film/ | 2022-07-12T15:47:26Z |
GUELPH, ON, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Canadian Solar Inc. ("Canadian Solar" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: CSIQ) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022, with solar module shipments, revenue and gross margin all at or exceeding the high end of prior guidance.
Highlights
- Solar module shipments of 5.06 GW, at the high end of 4.9 GW to 5.1 GW guidance range.
- 62% increase in revenue year-over-year ("yoy") to $2.31 billion, above the high end of $2.2 billion to $2.3 billion guidance range.
- 16.0% gross margin exceeds the guidance range of 14.5% to 15.5%.
- Net income attributable to Canadian Solar of $74 million, or $1.07 per diluted share.
- Accelerating upstream capacity expansion plans to further increase control over supply chain.
- Global Energy solar project pipeline expands to 26 GWp and storage pipeline expands to over 31 GWh, as of June 30, 2022.
- Carve-out IPO of CSI Solar Co., Ltd. ("CSI Solar" or the "CSI Solar subsidiary") remains on track awaiting completion of the CSRC registration.
Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO, commented, "We achieved strong results in the second quarter of 2022, with solar module shipments, revenue and gross margin all at or exceeding the high end of prior guidance. Sequentially, we grew our module shipments by nearly 40% and battery storage solutions revenues by 2.8 times, while significantly expanding our profitability and completing a large volume of project sales. Our capacity growth strategy is also well on track, which we expanded per our recent announcement to invest in our own polysilicon capacity in a region rich in renewable energy resources. This will allow us to gain further control over sourcing, technology and supply chain, and is part of a long-term plan to increase our market share while meaningfully reducing the carbon footprint of our supply chain. We provide additional details of our environmental efforts and performance in our latest ESG Sustainability Report, published last month.
"We are also excited to see the Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, in the U.S. coming into effect. We believe it will drive a big acceleration in demand for clean energy, especially for solar energy and battery storage.
"Separately, CSI Solar's carve-out IPO remains on track awaiting registration with the China Securities Regulatory Commission."
Yan Zhuang, President of Canadian Solar's CSI Solar subsidiary, said, "CSI Solar delivered strong results in the second quarter, significantly growing volume and increasing pricing, while taking cost control measures in a difficult environment as polysilicon prices continue to go up. Our performance in the second quarter was also boosted by a substantial foreign exchange gain from a strong U.S. Dollar relative to the Renminbi. From a market standpoint, we are encouraged by signs of a shift in customer behavior driven by a growing awareness of solar energy's attractive economics and its importance in energy security and climate change mitigation efforts, especially when paired with battery storage. Reflecting this positive trend, our battery storage shipments in the first half of 2022 have already exceeded 1 GWh, a record level for us. We will continue to build on our strong channels and relationships, especially in premium markets, and make capacity expansion preparations to accelerate our global market share gains in the coming years."
Ismael Guerrero, Corporate VP and President of Canadian Solar's Global Energy subsidiary, said, "We delivered significant growth in the second quarter by monetizing approximately 880 MWp of project sales across Australia, the U.S., Japan and the U.K. We also continued to expand and diversify our global project pipeline, strengthening our leadership position in key markets while allowing us to be more selective in developing the highest quality assets. We are particularly encouraged by the passing of the IRA in the U.S. as our subsidiary, Recurrent Energy, has one of the largest and best quality project pipelines, with a total of 8 GWp of solar and 16.5 GWh of battery storage. Additionally, we are making progress executing on our O&M (operations and maintenance) growth strategy to increase the share of stable, recurring income, including a recent expansion of our platform in Europe, as we evaluate complementary growth opportunities worldwide."
Dr. Huifeng Chang, Senior VP and CFO, added, "In the second quarter, we achieved 85% sequential growth in revenue to $2.3 billion and doubled our gross profit to $371 million, achieving a 16% gross margin. We were able to support the accelerated growth rate and reduce the impact of inflation due to our prior strategic decision to increase inventory during the first quarter. We continue to prioritize cash generation and are pleased with the increase in net cash flow provided by operating activities to $293 million in the second quarter of 2022, from $159 million in the first quarter of 2022. We ended the second quarter with a total cash position of $1.9 billion, giving us significant financial flexibility to fund long-term growth opportunities, including accelerating our upstream capacity expansion."
Second Quarter 2022 Results
Total module shipments recognized as revenues in the second quarter of 2022 were 5.06 GW, up 37% yoy. Of the total, 126 MW were shipped to the Company's own utility-scale solar power projects.
Net revenues in the second quarter of 2022 were $2.31 billion, up 85% quarter-over-quarter ("qoq") and 62% yoy. The sequential and yoy increases were mainly driven by higher project sales, higher solar shipment volumes and average selling price, and significant growth in the Company's battery storage solutions business.
Gross profit in the second quarter of 2022 was $371 million, up 105% qoq and 101% yoy. Gross margin in the second quarter of 2022 was 16.0%, above prior guidance, and compared to 14.5% in the first quarter of 2022. The sequential gross margin increase was mainly driven by higher module pricing, lower manufacturing costs from the depreciation of the Renminbi relative to the U.S. Dollar and scale benefits from higher volume.
Total operating expenses in the second quarter of 2022 were $255 million compared to $165 million in the first quarter of 2022 and $158 million in the second quarter of 2021. The sequential increase was mainly driven by higher shipping and handling expenses and an impairment charge related to certain manufacturing assets.
Depreciation and amortization charges in the second quarter of 2022 were $63 million, compared to $66 million in the first quarter of 2022 and $66 million in the second quarter of 2021.
Net foreign exchange and derivative gain in the second quarter of 2022 was $6 million, compared to a net gain of $3 million in the first quarter of 2022 and a net loss of $3 million in the second quarter of 2021.
Income tax expense in the second quarter of 2022 was $28 million, compared to a $5 million income tax benefit in the first quarter of 2022 and a $2 million income tax benefit in the second quarter of 2021. The expense was a result of the Company's higher income before income tax.
Net income attributable to Canadian Solar in the second quarter of 2022 was $74 million, or $1.07 per diluted share ("diluted EPS"), compared to net income of $9 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2022, and net income of $11 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2021.
For the three months ended June 30, 2022, diluted EPS of $1.07 was calculated to include the dilution effect of the outstanding convertible notes. Diluted EPS of $1.07 was calculated from total earnings of $76 million, adding back the 2.5% coupon of $1.3 million, divided by 71.1 million diluted shares, including 6.3 million shares issuable upon the conversion of the convertible notes. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, diluted EPS of $0.14 was calculated from total earnings of $9 million divided by 64.7 million diluted shares. For the three months ended June 30, 2021, diluted EPS of $0.18 was calculated from total earnings of $11 million divided by 61.3 million diluted shares.
Net cash flow provided by operating activities in the second quarter of 2022 was $293 million, compared to net cash flow provided by operating activities of $159 million in the first quarter of 2022. The increase in operating cash inflow was mainly driven by higher earnings and monetization of project assets.
Total debt was $2.7 billion as of June 30, 2022, unchanged from March 31, 2022. Non-recourse debt used to finance solar power projects decreased to $264 million as of June 30, 2022, from $550 million as of March 31, 2022, mainly due to the monetization of project assets.
Corporate Structure
The Company has two business segments: Global Energy and CSI Solar, which operate as follows:
The Global Energy segment carries out the Company's global project development activities for both solar and battery storage project development, which include sourcing land, interconnection agreements, structuring PPAs and other permits and requirements. The Global Energy segment develops both stand-alone solar and stand-alone battery storage projects, as well as hybrid solar plus storage projects. Its monetization strategies vary between develop-to-sell, build-to-sell, and build-to-own, depending on business strategies and market conditions, with the goal of maximizing returns, accelerating cash turn, and minimizing capital risk.
The CSI Solar segment consists of solar module manufacturing and total system solutions, including inverters, solar system kits and EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) services. The CSI Solar segment also includes the Company's battery storage system integration business, delivering bankable, end-to-end, turnkey battery storage solutions for utility scale, commercial and industrial, and residential applications. These storage systems solutions are complemented with long-term service agreements, including future battery capacity augmentation services.
Global Energy Segment
Canadian Solar has one of the world's largest and most geographically diversified utility-scale solar and energy storage project development platforms, with a strong track record of originating, developing, financing, and building over 6.8 GWp of solar power plants across six continents. The Company has built a leadership position in solar project development with 26 GWp total pipeline, as well as in energy storage project development with over 31 GWh of aggregate pipeline.
The continued pipeline expansion and strong project development track record will support Global Energy's growth in three key areas:
1. Project sales: The Company plans to grow its volume of project sales by a compound annual growth rate of approximately 50% to 2026, while holding and accumulating assets through investment vehicles (see below) in order to better capture asset value.
2. Investment vehicles: The Company is optimizing its project monetization strategy by establishing local investment vehicles that will help maximize the value of its project assets. The Company also intends to retain minority ownership in these vehicles. By 2026, the Company plans to reach 1.3 GW of combined net ownership in solar power projects through these vehicles. This approach will help the Company build and grow a stable base of long-term cash flows from contracted electricity. The Company plans to recycle a large portion of the capital into developing new solar projects for growth. Meanwhile, Canadian Solar expects to capture additional operational value throughout the partial ownership period, including long-term cash flows from power sales, O&M, asset management and other services (see point 3). The Company currently owns a 15% stake in the Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund ("CSIF", TSE: 9284), the largest Japanese infrastructure fund listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and has also established the CSFS Fund I, a closed-ended alternative investment fund of a similar nature in Italy. Through launching these localized vehicles, Canadian Solar is building its expertise in designing investment vehicles in local markets that will help maximize the value of its project assets.
3. Services: Canadian Solar currently manages over 3.1 GW of operational projects under long-term O&M agreements, and an additional 2.4 GW of contracted projects that will be operated and maintained by the Company once they are placed in operation. The Company's target is to reach 20 GW of projects under O&M agreements by 2026.
Management targets to achieve the following over the next few years:
Solar Project Pipeline
As of June 30, 2022, the Company's total project pipeline was 26.2 GWp, including 1.3 GWp under construction, 3.9 GWp of backlog, and 21.0 GWp of projects in advanced and early-stage pipelines. We have updated our project pipeline classification as follows:
- Backlog projects are late-stage projects that have passed their Risk Cliff Date and are expected to start construction in the next 1-4 years. A project's Risk Cliff Date is the date on which the project passes the last high-risk development stage and varies depending on the country where it is located. This is usually after the projects have received all the required environmental and regulatory approvals, and entered into interconnection agreements, feed-in tariff ("FIT") arrangements and PPAs. Over 90% of projects in backlog are contracted (i.e., have secured a PPA or FIT), and the remaining are reasonably assured of securing PPAs.
- Advanced pipeline projects are mid-stage projects that have secured or have more than 90% certainty of securing an interconnection agreement.
- Early-stage Pipeline projects are early-stage projects controlled by Canadian Solar that are in the process of securing interconnection.
The following table presents Global Energy's total solar project development pipeline.
Battery Storage Project Pipeline
In addition to developing utility-scale solar power projects, the Global Energy segment has also been developing hybrid solar plus energy storage projects, as well as stand-alone battery storage projects. Since the first quarter of 2021, the Company has been co-hosting energy storage facilities with solar power plants on the same piece of land for nearly all projects under development. By using a single interconnection point per project, the Company expects to significantly enhance the efficiency of its development and the value of its assets under development.
Canadian Solar's storage development business model also includes signing storage tolling agreements with a variety of power purchasers, including community choice aggregators, investor-owned utilities, universities, and public utility districts. In addition, the Company has signed development services agreements to retrofit operational solar projects with battery storage, many of which were previously developed by the Company.
The table below sets forth Global Energy's total storage project development pipeline.
Solar Power Plants and Battery Storage Projects in Operation
As of June 30, 2022, the Company's solar power plants in operation totaled 311 MWp, with a combined estimated net resale value of approximately $270 million to Canadian Solar. The estimated resale value is based on selling prices that Canadian Solar is currently negotiating or comparable asset sales.
Operating Results
The following table presents select unaudited results of operations data of the Global Energy segment for the periods indicated.
CSI Solar Segment
CSI Solar's 2022 and 2023 capacity expansion targets are set forth below.
Operating Results
The following table presents select unaudited results of operations data of the CSI Solar segment for the periods indicated.
The table below provides the geographic distribution of the net revenues of CSI Solar:
CSI Solar shipped 5.06 GW of modules to more than 70 countries in the second quarter of 2022. The top five markets ranked by shipments were China, the U.S., Spain, Brazil and Germany.
Battery Storage Solutions
Within CSI Solar, the battery storage solutions team provides customers with competitive turnkey, integrated battery storage solutions, including bankable and fully wrapped capacity and performance guarantees. These guarantees are complemented with long-term service agreements, which include future battery capacity augmentation services and bring in long-term, stable income.
The table below sets forth CSI Solar's battery storage system integration's project pipeline as of June 30, 2022.
LTSA projects are operational battery storage projects delivered by CSI Solar that are under multi-year long-term service agreements and generate recurring earnings. Contracted/in construction projects are expected to be delivered within the next 12 to 18 months. Forecast projects include those that have more than 75% probability of being contracted within the next 12 months, and the remaining pipeline includes projects that have received exclusivity agreements or have been shortlisted, but still have a below 75% probability of being contracted.
Business Outlook
The Company's business outlook is based on management's current views and estimates given factors such as existing market conditions, order book, production capacity, input material prices, foreign exchange fluctuations, anticipated timing of project sales, and the global economic environment. This outlook is subject to uncertainty with respect to, among other things, customer demand, project construction and sale schedules, product sales prices and costs, the global impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and shutdowns, supply chain constraints, and geopolitical conflicts. Management's views and estimates are subject to change without notice.
For the third quarter of 2022, the Company expects total revenues to be in the range of $2.0 billion to $2.1 billion. Gross margin is expected to be between 15.0% and 16.5%. Total module shipments recognized as revenues by CSI Solar are expected to be in the range of 6.0 GW to 6.2 GW, including approximately 140 MW to the Company's own projects.
For the full year of 2022, the Company raises total revenue guidance to $7.5 billion to $8.0 billion, from $7.0 billion to $7.5 billion previously. The Company expects full year volume targets for CSI Solar and Global Energy to remain unchanged from the ranges communicated in the prior quarter: total module shipments of 20 GW to 22 GW and battery storage shipments of 1.8 GWh to 1.9 GWh (CSI Solar), and total project sales of 2.1 GW to 2.6 GW (Global Energy).
Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO, commented, "We are off to a strong first half for 2022, and expect continued solar module volume growth through the remainder of the year as we ramp up capacity towards 2023 volume growth targets. The second quarter will likely be the largest quarter of the year for us due to the timing of project sales and battery storage shipments. However, we expect profitability to remain healthy through the second half of the year, driven by continued manufacturing processing cost reductions and lower logistics costs partially offset by higher polysilicon prices. We continue to build on our long track record of innovation, and we are excited to officially introduce our long-awaited battery storage products for utility and residential applications in the upcoming Solar Power International exhibition in California. In a gradually improving market backdrop aided by strong policies such as the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, Canadian Solar is strongly positioned to achieve profitable growth as we continue to focus on long-term investments and create lasting value for shareholders."
Recent Developments
On August 10, 2022, Canadian Solar announced that a wholly owned subsidiary of CSI Solar entered into an investment agreement with the municipal government of Haidong City in Qinghai Province to invest in a polysilicon manufacturing facility. Under the agreement, CSI Solar plans to build a facility with an annual capacity of approximately 50,000 tons of high-purity polysilicon later in 2022 and the facility is expected to commence production in mid-2024. Subject to market conditions and approvals from its board of directors, CSI Solar may also build other manufacturing facilities, including ingots, wafers, cells, modules, and other auxiliary materials in Haidong.
On July 25, 2022, Canadian Solar completed the sale of two fully permitted and construction ready solar and battery energy storage projects in the U.K. to specialist alternative asset manager, Gresham House. The two projects comprise a collocated solar and battery energy storage project in Durham, with 50 MWp solar capacity and 38 MW (or 76 MWh) of battery energy storage, and a standalone solar project in Warwickshire of 28 MWp.
On July 25, 2022, Canadian Solar published its latest ESG Sustainability Report, which highlights the Company's progress in advancing its sustainability strategy from an environmental, social, and governance perspective.
On July 7, 2022, Canadian Solar completed the sale of two solar farms, Suntop and Gunnedah totaling 345 MWp in New South Wales, Australia to CalEnergy Resources (Australia) Limited, a subsidiary of Northern Powergrid Holdings Company. Both projects have reached substantial completion.
On June 16, 2022, Canadian Solar acquired two standalone energy storage projects in the South Load Zone of the Texas ERCOT market from Black Mountain Energy Storage. The projects are each anticipated to store up to 200 MWh of energy, with notice to proceed expected in 2023 and commercial operation in the second quarter of 2024.
On June 15, 2022, Canadian Solar secured 136 million Brazilian reais (approximately US$28 million) non-recourse project financing from Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S.A. to support construction and operation of its 79 MWp Lavras II solar power project in Brazil.
On June 6, 2022, Canadian Solar signed an agreement with SPIC Brasil, a leading power generation company in Brazil to sell 70% stake in the Company's 738 MWp Marangatu and Panati-Sitia solar projects in Brazil. Both projects are expected to begin construction in late 2022 and reach commercial operation in late 2023.
On May 27, 2022, Canadian Solar announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Recurrent Energy successfully completed the construction on the 100 MW Sunflower solar power plant in Mississippi. Recurrent Energy developed and built the solar power plant under a Build Transfer Agreement for Entergy Mississippi which owns the plant for the life of the facility after the completion of construction.
Conference Call Information The Company will hold a conference call on Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (8:00 p.m., Thursday, August 18, 2022 in Hong Kong) to discuss its second quarter 2022 results and business outlook. The dial-in phone number for the live audio call is +1-877-704-4453 (toll-free from the U.S.), 800-965-561 (toll-free from Hong Kong), 400-1202-840 (local dial-in from Mainland China) or +1-201-389-0920 from international locations. The conference ID is 13731878. A live webcast of the conference call will also be available on the investor relations section of Canadian Solar's website at www.canadiansolar.com
A replay of the call will be available 2 hours after the conclusion of the call until 11:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Daylight Time on Thursday, September 1, 2022 (11:00 a.m., September 2, 2022, in Hong Kong) and can be accessed by +1-844-512-2921 (toll-free from the U.S.), or +1-412-317-6671 from international locations. The replay pin number is 13731878. A webcast replay will also be available on the investor relations section of Canadian Solar's website at www.canadiansolar.com.
About Canadian Solar Inc.
Canadian Solar was founded in 2001 in Canada and is one of the world's largest solar technology and renewable energy companies. It is a leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic modules, provider of solar energy and battery storage solutions, and developer of utility-scale solar power and battery storage projects with a geographically diversified pipeline in various stages of development. Over the past 21 years, Canadian Solar has successfully delivered around 76 GW of premium-quality, solar photovoltaic modules to customers across the world. Likewise, since entering the project development business in 2010, Canadian Solar has developed, built and connected over 6.8 GWp in over 20 countries across the world. Currently, the Company has 311 MWp of projects in operation, 5.3 GWp of projects under construction or in backlog (late-stage), and an additional 21 GWp of projects in advanced and early-stage pipeline. Canadian Solar is one of the most bankable companies in the solar and renewable energy industry, having been publicly listed on the NASDAQ since 2006. For additional information about the Company, follow Canadian Solar on LinkedIn or visit www.canadiansolar.com.
Safe Harbor/Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release, including those regarding the Company's expected future shipment volumes, revenues, gross margins and project sales are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These statements are made under the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by such terms as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include general business, regulatory and economic conditions and the state of the solar and battery storage market and industry; geopolitical tensions and conflicts, including impasses, sanctions and export controls; volatility, uncertainty, delays and disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic; supply chain disruptions; governmental support for the deployment of solar power; future available supplies of high-purity silicon; demand for end-use products by consumers and inventory levels of such products in the supply chain; changes in demand from significant customers; changes in demand from major markets such as Japan, the U.S., China, Brazil and India; changes in effective tax rates; changes in customer order patterns; changes in product mix; changes in corporate responsibility, especially environmental, social and governance ("ESG") requirements; capacity utilization; level of competition; pricing pressure and declines in or failure to timely adjust average selling prices; delays in new product introduction; delays in utility-scale project approval process; delays in utility-scale project construction; delays in the completion of project sales; continued success in technological innovations and delivery of products with the features that customers demand; shortage in supply of materials or capacity requirements; availability of financing; exchange and inflation rate fluctuations; uncertainties related to the CSI Solar carve-out listing; litigation and other risks as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F filed on April 28, 2022. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance, or achievements. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All information provided in this press release is as of today's date, unless otherwise stated, and Canadian Solar undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
Investor Relations Contacts:
FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW
The following tables provide unaudited select financial data for the Company's CSI Solar and Global Energy businesses.
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SOURCE Canadian Solar Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/canadian-solar-reports-second-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-08-18T11:01:27Z |
HHS secretary Becerra tests positive for COVID-19 again
(AP) - President Joe Biden’s top health official has again tested positive for COVID-19, less than a month after he came down with virus symptoms while on a trip to Germany.
U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra woke up with symptoms again Monday morning and tested positive afterward, spokeswoman Sarah Lovenheim said.
His symptoms are mild and he is isolating in Sacramento, California. Lovenheim said Becerra had been in California for a “personal commitment.”
A statement from HHS said the secretary was not believed to be a close contact of Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris, who also tested positive earlier this spring.
Becerra is continuing to work from isolation.
Becerra had joined Biden at the Summit of the Americas last week in Los Angeles. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday that he had tested positive after attending the event, which gathered diginitaries, diplomats and business leaders from across the hemisphere.
Becerra is fully vaccinated and has received a booster shot guarding against the virus.
In May, Becerra tested positive while in Berlin for a meeting of health ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy nations to discuss the ongoing pandemic. His office said then that he had mild symptoms and continued his work from isolation.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/13/hhs-secretary-becerra-tests-positive-covid-19-again/ | 2022-06-13T20:00:49Z |
ATLANTA, May 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Interface, Inc. (Nasdaq: TILE), a worldwide commercial flooring company and global leader in sustainability, today announced results for the first quarter ended April 3, 2022.
Q1 2022 Highlights:
- Net sales totaled $288 million, up 14% year-over-year.
- GAAP SG&A expenses at 27% of net sales, down from 31% in Q1 2021.
- GAAP operating income up 62% year-over-year; adjusted operating income up 54% year-over-year.
- GAAP earnings per share of $0.22, up 83% year-over-year; adjusted earnings per share of $0.28, up 65% year-over-year.
- Orders increased 15% year-over-year.
"We delivered strong first quarter results, with revenue growth of 14%, driven by increasing demand across our portfolio of carbon neutral and carbon negative flooring products. Orders in the first quarter increased 15% year-over-year, marking our fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit orders growth. Our team's strong execution, including pricing and productivity gains, helped mitigate supply chain and inflationary headwinds during the quarter," said Dan Hendrix, Chairman of Interface.
"Our position as an industry leader in design, sustainability, and innovation continues to drive demand and market share gains across our diverse end markets - particularly in a rapidly recovering office sector. As we move forward, we remain committed to advancing our growth and diversification strategies and are well-positioned to meet the growing demand for low carbon footprint flooring solutions," Hendrix added.
"We have proactively increased efficiency across our business and we continue to implement cost control measures that, when paired with strong order momentum, provide a strong foundation for growth for the remainder of the year and beyond," added Bruce Hausmann, CFO of Interface.
"Finally, we are thrilled to welcome Laurel Hurd as our new Chief Executive Officer. Laurel joined us on April 18, 2022, and she will help drive Interface through the next chapters of our journey," concluded Hendrix.
First Quarter 2022 Financial Summary
Sales: First quarter net sales were $288.0 million, up 13.7% versus $253.3 million in the prior year period with growth across all product categories.
Gross profit margin was 37.1% in the first quarter, a decrease of 84 basis points from the prior year period. Adjusted gross profit margin was 37.9%, a decrease of 55 basis points from adjusted gross margin for the prior year period due primarily to higher freight and raw material costs.
First quarter SG&A expenses were $78.5 million, or 27.3% of net sales, compared to $79.3 million, or 31.3% of net sales in first quarter last year. Adjusted SG&A expenses were $78.6 million, or 27.3% of net sales in first quarter 2022, compared to $77.5 million, or 30.6% of net sales, in the first quarter last year.
Operating Income: First quarter operating income was $27.4 million, compared to operating income of $16.9 million in the prior year period. First quarter 2022 adjusted operating income ("AOI") was $30.6 million versus AOI of $19.9 million in first quarter of 2021.
Net Income and EPS: On a GAAP basis, the Company recorded net income of $13.3 million in the first quarter of 2022, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to first quarter 2021 GAAP net income of $6.9 million, or $0.12 per diluted share. First quarter 2022 adjusted net income was $16.8 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, versus first quarter 2021 adjusted net income of $10.0 million, or $0.17 per diluted share.
Adjusted EBITDA: In the first quarter of 2022, adjusted EBITDA was $42.9 million. This compares with adjusted EBITDA of $31.5 million in the first quarter of 2021.
Cash and Debt: The Company had cash on hand of $76.1 million and total debt of $521.7 million at the end of the first quarter 2022, compared to $97.3 million of cash and $518.1 million of total debt at the end of fiscal year 2021.
First Quarter Segment Results
AMS Results:
- Q1 2022 net sales of $156.5 million, up 23.3% versus $127.0 million in the prior year period primarily due to the continued recovery of the commercial market.
- Q1 2022 orders were up 11.4% compared to the prior year period.
- Q1 2022 operating income was $21.3 million compared to $11.6 million in the prior year period.
- Q1 2022 AOI was $21.1 million versus AOI of $11.9 million in the prior year period.
EAAA Results:
- Q1 2022 net sales of $131.5 million, up 4.1% versus $126.3 million in the prior year period.
- Currency fluctuations negatively impacted Q1 2022 net sales by approximately $7.9 million as compared to Q1 2021 sales due to weakening of the Euro, British pound sterling and Australian dollar against the U.S. dollar.
- Q1 2022 orders were up 19.7% compared to the prior year period and 26.3% on a currency neutral basis.
- Q1 2022 operating income of $6.2 million compared to $5.2 million in the prior year period.
- Q1 2022 AOI was $9.5 million versus AOI of $8.0 million in the prior year period.
Outlook
There continues to be a significant level of disruption in the global supply chain and general macro-economic uncertainty. As the Company continues to monitor this situation, it is anticipating:
For the second quarter of 2022:
- Net sales of $350 million to $360 million.
- Adjusted gross profit margin of approximately 33% to 34%.
- Adjusted SG&A expenses of approximately $85 million.
- Adjusted Interest & Other expenses of approximately $8 million.
- An adjusted effective tax rate of approximately 29%.
- Fully diluted weighted average share count at the end of the second quarter of approximately 59.4 million shares.
For the full fiscal year 2022:
- Year-over-year net sales growth of approximately 10% to 12%.
- Adjusted gross profit margin of 35% to 36%.
- Adjusted SG&A expenses that are approximately 25% to 26% of net sales.
- Adjusted Interest & Other expenses of approximately $31 million.
- An adjusted effective tax rate of approximately 27%.
- Capital expenditures of approximately $30 million.
Fully diluted share count at the end of the first quarter of 2022 was 59.2 million shares.
Webcast and Conference Call Information
Interface will host a conference call on May 6, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss its first quarter 2022 results. The conference call will be simultaneously broadcast live over the Internet.
Listeners may access the conference call live over the Internet at:
https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/380489374, or through the Company's website at: https://investors.interface.com.
The archived version of the webcast will be available at these sites for one year beginning approximately one hour after the call ends.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Interface provides adjusted earnings per share, adjusted net income, adjusted operating income ("AOI"), adjusted gross profit, adjusted gross profit margin, adjusted SG&A expenses, organic sales and organic sales growth, net debt, and adjusted EBITDA as additional information regarding its operating results in this press release. These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with – or alternatives to – GAAP measures, and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. Adjusted EPS, adjusted net income, and AOI exclude nora purchase accounting amortization, the Thailand plant closure inventory write-down, restructuring charges, asset impairment, severance and other charges. Adjusted EPS and adjusted net income also exclude the discontinuance of interest rate swaps. Adjusted gross profit and adjusted gross profit margin exclude nora purchase accounting amortization and the Thailand plant closure inventory write-down. Adjusted SG&A expenses exclude asset impairment, severance, and other charges. Organic sales and organic sales growth exclude the impact of foreign currency fluctuations. Net debt is total debt less cash on hand. Adjusted EBITDA is GAAP net income excluding interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, stock compensation amortization, restructuring charges, asset impairment, severance and other charges, nora purchase accounting amortization, the Thailand plant closure inventory write-down, and the loss associated with a warehouse fire. This news release should be read in conjunction with the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K furnished today to the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, which explains why Interface believes presentation of these non-GAAP measures provides useful information to investors, as well as any additional material purposes for which Interface uses these non-GAAP measures.
About Interface
Interface, Inc. is a global flooring company specializing in carbon neutral carpet tile and resilient flooring, including luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and nora® rubber flooring. We help our customers create high-performance interior spaces that support well-being, productivity, and creativity, as well as the sustainability of the planet. Our mission, Climate Take Back™, invites you to join us as we commit to operating in a way that is restorative to the planet and creates a climate fit for life.
Learn more about Interface at interface.com and blog.interface.com, our nora brand at nora.com, our FLOR® brand at FLOR.com, and our Carbon Neutral Floors™ program at interface.com/carbonneutral. Learn more about our carbon negative products at interface.com/carbonnegative.
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Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
Except for historical information contained herein, the other matters set forth in this news release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "may," "expect," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "could," "should," "goal," "aim," "objective," "seek," "project," "estimate," "target," "will" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, any projections we make regarding the Company's 2022 second quarter and full year 2022 under "Outlook" above. The forward-looking statements set forth above involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such statement, including but not limited to the risks under the following subheadings in "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022: "The COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse effect on our ability to operate, our ability to keep employees safe from the pandemic, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, capital investments, our near term and long term ability to stay in compliance with debt covenants under our Syndicated Credit Facility and Senior Notes, our ability to refinance our existing indebtedness, and our ability to obtain financing in capital markets"; "Sales of our principal products have been and may continue to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, adverse economic cycles, and effects in the new construction market and renovation market"; "Our earnings could be adversely affected by non-cash adjustments to goodwill, when a test of goodwill assets indicates a material impairment of those assets"; "Our substantial international operations are subject to various political, economic and other uncertainties that could adversely affect our business results, including foreign currency fluctuations, restrictive taxation, custom duties, border closing or other adverse government regulations"; "The uncertainty surrounding the ongoing implementation and effect of the U.K.'s exit from the European Union, and related negative developments in the European Union could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition"; "We have a substantial amount of debt, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to meet our payment obligations under our debt"; "Servicing our debt requires a significant amount of cash, and we may not have sufficient cash flow from our operations to pay our indebtedness"; "We may incur substantial additional indebtedness, which could further exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial indebtedness"; "We compete with a large number of manufacturers in the highly competitive floorcovering products market, and some of these competitors have greater financial resources than we do. We may face challenges competing on price, making investments in our business, or competing on product design"; "Our success depends significantly upon the efforts, abilities and continued service of our senior management executives, our principal design consultant and other key personnel (including experienced sales and manufacturing personnel), and our loss of any of them could affect us adversely"; "Large increases in the cost of our raw materials, shipping costs, duties or tariffs could adversely affect us if we are unable to pass these cost increases through to our customers"; "Unanticipated termination or interruption of any of our arrangements with our primary third-party suppliers of synthetic fiber or our primary third-party supplier for luxury vinyl tile ("LVT") or other key raw materials could have a material adverse effect on us"; "The market price of our common stock has been volatile and the value of your investment may decline"; "Changes to our facilities, manufacturing processes, product construction, and product composition could disrupt our operations, increase our manufacturing costs, increase customer complaints, increase warranty claims, negatively affect our reputation, and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations"; "Our business operations could suffer significant losses from natural disasters, acts of war, terrorism, catastrophes, fire, adverse weather conditions, pandemics, endemics or other unexpected events"; "Disruptions to or failures of our information technology systems could adversely affect our business"; and "We face risks associated with litigation and claims". The conflict between Russia and Ukraine also could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial position. You should consider any additional or updated information we include under the heading "Risk Factors" in our subsequent and annual reports.
Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, speak only as of the date made. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking statements made in this press release and cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements.
- TABLES FOLLOW -
The impacts of changes in foreign currency presented in the tables are calculated based on applying the prior year period's average foreign currency exchange rates to the current year period.
The Company believes that the above non-GAAP performance measures, which management uses in managing and evaluating the Company's business, may provide users of the Company's financial information with additional meaningful basis for comparing the Company's current results and results in a prior period, as these measures reflect factors that are unique to one period relative to the comparable period. However, these non–GAAP performance measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company's reported results under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Tax effects identified above (when applicable) are calculated using the statutory tax rate for the jurisdictions in which the charge or income occurred.
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SOURCE Interface, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/06/interface-reports-first-quarter-2022-results-increases-full-year-revenue-outlook/ | 2022-05-06T11:47:26Z |
Several Thousand Susan G. Komen Supporters Walking and Running to Help End Breast Cancer During Breast Cancer Awareness Month
DALLAS, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Susan G. Komen®, the world's leading breast cancer organization, has announced the return of its annual Susan G. Komen MORE THAN PINK Walk and Race for the Cure in 40 cities across the U.S. and the virtual Walk Where You Are event.
This fall, from August through November and during National Breast Cancer Awareness month, several thousand dedicated individuals and their families who have been impacted by breast cancer will walk or run, in support of Susan G. Komen.
For many of the cities, this will be the first in-person race or walk since 2019.
Participants of the MORE THAN PINK Walk or Race for the Cure include breast cancer survivors, co-survivors, individuals living with metastatic breast cancer, friends, family and other supporters.
For individuals who are not able to participate in an in-person event, Komen is holding a virtual Walk Where You Are on Saturday, Oct. 29.
"We are excited to welcome Race and Walk participants back in-person and virtually. This is our opportunity to provide a community for anyone who has been impacted by breast cancer. Whether you are in treatment, celebrating survivorship, or a family member, friend or loved one, we hope you will join us this fall and be part of our collective efforts to end breast cancer forever," said Paula Schneider, President and CEO of Susan G. Komen.
"We welcome all members of our breast cancer community honoring friends, family and anyone who has been impacted by the disease," said Schneider. "The MORE THAN PINK Walk, Race for the Cure and Walk Where You Are is a way for us to come together with a common goal of curing breast cancer and the funds raised by participants and company sponsorships will give more individuals who have been impacted by the disease access to resources and the support they need now."
Walk Where You Are Returns for Supporters Unable to Participate In Person
For those who are unable to participate in person, supporters can join Komen during a Walk Where You Are event on October 29. The virtual walk experience includes pre-event programming such as online meetups and virtual social hours to encourage connection between participants and staff and among fellow participants.
In 2021, Komen held a virtual, national event called Walk Where You Are that had tremendous participation during the pandemic. In 2021, 5,000 participants from all 50 states, Washington D.C. and 8 countries spanning four continents participated in the virtual walk.
Locations and Dates for Susan G. Komen's MORE THAN PINK Walk, Race for the Cure and Walk Where You Are
This year, the following cities will be holding a MORE THAN PINK Walk or Race for the Cure:
- August 28, 2022 – Madison, Wisconsin
- September 10, 2022 – Memorial/Bloomington, Illinois
- September 10, 2022 – Louisville, Kentucky
- September 17, 2022 – Hudson, Ohio
- September 18, 2022 – Washington D.C.
- September 18, 2022 – Wausau, Wisconsin
- September 24, 2022 – Atlanta, Georgia
- September 24, 2022 – Tulsa, Oklahoma
- September 25, 2022 – Toledo, Ohio
- September 25, 2022 – Newport Beach, California
- September 25, 2022 – Evansville, Indiana
- October 1, 2022 – Buffalo, New York
- October 1, 2022 – Memorial/Springfield, Illinois
- October 1, 2022 – San Francisco, California
- October 1, 2022 – Chattanooga, Tennessee
- October 1, 2022 – Houston, Texas
- October 1, 2022 – Fort Worth, Texas
- October 2, 2022 – Detroit, Michigan
- October 2, 2022 – New York, New York
- October 2, 2022 – Jackson, New Jersey
- October 2, 2022 – Honolulu, Hawaii
- October 8, 2022 – Los Angeles, California
- October 8, 2022 – Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
- October 8, 2022 – Charlotte, North Carolina
- October 8, 2022 – Indianapolis, Indiana
- October 8, 2022 – Rogers, Arkansas
- October 8, 2022 – Omaha, Nebraska
- October 9, 2022 – Murietta, California
- October 9, 2022 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- October 15, 2022 – Manchester, Vermont
- October 15, 2022 – Nashville, Tennessee
- October 15, 2022 – Terre Haute, Indiana
- October 22, 2022 – Hartford, Connecticut
- October 22, 2022 – Dallas, Texas
- October 22, 2022 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- October 23, 2022 – Denver, Colorado
- October 29, 2022 – Chicago, Illinois
- October 29, 2022 – New Orleans, Louisiana
- October 29, 2022 – Boston, Massachusetts
- October 29, 2022 – Walk Where You Are, Anywhere in the U.S. (Virtual Walk)
- October 30, 2022 – Austin, Texas
- November 6, 2022 – San Diego, California
"We are thrilled to have our participants from individuals and their families to national teams come together to help raise critical funds to support the breast cancer community through our research, patient care services, programs, education and policy work," said Schneider.
Bank of America and Walgreens are national sponsors for the MORE THAN PINK Walk, Race for the Cure and Walk Where You Are.
For more information on how to register for an event near you or for the virtual walk, go to: https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/attend-events/race-for-the-cure/
Susan G. Komen is the world's leading nonprofit breast cancer organization, working to save lives and end breast cancer forever. Komen has an unmatched, comprehensive 360-degree approach to fighting this disease across all fronts and supporting millions of people in the U.S. and in countries worldwide. We advocate for patients, drive research breakthroughs, improve access to high-quality care, offer direct patient support and empower people with trustworthy information. Founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy's life, Komen remains committed to supporting those affected by breast cancer today, while tirelessly searching for tomorrow's cures. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on social at www.komen.org/contact-us/follow-us/.
CONTACT: Amanda DeBard
Susan G. Komen
(972) 701-2131
adebard@komen.org
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SOURCE Susan G. Komen for the Cure | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/11/susan-g-komen-announces-return-more-than-pink-walk-race-cure-walk-where-you-are-across-us/ | 2022-07-11T19:56:37Z |
Results Reflect Growing Demand for High-Quality Live Social Platforms
NEW YORK, April 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia Innovations Group (AIG) today announced phenomenal growth in the first quarter of 2022. This growth spans across products, but is especially pronounced in AIG's live social platform Uplive, demonstrating the growing demand for genuine human connections online. According to industry monitor Sensor Tower, Uplive ranked in the top three live-streaming apps globally by total downloads and revenue in Q1 2022.
Uplive was the most downloaded live streaming app in 18 countries across East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central & South America. Other high-performing AIG apps included CuteU and Lamour, both of which ranked in the top five most downloaded dating apps in Central & South America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Online marketplace Hekka continues to build its platform as it seeks to become the leader in the consumer electronics and fashion industries.
"Our widespread growth in the first quarter of 2022 shows we are meeting our users' needs for accessible digital products that foster authentic human connection," said Andy Tian, Co-founder and CEO of AIG. "This year we will be announcing more exciting new innovations that will continue to demonstrate our leadership in the live social industry."
These exciting results build on AIG's successes in sponsoring Q1 events such as the Uplive and Hekka sponsored event at New York Fashion Week and the 2022 Uplive World Stage Singing competition. At the NYFW event, simulcast live on Uplive, models walked down the runway in a variety of clothing items from Hekka's vast online marketplace. Meanwhile, the World Stage singing competition brought over 5,000 competitors from across the world to showcase their talents in a virtual singing competition on Uplive. Both events inspired and empowered young creators by providing a platform for them to engage with thousands of potential new fans.
"We are a truly global platform with a strategic focus on emerging markets, enabling us to capitalize on high growth potential markets and to empower the creator economy in diverse forms," concluded Tian.
About Asia Innovations Group
Asia Innovations Group (AIG) is a leading live social company with 500 million registered users located in over 150 regions worldwide. It has built a comprehensive and diverse portfolio as it seeks to achieve its mission of enriching people's lives worldwide through innovative and enjoyable live social products that foster meaningful human connection. AIG operates in eighteen offices around the globe that offer deep local market knowledge across all major emerging markets to augment the company's cutting-edge technology and scalable global infrastructure.
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SOURCE Asia Innovations Group | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/27/aig-announces-widespread-growth-q1-2022/ | 2022-04-27T14:50:56Z |
SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Neon, Inc., today announced the Technical Preview release of its cloud-native, fully managed Postgres at the WeAreDevelopers World Congress and Prisma Day in Berlin. Launching out of an invite-only Limited Preview, Neon's free tier offering is now available for everyone. Neon's innovative architecture maximizes the modern developer's efficiency and experience while minimizing cost.
The Hacker News community upvoted Neon as the number one trending topic on May 28. Neon's one-click start, bottomless storage, and autoscaling capabilities gained traction across the Postgres and wider development community.
"We're committed to our mission of creating an internet run on Postgres and supporting the next generation of developers," said Nikita Shamgunov, CEO of Neon. "Staying connected to the developer community, listening to their needs, and providing the tools to work smarter and faster are the first steps to reaching that goal."
Neon optimizes resources through decoupled storage and compute that automatically scales up for peak activity and down to zero on inactivity. Through a multi-tier cloud architecture, Neon provides bottomless storage and is currently compatible with Amazon S3, with more cloud storage providers to come.
"At scale, using Postgres alone is challenging," said Founders Fund Principal Leigh Marie Braswell. "Neon has built features that would've made my job as a developer easier in the past. The good news is that other developers can now take advantage of what Neon has to offer."
Neon impressed investors early, raising a combined $24 million during Seed and Series A funding rounds. With support from partners, including Prisma, Neon will continue to innovate – with plans to integrate more innovative tools for a new generation of developers. Neon showcases its commitment to open source values through its generous free tier and regular contributions to the DevOps community. With a robust feature roadmap, Neon looks forward to empowering developers to build with Postgres.
Neon is a cloud-native, fully managed Postgres as a service backed by an impressive list of top-tier investors, including Khosla Ventures, General Catalyst, and Founders Fund. By separating storage from compute, Neon offers autoscaling, one-click start, multi-cloud compatibility, and bottomless storage to give developers a simple, reliable, and powerful experience. With a generous free tier, developers can quickly start and efficiently scale at will. Learn more at neon.tech.
Contact: press@neon.tech
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SOURCE Neon | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/neon-announces-launch-developer-friendly-multi-cloud-fully-managed-postgres/ | 2022-06-15T13:59:02Z |
Which shapewear shorts are best?
The right pair of shapewear shorts will not only make you look slimmer, but they’ll also make you feel more confident, no matter what you’re wearing. The great thing about shapewear is that they fit perfectly under loose-fitting and tight-fitting clothes alike.
Whether you’re heading out for a night on the town or simply going to the office, we suggest the Tummy Control Shapewear Shorts by Werena. They are versatile, flattering and provide the support you need without sacrificing mobility or comfort.
What to know before you buy shapewear shorts
What is shapewear?
Shapewear is an undergarment worn to contour the wearer’s body shape in a way that’s both slimming and flattering. There are various types of shapewear, including dresses, bodysuits, slips, tanks, underwear and shorts. Most people wear these garments to tighten up certain areas like the waist, tummy or calves. You can wear shapewear underneath nearly any regular outfit, including dresses, pants, shirts and regular shorts.
Level of control
Not all shapewear provides the same level of control or compression. Some manufacturers include a chart with their products that shows the different levels of compression, while others simply indicate the amount of compression offered in a specific product. When it comes to the level of control, most shapewear falls into one of the following categories:
- No compression: These undergarments offer minimal shaping and mainly exist to smooth out the targeted area or areas.
- Minor compression: This type of shapewear provides a light degree of compression. It can firm up and control minor trouble areas, such as a tummy bump, while also providing some lift to the wearer’s backside.
- Medium or moderate compression: Along with providing a higher level of control and shaping, this shapewear will smooth out any unwanted bumps and provide more support to the rear.
- Firm compression: Best for those who want full control of their curves, firm compression slims and contours the body, making it ideal for tight-fitting outer layers.
- Extra-firm compression: Although it’s slightly more restricting, extra-firm compression offers the most body contouring and control.
When purchasing shapewear of any kind, look for a good balance between the size, cut and level of control it provides. That way, you’ll have the best possible fit.
Health risks
According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are some common risks associated with wearing shapewear that are worth noting. Most of these issues are the result of prolonged use and higher compression levels.
Some people experience pain or irritated skin around the area the shapewear covers. This is mainly due to the undergarment being too small or too constricting. If left unchecked, it could result in an infection or other skin reaction.
More serious issues include restricted blood circulation or difficulty breathing. Since high-compression shapewear puts a lot of pressure on the bladder and digestive tract, it could also result in a loss of bladder control or indigestion.
To prevent these issues, always choose shapewear that fits and is comfortable enough to move around in. If it’s digging into your sides or extremities, you need a different size or cut.
Additionally, avoid wearing extra-firm compression shapewear for extended periods. In general, a couple of hours should be safe. However, if you’re starting to feel faint or uncomfortable, remove the garment immediately.
What to look for in a quality pair of shapewear shorts
Material
Shapewear shorts consist of the same materials as other types of shapewear. The most common materials are the synthetics: Spandex and nylon. Both are elastic and do a great job of contouring the figure. These fabrics are best for colder climates or when you need an extra layer of insulation.
Some shapewear is made from cotton or blends that include cotton and synthetic materials. Cotton is lightweight and breathable, so it’s a good option for warmer weather.
Size and fit
When it comes to shapewear shorts, there are several sizing options available. Some are high-waisted and provide support to the backside, stomach, thighs and upper legs. Depending on the length, the shorts may hit the top of the knees or be several inches shorter or longer.
Ideally, the shapewear you choose should offer the coverage you want and be firm enough to smooth out your figure without restricting your ability to move or breathe. Most products come in sizes ranging from extra-small to double extra-large. If you’re in between sizes, your best bet is to go up a size.
Color
Most shapewear come in one of three colors: white, black or nude. Some manufacturers make undergarments in brighter colors like reds or blues.
Choose the color that most closely matches the outfit you plan to wear over it. For instance, if you have a dark-colored dress or pants, then a pair of black shapewear shorts is a good choice. However, certain color combinations don’t look as great. If you’re wearing light-colored attire, choose nude colored shorts instead of white ones.
How much you can expect to spend on shapewear shorts
On average, shapewear shorts cost between $10-$40. The pricing varies based on the material, size and brand.
Shapewear shorts FAQ
How should I wash shapewear?
A. Most shapewear is delicate, so you’ll want to check the washing instructions that come with it first. If there aren’t any instructions, hand-wash the garment with a mild detergent and cold or lukewarm water. Let it air dry.
Is shapewear just for women?
A. Although the sizing may be different, anyone can wear shapewear clothes and receive the same benefits.
What are the best shapewear shorts to buy?
Top shapewear shorts
Werena Tummy Control Shapewear Shorts
What you need to know: If you want extra support and a slimming look around your stomach and thighs, these high-waisted shorts are the ideal choice.
What you’ll love: The shorts come in black and beige with medium to firm control. They’re elastic, durable and anti-chafing. With four steel bones around the waist, they provide excellent contouring and have a flattering, lifting effect on the backside.
What you should consider: The lines of the undergarment show through on thinner outerwear.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top shapewear shorts for the money
What you need to know: These seamless shorts are mid-length and offer excellent coverage, making them perfect for wearing under a dress or tight jeans.
What you’ll love: Available in black, white and nude, these lightweight shorts have a barely-there look and feel to them. They’re tagless and extremely soft, so they’re less likely to irritate the skin.
What you should consider: They can roll up during prolonged use.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Shapermint High-Waisted Body Shaper Shorts
What you need to know: Designed to smooth out and support the waist, thighs and backside, these high-waisted shorts are durable and comfortable.
What you’ll love: Made with nylon and Spandex, this undergarment is firm, flexible and breathable. The anti-slip technology helps keep them in place. Plus, they’re seamless and nearly transparent around the thighs and upper legs, so they look great even when wearing form-fitting clothes. The shorts are also machine washable.
What you should consider: There are some minor stitching issues around the seams.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Angela Watson 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/apparel-br/shapewear-br/best-shapewear-shorts/ | 2022-04-21T21:55:29Z |
Amazon says that for the first time in company history it will charge sellers a 5% fuel and inflation surcharge. So, if it seems like your favorite Amazon items are getting pricier, it could be because businesses are trying to pass along those rising expenses to customers.
Here's what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.
(You can get "5 Things You Need to Know Today" delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.)
1. Subway shooting
Frank James, the man arrested on suspicion of setting off smoke grenades and shooting 10 people at a Brooklyn subway station Tuesday morning, will make his first appearance in court later today, authorities said. James was charged in federal court with violating a law that prohibits terrorist and other violent attacks against a mass transportation system. If convicted, he could spend life in prison. Yesterday, James was declared a suspect in the shooting and New York City officials issued an emergency alert to residents saying he was "wanted" and asking for tips. The 62-year-old called in a tip to the Crime Stoppers hotline that led to his own capture, two law enforcement sources told CNN. The shooting left at least 29 people with injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to smoke inhalation, but none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening, officials said.
2. Ukraine
It has been 50 days since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded his neighbor Ukraine, and US officials say the strength of the Russian military appears to be waning against the Ukrainian resistance. In the latest blow against Moscow, Ukraine claims one of the Russian Navy's most important warships has been hit by cruise missiles fired from Ukraine. Russia, however, says the ship was evacuated due to a fire. On the ground, Ukraine says the last remaining defenders of the besieged city of Mariupol were recently able to join forces, further bolstering their resistance against Russia. This comes as President Joe Biden yesterday told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the US was sending his nation an additional $800 million worth of weapons, ammunition and other security assistance.
3. Coronavirus
The mask mandate aboard planes, trains and buses in the US has been extended until May 3, the federal government confirmed yesterday. The CDC said the order will remain in place to allow the agency to "assess the potential impact the rise of cases has on severe disease, including hospitalizations and deaths, and health care system capacity." The mandate had been set to expire on April 18. Flight crew unions initially applauded the extension for protecting staff unable to avoid close contact with passengers, but some major airline CEOs have said they want it to end. The US is now averaging 38,345 new Covid-19 cases per day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, but this daily rate is still one of the lowest since mid-July.
4. Grocery prices
In the year ending in March, food prices rose 8.8% -- the biggest 12-month increase since 1981, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced this week. As for the types of foods that have become notably more expensive, flour jumped 14.2%, milk rose 13.3%, eggs went up 11.2% and fruits and vegetables went up 8.5%. Bacon increased 18.2% and butter went up 6%. Prices are spiking across the board as food supplies tighten due to several factors, including droughts impacting crops and disruptions in the market caused by the war in Ukraine. A few items did become slightly cheaper last month though. Doughnuts, peanut butter and ham all declined less than 2%.
5. South Africa floods
At least 306 people were killed in South Africa yesterday after floods washed away roads and destroyed homes along the country's eastern coast. The regional government called it "one of the worst weather storms in the history" of the KwaZulu-Natal province. The region has experienced extreme rainfall and damaging winds this week, particularly in the city of Durban, the government said in a Facebook post. Photos of the devastation show a bridge near Durban that was swept away and several shipping containers that were toppled in deep water due to the storm system. The extreme weather comes just months after heavy rainfall and floods hit additional parts of southern Africa, killing 230 people and affecting 1 million others.
THIS JUST IN
Elon Musk has made an offer to buy Twitter. According to an SEC filing, Musk has offered to acquire all the shares in Twitter he does not own for $54.20 per share, valuing the company at $43.4 billion. That represents a 38% premium over the closing price on April 1, the last trading day before Musk disclosed that he had become Twitter's biggest shareholder.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
Meet the people who want to spend the rest of their lives on cruise ships
Life at sea doesn't sound too bad... especially since you wouldn't have to deal with ridiculously high gas prices!
'The Kardashians' move their act to Hulu
Whether you love them, or love to hate them, the Kardashians are back -- and so is the heated family drama. Are you keeping up with the new show?
'Abbott Elementary' earns perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes
Hundreds of TV and film critics give this series a perfect A+, making it one of the highest-rated TV shows on the site.
US military confirms an interstellar meteor collided with Earth
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... this rare meteor was floating in a completely different solar system before crash-landing on Earth.
These are the world's top city destinations in the Covid era
If you're looking for a sign to book a vacation, this is it. Here's a new list of top tourist destinations based on factors like attractiveness and health and safety.
TODAY'S NUMBER
$9.5 billion
That's how much Google said it will invest in US offices and data centers around the country this year. The big investment on office space comes as Google has called for many of its employees to work in an office three days a week after two years of being fully remote. As part of the announcement yesterday, Google said it expects to create at least 12,000 new full-time jobs at the company this year.
TODAY'S QUOTE
"I had to do something to gain his respect."
-- Alleged rioter Dustin Thompson, testifying yesterday that he believed he had received "presidential orders" from then-President Donald Trump to storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Thompson has claimed that he believed he was acting at the behest of Trump, who told the crowd at a rally that day to march to the Capitol and "fight like hell." The trial is being seen as a major test of that defense, which dozens of riot suspects have adopted so far, and could influence how others argue in court.
TODAY'S WEATHER
AND FINALLY
Color-matching objects with paint
Pick a color, any color, and this artist can match it perfectly! (Click to view)
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/5-things-to-know-for-april-14-subway-shooting-ukraine-covid-groceries-south-africa/article_3343e936-4201-5358-8abf-a53a1e2cc2ff.html | 2022-04-14T17:58:39Z |
Dawn Beckham embodied her role Friday as a World War I Donut Lassie.
Dawn Beckham, auxiliary captain of the Salvation Army of Bell County, took up the role as part of the organization’s celebration of National Donut Day. She and her husband, Lt. David Beckham, commanding officer of the Temple-based local organization, delivered doughnuts to various entities Friday.
The couple said the Salvation Army’s Donut Lassies, who volunteered in World War I, were the reason behind the creation of National Donut Day in 1938.
“This National Donut Day, as the country celebrates with a sweet treat, we are proud to remember that this tradition started with our very own volunteers more than a hundred years ago,” David Beckham said. “For us, the doughnut is a symbol of hope that The Salvation Army provides to those in need.”
Dawn Beckham said the Donut Lassies, which were created in 1917, were some of the only women allowed on the front lines of the war.
The group of volunteers set up makeshift huts on the front lines, risking their lives to make doughnuts for the troops. Dawn Beckham said the organization hoped to raise the morale of soldiers stationed in France with their baked goods.
Entities that the Salvation Army delivered doughnuts to Friday included Temple Fire & Rescue, the Temple Police Department, Temple Emergency Medical Services, Acadian ambulance service and the Telegram. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_8f9cf088-e39c-11ec-8e16-4314f021ea9b.html | 2022-06-04T01:58:46Z |
– Free Amazon Search Trends Tool Reveals Patterns in Consumer Search Behavior by Brand and Category –
BOSTON, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Momentum Commerce, a modern digital retail consultancy, today announced the launch of its Amazon Search Trends Tool. The free interface provides comprehensive views into what search terms are most associated with a certain brand's products on Amazon, what search terms present the biggest potential opportunities for a brand, along with individual search term volume on Amazon over time.
In this way, the Amazon Search Trends Tool by Momentum Commerce addresses a major blind spot for brands. Many brands and investors are accustomed to using Google Trends data to plan new product development or inform their merger and acquisition strategy. However, transactional search activity has increasingly migrated from Google to Amazon, creating a gap in the market for this type of intelligence.
Amazon's own reporting on search frequency is limited to simple ranks on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis, with no ability for brands or investors to truly discern how many actual times a given term is searched, and how that shifts over time. This presents understandable roadblocks when setting a strategy around modifying product detail page content to maximize discoverability, where to focus additional advertising spend, or researching a product or brand's trajectory on Amazon.
"Many of our strategy consulting clients rely on Amazon search data to inform strategic decision making surrounding what products to develop or brands to acquire," said Eileen Devor, Head of Strategy at Momentum Commerce. "The new Amazon Search Trends tool unveils this data quickly and simply, speeding up that research and decision-making process."
Users of Momentum Commerce's Amazon Search Trends Tool simply select one of over 50,000 brands selling on Amazon. Momentum Commerce's expansive data set and advanced data science capabilities then provide a series of breakdowns around that brand's presence and opportunity on Amazon.
Each of these breakdowns comes with actual monthly search volume estimates since October 2021 attached, with full data tables and interactive visualizations:
- All Terms – all search terms where the selected brand's products appear on the first page of results, along with search terms where highly relevant competitive products appear
- Brand Terms – search terms where the selected brand's name is in the search query itself
- Direct Terms – all search terms where the selected brand's products appear on the first page of results
- Opportunity Terms – all search terms where the selected brand's products do not appear on page 1 of the search results, but highly relevant competitive products do appear
"Our team manages hundreds of millions of dollars in Amazon Advertising spend on behalf of our clients. Getting the results they are looking for requires staying continually ahead of the curve," said Noah Jones, Lead Retail Media Analyst at Momentum Commerce. "While we cannot directly control how often consumers search for our client's products, if we measure activity changes carefully, it's easier to confidently adapt our approach to improve marketing outcomes."
The Amazon Search Trends Tool sits alongside Momentum Commerce's well-known free Amazon Brand Index, which ranks tens of thousands of brands based on paid and organic share of voice on Amazon.com by week over the past year. The new interface's launch comes just weeks after Momentum Commerce's interactive Prime Day Brand Scoreboard, recapping the activity of hundreds of thousands of different brands across more than 1,500 categories during Amazon Prime Day 2022.
"Amazon remains a proverbial black box across a number of areas. Our experience in building tools that illuminate these sources of intelligence is that it helps makes brands and investors better informed, and naturally make better decisions," said John T Shea, CEO and Founder of Momentum Commerce. "The Momentum Commerce Amazon Search Trends Tool, and our decision to give this technology to the market for free, is just one step further in our mission to become the most respected consultancy in data-driven eCommerce sales and marketing."
The Amazon Search Trends Tool is available for free with no sign up required and can be found at https://app.momentumcommerce.com/apps/amazon-search-trends.
Momentum Commerce is a modern consultancy offering brands flexible technology and professional services to grow sales on digital retail platforms such as Amazon, Walmart.com and Target.com. Comprised of half technologists and half consultants, Momentum Commerce's team provides unrivaled data assets with a scientific approach to retail media management, insights services, and bespoke projects brands need to meet their growth goals. With a mission to be the most respected firm in the space, Momentum Commerce brand clients include emerging and enterprise brands such as Crocs, Chaps, Lush Decor, Level Home, XMONDO and many more. For more information, please visit https://momentumcommerce.com.
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SOURCE Momentum Commerce | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/momentum-commerce-launches-new-amazon-search-trends-tool/ | 2022-08-03T14:26:25Z |
Last women and children evacuated from Ukrainian steel mill
ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) - Russian forces kept up their barrage of southern Ukraine, hitting the major Black Sea port of Odesa with cruise missiles and bombarding the steelworks up the coast in Mariupol, where Ukrainian fighters remained trapped underground.
Moscow was aiming to complete its conquest of Mariupol in time for Victory Day celebrations on Monday. But it’s forces continued to face dogged resistance from defenders within the bunkers beneath the factory. Civilians have been evacuated.
In a sign of the unexpectedly effective defense that has sustained the fighting into its 11th week, Ukraine’s military struck Russian positions on a Black Sea island that was captured in the war’s first days and has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance.
Western military analysts also said a Ukrainian counteroffensive was advancing around the country’s second-largest city, Kharkiv. Ukraine’s military said retreating Russian forces destroyed three bridges on a road northeast of the city to try to slow the Ukrainian advance.
The largest European conflict since World War II has developed into a punishing war of attrition that has killed thousands of people, forced millions to flee their homes and destroyed large swaths of some cities.
Ukrainian leaders warned that attacks would only worsen in the lead-up to Victory Day, when Russia celebrates Nazi Germany’s defeat in 1945 with military parades. Russian President Vladimir Putin is believed to want to proclaim some kind of triumph in Ukraine when he addresses the troops on Red Square on Monday.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his people “embody the spirit of those who prevailed during the Second World War.” He accused Putin of trying “to twist history to attempt to justify his unprovoked and brutal war against Ukraine.”
“As war again rages in Europe, we must increase our resolve to resist those who now seek to manipulate historical memory in order to advance their own ambitions,” Blinken said in a statement as the United States and United Kingdom commemorate the Allied victory in Europe.
The most intense fighting in recent days has been in eastern Ukraine, where the two sides are entrenched in a fierce battle to capture or reclaim territory. Moscow’s offensive there has focused on the Donbas, where Russia-backed separatists have been fighting since 2014.
The governor of Luhansk region, one of two that make up the Donbas, said a Russian strike destroyed a school in the village of Bilogorivka where 90 people were seeking safety in the basement. Gov. Serhiy Haidai, who posted pictures of the burning rubble on the Telegram messaging app, said 30 people were rescued. Rescue work was ongoing.
Haidai also said two boys aged 11 and 14 were killed by Russian shelling in the town of Pryvillia, while two girls aged 8 and 12 and a 69-year-old woman were wounded.
In neighboring Moldova, Russian and separatists troops are on “full alert,” the Ukrainian military warned Sunday. The region has increasingly become a focus of worries that the conflict could expand beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Pro-Russian forces broke off the Transnistria section of Moldova in 1992, and Russian troops have been stationed there since, ostensibly as peacekeepers.
Those forces are on “full combat readiness,” Ukraine said, without giving details on how it came to the assessment.
Moscow has sought to sweep across southern Ukraine both to cut off the country from the sea and create a corridor to Transnistria. But it has struggled to achieve those objectives.
On Saturday, six Russian cruise missiles fired from aircraft hit Odesa, where a curfew is in place until Tuesday morning. Videos posted on social media showed thick black smoke rising over the Black Sea port city as sirens wailed.
The Odesa city council said four of the missiles hit a furniture company, with the shock waves and debris badly damaging high-rise apartment buildings. The other two missiles hit the Odesa airport, where the runway had already been taken out in a previous Russian attack.
Air raid sirens sounded several times early Sunday, the city council said.
Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press showed Ukraine targeting Russian-held Snake Island in a bid to impede Russia’s efforts to control the Black Sea.
A satellite image taken Sunday morning and analyzed by The Associated Press showed smoke rising from two sites on the island. On the island’s southern edge, a fire smoked next to debris. That corresponded to a video released by the Ukrainian military early Sunday showing its strike on a Russian helicopter that had flown to the island, possibly to aid troops wounded in attacks the day before.
An image taken early Saturday by Planet Labs PBC showed that most of the island’s buildings had been destroyed by Ukrainian drone attacks, as well as what appeared to be a Serna-class landing craft against the island’s northern beach.
In Mariupol, Ukrainian fighters made a final stand against a complete Russian takeover of the strategically important city, which would give Moscow a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula, annexed from Ukraine during a 2014 invasion.
Satellite photos shot Friday by Planet Labs PBC showed vast devastation at the sprawling Azovstal seaside steel mill, the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the city. Buildings had gaping holes in the roofs, including one under which hundreds of fighters were likely hiding.
After rescuers evacuated the last civilians Saturday, Zelenskyy said in his nightly address that the focus would turn to extracting the wounded and medics: “Of course, if everyone fulfills the agreements. Of course, if there are no lies.”
He added that work would also continue Sunday on securing humanitarian corridors for residents of Mariupol and surrounding towns to leave.
The situation at the plant has drawn the world’s attention, with the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross desperately trying to organize evacuations.
But Russian forces have intensified fire on the mill with mortars, artillery, truck-mounted rocket systems, aerial bombardment and shelling from the sea, making evacuation operations difficult.
Three Ukrainian fighters were reportedly killed and six more wounded during an evacuation attempt Friday. Capt. Sviatoslav Palamar, the deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, said his troops had waved white flags, and he accused Russian forces of firing an anti-tank weapon at a vehicle.
It remains unclear what will happen to the estimated 2,000 fighters at Azovstal, both those still in combat and the hundreds believed to be wounded. In recent days the Ukrainian government has been reaching out to international organizations to try to secure safe passage for them. The fighters have repeatedly vowed not to surrender.
Zelenskyy said officials were trying to find a way to evacuate them. He acknowledged the difficulty, but said: “We are not losing hope, we are not stopping. Every day we are looking for some diplomatic option that might work.”
Russian forces have probed the plant and even reached into its warren of tunnels, according to Ukrainian officials.
But Western military analysts said Ukrainian forces were making progress in securing positions around the city. The Ukrainian military said it retook control of five villages and part of a sixth.
A Washington-based think tank, the Institute for the Study of War, said Ukraine may be able to push Russian forces out of artillery range of Kharkiv in the coming days, providing a respite for the city and an opportunity to build the defenders’ momentum “into a successful, broader counteroffensive.”
___
Gambrell reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Bakhmut, David Keyton in Kyiv, Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and AP staff around the world contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/08/last-women-children-evacuated-ukrainian-steel-mill/ | 2022-05-08T09:14:06Z |
Analysts say inventory shortages driven by global supply chain issues continue to place pressure on the automotive industry, with no relief in sight
SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The car shopping experts from Edmunds forecast that 3,498,769 new cars and trucks will be sold in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2022, which will be a 20.8% decrease from the second quarter of 2021 but a 5.1% increase compared to the first quarter of 2022. According to Edmunds data, the second quarter historically is a stronger selling period compared to the first quarter for new vehicles: Q2 sales were approximately 10% higher on average compared to Q1 between 2017 to 2019. Edmunds analysts note that this year's softer quarter-over-quarter increase is an indicator of how the automotive market is being squeezed.
"Elevated gas prices and rising interest rates only intensified the struggles faced by car shoppers amid ongoing inventory shortages in the second quarter," said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds' executive director of insights. "The majority of consumers who are purchasing vehicles in these conditions are either in a financial position where money is less of a consideration or are doing so out of absolute necessity."
Edmunds analysts expect supply challenges to stick around for the foreseeable future, and they advise car shoppers to temper their expectations for car shopping deals through the Fourth of July weekend and the rest of the year.
"Although most people are used to the end-of-summer and end-of-model-year sales events, automakers and dealers likely won't be rolling out the barbecue grills or wacky waving tube men to promote discounts this year because they won't have a surplus of inventory to clear. Consumers in this market should be determining when they actually need to buy a car instead of holding out for big sales events," said Caldwell. "Looking ahead, a recovery in vehicle production in 2022 seems highly unlikely at this point, but a bright spot for the industry is that profit margins are staying high and pent-up consumer demand will only continue to build as shortages continue."
SALES VOLUME FORECAST, BY MANUFACTURER
MARKET SHARE FORECAST, BY MANUFACTURER
About Edmunds
Edmunds guides car shoppers online from research to purchase. With in-depth reviews of every new vehicle, shopping tips from an in-house team of experts, plus a wealth of consumer and automotive market insights, Edmunds helps millions of shoppers each month select, price and buy a car with confidence. Regarded as one of America's best workplaces by Fortune, Great Place to Work and Built In, Edmunds is based in Santa Monica, California. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
CONTACT:
Talia James-Armand
Associate Director, PR & Communications
PR@Edmunds.com
310-309-4900
http://edmunds.com/about/press
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SOURCE Edmunds | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/new-vehicle-sales-expected-lift-slightly-q2-remain-down-year-over-year-according-edmunds/ | 2022-06-28T13:32:55Z |
Zoot Enterprises, Inc. provides leading commercial vehicle lender with decisioning technology.
BOZEMAN, Mont., July 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zoot Enterprises, Inc. recently announced its partnership with Daimler Truck Financial Services USA LLC (DTFS), the captive financial services provider for Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). The leading commercial vehicle manufacturer in North America, the DTNA vehicle portfolio includes Freightliner, Western Star, SelecTrucks and Thomas Built Buses.
The partnership with Zoot, a global provider of advanced origination, acquisition, fraud prevention and decision management solutions, provides DTFS with the technology necessary to offer data-driven, innovative, solutions like dynamic leasing and specialized financing for the commercial vehicle industry.
"The agility intrinsic to Zoot's dynamic platform affords DTFS the flexibility necessary to quickly adjust to the evolving needs of the commercial vehicle market," said Jason Wroblewski, Risk Analytics Manager, DTFS.
Using Zoot's state-of-the-art tools and services, they leverage precise, real-time data, resulting in a responsive decisioning experience. The automated processes and configurable functionality allow DTFS to streamline resources, eliminating redundant, manual processes and freeing up time to focus on the specific needs of logistics and transportation companies.
"Zoot has a long history of providing clients with flexible services and comprehensive technology," said Bob Lonergan, VP of Sales, Zoot. "We're pleased to work with DTFS to support their customers and further their success."
Zoot Enterprises, Inc. is a global provider of advanced origination, acquisition and decision management solutions for financial institutions. We offer comprehensive and flexible platforms for specific business needs that include loan origination, fraud detection and prevention, data acquisition and more. https://zootsolutions.com/
Daimler Truck Financial Services USA LLC is the captive financial services provider for the Daimler Trucks North America family of commercial vehicle products, including Freightliner Trucks, Western Star, SelecTrucks and Thomas Built Buses. https://daimler-truckfinancial.com
MEDIA CONTACT
Amy Gitchell
Zoot Enterprises, Inc.
amy.gitchell@zootweb.com
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SOURCE Zoot Enterprises | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/13/daimler-truck-financial-services-partners-with-zoot-enterprises-inc/ | 2022-07-13T10:59:59Z |
Intimate Wellness Selections Join Bloomingdale's Sexual Wellness Shop
NEW YORK, June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosebud Woman, the pioneer in women's intimate wellness, launches at Bloomingdales.com.
In May 2021, Bloomingdale's launched a sexual wellness shop online with self-love essentials from female-led and body positive brands. Rosebud Woman has joined the category to meet the evolving needs of women throughout their ages and stages. Shoppers can discover the brand's intimate moisturizers and other body care, marking the first topical peri- and menopause line within the shop.
"We're delighted that our V-care and performance body care products are available at Bloomingdale's, and thrilled to see the category expanding and being accepted by prestigious mainstream retailers," says Rosebud Woman founder Christine Mason. "Intimate Wellness is more than Sexual Wellness. This is why we coined and call the category Intimate Wellness, and why we serve the daily, monthly and cyclical needs of a woman's most intimate skin."
Michelle Fetsch, VP, Brand Partnerships, says, "When we started four years ago, retailers weren't sure that this category was viable. Now we know: every woman alive has an intimate need at some point in her life and the normalization will remove any remaining discomfort. Bloomingdale's commitment represents great progress."
The Rosebud Woman line is available on Bloomingdales.com and is shipping to customers across the USA and Canada.
Rosebud Woman is a leader in women's intimate wellness. Through products, education and inspiration, the brand creates conversations on women's embodiment, sexuality and self-love, so that women may stand in greater peace and power in the world. The intimate body care line provides vital support for arousal, moisture, calming, freshness and resilience for all stages of a woman's life. Rosebud Woman is recommended by leading OB/GYNs and women's health specialists, and enjoyed by more than fifty thousand women from all 50 states and Canada. Visit Rosewoman.com and follow the brand on Instagram @rosebudwoman to find out more.
Bloomingdale's is America's only nationwide, full-line, upscale department store and a division of Macy's, Inc. It was founded in 1872 and currently operates 33 Bloomingdale's stores and 20 Bloomingdale's, The Outlet Stores, in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia, along with 1 Bloomie's location in Virginia. In addition, Bloomingdale's has an international presence with a location in Dubai. Be sure to follow @bloomingdales on social media, become a Loyallist, and for more information, or to shop any time, visit www.bloomingdales.com.
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SOURCE Rosebud Woman | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/13/intimate-wellness-brand-rosebud-woman-launches-bloomingdales/ | 2022-06-13T20:20:30Z |
FUKUOKA, Japan, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EditForce, Inc. (Headquarters: Fukuoka, President and CEO: Takashi Ono; hereinafter "EditForce") has entered into a License Agreement (hereinafter "Agreement") with Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (Headquarters: Osaka, Representative Director: Hiroaki Ueno; hereinafter "MTPC") to research, develop and commercialize potential gene therapy products for a specific target disease in the field of CNS by utilizing EditForce's proprietary PPR protein platform technology.
Logo of EditForce, Inc.: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107232/202206242954/_prw_PI1fl_09s1955H.jpg
In this alliance, MTPC and EditForce aim to create potential novel pharmaceuticals for the specific CNS disease by utilizing the drug R&D know-how and global business experience of MTPC and the novel biotechnology of EditForce. MTPC will acquire the exclusive right to conduct the selection of drug candidate molecules, preclinical and clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization worldwide.
Under the terms of the Agreement, EditForce will receive an upfront payment and milestone payments amounting to over 20 billion yen depending on the development stage and commercialization progress, and royalties based on worldwide sales after the launch.
"I am so delighted to reach the agreement with MTPC, which has an interest in our proprietary PPR protein platform technology," said Takashi Ono, President and CEO of EditForce. "We look forward to working closely with MTPC to develop and deliver breakthrough pharmaceutical products with our technology to patients suffering from diseases."
EditForce will proceed with R&D of pharmaceuticals using its PPR protein platform technology.
About EditForce, Inc.
EditForce, Inc., a Kyushu University-originated venture company developing a unique DNA/RNA editing technology (PPR platform technology (*)), was established in May 2015 by KISCO Ltd. and Prof. Takahiro Nakamura of Kyushu University (former president of EditForce and currently its scientific advisor) and funded by companies and funds that have track records of investing in life sciences and biotechnology. EditForce aims for drug discovery that applies the PPR technology through joint research with universities and private companies.
For more information, please visit https://www.editforce.co.jp/
(*) Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein platform technology
PPR is a protein discovered in plants that regulates gene expression by binding to DNA and RNA in a sequence-specific manner. The PPR proteins are also found in humans and yeasts, and they have similar functions. Prof. Takahiro Nakamura and Dr. Yusuke Yagi, CTO of EditForce, have focused on the PPR proteins and elucidated the mechanism that determines sequence specificity, and established a technology for creating various PPR proteins, each of which binds to a specific target DNA or RNA sequence. Furthermore, it is possible to manipulate and modify the target genome and RNA both inside and outside the cell by fusion with effector proteins.
About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC), the pharma arm of Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG), is one of the oldest pharmaceutical companies in the world, founded in 1678, and focusing on ethical pharmaceuticals. MTPC is headquartered in Doshomachi, Osaka, the birthplace of Japan's pharmaceutical industry. MCG has positioned health care as its strategic focus in its management policy, "Forging the future." MTPC sets the MISSION of "Creating hope for all facing illness." To that end, MTPC is prioritizing work on "precision medicine" to provide drugs with high treatment satisfaction by identifying patient populations with high potential for efficacy and safety, focusing on the disease areas of the central nervous system and immuno-inflammation. In addition, MTPC is working to develop "around the pill solutions" to address specific patient concerns based on therapeutic medicine, including prevention of diseases, pre-symptomatic disease care, prevention of aggravation and prognosis.
For more information, go to https://www.mt-pharma.co.jp/e/
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SOURCE EditForce, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/editforce-mitsubishi-tanabe-pharma-enter-into-license-agreement/ | 2022-07-05T08:29:29Z |
Top coffee makers with built-in milk frothers
Brewing a barista-quality coffee drink at home is easier when you have the right tools. A coffee maker with a built-in frother gives you the power to pull espresso or brew your favorite coffee and froth your choice of milk to top it off.
These brewing and frothing machines range from semiautomatic to super-automatic, offering options that fit your lifestyle as a coffee enthusiast. Coffee makers with frothers are ideal for anyone who regularly wants to enjoy a latte or cappuccino at home.
What is a milk frother?
For coffee drinks, a milk frother is a utensil for whipping up either dairy or alternative milk for espresso drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos. The quick whirring mechanism creates air bubbles that turn creamy milk into a thick, foamy texture.
What can you make with a milk frother?
A milk frother lets you craft specialty drinks normally found in cafes and restaurants. These include lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, mochas and more.
Without a built-in frother, you would need to use a separate manual milk frother to achieve the fluffy consistency you’d expect from a barista.
Milk froth vs. steamed milk
Frothed milk and steamed milk are similar but not the same. They are two separate steps, and you don’t necessarily need both to mimic cafe-quality drinks.
Professional brewers will froth the milk first, introducing air pockets. Then, they will steam it to heat it to around 150 degrees, which expands the milk and makes a softer texture before adding it to a drink.
When using a coffee maker with a frother, the attached frother will likely be a dual-purpose frother and steam wand. That means it will let you froth and steam your milk in one go, creating warm, thick and fluffy milk.
Choosing a coffee maker with a built-in frother
Super-automatic machines will froth and pour your milk for you as long as the milk reservoir is full. Semiautomatic machines have an external milk frother or steam wand for you to froth the milk at your convenience.
Choosing the right machine depends on your preference and how much time you want to spend preparing your drinks. Larger capacity coffee makers work well for shared environments like offices, waiting rooms and homes with many coffee drinkers. Single-serve machines are ideal for those who only prepare drinks one at a time.
Best coffee makers with frothers under $250
Brew rich espressos, cappuccinos and lattes with this coffee maker that froths the milk for you. The plastic construction and small frame and constrained drink selections to make this one of the most affordable options for quality at-home espresso drinks.
Sold by Amazon
Ninja Specialty Fold-Away Frother CP307
This versatile coffee machine makes a wide array of coffee drinks, from french press to iced coffee to a frothy latte. The fold-away frother is especially handy to pack away when you’re done using it.
Sold by Amazon
Best coffee makers with frothers under $500
Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse
This easy-to-use coffee and espresso machine combine multifunctionality with affordability. Brew your favorite milk drinks with a large removable milk reservoir and both automatic and manual frothing modes.
Sold by Amazon
De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker & Espresso Maker
This barista-quality machine offers simultaneous brewing for both drip coffee and espresso lovers. The milk frother is easy to use, low profile and easy to clean.
Sold by Amazon
This single-serve machine offers the same convenience as other Keurig machines for espresso lovers who only need one drink at a time. A simple interface makes drink selection easy and an external frothing pitcher makes it easy to pour your milk when ready.
Best coffee makers with frothers under $1,000
Beginners and prosumers can brew an outstanding espresso drink with this machine. Froth and steam your milk like a barista with a manual wand for full control.
Sold by Amazon
GE Cafe Affetto Automatic Espresso Machine
For those who want a quick brew without sacrificing quality, this super-automatic machine is a sleek addition to any size kitchen. Grind and brew with a single button, and froth milk with the front-mounted steam wand.
Sold by Amazon
This machine caters to coffee fiends who appreciate the ritual of pulling espresso shots and don’t mind maintaining high-end equipment. The steam wand is easy to use and the one- and two-shot settings produce consistent pours.
Sold by Amazon
Nespresso Latissma Pro Coffee and Espresso Machine by DeLonghi
Convenience meets volume in this large-capacity coffee machine. Brew multiple lattes with a 1.3-liter water reservoir and extra-tall milk container. The built-in frother sits up front for easy access.
Best coffee maker with frother over $1,000
Miele CM5300 Countertop Coffee System
This luxury coffee machine grinds beans, brews nine drink styles and froths and pours your milk for you, all in under a minute. With regular cleaning, this is a solid investment for a busy latte lover who wants a quick brew at home.
Sold by Amazon
Jura WE8 Automatic Coffee Machine
One-touch selections let you brew 12 types of barista-quality drinks with this high-end and high-capacity coffee maker. Froth the perfect amount of milk with an adjustable steam wand.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/coffee-accessories-br/11-best-coffee-makers-with-frothers/ | 2022-06-07T17:34:11Z |
SAN DIEGO , April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TuSimple (Nasdaq: TSP), a global autonomous driving technology company, announced changes to the composition of the Board of Directors. On April 23, 2022, the TuSimple Board of Directors appointed Reed Werner to fill a vacancy on the Board, and announced that Mo Chen, co-founder and Board of Directors member, has decided not to stand for re-election. Chen will fulfill his tenure on the Board through the annual meeting. Additionally, TuSimple announced that current Director Brad Buss has been appointed Lead Independent Director of the Board.
Concurrently with Werner's appointment, the TuSimple Board established a Government Security Committee, in accordance with the agreement between TuSimple and The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States National Security Agreement ("NSA") which commenced in February 2022. Presently, Werner serves as the Security Director under the NSA and has been appointed Chair of the TuSimple Government Security Committee. Furthermore, Werner has been appointed to the Company's Audit Committee. The Board has determined that Mr. Werner meets the requirements for independence under the applicable listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
TuSimple values Mo Chen's significant contributions to the company, and thanks him for his dutiful service on the Board of Directors since the company's inception in 2015. The Company intends to pursue adding additional independent members to the Board as part of its overall corporate governance focus. Chen remains a significant shareholder and an enthusiastic supporter of the company, Co-Founder and CEO, Xiaodi Hou, the Board of Directors and management team.
"The changes announced today reflect a thoughtful, and strategic process by the TuSimple Board," said Xiaodi Hou, Co-Founder and CEO, TuSimple. "I thank Mo Chen for his successful tenure on the Board as he was instrumental in setting the roadmap for TuSimple's ongoing success, and we welcome Reed Werner who brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and Governmental oversight that will be important as the company focuses on continuing to grow its business. Elevating Brad to Lead Independent Director is part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing corporate governance and I look forward to partnering with him."
About TuSimple
TuSimple is a global autonomous driving technology company headquartered in San Diego, California, with operations in Arizona, Texas, Europe, and China. Founded in 2015, TuSimple is developing a commercial-ready, fully autonomous (SAE Level 4) driving solution for long-haul heavy-duty trucks. TuSimple aims to transform the $4 trillion global truck freight industry through the company's leading AI technology, which makes it possible for trucks to drive safely autonomously, operate nearly continuously, and reduce fuel consumption by 10%+ relative to manually driven trucks. Global achievements include the world's first fully autonomous, 'driver-out' semi-truck run on open public roads, and development of the world's first Autonomous Freight Network (AFN). Visit us at www.tusimple.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking, including statements as to future results of operations and financial position, planned products and services, business strategy and plans, launch dates of products or services, expected safety benefits of our autonomous semi-trucks, objectives of management for future operations of TuSimple Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company", "we", "our" and "us"), market size and growth opportunities, competitive position and technological and market trends and corporate governance changes, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast", "future", "intend," "may," "might", "opportunity", "plan," "possible", "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "strategy", "strive", "target," "will," or "would", the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. The absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many important factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to, those related to autonomous driving being an emerging technology, the development of the Company's technologies and products, the Company's limited operating history in a new market, the regulations governing autonomous vehicles, the Company's dependence on its senior management team, reliance on third-party suppliers, potential product liability or warranty claims and the protection of the Company's intellectual property. Moreover, the Company operates in a competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks may emerge from time to time. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described under the caption "Risk Factors" in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 24, 2022, and TuSimple's other filings with the SEC. These SEC filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations.
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SOURCE TuSimple Holdings, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/29/tusimple-announces-board-changes/ | 2022-04-29T11:16:53Z |
BEIJING, June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- China Online Education Group ("51Talk" or the "Company") (NYSE: COE), a global online education platform with core expertise in English education, today announced that it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement, dated June 24, 2022 (the "Share Purchase Agreement"), with Dasheng Holding (HK) Limited ("Dasheng"), an entity controlled by Mr. Jiajia Jack Huang, chairman of the board of directors (the "Board") and chief executive officer of the Company, pursuant to which Mr. Jiajia Jack Huang, through Dasheng, will acquire all of the Company's online English tutoring businesses in the China mainland, including all associated liabilities and assets (the "China Mainland Business"), for US$1.
The China Mainland Business is conducted by the subsidiaries of and variable interest entities controlled by China Online Education (HK) limited ("COE HK"), which is in turn a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, Dasheng will acquire all of the equity interests of COE HK from the Company (the "Transaction"). After the closing of the Transaction (the "Closing"), Dasheng will grant a right to the Company to purchase certain newly issued shares of up to 99% of the outstanding shares of the entities holding the China Mainland Business with an exercise price of US$1 (the "Warrant"). The Warrant may be exercised within five years from the Closing, subject to applicable laws of China and requirements of the competent government authorities.
The Board, acting upon the unanimous recommendation of a committee of two independent and disinterested directors established by the Board (the "Special Committee"), approved the Share Purchase Agreement and the Transaction. The Special Committee negotiated the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement with the assistance of financial and legal advisors.
The Closing is subject to certain customary conditions and is expected to take place on or around June 30, 2022.
The Company's overseas business outside the China mainland and its associated assets and liabilities are not part of the Transaction and will be the Company's strategic focus going forward. Upon the Closing, the Company expects to shift from a negative net assets position to a positive net assets position.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements which are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "likely to," and similar statements. 51Talk may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about 51Talk's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in 51Talk's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and 51Talk does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
About China Online Education Group
China Online Education Group (NYSE: COE) is a global online education platform with core expertise in English education. The Company's mission is to make quality education accessible and affordable. The Company's online and mobile education platforms enable students to take live interactive English lessons on demand. The Company connects its students with a large pool of highly qualified teachers that it assembled using a shared economy approach, and employs student and teacher feedback and data analytics to deliver a personalized learning experience to its students.
For further information: China Online Education Group, Investor Relations, ir@51talk.com.
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SOURCE China Online Education Group | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/24/china-online-education-group-enters-into-definitive-agreement-spin-off-china-mainland-business/ | 2022-06-24T09:09:21Z |
Louisville officials prepare to buy commercial building
LOUISVILLE – City officials continue work to finalize the purchase of a prominent commercial building on the western edge of town.
What will become of the site is still up in the air.
The building at 2100 W. Main St. at one time was a Montrose Auto Group location. Currently it is home for Sky Sweeping, a commercial parking lot cleaning business.
More:Louisville City Council approves buying W. Main Street property
"We have signed the purchase agreement," city Manager Tom Pukys said. "It is not official yet. We are going through the due diligence and doing inspections. It will probably be another few months before we close on it."
The purchase price is going to be $1.33 million.
May retrofit new building for Louisville's needs
"We have been preparing for this," Pukys said. "We had some money set aside. The consideration is Fire Department, Police Department. There are a lot of things we could do with this building. Once we figure out what we are going to do with that building, we would have to retrofit it for that purpose."
The building is owned by Zuke Capital Group, a Plain Township-based limited liability company, according to Stark County real estate records.
"We are just exploring ideas," Mayor Patricia Fallot said. "It could be used for the Service Department. It could be used for a satellite site for the Fire Department."
The Fire Department now occupies space in the municipal administration building downtown at 215 S. Mill St. And the Service Department is in Constitution Center at 1022 W. Main St. City officials are saying Constitution Center has some structural deficiencies.
If city officials go forward with buying the building, they are saying there will not be a rush to move the current tenant out.
"I think they will honor the lease," said attorney Robert Duffrin, city law director. "I don't think there is any acrimony with those people."
Firefighters have reservations
But there has been some concern expressed by the Fire Department regarding the possibility of them locating in the building. That location, firefighters are saying, would add to time when responding to an emergency.
Capt. Rob Yoder addressed his concerns at a recent City Council meeting.
"We are not happy about that location as a fire station," Yoder said. "It is on the west side of our city. We are not in favor of it as a primary fire station. The majority of our calls in the past five years have been in District Four, which is the southeast part of the city. The majority of what we protect is on the east side."
Yoder agrees with the notion the Fire Department should have a new home.
"In reality, we have outgrown our fire station," the captain said. "We do need a new fire station. We don't feel it should be on the west side."
For one member of City Council, the potential benefits of acquiring the commercial structure outweigh the long range prospects not having a retail operation in the building.
"I don't have my mind made up as to what the best use for the facility is," Councilman Corey Street said. "It is too good to pass up regardless of what (municipal) unit makes that their home. We just feel this is the best deal for the taxpayers at this time."
Street said purchasing the structure is more cost effective than building a new building.
"When we looked at building a new fire department (station), which is what everyone wanted, it was about $350 a square foot," Street said. "For a new fire department, that would mean between $7.6 million and $10 million. I think acquiring this building is a great value."
Reach Malcolm at 330-814-4717 or malcolm.hall@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: mhallREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/2022/05/02/louisville-buying-commercial-building-2100-w-main-street/9542743002/ | 2022-05-02T18:42:15Z |
Which PlayStation 5 skin is best?
Sony’s PlayStation 5 gaming console comes in dazzling white and traditional black, but some gamers find that boring. To project some personality onto the console, many opt to paste a skin over the body. The vinyl is essentially a giant sticker cut to fit perfectly on both sides and the middle piece. A console skin is often also bundled with two controller skins, and while they are tougher to attach, will neatly round off the console’s new look.
If you’re a fan of a certain alcoholic scientist and his grandson, then the Zumqxid “Rick and Morty” PS5 Disc Version Skin will breathe new life into your living room.
What to know before you buy a PS5 skin
A skin is different from a plate
There are several ways to customize the look of your PS5, with a skin or a plate the most common. But where a thin vinyl skin attaches to the console, a plate is much different. Made from high-quality plastic, a plate is a separate piece that clips onto the console’s body. There are side plates and middle plates to give your PS5 some personality. These are often the preferred method for quickly changing your console’s external color.
Dress up your controllers in matching skins
Sticking some colorful decals on your PS5 makes it stand out, but you can extend your theme to the controllers. Available in bundles, the controller skins are made from the same type of vinyl, and you’ll need steady hands to apply them. The controller skins aren’t necessarily identical to the PS5 skin, but will certainly be related.
Most skins are anime-themed
While sports themes are common, the majority of skins have an anime theme. If that is of no interest to you, it could be difficult to find skins that cover other genres such as first-person shooters, strategy games or simulator titles. However, if superheroes are your thing, you could strike it lucky. Over the last few months, new “Spider-Man” and Marvel films resulted in more superhero skins on the market.
What to look for in a quality PS5 skin
High-quality printing
Does the character’s face seem a bit weird? Does the printing overlap in some areas? These are signs you’re looking at a PS5 skin that isn’t high-quality. You naturally want your console to look great from afar and up close, so the quality of the vinyl printing is crucial. A good-quality skin has vivid colors and clear borders, and all the shaded areas line up or blend correctly with the surrounding elements.
Robust material
While the printing quality is important, so is the quality of the vinyl. If you happen to apply it slightly skewed, you must be able to remove it to readjust the alignment. A good-quality PS5 skin makes this easy, but inferior skins might rip or tear. Generally, the thicker a vinyl layer, the easier it is to take off and reapply. This is also important if you want to transfer the skin from one PS5 console to another.
No sticky residue
Speaking of reapplying or adjusting the skin, the worst thing that can happen is leaving behind a sticky residue. It means there isn’t enough glue on the skin to properly stick to a surface, and there will be sticky spots on the PS5’s body. The residue shouldn’t be tough to remove, but if you leave it too long, it will collect dust that can cause streaks.
How much you can expect to spend on a PS5 skin
The price depends on the quality of the printing and the vinyl. Expect to pay $10-$15 for an affordable skin, while high-quality printing and thick vinyl can cost $30-$40.
PS5 skin FAQ
What is the difference between the disc and digital versions?
A. You’ll notice that skins come in digital and disc versions. This simply refers to certain cutouts, as a digital-only PS5 doesn’t have a disc tray. But since a disc-based PS5 does, the skin needs a slot that lines up with the tray.
Are PS5 skins authorized by Sony?
A. No, Sony doesn’t recommend altering the appearance of your console. Also, be aware that it’s difficult to verify the licensing and copyright of many skins that use pop-culture themes or sports teams.
What’s the best PS5 skin to buy?
Top PS5 skin
Zumqxid “Rick and Morty” PS5 Disc Version Skin
What you need to know: With bright colors and vivid shades, this “Rick and Morty” skin will certainly be the center of attention.
What you’ll love: This vinyl skin pack features two designs and matching controller skins. It is the disc version, so there is an extra cutout for that. The skin is easy to apply and won’t leave a sticky residue if you make a mistake.
What you should consider: The skin has a different design on each side, so some users might find it difficult to decide which view is best.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top PS5 skin for the money
Metanyl “Spider-Man” PS5 and Controller Skin
What you need to know: This disc-version skin is a must-have for any “Spider-Man” fans.
What you’ll love: Made from high-quality vinyl, it’s easy to install and remove. It features different “Spider-Man” designs on each side and comes with two matching controller skins.
What you should consider: The skins aren’t interchangeable, as they are specifically cut to fit perfectly on a particular side.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Peyanz NBA Three Legends PS5 Disc Version Skin
What you need to know: NBA fans will love showing off their new vinyl PS5 skin featuring Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
What you’ll love: This disc-version skin features Jordan and James kneeling on the one side, and Jordan, James and Bryant walking together on the other. The skin is produced through a 4K-resolution laser printer, giving it vivid colors and beautiful details.
What you should consider: Even though the controller skins are NBA-related, they don’t match stylistically with the PS5 skin.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/best-playstation-5-skin/ | 2022-07-12T14:24:17Z |
Pottsboro man arrested for child sex crimes
Published: Jun. 29, 2022 at 2:03 PM CDT|Updated: 32 minutes ago
POTTSBORO, Texas (KXII) - A Pottsboro man wanted for sexually assaulting a child was arrested Friday.
Grayson County deputies said an arrest warrant was executed at a residence on Graves Circle in Pottsboro for Jason Colley, 55, on charges of sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child.
Deputies said the case remains under investigation, but information has led investigators to believe there may be more victims.
Colley is being held in the Grayson County Jail on $300,000 in bonds.
Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact Investigator Kasey Compton at 903-813-4200 ext. 2215.
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/29/pottsboro-man-arrested-child-sex-crimes/ | 2022-06-29T19:37:40Z |
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Aug. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Juliet Sussman Elected Co – Chair of the AAJ's National Timeshare Litigation Group.
The law firm of Sussman & Associates, specializing in Real Estate litigation for over 40 years, and for the past fifteen (15) years the face of the Timeshare exit and cancellation industry, announced today that Attorney Juliet Sussman was named co-chair of the Timeshare Litigation Group of AAJ. At the ripe young age of 25, Juliet is one of the youngest co-chairs in the history of American Association for Justice ("AAJ"), formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
The Timeshare Litigation Group is a collective of consumer advocate attorneys across the United States who represent individuals in their goal of being released from their timeshare obligations. Juliet's father, Mitchell Sussman, considered by many to be the "godfather" of timeshare exit litigation recently handed the baton to his daughter Juliet. Ms. Sussman was appointed the position of co-chair in July of 2022 at the Seattle AAJ conference.
The Timeshare Litigation Group assists members investigating and litigating cases against timeshare selective developers. It is well known that certain timeshare developers engage in fraudulent and deceptive practices to induce consumers into purchasing timeshare intervals for tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. After purchase, the consumers cannot rid themselves of the timeshare interest, which frequently carry mortgages, high interest rates, and "in perpetuity" contracts with a lifetime of fees.
According to the American Resort Development Association ("ARDA") the timeshare industry is an $8.1 billion dollar industry. ARDA purports that 9.9 million households in the United States own a timeshare.
The Timeshare Litigation Group was formed at the 2021 AAJ Spring Meeting by Juliet's co – chair, Panda Kroll. Members have access to the Timeshare Litigation Group Document Library and the Litigation Group list server. Education programs and meetings are held throughout the year.
About Sussman & Associates
The law firm of Sussman & Associates has been practicing Real Estate and Bankruptcy Law for over 40 years. Top rated by the BBB it is considered the pre-eminent Timeshare Cancellation Law Firm. Its website www.timesharelegalaction.com educates the public about the pitfalls and hidden dangers prevalent in the timeshare industry.
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SOURCE Law Offices of Mitchell Reed Sussman | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/25/attorney-juliet-sussman-elected-co-chair-aajs-national-timeshare-litigation-group/ | 2022-08-25T13:14:48Z |
CISA Director to speak at Washburn University Homeland Security lecture series
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - The head of the nation’s leading cybersecurity agency will speak at Washburn University’s Rick Rescorla Homeland Security Lecture Series.
Washburn University says Jen Easterly, director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency, has been announced as the keynote speaker of the Rick Rescorla Homeland Security Lecture Series. The lecture will take place at noon on April 14.
WU said the free, virtual lecture is open to the public via Zoom and will be hosted by Washburn alumnus France Hoang, mcj ‘00, and presented by the criminal justice and legal studies department.
During the lecture, the University said Easterly will discuss her expertise and experiences during a chat with Hoang. It said CISA leads the national effort to understand, manage and reduce the risk to U.S. cyber and physical infrastructure. The agency connects industry stakeholders and the government to each other and to resources, research and tools.
“I’m honored to join Washburn University’s lecture series in recognition of the heroism, moral courage and selfless service of Rick Rescorla,” Easterly said. “At CISA, we work to reduce risk to the critical infrastructure that Americans rely on every hour of every day, a mission that Rick embodied as director of security at Morgan Stanley, the firm where I worked for nearly five years. Our nation’s resilience depends on each of us as individuals recognizing our role and doing our part – as Rick did – to keep each other safe and secure.”
WU noted that Rescorla was a Vietnam War veteran and head of security for Morgan Stanley in the South Tower of the World Trade Center when it collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001, in the terrorist attacks. It said he saved hundreds of lives as he evacuated employees. Once outside, he went back in to continue to help with the evacuation when he died as the tower collapsed.
“We are excited to have Director Easterly discuss her background and her role at CISA with Washburn’s criminal justice and legal study students as well as our larger community,” said Melanie Worsley, jd ‘07, associate professor of criminal justice, associate dean, School of Applied Studies. “Given the timeliness of this discussion and how cybersecurity and infrastructure security issues affect us all, we hope you will join us for this event.”
The University said Easterly was nominated by President Joe Biden in April 2021 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate. She previously headed the Firm of Resilience at Morgan Stanley, which is responsible for ensuring preparedness and response to business-disrupting operation incidents and risks to the firm. She has a long tradition of public service - including two tours at the White House, most recently as special assistant to President Barack Obama and senior director for counterterrorism. She also served as deputy of counterterrorism at the National Security Agency.
Washburn said Hoang received a master of criminal justice from the University in 2000. He graduated at the top 1% of his class at West Point and also graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center and served in President George W. Bush’s administration as associate White House counsel and special assistant to the president. He has worked in all three branches of the U.S. government.
WU noted that the Rick Rescorla Homeland Security Lecture Series is in its second year and presents a nationally-renowned individual with expertise in a topic of interest related to homeland security.
For more information about the lecture series or to find the Zoom link, click HERE.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/12/cisa-director-speak-washburn-university-homeland-security-lecture-series/ | 2022-04-12T16:36:57Z |
LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II left Buckingham Palace for the last time Wednesday, her coffin borne to the Houses of Parliament by a horse-drawn gun carriage and trailed by grieving family members.
The coffin will lie in state for four days until the late monarch’s funeral on Monday, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to file past. Eight pallbearers carried the oak and lead-lined coffin into Westminster Hall, placing it on a raised platform known as a catafalque.
With the Royal Standard and crown of state resting on top of the coffin and artillery firing salutes at one-minute intervals, the solemn procession from Buckingham Palace was designed to underscore the queen’s seven decades as head of state as the national mourning process shifted to the grand boulevards and historic landmarks of the U.K. capital.
King Charles III, his sons Princes William and Harry and other members of the royal family walked behind the gun carriage.
Thousands of people who had waited for hours along The Mall outside the palace and other locations to line the route held up phones and cameras, and some wiped away tears, as the procession passed. Applause broke out as it went through Horse Guards Parade.
The coffin was draped in the Royal Standard and topped with the Imperial State Crown – adorned with almost 3,000 diamonds — and a bouquet of flowers and plants including pine from the Balmoral Estate, where Elizabeth died last week.
An escort of two officers and 32 troops from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards in red uniforms and bearskin hats walked on either side of the gun carriage. Big Ben tolled, a gun salute boomed from Hyde Park and the martial strains of a military band accompanied the procession.
The 38-minute procession ended at Westminster Hall, where Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby led a service attended by Charles and other royals after the coffin was brought in. The choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal sang the words of a psalm.
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you,” Welby said as he read from the Book of John.
Thousands of people were standing or sitting in line along the banks of the River Thames waiting their turn to file past the coffin and pay their respects.
The crowds are the latest manifestation of a nationwide outpouring of grief and respect for the only monarch most Britons have ever known, who died at her beloved Balmoral summer retreat on Thursday at age 96, ending a 70-year reign.
Joan Bucklehurst, a 50-year-old retail worker from Cheshire in northwestern England, said the queen “meant so much for everybody.”
“She was amazing, yeah,” she added, choking up with emotion. “So, we had to be here. We’ve been here a few times when there have been special occasions, but this one, I couldn’t miss this.”
Maj. Gen. Christopher Ghika, of the Household division, who organized the ceremonial aspects of the queen’s funeral said it was a sad day, “but it’s our last opportunity to do our duty for the queen and it’s our first opportunity to do it for the king, and that makes us all very proud.”
London’s Heathrow Airport halted flights to prevent overhead planes from disturbing the procession.
The airport said in a statement that the changes would “ensure silence over central London as the ceremonial procession moves from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.”
Troops involved in the procession have been preparing since the queen died. So have the horses of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
Sgt. Tom Jenks, from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, said that the horses have undergone special training, including how to handle weeping mourners, as well as flowers and flags being thrown onto streets as the procession passes by.
Since the early morning, people staked out prime viewing positions behind metal barriers along the Mall and other streets along the route. They stood or sat on folding chairs, umbrellas at the ready, takeout coffees in hand.
Crowds have lined the route of the queen’s coffin whenever it has been moved in its long journey from Scotland back to London.
On Tuesday night, thousands braved a typical London drizzle as the state hearse, with interior lights illuminating the sovereign’s flag-draped casket, drove slowly from a military air base into the heart of London.
Earlier, in Edinburgh, some 33,000 people filed in silent respect past her coffin as it lay for 24 hours at St. Giles’ Cathedral.
Hundreds of thousands are expected to do the same in London when the queen lies in state at the 900-year-old Westminster Hall, the oldest building in Parliament, for four days before her state funeral on Monday.
The hall is where Guy Fawkes and Charles I were tried, where kings and queens hosted magnificent medieval banquets, and where ceremonial addresses were presented to Queen Elizabeth II during her silver, golden and diamond jubilees.
Chris Bond, from Truro in southwest England, was among those lining up along the banks of the River Thames. He also attended the lying in state of the queen’s mother in 2002.
“Obviously, it’s quite difficult queuing all day long, but when you walk through those doors into Westminster Hall, that marvelous, historic building, there was a great sense of hush and one was told you take as much time as you like, and it’s just amazing,” he said.
“We know the queen was a good age and she served the country a long time, but we hoped this day would never come,” he added.
Chris Imafidon secured the sixth place in the queue.
“I have 1,001 emotions when I see her,” he said. “I want to say, God, she was an angel, because she touched many good people and did so many good things.” | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/procession-of-queens-coffin/ | 2022-09-14T15:19:12Z |
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Wyatt Kaiser and Carter Mazur each scored twice and the United States beat winless Austria 7-0 on Saturday to improve to 3-0 in group play in the world junior championship.
Matt Coronato, Red Savage and Sasha Pastujov also scored for the defending champion Americans. Andrew Oke stopped 11 shots in the first two periods and Remington Keopple made four saves in the third.
“We knew we had to get off to a good start today,” U.S. coach Nate Leaman said. “Our schedule was different today, and it was important for us to adjust quickly. I’m happy with how the team started the first period and kept it rolling.”
The U.S. will finish Group B play Sunday against Sweden.
At night, Canada beat the Czech Republic 5-1 to improve to 3-0 in Group A. Captain Mason McTavish scored twice, Kent Johnson lacrosse-style goal and added an assist, Greig Ridly and Tyson Foerester also scored and Dylan Garand made 22 saves.
Martin Rysavy scored for the Czech Republic.
In the late game, Germany played Switzerland in Group B. | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/us-beats-austria-7-0-improves-to-3-0-in-world-junior/ | 2022-08-14T01:56:41Z |
Fox Racing Employees to Receive Bonus Upon Finalization of Sale to Vista Outdoor
PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After eight years of partnership with Fox Racing, Altamont Capital Partners (Altamont) has exited its investment with a sale of the company to Vista Outdoor. As part of that transaction, Altamont and Fox Racing announced a broad-based employee bonus program providing payments to Fox Racing employees upon the completion of the company's sale. Qualifying employees will receive bonuses in recognition of their role in building the company into one of the world's leading outdoor brands.
"The success of Altamont's partnership with Fox Racing is a testament to the hard work of their leadership and employees in building a strong business and an iconic brand," said Altamont Capital Partners Co-Founder and Managing Director Keoni Schwartz. "Fox Racing employees are a significant reason why the company is not only in a strong position today but poised for future growth. Altamont is proud to partner with Fox Racing to support a broad-based bonus program that rewards employees for their role in making the company a success story."
Altamont Capital Partners originally invested in Fox Racing via majority recapitalization in 2014. Fox Racing grew net sales by a compound annual growth rate of approximately 20 percent from calendar year 2019 to 2021 and is expected to exceed that number this year. Through its partnership with Altamont, Fox Racing's projected revenue will reach approximately $350 million in calendar year 2022.
"We believe in sharing success because at its core, Fox is a family business," said Fox Racing CEO Jeff McGuane. "Our team has tirelessly built, shaped, and preserved the legacy of Fox Racing and put us in a great position for the future. We're grateful for all our employees have done to make Fox Racing a success and we're proud to partner with Altamont to ensure they're rewarded for all their hard work."
Altamont is a founding partner of Ownership Works, a nonprofit dedicated to developing broad-based employee ownership programs to create better work environments and financial opportunities for employees, and to help businesses improve their performance by attracting and retaining engaged employees who are invested in their company's success. As part of its partnership with Ownership Works, Altamont will continue working with its partner companies to build upon existing efforts and implement shared ownership more broadly in its portfolio.
About Altamont Capital Partners
Altamont Capital Partners is a private investment firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area with more than $4.5 billion of assets under management. Altamont is focused on investing in middle-market businesses where it can partner with leading management teams to reach their full potential. The firm's principals have significant experience building business success stories across a range of industries, including financial services, healthcare, business services, consumer/retail, and industrials.
About Fox Racing
Since 1974, when Geoff Fox first introduced the world to our iconic logo, Fox Racing has been all about family. Not just in name—a legacy that continues to this day—but the idea of celebrating and sharing the passion of life on two wheels with the world. This is what drives us, inspires us, and keeps us close. Because "skulk" is more than just a word for a family of foxes—it's the adventure, the fidelity of friends, and everything that happens along the way.
Media Contact:
Greg Blair
greg@narrativedc.com
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SOURCE Altamont Capital Partners | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/altamont-capital-partners-exits-investment-fox-racing/ | 2022-08-08T12:13:57Z |
PHOENIX, July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 20th, 2022, Rise Invest acquired the apartment community known as Lofts on 3rd located at 1401 N 3rd Street in Phoenix, AZ.
Lofts on 3rd was recently renovated in 2019 and consists of 14 1x1 units, 14 2x2, units (twelve of which are loft style), and one penthouse unit. The property is located just north of I-10, near the heart of downtown Phoenix and is just a 5-10 minute walk from Roosevelt Row, which has blossomed into one of the Phoenix MSA's best nightlife districts. Much like the rest of the Phoenix MSA, this area has received significant investment in housing in order to keep pace with demand and support the growing economy.
Lofts on 3rd has seen significant revitalization in recent years. 100% of the units have been renovated with modern finishes and in-unit washers/dryers — in addition to significant improvements addressing amenities, deferred maintenance, and curb appeal. The property stands to benefit even further from enhanced property management and leasing.
The acquisition is a 1031 exchange of an asset that Rise Invest sold recently in combination with additional 1031 funds from another Rise Invest investor.
"This deal has everything you want at a time like this," says Drew Breneman, Rise Invest's Founder & CEO. "The going-in cap rate is phenomenal, and we will be cash-flowing on day 1 without needing to capture any loss-to-lease. We're now up to 5 properties and 190 total units in the Phoenix MSA after having stepped into the market late last year and have come far in scaling our portfolio outside of Chicago and Minneapolis. We're very excited about this asset and continuing to invest in Phoenix."
"It is rare to acquire a stabilized asset in downtown Phoenix at such an attractive basis. With the help of our partners, we are confident that this will provide investors healthy cashflow while also being positioned in one of the most desirable areas in a rapidly growing market," says Evan Dillon, 27, VP of Investments.
"So much of our time is spent surveying the market and identifying the most favorable investment opportunities, and we have a lot of conviction that our acquisition and strategy for Lofts on 3rd will be successful. We're eager to continue building our reputation within the greater Phoenix market, and we think this deal is an excellent opportunity to showcase just that," says Sam Markin, 26, Investment Associate.
Learn more about Lofts On 3rd on our website at: https://www.riseinvest.com/portfolio/lofts-on-3rd
Rise Invest is a private real estate investment management firm specializing in the multifamily property sector. Rise Invest employs a deliberate investment approach, leveraging data analytics and proprietary technology to generate superior risk-adjusted returns for investors.
Media Contact:
Dominick Scafidi
Marketing Manager
E: Dscafidi@riseinvest.com
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SOURCE Rise Invest | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/25/rise-invest-acquires-29-unit-apartment-phoenix-az/ | 2022-07-25T19:09:48Z |
QINGDAO, China, April 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TDH Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETZ) ("TDH" or the "Company"), a PRC-based company that specializes in the development, manufacturing and sales of pet food products in China and beyond, announced today its financial results for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021.
Full Year 2021 Financial Highlights:
- Revenues increased by 33.94% from $0.82 million in fiscal year 2020 to $1.09 million in fiscal year 2021, our sales of pet food decreased from approximately $0.82 million in fiscal year 2020 to approximately $0.49 million in fiscal year 2021, or by approximately 40.5%, which was offset by an increase in revenue from our newly acquired restaurant business in Kansas by approximately $0.61 million. The decrease of pet food revenue in 2021 was mainly due to: (1) the continuous development of COVID-19, we had to close a factory and stop production for a period of time again in 2021, which caused the delay of orders and some customers canceled their orders, decreasing our pet food sales revenue and sales volume; (2) the cost of raw materials required for pet food production has risen to a certain extent due to the COVID-19 pandemic and general inflation, which led to our reduced production and sales of pet food products during 2021; and (3) we declined taking orders that were historically unprofitable. As a result, our pet food sales volume significantly decreased in 2021 as compared to 2020. On the other side, on October 31, 2021, we acquired a 51% equity interests of Far Ling's Inc. and 100% equity interests of Bo Ling's Chinese Restaurant, Inc. This resulted in an increase of $0.6 million in revenue from our restaurant business operations segment.
- Gross loss was $0.02 million in fiscal year 2021 as compared to gross loss of $0.04 million in fiscal year 2020. The decrease in gross loss was a result of declining to take historically unprofitable orders, and new profits generated from our restaurant business operations segment.
- Operating loss was $4.61 million in fiscal year 2021 as compared to an operating loss of $1.93 million in fiscal year 2020. The continuous deficit from operations was mainly due to the fact that our pet food sales revenue continued to decrease, while we continued to incur fixed overhead costs and high operating expenses during fiscal year 2021.
- Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $6.12 million, or a loss per share of $0.10, for the fiscal year 2021 as compared to net loss of $0.87 million, or a loss per share of $0.02, for fiscal year 2020.
Full Year 2021 Financial Results
Revenues
The Company's revenue sources include pet food sales and restaurant business operations. Pet food sales mainly include sales for pet chews, dried pet snacks and wet canned pet foods in overseas markets, domestic markets and by e-commerce. We started to generate revenue from restaurant business operations in the last quarter of fiscal year 2021. Total revenues increased by 33.94% from $0.82 million in fiscal year 2020 to $1.09 million in fiscal year 2021, our sales of pet food have decreased from approximately $0.82 million in fiscal year 2020 to $0.49 million in fiscal year 2021, or by approximately 40.5%, offset by an increase in revenue from our newly acquired restaurant business by approximately $0.61 million. The decrease of pet food revenue in fiscal year 2021 was mainly due to: (1) the continuous development of COVID-19, as we had to close a factory and stop production again for a period of time in 2021, which caused the delay of orders and some customers canceled their orders, decreasing our pet food sales revenue and sales volume; (2) the cost of raw materials required for pet food production has risen to a certain extent due to the COVID-19 pandemic and general inflation, which led to our reduced production and sales of pet food products during fiscal year 2021; and (3) we declined taking orders that were historically unprofitable. As a result, our pet food sales volume significantly decreased in 2021 as compared to 2020. On the other side, on October 31, 2021, we acquired 51% equity interests of Far Ling's Inc. and 100% equity interests of Bo Ling's Chinese Restaurant, Inc., located in Kansas. This resulted in an increase of $0.6 million in food service revenue from our restaurant business operations segment.
Overseas sales decreased by $0.09 million, or 40.41%, to $0.14 million for the fiscal year 2021 from $0.23 million for fiscal year 2020. Domestic sales decreased by $0.25 million, or 44.50%, to $0.32 million for the fiscal year 2021 from $0.57 million for fiscal year 2020. The decrease of pet food revenue in fiscal year 2021 was mainly due to (1) the continuous development of COVID-19, as we had to close a factory and stop production again for a period of time in 2021, which caused the delay of orders and some customers canceled their orders, decreasing our pet food sales revenue and sales volume; (2) the cost of raw materials required for pet food production has risen to a certain extent due to the COVID-19 pandemic and general inflation, which led to our reduced production and sales of pet food products during 2021; and (3) we declined taking orders that were historically unprofitable. Sales from the e-commerce channel increased by $0.01 million, or 107.03%, to $0.03 million for the year of 2021 from $0.02 million for 2020, due to the increased promotion of our products through e-commerce channels. In addition, on October 31, 2021, we acquired 51% equity interests of Far Ling's Inc. and 100% equity interests of Bo Ling's Chinese Restaurant, Inc. This resulted in an increase of $0.61 million in restaurant business operations revenue.
Sales of pet chews decreased by $0.01 million, or 21.97%, to $0.05 million for fiscal year 2021 from $0.06 million for fiscal year 2020. Sales of dried pet snacks decreased by $0.03 million, or 7.58%, to $0.29 million for fiscal year 2021 from $0.32 million for fiscal year 2020. Sales of wet canned pet food decreased by $0.07 million, or 87.21%, to $0.01 million for fiscal year 2021 from $0.08 million for fiscal year 2020. Sales of dental health snacks decreased by $0.01 million, or 69.23%, to $0.01 million for fiscal year 2021 from $0.02 million for fiscal year 2020. The decrease of pet food revenue in fiscal year 2021 was mainly due to:
(1) the continuous development of COVID-19, we had to close a factory and stop production again for a period of time in 2021, which caused the delay of orders and some customers canceled their orders, decreasing our pet food sales revenue and sales volume; (2) the cost of raw materials required for pet food production has risen to a certain extent due to the COVID-19 pandemic and general inflation, which led to our reduced production and sales of pet food products during 2021; and (3) we declined taking orders that were historically unprofitable. Sales from the e-commerce channel increased by $0.01 million, or 107.03%, to $0.03 million for the fiscal year of 2021 from $0.02 million for fiscal year 2020, due to the increased promotion of our products through e-commerce channels. In addition, on October 31, 2021, we acquired 51% equity interests of Far Ling's Inc. and 100% equity interests of Bo Ling's Chinese Restaurant, Inc. This resulted in an increase of $0.61 million in restaurant business operations revenue.
Cost of revenues
Cost of revenues of our pet food business consists primarily of direct raw materials, direct payroll of workshop staff, utility and supply costs consumed in the manufacturing process, manufacturing labor, depreciation expense and overhead expenses necessary to manufacture finished goods as well as distribution costs such as inbound freight charges. Cost of revenues of our restaurant business consist primarily of food and packaging costs, payroll and employee benefit costs, store lease and occupancy costs and depreciation and amortization costs. Cost of revenues increased by $0.25 million, or 29.80%, to $1.11 million for fiscal year 2021 from $0.86 million for fiscal year 2020. The increase in our costs was in line with the increased revenue in fiscal year 2021.
Gross loss and gross loss margin
Gross loss was $0.02 million for fiscal year 2021, compared to gross loss of $0.04 million for fiscal year 2020. Gross loss margin was 1.88% for fiscal year 2021, compared to gross loss margin of 5.13% for fiscal year 2020.
Operating expense
Operating expense consists of selling expenses and general and administrative expenses.
Selling expenses consist primarily of advertising, salaries and shipping and handling costs incurred during the selling activities. Advertising and transportation expenses are charged to expenses as incurred. Selling expenses decreased by $0.08 million, or 35.64%, to $0.08 million for fiscal year 2021 from $0.12 million for fiscal year 2020.
General and administrative expenses increased by $2.18 million, or 123.36%, to $3.94 million for fiscal year 2021 from $1.77 million for fiscal year 2020. The main reason for the increase was due to the company's payment of certain legal costs, an increase in consulting service fees and increased depreciation and amortization expenses related to our restaurant business segment.
In connection with our acquisition of restaurant business, we recognized a goodwill of $355,570 as of the acquisition date. However, due to our significant net loss in fiscal year 2021, goodwill of $355,570 has been fully impaired for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Impairment of long-lived assets other than goodwill charge was $0.22 million in fiscal year 2021, as compared to $0 in fiscal year 2020.
As a result, total operating expenses increased by $2.71 million, or 143.80%, to $4.59 million for fiscal year 2021 from $1.88 million for fiscal year 2020. As a percentage of total revenues, total operating expenses was 420.69% for the fiscal year 2021, compared to 231.11% for fiscal year 2020.
Operating loss and operating loss margin
Loss from operations was $4.61 million for fiscal year 2021, compared to operating loss of $1.93 million for fiscal year 2020. The continuous loss from operations was mainly due to increased operating expenses in fiscal year 2021.
Net loss and loss per share
Net loss was $6.72 million for fiscal year 2021, compared to net loss of $0.87 million for fiscal year 2020. Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $6.12 million, or loss per share of $0.10, for the fiscal year 2021. This is compared to net loss attributable to common stockholders of $0.87 million, or loss per share of $0.02 for fiscal year 2020.
Financial Conditions
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $19.51 million, compared to $6.75 million as of December 31, 2020. Accounts receivable and inventories were $0.04 million and $0.05 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2021, compared to $0.17 million and $0.25 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, we had working capital of approximately $11.42 million, as compared to working capital deficit of $8.55 million as of December 31, 2020.
Net cash used in operating activities was $3.45 million for the fiscal year 2021, compared to $2.63 million for fiscal year 2020. Net cash used in investing activities was $1.64 million for fiscal year 2021, compared to $3.35 million net cash provided by investing activities in fiscal year 2020. Net cash provided by financing activities was $18.10 million for the fiscal year 2021, compared to $0.59 million net cash used in financing activities in fiscal year 2020.
Going Concern
As reflected in our consolidated financial statements, for the year ended December 31, 2021, we have incurred a net loss of approximately $6.12 million and our cash used in operating activities amounted to approximately $3.45 million. Our business operations may be further affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although we received approximately $20.2 million net proceeds from issuance of common shares and warrants to certain investors during fiscal year 2021, there can be no assurances that future revenue or capital infusion will be sufficient to enable us to develop our business to a level where it will be profitable or to generate positive cash flows. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern for the next twelve months from the date that our consolidated financial statements are issued.
As of December 31, 2021, we had cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash of approximately $19.51 million. We also had short-term investments of approximately $4.43 million, which are highly liquid and can be converted into cash and used in our operations if needed. We also had approximately an aggregate of $5.99 million of loans (including approximately $5.44 million short-term loans and approximately $0.55 million short-term loans from related parties). For legal proceedings since December 31, 2019 regarding our delayed repayment of certain bank loans upon maturity, in March and April 2020, we received court rulings requiring us to make an aggregate RMB 54.54 million (approximately $8.35 million) of payments to the financial institutions. On March 13, 2021, the land and factory buildings on the land owned by our subsidiary, were auctioned by the court for $5,098,461 (RMB 33.14 million), among which, $3,192,827 (RMB 21.14 million) has been used to repay loan principal and accrued interest to a financial institution based on the court order. The repayment has been completed as of the date of this press release. On March 16, 2022, the People's Court of Huangdao District, Qingdao City, Shandong Province made a civil ruling and announced the acceptance of creditors' application of bankruptcy liquidation of our subsidiary, Qingdao Tiandihui Foodstuffs Co., Ltd., and it entered into bankruptcy proceedings. Accordingly, these legal claims relating to the bank loans are now subject to the bankruptcy proceedings.
Based on our current financial conditions, our cash balance and revenues generated from our business operations may not be currently sufficient and cannot be projected to cover our future operating expenses and meet our obligations as they become due for the next twelve months after the date that our financial statements are issued.
We face substantial challenges in our effort to resume normal business activities. Our future growth will place a significant strain on our sales and marketing capacities, administrative and operating infrastructure, manufacturing facilities and other resources. To effectively manage additional challenges brought on by COVID-19, we need to evaluate and identify suitable strategic or acquisition opportunities, complete such transactions on commercially favorable terms, or successfully integrate business operations, infrastructure and management philosophies of acquired businesses and companies, resolve the substantial litigation and judgements to which we are subject and raise substantial capital. There may be particular complexities, regulatory or otherwise, associated with our expansion into new markets, and our strategies may not succeed beyond our current markets. If we are unable to effectively address these challenges, our ability to execute acquisitions as a component of our long-term strategy will be impaired, which could have an adverse effect on our growth or our ability to function as a going concern. We also need to expand our customer base, refine our operational, financial and management controls and reporting systems and procedures. If we fail to efficiently manage this expansion of our business, our costs and expenses may increase more than anticipated and we may not successfully attract a sufficient number of customers in a cost-effective manner, respond to competitive challenges, or otherwise execute our business plans. In addition, we may, as part of carrying out our growth strategies, adopt new initiatives to implement new pricing models and strategies. We cannot assure you that these initiatives may achieve the anticipated results.
Notice
Rounding amounts and percentages: Certain amounts and percentages included in this press release have been rounded for ease of presentation. Percentage figures included in this press release have not in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures, but on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, certain percentage amounts in this press release may vary from those obtained by performing the same calculations using the figures in the financial statements. In addition, certain other amounts that appear in this press release may not sum due to rounding.
About TDH Holdings, Inc.
Founded in April 2002, TDH Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ: PETZ), is a developer, manufacturer and distributer of a variety of pet food products under multiple brands that are sold in the China, Asia and Europe. The Company also started the restaurant business operation since late 2021. More information about the Company can be found at www.tiandihui.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as "may," "will," "intend," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate" or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Specifically, the Company's statements regarding, among others: its growth and business outlook; its ability to execute on its business plan, secure necessary capital to sustain and maintain its operation; its ability to resume its operations at the previous level; its ability to successfully resolve various legal proceedings and judgments in which it is involved or have been obtained against it; its ability to expand its market and customer base; its ability to refine its operational, financial and management controls and reporting systems and procedures, are forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the ability to identify, execute and integrate strategic or acquisition opportunities, the Company's future business development; product and service demand and acceptance; changes in technology; economic conditions; the growth of the petfood industry in China and internationally; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and internationally and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.
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SOURCE TDH Holdings, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/29/tdh-holdings-inc-reports-full-year-2021-audited-financial-results/ | 2022-04-29T21:20:25Z |
New enzyme improves capping efficiency and scalability for mRNA manufacturing workflows, including vaccine generation
IPSWICH, Mass., Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, New England Biolabs (NEB®) announces the release of the Faustovirus Capping Enzyme (FCE), an mRNA capping solution that combines high activity and a broad temperature range to support mRNA therapeutic manufacturing needs.
As a single-subunit enzyme, FCE contains all the enzymatic activities to achieve a Cap-0 structure, a critical step in eukaryotic mRNA maturation. When used in conjunction with NEB's mRNA Cap 2´-O-Methyltransferase, users can generate a Cap-1 structure in a one-pot reaction.
"The biological versatility of mRNA continues to propel its rise as a therapeutic modality within infectious disease, oncology and beyond," said Breton Hornblower, Product Portfolio Manager at NEB. "We are very excited to introduce FCE – an enzyme discovered at NEB – to our portfolio of products for mRNA synthesis. This new product offers a streamlined, scalable, and cost-effective solution for mRNA capping for both research and therapeutic applications."
"For large-scale mRNA production, I have always favored post-transcriptional enzymatic capping due to the significant advantages in terms of yield. This new enzyme with improved activity at lower temperatures promises great utility for the production of our large (9-16 kb) self-replicating RNA vector," said Andrew Geall, Chief Development Officer at Replicate Bioscience.
When compared to traditional enzymatic capping approaches (e.g., Vaccinia Capping Enzyme (VCE)), FCE is active over a broader temperature range (20°C – 55°C) and demonstrates increased capping efficiency across a variety of mRNA 5´ structures. Additionally, FCE requires less enzyme to achieve the same standards of robust capping.
FCE is manufactured with consideration for the scalability and quality needs of therapeutic manufacturing, and a GMP-grade* format will be available in early 2023. Additionally, FCE is manufactured using environmentally friendly biological processes, avoiding the large-scale use of organic solvents and without producing significant volumes of hazardous waste. The use of FCE does not require any licensing fees from NEB for commercial applications.
For more details about NEB's new Faustovirus Capping Enzyme, visit www.neb.com/M2081.
Established in the mid 1970's, New England Biolabs, Inc. (NEB) is the industry leader in the discovery and production of enzymes for molecular biology applications and now offers the largest selection of recombinant and native enzymes for genomic research. NEB continues to expand its product offerings into areas related to PCR, gene expression, sample preparation for next generation sequencing, synthetic biology, glycobiology, epigenetics and RNA analysis. Additionally, NEB is focused on enabling new technologies in key market sectors, including molecular diagnostics, clinical sequencing, and nucleic acid-based therapeutics and vaccines. New England Biolabs is a privately held company, headquartered in Ipswich, MA, and has extensive worldwide distribution through a network of exclusive distributors, agents and eight subsidiaries located in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore and the UK. For more information about New England Biolabs, visit www.neb.com.
*"GMP-grade" is a branding term NEB uses to describe reagents manufactured at NEB's Rowley facility. The Rowley facility was designed to manufacture reagents under more rigorous infrastructure and process controls to achieve more stringent product specifications and customer requirements. Reagents manufactured at NEB's Rowley facility are manufactured in compliance with ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 quality management system standards. However, at this time, NEB does not manufacture or sell products known as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), nor does NEB manufacture its products in compliance with all of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations.
NEB® and NEW ENGLAND BIOLABS® are registered trademarks of New England Biolabs, Inc.
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SOURCE New England Biolabs | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/new-england-biolabs-introduces-faustovirus-capping-enzyme-novel-enzymatic-mrna-capping-solution-mrna-manufacturing/ | 2022-08-09T14:25:30Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Four cadets at the Air Force Academy may not graduate or be commissioned as military officers this month because they have refused the COVID-19 vaccine, and they may be required to pay back thousands of dollars in tuition costs, according to Air Force officials.
It’s the only military academy, so far, where cadets may face such penalties. The Army and Navy said that as of now, not one of their seniors is being prevented from graduating at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, or the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, due to vaccine refusals. The graduations are in about two weeks.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last year made the COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for service members, including those at the military academies, saying the vaccine is critical to maintaining military readiness and the health of the force.
Military leaders have argued that troops for decades have been required to get as many as 17 vaccines in order to maintain the health of the force, particularly those deploying overseas. Students arriving at the military academies get a regimen of shots on their first day — such as measles, mumps and rubella – if they aren’t already vaccinated. And they routinely get regular flu shots in the fall.
Members of Congress, the military and the public have questioned if the exemption reviews by the military services have been fair. There have been multiple lawsuits filed against the mandate, mainly centering on the fact that very few service members have been granted religious exemptions from the shots.
Until the COVID-19 vaccine, very few military members sought religious exemptions to any vaccines.
Lt. Col. Brian Maguire, an Air Force Academy spokesman, said that while vaccination status may hinder the graduation of the four seniors, “there are still two weeks until graduation, so their status could change as the cadets weigh their options.”
According to Maguire, the four cadets — who are not named — have been informed of the potential consequences, and have met with the academy’s superintendent. In addition to those four, there are two juniors, one sophomore and six freshmen at the academy who have also refused the vaccine.
The military academies for years have required students under certain circumstances to repay tuition costs if they leave during their junior or senior year. Often those involve students with disciplinary issues or similar problems. The costs can be as much as $200,000, or more, and any final decision on repayment is made by the service secretary.
West Point said that there are no members of the Class of 2022 who have refused to get the vaccine.
Across the military, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps have discharged nearly 4,000 active duty service members for refusing the vaccine. According to recent data released by the services, more than 2,100 Marines, 900 sailors, 500 Army soldiers and 360 airmen have been thrown out of the military, and at least 50 were discharged during entry level training, before they moved into active duty service.
Those who flatly refuse the vaccine without seeking an exemption are still being discharged. But the courts have stalled additional discharges of service members who sought religious exemptions.
Last month, a federal judge in Texas barred the Navy from taking action for now against sailors who have objected to being vaccinated on religious grounds.
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor had, in January, issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Navy from disciplining or discharging 35 sailors who sued over the Navy’s vaccine policy while their case played out. In April, O’Connor agreed the case could go forward as a class action suit and issued a preliminary injunction covering about 4,000 sailors who have objected on religious grounds to being vaccinated.
Also last month, a federal judge in Ohio granted a preliminary injunction blocking the Air Force from disciplining a dozen officers and some additional airmen and reservists who were seeking religious exemptions. The officers, mostly from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, sued in February after their exemption requests were denied.
According to the military, as many as 20,000 service members have asked for religious exemptions. Thousands have been denied.
As of recent data, the Air Force has approved 73 religious exemptions, the Marine Corps has approved seven, and the Army has approved eight. Before the injunction, the Navy conditionally approved one reservist and 26 active-duty requests for religious exemptions, and 10 requests from members of the Individual Ready Reserve. The IRR approvals mean that those sailors don’t have to be vaccinated until they are actually called to serve.
About 99% of the active duty Navy and 98% of the Air Force, Marine Corps and Army have gotten at least one shot. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/4-air-force-cadets-may-not-graduate-due-to-vaccine-refusal/ | 2022-05-14T17:39:01Z |
Location is world's first cannabis store in a major transportation hub
TORONTO, Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - The best in cannabis retail has arrived to the country's busiest building. Today, FIKA brings its renowned cannabis experience to Toronto's Union Station with the opening of a brand-new flagship location. Union Station is a National Historic Site that attracts more than 100 million visitors annually, making the opening of FIKA at Union Station a significant milestone in the emerging global cannabis industry. The location is the first retail cannabis store in the world to open in a major transportation hub.
Located in the heart of the newly renovated Bay St. Promenade, FIKA is the exclusive cannabis store for the station and joins a select group of top-tier retailers opening in 2022 following the multi-year Union Station Revitalization Project.
The store brings FIKA's elevated approach to cannabis to the Canadian landmark and will serve more than 75,000 area residents and over 300,000 people who pass through the station daily, making it one of the busiest commuter hubs in North America.
"Shopping at FIKA is unlike any other cannabis store. Our uncompromising approach to service and design make the experience effortless and enjoyable for anyone – from the novice to the most seasoned cannabis shopper," said Christopher Kane, Chief Operating Officer at FIKA. "It is an honour to have been selected to bring our vision and customer experience to Union Station and not one we take lightly. Union is not just Canada's busiest building; it is a historical treasure and an architectural marvel. We've put every effort into creating an environment worthy of this iconic home."
The store has been thoughtfully designed by internationally-recognized GH+A Design Studios to create an inviting and intuitive shopping experience. FIKA's layout elegantly guides guests in with herringbone flooring and white oak slat walls. Warm tones and welcoming materials such as corten steel and walnut create a feeling of calm and familiarity inside the bustling station.
The new flagship location includes a number of easy-to-shop features:
- The Flower Bar, presenting a wide selection of cannabis flower in high definition under magnifying domes, organized left to right by strain type and top to bottom by THC strength
- The Express Bar – a FIKA first – providing commuters and event-goers with the ability to pick-up on the go or shop quickly from a curated selection of top-selling items
- The Vape and Pre-Roll Bars, displaying each cartridge and pre-rolled joint out of its packaging in stunning individual display cases
- The Tuck Shop, offering a beautiful assortment of the best cannabis-infused chocolate, gummies, and cold beverages
"FIKA's name and approach are inspired by the Swedish concept of 'fika' – taking a pause in your busy day to connect with the people and things that bring you happiness," said Paola Marques, Partner, GH+A Design Studios. "We designed this new location to do exactly that: to invite shoppers to physically 'take a breather' in the middle of Canada's busiest building."
While the design of the store sets a foundation for the shopping experience, it is the highly trained and deeply passionate FIKA Ambassadors who breathe life into the experience. Every FIKA Ambassador has a high degree of cannabis knowledge and a commitment to the very best customer service. The wide range of hand-selected items on the FIKA Union Station menu offers something for everyone. Whether on the way out of the city, heading to a concert or sports game, or arriving to Toronto for the first time, FIKA Union Station is the ultimate cannabis pitstop for any journey.
FIKA Union Station is open seven days a week.
FIKA is the lifestyle brand redefining cannabis retail. Eighteen FIKA stores across Ontario are located in some of the most sought-after retail locations in the province, including flagships in the heart of Toronto's Distillery District and Union Station. Through FIKA's industry-leading Rewards program, Canadians can access exclusive offers, promotions, special events and more. FIKA is the destination for the modern cannabis consumer.
For more information, please visit fikasupply.com.
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SOURCE FIKA | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/fika-makes-history-with-opening-flagship-cannabis-store-torontos-union-station/ | 2022-09-08T11:03:36Z |
NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for AAPL, ALB, GOOGL, CVX, and PYPL.
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SOURCE InvestorsObserver | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/thinking-about-trading-options-or-stock-apple-albemarle-corp-alphabet-chevron-or-paypal/ | 2022-09-14T14:40:28Z |
1,000 amendments can’t stall SC transgender sports bill
By JEFFREY COLLINS
Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Democrats lined up more than 1,000 amendments in a symbolic attempt to delay a vote on a bill that would ban transgender students from playing girls’ or women’s sports in public schools and colleges. Between the four boxes of amendments and a tornado warning that evacuated the chamber, they stretched Tuesday’s debate for nearly seven hours. But the Republican majority won, passing the bill on an 82-28 vote about 9:15 p.m. The legislation would require athletes to compete with the gender listed on their birth certificates. About a dozen states have already passed similar legislation. The bill needs one more routine approval before heading to the state Senate. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/04/05/1000-amendments-cant-stall-sc-transgender-sports-bill/ | 2022-04-06T02:41:37Z |
BEIJING, June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- China Online Education Group ("51Talk" or the "Company") (NYSE: COE), a global online education platform with core expertise in English education, today announced that it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement, dated June 24, 2022 (the "Share Purchase Agreement"), with Dasheng Holding (HK) Limited ("Dasheng"), an entity controlled by Mr. Jiajia Jack Huang, chairman of the board of directors (the "Board") and chief executive officer of the Company, pursuant to which Mr. Jiajia Jack Huang, through Dasheng, will acquire all of the Company's online English tutoring businesses in the China mainland, including all associated liabilities and assets (the "China Mainland Business"), for US$1.
The China Mainland Business is conducted by the subsidiaries of and variable interest entities controlled by China Online Education (HK) limited ("COE HK"), which is in turn a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, Dasheng will acquire all of the equity interests of COE HK from the Company (the "Transaction"). After the closing of the Transaction (the "Closing"), Dasheng will grant a right to the Company to purchase certain newly issued shares of up to 99% of the outstanding shares of the entities holding the China Mainland Business with an exercise price of US$1 (the "Warrant"). The Warrant may be exercised within five years from the Closing, subject to applicable laws of China and requirements of the competent government authorities.
The Board, acting upon the unanimous recommendation of a committee of two independent and disinterested directors established by the Board (the "Special Committee"), approved the Share Purchase Agreement and the Transaction. The Special Committee negotiated the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement with the assistance of financial and legal advisors.
The Closing is subject to certain customary conditions and is expected to take place on or around June 30, 2022.
The Company's overseas business outside the China mainland and its associated assets and liabilities are not part of the Transaction and will be the Company's strategic focus going forward. Upon the Closing, the Company expects to shift from a negative net assets position to a positive net assets position.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements which are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "likely to," and similar statements. 51Talk may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about 51Talk's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in 51Talk's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and 51Talk does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
About China Online Education Group
China Online Education Group (NYSE: COE) is a global online education platform with core expertise in English education. The Company's mission is to make quality education accessible and affordable. The Company's online and mobile education platforms enable students to take live interactive English lessons on demand. The Company connects its students with a large pool of highly qualified teachers that it assembled using a shared economy approach, and employs student and teacher feedback and data analytics to deliver a personalized learning experience to its students.
For further information: China Online Education Group, Investor Relations, ir@51talk.com.
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SOURCE China Online Education Group | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/24/china-online-education-group-enters-into-definitive-agreement-spin-off-china-mainland-business/ | 2022-06-24T10:14:55Z |
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — On a November night five years ago, masked men kicked in the door to an apartment in Bakersfield, California, and opened fire. Their target, police believe, was a West Side Crips gang member.
He wasn’t home. But his pregnant girlfriend and her two young children were.
Gunfire struck and killed 3-year-old Major Sutton. His brother, 5, and mother were wounded but survived.
The shooting stunned the community, prompting an outpouring of anger and calls for justice. Law enforcement promised a thorough, relentless investigation.
They kept that promise, placing two alleged shooters in custody. Keeping them there, however, proved unexpectedly difficult.
Arrests made
Authorities obtained new information in Major’s death during a sweeping 10-month investigation into criminal activity by the West Side Crips culminating in December 2017 with the arrests of more than 40 people connected to the gang. Charges, including federal offenses, were filed against a number of gang members and associates.
Prosecutors announced charges in Sutton’s killing two months later, naming three suspects: Tyrone Johnson, David Palms and Myeisha Dale. All three were ordered held without bail.
It’s alleged Johnson, 25, and Palms, 23, fired the shots while Dale served as a getaway driver.
Witnesses are often reluctant to cooperate in the case of gang killings, but a young boy’s death by gunfire apparently prompted people to come forward. According to court documents, anonymous tips helped lead police to the suspects, and evidence gathered through wiretaps and shoe prints, among other evidence, led to the filing of charges.
A prior incident also played a role.
Police said in the documents they started looking at Johnson and Palms as the gunmen because the killing bore similarities to another shooting in which they were suspects. In that incident, three people broke into an apartment and shot and killed a man in bed with his girlfriend and two children.
A key piece of evidence in Major’s shooting was a distinctive Vans shoe print left on the apartment door. Police contacted Johnson a day after the shooting and noticed he wore Vans shoes.
They arrested him and seized the shoes for testing, revealing they were a match in size, brand and tread pattern for the print on the door, documents said. However, the evidence was not conclusive and Johnson was released from custody.
Meanwhile, tips kept pouring in. A confidential informant and multiple anonymous callers named Johnson and Palms as the killers, according to the documents.
Johnson and an alibi witness gave conflicting statements on where they were the night of the shooting, documents said. Dale claimed she was at home, but GPS data obtained from her cellphone placed it in the area of the shooting, police said in the filings.
During another arrest days after the shooting, Johnson, placed in the back of a patrol car, was recorded telling another person, “They know bro that I kicked the door with the right. That’s why they coming to talk.”
Investigators recorded phone calls Johnson made from jail. During one conversation, he told a woman he was going to “take a life sentence,” according to the documents, adding, “I pulled that trigga (sic) (expletive)!”
Johnson and Palms are charged with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and multiple firearm-related offenses.
Charges were dismissed against Dale after the 33-year-old died last year while in custody. Coroner’s reports say she died of natural causes, with seizure disorder listed as cause of death and bleeding within the skull — possibly resulting from high blood pressure — a contributing factor.
The escape
Early April 28, 2021, staff at Lerdo Jail heard noises on the roof. They dismissed them as the scampering of cats or raccoons and went back to work.
An hour later, while reviewing surveillance footage, staff discovered the noises had been made by mammals of the two-legged variety: Two men, dressed only in white boxer shorts and shoes, darted across the Justice Facility main entrance roof and slid down flag poles, according to sheriff’s reports.
Staff locked down the facility and performed an emergency head count. When they got to the cell housing Palms and Johnson, they saw what appeared to be an inmate in the top bunk and another in the bottom bunk, covered with blankets. They didn’t respond to deputies’ commands.
Deputies entered the cell and found the bunks contained bags of liquid placed so they imitated a torso, with newspapers and toilet paper rolled up to simulate a head, according to the reports. Socks tucked into shoes had been placed near the bottom of the bunks to complete the effect.
Detentions deputies found an 18-by-18-inch hole in the ceiling where metal had been cut and pulled down, leading to a crawl space and air ducts, according to the reports. Rope and torn clothing were found in the crawl space. A metal sheet and pieces of metal were found under the bottom bunk.
A message written on the cell wall may have been a taunt aimed at jail staff. “Now you see” was written on the east wall, “now you don’t” on the west wall, the documents say.
Shafter police arrested Palms at about 6:14 a.m. at a Dollar General store. He was taken to sheriff’s office headquarters for questioning.
Deputies pressed Palms for information on how he got out, but he was uncooperative, the filings say.
A residential burglary that occurred the morning of the escape was later connected to Johnson.
A man awoke to find someone running through his backyard, according to the documents. He told investigators he went outside and found a man trying to steal his car.
The resident chased the man and grabbed a backpack from him before he got away, according to the documents. The backpack belonged to the resident and contained his Chromebook and car keys, which had been taken from a kitchen counter, the filings say.
Johnson managed to evade authorities for nearly three months. He was arrested June 21, 2021, after a vehicle chase through Bakersfield in which he was a passenger, police said.
The vehicle crashed and police rearrested Johnson, and also took the driver into custody.
Sheriff Donny Youngblood has said policies and procedures at the detention center were being reviewed to help prevent further escapes. He revealed Johnson and Palms were kept in the same cell despite a previous escape attempt.
The two are no longer housed together.
What’s next
Trial is currently set for Sept. 19, with a status conferenced scheduled next month. There have been multiple postponements, the most recent occurring in June when another attorney was assigned to the case and needed more time to prepare. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/5-years-after-toddlers-killing-suspects-have-been-arrested-twice-but-not-convicted/ | 2022-07-22T18:19:42Z |
Zendesk (a world-leading customer support platform) recognizes Qtrac's consistently exceptional customer experiences
VALENCIA, Calif., Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Qtrac® by Lavi Industries, a world-leading provider of virtual queue management and appointment scheduling systems, today announced it has received a Zendesk Customer Satisfaction Badge, a milestone that highlights how Qtrac customers can depend on reliable and knowledgeable support personnel for exceptional customer service during every engagement.
"Achieving this recognition of exceptional support is a testament to our people, process, and flexible, user-friendly software," said Yoni Lavi, president of Qtrac. "This designation is fully controlled and managed by Zendesk, which ensures credibility and transparency for the recognition. The badge is a form of assurance that our customers are receiving the best-in-class support they deserve."
World-class support is essential with SaaS platforms, and receiving customer feedback, even when service is exceptional, can be a challenge for any organization. Qtrac awards badges to its most engaged customers, which provides positive reinforcement for interacting with the company and incentivizes them to do more.
To determine eligibility for a Customer Satisfaction Badge, Zendesk reviews a partner company's customer ratings. If a partner company has 120 satisfactory ratings overall, and the most recent 100 ratings are satisfactory and above, the partner is awarded the badge.
"Delivering world-class service is critical to our organization's success, and, more importantly, to our customers' success," added Alek Nikolovski, Qtrac's helpdesk manager.
Qtrac customer service is fully accessible for all customers via telephone, email, and live chat. Customers can also find an extensive self-help library through an online help center.
ABOUT ZENDESK
Zendesk is a cloud-based CRM company that builds software designed to improve customer relationships. Tools are fully customizable and can be integrated with a variety of other apps like Google Analytics. The company was founded in 2007 by three friends sitting around a kitchen table and now has more than 5,400 employees located in 160 countries. More information is available at zendesk.com.
ABOUT QTRAC®
Qtrac® provides virtual queue management systems to companies of all sizes and across many different industries around the world. Its virtual queuing technology enhances the customer experience by focusing on the way people interact with businesses in order to eliminate lines, increase sales and improve service. Qtrac was founded by Lavi Industries, the premier provider of public guidance and crowd control solutions. Building on Lavi's 40+ years of experience and success in helping the world's leading companies effectively guide people in, through and out of their facilities, Qtrac helps organizations improve their operations by improving the customer journey. More information is available at lavi.com and qtrac.com.
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SOURCE Qtrac by Lavi Industries | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/qtrac-earns-zendesk-customer-satisfaction-badge/ | 2022-08-04T17:14:36Z |
Three injured in crash on I-75 at Bee Ridge Road
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Three people were seriously injured Friday morning when their sedan was rear-ended by a semitrailer on I-75, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Investigators say the semi was traveling south on Interstate 75 in the center lane at about 5 a.m. A BMW sedan was also in the same lane, traveling at a slower speed.
As they got to the Bee Ridge Road interchange, the semi collided with the rear of the BMW, troopers say.
The driver of the semi was not injured. However, the three people in the BMW were taken to the hospital. The driver, a 50-year-old man from Wesley Chapel, and a 21-year-old man from Wisconsin, were listed in serious condition; a 21-year-old woman from Brazil is in critical condition, according to an FHP press release.
The crash is under investigation.
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/05/three-injured-crash-i-75-bee-ridge-road/ | 2022-08-05T13:47:40Z |
DETROIT (AP) — Carlos Correa was placed on the COVID-19 injured list by the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, a day after the team said the shortstop had tested positive.
Correa missed 11 games at the beginning of May while on the 10-day IL with a bruised right middle finger. The 27-year-old is hitting .279 with a .751 OPS in his first season with the Twins. He left the Houston Astros after seven seasons to sign a $105.3 million, three-year contract in March, a deal that allows him to opt out after the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Minnesota selected the contract of infielder Jermaine Palacios from Triple-A St. Paul before Tuesday’s day-night doubleheader at Detroit and he was in the starting lineup to make his debut in the opener. Palacios, 25, hit .262 with eight doubles, three homers and 17 RBIs for St. Paul.
Right-hander Cole Sands was appointed the 27th man for the doubleheader and was to make his first big league start in the night game.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/twins-correa-put-on-covid-19-il-a-day-after-positive-test/ | 2022-06-01T02:10:06Z |
YARDLEY, Pa., June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCK) will release its earnings for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022 after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. The Company will hold a conference call to discuss these results at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) on Thursday, July 21, 2022.
The dial-in numbers for the conference call are (630) 395-0194 or toll-free (888) 324-8108 and the access password is "packaging". A replay of the conference call will be available for a one-week period ending at midnight on July 28, 2022. The telephone numbers for the replay are (203) 369-1213 or toll free (866) 452-2107. A live webcast of the call will be made available to the public on the internet at the Company's website, www.crowncork.com.
Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading global supplier of rigid packaging products to consumer marketing companies, as well as transit and protective packaging products, equipment and services to a broad range of end markets. World headquarters are located in Yardley, Pennsylvania.
For more information, contact Corporate Communications at (215) 602-2653.
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SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/crown-holdings-schedules-second-quarter-2022-earnings-conference-call/ | 2022-06-23T14:51:43Z |
Financing accelerates company's global growth and development of its platform to enrich HCP messaging solutions on endemic and point-of-care networks for life sciences companies
PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Doceree Inc, the first global network of physician-only platforms for programmatic messaging, today announced the completion of $11 million Series A funding round led by Eight Roads Ventures, a global investment firm backed by Fidelity. F-Prime Capital and Alkemi Growth Capital also participated in the round.
Doceree will use the funds to scale its global operations, expand partnerships, augment its product portfolio and advance the platform's measurement and behavior lift capabilities to bring greater transparency to results. It will also help it embolden healthcare professional (HCP) communications for pharma and life sciences brands, agencies and health information technology platforms.
"It is critical for industry players like life sciences companies and HCP-only platforms to understand and react to the digital touchpoints and behaviors of HCPs for delivering messages they resonate with," says Harshit Jain, M.D., Founder & Global CEO, Doceree. "Our identity resolution technology and tailored products for different markets that adhere to the country-specific regulations and guidelines make it easy for life sciences brands to engage with HCPs on digital mediums, while enabling publishers to improve engagement on their platforms with relevant medical information from pharmaceutical and life sciences brands."
Doceree's industry-first solutions, powered by proprietary identity-resolution technology, ESPYIAN™, enable messaging and targeting of HCPs on endemic (sites physicians visit for knowledge, professional enhancement or to connect with their peer group) and point-of-care (platforms where physicians tend to their patients) platforms. The platform enhances engagement between life sciences companies and their target audience through its global publisher network in a fast-evolving digital pharma marketing ecosystem.
Founded in 2019 by Harshit, a former physician who transitioned into the healthcare marketing space, Doceree empowers life sciences brands and media agencies with solutions that seamlessly reach HCPs on professional HCP networks and within their digital workflow to achieve better patient health outcomes. The company has refined HCP communications through its programmatic messaging capabilities to help marketers with more efficient, effective and transparent messaging campaigns.
"Doceree has identified a largely overlooked white space in digital pharma marketing and is delivering innovative solutions to address some of the most critical challenges that pharma companies face today," says Carl Byers, Partner, F-Prime Capital. "We were drawn to the company's vision and are looking forward to our partnership and continued support as they evolve into their next stage of growth."
On the back of massive interest of pharma brands and publishers towards Doceree's custom-built product offerings within the programmatic pharma marketing space, the company expanded to key international locations, such as emerging markets in the UK & Europe, within two years of the platform's launch in the U.S. The sophistication of Doceree's platform capabilities has created enormous opportunities for marketers and publishers in these geographies as it transforms the way pharma brands communicate with HCPs globally on physician-only platforms. Currently, Doceree is working with eight of the top 10 global pharma brands and the company currently engages more than 1 million HCPs across the globe.
"Doceree is transforming the way digital interactions between pharmaceutical brands and prescribers are facilitated," says Ashish Venkataramani, Partner, Eight Roads Ventures. "Pharma marketers navigate significant complexity across point-of-care systems and health information systems. Doceree's technology platform seeks to disrupt the fragmented value chain for digital messaging to physicians, and will be at the forefront of this promising sector."
Doceree's AI-powered solutions facilitate hyper-targeting of HCPs based on multiple triggers and at various touchpoints that enrich marketing initiatives digitally. The platform can precisely identify HCPs on professional platforms based on their behavior traits, diagnoses they carry out, prescriptions they write, and the procedures they perform to deliver relevant messaging from life sciences brands in a regulatory compliant manner.
Doceree Perform, the company's latest product, provides exceptional measurement proficiency for life sciences companies to evaluate campaign performances and to improve script lift with data-driven messages in the U.S. In India, the U.K. and the EU, ESPYIAN™ enables marketers to target HCPs at a specialty level, allowing pharma brands to reach them at scale based on their area of expertise. The company is set to introduce behavioral lift measurement offerings globally.
"For pharma, life sciences companies and publishers, having access to data-driven, actionable insights to strategize and implement communication initiatives is critical to reaching HCPs," says Rahul Gupta, Board Member, Doceree. "Doceree has proven the ability to efficiently connect stakeholders and is well-positioned to serve the needs of the pharma industry."
"In a world that has embraced online channels for virtual care during the last two years, reaching HCPs within digital point-of-care and endemic networks is having a resounding impact on communications for life sciences market," says Alka Goel, Founder, Alkemi Growth Captial. "Doceree's solutions are set to fuel adoption of programmatic messaging in the pharma marketing space."
About Doceree
Doceree is the first global network of HCP-only platforms for programmatic messaging. Doceree facilitates messaging between life sciences brands and healthcare professionals (HCPs) through an extensive global network of digital endemic and point-of-care platforms to programmatically deliver at scale accurate and transparent messages to HCPs. To learn more, visit doceree.com
About F-Prime Capital
F-Prime Capital, formerly Fidelity Biosciences and Devonshire Investors, is a global venture capital firm investing in life sciences, healthcare and technology. Since 1969, F-Prime has worked closely with entrepreneurs and academics to create innovative solutions to some of the world's most significant challenges in healthcare and technology. https://fprimecapital.com/
About Eight Roads Ventures
Eight Roads Ventures is a global venture capital firm backed by Fidelity, managing $6 billion of assets across offices in China, India, Japan, and Europe. Our 50-year history of investing includes partnerships with over 300 healthcare and technology companies. Eight Roads Ventures' India healthcare portfolio includes Ashish Life Science, Caplin Steriles, Carestack, Cipla Health, Core Diagnostics, Doceree, eKincare, Eywa Pharma, Immuneel Therapeutics, Laurus Labs, Medwell Ventures, NOCD, Plasmagen Biosciences, Proximie, OZiva, PharmEasy, Richcore Lifesciences, Specsmakers, Toothsi, Trivitron Healthcare and Ujjala Cygnus.
www.eightroads.com
About Alkemi Growth Capital
Alkemi Growth Capital is a growth investment firm that seeks to invest in healthcare and consumer wellness industry. The firm was founded in 2018 and is based in New Delhi, India. https://www.alkemivp.com/
Media Contacts:
Kanchan Dass
kanchan.dass@doceree.com
Richard Krueger
richard.krueger@doceree.com
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SOURCE Doceree Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/doceree-closes-11-million-series-funding-round-led-by-eight-roads-ventures/ | 2022-04-07T09:27:14Z |
‘Magnum, P.I.’ actor Roger E. Mosley dies at 83
(CNN) - Actor Roger E. Mosley is dead at age 83 after being injured in a car crash, according to his daughter.
He was best known for playing helicopter pilot Theodore “TC” Calvin on the hit 80s TV show “Magnum, P.I.” He was also Coach Ricketts on “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.”
Mosley’s daughter says he was in a car crash last week that left him paralyzed from the shoulders down and in critical condition.
“We could never mourn such an amazing man. He would HATE any crying done in his name. It is time to celebrate the legacy he left for us all,” she said in a Facebook post.
Mosley also appeared on “Sanford and Son,” “The Love Boat,” “Kojak,” “The Rockford Files,” “Starsky and Hutch” and dozens of other TV series.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/08/magnum-pi-actor-roger-e-mosley-dies-83/ | 2022-08-08T10:35:27Z |
Which screen-free activities for gamer kids are best?
Video games are more popular than ever, and many kids start playing them from a very young age. Every gamer can remember the first time they picked up a controller, and while video games can be amazing, it’s also critical to spend time away from screens. As parents, the responsibility for monitoring your child’s screen time will fall on your shoulders. It can be a massive challenge, but this is also an excellent opportunity to bond with your child and understand them. It’s a chance to explore interests and activities together and close the generation gap.
Healthy communication is key
If you want your child to get away from screens, it is crucial to understand why they love spending so much time in virtual worlds. Perhaps they like the constant challenge and ability to earn rewards. Maybe they enjoy how they can play the hero and the sense of purpose it offers. When you comprehend what they get from video games, you will better understand how to engage with them about screen time or what other activities they might enjoy.
- Don’t yell at them or criticize them for loving video games.
- Don’t force them to try an activity just because you love it.
- Don’t be inconsistent with how you deal with screen time
- Encourage them with positive reinforcement rather than negative reinforcement
When talking to your kid about different activities, you can also try to entice them with phrasing that might remind them of a video game. For example, a hike could be “an adventure,” or writing could be “a chance to plan and prepare for a quest.”
Best screen-free activities for gamer kids who like adventure
Best activity for gamer kids who want some freedom
RoyalBaby Kids Bike Boys Girls Freestyle Bicycle
Give your kid the freedom to explore. This bike is perfect for kids of any age, and it comes with many different color options, sizes and even an option for training wheels. It’s very easy to assemble, durable and comes with a water bottle holder. The one con is that this bike is a little bit heavy at 21 lbs. to 25lbs.
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Best activity for gamer kids who like to explore
TrailBuddy Collapsible Hiking Poles
Hiking can be a literal adventure. These trekking poles are very easy to use and come with some amazing features for the price. Choose from seven different colors. Lever locks make it simpler and quicker to adjust the size of the trekking pole. Poles run from 25.5 inches to 54 inches, and each pole weighs just 275 grams.
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Best activity for gamer kids who have a lot of energy
Bunch O Balloons – 350 Rapid-Fill Water Balloons
These water balloons are perfect for a summer day and getting the kids outside. Each purchase comes with a total of 350 water balloons. They are self-sealing, so there is no need to stress over tying knots, and you can fill up to 100 balloons with water in just 60 seconds. Used water balloons can be collected and shipped back to TerraCycle to be recycled.
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Best screen-free activities for kids who love to think and learn
Best activity for boosting visual-spatial learning
USAOPOLY Super Mario Odyssey Snapshots 1000 Piece Premium Puzzle
Take their favorite video games off-screen. USAOPOLY has many different puzzles with different themes. This is the 1,000-piece Mario Odyssey puzzle. Relive the adventure and construct a puzzle featuring Mario and Cappy’s greatest moments. A visual reference is included inside the box to help.
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Best activity for kids who like strategy games
Hasbro Gaming Star Wars Chess Game
Chess allows gamer children to use strategy in a competitive yet intelligent setting. This chess set features Star Wars characters. Choose the light or dark side and move around heroes like Luke Skywalker or Yoda or villains like Darth Vader and Boba Fett. Each piece is well-sculpted and detailed, and this is an official Hasbro product. The one downside is that the pieces are plastic.
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Best activity for relaxation and reflection
Children can benefit from learning how to meditate and slow down. This book is great for beginners and experts alike and comes with 75 different meditation ideas to try out with your children. You can accomplish many of the meditations in as little as 5 to 10 minutes, and the book itself is written so anyone can understand it.
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Best activity to teach kids patience and resilience
JOYIN Dinosaur Kids Gardening Tool Set
Kids can get outdoors and see their hard work grow into a living plant, edible or flower. This garden set is dinosaur-themed and great for young children. Each piece is plastic and safe to use but also still usable in the garden. Give your kids daily missions and objectives and let them grow their favorite plant inside an adorable dinosaur pot.
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Best activities for kids who enjoy being creative
Best activity for storytellers
Amazon Basics College Ruled Wirebound Spiral Notebook, 70-Sheet – 5-Pack
Notebooks are great for daily diaries, writing exercises or writing up short stories. This set of notebooks costs just $10 and comes with five different notebooks. Each notebook is a different color and contains 70 pages. For people who take their notebooks everywhere, this paper isn’t as thick as some other notebooks on the market.
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Best activity for kids who love music
J&Z Beginner Guitar Acoustic Classical Guitar ¾
Music is a huge part of video games, and kids can learn to play their favorite songs on guitar. This is a classical guitar with nylon strings, which are less painful than steel strings, especially for beginners. It includes a bag, strap, tuner and picks. The guitar is made with maple and basswood and comes with a beautiful traditional finish.
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Best activity for inspiring artists
Artisto 9×12″ Premium Sketch Book Set
Drawing is an amazing way for kids to expand their imagination and recreate their favorite worlds. This set comes with two notebooks with 100 9-inch by 12-inch sheets. The paper is durable and great for pencil and colored pencil use. Just note that the paper is thinner than some other notebooks on the market.
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/baby-kids-br/best-screen-free-activities-for-gamer-kids/ | 2022-07-16T09:09:05Z |
We are changing the definition of what it means to be a farmer
CORONA, Calif., June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Container Technologies, Inc (Ticker: ACTX), announced that GrowPods – transportable modular hydroponic farms - can help democratize food production around the world.
Since the arrival of the plow thousands of years ago, technology has made farming easier. Now, farmers have access to advanced robots, automated facilities, self-driving tractors, and pollinator drones. Technology can enable community groups, entrepreneurs, schools, and all types of organizations to grow their own fruits and vegetables, as automated systems like GrowPods have made is simple for anyone to become a farmer.
The market has exploded in the last few years, and now people are growing everything from tomatoes and lettuce to strawberries and mushrooms in transportable hydroponic farms.
For years, proponents have hailed indoor growing techniques like hydroponics and vertical farming as ways to "democratize farming" giving almost anyone the ability to grow healthy, nutritious food, regardless of whether they own any farm land.
According to ABC News, the middle of a heavily urban environment is probably the last place you would expect to find a farm growing the equivalent of two acres of production. But tucked away in Peter Handy's backyard is a controlled environment unit that houses vertical pastures.
"It's here because I need to be as close to my clients and my customers, the chefs and restaurants," Mr. Handy said. "I aim to use the least amount of food miles as possible and make this a super-efficient and lean business."
As the news outlet summarized, "Mr Handy is changing the definition of what it means to be a farmer."
GrowPods can be placed virtually anywhere, and can grow the equivalent of three acres of traditional farmland in an automated environment that can be controlled and monitored remotely. Some units have been configured to grow up to 720 heads of lettuce each week, without pesticides, harmful chemicals, or risk of contamination.
With GrowPods, a new breed of "farmers" can grow fresh, healthy food, without needing hundreds of acres of farmland or dozens of workers to tend the fields.
Science writer Julian Cribb believes a world food crisis is imminent, due to a combination of loss of water, loss of topsoil, climate change and overuse of poisons.
"We're going to need to change the nature of the way we produce food," he said. "Once upon a time, you had to have a lot of soil and a lot of water to be a big food producer. Now you don't. You just need the technology."
For more information on Advanced Container Technologies or GrowPods, call: (951) 381-2555 or visit: www.advancedcontainertechnologies.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Statements about ACTX' beliefs and expectations, involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "may," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," or other similar expressions. All information is as of the date of this press release, and ACTX undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
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SOURCE Advanced Container Technologies, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/modular-hydroponic-farms-actx-can-turn-anyone-into-farmer/ | 2022-06-28T13:31:50Z |
Potential homebuyers and agents are invited to an open house at Villa Bella!
PUEBLO, Colo., June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Richmond American Homes of Colorado, Inc., a subsidiary of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MDC), is pleased to announce that the new North Vista Highlands community is now open for sales out of the Villa Bella Sales Center.
The homebuilder is hosting an open house for both communities at the Villa Bella location, and potential buyers and agents are encouraged to stop by for model home tours, a complimentary lunch and a special prize drawing. The event will be on Saturday, June 25, from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. (RichmondAmerican.com/VillaBella).
VILLA BELLA AT A GLANCE:
- New ranch and two-story homes from the mid $300s
- 14 versatile floor plans
- 2 to 4 bedrooms, approx. 1,420 to 2,540 sq. ft.
- Minutes away from I-25 and the CSU Pueblo campus
- An abundance of parks, golf courses and outdoor recreation
NORTH VISTA HIGHLANDS AT A GLANCE:
- New ranch and two-story homes from the $300s
- Seven inspired floor plans, including some from the Seasons™ Collection
- 3 to 6 bedrooms, approx. 1,120 to 2,540 sq. ft.
- Easy access to shopping, golf courses, recreation and schools, including CSU Pueblo
- Close proximity to I-25
Those who choose to build a new home from the ground up at Villa Bella or North Vista Highlands will have the opportunity to work with professional design consultants to select colors, textures, finishes and fixtures for their new living spaces—a complimentary service!
The Villa Bella Sales Center is located at 2502 Torino Way in Pueblo.
Call 719.637.4751 to RSVP or visit RichmondAmerican.com for more information.
About M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.
Operating under the name Richmond American Homes, MDC's homebuilding subsidiaries have built more than 220,000 homes since 1977. Among the nation's largest homebuilders, MDC's subsidiary companies have operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington. Mortgage lending, plus insurance and title services are offered by the following MDC subsidiaries, respectively: HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency, Inc. and American Home Title and Escrow Company. M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MDC." For more information, visit MDCHoldings.com.
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SOURCE M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/20/richmond-american-debuts-new-community-homes-pueblo/ | 2022-06-20T22:38:10Z |
'Monumental figure': Art McNally set to become first official in Pro Football Hall of Fame
Art McNally never played a down in the National Football League.
He never coached someone in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, or anyone for that matter. He was never the architect of great football dynasties as a general manager.
Unfamiliar to the casual NFL fan, McNally was always considered a league innovator.
"He is a visionary when it came to officiating," Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian said.
At age 97, McNally will become the first NFL official enshrined into the Hall of Fame. He worked as a field judge and referee in the league from 1959-67.
McNally cemented his Hall of Fame credentials from 1968-91 as NFL supervisor of officials. He developed standards for scouting, screening and hiring his officials. He introduced the first formal film study program for training officials. He modernized their grading system. He also oversaw the NFL’s first use of instant replay.
"He's the father of modern officiating," Polian said.
McNally grew up in Philadelphia. He went to Roman Catholic High School and attended Temple University. He served with the United States Martine Corps in World War II and taught high school in Philadelphia.
While he was a teacher, McNally spent this entire weekend officiating games. He worked a high school game on Fridays, a college game on Saturdays and an NFL game on Sundays. He officiated more than 3,000 football, basketball and baseball games during a 22-year period.
McNally embraced being an official.
"One year I worked 270 games, and after that I decided to cut back," McNally said in a 1990 interview. "But the next year I did 276."
Whether it was on a sandlot field or in an NFL stadium, McNally treated each game equally. He knew he could not always be right. However, he always tried to be honest.
"I gave it my best shot every time out," McNally said.
As NFL supervisor of officials, McNally led a five-man department who coordinated and directed a staff of game crews. He scouted, screened, hired and graded each official.
"He set up a system of scouting, training and evaluating officials that is the gold standard for every officiating group in every other sport," Polian said.
McNally held his officials to high standards. He never wanted them to be part of the story. He never wanted them to affect the outcome of a game.
"When seven officials walk out onto the field, for the most part, people don't even begin to notice them," McNally said in 2012 when he received the Hall of Fame's Pioneer Award. "This is the greatest thing I think for an official.
"Do the job. Hopefully nobody knows you're around. Make the proper calls the way they should be with a heavy dose of common sense. You're an NFL official. You're paid to be perfect."
McNally realized that officials were not always perfect. Steps toward the implementation of NFL instant replay were taken a decade before it was adopted.
To determine the length of video reviews, McNally personally experimented with instant replay during a 1976 Monday Night Football game between the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. Camera technicians provided shots of close plays. A stopwatch was used to time decisions.
The NFL tested instant replay during the 1978 preseason. The experiment still needed work.
"The limitations with cameras and so on, you couldn't do much with it at all," McNally said. "Everybody agreed to forget about it."
NFL teams did not totally forget about instant replay. With improved technology and a booth official who could initiate reviews on site, owners voted to adopt a limited use of instant replay for the 1986 season.
"The difference this time is it wasn't the case of looking at a picture and television showing it," McNally said. "They had the capability of moving (the replay) forward, moving it back, slowing it down and full stop."
Officials reviewed 2,967 plays in 1,330 NFL games from 1986-91. There were 376 reversed calls. It amounted to 12.6% of the reviewed plays.
Instant replays still had flaws. The use of walkie talkies by the field officials and replay booth sometimes created miscommunication. The NFL determined that nine of the 90 reversed calls in 1991 were incorrectly overturned. Some thought the system delayed games too much.
Owners voted to eliminate instant replay after the 1991 season. The idea was not forgotten, though.
A new instant replay system was approved for testing during the 1996 preseason. It allowed coaches to challenge rulings on the field involving out of bounds and scoring plays and the number of players on the field.
Instant replay returned for the 1999 season after the NFL's competition committee addressed concerns from coaches and owners. Coaches' challenges were cut from three to two each half. A timeout was charged for unsuccessful challenges. Reviews of close plays were initiated by the booth during the final two minutes of each half.
With improved technology, officials now have clearer images and more camera angles to determine the outcome of replay challenges.
"The system we used from 1986 to 1990 was very good," McNally said in 2012. "It's nowhere good as there is now."
McNally continued to work for the NFL as assistant supervisor of officials from 1995 to 2007 and as an officiating observer through 2015. The officiating command center at the league's New York headquarters bears his name. So does an award the NFL presents annually to an official who exhibits "exemplary professionalism, leadership and commitment to sportsmanship" on and off the field.
Polian calls McNally "a monumental figure" in officiating.
"When he became supervisor, he personalized the entire process," Polian said. "So much so that with one exception, every major college conference today has a supervisor of officials who has been an NFL official.
"That's the respect Art McNally and the impact his process of scouting, developing, teaching and evaluating officials has had in our game, in every level of football.
"His enshrinement is really more about what he has done for the profession of officiating in virtually every sport."
Reach Mike at mike.popovich@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: @mpopovichREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/sports/pro/pro-football-hof/2022/08/02/art-mcnally-pro-football-hall-fame-contributor-nfl-referee-instant-replay-official/7826036001/ | 2022-08-02T10:43:53Z |
Guilty plea in plot to firebomb California Democratic HQ
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California man pleaded guilty Friday to plotting to blow up the state Democratic Party’s headquarters in what prosecutors said was the first in a planned series of politically-motivated attacks after the defeat of former President Donald Trump.
Ian Benjamin Rogers, 46, of Napa, pleaded guilty to conspiring to destroy a building by fire or explosives, possessing an explosive device and possessing a machine gun under a plea agreement that could bring him seven to nine years in federal prison.
U.S. prosecutors in San Francisco charged Rogers and Jarrod Copeland with conspiring to attack targets they associated with Democrats after Trump’s defeat in the November 2020 presidential election.
The pair “hoped their attacks would prompt a movement,” prosecutors said when they announced the charges in July.
Copeland, 38, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and destruction of records.
“I want to blow up a democrat building bad,” Rogers wrote in one of the messaging apps he used to communicate with Copeland, according to the indictment. In a different message he said that after Democratic President Joe Biden was inaugurated, “we go to war.”
Their first planned target was the John L. Burton Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento, prosecutors said.
Law enforcement officers who searched Rogers’s home in January 2021 seized nearly 50 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and five pipe bombs, prosecutors said.
He was taken into custody then on state charges after the FBI said he sent text messages that agents perceived as threats against the unoccupied Governor’s Mansion and social media companies Facebook and Twitter.
Under a universal agreement, the federal sentence will be served concurrently with a 10- to 12-year state sentence on similar Napa County charges of possessing fully automatic weapons and explosive devices, said Rogers’ attorney, Colin Cooper.
Rogers “has never been in trouble before,” Cooper said.
“He’s accepted responsibility and he is desirous of paying his debt to society and resuming a life of productivity, of being a good father and good husband and a good family man” with an 11-year-old son, Cooper said. “He feels awful about what happened and what he’s done to his family, and he’s a guy I think we’ll never see again in the (criminal justice) system.”
Rogers remains in custody awaiting his sentencing, set for Sept. 30.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/28/guilty-plea-plot-firebomb-california-democratic-hq/ | 2022-05-28T01:16:18Z |
-More than a third of all US consumers (39%) have made a purchase on social media and would do so again.
-81% of parents with children under age 18 are interested in social commerce.
-One in 10 consumers avoids brands' social media pages.
CHICAGO, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated consumer adoption of online shopping, including shopping on social media as more than a third (39%) of all US consumers say they have made a purchase on social media and would do so again. With 90% of consumers aware of brand pages/accounts on social media—and only 10% who say they avoid brands' social media pages—the opportunity for engagement is huge.
Katie Hansen, Retail and eCommerce Analyst at Mintel, said:
"Social commerce is the next evolution of eCommerce and will benefit from Americans' heavy use of online shopping in recent years. As with the adoption of online shopping, it will take time for consumers to become comfortable purchasing items via social media, and even more time for them to do so on any kind of regular basis, but the category will see a boost as a result of increasing engagement from younger consumers as they grow into adulthood and earn more money. That said, social commerce will in no way replace traditional eCommerce or in-store shopping, but it will become a key part of their shopping repertoire," stated Hansen.
Security and trust remain big barriers to social commerce
While consumers are increasingly curious about social commerce, barriers such as data security and shipping hold some back from participating. Two in five (38%) consumers say they haven't made a purchase directly on a social media platform due to the lack of trust in the security of their payment information, while 23% say it's because they are worried they will never receive their purchase. This signals that education on social commerce is still needed.
"As with any new concept, consumers still need a fair amount of education and reassurance on the process, as they are concerned that their data might not be secure and/or that they'll never receive the item they purchase. Brands will need to demonstrate to consumers how shopping on social media is quite similar to shopping via a website or mobile app and how, in fact, social commerce can even further streamline the process," continued Hansen.
Consumers want to see themselves reflected in a brand
Mintel research shows that social media can be a seamless avenue for brands and consumers to connect. Consumers of varying backgrounds are interested in social commerce, most notable are parents with children under the age of 18 (81%), Millennials (81%), Gen Z (68%), and Black consumers (62%). What's more, nearly three in 10 Black (29%) and Asian (27%) consumers browse for products on social media but purchase on a website. This is true for around a quarter of White (24%) and Hispanic (21%) consumers. This showcases a notable percentage of consumers who are leaving social channels to make purchases and indicates how important it is for brands to represent consumers of all backgrounds to encourage a purchase.
"Diversity, equity, and inclusion actions are not a 'nice-to-have' but a 'must-have' these days if brands want to connect with consumers. Brands need to be sure they are making their social feed diverse to show consumers that it takes diversity seriously, cares about its consumers; and offers products and solutions that meet a list of diverse needs. This could entail social media posts featuring diverse models, talking about charitable efforts that support communities of color, or highlighting internal operations aimed to hire and promote employees of color.
"Consumers want to see themselves portrayed in brands' efforts as they are more likely to feel that the brand is for them, but a seamless, trustworthy experience is the first critical piece in encouraging them to shop. Brands should take note of this desire and make a conscious effort to highlight different individuals in their social posts in order to better connect with their consumers," concluded Hansen.
Additional research on social commerce trends and interviews with the analyst are available upon request from the Mintel Press Office.
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SOURCE Mintel Group, Ltd. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/social-commerce-soars-61-25-34-year-olds-buy-social-media/ | 2022-06-02T19:05:17Z |
BROOMFIELD, Colo., Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gogo Inc. (NASDAQ: GOGO) ("Gogo" or the "Company"), the world's largest provider of broadband connectivity services for the business aviation market, today announced that it has agreed to repurchase 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock owned by affiliates of BlackRock, Inc. ("BlackRock"), in a private transaction, for an aggregate purchase price of $18,345,000, or $12.23 per share (the "Repurchase"). The closing of the Repurchase will take place on or before September 21, 2022. The Repurchase is expected to be funded with cash on hand.
Gogo today also announced that BlackRock inadvertently acquired beneficial ownership of more than 4.9% of Gogo's common stock ("Common Stock"), exceeding the threshold stipulated in Gogo's Section 382 Rights Agreement, dated September 23, 2020 (the "Plan"). On September 15, 2022, pursuant to the Plan and following approval by the Gogo Board of Directors, Gogo requested that BlackRock, as promptly as practicable, divest sufficient shares of Common Stock to take its beneficial ownership below 4.9% (the "Shareholder Rights Plan Request"). Following completion of such requested share divestiture, BlackRock shall be deemed not to be an "Acquiring Person" under the Plan. Based on information provided by BlackRock, Gogo estimates that after the closing of the Repurchase, BlackRock would need to divest another approximately 100,000 shares of Common Stock in order to divest enough shares of Common Stock so as to not be deemed an "Acquiring Person" under the Plan.
Gogo can provide no assurances as to the specific timing and amount of sales by BlackRock or that BlackRock will in fact divest sufficient shares of Common Stock so as to not be deemed an "Acquiring Person" under the Plan.
This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities.
Gogo is the world's largest provider of broadband connectivity services for the business aviation market. We offer a customizable suite of smart cabin systems for highly integrated connectivity, inflight entertainment and voice solutions. Gogo's products and services are installed on thousands of business aircraft of all sizes and mission types from turboprops to the largest global jets, and are utilized by the largest fractional ownership operators, charter operators, corporate flight departments and individuals.
As of June 30, 2022, Gogo reported 2,893 business aircraft flying with Gogo's AVANCE L5 or L3 system installed, 6,654 aircraft flying with its ATG systems onboard, and 4,462 aircraft with narrowband satellite connectivity installed. Connect with us at business.gogoair.com.
Certain disclosures in this press release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's business outlook, industry, business strategy, plans, goals and expectations concerning the Company's market position, international expansion, future technologies, future operations, margins, profitability, future efficiencies, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources and other financial and operating information. When used in this discussion, the words "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "budget," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "future" and the negative of these or similar terms and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking statements in this press release. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events, results or outcomes. These expectations may or may not be realized. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company can give you no assurance these expectations will prove to have been correct. Some of these expectations may be based upon assumptions, data or judgments that prove to be incorrect. Actual events, results and outcomes may differ materially from the Company's expectations due to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Although it is not possible to identify all of these risks and factors, they include, among others, our ability to effectively evaluate and pursue strategic opportunities. Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 3, 2022, and in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC on May 5, 2022 and August 5, 2022. Any one of these factors or a combination of these factors could materially affect the Company's financial condition or future results of operations and could influence whether any forward-looking statements contained in this report ultimately prove to be accurate. The Company's forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and you should not place undue reliance on them. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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SOURCE Gogo Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/16/gogo-repurchases-15-million-shares-common-stock-blackrock/ | 2022-09-16T03:28:10Z |
New solution optimizes cashless tip capture and distribution, offers faster tips and fee-free financial tools to service professionals
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. and MINNEAPOLIS, April 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tippy, the leading salon and spa digital tipping platform, today announced it has embedded workforce payments platform Branch to launch a new, all-in-one solution for acquiring and disbursing cashless tips. Tippy and Branch's integrated solution optimizes the entire tipping experience, from the customer's wallet to the service professional's wallet.
The new partnership allows Tippy to distribute tips instantly to service professionals through the Branch digital wallet. Customized for business owners' and staff's unique needs, Tippy offers businesses convenient customer facing tipping screens, SMS, and QR code UIs designed to simplify tip disbursement and maximize tip results, increasing tips 23 percent on average. By integrating Branch, Tippy reduces the wait time for receiving tips by over 96 percent. Workers can receive their funds in less than an hour when pooling and splitting gratuities or in seconds with direct tipping.
"Initially built by salon owners for the salon and spa space, Tippy has been quickly embraced by other industries accepting tips for meeting the evolving demands of businesses and their service professionals," said Terry McKim, Tippy founder, and CIO. "Now with Branch, we're able to bring a more dynamic tipping experience and new benefits to salon owners and other hospitality sectors including restaurants, hotels, fitness, valet, and pet care."
Without requiring pre-funding, cash reserves, or changes to payroll, the enhanced solution creates a cashless, frictionless process at no cost to the business or their workers. Service professionals receive fast, convenient access to their funds with the option to spend using the Branch debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or by transferring funds to another account. Backed by a fee-free, FDIC-insured checking account, the Branch Wallet and Card also provide additional tools to drive financial inclusion and higher staff retention including free ATM access, up to two-day early paycheck, cash flow management tools, and rewards.
"Because tipping has become such an integral part of compensation for many workers, it's critical that they have a quick, seamless way to receive that income," said Branch Founder and CEO Atif Siddiqi. "We're excited to team up with Tippy to integrate the Branch Wallet and create a great experience for workers to access and manage their money."
"We're thrilled to partner with Branch to revolutionize the capture and payment of cashless tips for workers," said David Tashjian, CEO of Tippy. "From fully integrated offerings into point of sales to easy onboarding, our enhanced solution creates a simpler, more personalized experience for customers, workers, and business owners."
The Tippy and Branch partnership integration is available to all customers, allowing owners of franchises such as Massage Envy, Fantastic Sams, and affiliates such as L'Oreal Professionnel and SalonCentric to have access to all the robust benefits. The new end-to-end solution is also available through various software platform integrations with Envision Spa and Salon Software, STX Software, Rosy Salon Software, and Salon Ultimate Powered by BookedBy, and through Millennium's MeevoXchange.
To learn more about the Tippy and Branch partnership, please visit MeetTippy.com.
About Tippy
Tippy is a digital tipping system built for service industry professionals by industry professionals. Tippy's disruptive technology offers a suite of tools reducing business owners' processing fees and improving service providers' tips, helping them to meet and exceed financial goals. Tippy is headquartered in Fort. Lauderdale, FL and caters to a variety of sectors including beauty, hospitality, and fitness. For more information, visit MeetTippy.com.
About Branch
Branch is the leading workforce payments platform that helps businesses accelerate payments to empower working Americans. Businesses turn to Branch for a more cost-effective, faster way to pay workers and reduce the costs of paper checks and paycards. Employees and independent contractors that sign up with Branch can receive a zero-fee bank account, free instant access to earned wages, rewards, and personal finance tools to help them manage their cash flow between paychecks. Branch partners with some of the nation's leading payroll and workforce technologies to support companies in retail, restaurant, trucking/logistics, last-mile delivery, manufacturing, and healthcare. To learn more about Branch, visit https://www.branchapp.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Tippy
Aimee Adler Cooke | 561-302-6902 | aimeea@brightideapr.com
Branch
Adrianne Ho | 612-601-1122 | press@branchapp.com
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SOURCE Tippy | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/06/tippy-integrates-branch-launch-new-comprehensive-end-to-end-tip-solution/ | 2022-04-06T17:35:58Z |
Carl and Tracy Young, Pearly Gates' son-in-law and daughter, have -- along with their employees -- been the heart and soul of Pearly's Famous Country Cooking in Albany for more than three decades.
Pearly Gates sits adjacent to the Pearly's Famous Country Cooking drive-thru and talks with customers as they wait in line for food. Even though he sold the restaurant after 60 years in the building, Gates said he's asked for and received permission to continue sitting in his familiar spot and greeting customers.
Carl and Tracy Young, Pearly Gates' son-in-law and daughter, have -- along with their employees -- been the heart and soul of Pearly's Famous Country Cooking in Albany for more than three decades.
Pearly Gates sits adjacent to the Pearly's Famous Country Cooking drive-thru and talks with customers as they wait in line for food. Even though he sold the restaurant after 60 years in the building, Gates said he's asked for and received permission to continue sitting in his familiar spot and greeting customers.
ALBANY -- Carl Young has a name for the culture that's developed around Pearly's Famous Country Cooking restaurant, which has stood as a beacon calling out to locals in the heart of Albany and to visitors alike for more than 30 years, promising and providing the best home-cooking in southwest Georgia.
"We've hired some doozies of employees over the years, and we've made it clear that if they weren't willing to do three things -- be dependable, have a good attitude and develop a good work ethic -- working here is not for them," Young, the husband of Tracy Young and son-in-law of the mastermind and namesake of Pearly's, the legendary Pearly Gates, said. "We tell them we want them to have a brain enema, to forget all the stuff they've done at places where they worked before. Because that doesn't work here.
"You have to be willing to adapt to 'Pearlinesian' to make a go here."
Gates, who recently marked 60 years in the food industry, all in the same building at 814 N. Slappey Blvd., his daughter and son in law, and their staff have certainly made a go of Pearly's, one of the most successful eateries in the region. That's why southwest Georgia diners have decried the recent sale of the restaurant, many lamenting on social media and in public end-of-an-era-type comments that typically surround such transactions.
"I had lots of thrills and made lots of friends in that building," Gates, who took over a Burger Chef franchise at the Slappey location in 1962, saw it through a decade as a Hardee's franchise and eventually bought into daughter Tracy's concept of a locally-owned restaurant that served, as Pearly's slogan puts it, "real food that's fast."
"I'm not a bragger, but I'm proud of what we did at Pearly's. There's nothing like it in Albany."
A large number of the customers who made Pearly's a regular breakfast or lunch stop over the past three decades-plus came by the Manor House Pub in Albany this week to pay their respects and reminisce with Gates, his family, his employees and his friends on the last day that the family opened and closed the restaurant. A group headed by principles Matt and Jim Fuller, Austin Newman and Shawn Walters purchased Pearly's and "took up where they left off" on Thursday.
"This is such a humbling experience to be a part of this (celebration)," Tracy Young said. "It was very emotional for me; I got up this morning (on the last day of the family's ownership), and my heart just sank. I guess it's like my friend B.J. Fletcher told me earlier: 'After 38 years, they finally made me general manager, and now I'm out of a job.'
"But, seriously, it's been an honor to work with the amazing employees we have had at Pearly's over the years and to serve our loyal customers. I guess the thing that my dad taught me that has meant the most over the time I've been here is that 'Service, service, service ... quality service is what matters.'"
Gates said the 10 years he ran the Hardee's franchise on North Slappey were "the worst 10 years I had." Asked to explain, he said he didn't exactly see eye-to-eye with the company's management.
"They wanted me to do things one way -- their way -- and that just didn't sit with me," he said. "They sent their corporate folks down here to talk with me, and when they left they knew exactly where I stood. They also found out that I don't take no sh--."
Gates laughed as he remembered the time he was arrested at the Hardee's restaurant.
"There was a local cop then who would pull people over in the mornings and block my drive-thru line," he said. "It would slow things down to a crawl, and people who were on their way to work were in a hurry. I went out and nicely asked the cop if he would do his business away from our drive-thru so that our customers could get through, and he ended up taking me to the station."
When Tracy Young came up with the logo and concept that would become Pearly's in 1991, no one was quite prepared for what was about to happen.
"Tracy was going to school in Americus to study nursing, but her dad told her one day if she came and worked for him, she could make more money than she ever would as a nurse," Carl Young said. "She said there were three things she didn't want: to wear a polyester uniform, to work nights and to ever have to deal with a Soft-Serv machine.
"She convinced Pearly that the restaurant would work better as a breakfast/lunch venue and then close at night. He was so mad with the Hardee's folks and frustrated with the franchise concept, he said, 'Let's give it a try.'"
Tracy's concept for Pearly's, while not new, was unique in execution. Combining the best parts of the burger franchises and the then-new concept of serving breakfast items all day, as well as pulling together family recipes for entrees, vegetables and desserts, the Pearly's crew set up shop and was an instant hit. They followed through on the promise to get their real food to customers fast, and soon the little restaurant on Slappey became the place to be.
Regulars would typically set up shop at larger tables and work on solving all the world's problems while downing a hot breakfast -- featuring Pearly's impossible-to-match biscuits -- or sipping cups of coffee. Albany City Attorney Nathan Davis was one of those regulars.
"I haven't been there as often since COVID, but a bunch of us always enjoyed getting together and discussing the day's issues at Pearly's," Davis said. "Watching the way they served their customers was amazing.
"You always hate to see the 'end of an era,' but I think with the successful businessmen who are taking over Pearly's, it should continue to have the same success."
Indeed, one of the new owners of Pearly's, Walters, who owns and manages the Albany Loco's franchise, said the formula established by Gates and the Youngs is unmatched in restaurants he's been in.
"The work they do is insane," Walters said. "That restaurant is a beast, and it works because of the way their employees work. People have said they're worried we want to 'change' Pearly's. We'd be foolish to do that."
The new ownership group has agreed to keep the Youngs on for up to six months for training purposes and to pass along as many of their concepts as possible to new general manager Chris Kendrick.
Carl Young said he's happy to stay on to keep the "Pearlinesian" culture alive.
"I had always thought the best way to take Pearly's into the future was to franchise it," he said. "This place, with its size, has outkicked its coverage. It's maxed out. Tracy and I are both happy to stay on to help the new owners with the transition, but what happens in the future is now up to them.
"I just encourage them to keep in mind the things my dad taught me: Always undersell and overdeliver, make sure you keep your customers happy and make sure you take care of your employees. If you do those things, at some point you're going to be happy."
You couldn't say the Youngs are particularly happy about leaving behind a business that's been a part of their lives for decades. But they're not exactly washing their hands of Pearly's.
"It's kind of bittersweet," Tracy Young said. "It will be different, but I'm glad we have the opportunity to maintain my dad's name and his legacy."
As for Pearly himself? He's asked for -- and received -- permission to sit in his familiar wheelchair and wave at customers as they pick up their food at the drive-thru. Some things are even slower to change.
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Long-term customer increases annual NEXTWave™ subscription by 33%
Intermap's accurate, reliable analytics support next-generation network planning
DENVER, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Intermap Technologies (TSX: IMP) (OTCQX: ITMSF) ("Intermap" or the "Company"), a global leader in 3D geospatial data and intelligence solutions, today announced a leading mobile phone, internet services and IPTV provider, renewed its subscription for NEXTWave™ telecom analytics with a 33% annual rate increase.
Intermap's telecom client has increased its RF link profile usage by 191% since its first subscription in 2019. With this two-year subscription renewal, the client will use the NEXTWave platform to integrate on-demand RF link profiles analytics into its workflow. This renewal reflects the increase in demand for NEXTWave telecom analytics and its value in the network planning process.
"Intermap's NEXTWave telecom analytics support next-generation network planning, leveraging proprietary data and analytics in real-time anywhere in the world," said Patrick A. Blott, Intermap's Chairman and CEO. "The global communications network continues to grow with the deployment of 5G networks, driving the demand for accurate planning tools. Intermap is uniquely positioned to meet this demand with powerful, flexible, reliable and accurate elevation analytics that are provided as a service on a global basis."
There is growing demand for 5G networks around the world. Telecommunications companies require accurate data and line-of-sight analytics to implement infrastructure to support these networks. Radio frequency (RF) link profiles offer this analysis based on signal propagation algorithms, which enable service providers to evaluate tower placement and signal reach to customers. The RF link profiles assist the client with management, expansion and deployment of telecom services country wide.
The client has been using Intermap's NEXTWave telecom analytics since 2019 and a user of the Company's earlier generation telecom application. Intermap has developed new custom features to meet the requirements of its customers. This includes expanded import/export functions, mass point analysis, informative charts, built-in coordinate converter and the ability to change profile parameters on the fly. Intermap's NEXTWave telecom analytics continue to evolve to meet the needs of service providers.
Learn more about Intermap's telecom solution at intermap.com/telecom.
Certain information provided in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate", "expect", "project", "estimate", "forecast", "will be", "will consider", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermap's forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, nature of government contracts, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermap's Annual Information Form and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law.
Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP; OTCQX: ITMSF) is a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions, focusing on the creation and analysis of 3D terrain data to produce high-resolution thematic models. Through scientific analysis of geospatial information and patented sensors and processing technology, the Company provisions diverse, complementary, multi-source datasets to enable customers to seamlessly integrate geospatial intelligence into their workflows. Intermap's 3D elevation data and software analytic capabilities enable global geospatial analysis through artificial intelligence and machine learning, providing customers with critical information to understand their terrain environment. By leveraging its proprietary archive of the world's largest collection of multi-sensor global elevation data, the Company's collection and processing capabilities provide multi-source 3D datasets and analytics at mission speed, enabling governments and companies to build and integrate geospatial foundation data with actionable insights. Applications for Intermap's products and solutions include defense, aviation and UAV flight planning, flood and wildfire insurance, disaster mitigation, base mapping, environmental and renewable energy planning, telecommunications, engineering, critical infrastructure monitoring, hydrology, land management, oil and gas and transportation.
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SOURCE Intermap Technologies Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/intermap-announces-subscription-renewal-telecom-analytics/ | 2022-09-14T13:03:22Z |
TORONTO, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Liquid Meta Capital Holdings Ltd. ("Liquid Meta" or the "Company") (NEO:LIQD) (FRANKFURT: N5F) (OTCQB: LIQQF) a decentralized finance infrastructure and technology company focused on bridging the gap between traditional and decentralized finance, today announced that trading commenced at the open of the market on July 25th 2022.
The Company's shares will trade in the United States on the OTCQB under the symbol "LIQQF". Existing U.S. shareholders of Liquid Meta shares, previously quoted on the OTC Pink Open Market, will now be quoted on the OTCQB without any further action needed.
"Liquid Meta is the first publicly traded pure-play liquidity mining operation that can now be accessible to U.S. based investors. The digital assets industry is evolving daily. Liquid Meta is an infrastructure provider to this emerging asset class and focused on providing access to traditional finance market participants," commented Jonathan Wiesblatt, CEO of Liquid Meta.
The OTCQB is the premier marketplace for early-stage and developing U.S. and international companies. Participating companies must be current in their reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process. The OTCQB Venture quality standards provide a strong baseline of transparency, as well as the technology and regulation to improve the information and trading experience for investors.
Liquid Meta is a decentralized finance infrastructure and technology company that is powering the next generation of open-access protocols and applications. The Company is creating the bridge between traditional and decentralized finance while ushering in a new era of financial infrastructure that benefits anyone, anywhere.
To learn more visit Website | LinkedIn | Twitter
Cautionary Notice
Neo Exchange has not reviewed or approved this press release for the adequacy or accuracy of its contents.
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Liquid Meta to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's Filing Statement dated as of December 17, 2021 which is available for view on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and Liquid Meta disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Liquid Meta's operations could be significantly adversely affected by the effects of a widespread global outbreak of a contagious disease, including the recent outbreak of illness caused by COVID-19. It is not possible to accurately predict the impact COVID-19 will have on operations and the ability of others to meet their obligations, including uncertainties relating to the ultimate geographic spread of the virus, the severity of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, and the length of travel and quarantine restrictions imposed by governments of affected countries. In addition, a significant outbreak of contagious diseases in the human population could result in a widespread health crisis that could adversely affect the economies and financial markets of many countries, resulting in an economic downturn that could further affect operations and the ability to finance its operations.
For further information:
Jonathan Wiesblatt, President, CEO
Liquid Meta Investor Relations
investors@liquidmeta.io
jon@liquidmeta.io
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SOURCE Liquid Meta Capital Holdings Ltd | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/liquid-meta-begin-trading-otcqb-exchange-under-ticker-symbol-liqqf/ | 2022-07-27T12:19:08Z |
NEW FALL TRADITION BRINGS 20 MILES OF CAR-FREE BICYCLING TO PHILLY OFFERING INCREDIBLE VIEWS AND A FUN EXPERIENCE EVERYONE CAN JOIN
PHILADELPHIA, May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- American Bike Ride, in partnership with Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, has announced the inaugural Philly Bike Ride, scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Bicyclists will have the unique opportunity to cruise through Philly neighborhoods, famous sites, and scenic skyline views in a closed-road, non-competitive bike ride. Registration opens to the general public on Monday, May 9 at 10 am EST at phillybikeride.com
Philly Bike Ride invites riders of all ages to enjoy music, taste local flavors, and capture memorable photos as they pedal past the historic sites of Center City, Independence Hall, Penns Landing, Kelly Drive, and take in neighborhoods such as Manayunk. Participants can choose from a 20-mile course or a shorter 6-mile version, both with start and finish lines by the iconic setting of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the shadow of the famed Rocky Steps. The event concludes with a post-ride festival, free and open to the public, that will feature live music, entertainment, food trucks, and family-friendly activities.
"Our team members and partners are happy to bring this type of celebratory bicycling experience to the Philadelphia community", said Chris Browne, Managing Director of American Bike Ride. "Whether you are on a road bike, a beach cruiser, or renting a bike for the day, this event is for you."
With hopes of becoming one of the largest destination bicycling events on the east coast, the inaugural 2022 ride is expected to attract 5,000 participants from all over Philly and Mid-Atlantic States and projected to grow in the coming years as the popularity, accessibility, and diversity of riding continues to increase in the region.
Event organizers are also excited to announce a founding partnership with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP) through which a portion of proceeds from the event will support the Bicycle Coalition Youth Cycling program. 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the BCGP, and Philly Bike Ride will be a big celebration of their work and legacy in advancing bicycling through advocacy and education. Members of the Bicycle Coalition will have access to early registration beginning on May 5th.
"This is a unique opportunity for bike riders of all ages and abilities to see Philadelphia's iconic sights from the seat of a bicycle and enjoy a stress free ride on streets without motor vehicles. We're excited to see a car free bike ride return to Philadelphia and I can't wait to ride it!" said Sarah Clark Stuart, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
Philly Bike Ride offers convenient and affordable bike rentals to help make bicycling more accessible for those who don't own a bike, visitors, or groups looking for a fun outing.
To learn more, please visit Phillybikeride.com.
REGISTRATION:
Register at www.phillybikeride.com
Early Bird Registration for Philly Bike Ride is available on Monday, May 9th through May 24th, for $58. Kids ages 3-7 are free, and youth ages 8-17 are always half-price.
Registration includes a 2022 Philly Bike Ride water bottle, access to the 20-mile car-free course, and Rider Identification Kit. VIP packages and group pricing are also available.
2022 COURSE:
Visit phillybikeride.com/course to view the official 2022 Course Map.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Follow Philly Bike Ride on social media: @BikeinPhilly and #PhillyBikeRide for updates and bicycling tips.
ABOUT AMERICAN BIKE RIDE:
American Bike Ride, LLC has created a unique bicycling event format taking place in cities across the United States. Our flagship event, DC Bike Ride, held in the nation's capital, has quickly become one of the most popular annual bicycling events in the United States with over 40,000 participants riding since its inception. Our social rides are held in a car-free, closed-road format, making it safe, fun, and accessible for everyone to participate regardless of riding ability, gender, ethnicity, age, or economic status.
ABOUT BICYCLE COALITION OF GREATER PHILADEPHIA:
Founded in 1972, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia partners with community, governmental, public, and private entities to advocate and educate to make streets and trails safe and accessible and to encourage more people to engage in safe bicycling. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP) works to make bicycling a safe and fun transportation option for anyone who wants to ride in the Philadelphia region. BCGP is dedicated to promoting bicycling as a healthy, low-cost, environmentally-friendly form of recreation and transportation. Our advocacy wins include better bicycling facilities and trails, such as the Schuylkill River Trail, 20 miles of protected bike lanes, closure of MLK Drive during the pandemic, and bicycle access to the Ben Franklin Bridge, progressive policies like Mayor Kenney's 2030 goal of zero traffic deaths, and new laws such as speed enforcement cameras on Roosevelt Boulevard. Our Education Department has 3 major programs as well as smaller initiatives aimed at increasing equitable access to biking: Bicycle Coalition Youth Cycling program that fosters healthy habits, independence, and leadership in Philadelphia youth through the sport of cycling; The Better Bike Share Partnership dedicated to building partnerships to promote bike sharing in low-income neighborhoods; and Velolingo, engaging immigrant and refugee individuals by providing bicycle and safety education in the region's critical languages: Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Russian and Haitian Creole, as well as expanding our bicycle education classes and rides offered in Spanish.
Press Contact:
Teresa M. Lundy
TML Communications
215-500-8749
teresa@tmlfirm.com
phillybikeride.com
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SOURCE Philly Bike Ride | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/05/inaugural-philly-bike-ride-is-set-roll-through-philadelphia/ | 2022-05-05T15:37:28Z |
CINCINNATI, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Cincinnati Children's have been approved for a $12.9 million funding award by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to lead a multi-center study to compare two methods for helping adolescents manage their migraine pain.
The project, to be led by Scott Powers, PhD, Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, will explore how well cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) delivered by telehealth reduces headache days and disability from migraine compared to CBT telehealth plus a prevention medication (amitriptyline). Participants will be youth with migraine from ages 10 to 17.
Cincinnati Children's has played a large role in demonstrating the value of non-medication approaches to treating migraine. Among the key findings from more than a decade of research:
2013: Powers and the Headache Center team at Cincinnati Children's published findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that showed cognitive behavioral therapy with amitriptyline produced better outcomes for reduction of headache days and disability than medication alone.
2017: Powers and Andrew Hershey, MD, PhD, Director, Division of Neurology at Cincinnati Children's published findings from the Childhood and Adolescent Migraine Prevention (CHAMP) study in The New England Journal of Medicine that reported no clear statistical benefit to the medications over placebo.
2020: Powers and colleagues published a study in Headache demonstrating that CBT produces measurable changes in brain function, including increased connectivity between the amygdala and frontal regions as well as a reduction in headache frequency.
2021: Powers, Hershey and experts at the University of Iowa published a three-year follow-up study in JAMA Network Open reporting that CHAMP participants maintained the improvements they gained from treatments received even after they stopped taking the medications or the placebo. Co-authors theorized then that simply participating in the CHAMP study allowed the youths to gain deeper understanding of their migraine disease and learn how to adjust their behaviors and healthy habits to manage the headaches.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic increase in the use of telehealth services in pediatric medicine, especially in mental health and behavioral care. That shift has made it necessary to specifically look at telehealth-provided care for migraine as well, Powers says.
With these shifts, more data is needed to determine if medication has an additional benefit beyond CBT alone—especially when provided via telehealth. By involving young people recruited at 15 centers across the country, the research team hopes to assemble enough participants to reach conclusive findings.
Recruitment is slated to begin in May 2023. Participating centers are located in New York, California, Kentucky, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, Arizona, and Indiana.
This project was selected through a PCORI funding announcement specifically focused on comparing medications and evidence-based nonmedication treatments for migraine. Several medications are available for migraine and there is also growing interest in the use of nonpharmacological therapies.
"This study was selected for PCORI funding for its potential to provide real-world data on the comparative effectiveness of medication and nonpharmacologic treatments for the prevention of migraine among pediatric patients," said PCORI Executive Director Nakela Cook, MD, MPH. "We look forward to following the study's progress and working with Cincinnati Children's to share the results."
The award to Cincinnati Children's has been approved pending completion of a business and programmatic review by PCORI staff and issuance of a formal award contract.
PCORI is an independent, nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers, and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed healthcare decisions. For more information about PCORI's funding, visit www.pcori.org.
Learn more about the Headache Center at Cincinnati Children's
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SOURCE Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/15-site-trial-compare-telehealth-cognitive-behavior-therapy-alone-with-medication-prevent-migraine-youth/ | 2022-07-26T19:22:52Z |
Kansas Attorney General approves 3 sports gambling regulations, sends remainder items back to Kansas Lottery
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) --- The Kansas Attorney General’s Office has approved three sports wagering regulations, but has sent the remainder back to the Kansas Lottery for legal revision.
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office on Thursday said that they had discovered legal issues with sports wagering.
In a letter Friday, Schmidt outlined those issues he said need to be addressed.
You can read the full letter here.
Public Information Officer John Milburn issued this statement on behalf of Schmidt’s office:
“By law, the attorney general’s office is required to review proposed regulations written by state agencies to ensure they conform with the law as enacted by the Legislature. Ordinarily, proposed regulations must be reviewed by the Division of the Budget, the Department of Administration, and the Office of the Attorney General, but the Legislature specifically exempted sports wagering regulations from Department of Administration review and Division of Budget review but still required approval by the attorney general. Thus, in this case, the attorney general’s office is the only reviewer that can identify errors committed by the agencies in the hurried drafting of regulations that affect millions of dollars in wagering activity, and we take that responsibility seriously.
“The attorney general’s office has completed its expedited, but thorough, review of the several proposed regulations from the Kansas Lottery related to sports wagering and has approved three of those regulations and returned the others to the Kansas Lottery identifying specific shortcomings that must be remedied. We look forward to the Lottery quickly resolving these legal problems and resubmitting the regulations.
“Separate proposed regulations submitted by the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission on Wednesday remain under review, and we will continue to expedite that process.”
Copyright 2022 KCTV. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/19/kansas-attorney-general-approves-3-sports-gambling-regulations-sends-remainder-items-back-kansas-lottery/ | 2022-08-19T23:23:03Z |
LOS ANGELES, April 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Vertiv Holdings Co ("Vertiv" or the "Company") (NYSE: VRT).
Class Period: April 28, 2021 – February 23, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 23, 2022
If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.
The complaint filed alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that the Company could not adequately respond to supply chain issues and inflation by increasing its prices; (2) that, as a result of the increasing costs, Vertiv's earnings would be adversely impacted; and (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to info@frankcruzlaw.com, or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
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SOURCE The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/25/vrt-investors-have-opportunity-lead-vertiv-holdings-co-securities-fraud-lawsuit/ | 2022-04-25T16:44:50Z |
LOS ANGELES, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellis George Cipollone O'Brien Annaguey LLP (EGC) secured a major victory last week in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, as a federal jury deadlocked and reached no verdict against its client, retired Rear Admiral Bruce Loveless. The jury convicted four other Navy officers on all counts after four months of trial and nearly three weeks of deliberations.
EGC partners Thomas P. O'Brien and Ivy A. Wang tried the case alongside a Paul Hastings LLP team led by partner Daniel Prince. EGC's successful defense of Admiral Loveless follows O'Brien and Wang's December 2021 acquittal of Dr. Mirali Zarrabi on all counts after a three-month federal trial regarding a $355 million insurance fraud scheme in the 1-800-GET-THIN Lap-Band surgery business.
"We are pleased and grateful that after reviewing all of the evidence, the jury declined to convict Admiral Loveless," said O'Brien, lead counsel and former U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.
The trial spanned four months, which was one of the longest federal criminal cases in district history. The trial included an extraordinary three-day hearing over allegations that federal prosecutors had illegally withheld exculpatory information from defense lawyers and attempted to bribe a witness to testify. The court has not yet ruled on the defense motions for a mistrial based on the alleged prosecutorial misconduct.
Federal prosecutors argued at trial that Singapore-based military contractor Leonard Glenn Francis, known as "Fat Leonard," showered gifts of fancy meals, hotel rooms and other perks on Navy officers from 2006 through 2013. Although the government claimed that most of the officers provided ship schedules for the Navy's Seventh Fleet and tried to steer Navy ships to ports around Southeast Asia controlled by Francis and his company, Glenn Defense Marin Asia, Admiral Loveless was not alleged to have performed any acts for Francis's benefit in return for the gifts. Instead, the government tried to make the case that Admiral Loveless, a Naval Intelligence Officer, violated his duties by failing to report the other officers' improper receipt of gifts from Francis to the Navy.
In a plea deal, Francis admitted to defrauding the Navy out of at least $35 million by gouging the Navy on services like fuel, supplies, sewage disposal, security and shore transportation but did not testify at trial.
O'Brien previously led the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California from 2007 to 2009, after being appointed by President George W. Bush. Wang, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, is a veteran of fraud trials and a recipient of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys Director's Award. Wang left the U.S. Attorney's office to join EGC in 2018.
Additional coverage of the case is available on CBS8: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/jury-reaches-verdict-in-fat-leonard-case/509-d4055af7-6a28-4e75-9e8c-0a0315578841
About Ellis George Cipollone O'Brien Annaguey LLP:
EGC is recognized as one of the top litigation and trial firms in the country, with offices in Century City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Washington, D.C. Whether plaintiff or defendant, individual, Fortune 500 corporation or entrepreneur, clients call upon EGC when seeking litigation counsel of the highest quality, creativity, dedication, and ethics.
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SOURCE Ellis George Cipollone O'Brien Annaguey LLP | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/ellis-george-cipollone-obrien-annaguey-llp-successfully-defends-navy-admiral-fat-leonard-bribery-trial/ | 2022-07-07T21:30:50Z |
TSX: SIL | NYSE American: SILV
VANCOUVER, BC, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - SilverCrest Metals Inc. ("SilverCrest" or the "Company") is pleased to report the first pour of silver and gold at the Company's Las Chispas Mine ("Las Chispas" or the "Mine") located in Sonora, Mexico. The first precious metal pour was completed on June 30, 2022 and consisted of 312 kilograms of dore with approximately 9,200 ounces of silver and 100 ounces of gold.
N. Eric Fier, CEO commented, "This marks another significant milestone in progressing towards commercial production in Q4, 2022. It is with great pride that I acknowledge the hard work of our team and thank everyone who has contributed to the completion of construction of Las Chispas, ahead of schedule and under budget, and all of those dedicated to commissioning the Mine".
Pierre Beaudoin, COO comments, "We are pleased with the initial trajectory of the plant commissioning. While it is still early days in the plant ramp-up, we are encouraged by some of the operating indicators. Underground mining rates and our knowledge of the deposit continue to increase, which will be key data, along with plant performance, to incorporate in our updated technical report (including resources, reserves, mine plan, revised costs and economics), expected to be released in H1, 2023".
Underground mining rates have increased during the quarter with production from stoping and in-vein development in a number of veins. Mining is active using two mining methods. As outlined in the Company's Feasibility Study*, the processing plant is expected to utilize low-grade historic stockpiles through the ramp-up, reducing the reliance on underground mine production at the start of the operation.
Overall, the plant commissioning is tracking in-line with our objective to reach nameplate capacity of 1,250 tonnes per day. The plant started in late May 2022 and milled an estimated 12,700 tonnes of low-grade ore during June 2022. Metallurgical recoveries are expected to reach Feasibility Study* parameters in 2023 and results observed to date are tracking toward these objectives.
The Company expects to provide further updates on the commissioning and ramp-up of operations later in Q3, 2022.
Photos of the first pour at Las Chispas Mine are attached.
* NI 43-101 Technical Report & Feasibility Study on The Las Chispas Project dated January 4, 2021 ("Feasibility Study")
The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, and CEO for SilverCrest, who has reviewed and approved its contents.
ABOUT SILVERCREST METALS INC.
SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, that is focused on new discoveries, value-added acquisitions and near-term production in Mexico's historic precious metal districts. The Company's top priority is on the high-grade, historic Las Chispas mining district in Sonora, Mexico, where it has completed construction of its Las Chispas Project and is proceeding with commissioning. SilverCrest is the first company to successfully drill-test the historic Las Chispas Property resulting in numerous high-grade precious metal discoveries. The Company is led by a proven management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget construction, and production.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the timing and expectations of the Company completing commissioning and ramp up and achieving commercial production in Q4, 2022, reaching nameplate capacity of the plant of 1,250 tonnes per day, reaching Feasibility Study metallurgical recoveries parameters in 2023 and completing a technical report update by the end of H1, 2023. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the reliability of mineralization estimates, mining and development costs, the conditions in general economic and financial markets; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of expenditures related to rehabilitation and drilling programs; and effects of regulation by governmental agencies. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors including: uncertainty as to the impact and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic; the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.
N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng
Chief Executive Officer
SilverCrest Metals Inc.
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SOURCE SilverCrest Metals Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/silvercrest-announces-first-pour-las-chispas-mine/ | 2022-07-05T11:36:59Z |
Which Under Armour football cleats are best?
Football is a sport that’s all about speed, agility and skill. Without the proper footwear, you won’t be able to reach your opponents on defense or avoid them on offense. Most Under Armour football cleats provide more than enough support and grip, and they also offer top-of-the-line cleats for those willing to pay up.
The best Under Armour football cleats are the Under Armour Men’s Highlight MC Football Cleats. They provide top-notch ankle support, traction and have plenty of foam padding to absorb the shocks of running.
What to know before you buy Under Armour football cleats
Upper
There are three types of uppers found in Under Armour football cleats.
- Low-top uppers end just below the ankle. They have the widest range of motion. They’re good for players who need to go fast and change direction often.
- Mid-top uppers end in the middle of the ankle. They have a moderate range of motion and provide some ankle support. They’re good for players who do a bit of everything.
- High-top uppers extend past the ankle. They have a minimal range of motion but excellent ankle support. They’re perfect for defensive players.
Midsole
The midsole should be cushioned for shock absorption and have enough flexibility to bend with the foot as you run.
Outsole
The outsole is what the cleats attach to. It should be stiff and durable as it takes the most beating during a season.
What to look for in quality Under Armour football cleats
Material
Under Armour football cleats are typically made of leather or synthetics.
- Leather is more expensive but forms closely to your feet once broken in. It also provides better movement and comfort. Most leather cleats still use some synthetic material.
- Synthetics are more affordable but aren’t as flexible or durable. These cleats should last you through a season, but you may need another pair next year.
Cleat types
There are four types of cleats, or studs, found on the outsole.
- Hard cleats are made of long, stiff plastic. They can be a little uncomfortable but they dig deep into the ground for the best traction.
- Rubber cleats are shorter studs made of, well, rubber. They’re more comfortable but aren’t as high-performing. Most children’s cleats use rubber.
- Turf cleats are short rubber studs designed specifically for maximum traction when there’s no ground to pierce, such as the artificial turf for which they’re named.
- Removable cleats are footwear with cleats you can remove. You can swap any kind of cleat in and out as needed based on the field of play. As such, they’re popular with traveling players. They’re also the most expensive.
How much you can expect to spend on Under Armour football cleats
Under Armour football cleats typically cost $50-$150. Low-end Under Armour cleats, which still perform better than the average cleat, cost around $50. Midrange cleats cost around $100 and the best cost around $150.
Under Armour football cleats FAQ
Can I wear soccer cleats instead when playing football?
A. Technically, yes, just as you can technically wear baseball or other types of cleats. However, these cleats give wearers the edge in the matching sport. For example, soccer cleats have no studs near the toe, so they can’t catch the ground on a kick. Football cleats have studs all over the shoe for maximum traction when running.
What’s the best way to clean Under Armour football cleats?
A. First, knock off any loose dirt, grass and other debris. Secondly, use a dry cloth to wipe off any remaining debris you can. Thirdly, use a damp cloth soaked in some warm water and laundry detergent to remove the last pieces of stubborn grime.
How do I dry Under Armour football cleats?
A. First, never run your cleats through a clothes dryer — this can break the dryer and damage your cleats. You also shouldn’t use any direct heat, including the sun, as it could damage the material. Instead, stuff your cleats with anything that can draw the excess moisture out with newspaper, paper towels or hand towels.
What are the best Under Armour football cleats to buy?
Top Under Armour football cleats
Under Armour Men’s Highlight MC Football Cleats
What you need to know: These top-dollar cleats are designed to push you to your best performance.
What you’ll love: These shoes use a high-top upper that you can fold down to provide customized support and comfort. The collar is laceless and uses straps for a custom fit. A high-rebound foam insole provides good shock absorption. It comes in sizes 8-16 and in four colors.
What you should consider: A few consumers reported a longer than usual break-in time. Others found them to run a little narrow.
Where to buy: Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Top Under Armour football cleats for the money
Under Armour Men’s Highlight Franchise Football Cleats
What you need to know: These budget cleats are more than enough to leave your opponents in the dust.
What you’ll love: The tongue uses open-holed mesh for maximum breathability on hot days without sacrificing grip and support. A die-cut rubber-like insole provides excellent durability. Rubber-molded cleats have excellent traction on any surface with minimal added weight to the shoe. It comes in sizes 8.5 to 14
What you should consider: A few customers reported these to run narrow and small. Others wished there was a little more padding, saying they could feel the cleats underfoot.
Where to buy: Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Worth checking out
Under Armour Women’s Blur Smoke MC Football Cleats
What you need to know: These ultralight cleats are designed specifically for women.
What you’ll love: The insole uses a high-rebound foam for premium shock absorption and comfort. It’s exceptionally light at only 8.5 ounces and has an ultra-breathable upper.
What you should consider: There’s no ankle support. If they aren’t tied tightly, they could slip off during an intense play.
Where to buy: Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/football-br/best-under-armour-football-cleats/ | 2022-05-27T16:38:10Z |
PARIS, June 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- French football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Mandopop superstar Jay Chou, represented by Edison's Co., recently announced they are launching a new metaverse art project together. The promotional video on Instagram has Lionel Messi, Neymar and Chou teasing a preview of the artwork, which combines PSG's mascot with Chou's unique style of design.
Chou, who starred in "The Green Hornet" and "Now You See Me 2", is well known as Asia's top pop singer. Last year, he became one of the most streamed artists in numerous Asian countries on Spotify (provided by Edison's Co). Chou's last month's online concert alone received over 100 million views.
Chou has recently made a name for himself in the art world, with renowned collectors praising the star's artwork. In 2021, he sold his white-glove collection at Sotheby's for 10.7 million dollars. This time, Chou wishes to collaborate with PSG to innovate a new form of metaverse art.
PSG expects the relationship with Mandopop icon will broaden their reach in Asia. Chou likewise is expanding his reach in Europe and could soon announce a concert at Parc des Princes, PSG's stadium, marking the first time a Mandarin artist has performed there.
Chou's philanthropic endeavors follow his vast enterprises. Over the last decade, he's dedicated himself to helping underprivileged children. This time, together with PSG, Chou is campaigning to raise awareness and funds for impoverished children through the PSG Endowment Fund.
Keep an eye out for more information on Jay Chou.
Viral video of a horse dancing to Chou's music: https://www.instagram.com/tv/Ceq7lFnDVAq
Jay Chou's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jaychou/
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SOURCE Edison's Co. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/19/messi-neymar-psg-join-forces-with-jay-chou-redefine-metaverse-art-charity-who-is-jay-chou/ | 2022-06-19T14:37:57Z |
SHANGHAI, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jemincare, a leading pharmaceutical company from China, announced today that it and its wholly owned subsidiary company, Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., have entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, for the development and commercialization of its androgen receptor degrader, JMKX002992.
Under the terms of the agreement, Genentech will be granted an exclusive license to develop and commercialize the degrader worldwide, and will be fully responsible for the development and commercialization costs. In return, Genentech will pay Jemincare a USD 60 million upfront payment. Jemincare is also entitled to receive up to USD 590 million in additional payments upon achievement of certain development, regulatory and sales-based milestone targets. Jemincare is also entitled to receive tiered royalties on net sales.
JMKX002992 is a novel oral degrader of the androgen receptor, a confirmed disease driver in prostate cancer. JMKX002992 has the potential to treat patients with prostate cancer who have developed resistance to current therapies.
"We are delighted to enter into collaboration with Roche, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies providing transformative innovative solutions across major disease areas, and Genentech, a worldwide leading innovator in oncology. We trust this partnership could significantly enhance and accelerate the development and potential commercialization of JMKX002992 to benefit patients. This is our third innovative therapy partnered globally. We are proud of this achievement within only four years since the establishment of our R&D center. Jemincare will continue to realize our commitment to benefit patients with innovative solutions." said Mr. Hong Liang, President of Jemincare Pharmaceutical Group.
"Prostate cancer remains a leading cause of death in men worldwide," said James Sabry, Global Head of Roche Pharma Partnering. "Certain forms of prostate cancer can be particularly difficult to treat. Jemincare's novel oral androgen receptor degrader will complement our efforts to develop new treatment options for patients with advanced prostate cancer."
About Jemincare
Jiangxi Jemincare Group Co., Ltd. is a leading pharmaceutical company from China. Founded in 1999, Jemincare is mainly engaged in pharmaceutical industry. The company is dedicated to the development, manufacturing and commercialization of therapeutics in its strategic fields including oncology, nephrology, cerebro-cardiovascular, anti-infection, analgesic, respiratory and Pediatrics. Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd is the R&D center of Jiangxi Jemincare Group Co., Ltd. Shanghai Jemincare has developed a strong team with around 500 scientists comprised by 3 innovation centers, Small Molecule Innovative Center, Biologics Innovation Center and Technology Innovation Center. The androgen receptor degrader program was developed by the Small Molecule Innovation Center which had more than 10 programs entering IND or IND-enabling stage and 3 programs entering clinical stage. For more information, please visit www.jemincare.com
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SOURCE Jemincare | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/jemincare-announces-exclusive-license-agreement-with-genentech-develop-commercialize-novel-oral-androgen-receptor-degrader/ | 2022-08-18T08:44:56Z |
Zoo celebrates birth of baby sloth; mom, son to make public debut together
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM/Gray News) - A zoo in Mississippi welcomed a new baby sloth this month.
The Hattiesburg Zoo announced another Linnaeus sloth to the family, the fifth member of the Hattiesburg tribe of sloths and its first male offspring.
WDAM reported the zoo’s female two-toed sloth named Mo gave birth to a male baby on July 5, who became known as Lumpy.
Officials said Lumpy was Mo’s third live birth at the Hattiesburg Zoo, with the little guy joining his older sisters, Maple and Mochi, in the family tree.
According to the zoo, the newborn and his mother survived complications after the birth.
“When little Lumpy was born, the keepers noticed pretty quickly that he wasn’t nursing,” said Kristen Moore, animal curator at the Hattiesburg Zoo. “We waited a few hours to see if he would latch on, but he never did, and we discovered Mo was not producing milk.”
The zoo’s animal care team determined that goat’s milk was the best supplement for Lumpy. The team said that sloths are naturally lactose intolerant and goat’s milk contains the least amount of lactose.
The zoo said that animal keepers fed Lumpy every two hours with a syringe while keeping him with his mother.
According to Zoo representatives, once Lumpy maintained and began gaining weight, the animal care team’s attention moved to determine how to help Mo produce milk, which she did after receiving medication.
The Hattiesburg Zoo reports mother and son are currently doing well enough to make their public debut on Saturday.
“I want to commend our keepers and veterinary staff for doing an outstanding job of observing a potential problem and quickly intervening. Baby Lumpy remained healthy and in the company of his mother,” said Rick Taylor, executive director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, which manages the Hattiesburg Zoo.
Copyright 2022 WDAM via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/29/zoo-celebrates-birth-baby-sloth-mom-son-make-public-debut-together/ | 2022-07-29T04:03:27Z |
Multi-year agreement includes College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl games
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Known for providing many of college football's most memorable moments, the Fiesta Bowl has come together with Vrbo, part of Expedia Group, and ESPN via Disney Advertising on a title partnership that will make the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl one of college football's premier annual postseason matchups.
As a member of the College Football Playoff New Year's Six, the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl will serve as a CFP Semifinal this season, kicking off on Saturday, December 31 with two of the nation's four highest-ranking teams battling for a spot in the CFP National Championship.
Both organizations have a rich history for their innovation and for bringing people together to make memories that last a lifetime. Known as a "Bowl of Firsts," the Fiesta Bowl was the first to secure a title sponsor back in 1986 and Vrbo created the first online platform for travelers to book private whole homes, beach houses, cabins and condos for their family vacations.
"There's nothing like spending an amazing weekend away with family or old college friends in a Vrbo and getting the whole place to yourselves," said Jon Gieselman, President of Expedia Brands. "Partnering with the Fiesta Bowl is a perfect fit for Vrbo because Arizona is one of our most popular vacation destinations. We look forward to seeing fans from all over the U.S. enjoy being together in some of the finest vacation homes in the country."
In addition to the exclusive naming rights, Vrbo (pronounced 'ver-boh') becomes the official travel sponsor of the College Football Playoff. With the Fiesta Bowl, Vrbo will enjoy a fully-integrated partnership that incorporates fan activations, digital and social media, content, in-stadium exposure and inclusion at other year-round Fiesta Bowl organization events. Additionally, Vrbo ads will be televised throughout the college football season on ESPN.
"We are thrilled to partner with Vrbo as we carry out our vision to be the preeminent college football bowl and deliver world-class hospitality," said Fiesta Bowl Board Chair Randal Norton. "The Fiesta Bowl and Vrbo both create fun and memorable experiences for fans and guests alike and together we will showcase Arizona as a premier year-round destination. The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl partnership will focus on the importance of connection and the joy of celebrating meaningful moments with family and friends."
Every ticket purchased for the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl helps support Fiesta Bowl Charities, which has given approximately $25 million to the Arizona community in the last 11 years through charitable giving and nearly $20 million over the last six years.
"The Fiesta Bowl organization has been a national staple in college football since 1971. With the addition of a powerhouse brand like Vrbo, we look forward to an unforgettable New Year's celebration with the CFP Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl," said Jose Moreno, Fiesta Bowl Chief Marketing Officer. "Vrbo's core values align beautifully with the Fiesta Bowl mission, and the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl will bring fan-friendly pageantry and a thrilling college football game which provides millions of dollars in economic impact and charitable giving."
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Fans may purchase game tickets, premium experiences, pregame parties and reserved parking for the 2022 College Football Playoff Semifinal by visiting www.VrboFiestaBowl.com or calling 480.350.0911. Season ticket members receive exclusive benefits, including priority seat locations, preferred parking access, specific stadium entry, first access to purchase additional tickets before the general public and more.
EXCITING SWEEPSTAKES FOR FAN TRIP TO CFP SEMIFINAL AT THE VRBO FIESTA BOWL
In celebration of the new partnership, Vrbo and Fiesta Bowl will hold a sweepstakes for lucky fans to receive tickets to attend the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and stay at one of the many luxury Vrbo vacation rentals in Arizona. Further details will come as the sweepstakes begins at the beginning of the 2022 college football season.
Fast Facts about the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl:
- 2022 will be the 52nd annual game in Bowl history
- This season will be the third CFP Semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl, after Clemson defeated Ohio State in 2019 and 2016
- Vrbo Fiesta Bowl is the first to have a title partner which first started in 1986
- The 2003 and 2007 Fiesta Bowl games are regularly considered among the top five games in college football history
- The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl has hosted seven national championship games
- Ohio State has the most appearances in Vrbo Fiesta Bowl history, with nine games played
- Penn State owns a perfect 7-0 record in Vrbo Fiesta Bowl history, the most wins by any school
- Arizona State played in the first three Fiesta Bowl games, and for of the first five games. Overall, the Sun Devils have a 5-1 record in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
- 13 Heisman Trophy winners have played in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
- Some of college football's most talked-about moments came in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl:
ABOUT VRBO
In 1995, Vrbo introduced a new way for people to travel together, pairing homeowners with families and friends looking for places to stay. We were grounded in one purpose: To give people the space they need to drop the distractions of everyday life and simply be together. Since then, we've grown into a global community of homeowners and travelers, with unique properties around the world. Vrbo makes it easy and fun to book cabins, condos, beach houses and every kind of space in between. Vrbo is part of Expedia Group and offers homeowners and property managers exposure to over 750 million visits to Expedia Group sites each month. To learn more, visit www.vrbo.com.
ABOUT THE FIESTA BOWL ORGANIZATION
Since 1971, the Fiesta Bowl is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Fiesta Bowl Parade, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education.
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SOURCE Vrbo | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/25/vrbo-becomes-new-title-partner-newly-named-vrbo-fiesta-bowl/ | 2022-07-25T18:44:51Z |
Arizona high court tosses push to disqualify GOP lawmakers
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Supreme Court on Monday rejected an effort to disqualify three Republican lawmakers from this year’s ballot because of their alleged roles in planning or attending the rally that led to the unprecedented attack on Congress on Jan. 6, 2021.
The ruling means U.S. Reps. Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs and state Rep. Mark Finchem remain on the primary ballot. Gosar and Biggs are seeking reelection and Finchem is running to try to become Secretary of State, Arizona’s chief election officer.
The lawsuits filed on behalf of a handful of Arizona voters alleged that Gosar, Biggs and Finchem cannot hold office because they participated in an insurrection. The lawsuits cited a section of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution enacted after the Civil War known as the “disqualification clause.”
The justices ruled that alleged violations of the disqualification clause are not grounds for challenging candidates’ eligibility for office under Arizona law. The decision upholds a ruling by the Maricopa County Superior Court.
None of the lawmakers are accused of participating in the actual attack on Congress that was aimed at halting certification of President Joe Biden’s win over former President Donald Trump.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/09/arizona-high-court-tosses-push-disqualify-gop-lawmakers/ | 2022-05-09T21:47:31Z |
SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 2011, VIOFO has always been striving to enhance the image quality of dash cameras, covering all three channels, front+interior+rear. It is well known that the T130-3CH released last year greatly improves its night vision for interior recording enhanced by the newly adopted OV image sensor integrating ultra low light and near infrared technology. This year VIOFO has reached new heights in A229 Duo rear camera's resolution. As the upgraded version of the A129 series, this newly released A229 Duo dashcam innovatively features up to Quad HD 2K high resolution rear cam, the highest so far in the market for rear recording to give enhanced driving safety protection from both front & behind. What else is built into this newly released dashcam? Check full details as below.
2K+2K Front & Rear QHD Recording
A229 Duo supports Quad HD 1440P30fps front + Quad HD 1440P30fps rear recording. Some drivers say that tailgaters tend to back off when they spot a rear-facing dashcam installed on the car in front of them, making the rear-end accidents less likely to happen. Now with a 2K high-res rear camera, it can easily capture license plate numbers in a rear ended accident, or provide evidence if another car is harassing behind on the road. Built-in F1.6 aperture lens and WDR technology are also of great assistance to shoot more detailed images both day and night.
2.4 Inch HD Screen
Different from the VIOFO conventional 2 inch screen, A229 Duo dash camera is built with a larger 2.4 inch HD display which delivers a more direct effortless live view and improved performance in heat dissipation and better durability. In addition to" REC", "MIC", "Wi-Fi", two new LED indicators, "PWR" and "GPS", have been added on the front panel to help drivers easily catch the status of the cam and the functions enabled.
Neat Installation with 2.8mm Slim Coaxial Cable
A229 Duo features a premium compact design utilizing 2.8mm super slim coaxial rear cable and miniature connectors for neat hidden installation, making it more user friendly for beginners. What's more, this newly upgraded coaxial cable enables better electrocmagnetic interference reduction than traditional cable types.
USB-C Charging Cable & Power Ports
To accommodate more car models with different installations, the A229 Duo is equipped with a reversible USB-C charging cable and two USB-C power ports, one on the left side of the front cam and one on top of the GPS module. Compared to micro USB cables, USB-C cables can carry more power and reliably offer a more stable power supply.
Tips: The GPS module will function normally regardless of which power port is used for power supply.
Dual Band 5GHz & 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
A229 Duo dashcam supports dual-band Wi-Fi options of 5GHz & 2.4GHz. Wi-Fi connection makes it quite convenient to control and check on videos on smartphone end via VIOFO App, including setup menu, live view from front and behind, playback of recorded videos, and downloading/sharing of video files.
What is worth mentioning, A229 Duo is built with upgraded 5GHz Wi-Fi connection technology providing transfer speeds up to 8MB/s, 4 times faster than traditional 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. Besides, it is compatible with more new phone models.
Intelligent Voice Notification
Configured with multiple language voice notification, A229 Duo car dash camera helps to confirm setting changes such as audio recording on/off and reminds drivers of events such as video protected and memory card errors. No worries about missing important videos as A229 Duo will alert timely if anything prevents recording.
Built-in GPS Mount
The GPS mount can track the route, speed and time data in the video file, allowing compatible viewers to display on playback. It will also keep the camera clock synchronized with GPS time so that the video files are correctly time stamped.
3 Advanced Parking Modes
The A229 Duo dashcam has three advanced parking modes, Auto Event Detection, Timelapse, and Low Bitrate Recording, which help drivers to capture full evidence during parking.
- Auto Event Detection:
Automatically record for 45s when detecting moving objects or impacts during parking. Optimized with buffered function, its 45s-video recording starts 15 seconds before and ends 30 seconds after the defected event. - Time Lapse Recording:
Record a video at low frames at 1/2/3/5/10 fps and compress into a long file. - Low Bitrate Recording:
Record videos continuously at low bitrate 4MB/s with audio recorded.
Tips: To use parking modes of A229 Duo, the VIOFO HK4 hardwire kit cable is required, whose ACC function will automatically switch A229 Duo dashcam into parking mode or normal recording.
Optional Accessories
- External Microphone
The external 3.5mm jack port microphone can be used with A229 Duo dashcam to record conversations clearly during police stops and traffic incidents. - HK4 Hardwire Kit
When the engine is off, the HK4 hardwire kit will ensure continuous power for parking monitoring and provide low voltage protection for your car's battery. What's more, its ACC function can automatically switch between parking mode and normal recording without waiting. - Circular Polarizing Lens
The CPL (Circular Polarizing Lens) can be used to reduce reflections and glare from the window glass and road surfaces. It works in the same way as polarized sunglasses and significantly improves image quality and contrast in many situations. - Bluetooth Remote Control
The Bluetooth emergency remote control can be positioned in a convenient location allowing for safe and easy use while driving. Pressing the button will instantly lock the current video clip and image.
VIOFO Company History
Founded in 2011, VIOFO was started by two engineers aiming at providing the ultimate dash camera image quality for users worldwide. Attributable to 10 years of perseverance and concentration, VIOFO dash cameras are now distributed in over 65 countries with millions of followers. For best customer experience, VIOFO provides direct 1-on-1 technical support and always stays ears open to feedback from both regular and professional users. For all the latest product information and related discussions, we welcome everyone to visit our Facebook & Twitter pages:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viofo.world
Twitter: https://twitter.com/viofo
Purchase from VIOFO Official Website
Purchase from VIOFO Amazon US Store
Contact: Crystal Meng, crystalmeng@viofo.com
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SOURCE VIOFO | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/04/viofo-new-arrival-a229-duo-2k2k-front-rear-dashcam/ | 2022-09-04T11:56:32Z |
- Request reflects steps by the company to anticipate and keep pace with changes occurring in the Palmetto State to better serve customers
- Investments are improving resiliency, working toward an orderly transition to a secure energy future and improving the customer experience
- Proposal is the first by the company to increase base rates since 2018
GREENVILLE, S.C., Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy Progress today asked South Carolina regulators to review its rates as the company continues working to increase system reliability and resiliency, achieve a cleaner, smarter energy future, and enhance the customer experience for more than 172,000 customers in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina.
"We know how important electric service is for our customers and no one wants to see bills increase," said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy's South Carolina state president. "This is particularly true now as rising costs across most sectors of our economy impact consumers and businesses throughout South Carolina and the nation."
"These challenges affect the energy industry as a whole and – through smart investments – we're working hard to meet customers' expectations and build the foundation for a smarter energy future from which all South Carolinians can benefit. These investments in critical energy infrastructure are the main reason for the proposed rate increase," Callahan said.
To ease the impacts of these investments on its customers, the company's rate request before the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) proposes phasing in the proposed rate increases over two years.
If approved by the PSCSC, the total net impact of the proposed increase to residential customer bills is 14.7%. Commercial and industrial customers will see an average increase of around 7.8% (actual rates vary by customer class and size).
If approved, the charge for a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity beginning April 1, 2023, will increase $14.36 per month, from $133.01 to $147.37. Starting April 1, 2024, the total monthly impact for a typical residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month would increase an additional $4.40, for an average bill of $151.77 per month.
Customers struggling to pay their energy bills might qualify for assistance from various government and nonprofit programs for utility bills and other household expenses. Duke Energy also offers programs and resources to help customers manage their usage to mitigate the impact of rate changes as well as flexible payment arrangements to help customers experiencing uncertainty, to include flexible payment options including the Share the Light Fund, a Duke Energy program that provides energy assistance.
To learn more about these programs, details of the company's proposal and the rate review process, visit duke-energy.com/SCProgressRates.
Duke Energy Progress
Duke Energy Progress, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.7 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 29,000-square-mile service area in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000 people.
Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business and at least a 50% carbon reduction from electric generation by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The 2050 net-zero goals also include Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 emissions. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2022 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
24-Hour media line: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/duke-energy-progress-requests-rate-review-by-public-service-commission-south-carolina-build-cleaner-smarter-energy-future/ | 2022-09-01T19:06:32Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jill Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona will visit Connecticut, Georgia and Michigan this week to examine summer learning programs that are helping children who fell behind during the pandemic catch up on reading, writing and arithmetic before the new school year begins.
The two-day tour, which the first lady’s office announced Tuesday, also gives her and Cardona a chance to highlight programs that are paid for by President Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief program. The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan set aside $122 billion to help schools safely reopen and stay open during the pandemic, and address students’ academic and mental health needs.
Many schools across the United States saw large numbers of students fall under the radar after schools shut their doors because of the pandemic and learning went online. Many students skipped class, tests and homework. Record numbers of families opted out of annual standardized tests, leaving some districts with little evidence of how students were doing in reading and math.
Now that most schools have reopened, many have been racing to make up for lost time and gaps in learning. They are budgeting billions of dollars for tutoring, summer camps and longer school days and trying to figure out which students need the most help after two years of disruptions.
Biden, a professor at Northern Virginia Community College, and Cardona, were opening the tour Wednesday by visiting a Horizons National summer learning program held at the private Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut, for local public elementary school students.
Horizons National is a nonprofit providing summer learning programs in 20 states, according to the first lady’s office.
Cardona is also a career educator and a Connecticut native who was that state’s education commissioner when President Biden nominated him for the federal post.
Cardona and the first lady also plan stops Thursday at a Detroit Public Schools Community District summer learning program, held at Schulze Academy for Technology and Arts in Detroit that serves kindergarten through eighth grade students from the district.
From Michigan, they will head to Athens, Georgia, to visit another Horizons National program, this one at the University of Georgia and serving students from Barnett Shoals Elementary School. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/jill-biden-education-chief-to-kick-off-summer-learning-tour/ | 2022-07-19T16:25:35Z |
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