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-- Individuals living with early-stage dementia reveal insights about stigmas, misconceptions that others have about living with dementia --
-- June is Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month --
CHICAGO, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This June, during Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month, the Alzheimer's Association is revealing insights from people living with early-stage dementia and what they wish others knew about living with Alzheimer's and other dementia.
Many Americans struggle with what to say and do when a family member, friend, co-worker or neighbor is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia. The shock of someone revealing a dementia diagnosis can leave many at a loss for how to engage. Efforts to be supportive can be dampened by concerns of saying or doing the wrong thing. Worse, not knowing what to say or do, some individuals distance themselves from diagnosed individuals, further deepening the sadness, stigma and isolation people living with Alzheimer's and dementia can experience in the wake of a diagnosis.
The Alzheimer's Association recently asked those living with early-stage Alzheimer's and other dementia what they want others to know about living with disease. Here are six things they shared:
My Alzheimer's diagnosis does not define me. Although an Alzheimer's diagnosis is life changing, many living with the disease say their diagnosis does not change who they are. "I love the same people and doing the same things I did before my diagnosis," said Dale Rivard, 64, East Grand Forks, Minn. "I understand Alzheimer's is a progressive disease and I may not be able to do all the things I once did, but I want to continue doing the things I enjoy for as long as I can."
If you want to know how I am doing, just ask me. The sudden change in how others communicate with someone recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another dementia is a frustrating experience for many living with the disease. "It's upsetting to have others ask my wife how I am doing when I am sitting right there or nearby," said Jerry Smith, 78, Middleton, Wis. "I want to be open and honest about my diagnosis. Talking around me only makes me feel more isolated and alone."
Yes, younger people can have dementia. While the vast majority of Americans affected by Alzheimer's and other dementia are age 65 and older, the disease can affect younger individuals. While disease-related symptoms are similar, the challenges associated with an earlier diagnosis can be different. "I was diagnosed with dementia at age 53," said Deborah Jobe, 55, St. Louis, Mo. "I was at the peak of my career and had to step away from a job I loved. Suddenly, the plans I had for retirement with my husband looked very different. Most people just assume that Alzheimer's and dementia is only a diagnosis for old people, but I tell people if you have concerns about your cognition, get it checked regardless of your age."
Please don't debate my diagnosis or tell me I don't look like I have Alzheimer's. While family members and friends may be well-intended in attempting to dismiss an Alzheimer's diagnosis, many living with the disease say such responses can be offensive. "It's hard enough to tell someone you have Alzheimer's, let alone have to defend it," said Laurie Waters, 57, Clover, S.C. "It drives me crazy when someone tells me I am too young or that I don't look like I have Alzheimer's. People living with Alzheimer's all look different. You may not see my illness, but I live it every day."
Understand sometimes my words and actions are not me, it's my disease. As Alzheimer's disease and other dementia progresses, individuals can experience a wide range of disease-related behaviors, including anxiety, aggression and confusion. "I want people to understand that even though I may look myself, my disease sometimes causes me to not act myself," said Clint Kershaw, 61, North Turo, Mass. "So, if I ask for help doing something I once did easily or respond to a question in an unexpected way, be patient with me. I have good days and bad days, and on the bad days, I just need a little more help."
An Alzheimer's diagnosis does not mean my life is over. Earlier detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia is enabling diagnosed individuals more time to plan their futures and prioritize doing the things most important to them. "My diagnosis has been devastating, but my life is not over," said Nia Mostacero, 47, Meridian, Idaho. "I am still living a fulfilling life. I've put together my bucket list and intend to keep making memories for as long as I can."
During Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month in June, the Alzheimer's Association encourages everyone to learn more about disease-related challenges facing those living with Alzheimer's and other dementia. Educating yourself and others about the disease is one of the best ways to reduce stigma and misperceptions. The Alzheimer's Association offers guidance for navigating every stage of the disease. The Association's Live Well series provides tips to help early-stage individuals live their best lives. For other disease-related information and resources, visit alz.org.
Fight the Darkness of Alzheimer's on the Day with the Most Light, The Longest Day – June 21
During June, the Alzheimer's Association is also inviting people across the world to participate in The Longest Day® on June 21. Held annually on the summer solstice, The Longest Day invites participants to fight the darkness of Alzheimer's through a fundraising activity of their choice.
Throughout the month and culminating on June 21, Longest Day participants will bake, bike, hike, golf, knit, play bridge and participate in other favorite activities to raise funds and awareness for the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association. For more information and to register: visit alz.org/thelongestday.
About Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month
Established by the Alzheimer's Association in 2014, Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month is dedicated to encouraging a global conversation about the brain and Alzheimer's disease and other dementia. To learn more about the Alzheimer's Association, available resources and how you can get involved to support the cause, visit alz.org/abam.
About the Alzheimer's Association®
The Alzheimer's Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
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SOURCE Alzheimer’s Association | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/six-things-people-living-with-alzheimers-disease-other-dementia-want-you-know/ | 2022-06-01T04:50:47Z |
Announces appointments for SVP Global Channels, Partner Alliances and VP of Sales, North America
NEW YORK and TEL AVIV, Israel , May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cymulate, the Extended Security Posture Management market leader, today announced the appointment of Federica Melis, as SVP Global Channels and Partner Alliances and Rudy Piekarski as Vice President of Sales, North America, to lead their respective sales strategies and help further expand its customer base. The company continues to experience exceptional growth, having achieved 100% revenue growth globally, and 200% growth in North America in new bookings in 2021.
Melis joins Wendy Hoey, VP Alliances of North America and a previous winner of CRN's top Women of the Channel, in spearheading Cymulate's go-to-market channel strategy. Originally from Italy, Melis moved to the US five years ago after working in Germany for several years. Prior to joining Cymulate, Federica held senior roles at cybersecurity companies such as Proofpoint where she was recognized for her commercial leadership and was a member of the advisory council for business growth. She also held positions at tech giants such as Oracle, Citrix, Red Hat, and Dell, with her core focus on Fortune 1000 companies.
"I am very excited to join Cymulate," said Federica. "Cybersecurity is a complex and interesting space where you have the opportunity to make a difference for companies and help protect them from real threats. Cymulate's product is extremely compelling and I am looking forward to working alongside this dynamic team of professionals."
With over 25 years of experience, Rudy is a seasoned sales executive with an impressive track record of leading teams and growing customer bases comprising Fortune 500 and Global 2000 companies as well as government organizations, most notably at LogRhythm. He has played a key role in taking several companies he has worked for to successful exits.
"Cymulate's platform has broadened its capabilities over recent months and provides a simple, surefire route for companies to understand their cyber posture. I believe this technology will play a vital role in the cyber arsenal of security teams for years to come," said Rudy. "I'm delighted to be joining the team, propelling the company to the forefront of CISO agendas and assisting in taking the company to its next growth level."
"We are very excited to expand our workforce and welcome Federica and Rudy to our Cymulate family as we continue reaching our key milestones," said Eyal Wachsman, CEO and Co-Founder of Cymulate. "They are both stellar executives, with rich experience, who will contribute great outcomes for our company. We look forward to Cymulate's continued success with both Federica and Rudy's talent onboard."
About Cymulate
Cymulate SaaS-based Extended Security Posture Management (XSPM) deploys within an hour, enabling security professionals to continuously challenge, validate and optimize their cyber-security posture end-to-end, across the MITRE ATT&CK® framework. The platform provides out-of-the-box, expert and threat intelligence led risk assessments that are simple to deploy and use for all maturity levels, and constantly updated. It also provides an open framework to create and automate red and purple teaming by generating penetration scenarios and advanced attack campaigns tailored to their unique environments and security policies. Cymulate allows professionals to manage, know and control their dynamic environment.
For more information, visit www.cymulate.com and register for a free trial.
Contact for Cymulate:
Levona Simha, VP Marketing at Cymulate
levonas@cymulate.com
IL: +(972) 523 536638
Media contact for Cymulate:
Gina Shaffer
gina.shaffer@si14global.com
US: +1(707) 533-1504
IL: +(972) 54-649-3485
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SOURCE Cymulate | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/cymulate-bolsters-north-america-global-sales-leadership-with-new-executive-appointments/ | 2022-05-16T12:56:36Z |
NEW YORK, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
This lawsuit is on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Netflix common stock or call options, or sold put options, between October 19, 2021 and April 19, 2022, inclusive.
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 5, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in NFLX:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/netflix-inc-loss-submission-form-2?id=27813&from=4
Netflix, Inc. NEWS - NFLX NEWS
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Netflix, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Netflix was exhibiting slower acquisition growth due to, among other things, account sharing by customers and increased competition from other streaming services; (2) the Company was experiencing difficulties retaining customers; (3) as a result of the foregoing, the Company was losing subscribers on a net basis (4) as a result, the Company's financial results were being adversely affected; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and/or misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Netflix, Inc. you have until July 5, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Netflix, Inc. securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the NFLX lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/netflix-inc-loss-submission-form-2?id=27813&from=4.
J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
J. Klein, Esq.
Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
59th Floor
New York, NY 10118
jk@kleinstocklaw.com
Telephone: (212) 616-4899
www.kleinstocklaw.com
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SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/nflx-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-july-5-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-netflix-inc-shareholders/ | 2022-05-31T18:35:00Z |
NEW YORK -- It's a sweltering spring day in New York City, but Dana Aber stands on the Times Square-42 Street subway platform in a heavy leather jacket. Her hands are gloved and stuffed in her pockets to hide her jewelry. Although she tries to look relaxed, her senses are on high alert.
"I thought maybe it would be just a little bit better protection than a thin coat, in case I got shot," said Aber, a theater actor and writer from Manhattan.
Choosing an outfit based on the likelihood of being shot sounds like a dystopian nightmare, but it's reality for many New Yorkers who feel helpless and afraid amid a surging crime wave. A mass shooting at a Brooklyn subway station in April underscored their fears.
To date, the city has recorded a 42.7% increase in major crimes compared to the same period in 2021, according to the New York City Police Department. That includes a 46.7% increase in robberies, a 54% spike in grand larceny incidents and a 14.9% jump in rape reports. Murder rates have decreased 13.1% over last year, but they are still up 9.2% over the last two years.
For New Yorkers like Aber, the fear of ending up another crime statistic has cast a shadow over their city.
"It's becoming more and more of a mental issue for us, constantly worrying about being safe," said Pilar Weston, a 53-year-old Harlem resident. "What will happen to me if I take the train? Or if I walk on the wrong street? Or when I take a ride on my bike?"
"It's a horrible way to live," she said.
Harlem has been Weston's home for decades, but it's starting to feel a lot less safe, she says. She tries to skip taking the train when she can. She chooses her route home carefully. She avoids certain streets at different hours, and is "always, always" ready to run.
'New Yorkers deserve better'
After three decades of historic lows, crime rates across New York City began to tick up in 2020.
Officials have blamed the rise on a mix of factors, including changes to the justice system -- such as New York's new bail reform legislation -- and a flood of illegally trafficked guns, which gun advocacy groups and criminologists say was fueled by the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic.
Economic and social hardships brought on by the pandemic played a role in the increase in crime, with the number of people experiencing homelessness since the beginning of the pandemic increasing "substantially," according to Mayor Eric Adams.
In January, Adams announced a comprehensive plan to combat the crime wave. It includes an increase in officers on patrol, additional resources for the city's existing gun seizure unit, new technology to stop the influx of guns and job creation for at-risk residents. It also revives a controversial plainclothes unit on the police force rebranded as "Neighborhood Safety Teams."
Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell vouched for the plan, saying the NYPD was committed to tackling crime head on.
"The men and women of the New York City Police Department are proactively addressing the deep-rooted causes of criminal behavior," Sewell said in a statement at the time. "The NYPD will never relent, and the department has made far too much progress over the decades -- and invested far too much in the communities it serves -- to fall back by any measure. New Yorkers deserve better."
The plan couldn't come soon enough, according to Margaux Paras. Like many Asian Americans in the city, she lives with the additional concern of hate crimes.
"I live with constant fear and anxiety that I am going to be someone's next target," Paras, 35, said. "I am always on the verge of a panic attack when I'm on the trains or even walking during the day. It's not safe for us."
Hate crimes in New York City have increased 76% so far this year compared to the same period last year, according to data from the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force.
Asian Americans have especially been targeted, usually due to misplaced blame for the pandemic.
Paras lives in New Jersey but travels to the city to attend school. She has no choice but to continue her usual routine, but the stress is overwhelming, she says. Sitting on a bench in Bryant Park, Paras recounted horror stories she's heard from family and friends, including one who, she says, was randomly punched in the chest while walking through a park.
Patrick Curley, 70, a lifelong New Yorker who lives on the Lower East Side, also welcomes the mayor's plan, and says he's confident the NYPD will restore public safety.
"I trust our police officers to keep us safe," Curley said.
Curley, who lived through the city's heyday of crime in the 1980s, pointed at the walls of the Times Square-42 Street subway station, noting how they were once covered in graffiti and the platform trashed.
"This is nothing like the 70s or 80s," he said. "Crime levels here dip down and go back up, but it's still no comparison. To someone new to New York City it feels like things are going downhill, but New York always comes back."
The city saw 1,814 murders in 1980, the year the New York Times called the "worst year of crime in city history." That assessment was eclipsed at the peak of the crack cocaine epidemic in 1990, when the Times reported that New York City had recorded 2,245 homicides.
'More policing is not the answer'
Other New Yorkers, like Rasheed Blain, worry about rising crime but cast doubt on the mayor's plan. He says the focus on increased policing is misplaced and could backfire.
As a violence interrupter for NYC Cure Violence, the city's crime prevention program, Blain, 23, walks through Harlem speaking with at-risk youth to deescalate conflicts and inspire them to find paths other than crime.
He says his experience has shown him there are more effective ways of combating crime than policing.
"More policing is not the answer," said Blain, who lives in the Bronx. "Our communities' police do not communicate well with the people and vice versa. There's a trust issue thing going on and we feel that we aren't safe around them."
He fears that more policing could alienate and even have an adverse effect on communities of color.
"Violence behaves like a contagious disease epidemic," Blain said. "If we want to fix the uptick in violence, we have to start with poverty, the root of all violence, and fix the lack of resources for the youth, as well as mental health."
Carmen Perez-Jordan, CEO of the nonprofit The Gathering for Justice, agrees. The organization's mission is "to eliminate the racial inequities that permeate the justice system," according to their website.
Having lived in the city for 12 years, Perez-Jordan, 45, says she's familiar with what over-policing Black and Latino neighborhoods can do. She's particularly concerned with the reintroduction of plain clothes officers, who in the past have been accused of violating the rights of minorities with controversial tactics like stop-and-frisk searches. These searches, in which police stopped and frisked people they considered suspicious, disproportionately targeted Black and Latino men.
"When violent crime rises, it is usually our low-income Black and brown communities that suffer the most, and I would expect what's happening now to follow that trend," Perez-Jordan said.
She believes the mayor's plan does little to address underlying factors that have contributed to the crime spike.
"What I see isn't just crime, it's a gigantic red flag that something deeper is happening in these communities and in these people's lives," she said.
"We really need to ask ourselves, what compels someone to steal from stores, use drugs in public places, or pick up a weapon and harm someone? What does a person have to go through in order for them to think that those things are okay?" she said.
Standing on the edge of a sun-drenched avenue by Central Park, Perez-Jordan admits the issue hits closer to home than most can imagine. In the past year, she has lost loved ones due to the increase in violent crime, as well as drug overdoses and Covid-19.
"A gallon of milk costs $4.62. Rents keep rising unsustainably," Perez-Jordan said. "Mental health diagnosis have increased, homelessness has skyrocketed, and overdoses and fentanyl deaths have ravaged poor communities. All of this while almost one million Americans died from a virus that has claimed the lives of over six million worldwide during the last two years of a global lockdown."
"I think it's safe to say that we should have seen this coming. People are hurting, people are desperate, and those who have experienced this for their entire lives are fed up," she said.
What New York needs the most, according to Perez-Jordan, are interventions that "actually produce community safety," such as mental health services, substance abuse counseling, housing programs and more social workers.
'I should feel safe at home'
Ty Sumter looks back on the "old days" fondly. He smiles, enthusiastically listing everything he used to do in New York when he felt safe walking alone and taking the train home at night.
Peaceful routines have become a memory of the past, he says, and a day that goes by without incident is a blessing he doesn't take for granted.
"For someone traveling late nights and early mornings, I've seen a lot of scary things. But it's an everyday thing now," Sumter said. "As someone who grew up here in the 90s, we had to walk together. We didn't let our friends take the trains alone. We're back in those days."
Sumter, 47, a manager at a Trader Joe's near Union Square, is walking home from work. Despite the blue sky and cheerful buzz of families playing in the nearby park, he's not tempted to linger.
"I love New York more than anything. It's like finding the entire world in just one place," Sumter said. "But these crime levels, it makes me not want to do anything anymore. Even in this beautiful weather, I want to walk around but for what? I don't feel safe. There's a police station right here, and I still don't feel safe. I just want to get home."
Weston shares similar thoughts as she stands outside of a CVS store by the 125th Street subway station in Harlem. She just finished speaking with a friend whose car was broken into yet again.
It's "truly heartbreaking," she said about the crime surge.
"To have to walk through the neighborhood you grew up in, in your own home, constantly looking over your shoulder all the time and everywhere you go -- it bothers you a lot doing that in the place you come from," she said, pointing to her heart.
"It's home," she said. "I should feel safe at home."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/new-yorkers-dont-feel-safe-at-home-anymore/article_bdbdb41a-8fa9-511b-a1b9-95c56f15c787.html | 2022-04-30T08:28:34Z |
TAMPA, Fla., May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Primo Water Corporation (NYSE: PRMW) (TSX: PRMW) (the "Company" or "Primo"), a leading provider of sustainable drinking water solutions in North America and Europe, today announced that it will present at the 2022 RBC Capital Markets Global Consumer & Retail Conference on Thursday, June 2, 2022.
The presentation, which will begin at approximately 8:40 a.m. Eastern Time, will be webcast through the investor relations section of Primo's website at primowatercorp.com and will be archived for replay for a period of two weeks following the event.
For purposes of public disclosure, including this and future similar events, Primo uses the investor relations section of its website as the primary channel for publishing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information.
Primo Water Corporation is a leading pure-play water solutions provider in North America and Europe and generates approximately $2.1 billion in annual revenue. Primo operates largely under a recurring razor/razorblade revenue model. The razor in Primo's revenue model is its industry leading line-up of sleek and innovative water dispensers, which are sold through retailers and online at various price points. The dispensers help increase household penetration which drives recurring purchases of Primo's razorblade offering. Primo's razorblade offering is comprised of Water Direct, Water Exchange, and Water Refill. Through its Water Direct business, Primo delivers sustainable hydration solutions across its 22-country footprint direct to the customer's door, whether at home or to businesses. Through its Water Exchange and Water Refill businesses, Primo offers pre-filled and reusable containers at over 13,000 locations and water refill units at approximately 23,000 locations, respectively. Primo also offers water filtration units across its 22-country footprint.
Primo's water solutions expand consumer access to purified, spring, and mineral water to promote a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle while simultaneously reducing plastic waste and pollution. Primo is committed to its water stewardship standards and is proud to partner with the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) in North America as well as with Watercoolers Europe (WE), which ensure strict adherence to safety, quality, sanitation and regulatory standards for the benefit of consumer protection.
Primo is headquartered in Tampa, Florida (USA). For more information, visit www.primowatercorp.com.
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SOURCE Primo Water Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/primo-water-corporation-present-2022-rbc-capital-markets-global-consumer-amp-retail-conference/ | 2022-05-19T21:49:02Z |
WESTBURY, N.Y., July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Paylogix®, the premium technology solutions provider in the administration of voluntary benefits welcomes American Public Life to their Co-Op Funding Program. APL distributes a wide range of workforce insurance products and solutions to industries through independent brokers nationwide.
"We pride ourselves in delivering the best in voluntary benefits to the insurance industry," said Richard Pfadenhauer, CISSP, president and founder. "For over 75 years, American Public Life has offered a supplemental health and voluntary insurance products to employers. This partnership will combine over 100 years of industry expertise and be invaluable to brokers by simplifying the administration of these benefits to their clients."
"We strive to be the broker's carrier of choice by delivering products, technology and service that give our broker partners an advantage in the marketplace," said Jerry Horton, APL's President/CEO. "Through this partnership, our brokers will have another tool to enhance the service to their clients."
Through the Paylogix platform, brokers can merge multiple products from multiple vendors and carriers into one online Consolidated Billing® statement. Brokers who offer APL's workforce benefits will have access to the full suite of Paylogix® enrollment and billing solutions. Through partnerships with over 60 benefit providers nationwide, Paylogix® can provide this service at no additional cost to brokers or their clients.
Founded in 1945, American Public Life Insurance Company (APL) is expanding the benefits horizon as a leading provider of workforce benefits, with offices in Oklahoma City, OK and Jackson, MS. APL is licensed to conduct business in 49 states with sales through independent brokers. APL has a financial rating of "A+ (Superior)" through A.M. Best (www.ambest.com). For more information, please visit www.ampublic.com.
Paylogix® is the trusted premium technology solution provider for efficiency and transparency in the administration of voluntary benefits. Our thoughtfully designed tools to facilitate enrollment through billing processes, are automated, innovative, and secure to provide users with the data they need, when they need it. If you are an insurance carrier, broker, or enrollment company, interested in learning more about how Paylogix® can help provide accurate and more efficient enrollment and billing processes, visit http://www.paylogix.com or email info@paylogix.com for more information.
Media Contact:
Lisa Sanderson, Paylogix
lisas@paylogix.com 516-570-9987
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SOURCE Paylogix | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/paylogix-welcomes-american-public-life-insurance-company-apl-newest-member-their-co-op-funding-program/ | 2022-07-26T16:47:00Z |
Many U.S. pre-teens miss first CDC-recommended dose of MenACWY vaccine and approximately 50% of U.S. teens miss the second dose, despite being at an increased risk1,3
FORT MYERS, Fla., June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning actress and mother Tiffani Thiessen, best known for her role on the hit television series Saved by the Bell, is partnering with the National Meningitis Association (NMA) to launch a new public health initiative, It's About Time: Help Stop the Clock on Meningitis, aimed at educating parents about the importance of potentially life-saving vaccination to help protect their pre-teens and teens against meningococcal meningitis.1,4 Together, campaign partners are calling on parents to include the topic of immunization, including the importance of the MenACWY vaccination, in timely talks with their child, and to speak with their child's healthcare professional to help protect their children's futures.1,5
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9040851-national-meningitis-association-nma-new-campaign-awareness-meningococcal-meningitis/
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a first dose of the MenACWY vaccine at 11-12 years old and a second dose at 16 years old.1 Yet, nearly 1 in 10 U.S. pre-teens do not receive their first dose of the MenACWY vaccination and approximately 50% of U.S. teenagers do not receive the crucial second dose4, potentially leaving them underprotected and vulnerable to meningococcal meningitis, a rare, and potentially deadly bacterial infection that can take the life of an otherwise healthy teen in as little as one day.1,2 Further, 40% of parents reported that their children missed vaccinations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.6
"As parents, I believe we can all agree that the health, safety and well-being of our children is our number one priority," said Thiessen. "And while we can't protect our children from all of life's growing pains, we can help to protect them from potentially deadly but vaccine-preventable diseases such as meningococcal meningitis that can target teens, which my daughter soon will be.1 This doesn't have to be another worry for families, which is why I'm reminding parents to use special milestone conversations about the important things in life to also talk to their child and their child's healthcare professional about recommended immunizations, including the MenACWY vaccine, as well as MenB and other important adolescent vaccines."1,5
As a parent to an 11-year-old daughter, Thiessen will lean into the power of those necessary, yet sometimes challenging, conversations through a series of thought-provoking videos with exciting special guests. The video series, which will be available on HelpStoptheClock.org starting this summer, is aimed at helping to educate parents about how they can help protect their pre-teens and teens against meningococcal disease.1 Parents also have a chance to have their own virtual conversation with Thiessen by visiting the website and signing up for a reminder to schedule their child's MenACWY vaccine appointment.
"I know better than most the feeling of wanting to stop the clock and go back in time when it comes to relishing those special moments we share with our children," said Leslie Maier, president of the NMA. "Sadly, I was robbed of having more time with my son because he died within 24 hours of contracting meningococcal meningitis. At the time, we didn't know it was potentially vaccine-preventable, which is why it's my mission to get as many kids vaccinated as possible. We are honored Tiffani has chosen to join forces with us and look forward to using our voices as moms to help stop the clock on meningitis."
To learn more about the campaign, a collaboration with Sanofi, visit HelpStoptheClock.org, and talk to your child's healthcare professional today about MenACWY vaccination, as well as MenB and other important adolescent vaccines.5
It's About Time: Help Stop the Clock on Meningitis
Parents may not be able to stop the clock on their pre-teen or teen growing up, from experiencing some age-related struggles, like heartbreak, detention, or acne breakouts or be able to avoid asking the tough questions about challenging topics, however they can help to protect them from potentially deadly and vaccine-preventable diseases such as meningococcal meningitis.1,2 That's why the It's About Time: Help Stop the Clock on Meningitis disease awareness campaign by the National Meningitis Association, in collaboration with Sanofi, is leaning into those times when parents and their kids have those special milestone conversations about the important things in life, one of those being vaccination. The campaign calls on parents of 11-12-year-olds and 16-year-olds, two critical ages when the CDC recommends vaccination1, to talk to their child's healthcare professional about MenACWY vaccination, as well as MenB and other important adolescent vaccines.5 To learn more, visit HelpStopTheClock.org.
Meningococcal Disease
Meningococcal disease, which includes meningococcal meningitis, is a rare, but potentially deadly, bacterial infection that can take the life of an otherwise healthy teen in as little as one day.1,2 Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but adolescents are at increased risk due to common lifestyle factors or behaviors among their age group, such as living in close quarters and socializing in crowded environments.1,7,8 Meningococcal disease is contagious and can spread via respiratory droplets or from contact with saliva, meaning it can spread through activities like kissing or sharing beverages.9 The CDC estimates that even with treatment, 10 to 15 percent of those who get the infection will die from it. The CDC also estimates among those who survive, as many as one in five (20 percent) live with long-term disabilities, such as brain or kidney damage, hearing loss or limb amputations.10
About the National Meningitis Association (NMA)
The NMA works to protect families from the potentially devastating effects of meningococcal disease by educating the public, medical professionals and others about the disease and its prevention. Visit NMA at www.nmaus.org and find them on Facebook and Twitter.
References:
- Meningococcal Vaccination for Preteens and Teens: Information for Parents. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mening/public/adolescent-vaccine.html. Published October 12, 2021. Accessed April 27, 2022.
- Disease and Prevention Information. National Meningitis Association. https://nmaus.org/nma-disease-prevention-information/. Accessed April 27, 2022.
- National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13-17 Years – United States, 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7035a1.htm?s_cid=mm7035a1_w#T1_down. Published September 3, 2021. Accessed April 27, 2022.
- "Meningococcal - Prevention." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/prevention.html. Published February 7, 2022. Access April 27, 2022.
- Recommended Vaccinations for Children 7 to 18 Years Old, Parent-Friendly Version. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/adolescent-easyread.html Published February 17, 2022. Accessed April 27, 2022.
- Missing Vaccinations During COVID-19 Puts Our Children and Communities at Risk. Blue Cross Blue Shield. https://www.bcbs.com/the-health-of-america/infographics/missing-vaccinations-during-covid-19-puts-our-children-and-communities-at-risk. Published November 18, 2020. Accessed April 27, 2022.
- Meningococcal Disease. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. https://www.nfid.org/infectious-diseases/meningococcal-disease/. Published July 2021. Accessed April 27, 2022.
- Imrey PB, Jackson LA, Ludwinski PH. Outbreak of serogroup C meningococcal disease associated with campus bar patronage. American Journal of Epidemiology. 1996;143(6):624-630. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a008792.
- Meningococcal Invasive Disease - Frequently Asked Questions. New Jersey Department of Health. www.nj.gov/health/cd/meningo/documents/meningococcal_faq.pdf. Published February 2017. Accessed April 27, 2022.
- Meningococcal – Clinical Information. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/clinical-info.html. Published February 7, 2022. Accessed April 27, 2022.
MAT-US-2203707-v1.0-05/2022
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SOURCE The National Meningitis Association | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/actress-tiffani-thiessen-joins-forces-with-new-campaign-raise-awareness-how-help-protect-pre-teens-teens-against-meningococcal-meningitis-potentially-life-threatening-disease12/ | 2022-06-02T12:53:30Z |
NEW ORLEANS, June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF continues its investigation into ATI Physical Therapy, Inc. (NYSE: ATIP; ATIP WS) f/k/a Fortress Value Acquisition Corp. II. (NYSE: FAII; FAII WS).
On February 22, 2021, ATI and Fortress Value Acquisition Corp. II announced a proposed merger that would take ATI public. On June 17, 2021, the Company announced that it had completed its Business Combination with Fortress. Then, on July 26, 2021, the Company reported its financial results for 2Q2021, the period in which the Business Combination was completed, disclosing that "the acceleration of attrition among [its] therapists in the second quarter and continuing into the third quarter, combined with the intensifying competition for clinicians in the labor market, prevented us from being able to meet the demand we have and increased our labor costs" and reduced its fiscal 2021 forecast due to the foregoing factors.
Thereafter, the Company and certain of its executives were sued in a securities class action lawsuit, charging them with failing to disclose material information in violation of federal securities laws, which remains ongoing.
KSF's investigation is focusing on whether ATI's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to the Company's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.
If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of ATI Physical Therapy shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-atip/ to learn more.
KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients – including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors – in seeking to recover investment losses due to corporate fraud and malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.
To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.
Contact:
Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner
lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com
1-877-515-1850
1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200
New Orleans, LA 70163
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SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/11/ati-physical-therapy-investigation-continued-by-former-louisiana-attorney-general-kahn-swick-amp-foti-llc-continues-investigate-officers-directors-ati-physical-therapy-inc-fka-fortress-value-acquisition-corp-ii-atip/ | 2022-06-11T04:18:02Z |
LONDON (AP) — Eurozone inflation hit a record 8.1% in May amid surging energy and food costs fueled in part by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Annual inflation in the 19 countries that use the euro currency soared past the previous record of 7.4% reached in March and April, according to the latest numbers published Tuesday by the European Union statistics agency, Eurostat.
Inflation in the eurozone is now at its highest level since recordkeeping for the euro began in 1997.
Soaring prices are weighing on household finances and making it more urgent for officials to act quickly to head off further increases in the cost of living.
Energy prices jumped 39.2%, highlighting how the war and the accompanying global energy crunch are making life more expensive for the eurozone’s 343 million people.
“Energy inflation is likely to remain higher for longer than previously expected,” after the European Union agreed to embargo most Russian oil imports by the year’s end, said Andrew Kenningham, chief European economist at Capital Economics.
Brent crude oil, the international standard, rose to $120 a barrel after the agreement. Aimed at punishing Moscow for its war with Ukraine, the deal is a double-edged sword that could also magnify the pain for people and businesses already struggling to cope with higher energy costs.
Oil and natural gas prices had already spiked over fears the war would interrupt supplies from Russia, the world’s largest oil exporter. Strong global demand following the COVID-19 pandemic and a cautious approach to increasing production from oil cartel OPEC have lifted energy prices.
Countries neighboring Russia that have been weaning themselves off Russian gas were among the hardest hit. Estonia’s inflation rate reached 20% while in Lithuania it was 18.5% and in Latvia it came to 16.4%.
Food, alcohol and tobacco prices rose 7.5% in May , Eurostat said — another sign of how Russia’s war in Ukraine, a major global supplier of wheat and other agricultural commodities, is pushing up prices around the world. Prices for goods like clothing, appliances, cars, computers and books rose 4.2%. Prices for services increased 3.5%.
Inflation is also a problem in other advanced economies like Britain and the U.S., where it’s at the highest level in four decades.
In Poland, which doesn’t use the euro, annual inflation in May jumped to a 24-year high of 13.9%, the state statistical office said Tuesday. Higher fuel and food prices were the main drivers amid an economic boom prompted by the huge influx of Ukrainian refugees contributing to consumer demand.
The latest figures add pressure on eurozone officials to raise interest rates from ultralow levels to rein in the rising prices, though that risks stifling economic recovery. The European Union earlier this month slashed its economic growth forecast for the 27-nation bloc amid the prospect of a drawn-out Russian-Ukraine war and extended disruptions to energy supplies.
The president of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, last week gave the clearest sign yet that rates will start rising soon, writing on a blog that she expects to “exit negative interest rates by the end of the third quarter.”
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The eurozone countries are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain.
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AP reporter Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland, contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/eurozone-inflation-hits-record-8-1-amid-rising-energy-costs/ | 2022-06-01T01:57:43Z |
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, May 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Heritage Petroleum Company Limited, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago ("Heritage", the "Company" or "we"), today announced that US$536,136,000 aggregate principal amount, or approximately 94.02% (the "Tendered Notes"), of the outstanding 9.75% Senior Notes due 2026 (the "Notes") issued by Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Limited ("TPHL") and guaranteed by the Company, Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited and The Guaracara Refining Company Limited ("Guaracara"), were validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time on May 10, 2022 (the "Early Tender and Consent Date") in accordance with Heritage's Company's Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated April 27, 2022 (the "Statement"), pursuant to which the tender offer and consent solicitation are being made.
In addition, the Tendered Notes represent consents sufficient to effect all of the proposed amendments to the senior notes indenture governing the Notes (the "Indenture"), the security agreement dated June 28, 2019 among TPHL, the Guarantors, Guaracara and the Collateral and Intercreditor Agent (the "Security Agreement"), and certain Trinidad and Tobago security documents as set forth in the Statement. The proposed amendments, among other things, eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants and certain events of default, amend the satisfaction and discharge provision of the Indenture, provide a waiver for past defaults by TPHL, release Guaracara as a guarantor under the Indenture, and alter the definition of "Excluded Property" in the Security Agreement and Trinidad and Tobago security documents to include certain unused property that is immaterial to the business of the issuer and the guarantors of the Notes (the "Proposed Amendments"). Based on the receipt of sufficient consents, the Company and the trustee intend to enter into a supplemental indenture (the "Supplemental Indenture") to effect the proposed amendments to the Indenture.
Holders that validly tendered their Notes prior to the Early Tender and Consent Date, and whose notes are accepted, will receive a total consideration of US$1,075.63 per US$1,000 principal amount of Tendered Notes, which includes an early tender participation payment of US$50.00 per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding the early settlement date, which is expected to be on May 12, 2022 (the "Early Settlement Date"). Holders who validly tender their Notes after the Early Tender and Consent Date and at or prior to the Expiration Time (defined below) will be eligible to receive the tender offer consideration of US$1,025.63 per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes tendered and accepted for purchase by the Company. The tender offer is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on May 24, 2022, unless extended or earlier terminated by the Company (the "Expiration Time"). The final settlement date for Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn after the Early Tender and Consent Date and at or prior to the Expiration Time will be promptly after the Expiration Time and is expected to be on or about May 26, 2022, unless the tender offer is extended by the Company in its sole discretion. If the tender offer is not consummated, no such payments will be made.
The Company's obligation to accept for purchase and to pay for the Tendered Notes is subject to the satisfaction or waiver, in the Company's discretion, of certain conditions, which are more fully described in the Statement, including the pricing and closing of a concurrent bond offering on terms satisfactory to Heritage resulting in net proceeds from (i) a proposed term loan facility and (ii) the issuance of the new notes in an amount of at least US$500 million, in an aggregate amount that is sufficient to (x) fund the aggregate Total Consideration, with respect to the Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender and Consent Date, and the aggregate Tender Offer Consideration, with respect to the Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender and Consent Date and at or prior to the Expiration Time (regardless of the actual amount of Notes tendered), (y) repay a certain TPHL legacy term loan that will be refinanced with the term loan facility including the payment of any principal, premiums, accrued and unpaid interest, additional amounts, if any, and (z) pay costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith. These conditions are expected to be satisfied upon (i) the funding of Heritage's term loan facility, which is expected to be on May 12, 2022 and (ii) the closing of Heritage's offering of 9.000% Senior Notes due 2029 that priced on May 5, 2022, which is expected to be on May 12, 2022.
The Company has retained Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC to serve as the dealer manager and solicitation agent for the tender offer and consent solicitation. Questions regarding the tender offer and consent solicitation may be directed to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC at Attn: Liability Management Group, +1 (800) 820-1653 (toll-free), +1 (212) 538-2147 (phone).
D.F. King & Co., Inc. is acting as the information agent (the "Information Agent") and depositary (the "Depositary") for the Offer. Any questions regarding procedures for tendering Notes or requests for additional copies of the Statement or other materials should be directed to the Information Agent at: Attn: Andrew Beck, banks and brokers, +1 (212) 269-5550, toll-free, +1 (800) 431-9629 or email: ttph@dfking.com.
None of the Company, the dealer manager and solicitation agent or the information agent make any recommendations as to whether holders should tender their Notes and deliver consents pursuant to the tender offer and consent solicitation, and no one has been authorized by any of them to make such recommendations. Holders must make their own decisions as to whether to tender their Notes and deliver consents, and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender.
This press release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The tender offer is being made solely pursuant to the offer documents.
The tender offer does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not permitted by law or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
In any jurisdiction in which the tender offer is required to be made by a licensed broker or dealer and in which the dealer managers, or any affiliates thereof, are so licensed, the tender offer will be deemed to have been made by any such dealer managers, or such affiliates, on behalf of the Company.
The new notes offered pursuant to the concurrent offering have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to any U.S. persons, except (a) to qualified institutional buyers ("QIBs") within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("Rule 144A"), in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Rule 144A, and (b) outside the United States to non U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act ("Regulation S").
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, including, without limitation, changes in our business or acquisition strategy or planned capital expenditures, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
About Heritage
Heritage Petroleum Company Limited is a limited liability company organized under the laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Heritage was organized in Trinidad and Tobago on October 5, 2018 and is primarily engaged in exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil. Heritage's sole shareholder is TPHL, a national oil and gas company established in Trinidad and Tobago and our ultimate parent is the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. TPHL is the result of a reorganization undergone by the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited on December 1, 2018, that resulted in a new corporate structure and a reconfigured business, to ensure financial viability. Heritage is the dominant oil producer in Trinidad and Tobago and its production (including partnerships) amounted to 62% of Trinidad and Tobago's total crude oil production for 2020.
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SOURCE Heritage Petroleum Company Limited | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/11/heritage-petroleum-company-limited-announces-early-tender-results-its-tender-offer-consent-solicitation-any-all-trinidad-petroleum-holdings-limiteds-975-senior-notes-due-2026/ | 2022-05-11T05:36:35Z |
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s police on Tuesday banned a Pride march planned amid pan-European LGBTQ events being held this week in Belgrade, citing a risk of clashes with far-right anti-gay activists. Organizers vowed to appeal the ban.
Pro-Serbian Orthodox Church conservative groups, who have been marching unhindered for weeks on the Serbian capital’s streets to protest the LGBTQ events, had scheduled a new demonstration for Sept. 17 — the day of the Pride parade. Police also banned that anti-gay protest.
“After the security assessment, it was determined that there is a high risk the safety of participants in both (marches) on the announced routes will be endangered, as well as the safety of other citizens,” police said in a statement.
Serbia’s populist president had earlier warned the gay Pride march would be banned.
Organizers of EuroPride, the largest annual Pride event in Europe — which includes a week of festivities — said they hoped their legal appeal against the ban will be accepted and that they would hold the festivities as planned.
“Belgrade Pride will use all available means to overturn this decision,” their statement said.
After the ban was announced, gay activists booed and jeered Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who is openly lesbian but has been accused by the Serbian gay community of doing nothing to improve their status. She attended a human rights conference that was a part of the weeklong LGBTQ events.
The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner, Dunja Mijatovic, said Serbian authorities should withdraw the ban on the march and protect participants. The CoE is Europe’s top human rights body.
“It is highly regrettable that the Serbian authorities have decided to ban the EuroPride march scheduled for 17 September,” Mijatovic said in a statement. “Weeks of uncertainty concerning the holding of this march have sent a wrong message to the public and made space for hateful rhetoric and more threats against LGBTI people, including from religious leaders”
Members of the European Pride Organizers Association chose Serbia’s capital three years ago to host the annual event, hoping it would represent a major breakthrough for a Slavic country that is traditionally conservative and strongly influenced by the Orthodox Church.
Serbia’s rights groups have urged supporters to join the Pride march as part of a struggle for democracy that they say is under threat from President Aleksandar Vucic’s autocratic regime. Serbia is formally seeking European Union membership — and has pledged to boost LGBTQ rights — but has for years been moving closer to Russia’s political orbit.
Several EU officials have said they will join the LGBTQ events, while those calling on the Serbian government to reverse the previously heralded ban included U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Vucic, who has for weeks warned the Pride march would be banned, said police can’t cope with possible riots by right-wing groups against the Pride march amid a crisis over relations with Serbia’s breakaway province of Kosovo as well as the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.
“In the current geopolitical situation and tensions in the region, senseless clashes on the streets of Belgrade would make the position of our country more difficult, (and) endanger the safety of participants in the marches, as well as other citizens,” Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin said. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-serbian-police-ban-europride-march-citing-security-concerns/ | 2022-09-14T15:29:38Z |
HENDERSON, Nev., Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 2600Hz, a leading provider of unified business communications and the award-winning KAZOO platform, is proud to announce a new partnership with Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE). This new partnership sees full support for ALE devices in 2600Hz's Advanced Provisioner—a powerful tool designed to speed up deployment and provision most popular SIP endpoints quickly and to auto-provision physical VoIP phones remotely.
"ALE Device is dedicated to making business communication easier and efficient, providing customers with UC terminals that meet and exceed their business needs," said Ba Min SEIN AYE, Head of Product and Marketing at ALE Device. "By combining ALE Device voice solutions with 2600Hz's KAZOO Advanced Provisioner, we will enhance productivity and improve the experience for customers."
Auto-provisioning and certification has been completed on the Myriad and Halo series, including: M3, M5, M7, H3G, H3P, H6. 2600Hz is also offering support for ALE's Easy Deployment Server (EDS) for Zero Touch Provisioning.
"We are happy to support ALE devices in our Advanced Provisioner," explained 2600Hz's Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Patrick Sullivan. "Their innovative hardware offers a real value-add to our partners, and we look forward to continued collaboration with ALE."
2600Hz's cloud communications platform KAZOO modernizes how businesses provide communications services to their customers. With thoughtfully engineered tools built by leaders in the telecom industry, KAZOO offers feature-rich UCaaS, CPaaS, and CCaaS solutions. For developers building their own telephony apps, 2600Hz offers 300+ APIs and provides access to the building blocks of the platform. For more information, visit http://www.2600Hz.com. 2600Hz is a privately owned company with a distributed team worldwide.
2600Hz Contact:
Clint Mohs
Head of Marketing
cmohs@2600hz.com
ALE China Co., Ltd, operating under the "ALE Device" trade name, is an audio technology expert in the global DeskPhone market, designing and marketing communication devices for enterprises. The company focuses on innovative technologies to develop a wide range of enterprise communication devices such as SIP phones, headsets, audio and video equipment for Unified Communications. These products can be integrated into a variety of solutions with simple provisioning tools, in a cost-effective, secure and flexible manner. Visit our website for more information: www.aledevice.com
ALE Contact:
Davy Zhang
Area Sales Director
davy.zhang@al-enterprise.com
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SOURCE 2600hz, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/2600hz-announces-support-alcatel-lucent-enterprise-devices-kazoo-platform/ | 2022-08-01T19:21:32Z |
CAUGHT ON CAM: Hammerhead shark chases stingrays off coast
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA/Gray News) -A hammerhead shark swimming off the coast of an Alabama beach was caught on camera chasing some stingrays Monday morning.
The video posted to Facebook has nearly 30,000 views as of Tuesday.
Catarena Peek told WALA she and her boyfriend, Alec Deshotel, come to Orange Beach every year. This time will be a trip to remember for the Texas natives.
“This is the first time we have ever seen anything like this for sure,” Deshotel said. “I look out the window … and there it is. Massive 10 to 12-foot hammerhead, whatever it is I don’t know, but it was a big one. We don’t know how big it was, but it was massive.”
The massive shark showed off its speed by chasing stingrays in the shallow part of the Gulf. In the video, the few people in the water scrambled to get out.
“There was some man down there screaming that there was a shark, and I guess they finally saw the dorsal fin and they realized how close he started getting so they started jumping out of the water as fast as they could,” Peek said.
Peek said she started recording because it was the second shark they had seen from their 10-story balcony at only 10 a.m. Her video took off on Facebook very quickly.
“I just ended up videoing it, and it was a really cool video, so I just posted to Facebook thinking a couple hundred of my friends would find it kind of cool, and then all of a sudden, I looked down at my phone and it was over 100,000 views and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s pretty cool,’” she said.
Peek and Deshotel said the sighting didn’t keep them from getting in the water. Peek is a certified diver and said she’s swam with sharks her entire life. Deshotel said he sees sharks while deep sea fishing. Still, this was a first for both of them.
“Once in a lifetime kind of experience for sure. It was just really cool to watch,” the couple said.
Copyright 2022 WALA via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/16/caught-cam-hammerhead-shark-chases-stingrays-off-coast/ | 2022-08-16T21:06:27Z |
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded GovCIO the Health Services Portfolio Technical Management and Strategic Solutioning Support contract, which has a total value of $390 million.
This contract is a follow-on effort to GovCIO's existing Health Portfolio Program Management Office and Technical Support contract, which began in 2018. Over the next five years, GovCIO will continue to provide IT program management, technical management, and strategic solutioning support for the VA Office of Information and Technology's (OIT) Health Services Portfolio, currently composed of approximately 450 products within nine product lines and two product offices.
"GovCIO is incredibly pleased to continue our partnership with VA OIT's Health Services Portfolio. Our team is committed to ensuring Veterans and their loved ones receive the best possible healthcare," said Jim Brabston, GovCIO CEO.
Using a comprehensive, scalable portfolio management approach and evidence-based, data-driven analyses, GovCIO will use modern Agile and DevSecOps practices to provide robust and seamless service delivery support that can continually meet the increasing and evolving needs of VA OIT's Health Services Portfolio. Specific work areas will include IT product line management, product management, technical management, financial management, requirements management, implementation management, release management, and schedule support.
"We are incredibly proud of the positive impact GovCIO has had on the VA OIT Health Services Portfolio over the past four years. We look forward to collaborating further with VA OIT to build on these successes and continue delivering the vital IT tools and resources that improve the accessibility, quality, and efficacy of care for Veterans," said Erin Mirsky, GovCIO Veteran and Enterprise Technology Sector Senior Vice-President.
GovCIO is a rapidly growing provider of advanced technology solutions and digital services to the federal government. In the 11 years since its founding, GovCIO has become a leading prime contractor supporting the mission of federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice, Veterans Affairs, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Government Accountability Office, and the Internal Revenue Service. GovCIO's core capabilities are in cybersecurity, digital services, data analytics, digitization, DevSecOps, and IT modernization. Visit www.govcio.com for more information.
Media Contact
Geraldene Darden
Manager, Marketing and Communications
GovCIO
geraldene.darden@govcio.com
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SOURCE GovCIO | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/01/govcio-awarded-390m-contract-department-veterans-affairs/ | 2022-07-01T16:25:05Z |
Biden tells Brittney Griner’s wife he’s working to get her home
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden spoke Wednesday with the wife of detained WNBA player Brittney Griner, who is on trial in Russia, to reassure her that he is working to win Griner’s freedom as soon as possible, the White House said.Biden’s conversation with Cherelle Griner followed Brittney Griner’s personal appeal to the president in a handwritten letter from the basketball player the White House received on Monday. In the letter, Griner said she feared she would spend forever in detention in Russia and asked Biden to not “forget about me and the other American Detainees.”Griner has been detained in Russia for four months and is currently on trial, accused of possessing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil.The call was placed as Griner’s family has become more aggressive in pressuring the Biden administration by speaking out about her case, including through Brittney Griner’s letter to the president and several television interviews by Cherelle Griner, who said she did not think the government was doing enough to bring her wife home.“The President called Cherelle to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible, as well as the release of Paul Whelan and other U.S. nationals who are wrongfully detained or held hostage in Russia and around the world,” the White House said in a statement. “He also read her a draft of the letter the President is sending to Brittney Griner today.”Biden offered his support to the family and committed to making sure they receive “all possible assistance” while the administration pursues steps to win Brittney Griner’s release, the White House said.Griner is in the midst of a trial in Russia that began last week after she was arrested on Feb. 17 on charges of possessing cannabis oil while returning to play for her Russian team. The trial is scheduled to resume Thursday.Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted and, unlike in U.S. courts, acquittals can be overturned.Cherelle Griner told “CBS Mornings” in an interview Tuesday that it was “disheartening” to her that she had yet to hear from Biden during her wife’s detention.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked repeatedly about Griner during her daily briefing Tuesday. She said Biden read the letter, but would not describe his reaction, other than to say, “This is very personal to him.”Jean-Pierre did not say whether there were plans for Biden to speak with Griner’s family, but noted that National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken both recently had spoken to Griner’s wife.Representatives for Brittney Griner on Monday shared excerpts from her letter to the president.In one, she wrote, “…As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever.”The letter was delivered to the White House on the Fourth of July, which Brittney Griner said was a special day for her family.“On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran,” the center for the Phoenix Mercury said. “It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.”Published Video | White House press secretary speaks about Brittney Griner’s letter to Biden UnpublishedBlurb: On Tuesday, July 5, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks about the letter Brittney Griner sent President Biden.Tease: On Tuesday, July 5, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks about the letter Brittney Griner sent President Biden. (Source: Pool via CNN)Edit InfoBiden offered his support to the family and committed to making sure they receive “all possible assistance” while the administration pursues steps to win Brittney Griner’s release, the White House said.Griner is in the midst of a trial in Russia that began last week after she was arrested on Feb. 17 on charges of possessing cannabis oil while returning to play for her Russian team. The trial is scheduled to resume Thursday.Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in U.S. courts, acquittals can be overturned.Cherelle Griner told “CBS Mornings” in an interview Tuesday that it was “disheartening” to her that she had yet to hear from Biden during Brittney Griner’s detention.Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.Biden tells Griner’s wife he’s working to get her home
By
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Joe Biden has called the wife of WNBA player Brittney Griner, who is detained in Russia, and has pledged that he is working to win her release as soon as possible. Biden’s conversation with Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, comes after Brittney Griner wrote Biden a letter on Monday. In the letter, Brittney Griner told the president she feared she would spend forever in a Russian jail. The WNBA star is currently on trial in Russia, accused of possessing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil. Biden’s call comes as Griner’s family has become more aggressive in pressuring the Biden administration by speaking out about her case,
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden spoke Wednesday with the wife of detained WNBA player Brittney Griner, who is on trial in Russia, to reassure her that he is working to win Griner’s freedom as soon as possible, the White House said.
Biden’s conversation with Cherelle Griner followed Brittney Griner’s personal appeal to the president in a handwritten letter from the basketball player the White House received on Monday. In the letter, Griner said she feared she would spend forever in detention in Russia and asked Biden to not “forget about me and the other American Detainees.”
Griner has been detained in Russia for four months and is currently on trial, accused of possessing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil.
The call was placed as Griner’s family has become more aggressive in pressuring the Biden administration by speaking out about her case, including through Brittney Griner’s letter to the president and several television interviews by Cherelle Griner, who said she did not think the government was doing enough to bring her wife home.
“The President called Cherelle to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible, as well as the release of Paul Whelan and other U.S. nationals who are wrongfully detained or held hostage in Russia and around the world,” the White House said in a statement. “He also read her a draft of the letter the President is sending to Brittney Griner today.”
Biden offered his support to the family and committed to making sure they receive “all possible assistance” while the administration pursues steps to win Brittney Griner’s release, the White House said.
Griner is in the midst of a trial in Russia that began last week after she was arrested on Feb. 17 on charges of possessing cannabis oil while returning to play for her Russian team. The trial is scheduled to resume Thursday.
Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted and, unlike in U.S. courts, acquittals can be overturned.
Cherelle Griner told “CBS Mornings” in an interview Tuesday that it was “disheartening” to her that she had yet to hear from Biden during her wife’s detention.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked repeatedly about Griner during her daily briefing Tuesday. She said Biden read the letter, but would not describe his reaction, other than to say, “This is very personal to him.”
Jean-Pierre did not say whether there were plans for Biden to speak with Griner’s family, but noted that National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken both recently had spoken to Griner’s wife.
Representatives for Brittney Griner on Monday shared excerpts from her letter to the president.
In one, she wrote, “…As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever.”
The letter was delivered to the White House on the Fourth of July, which Brittney Griner said was a special day for her family.
“On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran,” the center for the Phoenix Mercury said. “It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/06/biden-tells-brittney-griners-wife-hes-working-get-her-home/ | 2022-07-06T18:01:08Z |
MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI) today announced that its board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.43 per share. The cash dividend will be paid on Sept. 15, 2022, to all shareholders of record as of Aug. 25, 2022.
Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm that connects opportunities at great companies with highly skilled job seekers. The company offers contract and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, administrative and customer support roles.
Named to FORTUNE's World's Most Admired Companies®, the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and Forbes' list of America's Best Employers for Diversity, Robert Half is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm that provides internal audit, risk, business and technology consulting solutions.
Robert Half has talent solutions and consulting operations in more than 400 locations worldwide.
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SOURCE Robert Half | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/robert-half-announces-quarterly-dividend/ | 2022-08-02T21:39:14Z |
Alliance between industry leaders will expand international opportunities for clients
LONDON and BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- United Talent Agency (UTA), a global leader in talent, entertainment and sports, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Curtis Brown Group, one of the UK's largest and most prestigious literary and talent groups.
This alliance makes Curtis Brown Group the first prominent UK literary and talent representation group to join with a major global talent agency. For UTA, the deal significantly expands its global footprint in one of the world's most important and thriving creative markets. Under the terms of the deal London-based Curtis Brown Group, founded in 1899, will continue to operate under its current name and highly regarded management, including CEO Jonny Geller. This structure will allow both Curtis Brown Group and UTA to continue their fruitful and longstanding relationships with other agency partners in the UK and US.
The union is driven by a shared desire to ensure greater opportunities for clients across an increasingly global entertainment and culture landscape, in which traditional buyers and distributors such as studios and streaming services are expanding far beyond their home markets. The alliance provides Curtis Brown Group with resources to continue to build out its business, and the benefit of UTA's expertise across a wide range of capabilities in such areas as brands, podcasts, digital talent, endorsements, media rights, data analytics and more.
While the great majority of Curtis Brown Group's business is serving UK clients in their home market, UTA and companies in the Curtis Brown Group have collaborated successfully together for many years, in some cases working with talent such as Damian Lewis, Lily James, Alicia Vikander, Bel Powley, as well as rising star Ncuti Gatwa, who the BBC just named the next Dr. Who. The two ventures also share representation of screenwriters such as David Farr (The Night Manager, Hanna), Georgia Pritchett (Succession, Veep and The Shrink Next Door), and Tony Roche (Succession, The Thick of It).
For more than a century, Curtis Brown Group has been well known for its internationally recognized authors (including Margaret Atwood, Jojo Moyes, Lucy Foley, Lisa Jewell, Matt Haig, Nigella Lawson, and Ben Macintyre) and literary estates (including Ian Fleming, John le Carré, Daphne du Maurier, A.A. Milne, and John Steinbeck). Curtis Brown Group has grown and diversified over the last ten years, emerging as the UK's top talent agency with a string of acquisitions of other leading UK talent companies, including Markham Froggatt & Irwin in 2020, Tavistock Wood in 2018, Ed Victor in 2017 and C&W in 2013. Curtis Brown is also home to the world's first creative writing course run by an agency.
In addition to its eminence in publishing, Curtis Brown Group's many other industry-leading divisions include its global talent practice (representing actors, presenters, comedians, and other performers), and a prestigious theatre, film and television department (representing leading screenwriters, directors, producers, playwrights, and production arts talent).
For UTA, founded in 1991, the move further accelerates the company's momentum as it brings together ideas, opportunities and talent. This includes significant growth in its talent representation business as well as recent investments across entertainment, sports and marketing in leading ventures that continue to operate under their own names with ready access and close alignment to UTA's global platform and capabilities. This ongoing strategic expansion has included taking a significant stake in 2019 in Klutch Sports Group, which represents top U.S. athletes, and the 2021 acquisition of MediaLink, a leading strategic advisory and marketing firm that serves the world's leading brands.
David Kramer, Co-President of UTA, said: "This move is about the vanishing borders of the global entertainment business and our united determination to ensure artists and creators remain at the heart of the opportunities ahead. UTA and Curtis Brown Group have known each other and worked together for years, and we couldn't be more excited to be taking this step together at a time when the UK's creative industries are thriving. For UTA, this was driven by the profound respect we have for the Curtis Brown leadership, their deep roots in the UK, the team they've assembled, and their company culture. We're coming together in a way that is designed to ensure Curtis Brown's business and team – and their way of doing business in the markets they know best – continues to flourish and grow."
Said Jonny Geller, CEO of Curtis Brown Group: "We have long admired UTA under the leadership of David Kramer and its CEO, Jeremy Zimmer. Curtis Brown's deep understanding of the European market combined with their culture of collaboration and innovation offers our company and our clients many great opportunities. This partnership will allow Curtis Brown to grow and to respond to the demands of an increasingly globalised world. We have always prided ourselves on our ability to nurture new talent across all our departments and provide an open and inclusive culture, and we are excited to begin a new chapter in this wonderful company's 123-year-old history."
Jeremy Zimmer, Co-Founder and CEO of UTA, said: "The brand of Curtis Brown has been synonymous with great storytelling and rigorous artist representation for more than a century. We are thrilled to align with such a great team. As the world of media grows and contorts, UTA is looking for great partnerships to drive our growth. In Curtis Brown, we believe we have found just such a partnership."
Curtis Brown has more than 240 employees and is expected to continue to grow as a result of this deal. No staffing reductions are anticipated due to this transaction. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
UTA unites ideas, opportunities and talent. The company represents some of the world's most iconic, barrier-breaking artists, creators and changemakers—from actors, athletes and musicians to writers, gamers and digital influencers. One of the most influential companies in global entertainment, UTA's business spans talent representation, content production, as well as strategic advisory and marketing work with some of the world's biggest brands. Affiliated companies include Digital Brand Architects, Klutch Sports Group and MediaLink. UTA is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, New York and London. More information can be found at unitedtalent.com.
Founded in 1899 by Albert Curtis Brown, the company has a long and distinguished history as a world-renowned literary agency representing many famous writers, including Margaret Atwood, John le Carré, Anthony Horowitz, Bonnie Garmus, Winston Churchill Estate, Adam Kay, Bono, Elif Shafak, David Mitchell and David Nicholls.
Today, Curtis Brown also houses many other industry-leading divisions including a global Talent agency (representing actors, presenters, comedians, performers and below the line talent), and a prestigious Theatre, Film and Television department (representing leading screen writers, directors, producers, playwrights, and writer-performers).
The Curtis Brown Group is now home to over 240 members of staff and a vibrant ecosystem of companies that span the arts and culture sector. The Curtis Brown Group includes boutique literary agencies C&W (formerly Conville & Walsh) and Ed Victor Ltd, our in-house writing school Curtis Brown Creative, talent agencies Tavistock Wood and Markham Froggatt & Irwin and production companies Cuba Pictures and Open Book Productions.
Jonny Geller is CEO of The Curtis Brown Group.
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SOURCE United Talent Agency | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/13/united-talent-agency-acquire-curtis-brown-group-europes-top-literary-talent-agency/ | 2022-06-13T17:23:08Z |
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mi BANK announced today the appointment of Brian Schwartz, CFA, as Chief Investment Officer of its new Private Client, Family Office Group. In this role, Schwartz will be responsible for crafting strategic partnerships with sophisticated investment advisory firms across the United States.
"Michigan is my home, and I could not be happier to be back continuing my passion of using my institutional trading and portfolio management expertise servicing clients with sophisticated public and private market strategies," said Schwartz. "I look forward to developing Mi BANK's relationships across the industry, assembling a world-class team of strategic investment advisors, and growing the new Private Client, Family Office Group."
Schwartz joins Mi BANK with over 20 years of experience as a traditional money investor and hedge fund manager on Wall Street. He began his career in New York City, where he worked as a fixed income Portfolio Manager focusing on real estate mortgage securities. Prior to his new position at Mi BANK, he served as a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Marathon Asset Management where he co-managed over $2 billion in assets, including a portfolio for the United States Treasury during the 2009 financial crisis. Throughout his career, he has acquired skills in multiple fixed-income markets, notably Treasuries, mortgages, municipals, and asset-backed securities.
"Brian's unique experience across financial disciplines will bring a wealth of knowledge and opportunities to our organization and clients," said Bruce Kridler, CEO of the new Private Client, Family Office Group. "Today, the need for strategic and experienced portfolio managers is high. I look forward to Brian's leadership in his role as CIO and his expertise in working with high-net-worth clients."
Since moving back to Michigan in 2014, Schwartz has taught micro-economics and macro-economics at Grand Valley State University and provided consulting services to high-net-worth families regarding their private and public market portfolios.
Schwartz earned a Bachelor of Science from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and an M.B.A from Fordham University. He is a proud graduate of East Grand Rapids High School.
About Mi BANK
Mi BANK was created to set a new standard of excellence for business banking by providing next-level commitment to service, personalization, flexibility, and responsiveness. Located in Bloomfield Hills, Mi BANK offers a full range of products and services tailored to business owners. The goal of Mi BANK is to take care of businesses and the busy people who run them.
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SOURCE Mi BANK | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/brian-schwartz-named-chief-investment-officer-mi-bank/ | 2022-08-15T15:54:12Z |
SOUTHLAKE, Texas, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mixmi froyo, a premium frozen yogurt on a simple mission to support your gut health, is now available at major grocery stores across the U.S. including Kroger and H.E.B among others. Mixmi froyo is a functional frozen treat which helps support digestion and gut health with six live and active probiotic cultures that are combined with prebiotic fiber to support the good microbiome in your gut. In addition, mixmi froyo has received kosher certification.
Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of how important their gut microbiome is to their overall physical, mental, and emotional health. Science has shown you are able to change your gut health by making good choices in what you eat. "Choosing to eat foods that contain prebiotic fiber and probiotics can literally change your gut health for the better," said Kristin Harlander, cofounder of mixmi. "This can have a significant impact on how you feel and even on your overall immunity." Mixmi froyo contains both prebiotic fiber and probiotic organisms that work together making a more effective combination than either fiber or probiotics alone. Additionally, yogurt and frozen yogurt have been around for years and are gaining traction in the world of fermented foods for all kinds of natural healthful properties. "Mixmi froyo is a healthier, great tasting, fun frozen treat, that provides probiotics and fiber in a food easily eaten by the whole family."
Mixmi froyo is fermented with six live and active cultures resulting in billions of probiotics per cup. The added prebiotic fiber feeds the helpful probiotics that are naturally found in your gut. "It sounds complicated, but really, what you are doing by eating products with prebiotics and probiotics is supporting your gut and your digestive tract," said Harlander.
The star probiotic in mixmi froyo is Bifidobacterium, BB-12®, one of the world's best documented probiotic backed by over 180 clinical studies. These studies indicate that BB-12® may have beneficial effects on the immune and gastrointestinal systems. "We are excited to feature BB-12® in mixmi froyo because of these extensive studies and beneficial effects," added Harlander.
"Mainstream grocery stores have done a great job providing a variety of products containing probiotics and helping educate their customers on the benefits of these products," said Harlander. "Mixmi froyo brings these benefits and more to the ice cream aisle." Mixmi froyo is now available in grocery stores in 30 states and is packaged in a 4-pack of four fluid ounce cups, each having only 90 calories per serving. Mixmi froyo is available in the following flavors at retail: Ultimate Chocolate, Orange Dream, Más Mango, Mint Chocolate, Totally Vanilla and Vanilla Cupcake.
Mixmi froyo is available in elementary, middle and high schools across the country and is now being rolled out at retail to reach more consumers looking for healthier alternatives in the frozen treat aisle.
Visit www.mixmifrozenyogurt.com for more information or on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mixmi_frozen_yogurt/) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mixmifrozenyogurt).
Editor's Note: Food products can contain high numbers of probiotics, but if the probiotics are inactive (not alive), they will have NO benefit. Mixmi froyo contains verified live and active cultures in a prebiotic fiber dairy matrix.
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SOURCE Mixmi froyo | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/mixmi-frozen-yogurt-now-available-grocers-across-country/ | 2022-06-01T17:03:58Z |
WEST LINN, Ore., Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific West Bank (OTC: PWBO) today announced that Jason Wessling has been promoted to Bank President subject to regulatory approval. Jason will also continue as the Bank's Chief Financial Officer and will join the Banks Board of Directors.
"Jason was the first executive recruited after the capital raise in 2018. At that time, the Bank had roughly $90.0 million in assets. Since then, under Jason's leadership as CFO the Bank has grown to $300 million, a milestone the Bank celebrated in July. The Bank recognized Jason's leadership contribution in October of 2020 by naming him the Bank's first Executive Vice President. His accomplishments were magnified during the following two years and were a significant determinant to the Bank's 3x growth during a time of unprecedented economic challenge," Terry Peterson the Bank's Chief Executive Officer.
"The Portland Business community honored Jason's leadership and successes by naming him CFO of the year by the Portland Business Journal in 2021. Jason demonstrates the Bank's culture of relationship banking by focusing on the growth of each relationship the Bank has with the community, businesses, non-profits, and the amazing team of Bankers at PWB," said Ed Kawasaki Board Chairman of the Bank.
Before joining Pacific West Bank, Jason was an executive at Premier Community Bank as its Chief Financial Officer with prior experience with Moss Adams, a public accounting firm as a specialist within the Financial Institutions practice. Jason is a CPA in the State of Oregon and is a member of the Oregon Society of CPAs and the AICPA.
About Pacific West Bank: Information about the Bank's stock is available through the over-the-counter marketplace at www.otcmarkets.com (symbol PWBO).
Pacific West Bank was formed in 2004 by Portland businesspeople to deliver loan and deposit product solutions through experienced and professional bankers to businesses, nonprofits, professionals, and individuals. The Bank serves the greater Portland Metro area with offices strategically located in Downtown Portland, Lake Oswego, and West Linn.
Media Contact:
Terry A. Peterson
Chief Executive Officer
(503) 905-2217
tpeterson@bankpacificwest.com
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SOURCE Pacific West Bank | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/pacific-west-bank-announces-jason-wessling-bank-president/ | 2022-08-09T20:30:06Z |
XIAMEN, China, July 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 29th, Antaisolar, the leading supplier of the whole industry chain in PV mounting system, held a new product launch online event. At this event, Antaisolar's new product Taiyang Roof, a building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) product, was officially released.
"As the whole society attaches importance to low-carbon development, the distributed PV market will usher in broader development opportunities, and the combination of PV and building plays an increasingly important part of the PV installation," Antaisolar's CEO Jasmine Huang said. "Antaisolar has developed its distributed PV market for many years and accumulated rich technical experience".
Based on the BIPV market demand, Antaisolar vigorously develops R&D to build a new BIPV product, Taiyang Roof, which is dedicated to propelling zero-carbon transformation of buildings. To solve pain points such as poor security, inconvenience, troublesome O&M, and bad durability of industrial and commercial rooftop PV, Taiyang Roof has comprehensively optimized performance. It is worth mentioning that, this online launch was relayed to three different labs to showcase Taiyang Roof's unique advantages in waterproofing, installation, and materials.
First, Taiyang Roof can achieve a 100% waterproof effect, and the waterproof components used in the product not only prevent water leakage, but also protect the building. Secondly, The whole installation process of Taiyang Roof consists of only three steps "Placed, Clamped, Buckled", and the O&M can be preventive, lightweight and customized. Finally, Taiyang Roof is made of a high-performance aluminum alloy, which has been experimentally proven to perform 20% better than that of China's national standards with light weight and high strength. These characteristics ensure the safety, reliability and stability of Taiyang Roof, making it not only meet architectural standards and aesthetics, but also reduce system costs by 20% and increase efficiency by 50%.
As an industry-leading BIPV product, Taiyang Roof is economical and environmentally friendly with high recycling efficiency and has a service life of up to 50 years with the excellent after-sales service provided by Antaisolar, achieving the same life as buildings. There is no doubt Taiyang roof is a preferred product for PV building solutions.
The launch of Taiyang Roof is significant for Antaisolar to promote green transformation of buildings. In the future, Antaisolar will keep committed to the BIPV industry, aimed at promoting a zero-carbon transition and facilitating the development of clean energy.
https://www.antaisolar.com
sales.bipv@antaisolar.com
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SOURCE Antaisolar | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/01/antaisolar-launches-new-bipv-product-propels-zero-carbon-transformation-buildings/ | 2022-07-01T10:00:04Z |
Josh Martin and Reggie Gooden's new venture kicks off on Aug. 1
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new, independent business management firm launched this week led by two of the Entertainment industry's leading professionals.
360 Business Management, as the name implies, is a one-stop shop for Hollywood's new elite—musicians, actors, agents, youtubers and other creatives.
Named to The Hollywood Reporter's acclaimed Power Business Managers list, longtime colleagues Josh Martin and Reggie Gooden will lead the new firm.
"Timely communication, 24/7 access and Partner-level expertise are the central pillars of 360 Business Management," said Gooden. "We take a proactive, hands-on approach to client service to ensure their affairs are handled appropriately."
Gooden, with 22 years of business experience in finance, accounting and entertainment, began his career as a performer and music producer. He spent his early years at Sony Music Studios in New York. Gooden has produced several projects for hip-hop artists, and he ran an independent record label. In 2018, Gooden moved from Baltimore to Los Angeles to focus his practice on business management for Entertainment professionals. Major clients following him to the new firm include super-producer and multi-Grammy nominee HARV, who co-produced "Peaches" by Justin Bieber, Grammy Award winning musical prodigy, Cory Henry and actress/industry mogul, Bella Thorne.
Martin's background includes working for a national accounting firm where he earned his Certified Public Account (CPA) designation. He has consulted clients with varying degrees of size and complexity, including large corporations, partnerships and their respective owners. Martin has advised a diverse group of clients in a multitude of industries and specialty niche markets. Clients following Martin to 360 Business Management include actors Gregg Sulkin and Jake Picking, actress/director Frankie Shaw and social media personality Cashnasty.
Beyond the traditional business and accounting services offered by the firm, Martin says the firm prioritizes finding opportunities for clients to generate revenue and market visibility.
"More than just accountants, we specialize in blazing trails and in connecting the dots for our clients. We regularly introduce clients to new opportunities to accelerate their revenue generation and career development."
360 Business Management advises musicians, actors, agents, youtubers and other creatives across the Entertainment industry. Led by industry veterans Reggie Gooden and Josh Martin, the independent business management firm headquartered at The Warner Center in Woodland Hills, California, prioritizes access and opportunities for clients every hour of the day, anytime of the year.
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SOURCE 360 Business Management | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/top-hollywood-business-advisors-launch-360-business-management/ | 2022-08-01T17:55:34Z |
RA'ANANA, Israel, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Apowiser, an early-stage Israeli start-up that has developed PharmAssist, a chatbot-based system to support customers in the online purchase of Over-the-Counter (OTC) drugs announced today a $1.5 million seed funding round led by Longliv Ventures, a member of CK Hutchinson Holdings Limited.
Co-founded in 2021 by Prof. Eyal Schwartzberg, the former Head of Pharmaceutical & Enforcement Divisions of the Israeli Ministry of Health, the Company's offering is a timely response to the needs of consumers and suppliers, given the consistent growth in global sales of OTC drugs and the recent surge in online sales of OTC drugs, vitamins and other food supplements.
Apowiser's proprietary system, PharmAssist, is a novel digital online platform that assists consumers when they look to treat themselves with OTC medications. It allows consumers in a quick and discreet manner, to learn more about their condition, identify issues that should be escalated to a healthcare provider, check for allergies and potential sensitivities to ingredients of OTC medications, and purchase an appropriate OTC product. PharmAssist is a sophisticated system that is based on published medication data and a deep understanding of the practices of pharmacists. The current platform covers more than 600 OTC drugs & complimentary products, enabling treatment for more than 40 healthcare scenarios.
"The availability of OTC drugs has empowered consumers around the world take care of a large variety of mild medical conditions", explained Prof. Schwartzberg, Chief Science Officer and Chairperson of Apowiser. "This however has surfaced the need to find new ways to provide the essential information to enable the consumer to make the right choices. PharmAssist quickly and discreetly assists consumers in choosing a suitable OTC drug out of a large offering, while helping them to take into consideration any related medical condition".
"With the advent of online sales of OTC medications, Apowiser's offering has proven to be an essential tool for both consumers and pharmacies", said Dr. Dan Eldar, Executive Director of Longliv Ventures. "We are delighted to support Apowiser as it embarks on the journey to empower consumers around the globe to make informed choices regarding their health and well-being." Dr. Eldar, joined the board of directors of Apowiser upon completion of the investment.
PharmAssist is already in use by Super-Pharm, Israel's largest drugstore chain, operating more than 280 branches across the country with an accompanying strong online presence. "Super-Pharm sees a major increase in conversion rates in sessions where PharmAssist is used", said Michael Mitrani, VP E-commerce and Marketing at Super-Pharm online and member of the management board at Super-Pharm. "These excellent results testify to the considerable added value to our customers as they seek remedy among the wide range of OTC medications offered by Super-Pharm".
For additional information visit www.apowiser.com
About Longliv Ventures:
Longliv Ventures L.P. ("Longliv Ventures"), a member of CK Hutchison Holdings Group Limited. ("CKHH"), is a consumer-oriented digital health fund that focuses on investments in early stage ventures that seek to address significant health and wellness issues capable of producing global impact. CKHH has a pivotal role in healthcare through its A.S. Watson Division, the world's largest international Health and Beauty retailer with over 16,400 stores in 29 markets in Europe and Asia. Among its world-renowned brands are Superdrug, Rossmann, Kruidvat and Watsons.
For further details about Longliv Ventures, please refer to www.longliv-ventures.com
Contact:
Eyal Schwartzberg
eyal@apowiser.com
Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSRHT1xkzzg
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SOURCE Apowiser | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/apowiser-raises-15m-seed-funding-longliv-ventures-member-ck-hutchison-holdings-expand-global-reach-its-novel-digital-platform-that-empowers-consumers-make-informed-choices-when-selecting-over-the-counter-medications/ | 2022-06-21T12:05:47Z |
TAIPEI, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Throughout 40 years in industry, Hi-Lo Systems, the leading global provider of IC programming solutions, has established the programming network with almost 30 service centers around the world, providing customers in more than 60 countries with the most prompt and efficient supports.
What's so special about worldwide programming service?
For starters, Hi-Lo's local services are highly customized and professional. In any of Hi-Lo's programming center, customers are provided with completed and comprehensive value-added services. Hi-Lo understands it as experience that various requirement result from different market conditions. For example, for customers from automotive electronics, Hi-Lo offers optional 2D/3D quality inspection to assure these programmed IC are well protected physically; moreover, Hi-Lo offers secure programming for IoT products to keep customers from hacking and intellectual theft; lastly, Hi-Lo offers inking/marking, exchange of packages, and exclusive area for advanced devices programming, such as UFS.
Second, it prevents customers from shutting down production line for any cause. In addition to regular maintenance and repair on purchased equipment and re-training on new operators, Customers of Hi-Lo's can receive prompt and thorough on-site service for troubleshooting and urgent technical support within 24 hours when needed.
Lastly, it can guarantee sufficient supply of needed parts and consumables. In addition to simply sell these parts to customers, Hi-Lo offers services such as supply chain management, procurement planning through completed local distributorship. Consequently, customers of Hi-Lo's make reliable procurement plan for cost analysis and as well avoid potential shortage of required materials or shutdown in production line.
Affirming its leading industry position, Hi-Lo pursues more than completed worldwide service, but also keeps its technological capabilities as innovative and reliable as the market demand asks. As the founder of TSMC Morris C.M. Chang once described, for a semiconductor company to prosper perpetually, it should not only go global, but also strive for world-class technology.
To deliver world-class technology in device programming, Hi-Lo must identify and recognize the industry trends and the pain points of the current solutions.
For instance, programmable chips in automotive electronics industry consists mostly of various MCU and high density memory IC such as eMMC and UFS so as to deliver complicated commands in sequence, accumulate constantly-changing data from driving and analyze, and then adapt to various situations in roads based on these information.
The most evident pain points in programming automotive chips are that the supportability for developing new devices is not efficient or comprehensive enough; as a result, the customers would face unbearable lead time or poor technical support. What's worse, even when these devices are supported, the programming time for high density memory chips are too long, severely diminishing the efficiency and capacity in production line and thus costing significantly in long-term.
Hi-Lo addresses such issues. With over 100,000 devices supported by its programmers and over 100 R&D members delivering new device development and technical supports, customers won't compromise capacity and quality in programming; moreover, Hi-Lo develops its exclusive programming core for high density memory chips, delivering three to four times faster in programming eMMC and UFS.
Hi-Lo believes every customer deserves worldwide supports and world-class technology, as they are shaping the world of innovation!
For more information about HI-LO, please visit https://www.hilosystems.com/
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SOURCE HI-LO Systems | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/hi-lo-programming-supports-customers-everywhere-with-30-service-centers-around-world/ | 2022-08-15T07:36:00Z |
Strong Balance Sheet and Revenue Growth Drive Record Earnings and Returns
JERICHO, N.Y., July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESQ) (the "Company"), the financial holding company for Esquire Bank, National Association ("Esquire Bank"), today announced its operating results for the second quarter of 2022. Significant achievements during the quarter include:
- Net income increased 19% to $6.4 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, as compared to $5.3 million, or $0.66 per diluted share on a linked quarter basis. Net income and diluted earnings per share were $4.5 million and $0.57, respectively, for the second quarter of 2021.
- Industry leading returns on average assets and equity of 2.00% and 17.81%, respectively, as compared to 1.92% and 15.06% on a linked quarter basis. Returns on average assets and equity were 1.84% and 13.76%, respectively, for the second quarter of 2021.
- Strong net interest margin of 4.46% anchored by variable rate commercial loans as loan yields improved 16 basis points on a linked quarter basis. The net interest margin was negatively impacted in the current quarter by elevated levels of interest earning cash balances. Approximately 59% of our loan portfolio is variable rate and primarily tied to prime.
- Our loan portfolio increased $41.3 million, or 20% annualized, to $859.3 million on a linked quarter basis, as we continued to focus our digital marketing efforts and resources on higher yielding commercial loans anchored by our national litigation platform.
- Continued solid credit metrics, asset quality and reserve coverage ratios with minimal nonperforming loans and a reserve for loan losses to total loans of 1.20%.
- Deposits increased $65.6 million on a linked quarter basis, or 24% annualized, to $1.2 billion with a cost-of-funds of 0.10% (including demand deposits), a direct result of our highly efficient branchless and technology enabled deposit platforms. Demand deposits and escrow-based NOW accounts represented 44% and 39% of total deposits, respectively.
- Off-balance sheet sweep funds totaled $496.8 million at quarter end while the associated administrative service payments ("ASP") fees increased to $617 thousand due to increases in short-term interest rates. These sweeps represent additional sources of funding for future loan growth.
- Growth in payment processing fee income and small business clients nationally totaling $5.5 million and 72,000, respectively. Our technology enabled payments platform facilitated the processing of $7.1 billion in payment volume across 136.1 million transactions for our clients. Fee income represents 31% of total revenue.
- On June 2, 2022, the Company announced an exclusive agreement with B.E. Blank & Company ("BEB") to provide growth capital financing to commercial law firms nationally.
- Effective June 27, 2022, the Company was added as a member of the broad-market Russell 3000 Index as part of the 2022 Russell indexes reconstitution. Based upon its membership in the Russell 3000 Index, the Company has also become a member of the small-cap Russell 2000 Index.
- Esquire Bank remains well above the bank regulatory "Well Capitalized" standards
"Esquire will continue to create value beyond our financial sector peer group by coupling our industry leading returns with two significant national markets primed for disruption," stated Tony Coelho, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
"There is tremendous growth potential in both our national platforms due to the limited number of participants and the fragmented approach to finance and technology in both markets," stated Andrew C. Sagliocca, Chief Executive Officer and President.
Second Quarter Earnings
Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 was $6.4 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, compared to $4.5 million, or $0.57 per diluted share for the same period in 2021. Returns on average assets and equity for the current quarter were 2.00% and 17.81%, respectively, compared to 1.84% and 13.76% for the same period of 2021.
Net interest income for the second quarter of 2022 increased $3.0 million, or 28.2%, to $13.7 million, due to growth in average interest earning assets totaling $278.2 million, or 29.2%, to $1.2 billion and increases in the average yields on interest earning assets when compared to the same period in 2021. Our net interest margin decreased slightly to 4.46% in the current quarter as the margin was negatively impacted by elevated levels of average interest earning cash balances funded with low-cost core deposits. Average loans in the quarter increased $141.0 million, or 20.1%, to $841.3 million when compared to the second quarter of 2021, fueled by growth in commercial and multifamily loans. Excluding the effects of our PPP and NFL portfolios in the second quarter of 2021, average loan growth would have been approximately 30%. Our loan-to-deposit ratio was 74.4% as our low-cost deposit base increased $240.8 million, or 26.3%, fueled by demand and escrow deposits. The average yield on loans increased 12 basis points to 5.92% in the current quarter, demonstrating the positive impact short-term rate increases have on our variable rate commercial loans (approximately 59% of our loan portfolio is variable rate and primarily tied to prime). Average securities in the quarter increased $73.3 million to $208.1 million as management opportunistically invested excess liquidity in the bond portfolios driving average yields up 39 basis points to 1.99% and increasing interest income $495 thousand to $1.0 million in the current quarter. The increases in short-term market interest rates also positively affected the yields on other interest earning asset categories alongside those average yield increases noted in the loan and securities portfolios.
The provision for loan losses was $850 thousand for the second quarter of 2022, consistent with the same period in 2021. As of June 30, 2022, Esquire had an allowance to loans ratio of 1.20% as compared to 1.16% in the trailing quarter ended March 31, 2022. The increase in the allowance as a percentage of loans was related to qualitative factors due to the current economic and inflationary environment.
Noninterest income was $6.2 million for the second quarter of 2022, a $742 thousand increase from the same period in 2021, driven by increases in ASP and payment processing fee income. ASP fee income increased $607 thousand to $617 thousand for the second quarter of 2022, primarily due to increases in short-term interest rates on our off-balance sheet funds. Payment processing income was $5.5 million for the second quarter of 2022, a $162 thousand increase from the same period in 2021. Payment processing fees in 2021 totaling $5.4 million were positively impacted by $500 thousand in early termination fees on ISO contracts. Excluding these early termination fees, payment processing fees increased $662 thousand, or 13.6%, from the second quarter of 2021. Payment processing volumes and transactions for the credit and debit card processing platform increased $916 million, or 14.7%, to $7.1 billion and 21.4 million, or 18.6%, to 136.1 million transactions, respectively, for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021. These increases were driven by expansion of our sales channels through ISOs, increased number of merchants, volume increases, the reopening of the economy post pandemic and were facilitated by our focus on technology and other resources in the payments vertical. We use proprietary and industry leading technology to ensure card brand and regulatory compliance, support multiple processing platforms, manage daily risk across 72,000 small business merchants in all 50 states, and perform commercial treasury clearing services for approximately $7.1 billion in processing volume across 136.1 million transactions.
Noninterest expense increased $1.3 million, or 14.0%, to $10.4 million for the second quarter of 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021. This increase was primarily driven by increases in employee compensation and benefits, hiring related costs, data processing, advertising and marketing, and travel and business relations. Employee compensation and benefits costs increased $630 thousand, or 11.1%, due to increases in staff and officer level employees to support our growth, investment in digital platforms and related sales/marketing divisions, and the impact of salary, bonus and stock-based compensation increases. Due to the effects of inflation on the overall economy and consumer prices, we proactively increased our employees' base salary at year-end in excess of industry and national averages to support employee retention. Hiring related costs increased $188 thousand as we continue to invest in staffing to support our growth. Data processing costs increased $145 thousand, or 16.0%, due to increased processing volume, primarily driven by our core banking platform, and additional costs related to our technology implementations. Advertising and marketing costs increased $89 thousand, or 28.3%, as we continued to grow our digital marketing platform and expand our thought leadership in our national verticals. Travel and business relations costs increased $65 thousand as we re-engaged in our traditional high touch marketing and sales efforts to complement our digital marketing efforts.
The Company's efficiency ratio was 52.3% for the three months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to 56.5% in 2021.
The effective tax rate was 26.5% for the second quarter of 2022, as compared to 27.0% for the same period in 2021.
Year to Date Earnings
Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $11.7 million, or $1.43 per diluted share, compared to $8.7 million, or $1.10 per diluted share for the same period in 2021. Returns on average assets and equity for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were 1.96% and 16.44%, respectively, compared to 1.82% and 13.53% for the same period of 2021.
Net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2022 increased $4.7 million, or 22.9%, to $25.5 million, due to growth in average interest earning assets totaling $226.3 million, or 24.4%, to $1.2 billion and increases in the average yields on interest earning assets when compared to the same period in 2021. Our net interest margin decreased slightly to 4.44% in the current period as the margin was negatively impacted by elevated levels of average interest earning cash balances funded with low-cost core deposits. Average loans increased $120.1 million, or 17.4%, to $809.1 million when compared to the comparable prior year period, fueled by growth in commercial and multifamily loans. The average yield on loans increased 7 basis points to 5.84% when comparing 2022 to the comparable prior period, Average securities increased $67.4 million to $194.8 million as management opportunistically invested excess liquidity in the bond portfolios driving average yields up 32 basis points to 1.91% and increasing interest income $844 thousand to $1.8 million in the current year. The increases in short-term market interest rates also positively affected the yields on other interest earning asset categories alongside those average yield increases noted in the loan and securities portfolios.
The provision for loan losses was $1.5 million for the six months ended 2022, a $1.2 million decrease from the same period in 2021. The decrease in the provision relates to the reduced pandemic related uncertainty and the sale of our legacy NFL consumer loan portfolio to a fund in second quarter of 2022.
Noninterest income was $11.7 million for the six months ended 2022, a $779 thousand increase from the same period in 2021, driven by an increase of $598 thousand in ASP fee income, which is positively impacted by increases in short-term interest rates, volume and duration of off-balance sheet funds, as well as an increase of $108 thousand in our payment processing income. In the prior year, payment processing income included $500 thousand in early termination fees from ISO contracts. Payment processing volumes and transactions for the credit and debit card processing platform increased $2.2 billion, or 19.4%, to $13.3 billion and 44.5 million, or 21.3%, to 253.9 million transactions, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021. These increases were driven by expansion of our sales channels through ISOs, increased number of merchants, volume increases, the reopening of the economy post pandemic and were facilitated by our focus on technology and other resources in the payments vertical.
Noninterest expense increased $2.5 million, or 14.3%, to $19.8 million for the six months ended 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021. This increase was primarily driven by increases in employee compensation and benefits, hiring related costs, data processing, travel and business relations, and occupancy and equipment, offset by a decrease in professional and consulting services. Employee compensation and benefits costs increased $1.8 million, or 16.6%, due to increases in staff and officer level employees to support our growth, investment in digital platforms and related sales/marketing divisions, and the impact of salary, bonus and stock-based compensation increases. Due to the effects of inflation on the overall economy and consumer prices, we proactively increased our employees' base salary at year-end in excess of industry and national averages to support employee retention. Professional and consulting service costs decreased $121 thousand, or 7.7%, partially offsetting the increase in employee compensation and benefits as previously contracted consultants were hired, primarily in our technology development and digital marketing departments. Hiring related costs increased $175 thousand as we continue to invest in staffing to support our growth. Data processing costs increased $303 thousand, or 17.2%, due to increased processing volume, primarily driven by our core banking platform, and additional costs related to our technology implementations. Occupancy and equipment costs increased $92 thousand, or 6.5%, primarily due to amortization of our investments in internally developed software to support our new digital platform and additional office space to support our continued growth. Travel and business relations costs increased $116 thousand as we re-engaged in our traditional high touch marketing and sales efforts to complement our digital marketing efforts.
The Company's efficiency ratio was 53.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to 54.7% in 2021.
The effective tax rate was 26.5% for the six months ended 2022, as compared to 25.8% for the same period in 2021.
Asset Quality
At June 30, 2022, nonperforming loans held for investment were minimal, totaling $4 thousand. As of June 30, 2022, the allowance for loan losses was $10.3 million, or 1.20% of total loans, as compared to $14.0 million, or 1.98% of total loans at June 30, 2021. The decrease in the allowance as a percent of loans was primarily due to the charge-off of $9.0 million upon reclassification of the legacy NFL consumer post settlement loan portfolio from held for investment to held for sale during the third quarter of 2021 that was subsequently sold to a fund on April 1, 2022.
Balance Sheet
At June 30, 2022, total assets were $1.3 billion, reflecting a $251.6 million, or 23.8% increase from June 30, 2021. This increase was attributable to loans held for investment increasing $152.0 million, or 21.5%, to $859.3 million, driven by commercial and multifamily loans, funded with low-cost deposits. Excluding the effects of the NFL reclassification (third quarter of 2021) totaling $25.9 million and net payoffs of our PPP loans totaling $23.6 million, our loan growth was $201.5 million, or 30.6%, when comparing June 30, 2022 to 2021. Our higher yielding commercial loans grew 36.5% during this same period. Our sales pipeline remains robust, driven by our current and future digital marketing plans, robust proprietary CRM platform and our employees that support current and future growth. Commencing in the first quarter of 2022, we invested a portion of our excess liquidity in held-to-maturity securities, totaling $76.3 million at June 30, 2022. Our available-for-sale securities portfolio decreased $3.6 million, or 2.9%, to $122.7 million as compared to June 30, 2021.
The following table provides information regarding the composition of our loan portfolio for the periods presented:
Total deposits were $1.2 billion as of June 30, 2022, a $240.8 million, or 26.3%, increase from June 30, 2021. This was primarily due to a $117.5 million, or 29.7%, increase in noninterest bearing demand deposits to $513.1 million, a $115.6 million, or 22.8%, increase in Savings, NOW and Money Market deposits to $623.4 million, and a $7.7 million increase in time deposits to $19.0 million. The increase in deposits was primarily driven by commercial and escrow low-cost and noninterest bearing deposits from our litigation and small business platforms. Off-balance sheet sweep funds totaled $496.8 million at quarter end, representing additional sources of funding for future growth. Our deposit growth and off-balance sheet funds continue to demonstrate our highly efficient branchless and technology enabled deposit platforms.
Stockholders' equity increased $10.9 million to $145.5 million as of June 30, 2022, compared to June 30, 2021, primarily due to net income and amortization of share-based compensation, partially offset by other comprehensive losses of $11.6 million. This other comprehensive loss reflects the current unrealized losses on our available-for-sale agency MBS portfolio that have been negatively impacted by recent increases in short-term market interest rates and not due to credit concerns. Esquire Bank remains well above bank regulatory "Well Capitalized" standards.
About Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc.
Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Jericho, New York, with one branch office in Jericho, New York and an administrative office in Boca Raton, Florida. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Esquire Bank, National Association, is a full-service commercial bank dedicated to serving the financial needs of the litigation industry and small businesses nationally, as well as commercial and retail customers in the New York metropolitan area. The bank offers tailored financial and payment processing solutions to the litigation community and their clients as well as dynamic and flexible payment processing solutions to small business owners. For more information, visit www.esquirebank.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" relating to future results of the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: changes in business plans as circumstances warrant; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and results of operation; and other risks detailed in the "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements," "Risk Factors" and other sections of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are not a guarantee of future events, and that actual events may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "might," "should," "could," "predict," "potential," "believe," "expect," "attribute," "continue," "will," "anticipate," "seek," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "projection," "goal," "target," "outlook," "aim," "would," "annualized" and "outlook," or similar terminology. Any forward-looking statements presented herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
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SOURCE Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/25/esquire-financial-holdings-inc-reports-second-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-07-25T13:00:38Z |
Dr Pepper Continues the Tradition of Celebrating College Football Fans in Season Five of "Fansville" with All-Star Lineup
FRISCO, Texas, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Dr Pepper released season five of "Fansville" – the Dr Pepper episodic drama featuring parody storytelling from a college football fanatic town. "Fansville" returns this year to feature prolific Alabama Quarterback, 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, Bryce Young.
"It's a natural alignment for the best player in college football to be part of the most beloved annual campaign in college football. On the set of "Fansville" and on the field, Bryce brings his natural A-game," said John Alvarado, SVP of Dr Pepper Brand Marketing. "Partnering with Bryce is a continuation of Dr Pepper's commitment to supporting college athletes having tapped top talent in last year's campaign, and we're thrilled he is featured in this year's edition of "Fansville" as we bring to life the spirit of the sport and fandom."
Season five of "Fansville" is more dynamic than ever. Beloved characters including Logan, Jay, Natalie, Chuck, Charlotte, CJ and, of course, Brian Bosworth as 'The Sheriff' return as they face down the ever-changing landscape of college football with the help of a few new faces — most notably, Alabama star quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, Bryce Young.
This season's spots take fans on a 23-flavored rollercoaster. Get ready to watch Logan race against the clock to make kickoff, see CJ get replaced in his own home, witness a Dr Pepper Zero Sugar standoff between State students, and come along for a ride on the real-life 'coaching carousel'.
The partnership with Bryce Young will run all season long and is a natural continuation of Dr Pepper's commitment to college athletes. In 2021, following the NCAA and state rulings that allowed athletes to monetize their name, image, and likeness in brand promotions, campaigns and advertising, Dr Pepper was the first brand to break into the space by partnering with Clemson Tigers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei for last season's "Fansville" college football marketing campaign, among other college football quarterbacks.
"I'm thrilled to be working with Dr Pepper on this year's "Fansville" campaign," said Bryce Young. "It is an honor to have the opportunity to partner with one of my all-time favorite soft drinks brands. I am extremely excited about this upcoming season, and partnering with Dr Pepper makes it even more special."
Dr Pepper and "Fansville" are synonymous with college football as the brand is the first sponsor of the College Football Playoffs, presenting sponsor of the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy, and the first brand to partner and compensate a college athlete for participation in a marketing campaign following last year's mandates. Each year, Dr Pepper's "Fansville" campaign brings to life the spirit and fandom of the sport.
About Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper, a brand of Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), is the oldest major soft drink in the United States. Since 1885, the 23 flavors of Dr Pepper have earned legions of fans that enjoy its unique, refreshing taste. The brand is available in Regular, Diet, Caffeine Free, Cherry, and Cream Soda varieties. For more information, visit DrPepper.com or keurigdrpepper.com. For the brand's latest news and updates, follow Dr Pepper at Facebook.com/DrPepper, Instagram.com/DrPepper or Twitter.com/DrPepper.
About Keurig Dr Pepper
Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) is a leading beverage company in North America, with annual revenue in excess of $12 billion and approximately 27,000 employees. KDP holds leadership positions in soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, water, juice and juice drinks and mixers, and markets the #1 single serve coffee brewing system in the U.S. and Canada. The Company's portfolio of more than 125 owned, licensed and partner brands is designed to satisfy virtually any consumer need, any time, and includes Keurig®, Dr Pepper®, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters®, Canada Dry®, Snapple®, Bai®, Mott's®, CORE® and The Original Donut Shop®. Through its powerful sales and distribution network, KDP can deliver its portfolio of hot and cold beverages to nearly every point of purchase for consumers. The Company is committed to sourcing, producing and distributing its beverages responsibly through its Drink Well. Do Good. corporate responsibility platform, including efforts around circular packaging, efficient natural resource use and supply chain sustainability. For more information, visit www.keurigdrpepper.com.
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SOURCE Dr Pepper | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/dr-pepper-partners-with-alabama-quarterback-heisman-trophy-winner-bryce-young-2022-fansville-college-football-campaign/ | 2022-08-22T13:21:09Z |
NOVI, Mich., Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BrassCraft Manufacturing Company, a leading manufacturer of plumbing products, announces the retirement of George Werner, Vice President of Sales, after 27 years of dedicated service.
"I am thankful for the tremendous impact he has had on our company and the industry over the last three decades. We wish him the best as he enters his well-deserved retirement," said Tom Assante, President of BrassCraft.
Assuming the responsibilities of Werner, Mike Roberts now leads a unified global sales, marketing, and product development team as Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
"I am thrilled to take on this new role focused on honoring and continuing the storied BrassCraft legacy. Few brands earn the fierce loyalty of the plumbing professional that BrassCraft experiences every day; we are redoubling our efforts to deserve that loyalty through industry-leading quality and exceptional product solutions," said Roberts.
As 12-year Masco veteran, Roberts joined BrassCraft as Vice President of Marketing and Product Development in 2018, previously having managed the fixtures business at Delta Faucet Company for nine years. Roberts brings over two decades of experience in the home improvement industry, both in the U.S. and Europe.
BrassCraft Manufacturing Company is a leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of rough plumbing products for new construction and repair and remodel markets. Founded by Robert Zell in 1964, the company is headquartered in Novi, Mich., with manufacturing facilities across the United States. Through its industry leading BrassCraft® brand, the company provides a variety of solutions designed with the professional plumber in mind. Its portfolio of products includes water stops, water connectors/supply lines, gas connectors, water heater connectors, drain cleaning products, and hand tools. The brand is available at wholesale supply houses and home improvement retailers across the United States and Canada, and select international channels. The company upholds its commitment to promoting careers in the trades through its Zell Scholarship Program, providing scholarships for plumbing & HVAC apprentices. For more information, visit brasscraft.com.
Media Contact
Elena Taylor
Director of Marketing and Product Development
+1 (248) 374-3861 | etaylor@brasscrafthq.com
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SOURCE BrassCraft | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/mike-roberts-appointed-vice-president-sales-marketing-brasscraft-manufacturing-company/ | 2022-09-08T13:51:04Z |
NEW YORK, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wells Fargo Advisors today announced an expansion in the New York Madison Avenue branch with the addition of Yakub Mathew. Mathew will serve as Managing Director – Investments for the New York City office, which now includes 34 financial advisors in the New York City Area. Mathew has more than 34 years of wealth management experience and will focus on building and managing the investment business, strengthening client relationships and growing services for Ultra High Net Worth clients, focusing on the South-Asian market segment.
Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors, he served as a Managing Director and Global India Head, USA at Citi Private Bank for 12 years. Mathew also served as National Head of South Asian Banking at HSBC for 8 years.
Yakub graduated from St. Stephens College, Delhi, India with a B.A. (Honors) Degree in Economics and a Masters in Economics. He also holds an MBA from the Asian Institute of Management, Manila.
Wells Fargo Advisors' Madison Avenue office is located at 535 Madison Avenue.
With $1.88 trillion in client assets as of March 31, 2022, Wells Fargo Advisors provides advice and guidance to help clients maximize all aspects of their financial lives. Our vast network of financial advisors, one of the nation's largest, serves investors through locations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Wells Fargo Advisors is a part of Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management (WIM), a division within Wells Fargo & Company and one of the largest wealth managers in the U.S. WIM provides financial products and services through various bank and brokerage affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, Members SIPC, separate registered broker-dealers and non-bank affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. All data includes Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, as of March 31, 2022. www.wellsfargoadvisors.com
Investment and Insurance Products are:
- Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency
- Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate
- Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets, proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is the leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells
Fargo ranked No. 37 on Fortune's 2021 rankings of America's largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.
Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter: @WellsFargo
Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors, a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
Wells Fargo Advisors associates referenced, when registered, are registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC.
©2022 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved. CAR- 0722-02474
Caryl Ann Caristo
Wells Fargo Advisors
caryl.caristo@wellsfargoadvisors.com
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SOURCE Wells Fargo Advisors | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/yakub-mathew-joins-wells-fargo-advisors/ | 2022-07-26T17:56:44Z |
"Moo"dia Advisory: Moo Moo Express to Celebrate Grand Opening of Second Grove City Location with Free Crème De La Crème VIP Car Washes July 29 through August 7, 2022
Published: Jul. 27, 2022 at 10:56 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
Customers Encouraged to Bring a Monetary Donation for The Marcus Project
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
About Moo Moo Express Car Wash:
Founded in 2008, Moo Moo Express Car Wash is Central Ohio's award-winning, premier express car wash with 24 locations and growing. The Moo's fast, high-quality, and environmentally friendly car washes are 100% satisfaction guaranteed, and the Unlimited Wash Club, starting at $15.99 a month per vehicle, offers unlimited car washes at any Moo location. Home-grown and operated, Moo Moo Express is part of the Express Wash Concepts family of express car wash brands, and proud to be an avid supporter of the Central Ohio community. For more information, locations and hours, visit www.moomoocarwash.com.
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/moodia-advisory-moo-moo-express-celebrate-grand-opening-second-grove-city-location-with-free-crme-de-la-crme-vip-car-washes-july-29-through-august-7-2022/ | 2022-07-27T17:10:23Z |
Enjoy a season of good times and great food and drinks at an awesome price
ADDISON, Texas, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Razzoo's Cajun Cafe®, the spirited casual eatery that spotlights the flavor, fun, and festivity of New Orleans, is giving fans another reason to celebrate with their Cajun Fried Fat Tuesdays. Starting July 5th, guests may enjoy Cajun Fried Steak or Cajun Fried Chicken for just $10 all day on Tuesdays, as well as $5 select sips. The Fat Tuesday offerings are available at all participating restaurants for a limited time.
"We're delighted to offer our Cajun Fried Fat Tuesdays and celebrate one of our favorite holidays, but in the middle of the year," said Jeff Powell, Razzoo's Chief Executive Officer. "We couldn't wait another six months to celebrate Fat Tuesday, and with prices rising all around us, we thought the best way to party is with some flavorful deals on some of our most popular meals and signature drinks."
In addition to the $10 Cajun-Fried Steak and Chicken dishes, the Razzoo's Cajun Fried Fat Tuesdays will also feature $5 frozen Hurrycanes, $5 Mardi Ritas, and $5 22 oz. Draft Miller Lite, Michelob Ultra and Bud Light.
"This summer, we've got your back with our awesome food and drink deals. Guests can get a 22 oz. beer and Cajun-Fried Steak for just $15 on Tuesdays," added Powell. "Come on and join les bon temps with us!"
The bar drinks at Razzoo's are available for guests who are 21 years and older. Razzoo's always encourages a good time, but one that is enjoyed responsibly.
For more information about Razzoo's Cajun Cafe, including their menu and locations, visit www.razzoos.com or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Razzoo's Cajun Cafe passionately creates bold, flavorful, Cajun-inspired dishes that bring to life all the flavor, fun and festivity of New Orleans and the French Quarter. Founded in Dallas in 1991, Razzoo's operates 22 restaurants in TX, OK and NC. Razzoo's is privately owned. Learn more about Razzoo's by visiting www.razzoos.com or www.facebook.com/razzoos.
Media Contact:
Brianne Barbakoff
786-605-9250
brianne@inklinkmarketing.com
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SOURCE Razzoo's Cajun Cafe | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/razzoos-cajun-cafe-celebrates-cajun-fried-fat-tuesdays/ | 2022-06-28T15:04:59Z |
INDIANAPOLIS, April 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- American Legion National Commander Paul E. Dillard issued the following statement today concerning the passing of former Sen. Orrin Hatch:
"The American Legion is saddened about the passing of Sen. Hatch. He was a true champion for veterans and an ardent supporter of a constitutional amendment to protect our American flag. His willingness to put patriotism ahead of partisan politics earned him friends across the political aisle. In 2000, The American Legion proudly presented him with our organization's Distinguished Service Medal, our highest honor. His voice is already missed."
As a presidential candidate during the primaries of 2000, the longtime Utah senator expressed dismay at those who disrespected the American flag. "I really believe that if we don't protect the values that we have, if we can't stand up for the flag of the United States, our national symbol, what can we stand up for?" Hatch told The American Legion Magazine.
About The American Legion
The American Legion, the nation's largest veterans organization, is dedicated to the motto of "Veterans Strengthening America." Chartered by Congress in 1919, The American Legion is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome community programs, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security and continued devotion to servicemembers and veterans. Nearly 2 million members in more than 12,500 posts across the nation and regions overseas serve their communities with a devotion to mutual helpfulness.
Contact: John Raughter, Media Relations
jraughter@legion.org or 317-630-1350
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SOURCE The American Legion | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/24/american-legion-mourns-passing-orrin-hatch/ | 2022-04-24T19:19:38Z |
Colorful pageant, street parties to cap Platinum Jubilee
LONDON (AP) — Royal fans were hoping for an appearance by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace after a colorful street pageant through London on Sunday, the final day of a holiday weekend celebrating the monarch’s 70 years on the throne.
Thousands of performers will parade along a three-kilometer (nearly two-mile) route from Horse Guards Parade down the Mall to Buckingham Palace, telling the story of the queen’s life with dance, vibrant costumes, carnival music and giant puppets.
Festivities will begin with the ringing of bells at Westminster Abbey, and a military band will lead the gilded gold state coach, a horse-drawn carriage that transported the queen to her coronation 69 years ago.
The monarch won’t take part in the pageant, but archival video of her will be broadcast at the coach’s windows.
Royal fans braved the wet, chilly weather and camped out on the Mall overnight to secure the best view of the pageant. Some came for the celebrities due to perform, while others say they want to be part of a historical moment.
“It’s part of history it’s never going to happen again. It’s something special, so if you are going to do it you’ve got to go big or go home,” said Shaun Wallen, 50.
The queen hasn’t appeared in public for the Platinum Jubilee events since Thursday, when she smiled and waved on Buckingham Palace’s balcony with her family. She has limited her appearances in recent months due to what the palace describes as “episodic mobility issues.”
Still, she delighted the country when she appeared in a surprise comedy video that opened a concert Saturday staged in front of Buckingham Palace. In the video, the monarch had tea with a computer animated Paddington Bear — and revealed that, just like the furry character, she was partial to marmalade sandwiches and liked to keep them in her handbag.
Diana Ross and the rock band Queen headlined the star-studded tribute concert, which also featured Rod Stewart, Duran Duran, Alicia Keys and Andrea Bocelli.
On Sunday, celebrities including Ed Sheeran will belt out “God Save The Queen” outside Buckingham Palace as a finale to the pageant. Many hope that the monarch will make a second balcony appearance to round off the weekend of celebrations.
___
Jo Kearney contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/05/colorful-pageant-street-parties-cap-platinum-jubilee/ | 2022-06-05T12:09:53Z |
OSLO, Norway, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Play Magnus Group, a global leader in the chess industry, and FTX, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, will bring 8 of the world's best chess players to Miami in August with the FTX Crypto Cup 2022 which is set to be the biggest event in the history of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour.
The Meltwater Champions Chess Tour will cross the midpoint of its 2022 season with two events presented by FTX. In July, the FTX Road to Miami from July 10th to July 17th will set the stage and determine the players for the Tour's next Major, the FTX Crypto Cup, which will be held live in Miami from August 15th to August 21st.
The FTX Road to Miami in July will see 16 players compete for the coveted final spots at the FTX Crypto Cup in August. Currently world number 2 Ding Liren and young star Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa have qualified by placing 1st and 2nd respectively in May's Chessable Masters tournament, with World Champion Magnus Carlsen in a comfortable position to qualify as the current overall leader in the season.
At the FTX Crypto Cup in August, the world's best chess players will compete in Miami from the Eden Roc Miami Beach across 7 days of competition for the largest prize fund in the Tour season and vital points in the overall Tour 2022 season standings. The FTX Crypto Cup will feature a prize fund of $210K plus an additional $100K tied to the price of bitcoin provided by FTX.
"The 2021 edition of the FTX Crypto Cup received the highest press coverage of the Tour at that time, and highlighted the natural intersection of the two passionate chess and crypto communities in a thrilling tournament that saw Magnus win his first Tour event, and first of its kind integrations for both chess and sports. We are thrilled FTX has agreed to continue to expand their presence in chess by funding a physical event in Miami unlike any other before-seen chess tournament." said Andreas Thome, CEO of Play Magnus Group.
As part of the FTX Crypto Cup, an exclusive key will be offered for free to fans around the world that will unlock unique fan experiences including fantasy challenges, chess activities and giveaways, and $100K in rewards and prizes which will be distributed throughout the Summer and during the tournament. Anyone can claim the key for free by visiting https://ftxcryptocup.com/ and claiming the free NFT with their FTX wallet.
The event will be the second Major of this season's Meltwater Champions Chess Tour and kick off with a starstudded opening ceremony at the Eden Roc Miami Beach on August 14. At the opening ceremony, the Tour's first Celebrity Cup will feature celebrities paired with Tour players in a hand and brain showdown.
"Chess is a game open to everyone and anyone, much like blockchain technology, which provides financial opportunities to everyone from those on the institutional-scale to the unbanked. It will be fascinating to see how the players continue to innovate, as we always strive to do at FTX, and push the game forward during the Crypto Cup in Miami." said CEO and Founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried.
FTX is the Official Cryptocurrency Exchange Partner of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour and was the title partner of the FTX Crypto Cup in the inaugural season of the Tour in May 2021. The event featured the largest prize fund in online chess history and celebrated the growth of crypto and chess through unique broadcast integrations and more. The inaugural FTX Crypto Cup was one of the most watched chess tournaments on online streaming platforms and was won by World Champion and current 2022 Tour leader Magnus Carlsen.
Play Magnus Group is a global leader in the chess industry focused on providing premier digital experiences for millions of chess players and students. The company offers elearning and entertainment services via its market leading brands: chess24, Chessable, iChess, New In Chess, Everyman Chess, Silver Knights, CoChess, Aimchess, the Play Magnus App Suite, and the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour. The Group's mission is to grow chess to make the world a smarter place by encouraging more people to play, watch, study, and earn a living from chess.
Play Magnus Group is listed on Euronext Growth Oslo under the ticker PMG and OTCQX® Best Market under the ticker PMGMF. For more information visit pmg.me.
FTX is a crypto asset trading platform built by traders, for traders. FTX strives to be an intuitive yet powerful platform for all kinds of users, and to be the most innovative trading platform in the industry.
To learn more about FTX.COM, please visit: https://ftx.com/
FTX.COM is not available to US residents or residents of other prohibited jurisdictions, as set out in its Terms of Service.
FTX US is a US-regulated cryptocurrency exchange, built from the ground up. Its mission is for FTX US to grow the digital currency ecosystem, offer US and international traders a platform that inspires their loyalty, and to become a market-leading US-regulated cryptocurrency exchange.
To learn more about FTX US, please visit: https://ftx.us/
For further comments, contact
Arkus Fredriksson, Chief Strategy Officer, Play Magnus Group
arkus@playmagnus.com
Arne Horvei, Tour Director, Play Magnus Group
arne@playmagnus.com
Jay Morakis, CEO of M Group Strategic Communications (for FTX)
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SOURCE FTX | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/play-magnus-group-pmg-chess-arrives-miami-with-ftx-crypto-cup-2022/ | 2022-07-05T13:35:40Z |
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Relationships between politicians and the media who cover them have been tested throughout history, but on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 in the National Press Club's historic ballroom, fun and friendly competition will prevail as lawmakers and reporters compete in the uproariously entertaining Press vs. Politicians Spelling Bee.
Confirmed contestants representing the politicians team are 2019 champion Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL), Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), and Rep. Madeline Dean (D-PA).
Those confirmed in the press corner are Ramtin Arablouei, Co-Host of NPR's podcast Throughline, Amy Wang, National Political Reporter for the Washington Post, Eric Geller, Reporter for POLITICO, Farnoush Amiri, Congressional Reporter for The Associated Press, and Martine Powers, Senior Host of The Washington Post's daily news podcast "Post Reports."
National Press Club President Jen Judson of Defense News will serve as the host of this year's Bee, while Dr. Jacques Bailly, the Scripps National Spelling Bee's official pronouncer and 1980 winner of their competition, will officiate. Spellebrity judges include 2021 Bee Champion Zaila Avant-garde and 2022 Bee Champion Harini Logan.
Politicians are coming off a win in 2019, the last time the Bee was held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Washington press corps returns after the three-year hiatus and more competitive as ever as they look to take home an NPC Bee Champion Cup. Now tied with three victories a-piece over the last nine years of competition both teams are ready to go head-to-head.
The first such event was held in 1913, with newly elected President Woodrow Wilson in the audience for the inaugural showdown, which was won by members of the House and Senate. The Press vs. Politicians Spelling Bee was reinstituted on its 100th anniversary in 2013 and has become a Washington tradition since.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the Bee will start at 7:00 p.m. To purchase tickets to this event, please click here. Tickets will also be available at the door, along with a cash bar and complimentary snacks.
PRESS CONTACT: Kate Helster, khelster@press.org, (202) 662-7516
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SOURCE National Press Club | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/politicians-square-off-against-press-annual-national-press-club-spelling-bee-sept-14/ | 2022-09-09T21:37:01Z |
HOUSTON, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- US LED, the leading full-service provider of ultra-long-life LED lighting, announced a new partnership with global lighting control company Casambi to emphasize its intuitive mesh network capabilities with its products. By integrating compatible controllers and sensors, US LED can create a wireless solution for individual luminaire or zone level control – all within an interconnected Bluetooth network. Additionally, Casambi's intuitive app controls everything a lighting system requires, including scenes, schedules, and other compatible building solutions like air purification, while minimizing additional hardware and deployment costs.
"US LED is thrilled to partner with Casambi to combine their full range of wireless lighting control capabilities with our ultra-long life LED products," says Ron Farmer, CEO of US LED. "The high quality and performance of our products, combined with the easy commissioning and support from Casambi, will provide an opportunity for North American customers to integrate wireless controls easily and inexpensively into their commercial and industrial lighting applications. Casambi lighting controls can interconnect with other building control systems to future proof their facilities for the ever-expanding Internet-of-Things (IoT)."
"US LED is not only a top-tier LED lighting manufacturer, but they also provide design services and turnkey installations for some of the biggest industrial and commercial projects across the US. We are delighted to be partnering up to bring innovative solutions to this market," said Mark McClear, GM North America at Casambi. "Together, we can cater to the growing demand for seamless LED control solutions in a flourishing market."
For more information on US LED lighting solutions, visit our product pages or learn about our LED lighting controls for commercial and industrial projects.
About US LED, Ltd.
Since 2001, US LED has been a full-service provider of commercial and industrial LED lighting, sign lighting, and other building technology solutions. Thanks to decades of engineering expertise, US LED continuously offers ultra-long-life lighting that approaches or exceeds 200,000-Hour L70 lifetimes, backed by our industry-leading Ten-Year Warranty. Additionally, much of the product portfolio gets assembled in Houston, Texas.
About Casambi
Casambi is changing the way people and businesses light their surroundings. Since 2011, the Finland-headquartered company has established itself as the leading producer of wireless lighting control systems, using technology based on Bluetooth Low Energy. Hundreds of third-party ecosystem providers enjoy dynamic user experience, excellent reliability, and unparalleled performance. Casambi's technology can be integrated into anything from individual lighting fixture controls to industrial-scale solutions with cloud-based remote control, monitoring, and data logging. www.casambi.com.
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SOURCE US LED | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/us-led-ltd-establishes-strategic-partnership-with-casambi-wireless-lighting-control-capabilities/ | 2022-08-16T15:09:58Z |
- Aearo Technologies and related entities have voluntarily initiated chapter 11 proceedings
- 3M has committed $1 billion to fund a trust to resolve all claims determined to be entitled to compensation
ST. PAUL, Minn., July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 3M (NYSE: MMM) today announced it is taking action to resolve litigation related to Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 ("Combat Arms Earplugs"). Aearo Technologies and related entities ("Aearo Technologies"), all of which are wholly-owned 3M subsidiaries, have voluntarily initiated chapter 11 proceedings seeking court supervision to help establish a trust – funded by 3M – to efficiently and equitably resolve all claims determined to be entitled to compensation.
3M and Aearo Technologies believe the Combat Arms Earplugs were effective and safe when used properly, but nevertheless face increasing litigation, including approximately 115,000 filed claims and an additional 120,000 claims on an administrative docket as of June 30, 2022. The well-established chapter 11 process is intended to achieve an efficient and equitable resolution, reduce uncertainty, and increase clarity for all stakeholders, while reducing the cost and time that could otherwise be required to litigate thousands of cases. 3M and its other businesses have not filed for chapter 11 and will continue to operate as usual. Aearo Technologies will also continue to operate in the ordinary course.
"We have great respect for the brave men and women who protect us, and remain committed to the military as an active partner and valued customer going forward," said 3M chairman and chief executive officer Mike Roman. "We determined that taking this decisive action now will allow 3M and Aearo Technologies to address these claims in a way that is more efficient and equitable than the current litigation."
The company believes that, absent the actions taken today, the claims could take years, if not decades, to litigate on a case-by-case basis. With this change in strategy, this process is intended to resolve claims related to Combat Arms Earplugs in a manner that is more efficient and equitable to all parties.
Announcement Details
- Aearo Technologies was acquired by 3M in 2008 and has since operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3M.
- 3M has entered into a funding agreement with Aearo Technologies to establish a trust to resolve all claims determined to be entitled to compensation, and to support Aearo Technologies as it continues to operate during the chapter 11 process.
- The claims largely relate to the previous generation Combat Arms Earplugs manufactured by Aearo Technologies, as well as discontinued Aearo Technologies mask and respirator products utilized to reduce workplace exposure to asbestos, silica, coal mine dust or occupational dusts.
- Aearo Technologies has indemnified 3M for obligations related to the claims.
- 3M has committed $1 billion to fund the trust, based on the analysis of an experienced estimator of claims in chapter 11.
- 3M has also committed an additional $240 million to fund projected related case expenses.
- 3M will provide additional funding if required under the terms of the agreement.
As a result, 3M recorded a total pre-tax charge of $1.2 billion, or $1.66 per share, and reflected it as an adjustment in arriving at its results, adjusted for special items.
Additional Information
In conjunction with the chapter 11 process, Aearo Technologies will file customary first day motions with the bankruptcy court seeking authority to continue operating in the normal course of business, without interruption or disruption to its customers, vendors, and employees.
The Aearo Technologies chapter 11 cases were filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Additional information is available on resolvingearpluglitigation.com and www.3mearplugsfacts.com. Court filings and information about the chapter 11 cases are available on a separate website administered by Aearo Technologies' claims agent, Kroll; information is also available by calling (855) 639-3375 (Toll-Free US/Canada) or +1 (347) 897-3818 (International); or by emailing aearotechnologiesinfo@ra.kroll.com.
Advisors
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal counsel and AlixPartners LLP is serving as restructuring advisor to Aearo Technologies. PJT Partners is serving as financial advisor and White & Case LLP is serving as legal counsel to 3M.
Planned Spin-Off of Health Care Business
In a separate press release issued today, 3M announced its intent to spin off its Health Care business, resulting in two world-class public companies well positioned to pursue their respective growth plans.
To access the press release, please visit our press release page here.
Q2 2022 Earnings Results and Conference Call
In a separate press release issued today, 3M announced its second-quarter 2022 results and updated its outlook for the full-year 2022. Please see the company's second-quarter earnings press release for more details.
3M will conduct an investor teleconference at 9 a.m. EDT (8 a.m. CDT) today. Investors can access this conference via the following:
- Live webcast at http://investors.3M.com.
- Live telephone:
- Go to 3M's Investor Relations website at http://investors.3M.com and click on "Quarterly Earnings."
- Telephone replay:
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking information about 3M's financial results and estimates and business prospects that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by the use of words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "aim," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "could," "target," "forecast" and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance or business plans or prospects. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: (1) worldwide economic, political, regulatory, capital markets and other external conditions and other factors beyond the Company's control, including natural and other disasters or climate change affecting the operations of the Company or its customers and suppliers; (2) risks related to public health crises such as the global pandemic associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19); (3) foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates; (4) liabilities related to certain fluorochemicals, including lawsuits concerning various PFAS-related products and chemistries, and claims and governmental regulatory proceedings and inquiries related to PFAS in a variety of jurisdictions; (5) legal proceedings, including significant developments that could occur in the legal and regulatory proceedings described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021, as updated by the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 26, 2022, and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q (the "Reports"); (6) competitive conditions and customer preferences; (7) the timing and market acceptance of new product offerings; (8) the availability and cost of purchased components, compounds, raw materials and energy (including oil and natural gas and their derivatives) due to shortages, increased demand or supply interruptions (including those caused by natural and other disasters and other events); (9) unanticipated problems or delays with the phased implementation of a global enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, or security breaches and other disruptions to the Company's information technology infrastructure; (10) the impact of acquisitions, strategic alliances, divestitures, and other unusual events resulting from portfolio management actions and other evolving business strategies, and possible organizational restructuring; (11) operational execution, including scenarios where the Company generates fewer productivity improvements than estimated; (12) financial market risks that may affect the Company's funding obligations under defined benefit pension and postretirement plans; (13) the Company's credit ratings and its cost of capital; (14) tax-related external conditions, including changes in tax rates, laws or regulations; (15) matters relating to the proposed spin-off of the Company's Health Care business, including whether the transaction will be completed, or if completed, will be on the expected terms; the risk that the expected benefits will not be realized; the risk that the costs or dis-synergies will exceed the anticipated amounts; the ability to satisfy the various closing conditions; potential business disruption; the diversion of management time; the impact of the transaction (or its pendency) on the Company's ability to retain talent; potential impacts on the Company's relationships with its customers, suppliers, employees, regulators and other counterparties; the ability to realize the desired tax treatment (including whether an Internal Revenue Service private letter ruling will be sought or obtained); the risk that any consents or approvals required will not be obtained; risks associated with financings that may be undertaken and indebtedness that may be incurred in connection with the transaction; and (16) matters relating to the voluntary chapter 11 proceedings of the Company's subsidiary Aearo Technologies and certain of its affiliates (the "Aearo Entities"), including legal risks related to the chapter 11 proceedings; potential impacts to the Company's reputation and its relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, regulators and other counterparties and community members; potential impacts to the Company's liquidity or results of operations, including risks related to the amount that will be necessary to fully and finally resolve all of the Company's obligations to make payments to resolve such claims under the terms of its funding and indemnification agreement with the Aearo Entities; and the Aearo Entities' ability to navigate the chapter 11 proceedings to obtain approval and consummation of a plan of reorganization. Changes in such assumptions or factors could produce significantly different results. A further description of these factors is located in the Reports under "Cautionary Note Concerning Factors That May Affect Future Results" and "Risk Factors" in Part I, Items 1 and 1A (Annual Report) and in Part I, Item 2 and Part II, Item 1A (Quarterly Reports). The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements discussed herein as a result of new information or future events or developments.
Investor Contact:
Bruce Jermeland
(651) 733-1807
Diane Farrow
(612) 202-2449
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SOURCE 3M | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/3m-subsidiary-aearo-technologies-takes-action-efficiently-equitably-resolve-litigation-related-combat-arms-earplugs/ | 2022-07-26T11:47:46Z |
In the next iteration of the coveted Red Spade Pass, PokerStars will award epic Brazil Grand Prix experience
ONCHAN, Isle of Man, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As the 2022 Formula One season moves into its second half, PokerStars has announced the latest way for fans to get their hands on a 'Red Spade Pass' for the Brazil Grand Prix.
Available exclusively to PokerStars players, the Red Spade Pass will reward winners with the ultimate fan experience at Brazil's iconic Interlagos Grand Prix circuit. The experience includes an epic three days at the Brazil GP, flights, five night's accommodation in Sao Paulo, and a host of exclusive activities and guest appearances, all curated by PokerStars and enabled through the partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing.
On top of exclusive access and events, all Red Spade Pass winners will also receive a personalised message from an Oracle Red Bull Racing driver, PokerStars and Oracle Red Bull Racing merchandise, a poker coaching session with a PokerStars Learn coach, and offers and tickets from PokerStars, PokerStars Casino, and PokerStars Sports.
The first Red Spade Pass will be awarded at PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona in the €3,000 buy-in EPT Platinum Pass Mystery Bounty event. The Pass will be added to the prizepool and hidden in one of the envelopes awarded to players who knock out another. Bounties will begin from Day 2, with the event running until August 19.
More Red Spade Passes will be awarded across PokerStars and PokerStars Casino, with new ways to win being announced soon.
Director of Partnerships, Public Relations and Consumer Engagement at PokerStars Rebecca McAdam Willets said: "Our aim is to give our community epic moments that they will never forget. Together, PokerStars and Oracle Red Bull Racing want to bring entertainment to all of our fans and players, and this season we've seen some fantastic moments both on and off the track. As our partnership continues to grow, we're looking forward to bringing even more unique experiences to the PokerStars communities."
To celebrate the season getting started, the first sets of Red Spade Passes awarded winners from across the globe with a four day all-expenses paid trip for two to Nice and Monaco to watch the world-renowned Monaco Grand Prix from PokerStars private luxurious waterside location, overlooking the famous track.
To give the PokerStars community even more epic rewards, PokerStars launched a season-long programme of race weekend rewards encouraging fans and players to 'Embrace the Race'. From big-money casino drops to Formula 1 themed freerolls, the epic set of poker and casino prizes rewards fans for their support of the Oracle Red Bull Racing team, with some prizes getting a massive boost if the Oracle Red Bull Racing team take the top spot on the podium!
The leading global online gambling and entertainment brand, PokerStars, announced the partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing earlier this year. The multi-year partnership, which features branding on the RB18 and the race suits, is aimed at F1's growing audience as increasing technological advancements help to service and provide fans with new and unique ways to enjoy the sport.
Play Responsibly! For more information on responsible gaming please visit our website at http://www.pokerstars.com/about/responsible-gaming/
For further information, please contact press@pokerstars.com.
The full Red Spade Pass prize for the Brazil GP includes:
- ORBR ultimate fan experience at the Brazil GP
- Five nights' accommodation in Sao Paulo
- Return Flights for two people
- Personalised video message from an Oracle Red Bull Racing driver
- PokerStars and Oracle Red Bull Racing merch bundle
- $250/€250 PokerStars Sports bets *where available depending on region
- $250 in PokerStars Casino spins *where available depending on region
- $109 Sunday Million buy-in *where available depending on region
- One-hour poker lesson with a PokerStars Learn coach
About PokerStars
PokerStars operates the world's most popular online poker sites, serving the global poker community. Since it launched in 2001, PokerStars has become the first choice of players all over the world, with more daily tournaments than anywhere else and with the best online security. More than 200 billion hands have been dealt on PokerStars, which is more than any other site.
PokerStars is ultimately owned by Flutter Entertainment plc. (LSE: FLTR) (EURONEXT: FLTR).
Play Responsibly! For more information on responsible gaming please visit our website at http://www.pokerstars.com/about/responsible-gaming/
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SOURCE PokerStars | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/pokerstars-launches-unforgettable-trackside-fan-experience-with-oracle-red-bull-racing-brazil/ | 2022-08-11T17:23:30Z |
Tkachuk scores 40th, Flames beat Stars to win Pacific title
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk scored his 40th goal, Christopher Tanev scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period, and the Calgary Flames beat the Dallas Stars 4-2 to win the Pacific Division title. The Flames won their division for the eighth time in franchise history but just the third in the last 27 years. Noah Hanifin and Andrew Mangiapane also scored for Calgary, which is 8-1-1 in its past 10 games. Jason Robertson and Luke Glendening scored for the Stars, who lost all three games on their Western Canada trip as they fight for a wild-card playoff berth. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/04/21/tkachuk-scores-40th-flames-beat-stars-to-win-pacific-title/ | 2022-04-22T07:40:40Z |
The Unified Product Release Focuses on Accelerating Enterprise "Shift-Left" Toward Greater Self-Service and Process Automation
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Serviceaide, Inc., a global provider of modern IT and enterprise service management solutions, today announced product upgrades across its entire line of service management solutions, making the "shift-left" move toward self-service and automation easier and more cost-effective across a wide range of enterprise and customer service and support scenarios. The unified product release includes the introduction of Service Automation 2.0, a powerful automation engine that dramatically improves digital automation of services and processes to increase efficiency, lower costs and improve user experiences and satisfaction.
Service Automation 2.0 is a highly scalable, standards-based workflow engine with an open architecture that enables the definition and execution of any business process, leveraging the entire Serviceaide product portfolio as well as any other vendor application or database.
Automation 2.0 includes a variety of significant improvements to simplify the orchestration and monitoring of automated workflows across virtually any business process, inside, outside, or across the enterprise, or within a department. The new release includes a Business Process Mapping and Notation (BPMN) interface for visually diagramming processes, providing graphical insight into running processes for status or troubleshooting, and visualization of historic process executions without the need for understanding or diving into technical logs. A new KPI dashboard provides visibility and tracking of business results and the value created by automated workflows.
Integration of Automation 2.0 with Serviceaide's Luma Virtual Agent now enables easy development of a natural language interface directly into automated business processes.
"Automation stands at the core of digital transformation. It is essential to the shift-left move toward lower-cost, higher-quality self-service models that organizations are seeking to adopt," said Bill Guinn, Serviceaide CTO. "Automation 2.0 is a significant step forward in Serviceaide's commitment to continually improving our products to digitally automate manual processes, reduce costs, and improve customer experience and productivity."
In addition to Automation 2.0, the company announced product upgrades across its full product line, including:
- Luma Digital Suite, including Luma Virtual Agent and Luma Knowledge, Serviceaide's AI-powered intelligent virtual agent and knowledge management suite
- Asset Discovery Expert (ADE Version 2.0), the company's asset discovery and configuration management database, provides a comprehensive, up-to-date view into networked IT infrastructure to replace expensive, error-prone manual entry and audits
- The Point of Business (PoB) platform (Version 2.1), a low code, customizable enterprise service and support solution for use across a wide range of applications and functional areas, including IT Service Management
- ChangeGear (Version 8.3), Serviceaide's award-winning ITSM platform known for its comprehensive service management and exceptional change management capabilities.
- The Intelligent Service Management platform, a complete multi-tenant IT service management solution well suited to MSPs
Among other product improvements, ChangeGear now incorporates a Field Recommender powered by Luma, which uses machine learning to auto-populate end user requests to improve accuracy and actionability of service requests. ADE 2.0 will be fully integrated into Serviceaide's Point of Business, ChangeGear, and Intelligent Service Management Platform.
"Serviceaide is successfully delivering unified product releases capitalizing on our entire portfolio to bring consistent improvements to all of our customers and further leverage our core AI technologies across the portfolio," Guinn said.
Serviceaide is a leader in modern service and support. Serviceaide's vision is to transform service management, across ITSM, ESM and Customer Service. Serving customers around the world, Serviceaide applies breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing to deliver better experiences, provide enhanced self-service and empower service owners. Serviceaide transforms service through digital labor conversations, automation, and knowledge. For more information, visit www.serviceaide.com.
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SOURCE Serviceaide, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/serviceaide-launches-automation-20-part-unified-portfolio-wide-product-upgrade/ | 2022-06-22T12:28:26Z |
SEATTLE, July 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- QuoteWizard®, a LendingTree company and one of the nation's leading online insurance marketplaces, today released a report on the 70 best and worst driving cities in the nation.
QuoteWizard sets out each year to see which cities have the worst drivers in America. We analyzed data from six million car insurance quotes from drivers in the top 70 cities in the country. We evaluated cities on four factors to determine overall driver quality and took a composite ranking of overall incidents. Incidents include:
- Accidents
- Speeding Tickets
- DUIs
- Citations (running a red light, using a cellphone while driving, etc.)
Cities rated among the worst were those with the highest rates of incidents, and the best driving cities had the lowest rates of incidents.
To view the full report, visit:
https://quotewizard.com/news/posts/the-best-and-worst-drivers-by-city
Worst driving cities
- Bakersfield, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Richmond, CA
- Jacksonville, FL
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Milwaukee, WI
- Cleveland, OH
- Tampa, FL
- Columbus, OH
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Richmond, VA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Dayton, OH
- Greenville, SC
- New York, NY
- Providence, RI
- Honolulu, HI
- Miami, FL
- Omaha, NE
- Baltimore, MD
- Denver, CO
- Orlando, FL
- Columbus, SC .
- Portland, OR
- Madison, WI
- Kansas City, KS/MO
- Indianapolis, IN .
- Wichita, KS
- Phoenix, AZ
Best driving cities
- Louisville, KY
- Hartford, CT
- Little Rock, AR
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Tulsa, OK
- Dallas, TX
- Pittsburg, PA
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Chicago, IL
- New Orleans, LA
- Charlotte, NC
- Greensboro, NC
- Rochester, NY
- Memphis, TN
- San Antonio
- Nashville, TN
- Allentown, PA
- El Paso, TX
- Lexington, KY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Rochester, NY
- Durnham, NC
- Austin, TX
- Birmingham, AL
- Minneapolis, MN
- Albany, NY
- Seattle, WA
- Tucson, AZ
- Boise, ID
- Greenville, SC
- Atlanta, GA
- Boston, MA
- Charleston, SC
- Las Vegas, NV
The QuoteWizard research team evaluated driver quality from the 70 largest cities in America. We analyzed 2021 and 2022 data from millions of insurance quotes from drivers in the 70 cities using QuoteWizard.com. We used a composite ranking system to rank each city for their rate of incidents. Incidents include accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs and citations. Cities considered the worst had the highest rates of incidents among drivers.
QuoteWizard (quotewizard.com) is an insurance comparison marketplace for consumers looking to save on insurance. QuoteWizard provides consumers with direct access to thousands of qualified agents in all 50 states, as well as major carriers, who offer personalized quotes and the opportunity to save up to 40% on auto, home, health and life insurance. Agents and carriers, in turn, benefit from millions of highly qualified leads, calls and traffic to their websites. Based in Seattle, QuoteWizard was founded in 2006.
For more information, go to quotewizard.com, like our Facebook page and/or follow us on Twitter @quotewizard.
Related Links
https://quotewizard.com
https://quotewizard.com/auto-insurance
https://quotewizard.com/news/the-best-and-worst-drivers-by-state
Media Contacts:
Emily: emily@quotewizardnews.com
Press: press@quotewizardnews.com
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SOURCE QuoteWizard | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/13/annual-report-best-worst-drivers-finds-bakersfield-sacramento-baton-rouge-are-worst-driving-cities-nation/ | 2022-07-13T12:31:45Z |
ATLANTA and ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) announces the hiring of Allison Feldman as their new Chief Executive Officer. The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of Lewy body dementias (LBD), supporting people with LBD, their families, and caregivers, and promoting scientific advances. The Association's purposes are charitable, educational, and scientific.
Lewy body dementia is the second most common progressive dementia after Alzheimer's disease and the most expensive dementia in the U.S. Frequently misdiagnosed, LBD may initially mimic Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or psychiatric disorders. Common symptoms include progressive cognitive impairment, changes in movement called parkinsonism, visual hallucinations, a sleep disorder in which individuals physically act out their dreams, and unpredictable variations in cognition, attention, and alertness.
"The Board of LBDA is excited to welcome Allison as our new CEO and know she will be a great ambassador for our organization and to the individuals and families impacted by this disease," said Christina M. Christie, Board President. Lewy body dementia (LBD) affects an estimated 1.4 million individuals and their families in the United States. "At the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA), we are committed to increasing recognition and diagnosis of LBD and ensuring all families have access to the information and support they need along their journey," she added.
Ms. Feldman was previously the CEO of the Facial Pain Association and the Acoustic Neuroma Association. Over the course of her 19 years in the nonprofit arena, Allison brings experience in direct program provision, outreach, and engagement, budgeting and finance, marketing, and communications, fundraising and development, volunteer management, governance, grant writing and fulfillment, sponsorship engagement, donor cultivation, building relationships, collaborating with external partners, and producing programs for thousands of people. Allison holds a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Georgia.
"More and more attention is being given to LBD, and my mission for the organization is to make sure we capitalize on this opportunity to create more awareness so we can all have a better understanding and treatment options for Lewy body dementia (LBD)," said Allison Feldman, recently appointed CEO of LBDA. "I have been impressed with the team at LBDA, and I look forward to working with each of them to advance our mission," she added.
The Tolan Group (TTG), a Hunt Scanlon Top 50 Healthcare & Life Sciences Executive Search Firm, executed this search assignment. Kaye Johnson, Managing Partner, and Hailey Brandvold, Associate, led the search efforts for TTG.
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SOURCE The Tolan Group | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/tolan-group-completes-ceo-search-lewy-body-dementia-association/ | 2022-06-27T13:12:14Z |
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — In Ukraine, allegations mount of sexual violence against women by Russian soldiers. In northern Ethiopia, a woman taken to an Eritrean Defense Forces camp was raped by 27 soldiers and contracted AIDS. In Central African Republic the bodies of a woman and two girls were found days after their kidnapping and rape by armed fighters. And in Iraq, 2,800 Yazidi woman and children have been captives of the Islamic State extremist group for eight years, many subjected to sexual violence.
These are some of the examples raised at a U.N. Security Council meeting Wednesday on accountability for such acts in conflicts by Pramila Patten, the U.N. special representative on sexual violence in conflict, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, a member of Iraq’s Yazidi religious minority forced into sexual slavery in 2014 who escaped her Islamic State captors.
Patten’s opening words were aimed squarely at the U.N.’s most powerful body, which has approved five resolutions that focus on preventing and addressing conflict-related sexual violence. What do those resolutions mean right now, she asked, for a woman in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Myanmar or Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region?
At this time of “great global turbulence marked by multiple crises,” she said, the world has seen “increased militarization, including an epidemic of coups, which have turned back the clock on women’s rights.” And every new war has seen human tragedies “including new waves of war’s oldest, most silences, and least-condemned crime” — sexual violence and rape in those countries and others whose victims “cry out for justice and redress.”
Patten said the gap between commitments by the Security Council, and compliance and reality is evident: The latest U.N. report covering conflicts in 18 countries documents 3,293 U.N.-verified cases of sexual violence committed in 2021, a significant increase of 800 cases compared to 2020. Again, she said, the highest number — 1,016 — were recorded in Congo.
Patten also cited examples in other conflict areas: two women from the Rohingya minority in Myanmar’s Chin state gang-raped by government soldiers resulting in unwanted pregnancies; a woman allegedly raped at gunpoint by Puntland police officer in Somalia where she said “abduction, rape and forced marriage are rampant;” documented cases in Colombia of sexual violence against women ex-combatants and their families; and the torture and killing of a female police officer who was eight months pregnant in Afghanistan’s Ghor province.
The U.N. special representative said the few cases of courts convicting perpetrators “are still the exception that prove the rule of justice denied.” Justice must be delivered in communities as well as courtrooms, and victims must receive reparations to rebuild their shattered lives, she said, stressing that “justice, peace and security are inextricably linked.”
Murad said at moments of global instability — like today’s world shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, a climate crisis and war — issues like conflict-related sexual violence “tend to be pushed aside as though they are somehow secondary to the real issues.” But she said “the truth is these are precisely the moment when protecting, supporting and investing in women and girls should be urgent priorities.”
History shows that when conflict erupts brutality comes to the fore, and “we are seeing this in Ukraine as we speak, with reports of sexual violence that should alarm us.” Later, she told reporters, “my heart is with the people of Ukraine, especially the women and girls out there that are facing this brutality.”
“Sexual violence is not a side effect of conflict,” Murad said. “It is a tactic of war as old as time.”
Last year, a German court convicted an Islamic State member of genocide in a Yazidi girl’s death in a historic verdict, she said. But despite reams of evidence documenting atrocities IS committed against women and girls, she said the extremist perpetrators have faced few, if any, consequences.
Murad said survivors need “more than moral outrage” and urged the Security Council to vote to refer the Islamic State extremist group to the International Criminal Court to be tried for genocide and sexual violence. against Yazidis. In the meantime, she urged other countries to follow Germany’s example and use the principle of universal jurisdiction to try alleged perpetrators for war crimes.
“If you want to establish deterrence, if you want to assure Yazidi women and survivors everywhere that you stand with us, do not delay justice anymore,” she said.
Britain’s Minister of State Lord Tariq Ahmad, who chaired the meeting, joined her in launching “The Murad Code” which aims to tell investigators, journalists and others in the international community how to support survivors of sexual violence by reducing the burden on them and ensuring that their experiences are recorded safely and strengthen the pursuit of justice.
“The pathway to justice must have obstacles removed,” he said. “So ultimately, it’s all about survivors, that they know what their options are. … They have to be the center of our response.” | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/nobel-laureate-demands-justice-for-sexual-violence-victims/ | 2022-04-14T19:45:56Z |
Environmentally Friendly Carpet Cleaning Franchise Continues National Expansion
LAKEWOOD, Colo., May 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning, one of the nation's greenest and fastest-growing carpet cleaning franchises, is looking to continue expanding the brand across Rhode Island. The rapidly growing franchise company has three available territories in Providence, Newport, and Woonstock as well as other territories across the state.
"We can't wait to increase our positive impact across Rhode Island as local communities get to experience our fast-drying, eco-friendly carpet cleaning process," said Matt Kline, Director of Franchise of Development.
Over the past year, Oxi Fresh has awarded dozens of new franchise locations throughout Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Texas, California, Washington, Virginia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Georgia, Florida, New York, Nevada, and British Columbia. This recent expansion puts the company ever closer to 500 locations across the U.S. and Canada.
Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning – An Innovative Franchise
The carpet cleaning franchise company has, since first opening in 2006, stood out in its industry. Their rapid growth is due to many factors, and chief among them is consumers' love of the company's green, fast-drying cleaning system. Rather than rely on traditional steam cleaning practices that saturate carpets, Oxi Fresh employs a low-moisture cleaning method that utilizes the power of oxygen.
"We've created an environmentally friendly cleaning system that combines the best equipment with the highest quality products," said Jonathan Barnett, founder and CEO. "It can erase years of dirt with ease while also drying in just about one hour. What more could you want from a carpet cleaning?"
But the cleaning system, as we mentioned earlier, is just one factor behind the brand's growth. The company has also committed to providing its carpet cleaning franchisees with advanced business support tools. These include a centralized Scheduling Center, a specialized CRM designed for their business, automated marketing tools, and more. With these modern tools, Oxi Fresh's franchisees have the opportunity to focus on business development rather than mere daily tasks.
"As we continue to grow in the Northeast, we're excited to meet more Rhode Island entrepreneurs interested in our carpet cleaning franchise and customers looking for a cleaning," said Mr. Barnett. "Both will get to see what a modern carpet cleaning company can do."
About Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning®
Through innovative products and modern technology, Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning offers green carpet cleanings and exceptional results. The company's powerful combination of knowledgeable people, innovative technology, and strong processes has landed the brand in Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500, ranked in Inc. magazine's Inc. 500|5000, and saw them named as one of "America's Best Franchises to Buy," by Forbes magazine. Oxi Fresh has over 460 locations throughout the United States and Canada, with more locations currently in development. For more information, visit oxifresh.com.
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SOURCE Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/02/oxi-fresh-plans-expand-rhode-island/ | 2022-05-03T00:49:16Z |
Disciplined underwriting and reinsurance program distinguish Centauri, as many coastal carriers face significant financial stress and downgrades
OMAHA, Neb., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As insurers and consumers in Florida and all along the coasts face insurance availability and pricing problems as hurricane season looms, at least one insurer has strengthened its operations and management to weather the marketplace's financial stability storm.
Mr. Steve Menzies, Chairman of Applied Underwriters, speaking on behalf of its sister companies, Centauri Specialty Insurance Co. and Centauri National Insurance Co., leading property insurers in Hawaii with additional writings along many of the coastal states, including Florida and Louisiana, today announced that the Centauri companies have had their 'A' (Exceptional) rating affirmed by Demotech, the ratings organization that is central to homeowners insurers in hurricane exposed areas, their agents and consumers: "We are committed to sustaining our profitable position in the coastal states, including the Florida market, where we have managed to do better than the weather, including Hurricane Ida and other serious loss events."
Mr. Menzies further announced that Centauri had completed the transition of its operations to Omaha, Nebraska, while maintaining a local office in Sarasota: "Our restructuring and relocating of Centauri operations in Omaha adds another advantage to our agents and their customers: should a catastrophic event take place in any coastal state where we have a presence, our desk adjusters and claims staff are safely out of the fray and able to communicate with on the ground service resources with little stress on the central operations group." Mr. Menzies noted that Applied's national operations platforms based in Omaha are among the most sophisticated in the world: "Applied's approach in supporting all of our insurance programs across the globe, including Centauri, is bolstered by our operational expertise and technical capabilities."
Mr. Rick Espino, CEO of Centauri, indicated that "Agents are advised to submit renewals and policy applications as early as possible. We are meeting our quarterly new premium targets very quickly. As the marketplace suffers disruption and lack of availability, we find ourselves receiving a very large increase in submissions." He continued, "While our business in Florida is mostly in the commercial BOP sector, having moved gradually away from the troubled homeowners market there, we nonetheless continue to grow our core homeowners business on the coasts and remain ready to serve our agents and their clients' needs."
Commenting on the condition of the market in Florida and some other coastal states, Mr. Menzies stated that the market is beset by three basic problems: first, there is now limited commercial reinsurance available to insurers for hurricane risk; second, an aggressive, legislatively enabled trial bar has "played" the laws and the legal system using incredibly unfair and unreasonable mechanisms for their exploitation, such as public adjusters and the assignment of benefits; and third, given all of this, inadequate retail rates have persisted for many years, mispricing the actual risks underwritten.
Mr. Menzies continued, "Many insurers, especially the smaller, monoline property carriers, face off in lopsided, almost rigged battles against a trial bar which has become monstrously sophisticated in its use of data technology and unduly influential in creating manipulated legislation. This has placed Demotech, the primary rating agency for property insurers in the coastal regions, in a difficult position of having to report an inconvenient financial truth and has dragged it unwittingly into being a protagonist for an unlikely reform process in the Florida legislature and in other states."
Mr. Menzies concluded: "Demotech as scorekeeper is not the problem in Florida, Louisiana, or elsewhere; it is the trial bar's hegemony over state legislatures and the claims process in general, all leading to a now broken system with untenable economics."
For further information contact: Ryan Gerding, Public Relations, at +1 (913) 602-8531 or at press@auw.com.
Centauri Specialty Insurance Company and Centauri National Insurance Company are rated 'A' (Exceptional) by Demotech. Formed in 2006 and based in Sarasota, FL, Centauri Insurance is a property and casualty insurance company licensed to serve policyholders in 10 states including Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas. Centauri is well known for providing catastrophe coverage and for its ability to provide financial protection to its policyholders through innovative solutions and personalized service.
Applied Underwriters® is a global risk services firm that helps businesses and people manage uncertainty through its business services, insurance and reinsurance solutions. As a company, Applied Underwriters has been distinguished by its innovative approaches to client care and by its strong financial strength. Applied Underwriters operates widely throughout the US, UK, EU and Middle East. Its operational headquarters is located in Omaha, Nebraska.
Demotech, Inc. is a financial analysis firm specializing in evaluating the financial stability of regional and specialty insurers. Since 1985, Demotech has served the insurance industry by assigning accurate, reliable and proven Financial Stability Ratings® (FSRs) for Property & Casualty insurers and Title underwriters. FSRs are a leading indicator of financial stability, providing an objective baseline of the future solvency of an insurer. Demotech's philosophy is to review and evaluate insurers based on their area of focus and execution of their business model rather than solely on financial size. Demotech was the first to review and rate independent regional and specialty insurers. Demotech's consistently increasing list of accreditations and acceptances has resulted in rating and reviewing more than 400 insurers operating in the US.
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SOURCE Applied Underwriters | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/applied-underwriters-strengthens-centauri-its-a-rating-is-affirmed-transition-omaha-operations-center-is-completed/ | 2022-08-03T17:24:57Z |
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The recent tragedy at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa has deeply affected people across Oklahoma and the nation. MidFirst Bank and Saint Francis are both Oklahoma owned and rooted, and we support the victims, families and community impacted by this tragic event. Although nothing can truly heal the harm caused, together as a community, we can come together to support each other during this difficult time.
Beginning June 22, MidFirst will be accepting donations to support the Saint Francis Strong efforts at its banking centers and through a secure online portal accessed at midfirst.com/saintfrancis. Saint Francis will use these funds to support the victims and their families, as well as others impacted by the tragedy.
"The tragedy at Saint Francis has deeply affected all Oklahomans," says Jeff Records, CEO at MidFirst Bank. "We are committed to doing our part to support our friends and neighbors in Tulsa. MidFirst Bank is providing $100,000 to the help support the Saint Francis Strong efforts, and we are encouraging the community to donate at our banking centers or through MidFirst's website."
Join MidFirst Bank in supporting those impacted by the Tulsa tragedy by making a donation at any MidFirst banking center or online at midfirst.com/saintfrancis.
With $32.2 billion in assets and serving more than 900,000 customers, Oklahoma City-based MidFirst Bank is the largest privately owned bank in the country. MidFirst Bank has banking centers in Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado and Texas and provides commercial lending, wealth management, private banking and mortgage servicing nationally. MidFirst Bank also operates 1st Century Bank as a division of MidFirst Bank in Southern California.
Founded in 1960 by Natalie O. and William K. Warren, Sr., Saint Francis is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system wholly owned and operated in Tulsa, Oklahoma whose mission is to extend the presence and healing ministry of Christ to all who seek its services.
The health system is anchored by Saint Francis Hospital, a 1,100-bed tertiary center, which includes a 162-bed Children's Hospital with the region's only level IV neonatal intensive care unit, a 168-bed heart hospital and Tulsa's leading trauma and emergency center. The health system includes Saint Francis Hospital South, Saint Francis Hospital Muskogee, Saint Francis Hospital Vinita, Saint Francis Glenpool and Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital—a 90-bed private, psychiatric facility recognized nationally for its eating disorders program. Additionally, Saint Francis employs more than 500 physicians and advanced practice providers through Warren Clinic, which serves the region with over 90 locations throughout eastern Oklahoma.
To further Saint Francis' commitment to integrated healthcare delivery, it also operates a home care division, which includes hospice, home health and durable medical equipment companies. In total, the organization has more than 10,500 employees, making it the largest private employer in eastern Oklahoma. Saint Francis Health System also is a 50 percent partner with Ascension Health in Community Care Managed Healthcare Plans of Oklahoma, an organization dedicated to providing high-quality, cost-effective health insurance coverage to individuals and families in the area. Saint Francis' mission and Catholic identity guide and direct all facets of its ministry to provide for the medical, psychological and spiritual needs of the communities it proudly serves.
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SOURCE MidFirst Bank | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/midfirst-bank-supports-those-affected-by-tulsa-tragedy/ | 2022-06-22T18:33:44Z |
Louisville Eagles cancer fundraiser is Saturday
The Repository
LOUISVILLE − The Louisville Eagles will partner with the James Cancer Center Hospital of the Ohio State University for a cancer benefit from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the Louisville Eagles, 306 W. Main St. The public is welcome.
Dr. Ashley Rosko, associate professor and medical director of the oncogeriatric program at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, will be in attendance to answer questions.
There will be a silent auction, 50/50, food and beverages, including a beer tent. A DJ will play music from 2 to 4 p.m., followed by the Never Too Late band playing rock classics from the '60s through the '90s. Sign up at 1 p.m. for a cornhole tournament. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/louisville/2022/08/11/louisville-eagles-cancer-fundraiser-is-saturday/65398331007/ | 2022-08-11T14:27:34Z |
PITTSBURGH, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "We wanted to create a new way to enjoy music when opening a jewelry gift box," said one of two inventors, from N. Brunswick, N.J., "so we invented the SMART GIFT BOX. Our design would offer a unique box option when giving jewelry as a gift."
The patent-pending invention provides a modified design for jewelry gift boxes. In doing so, it offers an alternative to traditional analog musical gift boxes. As a result, it enables the user to select and play music or audio content and it enhances entertainment. The invention features a unique design that is easy to use so it is ideal for households. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.
The original design was submitted to the New Jersey sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-NJD-2434, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/inventhelp-inventors-develop-modified-jewelry-gift-box-njd-2434/ | 2022-06-22T15:50:09Z |
Updates remove engagement barriers allowing seamless communication with students delivered directly via chat and text
RALEIGH, N.C., June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Conversational marketing has emerged as a top inbound marketing strategy for companies everywhere. According to recent findings, 71% of consumers expect companies to communicate with them in real time. Element451, an AI-powered student engagement CRM for higher ed institutions, today announced its updated Conversations module, an all-in-one shared inbox of email, SMS, and chat box communication, which makes it easy for college admission teams to create and send personalized communication through the Element451 platform directly to students.
For college admission teams looking to enhance relationships with prospective students, Element451's enhanced Conversations module is now making it possible for higher education institutions to get ahead of the curve and integrate the industry standard marketing tactics that today's students have come to expect from their favorite digital streaming companies like Amazon, Netflix, and Spotify.
The Element451 chat box is embeddable on any school webpage and removes barriers to engagement by allowing for anonymous chats and providing ice breaker questions, keeping students in the driver's seat of the admissions process. In fact, recent findings suggest that chatbots and embedded messengers can reduce customer service costs by 30%, a welcome statistics for higher education institutions that have already suffered from a dwindling workforce.
Element451's automatic association and full-view student profiles helps staff know who they are communicating with, and a shared inbox ensures quick responses and communication can be transitioned from SMS to email at the click of a button.
To supercharge the adoption and value of Element's new Conversations module, Element451 is also now delivering Texting and Insights capabilities on an unlimited basis. Unlimited texting allows staff to connect one-on-one with students in a format they have come to expect, at no additional cost. Unlimited insights mean admission and engagement departments have complete access to a vast collection of insights, reports, and analytics helping them make sense of student interactions to enhance recruitment efforts.
"We're thrilled to bring Conversation upgrades to our new and existing users," says Ardis Kadiu, CEO and founder of Element451. "Our aim is to connect students and institutions through the power of technology. With these new enhancements, colleges can now market and interact with students just like their favorite brands, ensuring meaningful communication, a smoother process for staff, and a personalized experience for students."
For more information, please visit Element451.
Element451 is an advanced student engagement CRM, providing higher ed institutions with a competitive admissions advantage from recruitment to enrollment using AI, student behavior data, and modern marketing automation. The Element451 CRM leverages millions of behavior-based data insights to reach prospective students where they are, both in their journey and in their preferred channel to ensure the right message reaches the right student at the right time.
Media Contact:
Nicole Loring
Zer0 to 5ive
(617) 834-2190
nicole@0to5.com
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SOURCE Element451 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/higher-ed-crm-leader-element451-announces-conversations-module-enhancements-help-personalize-enrollment-engagement-communication/ | 2022-06-08T13:10:10Z |
Wall Street capped a week of losses with a broad rally for stocks Friday, as investors welcomed solid earnings from big companies and an encouraging report on consumer sentiment and inflation expectations.
A July survey from the University of Michigan showed that inflation expectations have held steady or improved, along with general consumer sentiment. The report was welcome following several government reports this week that showed consumer prices remained extremely hot in June, along with wholesale prices for businesses.
The report also bodes well for investors looking for signs that the Federal Reserve might eventually ease off its aggressive policy to fight inflation.
The S&P 500 rose 1.9%, snapping a five-day losing streak. Still, the gains weren’t enough to pull the benchmark index out of the red for the week.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.1% and the Nasdaq gained 1.8%. Smaller company stocks outgained the broader market, sending the Russell 2000 index 2.2% higher. Those indexes also posted losses for the week, however.
“Investors are saying, look, ’we’ve seen this before, where the market goes up smartly one day, only to turn back around the next day,’” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA.
Technology stocks, banks and healthcare companies made some of the biggest gains. PayPal climbed 6.3%. UnitedHealth Group rose 5.4% after raising its profit forecast for the year following a strong earnings report. Citigroup jumped 13.2% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after reporting encouraging financial results.
Bond yields mostly fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 2.92% from 2.96% late Thursday. The yield on the two-year Treasury rose to 3.14% from 3.13% late Thursday.
Inflation and its impact on businesses and consumers remains a key focus for Wall Street. The Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates in an effort to hit the brakes on economic growth, and curtail rising inflation. The Fed has already raised rates three times this year.
Wall Street has been worried that the Fed could go too far in raising rates and actually bring on a recession. Investors have been closely watching economic reports for clues as to how the central bank might react and the latest upbeat consumer sentiment report raises the chance of the Fed softening its current policy.
Traders have eased off of their bets that the Fed will issue a monster rate hike of 1% at its next policy meeting in two weeks. They now see a 30.9% chance of that happening, according to CME Group. That’s down significantly from Thursday. They now see a 69.1% chance of a three-quarters of a percentage point rate hike.
Economic data also shows that retail sales remain strong. A government report showed that retail sales rose 1% in June from May, topping economists’ expectations, while prices for everything from food to clothing rose.
All told, the S&P 500 rose 72.78 points to 3,863.16. The index has resisted dropping below 3,800, noted Stovall.
“Whenever we come down to about 3,800 and we bounce off it it’s a confirmation there are a lot of buyers at that level,” he said. “And we saw that yesterday as the market retested that level only to be pushed higher, and then today with encouraging fundamentals to go along with it.”
The Dow rose 658.09 points to 31,288.26 and the Nasdaq rose 201.24 points to 11,452.42. The Russell 2000 gained 36.87 points to 1,744.37.
Overseas, stocks in Hong Kong and Shanghai fell following a report that showed the Chinese economy shrank by 2.6% compared with the January-March period’s already weak quarter-on-quarter rate of 1.4%. China locked down major cities earlier this year to try and contain COVID-19 cases and more outbreaks this week in China and elsewhere in Asia have raised worries that COVID-19 controls might be restored, on top of existing precautions.
Investors have been reviewing the latest batch of corporate earnings to gain a clearer picture of inflation’s impact on businesses. Banks kicked things off with mixed results this week. Several big companies are on deck for next week, including Johnson & Johnson, Netflix, United Airlines and Twitter. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/asian-shares-mixed-after-china-says-growth-weakened-in-2q/ | 2022-07-16T08:58:39Z |
BOULDER, Colo., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Registration is open for the Working Together for an Equitable Energy Future Virtual National Workshop 2022, hosted by E Source and DEFG's Equity in a Clean Energy (ECEE) Collaborative. The workshop is open to the public.
The ECEE Collaborative is assembling stakeholders to discuss new approaches and tools to ensure affordability and equity in the US transition to clean energy.
This national workshop will feature keynote presentations by equity leaders, a variety of panel sessions, breakout sessions, new research, and customer survey findings with an emphasis on bringing voices of disadvantaged communities into the deliberations. The workshop is designed to be interactive to help build relationships between stakeholders. The online nature will ensure maximum participation nationwide.
The collaborative has invited musicians, videographers, and other artists to provide clips of their work and perspectives on equity and clean energy in their communities. And the event will premiere a voices-of-the-community documentary in partnership with NiSource, a dual-fuel utility serving nearly 4 million customers across six midwestern states.
"With the July 2022 acquisition of DEFG, E Source has gained important capabilities that help utilities with their transformation to a Sustainable Utility, in particular the component that focuses on customer equity. We can now help utilities improve their customer experience and manage affordability for customers as a whole, especially those who are most vulnerable," says Jamie Wimberly, senior vice president of Customer Strategy Solutions at E Source. "The ECEE collaborative and this national workshop play an essential role in helping utilities and communities come together to equitably serve all customers."
To learn more about the workshop, visit www.eceecollaborative.com and register today. Or email info@defgllc.com to connect with the collaborative directly.
E Source, the data authority for the utility industry, blends industry-leading research, predictive data science, and solution services to help utilities make better decisions to support their customers, their bottom line, and our planet. With a commitment to practical innovation, we use more than three decades of utility-focused experience and our unique solution set to help clients achieve their goal of becoming a Sustainable Utility. E Source is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, with offices across the US. For more information, see www.esource.com.
Contacts:
Media inquiries:
Sannie Sieper
sannie_sieper@esource.com
303-817-1996
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SOURCE E Source Companies LLC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/e-source-defgs-equity-clean-energy-economy-collaborative-host-public-workshop-address-an-equitable-energy-future/ | 2022-07-28T12:40:14Z |
Citing imminent danger, Cloudflare drops hate site Kiwi Farms
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Citing an “immediate threat to human life,” Cloudflare has dropped the notorious stalking and harassment site Kiwi Farms from its internet security services following an online campaign started by transgender Twitch streamer Clara Sorrenti to pressure it to do so.
“This is an extraordinary decision for us to make and given Cloudflare’s role as an Internet infrastructure provider, a dangerous one that we are not comfortable with,” CEO Matthew Prince wrote in a blog post Saturday in an about-face after earlier insisting that the company would not block the site. “However, the rhetoric on the Kiwifarms site and specific, targeted threats have escalated over the last 48 hours to the point that we believe there is an unprecedented emergency and immediate threat to human life unlike what we have previously seen from Kiwifarms or any other customer before.”
For years, members of the site created and operated by Joshua Conner Moon, 29, have congregated on what they call a “lighthearted discussion forum” to organize vicious harassment campaigns against transgender people, feminists and others they deem mockable. They gang up on victims and pool their personal details such as addresses and phone numbers in a practice called “doxxing,” spreading vile rumors and targeting workplaces, friends, families and homes. Another favorite tactic has been “swatting” — making false emergency calls to provoke an armed police response at a target’s home. Some people subjected to the group’s abuse have died by suicide.
Sorrenti, who goes by “Keffals” online, has been leading a campaign to pressure Cloudflare to drop Kiwi Farms. In August, she fled her home in Canada for Europe after she was doxxed and swatted. Her online stalkers, however, found her in Belfast, Ireland, as well and continued to intensify their harassment campaign against her just as her campaign against Kiwi Farms and its enablers was gaining momentum.
“When a multi-billion dollar corporation like Cloudflare has to drop Kiwi Farms because of an ‘imminent and emergency threat to human life’ it is no longer a matter of free speech. Removing Kiwi Farms from the internet is a matter of public safety for every single person online,” she tweeted on Saturday.
On Sunday, Kiwi Farms was inaccessible. But a version of the site with a .ru domain name was intermittently up and running, though it was not clear whether it would remain up.
The decision to drop Kiwi Farms Saturday was an about-face for Cloudflare and Prince, who earlier in the week put out a 2,600-word blog post — without mentioning the site by name — doubling down on the decision to protect it and comparing Cloudflare to a phone company that “doesn’t terminate your line if you say awful, racist, bigoted things.”
But Sorrenti and other targets of the site say it was far worse than that, as trolls on the site relentlessly pursued their victims offline — often for years on end.
“They are trying to get people to lose their jobs. They’re trying to get people to lose their housing, to be starving and homeless,” Liz Fong-Jones, a former Google engineer and cloud computing expert who is transgender, told the AP last week. “And then they go after people’s families and then they tell people that the only way out is to kill themselves.”
Moon started Kiwi Farms nearly a decade ago as a wiki site dedicated to harassing a transgender woman; Moon even used the woman’s initials in an early version of the site’s name. Over time its users began to target other people -- mostly active online users who are transgender, have autism or other mental conditions. Kiwi Farms in its current form was born in 2015.
An overarching theme of the site’s discussions centers on users’ fierce opposition to transgender children receiving gender-affirming medical care. Members typically refer to those who support such treatment as “groomers” and “pedophiles,” rhetoric that is also used increasingly by conservatives in their opposition to LGBTQ rights.
“There has never been a violent incident in our history, which cannot be said for many other sites still on Cloudflare. This narrative feels like a lie spun up to save face,” Moon, who posts on Kiwi Farms under the pseudonym “Null,” posted Saturday in response to Cloudflare’s cutoff. Reached earlier by The Associated Press to comment on the campaign against his site, Moon replied only “the press are scum.”
KiwiFarms.ru is registered to and protected by the Russian company DDoS-Guard, whose customers have in the past included Russian government websites including the Defense Ministry and cybercriminal forums where stolen credit cards are bought and sold.
Last year, DDoS-Guard protected the pro-Trump social media website Parler.com for a time after Amazon withdrew hosting services. KiwiFarms.ru was registered on July 12, suggesting Moon was aware Cloudflare could drop his site and thus created a backup plan.
DDoS-Guard did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on Sunday. Kiwi Farms’ internet connection is provided by VegasNAP, a Las Vegas-based company that said in response to queries last week that it does not disclose information about its clients. Contacted again Sunday, the company did not immediately respond.
“In the past, DDoS-Guard has been known to discontinue support for some seriously problematic websites, apparently as a result of press inquiries. That very well may happen again, in this instance, but I wouldn’t bet on it,” said independent internet expert Ron Guilmette. “Obviously, a lot has changed in the world since February 24, 2022, and I do believe that, in general, Russians these days, and over the past 6 months in particular, have learned to care a whole lot less about what the rest of the world thinks of them and/or their actions.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/09/05/citing-imminent-danger-cloudflare-drops-hate-site-kiwi-farms/ | 2022-09-05T11:01:21Z |
MG is in the midst of launching a new family of electric vehicles based on an in-house developed modular platform, but the company hasn’t given up on internal-combustion engines just yet.
In fact, it’s just previewed via social media a stylish MG 7 sport sedan that will go on sale in China later this year with the choice of turbocharged 1.5- and 2.0-liter engines.
More details, including which wheels are driven, will be announced closer to the market launch, but sources suggest the 1.5-liter engine will deliver around 183 hp and the 2.0-liter engine will put out close to 254 hp. More powerful versions with plug-in hybrid powertrains are expected to be added to the lineup in 2023.
The original MG 7 was a rebadged version of the old Rover 75, which MG launched when it was still MG Rover, shortly after it was acquired by China’s Nanjing Automobile in 2005. Nanjing, along with MG, was then acquired by SAIC in 2007.
Interestingly, the design language of the MG 7 is the same destined for a modern MG sports car that’s in the works, possibly with electric power.
As there are no plans in place to introduce MG in the U.S., there’s little to no chance of the MG 7 turning up for sale here. It may also end up being sold exclusively in China, as MG focuses on its growing EV range in other markets where the British marque operates.
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- 2022 BMW i4, 2023 MG 7, 2024 Range Rover Sport SVR: Car News Headlines | https://cw33.com/automotive/internet-brands/mg-7-returns-as-sexy-mid-size-sedan-with-internal-combustion-power/ | 2022-08-10T06:02:18Z |
Rewards-based checking account offers significant cash incentives, financial education, and perks to meet nurses' unique needs
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Laurel Road, a digital banking platform of KeyBank with specialized offerings for healthcare and business professionals, today announced the launch of Laurel Road Loyalty CheckingSM, the first checking account designed specifically to address the unique needs of nurses. As the newest addition to Laurel Road's line-up of digital banking products, Loyalty Checking seeks to help ease the financial burdens for nurses through one of the most rewards-driven checking accounts available to consumers, furthering Laurel Road's commitment to healthcare professionals.
With its recent launch of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) counseling services through KeyBank's acquisition of GradFin, Laurel Road is continuing to expand its offerings to provide essential support and guidance to nurses. Since its inception, Laurel Road has been committed to putting healthcare professionals' needs at the forefront and creating new, tailored services to fill product and market gaps. Continuing to see growing interest from the healthcare community, Laurel Road created Loyalty Checking, just one way its doubling down on expanding its marketing, technology, digital product development, and partnerships.
Loyalty Checking has no monthly fees and members can enjoy a variety of benefits, including:
- A $300 welcome bonus, up to $20 monthly cash rewards for the first year, and $10 monthly cash rewards for the lifetime of the account, with a recurring $2,500 minimum monthly direct deposit.
- Access to Perks! Partner network with exclusive offers, benefits, and discounts to premium brands such as Clove, Rise Brewing Co., p.volve, and more!
- Financial education tools and resources to help nurses reach their financial goals.
With the introduction of Loyalty Checking, Laurel Road builds on the momentum of Laurel Road for Doctors which launched in 2021. As the digital banking platform continues to enhance and expand its product set to better service its business and healthcare professional audiences, it is creating programs that cater to its members unique needs.
"Through our long-standing work with healthcare professionals, we know that many face financial challenges while navigating high debt and high-stress careers dedicated to caring for others, leaving them little time to balance personal and financial pursuits," said Alyssa Schaefer, General Manager and Chief Experience Officer at Laurel Road. "After hearing from our members and prospective nurse members, we know our investment in enhancing Laurel Road's offerings and incorporating tailored services and solutions for nurses will provide the financial assistance currently missing in the market."
To seed its Loyalty Checking, Laurel Road launched a TikTok nurse dance challenge with the help of Nurse Kala Baker, famed TikTok dancer, inviting RNs to participate in #LaurelRoad4Nurses. The contest ran from May 5 through May 21 and received more than 7.5B views on TikTok. As nurses from across the US competed for a cash prize of $10,000, Laurel Road garnered more than 7,000 nurse sign-ups for its product waitlist, demonstrating high demand and great need for the service.
With reports of many nurses living paycheck to paycheck with an average annual income of $77,600, according to a recent survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,1 this new service, coupled with increased expertise in PSLF, continues Laurel Road's dedication to provide nurses much-needed, tailored financial products and services they deserve.
To learn more about Laurel Road Loyalty Checking, visit laurelroad.com/nurses.
Laurel Road is a digital banking platform and brand of KeyBank that provides tailored offerings to support the financial wellbeing of healthcare and business professionals. Laurel Road's banking and lending solutions, including Laurel Road CheckingSM and savings accounts, Laurel Road Loyalty CheckingSM, Laurel Road Student Loan Cashback® Card, Student Loan Refinancing, Mortgages, Personal Loans and more, provide our members with a simplified, personalized experience that helps them better navigate their financial journey and achieve life's goals. Additionally, Laurel Road has reimagined banking and financial management for physicians and dentists through Laurel Road for Doctors, a tailored digital experience made up of banking, insights and exclusive benefits to provide the financial help and peace of mind they need through each career stage. The digital banking platform also expanded its offering to nurses with the launch of Loyalty Checking, the first checking account designed with nurses in mind. Through its partnership with GradFin to offer Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) services to healthcare professionals, Laurel Road will continue to strategically align with like-minded organizations that can enhance the service it offers to its members. Since 2013, Laurel Road has helped thousands of professionals with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees consolidate and refinance more than $9 billion in federal and private school loans. For more information, visit http://www.laurelroad.com. Laurel Road is a brand of KeyBank National Association. All products offered by KeyBank N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS # 399797. Equal Housing Lender. © 2022 KeyCorp® All Rights Reserved. Laurel Road is a federally registered service mark of KeyCorp.
Media Contact:
KWT Global for Laurel Road
646-989-8147
laurelroad@kwtglobal.com
1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, April 18). 2021 Registered Nurses Survey. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
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SOURCE Laurel Road | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/laurel-road-expands-healthcare-audience-offering-with-new-loyalty-checkingsm-tailored-nurses/ | 2022-06-21T13:57:29Z |
HONG KONG, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Cord Blood Corporation (NYSE: CO) ("GCBC" or the "Company"), China's leading provider of cord blood collection, laboratory testing, hematopoietic stem cell processing and stem cell storage services, is pleased to announce that Cellenkos, Inc. ("CLNK") recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has cleared its Investigational New Drug ("IND") application to initiate a Phase 1b, open-label study of CK0804 as an add on therapy to ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis who experience a suboptimal response to ruxolitinib. Details related to this news can be found via the following Cellenkos news announcement:
Ms. Ting Zheng, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of GCBC commented, "The Global Cord Blood team is encouraged by the above news announced by CLNK which highlights a potentially transformative treatment for myelofibrosis patients. We congratulate CLNK team on this development."
About Global Cord Blood Corporation
Global Cord Blood Corporation is an umbilical cord blood banking operator serving multiple regions in China. Global Cord Blood Corporation provides cord blood collection, laboratory testing, hematopoietic stem cell processing and stem cell storage services. For more information, please visit the Company's website at: http://www.globalcordbloodcorp.com.
For more information, please contact:
Global Cord Blood Corporation
Investor Relations Department
Tel: (+852) 3605-8180
Email: ir@globalcordbloodcorp.com
ICR, Inc.
William Zima
Tel: (+86) 10-6583-7511
U.S. Tel: (646) 405-5185
Email: William.zima@icrinc.com
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SOURCE Global Cord Blood Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/global-cord-blood-corporation-announced-cellenkos-receives-fda-clearance-ind-application-ck0804-add-therapy-ruxolitinib-treatment-myelofibrosis/ | 2022-06-16T21:48:51Z |
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Systems Planning and Analysis (SPA), Inc. is pleased to announce that Michelle Howell has joined the executive leadership team as Chief Human Resources Officer. Ms. Howell will oversee efforts to attract, retain, and develop SPA's growing workforce on three continents. She brings over two decades of experience shaping domestic and international talent strategies for several defense contracting companies while in senior leadership positions.
Ms. Howell is known for creating and strengthening a people-focused workplace culture and accelerating the digital work experience. Recognized for her leadership roles in workforce development and scaling HR functions, Ms. Howell counts among her professional accolades a special focus on women in leadership, employee engagement initiatives, and leadership development programs. She is an active member of the national Society for Human Resource Management and is also active in numerous charities and community programs.
SPA President and CEO William Vantine commented, "Since day one of SPA's 50-year history, our people have been our greatest asset. The values we share as we assist our clients with complex national security decisions continue to attract incredibly talented professionals. Adding Michelle to the team enables us to deepen our investment in the employee experience during a key time in SPA's expansive growth."
Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. is a premier international provider of innovative, leading-edge solutions in support of complex National Security programs and defense priorities. SPA's capabilities include Advanced Analytics, Software Tool Development, System Engineering, Strategy, Policy and Compliance, and Integrated Program Management. SPA employees are subject matter experts in numerous domains, including Land, Undersea, Surface and Air Warfare Operations; Intelligence Community, Radar and Sensor Systems; Unmanned Systems and Counter Systems; Nuclear Deterrence Policy, Safety and Security; Defense Industrial Base; Space Systems; Ballistic Missile Systems; Cybersecurity policy; and Hypersonics.
Media Contact: Sue Nelowet, Director of Communications, snelowet@spa.com
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SOURCE Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/systems-planning-analysis-announces-michelle-howell-chief-human-resources-officer/ | 2022-08-17T19:52:48Z |
SHANGHAI, Aug. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 9, Manhe Technology (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "NISAR" or "the Company"), a provider of intelligent driving platform-based tools and basic software in China, announced the completion of tens of millions of yuan in an angel financing round, all of which was exclusively invested by Chengwei Capital.
The round of fundraising will be mainly used to open up the existing tool chain development market, expand its core R&D team in Germany and China, test and validate closed-loop solutions, and take advantage of industrial resources to advance its R&D shift from tools to functions and from business stacks to operating systems. The Company will help OEMs to gradually realize the hardware-software separation from functional software, to basic software, and then to hardware from a top-level design perspective.
NISAR is an international company focusing on an intelligence-driven integration platform, with headquarters both in Germany, the birthplace of the modern automotive industry, and China, one of the world's fastest-growing emerging markets. With more than ten years of deep front-line R&D experience in the German automotive and peripheral industries, the core team has been dedicated to creating an integrated flexible real-time operating system for intelligent vehicle development, a highly collaborative SaaS-based developer platform, and a powerful toolchain for artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, in a move to continuously improve the efficiency of deployment and development, and to form an open and win-win ecology for complex software systems across the automotive, robotics, agricultural automation and related industries.
The Company's developer platform can be visualized as a business engine originally created for game development, providing a sophisticated toolchain based on in-depth industry knowhow, and linking every detail of a huge engineering system. Without the toolchain, it is difficult for even senior engineers to communicate with each other seamlessly. A sound toolchain can allow developers to do more with less. Endowed with the deep learning ability of AI, the whole toolchain can be continuously optimized in an automated fashion.
The SaaS-based developer platform, which is built upon the real-time operating system, allows system architects and developers to tailor their designs with proven widgets based on application scenarios, much like putting together Lego.
Now, the Company is taking the self-driving tool platform as a starting point and a first phase to help its partners in the industry quickly realize small-scale production of self-driving functions. The platform also combines traditional AutoSar architecture and new middleware into a plug-in system software package for different forms of domain control hardware, to create an integrated and flexible real-time operating system ecology by expanding its footprint into vehicle Ethernet applications from business stacks.
Dr. Zhu Ke, founder, CEO and CTO of NISAR, said, "Our strong team has long been committed to cutting-edge mass production projects alongside forward-looking scientific research efforts, in line with our love and passion for intelligent and automated technologies. We are aware that the development process requires a high level of openness and business continuity. From this standpoint, the platform is imperfect whether in China or in Germany. We are currently launching such a revolutionary product for the development and deployment of intelligent software systems that it will enable customers to get access to autonomous driving features, including personalized and customized functions, in a very short period of time."
The development of automotive intelligence has presented huge challenges to OEMs and suppliers around the world, including faster time to market for each car model, personalized requirements for innovative functions pushing up the complexity of designs, and the rapid iteration advancing self-driving technology into a new cycle.
Dr. Zhu added that a new intelligent software system has placed higher demands on existing tools and system software throughout the overall development process, whether in terms of the complexity of the architecture and the algorithm, the frequency of scenario data iteration, or the diversity of integration and optimization. It's not enough to meet the future market needs by simply improving or using a range of similar alternatives.
In response to the major pain points hobbling the industry, the Company's real-time operating system is equipped with a set of functions, including the disassembly, design, description, debugging and integrated deployment of both systems and modules, under a unified platform where several functions can be activated at the same time. It can make business stack information integrated, data and object convection automated, and middleware operating systems open and compatible, along with the combination of compatible open source algorithms and AI-aided design and automation, providing a user-friendly experience and achieving greater synergy by allowing for agile development.
According to Dr. Zhu, NISAR's integrated platform can help developers greatly enhance the efficiency of their R&D and deployments regardless of project life-cycle and team size. Taking his experience in Audi's zFAS development as an example, the leading and scrupulous German carmaker took 2 to 3 months to finish the planning and enter into mass production, even with every member of the R&D team in place. Now, using NISAR's integrated platform, such a project can be completed within a matter of days.
NISAR was established in both China and Germany in 2021. Dr. Zhu, the founder, graduated from Technical University of Munich, Germany. He has been engaged in big data analysis and parallel processing research at the German Aerospace Center for many years, and worked as a first-line core leader in German OEMs including Audi, Continental and TÜV SÜD as well as several Tier 1 suppliers for more than 10 years.
The Company's core team members have, for the most part, previously held important positions at Volkswagen and Continental, with four having received their doctorates in engineering from the top universities in Germany and the United States. Over the past decade, they have both led and been deeply involved in multiple aspects of German automotive engineering especially the development of core functionalities in vehicle systems and in sensor technologies. The team also includes several veterans from the communications and IoT sectors.
NISAR fully expects that its cumulative experience in the German automotive industry can serve to upgrade the sector in China in a way that is truly transformative. What the Company seeks to achieve is not just bring in alternative forms of research and development, but to do something that represents a genuine quantum leap in terms of change.
Furthermore, NISAR looks forward to playing a role as a bridge for the common development of the Chinese and German automotive industries, becoming a mutually-trusted good partner between the auto sectors of both countries. The Company plans to also use its experience and know how in the car industry as an entry point to apply its design tools and system software in agriculture, forestry, mobile robotics and intelligent distributed energy sectors, and by adding intelligent functionalities to mobile terminals, form a cross-industry intelligent industrial operating system.
About NISAR (Manhe Technology)
NISAR, founded in China and Germany in 2021, is specialized in the development of car-led real-time intelligent software solutions. With deep expertise in real-time embedded software engineering, Internet lightweight designs, and vehicle autonomy, alongside strong experience in scientific research and mass production, the team leverages AI and network technologies to integrate fragmented business stacks, providing users with a highly-automated design and deployment experience. Currently, NISAR offers architecture design, integrated tools and software for integration and deployment, as well as supporting edge deployment equipment. At the system level, NISAR's products are compatible with Autosar, ROS and other architectures, creating a unique methodology for middleware and operating systems. In terms of function, in addition to the launch of highly competitive modules for mass production, the Company makes open source codes modularized to handle customers' needs at different stages. Ultimately, NISAR seeks to build an open and win-win ecology with industry players for complex software systems such as vehicle autonomy, and to deliver an efficient, open and connected infrastructure for this ecology. For more information about NISAR, please visit www.nisar.ai.
About Chengwei Capital
Founded in 1999, Chengwei Capital is one of the first international venture capital firms to invest in Chinese domestic companies. With the unique investment approach of selecting and working with fewer but more focused companies, and in identifying and nurturing unicorns, Chengwei Capital has built the country's first Evergreen Fund with solid capital resources and perpetual duration.
Over the past 20 years, Chengwei Capital has invested in the high-end manufacturing, Internet, semiconductor, corporate services and healthcare sectors, with a cumulative total investment of over US$2 billion. It has invested in more than 150 technology companies in China, 16 of which have successfully gone public, including Sunny Optical Technology, AAC Technologies, Sungrow Power Supply, Hanting Hotel, Youku, China Renaissance, AInnovation, and Roivant Sciences. Its current investment portfolio also includes a number of unicorns, among them, Hellobike, WM Motor, Baibu, XAG, Sila Nano, and StarFive.
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SOURCE Chengwei Capital; NISAR | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/26/nisar-redefine-efficiency-vehicle-intelligence-development-deployment-with-investment-chengwei-capital/ | 2022-08-26T06:11:14Z |
Biden restores celebration of Eid al-Fitr at White House
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Monday, restoring celebrations of the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan at the White House after his predecessor scrapped them.
Muslims around the world typically abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan. Its end often means gathering for prayers, visiting family and friends and holding festive meals.
Addressing hundreds of attendees in the East Room, Biden said he’d promised as a presidential candidate to bring back marking Eid al-Fitr at the White House — but was forced to hold a virtual celebration last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Today, around the world, we’ve seen so many Muslims that have been targeted by violence. No one, no one should discriminate against or be oppressed, or be repressed, for their religious beliefs,” Biden said. “We have to acknowledge that an awful lot of work remains to be done, abroad and here at home. Muslims make our nation stronger every single day, even as they still face real challenges and threats in our society, including targeted violence and Islamophobia.”
Presidents have held Eid al-Fitr celebrations since the Clinton administration, until Donald Trump, who didn’t hold formal events. He instead released statements marking the holiday, including one in 2020 when Trump said of Muslims “we hope they find both comfort and strength in the healing powers of prayer and devotion.”
Biden said Monday that he’d recently nominated the first Muslim woman to the federal bench as part of a commitment to build an administration that values diversity and “looks like America.” He also jokingly compared fasting for Ramadan to his Catholic faith, which he said mandates that he make major sacrifices for Lent including having to “go 40 days” with “no sweets and no ice cream.”
Talib Shareef, Imam of Masjid Muhammad in Washington, known to some as “The Nation’s Mosque,” said of the White House gathering, “Being hosted here is an important statement for our nation and for the world.”
“A statement that Islam is a welcome part of our nation together with all the other faith traditions,” Shareef said. “And that the highest office in this land is committed to our nation’s foundational values and laws protecting religious freedom.”
Also addressing the event was first lady Jill Biden, who drew applause by saying that the holiday embodies above all “a joy born from love. Love for our families and for our communities, and for THIS community.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/02/biden-restores-celebration-eid-al-fitr-white-house/ | 2022-05-03T00:42:38Z |
ORLANDO, Fla. , June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Holiday Inn Club Vacations Incorporated, a national vacation ownership company, announced today that its Sunset Cove Resort and Panama City Beach Resort received an IHG Hotels & Resorts Spirit of True Hospitality Award for its 2021 accomplishments.
Considered the most prestigious honor among IHG Hotels & Resorts properties and colleagues, the annual Spirit of True Hospitality Awards program acknowledges hotels across the Americas – including the U.S., Canada and Latin America – for exceptional performance among several key customer criteria, including cleanliness and overall customer service and satisfaction.
Spirit of True Hospitality Awards winners received scores of 90 or higher (out of 100) on Guest Room Cleanliness and Guest Love (satisfaction) surveys. Holiday Inn Club Vacations Sunset Cove and Panama City Beach Resorts were two of nearly 400 winners selected among nearly 4,300 mainstream, upscale and luxury hotels in the IHG Hotels & Resorts network across the Americas.
"We are very proud of the hard-working teams at our Sunset Cove and Panama City Beach Resorts for earning this award, as it reflects their unwavering commitment to providing exceptional service and memorable experiences to our owners and guests," said Thad Gregory, Senior Vice President of Resort Operations at Holiday Inn Club Vacations Incorporated. "These resorts have been favorites among our owners and Club members for years. While each destination offers its own unique experience, both resorts are perfect for families seeking a scenic beach getaway with plenty of local activities to enjoy."
Situated on Marco Island, next to the city of Naples, Florida, Sunset Cove Resort overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and features three-bedroom Signature Collection villas, the Company's luxury product. In addition to its beaches and parks, Marco Island is known for its abundance of outdoor activities, such as golfing, fishing and boating.
Located on Florida's Emerald Coast, Panama City Beach Resort is a beachside property that offers direct beach access and waterfront views of the Gulf in all its accommodations. Panama City Beach is a popular beach town with numerous family-friendly attractions, well-known events and festivals throughout the year and a vibrant nightlife.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations is currently hiring for hundreds of roles across its offices and network of resorts. For more information on open positions, visit hicv.com/careers.
About Holiday Inn Club Vacations Incorporated
Encompassing 28 resorts, 7,900 villas in 14 U.S. states and more than 365,000 timeshare owners, Holiday Inn Club Vacations Incorporated is a resort, real estate and travel company with a mission to be the most loved brand in family travel by delivering easy-to-plan, memorable vacation experiences that strengthen families.
Based in Orlando, Fla., the Company has been a leader in the vacation ownership industry since 1982, when it was established by Holiday Inn® founder Kemmons Wilson with the opening of the Company's flagship property, Holiday Inn Club Vacations® at Orange Lake Resort next to Orlando's Walt Disney World® Resort.
Today, the Holiday Inn Club Vacations resort portfolio spans across the United States. Throughout its history, the Company has maintained the core family values true to its majority ownership by the Wilson family, while aggressively pursuing growth, transforming its member engagement model and building an industry-leading team passionate about the guest experience.
Media Contact:
Ashley Fraboni, Holiday Inn Club Vacations
407.315.8866
afraboni@holidayinnclub.com
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SOURCE Holiday Inn Club Vacations | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/two-holiday-inn-club-vacations-resorts-receive-spirit-true-hospitality-awards/ | 2022-06-14T16:40:46Z |
Portneuf Health Trust announces “Healthy City, USA” initiative
Pocatello, Idaho (KIFI)- A new community-led initiative from the Portneuf Health Trust is looking at making the Pocatello/Chubbuck area healthier
The "Healthy City, USA", has a goal of making the community a "model of health in the country and to build health and wellness in the community," says Shaun Menchaca, PHT President, and CEO.
“We’ve been discussing the natural elements that make the Pocatello/Chubbuck community healthy for several years," Menchaca said. "Key elements include a state-of-the-art hospital at Portneuf Medical Center, a health science focus at Idaho State University, and Portneuf Health Trust focusing on building community health and wellness.”
Menchaca explained they have a Facebook page, which will share all aspects of healthy living and wellness opportunities on the page.
"Healthy community activities of all kinds will be shared, which offers various supportive health and wellness activities. Typically, all PHT community wellness activities are free, and we strive to inspire everyone to become healthier by providing prizes and incentives," Menchaca said. | https://localnews8.com/news/top-stories/2022/04/29/portneuf-health-trust-announces-healthy-city-usa-initiative/ | 2022-04-29T22:43:08Z |
WINOOSKI, Vt., May 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SOOS is teaming up with CircleCI, the leading continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) platform, to offer CircleCI customers seamless access to SOOS's Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tool. Now users will have the ability to find, fix, and monitor known vulnerabilities in their app dependencies, without leaving the CircleCI platform.
CircleCI is the leading continuous integration and delivery platform for software innovation at scale. With intelligent automation and delivery tools, CircleCI is used by the world's best engineering teams to radically reduce the time from idea to execution. The company has been recognized as an innovative leader in cloud-native continuous integration by independent research firms and industry awards like the DEVIES, Forbes' Best Startup Employers of the Year, and Deloitte's Technology Fast 500™.
SOOS's cloud-based Software Composition Analysis tool scans your manifests in real-time. The open source software scan identifies vulnerable packages, indicates what the fix is, and integrates into the development team's CI/CD pipeline and workflow tools to make fixing and monitoring fast and simple. SOOS makes it easy to find all the license types included in the open source components of your project, as well as their dependencies. SOOS's robust web dashboard provides proprietary license attribution summaries, making it effortless to determine open source license allowances for commercial applications, web applications, internal applications, patentability considerations, source modifications, and attribution information.
"SOOS is on a mission to make software safer for everyone, by providing all developers access to the tools they need to identify and remediate open source vulnerabilities," said Becca Newton, SOOS's V.P. of Business Development. "These partnerships allow us to broaden our reach and fulfill our mission to provide streamlined, affordable solutions to the developer community. We're breaking down the barriers, because safety and security are our top priorities."
To sign up or learn more about CircleCI, visit: www.circleci.com/signup
To see SOOS's full suite of capabilities and learn more about our mission to make software safer for everyone, visit www.SOOS.io
About SOOS
SOOS is on a mission to democratize software security. Founded in 2020, SOOS makes it easy to identify and remediate open source vulnerabilities, with a straightforward pricing model and easy workflow integration. Peace of mind, without the hassle, means safer software for everyone.
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SOURCE SOOS | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/25/soos-partners-with-circleci-offer-seamless-vulnerability-identification-remediation/ | 2022-05-25T16:08:54Z |
Hyundai to build $5.5 billion EV and battery plant in the US. Here’s where
By Ramishah Maruf, CNN
Georgia will be home to Hyundai’s first dedicated EV plant and battery manufacturing facility in the United States, the company announced Friday.
Hyundai is investing almost $5.5 billion into the EV plant in Bryan County, Georgia, creating 8,100 new jobs.
The plant expects to reach a capacity of 300,000 units a year when it begins commercial production in the first half of 2025. The facility plans to break ground early next year.
Hyundai said the battery manufacturing facility will be launched with a “strategic partnership,” details of which will be announced at a later date. It will also announce which auto models will be produced at the plant later.
“Through the battery manufacturing facility, the Group also aims to establish a stable supply chain and build a healthy EV ecosystem in the U.S.,” Hyundai said in a statement.
The plant will take up almost 3,000 acres in Bryan County, which is located approximately 30 miles from the Port of Savannah. Kia’s manufacturing hub is already in West Point, Georgia, about 275 miles away. Hyundai said it chose Georgia because of its “speed-to-market, talented workforce, as well as existing network.”
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp attended the official signing ceremony in Bryan County, along with executives from the company.
“The U.S. has always held an important place in the Group’s global strategy, and we are excited to partner with the State of Georgia to achieve our shared goal of electrified mobility and sustainability in the U.S.,” Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung said in a statement.
Hyundai announced in 2021 that it was investing $7.4 billion to foster innovation in US mobility, which included production of EVs, over the next four years. The company wants to be a top three EV provider in the country by 2026, it said in a release.
Google search interest for electric vehicles reached a record high in the US in March, as gas prices sky rocketed, though it doesn’t mean consumers are actually buying them. But Volkswagen has already sold out of electric vehicles in key markets this year, reflecting both soaring demand and supply chain constraints.
And the plant will help achieve President Joe Biden’s goal of making the US the world’s leading manufacturer of electric vehicles, proposing last year to invest $174 billion in the sector.
— CNN’s Rachel Ramirez and Anna Cooban contributed reporting.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/money/cnn-business-consumer/2022/05/21/hyundai-to-build-5-5-billion-ev-and-battery-plant-in-the-us-heres-where/ | 2022-05-21T23:48:59Z |
The US Department of Justice has named the team who will lead a federal review of the response to the deadly rampage at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas -- where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers and remained in the school for more than an hour while police waited nearby.
The review will be led by the DOJ's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Wednesday. It will be supported by experts including retired police chiefs and an FBI official.
"We will be assessing what happened that day. We will be doing site visits at the school. We will be conducting interviews [with] an extremely wide variety of stakeholders," including victims' families, law enforcement, government officials, school officials and witnesses, Garland said.
He emphasized the DOJ investigation "is not a criminal review." Rather, it "will examine issues including policies, training, communications, deployment and incident command, tactics, and practices as they relate to preparing for and responding to active shooter events, as well as the post-incident response," the DOJ said.
The DOJ said the review was requested by Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin. The mayor cited "some missteps" by the Texas Department of Public Safety after it released details about the shooting that later turned out to be incorrect.
But McLaughlin quickly added that he was "not blaming anybody."
"We were told one thing one day, and the next day the narrative changed. You were told for a week that a teacher propped the door open with a rock -- and at the end of the week that story was gone, too," the mayor said.
"We want the truthful answers. We want to be transparent, and we will when it comes out. We have nothing to hide."
The DOJ conducted similar reviews after the 2015 deadly rampage in San Bernardino, California, and after the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, Florida.
Besides the federal DOJ investigation, Texas state House Rep. Dustin Burrows said a Uvalde Investigative Committee hearing set for Thursday will feature DPS members as witnesses.
A girl who covered herself in her friend's blood testifies
As the DOJ investigates the police response, members of Congress heard from a girl who survived the massacre after covering herself with her friend's blood and playing dead.
Miah Cerrillo, a fourth-grader during the May 24 massacre, told the House Committee on Oversight and Reform what happened before and after the gunman shot her teacher in the head.
The killer "told my teacher, 'Good night,' and shot her in the head," Miah said in pre-recorded testimony played Wednesday.
"And then he shot some of my classmates... He shot my friend that was next to me."
Miah said the gunman went into an adjoining classroom. Fearful that he might come back and target her, Miah said she "grabbed the blood and I put it all over me."
At one point, Miah managed to get her teacher's cell phone and call 911. But the response was confounding.
"I told her that we need help, and she said the police in our classroom," Miah said.
Her father, Miguel Cerillo, who was at the hearing, broke into tears after his daughter's video played.
"I wish something would change -- not only for our kids, but every single kid in the world -- because schools are not safe anymore," Cerillo said. "Something needs to really change."
Victims were trapped with the gunman for more than an hour
Children inside the adjoining classrooms made multiple calls to 911 while officers waited outside the classrooms.
As many as 19 law enforcement officers were inside the school for more than 45 minutes before the suspect was finally killed, the Texas DPS said.
It's not clear how many of the 21 slain victims could have been saved had police stormed the classrooms sooner.
The incident commander's hesitation to breach the classroom has been widely criticized and goes against many law enforcement protocols.
More than an hour after the shooting started, the gunman was shot and killed by a Border Patrol tactical response team.
McLaughlin said Tuesday he's frustrated with the lack of transparency from law enforcement on the investigation.
"I've been told that they're law enforcement and we're not. We're not going to be entitled to it," the mayor said. "I've asked everybody involved for a briefing at one point or another."
The Uvalde school district police chief was the incident commander at the scene and decided not to immediately enter the classroom where the gunman had holed up, Texas DPS Director Col. Steven McCraw said.
That chief, Pedro "Pete" Arredondo, typically leads a police force of six officers. In an interview with CNN, he declined to talk about details of the case, citing the ongoing funerals, and said more information would be released when the "families quit grieving."
Arredondo, who was elected to the Uvalde city council prior to the massacre, was sworn in last week in a private ceremony.
The Texas Rangers -- part of the Texas DPS -- are investigating the police response to the horrifying attack. That probe is separate from the federal DOJ review. Associate US Attorney General Vanita Gupta helped coordinate support from Texas officials at the request from the Uvalde mayor.
'There is no excuse for their actions'
Arnulfo Reyes, a Robb Elementary teacher who was shot twice during the bloodbath, said he was furious about how the tragedy was handled.
"After everything, I get more angry because ... I had nothing" for protection, such as a bulletproof vest, Reyes told ABC's "Good Morning America."
"You're supposed to protect and serve ... There is no excuse for their actions. And I will never forgive them," the fourth-grade teacher said.
Describing the first moments of the shooting, Reyes said he and his students heard gunshots and he told them to "get under the table and act like you're asleep."
"As they were doing that, and I was gathering them under the table and told them to act like they're going to sleep, is about the time when I turned around and saw him standing there."
The gunman opened fire, striking Reyes; one bullet went through his arm and lung, and another hit his back, ABC reported.
Reyes couldn't move after being shot, he said, and the shooter then turned his gun on the students.
Officers could be heard outside the classroom, and a child in another classroom pleaded for police to help, Reyes said. But Reyes thinks that by that time, officers had retreated down a hallway, he told ABC.
"One of the students from the next-door classroom was saying, 'Officer, we're in here. We're in here,'" he said. "But they had already left."
When the Border Patrol unit eventually came inside, "it was just bullets everywhere," he told ABC.
When asked if he had a message for the students' parents, Reyes tearfully replied: "I'm sorry. I tried my best from what I was told to do. Please don't be angry with me."
He also said change is needed to prevent such school massacres in the future.
"You can give us all the training you want, but ... laws have to change," he said. "It won't ever change unless they change the laws."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/doj-announces-team-to-investigate-response-to-the-uvalde-school-massacre-as-a-dad-says/article_9755aa73-9b85-52fd-81d3-b1f0e6fe76ed.html | 2022-06-08T21:38:38Z |
Annual awards recognize companies for advancing employee well-being through comprehensive and innovative benefits and initiatives
ERIE, Pa., May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Erie Insurance (ERIE) is one of 44 large employers recognized by the Business Group on Health as a 2022 Best Employer for Excellence in Health & Well-being. The annual awards program recognizes companies across diverse sectors for advancing employee well-being through comprehensive and innovative benefits and initiatives.
The awards, now in their 17th year, were announced last month at the Business Group's annual conference in Nashville.
The Business Group reimagined the award criteria this year to reflect a global perspective and to integrate and honor the importance of health equity and the employee experience. The criteria focused on leadership, culture and holistic well-being approaches, including mental health, financial security, physical health, social connectedness, job satisfaction, metrics and evaluations. Entries were reviewed by a panel of peer employer judges.
According to ERIE's Director of Benefits Jody Irwin, the expanded criteria raised the bar for employers, but ERIE has always prided itself on offering exceptional benefits that go beyond the basics as well as tools to help employees and their families maintain good health.
"We are proud that Erie Insurance continues to be recognized for its commitment to employee health and well-being," said Irwin. "While we have more work to do in this space, we are a company that truly cares about its employees, and we recognize how important overall health and well-being are to the ERIE family and the success of our organization."
"All the winners are employers of choice," said LuAnn Heinen, vice president of the Business Group on Health, who leads the organization's Well-Being & Workforce Strategy Institute. "We congratulate each and every one of them for setting such high standards, to benefit workforces for years to come, and for serving as a model for other companies looking to expand benefit offerings."
The 2022 winners represent a wide range of industries, including banking/financial services, entertainment and hospitality, health care, manufacturing, professional services, technology and utilities, among others. All winners have a documented well-being strategy with measurable objectives and incorporate principles of diversity, equity and inclusion into their health and well-being efforts.
ERIE Benefits Analyst MaryAnn Marchant, who coordinates several of the company's health and well-being programs, credited ERIE employees for embracing healthy lifestyles.
"Our employees' participation and eagerness to maintain healthy lifestyles — for themselves and their families — is what drives us to continue building robust and innovative benefits programs," Marchant said. "We will continue to explore areas that we know are important to our employees and families to offer support when they need it."
A full list of the 2022 Best Employer for Excellence in Health & Well-being winners is available here.
About Erie Insurance
According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 11th largest homeowners insurer, 13th largest automobile insurer and 13th largest commercial lines insurer in the United States based on direct premiums written. Founded in 1925, Erie Insurance is a Fortune 500 company and the 19th largest property/casualty insurer in the United States based on total lines net premium written. Rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best, ERIE has more than 6 million policies in force and operates in 12 states and the District of Columbia. News releases and more information are available on ERIE's website at www.erieinsurance.com.
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SOURCE Erie Indemnity Company | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/erie-insurance-recognized-best-employer-excellence-health-well-being-by-business-group-health/ | 2022-05-16T20:01:57Z |
A who's who of musicians – including Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Loretta Lynn, Wynonna Judd, Clint Black, Kane Brown and more – tell AARP their views of our country today
WASHINGTON, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AARP The Magazine is taking a moment to celebrate all that unites us this Independence Day. In the June/July issue, country legends Dolly Parton, Zac Brown, Shania Twain, Loretta Lynn, and many more share what they treasure most about the U.S. and how music continues to be a uniting force of diverse communities.
And in this special section, AARP The Magazine also pays tribute to country music. Celebrity country music fans – including Ringo Starr, Lester Holt, Terry Bradshaw and more – tell ATM why they love country music and how it's shaped who they are today.
In addition, a special report shines a spotlight on the diversifying Nashville music scene. Learn how new artists like Lil Nas X and Brittney Spencer are changing country from within, featuring an exclusive interview with rising star Kane Brown, and an examination of the broadening inclusion.
Plus, a quiz to see how well you know country music; AARP's playlist of essential country songs; and a travel guide to iconic country music sites across the country, including museums, concert halls, and backroom spots where music history was made.
The following are excerpts from ATM's June/July 2022 cover story featuring Country Music's Biggest Stars. The issue is available in homes starting in June and online now at www.aarp.org/magazine/.
Dolly Parton on what makes her proud to be American:
"People. In my mind, that's all this country really is. We are all in this together— trying, searching for that thing we like to call The American Dream."
Shania Twain on her first impressions of America:
"Luckily, I was embraced by mentors who would invite me to their house on weekends to be with their family. We'd play guitar and sing. They cooked Southern food. I was welcomed on a personal level, which gave me a good impression of America."
Loretta Lynn on freedom of speech:
"Record producer Owen Bradley allowed me to write and sing as I believed. Yes, some radio stations were not playing those songs at first – like 'Wings Upon Your Horns' and 'Rated X'—but they became hits anyway. I never intended to be some woman activist, but I guess a lot of people related to it. So that freedom for me was freedom for a few others."
Zac Brown Band on natural beauty of the U.S.A.:
"There is so much power in putting people in a situation where they have to rely on each other and understand the beauty that is in nature."
Lester Holt on storytelling in country music:
"An important part of what we do in the news business is stories that people can relate to. Country music also taps into something inside us that will ring familiar about our lives and how we see the world."
Ringo Starr on his love of country music:
"I love country music because of where I came from in Liverpool. To this day it is known as the "Country Music Capital of England." A lot of lads in my neighborhood who were in the Merchant Navy would go on the ships to America and bring back country-and-western records and blues records. When I heard Hank Williams, I just loved his presence on the records. He started the ball rolling for me. I'm an emotional person, and there is a lot of emotion in country."
Changing Nashville: How Lil Nas X influenced the genre:
"Over the years, there have been a few stars of color, but in 2019, the real bomb dropped. 'I think it's pretty amazing,' offers documentarian Ken Burns, 'that the number 1 country single of all time is by a gay Black cowboy.' Burns is referencing 'Old Town Road' by Lil Nas X, a performer who was then so controversial that the initial recording of the song was deemed outside the bounds of the genre and pulled from the country charts. It recharted soon after, when Billy Ray Cyrus collaborated with Lil Nas X on a new version."
Changing Nashville: Kane Brown on the progress in Nashville diversity:
"There is absolutely room to make more progress, but the truth is this has always been a format with fans that looked and are diverse, but the industry on the other side hasn't always fully reflected that. I hope that by the time my daughter is a little older, she sees herself when she looks at all areas of entertainment, including country music."
Changing Nashville on Race and Country music:
"When it comes to race… [there are] three main factors at work today: The industry has discovered that the audience will accept talented artists of color. The cultural effect of George Floyd's murder prompted a sort of racial reckoning in America. And… there was an erroneous belief that African Americans weren't interested in making country music."
About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media.
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SOURCE AARP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/country-musics-biggest-stars-celebrate-what-america-means-them-this-independence-day-with-aarp-magazine/ | 2022-05-31T15:25:07Z |
Teacher no longer with school after Facebook post about cannabis gummies, autistic students
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) – An elementary school teacher in Tennessee is no longer employed following a social media post she made about cannabis gummies.
The teacher at Chimneyrock Elementary in the Memphis-Shelby County School District posted a photo of “Stoner Patch Gummies” to her Facebook page with the caption: “Best gummies ever. I fell [off] the wagon when two nonverbal autistic children were placed in my class. These are very calming and keeps me away from alcohol.”
In a statement, the school district said they are taking the post seriously, and the teacher was placed on investigative leave. Later, the district confirmed the teacher is no longer an employee at the school.
The school district said, “The statements shared do NOT reflect our belief in the sanctity and value of every child, and District officials are investigating the situation. Please know, we share your disappointment and MSCS and Chimneyrock takes such matters seriously.”
The school district also said they are working on a schoolwide initiative that reflects “our value of affirming all students, and we welcome your input on a collective show of support that the Chimneyrock family can do in the coming days.”
Copyright 2022 WMC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/09/15/teacher-no-longer-with-school-after-facebook-post-about-cannabis-gummies-autistic-students/ | 2022-09-15T16:09:15Z |
LOS ANGELES, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Musick Peeler announced that three of its attorneys, Geoffrey Brethen, Gabriel Duarte, and Lisa Hsiao, are named to the 2022 edition of Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars for their exemplary legal talent.
To be featured in this selective list, which includes no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state, individuals are identified as the top, up-and-coming attorneys in each market who are either 40 years of age or under or who have been practicing law for ten or fewer years.
Geoffrey Brethen is a Partner in the firm's Costa Mesa office. He represents clients in commercial, labor and employment, trademark, financial, and real estate litigation matters.
Gabriel Duarte, a Partner in the firm's Ventura County office advises high-net-worth individuals and families on the planning and administration of multimillion-dollar trusts and estates by providing strategic counsel to preserve clients' legacies and honor their wishes on transferring wealth to the next generation.
Lisa Hsiao is a Partner in the firm's Orange County and Los Angeles offices. Hsiao is an experienced trial attorney and focuses her practice on transportation, product liability, premises liability, real estate and employment. She represents Fortune 500 companies, small businesses and individuals in tort-based litigation with an emphasis on products liability, business litigation and transportation law. She has obtained favorable results for her clients through early mediation, dispositive motions, pre-trial motions, and jury and court trials.
Selections are made by the research team at Super Lawyers, an affiliate of Thomson Reuters. The multi-phase selection process includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, and a peer review. For more information, visit superlawyers.com.
Founded in 1954, Musick Peeler has offices in five major commercial centers across California, with over 100 attorneys practicing in 16 disciplines. For more information, visit MusickPeeler.com.
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SOURCE Musick Peeler | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/musick-peeler-attorneys-named-2022-southern-california-rising-stars/ | 2022-06-08T17:43:47Z |
Long-serving Utah Senator Orrin Hatch dies at age 88
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Orrin G. Hatch, who became the longest-serving Republican senator in history as he represented Utah for more than four decades, died Saturday at age 88.
His death was announced in a statement from his foundation, which did not specify a cause. He launched the Hatch Foundation as he retired in 2019 and was replaced by Republican Mitt Romney.
A conservative on most economic and social issues, he nonetheless teamed with Democrats several times during his long career on issues ranging from stem cell research to rights for people with disabilities to expanding children’s health insurance. He also formed friendships across the aisle, particularly with the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
“He exemplified a generation of lawmakers brought up on the principles of comity and compromise, and he embodied those principles better than anyone,” said Hatch Foundation chairman A. Scott Anderson in a statement. “In a nation divided, Orrin Hatch helped show us a better way by forging meaningful friendships on both sides of the aisle. Today, more than ever, we would do well to follow his example.”
Hatch also championed GOP issues like abortion limits and helped shape the U.S. Supreme Court, including defending Justice Clarence Thomas against sexual harassment allegations during confirmation hearings.
Toward the end of his career, Hatch became an ally of Republican President Donald Trump, using his role as chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee to get a major rewrite of the U.S. tax codes to the president’s desk. In return, Trump helped Hatch deliver a key issue for Republicans in Utah by agreeing to drastically downsize two national monuments that had been declared by past presidents.
Though Trump encouraged Hatch to run again, the longtime senator would have faced a tough primary battle, and had promised not to run again. Hatch instead stepped aside and encouraged Romney to run to replace him.
Hatch was also noted for his side career as a singer and recording artist of music with themes of his religious faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine, and their six children.
Hatch came to the Senate after a 1976 election win and went onto become the longest-serving senator in Utah history, winning a seventh term in 2012. He became the Senate president pro tempore in 2015 when Republicans took control of the Senate. The position made him third in the line of presidential succession behind then-Vice President Joe Biden and the Speaker of the House.
One issue Hatch returned to over the course of his career was limiting or outlawing abortion, a position that put him at the center of one of the nation’s most controversial issues for decades. He was the author of a variety of “Hatch amendments” to the Constitution aimed at diminishing the availability of abortions.
In 1991, he became known as one of the most vocal defenders of Clarence Thomas against sexual harassment allegations from Anita Hill. Hatch read aloud at the confirmation hearings from “The Exorcist,” and he suggested that Hill stole details from the book.
While unquestionably conservative, there were times Hatch differed from many of his conservative colleagues — including then-President George W. Bush when Hatch pushed for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.
In 1997, Hatch joined Kennedy in sponsoring a $24 billion program for states to provide health insurance to the children of low-income parents who don’t qualify for Medicaid.
Hatch helped usher through legislation toughening child pornography laws and making illegally downloading music a prosecutable crime.
For Hatch, the issue of illegally downloaded music was a personal one. A Mormon, he frequently wrote religious songs and recorded music in his spare time as a way to relax from the stresses of life in Washington. Hatch earned about $39,000 in royalties from his songs in 2005.
One of his songs, “Unspoken,” went platinum after appearing on “WOW Hits 2005,” a compilation of Christian pop music.
In 2000, Hatch sought the Republican nomination for president, saying he had more experience in Washington than his opponents and that he could work with Democrats. Hatch readily acknowledged that winning would be a long shot. He withdrew from the race after only winning 1 percent of the vote in the Iowa caucuses and then endorsed George W. Bush.
He became a strong opponent of President Barack Obama’s 2009 health care law after pulling out of early bipartisan talks on the legislation. At one point, he said of the legislation: “It is 2,074 pages long. It is enough to make you barf.”
Hatch faced a tough re-election battle from a conservative candidate in 2012, two years after a tea party wave carried longtime Utah Republican Sen. Bob Bennett out of office. Both Bennett and Hatch voted in favor of a 2008 bank bailout that rankled those on the far right.
Hatch poured about $10 million into his 2012 race and worked to build support among tea party conservatives.
Hatch was used to playing tough — he learned to box as a child in Pittsburgh to fend off the attacks of older, larger students. Unafraid to fight, he said he always made a point to quickly become friends with those he had arguments with.
When Hatch announced he would not seek re-election in 2018, he said “every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves.”
After moving to Utah in the early 1970s, Hatch — a former bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — ran for his first public office in 1976 and narrowly upset Democratic Sen. Frank Moss.
In 1982, he held off challenger Ted Wilson, the Democratic mayor of Salt Lake City, to win a second term by a solid margin.
He was never seriously challenged again.
Orrin Grant Hatch was born in 1934 in Pittsburgh. He married Elaine Hanson in 1957 and graduated from Brigham Young University in 1959. He received a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1962 and was a partner in the law firm of Thomson, Rhodes and Grigsby in that city until 1969.
Later, he was a partner in the Salt Lake City firm of Hatch & Plumb. He had six children: Brent, Marcia, Scott, Kimberly, Alysa and Jess.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/24/former-sen-orrin-hatch-dies-88/ | 2022-04-24T01:46:52Z |
Still no tropical storms for August (so far!)
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Potential tropical storm #4 could not quite make it. Winds stayed at 35 mph which kept it below the status of a tropical storm, which is a minimum of 39 mph. Not it’s moving inland along the Texas-Mexico border with heavy rain and getting weaker.
We are tracking a small tropical wave coming off Africa, but this wave only has a 20% chance of developing in the next 5 days. The average for August is 3.7 named storms. The last time there were no August storms was 1997.
We tied the record high of 96° at SRQ Saturday. Sunday’s record is 97°, which will be harder to hit, in part because thunderstorms could be a little more widespread Sunday afternoon.
Saturday’s storms gave us a half inch at SRQ, 0.59″ at Longboat Key, and 0.21″ in Bradenton, but nothing measurable in Lakewood Ranch. Thunderstorm chances gradually increase for the coming week as a small disturbance moves over Florida. As rain chances pick up, temps get a little cooler, too.
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/21/still-no-tropical-storms-august-so-far/ | 2022-08-21T10:10:31Z |
NEW ORLEANS, July 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until August 1, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Dentsply Sirona, Inc. (NasdaqGS: XRAY), if they purchased the Company's shares between June 9, 2021 and May 9, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
What You May Do
If you purchased shares of Dentsply and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqgs-xray/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by August 1, 2022.
Dentsply and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.
On April 19, 2022, the Company disclosed the sudden termination of CEO Donald Casey "effective immediately." On this news, shares of Dentsply fell by $6.52 per share, or 13%, from $48.72 per share to $42.20 per share. Then, on May 10, 2022, the Company disclosed an ongoing investigation by the Audit and Finance Committee of the Board of Directors, outside counsel and a forensic accounting firm into whether "former and current members of senior management" used improper means to achieve executive compensation goals and other matters relating to financial reporting, which resulted in the Company being unable to timely file its Form 10-Q for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022. On this news, shares of Dentsply fell by $2.87 per share, or 7%, from $39.25 per share to $36.38 per share.
The case is City of Miami General Employees' & Sanitation Employees' Retirement Trust v. Casey, Jr., No. 2:22-cv-02371.
KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients – including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors – in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.
To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.
Contact:
Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner
lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com
1-877-515-1850
1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200
New Orleans, LA 70163
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SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/23/dentsply-shareholder-alert-by-former-louisiana-attorney-general-kahn-swick-amp-foti-llc-reminds-investors-with-losses-excess-100000-lead-plaintiff-deadline-class-action-lawsuit-against-dentsply-sirona-inc-xray/ | 2022-07-23T04:25:28Z |
LOS ANGELES, April 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Grab Holdings Limited ("Grab" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: GRAB, GRABW).
Class Period: November 12, 2021 – March 3, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 16, 2022
If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Grab lawsuit, you can submit your contact information at www.glancylaw.com/cases/grab-holdings-limited/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at shareholders@glancylaw.com to learn more about your rights.
The complaint filed alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Grab's driver supply declined during the third quarter; (2) that, as a result, Grab continued to invest heavily in driver and consumer incentives to "preemptively recalibrate driver supply"; (3) that, as a result, the Company's financial results would be adversely impacted, including, among other things, a significant decline in revenue; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
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To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Charles Linehan, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to shareholders@glancylaw.com, or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
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SOURCE Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/19/grab-grabw-investors-have-opportunity-lead-grab-holdings-limited-securities-fraud-lawsuit/ | 2022-04-19T21:03:20Z |
CEDARHURST, N.Y., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The securities litigation law firm of Kuznicki Law PLLC issues this alert to shareholders of TuSimple Holdings Inc. (NasdaqGS: TSP), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between April 15, 2021 and August 1, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period") and/or purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's shares pursuant to the Company's April 2021 initial public offering (the "IPO"). Shareholders have until October 31, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in the securities class action lawsuit.
Shareholders are encouraged to contact us at https://kclasslaw.com/cases/securities/nasdaqgs-tsp/, by calling toll-free at 1-833-835-1495 or by email (dk@kclasslaw.com).
Kuznicki Law PLLC is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a Company lead to artificial inflation of the Company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
Kuznicki Law PLLC
Daniel Kuznicki, Esq.
445 Central Avenue, Suite 344
Cedarhurst, NY 11516
Email: dk@kclasslaw.com
Phone: (347) 696-1134
Cell: (347) 690-0692
Fax: (347) 348-0967
https://kclasslaw.com
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SOURCE Kuznicki Law PLLC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/filing-deadline-kuznicki-law-pllc-announces-class-action-behalf-shareholders-tusimple-holdings-inc-tsp/ | 2022-09-08T03:23:36Z |
Bennett's win earns him exemptions into next year's Masters and U.S. Open
BATAVIA, Ill., Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Suncast Corporation is pleased to announce that Sam Bennett, Suncast sponsored golfer, has won the 122nd U.S. Amateur Championship. Bennett's name will now join the ranks of golf legends including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus on the revered Havemeyer Trophy. The win also cements Bennett's place in next year's Masters, U.S. Open Championship, and Open Championship.
About his win, Bennett says "Winning the U.S. Amateur is a dream come true for me. To put my name on a trophy with so many other greats, it's a very humbling yet rewarding accomplishment. I want to thank Suncast in particular for their support this week in winning this prestigious event."
Suncast has a long history of supporting young adults in pursuing their dreams. From its strong apprenticeship program with local colleges, to supplying school supplies to community members in need, Suncast understands that supporting the next generation of leaders and innovators is the best way to ensure a bright future. When asked about the sponsorship, Bennett says "Suncast represents quality, innovation and sustainability in the way they conduct business. These are all traits that I identify with. Together we make a great team."
Sam Bennett was raised in Madisonville, Texas before joining the team at Texas A&M, where he is currently a senior. The road to success has not been an easy one for Bennett, who tragically lost his father in June 2021 after a seven-year battle with Early-Onset Alzheimer's. His father's last words of advice, "don't wait to do something," are tattooed on Bennett's left forearm where he looks at them daily for motivation.
To follow Sam Bennett's impressive golf career, check out his Instagram @sambennettgolf.
Suncast Corporation is a privately held designer, manufacturer and distributor of consumer and commercial products for the home and industrial markets. The scope of the extensive product range includes innovative items in several categories encompassing: Outdoor Storage, Lawn and Garden, planters, Snow Tools, Deck and Patio Accessories, Outdoor Furniture, and several others.
Suncast continues to be a leader in the design and manufacture of high-quality resin products made in the U.S.A. for over 35 years. The Suncast brand is the market share leader in hose reels, outdoor storage and snow tools. These products are sold through over 25,000 retail outlets in the United States and Canada, primarily through Big Box, Hardware, Clubs and Specialty Retail chains as well as major e-commerce providers.
To learn more about the full line of Suncast and Suncast Commercial® products, visit our websites: Suncast.com and suncastcommercial.com.
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SOURCE Suncast Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/23/suncast-sponsored-golfer-sam-bennett-wins-122nd-us-amateur-championship/ | 2022-08-23T19:10:13Z |
Ukrainians cheer nation’s EU candidacy amid wartime woes
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The European Union’s decision to make Ukraine a candidate for EU membership offered war-weary Ukrainians a morale boost and hope of a more secure future Friday as the country’s military ordered its fighters to retreat from a key city in the eastern Donbas region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the decision of EU leaders as vindication of his nation’s four-month fight against Russia’s aggression and said he was determined to ensure Ukraine retained the ability to decide if it belonged in Europe or under Moscow’s influence.
“This war began just when Ukraine declared its right to freedom. To its choice of its future. We saw it in the European Union,” Zelenskyy told the nation in a televised address late Thursday. “That is why this decision of the EU is so important, motivates us and shows all this is needed not only by us.”
Others recalled the 2014 revolution that ousted Ukraine’s pro-Moscow president, sparked in part by his decision not to complete an association agreement with the EU. Russian President Vladimir Putin opposed that agreement, just as he demanded before he sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 that NATO never accept Ukraine as an alliance member.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, an opposition leader who became prime minister after the revolution, expressed joy at the country’s candidate status but also “bitterness” over the “terrible price that Ukraine pays for the desire to be a free, independent European state.”
“Thank you to our soldiers - they won this decision,” Yatsenyuk tweeted. “Ukraine is a great country that will inevitably become a member of the EU and, just as inevitably, a member of NATO.”
Ukraine applied for membership less than a week after Russia invaded the country and must undergo a complicated process of many months to be eligible to join the 27-nation bloc.
The EU also granted candidate status to the small nation of Moldova, another former Soviet republic that borders Ukraine and also has territory controlled by pro-Russia separatists.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the European Union - and its potential expansion - do not pose a “threat or risk” to Russia because the bloc is not a military alliance like NATO. But he said the Kremlin thinks the EU’s stance and outlook have become more anti-Russian.
“We are well aware that the EU evolved over the past few years, getting an aggressive ideological background, first of all a Russophobic background,” Lavrov said.
In Pokrovsk, a small town close to the four-month-old war’s frontline in eastern Ukraine, few residents wanted to discuss the EU candidacy as they hurried to collect their daily aid handouts. Some of those who shared their thoughts said the decision would send a strong message to the Russians trying to seize cities and villages a few miles away.
“The next stop is NATO. There is no way back now. I was born during the USSR, but there is no return (to that),” Pokrovsk resident Valerii Terentyev said. “Ukraine wanted a different thing, and in my opinion it is the right thing.”
The chairman of Ukraine’s parliament said that a path toward EU membership would remind the country’s soldiers that their fight, which has won international admiration, is worth the hardship.
“This is a powerful political message. It will be heard by soldiers in the trenches, every family that was forced to flee the war abroad, everyone who helps bring our victory closer. But it will also be heard in the bunker,” Ruslan Stefanchuk said.
Encouragement aside, the reality remains that the European Union sometimes is long on words of solidarity and support but short on the kind of concerted action that might deter outside threats, even though a treaty obligates EU countries to assist a fellow member facing armed aggression.
To gain EU membership, countries must meet a detailed host of economic and political conditions, including a commitment to the rule of law and other democratic principles. The EU’s executive arm has indicated that Ukraine also will have to curb entrenched corruption and adopt other government reforms.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the EU’s embrace of Ukraine was “an important symbolic signal, but it’s the beginning of the beginning.”
Some Ukrainians understood that their country still has much to do in order to meet the tough membership criteria.
“We still need to grow,” said Yevhen Zaitsev, another Pokrovsk resident. “There is much corruption. There are a lot of lies.”
While the EU fast-tracked its consideration of Ukraine’s application for membership, the ongoing war could complicate the country’s ability to fulfill the entry criteria. Russian forces in recent weeks have slowly advanced in their offensive to capture the Donbas region, where pro-Russia separatists have controlled much of the territory for eight years.
Ukrainian forces were ordered to retreat from the besieged city of Sievierodonetsk, one of the last Ukrainian-held areas of Luhansk province, to avoid being completely surrounded.
The city has faced relentless Russian bombardment while Ukrainian troops fought the Russians in house-to-house battles before retreating to a huge chemical factory on the city’s edge.
Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said the retreat order was given to prevent encirclement by Russian forces that made gains around Sievierodonetsk and the neighboring city of Lysychansk in recent days.
___
Ebel reported from Pokrovsk, Ukraine.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/24/ukrainians-cheer-nations-eu-candidacy-amid-wartime-woes/ | 2022-06-24T14:59:06Z |
ORLANDO, Fla., June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- June is National Homeownership Month, a time of year when Florida Realtors®, Realtors® across the U.S. and others celebrate the importance of owning a home and the impact it has on the lives of American families, local communities and the nation's economic health. This month marks the 20th anniversary of National Homeownership Month.
"Buying a home is often the biggest financial investment someone may make in their lifetime – but it's so much more than that," says 2022 Florida Realtors President Christina Pappas, vice president of the Keyes Family of Companies in Miami. "Our homes offer a sense of place and community – it's where we share our lives, build our futures together and make priceless memories.
"Opening the door to homeownership assists families in finding security and stability. It gives families a place to call their own and builds strong communities. Every day, Realtors in Florida promote housing opportunities and help people realize the American dream of homeownership."
For generations of families, homeownership has been essential to their plans for their lives and their futures. Beyond the emotional benefits, homeownership builds household wealth. A homeowner's average net worth in 2021 was $300,000 – nearly 38 times that of a renter at $8,000, according to recent research from the National Association of Realtors®.
President Joe Biden has issued a proclamation recognizing June as National Homeownership Month, showcasing homeownership as a source of economic strength and emphasizing the need to increase the ranks of homeowners, especially among minorities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the homeownership rate in Florida was 67.3% in first quarter 2022; the U.S. homeownership rate was 65.4% for the same period.
This national spotlight on homeownership began as a weeklong recognition in 1995 and was first proclaimed to last the entire month in June 2002 under former President George W. Bush.
With the help of materials from Florida Realtors, Realtors are celebrating this June as Homeownership Month with homebuyers and sellers in communities across Florida.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers more information about National Homeownership Month highlights. HUD also provides assistance and helpful info on homeownership, housing policies, programs, counseling and more at: https://www.hud.gov/
Florida Realtors® serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 225,000 members in 51 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Newsroom is available at http://floridarealtors.org/newsroom.
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SOURCE Florida Realtors | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/florida-realtors-june-is-national-homeownership-month/ | 2022-06-02T14:29:05Z |
By special arrangement of Reggie Hill as Producer with Kathleen O'Brien and ShowTown Productions as Executive Producer
By FREDERICK DOUGLASS, MARCUS HUMMON & CHARLES RANDOLPH-WRIGHT
Music & Lyrics by MARCUS HUMMON
Directed by CHARLES RANDOLPH-WRIGHT
Choreographed by LORNA VENTURA
Music Direction, Orchestrations and Additional Arrangements by JOSEPH JOUBERT
*** Cornelius Smith Jr. and Kristolyn Lloyd to star as freedom fighters Frederick and Anna Douglass ***
WASHINGTON, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announced today the cast for the much-anticipated world-premiere musical American Prophet: Frederick Douglass in His Own Words, which kicks off the historic theater's "Surviving and Thriving"-themed 2022/23 Season. Powered by Frederick Douglass' own speeches and writings, and filled with soaring new melodies, this riveting new musical stars Cornelius Smith Jr. (ABC's Scandal, All My Children) and Kristolyn Lloyd (Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen, CBS's The Bold and the Beautiful) as freedom fighters Frederick and Anna Douglass, exploring Douglass' rise from slavery to national prominence, and from forced illiteracy to the heights of literary and oratorical renown.
Created by Charles Randolph-Wright (Arena's Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story, Broadway's Trouble in Mind, Motown the Musical) and Grammy Award winner Marcus Hummon ("Bless the Broken Road," "Born to Fly"), American Prophet is the recipient of a prestigious Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, with choreography by Lorna Ventura and music direction, orchestrations and additional arrangements by Joseph Joubert, American Prophet will run July 15 – August 28, 2022 in the Kreeger Theater. Press night will be held on Thursday, July 28 at 8 p.m.
Frederick Douglass' words serve as the inspiration, as well as the source material, for the musical. "American Prophet uses Frederick Douglass' profound words from his books, speeches and letters to tell his story, and also the story of his wife Anna," shares Randolph-Wright. "Those words inspire the stunning music Marcus has created to illuminate their phenomenal journey." Hummon adds: "It's the story of a man in the 19th century who had every reason to hate the Constitution and hate our country, yet taught us new ways to love our country and to make it better."
"When Charles Randolph-Wright first shared with me a few of Marcus Hummon's songs, they took my breath away," says Molly Smith, Arena Stage Artistic Director. "Celebrating the legacy of Frederick Douglass is timeless, and yet so very much needed for our time. The renewed and fueled social justice movement in our country looks very different now than back in Douglass's day. His words, however, echo with even deeper meaning and impact. What Douglass has to say about freedom and life in America continues to resonate with great power."
American Prophet marks Randolph-Wright's 12th Arena Stage production. "Arena Stage is my theater home, and I am thrilled to return to my favorite audience, an audience that is so open to the multitude of stories the theater delivers every season." Other Arena writing and directing credits include Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story (2016/17 Season) Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies (2009/10 Season), Blue (1999/00 Season) as well as Guys and Dolls (1999/00 Season) alongside American Prophet Choreographer Lorna Ventura, to name a few.
American Prophet stars Cornelius Smith Jr. as Frederick Douglass alongside Kristolyn Lloyd as the fierce abolitionist's wife, Anna Douglass. Click here to watch them perform "Let the Storm Come" from the show.
Returning to Arena Stage are Carolyn Agan (Arena Stage Cabaret Nights), Kurt Boehm (Carousel, Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story), Thomas Adrian Simpson (Disney's Newsies, Anything Goes) and Kanysha Williams (Step Afrika!'s Drumfolk).
Joining the cast and making their Arena Stage debuts are Erica Aubrey (Playwrights Horizons' Far From Heaven), Zoë Bryant (Howard University's Flying West), Cicily Daniels (Broadway's Once on This Island), Christopher B. Portley (Cleveland Play House's Antigone), Christopher Michael Richardson (Woolly Mammoth's A Strange Loop), Chris Roberts (Broadway's The Civil War), Brendon Schaefer (Imagination Stage's P.Nokio: A Hip-Hop Musical), Correy West (Broadway's Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations) and Curtis Wiley (Broadway's Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations).
The creative team for American Prophet also includes Set Designer Arnulfo Maldonado, Costume Designer Dede Ayite, Lighting Designer Rui Rita, Sound Designer Dan Moses Schreier, Associate Music Director Paul Byssainthe, Jr., Dramaturgs Jocelyn Clarke and Otis Ramsey-Zoe, Casting Directors Tara Rubin Casting CSA and Joseph Pinzon, Stage Manager Rachael Danielle Albert and Assistant Stage Managers Marne Anderson and Alex Murphy. The production also credits Douglass Consultant Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., the great-great-great grandson of Frederick and Anna Douglass and the great-great-grandson of Booker T. Washington.
Carolyn Agan (Ensemble / Swing)'s favorite regional credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Parade, Freedom's Song, Hello! Dolly, 1776, Liberty Smith, A Christmas Carol (Ford's Theatre); Little Shop of Horrors (Olney Theatre Center); Two Gents: A Rock Opera (Shakespeare Theatre); Pinkalicious! (Adventure Theatre MTC); Ragtime (Craig Noel Award - Lead Actress), South Pacific (San Diego Musical Theatre); Wild Goose Dreams, Home of the Brave (La Jolla Playhouse); The Phantom Tollbooth (Kennedy Center TYA); 1776, Man of La Mancha, Bold Girls, The Hostage (Keegan Theatre). She is a teaching artist and acting coach having worked with Levine Music, Shakespeare Theatre, Smithsonian Associates, La Jolla Playhouse and The Old Globe. Carolyn is also the lead singer for local pop/rock cover band, Vertigo Red. IG: @Vertigo_Red
Erica Aubrey (Mary Todd / Ensemble) is honored to be making her Arena Stage debut. She played Mrs. Newton in Amazing Grace (Chicago out-of town) and Off-Broadway she has been seen in Far From Heaven (Playwrights Horizons) and Music in the Air (City Center Encores!). Some regional credits include roles at New York Stage and Film, Ogunquit Playhouse, Gateway Playhouse, Flat Rock Playhouse and Theatre Aspen. Her TV credits include Jessica Jones and the Late Show with David Letterman. An accomplished studio singer, her voice is in Disney theme parks, on video games and on recordings for Music Theatre International. She holds an MA in musical theatre from NYU Steinhardt, and is a professor in the musical theatre BFA program at Belmont University. Instagram: @erica_aubrey
Kurt Boehm (Reverend Gore / Ensemble) last appeared at Arena Stage as Enoch Snow in Carousel. Regional credits include Born for This (Arena Stage, Alliance Theatre, Broad Stage, ArtsEmerson). Previous Arena credits include Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, Oklahoma! and She Loves Me. Additional D.C. credits include Daddy Long Legs, Helen Hayes Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor (Monumental Theatre Company); Assassins, Billy Elliott, West Side Story, Cabaret, Les Misérables, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Signature Theatre); South Pacific, A Chorus Line, Godspell, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Producers (Olney Theatre Center); Little Shop of Horrors (Ford's Theatre); Chicago, The Full Monty, (Keegan Theatre). He holds a B.M. from Catholic University. @Kurtb617
Zoë Bryant (Ensemble / Swing / Betsey u/s) is excited to be making her Arena Stage debut after graduating from Howard University's Musical Theatre program in 2022. She last appeared as Minnie in Howard University's production of Flying West. This is Zoë's first professional show and she is excited to begin her journey. She hopes to return next season so she can keep chasing her dreams. Instagram: @Zoe_jillian
Cicily Daniels (Betsey Bailey / Elizabeth) is thrilled to be making her Arena Stage debut, particularly since she originally hails from Potomac, Maryland. She appeared most recently on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning revival of Once on This Island. Her other Broadway credits include Disney's The Little Mermaid (original cast), All Shook Up and Rent. She has performed throughout the country on the National Tours of A Night with Janis Joplin, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess and Caroline, or Change. Her film and television credits include Dear Edward, Mozart in the Jungle, Ugly Betty and Across the Universe. Cicily has appeared in commercials, and recorded voice-overs for companies including Ford Fusion, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Covergirl. Cicily is a graduate of Yale University. She would like to thank her agents, and her family for their amazing support.
Kristolyn Lloyd (Anna Douglass) is a Grammy and Emmy Award-winning actress. Her directing credits include Dainty (BOLD Festival, The Garden Workshop), Nick & The Prizefighter (Modern Works Festival), A Patriots Place (B-Street Theatre, BOLD Festival) Acting credits include Broadway: Dear Evan Hansen; Off-Broadway: Confederates, Paradise Blue (Signature Theatre), Fairycakes (Greenwich House), Little Women (Primary Stages), Blue Ridge (Atlantic); Hamlet (The Public Theater), Invisible Thread (Second Stage Theater), Heathers The Musical (New World Stages), Cabin In The Sky (Encores! City Center); Selected Regional: Paradise Blue (Williamstown), Witness Uganda (A.R.T.), Hairspray, Rent (Hollywood Bowl). TV: Random Acts of Flyness (HBO), Elementary, Kevin Can Wait, Madam Secretary, The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS), ER (NBC) and Lie to Me (FOX).
Christopher B. Portley (Demby / Ensemble) last appeared at Cleveland Play House as Haemon in Antigone. Christopher recently received his MFA degree from the Case Western Reserve University/ Cleveland Play House Acting Program. Last summer he made his Chautauqua Theater Company debut playing De'Andre in Dominique Morisseau's Blood at the Root directed by Stori Ayers, and Zanni and Flavio in Commedia Dell'Arte directed by Andrew Borba. Other theatre credits include Light It Up! (Cleveland Play House); Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) (African American Repertory Theater); The Tempest and Measure for Measure (Shakespeare Academy at Stratford); and Memphis (Music Theatre of Denton). Christopher's film credits include Sing Canary, Sing. Instagram: @Christopherbportley
Christopher Michael Richardson (Ensemble / Swing) is an actor, director, and teaching artist in the Washington, D.C. area, and he is excited to be making his Arena Stage debut! His most recent theater credits include Our Town (Shakespeare Theatre Company) and the pre-Broadway run of A Strange Loop (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company). Christopher is the creator/composer of Everyday Magic (Arts on the Horizon), and some of his other favorite D.C. credits include Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (The Musical) (John F. Kennedy Center TYA), Matilda (Olney Theatre Center), The Book of Will (Round House Theatre) and his Helen Hayes-nominated performance in The Wiz (Ford's Theatre). He holds a B.A. in English and Theatre from The College of William & Mary. Instagram: @chrismichrich www.cmrich.me
Chris Roberts (John Brown) is a Grammy-nominated, multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter from Nashville, TN. He was in the original Broadway cast and National Touring company of The Civil War. His songs have been recorded by artists like H.E.R., Ashley Mcbride, Matt Stell, Ashley Campbell and others, and used for film and TV in spots like the Super Bowl, Assasin's Creed, Fox Baseball, Nashville, Reign, Call of Duty, 12 Strong, Audi and others. Chris was a founding member of the band One Flew South. Signed to Decca/Universal, the band released its album Last of the Good Guys in 2008 to much critical acclaim and played Farm Aid with Willie Nelson and the Newport Folk Festival with Jimmy Buffet. As a solo artist, Chris has released an album of bluegrass songs called Mountain Standard Time and a pop/folk album, The Way West. His writing for the theater includes a musical commissioned by the Smithsonian for their D-Day Museum in New Orleans called The Boat that Won the War. Love to Wendy, Emily and Abby and thanks for letting me spend the summer in D.C. with this wonderful show! Instagram: @discohiker
Brendon Schaefer (Ensemble / Swing / Abraham Lincoln/John Brown u/s) is proudly making his Arena debut! His most recent jaunt across the boards was as Fox in P. Nokio: A Hip-Hop Musical (Imagination Stage). Other D.C. credits include Fame (GALA), Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, Twelfth Night (STC), Plays From the Front Lines (Theater J). Before making D.C. home, Brendon spent some time with the National Tours of Pippin (King Charles), The Wedding Singer (Glen Gulia) and All Shook Up. Internationally, Hear Our Song played the Black Ship Festival in Japan, and Norwegian Cruise Line's The Illusionarium showed him the wonders of Central and South America. He thanks his parents for being so supportive of his artistic quest. Go Further! Instagram: @beyond_the_realm
Thomas Adrian Simpson (Abraham Lincoln / Garrison) Is ecstatic to be back inside a theater and at Arena Stage, where he first performed more than 30 years ago. Favorite Arena appearances include collaborations with Molly Smith: Whitney in Anything Goes, Pickering in My Fair Lady, Roy in A Light in the Piazza; and Tazewell Thompson: Lindner in A Raisin in the Sun and Lincoln in Mary T. & Lizzy K.. Favorite regional credits include: El Gallo in The Fantasticks with Infinity Theatre, Caiaphas in Jesus Chris Superstar at Signature Theatre and Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd at Olney Theatre Center. Tom can be seen in season 4 of Netflix's House of Cards and is a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Cornelius Smith Jr. (Frederick Douglass), proud native of Detroit, MI, is delighted/grateful to be making his debut at Arena Stage. After completing his MFA at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and one of the last classes hand-picked by Zelda Fichandler, Cornelius booked a contracted role on All My Children which landed him a nomination for a Daytime Emmy and an NAACP Image Award. Other TV credits include Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, God Friended Me, SelfMade, Forever, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Manhunt: Deadly Games. Cornelius can next be seen leading opposite Vera Farmiga in Apple TV+'s limited series Five Days at Memorial from Carlton Cuse and John Ridley and ABC Signature. Big ups to my loving/supportive wife Stephanie. This one is for Legend! Instagram: @corneliussmithjr
Correy West (Ensemble) is a native of Dallas, Texas and attended Northwestern State University. His credits include: Broadway: Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations (Imperial Theatre), Nice Work If You Can Get It (Imperial Theatre), South Pacific (Lincoln Center); National Tours: Love Never Dies (1st National - US Premiere), Anything Goes (1st National), 42nd Street, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Chicago/Toronto); NY Theatre: The Ballad of Johnny and June (Workshop - Des McANuff), The Right Girl (Workshop - Susan Stroman), Show Boat (NY Philharmonic/Live from Lincoln Center), Lunch (NYMF), An Evening with Jason Robert Brown (The Cooper Union); Regional: Oliver (Virginia Stage Company), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arkansas Rep Theatre), Smokey Joe's Cafe (Capital Rep Theatre), Shrek (NSMT). Instagram: @CorreyWest
Curtis Wiley (Gabe / Ensemble / Frederick Douglass u/s) is overjoyed to be making his Arena Stage debut in American Prophet under the direction of Charles Randolph-Wright, and is thrilled to be creatively reunited with Marcus Hummon, TUT (New York Musical Festival). He made his Broadway debut in the Original Broadway Company of Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations. Other NYC credits: The Total Bent (Public Theater). Rothschild & Sons (York Theatre Co.); Straight Faced Lies (FringeNYC); Pageant: The Musical (Off-B'way Revival); The Great Society (York Shakespeare Co.); King Lear (Exit, Pursued by a Bear). Other musical credits: Diner: The Musical; Jersey Boys; The Lion King. Curtis is an alum of Sundance Institute Theatre Program, Wig Out! (Tarell Alvin McCraney). Stay in touch on IG: @Curtis_Wiley
Kanysha Williams (Ensemble / Anna u/s) is so excited to be spending her summer at Arena Stage! A Washington, D.C. area native, Kanysha's most recent credits include Drumfolk (Arena Stage), A.D. 16 (Olney Theatre Center), Acoustic Rooster's Barnyard Boogie (The Kennedy Center), Always...Patsy Cline (Creative Cauldron) and Sister Act (Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre). Kanysha is a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and George Mason University. Offstage, Kanysha is a voice and piano instructor, and a recording artist. Be on the lookout for her debut single, "ALIVE", coming to streaming platforms this summer! To God Be The Glory! Twitter: @KanyshaMusic Instagram: @StrawberrySings
For full company biographies, please visit arenastage.org/prophet.
By special arrangement of Reggie Hill as Producer with Kathleen O'Brien and ShowTown Productions as Executive Producer
American Prophet: Frederick Douglass in His Own Words
By Frederick Douglass, Charles Randolph-Wright & Marcus Hummon
Music & Lyrics by Marcus Hummon
Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright
Choreographed by Lorna Ventura
Music Direction, Orchestrations and Additional Arrangements by Joseph Joubert
In the Kreeger Theater | July 15 – August 28, 2022
ABOUT: Charles Randolph-Wright (Arena's Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story, Broadway's Motown the Musical) returns to Arena Stage with a groundbreaking musical powered by Frederick Douglass' own speeches and writings. Coupled with soaring new melodies and an original script from Grammy Award-winning songwriter Marcus Hummon and Randolph-Wright, Douglass rises as a fierce abolitionist and distinguished orator. Filled with an electrifying new score, this world premiere celebrates the revolutionary legacy of one of history's first freedom fighters, whose fire is needed now more than ever.
Ensemble / Swing: Carolyn Agan*
Mary Todd / Ensemble: Erica Aubrey*
Reverend Gore / Ensemble: Kurt Boehm*
Ensemble / Swing / Betsey u/s: Zoë Bryant
Betsey Bailey / Elizabeth: Cicily Daniels*
Anna Douglass: Kristolyn Lloyd*
Demby / Ensemble: Christopher B. Portley*
Ensemble / Swing: Christopher Michael Richardson*
John Brown: Chris Roberts
Ensemble / Swing / Abraham Lincoln/John Brown u/s: Brendon Schaefer*
Abraham Lincoln / Garrison: Thomas Adrian Simpson*
Frederick Douglass: Cornelius Smith Jr.*
Ensemble: Correy West*
Gabe / Ensemble / Frederick Douglass u/s: Curtis Wiley*
Ensemble / Anna u/s: Kanysha Williams*
By: Frederick Douglass, Charles Randolph-Wright & Marcus Hummon
Music & Lyrics: Marcus Hummon
Director: Charles Randolph-Wright
Choreographer: Lorna Ventura
Music Direction, Orchestrations and Additional Arrangements: Joseph Joubert
Set Designer: Arnulfo Maldonado
Costume Designer: Dede Ayite
Lighting Designer: Rui Rita
Sound Designer: Dan Moses Schreier
Associate Music Director / Replacement Music Director: Paul Byssainthe, Jr.
Dramaturg: Jocelyn Clarke
Dramaturg: Otis-Ramsey Zoe
Casting Director: Tara Rubin Casting CSA
Local Casting: Joseph Pinzon
Stage Manager: Rachael Danielle Albert*
Assistant Stage Manager: Marne Anderson*
Assistant Stage Manager: Alex Murphy*
*Member of Actors' Equity Association
American Prophet is made possible through generous funding from Exelon.
American Prophet is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award.
This production is sponsored by AARP, Dan and Gloria Logan and Tiffeny Sanchez and Reg Brown with additional support from Andrew R. Ammerman, Judith N. Batty, The Drutz Family Fund for Musical Theater, GEICO, Dr. Donald Wallace Jones, Dr. Betty Jean Tolbert Jones and Tracey Tolbert Jones, PNC, R. Lucia Riddle and David Bruce Smith and The Grateful American Foundation.
Special thanks to Sandy and Jon Willen.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
TICKETS: Tickets for American Prophet are $51-105, subject to change and based on availability, plus applicable fees. For information on savings programs such as pay-your-age tickets, student discounts, Southwest Nights and Hero's discounts, visit arenastage.org/savings-programs.
Tickets may be purchased online at arenastage.org, by phone at 202-488-3300 or at the Sales Office at 1101 Sixth Street, SW, D.C. The Sales Office is open Tuesday – Sunday, 12:00-8:00 p.m. for phone purchases and beginning 90 minutes prior to each performance until curtain for in-person purchases. Please note that proof of vaccination against COVID-19 and photo identification must be shown to enter the building.
Sales Office/Subscriptions: 202-488-3300
Group Sales Hotline for 10+Tickets: 202-488-4380
TTY for deaf patrons: 202-484-0247
Info for patrons with disabilities: 202-488-3300
Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Weekday matinees at noon on Wednesday, August 3, Tuesday, August 9 and Wednesday, August 24
Sunday, August 7 at 6 p.m.
Closed captioning: GalaPro begins Friday, July 29
Audio-described performance: Saturday, August 6 at 2 p.m.
Southwest Night: Tuesday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m.
STAY SAFE: Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 and photo identification must be shown to enter the building. Arena Stage is requiring that patrons, staff and volunteers wear facial masks inside the Mead Center regardless of vaccination status. Enhanced cleaning and sanitization will take place throughout the building. For superior air quality, we have upgraded our ventilation/filtration systems and have implemented a full digital ticketing system that will include contactless ticket scanning and digital programs. These conditions are subject to change. For the latest information, visit arenastage.org/safety.
METRO: Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater is only one block from the Waterfront-SEU Metro station (Green Line). When exiting the station, walk west on M Street toward Sixth Street, and the main entrance to the Mead Center is on the right.
PARKING: Parking is available in Arena Stage's on-site garage. Subscribers may purchase parking in advance for $18. Single ticket buyers may purchase parking in advance for $25 or on the day of the performance for $27 on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited accessible parking is available by reservation. Advanced parking must be reserved by calling 202-488-3300. The entrance to the Mead Center garage is on Maine Avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets, and the garage closes one hour after the day's last performance ends. Patrons can also park at the Public Parking Garage at 1101 Fourth Street, one block from the Mead Center, for $18 when pre-purchased and $22 on the day of the performance.
VALET PARKING: Arena Stage offers valet service at no additional cost to patrons with accessibility needs who call 202-488-3300 in advance to request valet parking. On days when valet parking is being used for accessibility, it is also available to general patrons one hour prior to show time for $30, based on availability. To use valet parking, pull up to the main entrance on Sixth Street.
For complete 2022/23 Season details, visit arenastage.org/subscribe.
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Producer Edgar Dobie, is a national center dedicated to American voices and artists. Arena Stage produces plays of all that is passionate, profound, deep and dangerous in the American spirit, and presents diverse and ground-breaking work from some of the best artists around the country. Arena Stage is committed to commissioning and developing new plays and impacting the lives of over 10,000 students annually through its work in community engagement. Now in its eighth decade, Arena Stage serves a diverse annual audience of more than 300,000. arenastage.org
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SOURCE Arena Stage | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/arena-stage-announces-cast-world-premiere-musical-american-prophet-frederick-douglass-his-own-words/ | 2022-06-09T18:31:30Z |
The following is a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and other platforms this week.
Movies
Multiverses are all the rage. Following its theatrical release in May, “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness” arrives Wednesday on Disney+. In it, Benedict Cumberbatch returns to the mystic-arts Marvel character and reckons with some of the fallout from recent developments in the MCU, particularly in regard to Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff. Directed by Sam Raimi, the movie bears some of the comic horror trademarks of the “Evil Dead” filmmaker. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr said all the plot juggling “feels a little bit like wheel spinning.” But “Doctor Strange” isn’t the only multiverse movie available at home right now. One of the year’s breakout hits, the brilliant existential blender “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” starring Michelle Yeoh, is currently available for digital rental.
In another universe, “The Man From Toronto” would have been released in theaters by Sony Pictures. But the action comedy starring Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson, was instead postponed during the pandemic and sold instead to Netflix, where it will debut Friday, June 24. Patrick Hughes, who helmed “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” directs the buddy comedy with Hart as a regular guy brought into Harrelson’s hitman’s life when they’re mistakenly booked at the same Airbnb.
If you haven’t caught it yet, “RRR,” very possibly the movie of the summer, is streaming on Netflix where the international sensation is regularly ranking among the streamer’s most-watched films. The Indian blockbuster, directed by S. S. Rajamouli, is a Telugu-language three-hour spectacle set in 1920s colonial India about a pair of revolutionaries (played by Ram Charan and N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) who team up on an outlandish rescue mission with some truly eye-popping action sequences. As viewers are learning, the giddy, extravagant heights of “RRR” wildly surpass the brio of most Hollywood fare.
— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle
Music
The coolest new name in rock is back when Soccer Mommy releases “Sometimes, Forever,” an album with weirdness and awesomeness and weird awesomeness. Sophie Allison, the principal songwriter, has joined forces with producer Daniel Lopatin of Oneohtrix Point Never for a breakout album, with layered textured stuff in every track. “Shotgun,” the lead single, is a propulsive, brilliant love song to a partner who only keeps cold beer and ice cream on hand. “The only things we really need,” she sings. Cheers to that.
French Montana celebrates his sixth studio album, Montega. His first single “Alcatraz” namechecks J. Lo, Kay Flock, Joe Rogan, Dr. Dre, James Harden, Nelly, DaBaby, Steve Jobs and Yo Gotti. French Montana’s last studio album, “They Got Amnesia,” peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album chart and No. 59 on the US Billboard 200 chart. French Montana will hope to better that this time, riding the new singles “Drive By” featuring Baby Face Ray, and “Blue Chills,” with the line: “The version of me in your mind is not my responsibility.”
Country star Luke Combs will release his new album, “Growin’ Up,” on Friday, June 24, kicked off by the regretful, mid-tempo lament “Tomorrow Me,” about a lover the next morning a tad worried about what happens tonight. Produced by Combs, Chip Matthews and Jonathan Singleton, “Growin’ Up” is Combs’ third studio album following 2019’s “What You See is What You Get” and “This One’s For You.” The new record consists of 12 songs, including Combs’ current single, “Doin’ This,” a sweet ode to musicians who don’t do it for fame or fortune.
— AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy
Television
Mark Twain, meet Jon Stewart. The former “Daily Show” host receives the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in a special airing Tuesday on PBS. Dave Chappelle, Stephen Colbert and John Oliver are among the peers who salute him with Bruce Springsteen offering a musical tribute. There are jokes and loving barbs aplenty for Stewart, along with reflections on his contributions. Chappelle calls it “a miracle to watch you work. You are a cure for what ails this country.”
In “Gordita Chronicles,” the pursuit of the American dream isn’t all that dreamy for a youngster uprooted from Santo Domingo by her father’s job transfer to 1980s Miami. The 10-episode, coming-of-age comedy, which debuts in full Thursday on HBO Max, stars Olivia Goncalves as Cucu “Gordita” Castelli, with Juan Javier Cardenas and Diana Maria Riva as her parents and Savannah Nicole Ruiz as her status-conscious big sis. Eva Longoria directed the pilot episode and is an executive producer for the series.
The so-called awards season is endless, as the Daytime Emmys and BET honors are here to attest. Nominees for the Daytime Emmy Awards, airing Friday, June 24, on CBS, include dramas “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “Days of Our Lives.” The top nominees for the BET Awards 2022 (Sunday, June 26) include Doja Cat, Ari Lennox and Drake. Taraji P. Henson will host the ceremony honoring black achievement in music, TV, film and sports, with Sean “Diddy” Combs to receive a lifetime achievement award. | https://www.tdtnews.com/entertainment/article_0d80dab8-f096-11ec-adbc-e362173d2f9d.html | 2022-06-20T15:01:35Z |
Gunmen shoot deputy governor of Myanmar Central Bank
By GRANT PECK
Associated Press
BANGKOK (AP) — Gunmen in Myanmar’s largest city have shot a deputy governor of the central bank, less than a week after tough currency controls were ordered in the military-ruled nation. There were conflicting accounts of whether Than Than Swe, appointed to her post after the military seized power last year, survived the attack. She is believed to be the most senior official associated with the military-run administration to be shot. The army takeover triggered widespread peaceful protests that were quashed with lethal force, triggering armed resistance that some U.N. experts now characterize as civil war. There are no immediate credible claims of responsibility for the attack though an online news outlet reported that a guerrilla resistance group was behind it. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/04/07/gunmen-shoot-deputy-governor-of-myanmar-central-bank/ | 2022-04-07T15:46:45Z |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian forces dug in while Russia lined up more firepower Sunday and tapped a decorated general as war commander ahead of a potentially decisive showdown in eastern Ukraine that experts said could start within days with a full-scale offensive.
The outcome of that confrontation could determine the course of the war, which has flattened cities, killed untold thousands and isolated Moscow economically and politically. Questions remain about the ability of Russia’s depleted and demoralized forces to conquer much ground after their advance on the capital, Kyiv, was repelled by determined Ukrainian defenders.
Britain’s Defense Ministry reported Sunday that the Russian armed forces were trying to compensate for mounting casualties by recalling veterans discharged in the past decade.
Meanwhile, a senior U.S. official said Russia appointed Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, one of its most seasoned military chiefs, to oversee the invasion that Moscow refers to as a “special military operation.” The official was not authorized to be identified and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The new battlefield leadership comes as the Russian military prepares for what is expected to be a large, focused push to expand control in the country’s east. Russia-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donbas region since 2014 and declared some territory there as independent republics.
Dvornikov, 60, gained prominence as head of the Russian forces that were deployed to Syria in 2015 to shore up President Bashar Assad’s regime amid the country’s devastating civil war. Russian authorities do not generally confirm such appointments and have said nothing about a new role for Dvornikov, who received the Hero of Russia medal, one of the country’s highest awards, from President Vladimir Putin in 2016.
U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” played down the significance of the appointment.
“What we have learned in the first several weeks of this war is that Ukraine will never be subjected to Russia,” Sullivan said. “It doesn’t matter which general President Putin tries to appoint.”
Western military analysts say Russia’s assault was increasingly focusing on a sickle-shaped arc of eastern Ukraine — from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, in the north to Kherson in the south.
Newly released Maxar Technologies satellite imagery showed an 8-mile (13-kilometer) convoy of military vehicles headed south to the Donbas, recalling images of a convoy that got stalled on roads to Kyiv for weeks before Russia gave up on trying to take the capital.
On Sunday, Russian forces shelled government-controlled Kharkiv and sent reinforcements toward Izyum to the southeast in a bid to break Ukraine’s defenses, the Ukrainian military command said. The Russians also kept up their siege of Mariupol, a key southern port that has been under attack and surrounded for nearly 1 ½ months.
A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said Russia’s military used air-launched missiles to hit Ukraine’s S-300 air-defense missile systems in the southern Mykolaiv region and at an air base in Chuhuiv, a city not far from Kharkiv.
Sea-launched Russian cruise missiles destroyed the headquarters of a Ukrainian military unit stationed farther west in the Dnipro region, Konashenkov said. Neither the Ukrainian nor the Russian military claims could be independently verified.
The airport in Dnipro, Ukraine’s fourth-largest city, was also hit by missiles twice on Sunday, according to the regional governor.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed for stronger military and political support from the West, including NATO members that have funneled weapons and military equipment to Ukraine but denied some requests for fear of getting drawn into the war.
In a late-night video message, Zelenskyy argued that Russia’s aggression “was not intended to be limited to Ukraine alone.” The “entire European project is a target,” he said.
“That is why it is not just the moral duty of all democracies, all the forces of Europe, to support Ukraine’s desire for peace,” Zelenskyy said. ”This is, in fact, a strategy of defense for every civilized state.”
The Ukrainian leader also thanked British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Saturday. Zelenskyy said they discussed “what help the United Kingdom will provide to the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine,” especially to rebuild the Kyiv region.
Ukrainian authorities have accused Russian forces of committing war crimes against civilians, including airstrikes on hospitals, a missile attack that killed 52 people at a train station and other violence that came to light as Russian soldiers withdrew from the outskirts of Kyiv.
Zelenskyy said that when he and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke by phone Sunday, “we emphasized that all perpetrators of war crimes must be identified and punished.”
A day after meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced that he will meet Monday in Moscow with Putin.
Nehammer aims to encourage dialogue between Ukraine and Russia and to address “war crimes” during the meeting, the Austria Press Agency reported. Austria, a member of the European Union, is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO.
Ukraine has blamed Russia for killing civilians in Buchaand other towns outside the capital where hundreds of bodies, many with their hands bound and signs of torture, were found after Russian troops retreated. Russia has denied the allegations and falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged.
Maria Vaselenko, 77, a resident of Borodyanka, said her daughter and son-in-law were killed, leaving her grandchildren orphaned.
“The Russians were shooting. And some people wanted to come and help, but they were shooting them. They were putting explosives under dead people,” Vaselenko said. “That’s why my children have been under the rubble for 36 days. It was not allowed” to remove bodies.
In Mariupol, Russia was deploying Chechen fighters, reputed to be particularly fierce. Capturing the city on the Sea of Azov would give Russia a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukriane eight years ago.
Residents have lacked food, water and electricity since Russian forces surrounded the city and frustrated evacuation missions. Ukrainian authorities think an airstrike on a theater that was being used as a bomb shelter killed hundreds of civilians, and Zelenskyy has said he expects more evidence of atrocities to be found once Mariupol no longer is blockaded.
The Institute for the Study of War, an American think tank, predicted that Russian forces will “renew offensive operations in the coming days” from Izyum, a town southeast of Kharkiv, in the campaign to conquer the Donbas, which comprises Ukraine’s industrial heartland.
But in the view of the think tank’s analysts, “The outcome of forthcoming Russian operations in eastern Ukraine remains very much in question.”
Elsewhere, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Ukraine was able to rotate staff at the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear plant for only the second time since Russian forces seized the facility early in the war.
The nuclear agency said the situation around Chernobyl, site of a 1986 nuclear disaster, “remained far from normal” after Russians departed at the end of March. Ukrainian officials told the agency Sunday that laboratories for radiation monitoring at the site were destroyed and instruments damaged or stolen.
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Anna reported from Bucha, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Borodyanko, Robert Burns and Calvin Woodward in Washington, and Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.
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Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/zelenskyy-russian-aggression-not-limited-to-ukraine-alone/ | 2022-04-10T19:05:00Z |
WENTZVILLE, Mo., Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The fastest growing school district in Missouri has announced it will be expanding its educational pathways for high school students by partnering with ScholarPath, a new education platform designed to help local teens pursue a future true to their interests and passions.
The Wentzville School District (WSD), serving five cities in an 89-square mile area of Saint Charles County, has entered into an agreement with St. Peters-based ScholarPath to help connect students directly with colleges, employers and recruiters to identify their best next steps and find optimal post-graduation opportunities. As students explore their interests on the ScholarPath platform, they will see the classes and grades needed to meet their goals, along with available scholarships and post-high school training programs.
"Wentzville School District strives to be a model of excellence that sets the standard and maximizes the potential of every student," said WSD Superintendent Dr. Danielle Tormala. "This new partnership with ScholarPath will not only further our aspiration to excel academically, but also to be at the forefront of technology implementation that aligns with our fiscally responsible growth."
The ScholarPath platform seeks to match students with various organizations, whether they be focused on specific trades, local employers, higher education colleges and universities, or the military.
"The assistance we offer students is increasingly essential in a society where career, school and candidate options are abundant and potentially overwhelming," said ScholarPath CEO Doug Mitchell. "We are excited to be adding Wentzville to the growing list of school districts that prioritize student development and see value in ScholarPath's approach for matching and propelling them into rewarding next steps after their graduation."
WSD, which has been adding about 500 students per year during the last 20 years, now has about 17,400 students in grades K-12 who attend one of 22 schools, including four senior high schools. It ranks as the ninth largest school district in Missouri.
About ScholarPath
MyScholar's ScholarPath is a workforce development social network tool for high school students. By building an ecosystem for students, colleges, employers and the military, ScholarPath is changing how high school students plan their future and how high school talent is recruited. The organization helps high school students find their right path, whether that be college, the workforce, or the military. Founded by an experienced team of educators and technologists, ScholarPath launched in multiple St. Louis high schools during the 2020/2021 school year, in conjunction with area chambers of commerce, employers, unions and the military. To learn more about ScholarPath's mission, visit www.scholarpath.com.
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SOURCE ScholarPath | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/scholarpath-partners-with-wentzville-school-district/ | 2022-08-09T16:06:52Z |
Initiative to test biofuels represents another major milestone in company's decarbonization strategy, with AIDAprima from AIDA Cruises becoming first larger-scale cruise ship to be bunkered with blend of marine biofuel, made from 100% sustainable raw materials
GENOA, Italy, July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A few weeks after announcing a new decarbonization function, Costa Group – Europe's leading cruise operator with its two companies, Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises, and part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL;NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company – today announced it will start testing biofuel aboard one of its AIDA Cruises ships, another major step forward in its ongoing sustainability effort.
As part of its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduction efforts, and with Dutch biofuel pioneer GoodFuels as its partner on the project, AIDAprima on July 21 became the first larger-scale cruise ship to be bunkered with a blend of marine biofuel, which is made from 100% sustainable raw materials, such as waste cooking oil, and marine gas oil (MGO), during its layover in Rotterdam. AIDAprima is currently sailing on seven-day voyages from Rotterdam to popular destinations in Western Europe and to Norway from/to Hamburg.
The current project represents an important milestone in Costa Group's decarbonization strategy, which includes testing technologies and processes to improve the efficiency of the existing fleet.
With the successful start of biofuel usage, the initiative aims to demonstrate that gradual decarbonization is possible, even on ships already in service. At the same time, a key prerequisite for using biofuels is that it can become widely available on an industrial scale and at marketable prices.
In addition to the use of biofuels, Costa Group's efforts include the installation of the first fuel cell on board a cruise ship (AIDAnova) and the commissioning of what is currently the cruise industry's largest battery storage system with a capacity of 10 megawatt hours on board AIDAprima. Costa Group is also focusing on the expansion and increased use of shore power in ports where the shore-side infrastructure is available.
Costa Group had previously tested the use of regenerated biofuels in marine diesel engines together with research partners at the University of Rostock. Now that the first rollout has taken place in regular ship operations, the cooperation with GoodFuels will be developed on a long-term basis.
With several short-, medium- and long-term strategic initiatives, Costa Group is making an active contribution towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal decarbonization objectives.
Over the years, Costa Group has been leading sustainable innovation in the global cruise industry by steadily pioneering advanced technologies on board its new and existing ships. The company was the first to introduce liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion – the most advanced fuel technology available to reduce emissions – with four ships already in service in the Costa Group fleet. The majority of Costa Group ships are equipped with shore power capabilities to be zero emissions in ports where the technology is available.
Overall, Carnival Corporation continues its ongoing energy efficiency investment program and efforts to reduce fuel consumption, including over $350 million invested in energy efficiency improvements since 2016, along with the company's fleet optimization strategy and design of more efficient itineraries. Together, these ongoing efforts are expected to drive a 10% reduction in fuel consumption per available lower berth day (ALBD) in the company's first full year of guest cruise operations compared to 2019, along with a 9% reduction in carbon emissions per lower berth distance traveled.
As part of its longer-term sustainability plan and vision, Carnival Corporation has committed to significant investments to achieve its 2030 sustainability goals and 2050 aspirations, which incorporate six critical sustainability focus areas overall. These areas include climate action; circular economy; sustainable tourism; good health and well-being; diversity, equity and inclusion; and biodiversity and conservation.
Among these priorities, the company has committed to reducing carbon emission intensity by 20% from its 2019 baseline by 2030, supporting its efforts and aspirations to achieve net carbon-neutral ship operations by 2050. Overall, the company's highest responsibility and top priority is compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety and well-being of its guests, the people in the communities its ships visit, and its shipboard and shoreside personnel.
More information on the company's sustainability efforts is available at www.CarnivalSustainability.com.
About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is one of the world's largest leisure travel companies with a portfolio of nine of the world's leading cruise lines sailing to all seven continents. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.
Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com, www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.seabourn.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com.
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SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/25/carnival-corporations-costa-group-starts-use-biofuels/ | 2022-07-25T17:36:38Z |
Americans can’t afford gas. That’s bad news for beef jerky
By Nicole Goodkind, CNN Business
Gas doesn’t just fuel cars, it also powers Marlboros, Red Bull, and Doritos.
An estimated 80% of the fuel purchased in the United States comes from local convenience stores, which bring in about $475 billion of revenue each year, according to IBISWorld data. A quarter of that comes from the 44% of gas guzzlers who come into the store each time they hit the pumps to purchase groceries, snacks, beer and cigarettes.
So as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and record-high inflation rates cause crude oil prices to shoot up, executives at PepsiCo, General Mills, and Conagra (the company behind Slim Jim) are biting their nails.
The national gas average price in the United States was about $4.10 per gallon on Wednesday, according to data compiled by AAA. While that’s a little bit under the record high, it’s still high enough to make 60% of Americans reconsider their driving habits and make some lifestyle changes, according to a survey by the automotive service company.
Less driving and fewer trips to the pump typically serve a double hit to convenience store retailers: a loss of foot traffic and money left for discretionary purchases.
“Our [convenience store] retailer contacts have recently highlighted some signs of strain on consumer spending as gas prices remain stubbornly high, with one retailer noting a slowdown in March in-store purchases across categories,” wrote Bonnie Herzog, managing director at Goldman Sachs, in a research note Wednesday.
Rising gas prices also appear to be weighing on packaged snack food sales. “This is evidenced by the slowing volume trend seen across most major snack food categories and outright volume declines for single-serve chocolate and jerky meat,” she wrote.
About 83% of purchases made at convenience stores are for immediate consumption, or impulse buys, typically the first thing to go when inflation increases.
“Anytime you sell immediate consumption and people’s pocketbooks are pinched you could lose sales,” said Jeff Lenard, vice president of strategic industry initiatives at the National Association of Convenience Stores.
First-quarter sales data from NielsenIQ underscore that fear. People are purchasing fewer items. “There is definite concern that the longer prices stay elevated, the more people could modify their behavior and not just short-term but long-term,” said Lenard.
Gas prices are top of Americans’ minds, said Jason Zelinski, director of convenience channel accounts at NielsenIQ. But they haven’t greatly impacted other sales yet. He noticed a shift toward increased visits to gas stations — people are topping off their tanks more frequently instead of paying for a full tank.
Consumer Edge, a data insights company, looked at the top three fuel retail brands in the US (Costco, Sam’s Club and Kroger) and noticed a spike in fuel sales as a percentage of total sales through the month of March.
“Although average fuel prices per gallon have gone up, some consumers can no longer afford to fill their tanks each trip and are making the same-priced transactions for fewer gallons but filling up more often,” they wrote.
And while there are certainly fears of an upcoming recession, unemployment remains at record lows. Americans are still driving to work.
Companies are already picking up on the increased frequency of gas visits and trying to use that to fuel other sales, said Eric Dzwonczyk, managing director at AlixPartners.
Walmart, Costco and convenience stores are tying product promotions or discounts to the purchase of gas in order to encourage store visits.
The cost of Germany’s reliance on Russian gas
For weeks, politicians, economists and everyone in between have been speculating about what a disaster it would be for Western Europe to lose Russian energy supplies. Now, we’re getting a sense of just how devastating it would be.
Germany’s top forecasters on Wednesday warned that the country would lose nearly $240 billion in economic output over the next two years, my colleague Anna Cooban writes. That would plunge the German economy into a deep recession and wipe out hundreds of thousands of jobs.
In the event of a shock to natural gas supplies from Russia, Germany’s GDP would rise by just 1.9% in 2022, and contract by 2.2% in 2023, researchers said in a report compiled by five German economic institutes.
That staggering figure underscores the geopolitical dilemma Western leaders face in confronting a petrostate as powerful as Russia. The military’s abhorrent violence in Ukraine has prompted EU officials to agree a phased ban on Russian coal. But its natural gas exports are a whole other story.
Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, imported nearly half of its natural gas supplies from Russia in 2020, using it to heat homes, generate electricity and power its factories. Losing that supply would drive inflation — already at its highest level in more than four decades — even higher.
Last week, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said the country was moving “as quickly as possible” to ditch Russian energy, but he reiterated that the country couldn’t shut off supplies overnight.
“If I could only follow my heart, there would be an immediate embargo on everything,” he told the newspaper Die Zeit. “However, it is doubtful that this would stop the war machine in the short term.”
The best economy that no one likes
Ask just about any economist right now how the US economy is doing, and they’ll likely say it’s pretty solid. The labor market is incredibly strong, wages are rising, and even though inflation is high, it has either already peaked or will soon peak (and either way it’s still nowhere near as bad as it was 40 years ago).
But ask the same question to a regular person and they’ll likely say it stinks.
They’re both right.
Sure, inflation might be cooling off (emphasis on “might”) but try telling that to someone who’s been outbid for 10 different homes, is paying through the nose to fill up their car and gets anxiety just thinking about their weekly grocery bill.
Consider this: US home prices have skyrocketed 20% over the past years. Mortgage rates have nearly doubled in just a few months. And even if you’ve got the cash to afford a house, good luck finding one — inventory is at record lows, and builders are struggling to catch up amid high demand and still-unresolved supply chain bottlenecks.
Then there’s food. Over the past year, US groceries overall got 10% more expensive. It’s especially bad news for bakers when you single out the foods that have gone up the most: flour (14%), milk (13%), eggs (11%) and butter (14%).
Prices are surging everywhere: In the United Kingdom, the annual inflation rate surged to 7% in March, its highest level since March 1992. And China reported this week its producer prices were 8.3% higher in March.
On Thursday, we’ll get some more insight into how inflationary psychology is affecting the Mighty American consumer when the University of Michigan releases preliminary results from its April sentiment survey. Last month, consumer sentiment came in at its lowest level since 2011.
“Surging gas, food, and housing prices have forced nearly all families to go through the painful process of deciding which normally purchased items they could no longer afford,” wrote economist Richard Curtain, who oversees the survey, in a memo last week.
Part of the reason this bout of inflation feels as bad as it does, Curtains says, is because the majority of consumers weren’t alive, or at least weren’t paying the bills, in the inflationary heyday of the 1970s. We’ve grown up in low-inflation world, punctuated by a few short-lived oil price spikes.
“This lack of experience has magnified their reactions to the higher inflation rate that now prevails,” Curtain says.
Up next
Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley report earnings before the bell.
Also today: Preliminary data for the University of Michigan survey of consumer sentiment will be released at 10 am ET.
Coming tomorrow: US stock market closed for Good Friday. Bond market closes early at 2 pm ET.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/money/cnn-business-consumer/2022/04/14/americans-cant-afford-gas-thats-bad-news-for-beef-jerky/ | 2022-04-14T13:20:06Z |
Following landmark rebranding effort, company renames existing Franchise, Brokerage, and Title & Settlement businesses, debuting Anywhere Brands, Anywhere Advisors, and Anywhere Integrated Services
MADISON, N.J., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Anywhere Real Estate Inc. (NYSE: HOUS), a global leader in residential real estate services (formerly known as Realogy Holdings Corp.), today announced new naming conventions for its business units as part of its recent corporate rebrand.
Realogy Franchise Group, a leading franchisor of residential real estate brokerages with over 21,000 offices and approximately 332,000 independent sales associates in 119 countries and territories around the world, will be rebranded as Anywhere Brands. Realogy Brokerage Group, one of the nation's largest owners and operators of residential real estate brokerages with 680 brokerage offices and approximately 56,000 independent sales agents principally under the Coldwell Banker®, Corcoran®, and Sotheby's International Realty® brand names, will be rebranded as Anywhere Advisors. Finally, Realogy Title Group, the company's title, mortgage and insurance business, will be rebranded as Anywhere Integrated Services.
"The scale and synergy of our core businesses make Anywhere a global leader in real estate, and now, the renaming of these segments will more effectively highlight our renowned brokerage brands, trusted relationship with the consumer, and deep service integration," said Ryan Schneider, Anywhere president and chief executive officer. "Each of these businesses play an essential role as we move forward with our vision to empower everyone's next move by building a more push-button-simple real estate transaction process."
In June 2022, the company officially completed its corporate rebrand from Realogy to Anywhere, signifying a strategic emphasis on building a more frictionless and digitized home buying and selling experience for anyone, anywhere. With its renowned brokerage brands – Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, CENTURY 21®, Coldwell Banker®, Corcoran®, ERA®, and Sotheby's International Realty® – as well as national title, settlement, and relocation companies and scaled mortgage origination and underwriting joint ventures, Anywhere is uniquely positioned to deliver a more streamlined transaction framework for consumers at any point in the real estate transaction.
For more information, please visit anywhere.re and sign up for investor alerts at ir.anywhere.re. Follow Anywhere on social media by visiting its LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
About AnywhereSM
Anywhere Real Estate Inc. (NYSE: HOUS) is on a mission to empower everyone's next move. Home to some of the most recognized brands in real estate – Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, CENTURY 21®, Coldwell Banker®, Corcoran®, ERA®, and Sotheby's International Realty® – the AnywhereSM portfolio includes franchise and brokerage operations as well as national title, settlement, and relocation companies and nationally scaled mortgage origination and underwriting joint ventures. Supporting approximately 1.5 million home transactions in 2021, Anywhere is focused on simplifying, digitizing, and integrating the real estate transaction for all consumers, no matter where they may be in their home buying and selling journey. With innovative products and technology, Anywhere fuels the productivity of its approximately 196,200 independent sales agents in the U.S. and approximately 136,400 independent sales agents in 118 other countries and territories. Recognized for eleven consecutive years as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies, Anywhere has also been designated a Great Place to Work four years in a row, named one of LinkedIn's 2022 Top Companies in the U.S., and honored by Forbes as one of the World's Best Employers 2021.
Media Contacts
Anywhere
Brianna Patrizio
Brianna.patrizio@anywhere.re
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SOURCE Anywhere Real Estate Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/anywheresm-announces-rebranded-business-units/ | 2022-07-14T14:59:09Z |
Innovative program provides financial support and coaching to food-related and women- and minority-owned start-up businesses
DALLAS, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. ("Santander Consumer" and "SC") today announced that it has selected Dallas for the launch of Cultivate Small Business – a Santander US signature program that supports food-service entrepreneurs for women-, minority-, and immigrant-owned businesses in low- and moderate-income communities. Dallas-based nonprofit start-up accelerator Impact Ventures will serve as a corporate partner for the program with Santander Consumer. Impact Ventures manages an integrated capital fund focused on empowering talented women and communities of color, and will lead a grassroots effort to identify qualified small businesses to participate in the program and local food-industry experts to serve as mentors to program participants.
Launched by Santander Bank N.A. in 2017, Cultivate Small Business connects early-stage food-focused entrepreneurs with the key ingredients needed to succeed in business, including industry-specific business management skills, technical assistance, capital grants, and access to a local network of established industry experts. Cultivate Small Business' immersive, 12-week learning experience combines MBA-level education with mentorship and capital grants to support entrepreneurs dedicated to working on their business while working in their business.
According to the U.S. Census, in 2019 just 18.7% (1.1 million) of U.S. employer businesses were minority-owned, and about 20.9% (1.2 million) of all businesses were owned by women. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted many food-industry entrepreneurs with numerous businesses and restaurants closing their doors since the pandemic began. Food-industry entrepreneurs can benefit from the support of Santander's Cultivate Small Business program. The majority of the more than 180 former Cultivate Small Business graduates indicate that the program has been valuable for their businesses:
- 84% of participants believe that participating in the program will help them achieve their business goals.
- 92% of participants were satisfied or very satisfied with the program overall.
- 92% of participants feel that they will be able to translate the learnings derived from the program to their businesses.
- 88% of participants would recommend the program to another entrepreneur.
Of the 32 businesses that participated in the 2020 cohort of Santander's Cultivate Small Business, each received expedited capital grant funding from Santander Bank as soon as the economic shutdown was implemented, and all but one completed the year fully operational and in business.
"Cultivate Small Business is an innovative and highly successful signature program for Santander in the US, and we are excited to bring this program to Dallas through the support of the SC Foundation," said Mahesh Aditya, CEO of Santander Consumer USA. "Food-related businesses – particularly those run by women and minorities in emerging communities – are the backbone of many of the neighborhoods that Santander Consumer serves. We are excited to work with Impact Ventures and the entrepreneurs who will join the program, and look forward to their future successes."
"We are thrilled to help support Santander's Cultivate Small Business Program expansion by working with Santander Consumer in Dallas. The industry-specific education, mentorship, and technical assistance will help food entrepreneurs retool and scale after the setbacks from the pandemic. We are appreciative of our expanded relationship with the SC Foundation and are proud to be selected as the regional partner for the program," said Benjamin Vann, Founder & CEO Impact Ventures.
The 12-week course is free to eligible entrepreneurs, completely virtual, and is accepting applications now thru June 15. Entrepreneurs that are accepted will graduate from the program with a fully formulated business plan and pitch in hand, a strong grasp of their target market, cash-flow, financials and growth goals, a will benefit from a financial coach and mentor relationship, and $2,500 in capital grants. Interested entrepreneurs can reach out to cultivatesmallbusiness@impact-ventures.co or apply directly here: https://apply.yourcausegrants.com/apply/programs/951f4504-6724-4346-bfd0-772ae19e4d78
Santander Consumer USA Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a full-service consumer finance company focused on vehicle finance, third-party servicing and delivering superior service to our more than 3 million customers across the full credit spectrum. SC, which began originating retail installment contracts in 1997, had an average managed asset portfolio of approximately $64 billion (for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2021). The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Santander Holdings USA, Inc., and is part of Madrid, Spain-based global banking leader Banco Santander. For more information about Santander Consumer USA, please visit www.santanderconsumerusa.com.
Santander Bank, N.A. is one of the country's largest retail and commercial banks with $102 billion in assets. With its corporate offices in Boston, the Bank's nearly 8,600 employees and nearly 2 million customers are principally located in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. The Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Madrid-based Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: SAN) - one of the most respected banking groups in the world with 155 million customers in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. It is overseen by Santander Holdings USA, Inc., Banco Santander's intermediate holding company in the U.S. For more information on Santander Bank, please visit www.santanderbank.com.
Impact Ventures is a 501c3 start-up accelerator and integrated capital fund with a mission to empower talented, yet under-estimated Women and Communities of Color to create generational wealth through inclusive entrepreneurship and integrated capital. https://impact-ventures.co/
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SOURCE Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/santander-consumer-usa-brings-cultivate-small-business-program-dallas-partnership-with-impact-ventures/ | 2022-06-02T20:23:09Z |
PARMA, Italy, July 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sidel, a leading global provider of packaging solutions, is inviting customers to meet its experts at Munich's drinktec 2022 (12-16 September) to discuss industry challenges and discover the packaging solutions of the future. drinktec is a world-leading beverage and liquid food industry trade show. Visitors to Sidel's booth 339 (hall A6), will be guided through a unique experience.
The stand showcases advanced systems and services, line engineering, and digital and eco-solutions, including aseptic production, sustainability, packaging optimisation and holistic turnkey solutions.
An immersive experience, with advanced multimedia illustrating the latest packaging equipment and processes, the stand is designed to engage all the senses.
Ko Hoepman, Executive Vice President – Portfolio, Innovation & Marketing at Sidel, said:
"We will be renewing and building relationships and demonstrating the very best of our offer as a trusted, reliable partner. We are confident that our superior performance and technological expertise will help our customers meet the challenges of the future."
Sidel will demonstrate its key expertise in:
Digital evolution
Top-class digital solutions enabling customers to face challenges, and reach peak production performance without compromising operational costs, product quality or environmental impact. The Evo-ON® software suite offers powerful cloud computing and data analytic technologies.
Sustainable transformation
Eco-friendly packaging alternatives, from 100% recycled PET (rPET) and light-weighted primary packaging with tethered caps, to optimised secondary and tertiary packaging alternatives.
Aseptic
With 47 years' experience in aseptic packaging equipment technology, Sidel will be premiering a new development.
Complete line solutions
Sidel has expertise and a comprehensive portfolio of services in every related field including line concept, engineering, line control and automation, packaging technologies and equipment.
Join Side
Sidel is eager to welcome visitors and provide them with the best advice and information in the industry.
Click here for Sidel's drinktec updates.
Please click here to access high-resolution images for this story.
For more information, please contact:
Claire Cunningham,
Associate Director
+44 (0) 7661 023564
claire.cunningham@teamtala.com
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1852857/Sidel_Image.jpg
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SOURCE Sidel | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/04/sidel-envisions-future-packaging-drinktec/ | 2022-07-04T14:13:01Z |
China Resources Pharmaceutical Group ("CR Pharma") intends to make strategic equity investment for Everest's mRNA technology platform
Partnership with CR Pharma will provide local support to navigate China regulatory pathways across mRNA vaccine platform, first in the advancement of Everest's potentially best-in-class COVID-19 vaccine candidate
SHANGHAI, April 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Everest Medicines (HKEX 1952.HK, "Everest", or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products to address critical unmet needs in Asia Pacific markets, announced today that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding for a partnership with China Resources Pharmaceutical Group Limited (HKEX 3320.HK, "CR Pharma") with the intent to establish an independent company ("the mRNA Co.") focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of messenger RNA ("mRNA") vaccines.
CR Pharma is a subsidiary of China Resources (Holdings) Co., Ltd, a key state-owned enterprise overseen by China's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC). CR Pharma is an integrated pharmaceutical company in China, engaging in the R&D, manufacturing, and distribution of pharmaceutical products. Their products include chemical drugs, traditional Chinese medicine, biological drugs and supplements, which cover a wide range of treatment fields, including the cardiovascular system, digestive tracts, metabolism, large-volume intravenous infusion, pediatrics, the respiratory system, Coagulation disorders and immune diseases, etc.
Through this proposed partnership with CR Pharma, the mRNA Co. will be well-positioned to advance its potentially best-in-class mRNA vaccine candidates through Chinese regulatory pathways and into commercialization. Under the terms of the MOU, the mRNA Co. will be a fully functional, independent operating company, by assuming the rights under the existing collaboration with Providence Therapeutics Holdings Inc. ("Providence"), including the full technology platform, as well as Everest's mRNA manufacturing infrastructure. Everest will be the majority and controlling shareholder of the mRNA Co.
The mRNA Co. will accelerate the late-stage development and registration of its potentially best-in-class mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate, PTX-COVID19-B, and continue the development of a second-generation COVID-19 vaccine with broad spectrum activity designed to be effective against but not limited to the Omicron variants, as well as two Collaboration Project with Providence that target new mRNA based vaccines. The mRNA Co. will also continue to advance the construction of Everest's global GMP manufacturing site in Jiashan, Zhejiang Province, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2022. Once complete, the first phase of manufacturing will be dedicated to PTX-COVID19-B, with an expected annual capacity of 700-800 million doses.
CR Pharma comments that through this cooperation with Everest Medicines, the two companies intend to work together in the development of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and the development of other potential products using the mRNA technology platform, so as to contribute to China's public health.
"We are pleased with Everest's ability to continually grow the business, as well as its industry leadership and reputation, by executing strategic collaborations and partnerships with key stakeholders like CR Pharma, which provide valuable expertise and resources to critical ventures such as this," said Wei Fu, Chairman of Everest Medicines and Chief Executive Officer of CBC Group. "This potential collaboration propels forward the development of Everest's mRNA vaccines, and shows our commitment to bring highly sought-after mRNA vaccines to China."
The lead vaccine candidate for development under Everest's mRNA technology platform is PTX-COVID19-B, a potentially best-in-class lipid nanoparticle formulated mRNA vaccine with strong immunogenicity and tolerability profiles and has been shown to generate high titer neutralization against the original and variant strains of SARS-CoV-2 in an S protein-typed pseudovirus assays. Based on data from the Phase 1 trial, neutralizing antibody levels at Day 42 were 8.6 times and 23 times higher than convalescence sera in the 40μg and 100μg dose levels, respectively.
Everest's licensing partner Providence is currently evaluating PTX-COVID19-B in a head-to-head clinical trial against Pfizer-BioNTech's Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine. Everest and Providence expect to report top line data in mid-2022, and if positive, this study together with a required safety dataset can support emergency marketing authorization with a stringent Western regulatory authority. Everest and Providence also plan to initiate a registrational booster vaccine trial in 2022 to further expand the indication of PTX-COVID19-B.
About PTX-COVID19-B
PTX-COVID19-B is an mRNA vaccine in Phase 2 development for the treatment of COVID-19, which encodes the full-length S protein of SARS-CoV-2 encapsulated in a lipid nanoparticle (LNP). Interim data from Providence's Phase 1 study showed that PTX-COVID19-B generated strong virus neutralization activity and produced a level of antibodies in participants in the treatment arm that compare favorably to those produced by other mRNA vaccines that have been approved for use against COVID-19. The treatment was generally safe and well tolerated.
In September 2021, Everest entered into a strategic partnership with Providence Therapeutics Holdings Inc. ("Providence") to advance mRNA vaccines and therapies. Under the terms of the agreement, Everest owns the rights Providence's mRNA vaccine candidates, including PTX-COVID19-B, in Greater China, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Everest and Providence also entered into a 50/50 global collaboration under which Everest is enabled to create and develop products using Providence's mRNA platform for product discovery across a broad range of other prophylactic and therapeutic areas.
About Everest Medicines
Everest Medicines is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products that address critical unmet medical needs for patients in Asian markets. The management team of Everest Medicines has deep expertise and an extensive track record of high-quality clinical development, regulatory affairs, CMC, business development and operations both in China and with leading global pharmaceutical companies. Everest Medicines has built a portfolio of eleven potentially global first-in-class or best-in-class molecules, many of which are in late-stage clinical development. The Company's therapeutic areas of interest include oncology, autoimmune disorders, cardio-renal diseases and infectious diseases. For more information, please visit its website at www.everestmedicines.com.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release may make statements that constitute forward-looking statements, including descriptions regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its officers with respect to the business operations and financial condition of the Company, which can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, or other factors, some of which are beyond the control of the Company and are unforeseeable. Therefore, the actual results may differ from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and assumptions, such as future changes and developments in our business, competitive environment, political, economic, legal and social conditions. The Company or any of its affiliates, directors, officers, advisors or representatives has no obligation and does not undertake to revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances after the date of this news release, except as required by law.
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SOURCE Everest Medicines | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/06/everest-medicines-enters-into-an-mou-partnership-with-china-resources-pharmaceutical-group-its-mrna-vaccine-business/ | 2022-04-06T23:44:29Z |
(The Hill) – Actor Johnny Depp apparently put on a surprise performance at a concert in the United Kingdom on Sunday night as jury deliberation continues in the defamation trial involving Depp and his former wife, actress Amber Heard.
Depp took the stage alongside Jeff Beck at a show at Sheffield City Hall in Sheffield. The duo performed three songs together, including John Legend’s “Isolation,” with Depp singing and playing guitar.
The song, which they debuted in April 2020, is the first single the two have released together.
“Johnny and I have been working on music together for a while now and we recorded this track during our time in the studio last year,” Beck had said in a statement posted to Instagram at the time.
He added, “You’ll be hearing more from Johnny and me in a little while but until then we hope you find some comfort and solidarity in our take on this Lennon classic.”
The performance appeared to have caught fans, and venue staff, off guard.
“Well…what a surprise we got last night when Johnny Depp joined @jeffbeckmusic on stage,” Sheffield City Hall tweeted along with a video of the performance. “Wishing @jeffbeckmusic good luck for the rest of his amazing tour and a big thank you to Johnny Depp for joining us!”
Depp’s performance comes as he’s awaiting the verdict in his $50 million trial against Heard.
The “Pirates of the Caribbean” star sued following an op-ed his ex-wife wrote in which she made allegations of sexual violence against him. In return, Heard filed a counterclaim of $100 million against Depp, claiming damage to her reputation. | https://cw33.com/entertainment-news/johnny-depp-made-surprise-u-k-concert-showing-amid-amber-heard-trial/ | 2022-06-01T17:34:50Z |
Historically riskier cash-out refinance loans made up nearly three-quarters of refinance originations in Q2
SEATTLE, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Milliman, Inc., a premier global consulting and actuarial firm, today announced the second quarter (Q2) 2022 results of the Milliman Mortgage Default Index (MMDI), which shows the latest monthly estimate of the lifetime default risk of U.S.-backed mortgages.
The default risk for government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) acquisitions (purchased and refinanced loans backed by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae) increased from a rate of 2.28% for mortgage loans originating in Q1 to 2.78% for loans originating in Q2 2022. This means that for mortgage loans originating in Q2, the expectation is that 2.78% will become delinquent (180 days or more) over their lifetimes.
The volume of refinance mortgages continued to decline in Q2 2022 compared to Q1, likely the result of increasing interest rates. Mortgage refinance volume has dropped steadily since its all-time high in 2021, when interest rates were at historic lows. Along with the decline in volume, the makeup of refinance loans has changed compared to the year prior. Cash-out refinance loan volume increased from 34% of all refinance originations in 2021, to 74% in Q2 2022.
"Cash-out refinance loans historically have higher default rates compared to rate-and-term refinancing," says Jonathan Glowacki, a principal at Milliman and author of the MMDI. "In 2022, there's been an increase in cash-out refinance originations compared to the prior year, which is a contributing factor in the increased mortgage default risk we're seeing."
The MMDI reflects a baseline forecast of future home prices. For more on the MMDI, go to www.milliman.com/mmdi/.
To access additional mortgage market thought leadership, go to https://www.milliman.com/en/products/milliman-m-pire.
About Milliman
Milliman is among the world's largest providers of actuarial and related products and services. The firm has consulting practices in healthcare, property & casualty insurance, life insurance and financial services, and employee benefits. Founded in 1947, Milliman is an independent firm with offices in major cities around the globe. For further information, visit milliman.com.
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SOURCE Milliman, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/milliman-analysis-mortgage-risk-rate-continues-increase-q2-2022-with-heavy-cash-out-refinance-volume/ | 2022-09-01T19:47:39Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. announced Friday it is sanctioning North Korean digital currency mixing firm Blender.io, which the country allegedly uses to launder stolen virtual currency and support cyber crimes.
The sanctions, imposed by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, are the first ever on a digital asset mixing service. The new sanctions also point to the growing use of digital assets to perpetuate illegal acts by state actors and individuals.
Mixing services combine various assets, including potentially illegally obtained funds and legitimately obtained funds, so that illegal actors can obscure the origin of stolen funds.
Blender is accused of helping Lazarus Group, a sanctioned North Korean cyber hacking group, to carry out a $620 million digital currency heist in March, the biggest of its kind to date.
Treasury says Blender helped process over $20.5 million in digital currency. Lazarus Group was designated in September 2019 as a state-sponsored cyber criminal group.
Four wallets, or virtual currency addresses, tied to Lazarus Group were also added to Treasury’s list of sanctioned entities.
“The United States remains committed to seeking diplomacy with the DPRK and calls on the DPRK to engage in dialogue,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in statement. “At the same time, we will continue to address the DPRK’s unlawful cyber activities, as well as violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions.”
DPRK is an acronym for the country’s formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea.
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said virtual currency mixers that assist illicit transactions “pose a threat to U.S. national security interests.”
“We are taking action against illicit financial activity by the DPRK and will not allow state-sponsored thievery and its money-laundering enablers to go unanswered,” he said.
Last month, the U.S. imposed its first set of penalties against a cryptocurrency mining firm in relation to Russia’s war on war. Digital currency firm Bitriver AG and 10 of its subsidiaries were included in a package of sanctions from Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Lawmakers and administration officials have voiced concerns about the use of cryptocurrency to engage in illicit acts. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/u-s-sanctions-north-korean-cryptocurrency-mixing-firm/ | 2022-05-07T13:19:48Z |
WEST LINN, Ore., June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific West Bank (OTCPK: PWBO) today announced Terri Sorensen as a new member of the Board of Directors of Pacific West Bank. The announcement is part of the Bank's strategy to grow in the Portland market.
"Terri's leadership in the Portland nonprofit community is exactly the dynamic community leader we have been looking for to join our Board. Pacific West Bank is focused on serving nonprofits by providing customized banking services and experienced bankers that can help nonprofits thrive in Portland. We are fortunate to have Terri join our Board and support the Bank's mission to serve this vital sector of the community," said Ed Kawasaki Chaiman of the Board.
Terri Sorensen is Chief Executive Officer of Friends of the Children, a national nonprofit headquartered in Portland, OR. Sorensen was selected as one of the first leaders for the Business Journal's Leadership Trust. She was also selected for Results for America's Moneyball for Government Nonprofit All-Star Team and the Leap of Reason Ambassadors Community. Deeply rooted in the Portland community, she has served on numerous boards of directors, including Oregon Mentors and Social Venture Partners. In 2012, she received the Orchid Award for the 25 Most Influential Women in Business by the Portland Business Journal. She is also involved with National Charity League-Oregon Rose Chapter. Sorensen holds a B.S. in accountancy from the School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Missouri—Columbia and was previously a Certified Public Accountant with the Oregon Board of Accountancy.
"Pacific West Bank's aim to be the bank of choice to Portland's nonprofit community resonated with me as a nonprofit executive. There is a need for solution-oriented banker's to be a resource for nonprofits here in Portland an across the country. I feel privileged to be part of the Board of Directors at Pacific West Bank and contribute to their growth into the future," said Terri Sorensen.
Pacific West Bank is a commercial bank with offices in Downtown Portland, West Linn, and Lake Oswego Oregon. Pacific West Bank provides customized banking solutions to businesses and nonprofits as well as financial and volunteer support to a variety of community, civic and charitable organizations. For more information about Pacific West Bank, please call 503-905-2222 or visit www.pacificwestbank.com. Information about the Bank's stock may be obtained through the OTC Markets at www.otcmarkets.com. Pacific West Bank's stock symbol is PWBO.
Certain statements in this release may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements." Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
Terry A. Peterson
Chief Executive Officer
(503) 905-2217
tpeterson@bankpacificwest.com
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SOURCE Pacific West Bank | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/pacific-west-bank-announces-new-board-member-terri-sorensen/ | 2022-06-29T13:55:16Z |
Hooded flannel jackets for any occasion
A reliable hooded flannel jacket will keep you warm in winter or fall without losing any style points. Designed in different colors and patterns, these jackets are the perfect outer layer on windy, chilly days. Unlike regular jackets, a hooded flannel can also protect your head, neck and ears from the cold.
Flannel material
Flannel is a soft woven fabric that’s made from different materials, such as:
- Wool: Extremely warm, hypoallergenic and moisture-wicking, these jackets are ideal in wet, cold climates.
- Cotton: Soft and breathable, cotton can be either heavy or lightweight, making it a versatile option.
- Polyester or other synthetic fibers: Flexible, quick-drying and reliable, these jackets are generally resistant to abrasions and wrinkles. They’re also long-lasting and easy to clean.
Most flannel jackets are “napped,” meaning the material is brushed to make it feel softer and smoother. Many have an insulated inner layer made from materials such as sherpa or fleece.
Weave
Most flannel jackets with a hood have one of the following types of weaves:
- Plain: This simple crisscross pattern is highly durable.
- Twill: This type of weave typically has two colors, one dark and one light. It’s durable, versatile and has a high thread count. It also has a diagonal pattern.
Color
Flannel is often associated with the plaid pattern, but these jackets come in many colors, such as browns, reds, blacks, whites, blues, greens and other variations.
Design
Apart from having a hood, flannel jackets often have additional design features, such as:
- Buttons for the main or secondary enclosure
- Full or half zipper enclosure either with buttons or instead of buttons
- Drawstrings to tighten the hood
- Cuffs you can tighten, which let you wear gloves over them to prevent the cold from getting inside
Insulation
Designers often give flannel jackets more insulation than other jackets. The raised fibers help the material trap body heat, so the wearer doesn’t get cold, even when it’s windy.
Many of these jackets also have two or three layers — that is, an outer, middle and inner layer. These provide additional comfort and insulation. Heavier jackets tend to be warmer, but they also tend to trap sweat.
Size
When it comes to sizing, most hooded flannel jackets range in size from extra-small all the way to extra-extra-large.
The size usually relates directly to chest or bust width. For example, a size medium could have a chest width between 37 to 41 inches. An extra-large could be between 41 to 45 inches.
Other measurements to consider when choosing a jacket are natural waist width, shoulder width and arm length. Some brands tend to run large or small, so keep this in mind.
Pockets
Hooded flannel jackets usually come with two front pockets. These serve many purposes, and you can use them to store small items such as a wallet, keys or a cell phone. They typically have some kind of lining or insulation to keep your hands warm without needing gloves.
9 best hooded flannel jackets
Zenthace Sherpa Lined Full-Zip Hooded Plaid Shirt Jacket
This simple cotton flannel hooded jacket comes with a full zipper enclosure and two chest pockets. It’s warm and comfortable, and it’s available in nine colors, including red, blue and black. It’s also lined with sherpa fleece for extra insulation.
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Hotouch Flannel Shirts Plaid Hoodie Jacket
This simple long-sleeve jacket consists of lightweight polyester and rayon, making it highly durable and resistant to wear and tear. It’s a versatile outer layer and pairs well with jeans and other casual attire on cool days. It comes in over 15 colors, including orange, black, brown and green.
Sold by Amazon
CQR Hooded Quilted Lined Flannel Shirt Jacket
With a snap enclosure and a quilted poly-fill inner layer that provides extra insulation, this lined flannel jacket is stylish and cozy. The outer shell consists of cotton and comes in 15 colors, including midnight forest, charcoal plaid and straight black.
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Wrangler Authentics Long Sleeve Quilted Lined Flannel Shirt Jacket With Hood
Lightweight and comfortable, this flannel hoodie has a relaxed fit and is perfect for the fall. It has durable polyester padding and cotton lining that adds more warmth. The fabric is brushed for added smoothness. It comes in 10 colors, including vintage night, toffee and pale gold.
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Dickies Relaxed Fleece Hooded Flannel Shirt Jacket
Available in four color patterns, such as ink navy brown and English red, this flannel jacket features a zipper and snap closure. It’s also designed with Hydroshield, which keeps moisture out. This makes it perfect for rainy days.
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Legendary Whitetails Camp Night Berber Lined Hooded Flannel Shirt Jacket
Available in sizes ranging from small to 5XL, this cotton and polyester jacket is soft, warm and comfortable. It has two chest pockets, reinforced elbow patches and a fleece-lined hood. It also has a rustic, outdoorsy look.
Sold by Amazon
Dickies Big and Tall Hooded Flannel Jacket
Designed for larger wearers, this fleece hooded jacket has a relaxed fit and is comfortable. It has a zipper and a snap closure, and two deep chest pockets. It also has Hydroshield technology that keeps moisture out.
Sold by Amazon
Columbia Flare Gun Stretch Flannel Hoodie
Available in nine colors and with a plaid print, this classy cotton jacket is stretchy, comfortable and breathable. It’s warm enough for spring, fall and early winter weather outings. Made by a reliable brand, this garment is the perfect addition to any outdoor activity, from hiking to camping.
Sold by Amazon
Wolverine Bucksaw Shirt Jacket
With a classic plaid design, this warm hooded jacket has extra fabric for maximum warmth. It has a three-piece hood that’s big enough to go over a hard hat or helmet. And it has a longer back to keep the wearer’s backside warm. The button snap closure makes this jacket perfect for layering.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/outerwear-br/9-best-hooded-flannel-jackets/ | 2022-08-19T15:07:35Z |
CSE: MEGA
www.megawattmetals.com
VANCOUVER, BC, May 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Megawatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp. (CSE: MEGA) (FSE: WR20) (OTC PINK: WALRF) (the "Company" or "Megawatt") announces it has engaged Japosat Satellite Mapping ("Japosat") of Montreal, Quebec to provide analysis of satellite imagery at the Company's Mistumis Property in the James Bay Territory, Quebec. The Mistumis property consists of 40 mineral claims located in James Bay Territory, north of Matagami in the Province of Quebec, covering 2,126 hectares. Japosat will acquire and process satellite imagery in order to provide detailed data identifying areas of mineral surface outcrop, areas with potential for lithium mineralization, priority locations for surface sampling and accessibility information. The analysis of the data will be used to formulate the upcoming season's sampling and prospecting field work planned at the Mistumis property.
David Thornley-Hall, CEO, commented, "We are procuring satellite imagery analysis at Mistumis as an initial tool that will provide significant information to finetune our program in advance of putting boots on the ground over a large and relatively unexplored area."
About MegaWatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp.
MegaWatt is a British Columbia based company involved in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in Canada. The Company holds a 100% undivided interest, subject to a 1.5% NSR on all base, rare earth elements and precious metals, in the Cobalt Hill Property, consisting of eight mineral claims covering an area of approximately 1,727.43 hectares located in the Trail Creek Mining Division in the Province of British Columbia, Canada.
Additionally, the Company has acquired an 80% interest in a company that indirectly holds a 100% interest (subject to a 2% NSR) in two prospective silver-zinc projects in Australia, being the Tyr Silver Project and the Century South Silver-Zinc Project (see press release dated October 15, 2020), an indirect 100% interest (subject to a 1% NSR) in and to certain mining tenements in Northern Territory and New South Wales, Australia prospective for nickelcobalt-scandium and rare earths and a 100% interest (subject to a 2% NSR) in and to the Route 381 Lithium Property, comprised of 40 mineral claims located in James Bay Territory, north of Matagami in the Province of Quebec, covering 2,126 hectares (see press release dated February 3, 2021) and 229 additional mineral exploration claims ("the new claims") in the James Bay area of Quebec. The new claims cover an area of 12,116 hectares or 121 square kms.
Investors can learn more about the Company and team at https://megawattmetals.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"David Thornley-Hall"
Chief Executive Officer
The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
The securities issued in connection with the Transaction have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or under any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, or delivered within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy such securities in the United States.
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SOURCE MegaWatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/13/megawatt-engages-japosat-satellite-imagery-analysis-mistumis-lithium-property-james-bay-quebec/ | 2022-05-13T19:54:06Z |
New LendingTree Survey Finds Inflation Impact and "YOLO" Mentality Leads to Full Hearts and Empty Wallets
CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Concert and festival season is among us and many Americans are ready for a music-filled summer of limited restrictions and a pre-pandemic feeling. According to a new report from LendingTree, attendance is expected to return to pre-pandemic averages this year, with many concertgoers ready to shell out big bucks to make up for lost time.
- Americans with concert plans expect to attend an average of four shows, up from three last year and in line with pre-pandemic averages.
- But it will cost them: 47% of concert attendees expect to spend between $100 and $499, while more than a quarter say they'll likely take on debt.
- Music fans are using plastic to their advantage, as more than 4 in 10 (44%) attendees will cash in on rewards or points to attend festivals or concerts.
In the era of "You Only Live Once (YOLO)," millennials (48%) and Gen Zers (41%) are more likely to splurge on nicer concert seats than they would in the past. Despite skyrocketing inflation and higher credit card bills, our survey found that Gen Zers are willing to shell out an average of $398 for their favorite artists, while millennials say they'd pay up to $383 per ticket. Gen Zers are also most likely to purchase VIP/All Access passes (18%).
While 60% of concertgoers plan to spend a chunk of their money on food and drinks, millennials are more likely to buy a new outfit for the show (41% versus 32% overall).
"Plenty of Americans have been longing for concert season to feel normal again," says LendingTree's Chief Credit Analyst, Matt Schulz. "Our survey shows that music fans are more than willing to shell out top dollars to see their favorite musical acts, regardless of the impact of inflation. Coming off a pandemic, going over budget or taking on debt seems worth the experience."
With ticket prices on the rise, don't be afraid to use your reward points or travel miles to help offset the costs; signing up early can also save big in the long run. One in 5 (20%) consumers have purchased an "early bird special" ticket for a music festival, which will typically offer lower prices before full lineups are announced.
If concertgoers are looking to spend more on concerts this year but don't want to blow their budget, they should consider these tips to keep costs low:
- Budget for inflation. If they know they're going to be spending big on concerts this year, incorporating them into their budget ahead of time will allow them to plan properly and enjoy a stress-free experience.
- Compare popular credit cards for travel and airline rewards. Sign-up bonuses can give concert attendees the extra cash to splurge on their favorite show.
- Get creative and cooperative. Sharing hotel rooms with friends, splitting gas or opting for general admission seating are all creative ways to combat overspending.
To view the full report, please visit: https://www.lendingtree.com/credit-cards/study/concert-plans-budgets/.
LendingTree commissioned Qualtrics to conduct an online survey of 2,072 U.S. consumers, fielded May 6-10, 2022. The survey was administered using a nonprobability-based sample, and quotas were used to ensure the sample base represented the overall population. All responses were reviewed by researchers for quality control.
We defined generations as the following ages in 2022:
- Generation Z: 18 to 25
- Millennial: 26 to 41
- Generation X: 42 to 56
- Baby boomer: 57 to 76
About LendingTree
LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE) is the nation's leading online marketplace that connects consumers with the choices they need to be confident in their financial decisions. LendingTree empowers consumers to shop for financial services the same way they would shop for airline tickets or hotel stays, comparing multiple offers from a nationwide network of over 500 partners in one simple search, and can choose the option that best fits their financial needs. Services include mortgage loans, mortgage refinances, auto loans, personal loans, business loans, student loans, insurance, credit cards and more. Through the LendingTree platform, consumers receive free credit scores, credit monitoring and recommendations to improve credit health. LendingTree proactively compares consumers' credit accounts against offers on our network and notifies consumers when there is an opportunity to save money. In short, LendingTree's purpose is to help simplify financial decisions for life's meaningful moments through choice, education and support. LendingTree, LLC is a subsidiary of LendingTree, Inc. For more information, go to www.lendingtree.com, dial 800-555-TREE, like our Facebook page and/or follow us on Twitter @LendingTree
MEDIA CONTACT:
Morgan Lanier
morgan@lendingtreenews.com
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SOURCE LendingTree | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/beat-goes-summer-concert-attendance-rebounds-pre-pandemic-levels/ | 2022-06-15T14:41:08Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Intuit, Inc. ("Intuit" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: INTU). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether Intuit and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
On March 29, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Intuit, claiming that the Company has deceived millions of Americans into paying for tax service preparation software that should be free. Then, on May 4, 2022, Intuit agreed to pay $141 million to settle similar allegations regarding its TurboTax software.
On this news, Intuit's stock price fell $22.14 per share, or 5.1%, to close at $409.86 per share on May 5, 2022.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980
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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-behalf-investors-intuit-inc-intu/ | 2022-08-01T19:26:00Z |
CHICAGO, May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Segall Bryant & Hamill (SBH) announced, effective today, that Carolyn B. Goldhaber has been promoted to President of the firm, following her leadership and contributions as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and as a member of the firm's Executive Committee. In this new role, Ms. Goldhaber will oversee the firm's operations and personnel decisions, reporting to Chief Executive Officer Philip Hildebrandt.
Regarding the promotion, CEO Philip Hildebrandt said, "I am excited to announce Carolyn's promotion, which is well deserved and fully earned. Carolyn and I have worked closely together for just under a decade and I have been impressed by her strong leadership skills and impeccable judgment. This promotion will allow Carolyn to expand her contributions as we work together to effectively address the increased breadth and scale of our business. I have every confidence Carolyn will play a key role in the development of our staff and the evolution of our service offering for clients."
The firm has also promoted Joan Washburn to the role of CFO from her current role as controller. Ms. Washburn has worked with Ms. Goldhaber for over six years, both at SBH and their prior firm. This promotion is another example of the firm's ability to draw upon its deep bench of talent to promote from within. All other roles at the firm will remain the same, as will the investment teams and the investment decision-making process.
About Segall Bryant & Hamill
Established in 1994, Segall Bryant & Hamill is an investment firm headquartered in Chicago, with offices in Denver, St. Louis, Philadelphia, and Naples, Florida. SBH offers a range of investment strategies and customized solutions for institutional, advisor, and wealth management clients, including domestic, international, and global equity; fixed income; and alternatives. For more information, please visit www.sbhic.com. SBH is a wholly owned subsidiary of CI Financial, an independent Canadian investment firm.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service by Segall Bryant & Hamill.
SEGALL BRYANT & HAMILL
540 West Madison Street, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60661
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SOURCE Segall Bryant & Hamill | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/05/carolyn-b-goldhaber-promoted-president-segall-bryant-amp-hamill/ | 2022-05-05T18:36:10Z |
Innovative Business Including Photovoltaic Has Become the New Growth Curve
HONG KONG, Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TCL Electronics Holdings Limited ("TCL Electronics" or "the Company", 01070.HK) announced today its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2022.
In the first half of 2022, disruptive market forces such as intensifying global geopolitical risks, repeated Covid-19 outbreaks and high inflation in overseas brought great challenges to the economy. At the same time, the easing of supply chain pressure and the advances in smart technologies have presented great opportunities for sustainable development of the consumer electronics industry. In the face of market challenges and opportunities, TCL Electronics actively sought transformation and innovation. With its attention focused on the development of mid-to-high-end products, overseas markets and new tracks, the Company made continuous efforts to reduce cost and increase efficiency to gain relative cost advantages, leading to significantly improved operation quality.
The Company's overall revenue for the first half of 2022 reached HK$33,679 million. Thanks to the optimised product structure and the dropping raw material prices, the Company's gross profit increased by 3.9% year-on-year to HK$5,782 million, and the overall gross profit margin improved by 1.3 percentage points year-on-year to 17.2%. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company's profit attributable to owners of the parent after deducting one-off non-operating items reached HK$257 million, an increase of 4.9% year-on-year.
Adhered to the Mid-to-High-End Large Screen Strategy, Sought High Quality Development of Display Business and Global Internet Business
Leveraging on TCL's global brand power, vertical integration of the whole industry chain and global channel advantages, actively pushed forward TCL Electronics high-end products and large screen products in the first half of 2022. It remained to be the global leader in display business with significant profit contribution from its global Internet business.
TCL Smart Screen[1] Accelerated its Development of Large-Screen and High-End Products, Drove Up the Gross Profit Margin of Large-Sized Display Business
Sales volume of the global TV industry was under pressure in the first half of 2022 due to intensifying geopolitical tensions and the Covid-19 pandemic. In the first quarter, the shipments of the global TV industry dropped by 4.3% year-on-year to 49.07 million sets[2]. In the face of the complex market environment, the Company adhered to the business strategy of "Value Led by Brand", focused on the mid-to-high-end market and persisted in development of large-screen and high-end products. Global sales volume of TCL smart screens reached 10.15 million sets in the first half of 2022. Of which the sales volume of its 65-inch and above smart screens increased 36.9% year-on-year to 1.53 million sets, and the proportion of its sales volume increased significantly by 5.1 percentage points to 15.1% year-on-year. At the same time, the high-end TCL Mini LED smart screens were also favored by the market, with sales volume increasing by 7.8% year-on-year. Among which, the sales volume of TCL Mini LED smart screens in the PRC market surged by 31.2% year-on-year. Thanks to the optimisation of product mix, the gross profit margin of large-sized display business increased by 2.6 percentage points year-on-year.
In the PRC market, the recurring pandemic and other factors led to weak consumer demand for home appliances, making the overall shipments of TVs industry-wide drop by 1.4% year-on-year to 17.07 million units[3]. However, thanks to the Company's breakthroughs in large-sized and high-end products, the integration of online and offline channels and improved marketing capabilities, the overall sales volume of TCL smart screens in the PRC market grew by 1.1% year-on-year against the downward trend in the first half of 2022, and the market share of its shipments increased by 0.7 percentage points year-on-year to 13.9%, allowing the company to remain the top 3[3] in terms of shipments and the top 2[4] in terms of retail sales in the PRC market. TCL Mini LED smart screen and TCL quantum dot smart screen both became the top-performers[4] in retail sales volume across all channels. At the same time, TCL and Falcon both achieved outstanding performance during China's "618" Shopping Festival. According to the data of CMM, the online sales volume of TCL smart screen, the market share of the retail sales volume of TCL large-sized (65 inches and above) display products, the retail sales volume of TCL Mini LED smart screens and the retail sales volume of 120Hz+ high refresh rate smart screen all ranked first during China's "618" Shopping Festival[5]. Thanks to the optimisation and upgrade of product mix, the gross profit margin of TCL smart screens in the PRC market increased by 1.8 percentage points year-on-year to 22.2% in the first half of 2022.
In the international market, the revenue of TCL smart screens in the first half of 2022 reached HK$13,341 million, with a 13.0% year-on-year increase of the sales volume of 65-inch and above TCL smart screens. The large-screen strategy contributed to a significant increase of gross profit margin by 2.6 percentage points to 17.0%, and the market share of the sales volume of TCL smart screens ranked among the top 5[6] in more than 20 overseas countries and regions with a year-on-year increase, demonstrating an improved operation quality.
Profitability of Its Global Internet Business Remained Strong with Continuous Fast Growth of Falcon Network Technology Group
The Company pushed forward its home Internet business globally, and focused on providing users with products and services featured with multi-screen, real-time interaction and all scenario smart sensing. Revenue from the Company's global Internet business reached HK$942 million in the first half of 2022, representing a 30.7% year-on-year improvement.
As to the PRC market, revenue from the domestic Internet business (mainly the domestic business of Falcon Network Technology Group) of the Company reached HK$814 million in the first half of 2022, representing a significant increase of 35.7% year-on-year. Falcon Network Technology Group enhanced its user experience and increased its user engagement through enriched platform content, innovative new scenarios and simplified operation system, and became very popular among the users with stronger adhesiveness. Revenue from its membership business, and vertical and innovative businesses increased by 19.0% and 95.8% year-on-year respectively in the first half of 2022, with ARPU reaching HK$39.3, an increase of 25.3% year-on-year.
TCL Electronics deepened its cooperation with international Internet giants such as Roku and Google and started to enjoy its revenue sharing from its Google platform operations since 2021. Meanwhile, Falcon Network Technology Group has been rapidly accumulating TCL Channel users through cooperating with OTT platforms in the international market. By the end of June, TCL Channel had accumulated more than 10 million users in 60 countries in North America, Europe, Central and South America, and the Asia Pacific region, steadily expanding its Internet business worldwide. In the first half of 2022, the revenue of the Company's Internet business registered HK$128 million in the international market, an increase of 5.7% year-on-year.
Innovative Businesses Became New Growth Engine with Continued Expansion of Photovoltaic/AR/VR Business
TCL Electronics believes in innovation-driven development. With vigorous expansion of all-category marketing, photovoltaic, smart connectivity and smart home businesses, innovation-generated revenue of the company in the first half of 2022 reached HK$5,259 million, a significant increase of 21.1% year-on-year, raising the revenue proportion by 3.2 percentage points to 15.6%. Innovative businesses have gradually becomes a new growth engine of the company.
Leveraged on Its Industrial Synergy to Accelerate the Landing of Distributed Photovoltaic on the B2B and B2C End
TCL Electronics seized the global development trend of clean energy and carbon neutrality and leveraged on its industrial synergy with TCL Zhonghuan Renewable Energy Technology Co.,Ltd. to foray into photovoltaic business. The Company used household photovoltaic as its entry point, put green energy technology and innovative financial services at the core, and, via finance leases or operating leases, provided farmers with one-stop services, including green energy power plant development, investment, construction management, and operation as well as maintenance. Meanwhile, the company also explored commercial photovoltaic businesses for the industry and commerce, and was committed to providing green energy conversion services for industrial parks, logistics parks, specialised parks and commercial complexes. In the first half of 2022, the Company's photovoltaic business achieved a revenue of HK$172 million, its monthly installed orders and revenue achieved exponential growth.
Accelerated the Growth of Its Global Distribution Business with Brand Influence, Channel Synergy and Proactively Laid out AR/VR Business
In the all-category marketing business, TCL Electronics actively propelled its all-category layout of "intelligent IoT ecosystem" and accelerated the growth of its global distribution of air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines through strong global brand influence and channel resources. In the first half of 2022, the revenue the Company's all-category marketing distribution business reached HK$4,248 million, an increase of 26.7% year-on-year, and the gross profit of the distribution business improved by 54.6% year-on-year to HK$586 million, with remarkable increase of 2.5 percentage points in the gross profit margin year-on-year. TCL's air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines have been frequently recognised by international awards. Both TCL Smart Wing Fresh Air Conditioner and TCL Whisper whisper-Series Window Air-Conditioner won the "Red Dot Award" of 2022 in Germany.
At the same time, TCL Electronics continued to make breakthroughs in technologies like AR/VR. In January of this year, TCL Electronics launched the industry's first binocular full-color Micro LED holographic light waveguide AR smart glasses, LEINIAO AR Smart Glasses Pioneer Version, at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). In April, it launched the new consumer-grade XR smart glasses TCL NXTWEAR Air in the PRC market, applicable for multiple scenarios such as movie watching, mobile gaming and remote working. The Company will continue to invest in the research and development of optical and display, algorithm, software and other technologies to discover the need of the users and further improve the performance of XR products.
Future Outlook: Creating Sustainable Value Growth for Consumers
The Company will continue to forge ahead, adhere to the development strategy of "Value Led by Brand with Relative Cost Advantage", further drive globalisation and technological transformation, focus on the three core competencies of "Display, Connection and Channels", and vigorously expand its new track of all-category layout of "intelligent IoT ecosystem" to provide global users with all-scenario smart and healthy living services and strive to develop into a world-leading enterprise of smart devices.
- End -
About TCL Electronics
TCL Electronics Holdings Limited (01070.HK, incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability) was listed on the mainboard of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in November 1999. It is engaged in display business, innovative business and internet business. TCL Electronics actively transforms and innovates under the strategy of "Value Led by Brand with Relative Cost Advantage". Focusing on the mid-to-high-end markets around the world, the Company strives to consolidate the "intelligent IoT ecosystem" strategy and is committed to providing users with an all-scenario smart and healthy life while developing into a world-leading smart technology company. TCL Electronics is part of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect program and is included in the Hang Seng Stock Connect Hong Kong Index, the Hang Seng Composite MidCap & SmallCap Index and the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index. Besides, it has received Hang Seng Index's ESG rating of A for four consecutive years since 2018.
For more information, please visit the investor relations web page of TCL Electronics at http://electronics.tcl.com or follow the WeChat Official Page of TCL Electronics investor relations.
[1] Smart screen mainly refers to smart television ("TV") of the related large-sized display products. By shipment over 95% of the Group's TV products are smart screen products.
[2] Source: Omdia.
[3] Source: Sigmaintell.
[4] Source: CMM, retail sales volume for the first half of 2022.
[5] Statistics from Week 23 to Week 25 of 2022 (i.e., 30 May, 2022 to 19 June, 2022) and Week 23 to Week 25 of 2021 (i.e., 31 May, 2021 to 20 June, 2021).
[6] Source: NPD and GfK.
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SOURCE TCL Electronics Holdings Limited | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/19/tcl-electronics-01070hk-gross-profit-bucks-trend-growth-2022-h1/ | 2022-08-19T14:42:07Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Kiromic BioPharma, Inc..
Shareholders who purchased shares of KRBP during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
CONTACT US HERE:
CLASS PERIOD: This lawsuit is on behalf of a class consisting of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired: (a) Kiromic common stock issued in connection with the Company's public offering that closed on July 2, 2021 and/or (b) Kiromic common stock between June 25, 2021 and August 13, 2021, both dates inclusive.
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that the registration statement and prospectus issued in connection with the Company's public offering that closed on July 2, 2021 (the "Offering Documents") failed to disclose that the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") had, prior to the filing of these documents, imposed a clinical hold on the Company's Investigational New Drug ("IND") applications for its two new drug candidates. Given that the offering closed on July 2, 2021, more than thirty (30) days after the Company submitted the IND applications for its two immunotherapy product candidates, investors were assured that no clinical hold had been issued and clinical trials would commence.
DEADLINE: October 4, 2022 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/kiromic-biopharma-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=31098&from=4
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of KRBP during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is October 4, 2022. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
The Gross Law Firm
15 West 38th Street, 12th floor
New York, NY, 10018
Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com
Phone: (646) 453-8903
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SOURCE The Gross Law Firm | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-kiromic-biopharma-inc-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-october-4-2022-nasdaq-krbp/ | 2022-08-24T18:43:27Z |
YINCHUAN, China, Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The opening ceremony of the second China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo was held Wednesday in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
The expo, which runs until Sept. 12, features an international wine contest, a wine trade fair, and forums on pilot zone construction as well as wine production, culture and tourism.
According to the Organizing Committee, a total of 797 wine varieties from 43 producing regions in 16 countries will compete in the wine contest, up 25 percent from the previous year.
Fifty-four cooperation projects worth a total of 17.3 billion yuan (about 2.5billion U.S. dollars) have been inked at the expo, covering winery construction, culture and tourism, and wine sales.
Over the years, Ningxia has grown into a major wine-making region in China. In July last year, the National Open Development Comprehensive Pilot Zone for the Grape and Wine Industry, the first of its kind in China, was set up, with the objective of turning the region into China's Bordeaux.
Data shows that the coverage of vineyards in Ningxia has reached 35,000 hectares in 2021, accounting for nearly one third of China's total. There are 116 wineries that have been completed in the region, with an annual output of 130 million bottles. Another 112 wineries are under construction.
In 2021, Ningxia saw its wine exports increase by 256 percent year-on-year despite the pandemic.
Image Attachments Links:
Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=428884
Caption: The opening ceremony of the second China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo was held in Yinchuan.
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SOURCE The Organizing Committee of the Second China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/intl-wine-culture-tourism-expo-opens-chinas-ningxia/ | 2022-09-08T06:01:59Z |
FDA listing paves the way for Sleepiz' entry into the U.S. market and enables contactless, in-home respiration and heart rate measurement for remote patient monitoring and innovative medical study design
ZURICH, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Switzerland-based medical technology company Sleepiz has registered its Sleepiz One+ contactless respiration and heart rate measuring device with the FDA. Following the company's successful market launch in Europe and India, the FDA listing paves the way for Sleepiz to offer its solution for remote patient monitoring and clinical trials in the United States.
Sleepiz One+ is one of the first respiration monitoring devices to track and record patient data in a contactless manner during sleep. Sleepiz' technology allows for entirely new insights into patients' health as clinicians no longer have to rely on spot-check measurements but have access to continuous data. This new depth of information allows to detect changes in respiratory rate, which can be an early predictor of diseases like pneumonia and cardiac arrest, or point to an exacerbation in patients with chronic pulmonary disease.
The FDA listing allows Sleepiz partners in the United States to use Sleepiz One+ for remote patient monitoring and integrate the device into clinical study platforms in order to monitor respiration rate in a convenient and clinically-validated way. U.S. physicians can prescribe Sleepiz One+ to their patients to measure their vital parameters over the short and long term, allowing them to gain better insight into patients' physiological status. For patients, Sleepiz One+ brings a new and convenient way of continuous monitoring at home by simply placing a small device on their bedside table, while they rest.
To drive Sleepiz' market strategy in the United States, the company has appointed Robb LaChappelle as VP of Sleepiz USA. Mr. LaChappelle is an accomplished business development leader with extensive experience in the fields of medical devices, remote patient monitoring, life sciences and sleep. He has previously worked with innovators like Nonin Medical and Vital Images (Canon Medical) as well as with global players, such as Silicon Graphics/SGI (Hewlett Packard) and Honeywell.
Sleepiz CEO Soumya Dash said: "We are thrilled to welcome Robb to our management team and, together with him, extend the success of our business to the U.S. market. Robb will lead the buildup of our operations in the United States and work closely with our local partners to bring the benefits of our technology to patients, physicians and researchers."
Sleepiz VP for the United States Robb LaChappelle said: "Sleepiz offers a truly innovative solution, which provides a new level of comfort to patients, while fulfilling the highest standards in terms of data accuracy. I'm looking forward to working with the company founders on establishing and growing our presence in the United States."
Product visuals and portrait pictures are available for download at https://we.tl/t-fED1yygtix.
About Sleepiz
Sleepiz AG (Ltd.) is a Zurich, Switzerland-based medical technology company with a mission to provide patient-centric disease management through seamless integration of contactless monitoring into people's homes. Sleepiz leverages the power of sleep insights with a device that is simply placed on the bedside table. The device operates in a contactless fashion and measures movements originating from heart contractions and breathing patterns, as well as body motions with medical-grade accuracy. While focusing on respiratory illnesses in a first step, Sleepiz aims to improve people's lives by creating the future of healthcare. By making use of wireless millimeter wave technology, sensor fusion and artificial intelligence, Sleepiz will not only be able to diagnose sleep disorders but also perform long-term monitoring in the future. This will allow the monitoring of the progression of chronic diseases for faster intervention and better treatment.
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1859342/Sleepiz.jpg
Media contact:
Oppenheim & Partner GmbH
Marash Pulaj
Stockerstrasse 32, CH-8002 Zurich
+41 44 515 65 00
mp@oppenheim-partner.ch
Sleepiz contact:
Robb LaChapelle
Vice President Sleepiz USA
usa@sleepiz.com
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SOURCE Sleepiz AG | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/sleepiz-launches-contactless-device-remote-patient-monitoring-united-states-appoints-robb-lachappelle-vp-us/ | 2022-07-14T14:39:17Z |
WASHINGTON , July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA, in partnership with ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency), will release the James Webb Space Telescope's first full-color images and spectroscopic data during a live broadcast beginning at 10:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday, July 12, from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Released one by one, these first images from the world's largest and most powerful space telescope will demonstrate Webb at its full power as it begins its mission to unfold the infrared universe.
Each image will simultaneously be made available on social media, as well as on the agency's website at:
http://www.nasa.gov/webbfirstimages
Embargoed access to Webb's first images will not be available prior to their public release.
The following is a list of activities for the release (all times Eastern):
Friday, July 8
NASA will share the list of cosmic targets for Webb's first images and spectra on the agency's website.
Tuesday, July 12 (Image Release Day)
9:45 a.m. – Live, opening remarks by agency and Webb leadership will air on NASA TV, the NASA app, and the agency's website ahead of the first images release.
10:30 a.m. – Live coverage of the image release broadcast will air on NASA TV, the NASA app, and the agency's website. The public also can watch live on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Twitch, and Daily Motion.
12 p.m. – Following the live broadcast, NASA and its partners will hold a joint media briefing at NASA Goddard. The briefing will livestream on NASA TV, the NASA app, and the agency's website. Participants include:
- Eric Smith, Webb program scientist and Astrophysics Division chief scientist, NASA Headquarters
- Knicole Colón, Webb deputy project scientist for exoplanet science, NASA Goddard
- René Doyon, principal investigator for the Canadian Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph, University of Montreal
- Christopher Evans, Webb project scientist, ESA
- Klaus Pontoppidan, Webb project scientist, STScI
- Jane Rigby, Webb operations project scientist, NASA Goddard
- Amber Straughn, Webb deputy project scientist for communications, NASA Goddard
In-person registration is closed; media may register to participate virtually by completing this form by 3 p.m. Monday, July 11.
3 p.m. – Live Interview Opportunities: From 3 to 7 p.m., Webb mission experts will be available to conduct live, remote interviews with broadcast media, in both English and Spanish. Details about scheduling these interviews are available online. Members of the media seeking interviews outside of the windows mentioned in this advisory should complete this media interview request form.
NASA's media accreditation policy for on-site and virtual activities is available online. The agency will soon provide further details to those who register their interest, including COVID-19 safety protocols. Due to space limitations, NASA may be unable to accommodate all requests for on-site attendance. Media and members of the public may ask questions on social media using #UnfoldtheUniverse.
Wednesday, July 13
6 a.m. – Live Interview Opportunities: From 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., Webb mission experts will be available to conduct live, remote interviews with broadcast media, in both English and Spanish. Details about scheduling these interviews are available online. Members of the media seeking interviews outside of the windows mentioned in this advisory should complete this media interview request form.
1 p.m.: NASA en español social media event
NASA will broadcast a live social media event in Spanish on its NASA en español YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter accounts. Webb experts Begoña Vila and Néstor Espinoza will discuss the release of the first images and take questions from followers.
3 p.m.: NASA Science Live
Webb experts will answer questions about the first images and data in a NASA Science Live show. The broadcast, Webb's First Full-Color Images Explained, will air live on the NASA Science Live website, as well as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Viewers of this episode can submit questions on social media using the hashtag #UnfoldtheUniverse or by leaving a comment in the chat section of the Facebook or YouTube stream.
The agency will host an in-person NASA Social Tuesday, July 12, and Wednesday, July 13. Participants will join as guests for the in-studio filming of the televised broadcast at NASA Goddard, tour NASA Goddard and STScI facilities, and interact with experts from the Webb mission.
Social media users can also join a virtual global social event on Facebook to get a behind-the-scenes look at the mission and celebrate Webb's first images.
The public can also join in the release of the first full-color images by attending one of the official Webb Space Telescope Community Events taking place across the country this summer. The list of events celebrating Webb's first images is available online and updated frequently.
Webb, an international partnership with ESA and CSA, launched Dec. 25 from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. After unfolding into its final form in space and successfully reaching its destination 1 million miles from Earth, the observatory now is completing the months-long process of preparing for science operations. Webb will explore every phase of cosmic history – from within the solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe, and everything in between.
Stay connected with the mission and share your experience with Webb's first images on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram with #UnfoldTheUniverse. Follow and tag these accounts:
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SOURCE NASA | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/nasa-updates-coverage-webb-telescopes-first-images-reveal/ | 2022-07-07T21:33:07Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — With this intense heat we’re seeing in North Texas, why not cool down with a refreshingly cool treat?
Perhaps something frozen? Sunday, Aug. 14, is National Creamsicle Day, honoring one of the most famous and delicious desserts in the country. So, why not grab yourself a creamsicle or a popsicle in North Texas? Here are the best places to get a popsicle, according to Yelp:
- Picolé Pops
- Pop Factory
- Encanto Pops
- Botolino Gelato Artigianale
- The Pop Parlour
- Paleteria San Marcos
- Steel City Popsicles
- Hip Pop
For more suggestions, visit Yelp! | https://cw33.com/news/local/best-places-to-get-popsicles-in-north-texas-according-to-yelp/ | 2022-08-14T17:15:10Z |
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